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184 EAST ASIA.
the former to the north-east, the latter to the south-west. On the East Asiatic
seaboard the vast basin of the Pacific diverts these currents from their normal
direction, so that the polar winds passing
over Siberia deviate to the south and
south-east in order to replace the warmer atmosphere diffused from the tropical
waters towards the pole. On the other hand, the marine breezes are attracted in
summer by the " Yellow Lands " of the Hoang-ho and the barren steppes and
sands of Mongolia, the Pacific trade winds being thus often deflected towards the
interior of China. Farther south the opposite currents from the Bay of Bengal
and the Pacific produce an unstable equilibrium, often succeeded by those terrific
typhoons (ta-fung, or " Great Winds "), so dreaded by mariners in those
waters.
Thanks to the regular south-west winds and the marine monsoons, China
receives a larger average quantity of moisture than West Europe. Along the
coast the mean rainfall is rather more than 40 inches, and the greater regularity of
the seasons has also largely contributed to the early development of agriculture in
the Yang-tze and Hoang-ho basins. Nevertheless this advantage over Europe is
counterbalanced by extensive inundations, and occasionally by long periods of
drought, followed inevitably by widespread famine.
FLORA AND FAUNA.
Thanks to its normally temperate, and in the south almost tropical climate,
China possesses an extremely rich flora, in which both Indian and European types
are mingled together. In some intermediate southern tracts the same lands will
grow the sugar-cane and potato, while the oak and bamboo flourish side by side in
the neighbouring thickets. Proceeding northwards, there is a gradual transition
from the Indian to the Manchurian flora. The spread of tropical varieties has
been stimulated by the inclination of numerous valleys towards the Malay peninsula.
Hence a large number of Indian plants are found as far north as Canton, and even
Amoy, under the 24th parallel. Of these one of the most valuable is the indis-
pensable bamboo, which is used for building purposes, and even for food, the
young sprouts being regarded
as one of the choice delicacies of the Chinese
cuisine.
A great contrast between the European and Chinese floras is presented by their
respective forest species, which are more varied and of a more tropical character
in China, although the woodlands have here largely disappeared. Even in the
Peking district, and throughout the northern provinces, where for a portion of the
year the climate is almost Siberian, fully one-fifth of all the plants belong
to the
arborescent orders. The evergreens especially are very numerous, the resinous
species presenting more varied types even than those of North America itself. The
laurel is a characteristic feature of the Chinese landscape, and the sycamore, ash,
linden, maple, and many other forest trees belong to the same genera as those of
Europe. But China is
especially noted for the great number and beauty of its
flowering shrubs. From the " Flowery Land come the camellia, azalea, jasmine,