MANCHOORIA, or MANDSHURIA, a large district in the N.E. of Asia, constituting a government of the Chinese Empire, and bounded on the N. by Siberia, on the E. by the Gulf of Tartary and the Sea of Japan, on the S. by Corea and the Yellow Sea, and on the W. by Mongolia. It lies between N. Lat. 42. and 58., and E. Long. 120. and 142., and has an area of between 650,000 and 780,000 square miles. This region is almost entirely surrounded by mountains. The highest of these ranges is the Khing-khan-ula, which separates this district from the table-lands of Central Asia. Its highest summit, Pecha, is more than 15,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is situated near the southern extremity of the range. On the N., Manchuria is separated from Siberia by a lower range, called by the Russians Yablonoi Khrebet, and by the Chinese, Khing-khan Tugwick. Along the eastern coast there extends a very steep ridge, approaching in many places very near to the sea, and which rises to an elevation of 5000 feet. On the S., a prolongation of the Siolki range extends along the frontiers and joins the eastern chain; while the only part which is not surrounded by mountain barriers is towards the S.W., where there is a tract of country of an undulating and hilly character. The region included by these mountains presents towards the S. the appearance of a vast plain, chiefly sandy, but containing many grassy spots which afford good pasturage, and abounding in salt lakes. The northern part of Manchuria, on the other hand, is a country diversified with hills and valleys, almost entirely covered with forests. The country is watered by numerous rivers, of which the principal are,—the Amur and its tributaries, the Seja, the Songari, the Ussuri-ula, &c.; the Tumen-ula, and the Sira Muren, or Liao-ho. Of the soil and mineral resources of this region little is known, since it has never, except in the southern parts, been visited
by European travellers; and we are left to the doubtful authority of the Chinese. Wheat, rye, barley, hemp, and cotton, are produced in considerable quantities; and the forests are composed of oak, lime, pine, birch, willow, maple, &c. Rhubarb is also found in considerable abundance, and forms one of the chief articles of export. The domestic animals of this country are for the most part the same as those of Central Asia, with the addition of the rein-deer, which inhabits the country to the N. of the Amur, and the camel, which is found to the S. of that river. Among the wild animals, sables, ermines, bears, wolves, and foxes are the most numerous; and the people are much occupied in hunting them and trading with their skins. The wild sheep and the wild ass are peculiar to this and the neighbouring countries. Tigers are said to occur in Manchuria. Fish and pearls abound in the rivers, and of the latter article the divers send a yearly tribute to the Emperor of China. The climate of Manchuria is cold, and the winters severe, owing to its geographical position and its elevation. The population, with the exception of some Mongolians, belong to a wide-spread race called Tunguses or Tungusians, one subdivision of which comprises the Mandshurs. The Tungusians proper are most numerous to the N. of the Amur, and they are also spread over a considerable portion of Siberia. Their manner of life is erratic; and they subsist chiefly by hunting and by their large herds of cattle. To the race of the Mandshurs the reigning family of the Chinese empire belongs. They began their incursions in 1610, and in the year 1662 they had made such progress as to set upon the throne a monarch of their own nation. The Tungusian language differs from the Mongolian, and though not supposed to have any connection with any other dialect, exhibits a remarkable similarity in many words and expressions to some of the languages of Western Europe; which is the more remarkable as this is the most easterly country in Asia. Manchuria is divided into the three provinces of Shin-king, Kirin, and Tsi-tsi-har, the first of which is governed in the same way as the rest of the Chinese empire; while the other two are under a military despotism. The capital is Kirinoola, or Ghirinula, though Moukden, which was formerly the metropolis, is still the most wealthy city; and the other most important towns are Saghalin-ula, Kin-chu, and Fung-whang-ching. An invasion was made into Manchuria by the Russians in the seventeenth century, but although they established themselves for forty years on the Amur, they were at last driven out by the Mandshurs. During the last ten years, however, they have again resumed their attempts, and have made incroachment in the north, having built a fort on the Amur, and several others on the sea-coast. One of these was unsuccessfully attacked by the British in 1855, and another was attacked by some American ships. The population of Manchuria is uncertain, the estimates varying from 2,000,000 to 4,500,000.