74 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



fifty years before a temporary foothold had been gained by the same 

 order. The first effort lasted, however, for but seventy-five years, and 

 then, like the Nestorian movement, quietly died without practical re- 

 sults. It was also during this dynasty that the first foreign settlement 

 was made on Chinese soil, in the Portuguese port of Macao in 1557. 



In the seventeenth century the northern tribes set up a rebellion. 

 Gaining adherents to their cause they captured Peking in 1644, swept 

 away Chinese rule and established a Manchu dynasty, to which they 

 gave the name of 'Ta Tsing* or the 'Great Pure/ The principal effects 

 of this change were to establish the northern races in control of the 

 government and to stamp upon the whole people their most striking 

 outward distinguishing mark in the queue, which was a distinctly 

 Manchu custom, the Chinese having cut their hair like Western people. 

 On their establishment the Manchu rulers ordered all people to wear the 

 queue as a token of subjugation which the Chinese natives still do, 

 although the Tibetans and Mongols continue to cut their hair as of old. 

 Manchus and Chinese can be readily recognized by their names. Thus 

 one of Manchu descent has but a double name, like Tung-lu, while a 

 Chinese has three characters as, Li Hung-chang. 



The government of China is an absolute imperialism, with powers 

 vested in an Emperor, whose position is well indicated by his most used 

 title, the 'Son of Heaven.' He is assisted by two councils under whom 

 are the seven boards of: Civil Service, Revenue, Rites, War, Punish- 

 ment, Works and Navy, who severally attend to the administration of 

 affairs in their respective departments. Then there is the Tsung-Li- 

 Yamen, or foreign office; a bureau composed of twelve ministers, with 

 and through whom all relations with other nations and foreigners gen- 

 erally are conducted. 



The communication between the Imperial authority and the people 

 is through the local governments of the provinces. These provinces in 

 their organization closely resemble an American State, varying in size 

 from Che-kiang, the smallest, within an area of 35,000 square miles, to 

 Sz-chuen, the largest, embracing 170,000 square miles. These are re- 

 spectively comparable with the States of Indiana (36,350 square miles) 

 and California (156,000 square miles). Each province is ruled by a gov- 

 ernor appointed by the throne, and he exercises his authority through 

 a chain of officialism. The province is divided into circuits, each circuit 

 being controlled by an intendant of circuit or taotai. In addition to the 

 regular taotais, there are special ones appointed to look after the large 

 treaty ports, like Shanghai. Such taotais have immense powers and the 

 positions are much sought after. The circuits or 'Fu' are usually again 

 subdivided into two or more 'Chau' or prefectures under a prefect, and 

 each perfecture into Hsiens or districts, under a magistrate. Cities 

 where such officials dwell are usually indicated by adding 'Fu/ 



