YGGDRASIL  , in Scandinavian

mythology, the mystical ash tree which symbolizes existence, and binds together earth,. heaven and hell . It is the tree of life, of knowledge, of fate, of time and of space . Its three roots go down into the three great realms—(I) of death, where, in the well Hvergelmer, the dragon Nidhug (Nibhoggr) and his brood are ever gnawing it; (2) of the giants, where, in the fountain of Mimer, is the source of wisdom; (3) of the gods, Asgard, where, at the sacred fountain of Urd, is the divine tribunal, and the dwelling of the Fates . The stem of Yggdrasil upholds the earth, while its branches overshadow the world and reach up beyond the heavens . On its topmost bough sits an eagle, between whom and Nidhug the squirrel Ratatoskx runs to and fro trying to provoke strife . Honey-dew falls from the tree, and on it Odin hung nine nights, offering himself to himself . G . Vigfusson and York Powell (Corpus Poelicum Boreale, Oxford, 1883) see in Yggdrasil not a primitive Norse idea, but one due to early contact with Christianity, and a fanciful adaptation of the cross . YO-CHOW FU, a prefectural city in the Chinese province of Hu-nan, standing on high ground E. of the outlet of Tungt'ing Lake, in 29° 18' N., 113° 2' E . Pop. about 20,000 . It was opened to foreign trade in 1899 . The actual settlement is at Chinling-ki, a village 51 M. below Yo-chow and half a mile from the Yangtsze .

From Yo-chow the cities of Chang sha and Chang to are accessible for

steam vessels drawing 4 to 5 ft. of water by means of the Tung-t'ing Lake and its affluents, the Siang and Yuen rivers . The district in which Yo-chow Fu stands is the ancient habitat of the aboriginal San Miao tribes, who were deported into S.W . China, and who, judging from some non-Chinese festival customs of the people, would appear to have left traditions behind them . The present city, which was built in 1371, is about 3 m. in circumference and is entered by four gates . The walls are high and well built, but failed to keep out the T'aip'ing rebels in 18J3, Situated between Tung-t'ing Lake and the Yangtsze-kiang, Yo-chow Fu forms a depot for native products destined for export, and for foreign goods on their way inland . The net value of the total trade of the port in 1906 was 747,000 taels .