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X. Notices of Western Tartary. By John Francis Davis, Esq., M.R.A.S. 



Read June 7. 1828. 



The late rebellion of the Muhammedan Tartars against the Emperor of 

 China, by whose predecessor, Kien-lung, they were subdued, in the year 

 1759, has given a fresh interest to regions which still remain very imper- 

 fectly known to Europeans. Pere L'Amiot,* whom thirty years residence 

 at Peking has rendered very capable of affording useful information relating 

 to China and its dependencies, having placed at my disposal some notes 

 concerning the above-mentioned countries, 1 proceed to subjoin a few 

 extracts from them : 



" Aper9u general de Sy-yu (tire du grand ouvrage statistique intitule 

 " Ta-tsing-ye-tung-tchy.') 



" %-J/" confine a Test, avec les Calcas ; au nord et au nord-ouest, avec 

 " la Russie. Tout le pays est gouverne par le general-en-chef, qui reside 

 " a Y-ly, avec beaucoup de Mandarins militaires Tartares. Les princes du 

 " pays sont tres-nombreux ; inaugures par I'empereur; du premier, second, 

 " et troisieme ordre, comme chez les Calcas et les Mongoux. J'ai deja envoy6 

 " en France I'analyse t d'un ouvrage Chinois sur Sy-yu, qui me paroit plus 

 " clair et plus instructif qu'aucune autre ; ainsi je recueillerai dans ces notes 

 " seulement les principaux traits que je n'ai pas trouve ailleurs. II y est traite 

 " de chaque district de Sy-yu ; seulement il n'y est point parle des cruautes 

 " exercees par les Chinois, ou autres particularites peu honoi'ables a la 



• Formerly in the service of the Emperor, but abruptly dismissed by the late sovereign 

 Kea-king, whose narrow-minded jealousy and dislike towards Europeans was well known, and 

 formed a striking contrast with the favour which they received from his father Kien-lung. 

 Only two Europeans were left by Ptre I'Amiot at Peking, one of whom. Padre Serra (a Portu- 

 guese) has lately arrived at Macao, and the other is expected in the ensuing winter of 1827-28. 

 Thus ends the Roman Catholic mission at the capital of China ; a mission which, however 

 unsuccessful in the primary objects of its institution, has done so much towards making us 

 acquainted with the country and its inhabitants. 



t We may hope to see this work edited by one of the Sinologues of Paris. 



