islands, bluff headlands, and sheltered inlets, lurking-places for pirate junks. From the mouths of the Yang-tse-kiang northward to the Shan-tung promontory the land is low, and continues so beyond the promontory until the mountains east of the Gulf of Liaotong are reached. The general appearance of the southern coast is barren and uninviting, being destitute of vegetation, and the same may be said of the Shan-tung promontory; but the islands of the Chusan Archipelago are decked with green, and forests line the shore near the Corean boundary. China proper contains eighteen Provinces, named as follows:—
| Province. | Capital. |
|---|---|
| Pè-chi-li ("The Supreme Province"), | Peking. |
| Shan-tung ("East of the mountains"), | Tsinan. |
| Shanse ("West of the mountains"), | Tai-yuen. |
| Ho-nan ("South of the river"), | Kai-fong. |
| Kiang-su ("The country of the happy river"), | Nanking. |
| Ngau-whi ("The Province of peace and plenty"), | Ngan-king. |
| Kiang-si ("West of the river"), | Nan-chang. |
| Che-kiang ("The country of the winding river"), | Hang-chow. |
| Fokien ("The consummation of happiness"), | Foo-chow. |
| Hoo-pe ("North of the lakes"), | Wo-chang. |
| Hoo-nan ("South of the lakes"), | Chang-sha. |
| Shen-se ("West of the Yellow River"), | Si-quan. |
| Kan-su ("The Province of profound peace"), | Lan-chow. |
| Se-chuen ("The four streams"), | Ching-too. |
| Kwang-tung or Quang-tung ("The east plain"), | Canton. |
| Kwang-si or Quang-si ("The west plain"), | Quei-ling. |
| Kwei-chow or Quei-chow ("The honourable division"), | Quei-yang. |
| Yun-nan ("South of the clouds"), | Yan-nan. |
From the above list it will be seen that in naming their Provinces the Chinese have recognised the geographical position, and particularly the water-supply, of each.
