by long Sicknesses or other Causes are consum'd and grown weak It oftentimes restores those that lie a dying and with the help of some other Physick restores them to their Health again Many other Vertues the Chineses ascribe to this Root and give three pound of Gold for one pound of it The same Root is sometimes to be had in Holland but because of its excessive dearness is little us'd The Provinces of Xensi and Suchuen according to Martinius bring forth excellent Medicines especially the Root Rhubarb in the Chinese Tongue call'd Taihoang This Root says he grows not wild as some affirm but on the contrary requires great care and pains in the Planting of it it is of a yellow Colour streak'e with Flames not hollow but firm and hard and in som places having Knobs and Swellings The Leaves are somewhat like our Cabbage Leaves but much bigger The Chineses make a Hole through the Root and hang them out to dry in the Shade for being dry'd in the Sun they lose their Vertue Most of the Rhubarb which is brought into Europe comes for the most part out of the Provinces of Xensi and Suchuen being brought from China and Persia by Sea to Batavia and from thence to Holland or else out of China by Land to Kaskar Astrakan and Russia or through Thebet and Persia by Venice to Italy for those of Tebet and Mogor frequent the Province of Suchuen and from thence bring the Rhubarb hither Thus far Martinius Matthiolus gives us another Description of Rhubarb in his Comment upon Diâ—…scorides which agrees with that of Michael Boem in his Chinese Flora and with Baptista Ramusio formerly Secretary to the State of Venice in his Preface before the Voyage of Marcus Paulus Venetus which is to this effect Though say they Rhubarb grows in all parts of China yet it grows in greater abundance in the Provinces of Suciven perhaps Suchuen Xensi and in the Jurisdiction of the City Socieu near the Great Wall than in any other place The Earth in which it grows is red and Clayie occasion'd by its being continually moistned with Springs and Rain The Leaves according to the Plant are two Handfuls long narrow below broad at the end and the edges thereof cover'd with a hairy Wool When they are come to their fâ—…ll growth and maturity they immediately grow yellow and lank The Stalk shoots a Hands-breadth with the Leaves above the Earth from the middle of the Leaf runs a thin Stalk which bears Flowers not unlike a great Pink likewise towards the top which is of a sharp and strong smell The Root or Stalk which is in the Ground is of a dark Copper colour one two and sometimes three Handfuls long and as thick as a Man's Arm from which shoot forth other lesser Roots which are cut off from the same The Root Rhubarb when cut asunder shews a dark yellow Flesh streak'd with red Veins out of which drops a red slimy Juice Moreover if any one immediately hangs these moist pieces up to dry then as experience hath taught the moisture instantly vanishes and the Root growing very light loses all its Vertue therefore those who are experienc'd herein first lay the pieces of green Rhubarb on Tables and turn them twice or thrice in a day that so the Sap or Juice may soak and dry by degrees into the pieces and remain in them four days after when the moisture is dry'd up they put the pieces on Strings and hang them from the Sun in the Shadow to dry by the Wind. The best time to dig up the Rhubarb is in the Winter before the Trees begin to Bud because at that time about the beginning of April the Juice and Vertue unites and gathers together But if the Root of Rhubarb be digg'd up in Summer or at that time when it sends forth green Leaves which is a sign of it s not being ripe then it never comes to the perfection of the Rhubarb which is digg'd up in the Winter One Wagon full of Rhubarb Roots which is full of moisture costs one Scudo and a half The Juice when dry'd up abates so much of the weight that of seven Pound of green there scarce remains one Pound when dress'd The Chineses call it Tayhuan that is High Yellow This Plant is discours'd of at large by the fore mention'd Authors and particularly Michael Boem makes a curious Disquisition whether the Rhaponticum of Alpinus be the same with that which is commonly brought out of Muscovy and takes much pains to prove that that which grows in China is much better than that which is brought by Russia into Europe This Fruit may justly be call'd The King of Fruits since in so ample a measure it both delights the Eye and pleases the Palate which seems never satisfi'd therewith The Kernel of it melts in the Mouth like Sugar Another Fruit nam'd Lungyen that is Dragons-Eye grows in China it is not much unlike the former though smaller and rounder like our Cherries but the Shell of the Fruit Lichi is somewhat harder and thicker Both these Fruits are dry'd and sent from this Province through the whole Empire as a Dainty nevertheless the dry'd are not comparable to the green because all the Juice is dry'd out of them They also press a Juice out of the Fruit Lichi which the Chineses call Wine which is very sweet but very scarce to be had The ripe Fruit Lichi is generally brought fresh out of the County Chinkingfu A particular Description of both these Fruits may be seen in the foremention'd Author Michael Boem in his Book call'd Flores sinarum regionis In the same County Focheufu in the Province of Fokien grows a Fruit call'd Muigiuli that is to say Fair Womans Plumb These Plumbs are of an Oval Figure bigger and much better than Damask Prunes In the County Kingcheufu belonging to the Province of Huquang grows an Herb which the Chineses call Herb of a thousand years nay affirm that it never fades but is as it were immortal To drink the Water wherein the formention'd Herb hath lay'n to soak makes white Hair black and is said to be exceeding good to prolong Life and restore Youth to the Aged In the County Changtefu in the Province of Huquang grow all sorts of Golden Apples amongst which are some that by the Chineses are call'd Winter Apples for when all the others fall off these begin to grow ripe and are of a sweet taste In the Province of Kiangsi and other places grows for the most part in Lakes and standing Waters a Plant with a Flower by the Chineses call'd Lien and by the Portuguese Fula de Golfon The Flower Lien shoots up two or three Yards above the Water on hard and strong Stalks and is of several Colours as Purple White Parti-colour'd Red c. onely Yellow is a Colour peculiar to those that grow in Iuncheufu a County of the Province of Huquang This Flower exceeds our Lilies in
concerning your last Articles You request also three Pilots which Singlamong will dispatch to you Here inclos'd I send you an Express of the Flags in those Ships which shall go out of this River to Eymuy and Quemuy by which they may be distinguish'd Santokquon Lipovi's Admiral shall carry a blue Flag with a black Moon and a white Pennon Cheytinquon a black Flag with a Moon Argent a green Flag with a red Moon Schuluwan General of the Militia a red Flag with a black Moon Captain Yoeloewan a white Flag with a sable Moon Captain Ian Sumpin a green Flag Captain Goo Sumpin a black Flag and a blue Pennon This Seal'd Writing being compar'd with that sent by the Netherlanders to his Highness to be Seal'd by him was found to differ in the principal Articles viz. The taking possession of the Isles of Eymuy and Quemuy was not mention'd but left out No mention was also made That if they conquer'd then they would go with them to Tayowan and Formosa Concerning the Free Trade through the whole Empire and also to get the Emperor to ratifie their Agreement they express'd thus That upon the Conquering the Isles of Eymuy and Quemuy the Hollanders should be receiv'd into the Emperors Subjection and that his Majesty should acknowledge their Assistance and grant their Request to which Singlamong and Lipovi would be means that it should be perform'd Besides although the King and Councils Writing agreed for the most part with that of the Hollanders yet they had inserted many new things about the carrying of their Flags and other unnecessary Matters The last Exception was That the Vice-Roy Singlamong's Letter was sign'd with his Seal but Lipovi's was not The Admiral Bort in Answer to their Highnesses Singlamong and Lipovi writ back with an Account of what Flags and Colours the Netherlanders us'd to carry and should carry in that Expedition as follows BEsides the Letter from your Highness and the General Lipovi I also receiv'd yesterday the Result made in your Highness Assembly about Our Business in which we are permitted to sell those Commodities at this time onely which We brought along with Us being but few and such as Captain Nobel can at any time give your Highness an Inventory of We accept of this Grant provided it may be forthwith publish'd as well here in Soanchieuw as Hoksieu and made known to the People by divulging the Proclamation and that Captain Nobel may go about it to Hoksieu and there at his coming open his Cargoes and expose the Goods to sale And though this be but a small Requital for the great Service which We intend to do yet We will firmly hope and believe That his Imperial Majesty hereafter will not refuse to grant us a Free Trade for ever through his whole Empire it being onely what agrees with his Royal Bounty to requite all such who to their great Charge come to his Service We declare That Our Fleet of Ships stands Our Masters in above a hundred thousand Taile to fit out and forty thousand Taile a Month to maintain That Fleet which return'd last Year with ill success to Batavia cost also a great Sum of Money which your Highness must needs be sensible of and likewise what damage We sustain'd by the loss of two Ships that came to his Imperial Majesties Service If therefore the Sale of those few Goods which We have brought along with Us can make any satisfaction for the great Charges which We have already been at We leave to your Highness consideration Therefore We cannot but be still importunate in our first Request That the Free Trade may be ratified to Us for ever through the whole Empire and Writings seal'd in confirmation thereof But as concerning Eymuy and Quemuy upon whose Conquest We desire some adjacent Isle to plant in and also about your Sailing with Us from thence to Formosa and Tayowan and surrendring that Countrey upon the retaking of it to Us your Highness makes no mention neither of the Article to procure Us Letters from the Emperor for the confirming all things Yet We are confident that your Highness will be so favorable as to procure what We so oft and so long have requested upon which account We are ready and willing to venture Our Lives and Fortunes for the Emperor and use Our uttermost Endeavors to ruine that avaritious and insulting Pyrate so We stand ready to joyn Our Forces with yours desiring all celerity in the Expedition and that the time for Our setting Sail from Eymuy and Quemuy may be appointed and publish'd because the time limited for Us to be there by Our General and Council is already past There are yet some Prisoners of Ours whom We desire your Highness to remember and to send them to Us if you hear where they are or find them In Canton as We understand are two of Our Men that went over to the Enemy which We desire may be sent fetter'd to Us because such as are unfaithful to their Trust as the worst of Men should suffer by condign Punishment The Flags and Colours which your Highness Fleet shall carry in this Our intended Expedition We are sufficiently inform'd of their differences by your Highness Ours also you may be pleas'd to take notice of here inclos'd From the good Ship the Nut-Tree the twenty seventh of October 1663 from Soanchieuw Balthasar Bort The Hollanders Colours when joyn'd with the Tartars shall be as follows First All the Vanes and Flags which constantly flow from their Ships are Red White and Blue When a white Ensign appears on the Stern and a Gun is fir'd it signifies the calling of a General Council This Ensign also signifies Peace as the Red War and the beginning of a Fight At the putting on of a red white and blue Pennon from the Admirals Ship all the Ships must follow him The Admirals Captain shall carry a green Flag in which on the upper end near the Staff stands a gilded Lion with a Bunch of Arrows in his Paws The several Inferior Officers shall be distinguish'd by their several Colours of Red Blue Yellow and Green The Rere-Admiral shall carry a blue Ensign with a Lion near the Staff and his Inferior Officers Watchet Blue White and Yellow Colours All other Martial Officers shall carry their Colours mingled by which together with their Sails and Yards they may very well be distinguish'd from the Tartars The second of November Constantine Nobel came from Soanchieuw aboard the Admiral and brought an Answer from the Vice-Roy Singlamong in which the time of their setting Sail and all other things were mention'd as appears by the following Contents IN the tenth Moon the first day I have given Order to the Agent Nobel to tell the Holland Admiral That Our Tartar Jonks shall set Sail out of the River Soanchefoe on the ninth of this Our tenth Moon and shall ride close by the Hollanders in the Haven of Schoeni and if Wind and Weather serve to set
upon the Multitude Having sat till half an hour after Day-break they were conducted farther to a fourth Gate about fifteen Paces from which they saw five Elephants with Gilded Towers on their Backs three on the right and two on the left side of the Entrance and likewise four of the Emperor 's Wayns without Horses standing on both sides of this Gate which hath three Passages They were conducted through the left Gate between the Elephants which they had no sooner pass'd but they saw a fifth Gate built like the fourth but somewhat higher to which they went by an ascent and found it also to have three Passages through the middlemost of which where on the right side stood the Emperor's Palakin they go directly to the Imperial Throne but they were as at the fourth Gate led through the third Entry because none dare go through the middlemost but the Emperor himself which having pass'd they came into a spacious Court at the end whereof stood the Palace wherein the Throne was erected to which they ascend by Marble Steps The Court was full of Mandarins Cloth'd after the best manner sitting in Rows one by another On each side of the Throne stood many Umbrella's Flags and Standards of yellow blue and white below the Marble Steps on each side of the Ascent of the Throne stood about thirty Persons in a Row Cloth'd in the Emperor's Livery being Yellow and also ten white Horses with yellow Saddles five on each side The Ambassador and all his Retinue were plac'd on the left side of the Throne at the end of the first Row of Mandarins where having sat a very little while they were forc'd to rise up to make way for some Grand Lords that were going to the Throne About half an hour after a small Bell was heard to Ring and four Persons making a noise or flacking with Whips which was just as if a Field of Canes had been set on fire Soon after they heard a Voice which proclaim'd something in the Tartar Language whereupon many prime Lords and Great Persons went and stood directly before the Throne between some blue Stones which were laid there about half a Foot high to the number of eighteen or twenty and upon the Proclamation of a Herald they shew'd their Obeisance to the Throne by thrice Kneeling and nine times bowing of their Heads During this a sweet Harmony was heard of several sorts of Instruments When these Grand Lords had made their Obeisance the Ambassador being call'd by the Herald was by two Lipous led with his Assistants between the fore-mention'd blue Stones and plac'd just behind the sixteenth where they could neither see the Emperor nor Throne yet made Obeisance in the same manner as the others had done before the Musick beginning to Play when they Kneel This done the Lipous went again to their Places where they sat before but the Ambassador his Son and Nobel were through a by-way led up the Marble Steps that ascended to the House where the Throne stood where they were plac'd next to the second Tatan or Chancellor from whence they saw the glittering Throne and the Emperor in Cloth of Gold the Imperial Stool not being above fourteen Paces from the Place where the Ambassador sat Soon after Van Hoorn his Son and Nobel were presented with a Cup of Imperial Bean-Broth which they had no sooner drank but the Emperor rising from his Throne seem'd to come to them but went out behind the Throne He being a brown slender Youth about sixteen years old had as the Netherlanders were inform'd twelve Kings for his Guard After his Imperial Majesties departure the Ambassador also went soon after with all his Retinue to his Lodgings not without great joy because he found himself somewhat indispos'd that he had made an end of this grand Business Having been at home half an hour the prime Secretary to the Lipous came thither to ask him how far such and such Places were distant from Holland and if there were any Tygers or other ravenous Beasts in Holland To which having receiv'd due Answers he took his leave To the Mandarin that provided Horses for the Netherlanders and conducted them to the Court the Ambassador gave five Ells and a half of Stammel which he accepted of and us'd great diligence to get it out of the Ambbassador's Lodgings Since the Council in Batavia had expresly commanded that when the Emperor had been Complemented and his Presents deliver'd to him they should also present the Taisins or Councellors of State therefore the Ambassador propos'd in Council in what manner it was best to be done and to which Persons whereupon it was judg'd convenient that it should be to the following Persons because they were to assist the Netherlanders during the Emperor's Minority viz. the four Zoutaizins being of his Imperial Majesties Privy Council who Govern'd the Empire during his Nonage should be presented with half a Piece of Scarlet half a Piece of black Cloth and half a Piece of Sky-colour'd Cloth two Pieces of Crown-Serge three of Cloth-Serge ten Ells of Holland Velvet one Quilt ten Pieces of fine Linnen two of fine Guinee Linnen two large Carpets two fine Chitsen one Piece of Sandal-Wood twelve Pieces of Blood-Coral four Pieces of great Amber one Fire-lock one pair of Pistols two Swords with rich Gilded Handles one pair of Pocket-Pistols two Pieces of Whalebone two Rhinocerots Horns two Unicorns Horns six pair of Spectacles one Perspective Glass To each of the three other Tatans or Chancellors the chief in the Lipous Assembly that they might impart the Hollanders Requests to the Emperor were presented half a Piece of Crimson half a Piece of black and half a Piece of sky-colour'd Cloth one Piece of black Cloth Serge one of Crown-Serge one Piece of Sandal Wood ten Ells of green Velvet six Pieces of Adathiis two of fine Guinee Linnen two Carpets one String of Amber Beads three Pieces of great and three of small Blood-Coral two great Pieces of Amber one Sword-Blade one pair of Pistols two Unicorns Horns two Rhinocerots Horns one Perspective Glass six pair of Spectacles and some Glass works To each of the three Lipous or Speakers for Strangers acting in all Ambassador's Affairs were presented half a Piece of Crimson half a Piece of black and half a Piece of sky-colour'd Cloth one Piece of Cloth-Serge one of black Crown-Serge ten Dutch Silk-Stuffs four Pieces of Adathiis one of Guinee Linnen one Carpet one ordinary String of Amber Beads six Pieces of Blood-Coral one great Piece of Amber one pair of Pistols one Carbine one Sword-Blade and two Rhinocerots Horns Every one of the Secretaries belonging to the Lipous were presented with ten Ells of Stammel one Piece of Cloth-Serge one of Perpetuana one Carpet two Pieces of Adathiis one of Guinee Linnen one String of ordinary Amber Beads one Sword-Blade two Rhinocerots Horns one Carbine and one Piece of Crown-Serge And that the Inventories of
forty thousand were chosen to Watch by the Grave during the whole time of the Funeral Ceremonies VI. All the Streets from the Palace to the Grave must be Rail'd in that there may be a free Passage on each side to prevent crowding and likewise at the end of every twenty Paces must stand Baskets with yellow Sand to damp the Dust from rising in those Places through which the Corps was to be carry'd besides Tents and Pavilions for the convenience of those that follow'd the Horse VII The Commanders of the Treasury had Order to provide Money to pay the Mandarins Relations Commanders Soldiers and all those that attended the Funeral VIII That three days before the Burial they should renew their Mourning shewing Reverence and making Offerings as they had done at the beginning All things thus prepar'd the Emperor and the Prince his Son went with all his Officers to the Temple of their Predecessors which is in the Imperial Palace where the Emperor in close Mourning shew'd Reverence to the first raiser of his Family and Offer'd many Silk Coats and Wine to the Deceased Then he caus'd a Book to be read which had been written in the praise of them which being with many other Ceremonies perform'd they return'd to the Palace whilst by the Emperor's Order Coats and other Ornamentals were thrown into the Fire and burnt During the eight days which were yet remaining they Offer'd to the Heavens Earth Planets Mountains and Streams Then Reverence was also shewn by the Emperor's Order to the Spiritual Protectors of the nine Palace Gates through which the Corps was to be carry'd The like also was done to the six Bridges of the River which runs before the Palace Offering at all those Places Beasts Wine and Perfumes The Coffin with the Corps was plac'd on a triumphal Arch richly wrought and hung with Silk interwoven with Gold and in many places Plated with Gold Engraven with Lyons Dragons and the like about it stood a great many Torches and Vessels with Perfumes The fifth day appointed by the Magician to carry out the Corps the Emperor appear'd with his Wives Children and Allies at the Place where the Chariot stood Having cry'd for the Deceased he Offer'd to their God of the Spirits so to conduct her that she might have a happy Journey to the Enjoyments of Peace and Quietness Those that were commanded to attend the Corps in the Name and Place of the Emperor and to make Offerings at the appointed Places were all in a readiness under the first Gate where they no sooner receiv'd the Herse but they began to walk in such a handsom Order State and Silence as was wonderful to behold Getting that day no farther than without the Walls where stopping at the appointed Place they put the Corps under a Pavilion made Offerings on Tables plac'd for that purpose burnt Perfumes and perform'd all other Ceremonies which no sooner done but a Messenger was sent to the Emperor to inform him that they were got thither and had perform'd their Duties The following day they began with those Ceremonies with which they had ended the last Night and then proceeded on their Journey which lasted thirteen days because of the Offerings and stops which they made by the Way to the Mount where the Emperors Tombs are The concourse of People from all Places was so great that they were past number When the whole Train was come thither the Corps was taken off from the Chariot and plac'd upon another stately and triumphal one no less costly than the first Then they offer'd a Steer which they sprinkled with Wine besides Coats and Perfumes to the honor of the Earth with Prayers to the God of the Spirits that he would receive the Corps At the same time nine Mandarins sent from the Emperor observ'd the like Ceremonies and Offer'd to all the Emperor's Predecessors that lay in that Place On the Funeral day being the fifteenth day of the sixth Moon they made several Offerings to conclude their Ceremonies of which and what they had done by the Way they gave an Account to the Emperor who shew'd his bounty to those that had been careful in the observing of them and express'd his Affection to his Mother in shewing Reverence to her after her Death and for her sake released all Prisoners that had committed but small Crimes It was also Order'd that those Provinces which were too highly Tax'd should have an Abatement He took off likewise many Impositions laid upon Imported Goods and distributed with his own Hands many thousands of Ducats wrapp'd up in Paper according to the Custom of the Countrey being all in honor to the Soul of the Deceased With the same Ceremonies a Chinese Emperor's Funeral was solemniz'd When an Emperor lies on his Death-bed and that the Physicians begin to despair of his Recovery the Colaos or chief Relations and the prime Controller of the Palace call'd Suikien come to visit him and to know his will and pleasure from his own Mouth and the Contents of his Testament Then they privately go to the Prince which is Heir to the Crown and consult with him that they may do nothing against his will who is ready to enter on the Throne Being thus inform'd of the one thing and the other they write down the Will and bring it to the Emperor that he may approve and allow of it from thence they go and shew it to the prime Councellor call'd Hanhyuen who ingrosses all the Emperor's Business which being done the Will is Seal'd with the Imperial Seal and kept in the Star-Chamber belonging to the Emperorâ—… Council so long as the Emperor lives after his Decease they shew it to the Court of Judicatory that they may proclaim it in all Places of the Empire and observe it punctually Most of the Inhabitants in the Province of Iunnan by reason of their Neighborhood with the Indians lay the dead Corps on Heaps of Wood and burn it but those that study the Chinese Philosophy observe the Customs of the other Chineses and use Coffins But though they burn their Dead yet they consume not living Persons with them as the Indians do for the Chineses account it barbarous and not to be admitted amongst the Laws of civiliz'd Men. The Inhabitants of the City Sintien in the Province of Queicheu express great sorrow for either Father or Mothers Death by cutting off the Hair of their Heads The Chineses as Martinius witnesseth are no less curious than superstitious in chusing the Ground for their Graves judging that all their Fortune and Happiness depends upon it because of a Being for the Dragon to whom they ascribe their Salvation wherefore they observe the shapes of the Hills on which they intend to make their Graves and Dig up the Ground not sparing either Cost or Charge hoping to find the Head Heart or Tail of a Dragon for they believe that thereby all Happiness and good Fortune will attend the Deceased's Successors Many
though small yet abounds with all manner of Provision The fifth County Fuencheufu though Hilly yet on the Hills themselves hath some places capable of Tillage and beneath divers thick Woods and Forests stor'd with Venison fruitful Corn-fields and Meadows for Pasture The Province of Xensi is more subject to Drought than any other Province and very often infinitely endamag'd by swarms of Locusts which like a vast Army devour the Fruits of the Earth and lay waste all before them This Province particularly produces the Physical Plant Rhubarb The first County Siganfu of the Province of Xensi hath both Pleasant Mountains and Fruitful Plains producing all store of Fruits and other Provision The second likewise is both Manur'd and not behind in natural Fertility The third Territory Hanchungfu hath many rank Pastures and rich Fields The fourth Pingleangfu hath many pleasant Mountains which are not altogether barren The Soil of the whole Province of Xantung is inrich'd by the many Rivers Lakes and Brooks that are in the same and hath plenty of all kind of Necessaries as well Rice Barley and other sorts of Corn as of Beans Hau and divers sorts of excellent Fruit but Drought and Locust do often great hurt Nevertheless the Countrey is naturally so exceeding Fertile that they say the Harvest of one Fruitful Year stor'd them for ten Years in such plenty as to spare great quantities to other Countries Particularly it yields large Pears and Apples of several sorts Chest-nuts Small-nuts and great abundance of Plums which are dry'd and sent to other Countries The first County Cinunfu yields not for pleasure to any other of the Northern Provinces for all manner of Grain or Fruits especially Wheat and Rice which grow there in great abundance In like manner the second County Yeucheufu hath many delightful Fields Wooddy Mountains and in most places is well Cultivated The third County Tungchangfu hath a Plain and Rich Soil produces great store of Grain and wants in a manner nothing of what is requisite for the sustaining of Mans Life The Province of Honan is in some parts Champain and in others Mountainous especially Westward yet the Soil being every where Fruitful no place lies Untill'd except towards the West where several craggy Mountains obstruct the Husbandmans Labor The Fields produce Rice and all other sorts of Grain They have all manner of European Fruits and that in such abundance that they are bought at very cheap Rates so that it is no wonder this Province is by the Chineses call'd A Paradice of Delight for the Eastern part thereof is so pleasant and every where so improv'd by Tillage that those who shall for several days Travel through the same may fancy they walk through a most delightful Garden But above all for richness of Soil are the Counties Queitefu and Changtefu as being for the most part Plain without any Mountains The third Territory on the contrary is very barren and Sandy yet that defect is much supply'd by the conveniency of its Rivers The fifth County Hoaikingfu again is exceeding Fertile as also the sixth and seventh being Honanfu and Nanyangfu the last well Water'd with Rivers and surrounded with Mountains so abounds with Provision that it is able to furnish whole Armies therewith In like manner the little County in which stands the City Iu is very Fruitful The Province of Suchuen hath many pleasant Pastures and rich Corn-fields yet is Mountainous in several places The Physical Drugs which this Countrey produces as well Herbs as Minerals are much esteem'd and from thence Transported to Europe among others the true China-Root and best Rhubarb The whole Territory Chingtufu is partly Champain and in some parts with Mountains the Plains are inrich'd by Natures Hand and the very Mountainous parts by good Tillage are made Fruitful all the Fields are Water'd by Rivulets either Natural or Cut insomuch that whoe're Travels through them hath for three days an exceeding pleasant Journey In the County Paoningfu of the Province of Suchuen in a Pagod-Temple in the great City Kien grows an Indian Fig-tree in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Arvor de Rayes In the Country Xunkingfu grow great store of Gold-colour'd Apples a Root call'd Soozanem and Chest-nuts which melt in the Mouth like Sugar The Territory Siucheufu though craggy and Mountainous produces among many other things requisite abundance of Indian Sugar-canes and an excellent Fruit call'd Lichi The County Chunkingfu hath store of Meutang-Flowers and the Fruit Licheu The Territory Queicheufu Fruitful of its self is also by the Inhabitants very much improv'd by Tillage no spot of Ground being left Unmanur'd except some Sandy and Stony Mountains which lie especially towards the North Among other excellent Fruits this Countrey abounds in Oranges and Lemons The first little County wherein stands the City Tungchun is exceedingly inrich'd by the abundance of Rivers which Water the same The small Territory belonging to the City Kiating is a pleasant place and yields plenty of Rice and other Grains By the fourth Garrison'd City Chinhiung grow a sort of Beans which the Chineses for their hardness call The Stone-Beans they grow on Shrubs and are exceeding good against Heart-burning The County of Huquang for its Fruitfulness is call'd Iumichity that is The Countrey of Fish and Rice it is also call'd The Corn-store-house of the Chineses as Sicilie was anciently call'd The Store-house of Italy from its abundance of all things especially Corn and all manner of Grain which it not onely yields to its Inhabitants but in a plentiful manner furnishes all the neighboring Countries The County Vuchangfu is advantag'd by the many Streams and Channels that run through the same and along whose Banks grow abundance of Reeds of which they make Paper The second Honia among other things produces in particular great plenty of Lemons Oranges and Cytrons Nor are the fifth and sixth Territories inferior which last yields all manner of Provisions The seventh County Iocheufu is very much inrich'd by three Rivers viz. the Kiang Siang and Fungi and brings forth incomparable Fruits especially Oranges and Lemons The eighth County Changxafu generally Champain but in some places Mountainous hath a fat and fertile Soil and plenty of all things Rice growing there in abundance without danger of withering in the dryest Seasons because there seldom wants Rain which if there should the Husband-man supplies it sufficiently with Water which by an Engine is drawn out of the Lakes and Streams over their Fields so to moisten the Roots of their Plants The County Hengcheufu is a delightful and well Till'd Countrey yielding all manner of Provisions and among the rest Paper-canes Much of the same Nature are the tenth and fourteenth Counties In the Territory Chingyangfu grows a Plant which like our Ivy runs up in height bears Yellow Flowers and some White The utmost end of the Sprigs are very thin like Silken Threds they say that a small Branch thereof being laid to the Naked Body occasions Sleep and therefore
Ground and the other half out and bears red Flowers and a Fruit like our Figs. The ripe Fruits are also red and the Flesh within tastes also like our Figs and are ripe in Iuly and August The Fruit by the Chineses call'd Cienko is by the Indians and Portuguese call'd Goyaun It seems to those that are not us'd thereto to have no good savor but indeed smells very Spicy and is desir'd afterwards by those that at first disrelish'd it because it warms and hath a soveraign healing power and is exceeding good to stop a Loosness and fortifie the Stomach Within it are many little round Stones from which the Trees grow though quickerby Setting a Bough thereof in the Ground The Boughs bear great store of Fruit and sweet-smelling Leaves which rubb'd to pieces smell very strong and are accounted excellent Medicines against Feavers The Fruit is also in the Portuguese Tongue call'd Pera that is Pear because it is exactly like a Pear In India this Fruit ripens in November and December and for the most part continues in all the other Moneths but in the Province of Quantung in Iune and Iuly On the Island Hiamxan lying near China in Makau and in Malacca grows a Tree and Fruit nam'd Giambo which is of two or three sorts for in India are red white and yellow which smell like Roses the first hath a white and the second a pale yellow Flower The Body and Boughs are Ash-colour'd the Leaves smooth a Hand-breadth long and three Fingers broad The Fruit is as big as a Pear with a thin sweetish spongy Flesh it is pleasant to the Eye either quite red or white or partly red and partly white On one Bough grow Flowers green and ripe Fruit together They are very cooling and the onely thing in great Feavers to quench Thirst. The Indians make a Conserve of this Fruit exceeding good against Agues and other Distempers arising from the Gaul In stead of Seed it incloses a round Kernel but the yellow sort hath two Kernels or rather one divided into two parts the Flesh of the yellow is very sweet and luscious the red ripens in India in October and November but the yellow in some places in March and in other places in Iuly The Pipa is a Fruit of a yellowish Green when it is ripe sweet of taste like our Plumbs and cover'd with the like sort of Skin within it lies a hard oval Stone it is generally gather'd ripe in February and March The Tree by reason of its fine Leaves and Flowers is very pleasant to behold The Fruit Yata hath a green knotty and prickly Shell like a Pine-Apple within which is a waterish Pulp as white as Snow hiding in little Repositories hard and black Stones The bigger this Fruit is the better it is esteem'd The Tree grows chiefly in Malacca from whence it was transplanted into China where it grows in some plenty In some places the Fruit is ripe in October and November and in others in February and March The Fruit Manko by the Chineses and the Indians call'd Manga and by the Turks Ambo grows most plentifully in the Southern Provinces of China In India are several sorts the biggest whereof weigh two and sometimes three Pound especially if they grow on a Bough Prun'd to a Cedar-Tree of whose Fruit they borrow the Coat and rough Shell Their Pruning on other Trees is much like ours in Europe but not in the Mango-Tree a Bough of which being cut off is ty'd to the Bough of another Tree and daub'd all about with Clay by which means the Boughs in time growing together bear Fruit. The ripe Fruits sometimes all upon one Tree are of several Colours some green others yellow and some red or as others write greenish yellow and reddish It hath a bitter Kernel within a hard and woolly Shell as big as an Almond there are also some without Stones The Flesh of those that are ripe is of a kind of Purple colour and exceeds all other in lusciousness Some account it the best Fruit in the World They are ripe in April and May and continue till November The Tree according to Garcias on which this Fruit grows is like a Pear-Tree high and full of Boughs the Leaves are very thin ten Inches long and three broad with a thick sinew in the middle Acosta tells us That the Fruit being slic'd and laid to soke in Wine is counted for a dainty Banquet It is also laid in Sugar thereby to preserve it the longer and sometimes open'd with a Knife is fill'd with Ginger Garlick and Mustard-seed and laid to steep in Salt Oyl and Vinegar or else is eaten with Rice or Pickled like Olives It grows in many places in India as in Malabar Goa Surrat Balagate Bengale Pegu and others but the best sort is judg'd to grow in Ormus the second in Surrat and the 〈◊〉 in Balagate A Fruit nam'd Mangan which grows on the Isle Iava is by the Inhabitants accounted above all Cordials in the World whether Lapis Bezoar or any other It is as big as a Coco Nut and joyns close together till grown ripe for then it cracks and bursts asunder within lies the Seed wrapp'd up in Wooll which if not taken off in time is blown away by the Wind. This Fruit is so dear that it can scarce be purchas'd with Money Moreover the parts split from each other stick so fast at the bottom to the Stalk that the strongest Man cannot pull them from it In many places in China grows also Cotton but in greatest abundance in the Province of Nanking especially near the City Xangchai where there are said to dwell two hundred Cotton-Weavers it being in that place and two neighboring Villages the onely thing whereby the Inhabitants maintain themselves The Seed according to their Relation was brought out of other Countreys into China about five hundred years ago The Herb or Plant on which the Cotton grows in China hath a wooddy Stalk of a Foot and a half long or two Foot high and being cover'd with a darkish red Bark or Rind divides it self into several short Branches The Leaves like those of a Vine are divided into three parts and hang on rough Stalks of two or three Inches long The Blossom or Flower is like those of Mallows and ends in Saffron or as others say blue and Purple Stalks after the Flower follows round Fruit as big as a small Apple which when grown ripe cracks in two or three places and shews the white Cotton which is in it under it is an Oval and white-colour'd Seed which tastes like an Almond or Pine-Apple Another Plant also which produces Cotton but grows like a Tree and hath smoother Leaves grows in Egypt and Arabia where by the Egyptians it is call'd Gotnel Segia and shoots up to the heighth of ten Cubits the Leaves hang on Violet-colour'd Stalks and are divided into five parts when grown to maturity the Fruit is almost