HUNAN— THE CLOSED PROVINCE OF CHINA 395 



between the Yangtze and the China Sea. When reacliing latitude 

 27" N. the Siang River makes a bend at an angle of about 45°, and 

 thence flows i)ractically due north to its junction in the Tungting 

 Lake with the Yuan and wdth the Yangtze. 



The route projected by the American concession through the prov- 

 ince of Hunan was a north and-south line following the Siang from 

 the Yangtze to the point where it makes the bend above mentioned- 

 Here the Siang receives a tributary flowing from the south, the Leiho, 

 which, with its tributary, the Yutan, rises in the Nanling Range itself. 

 This watercourse is not only the main drainage line of the eastern 

 part of the province, but is the great trade route of Hunan, com- 

 munication in the interior being confined chiefly to the rivers. The 

 projected railway route leaves the Siang at its junction with the 

 Leiho and follows the latter to wathin a mile of Chenchau, then, after 

 crossing the Nanling Range at Parson's Ga}), follows the Wei and Pei 

 Rivers to Canton. 



At the outlet of the Tungting Lake is Yochau, a city of about 40,000 

 inhabitants, recently declared a treat}^ port where foreigners ma}^ re- 

 side. Yochau has attained its importance by being at the junction 

 of the Siang and the Yuan rivers with the Yangtze, and so becoming 

 the gatewa}^ of the province. One hundred miles up the Siang is 

 Changsha, the ca})ital of the i)rovince, and consequently the official 

 residence of the governor and the other provincial officers. This 

 city has a population of at least 500,000, and the Chinese claim 

 1,000,000 for it. It is a walled city of the first class, with consider- 

 able manufacturing industries in furniture, pewter-ware, and ]>a})er, 

 and although heretofore foreigners have been exi)ressly forbidden to 

 enter it, its shops are filled with all kinds of foreign as well as Chinese 

 goods. Thirty miles above Changsha is Siangtan. stretching along 

 the west bank of the Siang for a distance of three and one half miles. 

 Siangtan is at the head of large junk navigation, the river shoaling 

 rapidly above this point. It is therefore the distributing point for the 

 central i>art of the i)rovince. The ancient city is small, and witliin 

 its walls are located the official yamen and other similar public build- 

 ings. The modern city of Siangtan lies wholly without the walls, and 

 is given over entirely to commerce. 



One hundred and ten miles above Siangtan is Hengcliau, at the 

 point where the Siang River makes its bend from its easterly to its 

 northerly course. The Chinese claim for Hengchau a population of 

 200,000. As tiie available depth for boats in winter is here again 



