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CHINESE TARTARY.

FROM the country now called Chinese Tartary, began to roll that tide of migration, conquest, and barbarism, which, at different periods, overwhelmed the civilization of Europe, Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, and India. It extends about 3560 miles in length, from east to west, and about 1250 in breadth, from north to south. On the east it is bounded by the ocean; on the south by China proper and Thibet; on the west by Great Bucharia and the Kirgusses of independent Tartary; and on the north by the Siberian dominions of Russia.

This extensive region is diversified with all the grand features of nature, extensive ranges of mountains, large rivers, and lakes. Most of these are very imperfectly known.

The climate is remarkable for a degree of cold, seldom experienced in the same latitudes, either in Asia, Europe, or America. Pere Crebillon, who traversed those regions in the middle of summer, says, that in 41° of latitude, it was excessively cold in the beginning of June, and the country quite covered in the morning with hoar frost.

Little is known of either the cultivated or the spontaneous productions of those vast countries. Among the southern Manshurs, agriculture is not wholly neglected, nor are wheat and other kinds of grain unknown. But the most remarkable productions of Chinese Tartary, with which we are acquainted, are the celebrated ginseng, the favourite drug of the Chinese, and the rhubarb, so well known in the practice of medicine. One distinguishing characteristic of these extensive regions is the deficiency of wood. Some forests are seen near the rivers; but, in general, central Asia is described as presenting almost as great a scarcity of trees as the deserts of Arabia and Africa.

Mongalia was the primitive source of those tremendous movements, which from that central point were at once

directed towards the east, the west, and the south; and spread desolation and carnage over China, Persia, Syria, Russia, Poland, and Hungary. But Mongalia was only the centre of the volcano. The various tribes of northern Asia being subdued, swelled the armies of the victors. Agglome rated hordes, under the general appellation of Tartars, overran a great part of the world. But after the division of their conquests had weakened their power, the progressive extension of the Russian and Chinese empires has at last annihilated their independence; and they have became subject to countries over which they had formerly tyrannized.

The religion which is the most generally diffused in central Asia is Shamanism, or the belief in a supreme author of nature, and numerous inferior spirits who govern the world, in subordination to his will. This, indeed, seems to have been the basis of all the ancient systems of Paganism.

The government is for the most part left to the administration of native princes or chiefs, who pay homage to the emperor of China. The laws appear to be chiefly traditional.

This extensive part of the Chinese empire might probably assemble a numerous, but it would be an ineffective army. Those nomadic tribes, even under the direction of China, can never be formidable to Russia.

In this immense extent of territory, three languages, radically different from each other, are spoken, each of which is subdivided into numerous dialects. The three radical languages of central Asia are those of the Manshurs, the Monguls, and the Tartars. Of these the Manshur appears to be the most elegant. It has derived importance, as well as refinement, from the rule of the Manshur dynasty over China, and begins to grow fashionable at the court of Pekin, where, in process of time, it will probably supplant the Chinese. Like that language, it is written in perpendicular columns, but beginning on the left side of the paper instead of the right.

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THIBET.

THIBET extends from the 75th to the 101st degree of longitude, and from the 27th to the 36th degree of north latitude. From the accounts of late travellers, we may collect an idea of its general features, but neither Chinese nor European research has yet illustrated its particular geography. The whole country appears to be extremely elevated, besides being bounded and intersected by extensive chains of mountains of a prodigious height, which are covered with perpetual snow. The western parts of Thibet are totally unknown.

Chinese Tartary and Thibet may be regarded as the heart of Asia; the central and elevated regions from whence descend the immense rivers which water China, exterior India, and Hindostan. Thibet in particular, contains the sources of the Indus, the Ganges, and the Burrampooter.

The soil of Thibet proper, presents a general aspect of sterility. The country abounds with rocky hills, destitute of vegetation, and extensive arid plains of almost the same unpromising appearance.

In the periodical return and duration of the seasons, a remarkable uniformity prevails. The spring, from March till May, is marked by a variable atmosphere, heat, thunder storms, and showers. From June to September, heavy and continued rains fill the rivers, which carry their inundations into Bengal. From October to March, the sky, scarcely ever obscured by fogs or clouds, is uniformly serene. During three months of this season, the cold is extremely intense. The distinguishing characteristic of the Thibetian climate is extreme cold, out of all proportion to its distance from the sun. In the same parallel of latitude as Carolina and Florida, it rivals the wintry rigors of Quebec. Wheat, peas, and barley, are the chief objects of agricultural industry. On the cessation of the rains, the crops are speedily matured by a powerVOL. II.

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ful sun, and the dry and serene autumn is favourable to the Thibetian harvest.

Its rocky wilds afford pasture to numerous flocks of sheep and goats, and to some herds of cattle. They also abound with wild fowl and game. The goats are celebrated for their fine hair, which is manfactured into shawls, at Cashmire, from which they derive their name. The cattle, of which the flowing and glossy tails are an article of ornamental luxury in the East, are found here as well as in other parts of central Asia. The musk deer is one of the rarities of this country; and the wild horse is among its quadrupeds. Thibet is infested with numerous beasts of prey, of the smaller, but few, or none, of the larger kind.

This country, under the name of Tangut, was known to Marco Polo, the celebrated Venetian traveller, who informs us, that it had been ravaged by the Monguls, and in his time was nearly desolated. It was for some time governed by secular princes; but since 1792, the Chinese have established military posts on the frontiers; and Thibet is now under the protection, or rather the dominion, of China.

The religious and political system of Thibet forms a curious. circumstance in the history of human opinions. The principal idol in the temples of Thibet, is the Budha of Bengal, who is worshipped under various names throughout the wide extent of Tartary. The distinguishing and most singular characteristic of this religion, which, as well as Shamanism, is diffused over the whole of central Asia, is the peculiar refinement of the eastern metempsycosis, applied to the sovereign pontiff or Lama. This supposed vice-regent and representative of the deity is said to be immortal, being renewed through an endless succession of those sacerdotal sovereigns. Whenever the grand Lama seems to die of age or infirmity, his soul is supposed only to leave a crazy habitation, in order to seek for one that is younger and better, and which is discovered by marks known only to the priests in whose order the new pontiff always appears. The Teshoo Lama, who is the second in authority and sanctity of character, seems to be the principal agent in this investigation; and as he acts as regent during

the minority of the sovereign, it is easy to perceive that he consults his own interests in discovering the sacred marks in some child, while his power and influence secures him a party among the inferior Lamas to corroborate his evidence. When Mr. Turner was at Lassa, the grand Lama was an infant incapable of speech, and the Teshoo Lama was, in consequence, the actual sovereign. The grand Lama, besides his spiritual authority, which is so widely extended, enjoys the absolute temporal, as well as spiritual, sovereignty over Thibet. The Egyptian priests themselves never discovered a more refined or a more successful scheme for establishing sacerdotal power over the minds and bodies of men. The government of Thibet is so interwoven with its religion, that no distinction can be discovered. The whole is sacerdotal; all authority, spiritual and temporal, residing in the priesthood.

The chief trade of Thibet is with China, from whence considerable quantities of tea are brought into the country. Some traffic is also carried on with Bengal, the Thibetians sending thither gold dust, borax, and musk, and receiving in return broadcloths, spices, emeralds, sapphires, &c. The population is thinly scattered, and the number of males is said greatly to exceed that of females; a physical singularity for which no satisfactory cause is assigned.

No political importance can be ascribed to Thibet, and it has no political relations except with the court of Pekin.

The literature of Thibet is mostly of the religious kind; and the method of printing is the same as in China; the paper is manufactured from the fibrous roots of a small shrub. The Thibetians seem to have made a considerable progress in civilization, but little in the sciences.

The people of Thibet are generally stout, with something of the Tartaric feature, and a ruddy, brown complexion, indicating health and vigor. It may be regarded as a remarkable characteristic of their manners, that the polygamy of this country assumes a different form from that of all other oriental regions; the women being indulged in a plurality of husbands. Among any number of brothers, the eldest possesses the privilege of choosing a wife, who stands in the