Untitled

120
EAST ASIA.
to the country an almost European aspect, which is enhanced by the fruit cereals, vegetables,
trees,
and other cultivated plants growing round the houses. But
wild animals are still numerous, including the panther and the tiger, or "lord," as
he is here called. The royal beast frequently attacks the inhabitants, even in the
very streets of their villages, and almost more dangerous are the wolves, the packs
sometimes sparing the flock and falling upon the shepherd. The wild boar, bear,
fox, polecat, and wild cat are common in some districts, and in the northern
forests the squirrel and sable are still trapped for their furs, which are used to
adorn the head-dress of the natives. Notwithstanding the peaceful invasion of the
Chinese immigrants, Manchuria continues, as of old, to be a famous hunting
ground, and although the attacks of wild beasts are less dreaded than formerly, the
chase is still considered as a sacred pursuit incumbent on all.
Birds, mostly of species analogous to those of West Europe, are very numerous,
and multitudes, especially of singing birds, are met almost everywhere. The
hamlets are visited by large flocks of ravens, which are looked upon by the Manchus
as the spirits of their ancestors, and consequently supplied with daily offerings.
The running waters abound to such an extent in animal life that whole communi-
ties live exclusively on a fish diet. In the Sungari the salmon are so large and
plentiful that their skins form a not unbecoming article of summer attire, which is
elegantly embroidered by the women. The Yvpi-talzc, or " Fish-skin people," as
the Chinese call them, are all Tunguses of the Gold tribe, like those of the Usuri
River and the Russian maritime province.
INHABITANTS THE MANCHUS.
The present Manchu race recognises the Ninchi as their ancestors. The name
now applied to the whole nation was originally restricted to a single tribe occupy-
ing an upland valley in the White Mountains. Ta'itsu, chief of this tribe, having
subdued all his neighbours, proclaimed the perfect equality of all his subjects, to
whom he extended his tribal name of Manchu. To this stroke of policy he was
probably indebted for his victories over the Chinese, resulting in the complete
conquest of the " Middle Kingdom " in the year 1644. This conquest, however,
had the effect of transforming the Manchus themselves. With the exception of
the Solons, Golds, Manegrs, Orochons, who still wander along the river banks,
there are in Manchuria no longer any nomad Manchus, or Tung-tatze ; that is,
"Eastern Tatars," so named in opposition to the Si-tatze, or "Western Tatars."
There is now nothing more than a Chinese province, and even in the Upper Nonni
valley the natives have, under Chinese influence, gradually abandoned their
wandering habits. They live in faiizan, like the immigrants from the south, and
own arable lands, which they usually rent to the Chinese peasantry, with whose
speech they have also become familiar.
Of all the Manchus the Solons, or Salons, have best preserved the ancient
national usages. They reject Buddha, and still believe in the Shaman wizards,
who practise their magic rites round about certain hallowed eminences. The Solons