Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 403

1:42.

Topography of Kiangsı

B

IX. The department of Suichau, which comprises only three districts, stretches westward from Náncháng to the borders of Húnán, comprising a beautiful valley through which the river Kin flows on ils way to the lake. Du Halde says, the city Suichau, is built on both sides of the Kin, and is connected by two bridges, one of boats, and the other of stone, with more than ten arches.

X. The department of Yuenchau lies on the borders of Húnán, having Suichau on the north, Linchau on the east, and Ki-án on the south. Du Halde says that it yields to no other part of the pro- vince "in the fertility of its soil, and plenty of everything." Three rivers have their sources within its borders, two of which flow east- ward, and the other westward into Húnán.

XI. The department of Ki-án—“the happy and quiet region lies south from Linkiáng, and north of Nán-án, stretching from Húpe on the west, down across the valley of the Kán, to the departments of Fúchau, Ningtú, and Kánchau, on the east. Into the Kán several streams flow, some coming down from the west, and others from the east. Beyond the city Ki-án, the river Kán is very narrow and has "Eighteen Rapids," "which," says Barrow, "are torrents formed by ledges of rock running across the bed of the river; they have not, however, anything terrific in them—not one being half so dangerous as the fall at London bridge about half-tide. This intri- cate part of the river, where innumerable pointed rocks occurred, some above, some even with, and others just below, the surface of the water, required two long days' sail with a fair breeze; and the falls became more rapid and dangerous the farther we advanced. At the fifteenth rapid we perceived two or three vessels lying against the rocks, with their flat bottoms uppermost." Both Barrow and Davis describe the country in the neighborhood of these rapids, as being extremely beautiful. "The transparency of the stream, the bold rocks finely fringed with wood, and the varied forms of the moun- tains, called to mind those delightful streams, that are discharged from the lakes of the north counties of England.” At Ki-án, Mr. Davis saw great quantities of Nankeen cloth, manufactured from the produce of that place and its immediate vicinity.

XII.

The department of Kánchau forms the southern portion of the province, and comprises nine districts. Its chief city as viewed by Mr. Davis, seemed to surpass, in the extent of its arca, any that he had before seen. It is a place of great commercial business, and the surrounding country is rich and diversified. In this city there is a pagoda of nine stories, on a hexagonal base, from the summit of

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