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. XVI.

Of Animals.

AS kind Nature hath abundantly provided and bless'd China with all manner of Trees, Bushes, Herbs, and Fruits; so it has made the same no less fruitful in the product of all sorts of irrational Creatures, as Beasts, Fishes, Fowls, &c.

Of Four-footed Creatures.

THe Sheep in China are like those of Persia and Tartary, having long and thick Tails, which they drag after them, weighing forty or fifty Pound: their Flesh is very sweet.

Near the Garrison of Tieki is great store of Cows, having very long, thick and curl'd Tails, which the Chinese Soldiers wear for Ornament in their Caps in stead of Feathers.

Near to the Cities of Cingcheu and Tengcheu, there is found in the Maw of a Cow a Stone call'd Nienhoang, which signifies The Yellow of the Cow, by reason of its Colour: It is of several sizes, and sometimes as big as a Goose Egg: And although it be not altogether so firm and close as the Bezoar Stone, and consequently lighter, yet is it by the Chineses valued and esteemed much before it: It seems outwardly to be Chalk, and is much commended for se∣veral uses.

In the Province of Quantung is a Creature which the Chineses call The Swift Cow; for it is so nimble of foot, that it can run more than three hundred Miles in a day.

In Cincheu is a certain Beast very like a Cow, having Horns much whiter than Ivory, which is an exceeding great lover of Salt; and therefore when at any time the Huntsmen go abroad to take any of them, they carry Bags of Salt with them, which they lay as a Bait; and on this they will feed with such greediness, that they rather suffer themselves to be kill'd, than leave off their so dearly beloved Prey.

In the Province of Kiangsi, and especially in the City of Nanchang, the In∣habitants feed their Hogs as well within the City as without, by means whereof there are such great and swarming Herds continually kept in the Streets, that they are hardly passable; yet they are always kept very clean, great numbers of People being continually employ'd in taking away the Filth.

In the Province of Peking there are some Cats with very long Hair, as white as Milk, and having long Ears like a Spaniel: The Gentlewomen keep them for their Pleasure; for they will not hunt after, or catch Mice, the reason per∣haps being for that they are too high fed: Yet they have store of other Cats which are good Mousers.

In the Provinces of Iunnan and Suchue are the best Horses. And in the Pro∣vince of Xensi, upon the Mountain Holan (three hundred Miles large) are many wild Horses. Their Horses are generally but of a mean stature, yet well set, broad Buttock'd, and strong for Service.

Near Siven are yellow Mice, very large, whose Skins are in much request amongst the People.

In all Parts of China, especially in the Province of Quantung, are abundance of Stags, Bucks, Hares, &c.

In Xantung are many ravenous Wolves: And in Xensi abundance of Bears, the Fore-feet whereof are held in great esteem by the Natives.

Near to the Chief City Linyao lie some Mountains, upon which are bred wild Oxen, and Creatures like Tygers, with whose Skins the Inhabitants make their Clothes.

In the Province of Suchue, near the City Po, is a Creature call'd The Rhino∣ceros: It is of a swarthy hue like the Elephant: the Skin is full of Wrincles, and so hard withal, that it can scarcely be pierc'd with a Sword: It has a Snout like a Hog, but sharper; and above the Nostrils stands the Horn, which is generally black; now and then there is one white, but very seldom, and that is sold much dearer than the other; and indeed one is larger than the other, according to the age of the Beast.

In bigness and thickness of Body the Rhinoceros differs but little from the Elephant, only it has much shorter Feet; and that's the reason why it is not so comely to the Eye. This Creature is of that temper, that it will hurt no

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bod, unless it be first assaulted, and then it falls on with great fury, not only upon him that gave the Offence, but upon every thing that comes in its way, which he will never leave till he hath destroy'd it. When he has got a Man down, he kills him with a lick of his Tongue, which is both sharp and rough; afterwards tears off his Flesh to the very Bones; but his ordinary Food is thorny Bushes. He is always at enmity with the Elephant, to whom before he goes to gives Battel, he whets his Horn against a Stone, and in Fight endea∣vors to wound him in the Belly, which he knows to be the weakest part. He makes a noise like the Grunting of Hogs. The Moors eat his Flesh; but it re∣quires good Stomachs as well as Teeth to feed upon him. Some use the Horn as an Antidote or Preservative against Poyson.

There are great store of Tygers in the Province of Chekiang, mischievous and fierce, according to their Nature: But upon the Mountain Kutien are some that will not hurt a Man.

In several Parts of China also are Elephants bred, but the best are in the Pro∣vinces of Nanking and Iunnan: I shall only add a few words concerning them, so much hauing been already said by several Authors. Their bigness is vari∣ous: At Constantinople was one seen, which from the Eyes to the furthermost part of the Back, was eleven Foot, and from the Eyes to the end of his Snout, eight Foot long. In heighth some are twelve, others thirteen and fourteen Foot. They are generally black; but some Chinese Writers affirm, that the King of Nazaringa had a white one. Their Skin is like Net-work, but so extraordinary hard, that it will turn the Edge of a Sword; yet it is harder upon the Back than the Belly. For the chewing of their Meat, they have four Teeth within, besides those that stick out before, which stand crooked in the Male, and down-right in the Female. The nether Iaw-bone is only mov'd in chewing, the upper always rests. In that part where the Nose is plac'd in other Crea∣tures, the Elephant has a long Trunk or Snout, which reaches to the Ground, and has a Slit at the end: This is both pliable and slippery, which they make use of in stead of a Hand; for they can take up any thing with it either moist or dry, and put it into their Mouths.

Of the extraordinary Docility of this Beast there are several Examples to be found, both in the ancient and modern, as well Chinese as other Writers.

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Pliny writes, That they fling up Arms into the Air, and that they Fence with one another. Of the time and manner of Copulation there is great variety among Historians; Pliny says, That the Male and the Female at ten years old begin to couple: But Aristotle gives them a longer time, ascribing twenty to them both, the Female at twelve, and the Male at eight years. This Act of Generation they do most commonly in the Water, as being most easie for them both; and that in the most private Recesses they can find out, and but once in three years; neither doth the Male make use of one Female any more than once: After they have done Coupling they grow wild and furious, doing much hurt where they come. How long they go before they cast their Young is uncertain; some speak of a Year and six Months, others say three years, and some ten. They bring forth with great pain, leaning backward upon their hinder Legs. Some write, that they bring forth but one at a time, others four: As soon as it is brought forth it sees, goes, and sucks with the Mouth, and not with the Snout, till it is eight years old. They wage War with the Rhinoceros, Lion, Snake, Tyger, Ram, Hog, and Dragon, as also with some Colours, and with Fire.

In the Province of Iunnan, the Hill Nalo is full of wild Tygers and Leopards; and so also is the Mountain Xepao. In the Province of Quangsi, they are much fiercer than Lions, and very hot and eager in the pursuit of Men, Women, and Children. But Nature has in some sort provided a means whereby to avoid the cruelty of this Beast; for it is always accompanied with a small Creature, which with continual Barking gives notice of its coming; upon which noise every living thing endeavors to get out of the way by flight, or otherwise. The People of Bengala stand in very great dread of this Beast. The Tyger and Rhinoceros (as Bontius writes) are great Friends to one another, conversing much together; the reason whereof the Islanders of Iapan told me, was, as they suppos'd, and which is not improbable, because the Tyger is altogether a de∣vourer of Flesh, which must of necessity occasion a weak Stomach; whereas the Rhinoceros feeds only upon Green: therefore the Tyger follows him for his Dungs sake, which he eats for a Cure when he is out of order, as the Dogs Grass, and the Cats Nip or Cats-mint.

In the Province of Quangsi are very large Hogs, with great and strong Bristles

of a Foot and a half long, which by a particular and strange motion of the Body they know how to dart toward any one, and that not without great pre∣judice of those they hit.

In the Province of Xensi is found the Creature call'd Xee, from whom pro∣ceeds the Musk; and which is very strange, if at any time it be carried out of the Kingdom of Lu, into the adjacent Kingdom of Laos, it dies immediately, as a Fish out of the Water.

In the Kingdom of Gannan is a certain Creature call'd Tese, which in shape comes very near to a Man, having long Arms: he is black and hairy upon the Body, swift of Foot, and laughs aloud like a Man, but is of so voracious a nature, that whomsoever he meets with he instantly devours.

In the Province of Suchue lies a Mountain call'd Toyung, upon which are Monkies or Baboons, which for bigness and shape are very like a Man. These Creatures are more than ordinarily addicted to Venery, so that they often at∣tempt to surprise Women on purpose to satisfie their beastial lust, and have their wills on them. The Indians call them Wild Men, and the Indian Women are in such fear of them, that they dare not come near those Woods where they frequent.

Of Fowl.

IN the Province of Xantung are Hens and fat Capons to be had very cheap▪ as also great abundance of all sorts of Fowl, as Pheasants, Partridges, &c.

In the Province of Xensi, about Mincheu, are Cocks and Hens having Wool upon them in stead of Feathers.

In the Province of Quantung are an innumerable company of Ducks, which the Inhabitants take great delight to breed and increase. They never suffer the Duck to sit upon her Eggs to hatch them, but put them into an Oven mode∣rately heated, or else bury them in a Dunghil, and so hatch the young ones.

In the Province of Huquang, near to the City Hanyang, may be caught great store of Geese.

There are several other sorts of Fowls and Birds in other Provinces, where∣of we have already made mention in the former part of the Description of China.

Of Fish.

IN the Province of Xantung the Pools and Rivers do so abound with Fish, that for the value of a Peny you may buy ten Pound weight thereof.

In the Province of Kiangsi is a great abundance of all manner of Fish, espe∣cially of Salmon, and the like.

In the Province of Huquang are caught many dainty Lampreys in the River Lofeu.

Near to the City Kiagan is the Pool Mie, in which is bred a sort of Fish as sweet as Honey.

In the Province of Chekiang, near the City Canghoa, lies the Mountain Cien∣king, upon which is a Pool, famous for the yellow or Gold-Fish that is in it: It is but a small Fish, about a Fingers length, with a forked Tail; but is in very great esteem at the choicest Tables, so that the Grandees have them com∣monly in their Fish-Ponds for their Pleasure and Use.

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In the Province of Honan, near to the Chief City Namyang, runs the River Tan, wherein at the beginning of Summer, but never else, are taken red Fish; before and after which time they are not to be had, in regard they hide them∣selves.

Near to the Island Hainan are caught Whales, after the same manner as the Hollanders and English take them in the North about Greenland, whereof they make Oyl which serves for several uses. Of these commonly some are a hun∣dred and twenty Foot long; the Head whereof is reckon'd for a third part of the whole Body: Upon the top of the Snout are two round Holes, by which means they will take in a great quantity of Water, and spout it out again with a mighty force. In stead of Eyes they have two thin Skins which stick out, and are three Yards long, and a Foot and a half broad, and cover'd over with Stuff like unto Flocks. On each side of the Head it hath an Ear, which is much smaller without than within, whereby they are very quick of Hearing. It hath a very large Mouth, with Lips of so great a thickness, that they have sometimes five or six thousand weight of Fat upon them. The Tongue, which is about eighteen Foot long, and ten broad, rests upon eight hundred small and great Pegs or Teeth, which are all cover'd with Stuff like Horse-hair, to preserve the Tongue from being hurt as it lies upon them. They feed upon Fish, and the Froth and Scum of the Sea. There was once one taken that had forty Cod-Fishes in her Belly. The Tail is at the end almost twenty eight Foot broad, and two thick. The Male hath a Pizzle about fourteen Foot long. They bring forth but one at a time, and that in the Harvest, which stays by the Female under the protection of her Fins, till it is grown of a large size. It stands in great fear of the Sword-Fish, which is a mortal Enemy unto it, and who with its sharp Saw endeavors to rip open the tender Belly of this Prodigy of Nature. The manner of killing them has been sufficiently descri∣bed by others, and therefore I shall forbear to trouble the Reader with a Re∣lation thereof.

Of Creeping Creatures.

NEar Fungciang is found a sort of black Snakes, whose Flesh is made use of in the Composition of Medicines that are prescrib'd as Antidotes against Poyson.

In the Province of Honan, near the City Hangang, are Snakes with white speckled Skins, whose Flesh having for a convenient Season been infus'd in Wine, makes the same a very soveraign Remedy against Lameness.

In the Province of Huquang is a sort of Snake, which Physically us'd is very good against the Scurf and Itch.

Of Vermine.

THE Province of Xensi is subject, among many other Inconveniences, to this, that it hath more want of Rain than the other Northern Parts; and this occasions every where such infinite swarms of Grashoppers, that they continually devour the growth of the Fields, notwithstanding all the Care and and industrious Diligence of the Inhabitants to prevent the same: And this is the true cause why there is very seldom any green Grass to be seen in that whole Province. But these very Vermin supply the Defect they cause, by be∣coming good Food, insomuch that of these Grashoppers the People make a delicate Dish for their Tables.

The whole Country of China hath great numbers of Silk-worms, but in no part are they in so great abundance as in the Province of Chekiang, the Inhabi∣tants whereof spend the greatest part of their time in tending, looking after, and taking care to increase them,

In the Province of Xantung the Trees and Fields hang sometimes full of Silk, which is not spun by the fore-mention'd Silk-worm, but another sort, and consisteth of long Threds of white Silk, which being carried by the Wind upon the Trees and Houses, is gather'd together. Of this sort they weave Stuffs, but it is far courser then that which is wove of the former; but this is recompensed by its durableness; for it is much stronger.

In China are also found several strange Creatures, which live as well upon the Land as in the Water; namely, in the Province of Huquang, in the River of Siang, lives a certain Creature like a Horse, only in stead of Hair it has Scales upon the Body, and Claws like a Tyger. It is of a very fierce and cruel Na∣ture, and will fasten upon any thing when it comes out of the Water, whether Man or Beast.

In Quantung, near the City Hoeicheu, is a Creature which is neither Fish nor Fowl, but between both; for all the Summer it is a Bird of a yellow Colour, and therefore call'd Hoangcioya, and keeps upon the Mountains; but in the Winter it turns Fish again, and betakes it self to the Water. The People eat of it with great delight and satisfaction.

Near the City Caocheu, in the River Co, are abundance of very mischievous Crocodiles: they are by the Indians call'd Caiman, having an Hide as hard as Iron, and only soft upon the Belly. This Caiman has a broad Forehead, and a Hog-like Snout, with a very wide Mouth: Its Teeth are large, white▪ and strong, fix'd in both the Iaws, whereof only the uppermost moves; for the lowermost is fix'd and immovable: It has no Tongue, but only a Ski••

that cleaves to the lower Iaw, being much like a Tongue: It has large round black Eyes: The Legs are strong, and the Feet Arm'd with sharp Nails: The Tail is as long as the rest of the Body: It is said, that he can live four Months without eating; but at last being hungry, he howls or cries out like a Man. These Serpents are very swift of foot, but cannot so well wind and turn, by reason of their stiff Back-bones. They are not onely found here, but in other parts of India, Africa, Asia, and America, especially in the River Nyle in Egypt. They live upon Fish or Flesh, and when they come Ashore they prey upon Cattel: When they Couple, the Male lays the Female upon her Back, other∣wise by reason of the shortness of his Feet he could not Copulate. The Female lays sixty Eggs, of the bigness of a Goose Egg, and is hatching of them sixty days. There is no Creature to be found, that from so small a beginning grows to such a largeness; for some are thirty Foot long. They are at enmity with the Tyger, Serpents, Scorpions, &c. but at amity with Hogs, which they suf∣fer to pass by them unregarded. In the Day this Creature lives upon the Land, and in the Night in the Water. When it is gorg'd with eating, and is fall'n asleep with his Mouth full of Meat, a small Bird call'd Trochicus, and in Italian, The King of Birds, comes to him as he lies with his Mouth open, and cleanses his Teeth with picking and scraping; wherewith the Crocodile is so highly pleas'd, that he opens his Throat as wide as is possible, that so the Bird may scoure the same: for which kindness it bears it much friendship. The Chineses eat the Flesh thereof with great delight. It is reported, that Termus King of Egypt swam amongst them stark naked, having his Body only anointed with the Grease of them.

In the River Chaoking is a Fish call'd The Swimming Cow, which comes often out of the Water, and fights at Land with the tame Cows, to their great ha∣zard, till its Horns grow weak by staying out of the Water, which may be discerned by their turning yellow; then with all speed it returns into the Water, where the Horns grow hard again.

Near to Caocheu there is to be seen a strange kind of Creature in the Sea, ha∣ving a Head like a Bird, and a Tail like a Fish: In its Belly are found some Precious Stones.

Between this City and the Island Hainan are taken a sort of Crabs, which as soon as they are out of the Water become petrifi'd, and immediately turn into Stones. The Portuguese and Chineses make great use of them for the Cure of Agues.

In the Province of Suchue near the City of Chunking, are great store of Land-Tortoises of several sizes; some very large, and others very small, which the Inhabitants keep in their Houses for their Pleasure.

But in Quantung, near to Hoeicheu, there are caught in the Sea such very large Tortoises, that they look like little Rocks at a distance. The Land as well as the Sea-Tortoises engender after the manner of the Adder-Snake, the Male getting upon the Female. They lay Eggs like Hens Eggs, but lesser, and more oval. It is said of them, that they live under Ground in the Winter without eating: They are afraid of the Eagle, which makes a prey of them taking them up, and letting them fall till they break. They make but little noise, yet louder than the Snake. Whether they are to be reckon'd amongst Flesh or Fish, is still to be determin'd. Some account them amongst Fish, and eat them in Lent; others think the contrary, because they have Feet, and draw Breath.

The Land-Tortoise Shells are very hard, and like Ebony, nor will they bend like those of the Sea; but they are full of Knobs upon the top, and most of them of fine Colours, yellow and brown, as if they were Painted with Crosses, Stars, and other Figures. They thrust out their Heads and Feet, which when they draw in, as they can at pleasure, they seem to be immovable: They differ very much in bigness, some being no bigger than a Man's Fist.

In Virginia are Tortoises of three and four Foot long, with two Heads; which are very malicious, and given to biting.

In the Island Mauritius are some Tortoises so large, that they will carry four or five Men standing upon them. Their Shells are of so capacious an extent, that ten Persons may sit in one of them. But the Sea-Tortoises are much larger than those of the Land. Iohn de Lery writes, That there was one taken by their Fleet, which gave eighty Persons their Bellies full. Their Shells are much smoother and flatter than the other, and very curiously wrinkled. In hot Water they will bend into any shape, which the other cannot do by reason of its hardness; so that Artificers make Combs and Boxes of them. In stead of Feet they have Fins, wherewith they swim as other Fish; but they lie much upon their Backs, and swim sleeping upon the Water. The Flesh of this Crea∣ture is luscious, and tastes like Veal, being interlarded with yellowish Fat. The Female lays her Eggs by Night, and buries them in the Sand, which are hatch'd in six Weeks by the heat of the Sun.