Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 644

622

Topography of Shúnsi.

Nov

3 Tohketóh ching ting,

托克托城廳

I.

4 清水河廳 Tsingshúihó ting,

5 PA fil

薩拉齊

Sáhláhtsí ting.

The department of Taiyuen is one of the largest in the pro- vince; it occupies a central position, with regard to the north and south, and stretches eastward from the Yellow river, on the west, two thirds of the distance. On the north it is bounded by the de- partments of Paute and Ningwú; on the northeast by Hin; on the east by Pingting; on the southeast, by Liáu; on the south and south- west by Fanchau: and on the west by the province of Shensi. Several of the tributaries of the Wang and Fan rivers take their rise in this departinent, considerable parts of which are hilly and moun- tainous. It has an enterprising and numerous population. Its capi- tal city stands on the eastern bank of the river Fan, which affords an easy communication with the Yellow river. The magistrate of Yangkiu resides in the provincial city. The residence of the magis- trate of the district Taiyuen is in the city of that name, standing on the western bank of the river. The city Ki, the head of the district of that name, stands on the eastern bank of the river and near the borders of the department. To this place the ancient monarch Yáu early removed his residence, from Tanling where he was born.

11. The department of Pingyúng is in every respect second only to the provincial capital and the region of country over which it has jurisdiction. It stands on a plain, not far from the eastern bank of the river Fan. It is bounded, on the north by the departments of Sie, Holt, and Tsin; on the east by Lú-an; on the south, by Tse- chau and Kiáng; and on the west by Shensí. Several tributaries of the large rivers have their sources in this department. Just below the city of Pingyáng the river divides and forms an islaud, on which is built the chief city of the district of Siángling.

III. The department of Púchau, forming the southwestern por- tion of the province, is bounded on the west by Shensí; on the south by Honn: on the east by the department of Kiái; and on the north Its shape is nearly that of a parallelogram ̧ and northeast by Kiáng. The angle made by the Yellow river, however, is not an exact right angle but an acute one, and the shape of the department varies ac- cordingly, the western boundary being one of the longest sides of the Púchau fù, literally translated, incans the ** · Flag- parallelogram. country department,” so named evidently from its producing an

bundance of reeds and inches

Its cluef town stands neat its ex