The Land and the People of China Author:John Thomson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. POPULATION. Population of the empire—The first settlers; their gradual increase— Populations of England and China compared—Chinese census— Some... more » recent causes of depopulation—Emigration—Chinese labour abroad—Clannishness—Assimilating power of the Chinese race —A plea for the Chinese in foreign lands. The population of China has been variously reckoned by the best authorities at from three hundred to four hundred millions. These calculations are based principally upon the native census returns, for a native census has been taken at different periods; but the vast extent of fertile land in the empire, the skilful husbandry of the people, and their characteristic industry and frugality, have all been taken into account by those who have dealt with this question, and all these circumstances confirm the belief that a very high estimate is by no means an improbable one. The surface formation of the land renders it well fitted for tillage, and for the supply of an abundance of food staples, while the great rivers fertilise the boundless tracts of alluvial plain stretching along their banks, and which annually yield a double or triple crop of grain. The nucleus of the Chinese race settled first along the course of the Yellow River, and there, directed by an illustrious chief, set themselves to the task of controlling and utilising one of the richest water supplies in the world. Four thousand years ago, in obedience to edicts which 79 they held to be almost sacrec-thtffained the rich Soil of the land of their inheritance, sowed, planted, and reaped. Gradually growing in numbers, and developing their arts and industries, they spread from the valley of the Yellow River into regions that up to that time had lain fallow under the sway of an indigenous race. Everywhere...« less