d entreated them to settle in his
dominions. At first, it is stated, they were only 200 in number, but
they have since so multiplied, that they now constitute a large
population, eminently formidable to the Chinese. Kan-Sou, Yun-Nan,
Sse-Tchouan, Chan-Si, Chen-si, Chang-Toung, Pe-Tche-Ly, and Liao-Toung
are the provinces in which they are most numerous. In some particular
localities, indeed, they form the majority of the population, as compared
with the Chinese. They have, however, become so mingled, so fused with
the native people, that it would be difficult now-a-days to recognise
them, were it not for the small blue cap which they all constantly wear,
to distinguish themselves from the Chinese. Their physiognomy has
retained no vestige of its original type. Their nose has become flat,
their eyes have sunk in, their cheek bones started out. They do not know
a single word of Arabic--a language which their priests alone are bound
to learn, and this only so as to read it. Chinese has become their
stepmother tongue; yet they have preserved a certain energy of character
which you seldom find among the Chinese. Though few in number, as
compared with the enormous general population of the empire, they have
ensured for themselves the fear and respect of all about them. Closely
united among themselves, the entire community always takes up any matter
affecting one of its members. It is to this spirit of association that
they owe the religious liberty which they enjoy throughout all the
provinces of the empire. No person would venture, in their presence, to
cavil at their religious creed, or their religious practices. They
abstain from smoking, from drinking wine, from eating pork, from sitting
at table with pagans; and no one presumes to find fault with these
peculiarities. They do not even hesitate to contravene the laws of the
empire, if these contravene their freedom of worship. In 1840, while we
were on our mission to Tartary, the Hoei-Hoei of the town of Hada, built
a mosque, or Li-Pai-Sse, as the Chinese call it. When it was completed,
the Mandarins of the place wanted to demolish it, because, contrary to
the law, it rose higher than the Tribunal of Justice. Upon this
intention becoming known, all the Mussulmen of the locality rose in arms,
assembled, swore to prosecute in common a suit against the Mandarins, to
impeach them at Peking, and never to lay down their arms until they had
effected the removal of