1869.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 149 



of consequence on the upper Yangtzu which ceases to be navigable 

 about 160 miles above this point. Entering the Min at this city, and 

 following its broad waters for 5 days, the famous city of Kiating is 

 reached, the centre of the so-called vegetable wax and silk country. 

 This city, famous throughout China, not so much for its great trade, 

 (as it is really little more than a transit station), but as the resort of 

 pilgrims to the great Omeeshau, the centre of Bhuddism in China, 

 two days' journey from Kiating to the west, the fame of its temples and 

 the blessing givings of gods, draws thousands of pilgrims from all 

 parts of the empire, Tibet and even Burma. The Chinese say that 

 this large peaked mountain ever shows on its sides the four seasons 

 of the year : spring, summer, autumn and winter, and this is not impro- 

 bable, as the mountain is clearly visible at Kiating and appears to be of 

 enormous heighth. 



From this city the river branches off to the east and north-west, that 

 to the west taking the name of Tar-tow-ho, and that to the east Ki'ng- 

 Kiang, following which for 5 days Chentu, the great capital, situated 

 in the fertile plains of Szchuan, is reached. This city containing on a 

 rough estimate about 800,000 inhabitants is the Paris of China, the 

 numbers of civil and military Manderins located here, are astonishing, 

 and give to the place quite an aristocratic air ; it, however, has little 

 trade, save in articles of luxury, such as embroidered silks, (from 

 the district of Kiateng), musk from Tibet, jade from Yunnan and a 



| local supply of foreign articles from Chung Ching. At this capital, 



I the route from Pekin joins the grand route from Szchuan to Lassa, 

 the jurisdiction of the viceroy extending to Bathang and nominally to 



I the Tibetan capital, Lassa. 



I have described Chung Ching, the great central trade mart of 

 Western China, and the route from this to the capital of Szchuan 

 which runs through the richest part of the province, and in doing so, 

 I should have mentioned that at Ludzow, a large city some 5 days' 



I journey above Chung Ching, there is an enormous trade in Salt and 

 Lead, the former finding a market at Chung Ching principally, and 

 the latter at Kiateng ; the cities of Wootung Chow-che-wachin and 

 Kiateng on the Min and Kung-yar-chen, on the Tar-tow-ho, about 50 

 miles above the latter city forming the outlets by which the silk, wax, 



: tobacco and sugar of this rich part of the province find their way to 



; Chung Ching. 



