288 NOTES. 



insect has never been seen at Urumchi. The peculiarity in 

 the physical formation of the country favours the presump- 

 tion of the existence of an extensive depression on the 

 northern side of the Thian Shan, like that of Lob-nor on 

 the south. 



Within the district ruined sites of towns and traces of 

 ancient cultivated fields may be seen, evidencing ancient 

 settlements in this country ; of especial interest are the ruins 

 near the Himus station, probably dating as far back as the 

 Tang dynasty, and here is preserved a large stone image of 

 Buddha, half buried in the earth ; carbonized objects found 

 here prove, in the opinion of the author of these Notes, that 

 this ancient city was destroyed by fire. 



The population of Urumchi consists of Chinese settlers 

 who have lived here for so many generations that they may 

 be regarded as its original inhabitants. When the Manchus 

 conquered Dzungaria they were desirous of consolidating 

 their empire in this remote country, and accordingly drew 

 up a broad scheme of colonization, in accordance with 

 which they planted military colonies of their own dynastic 

 subjects (Manchus, Sibos, Dahurs, Solones, Chakhars, and 

 Eleuths), with their wives and families and a few native 

 Chinese ; further, they encouraged voluntary emigration 

 from China, supplying the colonists with money, provisions, 

 and agricultural implements, and granting them arable 

 land. In other ways, too, they endeavoured to increase the 

 settled population in the nomadic districts.' 



The military, stationed at Urumchi, consist of Manchus 

 and native Chinese, some of the former being obligatory 

 agriculturists, Tsi-ho, i.e. bannermen or Manchus ; the latter, 

 free agriculturists or simply Bing-hu, i.e. military. 



The common people are divided into several classes : 

 I. Those who have voluntarily emigrated from China at 

 the invitation of government, Nim-pu. 2. Merchants de- 

 sirous of becoming agriculturists, who have inscribed them- 



'^ About this time a colony of settlers from the towns of Turkestan, 

 called by the Eleuths Tariacld {Taranclii), or colonists, was established 

 near Hi. 



