Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 663

moving about is much greater. hundred miles from the sea, is sufficient for the largest ships.

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The Yangtez' kiáng, nearly five here a league broad, with depth

Among the other cities in this province is Kingchau in lat. 30° 26′ 40′′ N. long. 112° 04′ 50′′ E., and one of the most important from its position on the Yangtsz' kiáng where it enters the Lake country a large garrison is maintained here. Siáng-yáng fú on the river Hán in fat. 32° 05′ N., and fong. 113' 05′ 16′′ E. is celebrated· · in ancient Chinese history.

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The capital of Húnán, Chángshá fú lies in the north-east part, on the river Siáng in lat. 28° 12′ N. long. 112° 49′ 57′′ E. Every pre- fecture of the province is accessible by water from it through the lake. Yohchau fú, on the eastern side of the lake at the junction with this river, is the thoroughfare for all goods passing up and down the Kiang. The surface of this and other lakes is enlivened by fishing-boats of various forms, some of them carrying cormorants; by large rafts carrying houses upon them, in which numerous families find a home; and by oddly shaped vessels transporting passengers and merchandise in different directions. Pirates infest both the lakes and streams, who do not confine themselves to depredatious

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the water, but land and levy black mail upon the villages, The city of Changsha is said to have been the place where the festi- val of Dragon Boats originated. In the south-western parts of the province, aboriginal hill tribes exist, who not seldom prove a source of trouble to the imperial government. An insurrection broke out in that region and in Kwangtung in 1832, which caused the governors of the two provinces much trouble to quell it, and cost the general of Kwangtung his office.

governor.

The Yangtsz' kiáng passes through the southern part of Húpeh; the Hán kiáng, and its numerous tributaries, flow into it on the north, and the Tsingkiáng on the south; these with some small streams flowing into the Great river, are the rivers of Húpeh. The Siang, Yuen and Tsz kiáng, with many branches, are in Hunan. The Tungting the largest lake in China, lies in the northeast part of Hunán. In the southern part of Llupeh are the lakes Sankáng 三岡, the Yangsing 楊桑, the Liángtsz' 梁子, the Hútau, and the Sántái, Lakes, with numerous other small ones.