CHAPTER III.
Before traversing the streets of Canton, visiting its shops, conversing with its inhabitants, venturing into this labyrinth of houses, and mixing with this crowd of people, I should like to give the reader an idea of the appearance and position of this celebrated city. This topographical description will be in some measure the clue which I shall put into the hands of those who follow me into the labyrinth.
Canton is situated on the left shore of the Tchou-kiang. It occupies a space which cannot be gone round in less than six hours, stepping out quickly. The city is divided into three distinct parts, joined in a way together; its shape is a square, stretching from west to east; it is bounded on the south and west by the river, or, to speak more truly, by the floating town; on the east, by waste and marshy plains; and on the north, by sloping hills, which by degrees rejoin the mountains of the snowy clouds which are seen in the distance.
The three parts which form the capital of Kuang-ton are the suburbs and walled city, which is divided
