CniNA, MONGOLIA, AND JAPAN. 45 



to effect a drainage ; an object that was not accomplished untU ten years afterward 

 vinder the great Yu, by widening the channel of the river betweisn Shansi and 

 Shensi, especially in the gorges of Lungmun, Hukau, and Shanmun. 



Mailla, one of the Jesuit missionaries employed in preparing the map of the em- 

 pire, visited these localities, and relates that he saw with astonishment the remains 

 of this gigantic enterprise. 



However this may be, whether the works of Yu belong to the region of History 

 or of AUegory, we have here two traditions, the first pointing to a convulsion caus- 

 ing a great flood, and perhaps also forming the channel between Shansi and Shensi ; 

 while the second evidently refers to an immense overflow of waters coming from the 

 upper course of the Yellow river, and perhaps facilitated by obstructions in the 

 narrow channel. 



A gentleman, well versed in Chinese literature, informed me that, according to 

 native authorities, the valley of the Yang Ho, between Chatau and Kiming, the 

 easternmost of the ancient lake-basins, was once occupied by a lake which was 

 drained, finally, by the Yang Ho gorge. Considering this, and the accounts of the 

 Shuking, it is not, I think, impossible, that these traditions refer to the last events 

 in the history of the lake period, and that vpithin the memory of the Chinese people, 

 a part at least of this great body of fresh water was stiU in existence, if, indeed, the 

 formation of the channel between Shansi and Shensi, on which the retreat of the 

 main body depended, does not also fall within this limit. 



