THE  GOVERNMENT  67
class,  in  charge  of  a  subordinated  Chow.  Under  this  grade
are  also  Chow-tung  and  Chow-pan.
Chih-Hsien,  “  Knower  of  the  Hsien,”  or  District
Magistrate,  whose  functions  will  be  described  below.  In
the  Eighteen  Provinces  there  are  1,443  Hsien  and  27  in
Manchuria,  making  1,470  in  all.  Below  the  Chih-hsien
are  subordinate  officials—Deputy  Magistrate,  Sub-Deputy
Magistrate,  Superintendent  of  Police,  Jail  Warden,  etc.,  etc.,
but  they  have  no  independent  status.
The  “  Fu  Chow  Hsien  ”  constitute  the  general  administrative ­
  body  of  the  provincial  civil  service.  They  are
charged  in  varying  degrees  with  the  collection  of  revenue,
the  maintenance  of  order,  and  the  dispensation  of  justice,
as  well  as  with  the  conduct  of  literary  examinations  and
of  the  government  courier  service,  and  in  general  with  the
exercise  of  all  the  direct  functions  of  public  administration.
A  specimen  proclamation,  given  by  Mr.  Parker,*  well
illustrates  the  gradations  of  rank  of  the  provincial  officials
from  highest  to  lowest.
“  The  Magistrate  has  had  the  honour  to  receive
instructions  from  the  Prefect,  who  cites  the  directions
of  the  Taotai,  moved  by  the  Treasurer  and  the  Judge,
recipients  of  the  commands  of  their  Excellencies  the
Viceroy  and  Governor,  acting  at  the  instance  of  the
Foreign  Board,  who  have  been  honoured  with  His
Majesty’s  commands.  .  .  .  [commands  end.]  Respect
this.  Duly  communicated  to  the  Yard,  or  Yards
[end  of  line],  who  command  the  sze  [end  of  line],  who
move  the  tao  [end],  who  instructs  the  fu  (end),  who
sends  down  to  The  Hsien,  etc.  [Note  how  the  Hsien,
as  imperial  agent,  gives  himself  capital  letters.]  We
therefore  enjoin  qnd  command  all  and  several,  etc.”
The  same  gradation  is  also  exemplified  in  the  accompanying ­
  diagram,  in  which,  however,  the  exigencies  of  space
require  the  apparent  subordination  of  the  Taotai  to  the
Sze,  while  he  is  actually  “  with  but  after  ”  the  Sze.  His-*
  “China,  Her  History,  etc.,”  by  E.  H.  Parker,  1901.