556 CHINA AND ITS TRADE. 



things, and of the Chinese people the greatest of sublunary matter. 

 European writers, influenced by the splendid account the celestial 

 historians gave of themselves, took care to repeat their authorities, or 

 to deny them in ioto, and thus has China been alternately pictured a 

 paradise and a pandemonium. Mr. GutzlafF acknowledges himself 

 indebted for the geographical knowledge of China contained in his 

 book to the Jesuits, who constructed the best maps. The superficial 

 area is about 1,298,000 square miles. The defensive military re- 

 sources of this vast empire have generally been supposed to be pro- 

 portioned to its population and extent, but the great wall on the 

 Tartar frontier, about which we have been always hearing so much, 

 is wholly inadequate to resist modern tactics. On the east its ports 

 are open to any petty maritime power, and the country through 

 many of its rivers perfectly defenceless. China is intersected by an 

 infinity of canals, all of which are connected with navigable rivers, 

 so that the natural advantages in some measure compensate for the 

 absense of an improving spirit. So extensive a kingdom must possess 

 almost every possible variety of climate, but it is on the whole much 

 colder than any western territory in the same latitude. The produce 

 of its soil in variety and quality is inferior to that of Europe. Rice 

 is the principal article of cultivation ; fruit and vegetables are not 

 numerous, and are all indigenous, owing to the jealousy of adapting 

 any thing foreign. The potatoe is unknown to the natives, as is also 

 our bread, though wheat is partially grown. Tea is not common to 

 all provinces, though cultivated in many. China is the beau ideal for 

 such of our politicians as regard machinery with horror. All things 

 are performed among the celestial population by hand, and even the 

 labour of horses and cattle of all descriptions is rarely resorted to. 

 Little animal food is consumed, so that graziers are not very plentiful. 



We have no inclination to particularise the names or peculiarities 

 of the various provinces, cities, and towns. In stating the popula- 

 tion at the enormous number of 367 millions it is our author's belief 

 that the amount is under-rated. The Chinese are naturally a very 

 prolific people ; bachelorship is rare, and early marriages almost uni- 

 versal. " May you die childless !" is one of the bitterest anathemas 

 a Turk can pronounce ; and barrenness is regarded with equal ab- 

 horrence in China. The wants of the people being few, and their 

 industry converting every spot of earth to account, population steadily 

 increases, and the means of subsistence is afforded to all. 



The will of the emperor is the law of the country. His most 

 despotic enactments are designated paternal chastisements, and his 

 most rigorous behests admonitory suggestions for the well-being of 

 his children. There are censors appointed to investigate and report 

 on his conduct, but his imperial majesty is seldom influenced by 

 apprehension of their dissent. A prodigious revenue is devoted to 

 the due maintenance of the dignity of the crown. The homage 

 usually awarded to the Supreme Being is paid to the occupant of 

 the throne. On court days the mandarins come to " cow-tow" 

 literally "knock-head," whether the emperor be present or not. 

 His majesty unites the office of high-priest to his temporal functions, 

 intercedes with heaven when any calamities befal the nation, and has 



