the capital of the province of Quel-ling-Quangh in China, has its name from a flower called fou qui, which grows on a tree resembling a laurel; it exhales so sweet and agreeable an odour, that the whole country around is perfumed with it. It is situated on the banks of a river, which throws itself into the Ta-ho; but it flows with such rapidity, and amidst so narrow valleys, that it is neither navigable nor of any utility to commerce. This city is large, and the whole of it is built almost after the model of our ancient fortresses; but it is much inferior to the greater part of the capitals of the other provinces. A great number of birds are found in the territories belonging to it, the colours of which are so bright and variegated, that the artists of this country, in order to add to the lustre of their silks, interweave with them some of their feathers, which have a splendor and beauty that cannot be imitated. Quel-ling has under its jurisdiction two cities of the second class and seven of the third.

QUET, in Natural History, is a name given by the Chinese to a peculiar earth found in many parts of the east. It is of the nature of an indurated clay, and in some degree approaches to the talc, as our fleatites and the galactites do. It is very white and ablatifive, used by the women of China to take off spots from the skin, and render it soft and smooth, as the Italian ladies use talk of Venice. They sometimes use the fine powder of this stone dry, rubbing it on the hands and face after washing; sometimes they mix it in pomatum.