Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/70

CHAPTER III.

CENSUS OF THE POPULATION.

TESTIMONY OF THE CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES—AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES—THE LAW OF THE CENSUS AND THE WAY OF TAKING IT—THE REASON FOR SO DOING—ITS CREDIBILITY—THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS RECONCILED—INCREASE ACCOUNTED FOR—INCREASE SKETCHED—AMIOT'S ESTIMATE—GROSIERS—MORRISON'S—AND SIR G. STAUNTON'S—COMPARISON OF THE WHOLE—WHICH MOST TO BE CREDITED—THE DISCREPANCIES OF SOME—THE MOST CREDIBLE CENSUS—THE REVENUE OF CHINA—AND ITS LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE PEOPLE.

But we have somewhat more than probability to guide us, in endeavouring to ascertain the population of China. We have the evidence of men who have long resided in the country, and a variety of estimates taken by the natives themselves, and published by imperial authority. While the learned of Europe are sitting at home, and calculating what may or may not be, which they decide according to their several hypotheses and partialities; we have the testimony of eye-witnesses and actual residents, as to what really exists. Between these bare supposers and personal enquirers there can be no difficulty in determining on whom most reliance is to be placed. The speculators on China's population, however, aware that facts are against them, have sought to throw discredit on the witnesses produced on the other side, by bestowing on them the most opprobrious epithets, and calling their veracity into question on every occasion. The authorities most likely to furnish