SZEMAO
975
entirely in the hands of local merchants, who have no agencies in either Tonkin or Burmah. A telegraph line from Túng Hai, via Yuan Chiang and Pu Erh-fu, connects Szemao with the existing Chinese overland telegraphs. Considerable ethnological in- terest centres in the neighbourhood of Szemao. Writing on this subject in the course of his Trade Report for 1905 the Commissioner of Customs remarked: "It is of much interest to notice the various aboriginal races in this part of Yunnan, living side by side with, and yet differentiated from, the Chinese, and possessing distinct customs, character istics, and traditions of their own. In the surrounding mountains we find the Lolo and Lohei, and in the low-lying plains the Shans, known to the Chinese as Pa-i; interspersed with these is the vassal tribe of the Akas. In the vicinity of the Chinese towns little settlements of the Mahe and Putu, who are offshoots of the Woni, are to be met with. From Talang north to Yüan-chiang and eastwards south of the Red River as far as Man- hao, is the home of the Woni race, who are a swarthy people sub-divided into several tribes. Near Talang live, a few Min-chia people who have migrated from Ta-li and Yuan-chiang, the headquarters of this large branch of the Shan race. At Shih-p'ing and Yuan-chiang there are several tribes of Pa-i, or Shans proper, and some Yao, also, are to be found in the mountains to the east of Szemao-a remarkable race which is to be met with in scattered hamlets in mountainous districts as far eastwards as Kwangsi. The Kawas inhabit the prefecture of Chên-pien-t'ing, to the westward of Szemao, and concerning their mode of life but little yet is known. The relentless march of civilisa- tion, however beneficial to the world at large, is bearing hardly on the aboriginal races of mankind; and the south-western portion of this ancient province of Yunnan provides one of the few remaining territories where they are still permitted a local habitation and a name." There is a large and interesting field for mission work, the soil being still practically virgin. It is noticeable that the various tribes inhabiting this corner of China are slowly undergoing a process of social and economic evolution under the influence of Chinese settlers and travellers with whom they come in contact, but the process of assimilation is very slow, and the Shans, as well as all the other aborigines, still continue, like birds of a feather, to flock together.
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION
DIRECTORY
POST OFFICE, CHINESE
Dr. C. W. Mason, M.D. (Yuankiang) Mrs. E. Belle Dodd
Rev. and Mrs. Beebe
do.
do.
CHINESE GOVT. SALT ADMINISTRATION
Assist. Dist. Inspector-G. Sax (Mohei)
CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME
Assistant-in-charge—
Tidewaiter-S. Hankin
Postmaster-Chen Hsiang-lun
SOUTH YUNNAN MISSION (Menglieh)
Rev. and Mrs. J. D. Fullerton Sister Hilma Madelaire Miss C. Hanson
STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK
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