The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12
From the Waterman and Reflector.
CHINESE DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH.

Another evidence that the people of China are
beginning to open their eyes upon the outside
world, is in the fact that they have at last CON-
menced studying geography. Heretofore, the
millions have been made to believe that the Ce-
lestial Empire was not only the principal part OF
the terrestrial sphere, but that the sun and moon
were the especial, if not exclusive, ministers of
light and heat to their relatives Of the Flowery
Kingdom. The study Of geography is about to
extingush some Of these stars in their poetioal
armament, and give them practical realization
of some of the Opaque planets that shed their
| borrowed light upon the earth. They have now,
thanks to the facilities of travel, and the expan-
sion of intercourse, a genuine maker of geogra-
phies who is disposed 10 tell them all he knows
about other countries than China.
The Missionary Hrah for July contains let
ter from Mr.. Peet, giving full account of a new
Chinese geography, written by the lieutenant
governor of the Fuh-Chau province, and recon-
mended by the governor. general as worthy Of con-
flence and patronage. IL was commenced four
or FIVE years ago. while the author held subor-
dinate station at Annoy, and published soon after
his promotion to his present high office. 10 is
written in the Chinese character, and makes ten
volumes, which, gays Mr. Peet, correspond, as to
length more nearly TO our chapters In the first
three the figure Of the earth Is noticed, the Of
mans stated aud the countries Of Asia, excepting
China, which is too well known to require fur.
Their accounts described One volume is de-
voted to Africa, two to America, and the other
four to Europe
The author gives a particular account Of the
discovery of America the general features Of the
continent, its inhabitants, original and European,
and of the situation, extent, mountains, rivers,
&c. Of the United States Ofthe maps, forty-two
in number, they are pronounced in the introduc.
ton as correct outlines Of those made by west
ern mem First among them is the map OF China,
AZ that country " IL the beadD IL Is stated that
" western men have also written annals in great
abundance" and that countries lying TO the west
and north have been described by western men,
The author seems TO have good opinion Of these
{ western men, with some Of whom, particularly
Mr.. Abeel, the missionary, he has had frequent
conversations, but he complains Of the difficulties
arising IRON language,
alt is very difficult 10 distinguish the names Of
western countries Ten men would be likely TO
give ms many different words for the same thing,
and the ssme man will give at first n different
word from what he does subsequently,, because, In
western languages the same sound does not have
two words, while In Chinese the same sound may
have several tens Of words In western lnngua-
ges two or three letters untei In forming one sound
but the Chinese language has no such elements
as these. Hence, 10 using the Chinese characters
to express foreign words, IL Is not possible Tor
more than seven or eight tenths Of them to har-
monte Western men, residing Ia the Canton
province, and using the vulgar dialect, cannot ex-
press the correct sounds Of the mandarin West
ern men not able to distinguish in mandarin
many words which have different tones. The Ian.
guages OF western nations are not the same, and
are not uniform. The English use fewer words
in translating into Chinese than the Portuguese.
Foreign names Of persons and places seldom con-
sist Of single words but often include eight or ten.
This is ungrateful to the author NJ well as to his
readers, but he has sndeavored to mark and dot
these names so as TO apprize the reader and pre-
vent misapprehension"
Mr.. Peet says, the work Is interesting TO for
eigncrs, rs showing what the Chinese think, and
how they write about us ms indirectly admitting
and confirming the correctness Of our chronology,
as we'll AZ the superiority Of our historiries over
theirs and exhibiting more definite and dis
eliminating view OF the different religions Of the
world than has yet appeared 10 the Chinese Ian
guagc, and as furnishiDg medium, through which
the light aud blessings OF Christianity may find
access to the millions Of benighted China. lie
then proceeds to give extensive Plantations Illus
trating these points We copy few OF them:
@THE EARTH AND ITS FROZEN OCEANS
"We knew In respect TO = northern frozen
ocean, but In respect TO a sou.hSw frozen ocean we
had not heard. So that when Western men pro-