CHAPTER I.

PAGE

GENERAL DIVISIONS AND FEATURES OF THE EMPIRE, 1-48

Unusual interest involved in the study of China, 1; The name _China_ probably a corruption of _Tsin_, 2; Other Asiatic names for the country, 3; Ancient and modern native designations, 5; Dimensions of the Empire, 6; Its three Grand Divisions: The _Eighteen Provinces_, _Manchuria_, and _Colonies_, 7; China Proper, its names and limits, 8; Four large mountain chains, 10; The Tien shan, _ibid._; The Kwănlun, 11; The Hing-an and Himalaya systems, 13; Pumpelly’s “Sinian System” of mountains, 14; The Desert of Gobi and Sha-moh, 15; Its character and various names, 17; Rivers of China: The Yellow River, 18; The Yangtsz’ River, 20; The Chu or Pearl River, 22; Lakes of China, 23; Boundaries of China Proper, 25; Character of its coast, 26; The Great Plain, 27; The Great Wall of China, its course, 29; Its construction and aspect, 30; The Grand Canal, 31; Its history and present condition, 36; Minor canals, 37; Public roads, De Guignes’ description, _ibid._; General aspects of a landscape, 40; Physical characteristics of the Chinese, 41; The women, 42; Aborigines: Miaotsz’, Lolos, Li-mus, and others, 43; Manchus and Mongols, 44; Attainments and limits of Chinese civilization, 46.