CHAPTER XVIII.
HISTORY OF THE -CHINESE AND INT^-C E NATIONS.
Section I.— General Survey»—Countries inhabited by these
nations.
In the south-pastern 'border of thé Old Continent
-beyond the,, reach of Indian .arts ând litprféfre, beyond
the utrpost verges'on whichi the light of Indo-European-
science and philosophy diffused #tB .ra y a is cradle
and immemorial abode of a peculiar groupe of nations,
who boast a civilisation -of their own, a? develope-
metoband culjivation-v of intellect according to their own
singular and“ remarkable method, a grow.th of arts and
knowledge | and -religion independent and indigenous^ deriving
nothing from the aid of foreigners, either the
eaelier or later figes of the -world. Almost as separate from
the central countries of Asia, though cut off by no inters
vening sea, as? were the civilised nation^of Anahuac and
Peru, the Chinese dived under the patriarchal rule of
great and powerful emperors long before the name of their
land or people had been heard in Europe, and for cgnturies
afterwards they were only known as the possessors of the
country which produced the most splendid of „the manufactures
of the East. The Seres of Greek and Roman
poets were a people? of almost fabulous existence who,
otherwise -barbarians, disdained the clothing of .wool and
skins, and wrought from flowers iof. the earth the admired
fabrick of silk. They are thus described by the poetical
geographer 11
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