the name given by the ancients to a tract of Eastern Asia, lying, according to Ptolemy, east of Scythia extra Imaum, north of India, and west of the land of the Sinae. It probably occupied the country now called Mongolia, and the western part of China. The people were called Seres, and were chiefly known to the Greek and Roman nations on account of the silk which they produced, and in which they carried on a lucrative trade. Indeed, so closely were they connected with this branch of trade that the classical name for a silkworm was ser, and for silk-cloth serica vestis. Some have supposed that the name of the insect was transferred to the people; but this is not so probable as the converse, for there are many instances of articles of commerce deriving their names from the places whence they come. According to the ancient accounts, the Seres were a mild and gentle people, avoiding as much as possible (like the Chinese of the present day), all intercourse with other nations. They were probably of the Mongolian race.