ann
(Ann)
#1
So from the eighteenth century and far from the coast the radiation
of a dominant arablist order beyond the confines of Hanspace became
quite visible through the critical or enthusiastic eyes of Nayančeng,
Giohoto, Zhang Zhidong, Ortai, Shurungga, Gao Qizhuo, Jungfoboo,
Chang Deshou, Sun Jiagan, and Prince Güngsangnorbu or in the
bewildered expressions on paper and stone of Warka and Yi. The
dynasty’s reactions to this trend are well represented by the diversity
of opinion of these men who had all devoted their energies to assisting
the Qing in its sustained attempt to rule across a wide range of peoples
and ecologies. To this end, the state assembled a commensurate array
of resources that, contrary to the intentions of the Qing elite that
includes many of the names listed above, turned out to promote the
reproductive and political interests of the empire’s Han subjects. In
terms consistent with those formulated in previous chapters, Qingfields
grew decisively in imperial arablist terms at the expense of the other
imperial environmental relations of venery, Zomi-culture, herding, and
foraging.
Of course, swiddeners, foragers, and herders did not otherwise live in
perfect harmony. Mongol pastoral practices in 1729 , for example, so
affected some Urianghaiotogforaging in Uliastai that they had to be
relocated far southward to undisrupted hunting grounds in Qiqihar.
Conflict could also arise among groups engaged in the same activities.
This set Hejen and Fiyaka against Solon-Ewenki and Dagur poachers
who were chasing sable across the territorial boundaries of Jilin and
Heilongjiang in 1731. Hunting Solon-Ewenki from Heilongjiang continued
to poach sable in Jilin territory well into the Qianlong reign in violation of
state regulations that seem partly intended to separate foraging areas in
forests similar to the way pastures were separated in the steppe.^6 Such
violations, possibly motivated by local resource exhaustion, could even be
committed to fulfill pelt tribute obligations. As in the 1754 incident of
Heilongjiang Hunting Solon-Ewenki’stheftof 253 Jilin sable pelts, imperial
foraging began to pay its tribute by plundering itself, a dramatic omen of a
sustainability crisis.
Problems generated between or within Zomi-culture, herding,
and foraging were nevertheless muchsmaller in scale and sprawl than
those germinated by the more imposing success of arablism. This very
success, however, was achieved in partially inadvertent terms that,
as such, were insufficiently cognizant of the full range of contributing
interdependencies. Domestic and foreign threats across all borderlands
were critical factors for the agro-urban concentration of resources
268 Across Forest, Steppe, and Mountain
