[477] The first actual date given is that of Tai Hao (Fu-hi), 2953 B.C., but this ruler belongs to the fabulous period, and is stated to have reigned 115 years. The first certain date would appear to be that of Yau, first of the Chinese sages and reformer of the calendar (2357 B.C.). The date 2254 B.C. for Confucius's model king Shun seems also established. But of course all this is modern history compared with the now determined Babylonian and Egyptian records. [478] Amongst the metals reference is made to iron so early as the time of the Emperor Ta Yue (2200 B.C.), when it is mentioned as an article of tribute in the _Shu-King_. F. Hirth, who states this fact, adds that during the same period, if not even earlier, iron was already a flourishing industry in the Liang district (Paper on the "History of Chinese Culture," Munich Anthropological Society, April, 1898). At the discussion which followed the reading of this paper Montelius argued that iron was unknown in Western Asia and Egypt before 1500 B.C., although the point was contested by Hommel, who quoted a word for iron in the earliest Egyptian texts. Montelius, however, explained that terms originally meaning "ore" or "metal" were afterwards used for "iron." Such was certainly the case with the Gk. [Greek: chalkos], at first "copper," then metal in general, and used still later for [Greek: sideros], "iron"; hence [Greek: chalkeus] = coppersmith, blacksmith, and even goldsmith. So also with the Lat. _aes_ (Sanskrit _ayas_, akin to _aurora_, with simple idea of brightness), used first especially for copper (_aes cyprium, cuprum_), and then for _bronze_ (Lewis and Short). For Hirth's later views see his _Ancient History of China_, 1908 (from the fabulous ages to 221 B.C.). [479] This term _Y-jen_ (_Yi-jen_), meaning much the same as _Man_, _Man-tse_, savage, rude, untameable, has acquired a sort of diplomatic distinction. In the treaty of Tien-tsin (1858) it was stipulated that it should no longer, as heretofore, be applied in official documents to the English or to any subjects of the Queen. [480] See J. Edkins, _China's Place in Philology_, p. 117. The Hok-los were originally from Fo-kien, whence their alternative name, _Fo-lo_. The _lo_ appears to be the same word as in the reduplicated _Lo-lo_, meaning something like the Greek and Latin _Bar-bar_, stammerers, rude, uncultured. [481] The _Hakkas_, _i.e._ "strangers," speak a well-marked dialect current on the uplands between Kwang-tung, Kiang-si, and Fo-kien. J. Dyer Ball, _Easy Lessons in the Hakka Dialect_, 1884. [482] Numerous in the western parts of Kwang-tung and in the Canton district. J. Dyer Ball, _Cantonese Made Easy_, Hongkong, 1884.