These navigations have arisen by slow degrees, from circumstances connected with the government, and the frequent change of the site of the capital. It is said, that about 246, B. C. the prince Tsin-chi-koang, on ac count of the wars and works he undertook, and the great consumption of his capital, made his subjects carry, night and day, lion) place to place, many millions sacks of grain, so that they were made heasts of burden. But that Han, who began to reign in 202, B. C. caused ca nals to be made to carry rice and other grain from the provinces to the capital, so that all porterage was abol ished ; but it was not till 86, B. C. that these great works were completed. Between this time and the year 1260, the capital was moved successively into the provinces of Chensi, Chansi, Honan, How-Kouang, and Tche-Kiang, and each of course requiring inland navigation.
Yangte, of the dynasty of Tsin, about 605 of the Chris tian era, enlarged the old canals, and opened new ones to carry barks from the Yellow River to the Kiang, and thence to the rivers Tsi, Owi, and Han. He received a memoir respecting canals of a new invention, and to render rivers navigable ; and it is said that 1600 leagues were effected. Some of these canals were faced with stone. Those that went from the coast of the north to that of the south had 40 steps of breadth those to the coasts of the east and west were less magnificent, but were also bordered with rows of trees. But the boldest measure was, turning the Yellow River into the Gulf of Leao-Tong, about the year 1064.
Youen, or Mangoux, having, about the year 1269, con quered China, fixed the capital at Pekin, caused to be made the canal Yaho, to carry grain to his capital ; he was also very tyrannical, and carried on works to keep the conquered people employed.
There is a Chinese history of 40 volumes, respecting the management of the waters. It is all composed of citations and authorities. Tai-tsou, founder of the dy nasty of Nling, began to repair the canals in 1369, be cause the Youens had, during their misfortune, neglect ed them ; he also made others. Yang-lo employed the most learned men of his time, and also his wealth, in making new reservoirs, and water for the canals, the lines of which, when necessary, were changed and im proved. In 1647, it is said that the rains of the sixth moon cut the level of Tchang-ho, and caused it to burst out ; and that for the ten following years, no such acci dents happened ; but that towards the termination of the Alings, the laws for suppot ting canals were neglected, some sluices were damaged, and some parts filled with mud. The before mentioned publication contains a mi
nute history of the management of the waters through that extensive empire during 1800 years.
The inland navigation between Pekin and Canton may be considered under two divisions, ist, from Pekin, by a tract of about 500 miles to the Yellow River ; and 2d, from the latter place to Canton.
Tke first, named the Imperial Canal, because navigat ed ty. the emperor's barks, of which Le Compte rec kovs about 1000 of RO tons each. Duhalde states, that this canal has its summit. or point of partition, near the small city Owen-chan-tien, where it is supplied by the small river Owen-ho ; two thirds of which passes into the northern portion of the canal, which, after a long coutse. falls into the River of Pekm, near the city Tient sing-Oui, in the province of Ptcholi ; it is not contin ued to Pekin, in order that t.he porterage may employ the great population of that quatter. The temaining third of the water passes southwatd by a canal of the Yellow River, at about 25 leagues from the sea, where the river is about a mile wide, and 9 or 10 feet deep; this portion of the canal runs, for many miles, along the sides of lakes ancl marshes—some of which supply feeders.
-As the point of partition is elevated considerably above the northern termination in the Pekin liver. and the southern in the Yellow River. the water passing in each direction, and of course the navigation is regulated by a sort of sluices, the Chinese call cha. and the French per. tuis, which will be descrthed in another part of this arti cle. The water, in dry seasons, is only five or six feet in depth, and sometimes only three, to pass the impciial barks. Of these chas there are 45 in number. Where the fall is small, vessels pass easily and with safety ; but at one named Tien-fo-cha, that is, the Queen of Heaven, there is, on account of its height, very considerable dif ficulty. The sides of the canal are lined with stone in only a few places, in sandy ground and near lakes. Be tween the Yellow River and the river Kiang, considera ble difficulties have been encountered, where enormous dykes are required along the side of the great lake and the river Kuai-ho ; the works near Hoainganfou are the most perfect in the canal ; near Yantcheou they form quays to the city.