Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 384

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into the sea between the thirtieth and thirty-fourth degrees of north Latitude: the greatest of these three, and the one that affords access to this city, is about midway between the two others. These rivers open easy communication for an inland commerce, the greatest per- haps in the whole world, giving access to at least one hundred and fifty millions of people.

For the inhabitants of this extensive region, most of it wholly unexplored by foreigners, the city of Shánghái is the great central entrepôt.

Once, no doubt,, the eastern plains of Kiángnán were partially if not wholly beneath the surface of the sea, but the earth accumula- ting has by slow degrees driven back the waves. The water-courses, however, are still very numerous and some of them deep; and the currents, moving with the rising and falling of the tides, very power- ful. Consequently, many of the channels have changed their beds. The river Wúsung is an example of this. Twelve centuries ago, in the time of the Táng dynasty, "says the Chinese historian," the river of Wúsung was twenty lí; in the time of the Sung it was nine li; afterwards it gradually lessened down to five, to three, to one li.” The beds of other rivers have been gradually filled, and “ are no longer to be seen." Cities, towns and markets have risen, flourished, and disappeared. To the Chinese antiquarian it can hardly be otherwise than interesting to trace these changes; but foreign rea- ders will not care to follow them in their doubtful researches. How- ever, should any wish to know what the Chinese themselves have written concerning the early history of Shanghái they may satisfy their curiosity by referring to Kiáking Shanghái hien chỉ ✈ ▼

"A statistical account of the district of Shanghai,

in the reign of the Emperor Kiáking."

Centuries before the Christian era, when Confucius lived and wrote, this region of country belonged to Wu, and afterwards be- came one of the Three States, so celebrated in Chinese "Historical Romance." In the time of the Tsin dynasty, about two centuries before our era, it was first raised to the rank of a hien, and was called Lau; ; it then belonged to the princedom of Hwui kí, fa where the great Yii is said to have died.

The first mention of its present name is found in the time of the Sung dynasty, which rose A. D. 960. The city was then called Shánghái chin, or the market of Shánghi, which literally means upper sea," or the "high sea." The account which seemis most

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