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CHINESE REPOSITORY.
FROM MAY, 1832, TO APRIL, 1833.
SECOND EDITION.
CANTON:
PRINTED FOS THE PEOFKIETOR8.
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a»3)i8£«
ABDALtAB, a capbve,
Abeel, Rev. David, 26,466
Accusations, anonymous, 473
Admoaitioo, friendly, 411
Admimstration of justice, 13
Agricultare, 304
AEns-giving by a lady,- - - . ""' Altai chain of moontaiDS,. Amiofa account of popnlatiou^ 346
Amoiirr or Sagalien river, 115
Amoy; the ci^ of; 97
Anceatora, prayerat worship of,'
Anglocbinese college at Malac- ca; whan founded; its ob-
Animosities to be settled,
Appeal to Chriatians in Chine, 240
Arabians in China, 6,10
Archipelago, the Indian,. . . . i .
Associations, secret,
Audiences with the emperor Kanglie, 354,
Ballad, a fiiiKiiient,
Bali (Pali), boc*B,
Bamplasoi, its situation,
Banditti in Hetuif^sban,
Bantok, notices of, 17,21
Bassora, Chinese vessels at, .
Batavii, Chinese at,
%tavia, printing at,
■Beggars,
Be^s, military omcers,
Bells, their size and use,. . . .
Benevolent enterprise, 333
Bible, ite superiori^, 101,273
Bible, cost of printing the, .... 421 BiMe. new edition in Chinese,. 460
Biosraphy of Chinese, 107
BirOi of tliree aoas, "" "■
Bixhop nf Calcutta, ......
Blind, an asylum for the,.
Boala at Canton, the tanlca,. .
Btmbay, c
Books distributed in Puhkeen, 457
Books, the king, or classical,. . 481
Books of the Romanista, 504
" • 70
British Critic, notice of Ihe, . Budha, thousand names of,..-.. MS
Budhism in Siam, ie;374
Badhiam, ren^aiks on, 75,153
Bukfasjia, inhabitants of; 171
Buonaparte's d^ingrequeat,... 453 Burmah, Christian missions in, 25
Burmans in Siam, 46
Burying-place, the Swedish, in Canton, 218
Calcutta, native Christiana in, 74 Calcutta Christian Observer,. . 155
CamboJB, its inhabitants, 52
Canal, Grand, an account of. . 38
Canfu, notices of, 8,352
Canton, noUcee of, 8,164^15
Caaton, climate of, 488
Canton, chaplain at port of,.... 243
Cape of Good Hope, 27
CspeLiantin Siam, 87
Catechism of the Shamans,.... 285 Celestial empire, the term, ,,. . 205 Chaortea,8emedo'aBccotintof, 477
Change among Chinese,' 2
Changling's memorial, US
Chancellcff Shins degraded,.. 511
Chantibun, its irSiabitanta, 67
Gfiaou-ohow foo, population of, 92
Chape', English in Canton, 150
China, origm of the name, 35
China Pn^r, its extent...... 35
Chineae empire, it? extent, 34
Chinese enipire, estimate of
populsiio 1 of, 345,3a5,477
Chinese, tueir persons, 14
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Echo, the goepel, 375
Bconomjr eoforced, 305
BgTptiaji C0I0D7, the Chinese a, 9 Ele, extent of government of,. . 170
Chinebe, uieir morals &nd their habita, .... 15,239,3S2,314,43M7€
Chinese, their dreas, 14,330
Chlneae, their food, 15,304
Chinese, their literaturer .4,480 Blutha in SouogariE^.
Chinese, their religionB, 306 Embassadors ' "' '
Chinese, their junfe,. . « . .
Chinese, thoir doctore,
Chinese, their funeral*, 317
a, their ^vemmeDt, 260,397
Chinese, their mws, 369 Employments, the
Chinese, their oationft] cliuac- BnCfcIopBdia Americanaj.
ter. 3a6|Enterpt'
Chinese, their printing, 414 "
CUneae, their aBCient codtUme, 475
Christian, the. term, m
OiriBtiaaa in China,. .8,S7,44^I,365|
C3iriatisK ftilfafiilnen,
OaiaUans b; hiilh, and Chris-
tiaoibj' profeosioQ,.
Christian Advocate's publiea-
CStristianity, eartf introduction
o^intoChina, 447
Cliriationitf introduced by die
Chusan (Chow,-'shMi),.'-''-"-.-a''434 Citiea, form of Chinese. Climate of Canton and Macao, 468 Coast of China,.. '~~
Cobi, desert o^.
Cochinchina, 31,380|
Cochinohina, letter from, 380
Cochinchin^ in Siam,
Colonial poasessioDS,
College, a aew in Keangaoo,. Concord among neiglibora,. . .
Confucius worshiped, 3^
Copper in Vunnan,
Corean language, sketch of,. . Corean syUabary,
Daodmak mountaina,
Dead, the nnburied 394{
Death, use of a new tenn for,. Death of the emperor's uncle,
Death of a whole family,
Death of Hae-linjf-ah,
DecapitUtons in Canton, 81
Degrees of literary rank,
Deserters, punishmeqt of,
Diiry of ft Chinese Ghriatian, 87 D'ictor in Canton, fashionable. 34-'!
Domestic coercion,
Drairon hing, the golden,
Dutch misaioniirios,. ,,,... .904,.'i?C
. 37fi
Bmigration to Siam, . .
Emperor's power,
Emperors of the Ta Taing d;
^tial,..
Cactoues, tiie £iHit^>ean,.... 311
Famine, teJief for a, 31,1S9
Pees.tarbldden, illegal, 3B4
Perocitjr, for stem virtue, 146
Filial dnljenftiKod, 30t
Pires in CanloD, S,348,39e
Pire caused by opium-«niokiiig, 306
Fire-engines, use 0^ 8
Piehing, modes of, 360
PpreigDfflnin China, ^11
Ponnasa, trade with, 37,97
Fonnoaa, account of the rebel- lion in, 343,38C^423,471 ,
FKee-trade, 2ia,45fi
French first came to China,. . 3d!)
Prieodship, S5
Fuhkeen province, 151
Funeral procession, 317
Future state, notions o^ 373
GiMBi-iNO, law against, 513
Gazette, the Peking, 50(i
Gazette, a cosh paper, 493
Gates of China, 11,37,2K
GenghiT khan, 43,118
" jd, one promoted by the em- peror Taoukwang, 112
Golden dragon iiing's &niily,. . 381
Grosier on population, 346
Grain, different kinds of, 3m
Gulzlttff'a journal, 16,45^1,133,180 "Jntalaff's second journal,.... 377
HATNiN, ieUnd of, 37,90,151
tlengdn sent to Hoonan, 80
Heterodoxy (aeay keaou), 103
Hindoos becnraing Christiane, 71,74 Hoopih, troubles in, 343
f, remarks 0
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UteNouiae vith (Aim, 1
iDterodune of the CUnem with
fcreigneiB, 3
Interest on jnonsy, 9
jAVA,ialaiido{^.... Juuiese erabmnss u am*
ntNn China,* -..>....,<..•• I«s(uiese And EngliBh Tocabu-
Jesus' name as oflence,
ieauita in China,
Jawa in China,
}<mea, Rev. J. Taylor,
Jndea, the ancient Ti^tnn i...
Julian, the apostate, 370
Juh-lung-ah, geoBii'
JuBks lod slulois,.
Jiutice, mode of obtaining, 159
Kidnawera,
Kindred, nine gradatioiiB,. . .
Kiiin, an account of,
Kokooor, <
Kotzebue, Capt. Otto von,. -
. 109
Lakb, the Tung-tiiiff, .... Lake, the Po-yang, Stc^. .
Lake, Uinka, &C.,
Lake, the Kolio nor, be.,. Lakes of Soiingaria, ■ . . > .
Lakes of Turkestan,
Lakes Qf Tibet,
LainaaofTjijet, 175
Land, waste in CliihlB,... Laos or Chana, described^ LaComte'eMemaiia&.rsDiaikB, 349 Leenchow, rebellion in,S9,78,ll 1,246
Ije, p)venior, 347,'
Legates, papal,
Lema ialanda,
Le MinechS,. a geo^rrapher,. LetOiB^arbor in ShaaUing,.
I jfittera, private 511
Linlin, shipB at, aofi
Literary gradu'ite, appeal of a,
Lithogra^ in Chineae,
Ijotd'a day,
Loo, governor of Canton,
Macao. settlRment,
Macao, actual state of its com merce, public building. &.c. 40S
Macao, population of, &.C.,. 404
Madagaacar,
Uadraa, 74
Uaga^nee, .-.- 508
Hafacca, 36^04
Malays, 4i6,a»'
Man-eateta, 79
Uantchou-Chinese dynasty yv . . 34
Hantchouria, estenl o(,. 113
Hantcbou Taitaiy, 60J90
Ha]M, tha Chinese,. 33
Marine intelligence, 986
Uamtge, 15,393,478
Meaou-ute, ^t«38
Uedhurat, Rev. Waltsr H W»
Uetal types, for Chinese 414
Metempaychosis, 103
Ueteorological averages, 491
Mezzabarba, a ptwal legate,. . . 443 " a'a travfib In ChaUM,. . 341
]ileo£, 316
HiliUry Bckod, 511
Hinuala, 41
Miasioiu, Christian, 497
Hisnonariea, labors of, 368
HohammedauB, 6,43
Moluccas, 304,243,S]0
Mongolia, 117
Monotheism derided, 331
Monuiuenl, a celebrated, 449
Moors in Siam, 46
Mountains of China,. 40
MoiintiUDS of Mantchourin, 116
Mountains of Soungaria, 173
Mountains of Tibet, 178
Murders, 160,395,383
Mutiny of the Bounty, 76
Nam-oh, harbor of, 93
Nankinff, 124
Naturaf history, 470
Neumann's catechism 385
New year, ofiiceB closed at, ... . 4S4
Neyoor in Southern India,. ... 78
New Zealand, 507
Notitia LinguiE Sinice, 158
Obedience to God,.. 102
')pium, angelic remedy for. ■ . 395
Of-ium, 31,150
Dricntal Chriatiun Spectator,-. 36
Oroumtohi, 117,170
Osbeck at Canton 30W
Pabob*,. 6,167,221
!'agodl^ porcelain, 957
Patanhins,. 219
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PitronAge, governmental, 493
Pawnbrokers, 384
Peace 68, univeisal, 380
■ Peacock, u. s. frigate, 296
Pechihlo, gulf of, 35
Peguai.-. in Siatn, 45
Pei-bo, river, 38,131
Peking, 208,234
PenMg, .« 383
People, umprivileged, 383
PeraetutionB,. . : 100,435
Phra klong, ininiHteT of state, . . 19 Phnaes in public documents,. 511
Physicwns, 383,261
Picture, a dwk one, l9l
Piracy, 159,248,381
Poetical dictionary,! 470
Policy of the Chinese, 485
PoUteness, 309
Po[q)y, the cultivation of, 511
Population of Peking, 256
Population of the Chinese Em- pire 345,385
Population of Hacao. 404
Portuguese in Siam, 33
Portuguese in China,. 398
prayer of Taoukwang, 336
Prayer at the tombs, 202
Press at Malacca, 106
Priest, the murder of a, 160
Priests of Taou and Budha, at«,306
Printing, notices of, 414
Proclamations, 460,503
Provinces, the eighteen 36
ProvSBion for the poor, 50;(
Property, insecurity of,. ....'. . 332
Prosecute, sn invitation to 394
PuTo Way, 87
Pulo Condore, 88
punishments, 364^09,486
atiEEH of heaven, 59,99,122
J^ueen of eartli, 106
KEBei.LiON at LeenchoT, notices
of. .29,78,111,158,206,246,291,470 Re'iielUon in Formosa, progress
of, 343,380,433,471
Religion, its jnfluence, 147
Religion of my fatlier, 459
Repudiation of a wjfe, 8C
Revenue, 12,159
Review of Renindot, 6,4?
Review of Le Mingchc^'s
map, 3-1,113,170
Rcyif * ofvoyagps to Sinm,
Review of Osbeck,
Review of Encyclopedia Am- ericana,. ....
Review of Xe Comte,
Review of the Sacred Eklict,. .
"eview of an histurical sketch of Portuguese, 398,'
Review of Semedo,
Ricci's arrival in China
Rivers of China,
Rivers of Mantchouria,
Rivers of Mongolia,
Rivers of Soungaria, .J
Rivers of Tibet,
River, the Martaban,
River, the Meinam, 84,
River, the Yellow, 37,
Rites, pagan,
Roads, care taken of.
Romanism in China, 61,
Romanisls,
78
Sacked Sleeve Geui, 422
Sacred Edict, Milne's, 297
Sacred Edict in rhyme, 344
Saigon or Luknooi, port of,. . . . 53 Saints, the communion of,.... 496
Salt, stacks of, 136— J|
Sandwich Inlands, 383
Sanshan island, 399
Savior, gaglecting the, 150
Schook 15,104,305,311
School Chinese, at Naples,... 458
Scripture Lessons, 77
Scull or stem oar in boats, .... 360
Seay,alady, 293
Sects, the three, 306
Sect, a new one, 394
Secret assoclaUona, 307
SensuG communis, 330
Serra, brahop elect of Peking,. 378 Shamana, Catechism of the. . . 285
Shameen, fire at, 248
Shantung promontory, ] 25
Shipwrecks, 384
Siam, ;«6,4i2,466
Siamese New Testament, 23:}
Siberia, B43
Singapore, 1C7
Sink, doctor, 343^83
Slaverjr, ■- 159,392344
Societies, seorett , ... 31
Soldiers, 3(H
Songs of three charnoMrs,. . . . 244 Soungaria, ,..,.... |70
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Spanish Uftde *t Macao,.
Spirituous liquors,
St Joaepb's college, at Idacao, 406
8l Thomas, 446
Stevens, Rev. Bdwia amvBl,.
Stnnguladoii,
Suicides,
Superatitioua delusiono,.
Tauow tree,
Tanka boata Ucensod,. .
Tuee,
Tea, ia;38^477
Teentsin, ISOiSlS
TeenfUng, a rock, 90
Thiev«B, 79,896
Thrae character claanc, ~*
Thunder,
Tibet,
Tithing system, 313
Tobacco,
Tmnlin, Rer. Jacob,
Tombs, worshiping at, 301^17,499
Tonstirei
TouTDon, a p^mI legate.
TiBvancore,
Triad society, ,.
Turkestan, eastern,. . . .
Turner's Sacred History,. 343
Teiompa, "
TyfooD, account of a, 1S6
Tyram, the vilUge, 847,343
. .335,413 .... 434
fTan Dieman's Land,. .
Verbieat,
Vine in China,..,. .,.,
aiy, Jt^wnese and En^. 109 Vocabulary, cwnparative, of Chi- nese, Corean and Japanese,. . 509 Voyages up the coast, 196
Whamfoa, .
.-311,320,396
Widow's fund, 383
VfoiS, Rev. Mr^ 343,413
Worshiping the dead, 499
Xavixb, Francis, .'...365,437
S9j41
Yangtsze keling, 134
YeUow river, 37,398
Vungching's accession to the Ibnme of China, 378 ,
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CHINESE REPOSITORY-
Vol. I.— May, 1832.— No. 1.
. Introdttction.
It is DDt leas a matter of astonishment thaii regret that, during the tong intercourse which has existed bett^een the nations of Christendom and ea^ern Asia, there has been so little commerce in intellectual and moral commodities. The very ve- hicle of thought even, has been made contraband. The embargo has been rigorotis aB death, and has prevented what might have been communicated viva voce. Every visitor at Canton must be atrack, not to say confounded, with the strange jargon spoken alike by natives and foreigners, in their mutual intercourse ; it has been a most fruitful source of misunderstanding ; and in not a few in- stances, it has pavod the way for misrepresentation, altercation, detention, vexation, and other such like evils. Thirty years ago, there was not living mote -then one ndividual capable of translating from Chinese into English ; and there wtts not one of the sons of the "Son of heaven," who could read, or write, or speak, correctly, the English language. '
The empire, of which, as residents, we fbrm constituent atoms, statids at this moment, in the ' midst of the earthy' a stupendous anomaly ; and, beyond all controversy, presents the widest, and the most intersting field of research under heaven. By what right of iuheritance, by what ftivorite law of "justice aod prC^iety," a very large pdrtioh
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2 Introduction. Mat,
of the earth's surface is made impassable, it is not easy to understand ; wa can only record it, (and w^ tio ad wKh pectdiat 'biutotidnb,) tliat sdch id the fact. A vast domain, stretching from East to West more than three thousand miles, and from North to South two thousand Biid upwards, constitutes the *' Middle Kirigdem ;" and, with liie exception of the Russian establishment at Peking, consisting of only ten persons, and a very harrow place at Can- ton and Macao, 'foreigners can by no means be permitted to enter and reside jri it.'
Time was when they might, and did, traverse .thecountry-in every ,directioB: many Taluablelre- coftls of men and things w^re chefi nfiade-. Bi^t atl wlio read, at tiiis d.ay, those ca^ly writjiigSb will 'j^hd much which U i^ h^d to believe, Rocks do hot often change their formB, n<>r rivers cease tfi flow;, but the one may be rolled from their bed*, and the othen^ hrned from their cMHirses, witbiOiit the violence of the earthquakeor the tempest. The decree of f)arius, established and sigtled, according* ,Wthe law " wbifi altereth .noi," was soop obsolete. The 'dectees of others, and in modern times, bav0 .'shared the same regard, and wiih equeil [justicQ. ^'The changes o^ the last few yeaiFSi, are^ 'dgabtleas, the precursors of others, xa^t:e> Qxteneive aBd-salti- 'ims i^ their consequeocBs.i For tens of <Jeptwiea, ,oCd Custom has hptd a despotic and <iniel.BWay over k noble raceofmen^ i;e8tfaining «nd 4iesjtfoy>- 'ihg their best ener^iea. .Still,, cfvenihere; aod dur- jng the period , strangers have been shut put of -the "coqiitry, yerv considerable changes have taken plap.^. -
Ohe of the objects of this '^orkt-the^, .witi be to reyiejw ^foreign books on Gh«ia> with a vie^r 'to' liotice. tlfe changes cliat 'have.. <x;cuTr-ed^' 'and 'how khd: jwhen they wer«'brDHght abput, -and to distiogfiisb, . as far "^ il can well ^..doao^ ^e'twe^n'wbat is^ and what is not, now^u^ M^f^ of the' old. book's, while th«y c<»»taia :much';thQt is ValtiaDle,'cohtkin also 'so much that is worthless, .1 ,Go(.n>Ic
aa to prerdQt 'their ropuyicatiov- Mdtl^i^ writeM, tQl^ have not. always beoa «ifl&r and aniiUf^ctwF i» tljkoir ataterB«nt». Tjhe aoQCj^atfi (tf tb^ popiitft- tioo, % «X8Dtplfl, aw foiled to wry frott twQRty niUiow up toithe 'my^liwl nantb^rVuf li^ ntilHp^. - Thi« iMHimrouB Ji«ciit«t«^iuw «pd cpirtffldio- -tiooB that atond r«coEd«d, «q fitavy a pag9 ^f forflign MokH, witl piwve a qtrong intentive te con- aitlt,:afii4 to ascertmo, as digtiactly aq possible, the competency and crqdibiiiiy of the most approved jistiwe aqthoiiittea. These, at the precept tinw, can -b? oibtaiified ip great aumberB, aftd on every .smtfr- ; j*o*, whether phyaioa], mpral, political, comm^oiftj, Jiteraiy,:aiT^gtou0, On (Jwee gevetal topic?, and -ob^em also, hutorieal and sia^ticaJ woirk^ wjU be ■requirQd, to exhibit alike the pa^t and tbe pres^pt. .BuJfficisiit weight has uot, geeeraUy, we think, he^p -given to nsJJre amhoritiee. While we WQu)d allRvr 4hem their prop^ ioSuepce, we shall tty to awid ;the opposite ^xlrerae. We have no very, strong ifixpeciatioiiP qf.finding much that will rival the art^ .and sciaoces, and various institutions of. the west- jern nation^. We do not expert to find, among .all the alotost numberless tpmes of the celestial Empire* data ofsueh value end authority, asphalt .«oaMe the wise nien of the age, to 'correct the (CbriWioJogy, or improve the aioratity of Jloly Writ.' . Qp fHHuml hinto^, inquiries may, with great ^propriety and *dvantage, be directed to the cljipste, JtSi tQii^ratnire, ^haiigesr winds, rains, heahhfhli^e^ « itp the wif. its piiaeral, vegetaJt>Le, and animal pror 4uetiooS, lt« fertility and istACe. of cultivation; an4 #Mo:)» the pfodtictiooa of the rivers, lak^s aod^eRs. > .A« t9 ««m!ffMfl«> It will bie especiaily ioter^ng fxi P9^ its progi^s .from the past \a viodern llimeB;<^serving, particularly, the advantages a^d ;4iiBad vantages of its present state.
tviqvt^ries in regard to the social relations, wilj iFequi^e a <eereful investigation of the coistitation of fidsiety iQpd, in cdhAection with an examiiiatioD .«f
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-4 Jhtroductitm. Mat,
the moral character of the people, will demabd a close and long-Continiied observatiun of their con- duct towards one another*, as mlers and aabjecta, husbandd and wives, parents and children, and so forth. Much assistance may be gained in all these Inquiries, by a developement of their Hterary cha- racter. Their books and tiieir systems of educa- tion will be worthy of examination, as they have a constant and powerful influence on all the grand relations, and vital interests of the commanity.
We feel and shall take a very lively interest -in the religious character of the pec^le. As a spi- ritual being, destined to immortality, with "powers of intellect, to comprehend the great, to pienetrate 'the profound, and to effect the gigantic," man pre- -sents to man the most interesting subject of inqui- ry amidst all the wondere of His mysterious hand, whose power and wisdom are infinite. Indeed, the io- 'trinsic value of all other inquiries, on alt other sub- jects, rises and falls just in proportion as they are 'madeto effect well or ill, the soul of man, botb~in the life that now is, and in that which is to eomd. It is only when we look at the last, best work of God, in this light, that all the various inflnencea, which affect him 'in this house of his pilgrimage,' rise and appear before us in their true character.
We enter on oiir work nnbiased, and influenced rather by considerations of duty than of reward. ■Every man has his purposed, the accomplishment of which is the highest object of his heart's de- sire. To spend and be spent in publishing "glad tidings" to those who had never heard the "joy- ful sound," and to bear the lamp of life to those' who were perishing for lack of vision, a greater than the wisest of the sons of men, took an earthly tabernacle; and now, having ascended up on high. He commands man to go and teach hk fellow, -^to pubhsh the gospel to every creature. Every one, too, has hi& opinions; but, in regard to many topicspf interesting inijuiry, those opinious may
1832. Iniroductitm. 5
be unsettled, and should remain so, till they can be established and corroborated by sufficient evi- dence. One may call no man Rabbi, while yet he scorns not to learn wisdom from the little child, or even the little ant.
We are desirous of receiving assistance in every way convenient; and, while we shall not shrink from, nor disregard, the criticisms of friends or Btf angers, we desire heartily, and will be grateful for any light that may be thrown on our path. That " it is more blessed to give, than to receive," ia a truth, which we hold to be of general as well as of particular application, and jn no case better exem- plified, than in the communication of knowledge : we shall not, therefore, so far as. we. can act on this jprinciple, be less willing to communicate, than to receive whatever may serve to develope the real character of the " celestial empire," and to benefit those who have been made of 'one blood, for ttf dwell OB all the face of the earth.'
There is a most lamentable lack of knowledge among the millions inhabiting eastern Asia: yet, we do anticipate the day, (may it come quickly,) when all that which is moat valuable to man, and now so richly enjoyed by the nations of the West, ele- vating and yet still more to elevate them, shall be equally enjoyed, and produce the same results, among the nations of the East. The efforts to ac- complish a work BO vast must be various, well di- rected and long continued ; requiring patience, self- denial, meekness, gentleness, and the sterner qua- lities which can cheerfully endure hardnegg, itripeg, and death. To bear some humble part in such efforts, we regard as not less our happiness, than our boanden duty.
With this brief statement of our views and feelings we commence this work, anxious to commend both it and ourselves, to the kind regards of our friended and to the entire direction of Him "in whose band our breath is, whose are all our ways." '
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J^okammaiant tn China. MAi,
JSevuK.
Ancient Accaunt of India tmd China, ht/ tmr Wokammtdan traneUrt, who uent He those fonts 'im iha OtA MnAiry, trtaw , lated froft t/ia A^o/tic by (A* Uitt ietuint4 Susfi^iius It,fN> ■ AUDOT. With noUs, ■iifa^frofw'M, «nd in^iria h^ thf ' iome hand. London : Printed for Sam. Harding, at Bib)e and Anchor, on the pavement in St. Martin's Lane, kdccxxxiii.
.AKFROACHiNa the city pf Caoton, tjie traveler Bsea I'vms before him, within the walls, two lofly pagodas j ofie of which he perceives, us he cornea near to them, is qaite different from the other, aod IVoia those whioh he saw when eoming up the TireF, O.rt in^lirj QvnQerning this siqgulai' oqe, he might t>p informed that it is s Atohainfliedan iqosqve, built Hbout a thoQ- sand ;ears ^go ; that, at the present time, a communitv of se- vsral hundred souls, with books and teachers of that faith, live pear the mosque; and that some of the tetuthen are able U y/rits the Arabic chtraet^r with « totorWe dogree of carrecfpes^> Still further he m'lj^ht be infortped, by tho^e who traveled from Peking to Canton in I8t8, that Mohamroedans were found in fevery part of tiieir journey, and frequently hdding itatious in tibe government.
These few facts mould, perhaps, induce bin to ^ijquiii^ a^igi), At vrbaf tiine, and in what way, did the Itfahammedans enter China t And, what records are there, that will give informa- tion on this subject? The account given by the two travelers 18 wor^y of nottce, not only ;in reference to 'these inquiries, b(H, fceoauqe, it wjll aptn tp i||pitrV« ihe ■ fthar^ctw «f the.phl. nese at an early period. The origin qf ti)is very aaoiftnt peor ble, and. their interceurse iii former tiiqeB with the n^tibps of (he West, are topics of great interest, about which we shail be glad ito reoeixe {ufarkiiiitioR.
During the early periods of the Chri^tif.n ftta, wtv^t-^tM fafis «f -geniitf • shone .bright on the banks pf ihe Nile and the TRber, .ajid the Ptolemies were collecting from the four quar- ters of the iearth, many of the most splendid works of tuste and ^niftitKHi, the r^s of science ^suddenly .tatit a new direclittn; )^ip^.,iA^hi4 ■■W5*^'the .plfic* .ifhsfB t^j fwf- AJ^Apmti Site career of "the-Pi(^het, wid AfBStle «J Qod," t^ewftflf^l^^
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18^^. MtffuimmtdaM in China. t
dsllah, seeitiea the tmrbin^r of anything but good to the pro- ^eaa of letters, jet the 8th viA Sth centuries formed a bright period in the hiatoi^ of Artbia. It wu b; ititpiratton of tiiib boM impoBMr, nd by the imnediate dOORDBml of hNi lntcti<feB&tir, thAt the iibtmnia Incendiary applied the torch to the iavaluaUe library of Alexandria, that rich deposit of what- ever the wisest and baet of the anoieat world b»d bMs aoou^ 'rtalating for i^M. At tbe eorana eh cement of the 8th c«htury, 'ltli«fa tte «tnjfi^ of the califii Was bf immense extent, stretching from the confines of India 16 tSe Atlantic, Bagdad became the rallying point for men of enterprise, both com merciaJ and literary, tte thfe b&oks i>t the Tiffris, the power of the califate did ttiiifib to tt^ter genius; achooia and libraries were eslAbliBhed.; arid thitbet raeli of letters were invited to come from aiU peo- '{ties and ii'atlons, and to bring with Ibem every work ©f scienoe amd Ht^r^ture t^ey could command, Philo^opby, aatronomy, and the healing art received 'partKular atteBti<m. Undet the pati^BBge of the Abaisidea, ^e line arts flonrlshed exKeneiv^, and geography was by no means li^tected. It is not wonderftii, "that in sftch CircutfiStances, enterprising Mussulmen should have obtained some knowledge of the pec^Te inhabiting tiie eutern -boideA of their «wn iMntinent. Our wonder is, that so little information was bbtaiwed, or rather, «hal «o little hs* keen pre- served 1 for we still hope, though it be against hope, that aome- VblAg Siay yet be ■iiscoveWfd in western Abib, or in ^E%ypt, to %tc* Hght 0* the eatly history bf the Chrnesft. "*
HarCA Polb, the Vea«ian travefer, whose wdit *e pur- ipdse tb ifetice at sncrfher timfe, returtied from his traveTs 'in the E^, BBat the dose of tlie thirteetrfh century. Thfe *t>rtugbeae -flm dosbltd the cBpe rf Ooofl Hope, m A. D. \^Kn. "BbV'sdys Henaudot in his preface, "we may lie a^- 'tiilfiea (bat i*Ur two BUtbors are mrtre ancient, «nd that the two 'dAes Wey ^6, flie one of Ae year S37 of (he Hegrra, which % thW 'tff ■ tbfe fitw traveler, and (he oftier ttf the yeaT of the 'MBMe464, ifheb'ti'gfetA reVDlntion happened in 'China, are troe -WH! jbrt."
>CthfftteHtilug%HhibeH(fli&tfirnedan ers, A. X). 613, as Jboth the second traveler 'and bh transktor 'hare done, ilie tVo dates will correspond with the years of Christ 850 and 877. -R^b^b9cA'a pr^rabe is rather long, but, like the notes and 'idiasertaticms which he has added to Uie work by way of appendix, 'it contains much valuable matter, eluoiditing the text. He ibadehislpatHlatian ttbflut the commencement of the last cen- '-tUry. He 'Was ^''learnfed and accurate scholar, and posBessed 'an ^xtMisive acquaintance with the orientds, and their litera- 'llire, for wfaiob reaaeo we 'shall be wilUi^ the ofteaer to quote •Ilia (^iniMiB. The 'bBrt pr«rf, however, of the correctness 6i ihe " tUfcfeflt 'ttccBnnt," is its internal evidence ; of this the Vbader shall'be his own judge. The second traveler, conuuflnoss 'with the following prefatory' remarks:
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8 Mohamnudans in Ckina. May,
" 1 b»ve aarefullj eiunined ths book I h*ve bean ordered -lo pe. Tuie," (Ihe book written by the first tnTeler. nhieli fonoa the fint aod yriacipil nrt of the whole work,} ■• that I might confinn wlMl the kUhar relktea, tntere he Bgreee with what I have heud, (xmcsniiiig the tfihiga if the sea, the kingdoou on the coeals, and the 9t«le of the ODUDtrita; mnd Ihnt J miffhl also add, opon this head, what I have ebewhere gathered cancem- ing tDem, and it nut to be found in this book.
" I lind it wa> written m the jreai of the Hagin S3T, and that the aceounta the aBthor gne* touching the tbinge of the eea were, in ba time, very tnie and agccAbla to what I have oodentood from merchants who 'depart tram Irak, to Bail tipoo tho«e sea>. I find alip that all the author writes '» agreeaUe (o tmlb, except aoraa passaf es."
In the manuscript of the first tr&veler, says the translator, there is a leaf or more wanting wkere the author begins lo treat of China. The first extract, which we make from this part of the work, seems to refer to this city, which he calls Canfu, i. e. Kwangchow foo, or as it is now written by Europeans, Cintra.
■'Canfu ta the port of all the nhipe and goodi of tbe Antba who , trade in China', but fires are there very fieqoent, becaoee the houses are bnitt with nothing bat wood, i» ehe with iplit cane (bamboo); besides, the merchants and ships are' often lost in going and coming ; ai they ate often plundered; or obliged to make too king a stay in harbor, or to sell their gooda out of Ihe country autgect to the Arabs, and Uisre nuke up their cargo. In short, ships are ander a necessity of waiting a coasiderabw time .in refittmg, not lo speak of many other cauies of delajr."
Fires are frequent in Canton at the present time; that which swept away the western suburbs of the city, with the foreign factories, early in Norember, 1822, was an extensive one. . But the introduction of fire-engines, and a strict ai^ [constant watch, with other precautions, usually prevent them froffl being very destructive ; and commerce is, probably, as unlikely ^to be affected by fires in Canton, as in any other mart in the ^world. The second traveler, allading to the "causes of delay," .says, 'since much is related to show the reason why the voyages to China are interrupted, and how the country has .been ruined, many customs' abolished, and the empire divided, "I will here declare what I know of the causes of thia revolq- tion.' After briefly noticing its commencement, and tbe leader of the rebelticui wliich occasioned it, he adds,
; •< Hia hands Ihua strengthened, and himjelf in a condilion to onder. ' take anything, he betrayed his dralgn of sabduing the empire tn hnnself, , and straight marched lo Canfu, one of Ihe most noted oities in China, and at tOlai time the port of all Iho Arabian merchants. Thia city stands upon a grest _iiver, some days distant from the entrance, so that the water here'is Irash; ?but Ihe citizens shutting tbeir gates against him, ho resolved to besiege the ' place, and the siege lasted a groat while. This was transacted in the year ■ of Ihe Hegira 364. and of Christ 877. At last he became qxaaler of the city. ' and put all the inhabitants to the sword. There are persons fallv acqaaint. ' ed with the aSairs of China, who sasuTe us, that beigides Ihe Chinese, who ' were msasacred upon this occasion, there periahed one hundred and twenty
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1832. Mohamntedan$ in China. 9
<*bs Unu penned, m eiacUf kaawa ; bauuM the Cbiom* *m Bxttenielj nioe in the kcceisit they k«ep of tbem. He >l*a cot down lbs woUmrrj treea. and aJmoat ail (be trees of ottwr kindi i but wa apeak of the mutber. tj in paiUcular, because the Otineae cerefutlj otiKivale it foi the sake of i(8 leaf, wherswilb the; tubnat and pnipa^te their ulk-wornis. Tbia devas. tatioa is the oaoae why ailk baa failed, and that the trade nbich Wed to be dritsD with it. in tb« coontriea under tbe Arabs, i> quite atagnated.
''From tbeae coiubuatjonB there arose manj unjust deaiinga with tha morchanta who traded thither, which having gathered the force of a pre- cedent, there vaa no igrdevance, no treatnient. ao bad bat they eierciied tipon the foreign Arabs, and the masters of ships. They seized upon Uieir eSects, and behaved towards them in a method of procedore quite contrary to the ancient asagea. And for theae things luis God paniaked them b^ irithdrawing hn bleMinga fturn iqioo them in erary mapact, and paitiou. lariy by causing the navigation to be forsaken, and tJio mercbaals to return in erowda to Sirs/ and Oman, pursuant to the infallible orders of the Al- mighty Msaler, vfbom name be bleased.''
If what ifl here said of the " tbouauds " put (o the tword, and at the " crowds " returning, be true, it prorei that the iif tercourse between eastern and western Asia was, at that period, of a moat interesting character, and of vast extent. The period referred to, is that of the emperor He-tsung of the Tang dy- naAf. It is briefly noticed in On Halde'a history; and an ex- tendiBd accoant of it, noticing the principal leaders of the rebels, places taken, and so forth, may be found in the 59th section of the Kang-ke'en E-cke, the 30th volume.
Neither of the two travelers tell us at what time their cooDtrymen first came hither. In Mcorison's View of China, it is stated that, " In the time of Hwan-te, whose reign closed A. D. 167, India, Ta-tsln (Egypt or Arabia^, and other nations, cune by the Southern or Chinese sea with tribute, and from this, trade with foreigners wis carried on at Canton." It is farther stated in the same work, that the Ta-tsin wae situated on the weat of the western ocean, tery remote; and that, "the people were trfl, and well formed, of the same race with the Chinese, uid therefore called Ta-tsin. There is a most splendid account of the cotmtry, and it is added, when Matthew Ricci came to Peking, he affirmed that Jesus was born in Judea, which was the Ancient T»-tain."...." Does not this fcfor the late De Ouignes' supposition, that the Chmese were originally a colon; from Egypt r
The first Tsin dynasty ot China closed about two centuries before the Christian era. We are not prepared to hazard an opinion, concerning the origin of the Chinese, or the time when the people of western Asia or Egypt first came to China. If we credit the writers, whose account we review, it appears that before their day, the number of foreigners and the privi- leges they enjoyed in China, were far from being inconsiderable. The first writer says,
"SeUnan the oMTcAsnt retetm, that at Canfu, nhlch is Uie prineiT*) scale fpf merchant)^ there ia a MofaammedMi appuinlcd jaige over llioae «f bia religion, by the aullioril; of the Emperoi of China ; and thai b»-iB Judga
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Itt Mohammedans in China. May,
of >II the MohammedanB, who resort to thoee parts. Upon festival dayi he perTomis the pnblic serriceB with the MDhimmedaDR, and pronouaeea the «ennon or kotbat, which he concludes, in the usaal form, with pnjen for tin SAltan of the Mmlems. The merchanU of Irak who trtids hither, are no ntjB dissatisRed with hia conduct, or hia adminislration in the poet he ie i\\- tMted with ; becaius bis Mtiona. and IhejudgmenU he gives, are just and equitable, and conformable to the Koian, and according to the Mobamme. dan jorispradence,"
The same writer remarks, in another part of his work, that 'he knows not that there ia any one of the Chinese who has embraced Mohammedanism or speaks Arabic.' One of the Mo- hammedans of Canton, whom we recently met, assured ua that the ancestors of his clan came to Canton in the time of Tih- tsung, whose reign closed a. d. 805 ; and that they take no pains to propagate their religion, believing that man ia formed ^y fate, to live and die in. the same faith in which he was born. Concerixing the.coitrse to China, Renaudot remarks,
" It ia very difficult eiactly to trace out the course the Arabs ateered for China, as it ie found in our Bulfaorsjnot only because many towns the; 'mention have been destroyed, but aleo becauee the ancidlta, who coaMed it alonff, held a different course from that now shaped by our.[Hlola. The Chinese came aa far as Siraf, but dared not stir beyond it, because of the foulncsa of the weather, »nd the heavinees of the sea, which their ahipa could not tive in. They did not then venture so far as Mada. gaEcar, a^ Father Martini pretends they did. because ^n the bay of Santa Clara there is a peojtto re^embliu^ Iho Chinese, and not unlike tbem in BpoBch. He oflers nothing in proof of this but the report of some seamen.; but granting Ibe thing to bo aa he would have it, theae Chinese may have been driven thither by tempest, and there have taken Up their abjode, because they could not possibly return back ajrain to their country. lOn 'the other hand, it is evident that NavarEtte is mistaken when he bi^b, the Straits of Singapore vrers their ne plu» ultra."
At the present time, no Arabian ships, as such, come to China ; nor do any Chinese ships reach Calcutta, though they are frequently seen, and in considerable numbers, at Penang, .Bangkok, and in many of the ports of the Eastern Archipelago. The following is an abridged account of the course to China, as given by the firat traveler.
'As for the places whence ships depart, and those also they touch at, many persons declare that the navigation is .performed in the following order. Moat of the Chinese ships take in their cargo at Sire^, where also they ship their goods which come from fiassora, and other ports ; and this they ' do, because in this aea, there are frequent storms, and sho^ water in many places. When ships have loaded at Siraf, they there water also; and frotn thence make sail for a place called Maskat, which is in the extremity of the province of Oman, about 20(1 leagues from Siraf. From Maskat, ships take their de- parture for the Indies': and tirat they touch at Ktmcammali; and from Maskat to this place, is a month's sail with the wind > alV. Kaucunirnoli i« a frontier place, and the chief arsenal in
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1832. Mokammedant in China. 11
the province of the same name ,- and here the Chinese ships put in and are in safety. Having watered at this last place, they begin to enter the iea of Har/cand ; and having sailed through it, the; touch at a place called -Lajahaius, where the inhabitants understand not the Arabesque, at any other language in use with mercbants. From thia place, ships steer towards Calabar, the name of a place and a kingdom on the coast, to the right hand beyond India. In ten days alter this, ships reach a place called Betuma, where they may water. It is worth the notice, that in all the islands and peninsulas of the Indies, they find water when they dig for it.
' In ten days from the last mentioned place, they arrive at Senef; here is fresh water, and hence comes the aromatic wood. Having watered at this place, it is ten days' passage to Sandarfwlat, an island where is fresh water. Then they steer upon the sea at Sanji, and so to the Gates of China; lor'so they call certain rocks and shoals in the sea, between which is a narrow strait, through which ships pass. It requires a month to sail from Sandarfulal to China, and it takes^p eight whole days to steer clear of these rocks. When a ship has got through theae Gates, she, with a tide of flood, goes into a fresh water gulf, and drops anchor in the chief port of China, which is that of Canfu ; and here they have fresh water, both from springs and rivers, as they have also in most of the other ports of China.'
It does not appear, ftom anything related by either of the travelers, whether these voyages were made with or without the comfoss. The origin of this instrument in China may come under consideration at another time ; we can now only remark in passing, (hat the Chinese, at the present time, 'coast it along,' after the same old custom, seldom, if ever, intentionally going out of sight of land, though always furnished with the compass. Of the situation of foreign residents in China, the first traveler says;
I Chtncse seize on their t > atnp to their buiinesa ed. Then they tale Lbres in ten, or thirty per oenl. of eaoh commodity, and return the rest to the merchant. If the Emperoi wants any particular thing, bis oliicerB have a riglht to take it prefsrably to any other person whatsoever ; and paying for it to the utmoal penny it ii valued at, they dispatch this business imms- ditttelj, and without the leant injustice.
" In a man would travel from one place In another, he must take tivo passes with htm, the one from the governor,- the other from the eumich or lieuleoanL The governor's pass permits him to set out on his journey, and takes notice of the name of the traveler, and tlioae also of hia company, the age and family of the odd and (ha other; for every body in China, whether a native, or an Arab, ur any other foreigner, i* obliged to declare all be knows of hinuislf. nor ran he poaiibly be excused the so dciiiij;. The eunuch's or lie ule nan I'a. pass B]Micifiea the quanliliee of minoy, or giioii.i, which the traveler and thoHe with him, lake along with them. And thia is done for the mfwrnation of the frontier places, where theae two passes are eiamtned ; for whenever a traveler arnvc* at any of Qieni, it is ie|i>.
1$ Mohammedana in China. Mai,
tmtA, that udi k om, A» hd id au^ % oob, irf aach ■ faadj^ ftmti thrmgh Uih plaM^ oh >u«h ■ di.j, in iitch • month, ia luch > ;ear, ud in iucU coDipcDj. And b; th«w meuiB Ibey f iBvent B,n; oae from cirryinf off the mojiej oi effeda of other penoqi, oi tbeir being loaC : (a thB.t if toy thing h*s been carried off anjnillj, or the Iravehr £«■ on tin rotd. they tauoadiatah kituw what hu beeoma of Uia thhigt, and tkay ais cuthaf re- ■Und to tba abamanl, at to tha hein,"
Since the period referred to a great change has been eOected; to notice uiefly, but correctl;. the progress of which, with its CBuaea aod efibcta, would coDBtitule ao intereBting discusaion. The change in commercial tranaactions hasperh^ts, to all parties, been a favorable one, and it might be made far more advan- tageous. But in personal privilegea, — liberty, with just regulations and securities to all and for lul, to tread the earth, and breathe the air, — the change has been iujurioua alike to all : it has, we think, involved, and restricted the inalienable rights of man. That all this is attributable to one party, we by no means aver. But we dismiss this, and pass on to notice otberTopics. Of the emperor, taxes, public treasury, and revenues, the first traveler writea :
"The Emperor of Chini, never appears in pnblic, but one« hi ten month* ; trying, that If be ihDwed binta^ alleiieT to liie ptofU, tbey wanU Ua« tt» vaaanUoD thny have Ibi him. For he bold* it aa a roatiio, lh«t
priniiipaljtisi cannot eubsMt but b; force, and that the people knoiv not wh^t juitice ia ; and that constraint and violeace must be med to main. tain, among thenii the nnjeely of empire.
••"ney have no impoat upon their lands, but ne tahjeet obIji ta a pell. t», which is levied on man only, and that accordinf t« their Mo- ditiim and cafacity. When any Aiabs, oe other iXnagara are ia tbia ction- try, tbe Chinese tax them in proportion to (heir aubataDoe. When inj deirlh makeB nEcenirieB very dear, (hen doeH the fcinp- open hie itorehoaBes, and sen ail .mrte ot provieiom lauch eheaper (ban they are ta be bad at market ; and hones ni dearth i« of any lon^r oootiDaaneg Bisang the Chinea*.
"The auma that are e^thered from the capilati«i tii, are laid Dp in the public treBBUrr ; and, I believe, that, from this tax, fifty thouiiand dinan are every day paid into the treaaacj of Canfit alone, although this city ba none of the Urgest in China.
" The Emperor aleq^ reeerves to himeelf the revenues which arise frorn the salt mines, and from a certaM herb which thoy drink with hot water, and of which grest quantities are sold ia aU the cities, (o thB~'amount of great anms. Tbey call it tah, and it i« a shrub more busby than thspofflft- Efanate.lfeB, and of a more taking smoH, but it has a kind of bittsmssB with it. Their way is to hoi) water, which they pour upon this leaf, and tills drinh eurei aH sorts of diseases. Whatever sums are lodred in the (feasary, arise from tbe poll tax, and tbe duliM upon salt, and npon this
Tbe maxim is still held, that the people know not whal justice is, and that constraint and violence roust uphold the majeaty of empire. There is now an iH^tost on lands, but the poll tax has bcwn interdicted. No tases are levied on foreigners, except by way of .customs and duties on their merchandise. Storehouses or granaries are managed quite as in the Arab's day. The public revenuu are made up from impoets <hi laiid«, dutiep oa sah, tea, silk, and so Eonh.
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Uiieh of th« business between ruler and subject. La tranatct- cd in writing, by petition on the one side, and edict on the other. If & ccHnparison were instituted, it would doubtless appear, that there has been, in modern times, a sad fallisgeffin the admin- istration of justice. Some of the severer punishments, however, have gone into disuse ; others are retained. The firat traveler
"The Chinese admhiiater jastice with great strictnen m all their (ribuDBla. When anj pcmin eatcm his aetkta i^in^ aDother, be seta down fail claim id vritinjr, and the detenilaDt writes down hit defeoee vhieh he signs, and holds between his- Gngen. These two writings are delivered Id together, and being eiamiaed. sentence is pronounced in writing, and the parties have each his paper retnmed to bint ; but first the; give back to the de- fendant hia writing of dcfeDie, that he may acknowJedge it. When one party denies what the other affirms, he is ordered to rBtum his writinn;; and iflha dafandant tlunka be may do i[ ssfaly, be accordingly delivers in hit )Mpar again i they also call for that of the pliintiS*, and then they ny to bint nba denies what the other aeeiaB to have rsison to maintain, ' Exhibit a writing whereby lo make it appear that your antagonist hai no right la demand of yon wbat it in debalo ; but if it ciearty belfays lbs trntb of what you deny, yoa shaU andei^ inenly ■tiokes of the bainboot and paj s fine.'
"No one is raised to Ibe dignity of a prince or governor of a city, tin he bath obtained his fortietb yen, ' for then.' say they, ' he bath expe. tienee.' When one of these princes, or petty kings, heepa his coiirt in ■ city, be IB sealed upon a tribunal and receives the petitions or complaints of tha peopts. Behind his tribunal is aa officer called Lic^ who keeps standing, Sjad, Bcaocding tu the order he receives from the prince, commit! hli answer lo writing; for they never aoswer by word of mouth to any bqsi- nesa whatBoever, nor will Uiey give any answer at all t<r anything that Is not written. Before the parlies preaent their petition lo the prince, IIm; gat tbam examined by an officer, who, if be discavera any fault, sends thnia bach again ; Cor no sun may draw np these writings which are to be presented to the prince, aioept a olert yersed in businesa; and at the bottom of each writing they pnt, ' written by toch a one, the son of such s one.* and if, in this case, there happen any blander or mntake, the clerli ia tanibae'd. The prince never seali himself ob fais tribunal, till be has eaten and drank, for fear he should be mistaken in something ; and each of these princes or governora has his subsistence from Ihe public treasury of ths city he commands.' 'When any one of the princes or governors of cities, within tha dominions of the Eoiperer of China, is guillf of a crime, he is pot t* ^Mh, aad catBD ; and in general it may ba said, that the Chinese eat aU Umso jiial are put to death.'
"Qno of the things (quoting; the second traveler,) most worthy to be admirni in> China, before the late commoliona. was the good order they obserred in Ibe ■dministratiijn of justice, and the majesty of their tribunals. To ^1 litem they ■sade choice of aiu^ nen as were perfcctty venediik their laws, and such, cot(. eequently, as were never at a stand when they were to pass a judgment; men of ■kwerity, zealoQs in the cause uf jtisUee apm every eccatioa, nor to be hissed hj wbat the great coatd oifei to Embroil ■ dispute ; so that jnstica was always adminialered to him- wbo had right on fais side. Ib a word, they made choico of nprigbt qien, who aquatly ahatained from the slendal substance of the poor, and &om tbe presents of these who would have bribed them ihero.
' This Kceount will by no means hold true when applied to the present times. What is said about ' eating ' crimioate must be «3.ce[itfid. Some Itmltatioiii also, must be made, aa~
vGoogIc
14 Mohammedan in ~Vhina. Mav,
to 'justice always being given to him who has right in his side.' Persons are eligible to office now at a much earlier age than in ancient times. In describing the kingdoms of the coast, the first traveler mentions the country of Mabed, as conterminous with Cliina, at peace with the emperor, but not subject to him. The short paragraph which we quote, touches a point of some interest.
*'Tha Mabed Bsnd everj year embaBsadora and pTeseiilB to the Em-
Cr of Ciiina, who on bis part sends cmbasBadora and preaonts to them. ii cnuntry is a! great ciLcnt ; and when the embaasadora of (he Mabed enLer China, tliej are carefully watched, and never once allowed to survey tha conntrj. tor feai they ehoutd form designs of conquering it, which would be no difficult Usk for them; because of llieir great numbsrs, and becausB they are parted from Chioa only by mountains, or rocke."
The country of China is described as ' pleasant and fruitful ;' the cities are ' many in number, great in extent, and well fortified.' ' The rivers are large ;' ' much tain falls ;' and the country is peo- pled throughout its whole extent. 'The climate is more whole- some than that of India ; the air is also much better, and scarce is there a one-eyed, or blind person to be seen.' Thia last remark does not hold true now ; blind persons are numer- ous, especially in^he southern provinces. Many of the productions of the soil are enumerated; among others, tlie grape, of which' they have not many.'
We have recently seen it stated, and on good authority, that 'the vine is not indigenous in China; the seeds were brought hither by the celebrated general Chang-keang, who had been dispatched, b. c. 126, to the countries in the west. He Ira- versed the modern Afghanistan, and the northwestern porthm of India, and returned to China after an absence of 13 yeartr. The term poo-taou (vine) is not of Chinese origin, any more than the thing which it denotes; it ta, probably, merely the imperfect transcription of the Greek term for vine. The Japanese pronounce it boo-do.
, The two travelers give a pretty good account of the " copper money," and "an excellent kind of earth" (porcelain). Now, as then, the Chinese have no coin, but the copper cash, about 800 of which are equal to a Spanish dollar. They have 'horses, assea, ] and dromedaries; but they have no Arabian horses; they have no I «lephants, and cannot endure to have them in the country.' Of the persons of the Chinese, the first traveler remarks,
"They are for the moat part handsome, of comely ilature, fair, and ,
by no means addicted to eicese of wine {Iheir hair is blacker than (ha hair |
of any other nation in the world ; and The Chinese women curl their'*. The , Chinese are more handsome than tlie Indians, and qome nearer (o the Arab*, jJ not only in counlenanoe, but in their dress, in their way of riding, in their f manners, and in their procesaiunal ceremonies. They wear long ganmnls, I .and Birdies iii form of belts. I
"The Chinese are dressed id tilk, both in tammer and winter; &nd thi< kind of dress la common to the prince, Ibe loldier, and to every odior ,perMiB, (hough of the lowest deijree. Id the winter they wear drawers of a patUcuIai Duke, which foil down to their feet. Of thew . they put on two.
183S. Mohammedans in China.
throe. Tour, Eve, or more, if they c
to he covered quite dourn to their feet, beoauBo of the dHmpe, »
grekt. BDd much dreaded by lliem. Id Bommer, th«; only wear > gingla
gument of ailk, or Bome Buch drege, but liave no turbana.
" Their common food ia rice, which they often eat with & broth like what the Arabs make of meat or fiiih, which they pour upon their rice. Their kinga eat whealea bread, and all eortB of animals, not eicepliag awine, and Bome others. Their drink is a kind of nine made of liae; they~ have DO other kind in the country, nor ia there any brtjught to them ; they know not what it is. nor do they drink of it. They have vinegar aloo, and a kind of comfit like what the Arabs call natef, and some others,
"There are eehools in every town for leachin? the poor and their children to write and read, and the masters are paid at the public charge. The Chinese have no sciencBB, and their religion and most of their laws are derived from the Indiana; nay, they are of opinion, that the Indians tau);''^ them the worship of idols, and cunsid£r~1hem as a very religious nation. Both the one and the other believe the mtUmpsycliatit ; but they difler in many points touching the precepts of their religion.
•■The Chinese have some skill in medicine; but it almost wholly consists in the art of aj^Iying hot irons or csuteries. They have also soma Bmaitering nf astronomy ; but therein the Indians surpass tham. . "Wlien the Chinese are about to marry, both parties come to an agreement, then prasenls are made, and at last the marriage is celebrated with the sound of many sorts of instruments and drums." " They obsorvo the degree of cpnaanguinity,". adds the second traveler, ;'aflcr this manner. They are divided among (hemselves, into families and tribes, like the Arabt, and some other nations ; and they kaiiw each other by the diSbreuce of their descents. No one marries in hie own tribe.
■' The Chinese and Indians are not satislied with one wife ;' but both the one and the other marry as many they plesHC.
"The Chinese are fond of gaming and all manner of diVerBiorau They worship ijols, pray ^ them, and fall down before tbem and they have books wliich explain the articles of their religion." . ■ -
\Every reader of these copious extracts, will see at once, a striking resemblance between the. Chinese of the 9th and J9tfi centuries. Differences exist, some of which we have noticed, and others may come under review hereafter. Such perma- nence of national character, such inflexibility of manners and customs, are rarely found, and never exist without their pe- buliar causes; to observe which, in this case, and trace them to their result?, opens a wtde field for the philosopher, and the political ecQDSKiUt. Who will enter it ?
(To he emteluitd 171
N Google
16 Gwtdi^^a Journal. Mat,
Journal of a reeidence in 8iam, and of a voyage along the coa$t of China to Mantchou Tartary, by the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff.
{We are bipf^ in bainf able to bring before onr nulers > jnnnM] (•r Ml novel and inlereiting a character ai that which *b comtneno* bslow. To an individual, who aiwB milUana of hia apeciea wrapt m the glwHa of i^oraace and idolatrviu BuperstitionB, and devotM bimsetf to tba nuble service of workin(r oat Iheir delivsrance, the oonNdsiatiana oT civi- lized and Christian sociulj, and <^ home, vi!l not, iif the least dagrse, lose their nine; on the contrary, as tlit^ am viewed in oontraat, their valna ie enhanced, while yet they are wi[lin)r1y foragone, and are connted but loss lor tbe excellency o( the knowledge of Jesue Christ. Mr. G. is from the neighborhood of Stettin ) abool sii year* ago, be relinqnished the mual invilin^ oonsidnations, even roy^ patronage, to orannMnca the hnmbls labors of a nttBsJonary In tbe Eut. He ii now on a voyage noith, ex. pecting to visit Formoaa, Lewchow, Japan, Coraa, and Hnne of tbfl ports alone ibe eoaal of China; of this second vayage, it will be in our IMtwer, we D(q>e and eipect, to give aome aoeonni at an earlv period. Tfaa p».
Klation of Bangkok, at which place tbe preaeot journal eommeaoeis waa ir y«ara ago, «)l,3lX> nnls, of «4um 360,1HM were Chinese.]
Mat, 1831. During a resideoce of almoet three years in Siam, I had the high gratification of Bfleinjr the prejiidice« of the natives vanish; and perceived with delight, that a large field amongst the different people who inhabit Sian, was opening. As long as the junks from China stayed, most of the trine was taken up ia administering to the spiritual and bodily wants of large numbers of Chinese. We experienced this year the pecaltar blessings <^ our divine Saviour. The demand for books, the inquiries afler the truth, tbe friendship shown, were most favorable tokens of Divine approbation upon onr feeble endeavors. The work of tran^ation proceeded rapidly, we were enabled to illustrate the rudiments of languages hitherto unknown to Euro- peans; and to embody the substance of our philolo- gical researches in small volumes, which will remain in manuscript, presuming that they may be of some advantage to other missionaries. Some individuals, either prompted by curiosity, or drawn by an interest for their own eternal welfare, applied for instruction, and one of them made an open profession of Chris- tianity.
n,gN..(jNGoogle
1832. Gutzlaf't Journal. 17
When we first arrived, our appearance spread a general panic. It was well known by the predic- tions of the Bali books, that a certain religion of the west would vanquish Budhism ; and, as the votaries of a western religion had conquered Burmah, peo- ple presumed that their religious principles would prove equally victorious in Siam. By and by, fears subsided ; but were, on a sudden, again roused, when there were brought to Bankok, Burman tracts, written by Mr. Judson, in which it was stated that the gospel would'Very soon triumph over all false religions. Con- stant inquiries were made about thecertain time when ~ this should take place ; the passages of Holy Writ, which we quoted in confirmation of the grand triumph of Christ's kingdom, were duly weighed, and only few objections started. At this time, the Siamese looked with great anxiety upon the part which the English would take kr the war between Quedah and themselves. When the king first heard of their neutrality, he exclaimed ; 'I behold finally, tbat there is some truth in Christianity, which foi^merly, I considered very doubtful.' This favor- al^e opinion influenced the people to become friendly with us. The consequence was, that we gained access to persons of all ranks, and of both sexes. Under such circumstances, itjvould have been folly to leave the country, if Providence hadnot ordered other- wise, in disabling me by sickness from farther'labor there. A pain in my left side, accompanied byhea^d- ache, great weakness, and want of appetite, threw me upon my couch. Though I endeavored to rally my robust constitution, I could readily perceive that I was verging, daily, with quick strides towards the grave ; and a burial-place was actually engaged.
Bright as the prospects were, there wero also great obstacles in the way, to retard the achieve- ment of our endeavors, the salvation of souls. The Siamese are very fickle, and will often be very anxious to embrace an opinion to-day, which to- morrow they will entirely reject. Their friendship is G .-' I
18 ihOxUiffU Joumai. Mai,
UDBteady ; their attachment to the gospel, aa the word of eternal life, hm never been very sincere ; neither could we fully succeed in fixing their minds on the Savior. Though all religions are tolerated in Siam, yet Budhisra is the religion of the state, and all the public institutions are for the promotion of this euper Btition. A system of the grossest lies, which can i find champions only in the biased minds of some I scholars in Europe, engrosses, theoretically aa wellas I practically, the miodsof its votaries, and renders every step towards improvement most difficult. We were allowed to preach in the temples of Budha; and the numerous priests were anxious to engage with us ia conversation, yet their hearts were generally steeled against divine truth-
Budhism ia atheism, according to the creed which one of the Siamese high priests gave to me ; the highest degree of happiness consiats in I annihilation ; the greatest enjoyment ia in indo- | lence ; and their aole hope ia founded upon end* less transmigration. We may very eeisily conclude ivhat an effect these doctrines must have upon ihe morals of both priests and laymen, especialh', if we keep in mind that thoy are duly incniated, and almbst every mftle in Siam, for a certain time, becomes at < priest, in order to study them. From the king to the j qieanest of hiasubjects, self-sufficiency is character- i istic; the former prides himself on account of) having acquired so high a dignity for hia virtuous 1 deeds in a former hfe ; the latter ia firmly assured, 1 1 that by degrees, in tbe course of some thousands ,i ' of years, be will come to the same honor. I regret H pot to have found one hoaeat man ; many have the ii reputation of being such, but upon nearer inepec- \ tion, they are equally void of this standard virtue, u Sordid opppession, priestcrafl, allied to wretchedness 1 and filth, are everywhere to be met. Notwith- i standing, the Siamese are superior in morality to the j Malays. They are QKitber Banguinary nor bigoted, and are not entirely shut against persuasion.
n„jN.«j-vG00glc
1833. Guttlaf't Journal 10
Favored by an overraling ProTidence, I had equal access to the palace and to the cottage ; and was frequently, against my inclination, called to the former. Chow-fa-nooi, the younger brother of the late king and the rightful heir of the crown, is a youth of about 25, poaaessing some abilities, which are however swallowed up in childishness. He speaks the English language; can write a little, imitate works of European artisans ; and is a decided friend of European sciences and of Christianity. He courts the friendship of every European ; holds free conver- sation with him, and is anxious to learn Whatever he can. He is beloved by the whole nation, which is wearied out by heavy taxes ; but hie elder brother, Chow-fa-yay, who is just now a priest, is still more be- loved. If they ascend the throne, the changes in all the institutions of the country will be great, but perhaps too sudden. The son of the phra-klang, or minister of foreign affairs, is of superior intelligence, but has a spirit for intrigue, which renders him formidable at court, and dangerous to foreigners. He looks with cotitempt upon his whole nation, but crduches be- foiie every individual, by means of whom he may gain any influence. Chow-nin, the step-brother of the king, is a young man, of good talents, which are however spoiled by his habit of smoking opium. Kroma-Bun-ton, late brother of the king, and chief justice of the kingdom, was the person by whom I ; could communicate my sentiments to the king. Of- ficially invited, I spent hours with him in converaa- ' tion, principally upon Christianity, and often upon ^ the character of the British nation. Though hira- ( self a most dissolute person, he requested me to J educate his son, (a stupid boy,) and seemed the best / medium for communicating Christian truth to the
f highest personages of the kingdom. At his request, 1 wrote a work upon Christianity, but he lived not to read it ; for he was burnt in his palace iu the begin- ning of 1831. Kroma-khun, brother-in law to the former king, a ateru old man, called in my medical
20 Gutzlafi Journal. Mit,
help, and I took occasion to converse with him on religious subjects. He greatly approved of Chmtian principles, but did not apply to the fountain of all virtue, Jesus Christ. In consequence of an ulcer in his left side, he again called in my aid ; yet hia proud son despised the assistance of a barbarian; neither would the royal physicians accept of my ad- vice, and the man soon died. Even a disaster of this description served to recommend me to bis majes- ty, the present king, who is naturally fond of Eu- ropeans ; and he intreated me not to leave the king- dom on any account ; but rather to become an officer, in the capacity of a physician. Paya-meh-tap, the commander in chief of the Siamese army in the wat against the Laos or Chans, returning from his vie- ~"torious exploits, was honored with royal favor, and loaded with the spoils of an oppressed nation, nearthe brink of destruction. A severe disease prompted him to call me near his person. He promised gold, which he never intended to pay, as a reward for my services. And when restored, he condescended so fer as to make me sit down by his side and convejrse with him upon various important subjects. Paya- rak, a man hated by all the Siamese nobility, on account of his mean, intriguing spirit, aod sent as a spy to the frontiers of Cochinchina, urged me to explain to him the nature of the gospel; and as he found my discourse reasonable, he gave me a pre- rent of dried fish for the trouble I had taken. The mother of prince Kroma-zorin, one of tbe wives of the late king, contrasted evangelical truth with Budhistical nonsense, when she made me meet one of her most favorite priests, of whom she is a decided patron. Though she had built a temple for the acconi' modation of the priests of Budha, that mass might be constantly performed in behalf of her son who late^ !y died, she thought it necessary to hear, with all her retinue, the new doctrine, of which so much had been said at court of late. The sister of Paya-meh. tap invited jne pn purpose to hear me e;!(jc^ain the doctrine
■ n,gN..(JNGOOglC
1832. Gutxlaff't Journal. 21
of the gospel, which she, according to her own expression, believed to be the same with the wondrous stories of the Virgio-Mary.
In relating these facts, I would only remark, that I maintained intercourse with the individuals here men- tioned, against my inclination; for it is burdensome and disgusting to cultivate friendship with the Siamese nobles. 1 hey used to call at midnight at our cottage, and would frequently send for me at whatever time it might suit their foolish fancies. At the same time, it must be acknowledged, that in this manner, Provi- dence opened a way to speak to their hearts, and also to vindicate the character of Europeans, which is so insidiously misrepresented to the king.
I will mention also a few individuals in the hambler spheres of life, but who profited more by our instructions than any of the nobles. ' Two priests — one of them was the favorite chaplain of his majesty, the other a youQg man of good parts, but without experience — were anxious to be fully instructed in the doctrines of the gos|)el. They came during the night, and persevered in their appli- cation, even neglecting the stndy of the Bali, the sacred language, and of their usual services in Bud* hism. The elder, a most intelligent man, about 20 years of age, continued for months, to repair with the Bibletoaforesl, boldly incurring the displeasure ofthe king. He also urged his younger brother to leave ' his native country, in order to acquire a full knowledge of Christianity and European sciences, so as after- wards to become the instructor of his benighted fellow citizens ; a Camboj&n priest was willing to embark for the same purpose ; and, finally, a company of friends invited me to preach to them, that they might know what was the religion ofthe Pharangs, or Europeans.
Siam has never received, so much as it ought, the attention of European philanthropists and mer- chants. It is one of the most fertile countries in Asia. Under a good government it might be superior to Bengal, and Bangkok would outweigh Calcutta.
22 Gutzlaf'$ Journal. May,
But Europeans have always been treated there with distrust, and even insolence, if it could be done with impunity. They have been liable to every aort of petty annoyance, which would weary out the most patient spirit ; and have been subjected to the most unheard of oppression. Some of them proposed to introduce some useful arts, which might increase power and riches ; for instance, steam engines, saw- mills, cannon foundertes, cultivation of indigo and coffee; but with the exception of one Frenchman, their offers were all refused ; and the latter had to leave the country in disgrace, ailer having com- menced the construction of an engine for boring gnns. When works for their benefit were accomplished, their value was lowered, iu order to dispense with the necessity of rewarding European industry, and of thereby acknowledging the superiority of European genius.
The general idea, hitherto entertained by the ma- jority of the nation as to the European character, was derived from a small number of Christians, so styled, whoi born in the country, and partly descended from Portuguese, crouch before their nobles as dogs, and a,re employed in all menial services, and occasionally suf- fered to enlist as soldiers or surgeons. All reproaches heaped upon tbem are eventually realized ; and their character as faithful children of the Romish church, has been fairly exhibited by drunkenness and cock- fighting. No industry, no genius, no honesty, is found amongst them, with the exception of one individual, whoindeedhasa right to claim the latter virtueas has~ own. From this misconception has emanated alt the disgraceful treatment of Europeans up to the time of the war between Burmah and the Company. When the first British envoy arrived, he was treated with con- tempt, because the extent of English power was not known. When the English had taken Rangoon, it was uot believed by 'the king, until he had sent a trust- worthy person to ascertain the fact. Still, doubrs agi- sted the royal breastas to the iseoe of th« war with tlie
n„jN.«j-vGoogle
1832. Gutzlaff'a Journal. 23
invincible Burmans. Reluctantly did the Siamese hear ofthe victories of their British allies, though they were protected thereby from the ravages of the Burmaiis, who surely would have turned the edge of their ewords against them, if the British, had not coiqiered these, their inveterate enemies. Notwith- Btanding, the Siamese government could gladly hail the emissaries of Burmah, who privately arrived with dispatches, the sole object of which was to prevail upon the king of Siam not to assist the English, in case of a breach, upon the plea of common religion and usages. But the national childish vanity of the Siamese in thinking themselves superior to all nations^, except the Chinese and Burmans, has vanished ; and the more the English are feared, the better is the treatment which is experienced during their residence in this country. The more the ascendancy of their genius is acknowledged, the more their friendship as individuals is courted, their customs imitated, and their language studied. His majesty has decked a (evi straggling wretches in the uniform of sepoys, [and considers them as brave and well-disciplined as :heir patterns. Chow-fa-nooi, desirous of imitating fo- 'eigners has built a ship on a small scale, and intends - laing the same on a larger one as soon as his funds v\\\ admit. English, as well as Americans, are disen- umbered in their intercourse, and enjoy at present >rivilegea of wliich even the favored Chinese caa- lot boast. The natives of China come in great num- bers from Cbaouchow foo, the most eastern part of ' Cantoo province. They are mostly agriculturists ; while another Canton tribe, called the Kih or Ka, consists chiefly of artisans. Emigrants from Tang< an (or Tung-an) district, in the province of Fuhkeen are few, mostly sailors or merchants. Those froa Hainan are chiefly pedlars and iiahermen, and form perhaps the poorest, yet the most cheerful ^elass. Language,^ as well as customs, derived from the Chinese of Cbaouchow, ai:e prevalent throughout the
n,,N;.,i-,Gt)Ogle
24 Gutzlaff's Journal, May,
country. They delight to live in wretchednees and iilth, and are very anxious to conform to the vile habits of the Siamese. In some cases, when they enter into matrimonial alliances with these latter, they even throw away their jackets and trowsers, and become Siamese intheir very dress. As the lax, in- difierent religious principles of the Chinese, do not vary essentially from thuse of the Siamese, the former are very prone to conform entirely to the reli- gious rites of the latter. And if they have children, these frequently cut their tails, and become foracertain time Siamese priests. Within two or three genera- tions, all the distinguishing marks of the Chinese character dwindle entirely away ; and a nation which adheres so obstinately to its national customs becomes wholly changed to Siamese. These people usually neglect their own literature, and apply them- selves to the Siamese. To them nothing is so wel- come as the being presented, by the king, with an honorary title ; and this generally takes place wh^ i they have acquired great riches, or have betray'etfl ISome of their own countrymen. From that momentl they become slaves of the king, the more so if theyl are made his officers. No service is then so menial, so^ expensive, so difficult, but they are forced to perforn* i it. And in case of disobedience, they are severeh / punished, and, perhaps, put into chains for thei' i whole lives. Nothing, therefore, exceeds the fea' c . of the Chinese ; — they pay the highest respect to* their oppressors, and cringe when addressed by them. Notwithstanding the heavy taxes laid upon their _ industry, they labor patiently from morning to night, to feed their insolent and indolent tyrants, who think it below their dignity to gain their daily bread by their own exertions. With the exception of the Hwuy-hwuy, or Triad society, implicit obedience is paid to their most exorbitant demands, by every Chinese settler.
Some years back, this society formed a conspiracy, seized upon some native crai^ at Baraplasoi, a place .1 ,Go(.n>Ic
183S. Resident in Siam. ^
near the mouth of the Meinam, andbegan fo revetlge themselves upontheirtyrants : butfalliiig afiortofpro- visioDS, they were forced to put tO; sett^. Followed byaemall Siamese'SquadroDtheyvrerecdnipeiled to flee; till contrary winds and '=att^^i*aiSttof tb^ necessaries of life, obliged tliem to surrender. The ringleader escaped to Cochinchina, but most of his followers were either massacred, or sent to prison for > life. From that time all hope of recovering the nation from abject bondage di8ap|>eared ; though there are a great many individuals, who trust that the English (according to their own expresaion,) will extend their benevolent government as fer as.Siam. Every arrival of a 'ship enlivens their expectation, — every departure damits their joy.
(To bteotainued.)
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
BuBHAH. In thilB country a native Burmans, TalingE, and
wide field is opened for bene- Karens. This latter pec^le live
vol^t enterprise. The Word, scattered on the mountains and
— which reveals iife and im- in the jungle, somewhat like the
' mortidit; — has been extensively aborigines of America, without
I circuited, and it has prosper- any fixed religion, and present
( ed, acoomplidiing the will of a field of great Extent and in-
. Him, who would have all men tereat.
' coinetoakno^ledgeof the truth "Our press has furnished,
and be saved. A corre^mndent during iheyeaT.nearlyamillion
at Rangoon, January 12th, 1832, of pages, most of them octavo;
writes, " Daring five mfmths I and the whole number of tracts
have found opportunity to distri- disposed of, in the 12 months, is
bute, ettherpersonaltyorbyana^ probably, ab6ut sixty oi* seventy
tive assistant, aboutIO,OOOlracts thouAuid, There are mahy
and portions of Scripture; and Chinese tri Rstl'goon, and. still
fourpeTSons,duringthai period; liinre at MaulAiein and Tavoy.
have been added to our litde But they are a sad, gambling,
church. The whole number add- opium-smoking, opium-chewing
, ed to all our churches here (in set. Many of them, however, are
1 Burmah), during the year 1832, excellent artisans, and are cer-
r vr&B 193; of whom nearly 60 tainiy, in point of civilization,
were moreor less connected with superior to the Burmans.'!
tlte English army; the re?t were We have no pleasure in pre-
H,gle
26
Riiigiom hiteUige^ce.
May,
qeiltipg vueh a pktute of ear spCQKS ; gnd we do it, solely in order to give an accurate view of ibe ch^acter of th^ people, and <i>r tke dkBcultiea to. tie encoun- tered, in bruwine th«m to Uie jjcgqwledge and fuiu enjof ipeat of CItrJBtiatalty ; and we are happy loadd, on'the authofity of the BuiQ cofTespoadei^t, Ihat aoxie, ^ few. eveqof tb^ sad set, have epibraoed th^ go^pcJ, and been bbptizeil.
SiAM. . We tia*e . received a copy of the Mis^wiiry fourjial oi" the Rev. J. TonJin, giving an account ofthe proceedings of the Rev. D. Abeel and himself,' while at Bangkok, the capital of Siam, from July 2d, 1831, till January 6th, 1832, While there thej distributed Christian publi- cationa in Chinese, Siamese, and Malayan ; healed the sick, preached the word, and converg- ed freely from housa to hOHSS, .no man forbidding them. Mem- ibera «£ th« Rqy^ Family, oi- ,6ciers of the government, and ^iests,vi sited tbcnii, and accept ed of t|ieir r&^igioa» books. We sjnqe^eiyhopeaifdpraj, that the seed sown may take root, inay b« watered with tjie he»venly jntlu- eace& of the Diyine Spirit, and bring forth fruit attnndatiliy tQ the glory of God, and the ever- lasting haf^inees of ^nefo.
At another tine we bope to make some extracts from Mr, T.'s Journal, which cominenaei oniyabbut " tea oi twelve. dayr* aftor his former feUout-labcver, Qutzlafi^ eipbarked on bowd a junk for the north of China."
Malacca. By lasl accounts, Messrs. Tomlin and Abeel were t,oth at the Anglo-Chinese col-
lege;— Mr. T, aeting for the principal, Mr. Kidd, who is ib- sent on a visit to England, for the benefit of his heahh; and Mr. A. on a visit, bis health hating declined i\ 8Ufn. flowevet, beisg fomewhat better, he con- t«n^ates returning thither. He had been preaching a few times for the Rev. Mr, Hugh«, who, in addition to hi^ duties, as a ratsaionary to the Mal>!fe> act? as English chaplain.
PosUeript. Since the abote was in type, we learn. bji aletter irom HU Aberi, of bis return to Singapore, (at which place be dates, April 8th,) and ofhis pur- pose to go back immediately to Siara, in order to supply, with Christian books, the 60 ot 70 junks then at Bangkok.
Bombay. We have received the Oriental Christian Spectator up to Dec. 1831, which com- pletes two vols, of that inatiuc- tive magazine. We rejoice W perceive a spirit of inquiry tout- ed among the Parwes on thai ^ sid^ of India, aod the revdtttio of opinion, on the euhject gf r* tigion, among s«ne Hindoos at jCaoDtta. Truth will triumph; qnd the ^ernal immutabiliiy of Indian supe^titiion, s» oiWn dsseifted, will vaiMsh before the power of God's everlMting
. Chinese phDosophiam, too, has i(a advocates, yiho asa^t its ;im mutability, andits supeuoril]^ over thei religion of Jesus. But the contest, be ii remembered, is between truth and $ilaehood, and of no doubtftil iasue. The< Press, the Preacher, and school- _ master have, at various times ' and places, effected great moral changes on large portions of
jnGoo^Ic
1832. Religious Tntettigencei 27
mankind ; aod we see no reasnn MADAtiAscAB. The difflen-
whj they will not produce the sions.strifta and murders, which
same leaulta, Wh^ brooght to followed rapidly on the demise of
bear wlUi suitable energy, on the Radama, hav? cea&ed ; and fur-
humad beitigs who inhabit India, llier, (we are happy to learn i^om
Chiott, and Japan. God hath Variou3Soarce9,)lheQ.neen, the
made of one blood all natiom succeSBor of the late sove-
of men; and thbugh there Teign, has given strong proof of
are many difibrences in mino^ her determination to improve
points, yet they are everywhene the conditiotaof herp^ple, and
eseentialty the iaiAe; and with '"hasrepeatedlydeclBredherBelf
th* DJrint blessing, like effbrts the enemy of (He aJaVe traAc,
may evetywher« be ext)et:tM -iati^ the fiiendofpeace^ educa-
to produe« Mniilar effects. " tion, and e6mln6ree." It ap-
-' peai^, Itlio, Ui&t efficient meaft-
CAi>e OF Good Hop^. * Ser- tires Have been adopted lb im-
eralof the edrly nutbbers of the ptoVe agriculture, manulkctures,
South African Christian He- And commerce:
coidet bare t^\m in o6t w&y; ' The Bible Hbs been traiislat-
we wei^e especially interested ed' into Malagasiy, the native
with the account they contain language;^ the teachers ttf Cfiria-
of the progress of infant schocJ^ tianity are protected and encour-
at Oipe Town. " Quite ainu- aged by the Queen ; atad,, among
Bed " we were, too, to read of other recent improvements, th&
the " little group of infants,"-^ system of infant schools has
African politicians, " from four been introduced ; ami, where
to seven years of age,"-^"grave^ twelve years ago not' six individ-
ly diacnssing" the merits of the uals could write their own Ian-
Pr^ch revolution. In correct e- guAge, thousands can now both
duoatioa,learningtodowhatand read and write, and great num-
only what is good — in training bers are enjoyingthe advantages
up the clnld in the way he should of a respectable education.
go, — we look on the system of
infaat schocJa to be, in point of Diart of a Chinese Chbis- eflicieDcy, very nearly what the tian. (Extract, faithfolly trans- power of steam is in mechanics; lated.) and the system is as simple and Pourth moon,. 1st day. At
as pleasant, as it is effici^t ; the village of -^j superin-
and having reached and doubled tending the printing of the the Cape, we hope.it will Come Scripture Lessons. on to China. Here very few 2d day. Composing a reli- girls receive and education ; and gious tract. the education of toys is seldom 4th. (Sunday.) When reading commenced till the age of seven, the Gospel of Matthew, the man eight, or ten years. Who who came and conversed with would not admire to see an in- me, on a preceding day, came fant school established among f^ain, and said, — What book the sons of Han, the disciples are you reading to-da| ? I ro- of Confucius I plied, I am reading an account ' ' ■"■■ of what the Saviour of the world
28 Religious Intelligence. Mav,
did and said. While the Saviour - named Yu came to me, and
was in the wurld, what he did said, — You are usually on otber
uid what he taught the pef^le are days writing acd compoang
contained in this book. The man books ; v/by do you limit jour-
(hen asked, What sort of petson aelf to reading to-day. I replied
was the Saviour of the world? I — This day, according to the
answered. He waa the son of the Hdj Scriptures, is a sacted day
MostHighGod,who,seeingmanr of rest, in whici) it is required
' kind deceived by the devil, and to cease from all sorts of labor;
going on in the way of wicked- to give repose lo the body, and
ness, which leads to destruction; ^ Forship God; to thank
but ignorant, of tl^al good way bim for graciousfy noutiabing
Which leads to everlasting ^ife, sod preserving us ; also lo
—left the glories of his heaven- read the Holy Scriptures, for
\y state, and was born into the the nourishment of our eouh;
world as a man. He in ^he that we may cherish virtuous
first place taught the import of ihoughls and dispositions; per-
the Sacred Scriptures-:— the way fbrni virtuous actions ; and, con-
inwhichmenshouldwalk — what side;:ii^ tl\e deeds of pasldays,
is requisite in order to be saved may reform speedily what is
from depriiviiy and iniquity wrongs and be more zealous in
and brought to the tight way. what is right. This is keeping
Afterwards he gave his own pre- the holy rest of the Sabbalh.
cious body to sufTer and lo die Yu replied, suppose we whodo
that be might atone for men's not know tlie true Scriptures, do
sins against High Heaven — not keep the holy day of rest,
(here the writer goes onward do we act very wrong M aonver-
to the r;e3urrGction ; the com- ed, — Through ignorance not lo
mand to preach the gospel to keeptheday,theerFaFiaIight;to
all nations ; and to our Saviour's know clearly tbe command,
ascension.) The rnan said,— and yet refuse, to keep tbe hoi}
So good a book — I should, like day, — the sin is greater. For the
you to lend me it to read. I re- holy rest of the Sabbath, is a
plied, I'll make you a present manifestation of the gracious
pf it to read. If you find any, intentions of the Most High God
parts that you don'l understand, to mankind. Because during
please to come to me, and I'll aix days we have to toil much
explain them to you ; or you for the support of the fleshly
may pray to the Most High God, body ; but on the seventh day,
in the name of the Saviour, for we aretodeaiPt from these toils
the Holy Spirit to move your of mind and body, that we may
soul, and cause you to know nourish the soul. And man'9
the mysteries of the Gospel. — .divine spiiit i» more enduring.
The man received the book and more honorable and impor-
thaukfully, made his bow, and tant than man's fleshly body,
went away. which, at the longest, will not eic- I
5th. At the village , com- ceed a hundred years' duration ; 'J
posing religious Tracts. man's divine spirit livea for ever \
Ijtl), (Sunday.) Whenreadiug — it is an undying, spiritual^
in the prophet Isaiah, a matt thing; Slc,
..I .Google'
1832. Journal of Occurrence. 29
JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES.
The RsiiLuon, on the borders of Kwuiglung, KwaogBB, uid Hounan proTincBB, which ha> oiciled genenl attention uid gieat alimi, broke out on Sunday, Februar]' 5th uf IJie cur- rent year. On that day the i^bela had prcdelerminBd to commence their openlioia, and actnallj did so. We have Men an official notice at it, aent by the lieuteoant-govemor of Hoo- Dan to the empefor, io wJbich he gives the above dale.
The principal iiwurgenta, called Ytou-jin, are cliiefty of LeCneban, on tbe norlhweit frontier af Hwang, tunc. They are auted, in Chineae books, to be the deacendanls of a person named Pitaa.koo. Who this person was, or when lie lived, is matter of diapute; but however that may be, it ia certain, that the Yaou-jin first ippeu-ad in Boo- kwangii.DdYuanaji, whence they pas- sed over uid established l}iemBelveB in Kwaugse. Daring ttie reign of Kaoutsung of the Sung dynaaty. io the middle of the ISlh ceatnry, some of these men were brought as slaves to LeGnchow, in'this province; and were sent to cultivate small patches of land among the crags of the moun- taina. As they increased in niuaber beyond the control of their Chinese masters, they divided themselves into eight tribes (in Chinese pi pae): and although thej have since been further subdivided, first into tweotv-four, and now into fifty tribes, yet the ofiginal division into eight tribes ia still re. Iftinad. Of these eight, tliree are at- tached to Lsenchoir, and five to Leenshan. .
TJie hair of the men is braided up in a tuft on the top of the head ; that of ihe Romen is malted with yellow wa^i and fortped hke a boOFd placed on Ihe top of of the head, KHSswhat resembling the European collage c^h.
heads with green beads, pheasants feathers, &.C. Their garments are fnade of a sort of linen or grass-cloth, are loose, and of divefv ookirs. The youDg m«ii and womco Hog in .
response, and select wives and hus- bands from those whose songs please best. The length of each othei's waistband or sash being measnted, fixes the nuptials.
The oatnial disposition of these people is ferocious and oruel. They delight in quarrels and murder; but are very true to their promises ; and fear gods and devils. They can endure hunger, and prosecute their battles with perseverance. Their armor consists of long swords suspended on (heir left sides, and large eroasbowa slung on - their light : in their hands they carry long spears. They run up and down hills, and in the most dangerous places, with great speed and intrepidity. In battle they support each other with bows and spears, and so rush forward ; those who hold spears leading the van) they do not long defend themselvM with bows. When sbonting, the arch, en hold their swords in their mouths. If bard pressed and unable to use tfaeli spears and bows. Ihey lay them aside, and take to their swords, with which they make a moil desperate reac- tance. They put themselves in bat- tle array at some dangerous pass ; and if they run, are sure to have archers lying in ambush.
As soon as the chidren are able to . walk, the soles of their feet are sear. ed with a hot iron, to enable them to tread upon thorns, stunes, or spikes, without being hurt. These people rush forward in crawds, just like a herd of wild beasts or wolves; — hence tbeiT name Yaou-jin, which denotes a wild- dog, or wolf.man. — In addition to the above particulars, derived from a to. pography of LeVnchaw, puUished under the Emperor KeSnlung, the Chinese of Canton strenuously assert, and firmly believe, that the mountain. ews have short tails behind, like dogs or monkeys. But Knlinlung was not the man who wouU sanction the publication of such an absurdity.
To return to tbe rebellion, from which we have so long digressed ; Woo Yungkwang, the lieutenant-
Journal of Occurrences.
Mat,
chieF rebel Chaou Kimjino, thmt in, Cli&ou, the Golden Dtagon; an enilhet aince tnnoied u l£e rojtX title of the rebel chieftain. To thi* man ia ■ttribated, bj some priKHiera taken, the power of working wondera with hia Bwurd ; of taking water into bia moutb and apurtini; forth fire ; of knotting ruahes and converting; them into cattle, &.C.; and tiiese reporta •re communicated in the official dia- patchea to the emperor. It is added, that there ie among the rebela a female eeneral, who baa aent her aisler to be married to one of Ihe rebel chiefa, on the frontiera of Canton.
CbaoD ia ctolhed in a yeUmt jacket, and an emblazoned nnder.drera, on whieh are embroidered the three
Yaou tnbea are clothed in jellow riding jacket* ; the rest have red cloth turbane. They all can perform de: moniacal arta, but with unequal snc- ooaa. — Such ia the aimple tale of the iieut,. govern or to the emperor, and to (hia he addi,— " But there are none of the Triad Society among (hem." To thi* pnrt of the memorial, the Emperor repliea in hia own band-writ- ing, with the Teimilion pencil, " De. moniacal acta are words which ahould
nerer appear \x
And how know j^ou certainiy that theie are none of the Tiiad Society amoi^ them ? Hereafter, when the; are annihilated, and it ia found out tliat there were Triad banditti among tlien), what wilt you do! Where will you hide youreelf on the earth !" ..The lien tenant-govern or repreeenta the hilli aa covered with anon in February ; the cold intense ; and the paiqea impraoticable. There were not Ifoops enoagh in the neighborhood til act againat the mounUineera. who could eaaily run away, but there was no pursuing them. However, ainca that, the rebela havs Iwen Ihe pur- suers; and the imperial troopv have been defeated repeatedly, with the loaa of a great many officers, guns, and ammunition. Aiuong the kdled is Haelingah. thetetuh ot commander. in.chief of the province of Hoonan. The progreai of the rebels haa been rapid, and they hava pOMesaed them- sclvea of four large towns, besides ■everal amaHer onea. One town thejr jpluodered of the treasnie and grain laid up in it, and then lel fiie to the
public offices. But the people, who are not found in arms against them, hare in no caae recetred any injury or insult. The rebel leader ia aaid to have even iaaued manireatoea, declaring that he wars only with the armed servants of the government, and intends no harm bi any beaidea. The rebela have received^ one or two severe lepulsea. Loo Kwan, the Governor of Hookwang, having advanced towarda the scene of the conteat, accompanied by Lo Szekeu, the tetuh of Hooplh, to supply the place of the deceased Haelingah, their joint effbrta obtarned temporary Victory for the imperial arms. The '
vanqniahed rebela retired abraptly to their mnautaina, which was attributed, tot a time, to fear. But their apeedy |
return to the war, with incteaseil i
ardor and fury, proved the fallacy of (hat auppositiun. Among the prrsoncrs ,
fallen into the hands of the govern- ment are a son and brothsr of Chaou Kinlung; to reacue whom, a vigorous aally has been made, which Ihoogh it proved onsucceaafnli was not re- |
linquiahed, till many of the imperial troopa had been slain. Loo Kwtm end Lo Siekeu hive been highly praised by the emperor, for the check (brief as it was) which they had given to the insurgents : but they are, at the same time, reduced to the situation of seeondariea ; direction of the war being given lo Kingaban, gene- ral of the MantchoD tioopa in Hoo. pih province.
DbaTH UF GeNEIUL HlELINQlB,
the tetuh of Hoonan. This TarUr officer fell into a anare which rebel treachery had laid for him. The Golden Dragon, having beard of the situation and circumstances uf the general, sent some of his cleverest people to feign Ihemselvoa villagers, w)ia desired re. lief from the rebels, and to ofler thetn- aelves as guides to the imperial army among the hills. The general believed Iheae deceivers, and moved forward, with a detachment, eight pieces of artillery, ammunition, storea, and mo. ney for the puiehaae of provisions. When they had reached a place con- venient for the enemy, the rebels, who lay in ambush, (ell upon them sudden. \ ly, and shot, at Ihe first nnnet, tho S general and upwards of twenty nffi. V cers. They killed, abo, a few scores \ of the soldiers \ and seized the guns, f
Journal of Occurrencet.
hii left tna wu out off; hiaeycs both dug oat ; bia b«ad ckive In two ; uid be had a sword-cut oa hi* fmebead.
it* brad. — Tbe uopnoi, while hi blames lbs piecipiUiicj of these tno ufficen, directs postbniBoos honors to be conferred on thsm sad otben who ftlt with ibem. He slso direcU th&t rewards be given l« Iha femOie* of the slslii, in conticleratiao of tbeir baling sufFbred in (be senice of Iba ctnmtrj.
The eaipcrM Kanghe carried on ■a utanninaluig ww agsinst (he BMHinlaiiieeiB now up in rebellion, and mM at ta^t obliged to desist, without cfieotLng his purpose. It is nunored tlutTicH^wsngbBBdeeUKdit hiera. aolutioa, to u«e ever; eSbrt to put the whole rac« of Yaeu-jin to the tviord. So that some took forward to ■ long iKniliniiance of bloodshed, and all the iliiae[)e>> sttondaat on saoh opention& The only necesswr of lifb (br which lllw ]rssa-jta are depenihiit on the C^t,'sQ is wit, and this tfaej an said (o lAve been lajiing up largely fas •oat&-yeats. Govamment has direct- ed iW servanta to isy as littia'as pos- ■ibts, piiUiciy. about iliese relieb. (he pr^panUioD of troops. &c. And many of (he people ue afraid M> ^ah or write to Iheic fiisnds, upon such Qutten. Same of his majesty's pii. nates have pleaded fibs) piaty, aa a Bet-oB'agauist inJUtaryduty; and re. prMonled that they ai* ooly sons of a^d matbera, whom they cannot lakve. AboLit a scora of these pol-
OnvH w 1BC lui. Of a thooeaTid men sent by tEie govetsoi of Canteit, to aat against (he rebels, the cotn- maudirig officer has sent back two. hundred, rendered totally unfit Tor BCtive service, by the habit of opiam.
HDOkiD^
Fvana, la, the soRhara diTieion. of the city, a secret society, called the ' Waitdarful sMoeMtioB,' has-besn discovered. Tha head of, tha ewnU-
himklo gaib of. a maBUTB-gatherer, -which IB coDBideied t^ nteancBt oe. cu^ation in China,. B|ut this .^graded jKiBon bad money, which he dig-
tribulad lo poor aoldlem. and pen- pie IB diativBs, in order to win their a&ctions, and induce (hem (o enter the Wonderfol asBOciation, by taking certain prescribed oaths. Wang laoo- tow.tne, or old King, as (he man was called, had an associate named Tai^ Pa.nrh, who, having in bis hand Mane defect of old standing, which disabled him from opening hie fin- gers, pretended there was sonte- Ihmg wonderfol in this, and was in oonsequsDce called, the " Lion, the reeambsnt Budha." The assDciatcs
of the present year, lo Join their bro. then there. But the plan being dls- eovsred, old King and the Lion were, by last BBoounts, both in custody. Two otiier associatioas of a similar
1 Pehini
r befort
0 decision
having yet been passed, we are ud. able to give the. particulars,.
Famini. In consequence of the eilensive ionndationfl of last autumn, many towns and riUanea,. in the pni. Vinces of Ganhway, Keangse, Hoo- pih, and Ch^keanf , sju bow steering for want of food, fa the three {txmei uf those provinces, the emperor has directed a remissian of a portioa of Ibis year's taxes, on the sufiering (owns. He baa also commanded that the starving people be supplied from the imperial stores, both with rioe foi their present wants, and with wed to sow. Theas presents aw not ' always xtfholly gratuitous; rratontion is usually requited, as sooa aa a better harvest gives the poor people power ts do so. A similar boon has bean request. ed ou behalf of CbekSBbg/wMeh wb« fJao afflicUd with . drought and im undalion.
CocHiNCHiNA. Accounts have been teceived of a rather serious aSnj on theborderaof Cochinchina, in Tie. ping foo, on (he southern ^nmlier of Kwsogse province. ' H was ooeasion- •d by a dispute sjnut some coal-pita in that migfaborhood ; the resalt waa unfavorable to the Cbinese gmerD. men* party. Two oflican, civilians, and abeiil a hundred soldleji* were hilled. The lieuL.govenior of Kwang. le has written to his dDperior, go- vernor Ls of Canton, and has at the same tima soib a detachment ol tioops lo sappieis the lioteis. £
Journal of Occurrenceg.
TheH people are uid to be con- nected with 34 diBtricU or bartHroui MeaouUxe, who yield i. very pirliaJ obedience to tho Chineue govern, luent, and who are quite timilar to the Yaou-jin, of whom we have al. read; ^ven •ome iccount.
Da Halde givee a very tolerable ileHrTiplion of tbeae Meaouteze, bat does not eiplain tho meaning of their name, for which his English translator reproves him, and telts his reader that Meaoutace means the ofTspiing of cats.
In
I, and had better have left his leader (o grope in the dark as Du Halde did. than n mislead him. The word Metnu denotes a plant springing from the earth \ to bud forth ; and perhaps, in its connection with theae niounlaTneers, the term maj denolo. that they are the abo- rigines, the natives of the soil.
RoiBEKT. The imperial stores at Peking have been robbed of 323 cases of vermilion, weighing Il,(l90catlie8. A Btricl inquiry is instituted.
RrnaeMiNT or Kara Statebhen. ChinJii.lin, President of the Crimi- nnt Tribunal being aged and infirm, is commanded by the Emperor to retire. He is permitted to carry with him his original rank.
This person once begved his bread in the straets of Canton. He had an eslrly educktion and inherited ■ good patrimony, which be squan- dered in vicious conrses, and reduced himself to the aetual want of food ; for his friends forsook him in the day of his comity. The msnager of a band of play-actors took a ntncy to bis appeanuiCB, and wished him to appear on ^e stage. He declined this, but became an aamatant lo the ma-
in Canton province, the iceEie of his early debauchery and disgrace,
be afterwards appeued as criminii judfe, and tlien as fooyuen. He afterwards became the governor of the two 'Lake pravinoes,' i. e. Hoopih and Hoonan. And eventually he settled down in Peking as a president of the Hanlin jueu.
Our native correspondent remarks that Chin Jfl-lln. in the course of hb life, has eiperienced the viciasitndet of bitlerneas and joy. In this worid ge- nerally, when a man's destinies have run their round, he ought to perform appropriate duties, and leave the reet to tho decree of Heaven. Whether ■ man have adversity or prosperity does not depend on his owpsohemea. It is not by force that he can gel rid of ad-
raity; ;
by
n prosperity. So moralizes our heatheW tond. He refeiB all to a mysterious c4tne ; the revolution of evenla, a
the mercy and gnce of the Father ta
the Universe, are ideas which hCTs no piaoe in his mind.
. Another aged miniater. Snn Urh. ehun, for several ymm governor of Fuhkeftn and Ch^keSng, has also ro, tired, on account of illness. Having been very successful in qnelling in. BUtreetiona on the island of Formoaa,' His Majesty, after some hesilatiiHi, has allowed him to retire, with nry high honors. — He is since dead, and additional poathumooi titles htT« bean conferred.
May with. As the reports, respecing the insm^nts, eontinne unfavor. able lo (he Oovemment party, it is eipeoted that Kovemor Le will soon I^iair lo the seat of war in command of a bod; of 9000 men, who hftve already been ordered to proceed thither.
The continuancH of this war is considered very injurious to the inland trade of Canton, as it hinders all business between this city and the chants of Siechnen, Yunnan, and Kweichow.
Arrival of new o^tcsr*. The new poochingsie, Kuh-hang, and foo.tootung, or lieut.-goneral of the TaKai troops, Vnhwan, lately arrived to take possession of their new offices. The arrind of ¥»■( Cmnlb), " new anohisM is daily expected. , . Gl.)twle
d the I I, the t
CHIN ESBREPOSI TORY.
Vol. I. — Canton, Jche, 1832. — No. 2.
Ta TstHg Wan-ne'en Yih-tutig Kmn-mei Yu4o0f~-^^A general ^eogn^hical map, with degrtei of ialibido aad laagUude, of the Empire of the Ta Tting Dyn^n — may it Uut for ever." By Lb Mingchb T^i»ei.AB.
Thb vast dominiojis of Ihe MaDtchou<Chinesei comprisiDg many kingdoms, rormerly distinct and independeqt, wbico, long ere Europe had eaierged from Itie darkness and ignorance m the tiiiddle ages, were far advanced in civilization and the. arts, present a wide field fur the researcbea of .tba geographer, the virluoBo, or the grammiiriBti. It is in the first of those cjharac- ters, tbnt we will now endeavor to trace, on the inap,befor~ us, Ihe boundtiries and divisions of this great and: most ancic"® empire. Tliajiks (o tbe labots of the Catholic raiaaianarit!^^ wbo preceded us, at a time when more liberty was grants ll^ 'the "sons of the Westetn Ocea;i," and to whom the Chinese' are indebted for whatever syatemalic knowledge of geography they^poBsesB, our task is comparatively easy. Jn the present confined silaation of foreigners in China,, we can be eisp '•.lid lo add but little to the geugrapiiical information already within reach of the scholarsof Kuropoand America. Our object is sim- ply to place in the hands of our readers, in an Raglieh dress, that knowledge which now lies amosi cencealed, in the .ponderous ft^ioe and quartos of France, or in the multitudinous volumes of bare compilation)' to which' the present talent of Chinu is confined.
Le MingchS, more generally called Lo Tsinglap,' author of the map of which the title is given at the head of this article, is a priest of the Taoti sent,' and a native of Canton, ffit astronomicar and geographical studies were prosecuted for some 'veirs,' we have understood, under an E iropoan residing in the intoriof of Ghin;i; an-J the fruit of titeui' hatt been given tolhf
ji-vGooglc
34 Posiegtions of the June,
world in a treatise on these acieaces, first published ia 1830, in three volumes, which have been since increased to five. He was also, we believe, chiefly employed in compiling the maps fo^ the KWrii^r^ Tlitig Cft^ lit geaeM SlariAiMl Account uf KwangluDJ; province,— a targe and volumrnoua workj ^ich, was published in 1822, under the direction of Yuen Yuen, formerly many years governor of Canton, and a patron of our author. I^ Tsinglae, who, from hix works, appears to possess considera- ble taleOI, flh4_ft mhid' superior to Ibe genemlity of hia country- men, is now residing in k sequestered country ^ace, a few miles from Canton.
The map before us was published, we think, in 1825 or 1826. It evinces, by the roufjh mnnner in which it is drawn up, the very partial advances made by the Chinese in the art of chorography. All thai they know of the suhject has been de- rived, indeed, from the Catholic missionaries ; but they have followed ,lhe instfuctions of their barbarian leichera, only so fir aa tlfey themselves tftbOght proper. They have been taugh): ^y them the nftctrine tX the earth'^ gtdbular ftirm ; the conse. qabtit system of 9t>hKnctt) prejeciionj the use ef latitude and longitude, in order to ascertain the exact situatioa df places ; knd the method of lindii^ the same by observation and calculation. l^«se IniVe -beett adr^yted by the ChineAe, and with very great .^dV&iitftg«. But devoid of all neatness of execution, their maps (lie^'t ti Mugh, linfinished appennince; the ooaets are badlj described, and afTord no guide to thu navigator; islands are ierowded t<%ethef,-— ^ lai^ number beitag roughly suppKed by l4]Ut^i%e <*r four, of a bite whdily dispfoportionato In their f^aVfetleiitj— or tht(y Ate entirely omit1«dw Very little regard is ''Hid t^ th« relative difltances of places, so that a town, ntaate4 ,n thtt bank of a river, may be placed, on paper, at a distaoa , irom it of several mileft. And the coarscs of nvers, how«ve« stnall they rftay actually be, ate invariably descried by two lines, at sortie distant^ fi'om each oTlier, thereby si orowdiB|g the map, as to leave little room for names of (^sces, which in Chinese characters occupy considerable space. Yet, sotwith^ standing all these disadvantages, the map before us is of value, inkSinucIi as it affords a very complete cutline of th« Chinese bm[)ire, on a lar^ scale \ and as a native woi4(, is inferior only to a valbable MS. atlas, ccfntained iti th» Chinese hbruiy of tho HoAorelble Company, at Cantoin. The explanatcnry uad descrip- tive observations, which fill up the onoccupied uoniera, areiwefuk, end serve to enable the inquirer more readily to trace the aeveoail dfvinioiis nf the empire.
The present possessions of China', e>r of Ihe Maatch«u>Chinesfe tlyhasty, fkr exceed the extent of the eAipire nndnr aby pievioua ffeigh. From the outer Hing-an lin^, ar Daourian HuantMns, on the horth of Mnnlchou, to the souihern iwint of the island i>f Hainan, the greatest breadth is ah.>iit fttrly degrees. And the
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1?;
.1833, refgnitig CHmfi 4jf^'ty- 3&
HUftfot lepgtti, from the wintry i*H»(l (if jS***"*'*". W *^ ?*■ P'< lo the mapt wu^dtcrn bend of ;llie Belur jchain, in Turjiestan, jjB abput ^venty.seven d^rgeo.' Thfis? poattjoiifl, occiipyin^ su Jarge a porlion of Asia, and in ^len4 inferior only tQ Che vast dofniuiona of Rusaiq, uuy Ik ^aa$eiJ pnder Ihree prii]Qi|)al dU visipns, yjz.;
I. China Proper) or the etopire qs it existed under th« .Hfing dynasty, which ruled in GJiiaa from 136S, until Ihe Mi^n^choii conquest, in 1644.
1L M^ntchou, or, ai it has been Jaf intzedi Alauatcho^ria. the .native counlry of the reigning dynasty ; antj
III- The Colonial posse«sioQii of China, in Mongolia, Sout)-
f;atiai aod East Turkestan, lo which may be added Tibef, and Ite seveul tribes bordering on Szecbuen and Kansitl). Cmv/L Phopbr is the largest, and in every ;^spect the most important of these three division^- Jt" Bams China, used anioiig foreigners, aeems derived from T*ia, the name hpriie by tbe fir^^t .dyxmely that obtained universal dosiitiiun over the various Iting. doroa of which Chine, waa formerly composed. It was, prohably, when Tuagking, Cocbiecbina, a^ the neighboring countries wei;e subdued, and forcibly coloaizett, by the arms of thi^ dytiasty, that the iiaioe was spread throughout the Indo-Chinese oatioris, ai^l tlience found its way over Jijdia and Persia, to the countries of the went, Tbi$ a upposi I ion, .respecting the deriyaljonof .the nan^e China, is rendered more probaWe, from the fact that, while, from time immemorial, the country has been cjiHed Chung JCwp, 'the Middle Country,' it haa also received, under eapb ei^cceedihg age, (he name of the dynasty then /eigQing. And, thouch amons tLe Chinese the name of Tsin lias not, like the more glorious and less tainted names of Han and Tang, been adoptedby the people as their own perpetual deaignalipn ; ye(, having once obtained circulation among th,e sUrroundiog countries by t|^e sjilendid victories of its founder, it would not with them be ;<> readily lost as in China.
China is situated belweeeu IS .and $1' degrees N. 1^., and he. tweeo about 9^ and !23 degrees Ion. E- from' Greenwich, Its es. timated extent ia about 1^398,000 eqiiare miles, while the eatimate for the whole empire is 3,010,400, .or something more than the total extent of Europe. The nortl^ern boundary of Chitja js tSe Great Wujl, by which it is s^arated, on that side fro;^ the desert lands of the Mongol tribes, apd from .'he scarcely l^ss dreary oouiitry of Ahe .M^ntchous ; on the east, the ^ulf of Pe- clielee, (called in Chipese Puh.hae), the Eastern ocean, aiid the .Formosa channel, wash the rocky coast, and receive the nraiers of several Inrgp rivers,; on the south, the bhinn sea is thickly studded with birran .islands, Ihe j%s(>rt of desperate pirates; agd Oii the went, several' barbarous frontier tribes stand between Ibe .aiioitnl empires of China and TilVi; while the southwestern
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'56 Pouetsiotu of the Jone,
provinces are conterminoua with the foreign kingdoms of Ton- qiiin, Cochinchinh, Burniahi and the half-conquered Lsos.
Divuiont. The whole country is divided into eighteen pro- vinces, which are usually sranged by the Chinese in the follax- ing order :— Chihie, Shantung, Shanse, and Honan, on the norlli; Keiingsoo, Ganhwuy Keangse, Chekeang, and Fuhkeen, on the east; Hoopih and Hoonan, in the middle; ShenBe, Kansuh, and Szechuen on the weat ; and Kwangtung, Kwangse, Yunnan, iind Kweichow, on the south. Of the above provinces, Kcangauo end Ganhwuy were formerly united under the' name of Keang- nan ; Hoopih and Hoonan were together denominated Hou- kwang; and Kansnh formed part of the province Shense. Un- der the present dynasty, these haVo been separated. Other pro- vinces have been greatly increased in extent . — Kansuh has been made to siretch far out, beyond the limits of Chinft proper,— across the desert of Cobi, to the confines of Soungaria, on the N. W., and to the borders of Tibet, on the west; Szechuen, aj. ready the largest province of the empire; has extended lis govern- ment over the tribes commonly called SJfan and Turfan, lying between that province and Tibet'; and Fuhkeen has long in- cluded within ils boundaries part of (he fertile island of Formosn. These and other changes in the divisions of the country, accom- panied by the active, emigrating spirit of the people, which in a few years rendars those newly attached colonies wholly Chinese, must soon require a change of the European designation and limits of "China Proper-"
Tlie Coast of China is in general bluff and rocky ; the chief exception being the southern part of Chihie, which, on the other haod, presents to the eye an almost unvaried sandy flal, Teenlsin foo, on the Pih ho, or White river, is the only part of this province, and is inacessible to vessels of heavy burden. L'ghter usaels can enter the river, oi?ly hy being towed over the sands which lie at its mouth. — The promontory of Shantung is equallyiitaccessible,, from its ruggedness. It possesses but ■ few. good harbors, and many Chinese junks are annually dashed to pieces oil its shores, — Keiingsoo is easy of approach: but ihough the two largest rivers of China, the Yellow river, and the Yangtaze keang, both disembogue themselves Into the eea within its confines, yet it possesses but one good port, which is Shanghae been, near the frontiers of Chekeang. For, the Yellow river. In its rapid progress lo the sea, carries along with it large quantities of sand and clay, which being lodged at a short distance from its mouth, fornfa one of the worst dangers that coasting junks have to pass betwen Atnoy and Teentsin. And the Yangtsze keang, stopped in its more gradual passage by rocks and islands which almost block up its entrance, creates, by the accumulation of snnd, a bar insurmountable eveD to ves. sels of small burden. — The consts of Chekeang and Fuhkeen \
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1833. reigning Chitute Dyna$tt/. 37
broken into numerous capes and proitiontories, and evcrywhera initented by bays and rivere, are throughout very rocky, with few sands or flats. The Cbusan (or Chowshan) Archipelago, near the northern extremity of Chekeangi in extensive, uccupying $l space of nearly 30 miles, and poMeaaing many safe anchorages. The Formosa chaonnl) between the mainland oT Fuhkeen and the island of Taevan or Formosa, is dangerous and difRcult of navigation.. The western coast of that island is surrounded with rocks and quicksands, which render its fine harbors almost useless, except to juoks of very smnll tonnage. ' The eastern parts, which a-^ still possessed by the uncivilized abo- rigines, are in comeqnence little known.—Tiia dangers of the Canton coast consist rajher in sands and flats, than in rocks ; though the rugged islands which appear along its whole breadth are numerous. There are many good anchorages for small vessels, and several safe harbors; but the island of Hainiin, near the southwestern extremity of the province, is surrounded lifee Formosa, by many dangers, buih from rocks and sands. The narrow strait which separates Hainan from the mainland is, probably, the place called by the Mohammedans of the 8lh and 91h centuries, ' the Gates of China.'
Ricers. It is the glory of the Chinese that their counlry is rich- ly watered, and that, by means of rivers, lakes, and canals, com. municafioo is rendered easy between all its provinces. Of all subjects of geography, whatever relatrs to the rivers of the ' country, they consider as the most inieresling, and consequenllv give it the greatest attention. Yet, fur a very long period the source of the Yellow river remained unknown to tticm, and com. parativety modern Chinese writers have declared it iin(>ossible to ascertain its real origin. The Hwang ho, or Yellow river, is the ■ most celebra'ed river of China, though in extent it is infurior to the YanglBze keang. It rises in the Singsuh hap, tir sea of Stars, in the Mongol district of Koko-nor, which lies between Tibet and the province of Knnsuh. Thence, il touches Szechuen, on its progress to Kansnh, through which it passes in a northeast direc- tion to Shense. In Shense it takes a course more directly north, artd passes out into the territories of the Ortous Mongols. But i.aving approached the limits of the desert of Cobi, it returns in a southerly direction, and forms a boundary between the pro. vinces of Shenw and Shanse, till it reaches nearly the latitude of its source. It then turns eastward, and passes through Ho> nan. Shantung, and Keangsod, to the sen, which it reaches after a course of about 2000 miles.
The Yanglsze keang, or " Child of the Ocean," which Eu.
ropeans have erroneously denominated the Kian-ku and the Bide
river, is o'herwise called by the Chinese Ta-keang, flie Great
' river. It rises in Tsing bne or Koko-nor, some d*^reea bc-
S yond the source of the Yellow river, which it passes, within
-J the distance of 30 miles, on its way towards Szechuen. It
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$8 Potbfsttew of ike Jure,
u here cttlkrl the Muhlnosootbul sooa ttfUr entering Szecbuen. il tnlcea ttte name of Kin-slia, ' golden -sanded,' whicb it bean in Its pnseage southward through Yunpnn, and again norlh Ihrougti those parts of Szechuen which raa Inhabited by snb. dued Meaoutsze; It afterwards takes the well-kiwwQ names «r Great river aad yunglH7« kuang, wbic]) it retaina in ils mt- Jeslicnlly rapid and serpentine course, through Szechuen, Uon- pih, the northern extremity of Kejingse, Ganhwny, and Keang- £00. to (he sea. This river, from its almost canrral course and (be number of provinces though which it passes, has been .termed 'tlie girdle of China,' and baa given riw to the common expressions north cS the river, sooth of the riveri aad beyoul tb0
The river next in size to tbe Hwang ho and Yongtsze keangi is the Se kea.ng or Western river, which rises in the jnoitntains of .Yuniian, and passing under various names through that proviiu^e and liie adjoining one of Kwangse, enters Kwangtung, where it unites with the Pib keang, or NorL)iem river, and with a minor stream, at Smshwuy, or 'ttie Tbr'-i streams,' a liUle (o the w<at .of Canton. A great number of small rivers and channels (hen carry its waters to the sea. — The Pih bo, nr Pei ho, in Chihle province, is a river of some importance. ~^The Meinuni koin, or .river of Camboja, and the Salween w Maraban river, both vf nhich pass through China, are also worthy of mention. The former of these rises in Koko-nor, not far from the source of the Yellow river, and passes under the names of Sa-tsoo and Las- Isang, through Yunnan, into fhe country <^ the Laos, where it receives the oante of Kew.Iung. Thence it flows through Cam- boja, to tbe sea, at Hilho. The Salween rises likewise in Koko-niir, and imsses under the namps of Noo snd Loo throng the province of Yuonon, whence it enters Burinah, and forms the boundary between that country and the Laos tribes, in its progress lu the sea at Martahan. .
Kven -among the tributaries of the two great rivers of Chins, , many rivers may be found of cansiderahle length, and soqe > scarcely inferior to the largest rivers of Kuropc. At the hefd ^^ of these are the Han.sliwuy, which, rising in the mountain "^'^ belwoen Shense and Kassuh, empties itself irkto tbe YangjtsEe 'w
.kciing at Hanyang Cmj, in Hoopib.— land the Yalung keang, f"*
. which rises im Kokc-nor', and after running for some time neariy *e pnrajlel with the Yangtsze kcAng, empties itself into that Tiv,ei '<!i
. on the borders of Szechuen and Kansuh. Many olbers-t^ miutx ^rt importance might be enumerated ; but we -leave tbem to hs inu^^i troduced in- a more parttcuhr doscriptioD of the several provinc(!a'g<
"of China. . V
yAe Grand Canal,in Chinese Yun ho,,or >the TF^nait jiVerl
, is of much more importance to the inkiiiiJ trade then tsitbej'
■The Ivl of IhoM BiprcMtonB in very cimmonly aiijiUcd tn nortli-Muiilt^a'^ "meti, but the other two arc not uow oflen huard. ,^
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1832. reigning Chinese dynasty. 39
or the two great rivers of China.* It is cut throii<rh that vast plain, which extends from Peking^ over the southern djstricis of ChihlC) part of Shantung, and ihe whole breadtli ofKeangtoo, to Hangchow foo, in Chekcang. This stupendous canal, which was dug hy command of one of (he emfwror* of the Mongol dyonaty (Yuen), at the close of the 13th, or com- fflGDcement of the 14th century, joins together the rivera Hwang ho and Tangtsze keang, at n point near iheir mouths at v hich they are not above 100 miles ai>art. It does not, as seern't implied in the description given of it by Urosier, and after biiii by Halte-Srun, extend from Peking tn Canton; being bnt a pwtioii of the almost wholly unintermpted eommunicnlion, which uisis between those two places. Were it not that Ihe Yang- isze kejing and t1ie Che keang meet other streams in the pro- tince of Keiingse which conduct to the borders of Kwangtung, Ihe works of commiinication would be but half completed by the Grand Canal; which could not haVe heen cut with the same ease through the hilly icgions of Chekeang, K<-ar)gse, and Kvrangtung, as through the marshy plains of Keangsoo, or the sandy flats of Chihie. There are many other mjoor cnnalti throughout the empire, bat none of them are of any considerable
7%£ Lakes of China are chiefly found in the central and eaalem provihces, — along Ihe mnji'stjc course of the Yangtsze kei^g, or spread over the level country of Keangsoo. The fer"^: of these lakes are the TUng.ting hoo, the Po.yang hon, th('"9?'a6 hoo, and the Hungtsih hoo. The Tungting hoo, in^'Vinan, is said to be 220 miles in circumference. It re: j/*^^ waters of several southern rivers, which, rising in Kir'^?|g and Kweichow, find their way throtigh this lake to Hif'S^.figtsiM keang. From the eastern side of the Tung.fing ^tT "»^ "'^ of Woochnng foo, over an area of about 200. af^ catrt and west, by 80 north and south, the course of the liingtsze keang ties between a great nnmber of lakes almost l^uching one another ; which circumstance gives to the province^
iloo|)iih and Hoonan their names, meaning north and south of the [kes. — ^The Poyang, in Keangse, is of less extent; but, ke the Tung-ting it receives four large rivers, and discharges leir waters into the Yangtsze heang. The tides reach artially to this lake, though above 300 miles distant from the m, and it is subject to severe tempests, which render Its i»'. igation dangerous. The scenery or the surrounding country s pleasing and rontantic, the favorite seat of the Chinese
* The Ydlow ilvei, ahioh b; ita frequent inunditions appears (o be nore. ii^iDEiatis thin nsefal Is ihc cuimlty. mnnnt, in ooniequencc af its very apid oounej ite nt >11 lUKigdad ; and uvea to cnMs from one aide of it
r>thBr, n freqiuntlir Attended with difltcully and duiker. On tliB Yailg-
,0 hflfing, traje i* .tat more pmoticahte, and ia carried on to conitldcEai:^
■ ■ " ' "ter tlf
tttong and prolraeted ebb tides with abort Soods, leader tt^ ,avigaliuii of it also difficulL
40 Posseitiont of the June,
poetic muse. — The Tae hoo, thougfa it is also cnnnected with the Yangtaze keang, docs not, like the two preceding lakes, discharge its waters into that river ; on the cootrary, it seems probable that the lake is chieHy supplied by the river, in its ap- proach (owarils the sea. It is aitualed in the beautiful and well-watered plain which lies between the cities of Soochow Too in KeiLng^oo, and Hangchiiw Too in Chekeang, — a district considered by the Chineae as a perfect terrestrial oaradise. The borders of the lake are skirted by very romantic scenery of hill and dale, and the broad expanse of water is broken by several hilly islets. — The Hung-tsih hoo, in Keangsoo, is greatly in- ferior in beauiy of scenery to the oilier lakes. It receivtstbe waters of the Hwae river before enlering . the liwang bo; and is closely connected with bo many lakes of smaller size, as lo render the surrounding country ths moat marshy district in tlie empire. The situation is near the junction of the Grand canal and Yellow river, a pl.'Hie of considerable importance, owing both to its being a great thoroughfare, and lo the large quantities of salt that are obtained from the neighboring marshes. — Besides these four principal lakes, there are also several large lakes in Chihie, Shantung, and Ganhwuy ; and one or two of considerable extent in Yunnan.
Mountains. Cliina is generally speaking a mountainous couttry. The only very Hat provinces are Chihie, Keangsoo, and palt of Ganhwuy. Chihie is low and sandy ; .Keangsoo is almost an ej^ire plain, intersected in every direction by rivers, lakes and <p;io!8; and Ganhwuy has but few mountains. The province of if Ca^ig- se is adorned with many beautiful vallies. ^Kse
fn China there are two principal chains of mountkioG -firoib in the S. E. the other in the N. W.— The southeastern rS^fofet tends in broken chains over the provinces of Yunnan and ]f> vei- chow ; thence it stretches eastward, separating the provind .of Kwangse and Kwangtung (or Canton) on the south, from, of Keangse and Hoonan, on the norib. Frcm Kwangtu'u^ chain takes a northeastern direction, through Fuhkcen and p: .of Chekeang, in the latter of which it terminates.* This r is difficult of access ; and frequently surrounds elevated comparatively level tracts of land, occupied, from lime niorialf by an uncivilized but independent race of men, kno' tinder the general name of Meaoutsze. These, people ha tlteir chief seats between Kwangse and Kweichow. Some at^V^ scaltereft over those two provinces, as well as over Yunnan an^ .),
* Halls-Bnui, whoae variety u( collected matter reapectitig China w have found verf uaef ul, . blended also with a large por.lion of errort says that this chain in called the Igiingian and Mangi, tliq name of (outhenl China'. The Woid* here meant, we supinse to be JVon-e, southern bar 'barians, a term which rniglit hive been rtill mmetimcB nied bj tbe proor Moneola in the lime of Marco Polo (who firat ipoke oftho Manj) ; bu which has been long since disused in this country, and applieii only loth'' hthabitania of the tndim Archipelago.
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1832,
reigning Chinese Dynatiy.
41
S<echuBn ; where they live penceahly, under the gDvernment of Iheir own officers, subject to the control of the Chinese, Others range at hberty their native mountcins, governed 1:^ princes, who are either of tbnir own choosing, or are hereditary among thiicn. OF the Intter class is the Iribo called Yaou^in, occupying the hills between Kwanglung, Kwaogw, and Hoon&iii wbich hns lately joined with lecrut associations of OliineM, to attack the stirroundiDg coinlry, aud aim at the imperial throne. The king of this trihe is named Le Tihming, und is now a mare youth, under 20 years of age.
Tlie moualainous range in the northwesi, Malte-Brun supposes to consist, not so much of regular chains, as of a succession of terraces or tahle-lands. These mountains first ap|>ear in Sze. chuen, whence they extend, in irreguleir ranges, over great part oT tits provinces of Kansuh and Shense, both an tht! north and wwtfi of the YoIIqw river. In Shense the chain divides; and e tvanch occupies the extensive plateau formed hy the great kherti bend of the Yell.iw river ; while the other atretches eastjvard into H man, till it again meets that river, after its southward fron Mongolia. Tho chain being here more nl less elevated than in the other provinces, no ob- I is presented to the progress of that great river towards the ' ut on the north of il, the chain assumes a more regular ince ; a.od running up between the province of Shanse :i>hle, is m:it at its termination by a portion of the Great There iha considerable hreak between this part of tite and wlt.it is considered as the continuation of it in X^olia.
hf the soiifheastern range of mountains, the Mailing, cele.
Ited for the road cut over it, between the provinces of Kwang-
Kg and Kaaugse, has alone been examined by Europeans.
l prevailing rock* appear to be gneiss and quartz. The
ftsterii parte of tho China, in Kwangse, Yunnan,' and Kw«i-
:e, probably, richer in minerals than any other portion of
They possess gold, silver, iron, tin, and copper mines,
V irainy \iat»i ; also cornelians, jatiper, riiliies, arid beautiful
krb|m in Yunnan. Gotd and aiiver exist, likewise, to soow
Kent, ill SzSchuen, Kwangtung, and Keikngse ; and to a smaller
Bt«nt in Hoo'pih and Fiihkeen, Iron and lead are found more
I less in ali tbe soulheru proviooes. Mercury is obtained, chief.
n Szeehii^n a.nd Kweichow. And thnre are a few ci>al-minea
mgtung, — The mountains of the north appear to be leas
il))undant in minerals ; but iron and tin ace obtained to a small
■mount in moat provinces. The yuh stone or jade ia found in
fliense, StiaDB, and Honan; the cotoeUuu in Ci)thle. There
3 marble qutm-ies, in Ganbwny, Shnntung, and Shame ; and
fihere are estelish'e coal pits, in the sninhern portion of Chihip,
Shanse, and also, to a very limited extent, in Shantting^
and HoHwi.
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42 Mohammedans in China. Jvne,
We have (hiis given a alight sketch of ' the. Middle Counlry,' nr whnt ia cmnmonly called China Proper. We shnll netl proceed to describe Mnnlchoiiria ; and afterwards the coloninl possessions of China. If we are found frequently (o differ frcan aiore able geographers, it must be remembered that the subjccl is little known even to the best, in formed Europeans ; and that we have therefore followed Chinese in preference to foreign iiulhorities.
(Til be concluded in the next number.)
Ancient account of India and China, by Svo Mohanrnedaa triwelera, who went to those parts in the 9lh century ; trdnt- lated from the Arabic bif the late learned Eusebius Rt0i' AiTonr. Wuh note*, illustrations, and ingairies by the sfht hand. London, printed for Sam. Il.irding. kdccxuciii. ^
(Continued /ram pege 15.) Wr have already alluded (o the papers appended work under review; one of these is an ittijuiry into the 1 when the Mohammedims first came to China ; another, ia I ccrning the Jewx, nnd a third is coneernin;^ the origin ofV Christian religion, in this country. We shall briefly notice i of these topics, which may bo again in troiiuced and future numbers of this work. Referring then to the qiiestic*' At what litnp, and in what way drd the Mohammedans firstC China J — we quote from Renaudot :
" It is thu belief of mmy that Iha Mohammed am went by land, an<l tliut xhe, track pureued liy BDme modern tnvelen, ot: Id p<Miit out lo U9 the road the anclenti may have taken. Marco Polo. tbey. weal into China by the way of Tartary ; Handeville almoxl troi hia very footalepa ; Jengliix khan, the Grat emperor of the Moguls, <.. queied a part of t^hina, and marched thereto fruiii the ancient Mogfuliatf or Turkeatan 1 we have a Persian account of an embany from a Tai^ prince to the emperor of China, and Ihia embanador went aln by land ; , the beeiningofthi!! century, Beoet GoGZ,aJe«uil, travelftl also fimn the In'' to Peking ; the fathers Grucber and Orville did. a few years ago, perform Bania journey the Muscovite emba-viecforB do when they go to China, Ihey even ansure us, this route, which is not always the same, is pretty wtll frequented by the caravans of the merchants of upper Asia. These difieroil mates are pricked down in the map of Catbay, published by Kircher i~ ' CAina lUuttrtla.
" All these instances eufEcienlly prove, that wo may go 'o China by lane, and there is no doubt of it ; but the way bold hy a Email number of travelerj does not seem lo prove that, for certain, the rarae was held by the citavBii and merohinla; which ought to havu been the case, for such a number a Mohammedans to get into China that way. For. according to the old melho< n[ traveling in caravans, it was a v^ry hard matter for the merchants c I'ersia and Meaopolamii to go thilher by la:id, unless the track was well fn quented ; and it seems not only certain that it was far from being so, bat al>o,V that it was considered only as a by.way — a ihort cut."
■, Goo»^lc
1833. Mohammedam in China. 43
I'd pill Ihis matter in the clenrest light possible, RiMiaiidot slojitj here to " survey the extent " of the Mohammedan empire, at the time under conaideisiion ; and then says ;
"But Ihis way ly land, whether bj Samarcand, bji Cabul, by Gaznah. i>i bv CiHhgar, was very impraclirable in ttic days of our Arabf, ciclusive of ihe natural inconvenlenceB uf Ihe roads they ivere to travel. All the trade nf the East was Ihun in the hands or Ihe merchaDts of Penia. Bassoia, '
IhoEgyplian trade, atid putljoflhe Mediterranean. They traded lo Iho Indies liy land, in many plaecs, and particularly at Cabul. The pruducts of Arabia, Egypt, Pemia and the adjacent provinces, they exchanged with the nwrchants of Turkestan and the Indies, far musk, precioua stones, crystals, ppices, and drugs; il was alniost impossible for them lo go farther, or to driTs a Irads quite hmne to China, bncaui^e of the desert — a dangerous track; and Klill mote because of the continual wars between the Arabs and the prince* of Turkestan."
)uld occupy too much time to follow Ihe argument through i details; Uie result ia given in these words: — "All that \w It/Itherto been offered, and much mure that might be odded, 9 evidently (o prove, that the Moliatranedans first went to I hy sea. It remains therefore that we examine into the e (hey sloered, the nature of their navigation, the end of lleir/. J voyages, and what advantages they made of them."
•j'S learned translator brings proof positive to show, that Ihe Sifl did not steer by the coinpass : and gives it as his opin- jfthat, at first, they only went to Malabar and Ceylon, but e venturing farther tlian the Romans had been, they, from a isle, at length discovered the shores of China. Their kalifa 9[ endeavored to have poletii fleets ; they could have no temp- make farther discoveries, or new conquests by sea, isult the interest of their trading subjects in foreign Iris. Wherefore, it is very probable that the first adventurers Tho undertook this voynge, were urged thereto by the calamities "I wars, which, having reduced many families lo want, I them to seek a livehhood by trade. 'Hence we may jetty clearly disct-rn how the Mohammedans Hrst get into Jlina; and it suems ihiil they did not force nn admittance as ■ewhere, but, chiefly, insinuated themselves under the pretence
he sum of the whole seems Ic be, that the Mohammedans .
B to China at a very early period of their era, both by sea and
■nd, but chiefly by see, snd alintist solely for Ihe sake of commerce.
We have no means of ascertaining Ihe nurtrber of Moham.
w in China; in Iho westi^rn parts of the empire their
iiiriiber is mnniderahle, and everywhere they live unmolested in
^ of their peculiar rites. E^irly in Ihe last century
ler Wiis " computed at about five hundred ibeusand."
From what is said of the Mohamnifdittis, Jews, Cbrisliaos, liind Pnrsees who perished nt C'infit, Rcnaudot discourses at Blenglb, and gives it as his opinion, that there is a great number of
N Google
44 Mokammedaia in Ckirui. 3vne,
Jews in China, ttnd that tbey got into China aa they did into all other parts of the £aei ; and he mshec Father Ricci or tome other miasionnry had Ukea more pains to investigate the Babjeol, We must have more information, befure anything very satisfactory can be stated respecting the numl>er or situation of the Jews in China, either at present or at any former period.
The most recent testimony which we have on this subject i« contained in Morrison's Joiiraal, written while in the interior of , Chine, from which we give the following passage. "October 10th, 1816. — Had a convesration v/ith a Mohammedan genlleman, who informed me, that at Kaefiing foo, in the province of Honan, . thene are a few faiuili^a denominated the TeaouJcin keaou, or 'the sect that plucks out the sinew,' from all the meal which they eat. They hare a Le-pae szc, or house of worship ; and observe the eighth day ss a Sabbath." .m^
If there are Jews in China, living as a distinct sect, it|wc{ interesting to learn their history ; and it is much to he deeirtC facta may be developed, whicli shall make us acquainted y'\ pi-esent condition of thut scattered people. The subject is w*j of consideration ; for if the casting away of them has bed" riches of the Gentiles, what shall the receiving of them be hid from the dead?
On the origin of the Christian religion in China our transB finds it inconvenient to expatiate ; and the subject, aisv, H compelled to leave quite in the dark. We will give in words what seems to be the result of his inquiries. He dis^T^ the idea that St. Thomas ever vistcd China.
"The first a[>tiemnBe of CbnHtianity in China, that we know vf, j .__ tb« feu of ClitiHt tj3li ; and iJiii la what we gather from an inacriptiin, wliS inlbe year of Christ 1025, was found al Si-gnan fu, Ihii capital of the (j* vince of Chensi. delineated in Chineae eharaelers, with Mvcral lines of Syri Ab IhiB Chinees and Syriac inscription Is a monument of very jrrent iin|i tanoe, and the only oenain thing of the kind hrtherlo difcoTcred in 1 empire, it may not be amiaa to explain (he principal , _
You have I repreaenlBtive copy of this Inacripliou and stone lo Fatt'jS Kircher's China Itliistrata, which he assures us la verj cisct; and Hnr ~ and some other Proteslanls, who would have had it a forgery, without llie leart ground, have been refuted by some of their own brethren, who ha^ cooler hrads, and mure understanding.'' :l
'Let us now examine the Chinese part of this inscrlptii^ accmding to the translation of some learnad - Jesuits. The tirsi column lays down the groundwork of the Christian faith,— I the existence of u Godhead in three persona, the Creator of all thingsA It is remarkable Ihitt llirso Syrians use the word Aloho (Jeho-I vah); which they did most certainly, because ihey could find no word in the Chinese tongue, to convey the idea Christiana have of (he true God.
' The second and third columns continue to explain the mys. tery of the creation, the fall of the first man by the seduction of the Devil, who is culled Sutan, a name quite foreign to the I
ji-vGoogle
1832. Gutzlaf't Journal. 45
Cbinese tongue. The fourth explains the advent of Jesus Christ by his iDcarnation. In the same column is the word Tafm, wbich must here signify Judtea ; nnd tliere is also H ref«renoe to the star in the east. Mention is aJKn mnde iif baptism, and of sevemi ceremonies practiced by the Christians. In the aequnl of this inscription, (here is reference to the preaching of the gosp«1 in China ; and it is said that in the time of Taizan-ven, a holy man called Olopuen or Li^iien, came hither from Tai;in, conducted by the blue clouds, and ()y rfaerving the courxe of the winds.'
Here we close our extnicls finm Renaudot ; and with one or
two remarks must leave the suliject, uur limits not allowini; tin
I" say more. These Syrians seem to have been of the sect of Iha
Nestorians ; and, entering the "country in the acvenlh century,
to have continued a BuccessioTj of laiiora for three or fo'n-
ill hundred years ; but to make this matter perfectly satisfactory,
it mucJi Tfifite ample testimony is needed. As a tojiic of ecclesias.
, bl Ileal Wstory, this euliject opens a wide range, arid invites the
I » utleirfion of those who are interested in such inquiries.
I* r
u
L i JfA-nal of a residence in Siam, and of a voyage I * ^lovg the coast of China to Mantchou l^artarg, ■" by the Rev. Charlks Gutzi.aff.
\K
___ the capacity ^T'™^ >°" p°«' ^5> . contact with the Laos or Ghana, a naiiuii scarcely, i.^ town to Europeans. I learnt their language, which if ■ very similar to Siamese, tbotigh the written cha- jActer, used in their common as well as sacred IMuks, differs from that of the Siamese. This nation, >niqBhich occupies a great part of the eastern peninsula, 'sjom the northern frontiers of Siam, along Oambo- :^m and Cochinchina on the one side, and Burnaah iif'Cn the other, np to the borders of China and Ton-, 'I jLin, is divided by the Laos into Lau-pung-kau *l white Laos), and Lau-pung-dam (black or dftrk- fl »os), owing partly to the color of their skiu-r .^yiiese people inhabit ntoatly mountainous regions;, .Cultivate the ground, or hunt; and live under the llt'ovefomeirtofmaiiy petty princes, who are dopend-
n,gN..(jNGoogIe
II
iSL
4ll Gutzlaff's JourntU ; hm,
ant on Siarn, Burmah, Cochiiichina, and China. Though tlieir country abounds in many preciousar- tiflea, and among them, a considerable quantitj' of gold, yet the people aru poor, and live even aion. wretchedly thnn the Siamese, with the exception of those who are under the jurisdiction of the Chinese. Though they have a national literature, th^y are not vr;ry anxious to atudy it ; nor does it afford them a fountain of knowledge. Their best books are re- lations of the common occurrences of life, in prose; or abject tales of giants and fairies. Their religious books in the Pali language are very little under^ stood by thi;ir priests, who differ from i\ib Siame|M priests only in tlieir stupidity. Although tl)liw(^)i>' try may be considered as the cradle of Bit«|i in these purls, because most of the vestiges CqA Nakodum, apparently the first missionary of ism, are to meet wiih in their precincts; yet' temples built in honor of Budha, are by no mt equal to those in Hitim, nor are the Laos as suj stitious as their neighbors. Their language ia soft and melodious, and sufficiently capaci express their ideas.
The Laos are dirty in their* habits, sportful their temper, careless in their actions, and lovei of music and dancing in their diversions. TJ>ei| organ, made of reeds, in a i>eculiar manner, among tlie sweetest instruments to be met with Asia. Under the hand of an European master, would become one of the tno9t perfect indti'iimeni in existence. Erery ocrble maintains it number ( dancing boys, wbo amuse their masters with tlit most awkward gestures, while miiaic i^ pla.yitig it accordance with their twistinga and turmA^<
The southern diatricls carry on a very brisk; tradj with S'iam, whitber the nstiTea come .in long, nai row boats, covered with graBs ; importing the pn ducticKis of their own cotin'Cy, ancb aa i^vory, gold, tigei skins, aromatics, tSLcJ; and expdrdnkg Europeajn ^nt Indian manufactures, anc) soow arUdes of Stiainese
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183^ Jtesidencein Siam. ^ ^
industry. The trade gave rise, io 1827, to a war witli the Siamese, who Used 'ev6ry stratagem to op-' preas the subjects of ohe of the Laos tributary chiefs, Chow-vin-chan. ' This prince, who was forJ
,, merly so high in favor with the late king of Siam, as to be received, at his last Visit, in a gilded boat, and to be carried in a gilded sedan chair, found the exorbitant exactions of the Siamese governor on the frontier, injurious to the trade of his subjects and to his own revenues. He appifed repeatedly, to the court ?t Bangkok for redress: and being unsuccessful, he then addressed the governor him.
u snlf : but no attention was paid to his gfievances-
1 He finally had recourse to arms, to. piinish the go- I vernor, without any intention of wdging war with .the king, an event for which he was wholly un-
i. prepared. His "rising, however; transfused so ge- ^neral a panic among the Siamese, that they very
2 soon .marched en masse against him, and met with Vimrnediate suiircess. From timt. moment the country jbecarne . the scene of ,l?lopd,shed and devastation. [Paya:rneh-tap, <the"; Siamese com'mander-iii-'chief, B;iot.only endeavored to, enrich himsplfwithifiiraensd T spoils, but committed tTie most horrible actsof cruely', , '■butchering all, without regard to sex or dge. And .■"whenever this was, found top tedious, hb " shut up '^.a'nunober of Victims together, and.thea either set
fire to thehouse, or blew it up with gUnpowdfer. , TliA
■niinaber of captives (generally country people); was
very great. They were brought dpwn'theMfiinanibrt
rafts ; and were so short of provision',' that'thfethAJOf
part died froni 'starvation :the remairider were'distri-
buted, among the nobles as slaves, 'and were treated
iBora inhumanly .tiiatt the most'inveterale'ebeni'iesi
while miny nf thR f^ir sex' w^re placed. In (he'li^-
' rffims of the kjng and hisnobles..' ' ■ ^ . ■ -■
' Forsaken by airhiasubjecta.'Cfhow-viti-diah fted
rfith his family to one of the 'nSiCThbttriBg Lartfe
(-Vjififi; in the meantime, th^ Cochirichiiie^e senl'an
('Jivoy to interpose wUh the Siatnfise c6'mlnaiide^4n-
*■'' n,gN..(jNGoogIe
SET Outztaj^ 9 Journal : June,
ctiief 6a his behalf, he envoy was treacherously ipurdered by the, Siamese, together with his whole retinue, consisting of 100 men, of whom one only was sobered to return to give an account of the tragedy. Enraged at this breach of the taw of ua- lions, but feeling themselves too weak to revenge cruelty by cruelty, the Cochinchinese then sent an ambassador to Bangkok, demanding that tlie author of the murder should be delivered up; and, at the same time, cleclaring Cochinchina the mother of the Laos people, while to Biam was given the title of father. Nothing could be more conciliatory than the |letter addressed on the occasion, to the king of Siam ; but th;3 latter refusing to give any decisive answer to this and other messages repeat- ediy sent to him, himself dispatched a wily poli- tician to Hu6, who, however, was plainly refused fidmittance, and given to understand that the kings ofSjamand Cochinchina ceased henceforth to be friends. The king of Siam, who was rather intimi- dated by such a blunt reply, ordered his principal gobies and Chinese subjects to build some hundred war boats, after the model made by the governor ofLigore.
But, whilst these war boats, or as they might be more appropriately called pleasure boats, were Tjuilding, Chow-vin-chan, with his whole family, ,was betrayed into the hands of the Siamese. Being <Cpqfihed in cages, within sight of the instruments of .torture, the old man, worn out by fatigue el^d hard treatment, died ; while his son and heir to 'the crown effected his escape. Great rewards . weys .offered for the latter.and (ve was found out, and wouli have , been instantly murdered,. but climbing up fto the roof ofa pagoda, he remained there till all meahU of escape failed, when he threw himself down iip(?in A rock, and perished. The royal . race of this Lat.V ,(ribe, 'Chan-Pung-dam, is now extinct, the com- 'a try.ia ,laid w^te, the peasants, to the number ^.1 lOOjOWy naVe been dispersed over diA'eront parts t ■
n,gN..(JNGOOglC
{ ii
183^ lietidence in 8iam> 51
Siam ; aqd tbe whole territory lias been brought,
notwithstanding the remonstrances ' of* the court of Ha6, under the Immedfate control of the Siam- eae, who are anxiouB to have it peQpled by other tribes. Those Laoa nobles who yielded to the Siam- ese at the first oB6et, are at present kept confined in the spacious buiidinga ofthe Samplung pagoda, a temple erected by the father of Paya-meh-lap, on the banks ofthe Meinam, near the city of Bangkok. I paid them a visit there, and fonnd them exceed- ingly dejected, but open and polite in their conver- sation. They cherish the hope that they shall be sent back to their native country, relying on the compas- sion of his Siamese Majesty, who forgives even when no ofiense has, been given.
Although the Laos, generally, are in a low state of civilization, yet there are someiribes, amongst their most inaccessible mountains, inft^rior even to the rest ofthe nation. One ofthe most peaceful of these are the Kahs. The Laos, imitating the Siamese, are in the habit of stealing individuals of this tribe, and bringing them to Bankok for sale. Hence 1 have'been able to converse wirh some ofthe Kahs, who stated tp me, that their countrymen live peaceably and without wants, on their mountains; cultivating juet so mach rice as is sufficient for their own use; and that they are without religion or laws,-in a state of society not far superior to that of herding elephants. Nevertheless; they seem capable of great improvemenf, and under the hand ofa patient minister of Christ, may be as tntich benefited by the divine Gospel, as have been the lately so savage inhabitants of Tahiti' or Hawaii.
Some Laos, who were sent by their chiefs, a few years ago, with a Chinese mandarin from ihe fron- tiers of China, appeared a superior class of people; tKough speaking the same language a« the othci' (pbrs. They have been greatly hnproTed by thtiil* jntercourae with the Chinese, to whose- emperor they •n're accustomed to send regular tribute, by the hands ^f an embassador. ■ ;■ .
n„jN.«j-v Google
52 Guixlaff*t Journal i June,
Amongst the various races of people who inhabit Siam, there, are. also Kameha or natives of Ce^tnboja. This oouiitry, situated to tiie southeast of Siam, is doubtleijs of higher antiquity than any of the sur- rounding states. The name Camboja occurs in the Ramayana and other ancient Hindoo poems ; and in the earliest accounts of the country, Hindustanis mentioned as the cradle of BudbisDi. The lan- guage of the Cainbojans JiiTers materially from the Siamese, and is more harsh, but at the same time also more copious.. Their literature is very exten- sive, and their books are written in a character called Khom, which is used by the Siamese only in writing their sacred Pali books. Most of their books, and, with the exception of the national laws and history, perhaps all,— ^are in poetry.. They treat generally on very trivial subjects, abound in repeti- tions, and are oflen extremely childish. I have seen a geographical work, written some centuries ago, which, is more correct than Chinese works of the same kind.
Camboja was very long ruled by it^s own princes; but lately, disunion induced two brothers to take up arms against each other. Cochinchina and Siara both profited by this discord, and divided the coun- try between themselves, while one of the princes fled to Cochinchina, and three to Siam. I was ac- quainted vnth two of the latter, the third having died. They entertain the hope that their country will yet be restored to them, since they did nothing to forfeit it. The younger of the two is a man of geniua, and ready to improve his mind, but too childish to take advantage of any opportunity which ipay offer to him- The Cambojans are a criiigingij coarse people, narrow-minded, insolent, and officiou^, as circumstances require. They are, however, op<Ti ^ conviction, and capable of improvement- Th^ ipales are many of them well-formed, but the fe-l males are very vulgar in their appearance. ThHjfl are on equality with their neighbors, in regard ta\
n,gN..(JNGOOglC
1833. Rnidence in Si^m. ' 53
filth and wretchedness, atid are by no means infe- rior to them in laziness. They carry on scarcely any trade except in silk stuffs, which they fabricate themselves, although to do so is contrary to the institutes of Budha, because the life of the silhworm is endangered during the process. To spend hours before their nobles in the posture of crouch- ing dogs, lo chew betelnut, and to converse in their harsh language, are the most agreeable ainuse- menls of this people.
Camboja is watered by the Meinam kom, a large river, which takes its rise in Tibet. Like the southern part of Siam, the land is low and fertile, and even well-inhabited. The principal emporium is Luknooi (so called by the natives), the Saigon of liluropeans. This place has many Chinese settlers within its precincts, and carries on, under the jurisdiction of the Cochinchinese, avery brisk trade, (principally in betelnutand silk), both with Singapore and the northern ports of China. The capital of Cam- boja is surrounded by a wall, erected in high anti- quity. The country itself Is highly cultivated) though not to the extent that it might be; for, as the people are satisfied with a little rice and dry fiah,.they are not anxious to improve their condition by industry.
Hitherto Camboja has been the cause of much hostility between Siam and Cochinchina; each na- tion being anxious to. extend its own jurisdiction over the whole country. Even bo late as last year^ a Cochinchinese squadron, cotlected^t Luknooi, was about to put out to sea in ord^r to defend the Cambojan coast against an expected descent of th^ Siamese ; while at the same time, the Cambojans are anxious to regain their liberty, and to expel th^ ■Oochinchinese, their oppressors.
ICochincbina or Annam, united by the last revolution
Vith Tonking, has always viewed Siam with the greatr
t distrutt. Formerly, the country was divided by civil
..I .Goot^ic
54 . Gutzlaff''» Journal; Jqhe,
contests ; but when a French bishop had organized the kingdom, and amplified its reaources under the reign of Coung Shung, Annam could defy the prowess of Siam. Even when the French influence had ceased, ' and the country had relapsed into its former weak* nesa, the Cochinchinese continued to keep a jealous eye on Siani. The Siamese, conscious of their own inferiority, burnt, on one occasion, a large quantity of timber^coUecled for ships of war, which were to have been built in a Cochinchinese harbor; they h&ve also been succeesful in kidnapping some of the subjects of Anuam ; and the captives have mostly settled at Bangkok, and are very able tradesmen. If the character of the Cochinchinese was not dete- riorated by the governmeat, the people would hold a superior rank in the scale of nations. They are lively, intelligent, inquisitive, and docile, though uncleanly and rather indolent. Thie indolence, how- ever, results from the tyranny of government, which compels the people to work most of the time for its benefit. The Cochinchinese pay great regard to per- sons acquainted with Chinese literature. Their written language differs materially from their oral ; the latter is like the Cambojan, while the former is similar to the dialect spoken on the island of Hainan.
It remains now to make some remarks on the introduction of Christianity into Siam. When tha Portuguese first came to this country, in 1722, they immediately propagated iheir own religious tetiets^ I The French missionaries came to the country some I time afterwards, by land. They had high anticipations , pf success from the assistance of the Cephaloniap Phaulkon ; and, as soon as the French embassy ar- ^■ived, and French influence gained the ascendancjy, they increased the number of able laborers. Tv^o of them even shaved their heads, and conformed lo the customs of the Siamese talapoys or priests, uno^r J J)retence of leaning the Pali langnage. But, when ^( ihe treachery of Phaulkon had been discoverec\ \ 1 ,1
n,gN..(jNGoogle
;iy
liM. Rtiidenee ih Siam. 55
be himself killed, and the French expelled, the influence of the priests vanished, the number of their converts, instead of increasing, rapidly di- minished ; and the two fndividuala, who went to live with ihe Siamese priests, were never more beard of. Though the French missionaries have main- tained their station here to this day, yet at times they have been driven to great straits, and subject to frequent imprisonments.
It is astonishing that, while in all other countries, where Romanists have entered, their converts have been numerous, there have never been but a few in riiam. At present, only a small number,— mostly the descendants of Porlugaese, who speak the Cam- bojan and Siamese languages.^-constitute their dock; they have at Bangkok, four churches ; atChan- tibon, one ; and lately, a small one has been built at Yutiya, the ancient capital. Yet, all this would be of little consequence, if even a few individuals had been converted to the Saviour, by the iillluence of ihe Holy Spirit. But, to effect thts change of heart and life, seems, alas 1 never to have been the intention of their apirilual guides, or the endeavor of their followers. I lament the degradation of people, who so disgrace the name of Christians; and would earnestly wish that never any converts of such a description had made. . .
Tlie labors of the protestant mission hiive hitherto (Inly been pnfeparatory, and are in iheic incipient state." However, the attention of all the different races of peo- ple who inhabit Siam, has been universally roused ; and they predict the approach of the happy time, when even Siam shall stretch forth its bauds to the Savior oflhe -world.
r A country so rich in productions as Siam, oilers a large field for mercantile enterprise. Sugar, 8apan>' food, beche-de-mar, birdsnests, sharksfins, gamboge,' ■digo, cotton, ivory, and other articles, attract the no-^ Ice ofagreatnumber of Chinese traders, whose jutiks very year, in February, March, had the begindiilg of
nign^tJi-vGoOgle
56 Guttit^i Journal; JesE,
April, arrive from Hainan, Caoton, Soakeh, (or 800-ae-ka, in Cliaouchow-fuo,) Amoy, Ningpo, 8eang-hae, (or Slianghae tieen, in KeSngnao,) and ottier places. Their principal imports consist of various articles for tlie consumption of the Chinese, and a considerable amount of bullion. They select their export cargo according to the different places of destination, and leave Siam in the last of May, in June, and July. These vessels are about 80 in number. Those which go up to the Yellow sea, take mostly, sugar, sapanwuod, and belelnut. They are c&WtiA pak-tow sun (01 pi h-tov> chuen, white-headed vessels), are usually built in Siam, and of about 260 or 3t)0 tons, and are manned by Chaouchow men, from the eastern district of Canton province. The ma- jor part of these junks are owned, either by Chinese settlers at Bangkok,^r by the Siamese nobles. The former put on board as supercargo, some relative of their. own, generally a young man, who has married one of their daughters ; the latter take surety of the relatives ofthe person, whom they appoint supercargo. If any thing happens to thejunk, the individuals who secured her are held responsible, and are often, very unjustly, thrown into prison. — Though the trade to the Indian archipelago is not so important, yet about 30 or 40 vesseU are annually dispatched thither from Siam.
, Chinese vessels have generally a captain, who might more properly be styled supercargo. Whether the owner or jiot,he has charge ofthe whole cargo, buys and sells a? cjrcui^stances require ; but has no c<;^irmnd whatever over the sailing ofthe ship. This is the lousiness of tlie hochang or pilot. During the whole voyage, to observe the snOres and promontories, are tlie priifcipalrobjects, which occupy his attention daj and night. He sits steadily on the side of the ship, and sleeps when standing, justasit suits his convi"!" jiienc^. Though he has, nominally, the commnri^ri over the sailors, yet they obey him only when they fin^lnij it agreeable to their own wishes ; and they scold aii'^jY
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183^. Chineee Junk». b1
brave him, just as if he belonged to tbeir own com- paoy. Next to the pilot (or mate) is the to-katig (helfnsmsD), who manages the saiting of the ship; there are a few men under his immediate command. There are, besides, two clerks ; one to keep the ac* counts, and the other to superintond the cargo that is put on board. Also, a comprador to purchase pro* visions ; and a heang-kung (or priest), who attends to the idoJB, and burns, every morning, a certain quan^ tity of incense, and of gM and silver paper. The Bailors are divided into two classes ; a few, called tow-mnh (or headmen), have tharge of the anchor, sails, &c. ; and the rest, called ho-ke (or comradB)t perform the menial work, such as pulling ropes, and heaving the anchor. A cook and some barbers make up the remainder of the crew. p
All these personages, except the second class of Bailors, have cabins, long narrow holes, in which one may stretch himself, but cannot stand erect. If any person wishes to go as a passenger, he must apply Co the tow-muh, in order to hire one of their cabins, wJiich they let on such conditions as they please. In fact, the sailors exercise full control over the vessel, and oppose every measure, which they think may prove injurious to their own interest ; so that even the captain and pilot are frequently obli^d, when wearied oat with their insolent be- havior, to crave their kind assistance, and to request them to show a better temper.
The several individuals of the crew form one whole, whose principal object in going to sea is trade, the working of the junk being only a secondary ob- ject. Every one is a shareholder, havingthe liberty of putting a certi^in quantity of goods or board, with which he trades, wheresoever the vessel may touch, CQi^ng very little about how soon she' may arrive at llhfi port of destination. Mphe common sailors i>eceive from the captain no-
<^JiHiirr^ut dry rice, and hnve to provide fiji* ihera-
V^'T*^ tiicir oitier faro, wliich is usually very slender.
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hf :
58 Gutzlaff^s Journal ; June,
These sailors are not, uKually, men wbg have been trained uptu their occupation, but wretcliea, whawtire obliged to flee from tlifetr liomes ; and they frequently engage for a voyage, before they have .ever beeo on board a junk. All of them, however stupid, are commanders ; and if anything of importance ia to be done, they will bawl out their commands to each other, till all is utter confusion. There is no subordi- nation, no cleanliDess, no mutual regard or interest. The navigation of junks \a performed without the aid of charts, or any other helps, except the compass ; it is mere coasting, and- the whole art of the pilot consists in directing the course according to the pro- montories in sight. In time of danger, the men im- mediately lose all courage ; and their indecision fre- quently proves the destruction of their vessel. Al- though they consider our mode of sailing -as some- what better than their own, still Ihey cannot bul allow the palm of superiority to the ancient craft of the ' celestial empire.' When any alteration or im- provement is proposed, they will readily answer, — if we adopt '.his measure we shall j ufedly fall under the suspicion of barbarism. '■
. The most disgusting thing on board a junk is idol- atry, the rites of which are performed with the greatest punctuality. The goddess of the sea is Ma-tsoo po, called .also Teen-how, or ' Queen of heaven. '-i She is said to have been a virgin, who lived some cen- turies ago in Fuhkfeen, near the district of Fuhchow. On account of having, with great fortitude, and by a kind of miracle^ saved her brother who was on the point of drowning, she was deified^ and loaded with titles, not dissimilar to those bestowed on the Virgin Mary. Every vessel is furnished with iaa image of this, goddess, before which a lamp is kiei^ burning. Some satellites, in hideous shape, steOd round the portly queen, who is always represe"_^"T ' in a sitting posture. Cups of tea are placdtl'SP""/ lior, and some tinsel adonis her shrine. """y
\
1832< CAmmw Ji^nkg, 59
When ft vessel is oboutitoproeeed.oni eavoydg^, she is taken in prpc^ssionito a temple, w4iei)e;imany offepiiigB are displnyed before her. Tho.prirat rei- cites 8dm6 prayers.the niate makes several proetrai- tion?, and thecaptain usually honura her, byappeaKng in a full dress before her image. Then ao, enter- tainment is given, andttie food presenled-to the idol is greedily devoured. Afterwards the good mother, who does- not partake of the gross earthly •subalaace, is carried in front of a stage, tO' behold' the min- strels, and to admire the dexterity of the actors-; thence she is brought back, with mnsic, to -the junk, wherfe the merry peal« of the gong receive tbe ve- nerable old inmate, and the jolly sailors anxioufily strive to seize whatever may happen to remtliii'of ber banquet.
The cure of the goddess is intrusted to the priest, who never dnras to appear before her with hi^ face unwashed. Every miornij(ghe~ puts sticks of burning incensie into the censer, and repeats his ceremonies in every ^art of the ship, -noteKcepting even the cook'e room. When the junk reaches any promontory, or when contrary winds prevail, die priest raaltes an offering to the -spirits of the mouBtaina, or of the air. On such ocaasions (and oiily on such)^ pigs and fowls are killed. When the offering.id duly arranged, the priest adds to- it some spirits and fruits, burns gilt .paper, makes several prostratiooa, and. iheq cries out to the sailors, — "follow the spirits," — -whosudden-ly rise and devour most.of the sacrifice. When sailing out of a river, offerings of (Hiper are .constntuly thrown .out near the rudder. But to no part ofthe junk are BO many olferinga made as td- the compass. Bomc redxlotli, which is also ti<JHl to the ru(l<ier and cable, ts put over it ; ineenso flrbcks in great quantities are kindled ; and gilt pa-
ij/ir, made into the shape of a juuk, is burnt beture it.
Wenr the compass, some tolwcco, a pipe, and a
tjttirniMfr lamp are pinced, the joint nropcrty of nil ;
fl4id hither they all crowd to enjoy themselves.
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60 Gutdaff's Journal ; June,
When there isa calm, the sailors generally contri- bute a certain quantity of gilt paper, which, pasted into the form of a junk, is set adrift. If no wind -follows, the goddess is thought to be out of humor, and recourse is had to tiie demons of the air. When all endeavors prove unsuccessful, the offer- .ings cease, and the sailors wait with indifference.
Such are the idolatrous principles of the Chinese, .that they never spread a sail without having conci- liated the favor of the demons, nor return from a voyage without showing their gratitude to their tutelnr , deity. Christians are ihe servants of the living God, who has created the heavens and the earth ; at whose comnmod the winds and the waves rise or are still ; .in whose ntercy is salvation, and in whose wrath u destruction : how much more, then, should they endea- ,vorto conciliate the favor of the Almighty, and lu be grateful to the Author of all good I If idolaters feel dependent on superior beings ; if they look up to 'them for protection and Buccese ; if they are punctual >ia [mying their vowe ; what should be the conduct of .nationSfWhoacknowledgeChrist to be their Saviour 1 :R^verence before the name of the Most High ; reliance MHi itis gracious protection ; submisision to his just dis- .p^nmtions ; and devout prayers, humble thanksgiv- ing, glorious praise to the Lord of the earth and of ithe sea, ought to be habitual on board our vessels ; .andifthisisnot the case,- the heathen will rise up against us in the judgment, for having paid more attention to their dumb idols, than we have to the worship of the living and true God.
The Chinese sailors are, g(;nerally, as intimated -aboHo, from the most debase classd of people. The ■major part of them are opium-smokers, gamblfifcrs, ihicves. and fornicators. They will indulge in the drfug till all llieir wages are squandered ; they will gamliile as lung nsafurtliing remains: they will put offtheirol^Vi jacket and sive it to a prostitute. They are poor a;.*(jL \n debt ; lliey cheat, and are cheated ~by one anoth^int,
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\»^. China. 61
whenever it ia possible ; and whea the^have entered a haorbor, tbey have no wish to depart till all they have is wasted, although their families at home may be in the utmost waot aod distress. Their curses aod imprecations > are most horrible, their langsage most filthy aod obscene ; yet they never condemn themselves to eternal destruction. A person who has lived among these men would be beet qualified to give a description of ^dom and Gomorrah, as well as to appreciate the blessings of Christianity ; which, even in its^ost degenerate state, proves a greater check on human depravity, than the best arranged maxims of men.
The whole coast of China is very well known to ■ the Chinese themselves. As their whole navigatiim is only coasting, they discover, at a great distance, promontories and islnnds, and are seldom wrong in their conjectures. They have a directory ; which, being the result of centuries of experience, is pretty correct, .in pointing out the shoals, the entrances of harbors, rocks, &.C. Aa they keep no dead reckoning, nor take observations, they judge of tlie distance they have made by the promontories they have passed. They reckon by divisions, ten of which are about equal to a degree. Their compass differs materially from that of Europeans. It has several concentric circles ; one is divided into four, and another iuto eight parts, somewhat similar to our divisions of the compass; a third is divided into twenty-four parts, in conformity to the horary division of twenty-four hours, which arc distinguished by the same number - of characters or signs ; according to these divisions, and with these signs, the courses are marked in tlieir directory, and the vessel steered.
China has, for centuries, presented to the Romanists a gieat sphere for action. Latterly, the individuals Jhelonging to the minion, have not been so eminent Sot talents as- their predecessors, and their influence
62 Gutzlaff'' a Journal; June,
has greatly decrcoeed. Althougli the tenets of their religion are proscribed, some individuals belonging to their miatiion, have always found their way into China ; at the present time, they enter principally by the way of Fulikeeh. It would have been well, at the time they exercised a great influence over the mind of Kanglie, if, — by representing European cha'- racier in its true light, and showing the advantages to be derived from an open intercourse with west- ern nations, — they had endeavored tu destroy the wall of separation, which has hitherto debarred the Chinese, from marching on in the line of national improvement. Their policy did not admit of this ; the only thing they were desirous of, was to secure the trade to the faithful children of the mother church, and the possession of Macao to the Portuguese. In the latter, they succeeded ; in the former, all their exertions have been baffled by tlie superior enter- prising spirit of Protestant nations ; and their own system of narrow policy has tended, not only ti» ■exclude themselves from what they once occupied, but to excite the antipathy of the Chinese govero- menl against every stranger.
Protestant missionaries, it is to be hoped, will adopt a more liberal policy ; while they preach the glorious gospel ofClirist, they will have to show that the spread of divine truth opens the door for every useful art and science; that imshackled commercial relations ■will be of mutual benefit; and that foreigners and Chinese, as inhabitants of the same globe, and children of the same Creator, have an equal claim ■to an amicable intercourse, and a free reciprocal communication. Great obstacles are in the way, and have - hitherto prevented the attainment of these objects ; but, nevertheless, some preparatory 'steps have been token ;'^uch as the completion ofn Chinese and Enghsh dictionary, by one of the moaj' distinguished members ■of the Protestant, mission] the translation of the Bible; the publication of tracj
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1832. China. 63
on a great variety of subjects ; tlie establishment of the Anglo-Chiiieae cpUego, and numerous schools ; and oilier ditfereiit proceedings, al) for llie same purpose.
One of the greatest inconveniences in our oper- ations has been, that most of our labors, with the exception of those of Dra. Morrison and Milne, were confined to Chinese from the Canton and Fuhkeen provinces, who annuaHy visit the ports of the Indian Archipelago, and many of whom become perma- nent residents abroad. When llie junks arrived in those ports, we were in the habit of supplying them with books, which found their way to most of the emporiums of ttie Chinese empire. 'As no place, south of China, is the rendezvous of so many Chi- nese junks as Siam, that country has been the most important station for the distribution of Christian and scientific books. And, moreover, a missionary residing there, and coming in contact with a great many people from the different provinces, may render him- self endeared to them, and so gain an opportunity of entering China, without incurring any great per- sonal risk.
All these advantages had long ago determined the minds of Mr. Tomlin and of myself, to make an attempt to enter China, in this unobtruding way ; but indisposition snatched from my side a worthy fellow-laborer, and peculiar circumstances also pro- lunged my stay in Siam, till a geat loss iu the death of a beloved partner, and a severe- illness, made me anxious to proceed on my iutended voyage: Although I had been frequently invited to become' a passenger, yet my first application to the captain of a junk, destined to Teentsin, the commercial emporium of the capital, met with a repulse. This junk, af- terwards lefl Siam in company with us, and was never more heard of The refusal of Jin, the captain, was re-echoed by several others; till, unexpectedly, the Siamese embassador, who had to go to Peking' this year, promised to take me gratia to the capital,
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64 A Christian. June,
in the character of hia physician. He had great reason to deaire the latter stipulation, because ae* veral of his predeceasors bad died for want of me- dical assistance. 1 gladly hailed this opportunity of an immediate entrance into tbe country, with a de- sire of doing everything that Providence ahould put in my way, aod enable me to accomplish. But I waa sorely disappointed ; for.by the intervention of a gen- tieman, who wished to detain mein Siam, the embas- sador did not fulfill his proposals.
(T« be eaiUinued.)
A Chkibti&it. — Since we intend the Chinese Repository to be a decidedly Chrutian publication, it seenjs but right thnt we should declare our opinion of the import of tliat word. " There are few words," mya Dr. Wardlaw, " which ha»e, in their ordi- nary use, di^red more widely frona their original applicatioii than tbe term Cbriatian. In its original use, it was de- scriptive of a comparatively small number of men, who were distinguished from the rest of the world, by ajaingiilar and striking petniliarity of sentimeute and character. In the use genemlly made of it now, it can hardly, with truth, be aaid that it ia descriptive of principles and character at all; for it is applied, indiscriminately, to persons whose principles and characters are diametrically opposite. The appelJationi Bccording to its obvious etymology, must signify aotde relation or other to Christ, bus. tained hy tbe persons who are called by it ; and the simplest and most general idea we can attach to it is, (hat of afoUower or adherent of Christ.
" Bvt, what is implied in being a genuine adherent or follower ef Christ? I answer: — ^it implies being a ditctj^ of Chrid, amd a beUever cf Hit doctrine ; — being a loeer of Christ ; — on ohedi. enl tubject and imilalor of Chritl; and one wboloolusfor hit te- cond coming, to judge the vorld, and to separate for eeer be- ttteen the righteout and the wicked."
To be more particular; — (1,) an im[dicit belief ip, aiid cordial reception of, whatever the Lord Jesus Christ taught ; — (2,) an affectionate loyalty to his person, his cause, and his peo- ple;— (3,) obedience to his precepts, and imitation of his example; — And (4,) a patient waiting for his second advent ; — these we consider t» be the marks of a true Ohristiaji, ia whatever nation, or ■■ connection with whatever church he is found.
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1833. fUendship. 63
We call no maD toaster p neither Calvin, nor Arminius, nor Arius, nor Sociniu. We acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the head of his church, thu true ttiembere of which are certainly known only to himself. Although the Scriptures are our sole rule of faith and practice ; we believe, generally, in points of doclrine with the formularies of the church of England and Scotland, and with the evangelical Coogrega- tionnlists, both in England and America. We can go far with a Romanist divine, such as Fenelon ; join heartily with Epis. copalians, such as bishops Horns and Porleus ; with Presby- terians, such as Brown and Chalmers; with English Inde- })endenta, such as Baxter, Henry, and Bogue ; with American divines, such as presidents Edwards and Dwight ; with Baptists and Methodists also, such as Robert Hall and Whitfield; and with Moravians, such as Zinzendorf, and a host of their modern
We arc not bigots to any form of church government ; but '■we are not friends to the union of church And state. We can use n liturgical service or dispense with it ; but we cannot submit to have it exclusively forced upon us, or to be forbidden to pray without book. To make proselytes from one communion to another is not our object ; but to diffuse Scriptural principles, to per- suade men to turn from merely human dogmas, to a cordial re- ception of divinely revealed truth, — to convert from sin to holi- ness,— end to bring our fellow -sinners of every religion, and of every rank, from the slavery of Satan to the service of God ; — these are our objects, — objects for which we would daily pray and labor, spend and be spent. God grant that we may be the nieans of saving some !
FniEKDsmp. — Lord Shaftesbury defines friendship to be, " Ike peeidiar rdaliort which is formed by a consent or harmony of minds, by mutual esteem, and reciprocal tenderness and aSectioD." „_ ,_
The Chinese characters for friend ]j^ ^ are made of fiesh join- ed to fiesh, and hand to hand, Plmg is the name of the first cha- racter, and yew .of the second. A pangyeie, or friend, in Chinese, is defined to bo " one of the same mind," intention, or disposition. But, as minds are not all virtuous, to be of the same mind with another person^ or to like each other and be friends, does :not necessarily imply any excellence in either of the two. The friendship, therefore, of minds not virtuous, cannot itself l>e n virtue. Hence friendship in the abstract is sot inculcated, nor regulated by rules in the New TeBtament. How could Chris- tianity give rules for the friendships of wicked men ! Friend- ship (raieh) in Hebrew, denotes, to take pleasure in recipro- cally. The Greek words ipiXof, and Latin amicus, denote loving each other. Now the friendship- of the virtuous and pious, or the reciprocal love of such' persons, is abundantly enjoined in the Christian code. Tlw noUe* intidet, therefore,- when he imputed
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66 FrUnitkip. JonG,
'tin omisakm of friendBhip as a capital defect ia Evbd^cbI BthicS) does not seem to have thenght v«ry clearly on the sub. ject.
I'he rriendsbip of the virtuouH u both inculcated ond exein- Vlified in the Holy Scriptures. Not indeed the isolated and aeifish attachment of two individuals; but the more generona flttnchment which, even llie Chineae pagan, Mencius, d«jred to attain, — i friendship for all virtuoua men — (iret, of bis own village, then of bis own nation, — next, of the whole worid.-'BMl Jastlvi of all the pious dead, by studying and praising their worka.
We incline to think with SoameJenyns, that the selfisfa frienifaliip which has been so much extolled by philosophers, peets and divines, is not very compatible with the genius and spirit of the Gospel. Bishop Porteus is unwilling to go with tbe elegant defender of Christianity just referred to ; and argues, as others had before, that our Savior himself had a peculiar friendship for the beloved disciple John, end for the &mily of Lazarus. Bat this was a friendship, says the bishop, the direct opposite of those celebrated instances of pagan friendship, of which we hear so much in ancient aton'y. The charHcteristics of Ibese com- nionly were, a haughty and overbearing spirit ; a vindictive, implacable, and impetuous temper, regardless of justice, honesty, and humanity in behalf of those partners in iniquity whom they chose to call their friends. Such wild extravagances as these, as well as those confederaraes in vice, which young men, even BOW, sometimes compliment with the name of friendship, am indeed diametrically opposite to the genius of Christiaoity. Such friendship is strongly forbidden. The friendship of tb* world — that is of the vicious — is enmity with God. Alas ! w]iat can such friends da in the -how «f death, and ia the day of judgment.
friendship has a place in the ethics of Confucias; but be takes the term friend, in a loose vague sense, as it is sometimea used in common language now, when Chinese speak of 'fieah ani wine friends;' — the friends of good cheer. He said, "There are thrt« sorts of friends who du one good; three that do l)'trm. Tbe plain.spoken, the sinqere-bearted, and the well. informed, are useful friends ; those of pompous, showy exterior, ofuusy, softcumplianGe,aadofflattering lips, are hurtiul frinnd*.** Ha said again, " Have no friend inferior to yourself (i. e. in knowledge Of virtufi)." On two occasions, he advised that ono frinnd should not often reiterate his eipo^ul^ioos to another, •< IT • friend will not listen," says he, >> desist ; for t>y perseverance yo« will create distance, and bring insult on yourself." Tsiingtsze, another worthy of the Confucian school, examined himself daily, whether he had adhered strictly to truth in all his dealioga with his friends. Those who are required to adhere to truth with all [den, whether friends or fnes, as Christians are, can have little occasion for this special self-examination. But friend- ship, patriotism, and love, to ttw degree lu wliich they have been
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1832. Friendtkip. 67
ciiRi«di and' arc daily catrwd ky Iba lellish or (fafi tnntalMi), iuHSmiwl) M tbey withdraw fro» God and the cr«atur«a tboM v^ffectiow uid aervices wfa oh are due* in ofdei: to beslovr theni, with a lavish hasdr on the regioo, or on the individual that has been set up as an idol,— «re not only uodeeerving (he name of virtues, but are vicee. The "pro fctria" ofien heard in the mouths of some Christians of Europe and America, vitiates evea their beoevoleDce ; because it is evident, the glory of their own nation is a motive which takes precedence oT the glory of God, and the good of men. " It was one great object of the ChriatisB religion to introduce into tita world a temper of universal ha. nevolence and goodwill. With ^at view, its husineae wan not (o contract, but to expand, our afieclions as much as pomible ; to throw down all the little mean fences and partitions made by seas or rivers, literal mountains or artificial hills, within which - the human heart is too npt to intrench itaalf, and to lay it open lo nobler views, to a large and more liberal B)ihere of action."
Voltaire baa spoken well en the subject before us. h Friend- ship," said he, » is a tacit contract between two sensible and vir- tuous persona. Sentible, I say, for a monk ora hermit may not be wicked, and yet may live a stranger to friendship. I add, vtrfvow, for the wicked have ontf acamtpUeei ; the vo- luptiHMis have oomponton* ; the designing have tutociatet ; the inca of busincAS have partitert; the politicians have faeikim bandt ; idle nien have their lounging connections ; princes have eourtiert, _fialterert, fanoritet, &,c., but virtuous m*'!t alone hare friends." Let the followers of Voltaire listen to tliis testimony of their i^Mwtle, who on his death-bed, though surrounded by •■accomplices, companions, associates, courtiers, and Iln.tlereiv« .died friendless," his associates playing at cards, whilst he was in the agonies of death 1 '
In a worklly sense, "every man is (or would be) friend to him that giveth gifb." The rich hath many friends, but the poor DMn is despised of his neighbor. Wealth raaketh many friends. ■ Flash and wine friends' are indeed numerous enough, but a friend that loveth at all times, in adversity as well as pros- perity,— a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, is rare ; and IS not at aoy-imn^ option. No man can compel the friend- ship of othere, and therefore lo have a friend is a happiness, but a not duty. The most friendly feelings and sentiments are, moreover, often rejected by the other party. Therefore it is no man's duty to have friends, any more than it is to be rich, and prosperous. If a good man hsve them, hemuHt not idolize them, nor " suffer sin " upon them. Trust not in a friend, — that is, to diminish your trust in God^your Savior. Woe to the tnan who trusteth in m-in, iinil maketh flesh hiit arm! Yet on the other hand, itie Ciirijiian ma-*t still love his poor brother, — liis virtuouu friend, tlioiif^h in the midst of scorn, destitution, and persecution. The Chrutan must lay down liis life for his brother, in cases of exin.mity ; and no greater lov« hath aoy msn than llm thftt a
n,gN..(JNGOOglC
68 Peace. — Idolatry. Svkr.,
man lay down his life for his 'friend. Ye are my friende, saitfa the blessed Jesus to his discipiee. I hsve not called you servants but friends. Abraham, the father of the faithful, was called Ih6 friend of God. The men of an upoetate world may deny to the Christian the blessings ofl^'r friend^ ip ; but since he has the eternal God, the Almighty Savior as a. friend, ho can well dispense with the boasted baan.
From the whole, then, of this inquiry, as Porteua says with great simplicity, it appears that whoever cultivates the duties deiwribed by (he gospel, wll be of all others the best qualified for a virtuous friendship. But, what is of far more consequence to the world in K^oem), he wilt also be the best qualified to live without it. Friendship is a blessing, which, like many others in tliis world, falls to the lot of few ; but lo the friend. less, it must be no small satisfaction to find, that a connection which they oflfvi want the inclination, and oftener still the power, to form, is not enjoined, is not recommended, is not even mentioned, in the gospel, and tliat they may go to Heav. en extremely well without it. A faithful friend is indeed, as the son of Sirach no less justly than elegantly expresses it, the medicine of life ; but for those who are deprived of i(, Christianity has otheir medicines, and other consolations in store. Our earthly friends may deceive, nay desert us, may be separated from us, niay be converted into our bitterest enemiex ^tmi our heavenly friend, Jesus Christ will never leave ue, dd, never, never, forsake us!
Peace. Salant, ' peace l>e to you,' has for many ages been the Asiatic salutation. The term impiiea a wish for every gof>d, for what is life without peace? " Where envy and strife are," — where war is, " (here is confusion and every evil work." The Chinese Tttitg-gan, ' I wish you repose,' or peace, is not unlike the Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian, Sdlam.
We shall, as we have opportunity in the progress of our work, plead the cause of peace. War, if justifiable at all under the Ohrislian dispensation, is very rarely so. We are much inctin. ed to go with the Friends, called Quakers, on the aiibject of peace; and to enlist ourselves as soldiers in tbo armies of Anieri- ica and Europi', that fight for peace, — viz., the Peace Societies. ■We heartily pray, that the reign of Messiah, whose advent wa6 hailedby a multitude of the heavenly host, saying, "Glory to God ID the highest, and on earth peace," and whose name is "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and (he Prince of Peace " may soon become universal.
InoLATRV. "Thou shtlt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any like, ness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt Hot how <lown thyself to them, nor serve them." Kxod, 20 : H — 5.
ji-vGoOglc
1832. Idotatr^, 69
That to «3 ia a god on whick we bestow our grestesf eateem and warmest afieelioM ; that which £iills forth tlie itiftst ardent wctik'ntgsaf our tnisda. Hence eovetoueness, considering wealitt the chie^ good,' is declared to be idoliitry. Hero ig the princi-: pie of idolatry without the image.. worship. IBut Hie image- worship is equally abhorreat to tfae IMvine Being,
President Dwi^ht^ — of whose work entitled " Thedogy explained and defended," we are happy to say, sevprot copies have reached China, and one of tbem is in the English Factory's Library, — has twO' able discourses on the ''falsehood, injustice, and in- gratitude ; the pride, rebellion, and blasphemy of idolatry, whether internal or esternal." These we can cordiHlly recommend to the perusal of our renders in China. The learned deists of Europe, and many iKeplical Christians, see no harm in idolatry. It is nothing but a little harmless follyt or even a little well intentloned, and they have no doubt, aEceptable worship. Whilst they donht the declaration of Holy Scripiiire on this subject, they have no doubt of the certainty of their own nntiscriptural surmises. The fact is, that deism and scepficism lead men back to the darkness of mere paganism. Lord Shaftesbury's theory, that a regard to rewards or punishments, destroys the nature of virtue, and mak^a it mean and mercenary, is only the hun. dredth edition of what proud and athetslicnl Chinese ]»gans had published, centuries before! fiirgetting that his theory sup- poses the very principle he denies; because, to do good fur the sake of an approvmg conscience, or to avoid remorse, is adniitlirg a present reward and punishment, and, therefore, is just as mercenary, as if the reward or punishment were to come a hundred of a thousand years hence, and to to be awarded by the Judge of all the earth.
The excellent writer, to whom we have alluded above, in a Sermon on the revealed character of the Almighty, as fi Father to hia people, winds up by showing what a poor, miserable view the philosophy of men, both ancient and modern, has given of the Deity, " Whole dosses of philosophers," says he, " existing through several ages and several countries, were either sceptics . or atheists. Others taught that "God was material ; that he was fire: jnixture of fire and water; a combination of the four elements, &c, — And the efforts of modern philosophers have been equally vain and useless, Hobbes taught that, that which is not mailer is nothing ; Chubb, that God does not interpose in the affairs of this world at all; Hume, that there arc n(t solid arguments to prove his existence; Buliughroke, that it is more natural to believe many gods than one, Voltaire, that God is infinite ; Toland, that the world is God."
Is it not then true, that the ruction of Christianity is a retrf^rade march of intellect back to mere paganism? And is it not true also, that the neglect of Christ's salvation, is always accompanied with a complacent regard of that which God bates, the abomination of idolatry 7 Hear, 0 Israel, Jehovah, our
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70 Tlus Brahmim. June:, '
Lord, 19 one God. To vhat will ye liken rae, mith Jetwvtli ? Tbe gfaven imnaes of lh«ir gods an bb abomioation to Uie Lord ihy God. >' Ir that day (God gniDt Ihat it may soon come I) every man chalt cast away his idola of silver wid bis idola of gold, which their own bands have made uoto them for a Bin : — and the goda which have not made the beaveoa and the earth, shall perish from tbe earth, and from under these heavens."
Brahmins. Haveany ofihe'Brnlimine become ChriatianaT We often hear this question triumphaotly asked by tbe oppoeers of miHsionary efTortti in India ; and some of the friends of missione seen too anxious to answer in the affirmative, — hs we beltere in (ruth they can. But, supposing none <^ tbe Brahmins have believed, and Ihat only tbe ignoble, tbe poor, and tbe wretched are among the converts to Christianity, what inferenee codd tbea be drawn by Ibe enemies of missioDs? None that suggest them. selves to us, which would not as effectually have put down Christianity itself, on its first appearance in tbe world. Tbe pride of those, who " estimate the goodness of a cause by the. external eminence of thoee who are its abettors," long since triumphantly demanded concerning Jesus; "JETore any o/'(Ae ridert or any of fAe Pharitee* beiie»ed on Atn ? — But this people, who IcHovxth not the I^up, are eurted." TJie able Rev. Joseph White, who preached the Bampton Lecture against Mohamme- danism, at Oxford, in 1784, thus parapbraeeB the above quotation.
>'Who are His followers and associates? They are such aa would of themselves bring discredit mi any cause, abstractedly, Jrom the consideration of its own merit. Do any of the nilera of the people, any of the great powers of the Sanhedrim, any persons of distinction, either of depth of leartting, or dignity of character j — do any such persons acknowledge this Jesus, who lays claim to the name of the Messiah; or attach tbemselveN to him under that exalted and distinguishing character? No. The people who know not the law ; who never studied its prin- ciples, who hHve been accursed and eK communicated for want of a due obedience to its institutions, are tbe only suf^KH-lera .of this novel sect. On iheir voice, the ignoble founder of it r««ta his pretensions; and by their patronage only, his presumptioa is maintained."
For rulers, Pharisees, and accursed people, you have cHity to jtubslitute mandarine, Brahmins, and Paris}) outcasts, and the reasoning now is exactly the same that it was, in tbe mouths of ■the enemies of Christ, eighteen hundred years ago. Not niany mishty, not many noble, are called. But, becaij^ few or none of the mlcTs and Pharit^s believed, the Apoetles were not discouraged, did not stop in their work ; nor will the miswoaariaa in India be disheartened, and desist from their labors, should but a few, or none even of die Brahnaina b» found autuig tha fo|. lower* of the Lord Jesus.
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Reiigious laielUgence.
BELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
HiHDoos. A single event, (nd so po'ent, that doI even the
trattapiring in the nacursl world nnrtl of God could rescue a sin.
iir io science, hss rendered null gle captive from its intluence
and void the vain speculations and doininioo. True, the Ethi-
of ages. The stalement of a opian cHnuot change his skin,
single fact gnea does more for nnr the leopard his spots ; but
the advancenient of Irulh, thai) what is imjiosgiMe wilh man, is
the publicaliioa of vokimes of possible with God. Numbers of
mere epcculalioDs. All the sys. the Hindoos have been convert-
lemaof morals and religion, that ed ; — a sure pledge of what is
coDtraveDethe divijjeCode, must yet to he seen, when multitudes
fall ; such structures, — the mere cf those idoklers shall cast away
work of men's device, — if not their images of wood and stone,
abaodoned speedily, will plunge and come and bow down and
these who have taken refuge in worship before the Lord their
then), into (he ,fire that never Maker. We subjoin a few in.
shall be quenched. *tajoces, selected from the Ori.
This is not exaggeration, hut eotal Chiiatian Spectator. the plain, philosophical, scrip. ■ ■■■ - tural statement of a case ; many Tbavancobk. Here the pro- of which exist. We have now {t«S9 of Christianity has attracl- io view only a single one, and ed thenoticeofgoivernment,Bnil that is the system of Hindoo my. a {woclamaiicwi has been inued thology. This is one of Satan's hy ker Highness, the Raini of msaterpieceB; and, — inasmuch Travancore. We quote two of as He who is not mocked, and Ibe most important sections. who cannot lie, has declared "It is further declared," says (ICor. 6:S, 10.)that,«;ieither her Highness, "that ell Sha^ fornicators, nor tAtUUert, nor oars (b^duI tural isls), or Chris. Adul(erer% nor effeminate, nor tians from that caste, are liable abusers of themselves with laanc Jo Oleam service (which is du« kind, nor thieves, nor covetous, to government as an acknow. jiordiunkards-nor rev iters, nor Jedgment for the possession of £xtortio)iers. shall inherit the land), like all other inhabitants; kingdom of God," — what multi- hut all Christians, of whatsoever tudesof men, women and cbihl- sect, are exempted from labor jren must this system have bar- jm Sundays, and from i^vag red Ibr ever from the joys of emoloyed for^ Dev^asumsand heaven. By mlea«<hropists, its T)%le(aserviceconiiccted wit^ epells have haen calculated on idolatry),
wilh great oertainty ; as a sys- " While I give aU my sul^eota
tem, if has been pronounced alike the litjerly of consuiencq,
perfect, immaculate, immutable, permitting thetn to follow what-
■, Goo»^lc
72 Religwui IrOdliget^. June,
ever religion they may think almoHt an absurdity. But he proper, I never can allow new | never was in South Travancore,
converts toany faith whatsoever, else he would Lave seen sonae-
or any other persons to infringe thing that none of his jirinciples
the customs of the higher castes can explain ; — a comparatively vf the country, as esabtish'ed ' sudden and speedy difTusion of
by ancient usage. Good peo- the Christian religion, so great
pie, of whatever caste, will as to require legal enactments,
never inake religion a pretext ' "The gospel, in its introduction
fur disturbance ; and Christian, to the country, has produced ef-
ity being known to inculcate fecte similar to those related of
humility and obedience to su- its primitive propagation. Many
periors, the true converts to that jwrsons in arguing concerning
religion, are the least to bees- the diffusion of Christianity,
pected to act contrary to their (Mr. Wilberforce, I think, ia
duly as {leaceable subjects." among the number,) maintain
The translator of (he procia- that in every stage of its progreM
malion, from which we have there will be peace. But it was
made these extracts, remarking not so in the beginning. And
concerning its importance and humiin nature being unchanged,
value sa)-s, that "It is in Tm- there is no reason to expect it
vancore the Cbri'tians' Bill of will beso now. The first preach-
Rights, — the Magna Charta of ers of Christianity were sligmoT
Christianity. I have no desire tized as men who turned the
myself to express any opinion of world upside dov^n, — language
its character,. the few considera. intimating, at once, the senti-
tions that follow, suggested by ments of iheir enemies, and the
it, let me mention. opposition and hostility they
"It is the thing itself 1 wish were resolved to make. And to notice. The fad is (o be so if is here, at the present day. observed, that in a heathen Not that Christianity is, or ever country, in India, and under a has been, the cause of di star. henthen government, the spread banco and violence. But most of Christianity has been such as certainly, is the occasion of them. 'to attract the notice, and de- Her enemies 'have been filled ■Biand the intervention of the with rage. The populace has -public aulhofitie^. This is not been excited to'oulragcous con- as opinion to be discussed by duct. And when they could beat argument, but an eixnt which und plunder no longer, they -admits of no contradiction. Rea- accused the Christians ofdisaf- eon as you will about the /loie fcction to the government ; of and the wherefore, the fact it. refusing to pay their taxes ; and self cannot be gainsayed. of the most diabolical crimes.
"Oriate, it has been a fashion- In .all these things, there is no- able doctrine, that Whatevet- thing new ; no strange thing ■Ohristianity may do for. m- has befallen Christians of this vagei, it cannot help the Hin- country. The same charges does. The , Ahb6 Dubois has have been reiterated continually, pronouniied. their conversion im- since the death of Stephen," •jiossible; and any attempt at it ■ ,
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I8S2. Reiigiout InidUgmct. ^3
NbvOoS. — This pldce \A situ. Sence bf upwards of lOO natives. ated in One of the 3'2 districts » Do you entirely giv6 up the
into which Travancore is divid- worship of idols T
ed ; but the labors oF the mis- ' " Do you conriJer yourselves
eion are not confined to a sin^lg ^nnets, deserving of hell ; and is
district — they e'tiend (o severni, your dependence fbr salvation
and include numerous villages, placed on Christ?
We have nopetsonftl acquaint- "Do you- give up your caste?
ance with the laborrtra at Ne- ' " fs it yoar desire (!■■ keep holy
yoor ; but we heartily rejoice the Sabbath, by abstaining from
when (hey tell us of the heathen Ocular e in ploy tiients, and spend,
families which, of late, have ing the day in the service Qf i
publicly renounced their idols. God^
Some, they say, have Sunk their " la if your ihfenlion to offet
idols in the river; others have up prayer to God daily, morning
buried them in the earth ; noble^ and evening 7 members of the reignihg fiimily, "Doyou f^et that sin Is mixtfd
and officers of slate, (nanifesf a wilb all you do? friendly spirit towartis the ne* " Is it your desire to forsake
converts, and even send thei^ alt sinT
own children to the AiissioD " Will you confess Christ, Bchtx>ls ; atlenlion to the gospel And practice his comm&nds he- increases ; temples of heatheh fore Mohnmmedarts, the vota- worship are abandoned ; and, iQ ries of the false prophet, and one instance, the ground con- before Hindoos; who are dcvot. taining an fdol-temple, has been ed to the service of false gods, made over t6 the minion, "for and to the worship of idols? the purpose of erecting S school. '^Shouldyou nieet with perse- room on it." culion for the name of Christ, Ther^ are atptegent, July I83f, fa It the dcterrfiination ofyout in connection with the Neyoor heart, nolwlthsiianding, to re- niiaBion, in 60difl%rent villages, tnain stedfbst? " Upwards of 600 families — con- fo these questions, and others sisting of 3000 persons, who similar to these, answers Wer^ have renounced idolatry : atid it given lA the affirmative ; and then appears that others are hkety, after rin appropriate address and soon to make a public aTownl prayer, " they kneeled down," of their conviction of (he folly of says Mr. F., ''diidl baptized them idolatry, and the excellency of Vith water, in the name of the the way of salvation, revealed in father. Son, and Holy Ghost, the Gospel. and publicly received them intb ' the Chiircfiof Christ, praying,
Kaiba. Of the effect of the thai God ihe Pkther might be
gospel of God at this pkce, Mr. their father, God the Son their
Fyvie has given the particulars Redeemer, and God the Holy
of two individuals. The follow- Ghost their 9;inclifier. The ser-
ing are sonle of the questions vice, especially Ihe questions
which were proposed to them pro|>osed, seemed to make a deep
previous to baptism, to which impres'iion on the ppo|ile." Mhv
tliey returned answtirs in tlie prC' the imjifcssioiB prove lasting. J
n,gN..(jNGoogle
74 Seligioui InUUigence. June,
Both Ibeae iDdividuala we^e born letlge. For more than two years,
and educated Hindooa. this littlo band of Chriatians
-•■■■■■■ — baa existed at Madras; Heaveo
BoHBAT. Several H-indoM, has smiled on them ; and now
by theiuBtrumentalityoftbedif- they are calling on ' their own
ferent laboreT» in this wide but Ckrittian puUh ' to aeeist them
desolate field, have become con- in their good work. The ob-
verts to the Christian faith, and ject oT this society is to tran.
been enrolled among the mem. slate and publish Ckrittian
bers of the church raiUtant. We bcxA*. will mention two or three indi- '
viduala. Calcptta. This is orw of
One is a Hindoo mershant, the oldest missionary stations
.and was a worshiper of the god in India, and the number of
Vishnu. Christian tracts were converts is not small. In one
the first means used to arrest his case, we find the number of com-
attenlion; he waa afterwards louoicants in a single church
invited to listen to the instruc. to be 55, and the number of
tiona of the gospel ; he did so, candidates, who have renounced
and would spend almost whole castej40. Again, and very re -
days in searching after truth, cently, we find an account of the
Though despised by the people baptism of 18 Hindoos on ono
of his caste, he seems stedfast, occasion, including men, wo.
anil la likely to prove a most men^ and children. These are
desirable helper, as a catechiat, a few of the instances in Cn|.
among numerous classes of his cutta, and in other parts of In.
countrymen. dia,, where Hindoos kmx become
Another is a Hindoo woman ; Clariitians. who, on hearing the wordof salv- We subjoin the declaration of
ation, believed and was baptized, a single individual, who, doubt.
A third is a Hindoor who less, expresses the feelings of has been employed as a teacher, many hearts. "If (says he) After having publicly consecrat. there be anything under heaven, ed himself to God, and received' thet either I or my friends lonk the seal of the covensat, he, by upon with the greatest abhor. virtue of that covenant, came rence, it is Hindooism. Ifthere is ftvward and publicly dedicated anything which we regard as his only child (a little girl of the greatest instrument of evil, four years of age,) to Jehovah, it ia Hindooism. If there be any- Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in thing which we behold aa the Christian baptism. greatest promoter of vice, it is Hindooism; and if there be any.
Madras. In the number of thing which we consider to !>e
the " Sppctator " for the last hurtful to the peace, comfort,
month (May, 1832), we find, and happiness of society, it is
among a grewt variety of inter- HindooUm. And neither ronun-
esling intelligence, an account elation nor flattery, neither fear
of the Hindoo Christians' re. nor peraecution, can alter onr
ligious Bonk Society for the dis- resolution to destroy thut mon.
semination of Christian know, strous creed."
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titetaty Noticei.
tlTeBAHT NOTICES.
Adbwcoixisb, InKeang- tetn-builder. It is lamentable, BOO province, a college is be- however, to think how " learn- ing erected in the district of ed men," who know somewhut G<Men Hill. A locel mngia- more than other people, on a trate hss taken the lead, and in- given subject, when without duced the gentry to come fur. strict principles, can mislead ward with donations, lo the mankind. What are talents and amount of 31,000 taels. A learning without truth ! Like widow lady has made a present strength and power without jus. of an estate, for the grounds of tice, they are the instrumaats of the institution. These proceed- evil and not of good, ings have been reported to the European scholars are now Emperor, who has ordered bo. coming lo a better acquaintance norary rewards fur the principal with Budhism than many of the cwitributors. It is a charitable nations which profess it ; as the institution. A suhetanlial.build- Chinese and Japaneae, for exam- iiig is raised, in which to lodge pie. But still the knowledge the students, and "fal andjirt " of that system — if system it may are provided tor them ; i. e. food be called — as existing in the to eat and oil for their lamps, — original' languages of lodin, during the term of their resi- would not necessarily give a deuce in college. correct opinion of Budbism, as understood in China or Japan.
Obsbbvations ««r quelqvei We fear that M. R^musat, in
poutU df la doctrhie Samane- his notices about the "Triade
enne, et en particular tur Ua Sapreiiie" of the Budhist% is
notns de la TViade Supreme chez not without a tittle of the "pure
kt different peuplga BouddhUtea. imagination " which he attri-
Par H. Atiel-R6mu3at. Paris, butes to De Guignes. We know
1831. he has read the Chinese sen-
This is a pamphlet by the fences on page 81, in a wrong
amiable critic lUmusat, design- order, and given them a very
ed chiefly lo correct numerous forced sense. The three cha-
errors of the celebrated De Guig. meters which he reads from left
nes, author of the Histoire des lo right, Seng, Fo, Fa, should
Hunt. Onlhesitbjeclofthe re- be read according to the or.
ligion of India, that copious and der of rank, when Chinese are
plausible writer said much that formally seated, — i. e. the mid>
M. Remnsat, by the aid of San. die pince is the first, the left
si-.rit researches, subsequent to hand (he next in order, and thi:
De Guignes' doy, sliowa was en- right hand the lowest ; so that
tirely without foundation, — the the word R^musat has put first
ntere imagination of the sys- should be last. In the second
ji-vGooglc
w
tittimrp i^/ntict^.
J USE,
example which he has trans, laled, instead of beginning at the left band column, be should, have read the middle line first, and the left and right as a pnr- allelism. However, we thaok the worthy anihor for this effort to undeceive the readers of De €uignes, and ehow up the fan- »»siic reltgion «f G^dha, which has loBg misled the inhabilants -of eastern Asia.
The people of Canton caW Biidha, Fai ; and the religion of Budba, Fat mean, or Fut kaoa. Th,e verious images of Budhn, Ihey call Poosat. and the pviesta WoshftiMg. — Budhisni in China is decried by the learned, lau(rh- ed at by the profligsle, yet fol- lowed by all.
Family LinnARv, Yol. XXV. Ttte eveiilfia HUtoiy of the Mblitty of the BoutAy. Lon- don, 1883.
- TItia is said to be fVom the 'pen of Mr. Barrow, who, about 40-yente ago was in China, at- taehed to the embassy of lord ■Macartney. We always esieem- ed Mr. Barrow as a bold party -v rite r,' rather than an accurate 'and 'dispassionate one; and as -he is now an cAi man, we re- gret hia exerting the remnant of -bis talejits, given him by the blessed God, to the prejudice of Christian piety.
According to Ihe Literary Gazette, for Sept. 1831, when noticing the abovenamed woric,
Mr. Barrow takers part with cap- tains Kntzebue and Beech y, (many of wtioae statements have been diegiroved by the beat evi. dence,) against the Christian mis- sionaries at Tahiti. The "able writer," as the Literary Gazelle ealle Mr. Barrow, the apoetle of the North Pole,