Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-04


Abound Population Estimated at
5000, CONGRATULATIONS the Dominant
Race In Chinese Empire.
Here are some facts about Man
churia, a part of China over which
there may be war between Japan and
Russia:
Manchuria, the land of the Mant-
choos, a country of Asia, a dependency
of the Chinese empire, bounded north
by the Amur river, which separates II
from the Russian province of the
Amur; east by the Usuri river, which
separates it from the Russian district
of the Amur; south by Korea and the
Yellow sea, and west by Mongolia, be-
tween latitude 40 and So 30 north
and longitude 11S' and 1876 east; area
about 100000 square miles; population
estimated at 100000. Formerly the
territory extended to latitude So north
and longitude 142' east, but in 1853
China ceded to Russia all of Manchuria
north of the Amur and east of the
Usuri river.
A large part of this country is an un-
inhabited wilderness, and but little of
it has been visited by Europeans.
Nearly the whole of it is drained by
the Amur river and its branches.
There are few lakes. The most impOr-
tant of them is Lake Khanka, which
is 40 miles long and 25 miles broad.
The province is traversed by several
mountain chains. The Sih-hih-tih noun
tains extend from the boundary OF
Korea in northeastern direction. The
southwestern portion of this range
bears the Mantchoo name of Shan
Ain and the Chinese name of Shangpe-
shan, or Long White mountains. The
Ilykhoori Ain, In the north, forms
three sides of the extensive valley OF
the upper Nonni, its eastern branch ex-
tending between the Amur and the
Songari to near their junction. The
Khingan mountains, running north and
south and rising to a height Of $4,000
feet, form part Of the western bound
ary. The greatest part of Manchuria
is covered by forests, the abode of wild
animals, many of which afford valu-
able furs. Among them are bears,
wolves, deer, the argali and the dig
getai The rivers and coasts abound
in fish, among which carp, sturgeon,
salmon, pike and shell fish are espe-
cially plentiful. Among the birds OF
prey is a vulture, which in size and
fierceness rivals its congener, the con-
dor of the Andes.
The southern part Of Manchuria is
cultivated and produces wheat, barley,
pulse, millet, buckwheat and silk. 1t
also supports large herds Of horses,
cattle and sheep. Ginseng and rhubarb
are a government monopoly. The coun-
try is rich In iron and coal. The cli-
mate of the greater part Of Manchuria
resembles that of Canada in the con-
trasts of temperature in different sea-
sons, In summer varying from TO- to
So, while In winter in the northern
parts snow Is abundant, the ground Is
frozen to a considerable depth, and the
mercury ranges from As above to 10
below zero.
Manchuria is divided into three prov
inces, Liaotung, or Sinking; Grin and
Saghalin-ulu. Liaotung contains pop
ulation, according to the Chinese cen
sus Of 1872, of 2,187, ,2S6; the others to-
gether about 100000. Liaotung Is,
however, sometimes included in China
proper. The three capital cities are
Mukden, or Shinyang; Grin and Tilt
zikhar. Mukden is $50 miles northeast
of Peking and is large city surround
ed by a wall Of ten miles in circuit.
Hingking, go miles east Of Mukden, Is
also a considerable city. 1t was for
merly the family residence and the
family burial place of the Mantchoo
emperors of China. Kingchow, on the
gulf Of Liaotung, southwest of Muk-
den, of which it is the port, carries on
a considerable trade in cattle, provi-
sions and drugs. Its harbor is shallow
and unsafe. Kaichow, on the east side
of the gulf, has better harbor. Grin
is very extensive province, but thinly
inhabited.
The Mantchoos belong to the Tungu-
sic branch Of the Mongolian division Of
mankind. They are Of lighter complex
ion and heavier build than the Chinese,
and some Of them have fiorid complex
ions, blue eyes, aquiline noses, brown
hair and heavy boards. They have the
same peculiar conformation Of the eye
lids as the Chinese and resemble them
closely in other respects, but their
countenances are generally Of higher
intellectual cast and their character
laughter and more determined. They
are the dominant race in the Chinese
empire, being dispersed over the whole
of it as officers and soldiers, and the
skill and energy with which they have
governed their vast dominions since
1914, when they took possession Of the
throne, show them to be possessed Of
high qualities. During the same period
they have greatIy Improved the condi.
ton Of their own original country.
w Dt1 Ile MdnlCHOOS COuQueTeu SHl-
ma, they imposed upon the subject peo-
pie a portion of their dress and many
of their usages. The mode Of arrang-
ing the hair in a tail now in use by the
Chinese was forced upon them by the
Mantchoos, to whom it had long been
familiar. On the other hand, they have
adopted many of the customs of the
Chinese. They began to be conspicu-
Gus in eastern Asia about the begin
ming Of the seventeenth century, when
after a long series of internal wars
their tribes were united into one ma
ton under q chieftain named Tien-
ming, who in 1913 declared war against
China, then ruled by the Ming dynasty.
He overran and devastated the north
eastern province, but died about 1927,
leaving the prosecution of his design
of conquest to his son Tien-t -tsung, who
made alliances with rebels whose lead
ers pretended to be rightful heirs to
the throne. With their aid he rnade
himself master Of Peking, and the last
of the Chinese emperors, HwattsTng,
having nmmittad cuicida in 16dQ tho