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is situated were all blazing like so many volcanoes. The blood of the slaughtered inhabitants hissed upon the burning brands.

A few people remained in Jerusalem, and

11. Ninety-seven thousand Jews were taken prisoners. Some were sold as slaves. The conquerors exposed others to be torn in pieces by wild beasts. partly rebuilt the city. But it was again destroyed by a Roman emperor named A'-dri-an. He leveled the walls and houses with the earth, and sowed the ground with salt.

12. The Jews were scattered all over the world. This ca-tas'tro-phe had long been prophesied. There are now between four and five millions of them in different parts of the earth. They still keep their religion, and many of their old customs. Jerusalem has been partially restored, but it is now very different from what it was in the time of our Saviour, being quite an inferior city.

CHAPTER XXVI.-ASIA-CONTINUED.
Early History of China.

1. THE territory of the Chinese empire is nearly the same at the present day that it has been for several centuries. It is bounded on the north by Asiatic Russia, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, and on the south by the Chinese Sea and Farther India. On the west there are mountains and sandy deserts, which divide it from Thibet [tib'-et] and Tartary.

2. This empire is very ancient, and has continued longer than any other that has ever existed. It is also the most populous empire in the world, containing about three hundred and fifty millions of people! Its history goes back four thousand years from the present time. The name of its founder was Fohi, whom some writers suppose to have been the same as Noah.

3. There have been twenty-two dy'-nas-ties, or separate families of emperors, who have successively ruled over China. If their history were to be particularly related, it would fill at least twenty-two great books. Yet few of the emperors did any thing worthy of remembrance.

11. What of Adrian? 12. What became of the Jews? What event had been foretold by the prophets? What of Jerusalem?

CHAP. XXVI.-1. What of the Chinese empire? Boundaries? What divides it from Thibet and Tartary? Which way is China from Persia? Hindostan? Siberia? The Birman empire? 2. What of the antiquity and duration of the Chinese empire? How far back does its history extend? Who was its founder? What do some writers sup pose? 3. What of the dynasties or families that have ruled over China?

4. Before the time of Fohi, the Chinese believe that men lived pretty much like brutes; that they had no settled homes, but wandered up and down in the forests, seeking for food; and when they caught any animals or birds, that they drank the blood, and devoured even the hair and feathers.

5. We find nothing very remarkable about the Chinese emperors till the reign of Chaus, who lived about a thousand years before the Christian era. He was extremely fond of hunting, and used to gallop into the midst of the rice-fields in pursuit of game. In this manner he did so much mischief, that his subjects resolved to destroy him.

6. There was a large river, which the emperor was often in the habit of crossing. On the shore of this river the people placed a boat, as if for the accommodation of Chaus. The next time that the emperor returned from hunting, he and his attendants got on board the boat, and set sail for the opposite shore.

7. But the boat had been contrived on purpose for his destruction. In the middle of the river it fell to pieces, and all on board were drowned. Thus, to the great joy of his subjects, the emperor

4. What do the Chinese suppose was the state of China before the time of Fohi? 5. When did Chaus live? What of him? 6. Relate the manner in which the people destroyed him?

T

སྙན་

ཌ་

리

THE CHINESE EMPERORS.

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Chaus went down among the fishes, and never again came a-hunting in the rice-fields.

8. The emperor Ching, who reigned about two thousand years ago, built a great wall in order to protect his dominions against the Tartars. It was forty-five feet high, and eighteen feet thick, and it extended over mountains and valleys, a distance of fifteen hundred miles. This wall still remains, though in a ruinous state.

9. When Ching had completed the wall, he thought himself so very great an emperor, that none of his predecessors were worth remembering. He therefore ordered all the historical writings and public records to be burnt. He also caused four hundred learned men, who were addicted to writing histories, to be buried alive.

10. If the emperor Ching could have caught poor old Peter Parley, he certainly would have buried him likewise, with his four hundred learned brethren; and so the world would have lost this Universal History!

CHAPTER XXVII.-ASIA-CONTINUED.

Anecdotes of the Chinese Emperors.

1. THE most famous man China has ever produced, was Confucius [con-fu'-shus], who was born about five hundred years before Christ. He was a learned man, and had many disciples or scholars, who attended his lectures and traveled about with him. He composed several books, which are held in great reverence, even to this day, by the learned Chinese.

2. The emperor Vati lived about the time of the Christian era. This emperor was desirous of reigning till the world should come to an end, and perhaps longer. He therefore spent his time in endeavoring to brew a liquor that would make him immortal. But, unfortunately, before the liquor was fit to drink, the emperor died.

3. Another emperor, instead of attending to the affairs of the nation, applied himself wholly to study. His prime minister took advantage of his negligence, and raised a rebellion against him. When the emperor heard the shouts of the rebels, he shut his book, and put on his armor. But, on ascending the ramparts of the city, he saw that it was too late to resist. He then returned to his library, which contained one hundred and forty thousand volumes.

8. When did the emperor Ching live? Describe the great wall. Does it still remain? 9. What orders did he give respecting historical books, records, and learned men? CHAP. XXVII.-1. What of Confucius? 2. What of the emperor Vati? How did he spend his time? 3-4. Tell the story of a very learned emperor.

4. The emperor knew that these books had been the means of his losing the vast empire of China, by withdrawing his attention from the government. He therefore set fire to them with his own hands, and the whole library was consumed. The rebels afterward put him to death.

5. The emperor Si-given began to reign in the year 617 after the Christian era. He dwelt in a magnificent palace. After the emperor's death, his son came to the palace, and was astonished at its splendor and beauty. "Such a residence is good for nothing but to corrupt a monarch, and render him proud!" exclaimed he. Accordingly he commanded this great and costly edifice to be burnt to the ground.

6. Chwang-tsong, who had been a brave soldier, was made emperor about eight hundred years ago. He was a person of very frugal habits. It was one of his singularities, that he never slept on a bed, but always on the bare ground, with a bell fastened to his neck. If he turned over in his sleep, the ringing of the bell would awaken him; and he then considered it time to get up.

7. In the year 1209, Genghis Khan, the famous Mogul conqueror, invaded China with an immense army of Tartars. He and

5. When did Si-given begin to reign? Where did he dwell? What did his son do? 6. What of Chwang-tsong? What curious fact is related of him? 7. When did Genghis Khan invade China? What of him and his descendants?

INSURRECTION IN CHINA.

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lis descendants conquered the whole empire, and the latter govcrned it for many years.

8. The emperor Ching-tsa ascended the throne three or four centuries ago. A mine was discovered during his reign, and precious stones of great value were dug out of it. Some of them were brought to the emperor, but he looked scornfully at them.

"What are

9. "Do you call these precious stones?" cried he. they good for? They can neither clothe the people, nor satisfy their hunger." So saying, he ordered the mine to be closed up, and the miners to be employed in some more useful kind of labor. 10. About a hundred years ago, in the reign of Yong-tching, there was the most terrible earthquake that had ever been known. It shook down nearly all the houses in the city of Pe-kin', and buried one hundred thousand people. A still greater number perished in the surrounding country.

11. In 1840, a war between Great Britain and China broke out, which continued for two years. The British government sent an expedition against the Chinese, which took Can-ton', and several other places. The war continued till 1842, when peace was made. Soon after, a treaty of commerce was made between China and the United States.

12. Mr. Cushing went to China and negotiated this treaty on the part of our country. It is said that he was one day invited by a mandarin to dinner. Mr. Cushing was curious to know what a particular dish was, and not speaking Chinese, inquired: "Quack?quack, quack?"

13. The mandarin understood him, and, shaking his head solemnly, replied: "Bow, wow!" I am not sure that this story is true, but as the Chinese eat young dogs, it may be true.

14. In 1852 a great insurrection began in China, headed by a native Chinese, Tae-ping-wang. This man had acquired some notion of the Bible, and it appears that in his proclamations he sets forth some Christian doctrines.

15. The war has now gone on for four or five years. and other important places are in the hands of the rebels.

Nankin

16. In 1857 trouble again broke out between China and Great Britain, and the latter country, in connection with France, is now (1858) engaged in a war to compel the Chinese to submission.

8. What of the emperor Ching-tsa? Relate the story of the mine. 10. What happened in the reign of Yong-tching? 11. What happened in 1840? What of the British government? 12-13. What of Mr. Cushing and his treaty between the United States and China? 14. What of Tac-ping-wang? 16. What occurred in 1857?