Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	call_v	grow_v	herb_n	2,071	5	9.7166	5	true

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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

him to have far exceeded in Vertue Learning and Integrity all other Mortals that ever liv'd upon the face of the Earth And certainly if his Works which are extant in Chinese Books were minded with a due regard Men must acknowledge him to have been a Person of great Learning and Vertue In respect whereof the Chineses have to this day so great an opinion of his Name that whatsoever he has writ is never call'd in question but by all maintain'd for good having gain'd to it self the authority of Ipse Dixit in the Schools And not only the Learned but the Kings also have ever since his Death perpetuated his Memory and recorded his Name in their Annals as a Reward of the Vertue and Learning they receiv'd from him And such of his Posterity as yet remain are to this day highly respected by all and not without reason for the Emperors of China have Enobled the Heirs of the Family with great Titles of Honor and exempted them from paying any Publick Taxes or Impositions Nor doth the Knowledge of the Chineses end here for they are great Proficients in the Art of Astrology and in several other Arts and Sciences as also heretofore in that of Arithmetick in the understanding whereof they have of late years much decay'd insomuch that now the Shop-keepers use Boards to tell upon which are full of Holes yet they are so ready at it that with a Peg they know how to cast up an Accompt with as much Method and Expedition as the most skilful European with Counters In the division of the Hemisphere Stars and Constellations therein they differ very much from us of Europe having added to their number more than are known to the most critical of our modern Astronomers The Star-gazers are chiefly employ'd in prognosticating the time of the Suns Eclipses and to observe the various Course of the Planetary Motions But herein they are like themselves and Brethren in the same Art full of Errors and Mistakes as also in their Astrological Observations Calculating of Nativities Horary Questions or the like concerning good or bad Fortunes in their Lives as well as present Successes in their Emergent Occasions together with the Fruitfulness and Barrenness of the ensuing Year for they take it as a main Article of their Belief That all things which happen here upon Earth depend upon the Influences of the Stars and are directed and order'd by the various Signatures of their several Configurations Of this Fortune-telling Part of the Art of Astrology Trigautius the Iesuit gives this following Account in his History of China The present Emperor of China has strictly forbidden this kind of Learning to all but such who have a Right by Inheritance or are otherwise appointed and chosen thereunto And this Prohibition at first sprung from fear lest any having obtained to the exact knowledge of that Art should by pretence thereof have an opportunity to erect any Novelty in the Empire Yet that the Art and the Masters of the same may not seem to be utterly lost or neglected the said Emperor maintains several Star-gazers at a very great Charge for his own use and they are of two sorts namely the Celubden who live within the King's Palace and the Imperial Magistrates who live without Both these have at present at Peking two Benches the one entituled The Bench of the Chineses which is employ'd about making of Almanacks and Prognostications the Suns and Moons Eclipses The other is of the Saraceners whose Studies tend to the same things and are Methodiz'd according to the Grounds and Rules of the Western Astrology After a time the Iudgments of both these Benches are compar'd together and any difference or mistake of either or both is then rectified Both these Societies have a convenient Mansion provided for them upon a very high Hill that they may the better view the Stars and raise Observations from the same Several old Astrological Instruments made of Copper or Brass are kept in this Place Every Night one of the Profession remains here to observe whether any new Star appear in the Firmament which might fore-tell some Novelty and if any such thing happen he immediately gives notice thereof to the Society and they communicate the same to the Emperor and consult with him what it may p●rtend and how relate to good or evil And this is the Office or Duty of the Astrologers at Peking As to Physick and Chirurgery they are very expert therein and their Rules of Art differ not much from those of our European Physicians for first they feel the Pulse like them and are very skilful in discovering by the same the inward Distempers of the Body in each Hand they take notice of six distinct beatings of the same namely three high and three low which as they conceive have some secret Coherences with certain Parts of the Body as that of the first to the Heart of the second to the Liver of the the third to the Stomach of the fourth to the Spleen of the fifth to the Reins c. And therefore that they may with the greater certainty of Iudgment deliver their Opinions they are at least half an hour in feeling the Pulse of the sick Person When by the Pulse they have found out the Distemper then in order to the curing of the Patient they apply and make use of several Simples and Roots to say the truth they are generally very well experienc'd in the knowledge of the several Vertues of all kinds of Herbs growing among them And this is observable that there are no Schools in all China for the learning of Physick but every Master of Family teaches his Servant And true it is that although in both the Imperial Cities of Peking and Nanking the Degree of Doctor of Physick is not granted but after Examination yet this Degree when obtain'd doth advance neither the Honor or Respect of the Person And for this reason it is probable that few or none Study Physick but the meaner sort of People because the very Profession thereof which is so honorable in other Places is there is no esteem nor adds the least Reputation to him that gains it But it is quite otherwise with such as Study Philosophy for whosoever hath attain'd to the Perfection thereof is by them accounted to have arriv'd at the highest pitch of humane Happiness attainable in this World The above-mention'd Confutius the Prince of the Chinese Philosophers has collected into order all the Writings of the Ancients in that kind and contracted them into four great Books to which he added a fifth of his own In which Volumes are taught Rules Oeconomical and Political as well the way to Live as to Govern well as also the ancient Examples Manners Offerings and several Poems of ancient Authors But beside these five there is another great Volume writ by some of the Disciples of Confutius and is divided into four Parts and call'd The Four Books The last Volume thus subdivided

Belly Cholick Flux c. but Persons of a hot Constitution ought to use it moderately it being apt to inflame the Blood Most of the Provinces of China abound as well in all manner of Eatable as Medicinal Herbs We will descend a little to Particulars In the Province of Xensi near to the chief City Kingyang grows a Herb call'd Kinsu which for its resemblance to a Tuft of yellow Hair the Chineses call The Golden or The Gold Thred of Silk-Worms it is of a bitter taste and rather of a cooling then warming Quality it cures all manner of Scurf of the Body Here also grows another Herb call'd Quei good against Melancholy and occasioning joy and gladness of Heart if taken inwardly Near to Cingcheu in the Province of Quantung lie some Islands wherein grows an Herb call'd Lungsiu which makes Horses strong and swift if they eat of the same Also near the same City grows The Herb of a thousand years so commonly call'd but they farther affirm of it That it is immortal and never dies The Water wherein the same has been infus'd being drank makes white Hair black and is very good to prolong Life There are besides these several other incomparable Herbs which are us'd amongst them for the cure of Distempers of all sorts In the Kingdom of Tanyeu grows a certain Herb very high amongst the Rocks which will not burn when flung into the Fire and there kept for some time only it will turn a little red but as soon as out of the Fire presently recovers its pristine and natural colour yet although it resist Fire it immediately turns to Dirt being put into Water In the Province of Quantung near to Kiunchen grows the Herb Chifung so call'd because it shews which way the Wind blows the Seamen say they can discover by the same what stormy Weather they shall have before they go to Sea In the Province of Quangsi near to Chincheu the Inhabitants make a kind of Cloth of a certain Herb call'd Yu which is esteem'd far before Silk and much dearer But in the Province of Queicheu near to Liping they make Cloth of an Herb very like Hemp and call'd Co which is very commodious in Summer The Chinese Physicians say That upon the Mountain Tiengo grow above a hundred sorts of Simples all of very soveraign Vertues But amongst all others China is famous for an Herb call'd Thea or Cha and whereof the Natives and other neighboring People make their Liquor call'd Thea or Cha taking its Name from the Herb. There is a very great difference in the manner of preparing and using this Liquor between the Chineses and those of Iapan for that the Iapanners beat the Leaves to a Powder and mingle it with boiling Water in a Cup which they afterwards drink off But the Chineses put the Leaves whole into a Pot of boiling Water which having lain in steep for some time they sip off hot without swallowing down any of the Leaves but only the Quintessence thereof extracted Others prepare it with Milk and a little Salt mingled with Water which is not so well approv'd but however prepar'd it is not only drunk in China and other Parts of India but is much us'd likewise in divers other Countries and the general consent of all People that they find much good by it enhances the Price and makes the same be sold here at a very dear Rate In Xensi near the City Hacheu is great store of Hemp but no Flax grows in all the Empire In Kiangsi near the City Kienchang grows a sort of Rice so far exceeding the rest for goodness that the Emperor himself sends for his own Stores from thence and for its excellency the Chineses call it Silver-Cron In Xensi near the City Kingyang grows another sort of Rice us'd by the People to purge the Body and cause Urine In the Province of Chekiang upon the Mountain Tienno near the City Hangcheu grow Mushroms in great abundance which are dispersed into all Parts of the Country and will keep good a whole year either dried or Pickled This Country produces abundance of Cottons the Seed whereof was brought thither about five hundred years since And though this Fruit doth likewise grow in other Parts at present as in Arabia upon the Islands of Cyprus Maltha in Sicily and in Egypt I think it not amiss since it is one of the most profitable Commodities for Trade in China to give this brief Description thereof It grows upon a Stalk almost three Foot high cover'd with a reddish Bark and full of Prickles dividing it self into several Branches The Leaves are not much unlike those of the Vine and divided into three Parts which for bigness may be compar'd with those of the Mast-Tree It bears a Flower which is yellow on the outside and red in the middle from which proceeds a round Fruit about the bigness of an Apple wherein when it is ripe the Wool lies conceal'd which is afterwards gather'd sold and dispos'd of to several Uses The Leaves of the Cotton-Tree are generally alike onely here and there some are smoother softer and more even than others In some places of China Beans may be seen growing upon Trees a sort of which near the City Changchang are reputed good against Poison The Province of Quantung produces abundance of Osiers which seem to be no other than Ropes twisted together by Nature of which there are whole Mountains full in this Province which are put by the Inhabitants to divers Uses and in regard they are very tough and will not easily break they make sometimes Cordage thereof for Vessels but their best use is to make soft Mattresses upon which most of the People the Grandees and the Emperor himself lay themselves naked when they go to sleep Very neat and clean is this Furniture and withal very cool in the Summer and though the Mattresses be only spread one the bare Floor yet they look upon it as a fit place to lie on having been no otherwise accustom'd The whole Island of Hainan is full of these Osiers especially of the best which the Portuguese call The white Rota Of Flowers THere are several rare and well scented Flowers which grow in these Parts that are unknown to those of Europe In the Province of Suchuen near to Chungking grows a certain Flower call'd Meutang in high esteem amongst them and therefore call'd The King of Flowers It differs very little in fashion from the European Rose but is much larger and spreads it Leaves farther abroad It far surpasses the Rose in beauty but falls short in richness of scent It has no Thorns or Prickles and is generally of a white colour mingled with a little Purple yet there are some that are yellow and red This Flower grows upon a Bush and is carefully cherish'd and Planted in all Gardens belonging to the Grandees for one of the most choice Flowers In the Province of Huquang near the City Tan is a great Cataract

Mountain fashion'd in the shape of an Idol near the City of Tunchue in the Province of Fokien exceedeth all admiration concerning which thus writeth Father Martinius in his Atlas Page 69. The first Mountain of this Province saith he is worthy of admiration being situate on the Banks of the River Feu for from this Mountain they have as I may say not form'd a monstrous but a mounta●●● Idol which they call Fe it sitteth with cross Legs or decassated Feet folding the Hands in his Bosom You may judge of the Magnitude the Eyes Ears Nostrils and Mouth being perspicuous to the Beholders at least two Miles This they suppose not to have been cut out by the Labor of Art as Dinostratus offer'd to Carve the Mountain Athos into an Alexander holding a City in one Hand and a River in the other but the meer work of Nature much assisted by Fancy They report of the Mountain Taipe in the Province of Xensi much celebrated by the Oreoscopists or Mountain-Diviners that a Drum being beaten on it raiseth suddenly Thunder Lightning and great Tempests therefore is there a strict Law and severe Punishments provided for whoever is found to offend in this kind The Oreologists relate that there is a Mountain in the Province Uquang which is so tenacious of its own Right that if any one hath feloniously taken any of its Wood Fruit or the like he shall never be able to depart thence being perpetually included as in a Labyrinth but he that religiously abstaineth may go thence without trouble But we reckon this amongst the Fables of the Bonzii There also are Aeolian or windy Mountains such as in Europe for in the Province of Huquang is a Mountuin call'd Fang from which as Martinius relates in the Spring and Autumn not the least Breath appears but from the hollow Caverns in Summer assiduous Blasts and continual Blowings issue CHAP. V. Of wonderful Lakes Rivers and Springs THE Lakes of the Chineses are like their Mountains full of Rarities There is a Lake in the Province of Fokien which converteth Iron into Copper the Water being very green we presume is full of Nitrous Spirits and so discolour'd with Coperas which operates in the conversion of this Metal Another Lake call'd Chung in the Province of Fokien hath a greater Wonder for they report that in a fair House there erected as often as Rain or Tempest is approaching there is a sound heard like the ringing of a Bell. In the Mountain Talaus in the Province of Quantung is said to be a Lake which is most clear throughout the whole Year except in the Autumnal Season in which it is tinctur'd so deep with a blue Colour that it Dyes whatever is dipp'd in it There is near Sining in the Province of Quantung a Mountain call'd Tenlu full of Caverns and dreadful to behold in it as Father Martinius witnesseth they report a standing Pool to be into which if you cast a Stone from aloft you shall presently hear a roring and noise like Thunder and immediately the Skie being troubled disembogues violent Showers In the Province of Iunnan is the Lake call'd Chin so much celebrated by Geographers and set forth in their Maps concerning which their Histories relate That out of the Ruine of a great populous City swallow'd by an Earthquake after whose dreadful devoration the Scene suddenly chang'd into the Prospect of this pleasant Lake none but a Child swimming on a piece of Wood escap'd This Lake is call'd also The Starry Sea from certain Weeds appearing on the surface like beamy Stars CHAP. VI. Of strange or Forein Plants in China AS the Empire of China by a continu'd Tract of Lands participateth of the Properties of many things with India the Seas being subject to the Torrid Zone so also it produces various Plants endu'd with rare and admirable Qualities of some whereof take the following Account The first is of the Rose of China which twice every day changeth its Colour now being all Purple and by and by becoming all White yet without any sweet Scent There is also the Plant call'd Cha which not being able to contain it self within the Bounds of China hath insinuated it self into Europe It aboundeth in divers Regions of China and there is great difference but the best and more choice is in the Province of Kiangnan in the Territory of the City Hoeicheu The Leaf being boil'd and infus'd in Water they drink very hot as often as they please it is of a Diuretick Faculty much fortifies the Stomach exhilarates the Spirits and wonderfully openeth all the Nephritick Passages or Reins it freeth the Head by suppressing of fuliginous Vapors so that it is a most excellent Drink for studious and sedentary Persons to quicken them in their Operations and albeit at the first it seemeth insipid and bitter yet Custom makes it pleasant and though the Turkish Coffee is said to produce the like effect and the Mexican Chocolate be another excellent Drink yet Tea if the best very much excelleth them because Chocolate in hot Seasons inflameth the Blood more than ordinary and Coffee agitateth Choler but this Liquor in all Seasons hath one and the same effect Concerning this Plant see more in Martinius his Atlas Sinicus In the Province of Quantung groweth a Plant call'd Chisung that is Weather-wise for the Mariners as Father Martinius relateth do by the number and distance of the Knots growing thereon predict how many Tempests shall be throughout the whole Year and when they shall happen In the Province of Quangsi there groweth a Tree which they call Quanlang which in stead of Pith hath a soft Pulp like unto Meal whereof the Natives make Bread and apply to the same Uses with Flour of which Trees Marcus Paulus Venetus maketh mention Lib. 3. Chap. 19. There is said to be a Lake near the City Vuting in the Province of Hunnam which is call'd Hociniao on every side beautifully surrounded with Trees the Leaves that fall from them are chang'd into small Birds of a black Colour in such numbers that the Inhabitants suppose them to be Spirits So Martinius in his Atlas The like to these are reported to be in Scotland and elswhere as Soland Geese Clack-Geese and Barnicles The Atlas of China mentions an Herb in the Province of Huquang call'd Pusu which liveth a thousand years and hath the vertue of restoring Youth and changing Gray Hairs into Black the truth of which may well be doubted There is also found the Root call'd Ginseng in the Province of Leaotung most famous throughout all China from the operation of whose wonderful Vertue the vulgar Chineses believe strange Restoration of Health and Longevity See Father Martinius in his Atlas Fol. 35. It is reported that there groweth an Herb in the Province of Xensi call'd Quei which being eaten causeth Mirth and Laughter somewhat like unto the Weed Apiorisus Our Atlas reporteth an admirable kind of Withy or Vine to grow in the Mountains of

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

without a Father for as she was walking by the side of the Pool which runs through the City Lanthien in the Province of Xensi she trod accidentally as Fame suggests it in the Foot-steps of a Man which was in the Sand upon which being immediately with Iris or the Rain-bow she prov'd to be with Child and at her full time brought forth this Fohius in that Province who took upon him the Government two thousand nine hundred and fifty two years before Christ's Birth and Reigned a hundred and fifteen years This Emperor was a Man of a most upright and vertuous Disposition very well skill'd in Astrology seeking thereby as well to know and understand the Motions of the Heavens and Stars as to be fam'd for the well managing of Earthly Affairs and indeed he made discovery of several things relating to Astrology and introduc'd very good Laws whereby he kept his Subjects in awe reducing the same into Writing having for that purpose invented the first and most ancient Chinese Characters Till this Princes Time there was in China among the Men and Women no difference either of Habit or Manner neither did they know the civiliz'd Limits of lawful Wedlock but liv'd as Beasts in common one among another Both these things he reform'd ordaining the sacred Rites of Marriage and ordering the Men to wear their Clothes distinct in fashion from those of the Women Xinnungus was elected Emperor after the death of Fohius by reason of his eminent Vertues and Reigned a hundred and forty years He first invented the use of the Plough for tillage of the Ground and taught the Inhabitants the use thereof who finding the Benefit thereof began to manure the Land of their own accord which required their Industry with a plentiful Crop of Fruit for the better sustenance of Life and for this reason they call'd him Xinnungi which signifies The Ingenious Husbandman He was also a diligent Searcher into the Vertues of all Herbs and Plants making Experiments thereof upon his own Body After he had Reigned a hundred years one Hoangtius a petty King his Neighbor made War upon him and after having defeated and kill'd him won also the Kingdom The Defeat was receiv'd upon the Mountain Fano in the Place where now the City Peking is situate in the Province of Peking the Inhabitants of which Place still retain some memory of that War it being as they say the first that ever was wag'd in the World And thus by force of Arms Hoangtius came to the Empire who nevertheless for Vertue goodness of Mind and comely shape of Face and Body was hardly ever to be paralell'd He made several good Laws and particularly order'd just Weights and Measures But all these Vertues were in some measure sullied by his seeming Tyranny for he always kept an Army on foot wherewith he kept the Rebellious in awe And indeed there was nothing blame-worthy in him but this and his treacherous falling upon the foregoing Emperor and taking his Kingdom from him However he Govern'd very prudently and had a particular care of the Welfare of his Subjects one testimony whereof appear'd in his advancing Commerce which hitherto had been hindred by unpassable Ways for effecting whereof to the best advantage and accommodation of Trade and Travellers he caus'd Ways to be digg'd through Hills and Mountains by the same means likewise enlarging the Territories of his Empire He was the first in this Country that introduc'd the Imperial Crown and other Ceremonies and Marks of Majesty using blue and yellow Clothes in imitation of the two Colours of Heaven and Earth He invented the Art of Dying several Colours and then commanded the more Wealthy People to distinguish themselves from the Poor by wearing Apparel different in colour Where Rivers were great and broad for the better and more easie transfretation he caus'd the Trunks of Trees to be hollow'd out in the form of Boats but over the smaller and such as were narrow he order'd Bridges to be made And finding that difference in Commodities hindred Dealing for promotion of Trade he order'd Brass-Money to be Coyn'd and to defend both it and themselves against an Enemy he not only found out the Invention of Arms but taught his Subjects how to handle them There is a Report which is certainly strange but how true I will not decide That in the Hall of his Palace there grew an Herb of that Nature and Vertue that if an unjust Person came into the same it would turn and bow towards him as the Sun-Flower doth to the Sun He had by his Wives twenty five Children amongst which were fourteen lawfully begotten and liv'd to see them at Man's Estate nay which is more they report he never died but was receiv'd amongst the Xinsien that is The Immortal and doubtless this may with great Reason be said of him for his Name was immortaliz'd for his Vertue all the Chinese Emperors since his Time taking to themselves the by-Name of Hoangtius as the Roman Emperors after the first Caesar assum'd the Name of Caesars After his death his Son Xaohavus succeeded him in his Throne being nothing inferior to his Father for Vertue and Goodness in the Year 2597. before the Incarnation He Reigned eighty four years and was the first of all the Emperors that caus'd a distinction in the Degrees and Dignities of the Mandorins or Magistrates by their several bearings of Birds and Colours for it is a Custom to this day for every Magistrate to wear a particular colour'd Habit whereby his Place and Employment may be known to which end they bear a Bird or some other Mark embroider●d with Gold and Silver both behind upon the Back and before upon the Breast that so every one that meets them may know what Place and Dignity he enjoys which Notes or Badges of distinctions are easily known for such as have any Employment in the Civil Magistracy have always tame Birds for their Cognisance but the Commanders over the Armies have Dragons Lions Tygers and the like wild Creatures which declare the destructive nature of War The Emperor Xaohavus made choice of Birds for this use before any other Creatures because at the beginning of his Reign the Bird of the Sun appear'd which was a sign of much prosperity of the Empire for if these Birds are long before they come the Chineses firmly believe that the Imperial Race will not be of long continuance but that there will be Wars made upon them What sort of Bird this is I could never understand but according to its shape as they describe it it is not unlike an Eagle only the Feathers are very curious as well for singularity of Colours as other beauty But in regard it so very rarely appears it may be suppos'd to be the Phenix by them call'd Fughoang This Emperor having Reign'd many years to the great satisfaction of the Inhabitants and by reason of his Age not being able any longer to take care of the Affairs

lives in Princely State being serv'd and waited on with extraordinary Pomp and Splendor but has no Command in the least over any of the Inhabitants neither may they depart from that City without the King 's special Licence In this Government are found no old Laws as among those of Europe no Imperial Edicts which had their original from the ancient Romans but those that are the first Founders of their own House and have by Conquest or otherwise resum'd the Government make new Statutes according to their pleasure This is the reason why the Laws which were in use before this last Invasion of the Tartars and are in part observ'd to this day by the People are of no longer standing then the Emperor Humvuo whose Race for his most heroick Actions in the Expulsion of the Tartars was call'd Tamin which signifies Great Courage This Emperor made several Laws and confirm'd others made by his Predecessors Their Emperor is commonly call'd Thiensu which signifies The Son of Heaven and this Name is given him not that they believe he had his Original from thence but because they believe he is better belov'd by being preferr'd to so great a Dignity above all other Mortals for his eminent and natural Vertues and because they adore and worship Heaven for the highest Deity so that when they name The Son of Heaven 't is as much as if they said The Son of God However the Commonalty call not the Emperor Thiensu but Hoangti The Yellow Emperor or The Emperor of the Earth whom they name Yellow of colour to distinguish him from Xangti which signifies The highest Emperor Two thousand six hundred ninety seven years before Christ's Birth their first Prince Reign'd who bore the Name of Hoangti and because of his extraordinary Vertues and valiant Deeds the Chineses have ever since call'd their Emperors Hoangti None are chosen or employ'd in the Government and Management of Publick Affairs but such as are held capable and have the Title of Doctors of the Law Men of great Learning and eminent Parts for whosoever is preferr'd in China to Places and Offices of Trust has given a clear testimony of his Knowledge Prudence Vertue and Valour neither the Favor of the Prince or Grandeur of his Friends standing him in any stead if he be not so extraordinarily qualifi'd All Magistrates both Civil and Military are call'd in the Country Idiome Quonfu which signifies Men fit for Council They are also call'd sometimes by the Name of Lavie which signifies Lord or Master The Portuguese call these Magistrates in China Mandorins it may be from the Latin word Mandando by which Name the Officers of that State in that Country are also receiv'd and understood by us of Europe And although I said at the beginning that the Government of this Kingdom or Empire consisted of one single Person yet it will appear by what has been said and what shall follow that the Government has also some Commixture with that of Aristocracy for although that which the Magistrate concludes and fully determines must afterwards be ratifi'd by the King upon Request made to him yet he also finisheth nothing himself in any Business before he is thereunto first desir'd by his Council It is also very certain That it is no way lawful for the King to confer any Office Dignity or Place in the Magistracy upon any unless he be first requested by one in special Authority But yet he hath Power to present his Courtiers with some special Gifts and this he often does according to an old Custom whereby it is free for any one to raise his Friends at his own Charge The Publick Taxes Assessments Impositions and Revenues are not brought into the King's Treasury neither may he dispose thereof at his Pleasure but they are deliver'd either in Money or Goods into the Treasury and Granary of the Empire which Income dischargeth the Expence of the King's Family consisting of Wives Concubines Sons Favorites and the like There are two distinct Councils in China one whereof not only officiates in Affairs of State at Court but has likewise the Care of the Kingdom The other is made up of Provincial Governors who Rule particular Provinces and Cities A Catalogue of which Officers fills up five or six large Volumes Printed every Month and to be sold at Peking where the Court resides In these Books are mention'd only the Names of Provinces and Cities and the Qualities of those who for that end are employ'd in the Magistracy through the whole Empire These Books are always re-printing in regard so vast a number of Alterations happen daily for some die others are laid aside and new ones chosen in their Places or else preferr'd to higher Offices so that there is hardly an hour but some Change happens amongst them The Grand Council divides it self into six other great ones The first is call'd Pu or The Council of State for they nominate and chuse all the Magistrates of the whole Nation these as they are most powerful have also the greatest Parts Persons able to judge of whom they confer such Dignities for they must be all qualifi'd with Philosophical and other Learning that come to any Place in the Magistracy the general Maxim there being To prefer none but meerly upon Merit and whosoever happens to be degraded for any Misdemeanor they never admit him to his Place again The second call'd Hopu hath the Management and Inspection over the King's Exchequer pays the Armies and other Charges of the Kingdom The third they name Limpu this takes care of the common Offerings Temples Priests the King's Women Schools and publick Places of Learning to see that all things be done in order likewise orders their Holy-days and the Obediences which are to be perform'd to the Emperor upon certain Times and Occasions also disposes and confers Titles of Honor upon such as deserve them takes care for the encouragement of Arts and Sciences sending and receiving of Ambassadors and the writing of Letters into all Parts The fourth Council is call'd Pimpu or The Council of War to whom is left the management of Peace and Military Affairs wherein however they are not to conclude any thing without the consent of the Emperor They dispose of all Places and Offices in the Army and confer Titles of Honor and Dignities accordingly upon such as behave themselves bravely in Conduct and valiantly in Battel The fifth Council call'd Cumym has the care about Buildings committed to it and also appoints Surveyors to look to the Repairs of the Edifices and Palaces belonging to the Emperor his Favorites and Magistrates they also look after the building of Vessels and the equipping of Fleets The sixth Council call'd Humpu Examines and Iudges all criminal Causes and appoints their Punishments All Affairs of the whole Kingdom are dispatch'd by these six Councils wherefore they have in each Province and City Officers and Notaries by whom they are inform'd of all Transactions which happen in each

or perfum'd Straw nor is their variety greater in substance than their difference in fashion for some are round others four-square c Such as are worn by the Grandees are made of white Paper gilt to open and shut at pleasure with one of which it is customary among them to Present each other as a token of Love and Friendship These Fan-makers also as aforesaid are employ'd much in the making of Quittesoles which are a kind of folding Canopies carried over the Heads of the Grandees by their Servants being made of the same Stuff with Fans and Lin'd with Silk or Linnen The Ruffians Travel through all parts of the Country with Women in their Companies and where by chance they find any handsom young Maids amongst the common sort of People they use all art and means to entice them away neither sparing Money or good Words whom if they prevail upon to follow them they afterwards teach to Dance and Sing so making them fitter for the Entertainment of their Hectoring Blades and wild Gallants When they are thus instructed the Male-Bawds endeavor to sell them either to the Grandees out-right or else to prostitute them for Money for a certain number of days which turns to a considerable advantage for every of these Brokers for impudence have several Women that belong unto them according as their ability is able to afford them a Maintenance They seldom stay long in a Place but go from Town to Town and there residing longest where they can meet with the best Markets Whosoever hires one of these Women for a Nights Lodging must receive her in the publick manner hereafter described viz. She is set upon an Ass and so conducted with a Hood over her Face to the House of him that sent for her and when she is come to his House she casts aside her Hood and then he receives and conducts her into the House There is also another sort of Beggars here who set fire to a combustible kind of Stuff upon their Heads which they suffer to burn there with such excessive pain and torment till they have extorted some Charity from the transient Company with their howling and crying enduring very great misery all that while And lastly Upon every publick Market-day there are to be seen whole Troops of blind Beggars in the several Cities and Towns who beat themselves upon their naked Breasts most furiously with great round Stones till the very Blood drops from them Besides what is mention'd before there are several other Trades in China as the Baking of Porcelane or China-Ware the Gumming and Painting of Chests Trunks and Boxes as also the Weaving of Carpents Damasks Cottons and several other Stuffs which I have thought fit to omit in this Chapter First in regard the same are already mention'd in the first part of our Relation and also because the Chineses do so infinitely abound in all manner of Arts and Handicraft-Trades that it would take up too much time to give a particular Account of the whole But notwithstanding this abundance of Trades in China a great Defect and Abuse is observ'd in most of the Commodities which are made there and it is this that they only appear and seem fair to the Eye but are really for the most part very sleight and for this cause they may well be afforded much cheaper to the Merchant CHAP. IV. Of some strange Customs Fashions and Manners in use amongst the Chineses THE ancient Chineses call'd their Kingdom or Empire in old Times by the Name of Courtesie or Civility and other known Manners yea and which is more Civility or Courtesie is held with them for one of the five principal Vertues amongst which as chief all others are comprehended The nature of this Vertue consists as they say in the shewing of mutual respect Now to be compleat herein and to be Masters of Ceremony they spend no small time to accomplish themselves yet some of them of a higher Speculation viewing humane Vicissitudes lament themselves that they cannot reject and shun these Complemental Formalities although they do therein far exceed those of Europe Wherefore in this Chapter I shall shew in what manner they Salute one another when they meet and afterwards Treat of some other Manners and Customs in use amongst them wherein they differ from others or amongst themselves It is held for no point of Civility amongst the Chineses to take off the Hat or to make Legs as it is usually term'd much le●s to embrace any Person or kiss his Hand or make any outward shew of Complement The most general and common way with them of shewing Civility is done after this manner They carry their Hands when they walk unless they are to Fan themselves or otherwise to use them always folded together in the Sleeve of their upper Garment which is made for that purpose so that when they meet they raise their Hands on high in the Sleeve with great Devotion and then let them fall again after the same manner Greeting each other with the word Cin which signifies Nothing When one comes to visit another or if two Friends meet in the Street they bow with their Hands in their Sleeves all the while the whole Body and their Heads three times to the Ground and this manner of Salutation is call'd Zoye In the performing of which Ceremony the Inferior always gives place to his Better and the Party visited gives the upper Hand to him that makes the Visit But in the Northern Parts of China the Visitant is plac'd on the left-hand Oftentimes also after they have done bowing they exchange Places and go off from the left to the right-hand and from the right to the left which is done for this reason that so the Party that is receiv'd in the highest Place should shew some Respect to the other again When this Ceremony happens to be in the Street both Parties turn themselves side to side toward the North and within Doors to the upper end of the Hall for it is an old Custom amongst them to lay the Threshold of the Palaces Temples and other Edifices to the South so that in regard this Ceremony is perform'd in the Hall next to the Threshold they turn their Faces to the upper end and and then they look toward the North. If so be both Parties meeting or visiting have not seen one another in a long time or perhaps never before and have a desire to bestow extraordinary Civilities upon each other then after performance of the first Ceremony they fall upon their Knees touching the Ground with their Foreheads and this they do three times together But when this Civility is to be shown by an Inferior to a Superior a Child to his Parent or a Subject to his Prince he receives the Honor done unto him either sitting or standing and only bowling a little when the other falls upon his Knees With the same and no greater Reverence and Honor they pay their Religious Duties to

they are not altogether so sharp of taste yet are held much dearer and are us'd for Seed And this is the reason why the Indians name the same The Mother of Fruits These Seeds grow up to a compleat Tree in eight or ten years time and then bear store of Fruit. The Cloves when they are first gather'd are blackish and to make them blacker they lay them to dry in the Sun but to preserve them from being Worm-eaten they lay them to steep a while in salt Water and then again dry them in the Sun Being thus prepar'd for keeping they are Transported into most Parts of the World And here observe That though the Clove-trees are only cherish'd for the sake of the Fruit yet there is an Aromatick soveraign Vertue in the very Leaves Flowers and Branches I shall not need to say any thing of the Excellency of this Spice it being so well known to all Persons only this I shall add as worthy of observation because thereby may be understood the subtilty of the Indians That when they are to sell their Cloves they will be sure to soke them well before-hand with Water to make them weigh heavier Out of the Flowers and green Cloves the Indians extract a certain Water or Spirit which is exceeding pleasant of smell and also very good for several Distempers The best Place for these Clove-trees to grow in are the Molucca Islands where they are more fruitful than in any other Place and naturally delight to grow upon high places and so thick together that the Sun is not able to pierce through them Now observe That as the Cinamon-tree prospers no where so well as upon the Island of Ceylon nor the Clove as upon the Moluccaes so the Nutmeg-tree takes the greatest liking to the particular Island of Banda which is one of the chiefest of the Moluccaes The Tree upon which the ordinary Nutmegs grow and call'd by the Inhabitants Bongopolu resembles an Apple or Pear Tree and springs oftentimes of it self without Planting It is always green full of Blossoms and laden with Fruit whereof some are full ripe and others but half ripe The Bark is swarthy the Wood hollow and pithy and the Leaves which grow in Clusters upon the Stalks are green of colour thin and smooth which being rubb'd between the Fingers as they are pull'd from the Tree do not only smell very strongly fragrant but retain also when they are dried their sharp and strong Aromatick scent and vertue The Flowers or Blossoms are for bigness and colour much like the Pear or Cherry-tree dropping easily off without any great scent The Fruit which succeeds the Blossoms grows scattering up and down about the Ioynts of the Boughs When the Blossom is fall'n off the first Shell of the Nut at the beginning is green tough and somewhat thick but as it grows ripe it becomes full of yellow and purple Specks This rough Shell being soon split the Nut appears about which sits the Mace in the form of a Net afterwards when the Fruit is ripe this rough Shell falls quite off in the same manner as the Shell of a ripe Walnut drops off and then the Mace appears of a delicate red colour but afterwards turns yellow and includes that Kernel which we properly call the Nutmeg so that the Nutmeg is cover'd with three Shells the outermost green and thick the middlemost is thinner of a Gold colour and very hard and lastly the innermost which is a hard Rind This Fruit is very much spoil'd and eaten up by Birds especially a certain kind of white and small Pigeons whose Flesh being eaten taste very much of the Mace They are by those of Europe call'd The Nutmeg-Eaters These Trees bring forth Fruit two or three times in a year which nevertheless are not to be gather'd till they are through ripe lest they should grow light and worm-eaten When they are first taken out of the Shell or Husk they are laid a drying in the Sun then taking off the Mace they wash the Nutmeg in Lime-water which preserves it from perishing insomuch that they may be transported into all Parts of the World without taking any harm Those Nuts are counted the best which are of an Ash-colour mixed with white Streaks It often happens that some Nuts differ from others in bigness and colour as is to be seen by the Nuts in Europe Such Nuts as are by the Indians call'd Palajava are us'd in Medicines not amongst their Victuals But the Mace that covers the Nutmeg is taken by the Indians before it be through ripe whilst it is of a very deep red colour and put into Vinegar and Salt and so brought to the Table and eaten before the Meat to sharpen the Appetite When the Mace is ripe it is taken off the Nut and dried in the Sun and laid up carefully The Indians say That as well the Nut as the Mace cures shrunk Sinews and other Aches of the Body caus'd by Cold and for that end every one has Oyl in his House made of the fresh Fruit And as there comes from the Mace mnch less Oyl than from the Nut so on the other hand the Oyl of Mace is much stronger than that of the Nutmeg The Inhabitants esteem and value the Mace so much higher than the Nut in regard they can sell the Mace almost fifty times dearer than the Nut. The green and unripe Nuts are put by the Grandees of India into Vinegar or Sugar and so brought to the Table in stead of a Banquet And of late years some European Merchants have brought over of these Nuts order'd after this manner which are us'd not only in Physick but as a Delicacy Some put the outward Shell or Husk into Sugar and prefer it before the Nut because of its most delicate smell and taste There is another sort of long Nutmegs which are by the Indians call'd Pala Metfiri These are accounted the best by the ordinary People but without any reason for though they they are bigger than the round yet they have not that Aromatick vertue neither is the Mace of this long Nut in that esteem amongst the Indians though perhaps of a better colour as that of the round Nutmeg there being very little vertue in it and the very Trees upon which these long Nuts grow are reckon'd amongst the wild and worst sort so that the Indians think it not worth their time or trouble to gather them there being little or no vertue in them And to say all in one word the Tree upon which these long Nutmegs grow differs more in vertue and strength then form or shape from that of the other The chiefest sorts of Pepper are two the one round and the other long The round Pepper grows chiefly in some Molucca Islands as Iava and Sumatra shooting up very high and is supported with Poles as Hops in Europe If the Seed of this Fruit be sown in a fertile and rich Soil it will bring forth a very plentiful

of his Dominions one Chuenhious Nephew to Hoangtius upon the account of his extraordinary good Qualities was Substituted to the Administration of the Government in the Year 2513 before Christ's Birth and Reigned seventy eight years He continu'd the vertuous Courses of his Ancestors both in Religious and Worldly Concerns Amongst others he caus'd a Law to be made That no Person of what Quality soever should be admitted to Offer to the Gods but the Emperor only so great an esteem they had in those days of Ecclesiastical Employments that they were not to be Exercis'd by any but the greatest Princes No sooner wat Chuenhious dead but his Nephew Cous succeeded him being as his Predecessors very eminent in all manner of Vertue and Goodness He was chosen Emperor two thousand four hundred thirty five years before Christ's Birth He Married four Wives which was very rare in those Days and had four Sons by them one of them nam'd Cious he procur'd by performing some Promise to the supreme Emperor of Heaven Another of his Wives bore a Son call'd Kius who was said also to be given to her by the Gods through importunity of Prayer having been always barren before The third Woman had a Child in the fourth Month of her Marriage which was call'd Yaus having first seen in her Sleep a red Dragon which is held by the Chineses for a sign of great Prosperity The fourth had a Son call'd Cheus This last was preferr'd to the Throne by his Father Cous before all the rest being observ'd by him to be the most inclin'd to Vertue and Goodness But the good old Man was much mistaken for he was no sooner in the Throne but he fell into all manner of Debauchery giving himself up so much to Women and Drinking that he neglected the Affairs of the State And being often admonish'd by the Magistrates to take better care of his Government but continuing still in his lewdness the Subjects who had been for the most part Govern'd by just and vertuous Princes judg'd that he was unworthy to Reign any longer so that they depos'd him in the ninth Year of his Reign and set up his Brother Yaus in his Place This Yaus who began to Reign in the Year 2357 before Christ's Birth and Govern'd ninety years is renown'd in all the Chinese Histories for a most vertuous Prince and certainly if regard be had to the greatness of his Actions and the whole course of his most exemplary Life he may for honorable Atchievements be compar'd with the best of Princes that ever sway'd that Scepter A certain Book call'd Xu publish'd in his Reign mentions in short his Fame in these words The Noble and Heroick Actions of Yaus have fill'd the whole World with Admiration such was his extraordinary Diligence that he was esteem'd by all Men for his Worth Understanding Civility and quickness of Apprehension according to the grandeur of his Merit and such his good Fortune that whatsoever he undertook was brought to pass by him The Chinese Histories tell us That during his Government the Sun did not Set for the space of ten days and great fear possess'd the People that the World would have been destroy'd by a general Conflagration in regard there had hapned several great Fires at that time They likewise report that at the same time several strange Monsters as Snakes and Dragons crept out from under the Ground and that this Yaus in these dismal Times and notwithstanding all those dreadful Accidents carried himself with so much Piety and Care for the Welfare of his Subjects that he was look'd upon by every body as the Redeemer and Deliverer of his Country To descent to Particulars concerning this Emperor he was very much addicted to Astrology being instructed therein by the two famous Men H●us and Hous Persons more than ordinarily expert in that Science But he was not alone eminent for Knowledge and Industry for his Wife the Empress taught other Women how to breed and raise Silk-worms and the Art of preparing and weaving of Silk When he had th●s civiliz'd the People by his own and Wifes Instructions to the knowledge of Manufactures he forthwith new modell'd the Government and introduc'd the six Iudicatures or Benches of Iustice to wit Sipu Hopu Limpu Pimpu Cumpu and Humpu When he had thus setled the Affairs of his State in order he depos'd himself and transferr'd the Government in his Life-time upon another in which more than ordinary Action he had more regard to the Good of the Publick than to the Welfare and Affection of his own Children and Relations all whom he voluntarily pass'd by although no ways inferior to him in Knowledge and uprightness of Life and surrendred the Empire to a Stranger in Blood not for respect of his Princely Alliance but only the Eminency of his Vertue and Integrity And as a singular Testimony of this his Zeal for the Good of his Country I shall onely give you this one Example namely Discoursing once with one Fangius an Eminent and Learned Person of his Council he told him That he was in a very great suspence whom he should chuse to be his Successor The Counsellor made him this Answer There is one of your own Princely Family your Eldest Son Chus and rightful Heir upon whom you may settle your Empire the goodness of whose Nature extraordinary Prudence quickness of Wit treading in your Royal Steps and imitating your laudable Exemplar merits no less And if your Servants Counsel be acceptable to your Ears I shall advise you to settle in the Government this your Eldest Son and no other But Yaus interrupting his Discourse said You know Fangius that I take as much distaste at the commending of Bad as I do at the discommending of Good People My son is unready of Speech and slow of Tongue his Words and his Deeds not agreeing true it is he knows in outward Gestures how to behave himself as a Wise Man but inwardly he is nothing Not long after being about the seventieth Year of his Reign he sent for one Sungous one of his greatest Favorites and Counsellors to whom he spake in this manner I find the Weight of a Crown too heavy for my aged Head and therefore intend to surrender up my Empire to you having in all my time observ'd none so fit for it either for Vertue or Wisdom But Sungous unacquainted with Ambitious Thoughts absolutely refus'd to accept of it modestly protesting his Insufficiency for so great a Charge for that he was not not furnish'd with those Qualities wherewith an Emperor ought to be provided and so neither worthy of that Honor nor able to undergo the Burthen When Yaus saw him persisting immovably in his Resolution not to accept of the Government he demanded of him whom he judg'd worthy of the same to whom Sungous in the presence of the Emperor's Council made this Answer Since you are pleas'd to inquire of me O King whom I judge worthy to be a

they be not adulterated are of as strong a scent as the pure Zybeth but the crafty Merchants stuff the Purses which the Skin of the Beast maketh with the Blood Skin or some part else and sell them for the true and genuine some mix it with Dragons Blood and by this means of one Bladder make two or three but yet the more skilful do discern the Fallacy for if being burn'd it evaporateth it is believ'd to be true but if it remaineth like a Coal or Cinder it is adulterate Almost the same is deliver'd by Father Philip Marinus in his History of Tunchino in which Place there is plenty of these Animals which he saith are so simple that not knowing how to escape they will of their own accord present themselves unto the Huntsmen to be slaughter'd The Hippopotame or Sea-Horse by the Chineses call'd Hayma THese Animals are often seen on the Shores of the Chinesian and Indian Ocean in Hainam the Philippine Islands the Maldivas and especially in Mozambique on the Southern Coast of Africa They are very deformed Creatures and terrible to behold Father Boim whilst he staid at Mozambique dissected and inspected one of them of whom take the following Account in his own words I have saith he annexed a double Scheme of the true Sea-Horse of which when I was at Mozambique I saw a great Company wallowing in the Sea in a Creek on the Sands The Iudge of the City Mozambique sent the Head of an Hippopotame unto the Colledge that I might peruse it which measuring I found it in length three Cubits from the Mouth to the Shoulders on the lower Iaw it had two high bended Teeth unto which in the upper Iaw the great Teeth were consentaneous and the Tongue lolling out Afterwards viewing the more Inland Parts of Crafraria Coasting the Shore in a Gally we beheld at least fifty Sea-Horses within a Stones-cast neighing and playing divers Tricks in the Water a Slave with his Musquet kill'd one of them which bringing Ashore and dividing it amongst his Companions they pull'd out his Teeth and gave me some of the biggest of them His Skin is very hard he hath no Hair but only in the end of his Tail which turns in they cast a Brightness like polish'd black Horn and are about the bigness of a Quill or small Reed of which the Cafres make Bracelets both for Ornament and to prevent the Palsie Of their Teeth are made Beads Crosses and Images some stop the Flux of Blood but all have not this Vertue only those that are taken at a certain Season of the Year In the Royal Hospital at Goa there is a great Sea-Horse Tooth which being apply'd to a Vein that is open'd will immediately stop the Blood The Story of a Prince of Malabar slain by the Portuguese is sufficiently known whom they finding wounded with many Bullets yet without any sign of Blood though his Wounds were gaping stripp'd and pulling away a piece of the Bone of the Hippopotame that hung about his Neck the Blood like a Torrent that breaketh over the Banks flow'd out of the dead Corps being before so stopp'd and coagulated only by the frigid Nature of this Creature Thus Father Boim The Province of Fokien hath an Animal perfectly resembling a Man but longer Arm'd and Hairy all over call'd Fese most swift and greedy after Humane Flesh which that he may the better make his Prey he feigneth a Laughter and suddenly while the Person stands listning seiseth upon him There are also in China Apes and Baboons of a different kind whereof some imitate Men others Dogs and Cats and are also tractable and docile to admiration of which take Father Roth's Relation he being an Eye-witness The King of Bengala saith he in the Year 1650. dispatch'd unto the Emperor of the Mogors a solemn Embassy with many rich Presents among which was a Triumphal Chariot drawn by two white Horses wonderfully adorn'd with Gold and Gems But that which was more worthy of admiration the Charioteer was no humane Creature for a great Baboon guided the Reins with no small skill and dexterity his Livery Cloke and Cap shining with Scarlet and Gold the Champion a great Mastive sitting on the highest Seat as in a Throne of Majesty Deck'd and Adorn'd with Gold and Iewels in so great Splendor that he seem'd to be some great Prince and not a Dog his Valets-de-Chambre Pages and Lacquies richly Dress'd according to their Place and Office were all Apes and Monkies officiously attending round about him who so well had learnt his Lesson that when any Person of Quality drew near he not only perform'd due Reverence making low Congies but his well instructed Followers did the like which the Emperor beholding with great pleasure and admiration caus'd a high Treatment to be prepar'd for them where each had his own proper and peculiar Mess and his Guests Feasted themselves with good order and gravity This pleasant Comedy I saw acted in the Imperial Palace at Agra So far Father Roth. CHAP. VIII Of several Fowls no where found but in China AMongst these the Bird-Royal which they call Fum Hoam deserves the first and chiefest place of whom Father Boim in his Flora gives us this following Account This Bird saith he of most admirable beauty if at any time absent or a while unseen it is an Omen of some Misfortune to the Royal Family the Male is call'd Fum the Female Hoam they have their Nests in the Mountains near Peking their Heads are like a Peacocks the Chineses emblem their Shoulders to the Vertues their Wings signifie Iustice their Sides Obedience and the Nest Fidelity This Pious Bird as they term it is in this like a Rhinoceros that it never turns but goeth backward with the Majestick pace of a Stag it hath a Cock's Train Crested like a Serpent Feet like a Tortoise and Angels Wings The Emperor Colaos and Mandorins have these Birds Embroider'd on their Vests and other Habits In the Kingdom of Suchue are Fleece-bearing Hens they are small Duck-leg'd yet bold and daring and are much esteem'd by the Women for their callow Down and soft Plumage resembling Wooll delightful to handle They also report That in this Province there is a Bird produc'd of the Flower Tunchon which therefore is call'd Tunchonfung This Bird doth measure out Life with the Days of the Flower so fading and so expiring She is vested with so great variety of Plumes that her Wings expanded lively deportray the Beauties of the Flower when blown Between Couchinchina and the Island Hainan are many great and small Rocks within which in the Spring-time a multitude of little Birds like unto Sparrows or Swallows flock to build their Nests from whence they come is not known they fix their Nests to the Rocks where with singular artifice they lay their Eggs hatch their young ones and flie away Their Nests are gather●d up and Transported by whole Cargoes into China and Iapan where they are esteem'd as great