“It has already been remarked that _Si-fan_, convertible with _Man-tzŭ_, is a loose Chinese expression of no ethnological value, meaning nothing more than Western barbarians; but in a more restricted sense it is used to designate a people (or peoples) which inhabits the valley of the Yalung and the upper T’ung, with contiguous valleys and ranges, from about the twenty-seventh parallel to the borders of Koko-nor. This people is sub-divided into eighteen tribes.” (_Baber_, p. 81.) Si-fan or Pa-tsiu is the name by which the Chinese call the Tibetan tribes which occupy part of Western China. (_Devéria_, p. 167.) [Illustration: Black Lolo.] Dr. Bretschneider writes (_Med. Res._ II. p. 24): “The north-eastern part of Tibet was sometimes designated by the Chinese name Si-fan, and Hyacinth [Bitchurin] is of opinion that in ancient times this name was even applied to the whole of Tibet. _Si-fan_ means, ‘Western Barbarians.’ The biographer of Hiuen-Tsang reports that when this traveller, in 629, visited Liang-chau (in the province of Kan-Suh), this city was the entrepôt for merchants from _Si-fan_ and the countries east of the Ts’ung-ling mountains. In the history of the Hia and Tangut Empire (in the _Sung-shi_) we read, _s. a._ 1003, that the founder of this Empire invaded _Si-fan_ and then proceeded to _Si-liang_ (Liang-chau). The _Yuen-shi_ reports, _s. a._ 1268: ‘The (Mongol) Emperor ordered _Meng-gu-dai_ to invade _Si-fan_ with 6000 men.’ The name Si-fan appears also in ch. ccii., biography of _Dan-ba_.” It is stated in the _Ming-shi_, “that the name _Si-fan_ is applied to the territory situated beyond the frontiers of the Chinese provinces of Shen-si (then including the eastern part of present Kan-Suh) and Sze-ch’wan, and inhabited by various tribes of Tangut race, anciently known in Chinese history under the name of _Si Kiang_.... The _Kuang yu ki_ notices that _Si-fan_ comprises the territory of the south-west of Shen-si, west of Sze-ch’wan and north-west of Yun-nan.... The tribute presented by the Si-fan tribes to the Emperor used to be carried to the court at Peking by way of Ya-chau in Sze-ch’wan.” (_Bretschneider_, 203.) The Tangutans of Prjevalsky, north-east of Tibet, in the country of Ku-ku nor, correspond to the Si-fan. “The Ta-tu River may be looked upon as the southern limit of the region inhabited by Sifan tribes, and the northern boundary of the Lolo country which stretches southwards to the Yang-tzŭ and east from the valley of Kien-ch’ang towards the right bank of the Min.” (_Hosie_, p. 102.) To Mr. E. C. Baber we owe the most valuable information regarding the Lolo people: