Page:China historical and descriptive.djvu/33

Rh it suffers terribly from the overflowing of these great waterways, notably the latter. That portion of the plain which lies south of the Yang-tsze is intersected by innumerable canals, and is protected from floods by raised dykes and sea-walls, whilst in many places the surface has been rendered fit for cultivation by excavating canals and ponds, and employing the outcome to raise the level of the land. At different epochs of time the Yellow River has altered its course, and caused such devastation by its floods, that it is now known by the inhabitants of the region through which it flows as "China's Sorrow." In the year 1872 the Peiho overflowed its banks and caused much destruction.

The next great natural division comprises the Provinces of Shan-se and Shen-se, the north part of Honan, and the east of Kansu. It lies west of the Great Plain, and south of Inner Mongolia, forming what perhaps may be called the mineral district of China.

Shan-se and Shen-se are both rugged and mountainous provinces, and abound with good anthracite coal, copper, gold, iron, cinnabar, jasper, lapis-lazuli, marble, porphyry, and salt. The northern portion of Honan and the eastern portion of Kansu are similar in their appearance and productions.

South of the mineral district lies Central China, or the lake district, consisting of the Province of Hoo-pe, the south-west part of Honan, and the north of Hoo-nan. The Yang-tsze traverses this district, which is further drained by the river Han towards the north. As its name imports,