About China.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 18, 13 December 1904, Page 2

About China.

What a wonderful history has China. Her records go back to times when Britons were naked savages. Mr. Alexander Hosie, who has just written an account of a journey through Suchuan for the British Government, says there are evidences all over the Red Basin of the existence in pre-historic times of a race of cave-dwellers. Coming to historical times (B.C. 260), under the Han dynasties, the' province passed through many vicissitudes. Nothing of particular interest happened until the second half of the thirteenth century, which saw the rise of a Mongol dynasty, when Kublai Khan carried his victorious arms over nearly the whole of China. This dynasty came to an end in 1367, and was followed by the Ming, the most illustrious of all the dynasties that have ruled over the Empire. In the declining years of the latter a rebellion broke out in this province, and the present Manchu dynasty, which commenced in 1664, had thereafter to spread peace over the land. So mild is the climate that the swallow does not seek a warmer clime, hut can be seen skimming over the Yangtszo in search of insect prey throughout the winter. The prospects of trade are exceedingly good, and deserve the attention of our merchants. So great is the area of the provinca that it stretches even to Thibet and Kokonor.

The mineral wealth of the province must he remarkable. Its eastern portion goes by the name of the Red Basin, on account of a thick surface layer of red, grey, or yellow sandstone. Underneath this are deposits of coal and lime, and tho basin is surrounded by high mountain ranges, through which the Yangtsze has forced an eastern outlet. The basin itself has been broken up by foldings of the earth’s crust, forming ranges of hills and exposing numerous coal seams of various thicknesses and qualities. Great deposits of brine also lie under the surface at depths varying from thirty to two thousand feet, and these workings have given rise to many industries, such as coal and iron mining, and iron-works for the manufacture of evaporating pans, and it has added greatly to the hardy and skilful race of sailors, who day by day navigate those dangerous waterways on which the profitable employment of steam has hitherto proved impossible.