An immense empire of Eastern Asia; in territorial extent, the second in the
world; in population, the largest. Area, 4,419,150 square miles. Pop.,
371,180,000.
Longest rivers: Yang-tse-kiang, 3,320 miles; with basin, 950,000 sq. miles.
Hoang-ho, 2,800 miles; with basin, 715,000 sq. miles.
Capital Pekin; pop., 500,000. Twenty-three cities have more than 100,000
population; and 66, more than 50,000.
The state religion has no outward ceremonial, except a few symbolical rites
observed at New Year. It consists in the study of the teachings of
Confucius and Lao-tse. The majority of the people are Buddhists. Education
is almost universal, there being few adults unable to read and write. The
Chinese have had newspapers at least ten centuries.
Value of imports, 1883, $103,071,415; exports, $98,349,895. The chief
imports were: opium, valued at $35,510,260; and cotton goods, valued at
$30,888,465. Chief exports: tea,--value, $45,077,135; and silk, chiefly
raw, $33,537,990. The coal fields of China are among the first in the
world; about 3,000,000 tons are mined each year. The mines at Kai-p'ing, in
1883, produced 600 tons per day.
In June, 1876, a railway of twenty miles, between Shanghai and Woosung, was
opened for traffic; but the following year it was purchased by the Chinese
authorities, and closed. There are 20,000 Imperial roads in the empire. In
1884 there were 3,089 miles of telegraph line, with 5,482 miles of wire.
{39}
[Illustration]
* * * * *
{40}
ANAM. An`nam'.
An empire of Indo-China under the protectorate of France. Area, 198,043
square miles. Population, 12,000,000. Drained by many rivers. In January,
temperature 41deg throughout the north; in southern part of Cochin China,
mean annual temperature is 83deg. The elephant, panther and tiger found in
the forests of Anam.
Inhabitants essentially agricultural. Country rich in metals. Government is
an absolute monarchy. Social equality exists among citizens. Buddhism and
doctrines of Confucius are dominant. Hue is the capital; pop., 100,000.
BURMA. Bur'mah.
As a result of the late war with Great Britain, Burma was on Jan. 1, 1886,
declared a part of the British Empire. The government is now administered
by the Governor General of India, though the country is not yet
incorporated with the Indian Empire. The late government was a despotism,
dependent on the will of the King. The area is 190,500 square miles.
Population estimated to be about 3,000,000. Capital, Mandalay; population,
70,000. Bhamo, on the Chinese frontier, is an important town. Education is
in the hands of the priests, but is very general. Buddhism is the
prevailing religion.
The country is not so fertile as British Burma; but wheat, corn, rice,
pulse, indigo, cotton, tobacco, and a large variety of fruits are grown.
The forests produce valuable timber trees in great variety. Minerals
abound, but are not generally worked. Petroleum, however, is quite largely
produced. Burma possessing no seacoast, the foreign trade is
inconsiderable.
SIAM. S[=i]-am'.
A kingdom of Southeastern Asia, divided into 41 Provinces. The government
is an absolute monarchy. Area and population are but imperfectly known;
foreign estimates place the former at 280,564 square miles, and the
population at about 5,750,000. Prevailing religion, Buddhism. Siam has no
public debt. Capital, Bangkok; population, 600,000. There is a small
standing army, and a general armament of the people in form of a militia.
Though much of the land is fertile, it is badly cultivated. Chief products,
rice, gums, teak, sandalwood, rosewood, spices and fruits. Foreign commerce
centres at Bangkok. Total value of exports from there in 1883, $8,525,655;
imports, $4,783,570. Commercial marine numbers 44 sailing vessels and 1
steam vessel. In 1883, 884 vessels, of 185,612 tons, cleared the port of
Bangkok.
MALAY. Ma-l[=a]'.
A peninsula of Asia; the southernmost point of the continent.
Area about 70,000 square miles. Estimated population, 650,000. Less known
of the interior than of any other point in Asia. Surface very uneven.
Climate is moist and hot: temperature on the Makran coast and in Persian
Gulf, 110deg; and at times, 125deg. Out of 365 days, 190 are rainy;
rainfall from 100 to 130 inches.
Politically, Malay consists of the Straits Settlements of Great Britain, 6
Provinces of Siam, and a number of small Malay States, either tributary to
or in treaty with the above powers. The Straits Settlements comprise the
Islands of Singapore and Penang and the territories of Malacca and Province
of Wellesley. Area, 1,445 square miles; pop., 423,384. {41}
COREA. Ko-ree'a.
A kingdom of Eastern Asia. Area estimated at 82,000 square miles.
Population, 16,227,885. Climate variable, on account of the unevenness of
the country; the thermometer at times registers 15deg below zero.
The history of Corea dates back to 1120, when the Chinese gained possession
of it. Seems first to have been subjugated by the Tartars. Japanese ruled
it between 1692 and 1698, when it reverted to China. The country pays an
annual tribute of 800 ounces of silver to the Chinese Emperor. The King of
Corea is an absolute despot. Capital, Seoul; pop., 199,127.
Minerals are said to abound in the peninsula; but the low state of
civilization in the country will not admit of their development. The
country is mountainous, and the cultivable portion small; principal crops
are rice, millet, beans and jute.
Value of imports, 1881, $1,944,735; exports, $1,882,650. Principal exports,
ginseng, hides, rice and silk. Wheeled vehicles are unknown, and there are
no bridges over the many streams. Doctrine of Confucius the established
creed.