Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/57

Rh elevated ridge or border, and a stream of water constantly flowing into it, to provide against the loss by evaporation, and to yield an overplus for the fields around and beneath it. For this purpose water must either be raised by artificial means, such as pumps, levers, wheels, &c., from a lower to a higher region; or conducted with great skill and care from some elevated position, along the sides of hills, and across valleys, to the desired spot; where, introduced into the highest field of the series, it gradually flows down to the lower terraces, until it is lost in the river or the sea. The very ingenious methods which the Chinese employ for raising water have often been illustrated; and shew at once their adroitness, and the necessity which has thus driven them to their wits' ends, to increase the produce of their soil. The water brought over the land brings fertility along with it, and the debris accompanying the fluid, thus conveyed from the surrounding heights, tends alike to moisten and fruetify the soil. The Chinese may be considered adepts in terrace cultivation, notwithstanding the observations of Barrow, that he saw but few instances of it in his route. From all the information that can be gathered from the natives, the contrary is the fact; and though in places where a supply of water cannot be commanded at an elevated spot, the natives necessarily leave the hill uncut into terraces; yet in every instance in which the locality is favourable, they do not fail to adopt a mode of cultivation so essential to the production of rice in southern latitudes. All travellers agree in the opinion that in minute spade husbandry, the Chinese more than equal Europeans; and Lord Macartney denominates them the best husbandmen in the world. Rh