THE GROWTH OF THE YANGTZE DELTA 29 



2.— Those that believed that the three mouths were 

 m the ancient province of Yangchow (Kiangsi, Anhwei 

 Kiangsu and Northern Chekiang). See Plate 7. 



a. The Sunking— the Soochow Creek of to-day. 



b. The Sankiang, a river north of the Soochow Creek. 



c. The Tungkiang, sometimes identified with the Whangpoo. 

 These are practically only outlets of the Tai Hu. Thp word 



'Kiang" was formerly applicable only to the Yangtze, the 

 widening of the term, which means now a large river, came 

 about very much later. It is improbable that the outlets 

 of the Tai Hu should receive such a name. The Sankiang 

 iici(']\ a branch of the river Sunkiang, and the Tungkiang 

 could only very doubtfully be identified with the Whangpoo. 

 3. — Those who accept the Chien Tang Kiang as one of 

 the outlets. 



(i. Xorth Kiang is the Yangtze. 



6. Middle Kiang is Sunkiang (the Soochow Creek). 



c. South Kiang is the Chien Tang Kiang. 



There is considerable evidence that the Sunkiang or 

 Wusungkiang was at one time much more important: the 

 silt in- up of its channel, largely due to tidal action, occurred 

 in comparatively recent time. On the other hand, there is 

 no reason to doubt that the Yangtze Eiver and the Tai Hu 

 have always heen in free communication as it is to-day. 



The third or South Kiang is identified with the Chien 

 ug because it is the only river that has sufficient water to 

 deserve Buch a name. It has been more or less in free 

 communication with the Yangtze, either via Tai Hu or to 

 the easl of it. So it would not be unnatural to apply the 

 name "Kiang" in this case, but there is no passage now 

 ,,„ the Yangtze west of the Tai Hu to the Chien Tang. 



1 —Those who consider that the three main tributaries 

 ;lt Hie source of the Yangtze were referred to as the outlets. 



The three Kiangs are the three upper principal tnbut- 

 aries of the Yangtze: the Han is the north outlets . : the Mm 

 fehe mi ddle : and the Kankiang of Kiangsi the south outlets 



r^ interpretation that the three tributaries at the 

 source are the three Kiangs, the outlets is difficul to 

 rec( n cile with the general meaning of the text which con 

 Sv refers to the ancient province of Yangchow, and the 

 £S5 the Mm are both outside of ^« P~ 



, think it quite safe and cpn^^^e haj 

 references in the early book Yukung, ™ e °* m 



