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Topography of the Province of Kansuh.
OUT.
ment is probably five thousand square miles. The provincial capital is situated in lat. 36° N. and long. 103° 55′ E., near where the Yellow River turns to the northeast. The Great Wall approaches the town on the opposite side of the river, and in former times this point was regarded as the strongest post to oppose the incursions of the nomads. Lánchau is a great mart for skins, felt cloths, brick tea, and rhubarb, which are brought here to exchange for other commodities.
II. The department of Pingliáng lies on the borders of Shensí, south of Ninghia fú and east of Kungcháng, including many of the headwaters of the R.King. The chief town stands on this stream not far from Mt. Kungtunga peak of the Peh-ling, and the source of the river. The region is very rough, but affords much arable land and good timber for the use of man. The climate is mild, and the pleasant streams which irrigate the country, together with the fine scenery, render it a desirable location.
III. The department of Kungchúng is one of the largest in the pro- vince, extending along its whole southern border from Koko-nor on the west to near Shensí on the east, having Lánchau fú on the north. The ranges of the Min Mts., a spur of the Peh-ling, extend into the depart- ment from Sz'chuen; these hills are so rough as to render access to the towns rather difficult, thus proving one source of their security. They afford musk, rhubarb, metals of various kinds, and drugs. The chief town lies on the river Wei, and the upper waters of this stream take their rise in the prefecture. The Chinese say the tomb of Fuhhí is in Kungcháng,—an older artificial monument than one will hardly credit can be found in China, as it would be over 4500 years old. This department and Pingliảng fĩ rather belong to the province of Shensí in the character of their productions and climate than to Kánsuh, the difference in these particulars being great on the two sides of the mountains.
IV. The department of Kingyáng lies in the extreme east of the province, on the borders of Shensí, in the valleys of the R. Málien, a large branch of the R. King. The chief town is pleasantly situated
at the junction of the Hwán 環河 and Jauyuen 柔遠, two
streams which combine to form the Malien. It is surrounded by a strong wall and deep ditches, which with the forts placed on the con- tiguous eminences, and the river on two sides, make it a very strong position. The productions of this and the two preceding departments are wheat, millet, gold, siver, varnish, wax, salt, corneliau stones, musk, felt carpets, drugs, and timber, the surplus of which finds its way down through Shensi to a market or to Peking.