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BOOK I.
THE TRIBUTE OF YÜ.
The soil of this province was greenish and light. Its fields were the highest of the lowest class; and its contribution of revenue was the average of the lowest class, with proportions of the rates immediately above and below. Its articles of tribute were
- the best gold, iron, silver, steel, Aint stones to make arrow-heads, and sounding-stones; with the skins of bears, foxes, and jackals, and (nets) woven of their hair.
From (the hill of) Hsi-khing they came by the course of the Hwan; floated along the Khien, and then crossed (the country) to the Mien; passed to the Wei, and (finally) ferried across the Ho.
10. The Black-water and western Ho were (the boundaries of) Yung Kâu?
The Weak-water was conducted westwards. The King was led to mingle its waters with those of the Wei. The Khi and the Khü were next led in a similar way (to the Wei), and the waters of the Fêng found the same receptacle.
(The mountains) King and Khi were sacrificed to.* (Those of) Kung-nan and Khun-wa (were also regulated), and (all the way) on to Niâo-shu. Successful measures could now be taken with the plains and swamps, even to the marsh of) KQ-yeh. (The country of) San-wei was made habitable, and the (affairs of the) people of San-miâo were greatly arranged.
* The Black-water, which was the western boundary of Yung Kâu, was a different river from that which, with the same name, ran along the south of Liang Kâu. Yung Kâu was probably the largest of Yu's - provinces, embracing nearly all the present provinces of Shen-hsî and Kan-sd, and extending indefinitely northwards to the Desert.
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