Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. VIII. Of the Cities of Mangi (now called China) and the rarities thereof: the many wonders of Quinsai, the Palaces, Pleasures, Rites and Gouernment, obserued by the Natiues, and the Tartars.

* 1.1COiganzu is a faire and rich Citie, situate towards the South-east, and East in the en∣trance of the Prouince of Mangi, (from Cataio, whence the Authour passed) where are alway great store of ships, being seated on the Riuer Caramoran. Great store of [ 30] Merchandise is carried thither.* 1.2 Salt is also made there in great abundance.

Going from Coiganzu, you ride towards the South-east one dayes iourney on a stone * 1.3 Cau∣sie; on both sides whereof are great Fennes with deepe waters, whereon they may passe with ships: neither is there any entrance into Mangi but by shipping (as the Captaine of the Can did) but by this Causie.* 1.4 At the end of that dayes iourney is a Citie called Paughin great and faire. The people make clothes of Gold and of Silke, are Merchants and Idolaters. The Paper money of great Can is receiued throughout that whole Countrey. It is plentifull of all neces∣saries of life.

* 1.5To the Citie Caim, is from Paughin one dayes iourney South-east, and this is also a famous Citie,* 1.6 abounding with fish, and game, of beasts, and fowle: especially Phesants are found there, in exceeding great plentie, as great as Peacocks; of which you may haue three for one [ 40] Venetian groat.

Proceeding further hence one dayes iourney, you come thorow a well manured and peopled Countrey to the Citie Tingui,* 1.7 which although it be not great, yet hath it exceeding great plen∣tie of victuals. They are Merchants, and very many ships are also there: plentie of beasts and fowles: It is seated to the South-east, and on the left hand towards the East three dayes iour∣ney off is the Ocean:* 1.8 and in the space betweene, are very many Salt pits; and they make great store of Salt. After this, is Cingui a great Citie, whence the Countrey is furnished with Salt, whereof the Can makes great profit, beyond beliefe. They are Idolaters, and haue Paper mo∣ney.* 1.9 From Cingui riding towards the South-east, you meet with the noble Citie Iangui, vnder [ 50] the gouernment whereof are other Cities; seuen and twentie in number. And in that Citie resi∣deth one of the twelue Barons which are Gouernours of Prouinces chosen by the great Can. They are Idolaters, and liue of Merchandise. They make Armes and Harnasse for warre. And Master Marco had the sole gouernment thereof by commission of the great Can,* 1.10 three yeeres to∣gether in stead of one of those Barons.

Nanghin is a Prouince to the West, one of the greatest and noblest of Mangi, a place of great Merchandise. They are Idolaters, spend Paper money, haue store of beasts and fowle, wilde and tame. They make clothes of Gold and Silke, and are rich Merchants, and the Countrey is very commodious to the Can, specially by Customes of Merchandise. There is great plentie of Corne. Sianfu is a noble and great Citie in the Prouince of Mangi, and hath twelue rich and [ 60] great Cities subiect vnto her iurisdiction. They make great store of Silkes and cloth of Gold, haue plentie of game and fowle, and of all things pertayning to a Citie of note: so strong, that it was three yeeres besieged, and could not be vanquished by the Armie of the Tartars, when the Prouince of Mangi was subdued. For it is compassed on euery side with Lakes, that there

was no way vnto it, but on the North: so that ships came and went continually, bringing plen∣tie of victuals: which not a little afflicted great Can. The two brethren Master Nicolo, and Master Maffio, then in his Court, hearing hereof, went to him, and offered their seruice to de∣uise certaine Engines after the manner of the West, able to shoot a stone of three hundred weight, thereby to kill men, and ruine houses. The Can appointed them the best Carpenters which were Nestorian Christians, who made three (Mangani) of those Engines in a short space,* 1.11 which were proued and approued before him, and by ships sent vnto his Armie. Planting them therefore against the Citie Sianfu; they began to cast great stones into the Citie: and the first falling vpon a certaine house, brake it for the most part, with the violence thereof. Which the [ 10] besieged Inhabitants seeing, were very much astonished, and yeelded themselues, and became subiect to the obedience of great Can, on the same conditions with the rest of Mangi; to the great repute of the two Venetian brethren.

From the Citie Sianfu, to a certaine Citie, named Singui,* 1.12 are numbred fifteene miles South-eastward, which although it be not great, yet hath it an exceeding multitude of Ships, being seated vpon the greatest Riuer in the world, called Quian,* 1.13 the bredth of which in certaine pla∣ces, contayneth ten miles, in other eight, and in some sixe. But the length thereof extendeth it selfe aboue an hundred dayes iourney from the head to the Sea. Innumerable other Riuers flow into it, which runne thorow diuers Regions, and are nauigable, and make it so great; incredi∣ble store of Merchandise is brought by this Riuer. There are also very many other Cities, in number about two hundred, which participate of this Riuer: it floweth through the bounds [ 20] of sixteene Prouinces. The greatest commoditie is Salt, wherewith all the Cities which com∣municate in these waters are stored. Master Marco saw at one time at Singui fiue thousand ships, and yet other Cities on that Riuer haue more. All those ships are couered, and haue but one mast, and one sayle, and vsually carrie foure thousand, and so vpwards, some of them twelue thousand Venetian Cantari. Neither vse cordage of Hempe, except for the mast and sayle, but haue Canes fifteence paces long, which they riue into thinne parts from one end to the other, and binding the cut pieces together, and wreathing them, make very long ropes, so that some of them contayne three hundred fathom in length. And those lines are as strong as Hempen, and serue for halfes and cables to draw their ships vp and downe the Riuer, each ship hauing ten or twelue Horses for that purpose. On that Riuer in many places are rockie hillockes, on which [ 30] are built Monasteries to their Idols: and all the way are Villages and places inhabited.

Cayngui is a little Citie, vpon the foresaid Riuer South-eastward,* 1.14 where euery yeere is brought store of Corne and Rise, carried the most part to Cambalu.* 1.15 For they may passe thither by Lakes and Riuers, and by one deepe large hand-made Riuer, which the Can caused to be made for pas∣sage from one Riuer to another, and from Mangi to Cambalu without going to Sea. Which worke is goodly and wonderfull for the site and length, and more for the profit thereby to the Cities. Hee hath made also great Causies to goe on land by those waters commodiously. In the mids of the said Riuer is an Iland of a Rocke, on which is erected a great Temple and Mona∣sterie, in which are two hundred Idolatrous Monkes. This is the Mother-temple and Monaste∣rie [ 40] of many others.

Cinghianfu is a Citie of Mangi, rich in Merchandise, plentifull of game,* 1.16 of wilde beasts and fowle, and of victuall. In it are two Churches of Nestorian Christians, built Anno 1274. when the great Can sent Gouernour thither, Marsachis a Nestorian, which built them.

From the Citie Cinghianfu, in three dayes iourney South-eastward, you find many Cities and Castles all Idolaters, and at last come to the Citie Tinguigui, a great and faire Citie,* 1.17 abounding with all kinde of victuals. When Chinsam Baian, Generall of the Armie of the Tartars con∣quered the Prouince of Mangi, he sent many Christians (called Alani) against this Citie, which was double walled; into the inner they retired; into the other the Alans entred, and found there abundance of Wine, whereof after a bad iourney, they began to drinke so largely, that they were all drunke: and the Citizens in their sleepe suddenly falling vpon them, slue them all, [ 50] none escaping. But Baian hearing this, sent another great Armie against those Citizens, which shortly vanquishing the Citie, in reuenge, put them all to the sword, leauing none aliue.

The great and excellent Citie Singui, contayneth in circuit twentie miles.* 1.18 Great multitudes of people are in it: it hath many rich Merchants, and cunning Artificers, and it hath also very many Physicians, and Magicians, and Wisemen or Philosophers. In the Mountaines of this Citie,* 1.19 Rhubarb and Ginger grow in great plenty. This Citie hath sixteen Cities vnder the iurisdiction thereof, where much trading is vsed, and very many curious Arts are exercised. Very many Silkes are made there. The word Singui, in their language, signifieth, The Citie of the Earth, as also they haue another Citie, which they call Quinsai, that is to say, The Citie of Heauen. From Singui one dayes iourney is Vagiu, where is also abundance of Silke, and cunning Artificers with [ 60] many Merchants.

GOing from Vagiu three dayes, continually you find Cities, Castles, and Villages, well peo∣pled and rich. The People are Idolaters, vnder the Can: at the end of those dayes you

come to Quinsai, which for the excellency hath that name (interpreted Citie of Heauen) for in the World there is not the like,* 1.20 in which are found so many pleasures, that a man would thinke he were in Paradise. In this Citie Master Marco Polo hath often beene, and considered the same with great diligence, obseruing the whole state thereof, setting downe the same in his memori∣als, as here shall be declared briefly. This Citie by common opinion, is an hundred miles in cir∣cuit; for the streets and channels thereof are very wide. There are Market places exceeding large. On the one side a cleere Lake of fresh water, on the other a great Riuer which enters in many places, and carries away all the filth of the Citie, and so runneth into that Lake, thence continuing his course to the Ocean: which causeth a good ayre, and commodious passage both by land, and by these channels. There may goe both Carts and Barkes to carrie necessa∣ries: and the report is, that there are twelue thousand Bridges great and small, and those [ 10] on the chiefe channels are so high that a ship without her Mast may passe vnder, and aboue, Chariots and Horses.

On the other side the Citie is a Ditch, about fortie miles long, which encloseth it on that side; large and full of water from the Riuer, made by the antient Kings of that Prouince, both to re∣ceiue the ouerflowings of the water, and to fortifie the Citie: the earth which was taken out being layd within as a banke or hill encompassing.* 1.21 There are ten chiefe Market-places (besides in∣finite others along the streets) which are square, halfe a mile in each square. And from the fore∣part of them is a principall street fortie paces wide, running right from one end of the Citie to the other,* 1.22 with many Bridges trauersing it. And euery foure miles is found such a Market-place, two miles,* 1.23 as is said, in compasse. There is also one large channell, which runnes against [ 20] the said street, behind the Market-places, on the next banke whereof are erected great Store-houses of stone, where the Merchants from India, and other parts lay vp their Merchandise, at hand,* 1.24 and commodious to the Market-places. In each of these Market-places is a concourse three dayes in the weeke of persons betwixt fortie and fiftie thousand, which bring thither all things that can be desired for mans life, of all beasts of game, and fowles; that Lake yeelding such commodiousnesse to bring them vp, that for a Venetian groat you may haue two Geese, and foure Duckes for as much. Then follow the Butcher-rowes of Veale, Beefe, Kid, and Lambe, which the great and rich men eat; for the poore eat vncleane meats without respect. There are all sorts of herbs and fruits continually,* 1.25 and amongst the rest huge Peares, weighing ten pounds a piece, white within like paste, and very fragrant: Peaches yellow and white very delicate: [ 30] Grapes grow not there, but are brought from other places dried very good, and Wine also, but not so esteemed in those parts, that of Rice and Spices contenting them. Euery day from the Ocean is brought vp the Riuer (which is the space of fiue and twentie miles) great quantitie of fish, besides that of the Lake, so much as a man would thinke would neuer be bought, and yet in a few houres is gone. All those Market-places are encompassed with high houses, and vnder∣neath are shops of Artificers, and all sort of Merchandises, Spiceries, Iewels, Pearles, and in some onely Rice-wine. Many streets answere one another in the said Market-places. In some of them are many Baths of cold waters accommodated with attendants of both sexes, a thing which from children they vse themselues vnto. There are chambers also in the said Baths with [ 40] hot waters for strangers which are not accustomed to the cold waters. They wash euery day; neither doe they eat before they haue washed.

* 1.26In other streets are mercenarie Prostitutes in such number, that I dare not report it: and not onely neere the Market-places, where they haue their places appointed, but thorow all the Ci∣tie they stand very pompously with great odours, many seruants, and their houses adorned. These are very practike in making sports, and daliances, and sweetest pleasures rauishing (fooles) forth of themselues. In other streets are the Physicians, the Astrologers, they which teach to reade and write, and infinite other Trades. At each end of euery Market-place is a Palace, where Lords and Gouernours are appointed by the King to deternine difficulties which happen be∣twixt Merchants or others, as also to looke to the Guards on the Bridges, punishing the negli∣gent. [ 50] Alongst the principall Street (whereof wee spake) on both sides are great Palaces with Gardens; and neere them houses of Artificers, and such multitudes of people continually going to and fro, that a man would wonder whence such multitudes should bee prouided of victuals. And Master Marco learned of an officer of the Custome-house in Quinsai,* 1.27 that by reckonings ap∣peared the daily expence of Pepper in Quinsai, to be three and fortie Some, and euery Soma is two hundred twentie three pounds. Hence may be ghessed the quantitie of Victuals, Flesh, Wine, Spiceries, were there spent.

* 1.28The Inhabitants are Idolaters, spend Paper money, are white and faire complexion, apparel∣led for the most part in Silke, which growes in all that Territorie abundantly, besides that which is brought from other places. There are twelue principall mysteries, each of which haue [ 60] one thousand shops; and in each shop or standing, are ten men, fifteene, or twentie at worke, and in some fortie vnder one Master. The rich Masters doe no worke with their hands, but stand ciuilly adorned, or rather pompously, especially their wiues, with Iewels inualuable. And although the antient Kings ordayned, that the child should bee of the fathers Trade; yet the

rich are permitted not to worke, but to keepe shop, and men working in the same Trade. Their Houses are well ordered, and wrought richly, adorned with Pictures and other stupendious costs. The Natiues are peaceable, know not to manage Armes, nor keepe them in their Houses: nor is there strife and debate amongst them. They make their workes with great sinceritie. They loue in such amitie, that one Street seemes as one House, without jealousies of their Wiues, which they hold in great respect, and it would be reputed great disgrace to speake a dishonest word to a mar∣ried Woman. They entertayne Merchant-strangers kindly, both in their houses, and with best aduice for their affaires. But they are loth to see Souldiers and the Guards of the Grand Can,* 1.29 as by whom they are bereft of their naturall Lords and Kings.

[ 10] About the Lake are built faire Buildings and great Palaces of the chiefe men: and Temples of their Idols with Monasteries of many Monkes. In the midst of the Lake are two Ilands, vp∣on each of which is a Palace with incredible numbers of Roomes; whither they resort vpon occasions of Marriages or other Feasts; where Prouisions of Vessels, Naperie, and other things are maintayned in common for such purposes, one hundred sometime accommodated at once in seue∣rall Roomes. In the Lake also are Boates and Barges for pleasure,* 1.30 adorned with faire Seates and Tables, and other prouisions for Bankets, couered aboue and plaine, vpon which men stand with Poles to make the Boat goe, the Lake being but shallow. Within they are painted; without, are windowes to open and shut at pleasure. Nor can any thing in the World seeme more plea∣sant then in this Lake to haue such an obiect, the Citie so fully presenting it selfe to the eye, [ 20] with so many Temples, Monasteries, Palaces, Gardens with high Trees on the Waters, Barges, People: for their custome is to worke one part of the day, and to dispense some part to this so∣lace with their Friends, or with Women in the Lake; or else by Chariots riding thorow the Citie, which is also another of the Quinsay pleasures. For all the streets are paued with stone;* 1.31 as also are all the high Wayes in the Prouince of Mangi, onely for the Postes is left on the side, a space vnpaued. The principall street of Quinsay is paued ten paces on each hand, and in the midst it is full of Grauell with passages for the Water, which keepe it alway cleane. On this street are alway innumerable long close Chariots, accommodated with Clothes and Cushions of silke, for six persons; which solace themselues in the street, or goe to Gardens, and there passe the time in places made by the Gardeners for that purpose, and returne at night in the said [ 30] Chariots.

When one is borne, the Father sets downe the print of Time, and with that note goes to the Astrologer to consult of his future fortunes.* 1.32 Of these Astrologers are a great number in euery Market place. They will not celebrate a marriage without such consultation. When one dies that is of note, his Kindred clothe themselues in Canuasse,* 1.33 and so both Men and Women accom∣panie him to the burning place, playing on Instruments, and singing all the way prayers to their Idols: and being comne to the place, cast into the fire many Papers of Cotton, whereon are painted Slaues, Horses, Camels, Clothes of gold and silke, Monies, which they thinke hee shall really possesse in another World; and make such minstrelsie, in conceit of the ioy wherewith the Idols there receiue his Soule, where hee beginneth (they say) to liue anew. In euery street are [ 40] Towres of stone, whither in danger of fire they vse to carrie their goods, their timber houses being much subiect to such casualtie.

The Can hath ordayned that on the most part of the Bridges, day and night,* 1.34 there stand vnder a couert ten Guardians, fiue by day and fiue by night: and in euery Guard is a Tabernacle of Wood with a great Bason, whereby they know the houres of the day and night,* 1.35 which at euery houres end the Warders strike to notifie what houre, one, two, &c. beginning at the Sunne ri∣sing, and then againe at the beginning of the night. They walke vp and downe, and if any haue a light or fire after the deputed time, they cause him to answer it before the Iustices or Gouernors aforesaid; or if any walke later. If any be not able to worke, they carrie him to Hospitals,* 1.36 of which are exceeding many founded by the Kings of old, with great reuenues, thorow the Citie. When they are well againe, they are compelled to worke. If a fire happen; these from diuers [ 50] places come to quench it, and to carrie the goods into Boats, or the Ilands, or those Towres: for in the night the Citizens dare not come out, but those who are in danger. The Can alway kee∣peth here store of his best and faithfullest Souldierie, as being the best and richest place in the World. Within a mile of each other are builded Rampiers of wood,* 1.37 where a sound is made to be heard further off, for like purposes.

When the Can had reduced all Mangi to his obedience, hee diuided it (being before but one Kingdome) into nine parts, and set a King ouer each, which there administers iustice.* 1.38 Euery yeere they giue account to the Cans Officers of the reuenues, and other accidents: and euery third yeere are charged, as all other Officers are. One of these Deputie-Kings is resident at Quinsay, who is Gouernour of aboue one hundred and fortie Cities, all rich and great. Nor may this be a [ 60] wonder, seeing in Mangi there are twelue thousand Cities,* 1.39 all inhabited with rich and indu∣strious people. In euery of which the Can maintayneth a Garrison, proportionable to the great∣nesse and occasions, one thousand, ten or twentie thousand; not all Tartars, but Catayans; for the Tartars are Horse-men, and keepe where they may exercise their Horses. Into Cathay he sends

those of Mangi, and Cathayans hither such as are fit for Armes, of which he makes choise euery third yeere: and sends for foure or fiue yeeres together into places twentie dayes iourney from their Countrey, and then suffers them to returne home, others succeeding. And most part of the Cans Receits are this way expended: and if any Citie rebell, he suddenly from the next Gar∣risons rayseth an Armie to reduce or destroy them. This Citie of Quinsai hath in continuall Garrison thirtie thousand Souldiers; and that which hath least, hath one thousand in Horse and Foote.

* 1.40To speake now of the Palace of King Fanfur; his Predecessors caused to enclose a place of ten miles circuit with high walls, and diuided it into three parts. That in the midst was entred by one Gate; on the one side and the other were great and large Galleries, the Roofe sustayned by Pillars painted, and wrought with gold and fine azure: these were smaller at the entrie, and the [ 10] further the greater; the fairest at the end, the Roofe fairely adorned with gold, and on all the Walls were painted the stories of the former Kings artificially. There euery yeere on certaine I∣doll holy-dayes,* 1.41 Fanfur kept his Court and feasted his principall Lords, the great Masters, and rich Artificers of Quinsai, ten thousand at a time vnder those Terraces. This dured ten or twelue dayes with incredible magnificence, euery guest indeuouring to present himselfe in greatest pompe. Behinde this middle-most building was a wall, and going out which diuided the Palace; in which was, as it were, a Cloyster with Pillars, sustayning the Porch or Terrace round about the Cloyster: wherein were Chambers for the King and Queene curiously wrought. From this Cloyster was entrance into a Gallerie six paces wide, in length extending to the Lake, all coue∣red. [ 20] On each side of this Gallerie were ten Courts, answering one another fashioned like Cloy∣sters,* 1.42 each Court hauing fiftie Chambers with their Gardens, and in them one thousand Lasses abode, which the King kept for his seruice, who sometimes with the Queene, sometimes with them, went in his Barge on the Lake for solace, or to visit his Idoll Temples.

The other two parts of the Serraile were diuided into Groues, Lakes, Gardens planted with Trees;* 1.43 in which were inclosed all sorts of beasts, Roes, Bucks, Stags, Hares, Conies: and there the King solaced himselfe with his Damsels in Charets or on Horse-backe, no man entring there. There did he cause These to hunt with his Dogs, wearie whereof they went into those Groues, which answered one another ouer the Lakes, and there leauing their garments came forth naked, and set themselues a swimming in the Kings presence. Sometimes hee would take his repast in [ 30] those Groues being serued by those Damsels, without once thinking of Armes, which sweet meat cost him the soure sawce yee haue heard. All this was told mee by a rich old Merchant of Quinsai, whiles I was there, one which had beene an inward familiar of King Fanfur, and knew all his life, and had seene that Palace flourishing, into which he would needs bring me. The Vice∣roy now resides there; and the first Galleries remayne as they were wont, but the Damsells Chambers are ruined; the wall also which encompassed the Woods and Gardens is fallen to the ground, the Beasts and Trees being gone.

Twentie fiue miles from Quinsai is the Ocean betwixt the East and North-east, neere to which is a Citie,* 1.44 called Gampu, a goodly Port, where arriue the Indian ships of merchandise. Whiles M. Marco was in Quinsai, account being giuen to the Grand Can of the Reuenues, and [ 40] the number of the Inhabitants, he hath seene that there haue beene enrolled one hundred and six∣tie Toman of fires, reckoning for a fire, the Familie dwelling in one house: euery Toman con∣tayneth ten thousand,* 1.45 which makes sixteene hundred thousand Families: of all which there is but one Church of Christians, and those Nestorians. Euery house-holder is bound to haue written ouer his doore, the names of the whole house-hold, Males and Females; also the number of Hor∣ses; the names added or blotted out as the Familie increaseth or decreaseth. And this is obser∣ued in Mangi and Catay.

Those also that keepe Innes, write in a Booke the names of their Guests, and the day and houre of their departure, which Booke they send daily to the Lords or Magistrates, which reside at the Market-places. In Mangi the poore which are not able to bring vp their children, sell them [ 50] to the rich.

* 1.46The Reuenues which accrew to the Can from Quinsai, and the others pertayning thereto, be∣ing the ninth part of the Kingdome of Mangi, are first, of Salt euery yeere eightie Toman of gold (euery Toman is eightie thousand Sazzi of gold, and euery Sazzo is more then one Florin of gold) which will amount to six Millions and foure hundred thousand Duckats. The cause is, that that Prouince being nigh the Sea, there are many Lakes where the water in Summer is coagula∣ted into Salt, wherewith fiue other Kingdomes of that Prouince are serued. There is store of Su∣gar growing,* 1.47 which payeth as all other Spices doe, three parts and a third in the hundred. The like of Rice-wine. Also those twelue mysteries (which we said had twelue thousand shops) and the Merchants which bring goods hither, or carrie any hence by Sea, pay the same price. They [ 60] which co••e from farre Countries and Regions, as from the Indies, pay ten per cento. Likewise, all things there breeding, as Beasts, and growing out of the Earth, and Silke, pay tithe to the King. And the computation being made in the presence of M. Marco, besides Salt before mentioned, yeerely amounts to two hundred and ten Toman, which will bee sixteene millions of gold and eight hundred thousand.

FRom Quinsai one dayes iourney to the South-east are all the way Houses, Villages, faire Gar∣dens, plentifull of Victuals, at the end whereof is Tapinzu, a faire and great Citie, in the iuris∣diction of Quinsai. Three dayes thence South-east is Vgaiu,* 1.48 and two dayes further may you ride that way, all the way finding Castles, Cities, and cultiuated Places, in such Neighbour-hood, that they seeme to Trauellers all one Citie; all in the same iurisdiction of Quinsai. There are great Canes fifteene paces long and foure palmes thicke. Two dayes iourney further is the Citie Gengui, faire and great, and trauelling further South-east are inhabited places,* 1.49 full of People and Trades. And in this part of Mangi are no Muttons, but Beeues, Buffals, Goates, and Swine in great plentie. At the end of foure dayes iourney is found the Citie Zengian,* 1.50 built on a Hill in the midst of a Riuer, which with her parted Armes embraceth and encompasseth it, and then [ 10] runne one to the South-east, the other to the North-west. They are in the iurisdiction of Quin∣sai, are Merchants, Idolaters, haue store of Game. Three dayes iourney thence, thorow a good∣ly Countrey exceedingly inhabited, stands Gieza, a great Citie, the last of Quinsai Kingdome,* 1.51 after which you enter into another Kingdome of Mangi, called Concha.* 1.52 (The principall Citie thereof is Fugiu) by the which you trauell, six dayes iourney South-east, thorow Hills and Dales, alway finding places inhabited and store of Game of Beasts and Fowle.* 1.53 They are Idola∣ters, Merchants, subiect to the Can. There are stout Lions; there growes Ginger and Galingale plentie, with other sorts of Spices, eightie pounds of Ginger for a Venetian groat. There is an herbe, whose fruit hath the effect and giues the colour and smell of Saffron, but is not Sa••••ron, v∣sed in their meates. They voluntarily eate mans flesh, if they die not of sicknesse, as daintier [ 20] then others. When they goe to Warres, they shaue to the eares and paint their faces with azure; they are all Foot saue the Captaine which rideth, and vse Swords and Launces: are very cruell, and when they kill an Enemie, presently drinke his bloud, and after eate his flesh.* 1.54

After those six dayes trauell is Quelinfu, a great Citie with three Bridges,* 1.55 each eight paces broad and aboue one hundred long; the Women faire, delicate; and they haue store of Silke and Cotton, are great Merchants, haue store of Ginger and Galingale. I was told, but saw them not, that they haue Hennes without feathers, hayrie like Cats, which yet lay Egges and are good to eate. Store of Lions make the way dangerous. After three dayes,* 1.56 in a populous Countrey which are Idolaters, and haue store of Silke, is the Citie Vnguem, where is great plentie of Sugar;* 1.57 sent thence to Cambalu, which they knew not to make good till they became subiect to the Can; in [ 30] whose Court were Babylonians, which taught them to refine it with ashes of certayne Trees; they before onely boyling it into a blacke paste. Fifteene miles further is Cangiu, still in the Realme of Concha: and here the Can keepeth an Armie in readinesse for guard of the Countrey.* 1.58 Thorow this Citie passeth a Riuer a mile broad, fairely built on both sides, and stored with Ships of Sugar and other lading. This Riuer disembokes from hence fiue dayes iourney South-east, at Zaitum, a Sea Port, from whence the rich Ships of India come to this pleasant and fertile Citie, as is the way betwixt, in which are Trees or Shrubs of Camfire.

Zaitum is a famous Port, where many Ships arriue with merchandise,* 1.59 thence dispersed tho∣row all India. There is such store of Pepper, that the quantitie which comes to Alexandria to the West, is little to it, and as it were one of a hundreth: the concourse of Merchants is incre∣dible, [ 40] it being one of the most commodious Ports of the World, exceeding profitable to the Can, which Custometh ten of the hundreth of all merchandise. They pay so much for hire of ships also that there is not aboue one halfe of their merchandise remayning entire to themselues, and yet is that moitie very gainfull to them. The Citie is Idolatrous, giuen to pleasure; in it is much embroiderie and Arras worke. The Riuer is great, very wide and swift, and one arme of it goeth to Quinsai, at the parting of which is Tingui situate,* 1.60 where Porcelane dishes are made (as I was told) of a certaine Earth which they cast vp in great Hills, and so let lie to all weathers for thir∣tie or fortie yeeres without stirring: after which refining by time, they make Dishes, paint them and then put them in the Furnace. You may there haue eight Dishes for one Venetian Groat. In this Kingdome of Concha the Can hath as great Reuenue almost as of the Kingdome of Quin∣sai. [ 50] In these two M. Marco was, and in none of the other nine Kingdomes of Mangi (in all which is one speech vsed, with varietie of Dialect, and one sort of writing) and therefore will speake no more of them; but in the next Booke discourse of India the Greater, the Middle, and the Lesse, in which hee was both in the seruice of the Can, and also in his returne with the Queene to Argon.

[ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Coiganzu.
• * 1.2

  The Salt of Conigangui.
• * 1.3

  Terraglio.
• * 1.4

  Paughin.
• * 1.5

  Caim.
• * 1.6

  Phesants.
• * 1.7

  Tingui.
• * 1.8

  Salt pits. Cingui.
• * 1.9

  Iangui, Head of 27. Cities.
• * 1.10

  M. Polo Go∣uernour of Iangui. Nanghin.
• * 1.11

  Mangani, a kind of En∣gines. It here∣by appeares that they had not the vse of the Cannon.
• * 1.12

  Singui.
• * 1.13

  Quian.
• * 1.14

  Cayngui.
• * 1.15

  Hand-made Riuer.
• * 1.16

  Cinghianfu.
• * 1.17

  Tinguigui.
• * 1.18

  Singui.
• * 1.19

  Physicians and Philosophers. Rhubarbe.
• * 1.20

  Quinsa•• the Earthly Citie of Heauen. O how much better is the heauenly Ci∣tie on Earth in grace, & more then most in∣comparable that heauenly Citie of Hea∣uen in glorie? ap. 21. & 22. The situation. 12000. bridges. The Ditch.
• * 1.21

  Ten Market places.
• * 1.22

  The high street
• * 1.23

  The mayne Chanell.
• * 1.24

  The Markets.
• * 1.25

  Peares of ten pound.
• * 1.26

  Trades of di∣uers sorts.
• * 1.27

  A saucy Citie.
• * 1.28

  The Quinsaian Citizens and their conditi∣ons.
• * 1.29

  Great neigh∣bourhood.
• * 1.30

  Pleasures.
• * 1.31

  Stone wayes.
• * 1.32

  Astrologers.
• * 1.33

  Funerals.
• * 1.34

  Warders.
• * 1.35

  Clocks.
• * 1.36

  Hospitals.
• * 1.37

  Larums.
• * 1.38

  Nine Vice∣roy•••• in Man∣gi.
• * 1.39

  12000. Cities, and their gar∣risons.
• * 1.40

  Fanfurs Palace
• * 1.41

  Feasts.
• * 1.42

  1000. Women in 1000. cham∣bers.
• * 1.43

  Great Parke.
• * 1.44

  The Sea Gam∣pu.
• * 1.45

  1600000. hous∣holds in Quin∣sai.
• * 1.46

  Reuenues of Quinsai, & the appurtenances twentie three Millions of Duckats, and 200000.
• * 1.47

  Customes.
• * 1.48

  Tapinzu. Vg••iu.
• * 1.49

  Gengui.
• * 1.50

  Zengiaen.
• * 1.51

  Gieza.
• * 1.52

  Concha.
• * 1.53

  Fugiu.
• * 1.54

  M••n eaters
• * 1.55

  Quelinfu.
• * 1.56

  Hayrie Hens:
• * 1.57

  Vnguem. Sugar.
• * 1.58

  Cangiu.
• * 1.59

  Zaitum.
• * 1.60

  Tingui, where Porcelane is made.