The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its InhabitantsWilliams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
History
The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its Inhabitants
Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
China
The larger part of Manchuria is covered by forests, the abode of wild
animals, whose capture affords employment, clothing, and food to their
hunters. The rivers and coasts abound in fish; among which carp,
sturgeon, salmon, pike, and other species, as well as shell-fish, are
plenty; the pearl-fishery is sufficiently remunerative to employ many
fishermen; the Chinese Government used to take cognizance of their
success, and collect a revenue in kind. The argali and jiggetai are
found here as well as in Mongolia; bears, wolves, tigers, deer, and
numerous fur-bearing animals are hunted for their skins. The troops are
required to furnish 2,400 stags annually to the Emperor, who reserves
for his own use only the fleshy part of the tail as a delicacy. Larks,
pheasants, and crows of various species, with pigeons, thrushes, and
grouse, abound. The condor is the largest bird of prey, and for its
size and fierceness rivals its congener of the Andes.
The greater half of Shingking and the south of Kirin is cultivated;
maize, Setaria wheat, barley, pulse, millet, and buckwheat are the
principal crops. Ginseng and rhubarb are collected by troops sent
out in detachments under the charge of their proper officers. These
sections support, moreover, large herds of various domestic animals.
The timber which covers the mountains will prove a source of wealth as
soon as a remunerative market stimulates the skill and enterprise of
settlers; even now, logs over three feet in diameter find their way up
to Peking, brought from the Liau valley.
~THE PROVINCE OF SHINGKING.~
Manchuria is divided into three provinces, _Shingking_, _Kirin_, and
_Tsitsihar_. The province of SHINGKING includes the ancient Liautung,
and is bounded north by Mongolia; north-east and east by Kirin; south
by the Gulf of Liautung and Corea, from which latter it is separated
by the Yaluh River; and west by Chahar in Chihlí. It contains two
departments, viz., Fungtien and Kinchau, subdivided into fifteen
districts; there are also twelve garrisoned posts at the twelve gates
in the Palisade, whose inmates collect a small tax on travellers and
goods. Manchuria is under a strictly military government, every male
above eighteen being liable for military service, and being, in fact,
enrolled under that one of the eight standards to which by birth he
belongs. The administration of Shingking is partly civil and partly
military; that of Kirin and Tsitsihar is entirely military.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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