176 SURGEON-GENERAL C. A. GORDON. 
Chinese history during 4,000 years. As the early immigrants 
spread in China they found that country already occupied by 
tribes of aborigines, a description of whom as originally given 
remains to the present day. In the regions southward of 
Shansi they were pictured as “ fiery dogs,” those in the east as 
“‘ oreat bowmen,” on the south as “‘ ungovernable vermin,” and 
on the west as ‘‘ mounted warriors.” The language of those 
tribes differed from that of the “‘ black-haired ” invaders. Step 
by step the Mraorzz were driven to the mountains, where their 
descendants still continue to maintain their independence, 
having on various occasions defeated the Chinese forces that 
have been sent against them. 
The mountain ranges of Yunnan, Kiangsi, and Kweichow 
are their principal strongholds at the present day, several 
tribes inhabiting different portions of the 360 geographical 
miles from east to west, over which these ranges stretch. 
Allied in physical aspect, on the one hand, to the Shans and 
Karens of Upper Burmah, on the other to the Mishmis of 
north-eastern Bengal, their language has strong affinities with 
that of Siam and Annam. ‘Their complexion fair for Asiatics, 
their features softened Mongolian in type, even approaching 
the Aryan; yet they are contemptuously called by the Chinese 
“‘T-yin,” or black barbarians, “ Yaou-jin,”’ or dog-men, and 
* Lang-jin,” or wolf men.* 
They are described as in disposition bold and warlike, 
naturally averse to agricultural pursuits, and to the restraints 
of settled life. Certain of them have fixed dwellings; their 
houses consist of two stories, the lower being occupied by 
their cattle, while the upper is set apart for the family. 
Towards the frontiers of Burmah, in Yunnan, and having 
various characteristics of the inhabitants of the Irawaddy 
Valley, are the Lolos, a branch of the Miaotze. Their history 
dates back to no earlier a period than A.D. 250, when a Shan 
nation came under Chinese influence. In the interior of the 
island of Hainan are to be found the Li-Mu, another off-shoot 
from this same aborigines. The inhabitants of that island 
comprise two other classes, namely, Chinese proper, and a 
cross between those and the “ Black hi,” or aborigines. 
The Mongols and Manchus belong to the same family, but 
during centuries of separation, under different circumstances, 
have altered much. The Mongols are essentially nomadic ; 
the Manchus are agricultural or a hunting people, according 
to locality. The Manchus seem to partake of both the Mongol 
and of the Chinese characters in about an equal degree, and 
* See Note 2, p. 194. 
