Memoirs and observations typographical, physical, mathematical, mechanical, natural, civil, and ecclesiastical, made in a late journey through the empire of China, and published in several letters particularly upon the Chinese pottery and varnishing, the silk and other manufactures, the pearl fishing, the history of plants and animals, description of their cities and publick works, number of people, their language, manners and commerce, their habits, oeconomy, and government, the philosophy of Confucius, the state of Christianity : with many other curious and useful remarks / by Louis Le Compte ... ; translated from the Paris edition, and illustrated with figures.

LETTER IV. To the Count de CRECY.

Of the Clime, Soil, Canals, Rivers and Fruits of China.

My Lord,

THE French Missionaries to China, are so highly obliged to your whole Family, that among the most important Commands, they have honoured me with for Europe, that of returning you their hearty Thanks was earnestly recommended to my Care.

I know, My Lord, that how great soever your Fa∣vours may have been, your several Employments, and the unbounded Application with which you serve his Majesty, have somewhat curbed your Zeal.

But what is not owing from us to that other Self of yours, (pardon the Expression) whom his Blood, Name, Wit, and a thousand excellent Qualifications, do so confound with you, that we can scarce distin∣guish the one from the other? In all our Travels in which some of us have already reckon'd above 40000 Leagues, we have not made a Step without his Or∣ders and Assistance. His Zeal has excited us to No∣ble Enterprises, his Prudence directed us how to car∣ry them on, his Courage strengthned us against all Opposition, and I hope his unshaken Constancy will

at last give Success to one of the most Noble Atchieve∣ments that this Age has produced, to our Churches good, to the Improvement of Learning, and to his Glory who Sways the Gallick Scepter.

Thus, My Lord, while you make known his Name in the several Courts of Europe, he spreads yours a∣broad thro' the new World, where he is equally re∣verenced by the Preachers of the Gospel, whose Sup∣port he is, and dreaded by those of Paganism and Idolatry, whose Ruin he is the occasion of. I the more willingly do Justice to his Merit, because I can∣not write on a Subject more agreeable to your Lord∣ship; and if I had not already spoke to it in a private Conversation, I were to blame, to give over so soon.

But after having indulged a Father's Tenderness, is it not time you should satisfie a State-man's Curiosity? I have often described Europe to the Chinese, who have admired its Politeness, Beauty and Magnificence; it is but just that I make China known to that European who is best able to judge of its true Grandeur. I have, My Lord, pitched upon the following Particu∣lars, being such as will give you a true Idea of that Country, and will perhaps give some pleasure in the reading.

China being of a large Extent, the Nature of the Soil is different, according to its particular Situation, as it lyes more or less Southwards. I can however as∣sure your Lordship, that the least of its fifteen Pro∣vinces, is so Populous and Fertile, that in Europe it would make alone a considerable State; and a Prince who should enjoy it, might have Wealth and Subjects enough to content a moderate Ambition.

This Land, like all others, is divided into Hills and Plains; but the latter are so even that one would think the Chinese have ever since the Foundation of their Monarchy been employ'd in nothing else but levelling them, and making them into Gardens; and

their manner of meliorating their Ground being to let Water thro' it, they could not think of a better way to distribute it equally; else those Parts which lye highest would have laboured under a continual Drought, and the rest lain always under Water.

This is also their way even in Filling and Manu∣ring their Hills, for they cut them out like a pair of Stairs from the Foot to the Top, that the Rain-water may spread equally, and not wash down the Ground with its Seeds.

Thus they have, as it were, forced Nature by ma∣king Artificial Plains, where she had raised Moun∣tains; and a long Series of such Hills surrounded and crowned, as I may say, with a hundred such Terras∣ses, losing in Breadth as they gain in Height, and whose Soil is as fruitful as that of the best Cultivated Val∣leys, must needs make a very entertaining Landskip.

It is true that their Mountains are not for the most part so Stony as ours, their Mould is rather Light, Porous, and easily Cut; and what is most surprising, so deep, that in most Provinces you may dig three or four hundred Feet in depth before you come to the Rock. This does not a little contribute to its good∣ness, because the continual Transpiration of Salt Spi∣rits is ever renewing it, and thus endues the Soil with a perpetual Fertility.

Nature has not however been equal in her Distri∣bution, she was less lavish to the Provinces of Chensi, Honan, Canton and Fokien. Yet even their Mountains are not wholly useless, bearing all kind of Trees, which grow tall and streight, and are fit for all kind of Building, especially for Shipping. The Emperor reserves some for his private use, and sometimes sends 300 Leagues for Trees of a prodigious bigness, of which he makes Pillars to his Temples or other Publick Buildings.

The Inhabitants also trade much in them, for having

lopt off all the Branches, they tye 80 or 100 of them together, and fasten so many such Rows one behind another as reach almost a Mile, which they drag in that manner along the Rivers and Canals till they have sold all; for they build them little convenient Houses on these kind of Floats, where the Timber-Merchant, his Family and Servants lye during the whole Voyage, which is sometimes three or four Months long.

They have other Mountains which are of a great∣er and more publick Advantage. Those produce I∣ron, Tin, Brass, Mercury, Gold and Silver. It is true, the Silver Mines are not now made use of, whe∣ther they think the Empire is sufficiently stocked with it, or that they are unwilling to Sacrifice the Lives of poor People, by putting them upon so laborious and dangerous a Task.

As for their Gold the Torrents wash a great quan∣tity away into the Plains, which proves the occasion of a great many Peoples livelyhood, who have no o∣ther Occupation then to look for it among the Sand and Mud, where they find it so pure, that it need no Refining as at Peru.

If you will believe the Chinese, who themselves are Credulous to an Excess, their Mountains have won∣derful Properties. Some, they say, are ever covered with Clouds, while others always continue Calm and Serene. Some produce none but useful, wholesome Herbs, while not a rank poysonous Weed can grow there. They affirm that a Hill in the Province of Chensi is shaped like a Cock, and Crows sometimes so loud as to be heard three Leagues off; and that ano∣ther in that of Fokien, moves too and fro when a Storm approaches, like a Tree agitated with the Wind. The hoary Heads of others are cover'd with a conti∣nual Frost; and there is one in the Province of Ki∣amsi, called the Dragon-Tiger, because the Bonzes pre∣tend

that its upper part is shaped like a Dragon, and seems to Assault the lower that is like a Tiger.

That of Fokien especially is admired, the whole Ex∣tent of which is nothing else but a Representation of the Idol Fo••, so hugely big, that its Eyes are several Miles broad, and its Nose many Leagues in length. I cannot suppose it to be a piece of Chinese Work∣manship, for they would not certainly have made its Nose so big, who love theirs should be little, which they look upon as a great Beauty.

The Mountain of Chensi is no less wonderful, for at the Sound of a Drum, or any other Instrument, it breathes out Fire and Flames, raises Wind, Rains; Storms and what not: And, to conclude, one in the Province of Houkam has this strange property, that it makes Thieves so giddy, that should they steal any thing on it, it would be impossible for them to go off with their Booty; whereas an easie Egress and Re∣gress is allowed to such as come thither with an Ho∣nest Mind.

China abounds in such like Curiosities which some of our Philosophers admire, and endeavour to reduce to Natural Principles, but I should rather advise them to leave that Discussion to the Chinese, who being the Authors, should best know the Causes of these fancied Effects.

The idlest Dream, and that to which they give most Faith, is, That there is a Dragon of an extra∣ordinary strength and Sovereign Power. It is in Hea∣ven, in the Air, on the Waters, and usually among the Mountains. They also believe that in those Moun∣tains live a sort of Men which they call the Immortal Race, believing really that they never dye; and some are so infatuated with this ridiculous Opinion, that they wander among those Rocks, and there loose themselves in quest of Immortality. There are se∣veral famous Grotto's, where some Bonz••s lead a very

••ustere Life; but for a few that behave themselves well, abundance thro' their execrable Vices, are grown Contemptible to Persons of Quality, and Odious to the People, who only tolerate them, thro' a mistaken Zeal.

The most famous Temples are also built on Moun∣tains. Pilgrims repair thither from 200 Leagues off, and their Number is sometimes so great, that the Roads are crowded with them. The Women espe∣cially are very exact in the performance of this piece of Devotion, for having no other Opportunity of going abroad, they are glad of that Pretext. But these Holy Travels being somewhat prejudicial to their Vertue, their Husbands are not over-well pleased at it; therefore only your ordinary sort of Women perform these Journeys; but as for Persons of Quali∣ty, they force their Wives Zeal into a narrower Com∣pass.

If after having viewed their Mountains, we take a Prospect of their Plains, it must be confessed that no Art can equal their Natural Beauty. They are all Cultivated, and have neither Hedge nor Ditch, nor scarce a Tree, so much they are afraid of losing an inch of Ground. In most Provinces they make Har∣vest twice a year, and between those two Seasons they sow Herbs and Pulse.

All the Northern and Western Provinces, as Pekin, Chansi, Chensi, Sout chouen, bear Wheat, Barley, seve∣ral kinds of Millet, and Tobacco, with black and yel∣low Pease, with which they feed Horses as we do with Oats. Those to the South, especially Houquam, Nankin, and Shekiam are fruitful in Rice, it being a low, warry Country. The Husbandmen at first sow it disorderly like other Corn, and when it is grown a∣bout two Feet from the Ground, they pull it up by the Roots, and transplant it in a strait Line, in small par∣cels like little Sheaves, checkerwise, that the Ears may

support each other, and the easier resist the Wind; so that these Plains look more like spacious Gardens than a plain Field.

The Soil is proper for all manner of Fruits; it bears Pears, Apples, Ap••icocks, Peaches, Figs, Grapes of all kind, and especially excellent Muscadines. There are also Pomegranates, Walnuts, Chesnuts, and ge∣nerally all that we have in Europe. Their Olives are different from ours; they press no Oyl out of them, because, perhaps, they are not fit for that purpose, or that the Chinese have not yet thought of it. Their Fruit generally speaking, is not near so good as ours, being wholly Strangers to the Art of Gra••ting. But they have three kind of Melons which all are excel∣lent: The first are small, yellow within, and of a sweet Sugar-taste, which they eat with the Rind as we do an Apple: I have not met with those any where but in the Province of Chensi. The others are very big and long, their inside being of some white, and of others red; tho' they are full of a cooling Juice which tastes like Sugar, they never prove offensive, and may be eaten during the greatest Heats of Sum∣mer, without fear of a Surfeit; those are called Wa∣ter-Melons. The third sort are like our ordinary Me∣lons.

Besides the Fruits which they have in common with us, others grow there which are not known in Europe. The most delicate they call Letchi, and is found in the Province of Canton. It is as big as a Nut, the S••one is long and big, and the Meat on it soft and waterish, but of a most dilicious Taste; I know not any Fruit in Europe that comes near it. All this is inclosed in a rough thin Rhind, and the whole is shaped like an Egg. It is unwholesome to eat a quan∣tity, and of so hot a nature, as to cause a Man's whole Body to break out into Pimples. The Chinese dry it with the Rhind, and then it grows black and

rinkled like our Prunes, and so it is preserved and eat all the year round, being used especially in Tea, to which it gives a little sharp Taste, more agreeable than that of Sugar.

In the same Province, and in that of Fokien, grows another small Fruit which they call Louyen, Dragon's-Eye. The Tree that bears it is large as those which produce our Walnuts. This Fruit is exactly round, the outer Rhind being smooth and grey, but as it ri∣pens it grows yellowish. The Meat is white, sowerish, and very full of Juice, and is fitter for a Dessert to those who have well dined, then to satisfie the hun∣gry Stomach: It is very cool and inoffensive.

The S••ze, another kind of Fruit peculiar to China, grows almost in all parts of it; of this, as of Apples, there are several kinds. Those in the Southern Pro∣vinces taste much like Sugar, and melt in ones Mouth. In the Provinces of Chansi and Chensi, it is more firm, bigger, and may easier be preserved. The Rhind of the former is clear, smooth, transparent, and of a shining red Colour, especially when the Fruit is ripe. Some are in shape like an Egg, but usually bigger, the Pips black and flat, and the Meat very watery and almost liquid, which they suck out at one of the ends. When they are dried like our Figs they be∣come mealy, but in time there grows a sort of a su∣ga••'d Crust upon them, from which they receive a most delicious flavour.

Those in Chansi are, as I have said, much more firm, their Meat being like that of our Apples, but of a different Colour. Those they either gather early to ripen them on the Straw, or dip in scalding Wa∣ter, to free 'em of an ill sower Taste which they have at first gathering. The Chinese are not over careful of this Fruit, it being a Natural Product of the Earth which grows in any Soil. But did they endeavour to bring it to perfection by grasting, I question

not but it might be made an excellent one.

I purposely omit their Anana's, Goyaves, Coco's and other Fruits, for which they are indebted to the In∣dies, and which have been abundantly described in o∣ther Relations; but I cannot pass by their Oranges, commonly known with us by the Name of China O∣ranges, because the first we saw of that kind came from thence. The first and only Tree out of whose Stock all ours are said to be produced, is still preser∣ved at Lisbon in the Garden of the Count de St. Lau∣rence, and we are, indeed, beholding to the Portuguese for that Delicious Fruit; but they brought only of one kind over, tho' there be several in China.

That which is most valued, and sent as a Rarity to the Indies, is no bigger than the Balls with which they usually play at Billiard; the Rhind is of a red∣dish yellow, fine, clear, and very smooth. Yet the bigger sort seem to me the best: Those of Canton espe∣cially are very agreeable both to our Palate and Con∣stitution. They are commonly given to sick People, being first softned with the fire, then filled with Su∣gar, which incorporating with their Juice, makes a very sweet wholsome Syrup, then which nothing can be better for the Lungs. I know not how to distin∣guish them from those we have in Provence, and that are brought from Portugal; unless by their being more fi••m, that they are not easily parted from the Rhind, neither are they divided into Segments like ours, tho' else they do not differ in shape.

When I was at Siam, most of my Country-men were transported with the goodness of certain Oran∣ges whose Rhind is rough, thick, almost all over green. They may perhaps be willing to know if Chi∣na can shew any as good. As to matter of Taste, a Man does not always agree with himself, much less can he do so with others. All I can say to it is, that each is excellent in its kind, and that usually the last eaten seem best tasted.

Lemons, Citrons, and what the Indians call Pam∣pelimonses, are very common there, and therefore not so much regarded as in Europe; but they Cultivate with a great deal of Care a particular Species of Le∣mon-Trees, whose Fruit being no bigger then a Wal∣nut, perfectly round, green and sowerish withal, are excellent in all kind of Ragousts; and these Shrubs they often plant in Boxes to adorn their Courts and Halls therewith.

But of all the Trees that grow in China, that which produces Tallow is in my Opinion the most prodigi∣ous. This very Proposition is no doubt surprising, and there being no where else any thing like it, will seem a Paradox; yet there is nothing more true, and perhaps, My Lord, a particular Account of the Na∣ture and Properties of so extraordinary a Tree, will not be unwelcome.

It is about the height of our Cherry-Trees; the Branches are crooked, the Leaves shaped like a Heart, of a lively brisk red, its Bark smooth, the Trunk short, and the Head round and very thick. The Fruit is inclosed within a Rhind divided into three Segments, which open when it is ripe, and discover three white Kernels of the bigness of a small Nu••. All the Bran∣ches are very thick of it; and this mixture of white and red makes at a distance the finest Prospect in the World; the Fields, where these Trees are planted, which they usually are in a direct Line and Checker∣wise, shewing afar off like a vast Parterre of Flower-Pots.

But the wonder is, that this Kernel has all the qua∣lities of Tallow; its Odour, Colour, and Consisten∣cy; and they also make Candles of it, mixing only a little Oyl when they melt it to make the Stuff more pliant. If they knew how to purifie it as we do our Tallow here, I doubt not but their Candles might be as good as ours, but they make them very awkwardly;

so that their Smell is much stronger, their Smoak thicker, and their Light dimmer than ours.

It is true, the Fault does not a little lye in the Wiek; for instead of Cotton, tho' they are well stocked with that Commodity, they use a small stick of a dry light Wood, wrapt round with the inner part of a Rush, which is very porous, and thereby ••itted for the Filtration of the small Particles of that greasie Matter by which the Flame is preserved. This wooden Wiek, besides that it does not burn so clear as Cotton, increases the Smoak, and causes an offen∣sive Smell.

Among the Trees peculiar to the Country I am speaking of, I must not omit those which bear Pep∣per, not like that which we make use of in Europe, but another sort of Seeds indued with the same quali∣ties. They grow on a Tree like those who bear our Walnuts, about as big as a Pea, and of a greyish Colour, with little red streaks. When they are ripe they open of themselves, and discover a little Stone as black as Jet, casting so strong a smell very offen∣sive to the Head, for which reason they gather them by inte••vals, not being able to remain on the Tree any considerable time. Having exposed these Grains to the Sun, they cast away the Stone which is too hot a•••• strong, and only use the rest, which tho' not quite so agreeable as our Pepper, is however of good use in Sauces.

I shall add, My Lord, that you may better judge of the Fe••tility of that vast Empire, that there is no place in the World like it for the abundance of Roots and Pulse; it is almost the only Food of the Inhabi∣tants, who omit nothing to have them good. It would be too tedious to give you a List of all those different Herbs; for besides those we have here, their Ground brings forth several others unknown to us, on which they set a greater value. Their Care and

Dexterity herein is beyond all our Gardners perfor∣mances; and if our Parterre excels theirs, they exceed us in their Kitchin Garden.

Tho' this Subject, common in it self and not worth your notice, yields no great Rarity, I cannot forbear speaking of a kind of Onions which I have seen; they do not seed like ours; but towards the latter end of the Season their Leaves bear some small Filaments, in the midst of which is a white Onion like that in the Ground. This does in time produce its Leaves, and those a like Head, and so on, which grow less and shorter as they are farther from the Ground; the Dimensions are so just, and the Proportions so exact, that one would think them Artificially done; and it seems as if nature were minded to shew us that even Sporting, it can exceed the Skill of the nicest Artist.

If what has been written of what they call Petsi were true, it would be a great wonder. It is a kind of Lenufar, that grows under Water, whose Root is fastned to a white Matter covered with a red Skin, that divides it self into several Heads, which when fresh, taste like a small Nut. I have been assu∣red that it has this Property, that it softens Brass, and as it were renders it eatable, if a piece of the Metal be put into the Mouth with one of this Plant.

This seemed the stranger to me, because the Juice which issues from it is very mild and cooling, and not endued with any of those Corrosive qualities which seem necessary to work such an Effect. As soon as we were arrived at Hamt chéou, where this Petsi is much eaten, we had the Curiosity to enquire into the truth of it; and to that purpose took a piece of their Money, which was made of a very brittle sort of Molten Brass, and wrapt it up in a slice of this Root. One of us who had stronger Teeth than the rest, broke it into several pieces, which the others,

loath to strain their Jaws, had not been able to do: But these broken pieces were as hard as ever, which made us think that the Root had indeed no other Vir∣tue then that by being wrapt up round the Brass it saved his Teeth; which a piece of Leather might have done as well. We often repeated the Experiment at Kiahin, but with no better success; so true it is that these mighty Wonders should be heard twice, before they are once believed.

Tho' China were not of it self so fruitful a Coun∣try as I have represented it, the Canals which are cut thro' it, were alone sufficient to make it so. But besides their great usefulness in that, and the way of Trade, they add also much Beauty to it. They are generally of a clear, deep and running Water, that glides so softly, that it can scarce be perceived. There is one usually in every Province, which is to it in∣stead of a Road, and runs between two Banks, built up with flat course Marble Stones, bound together by others which are let into them, in the same man∣ner as we use to fasten our strong wooden Boxes at the Corners.

So little Care was taken, during the Wars, to pre∣serve Works of Publick Use, that this, tho' one of the Noblest in the Empire, was spoiled in several places, which is a great pity; for they are of no little use, both to keep in the Waters of these Canals, and for those to walk on who drag the Boats along. Besides these Cawseys they have the conveniency of a great many Bridges for the Communication of the oppo∣site Shoars; some are of three, some five, and some seven Arches, the middlemost being always extraor∣dina••y high, that the Boats may go through without putting down their Masts. These Arches are built with large pieces of Stone or Marble, and very well f••amed, the Supporters well fitted, and the Piles so small that one would think them at a distance to hang

in the Air. These are frequently met with, not be∣ing far asunder, and the Canal being strait, as they usually are, it makes a Prospective at once stately and agreeable.

This great Canal runs out into smaller ones on ei∣ther side, which are again subdivided into small Ri∣v••lets, that end at some great Town or Village. Some∣times they discharge themselves into some Lake or great Pond, out of which all the adjacent Country is watered. So that these clear and plentiful Streams, embellished by so many fine Bridges, bounded by such neat and convenient Banks, equally distributed into such vast Plains, covered with a numberless multi∣tude of Boats and Barges, and crowned (if I may use the Expression) with a prodigious number of Towns and Cities, whose Ditches it fills, and whose Streets it forms, does at once make that Country the most Fruitful and the most Beautiful in the World.

Surprised and as it were astonished at so Noble a Sight, I have sometimes bore a secret Envy to China in Europe's behalf, which must own that it can boast nothing in that kind to be compared to the former. What would it be then, if that Art which in the wildest and most unlikely Places has raised magnifi∣cent Palaces, Gardens and Groves, had been employ∣ed in that rich Land, to which Nature has been la∣vish of her most precious Gifts.

The Chinese say their Country was formerly totally overflowed, and that by main Labour they drained the Water by cutting it a way thro' these useful Ca∣nals. If this be true▪ I cannot enough admir•• at once the Boldness and Industry of their Workmen who have thus made great Artificial Rivers, and of a kind of a Sea, as it were created the most Fertile Plains in the World.

It will scarce be believed, that Men so ignorant in the Principles of Physicks, and the Art of Levelling,

could bring such a Work as that to Perfection; yet it is certain that these Canals are natural. For they are usually strait, the Distribution is equal and order∣ly; there are Flood-gates made for the Rivers to let in their Water at, and others to let it out when they are too full; so that it cannot be doubted but that the Chinese are only beholding to their own Industry for that great Conveniency.

Among all those Canals in the Southern Provinces, one above the rest is called the Great Canal, because it goes thro' the whole Country from Canton, which lyes Southwards to Pekin, situated in the most Nor∣therly parts of the Empire. You must only travel a short days Journey by Land to cross the Hill Moilin, that does on one side bound the Province of Kiamsi. From this Mountain issue two Rivers; one runs South∣wards to the Sea, and the other Northwards as far as the River of Nankin, whence by the yellow River, and several Canals, you may proceed by Wa••er to the ve∣ry Mountains of Tartary.

But, by reason in this huge Extent of Ground, of above four hundred Leagues in length, the Earth is not Level, or, hath not a Descent proportionable to the Emanation of the Waters, it was necessary to set a great number of Sluices awork. They call them so in the Relations, notwithstanding they be much different from ours. They are Water-falls, and as it were certain Torrents, that are precipitated from one Canal into another, more or less rapid, according to the difference of their Level: Now, to cause the Barks to ascend, they make use of a great Company of Men, who are maintained for that purpose near the Sluice. After they have drawn Cables to the right and left to lay hold of the Bark, in such a manner that it cannot escape from them; they have several Capstans, by the help of which they raise it by little and little, by the main force of their Arms, till such time as it be in

the upper Canal, in a Condition to continue its Voyage whither it is bound. This same Labour is te∣dious, toilsome, and exceeding dangerous. They would be wonderfully surprised, should they behold with what easiness one Man alone, who opens and shuts the Gates of our Sluices, makes the longest and heaviest laden Barks securely to ascend and descend.

I have observed in some Places in China, where the Waters of two Canals or Channels have no Commu∣nication together; yet for all that, they make the Boats to pass from the one to the other, notwithstand∣ing the Level may be different above fifteen Foot: And this is the way they go to work. At the end of the Canal they have built a double Glacis, or sloping Bank of Free-stone, which uniting at the Point, ex∣tends it self on both sides up to the Surface of the Water. When the Bark is in the lower Channel they hoist it up by the help of several Capstanes to the plane of the first Glacis, so far, till being raised to the Point, it falls back again by its own weight along the second Glacis, into the Water of the upper Channel, where it skuds away during a pretty while, like an Ar∣row out of a Bow; and they make it descend after the same manner proportionably. I cannot imagine how these Barks, being commonly very long and heavy Laden, escape being split in the middle, when they are poised in the Air upon this Acute Angle; for, con∣sidering that length, the Lever must needs make a strange effect upon it; yet do I not hear of any ill Accident happen thereupon. I have past a pretty many times that way, and all the Caution they take, when they have a mind to go ashoar, is, to tye ones self fast to some Cable for fear of being tost from Prow to Poop.

We meet with no such Sluices in the Grand Canal, because the Emperor's Barks, that are as large as our Frigots, could not be raised by force of Arm, nay,

and would infallibly be split in the Fall, all the diffi∣culty consists in ascending back again upon these Tor∣rents, of which I have spoken; yet this is what they perform successively, tho' not without some Trouble and Expence.

The Canal to sail upon, was necessary for the Transportation of Grain and Stuffs, which they fetch from the Southern Provinces to Pekin. There are, if we may give Credit to the Chineses, a Thou∣sand Barks, from Eighty to an Hundred Tun, that make a Voyage once a year, all of them Freighted for the Emperor, without counting those of particular Persons, whose number is infinite. When these pro∣digious Fleets set out, one would think they carry the Tribute of all the Kingdoms of the East, and that one of these Voyages alone was capable of supplying all Tartary where-withal to Subsist for several years; yet for all that Pekin alone hath the benefit of it; and it would be as good as nothing, did not the Province contribute besides to the Maintenance of the Inhabi∣tants of that vast City.

The Chineses are not only content to make Channels for the Convenience of Travellers, but they do also dig many others to catch the Rain-water, wherewith they water the Fields in time of Drought, more e∣specially in the Northern Provinces. During the whole Summer, you may see your Country Peo∣ple busied in raising this Water into abundance of small Ditches, which they contrive across the Fields. In other places they contrive great Re∣servatories of Tu••f, whose Bottom is raised above the Level of the Ground about it, to serve them in Case of Necessity. Besides that, they have every where in Ch••nsi and Chansi, for want of Rain, certain Pits from Twenty to an Hundred foot deep, from which they draw Water by an incredible Toil. Now if by chance they meet with a Spring of Water, it is

worth observing how cunningly they husband it; they Sustain it by Banks in the highest places; they turn it here and there an Hundred different ways, that all the Country may reap the benefit of it; they divide it, by drawing it by degrees, according as e∣very one hath occasion for it, insomuch that a small Rivulet, well managed, does sometimes produce the Fertility of a whole Province.

The Rivers of China are no less considerable then its Canals, there are two especially, which the Rela∣tions have made famous. The first is called Kiam or Yamçe, which they commonly Translate the Son of the Sea: But I am afraid they are mistaken; for the Letter the Chineses use for to write Yam is different from that which signifies the Sea, altho' the Sound and Pronunciation may have some Affinity: Amongst se∣veral significations that this Letter may have, that which they gave it in former times makes for our purpose. Under the Reign of the Emperor Yon it signified a Province of China, limitted by this River on the North; and it is somewhat probable that they gave this same Name to the River, because that Prince drain'd all the Water that overflow'd the whole Coun∣try into it.

This Floud takes its rise in the Province of Yunnan, crosses the Provinces of Soutchouen, Houquam, and Nankin; and after it hath watered four Kingdoms far and wide for 400 Leagues together, it disimbogues into the East-Sea over against the Isle of Tçoummim, cast up at its Mouth by the Sands which it carries a∣long with it; the Chineses have a Proverb amongst them that says, The Sea hath no bounds, and the Kiam hath no bottom. And, in truth, in some places there is none to be found; in others they pretend there is Two or Three hundred Fathom wa∣ter. I am nevertheless perswaded that their Pilots,

that carry not above Fifty or Sixty Fathom Cord at longest, never had the Curiosity to Sound so deep as Three hundred Fathom; and the impossibility of finding the bottom with their ordinary Plummet, is sufficient, in my opinion, to incline them to such like Hyperboly's.

I have many times sailed upon this River; I have moreover taken a diligent account of its Course and Breadth from Nankin, to the Mouth of another River, into which Men enter to pursue the way to Canton. It is off of Nankin Thirty Leagues from the Sea, a little half League broad; the Passage along it is come dangerous; and becomes more and more infa∣mous every day for its Shipwracks. In its Course, which is exceeding rapid, it forms a great number of Isles, all of them very beneficial to the Province, by reason of that multitude of Bull-rushes Ten or Twelve foot high that it produceth, serving for Fuel to all the Cities thereabouts; for they have scarce Wood e∣nough for Buildings and Sh••ips. They yield a great Revenew, and the Emperor draws considerable Du∣ties from them.

The River which the Torrents of the Mountains do sometimes swell extraordinarily, grow so rapid, that many times they bear away the Isles with them, or lessen them by the half; -and for the same reason form other new ones in some other place; and one cannot but admire to see them change place in such a short time, just as if by diving, they had past under Water from one place to another; that does not al∣ways come to pass: But there is observed such con∣siderable Change every year, that the Mandarins least they should be mistaken, get them to be measured e∣very Three years, to augment, or diminish the Im∣posts and Duties, according to the Condition they are found to be in.

The second River of China is called Hoamho, as much as to say, The yellow River, because the Earth it sweeps away with it, especially in times of great Rains, give it that Colour. I have seen a gre••t ma∣ny others, whose Waters at certain Seasons of the year, are so over-charged with slime, and so gross and thick, that they rather resemble Torrents of Mud, than real Rivers. The Hoamho takes its source at the Extremity of the Mountains that bound the Province of Soutchouen in the West: From thence it throws it self into Tartary, where it flows for some time all a∣long the great Wall, at which it re-enters China be∣tween the Province of Chansi and Chensi. After that it waters the Province of Honan; and when it hath run cross one part of the Province of Nankin, and flowed above Six hundred Leagues into the Land, it disimbogues at length into the East-Sea, not far from the Mouth of Kiam. I have crost it, and coasted it in divers places; it is every where very broad and ra∣pid, yet neither deep nor navigable, to speak of.

This River hath in former times caused great Deso∣lation in China, and they are still forced to this very day to keep up the Waters in certain places by long and strong Banks, which notwithstanding does not exempt the Cities thereabouts from Apprehensions of Inundation. So likewise have they been careful, in the Province of Honan, the Ground lying very low thereabouts, to surround the greatest part of the Ci∣ties, about a Mile from the Walls, with a Terrace, cased with Turf, to prevent being surprised by Acci∣dents and Casualties in case the Bank be broken, as happened about Fifty two years ago. For the Empe∣ror, endeavouring to force a Rebel (who, for a long time laid close Siege to the City of Honan) to draw off, caused one part of the Banks to be broken down, thereby to drown the adverse Army. But the Relief he afforded the City proved more fatal than ••he Fury

of the Besiegers would have been; the whole Pro∣vince almost was laid under Water, together with ma∣ny Cities, and abundance of Villages, above Three hundred thousand Persons drowned in the Metropo∣lis, amongst whom were some of our Missionaries, who at that time had a numerous Flock of Christians; there they, and their Church lost their Lives.

The Low Country ever since is become a kind of a Marsh or Lake; not but that they have some de∣sign to repair this loss, but the Undertaking is diffi∣cult and very expensive. The Sovereign Court that takes care of Publick Works, importuned the Emperor more than once to send Father Verbiest thither, and peradventure, that Prince would have consented there∣to at last, but he discovered that the Mandarins made use of this pretence, to remove the Father at a di∣stance from Court, and that their Design was to en∣gage him in a difficult Enterprise, that was enough to destroy him; or out of which he could never have disintangled himself with any honour.

There is to be seen in China abundance of other Ri∣vers less Famous, but yet more Commodious for Com∣merce and Trade.

Since they afford nothing uncommon, it would be to abuse your Patience, Sir, to descend to the Particu∣lars. As to what concerns Fountains, it were to be wisht there were more of them, and better. 'Tis cer∣tain that their usual Waters are not good, which, per∣haps, hath obliged the Inhabitants, especially in the Southern Provinces, to drink it always warm; but because warm Water is unpalatable and nauseous, they bethought themselves of putting some Leaves of a Tree to it, to give it a Gusto, Those of Tea seemed to be the best, and so they frequently make use of it.

It may be also that God Almighty, whose Providence hath so universally provided for the Wants of his Peo∣ple, and if I may be bold to say it, for their Delight

and Pleasure, would not deprive China of that which is necessary to Life; so that for to Supply the Defect of Wells and Fountains, which the Nature of the Ground hath made every where salt and brackish, he hath been pleased to produce that Species of a parti∣cular Tree in abundance, whose Leaves serve not on∣ly to purge the Waters from their noxious Qualities, but also to make them wholsome and pleasant.

We are assured that there is to be found in China amongst Fountains, several that suffer Flux and Re∣flux as regularly, as the Sea doth, whether it be that they have some Communication with the Ocean by certain Subterraneous Conveyances, and Conduits, or whether it be in passing through certain Earths, they are impregnated with Salts and Spirits apt to cause this Fermentation. I leave others to determine.

Since I have begun to speak of the different Wa∣ters of China, I cannot pass over in Silence the Lakes and Ponds that are every where almost to be seen in all the Provinces. Those that are produced in Win∣ter by the Torrents from the Mountains, lay waste the Fields, and render the whole Country during Summer, barren, sandy, and full of Flints. Those that arise from Springs are abounding in Fish, and yield a considerable Revenew to the Emperor by the Salt they afford. There is one of them amongst the rest, if I be not mistaken it is in Chansi, in the mid∣dle whereof appears a small Island, where People di∣vert themselves, during the excessive Heat, to sprin∣kle Water all over. There is made in a little while, a Crust of a certain Salt very white, and of a pleasant Scent, which they continue all the Summer long, with that Success, that the Salt would be sufficient for the whole Province, if it were as Salt as that of the Sea; they commonly make use of it to Season Meat with∣al.

Altho' I have not seen all those famous Lakes in China, whereunto Historians ascribe so many Mira∣cles, yet shall I relate something, which I do not care to warrant for Gospel; which nevertheless, will let you understand the Genius of the Country, where People so easily give Credit to what seems most in∣credible.

In the Province of Fokien there is one whose Water is green, and changes Iron into Copper. They have built a Palace upon the Banks of another not far di∣stant from the former, in an Apartment of which one hears the ringing of Bells every time Heaven threa∣tens a Storm. There are Waters in the Province of Canton that change Colour every year, in Summer and in Winer, they are very clear; in Autumn they turn blue, but of such a fine blue, that People make use of it to dye Stuffs.

In that place is to be seen a Mountain full of Caverns, whose very Aspect is very terrible, in which is found a Lake of that Nature, that if one throw a Stone into it, one may hear a noise like Thunder; sometime after there ariseth a gross Mist, which im∣mediately dissolves into Water.

But the most famous of them all, is, that of the Province of Iannan. The Chineses would make you believe that this Lake came all on the sudden, during an Earthquake that swallowed up all the Country with its Inhabitants: This was a just Judgment upon them for their wickedness, for they were very disso∣lute Livers. Of all that were there at that time, there was but one Child that was saved, which they found in the middle of the Lake born up upon a piece of Wood.

In the Isle of Hainan, belonging to China, there is a sort of Water, whether it be Lake or Fountain, I know not, that petrifies Fish. I my self have b••ought over Crawfish, that preserving their intire Natural

Figure, are so far changed into Stone, that the Claws and Body of them are very hard, very solid, and lit∣tle differing from Stone. The Wonders of Nature are not so far particular to China, but the like may be met with elsewhere; and if one does not credit all the Chineses relate, it is not because there is some∣times no foundation for their Stories: But because they have somewhat of the Air of Fable, and Hyper∣bolical in them, that would make a Man even suspect their being true.

I wish with all my heart, Sir, (that I may not o∣mit any thing that any way relates to this Subject) I were able to explain all the kinds of Fish that the Ri∣vers and Lakes furnish them with, as well as those that are Caught upon their Coasts; but to tell you the truth, I am not well enough informed to engage my self upon a particular Relation of them; I have seen, as far as I can guess, all the Fish in China, that we have in France: I have taken notice of a great many others that I did not know, no not so much as their Names; that is all I can say of it: Besides that I shall confirm to you, what possibly you may have read in the Relations touching the Fish they call the Golden and Silver Fish that are found in divers Provinces, and do afford particular Ornaments in the Courts and Gardens of great Persons.

They are commonly of a fingers length, and of a proportionable thickness; the Male is of a most delicate red, from the head to the middle of the Body, and further; the rest, together with the Tail, is gilded; but with such a glittering, and burnisht Gold, that our real Gildings cannot come near it. The Female is white, its Tail, nay and one part of its Body, per∣fectly washt over with Silver; the Tail of both of them is not even and flat as that of other Fish, but fashioned like a Nosegay, thick and long, and gives a particular Grace to this pretty Animal, that sets it

off, being besides perfectly well proportioned.

Those who would breed them, ought to have great Care, for they are extraordinary tender, and sensi∣ble of the least Injuries of the Air. They put them into a great Basin, such as are in Gardens, very deep and large; at the bottom of which they are wont to place an Earthen Pot turned upside down, full of Holes on the sides, that they may retire into it when it is very hot Weather, and by that means shelter them∣selves from the Sun. They likewise throw upon the Surface of the Water some particular Herbs that keep always green, and maintain the coolness. This Wa∣ter is to be changed two or three times a Week, yet so that fresh Water may be put in, according as the Basin is emptied, which must never be lest dry. If one be obliged to remove the Fish from one Vase to another, great care must be taken not to touch them with the Hand; all those that are touched dye quick∣ly after, or shrivel up; you must for that purpose make use of a little Thred Purse, fasten'd at the up∣per end of a wooden Circle, into which they are in∣sensibly ingaged; when they are once got into it of themselves, one must take heed of hurting them, and be sure to hold them still in the first, which emp∣ties but slowly, and gives time to Transport them to the other Water. Any great noise, as of a Cannon, or of Thunder, too strong a smell, too violent a mo∣tion, are all very hurtful to them, yea, and sometimes occasions their dying; as I have observed at Sea every time they discharged the Cannon, or melted Pitch and Tar: Besides, they live almost upon nothing; those insensible Worms that are bread in the Water, or that most Terrestrial Parts that are mixt with it, suf∣fice in a manner to keep them alive. They do, not∣withstanding, throw in little Balls of Past now and then; but there is nothing better than a Wafer, which s••eep't, makes a kind of Pap, of which they are ex∣tream

greedy, which indeed is very proportiona∣ble to their natural Delicacy and Tenderness. In hot Countries they multiply very much, provided care be taken to remove their Eggs, which swim upon the Water, which the Fish most commonly eat: They place them in a particular Vase exposed to the Sun, and there they preserve them till the heat hatcheth them; the Fish come out of a black colour, which some of them keep ever after, but is changed by lit∣tle and little in other Colours, into Red, White, Gold, and Silver, according to their different Kind: The Gold and Silver begins at the extremity of the Tail, and expand themselves somewhat more or less, ac∣cording to their particular Disposition.

All this, Sir, and other Marvels of the Universe, makes us acknowledge the Finger of God every where, who for our sakes hath embellished the World many thousand ways. He is not only content to en∣lighten the Heavens, and enrich the Earth, but de∣scends into the Abysses, into the very Waters; he hath lest some Footsteps of his profound Wisdom, and not to mention those prodigious Monsters, that seem to be made to astonish Nature, he hath likewise crea∣ted those wonderful Fish I but now described, which, as little as they are, yet by their singular Beauty are the Subject of our Admiration, and furnish us with some faint Idea's of the Greatness of the wise Crea∣tor.

Here I present you, Sir, in a Compendium, the Draught, and as it were the Map of that Country, which I design'd to give you some knowledge of; these are but the outside, and if I may so say, but the Body of that Empire, whose Soul and Spirit is di∣sperst through its Inhabitants. Peradventure, when you shall have read what I have writ to you about it, you will be apt to enquire what People they be who are so happy as to receive the greatest, fairest, and

most fertile Portion of the Earth for their Inheritance; such a Land, in a word, that it wants nothing to make it a real Land of Promise, but to be Cultivated by God's People, and inhabited by true Israelites in∣deed. If we had nothing, as the Hebrews had, but the Red-Sea and Wilderness to go through, probably Forty years might suffice to bring it under Subjection to the Gospel: But that vast Extent of Seas, those infinite and unpracticable Land Journeys, that were capable of putting a stop to Moses and the Prophets, do allay the Zeal of the Ministers of Jesus Christ, and lessen the number of his New Apostles.

Oh! that I could, as the Hebrews did, whom Mo∣ses sent to discover the Promised Land, represent the immense Richness, and most precious Harvest that China promises to the Labourers in the Vineyards, we have hopes that probably the prospect of such an a∣bundant Crop, might in time prevail with all Europe to come and reap it: At least, I hope that my Testi∣mony will not be insignificant, and that the more than ordinary Zeal of the small Company of Missionaries that shall succeed me, will make amends for the vast Number of those which such a vast Empire might de∣mand. I am, with all the respect imaginable,

SIR,

You most humble and most affectione Servant I. J.

Notes

• Hal vou pim: Kiam vou ti.