KAN. 



124 CHINA. 



The interior of CZ'/V/rt maintains a moft fingular character; 

 it is varied with chains of mountains winding along its furface, 

 yet {o as to leave vallies that enabled one of the emperors to 

 open a communication by water, partly by means of rivers and 

 partly by navigable canals, from Pckifig to CaJiton, a diftance of 

 1500 miles: little interruption occurs in this vaft fpace, except 

 the lofty mountains which feparate the provinces of Kiang-fee 

 and fluan-'Tung. We fhall fpeak farther of this, and the other 

 canals, in their proper places. 

 Island or Hai- I SHALL iiow enter Oil the topographical account, commencing 

 at its fouthern extremity. The illand oi Hainan, i. e. the fouth 

 of the fea, exprefles its fituation. It belongs to the province of 

 ^lang-tung (which, oppofite to Hai-nan, juts far fouth in a 

 peninfulated form) and is diftant above twelve miles from the 

 fliore; is a hundred and fixty leagues in circumference, and 

 produces every thing that can conduce to the wants and "conve- 

 niences of life ; the climate alone is bad, by reafon of the quality 

 GotD. of the water. The ifland abounds with gold ; but as it has been 



but half conquered, that valuable metal is in the power of the 

 natives, a brave, independent people, who live in the middle 

 parts, amidrt arduous mountains ; the reft of the country being 

 a plain. The inhabitants had long a traffic with the Ch'inefe ; 

 one was deputed to examine the goods ofiered ; and on the other 

 part a Cbineje merchant went to fee thofe of the mountaineers : 

 the utmoft honor was obferved on both fides. The Cbinefe, efj.H?- 

 cially the governor, made immenfe profit of the gold. This the 

 great Kang-bi difcovered, and put a final ftop to a commerce 

 which till then had been allowed by law. The Lapis Armenus^ 

 which produces blue fo much in rcqueft for coloring the porce- 



lane, 



