ge it is 1 m. wide. Some 30 m. above
Canton it divides into two main and several small branches. The
northern branch, called Chu-kiang, or Pearl river, flows past Fat-shan
and Canton and reaches the sea through the estuary called the Bocca
Tigris or Bogue, at the mouth of which is the island of Hong-Kong. The
southern branch, which retains the name of Si-kiang, reaches the sea
west of Macao. Near the head of its delta the Si-kiang receives the
Pei-kiang, a considerable river which flows through Kwang-tung in a
general N. to S. direction. Like the Yangtsze-kiang the Si-kiang is
known by various names in different parts of its course. From its
source to Nan-ning Fu in Kwang-si it is called the Si-yang-kiang, or
river of the Western Ocean; from Nan-ning Fu to Sin-chow Fu it is
known as the Yu-kiang, or the Bending river; and over the remainder of
its course it is recognized by the name of the Si-kiang, or Western
river. The Si-kiang is navigable as far as Shao-king, 130 m., for
vessels not drawing more than 15 ft. of water, and vessels of a light
draught may easily reach Wu-chow Fu, in Kwang-si, which is situated 75
m. farther up. In winter the navigation is difficult above Wu-chow Fu.
Above that place there is a rapid at low water, but navigation is
possible to beyond Nan-ning Fu.

[Illustration: CHINA]

_Lakes._--There are numerous lakes in the central provinces of China.
The largest of these is the Tung-t'ing in Hu-nan, which, according to
the Chinese geographers, is upwards of 800 li, or 266 m., in
circumference. In native gazetteers its various portions are known
under distinct names; thus it is said to include the Ts'ing-ts'ao, or
Green Grass Lake; the Ung, or Venerable Lake; the Chih-sha, or Red
Sand Lake; the Hwang-yih, or Imperial Post-house Lake; the Ngan-nan,
or Peaceful Southern Lake; and the Ta-tung, or Great Deep Lake. In
ancient times it went by the name of the Kiu-kiang Hu, or Lake of the
Nine Rivers, from the fact that nine rivers flowed into it. Its chief
affluents are the Siang-kiang, which rises in the highlands in the
north of Kwang-si and flows in a general N.N.E. direction, and the
Yuen-kiang, which flows N. and then E. from the eastern border of
Kwei-chow. The lake is connected with the Yangtsze-kiang by two
canals, the Taping and the Yochow Fu. In summer it is fed by the
overflow from the Yangtsze-kiang; in winter it pours its