Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/52

 is here called the Muhloosoo, but soon after entering Sze-chuen, it takes the name of Kin-sha, 'golden-sanded,' which it bears in its passage southward through Yunnan, and again north through those parts of Szechuen which are inhabited by subdued Meaou-tsze. It afterwards takes the well-known names Great river and Yang-tsze-keang, which it retains in its majestically rapid and serpentine course, through Szechuen, Hoopih, the northern extremity of Keang-se, Ganhwuy, and Keangsoo, to the sea. This river, from its almost central course, and the number of provinces through which it passes, has been termed 'the girdle of China,' and has given rise to the common expressions north of the river, south of the river, and beyond the river.

The river next in size to the Hwang-ho and Yang-tsze-keang, is the Se-keang or Western river, which rises in the mountains of Yunnan, and passing under various names through that province and the adjoining one of Kwangse, enters Kwangtung, where it unites with the Pih-keang, or Northern river, and with a minor stream, at San-shwuy, or 'the three streams,' a little to the west of Canton. A great number of small rivers and channels then carry its waters to the sea.—The Pih-ho, or Pei-ho, in Chihle province, is a river of some importance.—The Meinam kom, or river of Camboja, and the Sulween or Martaban river, both of which pass through China, are also worthy of mention. The former of these rises in Kokonor, not far from the source of the Yellow river, and passes under the names of Sa-tsoo and Lan-tsang, through Yunnan, into the country of the Laos, where it receives the name of Kew-lung. Thence it flows through Camboja, to the sea, at Mitho. The Sulween rises likewise in Kokonor, and passes under the names of Noo and Loo, through the province of Yunnan, whence it enters Burmah, and forms the boundary between that country and the Laos tribes, in its progress to the sea at Martaban.

Even among the tributaries of the two great rivers of China, many rivers may be found of considerable length, and some scarcely inferior to the largest rivers of Europe. At the head of these are the Han-shwuy, which, rising in the mountains between Shense and Kansuh, empties itself into the Yang-tszekeang, at Han-yang-Foo, in Hoopih,—and the Ya-lung-keang, which rises in Kokonor, and after running for some time nearly parallel with the Yang-tsze-keang, empties itself into that river on the borders of Szechuen and Kansuh. Many others of minor importance might be enumerated; but we leave them to be introduced in a more particular description of the several provinces of China.

The Grand Canal, in Chinese Yun-ho, or 'the Transit river,' is of much more importance to the inland trade than either