a province of China, bounded on the north by that of Petcheli and Chanfu, on the west by Chanfu, on the south by Houquang, and on the east by Honan-Chantong. Everything that can contribute to render a country delightful is found united in this province; the Chinese therefore call it Tong-hoa, or the middle flower: it is indeed situated almost in the centre of China. The ancient emperors, invited by the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the country, fixed their residence here for some time. The abundance of its fruits, pastures, and corn, the effeminacy of its inhabitants (who are accounted extremely voluptuous), and lastly, the cheapness of provisions, have no doubt prevented trade from being so flourishing here as in the other provinces of the empire. The whole country is flat excepting towards the west, where there arises a long chain of mountains, covered with thick forests; and the land is in such a high state of cultivation, that those who travel through it imagine they are walking in an immense garden.—Besides the river Hoangho, which traverses this province, it is watered by a great number of springs and fountains; it has also a valuable lake, which invites to its banks a prodigious number of women, because its water has the property of communicating a lustre to silk, which cannot be imitated. Exclusive of forts, castles, and places of strength, this province contains eight fou or cities of the first class, and 102 of the second and third. In one of these cities named Nanyang, is found a kind of serpent, the skin of which is marked with small white spots; the Chinese physicians steep it in wine, and use it afterwards as an excellent remedy against the palsy.