Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 395

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city and suburbs. There are also here and there, tanks or reservoirą, sunk beneath the surface of the ground. Of pure spring water there is none here, nor in this vicinity, there not being a hill or mound visible in any direction from the city. The water of the river is ge- nerally preferred for culinary purposes, it being first rendered pure by the application of alum.

The streets of Shanghái are narrow and very irregular, only one, we believe, running quite through the city from side to side; this leaves from the great eastern to the western gate, carrying you close along on the north side of the cháu kia páng. Generally, a street will bẹ found near each side of the several canals. The water-courses have evidently given direction to most of the streets in the city; for be- sides those that run near to and parallel with them, all the others, with few exceptions, will be found either to fall in with these main streets, as secondary parallels, or they cross or branch off from them at nearly right angles. The exceptions must be extended, to a street which is just within the wall and nearly parallel with it, passing from the south around to the north-west; to some streets along the minor branches of the canals; and to a few other short and winding ways in various parts of the city.

The main streets,or those which arec hief places of business and concourse, are that which leads quite through the city, from the great eastern to the western gate; that from the little north-eastern gate, running near the north side of the Fáng páng; and the one next to it on the northern side of the northern branch of the same Fáng pang; these three run from east to west. Entering the city at the great southern gate you go along one of the main streets from south to north, till you are in front of the Chi-hieu's, office. The othermain street, running in this direction, from north to south, will be found in the central and eastern part of the city.

The names of these streets, as in all other Chinese cities, are sufficiently expressive, the names being intended to characterize the several places, or something belonging to them. Sometimes the name is derived from a family; sometimes from a trade, or a temple, a ditch, &c. One has been named after the Liú family; another after the Sun, and so of many others. We have also the Great and Peaceful street. Though kiái, . is the common term corresponding to our

17. word street, and is in fact but a mere alley, yet the Chinese, like Eu- ropeans, have their avenues, squares, places, alleys, lanes, and also their gardens and terraces.

The breadth of the streets may be on an average, six feet; some