The Chang and the Han pursued their common course to the sea, as if they were hastening to court. The nine Chiang were brought into complete order. The Tho and Chien streams were conducted by their proper channels. The land in the marsh of Yun became visible, and the marsh of Mang was made capable of cultivation.

The soil of this province was miry. Its fields were the average of the middle class; and its contribution of revenue was the lowest of the highest class. Its articles of tribute were feathers, hair, elephants' teeth, and hides; gold, silver, and copper; chun trees, wood for bows, cedars, and cypresses; grindstones, whetstones, flint stones to make arrow-heads, and cinnabar; and the chun and lu bamboos, with the hu tree (all good for making arrows) — of which the Three Regions were able to contribute the best specimens. The three-ribbed rush was sent in bundles, put into cases. The baskets were filled with silken fabrics, azure and deep purple, and with strings of pearls that were not quite round. From the country of the nine Chiang, the great tortoise was presented when specially required and found.

They floated down the Chiang, the Tho, the Chien, and the Han, and crossed the country to the Lo, whence they reached the most southern part of the Ho.

8. The Ching mountain and the Ho were the boundaries of Yu Chau.❞

The I, the Lo, the Chan, and the Chien were conducted to the Ho. The marsh of Yung-po was confined within its

department of Hsiang-yang, Hu-pei, and is called the southern Ching, to distinguish it from another mountain of the same name farther north in Yung Chau. Mount Hang, its southern boundary, is "the southern mountain" of the Canon of Shun in Hang-chau department, Hu-nan. Yang Chau was on the east, and the country on the west was almost unknown. Ching Chau contained the greater portion of the present provinces of Hu-pei and Hu-nan, and parts also of Kwei-chau and Sze-chuan. Some geographers also extend it on the south into Kwangtung and Kwang-hsi, which is very unlikely.

• Yu Chau was the central one of Yu's nine divisions of the country, and was conterminous, for a greater or less distance, with all of them, excepting Ching Chau, which lay off in the east by itself. It embraced most of the present Ho-nan, stretching also into the east and south, so as to comprehend parts of Shan-tung and Hu-pei.

proper limits. The waters of that of Ko were led to the marsh of Mang-chu.

The soil of this province was mellow; in the lower parts it was in some places rich, and in others dark and thin. Its fields were the highest of the middle class; and its contribution of revenue was the average of the highest class, with a proportion of the very highest. Its articles of tribute were varnish, hemp, fine cloth of dolichos fiber, and the boehmerea. The baskets were full of checkered silks, and of fine floss silk. Stones for polishing sounding-stones were rendered when required.

They floated along the Lo, and so reached the Ho.

9. The south of mount Hwa and the Black-water were the boundaries of Liang Chau.10

The hills Min and Po were made capable of cultivation. The Tho and Chien streams were conducted by their proper channels. Sacrifices were offered to the hills Tshai and Mang on the regulation of the country about them. The country of the wild tribes about the Ho was successfully operated on.

The soil of this province was greenish and light. Its fields were the highest of the lowest class; and its contribution of revenue was the average of the lowest class, with proportions of the rates immediately above and below. Its articles of tribute were: the best gold, iron, silver, steel, flint stones to make arrow-heads, and sounding-stones; with the skins of bears, foxes, and jackals, and nets woven of their hair.

10 Liang Chau was an extensive province, and it is a remarkable fact that neither the dominions of the Shang nor the Chau Dynasty, which followed Hsia, included it. Portions of it were embraced in the Yu and Yung provinces of Chau, but the greater part was considered as wild, savage territory, beyond the limits of the Middle Kingdom. It is difficult to believe that the great Yu operated upon it, as this chapter would seem to indicate. The Hwa at its northeastern corner is the western mountain of Shun. The Black-water, or "the Chiang of the Golden Sands," is identified with the present Lu. The province extended over most of the present Sze-Chuan, with parts of Shen-hsi and Kan-su. I can hardly believe, as many do, that it extended far into Yun-nan and Kwei-chau.

From the hill of Hsi-ching they came by the course of the Hwan; floated along the Chien, and then crossed the country to the Mien; passed to the Wei, and finally ferried across the Ho.

10. The Black-water and western Ho were the boundaries of Yung Chau.11

The Weak-water was conducted westward. The Ching was led to mingle its waters with those of the Wei. The Chi and the Chu were next led in a similar way to the Wei, and the waters of the Feng found the same receptacle.

The mountains Ching and Chi were sacrificed to. Those of Chung-nan and Chun-wu were also regulated, and all the way on to Niao-shu. Successful measures could now be taken with the plains and swamps, even to the marsh of Chuyeh. The country of San-wei was made habitable, and the affairs of the people of San-miao were greatly arranged.

The soil of the province was yellow and mellow. Its fields were the highest of the highest class, and its contribution of revenue the lowest of the second. Its articles of tribute were the Chiu jade and the lin, and the stones called lang-kan.

Past Chi-shih they floated on to Lung-man on the western Ho. They then met on the north of the Wei with the tributebearers from other quarters.

Hair-cloth and skins were brought from Khwan-lun, Hsichih, and Chu-sau, the wild tribes of the west all coming to submit to Yu's arrangements.

Section 2

1. Yu surveyed and described the hills, beginning with Chien and Chi and proceeding to mount Ching; then, crossing the Ho, Hu-khau, and Lei-shau, going on to Thai-yo. After these came Ti-chu and Hsi-chang, from which he went on to Wang-wu; then there were Thai-hang and mount Hang,

11 The Black-water, which was the western boundary of Yung Chau, was a different river from that which, with the same name, ran along the south of Liang Chau. Yung Chau was probably the largest of Yu's provinces, embracing nearly all the present provinces of Shen-hsi and Kan-su, and extending indefinitely northward to the Desert.

from which he proceeded to the rocks of Chieh, where he reached the sea.

South of the Ho, he surveyed Hsi-ching, Chu-yu, and Niao-shu, going on to Thai-hwa; then Hsiung-r, Wai-fang, and Thung-pai, from which he proceeded to Pei-wei.

He surveyed and described Po-chung, going on to the other mount Ching; and Nei-fang, from which he went on to Ta-pieh.

He did the same with the south of mount Min, and went on to Mount Hang. Then crossing the nine Chiang, he pro

ceeded to the plain of Fu-chien.

2. He traced the Weak-water as far as the Ho-li mountains, from which its superfluous waters went away among the moving sands.

He traced the Black-water as far as San-wei, from which it went away to enter the southern sea.

He traced the Ho from Chi-shih as far as Lung-man; and thence, southward, to the north of mount Hwa; eastward then to Ti-chu; eastward again to the ford of Mang; eastward still to the junction of the Lo; and then on to Ta-pei. From this the course was northward, past the Chiang-water, on to Ta-lu; north from which the river was divided, and became the nine Ho, which united again, and formed the Meeting Ho, when they entered the sea.

From Po-chung he traced the Yang, which, flowing eastward, became the Han. Farther east it became the water of Tshang-lang; and after passing the three Dykes, it went on to Ta-pieh, southward from which it entered the Chiang. Eastward still, and whirling on, it formed the marsh of Phang-li; and from that its eastern flow was the northern Chiang, as which it entered the sea.

From mount Min he traced the Chiang, which, branching off to the east, formed the Tho; eastward again, it reached the Li, passed the nine Chiang, and went on to Tung-ling; then flowing east, and winding to the north, it joined the Han with its eddying movements. From that its eastern flow was the middle Chiang, as which it entered the sea.

He traced the Yen water, which, flowing eastward, became

the Chi, and entered the Ho. Thereafter it flowed out, and became the Yung marsh. Eastward, it issued forth on the north of Thao-chiu, and flowed farther east to the marsh of Ko; then it went northeast, and united with the Wan; thence it went north, and finally entered the sea on the east.

He traced the Hwai from the hill of Thung-pai. Flowing east, it united with the Sze and the I, and still with an eastward course entered the sea.

He traced the Wei from the hill Niao-shu-thung-hsueh. Flowing eastward, it united with the Feng, and eastward again with the Ching. Farther east still, it passed the Chi and the Chu, and entered the Ho.

He traced the Lo from the hill Hsiung-r. Flowing to the northeast, it united with the Chien and the Chan, and eastward still with the I. Then on the northeast it entered the Ho.

3. Thus, throughout the nine provinces a similar order was effected: the grounds along the waters were everywhere made habitable; the hills were cleared of their superfluous wood and sacrificed to; the sources of the rivers were cleared; the marshes were well banked; and access to the capital was secured for all within the four seas.

The six magazines of material wealth were fully attended to; the different parts of the country were subjected to an exact comparison, so that contribution of revenue could be carefully adjusted according to their resources. The fields were all classified with reference to the three characters of the soil; and the revenues for the Middle Region were established.

4. He conferred lands and surnames. He said, "Let me set the example of a reverent attention to my virtue, and none will act contrary to my conduct."

Five hundred li formed the Domain of the Sovereign. From the first hundred they brought as revenue the whole plant of the grain; from the second, the ears, with a portion of the stalk; from the third, the straw, but the people had to perform various services; from the fourth, the grain in the husk; and from the fifth, the grain cleaned.