288 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



and though the reflective powers confer but feeble modes of 

 reasoning, and often false conclusions, a sort of erratic common 

 sense has caused them to alight upon moral truths and humane 

 sentiments, which the most polished nations of Europe acknowl- 

 edge, but scarcely put in practice. With the conditions of 

 existence here shown, it is evident that a people, such as the 

 Chinese in particular, according to their own annals, while re- 

 siding in the southern flanks of the Khinghan mountains, would 

 multiply in time, till want of subsistence compelled the masses 

 to industry, and that, unwarlike and sedentary in the plains, 

 they would fall beneath the energy of kindred tribes, coming 

 upon their horses from the bleak north, to commit devastation, 

 grasp the empire, enslave by mandates, and by an enormous 

 police, till vanquished by the enervating process of the system, 

 these too would fall in turn beneath a new horde of invaders. 

 There were unquestionably more than the two well-known 

 conquests of China, since the empire included the more 

 ancient separate sovereignties ; and though the fate of rude 

 conquerors over more civilized nations of homogeneous origin, 

 is ever to become, in civil administration, the pupils of the 

 vanquished, the new dominion debases both. 



These events are clearly shown in early ages, where the 

 conquering hordes on the plateau of Thibet come up, or are 

 first observed stationed on the south-east, as if they emanated 

 from China ; and they speak of great empires, formed in 

 remote ages, among which that of Orgus or Oloug Khan the 

 Great, who flourished, it is said, about 657 B. C, should be 

 mentioned, if indeed his exploits belong to a Alongolic or 

 beardless people ; for he resided in winter near the Sir-Deriah, 

 or Jaxartes, centuries before the Geta and Sakia Caucasians 

 came westward by this and the Oxus rivers. 



Japan, divided into islands, in part possessed by tribes not 

 typical, but of anomalous origin, with a colder stormy climate 

 and soil, often disturbed by the most terrible earthquakes, 

 presents a more energetic population, which, being free from 



