Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 331

1812

Topography of X ́nhrow.

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III. The department of Ningkw6-or the peaceful kingdom-is situated directly north from Hwuichau, on two small rivers which flow from the south. It is bounded on the north by the department of Taiping; on the east by that of Kwangti; on the southeast by Chekiáng; on the south by the department of Hwuichau; and on the west by that of Chichau. The chief town of the department stands on the north, between the two abovenamed rivers, and is the residence of the magistrate of Siuenching. Northwest from this is Nánling; southeast is Ningkwó; southwest is Kinghien; and south and southwest from Kinghien are Tsingti and Táiping.

IV. The department of Chichau comprises the narrow strip of country, which lies along the south and east bank of the Great river, extending from it to the departments Hwuichau and Ningkwó on the east, and from the department of Taiping on the north to the pro- vince of Kiángsí on the south. The capital stands about midway between the two extreme limits of the department, and is the resi- dence of the magistrate of the district Kweichí. North from this is Tungling, standing near the Great river; east is Tsingyáng; south- east is Shikáng; southward are Kienti and Tunglau, the latter stand- ing near the Great river.

The town of Tungling was visited by the members of Amherst's mission. Mr. Davis and others in a small party traveled ten or twelve miles on shore, but he gives no account of all that he there saw and heard. This was on the 2d of November, 1816. The following day he visited a village called Tatung chin, on the southeastern side of the river. The open country, “in all its beautiful features" closely resembled that of Tungling, with some very high hills at the distance of several miles. On the second day of their stay they traveled a distance of fifteen or sixteen miles. "The course was at first along

a regular pathway from the town, partly paved with broad stones, until we reached a village at the foot of the high hills, which it was intended to ascend. In our way we came, for the first time, to small tea plantations, being now within the latitudes in which the shrub flouristes. In the same valley we discovered a new and curious species of oak, and observed that the mulberry was extensively culti- vated. On ascending one of the lofty hills of the range, a very finc prospect was afforded of the surrounding country and the course of the river. The whole surface of these picturesque mountains was cover- ed with a vast variety of shrubs and plants, many of the latter aro- matic, and among the rest the wild thyme very abundant.” On the 7th they anchored at Wusha kiá—“ Black-sand branch,"-" Kiá,

VOL. XI NO. VI.

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