ETHNOLOGY, ETC., OF CHINA. 171 
ments for Roman ladies of that period, having been looked 
upon as “collected from the leaves of trees.” 
Whence came the people by whom the country so named is 
now inhabited; and who are they ? ‘The few particulars relat- 
ing to this question which are about to follow may, perhaps, 
throw some light or, at least, afford materials wherewith 
those interested in the subject may further prosecute their 
investigations in regard to it. 
According to the authority* whom I desire to follow on 
the present occasion, the tawny-coloured, olive, and yellow 
families of mankind, which include the Manchus of Central 
Asia, the Chinese, Japanese, and Hyperboreans, as the Lap- 
landers, Samoides, and Hsquimaux, are referred to the parent 
stock of Summ, the Scythians and Tartars to that of JapHeru.t 
The various peoples so enumerated have acquired distinctive 
characteristics in the course of their migrations, circumstances 
of locality, and general surroundings ; their modes of life and 
national distinctions being also largely due to the same influ- 
ences. Nor are the variations in type thus alluded to con- 
fined to man; changes of an allied nature are observable in 
respect to the zoology and botany of geographical regions, 
even, also, the physical aspect of territories undergoes con- 
tinued change. And there are modifying circumstances of 
another nature, the influence exerted by which is not to be 
overlooked, namely :— 
Chinese history supplies examples of the influence of wars 
and invasions as leading to migrations of particular septs or 
clans. One such instance must here suffice. In the second 
century before our era the tract of country which comprises the 
north-western portion of Kansuh, Kokonor, and a part of the 
south of Gobi was inhabited by a people called Yuucut, or 
Yoett; { they had towns in their possession, and were ruled over 
* White’s Universal History. 
+ Perhaps, therefore, if, as we may reasonably believe they did, the descen- 
dants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth commenced to colonise shortly after they 
began to form families, three centuries would not be too long a time for some 
of them to settle in China, offsetting presumably from Elam, Asshur, and 
other descendants of Shem in Persia.* It is true that in sacred genealogy the 
origin of great peoples in Eastern nations cannot be traced with similar clear- 
ness as Moses adopted in regard to the western divisions of the human 
family, more especially the Arabian and the Phcenician branches. The fact, 
however, that Moses adapted his record in this respect, while it leaves the 
subject open to investigation and conjecture, makes more clear the intention 
with which that portion of this record was so written. 
{ The original seat of the tribe so-called is believed to have been Ghuznee. 
Under the name of Scythians, they have been known since about B.C. 800. 
* Williams, vol. ii, p. 145. 
N 2 3 
