660 KEPOKT— 18S0. 



of that name, dominated b}' tlie Saracenic castle of Kalat-er-Rubud. Thence 

 easterly to Jerasli. Thence to Salt, and from Salt in a due easterly direction to the 

 interesting and little known ruins of Yajuz ; thence to Kalat Terka, a station on 

 the Hadj road from Damascus to Mecca, and probably the site of the ancient 

 Gadda. Thence south-west to Rabboth Amman and back to Salt. From Salt he 

 also visited the interesting ruin of Arak-el-Emir, the fortress of Hyrcanus. The 

 whole country traversed, was, excepting in its eastern sections, either pasture, 

 wooded, or arable land, and capable in the highest degree of development ; while 

 there can be no doubt that in the unexplored mountainous region traversed bv the 

 Upper Yabbok ruins remain yet to be discovered, and sites to be identified, which 

 will contribute for some years to come to make the whole of this country, already 

 so replete with historical association, a most interesting field of research. 



3. On Pictorial Aid to Geographical Teaching. Bij G. G. Boiler, M.A. 



4. Notes on a Journcij from Canton to Ktvei-Yang-Fu up the Canton River. 



By W. Mesny. 



Mr. Mesuy, a gentleman from Jersey, who has passed many years in the interior of 

 China in the service of the Chinese Government, and who accompanied Captain Gill 

 from Ch'eng-Tu to Bhamo duiing his journey across China to Burma, has commu- 

 nicated through that officer particulars of his voyage up the Hsi-IIo or (,'anton 

 river to Kwei-Yang-Fu in the province of Kwei-Cliou, not before made by any 

 European. 



Mr. Mesny started from Canton on March 9, 1870, in a native junk, ascending 

 the west river past Fu-Shan (the ' Fat-Shan' of W. & A. K. Johnston's map), and 

 entering the main Hsi-ITo (Si-Kiang of Johnston) at San-Shui-IIsien. Here tho 

 river is 200 yards wide, and deep enough for steamers of 1000 tons ; its banks are 

 fertile and well-cultivated. After passing Shao-Shing-Fu (Chow-King), the frontier 

 of Kuang-Si was reached at Wu-Chou-Fu (Oo-Chow), on the junction of the Fu-Ho 

 and Hsi-IIo. This city is the centre of a considerable import and export trade, and 

 is visited for commercial purposes by the aboriginal Miau-Tze from Kwei-Chou, 

 with strange costumes and incomprehensible tongue, who are looked on with con- 

 tempt by the people of the great central nation. Even now there are here stores 

 for foreign goods which have managed to pass the Lekin or octroi barriers so nume- 

 rous between Canton and Wu-Ohou-Fu. These barriers afford little benefit to the 

 revenue, being used by greedy officials as a means of extortion ; and they cripple 

 trade by increasing the cost of articles in proportion to the distance of carriage. 

 Wu-Chou-Fu may, however, yet become a good treaty port for Kuang-Si, Kwei- 

 Ohou,and some parts of IIu-Nan and Yiin-Nan, as light-draught steamers for towing 

 purposes could come up with cargoes all the year round. Mr. Mesny met with civil 

 treatment from the people, though the magistrate endeavoured to keep him away by 

 attempting to excite his fears. 



After a journey of twenty-one days up the Fu-TIo (Kwei-Fong or Cassia), the 

 traveller reached Kwei-Lin-Fu (Kuei-Ling), the provincial capital of Kuang-Si, on 

 June 23. This river i.s not likely to be used for steam traffic, owing to its shallow 

 rapids. The cities on it are ruinous, and occupied chiefly by new-comers. Rice 

 and other cereals, and sugar cane, are much cultivated, and the country above Ping- 

 Lo-Fu is very picturesque, the hiUs sometimes having large caves which pierce 

 them, showing the sky through. The people are greater flesh-eaters than those 

 of other provinces, and the women do not as a rule cramp their feet. 



After a stay of a week, Mr. Mesny reached the Pei-Sha-Kiang, having crossed 

 a plateau by water with an ascent of eight and descent of fifteen locks. There a 

 large irrigating wheel, lifting water 30 feet above the river level into troughs, was 

 seen. On the third day from Kwei-Lin-Fu the main west river (Hsi-Ho) was again 

 struck, near Liu-Ohou-Fu (Lioo-Chow), now very quiet and partly in ruins. The 



