SHANS

Mongol tribes of China, Burma, Siam; of same kin as Laos semi-barbarous; noted for chased work; many are under Brit. protection; reseat Siamese in institutions and region. province, N. China; mountainous; ri fx Coal, iron ore, salt. Pop. 9,420,000. Oapital, Tai-yuen-fu. on Yellow Sea and Gulf of bordering Pe-chi-li; W. is traversed by the Grand Canal; mountainous in E.; Hoang-ho flows S.W. to N.E. through prov.; extensive deposits of coal, iron, lead, copper, and gold; produces grain, fruit, indigo, silk. Shantung is known as cradle of Chin. civilization, and_ is birthplace of Confucius and Mencius. Germany obtained, by agree me nt of a ninety-nine years’ lease of 1897, Kiaochow in S. of prov., and acquired. substantial economic advantages in Shan-tung, but lost all her rights as of the World War. Shan-Tung resilt given to Japan over the protest of was by the treaty of Versailles, but China, Japan, at the Washington Conference a d to return it to China, under conditions, and this was done certain in 1923. (See Kracnow, CuiNa, JAPAN). Cap. pop. 29,609,000.