The sun., 1900-08-12


get fixed boundary against the restless tribe'
on the north and west The better to secure
the north. the Great Wall was carefully repaired
portsnt places.
VII.
In 1919 Rafael Perestrello, Portuguese navi'
gator. landed In China, the first who ever sailed
thither under a European nag. This was the
beginning OF an entirely new phase In Asatic
history. Hitherto the sea has been but little
heard Of. The largest and most important
cities had almost always been well inland power
ful Asiatic Empires like those Of Genghis Khan
and Timur had possessed no nsves. and although
small Arab vessels and Chinese junks had
coasted along the southern shores OF the conti-
nent for trade and occasionally for war. and
although piracy had been common In almost
every sea. the ocean. considered as a political
factor, hardly existed. When In 1893 vasco da
Cana doubled the Cape Of Good Hope all this
was changed. The ocean became a highway
OF commerce, seaside cities obtained an Inn
portance they had never known before, large
and hourishing forts grew UP on what had been
desolate shores. and many islands OF the coasts
hitherto little noticed sprang into prominence. Q.
In 1917 Dom Fernand Andrada landed at Canton
and subsequently headed u fruitless embassy
to Pekin. Trading stations. however. were
soon established at Annoy and Ningpo. and
under the excuse OF drying some goods damaged
In storm. which had been intended "a presents
for the Emperor. the Portuguese landed on the
island OF Macao and fortified part Of a small
peninsula. Finding themselves unable to get
rid Of the barbarans. the Chinese authorities
some years later built q wall across the penin-
sulR to shut out the Portuguese settlement.
Throughout the sixteenth century. China
pursued the even tenor OF her way under En-
perors Of the Ming dynasty who were neither
very good nor very bad. The Tatars made
constant incursions; the Miao-tsze taborlgines
inhabitins the mountains between the Provinces
Of KwanRsi and Kweichow) rose In rebellion,
and the coasts were harried by japanese cor
sairs who entered into an alliance with the
native pirates. built a fort on the shore Of Che
klanG. and. on one occasion. even beseged Nan
kin In spite OF all these disturbers Of her
peace. China was. on the whole. quiet and pros
porous. for II Is one Of the most deeply rooted
characteristics Of the people that. so long as
his own district is not disturbed by war. the
ordinary Chinese docs not care about what Is
going on elsewhere. and while one city Of the
Empire may he given over to the flames. another
only few miles distant may be totally un-
affected by the disorders In 1873. Wanli
sncceeded to the throne. and II was during his
long reign Of forty-ssven years that the Japanese
Invasion OF Corea took place. and that the
Manchus first began seriously to encroach on
the northern frontier OF the Empire Mainly
through the assistance given by the Chinese.
the invasion was brought 10 nought. but Corea
was deyasta tad In such Way that she has mot
even yet recovered from the blow. The japanese
themselves gained nothing at all comparable
to what they lost their settlement at Fusan.
however. was shifted to better site on the
Corean Peninsula than II had before occupied.
and many Of their Oorean prisoners were settled
In different parts OF japan. where they intro
duced useful industries. The descendants
OF 'hese prisoners still mako a sweetmeat re-
sembins "Turkish Delight" which. although
unknown. or at least uncommon In Japan.
Is exposed for sale at every street corner In
Corea. In Ryoto still remains grass mound.
topped with q stone pillar. under which are
buried tho ears Of many Of the Chinese and
Corsans killed in one Of the last battles. ghastly
monument OF savage warfare.
Meanwhile. In remote part Of Manchuria, .
Of the kins was founding new nation.
China. and to subJueate no inconsiderable part
Of Asia. Tho rise Of the Manchus "a almost
A. remarkable a. that Of the Romans In each
oase. from begtnnlnRs utterly insignificant. a
power was evolved which gradually absorbed
t. neishbors and set UP great and lasting
smpire in each case the subjugated nations
conquered their conauerors. and Nanchu civiliz-
ation became - essentially Chinese a. Roman
lrt and literature became essentially Greek. !
There 10 howsvtr. an imrortant difference.
Rome founded an entirely new empire Of her
'wn where none had existed before: the Man |
'hus found one already existing. though In a |
tate OF decay. and II continued TO exist, not |
changed. but enormously strength
med and extended. after II had passed into !
heir hands. great man named Nurhachu
$ Justly recognized As the creator Of the Manchu
'ower. In the Ointh decade Of the sir-
eenh century he succeeded. with only 100
nen. In capturing Tulun. the capital
one Of the most considerable principalities in
Inchuria. Thenceforward his strength
lowiy grew, until he refused to pay any longer
ribute to the Chinese, and. In 1918. took the
ecisive step Of declaring war against the Ming
mperor. An enormous force was sent against
I'm from Pekin. but he beat 1t In detail. with
ne result that, FOR the first time since the days
the KIN empire. all the Manchu tribes were
rought under single ruler The conquest
China however. wos to prove long and diff
N EhAAk ks.fa ala l