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CHINA. 137
monk, writing in the sixth century, called it Tzinistse, which
much resembles the Persian appellation, Chinistan. The
Turks and Russians knew it as Khitai. The Khitans were
of Nanchu lineage, and related to the present imperial familj.
In the tenth century they completely conquered the
adjoining provinces. From about tliis period, or before,
strange as it may seem, Europe became utterly oblivious of
any such great civilized nation in the East. But in the year
1245, John of Piano Carpini, a native of Umbria, and another
Franciscan monk, wandering along the Mongolian
desert, found their way into Eastern Asia ; and, returning from
their mission, told of a highly-civilized people living in the
extreme East, upon the shores of the ocean. . To this country,
so unexpectedly found, they gave the name of Cathay.
One of these monks describes them thus —
:
" The Cathayans are a Pagan people, who have a written character
of their own. They are learned in many things. They worship the one
God, and have sacred scriptures. . . . They have no beard, and in their
features are very much like the Mongols, but not so broad in the face.
They have a peculiar language. Better craftsmen, in all the arts practiced
by mankind, are not to be found on the face of the earth. Their
country, also, is very rich in corn, in wine, gold, silver, and in silk, and
in all other things that tend to human maintenance."
EAELY EFFOP.TS TO CHRISTIANIZE THE CHINESE.
Portuguese missionaries reaching China by doubling the
Cape* of Good Hope, near the close of the fifteenth century,
despaired of converting self-willed Chinamen to Christianity
because, said these Romish zealots, " They have a God of
their own. Burning incense, they worship their ancestors.
They also hold converse with spirits, using the black art, and
think that the original tendency of man's heart is to do right."
De Rubruquis, an intelligent monk, was the first to identify,
in 1253, Cathay with the ancient Seres or Sinim. In
1295 Friar John went on a mission to China. Writing to
Rome, he says, —