Hungtso lake. The country lying west of
the canal is higher than its bed; while the country east is lower than
the canal. The two regions are known respectively as Shang-ho (above
the river) and Ssia-ho (below the river). Waste weirs opening on the
Ssia-ho (one of the great rice-producing areas of China) discharge the
surplus water in flood seasons. The northern and considerably the
longest section of the canal extends from the old bed of the Yellow
river to Tientsin. It largely utilizes existing rivers and follows
their original windings. Between Tsing-kiang-pu and the present course
of the Yellow river the canal trends N.N.W., skirting the highlands of
Shan-tung. In this region it passes through a series of lagoons, which
in summer form one lake--Chow-yang. North of that lake on the east
bank of the canal, is the city of Tsi-ning-chow. About 25 m. N. of
that city the highest level of the canal is reached at the town of Nan
Wang. Here the river Wen enters the canal from the east, and about 30
m. farther N. the Yellow river is reached. On the west side of the
canal, at the point where the Yellow river now cuts across it, there
is laid down in Chinese maps of the 18th century a dry channel which
is described as being that once followed by the Yellow river, i.e.
before it took the channel it abandoned in 1851-1853. The passage of
the Yellow river to the part of the canal lying north of that stream
is difficult, and can only be effected at certain levels of the
river. Frequently the waters of the river are either too low or the
current is too strong to permit a passage. Leaving this point the
canal passes through a well-wooded and hilly country west of
Tung-p'ing Chow and east of Tung-ch'ang Fu. At Lin-ching Chow it is
joined at right angles by the Wei river in the midst of the city. Up
to this point, i.e. from Tsing-kiang-pu to Lin-ching Chow, a distance
of over 300 m., navigation is difficult and the water-supply often
insufficient. The differences of level, 20 to 30 ft., are provided for
by barrages over which the boats--having discharged their cargo--are
hauled by windlasses. Below the junction with the Wei the canal
borrows the channel of the river and again becomes easily navigable.
Crossing the frontier into Chih-li, between Te Chow and Tsang Chow,
which it passes to the west, it joins the Peiho at Tientsin, after
having received the waters of the K