CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHRONOLOGY AND EXTENT.
Page
The Evangelization of China contemplated—General scope of the subject—Antiquity of China—partly fabulous—not credited by Chinese writers—The Traditionary Period—The Ante and Postdiluvian Ages—The Historical Period—The Seven Years' Famine—The Chinese Samson—The Magnetic Needle—Confucius—Laou Tsze—The burning of the Books—The Building of the Wall—Subsequent Dynasties—The Cycle—Sketch of Chinese Chronology—The Dominions of China—Original Possessions small—Territories enlarged—The Annexation of Tartary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER II.
PROBABLE POPULATION.
The Question of Population interesting to the Philosopher, the Politician, the Merchant, and the Christian—The possibility and probability of a large Population, argued from the fertility of the Soil —the extensiveness of the Cultivation—The paucity of the Roads—The manner of disposing of the Dead—The encouragement given to Agriculture—The Industry of the Inhabitants—The Skill of the Husbandman—The Economy in Food, Dress, and Dwellings—contrasted with the scarcity of Provisions—and want of feeling—Emigration, with its difficulties—Bounty on the Importation of Rice—Infanticide—its prevalence—Foundling Hospitals—Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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CHAPTER III.
CENSUS OF THE POPULATION.
Testimony of the Catholic Missionaries—and Chinese Authorities—The law of the Census, and the way of taking it. The reason for so doing—its credibility—the different accounts reconciled—increase accounted—for—increase sketched—Amiot's estimate—Grosier's—Morrison's—and Sir G. Staunton's—comparison of the whole—which most to be depended on—the discrepancies of some—the most credible Census—The Revenue of China—and its light pressure on the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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