Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 385

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probable, as it is the most natural, is that there were two regions or rivers, one designated the Lower and the other the Upper sea; aud hence it is said, was derived the name. Others say there were eigh- teen great rivers, among which one was called the Lower sea and another the upper sea, and hence the modern name. We also find the characters reversed Hái Sháng, "Upon the sea," indicating that the city or district was situated contiguous to, or upon the sea.

The modern Shanghai hien is one of the eight districts which form the department “Pine River," or Sungkiáng fú, which again is one of the twelve departments that make up the province of the modern Kiángsú, the capital of which is Schau. The district is bounded on the north by Páushán, on the north-east by Chuenshú, on the east and south by Nánhwái, on the west by Hwáting, Lau and Kiáting. In this whole region of country, ás far as the eye can see, there is not a hillock to obstract the range of vision and it is exceedingly rich and productive. Excepting some slight undufa- tions, it is all one wide level płain. Mr. Fortune, in his “ "Wander- ings,” has given a charming, and as far as we have had opportunitý to judge, a faithful description of this region. "As an agriculturi country,” he says, “the plain of Shanghái is by far the richest 1 have seen' in China, and is perhaps unéquatted by my district of like extent in the world. It is one vast beautiful garden. The soil is a rich deep loam, producing cotton, wheat, barféy; rice, peaches, with great varieties of vegetables.”

A

being from north to south

In the imperiál statistical

The district is not one of great extent, only 90 lt, and from east to west 86 11,* account of the Empire, it is 84′ from north to south and 54′ from east to west. In a work before us we have the following statement of distancer: from the city of Shanghár.

We are indebted to a gentleman connected with the British consulate at Shanghai for the Chinese measures :

The Chinese Land measure is 66 inches, or 54 English feet to the rá, and two pú to a chẳng. The custom-house cháng is 141 inches; the Land measure cháng is 132 inches :

As also, 7260 square English feet to one square máu;

As also, 4,3560 English square feet to one English square acre;

Say,

six square mẩu to one English square acre ;

Or.

940 square pû to a squaré máu÷÷15 into 16 pù;

At,

304 English square feet to one squæré pú,

one square på being 54, feet itt length by 54 feet'in breadth.

The pú✈ is six chih long: i. e. the Le pan chik, R, also called