likewise be to your satisfaction This is that which we intended to advise you In the thirteenth Year the eighth Moneth the nine and twentieth Day of the Reign Xunchi Somewhat lower stood Hongtee Thoepe The Hollanders thus frustrated of their expectation having obtain'd nothing else than to come every eighth year once with Merchandize to Trade in the Countrey left off prosecuting the Design with so much eagerness for a considerable time But since the loss of the Islands Tayowan and Formosa taken from the Hollanders by Koxinga or Iquon and his Associates Anno 1661. they renew'd their Suit to the Tartar for a free Trade on promise and assurance that if they should meet with Coxinga either at Sea or Land they would endeavor to destroy him as a common Enemy both to the Tartars and Hollanders Therefore since the Isles of Tayowan Formosa and Coxinga will be often made mention of in this our Relation and that from the loss of those places the Hollanders renew'd their old Request under pretence of help to ruine the enemy it will be necessary and this our Business seems indeed to require a brief Description of them in the first and withal a Relation how Coxinga took them from the Hollanders Of Formosa THe Formosan Isle formerly call'd by the Chineses Paccande extends it self in length from the South to the North and in breadth East and West being an hundred and thirty Leagues in Circuit the Prospect shews you much rising Ground and a Hilly Countrey which abounds with Deer great store of Wild Goats Hares Coneys Swine Tygers and the Luvasey whose flesh hath a delightful and excellent relish The Woods also have no want of Pheasants and Pigeons The Ground being fruitful produceth store of Sugar Ginger Cinamon Coco-Nuts and several other Necessaries fit for humane sustenance besides full of populous Villages They are Govern'd by several Lords not depending on nor acknowledging any Superior so that each Town being a Republick they still have Wars and are at difference one with another Town against Town Village against Village insomuch that Peace never set Foot in that Isle Of their many Villages the prime and of chiefest note are Sinkan Mandauw Soulang Backeloang Taffacan Tifulucan Teopan and Tefurang the last in a Valley near the High-lands where Fort Zelandia stands formerly call'd Tayovan The Inhabitants of this Village are rude and salvage robust and almost of a Gigantick size not black like the Caffers and count it no immodesty to go stark naked Their Women well built for Stowage short and inclining to grossness wearing Apparel yet twice a day they strip themselves and are not asham'd to bathe and wash in publick These though a barbarous People are kind to the Netherlanders heartily entertaining them with their own though mean yet wholsome Fare Soulang breeds a needy spiteful inhospitable and bloody People Notwithstanding the fruitfulness of the Soil they commonly live in want being extreme lazy Tilling no more than they suppose will supply their necessity which often falling short they are so hardly put to it that when they perceive Provision growing scant they live sparingly many days or else they might be utterly famish'd for in such exigencies they never help one another nay they are so supinely slothful that the Women do all the business of the Field Plough Sow and Reap having neither Horses nor any other Cattel to help them the Drudgery being the more because they make it Gardners work for onely with Spades they dig and turn the Glebe and where their Corn grows thickest especially Rice they pluck it out with their Hands and set it where they find the Blades come up thinner and in Harvest knowing neither Scythe nor Sickle which tries their patience crop with a Tool like a Pruning Knife Stalk by Stalk a Span below the Ear which without Threshing they store up in their Houses hanging it in the Evening in small Bundles over the Fire and early in the Morning the Women rise and Pound so much as will serve them that day for their lazy Lord and Family Besides Rice and other Grain they Sow Carrots Set Water-Melons Pinang Quach Taraum and Pting This Isle is not stor'd with such Wines as other places in India have which their Trees produce but they have another sort of Liquor that inebriates no less than the Indian or Juyce of the Spanish Grape which they prepare in this manner They take a quantity of Rice which they put in a Vessel made for that purpose and boyl it which turning out they knead into little Balls or Pellets when they are well chew'd they put them into another Pot there letting it stand till grown sowre to this they pour a good quantity of spring-Spring-Water which being so put together works a Moneth or two for so long it will ferment then it becomes a clear pleasant wholsom and strong Liquor which the longer kept the better grows for it will hold good thirty years The top of this Drink is thin and clear the bottom or sediment thick like our Pap the thin makes their Drink with which they often Fuddle the thick makes their Cawdle to recover them which Crop-sick they eat with Spoons This they carry with them to the Field and take a Dose thereof when they think fit and thus yearly they spend most part of their Rice The Women when their Cultivation or Land-work is done then they betake themselves to the Sea and Launch out their Boats which they call Champans and fall to Fishing where they catch great store of Crabs Oysters and Gurnets which they Salt without Gutting and therefore though Pickled keep not long but are apt to putrifie and breed Worms yet they like it never the worse but look upon their Dish as the greater Dainty the rancker the Hogooe Their Youths though strong and of able Bodies spend their time in idleness and sloth and when forty years old then they settle themselves to Laziness as if it were a Trade or Handicraft spending twenty years in a methodical doing of nothing in a small Hut or Hovel dandling their Children or Dalliance with their Wives seldom or never stirring out of their own Limits or Patch of Ground unless invited either to a private or publick Feast or Hunting-Matches in which pleasure they take some pains using several and indeed ingenious ways to catch the Game sometimes practising deceit laying Snares and Traps of complicated Rushes and Reeds so artificially that they look fresh as if growing and ungather'd setting them in the Haunts of wild Boars Lays of Deers and the like and so catch them wondring who made their new Lodges and Beds so soft and lay Meshes in other inviting places which if they take not willingly nor observe such Allurements they drive them in where they also make them their Prey and they trapan them into Pits digg'd and spread over with a light Swarth or Turf of Grass supported with brittle
Village where the Channel call'd Iun takes its beginning and discharges its Waters through a Sluce viz. This Channel Iun begins on the Northern Borders of the Province of Peking in the Territory Hoaiganfu Northward from the City Socien on the North side of the Yellow River out of which the Ships that go to all Places in the Northern part of the Empire are brought into the Channel Iun which spreads it self North-West from thence through the second County Iencheufu in the Province of Xantung to the City Cining Southward of the Lake Nanyang then through those of Tungchunfu and through the Nanyang and lastly at the end of that Territory it disembogues in the River Guei which separates the Provinces of Xantung and Peking But because this Channel in many Places is too shallow for Vessels of Burthen there are above twenty Sluces which they call Tungoa built artificially with Stone every Sluce hath a large Water-gate which is open'd when any small Boats or Vessels are to pass and strongly barr'd up with Posts and Planks to keep up the Water These fore-mention'd Gates are open'd with an Engine or Wheel-work with little trouble to let the Water through and so from one to another till they have past through like the Sluces at our new River at Guilford But half way before they come to the City Cining they let as much Water out of the Lake Usianghoe or Can through a very great Water-gate as they have occasion for them locking it again that the Lake may not be quite exhausted When the Ships come to the Lake Chang they cross it not but go with greater ease along a Channel made near the side and Confin'd with two broad Banks At every Water-gate are People which for small consideration pull the Vessels through with Ropes In this manner the Ships go out of the Yellow River to Peking Certainly if the European Builders or Layers of Water-courses did come along this Channel Iun and behold the thickness and heighth of the Banks on both sides and the stately Water-gates which are also of Free-Stone or the firmness of the Work they would justly admire the Contrivance and Art of the Chineses in this their way of Aqueduct not to be paralell'd by the prime Pieces of the best Masters in Europe After all the Boats were Tow'd through the fore-mention'd Water-gates they Sail'd up the Channel Iun in a Northerly Course with a fair Wind by the Villages Mochoctan and Uwtaotchou the first on the West and the last on the East side of the Channel and in the Evening came to Maulovao on the Western Shore having this day wrought out six Leagues and a half Here they they were forc'd to exchange their Coelies because the other that came from Sinsing a Place two Leagues and a half distance from thence had gone their Stage Van Hoorn no way satisfi'd with these delays told the Mandarin Guides that they ought to have sent Coelies before that they might have been ready against his coming thither and then rehearsed the long time which he had already spent when as they might have finish'd their Journey in six Weeks all which said he you can scarce answer in Peking if the Emperor's Presents should be any ways damnifi'd which they are subject to The thirtieth at Noon no Coelies coming they went with some Soldiers into the Countrey to Press some of the Rusticks which was done so leisurely that it was almost Night before they got from Maulovao and Sail'd the whole Night though with a slow pace because their Vessels often rak'd upon the Sand. In the Morning the first of May they past by Kiakio and Sankomiao two decay'd Villages on the East side of the Channel somewhat up into the Countrey and about Noon pass'd by Thoetsuang beyond which they lay still a little while till their Toers had Din'd Then going on again they arriv'd in the Evening at a small Village call'd Sjousincha and Anchor'd before a Water-gate having since the last Night gain'd six Leagues in several Courses The second in the Morning about nine a Clock they pass'd through the Water-gate before which they lay the Night before being hindred there by a strong North-West Wind. In the Afternoon coming to Twansingiao they again lay before one of the Water-gates till the Wind was something abated Whilst they lay there one of the Emperor's Barques laden with Tributary Goods just to the Northward of the Village was accidentally set on fire but soon quenched onely burning her Stern and very little of her Lading Towards Evening they pass'd the fore-mention'd Water-gate and Sail'd in the Moon-shine through Singhjamiao and its Water-gates and about Midnight Anchor'd before Wansensua having that day gain'd but a League and a half About day-light they got through the fore-mention'd Sluce and at Noon arriv'd at Milanchia where they were to pass another but because the Wind blew very hard they cast Anchor before it This Village of Milanchia separates the Province of Nanking from that of Xantung being seated on their Borders Against the Evening the Weather growing more calm they went with their Vessels through the Water-gate beyond the Village at the end of which they stay'd having the whole day not gain'd above three quarters of a League and pass'd out of the Province of Nanking into that of Xantung The Province of Xantung being the fourth of the Northern verges South-East and North with the Sea and on the West side surrounded with Rivers in the North it borders upon the Province of Peking in the South on that of Nanking from which separated by the Yellow River The remainder thereof lies inclos'd within the Rivers of Iun and Guei The fourth in the Morning weighing again they pass'd through Tsingchia and Hanghsuansa and also through two Water-gates To the Westward or behind this Village a great Lake by the Chineses call'd Yzianghoe takes its beginning and through two Sluces discharges Waters into those of Iun. In the Evening though late they came to the Village Tzizang where they stay'd all Night being got three Leagues and a half farther in several Courses that day The fifth about Day-break they went forward and about Noon reach'd Iaixinho or Iaxhinno a little Town consisting of thirty six Houses all built like Forts or defensive Towers Here they stay'd some time for fresh Coelies who being come they weighed again and first pass'd through a Water-gate lying in the fore-mention'd Iaixinho afterwards through Tsonoiacha and two Water-gates more In the Evening they arriv'd at Maaliaeao where they stay'd all Night having gain'd four Leagues that day Here as before began to appear a Lake on the East side of the Channel The Countrey to the Hills seeming to lie thereabouts under Water The sixth in the Morning before day setting forward again they pass'd through ten Flood-gates and also by and through Tsouteucha and Naeyang Loutchiajeen Tongnang-fong Tsiongiaceen Chinkio Sinchia Tsoufee and Sohousum In the Evening they arriv'd at
Xang united on the North with the Lake Cienli In the Territory Yangcheufu stands the Lake Piexe Northward from the City Kaoyeu where a digg'd Channel runs into it In the County Hoaiganfu on the East side of the City Hoaigan lies the Lake or rather a great Pool call'd Hing full of Canes In the Territory Luchenfu is the great Lake Cao and another less nam'd Pe which joyn near the City Lukiang In the first lies the Mountain Ci that is to say Orphan because it stands alone In the County Taipingfu on the South-East side of the City Taiping begins the Lake Tanyang by the Chineses reckon'd to be three hundred Furlongs large and extends from thence to the City Liexui In the little Territory wherein is the City Cheucheu near the City Civenciao begins the Lake U and reaches to the City Laigan The little County Siucheu boasts of the Lake Ta near which they say a Countrey Maid afterwards Mother to the Emperor Lieupang Conceiv'd by a Spirit and brought forth the chief of the Family of Han. In the County Hancheufu near the City Changhoa on the Mountain Cienking is a Lake of two hundred Paces in bigness famous for its Golden-colour'd Fishes which the Chineses from thence call Kinyu In the Territory Hangcheu Westward from the City of the same Name is the famous Lake Si between which and the Wall is onely a Stone Street of seven Furlongs for a convenient Walking-place The Lake whose Water for its pleasantness is much esteem'd both by Natives and Strangers containeth forty Furlongs in circumference and is surrounded with Hills in manner like a Theatre round about the Hills out of which flow many Brooks and Rivolets distinguish'd by several Channels are Pagodes Palaces Cloysters Colledges Groves Tombs and very delightful Gardens On its Shore are broad Ways Pav'd with Free-Stone and across the Lake lie Bridges of Ships over which they pass from one side to another and in the passage take a view of the whole Lake The Ways are all along shaded with Willow Trees planted direct in a Line and ever now and then Seats or Arbors with Benches for Passengers to rest on insomuch that it is a question which of the two are here most to be admir'd the workmanship of Nature or the artificial Adornments of the Place The Water is clear as Crystal the least Stone being seen in the bottom but near the Shores the Water being low is over-grown with the Flower Lien This Lake hath no way for the Ships to go out or in at for the Water is onely let out in time of great Rains through little Rivolets or through a Sluce which is Northward from the City yet nevertheless there are many Ships built on its Banks which may justly be call'd Golden Palaces for their being so richly Gilded and Painted with various Colours In these Pleasure-Boats they make Feasts Plays and other Entertainments wherein the Chineses have all things that can be invented to recreat the Mind The Vessels thus stor'd with all manner of Necessaries for delight Sail to and again in the Lake without fear or danger of Shipwrack so that it is no wonder why they call this Place and City A delightful Garden or Earthly Paradice In the County Kiucheu near the City Kaihoa lies the little Lake Pehiai so call'd from the white Crabs which it produces for Pehiai signifies a White Crab. In the Territory Ningpofu near the City Tunghoa is a little Pool but very deep call'd Yapoi whose Water as the Chineses say grows exceeding clear when the City hath a pious and good Governor but when a bad one muddy and thick In the County Tingcheufu near the City Vuping lies the Lake Loxui that is Green Water so call'd from its green colour with which this Water is so deeply Dy'd that it makes all things green which are wash'd in the same On the East side of the City Tingcheu is a Pool call'd Cingcao of one Furlong but very deep near which grow Trees whose Leaves are continually green In the County Hoeicheufu Westward from the City Hoeicheu is the Lake Fung ten Furlongs in circumference in the middle of it are two Isles built with Banquetting-houses wherein the Citizens Caress one another This Lake is surrounded with a Stone Wall and a Bridge also which not onely leads from one side to the other but also from one Island to another The Shore is planted with shading Trees and built with Colledges In the County Liencheufu five little Lakes call'd U surround the City King In the Territory Tincheufu lies the Lake Kiao THe Lake So lies in the County Queilingfu in the Province of Kiangsi on the West side of the City Queiling being seventy Furlongs in compass and in it a Hill call'd In makes a little Island In the Territory Gucheufu on the East side of the City Gucheu is a small Lake call'd Go in which King Pegao is reported of old to have fed ten tame Crocodiles feasting them onely with Criminals and Malefactors Within the Wall of the Garrison Cinping is a Lake call'd Ciseng out of which the Inhabitants fetch their Water the hard and stony Ground thereabouts not yielding them any Pits or Wells In the County Tuchufu on the West side of the City Pingcheu is a Lake which bears the same Name with the City In the Territory Iunnanfu on the South side of the chief City Iunnan is the Lake Tien otherwise call'd Quinming which extends Westward and is five hundred Furlongs in circumference It receives increase of Water out of the Puon which descends out of the Mountain Kaoming into this Lake and on the South side makes the River Kinxa which runs Northward In the County Talifu Eastward from the City Tali is a very long Lake call'd Siul which abounds in Fish it begins Southward near the City Tali and ends Northward at the City Leankiang This Lake makes nine Creeks or Inlets and hath three Isles which rise up into Hills besides four others very low and fruitful The Mosale also takes its original out of this Lake which after having run through this whole Countrey falls into the Province of Tungking where augmenting its Stream it makes the Channel which carries Ships of great Burthen to the Court of Tunking In the County Linganfu near the City Xeping lies the Lake Ylung above a hundred and fifty Furlongs in circumference and hath three Isles in the midst of it Another call'd Tungha appears Westward from the City Tunghai eighty Furlongs about its beginning is near the City Hosi In the Territory Chinkiangfu Southward from the City Chinkiang is a great Lake call'd Fusien a hundred thousand Paces over and another lesser nam'd Ming lies near the City Yangcung In the County Iungningfu on the East side of the City Iungning is a great Lake with three Isles of equal bigness each having a rising Mount about two hundred Rods high In the County Kioungfu near the City Koleang at the Foot of the Mountain
common manner not on the Body of the Tree as the first sort it is of a better taste and wholsomer than the common Iaka The Tree spreads it self very much and is extraordinary high and broad Leav'd out of the calcin'd Shells of these two prickly Fruits the Indians make a Composition which they use in stead of Sope or Lye to scowr Clothes with In the Southern Provinces Quantung Quangsi Iunnan Foquieu and on the Island Ainan grows in great abundance a Fruit by the Chineses call'd Fanpolomie by the Brasilians acording to Piso Nano according to Lerius Panaco by the Spaniards in New-Spain Iajama from its likeness with a Pine-Apple and by the Portuguese Ananas which they hammer'd without doubt from the Brasilian name Nana The ripe Fruit is very Juycie and of a sweetish taste with a mixture of sowrness of a deep Vermillion Colour or as Acosta says Yellow as big as a Mellon or Cytron or as Boem writes as a Pine-Apple the edges are of a lively Colour good smell nay so strong it is that any Person walking may smell in what House they hang up in to ripen It is generally without full of whitish knobs the ripe Fruit is crown'd with a young Plant which cut off and without Root for it hath none put into the Ground bears Fruit the next Year every Plant produces onely one Fruit a Year and that Fruit a new Plant which when cut off and set in the Ground the old is pull'd out and thrown away as unfruitful the Root is like that of an Artichoke the Fruit slic'd and steep'd in Wine gives it an excellent Savor and Rellish but bites the Tongue and heats the Palate The Juyce thereof refreshes the fainting Heart revives the Spirits and strengthens a squemish Stomack Moreover its Juyce or Wine much more the Distill'd Water is exceeding good against the Gravel The Root also is a Remedy to cure the fore-mention'd Distemper But those that are troubled with or are careful to avoid Agues must be sure to abstain both from the Fruit and all that belongs to it China also produces several sorts of Spices and Aromatick Plants in the Southern Province bordering upon India though in no great abundance viz. Pepper in the Chinese Tongue call'd Hucyao which grows in the Province of Iunnan Cinamon as already we have made mention in the Province of Quantung and Quangsi But there is exceeding good Ginger in great abundance which they call Sem Kiam and store of Coco-nuts in the Southern Provinces and especially on the Isle Ainan But because all those Plants and Fruits have been largely describ'd by others it would be needless to make rehearsal thereof In several places in China grows the Plant Tee or Cha so call'd by the Chineses by which Name it is known among us and Cia or Tchia and Tsia by the Iapanners though amongst the Chineses according to the several places wherein it grows it hath several Denominations as likewise from its goodness for the Inhabitants of the thirteenth County Chucheufu in the Province of Nanking call the best Tee Sunglocha those of the third County Hucheufu in the Province of Chekiang Kiaichai those in the Province of Fokien Ziazcha The Water or Liquor in which this Plant is boyl'd is also by the Chineses properly call'd Tee and Cha and Chia or Tsia by the Iapanners There are those which say that Tsia or Chia in general signifies Meat and Drink as Loe Chia Will you please to have Meat or Drink The Plant The according to Martin and Trigaut is a Shrub and no Tree grows about the height of an European Rasberry-bush or Rose-Tree and dividing it self into several Boughs is like the Mirtle-Tree and partly tastes like it yet grows not Wild but is Planted The Boughs and Stalks of the whole Sprout are from top to bottom always full of Leaves and Flowers The Leaves are thin sharp before and notch'd round about in shape Oval in bigness like those of the Granate-Tree and though of one shape yet are of such several bignesses that on one Sprout four or five sizes of Leaves are to be seen The first and biggest grow on the undermost Boughs and are like the Leaves of Garden-Balsom The second size much less than the first so accordingly the rest which grow higher still lessen more and more but as much as the uppermost Leaves abate in bigness so much they increase in value for one of the first rank of Leaves dry'd and prepar'd costs five Pence the second sort fifty the third ten Shillings the fourth if rightly prepar'd thirty the difference of the Value follows from the difference of the Vertue which according to Trigaut is very considerable insomuch that they often give for one Pound of the best two sometimes three Duckets In Iapan the best cost ten and twelve Duckets The Flowers of the The are of a Yellowish White in bigness and shape like the Eglantine but not in smell which according to Martin is faintyish After the falling off of the Flowers there remains a Cod or Husk which is first Green and afterwards turns Black in it lies a round Black Seed like those of Roses This Seed Sown yields a new Plant in three years time The Root is full of Strings divided into several Knobs which lie not deep in the Ground but are just cover'd with the same and are for no use all the Vertue of this Plant consisting onely in the Leaves the freshest and youngest of which are made use of in the making their Drink Cha they gather them in the Spring one by one and immediately put them to warm in an Iron Kettle over the fire then laying them a on fine light Mat roul them together with their Hands The Leaves thus roul'd up are again hang'd over the fire and then again roul'd closer together till they are dry and then put up carefully in Tin Vessels thereby to keep them from all moystness Trigaut tells us that the Chineses dry not the Leaves over the fire but in the Sun In the using of these Leaves is some differnece betwixt the Iapanners and Chineses for they says Trigaut throw some of the Leaves into a Pot of boyling Water which when the Vertue of the Leaf is sufficiently infus'd into it they Drink hot without eating the Leaves The Chineses as the Lord Tulp tells us boyl the Leaves with a little Salt and Sugar to take away the bitterness in a certain Liquor which they drink warm or else they put a Handful of The Leaves in a Pint-Pot then pour it full of scalding Water and about two or three Minutes after Drink the same very hot The Chineses generally both Night and Day drink of the Liquor wherein the fore mention'd Leaves are boyl'd and not onely ordinarily at Table but have it ready upon all occasions at great Entertainments and the greatest Nobles and Princes think not much to prepare it themselves and have in their
falls into Pits made on purpose at the Foot of the Hill which the Inhabitants draining gather the pure Oar from the bottom These Mountains are inhabited by a People which know no Prince nor hitherto have been conquer'd by any The Hollanders have often endeavour'd to gain some Ground in these High-lands but were always repuls'd They are ingenious of subtile Wit and great Memories and none of the Indians are fitter to understand the Mysteries of and readier to embrace the Christian Faith Their Habit or Summer-Garment is only a thin Cotton Coat made wide tied fast on the Breast by two Corners and then put under one of their Arms so that generally one side of their Bodies is cover'd and the other bare about the middle close girt and hanging down below their Knees They neither wear Shoes nor Stockins but sometimes a kind of Pumps or Sandals made of Goat-skins which they fasten on the top of their Feet In the Winter time they wear Tygers Leopards Bears and other Wild-beasts Skins The People of Soulang went habited like the Dutch being still conversant among them but all the rest like the Chineses Before the Spaniards and Hollanders coming thither the Inhabitants went naked which Salvage Custom those that live in the Mountains still continue wearing onely a small Cloth before The Womens Habit agrees almost with the Mens onely with this difference that they tie Clouts about their Legs like Spatterdashes and have short Coats like a Half-shirt without Sleeves which reach down to their Middle and under that a Cotton Cloth falling down to their Knees Their Heads are filleted with a piece of Silk about a Yard and half long whose two ends stick out like Horns on their Foreheads and none of them ever wear Shoes But every Woman hath commonly a great Pig running after her as we use to have a Dog The Men paint the Skin of their Breasts Backs and Arms with a Colour which remains in the Flesh and will never be got out and by them accounted a great Bravery about their Necks and Arms they hang Glass Beads strung and Iron Armlets which sit very straight like an Elbow-Gauntlet so narrow in the Wrist that it seems impossible almost how they could be put over the Hand and on their Legs they have Anclets of white Shells joyn'd together like a Scallop Lace The Men of Tokdadekol wear as an Ornament a long Cane which they stick behind their Backs at a Girdle the other end bowing over their Heads having a white or red Flag about two Handfuls broad Their Heads on Holydays are gay with Cocks Feathers and their Arms and Legs with Bears Tails The Women also use Glass and Stones and sometimes also Rix-Dollars The Skins of Deer spread on the Ground serve them for Beds and Blankets They have no Societies of Artificers or Manufactory but every one is his own Work-man and Seamster making what is necessary or useful for themselves to wear They are very dexterous and ready in handling their Bowes and Arrows and such excellent Swimmers that they will bear on their Backs another Person through the swiftest Current They exercise themselves much in Running and are very swift of Foot so that some of them are able to beat a Horse at full speed When they run they hold a kind of a Bell about six Inches long in their Hand which tinkles slower or faster according to their motion They never venture out to Sea but Fish in Rivers with small Canoos They have yet another sort of Drink by them call'd Cuthay made of the same press'd Rice which they preserve and through not away in this manner They take a Handful of this Rice and put it into a Callabash which contains about two Gallons which they fill up with Water This is a cool Drink not strong and hath onely a smatch of the Masakauw In the Northern Part of Formosa between Kelang and Tamsay and between Tamsay and Mount Gedult they make another Drink of Wood-ashes which is also very strong but unwholesom for the Europeans because 't is apt to excoriate breeding the Bloody-Flux But the Natives though so well stor'd with these several Liquors yet for the most part satisfie themselves with Water Their usual Diet is dry'd Venison Flesh of Wild Swine and Fish all which they eat raw without Seething or Rosting Boyl'd Rice serves them for Bread which they take with their four fingers and toss into their Mouthes They seeth not their Rice in Water but putting it into a Cullender hang it over a Pot fill'd with boyling Water from whose ascending Steam and Heat the Rice grows moist and warm The Inhabitants also take Tobacco although it grows not there but is brought to them from China Their Pipes are thin Reeds or Canes with Stone Heads That which the Hollanders often smok'd there was brought from Iapan which though strong is but like the Refuse of other Tobacco Their Houses are all built of Wood and split Canes which because of their ignorance in preparing of Lime or Stone and the decaying of the Canes seldom last above four or five years at which time they pull down the old and build new ones in the same place though not without great charge occasion'd by the unsatiable drinking of the Work-men all the time of their Building so that an ordinary Man is scarce able to build a House They generally stand six Foot from the Ground on a Hill of Clay When the Foundation is first laid they raise several Steps from the Street to go up to it The foremost part of the Foundation resembles a Semicircle or Half-Moon and likewise the Roof over the Front the rest thatch'd with Straw and other such like Materials is above twenty and sometimes above thirty Foot high jutting four Foot over the Front that in rainy Weather they may stand dry Every House is almost sixty Foot broad and two hundred Foot long with onely one Room and one Story Their Penthouse or Front-Roof they hang full of Swines Teeth Glasses Shells and such like Baubles strung on Thred which by the Wind being stirr'd and blown one against another make a gingling noise very pleasant The Roof which they finish on the Ground is by the Builders divided into two parts one on one side and the other on the other laid upon the House They begin their Buildings at a certain time of the Year viz. in Ianuary or February because those are dry Months but before they build they make Observations of their good Success by Dreams which they tell to one another every Morning If they dream of a Post or Pisang Tree or short Cane they look upon it as a good signification and begin their Building but if they Dream of a long Reed on Cane in their Language call'd Foerik they take it for an ill Omen and defer the Work till they have better Visions When they begin to build they thus invoke one of their Idols Oh Father be with us when we
to Smeerdorp as Spies and to inquire News who brought word back that the Chineses were already gotten into a Head and that setting upon them they had escap'd by flight At this Alarm the Hollanders that had setled in Sakam being to the number of thirty in great fear fled for safety to the Forts Fayet who judg'd Delays dangerous and doubting that his Brother would or had discover'd the Plot march'd with his Forces to Sakam where falling without mercy upon the Town with Fire and Sword he gave no Quarter to any A Gardener belonging to the Dutch going on that Sunday Morning early with a Basket of Fruit to the Governor in the Castle Tayowan the Revolters overtaking him cut off his Head and taking out the Fruits laid it in the Basket designing to have sent it before them but the Humor altering they cast both it and the Body under a Bridge The News of this Massacre spreading a strange Fear seiz'd all the Hollanders where-ever setled through the Country so that dispersing they hid themselves where-ever their Fear carried or their Hope 's led them to escape the Slaughter But one Captain Marine well mounted with three more with their Swords in their Hands broke through the Enemy and killing the first that oppos'd him came safe to Tayowan Verburgh the Governor well knowing how untowardly the Business stood and the hazard wherein the Hollanders abroad were lying open to destruction immediately sent out a hundred and twenty Men commanded by Captain Danker This Handful in comparison of their Enemies great Forces went in one Sloop and a Boat from Tayowan to Sakam whither being come the first that endeavor'd to Land being Captain Hans Pieters leap'd Breast-high into the Water by which Example the rest encourag'd forsook their Boats and resolv'd wading to fight their way to the Shore which the Enemy observing sent down with the Lieutenant-General a thousand Men to oppose their Landing While they were thus drawing up towards the Shore for the Service Fayet the General gave his Lieutenant Loukegwa new Orders thinking it more fit to suffer them to Land saying It would be a higher pleasure to him to see the Christian Dogs die on the Land than in the Water which would be much the better sport having them there inviron'd with his Army as in a Net But Loukegwa not so perswaded nor willing to receive these new Commands earnestly advis'd the General that he might go on and set upon them in the Water averring That these being the Hollanders choicest and pick'd Men if they did not cut them off at this Advantage they should never have the like But however the Generals Opinion prevailing he obey'd and retreating gave the opportunity of Landing in safety where a little towards the left Hand of the Enemy he drew up his small Party into a Body when a Negro that had married a Hollander coming out of a Wood where she had hid running for her safety towards them they intercepting ripp'd up her Bowels and cutting the Child in pieces threw the Limbs at them vaporing aloud That so they would serve them all But the Hollanders not replying march'd boldly up to the Front of the Enemy where in the first Charge killing fortunately their Prime Commander Fayet which presently nois'd through the Army all struck with a Panick fear threw down their Arms and disbanding fled shifting for themselves but the Hollanders pursu'd firing at their Heels through Sakam and the Town clear'd they sate down in their Enemies Head-Quarters But before Night while yet they were triumphing for the Victory came two thousand Christian Formosans rais'd by the Governor Verburgh to their Aid who according to present Orders march'd together in pursuit of the Enemy some few of whom the next morning they spied drawn together upon a rising Ground but a River betwixt impeded their present Charge but soon after the Formosans who knew the Fords and Avenues got over and charging them smartly one being slain they were suddenly dissipated which Victory they and the Netherlanders pursu'd making Execution till Sun-set from whence returning to their Camp weary and hungry they found store of fresh Provisions boyl'd and roast with which they feasting were refresh'd This Tumultuary Commotion was in fourteen days thus concluded in which of the Enemy were slain four thousand Men besides as many more Women and Children and not one Hollander so much as wounded Two Years after this War Anno 1645. in May came abundance of Locusts out of the North-West of the Isles which devouring all the Fruits of the Field occasion'd so great a Famine that eight thousand Persons died of Hunger These Locusts were of a strange shape having a Back and Breast like a Pikeman and an Helmet on their Heads such as Soldiers wear They made an affrighting noise with their Wings in their flight as if it had blown a Storm They flew from the Island Tayowan to Formosa where they staid three Months and at last took their Progress from thence towards the North-West from whence they came at first on Sunday the ninth of August about Sun-set Yet though they were gone the fear of that Plague was no ways abated for they left young ones behind which were far worse than the old eating up all that remain'd yet by the Industry of the Inhabitants with the Governors Order most part of them being not fledg'd were taken and destroy'd The Island TAYOWAN THe Island Taywan or as others call it Tayovan and Tayowan lieth South from Formosa the uttermost North-Point being distant almost a League but the Southermost Point within a Bowe-shot of the Land over which at low Water they wade to and again but between the North and Formosa it is at least thirteen Foot deep at Low Water It spreads South-East and North-West and hath two Leagues and a half in length and a quarter of a League in breadth being naturally a spot of barren Sand rather than a fertile Isle producing onely Pine-apples and other wild Trees yet here resided above ten thousand Chineses who liv'd by Merchandize besides Natives On the North-side upon a Sand-hill stands the Fort Zelandia built by the Hollanders Anno 1632. surounded with a double Wall one investing the other whereof the outermost fortified with Sconces and Redoubts Under the Castle Westward lies another Fort square guarded by two Points of the Sea A Bowe-shot distant lies a strong Out-work being the Key to the Castle call'd Utrecht rais'd sixteen Foot high with Stone and defended with seven Pallisadoes Eastward from which stands a Town built also by the Netherlanders call'd by the name of the Isle and about a Mile in Circumference adjoyning to which is a Haven call'd by the Chineses Loakhau and by the Dutch The Straights of Tayowan On the other side of the Castle lies a rising Sand call'd Baxemboy where a few scatter'd Villages appear Since the Chineses possess'd Tayowan under the Pyrate Coxinga and his Son Sepoan's
Coast of China three or four unknown Isles and seven Ships at an Anchor near the Shore which were the lost Ships with the Admiral that they were in quest of About Noon the Vice-Admiral was commanded aboard of the Admiral Bort by Captain Auke Pieterson Master of the Ter-Boede Frigat and inform'd by him That he had taken nineteen Jonks great and small near Tenhay six or seven of which they had fetch'd from the Shore and burn'd the rest except one which was blown up by its own Powder The Booty of the taken Jonks consisted in forty one square Packs nineteen Fardels and five Bales of fine white Silk a hundred and thirteen Pieces of Spiljauter sixty seven Pigs of Lead great and small two hundred sixty eight Bags of Pepper besides sixty nine Guns and Blunderbusses The twelfth being Saturday the Fleet setting Sail steer'd their Course to the River of Hoksieu to perform the Orders of the General and Council of India but was forc'd by calm Weather and contrary Tides to come to an Anchor again in seven Fathom Water a little to the Westward of the Bay not far from the Land border'd with a white sandy Shore In the hanging of the Mountain appear'd a great and well-built City call'd Sotiha whereof the Walls of one side were wash'd by the Sea Near the Shore and against the Gates lay some small Jonks and many other Vessels that were hall'd up above the Water-mark whither the Admiral Bort and Vice-Admiral Van Campen in the afternoon sent ninety seven Seamen and one hundred and fifty Soldiers in five Boats and seven Sloops with Command to set them all on fire for they belong'd to Coxinga but to spare all Houses The Hollanders coming near the Shore were roughly entertain'd by the Chineses with great Guns and Musquets but being once Landed they met with little resistance for the Chineses fled unto the Mountains whereupon Van Campen entring the City with his Men set a Watch in a great House near the Gate and sent the rest of his People in three Parties through the City This City Sotiha had been ruin'd and burnt by the Tartars about a year before but since that rebuilt with many handsom Houses wherein they found good quantities of Rice Salt and dri'd Fish Three Chineses were also taken with four Women but set at liberty again immediately A young Woman was found Murder'd but how none knew This Place is now inhabited chiefly by Chineses short-hair'd like the Tartars that maintain themselves with Fishing and Husbandry being Licenced thereto by the Governor of Hoksieu After the firing of twenty seven small and great Vessels Laden with Pepper Silk and other Commodities to be Transported to Iapan Van Campen with his People in the Evening leaving the Shore went aboard where he related his Adventures to the Admiral Hence the Fleet Sail'd somewhat Southerly and Anchor'd before the City Tenhay in nine Fathom Water This Tenhay hath no Walls and inhabited onely by Fisher-men and some Merchants The thirteenth being Sunday the Fleet between Tenhay and the River Hoksieu came to Anchor in eight Fathom Water where in the Bay of Linkun they espi'd some small Fisher-men with their Nets This Bay of Linkun lies also between the River Hoksieu and Tenhay where some Priests coming to the Netherlanders requested of them a Pass that they might go free if any of their Ships should meet with them at Sea promising to do the same to them if the Hollanders had occasion to travel by Land or Water The Vice-Admiral Van Campen sent to the Admiral Bort to know if the six Jonks should stay near Tenhay or go into the River Hoksieu that if a Storm should happen they might not be driven from their Anchors with which they were but meanly provided and had scarce Provision for six or seven Days In the Night they saw many Fires upon the Mountains The fourteenth being Monday in the Morning the Fleet Anchor'd near the Banks of Hoksieu about a League from the Shore and to make their coming known to the Tartars Bort commanded seven Guns to be fir'd from the Naerden Frigat five from the Zierikzee three from the Domburgh and one from all the rest of the other Ships Here it was concluded that Captain Abraham Pon Commander of the Breukelen with six Men one Quarter-master and the Interpreter Lakka with three Tartars that came to the Hollanders at Tayowan the year before should carry a Letter to the Governors and Vice-Roy On Tuesday the fifteenth the Vice-Admiral Van Campen according as order'd the day before Sail'd with two Frigats three Pinks besides the six foremention'd Jonks towards Hoksieu or Chancheu commonly call'd The River Chang Steering his Course West and by South between two Sands near the White Rocks which appear like Pyramids and close by the North-east Foreland and bringing the Pyramids on his Starboard he alter'd his Course towards the South-west through a narrow Channel six seven or eight Fathom deep gravelly Ground Thence he Steer'd his Course East North-east and Anchor'd in eight Fathom Water between two pleasant Isles and left on his Starboard two other within Cannon-shot which serv'd as safe Harbors for all Ships against foul Weather Near the Evening Van Campen fell down with the Ebb out of the River towards the Bar of Hoksieu and came about four Glasses after Sun-set to the rest of the Fleet where going Aboard the Naerden Fregat he gave an account to the Admiral of Affairs to his great satisfaction The sixteenth being Wednesday the Fleet pass'd into the River Hoksieu and came presently after Noon with the Flood by the high North-east Point of the Eastermost Island having the White Rocks on their Starboard and working through a strong Ebb in a narrow Channel they came to an Anchor in five Fathom Water where immediately three handsom Chinese Vessels with five grand Mandarins came Aboard of the Naerden Fregat to the Admiral Bort and with much Ceremony and Complement welcom'd both the Admiral and Vice-Admiral At Low-water the Naerden Frigat sitting upon the Sand much troubled the Admiral who call'd to Van Campen telling him that he had brought the Ships to a bad Place to Anchor in but he little regarding such a danger repli'd To Morrow if it be the Admiral 's pleasure I will carry the Ships out of the River again The seventeenth in the Morning the Fleet weigh'd Anchor and Sail'd along in five six seven and eight Fathom Water thence they Sail'd Northwest up the River along the Northermost Island against the middle of which being a safe Harbor the Ships came to Anchor Not far from hence lay four Islands formerly peopled but now laid waste and depopulated by the Tartars A whole Moneth the Netherlanders lay near these four Islands where they got all things in a plentiful manner though the ordinary Sea-men were not permitted to go ashore without leave and onely six at a time because they should not be burdensom nor affright the Inhabitants
the twelfth they saw two Jonks in the South-West seeming to steer towards Tinghay which Van Campen chasing endeavour'd to get to the Northwards but labour'd in vain because of contrary Winds and Tides at last he was forc'd near the Islands of Pakka which although pretty large yet are for the most part waste and untill'd and inhabited by none but Fishers and poor Rusticks Nevertheless there is good Harbor for Ships and Refreshments of Water and Provisions to be had The thirteenth being Munday Van Campen with the Ebb set Sail Northwards between the Islands Pakka in eighteen nineteen and twenty Fathom Water but came after the Tide spent to Anchor in thirteen Fathom Water under the Eastermost Island About Noon the Fleet weigh'd to get more towards the North and against the Evening Anchor'd in eight Fathom Water about half a League Nor-Eastand-by-East from the Eastermost Isle before Pakka The fourteenth Van Campen set Sail again with a Nor-Nor-East Wind in six seven and eight Fathom between the Isles of Pakka and about Noon forc'd by contrary Tides came to an Anchor in seven Fathom Towards Evening weighing again with the Ebb he let fall his Drag about midnight in eighteen Fathom gravelly Ground not far from the place where the Coast of China hath many high Mountains and broken Land yet behind them very pleasant and fertile Meadows and Rice-Fields The fifteenth setting Sail again he Anchor'd about Noon under an Isle in thirteen Fathom Water gravelly Ground about Cannon-shot from Shore whither he sent his Boat to see for Water From hence setting Sail he came into a Bay behind Campens Point so call'd from himself where he dropp'd Anchor in five Fathom Water there being a convenient Harbor and safe Retreat against hollow Seas and turbulent Winds On the North side of this Point lying in twenty six Degrees and fifty one Minutes Northern Latitude may be seen the Ruines of the City Tikyen or Tykin formerly a place of great Trade but lately destroy'd by the Tartars Here the Zierikzee's Boat was sent ashore with the Pilot Auke Pieters and thirteen Men to fetch Water Near the Shore between the Mountains appear'd a pleasant Valley flourishing with Rice Carrots and all manner of Fruit. You may freely without fear or danger sail between the main Coast and these Isles yet not without some care because divers Shoals lie near the Coast. The eighteenth being Saturday Van Campen set Sail with his Squadron the Wind Nor-Nor-East and laveering it between Campens Point and the foremention'd Isles between seven and thirteen Fathom Water gravelly Ground they discover'd the old Zajer Isle East-Nor-East four or five Leagues distant in twenty seven Degrees and fifteen Minutes Northern Latitude and about Noon came to an Anchor in ten Fathom Water gravelly Ground In the Night setting Sail again they ran the next day about Noon behind Campens Bay where they were forc'd to lie till Friday the twenty fourth by contrary Winds Tides and Calms Towards Night the Finch came also to an Anchor there Friday the twenty fourth the Ships went to Sea together and with a Nor-Nor-East Wind endeavor'd to sail Easterly but being driven back by the Tide they came to an Anchor in eight Fathom and had the North Point of the Island with Brests South-West and the old Zajer East and by North. At Night in the second Watch when the Tide was almost spent they weigh'd Anchor again and the next Evening rode in eight Fathom Water having the Chinese City Samzwa Nor-East and by East and the Isle Old Zayer Sou-Sou-East and Sou-East and by South and the Isle with Breasts Sou-Sou-West The City Samzwa seated on the hanging of a Mountain and planted round about with high Trees was ruin'd by the Tartars It boasts a safe Harbor for Ships to defend them from the Southern and Northern stormy Seasons The Hollanders going ashore here found one Pagode or Temple with divers Images about fifteen Leagues from Tinghay The twenty seventh the Point of Samzwa bearing Westward two Leagues from them they descry'd a white Cliff in the Sea about three Leagues from the Shore and three Isles in the East-Nor-East and by Observation found themselves at Noon to be in twenty seven Degrees and thirty nine Minutes Northern Latitude In the Evening Van Campen came to an Anchor with the Ankeveen Frigat in eleven Fathom Water gravelly Ground but the High-land and Meliskerk Frigats with the Loenen and Finch went behind the Isle of Good Hope Van Campen in the Night the Tide favoring him set Sail again and was follow'd by the Ankeveen Frigat onely the other four lying still behind the Isle without making the Reason thereof known The next day forc'd by Storm to come to an Anchor again in ten Fathom Water he was driven from two Anchors towards the seven Rocks a little Southward of Zwatia not without great danger of Shipwrack The City Zwatia lying in the mouth of a River near the Sea and also ruin'd by the Tartars is inhabited by mean and poor People which are very slow in rebuilding the same Opposite to the Nor-West side of the River lies a Village call'd Zwatho whither most of the Citizens fled it being not laid waste by the Tartars The first of Ianuary Van Campen concluded upon Advice of the Ships Council by force of a Storm out of the Nor-East and by East to set Sail again to get from the Shore so that he drove down Sou-West and by South to Brest-Island and in the afternoon came to an Anchor in the Bay behind Campens Point in nine Fathom The other Frigats and the Finch lay still at Anchor contrary to their Orders The third the Ankeveen Frigat commanded by Iacob Swart having been busied about getting his Anchors aboard came and rode by the Vice-Admiral The fourth in the afternoon they spied in the Sou-Sou-West between seventy and eighty Fisher-Jonks and other Vessels standing towards the North which they let all pass About the evening they stood to and again yet were got out of sight next Morning on which the Captain Auke Pieters was commanded to go ashore with fifty Men to gather Sallad-herbs and Potatoes to refresh their People The sixth in the Evening the four other Ships came to an Anchor near Van Campen having before lain behind the Isles Northward of the River Zwatia The eighth in the Morning they spied six Jonks fishing in the Sou-East and by East behind the Breast-Isle and in the afternoon two Ships in the Sou-East in the Bay of Pakka and also heard the Report of several Cannon shot from thence whereupon a Council being call'd Harmans Symonsz Commander of the High land Frigat was sent thither with Order That when he came to them he should fire five Guns one after another if he needed Van Campen's Assistance if not to fire none but come back to the Fleet. Against the Evening the High-land Frigat came to an Anchor South-West and by South three Leagues
and on the one and twentieth in the Morning seeing Poele Tymon South-west and by South about three Leagues distant he made towards it and dropp'd Anchor at the South-Point eighteen Fathom Water and soon after the Admiral Bort with all his Ships coming also to an Anchor put their Pennon under their Vein except the Loenen Pink which after a little stay steer'd her Course for Batavia In the after noon the whole Fleet setting Sail again to proceed onward of their Voyage steer'd South South-east The next day about Sun-rising Panyang bare about four Leagues to the South South-East from them At Noon the Fleet found themselves to be in forty six Minutes Northern-Latitude and saw Panyang West and by North and about Sun-set they saw Pismires-Isle in the South-west about four Leagues distant and the Island Lingen South-west and South-west and by South about six or seven Leagues off and about Noon the next day Van Campen was with the Fleet in six Minutes Southern-Latitude and saw about Sun-set Poele or the Island Saya South and by West and the Cape of Lingen Nor-West and by West three or four Leagues from them The twenty fifth they discern'd the Seven Islands or Poele Toutyons in the South-east and by South and Poele Saya in the Nor-West and Nor-West and by West about Noon the Poele Toutyons were Eastwards four or five Leagues from the Zirickzee The twenty sixth they descry'd the Mountain Monapin about Sun-rising to lie South-east and by East about five Leagues distant and at Noon about three Leagues from thence they were in two Degrees and nine Minutes South-Latitude At Night about Sun-set they saw the third Point of the Island Sumatra South-South-east two Leagues from them and Poele Nanko East and by North about three Leagues from the Zirickzee and Monapin in the Nor-West and Nor-West and by North all lying along the Coast of Sumatra The twenty seventh at Sun-rising they descry'd the first Point of Sumatra South-east and South-East and by East about two Leagues and a half from the Zirickzee who at Noon was in three Degrees and five Minutes South Latitude and having the Island Lucipar South-east about three Leagues from him Sail'd close along the Coast. The next day about Noon the Zirickzee was in four Degrees and twelve Minutes Southern Latitude and on the twenty ninth in the Morning coming up with the Thousand Islands which lay Westward from him he espy'd the Admiral Bort with seven Sail in the Nor-East and by East and one lying at an Anchor near the Island Agnietes At two a Clock in the afternoon the Fleet came to an Anchor before Batavia where they found the following Frigat and Pinks viz. the Stadthouse Frigat of Amsterdam the Holland Remedy the Nightingale Pink the Arms of Batavia a Frigat the Griffin being the Reer-Admiral of the Harbor The thirtieth being Friday the following Ships arriv'd there from Holland the Kennemerland Orange Rhynland and the Kogge The next day the Flushing Frigat came also to an Anchor from the Coast of Malabar with News that Rykloff van Gouns had taken the City Coessien and likewise the Rising-Sun Frigat from Rekkam On Tuesday the third of April a Thanksgiving Day was kept for the Conquest of the City Coessien and in the Evening Bon-fires were made and all the Guns fir'd from the Fort and round about the Walls of the City Batavia and likewise from all the Ships The eleventh the Ter-Boede Pink came also to an Anchor before Batavia from Sian and the Agents related their Adventures to the Lord-General A CONTINUATION OF THE Second Embassy Being a Journal of the Adventures that happened to the two Fleets sent from Batavia to the Isles of Formosa Tayowan and the Coast of China under the Command of Balthazar Bort as Admiral and General of the Land-Forces since the Year 1663. Iune the 27. until Anno 1664. March the 21. THe great Damage which the Netherlanders suffer'd Anno 1661. by the loss of Tayowan and Formosa taken from them by the Pyrate Coxinga not only staining their Honor but also damnifying their Estates and prejudicial to their Trade was not satisfi'd by the Fleet and Land-Soldiers sent out the last Year as was expected because the Tartars were not only wanting to joyn their Forces for the Defeating of the common Enemy but also detain'd them most of the time idly at Hoksieu feeding the Admiral with fair Promises without any performance although a fit opportunity seem'd to be presented to the Hollanders because the Enemy by the death of their General Coxinga were all in confusion yet notwithstanding as our former Relation mentions the Hollanders Fleet at several times took thirty three Jonks besides many lesser Vessels which they burnt and also the strong Fort of Kitat leaving whole Towns and Villages in Flames whose Inhabitants fled to the Mountains whilst the Tartars took not the least Cognizance thereof although they knew that Coxinga's Party made Overtures of Peace and had to that purpose sent Ambassadors to their Emperor at Peking as it was reported at the departure of the Fleet though his Majesty having put them off with dilatory answers signifying altogether that they should shew the first Point of their Obedience by wearing short Hair as himself and all his Subjects did which as the Hollanders suppos'd might procrastinate the business and besides all this the Tartars did not perform what they promis'd concerning the inlargement of the Dutch Prisoners yet confin'd in the Isle Eymuy although they shew'd all outward Civilities in their Entertainments still Complementing their Ambassadors yet would not grant them a free Trade before they had full Orders from the Emperor with which they held so long in suspence so long that they would not any longer attend with their whole Fleet such continual delays but having done little or nothing set Sail from thence the first of March and came safe on the twenty ninth of the same Month before Batavia leaving the Ankeveen Frigat behind them which suffer'd Ship-wrack before the Channel of Hoksieu as before mention'd and the Merchant Constantine Nobel with eight Netherlanders which were kept by the Tartars and as their Governors pretended in kindness to them that they should not return until they carry'd from the Emperor what should give satisfaction to their General Maetzuiker all which cast up together amounted to more Jealousie than Hopes so that Ballancing their Actions they could not positively say that either they were Friends or Enemies whom they Treated with Yet howsoever let them be what they will whither against the General Maetzuiker and his Council in Batavia pitch'd resolutely upon that with all their Forces they would prosecute those that had done them their Injury viz. the Coxingans and would never hearken to any accommodation until by reprisal or otherwise they had fully satisfi'd themselves of the Damages sustain'd in Tayowan and Formosa Which Decree of theirs was luckily confirm'd by Letters from their Masters at Amsterdam bearing Date
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
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
in the Morning going on farther and passing through the Village Laytschem they arriv'd at Luesinga in the Evening where dropping Anchor they stay'd all Night to get fresh Coelies to Tow their Vessels with which they came that day but three Leagues because of the slow progress of the Emperor's Barques The fourth leaving Luesinga they came after they had been Tow'd through the Village call'd Sucouw to the City Tanyang in the Afternoon Sailing along the Walls thereof to the East Suburb where they stay'd that Night to get new Coelies having that day Sail'd and been Tow'd in a Northerly Course three Leagues The fifth in the Morning they set forth again with fresh Coelies and leaving the City Tanyang pass'd by a Lake which by three Sluces empties her Waters into this Channel In the Afternoon they came to a little Village call'd Hongunpek where they spent some time in resting themselves being much tir'd by slippery Ways and the Wind being against the Vessels whose high building had the greater force of them So soon as they had eaten they went away again and in the Evening arriv'd at the Village Singfon where they were forced by tempestuous Weather to drop Anchor having that day by several Courses been Tow'd two Leagues and a half The sixth in the Morning leaving Singhfon they saw several Stone Ovens about Noon passing by the Walls of the City Sinkiang or Chinkiang they dropt Anchor at the North Suburb to make preparation for their going up the Nanking Stream or River Kiang and likewise as their Mandarine Guides said to exchange some Barques having this day been Tow'd about two Leagues The seventh in the Morning several Tartar Mandarins came to Complement the Ambassador and bid him welcom whilst he entertain'd them with a Glass of Wine One of them after his departure sent the the Ambassador a Porker a Goat and some Fruit which he thankfully receiv'd and in return sent him some counterfeit Pearls which he would else have bought The Ambassador was also by a Mandarin invited to Dinner with the Governor of that Place whither he went in the Afternoon another Mandarin coming from the foremention'd Governor with Horses to fetch him with Putmans the Secretary and all his Retinue except Nobel who could not go because of his indisposition and coming to the Governor they were courteously receiv'd and welcom'd This Lord gaz'd so exceedingly upon the Netherland Ambassador and his Retinue that he forgot his Eating and Drinking by which means also no Discourse hapned amongst them of any remark so that the Netherlanders after a civil Entertainment took their leave In the Evening the Interpreters Ienko and Liulako came to tell the Ambassador that they had a second time been sent for to the fore-mention'd Governor who ask'd them for the number and quality of the Emperor's Presents which as far as they knew they had given him an account of in Writing whereat he was exceedingly amaz'd saying That without doubt they would be very acceptable Moreover he ask'd them if the Ambassador had no Blood-Coral Pistols Sword-blades counterfeit Pearls and the like because he would willingly buy some of them and therefore desir'd that they would please to speak to the Ambassador Which being consider'd by the Netherlanders and observ'd that this was a Tartar and a Man of great Quality who in and about the City bore the Command over a great number of Soldiers and that he might do much for their advantage at Peking they judg'd it convenient in the Morning to send and present him with five Ells and a half of Stammel five of Sky-colour'd Cloth a Perspective Glass two Pieces of Linnen one String of Amber Beads and some counterfeit Pearls and with them were sent a Complementing Letter to this effect THe Ambassador is extreamly satisfi'd with and oblig'd for Talavja's or his Lordships Civilities and desires him to accept of these small Gifts as a token of Friendship and in so doing will farther oblige the Hollanders Captain Putmans was order'd to carry the Governor the fore-mention'd Presents and Letter that Morning but saw him come early Riding towards the Barques so that it was thought fit to stay till his Return Mean while the Ambassador's Son went with the Pilot and Interpreter Maurice a Fowling on the Banks of the River Kiang The Governor returning in the Afternoon came with four of his chiefest Lords to see the Oxen and Horses and also to visit the Ambassador protesting he could not avoid waiting on him being so much pleas'd with his Conversation Whereupon the Ambassador call'd for his Musick with the pleasure of which he seem'd even ravish'd After which being entertain'd with Spanish Wine and Sweet-meats he departed The Gifts design'd for the Governor were now ready to be presented but he modestly refus'd them saying He could not accept of them as yet giving him many thanks in the mean time Then asking Genko and Liulako the Interpreters who were there present if the Geueral of Hanksieu and Conbon of Seucheu had receiv'd any Presents of the Ambassador To which they answer'd That the General of Hanksieu had not but the Conbon of Sucheu was pleas'd to cull out a couple of Swords Whereupon he a second time refus'd the Gifts but adding That if any Swords had been mention'd in the Note he would have been glad of them Wherefore the Ambassador after his departure chose a Sword from a peculiar Parcel for they had but few and in stead of a Pistol of which also they had no great store for all the enquiring was for those two sorts of Arms added a Carbine to the Presents Which done Putmans went a second time to the Governor with them The Swords Carbine Sky-colour'd Cloth and counterfeit Pearl he receiv'd but the rest he sent back when several of the Generals Children coming to see the Ambassador in his Barque were in respect to their Parents presented with Amber Necklaces and other Trifles After the Netherlanders had stay'd till towards the Evening waiting for Vessels to Ferry them over the River Kiang for there were none but a great Boat which the Mandarin Guide Hiulavja kept for himself under pretence that that which he came in was grown leaky they went with all their Vessels to the Mouth of the Haven before a Pagode where they stay'd all that Night whilst the Guide Mandarins offer'd a Goat and a Swine to their Deity before which as they say they durst not Sail up the River The chiefest of them went into the Pagode or Temple carrying the slain Sacrifice to lay it on the Altar when the Priest at their approach fell devoutly upon his Knees and began to Mutter and Pray to himself In the Temple being Painted Red hung several Lamps which burnt Night and Day for the Deceas'd Souls On one side of the Altar stood a Trough wherein they laid the Victim and on the other a Rush Box with small pieces of Canes which were the Sortes or Lots cast by
before a Flood-gate having that day been Tow'd but three quarters of a League it was very difficult too for the great Vessels to get through these Sluces which were in a manner quite dry on the North side and on the South side not above three Foot and a half of Water which being let out there would not remain a Foot and a quarter when as the great Barges drew two Foot and a half so that the Water must at least be a Foot higher before they could get through wherefore they lay still two days viz. the seventeenth and eighteenth but on the nineteenth they got through and after a little Sailing coming to the Village Gihaatsysy they dropp'd Anchor before a Water gate having this half day been Tow'd somewhat more than a League The twentieth in the Morning they went through the Sluce and at Noon another and also by the Village Zoatiajeen In the Afternoon arriving at Lieghayway they Anchor'd before a Water-gate having gain'd two Leagues this day The one and twentieth in the Morning having shot the last Sluce they arriv'd about nine a Clock at the South Suburb of Tungjanfoe otherwise call'd Tungchang the third City of eminency in the Province of Xantung This little City of Tungchang stands in a Valley built square and about an hours walking in circumference with defensive Walls In it are two eminent Streets which run cross through the Town in the middle of which stands a Triumphal Arch or a high Structure with four Vaulted Posterns and as many Roofs one above another The Gates are very strong and have on each side four Bulwarks which they can when Storm'd clear and make good On the North side is a Bridge of a hundred and thirty Paces long leading cross a Water that incircles the City On the South is a very populous Suburb of great Trade On the East stands an Iron Pillar four Fathom and a half thick and about twenty Foot high Engraven at the bottom with several Chinese Characters which according to their Relation was set up there seven hundred years before as a Monument under which lay the Body of an Heroe famous for his valorous Atchievements and good Service done his Countrey The two and twentieth in the Morning they left the South Suburb of Tunghang having gotten fresh Toers for which they stay'd and Sailing a Musquet Shot Eastward by the City came about Noon to Sinsia where they Anchor'd before a Sluce having Sail'd above a League this half day Here they were forc'd to lie all the Afternoon and the next day before they could get through for want of Water The twenty fourth in the Morning they shot the fore-mention'd Sluces and about Noon another and also pass'd by Xoesu Liancotsue Liancotza In the Afternoon they came to Toetsao where they Anchor'd before a Water-gate having been Tow'd above a League that day The twenty fifth setting forth again they pass'd another Sluce and about Noon they came to Woersjavaan where taking fresh Toers they went away immediately with hopes to reach the City of Linsing that day but being past Ooetsjaven Taykiasa and Tayhiaven they saw that the Channel lay full of the Emperor's Vessels laden with Tributary Goods which by reason of its narrowness and sholeness in some places they could not pass by which forc'd them though but half a League from Linsing to stay till the Water grew higher having that day gain'd three Leagues The twenty sixth in the Morning they went forward again and about nine a Clock they arriv'd at Linsing into which they went with their Barges for the Channel runs through the middle of it till they came before a Flood-gate through which they were to pass having this Morning been Tow'd half a League in a Northerly Course All Places hereabouts lay full of the Emperors Barges The Governor of this Place as the Mandarin Guides related was depos'd and a new one expected in two or three days from Tungchianfoe for which reason they could not pass the Sluce before which they lay it being lock'd up with Iron Chains The twenty seventh and twenty eighth nothing hapned of remark The twenty ninth being Whitsunday the Ambassador was told that the Governor of Tungchanfoe was come and had taken possession of his Place so that he thought fit the thirtieth in the Morning for the hastening of his Journey to write the following Letter to him THe Holland Ambassador is come from remote Countries and hath staid here at Linsing above four days The Chinkon hath been a long time a coming and by that means subject to be spoil'd therefore the Ambassador desires that they may with all speed go to Peking and to that purpose the Sluces may be open'd which will be serviceable to the Emperor and a great kindness to the Ambassador Nobel carrying this Letter related at his return that he had been with the new Governor who in answer to the Ambassador's Letter had told him That he was sensible how far a Journey the Netherlanders were come and that he knew having two years since been at Emuy and Quemuy what service they had done for the Emperor therefore he would not detain them but send a Mandarin to search the Barges because there being a Custom-house no Goods but the Emperors were to pass through without paying in which the Emperors Goods were to see if any other private Commodities were in them or not which should no sooner be done but he would give them leave to be gone and accordingly a Mandarin was forthwith sent who at first was very earnest about searching of the Goods But when the Ambassador answer'd him that he might do it and begin at his Vessel but he would permit no Chests nor Cases to be open'd he went away without looking upon them being first presented by the Ambassador with two Pieces of Linnen which was all he aim'd at The next Morning about Day-break passing the Sluce with all the Vessels they went through the City of Linsing till they came to the River Guei or Geu which comes from the South to another part of the City Thus they left the Channel Iun in which they had past through forty seven Sluces or Flood-Gates not without great trouble and Expence of two and thirty days time yet according to the Chineses saying they were gotten happily and speedily out of it because some years since there was so little Water in that Channel that the ordinary Vessels had been forty five and fifty days coming from Tunchiangfoe and Linching which places are not above six Leagues distant one from another In the Afternoon they got beyond Linsing which exceeds all other Cities in this County for Populousness fair Buildings though on the West side it is much decay'd and Traffique nay it need not give place to any City in the whole Empire for it stands at the end of the Channel Iun where the foremention'd Channel and the River Guei commix their Waters by which means there is extraordinary Conveniencies
and the Looking-glasses in return of which he sent one Hog one Pikol of Meal and Rice and a parcel of Fruit of which the Ambassador accepted only the Fruit and sent back the rest yet the civility of their offer avail'd so much that the Hollanders were permitted to pass by the Custom-house and in the Afternoon Sailing by the City Ianchefoe arriv'd at Quasui A Captain who had the Command over a thousand Men in this City and had Presented the Ambassador with some Provision came to bid him Welcome for which Civility he receiv'd five Ells of Stammel The one and twentieth in the Morning leaving the City of Sinksianfoe they Sail'd along the outside of it where they saw abundance of Jonks and Cojas as at Ianchufoe which were newly repair'd of which the Netherlanders asking the reason receiv'd answer that it was customary for all Towns to repair their Vessels once in three years In the Evening they arriv'd at Tayanchcheen where casting Anchor for that Night they Weigh'd again the next Morning being the two and twentieth Upon the way the Ambassador was inform'd by some Barge-men that came from Suchu that the Vice-Roy Singlamong was arriv'd there with his Train to go from thence up to Peking In the Afternoon they reach'd the City of Yanghsu and the next day Anchor'd at the City of Uchinopeen and on the twenty fourth at Xuciquan a Village two Leagues from Suchu before a Custom-house where they lay all Night The next Morning passing the Boome they arriv'd in the Afternoon at the City of Suchu where two Blacks belonging to the Vice-Roy Singlamong's two Sons came aboard the Ambassador to tell him that their Masters were a Month since gone by Land to Peking and that they follow'd with their Goods adding moreover that Singlamong was yet in Hoksieu and was to remain there so that the Barge-mens relation prov'd false In the Afternoon about three a Clock they arriv'd at the West-gate of the City of Suchu Here the Hollanders were met by two Conjurers one a Man and the other a Woman both in handsom Apparel of which there are great numbers in all parts of China that for a small reward proffer their Service to foretel all future Events and procure a good Wind they also came to the Netherlanders to put their Art in practice to hasten or shorten their Journey but they not approving of such Magical assistance sent them away with a small Gift This Conjuring is at large describ'd in the following Description of the Empire of China The Governor of this place came to visit the Ambassador and Present him and the chiefest of his Retinue as Nobel and Putmans with a well-tasted Liquor for which he receiv'd some Ells of Stammel Divers sorts of Liquors made of Rice are drank by the Chineses In the fifth Territory Fuencheufu in the Province of Xensi is a very pleasant Drink and not inferior to either French or Rennish Wine being made of Rice and Kids flesh which last being bruis'd is laid to soke in the Juyce of the Rice This Liquor is highly esteem'd by the Chineses being strong of operation and of a sweet and pleasing taste to the Palate In the fifth County Hinhoa of the Province of Chekiang they boyl the best Liquor in all China of Rice and Water The six and twentieth in the Morning the Netherlanders left the great City Suchu with a fair Wind and came that Evening to the South Suburb of Ukiajeen which City is neatly built and though not very big yet it is surrounded with strong Walls The Inhabitants thereof maintain themselves with Merchandizing and Husbandry In the Morning setting Sail from thence and having got about three Leagues and a half farther they were forc'd the Evening coming suddenly upon them to make to their Harbor The twenty eighth in the Morning they set Sail again from thence and in the Afternoon past by Kiangfoe where they went out of the Province of Nanking into that of Chekiang and in the Evening arriv'd at a Village call'd Sinning The twenty ninth Weighing again they had in sight the City of Ukiajeen which having past in the Evening they rested at Tangheg The thirtieth they came to the North-Suburb of Hanksieu before a Custom-house where the Channel being shut up by a Gate under a Bridge the Ambassador sent to desire that it might be open'd and the Barques suffer'd to go through but the Watch-men answer'd That they must first have order from the Poutsjensy or the Emperor's Farmer so that the Secretary Vander Does was sent to the Governor and Conbon at Hanksieu with a Letter in which the Ambassador desir'd to be speedily dispatch'd and if their Highnesses pleas'd he would come to Complement them Moreover the Secretary was Commanded to ask them If their Highnesses would permit the Ambassador to come and speak with them and bring those Presents of which their Highnesses had receiv'd the Inventory at their Journey up to Peking In the Morning the first of October the Gate being open'd the Ambassador went through with his whole Retinue Soon after the Secretary coming aboard again related That he had been at the Generals the last Night but could not be admitted to Audience To the Letter which he sent him by his Clerk he had return'd answer That he would send a Mandarin early the next Morning to let the Ambassador through the Gate and withal conduct him to his House but it being too late for the Secretary to go to the Conbon that Night he went thither the next Morning to deliver his Highness the Ambassador's Letter and met him as he was coming out of his Court-gate to Complement a great Lord which the day before came thither from Hoksieu and receiv'd in answer that his Highness humbly thank'd the Ambassador for his Civility and that he would expect him Mean while the Vessels went so far into the Suburb that they came to Anchor against a Bank The second the Toya of that place came to Welcom the Ambassador in his Vessel The third nothing happen'd of remark The fourth all the Goods were taken out of these and put into six other Barques lying on the other side of the Bank with which Putmans and Vander Does went the next Morning to the other side of the City there to Reimbarque the Ambassador Nobel and some of the Retinue going before by Land to give order for Shipping of the Goods On the seventh in the Morning leaving the South-Suburb of Hanksieu they arriv'd in the Afternoon at Foejenjeen the ninth at Nienchefoe and the tenth at Lanqui where the great Barques were chang'd for small because here the River began to be very shallow The Governor of this Village invited them to Dinner which in regard they could not put off they went thither and were very kindly entertain'd with various Meats Musick and Drolls towards Evening taking leave On the twelfth in the Morning they left Lanqui and on the thirteenth came to the City of Longuen as
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 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
at the City Hoaigin receives the River He which makes the Lake Kiuncun and thence proceeding on its Course enters Northward of the Fort Guei into the Province of Peking where enlarged by the Stream Guei which hath its original in the same County Taitingfu out of the Mountains near the City Quangchang it divides the whole Territory Pekingfu and gliding Southward by the City Paogan with a broader Channel passes under a large Stone Bridge and receives the Stream Caoleang which out of the Yellow Kiver through the Great Wall falls into the Province of Peking from thence passing towards the South-East rowls along South-West by the Metropolis Peking where a Stone Bridge with many Arches lies over the same then bending Southerly passes East by the Cities of Fungan and Iungein where after having receiv'd the Rivers Yo and Pe disembogues it self at last in the Bay of Sang. The River Kiuto hath its original in the Province of Xansi out of the Mountain Cinhi from whence it glides Eastward by the Cities Tai and Kicchi and aftewards Southerly receives by the way the Stream Linsui with which to the Northward of the City Henping it enters into the Province of Peking which it almost cuts through the Counties Chintingfu Paotungfu and Pekingfu and at last near the Garrison of Tiencin discharges its Waters being joyn'd with the River Guei into the Sea It receives by the way several Brooks and Rivulets as in the County Chinting near the City Lingxui that of Quei more Eastward the Stream Fi near the City Tuilo the Ta in the County Paoting by the City Poye the Kinguen afterwards the Channel call'd In which out of the Mountain Yekon stretching from the North to the West glides round about within the City and with its winding Arms makes the Island Pehoa and at last the Streams Ye and Fan. The River Ye divides Northward the County Paotingfu beginning Westward in the Mountain Culeang reaches towards the South by the City Ye and receives by the way in the County Xuntienfu the Fan glides Eastward between the Mountain Non and Southward by the City Paoting where it unites its Waters with the River Kiuto The Chokiang hath its beginning in the Province of Xansi out of the Mountain Kieu lying near the City Sin from whence it runs Eastward through the utmost Northern Point of the Province of Honan to the North by the City Xe and passing through the Counties Xuntefu and Quangpingfu enters the Province of Peking from whence it glides through the Lake Talo into the County Chintingfu and at last poures its Waters into the River Guei in the Territory of Hokienfu near the Mountain Si and the City Sing This Stream Chekiang receives several Rivulets by the way The River Guei which rises in the Province of Honan in the County Gueichoeifu on the West side of the City runs along to the North by the same from thence entring the Province of Peking glides to the North-East between the Borders of the Province of Peking and that of Xantung receives near the City Lincing in the Province of Xantung the Water of the Channel Iun and in the County of Hokienfu the River Chaohang and at last with the Kiuto disembogues it self near the Garrison Tieucin into the Bay of Sang. The Water of this River hath a peculiar property at the place where it receives the artificial Channel Iun as the Netherlanders in their Embassies to the Emperor of China have twice observ'd that is Throw nine Sticks of an equal length into the River and six of them after a little lying still will move to the South and three to the North. This River in its Course receives several Rivulets as the Si Chang Ki Ming and Fu The Si takes its beginning in the Mountain Cu Northward of the same City in the County Chungtefu and Province of Honan and passes through the County Quangpingfu Southward to the City Quangping and Eastward to the Guei The Chang which hath its original near the City Lugan in the neighboring Mountain Sin in the Province of Xansi runs from thence through the Province of Honan Northward of the City Changte and accordingly into the Guei and in the way thither by the City Luching receives a small Rivulet which hath its original in the Mountain call'd Lin. The Ming a Stream whose Fountain Head is Northward of the City Quangping takes its Course South-East towards the Guei The Fu which begins in the Province of Honan in the County of Luganfu Northward from the City Liching runs through the Province of Honan into the Guei The River Ki takes original with several Branches in the County Guehoei of the Province of Honan especially in the Mountains Sumei and Choayang from whence one Branch runs by the City Ki and then glides North-East into the Guei The Hoei belongs properly to the Province of Pingyangfu and springs from the Mountain Vanquo near the City Ieching from whence passing Westward glides by the South-side of the Cities Hia Vanciven Lincin and Pu where it falls into the Yellow River and by the way Northward receives the Kiang The Sin which waters the Ce a City in the Province of Xansi almost surrounding the same hath his Fountain in the County of Pingyangfu Northward from the Mountain Mien from whence it passes Southward into the County of Hoaikingfu Eastward from the City Vucheu and joyns with the Yellow River The River Tan which cuts through a part of the little County Ce in the Province of Xansi beings to the Northward from the City Caoping and runs Eastward in the Province of Honan where it unites with the River Ki. Tan signifies Red for the Water thereof is of a bloody colour notwithstanding as the Chineses relate it hath been clear formerly but hath receiv'd that colour from the Blood of a Loyal Governor call'd Pe who was his own Executioner on the Banks of the fore-mention'd River The Streams Iang and Io begin Northward in the Mountains of the County of Ienping and pass through the same to the South but at the City Vunning unite themselves into one Body which Eastward of the Garrison Yu discharges its Waters into the Bay of Cang Through the same County run also two other Rivers viz. the Y and Cie the first begins above the County Pekingfu from the Mountain Petam the other out of the East-Tartary without the Great Wall where it divides it self into two Arms the one call'd Hing and the other Hoang The Rivers Y and Cie make one Channel near the City Lo and disembogue themselves in the Bay of Cang The Guei a pleasant River in the Province of Peking in the Western part of the Province of Xensi in the County Linyaofu near the City Gueiyven and runs from thence winding to the South-East through the Counties of Cungchangfu Fungciangfu and Siganfu to the North by the chief City Sigan where it receives the River King and poures at last its clear Waters
City Ning then gliding North-East enters the County Nankangfu and at last falls into the Lake Poyang THe Po which springs out of the Mountains in the Territory Hoeicheufu in the Province of Nanking and glides South-West through the same passes through the County Iaocheufu into the Province of Kiangsi then Westward and enlarg'd with the Waters of the Stream Poyven glides to the South by the City Iaocheu and in the Territory Iaocheufu falls into the Lake Poyang Along this River the Earth is carry'd out of the fore-mention'd County Iaocheufu of which the best Porcelane in all China is made The Kiencie which begins Northward of the Mountain Suihan runs West by the North-side of the City Yukan where it falls into the Lake Poyang The Xangjao springs in the Mountains near the City Ioxan and glides Northward by the City Quangsin afterwards to the South through the same County and disembogues having wash'd several places in the County Iaocheufu in the Lake Poyang and by the way receives on its Northern Shore thâ—… Water of the Rivulets Se and Ko Almost out of the same place though more Southerly â—…uns the Yo and through this County takes the same Course towards the North by the City Iungfung and to the South by the City Queiki The Rivulet Câ—… coming out of the South falls into the same The Hiui which begins in the Mountains Southward froâ—… the Quangchang in the County Kienchangfu passes North-West by the North sâ—…e of the City Kienchan from whence it enters into the County Vucheufu and falls into the River Lienfan Near the City Kienchang the Rivulets Lung anâ—… Kieukio through one onely Channel run into the same both originally out of the Eastern Mountains of this Territory Two other Rivers viz. the Lu and Cing gliding from the South to the North through the County Vucheufu by the City Vucheu into the River Hiui with which they fall into the Stream Lienfan The Lienfan runs by the North-West side of the City Veucheâ—… and afterwards cutting through the County of Nanchangfu disembogues on the East side of the Nanchang into the Lake Poyang This River is remarkable for the use which the Chineses maâ—… of its Water for that not being subject to the alteration of the Weather is properly made use of in their Hour-glasses which run there with Water as ours with Sand. The Hoai beginning in the Province of Honan out of the Mountains near the City Funge passes from thence into the Province of Nanking by the City Hokieu through the Territory Fungyangfu and crosses the same from the East to the West then falls at last near the City Hoiang into the Yelloâ—… River and with that into the Sea By the way this River receives several others viz. in the County Ienningfu of the Province of Honan the Su in this County of Fungangfu Southward another call'd Hoai Peca and Fi to the North the River Ing Co and Vi which three last have their original out of the Province of Honan The Fu rises in the County Fungyangfu near the City So on the East side of a Lake which lies at the Foot of the Mountain Three Rivers surround the County Sucheufu like an Isle making it Navigable in several places the first is call'd Leu the second Sung which glides towards the City Ukiang the third Ulang runs towards the East all of them have their original out of the Lake Tai and discharge themselves into the Sea Leang a little River proceeds from the Fountain Hoci lying on the Hill Hoei in the County of Sucheufu and near the City Vucie falls into the Lake Ta The Water thereof is by the Chineses accounted the best excepting one in the whole Empire and is in great esteem amongst Persons of Quality Not a Vessel which passes this way but buyes of it being ready Bottled for a small Price though any one that will stay may freely take as much as he pleases for nothing It is Transported to remote Provinces nay to the Imperial Court at Peking for they account it the best to make their Drink Cha withal by boyling it with the Herb Tee and therefore it is much in request The Singan begins in the County Hoeicheufu Westward of the City Hoeicheu by which passing it is afterwards increas'd with the Waters of several Rivolets the first of which comes out of the City Hoeicheu the second out of those near the City Hieuning the third from those about Vuyen and the fourth out of those near Cieki The Singan runs straight along through Rocks and Valleys to Sungan a City in the Province of Chekiang and hath by the way three hundred and sixty Water-falls of which the most troublesome to pass lies near the City Hoeicheu and is call'd Liucung then entring into the County Niencheufu in the Province of Chekiang passes Southward by the City Sungan and from thence towards the South-East and to the South by the City Nieucheu where bending Northward it changes its Name into that of Che or Chekiang from whence the whole Territory which it almost cuts through the middle from South to North receives denomination and accordingly through the County of Hangcheufu towards the East by the City Hangcheu where taking the Name of Cientung it runs East and at last in thirty Degrees North-Latitude falls into the Sea The Che receiveâ—… several Streams out of the Territories Kinhoafu and Kiucheufu from the South and East as Ven Chanyo Kin Tingyang Co Puyang and Ho which all through one Channel fall into the same near the City of Tunglin The Min begins on the Boundaries of the Provinces of Fokien and Chekiang by the City â—…gciveu of the County of Chuchenfu from whence it passes Southerly through the County of Kienningfu Westward by the City Puching and Kienning as accordingly East by the City Yenping where it receives the River Siki through the Territory Yenpingfu from whence bending Eastward it enters the County Focheu and glides by the South side of the Garrison Xuikeu where the Mâ—… falls into the same then Northward by the chief City Focheu and at last on the North side of the Garrison Xeching disembogues into the Sea in twenty six Degrees Northern-Latitude From the City Puching to the Garrison Xuiken the same River falls with great force of Water through Valleys Rocks and Cliffs but from thence glides on but slowly With how much swiftness the Water runs between the fore-mention'd two Places appears by this that they can go from Puching to the Metropolis Tiocheu with the Stream in three days whereas they are fifteen days Toeing up against it The Channel winding up and down is very dangerous and dreadful by reason of the swift Current abundance of Rocks and narrowness of the Channel which in many places between the Rocks is no wider than to permit a small Chinese Vessel to pass through from whence it oftentimes happens that several suffer Wreck From the place where this River hath its original to that
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
on one of the Spires is a great Chappel and Cloyster Southward from the City Chicheu lies the Mountain Kieuhoa that is Nine Spires and the Flower for it consists of so many Hills and appears hanging down like a Flower In the County Hoeicheufu on the West side of the City Hoeicheu is the Mountain Hoang the greatest in the whole County it reckons twenty four Brooks thirty two high Tops and eighteen obscure Valleys In the little Territory of the City Quangte near the Towns Quangté and Kienping lie several great and pleasant Mountains the most famous of which are the Hang and Ling the first whereof lying on the West side of the City Quangte pierces the Clouds yet nevertheless hath a Spring on the top thereof which overflows continually The Mountain Ling not inferior to the others in heighth hath also a steep and craggy Ascent and at the top is fifteen Furlongs in circumference Near it at the entrance of a Passage stands the Image of a Priest who as they say was thus transform'd Besides these above mention'd there are in this Province by the City Iungchiung in the County Gunkinfu the steep and cavernous Mountain Feu South-East of the City Taiping the Mountain Tienmen within the Walls of Ning the pleasant Hill Lingyang by the City Tung in the Territory Chicheufu the Mountain Hing very rich in Fruit-Trees especially the Armenian Plum by the City Hicuning the Mountain Ki a hundred Rods high with some others which have not been thought worthy to be nam'd IN the Territory Hangcheufu in the Province of Chekiang on the South side of the City Hangcheu the Mountain Funghoang divides it self upwards into exceeding high Spiry Heads yet on each of them is a Steepled Chappel with nine Galleries On the Eastern Shore of the Lake Si near the City Hangcheu the Mountain Xeceng lifts up a Temple with a Turret and about it nine Galleries By the City Lingan begins the great and steep Mountain Tienmo extending above eight hundred Furlongs and the thirty fourth in order in the Books of Tausu it overlooks most pleasant Woods and Fields of Rice and hath growing upon it great store of rare Mushrooms which being Pickled are from thence sent through all China Tienmo signifies Eye of Heaven because this Mountain on two several Precipices hath two Lakes which the Chineses call Eyes with which it looks up to Heaven By the City Chung hoa the Mountain Cienking hath upon it a Lake which possesseth the space of two hundred Acres very remarkable for yellow Fish by the Chineses call'd Kinyu that breed therein The Tiencho a Mountain which lies South-West from the City Hangcheu is partly very craggy and partly pleasant and delightful it hath one top call'd Filaifung all of hard Rocky Stones and within full of Holes or Caves upon it also are several fair Temples and Cloysters to which they say above three thousand Priests belong most of them betaking themselves to a most solitary Life and chusing to dwell in those dark Caves out of which not being able to get without the assistance of some from without they are upon occasion drawn up by Ropes after which manner they receive Alms from those that pass by which sometimes amounts to no small value for this Place is all the year long especially in May frequented both by Strangers and Natives Tilaifung signifies To come flying which Denomination it receiv'd from an Indian Priest who so soon as he saw this Mountain said This is the Hill which we miss out of India certainly it is flown hither The County Kiahingfu is for the most part Champain having onely one Mountain or Hill nam'd Utai on the North-West side of the City Kiahing in the Lake Tiensing which affords the City a Moat upon it are five pleasant Gardens and Banquetting-houses built by Persons of Quality for Places of Recreation from whence also the Hill hath receiv'd its Denomination for Utai signifies Five Altars To the North side of the City Niencheu in the Territory Niencheufu lies the Mountain Ulum which in a manner surrounds the City it upholds two Lakes one of which though not far distant from the other hath clear and the other muddy Water The Mountain Tuichung rises out of the Valley Kieuli through which flows a little River upon it are the Chappels and Gardens of the famous Philosopher Nienculin to whom those that Travel that way pay their Visits in commemoration of so eminent a Person They say that here he made Fishing his chief Recreation when he hid himself from the Emperor because he would not accept of the prime Place in the Government which was so far urg'd upon him that the Emperor himself coming to him lay with him a whole Night in one Bed so great an esteem did the greatest of the Chinese Emperor 's set upon Learned and Pious Men. In the County Kinhoafu Northward from the City Kinhoa the Mountain Kinhoa extends it self rhree hundred and sixty Furlongs in circumference and is the thirty sixth in the Books of Tausu on which the Chineses say that the Contest was between Venus and Pallas By the City Yu is the Mountain Kiming the biggest in the whole County high and difficult to ascend on the top thereof appears a fair Palace Near the City Pukiang lies Sunhoa a Mountain whereon according to the Relation of the Chineses the ancient Emperor Hoangti's Daughter resided and devoted her self to Virginity By the City Iungkang the Mountain Fangnien is by Stone Steps ascended to the top where a great Bridge leads cross a Valley In the County Kiucheufu on the South side of the City Kiucheu lies the Mountain Lano the eighth in the Books of Tausu Near the City Kiangxan begins the Mountain Civen and from thence extends above three hundred Furlongs Through these Mountains a Way runs to the Province of Fokien though over many Precipices very troublesom to Travellers but most of all in the steep and high Mountain Sienhoa to ascend which are built three hundred and sixty Stone Steps like a pair of winding Stairs On its highest Top is a fair Temple and many Inns or Houses of Entertainment for Travellers In the County Chucheufu near the City Cinyun begins the great Mountain Hocang the thirteenth in order in the Books of Tausu and spreads it self three hundred Furlongs towards the Sea and according to the Chinese Geographers is a thousand Rods high and not subject to Snow Hail Thunder Rain or any alteration of Weather In the Territory Xaohingfu on the South-East side of the City Xaohing is the Mountain Hoeiki the eleventh in the Books of Tausu from whence anciently the Province Hoeiki which compriseth the Eastern Countreys had its Denomination The Mountain Suming the ninth in order amongst the most famous in the Book of Tausu rises with two hundred Spiry Heads hath eight thousand Rods in heighth and extends two hundred and eighty Furlongs it begins about the City Yuyao aud runs South-West to the City Ningpo
is call'd Munghao that is Flower of Sleep The County Nanchangfu the first of the Province of Kiangfi having every where a fruitful and fat Soil is Till'd in most places In like manner the second Territory Iaocheufu is made very pregnant by several Rivers that run through it The Chineses also esteem the fourth County Nankangfu for its affording them all kind of Necessaries the low Grounds yielding plenty of Rice Corn and Shell-Fruit the Mountains store of Wood for Fuel The sixth County Kienchangfu is though Mountainous a Pleasant and Fertile Countrey as likewise the seventh Vuchenfu through which run many Rivers it yields store of Gold-colour'd Apples nor is it wanting in all sorts of Fruit and other Provisions No less Pleasant and Fruitful is the eighth County Lingkiangfu esteem'd by the Chineses as also the ninth Kieganfu though Hilly and Mountainous But above all the tenth Territory Xuicheufu abounds in Rice-Fields as appears by its paying three thousand Bags of Rice for Custom Yearly when as it contains onely three Cities of which the chief at this day call'd Xuicheu was in the time of the Family Tang nam'd Micheu that is City of Rice Not much short of this in plenty is the eleventh County Iuencheufu The fourth County Sunkiangfu of the Province of Kiangnan though small is not to be left out of the Fruitful Countries The fifth Changcheufu being a plain Countrey and Water'd by several Rivers exceeds many other Territories in the goodness of its Soil producing an excellent kind of Grain The seventh Yancheufu hath also a delightful and fertile Soyl. The ninth County Lucheufu being water'd by the Lake Cao possesses in most parts thereof very luxuriant Plains In like manner doth the eleventh Taipingfu The Province of Chekiang by reason of the many Brooks Rivers and Lakes which wash the same is a rich Magazine of Plenty And though Chokiang hath many Mountains on its South and West parts yet they are all Till'd except those which are stony and they also afford Timber fit for the building of Ships or Houses In most parts are store of Mulberry Trees which are Prun'd yearly like our Vines thereby the better to provide Food for the Silk-Worms for the Chineses suffer them not to grow too high having by the experience of many years learn'd that the Leaves of the Orange-Trees and those that are most kept down yield the best Silk In the County Hucheufu the third of the Province of Chekiang grows Cha which is call'd Riaicha In the fifth Territory Kinhaofu grows a sort of great Plumbs which being dry'd are sent from thence to most parts of China The whole County of Ningpofu in the Province of Chekiang hath a fertile Soil except where it is full of Rocks and Mountains The eleventh County Vencheufu flourishes all along till you come to the Mountains in the Province of Fokien which extend themselves a vast way The Province of Fokien is for the most part over spread with Mountains which in many places are cover'd with pleasant Woods especially on steep Ascents The Timber is good for the building of Ships Houses and the like That part also which is plain is for the most part Sandy and unfit for Tillage but to supply that defect the Water is led thither in little Channels whereby those places that are barren by Nature are rendred productive by the Art and Industry of Man The sixth County Tingcheufu hath abundance of all things requisite for the subsistance of Mankind notwithstanding it is very Mountainous The seventh Territory Hinghoafu in the Province of Fokien is the fertilest and pleasantest in the whole Countrey and especially abounding in Rice as appears by its paying seventy two thousand Bags of Tribute whereas it onely contains two Cities The little Territory of the City Foning hath also plenty of Provision notwithstanding it is every where full of Mountains The Province of Quantung is a rich Store-house of Plenty The Fields are so bountiful in the production of Rice and Wheat that they are Sown twice a year each Harvest yielding the Husband-man a most plentiful Crop by reason the whole Province feels neither Frost nor Snow insomuch that the Chineses have a Proverb concerning it viz. That in the Province of Quantung are three unusual things The Skie without Snow The Trees always green and The Inhabitants continually spitting Blood that is to say a red-colour'd Spittle occasion'd by the continual chewing the Leaves of Betel with Faufel or Araka a Composition made of burnt Oyster-shells In the same Province also are every where many excellent Fruits as Pomegranates Grapes Pears Chesnuts Indian Figs Indian Nuts Anana's Lichin Lunggon Ieucu or Muskmelons Apples and all sorts of Citrons The fifth Territory Iaocheufu in the Province of Quantung hath a fertile Soyl except in some places where it is oppress'd with Rocks The sixth Chaokingfu yields store of sweet Wood and amongst the rest that which the Portuguese name Pao de Rosa that is Rose-Wood The ninth County Luicheufu exceeds in many things all the other Territories in the Province of Quantung In most parts of this Countrey grows a Twig which the Chineses call Teng and the Portuguese Rosa. The Province of Quangsi is not altogether so delightful as that of Quantung yet in some measure is supply'd with Provisions The whole Province is full of Hills except the South part which reaches to the Shore where it is all Till'd and Manur'd The third County Kingyvenfu is a Craggy and Mountainous Countrey yet produces Araka little Indian Nuts and the Fruit Lichias The sixth Territory Cincheufu is a pleasant Place and not so barren as the former The Province of Queicheu is the craggiest and unfertilest Place in all China being nothing but a continu'd and inaccessible Ridge of Mountains In the fourth Territory Chinyvenfu grow a sort of Flowers highly esteem'd by the Chineses Granates and Golden Apples The first County Iunnanfu in the Province of Iunnan is a very pleasant Countrey having plenty of all things and rises in some places in Hills and high Mountains and in others extends a vast way on plain and Champain Grounds It produces Rose-Wood In the second County Talifu in the Province of Iunnan grow European Figs which the Chineses call Vuhoaquo that is Fruit without Flowers because they grow without ever having any Blossoms for Vu signifies Without Hoa Flower and Quo A Blossom There likewise grows Cha or Tee The third County Langanfu yields Rice Wheat Honey and Wax and also all sorts of Fruits which grow in India It is partly Champain and partly Mountainous The fourth Territory Cuihungfu is a plain Countrey flourishing with Corn-Fields brave Meadows and Pastures for Cattel The whole County Kingtungfu produces chiefly and therefore in great abundance Rice The Territory Quangnangfu is by the Chineses for its excellent fertility call'd The Golden Land In the fifth Territory Iunnanfu where stands the Garrison'd City Cioking are store of Pine-Apples as likewise in the sixth The seventh
bigness and much more in beauty but is in scent rather worse than better We should call this Flower The great Lilie because it differs not much in fashion especially when it opens its Leaves To this Plont belongs also a sort of Fruit like a Ninepin which is above a Span lang and a Hand thick The top or point of this Fruit is fast to the Stalk on which the Flower hung before the Cod stands upright and hath several Partitions fill'd with Fruits bigger than Hazle-Nuts or French Beans each Fruit is without cover'd with a green Rind and within fill'd up with a white Kernel or Pith of a delightful taste whether fresh or dry'd This Fruit is by the Chinese Physicians highly esteem'd and accounted an excellent Food wherefore they are generally given to sick Persons that are upon their recovery The Leaves of this Plant are very big sometimes two Handfuls broad and for the most part round They lie and drive on the Water like those of our Water-Lilies and joyn by long Stalks to the Root The Root which is thicker than a Mans Arm sends forth a very fine Stalk two or three Ells long distinguish'd with Joynts like a Cane The outward Shell is firm and whole but the Flesh is parted and in several divisions The dry'd Leaves are by Grocers and other Tradesmen us'd in stead of Paper to wrap or wind their Wares in The Root also is very excellent and esteem'd a Dainty of great value in the Summer when it is taken to cool and expel Heat so that nothing belongs to this Plant but what is useful In China are whole Lakes a pleasant thing to behold overgrown with Flowers not wild but produc'd by Art by throwing once a year the Seed into the Water Moreover divers Persons of Quality keep great Earthen Vessels fill'd with Slime and Water in their Gardens wherein they Sowe the foremention'd Flowers In the Lake Hung on the East side of the City Hoaigan in the Province of Kiangnan grows a kind of high Reed which by the Inhabitants of the whole County are burnt in stead of Wood very few Trees growing in that Countrey In all parts of the County Kiahingfu in the Province of Chekiang in standing Water grows a Fruit call'd Peci which is no bigger than a Chesnut and hath a Kernel cover'd with a dark-colour'd Skin white within full of Juice and of a pleasing taste harder than an ordinary Apple and somewhat sowerer This Fruit is said to be of such a Nature that the Juice of it softens Copper to that degree that it may be chew'd in the Mouth In the County Kinhoafu in the Province of Chekiang grows a small Tree with one Flower which the Portuguese in India call Mogorin It is very white like a Iessamin Flower yet fuller of Leaves and of a sweeter smell insomuch that a few of them put in any Room perfumes the whole House wherefore it is not undeservedly held in great esteem amongst the Chineses and the Tree thereof preserv'd with great care in the Winter in Earthen Pots In the same County grows also a Tree call'd Kieuyen which produces a kind of fat substance like Tallow of which pure white Candles are made and are not subject to grease the Fingers though often handled like those which are of Tallow The Tree hath pretty big Leaves somewhat like those of our Pear-Tree with white Blossoms like our Cherry-Trees after the Blossom follows a round Cod as big as a Cherry cover'd with a blackish thin Skin which incloses a white Pith appearing through the Skin which cracks when the Cod is grown ripe The Cods thus ripe are pull'd off and boyl'd in Water by which means the Flesh melting becomes perfect Tallow when grown cold again then the remaining Kernel being press'd produces store of Oyl which they use not in Sallets but burn in Lamps In the Winter the Leaves are quite red like Copper which is pleasant to behold for they appear at a distance like Red-woods At last the Leaves falling off afford excellent Feeding by reason of their fatness for Sheep and other Cattel which so Fed grow exceeding fat On the Mountain Loseu by the City Polo in the Province of Quantung grows a very long and thick Cane the Body thereof being ten Handfulls in circumference On the Mountain Chang by the City Lochang in the same Province grows a black Cane of which the Chineses make their Pipes and many other things which seem as if made of Ebony Wood. On the Shore of the River Kinxe near the City Kinhao grows abundance of thick Canes which the Inhabitants beating into thin Shreds Weave and make Clothes of them The Shore of the River Tao in the County Xaocheufu in the Province of Quantung is all Planted with Peach-Trees from whence it hath its Denomination for Tao signifies A Peach In the County Chaokingfu in the same Province grow divers sorts of sweet Wood and amongst others Rose-Wood by the Portuguese call'd Pao de Rosa of which they make Cabinets Stools Tables and the like It is exceeding good Wood of a dark Red with several Veins and looks naturally as if Painted It grows also in the County Iunnanfu in the Province of Iunnan In most parts of the Province of Quantung and on the Island Aynan grows a kind of Plant by the Chineses call'd Teng and by the Portuguese Rota which seems like a Rope naturally twisted together for it runs along the Ground and over the Mountains like a Rope it is full of Prickles and hath long green Leaves and though scarce a Finger thick extends it self a whole Furlong in length and in such abundance over the Mountains that it makes the Way by its twining and twisting together unpassable It is an exceeding tough Plant and cannot be broke wherefore the Chineses make Cables and Tackling for their Ships of it and slitting it into thin Twigs make Baskets Hurdles and the like of them but most of all exceeding fine Mats on which the Chineses from the meanest Person to the Emperor himself sleep or repose themselves they being very cool in the Summer and by the Chineses long Custom of sleeping in that manner are judg'd very easie notwithstanding they are spread on the bare Floor Of the same Plant they make Quilts and Bolsters for their Beds which they fill with divers sorts of Perfumes The whole Isle of Ainan is overgrown with it especially with the white which is the best In most parts of China grows a Flower call'd Quei but no where in such abundance as in the Province of Quangsi especially in the County Quelingfu from whence the chief City Quelin hath its Denomination for Quelin signifies Flowry Green This Flower grows upon a high Tree whose Leaves are not unlike those of the Laurel or Cinamon-Tree It being very small and of a yellow Colour smells very odoriferously When display'd it hangs a considerable time on the Tree without withering when it falls off
of the same fashion though bigger with brown Seed Of these Cotton-Trees they make the fine Clothes call'd Sessa in Arabia The County Chucheufu is full of ancient Pine-Tree Woods of which the Chineses build their Houses and Ships It is said that by the Singian that is Earth of Pine-Trees are such exceeding large Trees that eighty Men cannot grasp one of them and some of so vast a compass that they can inclose thirty Men in their hollow Trunks In the same County in the Province of Chekiang in the River Luyeu by the City Kingning grow great Woods of Canes which the Chineses by a general Name call'd Cho for there are several sorts the Indians Mambu the Portuguese Bambu and the Hollanders Bamba's some smaller others bigger but all of them as hard as Iron and oftentimes two or three Span thick and towards the bottom about the bigness of a Man's Thigh nay there are some of such a thickness that the Indians make Boats of them by onely splitting them in the middle leaving on each side onely two of the undermost Joynts there sitting on each end a naked Indian with a Paddle in each hand with which they Row these Boats with great swiftness against the Stream Of the thickest parts of these Canes they make Vessels to put Water or Merchandise into the Wood thereof being about three Inches thick The least of them are half a Rod high and the biggest much higher wherefore they are not unjustly by some call'd Trees and particularly by Garcias compar'd to the Poplar some are green others quite black and most of them Massive the Portuguese in India call them Bambu Macho that is Man's Cane though the last sort grows not in China but in India They grow in Rocky places shooting upright though sometimes by Art made crooked the better to be us'd for the making of Palakins They consist from top to bottom of Knots or Joynts about a Hand-breadth from each other out of which shoot some straight Branches Piso tells of two sorts of Bambu or Mambu that grows in India the one small though fuller within the other bigger and less fill'd which in heighth and firmness exceeds all other Canes A more exact Description whereof together with their use both in Physick and in the making of divers Utensils may be found in the abovemention'd Author in his Mantissa Aromatica and also in Martinius In the Gallery of the high School at Leyden are kept two of the foremention'd Canes broke off at both ends which were brought Anno 1601. out of the East-Indies the smallest is about one and twenty Foot long distinguish'd by twenty nine Joynts at the bottom seventeen Inches in circumference and fourteen on the top the biggest is a Foot and a half longer and three Inches thicker how big the whole Canes were may be guess'd by these pieces In many places of China grow also Sugar-Canes especially in the County Tungchuenfu in the Province of Suchuen out of which they press great store of good Sugar But those Canes were in a manner useless amongst the Chineses till of late years that they were taught this Art of making Sugar as it is said by an Indian Priest upon this occasion This Priest's Ass on which he us'd to Ride running into a Cane-Field was detain'd by the Owner thereof for satisfaction for the damage which he had done whereupon the Priest that he might make satisfaction without the forfeiture of his Ass taught him the Art of boyling Sugar out of the Canes In the Province of Quantung and many other places in China grows a Rose which changes its colour twice a day first it is of a yellowish colour then Purple and anon quite white It hath no smell and grows on a little Tree Concerning which change of colour Kircher makes a curious Enquiry and takes upon him to give the reason thereof in his China Illustrata Ioannes Baptista Ferrarius largely describes a sort of Chinese Rose by the Inhabitants call'd Fuyo by others nam'd The Indian and Japan Melleuwe which by the same Ferrarius was brought out of the West-Indies to Rome where being Sow'd it grew up in a short time It is of a Milky colour but afterwards changes to white and red and at last turning to a Purple fades and withers In India it is in one day of three several colours and flourishes onely one day viz. in the Morning it is White at Noon Red and Purple at Night The Province of Quantung produces a Fruit by the Chineses call'd Yencu by the Portuguese Iambos and the Tree Iambeiro by the Malabars and those of the Canaries Iambali by the Indians Tufa by the Persians and Arabians Tufat by the Turks Almat and by the Hollanders Pampelmoes the Tree whereon it grows is prickly like the Lemon Tree but somewhat bigger the Flower or Blossom being also like that of the Lemon is white and smells very oderiferously and out of which they Distil sweet Water The Fruit much exceeds the greatest Lemons in bigness for it is oftentimes as big as a Mans Head The Shell is in Colour like that of the Golden Apple the Pulp red and sweet mixt with a little tartness and tasting like a Grape which is not quite ripe so that often times a Liquor is Press'd out of them to drink in the manner of Cherry-Wine Perry or Syder it remains good a whole Year Garcias tell us that this Fruit is in high esteem amongst the Indians and that it was brought first thither a few years since from Malaka where it grows in great abundance and gives a farther Description much to the same purpose with what hath been already deliver'd There are two sorts of these Trees very like one another yet their Fruits differ a little and resemble not only in fashion and shape but also in bigness our European Apple-Trees The Flowers and Fruits of Iambos moisten and cool smell very sweet and are therefore by the Indians accounted amongst the greatest Dainties they generally use them in Physick for being Preserv'd in Sugar they are exceeding good against hot Distempers because by their coolness and moistness they quench Thirst in Feavers and revive the Spirits In the County Chivencheufu and Changcheufu in the Province of Fokien grow abundance of Golden-Apples which in weight and bigness differ little from the European but surpass them in Scent and Deliciousness neither doth the Tree differ much from the European but the Fruit differs from that which grows in other parts of China and both Tastes and Smells exactly like a Muskadel-Grape so that it yields not to any kind of Fruit that Europe affords the Golden and thick Rind is easily Pill'd off in like manner the Meat is distinguish'd by a thin Skin which is easily broken The Inhabitants Preserve the Fruits after having Press'd the same between two Boards in Sugar and so keeping them a whole Year both furnish their Neighbors and send of them into foraign
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
is of the ould Summer Leaves and it is onely the change of Food as the young and old Leaves which makes the difference in the Silk This is perhaps the reason why the Silk which is made in Europe is courser than that made by the Chineses The Prices of the first and second Spinning also differs amongst the Chineses whenas most Silk-Throsters in Europe make no difference therein The best Silk is Spun in March the coursest in Iune yet both in one year The breeding of the Worms is all one and requires as much trouble and care as in some places in Europe therefore it is plainly false and a Romance That all the Silk in China is produc'd by the Silk-Worms on the Trees without care or labour Martinius tells us That the breeding of Silk-Worms and making of Cotton and Silk is an ancient Invention of the Chineses for the Wife of the Emperor Ya who Reign'd Anno 2357. before the Navity of Christ is said to have been the first Inventress and Teacher thereof to her Subjects for though the breeding of Silk-Worms was not unknown to the Chineses at that time yet they were ignorant in the Art of making Clothes of the same as it generally happens in the beginning of all things To the Chineses justly belongs the honour that from them originally the Art of making Silk was translated to other Countreys of Asia and Europe In the Province of Xantung the Silk Threds are Spun on Trees and in the Fields not by tame Silk-Worms but another kind of Worm like a Caterpiller which Spin not their Silk in manner of a Ball or Egg but in long Threds of a white colour which are blown to and again by the Wind on Trees and Houses from whence the Inhabitants fetch them almost after the same manner as our long Spider-Threds in Cobwebs which flye up and down in Summer Of this Silk they also make Silk-Stuffs as well as of that Spun by Silk-Worms and much stronger though somewhat courser Divers Animals in the Greek Tongue call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Creatures which live in the Water as well as on the Shore are in several places of China In the County Hoeicheufu in the Province of Quantung breeds a Monster of Nature by the Chineses call'd Hoangcioyu that is Yellow-Bird Fish for it is neither Bird nor Fish but both that is to say all the Summer it is a Bird of a Saffron colour and flyes in the Mountains but at the end of Harvest it betakes it self to the Sea and becomes a Fish and being caught in Winter is as the Chineses say very sweet and good Meat In the County Chaocheufu in the same Province are many Crocodiles in the River Zo which oftentimes hurt the neighboring People On the East side of the chief City Gucheu in the Province of Quangsi is a little Lake nam'd Go in which King Pegao in ancient times kept ten Crocodiles to which he threw Malefactors to be devour'd by them those which were guiltless or innocent being as the Chineses say found untouch'd were taken out again and releas'd In the Province of Huquang in the River Siang is a Beast which chiefly resembles a Horse but with Scales on its Body and Claws like a Tyger It is of a cruel Nature and seizes on Man and Beast especially in Harvest for then it often comes out of the Water and runs all over the Countrey In the River Iun in the same County Chaokingfu in the Province of Quantung breeds a Fish by the Chineses call'd The Swimming Cow because it often comes out of the Water and engages with its Horns the tame Cow but if it stays long out of the Water its Horns turn yellow and lose their hardness by which means it is forc'd to return to the Water where it becomes a Fish again and the Horns obtain their former hardness In the County Changtefu in the Province of Honan breeds a Fish in the Rivers by the Chineses nam'd Hagul that is Child because when caught it cries like a Child In shape this Fish differs little from a Crocodile hath a long Tail and goes on four Feet The Fat thereof once set on fire cannot be quench'd either by Water or any other means In China also are many Land and Sea-Tortoises or Turtles call'd Quei especially in the County Chunkingfu in the Province of Suchuen and in the Island Pequei that is Isle of Turtles lying in the River Kiang and the Province of Huquang some of them are very big and others small and handsom which the Inhabitants keep in their Houses some are no bigger than a small Bird. The Chineses relate of a strange accident that happen'd there to a Soldier who being accidentally by his Enemies thrown into the River was by a Tortoise which it is likely he had formerly fed and set at liberty carry'd like an Arion on a Dolphins back to the opposite Shore In the fourth County Hoeicheufu in the Province of Quantung are seen at Sea Turtles of such a vast bigness that afar off they seem to be Rocks some having Shrubs and other Plants growing on their Shells In some Provinces of China and especially in Honan are flying Turtles with green and others with blue Wings on their Feet by the spreading out of which they push themselves forward leaping after the manner of Grashoppers The Feet of these Turtles are for the Rarity thereof in great esteem among the Chineses those that have green Wing'd Feet are call'd Lo Mae Quey Quey signifying A Tortoise Lo Green and Mae Wings In all places near the Sea are plenty of Oysters almost as good as our Colchester-Oysters especially in the County Tencheufu in the Province of Xantung In the eleventh County Vencheufu of the Province of Chikiang are small Oysters of which it is reported that from the Powder of them dry'd and stamp'd and Sown like Seed along the Fields in Marsh Ground there grow Oysters of a very sweet Rellish most of the Sea-bordering places abound also with Crabs and Lobsters Minerals Stones and Earths THrough all China are an innumerable company of Mines which abound in all sorts of Mettal and in particular Gold and Silver in great store though there be an Edict in China not to Dig for them because as the Chineses say Men are generally kill'd in the Mines by the dangerous Damps and Vapours that arise from the Earth But to gather Gold on the Shores of Rivers is free for every Man after which manner they get great store and Gold is rather a Commodity or Merchandize it self amongst the Chineses than a Purchaser of other Commodities In the Province of Iunnan they gather great quantities of Gold out of the cleans'd Sand but if the Mines might be open'd the Chineses could not expect greater abundance of Gold or Silver from any other place from whence there is a Proverb amongst them wherein those that are seen to spend their Estates in Riot and Prodigality are ask'd Whither their Fathers be