TA.NGUT is the historical name of a country in Asia, which occupies the centre of the eastern and more elevated table-land of that continent.
This country still goes by the name of Tangut, though at present a part of it 11 incorporated in the Chinese province of Kenai, whilst another is mostly in the possession of two Mongol nations, the Oliith Tabors* and the Torbod Mongols. Tangut extends between 33' and 42' N. lat., 94' and 107' K long. It is bounded S. by Tibet ; W. by Chinese Turkistan, or the government of Thian-Shan Nanlo; and Is. by Mongolia, of which also a portion is included within the lately erected province of Kansi.
The sonthern portion of Tangut, or that which lies south of 38' N. lat., is one of the most mountainous tracts on the globe, and extends over the upper course of the river Hosing-ho and the basin of the Lake of Khookhoo-nor. Along its southern border there are the RATAN KuARa 31ourralss. Another elevated range traverse. the country in the same direction from east to west, near 38' N. let. This range rims at a short distance from the banks of the lioang-ho north of the town of Lanteheou, and in its eastern part is called Kilian-Shan ; but farther west it takes the name of Nan-Shan. It rises to a great elevation, especially towards the west, where many of its summits are covered with snow and united by extensive glaciers. This mountain chain is supposed to be connected with the Knenluen range near 92' E. long.
The Bayan Kharan and the Nan-Shan mountains occupy a great portion of the country between 33' and 38' N. lat., and nearly the whole of the remaiuder of the country is filled up by a third range, Siue Shan, which connects these two, and extends from south east to north.weet. The Siue-Shan, or Snowy range, contains numerous summits which rise above the anow-line. The river licsang-ho breaks through this range, but the huge rocky masses compel the river to make a great bend towards the west between 34' and 36' N. lat., and the circuit which the river makes shows the immense extent of these masses of rock. In this part of its course the river is said to be hemmed in by lofty mountains, so that no communication can be established along the banks. Its course above this bend is very imperfectly known. The river enters a wide valley by a narrow gorge formed by two very elevated mountains a little above tho town of Ilo-tcheou (36' N. lat., 102' E. long.). At the opening of this gorge is a fortress, called Tay-shy-kuan.
Tangut is separates! from China proper by a fourth range, the mountains of Sifan, which run south and north; they are connected at their southern extremity with the Bayan Khara Mountains and the Slue-Shan by an extensive mountain knot, which is is the country formerly called Sifan, whence the chain has obtained its name.
Tbongh'this range is less elevated than the Siue-Shan, it rise. in several places above the snow-line, and occupies a considerable width. It is supposed to terminate near the banks of the Iloang-ho, a few miles south of 38' N. lat. Opposite to it and on the northern banks of the river rises another chain, called Holang-Shan, which continues along the western bank of the river as far north as 42° N. lat., rising only to a moderate elevation, and occupying in many places only three or four miles in width : it slopes on the west down into the steppe of the Offith Tshoros. This range is distinguished from all the other ranges of Tangut by being thickly wooded on its easteru declivity.
Only a small portion of the countries inclosed by these mountain masses is fit. for cultivation. It does not appear that there is any cultivation in the upper valley of the Hoang-bo above the fortress of Tay-shy-kuan. Below that place and as far as Lan-tcheou, the valley is wider, and narrow tracts along the banks of the river are cultivated and fertile. Farther down, and as far as the neighbourhood of Ning-hia, a town built on the western banks of the I-bang-he, at Um eastern declivity of the Holang-Shan (38° 32' N. lat.), the valley has not been visited by Europeans. At this place the river runs iu wide valley, which has been rendered fertile by numerous canals, fed by the waters of the ricer; here rice is extensively culti vated. There are also numerous plantations of fruit-trees. The soil contains much saltpetre. The town of Ning-hia, the former capital of Tangut, is of considerable extent, being five miles in circuit. It has manufactures of carpets and paper, and a considerable com merce with the nomadic tribes who wander about in the country west of the Holang-Shan. Below the town of Ning-hia the valley of the Hoang-ho giows wider, but its fertility decreases. About eighteen miles from Niug-hia the cauala cease and no rice is cultivated. Other grain is still grown about 30 miles farther north, where the country gradually changes into a sandy, arid desert, interspersed with hills, swampy tracts, and pastures.