Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 397

1842.

Tapography of Kiảngsi

319

bears to that of England and Scotland. We had found its sides composed of the most beautiful country, lying in the finest climate, and planted with numerous and flourishing cities. Being the first Englishmen who had ever navigated its stream, and probably the last who for a long period of years would be able to do so, the abundant leisure and opportunities afforded by our frequent halts had been em- ployed agreeably, and perhaps not unprofitably, in strict accordance with the precept of the English poet, who says with reference to the 'Thames-

Search not its bottom, but survey its shores.'"

I. The department of Náncháng is the principal one in the pro- vince, and has within it the provincial city, bearing the same name, which is also given to one of the districts. On the west and north- west, the department is bounded by Húnán and Húpe, on the north by Kiúkiáng and Nánkáng, on the east by Fúchan, Linkiáng and Suichau. It comprises eight districts, consisting of one chau and seven hien. A ridge of mountains stretches along its westesn part; and on these highlands the river Siú takes its rise in three separate foun- tains, and, after being united in one stream, it flows on in a north- easterly course and falls into the lake. The city Náncháng stands on the eastern bank of the river Kán. Du Halde says little of it, besides remarking that it was once the residence of princes of the Ming family, and accordingly was an object on which the Mantchou rulers poured their wrath, burning and destroying all they could find in it.

Mr. Davis says,

"the interior of the city has since been restored; that some of the party walked round its walls, and found it answering to the description given in the first volume of Du Halde, the area being nearly six miles in circuit, of an oval shape, and with seven gates. The suburbs appeared in no ways different from the city itself." He remarks also, that considerable space within the walls, as was the case at Nánking, was still uninhabited, not having been rebuilt since it was destroyed nearly two centuries ago. Barrow adds, "the city is situated on the left bank of the river, which is here about five hundred yards in width, against the stream of which, with a brisk breeze, we made rapid progress. For the first sixty miles the country was flat and uncultivated, except the places where we observ- ed a few fields of rice. But there was no want of population. Towns and villages were constantly in sight, as were also manufactories of earthen-ware, bricks and tiles. The farther we advanced up the river, the more populous was the country, the more varied and agree.