[90] Known as _Widiharit_ in Pali records. _Chinese Recorder_, Vol. III., pp. 33, 74, sqq.; see also pp. 62, 93, 126, for the record of a visit. [91] _Annales de la Foi_, Tome VIII., p. 87. [92] Two thousand Chinese families live in Amerapura. [93] Yule’s _Marco Polo_, Vol. II. Anderson, _Mandalay to Momien_. [94] _Proced. Roy. Geog. Soc._, Vols. XIII., p. 392, XIV., p. 335, XV., pp. 163 and 343. Col. Yule, _Trade Routes to Western China_--_The Geographical Magazine_, April, 1875. Richthofen, _Recent Attempts to find a direct Trade-Road to Southwestern China_--_Shanghai Budget_, March 26, 1874. _Journey of A. R. Margary from Shanghae to Bhamo._ London, 1875. Col. H. Browne in _Blue Books_, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 (1876-77). CHAPTER IV. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF MANCHURIA, MONGOLIA, ÍLÍ, AND TIBET. The portions of the Chinese Empire beyond the limits of the Eighteen Provinces, though of far greater extent than China Proper, are comparatively of minor importance. Their vast regions are peopled by different races, whose languages are mutually unintelligible, and whose tribes are held together under the Chinese sway rather by interest and reciprocal hostilities or dislike, than by force. European geographers have vaguely termed all that space lying north of Tibet to Siberia, and east of the Tsung ling to the Pacific, _Chinese Tartary_; while the countries west of the Tsung ling or Belur tag, to the Aral Sea, have been collectively called _Independent Tartary_. Both these names have already become nearly obsolete on good maps of those regions; the more accurate knowledge brought home by recent travellers having ascertained that their inhabitants are neither all Tartars (or Mongols) nor Turks, and further that the native names and divisions are preferable to a single comprehensive one. Such names as Manchuria, Mongolia, Songaria, and Turkestan, derived from the leading tribes dwelling in those countries, are more definite, though these are not permanent, owing to the migratory, changeable habits of the people. From their ignorance of scientific geography, the Chinese have no general designations for extensive countries, long chains of mountains, or devious rivers, but apply many names where, if they were better informed, they would be content with one. The following table presents a general view of these countries, giving their leading divisions and forms of government. They cannot be classed, however, in the same manner as the provinces, nor are the divisions and capitals here given to be regarded as definitely settled. Their united area is 3,951,130 square miles, or a little more than all Europe; their separate areas cannot be precisely given. Manchuria contains about 400,000 square miles; Mongolia between 1,300,000 and 1,500,000 square miles; Ílí about 1,070,000 square miles; and Tibet from 500,000 to 700,000 square miles. GENERAL VIEW OF THE COLONIES AND THEIR SUBDIVISIONS.