The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its InhabitantsWilliams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
History
The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its Inhabitants
Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
China
Nanking has extensive manufactories of fine satin and crape, Nankeen
cotton cloth, paper and ink of fine quality, and beautiful artificial
flowers of pith paper. In distant parts of the empire, any article
which is superior to the common run of workmanship, is said to be
from Nanking, though the speaker means only that it was made in that
region. It is renowned, too, for its scholars and literary character,
and in this particular stands among the first places of learning in
the country. It is the residence of the governor-general of three
provinces, and consequently the centre of a large concourse of
officials, educated men, and students seeking for promotion; these,
with its large libraries and bookstores, all indicating and assisting
literary pursuits, combine to give it this distinguished position. In
the monastery on Golden Island, near Chinkiang, a library was found by
the English officers, but there was no haste in examining its contents,
as they intended to have carried off the whole collection, had not
peace prevented.
~THE CITIES OF SUCHAU AND CHINKIANG.~
The city of Suchau now exceeds Nanking in size and riches. It is
situated on islands lying in the Ta hu, and from this sheet of water
many streams and canals connect the city with most parts of the
department. The walls are about ten miles in circumference; outside
of them are four suburbs, one of which is said to extend ten miles,
besides which there is an immense floating population. The whole space
includes many canals and pools connected with the Grand Canal and
the lake, and presented in 1859 a scene of activity, industry, and
riches which could not be surpassed elsewhere in China. The population
probably then exceeded a million, including the suburbs. It lies
north-west of Shanghai, the way passing through a continual range of
villages and cities; the environs are highly cultivated, producing
cotton, silk, rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables. It was captured in
1860 by the rebels, and when retaken in 1865 was nearly reduced to a
heap of ruins. It is, however, rapidly reviving, as the loss of life
was comparatively small.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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