of the Work When Kitat or Lita the Commander was come aboard the Admiral and told that he should go with four Frigats to China with all his People he shew'd great signs of joy affirming That Siautongsiong did not intend to come in but only held them in Treaty to gain time yet they might easily master Formosa and the Fortresses thereon if they would suddenly set upon Lamoa and Tangsoa with a well Man'd Fleet those being the only strong places which he had on the Coast of China The sixteenth the Rere-Admiral Verwei set Sail with his four Frigats and steering Northerly along the Formosan Coast about Noon Anchor'd a League from Ape-Mountain and likewise the Admiral with eleven Ships and the Jonk Quemuy putting forth came to an Anchor on the one and twentieth in the Piscadores In the Evening the Rere-Admiral Verwei set Sail with the four Frigats to the Coast of China to Land the Chinese Revolters either on Puthay or about the River Chincheo under the Tartars Jurisdiction The twenty fifth a Letter written by the Admiral to the young Coxin or Sepoan in Tangsoa was sent ashore by a Chinese Prisoner at Pehoe that from thence he might go thither with the first opportunity which was to this effect THe Holland Admiral Balthazar Bort wishes Health to Sepoan I receiv'd your Letter at Tayowan but the sudden departure of your Messengers would not afford me Opportunity of sending an Answer We did at your Request send Commissioners to Tayowan but when they motion'd the Surrender of the Fort they had a Guard put upon them We always believ'd that it was free for Us to ask and you to deny without such Affronts Tsiautongsiong made Us believe That your Highness had submitted to the Tartars and commanded all your Souldiers from Formosa with Order to deliver the Countrey to Us Whereupon We sent Our Agents as aforemention'd But when We receiv'd your Letter We understood the contrary for you advis'd Us to break Our League with the Tartar and proffer'd Us onely Lamoa for a Factory and the Releasing of Our Prisoners In answer to which We advise you to unite with the Tartar and deliver Tayowan to Us that We may live peaceably together and Trade flourish afresh which you very well know is Our chief aim I much wonder why those of Tayowan while Our Agents were there sent not to Me and why yours never return'd to speak with Me perhaps they may pretend Fear but they have no reason for with Us 't is usual in the midst of the sharpest War to send Persons to Treat and make Overtures of Peace And themselves are able to make out how honourably We protected them Whereas on the contrary those of Tayowan were so barbarously uncivil that they would not suffer Our Agents to speak with Our Prisoners nor take a Letter from them to Us. I have set Sail from thence with intention to come to you at Tangsoa in hopes to find more Civility and withal to perswade you to send Ambassadors to Batavia but the stormy Weather hath spent so much of the time that to My great sorrow I could not effect My desire Therefore I have left this Letter with the Piscadoreans to be sent to you with the first opportunity If you resolve to send do it with speed Balthazar Bort The twenty sixth the Admiral set Sail again with his ten Ships and ran by the high Western Island The twenty seventh he saw the Sands and the twenty eighth the Macau Islands On one of these Macau Isles stands the City Macao of whose Beginning and Plantation this is the Account The Chineses at first permitted the Portuguese to Traffick on a desolate Isle call'd Sancham or Sancian thirty Leagues from the Continent and ten from Macao where they built themselves in stead of Houses Bowers of plash'd Trees and meanly thatch'd on the top Here the Chineses came to Trade with them after they were thus setled nor would suffer their nearer Approaches being terrified with the remembrance of the former Calamities they suffer'd by Invasions especially of the Tartar in the Year 1208. yet fresh in their Memory These their Fears and Jealousies increas'd upon them by seeing and considering the Portuguese Ships what huge Vessels they were like floating Castles big with Armed Men and terrifying both Sea and Land with the Voice of their thundering Guns Besides the Mahumetans and Moors which in great numbers daily resorted to Canton reported That these People meaning the Portuguese were Franks for so they call'd all Europeans and were a mighty People of prodigious Valour and Conquerors of whatever they design'd and that the Borders of their Empire were extended to the Brims of the Universe But though the Portuguese were thus represented and appear'd themselves to be too formidable yet the Avarice of the Chineses overpower'd their Fear for the Benefit accrewing by this Commerce was so great that it did not onely redound to the Emperors Advantage but also the Magistrates and Common People were all Sharers so that by Degrees they suffer'd it to be driven within their Dominions yet with this Proviso That so soon as their time of Sale was done they should go again to India with their Commodities The Portuguese Merchants had Annually two Markets or Fairs to buy what the Indian Ships transported in Ianuary or the Iapanners in Iune The Fairs or Markets were not kept in the Haven of Macao nor on the Isle of Sancian as in antient times but in Canton it self whither an infinite Company of People resorted for the Portuguese went from the City Macao with the Magistrates leave of China to the Metropolis Canton two days Journey by Water against Tyde and lodg'd at Night in their Vessels in the Haven Yet all things were done with such circumspection and vigilancy that it was easie to see they were not without jealous Fits and grudgings of their former Fear These yearly Fairs continu'd two Months and sometimes longer By this means that Place which was before desolate began to be inhabited not onely by the Portuguese but also by many of the neighboring People so that in few Years by the great abundance of Commodities brought thither out of Europe India and China it self it grew a famous and populous City Nay such was the Chineses Covetousness seeing their Wealth that they not only dwelt there and Traded but Married with them and in a short time fill'd the whole Isle full of rich Habitations This Place is also famous amongst the Catholicks for the great resort thither of Priests and their converting the Natives to the Christian Faith From hence all the Voyages for the Converting of Heathens were undertaken as to Iapan China Tunking Cochinchina Cambaya Laos and other Countreys wherefore the King of Portugal gave it the Title of a City and by the approbation of the Pope rais'd it to an Episcopal See But since the banishing of the Portuguese out of Iapan this City hath much decreas'd The twenty ninth
else is permitted and the other stands empty for their Deity who they say sits therein and receives the Offering Without the Temple stand many Altars of Red Marble which represent the Moon Sun Hills and Floods and according to the Chineses Relations all these Altars are plac'd without the Temple that none might worship them but that every one should know they are of the same Structure which the Emperor worships in the Temple Round about are several Chambers or rather Cells which formerly as they say were us'd as Bannia's in which the Emperor when he went to Offer Bath'd himself with his Attendants To this Temple and to the Emperor's Tombs lead very broad Ways on each side planted with five Rows of Pine-trees at equal distance and in a direct Line from which none might break a Bough on pain of death All these Buildings were ruin'd in the late Tartar Wars the Trees pluck'd up the Tombs defac'd and the Temples and Palaces utterly laid waste The County of Fungiangfu a great Tract of Land gives Limits in the East and North-East to Hoaiganfu in the East to the Lake Piexe and Chucheufu in the South and South-West to Hocheufu and Lucheufu in the West to the Territory of Honan This pleasant and fruitful Countrey vein'd by several great Rivers is famous because two of her Natives of mean Extract were rais'd to the highest degree of Honor the first call'd Lieupang bred among the scum of the Commonalty nay among Robbers and Rebels subdu'd the Imperial Family Cyn and rais'd that of Han. The second being Humvu or Chu was a mean Priests Son who at first turning Robber soon after the expulsion of the Tartars got into the Throne and establish'd the Crown on the Taimingian Family The Emperor Yu also did not a little enrich this Countrey when by his Predecessor Ya he was Crown'd King in the City of Mao It is also said that Lahu the first Inventer of the Epicurean Learning which liv'd before the great Philosopher Confut was born in that City of Mao The County Fungyangfu contains eighteen Towns of which Fungyang is the chiefest the next are Liuhoai Hoaiyuen Tingyuen Uho Hung Hokieu Munching Su Hiutai Tienchang So Lingpi Ing Tacho Hao Ingxan Su So Ing Hao all great Places The Metropolis Fungyang lying on a Mountain incloseth many Hills within its Walls built with fair Edifices both publick and private This Division was by the Emperor Yu brought and joyn'd to the Province of Yang to be Govern'd by Teu In the time of the Kings this part of the Countrey was call'd The Kingdom of Tuxam which the Kings of Cu afterwards included in their Dominions but the Family Han made it again Tributary call'd Chungly yet this Place was not honor'd with the Title of Teu or Metropopolis untill the fore-mention'd Chu which rais'd the Taimingian Family and was born in this City enlarg'd it building new and strong Walls fifty Furlongs in circumference and adorning the Tombs of his Predecessors and gave it the Name of Metropolis setting over it a Vice-Roy giving it Jurisdiction over other Cities intituling it Fungyang that is Nobleness of the Phenix The third Sucheufu conterminates in the North and North-East with the Mouth of the River Kiang in the East with the Sea in the South with Sunkiang and Kiahingfu the West borders Kiangningfu and the North-West Chancheufu The first which inhabited this Countrey amongst the Chineses was one Taipe of the Family Cheu who coming out of the North planted his Seat here and reduced those that formerly were wild and savage to be rational and understanding People In the Emperor Vu's time this County obtain'd Royal Dignity being call'd The Kingdom of V. after whose Death it was taken by the Kingdom of Iue who possess'd it but a little while being routed by Cu who subdu'd the Countrey Lastly the promoter of the Family Cyn conquer'd all those Kingdoms and brought them under the Province of Hoeiki The first which call'd this Countrey and its Metropolis Sucheu was King Sui the Family of Tang gave it the Name of Changcheu Sung that of Pnkiang but the Taimingian Family restor'd the old Name Sucheu The Countrey is in all Places interlac'd with Branches of Rivers and Graffs along which they may Sail from the City to the Sea Sucheufu contains seven Towns of which Sucheu is the chiefest the rest are Quengxan Changxoe Ukiang Kiating Taicing Cungmung and Cungming which lies on an Island in the Sea The fourth Tract of Land being Sunghiangfu is a small County yet fruitful and a good Soyl bordering in the North with Sucheufu in the East with the Sea and Hangcheufu in the South and West at Hangcheufu onely and the remainder on Sucheufu This Countrey as the former lies most in Water the East part of it being wash'd by the Sea and the rest surrounded by Rivers which with their Branches cutting through the middle and all Places else of it make the whole Navigable It contains onely three Towns which in bigness populosity and variety of Commodities may stand in competition with many more eminent Cities the first and chiefest is Sunkiang the other two Langhai and Cingpai The City Sunkiang verges with the Sea on the Northern Shore of a River which at its Mouth is fortifi'd with a strong Castle from whence they may Sail to Iapan In ancient times this Countrey and City before mention'd shar'd also in the Tartars Cruelties The Family of Tang call'd it Houting the Tartars of the House of Iuen not onely gave it the present Name but also the Title of Fu or Great City having formerly but the Priviledges and Name of a mean Town and belong'd to the third County Sucheufu The fifth County Changcheufu reckons for Limits in the North and North-East the River Kiang in the South Sucheufu in the South and South-West the Lake Tai in the West Yancheufu This County contains five Towns viz. Changcheu Vufie Kiangyn and Ginkiang There are also five Temples of which one built near the City Vufie in honor to Taipe the Supporter of the People exceeds all the other The City Changcheu lies near the fore-mention'd Moat which runs from the City Sucheu to the River Kiang the Stone Banks of which near this City are much more curious and artificial than any where else There are also some Triumphal Arches which add a great beauty to the City It hath receiv'd its Denomination Guihing from the exceeding fineness of the Earth of which the Tee Cups are made for Guihing signifies Rare Earth The sixth Territory Chinkiangfu borders in the North at the River Kiang in the East at Changcheufu in the South at the Lake Tai and in the West at Kiangnangfu This County reckons three Cities viz. Chinkiang Tanyang and Kintan Chinkiang by Martinius taken for Cingiam so call'd by Paulus Venetus lies Northward from the River Kiang on the East side of a Channel which falls into the Kiang
torments them for ever therefore they worship him that they may not be tortured They also firmly believe That the Souls of the Wicked return again on Earth to plague and terrifie those alive which they say appear to them in several Visions On the fifteenth day of the seventh Moon they present him a well drest Swine whole and likewise Hens Ducks Pinang and Cakes of fine Meal Keekieuw that is Arak or Brandy and Sugar-Canes The Hog they lay down on his two foremost Knees with his Head on his fore-Feet opposite to the Image Tytsoequi and use afterwards so many extraordinary Ceremonies at this Offering that beginning early in the Morning it continues above an hour after Sun-set Several Gilded pieces of Paper made like a Boat are also burnt in honor to him and they are very zealous in their Prayers to this Tytsoequi In Hell they say he is served like a King having two Councellors and twelve Spirits which wear mighty Knives and wait upon him continually like Halberdeers to receive and execute his Commands besides several other Spirits which serve him as Gentlemen The second or Vice-Roy of Hell they call Iamkoen who Commands with great Authority wherefore they worship and fear him The third Iamtouwi The Chineses also observe a certain day in the Year on which they Offer to all the happy departed Souls calling it Chinkbinch and is kept Annually on the third day of the third Moon the Year after Leap-year but in the Year before Leap-year on the twentieth day of the same Moon Thus far David Wright In Valour and Warlike Policy the Chineses of Tayowan and Formosa far exceed those on the Main Land most of them at all times wearing Skeans by their sides except when at Meat in their own Houses They use no Knives Forks or Spoons to eat withall but take it up with two small Sticks made of Ivory or Ebony-Wood Tipt at the ends with Silver or Gold Women of mean Capacity maintain themselves with Spinning and Twisting of raw Silk which is brought thither from the Territory of Chickinny The Women eat not constantly with their Husbands at Meals and when heretofore the Men found no Women according to their minds on the Islands they sent for them out of China and barter'd for them as other Commodities Lastly it is requisite in this place to give a short account how Coxinga and his Associates Anno 1661. took both these Islands from the Netherland East-India Company but first we will shew his Extract strange Rise with the Ruine of his Father who was call'd Chunchilung and by Foreigners Iquon or Ikoan and Equan a Man of mean Descent born in a small Village on the Sea-shore in the Territory Fokien near the City Annay his Father very poor and as some say a Taylor by Trade He first Serv'd the Portuguese in the City Makao and afterwards the Hollanders on the Island Formosa where soon after he became a great Merchant by the Iapan Trade and at last a Pyrate Having from this small beginning gotten a great Fleet of Ships and obtain'd by his politick Designs and grand Undertakings to so great Treasure that the Chinese Emperor was not able to stand in competition with him for he onely of all the Chineses ingrossed the Commodities of all India in his own hands driving therewith a vast Trade with the Portuguese at Makao with the Spaniards on the Philippine Islands and with the Hollanders at Formosa and Batavia and likewise with the Iapanners besides other Oriental Kingdoms and Islands He onely Transported the Chinese Commodities by his own People bringing back the Indian and European in Returns for them so that he began to grow so exceedingly rich that he could fit out a Fleet of three thousand Sail. Yet this Chinchilung or Iquon not contenting himself herewith began to Plot how to be Emperor of China but well knowing that he could never effect it so long as any of the Imperial Tamingian Family was in being which at that time held the Royal Seat therefore he made choice of a time to extirpate that Family which was Anno 1644. when the Tartars over-ran the whole Empire except three Provinces being Folnien otherwise call'd Chincheo Quantung and Quangsi and the more closely to hide his Design he pretended to take up Arms against the Tartars as Enemies to the Chineses and defend that Empire with all his Forces And without doubt under this Disguise he would have been taken for the Redeemer and Protector of that Crown had he not held Correspondence with the Tartars to whom he gave what Intelligence he thought good for his advantage At the same time when the Tartars fell into the Countrey of Fokien Iquon was declar'd General by the Emperor Lungun of all his Forces the Officers also were either his Brothers or Friends so that being able to do what he listed he permitted the Tartars to come into the Empire for which they gave him the Title of King making him King of Pingnan which is in the Southern part of China and sent him many great Gifts the more easily to delude him and though perhaps not ignorant of his Design but fearing his formidable Power they durst not use any rigorous course against him but rather Treated him very honorably with Presents high Entertainments and large Promises of the Government over the Territories of Fokien and Quantung so that he thought easily to get an absolute Command over the Southern Countreys But when the Tartar intended to return to the Imperial City Peking and all his Vice-Roys according to custom came to attend and accompany him some part of the Way Iquon also not suspecting any danger came to shew his Respects in like manner and went with a few having left his Fleet in the Haven before the City of Focheu but now being ready to depart having perform'd his Complements and desiring leave to return the Tartar Prince requested him to go with him to Peking to the Emperor where he promised him the highest Preferments and although Iquon sought with many Arguments to put off this Journey yet was he at last forced to go so that by this Stratagem he was taken which could not be by force of Arms or any Device whatsoever Coming to Peking he was put close Prisoner not onely under a strict Guard but the Door of the Place wherein he was kept made up with Stone and himself loaded with Fetters about his Neck and Feet and if any new Troubles hapned by his Son Coxinga and the News thereof brought to the Court at Peking as it did Anno 1657. at which time the Netherlanders were there in an Embassy they laid fifteen Chains more upon him His Son Coxinga and Brothers inform'd of his Imprisonment betook themselves again to the Fleet and made all the Seas near China by their Pyracies almost useless Upon this account Coxinga with his Associates and a crew of Rebel Chineses kept the Tartars on the Coast of China in continual Alarms
The thirteenth the Fleet being in seven Degrees and six Minutes had twenty nine thirty and thirty one Fathom Water But the Naerden sailing with his Squadron about the East had almost lost sight of the Zierikzee The fourteenth about Noon the Fleet was in eight Degrees and sixteen Minutes and had twenty two and twenty three Fathom Water fine sandy Ground mix'd with white Gravel At Night about the latter end of the first Watch appear'd the two Isles lying to the West of the Island Poele or Candor a League from the Fleet which had eighteen Fathom Water This Poele or Candor lies in the Bay of Siam near the Coast of Vancinaer Cambodia uninhabited and about three or four Leagues in Circumference surrounded with high Rocks and Mountains crown'd with shady Trees and abounding with good Provision to the great refreshment of those Ships that put in there The fifteenth in the Morning the Fleet came up with the North-East Point of Candor which bore South-East and by East about three or four Leagues distance from them in the depth of seventeen and eighteen Fathom Water white Sand mix'd with small Pebbles The sixteenth in the Morning they sail'd in fifteen and sixteen Fathom Water the Table-Mount being North-East about three Leagues from the Shore About Noon they found themselves by observation in ten Degrees and thirty one Minutes Northern Latitude and had fifteen Fathom Water about three Leagues from the Coast of Champa Champa so call'd according to Texeira from the Portuguese Pronunciation Champa by Martinius Changpa and by others Ciampa is a Kingdom which hath the Principality of Camboya on the West and according to Father Lerin that of Laos from which it is separated by the vast Desarts and Mountains of Samao the East respects Cochinchina and Tunking and reaches with its Coasts to the main Continent of China before you come to the Shore against the Island of Makou The chief City which lies up in the Countrey hath its denomination from the Kingdom The other Towns are Varella Penaria and Tauchonarella This Countrey abounds in all sorts of Provisions and the Hills with Elephants which are transported from thence to several Places There is also store of the best Calamback-Wood by some call'd Calampart by Linschot Calambu and Calambes or Lignum-Aloes by the Arabians Agalugen and Haut and by the Inhabitants of Zaratte and Dekan Ud which hath a most sweet and odoriferous smell said to proceed from its rotting under Ground for the sound Wood hath no smell at all The Tree saith Garzias resembles that of an Olive but somewhat bigger and the firm and sound Wood hath no kind of smell but with the putrifying of the Bark and Wood the fat and Oily Moisture may also communicate of its Sweetness to that likewise This Wood they prize so highly that they equally value it with Gold yet much us'd by the Chineses in their Offerings to their Gods The Countrey though badly stor'd with Gold and Silver yet is enrich'd with excellent Drugs costly Woods as the Sampan and Ebon-Wood Rice Lint and Cotton There is also plenty of a Fruit call'd Oaby which is very great weighing ten or twelve Pounds apiece and by the Chineses us'd for Bread and sometimes mingled with Meat like the Bottoms of Artichokes They also have a very large Fruit by the Inhabitants and other Indians call'd Nankussen and by some according to Garzias and Acosta Iaka The Countrey is Govern'd by a King that Rules neither acknowledging Subjection to the Emperor of China the Cham of Tartary or any other Superior The Vice-Admiral Van Campen spoke with the King himself who sate in a great Court in a very large Hall hung with rich Tapestry but was not permitted to enter the Presence till he pull'd off his Shoes and Stockings because none may appear before the King unless bare-footed such was their Custom of due Reverence The Grandees or Persons of Quality there are mounted on Steeds with Bells in their Ears like our Cart-Horses The seventeenth in the Night the Fleet doubled the South Point of the Bay of Pangerang which bore West and by South about three Leagues from them In the bottom of this Bay being a most convenient Harbor for Ships stands a great City whose Jurisdiction extends a vast way into the Countrey and Govern'd by a peculiar King The Vice-Admiral going ashore spake with him with his Shoes and Stockins on and was presented by the King with soms Fans and Stuffs The Countrey thereabouts abounds with Calamback-Wood The Fleet steering North and by East found her self about Noon to be in eleven Degrees and thirty five Minutes about three Leagues from the Champan Shore In the Morning they plied about the five Islands close by the foremention'd Coast the Southermost part of which appears like a round Hay-stack The eighteenth at Noon by Observation they found themselves in twelve Degrees and thirteen Minutes two Leagues from the Shore in seventy Fathom Water On Wednesday about Sun-rising the Fleet made St. Iohn de Fyks on the Coast of Champan North-East and by North about three Leagues from them and at Noon were in thirteen Degrees and five Minutes Northern Latitude and Coasted about Sun-set Cabo Avarelles which lay Northerly from them steering North and by East Cabo Avarelles being a very high Mountain appears a great distance off like a Man on Horse-back and serves for a Beacon The twentieth they found themselves in thirteen Degrees and forty nine Minutes and saw the Point of Poele Candor North and by East a good distance from them The one and twentieth in the Day-watch the Vice-Admiral Van Campen for the Admiral Bort going that Night with seven Ships about the East was by break of day gotten quite out of sight with the Ships belonging to his Squadron came opposite to the Northermost of the Box-Islands and spied four Sail bearing North-East and by East near the Coast of Champan or Quinan whether he and those that belong'd to the Ter-Boede row'd with their Sloops well Mann'd and Arm'd but three of them escaping they took only one which they carried aboard the Vice-Admiral and found him to be laden with Rice Honey and strong Arak Mann'd with seven Men and having also five proper Women aboard that coming from Poeyan intended to sail from Taywan not far from thence They judg'd it convenient to let them pass with their Vessel but the Women would rather have staid with the Netherlanders if they might have had their desires yet at their departure they were presented with three Pieces of course white Linnen which they receiv'd with great thankfulness The City Poeyan lying on the Coast of Quinan at the foot of a Mountain between two Rivers is surrounded with high thick Walls of Stone fit to plant Guns upon Their Fortresses are not fortified with Towers but here and there with some Galleries eighteen Foot high to which they ascend by a Ladder and from thence assail their
which extends it self to three days Journey are on each side wharf'd and wall'd in with Stone of the Quarre at the end of which appears a great Dam that receives and keeps the Waters which swelling to a convenient heighth Vessels that come thither are with little help floated over into another Stream This Current serves onely to bring small Vessels up to the City Ningpo for the great ones go about by Sea Near this City are also many Triumphal Arches for building of which they have ready accommodation because the Quarres that serve all China are close by their Doors The ninth Division call'd Ningpofu borders in the East with the Sea in the West with Xaochingfu South upon a River flowing between this and the County Tancheufu The Kings Iue gave this and its Metropolis the Name of Iungtung the Family of Yang Nungcheu those of Sung Kingchyven but at last by the Taimingian Ningpo that is Reconciler of Strife The Kings of Han brought this Countrey under the Territory of Huiki Ningpofu hath five Cities viz Ningpo Cuki Funghoa Finghai and Siangxan Not far from Ningpo lies a Promontory which the Portuguese formerly very much frequented who corrupted the Name to Liampo Some say that from this Point in serene Weather they can discern the Mountains of Iapan whereas the most exact Chinese Cards or Maps make the Sea much broader than to discover any such Prospect The Metropolis Ningpo situated close by the River In boasts store of handsom Buildings On whose Eastern Shore stand several Triumphal Arches and two Steeples with seven Galleries one over another The Banks of the said River are all rais'd of Free-Stone at the end the Water is also stopp'd with a Stone Dam over which they hale the Vessels into a larger Channel In the little City Cuky are two Bridges one with Stone Supporters and great Pieces of Timber three hundred Rods long another which is very high and all of Stone stands on three Arches The tenth County call'd Taicheufu being a great Tract of Land verges Eastward with the Sea Southward with Vencheufu Westward with Kinhoafâ—… Northward with Xaohingfu and Ningpofu In the time of the Kings this Countrey belong'd to V. afterwards to Iue but was at last by the Family Cyn brought under the Territory of Minching The Family Han gave it the Name of Changan Tang of Haicheu and soon after that of Taicheu which it retains to this day This Countrey comprehends six Cities viz. Taicheu Hoanguien Tientai Cienkiu Ninghai Taiping This City Taicheu is situate on a Hill lying on the East side of the River San. The eleventh call'd Veucheufu conterminates in the East at the Sea in the South with the Territory of Fokien in the West at Cucheufu in the North at Taicheufu This Countrey is for the most part very mountainous but hath in the South before you approach the Hills of Fokien a large and spacious Plain Formerly this Countrey belong'd to the Kings of Iue afterwards to those of V. King Loang gave it the Name of Iungkia and was by the House of Tang first call'd Tunkia and soon after Voucheu by Sung Xuigan and lastly by the Taimingian Veucheu This Province Veucheu possesses six Cities viz. Veucheu Xuigan Locing Ping Yang and Taixium The City of Veucheu seated on the River Iungkia because it is also like the Metropolis Hangcheu standing on a Morass Soil and adorn'd with many fair Edifices is by the Inhabitants call'd Little Hancheu The City is very populous and a Residence for many Merchants whose Ships find good and safe Harbors in the great River Iungkia the Sea ebbing and flowing up to the City Walls Near the Sea-shore in this Territory are fifteen Garisons built against the Incursions of the Iapanners and safeguard of the Sea viz. in Veucheufu Nan Ningtung Sining Huigan Tunchi Cumen Puohin Xetic in Taicheufu Sinho Cioki Ninghai in Ningpofu onely Tinghai in Kiahinfu Hiacing Kinexan and Chincam Several Isles neighbor this Countrey inhabited by Husband-men and Fisher-men of which Cheuxan is the greatest the next are Chanque Chaopao besides several other lesser Cheuxan lies directly East from the Metropolis Hancheu opposite to the River Cientang in thirty one and thirty two Degrees Northern Latitude thirteen Leagues from the Main Land and hath in length from North to South sixteen and in breadth eight Leagues When antiently the Chinese King Lui worsted by the Tartars and flying with his scatter'd Forces to this Isle from all Parts many of the Chineses flock'd thither so that ever since what was before inconsiderable hath been a populous and well planted Isle for they number in this small Isle above seventy Towns and Villages most of them verging the Sea in such Places where Inlets and Bays make convenient Harbors neither wants their King a considerable Fleet which keep his Coast safe from the Incursions and Landing of the Tartars Horse wherein they are most formidable And the Tartars as much in awe of the Islanders keep continual Guard in the Fort of Tinghay rais'd on the Main Land with a Fleet of Crusing Chineses Before the Province Taicheufu near the Garison Cioki lies an Island call'd Ychoan which is Precious Circle so call'd for its convenient Havens the whole being in a manner so surrounded with Mountains it breaks off all Winds leaving onely a Gap or Entrance for Ships to come in at The whole Province of Chekiang is every where cut through with Rivers Rivulets and murmuring Streams some brought in by Art others of their own accord Most of the Channels of those Rivers which run Southward fall in such order as if Nature on purpose had contriv'd their Course so that the Traveller may pass through the whole Territory either by Land or Water which way he will still supply'd with all conveniencies The River Che from whence this Countrey hath its Name runs from the South to the North and divides it exactly in the middle in an Eastern and Western Canton but it changeth its Name at Hangcheu and there is call'd Cientang and again where it takes its original out of the Mountains in the Province Hoeicheufu they name it Singan The eighteenth day of the eighth Moon which is our October a prodigigious Spring-tyde happens worthy of admiration for it is onely on that day and begins to flow exactly at four a Clock in the Afternoon and comes with a Head at the first appearance high and strangely mounted above the Waters and suddenly turns Topsi-turvy what ever either by neglect or carelesness lies in the Way roaring extremely in his ascent beyond the loud murmur of Cataracts or Water-breaches to which as a wonderful spectacle where they have secure places the Magistrates Strangers and a great number of People resort to see though horrid the annual Spectacle The River Ho takes its Original near Cinijuw the third substitute City to the seventh Province Chucheufu and from thence follows by the Metropolis Kuihoa
chang'd to true and lawful Succession by Birth Sometimes it hath happen'd though very seldom that the youngest Son contrary both to the Laws of Nature and the Realm was declar'd Emperor either for his extraordinary Valor or Prudence as Anno 209. before the Birth of Christ it happen'd to the Emperor Ulxi who after his Father Cin's Death was chosen Emperor in stead of his eldest Brother Fâ—…sa When the eldest Son hath taken Possession of the Throne the rest only boast of their Princely Allyance for they have not in the least any Authority yet the Emperor gives them each a City to reside in with a Magnificent Palace Attendants and Revenues where they keep Court in great State and are serv'd accordingly yet have no Command of the Citizens and that they might not have so much together as to enable them to raise a Commotion the Emperor's Allowance is paid them every three Moneths and on forfeiture of their Lives they may not stir out of the Limits of the City so design'd for their subsistance The Empire hath sometimes also been Govern'd by a Woman for Anno 490. before the Nativity of Christ the Emperor Lieupang's Consort after the Death of Hoci her Son Govern'd the Countrey eight years At the Election of a new Emperor thirteen Contingencies are to be observ'd The first is the alteration of annual Accounts for they begin to reckon from the Inauguration of their new Emperor which they use not only in common Discourses but in their Letters and all manner of Writings The Emperor also gives his Name to that Year in which he begins to Reign for we must observe that all the Years of any Emperor's Raign when soe're they die are reckon'd for whole Years and so make his Coronation the New-Years-Day that is the beginning of the Year and yet though the Chineses immediately and in the same Year have another yet they still shew Honor and Obedience to the late Emperor though Dead till the Years end doing all things in his Name and likewise all Edicts and Proclamations are Seal'd and Mark'd with the same Signets as if he were still living but the Successor gives his Name to the following Year The second they instantly Coyn new Money with the Letters of his Name which doth not abate any thing of the value of the old Coyn. The third his Lawful Wife is Crown'd Empress The fourth they give the Name of Queen to six of his Concubines The fifth they make Offerings to the Heavens Earth and Spirits The sixth they bestow great Alms on the Poor The seventh all Prisoners are set at liberty The eighth all the Magistrates are nobly Treated The ninth all the Women that were Concubines before are put out of the Palace The tenth the Seraglioes which are four in number are fill'd with fresh Beauties fetch'd from all parts of the Empire during which time there are many Marriages because every one seeks to free his Daughter from such a retired Life The eleventh Persons of Quality if not all at least those of Cities either come themselves or send Agents to shew Obedience and acknowledge the new Emperor The twelfth all Officers from the Vice-Roys to the inferior Governors of Cities go in Person to the Court to shew the same Obedience and take the Oath of Allegiance in behalf of their Towns and Provinces The thirteenth is that the Emperor changes his own Name as is before-mention'd The Reverence which the Chineses anciently shew'd to their Kings they perform'd in this manner They Prostrate themselves to him bowing down their Bodies and looking with their Faces to the North for they say that their Kings look always to the South for which reason all the Gates of their Palaces Doors of Chambers and all Draw-Bridges face the South from whence proceeds a Proverb That the Chineses though at great distance always honor their King when with usual Ceremonies they receive their Guests They say that the Tartar Prince who at this day possesseth the Countrey of China and resides in the Metropolis Peking is not the great Cham or Lord of all Tartary as hath hitherto been believ'd but a mean Prince of the Tartars whose Grand-father was the first King of his Family promoted to that Dignity by the Inhabitants of his Countrey which was only a small Province in Tartary call'd Muncheu The Father of this present Emperor call'd Zunchi was the fifth of his Family his Fortune seem'd to be so strange in the Eyes of other Princes of his Countrey that they compar'd him to Lightning when e're they spake of him for they usually said that the Gods and Heavens could only prevent him in any thing The present Emperor Zunchi's Son is call'd Konchi a Youth of about sixteen years The first Ruler of whom the Chineses make mention in their Histories was nam'd Puoncu and after him Tienhoang Ginhoang and Yonjui but in those times the Provinces were govern'd by the Heads of their Princical Families The first Emperors that before the Birth of our Saviour Govern'd China and were Elected and set on the Throne by most Voices were eight in number viz. from the Year before the Nativity of Christ 2952. to the Year 2207. before which the Chineses allow of none in their Histories which in that time are stuff'd with many strange and fabulous Relations as well concerning the Age of Men as Years of the Governors for if we will credit their Writers the World stood many Thousands of Years before the Deluge The first Emperor was Before Christs Birth Raign'd Years 2952 I. Fohi 115 2837 II. Xinnung 140 2697 III. Hoangti 100 2597 IV. Xaohau 84 2513 V. Chuenhio 78 2435 VI. Ko 70 2357 VII Ya 90 2258 VIII Xan 33 After Xun the Empire was Govern'd by Hereditary Succession and the first House or Family Hia was rais'd under the Emperor Yu which continu'd four hundred Years under seventeen Emperors viz. Before Christs Nativity Raign'd Years 2207 I. Yu 10 2197 II. Khi 9 2188 III. Taikang 29 2159 IV. Chumkang 13 2146 V. Siang 27 2058 VI. Xaokang 22 2057 VII Chu 17 2040 VIII Hoai 26 2014 IX Mang 18 1996 X Is 16 1980 XI Pukiang 59 1821 XII Kung 21 1800 XIII Kin 21 1769 XIV Cungkia 31 1848 XV. Ka 11 1838 XVI Fau 19 1818 XVII Kie 52 After the Family Hia the House of Xang succeeded being first rais'd by the Emperor Tang from whom sprung twenty eight Emperors viz. Before the Birth of Christ. Raign'd Years 1766 I. Tang 13  II. Taikia 33 1720 III. Voting 92 1691 IV. Taikeng 25 1666 V. Siaokia 17 1659 VI. Iungie 12 1641 VII Taiu 75 1562 VIII Chungting 13 1549 IX Vaigni 15 1534 X. Hotankia 9 1525 XI Zuie 19 1506 XII Zusini 16 1490 XIII Vokia 25 1464 XIV Zuting 32 1433 XV. Nankeng 25 1408 XVI Yangkia 7 1401 XVII Puonkeng 28 1373 XVIII Siaosini 21 3352 XIX Siaoye 18 1324 XX. Vuting 59 1265 XXI
The SECOND THIRD EMBASSIE to ye. EMPIRE of TAYSING or CHINA with Previledge Ao. 1672. ATLAS CHINENSIS Being a Second Part of A RELATION OF Remarkable Passages IN TWO EMBASSIES FROM THE East-India Company OF THE UNITED PROVINCES TO THE VICE-ROY SINGLAMONG AND GENERAL TAISING LIPOVI AND TO KONCHI EMPEROR OF China and East-Tartary WITH A Relation of the Netherlanders Assisting the Tartar against Coxinga and the Chinese Fleet who till then were Masters of the Sea AND A more exact Geographical Description than formerly both of the whole Empire of China in general and in particular of every of the fifteen Provinces Collected out of their several Writings and Journals By ARNOLDUS MONTANUS English'd and Adorn'd with above a hundred several Sculptures By IOHN OGILBY Esq Master of His MAJESTY'S REVELS in the Kingdom of IRELAND LONDON Printed by Tho. Iohnson for the Author and are to be had at his House in White Fryers M. DC LXXI TO THE Supream Most High and Mighty Prince HARLES II. By the Grace of God OF GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE and IRELAND KING DEFENDER of the FAITH c. THIS ATLAS CHINENSIS CONTAINING Remarkable Passages IN TWO EMBASSIES FROM NEW BATAVIA TO KONCHI EMPEROR OF China and East-Tartary WITH A MORE EXACT GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION THAN FORMERLY DEDICATED with all HUMILITY LIES PROSTRATE AT THE SACRED FEET OF YOUR MOST SERENE MAJESTY BY THE HUMBLEST OF YOUR SERVANTS AND MOST LOYAL SUBJECT IOHN OGILBY DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING The Whole-Sheet Prints IN THIS SECOND CHINA TItle The City and Castle Zelandia in the Island Taywan Fol. 39 Matzou 42 The Idol Sekia 43 Quantekong a Half sheet 44 Castrum à Meinjaceen 77 The City Quemoey 134 The City Aimuy 138 Hocsieu with its Suburbs 192 The Royal Presents given to King Singlamon 232 The Departure of the Emperor from Hocksieu to the Imperial Court at Peking 259 The City Kinningfoe 264 The City Jemping 262 Pouching 265 Hitsiu 277 Hanchieu 278 Lankin or Nanking 284 Paolinxie Pagod 286 Pecking 319 The Imperial Palace where the Presents were received Marked A. B. C. D. 223 The Royal Banket 334 The Station of Ceremonies used at the Funerals of great Persons 388 The Station used by the great Mandarins 414 The Marks of the Mandarins Figure 1. a Half-sheet 417 Idem Figure 2. a Half-sheet 418 Divers sorts of Bonnets Figure 1. a Half-sheet 419 Divers sorts of Caps or Bonnets Figure 2. a Half-sheet 420 Gods and Goddesses Number 1. 569 Idem Numb 2. 570 Idem Numb 3. 571 Idem Numb 4. 572 The Idol Sechia 574 The Idol Vitech or Ninifoe 582 Directions for building of Pagod-Temples in two Divisions 600 PLANTS RHabarbarum Witsoniarum a Half-sheet 680 Li-Ci Kia-Giu Arbor Papaya 681 Su-Pim Po-Lo-Mie Cieu-Ko 685 Cinamonium Ya-Ta Du-Liam 686 Pi-Pa Man-Ko Giam-Bo 687 A SECOND EMBASSY OR APPLICATION TO THE Emperor of China MAny Years are past since several Europeans especially the English Spaniards Portuguese and Hollanders have with indefatigable Endeavors persever'd towards the acquiring a free and unmolested Trade in CHINA Yet though they have variously attempted what might seem probable to this Effect their whole Undertakings have prov'd little better than a Labor in vain for the Chineses priding in the Subsistance of their own Product and too strictly observing an Ancient Law prohibiting the Admission of any Strangers into their Countrey excepting such onely as bringing Tributes from the adjacent Borders paid Homage to their Emperor as Supreme Lord of the World or else Foreign Embassadors under which pretence many drove there a subtile Trade have shut out and abhorr'd all Correspondency abroad which Trigaut affirms saying The Chineses have a Law that forbids Strangers to come amongst them but if any such be found the onely Penalty is That he must dwell there and never return Yet these are not suffer'd to go where they please but limited in the Entries and Out-skirts of the Empire mov'd by a Superstitious Fear from a Prophecy That they shall be supplanted by Strangers But the Interpretation or Suspition extends not onely to remote and unknown People but their Neighbors with whom they have some Converse and use the like Customs Habits and Religion for the Coreans the nearest of their Neighbors were never seen in China but in the condition of Slaves Father Martinius also in his Chinese Atlas relates That China is lock'd up so close and cunningly to keep out all Strangers that scarce any unless by way of Embassy are once suffer'd to come in The Turks Tartars Moguls and other adjacent People address themselves as Embassadors when indeed are disguis'd Merchants and so drive there a profitable Trade for feigning fantastick Names for several Princes that never were nor are present Gifts to the Emperor which they buy at low Rates cheap but fit Commo ties to be transported thither Nor can they be Losers for they receive atleast twice the Value as a grateful Return the Emperor counting it a high dishonor to do otherwise Besides this all Embassadors during their stay going and coming through the Countrey are with their whole Retinue maintain'd at the Publick Charge and their other Goods whatever that are not Presents in stead of Customs and Taxes are brought on several Carriages at the Emperors Expence to the Palace where they are permitted to expose them to Sale or Barter But although this care be taken concerning their Expences and that they shall no way be Losers in making their Addresses to the Court yet whatever Ambassadors they be though the Negotiation be never so serious and of greatest import nay though they come loaden with Treasure to be pour'd into the Emperors Exchequer and be ancient Friends and Allies yet they are entertain'd like Spies and Enemies not suffer'd in their Journeys to see the Countreys but hood-wink'd have no more Prospect than the Road they tread upon and in like manner are as close Prisoners lock'd up in their Inns and Places of purpose for such Reception and when come to Court not onely secur'd but never permitted to Publick Audience or to see the Emperor but manage all their Business by the Mandarins or Officers of State Besides Trigaut also tells us That they severely punish their own People that hold any Commerce or Intelligence with Strangers without especial Licence from the Emperor And what is of more remark If there be occasion to send any Person of Quality forth by way of Envoy or Embassy beyond the Limits of the Empire it is a Work of difficulty to procure them but when prevail'd upon by Perswasions at his departure all his Acquaintance Kindred and Relations lament as if going to suffer Execution but at his return he is receiv'd with as much joy and specially advanc'd by the Emperor which is no wonder the Chineses having such a reluctancy to whatever seems strange nay scorning to learn out of any Books but their own believing that all Humane Knowledge is within the Sphere of their Activity and looking upon all Outlandish as ignorant Animals
and when they mention them in their Writings take notice of them no otherwise for their Characters that spell Beast anagrammatiz'd signifie a Stranger also stigmatizing them with some Mark or Accent that may interpret them worse than Devil These Orders were more than strictly observ'd towards Strangers while the Chineses were Govern'd by their own Native Princes but the Oriental Tartars which so lately by Conquest are become Masters of the Empire let loose the Reins of that part of their Ancient Policy and less scrupulous are more indifferent leaving opener Doors to the admittance of Trade and Commerce The Chief Council of New Batavia still watching all Opportunities for Improvement of Traffick being inform'd by Father Martinius That the Conquering Tartars now setled in China would more readily receive Addresses concerning Trade than the former Chinese Princes resolv'd to make Tryal thereof by sending a Vessel laden with several Merchandises from the Island Tayowan to which purpose Frederick Schedell being order'd with a Ship call'd the Brown-Fish from Tayowan came within nine days after his departure from thence to an Anchor in the Mouth of the River Canton near the Island Haytomon His Business at first was so well resented that the Vice-Roys of Canton granted him under their Hands Licence to sell and barter the Contents of his Cargo and also to build a Store-house in Canton for their better Accommodation although they were advis'd and perswaded to the contrary by the Portuguese Staple at Macao who in their Letters to the Vice-Roys gave but a sad Account of the Hollanders saying That they were Traytors and Rebels against their true Prince scarce having any Countrey of their own or Religion but liv'd by Pyracy robbing and plundering whatever they light upon either by Sea or Land hoping by thus decrying their Reputation to set a stop to their begun Proceedings and new Factory In like manner the Chinese Philosophers great Students of their Countreys Antiquities by the Instigations of the Portuguese Iesuits inform'd also the Vice-Roys that the Hollanders were a Nation odious and through all Ages detested by the Chineses and never upon any account had the least admittance into their Empire But though this Intelligence did something yet it had not the expected efficacy and the Hollanders had gone on and carried the Business when accidentally a great Person coming from the Imperial City Peking to Canton first disswaded the Vice-Roys from what they intended therein saying It was quite another thing to permit any one free Egress and Regress into their Dominions than to give them a Place of Residence on the Shore without the knowledge of the Supreme Authority but that he ought to acquaint the Emperor therewith if he intended not to incur his displeasure Upon which the old Vice-Roy changing his Determination civilly sent to Schedell desiring him for that time to depart with all his Company lest his abiding there so long might be misconstru'd by his King Matsuyker as a deterring or some restraint upon them although Schedell urg'd much that there could be no such cause of mistrust there using many Arguments The Vice-Roys presenting him at his departure gave him also two Letters to Nicholas Verburgh Governor of Tayowan first complementing and then advising him that the best and onely way for the Hollanders to obtain liberty for setting up a Factory at Canton and licence to Trade in China was by Address to the Emperor by way of Embassy carrying rich Presents to the Emperor at Peking The Council at Batavia observing the Advice they receiv'd would not of themselves undertake so great a business unless so order'd from their Masters of the East-India Company which asking some time to bring about they in the mean time resolv'd to venture out another Ship to try her Fortune at Canton To which purpose they chose Zacharias Wagenaer a Merchant and the same Frederick Schedell who with two Ships the Brown-Fish and Whiting laden with Merchandize arriv'd a Month after they left Batavia in the Mouth of the River Canton and from thence went to Wangsoe a Village three Leagues from the City Wagenaer at last arriving at Canton deliver'd his Letters from the Council in Batavia by the old Vice-Roys Secretary having no admission to the Vice-Roy and receiv'd for Answer That since the Hollanders had neither brought Letters nor Presents for the Emperor in Peking of which they were expresly advis'd the more to facilitate their business therefore lest he should be question'd he neither would nor could see or speak with them So that Wagenaer and Schedell return'd having made a fruitless Voyage without any success to Batavia Soon after they having receiv'd Expresses from the Governors of the East-India Company in Holland to set forth an Embassy according to the Advice of the Vice Roys of Canton sent Peter de Goyer and Iacob de Keyzer Embassadors Peking to the Emperor of China with Letters of Credence and Presents to obtain his Imperial Licence that they might Trade in China These Embassadors arriv'd Anno 1656. in the Chief City Peking The next day some of the Council and the Prime Secretary Thouglauja with two other Tartar Mandarins Quanlauja and Hoolauja came to complement the Embassadors in the Emperors Name to inquire after their Health the number of their Attendants concerning what their Presents were and from whom and whence they came To all which Questions the Mandarins receiving particular Answers listed all those Persons that attended the Embassy which according to the Information sent from Canton were in all twenty four which they set down one after another by their several Names nor did they leave out those Hangers on which were not included in the List. After that they turn'd and look'd over several Presents then inquir'd whence they came how and who made them for what use and in what part of the World And lastly How far or how many Months Sail Holland lay distant from Peking To which the Embassadors having return'd fitting Answers the Mandarins inquir'd further Whether they were a People that dwelt only upon the Seas and had no Land-Habitations which the Portuguese Iesuits put into their Heads or if they inhabited any Countrey what they call'd it and where it lay From whence and to what purpose they were sent What was their Kings Name and of what Age All which the Embassadors answer'd Yet they were not so satisfied but interrogating forc'd them to recount the same Answers again But after they grew more curious and began to inquire concerning their manner of Government and if the Embassadors were not of the Blood Royal and of Kin to their Prince For no Forreign Embassadors said they if they be not of Consanguinity with their King are admitted to appear bowing their Heads with all humility before the Imperial Majesty Whereupon the Embassadors reply'd That they were not of the Blood Royal for the manner of their Countrey was not to send Princes of the Blood on such remote Embassies but imploy'd other
great Veneration that he would be pleas'd to spare them and do them no harm When they take up Arms and proclaim Hostility they offer Sacrifices to Talafula and Tapaliape their two gods of War Their Priests or rather Priestesses which they call Inibs are Women the whole Function in Divine Service or Worship belonging to them for they not only Pray to their gods and Preach but also Sacrifice Their chiefest Offerings are Stags and Boars Heads presented in a Charger upon boyl'd Rice Pynang and other strong Drinks as a Condiment This perform'd two of the Female Order stand up before the Congregation and make a Sermon in which they set forth the Praise and Honor of their gods going on with that vehemency of expressions and loud declamations that at last their Hair stands upright and their Eyes rowling seem ready to start out of their Heads then near the Conclusion of these their dire Exhortations they fall down in a Trance and oftentimes lie so for a whole Hour whilst the People gathering near them tear their Throats and cleave the Air with hideous shrieks and cries when coming to themselves in a cold and faint Sweat their Limbs trembling their Teeth chattering strangely discompos'd they tell the People That in their Trance the gods appear'd to them unfolding mysterious things for their good not yet to be express'd besides two others of these Women mount the Battlements of the Temple and standing at the gable ends they make afresh loud and long Supplications to their gods At last they strip themselves and thus denuded crying more earnestly to their gods and first shaking then taboring or clapping with their Hands raging as in a phanatick distraction All the Women following their impudent example throw off with their Weeds all Shame at once and so Tope and Deboush till they disgorge their too plentiful excess Besides this their publick Worship in the Temple they Offer in the open Streets and exercise private and domestick Devotions performing Family-duties daily in their own Houses to which those that please may repair and joyn with them in this their Idol-Service With these Inibs also they consult concerning fair or foul Weather when they have any Business abroad also of future Events which they seem to foretell and if bad advise how to prevent or at least to mitigate They also profess Exorcism to drive away Evil Spirits and to charm and confine the Devil and all such deceitful Tempters which they perform in a Rant with loud Hectoring Acclamations drawing a Iapan Faulchion with which they Fence Strike and Thrust flourishing it in the Air making them believe that thus they Fight the Fiend and slice Satan out in Sippets forcing him thus being mangled and cut almost into Attoms to dive for his better safety into the Sea Yet these so salvage People and blind with an over-grown ignorance have lately since the Hollanders East-India Company setled here and built a Fort for their Defence and conveniency of Trade without any great difficulty embrac'd the Doctrine of the Christian Faith which was the easier introduc'd the Inhabitants being their own Governors and under no Supream Authority who exercising a Tyrannical Power would as other Persecutors force them back from Gods true to their false Idol-Worship as at that time most part of India was being either under Heathen or Mahumetan Governors who with great fury obstructed the Gospel which else might have flourish'd through the Oriental World Besides the Formosans kept no Books wherein the Bounds of Religion were fix'd and a setled maintain'd Doctrine which still caus'd great variance and hot Disputes amongst themselves the whole Conduct of their Divine Laws being left to a few frantick and ignorant Women who know nothing but by Tradition This made it the more easie to reduce them from their Paganism and Idolatry and finding little in their frenzied Inibs that might perswade them to persist in their former Superstitions many of them with small difficulty became good Christians Thus far Candidius which we have acquainted you with in our Iapan David Wright a Scots-man and later than Candidius who dwelt in the Isle several years hath thus enlarg'd more particularly in every part This Island is not under the Jurisdiction of one peculiar Governor but stands divided into eleven Shires or Provinces all lying to the In-land of which every one hath several Towns and Villages belonging to them besides divers Lordships on the Mountains Under the Hollanders Command with which we will begin first were formerly in the Northern Confines Sinkkan Tavakan Baklawan Soelang Mattou Tiverang Faberlang Takhais Tornap Terenip and Assoek The second Province is Kabelang a Territory by the Netherlanders call'd The Bay of Kabelang and contains seventy two Towns and Villages every one govern'd by their own peculiar Laws and in amity with each other The Hollanders never being able to subdue the Inhabitants thereof were forc'd to make Peace with them after which they not onely Traded with several sorts of Merchandise but also sold their Sons and Daughters to them for Slaves taking commonly for a Youth of thirteen years old ten Rix-Dollars The third Dominion belongs to the King of Middag lying against the North-East of Tayowan Southward of the River Patientia This Prince hath seventeen Towns that obey him the biggest whereof call'd Middag is his chief Seat and Place of Residence Sada Boedor Deredonesel and Goema are four other of his eminent Towns which last is a handsom place lying five Miles from Patientia in a Plain whereas all the other are built on Hills He had formerly twenty seven Towns under his Jurisdiction but ten of them threw off the Yoke He keeps no great State being at his going abroad accompanied onely with one or two Attendants He would never suffer any Christians to dwell in his Dominions but onely allows them to Travel through his Countrey About seven Leagues to the Northward of Middag and four Leagues from the Sea lies Mount Gedult so call'd from its difficult and hard Ascents It appears square like a Table so even and smooth as if it were the Work of Art not of Nature having the advantage of adjacent Plains round about and is over-grown with Brambles On the South-side at the Foot of this Hill glides a River with so strong a Current that the stoutest of the Natives which are Men of able Bodies dares not adventure to wade through it in any place so that to make it fordable they never attempt with less than twenty or thirty together holding fast one by another wherefore the Spaniards have by an Irony call'd it Rio Patientia The Patient River because to pass that rapid Stream asks not only a great deal of Labor but also some Patience The fourth Jurisdiction is that of Pimaba comprehending eight Towns and several Villages the chiefest whereof is Pimaba the Residence for the Governor The Inhabitants thereof are a stout and warlike People and most expert
in their manner of Arms of all the Formosans This King look'd upon as a brave Person keeps a constant Guard and is always quarrelling and making War with his Neighbors He was formerly in Friendship with the Hollanders and proud to serve under them as Serjeant of a Company The fifth is Sapat lying quite on the other side of Formosa and commands over ten Towns the Governor whereof is in League with Pimaba The sixth Dominion is call'd Takabolder and hath eight Towns besides several Villages under its Jurisdiction In Takabolder appears an exceeding high Mountain which may be seen from Tayowan The seventh Lordship is that of Cardeman govern'd by a Woman who for her kind reception of the Christians was by the Hollanders call'd The Good Woman She commands over five Villages When the Hollanders march'd into the Field she sent them Provisions had a great Authority over her Subjects and being a Widow married to one of the Princes of the Countrey The eighth Territory hath twelve Villages of which the chiefest are Deredou Orrazo Porraven Barraba Warrawarra Tannatanna and Cubeca The ninth is call'd Tokodekal and hath seven Towns and seven Villages the chief whereof is Tokodekal where the Governor hath his Residence The tenth nam'd Pukkal consists onely of one handsom City and maintains a continual War against the seven Villages of Tokodekal and likewise against Percuzi and Pergunu two Towns which make the eleventh Dominion Besides all these foremention'd Places there are abundance of Lordships in the Mountains but we will not trouble the Reader with naming them because they are so numerous and for that every one is for it self and continually make War one against another But those Places which formerly the Hollanders had reduc'd they kept in good order and quiet These Islands of Formosa and Tayowan especially the Coasts suffer much 〈◊〉 Storms and Tempests for oftentimes the Wind blows down whole Trees and Houses rending both Walls and Roofs from top to bottom Besides by these Huricanes yearly many Ships are lost that approach near the Coasts Both these Isles also endure terrible Earthquakes Anno 1654. hapned a mighty Earthquake on the fourteenth of December which continu'd with short intermissions almost seven Weeks together It also rains here very much wherefore none can travel above two Months being December and Ianuary for then is generally the fairest Weather but their greatest and perpetual Rains happen onely in Iuly and August There are two Mousons oâ—… Stormy Seasons the one the Northern and the other the Southern Mouson The first begins in October and continues till March the second begins in May and holds till September which the Hollanders call'd The unconstant Month because of its often change of Weather The circumjacent Sea that washes the Skirts of these Isles abounds with Fish especially the Harder or Shepherd-Fish and another call'd the Kings-Fish The Chineses come yearly towards February from the Main-Land with thousands of Jonks to take these Shepherds some of the Jonks being able to carry five or six hundred Tun. There sail also another sort of Vessels amongst these Jonks which they call Koiaes or Wankans somewhat smaller than our Cock-boats This Harder or Shepherd is a Fish about the bigness of a Whiting which when taken is slit to the Back like Habberdine then salted and pack'd up in Barrels is sent in Pickle all over China as we and the Hollanders send our Herrings through Europe The Rows of these Fishes are also salted and put into Pots which remaining very red are accounted for a great Dainty amongst the Chineses For the Priviledge of Fishing under this Island the Chineses us'd to pay the Tithes of all Fish for Custom to the Hollanders there resident The Soil hath in it a natural Fertility yet lies most part waste through the ignorance and sloth of the Inhabitants The fruitfullest Tract the King of Middag possesses which produces abundance of Rice Wheat Barley Rye Kayjang Ginger Sugar several sorts of Trees and great variety of Fruits as Lemmons Oranges Citrons Pumpeons Water-Melons Cucumers Ananasses China-Roots Kadjang Fokkafoka Potatoes Ubes Sweet-Herbs Cabbage Carrots and abundance of Physical Herbs and Cane-wood Kadjang is a certain small Seed green and about the bigness of Coriander which boyl'd with salt and fresh Fish gives a more pleasant taste Fokkafokas is a Fruit like a Pear but thrice as big as one of our greatest white on the shady side and on the other in stead of Red of a Purple Colour and shines on the top like Glass It is first cut into four Quarters then boyld with Flesh or Bacon like Turneps Carrots or Coleworts Of the Broth sweetned with Sugar they make good Drink They also have some few Sheep and store of Harts Goats stags Conies Hares tame and wild Swine Tygers Bears Apes and the like But they have there also another kind of Creature by the Hollanders call'd Tayowans Devil about an Ell long and five Inches broad it is full of Scales both under his Belly and on his Back hath four Feet a long sharp Head very sharp Claws and a Tail thin at the end his Food nothing but Pismires for being hungry they put forth their Tongues which when they perceive creep upon it they draw in again and so swallow their Prey It is an Enemy only to the Ants and is very fearful of Men from whom it flies upon the first sight into any hole or else winds it self together but if taken by the Tail and shaken opens again so that the Hollanders have by an Irony nam'd it the Tayowans Devil being so harmless that it will neither offend another nor defend it self None of these are found in all Asia but on this Isle where they have all manner of Fowl else except Parrots There are also Serpents Millepedes Scorpions Hedgehogs and many other monstrous Creatures They likewise oftentimes see great Swarms of Locusts Anno 1655. abundance of Locusts spread themselves over these Islands of Formosa and Tayowan At their first appearance in Tayowan they fell down from the Sky like a great Snow here with us and cover'd the whole Ground After two days they directed their way to Sakkam multiplying in such manner that no place was free of them The People endeavoring to destroy the young Locusts in Sakkam in four or five days got thirty thousand Picol weight But all prov'd in vain and they were forc'd to give over when they saw their prodigious increase utterly destroying their Sugar and Rice Fields every where Against the North-East part of Formosa lies a great and rich Golden Mine surrounded by many other Marble Quarries At the Foot thereof runs a River with many winding Reaches so that any one which intends to go in quest of the Gold must cross this Stream above twenty times and not without great danger because of the Stones which frequently tumble from the Rocks In August the great Rains sweep down an incredible Store of this rich Metal which
her Vomit would send them Rain whereupon the People force upon her more Liquor that they may have plenty of Rain If the Priestess chances to Urine thorow the Roof of the Church then the Spectators promise to themselves a fruitful year but if not great scarcity so that they often drink the more to satisfie the People then bidding the whole Congregation look up she Tabors on her private parts a considerable time which Taboring the Spectators observe with as much Zeal as in our Countrey the Auditors give ear to the Preaching of a Sermon Lastly coming down she falls flat on the ground and begins to roar and foam rolling too and again and spreading her Hands and Feet then lies still a while as in a Trance her associates come to lift her up but seem to have met with too weighty a burthen yet at last recovering after she hath made a small Speech to the People her Companions lead her into the Temple where she drinks her self dead Drunk all which impudent debaucheries as they say are done to the honor of their gods to grant them store of Rain and a plentiful Harvest All the Women must appear naked at this Feast except their Privacies which they cover with a Kagpay that is a little piece of Cloath so also must the Men When they have drunk out all their Liquor at the Temple the Congregation goes home where they Drink till the Morning and walk from house to house committing all manner of Villanies not fearing to lie with or vitiate their Sisters and Daughters The third Feast call'd Sickariariang they keep in Iune the manner thus After every one hath done their Private Devotions in their Houses and as they say spoke with the gods they make themselves ready to go to the general place of Sacrifice near the Sea The Men walk stark naked but the Women have a small Clout before them At their general Assembly the Priestess offers to the gods of whom they now request that they may be strengthen'd against their Enemies and the Women that the Corn be preserv'd from Tempests and Wild Beasts Amongst all other this is the most Celebrated because it is as one of Bacchus and Venus's Feasts so that it differs much and exceeds the rest in perpetrating unheard of Abominations both night and day The young Men are commanded by the Magistrates of the Town to go naked to this Feast and to exercise themselves with Running and Martial Discipline which they willingly perform The fourth nam'd Lingout begins in Harvest and kept also on the Sea shore near the mouth of a River Hither also both Men and Women going naked pray to the gods for Rain to keep the Corn in the Ears to banish Storms and Tempests which very frequently rise in that Moneth Great villanies are committed at this Feast The Youths are stuck and hung with green Boughs and Garlands and so adorn'd must run Races with Rattles in their Hands he that gets first to the River wins the Wager and by the Maidens is conducted and carry'd over where he enjoys the handsomest of them at his pleasure The fifth Feast call'd Piniang is kept in October at which time the Magistrates have a piece of Wood cut in the fashion of a Tortoise-shell ty'd to their Bodies whereupon in the Night with their whole Congregation they walk Drumming and Shouting up and down the Town At this Feast they come all clothed to their place of Offering to run about with the artificial Shell which is first perform'd by those whose Parents are yet living then by those that are Orphans This Feast is no less polluted by vicious performances than the other The sixth they name Itaoungang At this Feastival the old and young Men appear in peculiar Habits and have a pretty way of moving their Hands and Feet Capering and hitting their Feet one against another and likewise act several Postures with their Hands besides many other Ceremonies too long here to relate This continues two days meeting both Morning and Evening at the sound of the artificial Tortoise-shell after they have perform'd their several Offerings to their Deities they fall a Drinking in which they spend the whole Night The seventh Feast call'd Korouloutaen is kept in November with great Solemnity At the time of this Feast they adorn their Arms and Heads with white Feathers The Formosans except those by the Hollanders converted to Christianity believe not in God the Creator of Heaven and Earth but Worship thirteen Idols The first and chiefest is call'd Tamagisangak and resides in the West part of Heaven The other his Wife Takaroepada and dwells over against him in the East both these are by them accounted for their powerfullest gods and reverenc'd with great Devotion for if any War lay desolate their Cities or Sickness and Famine oppress the People they say all proceeds from the neglect of their duty in worshipping these gods The third God call'd Tamagisangak reigns in the South and shapes handsome People as the fourth his heavenly Consort Teckarupada in the East gives growth to Corn and Field-Fruits they say these Deities have the ordering of Mans Life wherefore the Women present them with Seeds and Plants They believe likewise that Thunder is the Goddess Teckarupada's voice chiding at her Husband for not sending Rain timely upon the Earth and he always when thus ratled up by his thundering Wife delays not to send Rain in abundance The fifth God call'd Tugittellaegh and his Queen Tagisikel the sixth have the cure of the Sick and are worshipp'd by them The seventh Deity being Tiwarakahoeloe and the eighth Tamakakamak are chiefly reverenc'd by such as frequent the Woods and Forest to hunt and kill wild Beasts The ninth call'd Tapaliat and the other Tatawoeli govern all Martial Affairs and are for the most part invok'd by Soldiers The eleventh nam'd Takarye and the twelfth Tamakading preside their annual Feasts and punish the omission of their long setled Customs The thirteenth Farikhe they say resides in the North they esteem him a cross-grain'd and ill natur'd God whose business is to deform what ever nature makes Comely and therefore onely worship him that he may not mis-shape them The Natives relate that this last God was formerly a Man living in Sinkam very fierce and of a stern Countenance with an exceeding long Nose which caus'd the People so to mock at him that growing impatient to bear such indignities any longer he desir'd of the Gods to take him amongst them which was immediately granted that after some stay there he descended again and gave his Countrey-men twenty seven Articles or Commandments charging to observe them strictly threatning that if they neglected he would send upon them many and great Plagues These Commandments they keep ten days together every Month beginning when the Moon enters Aries which time is by them call'd Karichang of which Laws more hereafter The Formosans are very slothful and Till but little although
converting his rage into a contrary passion he would have worshipped her but she refusing such honour bad him return thanks to Heaven and the Gods which he ceased not to do after that becoming a zealous Penitent Not long after Biou Tsongong dy'd and Quanien betook her self to Lamhay a Place in China where she spent the remainder of her Life in great Piety After her Death they built a stately Temple in honor of her and Interr'd her Corps in the middle which remains at this day as the Chineses believe as fresh and sound as if it had been buried but a day Every year the Priests go thither to celebrate the Anniversary of her Death in the sixth Moon on the eighteenth day with Sports and Feasting which hath won so much esteem that the Chineses implore her help and assistance in all Tribulations The thirty ninth Goddess is call'd Nioma or as others will have it Matzou she was born in the City Kotzo in the Territory of Houkong where her Father was Vice-Roy This Nioma resolving also to live and die a Virgin to that end went to dwell in the Island Piscadores or Fishers-Isle otherwise by the Inhabitants call'd Pehoe lying to the Northward twelve Leagues distant from Formosa where she spent her Life in a Pious and most Religious manner Her Image not long after was set up in the Temple with two Servants one on the right and another on the left-side each of them holding a Fan in their Hands which cover'd the Goddesses Head She hath also as they say Spirits under her command and is highly honor'd amongst the Chineses for so great and powerful a Deity that all the Emperors at their Inaugurations must not omit to pay their Devotions in the Temple of this Nioma Her greatest Festival is on the three and twentieth day of the third Moon when the Priests repair from all Places of the Empire to her Tomb because she knows as they believe when any Strangers shall address themselves to that Countrey and whether their intentions be good or evil nay more will give certain Responses to any that consult her in what affair soever so that they are so perswaded and superstitious concerning her admonishments that they think all is lost if she advise not thereunto The original of her Adoration sprung hence as the Chinese Records have it One Campo a Chinese Admiral going out with an Armado to Engage with a foreign Enemy being driven by contrary Winds was necessitated to anchor under the Lee of this Isle but afterwards the Storm ceasing and the Wind and Weather growing fair the Fleet weighed and hoising Sail set forward but all the Sea-men with their conjoined strength could not get up his Anchor which while they wondred at this Goddess appear'd to the Admiral whom imploring she advis'd to take her aboard for the People against whom he had Commission to Fight were great Magitians practising the Black Art and could raise or lay Spirits at their pleasure but she was able to frustrate their diabolical practises Thus perswaded the Admiral with great reverence took her into his Ship and coming to the Shore where they intended to Land these Masters of occult Sciences us'd their skill as Nioma had foretold but she baffled them in their own Arts and so made their powerfullest Charms of no effect wherefore the King that trusted to his Necromancers being necessitated to Engage with the Chineses was by her direction and assistance contrary to his confidence utterly defeated and brought under subjection The Admiral though sensible of the wonderful Service which she had done by her power desir'd that she would do something in his presence that he might relate having so many eye-witnesses to the Emperor And having accidentally a wither'd Cane in his Hand Nioma took it and upon his Request immediately made it grow and blossom and to yield a sweet smell Which signal Prodigy the Admiral fix'd on his Stern and coming to the Emperor related to him all his Adventures whereupon he in honor and commemoration of her favors commanded that they should worship her as a Goddess through the whole Empire Since which every Ship bears her Image in the Stern and the Sea-men are strangely devoted to her The fortieth God call'd Sikjaa born in the Kingdom Tantaico opposite to the West of China they held for the first inventer of that Religion which the Chineses observe to this day He always went bare headed neither eating Flesh Fish or other Creature that had life and lived single This Sikjaa Drawn or Carv'd to the life stands upon the Altars in their Temples and on the right-side at the entrance of the Door Over against him and in some Temples round about him stand long Tables at which the Priests sit reading and muttering to themselves Prayers to Sikjaa to receive them into Heaven Two Priests watch day and night before his Altar often bowing to the Ground and lifting up their Heads equally together whilst their Tabors and Pipes consorted with other Wind-Instruments makes no unpleasing harmony In their Diet the Priests follow the strict Life of Sikjaa eating nothing but Rice Grapes and Herbs they live some in the Wildernesses like Hermits others frequent the Temples abroad and spend their time for a small gratuity in making Offerings in peoples Houses having no allowance either from the Emperor or Charity of the People They never pare their Nails some of them growing six eight ten and twelve Inches long which the Chineses count a great Ornament The Doctrine of this Sikjaa is at large declared in the following Description of China The one and fortieth God is call'd Ang-jaa and is carried from House to House on the eleventh day of the third Moon on an Altar by six Priests whereof three go before and three behind before him stands a Perfuming-pot with burning Incense and other Aromaticks The Mendicant Priests stop at every House and never leave Singing and Praying tinckling two small Basons one against another till the Master of the House comes and brings them some Money in a piece of Paper as an Offering to this God This Ang-jaa is not Clothed like the other Gods but quite naked having onely a Cloth about his Middle which reaches down to his Heels and over his Shoulders a Scarf his Hair Beard Mustacho's and Face differ much from the other Chinese Numens the Hair of his Face more resembling an European than an Asiatick concerning which dissimilitude the Chineses themselves are altogether silent The two and fortieth Deity call'd Tontekong is represented in the shape of an antient Man with a white Beard and said to be a great abhorrer of Gaming and Adultery which by all means possible he sought to extinguish wherefore the Chineses have placed him in Heaven and also invoke him daily to defend them from Thieves The three and fortieth God nam'd Teiton a valiant Heroe represented with a drawn Sword in his left-hand whose Services in redeeming the Empire like to be lost by
the Invasion of the Enemy have listed him in special rank amongst the number of their Gods The four and fortieth Schercong next takes place adored for the invention of Tragedies and Comedies and other Enterludes Acted on the Stage The five and fortieth God nam'd Amkong hath obtain'd the like honor meerly for his great Merits and Vertues The six and fortieth Tswajong was in his life-time a mighty Man of a Gigantick Stature his Club which he could flourish with one Hand weighed ninety two pounds so that for his strength and valour he was very famous in China and therefore worshipp'd as a God The seven and fortieth Hangoe another Giant whose Helmet weighed one hundred twenty five pound whose strength and valour made him living a Vice-Roy and after death a Deity The eight and fortieth Hanzing with whom none could stand in competition either for Prudence or Science except Quantecong and Sodejong who perform'd with a few Men greater Acts by his subtile Stratagems and politick Conduct than others with vast Armies and therefore the Chineses worship and hold him for a God The nine and fortieth Sodejong a wise and politick Prince yet meek and loving to his Subjects look'd upon as superior in his Character to Hanzing but much inferior to Quantecong The fiftieth Sjengoesoeng also a very strong Giant and much reputed for serving his Countrey against the common Enemy The one and fiftieth Goumatzintzing signifies Pastor Gregis The Shepherd of the People and a Servant to God He had if you will believe the Chineses five Eyes two in the right places and two above them and the fifth in the middle of his Forehead like the Cinque upon a Dye two of these were alway sawake or open whilst the other three were shut for which they implore him as their Watch in Heaven The two and fiftieth Soumanoaom had four Eyes two in his Neck and two in his Forehead when those two in his Forehead closing slept the other two kept open watchful wherefore he being General was never defeated whom for his never-sleeping Care and Conduct they worship as a God The three and fiftieth Zjenzucung a Lord of small Stature wearing short Hair but of an acute Wit and profound Understanding and abominator of Gaming and Drink The four and fiftieth Quantecong though by Iohannes Gonsales and others call'd Vitie whom the Chineses honor'd more than any of their Gods being reckon'd the first Emperor in China for Valour Subtilty and Science unparalell'd and not to be match'd such was his wonderful and Gigantick Stature being as they fable twelve Foot and eight Inches high and his Shoulders four Foot broad his Sword weighed ninety two pound which he us'd with one Hand In the beginning of his Reign he possessed onely one Province but by his Conquests and Atchievements became Master of the fifteen which now make the Empire He established many Laws and Ordinances especially one against Idleness He first invented Clothing and Dying of Stuffs which they use to this day for before they went naked like the Indians He also modell'd and invented Ships made Saw-Mills Gun-powder and Guns and improved Architecture Some Buildings and Edifices are yet to be seen whereof as they say he was the Contriver He made a Law That all Mechanicks should continue their Parents Trades from Generation to Generation He erected Cities Towns and Villages and commanded the People to inhabit them And as their Chronicles relate this Quantecong with his own Hand slew in one Battle three thousand some say four thousand Men. He had a Negro for his Squire or Armor-bearer who was no less valiant than himself for he accompanied him in all dangers whatsoever and was called Tzicutzong he perform'd great Exploits in his Masters Service by conquering many People and several Countreys but besides Quantecong had another Servant a White call'd Quanpiong yet no Martialist In every City is also a Temple erected to the honor of Quantecong in which stands his Image On one side of him stands his black Squire with a Sword by his Side and a large Knife like a Mowers Scythe four Paces from him on the other Side his white Page Quanpiong Nor was he invocated onely by his Countrey-men but also by the Tungkins their Enemies for as soon as any War broke out they set a Guard before his Temple that none might hurt him for they believe he would punish their neglect with the loss of their Army Nay farther they say That mounting his red Horse Angbea for he onely us'd a red Steed there being none of that kind else in China he Rid against their Enemies and destroy'd their whole Army in revenge of the damage done to his Temple The six and fiftieth Kongsou is held for the first inventer of Printing which the Chineses have us'd eight hundred years and upwards insomuch that they say the Christians learn'd that art from them because at that time they Traded with Christian Merchants This Kongsou stands on a Throne environ'd with People of several Nations every one holding a Book of all which the Germans stand nearest to him because they according to the testimony of the Chineses have greater Judgment and Print better than any other Nation The seven and fiftieth Tegoe that is Transitory Bull. The eight and fiftieth they nominate Kjenke that is Crow or Chicken-Thief A strange fancy and belief possesses the Chineses about these their two Deities for say they when Tegoe hath the Earth on his Shoulders then Kjenke comes from Heaven and pecks Tegoe on his Body whereby necessitated to shake himself the Earth trembles and shakes with him and as soon as any such trepidation begins they fall a laughing saying Now is Tegoe peck'd by Kjenke Father Martinius in his Chinese History saith That the Soil of China is very little subject to Earthquakes yet the Chronicles of that Countrey mention That the Year before the Birth of our Saviour 73. hapned such a great Earthquake that several Mountains were swallow'd up from whence the Chineses a People much inclin'd to Superstition prognosticated the destruction of their Empire such things say they proceeding from an angry and threatning Heaven The nine and fiftieth Luikong or The God of Thunder for Lui is Thunder and Kong a Governor They represent him with a Head like a Crane Feet and Hands like an Eagles Claws and large Wings wherewith he seems to flye through the Clouds When this Luikong say they intends to Thunder he stands between four Clouds with a Drum on every one on which he beats continually with two great Iron Pestles And when any one is struck by a Thunder-bolt they say that Luikong is much enraged against that Person and therefore struck him with the foremention'd Pestles so that they are very fearful of him and when it Thunders creep on their Hands and Feet under Benches and Tables The sixtieth is the Ruler of Lightning and represented by the Chineses with a Straw Wisp in her Hand which when it Lightens
and also to advise us to send another Embassy from Batavia which you may assure them shall be done the next year Yet nevertheless if you cannot attain to our Desires leave off further Suit that so we may avoid such vast Expence and Charge but if they be inclin'd to send to Batavia you may seem to be very well pleas'd at it and promise to Transport them thither in our Ships except they will send one or two of their Jonks which would be the better for us Concerning the possessing and fortifying of a peculiar Place you may also desist from if you see them not to favor the Request but to be satisfi'd that our Ships may lie in the Haven of Hoksieu and there drive a Trade provided they can be assur'd to lie safe and without danger there When you come to Agree with them concerning the War with Coxinga and his Party with our joynt Forces take care that they oblige themselves thereto by Writing and with us declare themselves Enemies to the same Coxinga and his Adherents and that they shall not without our knowledge much less to our prejudice agree with the Enemy which we will do also on our part Moreover make a strict enquiry whether or no they have not already Treated and are inclin'd to be reconcil'd to him if he should submit himself to the Emperor this may be suspected because they say Coxinga is dead and his Son in Ayanny not concern'd at it Which if you observe let them by no means detain you but hasten your self from thence and come to us for the Vice-Admiral ought on all occasions to be in the Fleet because his Presence is continually requir'd there wherefore if he can come away before let Nobel tarry there so long till he thinks he can effect no more by staying If they desire us with them to agree with the Enemy you may easily understand on what Articles and with what advantage and satisfaction it may be done though you conclude noton any thing If you can find out any means for the delivery of our Prisoners in Eymuy let nothing be wanting to procure their liberty because the General and Council in Batavia have highly recommended their Release to us but that we should do nothing without acquainting them with it and their consent The Hostage with his Retinue shall be kept so long in the Domburgh till perhaps by the advice of his Friends he may do something that may be requisite for that Business because he also longs for his Liberty The Vice-Roy Singlamong and General Taysong Lipovy have every one sent us a Letter by the Interpreter Melman we now therefore send an Answer to every one of them to the same effect and purpose as theirs were with some small Presents as appears by the Copies which you have to which I refer my self desiring you to deliver them at a convenient time either with their Excellencies Letters or afterwards The Presents which belong to them and are signifi'd in their Excellencies Letters I have caus'd to be taken out of the Naerden and put into the Domburgh By the same Copies you may see how they are Pack'd and wherein they consist which at all times shall be ready upon your Order whose Acceptation you must in a manner press although hitherto they have not been willing to receive Of the Merchandise which are onely aboard the Domburgh I also give you Patterns if they should chance to fancy any of them and likewise of the Goods sent along with you that thereby you may see what Presents to give to one or other as you shall think fit Lastly I desire you to promote and advance His Excellency's and Councels Desires which at present so highly concerns the Publick with all care and diligence imaginable and think that if all things fall out successfully you will get no small honor and advancement by it which God grant into whose Protection I commit you Aboard the Naerden Frigat lying with the Fleet before the River of Hoksieu the 19th of Septemb. 1662. Balthasar Bort The next day after having Shipp'd all their Necessaries for the Journey and put the Presents into the Jonks they took their leave of the Fleet and Sail'd South and by West up the River of Hoksieu Presently after Noon they pass'd by a Town call'd Quanto lying on the North-west Shore about a Musquet-shot up in the Countrey This Quanto is Wall'd being about half an hours Walk in circumference fortifi'd with Bulwarks and Watch-Towers and strengthned with a great Garrison Here as in most Towns in China are several Parades for the Meeting and Exercising of Foot and Horse and to Train them up in all sorts of Martial Discipline There are also Exchanges or Burses for the Sale of Merchandise besides Markets where the Countrey People bring their Fruits and Provisions to sell. A little farther the Agents pass'd by a populous Village call'd Sanwan near the Shore The Inhabitants of Sanwan are ingenious Artificers viz. Weavers Smiths Coopers and other Labouring Trades who live in peculiar Places of the Village apart one from another and every Precinct under a particular Governor who gives an account of all Differences and Misdemeanors to the chief Magistrate All the Villages through which they pass'd in the Territory of Fokien are wild and have daily Markets of Herbs Fish and Oysters After they pass'd on Southerly with their Retinue to the River which flows East and by South into the Sea and hath a small Island in its Mouth with a Sandy Shelf in the Channel where they found on the North-west Shore the Village Sayon and came after a little Sailing to the strong Fort Benantien or Minjazen which is fortifi'd with Towers Walls Bulwarks and a broad Mole it lieth three Leagues from Hoksieu hath the bigness of a small Town with several Streets and fair Houses set forth with divers Tradesmens Shops and in the middle a very large open Court where on one side stands the Governors House and on the other a Pagode Here Van Campen and Nobel went ashore with their whole Retinue to Complement the Governor and were receiv'd into the Fort by three Mandarins with the usual Ceremonies who conducted them into a great Temple but they could not speak with him by reason of his indisposition After they had presented them Bean-broth mix'd with Milk which is accounted the greatest honor they can shew to any Person they return'd with their Train into the Jonks and after many Complements took their Leave Being got about half a League high there appear'd a most delightful and pleasant Place on the South-east side call'd Plethoeu or Pethou and opposite to it on the Northwest Shore a large Pagode nam'd Possang by them held for one of their Wonders On the other side of the River appears a spacious Area built about with fair Edifices and planted with Gardens and Banquetting-houses in them About four a Clock in the Evening they came to the South-east side
Chinese Characters of Gold being antient Epitaphs in honor of the Deceased About Noon they came to two great Forts and about six a Clock in the Evening into the City Hokzwa which entring they were receiv'd by the chiefest of the Town and carry'd into a great House provided for the most eminent Persons of the Countrey in their Journeys Here they had sent them for Presents three Pigs twenty Hens and four Geese which they requited by returning some small Trifles In the Night by Order of the Magistrates of the Town a Guard was set about their Lodgings that they might suffer no injury by the Common People The twenty ninth being Sunday though they prepared for their Journey yet they could not set forward for want of Convoy because a strong Party of three hundred Horse was sent by the Vice-Roy's Mother with Money and other Goods to the Army at Sinksieu to her Son Singlamong for the paying of the Souldiers so that being forc'd to stay in Hokzwa all that day they were visited by many great and eminent Mandarins of the City and presented with Oranges Pears Chesnuts Coco-Nuts besides several other Fruits two Pigs five Geese and ten Hens in requital for Money and Goods worth full as much The People seem'd to be very obliging when they heard that the Hollanders lay with a Fleet on the Coast of China to joyn with them against the Islanders of Quemuy and the rest of Coxinga's Party In the afternoon they view'd the Town This City Hokzwa lying in a pleasant Place encompassed with many delightful Gardens contains several Markets and great Plains and appears beautiful with divers Triumphal Arches and stately antient Buildings rang'd close together with Party-walls not being usual in China It hath thick and strong Walls or rather Bulwarks continually Guarded by many Horse and Foot About an hours walking from thence are many pleasant Groves with Arbors and other like Receptions for such as Walk to refresh themselves in where they call for all sorts of Fruit whatever they have a mind to so making themselves merry The twenty fifth being Monday they began their Journey anew about day-break with a Convoy of fifty Tartars and passing by several strong Holds and through many Villages they came to two Rocks which so straiten the Passage that two Carts or Wagons can scarce go between at each Entrance stands a Block-house so that none can pass without leave Upon the top of these Rocks where there is no kind of Mould to be seen grow many Cypress and Ash-Trees About Noon passing by another Hold the Governor invited them to Dinner which they modestly refus'd by their Interpreter yet their Retinue had as much strong Chinese Beer given them as they pleas'd to drink Then proceeding on in the Evening they pass'd through a Wall'd City and well Garrison'd and a little Southward from the City they took their repose in a Pagode where several of the chief Citizens visiting for welcom presented them with several Provisions such as the Countrey afforded in return whereof they gave them some Spanish Ryals and four Pieces of course white Linnen Besides their Followers were entertain'd with two great Pots of strong Chinese Beer a Drink very pleasing to their Palats The twenty sixth about Sun-rising being ready for their Journey they had such a concourse of Men Women and Children which came to see them from all places that they were scarce able to pass along the Streets for the Palakin or Sedan in which the Vice-Admiral Van Campen was carry'd was often stopt and held by the People to see his Face and speak with him but because he could not answer them and his Interpreter not being able to come to him through the Crowd they let him pass This Day they went by and through more Forts and Villages and in the Evening came to the City Hokexcho where they stay'd all Night being Entertain'd by the eminentest of the Town and visited by many antient Merchants which stay'd with them so late that they took but little rest The City of Hokexcho lies but a days Journey from Hokzwa whose Inhabitants maintain themselves for the most part by Husbandry for there are few Merchants being a kind and hospitable People for Hok signifies Good and Zwa Bad. Between Hokzwa and Hokexcho lies a Village in which they make great quantities of Porcelin The twenty seventh before Sun-rising they betook themselves to their Journey accompany'd with several Troops of Horse and Foot and pass'd most by and through several great strong Towns and Villages About three a Clock in the Afternoon they Rode through a great Town and in the Evening arriv'd at a strong Castle where they were courteously receiv'd by the Governor and first entertain'd with Bean-broth afterwards caress'd both with Meat and Drink which kindness they requited with other Presents The twenty eighth they proceeded again on their Journey very early and in the Afternoon about three a Clock arriv'd at another City where they were welcom'd and presented by the Magistrates with Provision and receiv'd again in a bartering Return as others had before after which they drank Spanish Wine and Brandy with the Agents shewing a great liking thereunto having never tasted such Liquor so that it was mid-night before they went away The twenty ninth being Friday they set forward again with the Dawn after Day-break beholding very many large and sumptuous Tombs and stately antient Buildings besides several Triumphal Arches adorn'd with Horsemen Tygers Bears Lyons and Dragons hew'n out of Free-stone and the Arches beautifi'd with Golden Characters Then they pass'd a long Bridge over the great River Loyang consisting of divers Stone Arches Pav'd with Free-stones of an incredible size some of which being about seventy Foot long three and a half broad and half a Foot thick on each side Rail'd in and accommodated with Benches of blue Stone with the Honors of the Empire as Lyons Dragons and the like on several Pedestals The Chineses report this Bridge to have been built in one Night by the Angels and look upon it as a great Wonder At the Bridge-foot stood an old House and in it several Figures of Men gilded with Gold In the same House also was a great blue Stone inscrib'd with the antiquity of this wondrous Bridge The middle Arch of this Bridge had lately been broke down to hinder the Enemy's Passage about which they were then busie in mending laying great Beams of Timber over the Gap A little before Noon they came to the City Zwansifoe where at the Gates they were kindly welcom'd by three Mandarins sent thither to meet them by Santing Houbethetok Admiral of the Sea and Governor of the Place and conducted into a great Pagode where they were civilly entertain'd with a Draught of honorable Bean-broth after having stay'd a little while they entred the City in company with the same Mandarins who carry'd them into a fair House whither many of the eminentest Citizens out of curiosity came
because they were desirous to see their Forces and Fleet mean while they would consult with the Provincials of Hoksieu and then give their Resolution by the Governor Whether the several Cargoes which they had in their Ships might not be sold in private Likewise the Interpreter being so commanded further told them That it had been better that their Admiral had staid in the River Hoksieu and not gone to Sea because he would effect little by so doing for along the Sea-Coast we have nothing but ruin'd Cities and Villages where some poor Fishermen with their Vessels and Nets with leave of the Governors live to maintain themselves because all the greatest Towns and Villages in those Parts were by the Emperors Order pull'd down to the Ground to prevent the sending of Provisions and Merchandise to the Islands Eymuy and Quemuy by which means Coxinga and his great Forces being much straightned he betook himself with all his Army and Jonks to Formosa and not onely won that but Tayowan also leaving onely some small Garrisons of Soldiers on those Isles yet if by the Treaty now on Foot a Peace be concluded the Hollanders may easily obtain it of us again Hereupon the Vice-Admiral Campen directed the Interpreter to tell the Vice-Roy That the Hollanders hoped that now would have been the onely time to enter into a League with the Great Cham of Tartary and Emperor of China that joyning their Forces they might reduce all under the Subjection of his Imperial Majesty Whereupon the Vice-Roy return'd That is done already and needs no more to be spoken of We are now at a Cessation of Arms with the Governors of the Islands but if the Emperor hath or will accept of the Peace We know not yet it hath proceeded thus far that young Coxinga and all his People will obey and submit themselves to the Emperor by shaving off their Hair except one Tuft and also become Tributaries onely they demand a peculiar Government and Garrisons for their own Soldiers which whether the Emperor will grant is much to be doubted However you must stay sixty or seventy days for an Answer from the Emperor at Peking viz. If you shall have a Free Trade granted through all China Which We suppose may be done But Van Campen order'd the Interpreter Lakka to tell the Vice-Roy and General That in Peking were many subtile Jesuits and Priests who bore great spleen to the Hollanders and sought to scandalize and make them seem odious to the Emperor because of their difference in Religion among themselves and likewise for the War maintain'd by the Hollanders against the two Mighty Kings of Spain and Portugal to whom these Jesuits and Priests were Confessors The Vice-Roy and General made answer That for the same Reason must the Tartars who under their Emperor the Great Cham of Tartary have by force of Arms subdu'd and taken the whole Empire of China be accounted a despicable People by the Jesuits because they had done the same thing with the Hollanders adding That the Hollanders were the welcomer to them in China and that they would look to the Priests and Jesuits somewhat better than they had done heretofore Thus ended the Discourse Then the Vice-Roy and General in the presence of many great Mandarins entertain'd the Agents and their Retinue who sate every one at a particular Table furnish'd with variety of Meat serv'd in Gold and Silver Dishes and being very merry drunk the Emperors and the Hollanders General Iohn Maetzuiker's Health The General likewise gave them each two Pieces of Chinese Silk Stuffs and one Silver Plate for which the Agents humbly return'd them both thanks and likewise for the Honor and Favor which they had been pleas'd to shew them The Plate given by the General to Van Campen was the biggest and thickest weighing above twenty Ounces and eight or nine Inches in Diameter The undermost or greatest part is quite round and neatly imprest in the middle with six gilded Chinese Letters the Edges about it embost with Flowers and gilt On the top for an Ornament was like a Handle a piece Scallop'd the Edges gilt and the middle wrought with Leaves and Flowers The other Plate being the Vice-Roys was much lighter weighing not above six Ounces very thin and no way so well gilded or flowr'd at the Edges but onely on the Handle having in the middle sixteen or seventeen Chinese Characters Besides these every one of the Attendants had a Silver Cognizance given them but much lesser and lighter than the other Upon the Hollanders first arrival the Vice-Roy sent a Letter to the Emperor informing him of their Intention and likewise another to the Admiral Bort whom he desir'd to stay for his coming because he was very desirous to see their Fleet and to that end for encouragement proffer'd to furnish them with Provisions at his own Charge But Bort being gone with the Fleet towards the North before the Vice-Roys Letter came to his Hands and the Vice Roy coming afterwards in vain it was resented very ill yet at last he seem'd pacified when told That it hapned through the mistake of not delivering the Letters in good time And now the Ambassadors having leave to return took their Farewel with many Ceremonies complemented by the Vice-Roy and General after the manner of the Tartars then wishing them a safe Return they commanded seven Mandarins to conduct them through the Army beyond all the Guards From whence they rode over a great Bridge into the City to their Lodgings The City Sinksieu lying eleven days Journey into the Countrey is cut through the middle by a River which takes its Original out of a Mountain about an Hours walk beyond the Fort Lantyn It stands inviron'd with a Stone Wall broad enough for a Cart and Horses to go upon and set full of long Poles pointed with a sharp Iron like a Scythe with which they can cut a Man asunder at one stroke The City hath handsom Streets pav'd with Free-stone high Buildings large Pagodes or Temples of blue Stone several Houses and Shops well furnish'd with all manner of Silks Pourcelan Linnen and other necessary Commodities All the Windows of the Houses were fill'd with Spectators and the Streets on both sides crowded with thousands of People who out of curiosity came to see the Hollanders many of whom as they pass'd by wish'd them all happiness and a prosperous Journey Being past through the City with all their Train which consisted in seventeen Hollanders about a hundred to carry their Baggage and fifty Horse and Foot sent by the Vice-Roy as their Guard and Convoy they rode in four days to Zwansifoe from whence in the Evening they came to a great Village nam'd Chinhoe where they were welcom'd by three Mandarins and conducted into a spacious Pagode wherein the Images sate on Stools and Tables being there kindly entertain'd and treated by the Priests The ninth the Ambassadors set forth very early out of Chinhoe and travelling all
small Garrison to take it in Possession for which purpose the Isle Kolong lies very convenient and likewise the Piscadore's but barren and unfertile where also a Fort might be erected for our better Guard Not to accept to take any other place in possession if you can get Tayowan again Endeavor to Conquer Formosa and Tayowan by force of Arms if it cannot be done by Peaceable means yet take not so much Ground in possession as formerly The lower Castle of Zelandia being a good Garrison would be a sufficient Defence against the Assaults of the Chineses The upper Castle shall be Dismantled and left ungarrison'd that afterwards on farther Order it may be pull'd down and build a strong Redoubt in its place To keep the Fort Provintia and Garrison it with a hundred Men as also that of Quelang To begin somewhat in more safety in Tayowan the Forces ought to be brought ashore through the Straights of Lakge Moey on the main Land and there first to Attaque and win the Fort Provincia and likewise endeavor to get the Inhabitants there to joyn with our People to which purpose it will be requisite for you to take flat bottom'd Vessels from the Chineses because our Boats cannot carry so many Men in those shallow Waters neither could the requir'd Forces be brought ashore together and if they wanted those Vessels it would not be convenient to attempt any thing on that side but be better behind Tonkoya about six Leagues Southward of Tayowan where in the Northern Mouson the Water is very smooth and a higher Shore to break off the Winds From thence they should March up in two or three days by Land to the Fort Provincia at Sakkam and besides the convenient Landing there the Inhabitants of the South might perhaps joyn with the Hollanders which if they should all the Chineses in Formosa would not be able to withstand them If the Tartars should deny the Trade and that those of the Isles Ay and Quemuy live apart from Formosa and Tayowan and are in friendship with the Tartars and also inclin'd to agree with you do you likewise seem willing to it nay seek to joyn with them provided they procure us those Articles demanded of the Tartars and use their assistance towards the regaining of Formosa and Tayowan nay to fall upon the Tartars themselves if occasion should require No time is limited you to come with the Fleet from the North to Batavia but is left to the Discretion of the Admiral and his Council After the Admiral Balthazar Bort had on Iune the 30. Anno 1663. been conducted by several Friends aboard his Ship he set Sail the next Morning three hours before Day with all the Fleet consisting in sixteen Men of War and four Merchants bound for Iapan out of the Haven of Batavia with a South East Wind and running between the Isles of Hoorn and Edam they stood to the North-East At Noon the Fleet had the Isle South-Wayter South West and by West three Leagues from them in five Degrees and thirty Minutes Southern Latitude in the Evening about Sun-set they had the Isle North-Wayter about West-North-West four Leagues distant The second at the usual Signal of a White Flag and firing of a Gun all the Commanders and Chief Officers of the Militia came aboard the Admiral who according to the Lord General and Indian Councils Order chose out of them all for his Privy Council the Persons under written which the rest were to follow in Order viz. next to the Admiral Balthazar Bort who is to be always Chief was Huybrecht de Lairesse Vice-Admiral William Volkersz made Commander of those Ships that were to go to Iapan and Rere-Admiral as long as he stay'd with the Fleet. Bartholomeus Verwei who at Volkersz departure was to carry the Rere-Admiral's Flag and in that Degree take place in the Council Peter Coker Master of the Admiral 's Ship Ernest Van Hogenhoek Merchant in the Kogge And the first Captain Christian Poolman Commander of the Nut-Tree These having taken their places the Fleet was by them order'd to be divided into three Squadrons as had already been consider'd by the Admiral and approv'd of by the Vice-Admiral and the Orders which the Fleet was to follow being read were also affirm'd and likewise the proportions of Diet was agreed on At Noon the Admiral was in four Degrees and five Minutes Southern Latitude and had the High Island with the Trees West-North-West about seven Leagues from him The third about day-break they spy'd the Coast of Banka at Noon they Sail'd Eastward of the Isle Lucipa and in the Evening past within two Leagues and a half by the first Point of Sumatra South and by East from them On Thursday being the fifth they saw the Mountain Monapyn and were within two Leagues of the Shore of Sumatra towards Evening they Sail'd by the River Palimboang and between Poele Tousjou and Poele Sayo The sixth they saw the Isles Tousjou and were at Noon in one Degree and sixteen Minutes South Latitude The seventh the Fleet found Poele Sayo North-West and by West about three Leagues and a half from them in nineteen Minutes Southern Latitude and in the Evening descry'd in the North the Isles which lay near Lingen On Sunday they discover'd Dominies Island West-South-West four Leagues from them and crossing the Line saw the High Isle of the Box-horns about seven Leagues distant The ninth at Noon the Admiral was in fifty four Minutes Northern Latitude and in sight of the Isle Pangang West and by North about three Leagues and a half from him On the tenth appear'd the Isles Tinghy North-West and by West and Laver North and by West from them in the Morning the Fleet being near Laver cast Anchor on the West side of it Tymon hath no Wood neither for Firing nor any other use with which Laver is plentifully supply'd This Isle is pretty high and hath two rising Promontories one on the South and the other at the North end which make a Plain in the middle The twelfth about Noon five Ships upon the Admiral 's Order set Sail from Laver to Poele Tymon to take in Water Fuel and other Wood and likewise to Barter for Provision according to their agreement of the eleventh The Bay on the South-East Point of this Island lies very convenient for the fetching and taking in of fresh Water Firing and other Wood which is to be had ashore in great plenty but Provision is somewhat scarce here because the People of this Countrey have their Habitations more towards the South-West side and also that which is to be had is much dearer than at Poele Laver. The nineteenth the Admiral about Sun-rising set Sail from Poele Tymon and came in the afternoon to an Anchor with the whole Fleet by those Ships that were sent out before from Laver. The Fleet thus furnish'd with all Necessaries Weigh'd Anchor on the twentieth about Day-break and in the Evening had the Isle
the Hollanders continuing firm to their Resolution after many Messages toss'd too and fro at last it was brought so far that he not only excus'd them from going to Tangsoa and Lamoa but also consented that with all the Fleet they might go to Formosa promising likewise that he would send two Jonks Mann'd with two hundred Soldiers to Formosa under the Command of two Mandarins with Letters to demand that Countrey for the Hollanders But if the Enemies would not surrender to the Hollanders nor submit to the Tartars that then one of their Ships should come back with the two Jonks and Mandarins to inform him of it that he might send all his Navy and Forces to their assistance which according to the Admirals Request they should have confirm'd under his Sign Manual before they set Sail. In the Evening Admiral Bort advis'd the Vice-Admiral Lairesse in a Letter of all that had pass'd ashore The tenth he having resolv'd to go aboard the next Morning desir'd his Goods might be put into a Jonk and that he might be furnish'd with Coelyes for that purpose These Coelyes by others call'd Poelyes are a mean sort of Laboring People that for small Wages will serve any Person whatsoever in the Carriage of Burdens and Commodities from Place to Place as our Porters or Carriers They wear Shoes of Straw or Leather which they tie about their Ancles with a String made fast at their Toes and are so swift of Foot that they can match a Horse in his full speed In the Afternoon Captain Poleman was sent to Singlamong to thank him for the Kindnesses shewn to them while they had been on Shore and also to acquaint him that they would wait five or six days longer for the two Jonks and Mandarins with two hundred Soldiers and also the Letter to the Governors of Tayowan Lastly to present his Highness in the Admirals name a Pair of Pistols and Holsters and a Sword with a guilded Hilt At his Return Poleman related what he had receiv'd in answer That his Highness was sorry he could give no better Entertainment but he hoped they would excuse it as being in a Camp and not a City That he would send the two Jonks and Mandarins with the Soldiers and also the Letter to the Governor of Tayowan at the appointed day That he accepted the Presents because they consisted in Arms pretending to be asham'd because the Ong or King of Batavia had twice sent to him and he had not made one Return But he would not forget to present him by the Finch some of the Products of his own Countrey with a Letter and humble Thanks for his good Inclination towards him The eleventh the Admiral and all his Retinue took their leaves and soon after went to the Fleet and Singlamong with his Army to Soanchieuw The twelfth in the Afternoon the Admiral came near the low Point of Quemuy aboard of the Zierikzee Frigat The thirteenth several Jonks went from thence to Eymuy and Soanchieuw whither Tonganpek was gone four days before in which time he had written a Letter to the Admiral to this effect I Thank you for the Honor and Kindness which I have receiv'd from you since We joyn'd Our Fleets Now the Enemy is fled there is great hopes that you may easily regain your Countreys of Tayowan and Formosa The Pyrate is retir'd to Tangsoa whither We must pursue him to which purpose I will fit out eighty great and small Jonks under the Command of Choentsay and Goemtsin which shall Sail to Eymuy and there joyn with Sitetok's Fleet I would have gone my self in Person but that I am oblig'd to go to Soanchefoe to receive an Honor sent from the Court at Peking to be conferr'd upon Me which I thought good by these to acquaint your Honor with In the Evening two Mandarins brought a Letter to the Admiral from the General Lipovi at Soanchieuw and also five hundred Picols of Rice which he had formerly promis'd to the Seamen and Soldiers The fourteenth in the Morning the Admiral went ashore in the Island Quemuy where he view'd some ruin'd Villages and especially the Wall'd City Savja-Houpon being built in a pleasant Place and full of fair Houses but burnt by the Tartars before the Hollanders coming thither This Town according to the Relation of the Netherland Prisoner Maurice Iansz was first built by the foremention'd Savja in the time when old Coxinga went from thence to besiege Tayowan having before had his Residence in Eymuy from whence he went to Quemuy About six Months before Savja and his Brothers went thence and Embarqu'd themselves to go over to the Tartars because young Coxin continually oppress'd them by over-heavy Taxations Coxin having notice of this Flight of Savja sent Messengers to him with fair Promises not to molest him for the future and to make him Chief Governor of Eymuy and Quemuy which Bait taking he return'd but was soon dispatch'd out of the way and all his Goods seiz'd which being told to his Brothers which were not yet come back of which Tonganpek was one they went over to the Tartars In the Afternoon the Admiral return'd aboard whither in his way going into the Boat he found many dead Bodies which had been cruelly Butcher'd by the Tartars The seventeenth two Mandarins came from Soanchieuw to the Admiral with the seal'd Letters from Singlamong in which he advis'd the seventeen Chinese Commanders on Formosa and Tayowan to submit with their Soldiers and Countrey-men The Letter was this effect Lipovi's Letter sent to Tsiakoensin Wetingwan Toerlinpetensin Posinsojau Yogaukiloo Yoewetsji-kay Gautinong Soanchyong Nioetingli Chuenkicin Lioetsingoen Kiwintsiwan Suangi Gautinghtoe Yuensaugautingwan Sinkintingjang Ympincin Lioetsinang all Commanders in Tayowan THis is to let you understand That the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars nay all the Elements have hunted you from one Place to another till at last you came with Coxin into Tayowan Now I and Singlamong tell you by this Our Letter That on the tenth Moon the one and twentieth day with Ours and the Hollanders Forces We have conquer'd the Isles of Eymuy and Quemuy and all the other adjacent Places of your Generals and drove them so long till they are fled to Tongsoa where Kimsia Coxinga's Son and all his Party do now sculk but cannot find Sustenance there for so many People Who knows not that in short time he will die of Hunger His Forces have already the last Month receiv'd a terrible blow for one of Our Generals call'd Wansumpin slew above ten thousand Men besides two hundred which he took Prisoners amongst which are three Mandarins Tsiausou Syancin and Rikkoe We have also taken from them in the Haven Yuntzauw a hundred and fifty Jonks and Vessels Yet since Singlamong and I know that you intend and resolve to come to Us and freely submit your selves to Our Government and Realm when a fair Opportunity is offer'd therefore We have sent these Agents and Letters with the Holland Forces to Tayowan
and an Ensign slain Amongst the wounded was Captain Bitter who with an Arrow was shot into the Foot and also receiv'd two Cuts with a Sword through his Hat and Clothes but not into his Flesh. The Admiral by this time being also landed gave Order to all the Ships to send as many Sea-men ashore as they could spare each arm'd with a Pike and Sword Being now drawn up into Battalia he sent two Companies more to Captain Poleman and soon after a Company of Sea-men who had not been gone above half an Hour but a Serjeant sent from Poleman brought word that the Enemy was put to flight and fourteen of them slain The Admiral sent back the Serjeant with Orders to Captain Poleman to pursue the Enemy as far as was possible and prosecute the already gotten Victory yet not to go any farther than he would be able to come back in the Evening for the Admiral would wait his coming upon the Shore Whereupon the Serjeant with another Company of Soldiers and some Sea-men march'd away In the Evening Poleman return'd and inform'd That he had pursu'd the Enemy as soon as he had put his Men in Order again having seen much Blood along the way which he went and found four more lying dead but met no manner of Resistance nor saw so much as one Chinese afterwards Poleman also brought a Horse and an Ass with him but never an Ox nor Cow notwithstanding he saw several hundreds having no opportunity to fetch them The twenty eighth about Day-break six Companies of Soldiers and sixty Sea-men under Captain Poleman's Command were sent to the Church-Bay and two Companies of Soldiers and twenty Sea-men led by Captain Shimmelpewy to the Hollands Fort with Order That if they could not meet with any of the Enemy to fetch some Cattel aboard of the Ships In the Evening they return'd having not met with any Opposition but bringing with them about seventy Oxen and some Sheep and Goats which were distributed amongst the Ships and Soldiers The ninth in the Morning Captain Pooleman with seven Companies of Soldiers march'd towards the Church-Bay and several Places thereabouts to see for more Cattel with order to stay there all Night and return to the Fleet the next day The same day also the Admiral Vice-Admiral and several others march'd with two Companies into the Countrey and in the place where the Battel was they found the fourteen foremention'd dead Bodies which were stripp'd of all they had by the Tartars Soon after the Admiral return'd to the Place where they had incamped themselves In the Afternoon being the tenth the Eymuy Jonk and the three Boats came again from the Church-Bay to the Fleet and according to the Relation of the Secretary who the day before had march'd thither by Land and was now return'd again with the Jonk Captain Pooleman had given one whom he had taken Prisoner his Liberty on promise that he would furnish them with Cattel and bring the Rusticks to them which he endeavor'd though to little purpose for Pooleman got onely two Cows a Calf and a few Poultrey But Peter Coker who had been ashore with his three Boats full of Men before Captain Pooleman came thither had found fifteen Iron Guns twelve of which that carried from three to eight pound Bullets did formerly belong to the Hollanders but the other three were made by the Chineses Not long after Peter Coker came to the Admiral with some Prisoners and Chinese Rusticks of the Countrey as also twenty six Cows and Oxen. Lastly the Admiral sent the foremention'd Villagers and Prisoners home with Command as they priz'd his favor to bring more Cattel and then gave them a Sack of Rice and a Cup of Arak for which with their Heads bow'd to the Ground they cry'd Camsia Compagnia that is We thank the Company In the Evening the Admiral went aboard but came ashore again the next Morning In the Afternoon Captain Pooleman with his Soldiers having been a foraging brought some Chinese Peasants and twenty Cows to the Admiral who dismissed the Men upon promise of bringing in daily fresh Provisions The twelfth towards the Evening came about twenty five Countrey-men to the Netherlanders Camp with Goats and Poultrey for which the Admiral gave them two Bags of Rice restor'd them the Prisoners and granted them a free Pass which was to this effect SInce the People of this Countrey have submitted themselves and as an earnest of Subjection presented Us some Cattel Sheep and such as the Countrey affords therefore We have taken them into Our Protection and We charge and command all Persons and especially the Netherlanders not to do them the least harm when they of their own free Wills come with Provisions or anything else aboard of Our Ships Dated on the great Island Pehoe Balthasar Bort The thirteenth three Hours before day the Fleet set Sail and at four a Clock in the Afternoon dropp'd Anchor three quarters of a League North-East from the Castle Zelandia with their fifteen Ships besides the Jonk Eymuy and the two Tartar Jonks And now in regard the Netherlanders receiv'd no Tydings from the Shore much less Proffers as they expected of surrendring up the Countrey therefore the Admiral on the fifteenth proposed to his Council what it was best to do in carrying on their design of recovering it whether it were best first to Parly or begin with the Sword Hereupon they concluded that they had accepted of the Tartars Proposition about sending their Ambassadors with Letters from Singlamong and Lipovi to the Governors of Tayowan according to a Result taken the eighteenth of December in which the Chinese Commanders in Formosa and Tayowan were desir'd with their Soldiers to come to the Tartars and deliver up the Countrey to the Netherlanders as we have before related To which purpose the Agents were also among the Council there to desire their Order to let them go with their Jonks and two of the Netherland Ships to Tankoya and there to deliver their peculiar Letters and advise them to come over to the Tartars alledging That they could never do it in a better time whereupon after serious consideration the Council granted their Request and as Convoys sent two Frigats along with them Soon after the two Tartar Jonks conducted by the two Frigats took their Voyage to Tankoya The next Morning about two hours before Day the Admiral set Sail with six Frigats more to the Cape of Tankoya and two hours after Noon Rid by the Frigats that set Sail before and the two Tartar Jonks lying Westerly about a League from the Point The Tartar Agents being Landed with their Letters they immediately met with a great company of People who soon after ran all up into the Countrey so that they saw not one Man afterwards Towards the Evening the Rere-Admiral Verwei came aboard the Admiral with news That one of the Tartar Agents was return'd who told him that they had deliver'd all the Letters to which
Then the General told him as he had often done before That he had writ to the Emperor and at Nobels return they would grant the Company all what they would ask for the Emperor affected the Hollanders very much as appear'd by his Letters and Presents which in his time had never been done to any Stranger and the Agents must also be better gratifi'd than Nobel had done and that without fail the next day because they were just upon their return to the Court. Hereupon Hogenhoek ask'd the Vice-Roy that he would be pleas'd to tell him how much more he should give than Nobel had done Who said That it was at his pleasure Then Hogenhoek taking his leave went thence to the Agents who courteously receiv'd him and Discours'd with them concerning the constant Trade saying He hop'd that they would have brought Seal'd Letters from his Majesty about it To which they reply'd That they had deliver'd Seal'd Letters about it to their Excellencies Singlamong Lipovi and the Conbon or Governor of Hoksieu to this effect that if an Ambassador came to thank his Majesty he should immediately travel up into the Countrey and the Trade take a beginning to come every other year The Agents also were of opinion That if an Embassy was sent to the Court at Peking that the Hollanders if they requested any thing else it would be granted them in regard his Majesty bore a great affection towards them because they had so faithfully assisted in the War and gave them the sole Honor of the Conquest of Eymuy and Quemuy They also promis'd Hogenhoek that when they came to the Court they would seek to obtain a Grant from his Majesty for the constant Trade for which he thanking them return'd to his Lodging where he debated the General 's Proposal of augmenting the Presents to be made to the Emperors Commissioners and at last resolv'd to give the prime Agent twenty two Dutch Ells of Scarlet half a Chain of Blood Coral weighing six Ounces two Pieces of Colour'd Perpetuana's six Pieces of Linnen with four rich Swords The second Agent they gave seventeen Ells of Scarlet half a Chain of the like Coral weighing four Ounces two Pieces of Colour'd Perpetuana's four Pieces of Linnen and two Swords and likewise in their Presence their Mandarins and other Attendants were also presented every one according to their Quality On Saturday Morning being the twenty fourth Hogenhoek with his Servants went to the Agents to deliver the Presents who seem'd to refuse them yet after having look'd them over and deny'd them several times they at last over perswaded by Hogenhoek receiv'd them At parting Hogenhoek desir'd once more that they would be pleas'd to seek the Hollanders advantage before the Emperor and Council of State in the gaining of the constant Trade and render such an account of them as they had found and seen during their stay all which they faithfully promis'd Besides the Hollanders had some discourse about Trading into several parts of India and what Goods were brought thither and carry'd from thence by the Netherlanders which they again Transported to other places The Agents seem'd to be much delighted in this Discourse saying If an Ambassador be sent to the Emperor and the Enemy be driven from Tayowan they need not fear but all things would be granted them Here the Discourse ended and Hogenhoek returning Thanks took his leave and departed On Monday being the twenty sixth the Governor or Conbon sent the Hollanders a Present being good Table-provision for which Hogenhoek return'd him thanks by Factor Pedell On Thursday the twenty ninth the Chineses kept the Feast in Hoksieu by them call'd Peelou and likewise on the same day through all China viz. with long Boats with Oars new Painted and trick'd with Silk Flags and Pennons of several colours with which they Challenge and Row great Matches According to the Chineses relation to Hogenhoek the Instituter of this great Festival Peelou was formerly Governor of the Paracelles a Countrey that is very fruitful and abounds with Gold and Silver who foretold That that Island should be swallow'd up wherefore he and some of his Friends and others that believ'd him several days before fled from thence in their Jonks to the Main of China where they honor him as a God of the Sea for as they report soon after his departure the Island sunk in Commemoration of which they keep this annual Holy-day The Hollanders to observe the Custom of this Feast as also to recreate themselves hir'd a Boat to go among the rest No sooner was Hogenhoek return'd home but the General Lipovi sent his Mandarin to give him notice that the Emperors Agents intended the next Morning to go for Peking and that he and his Men should conduct them out of the City and therefore to send him word what Horses he wanted and they should be accordingly furnish'd On Friday being the thirtieth about Day-break another Mandarin sent from Lipovi came to Hogenhoek to desire him that he would be at the Agents House betimes Whereupon he and his Men went immediately thither some on Horses others in Pallakins where coming they found them busie Packing up their Goods and linking and coupling of Slaves and Slavesses to the number of six or seven hundred taken from the Islands Eymuy and Quemuy and given to them by the Governors of Zing and Sanzieuw and other Officers wherefore the Hollanders desir'd to go out before that they might not hinder the Agents which accordingly they did and after having stay'd a considerable time at the Vice-Roys open House the Agents came to them on Horseback excusing themselves that they had made them stay so long which they answering again with a Complement told them That they had not accounted the time long but took it for an honor to wait upon them Here the Emperors Envoys thank'd Hogenhoek for the Presents saying That they had receiv'd them very kindly but knew not whether his Majesty would let them keep such great Gifts without ordering to return them again They also promis'd as they had done several times before to speak in the behalf of the Netherlanders before his Majesty and Council and give them an account of all they had seen and heard and also would do their utmost endeavor and assist the Ambassador when he should come to Peking for which Hogenhoek returning them humble thanks Drank to them his Majesties Health in a great Glass of Sack that he had ready for that purpose which went merrily round The Envoy much admiring the excellent rellish of the Liquor ask'd if it grew in their native Countrey saying That it must need be a brave Place which not onely produces such excellent Wine but divers sorts of rare Commodities desiring him to give each of their chiefest Servants also a Glass that when they came to Peking they might say they had drank some Dutch Liquor This done and the Hollanders having taken their Leave they return'd and came towards Evening
accept of it they might keep it and return it in Peking Whereupon it was deliver'd to the Comptroller Ruwenoort to keep till they came thither The City Ienping or Ienpingfoe the next to the prime City or Metropolis of the Province of Fokien lies at the going up of the Stream on the right Hand or on the Westerly Shore of the River Min from whence it maketh a handsom Prospect on the side of a Hill the Edifices rising gently by degrees This Mountain is for the most part inaccessible making the City rather a Fortress and to be esteem'd as the Key of the whole Province The City is a League long but not above a Mile and a half broad full of fair and large Buildings Every House is furnish'd with Water convey'd from the Mountains in Cane Pipes the like not elsewhere to be seen in China All Provisions are to be had there in great abundance and at a cheap Rate the Streets and Houses also throng'd with Inhabitants On the East side of the City two great Rivers the Min and Zi uniting their Waters make a great Lake through which Ships come thither from all parts of the adjacent Countrey Each of these Rivers hath a fair Bridge and in the City are three beautiful Temples Most of the course China Paper is made here but the whitest and finest sort in a Village call'd Siege three Leagues beyond more Westerly which is all that is there of remark onely this City boasts that her Inhabitants speak the most elegant Phrase of all the Chineses and therefore it is call'd the Mandarins or Court Language That Night the Netherlanders lay a little from the City near the opposite Shore from whence they Row'd and set Sail the thirtieth in the Morning to Honjong a Village about a League from Ienping where all their Fleet Rendezvouz'd having had a narrow and dangerous Passage thither Hence they set Sail again about nine a Clock and in the Afternoon pass'd by Louquon Hoeyong Linkentome and Tafa the two first of which lie on the right and the two last on the left side of the River about half a League distant one from another In the Evening they anchor'd before Ongsoutow having that day gain'd three Leagues in a Northerly Course The one and thirtieth in the Morning setting Sail again they pass'd by a long Village call'd Bonsjouko about eight a Clock and at ten by the Village Liucuir Posjen and Ubaka the first and last on the right side and the second on the left In Ubaka much Paper is made which appear'd by several Vessels that lay Freighted onely with such Goods to go up the River About Noon they saw Konchian Sioeukke and Tayping the two first on the right and the third on the left side of the Stream close by one another In the Afternoon about three a Clock they came to Chiakiang where they Rode till the next day The next Morning being the first of February they set Sail again and in the Afternoon pass'd by five Villages viz. Siejokaun Itantauw Bayapo Siema and Filictauw the two first lying on the right and the two last on the left side of the River and about Noon they arriv'd at the City of Kienning or Kienningfoe where the Horses were immediately put ashore because the Barques in which they came were judg'd too big to carry them up any higher but not getting any smaller that day they were set up till the next Morning Here the Netherlanders had the Gates shut against them being not permitted to enter the City so that they were not able to get any fresh Provisions nay none were suffer'd to sell any thing to the Netherlanders without the Interpreters leave who acted as Comptrollers where-ever they came and especially Ienko as appear'd by a Soldier that belong'd to Sioubontok General of the City Ienping who having bought some Fruit for the Ambassador and bringing it to him was so soon as the Interpreters were inform'd of it taken by the Mandarins Order and ty'd Neck and Heels together and had not the Ambassador interceded for him they had sent him a Prisoner to Hoksieu where he would have been severely punish'd but the Ambassador at last prevail'd so much that he was set at liberty The second after the Vessels were prepar'd to carry the Horses they were immediately imbarqu'd again and all safely put Aboard the Tartars being highly pleas'd with them had dress'd them so neatly that they were slick as Glass In the Evening the Mandarins which were the Netherlanders Guides presented them with some boyl'd and roasted Meats Thus having gotten all things in a readiness they left the City Kienningfoe on the third the Governors thereof being so surly that they not once bid the Ambassador welcom or wish'd him a good Journey at his going from thence nor presented him with the least Provision which no way grieved them who by that means kept their Chests lock'd This Kienningfoe being the fourth and so one of the most eminent Cities in Fokien lying on the Eastern Shore of the River Min is something inferior in Beauty and Riches but not in bigness to the Metropolis Focheu and larger than Ienping but not so close built because several Corn-Fields are inclos'd within her Walls The Streets are all Pav'd with Pebble and very full of Inhabitants that drive no other Trade but making of course Paper They are Rul'd by two Governors which sway alternately the one not so much as once daring to contradict the other in his time China affords several sorts of Paper made of several Materials viz. of the Body and Leaves of Cane-tree Cotton Silk and Flaxen Clothes that which is made of Cotton is not altogether so white as our French Paper In the County of Vuchaufu belonging to the Countrey of Huquang They make also great quantities of Paper of the Canes and Leaves which grow there in great abundance In the Forenoon having left Kienningfoe they pass'd by Gaetchan Maschetany and Petchin Villages lying close together on the left side of the River the last lying about a League from Kienningfoe In the Afternoon they saw by the Village Kekau Vazoeo and Gautauw the two first on the right and the last on the left side of the River Towards Evening they came before and Landed at a ruin'd and decay'd Village call'd Chiaphong where they remain'd all Night Here they directed their Course almost North having a little of the West The next Morning being the fourth leaving Chiaphong they pass'd by Chincheuw seated on the right side of the River a League from Chiaphong and in the Afternoon by several Hamlets Houses and Pagodes that stood here and there apart from the rest along the Margents of the River In the Evening they arriv'd at a ruinous Town call'd Sjovova on the right side of the River having that day gain'd but two Leagues with great trouble The fifth in the Morning setting Sail again they left the Villages Tachoe and Pagou on their left
to the City Lanki where it disembogues in the Stream Che. The Rivulet Lung begins Westward of the City Seuchang from whence it flows to Chucheu where it cometh with its Waters near the River Tung and there is call'd Vonxa In the Prime County Hancheufu near the City Changhoa on the Mountain Cienking is a Lake though not very great yet famous for the Golden-colour'd Fishes taken there which the Chineses from their colour call Kinyu In the same Shire Eastward from the Metropolis lies the famous Lake Sikin between which and the City Walls is a fair Street Pav'd with Stone and almost a Mile long where they divertise themselves in stead of Walks of Pleasure The whole Lake Wall'd in comprises about five English Miles in compass and upon the adjacent Hills supply'd with various Rivulets and Fountains appear several Temples Palaces Cloysters Colledges and the like The Banks of the Lake which is the Foot of the Mountain are Pav'd on the top with Free-Stone and at h wart the Lake lie several Bridges so that they may walk over it and see the Lake in all places The foremention'd Ways are all Planted with divers shading Trees and accommodated with Benches Arbors and the like for the conveniency of such as walk there when they are weary to sit down and repose The Water in the Lake being so translucent and clear that they may see the smallest Stone in the bottom This Lake hath no Out or In-let for Vessels to pass but only a Sluce by which the Water swoln too high by assiduous Showres is discharg'd Yet nevertheless it bears many Pleasure-Boats built on purpose which may rather be call'd Golden floating Palaces being so richly Gilt and also curiously Painted in which they accustom to keep their great Feasts Revels and other delightful Pastimes These Vessels thus furnish'd Sail about the Lake without fear of Wrack or Tempest so that it is no wonder why the Chineses call this place and City A Delightful Garden or Earthly Paradise In the County of Kincheufu near the City Kaihoa is a little Lake call'd Pehiai from the white Crabs which it produceth for Pehiai signifies White Crabs In the Territory of Ningpofu near the City of Tunghoa appears Yapou a small Pool but very deep whose Water if the Chinese Writers may be believ'd has this quality that when they have a mild and prudent Governor it becomes much clearer than Christal but if a Tyrant or an Oppressor of the People dark and Cloudy In the County of Kiahingfu the Chineses catch a Bird in Harvest which they call Hoangcio that is Yellow Bird which being kill'd they steep in Wine made of Rice and is sold as a Dainty all the Year The Territory of Ningpofu hath by reason of its nearness to the Sea great plenty of Fish which they dry in the Sun without Salting They also have abundance of Oysters Crabs and Lobsters with which they supply the whole Empire of China The Shepherd Fish they catch all the year and in the beginning of the Spring another Fish call'd Hoang that is yellow which will not keep an hour out of the Water without tainting But because the Chineses account them a great Dainty and an excellent Fish they preserve them with Ice and so bring them to the Market The Countrey of Chekiang abounds with Tygers those on the Mountains near Kutien do no hurt to Humane Creatures whereas on the contrary those that frequent the Neighboring Woods are very Ravenous and Wild which taken and brought to the foremention'd Mountains become tame and innocent as the former In a Pond of about two hundred Paces in Circumference lying on Mount Sienking in the County of Hiangchefue the Chineses catch Fish of a Gold Colour wherefore they call them Kinyu for Kin signifies Gold and Yu Fish with a bright and glistering Skin but chiefly their Backs are speckled as with Gold they are never bigger than a Mans Finger and have a three forked Tail but not dangerous the Chineses account them as a great rarity preserving them in their Houses and Gardens in several Vessels made for that purpose The Grandees often take these Fishes with their own Hands which in their presence as if they knew who was their Lord and what a pleasure they did to their owners by sometimes shewing themselves often play and leap up and down above the Water One of them though so small costs commonly three or four Crowns In the eleventh County Veucheufu are a strange kind of small Oysters which are sow'd there in Marshy Grounds for taking the Oysters they first dry then stamp them small which Powder they cast up and down the Fields like Seed from whence grow other Oysters of a most delicious taste Through all the Countrey are plenty of Swine Sheep Poultry and Fowl both tame and wild In the County of Kiahing belonging to the Province Chekiang grows in standing Waters a round Fruit call'd Peu which is not much bigger than a Chestnut the Kernel lies cover'd with a grey Skin but appears very White in the middle full of Juyce and of a pleasing taste somewhat harder than an ordinary Apple and tartish If you put a piece of Copper with this in your Mouth it will so mollifie the Mettal that you may chew it with the Fruit as we do Bread with our Meat In the County of Kinhaofu grows a small Tree with a Flower which the Portuguese in India call Mogorin it is very white not unlike the Iasmyn though much fuller of Leaves and of a more pleasing scent so that a few of these Flowers perfume a whole House wherefore it is not undeservedly held in great esteem by the Chineses who in the Winter preserve the Tree in Pots fill'd with Earth In the same Countrey grows another Plant call'd Kieuyen which produces a kind of Fat of which like Tallow very good and white Candles are made not Greasing the Hands when touch'd like the ordinary Tallow Candles This Tree is of a pretty bigness and in Leaves and shape not much unlike a Pear-Tree it bears white Blossoms which when fallen off a round Cod succeeds as big as a Cherry cover'd with a blackish thin Skin under which is a white Pulp which when grown Ripe and the Skin breaks appears these being pull'd off are boyl'd in Water which melting the Body turns to Fat and when grown cold becomes hard like perfect Tallow From the remaining Kernels they Extract very good Lamp-Oyl so that this Plant supplies them both with Lamps and Candle light In the Winter the Leaves become red which looks very pleasant because many of them growing together shew like a blushing Wood. Lastly the Leaves falling off are a most excellent Food because of their fatness for Sheep and Cows which by Eating them thrive in an extraordinary manner In the County of Chucheufu near the City Kingning grow great Thickets of Canes and Rushes in the River Lupeu by
which at this Place they were to provide themselves quite to Peking The thirtieth in the Forenoon the Conbon sent the Ambassador by one of his Mandarins ten Picols of Hay for a Present which since none could be bought for Money was accepted with many thanks and a reward to the Mandarin that brought it In the Afternoon a Grand Mandarin who had the Command over the Militia and the Emperors Wardrobe in this City came to Complement and Welcom the Ambassador who having presented him with a Glass of Wine and shewed him the Horses and Oxen took his leave The one and thirtieth in the Morning being furnish'd with all Necessaries they left Siucheu and were Tow'd along a digg'd Channel which reaches from Siucheu Eastward of the Lake Tai to the City Chinkiang and disembogues it self into the great River Kiang Having stay'd eight days for new Vessels to Embarque themselves in and yet not able to get enough were forc'd to keep four of their Hanksieu Barques two for the Horses and two for the Presents The two Masters of the Havens sent by the General of Hanksieu to conduct the Netherlanders took their leave at the North Suburb of Siucheu where leaving the Ambassador they intended to Sail again to Hanksieu Van Hoorn for their care which they had over the Vessels gave each of them a Piece of Perpetuana and also with this opportunity sent the following Letter to the General of Hanksieu and the Conbon GRatitude is accounted the greatest Vertue amongst the Hollanders The Ambassador cannot forget the many Favors which the generousness and Civility of Talavja had conferr'd on him The Ambassador cannot find words to express his hearty thanks but hopes at his Return from Peking and for the future to manifest by Deeds how much the Realm of Holland and the Ambassador are oblig'd to Talavja The whole City Siucheu hath its Situation on the Banks of a great standing River which cuts through the City cross-ways and is Navigable both for small and great Vessels The Walls of the City according to the Chinese Geographers are forty Chinese Furlongs in circumference and with the Suburbs above a hundred As the Netherlanders were inform'd the City covers a Spot of three Leagues in circumference Without and within are many stately Bridges of Stone resting on several Arches It is but thinly built and the Houses are erected on Pine-tree Masts many of them being very sleight Siucheu because of its nearness to the Sea and the River Kiang is a Place of great Trade and hath many Ships belonging to it nay the Netherlanders saw so many Boats in all Places that there was scarce room to get through them Much Amber is us'd in this City for the Hollanders passing through several Streets saw none but Workers of Amber All things not onely for the subsistence of Man but also for pleasure may be had here in great plenty It is one of the famousest Places in all China because all the Portuguese Indian Iapan and other Commodities that come from foreign Countreys are brought thither not onely by Strangers but the Chineses themselves There also come many Merchants from Nanking and other Places to Trade which makes that from year to year there is a continual Trade here and Ships going from hence to other Provinces and Cities and because the Ships should not be in danger when they Sail cross the neighboring Lake Tai there is a Channel made on the North side of the Lake which runs from the City Sucheu to that of Chinkiang so that it discharges its Waters in the River Kiang but yet the Course of it is stopp'd up there by a Sluce which is drawn up or let down when they please But as they travel from Sucheu to Ukiang or from Ukiang to Sucheu is a Stone Bridge resting on three hundred Arches by which the Channel is divided from the Lake Tai. On this Bridge they draw their Vessels along by a Line it being built for that purpose that they need not lie still there with their Ships Without the Walls of the City stands a Custom-house where they pay no Custom for Goods but for the Ships according to their Burthen and it is said that this Custom comes Annually to ten hundred thousand Ducats or five hundred thousand Pound Sterling whereby it may easily be judg'd how many Ships go constantly up and down this River whereas all the Emperor's Vessels or those that carry any thing to the Court pay nothing Many of the Emperor's greatest Barques call'd Lunchyven past by whilst the Hollanders Rid at Anchor there The City is Govern'd by a Conbon or Governor who at that time was a Leaohing Chinese and highly belov'd by all Persons After the Netherlanders were gone about a League from the City they pass'd by Xuciquan a large Village and in the Afternoon saw two hundred of the Emperor 's great Barques lying at Anchor In the Evening they arriv'd at the South-East side of the Suburb Usie having that day with Sailing and Towing pass'd six Leagues in several Courses Usie the second substitute City to the fifth Metropolis Changcheu signifies Wanting of Tin for formerly on Mount Sie near Fusie the Chineses found a great deal of that Metal but in the beginning of the Reign of the Imperial Family of Han most of the Mines were exhausted for which reason the City receiv'd that Denomination Here the Hollanders found many Stone Ovens in which they Bake or harden with Heat to that purpose all manner of Stone In the Morning being the first of April they proceeded on their Journey and Sailing about a Musquet-shot from the Walls of Usie which leaving on their Lar-board they arriv'd at the North-Suburb where having stay'd some time for Coelies or Men to Tow them they went forward again About Noon they Sail'd through Unquouw a Village situate on both sides of the Channel where they saw divers Vessels full of Indigo which the Masters of them said was to be had at Sinchian and Sucheu and towards the Evening arriv'd at the Village Gongling where they stay'd all that Night having that day Sail'd three Leagues and a half in a Northerly Course The second in the Morning leaving the Village Gongling and after half a Leagues Towing through the Village Syksiovyem they dropp'd Anchor in the Evening on the North side of the City Siucheuw otherwise call'd Cbangcheu that there they might furnish themselves with fresh Coelies but none being to be had there so suddenly they were forc'd to stay that Night having not gain'd above two Leagues in a North-West Course all that day The reason why they made no greater speed was because the Channel was very full of the Emperor's Barques which by reason of their Bulk and deep Lading made but little way and the Channel so narrow that they could not pass them The sides of this Channel near the City are rais'd with much braver Stone than the other parts The third
the Priests to know future Events Presently after Noon the Governor of Sinkian came with a Train of great Lords to the same Temple which he was no sooner enter'd but he sent for the Ambassador desiring him he would Command his Musick with him which the Ambassador did and so repairing to the Temple the Governor Entertain'd them with Bean-Broth and the Ambassador on the other side Cordiall'd them with Preserv'd Nutmegs which the Governor and his Mandarins having never tasted of before Eat with great delight while the Musicians plaid on their several Instruments After some stay the Governor desir'd to see the Horses which the Ambassador caus'd to be brought out of the Barques which they all beheld with great admiration saying That they had never seen the like therefore they doubted not but they would be very acceptable to the Emperor after they had seen the Horses the Governor return'd again to the City and the Hollanders to their Barques On Sunday being the tenth and Easterday they set Sail with a South-East Wind from the City of Sinkiun the Ambassador with twelve Barques more went Northerly cross the River Kiang and after having Tack'd too and again about an hour they arriv'd at the North-side of the River about a quarter of a League distant from the Garrison of Quasieu or Quacheu through a great Stone Sluce in an artificial Channel running Northerly by the seventh Metropolis Xangcheu to the Lake Piexe This Trench is digg'd directly through the Countrey to make a way for Shipping out of the River Kiang which in that place sends no Branches to the North but runs direct East towards the Sea into the Yellow River It was at first in the Embassy of Peter de Goyer and Iacob de Keys by Nieuhof call'd The Royal Channel partly for her breadth and pleasantness and partly because it was built at the King's Charge They were Tow'd thorow the same in several Courses having divers Reaches and Windings in half a League At the end of which they arriv'd at a Village call'd Tongnanghong where they rested a little whilst the Ambassador walk'd ashore to see the foremention'd Sluces and going also towards a Temple was met by two Mandarins one a Sinksieuwan and according to his own saying the second Person of Quasieu and the other a Tartar and Governor of that Village who both civilly welcom'd him for which he return'd them Thanks He of Sincksieuw being ask'd by the Ambassador concerning Tayowan whether it would be deliver'd answer'd That he was well satisfi'd that this Embassy and chiefly the Presents which the Netherlanders brought would be very acceptable to the Emperor and that he doubted not of their good success in their Business and that all their Wishes were that the Netherlanders were enter'd into a League with the Tartars in the Countrey of China and that they might come there to Trade with them and then they should hope that the Foraign Traffique would again be permitted as formerly whereas because of the strict Watches at the Sea-Port Towns nothing could be done and that the Countrey People could not put off their Commodities and if you Fee the Courtiers well nothing will be deny'd at Peking As to what concern'd Tayowan it was in a mean condition because they were obstructed from Trading to any place in China and likewise all their best People were gone therefore if the Emperor would only joyn twenty Jonks to the Netherland Ships it might easily be taken That about five Moneths since a Messenger had been there from the Emperor to bring all the Chineses there present under Subjection who had also Order that if those of Tayowan did not hearken to his Proposals that then at his return he should destroy all the Sea-Port Towns which were yet in being and to give strict Orders in all places that not one Jonk should either come in or go out but if they would submit themselves to the Emperor that then all places should be left as they were Now this Messenger being return'd fruitless there was such Orders given in all the Havens that not one Vessel can either come out or in to them which was formerly winked at Not many days since another Messenger was sent to Tayowan being the same of whom Ienko the Interpreter had inform'd the Ambassador at Sucheu whose return they much long'd for The Ambassador after this Discourse invited the Mandarins with some other that came thither in the interim to this Barque where they were entertain'd with a Glass of Spanish Wine which having drank they departed This Mandarin of Sincksieuw sent the Ambassador as a Present one Porker one Sheep four Hens two Geese a Vessel of their Drink and some Herbs and the Governor of the Village some Dishes of Meat ready dress'd Afternoon the Vessels going thorow the foremention'd Sluces the Mandarin Guide Hiu Lavja came to an Anchor at the end of the Village before a Pagode and from thence Rode to make merry at the City of Quazieu wherefore the Ambassador seeing that this day would be spent idly went with the Barques wherein the Presents were Laden to the Village Palipoe and staid all Night but the Mandarin inform'd of the Netherlander's departure soon after follow'd them to the foremention'd Villages This day they gain'd about three Leagues The eleventh in the Morning they set Sail again and pass'd by several small Towns and Villages and also by a great Tower with seven jutting Galleries standing on the South-side of Tongnaphan between which and the foremention'd Tower a Channel runs up Westward into the Countrey Against Noon they came to the South Suburb of Iamcefu otherwise call'd Iancheu the third City of Note in this Territory where was also a Tower with four Galleries by which being Tow'd to the City Walls they resolv'd to change their Coelies having given those that brought them thither leave to go home notwithstanding it was late before they got new Men yet they went away and pass'd through a Bridge with six Arches opposite to a Custom-House and so Eastward having that day been Tow'd up the River two Leagues and a half In the Morning being the twelfth they proceeded on their Journey about Day-break from Yancheu against the Stream by and through Wantoe a Village separated by a Channel that runs up into the Countrey of Wayopoe or Stone Bakers from the abundance of Kilns that are there the West part of it being under Water represented a great Pool or Lake At Noon they pass'd by Sjopouzink a Village that a far off seems a City and also three Sluces thorow which the Water runs out of this Channel into the Manur'd Grounds Towards the Evening coming to a small Village of seven or eight Houses call'd Louting where was a Cloyster of their Votaresses or Nuns they dropp'd Anchor having gain'd five Leagues on several Courses The thirteenth in the Morning leaving the Village Louting they pass'd by many Cottages standing on the East-side of this Channel to the
Westward of which the Countrey lay all drown'd In the Afternoon they arriv'd at Kayoven or Kaoyeu the fourth City of Note next Hangcheu where they were forc'd to stay because their Coelies could not pass the Ways being so deep by continual falling of Rain The City Kaoyeu lieth on the East-side of this Channel on the brinks of the Lake Piexe which supplies the Stream with Water Formerly all the Ships that would go from Nanking and the other Southern Territories along the River Kiang and this Channel up to Peking and so to the Northern Province were forc'd to cross the foremention'd Lake to their great hinderance and inconveniency being in Stormy Weather many times compell'd to stay at Kaoyeu for fair Weather But in process of time to prevent this trouble and that at all times the Ships might proceed on their Journey and not be necessitated to cross the Lake a broad Channel was digg'd of seventy Furlongs on the East-side of it and Wharff'd or Inclos'd on each side with Free-stone The City stands on a Clay Ground the same with the adjacent Countrey very good for Rice which they have there in abundance The Countrey to the West of this Channel lies most under Water yet produceth abundance of Canes which serve for Fuel for no other Wood grows here The fourteenth in the Morning they set Sail with a stiff Gale of Wind out of the North-North-East from the South Suburb of Kayoven and for a quarter of a League they had the City on their Starboard and the Lake on their Larboard till they were past the North Suburb then Steering a Northerly Course up the Royal Channel they left the foremention'd Lake on their Larboard Between this Lake and the Channel is only a narrow Bank of three Foot high which separates the one from the other On their left Hand the Countrey lay all under Water yet in some places stood a few small Huts dry being the Residence of Countrey People In the Afternoon they past by the Village Loantsia which lay on their Starboard here the Countrey on the East-side began to shew somewhat pleasanter being Till'd in several places In the Evening they Anchor'd at a Village call'd Kuisjo The fifteenth in the Morning leaving Kuisjo they past by Laensui and Loujapou and in the Afternoon Landed at Paoing the sixth City of Note under the seventh Metropolis Yangsheu it lieth on the East-side of this Channel and is surrounded with strong Walls about a League and a half in Circumference On the North-side of the City stands a fair Temple neatly built after the Chinese manner Here they staid sometime waiting for fresh Coelies which having gotten they went farther and in the Evening arriv'd at Kinho where they staid all Night having that day by several Courses gain'd five Leagues Between the City Paoing and the Village Kinho the Bank Westward of the Channel which separates that and the Lake Piexe is broken in several places through which the Water rushes with such a force out of the Channel into the Lake that they had great labor to keep the Vessels from falling there into The sixteenth about Day-break proceeding on their Journey they past through and by many Villages and Hamlets lying on each side of the Channel and about Noon arriv'd at the West Gate of the City Hoaigan having by Noon been Tow'd and Sail'd three Leagues and a half in a Northerly Course Here as the Mandarin Guides told them all their Vessels in which they came were to be chang'd whereupon they immediately apply'd themselves to the Commissary of that place that they might be dispatch'd with what speed possible No sooner were they come to an Anchor with all their Barques but there also Landed the Masters of the Haven of Hanksieu which on the last of March went from Sucheu with the Ambassador's Letter to the General which Letter they said they had safely deliver'd Their business for which they came thither was to fetch back the four Hanksieu Jonks which were yet amongst the Fleet. Some Mandarins also came to Complement and bid the Ambassador Welcome in the name of the Governor of that place for which Civility they were Entertain'd with two or three Glasses of Spanish Wine In the Night there arose a great Storm out of the North mixt with Thunder and Lightning which continu'd all the next day The eighteenth the foremention'd Governor invited the Ambassador and his whole Retinue to a Feast in a great House at the West-Gate of the City before which they lay with their Vessels whither they accordingly went about Noon and were no sooner come there but they were brought to the Governor's Presence who kindly Congratulated the Ambassador's Arrival and Health After some other Complements were past every one was plac'd at a peculiar Table and plentifully serv'd Among their Table-talk at Dinner the Governor ask'd What the Ambassador thought of China and if it was not a great Countrey Who reply'd Yes Sir not only a great but a very fair Countrey full of Fertile Grounds and Delightful Objects Then he began to Discourse with the Guide Mandarins which were there present about the Vessels Wherefore the Ambassador desir'd the Governor being inform'd before that there were few Barques to be had there that since he was come so far with the Emperor's Presents having never wanted any Conveniencies that he would be pleas'd to take care to procure them good Vessels so soon as possible because he was yet to go the most dangerous part of the way having already spent so long a time in their Journey All which this Lord promis'd and excusing the meanness of the present Treat hoping when they came back from Peking to be provided for their better Entertainment On which Van Hoorn proffer'd to Present him with a parting Cup of Spanish Wine which he modestly refusing would not suffer Thus the Netherlanders taking their leaves and departing to their several Barques two Mandarins came to them which had whilst the Netherlanders were Entertain'd at the foremention'd Lords sate just over against them to ask in the Governor's Name if their Entertainment had pleas'd them whereupon the Ambassador in respect to their Master Presented each of them with five Ells and a half of Red Cloth which after some Complements they accepted The nineteenth in the Morning according to the usual Custom the Secretary Vander Does went with a Complementing Letter to the Commissary and to Thank him for his kind Entertainment The Contents were these THe Ambassador so highly esteems Talavja's Civility that he cannot express his Thankfulness in these few Lines but at his return from Peking He hopes to find Him in good Health when he will manifest and confess himself much oblig'd by his Lordships Favors The Ambassador was inform'd by the Mandarin Guides that notwithstanding the Commissary had promis'd Yesterday that he would take care to provide Vessels for his farther Journey The Touwatja had said That there were none to be
thence to Peking When they come to this City they are all search'd and measur'd by the Vice Roy's Order who afterwards sends them to the Court. In this Suburb are also two Custom-houses one for Merchandises and the other for Ships but not for the Emperor's use The Money which is hereby rais'd is bestow'd on the repairing of Sluces Graffs and Banks near several Water-falls yet notwithstanding a great part thereof goes to the Emperor's Exchequer On the North side of the City in this Channel are three Water-falls of which the first and nearest to the River Hoai is the most troublesom because out of this River the Water comes with great force which is stopp'd by nine great Banks that it may not overflow the whole Countrey Not far from Haoigan the Netherlanders pass'd by Pantja and several other Villages and also by a great number of the Emperor's Jonks laden with Tributary Goods In the Evening they arriv'd at Zinkhiunzoe where they were to pass by a Sluce having by Noon been Tow'd almost three Leagues The twenty fifth about Noon leaving Namemio they cross'd the Yellow River which runs South-East and North-West by the foremention'd Village to the Western Shore on which the Coelies were Landed opposite to the Village Singho and then tow'd them North-North-West up the Yellow River till they came to the Village before-mention'd where they stay'd for fresh Men. Mean while a Siampan or Boat came aboard with a Priest and two Persons calling themselves Magicians or Cunning-men one of them having a Bodkin stuck through his Cheek and continually shaked their Bodies as if they had been possess'd which they made the poor People believe also telling the Men in the Ambassadors Vessel That they should have a fair Wind the next day and a successful Voyage whereupon the Master who stood quaking before them gave them some Silver which was all they desired and also some Gold and Silver Paper which he entreated them to offer to their Deity Van Hoorn also to be rid of them gave them some Money There are many of these sort of People in China which by strange Gestures and scourging of themselves after a peculiar manner so get Alms from the Charity of the People Some lay red-hot Cinders on their bald Heads where they let them burn so long till the stench of the Broyling offends the Spectators whilst they by crying wringing of their Hands and the like enduring so great Torment move all that are present to a charitable Benevolence There accustom also in the chiefest Cities and Places of greatest Commerce especially at Annual Fairs whole Companies of blind Beggars which at the uttering of some Words which they mutter strike themselves so violently with a sharp and cutting Stone on their Breasts that sometimes the Blood trickles down their Bellies Others knock their Foreheads one against another with such violence that they seem to crack one anothers Skulls which they continue till fainting they fall in a Swoon unless prevented by a considerable Alms. Some again lying along on the Ground beat their Heads against the Stones till they have great Swellings as big as Eggs upon their Foreheads Besides these there are many other Idle People in China who by several Cheats maintain themselves by the Gifts of Charitable Persons The Beggars amongst others go up and down in Companies as our Gipseys who for their debauch'd living are accounted as the most infamous of the Nation Most of them are deform'd either born so or else made so wilfully by their Parents in their Infancy with incredible Torture for there are some with wry Necks or Mouths crook Backs long hooked Noses or squint Eyes and lame Arms or Legs There are likewise many Mountebanks who use several wild Beasts especially Tygers made tame by Degrees on which to the admiration of the Beholders they sit and ride through many Cities and Villages which walk along the Streets very softly with a Branch in its Mouth which holding wide open is very fearful to look upon besides his Tail which he swings to and fro yet hurts none The Rider who knows without either Bit or Bridle to govern the Tyger onely by moving his Body and Feet hath a wide Coat over his under Clothes with Sleeves so large that they hang down half way to the Calfs of his Legs Over his right Shoulder comes a Girdle which is made fast under his left Arm in manner like a Scarf In his left Hand he grasps a Sword with which he cuts the Air and now waves it over his Head and then side-ways crying and extolling like our Stage-Doctors his Balsoms Unguents and Plaisters good against all Wounds and Distempers whatsoever This Mountebank is generally accompanied with many deform'd People some following him on Crutches others with Rattles most of them go naked others again wear wide Coats full of Patches of divers Colours and Stuffs others which is strange to behold have stiff Wings on their Temples on each side of their Heads IT was late in the Afternoon before fresh Toers came from the Village Singo nevertheless the Netherlanders going forward pass'd by Sinkiazuan and about Night arriv'd at another small Village containing about ten or twelve Houses call'd Ioupou where they dropp'd Anchor having that day been tow'd but two Leagues and a half The twenty sixth they went by break of day from Ioupou and came having pass'd Conghiveao Tsantzan and Govetchia the two first on the East and the last on the West side of a River about a Cannon-shot Southward from the City Taujenjeen where they were forc'd to stay for fresh Coelies having that day gain'd three Leagues and a quarter according to the Course of the Yellow River Taujenjeen otherwise call'd Taoyven scituate on the Western Shore of the Yellow River is surrounded with broad and strong Mud or Earthen Walls fortifi'd above with Stone Breast-works The twenty seventh they proceeded on their Journey with fresh Toers and leaving the City Taujenjeen went on Easterly and at Noon pass'd by Suytsien lying on the East side of the Yellow River and also by divers Rusticks Houses which stood on each side thereof At Noon they came to a nameless Hamlet of seven or eight Houses on the West side of the Stream where they stay'd all Night because the Mandarins it beginning to blow somewhat hard durst not venture further This day they were got about three Leagues onwards of their Journey The next Morning being the twenty eighth they reach'd the Villages Goesjan Pojancho and Gousuntu the one on the East and two last on the Western Shore of the Stream In the Afternoon they arriv'd at Tsinsing where they lay still expecting fresh Coelies being got three Leagues and a half that day on several Courses Somewhat Easterly from Tsinsing appears a fair Castle within a Wall which towards the North takes in a Mount The twenty ninth in the Morning weighing from Tsinsing they came having sail'd a League Westerly to Kousango a
for Shipping the Vessels and Barques that come Laden to this City with all sorts of Merchandize from most places in China here pay Custom to three Treasurers chosen for that purpose On the North side you may see a Bridge with nine Arches over which they pass from one part of the City to the other one of which Arches is made so artificially that it may be remov'd and give Passage to the biggest Vessels after they have paid their Custom The City seated in a plain and Sandy Soil hath a Mud-Wall Fortifi'd on the top with Stone Breast-works having on the North side fifteen Bulwarks and two Redoubts Half a League from the Walls on the North side of the City is an exceeding high Tower built with eight corners rising from the Ground with nine Galleries every one nine Cubits above another so that the whole heighth amounts to ninety Cubits The Out-Wall consists of fine Porcelane Earth curiously adorn'd with Imagery and Painting the Inner of various colour'd Marble Pollish'd as smooth as Glass especially the Black The Ascent is by a pair of winding Stairs not made in the middle but betwixt two Walls which hath its Entrance at every Story and from thence to the Marble Galleries and Gilded Iron Rails which as an Ornament are made round about the Galleries at whose corners hang little Bells in such a manner that being mov'd by the Wind they make a pleasing sound On the uppermost Story stands a great Image thirty Foot high Cast of Copper and Gilt to which being a Goddess the Tower is Dedicated From the upper Gallery the whole City with the adjacent Countrey yield a pleasing and delightful Prospect On one side of this Tower stands a fair Pagode or Temple worth the seeing for the great Gilded Images which are in it In the Afternoon they were Tow'd along the River Guei through the Village Wantouwo and in the dusk of the Evening they arriv'd at Ifong a little Village where they Anchor'd being gotten three Leagues with the Tyde from Linsing This River Guei takes its Original on the West side of Gueihoei the fourth City of Eminency in the Province of Honan and from thence runs with many crooked Meanders between Xantung and Peking and at the Castle Tiencin disembogues into a Bay call'd Cang which borders on the great Indian Ocean The first of Iune Weighing again by break of Day they had sight of Oepoeye and Wankelo two pretty Villages at Noon they were Tow'd Easterly by the City of Vohincheen but without stay so in the Afternoon passing Sangnes about the Evening they arriv'd at Chianmaing where they were to change their Toers having that day gain'd five Leagues in several Courses The second in the Morning having gotten fresh Coelies they set out from Chiamaing and past by Tsasuang and Singkiakouw and in the Evening they arriv'd at the City of Oesingjeen or Uciening otherwise call'd Vuching the fourteenth City belonging to the Metropolis Tungchang in the Province of Xantung where they cast Anchor Vuching lies Inclos'd with a square Wall on the East side of the River having on the same a well-built Suburb This day they gain'd five Leagues and a half according to the Course of the Stream which thereabouts is full of windings and shallow Water The third in the Morning they reach'd the Villages Thunloo Soenusoe and Teckchiouw and at Noon arriv'd at the City Taatchiouw otherwise call'd Tachu This City lieth in a Square as most of the other Cities in China built on the right side of the River Guei as you go up the same it is inlarg'd with a fair and Populous Suburb The City it self though full of handsom Houses yet hath lost much of his former Luster suffering in the last Tartar Wars The Wall is about thirty Foot high well built and Fortifi'd with Bulwarks and Breast-works The chiefest Trade of the Inhabitants consists in the Brewing of as we may call it Chinese Beer which the Tartars Transport from thence to other places Here they lay still a little while waiting for fresh Toers which having gotten they Weigh'd again and came that Evening to Soukuntang a Village where they staid to change their Toers again having this day gain'd six Leagues and a half The next Morning being the fourth having gotten other Coelies they proceeded on their Journey and past by some Vessels that were come from Peking in one of which was the General of the Province of Quantung sent thither to succeed him that was then there having in regard of his great Age desir'd a Writ of Ease About nine a Clock they Landed at Sangjueen where they tarry'd some time from thence going on in the Afternoon they came to Ghanning and Seufeukhouw and against the Evening at Lienuchoe where they Anchor'd having that day gone six Leagues According to the information of the Villagers here the Province of Xantung parted from that of Peking though others will have it that those two Provinces are separated by the City Taatchiouw The fifth in the Morning they Weigh'd at break of Day and Sailing down the River with a fair Wind from Lienuhoe they past about eight a Clock by Taloeveen at nine a Clock Westward by the City Tonquangchien or Tungquiang on the South side of the River Guei about a Musquet shot up into the Countrey This City as the rest built Square contains about an Hours walk in Circumference Inviron'd with strong Walls and deep Moats In the Market-place in the middle of the City stands a great Iron Lyon and the Countrey about is planted with all manner of Trees pleasant to behold At Noon they Landed at Ieusang in the Evening at Poethouw where they dropt Anchor waiting for new Toers having this Day Sail'd four Leagues in the Province of Peking The next Morning so soon as Day-light appear'd they left Poethouw with a fair Wind and new Toers and in the Forenoon past Suskiajeen Sjenzoctan Swykvao Sakkiavoy Siensiteen Fonkiakoul Sangui and Suangcho and at Noon arriv'd at the City of Siangchiouw where they found other Toers ready with which they immediately went away again and past that Afternoon by Paliswang Zaysisung Ulchilitung Soucoulthon Suckiaswun Sang Isuang Ul and Vly besides many Pagodes and Hamlets of decay'd Houses and arriv'd in the Evening at the City of Chinche where they lay still that Night to be furnish'd with fresh Coelies The seventh before Day-light new Coelies coming they immediately went on their Journey and very early past by and through several Villages viz. Sanquesucan Iaquacouw Tonchekouw Palisuang and about eight a Clock they went Eastward along by the City Chingchee By this City a River running up into the Countrey takes its Course to the South soon after they went by Sayetwang Masang Haysoemat and Suang At Noon they past thorow Lioucho where they should have chang'd their Toers but the Wind blowing very fair they past by without striking Sail which favoring them all the Afternoon they went by nine Villages
the Morning the Cape Avarelles Valze The Wind being at North-East and their Course along the shore South and by West and South-South-West they came in the Evening up with the Point of Holland from whence they Steer'd South-West and by South to raise Paul Candor which Isle they saw in the West on the six and twentieth in the Afternoon and the next Evening Anchor'd behind the Goats Horns where the Crane also arriv'd the following day The last of October the Batavia Frigat arriv'd at the South-East side of Paulo Timaon but the Wind shrinking she was forc'd to drop Anchor half a League from that wherein the Ambassador was aboard Here the Ambassador gave Order to take the Silver out of the Victoria and Crane and put it into the Bleiswyk again and likewise sent his Sloops to the Batavia to fetch the Silver out of her Whereupon the Bleiswyk was according to their Excellencies Order in Batavia sent with all the Silver Gold and other Commodities to Malakka to the Governor Balthazar Bort to be sent from thence to Bengale The Ambassador inform'd him by Letters that he was receiv'd with all kindness at the Court in Peking and left the same with much Honor and Friendship but could not inform him what was obtain'd by this Embassy because the Emperor had sent his Letters Seal'd to the Lord General but that it was certain that for the future they should Trade in Canton and not in Hoksieu in the removal of which if all things else were well he found little trouble The first of Ianuary the Fleet left Paulo Timaon and in the Afternoon the Bleiswyk taking leave of the Fleet steer'd her Course to the Streights of Sinkkapura In the Evening the Ambassador saw Pulo Aura a League and a half North-East from him The second in the Morning he stemm'd the Mountain Monapyn and on the third had Pulo Lingen on his Stern The fourth entring the Streights of Banka he arriv'd on the seventh before Batavia where the Ambassador deliver'd the Emperor 's Seal'd Letter to the Lord General and gave him an account of all his Adventures Thus having brought the Embassy out of China to Batavia we will return thither again and declare what properly concerns the Chineses and their Countrey and first begin with their Entertainments and Diet. Feasts or Entertainments THe Chineses according to Alvarez Semedo spend most of their time in Feasting with extraordinary Costs and Charges On the meeting of Friends and good success in any Business they prepare a Feast and sometimes also in Troubles and Adversities in which they come to comfort each other nay at Entertainments are the Consultations of the Chineses advising with one another at Meals what they shall take in Hand This is the usual life of the Common People and especially of Handicrafts-men which are divided into Companies which they call Mane because in every Company are thirty Masters as many as there are days in a Month which make a Feast every day by turns If they have not Conveniencies in their own Houses they may hire publick Halls in which are all manner of Necessaries being built for that purpose or if they will keep their Feasts in their own Houses without any further trouble then they only set down the number of the Persons Guests and Retinue and what Dishes they will please to order which are punctually serv'd in according to the Bill of Fare The Northern Chineses differ much in their Customs from the Southern who are in general more civiliz'd than the other The Southern Chineses in their Feasts esteem of a Quelque-chose or of Minc'd Meats and Hashes more than great Joynts and standing Dishes entertaining more upon the score of good Society than Debauches yet they will do their parts well at their Trencher and as sufficiently at the turning off their Glasses They are entertain'd with Wine before Dinner of which they take and taste till they refuse then they fall to their Rice and neither speak nor Drink till pretty well satisfi'd The manner of the Northern Chineses is quite otherwise for they are not Ceremonious nor Complemental but delight in well-fill'd Tables with great and full Dishes After the usual Ceremony which is observ'd through all China they begin first with Eating every one taking as much as he can on his Trencher of what he likes best which they eat without Drinking Rice is their Banquet After Meals they spend an hour in talking which ended they seat themselves again at Tables fill'd with Potation-Dishes and Salt-Meats as Gammons of Bacon dry'd Tongues and the like which they do not without cause call Ushers or Vehiculums preparers of the way that the Tope may the better go down for they no sooner take a Relishing Bit but a lusty Go-down follows They keep their Breakfasts at seven a Clock in the Morning and their Dinners at five in the Afternoon but drink no Wine at either Only at Night at a light Supper of relishing Meat they give themselves full liberty and fresh scope of good Fellowship therefore their Feasts are Nocturnal spending the Day upon their serious either Business Exercise or Studies In the Winter Nights they use Candles made of Oyl mix'd with Wax but their Summer Lights are of three sorts of Wax one of Bees another of certain Snakes which is very white and the third comes from a Tree call'd Kieujeu but that is not so good as our European yet much better than our Tallow and their Candles likewise exceed ours Persons of Quality make great Preparations for their Feasts Erecting Banqueting Houses for that purpose both in the Cities and at their Countrey Houses furnish'd with Pictures and other Rarities And though the use of Hangings be very rare yet if those that are invited to a Feast be Officers or Noblemen they furnish their Houses with Tapestry from the top to the bottom The number of Tables is a testimony of the greatness of their Entertainment They generally place no more than four Persons at a Table but at very grand Meetings every Guest hath a peculiar and sometimes two Tables one to sit at and the other to set away his empty Dishes The Tables are neither cover'd with Clothes nor Napkins but Varnish'd with the Wax of the Gum call'd Cie They use no Knives for all their Meat except Eggs Fish and the like is brought before them ready Hash'd Neither use they Forks nor Spoons but two small Sticks two handfuls long with which they very dexterously and neatly take up their Meat nay put a single Corn of Rice either raw or boyl'd to their Mouth without letting it fall They never put Salt Pepper nor Vinegar or Verjuice amongst their Meat but Mustard and the like Ingredients which they Compound with extraordinary Art having several of them of a curious relish Their common Dishes are Flesh and Fish boyl'd or broyl'd on Grid-Irons and fry'd in Pans with variety of Sauces not unpleasing to the Palate Their Pottages of which
dies C A Mourning Stick for a Mother D A Mourning Cap or Bonnet of Hemp for the Death of Father or Mother E A Coif of the same F A Veil for Women for their Father or Mother G A Girdle of Towe for a Father H A Girdle of Towe for a Mother Mourning for Relations which are neither Fathers nor Mothers 1 A course Coif of white Linnen 2 Ordinary Mourning Stockins ravel'd out 3 A Bonnet like a Mitre of course Hemp. 4 An ordinary Mourning Girdle 5 Ravel'd Mourning Shoes 6 A wide Coat much ravel'd 7 An Apron much ravel'd After the Death of either Father or Mother amongst other Ceremonies which they observe especially at the Funeral they have a Custom not to sit on Stools for a certain time nor sleep on Beds nor eat Flesh nor drink Wine keep from their Wives speak not aloud go not out of their Houses except in Sedans cover'd with course Linnen and many other things more till time hath worn away Sorrow Except Militia Officers all Persons are oblig'd though the prime Colao's to forsake their Offices for three years for their Father or Mothers Death which time they are to spend in Mourning for them Thus far De las Cortes In this manner the Chineses perform their Funerals or Interr their Dead but the Tartars who at this day Govern the Realm of China observe quite another manner The Iesuit Adam Scall describes them both in the following words Both Tartars and Chineses saith he take a peculiar care for the burying of their Dead for they imagine that all the happiness of their Successors dedepends upon it wherefore they often lay by three four five hundred nay a thousand Crowns in their life-time to be bestowed on their Graves To which purpose they also gather Planks of Cedar and other like lasting Woods which they send for two or three hundred Leagues off to make them Coffins wherein they may for ever as they suppose lie secure which the Iesuit Martinius testifies in these words It is saith he by them accounted a great happiness for him who before his Death makes himself a Coffin of the best and strongest Wood some of which costs sometimes two thousand Crowns for they send for the most durable and best Wood out of remote Countreys so that there is no City but there are Coffins to be sold in it nay most People buy them before their Deaths and keep them in their Houses The upper Planks saith Scall of the Tartars Coffins are sloaping like a Roof and Painted on the out-side not regarding the thickness of the Planks because they put their Coffins to no other use than to hold the Body for a short time and carry them out in for coming to their Funeral Piles they burn the Coffins with the Corps But those of the Chineses are narrower at the Feet and broader and higher at the Head the upper Plank smooth and reaching over the sides that the thickness thereof may be seen which is chiefly observ'd and taken notice of They are very careful to chuse a Burying-place for if they have not Land of their own then they purchase it at a great Rate Those Places are principally made choice of in a dry Soyl where no Rivers nor High-ways are near nor any Temples or Towers but must be on a Plain which neither rises before nor behind Such a Place being chosen they surround it with a Bank of Earth lik a Half-Moon which rises in the Middle and runs sloaping down on both sides yet not smooth but scollope-like at the upper end of which they bury the eldest and below him on each side the Sons and Nephews not in one Grave but every one apart under a little Hillock and the chief of the Family under the highest Hill In the middle on a Stone Table are plac'd variety of Provisions Perfumes and other things in honor of the Deceased Any one that amongst a Family is rais'd to a higher degree of Honor than his Predecessors erects his own Tomb in his life-time whereon they Carve the Shapes of Men or Beasts according to every Mans Quality and Estate Planting the remaining part of the Ground with Cedar Trees and Wall'd round The Tartars differ herein for though they according to the conveniency and Place require the same things as the Chineses yet they observe not the same manner in their Burial for the old People are buried apart and the younger by themselves The Chineses also erect a Tomb-stone on which is Engraven the Age of the Deceased his Office and the Emperor's Favors to him and to prevent the Characters from being defaced and the remembrance of the Deceased's Exploits from being worn out besides the Tomb-stone they bury another square Stone in the Ground with the same Inscription that when the first is worn out that may appear perfect and serve as a Memorial of all his Atchievements When any one dies whoe're he be all the Friends and Relations come about the Corps crying and Mourning over it Persons of Quality send a piece of very thin white Linnen with a Letter to their Friends to acquaint them of the dead Corps who at an appointed day come thither bringing with them Perfumes Wax-Candles and Money coming into the House they go to a Table plac'd opposite to the Coffin in the midst of the Hall having set fire on the Perfumes that stand upon the Table they step a little backwardand shew Reverence to the Effigies of the Deceased Painted at the Head of the Coffin by kneeling four times and bowing their Heads to the Ground whilst they make a mournful Cry These Ceremonies being perform'd the nearest Relations appear also on one side of the Coffin between the Curtains and coming forth shew the same Reverence also kneeling and bowing their Heads four times to the Ground The time of Visiting ended the nearest Kindred come the next day into the House of Mourning from whence they convey the Corps to the Grave or at least to the City Gates for which Kindness the Children go from House to House in Sack-Cloth and with their Faces looking down on the Ground return Thanks by shewing Reverence to their Visitants who on purpose stand at their Doors But the Tartars observe quite another way of Interring their Dead viz. on the same day that any one dies the Corps being put in a Coffin and the Friends having Wept over it in the House they carry it away except the Deceas'd was a Vice-Roy or Governor The Relations accompany the Hearse and afterwards placing themselves in Rows on each side of the Funeral Pyre those of her Family set fire of the Wood and so burn the Body whose Ashes on the third day are gather'd and put into a Porcelane Urn to be bury'd Yet far greater Honor is shown to the Vice-Roys whether Tartars or Chineses for when a Tartar King dies his Servants after some formal Lamentations are plac'd on each side of the Court-Gate that they may be seen holding his
long as the Empire was Govern'd by the Chineses had their Residence at the Courts in Nanking and Peking for all the Councils and Magistrates which are at the Imperial Court in Peking were formerly except the Colaos in Nanking the Metropolis and Court of the ancient Chinese Princes but they were far below those in Peking because of the Emperor's absence who held his Court in Peking as at this day the Tartar Emperor of China The Court was remov'd from Peking on this occasion The Emperor Humvu having driven out the Tartars Anno 1368. planted the Seat of the Empire in Nanking After his Decease one of his Nephews call'd Yunlo who in the Northern Provinces lay with an Army in the Borders of the Empire as Vice-Roy there to be a Guard against the Tartars concluded to bereave Humvu's Heir of the Crown and make himself Master of it To which purpose having gotten the Northern Provinces to joyn with him he came with his Army to Nanking and got the other Provinces either by Policy Strength or Presents and expell'd Humvu's Son But because Yunlo's greatest Strength and Dependence was in the Northern Provinces and that it was to be believ'd that the Tartars to re-gain the Empire would fall in on that Place he setled himself in that part of the Countrey and in the same City in which the Tartar Emperors when they Govern'd the Chineses had their Residence there to resist the Enemy if he should make any Attempt yet still continu'd the Emperor's Palace and the Magistrates in Nanking But after the Conquest of China by the Tartars Anno 1644. the City of Nanking was bereav'd of her Imperial Title and all the Magistrates belonging to the Emperor's Court nay the Palace of the ancient Chinese Emperors besides many stately Memorials were all pull'd down to the Ground without any other damage to the City The Tartars also chang'd the Name of the City and Province and in stead of Nanking call'd it Kiangnan and the City which formerly was call'd Intien Kiangning All which was done by the Tartars out of an inveterate hatred against the Taimingian Family because Humvu or Chu the first raiser of that House drove them or their Predecessors shamefully out of the Empire after they had possess'd it a hundred and eight years All the Magistrates as well belonging to the Learned Council as Martial Affairs are by a general Name in the Chinese Tongue call'd Quonfu that is To set before but for their Quality and not their Office they are call'd Lavye or Lausu or Lavja's which signifies Lords or Parents The Netherlanders according to the example of the Portuguese call them Mandarins that is Commanders or Governors deriv'd from the Portuguese word Mandarim which is A Commander Notwithstanding all the Magistrates or Governors flie at the Emperor's Beck and have Orders amongst themselves yet every one Serves in his Office with full Power except he be commanded to the contrary by his Superiors There are so many Governors in China and Magistrates they being according to Martinius to the number of eleven thousand that it is hard to know their several Orders For this reason five or six Books of a considerable bigness are to be bought through the whole Empire containing the Names of the publick Magistrates and Governors of Provinces with the Places of their Birth Employments and Quality These Books according to Martinius are Re-printed every three Moneths which must be done of necessity for in such great numbers of Magistrates without putting those into the Books that are of less Quality are daily great Changes some dying others put out of their Employments some degraded into lesser Offices or losing their Parents by reason of which last Accident they are forc'd to desert their Government though never so great and travel home and there Mourn three years and therefore great numbers are continually at the Court of Peking in hopes to succeed in the vacant Places As to what concerns the Government of the Provinces in particular it stands in this manner The supream Government of a Province is generally manag'd in the Metropolis and consists in Societies that have a general Power over the whole Province Amongst these are two prime Courts to which all the other as as well of Towns as Villages must submit because they receive their Commissions from the Imperial Court This Court consists in one sole Judge without any Assistants or other Officers which is the Vice-Roy of the Province in the Chinese Tongue call'd Tutham or Kiu-Muen whose Command extends over all the Magistrates and People of the Province During his time of Government which lasts three years he keeps several Messengers which go to and come from the Court at certain times to give an account of what hath pass'd in his Jurisdiction He is receiv'd with great State into his Dominions After his departure from Court his Councellors and other Officers go before and he is conducted from City to City by the Inhabitants Some Commanders with three thousand Soldiers besides all the Magistrates and Commonalty come to meet and receive him three Leagues from the Metropolis where he is to keep his Court. The second Tutang who is of no less Power but stays but one year in his Employment is call'd Chayven He is much respected and feared for he takes an account of all manner of Business Military or Civil Condemns or Reprieves Malefactors and also looks after the Emperor's Revenue He Examines all the Magistrates nay the Tutang himself and hath also Power to punish Judges and put great and mean Mandarins out of their Employments The Miscarriages of the grand Mandarins he informs the Emperor of by Letters and puts them out of their Places till he hath receiv'd an Answer from his Majesty He also pronounces the Sentences of Death which are given in all Places of the Province and appoints for that purpose the Day and Town whither all the Malefactors must be carry'd that he may know the number and Names of them and marks six or seven with a Pencil and if more he is accounted a blood-thirsty and tyrannous Man Those that are thus mark'd are Executed in the Field and the other carry'd again to Prison He is also to look after the repairing of the City Walls Castles and other Structures He never goes out but with a great Train that carry Court Badges and other marks of severity There is yet sometime another Extraordinary Chayven made at the Empresses Request He hath an absolute Power but it extends no farther than to Pardon or Reprieve for he Visits all the Prisons in the whole Province sets those Prisoners at Liberty which for petty Crimes lie there and have no Adversaries and likewise such as are not able to free themselves He Pleads in all desperate Causes and assists People that are helpless recalls a rashly pronounc'd Sentence and is defender of the Poor In short his whole Office and Employment extends to Mercy For which reason these Magistrates are
than formerly they possess'd transforming Tyrants to Tygers debauch'd Persons into Swine others into such Beasts as best suit with their Inclination But for Petty Crimes the Rich they only became poor and despicable People There were also a great Pair of Scales in one of which stood a Sinner and in the other a Prayer Book of the Doctrine of the Idols which weigh'd down the Sinner and releas'd him from Punishments In the middle before the resemblance of Hell flow'd a River of a strange Colour into which many were dragg'd cross the River lay two Bridges one of Gold and the other of Silver over which pass'd those that had been true Pagan-Worshippers and wore several Badges of their Offices and Service shewn to the Idols and had for their Guides the Servants of the Idols under whose Defence they past through the midst of all the Torments of Hell and came at last to pleasant Fields Groves and Vallies In another corner were drawn the Jaws of Hell belching out Flames Serpents and Furies towards the Gates of Hell which were made of Copper many other more of that kind were also seen In several places of the Temple was written on Scrols That whosoe're calls a thousand times on this Image by Name shall be freed from all these Tortures It will not be unnecessary to give you here two Platforms of two several Pagodes or Temples Directions for a little Temple or Pagode cover'd all over 1 THe Prime and only Gate of the Temple 2 A Partition of Wood between two Pillars of Stone or Wood on which two Gygantick Figures are Painted By this means the sight out of the Street into the Temple is prevented though the Doors are open 3. An erected Stone in form of a Consecrated Bason in which the Romans keep their Holy-Water in which lies Fire to burn the Perfumes that are put in the same 4. Body of the Temple 5. A great Table before the Altar curiously Varnish'd Painted and Gilt on which stand Tapers and Perfumes always burning On the Table stand also two Cases and a Cane full of little Pipes or Straws wherewith they Cast Lots 6. A great Altar on which some Images stand 7. Two lesser Altars on each of which are other Representations 8. Pedestals of Stone on which the Pillars of Wood or Stone rest which hold up the Roof and make three Divisions 9. Two small Pools or Ponds with Water and Fish open on the top from whence the Light shines into the Temple being in stead of Windows for no other Light comes into the Temple but from those places where they are or through the chief Gate 10. Two Chambers before the Gate that leads into the Temple in which stand two great shapes of Horses and other Images 11. Two Boards made fast to the Walls of the Temple Ingraven with Superstitious Directions to throw their Lots before the Images with the foresaid Straws which stand on the Table 12. A great Drum on a Woodden Bench on which they give several strokes after having ended their Prayers to the Images 13. A great Bell hanging at the Wall of the Temple made like ours on which they also strike twice or thrice with a Stick after they have ended their Devotions 14. A Bench with holes wherein they put their Umbrelloes or other Marks of Honor which are carry'd before the Mandarins and likewise before their Images when they go Processioning 15. The place where those that Kneel to Pray before their Images and Cast Lots Directions or Draught of a Temple one of the biggest and stateliest in all China 1 THe chief Gate in the first Wall that surrounds the Temple 2 Two Gates on each side of the foremention'd 3 First Court before the Temple open on the top 4 A great Pool with Water and Fish 5 A Bridge to go over the Pool 6 A great cover'd Hall which spreads it self before the whole Structure 7 A second open Court much bigger Pav'd with Free-stone 8 Little Chambers on each side of the second Court 9 The chief Hall or Chappel in the Temple cover'd with a handsom Roof 10 Pillars of the two Halls which in some Temples are of Wood and in others of one intire Stone 11 Little Doors of the Chambers with a Gallery through which they pass before they go into the Chambers 12 The place whither those repair to Kneel and shew Reverence to their Images and draw Lots 13 A very curious and well-made Table Gilt and Varnish'd whereon in a Case stand Straws or little Canes with which they draw Lots and likewise Perfuming Pans and burning Tapers over it also hangs a lighted Lamp 14 A great Altar with one or several Images 15 A Stone Pedestal close by the Wall on which stand many whole and half Images 16 A Stone cut in manner of a Bason in which stands a Chafindish with Coals wherein Gilt and Silver'd Paper is burnt by those that come to Worship the Images In some Temples generally stand in stead of the fore-mention'd Stone many Copper Pans large and neatly made 17 Two Boards made fast on the Walls of the Temple Ingraven with their Superstitious Belief 18 A great Bell made like those of Europe but without a Clapper on which they strike with a Staff three or four times after they have finish'd their Prayers 19 A great Drum on a Woodden Bench on which they also strike as on the Bell. 20 A Bench of Wood with holes in which they stick the Umbrelloes and other Badges of Honor that are carry'd before the Mandarins and likewise before the Images in time of their Precessioning Triumphal Arches IN several Cities to their no small Ornament are divers Triumphal Arches most of them of hewn Marble with great Art and curious Imagery richly wrought after the manner of the Goths they are as anciently amongst the Romans built in Commemoration of those which have done some great Service to that City or Countrey sometimes also for the Citizens that have attain'd to the heighth of their Learning They are chiefly built in the Eminentest Streets and most Populous places and consist in three Portals the biggest in the middle and the two lesser on each side through which they pass On both sides stand Marble Lions and other fine Imagery on the Ceilings are Celestial Signs Birds Flowers Snakes Serpents and the like done very Artificially Those places that are void of Statues are curiously Carv'd or adorn'd with other Imagery and are so Cut that they seem Pendant in the Air. It deserves no small admiration how such vast Stones could be Wrought and Cut through that they seem rather like loose Chains of divers Links than singly Wrought The whole Arch rests on high Pillars and both before and behind of one fashion The upper part of the Roof generally consists in three Stories or Partitions every one divided with some â—…hings resembling our Architecture Upon the Summit of the Arch lies a blue Stone cover'd with a small Gilded Arch on which
the Emperor's Name in whose Reign the Arch was built is Engraven Beneath in the Front appears another broad Stone whereon is an Inscription with the Name of the Person in honor of whom and for what good Service it was erected Buildings THe Artificers and Tradesmens Houses in the Cities are not built with any great art because the Chineses regard more their Ease and Convenience than Ornaments yet though they are not verâ—… stately they are convenient and sufficiently comely But the Houses of the Grandees are very magnificent and large The Chineses as Adam Schall witnesseth use no Stone for their high Buildings but onely Timber joyn'd and fastned to one another with Iron Rings after the same manner as our Masts in great Ships are which thus conjoyn'd is colour'd over with Chinese Varnish or Wax call'd Cie and sometimes Gilded to the no small lustre thereof They take no delight in many Stories never raising them higher than two though generally but one they counting it a hard labor to go up Stairs or Ladders The lower part of their House is onely inhabited it being divided into handsom Chambers and Halls As to the out-part of the House it is but mean except the great Gate and other lesser Wickets which are stately built before Noble-mens Houses but the inner part is pleasant and very curiously wrought all shining with the Varnish Cie They are generally built of Wood yea the Emperor's Palace it self though the Walls which separate the Halls and Anti-Chambers are commonly of Brick but the Roof rests on wooden Pillars and not on Walls as ours do and not cover'd with Tyles of Clay They look not forwards through Windows Persons of Quality accounting it ill Breeding to open a Casement into the Street Every House hath several Yards or Halls one behind another the privatest or last of which is in habited by the Women who are kept so close as if in Prison The Chineses according to Trigaut when they begin to Build erect first the Pillars of their Houses which are all of Wood for Stone is of no esteem amongst them nay the Pillars in the Emperors Courts and Governors Houses are also of Wood On the rais'd Columns they lay great pieces of Timber and on them the Roof The Walls are made last of all of Clay or Mortar which if they should chance to fall yet the Timber-work would stand and the Roof-remains firm and whole The order in which the Pillars stand is the same with all other open places for every Court of the Governors is divided into several base Courts or Quadrangles pav'd with Free-Stone the Floors of them being somewhat lower than those of the Chambers they ascend a few Steps up to them and the Galleries And again in another place the same Trigaut saith That the Chineses are not to be compar'd to us in Architecture neither for beauty nor durance for they build according to Mans life and as they say onely for themselves and not for others whereas we on the contrary build for future Ages The Chineses dig no Foundations but lay on the Ground which they design to build on very great Stones or if they chance to dig Foundations they are never above two or three Yards deep though for exceeding high Towers so that they seldom last one Age. Nor in like manner their Clay Walls which give them the trouble of a constant and daily repairing from whence it happens also that their Houses are for the most part of Wood or rest on wooden Posts in which there is no small convenience because the Walls may be repair'd without medling with the other parts of the Houses for the Roofs rest not on the Walls but on Columns Thus far Trigaut Palaces or Governors Courts THe Palaces are all built at the Emperor's Charge for Residences for the Governors as well Civil as Martialist And the Emperor doth not onely provide Courts and Ships for his Governors but also all manner of necessary Furniture Provisions and Servants nay when a Governor which is most remarkable either goes to another Province or serv'd out the time of his Office which sometimes happens to be in half a year he may take all the Furniture with him and then again new is provided for his Successor The Houses of the Magistrates exceed all other in beauty bigness and Ornamentals and may justly be call'd Courts or Palaces In every Metropolis are fifteen twenty or more such publick Edifices in the chief Cities at least eight and four in the lesse all after one Model except that the one is bigger than the other according to the Quality of the Governors The great Palaces have four or five Halls with as many Porches that stand before them At the Front of every Palace three Gates the biggest in the middle every one adorn'd on each side with great Lyons of Marble Before the greatest Gate is a large Court Rail'd in which glitters exceedingly with the Chinese Varnish In the middle of this Court stand two Towers or Musick-Rooms ready provided with Drums and all sorts of Instruments to play on whene're the Governor goes in or out to sit on the Bench of Justice Beyond this Gate is a spacious Hall wherein those that Plead or have any Business with the Governor wait on each side thereof are small Apartments for the Judges of the lower Bench beyond are two Rooms wherein Persons of Quality that come to visit the Governors are received in them are Stools and Benches and all things necessary for Entertainment In these also the right-Hand is given to the Civilists or Citizens and the left to the Martialist Passing through these Chambers you come to another Gate which is seldom open'd but when the Governor keeps a Court-Day The middlemost is of an extraordinary bigness and none but Lords and Noble-men are suffer'd to go through it all other Persons walking through the side-Gates Beyond this Gate is another large Court at the end whereof stands a great Apartment resting on Columns and is call'd Tang. In this Chamber or Hall the Governor sits on the Bench on each side thereof Servants Messengers and other Officers have little Houses for their Residences These Officers never remove with the Governor but live there during their life-time being maintain'd at the Emperors Charge and serve one Lord after another without changing their Habitations Behind this Apartment is another inward Chamber much statelier than the first which is call'd Sutang that is The Privy-Chamber in which onely the greatest Friends to the Governor give their Visits and pay Respects about it on the out-side the Governors Houshold have their Dwellings behind it opens the greatest Gate where also are the Governors own Lodgings and a little apart his Wives and Concubines being all neatly built and conveniently contriv'd There are also Warrens Gardens and all things fit for Countrey Recreation A Palace belonging to an Eunuch not far from the City Peking is by Trigaut with the following Platform
thus described On each side before the Gates stand two Marble Stones in a manner like Steps to get on Horseback from before the Entrance of the Palace runs a Wall about six Foot high behind which opens a small Entry or Alley in the middle whereof stands the prime Portico or chief Stone Gate to which they go mounted on Steps with two Chambers on the right and three on the left-hand which have their Entrances into the little Alley beyond this Gate opens a great Court where on the right-Hand stand three and on the left-Hand four Chambers At the end of this first Court is another Gate which they first ascend on Steps and having pass'd through it descend again on the other side into a second Court in the middle whereof on each side a Gate or Door with Steps leads to the Halls that are on both sides of this Court behind which is also a great Hall and beyond that a third Court of the same form as the second and at last appears a stately Garden surrounded with a Wall of twenty Hand high and cut through in the middle with a pav'd Way A Draught of the first Ground-plat of a House for Chineses of indifferent Quality 1 THe chief Door of the House under a small Gallery which serves in stead of a Penthouse 2 Prime Courts pav'd with Free-Stone 3 Chief Halls in the House 4 A wooden Partition with a little Room in the middle in manner like a Chappel in which stand Carv'd Images and before them perfuming Vessels and Lamps 5 A narrow Entry behind the Partition which hinders the sight into the chief Hall 6 Two inner Chambers 7 Two Halls or Dining-Rooms 8 A great House for Poultrey Cattel and the like A Draught of the second Ground-plat of a House for a Rich Chinese or Mandarin of ordinary Quality 1 A Portal before the Gate 2 The chief and onely Gate of the whole House 3 The Entry or Gallery 4 A Partition of Wood to prevent the sight from without into the House 5 An open Court pav'd neatly with Free-Stone 6 Cover'd Halls 7 The chiefest Hall 8 A Wooden Partition with a Chappel in the middle in which the Images stand as also Candles Lamps and Vessels to burn Perfume in before them 9 A narrow Entry behind the wooden Partition which hinders the Prospect into the Hall and open Court 10 Chambers in which the Master of the House Lodges 11 Narrow Entries through which they go into all the Chambers and inner 12 Apartments for Slavesses and other Female-Servants 13 Little Chambers for Slaves and Men-Servants 14 A Stable for Cattel A Draught of a third Ground-Plat of Royal Houses and the Houses of very rich Mandarins 1 THe Front Gate 2 The chief and onely Door of the House 3 The Entry or Gallery 4 A Partition of Wood which prevents the sight from without into the House 5 Open Courts cover'd neatly with square Free-Stone 6 7 Chief cover'd Halls 8 Little Entries through which they go into all the Courts and Chambers of the House 9 A Partition of Wood in the last Hall with a Chappel in the middle in which as before stand Carv'd Images Candles Lamps and perfuming Vessels 10 Narrow Entries behind the great wooden Partition which hinders those from being seen that walk in the Hall 11 A wooden Partition in the first Hall between the first chief Court which stops the prospect into the other open places 12 Pedestals of the Pillars which support the Roof of the first Hall which stands at the end of the first Court. 13 Handsom Chambers in which the Lord of the House resides 14 Lesser Rooms in which his Concubines Slavesses and other Women dwell 15 Small Apartments for Servants and Slaves 16 The Stable Thus much concerning their Houses Of their Shipping FRom the building of their Houses we may conjecture what their Shipping may be notwithstanding they are us'd in another Element and serve for other occasions The Chinese Vessels are several viz. Warlike Imperial Ships for the Governors others that carry the Fish sent to the Emperor's Court Longzons Snake-Vessels or rather Pleasure-Boats and the like besides floating Villages on Canes joyn'd together with a tough Twig call'd Rotang An incredible number of Vessels are continually found in China Sailing from one place to another for the Countrey is Navigable in most parts by convenience of the Rivers every where for the Way from the City Makao to the Metropolis Peking being a Tract of about three hundred German Miles may all be travell'd by Water along Rivers or artificial Channels except one days Journey which is over the Mountain of Mintin between the City Nanhang of the Province of Quantung and the City Nanking in the Province of Quangsi In like manner they can go from the Province of Chikiang in their Barges along the Rivers through that of Suchuen nay there is scarce any City either little or great in all China to which they cannot come by Water because the whole Countrey is not onely naturally full of Rivers but are also divided and subdivided by industry into several Channels and Rivulets But their Ships that lie in several Bays and Harbors resemble Woods Such an innumerable and vast number of Shipping are in the Province of Fokien that the Inhabitants thereof proffer'd the Emperor of China when on a time he resolv'd to War against the Iapanners to make him a Bridge or Cawsey of Ships that should reach from their Coast to Iapan and well it might have been done if they could have endur'd the turbulency of the Sea Amongst all other the Imperial Ships belonging to the Governors are the best and stoutest and indeed in curious Work and Ornamentals exceed ours in Europe they shew in the Water like Towers or Castles and are on both sides divided into several Apartments in the middle is a stately Room provided with all manner of Necessaries and Hung with Tapestry and furnish'd in State with whatever belongs to a Princes Palace in stead of Glass Windows they have Silk varnish'd and painted with Flowers Birds Trees and the like which is so close that no Wind penetrates Round about the Ship on the Deck are Galleries and Rails between which the Sea-men or Mariners can do their Business without any trouble or disturbance The whole Ship is varnish'd with the Wax by the Chineses call'd Cie which gives a great lustre being also mix'd with divers Colours the in-side is painted with Birds Beasts Cities and the like in Golden Colours the proper Livery of the Emperor which are worthy of observation and very delightful to the Eye They use no Nails in all their Ships because the Timber and Planks are pegg'd together with wooden Pins The Chinese Vessels are in length equal with our Mediterranean Galleys but are not so high and broad on a Ladder of Leather with twelve Steps they get into them The Prow where the Drummers beat and Trumpeters sound their Levets is made like a Castle Upon
the sound of the Drums and Trumpets all the other Vessels give them the way unless it be a Mandarin of greater Quality then the inferior gives way to the superior without any the least disturbance or dispute all which Cases being order'd by the Law according to which every one must govern himself wherefore on the Head of every Ship stands written in great Golden Letters of a Foot and a half long the Quality of every Governor from both the sides flie divers colour'd Silk Flags and Penons In calm Weather there are People which in stead of Horses Tow the Vessels by a Line or Row them They also use their Oars just as the Fishes their Fins or Tails with very great dexterity and swiftness to the no little manifestation of their Ingenuity They also Steer a Ship with a single Oar after the same manner as we our Boats Exceeding stately are those Ships which every three Moneths to the number of five come with Silk-Stuffs and Garments from the Metropolis of Nanking to the Court of Peking and are by the Chineses call'd Lungchychuen as if they would say Ships of Dragons Clothes because they are sent to the Emperor whose Arms and Marks are Dragons they are Gilt all over and colour'd Red. To these all the Governors Vessels are inferior and must give them the Way wheresoe're they meet them Swift Streams which between the Hills and Valleys have great Falls are Row'd up by the Chineses with a sort of little Boats with two Oars or Steerers one before at the Head and the other at the Stern by means of which they guide their Boats between the Rocks with great dexterity and ease as if they had a Horse by the Reins though sometimes the Channel is so narrow that the Vessels can scarce pass through the same but are forc'd to go round about the Stones which lie scatter'd and cumber the Channel every where This troublesom Rowing though an ingenious Invention of the Chineses hath rais'd this Proverb amongst them That their Boats are Paper and their Watermen Iron because they are made of very thin Boards like our slit Deal which are not nail'd but fastned together with Wit hs in the Chinese Tongue call'd Rotang by which means the Boats though often beaten by the strong Current against the Rocks split not but bend and give way In the third County Sucheufu of the Province of Nanking the Inhabitants keep many Pleasure-Boats onely for their Recreation all of them being richly gilded and painted with several colours to the Life so that we may rather call them stately Houses than Ships Many oftentimes spend their whole Estates in these Vessels being too indulgent to Wine and Women In a delightful Lake call'd Si near the chief City Hangcheu in the Province of Chekiang are also very gallant Vessels which Row up and down in the same in fair Weather for their pleasure All things about these Vessels are either gilded or painted with various colours where they always highly Treat and are presented with Stage-Plays and other such like Divertisements The Ships in the interim furnish'd with all manner of Necessaries Sail without fear of Shipwrack cross the Lake notwithstanding many by sudden Storms or Tempests are in the middle of their Mirth cast away They have also a kind of Gundelo's in the Chinese Tongue call'd Lungschen that is Serpent-Boats from their resembling of Water-Snakes and their being Painted and Carv'd all over with various Serpents some over-grown with Hair and hoop'd in with broad Iron Rings are also joyn'd together with Ribbons of divers colours very neatly and with great art interwoven together The Masts which are generally three and hung with Silk Penons and Flags have an Idol upon the top of them as also one on the Prow of the Ship on the Stern are many Ensigns hung full of Tufts of Hair Silk Flags and long Feathers the whole Vessel is hung round about with Gold and Silk Fringe under the Deck sit the Rowers generally to the number of ten or twelve richly Cloth'd in Silk and Gilded Crowns on their Heads at the sound of a Drum they strike their Oars which are made like a Spoon into the Water and make such quick way that they seem to go as swift as Lightning in a Gap in the Stern oftentimes hangs a Boy a Jugler who leaping into the Water makes pleasant sport for the Passengers In the Yellow River are a kind of Carriages or rather floating Villages consisting in great thick Reeds by the Indians call'd Bambu or Bambo's which are so closely ty'd together with Wit hs by them nam'd Rotang that the least drop of Water cannot get through them On these Floats are Huts and little Houses of Boards and other sleight Materials cover'd with Roofs made of Mats in which the Chineses dwell with their Wives and Children in someto the number of two hundred as on the Main Land and never inhabit on the Shore They drive along with the Stream down the Rivers or else are Tow'd against the Current with a Line for Sails they use none Those that reside in these floating Villages drive a Trade with all sorts of Merchandise and carry them from one place to another on the River at the Towns before which they stop they run Stakes into the Ground to which they make fast their floating Isle There are also some in China which with their whole Families reside in ordinary Vessels and Sail in Fleets of four or five hundred together Trading through the whole Empire so that from whence these Fleets remove it seems as if a Forrest moved They keep likewise all manner of tame Cattel in those Vessels especially Swine and wheresoever they arrive they generally stay several Moneths Father Martin doubts not but that the Chinese Merchants have anciently as at this day furrow'd the Seas as far as the Red Lake for in these modern Times they build great Ships call'd Pancum da China which in the Chinese Tongue signifies A Wooden Palace neither have we small testimonies of it through all India That the Chineses saith he have antiently frequented the Seas and Sail'd with their Ships to remote Countreys doth not darkly appear by the Voyage of one Luseng sent out by the Emperor Ching or Xi Anno 214. before the Nativity of Christ to discover the Northern Countreys for he amongst others proffer'd the Emperor some Geographical Descriptions of several Countreys in the World and especially of China and the Islands lying in the East Sea otherwise call'd Mare Eoum from whence some will conclude that the Name Cingala which signifies Sand-plats of the Chineses on which a Fleet of Ships suffer'd Shipwrack hath its original From hence is also deriv'd Ceilon or Sinlan that is Inhabitants of China or Chineses Moreover that the Chineses of the Island St. Laurence or Madagaskar is affirmed by the Chineses that reside on this Island especially at the Bay of St. Clare where Men of white Complexions speak the Chinese
to every one eight Men. These Vessels are not onely long but bear a breadth and serve against the Pyrats which much molest the Rivers The Emperor keeps great numbers of these Vessels for the safeguard of Travellers and Merchants and likewise keeps great Fleets of them upon the Sea-bordering Provinces for defence of his Havens and Harbors All the Emperor's Ships and Lantayes carry in chief the Imperial Arms in their Flags being a Dragon with five Claws on each Foot When any of their Ships coming from a foraign Countrey stands in for the Shore they can immediately know from whence it comes and what her Loading never asking from whence or what their Freight for they give notice thereof in this manner The Pilot at the beating on Drums and Kettles standing on the Stern begins to make signs with the Staff in his Hands and sometimes waves it over his Head then behind his Back then up in the Air and annon down to his Feet then laying the Staff down he makes as many strange signs with his Hands and Arms as he did before which done he takes the Staff up again and begins a new whilst the Pilots of those Ships that Ride at an Anchor in the Harbors exactly observe his motions and thereby know all what they desire concerning the Vessel which strange kind of signs and tokens the Netherlanders believe are not to be done by Humane Reason but by Necromancy and Arts of the Devil Common Roads or High-Ways ALl strangers may justly wonder at the Roads and common High-ways that are so many and withal strangely and artificially contriv'd by Humane Industry for the conveniency of the Traveller especially in all the Southern Provinces the Ways are first Levell'd and Pav'd with Stones because they use not many Horses nor Wains The highest Mountains are also turn'd into good Roads by cutting and making Passages through the Cliffs on each side Hills and tops of Mountains are Levell'd and Vallies fill'd up therewith to the great ease of Travellers There are also on certain places as at every Stone lying ten Chinese Furlongs from one another Messengers or Posts which speedily convey all Letters the Emperor's and Governor's Edicts from one place to another by which means nothing that is strange or News happens but in few days it is spread through the whole Empire At every eighth Stone being a Tract of a days Journey are publick Houses or Inns for Entertainment call'd Cungyuon and Yhi which entertain all Governors Magistrates and other Imperial Officers of what Degree soever with their several Trains at the Emperor's Charge but they must by a Harbenger pre-acquaint the Hoast or Master of their coming with the quality and number of their Attendance so that when they come they find all things in a readiness not onely Provisions but also Horses Sedans Porters and Vessels if there be occasion for them for whatsoever he desires to have he gives notice thereof to the Inn-keeper by a Letter in the Chinese Tongue call'd Pai In like manner the Shores and Banks of Rivers are like the High-ways handsomly made up without any Trees or other hindrances within eight Foot from the Water that those which Tow the Vessels by Land may have a clear Passage And also the Walls of several places are rais'd from the ground with great square Stones and over-laid with Stone Bridges of divers Arches where occasion requires it so that the Chineses in this Point not onely exceed the ancient Romans but may also with all other People strive for the Palm for though the Chineses are not comparable to the Europeans in the Building of stately and strong Houses yet in the erecting of Stone Bridges of exceeding bigness and many Arches they far exceed them as may appear by the Description of several before-mention'd Rivers Streams and Channels AMongst the Rivers which moisten the Countrey of China the Kiang and Hoang or Yellow River deserve the first place partly for their long course through almost the whole Empire and partly for their greatness and abundance of Water The greatest Rivers are in the Chinese Tongue call'd Kiang but the less Ho. The Yangzu-Kiang or for its excellency by the Chineses call'd Kiang as if they would say The Son of the Sea divides all China into a North and South part The River Kiang gliding from the West to the East takes its Original out of the Mountain Min which runs in a ledge of Hills from the utmost Western Borders of the Province of Suchuen into the Kingdom of Sifan and extends Northward to the City Guei It hath several Names from the several Countreys through and by which it passes its first Name is Min from the Mountain Min its Spring and Original from whence it rushes with great force of Water by the chief City Chingtu in the Province of Suchuen and divides it self by the spreading into several Branches and Incloses great part of the County Chintingfu especially at and near the Metropolis Chingtu in such a manner with his Meandring Reaches and crooked Windings that it lieth like an Island and at the City Sincin it changes its Name into that of Takiang and passes from thence inrich'd with the Waters of other Rivulets as the Lunghoa from the East-side and Chocang Cin and Tatu from the West-side by the City Sui into the Stream of Mahu from thence going on Eastward to the City Liucheu where it is call'd Linkiang and gliding to the City Chunking receives the great River Pa with this Name then passes North through the County of Chunkingfu and Queicheufu Southward of the City Queicheu or Patung in one and thirty Degrees Northern Latitude out of the Province of Suchuen into that of Huquang and then takes again the Name of Takiang not far from the City of Queicheu To this place it tumbles with many Gulfs and great force of Water through crooked Vallies amidst dangerous Rocks and amazing Precepices which the Chineses in their Sailing with great dexterity and nimbleness know how to shun But afterwards begins to glide more gentler where on the North it falls in the Lake Tungting and passing thence this Lake and the chief City Vuchang enters the Province of Kiangsi and there receives out of the Lake Poyang by which it passes on the North great abundance of Water and the name of Iangâ—…u Kiang From thence falling into the Province of Nanking a little after makes an Isle can Sango Eastward from the City Sosing where expatiating it self two Leagues goes Northward through the whole Province of Nanking and to the West and North by the City Nanking it self In the County Taipingfu Southward from the City Nanking the Kiang divides it self into two Arms and makes the Island on which the little City Vuhu stands situate which afterwards against Nanking unite themselves again On the South-West side of the City Taiping the Kiang is press'd between two Hills belonging to the Mountain Tienmuen through which it passes like a Gate for which reason the
Mountain is call'd Tienmuen that is Heaven Gate then running by Chinkiang at last disembogues it self through a great Bay into the Ocean wherein lies in a small Isle the City Cinkiang Garrison'd with Soldiers and Fortifi'd with Ships on both sides the Shores are for the most part built with great and small Cities Villages and Hamlets Before its fall from the City Kieukiam into the Sea a Tract of above a hundred Leagues the Kiang glides so gently that the Ships may Sail up the same with or against the Wind and some Tides especially Spring-Tides a strange thing to relate the Water running up so far in the Countrey that Sea-Fish are there taken In this Stream lie several Isles as Pequey that is of the white Tortel in the third County Hoangcheufu of the Province of Huquang In this County Kincheufu of the Province of Huquang a little Island call'd Peli which signifies An hundred Furlongs lies near the City Chikiang in the River Kiang In ancient times as the Chineses write it was nine small Isles which afterwards by the falling of the Waters and increase of Sands became one intire Island On the South-side of the City Kiangning lies an Island call'd Pelu famous because not far from it the Armies of the Southern Provinces were in the time of the Family Sung beaten and utterly routed Near the City Kiang lieth the Isle Chancung and on the South-West side another call'd Tengxu The Yellow River the second in Magnitude and most famous in all China and by them nam'd Hoang is so call'd from the colour of the Water occasion'd by the Yellow Mud or Clay Earth which from the Spring to the Sea it glides over It is always disturb'd and made thick by a Yellow Soil which it carries along because this Mud which gives the denomination and doth not as in other clear Waters shine from the Ground but discolours being rais'd by the swift and strong Current of the Water after the manner of Rivulets which swell by Rains the whole River as hath often been found by experience for when its Water is for a little while put into a Vessel or Glass the sediment sinks so fast down to the bottom that it makes almost a third part and indeed this River at the first sight seems to be a Pool or flowing Mud but the swift Current of its Waters manifests the contrary Those that frequent this River make the Water clear by casting in Allom which drives the Lees to the Ground and fills the fourth part of the Vessel It is a great wonder from whence such abundance of Clay or Mud proceeds considering it hath never been seen clear or bright nay the Chineses say That its Water cannot be clear in the time of a thousand Years insomuch that they have a Proverb from thence amongst them viz. when they speak of things that are never like to happen as altogether impossible they say When the Yellow River shall be bright Moreover the Hoang as a Foraigner entering from without into China takes Original out of the Southern Amasian Mountains otherwise call'd Quonlun and by the Inhabitants Otunlao which lie not far from the great Mogul's second Court nam'd Laor or from the Kingdom of Tibet Nay the situation of the places shew that the River Ganges in Bengale the Meson in Laor and other famous Rivers which moisten the Countries of Siam and Pegu have their Originals from these Mountains before-mention'd for the Chineses also manifest that many great Rivers have their head Springs and Fountains there leaving these Mountains it runs by Sifan and Tanyu a Tract of above 300 Leagues with abundance of Water to the North-East from whence descending to the East it approaches China near the County of Linyaofu in the Province of Xensi at the West end of the Great Wall along which it rushes and passes on through a part of the Kingdom of Tanyu between the Desart Karacatay otherwise Samo afterwards through the Desart it self with a swift Course and several Branches to the East and North a Tract of two thousand Furlongs from whence it turns South-West to China and in forty Degrees and eighteen Minutes Northern-Latitude runs through the Gate Se in the Great Wall of China and shoots along between the Province of Xansi and that of Xensi and in the Latitude of thirty six Degrees enters into the Province of Honan and out of that into the Province of Xantung near the City Cao from whence it runs towards the South-East and passes on through the Northern part of the Province of Nanking and discharges it self at last with great violence into the Sea in thirty two Degrees and a half Northern-Latitude The Hoang generally falls with such an incredible swiftness that no Boats can Row against it but are forc'd up with a far greater number of Toers than in the River Kiang In some places it is above half a League and others more and extending it self in length above eight hundred Leagues oftentimes rises above its Banks and covers all the neighboring Countreys with Water and Mud. The Chineses describe the Hoang in these or the like words The original of the River Hoang is between the Southern Mountains of Quonlun or Amasian Hills by the Inhabitants call'd Otunlao The Water which makes this River springs from above a hundred Fountains which makes the Lake call'd Singcieu which is forty Furlongs wide the Water running out of it along a Channel makes another lesser Lake from whence the Hoang runs Northward through a little towards the East and soon after washes the Province of Xensi and runs direct East then passing on Northward by the Sandy Fields or Wildernesses from whence it streams Southward into China and through the Province of Xantung discharges it self into the Sea Thus far the Chinese Writer In former times this River us'd also to run through the Province of Peking and Xantung but its Course is since by the art and labor of the Chineses led another way thereby to prevent the overflowing the fore-mention'd Countreys which by reason of their Champain Lands that extend themselves a great way in breadth and length should not be subject to its often inundating Streams yet nevertheless the Chineses have left a little Branch thereof as a testimony of its ancient Course thither After having given you an account of the two famous Rivers the Kiang and Hoang take a brief Relation of all the particular Streams both small and great which distinctly water every Province in the Empire of China THe River Io takes its original out of the Lake Si lying Westward of the Mountain Iociven in the County of Pekingfu from whence it passes through the Emperor's Palace and gliding through it with many artificial Trenches and meandring Inlets waters the Gardens and also makes several Lakes The Stream Lukeu which is call'd Sangean takes its beginning in the County of Taitungfu in the Province of Xansi out of the Mountain Iueny from whence it runs North-East and
South it receives the River Iung and runs through the Territory Chaokingfu into the Province of Quantung glides Southward by the City Chaoting and Loting and Southward from the City Quancheu or Canton looseth it self The River Kinxa takes its Original in the Province of Iunnan out of the South side of the Lake Tien or Quienning bends its Course Northward through the County Iunnanfu in like manner through Vutingfu and in twenty seven Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude enters on the South into the Province of Suchuen Westward from the Garrison Le and at last falls East from the Lake Mahu into the River Mahu Another Branch also call'd Kinxa runs by the City Tinghuen of the Province of Suchuen and Westward from the Mountain Ulang finisheth its Course Another River likewise call'd Kinxa issues out of the Kingdom of Sifan and enters the Province of Iunnan through the Territory Likiangfu on the East side of the City Linsi proceeds Northward by the City Likiang then through the River Ciokingfu from thence Eastward by the North side of the City Pexing where it sends forth a Branch towards the South through the North part of the County Yagon having its Channel inlarg'd from the several Rivers which it receives in the Province of Suchuen near the Confines of the Province of Queicheu and joyns with the River Kinxa which comes out of the Province Iunnan Another River passes more Northward out of the Kingdom of Sifan also call'd Kinxa and sometimes Lekie it passes by the Mountain Luyni into the Province Iunnan thence through the County Iungningfu from West to East by the North part of the City Iungning and through the Lake Lacu where it receives the Stream Loye which comes out of the South and falling last into the Province of Suchuen mixes with that Kinxa which flows out of the Province of Iunnan Southward from the Mountain Ulung Kingxa signifies Gold-Dust so call'd from its plenty of Gold Thus far of the Rivers and Brooks which Water the Empire of China in several places to its great fertility and make it Navigable almost through the whole Empire nay in such manner that several Counties and Provinces divided and surrounded by them lie like Islands separated from one another by the Streams that flow between them There are also many deep-cut Channels besides Lakes Pools and Springs abounding in Fish Standing waters or Channels THe Countrey of China is cut thorow in many places with Moats or Artificial Channels for the conveniency of Navigation from one City to another Among many others one of these Channels call'd Iun deserves no small admiration being with an incredible Charge digg'd from the Province of Nanking through that of Xantung to the Metropolis of Peking by means of which from most places in the Empire all sorts of Goods are brought in Ships to Peking It begins on the Northern Borders of the Province of Nanking in the County Hoaiganfu Northward from the City Socien near the Northern Shore of the Yellow River out of which Ships from all parts of the Empire are brought into it from thence it extends North-West through the second Territory Iencheufu of the Province of Xantung to the City Cining Southward from the Lake Nanyang then through that of Tungchangfu and the Lake Nanyang from whence at last at the end of the County near the City Lincing beyond the Lake Cang it falls into the River Guei But because the Water in this Channel is too shallow in many places for great Ships therefore there are above twenty Sluces or Water-gates in the same in the Chinese Tongue call'd Tungpa very strong and firm of square Stone Every Sluce hath a Gate or opening lock'd with great Planks to keep out the Water being by means of a Wheel and an Engine drawn up with little trouble to give way for the Water and Ships till you come to the second Gate where they do the like and so likewise at all the rest But half way before you come to the City Cining they tap as much Water through a great Water-gate out of the Lake Cang as they need then Locking up the Gates again keep the Water from running out too much and so leaving the Ground bare for the Water in the Lake is higher than the adjacent Countrey so that in a small Tract of Land they reckon above eight Water-gates which resist the force and power of the Water When the Ships are come to the Lake Cang it self they cross not the same but with much more ease pass along a Channel made by the sides of the Lake with brave Banks on each side At every Water-gate are People which Toe the Ships by a Line through the Sluces for a small reward In this manner the Ships go out of the Yellow River to Peking Certainly should the best Builders or Surveyors of Europe come and behold the length of this Channel or thickness and heighth of the Banks on each side and the ornament of the Sluces which are all of hewn Stone they would justly wonder at the wisdom of the Chineses and their Industry in undergoing that labor which scarce any other People would be able to perform In the Province of Peking in the County of Pekingfu near the City Cho there is also a very long Channel call'd Tocang another in the eighth County Xaohingfu in the Province of Chekiang describ'd before besides many more which would be too tedious to mention Lakes and Pools IN the County of Pekingfu Westward from the Metropolis lies on the Mountain Iociven a Lake call'd Lis which is ten Furlongs in Circumference On the South side of the Mountain Tienxu Northward from the chief City is a Lake made by the confluence of several Springs wherefore it is call'd Kienlung that is Of nine Springs which number because the Chineses account it Fortunate hath much increas'd their Superstitious Belief concerning the Emperor's Tombs that are there On the South-West side of the City Paoting close by the City Moat is a small but very pleasant Lake call'd Lienhoa that is Lien-Flower whereon the Citizens and Neighboring People make great Feasts and Entertainments in Pleasure-Boats built for that purpose In the County Hokienfu near the City Hie is a very deep Lake nam'd Vo the Water of which at the throwing of a Stone therein becomes of the Colour of Blood If the Leaves of the adjacent Trees chance to fall into it in a short time Swallows flie out of it insomuch that the Leaves seem to turn into Birds as is related of the Scotch Barnacles or Soland Geese In the Territory Sintivyfu Northward of the City Nangsin begins a great Lake call'd Talo and extends as far as the City Kiulo in the County Xuntefu Nor far from the little City Hanping is another lesser Lake made by two Springs the one with very hot and the other very cold Water though they lie both close together In the County Tamingfu near the City Niuhoang lies a Lake call'd Luece
out of which they dig Iron In the County Yencheufu near the City Kioheu is the Mountain Fang famous for the Tombs of the Ancient Philosopher Kungfuti's Parents Hing is a Hill near the City Nungyang so call'd from the abundance of Armenian Plums which grow on the same By the City Cou is the Mountain Chaugping on which some say Kungni was Born in a City of the same name whereof the Ruins are yet to be seen By the City Ie is the Mountain Ie Crown'd with divers Villages Near the City Tunping a Mountain nam'd Fung is so interlac'd with Woods and Fields that it makes a most delightful Landskip The Chineses compare it to Damask Silk In the County Tungchangfu not far from the City Kaotang lies a Mountain call'd Minxe which signifies A Sounding Stone for that on the top of this Mountain stands a very high Pillar which on the least touch with the Finger makes a noise like a Drum In the County Chingcheufu near the City Chusing lies a great Mountain call'd Langsie which extends East from thence to the Sea On it are many Villages built the first when the Emperor Xi Encamp'd thereabout with thirty thousand Men. By the City Yxui is the Mountain Tapien having a flat top of ninety Furlongs In the Territory Tencheufu Northward from the chief City Tengcheu lies the Mountain Tengheng noted for the Defeat which Hansiu gave to King Si. By the City Foxan is the Mountain Chifeu which with a Promontory runs into the Sea There is also another Mountain call'd Cheuy from whence a round Stone runs into the Sea which by the Chineses is call'd Cheu that signifies Pearls In the County Laicheufu lies the Mountain Hoang so call'd from a certain Virgin who had here a Temple Consecrated to Her On the Shore near the City Siene is the Mountain Lao. WIthin the Walls of the City Kaifung is a Hill call'd Y full of Gardens and stately Palaces Near the City Siangching is the Mountain Xeu being in great Veneration among the Chineses for its Fortunate shape and position and is the first mention'd in the Books of Tiungxu which Treats of that kind of Divination which they deduce from the observation of the Mountains By the City Siuching is the Mountain Kicu in which is a stately Grotto made by the Emperor Hoangti for his Summers Recess North-West from the City Cu is the Mountain Cu on which King Si having hid much Treasure afterwards put to Death all those that were privy to the burying thereof that so he might keep it secret Nevertheless his Son though then very young taking notice of the Action when he came to the Crown caus'd all the Gold to be taken up In the County Gueichoeifu near the City Ki lies the Mountain Cinivien out of which runs a Brook whose Water both washes and shaves at once that is when apply'd makes bare all Hairy parts of the Body In the Territory Hoaikingfu Northward from the chief City Hoaiking is the Mountain Tai which in former Ages Vomiting Fire rent asunder making a Gap of thirty Rods from whence flows now a slimy unctious Water serving for many uses in stead of Oil and being not unpleasing to the Taste Towards the South-West is a double Mountain call'd Iquan between which as through a Gate the River In hath its Course About the City Hiang towards the South lies the Mountain King out of which the Emperor Hoangti is Recorded to have all the Copper which he us'd both for his Weapons of War and his Houshold Utensils In the County Nanyangfu on the North side of the chief City Nanyang is the Mountain Yu on which thirty six Pearls are constantly found never either more or less About the City Niuhang towards the North-East begins the Mountain Taipe and extends South-East to the City Chechuen There lies also the Mountain Tienchi and upon it a Lake whose Water is held for a great Cordial In the County Iunningfu is the Mountain Tienchung which they call The Center of the World By the City Simang is a very high and pleasant Mountain whose top if cover'd with a Cloud the Chineses immediately after expect Rain like the Table-Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope and the Wrekin in Shropshire The other Mountains of this Province are in the County of Changtifu by Tangin the Hill Simeu out of which runs the River Tang West of the City Lin the steep Mountain Yang In the Territory Hoaikinfu North of the City Liyven the Wooddy Mountain Voangae In the County Hananfu near the City Hanan the great Mountain Pemang In the County Nanyangfu South of the City Quanxan the Mountain Huy In the County of In near the City Luxa a Mountain of the same name IN the Province of Suchuen Westward from the City Quan begins the Mountain Cinching spreading above a thousand Furlongs and hath the fifth place of Esteem among the Chineses who hold that those which they call Xensiens or Immortal People meet often there By the City Gan towards the East lies the Mountain Lunggan Crown'd with pleasant Woods and Fountains There are also the Ruins of a Palace built by the Kings of Cho. Near the City Chungking is the Mountain call'd Toyung swarming with Apes and Monkies Not far from the City Xefang towards the North is a Mountain call'd Tafung whose Head pierces the Clouds and sends forth from the top a River which running down very steep makes a great noise in the fall from the top of this being reckon'd sixty Furlongs Perpendicular you may take a Prospect over all the other Mountains and see the City Chingtu it extends from the utmost Western Borders of the Province of Suchuen to Prester Iohn's Countrey or Sifan and in a continu'd Ridge reaches to the City Guei Out of these Mountains the great River Kiang takes its first Original By the City Cangki towards the North is the Mountain Iuntai which for its heighth is call'd The Throne of Clouds Near the City Pa lies to the North-East the Mountain Iu out of which though craggy and difficult to ascend Precious Stones are digg'd Not far from thence towards the West lies the Mountain Pingleang on whose top is a delightful Plain surrounded with other higher Mountains of the County By the City Sike lies the great Mountain Nannim which rises aloft with twelve high Spiring Heads upon nine whereof are Salt-pits In the County Chungkingfu Northward from the chief City Chungking on the Shore of the River Feu is a Mountain which for its shape is much Idoliz'd by the Chineses by reason it represents at least they imagine so the Idol call'd Fe who is Figur'd sitting with his Legs a cross and his Hands on his Bosom a cross This Mountain-Image which whether Natural or made by Art the Chineses themselves have not under Record may be judg'd by his Eyes Nose Mouth and Ears which are seen at half a Mile distance A more particular Description is given by Athanasius
others are very high and extend a vast way this stands alone like a Pyramid and therefore eminent amongst the Chineses In the County Pinglofu at the South-West side of the City Pinglo begins the Mountain Kai and extends to the City Lipu on the East side is the steep and great Mountain Iung which hath nine craggy Hills on the West side lies the Hill Monica that is to say The Crown of Eyes because it hath two great Stones which appear like two Eyes on its top so exactly form'd by Nature that scarce any Artist could match them the Ball of the Eye may easily be distinguish'd for round about are two Streaks one white and another black as in our Eyes By the City Fuchuen appears the Mountain Sin on which by a flash of Lightning eight great Holes were made Not far from the City Ho lies the Mountain Kiue so call'd from the abundance of Golden-colour'd Apples that grow thereon Southward from the City Sieugin lies a pretty high Hill nam'd To which is inaccessible one way but towards the City ascended by Stairs made by Nature In the County Guchenfu Northward from the City Gucheu the Mountain Tayun begins near the Metropolis of the County By the City Teng lies a very pleasant Mountain nam'd Nan from which the Chineses make many strange Observations By the City Yung begins the Mountain Tayung which reaches to the Jurisdiction of the Cities Pelieu Hinge Yolin and Cin. Near the same place is the Mountain Tukiâ—…o the twenty second in the Book of Tausu it hath eight steep Spires and twenty Caverns By the City Yolin lies the Mountain Han that is Cold because it is so exceeding cold that no Man can live on the same notwithstanding it lies under a very hot Clymate Soutward from the City Pope lies the Mountain Fiyun remarkable because in the Rocks thereof appear Prints of Mens Feet some four Spans long The whole Mountain is barren and full of Caverns Northward from the City Pelieu lies the great Mountain Kilieu which hath many Precipices and is the twenty second in the Book of Tausu Westward from the City Yung lies the Mountain Ho that is Fiery so call'd because every Night appears a Fire like a lighted Torch on the same They say that these Lights are little Insects which we call Glow-worms and that they run out of the River upon the Mountain from whence they give that Light The great Mountain Xepao lies also in this County hath great Woods of Trees and Indian Canes and nourishes a multitude of Tygers In the County Chincheufu at the South side of the City Sincheu lies the Mountain Pexe the one and twentieth in the Book of Tausu and advances its Top call'd Toucu above the Clouds on the North side is the Mountain Lungxe the largest in the whole County overspread with many pleasant Groves and Corn-Fields By the City Quei lies the great Mountain Nan which thrusts up twenty four Spiry Hillocks In the County Nanningfu on the East side of the City Nanning rises the the Mountain Heng so call'd because in the middle of the River Yeu or Puon it receives the Water which with great force is driven by the Stream The Family Sung caus'd a Fort to be built on the same for a Defence of the Countrey There are besides in this Province North-East of the River Hung the Mountain Hocio North of the City Heng the Florid Mountain Sieulia East of the City Yunghung the Mountain Suchung having Iron Mines West of the City Naning the Mountain Moye in the Territory Taipingfu near the City Lung the very high Mountain Cieuling East of the City Taiping the Mountain Peyun not far from thence the Mountain Gomui and near it the Mountain Kin by the City Co in the County Sumingfu near the Rity Hiaxe the wooddy Mountain Pelo in the Territory Chinyanfu the high and pleasant Mountain Iun in the Garrison'd County Sugenfu East of the City Sugen the Mountain Tosieu by the City Vuyuen the Mountain Kifung and a little farther the Moye in the Territory Suchingfu near the City Suching the high craggy Mountain Lengyum by the Cities Fulo Tukang and Suling the Mountains Tanping Siecung and Lyfang and not far thence the Mountain Xipi IN the Territory Queiyangfu on the East side of the City Queiyang in the Province of Queicheu lies the Mountain Tengen signifying Copper Drum from the sound of a Drum as the Chineses affirm that is heard upon it against Rain In the Territory Sunangfu on the South side of the City Sunang rises the Vancing to which there being no Ascent but onely one way the Inhabitants find it a safe place of refuge in time of War On the South-West side lies the Mountain Lungmuen by the City Vuchuen the great Mountain Tanien on which reside many People unknown to the Chineses In the County Sinyven near the Moat of the City Ciniven rises the Mountain Xeping which signifies Stone Pillar because an entire Stone is erected there which as they say is a hundred Rods high On the North-West side of the City Sinyven lies the Mountain Sikiung on which anciently stood a City whereof the Ruines yet remain In the Territory Tuchofu near the City Pinglang lies the Mountain Kaiyang fortifi'd with a Castle On the North side of the City Hokiang is the Mountain Ching to whose top leads onely a narrow Foot-path which is guarded by a strong Fort. About the City Fuiugning lies the Mountain Hinglang ascended by Stone Stairs which are guarded by the Inhabitants to secure the Passage By the City Pincheu lies the Mountain Lotung which extends twelve hundred Rods and near the City Cinping piercing the Clouds with its Spiry Top is call'd Hianglu In the little County of the City Pugan on the North-East side thereof appears the Mountain Puonkiang which extends to the Kingdom of Gannan and the Fort Ganchoang On the South-West side is the Mountain Tangpi out of which they dig Quicksilver and the Mineral Hiunghoang In the little County Iunningfu near the City Muy rises the Hungyai a very high Mountain terrible to behold There is also a Hill nam'd Lincing overgrown with Indian Canes By the City Tinging lies the Mountain Quangso which extending a hundred Furlongs hath a Fort for the safeguard of the Way In the little County of the City Chinning near the City Xenk appears the Mountain Magan so nam'd from its resembling a Saddle The small Territory of the City Ganxun hath but one Mountain which lies on the East side thereof and is call'd Niencung which though very high is not above ten Furlongs in compass In the Garrison'd County Sintienfu on the North side of the chief City Sintien is a very high Mountain call'd Pie which pierces the Clouds and runs up like a Pyramid for which reason it is nam'd Pie which signifies A Pencil with which the Chineses Write On the North side lies the Mountain Yangpo which for its pleasantness and variety of colours may
though small yet abounds with all manner of Provision The fifth County Fuencheufu though Hilly yet on the Hills themselves hath some places capable of Tillage and beneath divers thick Woods and Forests stor'd with Venison fruitful Corn-fields and Meadows for Pasture The Province of Xensi is more subject to Drought than any other Province and very often infinitely endamag'd by swarms of Locusts which like a vast Army devour the Fruits of the Earth and lay waste all before them This Province particularly produces the Physical Plant Rhubarb The first County Siganfu of the Province of Xensi hath both Pleasant Mountains and Fruitful Plains producing all store of Fruits and other Provision The second likewise is both Manur'd and not behind in natural Fertility The third Territory Hanchungfu hath many rank Pastures and rich Fields The fourth Pingleangfu hath many pleasant Mountains which are not altogether barren The Soil of the whole Province of Xantung is inrich'd by the many Rivers Lakes and Brooks that are in the same and hath plenty of all kind of Necessaries as well Rice Barley and other sorts of Corn as of Beans Hau and divers sorts of excellent Fruit but Drought and Locust do often great hurt Nevertheless the Countrey is naturally so exceeding Fertile that they say the Harvest of one Fruitful Year stor'd them for ten Years in such plenty as to spare great quantities to other Countries Particularly it yields large Pears and Apples of several sorts Chest-nuts Small-nuts and great abundance of Plums which are dry'd and sent to other Countries The first County Cinunfu yields not for pleasure to any other of the Northern Provinces for all manner of Grain or Fruits especially Wheat and Rice which grow there in great abundance In like manner the second County Yeucheufu hath many delightful Fields Wooddy Mountains and in most places is well Cultivated The third County Tungchangfu hath a Plain and Rich Soil produces great store of Grain and wants in a manner nothing of what is requisite for the sustaining of Mans Life The Province of Honan is in some parts Champain and in others Mountainous especially Westward yet the Soil being every where Fruitful no place lies Untill'd except towards the West where several craggy Mountains obstruct the Husbandmans Labor The Fields produce Rice and all other sorts of Grain They have all manner of European Fruits and that in such abundance that they are bought at very cheap Rates so that it is no wonder this Province is by the Chineses call'd A Paradice of Delight for the Eastern part thereof is so pleasant and every where so improv'd by Tillage that those who shall for several days Travel through the same may fancy they walk through a most delightful Garden But above all for richness of Soil are the Counties Queitefu and Changtefu as being for the most part Plain without any Mountains The third Territory on the contrary is very barren and Sandy yet that defect is much supply'd by the conveniency of its Rivers The fifth County Hoaikingfu again is exceeding Fertile as also the sixth and seventh being Honanfu and Nanyangfu the last well Water'd with Rivers and surrounded with Mountains so abounds with Provision that it is able to furnish whole Armies therewith In like manner the little County in which stands the City Iu is very Fruitful The Province of Suchuen hath many pleasant Pastures and rich Corn-fields yet is Mountainous in several places The Physical Drugs which this Countrey produces as well Herbs as Minerals are much esteem'd and from thence Transported to Europe among others the true China-Root and best Rhubarb The whole Territory Chingtufu is partly Champain and in some parts with Mountains the Plains are inrich'd by Natures Hand and the very Mountainous parts by good Tillage are made Fruitful all the Fields are Water'd by Rivulets either Natural or Cut insomuch that whoe're Travels through them hath for three days an exceeding pleasant Journey In the County Paoningfu of the Province of Suchuen in a Pagod-Temple in the great City Kien grows an Indian Fig-tree in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Arvor de Rayes In the Country Xunkingfu grow great store of Gold-colour'd Apples a Root call'd Soozanem and Chest-nuts which melt in the Mouth like Sugar The Territory Siucheufu though craggy and Mountainous produces among many other things requisite abundance of Indian Sugar-canes and an excellent Fruit call'd Lichi The County Chunkingfu hath store of Meutang-Flowers and the Fruit Licheu The Territory Queicheufu Fruitful of its self is also by the Inhabitants very much improv'd by Tillage no spot of Ground being left Unmanur'd except some Sandy and Stony Mountains which lie especially towards the North Among other excellent Fruits this Countrey abounds in Oranges and Lemons The first little County wherein stands the City Tungchun is exceedingly inrich'd by the abundance of Rivers which Water the same The small Territory belonging to the City Kiating is a pleasant place and yields plenty of Rice and other Grains By the fourth Garrison'd City Chinhiung grow a sort of Beans which the Chineses for their hardness call The Stone-Beans they grow on Shrubs and are exceeding good against Heart-burning The County of Huquang for its Fruitfulness is call'd Iumichity that is The Countrey of Fish and Rice it is also call'd The Corn-store-house of the Chineses as Sicilie was anciently call'd The Store-house of Italy from its abundance of all things especially Corn and all manner of Grain which it not onely yields to its Inhabitants but in a plentiful manner furnishes all the neighboring Countries The County Vuchangfu is advantag'd by the many Streams and Channels that run through the same and along whose Banks grow abundance of Reeds of which they make Paper The second Honia among other things produces in particular great plenty of Lemons Oranges and Cytrons Nor are the fifth and sixth Territories inferior which last yields all manner of Provisions The seventh County Iocheufu is very much inrich'd by three Rivers viz. the Kiang Siang and Fungi and brings forth incomparable Fruits especially Oranges and Lemons The eighth County Changxafu generally Champain but in some places Mountainous hath a fat and fertile Soil and plenty of all things Rice growing there in abundance without danger of withering in the dryest Seasons because there seldom wants Rain which if there should the Husband-man supplies it sufficiently with Water which by an Engine is drawn out of the Lakes and Streams over their Fields so to moisten the Roots of their Plants The County Hengcheufu is a delightful and well Till'd Countrey yielding all manner of Provisions and among the rest Paper-canes Much of the same Nature are the tenth and fourteenth Counties In the Territory Chingyangfu grows a Plant which like our Ivy runs up in height bears Yellow Flowers and some White The utmost end of the Sprigs are very thin like Silken Threds they say that a small Branch thereof being laid to the Naked Body occasions Sleep and therefore
Ground and the other half out and bears red Flowers and a Fruit like our Figs. The ripe Fruits are also red and the Flesh within tastes also like our Figs and are ripe in Iuly and August The Fruit by the Chineses call'd Cienko is by the Indians and Portuguese call'd Goyaun It seems to those that are not us'd thereto to have no good savor but indeed smells very Spicy and is desir'd afterwards by those that at first disrelish'd it because it warms and hath a soveraign healing power and is exceeding good to stop a Loosness and fortifie the Stomach Within it are many little round Stones from which the Trees grow though quickerby Setting a Bough thereof in the Ground The Boughs bear great store of Fruit and sweet-smelling Leaves which rubb'd to pieces smell very strong and are accounted excellent Medicines against Feavers The Fruit is also in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Pera that is Pear because it is exactly like a Pear In India this Fruit ripens in November and December and for the most part continues in all the other Moneths but in the Province of Quantung in Iune and Iuly On the Island Hiamxan lying near China in Makau and in Malacca grows a Tree and Fruit nam'd Giambo which is of two or three sorts for in India are red white and yellow which smell like Roses the first hath a white and the second a pale yellow Flower The Body and Boughs are Ash-colour'd the Leaves smooth a Hand-breadth long and three Fingers broad The Fruit is as big as a Pear with a thin sweetish spongy Flesh it is pleasant to the Eye either quite red or white or partly red and partly white On one Bough grow Flowers green and ripe Fruit together They are very cooling and the onely thing in great Feavers to quench Thirst. The Indians make a Conserve of this Fruit exceeding good against Agues and other Distempers arising from the Gaul In stead of Seed it incloses a round Kernel but the yellow sort hath two Kernels or rather one divided into two parts the Flesh of the yellow is very sweet and luscious the red ripens in India in October and November but the yellow in some places in March and in other places in Iuly The Pipa is a Fruit of a yellowish Green when it is ripe sweet of taste like our Plumbs and cover'd with the like sort of Skin within it lies a hard oval Stone it is generally gather'd ripe in February and March The Tree by reason of its fine Leaves and Flowers is very pleasant to behold The Fruit Yata hath a green knotty and prickly Shell like a Pine-Apple within which is a waterish Pulp as white as Snow hiding in little Repositories hard and black Stones The bigger this Fruit is the better it is esteem'd The Tree grows chiefly in Malacca from whence it was transplanted into China where it grows in some plenty In some places the Fruit is ripe in October and November and in others in February and March The Fruit Manko by the Chineses and the Indians call'd Manga and by the Turks Ambo grows most plentifully in the Southern Provinces of China In India are several sorts the biggest whereof weigh two and sometimes three Pound especially if they grow on a Bough Prun'd to a Cedar-Tree of whose Fruit they borrow the Coat and rough Shell Their Pruning on other Trees is much like ours in Europe but not in the Mango-Tree a Bough of which being cut off is ty'd to the Bough of another Tree and daub'd all about with Clay by which means the Boughs in time growing together bear Fruit. The ripe Fruits sometimes all upon one Tree are of several Colours some green others yellow and some red or as others write greenish yellow and reddish It hath a bitter Kernel within a hard and woolly Shell as big as an Almond there are also some without Stones The Flesh of those that are ripe is of a kind of Purple colour and exceeds all other in lusciousness Some account it the best Fruit in the World They are ripe in April and May and continue till November The Tree according to Garcias on which this Fruit grows is like a Pear-Tree high and full of Boughs the Leaves are very thin ten Inches long and three broad with a thick sinew in the middle Acosta tells us That the Fruit being slic'd and laid to soke in Wine is counted for a dainty Banquet It is also laid in Sugar thereby to preserve it the longer and sometimes open'd with a Knife is fill'd with Ginger Garlick and Mustard-seed and laid to steep in Salt Oyl and Vinegar or else is eaten with Rice or Pickled like Olives It grows in many places in India as in Malabar Goa Surrat Balagate Bengale Pegu and others but the best sort is judg'd to grow in Ormus the second in Surrat and the 〈◊〉 in Balagate A Fruit nam'd Mangan which grows on the Isle Iava is by the Inhabitants accounted above all Cordials in the World whether Lapis Bezoar or any other It is as big as a Coco Nut and joyns close together till grown ripe for then it cracks and bursts asunder within lies the Seed wrapp'd up in Wooll which if not taken off in time is blown away by the Wind. This Fruit is so dear that it can scarce be purchas'd with Money Moreover the parts split from each other stick so fast at the bottom to the Stalk that the strongest Man cannot pull them from it In many places in China grows also Cotton but in greatest abundance in the Province of Nanking especially near the City Xangchai where there are said to dwell two hundred Cotton-Weavers it being in that place and two neighboring Villages the onely thing whereby the Inhabitants maintain themselves The Seed according to their Relation was brought out of other Countreys into China about five hundred years ago The Herb or Plant on which the Cotton grows in China hath a wooddy Stalk of a Foot and a half long or two Foot high and being cover'd with a darkish red Bark or Rind divides it self into several short Branches The Leaves like those of a Vine are divided into three parts and hang on rough Stalks of two or three Inches long The Blossom or Flower is like those of Mallows and ends in Saffron or as others say blue and Purple Stalks after the Flower follows round Fruit as big as a small Apple which when grown ripe cracks in two or three places and shews the white Cotton which is in it under it is an Oval and white-colour'd Seed which tastes like an Almond or Pine-Apple Another Plant also which produces Cotton but grows like a Tree and hath smoother Leaves grows in Egypt and Arabia where by the Egyptians it is call'd Gotnel Segia and shoots up to the heighth of ten Cubits the Leaves hang on Violet-colour'd Stalks and are divided into five parts when grown to maturity the Fruit is almost
great esteem amongst the Chineses In the Province of Xantung are Wolves which devour both Men and Plants In the Province of Xensi are many Bears whose fore-Feet are by the Chineses accounted a great Dainty In the Mountainous County Linyaofu in the Province of Xensi are many wild Bulls and Beasts like Tygers or Panthers or Leopards and according to Martinius call'd Pau and by Boem Hiven Pao The Chineses make Clothing of their Skins In the Province of Suchuen and likewise in the fifth County Chucheufu in the Province of Quangsi is the Beast which the Greeks call Rhinoceros that is Nose-Horn because of a Horn which it hath on its Snout or Nose The Elephants which are seen in most parts of China are all brought out of the Provinces of Iunnan and Quangsi where they breed in great numbers the Inhabitants making use of them in time of War The whole Province of Chekiang is infested with fierce Tygers but on the Mountain Kutien near the City Kaiho breed Tygers which do no hurt to Men. In the neighboring Countreys again they are very wild and of a cruel Nature yet the wildest of them being brought to this Mountain grow immediately tame Tygers breed also on the Mountain Xepao in the County Gucheufu in the Province of Quangsi There are likewise ravenous Tygers and Leopards in the Mountain Nalo in the County Chinyvenfu in the Province of Iunnan In the County Nanningfu in the Province of Quangsi are great wild Boars with Tusks of a Foot and a half long which with a strange motion of their Bodies they strike at all Persons which come near them and certainly tear them to pieces In no part of China are so many good Horses as in the Province of Iunnan especially in the County Iunnanfu and by the Garrison Moping likewise in the Province of Suchuen near the Garrison'd City Po. On the Mountain Holan in the Province of Xensi by the Garrison'd City Ninghia are many wild Horses The Chinese Horses are generally of no high size but very fat broad Buttock'd and strong for Travel they are Ridden with a Bit and without being beaten observe their Masters words of command In the County Cungkingfu in the Province of Suchuen on the Mountain Tayung are Baboons which in bigness and shape are very like a Man and so furiously lustful after Women that oftentimes surprising them in the Way they Ravish them In the Province of Fokien by the third little City on the Mountain Puon as the Chineses write there is a hairy Animal very like a Man The same Creature call'd Tuse is found in the Kingdom of Gannan In the Province of Xansi about the City Leao and especially in the third County Hangcheufu in the Province of Suchuen in the second Paoningfu and about the City Kiating by the sixth Garrison'd City Tienciven in several places in the Province of Iunnan and many other parts towards the West there is great store of Musk which a kind of Matter taken from the sweating of the Navel in form of a Purse of a certain Beast like a Deer in the Chinese Tongue call'd Xe and the Musk Xehiang that is Scent of the Xe for Hiang signifies Scent or according to Michael Boem and Philip Marinus in his History of the Kingdom of Tunking Xehiang signifies properly A sweet-scented Hart. Philip Marinus before mention'd describes the Musk which this Beast produces in this manner They have meaning those of Laos the natural and true Musk out of the Kingdom of Goai In the Woods lurks a Deer which the Chineses call Yehiam that is Musk-Deer which is as big as a Doe or Hart though to speak truth I know no Beast that hath greater resemblance with it except the Head which is like that of a Wolf and hath two long Teeth than an old wild Boar it is of a sadder colour than a Deer and so slow in motion that the Hunters thereof are onely troubled to rouze it for then it stands still and suffers it self to be kill'd without making the least resistance Moreover the Musk which they take from this Beast is of divers Prices After they have taken it they draw all the Blood from it and keep it apart from his Navel they also cut a Bag which is full of Blood or sweet-scented Moisture then they flay and cut it in many pieces When they will make the best Musk of it they take one half of the Beast the hind part from the Kidneys which with a little Blood they stamp in a great Stone-Mortar till they have made it a Pap with which after it is dry'd they fill little Bags made of the Deers Skin There is a worse sort made of the fore-part of the Beast as far as the Kidneys but the worst of all is made of the whole Beast together And this last is the Musk us'd in these Countreys of Europe Thus far Marinus When this Beast as the Chineses write is carry'd out of the Kingdom of Lu into that of Laos it dies instantly like a Fish which is taken out of the Water Birds IN the Province of Xensi about the Garrison'd City Mincheu and by the sixth Garrison'd City Tienciven in the Province of Suchuen are Hens whose Bodies are cover'd with Wool like that of Sheep in stead of Feathers they are little and have short Legs but are very valiant great Ladies keep them for their pleasure The like sort are also in Kambodia and Siam But Kircher objects against this Relation and maintains by several Arguments that they are rather fine curl'd Feathers or Doun than Wool In the County Nanningfu in the Province of Quangsi are a sort of strange and wonderful Hens which evacuate long Threds such as are generally Spun of the Cotton which grows on Trees and if they be not immediately taken from them swallow them up again Another sort of wild Hens call'd Ieki breed on the high Mountains in the Provinces of Xensi and Quangsi and are of an extraordinary bigness having white Heads and divers colour'd Feathers with Bunches both on their Backs and Breasts wherefore they are by some call'd Toki that is Cammel-Hens In the first County Chingtefu in the Province of Suchuen is a strange and wonderful Bird which the Chineses call Tunghoafung that is The Bird of the Flower Tung Fung signifies a Bird and Hoa a Flower and Tung is the proper Name for the Flower for it grows out of the Flower Tunghoa and lives so long as the Flower of the Tree continues We might justly call it A Living Flower partly for its likeness and beauty and partly for its shortness of life It hath a reddish Bill tastes very sweet and is very admirable to behold being of all sorts of Colours In several parts of China is a Bird nam'd Chin whose Feathers mix'd with Wine made of Rice and afterwards pounded very small is so deadly a Poyson that no Medicine whatsoever can expel the same In the County Xincheufu
add that all the Birds about the latter end of Harvest meet on the same and there bewail the death of their Phenix The Inhabitants observe also that time and climb up the Hill in the Night with Lights to catch Birds and return from thence loaden with their purchase Moreover according to Bontius on the Island Iava breed ordinary Bats in the Woods which are as big as Pigeons which the Iavans eat for a great Dainty They often come into the Houses at Night if the Windows or Doors chance to be left open in the Day and fastning themselves like Leeches to the Feet of those whom they find asleep suck great abundance of Blood from them which more amazes than hurts them when they awake Fishes BEcause of the many Rivers Pools and Lakes the Countrey of China abounds with variety of Fish especially the Province of Xantung which by reason of its Neighborhood to the Sea hath besides the Fish taken in Rivers and Lakes great store which are got in the Sea in such abundance that for the value of a Peny they purchase ten Pound weight of Fish Also there is incredible store of Fish in the Province of Huquang and likewise in that of Kiangsi especially Salmon In the River Kiang about the City Kieukyang though some Leagues from the Sea store of Fish is caught as Cod Dolphins and Salmon In the River Lofeu by the City Xeu in the Province of Huquang are excellent Lamprees in abundance The Yellow River amongst the rest breeds a Fish nam'd Xehon that is Marbled Flower so call'd from the Marble Spots on its Skin It is caught in no other place but near the City Paote in the Province of Xansi and is in great esteem amongst such as take upon them to understand Eating They are taken chiefly in the Province of Fokien near the City Hunghoa The River Tan which glides close by the chief City Nanyang in the Province of Honan hath Fish of a perfect red colour which are onely seen and caught in the beginning of Summer for the remaining time of the year they hide themselves The Chineses ridiculously believe and some have written to that effect If any one besmears his Feet with the Blood of this Fish he may walk on the Water as well as on the Land They add moreover That if the Water be stirr'd at that time it immediately turns red together with all the Fish which at that present appear wherefore it hath the Name of Tan that is Red. The County of Ningpofu in the Province of Chekiang lying near the Sea is well provided with Sea-Fish which they dry in the Sun as Oysters Crabs and Lobsters with which they furnish most parts of China In the beginning of Summer is caught a Fish nam'd Hoang that is to say Yellow because of its yellow colour This Fish is of such a Nature that it will not last one hour good after it is taken out of the Water but it is exceedingly valu'd amongst the Chineses they put it into Vessels with Ice and so bring it to Market for which purpose they preserve Ice in the Winter to keep the fore-mention'd Fish in in the Summer In a Lake of the compass of two hundred Acres lying on the Mountain Cienking in the County Hancheufu in the Province of Chekiang they catch Fish of a Golden colour from which they are call'd Kinyu for Kin signifies Gold and Yu a Fish having a Scale which shines as if sprinkled with Gold They scarce ever exceed a Fingers length yet have Tails split into two or three parts sometimes intire and broad which make them appear fair to the Eye They are by the Chineses kept with great care alive in their Houses or Gardens in neat Vessels made for that purpose The Grandees often with their own Hands catch this Fish which on the other side as if it knew who was its Lord and what pleasure it did him comes as it were on purpose with his Companion and plays just above the Water One of these Fishes if it be perfect and sound costs sometimes three or four Crowns In the watry Valley on the Mountain Haiyang near the City Queiling in the Province of Quangsi are Four-footed and Horn'd Fish In the River Siang in the County Changxafu in the Province of Huquang and in the great River Kiang where it runs through the Province of Nanking are a sort of Fish by the Chineses from the Portuguese corruptly call'd Xanel A great quantity of this Fish pack'd up alive in Ice in peculiar Vessels is sent to the Emperor to Peking every Week two Ships Lading of them as long as the time of Fishing continues and though it be above two hundred Leagues by Water yet in eight or ten days they finish their Journey for Night and Day the Vessels are Toed by a Line and new Toers taken so soon as the old ones begin to be tir'd which at appointed places like our Stages stand ready for by a Letter sent before they acquaint them with the Hour when they shall be there and if any neglect happen herein the Governors forfeit their Lives No Cost nor Charges are spar'd to procure the Emperor this excellent Fish of which he gives some to his Council of State The County Chinkiangfu in the Province of Iunnan hath many Rivers Pools and Lakes abounding with Fish and amongst others one out of which the Physicians draw an excellent Medicine against all kind of Scurf and Scabs In the same County by the City Yangcung in the Lake Ming is a black colour'd Fish nam'd Cing which is said to be good against many Diseases In the County Fungciangfu in the Province of Xensi near the City Pingyang they take a Fish call'd Xe that is Stone which being dry'd and beaten to Powder keeps Moths out of Clothes if strow'd on the same In the Sea before the County Taicheufu in the Province of Chekiang the Chineses catch many Haions or Seals whose Skins they send to Iapan to make Scabbards for Swords and through all parts of China making great profit of them as the said Skin is us'd amongst us for the making Cases for Watches and Handles for Knives Serpents and creeping Animals IN the County Fungchiangfu in the Province of Xensi is a sort of black Serpent of which the Chineses make a Medicine to expel Poyson and cure many Distempers In the County Nanyangfu in the Province of Honan are Serpents whose Skin is generally full of white Spots The Wine in which they have been steep'd is an excellent Remedy against Stiffness of the Joynts or Limbs In the County Hoangcheufu in the Province of Huquang are Serpents which heal the Leprosie and Scabbiness On the Mountain Citien by the City Caihoa in the Province of Chekiang are very great Serpents which have no manner of Poyson In the County Gucheufu in the Province of Quangsi are as the Chineses write Serpents several Rods in length no wonder then if they are
affirm'd to be the biggest in the whole World Michael Boem saith That these Serpents call'd Gento are found on the Isle Ainan in the Provinces of Quantung Quangsi and some other places and are without doubt the biggest of all Serpents being about eighteen or twenty Foot long they are said to swallow whole Deer but are not accounted very poysonous when hungry they leap out of Hedges or Bramble-Bushes then rising upright and standing on their Tail encounter whatever they meet whether Man or Beast sometimes from a Tree set upon Travellers and winding about their middle destroy them Their Gall is accounted by the Chineses good for sore Eyes In the Province of Quangsi and in many other places in India is a sort of Serpents by the Portuguese call'd Cabros de Cabello that is Serpents of Hair or Hairy Serpents in the Heads whereof a Stone is found by the Portuguese nam'd Piedro del Cobra or Serpent-Stone good against Wounds or the Bitings of the same Serpent which otherwise would destroy in twenty four Hours It is round and of a blue colour in the middle pierc'd with white being laid to the Wound it sticks fast thereon of it self but when impregnated with the Poyson it falls from it then thrown a while into Milk it returns to its natural Quality if it sticks the second time to the Wound it is a certain sign that all the Poyson is not drawn out but if it falls off then the Patient is certainly past danger This Stone hath been experienc'd with good success upon divers both Men and Beasts according to the testimony of Kircher and several others There is also a Root good against the Bitings of these Serpents which the Portuguese call Rais de Cabro that is Serpent-Root which being chew'd so long till the Patient Sneezes two or three times cures him This Vertue is not onely in the natural but also the artificial Stone made of some of the pieces of the natural Stone or of the Head Liver Teeth and Heart of the Serpent mix'd with Terra Sigillata or Seal'd Earth The Brachmans though proffer'd never so great a Sum of Money will not teach this Art to any Moreover there is another very venomous Serpent amongst the Chineses which by biting kills a Man in few Hours out of which also they draw a Medicine good against several Sicknesses after this manner The Tail and Body is put into a Kettle of the best Wine leaving onely the Head which is put through a Hole made in the Lid thereof out of which the Serpent at the boyling of the Wine which is hung over a great Fire breathes forth all the Poyson through its gaping Mouth The Flesh the Head being cut off is given to the Sick and preserv'd being as they say the onely precious thing to expel Poyson like Treacle or other soveraign Medicines The Province of Xensi is exceedingly infested with Locusts which devour all the Product of the Fields insomuch that at some times there is not one Blade of Grass to be seen notwithstanding the Inhabitants both great and small at Command of their Magistrates kill and destroy them in the Fields There are often in such thick great Swarms that by Clouding the Sun they darken the Earth but they make some amends with their Bodies for the Chineses boyl these Locusts for a Dainty Dish In the County Tegaufu of the Province of Huquang and in the County Pinglofu in the Province of Quangsi are little Worms which make white Wax after the same manner as the Bees do their Honey-Combs but the Combs of these Worms are much less and extraordinary white neither are they bred up by Hand but wild Of the Combs the Chineses make Candles as we of our Wax but they are much whiter and being very dear are onely us'd by Persons of Quality for besides their whiteness they give an excellent scent when lighted neither do they spot the Clothes they drop upon and burn also very clear and bright In several Inlets or Creeks along the Sea-shore of China and also under the Island Ainan is a Land and Sea-Monster in the Chinese Tongue call'd Hayma that is Sea-Horse for Hay signifies the Sea and May a Horse It is knownto us by the Name of Sea-Horse as it was to the Greeks by that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is River-Horse not for its likeness to a Horse but for its bigness for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek is apply'd to those things which are to be represented bigger than ordinary It is by the Chineses represented like a Horse with a Mayn but having on each side of the Mouth long Teeth sticking out like Horns The Head according to Boem who saw these Beasts wading in shallow places on the Coast of Cafruria opposite to Mosambique is from the Mouth to the Shoulders three Cubits long on his nethermost Jaw grow two very long and crooked Teeth and on the uppermost also two thick ones though shorter which jut upon them between lies their Tongue Their Skin is very hard insomuch that it can scarce be pierced with a Lance it hath no Hair except at the end of the Tail which shines like black Horn each Hair is about the bigness of a Straw and which bending is not easily to be broke The Caffers both Men and Women make Bracelets of the Hair which serves both for an Ornament about their Wrists and is said to prevent the Palsie Of the Teeth says Boem in India and Goa are made Garlands Images and also Crosses It hath also been found that these Teeth are great stoppers of Bleeding though experience hath taught us that the Teeth of these Horses have not always the same Vertue but certain times must be observ'd in the killing of this Beast that then his Teeth may have the fore-mention'd Power in a greater measure No place in China feeds more Silk-Worms than the Province of Chekiang for it not onely furnishes its own Inhabitants and all China with Silk-Stuffs of divers sorts but also the neighboring Countrey Iapan the Spaniards on the Philippine Isles nay India and the remotest Countreys in Europe for the Hollanders buy great store of Silk at Hocksieu in the Province of Fokien which is all brought thither out of the Province of Chekiang The Silk-Stuffs made in this Province are accounted the best in all China and are to be had at so cheap a Rate that ten Men may go clad in Silk at less Charge than one Man in Cloth in Europe They Prune their Mulberry-Trees once a year as we do our Vines and suffer them not to grow up to high Trees because through long experience they have learn'd that the Leaves of the smallest and youngest Trees make the best Silk and know thereby how to distinguish the first Spinning of the Threds from the second viz. the first is that which comes from the young Leaves that are gather'd in March with which they feed their Silk-Worms and the second
Marry a Woman Which his Daughter hearing urg'd the Sacredness of the Edict and of the King's Word which ought not to be broke and thereupon she was Marry'd to the Dog by whom in six years time she had six Sons and six Daughters who by Marrying one another bred a Generation of Dog-like Natur'd People But it is to be suppos'd that this Fable was feign'd by the Chineses because they accounted none to be Humane which are not of their Countrey or observe their Laws Yet in the Journal of a Monk written in the second Book of Navigation and Travels Collected by M. Gio Baptista Ramusio we find this for the confirmation of these Dogs The Tartars returning through the Wildernesses came to a Countrey in which as the Ruthens which had been there relate they found a Generation of Wild Women who after they had been ask'd by several Interpreters what People they were that Inhabited that Countrey answer'd That all the Women of that place were of humane shape but the Men like Dogs And that upon this occasion whilst the Tartars stay'd in this Countrey the Dogs met together on one side of the River and leap'd being Winter into the Water and afterwards roul'd themselves in the Sand which by the excessive cold Froze upon them and Arm'd them with a kind of a Coat of Mail This having done several times together the Tartars falling upon them threw their Darts at them but the Dogs running amongst the midst of them made a great slaughter among them and drove the Tartars out of the Countrey and took Possession thereof Thus far Baptista The Inhabitants of the eighth County Taiping in the Province of Quangsi are by a Chinese Writer call'd Barbarians because having cast off the Chinese Laws and Government they go bare-footed like Salvage People and live without Law Rule Order or Decency killing one another upon every slight occasion Also on the Mountains in the ninth County Cuncheufu in the Province of Kiangsi there live many wild People which according to the Relation of the Chinese Writers live after a Salvage and Bestial manner Likewise on the Mountains in the Province of Queicheu inhabit a People for the most part Wild and untractable for they observe not the Chinese Laws or Customs but live of themselves under several Governors of their own Elections They often Sally out upon the Chineses which live near them sometimes forcing them to a Peace which at their pleasure they break again never suffering any that are not for their way of Living to come amongst them To reduce this Countrey to Reason the Emperors have often sent Forces thither but with little success that ever was heard of Those of Queiyangfu in the time of the Family Taiming first apply'd themselves to study the Learning and Customs of the Chineses by which means not a few of them have attain'd to the highest degree thereof The People of the second County Sucheufu of the Province of Queicheu are strong Limb'd and Valiant and withal Courteous and Civil yet have something of Wild in their manner of Living they go with their Hair loose bare-footed and the Soles of their Feet have contracted such a hard Callosity that they fear not to tread on the sharpest Stones and most prickly Thornes Those of the third County though somewhat of a Salvage Nature yet they have mix'd therewith a kind of Clownish Civility The Mountaineers of the sixth County Tungganfu in the Province of Queicheu were formerly the most Cruel and Barbarous People in all that Province Proud of themselves Fraudulent and having a Custom among them to kill their old People but have of late by their conversing with the other Chineses learnt something of Morality The City Hinghoa in the Province of Fokien is famous for the Industriousness of its Inhabitants in Learning Arts and ingenious Faculties The Inhabitants of the seventh County Yancheufu of the Province of Kiangnan are much inclin'd to Lasciviousness The Northern Mountaineers as in the County of the Garrison'd City Puting of the Province of Queicheu trouble not themselves with Learning Manners or Civility every one doing what they please living without Laws or Government The Inhabitants of the Mountain near the Garrison'd City Lungli have by their Conversing with the neighboring Chineses learn'd several of their Customs yet going always Arm'd delight in War and the noise of Arms. Those of the Province of Kiangsi are politick and subtle and many of them attain to the highest degree of Literature and thereby are rais'd to great Preferments The Inhabitants of the City Sucheu in the Province of Nanking are exceedingly inclin'd to dainty and delicious Fare and love the Art of Candying and Preserving in Sugar All the Inhabitants of the ninth County Ningpofu in the Province of Chekiang are great lovers of salt Meats whereupon this proverbial Sentence passes upon them That they cannot rot after Death being so much saâ—…ted during Life The People of the Province of Iunnan by reason of their Neighborhood to India participate with them in their Customs and the main thing wherein they differ from the rest of the Chineses is this namely that whereas in all parts of China besides they Lock their Women up in their Houses and suffer them not to be spoken with or seen by any Man or ever to come out of their Houses into the Streets here the Women walk abroad upon their occasions as in Europe They exceed the rest of the Chineses in Courage and Valour being never daunted at the Engaging of an Enemy and training up their Elephants to War They are friendly Courteous and Civil to Strangers and more tractable to embrace the Christian Religion than any of the Chineses besides On the North-side of the fourth County Cuihungfu in the Province of Iunnan before the Tartars coming into China in the time of the Family Iuen dwelt a People call'd Kinchi that is Golden-Teeth because they us'd to cover their Teeth with thin Plates of Gold which is also a Custom amongst those of the eighth Garrison'd City in the same Province The Inhabitants of the twelfth County Xunningfu in the same Province are very barbarous and inhumane some of them take pleasure to make their Teeth black others Paint several Images on their Faces rubbing in their Skin first pierc'd with a Needle a kind of black Colour The Inhabitants of the first Garrison'd City Kiocing of the same Province are good Husband-men but very litigious often spending in Law that which they have labour'd for the whole year and all for a trifle yet they are not the onely People possess'd with this fond humor but may be paralell'd in this Nation especially in some parts of Wales The People of the second Garrison'd City Yaogan in the same Province are according to the Chinese Writers prodigiously strong and therefore delight more in War than Peace The Inhabitants of the third Garrison'd City Cioking in the same Province are valiant prudent and stout People they Fight generally with
Men of good Quality and well esteem'd at home upon such Foreign Negotiations The Mandarins further inquisitive came at last to ask What Offices they bore in their Princes Court What their Names and Titles of Honor were How many Men they had under their Command All which the Embassadors answer'd very punctually Then they inquir'd again If they came directly from Holland or Batavia If from Batavia What kind of Place it was and what manner of Person the General Which being resolv'd the Mandarins went away satisfied The next day the Embassadors with the Presents appear'd by order of the Chancellor before the Council without which they were not to be admitted where the Chancellor sate uppermost on a high Bed cross-legg'd Next him on the right Hand sate two Tartar Lords and on the left a Iesuit call'd Adam Schal an ancient and venerable Person and being close shaven look'd like a Tartar he had dwelt above forty six years in the several Reigns of Chinesy Princes in the Court at Peking The rest of the Council sate promiscuously without any Order or State one among another upon Benches onely cover'd with old white Linnen The Chancellor welcoming the Ambassadors in few words Commanded them to sit then laying the Presents on a Table he ask'd upon the matter all the Questions which the Mandarines had formerly whereto the Ambassadors by the help of Father Adam their Interpreter there gave ready Answers Mean while Order came from the Emperor to the Council wherein the Jesuit was desir'd to write down and to deliver to his Imperial Majesty that night if the Hollanders possess'd any Land and also where and how far it lay distant from his and also how their Prince was call'd and what kind of Government they maintain'd All which Schal deliver'd in Writing to the Chancellor Adding that their Countrey did formerly belong to the King of Spain from whom they keep it unjustly c. But the Chancellor perceiving that the Jesuit had no kindness for them scrupling made him put in and put out and write the whole matter twice over then ordering him to Transcribe it fair he refus'd excusing himself by age and weakness of sight Upon which he commanded one of his Under-Clerks to write it over which done it was immediately with some small Presents carry'd to the Emperor Who soon after having receiv'd this advice sent a Mandatory Letter to the Council signifying That he receiv'd the Hollanders as Ambassadors and permitted that they might be brought into his presence so soon as he should sit upon the Throne in his new Court The Letter to the Council was written in these words Most Honorable and our great Lords the Holland Ambassadors are come hither with their Presents to Complement the Emperor and shew their obedience to Us which no Record shews nor any remembers that they ever did to this Crown in thousands of years before Therefore since this is their first Address We receive them as Ambassadors and permit that they when We shall sit on Our Imperial Throne in Our New Palace may be brought into Our presence to shew their obedience to Us that afterwards they may be well entertain'd and dealt withal according to their own requests and also be speedily dispatch'd for their better departure and the rather because out of respect to Our Fame they are come an unimaginable vast way by Sea and also by Land nay as if they came out of a shadow from high Mountains to rest their Feet at Peking there with open Eyes to behold the clear Sun in the Firmament therefore how can We withstand and deny the Requests of such Persons after their long and tedious Voyages But after when the Ambassadors Letters of Credence Translated by Schal were read to the Emperor he sent to the Chancellor a second Order in these words Having on the sixteenth day of the sixth Moon read over the Hollanders Letters a second time and gotten a right understanding thereof We find that their Embassy which they have undertaken is freely out of their own kindness and inclination towards Us and that from a Countrey lying beyond the great Sea just like a Bird that takes a voluntary flight through the Air and cannot be forc'd to come down And since We esteem this Embassy higher than ought else and would befriend as Our self therefore We charge you Our Chancellor and the rest of Our Council of State upon their Requests which they shall make by way of this Embassy to permit them egress and regress through Our Empire and what other Agreements you drive with them you acquaint Us therewith This Letter being read the Chancellor ask'd the Ambassadors if they could in like manner make annual Addresses if not every three year whereupon the Ambassadors answer'd That they could with more certainty and Ceremony wait on the Emperor with their due obeisance in Peking every fifth year so that they might be Licens'd yearly with four Ships to come and Traffique at Canton Which Proposal the Chancellor put to the Vote and the Tartars with one voice judg'd their Designs were fit just and reasonable But the Chineses thought it sufficient if they made their Addresses to the Emperor but every ninth year to save the trouble and danger of so long a Journey supposing what the Tartarians did not observe that it was not fit the Hollanders should Trade all that while at Canton Moreover they urg'd that these that call'd themselves Hollanders might be English neither they nor their Shipping being much unlike which would be a high scandal upon their Government to suffer that Nation that had done them such prejudice within memory when they came but with four Ships into the Haven Heytamon and ruffled their Fleet there sinking some and taking others and so batter'd the Castle that they took the Mandarine himself Prisoner fighting more like Furies than Men for which they were ever since declar'd Enemies nay according to an Edict made at that time never after to be permitted to Trade in China so that they ought to have greater proofs whether the Hollanders were not English before they should be suffer'd to Traffique upon their Coasts And also besides that it was contrary to their ancient Laws and Customs to grant to any Nation a free Trade in the Empire they could not perceive any thing concerning this Request in their Lettrrs of Credence therefore according to their opinion the Ambassadors went beyond their Orders This stop of the Council so unexpected seem'd very strange to the Ambassadors who thought of nothing more but that all things had been done and a free Trade granted and that they were onely to return him their humble Thanks All which was brought thus about by the influence of Father Adam Schall and some other Portuguese at Peking foreseeing the undoing of their Factory at Macao if the Dutch set up at Canton and also there wanted not a less Sum than 300 Tail of Silver which was to be dispos'd to Bribe