Page:China historical and descriptive.djvu/30

18 Chinese Empire, Peking, from which fact it derives its name, "The Supreme Province." It is flat and marshy as a rule, containing several lakes and rivers. Marble, granite, and coal are found in considerable quantities within easy distance of the capital.

South of Pechili comes the Province of Shan-tung, the eastern part of which is so mountainous that portions of it remain uncultivated. The Imperial Canal flows through the western portion, and every foot of ground in its vicinity is diligently cultivated; thus the Shan-tungese are enabled to supply their neighbours with vegetables and tobacco.

South of Shan-tung lies the Province of Kiang-su, within whose boundaries are gathered together the three great water-ways of China. Not long ago this was esteemed the most flourishing portion of the great Empire, but the Taeping rebellion completely ruined it, and Nanking, its capital, was almost deserted. Now, however, it is slowly recovering.

Ngan-whi is situated to the westward of Kiang-su, of which it once formed a part. Like its sister province, it is level, abundantly watered, and very productive.

These four provinces constitute the expanse of flat country known as the Great Plain, which extends 600 miles from Peking in the north to Hangchow in the south, and varies in breadth from 200 to 300 miles. To the north-east the tract is abundantly watered by the Peiho, and the south portion contains the delta of the enormous streams the Yang-tsze-kiang and Yellow River. At times