of the Toutang with the Mandorins Taycoetsin and Thiapang with Orders to bring the Ships within half a Mile of the City and there to lie till such time as the said Commander who was not to know for several Reasons of the Arrival of the Hollanders had taken his leave and was gone During which time Waggenaar was Presented with several Rarities in token that the Hollanders were receiv'd as Friends in requital whereof he gratifi'd their Kindness with Guinee Linnen Bottles of Rose-Water and several other Returns The next day the Ships being come higher up the River several of the Company would have gone ashore to refresh themselves but were prevented by the Vice-Roy's Ships of War which lay there to watch the Designs of Waggenaar Afterward came the Mandorin Haitonu Aboard with several Attendants to conduct Waggenaar Ashore and when he had been civilly Treated he desir'd him that he would prepare himself to go to the Court but just as he was taking Horse there came two Mandorins to him with an unexpected Message putting several strange Questions to him viz. Why Waggenaar was desirous to speak with the Vice-Roy and what his Business was and whether he had brought any Letters or Presents for the Great Cham at Peking and for the Mandoring Toutang at Canton adding withal wherewith he ended his Discourse That the Portugueses were the occasion of all this misunderstanding But that which seem'd most pleasant they declared That if the Hollanders would appear before the Vice-Roy in Person they must â—e very liberal to all that were about him Whereupon Waggenaar made answer That he was not willing to Bribe the Vice-Roy or his Courtiers to take the Letters and Presents of his Lords and Masters contrary to his and their Inclinations but yet he would give a good Sum of Money to him that should procure a Free Trade for this Year at Canton During this Conference the same Haitonu returns with Advice to Waggenaar That he must not appear before the Vice-Roy who notwithstanding would read his Letter Hereupon Waggenaar delivers him the Letter and not long after an Answer was brought him by the Vice-Roy's Interpreter which was to this effect That in regard the Hollanders had not brought with them any Letters nor Presents to the Emperor at Peking though sufficient Advice had been given thereof to the Hollanders at Batavia and highly recommended unto them therefore it was to his great sorrow that he could not suffer them to have any Speech with him Now when Waggenaar saw that he could not effect any thing with him he departed from Canton with both the Yachts and return'd back to Batavia nothing being done In the mean time these barbarous People were not asham'd to demand ten thousand Toel of Silver onely to render the Letter and Presents acceptable to the Vice-Roy before any Conference could be had about driving a Trade with them Now according to the Proposal of the General Iohn Maatzuiker and the Council of India the Governors of the East-India Company at Amsterdam concluded and order'd an Embassy to be sent from Batavia to the Grand Tartar Cham at Peking Whereupon Peter de Goyer and Iacob de Keyzer both Merchants were chosen Ambassadors at Hurkos with a suitable Train of fourteen Pesons namely two Merchants six Waiters a Steward a Chirurgeon two Interpreters one Trumpeter and one Drummer Beside these they took two Merchants more with them who during their Voyage to Peking were to take care of the Traffick at Canton namely Francis Lantsman as Chief and Henry Gramsbergen his Companion two Yatches were appointed to Transport them from Batavia to Canton and from thence to the Imperial City of Peking The Presents which the Ambassadors took with them for the Great Cham consisted of several rich Piece-Goods as Cloth Kersies and other Woollen Manufactures of fine Linnen Mace Cinamon Cloves Nutmegs Coral little Trunks of Wax Perspective-Glasses Looking-Glasses great and small Swords Guns Feathers Armour and several other Wares The Contents of their Credentials were to this purpose that the chief end and design of this Embassy was to make a good Agreement and firm League with the Emperor of Tartary and China that there might be a Free Trade driven throughout his whole Kingdoms betwixt his Subjects and the Hollanders and that the same might be confirm'd under the Hand and Seal of both Parties Having put Aboard the Merchandises Presents and other Necessaries for our Voyage the Ambassadors went Aboard on the 14. of Iune 1655. with all their Followers we set Sail that same Night with a South-East Wind from the Coast of Batavia steering our Course Northerly But before I relate what hapned to us upon our Voyage after we came in sight of the firm Land of China I will give you an Account in brief of this famous and eminent City a Draught whereof I toook before my Departure from thence and is thus here represented in the adjoyning Print This City Batavia so call'd from the Netherlands ancient Name is situated in the Island of Great Iava and so fruitful in all manner of Cattel and Corn that the Learned Scaliger extoll'd this Island for one of the most fruitful and comprehensive Places in the whole World for from hence comes not only Pepper Ginger Cinamon and other Spices in great abundance but also all manner of tame and wild Cattel which are Transported from thence to other Parts It produces also all manner of Gems Gold-Mines Precious Stones and rich Silks in great quantities but yet so subject to stormy and tempestuous Weather that they are seldom free from Commotion'd Skies The ancient Natives of this Island are originally sprung from the Chineses who for the most part fearing the Incursions of the Tartar fled out of their own Country and setled themselves here in Iava and other adjacent Isles which they chose for their security against their Enemies The Natives of this Island who call themselves by the Name of Iavaners are generally of a middle Stature and round Visag'd most of them go naked having only a Cloth about their Middle to cover their Secrets They are counted the most civiliz'd People of all the Indians but yet they are great Gluttons Proud Deceitful Impudent and not to be trusted when they have Pass'd their Words for when a King of Iava had falsifi'd his Word and his Promise and was handsomly rebuk'd for it he return'd for answer That the Tongue of a Man was not made of Bone as if he had said It ought to be more pliant to the flexibility of the Mind and various Resolutions They are also represented to be Cruel Blood-thirsty and hardly appeased when once offended as also that they were wont to eat the dead Bodies of their Friends As to their Religion they are all of them Mahumetans or Idolaters according to the several Perswasions of their Kings who are many in this Isle where Paganism as the most ancient was spread universally and most of them were Idolaters
in the middle of the River and divide the Province of Kiangsi from that of Nanking into which we were now come But before I relate the Sequel of our Iourney I shall give you in short the number of the great and small Cities of this Province and the farthest Extent thereof This Province of Nanking which is reckon'd for the ninth among the fifteen is wash'd with the Sea on the East and South-East On the South it borders upon the Province of Chekiang on the South-west upon Kiangsi on the West upon Hupang North-West upon Honan and the rest upon Xantung In this Place formerly they kept the Court of the ancient Chinese Emperors and though the Imperial Palace be remov'd to Peking yet till the last Tartar War the Court of the Emperors did continue in the Chief City of this Province call'd Kiangning but the Tartars in the last Invasion did not only totally destroy and deface all Royal Palaces and Imperial Courts which were most noble Edifices but also alter'd the very Name of the Province and of the Chief City for the Province which formerly bore the Name of Nanking they call'd Kiangnan and the Chief City which was formerly call'd Ingtien they nam'd Kiangning and depriv'd this City also of all its Royal Splendor and Privileges As this Province far exceeds all the rest in goodness and richness of Soil so likewise in Trade and Commerce for here are the Chiefest Cities of all China each being famous for Traffick No less doth this Kingdom abound in Shipping above all the rest for the number of all manner of Vessels is so great that it seems as if all the Shipping of the World were Harbor'd there but 't is no wonder considering the Situation of the Rivers that run through this Country for by them they can pass by Water into any part of China and all Vessels which are bound higher up must meet there which lessens the wonder of so great Fleets of Ships together in that part And besides all Vessels come to this Province out of the River Kiang through broad Navigable Waters made either by Art or Nature which are call'd The Royal Channels The Natives of this Place are generally very Civil Witty Serviceable and Mannerly It likewise breeds great store of able Handicrafts-men who prove most excellent in their several Arts. There are likewise here very Learned Men brought up in their Schools of Literature It produces great store of Cotton and Silk which maintains there abundance of Weavers who work in either Commodity but this is the Womens Business and the Men follow Husbandry and other Employments or else look to the Children whilst the Women Spin. This Seat of Nanking is so famous through all China that whatsoever is made in it is preferr'd before any thing of the like nature wrought in other parts of the Country In this Province lie fourteen Chief Cities which Command over a hundred and ten small ones the Names of which fourteen principal ones are these which follow Kiangning Fungyang Sucheu Sungkiang Changcheu Chinkiang Yangcheu Hoaigan Lucheu Ganking Taiping Ningque Chicheu and Hoeicheu Kiangning call'd also Ingtien and Nanking Commands over seven Cities as Kiangning Kiuyung Lieyang Liexui Caoxun Kiangpu and Loho Fungyang Commands over eighteen Cities as Fungyang Linhoai Hoaiyven Tingyven Uhu Hung Xeu Hokieu Mungching Su Hiutai Tienchang So Lingpi Ing Tacho Hao and Ingxan Sucheu Commands over seven Cities as Sucheu Quenxan Changxo Ukiang Kiating Taicang and Cungming Sungkiang Commands over three Cities as Sungkiang Xanghai and Cingpu Changcheu Commands over five Cities as Changcheu Vusie Kiangyn Gniking and Cinkiang Chinkiang Commands over three Cities as Chinkiang Tanyang and Kintan Yangcheu Commands over ten Cities as Yangcheu Ychin Taihing Caoyeu Hinghoa Pacyng Tai Iucao Tung and Haimuen Hoaigan Commands over ten Cities as Hoaigan Cingho Gantung Taoyven Moyang Hai Canyu Pi Sociven and Ciunning Lucheu Commands over eight Cities as Lucheu Xuching Lukiang Vuguei Cao Logan Iungxan and Hoxan Ganking Commands over six Cities as Ganking Tungching Cienxan Taihu Sufung Vangkiang Taiping Commands over three Cities as Taiping Vuku and Fachang Ningque Commands over five Cities as Ningque King Taiping Cingte and Nanling Cicheu Commands over six Cities as Cicheu Cingyang Tungling Xelai Kiente and Tunglieu Hoeicheu likewise over six Cities as Hoeicheu Hieuning Vuyven Kimuen In and Cieki There are beside all these four other ordinary Cities in this Province which the Chineses call Cheu and some other less Cities which they call Hien The four Cities are these Quangte Hocheu Cheuceu and Sincheu Quangte Commands over one City which is call'd Kienping Hocheu over Hanxan Cheucheu over two others Civenezao and Taigan Siucheu over four Siao Tanxan Fung and Poi The Chinese Poll-Book of this Province makes mention of 1969816 Families as also of 9967429 Fighting Men. The yearly Revenue which this Province pays to the Emperor consists of 5995034 Bags of Rice 6863 Pounds of unwrought Silk 28452 Pieces of Cloth and 2027 Rolls of woven Hemp-Cloth This Province likewise furnishes the Emperor's Stables with 5804217 Trusses of Straw or Hay and 705100 Pounds of Salt All which being valu'd together will amount to an incredible Sum beside what is paid in Money which amounts to 32000000 of Ducats as I was credibly inform'd by some of the Grandees of the Province which is not incredible considering the vast Customs which are paid to the Emperor for all Goods Exported out of the Chief City of Nanking The City of Xanghai alone pays yearly to the Emperor for the Toll of Wool the Sum of 250000 Ducats All great Shops and Inns pay monthly thirty Toel of Silver or else the Tartars come and Quarter upon them in their Houses and misuse them at their pleasure Upon the 29. we came to Tonglon or Tonglieu the sixth small City in the Iurisdiction of the thirteenth Chief City Chicheu and the first Place we came at in this Province of Nanking This is a small City and lies close to the South-side of the River Kiang in a very pleasant and delightful Soil which is encompass'd about with fine little rising Hills and Vales It is surrounded as well on the Water-side as toward the Mountains with a reasonable strong Wall fortifi'd with Bulwarks This City shews very beautiful as you approach it upon the River but within it lies in a most lamentable Condition for the Tartar proceeded with so much fury against it that they left nothing defac'd that deserves any notice to be taken of only there is one Street that has some Houses standing in it the rest are all destroy'd except the Governor's House which is in reasonable good order The Magistrates or Governors of the City Tonglieu sent a congratulatory Letter to the Ambassadors upon their Arrivals as also some Presents for the Table which were not accepted The Traffick of this City was only Timber so that the Place more resembled Norway than China About two Miles beyond this we saw an Island lying in the Bosom of the
belong'd to the Imperial Palace but all things were in disorder and in a decay'd condition without any Furniture but two or three broken Benches some Kettles and a few little Dishes for Thea. His Horses Mules Asses Dromedaries and Camels went up and down in the Court the Stables being all ruin'd and spoil'd From this Tartar's Lodgings the Ambassadors were conducted by the Agent to his own House to a sumptuous Dinner then made ready by his order for them where he entertain'd them till Night with all manner of Dainties Which done they thank'd him for his great kindness and civility took their leaves and return'd aboard their Vessels in which they lay all their Voyage both to and from Peking except at Canton Nangan and Peking This stately City which without parallel is the Diadem of all China lies about thirty five Miles from the foremention'd Taiping on the East-side of the River Kiang and in 32 Degrees of Northern Latitude Her situation is most pleasant and the Soil luxuriously fruitful the River running quite through this City whereof some Streams are navigable for great Vessels Here was formerly kept the Court of the old Chinese Emperors the Residence of the ancient Kings of U Cyu Cung Ci Leang Chin and Tanga Here also Reign'd many Lustres the Race of Taiminga till they remov'd to Peking the better to prevent the Invasions and Designs of the Tartar The Founder of this City was Gnens King of Cu who nam'd it Kinling which signifies A Golden Countrey Afterwards the first Branch of the Race of Cina call'd it Moling The Kings of U who kept their Courts in this City call'd it Kienye The Race of Tanga gave it the Name of Kiangxin but that of Taiminga call'd it Ingcien And last of all the Tartars who not many years since over-ran and conquer'd all China gave it again the Name of Kiangxing Where this City borders on the River Kiang it hath a broad and deep Graâ—â— into which you come out of the Kiang up to the Town about half a Mile within the Land Here they pass over on a Bridge of Boats which brings them conveniently into the City whose East-side which runs far into this Country covers a Flat with several Navigable Channels running through so that you may come with large Vessels up to the Town on that side Over these Channels are several Stone Bridges very rarely built The Chineses describe the Circumference of this later Wall by two Horsemen who in the Morning setting forth at one and the same Gate parted riding contrary and they say met not till the close of the Evening by which they would have us guess at the vast Circumference of their City The first Vesture of the City is above thirty Foot high built Artificially of Stone with Breast-Works and Watch-Towers There are thirteen Gates in this Wall whose Doors are plated with Iron and guarded continually with Horse and Foot Some of these Gates rest on four or five Arches through which you pass before you come into the City We lay with our Vessels before the Gate Suisimon or Water-gate So great a number of People pass daily to and again through this Gate that there is no getting in or out without much crowding The chief Streets of this City are twenty eight Paces broad very neatly pav'd and strait In the Night there is such good order observ'd for the preventing of House breaking or disturbance in the Streets that there is not the like in any other part of the World The ordinary Citizens Houses are but mean built without any convenience and stand all with the cross Ridges next to the Street They have but one Door to go in and out and but one Room to eat and sleep in Next the Street appears onely a four-square Hole serving in stead of a Window to let in Light which is commonly cover'd with Reeds in stead of Glass to prevent Gazers from looking in The Houses are but one Story high being cover'd with White Pan-Tiles and the out-sides whited over with Chalk Such as dwell in these ordinary Houses drive very mean Trades but the Shops of the chief Citizens and Merchants are fill'd with all manner of rich Chinese Wares as Cottons Silk Stuffs China Dishes Pearls Diamonds c. Before each Shop stands a Board upon which is inscrib'd the Name of the Master in Gold Letters as also what Goods he sels Beside these Boards stands a high Pole which reaches above the House upon which they hang Pennons and Flags or something whereby they as we in Europe with our Signs make known their Habitations They have not here nor in all China any Coin'd Money but use in stead thereof small Pieces of Silver which are of different value and weight and though you buy never so little you must always have a Pair of Scales about you if you will not be cheated in the weight by these crafty Chineses for they have commonly two sorts of Weights by them and are so nimble and deceitful in their Balancing that you had need of Argus's Eyes when you buy any thing of them This great City is also so Populous that there are above 1000000 People dwelling in it and yet Provisions of all sorts are to be had there in great abundance at a small rate all the Year long the reason whereof is the fertility of the Soil round about Amongst other Fruits there are most delicious Cherries sold very cheap in this City Beside the vast number of People there lies a Garrison of 40000 Tartars Here resides also the Governor of the Southern Provinces in the Name of the Emperor This City likewise exceeds any other in China for stately Idol-Temples Towers rare Edifices and Triumphal Arches But the Emperor's Court or Palace formerly exceeded all the rest of the Buildings wherein the Emperor of China was wont to reside with the same State and Pomp as now at present the Great Cham doth at Peking This Palace was situated on the South-side of the City built four-square and surrounded with a Wall which contains the greatest part of the City Each side of the Square wherein this Palace was included contain'd in length one Italian Mile and three parts of a Dutch Mile and as near as could be guess'd by the decay'd Walls or might be learnt from the Inhabitants this Court or Palace with all belonging thereto was as big as Haerlem in Holland Within the first great Gate lay a large Court which led to the four Squares and was pav'd with fine smooth Stone The Tartars seated themselves near an Idol-Temple call'd Paolinxi where they built themselves several Huts leaving the Chineses to dwell in the City and there to drive their Trade The Buildings are all of a hard sort of Stone which the Natives have most curiously painted with a yellow Colour so that when the Sun reflects on them they shine like Gold Over the Gate of the second Court of this Palace hangs a great Bell about 10 or
China Dishes for the Table according to their manner But the Ambassadors to hint to them how they far'd in Holland bespoke several other Dishes at their own Charge but we receiv'd after we had been before the Emperor a double Allowance which was seldom done to any other Forein Addressors In the first place you must know That the Province wherein this Chief Imperial City of Peking is situate as also the City it self have been call'd in several Times by several Names in regard it is an ancient Custom among the Chineses as has been already said that when the Race which Commands and Rules over them happens to be alter'd commonly also then the chiefest Cities nay the whole Kingdom change and alter their Names In the Times of the Race of Chiva this Province and Chief City was call'd Ieu under the Race of Cina it was call'd Xangho when the Race of Hana Reign'd 't was call'd Quangyang and under the Race of Ciin Eanyang But the Race of Taiminga which drove the Tartars out of China nam'd it Peking and Xuntien by both which they now call it The City is call'd Peking which signifies The Northern Chief City to distinguish it from Nanking which we Interpret The Southern City But the other Name Xuntien whereby it is so commonly call'd by the Chinese Geographers signifies Obedient to Heaven It is call'd by the Tartars Cambalu that is The City of the Lord. It lies in 40 Degrees Northern Latitude almost upon the outward Northern Limits of this Province and the whole Kingdom not far from those high Mountains and that great and famous Wall which separates the Tartars and Chineses in the North from each other It exceeds the Southern Chief City of Nanking in number of Inhabitanâ— Soldiers and Magistrates but on the other hand is not to be compar'd with Nanking for largeness regular Streets and Fortifications It s South-side lies vested with two high and thick Walls which are so broad that twelve Horses may go abrest upon them without any hindrance to one another The inner Wall which extends about ten Miles in circuit is so thick set with Bulwarks that one may easily fling a Stone from Tower to Tower This Wall is all of Stone and so very high that I believe the like is not to be found again in all Europe the outward Walls within which the Suhurbs lie environ'd have very slight Fortifications only on both sides of the Gates are three strong Out-works In these Redoubts and Towers the Soldiers by Night keep strict Courts of Guard as if the Enemy were at the Gates The Chinese Emperor Taicungus who Reigned over China in the Year 1404. did very much embellish this City and bestow'd several Priviledges upon it Amongst the Emperors which belong'd to the Race of Taiminga this Taicungus was the first that left the City of Nanking and setled his Imperial Court and Residence in this Chief City of Peking the better to hinder and resist the Inroads and Excursions of the Tartars driven out of the neighboring Countries by his Grandfather The City has twelve Gates All Rarities in China are brought hither so that this City abounds in every thing fit either for Pleasure or humane Sustenance Several thousand Royal Vessels beside those of private Persons are continually employ'd to fetch all manner of Wares and Curiosities for the Emperor and his Council at Peking Hither comes all the Revenues which each Province of the Kingdom pays yearly to the Emperor's Exchequer and the better to effect this for the Importing of all Wares to Peking the Chineses use great Endeavors to make all Rivers Navigable that so they may come with ease by Water to the Emperor's Court with the Products of several Provinces Iustly may a Man admire at the Workmanship of the Chineses which partly by Art and partly by Nature is so brought to pass that you may come to this City hundreds of Miles by Shipping from most Parts of the Kingdom By this Importation this Place though in an unfruitful and barren Soil possesses every thing in great abundance and may be call'd the Granary of the whole Empire for they have a Proverb amongst them That there grows nothing in Peking yet there is no want of any thing All Commanders and Officers as well Civil as Military who have a mind to be preferr'd must betake themselves to this City which prescribes Laws to all others and upon this Place alone depends the whole Government of China so that a very great number of Learned Men and Officers are always resident here The Streets are not pav'd insomuch that in wet weather which is seldom they are hardly passable but when the Northern Winds blow and the Weather is dry the Soil which is of a light substance makes a Dust far more noisom to Passengers than the deep and miry Streets for such it is that it blinds a Man as he goes along The Inhabitants therefore to prevent this inconvenience are fain to wear Silk Hoods over their Faces and the extraordinary foulness of the Way makes very many to keep Horses to carry them after a rainy Day for the infinite number of common People that are continually up and down turns this dusty Soil into Mire and Dirt after a little Rain There are also Horses or Sedans to be hir'd at any time for the accommodation of Passengers but none make use of Sedans or Chairs but Persons of Quality in which they are carried in great State These Sedans are made very artificially of Bamboes or Rushes in the middle whereof stands a Chair which is cover'd with a Tygers Skin upon which he that is carried seats himself having behind him a Boy with an Umbril in his Hand to keep off the Sun His Servants likewise attend him some of them going before and others following after with Ensigns upon their Shoulders whereby the Quality of the Person is known and he respected accordingly as he passes along The City abounds in extraordinary brave Building famous Idol-Temples high and artificial Towers and Triumphal Arches which exceedingly adorn the same But we had not so full a view thereof as we could have wish'd in regard we were little better as hath been already said than confin'd to our Lodgings by order of the Emperor Marcus Paulus a Venetian who was in this City in the Year 1275. when the Tartars conquer'd the Southern Provinces of China calls the same in his Writings by the Name of Cambalu which he describes in this manner The City Cambalu which lies in the Province of Cathai upon a great River and signifies The City of the Lord has been very famous in all Ages The Great Cham did transfer this City to another part of the River for the Astrologers had foretold him that it should rise up against him It lies four-square and is twenty four Miles in circumference so that each side is six Miles long the Walls are of white Stone high and broad each side of the Wall has three
inhabit And in the eighth Part Line 18. he saith That a great quantity of Gold is gather'd out of these Mountains and divers sorts of Precious Stones and that there is a great Monarch that Ruleth over these Countries All which are agreeable to the Empire of the Great Cham as Marcus Paulus Venetus an Eye-witness in his first Book Chap. 64. delivereth in these words Departing from the Province of Egriaia towards the East the Way leadeth unto Tenduc it is better to read it Tanchut Now Tanchut is a Kingdom of Tartary which comprehendeth many other Kingdoms as the Kingdom of Lasa or that which the Tartars call Barantola the Kingdoms of Nethel Tibeth Maranga and others as I shall shew anon together with the Desart Kalmack which is bounded by the Wall of the Chineses and most Geographers confound this Kingdom with Cathay in which are many Cities and Tents where also that great Emperor term'd Presbyter Iohn so famous throughout the whole World was wont to reside But now that Province is Tributary to the Great Cham having a King of the Progeny of Presbyter Iohn and although there are many Idolaters and Mahumetans yet the greatest part of the Province embraceth the Christian Faith and these Christians are the Chief in this Province especially there is a certain Nation in the Province call'd Argon which is more subtle and eloquent than the other People here are also the Regions of Gog and Magog which they term Lug and Mongug in these Places is found the Stone Lazuli that maketh the best Azure In these Mountains also are great Provinces Mines of Silver and various sorts of wild Beasts All which aptly consent with the Description of the Arabick Geographer before alledg'd Also he thus writeth concerning the Altitude of the Mountains Iagog and Magog in his first Book Chap. 27. Hence if you travel to the Eastern Quarter you must ascend for three whole Days up the steep Rocks of Caucasus until you come to a most high Mountain than which there is not an higher in the World and there also appeareth no Bird by reason of the Cold and the over high Elevation of the Earth which can afford no Food unto Animals And if at any time Fire he kindled there it becometh not light it being obstructed by the over-much coldness of the Region neither is it of that activity as in lower Places And a little after he saith This Region is call'd Belor always having the face of Winter stamp'd on it Thus far Marcus Paulus All which agree unto that Mountain which they call Langur the highest Mountain in the Kingdom of Lasa concerning which Father Iohn Gruberus who travell'd through it on foot relateth that you cannot travel through it in Summer without danger both by reason of the great subtilty of the Air which hardly admitteth a Passenger to breathe and also because of the Vapor of a certain poisonous Herb which by its scent killeth both Man and Beast And about this Kingdom of Belor viz. the ancient Seat of the Sacae the Arabian Geographer placeth the principal Kingdom of Presbyter Iohn in Cathay as the Tractate written by Rabbi Abraham Pizol doth also clearly demonstrate The Nubian or Arabick Geographer calleth it Begarger in which he saith there is situate a very great City his words are these In the Eastern part of it is the Kingdom of Begarger the great City of which is call'd Centaba fortifi'd with twelve Iron Gates Rabbi Pizol with Paulus Venetus calleth it Belor in which he saith the Kingdom of Thebeth was lately discover'd his words are as followeth The Kingdom of Belor is very great and mighty according unto all Historians that have written of it there are many Iews inhabiting in it principally in the Eastern and Northern Quarters And there are moreover other Eastern People not long since discover'd call'd by the Natives Thebeth having a most splendid and magnificent City exceeding all others in magnitude there being not the like under the Canopy of Heaven in which all good things are found Which indeed can be no other than the City Chaparangue situate in the Kingdom of Thebeth concerning the Monuments of which in relation unto our Religion there left by the Christians Father Anthony Andradas a Portuguese of the Society of Iesus relateth Wonders who when he had heard that the Inhabitants thereof were professed Christians he took a Voyage into the same from the Kingdom of Mogor Anno 1624. full of labor and difficulty in which also having discover'd the Fountains or Heads of Ganges and Indus he observ'd many things most worthy of Consideration and admiration as I have it confirm'd by Ioseph a Christian of the Mogors Country who at the time of this my writing with Father Henry Roth Moderator of the new Converted Christians in the Kingdom of the Mogor is yet at Rome strong and lusty although eighty five years of Age who related unto me every Particular There is in the most high Mountains of Thebeth that are perpetually cover'd with Snow a great Lake the Receptacle of the greatest Rivers of India from which Indus Ganges Ravi Athec derive their Currents Hence the River Ganges hath its original falling down from the most high Rocks into a low Valley Indus and the other Rivers make their Outlets through the foot of the Mountains as is evident from the Map Now he affirmeth this Kingdom to be one of those of Great Cathay that are contain'd both without and within the Walls of the Chineses although the Relation be not in every respect conformable unto that perform'd by Benedict Goes of our Society which he undertook by order of his Superiors as we shall see anon And in these vast Regions of Cathay I find by the Relation of Paulus Venetus that most Potent Emperor Presbyter Iohn to have had subject unto his Dominions seventy two Kings partly Christians and partly Heathens although the similitude of the Kingdoms in those vast Regions and the Names arising from the various Revolutions of those Nations the Tumults of War and the other changes of Affairs together with the different Denomination hath caus'd such and so great a Confusion that to this very Day no Person hath been able to free himself out of this intricate Labyrinth for some make him the same with the Great Cham others call him Ascid by Original a Persian so Almachin in the third Book and fourth Chapter of his History of the Saracens Every King saith he of Pharanga so they call the City of Sogdiana is call'd Ascid as the Roman Emperor is call'd Caesar and the King of the Persians Cosrai And there are some that rather by a new Name with the Ethiopians more truly than by the old term him Iuchanes Belul that is to say Precious Iohn Others by no improbable Conjecture do assert That in honor of the Prophet Ionah who is highly respected amongst them all that Govern'd the Empire were so denominated But yet in these Western Parts of the Latin
done In this Island grows the Leaf Betel in great abundance much in request amongst the Iavaners who fetch whole Boats-full We made no long stay here but as soon as we had got our Provisions Aboard we set Sail to pursue our Voyage and on the 1. of Iuly came in sight of the large Continent leaving Couchinchina North North-West and about Noon we hâ—d the heighth of 20 Degrees and 6 Minutes we Sail'd along the Coast which was very pleasant This Couchinchina is part of the Kingdom of Gannan which is one of the neighbor Countries that are situated out of the Kingdom of China but yet belongs to the Chineses for under this Gannan is situated the Kingdoms of Tungking and Kianchi or Couchinchina both which were formerly call'd Nankiao The Emperor Haionus who was of the Family of Hana being a valiant Prince conquer'd first of all these Countries which he Planted and afterwards Govern'd the Inhabitants thereof according to the Laws and Manners of the Chineses This same Emperor was also the first who nam'd these Countries and the Inhabitants Kiaoch but afterwards the Family of Tanga call'd them by the Name of Kiaochians But it seems that the Chineses never made any account of these Countries in regard that the Inhabitants according to the Saying of the Chineses were wild and uncivil in their Conversation but others say they did it more out of fear because they knew very well that the Inhabitants far exceeded them in strength of Body and were desirous rather to live conformable to their own Laws and Customs and have their own King than submit their Necks under the Yoke of the Chineses At the beginning of the Reign of the Family of Taiminga for the space of 290 years these People were brought under the Lash of the Emperor Hunguus But this Country was afterwards made over to a petty King call'd Chin who soon was made away by his three Governors who were of the Family of Ly and so possess'd themselves of the Realm When the Emperor Iunglos observ'd the troublesom Condition of that Kingdom he caus'd two of the Governors to be put to Death but the third escap'd by flight and the Emperor afterwards reduced the Kingdom of Gannam into a Province but he had no sooner laid down his Arms but the Fugitive Ly began to appear again in the Field and made himself Master of the Kingdom which done he speedily sent Ambassadors to pacifie the Emperor At that time Sivanteus was Emperor a peaceable Man and more a Slave to his Pleasure than a Prince of his Countries This Emperor being weary of all these Mutinies and Troubles made over again this Country to this same Ly and install'd him as a petty Prince upon Condition that he should send to him every three years an Ambassador with great Presents And in this manner these Parts were divided from the Empire of China about the Year 1428. But these Countries notwithstanding all this grew very troublesom being full of Divisions so that at last they came to be divided into three Parts the first was call'd The Kingdom of Laos the second The Kingdom of Tunking and the third Couchinchina which at present are no other than part of the Provinces of Quangsi and Iunnan The Inhabitants of these three Kingdoms Laos Tunking and Couchinchina follow the Religion of the Chineses They likewise use the Chinese Characters but yet differ very much in Speech and Pronunciation from them These Countries are very fruitful in every thing belonging to the sustenance of Mankind among other innumerable Trees and Fruits there grows a Bean which makes an Oyl or Iuyce by the Portugueses call'd Rosamalia From hence comes likewise in great abundance the Eagle-Wood which is of a Purple colour and is known to the Spaniards by the Name of Lacca and us'd in China to dye and colour Silk-Stuffs It produces likewise good store of Linnen Silk and Cotton Among other sorts of Monkies here is also found one call'd Singsiing the manner of taking them in the Woods is to set Wine before them with which they being Fudled fall asleep and so are taken napping their Blood makes an excellent Purple Dye Upon the 14. we came in sight of the Island Maccoa and kept us by the heighth of 21 Degrees and 10 Minutes in the Evening we Anchor'd and the next Morning we set Sail. We saw lying upon the Shore several Boats but not one would come Aboard notwithstanding all the Signs we made to invite them so wondrous fearful they are of the Pyrate cokesing them who at that time held the Coast in continual Alarm and whom they undoubtedly took us to be Two days we Sail'd under this Island thence passing by the most famous and wealthy City of Maccoa and though we came not near it yet I shall relate what I have understood from others concerning the Magnificence of this Place whereof you have a Draught as it was taken at Sea Sailing thus by the City of Maccao we came to an Anchor under the Island of Goyers so call'd by the Name of Peter de Goyer Opon the 18. of the same Month we arriv'd about Sun-set only in company with the Yacht Koukerken for we lost the Yacht Bloemendael in the Storm upon the Coast of Couchinchina which came not till 48 days after us to Canton very safe into the Harbor of Heytamon and dropt our Anchor in the middle of the Bay at six and a half Fathom Water This Place is exceeding pleasant and most commodious for Trade on the Water side delightful Hills and Dales behind as is to be seen by the anâ—â—xed Print We were no sooner at Anchor but a Barque full of Soldiers Boarded us who in the Name of the Governor were sent to ask the occasion of our coming Hereupon the Ambassadors sent Hendrick Baron Ashore to acquaint him by word of Mouth with the occasion of our Arrival who when he came on Shore was conducted into his Bed-chamber where he was received very courteously and Treated by him who ask'd why the Hollanders did return and whether they were not about two years since expresly forbidden to come to Canton Six days after on the 24. came two Mandorins from Canton to view the Credentials they brought to the Great Cham and to that purpose they sent for the Ambassadors to the Governors House Hereupon the Ambassadors with all their Followers made up the River and came about Noon to the Village of Lamme where they went Ashore and were from thence conducted by the Master of the Ceremonies to the Governor's Palace At their Entry they found the Governor sitting at a high Table in the Hall betwixt the two Mandorins Guarded with Soldiers who civilly treated us and were serviceable unto us After Complements passed the Ambassadors shew'd their Credentials at a distance against which the Mandorins had nothing to object and then Chairs were set for the Ambassadors to sit down which being done the Mandorins and Governor began to ask
Ejaculations and as freely their Bounty offering prodigally their Country Products of all sorts of Fruits Birds and Beasts Upon the 27. of March in the Evening we Landed at a Place call'd by the Chineses Mongley with a most pleasant Prospect at a distance and accommodated with stately Sone Steps conveying you from the Water-side to the Gate entring the City which is vested with high Walls and fortifi'd with tall Bulwarks and Watch-Towers It is wondrous pleasant to view from the Battlements of this City the adjacent Countries thick shrowded with delightful Woods and mantling Pastures In regard our Drudges were quite tir'd out with Towing their Boats against the impetuous Stream we got fresh Yoke-men from hence but we were no sooner under Sail but the Ambassadors Vessel run against a blind Rock under Water which had like to have endanger'd the loss both of Ship and Goods The next Day having pass'd some Villages we came to an Anchor in pleasant Riding where the Mandorin Pinxenton Treated us with their beloved The. It was upon the 29. of March when we came with the remainder of our Fleet before the second Chief City of Xaocheu This City lies about thirty Miles from Yntag upon an Angle near the side of the River In regard of its Situation and safe Harbor of Shipping they have a very great Trade by Navigation Toward the South this River has several Names and is call'd Scian and sometimes Scio and has its Source out of the River Chin and Va which both run into one not far from this City The Place where these two Waters meet is well known by the Chinese Skippers to their sorrow because of the impetuous violence of the Streams and the many blind Rocks which skulk under Water on which in stress of Weather they often suffer Shipwrack The Chineses to avoid this Danger according to their Custom have built here an Idol Temple by the Water-side which is always first visited by such as intend to pass this Way where they offer what they have to be protected in their Voyage by the indulgence of this their favouring God The City lies surrounded on one side with high and delightful Hills and on the East side over the Water has a Suburb which is very populous rich and well built in the middle of the Water stands a Tower artificially built upon a small Rock according to the old fashion of the Chineses That this was formerly a noble City full of stately Buildings the many great Ruines signifie there yet remains an indifferent Wall about it but within nothing but Ruine and a heap of Stones We pitch'd our Tents near unto the Walls where we had a fair Reception by the Magistrates and Governor who brought several Presents for the Ambassadors Table which were accepted by the Ambassadors being not put upon the Emperor's Account After they had Saluted each other and discours'd of several Affairs they were most nobly receiv'd by the Ambassadors who Treated them with so much Respect that they were highly pleas'd and promis'd to requite their Kindness upon all occasions which done they took leave and return'd again to the City In the Morning early we weighed from thence and had not long been under Sail but we drew near a Mountain which the Tartars for its strange shape and form call Five Horses Heads Upon the Pinacles of these Hills which are envelop'd with Clouds we saw here and there several strange as well small as great Edifices standing some of them were entire others decay'd and ruinous built time out of mind But that which seem'd most remarkable was the Situation of those Buildings which were erected upon such high and steep places altogether inaccessible that none could imagine a possible Way for these People to carry up their Materials We were very desirous to have had a nearer view of these Houses and Inhabitants there but we found by experience after some small trial of clambering up that our Attempts were in vain We were no sooner past this Mountain of the Five Horses Heads but we fell among other Rocks and steep Ascents which we made a shift to escape though with great danger the River being full of lurking split Ships lying under Water therefore the Inhabitants call these Rocks The Five ugly Devils At last we got safe to the last Country of Suytjeen where the Mountain of the Five Horses Heads shews it self very wonderfully to the Eye at a distance but much more the tops of the Hills of Suytjeen which stand in such order upon the River as if Art and not Nature had plac'd them there Amongst these Mountains lie several pleasant Vales in most delightful Prospect being well replenish'd with Fruit-Trees and Herbage Upon the fourth of April we came in sight of the famous City of Namhun the third Chief City of this Province and immediately went Ashore This Metropolis lies about forty Miles from Xaocheu and is the outward Frontier of the Province of Quantung which we had thus travers'd from South to North. The Governor and Magistrates of this City having notice of the coming of the Ambassadors sent a Letter full of Complements to assure them of a cordial Welcom Not long after they address'd themselves in Person who after that the Ceremony of Complements had been reciprocally return'd earnestly desir'd of the Governor and Magistrates that good order might be given for the speedy furthering of their Iourney to Peking which they promis'd should be done The Ambassadors to requite their Civilities Treated them nobly for which they return'd their Thanks and having taken their leave went back in the Evening to the City The next day the Ambassadors with all their Followers were invited by the Governor to a most splendid Dinner who sent them his Gentlemen to meet them at the Gate of the City and conduct them to his House where he waited their coming with the rest of the Magistrates and some of the chief Commanders of the Army The Entertainment was every way answerable to the Quality of the Persons as well of the Guests as the Inviters The Governor and the Magistrates sat all at one side of the Table that the Sewers might the better remove the Dishes and Chargers without any disturbance to the Company which were not Serv'd up all at once according to the custom of the Chineses but only two at a Course which was the single Allowance for one Person And when the Steward who waited always at the Governor's Elbow had given the Word every one fell to what he most fancied and when he observ'd a cessation at the first Course he made a Sign and immediately the Dishes were shifted which was done at least sixteen times observing the same order as at first During the Feast there was both Vocal and Instrumental Musick the better to Entertain the Invited to their satisfaction A little before the Banquet was brought in they arose and recreated themselves in the Garden till the Dishes were plac'd and then
be skilful and circumspect in their Steerage from Port to Port. But the River Can is near this City most hazardous there residing those unmerciful Bilgers call'd by the Natives Zepatane The Vessels bound hither take commonly very expert Pilots and such as are by Custom better acquainted with the fixed Rocks and still varying and unsetled Shoals The Inhabitants of this Place and the adjacent Parts recounted to us with much regret and reluctance how barbarously they had been us'd by the Tartars who burnt and destroy'd their Houses carrying many into perpetual Slavery others they put to Death with rare and exquisite Tortures making no discrimination either of Sex or Age and when they had glutted their salvage Inclinations with Ruine and Plunder they exercis'd their more inhumane Cruelty upon innocent Virgins of whom four thousand all choice and singular Beauties they carried into Captivity aud for inconsiderable Sums sold them to make Bawds and Madams of Pleasure-houses so prostituting them to be comprest and devirginated by libidinous Courtiers and deboist Hectors for their own Profit at what Price soever they pleas'd to put upon them That same Day we made such good speed that we got beyond Kiexui the fourth small Town under the Iurisdiction of Kiegan This Place is situate on the side of the River Chang and is in circumference a Mile and a half surrounded with Hills and built after the Chinese fashion with Idol-Temples On the Water side stands a strong Wall fifteen Foot high The next Day being the 20. of April we past by Kiakia the fourth small City under the eighth Chief Metropolis Liukiang This City lies about thirty Miles from Kiexui at the bottom of the Mountains and upon the North side of the River Can which waters this City to the great accommodation of the Inhabitants The Country about this Place produces Oranges and other Fruits in great abundance A good part of its Wall is built upon the Hills and the Ground lying within the Wall is Manur'd by the Inhabitants Here is standing an ancient Idol-Temple which is famous for having two Gates each being of one intire Stone but the Houses were most of them demolish'd by the Tartars Not far from these Walls lies a Mountain call'd Mung whose Top reaches so high that it seems to be invested with Clouds yet the sides of this Aspirer flourish being cloth'd with stately Woods and mantled with verdant and delightful Pastures That same Day toward the Evening we got to the City Sinkin the second small City under the eighth Chief City of Linkiang which lies about twenty Miles from Hiakiang and it is situate also on the side of the River Can having a pleasant Prospect of Hills and fruitful Fields behind it This Place doth not differ much in bigness or beauty from Hiakiang only it lies in a more even Soil and not so near the Mountains Toward the Water in the middle of a Wall stands a very high and well-built Gate Most of the Buildings within had been destroy'd by the Tartars We lay all Night Aboard our Vessels over against the City near to an Idol-Temple where the Governor came to Salute us and brought some few Presents for the Kitchin Upon the 22. we set Sail early in the Morning and arriv'd by Noon before the Chief City of Fungching which is the second small City under the Iurisdiction of the first Chief City of Nanchang This City lies in a flat and even Soil built four-square and situated upon the said River Can and is surrounded with a high Wall above a Mile about On the North side of the City is a populous Suburb well and close built with goodly Buildings There are also two great and high Triumphal Arches which had been much defac'd with the rest of the brave Structures in the last bloody Invasion There are likewise several Mountains not far from this Place one is call'd Pechang from whence there falls a mighty Torrent of Water with a most hideous noise The next Day being the 23. of April we came in sight of the first Chief City of Nanchang which is also call'd by some according to the Name of the Province Kiangsi where it is situated We were hardly come to an Anchor but the Magistrates sent four very commodious Boats Aboard to fetch us Ashore for there is no Landing or coming near the shore with great Vessels by reason of the Sands The Mandorin Pinxenton took presently two of the best of these Boats for himself which was ill taken by the Ambassadors Not long after came the Magistrates themselves to welcom them and caus'd Pinxenton to restore to the Ambassadors one of the Boats which he had taken for his own use The next Day one of the Ambassadors namely Peter de Goyer for Iacob de Keyser found himself ill with the Secretary Henry Baron and all our Followers went to visit the Tutang or Governor of this City who receiv'd us with great Civility and shew'd his Displeasure at his Interpreter for bringing the Ambassadors a foot saying That such Persons as came from so remote and strange Parts to Congratulate his Imperial Majesty upon his Victories and Prosperity ought to be receiv'd in great State He was also very much offended at the Mandorins of the Canton Vice-Roys calling them Asses After the Ambassador had taken his leave and was come into the Street one of the Governor's Gentlemen came and presented both him and his Secretary each with a fine Horse upon which they rid to the Water side and when the Ambassadors set Sail they were Saluted with the great Guns from the Walls of this City and they to requite this civil Reception of the Governor sent him a few Presents but he refus'd them saying That no Person in China was permitted to receive any Presents from Forein Ambassadors before they had seen and Saluted the Emperor The Chief City of Nanchang is distant about five Miles from Funching situated near that great Lake call'd Poyang which hath a Current round this City so that she stands amidst an Island Her Building is four-square with high Walls and seven Gates whereof four are very handsom before one of which we lay at Anchor This City also boasts four stately Temples which are very richly adorn'd but amongst them that is the most famous which the Chineses call Thisiking being cover'd with glittering or glaz'd Pan-Tyles At the Entrance stand three Buildings together in the first of which appears an Idol by the Chineses call'd Kouja believ'd to be the Guardian and Preserve of this his own Mansion he sits amongst a great many other Images upon a rich Seat Cloth'd Al' antique after the manner of the old Romans with a Crimson Mantle hanging upon his Shoulders On each side stands upon a bigh Pole two terrible Dragons much admir'd among the Chineses which with extended Necks seem hissing and breathing defiance against the Gods In the second Structure you have a broad Gallery reaching round the Temple hung full of
11 Foot in height and three Fathom and a half in Circumference whose thickness contains near a quarter of a Yard The Chineses made great Brags of the sound of this Bell as if the like were not to be heard of again in all China yea not in the whole World but when we came and struck upon it we found it sufficiently dull and the Metal not so good as that of ours in Europe And though the Tartars in the last War did not much deprive and impair this City of its former Lustre and Splendor no City escaping better than this Nanking yet however the stately Palace of the Kings was totall destroy'd by them It is suppos'd that the Tartars did this for no other end or cause but out of a particular Hatred and Grudge which they bore to the Family of Taiminga who Govern'd till the Court was remov'd from thence to Peking But though this City by the removing of the Imperial Court to Peking was thus depriv'd of its ancient Glory and Splendor yet it s former and ancient Magnificence as well as Obedience is shewn by the extraordinary Presents yearly sent to the Emperor beyond all the rest of the Cities First of all Every three Months five Ships are sent from thence laden with all manner of Silks and Woollen Cloths to the Emperor at Peking These Ships are call'd in the Chinese Language Lungychuen which signifies Ships with Dragon-Cloths because they are sent to the Emperor whose Blazonry is full of Dragons I must confess that in all my life-time I never saw any Ships to exceed these for Riches and Bravery for they are so very much Gilded and Painted on the outsides that it made our Eyes dazle to look on them and within they were likewise most curiously contriv'd and adorn'd with Images This one thing alone is enough to discover the Ingenuity of these People The City sends likewise for a Present to the Emperor certain Fish which are taken before her Walls in the River Kiang in May and Iune and are by the Chineses call'd Siyu but by the Portuguese who live there they are call'd Savel and though the Way from Nanking to Peking be more than two hundred Dutch Miles yet they have a Way to Transport them to the Emperor's Court fresh and good for a great number of Men are appointed to draw the Boats Day and Night who are reliev'd upon the Way with fresh Men so that they perform the Iourney in eight or ten Days at the farthest which is in a manner with as much speed as riding Post in Europe They likewise signifie by Letters from Place to Place the Hours of the Day when the Barques are arriv'd and if the Emperor be pleas'd they never fail to send twice a Week As we were Riding out one Day to take the Air and to view the City we pass'd by the Gate of the old Imperial Court where sat a great Tartar Lady with her Servants waiting upon her about forty years of Age she very civilly sent to our Interpreter to invite the Ambassadors into her House Iacob de Keyzer hereupon lighted and the Lady then made towards him She was very debonair and free look'd upon our Swords and much admir'd their bending without breaking She took the Ambassadors Hat and put it on her own Head and unbutton'd his Doublet almost down to his Waste Afterwards she led the way into the House and desir'd him to follow appointing one of her Attendants to conduct him who brought us into her Apartment where we found her with her Daughter who was about half her Age waiting our coming in great State The Daughter was Cloth'd in a Violet-colour'd Damask Gown and the Mother in black Damask and both of them had their Ears hung with Rings and their Hair braided and twisted about their Heads with Strings of Pearls but over their Hair they wore little Caps made of Reed with a Tassel upon the Crown of red Silk Their Clothes reach'd down to their Heels ty'd about the Middle with a broad Ribbon and button'd down from the Neck to the Waste Their Shoes were of black Leather their Faces unmask'd without any Painting They had us into a large Withdrawing-Room unfurnish'd only a few Benches cover'd with Silk upon which they desir'd us to sit They drank to us several times in their Liquor made of Beans which is very strong but agrees wondrous well with their Constitutions They set before us also some of their Sweet-meats much intreating us to Eat excusing the meanness of the Entertainment her Husband being absent In the middle of the Plain stands a high Steeple or Tower made of Porcelane which far exceed all other Workmanship of the Chineses in cost and skill by which the Chineses have declar'd to the World the rare Ingenuity of their Artists in former Ages This Tower has nine Rounds and a hundred eighty four Steps to the top each Round is adorn'd with a Gallery full of Images and Pictures with very handsom Lights The outside is all Glaz'd over and Painted with several Colours as Green Red and Yellow The whole Fabrick consists of several Pieces which are so artificially cemented as if the Work were all one intire Piece Round about all the corners of the Galleries hang little Bells which make a very pretty noise when the Wind jangles them The top of the Tower was crown'd with a Pine-Apple which as they say was made of massie Gold From the upper Gallery you may see not only over the whole City but also over the adjacent Countries to the other side of the River Kiang which is a most delightful Prospect especially if you observe the vast circumference of the City reaching with her Suburb to the River side This wonderful Pile as they inform us the Chineses built at their own Charges by the Command of the insulting Conqueror the Tartar seven hundred years since as a Pillar of Honor to them and when in like manner as lately they over-ran all China bringing the whole Country under absolute Obedience The now prevailing Foe whether conquer'd by the extraordinary Beauty and Magnificence or whether they design'd by it to perpetuate the Memory of their first Conquests and also to add to their Fame this their second subduing of them would not permit the demolishing or defacing in the least of this noble Structure so that now it stands firm and intire as at first According to all outward appearance we found these People to exceed not only all the rest of the Nation in Candor Sincerity and civil Demeanor but as much excelling in Science and Understanding There are also several of the Inhabitants of great Estates keeping like Port both in their Habits and Hospitality They enjoy here far greater Privileges than in a less City which the Tartars allow them supposing that to be a Bridle to Rebellion We found in this City of Nanking a Iesuit his Name Manuel Van Lisbon who came Aboard the Vessels of the Ambassadors to
for no Trees will grow in this part of the Country They boast likewise of store of Windmills whose Sails are made of Mats The great Product of the Country consists of Rice which the Peasant stands oblig'd to look after very narrowly lest it perish upon the Ground by too much Moisture or too much Heat and Drought so that their Eyes are continually upon the Crop otherwise it suddenly withers to nothing or a small Increase The Windmills therefore are to draw out the Water in a moist Season or to let it in as they think fit to keep their Hopes from burning up in a dry and hot Season so that by this means the Chineses enjoy twice a Year a plentiful Harvest By the Ruines of the Wall and great Edifices this City appears to have been formerly a very famous Place rich and populous but was totally destroy'd in the late War by the Tartars Amongst other Edifices which are yet standing is a most famous Idol-Temple without the Wall on the North-side of the City built after the fashion of the Chineses The Royal Channel runs quite through the Country up to the very Walls by which means they water their Grounds in a dry Season This part of the Country is also full of Draining-Mills to be us'd upon occasion Upon the 28. we came to the famous Sea-Town of Hoaigan which is reckon'd for the eighth Capital City of this Province of Nanking It lies on the East-side of the Royal River about thirty English Miles from Pancien in a flat and Morish Soil through the midst thereof runs a Wall seeming to make two distinct Towns but another Wall which surrounds both Divisions takes away the distinction and renders it one intire City That part which lies toward the South is call'd Hoaigan and the other toward the North-East Yengehing The former of these has stately Suburbs well built and full of People On one side of this City we saw the Fields full of Tombs and Grave-stones In this Capital City the Vice-Roy keeps his Court in great Splendor and State he has full Power over the seven Southerly Provinces and only owns the Emperor for his Supreme Head His Office is to look after the Grand Cham's Revenue consisting chiefly in Provisions of Rice c. which when got in is afterwards Transported to Peking in his Majesties own Vessels On the North-side of the City we saw three great Torrents of Water the first of which and nearest to the River Hoai is very dangerous and by its Inundations has often done great harm To prevent this River from overflowing the adjacent Countries they have rais'd and made two great Sluces with strong Banks on both sides which confine him in his highest Tide In the Suburb of Hoaigan stand two Toll-houses in the one the Custom is paid of all Goods and Merchandises which pass this Way in the other of the Ships which belong to the Subjects and with some part of this Money they maintain their Dikes and Sluces for the defence of the City against the sudden and violent Ruptures of Water Though this City be built upon a Morish Ground yet the Country about it is very fruitful in the product of Rice and Corn The City is well built and full of wealthy Citizens Not far from hence lies a famous Mountain which shoots to the Sky by the Chineses call'd Yocheu upon which stands a stately Temple with Cloysters to Lodge those who daily Offer to the Idol of the Place The Chineses come from several Parts with Presents to this their God suppos'd the Protector and Defender of their Country This Province of Nanking abounds with strange Mountains for in the Country of the second Chief City Fungyang near the seventh small City Xeu upon a Hill call'd Cukin was found a great lump of massie Gold said to be soveraign in several Distempers Some will have it because this Gold cures so many Diseases that Chymists made it In the same Country near to the City of Hintai there is a notable Mountain call'd Moyang and known by the Name of The Shepherdesses Hill because as they say a very fair Virgin formerly kept her Flocks there The whole Country of this Hoaigan has several Rivers running through it and is also replenish'd with many Lakes Amongst other Pools you have here the great Pool of Xeho which toward the North is situated next to the great Indian Sea and waters various Parts of this Country which abounds with Fish Towards the East of the Chief City lies also a great Pool call'd Hung producing great store of Reeds which serve them for Firing Wood being very scarce through the whole Province No sooner were the Ambassadors arriv'd before this Capital City but they sent for Horses Palakins and Litters to go and salute the Vice-Roy and the Magistrates but because the Weather was foul the Governors sent a Messenger to the Ambassadors to thank them for their intended Visit desiring to be excus'd from giving them the like trouble The Mandorine Pinxenton according to his wonted custom gave us a very Noble Dinner upon that Day In the Evening came Father Gascomer a Iesuit who lived in the City to salute the Ambassadors aboard their Vessels and to bid them welcome into those Parts He was very pleasant and civil but did so admire at our arrival as if we had dropt out of the Sky being very inquisitive to know whither we were bound and upon what account we came thither The Ambassadors shew'd themselves courteous and civil to him giving him a handsom Entertainment for his Visit. He seem'd to be a very open-hearted Person and made protestation of a particular Inclination and Affection to our Nation offering the Ambassadors his House if they pleas'd to accept thereof or any other Service he could do them He gave them likewise darkly to understand That upon their Request and Desire of Free Trade in China or any thing else they would meet with great opposition at Peking from the Portuguese who would do their utmost to hinder it as we found afterwards in the Sequel of our Business The Ambassadors were very thankful to this Good Father for his kind and faithful Admonition who thereupon took leave wishing us a prosperous Voyage We staid not long in this City but departed the next day early in the Morning and in our Passage we saw on both sides luxurious Fields well manur'd as likewise a great Company of small Boats lying up and down in this Royal Channel About Sun-set we came to a famous Village call'd Siampu at the entrance whereof lies a very great Sluce through which we past This Village is situated betwixt the Royal Channel and the Yellow River and is of a very great length handsomly adorn'd with Temples and fair Houses on both sides of the Water It has some Privileges belonging to it as also a Toll-house where the Toll-masters appointed by the Emperor reside to receive Toll of all such Goods and Vessels which pass out
carry thence to sell in other Provinces The Inhabitants are generally very dull of understanding and few of them addicted to Learning but they are for the most part very strong bodied fit to undergo any Labor The Children do not only go naked in the Winter but will leap into the cold Water Several of them live by Theft and Robbery and these Companies are oftentimes so numerous that they break through all opposition whatsoever when they make Inroads to plunder the Country which is already much ruin'd by the late Invasion In this whole Province of Xantung lie six Capital Cities twenty nine small Cities and thirteen Carrisons The six great Cities are Cinan Yencheu Tungchang Cingcheu Tengcheâ— and Laicheu Cinan Commands over thirty Cities as Cinan Changkieu Ceuping Chagxan Sinching Ciho Citung Ciyang Chihuen Iuching Liâ—ye Changcing Fiching Cingching Ling Taigan Siniai Laivu Te Teping Pingyven Vuting Yangsin Haifung Laling Xangho Pin Lioin Chenhoa and Putahi Yencheu Commands over 26 Cities as Yencheu Kioheu Niuyang Ceu Teng Ye Kiuhiang Yutai Tan Chingvu Cao Tingtao Cining Kiaciang Kiuye Kiunching Tungping Venxang Tungpo Pingyn Iangco Xeuchang Wy Tanching Fi and Suxui Tungchang Commands over eight Cities as Tungchang Tangye Poping Choangping Kieu Sin Cingping Ken Lincing Quontao Caotang Gen Hiacin Vucing Po Fan Quonching and Chaoching Cingcheu Commands over 14 Cities as Cingcheu Linchi Pohing Caoyven Logan Xeuquang Changlo Linkiu Gankiu Chuching Mungin Kiu Yxui and Gechao Tengcheu Commands over eight Cities as Tengcheu Hoang Foxan Leuhid Chaoyven Laiyang Ninghai and Vemeng Laicheu Commands over seven Cities as Laicheu Pingtu Vi Changye Kiao Caomi and Gieme The thirteen Garrisons are Nincing Cinghai Chingxan Gueihai Sanxan Kixan Civenxan Mauan Siaoye Haicang Punglai Cin and Xechin In this Province there are also several Islands amongst which these three are the chiefest as first Feuxeu which lies toward the West is but small yet exceeding well built The second is Teuhang situate in the Sea near to Caomy This Island is very famous by reason of a sad Accident of five hundred Chinese Philosophers who drown'd themselves in the Sea because the Emperor Xuis hated all Learned Men as mortal Enemies The third Island is Xaumen the biggest and fullest of People The Chinese Accompt-Book which comprehends the number of People in each Place mentions in this Province Seven hundred and seventy thousand five hundred and sixty Families Sixty seven hundred fifty nine thousand six hundred and seventy Fighting Men. The yearly Revenue of the Province belonging to the Emperor consists of Twenty eight hundred twelve thousand one hundred and nineteen Bags of Corn Fifty four thousand nine hundred and nineteen Rolls of Throw'd Silk Fifty two thousand four hundred and forty nine Pounds of Cotton and Thirty eight hundred twenty four thousand two hundred and nineteen Trusses of Straw and Hay for the Emperor's Stables besides several Tolls paid upon the Royal Channel of Iun which amounts yearly to ten Millions of Golden Crowns This Village Kia-kia lies encompass'd with pleasant and fruitful Fields most delightful to behold and is very rich well built and handsomly adorn'd with indifferent large Structures The Fields round about are full of Rosemary which are not only very pleasant to the Eye but also cast a fragrant smell at a great distance before you come near them We saw likewise not far from the City several Herds of Stags and Bucks and abundance of all sorts of Fowl especially Pheasants We took great delight in Hunting the Stag whereof we kill'd several with the assistance of the Tartars who are skilful at the Game They were very much pleas'd with our way of shooting Pheasants flying The Flesh of these Deer tastes so much of Rosemary as if the Venison were season'd with the Sprigs We were three days upon this Channel Iun before we reach'd any other considerable Place but upon the eleventh of the same Month we arriv'd at a famous Village call'd Iax-Hinno situated upon the Royal Channel In and about this Village stand 36 stately Towers built rarely well on either side of the River Here we lay all Night but the next Morning set Sail by Day-break and that Day and the next we saw upon each Bank of the River great store of good Corn-Ground Toward the East of this Royal Channel lie several high and great Hills whereof these following are the chiefest Near to Taigan the sixteenth small City of Cinnan appears a Mountain call'd Tai which is very steep and broad the Chinese Geographers say that it is at least five Miles in heighth from the Basis to the Crown Upon this Mountain are several Temples to which belong great store of Priests who live after the same manner as the Calvisians in Europe Not far from Laivu the eighteenth small City under the Iurisdiction of this Place arises the Mountain Taxe in which they find great store of Iron Near to Ciohu the second small City under the Chief City Yengcheu is the Mountain call'd Fang very famous for the Tomb where the Ancestors of that Learned Chinese Philosopher Confutius lies Interr'd Not far from the fourth small City Ceu lies a Mountain call'd Changping upon which as the Chineses report Confutius was born in a Town also call'd Changping the Ruins whereof are still to be seen Near to Tunping the eighth small City of the said Capital City stands a great Mountain call'd Fung full of Wood and goodly Pastures Upon the thirteenth of the same Month we came to Cinningsin or Cining the fourteenth small City under the Command of the second Chief City Yengcheu In this Cining the Ambassadors were nobly Treated in the absence of the Governor by the Agents of the young Canton Vice-Roy he being gone from home to order the making of a Fence-work against the breaking in of the Yellow River The Country round about this City lies low and plashy being full of Pools and Rivers which abound with Fish Near to Cao the twelfth small City is a Lake call'd Lui which signifies The Thunder-Pool in the middle whereof appears a Stone representing a Dragon with the Head of a Man The Chineses call this The Spirit of Thunder and affirm That when any one strikes upon the Belly he draws a hideous sound from the Monster like Thunder Near to the third small city Nynyang which is likewise under the Command of the Capital City Yengcheu and about two Miles from Cining runs a small River call'd Tao out of which the Chineses report That the great Philosopher Confutius refus'd to drink though ready to die of Thirst because it was call'd The Water of Thieves so great an aversion had this Ethnick Philosopher to the very Name of wicked Villany and Robbers All the Inns and Publick Victualling-houses have their Fidlers and Comedians belonging to them to recreate their Guests at Meals Provisions of all sorts are very cheap in those Parts We paid but two Shillings a piece for our Dinner which consisted of several Dishes out of which the Players were
young Canton Vice-Roy and nobly Treated at his House After this friendly Reception we took leave and came upon the 20. into the River of Kiang and the next day got before Nanking We came with our Vessels before the Gate where we had Anchor'd in going and in regard the Governor stood upon his departure we could not procure other Vessels with that speed as we desir'd whereby we had an opportunity to take a more exact view of the City and to refresh our selves a while after so tedious and troublesom a Iourney in the heart of China but the Weather prov'd so very bad and cold that there was no going abroad all the while we continu'd here The Ambassadors themselves were often invited by several Grandees to Dinner but the Weather proving so extreme ill they could go no where only they gave a Visit to the two Chief Toll-masters who liv'd in the Suburb whereof the one was a Chinese the other a Tartar and both very brave Persons These two Gentlemen shew'd a very great Respect to the Ambassadors during their stay before this City Having provided our selves with Necessaries we departed from Nanking upon the 10. of December and the 15. we pass'd by a high Rock which we in memory of William Vander Beek in our Iourney forward call'd by the Name of Beekenburg The River Kiang is about this Place almost a Mile broad and in foul Weather proves very rough and dangerous on the Bank of which lie a great many Rocks under Water Upon the 19. at Sun-set we came to Nankang It blew very hard all that Night and continu'd so till the 21. when it began to abate we then set Sail again and pass'd over the Pool of Poyan and from thence came to the famous Village of Ucinjeen where we were forc'd to stay a while to get fresh Men to Tow our Vessels We found that in our absence a violent Fire had destroy'd at least a hundred brave Houses in this Place Upon the 23. we came again to the famous City of Kiangsi which I have already describ'd at large and given you an account of what I then saw in our Iourney forward but in regard we continu'd three days in this City I had an opportunity to satisfie the Curiosity of the Reader with a further Description of the Situation thereof After we had furnish'd our selves here with other Vessels we set Sail again upon the twenty sixth but having gone about a League it began to blow so very hard that we were forc'd to return back for shelter under the Walls of the City where we Lodg'd all Night in safety The next day we departed early in the morning and saw the Hills on both sides of the River cover'd with Snow Upon the fist of Ianuary 1657. we arriv'd at the City of Kinnungam where the next day though with much difficulty we procur'd fresh Men to Tow our Vessels and about two of the clock in the Afternoon set Sail again to prosecute our Voyage Upon the fifteenth day of the same Month we got before the ruin'd City of Vannungam where the Ambassadors were no sooner gone Ashore but the Governor of the Place came to bid them welcom and likewise when we departed from thence he Presented the Ambassadors with some Refreshments for the Kitchin and amongst the rest with some Candles which were made of a thick oylie Iuice taken off of some Trees These Candles burnt very clear and sweet After we were provided with fresh Men to Tow our Boats and expert Pilots for without such there is no venturing upon this River we set Sail again and pass'd by very many Rocky and dangerous Places which were not as we came observable the Water then being three Foot higher but now they appear'd above the Stream and notwithstanding all our care the Vessel in which the Ambassadors were hapned to strike against one of them but with the turning and Eddies of the Stream she got off again without any considerable damage About eleven of the clock we got safe beyond all these threatning Dangers which appear'd first at the City of Vannungam and ended over against an Idol-Temple extending about three Leagues The Chineses and Tartars who frequent this River do commonly Offer at the fore-mention'd Temple that they may have a speedy and safe Voyage through these Difficulties Upon the 10. we came before Cancheu where the Governor in great State came to welcom and receive the Ambassadors in the Name of the Tutang and after the Ambassadors at the Request of the Governor had inform'd him with all their Transactions at Peking he went back again into the City to acquaint the Tutang therewith with him went likewise Iacob de Keyser the other Ambassador being at that time indispos'd to thank the Tutang for the high Honor he had done them and to take leave of a Person who had been so civil to them Upon the day following being the 11. we set Sail again the Weather proving exceeding cold and upon the 15. we came with all our Vessels to the most famous City of Nangan where the Ambassadors were Lodg'd in a very large House on the South-side of the Suburbs for the Place where they lay before the Tartars had burnt to the Ground who since our departure had march'd through with a flying Army and committed several Outrages upon the Inhabitants On the nineteenth of Ianuary we departed from thence and having pass'd those Waters which were the most dangerous and troublesom we were now to Travel some part by Land to get from Nangang to Namhung The Ambassadors were carried in Chairs or Sedans which they had order'd to be made at Nanking wherein they were so speedily convey'd over the Mountains by thirty Soldiers whom they had hir'd for that purpose that they came to Namhung though late that Night without Lodging on the Mountains as they did in coming We lay here at a famous House of Entertainment which belong'd to the Vice-Roy of Canton I have already given an Account at large of the Situation of this Place in the Draught I took thereof in our Voyage to Peking Now in our Return I thought it worth the while to make this further Addition setting before you the Prospect of this City on the other side as exactly as I could take it Having procur'd new Vessels and put our Goods aboard we left this City upon the 21. of the same Month and passing by several dangerous Waters we came to those wonderful and strange Mountains of Suytieen and from thence to the Hills which we mention'd formerly by the Name of The Five Horse Heads Upon the 25. Instant we got with good success before the City of Saocheâ— And here we began to put on our Sails again which before we durst not bear being now past the narrow of the River and the danger of the Rocks and the next day being the 26. we came to the Mountain Swanghoab before spoken of And in regard the Water was now at least twenty
certain Great Prince or Governor of the Family of Taminga who in Power and Imperial Title could only be said to give place to the Emperor for in all things else he liv'd like a King This Kingly or Royal Person had a large and stately Palace which was at least four Italian Miles in compass adorn'd with four Gates and stood in the middle of the City before it toward the South lay a large broad Street full of costly and artificial Triumphal Arches Near to Hinghoa the seventh Chief City of the Province of Fokien at the foot of the Mountain Chinyven runs a large Water call'd Chung on the side whereof stands a large Palace containing ten Courts In this Palace is a great Wonder taken notice of for infallibly there is heard a noise against Wind or Rain like unto the sound of a Clock of which although diligently enquir'd after no natural reason can be given Concerning the incomparable stately and costly Structure of the Imperial Palace of Peking I have already given a particular Description in my former Relation CHAP. XII Of Rivers Waterfalls Lakes c. HAving spoken at large of the chiefest things which the Hand or Industry of mortal Man has produc'd we shall now proceed to particularize such things wherewith Nature has abundantly furnish'd the Chineses out of her rich Store Under which Name I comprehend Rivers Pools Aquaducts Hills Wells Earth Plants Trees Animals of all sorts and the like which are mention'd in the following Chapters First of all There are in China two famous large Rivers namely Kiang and the Yellow River The River Kiang which is also call'd Yangeukiang signifying The Son of the Sea divides all China into a Northern and Southern Tract It flows from West to East and receives several Names according to the Provinces through which it runs It was first call'd Minkiang from the Mountain Min whence it hath its source These Mountains stretch themselves Westward of the Province of Suchue very far toward Prester Iohn's Country and come towards the North not far from the Chief City of Guei After it is got from this Mountain rushing forward with great violence it divides it self into several Branches which turn and Wind through most of the Provinces From the City of Sincin it is call'd Sinkiang afterwards receiving a great many Rivulets into its Bosom it runs before the City of Sui into the River call'd Mahu From the City of Liucheu it receives the Name of Liukiang and running from thence to the City of Chunking joyns with the great River Pa and embraces its Name Being gotten beyond the City of Queicheu it falls into the Province of Huquang and regains not far from the City Kingcheu the old Name of Sinkiang Thus far it runs with many crooked Meanders and a great force of Water through Vales terrible Rocks and dreadful Precipices which the Natives knowing do avoid and shun with great dexterity Being past the City of Kincheu it begins by degrees to run more gently and falls toward the North into the Mere or Lake call'd Tungting from whence it takes its course before the Chief City in the Province of Kiangsi and from thence to the Sea Foum which is above a hundred Dutch Miles and all this way it runs so gently that Vessels may with ease Sail against the Stream and the ebbing and flowing of this River is observ'd so far up in the Country that it is in a manner wonderful to relate especially at the New or Full-Moon In this place it is at least two Miles over watering and making fruitful the whole Province of of Nanking And lastly being pass'd the Cities of Nanking and Chinkiang it falls into the Ocean it self through a great Mouth in which lies an Island and City well Guarded and provided with Soldiers and Ships The Yellow River by Strangers so call'd from the colour of the Water occasion'd by the yellowness of the Ground is nam'd Hoang in the Chinese Language and seems at first to be very Morish but the swiftness and great force of its running makes it appear quite contrary for with so incredible a swiftness doth this River run that no Ships are able to Sail up against its Stream but are Tow'd along by the main strength of a great number of Track-men which may proceed from its being contracted within so narrow Bounds for in some places it is but half a Mile broad and in others little more but in length it extends above eight hundred Miles By this it appears that this River next to that of Kiang is the biggest and most famous of all China and though it is naturally no other than a Foreiner that has invaded the Country yet doth it not stand in fear of their Laws which will not permit a Foreiner to live among them but as their Revenger insults over them by often laying their Country under Water in a most lamentable manner The Hills Quenlun from whence it has its source are in my opinion the Amazion Hills being situate not far from the Kingdom of Laor or Tihet and that which is more the very Situation of those Places and Countries do demonstrate that from the same Hills the Rivers Ganges in Cengala Mesor in Laor and several other famous Streams which water the Parts of Sion and Pegu have their rise for the Chineses believe and so report That there are very many great Rivers Southward which take their rise from these Hills But to return whence we have digress'd After this Yellow River is pass'd beyond the vast Territories of Sifan and Taniju which doth not in the least belong to the Empire of China it runs before the City Lingao not far from another call'd King in the Province of Xensi in the Empire of China to the place where the Great Wall made to prevent the Invasions of the Tartars reaches toward the East which it likewise washes Then it runs with great fury as well toward the North as the East by one side of the vast Wilderness call'd Samo at least two thousand Furlongs and then turns toward the South where it passes through the Gate Se which is in the Wall and so divides the two Provinces of Xensi and Xansi Thence it runs into several other Provinces whereof I have formerly made mention in the Description of our Iourney to Peking The Water of this Yellow River is very thick and muddy the Pople report it will not grow clear in a thousand years and therefore when they speak of any difficult Undertaking they use as a proverbial Speech among them to say When the Yellow River is clear But notwithstanding this Report of theirs it is well known that the Sea-men which frequent this River have an Art to make the Water clear by flinging Allom into it which being dissolv'd therein makes the Mud sink to the bottom Of Water-Shoots and great Falls of Water IN the Province of Xansi near to Pingiao is a great Fall of Water which makes such a noise
this is the reason that the Houses in China and Iapan glitter and shine so bright that they dazle the Eyes of such as behold them This Paint also lays a shining colour upon Wood which is so beautiful and lasting that they use few or no Table-cloths at their Meals for if they spill any Grease or other Liquor upon the Table it is easily rubb'd off with a little fair Water without loss or damage of Colour CHAP. XV. Of Roots Herbs Flowers Reeds Trees and Fruits THE vast and large Territories of this Empire which reach not only very far from East to West but also from South to North occasioneth that in no part of the Universe so great a variety of Fruits is produced the true and natural cause whereof is the several tempers of the Air which must of necessity be granted in so immense Territories it being by experience known that some grow best under a hot Climate others under a cold and some under a well temper'd Air all which are to be found in this Country The Learned among themselves have describ'd at large in their Books what each Province doth produce by the view whereof and other particular Relations this may be affirm'd for truth in general That all things necessary for the sustenance of Man as well as for delight are to be had there in great abundance without being beholden to their Neighbors And thus much I dare from my own knowledge affirm That whatever is to be had in Europe is likewise found in China and if in truth there want any thing Nature hath supply'd that single defect with divers other things beyond those we have in Europe Now that it may be obvious to every Understanding with what a copious Harvest of Fruits and Vegetables mild Nature has bless'd this Empire and the Inhabitants thereof I shall briefly discourse thereof as followeth In Iungping the Chief City of the Province of Peking grows a very excellent Root and of great esteem call'd by them Ginseng but by the Islanders of Iapan Nisi The reason of the Chinese Name seems to be deriv'd from its shape in regard it artificially resembles a Man It is not much unlike to the Mandrake of Europe only it is much less neither do I much doubt but it is a sort of Mandrake in regard it has the same shape and vertue This Root being dried is yellow of colour and sweetish of taste but being chew'd it seems to be mingled with a little bitterness it is a great enlivener of the Spirits of a Man and therefore such as are of an hot and strong Constitution endanger their Lives by using it in regard of its strengthning Nature and Quality whereas Persons weak and feeble through Sickness or otherwise find great advantage in the use thereof for such is the soveraign Vertue of this Root that it has recover'd some that were brought to Deaths door for which its most rare Qualities it is become of so great Price that it is commonly sold for thrice its weight in Silver In Queicheu near to Liping grows the best Root of China there is of two sorts the true and counterfeit yet both natural the true grows near to this City and in other Places the counterfeit or to speak more properly the wild Root and is that which is brought generally into Europe It is of a reddish colour within but neither so big nor of so great Vertue as the true which grows and increases under Ground almost after the manner of Potatoes in India and especially in old Pine-tree Woods from whence they say this Root proceeds first of all from the Gum or Iuice of the Pine-tree which falling upon the Ground takes Root and brings forth an Herb which by degrees spreads it self upon the Earth and grows under Ground with knotty Roots in shape bigness and colour not unlike to the Indian Coco-Nuts but thinner and softer which they use in several Medicines This Root was first known in Europe in the Year 1535. when the Chineses brought the same to be sold in the City of Goa in India and although the like Root may grow in other parts of India as also in the West-Indies yet is it much inferior in goodness to that of the East the best whereof is tastless heavy sound and firm This Root hath a particular Vertue according to the Relation of Garcias for the Cure of the Spanish Pox and is soveraign against the Itch Tremblings Aches Gout c. It is also very good for a weak Stomach Headache the Stone in the Bladder proceeding from Cold. Here grows also great store of Ginger in this Country so purely and with such celerity as exceeds all in other Countries though it is true in several other Parts there is great store of Ginger to be had as at Bengala and upon the Islands Molucco c. which is for the most part brought into Europe Of this Root there are two sorts Male and Female which last is smaller of Leaf and Root than the first the Leaves are very like those of Reed so that whosoever never saw any Ginger grow would take them to be Reeds The Leaves of the Male sort through which run some greater Sinews or Veins rise not much higher than three Foot above Ground The Roots are of several weights and bigness whereof some have the length of four Spans full of Knots and shooting not deep into the Ground but like Reeds grow upon the surface of the Earth and are digg'd out of the Ground when the Leaves are wither'd which is about the middle of Summer when they take them up they break off a piece and fling it into the Ground again for an increase The Roots fresh taken up by reason of their abounding moisture are not so hot of taste as the dried which are laid a little into the Sun to harden thus prepar'd they fling Mold or Clay upon them to prevent them from being Worm-eaten which this Root is very subject to it increases very fast as do all other Spices which grow in such Places as lie near the Sea And though the Chineses and others Plant Ginger amongst the rest of their Herbs yet however it grows also wild but falls short of the goodness of that which is cultivated When they intend to prepare this Commodity for Sale they first pare it and then put it immediately into Pickle or Vinegar for an hour or two afterwards they take it out and lay it in the Sun to dry for the like space then they take it again into the House put it up into a dry place and there let it lie till all the moisture is drawn out which done they put it into Pickle with good store of Sugar And this kind of ordering makes it pleasant to the Pallat and abates much of its heat And this is generally known by the name of Green-Ginger which as a Sallet is us'd by the Chineses among other Herbs It is very soveraign for several Distempers as pain in the
which occasions a Mere wherein grow Flowers of a Saffron colour whose like are no where else to be seen in all those Countries Several of these Flowers grow upon one Root being something bigger than the European Lilly and much handsomer for fashion resembling Tulips The Leaves of the Stalks are large and round and drive upon the Water as the Leaves of the Weeds do in Europe which at their Season they gather and dry and make them fit to be us'd by Shop-keepers in stead of Paper to put up their Wares in There are in some places whole Pools abounding with these Flowers which to say truth grow not there naturally but have been sow'd by one or other for that they are in great request amongst them But amongst all others the Chinese Rose must deservedly take place which changes colour every day twice for one time its all Purple and another time as white as Snow and were the scent thereof pleasant or delightful it might with merit challenge the World for a Peer The Chief City of Queicheu situate in the Province of Quangsi takes its Name from the Flower call'd Quei which although it grows in other Parts yet no where so plentifully as in this Province and chiefly under the Command of this City It grows upon a very high Tree which has Leaves proportion'd like them of a Laurel or Cinamon-tree but the Flowers are very small yellow of colour and have a fine smell After they are once in Flower they continue a long time blowing without withering or shedding or falling from the Tree and after they have done blowing the Tree shoots out again within a Month and has fresh Flowers whose colour is so fragrant that they perfume all those Parts where they grow The Tartars infuse these Flowers in the Iuice of Lemmons wherewith they colour the Hair of their Horses But the Chineses make delicate Confects of them which are delicious to the taste and pleasant to the smell Near to Kinhoa in the Province of Chekiang is a certain Flower by the Portuguese in India call'd Mogorin It grows upon a very small Tree is Milk-white and not unlike to the Iessamy Flower only it has more Leaves and exceeds it far for smell for one Flower is enough to perfume a whole House This Flower is in very great esteem with them so that in cold Weather they diligently house the Pots in which they grow And lastly near the City Pingyve in Queicheu grows in great abundance the well scented Iessamy Of Reeds IN the foregoing part of this Chapter you have had some Examples of the variety of Herbs Plants Flowers c. produc'd in several parts of China I shall now say something of the different sorts of Reeds growing there And first In Xanhung near Tengcheu grows a Reed that is naturally four-square In Huquang near the Mountain grows a sort of Reed which will last only three years but like a careful Sire before it dies it shoots out afresh at the Root thus every three years renewing by death and rising again In the Province of Nanking near Hoaigan is a great Mere wherein grows very large and high Reeds greatly esteem'd by the Inhabitants In Quanhung near the City Lochang upon the Mountain Chang grows a black Reed whereof the Chineses make Pipes and several other things of as pure a black and shining colour as if they were made of Ebony In the same Province upon the Mountain Lofen grows a Reed that exceeds all the rest for length and thickness the Stalks being at least four Foot thick In the Province of Chekiang near the City of Chucheu runs a Rivulet in which grow several sorts of Reed or Cane as hard as Iron and oftentimes three Handfuls thick and although they are hollow yet are they of strength sufficient to bear a great Burthen without breaking The biggest grow three or four Rods high some have green Stalks others Coal-black They make a very pleasant shew not only because of the flourishing Verdure of the Leaves for the most part of the Year but also because of the several Colours produc'd by the various sorts that grow altogether Of these notwithstanding their hardness before-mention'd such as are skilful Artists and know how to split the same into very thin pieces make Mattresses Baskets Canes c. Of the thinner and smaller sort they make Pikes and Lances which have sharp Irons at the ends They put them likewise to several other uses especially for the making of Perspective-Glasses in regard they are light straight thick and firm The Water that runs from this Reed when it is laid green upon the Fire is found being taken inwardly to be very soveraign to drive out of the Body all putrifi'd Blood occasion'd by Blows Falls or otherwise The young Shoots of it before they have any Leaves are boil'd with Flesh like Turnips and pickled in Vinegar are kept all the year for Sawce Amongst these various sorts of Reeds may be comprehended another kind that grows upon some Mountains in China in great abundance and is call'd by the Indians Rotang but in Europe Rotting or Iapan Canes And though these Canes are us'd in Europe to walk with yet the young Branches thereof being full of Iuice are eaten raw by the Chineses When these Canes are dried and struck one against another there will flie Sparks of Fire from them as from a Flint and as such they are made use of in some Places of the Indies This sort of Reed is very tough and being green is made use of in stead of Cords to tie or bind any thing withal The Inhabitants of Iava Iapan and other Islanders make therewith Cable for Anchors which will last longer in salt Water than Ropes made of Hemp and when any Merchants Ship Trading thither from Europe need any they make use of these they being strong enough to hold the weightiest Anchors The Fruit of this Rotting or Cane is eatable and pleasant to the Palate in form somewhat round about the bigness of a Ball having a Shell like a Chesnut hard but brittle Upon every Ioint from the bottom to the top sprouts out a small Branch in stead of Leaves upon which hangs the Fruit in Clusters Within the Body of this Fruit is a white Kernel from which they extract an Oyl not only good to eat but very soveraign in the cure of Wounds if dress'd therewith so that the Indian Slaves if they receive hurt at any time from these Rottings or Canes wherewith they are wont to be Corrected they forthwith make use of this Oyl Besides these before-mention'd there are found as well in China as divers other Parts of the Indies two other different sorts which are by the Indians call'd Bamboes The smaller of these is very full of Pith but the other doth so far exceed all the rest for bigness that I do not wonder in the least if some Writers both ancient and modern have sometimes call'd it a Tree This kind call'd
loss of it The Tartars by this means being put to a stand having enrich'd themselves with Booty destroy'd some thousands of poor Creatures with the Sword and burnt down their Dwellings to the Ground retreated back to their old Quarters in the Province of Leaotung During these Troubles the Emperor Vanlieus died in the Year 1620. After whose Death his Son Taichangus a valiant and prudent Prince succeeded who by the Conduct of his Affairs in a short time gave sufficiently to understand what good Services his Country was to expect from him had he not been unfortunately cut off by an untimely Death in the fourth Month of his Reign To whom was Successor his Son Thienkius a gallant Person and no ways inferior to his Father for Vertue and Courage This Monarch finding the unsetledness and danger of his Affairs made it his chiefest Concern to contract Friendship and support his Government with the Favor and Affection of his Neighbors for he had taken notice by experience how much the Empire of China had suffer'd by living always at great variance with the Tartar Kings of Ninche which border'd upon him In the first place therefore he endeavor'd to win the Favor of the King of Corea who had formerly sent to his Grandfather a Supply of twelve thousand Men to aid and assist him in this War but they being most of them kill'd and wounded he doubted lest this might make him take part against him and joyn with the Tartar for prevention whereof and to satisfie the King in every scruple he immediately sent an Ambassador to him to return him thanks for those great Succors he had sent and withal signifying his extraordinary Grief and Sorrow for the great loss which had fall'n upon the afore-menâ—ion'd Aids in that War but that he hoped in a short time to retaliate upon the Enemy the Wrongs they had done to him and his Kingdom And that his Embassy might be the more grateful he likewise sent several rich Presents and promis'd him his Assistance where and whensoever he should have occasion to make use of it But this friendly Message look'd not only for verbal Returns for it was design'd as a Motive to procure more Succors from him which without doubt he had reason to endeavor in regard the People of this Island of Corea which lies very near to Iapan have out of the Neighborhood far greater Strength than the Chineses And now craving leave for a little digression which may not be impertinent in regard there has been often mention made of this Island of Corea and the Inhabitants thereof I shall describe the same in short and all that is worth observation in the same It is unto this day doubted by those of Europe whether Corea be an Island or firm Land but according to the opinion of the best Writers it is a hanging Island surrounded with Water on all parts except the uttermost part which is joyn'd to the firm Land for though Trials have been made to Sail round about yet it could never be done as some People seem to affirm to us from their own experience though some there are that affirm the contrary But this Error proceeds from a mistake of a certain great Island call'd Fungina situaâ—e to the Southward of it to be Corea However it be this truth is most certain that all the Chinese Writers affirm Corea to be firm Land and joyning to the Kingdom of Ninche in Tartary Another mistake may arise from the varieâ—y of the Name given to it for the Chineses call it Chaosien therein following the Iapanners though by us of Europe it is call'd Corea Toward the North it borders upon the Kingdom of Ninche on the North-West it has for Confine the River Yalo the rest is surrounded and wash'd with the Sea The whole Island is divided into eight Provinces or Counties The middlemost and accounted the first bears the Name of Kinki wherein is situaâ—â— the Chief City of Pingiang the Court of the Kings The second toward the East is call'd Kiangyven but heretofore Gueipe The third situate toward thâ— West is now known by the Name of Hoangchui but was formerly call'd Châ—â—sien the Name at this day proper to the whole Island The fourth situate â—â—â—ward the South now call'd Civenlo was formerly nam'd Pienhari The fiâ—th also Southerly but inclining to the East is call'd Kingxan The sixth toward the South-West is Changing The seventh toward the North-East has the Name of Pingan In these Counties are several populous and rich Cities which for fashion and strength differ very little from those in China and built for the most part four-square The Country is very well Peopled throughout the whole having but one Form of Government not at all differing in Habit and using one and the same Form both of Speech and Writing Their Religion is the same with those of China holding the transmigration of the Soul out of one Body into another They all adore one Idol call'd Fe whereof I have already made mention The Bodies of their dead Friends they bury not till three years be fully elapsed and then they put them into very fine Coffins after the manner of the Chineses glu'd up so very close that no scent can strike through They give a greater liberty to their Women than the Chineses for they admit of them into any Company whereas the other will hardly suffer them to stir abroad Here also the Son or Daughter may Marry whom they think fit without asking the consent of Father or Mother which is quite contrary to the use of the Chineses and indeed all other civiliz'd People This Island is very fruitful in the product of all manner of Fruits necessary for the sustenance of Life especially of Wheat and Rice whereof there are twice a year plentiful Harvests Here also are made several sorts of Paper and curious Pencils of Wolves Hair which the Chineses and other neighboring People as well as themselves use in Writing Here grows likewise the Root Guiseng and as is reported are several Gold-Mines But notwithstanding all these Advantages of natural Commodities wherewith this Place abounds yet the Inhabitants thereof drive no Trade with any other forein People but only those of China and Iapan And thus much shall suffice to be spoken of Corea we will now return to give an Account of the sequel of the Wars The Chinese Emperor after his Embassy to the King of Corea to prevent the further Invasion of the Tartars and the better to oppose them muster'd several Troops rais'd for his assistance out of the fifteen Provinces or Kingdoms of the Empire and sent very great Armies towards Leaotung And the better to furnish such vast Armies with Provisions he caus'd an extraordinary great Fleet of Ships to be Equipp'd in the famous Port of Thiencin which were wholly employ'd to carry Provisions by Sea from all parts of China for their supply by the exact performance and observing whereof they had no want of any
this following Decree of the Emperor was Publish'd The ultimate Decree of the Emperor To the Kingdom of Holland Health and Peace which out of its Cordial Love to Iustice hath subjected it self to Us and sent Ambassadors through the wide Sea to pay Us Tribute We nevertheless weighing in Our Mind the length of the Voyage with the Dangers incident thereunto do heartily grant them leave to come once every eight years to pay their Tribute unto this Court and this We do to make known to the Universe Our Affections to the People of the remotest Parts In all other things We give Our Royal Consent and Approbation to the Remonstrance of Our Court of Request Thus you see neither the Court nor Emperor have granted them Commerce in this Country which being deny'd there is little reason to think that they will return to pay their Tribute only whence they shall reap neither Honor nor Profit but contrarily Damage and Disgrace for although the Emperor should have return'd them Gifts of equal value to their Presents according to the Custom of other Countries yet the Expence of a Ship or two for the space almost of two years would be burthensom and ridiculous which however allowing the denial of Commerce to them if the Emperor had granted them their Return every year they might well have made up by a private Trade especially being so much in favor with the Vice-Roys of Canton and the Tartars thereabouts who would ingross the Profits thereof Therefore did God stir up the Hearts of the Chinese Mandorins unanimously to oppose and contradict it and at length when both Tartars and Chineses had granted their Return every fifth Year the Emperor by special Divine Providence hath augmented it to the eighth Year and before that Revolution come either the Emperor the Vice-Roys of Canton or the rest of their Favorers will be dead or the Hollanders will be destroy'd or the Times will be chang'd and other Government will succeed but if all these fail and the Hollanders will be so abject to return at the eight years end yet the Lord will minister some means to us for the ruining their Designs albeit there is little probability of their Return since they departed so highly discontented as they did as well by the strict Watches that were set over them as for that they were never admitted to the Emperor's Presence as Father Balion hath acquainted me in an Epistle which he wrote to me by a Post after my departure to Nanking wherein he thus writes The Hollanders may not come into the Kings Presence nor the Muscovites because they will not submit themselves to those Ceremonies of Reverence accustom'd in this Palace They are Novices and ignorant in Affairs and obstinate in refusing to accommodate themselves to the Customs of the Country God will at length discover his Mercies to the Catholick Portugueses here The Court of Requests exhibited a Remonstrance to the Emperor to grant them leave to return every fifth Year but not any liberty of Trade but the Emperor hath alter'd the fifth to the eighth Year which is equivalent with a forbidding them ever to return again The day before Publishing the Emperor's Decree whereof I here send your Father-hood a Copy Father Adam told me he had spoken with the Emperor Thus far Father Balion Your Lordships may observe how much our God doth favor and assist true Catholick Christians for the Tartars and Chineses are highly offended with the Hollanders and account them Barbarians for refusing the Ceremonies and Reverence of the Court and the Hollanders with the Muscovites are equally distasted because they could not be admitted to the Emperors Presence without them and very just is it that Hereticks and Schismaticks should depart with hatred and disgust that by their ill Example they might not give Scandal to the new Christianity here Planted nor cause the Religion of Europe to be ill spoken of Wherefore the most Noble Captain and the rest of the Governors of the Holy City be your Lordships of good Courage and hope strongly in the Bowels of the Mercy of God that as he hath suffer'd his City most faithful to his Divine Majesty of late Years to undergo so many Tribulations he hath done it for Direction only not for Destruction Doth Gold melted in the Furnace come out wasted and consum'd no but more pure bright and precious Can God forget the Piety of such a City which maintains so many Religious of all sorts and where so many Masses and Oblations are daily Offer'd Where is the Refuge and Sanctuary of Religion but in this City which is gloriously call'd The Name of God Can God forget his Promise he hath promis'd Tribulations and an hundred-fold for the Sufferings of his Saints and an hundred he will pay FINIS AN APPENDIX OR Special Remarks TAKEN AT LARGE OUT OF ATHANASIUS KIRCHER'S Antiquities of China PART I. CHAP. I. The Cause and Occasion of this Work IT is now about thirty years since I produc'd the Exposition of a certain Syro-Chinesian Monument found in China in the Year 1625. which although it gain'd no small Applause among the Readers of a more than ordinary Apprehension who were taken with the Novelty yet there were not wanting some incompetent Censurers or Criticks who ceased not to wound its Reputation by snarling and trifling Objections stabbing it with critical Steletto's albeit they prov'd in the sequel leaden and blunted viz. That there was never any Monument of such a kind in Nature and that therefore it was a meer Forgery This they endeavor'd by all means possible not only to persuade themselves to believe but also to raise a like Credulity in others These and the like Persons are deservedly and ought to be esteem'd for such who rejecting all Divine and Humane Faith approve of nothing but what they have seen themselves account nothing to be believ'd but what their own Brain hath dictated to them These are they that like troublesom Flesh-Flies flying at any obvious fatness soil that which is sincere and untainted and desist not to bespot that which is pure with a defil'd and Thrasonick Blast Amongst which was a certain modern Writer who blush'd not with all his Might and indeed with an insolent Scoff to question the truth of this Monument sometimes asserting it to be introduc'd by a Iesuitical Cheat and other whiles averring that it was a flat and plain Forgery of the Iesuits feigned both to deceive the Chineses and also to defraud them of their Treasures I shall conceal the Name of the Person partly out of a tenderness to Christian Charity and partly because in the Iudgment of prudent and knowing Men he seemeth unworthy of any Answer seeing that the truth of this Monument is establish'd and confirm'd by the Eye-witness of so many illustrious Authors by so many Books concerning this Method divulg'd throughout the whole Empire by the Chinesian Colais themselves Leo and Paule Persons of great Quality and instructed in the
Strangers as understood not the year of Christ might here find that of Alexander which extended farthâ—r and with which perhaps they might be better acquainted From hence it is also manifest that the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue in those Times was common to the Churches of Syria Palestine Egypt and Babylon yea peculiar to them in Christ's time so that it is no wonder that the Gospel of Christ immediately after the Travels of the Apostles throughout the whole World was carried not only into the most remote Regions of the East but also into the adjacent Regions of Babylon Egypt and Ethiopia where as if in the native Birth-places of the Church the Syrian or Chaldean Tongue took such root that it was thereby spread throughout all the Coasts of India as I have said before and the utmost Regions of China But of this more in the following Discourses OF THE VARIOUS Voyages and Travels UNDERTAKEN INTO CHINA PART II. CHAP. I. By whom and by what means the Holy Gospel of Christ was at divers times introduc'd into the uttermost Regions of the East into India Tartaria China and other Countries of Asia SEeing that at this very Day in India China and other Regions of Asia there are yet remaining frequent footsteps of the Christian Religion as I have shew'n even now I think it will be worth while if having Explain'd the Syro-Chaldean Monument found in China I now give a brief Account by what way and occasion these Apostolical Persons penetrated into those most remote Quarters of the World for having accomplish'd this it will clearly appear that at all times Syria Egypt and Grecia have been a Seminary not only of promoting the Christian Religion in the far distant Regions but also before the coming of Christ they were the Propagators of all Superstition throughout the World And that I may proceed with the more clearness in a Matter so abstruse I shall first here set down the Opinions of some concerning them so that those things being discussed it may more evidently appear what ought to be resolv'd concerning the Matter propos'd First therefore there are some Persons who assert That these Colonies of the Christians first of all entred China and the other Regions of Asia by the assistance of that great Asiatick Emperor usually term'd Presbyter Iohn But then again seeing that this is a great Controversie amongst Authors concerning this Emperor and the Situation Quality and Condition of his Kingdom or Empire I shall in the first place alledge something concerning this Prince and his Dominions for the more clear Explication of the Matter or Subject albeit I have already treated of the same in my Prodromus Coptus Who was that famous Presbyter Iohn and whether there ever were such an Emmperor NOw therefore as the Kings of Egypt were at first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolemyes those of Mauritania Seriphii those of the Persians formerly Xerxes Artaxerxes and now Sophi so the Name of Presbyter Iohn hath now for a long time denoted the Dignity of some Christian Prince whose Dominions are plac'd by consent of the most knowing Persons not amongst the Ethiopians or in any part of Africa as some falsly suppose but in the Continent of Asia yet in what Place he Rul'd is not exactly known Now some Writers affirming that they were the Kings of Cathay have thereby rendred the Matter more doubtful seeing it hath been discover'd in these latter Years that all Cathay belongeth unto China and that there is no City or Territory call'd by this Name that is now found without the Bounds of China And in this all the Fathers of our Society who have continu'd in China for many years do agree who are Persons very well skill'd in Geographical Knowledge as Matthew Riccius Nicholas Trigautius Alvarus Samedus Michael Boiâ— Martin Martinius Iohn Gruberus and Iohn Adams that great Mandorin of the Kingdom of China and lastly Benedict Goes of the same Society who by order from his Superiors travell'd from the Kingdom of Magor purposely to find out Cathay by a Land-Voyage I believe that it is not far wide of the Truth that besides that portion of Land which by the Name of Cathay was found by the Fathers of our Society within the Limits of China there is another Quarter of the World much larger conterminate on the North and West unto the Empire of China But seeing that all that Region without the Walls of China is a Desart almost of two Months travel incultivated and destitute of Inhabitants it is probable that the Region of China in latter Times as being very much manur'd and abounding in all things might properly be call'd Cathay And that the Desart at this day call'd Kalmuk and the Regions confining on it without the Walls in former Ages had the Name of Cathay the Desart in the adjoining Kingdoms of which that same Presbyter Iohn of whom even now we treated Rul'd in the days of our Ancestors Marcus Paulus Venetus termeth it The Empire of the Great Cham the Holy Scriptures as Arias Montanus will have it Gog and Magog concerning which thus writeth Sybilla Heu tibi Gogque Magogque aliisque ex ordine cunctis Marson atque Angon tibi quot mala fata propinquant Now that this is the Scythian Cathay is shew'd by the Arabick Geographer throughout the four entire last Climates where he describeth it to abound in Men Animals and Minerals flourishing with Christians meer'd and inclos'd with the vast extended Skirts of Caucasus call'd Iagog and Magog Thus the Arabian Geographer in his ninth Part Climate 5. Line 21. his words are to this effect as I have translated them out of the Arabick From the Mansion Gerrada to the City Tahamet on the South Quarter are four Leucae whereof one maketh twenty five Miles from the City Geerada even unto the Mountain which is call'd Caucasus is seven days travel And this Mountain encompasseth the Regions of Iagog and Magog It hath such craggy and difficult sides that none can ascend it and if any one doth attempt it he can never arrive at the top being obstructed by continual Snows congeal'd into Ice which because they are never dissolv'd represent the similude of a Mist or thick Cloud perpetually fix'd on the top of the mountainous Caucasian Rocks On the other side the Mountain are many Cities of Iagog and Magog And it often hapneth that the Inhabitants of this Region out of a certain curiosity ascend some part of it to discover what is on the top of the Mountain and what is beyond but many never return either â—ecause they are devour'd by wild Beasts or taken by the Transmountainers but some that have return'd safe relate That in the Region on the other side of the Mountain in the Night are many Fires but in the Day nothing else but a thick Cloud mix'd with Darkness is discover'd Also in the seventh Part of the same Climate Line 34. he adds In these Regions many Christians or Nazaraeans do
learn'd from an Astrologer that in time it would become rebellious unto his Empire This City being built four-square comprehendeth in circuit twenty four Miles the side of every Square or Quadrate containing six Miles It hath Walls whited over which are twenty Paces high ten in breadth but in thickness become narrower as they ascend Every Quadrature of these Walls hath three principal Gates there being twelve in all which have each a magnificent Palace built near unto them In the corners also of the Wall there are noble Towers where the Arms and Ammunition of the City are stor'd and kept There are Streets and Passages straight through the City so that there is a free Prospect from one Gate unto another most beautiful Houses being Erected on either side A little farther he saith That without the City of Cambalu there are twelve great Suburbs adjoyning unto each of the twelve Gates in which Merchants and Strangers are continually found All which are so agreeable unto the Princely City of Pequin that there is hardly any difference as Martinius relateth in Page 29. of his Atlas also the Names of the City Tadinfu Cacanfu Quelinfu Cingianfu Sianfu which also is now call'd Siganfu situate not far from the Saffron River which was taken by the Great Cham after three years Siege by the help of battering Engines as yet unknown in China which he caus'd Christian Arrizans to make This hapned Anno 1268. as Marcus Paulus Venetus who with his Father Nicolas and his Uncle that then were resident with the Emperor relateth See Marcus Paulus Venetus in his second Book Chap. 58. For Fu in the Chinesian Language signifieth nothing else but A great City and also Ceu added unto other words or Names denoteth A small or indifferent City which words are proper and known unto no other Region but only that of China Yet nothing so clearly demonstrateth China to be taken for Cathay as the Astronomical Botanical Monuments of the Persians which the Learned Iacobus Golius in his Appendix adjoin'd unto the Atlas Sinicus hath made apparent unto us from the Astronomical Tables of Nasirodim a Persian Mathematician famous throughout the whole East where you may plainly see the Cathaian Names of the twelve Hours into which the natural Day is divided amongst the Chineses or Cathaians so correspondent unto the Chinesian that they differ in nothing which is also testifi'd by as many of the Fathers of our Society as have return'd from China to Rome But that it may be more evident I shall here set down the Names The Names of the Hours into which the Natural Day is divided amongst the Chineses or Cathaians 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Cu Cheu Yin Mao Xin Su V Vi Xin Yien Sio Hai. If any one compare the Cycle of sixty Years which as Nasirodim saith the Cathaians use in the Calculation or Account of their Days Weeks and Solary Years with the Chinesian Account he shall find the mode or form of the Computation and the Names by which they call it to be wholly the same and the like we affirm concerning the Cathaian Year which they divide as also the Zodiack into twenty four Parts beginning their Year from the 15 th Degree of Aquarius But concerning this see the above-mention'd Golius in the place cited before who alledgeth Uleg Beg a Persian Astronomer for a Witness from whose Astronomical Tables he sheweth evidently whatsoever hath hitherto been deliver'd from the Harmony or Agreement of the Cathaian Calculations or which is the same that of the Chineses And I also find in the Arabian Physicians the Musk that is found in China often call'd The Musk of Cathay and also that Drink which is made of a certain Herb proper to Cathay is for the most part term'd Cha of Cathay And the Mogors which are originally Tartars and had their Descent from the Line or Stock of Cingis-Can and the other succeding potent Emperors them I say I find to be so call'd from their over-running of the Empire of China by their Historians the Chinesian-Mogulos But what he writeth concerning Quinsai a City of a wonderful and almost incredible magnitude is all found to be true at this day concerning the Metropolitan City Hancheu of which Father Martinius the Author of the excellent Atlas Sinicus thus discourseth Folio 109. That the European Cosmographers may no longer erre in making enquiry after and ridiculously delineating of Quinsai mention'd by Marcus Paulus I shall here give the very exact Portaicture of the same the Shadow of which did not appear unto the Author of the Archontologia Cosmica and if the Divine Majesty be propitious unto my Design I shall peradventure in time send over the Theatre of the Cities of China Printed by the Chineses themseves not known or seen as I suppose hitherto in Europe But to return to the Matter in hand I prove first by most invincible Arguments that this is the same City of Quinsai mention'd by Paulus Venetus for this is that City which is distant the space of five days travel from Singui that is Su Chou which holdeth good if we speak of the Progress or March of the Army in which it is manifest that MarcuS Paulus Venetus was otherwise it is scarce four days Iourney This is that City in which in his time was the Court or Imperial City of China which the Chineses in the elegant Tongue of their Learned Men term Kingsu but in the common Speech of the vulgar sort of Men who tie not up themselves unto that exactness of Phrase Kingsai whence the term of Quinsai in Venetus had its original You must here note moreover that Kingsu is a Name of Dignity common unto Regal Cities and not proper and singular unto one alone for its genuine and true signification is Regal although oftentimes the same City hath otherwise a proper Name as this City is call'd Hancheu which under the Empire of the Family of Sunga was call'd Lingan because the tenth Emperor of this Family nam'd Coacungus Kin flying from the Tartars there fix'd his Court and therefore in the time of Venetus it was call'd Kingsu whatever others think to the contrary This hapned Anno 1135. And also in the same City the Family of Sunga held the Empire until the Western Tartars under the Government of the Great Han erected the Kin Tartars or those of the East out of Cathay that is out of the Northern Provinces and so then they became vanquish'd and a little after they advanc'd their victorious Armies into the Kingdom of Mangin having begun a seizure of those Southern Provinces But to come more near to the Business This is that City which hath such a vast number of high Bridges both within its Walls and without in its Suburbs for there are almost ten thousand as Venetus reckoneth them if you account the Triumphal Arches amongst the Bridges which by reason of their similitude he might esteem for such by the
leading toward the South draweth near unto the more inhabited Regions as Quansi Iunnam and Tibet for from hence unto the Saffron River and the Places adjoyning which abound with Bushes and Thickets they are wont to betake themselves in Herds and Droves at certain times of the Year both in respect of Pasturage and for Hunting of their Prey I. A Tartar of Kalmack II. A Woman of Kalmack III. A Lama Tartar IV. The Habitation of the Tartars V. The Turning Wheel Therefore when these Fathers had pass'd this Wall presently they met with a River replenish'd with Fish of which they made their Supper which they prepar'd in an open Tent and having also pass'd over the Saffron River without the Walls and immediately having entred that most vast and barren Desart Kalmack a Desart very dreadful and formidable in two Months they came to the Kingdom of Barantola This Desart although it be parch'd and ruinous is yet inhabited by the Tartars which are call'd Kalmack at certain times of the Year when there is great abundance of Pasturage on the Banks of the River they there fixing of their Hords which you may term and not unfitly Portable Cities The Tartars rove up and down in this Desart to Rob and Pillage whence it is very necessary that the Caravan be sufficiently strong to resist the violence of their Attempts These Fathers as they hapned to see them drew their Habits as they are here set down The first Figure sheweth a Tartar of Kalmack Cloth'd with a Leathern Garment and a yellow Cap. The second Figure exhibiteth a Tartar Woman of Kalmack Cloth'd with a Vestment made of a certain Skin as they guess'd of a green or red colour and each of them hath a Phylactery or Amulet hung about their Necks which they wore to preserve themselves from Dangers and Mischiefs The Tartar which the third Figure exhibiteth weareth the Habit of a Lama which is the Priest or Bishop of the holy Rites of the Nation of the Tartars of Kalmack they use a Cap or Hat Painted of a red Colour a white Coat or Cloke cast backwards a red Girdle they are also Vested with a yellow Coat from the Girdle of which hangeth down a Purse The fourth Figure expresseth their Habitations which are Tartarian Tents made up within of small bended and wreathed Sticks on the outside fram'd with a course Matter of a certain Wooll and ty'd or bound together with Cords The fifth Figure sheweth an Instrument or turning Wheel in the form of a Scepter which is mov'd round by the superstitious Auditors or By-standers at the time when the Lama Pray VI. The fore part of a Woman of Northern Tartary VII The back part of the same Woman In the Court of Deva King of Tanguth our Fathers saw a Woman born in Northern Tartary who as she was Dress'd in an unwonted Habit so she seem'd not unworty of having her Picture taken unto the Life She wore Hair ty'd or knotted like unto small Cords having her Head and Girdle adorn'd with the Shells of Sea-Cockles See her exhibited in her fore and back part in the sixth and seventh Figures VIII The Habit of a Courtier in the Attire of a Woman IX The Trophies which are erected in the tops of the Mountains with Adoration unto the Great Lama for the conservation of Men and Horses X. Another Habit of a Courtier There were also in the same Court of the King certain Courtiers whose Habit if you observe it is altogether womanish but only that they use a Coat of a red Colour after the manner of the Lama which together with the Trophies erected in the tops of the mountains in Adoration of the Great Lama for the conservation of Men and Cattel are express'd in the eighth ninth and tenth Figures XI The Habit of the possess'd Youth that killeth Men call'd Phut XII The common Habit in the Kingdom of Tanchut XIII The Habit of the same Nation There is a most detestable and horrible Custom introduc'd into these Kingdoms of Tanchut and Barantola by the subtlety of Satan which is as followeth They chuse a lusty Youth unto whom they grant liberty on Set-days of the Year to kill with the Weapons wherewith he hath Arm'd himself any Person he meeteth of what Age or Sex soever without any difference or respect of Persons fondly supposing that those who are thus slain immediately as if they were Consecrated by Menipe a devilish Spirit whom they worship obtain eternal Honors and a most happy Estate This Youth in a very gay Habit furnish'd with a Sword Quiver and Arrows and stuck or laden with the Trophies of Banners and Ensigns at a prefix'd time being possess'd with the Demon or Devil unto whom he is Consecrated rushing with great fury out of the House wandreth through the Ways and Streets and killeth at his pleasure all that meet him no resistance being made This Youth they call in their Language Phut which signifieth The Slayer whence our Fathers depicted him altogether after the same manner that they had a sight of him together with the Habit of both Sexes in the Kingdom of Tanchut as the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth Figures do shew There are other Kingdoms included within the vast Kingdom of Tanchut and in the first place Barantola also call'd Lassa which hath a Metropolitan City of the same Name It hath a King of its own and is altogether intangled with the foul Errors of Heathenism The People worship Idols with the deference of Deities amongst which that which they call Manipe hath the preeminence and with its nine-fold difference of Heads riseth or terminateth in a Cone in a monstrous heighth concerning which we shall speak more fully in the following Discourse when we come to treat of the many-headed Deities of the Chineses Before this Demon or false God this foolish People perform their Sacred Rites with many unwonted Gesticulations and Dances often repeating of these words O Manipe Mi Hum O Manipe Mi Hum that is O Manipe save us They many times set divers sorts of Viands or Meats before the Idol for the propitiating or appeasing of the Deity and perform abominable kinds of Idolatry XIV Han the deceased King of Tanguth whom they worship with Divine Honor. XV. The Effigies of the Great Lama There is also exhibited in Barantola another Spectacle of a false Deity which as it almost seemeth to exceed humane belief so it also doth require to be evidenc'd with the more singular care Our Fathers relate that whilst they remain'd in Barantola which was about two Months to wait for the convenience of the Caravan they observ'd many things in reference to the Manners and Customs of the People of which they noted some to be ridiculous and others to be cursed and detestable There are two Kings in this Kingdom whereof one is truly concern'd and employ'd in the management of the Affairs of the Kingdom whom they call Deva the other being separated and taken off
respect Sina in their Language signifies A most brave and famous Countrey Others opposing will have this Kingdom to derive its Name from the Inhabitants of the City Chincheu because these People drive onely a constant Trade by Sea to most Places of Asia so that the Portugueses and Indians by leaving out the same Letters of the word Chincheu might easily give it the Name of China But those are in a very great Error that will have the word China to be derived from a certain word Cinch which by the Chineses is very much us'd The falseness of this Assertion will clearly appear from hence in that the Chineses who Trade with the Indians or Portugueses to those Places and go with their Ships to India us'd on the score of Civility and kind Respect to Greet each other in their Mothers Tongue not with the Name of Cinch but Sia Now that which appears to me to be a most probable Truth amongst the various Opinions of Writers is that which the Iesuit Martinus Martinii a Man of great Learning and Skill in the Antiquities of China has asserted in the sixth Book of his History of China the words whereof are as follow I shall not says he let this pass unmention'd which seems to me most likely That not onely by the Indians but also by Strangers the Name China took rise and original from the Generation Family or Branch of Cina who Govern'd in China in the 246. Year before the Birth of Christ So that we ought not to call it China but rather The Kingdom of Sinen or Cinen for in the time of those Kings which proceeded from this Branch the Name of Siners was first made known by Strangers and especially by the Indians By the Indians the Name of China afterwards came into use and was followed by the Portugueses after the Conquest of India for this Family of Cina Govern'd over the greatest part of the Siners who lived toward the West and continually had Wars with Foreiners When afterwards the Court or Seat of the Kingdom was Planted there received the Name of The Kingdom of China This Family of Cina being risen to the highest pitch of all Prosperity prov'd after a great Invader of others Territories insomuch that it seems no wonder that Strangers and remote Nations had the Name of Cina so frequent among them And though the Sineses call this farther part of Asia or Cina by several Names according to the Governing Families that happen to change yet however Foreiners do reserve the first Name which they heard And this is my Opinion concerning the Original of the Name Sina and according to this Assertion the first Letter of the word ought to be writ not with an S but with a C. All China was formerly divided by the Chinese Emperor Xunus into 12 Provinces afterwards the Emperor Yva who took upon him the Government after the Death of Xinus about 260 years before the Incarnation of our Saviour reduced all China into nine Provinces which onely at that time comprehended the Northern Parts of China and had for their Confines the River Kiang But after that they had Conquer'd the Southern Parts by degrees and somewhat Civiliz'd the Inhabitants the whole Kingdom of China was divided into 15 Provinces Amongst these also they reckon the Province of Leaotung which is situated on the West of Peking where the great Wall begins and the Hanging-Island of Corea both which pay Tribute to the Emperor There are several other Islands beside which pay also Tribute amongst which the Island Haman is the chiefest lying in the Sea over against the Province of Quangsi Among the Islands which are Tributary to this Kingdom is also accounted the Island Formosa which the Chineses call Lieukieu and situated over against the Province of Foken and also the Island Cheuxan over against the Province of Chekiang a very famous Place for Trading But of this more at large hereafter Six of the 15 Provinces verge upon the Sea as Peking Xantung Kiangnan or Nanking Cheaiang Foking and Quantung From hence toward the North lie the Midland Countries as Quangsi Kiangsi Huquang Honan and Xansi and toward the West the other four Xensi Sucheu Queicheu and Iunnan Lastly this Empire which comprehends 15 Kingdoms is also divided into the South and North-China South-China the Tartars call The Kingdom of Mangin and North-China The Kingdom of Catay In the first are nine Kingdoms and in the last six or eight if you will reckon amongst them the Kingdom of Leaotung and the Hanging-Island of Corea By what has been already said it doth clearly appear how far those are mistaken who write of another Empire beyond China which they call Catay as likewise of several Towns as Quinsey Cambalu and many other Fictions whereas in truth beyond the great Wall no other People live but Tartars who have no fixed Abodes but wander up and down the Countries in Wagons and so travel from Place to Place as may be found at large in the Writings of those who have sufficiently confuted this great Error and Mistake as Virgantius and Martinus Martinii in his Atlas of China Amongst the rest the Iesuits have likewise found by experience that beyond the Empire of China no Monarchy of Catay is to be found insomuch that the same People whom we call Chineses are by the Persians call'd Cataians This same Mistake has been likewise sufficiently and Learnedly confuted with undeniable Arguments by the most Learned Iacob Gool a Person of extraordinary Knowledge in all Arts of Literature and especially in the Oriental Languages and at present Arabick Professor in the University of Leyden in his Appendix to the Atlas of China The Kingdom of China is so inclos'd with several Islands and on the East and South with Seas that it seems almost to be four-square onely two great Mountains thrust themselves out toward the Sea which in the Chinese Language are called Tung The one lies by the Town of Ningpo from whence you may Sail in 40 hours to the Island of Iapan the other great Hill is in the Province of Xantung near to the Town of Tengoheu China situated in the farthest part of Asia borders toward the East South and West upon the great Indian Sea and is call'd Tung by the Chineses which signifies Easterly And on the North it is separated from the Kingdoms of Ninche and Nicolhan by that Famous Wall which was made by those of China against the Invasion of the Tartars Higher up toward the North it has for Frontiers the Kingdom of Taniju and a Wilderness call'd Samo which separates the North side of this China from the Kingdoms of Samahan and Cascar Upon the other Provinces situated toward the South joyn the Kingdoms of Prester-Iohn Geo which by the Chineses are call'd by one common Name Sifan as also Tibet Laos and Mien Likewise China reaches as far as Brangale and to some part of Tartary and the Mountains of Damascus which
separates it from Tartary and India The furthest Extent of China taken in the breadth begins in the South upon the Island Hainan which lies in 18 Degrees Northern Latitude from thence it reaches toward the North to 42 Degrees insomuch that China in the breadth extends to 22 Degrees that is 330 Dutch Leagues It s length begins in the Province of Iuunan at 120 Degrees and ends in the East at the Mountain of the Town Ningpo call'd by the Portugueses Nampo at 132 Degrees So that this Part consists of 450 Leagues in Longitude China is not a little secure in regard of the adjacent Kingdoms and the natural and strong Forts whereby this Kings Realm stands so intirely protected against all violence from without that the like is hardly to be seen elsewhere neither are there any Avenues found leading to this Monarchy insomuch that it is so well provided and guarded that it seems to be a World within it self and separated from all the rest as well toward the South as East and where the Sea borders it hath so many Islands Banks Flats and blind Rocks that it is altogether unsafe to approach China on the side with any great Ships of Men of War On the West and somewhat toward the South lie the Woods and Hills of Tamessus which are so thick and high that it is altogether unpenetrable on that side and which separate China from the next bordering Asia and the lesser neighboring Kingdoms all which adds to the Defence and Protection of this Empire Toward the North and West it is also sufficiently secur'd against all Invasions by the Sandy and dry Flats of Samo which endanger all Vessels that attempt any Landing in those Parts Lastly this Kingdom has toward the North a great Wall which the Family and Branch of Cina built against the Invasion of the Tartars 215 Years before the Birth of Christ but in what condition this Wall is at present and how far it extends we shall treat at large in the Description of the Province of Peking In respect the Sovereignty over the fifteen Kingdoms of this China belongs at present to a Monarch the Great Cham of Tartary I shall give you an Account of the number of all the great and little Cities situated in all these Dominions First of all they sum up in this whole Empire 145 Capital Cities which out-shine the rest both in Greatness and Glory Under the Command of this Emperor are 1331 small Cities amongst which 148 may be compared in Magnificence Beauty and People with the chief Cities Beside these there are 32 great Cities more which are not subject to any other yet they must not bear the Name of Capital though they Command over 36 small Cities Beside all these there are 3 Cities more for the Officers and Commanders of the Militia to dwell in The Forts and Castles are 159. beside which 17 great Garison Cities and 66 small Garison Towns which are never without full Companies and of Soldiers who are permitted to inhabit promiscuously amongst the Burgers There is no distinguishing by the greatness and largeness of the Cities the one from the other for some of the small ones exceed some others of the great and prime Cities both in Largeness Wealth and People but according to the Worth and Dignity of the Governors and the Priviledges of the Place she bears the Precedency and is reckon'd amongst the chief Cities No Place must presume to take up the Name of a City but what is Wall'd in for every inferior Town or Situation subjects to the next adjacent Capital City Most of the Cities in China are built after one fashion and form commonly four-square with broad and high Walls adorn'd with quadruple Towers placed at an equal distance round about which runs a deep Moat and that also is surrounded with a Mud or Earthen Wall Each City has a double Gate and two double Doors whereof the first stands directly over against the second that there is no seeing through the last though you stand in the first Betwixt these two Gates opens most commonly a large Court where they Discipline their Militia Upon the Gates are likewise built great Watch-Towers where the Soldiers keep Night-Sentinel Most of the Cities have great Suburbs belonging to them which are as full of People as within the Wall Without the Battlements each Metropolis hath a delightful Plain curiously adorned with Towers Trees and other Embellishments most pleasant to the Eye The Country every where swarms with People so that wheresoever you Travel you shall meet continually with Crowds of Men Women and Children As now these 15 Kingdoms seem not onely to exceed all other Parts of the World for the number of most rare Edifices and rich Cities so they are likewise no less abounding in People for the most populous Country of all Europe stands not in competition with this Those that will take the pains to look into the Chinese Pole or Register-Books wherein is exactly set down the number of the People of each Province except those of the Royal Family will find that it amounts to the number of 58 Millions 9 hundred and 40 thousand 2 hundred and 84 Persons Neither need you wonder which way this can be made out for every Master of a Family is oblig'd upon a great Penalty to hang out a little Board over his Door upon which he must set down the number of his Houshold and their Condition c. And to prevent all Fraud one is appointed over every tenth House whom they call Titang which signifies the Tenth-man or Tyther His Office consists in taking an Account of the number of the Persons upon the Board and if the Master of the Family fail to make that known truly he is to acquaint the Governor of the City with the Abuse Having spoken thus much of the Situation Division and Extent of China I shall add in short what these fifteen Provinces pay annually in Taxes one with another as also how many Capital great little and Garison Cities are in each of the Ten and lastly what each Province Division or Shire disburseth yearly in Taxes to the Emperor of China No Man possesses a Foot of Land in all this Empire without paying to the Emperor something out of it so that we need not wonder that over and above the common Expences which are made upon the account of petty Kings Vice-Roys and Military Officers there are more then threescore Millions of Crowns brought yearly into the Emperors Coffers The whole Sum amounts to 150 Millions of Crowns whereof he cannot dispose as he pleaseth but the Money is brought into the Treasury and if the King at any time desires a Supply in writing to the Treasurer he is not to deny the payment of it The Provinces bring in yearly in Taxes 32 Millions 2 hundred 7 thousand 4 hundred and 47 Bags of Rice and one Bag is enough to serve 100 Men for one day 40 hundred 9 thousand
9 hundred 49 Pounds of Raw Silk 71 hundred 2 thousand 4 hundred and 36 Rowls of Cloth made of Hemp 36 thousand 7 hundred and 70 Bales of Cottons 1 hundred 91 thousand 7 hundred and 30 Rowls of wrought Silk But the City of Hucheu buys off this Tax yearly for the Sum of 500 thousand Crowns The Provinces bring in likewise 1 Million 7 hundred 94 thousand 2 hundred and 61 Weight of Salt each Weight is to be reckon'd at 1 hundred 24 Pounds amounting in all to 1 hundred 87 Millions 6 hundred 88 thousand 3 hundred 64 Pounds 32 Millions 4 hundred 18 thousand 6 hundred 27 Trusses of Hay and Straw for the Kings Stables beside all other Taxes The other ten Provinces of China I did not see in my Iourney yet however I shall give you an Account of the Taxes which the great and lesser Cities thereof pay yearly to the Emperor their Names are these Zansi the second Province of the fifteen Xensi the third Honan the fifth Sucheu the sixth Huquang the seventh Chekiang the tenth Fokien the eleventh Quangsi the thirteenth Quicheu the fourteenth and Immam the fifteenth The second Kingdom of Zansi THis Province lies Westward of Peking and is neither so large nor populous but more Fruitful and of more Antiquity because if credit may be given to the Historians of China the Chineses derive from hence their first Rise and Original On the North this Province has for Confines the Great Wall which reaches from East to West through the whole Country behind which lies the Kingdom of Tamyn and the Sandy Wilderness of Samo The West side of this Province lies upon the Yellow River which runs from North to South and is separated by the same from the Province of Xensi This Province produces the sweetest and fairest Grapes of all Asia but the Chineses make no Wine of them but onely dry them and so bring them to the Market through all China In this Country of Zansi which is very remarkable and worthy of observation are through the whole Country great store of Fire-Wells even in the same manner as the Water-Wells are in Europe which they use for the dressing of Meat after this manner the Mouth of the Well is stopped very close and onely a place left open to set the Pot upon by which means the Pot boyls without any trouble This Province likewise produces good store of Coal which they dig out of the Hills as in England and at Luyk in the Netherlands which serves the Inhabitants for Fewel who likewise use Stoves in their Houses made after the manner of those in Holland In this Country of Zansi are 5 Capital Cities 92 small Cities and several Forts The 5 Capital Cities are Taiyuen Pingiaen Taitung Lugan and Fuencheu 1. Taiyuen Commands over 20 Cities Taiyuen Tayven Iucu Taco Ki Sinkin Congyven Ciaoching Venxui Loping Che Tingsiang Tai Utai Kiechi Cofan Fan Hing Paote and Hiang 2. Pingiaen Commands over 31 Cities as Pingyaen Siangling Hungtung Feuxan Chaoching Taiping Yoiang Ieching Kioiao Fuensi Pu Lincin Yungho Yxi Vanciuen Hocin Kiai Ganye Hia Venhi Pinglo Iuiching Kiang Yuenkio Ho Kie Hiangning Cie Taning Xeleu and Yangho Among these Pu Kiai Ho Kie and Cie are the chiefest 3. Taiâ—ung Commands over 11 Cities Taitung Hoaigien Hoenyuen Ing Xanin So Maye Guei Quangling Quangchang and Lingkieu whereof Ing So and Guei are the chiefest 4. Lugan Commands over eight Cities Lugan Caeneu Timlieu Siangheng Luching Hâ—quan Liching and Pingxun 5. Fuencheu Commands likewise over eight Cities Fuencheu Hiaoy Pingiao Kiakieu Ningâ—iang Lingxa Inugning and Lin. Beside these great Cities there are three other Corporations in this City as Sin Laao and Ca. These Towns are not much inferior to the Cities and so esteem'd by the Chineses but yet they are not preferred to that Dignity of the Cities though they have a Command over some lesser Towns For the safety of the Ways aud defence of the great Wall there are 14 strong Forts in this Country which are surrounded with strong Walls their Names are these Gueiguen Ieuguei Coguei Maye Vanglin Ianghon Caoxon Tienching Chinlu Cuigyuen Pinglin Chungtun Geutung and Tungxing The Pole or Register-Book of this Province reckons five hundred eighty nine thoâ—sand nine hundred fifty nine Families and five hundred eighty four thousand fifteen Fighting Men. That which this Country pays in Taxes yearly to the Emperor consists of twenty two hundred seventy four thousand and twenty two Bags of Rice fifty Pounds of fine Linnen four thousand seven hundred and seventy Silk-Stuffs four hundred and twenty thousand Weight of Salt and thirty five hundred forty four thousand eight hundred and fifty Bundles of Hay beside several other Taxes The third Kingdom of Xensi AMongst the Northern Dominions is this Xensi which is very great chiefly situated toward the West in 30 Degrees and borders upon the Kingdoms of Prester-Iohn Casker and Tibet which are call'd by one Name in the Chinese Tongue Sifan Westward the Borders extend beyond the Tartar Kingdom of Taniju betwixt which and this Countrey the Great Wall and some Forts make a separation which doth not run through all this Country but onely to the side of the Yellow River The remaining part of this Country situated on the other Bank of the River has no Wall for its defence but dry and barren Sand-fields and the Yellow River and sufficient Fortifications Eastward this Xensi is likewise Bounded with this Yellow River which runs through the Country Southward lie very high Mountains which are as strong Bulwarks and separate this Province from the Provinces of Honan Sucheu and Huquang Want of Rain makes this Country very dry but yet it produces great store of Wheat Barley and Turkish Corn but very little Rice The Beasts feed all Winter upon Corn. It abounds with Sheep and Goats which they shear three times ayear in the Spring in Summer and in Harvest and of the Wooll they make themselves Clothes In this Countrey they make great store of Musk which grows in the Navel of a Beast not much unlike to a young Hind the Flesh whereof the Chineses eat as other Meat When this Deer goes to Rutting the Cod swells like a Boil that is full of Matter which Exuperation consisting of a thin hairy Purse is then taken out with all its precious Stuff by the Natives True it is that all the Purses which are brought to us are not the right and pure Navels for the cunning Chineses know very well when they empty the Purse how to fill up the same again with counterfeit Musk. There is likewise Gold found in this Country which is not fetch'd from the Mines for those the Emperor will not suffer to be opened there being both Gold and Silver Mines but from the sides of Rivers and shallow Waters In this Country are eight Capital Cities a hundred and seven small Cities beside Castles and Forts The eight Capital Cities are these
Sigan Fungciang Hangchung Pingleang Cunchang Linijao Kingyang and Iengan 1. Sigan Commands over 36 Cities Sigam Hienyang Hingping Linchang Kingijang Caolong Hu Lantien Liuo Xang Chingan Tung Chaoye Hoyang Cheng Pexuy Hanching Hoa Hoyan Gueinan Puching Conan Hoxanijang Xangnan Yao Sanyuen Tungquoa Fuping Kien Fungciuen Vucung Iungxeu Fuen Xunhoa Xanxuy Changvu 2. Fungciang Commands over eight Cities Fungciang Kixan Paoki Fufung Muy Linieu Lung and Pingijang 3. Hanchung Commands over 15 Towns Hanchung Paoching Chingu Yang Sihiang Fungmien Niengkiang Lioyang Hinggan Pingli Xeciuen Sinijang Haniju Peho and Cuijang 4. Pingleang Commands over ten Cities Pingleang Cungsin Hoating Chinyven Kuyven Knig Lingtai Choangleang Limgte and Congning 5. Cung chang Commands over seventeen Cities Chungchang Ganting Hoeining Tunguei Chang Ningyven Fokiang Siho Ching Cin Cingan Cingxui Li Kiai Ven Hoei Leangtang 6. Linijao Commands over five Cities Linijao Gueoyven Lan Kin Ho. 7. Kingyang Commands over five Towns Kingyang Hoxi Hoan Ning and Chuining 8. Iengan Comands over 19 Cities Iengan Gansai Canciven Ganting Paogan Yâ—huen Ienchuen Ienchang Cingkien Fen Cochuen Chungpu Ykiun Suite Miche Kia Upao Xinmo and Fuco Beside these great and small Cities in this Province there are likewise several Magazines which lie scatter'd up and down some within the Great Wall and some without The chiefest of these Forts are these eight Xacheu Xancheu Iungchang Leangcheu Choanglang Sining Chiny Culang These following 14 are small ones Hingnia Ningniachung Yaocheu Nincheu Hocheu Cinglu Yulin Chinfan Xetu Hantung Pinglu Mingxa Guei and Sengqui The Chinese Register reckons the number of Families in this Province to be no less than eight hundred thirty one thousand fifty one and thirty nine hundred thirty four thousand one hundred seventy six Fighting Men. The Taxes which this Countrey pays are nineteen hundred twenty nine thousand and fifty seven Bags of Wheat three hundred sixty and five thousand Weight of fine Linnen nine thousand two hundred and eighteen Pounds of all sorts of wrought Silks seventeen thousand two hundred and seventy Pounds of Cotton eight hundred and twenty thousand seven hundred and seventy Pounds of Callicoes beside fifteen hundred and fourteen thousand seven hundred and forty nine Trusses of Hay for the Kings Stables The fifth Province of Honan THe Province of Honan lies East and South-East with Nanking North and North-East with Peking and some part of Xantung and South South-West with Hucang but Westward it borders upon the Province of Sucheu and with the remaining part of Xensi In this fifth Province we find eight great Cities a hundred small Cities beside Forts and Castles The eight great Cities are Caifung Queite Shangte Gueiheoi Hoaiking Honan Nanijang and Iuning 1. Caifung bears the Command over 30 Cities Caifung Chinlieu Ki Tunghiu Taiking Gueixi Gueichuen Ienlin Fuken Chungmen Iangvu Iuenvu Fungkieu Iencin Laniang Chin Xangaxui Sihoa Hiangching Ienching Chaggio Iu Sinching Mie Shing Iungiang Iungee Hoin Suxi Isung 2. Queite Governs over nine Cities Queite Ningling Loye Hiaye Iungehing Ciu Iuching Hiahching and Xeching 3. Changte Commands over seven Cities Changte Tanchin Linchang Lin Cu Vugan and Xe. 4. Gueihoei Commands over six Cities Gueihoei Coching Sinchiang Hoekia Ki and Hoei 5. Hoaikuing Commands over six Cities Hoaikuing Ciyven Sievun Vuche Meng Ven. 6. Honan â—ommands over 14 Cities Houan Iensu Cung Mengciu Yyang Tenfung Tungpe Nanchao Tengo Nuihiahg Sinije Chechun Yu Vuxang and Ye 7. Kingyang Commands over five Towns Kingyang Hoxi Hoan Ning and Chuining 8. Iuning Commands over 14 Cities Iuning Hanchai Sipnig Sincai Siuping Chinijang Sinigang Loxan Kioxan Quango Quangxan Cuxi Sce and Xangching The great City Iu which though not preferred by the Chineses to the Dignity of a Capital City yet however Commands over five small Cities as Iu Luxan Kia Paofung and Yyang The yearly Revenue according to the Toll-Book of the Emperor which this Country brings in amoâ—nts to five hundred eighty nine thousand two hundred and ninety six Families and fifty one hundred six thousand two hundred and seventy Fighting Men. The Income of the Revenue amounts yearly to twenty four hundred fourteen thousand four hundred and seventy seven Bags of Rice twenty three thousand five hundred and nine Pounds of unwrought Linnen nine thousand nine hundred fifty nine Pounds of several sorts of Silk three hundred forty one Pounds of Cottons which are very scarce in this County and lastly twenty two hundred fourscore and eight thousand seven hundred forty four Trusses of Hay for the Kings Stables The sixth Kingdom of Sucheu THis Territory of Sucheu is very large and fruitful which Eastward bordereth upon Huquang Southward upon Queicheu North-East and by North upon Xensi North-West upon Prester-Iohn's Countrey Westward upon Tiâ—et and Southward upon the Province of Iunnan In this whole Province are eight chief Cities a hundred twenty four great and little Cities four Garison Cities beside several other Towns and Places The eight Capital Cities are Chingtu Paoning Xungning Siucheu Chunking Queicheu Lunggan and Mahu 1. Chingtu Commands over 30 little Cities Chingtu Xaanglieu Veukiang Sinfan Sinlu Kintang Ginxeu Chingping Pi Cu Nuikiang Quou Peug Cuugning Gan Kien Cuyang Cungking Sincin Han Xefan Miencho Teyang Mien Changning Lokiang Mieu Vencheuen Guei and Pao 2. Pagning Commands over 10 Cities Pagning Cangki Nanpu Quangyven Pa Chaoboa Tungkiang Kien Cutung and Mankiang 3. Xunking has under its Command 9 Cities Xunking Sike Iungxan Ylnug Quanggan Kin Tacho Gochi and Linxui 4. Siucheu Commands likewise over 10 Cities Siucheu Kingfu Fuxun Nanki Hiuguen Changning Iunlien Cung Cao and Lukehang 5. Chungking Commands over 18 Cities Chungking Kiangein Changxeu Taco Iuncheuen Kikiang Nancheuen Kiukiang Ho Tungleang Tingguen Piexan Chung Fungtu Tienkiang Fen Fulung and Pinxui 6. Queicheu Commands over 13 Cities Queicheu Coxan Tachang Taming Iunyang Vau Cai Tai Sinning Leangxan Kieuzi Tunchiang and Taiping 7. Lunggan Commands over three Cities Lunggan Kiangyeu and Xeciven and also over several Forts 8. Mahu is alone without having any City under its Command The great Cities are six Tungcheuen Muicheu Kiating Kiung Lincheu and Yacheu Though these six great Cities might very well deserve the Name and Dignity of Capital Cities in regard of their largeness and number of Inhabitants yet they do not enjoy that Dignity because this Province is to have no more Capital Cities then Peking and Nanking The first great City Tungcheuen Commands over 8 other Cities the second Muicheu over four the third Kiating over seven the fourth Kiung over three the fifth Liucheu over four and the sixth Yacheu Commands likewise over four The four chief Garison Cities are Tinchnen Uniung Usa and Chinhiung beside which there are 35 small Garison Cities and Forts This Province produces much Silk and other rich Commodities It is very large and fruitful having the great River of Kiang running quite through it in some places it is Mountainous but wants neither for Trees nor Valleys From hence only comes the right Radix-China or China-Root for that which
but within these 140 years Mahumetanism seems to out-strip the other having more Proselytes The chief Cities of this Island are Bantam which is very famous for Trade Choribon and Iapara from whence the English and Hollanders fetch their Pepper in great quantities There was formerly in the place where the City of Batavia is built which the Hollanders took by force of Arms from the Natives a City call'd Caloppa which in the time of Cornelius Houtman the chief Promoter and Contriver of the East-India Navigation was replenish'd with more than three thousand Houses beside several Forts and Bulwarks But the English who endeavor'd to make themselves absolute and sole Masters of the Trade in this Island suborn'd several of the Inhabitants thereof to gain them on their sides and by this means caus'd the whole City to be totally destroy'd The Hollanders on the other side to frustrate this their Design built two strong Forts whereof one is call'd Mauritius situated upon the River and the other Nassau in memory of that great Captain Both these Places were always well provided against the continual Assaults of those of Iava who were still endeavoring to drive the Hollanders out of this their Plantation At last after some years the Hollanders the better to withstand the violent Incursions of the Natives built a new City fare stronger than the other where formerly the old Caloppa or Iacatra was situated and call'd it Batavia This Batavia which lies in the height of 6 Degrees and 10 Minutes is four-square a River running through the Town which makes as it were two entire Cities The lesser half exceeds the other in Strength in regard of an invincible Castle in it which for its better defence is encompassed with four Bulwarks with deep Moats round about The City is very populous and consists of Natives Chineses and Hollanders and adorn'd with stately Structures and the Streets planted with several sorts of Indian Trees so that you walk cool in the greatest Heats On the Sea-side which is narrowly Guarded lies a safe and commodious Harbor for Shipping The Arms of the City is a naked Sword with a Laurel Garland Here the General who Commands in the Name of the United Provinces over all the Forts and Castles in India has his Residence who is provided with no less Power and Authority than formerly the Stadtholder and chief Commander of these Parts were wont to enjoy and lives in no less Pomp and State than the Princes of Europe And this great Honor and Authority is conferr'd upon him that the Natives dazled with the splendor of his Greatness may so be the better reduc'd under Obedience But with this Commander in Chief is joyn'd a Council whose Advice is always to be taken in Matters of Peace and War the Protection and safety of the Country and the Commerce thereof The Iudicature consists of a President and several Aldermen There is one general Guild or Chamber of Accompts to which all the rest which are in India under the Command of the Hollanders are responsible The whole City lies surrounded with thirteen strong Bulwarks which have been often Attempted and Assaulted by the Natives but are not to be Master'd The Hollanders made formerly a Contract at Iava with the Kings of those Parts about the Business of Commerce but when they began to deal treacherously contrary to the Articles of Agreement in raising the Imposts it was thought fit to erect a Castle or Fort in the City The English at that time held a straight Correspondence and Amity with the Hollanders but it so hapned that Fears and Iealousies and Misunderstandings arose between them so that after a bloody Fight of eleven English Ships against seven Hollanders which continu'd from Morning till Night our Party was forc'd to flie and to retreat to Amboyna and there to Rally more Force The King of Iacatra upon this Occasion made an Agreement with the English and joyning their Forces together laid close Siege to the new Fort which defended it self gallantly for six Months In the mean time the Hollanders brought several of their Ships from the Malava Islands to the number of eighteen which came thither to relieve their besieged Countrymen The English having advice of their coming left the Siege brought the Cannon Aboard and set Sail through the Straight of Sunda The General Iohn Peterson Koene who was newly arriv'd with a Fleet from Holland not doubting of the Treachery of the King though he endeavor'd to excuse himself laying all the blame upon the English Landed his Men with good Order and Conduct who after a few hours Refreshment prepar'd themselves to assault the Besiegers which they did and after some little opposition broke through the Trenches and got into the City The King finding his Forces defeated and the Town relieved saved himself by flight leaving the residue of his Army to the Mercy of the Hollanders who put all to the Sword except Women and Children yea the City of Iacatra it self was laid in Ashes and the Walls levell'd with the Ground After this great Victory the Hollanders strongly fortifi'd themselves in those Parts which the Emperor of the Island Iava perceiving concluded to Besiege this our new erected City of Batavia and in the Year 1629. he Encamped himself under the Walls making several Assaults upon the Place but was still beaten off with considerable Loss The greatest Attempt which the Enemy made was upon September 20. in the Night but they were likewise forc'd to retreat with a great slaughter whose dead Bodies was no small annoyance to the Besieged Against this Inconvenience they burnt several odoriferous Gums to prevent the Contagion which might proceed from thence Amongst other remarkable Passages that hapned during this Siege is that Storm most to be admir'd which the Enemy made upon a Fort situated at the farther corner of the City which was onely Guarded by sixteen Soldiers who shew'd far greater Courage in making their Defence than the Assaulters in the Attempt with their whole Army for after that they had spent all their Powder and Shot they until'd the very Fort and with the Shards thereof did very great Execution upon the Enemy which Ammunition being likewise spent and having nothing offensive they at last emptied the House-of-Office with Chamber-pots and flung the Excrements and so at once both perfum'd and painted the naked Bodies of the Enemy who at last perceiving that those of the City intended to Sally out and relieve their Fellow Soldiers they rais'd the Siege crying out in their Language O you stinking Holland Devils you Fight with Tantoblins and your Arms are Turdy-Pistical After the space of eight days we came upon the 22. in sight of Paulo Teymon which is a pleasant wondrous and delightful Island as is expessed in the adjoining Print full of Woods Hills and Dales Here we sent our Boats Ashore to fetch Wood and fresh Water wherewith we had not at first so well provided our selves as we ought to have
several Questions concerning the Trade and Condition of the United Netherlands which being answer'd by the Ambassadors they seem'd satisfi'd and return'd to the Ship with all their Followers Upon the 29. came again a new Heyton with a Vice-Admiral as Commissioners from Canton to receive the Ambassadors and to conduct them thither Whereupon the Ambassadors at their Invitation went again Ashore and were conducted to an Idol-Temple where being receiv'd after the usual manner they spread their Credentials upon the Table Then Heyton began to propose several Questions namely Whether we did not Sail from Canton about two years What manner of Wares and Merchandises we had brought with us Who was Aboard the other Ship and how they came to separate from us How many Men and Guns were in each Ship Why they did not come the last last Year And why we staid away one Year and then came the second When by whom as also to what end the Letters were written and the Ambassadors address'd themselves What Presents we had brought in particular for the Emperor They seem'd to wonder very much that the Ambassadors had brought no Letter to the Teutang in Canton and that the Letters were put up so meanly for they let them understand that the Letter to the Emperor ought to have been put up in a Golden Purse or Box at least At last they thus made a Conclusion That the next day they would come Aboard our Ships to receive the Presents Hereupon the Ambassadors departed and went Aboard again The next day the same Commissioners with a great many Courtiers came Aboard bringing with them several Vessels very handsomly set off with Silk Flags and Penons to take in the Presents as well for the Emperor as the Canton Vice-Roys and the Teutang which they receiv'd with great civility The Heyton came himself Aboard to bid us welcom and carried the Ambassadors with their Secretary Henry Baron and four of their Followers in one of their Vessels to the City of Canton being accompanied with the Vice-Admiral where being arriv'd the said Commissioners went into the City without speaking one word to the Ambassadors and after that the Retinue had staid at least two hours at the Gates of the City they were sent for in the Name of the Vice-Roy and conducted to a Lodging without the Walls where formerly Mr. Schedel had Lodg'd and there Guarded and taken care of by the City Marshal The next day being the 31. there came to our Lodging with Commissioners the Mandorin Poetsiensin the Emperor's Treasurer having the fourth Voice of the Government in the City They began again to move several Questions to the Ambassadors asking them How many years they had been Married Their Names and former Employments as likewise If they had no Copy of the Letter to the Emperor And whether that Letter was not writ upon better Paper than the Epistle to the Vice-Roys Wherefore and to what end they were chiefly sent How their Prince and King was call'd with several other Questions Then they seem'd to Mutter and be displeas'd at the slight Fashion of the Credentials To the Request which the Ambassadors made That they might have Audience of the Vice-Roys and have leave to go for Peking they gave no Answer but going with the Letters to the Vice-Roys they return'd again about Noon and then began to ask Whether the Prince and Government of Holland had no Stamp not Great Seal for their Letters and from what Age of the World they were Dated And as concerning the Desire of the Ambassadors they gave them to understand That neither the Vice-Roys nor the Teutang nor any body else in Canton had the Power to give Audience to any Ambassadors before they had first receiv'd an Answer to the Letter which they had sent to Peking concerning them However they gave order that the Yacht Koukerken should be brought near to the City and promis'd that the Vice-Roys to welcom the Ambassadors in a more then ordinary manner and to view the Presents which they had brought to the Great Cham would appear personally at their Lodging Wherefore upon the second of August we receiv'd Order to follow the Ambassador with our Yacht four great Men of War of the Vice-Roy's being appointed to conduct us up the River About the Evening we came to an Anchor near a small Castle where the River is above two Miles broad and has lying upon both sides several little Islands On the left side of this River upon a small Hill stands a high Tower very curiously adorn'd with nine Rounds The like Tower also shews it self upon a certain Island over against the chief City of Canton The Countries situated on both sides of this River abound very much in Villages which are mighty populous and fruitful Fields affording twice every year the labouring and diligent Countriman a very rich Harvest Upon the fourth of the same Month we came before the famous and Chief City of Canton which is call'd by some Quancheu and the first Capital City of the Province of Quantung After our Devotions and the taking order about every thing Aboard our Ship we went that day Ashore to the Ambassadors whom we found Lodg'd in a stately Edifice situated upon the River side over against which lay our Yacht and formerly had been an Idol-Temple The Vice-Roy had order'd two Mandorins to Guard with a good number of Soldiers the Gates for our Security But no sooner was the Yacht come to the Ambassadors Lodgings but they must immediately though against their wills return Aboard again under pretence that no Ambassadors which are sent to the Emperor are to reside at Canton without an express Order from his Imperial Majesty They likewise alledg'd for their excuse That the Governors of Canton would not be able to answer to the Emperor concerning any Mischief or Accident which might happen to the Ambassadors being Ashore Afterwards the Mandorins Poetsiensin and Heyton brought the Credentials open'd Aboard saying That the Vice-Roys durst not accept or keep them before they had receiv'd Advice from the Imperial City of Peking As at the beginning for the better understanding of the whole Relation of our Travels I gave an Account in short of all the great and small Cities of the ten Provinces in China through which I did not travel so now I find my self necessitated for the more particular information of the whole Empire of China to relate briefly the remaining five Provinces each in his due place and the number of Cities into which each Province is divided all which I saw my self The Province of Quantung which is the twelfth in number amongst the fifteen into which all China is divided is encompass'd on the West with the Province of Quangsi on the North-West and North with that of Kiangsi on the North-East it borders upon Foking from which it is separated by steep Hills and Mountains and the River Ting All the rest of the Province borders on the Sea which
causes so many safe Harbors and Roads for Shipping in these Parts The Country is in some places flat and even and in others Hilly and Mountainous especially toward the South as we often found to our great inconvenience upon our Voyage This Province produces all things necessary for the sustenance of Man as likewise several sorts of rich Wares and Commodities as well Artificial as Natural It likewise yields the Husbandman Fruits twice ayear as Rice Corn and other Products for in it you have no cold Weather all Winter so that the Chineses have a Proverb among them that there are three very strange things in Quantung viz. The Heaven without Snow Trees green in Winter as in Summer and The Inhabitants spitting Blood for first of all it never Snows here the Trees are never unperwig'd and the Inhabitants continually chewing the Leaves of Betel and Areka prepar'd after their way makes their Spittle red From hence comes likewise great quantities of Gold Pearl Precious Stones Silk Quick-silver Copper Steel Iron Salt-petre Eagle-Wood and several other odoriferous Woods The People in these Parts are very ingenious laborious and nimble and can imitate any thing which they see made before them and whatsoever the Portugueses bring thither out of Europe woven of Gold Silver or the like which is strange unto them they will immediately endeavor to work the same and in a short time will accomplish what they undertake for I gave a Chinese Goldsmith a Silver Button to make a Set by and the next day he brought to my Lodging what I had bespoke very curiously wrought as if he had been us'd to such work though he had never done the like before which argues their Ingenuity to be very great Among other Fowls which are to be seen in this Country are great store of Ducks which the Inhabitants have the art and way to raise and increase beyond all the rest of their Neighbors This Province is Govern'd as also each of the other Provinces in the Emperors Name by Governors who by those of Europe because their Offices and Employments much resemble Vice-Roys are call'd petty Kings who commonly reside in the first Chief City of the Province When we were at Canton Quantung was Govern'd by two Vice-Roys whereof one in regard of his Years was call'd the old and the other the young Vice-Roy The Portugueses call'd the young Vice-Roy Halick Mancebo The Vice-Roys of Quantung take place of all the Governors of the other Provinces because situated upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom and far remote from the Imperial City Peking and borders also upon the Sea by which means the High-ways are troubled with Robbers and the Sea with Pyrates therefore the Emperor orders that the Vice-Roys of Quantung shall Command over the Province of Quantung though this last as the other Provinces has also particular Vice-Roys This Country was formerly a Kingdom of it self and call'd Nainve and first brought under the Command of the Chinese Emperors at the end of the Reign of the Race of Cheva yet however it did not continue long under that Power but revolted and would be Rul'd by none but the Kings of Nainve The Emperor Hiaorus of the Family of Hana at last conquer'd this part since which time it has been subject to the Emperors of China In this Province are ten Chief Cities and seventy three small Cities without reckoning among them the City of Maccao famous for Traffick and Commerce The ten Chief Cities are these Quancheu or Canton Xaocheu Nanhiung Hoeicheu Chaocheu Chaoking Kaocheu Liencheu Lincheu and Kiuncheu The Chief City of Quancheu Commands over fifteen small Cities among which I do not reckon Maccao though it lies under the Command of this Chief City The 15 small ones of this great City are these Quancheu or Canton Xunte Tangvon Cengching Hiangxan Sinhoei Cingyven Sinning Cunghoa Lungumen Sanxui Lien Iangxan Tienxan and Singan The second Capital City Xaocheu Commands over six small Cities Xaocheu Locang Giughoa Iuyven Ungyen and Ingote The Country about this Chief City is for the most part full of Hills The third Chief City is Nanhiung or Nanhung and Commands over two Cities Nanhiung and Xihing The fourth Chief City is Hoeicheu and Commands over 10 small Cities Hoeicheu Polo Haifung Hoiven Lungchuen Changlo Hingning Hoping Changing and Iunggan The fifth Chief City is Chaocheu and Commands likewise over 10 small Cities Chaocheu Chaoyang Kieyang Chinghiang Iaoping Tapu Hoeilai Cinghai Puning and Pingyven The sixth Chief City is Chaoking and Commands over eleven Cities Chaoking Sinhoei Sinhing Yangchun Yangkiang Caoming Genping Teking Quangning Fuchuen and Kalklen The seventh Chief City is Caocheu and Commands over six small Cities Caocheu Tienpe Sing Hoa Vuchnen and Xeching The eighth Chief City is Lieucheu and Commands over four small Cities Lieucheu Knig Lingxan and Xelien The ninth Chief City is Luicheu and Commands over three small Cities Luichtu Sniki and Siuven The tenth Chief City is Kiuncheu situated in the Island of Hainan and Commands over twelve small Cities Kiuncheu Lincao Tingan Veuchung Hoeitung Lohoei Chen Changhoa Van Linxui Yai and Cangen In this whole Province are ten Forts or Castles which serve for the Defence of the Province and the Sea the Names whereof are these Taching Tung Hanxan Ginghai Kiacu Kiexe Ciexing Hiung Iunching and Ciungling The Chinese Toll-Book wherein the number of the People of each Province is set down makes mention of Four hundred eighty three thousand three hundred and sixty Families and Nineteen hundred seventy eight thousand and twenty Fighting Men in this Province The Taxes which this Province pays yearly to the Emperor amounts to Ten hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred and twenty two Bags of Rice and seven thousand three hundred and fourscore Weight of Salt CANTON On the Water side the City is defended with two rows of high and thick Walls which are strengthned with Bulwarks Watch-Towers and other Forts and beside these Works there are two other strong Water-Castles which being built in the middle of the River render this City invincible One of these two Castles which I saw my self and which doth not much differ in any thing from the other I took an exact Draught of which you have here presented shewing the Strength of the Place and in what manner built The City is likewise defended and surrounded on the Land side with a strong Wall and five strong Castles whereof some are within the Walls and others without upon the tops of steep Hills so that this City is sufficiently both by Sea and Land defended against all the Invasions of any Enemy whatsoever and in the opinion of some seems invincible What concerns the Idol-Temples Courts and Palaces of Great Lords and other rare Edifices which are to be seen here there is no City in all Asia that shews the like Here also are several Triumphal Arches which have been erected to the Honor of such as have done their Country Service They are no small
safety and for the greater splendor having conducted us thus far took leave and went back for Canton but was most nobly Treated by the Ambassadors the Night before We on the other hand made all things ready and set Sail again with fair Wind and Weather but were forc'd to be Tow'd up the River being against the Stream and narrow into which fall several Torrents from the adjacent Hills so that we went but very slowly and that with great labor and trouble which these poor Creatures are fain to undergo Here we saw into what a miserable Condition the Chineses were reduced by the last War of the Tartars who put them upon this slavish labor of Towing and Rowing their Boats using them worse than Beasts at their pleasure without any exception of Persons either young or old Often the track'd ways on the River side are so narrow uneven and steep that if they should slip they would infallibly break their Necks as many times it happens now and then they walk up to the Middle in Water and if any of them grow faint and weary there is one that follows having Charge of the Boat who never leaves beating of them till they go on or die But these poor Creatures are no where so miserably harassed out as in this dangerous and steep mountainous part of Sangwanhab on which account perhaps none will or dare live there for we saw there but one poor despicable Village where some few People dwell whose Countenances sufficiently declar'd what Hardships they underwent The most ancient Greeks and Romans who formerly subdu'd whole Countries never dealt so barbarously by those whom they conquer'd as these unmerciful Tartars who by their cruel usage in this last Invasion have not only laid waste abundance of noble Cities Towns and Villages which are now places for Birds and Beasts to roost in but they have likewise made Slaves of the best of the Natives Upon the 21. of March about Midnight we came with all our Train to Sanyvum The Magistrates of this Place met us on the Way and with their respective Salutes Presented us for the Table which for the reason aforesaid were not accepted This Place is not very large lying about forty Miles distant from Xanxui and was formerly for its Situation potent and populous but in this last War wholly ruin'd by the Tartars who gave the same usage to all such Cities as were not able to withstand them Here we got fresh Track-men our old ones being quite tir'd to draw us up the River against the Stream and Torrents which fall from this wonderful Mountain Sagwanhab The heighth of this Mountain is very observable for the tops thereof are envelop'd with Clouds which makes the Passage at the bottom of the Hill obscure On one side of this prodigious Mountain stands an Idol Temple richly adorn'd and most artificially built to which these poor Creatures resort conceiving all their welfare to consist in Offering to this Idol adoring it as their Preserver 〈…〉 up by Steps to this Temple which stands on that side of the Mountain next the River There are several strange Mountains and Hills found in China but none are to be compar'd with this of Sangwonhab in regard of its Stuation and extraordinary heighth Near to Xunte 〈◊〉 second small City of Canton lies a Mountain call'd Lungnien from wheâ—e runs a Torrent as clear as Crystal Upon this Mountain are found certain rough Stones of strange and wonderful shapes which the Chineses make use of in their way of Trade Near to Tangnon the third small City of Canton lies the Mountain Tahi upon the East-side where lie 36 small Islands Near to this City likewise lies the Mountain Heuteu which serves such Skippers as are bound for the Province of Quantung for a Land-mark Near to Cingyuen the seventh small City of Canton lies a great Mountain call'd Talo which is surrounded with steep and sharp Tops among which lie rich and pleasant Meadows where dwell several wild and unciviliz'd People who oftentimes make Inroads upon the adjacent Places to steal what they can These wild and irregular People live according to their own Laws without any subjection to the Chineses Near to the sixth small City of Canton lies a Mountain call'd Yaimuen From this Mountain the last Emperor of the Race of Sunga after that the Tartars had Conquer'd him and driven him out of the Country flung himself headlong out of despair into the Sea We were three days hovering up and down before we could get from among these strange and solitary Mountains and saw in all that time but one poor Village call'd Quantonlow which lies so lonely that 't is strange how any People durst live in it In some places of this Island between the Hills which is very remarkable lie several pleasant and fruitful Corn-Fields Upon the 24. of March we came to a certain small City call'd Yntag the sixth small City of the second Chief City of the Province of Quantung Here we were necessitated to let fall our Anchor in regard of the violent Stream and the great Torrents which fall from the Hills for those that Tow'd the the Boats being quite spent we were forc'd to give them some rest to recover their Strength again This violent and strong Stream had driven the Vessel of the Ambassadors against a blind Rock which did very much endanger the loss both of Ship and Goods This small City lies very pleasant upon a corner of the River on the right side over against the Mountain Sangwonhab It is fortifi'd with high and indifferent strong Walls and beautifi'd with stately Houses and magnificent Idol Temples surrounded with pleasant Hills delightful in Prospect the Suburbs well and sufficient It was formerly very rich and populous and is provided with a safe Harbor for Vessels against the impetuous Current of this River which is a great protection to them in Stormy Weather passing up and down At the entrance of the Harbor on the right side appears a very high Tower built with great curiosity The next Day being the 25. of March we came in sight of that wonderful and strange Idol Temple call'd Koniansiam which the Chineses hold in great veneration bringing as rich and fat Offerings thither as to that of Sangwonhab It lies on the River side in a solitary wild and mountainous Country your first Approaches conduct you up with convenient Stone Steps after you make your Way through blind Paths and cavernous Passes forc'd with much Art and Industry These Idolaters believing as the ancient Heathen that Groves and high Places were most venerable Mansions and yielding a more reverential Awe to their Gods and less discovering under a Shade their Priests jugling Impostures We continu'd here a while with all our Fleet till the Natives had perform'd their Devotions at this Temple which afterward our Ambassadors visited 'T is incredible to relate with how much superstitious Zeal wanting our true Lights they pour forth there their
concerning the Province of Kiangsi and the number of the great and small Cities I shall now relate what hapned in our Travels through this Province to that of Nanking No sooner were the Ambassadors arriv'd at the Gate of the Chief City of Nangan but a Gentleman was immediately dispatch'd to Complement them in the Name of the Magistrates and conduct them to those Lodgings which were provided for them A while after came the Governor himself with some other Persons of great Quality who after Civilities interchanged fell into some Discourses of small importance and having thus spent an hour they took their leaves and departed sending a handsom Treatment that Night at the Charge of the City Afterwards came to us two Tartar Gentlemen who were newly arrived there from the Imperial City of Peking and after they had Saluted the Ambassadors they told them that they were sent to Congratulate the Vice-Roys of Canton upon their Victory obtain'd the last Year against the Chineses in the Province of Quangsi they then took their leaves and departed seeming much to admire the large and tall Statures of the Hollanders and that they should come from the end of the World to Salute their Emperor adding withal That his Imperial Majesty expected them with great impatience During our abode here we were often visited and receiv'd the friendly Salutations of the best and chiefest of the City The Ambassadors were here very much troubled to procure Vessels to carry them to Nanking for though they did earnestly insist to prosecute and hasten their Iourney yet the Commissioner appointed to furnish them with Boats could not get them ready so soon as he desir'd whereupon the Mandorin Pinxenton rated him with such bitter Expressions that taking it to heart he drew his Knife and would certainly have stabb'd himself had he not been prevented by one of the Mandorin's Servants The Country about this City which is the farthest City of this Province is very pleasant and fruitful surrounded with Hills and Mountains which serve for a Fence to Guard the Country One of these Mountains far exceeds the rest for delightfulness being call'd Sihoa which signifies A Place of Pleasure This City is divided into two equal Parts by an Arm of the River Chang which being situate on the Stream causes great Trading there for all the Goods and Merchandises which are brought out of China and carried to the Province of Quantung or from thence to the other Places of Trade which lie higher up in the Country are for the most part unladed in this City from whence they are carried to other Parts by Land or Water The South part of this City is close built with several goodly Houses and is full of Commerce and People On the North side stands an Idol-Temple very curiously built and so richly adorn'd that a second Dedalus may be said to have shewn his Art in the contrivance of this Edifice However in bigness and strength this City stands not in competition with that of Nanhung although the Tartars in their last Invasion were more favourable to this than to the other for in Nangan they forbore to destroy such Fabricks as were of any note but in Nanhung all were ruin'd Besides the great Commerce and Traffick which has been of late Years driven here has been a means to enrich the Inhabitants thereof who have continually contributed toward the re-edifying of this City After four Days abode in this City the Ambassadors Embarqu'd themselves with all their Followers to pursue their Voyage to Peking From the City of Canton to Nanhung we were Tow'd all the way against the Stream by Track-men not without great danger of Shipwrack by reason of many Rocks that lie hid under Water but now we were carried down with the Stream though yet not without great labor and danger of often losing both Ship and Goods The River Can runs here as swift as an Arrow from the Bow and is full of Banks Sands and Shoals which requires much care and experience in the Mariners It hapned in this Passage among other Accidents that the Barque in which Iacob de Keizer one of the Ambassadors had Embarqu'd himself with the Presents to the Great Cham fell into a Whirl-pool and turning and winding amongst unsteady Eddies drove at last on a hidden Sand where she stuck fast and could not be gotten off until they had unladen her they then perceiv'd that she had two great Leaks in her Hull which they made shift to stop putting the Goods Aboard again and so we proceeded on our Iourney The Mandorins commanded the Water-men to be severely Lash'd with a thick Leather Whip and the Master himself had not escap'd the same Punishment for his neglect if the Ambassadors had not interceded for him The next Day being the 14. of April we pass'd by the second small City call'd Nankang but did not Land as we went but in our Return put Ashore This Nankang lies upon the left side of the River Chang It is built four-square being invested with a strong Wall twenty five Foot high and was formerly rich and famous for Commerce It hath four Gates each about a quarter of a Mile distant one from another This City was totally subverted by the Tartars in the last War On the River side stands a strong high Tower the Structure well built At our return we lay with our Vessels before Nammon which signifies The South-Gate from whence a Street leads to the House of the Governor and at the end of the Street stands a Chinese Triumphal Arch an elaborate Piece which the Tartars left without any demolishment At the end of this Street is the Market-place to which is brought daily all manner of Provisions as Flesh Fish and Fruits of all sorts in great abundance Upon the 15. we came to Cancheu the twelfth Chief City of the Province of Kiangsi where we took up our Lodgings for that Night and were visited Aboard our Vessels by some great Mandorins who welcom'd us in the Name of the Magistrates after which the Ambassadors address'd themselves to the great Tutang of this City returning him the like Complemental Civilities who receiv'd them with singular Courtesies and seem Affection and conducted them into his private Apartment where he plac'd them on his right Hand Then he ask'd them several Questions concerning the Constitution of Holland viz. Of how many Provinces it consisted and how remote from Portugal How long their present Government had been Establish'd When that Power began Whether they were all of one and the same Religion and Whether they us'd Beads in their Ejaculations after the Portugese manner To each of which Particulars the Ambassadors return'd them a brief and satisfactory Answer By these Questions we guess'd what a near Community and Commerce there was between this Lord and the Portugueses and we were likewise afterwards told that his Wife had been Baptiz'd by them Whilst we were drinking of Thea in the Withdrawing-room he desir'd to hear
undefended are so great that the Chineses themselves take no notice of them in their Maps neither are they numbered by them The eight great Cities are Xuntien or Peking Paoting Hokien Chinting Xunte Quanping Taming and Iungping Xuntien or Peking the Imperial City and where at present the Great Cham keeps his Court Commands over 26 Cities and prescribes them their Laws as Xuntien Xuny Chanping Leanghiang Mieyun Hoatjo Kugan Iungcing Tungan Hiangho Tung Sanho Vucing Paoti Cho Fangxan Pa Vengan Taching Pooting Ki Iatien Fungjung Cunhoa Pingko and Que. Amongst these Tung Cho Pa and Ki are the chiefest and may be compar'd with Capital Cities for bigness and magnificence Paoting Commands over 20 small Cities as Paoting Muonching Ganso Tinghing Sinching Thang Poye Kingtu Iungching Huon Ly Hiung Khi Kince Tunglo Gan Caoyang Singan Ye and Laixui Hokien Commands over 18 Cities as Hokien Hien Neuching Soning Gnikien Kiacho Cing Hingci Cinghai Ningcin King Ukiao Tungquang Kuching Cang Nanpi Ienxan and Kingyun amongst which Cang is the chiefest Chinting Commands over 32 Cities as Chinting Chinking Hoclo Lungxeu Khoching Loching Vukie Pingxan Heuping Ting Snilo Kioyang Hintang Ki Nancung Sinho Caokiang Vuye Cyn Ganging Iaoyang Vukiang Chao Pohiang Lungping Caoye Lincing Ganboang Ningcin Xui Hengxui and Yuenxi amongst these Ting Chao and Xin are the chiefest Xunte Commands over nine Cities as Xunte Xabo Nanbo Pinghiang Quangcung Kiulo Thangxan Ninkieu and Gin. Quanping Commands likewise over nine Cities as Quanping Kiocheu Fihiang Kioe Hantan Quanpung Chinggan Guei and Cingho Taming Commands over eleven Cities as Taming Yaming Nanlo Guei Cingfung Nuihoang Siun Hoa Cai which is the chiefest of the eleven Changyven and Tungming Iungping Commands over six Cities as Iungping Ciengan Vuning Changly Lo and Lotung Besides these there are three Cities more as Yenping Iunping and Paogan which are situate upon very advantagious places and were built to resist the Forces of the Tartars when they should march beyond the Wall In this Province are fourteen Garrisons which were chiefly contriv'd for the defence of the Wall the Names whereof are these Siven Vansiven Hoaigan Caiping Cungnuen Chang Gan Cheching Iuncheu Vunin Yu Iungping Xangas and Tiencin The Chinese Register wherein the number of the People of this Province is set down makes mention of Four hundred eighty thousand nine hundred eighty nine Families and Thirty four hundred fifty two thousand two hunered and fifty four Fighting Men. The Revenue of this Province paid yearly to the Emperor consists of Six hundred thousand eleven hundred fifty three Sacks of Salt Rice and Corn Two hundred and twenty four Pounds of unwrought fine Flax Forty five thousand one hundred and thirty five Pounds of wrought Silk Thirteen thousand seven hundred and forty eight Pounds of Cotton One hundred and eighty thousand eight hundred and seventy Weight of Salt Eighty seven hundred thirty seven thousand seven hundred and eighty four Trusses of Hay or Straw beside several other Taxes which are paid in Money Upon the 26. of Iune we came to Kuching the first Place we came at in this Province of Peking and the fourteenth small City under the Iurisdiction of the third Chief City of Hokien in the Province of Peking This City which we found situated upon the side of the River Guei lies about twenty three Miles from Vuching in an even and flat Country yet very delightful in Prospect her Walls are high well built and abounding in People and Trade her Suburbs very magnificent We made no stay here but hastned on towards Peking and by the way we saw on both sides of the River Guei whole Fields full of Trees upon with the Cotton-Wooll grows which occasions a mighty Trade in the adjacent Parts Upon the 28. we came to Tacheu which some call Ukiao accounted the twelfth small City under the Command of the same Hâ—kien lying about eighteen Miles from Kuching situate on the side of the River and surrounded with a Wall of thirty Foot high strengthned with Bulwarks and Watch-Towers well built and adorn'd with several Temples having also a large Suburb which reaches far upon both sides of the River In this City is the Staple of the Drink Zamsou made of Rice and drunk in stead of Wine The Inhabitants export this Liquor through all parts of China which occasions a great Commerce in this Place for both Tartars and Chineses come with their Vessels far and near to be Fraighted with this Drink which they afterwards Transport to other Places The Chineses told us That about ten Miles from this Tacheu near to the second small City call'd Hien was a Pool call'd Vo whose Water turns as red as Blood if you fling a Stick into it and that from the Leaves which fall from those Trees which grow about this Lake come forth immediately living Swallows Upon the 28. of Iune we Sail'd by Tonquam with fair Wind and Weather It lies likewise upon the side of the River Guei about a Musquet-shot from the Stream and is accounted the thirteenth small City under the Chief City Hokien This Place a Privilege not granted to any other hath a Guard only of Chineses built as the rest square and fenc'd with a thick and strong Wall encompass'd also with a deep and broad Moat or Trench The Fields near the Town are curiously planted with all manner of Fruit Trees The adjacent Country of this as also of the Chief City Hokien within which Iurisdiction this Tonquam is situate lies flat and much upon a Clay Toward the East lie large and flat Fields being wash'd by the great Indian Sea from whence is continually fetch'd great store of Salt Upon the desire of Pinxenton the Ambassadors sent me and some others of their Followers with twelve Tartar Soldiers into the City to see a Lion made of Iron which they reported to be extraordinary large and terrible standing in the middle of the Market-place But the Chineses when they saw us coming shut their Gates upon us and hid themselves in their Houses being struck with terror for fear of the Hollanders so that we were necessitated to return back to our Vessels without entring into the City Pinxenton and the rest of the Chineses told us of several other strange things which were to be seen in this City but in respect of the unwillingness of the Inhabitants to give us entrance I saw none of them and so could only take a view of the outward Structure of the same as it lay vested with large Walls Upon the second of Iuly we came to an Anchor before the City of Sanglo about fifty five Miles from Tonquam upon the side of the River Guei This City lies a little distant from the River and has very brave Suburbs on both sides of the Banks which are well built and full of People and Trade Here dwells a great number of Tartars and of a more considerable Quality than any we found in our whole Voyage who no sooner heard of our arrival but they immediately
lives in Princely State being serv'd and waited on with extraordinary Pomp and Splendor but has no Command in the least over any of the Inhabitants neither may they depart from that City without the King 's special Licence In this Government are found no old Laws as among those of Europe no Imperial Edicts which had their original from the ancient Romans but those that are the first Founders of their own House and have by Conquest or otherwise resum'd the Government make new Statutes according to their pleasure This is the reason why the Laws which were in use before this last Invasion of the Tartars and are in part observ'd to this day by the People are of no longer standing then the Emperor Humvuo whose Race for his most heroick Actions in the Expulsion of the Tartars was call'd Tamin which signifies Great Courage This Emperor made several Laws and confirm'd others made by his Predecessors Their Emperor is commonly call'd Thiensu which signifies The Son of Heaven and this Name is given him not that they believe he had his Original from thence but because they believe he is better belov'd by being preferr'd to so great a Dignity above all other Mortals for his eminent and natural Vertues and because they adore and worship Heaven for the highest Deity so that when they name The Son of Heaven 't is as much as if they said The Son of God However the Commonalty call not the Emperor Thiensu but Hoangti The Yellow Emperor or The Emperor of the Earth whom they name Yellow of colour to distinguish him from Xangti which signifies The highest Emperor Two thousand six hundred ninety seven years before Christ's Birth their first Prince Reign'd who bore the Name of Hoangti and because of his extraordinary Vertues and valiant Deeds the Chineses have ever since call'd their Emperors Hoangti None are chosen or employ'd in the Government and Management of Publick Affairs but such as are held capable and have the Title of Doctors of the Law Men of great Learning and eminent Parts for whosoever is preferr'd in China to Places and Offices of Trust has given a clear testimony of his Knowledge Prudence Vertue and Valour neither the Favor of the Prince or Grandeur of his Friends standing him in any stead if he be not so extraordinarily qualifi'd All Magistrates both Civil and Military are call'd in the Country Idiome Quonfu which signifies Men fit for Council They are also call'd sometimes by the Name of Lavie which signifies Lord or Master The Portuguese call these Magistrates in China Mandorins it may be from the Latin word Mandando by which Name the Officers of that State in that Country are also receiv'd and understood by us of Europe And although I said at the beginning that the Government of this Kingdom or Empire consisted of one single Person yet it will appear by what has been said and what shall follow that the Government has also some Commixture with that of Aristocracy for although that which the Magistrate concludes and fully determines must afterwards be ratifi'd by the King upon Request made to him yet he also finisheth nothing himself in any Business before he is thereunto first desir'd by his Council It is also very certain That it is no way lawful for the King to confer any Office Dignity or Place in the Magistracy upon any unless he be first requested by one in special Authority But yet he hath Power to present his Courtiers with some special Gifts and this he often does according to an old Custom whereby it is free for any one to raise his Friends at his own Charge The Publick Taxes Assessments Impositions and Revenues are not brought into the King's Treasury neither may he dispose thereof at his Pleasure but they are deliver'd either in Money or Goods into the Treasury and Granary of the Empire which Income dischargeth the Expence of the King's Family consisting of Wives Concubines Sons Favorites and the like There are two distinct Councils in China one whereof not only officiates in Affairs of State at Court but has likewise the Care of the Kingdom The other is made up of Provincial Governors who Rule particular Provinces and Cities A Catalogue of which Officers fills up five or six large Volumes Printed every Month and to be sold at Peking where the Court resides In these Books are mention'd only the Names of Provinces and Cities and the Qualities of those who for that end are employ'd in the Magistracy through the whole Empire These Books are always re-printing in regard so vast a number of Alterations happen daily for some die others are laid aside and new ones chosen in their Places or else preferr'd to higher Offices so that there is hardly an hour but some Change happens amongst them The Grand Council divides it self into six other great ones The first is call'd Pu or The Council of State for they nominate and chuse all the Magistrates of the whole Nation these as they are most powerful have also the greatest Parts Persons able to judge of whom they confer such Dignities for they must be all qualifi'd with Philosophical and other Learning that come to any Place in the Magistracy the general Maxim there being To prefer none but meerly upon Merit and whosoever happens to be degraded for any Misdemeanor they never admit him to his Place again The second call'd Hopu hath the Management and Inspection over the King's Exchequer pays the Armies and other Charges of the Kingdom The third they name Limpu this takes care of the common Offerings Temples Priests the King's Women Schools and publick Places of Learning to see that all things be done in order likewise orders their Holy-days and the Obediences which are to be perform'd to the Emperor upon certain Times and Occasions also disposes and confers Titles of Honor upon such as deserve them takes care for the encouragement of Arts and Sciences sending and receiving of Ambassadors and the writing of Letters into all Parts The fourth Council is call'd Pimpu or The Council of War to whom is left the management of Peace and Military Affairs wherein however they are not to conclude any thing without the consent of the Emperor They dispose of all Places and Offices in the Army and confer Titles of Honor and Dignities accordingly upon such as behave themselves bravely in Conduct and valiantly in Battel The fifth Council call'd Cumym has the care about Buildings committed to it and also appoints Surveyors to look to the Repairs of the Edifices and Palaces belonging to the Emperor his Favorites and Magistrates they also look after the building of Vessels and the equipping of Fleets The sixth Council call'd Humpu Examines and Iudges all criminal Causes and appoints their Punishments All Affairs of the whole Kingdom are dispatch'd by these six Councils wherefore they have in each Province and City Officers and Notaries by whom they are inform'd of all Transactions which happen in each
treats of the same Subject with those other five And these nine Books are all that are to be found in China amongst the Booksellers out of which all others are compos'd And certainly therein are contain'd most excellent Rules and Directions for the well ordering of all Civil Affairs and such as have proved to the very great advantage of the Empire of China For which cause a Law was made by the ancient Kings That whosoever would be a Learned Man or so reputed must extract the principal Ground-work of his Learning from these Books Nor is it enough to understand the true meaning and sense of the same but he must likewise get them by heart and be able to repeat a considerable part thereof if he will be thought to have arriv'd at an eminent pitch of Learning There are no Publick Schools in all China though some Writers have erroneously told us the contrary but every Person chuses his own Master by whom he is taught in his House at his own Charge And in regard of the great difficulty in Teaching the Chinese Characters in respect of their vast number and variety it is impossible for one to teach many several Persons and therefore every Master of a Family takes an Instructer into his House for his Children of whom if there be two or three to learn they are as many as one Tutor can well teach All such as are found upon Examination to have made good Progress in Philosophy arise to Promotions by three Degrees of Learning The first is call'd Sieucai the second Kiugin the third Cinfu The first Degree of Learning call'd Sieucai is given in every City by a certain Eminent Learned Person appointed by the Emperor for that purpose and according to his Office bears the Name of Tihio This Tihio goes a Circuit through all the Towns of his Province on purpose to Promote Learned Men to this Degree As soon as he is come into any City he makes known his arrival whereupon all such as stand for this Preferment address themselves unto him to be examined and if he find them qualified he immediately prefers them to this first Step of Learning and that their Worth may be taken notice of for a particular Badge of their Dignity they wear a Gown Bonnet and Boots in which Habit none are permitted to go but such as are in this manner become Graduates They enjoy likewise several Honorable Privileges and Immunities and are preferr'd to considerable Employments in the Government The second Degree of Honor to which the Learned Chineses are preferr'd is call'd Kiugin which is given with much more State than the former and is conferr'd only upon such as they judge to be most deserving and this Promotion is made but once in three years and perform'd after this manner In each Capital City is a great and well-built Palace encompass'd with high Walls and set apart only for the Examination of the Scholars In this Place are several Apartments and Mansions for the use of Examiners when they come to Supervise the Scholars Works Beside these Apartments there are at least a thousand Cells in the middle of the Palace but so small that they will only contain only one Person a little Table and a Bench In these no one can speak to his Neighbor nor be seen by him When the King's Examiners are arriv'd in the City they are lock'd up apart in this Palace and not suffer'd to Discourse with any whatsoever while they are there When the time of Examination is come to which are appointed three whole days namely the ninth twelfth and fifteenth Days of the eighth Month then are the Writings of the Scholars with great Iudgment narrowly Examin'd and several Questions propounded to be resolv'd by them The third Degree is call'd Cinsu and is equal with that of Doctor of Divinity Law or Physick in Europe and this is conferr'd likewise every third year and to them only in the Imperial City of Peking To this Honor can only three hundred out of the whole Empire arrive and the Examination of them before they are chosen is perform'd by the King's Examiners in the same Method and State as the former And such as attain to this heighth of Honor by their Learning are preferr'd to the highest Places of Dignity in the Empire and are had in great Esteem and Reputation by the People CHAP. III. Of several Chinese Handicraft-Trades Comedians Iuglers and Beggers THe Chineses are not altogether without some Experience and Skill in Architecture although for neatness and polite Curiosity their Building is not to be compar'd with that in Europe neither are their Edifices so costly or durable in regard they proportion their Houses to the shortness of Life building as they say for themselves not for others And this surely is one reason why the Chineses cannot comprehend nor imagine the costly and Princely Palaces which are in Europe and when they have been told that some of the said Edifices have stood for many Ages they seem as it were amazed thereat But if they consider'd the true Reasons of such continuance they would rather applaud and imitate than wonder for that which makes our Building last so long is because we make deep Foundations whereas in China they dig no Foundations at all but lay the Stones even with the surface of the Ground upon which they build high and heavy Towers and by this means they soon decay and require daily Reparations Neither is this all for the Houses in China are for the most part built of Wood or rest upon woodden Pillars yet they are cover'd with Tyles as in Europe and are contriv'd commodiously within though not beautiful to the Eye without however by the curiosity of the People they are kept very clean and neat Their Temples are most curiously built some whereof in solitary places near the High-ways to the great accommodation of Travellers They are hung full of Images and heavy Lamps which burn continually in memory of one or other that liv'd well and died happily These People have made no small progress in several Sciences by their early being acquainted with the Art of Printing for though those of Europe do therein exceed the Chineses having reduc'd the same to more exactness and certain Method yet says Trigautius in the fourth Chapter of his first Book The use of the Printing-Press was much sooner in China than in Europe for it is most certain that the same has been in use amongst the Chineses for five Ages past nay some stick not to affirm that they us'd Printing before the Birth of Christ. Mercator in his great Atlas writes That the Printing-Press and the use of Cannon are of so great Antiquity in China that it is not known who was the Inventor of them All which if it were taken for granted yet nevertheless they are too large in saying That That Printing has been us'd by them ever since their Country hath been call'd the Empire or Kingdom of China
being Images cut out of one hard Stone and made by the Command of a King who liv'd all his Life here in solitariness Near to Vucheu upon the Hill Vangkiu stands a strange Image in shape and proportion resembling a Man but attended with this peculiarity that according to the several tempers of the Air it receives several colours by the change whereof the Inhabitants know whether they shall have fair or foul Weather The Emperor Xius employ'd five thousand Men to dig a Passage quite through the Mountain Fang for he had heard of the before-mention'd deceitful Mountain-gazers who promise to foretel every Persons Destiny by the shape of the Hills some of whom had given out That they foresaw by this Hills shape that another Emperor should reign wherefore Xius to frustrate his approaching Fate caus'd this Hill to be cut through to alter its shape Near to the City Cing upon the Mountain Loyo stands the Statue of a great Lion out of whose Mouth gushes Water continually Near to the City Xeu in the Province of Nanking upon the Hill Cuking was found a great lump of Gold which they say had the Vertue of curing several Diseases The Hill Kieuquan is call'd The Hill of seven Palaces because the Sons of King Cyugan caus'd seven Palaces to be built upon it in which they resided and studied several Sciences The Hill Lin near to the City Tauleu is very famous for the expert Archery of one Hevyus who in this place shot seven Birds flying one after another Near to the City Ceu is the Mountain Changping very much noted for the Birth of the great and admir'd Philosopher Confutius Here also may be seen the Ruins of some City or Town that formerly stood upon it Near to the City Kioheu lies the Hill Fang not a little frequented by reason of the Tomb of the Ancestors of Confutius The Hill Kieuchin near to Hanyang has its Name from nine Virgins that were Sisters and liv'd thereon studying Chymistry Near to the City Cu lies the Mountain Cu where Report says King Ci buried much Gold and afterwards because he would not have it discover'd put to death all those that were employ'd in hiding it but by chance a young Son of one of the Workmen taking notice of what his Father was doing and bearing the same in mind when he came to years of discretion went and took it away with the cause of his Father's Death felicitating his own Life Upon certain high Hills of the Province of Suchue where it borders upon the Province Honan lies a Kingdom call'd Kiug absolute of it self and no ways subject to the Emperor 's of China only upon the account of Honor and the maintaining of a good Correspondence the King thereof receives from the Chinese Monarch his Crown and Scepter These High-land People will in no wise suffer the Chineses to come amongst them and very hardly to speak to them The People of this Kingdom are the Issue of them who fled out of the Province of Huquang to avoid the Outrages of the Enemy of the Race of Cheva and betook themselves to these high Mountains for safety where ever since their Posterity hath continu'd possessing innumerable brave Vales and incomparable good Lands which are secur'd against the Invasion or Inroads of any Enemy Upon some of the Mountains in China are great store of wild People who by reason of the narrow and difficult Passages to them are not to be brought under Subjection to the Emperor notwithstanding great Endeavors have been us'd to effect the same CHAP. XIV Of Mines of all sorts as Metals Stones c. VVIthin the spacious Continent of this Empire and chiefly upon the Mountains are found many rich Mines as well of Silver and Gold as other Metals in great abundance yet to dig for Gold or Silver out of any of them is forbid although it remains free for any Person to seek for Gold upon the sides and Banks of Rivers where the same is also found in great quantities with which all the Country drive their Trade by Bartering and Exchanging it away for other Commodities Upon the Mountain Yocheu is digg'd up a green Stone which being beaten to Powder affords the Painter a most delicate Vert. There are also several excellent Stone Quarries among which some of Marble whereof they make Tables and other curious Ornaments for their Houses it having such strange yet natural Veins that by their concentring the shapes of Hills Waters Trees Flowers are so admirably figur'd upon the same as if the most exquisite Artist of the World had depicted them with his Pencil In the Province of Peking is found very clear white and red Marble as also Touchstones and several other sorts of Stones which for colour and hardness are much valued And upon the Mountain Xaitung in the Province of Xansi the Iasper of several colours is found as also in Xensi upon the Hill Io are very clear Stones which for their lustre and sparkling resemble Diamonds Out of Mount Kiun is digg'd red Marble In Suchue on Mount Tiexe grows a Stone which being burnt in the Fire yields Iron very fit to make Swords The Hill Cucay near Chingtien brings forth Trees and Stones red of colour and in the Province of Huquang all the Products of the Hill Hoan which signifies The Yellow Hill even to the Earth and Stones are of a Gold colour There are several other Hills which produce strange and Precious Stones as the Hill Xeyen so nam'd because after Rain there are found Stones upon the same resembling Swallows Many other produce variety of Stones held in great Esteem by reason of Experiments which have been made of them in the cure of several Diseases as all sorts of Agues Fevers Calentures c. And as in some places are such variety of rare and Physical Stones so in others are Earth and Medicinal Drugs namely In the Province of Quangsi near to the City Cincheu is digg'd up a certain yellow Earth which is a powerful Antidote against all manner of Poison In the Iurisdiction of Huquang there are several Places where they gather great store of Manna which the Natives take for frozen Dew In the Province of Xansi upon the Mountain Tape they dig up a certain Earth so red that they use it for Vermilion to Print their red Seals whereas upon the Mountain Nieuxu the Earth is so white that it is us'd by the Women in stead of Paint for being dissolv'd in Water it strangely embellisheth the Face which is wash'd therewith Here also they have Mines of Coals which are like those in Europe There is also in divers Places throughout the whole Empire a certain sort of Lime which they press from the Bark of a Tree being tough and sticking like Pitch of this which I suppose I may call a Gum they make a certain sort of Paint wherewith they colour all their Ships Houses and Houshold-stuff which makes them to shine like Glass and
suffer to pass by them unregarded In the Day this Creature lives upon the Land and in the Night in the Water When it is gorg'd with eating and is fall'n asleep with his Mouth full of Meat a small Bird call'd Trochicus and in Italian The King of Birds comes to him as he lies with his Mouth open and cleanses his Teeth with picking and scraping wherewith the Crocodile is so highly pleas'd that he opens his Throat as wide as is possible that so the Bird may scoure the same for which kindness it bears it much friendship The Chineses eat the Flesh thereof with great delight It is reported that Termus King of Egypt swam amongst them stark naked having his Body only anointed with the Grease of them In the River Chaoking is a Fish call'd The Swimming Cow which comes often out of the Water and fights at Land with the tame Cows to their great hazard till its Horns grow weak by staying out of the Water which may be discerned by their turning yellow then with all speed it returns into the Water where the Horns grow hard again Near to Caocheu there is to be seen a strange kind of Creature in the Sea having a Head like a Bird and a Tail like a Fish In its Belly are found some Precious Stones Between this City and the Island Hainan are taken a sort of Crabs which as soon as they are out of the Water become petrifi'd and immediately turn into Stones The Portuguese and Chineses make great use of them for the Cure of Agues In the Province of Suchue near the City of Chunking are great store of Land-Tortoises of several sizes some very large and others very small which the Inhabitants keep in their Houses for their Pleasure But in Quantung near to Hoeicheu there are caught in the Sea such very large Tortoises that they look like little Rocks at a distance The Land as well as the Sea-Tortoises engender after the manner of the Adder-Snake the Male getting upon the Female They lay Eggs like Hens Eggs but lesser and more oval It is said of them that they live under Ground in the Winter without eating They are afraid of the Eagle which makes a prey of them taking them up and letting them fall till they break They make but little noise yet louder than the Snake Whether they are to be reckon'd amongst Flesh or Fish is still to be determin'd Some account them amongst Fish and eat them in Lent others think the contrary because they have Feet and draw Breath The Land-Tortoise Shells are very hard and like Ebony nor will they bend like those of the Sea but they are full of Knobs upon the top and most of them of fine Colours yellow and brown as if they were Painted with Crosses Stars and other Figures They thrust out their Heads and Feet which when they draw in as they can at pleasure they seem to be immovable They differ very much in bigness some being no bigger than a Man's Fist. In Virginia are Tortoises of three and four Foot long with two Heads which are very malicious and given to biting In the Island Mauritius are some Tortoises so large that they will carry four or five Men standing upon them Their Shells are of so capacious an extent that ten Persons may sit in one of them But the Sea-Tortoises are much larger than those of the Land Iohn de Lery writes That there was one taken by their Fleet which gave eighty Persons their Bellies full Their Shells are much smoother and flatter than the other and very curiously wrinkled In hot Water they will bend into any shape which the other cannot do by reason of its hardness so that Artificers make Combs and Boxes of them In stead of Feet they have Fins wherewith they swim as other Fish but they lie much upon their Backs and swim sleeping upon the Water The Flesh of this Creature is luscious and tastes like Veal being interlarded with yellowish Fat The Female lays her Eggs by Night and buries them in the Sand which are hatch'd in six Weeks by the heat of the Sun CHAP. XVII Of some things more than Natural and strange Pools IN the last seven Chapters I spoke of great and admirable things yet such as are not beyond the ordinary Course of Nature but in this I shall treat of some more wonderful which are hard to be credited though the Chineses do firmly believe the same In the Province of Xensi near the City Vucung is a Hill call'd Taipe whereupon if a Drum be beaten presently followeth Thunder Lightning and stormy Weather insomuch that the Magistrates have forbidden all Persons upon pain of Death to beat any Drum there The River Tan has red Fish with whose Blood as the Chineses write and fancy whosoever anoint their Feet they may wade over this River without sinking adding further That if the Water of this River be but stirr'd all the Fish presently rise and swim upon the top of the Water and make it look as red as Fire from whence in probability it had its Name for Tan signifies Red. In the Province of Xantung near the City Niuyang is a Spring in high esteem amongst the Inhabitants for they verily believe that whosoever drinks of 〈◊〉 it makes them long-liv'd In Suchue near the City Chingtu is the most large and extensive Mountain Chingching upon which according to the vain belief of the Chineses the immortal Men meet to Converse In the Province of Huquang upon Mountains of an incredible heighth and bigness inhabit none but wild and unciviliz'd People Near to Liencheng a City of Quantung lies a great Hill call'd Uhoang where grows a sort of Fruit whose like is not to be found any where else for you may eat as much as you please but you must carry none away and while you endeavor so to do you can never find the way down In the Province of Iunnan near the City Chinkiang is to this day a great Stone to be seen where Simulo who possess'd the Kingdom of Mung gave Audience to the Ambassadors of another King who upon the delivery of their Message not satisfying him he arising in anger and taking his Sword naked into his Hand struck with it so violently upon the Stone that the Blow pierc'd above three Foot into it and with threatning words said to the Ambassadors Go and acquaint your King what Swords I have This hapned in the Reign of Iliaouvus the Founder of the Race of Hana which incorporated the powerful Kingdom of Mung to the Kingdom of China Near the City Munghoa in the Province of Honan lies the Mountain Funghoang which tooks its Name from the Phenix because it died upon the same after it had sung there a while most deliciously The Chineses relate That there is a general Assembly of Birds once every year upon this Mountain to lament the Death of the said Phenix of which time the Inhabitants taking notice climb up by
Night with Lights and catch abundance of them Near the City Fuencheu is the Mountain Vanhu which is reputed the highest of all Hills and this Name was given to it because ten thousand People in the time of the Inundation of the World got upon the top of this Mountain to avoid the danger of drowning Near to Tingcheu is a Mountain call'd Kin upon which are three Pools which turn Iron that is flung into them into Copper immediately There are several other strange Pools Springs and Wells to be found in China some whereof are very soveraign for the cure of several Distempers of the Body On the West side of the City Caifung in the Province of Honan lies a Pool call'd Kinning which the Imperial Race of Sunga caus'd to be digg'd for the disciplining and training up Sea-men to make them expert in Sea-Fights which was very much us'd by the Emperor Taicungus This Pool is so very pleasant that round about the same are built several brave Palaces of the Grandees besides divers Idol-Temples CHAP. XVIII Of the Chinese Kings and Emperors which have Govern'd in China before and since Christ's Birth BEfore I make mention of the Wars between the People of China and the Tartars I shall speak in short concerning the Genealogy of the Kings and Emperors who have Reigned there before and since the Birth of Christ. First then observe That before Christ's Birth between the Years of the World 2207. and the Year 2952. eight hundred succeeded one another in the Government of that Empire which took not the same by Inheritance but after the death of one another was elected by plurality of Voices But after that time the Government became Hereditary and the next Heir to the preceding King succeeded after his death The first eight Elective Kings were Fohius Xinnungus Hoangtius Xaohavus Chuenhious Cous Yaus and Xunus All the Transactions during the Reign of these eight Elective Kings and the following Imperial Races before and after the Birth of Christ are not in the least doubted but firmly believ'd by all the People in regard the Histories of those Times are faithfully transferr'd to Posterity by the then Chronologers for it has been a constant and without doubt a most laudible Custom amongst them that the new Emperor doth appoint and order some of the most Learned Philosophers to write the Deeds and Actions of his Predecessor at large without fraud or flattery Out of this voluminous Work which comprehends in general all the great Transactions of the whole Empire the Chineses for ease of Memory have made an Extract or Epitome of the most remarkable Passages But as to what pass'd before the eight elected Emperors the Chineses themselves are very doubtful because the Books of those Times are full of ridiculous Stories as well relating to the Age of the People as the Years of the Governors for according to the phantastick belief of those Writers the World must have been created some thousands of years before the Flood But before I proceed to the Lives and Actions of these eight Emperors I shall in a few words declare what Kings and Princes are feigned to have had the Rule over China before the Government of Fohius the first of them The Chineses feign That the first Man whom they also own for their first Governor was call'd Puoncuus and had his Original out of a confus'd Lump as out of an Egg though some of the more Learned in Europe are of opinion That Cainan or Kenan the Son of Enos was the first Man that with his Followers Peopled China and that from him they all had their rise They also add That this Cainan was preferr'd to the Government when he was five hundred years old and that after him the eight Elect Emperors Govern'd those Countries and Inhabitants as hath been and shall be more fully related Yet they tell us That after the decease of this Puoncuus one Tienhoangus succeeded in the Government of whose Time a certain Chinese Historian speaks thus 〈◊〉 that time the Spirit of Heaven cover'd the Face of the Earth and by degrees introduc'd good Manners and taught the People being then very decible Civility and Morality but especially when the great Dragon was kill'd which had molested the whole World by mingling Heaven and Earth together after his Death every thing receiving a more illustrious form and Dignity After him they say succeeded one Thâ—angus who was very skilful in the Course of the Stars distinguish'd the Day and Nights by Name and ordering every Month to consist of thirty Days When he was deceased they write That nine other Princes succeeded but they are altogether ignorant both of their Names and Actions After these nine follow'd according to their Legend Ginhoangus with nine more of his Family He divided the Country into nine Parts whereof one was given to the People to inhabit and the other eight he appointed for Husbandry and by this means he brought the People who at first as wild and unciviliz'd liv'd dispers'd to bring their Habitations near together though yet they had no Houses His Reign they say was a Golden Age for the Earth brought forth Fruit of it self without much Labor This Prince cared for his Subjects with more then a Fatherly Love who on the other hand honor'd and serv'd him as dutiful Children obey their Father After him follow'd one Yeus who instructed the People that had long liv'd in Holes and Caves of the Mountains to make Huts and little Edifices of Wood to defend themselves against the fury of wild Beasts for till this time they were ignorant of most things useful for the support and sustenance of Life for they had not so much as heard of Husbandry nor knew how to strike Fire wherewith either to dress their Victuals â—r to refresh the Body but they liv'd only upon wild Herbs and Fruits and devour'd the raw Flesh of wild Creatures and drank their Blood going for the most naked or at the best wearing only the undress'd Skin of some wild Creature they had kill'd about some part of their Body After the death of this Yeus Sujus Reigned who was very skilful in Astrology He taught that there were five Elements as Metal Wood Earth and Fire which last he observ'd in the Air. He was also the first that made the discovery of Fire by rubbing one piece of Wood against another There was no kind of Money or Coyn either Silver or Gold in his Days but they exchang'd Commodity for Commodity by way of Barter Thus far their hardly-believ'd Histories proceed which whether true or false shall be no Task for me to discover but leaving them as they are I shall return to speak of the eight Elect Emperors before-mention'd the first whereof was Fohius whom the Chineses call'd Thiensu that is The Son of Heaven and by this Title they still call all their Emperors They say and haply believe it that he was brought into the World by his Mother
against him with so great an Army and that himself was in no Condition to oppose them relinquisheth the Trust which he had thus long kept receives the new Honor and acknowledges the Tartar for lawful Emperor of China In this manner was he who not long before for the Protection of the Chineses was sent with an Army to subdue the Rebels now brought over to Fight against his own Country-men and with the Tartars help conquer the Empire and at last with the assistance of the Tartars having quite vanquish'd the Robbers in Xensi in a pitch'd Battel went and setled his Court in the City of Sigan And thus did the Tartars prefer this Lord to great Honors and Dignities who had so often fought against them with great Success but trusted him not with any Military Employment as well knowing what such an expert and valiant Commander well guarded with Soldiers whose Love in time of Peace he would purchase is able to do in case Fortune should afterwards become froward and begin to frown upon them What became of Licungzus is not certainly known for his Forces were most of them kill'd upon the Place by Usanguejus and therefore some are of opinion that he fell into the Slaughter amongst the rest for he never was heard of after that Battel The other Tartars who were sent towards Xantung and Peking soon made themselves Masters of them meeting with little or no resistance But yet the greatest stop that was after put to the Arms of the Tartars was the Law they publish'd whereby the Chineses were commanded to wear their Hair after the Tartar fashion This did very much alienate their Affections from the Tartars for they of China take great pride in their Hair and therefore did fight more valiantly to defend that than for the Safety and Preservation of the Empire or Emperor insomuch that thousands who perhaps otherwise would have submitted peaceably chose rather to lose their Heads than their Tresses Nevertheless the Tartars were so successful in their War that in the space of twelve Months they Conquer'd four Northern Provinces viz. Peking Xansi Xensi and Xantung but for the rest they us'd another means which got them more than the Sword and indeed was a good piece of Policy for they made no manner of alteration in the Government wheresoever they came but suffer'd the Conduct and Direction of all Civil Affairs both in City and Country to continue in the Hands of the Chinese Philosophers wherein it was setled before And this one thing brought the Tartar into such favor and esteem with the Chineses that they readily submitted themselves to their Command only herein consisted all the Marks of their Vassalage that the Conquerors reserv'd to themselves the sole management of all Martial Affairs nevertheless such Chinese Commanders as they had found faithful were still employ'd by them and even in the Imperial City it self the same Order as to the Civil Government was observ'd only one half of the Iudges were Tartars and the other Chineses In the mean time the Governors and Commanders of the Southern Provinces where the first Disturbance of the Robbers began having information of the Straits the Emperor was reduc'd to rais'd a great Army and were already upon their March to his Rescue but when they were certifi'd of his Death and the taking of the City they immediately return'd with all their Forces and not long after understood that the Tartars who by the means of Usanguejus were call'd in as Aids had possessed themselves of the whole Empire and were become absolute Masters thereof the very thoughts of which much perplexed their Spirits And this spread likewise a great consternation among all the People even as far as Nanking the Chief City of the Province of the same Name so that they did not know what to advise or do but at last the General took courage and set up after a long serious Consultation one of the Family of Taiminga being the next Heir to the Chinese Crown as Grandchild of the Emperor Vanlieus and Cousin of the last Emperor Zungchinius who heretofore kept his Court in the Province of Honan but for fear of the Robbers remov'd to Nanking where upon his Arrival the Inhabitants in great Pomp and State set the Crown upon his Head and Proclaim'd him Emperor by the Name of Hunquang in hopes to effect great matters by him in regard he was a valiant Prince He was no sooner seated in his Throne but he sent an Ambassador to the Tartars to demand a Peace upon Terms of leaving all the Northern Provinces to them which they had taken But the Tartars well understanding that the scope of this Embassy was only intended to gain time till the Chineses could recruit themselves with Men and Money rejected his Offers and return'd him answer That they would either have the whole Country or no part of it being resolv'd not to lay down their Arms till they had accomplish'd what they had undertaken In the mean time whilst the Ambassador was upon his return home and that both Parties prepar'd for the War there appear'd in Nanking a Youth who gave himself out for the eldest Son of the Emperor Zungchinius and endeavor'd to confirm it with some peculiar remarks of Truth And that which seem'd to make a great addition to the credit of this Report was that several Gelubdens and others who had been conversant in the Emperor's Court pretended to know him But Hunquang who had tasted the sweetness of Government and in some measure setled himself in the Throne refus'd to own him for the lawful Son of Zungchinius but caus'd him to be Apprehended as an Impostor with an Intention to put him to death And in this cruel Resolution he persisted notwithstanding that all the Commanders and Governors oppos'd him and extremely hated and maligned him for it for they gave credit to the Saying of the Youth This Business occasion'd so much and so long trouble among the Chineses that the Tartars in the interim took the opportunity to subject the Province of Nanking wherein they found little or no opposition in regard the Chinese Commanders were divided among themselves to that heighth of malice that some refus'd to hinder the Progress of the Tartars on purpose to work a Prejudice to the new Emperor Whereupon they came immediately to Hoaigan the first Chief City of the same Province and without making any stop or delay they took in the East side of the Yellow River and Ferried over the same in Boaâ—s though the other side thereof was well lin'd with Chinese Soldiers who no sooner perceiv'd the Tartars in earnest to put themselves aboard for Passage but they left their Station and fled like so many Sheep pursu'd by Wolves The Tartars thus got over which might have been easily prevented if the Guards appointed for defence of the Banks had shewn but the least Courage fell with their whole Army into the said Province and took and carried away
whatsoever they found upon the North side of the River Kiang no Place being able to withstand them only the rich and famous City of Iangcheu made some considerable Resistance and kill'd many of the Tartars in their Sallies amongst whom was a Son of one of their Petty Kings This City was Commanded by one Zuus Colaus plac'd there by the new Emperor to whom he prov'd very faithful for he defended the Place wherein was a strong Garrison to the very last yet having endur'd a long and cruel Siege and seeing no likelihood of Relief the Provisions also being all spent he was forc'd to deliver it up to the Tartars who put all as well the Soldiers as Inhabitants to the Sword plunder'd the City and afterwards set it on fire The Tartars hereupon increas'd very much in Power and Authority so that many of the Chinese Commanders went over to them and were either continu'd in their present Employment or else preferr'd to better Which friendly and favorable treating such Officers and Cities as came voluntarily and without force over to them and on the other hand inflicting such great severity and cruelty on such as made opposition was the cause that most of the Places situate on the North side of the River Kiang submitted themselves to avoid the punishment and misusage which they should otherwise undergo by making opposition Having subdu'd these Places the next thing they undertook was against the City of Nanking formerly the Court of the ancient Emperors a stately City lying upon the South side of the River Kiang which separates the whole Empire of China into the Southern and Northern Divisions and runs quite through the middle of this Province And the better to accomplish their Design and to get the new Emperor into their Hands whom they knew was in this Place the Tartars provided beforehand great numbers of Boats to transport them over the River But the Chinese having likewise a considerable Fleet under the Command of the valiant Prince Hoangchoang endeavor'd to hinder their Passage The Tartars in their Boats fell upon the Chinese Fleet with great fury which was as manfully receiv'd and maintain'd the Fight so that both sides fought valiantly but at last the Tartars were vanquish'd and totally routed with a very great slaughter of their Men. But Fortune never constant but in her inconstancy did not long favor this brave General for a while after he was most treacherously kill'd by one of his Commanders a Traytor who had long before been hir'd by the Enemy to perpetrate this Villany one Thienus a Native of the Province of Leaotung who from his very Childhood had serv'd amongst the Chineses And as this Act in it self was direful so the Events that follow'd had a like miserable issue for through the unfortunate Death of this excellent Commander the Chinese Affairs began infinitely to decline and the whole Empire became a Prey to the Tartars in a short time after The Traytor Thienus not satisfi'd in having committed this foul Action but resolving to add Villany to Villany flies with his Men into Nanking under colour of performing his Duty as a faithful Officer but in truth with hopes to effect some other Treason as he afterwards did for the Emperor hearing of the Death of the late General was perswaded by this Thienus to leave the City As soon as the Tartars who were got over the River with their Army understood that the Emperor was fled they sent great Parties in pursuit of him whom the Traytor being present seeing approach commanded his Men to seize him and then deliver'd him up to the Tartars in Iuly 1645. who now having obtain'd what they aim'd at did not presently put him to death but carried him about in Triumph and at length brought him under the Walls of the Chief City of Peking there Strangled him with a Bow-string which manner of Death is held in great esteem amongst the Tartars And thus the Emperor Hungquang came to his End before he had Reigned a compleat Year Then they caus'd the Youth who pretended himself to be the Son of Zungchinius and whom they found in Prison to be also Strangled and not only these but all others they could meet with of the Royal Race for it is a Custom through all Asia that when a Kingdom is taken from another all the Kindred of that King are put to death by the Conqueror These things thus brought to pass the Tartar Army fell upon the Chief City of Nanking and took the same without any resistance or so much as â— Blow given and out of an innate hatred turn'd the Imperial Palace the ancient Seat of the Emperor's Courts and also their Tombs and Sepulchres into a heap of Stones yet never offer'd any hurt to the Inhabitants Houses Marching thence they reduc'd all the other Cities of this Province without any opposition they freely submitting to avoid their Cruelty This Province thus setled part of their Army was sent for Hangcheu the first Chief City of the Dominion of Chekiang and the other part march'd over the River Kiang to subdue the Southern Countries as Kiangsi Huquang and Quantung About this City was got together the remainder of the Chinese Army that had sav'd themselves by flight where they were about to chuse a new Emperor call'd Louangus of the Race of Taiminga But he earnestly refus'd to take upon him that Dignity being contented with the Kingly Title saying That when the Tartars were beaten and driven out of China then he would accept of it His Reign had not continu'd three days but he saw the Tartars coming to Fight with him and to drive him out of the Kingdom but he not frighted therewith being a valiant Prince encourag'd his Men to make a manly Resistance which they not only promis'd but faithfully perform'd behaving themselves with great Valour and Fidelity till they were not able to hold out any longer being overpower'd by Hunger Whereupon Louangus who had not his Fellow amongst the Chineses for Civility and a passionate Affection to his Subjects went to the Walls and entreated the Tartar General upon his Knees that if he would forgive the City and Inhabitants he should do with him what he would for he would willingly offer up himself a Sacrifice for his Subjects safety Which said he forthwith deliver'd himself freely over to the Tartars who by that means became Masters of the City yet being inrag'd by their resistance they neither had compassion on the Soldiers nor Inhabitants but put all to the Sword who could not save themselves by flight After this the Enemy took the City of Hangcheu without doing any prejudice to the Inhabitants thereof And from thence by the help of Boats passing the River Cienthang they came before Xaoking the most compleat and uniform City of all China which presently submitted to their Arms without making the least resistance And without doubt they had taken all the other Southern Cities without any opposition had they
not set forth an Edict thereby commanding every Person to cut his Hair after the Tartar fashion upon the first hearing of which the Chinese Commanders and Inhabitants who have as much love for their Hair as their Country began to flie to their Arms with a resolution to fight for their Hair which they did with such Valour and Courage that they beat the Tartars out of the City of Xaoking forcing them to flie over the River with the loss of many of their Men And doubtless if at this time they had pursu'd they might have regain'd those Places they had lost but being satisfi'd in their Minds that they had thus preserv'd their Hair they ceased to pursue their Victory only making resistance on the South side of the River where they so fortifi'd themselves with the raising Bulwarks and Forts that the Tartar desisted for a whole Year without making any considerable Attempt The People having unfortunately lost their faithful and too zealously loving Prince Louangus endeavor'd to make another Head over them and to create one Lu of the Family of Taiminga Emperor but he likewise refus'd the Imperial Title only taking upon him that of Restorer of the Kingdom The Tartars finding their Armies much weakned by the great numbers of Men they had lost in several Battels so that they were not in a Condition to effect any considerable Design sent for fresh Men from Peking to re-inforce their Troops wherewith they endeavor'd to pass the River Cienthang but notwithstanding all the Force and Policy they could use were not able to accomplish it And thus the Chineses began by degrees to recover their lost Country which had undoubtedly had very prosperously succeeded if an unfortunate Accident had not hapned in the mean time which prevented it the Story thus The Soldiery and Governors of the Province of Fokien that were fled out of Chekiang had with them one of the Race of Taiminga whom they Proclaim'd Emperor in the same Province which borders upon that of Chekiang This Prince being of a lofty and ambitious Nature and not being able to keep himself within Bounds sent some to perswade King Lu to renounce his Sovereignty to lay down his Government and quit the Title of Restorer of the Kingdom alledging That he had but few Cities and was not so near allied to the former Emperor as himself Lu argued on the other hand That he had the Priority of Title by the Election and Submission of the Subjects and his Conquests sufficiently shew'd the Love he bore and the Service he had done his Country The Tartars were not a little overjoy'd at these Divisions which gave them an opportunity to work their Ends by reducing the whole Empire under their Power for it was impossible to reconcile the Differences of the two new Kings so as they might joyn their Forces against the Tartar each of them still endeavoring what he could the ruine of the other And in regard Lu had but eight Cities under his Command which were not able to maintain an Army sufficient to grapple with the Tartar he only stood upon the defensive part and never durst venture over the River the Tartars in the mean time laboring with their utmost endeavor to get over the River but with Ships they durst not attempt understanding very well that Lu had sufficient to oppose notwithstanding which Fortune too much favoring the Tartars in their Undertaking it hapned this Year to be a very hot and dry Summer so that the River on the South-side was thereby grown shallow of which they by the information of some treacherous Chineses having intelligence found out a fordable place for their Horse whereof a few only being got over gave presently sudden Alarm to the Country that so the Inhabitants thereof fled and left all to save their Lives Lu himself was so surpris'd at the news that he abandon'd the City Xaoking and fled into the Island Cheuxan situated over against Ningpo the ninth Chief City of the Province of Chekiang where he liv'd several years after This Island never inhabited before but by a company of poor Fishermen and Peasants is now through the concourse of the Chineses fled thither to aid this Lu as the Protector of their Hair grown to be so great and powerful a Kingdom that there was reckon'd in the same seventy two Cities The Chineses and their Protector being thus fled the Tartars conquer'd all the rest of the Cities of the Province without meeting with any opposition only the City of Kinhoa whereof the Tutang was Governor did withstand for some Months their victorious Arms for the Governor was resolv'd to quit himself with Courage for the Honor of his Country but notwithstanding all his Valour and Resolution at last the Tartars having planted some great Guns before the City they made a large Breach in the Walls at which they enter'd and put all to Fire and Sword insomuch that they left not one House standing The Governor himself to prevent falling into the Hands of the Enemy caus'd himself and his Family to be blown up with Power in his Palace One of the same three Armies was already upon its March in order to the subduing the Province of Fokien but was in no small trouble where to begin the same to their own least prejudice in regard of the hinderance given to them by the steep Hills and Mountains which lie at the entrance into this Province for between Fokien and the Provinces of Quantung Kiangsi and Chekiang lies a row of inaccessible Rocks and Mountains which divide it from the other three and to get over the same is not only a troublesom but tedious Iourney of three days so that it would have been a very easie matter to the Chineses to have hinder'd at least if not stopp'd the Tartars in their March through these Mountains if they had guarded the same but with a few Peasants but they were so frighted and amaz'd at the coming of the Tartars that they fled out of the Mountains upon their first approach so that at last though with infinite trouble they got over them into Fokien which they subdu'd in a short time and for that the Inhabitants made little or no opposition the Tartars were favorable unto them This done and having re-inforc'd their Army they march'd to the Province of Quantung through those of Huquang and Kiangsi whither being come and attaquing the Chief City thereof they soon laid it wholly waste because it had made some opposition against them Mov'd by the terror of whose Example the rest of the Cities not daring to stand out submitted at first Summons These Provinces thus brought under an Army was sent for Peking with Orders to settle in each City a strong Garrison and Magistrates over both Civil and Military Affairs in the Name of the Tartar Emperor But there are some that give another reason how it came to pass that the Tartars happen'd to Master the Province of Fokien with so little
had taken fresh Courage there hapning a very great and sudden alteration in the Tartar Affairs for one Vangus a Priest who had formerly been a Commander in the Army set the whole Country in an uprore and having rais'd a great number of Men and modell'd them into an Army he went and took the City of Kienning with several other Places and put all the Tartars therein to the Sword which good Success immediately caus'd such Chineses as had formerly fled into the Mountains for safety to come down and joyn with him to help to recover their Country At the same time one Changus by Name and a Tartar born being Vice-Roy of two Provinces had the Command likewise of the Province of Chekiang who hearing of the Insurrection in Fokien march'd immediately thither with his Army and finding no opposition at the mouth of the Mountains where he suppos'd the Chineses would have block'd up his Passage which a few Forces would easily have done he cries out with a loud voice The Day is my 〈◊〉 and the Rebels are fled So marching over the Mountains without any opposition he lays Siege immediately to the City of Kienning into which the Priest Vangus was retreated with most of his Army The City endur'd a long Siege for several Months and was of such Strength that it could not be taken by Storm which had been often attempted by the Besiegers to their great damage and loss of Men wherefore at last they resolv'd to get it by Famine rather than lose any more Men by Storming whereby he had already very much weakned his Army but that being recruited with fresh Men from Peking and having made a considerable Breach in the Wall by their Ordnance they resolv'd to Storm it once more and the Success answer'd their Desire for the Commanders within the Place being divided among themselves there was not such care taken as ought to have been for the resisting of the Assault by which means the Besiegers getting in at the Breach immediately cut out their Way and put all to the Sword neither Man Woman nor Child excepted so that dirum dictu there were kill'd in and before this City above three hundred thousand People and the City it self afterwards totally destroy'd and not one Stone left standing upon another After the dreadful destruction of this City the whole Province of Fokien submitted to their Power and for the future none but Tartars were made Commanders over the Militia and Governors of Cities But notwithstanding all this great and prudent foresight which was us'd the Tartars were not able to keep all quiet for it hapned that the Governor of the Province of Kiangsi nam'd Kinus revolted and made new work for their Arms the occasion whereof is said to be upon some difference which hapned between Kinus and the other who supervis'd the Civil Affairs of the same Province the manner thus They being invited to an Entertainment where a Play was Acted during the Meal as the Custom is in China and the Players Dress'd in Chinese Habits and not after the fashion of the Tartars Kinus who was born in the Province of Leaotung where they very much resemble the Tartars in their Customs and Manners and therefore put a very great confidence in the Inhabitants minding the same said to the other Governor Doth not this Habit shew much better than the Tartar Fashion The other answer'd nothing at present yet thought himself oblig'd in Duty to acquaint the Emperor by Letter with this Saying for he fancied that by these words Kinus was designing some Novelty in his Head to the disturbance of the Publick Peace and imagining he bore the greatest affection to those whose Habit he chiefly commended Kinus who wanted neither Courage nor Ingenuity had Brib'd the Secretary of this Governor by whom he was inform'd from time to time of all was writ to the Emperor against him and being acquainted with the Contents of the aforesaid Letter he went immediately with a Company of Soldiers into the Governor's Court and there kill'd him on a sudden before he was aware Having done this he falls off from the Tartars with the whole Province of Kiangsi and declares for the Chinese Emperor Iunglieus at which the Inhabitants were not a little overjoy'd only the City of Cancheu which was Commanded and Govern'd by a very faithful Tartar was not to be brought over to countenance the Revolt which hapned very well for the Tartar for the standing out of this single Place alone was of such consequence that the Tartars as I shall relate hereafter did victoriously recover the whole Province of Kiangsi and Quantung and brought them once more under Subjection The General of the Militia in the Province of Quantung call'd Licungzus was likewise at the same time revolted from the Tartars and had deliver'd up that part of the Country to the Emperor Iunglieus whom also the Southern Part own'd for the Emperor of China And for the better prosecution of the Design against the Tartars the General Licungzus endeavor'd to joyn his Forces with those of Kinus to fall both together at one and the same time upon them and drive them out of the Kingdom which undoubtedly had taken effect accordingly had not the resistance of the Governor of the City Cancheu hindred them for the same Governor was no sooner inform'd that Licungzus was likewise revolted from the Tartar and upon his March with his Army but he sends to him this deceitful and politick Letter Till now I would never submit to Kinus because I could never believe that he would be able to withstand the Forces of the Tartars but seeing that you most valiant Prince also turn your Arms against him I cannot conceive what Safety and Protection I can henceforward expect from him therefore I hold my self oblig'd to follow your Standard and you shall no sooner appear with your Forces before this City but I will deliver it up into your Hands After the Governor had dispatch'd away an Express with this Letter he sent another to the General of the Tartars who lay with his Forces in the next Province to Fokien to assist him with what Strength he could well spare which were sent and by him convey'd into the City by Night so that no notice could be taken of his Design Licungzus in the mean while not suspecting any Treachery intended against him boldly but carelesly went up to the City and found the Gates thereof standing open so that without delay he entred and immediately found himself assaulted on all sides by the Tartars who lay in Ambuscade waiting for his coming and was forc'd to retreat with great loss Licungzus himself as is suppos'd was kill'd in the Fight because he was never heard of afterwards This Defeat brought the Affairs of the Emperor Iunglieus into great disorder and confusion yet nevertheless Kinus won afterwards several Battels for him against the Tartars and when he heard of the Defeat of Licungzus went himself and Beleaguer'd
flung his Tartar Hat upon the Ground which is taken by them for a sign or token of great Disrespect and therefore O base Reward for Fidelity he was condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment but this valiant and generous Spirit prevented it by hanging himself beforehand in his Palace The Tartars having clear'd the Kingdom of the two great Robbers Licungzus and Changlianchus they immediately endeavor'd by all fair means to settle the Kingdom in Peace and Quietness which they shortly to their great satisfaction and content brought to pass and enjoy the same at this time without any further disturbance FINIS A NARRATIVE OF THE SUCCESS OF AN EMBASSAGE SENT BY Iohn Maatzuyker de Badem GENERAL OF BATAVIA UNTO THE EMPEROR OF China and Tartary The 20 th of Iuly 1655. Soliciting a Licence of Trade in the Ports of his Empire Dedicated to Antonio de Camera Captain-General of the City of The Name of God with the Magistrates thereof Written by a Iesuit in those Parts THREE things have I earnestly coverted ever since my first arrival in China and frequently have implor'd them from Heaven The first is Union and Concord among Christian Princes The second that I might live to see our native Country of Portugal Govern'd by a natural King The third that I might also see before my departure hence those Countries which the Hollanders have Conquer'd from us recover'd out of their Hands From the Object of these my Desires it will be easie to understand the Motive from whence they proceed which is no other than to remove the Obstacles and make the Way plain to the present Maintenance and farther Propagation of the Roman Catholick Faith Thus in the Year 1648. being newly deliver'd from that Imprisonment Famine and other Calamities which I endur'd within the Province of Sienchuen under the Tyrant which there Rebell'd I came to the Port at Peking and was there encountred with the news of our new or rather our old King for he cannot cease to be a King who continues such in his Subjects Breasts and was always one by Birth-right like a new Sun rising in the West in Lisbon which although it came to pass contrary to the Laws of neighbor Kings yet no ways contrariant to the Laws of Nature I say when I heard this News it caus'd such a Iubilee to my Soul and Ioy to my Heart and rais'd in me such great hopes of spreading the Christian Religion as I could then only feel within my self and am not able to express being moreover satisfi'd that our new King and his glorious Atchievements in Brasile did promise no less in these Eastern Countries May the Lord accomplish these Desires and grant the happy End that my Heart longs for But that GOD might either shew us our Sins which have so justly deserv'd Punishment or that he might manifest the Bowels of his Mercy and singular Providence which he hath over his People especially the Holy Catholick City of Maccow he hath permitted the Hollanders to become her Rivals in this Empire and to Court it for their Establishment Alliance and Commerce with it This indeed did rebate the edge of our Minds and reduce your Favor to more remiss degrees though not wholly extinguish it for four of us Brethren of the Society of IESUS then living at Court resuming our Courage with blooming Hopes resolv'd to leave no Medium unessay'd to overthrow those Hollanders Designs and with all Diligence and Vigilancy to vacuate their Undertakings What Success the Hollanders had in their first Expedition to Canton many years past I have already written to your Lordships therefore I shall only meddle with the second Encounter and by how much fiercer that was with an Enemy furnish'd with all the Habiliments of War to wit Plenty of Gold and Silver the most prevailing Weapons for the conquering of Countries and Great Ones and of all other Rarities adapted to satisfie both Covetousness and Curiosity as the most powerful Engines against such Soldiers by so much was our Conflict more grievous and consequently the Victory more glorious so hath it many things worthy to be publish'd The Lord grant for it hath ever been my faithful Petition to him and may your Lordships make it yours with your whole trust in him that as your Lordships and my self also at a great distance have beheld with our Eyes the Hope of my second Desire fulfill'd for we have seen the Desire of all Nations our King our Father so you may see the first and third part of my Wishes to the Glory of God the Honor of the Crown of Portugal and the increase of Christianity Access to Canton being precluded to the Hollanders at their first Attempt and Trade deny'd them those Reguli which Rule that Province allur'd with the hopes of that extraordinary Gain they expected to make by Commerce with the Dutch Counsell'd them to return on a second Embassage which they accordingly entred upon the 20 th of Iuly 1655. and arriv'd in Canton the fifth of September the same Year where from those Reguli they had a very friendly Reception but because they could obtain no Audience above to their first Message they were fearful to proffer a second lest the King and Council should suspect it to arise only from the hopes of their own Advantage and Self-interest they therefore so wrought with the Vice-Roy of Canton that he should send this second Memorial of their Desires which accompanied with many Commendatory Letters to Courtiers and strengthned a world of large Promises came at length to Peking about the Year 1655. and presently no man opposing it was decreed That twenty Hollanders to wit two Captains and eighteen others should repair to the Court where they were promis'd a convenient House with many other Kindnesses and that after their appearance their Business should be transacted according to the Customs and Laws of the Realm Fifteen days after this Memorial came to the Court we had notice of it when Padrie Lodouicus Ballionies and my self immediately entred the Lists and searched after all means possible to hinder the Hollanders access to the Court We consulted with our Friends both Christians and Heathens who were all of opinion that it was impossible for this time at least without vast Bribes because those Reguli of Canton had corrupted the Great Mandorins and open'd all the Dooas of the Court unto them Notwithstanding all this Zeal for the Publick Good the Progress of Christianity the Love of our Country and especially of this noble City to which we allow so much did invite yea compel us to an Undertaking the accomplishment of which seem'd impossible to all Men. By the Mediation of a certain Christian of no contemptible Condition and Authority we first compass'd to speak with one of these Mandorins which the Chineses call Colli and we may style The Master of Requests whose Office is to acquaint the Emperor with the Misdemeanors of the whole Empire and particularly with the Exorbitances of
the Mandorins He at our first Address readily undertook the Business and seem'd to promise himself an happy issue of it Hereupon we deliver'd him certain Heads to frame a Petition of which he accepted but a few days being pass'd when we thought he had made some progress in the Business he comes to the Christian before-mention'd and thus excuses himself Sir if those Padrees who are Strangers be ignorant yet you who are Natives must be acquainted with the manner of doing Business in this Court to wit That whose Petitions either I or any other in the same Office with me do exhibit proceeds always from these two Reasons either that we may avenge our selves of our Enemies or that we are hir'd to it by some great Reward from him in whose Name the Petition runs Now I have receiv'd no Injury from the Hollanders to be aveng'd of nor any Gratuity from those Padrees that I should thrust my my self into so much difficulty and danger for them This Man therefore we left and apply'd our selves to anther who plainly told us That if we would give him two hundred Tays he would plight his Faith to deliver our Petition with whatever Articles we should insert only he would not oblige himself that the Emperor should approve of them but if we would give him six hundred Tays more he would be bound they should be granted and in case they were not he would repay the whole Eight hundred Tays Considering the weightiness of the Mattir and the Liberty which your Lordships gave us in your Letters to undertake for any Sum of Money that we found necessary to effect this Business with your Engagement that the City of Maccow should make good the Payment we promis'd him the whole Sum â—nd upon the rehearsed Conditions before the Petition should be deliver'd â—according to this Country Custom this Master of Requests would see the whole Sum of Money ready and also receve some certain Tayes beforehand as a Pledge and Earnest of the whole which being impossible for us to do he even excus'd himself as the former had done and so forsook us but we insisted and in stead of ready Money which we wanted produc'd two rich Vests that the Emperor had bestow'd upon us and we had carefull preserv'd by us but never worn because it was the Emperor's Gift to us and that they were unsuitable to our Poverty and Religious Habit These he accepted for a hundred and fifty Tays of the Sum agreed on with all the symptomes of a great Satisfaction and really great was our Content because we now seem'd to have laid a sure Foundation for that Work we so earnestly desir'd to finish When lo this same Mandorin we know not by what means came to discover or at least to suspect the Vest to have been the Emperor's Gift unto us which was an Argument sufficient for him to decline our Business alledging not only That he was not so barbarous to receive or wear them but also That it was unworthy in us to slight the Vests which had been Presented us by the Emperor and therefore we might go look some other Person for our Business which on such Terms he would not touch with his little Finger Nor is this Answer any matter of wonder to any that are acquainted with the Dispositions of those Chineses for so timerous are they in any thing relating to their Emperor or rather so superstitious that beyond all comparison they do more dread him than they do God or his Temple But this fear and lowness is but external in reference to their Hands and where their want of Power forbids to do more but if you respect their Hearts there is no Chinese especially of the Learned sort of ingenious and liberal Education who is not a very Prince and carries not in his Plebeian Breast the Pride of the greatest Monarch And this is the Source and Fountain whence such frequent Dissentions spring up among them and the Cause of their often Changes But this is a Digression let us return Our Affliction and Trouble was not small to see our Hopes thus plung'd whereon besides the many Sacrifices of the Mass which we offer'd to God we appointed also some particular Devotions daily for this purpose Our next Application was to all Princes and Noble-men whom either we could take any occasion to visit or who took any occasion to visit us for no day pass'd wherein several Persons came not to adore the Holy Image and to view our new Church and Habitation which the Emperor had bestow'd upon us these we spar'd not to acquaint with the villanous and perfidious Disposition of the Hollanders with their Apostacy from their ancient profess'd Religion and Rebellion against their lawful Soveraign as also their Attempt upon the City of Maccow some years past where they were repell'd and indeed cut off by the brave Inhabitants few in number but mighty in Courage and Unanimity whereunto we thought fit to add That after their Repulse from Maccow they made an Invasion upon some part of the Province of Fokien and also seconded that with a forcible Seizure of an Island lying in that Sea belonging to the Chineses and by them call'd Taiwan but by us nam'd Formosa where they had erected Warlike Forts and where they had in no longer space than two or three years murder'd more than three thousand Persons of the Chineses some the ancient Inhabitants of the Island and some Merchants of the Province of Fockin and Checkin pass'd thither with their Merchandize And it appear'd in the Records of their Iudicial Proceedings that during the last King's Reign thirteen of those Hollanders which chanc'd to be taken Prisoners upon the Coast of Fockin being brought to the Court were all there Condemn'd and accordingly Executed In like manner we continu'd to alledge That under the pretence of Trade they had been admitted Footing upon the Island of Iava that notwithstanding that King weary of their Neighborhood had a long time cut off all Relief of Provisions going to them from all parts of his Territories and sometimes Besieg'd them with puissant and numerous Armies yet could he never prevail to turn them out of their Possessions from whence he might at first easily have kept them Nor was the Bond of any League strong enough to tie these Universal Robbers from offering or to secure any of their Allies from suffering Injuries by them who thought the Sea only their single due excluding all others from any Right to it and therefore never made distinction between Friend or Foe when any Ship fell into their Hands they were able to master as if Neptune had granted to them the only Patent of the Ocean And upon all this we inferr'd That to admit these Men the Exercise of a Free-Trade in China besides the domestick Perils and Mischiefs it would contract were likewise to condemn and scandalize all other Christian Princes and Rulers when they should see the great Potentate of the
Stone it self to the Eye of the whole World in the Chinesian Idiome as it was Sculp'd in the Year of Christ 782. that from this most ancient Testimony every one may conjecture how true the Doctrine of the Catholicks is seeing the same was Preach'd in an opposite Quarter of the World amongst the Chineses Anno 636. of our Saviour that is about a thousand years since The Chinesian Original of the Stone is now conserv'd in the Library of the Roman Colledge that belongeth to the Fathers of the Society of Iesus and another Copy is to be seen in the Repository of the House of the Profession I my self also obtain'd from the most Grave Chinese Doctors and Masters at the very time that the Monument was found a Book Printed in the Chinese Language in which the Writing of the Stone was most truly and exactly express'd according to the true Original They advise the Chineses in the larger Preface adjoin'd to the Book that at length they would have recourse to the Masters of the great Occident for so they term the Fathers of the Society of Iesus and discover whether they Preach the same Law amongst the Chineses which their Ancestors with so many Emperors embrac'd a thousand Centuries ago and which the Fathers of the Society of Iesus exhibited in the Books Printed in the Chinese Language before the Stone was found Now it only remaineth that I should declare how this Marble Table was detected When after the Death of St. Francis Xavier the venerable Father Matthew Riccius and other Fathers of the Society of Iesus had introduc'd the Gospel of Christ into the more Inland Parts of China and had erected Residences and Churches in some Provinces and therefore the Propagation of the Holy Faith had made no small progress in that of Xensi Anno 1625. one of the Fathers of the same Society invited by Doctor Philip having Baptiz'd twenty Persons in his native Country of Sanyven he went with the same Doctor to see a Stone which they had found some Months before in the Village Chenche near the Metropolis Siganfu whilst they were casting up the Rubbish for the building of a Wall This Father writes which other Fathers who had fix'd their Abode and erected a Church in Siganfu with the Christians and Heathens also affirm'd That a Stone was found five Hands broad one thick and nine long the top whereof made like an oblong Pyramid of two Hands and one broad on the Vertex the Cross was Engraven above the Clouds that with its Branches seem'd to imitate the Flower-Deluce besides the Chinesian Inscription on the left side and beneath there appear'd the Names of the Syrian Priests and also other Chinesian Names of the same Priests under-written It is the Custom of the Chineses to have many Names whence also the Christians at this Day retain both the Name of the Saints they receiv'd in Baptism and another Chinese Name The Governor of the Place being certifi'd of the finding of this Monument commanded an elegant Composition to be made in praise of it and to be Engraven on such another like Marble Stone causing both of them to be plac'd in the Fane or Temple of the Bonzi that are call'd Tan Su a Mile distant from the Walls of the Metropolis Siganfu as a perpetual remembrance of the same Many other Footsteps of the Catholick Faith Preach'd to the Chineses were discover'd in the following Years which God seemeth not willing to have manifested but only at that very time in which the Preaching of the same Faith arriv'd amongst the Chineses by the Labor of the Fathers of our Society that so both the old and new Testimonies might affect the identity of the Catholick Faith and the truth of the Gospel might be rendred perspicuous and manifest unto all The like Images of the Holy Cross were seen in the Province of Fokien in the Year 1630. In the Province of Kiangsi also a miraculous Light shone forth Anno 1635. which was beheld by the Gentiles and also in the Mountains of Fokien and in the City Cyvencheu 1643. Crosses were found yea the venerable Father Martin Riccius when first he came into China found Xe tsu Kiao to be a Name signifying The Doctrine of the Crosses by which the Christians anciently that were Disciples of that Doctrine of the Cross were nam'd and I doubt not but all that were Christians in the Kingdoms of China when the Tartars about three hundred years past first invaded China and that they liv'd there mix'd with Sarazens Iews Nestorians and Gentiles that is to say in the Time of Marcus Paulus Venetus who travell'd unto Catay which is the very same with that we now call China And now whether St. Thomas or any other Apostle first Preach'd the Gospel to the Chineses is not yet certainly known Father Nicholas Trigautius collecteth from some ancient Testimonies of the Christians of the Church of Malabar in the Arch-bishoprick of Cranganor or De Serra which are termed The Christians of St. Thomas That in that Place as also in Meliapor which formerly was call'd Calamina and now by the Portuguese San Thome the holy Apostle Preach'd by reason that out of their Gaza or Treasury in the Office of St. Thomas is recited or rehearsed That by St. Thomas the Chineses and Ethiopians were Converted to the Truth by St. Thomas the Kingdom of Heaven took its flight and ascended to the Chineses And in the Antiphono the Ethiopians Indians Chineses and Persians in commemoration of St. Thomas Offer up Adoration unto his holy Name Also in an ancient Synodical Canon the Bishops of the great Province viz. those other Metropolitans of China India and Pases do send their Letters of Consent Add withal That he that Govern'd the Church De Serra at the coming of the Portuguese subscrib'd himself Metropolitan of all India and China But in truth things being more narrowly consider'd from those Circumstances and Footsteps which began to be manifest after the time of Father Trigautius we cannot certainly conclude that St. Thomas the Apostle Preach'd the Gospel himself amongst the Chineses for although these Footsteps of the Faith of Christ here found do evidently shew That the Christian Belief hath been in China yet notwithstanding those very Paths or Tracts do demonstrate that the Faith had its entrance into China when the Family of Heuhan Rul'd over three Kingdoms which are now united in Nanking the third Province of the Empire viz. in the Province of Kiangsi at the Shore of the River for Antron-Cross seems by its Inscription to have been fix'd according to the Chinesian Computation about the Year of Christ 239. which Cross weigh'd about three thousand weight whence the Faith and the Preachers of the same are certainly evinc'd to have come amongst the Southern Chineses about a thousand four hundred and fifteen years ago But in some years following the Knowledge of the Gospel being extinguish'd it was again renew'd by Priests out of Tacyu
great hazard of Robbers whom having shunn'd at length he came to Ciarciunor and after ten days passing through Sarpanil a desart Place he came to the Province Sarcil over a very high Mountain and that in twenty Days Travel after two Days more he came to the foot of the Mountain Cetialath in which by reason of the multitude of Snow many perish'd by the vehemency of the Cold. Having travell'd six Days through the Snow he came to Tamgheran in the Kingdom of Cascar and after fifteen Days to Iaconich and after five to Hiarcham the Metropolitan City of Cascar and the end of the Region of Cabul The whole Region are Followers of the Law of Mahomet and hence from Hiarcham is the beginning of the Expedition by Caravan into Cathay and the Negotiation of those that certainly know they shall be admitted into the Kingdom wholly consisteth as it were in Fragments of precious Iaspar which are found in great plenty in Cathay that is in China and are of two kinds the first sort is brought out of the River Cotan not far from the Regal City by Fishermen like unto thick Flints the other being digg'd out of the Mountains is cleft into stony Plates almost two Ells long This Mountain Cansangui is distant from the Imperial City twenty Days Iourney and it is call'd The Stony Mountain noted vulgarly in Geographical Maps hence therefore Benedict after long stay again began his Voyage first he arriv'd at Iolci the Place of Custom for the Kingdom and from hence in a Voyage of twenty five Days he pass'd over these following Places Hancialix Alceghet Hagabathet Egriar Mesetelec Thalec Horma Thoantac Mingieda Capetalcol Zilan Sarognebetal Cambasco Aconsersec Ciacor Acsu Acsu is a Town of the Kingdom of Cascar from which he pass'd by a laborious Voyage through the Desart Caracatai that is Black Cataia unto Oitograch Gazo Casciani Dellai Saregabadal Ugan and at last he arriv'd at Gruciam Departing hence in a Voyage of twenty five Days he came unto the City of Cialis which is subject to the Dominion of the King of Cascar where the Saracens returning in the Caravan of the Year before from Cathay that is from Pekin the Royal City of China declar'd wonderful things unto our Benedict concerning Matthew Riccius and his Companions and here our Father wondred that he had found Cathay in the chief Place of the Chineses From hence in twenty Days he came unto Pucia a Town of the same Kingdom and from hence to Turpham and Aramuth and at length arriv'd at Camul a fortifi'd City from Camul in nine Days he came to the Walls of the North part of China which he had so long desir'd unto a Place call'd Chaiaicum where being admitted within the Walls by one Days Iourney he came to the first City of China call'd Socien and found no other Cathay but China so that from thenceforward he laid aside all scruple of the proper and true Situation of Cathay which the Saracens often confounded with China Note That this Voyage was taken or begun from Laor towards the North when he might have come to his Iourneys end from Laor by a much nearer Way but as this Voyage or Passage through the Thebetick Mountains was not yet discover'd so that also on the other side by Usbeck and Samarcande at that time was more us'd although that to conform himself unto the Custom of Merchants he was forc'd to attempt to pass by this latter though it were very much out of the Way by reason of its vast Windings and and Turnings and also on every hand subject to Robbers The Territory of Usbec is extended by a large Interval of Regions from the West to the North being made up of three very great Kingdoms whereof the first is Samarcande famous for the Birth of Tamberlan the second Tarphan and the third Turphan all of them infamous for the Religion of Mahomet The Inhabitants as Historians relate of the Scythians are Cruel Thieves Bloudy and implacable Enemies of the Christians so that this Kingdom is now altogether unpassable for the Christians except such as will become Deniers of Christ and profess themselves Followers of the Law of Mahomet And this is the Passage from Usbec to Cathay But the Voyage undertaken by Father Antonius Andradas a Portuguese into the Kingdom of Thebet was after this manner First passing over Ganges from Laor he entred into Scrinegar and Ciapharanga most great and populous Cities and from these having pass'd over a most high Mountain on the top of it he discover'd a vast Lake the common Receptacle of the Waters of the River Indus Ganges and the other great Rivers of India and hence by a Voyage of many Days and that also through high Mountains he arriv'd in the cold Northern Region Redor and in a City of the same Name from which passing through the Kingdom of Maranga and the Kingdom of Tanchut which belongeth unto the Tartars in two Months space he easily arriv'd at Cathay that is China SECT II. Another Voyage from China to the Mogor perform'd by the Fathers of our Society Father Albert Dorville and Father Iohn Gruberus THese Fathers began their Voyage from Pequin Anno 1661. in the Month of Iune from whence they arriv'd at Siganfu and from hence after thirty Days stay they departed to Sining or Siningfu in almost twice so many Days having pass'd over the Saffron River Now Sining or Siningfu is a great and populous City built at the Walls of the Kingdom of China by or through the Gate of which is the first entrance into Cathay or China for those that Trade thither from India and where also they are forc'd to stay till they have a farther admission granted them by the King The City is plac'd under the Elevation of the Pole 36 Degrees and 20 Minutes From Sining in three Months space passing through the Desart of Kalmack in Tartaria they came unto the very entrance of the Kingdom of Lassa which the Tartars also call Barantola The Desart is partly moutainous partly level and overspread with Sand and Dust altogether sterile and barren unto which notwithstanding Nature is here and there in some places propitious by affording some small Rivulets whose Banks yield a sufficient quantity of green Herbs and Grass But as this Desart deriveth its original from the innermost Mediterranean Parts of India so is it also extended in a straight Line from the South to the North and no Person hath yet unto this Day been found who hath discover'd its Bounds Many suppose it to be extended even unto the Frozen Sea concerning which I have treated at large in my Book of the Subterranean World Now it hath various Names Marcus Paulus Venetus calleth it Lop infamous for Diabolical Delusions and a multitude of Spectres or evil Spirits that usually appear in it concerning which notwithstanding our Fathers relate nothing for the once or twice appearing of these Spirits doth not prove the perpetual continuance of their
from the weight or incumbrance of all extraneous Concernments living in quiet and repose within the private Apartments or Withdrawings of his Palace is ador'd like a Deity and that not only by the Natives but of all the Kings that are subject unto the Empire of Tartary who undertake voluntary Iourneys or Pilgrimages unto him They adore him as the True and Living God and call him The Eternal and Heavenly Father offering a multitude of Presents and Oblations to him He sitteth in an obscure Chamber or Room of his Palace adorn'd with Gold and Silver and rendred resplendent by the multiplicite lustre of flaming Lamps in a lofty place upon a Couch which is cover'd with costly Tapestry unto whom Strangers at their approach fall prostrate with their Heads to the Ground and kiss him with incredible Veneration which is no other than that which is perform'd unto the Pope of Rome so that hence the fraud and deceit of the Devil may easily and plainly appear who by his innate malignity and hatred in way of abuse hath transferr'd as he hath done all the other Mysteries of the Christian Religion the Veneration which is due unto the Pope of Rome the only Vicar of Christ on Earth unto the superstitious Worship of barbarous People The Castle wherein the Great Lama inhabiteth is situate at the end of the City Barantola and is call'd by them Bietala a Draught whereof is express'd in the sixteenth Figure XVII and XVIII The Habit of the Kingdom of Necbal XIX A Northern Tarstar This Great Lama is of so great Authority throughout all Tartary that there 〈◊〉 no Kings Crown'd in any Place who doth not first send his Ambassadors with inestimable Presents to crave his Benediction as an happy Omen of his Entrance upon the Kingdom See what I have said at large in the preceding Discourse concerning the Honor conferr'd on him by the Imperial Monarch of Tartary and China where also I have demonstrated that this whole superstitious Worship of the Great Lama took its original from that famous Presbyâ—â— Iohn who had his Residence in this Kingdom of Tanchut But thus much shall suffice for the Great Lama They saw also strange Habited Women at Barantola which came thither out of the adjacent Kingdom of Coin The Noble Women braid or curl all theiâ— Hair in the manner of Hairlaces or small Bands and wreath it behind them on their Foreheads they wear a red Fillet beset with Pearls on the top of their Heads they bear a Silver Crown interlac'd with Turchoises and Coral Having left the Kingdom of Lassa or Barantola in a Months Voyage they came over the most high Mountain Langur which we have describ'd a little before unto the Kingdom of Necbal where they found nothing wanting 〈◊〉 to Humane Sustenance nor could any Good be wish'd them which they did not enjoy except the Light of the Gospel for they are all involv'd in 〈◊〉 thick Cloud of Heathenish Blindness The chief Cities of this Kingdom 〈◊〉 Cuthi and Nesti It is a Custom in this Country that if you drink to a Woman the other Men or Women that are in the Company pour in the Liquor Cha or 〈◊〉 Wine three times for them and in the time of Drinking affix three pieces 〈◊〉 Butter to the Brim of the Pot or Cup those that pledge or drink after them take them off again and stick them upon their Foreheads The King of Necbal shew'd himself extraordinary courteous to our Fathers by reason of a Present they bestow'd on him which was a Perspective-Glass and other very curious Mathematical Instruments with which he was so taken that he wholly determin'd with himself not to let them go which he had not done but that they made him a faithful Promise to return thither again which if they perform'd he promis'd to erect a House for their use and Exercise endow'd with most ample Revenues and also to grant them a plenary Power to introduce the Christian Law into his Kingdom Departing from Necbal they came to the Confines of the Kingdom of Maranga which is enclos'd in the Kingdom of Thebet whose Metropolis is Radoc the utmost Bound of the Voyage formerly undertaken by Father Andradas where they found many Marks of the Christian Faith in time past there Planted from the Names of Dominick Francis and Anthony by which the Men are call'd From hence they arriv'd at that first City of the Kingdom of the Mogor so well known unto the World by the Name of Hedonda and thence they came to Battana a City of Bengala situate on Ganges thence to Benares a City famous for an Academy of the Brachmans and at last to Agra the Imperial City of the Mogor where Father Albert Dorville broken with the Labors of his Travels and full or replenish'd with Merits leaving this Terrestrial Country departed as we piously believe unto the Heavenly Mansion in a middle Way between Europe and China CHAP. IV. Of the Voyage attempted by Father Amatus Chesaud a Frenchman Superior of the Residency of Isphahan for the discovery of an easie and ready Passage into China extracted out of his Letter written in the Persian Language and directed unto Father Athanasius Kircher The Letter is to this effect I Write not this Letter from Hispahan but in the Way being return'd from the City Hairat Sfahanum from which City it is almost a Year since I departed towards Baich wich is the Regal City of Usbeck that I might discover whether there were any possible way of passing through the foresaid Usbeck and Turkestan into Cathay and hence into China But indeed as I came hither with the Ambassador of Usbeck unto the Bounds of Kezalbax I found that Way both difficult and dangerous therefore I continu'd for some Months at Hairat which City was formerly call'd Sciandria and there I narrowly view'd the Place which the Ancients call'd Bachtra where there is a great University or Academy built by the Son of the Famous Tamerlang which notwithstanding is destroy'd by degrees and runneth to Ruin for want of Repair as also many other Edifices which were formerly there built about the same time in which that City was in the Hands of the Usbequi From this Place at length I came to the City Maxahad which others call Sancta where there is a fair Mesquit adorn'd with Gold In this Place I continu'd two Months and here Disputed with the Learned of whom there are many about the Law and I found that albeit they openly and abroad praise their own Sect yet they hold That others of a contrary Persuasion ought to observe the King's Law Their time is not as yet come I departed from this Place and came to Nixapor and Sabazuar which belong unto Chorasan from whence I pass'd through the Cities Setam Damgan and Iamnam and at last arriv'd at Kaxanum in the Province of Aracand which is thirty Farsang distant from Sfahanum This Tract of Land is for the most part barren
admiration and to gain a Repute to the European World Lastly some Documents of Moral Philosophy unto which they are addicted to be approv'd not by vain gaiety of Words but Example of an exquisite excellent and innocent Life remov'd from all desires of Mundane Pretensions such as becometh the Apostolical Laborers in the Propagation of the Divine Law And as the Precepts of the Christian Faith seem to differ as much from the Religion of the Chineses as the Heaven doth from the Earth so it cannot be express'd how many Toils and Labors must be undergone and how many Dangers pass'd through that they may be rendred capable of receiving our most holy Law and the truth of the same genuinely explain'd Here the Vanities of Polytheism or of having many Deities must be confuted here Polygamie or Marrying of many Wives must be destroy'd by strength of Argument here the incomprehensible Mysteries of our Belief must be inculcated with great dexterity and caution wherein laboring with more than ordinary patience and continual subjection of the Body how many Calumnies must they be subject unto But for this peruse the History of Father Daniel Bartolus lately publish'd in the Italian Tongue And because the Preaching of the Gospel could not take root without the publication of Books I might treat opportunely in this Place concerning those publish'd on this Occasion As first the Works of the Venerable Father Matthew Riccius of Macera the Founder of the Chinesian Expedition after St. Francis Xavier Secondly Father Nicholas Trigautius a Flandrian of Doway Thirdly Father Iacob Rho of Milan all which writ many large and Learned Volumes And besides these there were many who publish'd large Treatises to satisfie the Curiosity of the Chineses as the two-fold Universal History of Father Nicholas Trigautius Father Iohn Terentius his Indian Pliny and many more particularly mention'd by our Author from Fol. 117. to 121. in which are the Particulars at large SOME Special Remarks TAKEN OUT OF ATHANASIUS KIRCHERS Antiquities of China PART III. Of the Idolatry of the Chineses THE Books of the Chineses mention only three Sects of Religion in China First that of the Learned next that call'd Sciequia and the third they term Lancu One of these three all the Chineses and other conterminate Nations which use the Chinesian Characters do profess such are those of Iapan Corian Tonchini and Cocincina These three Sects do very much resemble the Egyptian Priests or Wise-men their Hierogrammatists or those that were vers'd in the Sacred Writings and the Plebeians The Sect of the Learned Rule the Commonwealth abound in Books and are applauded above the rest They acknowledge Confutius as the Author and Chief of the Philosophers as the Egyptians do their Thoyt whom the Grecians call Hermes Trismegistus and as the Egyptians do their Sages worshipp'd one God whom they termed Hemphet so the Learned Men of China according to the Dictates of Confutius worship not Idols but one Deity whom they term The King of Heaven Concerning this Sect Trigautius in his Christian Expedition into China says They assert that the Function or Office of Sacrificing to and Worshipping of the King of Heaven doth only belong to the Prince and therefore the Emperor hath two most stately and magnificent Temples in his Palaces of Nanquin and Pequin the one Dedicated to Heaven the other to the Earth He himself formerly Sacrific'd in them but now the most grave Magistrates supply his Place they slay and Offer up Bulls and Sheep in Hecatombs to the Heaven and the Earth as the Egyptians did to Osiris and Isis and perform many other Rites The peculiar Temple of the Learned is that of Confutius which is erected by Law in every City in a Place above their Schools This stately Edifice adjoyns to the Magistrates Palace who is President over those that have taken the first Degree in that Learning In the most obvious place of the Temple is the Statue of Confutius full of Characters or in stead of a Statue his Name inscrib'd in Golden Letters on an elegant Table on each side of which stand the Statues of some of his Disciples whom the Chineses have Canoniz'd amongst the Deities of the inferior Order All the City Magistrates meet every New and Full-Moon in this Temple with those that have taken the Degree of Batchelors to honor their Master with accustom'd Crouching even to Prostration the Temple being all the while illuminated with lighted Torches and burning of Incense Much after the same manner the Egyptians on the first Day of the Month Thoth perform'd their Solemnities unto Mercury There are also various Statues of this God some of them very great others small and easily carried about one was communicated unto me by the Reverend Father Assistant of the Portuguese Society of Iesus Nunnius Mascaremias the which Engrav'd I thought good to adjoyn The second Sect of the Chineses which answereth to the Philosophers amongst the Egyptians is call'd Sciequia or Oympto but vulgarly Amida the Iaponeses term it Xaca and Amidabu This Law came to the Chineses from the West brought from a Kingdom call'd Threncio or Sciuro which Regions as Trigautius affirmeth are concluded under the only Name of Indostan situate between the River Indus and Ganges This Sect will easily appear by their Opinions to have proceeded from the Gymnosophists Brachmans Persians and Bactrians who anciently inhabited this Indostan and have Planted their Colonies in China for they hold a multitude of Worlds a Metempsychosis or Transmigration of Souls into Brutes professing all the Philosophy of Pythagoras Father Martinius in his Atlas thus relateth concerning them Xekiao saith he is a Sect which our Fathers hold to have been introduc'd into China first after Christ It admitteth a Transmigration of Souls after Death as a Punishment for Sins committed and that both external and internal They worship Idols and perpetually abstain from whatsoever had Life a Law judg'd necessary by them for a withdrawing of the rude Multitude from Vice and as an incitement to Vertue The internal Metempsychosis is that part of Moral Philosophy most famous and excellent as having reference unto the Vacuity and universal Victory of the Passions and deprav'd Affections that this may take place they hold that they pass into Plants and Animals as they were obnoxious and inclinable unto their Affections In their sceptical way they will have nothing to have the stamp of Truth in this Life but as we apprehend it and that Good and Bad are the same in respect of divers Taigautius subscribeth unto this This Opinion saith he fram'd with Democritus and others many Worlds but they seem chiefly to have borrow'd the Transmigration of Souls from the Doctrine of Pythagoras and they have added many other Fictions unto it to colour over the Falsity Now they appear not only to have receiv'd these Tenents from our Philosophers but also to have borrow'd a certain Shadow from the Evangelical Light for they introduce a
into 10 Digits where of 9 are equivalent to our Geometrical Foot SOME Special Remarks TAKEN OUT OF ATHANASIUS KIRCHER'S Antiquities of China PART VI. Of the Hieroglyphical Characters of the Chineses THere is no Nation so barbarous but they have some way to manifest their Conceptions one to another but above others the Chineses have the most significant Characters the first Inventor of which was Fohi about three hundred years after the Flood as their Records say who form'd divers Figures drawn from Animals Birds Reptils Fishes Herbage Plants Trees and abundance of other things so that according to the numerous variety of the Products of Nature and her several Resemblances such and so infinite were their Characters which though the modern Chineses taught by Experience have rectifi'd yet at this day they have above eighty thousand the Study of which is the Apex of all their Learning but they are able with ten thousand to make out handsomly most Expressions upon all occasions Yet those that wade farthest into the Puzzles and Difficulties of so long Lessons and so tedious a Science are preferr'd to the highest Offices and Dignities of Place which seldom happens till they grow aged The Chinesian Characters being so numerous the Language is wonderful equivocal and oneword oftentimes only by the different Pronunciation or placing of the Accent may signifie ten or sometimes twenty various things whereby it is rendred more difficult than possibly can be imagin'd The Mandorin Language is common to the Empire and is the same as the Language of Castile in Spain and the Tuscan in Italy The Characters are common unto the whole Empire of the Chineses as also to Iapan Couchinchina Corea and Touchin though the Idiom is much different so that the People of Iapan c. do understand Books and Epistles that are written in this sort of Characters but yet cannot speak mutually to or understand one another like the Figures of Numbers us'd throughout Europe and by all Persons understood although the Words by which they are pronounced are exceeding different so that 't is one thing to know the Chinesian Language and another to speak the Tongue A Stranger that hath a strong Memory and doth apply himself to Study may arrive to a great heighth of that Learning by reading the Chinefian Books although he be neither able to speak it himself or understand those that speak it But Father Iacobus Pantoja according to the Musical Notes Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La first of all found out the rising and falling of the Accents to be observed in the Pronunciation assisted by which they overcome the Difficulties of the Language The first of the five Chinese Accents answereth to the Musical Note Ut and the sound of it is call'd in the Chinese Cho Pim as if you should say The first word equally proceeding The second Note answereth to Re and it is term'd in the Chineses Language Pum Xim that is A clear equal Voice The third Note agreeth with Mi and the sound in the Chinese is Xam Xim that is A lofty Voice The fourth Note is sounded like Fa and is term'd in the Chinese Kiu Xun that is The elated Voice of one that is going away The fifth Note answering to Sol in the Chinese is call'd Se Xun that is The proper Voice or Speech of one that is coming in For Example that one word Ya written in the European Characters and having the five Notes above affixed it must be prounc'd with divers Voices and Accents A Tooth Yâ Dumb YÄ Excellent Yà Stupidity Yá A Goose Ya For as the same word suggesteth divers Significations and the Speech spoken slower or faster resembleth the Modes and Times in Musick so from the Words of Monosyllables for the Chineses have none of bis tres or more Syllables is a timely Harmony by the help of which Notes Strangers may attain to something of the Tongue though with great Labor and indefatigable Patience And though the same word hath one Signification in the Mandorins Language and a contrary in Iapan and other Places yet knowing this one Speech and Character you may Travel not only through the Empire of China but the adjacent Kingdoms THose that are earnest to make further scrutiny in quest of all these wonderful Relations may resort to the Author himself and to those in his Quotations for this we thought a sufficient Appendix to the Dutch Embassy the one seeming the better to Illustrate the other many of the same Concerns being handled in both FINIS The severe Laws of the Lacedaemonians The Division of the Globe Asia divided The Name of China China whence so named The Division of China The Situation The Extent 990 English Miles 1350 English Miles The Revenue by Taxes The Situation of Zansi The Situation of Xensi Prester-Iohn in Asia The Situation of Honan The Situation of Sucheu The Situation of Hucang The Situation of Chekiang The Situation of Fokien The Situation of Quangsi The Situation of Queicheu The Situation of Iunnan The Description of the Island Iava The Description of the City Maccoa Quantung and her Cities A â—toel is 13 Ducatoons in Silver The Ambassadors noble Entertainment in this City A two-fold Interpretation of this Monument Whence the Gospel as aâ—so the Heathenish Superâ—â—itions came into China The Description and Boundaries of China It s several Names The Division of the Empire of China The first discâ—very of the Syro-Chinesian Monument By whom first made publick Martin Atlas pag. 44. At what time the Christian Faith entred into China The Creaticâ—â— of all thiâ—gs The Fall of Adam The Incarnation of the Son of God The Excellency of the Christian Law The Desâ—ription of the Situation of Iudea according to the Chinese Geographers The Effect of the Gospel and Law of Christ The building of Churches Presbyter Iohn where he inhabited Belor a most high Mountain Why the Emperor of the Aloyssines is called Presbyter Iohn The King of Barantola adored as a God Where Presbyter Iohn resided 〈…〉 The Dâ—scription of Hancheu or Quâ—nsai The Voyage of Benedict Goes for the Discovery of Cathay A Description of the Walls of China The Habit of thâ— Tartars of Kalmack The ridiculous Worship of the Great Lama The high Mountain Langur The Voyage of Father Amatus Chesaud The Voyage of M. Paulus Venetus The time of Mahomet's coming into the World The Great Cham converted to Christianity The Letter of Haolon to the K. of France The Presents of St. Lewis King of France to the Gâ—â—at Cham. The various Changes of the Christian Law in China The ignorance of the Chineses The Nobility of China receive the Law of Christ. The Emperor Vumly when he had slain his Wife and Daughter hang'd himself Many Noble Chineses converted to the Christian Religion The Inscription of the Church of the Fathers of the Society of Iesus The original of the Chinesian Astronomy Our Fathers appointed to Correct the Calendar by the Emperor's Edict The Errors of the Chineses in Geography The Emperor's Habit The three Sects of the Chineses The first Sect. The second Sect. The third Sect.