National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-03
The ABORIGINES OF CHINA.
DIFFERENCE IN ANTIQUITY BETWEEN THE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS.
Pcculiarities OF Some OF the Tribcs-Tho Lolos
Of Mount o and their Freedom from Budd-
hism-Rev. Mr.. Henry's Researches in Re.
gard to the Ius Tribe.

original Indigenous TACO Vi tho W'ue tSi
ritory embraced within the bounds of
the present empire. However true this
may DO of the northern portion of tho
empire, it is quite the reverse Of true
when said Of the south. j have 80 frc-
auently been met with surprise whom
speaking of the aboriginal people of South
China as race distinct from the Chinese
that feel that some statements in refer
ence to these people may provo of interest
TO many. and especially to students OF
ethn ology. The southern portion Of tho
present domain of China, comprising
nearly one third of the whole, is n COM
paratively recent addition to the empire
having come under NATURALIZATION of tho
"Son Of Heaven" only 1000 years ago.
The original inhabitants OF this broad
territory were easily subjugated. Por-
lions Of them were attached to their con-
auerors rs vassals OF slaves, and gradually,
by intermarrage and the adoption of tho
customs of the Chinese, lost their identity
and were absorbed by the more powerful
race. Traces of this original element
are still to be found in many localities,
especially among the mountains, and may
be seen in peculiarities Of speech, customs,
and physiognomy. The boat people, every
where regarded rs an inferior race, and
numbering in the city of Canton alone
100000 souls, are supposed to be the
DEscENDANTso OF THIS INDIGENOUS RACE.
In the mountain range which forms tho
northern border Of the three southern
provinces, and is q continuation of one
section of the great Himalayan rangc,aro
over 100 tribes of those aboriginal people.
who have constantly maintained their
independence against Chinese aggressions.
Comp aratively little Is known of them,
but from the information derived from
travellers, thoy seem, with but few eXcep-
tions, to be all of one race, and to be
nearly allied to the Shans and Karens Of
Burmah, the Laos tribes, and those of the
interior regions Of Cambodia and Cochin
China.
The sublime self.conceit Of the Chinese,
and their Indifference to everything out
side of themselves, is strikingly seen in
the fact that in all the centuries during
which they have lived in constant con-
tact with these various tribes they have
learned but little that is reliable con-
corning their customs, habits Of life. ira
ditions, language, or government. few
individuals have become interested, and
have left brief accounts and some rude
sketches, which are all tho sources of in
formation from the Chinese side that are
available.
have series Of sketches, with few
lines attached to each, Of eighty-four of
these tribes, but the scanty and fragmen-
tsry information only
INCREASES THE DESIRE FOR MORE.
The following specimens, translated
from the Chinese accounts, while inter
esting in their way, are not of much
Ga nj he DtpN "a IN
tribe on the borders of Kwei- Chow prov
ince, 1t is said: "The men wear straw
capes and short skirts. The women wear
long, round skirts, and long bairpins in
the hair. At wedding. when the guests
arrive, a dog is killed aud eaten. When
they 90 from home they carry long gum
This is supposed to DO complete de-
scription Of tho tribe. The Ta-nga
Break teeth) Keetlos are thus described
1.-THE women before they are married
knock out two of their front teeth and
send them to their husbands home as
,roof that they will be harmless in the
house. For this reason they are called
the Break teeth. Their hair is combed
from the front to the back. The sexes
marry at equal ages. They think lightly
of life and death. Their outer garment,
are made of hair, and are worn like
sacks"
Marco Polo, the great Venetian trav,
eler, In passing through the borderland
of China, observed many Of these people
and remarked upon their peculiarities
especially upon the immoral practices o.
certain tribes, and every traveller since
his day has sought to add something Il
the sum total Of information respecting
them. The most successful In this lin,
has been Mr.. E. Colborne Bsber, of tn,
British legation in Peking. His re
searches in the province Of Ssu-Chuar
have resulted in the discovery Of
NEW RACE OF PEOPLE, KNOWN Al
THE LoLos.
Vague accounts of these people hat
from time to time been received, but they
were simply classed as one of the many
tribes of great aboriginal race. Inyesti
cation has proved them to be distinct IL
every respect. They are tall in figure
with oval faces, high foroheads, ligh
olive compilations, frank, open counte
nances of a type altogether superior to tn
tribes with which they had formerl.
been classed. They are also distinct from
the Chinese and maintain an undispute,
independence. They are attractive il
appearance, noble and manly in thei
bearing, heightened in their moral char
actor, showing traits and characteristic
that place thom among the superior race
of the earth. They occupy a section o
mountainous country in the center of on
of the great provinces of China. Thei
language is also distinct. Specimens oh
tanned with difficulty, showing Chimes
and Lolo In parallel lines, have been sub
mittod to Prof. Max Muller and othe
celebrated orientalists, who pronounce
to BIO radically different from any know
language, its nearest ally being the Pal
In presenting Mr.. Baber's paper descrih
ing his researches and discoveries to tn
Royal Geographical society, Col. Yule re
marked that sit was reserved for but fey
in this age Of the world to attain the hig
distinction of discovering a new race an
new language"
One remarkable fact about these peopl
IL that. while thrown into constant con
tact with Buddhism for 1900 years, tw
of their principal deites being suppose
to reside on Mount o, one of the sacre
mountains Of the Buddhists, Just north q
their territory, not a single Lolo has eve
been known TO become q Buddhist. Thi
Mount o 10 certainly ono of the most rC
markable mountains in the world. |
rises to the height of 1000 feet. On tn
summit are the remains of an iron o
bronze pavilion that stood near the brinl
OF tne PtoViPloo "hi0h iorms tue perpen
dicular side OF the mountain for fully one
half its height From this summit
wonderful phenomenon is sometimes seer
called
THE GLORY OF BUDDHA."
1t appears about 1000 feet below th
summit in the form of a golden, suI
like disc, with a halo around il. 1t
caused by certain atmospheric condition.
but is regarded by the people As the al
pernatural manifestation of the glory {
Buddha, and pilgrims travel thousands {
miles to witness it. Astrong iron railin
along tho verge of the precipice prevent
devoteos from falling over the fearfr
brink.
The great Yang-tsz- Kiaug river, cAlle
in this part of its course tho river {
Golden Sand" flows through the Lol
country and IL was reserved for Mr. Babs