ETHNOLOGY, ETC., OF CHINA. 183 
Palmyra; and only a few years subsequent to the martyrdom 
of St. Cyprian of Carthage. 
Six different dynasties* and 120 monarchs had during this 
long interval occupied the throne of China; the empire was 
much enlarged and consolidated ; manners, customs, and 
trains of thought of the people,—all according to models differ- 
ing absolutely from those of Western nations,—-had become 
fixed and stereotyped in many respects, though not in all. 
Waves of conflicting opinions regarding political and religious 
affairs have since then successively passed over the people ; in 
other respects, however, no change has occurred throughout the 
many generations that have meantime played their parts in | 
the drama of Chinese life. Reverence to parents,t and sub- 
mission to constituted authority, have ever been held as 
established tenets among them, the few exceptions to the 
rule which history records having been marked by general 
disapproval and execration. 
With reference to the dynasties here alluded to, no more 
than a few scanty particulars may now be given, viz. :— 
The Hea, founded by Yu, as already alluded to, about B.C. 
2204, had a duration of 439 years; it included 17 sovereigns, 
and passed away B.C. 1765, the period thus included corre- 
sponding to times in which took place the call of Abraham 
(B.C. 2093) ; the flight of Jacob to Mesopotamia (B.C. 1916) ; 
and Joseph’s elevation in Egypt (B.C. 1885). 
The great event connected with the monarchy of Yu, and 
already alluded to, had its commencement in that of the second 
preceding monarch, namely Yao; it has been variously de- 
scribed by different writers on Chinese history, but the follow- 
ing account is that selected for our present purpose :— | 
During the reign of Yao (B.C. 2293) t a tremendous deluge 
occurred, from the overflow of the rivers in the north of 
China, more especially of the Hoangho, called even then, as 
ever since, “ China’s sorrow.”? According to tradition, Yao 
inquired: “‘Is there a capable man to whom I can assign 
the correction of this calamity ?’ His advisers presented 
Kwan as a proper man, but he laboured without success for 
nine years to drain off the waters. Yao was then advised to 
employ Suun, who called in Yu, a son of Kwavy, to his aid, 
and the floods were assuaged by deepening the beds of the 
rivers, and opening new channe!s.$ According to the records, 
* Or eight according to other writers. 
+ See Fifth Commandment. 
{ Era of Noachian deluge. B.C, 3155. 
§ Williams, vol. ii. p. 147. 
