Selected quad for the lemma: head_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	grow_v	small_a	stalk_n	2,644	5	11.7080	5	false

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

Bamboes grows in Morish or Fenny Grounds and is very straight but in its growth they bend it on purpose to prepare it for their use which ss to make Chairs of such as they are carried in Of the Body of this Tree the Chineses sometimes make their Wherries in which they Row with great swiftness upon the Rivers The Leaves hereof are somewhat like those of the Olive-Tree Of Trees THis Empire doth also very much abound with Trees not only such as grow in Europe but several others of a more strange nature not known in these Parts of the World In the Province of Suchue in the small City of Kien stands a certain Idol-Temple wherein is a Tree call'd Cieennien that is to say The Tree of of a thousand years which is so prodigiously large that two hundred Sheep may stand in covert under one Branch of it without being seen though you come very near to it In the same Province likewise grows a sort of Beans upon a Tree which are so exceeding hard that the People by reason thereof have given them the Name of Stone-Beans In the Province of Huquang grows a Tree nam'd The Tree of Sleep for that as some report a Branch of this Tree applied to any part of the Body causes a sweet and pleasant Sleep In the Province of Chekiang near to the small City Singhiang grow such extraordinary large Trees that fourscore Men are not able to fathom them about Nay further there are some of those Trees ni fallit fama of that vast bigness that one Branch will cover at least forty Men. In the Province of Macao is a Tree by the Portugueses call'd The Iron-Tree in regard the Wood thereof both for colour heaviness and hardness resembles Iron and sinks immediately when put into the Water In the Province of Quantung near Chaoking grows great store of sweet and well-scented Wood whereof the Inhabitants make Tables Chairs Chests and the like In the Province of Quangsi the Inhabitants make Linnen Cloth of the Leaves of Trees In the Province of Chekiang are several Woods consisting of Mulberry-Trees which the Inhabitants cut every year that so they may not grow up to any largeness for they find by experience that the Leaves of the lower Trees make the best Silk so that by this only means all that keep Silk-worms know very well how to distinguish the first Spinning of the Silk from the second because the first is the product of the soft and tender Leaves which shoot forth in the Spring and are then eaten by the Worm but the hard and sowre Summer-Leaves make the second Spinning which alteration of Food doth occasion so great a difference in the Work of these small Creatures And such is the infinite abundance of Silks in this Province that ten Suits of Silk may there be bought cheaper than you can buy one of Cloth here in Europe In the Province of Quangsi near the City Cincheu is great store of Cinamon-Trees which differs only in this from that of Ceylon in that it is stronger of scent and hotter upon the Tongue The Tree upon which it grows is about the bigness of an Orange-Tree and has many long thick and straight Branches whose Leaves have some similitude with those of the Laurel It bears a Snow-white and well-scented Flower from whence is produc'd a smart sort of Fruit which being neglected by the People is eaten up by the Birds and Monkies From this Fruit drops a Iuice which has the taste of Cinamon but not so strong The Wood of the Tree has neither smell nor taste insomuch that Nature seems to have depriv'd all the parts of this Tree of its Vertue and only bestow'd it upon its Bark to raise it to the higher esteem and draw from thence the greater advantage This Tree as all others has a double Bark the first is a very pleasant kind and so thin that it cannot be distinguish'd from the other but by its greenness for afterwards when it is dry it sticks so fast to the innermost Bark that it can neither be seen nor tasted nor peel'd off The green inward Bark when this outward Rind is taken off is slippery and smooth Being thus peel'd off and cleansed it is cut into four-square pieces and laid a drying in the Sun it is afterwards roll'd up and put into Barrels and so Transported into Europe in the same form as we have it and see it sold in all Parts After the Bark is peel'd off the Tree will stand two or three years naked without getting a new Bark but after that time the Bark will re-increase and become fit to be new peel'd The Inhabitants say that the Root of this Tree produces a Sap not unlike to Camphire The Chineses and likewise those of the Island of Ceylon distill from the green Bark and the fresh Flowers almost after the same manner as those of Europe make Cinamon-water a certain Liquor which they apply to several Uses In the Island of Ceylon these Cinamon-Trees grow in such abundance that they supply all parts of the World with their Bark and would produce more than could be spent if the Islanders did not sometimes burn whole Woods But this may be observ'd That as this Island is very fruitful in the product of Cinamon so on the other Hand neither Cloves nor Nutmeg-trees will grow upon it In some few Places of China there grow Cloves Pepper and Nutmegs but in small quantities so that most of those Spices are commonly brought from other Places Now in regard it will not be unpleasant to the Readers to peruse the Nature of these Trees and Fruits I shall declare in a few words what I have observ'd concerning them whereof no mention has been made by any other former Writer The Tree upon which the Cloves grow is as big as an ordinary Pear-tree and grows after the same form The Leaves hang upon long Stalks and grow sometimes single and sometimes in clusters It has several greater and lesser Branches each whereof end in very thin Shoots upon whose top grow small Stalks where sit the Cloves in clusters within the head of the Cloves grows also a Flower which yields a very pleasant scent as well as the Fruit but is much more fragrant in dry Weather than in wet upon which also depends the fruitfulness or unfruitfulness of it for in a dry Year there is more Fruit than Leaves upon the Tree But although extraordinary Heat be the most seasonable Weather for these Trees yet they do not always yield a like plentiful Harvest for about the second or third and sometimes about the seventh Year the Crop is much worse The Cloves are first red of colour but afterwards turn black and are gather'd in the Months of September October and November either with the Hand or else beaten off with a long Reed Such as are left upon the Tree grow much bigger than those that are gather'd and fall off of themselves the next year which though

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

suffer to pass by them unregarded In the Day this Creature lives upon the Land and in the Night in the Water When it is gorg'd with eating and is fall'n asleep with his Mouth full of Meat a small Bird call'd Trochicus and in Italian The King of Birds comes to him as he lies with his Mouth open and cleanses his Teeth with picking and scraping wherewith the Crocodile is so highly pleas'd that he opens his Throat as wide as is possible that so the Bird may scoure the same for which kindness it bears it much friendship The Chineses eat the Flesh thereof with great delight It is reported that Termus King of Egypt swam amongst them stark naked having his Body only anointed with the Grease of them In the River Chaoking is a Fish call'd The Swimming Cow which comes often out of the Water and fights at Land with the tame Cows to their great hazard till its Horns grow weak by staying out of the Water which may be discerned by their turning yellow then with all speed it returns into the Water where the Horns grow hard again Near to Caocheu there is to be seen a strange kind of Creature in the Sea having a Head like a Bird and a Tail like a Fish In its Belly are found some Precious Stones Between this City and the Island Hainan are taken a sort of Crabs which as soon as they are out of the Water become petrifi'd and immediately turn into Stones The Portuguese and Chineses make great use of them for the Cure of Agues In the Province of Suchue near the City of Chunking are great store of Land-Tortoises of several sizes some very large and others very small which the Inhabitants keep in their Houses for their Pleasure But in Quantung near to Hoeicheu there are caught in the Sea such very large Tortoises that they look like little Rocks at a distance The Land as well as the Sea-Tortoises engender after the manner of the Adder-Snake the Male getting upon the Female They lay Eggs like Hens Eggs but lesser and more oval It is said of them that they live under Ground in the Winter without eating They are afraid of the Eagle which makes a prey of them taking them up and letting them fall till they break They make but little noise yet louder than the Snake Whether they are to be reckon'd amongst Flesh or Fish is still to be determin'd Some account them amongst Fish and eat them in Lent others think the contrary because they have Feet and draw Breath The Land-Tortoise Shells are very hard and like Ebony nor will they bend like those of the Sea but they are full of Knobs upon the top and most of them of fine Colours yellow and brown as if they were Painted with Crosses Stars and other Figures They thrust out their Heads and Feet which when they draw in as they can at pleasure they seem to be immovable They differ very much in bigness some being no bigger than a Man's Fist. In Virginia are Tortoises of three and four Foot long with two Heads which are very malicious and given to biting In the Island Mauritius are some Tortoises so large that they will carry four or five Men standing upon them Their Shells are of so capacious an extent that ten Persons may sit in one of them But the Sea-Tortoises are much larger than those of the Land Iohn de Lery writes That there was one taken by their Fleet which gave eighty Persons their Bellies full Their Shells are much smoother and flatter than the other and very curiously wrinkled In hot Water they will bend into any shape which the other cannot do by reason of its hardness so that Artificers make Combs and Boxes of them In stead of Feet they have Fins wherewith they swim as other Fish but they lie much upon their Backs and swim sleeping upon the Water The Flesh of this Creature is luscious and tastes like Veal being interlarded with yellowish Fat The Female lays her Eggs by Night and buries them in the Sand which are hatch'd in six Weeks by the heat of the Sun CHAP. XVII Of some things more than Natural and strange Pools IN the last seven Chapters I spoke of great and admirable things yet such as are not beyond the ordinary Course of Nature but in this I shall treat of some more wonderful which are hard to be credited though the Chineses do firmly believe the same In the Province of Xensi near the City Vucung is a Hill call'd Taipe whereupon if a Drum be beaten presently followeth Thunder Lightning and stormy Weather insomuch that the Magistrates have forbidden all Persons upon pain of Death to beat any Drum there The River Tan has red Fish with whose Blood as the Chineses write and fancy whosoever anoint their Feet they may wade over this River without sinking adding further That if the Water of this River be but stirr'd all the Fish presently rise and swim upon the top of the Water and make it look as red as Fire from whence in probability it had its Name for Tan signifies Red. In the Province of Xantung near the City Niuyang is a Spring in high esteem amongst the Inhabitants for they verily believe that whosoever drinks of 〈◊〉 it makes them long-liv'd In Suchue near the City Chingtu is the most large and extensive Mountain Chingching upon which according to the vain belief of the Chineses the immortal Men meet to Converse In the Province of Huquang upon Mountains of an incredible heighth and bigness inhabit none but wild and unciviliz'd People Near to Liencheng a City of Quantung lies a great Hill call'd Uhoang where grows a sort of Fruit whose like is not to be found any where else for you may eat as much as you please but you must carry none away and while you endeavor so to do you can never find the way down In the Province of Iunnan near the City Chinkiang is to this day a great Stone to be seen where Simulo who possess'd the Kingdom of Mung gave Audience to the Ambassadors of another King who upon the delivery of their Message not satisfying him he arising in anger and taking his Sword naked into his Hand struck with it so violently upon the Stone that the Blow pierc'd above three Foot into it and with threatning words said to the Ambassadors Go and acquaint your King what Swords I have This hapned in the Reign of Iliaouvus the Founder of the Race of Hana which incorporated the powerful Kingdom of Mung to the Kingdom of China Near the City Munghoa in the Province of Honan lies the Mountain Funghoang which tooks its Name from the Phenix because it died upon the same after it had sung there a while most deliciously The Chineses relate That there is a general Assembly of Birds once every year upon this Mountain to lament the Death of the said Phenix of which time the Inhabitants taking notice climb up by