The history of the conquest of China by the Tartars together with an account of several remarkable things concerning the religion, manners, and customes of both nations, but especially the latter / first writ in Spanish by Senõr Palafox ... and now rendred English.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Behaviour of the Tartars. Of their Natural inclination to War and Labour. Of their frank and free dealing, without any ceremony. Of their Divertis••••ments, Occupations, and Employments in general.

THe Tartars, who conquered Chi∣na, are generally proper men, and well shaped, only their shoulders are broad, but the rest of their Limbs are well proportioned. But they are very sturdy and strong, which makes ••••hem appear rather rough and unhewn, than nice or effeminate. Neither are they affected with neat and fine

clothes, and by the brawnyness of their hands, it may be seen, that they can go very well without Gloves. All their Gallantry is to be in action, and make a bustle: Naturally they love to takepains, and they may be compar'd to those antient Roman Souldiers, born and bred in the Country, of whom one of their Poets saith; That after they had dy'd the Sea with the blood of Africa, after they had defeated An∣tiochus, Pyrrhus, and Hannibal, they returned to their Country life, and went out in the morning with a spad•••• upon their shoulders, and returned at night with a burden of wood, which their Mothers, who bred them not up nicely, had taught them to car∣ry.

The Tartars have not ordinarily their complexions so fair as the Chine∣ses; there is not much difference u∣sually in their faces, unless it be that some are more black and tann'd. They have thicker bea••••ds, which, for the most part, are either black or red, but they cut it quite off, leaving only a

tuft on the middle of their chin. They have no Mustaches, but for all that, they are very gallant fellows. Which is an argument that men (at least in that Country) may have courage, though they have no Mustaches. They wear their hair very short, or rather none at all, being willing to discharge themselves of that, of which they have so little need. Their Behaviour and out-side is not at all warlike, nor doth it shew any great mark of cou∣rage or resolution: they make a sport of work and labour, to which they have been accustomed from their In∣fancy, which make them, that they cannot live without it. They are not charmed with the pleasures of an idle and easie life, which they account dishonourable and ignoble; and that which is yet more, they are as inde∣fatigable, dexterous, and as able to go ••••hrough with their enterprises, as they are hot and fierce to enter upon them. Mans Life requires labour, and dex∣terity, as well as several other things, and we must sometimes incline to one

side, that we may counterpoise the other. The Tartars are as fit for contrivance as execution: And though they do not break their brains, with scratching out crafts and subtilties, or studying the artifice, or rather malice, which is accounted hability and strength of Wit; yet they understand very well their affairs, and discern, as far as mans capacity will reach, what is, and what is not according to the right rule of reason.

But it is remarked that there is a great inequality in their humours; for in time of peace they are like other men, and very different from what they are in time of war, when they are fierce, cruel, unmerciful, and take delight in shedding the blood of their ene∣mies: whereas at other times they are mild, courteous, affable, and strive to be civil and complaisant to all per∣sons. It is not strange, that men should not always be of the same temper, though they do not manifest such a contrariety of their humours, which some persons do so disguise, that it

cannot be known either when they are angry or when they are pleased▪ But the Tartars do not at all resemble these persons; they never conceal any∣thing that li••••s in their breast, they ••••n neither counterfeit a false joy, nor hide a true one: If they laugh it is hearti∣ly, and if they are displeased their face will shew it. Therefore they ••••y it is better to be passiona••••e than ••••••••∣cherous; for which reason they will not compliment and cringe to a ma•••• whom they ••••urse in their heart: and will sooner cut off a mans arms than embrace him in th••••irs, if they love him not. Where••••re they may pray and wish sincerely, that sincerity might prosper and be practised, and that treachery and dissimulation (the ene∣mie to human ••••ociety) might be ex∣••••irpated. As for ou•••• poli••••i••••k dissi••••u∣lation in E••••rope, th••••y mock and scorn at it: If they were addicted to Fables and Fictions, they might say that Sa∣turn's R••••ign and the golden Age was gone from Europe in••••o ••••artary.

That i•••• which they take the grea∣test

pride is to have fine horses, about which they usually busie themselves: and this may be said to be their grea∣test vanity, and their sole occupation from their very cradle. There is nothing which they will not make their horses do, and they do as exactly perform all that their riders put them to, as if they had the very same intellectu∣als with them; for they are trained up, and managed to that accurateness, that they may be thought to obey not only the motions of the bridle, but the very thoughts and intentions of their riders.

As for the actions of the Tartars in their conversation, they are such as ma∣nifest them not to persons who stand so much upon ceremony as the Chineses did: there is not that cringing to them, nor those prostitutions to the very ground as the Chinese•••• Mandorins compelled all persons to do before them. The Tartars will scarce pay such adoration to their Gods, and therefore think it not fit to be done to men: When ever the Chineses, who

were accustomed to these sordid Flat∣teries, come to make all these low submissions to the Tartars, they ei∣ther reproved them, or else they scoffed and derided them so, as there∣by to let them understand they expe∣cted no such ceremonies.

The Civilities which are used a∣mongst the Tartars do somewhat re∣semble those which are practised in Europe; when they salute any person▪ they stretch out their right hand and then bow their bodies a little, and when they have raised themselves up∣right again, they put their hand to∣wards their mouth. When they would return thanks for any Present, Compli∣ment, or any obliging expression, they stretch their right hand towards their knees, especially if they are sitting, and then they lay the handle of their Sword upon the same knee, and rai∣sing up themselves a little, they bow their head, as if they would kiss their right hand: when two friends meet in the streets, they never uncover their heads; which would be there as ridi∣culous

as if any one in Europe should, upon the like occasion, pluck off his shooes. T••••ey only salute each other, either with the ordinary civility of stretching out their arm, bringing it back to their mouth, or else kissing their hand; and then they discourse of their affairs; or if there be a more than ordinary friendship between them, and that they are much joyed to see one another, they then em∣brace, and by the kind reception they give each other, they testifie their joy.

The Chinese men had always Fa•••• in their hands, as Women have in o∣ther Countries: If they were either in their own houses, or ma∣king visits, or in the streets, or Temples, they were never without Fans, even the common sort of peo∣ple. The Spaniards in the Philipine Isles, who were used to see them with these Arms in their hands, did no longer wonder at it. But the Tartars could not refrain breaking out into laughter, as at a thing which they

thought very ridiculous; and they asked them scoffingly, If these were not the Arms of their Women which they used not so much to beat and cool the air, as to defend them from the heat of the Sun, left it should melt the paint upon their faces? The Tartars were not prohibited to use Fans; but though the heat was so excessive, that it almost stifled them, none of them could be perswaded to make use of a Fan.

For three or four years after the Conquest of China, the Tartars re∣fused to marry any Chineses Women, great numbers then followed them out of Tartary. It is not known what induced them to take this resolution, unless it was that they desired that Chi∣na should be peopled with inhabitants, who were real Tartars, both by blood and birth. But this was difficult to ••••ccomplish in so vast a Country, so well inhabited and peopled as China was. And it was not probable, that the aversion, which these two Nations had ••••o make any alliance between

each other, should last long. The contrary of which quickly appeared; for this animositie calmed every day more and more, and they contracted Marriages and Alliances with each other: and this union of blood and alliance, within a few years, will make them become one people and nation.

Amongst the Divertisements to ••••hich the Tartars are inclin'd, they ••••em to affect Musick, but theirs is not very charming: they are only de∣lighted with a warlike and loud tune; all soft Aires are so displeasing to them, that they count them not only vain, but intollerable. And this makes them think no Musick more pleasant than the harsh sound of their Trumpet: And generally no Harmony is more agreeable to the ears of Souldiers, than the sound of Trumpets and Drums, with which Musick they are most delighted.

I have already remarked, that these people do eat and drink heartily; and it is a usual saying with them, that

they who will work well must eat and drink well. But they are not very nice and curious what their meat is, reguarding more the quantity than the quality. They account young Horse-flesh their greatest dainty, which they serve up at all their Feasts. But their ordinary food is Mutton, and they have great flocks of Sheep: They eat like∣wise all sorts of Venison; as the flesh of Staggs, wild Boars, and of such other Creatures, which they hunt and take in the mountains; and sometimes Fish, when the fancy takes them to go a fishing, but they regard not whether their meat is fat or lean; which they rost or boil, and that but a very lit∣tle; for according to the custome of Barbarians, they eat their meat very ••••aw. They are not curious to have variety of Dishes, contenting them∣selves with one Dish, if they have e∣nough. They like best solid substantial meat, and for that which is not so, they are very well content to be with∣out it. Whilst they keep out in the field, they do usually live upon Rice,

f••••nding that less troublesome to carry along with them, than any other kind of provision. But if they are fixed in any place, then they make Wheaten Bread, and prefer that to eat with their meat, before Rice. When they drink Water, they drink it cold, as we do, and not hot, as the Chineses and Iapan∣ners do. As for * 1.1 Cha, which is the Drink, that in ceremony they pre∣sent to all persons throughout the whole Country, they drink that hot, according to the custome of all other people. And so likewise they do C••••∣colat,

though they have some kind of Chocolat, which is drunk cold. But that which they drink with most delight, is Wine, either white or red, or of any sort whatsoever. They will scarce believe that Maho∣met did so severely prohibit Wine, but if that Imposter did, they are apt to think, that he delighted so much in it himself, that out of envy he de∣nyed all others the liberty of drinking it. And perhaps Wine hath been a preservative to them against those damnable pestilent opinions, with which all their Neighbours are infe∣cted. And peradventure upon the same account they chose that Re∣ligion which obliges them to adore the Heaven as a God; for though they see that water falls from heaven, yet from thence they have no prohibi∣tion to drink Wine, and therefore they think they have reason not to make it a principle of their Religion, to drink only water.

But though the Tartars drink Wines, yet we do not see, that either

rich or poor fall into those Excesses by drinking, as they do in other Coun∣tries; which are so great, that from thence some have taken occasion to say, That unless Mahomet had prohibi∣ted the drinking of Wine, the whole World had been intoxicated with it: Yet at their Meals they invite their Friends to drink Healths, almost in the same manner as they do in Europe: I say almost, because they do not expect any man should prejudice his health with pledging; or, according to the French Phrase, doing reason to the health of ano∣ther: For this, they say, is to undo rea∣son, not to do reason. Therefore they laugh at us in Europe, when they hear say, that a man is not counted good company, unless he pledges all the Healths are drunk to him. They ask, if in Europe it b•••• thought Treason, or a crime against the State, to refuse to pledge a Health. For (say the Tartars) if as amongst us, it be only ••••t••••med of, as a less complian••••y; then ••••t i•••• far more con∣venient, to appear not so compliant, th••••n for an•••• man to m••••ke himself a Beast, by

drowning his reason and judgment. We p••••ise (say they) far more the enjoyment of our health, our senses and reason, than all the compliancy imaginable. Thus they do not then esteem a man to be less civil, or no good companion, if he excuses himself from drinking, when he is a∣fraid of prejudicing his Health there∣by. But what would these Barbarians say, if besides the Law of Nature and the rule of Reason, in the sole obser∣vance, to which they are so averse to drunkenness, they had the Law of God, and the Gospel of Christ, which upon so severe penalties prohibit all excess? And yet Christians are more intemperate than Infidels and Barbari∣ans.

Having given you an account what Meat the Tartars eat, I shall now ac∣quaint you how they serve it up: And this is either in Dishes of Silver, Tin, Brass, or such like Metal, according to each mans state and condition. They make li••••tle use of earthen Ware, though in China they have so fine, so cheap and common. They only make

use of little plates and cups, high and narrow, the best and finest they can procure, to drink Cha in. But though their cups and dishes are of such diffe∣rent metal, they are all of the same form and fashion, which costs not much, being not very curiously wrought, but very strong, as if they designed they should last forever. The Tartars are like the men in ancient times, according to the notion we have of them, as plain, blunt persons, a∣verse to all Luxury and Pride, which so impoverishes the World, it not be∣ing possible to supply the expences of such persons; whereas the Tartars are rich, and content at an easier and chea∣per rate. It is likewise remarked, that all the cups the Tartars use, stand upon feet like our old fashion cups and bowls: And perhaps it is not now thought fit that our cups should have any feet, because they have made so many men, by drunkenness and excess, lose theirs.

They make use likewise of Spoons to eat with, for they know not how to

serve themselves with those eating-sticks the Chineses use. The Tartars must be born again before they can be brought to the neatness of the Chineses, which requires a long application to it, before they can conveniently pra∣ctise it.

The Tartars generally are indiffe∣rently well inclined to trade and com∣merce, and are very reasonable and fair dealing persons. Their usual way of trade, is by bartering one commodity for another; as Corn, Wooll, Cattel, and other Merchandise, which are common there, for others that are of higher value; which make China the wealthiest Country in the World. They seem not very covetous of Sil∣ver or mony; and are ignorant of those subtilties which are usually practised by Trades-men, who are guided and governed by Avarice, and desire of gain. They would willingly have commerce with all Nations, and wish they would come thither to traffick and trade: and are not much concern∣ed if any forraigners come to dwell

in their Towns; nay they suffer them to wear Arms, having a good opini∣on of their own strength and courage, they laugh at those panick fears with which the Chineses and Iapanners are so possessed. On the contrary, they declare, that whosoever will come into their Country, ••••hall not be trea∣ted like strangers, if so be they will live quietly and orderly: but if they offer ••••o make any disturbance, then they must expect, either to be driven out, or punished according to their de∣serts. Thus they propose to deal with Strangers, by which it clearly appears, they act herein more judi∣ciously and rationally, than the Ia∣panners, who were frighted with their own dreams and imaginati∣ons.

The Beasts which they make use of for Tillage, or for their other occasi∣ons, either in time of Peace or War, are, as in Europe, either Horses, or such like Beasts, ordinarily employed for Carriage; which are very numerous throughout the whole Country.

As for Voyages by Sea and Navi∣gation, it is observed, that the Tartars which Conquered China are naturally averse to the Sea; perhaps it is be∣cause that part of Tartary in which they inhabited, is remote from the Sea: Nor is it strange, that any one should at the first dislike that which they have no experience of. Yet we saw that in the Province of Canton, they quickly be∣came very good Mariners, and fought very well at Sea. Men of Courage will master any thing: And no habit or custom can resist them, who resolve to accustom themselves to any thing, though never so difficult and strange to them at first.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cha is a Plant growing in Japan and China, the Leave•••• of which the Japanners grind to Powder, and drink it înfused in warm Water. But the Chineses i••••fuse the whol•••• Leaves, in the same manner as they do Theè. And the resemblance of the Leaves of these two Plants to each other, when they are ex∣panded in warm water, makes me question, whether Cha is not the tops of Theè, ••••r else some species thereof. Though Gaspar Bauhi∣nus places it amongst the Fennels; for which he is reproved by the most ••••earned Botanis•••• Dr. Morrison.