The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of ManBartlett, John Russell
History
The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of Man
Bartlett, John Russell
Anthropology -- History; Ethnology -- History
Such is the zeal and perseverance with which
these men pursue their philanthropic and Christian labors.
The fair to which allusion has been made, is thus described by our
Corean. The traders cannot begin their operations until a signal is
given, by hoisting a flag and beating the gong, "when the immense and
densely packed crowd rush to the market place; Coreans, Chinese, and
Manchus, are all mingled together. Each speaks in his own tongue, and so
great is the uproar produced by this mass of people, that the echoes of
the neighboring mountains repeat their discordant shouts."
"Four or five hours is the whole time allowed for buying and selling;
consequently, the tumult which takes place, the quarrels which arise,
the blows which are exchanged, and the plundering which goes on, give
the place more the look of a city taken by storm and given up to
pillage, than that of a fair." At evening, when the signal is given,
the strangers are driven out by the soldiers with the points of their
lances.
MANCHURIA. The vast regions of Manchuria, lying north of Corea to the
Hing-an or Yablonoi mountains, and east of the Sialkoi to the ocean, are
inhabited by various tribes speaking different dialects and subsisting
principally by hunting and fishing. The Manchus are now the dominant
race, but some of the tribes near the sea and in Taraka island, bear no
tributary relations to them, if indeed they are much acquainted. Since
the conquest of China, the Manchus have gone on steadily improving this
part of their possessions by stationing agricultural troops at the
principal ports of observation, and collecting the hunters around these
points as much as possible. Criminals are also constantly banished
there, who carry with them their arts, and by their industry both
maintain themselves and set an example to the nomads. The southern part
called Shingking, has become well cultivated in many parts, and
considerable trade is carried on at Kinchau with other parts of China.
Manchuria produces pulse, maize, (Indian corn), millet, barley and
buckwheat; pulse, drugs and cattle, form the leading articles of trade.
The climate of this country is so inhospitable, as to prove a serious
obstacle in the way of its settlement and cultivation.
The Manchus have no national literature; all the books written in their
language are translations of Chinese works, made under the
superintendence of the Academies at Moukden and Peking. Their written
characters are derived from the Mongols, but have undergone many
changes. The emperors have taken great pains to elevate their countrymen
by providing them with the best books in Chinese literature, and
compelling them to go through the same examinations before they can
attain any office; but the numerical superiority of the Chinese and
their active habits, give them so much the advantage, that except in
their own country, the Manchus find it difficult to preserve their
native tongue to the second generation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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