slopes of mountains facing the South. In 7 years
it grows to the height of a man’s head, when it is
cut down and a new crop of shoots spring forth.
The leaves are picked one by one. They are
steamed over boiling water and then dried by the
fire.

In the mountains and forests are wild animals
of every species; but that valuable quadruped,
the muskdeer, is peculiar to this country. Gold
and silver are said to be common in several parts
of the empire ; but the working of the mines is
interdicted, to prevent, as is pretended, the pro-
duce leading to a derangement of their general
system of policy. The mountains, also, chiefly
in the north and west parts of the empire, contain
mines of iron, tutenag, copper, and quicksilver, as
well as quarries of marble, coal, lapis lazuli, jas-
per, rock crystals, granite, and a kind of sonorous
stones, of which musical instruments are com-
posed ; and here is potters’ earth, of such vari-
ous and superior kinds that the fine porcelain of
China is unrivalled. The number of domestic
animals appears to be very limited, and animal
food, though not interdicted either from state or
religious scruples, as is the case over a great part
of Hindoostan, is very uncommon.

The manufactures of China embrace every pos-
sible commodity to gratify artificial wants; and
their fabrics in porcelain, silk, and paper more es-
pecially, cannot be surpassed; nor is their carv-
ing in ivory, and other works of fancy, equalled
in any other part of the world; bat in Ml that re-
quires skill, combined with superior physical pow-
er, they are inferior to the least settled parts of
Europe. Ignorant of the laws of geometry, as
well as of the laws of nature, their fortifications
for defence, their habitations, public edifices, and
monuments, in which a display of taste has been
aimed at, are ridiculously fantastic; and when
solidity has been the object, exceedingly clumsy;
hence the water communication between the
northern and southern parts of the empire, which
Gazetteers have adorned with the designation of
Grand, and as surpassing any thing of the kind
in the world, is a mere connection of natural
streams displaying no evidence of genius or skill
beyond that of finding the nearest level whereby
to effect the union. The only work of art con-
nected with China having the least claim to ad-
miration is the Great Wall, which separates the
N. and the N. W. parts of China Proper from
Mongul Tartary, which was probably not the
work of the Chinese, but of the Tartars them-
selves. soon after the conquest of Genghis Khan;
but the accounts hitherto obtained of the period of
its erection are too imperfect to justify any posi-
tive conclusion on the subject.

The most singular characteristic in the civil
policy of China is the total absence of all state
religion and priest-craft, which are supposed to
, have been Subverted for the two-fold purpose of
’ preventing a priesthood from sharing in the influ-
ence of the government, and the people from con-
gregating in too large numbers ; and the latter
notion seems also to have precluded the toleration
of public theatres. Both religious worship and
dramatic represenations are, however, universal
throughout the empire; of the former, every
house has its own altar and collection of gods ;
the form and number of which 'are generally in
proportion to the taste of the head of the fam-
ily to select, and of his ability to purchase ; hence
their religious worship may be said to resolve it-
self into one of their most extensive branches of
manufacture. In like manner, the dramatic re
presentations are all of a family nature. The
performers consisting of strolling companies, who
engage themselves for an evening to any one who
can afford to pay them. Connected with the ques-
tion or religion, (according to the notions of the
English) the civil policy of China tolerates polvga
xe2x80xa2my. It appears, however not to be so extensively
indulged in, as in other parts of Asia and Africa.
Burials are not permitted in cities or towns, and
their sepulchres are commonly on barren hills and
mountains. They pretend to have a great vene-
ration for their ancestors; and some keep images
of them in their houses, to which they pay a sort
of adoration. They have laws which regulate the
civilities and ceremonious salutations they pay to
each other, for which reason they always appear
to be extremely good-natured, whilst low cun-
ning and deceit are their ruling passions; and yet,
while infanticide is not unfrequent among them,
they are not destitute of social affections in their
families.

In person, the complexion of the Chinese is a
sort of tawny ; they have large foreheads, small
eyes, short noses, large ears, long beards, and
black hair ; and those are thought to he the most
handsome who are the most bulky. The women
affect a great deal of modesty, and are remarkable
for their little feet. Tjie men endeavour to make
a pompous appearance when they go abroad ; and
yet their houses are mean and low, consisting
only of a ground floor. For a more ample eluci-
dation of the nature and character of the general
government, language, literature, &c. of China,
see Pekin ; for further particulars respecting the
Great Wall. see Petche-li; of the Grand Canal,
set Ho-ang-ho : of the public monuments, and in-
ternal traffic of China, see Nankin ; of the nature
and extent of its external commerce, see Canton
and K'tachta. In conclusion here,it maybe said,
in point of aggregate efficiency, or in affording
general examples of social policy worthy of imita-
tion, China is inferior to the least important state
'of Europe ; whilst the extent and grandeur of its
natural features, the diversity, beauty, and inter-
est of its productions, both natural and artificial,
and the superlative excellence of many of its
fabrics, both of utility and ornament, render
research and development in the details of all
these characteristics, an object in the highest de-
gree desirable, which it is sincerely hoped will
now very soon be attained.

China, p.t. Kennebec Co. Me. Pop. 2,234.
Also a p.t Genesee Co. N. Y. Pop. 2,387.

Chinabakeer, a town of Pegu, situate in the
marshes of the Irrawaddy, south of Rangoon.

Chinapalabram, a town of the Mysore, 55 m. N.
of Bangalore.

Chinapatam,or Chinypatam, another town of the
Mysore, about 40 m. E. S. E. of Seringapatam.

Chinchilla, a town of Spain, in Murcia, 37 m.
west of Almanza, and 67 N. N. W. of Murcia.
Pop. about 5,000.

Chin-chi. See Quin-nong.

Chinglepitt, a town of the Carnatic, near the
sea-coast, about 40 m. S. of Madras.

Chinachin, or Cheenychin, the chief town of the
district of Jenilah, in the N. W. part of Nepaul,
at the foot of the Himmaleh Mountains.

Chin India, a general name comprising that
part of. southern Asia situated between Hindoos-
tan and China. It contains the Birman Empire
Tonquin, Cochin China, Cambodia, Laos, Siam
and the peninsula of Malacca. It is often called
xc2xab r2