194 REPORT — 1861. 



ing their languages, the Norwegians and Fins knew nothing of the langiia!|e of the 

 Laps, and that the connexion between the Laps and the Fins was more intimate 

 than between the Norwegians and the Laps. 



New Commercial Route to China. 

 By Henkt Dttckwoeth, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.O.S. 



The object of this commimication was to give a summary of a project recently 

 placed before the Government and commercial community of this country by Cap- 

 tain Richard Sprye and the writer of this paper. 



In his prefatory remarks the author observed that our most recent acquisitions of 

 territory in Bumiah had brought us within 250 miles of the Chinese frontier. 



There being no direct communication between the two countries, it became a 

 most important question whether it would be possible and profitable to establish 

 one. 



The seven most western and inland provinces of China proper are situated between 

 about 22° and 42° north latitude, and lie far west of the extreme point to which 

 Lord Elgin proceeded up the Yang-tze-kiang. 



The chief uatm-al productions of Yun-nan (area, 107,969 squai-e miles ; 

 population, 8 millions) are rice, silk, musk, various kinds of drugs, and tea. Gold, 

 copper, lead, cinnabai', find oi-piment are abundant ; indeed, Yim-nan excels all the 

 other provinces in its mineral wealth. 



Kwangsee (area, 78,250 square miles ; popidation, lOi millions) produces abim- 

 dance of rice, cassia, au(L. valuable fumiture-woods. Gold, silver, and quicksilver 

 are the principal metals. 



Kweichoo (area, G4,554 square miles; population, 7^ millions) yields Avheat, 

 rice, musk, tobacco, cassia, and precious timber. Lead, copper, iron, and quicksilver 

 are foimd in its mountains. 



Hoonan (area, 7.3,000 square miles ; population, 33 millions), one of the richest 



frovinces in the empire, produces immense quantities of grain, principally rice. 

 ts teas are said to be remarkably fine. Iron, lead, and coal are abimdant; and the 

 movmtains produce pine, cassia, and various other kinds of timber. 



Sze-chueu (area, 160,800 square miles ; population, 30^ millions) is the largest 

 and, according to Abbd Hue, the finest province in China. Its fertility is such 

 that, it is said, the produce of a single harvest cannot be consumed in it in ten years. 

 Its pi-incipal productions, besides grain, are indigo and various tinctorial plants, fine 

 teas, silk, sugar, gi-ass-cloth fibre (Bahmeria nivea), and manj^ kinds of -s'aluable 

 drugs. 



Shensee (population, 14| millions) is too cold for rice and silk ; wheat and 

 millet supply their place. Rhubarb, musk, wax, red-lead, coal, and nephrite are the 

 pi-incipal articles of exportation. 



Kansu (area, Tvith the last, 154,000 square miles ; population, 22 millions) pro- 

 duces wheat, barley, millet, and tobacco of very superior quality. A large 

 traffic is canied on "between this province and Tartary in hides and coarse woollen 

 cloths. 



The means of reaching these seven rich and densely-populated provinces from the 

 Bot of Bengal is very simple. 



Taking Rangoon as the starting-point, it is proposed to connect that port with 

 an emporium in the north-east comer of Pegu, i.e., imder the magnificent Karen 

 Hills. From this emporium, which woidd be almost equidistant from Rangoon 

 and the Chinese frontier, the line of communication would pass through Burman- 

 shan teri'itory to Esmok (or Sze-maou), a border-town of Yun-nan, and a point at 

 which several caravan-roads converge directly from various parts of the province, 

 and indirectly from the whole of the western half of the empire. 



In order to take-in chief towns and our military stations, the line would proceed 

 thus : — 1st stage, Rangoon to the ancient city of Pegu, the intervening country 

 being almost level ; 2nd stage, from Pegu, over flat land across the Sittang to Shoe- 

 gyen ; 3rd, Shoe-gyen, up the left bank of the Sittang and Kyoukkee rivers to 

 Baukatah, a distance of 35 miles ; 4th, from Baidcatah up the left bank of that river 

 and its tributary, the Peemabhu, to Thayet-peen-keentat, also 35 miles ; 5th, across 



