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FO-KIEN

Volume 9 · 150 words · 1860 Edition

or Fu-Kiian, a large province of China, bounded on the N. by Che-Kiang, E. by the Chinese Sea, S. by Kwang-Tung, and W. by Kiang-Si; estimated area, 53,480 square miles. This province is generally mountainous, particularly in the northern and western parts, where it is bounded by the high range of the Nanling. Its sea-coast is bold and rugged, but presents many capacious and secure harbours. Off the coast lie numerous islands, whose lofty granitic or trap peaks extend in precipitous barren headlands from Namoh as far as the Chusan Archipelago. The river Min, formed by the union of three large streams at Yenping-fu, drains about three-fourths of the province, or all that part of it lying east of the Wu-i hills, and empties itself into the ocean by several mouths. Tea, sugar, camphor, tobacco, and indigo are the chief articles grown for export. The population is estimated at 15,000,000.