112 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



measurements by me, but these slabs would average at least 

 12 yards long by 20 inches square at the ends. Commonly 

 the blocks are of hard limestone, occasionally of conglomerate. 

 The slabs of sandstone when used are shorter. At Chao- 

 chia-tu sandstone slabs are used as fencing. 



Any attempt to describe the cities on the Chengtu Plain 

 would necessitate more space than is at my disposal. They 

 differ, with the exception of the provincial capital, in no marked 

 particular from other cities of Szechuan. In size they vary 

 considerably, some of the large unwalled towns being com- 

 mercially more important than the walled cities. Most of 

 the cities and surrounding districts are noted for certain 

 things ; for example, Mienchu Hsien for its wheat en flour and 

 paper, P'i Hsien for tobacco, Wen-chiang Hsien for hemp, 

 P'eng Hsien for indigo, Shuangliu Hsien for straw-braid, and so 

 on. The majority of these cities are very ancient ; all contain 

 fine temples, as becomes such centres of wealth. Chengtu 

 (long. 104° 2' E., lat. 30° 38' N.) was described by Marco 

 Polo, who visited it during the thirteenth century, as a " rich 

 and noble city." Modern travellers, and their name is well- 

 nigh legion, have all agreed with the great Venetian's dictum. 

 In many respects Chengtu, with its population of 350,000 

 people, is probably the finest city in the whole of China. It 

 is built on a totally different plan from that of Peking, or 

 even Canton, so that comparisons are difficult. The present 

 city of Chengtu is comparatively modern, but occupies much 

 the same site as the capital of the aboriginal kingdom of Shu. 

 This kingdom was conquered by Shih Hwang-ti (the " First 

 Emperor ") some time between 221-209 B.C., who nominally 

 added it to his dominions. The succeeding dynasty of Han 

 (206 B.C. to A.D. 25) incorporated it as an integral part of 

 China. During the epoch of the Three Kingdoms the site (or 

 thereabouts) of the city was occupied as the capital of the 

 kingdom under Liu-pei. Succeeding dynasties have always 

 made it a most important seat of administration, and princes 

 of the imperial clan or viceroys have resided there. It is 

 still the seat of a Viceroy who governs the province of Szechuan 

 and nominally controls all Thibetan affairs. 



Great Britain, France, and Germany have each established 



