The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-04
rsy CHINESE EMPIRE.


much discussed As the London Times remarks this doeu
msnt commends itsef to the readers notice BY variety
Of attractions not often combined in single production
of the kind giving insight into the customs and CHAR
acer Of one of the most mysterious empires on the globe
CONVENIENT HOUSE,
Hong Kong, July 81 1855.
6R wish Il were possible TO give satisfactory reply
To your inquiries as to real population OF China There
has been no official census taken since the time OF ka
King fortyhree years ago Much doubt has been thrown
upon the accuracy Of these returns which gave
lss az the total number of the inhabitants Of China
think our greater knowledge of the country increases the
evidence in favor approximate correctness OF ,he Of
fetal document and that with o!erabe safety es
innate population OF the Chinese empire as be-
tween $4,000 and Of human beings The
nal laws of Chna make provision for general system OF
registration and corporal punishmens generally amount
ing to one hundred blows of the bamboo TO be net
ed on those who neglect make the proper returns The ma
chinery Is confded the elders of the district and tbs
census is required annually taken but have rsa
son 10 believe the law il obeyed the neglect OF t
punished.
In the English translation of Father Ayarea Semsdos
History OF China published In London A. D. 1885, is the
following passage:
aThis kingdom 30 exceedingly populous that having
Iysd there twenty years was in no less amusement
AT INV coming away than in the beginning at the multitude
of people Certainly the truth exceleth all hyperooies
Not onIy in the ces towns and public Places but also in
the highway there - ~ great coneourse as Is nsua IN
Europe on some great festival And IL we will refer our
.ve 10 the general register book wherein only the
mon men are enrolled, leaving out women, children,
professors of letters and they are reekoned
of them to be 6ttyeght millions yhvs thousand one
hundred and four score
The mnu,eness of ths enumeration would to show
that the Father quoted some Official document
forward herewith two tabular statements which have
copiad from Dr. Williamss Middle Kingdom, of the
beat books China The rst gives list OF the various
s-nt,k
quoted The second rearranged statement OF censuses
taken at different periods As there few men in China
more dillgent or better Instructed than Dr. Williams,
,hougbt II desirable TO communicate with him in order to
ascertain his present views TO the credit which may
properly be to the official statistics OF China
do know that there safer course than 10 reason
from details to generals from the known TO the naknowni
and have every opportunity which my intercourse
with Chinese has afforded me TO obain not correct
at least approxmatve information as 10 the Faa sIaslc5
II NAV be affirmed without any hesitation that
CARDS FIVE ports and The districts TO which we
have access the population is numerous to furnish
the number of inhabitants OF the entire EN-
pre very much greater than by the official
These localities cannot be taken as fair averages
for naturally enough increased commercial activity has
brought with flow OF settlers and there can be no
doubt that of the ancient seats OF commerce have
lost much of their population in losing their trade But
whether all the of decline in particular spots have
much the ecnndy of the Chinese races
sidered as a WHOLE may well be questioned.
Some years ago had opportunity Of discussing the
subject OF Chinese population With the mandarin at Ming
no who was charged with making the for that dis
trict Ningpo scarcely be called progressive
1t is decidedly Of the 1--we treaty ports But
found generally speaking that the real returns were con-
sderably in of the official estimates And would
remark that taking the Of the eighteen provinces Of
China 348sTO square miles, the census OF 1879 would
give hundred and sxtyeght persons to square mile
which is considerably less than the population OF the dense
ly-peopled countries Of Europe.
According to ancient usage the population in China 10
grouped under four heads L. scholars husbandmep;
5 mechanics: T. merchants. There 10 class
who are considered almost social outcass such stage
players professional gamblers beggars convicts outlaws
and Others and these probably form no part OF the popu-
ation returns In the remote rural districts on the
other hand the returning officer most probably contents
himself with giving the OF more accessible and b
ter-peopled localities. We
have no means of obtaining any satisfactory tables 10
show the proportions which different ages bear TO
another in China the mortality at different
apply some special designation a age Of 10 Is called
"the opening degree 90 "youth expired 3d. strength
and marriage 40 Officially apt so aerror-Sncwing
aged : 90, delayed , loo, ages extremity
Among the Chinese the of grows with
the number years made years ago the acquain.
ance of Buddhist priest living in the convent OF Ten
Tong Ningpo who was more than century old and
people rank in the habit Of visiting in order
to show their respect and obtain his autograph He bad
civity give fair specimen of his handwriting
There only establishments for the reception
Of the aged but the penal code provides severe punish
Ginning years. Age may also be pleaded ia extenuston
crime and in mitigation of Punishment Imperial DEGREES
sometimes presents given
people in the empire not of any detailed
fscs giving the number of such recipients since
published the time of Kangh l657) Kienlung (l7s5)
dreed that all those claimants whose age exceeded so
shall receive five bushels of and piece of linen those
above bushels OF rice and two pieces OF linen those
above 30 thirty bushels of rice and pieces of
sik and those above 100 fifty bushels of rice and two
pieces fine and Of common silk He ordered all
the elders TO be enumerated who the head of five
generations of whom there ls2 and an gratitude to
Heaven summoned thres thousand Of the Oldest OF
the empire receive imperial presents which consisted
principally of embroidered purses and badges bearing the
character, shaH, meaning longevity"
The Kauah tables show the numbers of those who
oyed bsnet Of the edct but the returns bear
proportion to the general population of the country
the relative thu various provinces many otuous
and local mast have caused the obvious In
cngruities For example: in tha adjacent provinces Of
Kwsngtung and Kwangse in which tbs whole mass OF pop
natos the proportion of two to one the recipients
4s to and regards age while the proportion Of those
above represented at 10 to those above 80 are only
little more than In all these matters the greater
less Of the local authorities 10 one of the most
important in producing result kwangse is eI
sremey and borered the northwest by the
country the aborgiGss the districts adjoin-
ing which but in halfreclamed State, and governed
by officers of q character and denominations distinct from
those of the provinces But it s ine1picabe that the prov
iaos of Pechle in which Pekn il snaed should exhibit
with the adjacent province Of Shsntung Hookwang with
a population of 262500oo has 1884 INDECENT persons
above 10, while Szechuen the population of which Is 81,
100000 presents only l76 persons in that category.
bink there il abundant evidence Of redundant populs
ton pressing and heavily upon and suffering
more and more severely rom, inadequate supply Of
food Though there periods when extraordinary bar
-. mi 10 ttnx ,s.t