Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 463

1842

Topography of Chile

445

the districts of Taking and Ynenping The prefecture, or fù, being large and important, is parted into four divisions, or circuits, under an equal number of sub-prefects: the first, residing at Yuenping, governs five districts, forming the western circuit; the second, resid- ing at Tungchau, governs seven districts, forming the eastern cir- cuit; the third, residing at Táping, also governs seven districts, form- ing the northern circuit; the fourth, residing at Chángping, governs five districts, forming the northern circuit.

II. The department of Púuting is situated on the southwest of Shuntien. Its chief city is distant from Peking some eighty or nine. ty miles, and the high road from the capital to Shánsí passes through it. On the southeast, it is bounded by the departments of Hokien and Shin chau; on the south, by Kí chau; on the southwest, by Ting chau; on the northwest, by Shánsí; and on the north by Yi chau. For several miles, the Great Wall forms its northwestern boundary; and in that direction the country is high and hilly, giving rise to several small streams, the waters of which, after uniting in one stream, flow into the Siting, east of the city Páuting. Si- ting is a small lake, and is connected by two small streams with the Tungting lake, named in the description of Shuntien. The eastern and central parts of the department present to the traveler a richly cultivated, and well watered region. Du Halde speaks in high terms of the roads, which are shaded by rows of trees. Páuting fú is the proper residence of the provincial government.

III. The department of Chingte includes, in its six districts, the whole of the northeastern part of the province-having Shingking on the east, the Great Wall on the south, and Cháhár on the west-and constitutes not less, probably, than one fourth of the area of the pro- vince. Its principal river is the Lwán; it takes its rise in Chá- hár, east of the Pass called Kúpe, runs due north through one or two degrees of latitude, and then, turning round eastward, flows south into the gulf of Chili, passing under the Great Wall, and receiving the waters of many small rivers-among which is the Je hỏ. Ma- cartney's embassy traveled through the southwestern quarter of this department, in the journey from Kúpe to the residence of the em- peror at Je hó. The country traveled over by the embassy, has been described by Staunton and Barrow, to whose works the reader can refer, and also to that of Du Halde, who calls it Karchin, or Kar- ching. Nothing can be more charining than some of the gardens described by Staunton-nothing more dreary thau some of the plain- noticed by Du Halde Since the latter wrote the country has proba