ABSTRACT
The portions of the Chinese Empire beyond the limits of the Eighteen Provinces, though of far greater extent than China Proper, are comparatively of minor importance. The larger part of Manchuria is covered by forests, the abode of wild animals, whose capture affords employment, clothing, and food to their hunters. In the western part of Tsitsihar lies the third great range of mountains in Manchuria, called the Sialkoi Mountains, a continuation of the Inner Hing-an range of Mongolia, and separating the Argun and Nonni basins. That part of the Empire called Ili is a vast region lying on each side of the Tien Shan, and including a tract nearly as large as Mongolia. The borders are now limited on the north by Kansuh, southeast by Sz'chuen, south by Anterior Tibet, and west by the desert, comprising about four degrees of latitude and eleven of longitude.
