or TOU-FANS, a people inhabiting the country on the west of China. Their country is only a continued ridge of mountains, inclosed by the rivers Hoang-lo on the north, Ya-long on the west, and Yang-tse-kiang on the east, between the 30th and 35th degrees of north latitude.

The Si-fans are divided into two kinds of people; the one are called by the Chinese Black Si-fans, the other Yellow; names which are given them from the different colours of their tents. The black are the most clownish and wretched; they live in small bodies, and are governed by petty chiefs, who all depend upon a greater.

The yellow Si-fans are subject to families, the oldest of which becomes a lama, and assumes the yellow dress. These lama princes, who command in their respective districts, have the power of trying causes, and punish- Imperfection of Sight with regard to Colours. Under the article Colours, is given an instance of a strange deficiency of sight in some people, who could not distinguish between the different colours. In the Phil. Trans. vol. lxviii. p. 611, we have an account of a gentleman who could not distinguish a claret colour from black. These imperfections are totally unaccountable from any thing we yet know concerning the nature of this sense.

Second Sight. See Second Sight.