National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-03

riginal people found in tho mountains OF
Lien. Chow, 800 miles northwest OF Canton,
where eight large and twonty-four smaller
tribes arc found living independently
amid the lofty hills Of that region.
THEY ARE CALLED THE 1Us,
the Chinese character representing their
name coming under the radical for dog"
showing the Chinese idea of their origin.
They are seen In large numbers in the
market towns near Lien-Chow coming
from their homes in the high mountains,
from which they bring freshly picked
tea leaves of q large coarse kind, poultry,
maize. aud herbs for sale, taking back
dried beef, tobacco, and cloth. They are
lower in stature than the Chinese, do not
shave their heads, but wear their hair
coiled up behind, both men and women
having long hair. Their complexion is
copper colorod; they have scanty boards,
and not much dignity Of presence. Tho
women arc very short and many
of them stout. Their dress 10 very
similar to that of tho men,
being a jacket with closo.ftting sleeves,
folded across the chest, leaving the neck
open, and trousers that reach only to the
knee. They wear no shoes, and the men
have no hats, but some Of the women wear
q strange looking head dress, kind of
high paper cap encircling the coil of hair
Both men and women have immense sill
YER earrings and necklots. They have
great physical strength. and can carry
immense burdens. They formerly oc-
cupied much wider territory than
thoy now possess having been driven
back from time to time until they are
now confined to the high land in many
cases inaccessiblo) mountains. They have
repeatedly revenged themselves on the
Chinese, breaking forth in marauding
bands--burning, plundering, numbering
until, by one great effort, the Chinese
drove them back TO their present home,
and surrounded their country with guard
stations.
THEY HAVE THREE PRINCIPAL FEAsTs
one in April. called the rice FEAST" one
in July, called thanksgiving TO the
earth and gods" and another in October,
called "the hall of mirth and song" AT
these foasts every tribe slaughters pigs
and sheep. The men and women eat to-
gother. Drums are beaten and .gongs
sounded and they all sing in chorus
The youths and maidons go about
without restraint, choose thor mates,
and so are married. They can ascend
mountains with tho same case that they
can walk on tho level plain. and sleep in
the open air as readily rs in room.
The young men when they come Of age
wear an undergarment of red cloth and
stick q white cocks feather in their hair.
IL is said that whom the children begin to
walk they scar the soles of their feet with
hot iron or stones, 30 that they become
hard like wood, enabling them to walk
through thorns and brers without injury
A river divides their country into two
sections, that on the west stretching
through high mountain ranges for several
days journey, the people of this region
not being considered so fierce and danger
GUS as those to the east. They are
still called the "Ius of the plain"-
name they bore when they
occupied the lowlands adjacent to
distinguish them from the high noun
tain Ius." They arc all united under
one head, but the "highlanders" have
ever been the more fierce and independ-
ent. On the east side of the river is tho
great seat of the power, where tho eight
tribes dwell, where their government
centers, and where it is not considered
safe for an outsider to venture. There in
their lodges, perchod on tho steep hill
sides, and reached by perilous paths, they
live and flourish, If reports can be trusted,
which say that among them are many
men Of wealth who dress in fine clothing
and live in comparative comfort.
THEY HAVE NO WRITTEN LANGUAGE.
and consequently no books or literature
of their own. Their languages is entirely
distinct from any Chinese dialect. They
believe in sorcery, and use charms and
incantations. Many wild tales are told
of their strength. woodcraft, and cruelty,
and, not the least widely believed, of their
possession of tails. On tho other hand,
| MIA M In "a nf
their faithfulncss to each other, and of
their great hospitality. The latter they
carry to great extremes. regarding it as a
deep insult for guest to leave ono house
aud 20 to another during his visit to a
place, such q course implying to them
some objectionable neglect on the part of
the first host.
They do not intermarry with tho Chi
nose, and can seldom be induced to 60 far
from their homes. They are strongly
bound together as people and readily
answer each others calls for help.
Among some prisoners captured by the
Chinese few years ago was found one
evidently greatly superior to the others.
His complexion, it is said. was almost
white, and his dress much finer than that
of his fellows who bowed with reverence
in his presence, almost worshiping
him. He was supposed to be the kings
son, and was behoaded by the Chinese.
The number Of these In people is various
ly estimated from $4,000 to 100000, the
smaller number being no doubt nearer
tho truth. They resemble in their ap'
poarance and customs many of the
tribes found in the mountains between
Kwei. Chow and Yunnan, aud in their
social life and general freedom
are more attractive than the
Chinese. Tho traveller who wishes
to study their chara cter and habits otter
finds himself hsmpered by the Chinese
who suspect him of seeking to incite then
to war against the government and throw
all sorts Of obstacles in his way, TIL,
| aborignees Of Hainan are quite distinc
from those on the mainland. OF thei
peculiarities can speak from persona
knowledge, having travelled extensivel.
among them. d. @. HENRY.