PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 

 OBSERVATION. 



The country of Tching corresponds with the country of 

 Tching-tcheou, a dependency of the department of Kkai- 

 fong-fou, in the province of Ho-nan, which is situated in 

 the centre of China. [St. Julien/J 



In the ode entitled Tche-sin, we read : 



" The mulberry trees grow upon steep hills, and poplar 

 trees in moist valleys." 



This passage shows that silk worms could be raised in 

 the kingdom of Tfism. 



OBSERVATION. 



The country of Thsin corresponds to Thai-youan~fou, 

 which is now the capital of Chan-si. That province is sit- 

 uated in the north of China. [St. Julien.] 



In the ode entitled Jllong, we observe : 



" The mulberry leaves have not yet fallen ; they are fresh 

 and abundant." (/bid.) " The mulberry leaves become 

 yellow and fall." 



Also, in the ode entitled Sang-tchong : 



" He made an appointment to meet me among the mul- 

 berry trees." 



These two passages show that silk worms could be rais- 

 ed in the kingdom of W&. 



OBSERVATION. 



The country of Wei corresponds with the territory of 

 fVe'i-hot'i-fou, in the province of Ho-nan, which is situated, 



