104 SUKGEOK-GENERAL SIE C. A. GOEUON, M.D,, K.C.E., ON 



The measures by wliicli tlie change from the Hea dynasty 

 in China to its successor was brought about were briefJy 

 after this manner. Among the tributary princes, one, 

 namely, Ching Tang, traced back relationshiyj to " the Yellow 

 Emperor," with whose reign* the present paper begins; thus 

 in his particular instance family descent was traced through 

 upwards of eight and a half centuries. Ching Tang gave 

 asylum to all faithful miiiisters and others who were forced 

 to flee from the presence of Kea, their monarch, and last of 

 his hne. At their soiicitation he took up arms. After a time 

 spent in war and negotiation, " the imperial troops threw 

 down their arms and fled. Kea escaped, and, forsaken by 

 the whole world, died an ignominious death in exile."t 

 His son also, the heir apparent, and last scion of the Hea 

 dynasty, retired to the northern deserts, Avhere he ended 

 his life amongst savages. 



In the year B.C. 17G6 Chin Tang accordingly came to the 

 throne of China as first emperor of the second dynasty, to 

 which he gave the name of Chang, from the province of 

 Avhich he had been feudal chief. That dynasty was to con- 

 sist of twenty-seven monarchs and to continue till B.C. 1121, 

 namely, a period of 645 years. 



During the reign of Chin Tang " there occurred a drought 

 which lasted seven years.| Streams and rivers were dried 

 up, and the whole soil was parched. NotAvithstanding the 

 scantiness of the harvest none were reduced to starvation, 

 for there was always a quantity of grain remaining in the 

 store houses " : taxes were diminished ; the people en- 

 couraged to cultivate the arid ground, the produce being 

 entirely their own. In other respects his acts of benevolence 

 were numerous, the people were astonished at his tender 

 consideration for them, and called him "the well beloved 

 sovereign." 



During the reigns of the fourth, fifth, and sixth monarchs 

 of this line,§ administrative power decayed. Then came a 

 revival during the long period of 75 years embraced in the 

 reign of the seventh. || He set himself to govern well ; he 

 directed that almshouses for the aa-ed should be established in 



* Dated from B.C. 2637. 



t GutslafF's History of China, vol. i, p. 150. Also Du Halde, vol. i, 

 p. 151. 



X From 1766 to 1760 B.C. 



I B.C. 1690 to 1636. II Tai Wou, or Tai-Stth, B.C. 1636-1561. 



