Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 467

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Topography of Chilt

449

XIV. The department of Siáu lies between those of Chingting and Shunte on the north and south; and between Kí chau and the pro. vince of Shánsí on the east and west. In it is the lake Ningtsin pe.

XV. The department of Ki lies due east of the last named, from which it differs in no way worthy of notice. The above-named lake, forms its western border.

XVI. The department of Shin lies directly on the north of that last named, to the southwest of that of Hókien, and south of Páuting.

XVII. The department of Ting is nearly midway between Pau- ting and Chingting, with the chief towns of the three departments nearly in a right line.

XVIII. The department of Kaupe lies on the north of Siuenhwa, west of Chingte, with the territory of Cháhár on its north and west. Its chief magistrate resides at Chángkiá in Siuenhwa, which is also the residence of one of its three under magistrates; a second resides also within the Great Wall, at or near the Solitary-rock gate; while the third resides at Tó-lun-nóh'rh, sixty or seventy miles further northward.

XIX. The department of Cháhár lies westward and northward from Kaupe; and in the face of the country, nature and productions of the soil, and character of the inhabitants, the two are quite alike. The country for the most part is mountainous and wild. The inha- bitants are shepherds and herdsmen, and keep the flocks and cattle of their imperial master, the son of heaven. Their ancestors formed one of the eight divisions of the grand army of the Mantchous, which conquered China in 1644. They are among the most faithful of the Mongols, and are distributed into eight bands, under that number of different standards-which are a plain and bordered yellow; and plain and bordered red; with white and blue distinguished in the same manner. Timkowski writes the name of this country Tsakhar, and says the word, in Mongolian, means "frontier country."

Barrow says that during the months of August, September and October, while they were in Chili, there was one continued succes- sion of cloudless days, showers of rain falling only on one occasion. The range of Fahrenheit's thermometer was, in

August, 80° to 88° at noon; at night 60° to 64°:

September, 76° was the medium at 2 o'clock v. m.. October, about 68, descending sometimes at night to 44.

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