- We have now arrived at the great province of CARAJAN, the
KARAJANG of the Mongols, which we know to be YUN-NAN, and at its capital
YACHI, which - I was about to add - we know to be YUN-NAN-FU. But I find
all the commentators make it something else. Rashiduddin, however, in his
detail of the twelve Sings or provincial governments of China under the
Mongols, thus speaks: "10th, KARAJANG. This used to be an independent
kingdom, and the Sing is established at the great city of YACHI. All the
inhabitants are Mahomedans. The chiefs are Noyan Takin, and Yakub Beg, son
of 'Ali Beg, the Beluch." And turning to Pauthier's corrected account of
the same distribution of the empire from authentic Chinese sources (p.
334), we find: "8. The administrative province of Yun-nan.... Its capital,
chief town also of the canton of the same name, was called Chung-khing,
now YUN-NAN-FU," Hence Yachi was Yun-nan-fu. This is still a large city,
having a rectangular rampart with 6 gates, and a circuit of about 6 1/2
miles. The suburbs were destroyed by the Mahomedan rebels. The most
important trade there now is in the metallic produce of the Province.
[According to Oxenham, Historical Atlas, there were ten provinces or
sheng (Liao-yang, Chung-shu, Shen-si, Ho-nan, Sze-ch'wan, Yun-nan,
Hu-kwang, Kiang-che, Kiang-si and Kan-suh) and twelve military
governorships. - H.C.]
Yachi was perhaps an ancient corruption of the name Yichau, which the
territory bore (according to Martini and Biot) under the Han; but more
probably Yichau was a Chinese transformation of the real name Yachi.
The Shans still call the city Muang Chi, which is perhaps another
modification of the same name.
We have thus got Ch'eng-tu fu as one fixed point, and Yun-nan-fu as
another, and we have to track the traveller's itinerary between the two,
through what Ritter called with reason a terra incognita. What
little was known till recently of this region came from the Catholic
missionaries. Of late the veil has begun to be lifted; the daring
excursion of Francis Garnier and his party in 1868 intersected the tract
towards the south; Mr. T.T. Cooper crossed it further north, by Ta-t'sien
lu, Lithang and Bathang; Baron v. Richthofen in 1872 had penetrated
several marches towards the heart of the mystery, when an unfortunate
mishap compelled his return, but he brought back with him much precious
information.
[Illustration: Garden-House on the Lake at Yun-nan-fu, Yachi of Polo.
(From Garnier).
"Je boz di q'il ont un lac qe gire environ bien cent miles."]
Five days forward from Ch'eng-tu fu brought us on Tibetan ground. Five
days backward from Yun-nan fu should bring us to the river Brius, with its
gold-dust and the frontier of Caindu.
