eto river in the neighbourhood of
Tsing Hien.[3]

The most ancient part of the canal is the section between the Yangtsze
and the Hwai-ho. This part is thought, on the strength of a passage in
one of the books of Confucius, to have been built c. 486 B.C. It was
repaired and enlarged in the 3rd century A.D. The southern part,
between the Yangtsze and Hang-chow, was built early in the 7th century
A.D. The northern part is stated to have been constructed in the three
years 1280-1283. The northern portion of the canal is now of little
use as a means of communication between north and south.[4] It is
badly built, neglected and charged with the mud-laden waters of the
Yellow river. The "tribute fleet" bearing rice to Peking still uses
this route; but the rice is now largely forwarded by sea. The central
and southern portions of the canal are very largely used.

The Peiho (length about 350 m.) is of importance as being the high
waterway to Peking. Taking its rise in the Si-shan, or Western
Mountains, beyond Peking, it passes the city of T'sung-chow, the port
of Peking, and Tientsin, where it meets the waters of the Hun-ho and
empties itself into the gulf of Chih-li at the village of Taku. The
Peiho is navigable for small steamers as far as Tientsin during the
greater part of the year, but from the end of November to the
beginning of March it is frozen up.

The Si-kiang.

In the southern provinces the Si-kiang, or Western river, is the most
considerable. It has a length of over 1000 m. This river takes its
rise in the prefecture of Kwang-nan Fu in Yun-nan, whence it reaches
the frontier of Kwang-si at a distance of about 90 li from its source.
Then trending in a north-easterly direction it forms the boundary
between the two provinces for about 150 li. From this point it takes a
generally south-easterly course, passing the cities of Tsien Chow,
Fung-e Chow, Shang-lin Hien, Lung-ngan Hien, Yung-kang Chow and
Nan-ning Fu to Yung-shan Hien. Here it makes a bend to the north-east,
and continues this general direction as far as Sin-chow Fu, a distance
of 800 li, where it meets and joins the waters of the Kien-kiang from
the north. Its course is then easterly, and after passing Wu-chow Fu
it crosses the frontier into Kwang-tung. In this part of its course it
flows through a gorge 3 m. long and in places but 270 yds. in width.
Both above and below this gor