264 Dr. W. Morrison on the 



through Mongolia it is named the Sira muren (yellow river). 

 The direction is easterly for about 300 miles. Soon after 

 entering Manchuria the course changes from E. to S.S.W., 

 and it is thenceforth named the Liao. Altogether after a 

 course of about 600 miles it enters that portion of tlie Yellow 

 Sea named the Gulf of Liau-tong, near the treaty port of 

 Newchwang, in lat. 40° 61' N., long. 121° 27' E. 



Near its southward bend it receives from the north the 

 Hen-su Eiver, and soon after the Kai-yuen branch from the 

 north-east. 



In the alluvial plain the chief tributary on the left bank is 

 formed by the union of two rivers — the Hun, which flows 

 south-west near Mukden (the Manchurian capital), and the 

 Tai-tzu, which flows west past the city of Liauyang. The 

 river formed by their union, after a very brief course, joins 

 the Liao 60 miles north from Newchwang. 



Tributaries, though not so important, are also received 

 from the west. 



Northward in lat. 44° a low range forms the watershed 

 between the Liao and Songari. The tributaries which are 

 there in close proximity are the Y-tung, which flows north 

 to the Songari, and the Hen-su, which flows south to the 

 Liao. 



From the Gulf to the rise of the Hen-su the basin of the 

 Liao has a length of about 300 miles. In addition, and of 

 nearly equal length, there is the western prolongation along 

 the course of the Sira muren. 



Viewing the Sira muren and Liao as one river, the physical 

 conditions admit of a threefold division. The first section of 

 the course is among mountains with intervening valleys, 

 possessing a considerable rainfall. Next there is a portion 

 that flows through steppe country, with small rainfall and few 

 tributaries. The last and chief portion is that which flows 

 through the great alluvial plain, where important tributaries 

 are received and the rainfall is moderate, but subject to occa- 

 sional variations. The Plun and Tai-tzu tributary rivers, 

 which have been visited by me, are clear rivers flowing over 

 pebbly bottoms. 



At Newchwang, 10 miles distant from the sea, the river is 

 ^ mile broad and from 20 to 30 feet deep. The tidal influ- 

 ence extends to about 20 miles above Newchwang. The 

 river is navigable for river cargo-boats for about 200 miles. 

 There is no proper estuary. The river has cut a channel for 

 itself, outward into deep water, amid shallows and sandbanks. 

 The rocky coast of the peninsula to the east is distant by 

 boat about 12 miles from the river's mouth. There behind 



