Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 581

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Topography of Shantung

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says concerning the capital city, it appeared to be well built, ex- tensive and populous, with high walls within the suburbs," along which the boats were tracked for two miles. The country in its vicinage is flat.

VIII.

The department of Tsingchau lies eastward from Tsínán and Tái-án, having Wúting on the north, the sea on the northeast, Láichau on the east, sea again on the southeast, and the department of I ́ on the south. Its greatest length is from northwest to southeast, stretching quite across the promontory.

IX.

The department of Tangchau includes the whole extremity of the promontory, bounded by the sea excepting on the west where it borders on the department of L ́ichau. Though very mountainous, it is nevertheless well watered. The islands along the coast here

are numerous.

X. The department of Láichau is situated between those of Tangchau on the east, and Tsingchau on the west, and stretches from the sea to the sea on the north and south. On the south is a deep bay or gulf, which with the rivers on the north opens a water com- munication from one side of the promontory to the other. Not far from the head of the bay is a large lake.

XI. Tsining chau, or the department of Tsíning, is of a triangu lar shape, having Kiángsú on one side, and the departments of Yen- chau and Tsáuchau on the other sides. It is low and marshy, cover- ed with lakes and rivers and canals. The canal runs near the ca- pital, of which Davis says, "In the afternoon' we reached the neigh- borhood of Tsining chau, a town of considerable dimensions. As we did not proceed on our way until late on the morning of the 29th, an opportunity was afforded for surveying its suburbs, whose appear- ance surpassed what we had yet seen in that way. The canal seems to render this an opulent and flourishing place, to judge by the gilded and carved shops, temples, and public offices, along the east- ern banks.

Soon after quitting the neighborhood of the town, we for the first time saw two boatsful of the fishing birds, but nothing would induce the fellows in the boats to come nearer for close in- spection: we had abundant opportunities, however, of observing them afterwards. The canal in this part was a little raised above the level of the extensive marshes on each side, which were mostly

under water.

‘On the 30th the swamps increased rapidly, until the whole coun- try, as far as the eye could reach, displayed the effects of a most extensive recent inundation The waters were on a level with those