[483] In this expression "Pidgin" appears to be a corruption of the word _business_ taken in a very wide sense, as in such terms as _talkee-pidgin_ = a conversation, discussion; _singsong pidgin_ = a concert, etc. It is no unusual occurrence for persons from widely separated Chinese provinces meeting in England to be obliged to use this common jargon in conversation. [484] For the aboriginal peoples, with bibliography, see M. Kennelly's translation of L. Richard's _Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire and its Dependencies_, 1908, pp. 371-3. [485] _Kung-tse_, "Teacher Kung," or more fully _Kung-fu-tse_, "the eminent teacher Kung," which gives the Latinised form _Confucius_. [486] _Kwong Ki Chiu_, 1881, p. 875. Confucius was born in 550 and died in 477 B.C., and to him are at present dedicated as many as 1560 temples, in which are observed real sacrificial rites. For these sacrifices the State yearly supplies 26,606 sheep, pigs, rabbits and other animals, besides 27,000 pieces of silk, most of which things, however, become the "perquisites" of the attendants in the sanctuaries. [487] Arthur H. Smith, _Chinese Characteristics_, New York, 1895. The good, or at least the useful, qualities of the Chinese are stated by this shrewd observer to be a love of industry, peace, and social order, a matchless patience and forbearance under wrongs and evils beyond cure, a happy temperament, no nerves, and "a digestion like that of an ostrich." See also H. A. Giles, _China and the_ _Chinese_, 1902; E. H. Parker, _John Chinaman and a Few Others_, 1901; J. Dyer Ball, _Things Chinese_, 1903; and M. Kennelly in Richard's _Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire and its Dependencies_, 1908. [488] See _Contemporary Review_, Feb. 1908, "Report on Christian Missions in China," by Mr F. W. Fox, Professor Macalister and Sir Alexander Simpson. [489] A happy Portuguese coinage from the Malay _mantri_, a state minister, which is the Sanskrit _mantrin_, a counsellor, from _mantra_, a sacred text, a counsel, from Aryan root _man_, to think, know, whence also the English _mind_. [490] Miss Bird (Mrs Bishop), _The Golden Chersonese_, 1883, p. 37. [491] H. A. Giles, _The Civilisation of China_, 1911, p. 237. See especially Chap. XI., "Chinese and Foreigners," for the etiquette of street regulations and the habit of shouting conversation. CHAPTER VII THE OCEANIC MONGOLS