principally of granite and present the curious boldly rounded 

 outlines, broken here and there by crags, which become especially 

 familiar in a country where few visitors have the opportunity of 

 seeing more than the ports and what is visible from the deck of a 

 coasting steamer between them. These hills, covered with coarse 

 grass and low shrubby vegetation, give an appearance of barrenness, 

 which is scarcely relieved even on closer investigation by the scanty 

 vegetation of shrubs and small trees which clothes the steep sides of 

 the ravines through which the mountain torrents rush down to the 

 beach. 



If the province is entered by way of Canton there has first to be 

 traversed the " Canton Delta " where every yard of the alluvial 

 plains is subjected to the closest cultivation, orchards of Litchi, 

 Orange and Persimmon, fields of Maize and Sugar Cane, Hemp and 

 Eamie, groves of Banana or Fan Palm stretching luxuriantly before 

 the eye, line beyond line, up to the horizon. 



Beyond these coastal plains commence the irregular systems of 

 rugged mountains which eventually culminate along the northern 

 boundaries of the province. The latter follow roughly the 

 water-parting between the rivers of Hunan and Kiangsi flowing 

 northward into the Yangtze and the tributaries of the West River 

 falling to the south. In this region, which is scarcely defined as a 

 mountain range but which is nevertheless often spoken of as the Nan- 

 shan, rise the three principal rivers of northern Kwangtung. These 

 are the North Kiver which falls into the West River near Canton, 

 the East River flowing into the Canton Delta through the Tungkun 

 plains and the northern affluents of the turbid Han, which falls into the 

 sea near Swatow. The sources of the East River, about which 

 little is known, are among what are probably the highest mountains 

 in the province. Elsewhere the ranges seldom exceed 3,000 feet, 

 though isolated peaks rise here and there one or two thousand feet 

 higher. 



The approach to these mountainous districts is most easily made 

 by boat on one of the large rivers that intersect the ranges and have 

 afforded access from time immemorial to the interior of the province. 

 In their lower courses the banks are low and frequent groves of 

 feathery bamboos wave in the breeze along their summits. Between 

 these appear vistas of rich flat pastures and peaceful villages, 

 standing in their ancestral groves. The mountains soon close in 

 and slow progress is made up foaming rapids, past many a gorge 

 and frowning precipice. Whenever more open reaches permit, 

 glimpses can be caught of the wild romantic scenery of the 

 mysterious highlands, where no white man has been. In most parts 

 of the mountains the bold rounded outlines indicate granitic forma- 

 tions. In the limestone districts these give place to the rugged 

 crags and fantastic shapes, so often portrayed in Chinese pictorial 

 art. 



So far as it has been explored, the coast, centre and north-west 

 of the province are fairly well known and good descriptions of the 

 scenery are available. The southern portion on the other hand is 

 practically unknown to Europeans, with the exception of the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Kwangchow, Pakhoi, and a few other 

 sea ports where traders have resided. 



