i62 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



this keeps them weak in power the Chinese pohcy is to 

 intervene as seldom as possible. On the map are indi- 

 cated as accurately as our knowledge admits the positions 

 occupied by some of these tribes and feudal states. It is 

 almost impossible to render into English the guttural sounds 

 denoting the names of many of these tribes. But, fortunately, 

 the more important, namely, Mupin, Wassu, Somo, Damba, 

 Bati-Bawang, Wokje, are the least difficult to pronounce. 

 The whole territory occupied by these people is about 250 

 miles from north to south, and 200 miles east to west at broadest 

 point. The population is about half a million. 



Two main roads, one from Kuan Hsien, the other from 

 Lifan Ting, cross this region and unite near Monkong Ting. 

 In addition, a network of cross-country by-ways connects 

 the various villages and states. 



The Chiarung are essentially agriculturists, cultivating 

 with much skill crops of wheat, barley, peas, buckwheat, 

 maize, Irish potato, and miscellaneous vegetables. Sheep, 

 cattle, ponies, and goats are kept by the more wealthy, often 

 in quantity. The horses are sold to Chinese traders, but the 

 wool is woven into cloth for their own use. Milk, butter, and 

 meat enter largely into their diet. They are also skilled gun- 

 and swordsmiths, more especially the Somo people, who manu- 

 facture most of these weapons in use among the tribes them- 

 selves and the people of eastern Thibet generally. Many are 

 also highly skilled masons, builders, and weU-sinkers, and as 

 such have a reputation even amongst the Chinese. During 

 August many visit the upper reaches of the Min River every 

 year to take part in harvesting the crops ; indeed, for this 

 purpose they supply most of the labour in that region. Often 

 they are in request in Chengtu and other cities for sinking wells 

 and such-like work. 



The Chiarung live in settlements of from several to a 

 hundred families or even more, always in positions admirably 

 suited for defence. These settlements usually crown some 

 bluff or eminence ; very often they are perched like an eagle's 

 aerie high up on the steep mountain-side. The architecture 

 which obtains throughout is characteristic and peculiar. Each 

 settlement is dominated by one or more tall, chimney-like 



