27 FEBRUARY 1892, Page 16

ISLAM IN CHINA.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOE."1 Sut,—Your correspondents who have lately been writing on the subject of "Islam in China" do not seem to have read the great authority on the subject, M. Dabry de Thiersant, " La_ Ifahometisme en Chine." He points out that Islam was introduced into China in two ways, by missions and by immi- gration. The mission was sent to Canton probably in 628 A.D. The immigration began a hundred years later, bodies of Arab, Turk, and Mongol Moslems finding their way into the Empire from the north-west. About 755 A.D., a colony of fom- thousand Moslem soldiers settled in China. These earlier• immigrations were reinforced by others, especially in the time of Djengis Khan. These Moslems were regarded favourably by the Government, and flourished and multiplied. In the eighteenth century there was even a Moslem Empress. Islam, was introduced into Yunnan in 1295 A.D. These Yunnan Moslems revolting in 1855, kept the Central Government at bay till 1874. There are estimated to be twenty million Moslems.

in China, chiefly in Khansa (8/), Shensi (6;), Yunnan (3;).— I am, Sir, &c.,