Political and strategic geography of China — Mongol invasion turning-point in Chinese history — Early Chinese civilisation before that event — Gallant and patriotic resistance on the part of the Chinese against their Mongol invaders — Mongol conquest of China completed A.D. 1270 — Character of Mongol rule there — Restoration of native Chinese dynasty — Its decay after lasting two centuries — Local insurrection of a strange character arising — Prepares the way for accession of the Manchus — Origin of the Manchu Tartars — They overrun China after a noble resistance by the people — Their dominion established over China — Character of their rule up to the nineteenth century — Eminent sovereigns of their race — Beginning of their degeneracy.

In that region of the world where the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa meet, there are constantly latent the germs of that typical form of pestilence known as the Egyptian or Levantine Plague. This frightful disease has, on account of its enormous and rapid mortality, struck terror into all minds, and has consequently been recorded by the historians of every nation that has been visited by it. From the records that have been handed down to us, it would appear to have been in existence from the earliest times, and to have been liable, at intervals, to be fanned into a flame, and increase in extent and intensity to an almost unlimited degree.

The Roman province, Pannonia, after having become a prey to the Vizigoths and Ostrogoths, was suddenly invaded towards the end of the fourth century, A.D., by an Asiatic people known under the name of ‘Huns,’ ‘Konoi,’ ‘Aorsoi,’ or ‘Alans.’ These Huns were followed by the Avars, undoubtedly a cognate tribe. The Avars are said to have overcome the Kutugurs, or Usurgurs, and driven from Pannonia the Longobards (Lombards), a Teuton tribe, which settled in Italy, and formed the principal ethnical element of Tuscany. At last we have the Magyars, another cognate tribe of the Huns occupying Pannonia. That the Magyars were Fins was often asserted, but is now an entirely exploded hypothesis. There are a few Finnish words in the Magyar language, proving that at a certain historical period the Magyars must have had some kind of connection with the Fins, but the test words proving the affinity of languages are entirely different.