The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-01 00:00:00

TAXES PAID BY THE PROVINCES.

No man possesses a foot of land in the whole empire
without paying to the Emperor something out of it, so
that it ceases to be a matter of wonder that over and
above the common expenses which are made upon the
account of petty viceroys, and military officers, there are
more than three score millions of crowns brought yearly
into the Emperor's coffers. The whole sum amounts to
130 millions of crowns, of which the Emperor has
voluntary disposal, but the money is brought into the
treasury, and if the King at any time desires a supply,
the treasurer, on being written to, is not to deny the
payment of it.
The provinces bring in yearly in taxes 3,227,447 bags
of rice, and one bag is enough to serve 100 men for one. day ; 409;949 pounds of raw silk ; 12,436 rolls of cloth,
made of hemp ; 36,770 bales of cotton ; 91,730 rolls of
wrought silk. But the city of Hu-cheu buys off this tax
yearly for the sum of five hundred thousand crowns.
The provinces bring in likewise 1,794,261 weight of
salt, each weight being reckoned at 124 pounds, amount-
ing in all to 187,683,364 pounds ; 32,418,627 trusses
of hay and straw for the King's stables, besides all
ether taxes.

PROVINCES ON THE SEA-COAST.
" The rich Cathaian ccast."—Milt. Par. Lost, b. x., 1. 293.

The border provinces of China, of which there are
.levee, four being inland, and seven on the sea-coast, are
the grand fences and strong securities to China. All the
inland border is surrounded by territories subject to the
Emperor, except the west and south-west of Yun-nun,
and there is no great danger of invasion from that quar-
ter, the Burmese power being very inferior to that of
China. It is thus only from the sea that China is at all
vulnerable ; and a naval array only can annoy and injure
the towns and cities on the coast.

We now proceed to trace the frontier provinces of the
empire, on the sea-ward side, and point out their leading
characters :

PE-TCHE-LE, CONTATICING rzlarg.
TOTAL POPULATION, 27,990,871.
Pe-tche-le is the most northerly province of the
emrire ; it extends from '3B deg, to 401 deg. north
; its boundaries are, the Imperial Sea and
Chan- twig on the east, Ho-nan on the south-west,
Chan-si 'on the west, and Chinese Tartary on the
Borth. • Besides Pekin, the capital, it contains nine
eities of the first class, forty of the second, and 108 of the
third. Its surface is estimated at 58,763 square miles.
it has few mountains, and great part of the land is only
two or three feet above the level of high-water in flit!
tidal rivers. The tide on this part of the shore being a
bay-tide, and one which is much retarded by islands,
does not give a rise of more than ten feet in the gulf ;
the consequence is, that the rivers are navigable for long
distances in comparison with their magnitude. The
Pei-ho, as an instance of this, is a tidal river for 110
miles inland of the bay ; but there is a bar at the mouth,
and outside the bar the water is only two fathoms deep.

11. CZAN-TONG.
TOTAL POPULATION, 23,958,760.
Phe cities of this province are—l. Tsi-nan-fou ; this
capital is not built near the Great Canal, yet, all its trade
is upon it ; about a league from it, is a large village
called Leou-Keou, on the banks of the river Tsing-ho,
which runs into the Imperial Canal, and by which all the
merchandise of this town is conveyed to it : it is a large
and populous place, and there are several lakes within its
walls, from which canals have been made through the
aity: there are within its district, four cities of the second
order, and twenty-six of the third : in some of its moun-
*tins are iron-mines. 2. Yen-tcheou-fou ; the territory
depending upon. this capital is enclosed between two
considerable rivers. It has twenty-seven cities within
its jurisdiction, four of the second order, and twenty-
three of the third. Tel-nimw-teheou one f them, seated
in the midst of the Great anal, is one of the most con-
siderable marts of the empire. Tehai Chan, is the birth-
place of Confucius. ong tehang-fou ;on the banks
of the Great Canal, and of great trade : it has three cities
of the second order, and fifteen of the third. One of
*hoe cities, Lin-tsin-tcheou, has extensive glass-works,
and is very considerable for its trade, and it is there that
ibe Gran Canall9.
. e river Pei-ho. 4. Tsin-tchou-
fe d
wa l,
int g., , , well watered with rivers ;
it has
b o
- ' no.'nd thirteen of the third order 1
A 5. Ten-tcheott-fott ; this city is
*44!4. `4""4-.•
, -"'" 11,4. • 14
itfiXi,44,r,,•
tart` :i.4 - i 'fri --.., /Ply
"7. •:s. ',,,'''' .tt ,;"4
hies,
~
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built on the sea-shore, and has st very convenient har-
bour, with a strong garrison, and several vessels which
guard the gulf : within its district are eighty cities ; one
of the second order, and seven of the third ; part of these
cities are on the continent, the others are sea-ports.
6. Lai-tcheou- fou ; built upon a promontory, surrounded
by the sea on one side, and_ by mountains on the other ;
it has two cities of the second order, and five of the third,
within its jurisdiction, some of which stand by the sea-
side, especially Kiao-tcheou, the situation of which
renders it almost impregnable. • •

KIANG-TM:4 CONTAINING NANKXN

TOTAL POPULATION, 37,843,501.

„
The modern province of Kian-tsu is bounded by
Shen-se on the east, Ste-chuen on the south, Tartary
on the west, and the Great Wall on the north. The
Yellow river flows northward across it. Its capital is a
fine city, and once contained an imperial palace.
In addition to Nankin, 1. (which we notice else-
where), there are also in the cities of this province-
2. Sou-tcheou, which enjoys so delicious a climate and
soil, that the Chinese books have the old proverb, ” Pa-
radise is above, but below is Sou-tcheou." It has six
gates by land, and six by water. The Viceroy of the
eastern part 4,f the province resides here. It contains
eight cities—one of the second order and seven of the
third. 3. Song-Kiang-fou. This city is built in the
water, and the vessels enter the town on all sides, and
from thence fall down to the sea, which is not far off.
It has four cities of the third order. 4. Tching-cheou-
fou ; a city of great trade, situated near the Canal by
which the barques go from Sou-tcheou to the river Yang-
tse-Kiang. It has five cities of the third order. 5.

'Thing-Kiang-fou ; about a league in circumference,
and very considerable for its situation and commerce. It
is the key of the empire towards the sea, and is also a

fortress, where there is always a strong garrison. The
walls are about 30 feet high in places, and built with
bricks of four or five inches thick. 600 paces from the
shore there is a mountain in the river, named Kin-than ;
on the top of it stands a tower of several stories.
8. Ngan-kiang-fou. This city borders upon three pro-
vinces, and though but five days journey from the capi-
tal, it has a particular Viceroy. It is 'garrisoned by a
fort that commands the lake Poyang, at the entrance of
the province of Kiang-si. It is the chief thoroughfare
for all that comes to Nankin, and contains six cities of the

third order. 9. Hoei-tcheou, the most southern city of
the province, and richest in the empire. It has six towns
of the third order. It has mines of gold, silver, and cop-
per, and the best tea is grown here. 10. Ning-koue-fou
stands upon a river, that runs into the great river, Yang-
tcheou-fou; it has six cities of the third order. 11. Tchi-
tse-Kiang , with six cities of the third order ; it stands
on the banks of the Yang-tse-Kiang, and is environed
with mountains. 12. Tat-ping-fou, a very opulent city,
standing on the river Kiang, where it receives three arms
of other rivers, making it appear like an island ; it is
also watered by two lakes, and contains three cities, of
which Vou-hou-hien is the richest. 13. Fong-yang-fott;
this city is situated on a mountain not far from the
Yellow River ; it contains in its district eighteen cities,
five of the second and thirteen of the third order, besides
a great number of Ma-teou, or places of commerce, settled
upon the rivers for the convenience of trade, and collect-
ing the Emperor's dues ; it is larger than any province
in Europe ; it is well peopled, but indifferently built iii
the middle, but all the rest consists only of low-thatched
houses or open fields, to bear tobacco, which forms the
only wealth and commerce of these parts. 14. Lin-
tcheou-fou is rendered fruitful by the Lake Triao ; in the
midst of which there is a mountain ; this district con-

ains eight cities, two of the second order, and six of the

IV. NGIIII7-1E OE.
TOTAL POPULATION, 34,168,059

This, the western division of the old province of Nan-
kin, is in proportion of its surface to that of the eastern
portion, nearly in the ratio of three to two. It is wholly
an inland province, and, with the exception of the south-
ern hills, having the green tea districts on their slopes,
the greater part of it is level. The Blue River passes
through it near the south, and the northern part is
watered by numerous branches of the Ilwang-ho, which
rises in the province or Ho-nan to the westward, and,
after traversing the provi ce, expands into the large lake
of Hung-tse, which communicates with the Yellow
River, near the spot where that intersects the imperial
canal.

V. TCHT.-ICIANG.
TOTAL POPULATION, 25,256,784.

This province lies eastwards towards the sea ; south
and south-west is bordering upon the province of Fuh-
kien, but the rest joins to the provinces of Kiang-si and
Ngan-hoe. It contains eleven chief cities, all of them
little inferior to some provinces ; these command over
sixty-three small cities, with towns and castles in great
number under their command, and villages exceedingly
populous.

_ .
T:le people in this province registered in the Chinese
toll-book, appear to be 1,242,135 families, and 5,525,470
fighting men.
The public revenues paid to the Emperor consist of
2,510,299 sacks of salt, 370,4661b5. of unwrought silk.
2,574 rolls of wrought silk. Besides which all the
great ships of the Emperor called Jungychuen, arrive
every year to lade with silk, which is very rich and
curiously wrought, for the Emperor's own use. This
silk is interwoven with gold, silver, and the feathers of
several birds, very artificially mingled with all manner
of colours ; noae are su&red to wear any of these silks
called Dragon silks, but the Emperor and his courtiers.
This province likewise furnishes the Court with
844,091 trusses of hay, 444.769 weight of salt. The
whole revenue of this country is reckoned by some to
amount to 15,000,000 of crowns.

The cities of this province are-1. Hang-tcheou-
fou, the richest and largest city of the empire :' its
situation and the conveniency of its canals renders its
silk trade the finest in China : it is about four leagues
in circumference, and contains 1,000,000 souls : without
including the suburbs, the city alone levies taxes upon
300,000 families : its walls are high and thick : it has
four great towers of several stories, with 7,000 men in
garrison under the Tsian-kiun, or Tartar General, and
3,000 more under the Fou-yuen or Viceroy : the Tartar
troops have a fortress,.which is separated from the city
by a wall : the river Tcien-tang-kiang runs close by the
walls, and is about a league in breadth. Han-tcheou is
properly the region of silk ; 60,000 people are at work
within its walls, and many hundred thousands in the
adjacent parts. The lake Si-hou, about two leagues in
circumference, close to the city, has in its middle two
small islands ; it has causeways, and openings for boats
to pass through. 2. Kia-hing-fou. The whole of this
country is covered with lakes and canals ; the city is
large, populous, and large of trade : canals and bridges
abound : in the neighbourhood of the city llai-yen,
which is upon the sea-shore, there are salt-pits, Which
give rise to a large manufacture. The country is flat,
and without a mountain : it contains seven cities of the
third order under it. 3. Hou-tcheou-fou : this city
derives its name from the lake on which it stands ; its
silk manufactures are very considerable : the 'tribute
which one city in its dependence pays alone, amounts to
500,000 taels, or ounces of silver : it has under its
jurisdiction, one city of the second order, and six of the
third. 4. Ningpo.—This inVortant city is noticed else-
where by itself. 5. Chao-hing-fou.—This beautifhl
city is an actual Venice ; no street is without a canal ;
it contains eight cities of, the third order. 6. Tai-
tcheou-fou. This city, which has six others in its dis-
trict, stands on the bank of a river, in a very moun-
tainous country ; the neighbourhood of the sea supplies
it with- all things necessary ; it carries on a great trade
with Japan and the interior of the country. in making
scabbards for cutlasses. 7. Kin-hoa-fou. This city lies
in the heart of a province, and on the banks of a fine
river ; its people are warlike, and long resisted all the
power of the Tartars ; it has eight cities of the third
order. 8. Kia-tcheou-fou. This city is situated on a
river, and between two other smaller ones that run into
it ; it is the most southern city of the province, and bor-
ders on the provinces of Kiang-si and Fuh-kien, but the
road which leads to the last province, and is but three
days' journey, is difficult to travel, on account of tie
mountains to be passed ;
heou-fouti,loerne theare fibvaneksciotifesa in
idis-
trict.
9. Yen-tc
has many mines of copper ; the paper r r t
esteemed ; six cities of the third order ...iinufacture is
10. Ouen-tcheou-fou stands on
r_- . are in its district.
Marshy land, near the
haven, and
to its walls ; it
third order. 11. ,fand five cities of the
gable as far as the
sea, the flux and reflux of :h aT,
n
has a safe and commodiou
t he,
eou.o
u'
("1
a river, navi-
s„ n
encompassed with moun-
tains ; it has ten. tides in its district.
. and eneo

VI. FUR-3EIEN.
TOTAL POPULATION, 14,777,410.
This, the least of the 18 provinces of China, lies to-
wards the east, south-east, and south, upon the Indian
Sea. Towards the south-west it borders upon Kwang.
tung, west and north-west upon Kiang-si, and the remain-
ing part on the kingdom of Tehe-Kiang. It contains
eight chief cities, and 48 small cities, and a great num.
ber of forts built for tlie defence of the sea and hartour.
The island of Forrithsa, and the island Teiwan, also be-
long to this province.
The toll or register-book of these people mentions no
less in this province than 59,20 Q families, and 182,677
fighting men.

The—revenue of this province consists of 883,115 sacks

salt, 194 lbs. of fine linen, and 600 rolls of wrought iii
But the chief revenue consists of ships, which pay ac.
cording to their burden so much per ton.
The capital cities of Fuh-keen are-1. Fou-tcheou-
feu, the first and most considerable ; nine cities of the
the third order are under its jurisdiction ; fine rivers
carry the largest barques of Cbina almost up to the walls;
it has also a bridge of 100 arches. 2. Tsiten-teheou-
fou, a city of great trade ; it is built on a promontory,
and almost surrounded by water ; the largest barques en-
ter within its walls ; it has seven cities of the third
rank, all populous, and great traders ' • a bridge here,
with 300 stone piers, was built by the Governor of the
city, to preserve the boats and people from being conti-
nually upset by the violent tides ; from this it has a
prodigious traffic ;it cost 1,400,000 ducats. 3. Kien-
nine•-fou. This city contains eight cities of the third
order under its jurisdiction ; it is situated on the side of
the river Min-ho, and is a place of plentiful trade.
and all commodities carried up and down the
river pass through it ; as the river ceases
to be navigable near the city of Pou-tching-
hien, which is about 30 leagues from Bien-ping, the
goods are unloaded there, and porters carry them over
the mountains to a large town near Kiang-tchan, in the
province of Tche-Riang,
to embark them on another
river ; 13,000 porters are employed there to attend the
barques, and carry the burdens to and fro over the moun-
tains ; the road is paved, and all along are little towns
filled with inns for the accommodation of travellers ;
there is an office at Pou-tching-hien to receive toll of all
goods, and the revenue produced thereby is appointed
for keeping the road in repair. 4. Yen-ping-fou,
,tbeislnolavtuwrhalile)h it is
ns side e
aorfgae,h
bilul
accessible mountains, the barques of the whole province
Min-ho ;
pass under its walls ; it is commonly called the Silver
City from its abundance and fruitfulness. 6. Hing-hoa-
lieu. The name of this city signifies a springing flower,

and it is the most beautiful country of the province, and
near the sea : it has no more than two cities of the third,
order within its district, yet it pays a very considerable
tribute in rice: the towns are occupieil by very rich mer-
chants, and the roads are broad and well-paved. 7.
Chaou-ou-fou. This city is one of_ ...the great keys-of
the province, has become very considerable, and its
situation renders it a place of strength, and very com-
modious, it is surrounded with forts and strong places,
which are well-garrisoned : it has four cities of the third
order under its jurisdiction. 8. Tchang-tcheou-fou.
This city, the most southern of the province, has in its
jurisdiction ten cities of the third order; it stands on a
river which ebbs and flows, lying near the port of Amoy;
it is aplace of very great trade, and all commodities pass
continually up the river that washes the walls ; it is ex-
ceedingly- populous.

VIZ. ZWE-CllOlTe.
TOTAL POPULATION, 528,219.
The province of Kwe- chow borders E. and S.W. on the
province of Kwang• se ; N. and N.ll'. on Sze-chuen.
N.E. it borders on the province of Hon-pe, and the re-
mainder on Yun-nan. It contains eight chief cities, not
very large ; ten small cities, four small garrison cities, be-
sides castles and forts in great numbers.
The Chinese toll-book sets down 45,305 families, and
about 231,365 fighting men. The revenue consists of
47,658 bags of rice and 5,900 pieces of cloth ; this, how-
ever, is not found sufficient to maintain the forts, whereby
the Emperor is necessitated to supply what is wanting out
of his other revenues.

VIII. ICIVANG-ST.
TOTAL POPULATION, 713,895.
Kwang-se borders E. on the province of Kwan-tung ;
S.W. upon Ton-king ; W., on the country of Yun-nau ;
N.W. on Kwe-chow, and the remainder on Hoo-nan. It
contains eleven capital cities ; one chief garrison city
and one principal city. The forts are only two.
In the toil or register-book of this province, is set
down 186,719 families, and 154,760 fighting men; The
revenue consists of 431,359 bags of rice.

IS. XWAN-TUNG, CONTAINING CANTON,

TOTAL POPULATION 19,174,030.
This province stretches along the south coast from the
middle of the northern shore of the Gulf of Toupin,
to nearly opposite the island of Formosa. The widest
part of it is traversed by the Canton river, along which
the road crosses the Mei-ling mountains to the interior.
The island of Hainan belongs to it, and there are very
many smaller islands and shoals along the coast. The
surface contains about 90,000 square miles. The great
plain in the vicinity of the capital is nearly one hundred
miles in length and of considerable breadth, the whole in
a state of the highest cultivation. Besides the capital;
the province contains nine first-class cities ; and those of
the lower ranks, especially the third one, are almost in-
numerable. Though the rice and sugar ground of this
province are low and fiat, they are far from unhealthy.
The coast, with its numerous bogs and little islands, fish,
and also mollusca, crustacea, tortoise, and other pro-
ducts of the sea, is, as indeed is the case not only in all
the inland but also the maritime provinces, with its.
waters almost as fertile as the land, and as many inhabi-
tants derive subsistence. The inland boundaries of
Kwan-tong, taken in their order from east to west, are
'brined by the provinces of Kwe-cho w, 110- nan,Kwang- se,
and Full-hien.

As the province of Kwan-tang is a maritime province.
and the furthest distant from the Court, its Government
is one of the most considerable of the empire. 1. The
first city is Canton, of which we speak largely else.
where. 2. Chaou-tcheou4ou, situated at the con-
fluenceof two navigable rivers ; it has six cities of the
third order within its jurisdiction ; within a league of it
is a monastery of Bonzes, which they say formerly con-
tained a thousand of them. 3. Nan-hiong- fou ; a
large trading city, seated at the foot of a mountain,
which separates the province of Kwan-tung from
Kiang-si, from which run two great rivers, one south, the
other north. This city has but two cities of the third
order under its jurisdiction ; bstween Nan-hiong, the
last province of Kwan-tung, and Nan-npn, the first of
the province 'of Kiang- si, a remarkable road leads over
the mountain Mei-lin, being a distance of ten leagues
from one place to the other. 4. Hoei-tcheou-fou; this
city is almost surrounded with eater, and built in the
most fertile part of the whole province ; it has eleven
cities in its district, ono of the second order, and ten of
the third ; it has two remarkable bridges, one of which
has 40 arches, the other crosses a lake which is a league
in circuit, and waters the wails of the town. 5. Tchao-
tcheou-fou. This city, is situated near the mouth
of the river Han-kiang, where the tide ebbs and
flows ; it has a fine bridge on the east ; there are
11 cities in its district. It is separated from Fuh-kien
by mountains. 6. Tchao-king-lou—the best built city
in the province, and the residence of the 'l'sonton of the
two provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si. It is situ-
ated on the river Taho. There is a tower of nine stories
high, east of the city. The haven is very spacious; and
is at a place where three rivers or canals Meet, one of
which runs to Canton. From Tchao-king to Canton,
both sides of the river are lined with villarr'es, one of
which, Fochan, contains 1,000,000 of souls., 7. Kao-
tcheou-fou. The tide flows and ebbs as far as thi.;
town, so that the Chinese barques go up to it. This city
has within its district one city of the second order, and five
of the third. It is surrounded on one side by the sea,
and on the other by mountains. 8. Lien-tcheciu-fou.
This city is a very convenient harbour for the Chinese
barques. It has but one city of the second order, and two
of the third. It lies on the borders of Tong-king, from
which it is separated by inaccessible mountains. Here is
a pearl fishery. 9. Loui-teheou-fou. 'rho territory of
this city is the most fine and fertile of all the western
cities of this province. It is almost all surrounded by
the sea, and is separated from the island of Hainan by a
small strait. Within its district are only three cities of I
the third order.

INLAND BORDER PROVINCES.
a. CREN-sr,
TOTAL POPULATION, 10,207,256.
Chen-si is situated among the northern dominions,
and lies about 30 degrees west. Part of the kingdom of
Tartary bounds it on the west, the Great Wall and forts
making the separation. The remaining parts of the
country borders on the bank of the river, find is open
to extensive dry and barren sand-fields ; the Yellow
River and sufficient fortifications defend the rest. To
the south run very high mountains, which are strong
bulwarks, and separate it from the provinces of Hunan
Sze-chuen and Chan-si. Want of rain makes this country
very dry, bitt yet it produces great store of wheat,
barley, and Turkish corn, but very little rice. The
beasts feed all winter upon corn. There are several gold
mines in the country, but they are not suffered to be
opened by the Emperor.
Chen-si contains 8 capital cities; and 107 small cities,
besides castles and forts.• The chief forts are eight, and
there are fourteen small ones of consequence.
The Chinese Register reckons the number of families
in this province tube no less than 831,651; and 3,934,176
fighting men.

—The—taxes which Chen-si pays, are 192,957 bags of
wheat ; 3,650,00016. weight of linen ; 9,218 pounds of
all sorts of wrought silks ; 17.2701 b. of cotton ;
827,7701 h, of calicoes ; besides 1,514,749 trusses of hay
for the King's stables.

11. CHAN-Si.
TOTAL POPULATION 14,004,210.
This province lies westward of Pekin, and though nei-
ther so large nor so populous, is more fruitful and or
more antiquity, for it is from thence that the 0..1„::
derive their rise and origin. On the north ':i;t3.nrovint;
has for its confines the Great Wall, - ,
;elm—reaches from
cast to west through the whole.
e_..:,rv.
ate Fellow ativet, anti is sepa-
of the province lies upon ' " . The 't' 51'1°
rated by it from the
produces the sw
. province of Chen-si. This provink
Chinese -
then ..,etest and fairest grapes of all A4la, hut the
ip.-AKC no use of them, but oonly'a*ty them, and
Tth7... carry them through all China to the market.
.211TOughout the whole of this country are naptha springs,
in the same manner as there are water wells lit Europe,
which the people use for drelaing their meat in this man,
ner. The mouth of the well is stopped very elo*, and
only a place left open to set the pot upon by which me-
thod the pot boils without any trouble. This province
likewise produces stores or eoal as good as that which is
dug out of the hills of England, and used by the inhabi.
tants for fuel, who also use stoves in their houses as wti
do. Chan-si contains five capital cities 92 small eltieS,
and several forts, of which 14 are remarkably strong. The
poll or register-book of the province reckons 589,959 fa-
milies, and 58,415 fighting men. In taxes the country
pays to the Emperor yearly 2,274,022 bass of rice, 501bs.
of fine linen, 4,776 all stuff's, 420,04 Q weight of salt, and
3,544,850 bundles of hay, bet:sties several other taxes.
T:OPUL,ATION,
X 7-: iBZZi -C H MIN . '
larg2el,a4n3ds'6ft7aSiltfid, b'Orhit
eSzseo-net.;:ten,
i e
aI The
rt: ,id.
or inTioy.
uAol:pf
and by north upon Chen-sr:iesotnwaKr3;ll Wdh-east
The whole of this province eontairn Thibet, and
southward upon the province of l'ita,nai;°"
8 Cbhieficitiea,,t
great and little cities, 4 garriso-i cities, other towns and places. '
.I:ne"couritry'
silk and other rich co:,modities , iron,
tit.
adittt
mo urth ,
fetched from the mountains in tu
geeat Anantit'ies among
which is a ;-,reeat store of salt-pits, so productive that the inhabitants cannot use one-fourth of it.
The Toll-hook gives the population of this country to
be 464,129 families, and 224,170 fighting men, without
P;3ol:c3e3Bll‘tteral
reckoning the soldiers, who arc very numerous in the
eutantry. The entire population amounts to 21,435,678.
This province pays in taxes to the Emperor yearly
616,660 bags of rice, 6,3391b5. of wrought and unwrought
silks, .74,8511b5. of cottons, 149,177 weight of salt, besides
other taxes paid to the Emperor in some parts of the pro-
vince.

Sze-chnen is the largest of the provinces, having
175,000 square miles of surface. The Blue River forms
a part of its south-western boundary, and then winds
through the province, leaving it near the north-east.
There are many large branches of this river in the pro-
vince, the general slope of which is towards the river.
The forts and strongholds are more numerous than in
most of the other inland
.provinces. They were erected
as defences against the incursions of the Tartars; who
often assailed this province, and in 164.6, almost entirely
destroyed Ching-too-foo, the capital. Some of the cities
are very tine, and the inhabitants of one or two of them
are hereditary soldiers.