WAN-HO. 
147 
towers and great extent. Early the next morning, the first hills that 
had been seen since the Embassy left Tung-Chow, were observed 
rising in the south-east, and bounding an uninteresting plain of great 
extent. Continuing their progress, the boats passed, on the morning 
of the 28th, the mouth of the principal river which feeds the canal. 
The name of this river, called by the writers of the former Embassy 
Luen, is, according to Mr. Morrison, Wan ; and is said to arise 
from seventy-two springs in the mountain called Tae-shan, in the 
province of Chan-tong. “ It falls into the canal with a rapid stream, 
in a line which is perpendicular to the course of the canal. A strong 
bulwark of stone supports the opposite western bank ; and the waters of 
the river striking with force against it, part of them follow the northern 
and part the southern course of the canal.” This last circumstance has 
given the name of Fan-shang-Meaou, “ the temple of the division of 
waters,” to a religious edifice erected near the bulwark. It is also 
dedicated to Lung- Wang, the dragon king, and god of seas and rivers. 
From this point, as has been conjectured by Sir George Staunton*, 
whose supposition is borne out by Du Haldef, the canal was pro- 
bably commenced. Whether the Wan-ho originally wound towards 
the north or south, or in a line with its present direction, cannot per- 
haps now be determined ; but there can be no doubt that the natural 
course of its waters has been altered and directed northward through 
a channel cut to the Eu-ho, and southward, through a succession of 
swamps, (in rainy seasons, lakes,) to the Yellow River. Previous to 
crossing the stream of the Wan-ho, the boatmen prostrated them- 
selves in the temple before a table covered with yellow silk, ornamented 
with the figures of dragons. 
* Embassy to China, vol. ii. p. 387- 
f Dans la province de Chan-tong est une mediocre riviere nommee Ouen-ho, dont on 
a s^u diviser les eaux La plus grande quantite a ete conduite dans la partie du 
canal, qui va vers le septentrion, on, apres avoir requ la riviere Ouen-ho (Eu-ho), il se 
jette pres de la ville de Tien-tsing de la province de Pe-tche-li, dans la riviere de Peking, 
qui passe le long de ses murailles. L’autre partie de l’eau, qui n’est gueres que le tiers, 
en coulant au midi vers le fleuve Hoang-ho, ou fleuve jaune, See. Du Halde, tom. i. p. 33. 
u 2 
