CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION. 1-6.
Geography. Formation of the Earth. Modifications of the crust of the Earth. Formation of new lands, 1. — Igneous and sedimentary rocks. Formation of the soil of China, 2. — China in the various geological periods. Formation of coal and sandstone. Modifications wrought on the surface. Volcanic action and eruptions. Present geological action. Predominant rocks of the Chinese soil. New modifications wrought on the surface of China, 3. — Flora and Fauna of the first ages. Primitive origin of the Chinese. Pre-Chinese races. First Chinese Settlers, 4. — Actual China. Situation. Divisions. Boundaries. Area and Population. Reasons of the unequal distribution of inhabitants. Difficulty of a collective view. Study of the 18 Provinces, 5. — References. 6.
BOOK I.
CHINA PROPER
or
The Eighteen Provinces.
General Notions, 7-20.
Names applied to the Country and People. Situation. Boundaries, 7. — Shape. Area and Population, 8. — Geological constitution. Orography or Mountain Systems, 10. — Historical or Sacred Mountains. Plains, 13. — Climate, 14. — Hydrography, 15. — Lakes. Coast-line. Fauna and Flora, 16. — Diffusion of the Population. 18. — Present Division of China. The Three Regions or Basins, 19. — References, 20.
SECTION 1. THE NORTHERN REGION, 21-89.
CHAPTER I.
Valleys of the Peh-ho and of the Hwang-ho, 21-30.
Characteristics of this Region, 21. — Provinces comprised in it. Geological constitution. Loess or Yellow lands, 22. — Alluvial lands. Orography. Climate. Hydrography, 23. — The Hwang-ho, 24. — Variations in its Course, 27. — Flow, 28. — The Great Wall, 29. — A few other particulars concerning the Northern Region, 29. — References, 30.
CHAPTER II.
Region of the Upper Hwang-ho (Kansu and Shensi), 31-46.
Kansu and Shensi Provinces, 31. — 1°. Kansu: Area. Population. Name. Boundaries. Capital. Other Prefectures, 32. — Aspect and Characteristics. Geological constitution. Orography, 33. — Climate. Hydrography, 35. — Fauna and Flora. Agricultural and Mineral Wealth. Population (People).
