Mr St John on the Mongols. 263 



their masters. It may be that it was the desire of the Man- 

 ehus to prevent the repetition of the notorious influence ex- 

 ercised by the Chinese on the former Tatar invaders. A 

 second attempt of a similar tendency was made in later times 

 by the Emperor Kien Long, who caused 5000 Manchu words 

 to be substituted for as many Chinese ones, forbidding the use 

 of the latter under pain of corporal punishment ! 



The hair of the Mongols is black, and naturally by no 

 means scanty or short. Among the neighbouring Tunguses 

 instances have been met with of hair of extraordinary length. 

 A Russian ambassador mentions a man whose locks measured 

 four yards, and whose son promised in this respect to emulate 

 his sire. 



The complexion of the Mongols is sometimes described as 

 dark-yellow, sometimes as deep olive. The truth seems to be, 

 that it is rather sallow and tanned by the sun. The children 

 are frequently mentioned as having ruddy cheeks : and the 

 rosy countenances of the women are also dwelt upon. 



The stature of the Tatars generally is moderate. Their 

 legs are remarkable for their shortness ; their feet also are 

 small ; and their knees are slightly bent out. Their thighs 

 are thick, their shoulders broad, their waists small, their arms 

 long and vigorous. The peculiarities of their lower limbs may 

 result from their equestrian habits ; the strength of their arms 

 is very possibly derived from the constant use of the bow. 



It is natural that a slight notice of the country inhabited by 

 the Mongols should succeed the description of their physical 

 organisation. Without believing in the theory of autoch- 

 thoneity, I consider man to be in some measure the creature 

 of the hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, winds, storms, and sun- 

 shine of his native land. All these participate in the forma- 

 tion of his character. It is in this sense alone that I under- 

 stand that the Tatar race traces its origin to the Altai chain 

 of mountains. There was the cradle of its future indivi- 

 duality. In the regions to which its various subdivisions mi- 

 grated, new elements were added by degrees. Not the least 

 remarkable instance is that of the Mongols. 



Their present country occupies the sides and summit of a 

 vast swell in the surface of Central Asia, broken up into hills 



