a province of China, bounded on the north by that of Kiang-nan, on the west by Hou-quang, on the south by Quang-tong, and on the east by Fo-kien and Tche-kiang. The country is extremely fertile; but it is so populous, that it can scarcely supply the wants of its inhabitants: on this account they are very economical; which exposes them to the farcisms and rascality of the Chinese of the other provinces: however, they are people of great solidity and acuteness, and have the talent of rising rapidly to the dignities of the state. The mountains are covered with fimples; and contain in their bowels mines of gold, silver, lead, iron, and tin; the rice it produces is very delicate, and several barks are loaded with it every year for the court. The porcelain made here is the finest and most valuable of the empire. This province contains 13 cities of the first class, and 78 of the second and third.

Kiang-Nan, a province of China, and one of the most fertile, commercial, and consequently one of the richest in the empire. It is bounded on the west by the provinces of Ho-nan and Hou-quang; on the south by Tche-kiang and Kiang-fu; and on the east by the gulf of Nan-king: the rest borders on the province of Chan-tong. The emperors long kept their court in this province; but reasons of state having obliged them to move nearer to Tartary, they made choice of Pe-king for the place of their residence. This province is of vast extent; it contains fourteen cities of the first class, and ninety-three of the second and third. These cities are very populous, and there is scarcely one of them which may not be called a place of trade. Large barks can go to them from all parts; because the whole country is intersected by lakes, rivers, and canals, which have a communication with the great river Yang-tse-kiang, which runs through the middle of the province. Silk stuffs, lacquer ware, ink, paper, and in general everything that comes from Nanking, as well as from the other cities of the province, are much more esteemed, and fetch a higher price, than those brought from the neighbouring provinces. In the village of Chang-hai alone, and the villages dependent on it, there are reckoned to be more than 200,000 weavers of common cotton cloths. The manufacturing of these cloths gives employment to the greater part of the women.—In several places on the sea coast there are found many salt pits, the salt of which is distributed all over the empire. In short, this province is so abundant and opulent, that it brings every year into the emperor's treasury about 32,000,000 taels (or ounces of silver), exclusive of the duties upon every thing exported or imported. The people of this country are civil and ingenious, and acquire the sciences with great facility: hence many of them become eminent in literature, and rise to offices of importance by their abilities alone. This province is divided into two parts, each of which has a distinct governor. The governor of the eastern part resides at Sou-tcheou-fou, that of the western at Ngan-king-fou. Each of these governors has under his jurisdiction seven fou or cities of the first class.