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THE' CHINESE EMPIRE.
I
D ivisions.
'N the- làft century the .Chinefe' emperors, of the Mandfhur race, ex-
* tended this wide empire over many weftern countries, inhabited by
•wandering herds of Mongols, MandQmrs, and Tatars-; and eftablifhed
fuch firm influence over Tibet, that the Chinefe |npire may now be
confidered as extending from thofe parts-of the Pacific jicean called the
Chinefe and Japanic fcas, to the rivers Sarafou and Sihon in the weft,
a fpace of 8i°, which, taking the medial latitude of 30S, will amount to
nearly 4200 geographical, or 4900 frritifh miles. From N. to u f fe s
vaft empire may be computed from the Uralian mountains, lat-.J'P , to
Thefduthern part o f China, übout lat. 21?, being 2 ^ of latitude^ 1740
geographical, or nearly 2030 Britilh miles. , , .
' This empire therefore confifts of three principal divifionsy that,of
Ghina proper ; the territory of the Mandflrurs and Module, onthesnorth
and weft ; and laftlythe lingular and interefting region of TibetorTibbeL
Thefe countries are not only fo wide and important, but are fo radically
different in the form of government, in the manners, and pther citr
xumftances, that it will be proper to deferibe each apart.
• This-fuppofes that the great hord of Kirgufe., who only pay homage to China, are included.
But the mountains of Belur T ag , and the Palkati or Balkaih lake feem never to have been
•paffedby the Chinefe. About300 B.jnil.es of.medial length may w this cafe be fubtiaaed.