Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms: Volume 62

The Eastern Route of America: Maine

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A settlement was established on the banks of the Kennebec River original: "Ji-ni-bo," referring to the Kennebec River, a major waterway in Maine.. Several decades later, it was merged with Massachusetts original: "Ma-sha-zhu-xie." Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820.. In the first year of the Daoguang reign [1821], it was first separated into a distinct department called the Department of Maine original: "Mian-bu." Maine achieved statehood in 1820; Wei Yuan dates it here to the first year of the Qing Emperor Daoguang's reign..

To the east, it borders the land of New Brunswick original: "Xin-lu-lun-rui-ke.". To the northwest, it connects to the southern part of Canada original: "Gan-ni-di-ji." Though phonetically similar to Connecticut, the text specifies this land belongs to the British, indicating the territories of British North America (Quebec/Lower Canada) bordering Maine to the north.. Both of these regions belong to the nation of Great Britain original: "Ying-ji-li.". To the southwest, it connects to the Department of New Hampshire original: "Xin-han-sai.". To the south, it meets the Atlantic Ocean original: "Ya-lan-de.".

The southern boundary is 43 degrees and 5 minutes from the Equator. The northern boundary is 48 degrees from the Equator. From south to north, the span is 4 degrees and 55 minutes. Its western limit is 6 degrees and 3 minutes east of the Prime Meridian zhong-xian The "central line" refers to the prime meridian. In the mid-19th century, Chinese geographers often relied on American maps that used Washington D.C. as the 0° longitude point, rather than Greenwich.. Its easternmost point is 10 degrees and 3 minutes east of the Prime Meridian. From this, it can be seen that the land from east to west is undoubtedly 4 degrees in width.

The shape of the land is irregular, being neither square nor circular; therefore, its size is described by its northern, southern, eastern, and western extremities. In its total extent, it is similar to Zhejiang Province A comparison intended to help a Chinese reader visualize the scale; Zhejiang is a coastal province of similar maritime importance.. Its mountains are jagged and of varying heights, the highest being five hundred The unit of measurement is not specified in the text, but likely refers to a Western unit like 'toise' or 'fathom' found in the source maps used by the author....