The government of Kiangsi was desired some time ago to have a map of the province drawn, and a specimen was sent showing the way the work was to. be done. Instructions were sent to the: district magistrates, but when their maps came in they were found not to be in accord with the specimen. A surveying department was therefore established for the whole province and the local authorities were told to procure proper instruments from Shang. hat £0 as to be uble to de their share of the work. As this would take some time, a year's extension was granted for the completion of the undertaking. It is found, however, that this limit is not long enough. The country is mountainous, foggy weather often interferes with the taking of bearings, or wet weather with the making of measurements. Besides the Poyang. lake presents special difficulty, Doing a wide sea in summer and a net. work of channels in winter. Nanch'aug and Juichou have been surveyed, but there still remain twelve more prefectures to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.