Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 355

1850.

Topography of the Province of Sz'chuen.

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lady was named Kingkí, and bore him six daughters, named Cháh,— they are the luh kwei nü★★ or six virgins. They knew clear- ly the turpitude of the sins of men; and for a heinous sin they shorten- ed the criminal's life two or three hundred days; while for a slighter offense they thwarted his prosperity during one or two hundred months. Therefore, Tsáu Shin, acting as the messenger between hea- ven and earth, became fully acquainted with this lower world. At early dawn on the morning of every sixtieth kichan day he goes out and ascends to heaven, and then descends to his abode; it is lucky to sacrifice to him on the kanday (i.e. those days which appertain to earth); he has eight spirits under him.

Whoever builds a fire-place in his house, should construct it so that the opening is towards the west; and the four sides should extend nine inches beyond the boiler; the bricks should be laid in fine mortar ; when finished, let it not be punched with holes. This is the way to build a proper furnace. The God of the Furnace died on the jin-tsz' day, and a fire-place should not be touched on this day. On any day of the fifth month having a shinin it, sacrificing a hog's head to the fire- place will induce gain a thousand fold; but if a dog be used on this day, it will be very unlucky. If a hen's feather fall into the fire-place, extraordinary misfortunes will happen. If a dog's bone fall into the fire-place, the son who shall next be born will be mad; if a white hen be sacrificed on the ki-tsz' day of the first month, it will secure success in the rearing of the silkworms. On the kichau day of the fifth month, a sacrifice being offered to the Furnace will give a lucky result. To sacrifice to the furnace on the ting-ki day of the fourth month, will prognosticate good luck in all affairs.

ART. IV. Topography of the province of Sz'chuen; its area, rivers,

lakes, mountains, divisions, towns, productions, and inhabitants.

Tar province of Sz'chuen i. e. the Four Streams is so call- ed from the four great tributaries of the Yangtsz' which water it; the

central mountainous districts were known as the kingdom of Kin-

金川

chuen or Golden Streams, in the days of Kienlung, when they

were possessed by the Miántsz'; in early times the region on the

river Min was cafted Shuh by which name the province is still