eighty Furlongs in compass near the City Taming the Pool Caoki and another bigger call'd Chanfung or Moma both brackish Westward from the Mountain Feukieu is a Lake that proceeded there from the sinking of a City call'd Siun In the County Iungpingfu near the City Changlei lies a Lake of thirty Furlongs call'd In it is Oval and extends almost to the Sea IN the Territory Pingyangfu at the Foot of the Mountain Xevyang is a Lake of a considerable bigness on which the ancient Emperor Xun as the Chineses write us'd to Fish Near the City Kiang begins the Lake Iu that is Brackish for all the Water thereof is as Salt as that of the Sea and stretches from thence to the Jurisdiction of the City Ganye it is in Circumference a hundred and forty Furlongs In the County Taitungfu Westward from the City Taitung lies the small Lake Kiuncu that is Honest Man because hereabouts liv'd one that would never accept Gold when offer'd it is made by the River He. On the Mountain Yenking near the City So is a deep Lake of a Furlong in Circumference In the Territory Taiyvenfu Westward from the City Che lies the Lake Tien IN the County Siganfu on the South side of the chief City is a considerable large Lake call'd Fan which is made by the uniting of two Rivers another on the North-East side not natural but cut by Command of the Emperor Hiaou serves for a place of Recreation It is moreover adorn'd with a stately Palace to which belong pleasant Woods and Flowry Meadows whereon the Emperor also to Recreate himself caus'd Plays and other Pastimes to be Presented to him The same Emperor also Commanded a Lake to be digg'd on the South-West side of the same City calling it Queming on which he oftentimes caus'd his Soldiers in Vessels to make Sea-Fights thereby to make them experienc'd therein for intending to invade the Southern Provinces which abounded with Ships he instructed them by this Jesting Exercise how to behave themselves in real Engagements On the South side the Emperor made a third Lake and near it a pleasant Court call'd Silen to solace himself in after the end of those pretended Fights He plac'd also in this Lake a great Stone Fish rais'd and fasten'd in the bottom of the Water like a Rock that the Sea men Sailing by the same might learn to shun Rocks and Shelves Against Rainy weather as the Chineses say this Fish makes a hideous noise the force whereof is imagin'd to be much advantag'd by a Neighboring Eccho Moreover the Chineses relate that this Emperor on a certain time Dreamt That this Fish being gotten with a Hook in his Presence crav'd his Aid and that he the next day really taking a Fish in the Lake remember'd his Dream and freed the Fish whereupon throwing his Net in again he found two inestimable Pearls which the Chineses call Mingyven that is Stones of a clear Moon because on the Increase and Decrease of the Moon they grow dimmer or brighter as is generally reported of the Moon-Stones Moreover there are some that affirm that such like Stones are yet in China and being kept in the Emperor's Palace are accounted unvaluable and that when the Emperor took up the foremention'd Pearls he said Certainly this is the Gift of that grateful Fish which I set at liberty WIthin the City Cinan in the County Cinanfu on the West side is the Lake Taiming out of which runs a Channel to the Lake Coyng which is also within the Walls of the said City Out of both which Lakes there run through the whole City convenient Navigable Moats This Lake Taiming also extends towards the Lake Cioxan which is on the North-side without the City Near the City Changkieu is the great Lake call'd Peyun which abounds in Fish and inricheth the adjacent Grounds with excellent Fruit Linko and Lien-Flowers In the County Yencheufu are five Lakes namely Nanuang South from the City Ven Toxan and Fauly near the City Tingtao Leangxan near the City Tungping and Lui which in the Chinese Language signifies Thunder because in the middle thereof is a Stone whose Body resembles that of a Dragon and the Head a Mans and is by the Chineses call'd The Spirit of Thunder they affirming that by striking on its Belly they hear a noise or voice There are likewise in this County many other Lakes but of less note In the County Tengcheufu near the City Laiyang is the Lake Hiyang and in Tungchanfu the Lake Ho. IN the County Kaifungfu lies Westward from the little City Hiu the small Lake Si and another near Iengling two other Lakes call'd Lieu from the abundance of Willows which grow on their Banks lie one near the City Chin and the other by Sincheu On the West side of the City stands the Lake Kiuming made by the Imperial Family Sung for a place wherein to Exercise the Naval Militia and represent Sea-Fights This Lake is exceeding pleasant being built round about with many stately Palaces and Pagods and also Marble Columns Inscrib'd with Verses extolling the Lake There are also other lesser Lakes amongst which is one call'd Tungmuen near the City Chin which is exceeding clear and without any Weeds In the County Queitefu on the South side of the City Queite is the Lake Nan over which lies a Stone-Bridge with many Arches Westward from the City Ciu is the Lake Si and in the same County a very small Lake call'd Chokin about which many Silk-Weavers have their Habitations invited thither by the goodness of the Water from which the Silk receives an excellent Gloss and thereupon the Lake takes its Name The word Chokin signifying A Washing place for Silk Damask Eastward from the City Iuching stands the Lake Menchu In the County Hoakingfu Northward from the City Ciyven is the Lake Tay which is made by the River Ki. In the Territory Iunningfu Westward from the City Iunning is the Lake Si yielding a very pleasant Prospect as being surrounded with many Buildings for the Entertainment and Recreation of the Citizens Westward from the small City Iu lieth a Lake of a hundred Furlongs in the City of Iu to the North stands the Lake Quanching ON the Mountain Tienchi near the City Mien in the County Chingtufu in the Province of Suchien there is a Lake which by Rain is not observ'd to increase nor in dry Seasons to decrease On the South-East side of the City Chingtu is a Pool call'd Yolung which the Emperor Sui caus'd to be made for the exercising his Marriners and Souldiers in Ships of War when he resolv'd to invade King Chin. Vansui is a Lake of four hundred Furlongs digg'd like a Moat round about the City Chingtu but broadest on the North side of the Earth which was digg'd out of the same the Walls of the City were made Southward from the City Cai in the County Queicheufu stands the Lake Cingyven a hundred Furlongs square
add that all the Birds about the latter end of Harvest meet on the same and there bewail the death of their Phenix The Inhabitants observe also that time and climb up the Hill in the Night with Lights to catch Birds and return from thence loaden with their purchase Moreover according to Bontius on the Island Iava breed ordinary Bats in the Woods which are as big as Pigeons which the Iavans eat for a great Dainty They often come into the Houses at Night if the Windows or Doors chance to be left open in the Day and fastning themselves like Leeches to the Feet of those whom they find asleep suck great abundance of Blood from them which more amazes than hurts them when they awake Fishes BEcause of the many Rivers Pools and Lakes the Countrey of China abounds with variety of Fish especially the Province of Xantung which by reason of its Neighborhood to the Sea hath besides the Fish taken in Rivers and Lakes great store which are got in the Sea in such abundance that for the value of a Peny they purchase ten Pound weight of Fish Also there is incredible store of Fish in the Province of Huquang and likewise in that of Kiangsi especially Salmon In the River Kiang about the City Kieukyang though some Leagues from the Sea store of Fish is caught as Cod Dolphins and Salmon In the River Lofeu by the City Xeu in the Province of Huquang are excellent Lamprees in abundance The Yellow River amongst the rest breeds a Fish nam'd Xehon that is Marbled Flower so call'd from the Marble Spots on its Skin It is caught in no other place but near the City Paote in the Province of Xansi and is in great esteem amongst such as take upon them to understand Eating They are taken chiefly in the Province of Fokien near the City Hunghoa The River Tan which glides close by the chief City Nanyang in the Province of Honan hath Fish of a perfect red colour which are onely seen and caught in the beginning of Summer for the remaining time of the year they hide themselves The Chineses ridiculously believe and some have written to that effect If any one besmears his Feet with the Blood of this Fish he may walk on the Water as well as on the Land They add moreover That if the Water be stirr'd at that time it immediately turns red together with all the Fish which at that present appear wherefore it hath the Name of Tan that is Red. The County of Ningpofu in the Province of Chekiang lying near the Sea is well provided with Sea-Fish which they dry in the Sun as Oysters Crabs and Lobsters with which they furnish most parts of China In the beginning of Summer is caught a Fish nam'd Hoang that is to say Yellow because of its yellow colour This Fish is of such a Nature that it will not last one hour good after it is taken out of the Water but it is exceedingly valu'd amongst the Chineses they put it into Vessels with Ice and so bring it to Market for which purpose they preserve Ice in the Winter to keep the fore-mention'd Fish in in the Summer In a Lake of the compass of two hundred Acres lying on the Mountain Cienking in the County Hancheufu in the Province of Chekiang they catch Fish of a Golden colour from which they are call'd Kinyu for Kin signifies Gold and Yu a Fish having a Scale which shines as if sprinkled with Gold They scarce ever exceed a Fingers length yet have Tails split into two or three parts sometimes intire and broad which make them appear fair to the Eye They are by the Chineses kept with great care alive in their Houses or Gardens in neat Vessels made for that purpose The Grandees often with their own Hands catch this Fish which on the other side as if it knew who was its Lord and what pleasure it did him comes as it were on purpose with his Companion and plays just above the Water One of these Fishes if it be perfect and sound costs sometimes three or four Crowns In the watry Valley on the Mountain Haiyang near the City Queiling in the Province of Quangsi are Four-footed and Horn'd Fish In the River Siang in the County Changxafu in the Province of Huquang and in the great River Kiang where it runs through the Province of Nanking are a sort of Fish by the Chineses from the Portuguese corruptly call'd Xanel A great quantity of this Fish pack'd up alive in Ice in peculiar Vessels is sent to the Emperor to Peking every Week two Ships Lading of them as long as the time of Fishing continues and though it be above two hundred Leagues by Water yet in eight or ten days they finish their Journey for Night and Day the Vessels are Toed by a Line and new Toers taken so soon as the old ones begin to be tir'd which at appointed places like our Stages stand ready for by a Letter sent before they acquaint them with the Hour when they shall be there and if any neglect happen herein the Governors forfeit their Lives No Cost nor Charges are spar'd to procure the Emperor this excellent Fish of which he gives some to his Council of State The County Chinkiangfu in the Province of Iunnan hath many Rivers Pools and Lakes abounding with Fish and amongst others one out of which the Physicians draw an excellent Medicine against all kind of Scurf and Scabs In the same County by the City Yangcung in the Lake Ming is a black colour'd Fish nam'd Cing which is said to be good against many Diseases In the County Fungciangfu in the Province of Xensi near the City Pingyang they take a Fish call'd Xe that is Stone which being dry'd and beaten to Powder keeps Moths out of Clothes if strow'd on the same In the Sea before the County Taicheufu in the Province of Chekiang the Chineses catch many Haions or Seals whose Skins they send to Iapan to make Scabbards for Swords and through all parts of China making great profit of them as the said Skin is us'd amongst us for the making Cases for Watches and Handles for Knives Serpents and creeping Animals IN the County Fungchiangfu in the Province of Xensi is a sort of black Serpent of which the Chineses make a Medicine to expel Poyson and cure many Distempers In the County Nanyangfu in the Province of Honan are Serpents whose Skin is generally full of white Spots The Wine in which they have been steep'd is an excellent Remedy against Stiffness of the Joynts or Limbs In the County Hoangcheufu in the Province of Huquang are Serpents which heal the Leprosie and Scabbiness On the Mountain Citien by the City Caihoa in the Province of Chekiang are very great Serpents which have no manner of Poyson In the County Gucheufu in the Province of Quangsi are as the Chineses write Serpents several Rods in length no wonder then if they are
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
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 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
in the Province of Huquang breeds a Bird on the Mountain Lekung which never makes a noise but against Rain and thereby gives warning thereof to the Husband-men In the County Kiahingfu in the Province of Chekiang the Chineses catch certain Birds nam'd Hoangcio which steeping in Wine made with Rice they sell all the year long for a great Dainty In the first Territory Queilingfu in the Province of Quangsi are many curious Birds whose various colour'd Feathers the Chineses Weave amongst their Silk-Stuffs In the County Kiocingfu in the Province of Iunnan are Swallows with divers white Spots under their Bellies some bigger some lesser The Chinese Physicians Distill an excellent Water from them which cures all Distempers incident to the Eyes The Province of Quantung abounds with a sort of Ducks which are brought up with great care by the Inhabitants they are in most parts of China but no where in such abundance as in Quantung These Ducks Hatch not their Eggs as with us but the Chineses put them into a warm Oven or bury them in hot Dung after the same manner as it is said the Egyptians do at Grand Cairo The Chineses also on Ship-board breed whole Coops full of Ducks setting them on the Shore at Low-water there to feed on Oysters Crabs and the like Several Companies of them belonging to divers Vessels oftentimes mix themselves together in the Water and on the Shore but towards Evening at the Ringing on a Bason return to their several Vessels The Chineses also use Ducks to Weed their Rice In most parts of China is found a Bird in the Chinese Tongue call'd Louwa which is smaller than a Goose and not unlike a Raven with a long Bill and Neck like a Crane at the end crooked with Feet like a Swan and a very wide Maw excellent for Fishing This Bird seems to be the same with that which Pliny calls by the Greek Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Asse's Cymbal because of its strange noise and is by him describ'd in the following words The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he differs not much in shape from a Swan except in the Throat in which being of an extraordinary bigness this unreasonable Creature stores all that it gets After it hath gotten its fill the gorged Store comes up again into the Mouth and from thence being chew'd goes into the Belly Thus far Pliny The Chineses fish with these Birds teaching them to catch Fish as here we teach our Dogs to Hunt Their Fishing is in this manner But to prevent these Birds from swallowing the Fish which they are very greedy of they lock their Throats by putting on an Iron Ring about them beyond which the Fish cannot pass Those Fish which by reason of their bigness cannot be swallow'd they bring up in their Bills giving timely notice to the Fisher-man by a noise which they make that so he may be ready to take the Fish from them nay sometimes one Bird helps another if the Fish be very big to bring him to the Boat each holding a part thereof in his Bill If any Bird after his being put over-board Dive not instantly under Water it is cruelly beaten with a Cane till the Feathers flie off thereby to break it of its slothfulness After they have taken a considerable number of Fish the Iron Ring is taken off from them that then they may Fish for themselves which makes them another time the willinger to Fish for their Masters The Fisher-men pay yearly for every Fish a certain Tribute to the Emperor The Birds before-mention'd are very dear one of them which is any thing dextrous in fishing being sold for fifty Tail of Silver every Tail being an English Crown Iohn Gonzalves of Mendoza in his Description of the Empire of China calls these Fishing-birds Sholfers and gives an account of their Fishing much to the same purpose as hath been already describ'd The Chineses says he have a peculiar way of Fishing which is very pleasant and good The Emperor keeps in every Town built near Rivers certain Houses in which every year young Sholfers are bred up with which they Fish in certain seasons after this manner The Masters of the Fowls take them out of their Coops and carry them down to the Shore where they keep many Boats to Fish with and fill them half way full of Water then they tie their Crop with a String under their Wings so close that they cannot swallow the Fish then they throw them into the Water to Fish which they do with great eagerness and Dive with great dexterity and swiftness under the Water after having been a while out of sight they appear again with their Bill and Throat full of Fish and come flying towards the Boat and evacuate the Fish in the Water which is in the Boat that so they may be kept alive In the County Nanningfu of the Province of Quangsi are a kind of small Parrets in bigness and shape like Mag-Pies On the craggy Mountains of Suchuen are very large Mag-Pies and in the same County near the Garrison'd City Ydmui great store of Larks In the Provinces of Quantung Quangsi and Iunnan are both tame and wild Peacocks they are in no other Provinces unless brought from thence In the County Hoaiganfu in the Province of Nanking are more Quails and Pheasants than in any other part of China In the County Taipingfu in the Province of Nanking lies an Island nam'd Hoa in the River Kiang which seems to be nothing but a hollow Rock in which are an incredible number of Owls from whence the Island hath gotten its Denomination In the Province of Xantung are great store of Poultrey Pheasants and Wood-Cocks insomuch that they are bought there extraordinary cheap Very remarkable is a Bird properly call'd Fung and by addition of the word Ciang is nam'd Fungciang in regard the appearance of the Bird which is very seldom and always alone is by the Chineses look'd upon as a good Omen and very fortunate to the whole Empire Boem also writes that if this Bird disappears suddenly from the sight of Men it is a sign of one or other sad event or threatning danger to those of the Royal Blood The Chineses have this Bird in great veneration so that the Figure of it is frequently seen among them both in their Paintings Tapestry Weavings and their Imbroyderies of Gold Silver and Silk and the greatest of the Nobility have the Effigies of it often wrought on their Clothes Martinius will have him to be the Phenix or else an unknown sort of Crane resembling a Peacock in head and variety of Colours it is said to breed in the Mountain of the Kingdom of Tang. The same Martinius tells us that in the County Munghoafu in the Province of Iunnan is a Mountain from the Chinese Phenix call'd Funghoang because this Bird as they say dy'd on the same after he had sung a while very melodiously They also
Stones which melted in the fire produce Iron very good to make Swords and Faulchions of By the City Siaoxan is a Quarry which furnishes all China with Free-stone In several places in China especially in the fourth County Nieucheufu in the Province of Chekiang is a kind of Gum in the Chinese Tongue call'd Cie which drops out of the Trees and is very like Gum or Oyl of Turpentine The Chineses gather it in the Summer and cleansing the same Colour it how they please the best is yellow like Gold and the next black before it is dry'd it yields a malignant Damp which makes the Faces of those which are not us'd to it swell and look pale for a time but they soon recover again It dries very leasurely when any Chests or Cabinets are Varnish'd with the same but when once dry it never melts again What a curious and shining thing this Gum is Europe hath long since seen by the Cabinets and Chests that are brought hither from China and Iapan The Chineses varnish all their curious Wood-Work with the same as also their Ships Houses Tables Bed-steads Closets and all their Houshold Utensils to the great lustre thereof Trigaut gives us this following Account of this Gum viz. In China is a certain Gum like Musk press'd out of the Bark of a Tree and thick like Pitch of which the Chineses make a Varnish by them call'd Cie and by the Portuguese Ciaro With this Cie they Varnish their Tables Presses and other Housholdstuff as also their Ships and Houses and Colour it how they please The Work thus Varnish'd shines like Glass and is very beautiful to the Eye and acceptable by reason of its smoothness and continues many years By means of this Gum the Houses of the Chineses and Iapanners shine in such a manner that they dazle the Eyes of the Beholders With this also they represent the colour of all kind of Wood. And for this reason the Chineses by whom this Gum is us'd account Table-clothes altogether superfluous for if the shining and Crystal-like Tables accidentally by spilling of any Grease upon them are bereav'd of their lustre they are restor'd to their former beauty by being wash'd over with warm Water because nothing can soak through the hard Gum. Besides this Gum there is an Oyl press'd out of the Fruit of another Tree not unlike the former the use thereof is also one and the same but gives not so great a Gloss. We have several kinds of Varnish amongst us in imitation of the Chineses but far short of it the true Preparation thereof being doubtless unknown to us or but imperfectly discover'd Out of the Mountains in the eighth County Ienganfu in the Province of Xensi is digg'd a slimy Moisture generally call'd Peters-Oyl which the Chineses use in their Lamps and against Scabs In the Province of Suchuen is abundance of yellow Amber which is gather'd on the Coast of Pomeren and in other parts of the same Province another sort of a reddish colour Martinius speaks of great quantities of artificial Amber made of the boyl'd Gum of Pine-Trees and sold by the Chineses so exactly imitated that it was not to be distinguish'd from the best neither is it a certain sign of true Amber to attract Chaff or other light things for the falsifi'd and artificial if rubb'd hath an attracting power as well as the natural In the Provinces of Iunnan they also have Amber which is somewhat redder than the Pomeran for yellow they have none The Salt which the Chineses have is not onely made in the Sea-bordering Provinces but there are also Inland Waters of which they make Salt without any great trouble In the County Hokienfu in the Province of Peking are large Fields which extending to the Sea-side are wash'd by the Sea Water which leaves great quantities of Salt upon the Banks All the Water of the Lake Ieu lying in the County Pingyangfu in the Province of Xansi is as salt as Sea-Water and Salt also made of it by the Inhabitants In the County Kingyangfu in the Province of Xensi are two Pools of salt Water of which they make abundance of Salt In the Province of Iunnan on the North-East side of the City Yaogan is a great Pit of salt Water out of which is extracted exceeding white Salt with which the whole County Yaoganfu is furnish'd The Pit is call'd Peyencing that is Pit of white Salt The first finding of this Salt is ascrib'd to the Sheep because they us'd to lick the Earth thereabouts and scratch up lumps of Salt with their Feet till the Inhabitants at last observing the same found salt Water and Earth there China abounds with Salt in all places so that besides the great plenty for common use the Salt-Trade brings great Revenue into the Emperor's Treasury there being an incredible number of People which Trade in that Commodity Every Province in which Salt is made pays yearly a certain weight of Salt to the Emperor for Tribute On the Mountains in the Province of Suchuen are Salt-pits which supply all the Inhabitants of that Province with Salt which is a great testimony of God's Providence to these People considering this part of China lies remote from the Sea and could not be furnish'd with Salt from any other places but with exceeding great trouble These Pits are some of them a hundred Paces deep as being on inhabited Hills of salt Earth The Mouth of one of them is not above three or four Hands-breadth wide They are search'd with an Iron Instrument in form of a Hand which being let down in the Ground by reason of its great weight and sharp Fingers presses through the same then drawn up again shuts close and brings up a handful of Earth which they do so long till they come to salt Earth and Water which is afterwards pull'd out with a Tub or Bucket which hath a Cover at the top and a Hole in the bottom through which the Water running as the Vessel goes down thrusts it open but when it is full and pull'd up by a Rope it falls and shuts again which salt Water being taken out and set over the Fire its watry part evaporates forth and leaves white Salt in the bottom yet is not altogether so salt as that which is made of sea-Sea-Water There are Salt-pits also in the County Queicheufu And likewise in the Territory Kiahingfu in the Province of Chekiang are very great Salt-pits in the Fields near the Sea where they make abundance of Salt Also in the County Hoaiganfu not far from the City Hoaigain and in several other places bordering on the Sea In China onely is that kind of fine Earth of which is made that rich Material of those we call China-Dishes and this Stuff is call'd Porcelane Some falsly affirm That the Matter of which the Porcelane is made is prepar'd of pounded Egg-shells or Sea-Cockles adding That it must lie a hundred years under Ground before it can be us'd
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
they possess much fruitful and rich Land None dare be so bold to Sowe his Ground before he hath offer'd two Hogs at Tamacuwalo and Tamabal chief Houses belonging to the third and fourth Gods Teckarupada and Tamagisangak and this Oblation is requir'd by one of the Priests belonging to the same Houses In like manner the Oldest of the Village when it Rains bring a Hog and abundance of Masakhaw to the Priests that dwell in those two Houses to be offer'd to their Gods If at their going to Sowe their Fields they chance to meet a wild Beast and kill it they carry the Liver and Heart as a Victim to their Gods in the two Houses and when all the People are assembled the Priests of the two Houses must first Sowe a small spot of Ground and then all the rest may proceed having first laid between two Bundles of Straw by them call'd Tenguro a Pisang Leaf a little Siri and Lime to be offer'd to their Gods The Seed being put into the Ground a Rice Pot in their Language call'd Sangi is placed on the North side of the two Houses and left there till the Rice hath attain'd its full growth If the Corn near the Pots for close by them they Sowe a little grows well they take them away with great joy and freely believe that they shall have a kindly and plentiful Harvest They are not permitted to take Tobacco in the Seed-time lest as their Priestesses tell them all their Seed should turn into that stinking Vapor The are forbidden in that time to throw the Bones of Salt Fish or Peels of Onions on the Ground but must carry them in a Talangack or Pot into the Woods to prevent the devouring of their Corn by Poysonous Serpents They must keep no Fire lest the Corn should be burnt Sugar-Canes or Pomegranates they may eat onely in the Evening but they may not during that Season taste any Roast-meat for fear the Corn should be set on Fire by wild Swine nor any Mahall that is Powder'd Flesh lest it should be devour'd by Worms They must also abstain from Kanging and a Hay both Fishes because they believe if they should eat of them that the Corn would have no Ears They conceit That if they should sleep in the Field during their Seed-time their Corn would not grow upright but lodge on the Ground and if they drink any Water except mix'd with Masakhaw that the Grain would never ripen but be green and watery If the Dust or Sand happen to light in ones Eyes he may not endeavor to get it out by rubbing or otherwise till he has quit the Field they have sown They never cut their Corn before they have made Offerings to their Gods If a Thorn chances to get in any ones Foot he must not pull it out in the Field but must leave the Place No Woman may turn her back Parts to a Man nor go naked Many more ridiculous Customs they use during the Seed-time which are strictly observ'd by them as when the Corn is ready to be cut they thresh one Bundle and laying a Lump of Earth upon it implore the Gods to fill and make weighty the Ears of all the rest After they have brought in the Corn to their particular Houses they offer a Swine and use many Ceremonies in the killing of it amongst others they lay a great piece of Clay on a large black Pot which they firmly believe makes their Corn grow more full and weighty Their Hunting which is never less than twelve days together is perform'd sometimes by few and at other times with many People who for the most part use Snares and Canes and also Assagays Bowes and Arrows When they have appointed a great Match they build a House in the Fields which they call Cadelang wherein they hang all their Implements And as they have their third and fourth Gods that look over their Tillage so their seventh and eighth nam'd Tawarakakoeloe and Tamakakamak bear the sway in Hunting Before they go out they tell to one another the Dreams they had in the Preceding Night and also neglect not Augurial Observations insomuch that if the Bird Aydak meet them they count it a good Omen but if it flies either on the right or left side of them they put off their Venating Sport till some other time Others also go to a River side where they make a peculiar kind of Sacrifice to their Gods with these Words If the Devil or any other Evil Spirits follow us we beseech that you would drive and banish them from us From the first Quarry of every sort of Wild Creatures they take a snip from the Tail Mouth Heart and Kidneys which with a Pisang Leaf scalded Rice and Masakhaw they present to their Deities Coming back from their Recreation they return thanks to the Gods in the House which they built to put their Arms and Hunting-necessaries in praying That those which come after them may have no success nor kill any thing Lastly They pull down and burn the House having first sent for the Women to carry home the taken Venison who coming thither bring abundance of cheering Tope to make merry with They often kill at one of these great Hunting-Matches eight hundred a thousand nay sometimes two thousand Head of Deer so that the Netherlanders could buy there the best and fattest Hanch of Venison for a Shilling All the Formosans much differ from one another in their Speech so that you shall seldom find two or three Villages though but three or four Leagues distant from one another but their Dialects vary so much that they are forc'd to use Interpreters They have neither Letters Writings nor Books neither were willing to learn although both the Spaniards and Hollanders have offer'd to teach and instruct them The Islands Formosa and Tayowan lay very convenient for the Netherlanders Chinese Trade because at most Seasons of the Year they could sail to them from the Coast of China out of the River Chinch or Chinchieu The chiefest Merchandise which the Hollanders got at Formosa consisted in Sugar Goats and Deers Skins which they transported thence to Iapan The Companies Merchandise was carried in Chinese Jonks to the River Chinchieu and the City Eymuy to their Factors or Merchants residing there and also to other peculiar Chinese Merchants whose Credit was good to send them such Returns as were desired at Iapan India and the Netherlands which Trade was conniv'd at by the Koabon of the Territory Fokien There also came some peculiar Merchants out of China with their own Vessels to dispose of their private Merchandise though of small concern Therefore when the time approach'd that the Ships were to go Annually to Iapan or Batavia and that the Goods came but slowly from China they were necessitated to go themselves with two or three Vessels to China or Eymuy where the Goods were brought weigh'd and receiv'd aboard in several Parcels and were forc'd to give eight
and others yellowlike Wax The Admiral putting out the Signal commanded all the Officers to come aboard and caus'd the Chinese Prisoners to be ask'd in their presence From whence they came If they had no knowledge of the Tartars Army And where Coxinga's Fleet lay Whereupon they replied That Coxinga was dead that the Tartars had a great Army near Chinkzieu and Zwansifoe and that they were fitting out abundance of great and small Jonks in all the Havens to War against Coxinga In the Night the Fleet sail'd by the Island Quemuy to the great dislike of the Admiral Bort and contrary to the General and Indian Councils Order which notwithstanding none of the Commanders knew onely that the Vice-Admiral Campen had direction That if the Ships should be separated from one another in the Southern Mouzon they should stay at the North Point of the Island Quemuy and in the Northern Mouzon at the Promontory of Puthay lying about two Leagues North-East from Quemuy or else in and before the River Hoksieu On this Island Quemuy appear two Towers the one with a Spiry Point the other being that of the City Engely flat and broad The City Engely which stood on the Island Quemuy was pull'd down to prevent that Coxinga might not possess or harbor there and at present there appears onely some few Ruines of it not far from the Sea-side In the Afternoon the Fleet rais'd twenty four Degrees and forty six Minutes about two Leagues and a half from the Coast of China where in the South-South-East they spied three Jonks which the Admiral and all his Fleet chas'd but they escap'd by their nimble Sailing About Sun-set they were three Leagues distant from an Isle lying at the South Point of the Storm-bay whereon stands a Tower built like a Pyramide This Storm-bay makes a convenient Harbor for safety in bad Weather or to take in Provisions On the Shore are divers Towers with several Entrances adorn'd with Images of their Gods and before whose chief Gate by turns one of their Priests keeps continual Watch. On Fryday being the fourth about Noon the Vice-Admiral Van Campen descried the Cape of the Cavalles in twenty five Degrees and thirty seven Minutes about two or three Leagues East and by North from the Rough Isle in the depth of thirty four and thirty five Fathom Water their Course North-North-East This Point of Cavalles is a great Promontory full of many handsom Towns and Villages and exceeding fertile for besides the great conveniences of Rivers all sorts of Provisions may be purchased there at a cheap rate as Sheep Swine Poultrey and the like there are also Oranges Lemons Citrons and several other Fruits of that kind especially one shap'd like a Pear with a thin Shell resembling the outward Husk of a Chesnut white within and of a delicious taste they preserve it in Sugar and Oyl because if boyl'd it loseth the relish The Horses of this place are generally very small Near this Point lye certain desolate and barren Isles which by the Netherlanders are generally call'd the Cavalles The fifth the Vice-Admiral was by a Storm and hollow Sea separated from the other Ships when he saw three Isles not appearing in the Maps about three Leagues South-West and by South from him in the depth of thirty one and thirty two and sometimes twenty seven twenty five and twenty four Fathom Water muddy Ground About Noon they found thirteen several Isles in the Latitude of twenty seven Degrees all which the Vice-Admiral suppos'd to be the Isles of the Old Sayer Thither the Vice-Admiral sail'd to wait for the Admiral and the other eight Ships where he was so ruffled by a sudden Storm that his Main-Mast had like to come over-board his Sails and Rigging much torn yet at last he came to an Anchor with his four Ships in twenty seven Degrees and nine Minutes Northern Elevation The sixth the Vice-Admiral Van Campen commanded the Officers of the Ships that were with him to come aboard to know of them if they were inclin'd not to spend any time in vain to seek for the Admiral with the other eight Ships by sailing Southerly or Northerly because his Orders on the third of the same Month were to meet in the Latitude of twenty seven Degrees and thirty Minutes before the City Hoksieu if possible if they should happen by Storm to be separated one from another and there to inquire after the state of the Tartars Van Campen judg'd it convenient to sail but fourteen or fifteen Leagues towards the South along the Coast of China and if he miss'd of him there to take his Course back again towards the North or to stay there till they came to him and then go together to find out their Admiral which was agreed on The eighth Van Campen weigh'd Anchor with his Squadron sailing a pretty way to the Offin and then stood in towards the Coast of China there to discover some Haven or River but saw a little to the Northward of a Cape on the Coast of China six or seven Isles which passing by and plying several times from and towards the Shore they came again to an Anchor behind the Isle where they had lain before The ninth the Vice-Admirals Pilot went ashore to seek For Water which he found running out of the Rocks between the Hills About Noon they weigh'd Anchor and sail'd to a high Isle unknown to them and not found in the Map In the Evening they spied ten or eleven Sail of Fishermen to reach whom Van Campen sent his Pilot with a Sloop well Mann'd and one who spoke some broken Chinese but they onely overtook one of them which they brought aboard where they question'd them From whence they came and whereabouts Hoksieu was They answer'd From Kita and that Hoksieu was about six or seven Leagues Southerly from them And selling their taken Fish to the Netherlanders for three Spanish Rials promis'd the next Morning to bring them Hens Swine and Chinese Apples aboard With Sun-set they came between the Main Coast of China and four unknown Isles and dropp'd their Anchors in thirteen Fathom Water about Cannon-shot from the Shore On the greatest stood a Light-house with Burning Candles in it The tenth being Thursday the Vice-Admiral set Sail in the Morning towards the South-South-West between the main Coast of China and the Islands a Cannon-shot from the shore On the Main Continent appear'd a House in a Bay About Noon they were come back into twenty six Degrees and twenty seven Minutes and in the Evening by calm yet contrary Tides enter'd the Bay of Kita half a League Southward from an unknown Island The eleventh in the Morning Van Campen setting sail again spied two Jonks lying before Tenhay to which he sent Iacob Black with a Boat and Skiff Mann'd with armed Sea-men and Soldiers to fight them but the Jonks by swiftness of their Sails got clear off yet in the Pursuit they saw in the North-West near the
distant from the Fleet. The ninth in the morning they saw above twenty Fisher-Jonks near the Shore of Pakka who were putting to Sea to fish but not being able to get out were by the Current driven towards the South Van Campen chas'd them between the Islands yet the Jonks by their swift sailing escap'd him In the afternoon the Hollanders came again to an Anchor behind Campens Point in nine Fathom Water about a small Cannon-shot from the Shore The tenth they saw two Frigats in the Bay of Pakka viz. the Sea-hound in which the Admiral Bort was as they understood the next day and the Highland which on the eighth was sent thither for Intelligence The eleventh in the morning the Admiral Bort came in the High-land Frigat to an Anchor about half a League from the Vice-Admiral Mean while the Admiral Bort had by Storm taken the Fort Kitat lying in the Bay of Pakka and with it plunder'd all the Towns Villages and Hamlets being twenty in number belonging thereto All which he had written to the Vice-Admiral Van Campen the tenth of the said Month from the Bay of Pakka adding thereto That had he not been detain'd eight days by tempestuous Weather he had been with him before that time to find out Zwathia lying about the North in hopes there to find several Trading Jonks The same day Harman Symonsz went aboard the Vice-Admiral being sent thither by the Admiral from the Bay of Pakka with the Letters before-mention'd bringing also with him a small Supply of fresh Victuals which was equally distributed amongst the Ships They found in Kitat nothing but a little Rice Salt and a little Lumber besides twelve Women and fifteen Youths which were transported for Servants to Batavia The Hollanders fell upon this Place because some of Coxinga's Party resided there The twelfth they descried three Jonks and a Fishers Boat in the North-East one of them being without a Mast Van Campen by the Admirals Order set Sail towards them with five Ships That Jonk which had lost her Mast was onely taken the rest escaping by the advantage of the Tide In the taken Jonk they found no more but onely Salt Rice and Wood. Towards Evening the Frigat came again to the Prize-Jonk and about eight at Night tow'd her along with them to Campens Point In the afternoon the Sea-hound and High-land Frigats and Ter-Boede Pink came up to the Vice-Admiral and at Night Anchor'd South and by West about a League from them Wednesday being the thirteenth the Ter-Boede was sent from the Fleet to the River Hoksieu there to stay till Van Campen's Squadron came back from the North. Against Noon the Overveen Frigat came out of Kitat-Bay near the Fleet and turning up Northerly in the afternoon was forc'd by contrary Winds to lie in seven Fathom water About midnight the Fleet weigh'd Anchor and hearing several Cannons fired and Van Campen fearing some of the Frigats to be run ashore sent his Boats thither and found the Calf to be drove very near the Shore on which the High-land Frigat had also been fast but was got off again whereupon Van Campen return'd Ysbrant Pilot to the Admiral and another were sent aboard of the Vice-Admiral to enquire how many healthy persons he had in his Ship of Seamen and Soldiers and what number of Sea-men he could be able to send ashore fit for Service whereupon he reply'd about thirty Thursday about Noon the Fleet was in twenty seven Degrees and nineteen Minutes Northern-Latitude two Leagues and a half from West and by North from Zwamzwa Cape In the afternoon about two a Clock the Fleet weighed Anchor again and in the Morning were within four Leagues North and by East of Zwatia three Leagues East Nor-East from Cape Elephant and three Leagues and a half West and by South from Zwamzwa About Noon the Fleet forc'd by contrary Winds and Tydes cast Anchor in eleven or twelve Fathom Water about three Leagues Nor-West and Nor-West and by West from the River Zwatia and two Leagues and a half South-east and by East from Cape Elephant where Riding all Night they Sail'd next day toward the North and soon after turn'd Westward up the River of Zwatia where the Vice-Admiral had Cruised with six Sail the twenty eighth and twenty ninth of the last Moneth The Marks whereby Sea-men may know this River are towards the North a great white Shelf and on the Shore many Cliffs A little more to the Northward of it lie two Islands behind which is a safe Harbor About Noon the Fleet found themselves in twenty seven Degrees and thirty five Minutes Eastward from the South-Point of the River Zwatia from whence Sailing West-South-west into the River they had from six to twenty three Fathom Water being the shallowest gravelly Ground and with the same Course they came before Zwatia where they cast Anchor in seven Fathom Water about a Musquet-shot from the Shore on which the short-hair'd Chineses stood with Red Flags a sign of Peace by them as the White is with us in great companies expecting the Netherlanders without any offering to come to their Ships This continu'd a whole hour when the Admiral Bort Commanded the Guns to be fir'd upon the Town The Chineses thus rudely saluted immediately let flie their White Flag in sign of War and shooting with Musquets and Blunderbusses flourish'd their Faulchions and Scythes over their Heads yet betook themselves with all their Movables which they were able to carry out of the City to flight towards the Mountains others with their Vessels ran up the River whereupon the Admiral Bort Commanded the Vice-Admiral Van Campen to go ashore with eight Boats and seven Shallops well Man'd and Arm'd which Bort himself promis'd to follow Van Campen Landing without any resistance on the Shore found the City Re-built and the Houses furnish'd with Tables Chests Stools and Benches besides abundance of Thrash'd and Unthrash'd Rice call'd Bady Salt great store of dry'd and Salt Fish and also Nets There appear'd seven large Temples every one apart in a pleasant Grove Wall'd round about and within Pav'd with Blue Stone where stood many Humane Figures Cloth'd in all sorts of Stuffs Caps Coats Breeches Shoes and Stockings all as alive about Tables on Wax'd Benches or Stools Gilded on each Table stood two large square Vessels or Pots wherein the Priests burn Incense to their Idols with perfum'd Calambak Agar and Sandal-Wood which yield a most fragrant smell On the Tables also lay four pieces of Wood each a large half Foot long round on the top and flat at the bottom which to know future events they throw three times one after another before the Idols Towards Evening Van Campen leaving the Shore went aboard again with all his Men loaden with the best Plunder and many Images not spoil'd by the Tartars Here it is to be observ'd that many Native Chineses are to be understood by the Name of Tartars viz. those who by shaving off
the River Hoksieu into the Bay of Linkun to turn about the North to Tenhay but the Tyde being spent he could not get forward which being seen by Van Campen he immediately sent the Pilot Iohn Cortz with a well Mann'd Sloop thither to enquire after affairs before whose return seven Glasses were run yet at last he return'd with Iacob Black Master of the Ankeveen who brought a Letter with him from the Admiral Dated the seventh of the same Moneth in the Ankeveen then Riding in the Channel of Hoksieu the Contents were these That Nobel with all his Attendants were detain'd in Hoksieu and not permitted to come aboard That himself was come with all the Ships down to the Mouth of the River where stopp'd by contrary Winds from coming to him he had lay'n three days but would have come in stead of the Letter had not the Night before three Vessels come down the River with Melman two Mandarins and Letters from Nobel and the Vice-Roy Singlamong and General Lipovi who still desir'd the stay of all or some of the Fleet fifteen or twenty days longer for an Answer from Peking which if he would not do Nobel and all his Retinue must be forc'd to wait there and mean while Trade in private selling some of their Merchandise and buying others about which he was to resolve the next day with the two Mandarins that were sent to him therefore he desir'd Van Campen on receipt of the Letter to come to him with all speed in one of the Frigats that least drew Water that he might consult with him about it and resolve what was best to be done Bort desir'd Van Campen also to leave Order with the Ships to store themselves plentifully with Water and Firing at Tenhay that when the other Ships came to them they might furnish them also that then they might proceed on their Journey to Batavia without any hinderance Whereupon Van Campen went in his Ship aboard of the Ankeveen Frigat lying at Anchor about half way at Sea between the River Hoksieu and Tenhay and came about four hours after Sun-set West and by North right against the Pyramids but being forc'd by a contrary Tyde to cast Anchor in fourteen Foot Water hapned to be aground yet soon after was by the Tyde put afloat again and the same Night came to the Admiral who being fetch'd aboard the next Morning he understood that the Secretaries Clerk or Interpreter Iohn Melman was the Night before gone to Hoksieu from whence he was to come the eighteenth of the same Moneth with the Merchant Constantine Nobel and that then all things would be in readiness for them to put to Sea Five Tartar Jonks came with three Mandarins and cast Anchor near Van Campen sent thither by the Vice-Roy Singlamong and the General Taysing Lipovy with two hundred Picols of Rice twenty Porkers and twenty great Vessels of Chinese Beer which were sent to be divided as a Present amongst the Sea-men The sixteenth the Ankeveen set Sail out of the River to the Ships at Tenhay and came thither again the next day with some Goods for the Admiral and a Chest for the Secretary of the Naerden Frigat who was to stay ashore in Hoksieu The same day Van Campen Embarq'd himself with his Necessaries The eighteenth in the Morning the Domburgh and Overveen set Sail out of Hoksieu to the Ships at Tenhay In the afternoon the Admiral receiv'd a Letter from Constantine Nobel cóntaining That the Admiral should stay ten days longer for the Emperors Letters from Peking and that they requir'd also two Hostages viz. the Vice-Admiral Van Campen and the Captain with one Eye not knowing his Name which was Ysbrant Builder but neither the Admiral nor Vice-Admiral thought this advice fit to be follow'd The twentieth the Deputy-Secretary Iohn Melman came in a Tartar Vessel from Hoksieu to the Ships but it was so foggy that those of the Fleet being not able to see him but hearing him Row hal'd him aboard Van Campen also Rowing in his Sloop to meet him was three hours before he could either find the Tartar Vessels or his own Frigats again notwithstanding they were very near and had it not been for the sound of the Trumpets it had been impossible to have found one another that Night The one and twentieth Van Campen hoised Sail and with a gentle Gale out of the North North-east came to the Channel of Hoksieu where he lay by the Admiral in five Fathom gravelly Ground The two and twentieth in the Morning the Sea-hound Frigat set Sail with a fresh North-east Wind but Van Campen advised by Iacob Swaert and the chief Pilot Claes Iohnson who told him that in such blustering Weather their Ships could not be rul'd because of their fresh experienc'd Sea-men and that they had better stay for fairer Weather stirred not In the afternoon the Wind blowing very hard out of the same Quarter and the Sea growing very rough drove the Ankeveen towards the Pyramids from her Anchor and enforc'd them to cast out another which done they weighed the first Anchor supposing it to be incumbred then the Frigat dragg'd the other and being engag'd among the Rocks had neither time nor distance to drop another whereupon the Master loosned his Fore-sail and Mizzen so bearing up to the wind to keep her from what they were almost upon the Rocky Shore but all endeavors were in vain for with the headiness of the Stream the violence of the Wind and hollowness of the Sea she was driven upon the cruel Shore and carry'd where she was hemm'd in with Rocks when to prevent the mischief they sent a Boat from the Ship with Tackling but that also not able to keep off was with the Frigat driven among intervening Rocks beyond the Ship while she bilging against the Pyramids was split when to save the Men a Sea-man was order'd to swim to Shore with the Plumming-line to which they fastned a stronger Rope by which help they might betwixt swimming and wading get ashore but he was so bruised and beaten by the Billows upon the Rocks where he Landed that he was not able to draw the Halser to the Shore but about two hours after Sun-set the Sea did with her impetuous Waves so batter the Frigat and she rolling so much that they look'd every Minute to be stav'd they were forc'd to cut down their Masts by the Board for the preservation of their lives About two hours after Sun-set Van Campen sent one or two ashore on the West-side of the Pyramids to make fast a Halser on the Rocks for the purpose before-mention'd after that Van Campen Sail'd up the River Hoksieu to look for his Boat but could not find her The twenty third being Thursday Van Campen went ashore with a Sloop on an Island lying close by the Pyramids to see if any sweet Water was to be had there which they found in a Pit or Well A Tent also was carry'd ashore and set up into which
forth with your Ships the same day and set Sail to the Bay of Wettauw Let five of your best Sailers that draw least Water go before with Our nimblest Jonks and so run into the Haven of Wettauw and the remaining ten Ships with Our great Jonks Anchor in the Mouth of the Harbor If We should meet with any of the Enemies Jonks in the Bay of Wettauw as also in the Haven of Kinsakia as We may expect let us joyntly assail them Concerning your Landing on the Enemies Coasts Bethetok and I have resolv'd about it which must be known onely to us two but We will give you timely notice thereof I have order'd the Agent to bring me the List of the Merchandises which you have brought along with you and I will send them by him to the Governor of Hoksieu with Orders to him to sell them in Publick to which purpose the Conbon will be very serviceable Nobel also brought a Letter from the General Lipovi in answer to that which the Admiral had sent to him containing the following Lines THe twenty ninth of this ninth Moon I receiv'd your Letter and perus'd the Contents of it taking notice of the several distinctions of the Hollanders Flags and Colours which We have approv'd and at this instant acquainted Our Officers with and order'd them to govern themselves accordingly You are here sent from your King in Batavia with your Ships to assist and sail with us to Eymuy and Quemuy Therefore We believe that you will shew your Valour in setting upon the Enemies Countreys and Vessels that when they are Conquer'd you may return with Honor to Batavia and there give an Account of your Adventures to your King That here you have obtain'd your long wish'd for Desire of Free Trade for which you have come hither two Years You write that We should send you Letters of Assurance that you might for ever Trade through all this Empire besides the appointing you convenient Houses and Places which is not possible to be granted till we are impower'd from his Majesty at Peking to whom I have already writ concerning it who by this time understands your Requests But as for those Wares which you have brought with you you may dispose thereof at your pleasure But after the Conquest of Eymuy and Quemuy when you shall return with Us again to Hoksieu We shall by that time have We hope a pleasing Answer to all your other desires from the Emperor You propose also That if any of your Countrey-men being Prisoners with the Enemy should fall into Our Hands we would not kill them which We not onely promise but further also that We will send them to you and to that purpose I have already strictly commanded both My Officers and Soldiers The day on which the Ships shall set Sail with Our Jonks Singlamong will privately advise you The eleventh the Admiral Sail'd out of the Mouth of the River Soanchieuw and with three Ships viz. the Nut-Tree Cinnamon-Tree and Yonker he came to the Cape of Sombou although not followd by the Tartar Jonks The Rere-Admiral Verwei who had since the twenty sixth lain in the River Soanchefoe set Sail also from thence with three Ships the Vlaerdingen Naerden and Sea-hound The thirteenth the Admiral was inform'd by Letters from Tonganpek That his Jonks were the day before come out of the River of Soanchefoe into the Bay of Schoeni and that Morning a Letter was brought to him from the Admiral Matitoe who three days before was gone to the Cape of Wattauw in which he was advis'd That he should be with all the Jonks of the Realm at Wattauw on the fourteenth day of that Moon and also acquaint the Holland Admiral with it that he might Sail thither with his Ships According to this Advice from Tonganpek and also perceiving the Jonks sailing before the Admiral set sail with fourteen Ships from the Cape of Sombou to that of Puthay behind which he came to an Anchor about the Evening in nine Fathom Water Here Iacob Gommers Commander of the Zierikzee came aboard the Admiral bringing with him one of the Dutch Prisoners call'd Maurice Ianzen Vis born in Mauritius-Isle who not long before was taken by the Enemy Coxingans and by them sent to the Netherlanders He also deliver'd the Admiral a Letter from the Enemy dated the tenth Instant written by Summimpesiou otherwise call'd Sioubontok the second or next Person to the young Coxin Kimsia who had the Supreme Command over the Isles of Eymuy and Quemuy and other Islands lying thereabouts The Letter was to this effect Summimpesiou alias Sioubontok Commander and Governor of Quemuy sends this Letter to the Chief Commander of the Holland Fleet. YOu have understood and know that Coxinga two Years ago conquer'd Tayowan which formerly was his Native Countrey This was done because he was forc'd to provide a Settlement and strong Fortress for his Soldiers which he us'd in his War against the Tartar And two Years since Coxinga coming to Formosa at Sakkam Iacob Valencyn surrendred upon these Articles That the Hollanders should be alotted a Place in Sakkam or elsewhere to go on with their Trade and settle their Factory in As to what concerns the Tartars they are very much disabled and their Forces so broken that they have lost the Territories Huquan and Nanquin therefore they have desir'd you to make War upon Us with your Ships as We are inform'd which We fear not having Soldiers enough all indisputably valiant As for your Ships they are very large but draw a great deal of Water so that they cannot penetrate the River but must always live at Sea You also know very well that when We were in Tayowan We were stor'd with Soldiers and Ammunition therefore have a care of your selves that these Eastern Tartars deceive you not for they are cowardly and deceitful as you perhaps will find too soon when you shall see that in the Battel and in the greatest need they will forsake you shifting basely for themselves But admit they should stand stoutly they will always be cavilling sometimes they will pretend that you have not assisted them as you ought but that in all their Engagements they were forc'd to resist Coxinga's Forces alone Nay if you should conquer us which we no ways fear they will never grant you a setled Factory for Singlamong and Lipovi have assur'd Us That the Hollanders should never obtain a Free Trade in China if We would come in And besides the Emperor in Peking hath not so much as once heard of your Business for if he did he would never put you upon a War against Us therefore I advise you in good time to look to your selves nor Engage for a false Friend against so potent an Enemy for your Ships of which you boast so much are rather for Burthen than War and if you come to Traffick with us then know that the Coasts you intend for have many Rocks Sands and Shelves where your
in the Night the Fleet reacht the East Point of the Isle Ainan which according to Bartholomew Verwei's Observation lies much more Northerly than it is plac'd in the general Map On this Isle lies the City Ingly otherwise call'd Ciunchew being fortified with very strong Walls full of handsom Buildings and well seated for Trade the whole Island being in a manner surrounded with Mountains and Woods produceth great plenty of all Necessaries for Humane Sustenance On the Mountains grows the sweet-smelling Craine-Wood and likewise Ebony Roses and Brasile much us'd by the Dyers through all China There are also many Indian Nuts and a Fruit by them call'd Iaca which grows not on the Branches but the Body of the Tree Amongst others there also grows a certain strange Herb in the Chinese Tongue call'd Chitung for the Sea-men are of opinion that they can find by its Joynts or Knobs in what Month and how many Storms there shall be in a whole Year saying The fewer Joynts this Herb hath the less the number of Storms will be and likewise from its Stalks that shoot out of the Joynts from the Root upwards they judge in what Month it will be tempestuous Weather The Island also breeds many Harts and other wild and tame Beasts besides abundance of Birds Near this Island they also fish for Pearls on the Northern Shore between this and the Main Land There is likewise a very strange Fish caught here with four Eyes and six Feet which the Chineses affirm produces also Pearls There is yet another Monster in this Sea whose Head resembles a Birds all the rest a Fish and yields as they say several Precious Stones Between the City Coacheu and the Isle of Hainan they catch some Sea-Crabs which differ not much from the other except in this that as soon as they come out of the Water into the Air they are turn'd into Stone yet still keeping their former Shape The Portuguese and Chineses use them for Medicines against Burning Fevers On the Southside of this Isle the Chineses catch Whales after the same manner as we do at Greenland This Island hath divers Mountains towards the South side whereof one call'd Kinim hath a Quarry of red Marble Not far from Linkao a little Town there lies the Mountain Pisie of which the Chineses tell strange Fictions for they relate That there was a Stag endued with Humane Reason which conducted the Islanders Army through unknown ways and brought them where they block'd up their Enemy that came from Cochinchina to invade them by which means they obtain'd a great Victory and on the same place erected a Temple in his Honor. Eastward of Cincheu is a Lake where a City stood formerly that was swallow'd up by an Earthquake By the little Town Iai rises a Mountain said to be so lofty that neither Wind nor Rain reaches the top and therefore call'd Hoeifung that is Above the Wind. It is very remarkable what the Chineses relate of the Sea near the Town Cium viz. That it neither ebbs nor flows which is observ'd at the neighboring Places but runs one half of the Month towards the East and the other half to the West The City of Ingly is a Place of great Commerce in which there are three Markets every day one of which is held in a very large Place on the East side of the City whither so soon as the Sun rises divers Merchants resort as Arabians Turks Zurats Malabars Abyssines and those of Pegu and Malaya besides many of the Native Inhabitants Indians and Portuguese After this Market is ended which continues till nine a Clock begins a second which is kept before the Governors Palace and lasts till Noon at which time every one retires home to their Dinners In the Afternoon about three a clock the third Market begins in a Place at the South side of the City where those Women for the Females drive the Trade here and not the Men which sell several sorts of Goods stand apart by themselves and separated from one another First stand in a row the Pepper-traders next those that sell Betel Leaves Onekka Water-Melons and Anana's and behind them the Book-sellers In another Quarter are the Ironmongers and Brasiers Shops furnish'd with Armor Poniards Swords and all sorts of Weapons and likewise Sandal-Wood Opposite to them stand such as vend Sugar Honey and all manner of Preserves Not far distant is sold white black red yellow green and gray Beans and lastly appears a handsom Square where all sorts of Herbs either for Food or Physical use may be bought Here also those Merchants which Trade in Linnen and other Commodities by Whole-sale have their Exchange beyond which is a Market for Poultry as Hens Ducks Pigeons Parrots and other Birds and likewise of Cabrito's or Goats Here are also three High Streets In the first on the right side are some Jewellers which sell Rubies Hyacinths and the like on the left side many Chinese Picture-drawers intermix'd with such as sell divers Colours of Sowing-Silks Silk and Damask Stuffs Flannel Sattin Gold Wyre Cloth of Tissue Porcelane Wax'd Baskets Copper Basons Pots and Cans great and small Quicksilver Chests Writing-Paper of all Colours Almanacks Leaf-Gold in Books Looking-glasses Combs Spectacles Brimstone Chinese Scymiters with wax'd Scabbards China-Roots Fans and other Trifles The second is full of Picture-Shops The third is onely for private use Passing on somewhat further you come to the Fruit-Market and through that into the Fish-Market and from thence turning towards the left side to the Shambles beyond which is a peculiar Place where the Women sell by Retail round and long Pepper white and black Cloves Nutmegs Mace Cubebs Cinnamon Cummin Ginger Zedoar Sandal-Wood Rhubarb Galanga Anniseeds and the like On the right side is the Rice-Market close by which the place where they sell Pots Bags Mats and Salt and opposite to it on the left side Oyl The first of March the Fleet sail'd by Tinhosa the second by the Cape de Avarelles on the third they pass'd over the Garden of Holland Breda and Ackersloot Sands lying on the South side of the Paracelles The fourth they sail'd by Candor and on the seventh Anchor'd at the Isle of Timon The eighth was publickly read an Order of the Council by which it was commanded That none either there or at Batavia should sell any of the Chinese Children which the Officers Soldiers or Sea-men had taken either to Moors or Heathens And for the better prevention thereof it was order'd That they should all be numbred which Office was committed to the charge of Peter Suskens Captain Adrian Mouldpenny Secretary Henry Ysbrands and Iohn Renaldus This Order was verbatim as follows SInce there are many Chinese Children as well Females as Males in the Fleet which belong to the Officers Sea-men and Soldiers whom We fear they may sell either here at Poele Timon or when they come to Batavia either to Idolaters or Mahumetans which is neither fitting nor lawful
belong to the Emperor of China but to certain Free Lords which they call'd the Min. The first that joyn'd it to the Empire of China was the chief of the Family Cheu yet the Inhabitants soon shook off that Yoke and kept themselves free till the fortunate and valiant Emperor Hiaou of the Family of Han reduced and added it to China with all the Southern Territories setling them in Peace and placed a Vice-Roy over it call'd Veuching who kept his Court in the Metropolis thereof Cyn the first King thereof call'd the chief City and the Tract of Land thereto belonging Cyngan the next King Sui nam'd the Countrey Mencheu but the Tangs of another Line Kiencheu and not long after Focheu which Name the Taimingian Race kept ever since This Countrey Focheufu contains eight Cities Focheu the Metropolis and chief of all the Countrey otherwise call'd Hoksieu or Hokzieuw Cutien Mincing Changlo Lienkiang Loquen Iangfo Focing The City Focheu by Paulus Venetus call'd Fugui lieth about fifteen Leagues Westerly from the Sea on the Southern Shore of the River Min which with a wide Mouth falls Easterly into the Sea and brings both great and small Vessels up to the City Walls The convenience of this River makes the Town very populous and of great Trade It is adorn'd with fair Buildings and hath large Suburbs call'd Nantai otherwise according to the pronunciation of the Inhabitants Lamthay for those in Fokien use in stead of N the Letter L. and often say Lamking in stead of Nanking There are also many Idol Temples Cross the Bay near Nantai lies a Stone Bridge a hundred and fifty Rods long and one and a half broad built all of white Free-stone resting on a hundred very high Arches on the top of each side are Rails and Benches adorn'd at an equal distance with Lyons neatly cut of Stone Next this Bridge at the South end stands a fair and large Pagode or Temple Another Bridge not unlike this being a hundred Rods long may be seen at the City Focing And many more are without and within the Walls of the chiefest Cities Three Leagues from Focheu stands a Temple call'd Kouzan the largest of all in the Nether Provinces The second Division Civencheufu borders from the East to the South-east and so to the South upon the Sea and from the South-west to the West touches Chancheufu and on the North verges with Ienpingfu This Countrey formerly belong'd to the Princes Min and hath seven Cities Civencheu the chief Nangan Hocigan Tehoa Ganki Tunygan and Iungehung The City Civencheu lies near the Sea in a delightful Plain and admits by a large Bay the greatest Ships to Ride close under the Walls not onely on one but both sides of the City for it is built on a Promontory encompass'd with Water except on the North and South-east sides On the opposite Shore are many populous and Trading Towns and chiefly on a Place towards the North-west call'd Loyang which may rather be look'd upon as great Cities There also is a Bridge which hath the same denomination with the Town the whole World not shewing the like for it consists of a black Stone like Touch-stone not supported with Arches but above three hundred square Columns sharp above Bridge and below the better to break the impetuous egress and regress of the Current These Pillars are Capp'd to walk upon with five Stones of an exact breadth each eighteen Paces long and two broad which successively touch one another at either Foot of the Bridge of which there are to the number of a hundred and forty it is certainly a Miracle of Workmanship not onely for its great number of Stones of such a bigness that rest on those Columns but most of all where so many large and equal Stones could be had on each side to make the Passage the safer are Rails of the same Stones adorn'd with Lyons standing on Pedestals and other Imagery It is worth our observation what is written of one part of this Bridge that is between a Village call'd Loyan and a Castle built on the Bridge for beyond the Village reaches another part not much less than the former and of one make A Chinese Writer saith thus concerning it This part of the Bridge Loyang and also call'd Vangan lying on the North-west side of the City cross the River Loyang was built by a Governor call'd Cayang it extends in length to about three hundred and sixty Rods and in breadth one and a half Before this Bridge was built they cross'd the River in Boats but because every year many Vessels were by Storm cast away Cayang resolv'd for the safety of Passengers to build a Bridge but seeing such a great piece of Work to be too much for Mankind to undertake and also the Water too deep to lay a Foundation in it he invok'd the Gods of the Sea as he says for some time to stop the Current of the Water which if you will believe he obtain'd After the Essluxes were stay'd and no Tydes swelling the River in one and twenty days the Foundation was laid and forty hundred thousand Tail spent in the building of it The third Province call'd Chancheufu being the most Southern of all this Territory borders in the North-East and East with Civenchufu on the East South-East and South with the Sea on the South-West touches the Countrey of Quantung on the West and North-West and North at Tingcheufu It contains ten Cities of which Chancheu is the chiefest the rest are Changpu Lugnien Nancing Changtai Changping Pingho Chaogang Huicing and Ningyang The Name of Chancheu was first given to this Metropolis and Countrey by the Family of the Tang from the River Chang on whose Western Shore situate and was then allow'd the priviledge of a small City but the Iuem made her afterwards a Metropolis and at the same time built the small City Nancing from whence Father Martin concludes that then all these Places were much frequented by Navigators and that Paulus Venetus his Zerte must needs be thereabouts On the South-side where the River also washes the City is a large Bridge of Hew'n-stone with thirty six high Arches and so broad that on each side are divers Tradesmen and Artificers Shops in which they sell every day all manner of rich and foreign Commodities which are brought thither from Hiamuen The fourth call'd Kienningfu a very wide and spacious piece of Land borders on the North and North-East upon Chekiang on the East with Foningfu on the South at Focheufu and Ienpingfu on the West at Xaonufu on the North West and North upon Kiangsi This Division belong'd antiently to the Princes Min after which the Family Tang gave it the Name of Kiencheu and Sung another Race that which it hath at present Here are seven Towns whereof Kienning is the chiefest the rest are Cungan Puchiang Chingo Sunghi and Xeuning The City Kienning lying on the Eastern Shore of the
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
else is permitted and the other stands empty for their Deity who they say sits therein and receives the Offering Without the Temple stand many Altars of Red Marble which represent the Moon Sun Hills and Floods and according to the Chineses Relations all these Altars are plac'd without the Temple that none might worship them but that every one should know they are of the same Structure which the Emperor worships in the Temple Round about are several Chambers or rather Cells which formerly as they say were us'd as Bannia's in which the Emperor when he went to Offer Bath'd himself with his Attendants To this Temple and to the Emperor's Tombs lead very broad Ways on each side planted with five Rows of Pine-trees at equal distance and in a direct Line from which none might break a Bough on pain of death All these Buildings were ruin'd in the late Tartar Wars the Trees pluck'd up the Tombs defac'd and the Temples and Palaces utterly laid waste The County of Fungiangfu a great Tract of Land gives Limits in the East and North-East to Hoaiganfu in the East to the Lake Piexe and Chucheufu in the South and South-West to Hocheufu and Lucheufu in the West to the Territory of Honan This pleasant and fruitful Countrey vein'd by several great Rivers is famous because two of her Natives of mean Extract were rais'd to the highest degree of Honor the first call'd Lieupang bred among the scum of the Commonalty nay among Robbers and Rebels subdu'd the Imperial Family Cyn and rais'd that of Han. The second being Humvu or Chu was a mean Priests Son who at first turning Robber soon after the expulsion of the Tartars got into the Throne and establish'd the Crown on the Taimingian Family The Emperor Yu also did not a little enrich this Countrey when by his Predecessor Ya he was Crown'd King in the City of Mao It is also said that Lahu the first Inventer of the Epicurean Learning which liv'd before the great Philosopher Confut was born in that City of Mao The County Fungyangfu contains eighteen Towns of which Fungyang is the chiefest the next are Liuhoai Hoaiyuen Tingyuen Uho Hung Hokieu Munching Su Hiutai Tienchang So Lingpi Ing Tacho Hao Ingxan Su So Ing Hao all great Places The Metropolis Fungyang lying on a Mountain incloseth many Hills within its Walls built with fair Edifices both publick and private This Division was by the Emperor Yu brought and joyn'd to the Province of Yang to be Govern'd by Teu In the time of the Kings this part of the Countrey was call'd The Kingdom of Tuxam which the Kings of Cu afterwards included in their Dominions but the Family Han made it again Tributary call'd Chungly yet this Place was not honor'd with the Title of Teu or Metropopolis untill the fore-mention'd Chu which rais'd the Taimingian Family and was born in this City enlarg'd it building new and strong Walls fifty Furlongs in circumference and adorning the Tombs of his Predecessors and gave it the Name of Metropolis setting over it a Vice-Roy giving it Jurisdiction over other Cities intituling it Fungyang that is Nobleness of the Phenix The third Sucheufu conterminates in the North and North-East with the Mouth of the River Kiang in the East with the Sea in the South with Sunkiang and Kiahingfu the West borders Kiangningfu and the North-West Chancheufu The first which inhabited this Countrey amongst the Chineses was one Taipe of the Family Cheu who coming out of the North planted his Seat here and reduced those that formerly were wild and savage to be rational and understanding People In the Emperor Vu's time this County obtain'd Royal Dignity being call'd The Kingdom of V. after whose Death it was taken by the Kingdom of Iue who possess'd it but a little while being routed by Cu who subdu'd the Countrey Lastly the promoter of the Family Cyn conquer'd all those Kingdoms and brought them under the Province of Hoeiki The first which call'd this Countrey and its Metropolis Sucheu was King Sui the Family of Tang gave it the Name of Changcheu Sung that of Pnkiang but the Taimingian Family restor'd the old Name Sucheu The Countrey is in all Places interlac'd with Branches of Rivers and Graffs along which they may Sail from the City to the Sea Sucheufu contains seven Towns of which Sucheu is the chiefest the rest are Quengxan Changxoe Ukiang Kiating Taicing Cungmung and Cungming which lies on an Island in the Sea The fourth Tract of Land being Sunghiangfu is a small County yet fruitful and a good Soyl bordering in the North with Sucheufu in the East with the Sea and Hangcheufu in the South and West at Hangcheufu onely and the remainder on Sucheufu This Countrey as the former lies most in Water the East part of it being wash'd by the Sea and the rest surrounded by Rivers which with their Branches cutting through the middle and all Places else of it make the whole Navigable It contains onely three Towns which in bigness populosity and variety of Commodities may stand in competition with many more eminent Cities the first and chiefest is Sunkiang the other two Langhai and Cingpai The City Sunkiang verges with the Sea on the Northern Shore of a River which at its Mouth is fortifi'd with a strong Castle from whence they may Sail to Iapan In ancient times this Countrey and City before mention'd shar'd also in the Tartars Cruelties The Family of Tang call'd it Houting the Tartars of the House of Iuen not onely gave it the present Name but also the Title of Fu or Great City having formerly but the Priviledges and Name of a mean Town and belong'd to the third County Sucheufu The fifth County Changcheufu reckons for Limits in the North and North-East the River Kiang in the South Sucheufu in the South and South-West the Lake Tai in the West Yancheufu This County contains five Towns viz. Changcheu Vufie Kiangyn and Ginkiang There are also five Temples of which one built near the City Vufie in honor to Taipe the Supporter of the People exceeds all the other The City Changcheu lies near the fore-mention'd Moat which runs from the City Sucheu to the River Kiang the Stone Banks of which near this City are much more curious and artificial than any where else There are also some Triumphal Arches which add a great beauty to the City It hath receiv'd its Denomination Guihing from the exceeding fineness of the Earth of which the Tee Cups are made for Guihing signifies Rare Earth The sixth Territory Chinkiangfu borders in the North at the River Kiang in the East at Changcheufu in the South at the Lake Tai and in the West at Kiangnangfu This County reckons three Cities viz. Chinkiang Tanyang and Kintan Chinkiang by Martinius taken for Cingiam so call'd by Paulus Venetus lies Northward from the River Kiang on the East side of a Channel which falls into the Kiang
On the other side of the Channel to the West lies a Suburb neither lesser nor emptier of People than the City it self Between these lie several Bridges over which they pass out of one into another beyond the Bridges the Channel extends it self to a greater breadth and receives Water from several Places which makes so great a Navigation by that City that it cannot be express'd for all the Ships or Vessels that come from the Province of Chekiang and the other Eastern Towns to go to Peking and other Places must stop here to put up their Masts and hold out their Sails not being able hitherto to use them because of the many Bridges in that Channel for from hence to the Grand Metropolis Peking no Bridge is suffer'd excepting one to draw up This City by some justly call'd Kinkeu that is The Mouth of the Court because there are continually Freighted Vessels going from hence to Peking The seventh Division call'd Yangcheufu borders in the North at the River Hoai East at the Sea Southward upon the Stream of Kiang West on Nankingfu and the little County Chucheufu and the North and by West conterminates with Fungyangfu This contains ten Cities viz. Yâ—…ngcheu Ychin Taihing Kaoyeu Hinghoa Paoyng Tai Iucao Fung and Haimuen of which Kaoyeu and Tai are the biggest Northward over the River Kiang is a great Sluce near the Garison Quacheu where the foremention'd Channel takes its beginning along which they Row up to the City Yangcheu which lies on the East-side of it as on the West the Suburb which formerly stretch'd a German League but was ruin'd in the last Tartar War The City Yancheu is full of large and stately buildings and in many Places moistned with Graffs of fresh Water over which lead Stone Bridges consisting of twenty four Arches besides many lesser not to be reckon'd There is also a Custom-house for the Emperor's use The chief Trade which the Inhabitants follow is the dealing in Salt for in the East of this County near the Sea are many Salt-pits The eighth being Hoaiganfu Confines in the East upon the Sea in the South with the River Hoai in the South-West and West with Fungyangfu and Sucheufu and in the North with the Province of Xantung The whole Tract of Land is cut through with Rivers and Lakes It contains ten Towns Hoaigan the chief Cingho Gantung Taoyven Moyang Hai Canyu Pi Souven and Ciuning Hai and Pi are great Cities In the time of the Emperor Yu this County belong'd to that of Iancheu under the Government Ten and belong'd first to King V. afterwards to Iue then to Cu. In the time of the Family Hun the City Hoaigan was onely a small Town call'd Hoaiyu afterwards Han call'd her Linhoan but the present Name and Title the House of Sung gave her This City lying on the Eastern Shore of the digg'd Channel is divided into two Parts a Southern and a Northern yet both inclos'd in one Wall of which the South side bears the Name of Hoaigan and the North of Yeuching The one side is enlarg'd with a Suburb which extends in length along the Banks of the Channel a German Mile out of which they enter into the Yellow River In the Suburb are two Custom-houses in the one the Customs for Goods are paid and in the other for Ships according to their Burthen all which Money is kept and bestow'd upon the repairing of their Sluces in the Channel against the force of the Water for to the Northward of this City are three Water-falls yet nevertheless a great part of it goes to the Emperor's Treasury In this City the Vice-Roy being the Emperor's Purveyor hath his Residence who Commands with arbitrary Power over the seven Southern Provinces The ninth Lucheufu borders in the North at Fungyangfu in the East at Hocheufu and the River Kiang in the South at Gankingfu and in the West at the Province of Huquang and Honan It contains eight Cities Lucheu the chief the rest Xuching Lukiang Vuguei Cao Logan Iugran Hoxan most of them lying on the Shore of the famous Lake Cao Vuguei and Logan are the biggest In ancient Times this Countrey stood like the former subject to the Family Cheu under whom it became an intire Kingdom and nam'd Lucu but soon after was taken from them by the Kings Cu. In the time of the Family Han it was with its chief City call'd Lukiang but the present Name given by the Emperor Sui Near the small City Logan are two stately Temples and a large Bridge The tenth County Gankingfu borders in the North at Lucheufu in the East and South-East at the River Kiang in the West and North-West at the Province of Huquang This Countrey contains six Towns viz. Ganking Tunchiang Cienxan Taihu Sosung Vangkiang was formerly call'd Von and subdu'd by King Cu after which the Family of Tang nam'd it Sucheu that of Sung Ganking The City Ganking stands situate on the Eastern Shore of the River Ganking and for Wealth and Trade compares with the famousest Cities in this Province for all that comes out of the other County to go to Nanking comes first hither Because this Tract of Land joyns the three Provinces Kiangsi Huquang and Nanking and lies well for any Warlike Undertaking it hath a Vice-Roy who maintains a strong Garison in the Castle Haimusen for a defence of the Lake Poyang and the River Kiang The Family Tang caus'd an Iron Pillar to be erected there of three Rods high and of a proportionable thickness Anvil'd out of an intire Piece The eleventh Shire being Taipingfu is surrounded with the River Kiang or rather lies between two of her Branches and moreover verges in the East with a part of the Lake Tanyang where it borders with the County of Kiangning This County belong'd formerly to the Kingdom of V. afterwards to Iue next to Cu but was at last by the Family of Cyn reduc'd under that of Chang. The House of Han call'd it Tanyang Tang Nanyu Sung first nam'd it Pingnan and lastly Taiping which Name it retains to this day It contains three Cities viz. Taiping Vehu and Fachang of which Vehu the biggest and richest hath also a Custom-house and lies on an Island between the two Arms of the River Kiang which afterwards joyn together at the City of Nanking The twelfth being Ningquefu borders in the North at the River Kiang in the East at Quanghefu in the South at Hoecheufu and in the West at Chicheufu It is a mountainous Countrey and contains six Towns viz. Ningque the Great and Ningque the Less King Taiping Cingte Nanling The chief City Ninque lies on the Eastern Shore of the River Von Within her Walls are pleasant Hills Warrens magnificent Buildings and abundance of Chesnut and Pear-trees Neaâ—… the little City King stands a fair Chappel in the Chinese Tongue call'd Hiangsi that is A sweet smelling Hart and is Dedicated to five Maidens which when they were taken by Pyrats
Letter to the General at Hoksieu viz. The Hollanders have sufficiently testifi'd their Reality and the Ambassador esteems nothing more than to shew that what he hath promis'd to Talavja may be perform'd Your Lordship hath been pleas'd to command that the Ship from Quelang and the Commander Balfour should stay here till an Answer came from Peking now the Ambassador desires to know how long the Ship must stay Besides since his coming hither he hath found some Goods viz. Blood Coral Amber Cloth and other Merchandise brought in the Ships from Batavia and likely to be carry'd back again thither unless Your Lordship will be pleas'd this one time to give leave to sell them because they were included in this Chinkon The Ambassador hopes that the Emperor's Letters to the Lord Maetzuiker will bring him good tydings therefore he could not but acquaint Talavja herewith and desire his Answer upon it especially having seen by some Letters which he found in the Ships that the General of Batavia might be mov'd to deliver the Castle of Quelang to the Emperor if he would grant the Hollanders a free Trade in China Nobel and the Secretary Vander Does were sent to the Chinese Jonks lying in the Crab-hole to enquire if there were none Aboard that could Translate the fore-mention'd Letter and deliver it to the General which if there were they should leave it with them But their coming amongst the Jonks caus'd great amazement amongst them neither could they be accommodated so they went to the Jonks which lay within the second Strait where finding some Mandarins and a Secretary with them they did their Business according to their desire This Letter being Translated Nobel sent with a Batsiang up to Hoksieu with promise to return with an Answer within two days so that the Ambassador judg'd it convenient to stay so long with the Blyswiik in Netherland Haven The third in the Morning the Mandarins of the Jonks came aboard the Bleiswyk saying That they durst not carry the Letter which Nobel had given them the day before except a Hollander went with them to Hoksieu Whereupon the Ambassador answer'd That if they would not deliver the Letters they knew what they had to do if any thing other than well did come of it it was not his fault This startling made them change their resolution asking if they should deliver the Letter and the General should desire that a Hollander should come to him if the Ambassador would then promise them to send one thither of which they would willingly be assur'd that they might give his Highness a positive answer The Ambassador after serious consideration judg'd it convenient to answer That they should Request of the Governor of Minjazeen in the Ambassador's Name if he would please to send any one with that Letter to the Sontok and if they had an answer upon it and that Talavja Commanded that an Hollander should come to him that then they would consider of it with which answer going away they took the Letter with them The fourth it was thought meet by the Ambassador and his Councel since they had nothing more to do there only to wait for News from above to set Sail for Tinghay to make all things ready there but Nobel was order'd to stay there with the Overveen that if any News should come from Hoksieu he might inform the Ambassador of it and give such Orders as should be requisite In the Afternoon the Ambassador fell down with the Bleiswyk to the first Straight behind the Pyramids where they dropp'd Anchor till the next Ebb but were forc'd by a strong Gale out of the North-East to remove beyond the first Shole and wait for better Weather The fifth in the Night the Bleiswyk set Sail again with a Northerly Wind and Ebbing Water and getting beyond the Calf Sands came on the seventh in the Morning by Day-light before Sotias Bay within the Turrets Isles that in the Afternoon with a Sea breeze he might put into the Bay of Tinghay Having cast Anchor the Ambassador went with the Bleiswyk's Sloop aboard the Victoria to stay and go over in her Here it was judg'd convenient that Nobel and Putmans with the Ship Batavia and Harthouwer and Bartolz with the Crane if no other News came from Hoksieu should set Sail for Batavia In the Afternoon the Bleiswyk Frigat came also to Tinghay where the Ambassador immediately unladed part of her distributing the Provisions and Money amongst the Ships Victoria Batavia and Crane that so he might not run the hazard of all in one Ship The eighth in the Afternoon the Overveen's Boat arriv'd at Tinghay from Netherland Haven with a Letter from Nobel Dated the Night before the Contents of which were That two Commanders had been aboard him with a Letter from the General of Hoksieu to the Governor of Minjazeen of which he had sent the Translation Inclos'd The Superscription they could not give to Nobel for want of some to write it the Povi as they said had accounted himself too good to answer the Ambassador but had writ to the Governor of Minjazeen not expecting any further answer from the Ambassador as might be seen by the last Clause To the Proposal of Quelang he had sent no manner of answer But that the Lord General according to the foremention'd Commanders sayings must the ensuing Year write himself to the Emperor concerning that or the like business And in like manner about the selling of the Merchandize as appears by the second Clause by which they may plainly see that the Ships with their Merchandize must be gone again which was strongly affirm'd by the third Clause as appears by the Translation In the Translation no mention was made in how many days an answer would be there from Peking as the Ambassador had desir'd to know besides no body came to look after the Overveen to furnish her with Provisions which they had so faithfully promis'd and to his judgment there was no staying for it The Tydes and Weather were good which with the approaching New Moon according to the general course of that season might turn to be bad and tempestuous Therefore he expected the Ambassador's Order whether the Overveen should stay longer in Netherland Haven or go to Tinhay The foremention'd Translation written by the General of Hoksieu to the Governor of Minjazeen was to this effect I. THe Povi hath receiv'd the Letter from the Holland Ambassador wherein he desir'd to know how many days Balfour should lie there with his Ship My Answer thereupon is that he shall stay till Order comes from the Emperor II. The Foreign Commodities are forbid by the Emperor to be sold therefore I cannot grant the Ambassadors Request but when the Lord General shall send Letters the following Year then I will write to the Emperor about it III. According to the Emperor's Command it is not well done that the Ambassador stays so long because it will not be good for their business 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
where it terminates it receives many Rivolets and Streams as on the East the Tung on the West the Kiao Kieukio Cu and Siki on the South the Rivers Ionki Min and Tachang or Nantai The Tung which comes out of the Mountain Vanche in the County of Kienningfu falls Southward of the City Kienning into the Min. The Kiao which passes through the Territory of Focheufu rises out of the Mountain Siuefung shoots from thence Eastward to the North of the River Min by the South side of the City Lienkiang and at last discharges its Waters into the Ocean The Brook Kieukio which begins in the Mountain Vuy in the County of Kienningfu runs from thence South-West and unites with the Brook Hochung which hath its original in the Hill Ukiun in the Territory of Xaounfu from whence it passes South by the City Kienyang and at last falls with its Waters into the River Min near the City Kienning The Cu which begins in the Mountain Ukiun in the County of Xaounfu glides from thence first Southward then Eastward by the East side of the City Xaonu then bending to the South in the County Ienpingfu it faâ—…s into the River Si near the City Sianglo from whence both these Streaâ—… run through one Mouth Easterly then Southward and poure their Wateâ—… united with the River Situ Westward from the City Ienping into the Min. The Siki springs Northward in the Territory of Tingcheufu out of the Lake Kiao then runs Southward so East and enters into the County â—…enpingfu and to the North by the City Lunggan and by the City Xu wheâ—… it receives the Brook Taisu and unites it self at last with the River Cu. In the Siki along which they Sail down to the City Ienping â—…e many Water-falls and dangerous Shoals two especially near the City Cingâ—… namely Kieulung and Chancung in the passing by the Sea-men to prevenâ—… the danger of Shipwreck therein tie Trusses or Bundles of Straw beforâ—… the Bowe of the Ship which bear off the violence of the blow and keep her back The River Yeuki which rises in the County of Ienpingfu out of the Mountain Yucuang takes its Course Eastward by the North side of the City Yeuki and turning to the North falls into the Min. The Rivolet Tachang begins West from the City Iungfo and râ—…ning East by the City Focheu finishes Northward by the Name of Nantai into â—…e Min. The Chang which hath its original Northward from the Ciâ—… Lungnien in the County of Changcheufu runs East by the North side of the â—…es Changping and Changtui then from the East part of the City Chancheu which is also in the South it falls at last Southward into the Sea with two Arms. More to the South in the same County glides the Xeching from the West to the East and loseth it self Northward of the Garrison Tungxan into the Sea The Kieu directing its Course from North to South through the County of Civencheu discharges its Waters Southward into the Sea The Brook Lan and River Si which run from North to South through the Territory of Foningfu fall both into the Sea the first towards the West breaks forth in the Mountain beyond the City Fogan the other comes out of the Mountain Lan. The Ting hath its beginning in the Territory of Tingcheufu Northward from the City Tingcheu and receiving Southward of the same the Brook Ven proceeds by the City Xanghang then entering the County of Chaocheufu in the Province of Quantung receives near the City Chingiang the River Ching with which at last it loseth it self Southward in the Sea THe Brook Iokio begins with a Branch in the Mountain Ho in the County of Hoeicheufu and with another out of the Territory of Chaocheufu Northward from the City Pingquen both joyning near the City Kieyang run Southward by the East part of the City Chaocheu and at last dividing into two Arms fall into the Sea which on the East side of the City is call'd Go. The River Ly rises in the Mountain Northward from the City Changlo and Westward of the City Haifung shoots it self into the Sea opposite to the Island of Ciexing The Tung takes its original in the Mountains in the County Cancheu in the Province of Kiangsi tends on Southward into the Province of Quantung through the County of Hoeicheufu and at last terminates in the Sea Another River call'd Ceng shoots out of the fore-mention'd Tung above the City Hoeicheu and runs Southward through this and the County of Quangcheufu and gliding through the Lake Go dischargeth it self Northward from the City of Sâ—…an into the Sea The Siang also call'd Kio springs from the Rivers Chin and Vu Southward of the City â—…ocheu and bends its Course into the County of Quangcheufu where near the City Cingyven it receives the River Talo coming out of the Lake Quen and falls at last Westward from the City Quancheu or Ranton into the River Ta. The Chin springs out of the Mountain Muilin beyond the City Nanhiung the Vu out of the Mountain Chang in the County Haocheufu The Rivers Chin and Siang run â—…oth quite through whole Province of Quantung The Tao flows out of the Lake Quen Southward through the County of Quancheufu and falls near the City Cingyven into the River Siang Tao signifies a Peach from the abundance of that sort of Fruit growing on its Banks By the way the Tao takes in the River Hoang The Brook Yuâ—… which hath its source beyond the City Cunhoa in the County Quancheufu runs South-West and thence Eastward from the City Canton The River Xangu passing through the County of Lotingfu is receiv'd by the River Ta. The River Mekiang glides through the Territory of Nanhiungfu Mekiang signifies A River of Ink because its Water is as black as Ink notwithstanding which the â—…sh is not the worse esteem'd The River King appearing first on the Boundaries of the Provinces of Quangsi and Quantung passes on from the North to the South but through the last Eastward by the City King to which it gives that Name and opens a wide Mouth into the Sea The River Lungmuen takes its source in the Western Mountains about the City King in the County of Liencheufu and from thence passing through the Kingdom of Tungching loseth its self in the Sea The River Lien springs out of the Mountains near the City Linkan and Southward by the East side of the City Liencheu descends into the Sea through the same County the Sanya which hath its Original in the Mountains Northward of the City Suiki in the County Liucheufu resigns to the Sea The River Tunglui shoots from the North to the South through the County Caocheufu the Xo likewise though more Eastward glides to the West by the City Xaocheu where it receives the Stream Hencang THe River Ly otherwise call'd Quei takes its Original on the Boundaries of the Provinces of Huquang from whence it passes through the County Queilingfu Westward in the
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
being the source of the River Cin. Westerly of which and East from the City Ta is the great Lake Vanking whose Shore is all set with stately Trees and inviron'd with Flowry Meadows Fruit-Trees and Populous Villages In the County Mahufu Southward from the City Mahu is a Lake also call'd Mahu that is Horse Lake for the Chineses say that in this Lake a Horse appear'd Wing'd like a Dragon from which the Family Tang gave the City Lake and River that denomination In the little County Muicheu whose chief City is of the same Name stands a great Lake call'd Hoang that is to say Circular because it surrounds the whole City yet it is broadest towards the West The Shore is built all along with handsome Houses which standing round like a Ring the City may justly be call'd The Stone thereof near it is a long Bridge call'd Sive On the East side of the City Kiating is a small Lake call'd Ningyve By the City Pukiang is another Lake nam'd Yotan on which they say the Emperor Hoangti Anno 2500. before the Incarnation study'd Chymistry THere are two Lakes in the County Vuchangfu one near the City Kiayn and the other near that of Puki In the Territory Hanyangsu part within and part without the Walls of the City Hanyang is the Lake call'd Langquon On the West side at the Foot of the Mountain Kieuchin is the Lake Taipe two hundred Furlongs in bigness In the County Sianyangfu near the City Nanchang within a Temple is a Pool call'd Chinchu that is Lake of Pearls for if any Person walk apace round the sides thereof the Water arises out of the Ground like Pearls whether naturally or artificially cannot easily be resolv'd In the Territory Teganfu Eastward from the City Tegan is a great Lake of nine hundred Furlongs call'd Iunmung In the Province Hoangcheufu near the City Hoangpi stands a Lake call'd Vu that is War for in the time of the Kings it was a Place ordain'd for the Exercise of Ships Near the City Hoangmui is another bigger Lake call'd Vihu and not far from it the Lake Taipe and Eastward from the City Ki the Lake Kinxa In the Territory Kingcheufu on the East side of the City Kongcheu is the Lake Tung forty Furlongs in bigness pleasant and full of Fish with which the Citizens often Feast and make Merry in Vessels on the same In the County Yocheufu at the South-West side of the City Yocheu is a great Lake call'd Tungting which as the Chineses say had its original from a Deluge and this seems to be confirm'd by the many Isles that lie in the same namely Kiun Kinxa signifying Sand of Gold Kiue and Pecio built full of Pagodes and Cloysters which are inhabited by some poor Religious Order Amongst others is a floating Isle on which is also a Cloyster built for the Roots of Trees and large Canes knitted and joyn'd together keep up the Earth by their continual growing to one another without the least danger of ever breaking In the County Changxafu on the middle of the Mountain Taihu near the City Lieuyang lies a great fathomless Lake On the Mountain Xepi another of thirty Furlongs call'd Pexa out of which run four Brooks of which one is the Rivolet Lieus the rest fall into the River Iuping On the North side of the City Siangyn lies the Cingcao which moistning the County Iocheufu unites it self with the Lake Tunting In the County Hengcheufu Eastward from the chief Kity Hengcheu is a very deep Lake the Water whereof being of a green colour the Chineses highly esteem for the making of their Drink or Wine call'd Sampsou In the Territory Chantefu near the Cities Luugyang and Iuenkiang lies the Lake Chexa and unites it self with the Lake Tungting In the County Iengcheufu near the City Tan is a great Water-fall which immediately turns to a Pool in which grow yellow Lien-Flowers which are seldom found of that colour in any other place In the little Territory Cingcheufu near the City Hoeitung stands the Lake Cingpo full of great Rocks and Stones on which the Chineses often make Merry In the small County Chincheufu not far from the City Hingping on the Mountain Xemeue is a small Lake call'd Yen whose Water continues warm all the Winter Twice a year great numbers of wild Geese flie thither out of the North and South wherefore this Lake is call'd Ien that is A Goose. IN the Territory Nanchangfu in the Province of Kiangsi on the South-East side of the City stands the Lake Tung very much noted for the clearness of its Water and the abundance of Fish which is in the same The great Lake Poyang otherwise call'd Pengli near the City Nankang North-East is three hundred Furlongs long and forty broad borders Westward on the County Nankangfu Eastward on Iaocheufu part of it which respects the City Yukan is call'd Kanglang It contains several Isles as to the South Langma Xuihung and Pipa lying near the City Yukan more Northward Ingcu Chuki Checien and the Mountain Ki lying on an Island Eastward of the chief City Pehoa and Westward of the little Isle Teuxu It receives in the South the River Kan in the East the Logan and in the North the River Kiang In the County of Kienchangfu without and within the chief City lies a Lake the one part call'd Kinquei and the other Kao Near the City Nangfung is also the little Lake Vansui In the Territory Linkiangfu near the City Iuencheu is the Lake Funghoang which not being very big neither increases by abundance of Rain nor decreased by excessive Drought In the County Kieganfu near the City Kiexui lies the Lake Kien and near Ganfo the Pool Mie signifying Hony so call'd from the exceeding sweet Fish which it produces In the Territory Xuicheufu near the City Sinchang there is a Lake whose Water is never muddy but always very clear In the County Iuencheufu on the East side of the City Iuencheu the Lake Tung spreads it self and is call'd The Pleasure of the County for the Chineses often make Feasts on the same and have built several Retreats and Banquetting-houses on its Banks The Lake Mingyo affords the City a Moat through which it is brought with convenient and Navigable Channels which on the East side run into the Lake Tung THe Lake Cienli is situate in the Territory Kiangningfu Eastward near the City Lieyang containing a thousand Furlongs which to the South is united with the Lake Tai in the County Sucheufu Without the Gate of the City Taiping a small Lake call'd Hiuenuu lies on the South-West side not far from the City Liexui Westward from the Lake Tanyang and extends from thence to the Borders of the City Taiping In the County Sucheufu on the West and South-West side of the City Sucheu is the great Lake Tai which according to the Description of the Chineses takes up the space of thirty six thousand Paces Near the City Changxo is the Lake
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
Kiechiung is a Lake or Pool call'd Changyen In the Territory Kioungfu near the City Kienchuen lies the Lake Kien which is sixty Furlongs in circumference Out of it flow three Brooks call'd Chuen which represented by these Chinese Characters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie Water from whence the City hath also receiv'd its denomination In the County Vutingfu on the North-West side of the City Vuting is the Lake Hoeineao which word signifies Breeding Birds because the Leaves of a certain Tree which fall into it turn into a sort of Birds so black that the Inhabitants look upon them as little Devils or Spirits In the County Cintienfu between two Mountains Westward from the City is a great Lake call'd Che otherwise The Sea Cingxui into which certain little Rivolets descend out of the Mountains In the County Iunchangfu on the East side of the City Iungchang is the Lake Chinghoa wholly cover'd with Lien-Flowers On the South side of the City Pexing lies the Lake call'd Chin which broke out from the Ruins of a great City which as they say through the wickedness of the Inhabitants was swallow'd up in the Earth with all the People onely one Child by sitting on a piece of Timber in the Water escap'd that general Destruction It s chiefest Inhabitants were said to be of the House of Chin from whence the Lake hath its denomination It is also call'd The Starry Sea from the Weeds which shap'd like Stars drive upon the Water Springs IN the County Fuencheufu in the Province of Peking near the City Hiaoy are many hot and boyling Springs almost like the sulphurous Waters in Italy If the Chineses observ'd and minded these things sufficiently they might perhaps easily discover the same if not greater Operations in them than are found in any of ours in Europe for having peculiar Tastes and Colours they may probably also have in them no less Vertue and Efficacy in Medicine Near the City Lo in the County Chungpingfu is a very pleasant Spring remarkable onely for the clearness of its Water Another like this in the Territory Kingyangfu is call'd Xingxui In the County Cinanfu in the Province of Xuntung they reckon above seventy two Springs on the South side of the City Cinan amongst which one call'd Kiuti exceeds all the other in excellency of Water In the County Yoncheufu of the same Province near the City Ningyang is the the Spring Tao of which because the word signifies Robber the famous Philosopher Confut though he was exceeding thirsty refus'd to drink so much he abhorr'd the very Name of Vice In the Territory Tencheufu in the same Province near the City Chaoyiven is a Spring call'd Hanuen a Monster of Nature out of which at the same time flows Water both cold and hot wherefore it hath that Name for Hanuen signifies Cold and Hot. THere is a delightful Spring nam'd Ping in the Province of Honan at the South side of the City of the same Name near which stands an Ascent of Stone for those that please to stand upon and behold the Fountain In the Territory Nanyangfu in the Province before-mention'd near the City Nuihan is a Spring whose Water is highly esteem'd of by the Chineses who believe it to have an Operation effectual to the prolongation of humane Life On the South-West side of the City Iu is a Fountain which for the hotness of its Water is call'd Ven that is to say Hot. In the Territory Chintufu in the Province of Suchuen near the City Nuikiang is a Spring whose Water is observ'd to ebb and flow at the same time with the Sea though very remote from thence On the West side of the City Xunking rises a Spring call'd Tieyu that is to say Milky from the sweetness of its Water NEar the City Kixui in the County Hoangcheufu in the Province of Huquang is the Spring Loyu whose Water is particularly famous for making of good Tee On the Mountain Kingmuen appears the Fountain Sinlo whose Water is esteem'd of great Vertue WEstward from the City Nankang in the Province of Kiangsi is the Spring Lien whose Water in its fall glitters like Cloth of Silver producing thirty Rivolets In the County Vucheufu in the same Province near the City Kinki is another pleasant Fountain and another call'd Puensin within the Walls of the City Xuicheu IN the County Sinkiangfu in the Province of Nanking within the City Xanghiu is a Fountain of pure Water call'd Iung in the midst of a Temple Out of the Mountain Kin lying in the River Kiang in the County Chinkiangfu issues a Fountain call'd Chungleang IN the Territory Choaking in the Province of Quantung near the City Singing on the Mountain Tienlu is a Spring or Pool from which upon the throwing of a Stone into the same a noise is heard like Thunder soon after which the Skie overcasting poureth down Rain wherefore it is call'd The Dragons Pool THe County Pinglofu in the Province of Quangsi hath two Springs one Northward from the City Pinglo call'd Caning and the other near the City Xo call'd Yoxan On the South-East side of the City Queiyang a Fountain of very sweet and clear Water falls into a Pool which is never perceived either to increase or decrease how much Water soever is drawn out of or let into it Near the City Pingtin in the County Tungginfu is a strange Spring call'd Cankeng out of which through one onely Mouth flows two several sorts of Water the one clear and bright and the other thick and muddy which after having forsaken their Spring go each a contrary way as if at enmity one against another On the East side of the City Chinning is a Fountain of exceeding cold Water notwithstanding the adjacent Earth is heated by a Fire which continually burns under Ground Near the Garrison Picie is a Fountain of very pleasant Water call'd Tro. NOrthward from the chief City Iunnan on the Mountain Xang is a cold Spring counted good to strengthen the Joynts or Limbs On the South-East side of the City Cioking in the County Ciokingfu rises a Fountain of warm Water which cures by Bath those that are troubled with Swellings proceeding from redundant Humors There is yet another Spring in this County call'd Hiangxui that is to say Sweet-smelling Water because of its fragrancy especially in Lent at which time the Inhabitants make Offerings to this Fountain and drink the Water mix'd with their Liquor made of Rice Mountains Hills and Valleys THe Empire of China is in many places flank'd with rows of Mountains to a vast length not far from which are situate some or other of their chief Cities The Chineses hold all great Mountains in such high veneration that there is nothing which they adore with a more superstitious zeal and as our Astrologers make their Prognostications from the observation of the Course of the Heavens so they from the Mountains first from their situation and shape then from the
with ease lie on the same without touching one another Northward from the City Hukeu lies the Mountain Yechung that is Stone-Clock for the Water of the Lake being driven by the Wind against this Mountain makes a noise like a Bell. On the Shore of the River Kiang by the same City the Mountain Matang is noted for the many Ships that have been lost on the same for if any Vessel chance to go never so little from the Shore the Current being so exceeding strong drives them against the Rocks and splits them in pieces In the County Kienchangfu Westward from the chief City Kienchang the Mountain Masu the thirty sixth in order in the Books of Tausu extends four hundred Furlongs By the City Quanchang the Mountain Chunghoa divides it self at the top into several Hillocks whereof all are barren except one which being green and full of Trees is crown'd with a Temple In the County Vucheufu Northward from the City Vucheu is the Mountain Sangkiu on which they say is a strange Image in the shape of a Man which according to the several variations of the Air changes its colour so that the neighboring People know certainly by it what Weather they shall have In the County Linkiangfu on the North side of the City Linkiang is the Mountain Comao the thirty third in order in the Books of Tausu Many Omens of good fortune the Chineses fancy to themselves in this Mountain By the City Sinkin is the Mountain Iosu the seventeenth in order in the Books of Tausu In the Teritory Xuicheufu on the East side of the City Xuicheu is the Mountain Tayu in the midst of which is a pleasant Grove and a stately Chappel By the City Xangcau lies the Mountain Lungfung on which a day after Rain there appears a great Flame of Fire in the Night but never in dry Seasons The People thereabouts being much inclin'd to Superstition say that this Flame is the Spirit of the Mountains and for that reason have built a fair Chappel on the South side of the City Sinchang and Consecrated it to Fire In the County Iuencheufu on the South side of the City Iuencheu lies the Mountain Niang so call'd because it is onely visible but not accessible by reason of its dangerous Cliffs which seem to fall every Minute it is three hundred Furlongs in circumference and produces a Spring whose Water is so exceeding cold all the whole year that it cannot be drunk till it hath stood a considerable time in the Sun In the County of Kancheusu on the East side of the City Kancheu is the Mountain Tiencho on which in the Night appears a Light like that of kindled Coals There are some which suppose it to be Serpents which as they say vomit forth Precious Stones whereof they wear one on their Heads and swallow up the rest again Near the City Ningtu lies the Mountain Kincing the thirty third in order in the Books of Tausu The Chineses fancy that the neighboring Hills are peopled with Satyrs and other strange Monsters in the shape of Men. In the County Nanganfu on the West side of the City Nangan is the Mountain Sihoa that is Western Flower for Si signifies Western and Hoa Flower There are also in this Province by the City Iaoicheu on the Lake Poyang the Mountain Cienfo by the City Yukaw the Mountain Hungyai in the County Kieukiangfu South-East of the City Kieukiang the Mountain Taku on an Isle of the same Name in the Lake Poyang East of the City Tegan the Mountain Poye by the City Pengie in the Lake Poyang the inaccessible Mountain Siaofu near the City Kinki the far-stretch'd Mountain Iunglin having thirty six Tops in the County Kieganfu by the City Ganfo the Mountain Uncung in circuit eight hundred Furlongs by the City Sinfung the large Mountain Hiang producing Medicinal Drugs and several others of which there is nothing remarkable to mention IN the County Kiangningfu South West from the City Kiuyung lies the Mountain Mao which in the Books of Tausu is accounted the first for Pleasure and Happiness North-East from the chief City Nanking the Mountain No bears on its Head a Temple wherein are plac'd a thousand Images Towards the South-East from the City Nanking is the Fang a Mountain onely remarkable because on the Commands of the Emperor Xi it was by five thousand Men digg'd through to prevent as he thought the Prediction which the Mountain-gazers gave out from their observation of this Mountain concerning the subversion of his Empire On the South-West side of the City Nanking the Mountain San juts into the River Kiang and towards the River side hath divers Iron Chains fastned to it not as the Chineses ridiculously affirm because it should not run away but that the Ships may take the better hold with their Hooks otherwise this Mountain being of very hard Stone the Vessels must needs strike against it In the County Fungyangfu near the City Linhoa lies the Mountain Iunonu so call'd from the abundance of a sort of Mineral which we commonly call Muscovy Glass digg'd out of the same Near the City Xeu lies the Mountain Cukin whereon in former Ages a great piece of Gold being found and proving good against many Distempers the Chineses say that it was made by the art of Chymistry By the City Hutai lies the Mountain Moyang or Shepherds-Hill so call'd from a fair Virgin who kept Sheep on the same In the Territory Sucheufu at the South-West side of the City Sucheu near the Lake Tai lies the Mountain Liguien remarkable for the many fair Buildings which crown the same By the Lake Tai the Mountain Siu is coronetted with a stately Chappel and Cloyster Within the City Changxo the Mountain Yu extends to the West several Furlongs In the County Sungkiangfu on the South-East side of the City Sungkiang on the Shore of the River is the Kin onely remarkable in this County upon it stands a great Fort and at the Foot thereof a considerable number of Ships for the securing of the Havens thereabouts In the County Changcheufu by the City Vusie is the Si a Mountain out of which they dig Tin In the Territory Chinkiangfu on the North-West side of the City Chinkiang lies the Mountain Kin which makes an Isle in the River Kiang upon it are several fair Temples and Cloysters for Priests There also springs out of it a Brook call'd Chungleang whose Water is much esteem'd amongst the Chineses so that it is exceeding pleasant both by Art and Nature In the Territory Hoaiganfu lies the Yocheu in the Sea near the City Hai a Mountain very remarkable for a most stately Chappel and Cloyster to which many People from all Parts in China come to make Offerings By the City Lukiang in the County of Lucheufu the Mountain Taifu hath many pleasant Groves and delightful Ascents By the City Sosung lies the Mountain Siaoku with two high Spiry Tops between which being a Valley runs the River Kiang
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