UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA UNIV. OF CHAPTER I THE COUNTRIES OF THE FAR EAST The countries of Eastern Asia-Their antiquity-Their population THE Countries of Eastern Asia have little in common with those in other parts of the world. Possessing features which are unique, peopled by races practising a civilisation of their own, and invested with a natural wealth unrivalled elsewhere; the region known as the Far East stands apart from the comity of nations, and calls for special study at the hands of those who would unfathom its mysteries. While possessing a history more ancient than any other portion of the globe, these lands of the furthest Orient have only recently united their records with those of cooler climes; and, though antedating all other known records in point of antiquity, it is only during recent years that they have taken their places in the category of current history. Thus China, which dates back to nearly three thousand years before the Christian era, was not visited by a European until the close of the thirteenth century. Japan first came in contact with foreign governments after an existence of upwards of nineteen hundred years, and Korea emerged from the exclusiveness which dates from twelve hundred years before Christ, less than thirty years ago. B Varying though they do in their emplacement, language, and surroundings, the peoples of the Far East have much in common; and in one respect they may be said to be in absolute agreement. The Asiatic races are without exception exclusive in their dealings with the stranger. The farther East one goes, the more marked is this peculiarity; and the dislike to foreign communion is in China so great as to prompt the people to go to any extreme in their desire to avoid contact with others than themselves. The conservatism of the Japanese has practically disappeared since the adoption of the great reform movement, but in Korea the love of isolation dies hard, and it is only during recent years that foreigners have been able to venture in the country without risking their lives. The gradual opening up of the Far East has been the work of close on three centuries, and to-day it is only half achieved. It is, however, interesting to note that as time passes, the erstwhile prejudice against the foreigner is more easily overcome, and in consequence more rapid strides are now being made in negotiating further Asia, than was possible a century ago. Of late years changes have been accomplished in a few months, which would have required as many years to bring about during the past century; and the consensus of interests which have recently been attracted to the Pacific coastline is responsible for a more rapid march of events than has ever before been deemed possible. To-day the attention of all the Western powers is directed towards the Far East, where each has interests vast and increasing, which react upon the prosperity of the country concerned. The possibilities of the future of China are becoming one of the most vital questions of the hour. The prospects of Japan provide matter for speculation in every commercial centre, and the outcome of Russian policy in further Asia occupies the attention of politicians in every capital. Of the countries constituting what is known as the Far East, the most important, the most vast, and the most THE CHINESE EMPIRE 3 ancient in its history, is China; an anomaly among nations, a mammoth mass of inertia in the track of progress! While nominally an united kingdom ruled by a single individual, China is actually a confederation of countries, governed by a benevolent autocracy, and pursuing the even tenor of its way without any definite aim or object. At one period China was of far greater extent than is the case to-day. But circumstances have greatly altered the empire, and by depriving her of several of her erstwhile possessions, has left her, as she is to-day, a diminished empire boasting of an area of 4,218,401 square miles. In order to rightly apprehend the constituent portions of which China is built up, it may be well to place them in tabular form. Area and Population of the Chinese Empire. Square miles. China proper (ie. the 18 provinces). 1,336,841 Population. 386,000,000 For the purpose of the subject under consideration, only two of the above-named divisions are of importance, the eighteen provinces which are alone referred to when China is mentioned, and Manchuria. Both of these impinge on the Pacific coast line, and each plays a prominent part in the affairs of the Far Eastern question. Mongolia, lying to the north of China and to the west of Manchuria, does not play an important part in present developments, excepting as a line of advance by which a footing may be obtained in the maritime region. Tibet, Turkestan, and Jungaria are in Western Asia, and do not concern us here. The eighteen provinces of which China consists vary greatly, alike in physical features, size, and population. They may be conveniently divided into four divisions, as follows: On the North are Kansu, Shensi, Shansi, and Pechili. In Central China are Sechuan, Hupeh, Honan, Anwei, Kweichow, Hunan, and Kiangsi. On the South are Yunnan and Kwangsi; and on the East, along the coast line, are Shantung, Kiangsu, Chekiang, Fukien, and Kwangtung. The biggest of these, Sechuan, is nearly half as large again as the British Isles, while Fukien, the smallest, is rather bigger than Ireland. The provinces on the north and east sides are generally level and productive. Those on the west and south are mountainous and rich in minerals; while the valleys are so fertile as to produce, in many districts, three crops a year. The waterways of China are among the finest in the world. Great rivers penetrate the country in every direction, and their tributaries are mostly connected by canals, which enable one to reach well nigh any part of the country by water. Indeed, water communication is practically the only available means of travel, inasmuch as roads, in the European definition of the word, are nonexistent. Thus, the Yangtse, the Sikiang, the Peiho, the Min, the Han, and other rivers form the great arteries along which the trade and traffic of the country flow, and, by means of its tributaries and canals, each opens up a vast tract of territory, which sends its produce along their surface till it reaches the great commercial centres or the sea. Thus it happens that all communication held with China by Western Powers has been by water, and with the single exception of Peking, the capital of the empire, every treaty port is situated either on the sea, or on one of the rivers which afford a means of access. In regard to the wealth of China, it may be said that the resources of the country are in the infancy of their development. The produce which seemed first to attract the attention of Western traders, is, owing to the conservatism of the native Chinese, on the decline. The tea trade has almost ceased except with Russia. Silk has in a great measure taken its place, but the establishment of EXCLUSIVENESS OF THE CHINESE 5 filatures proceeds slowly, and the china trade is run close by that of France. The manufacture of cloth from the cotton and hemp which grows so prolifically on the alluvial lands, languishes owing to the inferiority of the methods of manufacture employed; but the cultivation of the opium poppy, tobacco and sugar is carried on in many districts with great and continued success. The true wealth of China lies however in her mineral deposits, which abound in nearly every province. The coal fields of Pechili, Shansi, Honan, Shantung, Hunan, and Yunnan are said to equal the stores possessed in the remaining countries of the world, but with a few exceptions they have not as yet been developed, and their wealth remains unexplored. Iron is also found freely throughout the country. Lead, tin, and mercury have been produced in paying quantities. Copper abounds in Hupeh, Hunan, and Shantung, and gold is known to exist in several districts. The most valuable commercial asset in the resources of China is, however, her population, which is as intelligent as it is vast. Owing to the strenuous efforts which have for centuries been made to exclude foreigners of all nations, however, the Chinese of to-day remain practically unacquainted with the necessities of Western civilisation. The experience of the past half century has shown that, notwithstanding his exclusiveness, the Chinaman is in no wise reluctant to adopt such new things as appeal to his convenience; and the result of the trading of the past few years shows, that if once the country is opened up, and made available to the traders of the West, a market will be created such as has never been known since the commencement of commerce. With a possibility of four hundred million consumers, the opportunities afforded the trader exceed all calculation. The position becomes too vast to discuss. All that is possible is to hasten, in order to be on the spot and obtain a fair share of the traffic when it begins. It is this course which is being followed by the European Powers interested in China. The Chinese question |