Nanyang and the Huaqiao

Nanyang is what all Chinese, wherever they may be, to this day call that area south of China, north of Australia, bounded on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the east by the Pacific. In the West it is usually more prosaically known as South-East Asia, a few people still refer to the East Indies. The northern end of the area abuts China along a long land frontier, containing a great land mass that tapers down into a peninsular that stretches south. Beyond, to the south and east lie great islands, clusters of small islands and archipelagos. The climate is tropical, still uncleared terrain and mostly jungle-clad; there are mountains, plains and great rivers; and also cities, smaller townships, industrial areas, innumerable small villages and settlements. Communications are now with some exception, generally efficient and modern. It is a mostly prosperous region although poor in parts, much of it quite densely populated, peopled by several different races, indigenous and settlers, of varying cultures, still mostly engaged in intense cultivation of the soil, also manufacturing, industry, technology, trade, both internal and external. These people are for the most part literate and basic education is widespread albeit to very varying standards. All have their own distinct traditions, art, literature, beliefs and customs and live under differing political systems.