PoPtrucrioN AND GOVERNMENT. The country is ruled as a military colony by the Li Fan Yuen, or 'Colonial Department.' at Peking. The popu lation has been estimated at from 2,001000 to 5,000,000. The latter number seems excessive, but probably inchules the inhabitants of Sun garia and Koko-nor, as well as the very large number of Chinese who have taken up their abode here as merchants and farmers. The Mongols are divided into aimaks o• tribes, each governed by its own chieftain, and subdivided for military purposes into Koshun, or 'banners.' The north ern half of the country is occupied (1) by four khanates (eighty-three banners)—Dzassaktu, Sain-noin, Tstishetu, and Tsetsen—each governed by a prime claiming descent from Genghis Khan, controlled by two Manchu residents, whose seat is at the capita]. The four khanates are composed entirely of Khalkhas, the most powerful of all the tribes. (2) By Kobdo and Elianghai, dependencies of Uhassutai. ruled by their own chieftains, and a Chinese Amban or Minister Resident at Uliassutai. The rest of the country —known as Inner Mongolia—is occupied by twenty-four aimaks o• tribes, each with its own hereditary chieftain, the whole divided into forty nine banners, forming six corps. The most im
portant, of these are the Ko•tchin, on the Man churian border, who joined the Manchus in the conquest of China, and the Ordos within the great bend of the Yellow River. The Chakhars and Barg,ou are not included in the jurisdiction of Mongolia ; their pasture lands are now in cluded within the Province of Pe-chi-li. They are governed by a Tit-tung, or lieutenant-general, who resides at Kalgan. Similarly the Turrets north of Shansi are included in that province, and are (with the Ordos) controlled by a gen era] residing at Kwei-hwa-ch'ing. The people pay no taxes to China; only a cattle tax to the princes, who pay a certain nominal tribute to the Emperor of China, whom they neknowledge as paramount, agreeing to have no relations with any foreign power. The princes furnish certain military contingents when needed, and are required to visit Peking at stated periods. Their military forces consist entirely of cavalry.