Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 225

NOTICES OF CANTON.

Situation of the city &c.

Ox native maps the name of this city is written Kwangtung sáng ching," chief city of the province of Kwángtung: " but when spea- king of the city, the natives usually call it sang ching, "the provincial city," or "the capital of the province." The city is built on the north bank of the Chú kiáng, or Pearl river; it stands inland about sixty miles from the "great sea” From Húmun, (the Bogue or Bocca Tigris,) which the Chinese consider as the mouth of this river and the entrance to their inner waters, the merchantman, pursu- ing the best track, sails a few points to the west of north, until she arrives near the "first bar;" thence her course is almost due west to the anchorage at Whampoa. From that place, after leaving the ship, you continue on without changing your course, and passing by the city close on your right, you soon reach the Foreigu Factories These are situated a short distance from the southwest corner of the city, in 23° 7′ 10′′ N. lat., and 113° 14′ 30′′ E. of Greenwich, and about 3° 30′ W. of Peking. Of the factories some account will be given in the sequel.

The scenery around the city in the adjacent country is rich and diversified, but does not present any thing bold or grand. On the north and northeast of the city, the country is hilly and mountain- ous. In every other direction a wide prospect opens before you. The rivers and channels, which are very numerous, abound with fish, and gre covered with a great variety of boats, which are continually pass- ing to and from the neighboring towns and villages. Southward from the city, as far as the eye can see, the waters cover a considera- ble portion, perhaps one eighth, of the whole surface. Rice-fields and gardens occupy the low lands, with only here and there a few little hills and small groves of trees rising up to diversify the other- wise unbroken surface. The city itself-including all both within and without the walls-is not of very great extent; and though very populous, derives its chief importance from its extensive domesti and foreign trade.

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