Volume 1

A description of the empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, together with the kingdoms of Korea, and Tibet. Containing the geography and history (natural as well as civil) of those countries ... / from the French of P.J.B. DuHalde, Jesuit, with notes geographical, historical and critical and other improvements, particularly in the maps by the translator.

  • Du Halde, J.-B. (Jean-Baptiste), 1674-1743.
Date:
1738-1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A description of the empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, together with the kingdoms of Korea, and Tibet. Containing the geography and history (natural as well as civil) of those countries ... / from the French of P.J.B. DuHalde, Jesuit, with notes geographical, historical and critical and other improvements, particularly in the maps by the translator. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    185/794 (page 141)
    This City was for feveral Ages the Court of the Cbinefe Emperors, and is ftill very populous, pR0V x and of great Trade ; efpecially for Mules, which the Inhabitants breed and train fo dexteroufly, Shen-fi. that many of them are feen trotting after Horfes at Pe-king, where they fell for five or fix hundred Livres apiece : It being the Cuftom for all Perfons of Diftindion to have a Servant ride Mules> before them well mounted. The Walls of Si-nga?i are very broad, and high, flank’d with Towers at the Diflance of a Bow-fhot from one another, and encompafs’d with a good Ditch. They are almoft an equi¬ lateral Square, but not above four Leagues in Compafs, tho’ commonly faid to equal thofe of Pe-king in that Refped. Some of its Gates are very magnificent, and remarkable for their Height. There is ftill to be feen a Palace where dwelt the antient Kings of the Province, whom the Palace of the great Extent of Country they poffefs’d, and the Valour of their Subjects render’d very pow- ancientKinSs ful ; the reft of the Buildings are no better than thofe of other Cities, the Houfes being according to the Chinefe Fafhion very low and ill enough built ; nor is the Furniture fb neat as in the Southern Provinces, the Varnifti being coarfer, Chitta Ware fcarcer, and the Workmen not fo fkillful. The Principal Forces of the 'Tartars defign’d for the Defence of the North of China, are in Garrifon here, under a Tfyan-kyun, or General of their Nation, who with his Soldiers inhabit one part of the City, feparated from the reft by a Wall. The chief Mandarins of the Province, who are here in great Numbers, are moftly Tartars. The People of the Country are more robuft, brave, better able to undergo Fatigue, and even taller than elfewhere ; which renders its Militia more formidable than thole of almoft all the other Provinces. The Mountains of the Territory of Si-nganfu, are very agreeable, and abound with Bucks, Does, Hares, and other Game ; as well as that fort of Bats as big as Pullets, fpoken of before. They alfo afford a kind of Earth, which is white, and highly valued by the Ladies, who in¬ filling it in Water, make ufe of it to whiten the Complexion. >4. v ■ • •. - ' #> • f * *7 « • * ' ' ■ r ■ * _ J. m J i V. . -, / . . i Mi/)* ' -J - r «.. -•> - The Second City, Yen-ngan-fii. THIS City is fituate in an agreeable Plain, on the River Ten-ho. Three Cities of the fécond, ŸM-ngan-fîu and fixteen of the third Rank, depend on it. It has within its Walls a pretty high Hill, remarkable for the fine Buildings that are upon it. Its Mountains diftil a bituminous Liquor, which they call Oyl of Stone, and ufe for Lamps. OylofStonç, The Country is very rich in Martins, Sables, and other choife Furs. It abounds likewife with all forts of fine Marble ; and produces almoft every where thofe Shrubs, already delcrited, which produce the Flowers rear’d, with fo much Care, in the Gardens of the Grandees. *\f?f \ t TD ; * ‘ * , ' ■ « I * •' , • y* The Third City, Fong-tfyang-fu. A Fabulous Bird, which the Chinefe delcribe with Variety of admirable Colours, and paint Pong-tjyang- fometimes on their Cloaths and Furniture, gives Name to this Place, which has under fù. its Jurifdidion one City of the fécond, and feven of the third Rank. It is very large and the Buildings handfome enough. The Air is temperate and healthful; the whole Country is well cultivated, and rendered fertile by the Torrents, Brooks and Rivers. * * ! * The Fourth City, Han-chong-fu. THE whole Country of this Diftrid, containing two Cities of the fécond, and fourteen of Ran chong-fk. the third Rank, is water’d by feveral Branches of the River Han, whereon Han-chong, which is large and populous, is fituate. The high Mountains and Forefts, wherewith it is en¬ compafs’d, render it very ftrong, and ferve for Bulwarks. The Valleys are pleafant, and furniih plenty of Neceffaries, as well as Honey, Wax, Mufk, and red-Lead ; fallow Beafts are very nu¬ merous, efpecially Deer, Stags, and Bears ; the Feet of thefe laft, efpecially the fore-feet, are deli¬ cious Morfels with the Chinefe. The Road made formerly over the Mountains, leading to the Capital, has fomething fur- Surprifing prifing in it ; upwards of a hundred thoufand Men were employ’d in the Work, which was ex- Road, ecuted with incredible Difpatch. They levell’d Hills, and made Arches from one Mountain to another, fupporting them by Pillars, when the intervening Valley was too wide. Thefe Bridges, which form part of the Road, are in fome Places fo high, that one cannot behold the Preci¬ pice without Horror ; four Horfemen may ride abreaft over them, and for more Security they have Rails on each Side. At certain Diftances, there are Villages and Inns for the Conveniency of Travellers. It is only in the Diftrid of this City, and fome particular parts of Tartary, that a very rare Bird of Prey, call’d Hay-tfng, is found. It may be compar’d to our beft Falcons for Sprightly- nefs and Courage ; as foon as any of thefe Birds are caught, they are immediately fent to the Em¬ peror’s Falconry. Vol. I. » F f The