CHINA.
369
miles, is divided into eighteen provinces, the area and population of which are given as follow in the most recent estimates, partly based on official returns:-
Chihli Shantung
Shansi
Honan..
Kiangsu
Anhwei
Kiangsi
Fohkien
PROVINCE.
AREA ENGLISH
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL.
SQUARE MILES.
ESTIMATED POPULATION.
Peking.
58,949
28,114,023
Tsinan
65,104
28,958,764
Taiyuen
55,268
27,260,281
Kaifung
65,104
23,037,171
Nanking
92,661
Nganking
{
37,843,501
34,168,059
Nanchang
72,176
30,426,999
Foochow
53,480 38,888,432
Hangchow
39,150
26,256,784
Wuchang
381,724
37,370,098
Changchau
18,652,507
154,008
10,207,256
15,193,135
166,80
21,435,678
79,456
19,147,030
78,250
7,313,895
107,869
5,561,320
Kweiyang
64,554.
5,288,219
Total...
1,534,953 405,213,152
Chekiang Hupeh Hunan Shensi
Kansuh
Szechuan
Kuangtung
Kuangsi...
Yunnan
Kweichau
Sigan Lanchow Chingtau.. Canton...
Kwelin
Yunnan
The above population, giving 263 souls per square mile throughout China proper, appears to be excessive, considering that some of the outlying portions of the immense territory are by no means densely inhabited. Nevertheless, other returns than those of the above tables, said to be official, give still higher figures. It is stated that in a census taken in 1842 the population of China was ascertained to number 414,686,994, of 320 per English square mile, and that in 1852 it had risen to 450,000,000, or 347 inhabitants per square mile. But there is, probably, less accuracy in the given results of the latter enumerations than in the preceding estimate, which is considerably over the mark. Rebellions and famines have, in some provinces, greatly thinned the population, and there is every reason to believe that the population of China does not now exceed 300,000,000.
According to a return of the Imperial Customs authorities, the total number of foreigners in China was 3,817 at the end of 1877. Among them were 1,851 natives of Great Britain and Ireland, 383 of the United States, 353 of Germany, and 176 of France, all other nationalities being represented by very few members. More than one-half of the total number of foreigners resided at Shanghai, the remainder being scattered over the other ports open to foreign commerce.
In addition to China proper there are its dependencies. The principal of these are Mongolia, with an area of 1,288,035 square miles, with some 2,000,000 people; and Manchuria, with an area of 362,313 square miles, and an estimated population of 15,000,000. The latter is being steadily and rapidly colonised by Chinese, who greatly outnumber the Manchus in their own land. Thibet, which is also practically a dependency of China, has an area of 643,734 square miles and a population of 6,000,000 souls. It is ruled by the Dalai Lama, but subject to the Government of Peking.
Of all the numerous kingdoms that formerly acknowledged the suzerainty of the Dragon Throne and paid tribute to the Emperor, Korea is the only one that still yields willing allegiance. The Chinese Government has, however, no control over the internal affairs of Korea. The Japanese induced the Korean Government to enter into treaty relations with them in 1876. In May, 1882, Commodore Shufeldt negotiated a treaty with Korea on behalf of the United States (since ratified by the Washington Government), and Korea, concluded a treaty with England on the 26th November, 1883, and has since also entered into treaty relations with Germany, Russia, Italy, and Austria. The area of Korea is 90,300 square miles, and the population is variously estimated from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000.
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