Mineralog}j and Geologi/, 279 



dread of the subject tliat people avoided conversing about it: it was 

 believed that even politics^ miglit be discussed with less danger, the fear 

 being, that if ^not let alone altogether, the dangerous stream might re- 

 appear, and with greater power. At Siichau, says our informant, a few 

 puddles might be seen, and a rivulet which a child could ford. From 

 various sources we learn that as high up as Kaifung there is so little 

 water that boats can no longer approach the city. The subject is seldom 

 referred to in the Gazette. In May last, the Commissioner having charge 

 of the lower portion of the Hwang reported, that out of the twenty-two 

 ting under his jurisdiction nine were entirely dry. Last May the emperor, 

 m a sentential document, enumerating the calamitous occurrences of his 

 short reign says, " the river does not flow as hitherto," evidently regarding 

 that as an evil omen. A careful search of the Gazette of the past four 

 years would perhaps throw more light on the subject; the above is all 

 that we have noted. 



It will be remembered that an earthquake was felt in the maritime 

 portion of the Plain on the 16th December, 1 852. Did the earthquake pre- 

 cede, was it synchronous "\dth, or did it follow the fluviatlle phenomenon? 



In the following year earthquakes occurred over this same region April 

 loth, 24th and 25th. A newly formed part of the coast north of the 

 Yangtz disappeared in one of those shocks. About the same time, for 15 

 successive days, destructive shocks were experienced in Kansuh. In 1854 

 several sliglit earthquakes were felt in the south of China and in the 

 China sea ; and in 1855 occurred the great earthquake at Simoda wliich 

 as we have elsewhere stated in detail caused an elevation of the inland 

 waters of the southeast corner of the Plain, 



In the spring of the present year earthquakes were of frequent occur- 

 rence in Manchuria. In fine, the whole of southeast Asia, has within 

 the past few years been disturbed by an extraordinary number of earth- 

 quakes. It is for dynamic geology, with which wc are in no wise con- 

 versant, to inform us if tliere is any connection between these subterra- 

 i^ean forces, and tlie change which has come over the Yellow River. 

 Although no proper geodetical survey has been made, we know that a 

 portion of the lower part of the Hwang is higher than the adjacent 

 P'ain, A very slight elevation of that region of country would suffice to 

 turn the waters into their ancient channels. We have indeed received 

 verbal accouiits fi-om travellers to the effect that the stream now passes 

 through the prefecture of Tsauchau in the southwest part of Shantung, 

 and thence as of old, in what particular way is not stated, to the Gulf of 

 Peehele. On the other hand the above named Secretary states that in 

 liis journey from rekin^'i* tuJSwaingan made in February 1853 he found 

 from Tientsing to that point on the canal where it receives the waters of 

 the Yunho less water than usual, and from thence where the current 

 turned in Ins favor the quantity of water in the canal became less and 

 less until he reached its junction with the Yellow River where it also was 

 ^^- Moreover the waters were no whore less pellucid than ordinary. 

 From various other sources we have received similar accounts, which like 

 this, palpably contradict the statements which represent the Hwang as 

 leaving tiikeu a northeast course. How could that vast sheet of water 

 find its way into the Gulf without imparting its hue to the streams it 

 invaded ? Again how could the river find exit in the manner indicated 

 ^vithout overflowino- rivers the level oi which in some places is above that 



