THE CHIARUNG TRIBES i6i 



they were given the territory they occupy to-day. During 

 the course of time they waxed powerful, menacing the territory 

 to the east of the Min River, and even taking possession of 

 certain parts. In Ming times the Chinese made war with them 

 on many occasions. They were a source of trouble to the 

 Manchu dynasty until the famous Emperor Kienlung deter- 

 mined upon crushing their power. After a very fierce struggle 

 this was accomplished by a Chinese general named A-kuei. 

 First he subjugated the region of the Hsaochin Ho (Little Gold 

 River), then, after much difficulty, he captured Lo-wu-wei 

 (modern Hsuching), the capital of the Tachin Ho (Great Gold 

 River), took the king prisoner, and made a map of the entire 

 region. The king, named Solomuh, was sent to Peking, where, 

 after a grand court ceremony, he was sliced to pieces. The 

 conquest was completed early in a.d. 1775. Military colonies 

 were then estabhshed by the Chinese in strategic places, the 

 more fertile regions were confiscated, and Chinese settlers 

 induced to take possession. In crushing this confederacy 

 the Chinese were assisted by the tribes, being to some extent 

 divided amongst themselves. Some of them fought on the 

 Chinese side, and as a reward certain areas situated at strategic 

 points were fiefed out and established as feudal states for 

 the benefit of these allies, an overlord with hereditary control 

 being appointed to each. The Chinese handled this campaign 

 with consummate skill, and the administrative system estab- 

 lished has remained unchanged down to the present day. 

 The power of the tribes was completely broken ; and the feudal 

 states and the military colonies have safeguarded the Chinese 

 from any concerted action on the part of these people ever 

 since. It will, however, be readily understood that the tribes 

 farthest removed from regions fully occupied by Chinese enjoy 

 to-day greater independence than those in close contiguity. 



Originally these " Chiarung " had one common language, 

 but time, isolation, and the dividing up into clans has produced 

 many very dissimilar dialects. These people are now split 

 up into eighteen tribes, occupying very unequal areas of terri- 

 tory, and though all are interrelated by marriage they are by 

 no means at peace with one another. Feuds are constant, 

 and fighting among themselves is very much the rule. Since 



VOL. I. — II 



