106 SURGEON-GENERAL SIR C. A. GORDON, M.D., K.C.B., ON 



was unfortunate in a double sense ; the selection was not in 

 accordance with public opinion, and the monarch proved to 

 be himself unworthy of the choice that had fallen upon 

 him. 



A state of general anarchy was the result. But as on many 

 other occasions before and since, opportunity brought to the 

 front the suitable man. this time in one of the imperial princes,* 

 though not the lawful heir to the throne. Throughout his 

 reign of twenty-eight years he devoted himself to advance 

 the well-bein^ of his subjects. Among the principles laid 

 down by him for the guidance of his high administrative 

 officers were these : — " The care of the people, not the enrich- 

 ing of one's self should be their object. They should repair 

 to Court from time to time to learn the wishes of the emperor, 

 to receive his approbation or otherwise of their public 

 behaviour. They should strive to maintain peace and tran- 

 quillity in their respective administrative chstricts. They 

 should themselves in their conduct be examples to the people 

 in respect to virtue and rectitude." 



But the good effected during that reign was destroyed 

 b}^ the conduct and example of the monarch Avho immediately 

 followed,! ail impulse at the same time given to conditions 

 which were already threatening the destruction of the 

 dynasty. Unhappy as conditions were, however, ten more 

 sovereigns in succession reigned, and a period of one hundred 

 and ninety-eight years had to elapse before matters culmi- 

 nated in the abolition of this dynasty.^ 



It unfortunately happens that available records contain 

 little more than personal details relative to emperors, minis- 

 ters and feudal chiefs, the general conditions of the country 

 and inhabitants being seemingly passed over as of no 

 importance. An exception to this rule occurs in connection 

 with the final reign of the dynasty. It was then recorded of 

 the (Chinese people that " they were still few in number, and 

 relatively feeble in power." To the eastward of them 

 were territories occupied by foreigners (Mongol Tartars?) 

 numerous and powerful, while in the west various tribes of 

 aborigines held possession. But the Chinese proper gradually 



* Pwan-keng, B.C. 1490-1373. 



t Seau Sin, eighteenth emperor, b.c. 1373-1352. 



J Namely, B.C. 1121. History relates that towards the Hea dynasty 

 Japan and the neighbouring islands were peopled from China owing to 

 the tyrannical oppression of the rulers, which drove their subjects from 

 the soil. 



