THE SHUH COUNTRY, 



Rev. J. HUTSCN. 



CHAPTEE I. 



A Historical Sketch. 



The ancients believed that rains fell regularly every 

 night in the Shuh Country. Though this may be incorrect, 

 still night rains are not only plentiful but often heavy, 

 especially during the spring, summer and autumn seasons ; 

 while the winter seasons are generally dry, but dull aud 

 hazy. The proverb says that the Szechwan dogs bark at 

 the sun (33 it Vk 0). This has been interpreted that the sun 

 was so rarely seen in the province, that when it did appear 

 the dogs baiied at it. A T'ang (Jlf) Dynasty writer recorded 

 the idea that "when the snows of 'Pa'* and 'Shun* 

 melted then the floods came." 



Shuh has also been termed by the people the 

 "Mountain Kingdom" and its capital the "BiverCity." 

 These name: were given owing to the high mountains which 

 almost hid the sun during the winter season, and the rivers 

 which not only surrounded but also intersected its capital. 



The capital city, Ch'en tu, is situated 5,710 li south- 

 west of Pekin, or a distance of 46 travelling stages. The 

 city is surrounded by a great plain, which at one time was 

 probably a large inland lake; while the ten li plain of Kien 

 Cheo (te W) and the Liang Shan (& tfJ) plain were also 

 smaller lakes. The districts of Kien Cheo (««) and P'eng 

 Hsien {p U) are situated on opposite sides of the plain, and 

 it is a strange coincidence that both places are famed for 

 rolling stones and blowing sand. The ancient inhabitants of 

 these°re*ions believed that there were sea eyes (HI *) situated 

 in Ch'en tu, and also elsewhere; which if rudely disturbed 

 would bring a flood of water upon the land. Situated at 

 the back of the T'ai Ts'i Ssu .(***) temple, is an ancient 

 Buddhist image on which , is engraven the four characters 

 Yung chen shuh ien (***»). The character is written 

 in the "Seal" style peculiar to the Ts'in (fH) Dynasty. 



