An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China deliver'd by their excellencies, Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking : wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously describ'd / by Mr. John Nieuhoff ... ; also an epistle of Father John Adams their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation ; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher ; English'd, and set forth with their several sculptures, by John Ogilby Esq. ...

CHAP. I.

Of the Bridges and wonderful Fabricks of the Chineses.

AND first the Bridge call'd Loyang in the Province of Fokien, built by a Prefector Governor call'd Cayang, exceedeth all admiration, the Lon∣gitude whereof extendeth about sixty Perches, and the Latitude six▪ Where this Bridge now stands there was formerly a Passage for Ships, but ve∣ry dangerous, by reason of the extraordinary violence of the Current. The building of this Bridge cost 4000000 Crowns; concerning which the Au∣thor of the Atlas gives this Relation:

I twice beheld (saith he) the famous Bridge Loyang with amazement; it is all built of one sort of black hewn Stone, having no Arches, but is erected upon three hundred Massie Stone-Piles, all of the Figure of a Ship, on each side ending in an acute Angle, that, they may the less suffer by the force and beating of the Waves; on the tops of these Piles are laid Stones of an equal length, every one of which is twenty two Paces in length, and two in breadth, as I measur'd them; and of these Stones there are 1400 all alike: and to prevent falling off, there are Rails with Lions cut in Stone on both sides, with many other Ornaments: A most stupendious Work, and deservedly admir'd: But this is only the De∣scription of part of this Bridge, which lieth between the Town Logan, and a Castle built upon the Bridge; the other part being equal.

That this Bridge should be built with so little Cost, is no wonder, considering the greatest part of the Laborers serve gratis in Publick Works, and those that re∣ceive Wages have not the tenth part so much as our Laborers in Europe. Mar∣cus Paulus Venetus maketh mention also of this Bridge when he describeth the City of Xartes.

There is a Bridge in the Province of Queicheu call'd Tiensem, that is, Built by Heaven; it is a most excellent Work of Nature, consisting of one Stone, over the Torrent Tanki, whose Latitude is two Perches, and the Longitude twenty. This Place formerly was shut up within a Mountain; but by the force and violence of the Floods, the Mountain being eaten away and hollow'd, this Bridge was left.

In the Province of Xensi is a Way made with Bridges by the General of an Army nam'd Chauleang, in the making whereof an Army of many hundred thousand Men were employ'd, whole Mountains cut through at such a depth, that the sides perpendicularly equal with the top of the Mountains, seem to brave the Clouds, and yet every way admitteth the Light that elapseth from above. In some Places he built Bridges with Beams and Spars laid from Mountain to Mountain, and upheld by Beams plac'd under them; in places where the Valleys are, wide Pillars are apply'd. The third part of the Voyage consisteth of Bridges of so great heighth, that you scarcely dare look down; the breadth of the Way is capable of receiving four Horsemen abreast, and to prevent falling, they have plac'd Rails of Wood and Iron on both sides; it is call'd Cientao, that is, The Bridge of Props and Rails, and was erected to shorten the Way from the City of Hanchung unto the Metropolitan City of Siganfu, which before was 20000 Stadia, through many Turnings and Windings; and now by the Passage through these Mountains, their Voyage is but 80 Stadia.

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There is another Bridge in this Province, near unto Chogan, on the Bank of the River Fi, built on one Arch from Mountain to Mountain, whose length is forty Chinesian Perches, that is four hundred Cubits; the Altitude or Perpen∣dicular to the Saffron-River, which passeth under the Bridge, is reported to be fifty Perches; the Chineses call it The Flying Bridge.

I have seen the like Bridge built from Mountain to Mountain in France near Nemanse, which hath three Stories; the first consisteth of four Arches, under which Coaches pass, the other is rais'd upon twelve Arches, a Passage for Horsemen; the third hath thirty six Arches, and serveth for an Aqueduct; Report says 'twas built by the ancient Romans; it is vulgarly call'd Le Pont du Garden, erected over a River of the same Name.

In the Province of Iunnan, over a most deep Valley, through which a Tor∣rent runneth with a rapid and violent flux of Waters, is a Bridge reported to be built by the Emperor Mingus, of the Family of Hame, in the sixty fifth Year of Christ, rais'd not with the cementing of Stones or Plaister-work, but with Iron Chains fastned to Rings and Hooks, so placing the Bridge to Beams above; there are twenty Chains, and every one consisteth of twenty Perches; many passing over together, the Bridge removeth hither and thither, possessing the Passengers with giddiness and fear of the ruine and fall of the Bridge.

I cannot sufficiently admire the dexterity of the Chinesian Architects, who durst undertake so many difficult Works for the convenience of Passengers.

When once you descend from the Bridges upon the craggy Mountains into the Campaign, you enter upon the publick Ways, which are so pleasant, being Pav'd with foursquare Stone, that you would think you went still through a City; and where the rough Mountains deny a Passage, there their Ingenuity hath contriv'd a Way, though perform'd with great labor and difficulty; for in some places they were compell'd to cut down Rocks, in others to level the aspiring tops of Mountains, and fill up the low Valleys, an incredible num∣ber of Hands having been employ'd to make an easie Passage throughout the whole Region, which at length they have perform'd: And in ••ertain Distan∣ces, at every Stone or Mile Boundary, which contain each ten Chinesian Stadia, are appointed Posts, by whose Diligence, in a very short time, all the Procla∣mations and Imperial Edicts are carried unto the Governors with much speed. At each eighth Boundary, that is one Days Iourney, are erected Publick Hou∣ses, which they call Cunquon and Yeli, unto which the Magistrates direct those that Travel upon Publick Concerns, having first acquainted those to whose Charge the keeping of these Houses is committed, with the Dignity of the Person, and the Time when they will arrive, that so they may provide accor∣dingly for their Entertainment and Reception.

The Banks of the Rivers are as commodious as the Imperial Ways, no Tree o•• other Impediment being left within five Cubits distance of the Water, by which the Towing of their Ships and Boats should be retarded. In many pla∣ces they have made Wharfs of square Stone, and plac'd where necessity requi∣reth, Stone Bridges of divers Arches; so that by the Magnificency of these Works they at least equalize the ancient Greeks and Romans, if not excel them; so great is the Zeal and Study of all Persons to advance the Publick Interest.

I shall here say nothing concerning the Magnificence, Splendor, and almost infinite multitude of their Ships, which are found in every River throughout the whole Empire, and in so great a number, that, as the Fathers write, any one may well doubt whether more Persons live in their Ships, especially in

the Kingdoms nigh unto the Sea, or in the Cities: But concerning these, see Trigautius, Samedus, Atlas, Marinus, and others.

As for the Buildings within the Walls, those of Private Persons are not stately, they having more regard to their Convenience than Splendor or Or∣nament; for the most part they are but one Story, abhorring the trouble of going up Stairs: but what they want in heighth, they recompence in length and breadth, which makes it no wonder to find Cities in China of a vast extent: the six Stories of the Roman Colledge plac'd in length, would extend fifty Pa∣ces more than half an Italian Mile, which with the Gardens, Schools, and Courts, would make a City: Nor doth the Splendor or Beauty of the Cities of China come near those of Europe, for they admit of no Windows next the Street, but all inwards, like the Religious Houses of Nuns amongst us. The Houses of wealthy Persons are splendid and costly, but those of the Magistrates or Mandorins exceed the rest, and may truly be call'd Palaces. In each Metro∣polis there are fifteen or twenty, and oftentimes more; in the other Cities, for the most part eight; in the lesser, four; they are all built alike, only some are bigger than others, according to the Dignity of the Prefect or Magistrate, and all erected at the Emperor's Cost, for his Officers either Civil or Military. Neither doth the Emperor only allow them Palaces and Ships, but also Furni∣ture, Provision, and Servants. The greater Palaces have four or five Courts, with as many Houses on the Front of the several Courts; in the Frontispiece of each are three Gates, that in the middle the biggest; both sides of the Gates are Arm'd with Lions cut in Marble, at whose Bounds is a most capacious Hall supported with mighty Pillars, call'd Tang; in this the Magistrate admi∣nistreth Iustice, on each side whereof Publick Posts have their Lodgings; next to this is the inward Hall call'd Sutang, which is the Privy-Chamber for Retirement, Conference, and Salutation: lastly, the great Gate and House, the Apartment of the Magistrate's Wife and Children, being most richly ador∣ned; to which is adjoin'd Groves, Gardens, and Lakes, for Pleasure and De∣light. But yet these Palaces being built all of Wood, have this Inconvenience, that if a Fire break out, oftentimes whole Cities are reduc'd into Ashes in a very small space, as it hapned to Peking, the greatest City in this large Empire, except Nanking, which was totally consum'd with Fire by a Rebel, at the be∣ginning of the Irruption made by the Tartars, in four Days space; yet it was restor'd to its pristine Splendor by the Tartars in four Years time. But I will conclude my Discourse of the Fabricks of China with the most stupendious, and never enough to be admir'd Master-piece of all their Works.

The famous Chinese Wall.

COncerning which, thus saith Martinius in his Atlas: This mighty Wall forti∣fies the Borders of four Kingdoms, the Longitude being three hundred German Miles, of which fifteen make a Degree, i.e. twelve hundred English Miles. This long Se∣ries continues without any Gap, only on the North part of the City Siuen, in the Province of Peking, which is supply'd with the inaccessible part of a Mountain, and where the Mouth of the Saffron River receiveth the Disembogues of lesser Rivers: The Avenues and Passes for Strangers and Travellers repairing from Forein Countires, are contriv'd Arch∣wise like Bridges, or through Vaults under Ground; all the rest uniform, though carried on for the most part through rough and uneven Countries, forcing a Way not only over the Skirts, but the Mountains themselves. At commutual Distances, where one may assist

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the other, are planted high Towers, and strong Gates or Sally-Ports, from whence they issue forth, or retire to, when any Invasion or Assault requires; and convenient Fortresses also ad∣join'd, not only Defensive, but accommodated for the Reception of the Soldiers, which to make good and maintain, takes up no less than a Million. The Wall is thirty Chinesian Cubits high, twelve broad, and in some places fifteen.

Xius Emperor of China, and Founder of that Imperial Family, began this Wall, who excell'd all the Chinesian Princes in the Magnitude of his Works, and the Glory of his Martial Atchievements: Having conquer'd all China by subjugating the Family of Cheva, from the Governor of a Province, he arose to be absolute and sole Monarch, reducing the Tartars by many signal Victories; and to prevent their future Incursions, he began this Work the twenty second Year of his Reign, which was two hundred and ten Years before Christ, and in five Years space compleated the whole Fabrick, impressing three Men out of ten throughout the whole Empire, which amounted to many Millions. And such was the Composure of this miraculous Work, being so strongly compacted and closely joyn'd, that if in any place of the Cementations a Nail might be driven between the Stones, those that committed that Error, were to be put to Death without mercy; by reason whereof the Work became so won∣drous strong, that it is the greatest part of admiration to this day; for not∣withstanding the many Vicissitudes of the Empire, Changes of Government, Batteries and Assaults, not only of the Enemy, but of violent Tempests, De∣luges of Rain, shaking Winds, and wearing Weather, yet it discovers not the least sign of Demolishment, nor crack'd or craz'd with Age, but appears al∣mostas in its first strength, greatness, and beauty; and well may it be, for whose solidity whole Mountains, by ripping up their rocky Bowels for Quar∣ries, were levell'd, and vast Desarts, drown'd with deep and swallowing Sands, swept clean to the firm bottom.

There is also a Channel made by the Chineses, at a vast Expence both of Cost and Labor, for commodious Navigation unto the Royal City of Pe∣king: And although many admire the Dutch for their Trenches or Cataracts cut through the Land for Passage from Place to Place, yet the Channel Iun in China is admirable, beyond all their Works; concerning which Martinius in his Atlas gives the following Account:

The Province of Xantung deservedly boasts of the River Iun, the most famous Chan∣nel throughout the whole Empire of China, digg'd with incredible Labor and Industry, by which from most Parts of the Empire Ships bring Merchandize to the Royal City of Pe∣king. This Trench beginneth on the North of the City Socien, from the Bank of the Saf∣fron River, thence stretching it self unto Cining and Lincing; from whence in that Channel it passeth into the River Quei, being some hundred Miles. I have counted upon it above twenty Cataracts or Waterfalls made of hewn Stone, with a Passage for Ships, where they dam up the Waters with a Sluce, which is easily heav'd up by the benefit of an Engine with a Wheel, affording an Outlet to the Waters; and if they want Water for great Vessels, then in the middle Passage, before you come to Cining, they let it in from the Lake Cang, through the greatest Cataract, as much as they please, timely closing the Passage, to prevent an Inundation. These Cataracts are commonly call'd Tung-pa, because they sustain the force of the Water flowing from the Lake: Now when Ships arrive, that they may not be forc'd to Sail through the Lake, they have cut a Trench or Channel on the Bank, fortifi'd with Rampiers, by which all Ships do easily pass. At each Cataract are Persons maintain'd at the Publick Charge, to attend the Ships until they are pass'd the Cataracts.

The Province of Chekiang is rough and mountainous, not able to compare with other Provinces for great Cities, multitude of Inhabitants; and richness of Soil, yet affords two Commodities of great Profit, which none of the rest have, and those of so great use, that they are an Ornament to the whole Em∣pire. The first is many thousand Bails of the best Paper, which plentifully furnisheth the fifteen Provinces. The other is that Gum which they call Cie, distilling from Trees, not unlike that which drops from our Fir-Trees; and of this they make that Varnish wherewith they so dress their Houses, that al∣though the out-sides be but low and mean, yet within they far exceed all Eu∣rope for Splendor, every thing therein being so transparent, that you can look no where, but as in a Mirror each opposite Object is represented; and being temper'd with divers Colours, and beautifi'd with Birds, Flowers, and Dra∣gons, the several Effigies of Gods and Goddesses, and other Figures drawn to the Life, which at once abundantly delight, and cause admiration in the Be∣holders. When the Gum is gather'd, they make it of what Colour they please, but the Gold Colour is in most esteem, and next that the Black. Before it is dry'd, it sendeth forth venomous Exhalations, which cause Swellings, the Pthysick, and Consumption; but they who use this Preparation, have an Antidote ready, which defends them from Infection. Things Painted with this Gum or Varnish, dry soonest in a damp place; but once dry'd, never yields nor melteth.

The Chineses also boast of other excellent Inventions; as first, that ingenious Art of PRINTING, us'd by them long before it was known in Europe: But yet they understand not the right use of it, being ignorant of the Art of Founding Letters, or Composing with them, but Cutting or Engraving upon Wood what they have to Print, like our Sculp'd Plates fitted for the Rowling-Press; so that not being able to Distribute their Character, they are forc'd to have a standing From for every Page, by which means the Printing of one Vo∣lume oft-times filleth a whole House with their Typographical Tables; as for Example, if the whole have but 100 Sheets, they must have 400 Tables.

Secondly, Though we acknowledge they had the Invention of Gun-powder before us, (because the Fathers of our Society have seen great Ordnance, as big as Bazaliscoes, Cast for a Siege in divers Provinces, especially in Nanking, which are very ancient) yet they never arriv'd to our Perfection, being unskill'd in

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Fire-works; but their Art in Casting excells, as appears by the mighty Sta∣tues, great Guns, and ponderous Bells every where frequent, and as the Bells mention'd in a Letter from Father Ferdinando Verbist to Father Iohn Gruberus in Peking (in respect of which the greatest in Europe may be call'd Saunce-Bells) shall demonstrate; his words are these: Anno 1403. there Reign'd an Emperor in China nam'd Yum lo, he that first remov'd the Court from Nanking to Peking, who the better to perpetuate his Name, Cast many Bells of a prodigious Magnitude, whereof one of Iron, and eight of Brass, are now at Peking, the least of which are 120000 weight: I saw seven lying in one place near unto Chum leu, all fair and like ours, but the Margents are not so spreading, nor the top so Conick: And because Father Athanasius Kircher, in his Musurgia, fol. 522. hath set down the Measure of the Bell of Erford in Germany, which for the bigness he termeth prodigious, I will here give the Dimensions of one of those which I saw at Peking, and compare it with that of Erford, reducing Measures to the Cubits of China.

The Bell of Peking. 1. The Altitude included in the Cur∣vature is 12 Cubits. 2. The Diameter of the Orifice or Ba∣sis 10 Cubits and 8 Digits. 3. The thickness of the Bell 9 Digits. 4. The exterior circumference mea∣sur'd by the Diameter only three times taken, that is omitting one Se∣venth of the Diameter, is 39 Cu∣bits and 6 Digits. 5. The weight 120000 Pounds.

The Bell of Erford. 1. The Altitude included in the Cur∣vature is 8 Cubits 5 Digits and a half. 2. The Diameter 7 Cubits 1 Digit. 3. The thickness 6 Digits & 3 quarters. 4. The Circumference, or Periphery, according to the Measure alledg'd by Father Kircher, is 26 Cubits and 1 Digit. 5. The weight 25400 Pounds.

The Diameter of the Bell of Peking, next the Canon, where it beginneth to close at the top, is 8 Cubits 5 Digits, the Circumference of the Handle bended is 3 Cubits, and there the Dameter is about 1 Cubit; the Altitude of the Per∣pendicular Canon above the top is three Cubits: now the Chinesian Cubit is di∣vided into 10 Digits, where of 9 are equivalent to our Geometrical Foot.