394 DZUNGARIA 



district consist of the resident-sedentary class, for the 

 most part new-comers, and include colonists, merchants, 

 and the official element. The vast proportion of 

 the settlers are Dungans and Chinese, who take up 

 small holdings and lead an easy and profitable existence. 

 There are also a few Chantos from Chinese Turkestan, 

 but these latter fare badh' when they come in contact 

 with the crafty Celestials. The Dungan population is 

 considerable, especially in the well-favoured Manas 

 district. They all came originally from the provinces 

 of Kansu and Shensi, but be^^ond this fact the origin 

 of the Dungan, or " Turgani," is very vague ; it has, 

 indeed, been called " the most obscure problem in 

 Asiatic history." ^ The Dungans are strict Mohammedans, 

 in that they rigorously observe the two dogmas, of 

 abstinence from the eating of swine's flesh and from the 

 use of spirits ; neither do they touch opium. They are, 

 in consequence, a healthier, hardier, bolder, and braver 

 race than the Chinese, and of even greater activity 

 and astuteness. 



The Dungan is a wonderful fellow, although rather 

 insolent and unmanageable. He is even superior to 

 the wily Chinese when it becomes a question of business 

 sagacity. The Chinese formula for the comparative 

 capabilities of the Christian, the Jew, the Dungan, and 

 the Celestial is as follows : One Jew can cheat ten 

 Christians ; one Chinaman is the equal of ten Jews ; 

 but one Dungan can get the better of ten Chinese ! 



The Chinese Mohammedan has caused trouble in 

 the past. He has been overcome by superiorit}' of 

 numbers, but he has forgotten nothing, and only waits 

 until his chance occurs again. If there were no likeli- 



1 See Appendix A. 



