Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 651

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provincial government, or else forming a subordinate part of a fi. In the former case it is called chih-li. e. under the direct rule of the provincial government; in the latter case it is simply called ting. A chau is a division similar to a ting, and like it either independent of any other division, or forming part of a fú. The difference between the two consists in the government of a ting resembling that of a fú more nearly than that of a chau dọes; thất of a chau is less expensive. The ting and chau of the class to which the term chih-li is attached, may be denominated in common with the fú, departments or prefectures; and the term chihli may be rendered by the word independent. The subordinate ting and chau may both be called districts. A hien, which is also a district, is a small division or subordinate part of a department, whether of a fú, or of an independent chau or ting. Each fú, ting, chau and hien, possesses at least one walled town, the seat of its government, which bears the same name as the department or district to which it per- tains. The province of Chihlí contains eleven fú, six chau depart- ments, three ting districts, seventeen chau districts, and one hundred and twenty-four hien districts; it is compared in size with England and Wales united, or with the states of Michigan, Illinois or Arkansas in the United States.

Peking, the capital of the empire, is si'uated in this province in a sandy plain about twelve miles west of the Pei ho, and about a hundred miles west-north-west of its mouth, in latitude 39° 54′ 13′′′ N. and longitude 116° 27′ E., or nearly on the parallet of Samar- kand, Erzroom, Naples and Philadelphia. The entire circuit of the walls and suburbs is reckoned to be about twenty-five miles, and the area at twenty-seven square miles. The average estimate of the population makes it about two millions. The place is otherwise called Shuntien fú. The seat of government was not permanently established here until A. D. 1411. The name given it on Chinese maps is King-sz'i, Capital of the Court. The city is divided into two portions including the northern portion or Tartar city, and the southern portion or Chinese city. In the former is the Kin ch'ing, or Prohibited city, which contains the Imperial Palace, and is about one mile square.

Besides the metropolis, Chihlí contains several other large cities, among which Pauting fú, the residence of the governor of the province, and Tientsin fú, the entrepôt of trade which comes through the Grand Canal and the Pei ho coast-wise, are the most important.