ling Shan, a maximum elevation
of 13,000 ft. East of Shen-si, in Ho-nan the Fu-niu-shan continue the
range, but with decreasing elevation, and beyond this the deltaic plain
is entered.

The watershed between the Yangtsze-kiang and that of the Si-kiang is
less clearly marked. It traverses the immense tableland which occupies a
great part of the south-west provinces of Yun-nan and Kwei-chow and is
continued eastward by the lower tableland of Kwang-si and the Nanshan
hills (whose elevation seldom exceeds 6000 ft.). The basin of the
Yangtsze-kiang forms the whole of central China. Its western border, in
Sze-ch'uen and Yun-nan, is wholly mountainous, with heights exceeding
19,000 ft. Central Sze-ch'uen, which is shut in by these mountains on
the west, by the Yun-nan and Kwei-chow plateau on the south, by the
Kiu-lung range on the north, and by highlands eastward (save for the
narrow valley through which the Yangtsze-kiang forces its way), is a
vast red sandstone tableland of about 1600 ft. elevation. It is
exceedingly fertile and supports a dense population. Eastward of
Sze-ch'uen the Yangtsze valley is studded with lakes. Finally it enters
the deltaic plain. The basin of the Si-kiang fills the two southern
provinces of Kwang-si and Kwang-tung and contains no very striking
orographic features. It may be added that in the extreme S.W. portion of
China is part of a fourth drainage area. Here the Mekong, Salween,
Song-koi (Red river), &c. flow south to Indo-China.

_The Coast_.--The coast-line, following all the minor indentations,
is reckoned at over 4500 m.; if only the larger inlets and
promontories be regarded, the coast-line is about 2150 m. in length.
Its shape is that of a semicircle, with its most easterly point midway
(30 deg. N.) between its northern and southern extremities. At either end
of this semicircular sweep lies a peninsula, and beyond the peninsula
a gulf. In the north are the peninsula of Shan-tung and the gulf of
Chih-li; in the south the Lien-chow peninsula and the gulf of
Tongking. Due south of Lien-chow peninsula, separated rom it by a
narrow strait, is Hai-nan, the only considerable island of China. From
the northern point of the gulf of Chih-li to 30 deg. N., where is
Hang-chow bay, the shores are flat and alluvial save where the
Shan-tung peninsula juts out. Along this stretch there are few good
natural harbours, except at the mouths of rivers and in the Shan-tung
prom