kiang

A large wild ass, Equus kiang, native to the Tibetan Plateau.

Obsolete form of Jiang.

Synonym of Yangtze, the chief river of central China.

All China was formerly divided by the Chineſe Emperour Xunus into 12 Provinces; afterwards the Emperour Yua, who took upon him the Government after the death of Xunus, about 260 years before the Incarnation of our Saviour, reduced all China into Nine Provinces, which only at that time comprehended the Northern Parts of China, and had for their Confines the River Kiang. But after that they had Conquered the Southern parts by degrees, and had ſomewhat civilized the Inhabitants, the whole Kingdom of China was divided into 15 Provinces : Amongſt theſe alſo they reckon the Province of Leaotung, which is ſituated on the Weſt of Peking, where the great Wall begins, and the Hanging Iſland of Corea; both which pay Tribute to the Emperour.

The series of these great events began in the year 1333, fifteen years before the plague broke out in Europe: they first appeared in China. Here a parching drought, accompanied by famine, commenced in the tract of country watered by the rivers Kiang and Hoai.

A surname from Chinese.