Dunganis

Dunganis (Tunganis), a historical people scattered over various parts of Mongolia and the western provinces of China (Kansu, Shensi, Sechuen), and numerous especially in Zungaria. The term Dungeln, i.e. "Converted," is applied in a general way to all the Chinese Mohammedans (the Shui-Shni, or Hui-Hui of Chinese writers); but it indicates more particularly the mixed Mongolo-Chinese Mohammedans of the western regions, who now form a special type distinguished by large muscular frames, arched nose, oblique eyes, and somewhat fair complexion. They appear to have been originally of Tatar stock, and they themselves claim descent from the Uigur Tatars removed to the vicinity of the Great Wall during the Thang dynasty (7 to 10 centuries of new era). All are now

Mussulmans of Chinese speech, and those of Zungaria rebelled against the Chinese Government in 1864, when they exterminated all the officials, and rapidly occupied the Hi valley and the Tian-Shan region as far as Urumtsi. But in 1867 the Taranchis of Chinese Turkestan, wearied with their exactions, rose against them, killed large numbers, and drove the rest into the territory of Kulja, at that time held by the Russians. Since then most of the Dunganis have returned to Zungaria, where by crossings with the Taranchis and Kirghiz they have developed a type quite distinct from the Chinese. The Dunganis, taking the word in its wider sense, are estimated to number about 30 millions altogether. (Prjewalski, Mongolia, vol. ii.; Schuyler, Turkestan, vol. ii.; Ch. de Ujfalvy, Bulletin of the French Geographical Society, 1878 and 1879.) Dung Flies, a group of flies that live on clung, on which they feed and in which they bury their eggs, so that the larvae may at once obtain a supply of suitable food. The best known English species is the "yellow downy dung fly" (Scatophaga stcrcoraria, Linn.).