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122
Fig.
49. MANCHU WOMAN.
EAST ASIA.
borrowed their writing system from the Chinese in the twelfth century. But the
letters employed by them since the close of the sixteenth century are of Mongol
origin, and are consequently derived from the Aramean system introduced by the
Nestorians into Central Asia. The Emperor Kang-hi caused a Manchu lexicon to
be compiled, from which all words of Chinese origin were carefully excluded.
Amiot's was the first Manchu dictionary published by a European towards the end
of the last century, since when several others have appeared in various European
languages.
In Manchuria, as in the other outer possessions of the empire, Chinese colonisa-
tion began with convict stations and military establishments. The first settlements
were founded immediately beyond the Great Wall ; but at present most of the
political
or criminal exiles arc banished
to the forests and steppe lands
near the Russian frontier. Tsit-
sikhar has become the chief place
of exile for high functionaries, and
for the more dangerous members of
secret societies. When visited by
Palladius in 1870, this place con-
tained 3,000 exiles, all free to ply
their own trades and choose their
own place of residence on the con-
dition of presenting themselves once
or twice a month before the authori-
ties. A great number of Moham-
medans are also interned in North
Mongolia, where they have their
own mosques and schools, living
altogether apart
from their co-re-
ligionists who have voluntarily
migrated to this region.
All these
new elements contribute to modify
the local population, which becomes yearly more assimilated to the Chinese type.
But before settling down peacefully by the side of the natives, the exiles and free
immigrants often combined in formidable bands, such as that of the Hunhutze, or
" Red Beards," of the Upper Usuri, who still remain hostile to all the peaceful
settlers of the surrounding districts. By means of the improved weapons smuggled
across the Russian frontier, they have even become a formidable power, and have
built strongholds, above which flies their red flag with the inscription, "Vengeance."
The Chinese inhabitants of Liaotung take the collective name of Mandzi, what-
ever be their origin. They come chiefly from Shansi, Shantung, and Pechili ; but
in North-west Manchuria there are many descendants of the Yunnan exiles banished
to this region by the Emperor Kang-hi in the seventeenth century. Still the
immigrants from Shantung are the most numerous. They supply the agricultural