Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	leaf_n	seed_n	small_a	3,194	5	6.1509	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52346	An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China deliver'd by their excellencies, Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking : wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously describ'd / by Mr. John Nieuhoff ... ; also an epistle of Father John Adams their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation ; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher ; English'd, and set forth with their several sculptures, by John Ogilby Esq. ...; Gezantschap der Neerlandtsche Oost-Indische Compagnie aan den grooten Tartarischen Cham, den tegenwoordigen keizer van China. English	Nieuhof, Johannes, 1618-1672.; Goyer, Pieter de.; Keizer, Jacob de.; Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680. China monumentis. Selections. English.; Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.; Schall von Bell, Johann Adam, 1592?-1666.; Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Compagnie.	1673 (1673)	Wing N1153; ESTC R3880	438,428	416

Quantung call'd by the Chineses Teng by the Portuguese The Wheel you would believe it to be a Rope wreath'd by Nature of a very great length creeping along through the mountainous Earth it is full of Prickles and with oblong Leaves and often spreads for the space of a Furlong there is such plenty of it in the Mountains that the long Branches being entangled within one another make the Way unpassable for the Deer they make of it Cables and Tackle for Ships and being wrought in fine Threds it serves to make Bee-Hives Cratches Chairs Pillows Beds and Mattresses for no Vermine will harbor in it in the Summer it greatly refresheth Persons wearied with Heat There is such plenty of the best sort of this Aqualin in the Mountains of Couchinchina call'd Moi and in Iunnan and Chiangsi Provinces conterminate on Couchinchina that it is free for all Persons to gather the same and sometimes it is transported to a hundred-fold Gain especially amongst the Brachmans who make sacred Pyles of it on the great Days of Solemnity in which Women Consecrate themselves to the Flames out of love to their deceased Husbands or when the Corps of great deserving Persons are burnt for they sottishly believe their false Gods are wonderfully delighted with such kind of Odours and are thereby rendred propitious unto the Souls of the Deceased in their Transmigration But the Calambi is of a greater Price and reserv'd for the Emperor It groweth upon the Mountains and is fetcht thence by Night with Torches the better to evade the Incursions of wild Beasts there residing In Iapan the Noblemen make of it the Turpentine although by the beneficiency of the Sun and Climate it is much improv'd In the Provinces of Suchuen and Xensi and the City Socieu near the Chinesian Wall is found in great abundance that so famous and Physical Drug Rhubarb There are such variety of Fruit-Trees in China that they answer to all the Products of that nature in every Climate of the World whether in the Torrid Temperate or Frozen Zones but amongst them all she boasts of one Tree that bears no Fruit as we may say and yet abounds with delicious Variety it is call'd by the Chineses for its thorny and prickly Leaves Po-lo-mie and in stead of Buds and Blossoms it thrusts forth Excrescencies of a prodigious size bigger than our largest Pumpions and not unlike some of them as much as a Man can carry the Rind is tough and bristly which opened affordeth a Store-house of delicious Varieties enough to satisfie twenty Persons insomuch that the Chineses call it A Sack full of Honey Fruit the meanest of which for taste as some report excels the choicest of our Mellons Like to this is the Tree which the Indians call Papaya and the Chineses Fanyay-Xu it beareth a Bunch of Fruit no bigger than our Mellon of taste delicious the Iuice to be eaten with a Spoon and throughout the whole Year it glories in green Flowers and ripe Fruit. There are in the aforesaide Regions especially in the Province of Chekiang near the City Sungiang Pine-Trees of such a wonderful bigness that eight Men with their Arms extended cannot fathom the circumference of one of them within whose vast Rind forty Men may well stand also Reeds of so great bigness that the Ioynts betwixt the Internodes or Knots will serve to hold Liquor in stead of a Kilderkin or Barrel They have likewise in China a Tree call'd Kagin yielding Fruit twice a year which by inversion thrusts forth the Seed or Kernels like Warts or such Excrescencies on the out-side of the Fruits and is in common to the East and West-Indies who call it Ananas but the Chineses call it Fam-Polo-Mie it groweth in the Provinces of Quantung Kiangsi and Fokien and is suppos'd to have been first brought from Peru The Tree on which it groweth is not a Shrub but an Herb much like to our Carduus but call'd by them Catriofoli on whose Leaf a Fruit groweth sticking unto its Stalk of so pleasant and exquisite a taste that it may easily obtain the preeminence among the most noble Fruits of India and China The Spermatick Faculty is innate in all the Parts thereof for not only the Seeds shed on the Ground but it 's Sprouts and Leaves being Planted produce the like Fruits Concerning which admirable Product of Nature see what I have discoursed at large concerning the Seeds of things in the twelfth Book of my Subterranean World The Seeds of such Plants conduce much to prove that new Philosophy of Plants of which I have there laid the Platform The most noted Fruits Manga Lici and Quei are every where describ'd but how Manga is inoculated in the Pomecitron is much different from the Art of the Europeans being perform'd without Transfoliation or Inoculation for they only bind a Bough of the Fruit Manga to a Bough of the Pomecitron and daub it about with Clay which being done they conjoyn and so bring forth the most excellent Fruit of both The Author of Atlas Sinicus makes mention of a Tree in the Province of Chekiang which produceth a Fruit that is fat whereof they make most excellent white Candles which neither foul the Hands nor make any ill Scent being extinguished The Tree is like our Pear-tree when the Fruit is ripe they break the Bark macerate and steep it in hot Water and when they have water'd the heated Pulp they make it up into a Lump which looks like Suet and from its Nut they extract Oyl like our Oyl of Olives very useful in Winter the Leaves are stain'd with a Copper-like redness which dropping to the Ground afford Sheep and Kine good Food by which they become very fat CHAP. VII Of strange Beasts or Animals in China THere are in all the Empire of China but especially in the Province of Iunnan and Quangsi great plenty of Elephants Tygers Bears and other wild Beasts common to several Parts of the World but I shall treat only of such as are to be found no where else but in China In the Western Provinces of China viz. Xensi and Kiangsi is the Odoriferous Stag or Deer for so the Chineses call the Xechiam being an Animal which produceth Musk Concerning which thus the Author of Atlas Sinicus That there may be no doubt saith he what Musk is I shall discover it having been more than once an ocular Spectator of what I now relate There is a certain Bunch or Excrescency about the Belly of the Animal by the Chineses call'd Xe much like a Purse consisting of a thin Skin cover'd with Hair the Odour or Fragrancy thereof is call'd Xehiang which signifieth Musk it is a four-footed Beast not much unlike a Deer the Hair of it somewhat more black and altogether without Horns the Flesh of it when kill'd is eaten by the Chineses In this Province and in Suchuen and Iunnan and the Places more near the West is found great plenty of Musk. Those Bunches or Purses if

for no Trees will grow in this part of the Country They boast likewise of store of Windmills whose Sails are made of Mats The great Product of the Country consists of Rice which the Peasant stands oblig'd to look after very narrowly lest it perish upon the Ground by too much Moisture or too much Heat and Drought so that their Eyes are continually upon the Crop otherwise it suddenly withers to nothing or a small Increase The Windmills therefore are to draw out the Water in a moist Season or to let it in as they think fit to keep their Hopes from burning up in a dry and hot Season so that by this means the Chineses enjoy twice a Year a plentiful Harvest By the Ruines of the Wall and great Edifices this City appears to have been formerly a very famous Place rich and populous but was totally destroy'd in the late War by the Tartars Amongst other Edifices which are yet standing is a most famous Idol-Temple without the Wall on the North-side of the City built after the fashion of the Chineses The Royal Channel runs quite through the Country up to the very Walls by which means they water their Grounds in a dry Season This part of the Country is also full of Draining-Mills to be us'd upon occasion Upon the 28. we came to the famous Sea-Town of Hoaigan which is reckon'd for the eighth Capital City of this Province of Nanking It lies on the East-side of the Royal River about thirty English Miles from Pancien in a flat and Morish Soil through the midst thereof runs a Wall seeming to make two distinct Towns but another Wall which surrounds both Divisions takes away the distinction and renders it one intire City That part which lies toward the South is call'd Hoaigan and the other toward the North-East Yengehing The former of these has stately Suburbs well built and full of People On one side of this City we saw the Fields full of Tombs and Grave-stones In this Capital City the Vice-Roy keeps his Court in great Splendor and State he has full Power over the seven Southerly Provinces and only owns the Emperor for his Supreme Head His Office is to look after the Grand Cham's Revenue consisting chiefly in Provisions of Rice c. which when got in is afterwards Transported to Peking in his Majesties own Vessels On the North-side of the City we saw three great Torrents of Water the first of which and nearest to the River Hoai is very dangerous and by its Inundations has often done great harm To prevent this River from overflowing the adjacent Countries they have rais'd and made two great Sluces with strong Banks on both sides which confine him in his highest Tide In the Suburb of Hoaigan stand two Toll-houses in the one the Custom is paid of all Goods and Merchandises which pass this Way in the other of the Ships which belong to the Subjects and with some part of this Money they maintain their Dikes and Sluces for the defence of the City against the sudden and violent Ruptures of Water Though this City be built upon a Morish Ground yet the Country about it is very fruitful in the product of Rice and Corn The City is well built and full of wealthy Citizens Not far from hence lies a famous Mountain which shoots to the Sky by the Chineses call'd Yocheu upon which stands a stately Temple with Cloysters to Lodge those who daily Offer to the Idol of the Place The Chineses come from several Parts with Presents to this their God suppos'd the Protector and Defender of their Country This Province of Nanking abounds with strange Mountains for in the Country of the second Chief City Fungyang near the seventh small City Xeu upon a Hill call'd Cukin was found a great lump of massie Gold said to be soveraign in several Distempers Some will have it because this Gold cures so many Diseases that Chymists made it In the same Country near to the City of Hintai there is a notable Mountain call'd Moyang and known by the Name of The Shepherdesses Hill because as they say a very fair Virgin formerly kept her Flocks there The whole Country of this Hoaigan has several Rivers running through it and is also replenish'd with many Lakes Amongst other Pools you have here the great Pool of Xeho which toward the North is situated next to the great Indian Sea and waters various Parts of this Country which abounds with Fish Towards the East of the Chief City lies also a great Pool call'd Hung producing great store of Reeds which serve them for Firing Wood being very scarce through the whole Province No sooner were the Ambassadors arriv'd before this Capital City but they sent for Horses Palakins and Litters to go and salute the Vice-Roy and the Magistrates but because the Weather was foul the Governors sent a Messenger to the Ambassadors to thank them for their intended Visit desiring to be excus'd from giving them the like trouble The Mandorine Pinxenton according to his wonted custom gave us a very Noble Dinner upon that Day In the Evening came Father Gascomer a Iesuit who lived in the City to salute the Ambassadors aboard their Vessels and to bid them welcome into those Parts He was very pleasant and civil but did so admire at our arrival as if we had dropt out of the Sky being very inquisitive to know whither we were bound and upon what account we came thither The Ambassadors shew'd themselves courteous and civil to him giving him a handsom Entertainment for his Visit. He seem'd to be a very open-hearted Person and made protestation of a particular Inclination and Affection to our Nation offering the Ambassadors his House if they pleas'd to accept thereof or any other Service he could do them He gave them likewise darkly to understand That upon their Request and Desire of Free Trade in China or any thing else they would meet with great opposition at Peking from the Portuguese who would do their utmost to hinder it as we found afterwards in the Sequel of our Business The Ambassadors were very thankful to this Good Father for his kind and faithful Admonition who thereupon took leave wishing us a prosperous Voyage We staid not long in this City but departed the next day early in the Morning and in our Passage we saw on both sides luxurious Fields well manur'd as likewise a great Company of small Boats lying up and down in this Royal Channel About Sun-set we came to a famous Village call'd Siampu at the entrance whereof lies a very great Sluce through which we past This Village is situated betwixt the Royal Channel and the Yellow River and is of a very great length handsomly adorn'd with Temples and fair Houses on both sides of the Water It has some Privileges belonging to it as also a Toll-house where the Toll-masters appointed by the Emperor reside to receive Toll of all such Goods and Vessels which pass out

carry thence to sell in other Provinces The Inhabitants are generally very dull of understanding and few of them addicted to Learning but they are for the most part very strong bodied fit to undergo any Labor The Children do not only go naked in the Winter but will leap into the cold Water Several of them live by Theft and Robbery and these Companies are oftentimes so numerous that they break through all opposition whatsoever when they make Inroads to plunder the Country which is already much ruin'd by the late Invasion In this whole Province of Xantung lie six Capital Cities twenty nine small Cities and thirteen Carrisons The six great Cities are Cinan Yencheu Tungchang Cingcheu Tengche● and Laicheu Cinan Commands over thirty Cities as Cinan Changkieu Ceuping Chagxan Sinching Ciho Citung Ciyang Chihuen Iuching Li●ye Changcing Fiching Cingching Ling Taigan Siniai Laivu Te Teping Pingyven Vuting Yangsin Haifung Laling Xangho Pin Lioin Chenhoa and Putahi Yencheu Commands over 26 Cities as Yencheu Kioheu Niuyang Ceu Teng Ye Kiuhiang Yutai Tan Chingvu Cao Tingtao Cining Kiaciang Kiuye Kiunching Tungping Venxang Tungpo Pingyn Iangco Xeuchang Wy Tanching Fi and Suxui Tungchang Commands over eight Cities as Tungchang Tangye Poping Choangping Kieu Sin Cingping Ken Lincing Quontao Caotang Gen Hiacin Vucing Po Fan Quonching and Chaoching Cingcheu Commands over 14 Cities as Cingcheu Linchi Pohing Caoyven Logan Xeuquang Changlo Linkiu Gankiu Chuching Mungin Kiu Yxui and Gechao Tengcheu Commands over eight Cities as Tengcheu Hoang Foxan Leuhid Chaoyven Laiyang Ninghai and Vemeng Laicheu Commands over seven Cities as Laicheu Pingtu Vi Changye Kiao Caomi and Gieme The thirteen Garrisons are Nincing Cinghai Chingxan Gueihai Sanxan Kixan Civenxan Mauan Siaoye Haicang Punglai Cin and Xechin In this Province there are also several Islands amongst which these three are the chiefest as first Feuxeu which lies toward the West is but small yet exceeding well built The second is Teuhang situate in the Sea near to Caomy This Island is very famous by reason of a sad Accident of five hundred Chinese Philosophers who drown'd themselves in the Sea because the Emperor Xuis hated all Learned Men as mortal Enemies The third Island is Xaumen the biggest and fullest of People The Chinese Accompt-Book which comprehends the number of People in each Place mentions in this Province Seven hundred and seventy thousand five hundred and sixty Families Sixty seven hundred fifty nine thousand six hundred and seventy Fighting Men. The yearly Revenue of the Province belonging to the Emperor consists of Twenty eight hundred twelve thousand one hundred and nineteen Bags of Corn Fifty four thousand nine hundred and nineteen Rolls of Throw'd Silk Fifty two thousand four hundred and forty nine Pounds of Cotton and Thirty eight hundred twenty four thousand two hundred and nineteen Trusses of Straw and Hay for the Emperor's Stables besides several Tolls paid upon the Royal Channel of Iun which amounts yearly to ten Millions of Golden Crowns This Village Kia-kia lies encompass'd with pleasant and fruitful Fields most delightful to behold and is very rich well built and handsomly adorn'd with indifferent large Structures The Fields round about are full of Rosemary which are not only very pleasant to the Eye but also cast a fragrant smell at a great distance before you come near them We saw likewise not far from the City several Herds of Stags and Bucks and abundance of all sorts of Fowl especially Pheasants We took great delight in Hunting the Stag whereof we kill'd several with the assistance of the Tartars who are skilful at the Game They were very much pleas'd with our way of shooting Pheasants flying The Flesh of these Deer tastes so much of Rosemary as if the Venison were season'd with the Sprigs We were three days upon this Channel Iun before we reach'd any other considerable Place but upon the eleventh of the same Month we arriv'd at a famous Village call'd Iax-Hinno situated upon the Royal Channel In and about this Village stand 36 stately Towers built rarely well on either side of the River Here we lay all Night but the next Morning set Sail by Day-break and that Day and the next we saw upon each Bank of the River great store of good corn-Corn-Ground Toward the East of this Royal Channel lie several high and great Hills whereof these following are the chiefest Near to Taigan the sixteenth small City of Cinnan appears a Mountain call'd Tai which is very steep and broad the Chinese Geographers say that it is at least five Miles in heighth from the Basis to the Crown Upon this Mountain are several Temples to which belong great store of Priests who live after the same manner as the Calvisians in Europe Not far from Laivu the eighteenth small City under the Iurisdiction of this Place arises the Mountain Taxe in which they find great store of Iron Near to Ciohu the second small City under the Chief City Yengcheu is the Mountain call'd Fang very famous for the Tomb where the Ancestors of that Learned Chinese Philosopher Confutius lies Interr'd Not far from the fourth small City Ceu lies a Mountain call'd Changping upon which as the Chineses report Confutius was born in a Town also call'd Changping the Ruins whereof are still to be seen Near to Tunping the eighth small City of the said Capital City stands a great Mountain call'd Fung full of Wood and goodly Pastures Upon the thirteenth of the same Month we came to Cinningsin or Cining the fourteenth small City under the Command of the second Chief City Yengcheu In this Cining the Ambassadors were nobly Treated in the absence of the Governor by the Agents of the young Canton Vice-Roy he being gone from home to order the making of a Fence-work against the breaking in of the Yellow River The Country round about this City lies low and plashy being full of Pools and Rivers which abound with Fish Near to Cao the twelfth small City is a Lake call'd Lui which signifies The Thunder-Pool in the middle whereof appears a Stone representing a Dragon with the Head of a Man The Chineses call this The Spirit of Thunder and affirm That when any one strikes upon the Belly he draws a hideous sound from the Monster like Thunder Near to the third small city Nynyang which is likewise under the Command of the Capital City Yengcheu and about two Miles from Cining runs a small River call'd Tao out of which the Chineses report That the great Philosopher Confutius refus'd to drink though ready to die of Thirst because it was call'd The Water of Thieves so great an aversion had this Ethnick Philosopher to the very Name of wicked Villany and Robbers All the Inns and Publick Victualling-houses have their Fidlers and Comedians belonging to them to recreate their Guests at Meals Provisions of all sorts are very cheap in those Parts We paid but two Shillings a piece for our Dinner which consisted of several Dishes out of which the Players were

this is the reason that the Houses in China and Iapan glitter and shine so bright that they dazle the Eyes of such as behold them This Paint also lays a shining colour upon Wood which is so beautiful and lasting that they use few or no Table-cloths at their Meals for if they spill any Grease or other Liquor upon the Table it is easily rubb'd off with a little fair Water without loss or damage of Colour CHAP. XV. Of Roots Herbs Flowers Reeds Trees and Fruits THE vast and large Territories of this Empire which reach not only very far from East to West but also from South to North occasioneth that in no part of the Universe so great a variety of Fruits is produced the true and natural cause whereof is the several tempers of the Air which must of necessity be granted in so immense Territories it being by experience known that some grow best under a hot Climate others under a cold and some under a well temper'd Air all which are to be found in this Country The Learned among themselves have describ'd at large in their Books what each Province doth produce by the view whereof and other particular Relations this may be affirm'd for truth in general That all things necessary for the sustenance of Man as well as for delight are to be had there in great abundance without being beholden to their Neighbors And thus much I dare from my own knowledge affirm That whatever is to be had in Europe is likewise found in China and if in truth there want any thing Nature hath supply'd that single defect with divers other things beyond those we have in Europe Now that it may be obvious to every Understanding with what a copious Harvest of Fruits and Vegetables mild Nature has bless'd this Empire and the Inhabitants thereof I shall briefly discourse thereof as followeth In Iungping the Chief City of the Province of Peking grows a very excellent Root and of great esteem call'd by them Ginseng but by the Islanders of Iapan Nisi The reason of the Chinese Name seems to be deriv'd from its shape in regard it artificially resembles a Man It is not much unlike to the Mandrake of Europe only it is much less neither do I much doubt but it is a sort of Mandrake in regard it has the same shape and vertue This Root being dried is yellow of colour and sweetish of taste but being chew'd it seems to be mingled with a little bitterness it is a great enlivener of the Spirits of a Man and therefore such as are of an hot and strong Constitution endanger their Lives by using it in regard of its strengthning Nature and Quality whereas Persons weak and feeble through Sickness or otherwise find great advantage in the use thereof for such is the soveraign Vertue of this Root that it has recover'd some that were brought to Deaths door for which its most rare Qualities it is become of so great Price that it is commonly sold for thrice its weight in Silver In Queicheu near to Liping grows the best Root of China there is of two sorts the true and counterfeit yet both natural the true grows near to this City and in other Places the counterfeit or to speak more properly the wild Root and is that which is brought generally into Europe It is of a reddish colour within but neither so big nor of so great Vertue as the true which grows and increases under Ground almost after the manner of Potatoes in India and especially in old Pine-tree Woods from whence they say this Root proceeds first of all from the Gum or Iuice of the Pine-tree which falling upon the Ground takes Root and brings forth an Herb which by degrees spreads it self upon the Earth and grows under Ground with knotty Roots in shape bigness and colour not unlike to the Indian Coco-Nuts but thinner and softer which they use in several Medicines This Root was first known in Europe in the Year 1535. when the Chineses brought the same to be sold in the City of Goa in India and although the like Root may grow in other parts of India as also in the West-Indies yet is it much inferior in goodness to that of the East the best whereof is tastless heavy sound and firm This Root hath a particular Vertue according to the Relation of Garcias for the Cure of the Spanish Pox and is soveraign against the Itch Tremblings Aches Gout c. It is also very good for a weak Stomach Headache the Stone in the Bladder proceeding from Cold. Here grows also great store of Ginger in this Country so purely and with such celerity as exceeds all in other Countries though it is true in several other Parts there is great store of Ginger to be had as at Bengala and upon the Islands Molucco c. which is for the most part brought into Europe Of this Root there are two sorts Male and Female which last is smaller of Leaf and Root than the first the Leaves are very like those of Reed so that whosoever never saw any Ginger grow would take them to be Reeds The Leaves of the Male sort through which run some greater Sinews or Veins rise not much higher than three Foot above Ground The Roots are of several weights and bigness whereof some have the length of four Spans full of Knots and shooting not deep into the Ground but like Reeds grow upon the surface of the Earth and are digg'd out of the Ground when the Leaves are wither'd which is about the middle of Summer when they take them up they break off a piece and fling it into the Ground again for an increase The Roots fresh taken up by reason of their abounding moisture are not so hot of taste as the dried which are laid a little into the Sun to harden thus prepar'd they fling Mold or Clay upon them to prevent them from being Worm-eaten which this Root is very subject to it increases very fast as do all other Spices which grow in such Places as lie near the Sea And though the Chineses and others Plant Ginger amongst the rest of their Herbs yet however it grows also wild but falls short of the goodness of that which is cultivated When they intend to prepare this Commodity for Sale they first pare it and then put it immediately into Pickle or Vinegar for an hour or two afterwards they take it out and lay it in the Sun to dry for the like space then they take it again into the House put it up into a dry place and there let it lie till all the moisture is drawn out which done they put it into Pickle with good store of Sugar And this kind of ordering makes it pleasant to the Pallat and abates much of its heat And this is generally known by the name of Green-Ginger which as a Sallet is us'd by the Chineses among other Herbs It is very soveraign for several Distempers as pain in the

Harvest in one year but if sown in a more barren Ground it will require longer time before it comes to bear If shoots downwards into the Ground with its Root which is full of small tough Strings The outside of the Leaves are of a deep but the inside of a more pale Green The Fruit hangs like Currants only the Branches are much bigger and longer Besides this there grows in India a sort of long Pepper call'd by the Indians Pimpilim which is never us'd about Meats but only in Medicines especially in Treacle and other Antidotes against Poyson And this seems to be done not without great reason in regard it has a very great strength which single Quality makes it to be sold at a dearer Rate than the other This long Pepper grows in great abundance at Bengala and is Transported from thence into Europe In shape except the Fruit this Plant is like unto that of the round Pepper only it either creeps along upon the Ground or runs up against lower Poles than those of the other Pepper The Leaves thereof are more tender and of a darker Green and have long Stalks There is little difference between these two sorts that is the Fruit is gather'd when it is green and dry'd before it is ripe and though it is not so hot upon the Tongue when it is first dry'd yet afterwards by lying it gathers as great strength and is as hot of taste as the round Pepper The Indians use this in Salves against the Griping of the Guts and also for an Antidote against Poyson Giddiness of the Head c. Here grows also in many Places abundance of Coco-Nuts which the N●tives call Coquoeiro The Tree which bears them seldom grows straight i● commonly four or five Foot thick and above fifty Foot high with the Roo● lying very shallow in the Ground which causes great admiration how it can be supported so high in the Air with such a heavy Top hanging full of large Fruit against high and stormy gusts of Wind and not be over-turn'd And indeed this is the more admirable if it be consider'd That the lowe● part of the Body of this Tree is no thicker than the upper The Bark of it is of a swarthy colour and of little use though sweet and juycie About the Body of the Tree grows never a Branch but on the very top of it stand up fifteen or sixteen large Leaves like a Plume of Feathers each being about sixteen Foot long and a Foot thick at the bottom consisting of several other Leaves which stand one against another in a row Between each Leaf on the top of the Tree is a Rent or parting Cleft of two Foot long which is at first green afterwards red and opens of it self Before this Cleft opens there appears within a very fine Stem of a Foot long and three or four Fingers thick with several Branches upon it upon which grow certain three●corner'd Blossoms as big as Almonds white of colour and are the beginnings of the Flowers and Nuts for when the Rent breaks open then the Branches spread and the yellow Flowers appear After the Flower is off the Fruit succeeds which grows each upon a short Stem about the bigness of a Goose-quill The Fruit of this Tree is heavy hard and as big as a Man's Head hanging in Clusters at the top On the out-side of these Nuts is a thick stringy and tough Shell which if gather'd green yields a very pleasant Iuyce good being drank fresh against the Dropsie When the Nuts are thorow ripe and dry the Kernel proves very sweet of taste and are often eaten by Travellers for refreshment no Nuts in Europe being to be compar'd with them and the Sea-men that go long Voyages provide themselves with these Nuts which they eat as Medicinal against the Scurvy and as a Restorative when they are grown weak and faint It is warm and moist in the first degree and of the Kernels is made an Oyl not inferior to that of Almonds for strength and vertue and is generally us'd in the East and West-Indies both in Meats and Medicines Taken inwardly this Oyl cures the Rupture and most inward Wounds and Bruises Of the stringy Stuff which grows on the outside of the Shell of these Nuts they make Ropes in several Parts that will last a long while in salt Water which is so well known to the Portuguese that all the Anchor-Cables and other Ropes which is very observable us'd about their Kings Ships are made of this Stuff A certain Historian Lucuna by Name makes mention in one of his Books that in some Places in India they weave Carpets of this hairy Stuff that grows about the Shell of the Coco-Nut Of the hard Shell are made Drinking-Cups which are often tipt with Gold or Silver The Leaves serve and are us'd in stead of Paper nay some Indians make themselves Clothes of the same which will last many years before they go to decay and wear out The Wood it self is good for and put to divers uses whereof in regard others have written at large I shall omit to make any mention Near to Kingyven in the Province of Quangsi grows a Tree call'd Areca brought thither out of India in shape like that of the Coco-Nut but not so thick and has small Leaves Its Fruit is also call'd Areca being so hard that it cannot be parted or divided but with a Knife or some sharp Instrument Of Fruits BEsides the Fruits which grow in several Parts of Europe the Chinese Territories likewise produce yearly a rich Harvest of several other sorts In the Province of Quantung grows a sort of Fruit which by the Chineses is call'd Venku by the Portuguese Iamboa and by the Hollanders Pompel-Moes This Fruit grows upon a Tree beset with Thorns like the Lemmon-tree but exceeds it for bigness having a white Blossom well scented and whereof they make a sweet Water The Fruit is much bigger being generally as large as a Man's Head The Shell resembles that of the Gold-Apple for Colour The Pap within is reddish and sowre-sweet and tastes as a Grape not ripe so that they make a sort of Liquor of there as it is usual in Europe to do of Cherries and Pears In the Province of Peking grow very excellent Apples Pears Plums Wheat and Rye as also Figs Grapes and several other sorts of things but the Inhabitants however make no Wine being better pleas'd with their Liquor made of Rice which indeed is very pleasant of taste and preferr'd by all that Trade there yea even by those of Europe before Wine In Xansi grows a sort of sweet Grape which doubtless would make very delicate Wine but the Inhabitants dry them to make Raisins of them which are brought to be sold through all the Country In the same Province also grow very large Chesnuts but in that of Suchue is another sort that will melt in the Mouth like Sugar In the Province of Honan grow all sorts of Gold-Apples

Horse after whom follow'd those that carried the Scaling-Ladders At last march'd up the Prime of his Army which consisted of the Stoutest and ablest Soldiers of his Kingdom Having thus put his Army in Battel-array he fell upon the City immediately with an undaunted Courage Those within made very stout opposition at first but the Tartars pressing upon them furiously got the better and at last drove them from the Walls to which fixing their Scaling-ladders they quickly became Masters of the same such was their ex●raordinary nimbleness and Courage And now the Chineses finding themselves unable any longer to oppose the Enemy fled out of the City but the Tartars kill'd a great number in the Pursuit After the taking of this City the Tartar march'd on with his Army without any stop or hinderance taking by Storm whatever other Cities oppos'd him but such as submitted he commanded that none of the Inhabitants should suffer either in Body or Goods When now the King of Ninche had fill'd the Inhabitants of the Province of Leaotung with fear and dread of his Army and had totally Conquer'd the same he march'd forward with the Flower of his Army into the Province of Peking making no haste till he was come within seven Miles of the Imperial City and there finding several Chinese Armies to lie round about him he pitch'd his Camp in a very rich Quarter not daring to advance any further up into the Country whereas if he had march'd on he had in all probability carried all before him and might undoubtedly have taken the Imperial City the People being generall consternated and their Hearts dead with Fear insomuch that the Emperor himself had already concluded to abandon the City of Peking and with his whole Family to retire toward the Southern Provinces but he was dissuaded from it by his Council yet notwithstanding the Inhabitants of both these Provinces were so fill'd with Fear at the approach of the Tartars that they left their Habitations both in City and Country and fled into the Woods and Mountains with what they could well carry with them the Enemy in the mean time laying waste several famous Cities and putting all to Fire and Sword where he came The Ninchean King who as we said durst not adventure to march against the Imperial City of Peking having got good store of Riches out of the other Conquer'd Cities retreated back with his Army to the Chief City of the Province of Leaotung which was a very goodly City before he took it both for strength situation and fairness of Building but being told by his Soothsayers that to let the old Walls stand after he had won the Place could bode nought but Misfortune he caus'd them thereupon to be raz'd to the Ground and new ones built There are but two Great Cities in all this Province which are Leaoyang and Ningyven the rest are of a smaller Circuit yet are they both Populous and Rich But with Places of Strength which exceed some Cities for bigness it exceedingly abounds The Inhabitants of this Place are very dull of Understanding and so altogether incapable of learning any Arts and Sciences but very healthful of Constitution and strong of Body therein much exceeding the other Chineses And the cause may be for that they are bred from the Cradle to Wars and Hardship by reason of their vicinity to the Tartars who are perpetually making Wars upon them As to their Manners and Customs they resemble very much the Tartars which comes to pass by the great Intercourse that ●s daily between them The Country is in some places very Hilly and Mountainous and in others plain and even for many Miles together yet every where very fruitful in the product of all manner of Cattel both Wild and Tame as also in Tree● and Fruits of the Fields wholesom and medicinal both in their Bodies Leaves Fruits and Roots amongst others here grows that incomparable Root G●●seng whereof mention is made before There are also to be had store of Rich Furs as Sables Bever c. which they wear in Winter to keep themselves warm and Traffick with likewise into other Provinces It also produces curious Pine-apples excellent Wheat and Barley but no Rice yet a great abundance of Figs Apples Pears Grapes and several other sorts of Fruits Which extraordinary Plenty of all Necessary Things of its own Growth renders it both pleasant and cheap to live in but much more in regard of its Situation upon the Sea from whence it is furnish'd with all manner of Commodities from other Countries Their Religion is very little different from that of the other Chineses being great Promoters of the Doctrine of the Transmigration of Souls out of one Body into another Thus the Tartars having made this Place the Seat of War whereby they could at pleasure Invade the Neighboring Provinces the Emperor and his Council began to consider which way was the most likely for them to drive the Tartars out of their Territories and at last they concluded to raise an Army of 600000 Men over and above whom the King of Corea sent to their Assistance 12000 valiant Bow-men who were not inferior for Skill to the Tartars In the mean time the Ninchean King was not idle but drew out of his Kingdom as many Forces as could possibly be spar'd to joyn with him Being thus prepard for Wars on both sides the Chineses in the Year 1619 march'd with that formidable Army against the Enemy who hearing of their approach set forward from their Camp to meet them which soon hapned but then such was the inveterate malice of both Parties that as soon as they saw each other the Battel began which was valiantly fought for a long time by both Armies so that the Victory hung in suspence nor could any judge who would have the better till at length the Chineses running away in great disorder and confusion the slaughter was very great among them both of Commanders and Soldiers upon the Spot those that escaped carrying the news of the Overthrow to the Emperor This great Victory the Ninchean King pursu'd with that expedition that he took several Cities and Towns some whereof they laid in Ashes and put the Inhabitants to the Sword harrassing and plundering up to the very Walls of the City of Peking though they durst not lay Siege to it there being a Garrison of eighty thousand Men and and the Place well fortifi'd with great store of Cannon upon the Walls Notwithstanding which Provision such was the fear of the Pekinger that if the Tartars had but attempted they might have been Masters of that great City without any very hazardous opposition for the Emperor was again fully resolv'd as before to quit it and to retire to the Southern Provinces But some of his Council now too late grown wise alter'd his Purpose by telling him that it would encourage the Enemy and not only put the whole Empire into confusion but hazard the ruine if not the