Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 333

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Topography of Anhuvni

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one of which was dedicated to Kwánti, the tutelary Mars of China, ancestor of the late admiral Kwan, who fell in the battle of the Bogue. As they advanced slowly up the river, they found" a cli- mate and country which could yield to none in the world, and equal- ed by very few. The landscape, consisting of the finest combination of hill and dale, with very high mountains in the distance, was va- riegated in the most beautiful manner with the red and yellow tints of autumn."

VI. The department of Luchau lies on the northwestern bank of the Great river, and northeast from A'nking, the first department of the province, which it very much resembles, Near its centre there is a large lake, filled by streamnlets flowing into it from the north- west, and southwest, and discharging its own waters through a chan- nel descending in an easterly direction into the Yangtsz kiáng. Taking this lake for a centre of a circle, with five radii of fifteen or twenty miles in length, a chief town of a district will be found situat- ed near the middle of each radius. The lake is remarkable for an abundance of excellent fish. The plains abound with grain and fruit, and the hills with the "best sort of tea, for which the whole department is famous." So says Du Halde.

Du

VII. The department of Fungyáng stretches due north from Lúchau to the northern boundary of the province, and is nearly square in its configuration. The chief town stands a few miles south from the river Hwái, which runs through it from west to east. Halde tells us that this city was the birthplace of the founder of the Ming dynasty, who made it for a time the capital of his empire, but was afterwards induced to remove the scat of his government to Nán- king. Before this was done, of the many buildings undertaken only three were completed—a tomb for his father, a tower, and a temple for the priests of Budha. The tower was the highest structure in China. Upon Hungwú's removal, the public works ceased, and the glory and granduer of the city rapidly faded. Four of the districts stand on the south side of the river Hoái, and three on the north. The whole department is well watered by several streams which flow into the IIwái.

VIII. The department of Yungchan forms the northwest por tion of the province, and is bounded on the west and north by Ho- nán, on the east by Fungyang, and on the south by Lután. wholly on the north of the river Iwai, and is watered by considera ble streams flowing through the department, from the northwest to the southeast