1850.
Topography of Sz'chuen.
897
X. The department of Tungchuen lies south of the preceding, between Chingtú fú on the west, and Shunking fú on the east, in the middle and best settled parts of the province. All its towns are in the valleys of the river Pei, and the inhabitants enjoy a pleasant climate in the midst of fertile fields. After the conquest, many of the soldiers of Shunchi were provided with lands in this region, and their des- cendants are still required to do service. Salt, iron, copper, and sugar are produced.
XI. The department of Ningyuen has been set off from Yáchau fú, and comprises all the southwestern corner of the province which runs down into Yunnán. The chief town lies on the Ngán-ning R.
安寧河 a large tributary of the Yálung R., and its prefect ex-
ercises jurisdiction over many tú-fú, or locally governed towns, be- tween which are several garrisoned posts. An intendant of circuit over the west of the province assists him.
XII. The department of Yachau, the largest in the province, comprises all west of Chingtú fá and Kiáting fi, as far as Tibet; its rulers exercise a mixed civil and military jurisdiction over the Chi- nese and aborigines dispersed throughout its extent, aided by numerous garrisons. The chief town lies on the Tsing-í kiáng
or Green-clothes R., in a well cultivated district; the ting district of Ti-tsien-lú west of it on the Lú ho is the headquarters of the military authorities, who are, on account of the importance of their trust, required to report directly to the Board of War at Peking. Some of the locally governed towns in this commandery are large trading places, and not a few are wholly independent. Patáng and Liting 裏塘
are among the most noted; the former is on the Yang- tsz' at the head of navigation in the S.W. corner of Sz'chuen, where the great road comes in from Tibet; the latter is on the road eastward to Tatsien-lú. The resources and peace of this department are far less than they might be, if the relations between the Chinese and the abori- gines were better arranged. The Lolo, to the number of 350,000 souls, Occupy the S.W., and the Sifan the N.W. of the prefecture; the Romanists number many converts among the former, who seem to be much gentler in their disposition than the latter, exhibiting many customs, and possessing many points of resemblance in language, dress, and government to the hill races in Assam and Burmah.
XIII. The inferior department of Suyung has been set off from Süchau fú, and includes a corner which runs down south of the Yang- tsz' between Yunnan and Kweichau. Being a frontier town, it pos- sesses more political than commercial importance.
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