CANTON, or Quang-tong, a province of the empire of China in Asia. It is bounded on the north by Kyang-fu; on the north-east, by Fokeyn; on the west, by Quang-fu and the kingdom of Tonquin; and the rest is washed by Nan-hay, or the sea of the south. This province is reckoned the most considerable in China, not only on account of its extent, but also because of its vast commerce, opulence, advantageous situation, and great number of its ports. Its inhabitants are computed to amount to 383,360 families, or 1,978,029 men. The soil is so fertile, that it produces two crops of corn yearly; and in the like plenty all sorts of grain, fruits, and vegetables, with every thing that can contribute to the pleasures of life. The climate is warm, but clear; and the people are stout and healthy. The commodities of this province are of the most valuable kind; such as diamonds, and precious stones of all sorts; pearls, gold, silver, and other metals, curiously wrought for various uses. Silks, cottons, and linens of all kinds, are also manufactured and exported in great quantities, as well as china-ware and japan-work; in which such multitudes are employed, that, notwithstanding the fertility of the province, it doth not produce a sufficient quantity of provisions for its inhabitants, but is assisted by some of the neighbouring ones. They use here the same way of hatching eggs in ovens and dunghills that they do in Egypt. The eggs of ducks, which are in great plenty, are particularly used in this manner: they have also a method of preserving them fresh all the year round by covering them with a sort of paste. We are told of a curious singularity of the ducks and chickens so hatched; viz. that the owners carry them in boats to the sea-side, at low water, where they feed on such insects as they can find; but though the droves are thus naturally intermixed, no sooner does the owner strike on a basin, as a signal to return, than each drove returns to its own boat, as pigeons do to their holes. The governor or viceroy of Canton is also governor of Quang-fu; for which reason he commonly resides at Chau-king, to communicate his orders to both provinces with the greater facility. He keeps a great number of soldiers, to suppress highwaymen and pirates, which are very troublesome. For the same end there are a great number of fortresses both on the sea-coasts and inland, most of them like large cities, very strong, and well garrisoned, besides inferior ones dispersed in proper places. This province is divided into ten capital jurisdictions; Canton or Quang-chew the chief, Shauchew, Nan-yong, Whechew, Chau-chew, Chau-king, Kau-chew, Lyen-chew, Lwy-chew, and Kyun-chew; which last is the capital of the island of Haynan.