OF CHINA AND INDIA; COMPRISING A DESCRIPTION OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEIR INHABITANTS, EMBRACING THE HISTORICAL EVENTS, GOVERNMENT, RELIGION, EDUCATION, LANGUAGE, EDITED BY ROBERT SEARS. Illustrated with Two Bundred Engravings. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY ROBERT SEARS, 181 WILLIAM ST. AND FOR SALE BY BOOK-AGENTS AND BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. 1852. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, BY ROBERT SEARS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, 13 Chambers Street, N. Y. Och.25 29 Augies NOTHER volume is herewith added to the series of illustrated works, the previous numbers of which have met with such marks of generous approval. Although it would not become the Editor to be overassured as to the degree of favor with which the present work will be received, he yet will frankly acknowledge that he gives it into the hands of the public with far less of apprehensiveness, than he has ever felt with any previous issue from his pictorial press. Comprising, as it does, an illustrated historical and descriptive account of two of the most populous, most wealthy, and most ancient nations of the world-nations that were not only in existence, but had made advances in civilization and arts even, at a period of time when the earliest European nations had not emerged from a barbaric state-it can scarcely fail to prove of exciting interest, even to those with sale is a od yn whom, as a general thing, historic facts are dry and Though a taste for literary pursuits has been a characteristic of the Chinese from a remote period, If they yet have not preserved any reliable account of -hodijob the early ages of their empire. The only incidents of its ancient history are gleaned from its national annals; but these are so interwoven with the grossest fables that little or no dependence can be placed upon them. About the time of Confucius, however, their records, though still meager, begin to assume a more authentic form, and at this period commences the historical sketch of China, to be found in the following pages, 690552 it not seeming advisable to occupy them with the extravagant details of Chinese mythology, to the exclusion of matter of more substantial interest. The recent opening of the ports of China to the commerce of foreign nations, and the consequent relaxing of that rigid policy by which that nation has heretofore kept itself so closely veiled from the observation of the rest of mankind, afford opportunities not before enjoyed, for acquiring a knowledge of its institutions, social, political, and religious-of learning new facts in its history, and also for the correction of many errors that have prevailed in relation to the character and habits of its people. This epoch in the history of China is coincident with the acquisition, settlement, and erection into one of the states of this confederacy, of California-in effect bringing the United States many thousands of miles nearer to the Chinese territory—and in point of facility of intercourse, placing this country in closer proximity to China, than any European nation. The interest, therefore, which this last event has excited, and which the first furnishes the means of gratifying, of obtaining correct information regarding this extraordinary nation, and especially of its commerce, its arts, manufactures, and productions, has a more substantial basis than the mere satisfaction of a commendable curiosity. The almost universal use of tea in this country, amounting to about twenty millions of pounds annually, rendering everything connected with this plant of interest, not only to the merchant and scientific man, but to the people at large, will justify the extended space which has been given to a full account of its culture and preparation for market. The experiment of the cultivation of the tea-plant in this country has been successfully made by a gentleman of South Carolina, who expresses the opinion that the climate here is adapted to its culture, from Maine to Florida.. The day may eventually come when this universal luxury will be produced in this country to an extent that will entirely obviate the necessity of its importation. It may be thought that the great care and manifold operations required in its preparation, with the cheapness of labor in China, will ever prove a bar to its general cultivation in this country. But who that reflects on what American ingenuity, energy, and enterprise, have accomplished in overcoming obstacles to the successful prosecution of other branches of industry, can for a moment doubt that—adaptedness of soil and climate to the production of tea being once ascertainedlabor-saving improvements would be introduced, sufficient to admit of its profitable cultivation ? Than India, few countries on the globe, have experienced more revolutions, or been made the subject of so many able and interesting works. |