144 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [May' 



ho, then with the golden sands of the Yarlang and Kinchar rivers, 

 the silver, tin and copper mines of Western Yunnan, and the mineral 

 wealth of Szchnan, we speak probably of one of the richest countries 

 in the world, while the prolific soil of these two provinces proclaim 

 Western China to be the garden of Central Asia. 



The veil of mystery which has for so long surrounded this part 

 of China (unlifted as yet save by the individual efforts of the good 

 Abe Hue), seems with the advance of European nations in their 

 march of civilization about to be torn aside, to give light to the 

 millions of Central Asia. When the fierce Mongol roaming in quest 

 of plunder shall halt, commanded by the powerful voice of Western 

 knowledge and science, when the superstitious teachings of the craf- 

 ty Lama shall give place to the voice of God, as spoken to man 

 through the great Teacher Christ, then the fruits of the country 

 shall give forth their increase, and the people be freed from the yoke 

 of tyranny. 



As in speaking of " countries" of the world, it is generally under- 

 stood that we mean parts of the earth's surface inhabited by distinct 

 races or peoples, and draw the boundaries generally as near as possible 

 round the space inhabited by each race or people, being guided in 

 doing so by the distance to which their language and customs ex- 

 tend. In defining the Western boundaries of the great province of 

 Szchuan we must commence about Lat. 30° 20' N. and Long. 102° 5' E. 

 Travelling down the west bank of the Tar-tow-ho, and continuing al- 

 most due south until we strike the Yangtzu, about 80 miles west of 

 the Min river, all the country to the west of this, following the bend 

 of the Kinchar Kiang to where it turns north, — and crossing theLantsan 

 Kiang, Now- Kiang and Irrawadi rivers in a straight line to the 

 borders of Assam, and north of this point to the borders of Tibet which 

 commence about Lat. 27° 45' N., and thence in a N. E. direction back 

 to the Tar-tow-ho, — is inhabited by tribes tributary to China and Bur- 

 mah. Amongst the former are : — 



The Lo-Los inhabit a strip of country to the west of the Tar-tow-ho, 

 as far as the borders of Tibet ; and then to the south of that as far as the 

 Yangtzu the country is occupied by a tribe of Tibetans, a name indis- 

 criminately given by Chinese in the west to all the self-governing tribes 

 beyond the borders ; then from the boundary of Tibet, commencing at 



