Catholic priests of his day, simply because he refused to allow them a
free hand in matters outside their proper sphere. Altogether, it may
be said that he was a just and public-spirited ruler, anxious for his
people's welfare. He hated war, and failed to carry on his father's
vigorous policy in Central Asia; nevertheless, by 1730, Chinese rule
extended to the Laos border, and the Shan States paid tribute. He was a
man of letters, and completed some of his father's undertakings.

Yung Chêng's successor was twenty-five years of age when he came to
the throne with the year-title of Ch`ien Lung (or Kien Long = enduring
glory), and one of his earliest acts was to forbid the propagation of
Christian doctrine, a prohibition which developed between 1746 and 1785
into active persecution of its adherents. The first ten years of this
reign were spent chiefly in internal reorganization; the remainder,
which covered half a century, was almost a continuous succession of
wars. The aborigines of Kueichow, known as the Miao-Tz{u}, offered a
determined resistance to all attempts to bring them under the regular
administration; and although they were ultimately conquered, it was
deemed advisable not to insist upon the adoption of the queue, and also
to leave them a considerable measure of self-government. Acting under
Manchu guidance, chiefs and leading tribesmen were entrusted with
important executive offices; they had to keep the peace among their
people, and to collect the revenue of local produce to be forwarded to
Peking. These posts were hereditary. On the death of the father, the
eldest son proceeded to Peking and received his appointment in person,
together with his seal of office. Failing sons or their children,
brothers had the right of succession.

In 1741 the population was estimated by Père Amiot, S.J., at over one
hundred and fifty millions, as against twenty-one million households in