1850.
Topography of Húnán.
157
receiving the Tsz' kiáng as an affluent just before it unites with the lake. Its largest branch is the Kwei shwui, which joins it above Hangchau fú, and just opposite that city the Lái shwui✯✯ flows in, the junction forming a centre for trade from the southern districts. Twenty miles below Hangohau fii, the Mí kiáng I flows in on the east, and fifty miles further down, the waters of the Lub kiáng T. join themselves to the main stream. About fifteen miles above Chángshá, the Lien-ki comes in from the west, and just opposite to it the Linyáng kiáng
from the east. The Toz' kiáng I drains the central districts, but its rapid cur- rent and confined banks afford few facilities to the boatınan or farmer.
are the
The other large river is the Yuen kiáng; it rises in the southwestern part of the province, and receives the contributions of a large number of streams, some of them from Kweichau, and falls into the Tungting L. at its western end near Cháng-teh fú, after flowing upwards of four hundred miles. The Chuhchau, the V shwui 海水, the Mayáng 麻陽, and Peh ho北河, largest tributaries. In the northern districts, the Li shwui★ drags its sluggish length through the level region of the lake country. The lakes of Húnán are not as numerous as in the northern pro- vince, but among them is the Tungting hú, the largest lake in China, about 250 miles in circumference, which contains in its circuit several islands, and maintains large fleets of fishermen from its waters; its area is about 300 square miles. The Chinese mention a floating island on this lake, formed of trees and drift, like those oc- curring in the bayous of the Mississippi. The other lakes in Húnán are the Hwang-yih, Peb-nt or White Clay L., both in
黄益,Peh-nt白城 the northeast; the Tsau-tien hú, the Tseh-litor Seven Mile L., and the Má-níor Horse Clay L., are all small sheets of water, connected with the River, Lí. By means of these lakes and rivers, water communication is kept up through all parts of a region exceeding Great Britain in size.
The mountains of Húnán form part of the great chain of the Nán- ling, which defines the southern limits of the basin of the Yảngtsz'. and though they do not rise to the stupendous peaks seen in Yunnan, they render nearly one half of the province too rough for the plough. The Hang shán is the longest range within the province which bears
a single name; the Ki-tien ling, and Kiú-í ling 九疑。
two names given to the scuthern ridges.
are
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