39G HUXAy- THE CLOSED PROVINCE OF CHINA 



seriously reduced, comj)elling transfer from medium -sized junks to 

 san}jans, tlie city has become the j^reat market for the southern part 

 of Hunan. 



These cities mark the four great tradino; points in the eastern part 

 of the province, the most populous and flourishing portion. But 

 there is one more that .should be added to the list as a place of com- 

 mercial importance, namely, Changte, on the Yuan, the head of large 

 junk navigation on that stream. 



The accompanying map, the result of a careful instrumental sur- 

 vey, locates the Siang River and the junction of its various tributa- 

 ries from the Tungting Lake southward to where it receives the waters 

 of the Leiho, and thence the Leiho and its tributary, the Yutan, to 

 the Nanling Range. The location of the river itself and also of the 

 principal cities on its banks is also given. It is almost unnecessary 

 to add that the position of the various details differs considerably from 

 the preconceived location. 



The Siang River, like all other streams in China, is subject to an 

 annual rise in the spring, the high waters occurring in May and June 

 and the low' ))eriod in December and January. During the latter 

 months a depth of only three feet is the most that can l)e counted on as 

 far as Siangtan, this depth being governed by frequent shoals. Be- 

 tween Siangtan and Hengchau junks must draw not over one and a 

 half feet. On the Leiho the draught of water is limited to one foot 

 to Yungshing, and above that point only the small sanj»ans are able 

 to ascend in the winter time to Chenchau. In the summer time the 

 flood waters will give a depth of from 10 to 30 feet above the low- 

 water stage. 



Although the flood occurrences of the Siang are similar to those of 

 the Yangtze, the character of the stream is quite different. The allu- 

 vial nature of the Yangtze Valley soil practically terminates at the 

 south side of the Tungting Lake. From that point southward the 

 Siang River flows through a rocky or gravelly soil formation, so that 

 its waters, unlike those of the Yangtze, are clear. It is a stream that 

 might be improved for navigation purposes; but such work would 

 require a large amount of initial dredging and then a continual 

 annual expense in the same kind of work to maintain a channel. 

 After this was accomplished it would be subject to the annoyances 

 and inconveniences due to a great rise and fall in the river level, 

 with a consequent swift descending current in tlie summer months. 

 The building of a railroad woidd probaljly cost no more than the 



