a province of China, occupying nearly the centre of the empire: the river Yang-tse-kiang traverses it from west to east, and divides it into two parts, the northern and southern. This province (the greater part of which is level, and watered by lakes, canals, and rivers) is celebrated for its fertility; the Chinese call it the store-house of the empire; and it is a common saying among them, that "the abundance..." Hou

And speaks of them as standing, at equal distances, about the throne of Sol:

—et, positae spatii equalibus, Horae.

The poets represent them as dressed in fine coloured or embroidered robes, and gliding on with a quick and easy motion.

Hours, Horae, in the Romish church, are certain prayers performed at stated times of the day; as matins, vespers, lauds, &c. The lesser hours are, prime, tierce, sixth, and none. They are called hours or canonical hours, as being to be rehearsed at certain hours prescribed by the canons of that church, in commemoration of the mysteries accomplished at those hours. These hours were anciently also called course, cursus: F. Mabillon has a dissertation on them, entitled, De Cursu Gallicano.

The first constitution enjoining the observation of the canonical hours is of the ninth century, being found in a capitular of Heito bishop of Basil directed to his curates, importing that the priests shall never be absent at the canonical hours either by day or night.