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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 November 2009
The late rebellion of the Muhammedan Tartars against the Emperor of China, by whose predecessor, Kien-Lung, they were subdued, in the year 1759, has given a fresh interest to regions which still remain very imperfectly known to Europeans. Père L'Amiot,* whom thirty years residence at Peking has rendered very capable of affording useful information relating to China and its dependencies, having placed at my disposal some notes concerning the above-mentioned countries, I proceed to subjoin a few extracts from them:
page 197 note * Formerly in the service of the Emperor, but abruptly dismissed by the late sovereign Kea-king, whose narrow-minded jealousy and dislike towards Europeans was well known, and formed a striking contrast with the favour which they received from his father Kien-lung. Only two Europeans were left by Père l'Amiot at Peking, one of whom, Padre Serra (a Portuguese) has lately arrived at Macao, and the other is expected in the ensuing winter of 1827–28. Thus ends the Roman Catholic mission at the capital of China; a mission which, however unsuccessful in the primary objects of its institution, has done so much towards making us acquainted with the country and its inhabitants.
page 197 note † We may hope to see this work edited by one of the Sinologues of Paris.
page 198 note * Mr. Moorcroft mentions Yarkund and Ladakh as famous for horses. See also his paper on the Purík sheep in the first volume of these Transactions, pages 49 to 55.
page 199 note * This was the capital of the Muhammedan Tartars, previous to their conquest by Kien-Lung: and the claim which their chief lately advanced to its independent possession, is said to have been the immediate cause of the war. Moorcroft speaks of the Chinese acquiring “the “state of Kashmir by the expalsion of the Musleman Khaja, whose heir, Jehangír Khaja. “is now (1822) in attendance at the court of Omar Khan, the sovereign of Ferghana.” (See the first volume of these Transactions, p. 55.) The Chinese call the Tartar chief Chang-Kih-Urh Hŏchŏ, which is quite as near an approximation to Jehangír Khaja as most of their attempts at foreign names: Khaja or Khodjo, seems to be a common title of honour in Muhammedan Asia.
page 199 note † Inhabitants of the northern provinces of Shan-see and Shcn-see.
page 200 note * The Gazette states that all the former contributions in grain are to be remitted.
page 200 note † See suite des seize estampes représentant les conquêtes de l'Empereur de la Chine, Planche xiv, etc.
page 201 note * Called by the Chinese Ta-ko-peih, “Great Cobi.”
page 201 note † The Chinese character, pronounced Poo, may be seen in Dr. Morrison's Chinese Dictionary, No. 8661; or in De Guignes' Chinese Dictionary, No. 2407.
page 201 note ‡ See the first volume of these Transactions, page 408.