The mineral wealth of Yunnan is greater and more varied than that of any other province, certain of the mines having been worked since the Sung dynasty. Coal occurs in many places on the borders of the central plateau; some of it is anthracite of remarkable solidity and uniformity. Salt occurs in hills, not in wells as in Sz’chuen; the brine is sometimes obtained by driving tunnels into the hillsides. Metalliferous ores reach from this province into the three neighboring ones. Copper is the most abundant, and the mines in Ningyuen fu, in the southwestern part of Sz’chuen, have supplied both copper and zinc ores during the troubles in Yunnan. The copper at Hwuilí-chau in that prefecture is worked by companies which pay a royalty of two taels a pecul to the government, and furnish the metal to the mine owners for $8 per pecul. The pehtung or argentan ores are mixed with copper, tin, or lead, by the manufacturers according to the uses the alloys are put to. Silver exists in several places in the north, and the exploitation of the mines was successful until within 30 years past; now they cannot be safely or profitably worked, in consequence of political disturbances. Gold is obtained in the sand of some rivers but not to a large extent; lead, iron, tin, and zinc occur in such plenty that they can be exported, but no data are accessible as to the entire product or export.[94]
[CHAPTER IV.]
GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF MANCHURIA, MONGOLIA, ÍLÍ, AND TIBET.
The portions of the Chinese Empire beyond the limits of the Eighteen Provinces, though of far greater extent than China Proper, are comparatively of minor importance. Their vast regions are peopled by different races, whose languages are mutually unintelligible, and whose tribes are held together under the Chinese sway rather by interest and reciprocal hostilities or dislike, than by force. European geographers have vaguely termed all that space lying north of Tibet to Siberia, and east of the Tsung ling to the Pacific, Chinese Tartary; while the countries west of the Tsung ling or Belur tag, to the Aral Sea, have been collectively called Independent Tartary. Both these names have already become nearly obsolete on good maps of those regions; the more accurate knowledge brought home by recent travellers having ascertained that their inhabitants are neither all Tartars (or Mongols) nor Turks, and further that the native names and divisions are preferable to a single comprehensive one. Such names as Manchuria, Mongolia, Songaria, and Turkestan, derived from the leading tribes dwelling in those countries, are more definite, though these are not permanent, owing to the migratory, changeable habits of the people. From their ignorance of scientific geography, the Chinese have no general designations for extensive countries, long chains of mountains, or devious rivers, but apply many names where, if they were better informed, they would be content with one.
The following table presents a general view of these countries, giving their leading divisions and forms of government. They cannot be classed, however, in the same manner as the provinces, nor are the divisions and capitals here given to be regarded as definitely settled. Their united area is 3,951,130 square miles, or a little more than all Europe; their separate areas cannot be precisely given. Manchuria contains about 400,000 square miles; Mongolia between 1,300,000 and 1,500,000 square miles; Ílí about 1,070,000 square miles; and Tibet from 500,000 to 700,000 square miles.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE COLONIES AND THEIR SUBDIVISIONS.
| COLONIES. | PROVINCES. | DIVISIONS. | CAPITALS. | FORMS OF GOVERNMENT. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchuria. | Shingking | Two fu departments and 15 districts; and 13 garrisons | Mukden or Fungtien | Manchuria is ruled by military boards, and generals at the garrisons. |
| Kirin | Three ting departments, or 8 garrisoned posts | Kirin ula hotun | Under three generals at the prefectures. | |
| Tsitsihar | Six commanderies | Tsitsihar hotun | Under six generals. | |
| Mongolia. | Inner Mongolia | Six corps, subdivided into 24 tribes and 49 standards | No common capital | Each tribe has its own chieftain or general, and is governed by the Lí-fan Yuen in Peking. |
| Outer Mongolia | Four khanates, viz.: Tuchétu, Sainnoin, Tsetsen, and Dsassaktu | Urga or Kurun | Four khans under the Kutuktu. | |
| Koko-nor | One residency, having 29 standards | Síning in Kansuh | Under a Manchu residency. | |
| Uliasutai | Cobdo, having 11 tribes and 31 standards. Ulianghai tribes under 21 tso-ling | Uliasutai | By an amban over the chieftains. | |
| Ílí | Northern Circuit or Songaria | Ílí | Kuldja | Ruled by a military governor, 2 councillors, and 34 residents in the cities. Under residents subordinate to the governor. |
| Kur-kara usu | Kur-kara usu | |||
| Tarbagatai | Sui-tsing ching | |||
| Southern Circuit or Eastern Turkestan | Ten cities, viz.: Harashar, Kuché, Sairim, Bai, Ushi, Aksu, Khoten, Kashgar, Yangi Hissar, and Yarkand | Yarkand | Each city under a resident amenable to the governor at Ílí, and native begs. | |
| Tibet | Anterior Tibet | Wei and Kham, divided into eight cantons and 39 feudal townships | H’lassa | Ruled by the Dalai-lama and his hierarchy, overseen by Chinese residents. |
| Ulterior Tibet | Tsang and Nari, divided into six cantons | Shigatsé | Ruled by the Teshu-lama, assisted by a resident from Peking. |
EXTENT OF MANCHURIA.