296 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS— ASIA. [May 23, 1859. 



teeming population and extreme cultivation of the region watered 

 by the great stream have been exaggerated. He is disposed to think 

 that even prior to rebel invasion the cities never could have equalled 

 in number or extent the accounts which have been current respecting 

 them. Thus, instead of a population of 8,000,000, ascribed to the 

 three cities of which Han-Kow is the chief, he is disposed to reduce 

 the cipher to an eighth part of that number. On this head, however, 

 we have the authority of the great Chinese scholar. Sir John Davis, 

 who, with my lamented friend Sir Henry Ellis, partially ascended 

 the Yang-tse-Keang in 1816, to prove how very abundant and 

 flourishing was the population before the country was cursed with a 

 pestiferous rebellion, which, under the false pretence of Christianity 

 and religion, has enabled a collection of lawless and destructive 

 freebooters to paralyse the industry of a great country. I would 

 indeed fain hope, that the Imperial Government of China may be 

 aided by foreign states in suppressing this noxious and devastating 

 insurrection ; for there can be little doubt that the nations interested 

 in establishing a steady commerce with China could, if they willed 

 it, re-establish the Imperial Government in full possession of the 

 country, and thus strengthen the union which has happily at last 

 been effected. 



Let us, then, turn with hope to the picture of the internal 

 commerce sketched out by our associate, Mr. Lockhart, who last 

 year placed before us those data on Chinese authority respecting 

 the importance of the great interior port of Han-Kow, which have 

 been entirely confirmed by the exploration of Lord Elgin. We may, 

 indeed, feel certain that when commercial relations are estabUshed 

 with that port, to which Mr. Lockhart specially directed attention, 

 smaller vessels will soon pass still farther up the river to new and 

 important stations of intercourse with the natives ; whilst daring 

 travellers, no longer experiencing the difficulties which beset them 

 of old, will penetrate towards the very sources of this mighty stream,* 



* I learn from Mr. Joseph Edkins, the associate of Mr. W. Lockhart in China, that the 

 Chinese possess written records of all the enormous changes which the great river Yang-tse- 

 Keang as well as other streams have undergone for many ages back. The fertilizing of large 

 tracts by fresh water floods — the barring out of the tides by which the salt water would 

 have sterilized good lands — the regulation of the system of canals and embankments, are 

 explained in works mentioned in the brief but pregnant announcement of Mr, Edkins, 

 which will be read before the Society, and printed in our Proceedings. Some of these works 

 are among the oldest geographical documents. Thus, the Section of the Shocking (Book of 

 History) called Yu-Kung consists of a geographical description of China in the time of the 

 famous Emperor Yu, who, about 2000 years before Christ, restored the country to a condition 

 fit for agriculture after a great local deluge. On his return to China, Mr. Edkins will work 

 out many curious data of the comparative geography of this singular and learned people. 



