or Blue River, one of the largest in the world, watering the north-east part of Tibet and the centre of China. It rises by three branches on the southern slope of the Kuen Lun Mountains in the north-east of Tibet. Below the confluence the united stream is known by the name of Murui Ussu or Murus Ussu, signifying the winding river; and it flows in a very irregular course towards the south-east, until a branch of the Bayan Khara Mountains, on the east, forces it to flow almost due south. It crosses the Chinese frontier a short distance above Batang, and here takes the name of Kin-cha-kiang, or river of golden sands. Further down, about 28° N. lat., it escapes from the mountains, and turns to the east; and, after receiving from the north the Ya-long-kiang, takes the name of Yang-tse-kiang, although for a part of its course below this it is often called simply Kiang, the river, or Ta-kiang, the great river. Shortly below its confluence with the Ya-long-kiang it turns to the north, and after flowing for some distance in that direction, bends again to the east; and flowing through the centre of China, with great sinuosities and irregularities, at length falls into the Pacific below Nankin. Besides the Ya-long-kiang, it receives from the north the Minkiang, Kialing, and Hankiang; and from the south, the Ninkiang, Hengkiang, and Kiakiang. Its whole length is estimated at 2500 miles; and the area of its basin at 700,000 square miles. The tide reaches 115 miles up the river, and it is navigable as far as Nankin, 225 miles from the sea. The upper parts of this river are very imperfectly known. Its mouth forms a large estuary with several low islands at its entrance.