LU riON. 



TOO CHINA. 



which evinces how the Arabs carried with them a thirfl after 

 knoulcgc; but they were loolced on by their brethren as apo- 

 llatcs, tor mini^Ung with a nation whofe rites were fo contrary to 

 Iheir own. 



Notwithstanding the Mahometans have been fettled fo 

 many centuries in China, they are in many places confidered as 

 intruders, are treated moft contemptuoufly by the vulgar, and 

 fometimes their mofques have been demolilhed by the mob. 

 Last Revo- Let me now return to the temporal concerns of the Chinefe 



emi)ire. The laft revolution was efFe6ted in 1644. The em- 

 peror Tfong-Chinv^ reduced to defpair by a fuccefsfnl rebellion, 

 put himfelf to death ; his brave general made head againil: the 

 ufurper, but unfortunately, like our Fortigern, called in the af- 

 fiftance of a foreign power ; he invoked the Manchew Tartars^ 

 who, headed by their monarch Xfong-te^ united with him, and 

 expelled the ufurper. Tfong-te died as foon as that was efFedted ; 

 but before his death, declared his infant fon emperor of China, 

 The general found his error too late, yet fubmitted to the necef- 

 iity, and. fupported the new fucceffion. From that time the 

 Tartar line continued on the throne ; but the prince, and all the 

 Tartarian fubjecSts he brought with him, adopted, in the moft mi- 

 nute articles, the antient rules of the empire, its laws and cuftoms, 

 and affumed the habits of the conquered people. Tartars and 

 Chinefe are admitted indifferently to places of truft civil and mi- 

 litary. The Tartars compofe moft of the garrifons, but are now 

 grown as effeminate as the Chinefe themfelves, and very little fu- 

 perior to the native foldiery. The army of China confifts of 

 6 > feven 



