Chapter I: Page

GENERAL DIVISIONS AND FEATURES OF THE EMPIRE, 1-48

Unusual interest involved in the study of China, 1; The name
_China_ probably a corruption of _Tsin_, 2; Other Asiatic names
for the country, 3; Ancient and modern native designations, 5;
Dimensions of the Empire, 6; Its three Grand Divisions: The
_Eighteen Provinces_, _Manchuria_, and _Colonies_, 7; China
Proper, its names and limits, 8; Four large mountain chains,
10; The Tien shan, _ibid._; The Kwănlun, 11; The Hing-an and
Himalaya systems, 13; Pumpelly’s “Sinian System” of mountains,
14; The Desert of Gobi and Sha-moh, 15; Its character and
various names, 17; Rivers of China: The Yellow River, 18; The
Yangtsz’ River, 20; The Chu or Pearl River, 22; Lakes of China,
23; Boundaries of China Proper, 25; Character of its coast,
26; The Great Plain, 27; The Great Wall of China, its course,
29; Its construction and aspect, 30; The Grand Canal, 31; Its
history and present condition, 36; Minor canals, 37; Public
roads, De Guignes’ description, _ibid._; General aspects of a
landscape, 40; Physical characteristics of the Chinese, 41; The
women, 42; Aborigines: Miaotsz’, Lolos, Li-mus, and others,
43; Manchus and Mongols, 44; Attainments and limits of Chinese
civilization, 46.