Desert where nothing is to be seen on all sides but Mountains and
Valleys, and Dens of _Bears_, _Tigers_ and other _Devouring_ Beasts,
you can scarce find a House, but only some _poor Reed Huts_, upon the
sides of some Brooks and Streams. All the Cities and _Burrow-towns_
which I have seen in the Province of _Leao-tum_, and which are in very
great Numbers are intirely ruined: One can see nothing thro' the whole
Country, but old ruined Walls with Rubble, Bricks and Stones. In the
out-skirts of these Cities there have been of late some few Houses
built, but without any order. Some of them made of Earth, others of the
Rubbish of the old Buildings, the most part of them covered with Straw
or Thatch, and but few with Tiles. There is now not the least Footsteps
remaining of a great number of Towns and Villages which were here
before the War. Because the petty King of the _Tartars_, who began to
kindle this War having but a very small Army, caused the Inhabitants of
those Places to take Arms, which Places he forthwith destroyed, that he
might take from his Soldiers the hopes of ever returning again to their
own _Homes_.
The Capital City of _Leao-tum_, which is called _Xyn-Yam_, is a City
very fair and pretty intire, it has as yet the Remains of an Antient
_Palace_. It is (for as much as I was able to remark by divers
Observations) of the Latitude of 41 _degrees_ 56 _minutes_; that is to
say, two _degrees_ above _Pekin_, tho' hitherto both the _Europeans_
and the _Chinese_ have given that City the Latitude of 41 _degrees_.
There is in that City no declination of the Magnetick Needle, as I have
found by many reiterated Observations. The City of _Ula_ which was
almost the very Extream of our Journey, lies in 44 _degrees_ and 20
_minutes_. The compass there declines from the South to the West one
_degree_ 40 _minutes_.
But to resume the Prosecution of our Journey, from _Pekin_ to this
Extream towards the East there is made a new Way, by which the Emperour
can commodiously March with his Horse, and the Queens in their
Chariots. This Way is about 10 _foot_ broad, and as even and streight
as could possibly be made; it is extended above 1000 _Miles_, it has a
little Raising on each side of about a Foot high every where equal and
perfectly Parallel to one another; and this Way was as neat, especially
when the Weather was fair, as a Floor where the Husbandmen beat out
their Corn in the Field; there were also certain Persons along this
way, who only took care to Smooth and Cleanse it. The Christians have
no where so great care of Sweeping their Streets and publick Places
where the Holy Sacrament is to pass in the Processions, as these
Infidels have of cleansing the Ways, where their Kings and their Queens
are to pass, every time they go out of their Palaces.
There was made for their Return a way like the former, they plained or
levelled the Mountains as far as they were able, they raised Bridges
over the Rivers, and for ornamenting them, they had extended on each
side of them a sort of Mats upon which they had Painted divers Figures
of Animals, which had the same effect with Tapestry Hangings, with
which the Streets are usually hung in Procession.
The Emperor did very seldom make use of this Way, being almost always
in Hunting: And when he accompanied the Queens he only Rode by the
side of it, to the End that the great number of Horse which were in the
Train that followed should not spoil it: He ordinarily Marched at the
Head of this kind of Army. The Queens followed immediately in their
Chariots, with their Train and their Equipage; they notwithstanding
left some space between the King and themselves: After these Marched
the Kings, the Grandees of the Court and the _Mandarines_, every one
according to his Rank, behind these an infinity of Attendants, and
other People on Horse-back brought up the Rear-guard.
As there was not one City upon all this Way, that could either Lodge
so great a Multitude, or Furnish them with Provisions, and that the
greatest Part of their Journey was through a Country very little
Inhabited, so they were Necessitated to carry along with them all
things that were Necessary for the journey, and even Provisions of
Victuals for three Months.
Upon this Account there were sent before by the Ways which were made
on each side of the Emperors Way, an Infinity of Waggons, Cammels,
Horses, and Mules for to carry the Baggage: Besides these the Emperor,
the Kings and almost all the Grandees of the Court, had great numbers
of Horses led, for the use of changing from time to time. I do not here
reckon the Droves of Beefs, Sheep, and other Cattel, which they were
obliged to have with them. And though this great Multitude of Men,
Horses, and Droves, passed by a way at a good distance from that of
the Emperor, yet it raised so horrible a Dust, that we always seemed to
March in a cloud, and thence found it Difficult to distinguish those
that Marched 15 or 20 Paces from us.
The March was so well regulated, that this Army Incamped every Night
upon the sides of some River or Brook. 'Twas for this Reason that they
caused the Tents and the Baggage necessary for this Incamping to set
out very early in the Morning; and the Quarter-masters upon their first
arrival, Marked the Ground most proper for the placing of the Emperors
Tent, of the Queens, of the Kings, of the Grandees, of the Court, of
the _Mandarines_, each according to his Dignity, and according to the
Dignity he had in the _Chinese_ Militia, which is divided into eight
Orders or into eight Standards.
In the space of three Months we passed about 1000 _Miles_, advancing
towards the North-east, and about as many in our return: In fine, we
arrived at _Kam-Hay_, which is a Fort situated between the South Sea
and the Mountains of the North: It is there where is the beginning
of that so much Celebrated Wall, and which separates the Province of
_Leao-tum_ from that of _Pekely_; from whence it is extended very far
on the side of the North over the tops of the highest Mountains. When
we entred this Province, the Emperor, the Kings, and the Grandees of
the Court, quitted the great Way of which we have hitherto spoken, to
take that of the Mountains of the North, which are extended without
Interruption towards the North-East: There some Days were passed in
Hunting, which was performed in this manner.
The Emperor chose 3000 Men of his Life-guard, Armed with Arrows and
Javelins, and dispersed them some on this side some on that; so that
they possest themselves of a great Circuit about the Mountains, which
they Environed on all Parts, which made a kind of Circle whose Diameter
was at least 3000 _Paces_; then Marching to draw nearer together with
equal Progress and without quitting their Range, what ever Obstacles
they found in the way (the Emperor having joyned with them several of
the Captains, and of the Grandees of the Court, for the better keeping
of their Order) they Reduced this great Circle to another much less,
which had about 300 _Paces_ in the Diameter: So that all the Beasts
which had been stayed within the first, found themselves taken in
this last as in a Net: for that every one setting his Feet upon the
Ground, they Locked themselves together so closely, that they left
no meshing Place for them to make their Escape by. Then they Pursued
them so Vigorously in this little Space, that the poor Creatures tired
with the violence of their Coursing, came and fell down at the Feet of
their Chasers, and suffered themselves to be taken without trouble. I
saw taken in this Manner two or three Hundred Hares in less then one
day, without counting an Infinite of Wolves and Foxes. I have seen
the same thing divers times done in that part of _Tartary_, which is
on the other side of the Province of _Leao-tum_, where I remember to
have seen, among others, more than 1000 Deer so pent up by these sort
of Nets, which came to cast themselves into the Hands of the Hunters,
having found no passage to save themselves by: they kill'd also Bears,
Boars, and more than 60 Tigers, but these are taken by other means, and
with other Weapons.
The Emperor will'd that I should be present at all these different
Huntings, and he recommended to his Father in Law, in a most obliging
Manner the having a particular care of me, and of giving charge that I
should not be exposed to any danger in the Hunting of the Tigers, and
the other fierce Beasts; I was the only Person of all the _Mandarines_
who was without Arms, and so near to the Emperor; though I made Light
of the Fatigue during the time we were in our Journey, I found my self
so wearied every Evening when I got to my Tent, that I was not able to
support my Self; and I should have dispensed with my self divers times
from following the Emperor, if my Friends had not counsel'd me to the
contrary, and if I had not fear'd that he would have taken it ill if he
should have perceived it.
After having passed about 400 Miles in Hunting daily after this manner,
we arrived at last at _Xyn-Yam_, the Capital City of the Province,
where we stayed four Days.
The Inhabitants of _Coree_ came to present to the Emperor a _Sea-Calf_
which they had taken, the Emperor caused me to see it, and asked
whither our _European_ Books had spoken any thing of this Fish? I told
him we had a Book in our Library at _Pekin_ which had explain'd the
Nature of it, and dispatched presently a Courrier to our Fathers at
_Pekin_, who brought it me in a few Days: The Emperor was pleased to
see that what was said of this Fish in this Book, was agreeable to this
which he had seen, and caused it to be carried back again to _Pekin_ to
be carefully preserved.
During the stay which we made in this City, the Emperor with the Queens
went to visit the Sepulchers of his Ancestors, which are not very far
distant, from whence he sent them back to _Xyn-Yam_, to continue his
own Journey into the Eastern _Tartary_.
After several Days of Marching and Hunting, he arrived at _Kirin_,
which is distant from _Xyn-Yam_ 400 Miles: This City is built along
the great River _Songoro_ which takes its source from the Mountain
_Cham-pe_, distant 400 Miles towards the South: This Mountain so
Famous in the East for having been the Antient Seat of our _Tartars_,
is always covered with Snow, from whence it had its Name, because
_Cham-pe_ signifies the white Mountain.
So soon as the Emperor saw it, he alighted from his Horse and fell
on his Knees on the Bank of the River, and bowed Himself three times
to the Ground to Salute it: After which, he caused himself to be
carried upon a glorious Throne of Gold, and so made his Entry into
the City: All the People ran in a throng before him, testifying by
their Acclamations the Joy they had to see him. This Prince took great
Pleasure in those Testimonies of their Affection; and that he might
give them some Marks of his being very sensible of it, he was pleased
to suffer himself to be seen by all, and forbid his Guards to hinder
the People from approaching him, as they used to do at _Pekin_.
They make in this City Barks of a very particular manner: The
Inhabitants keep always a great number of them ready fitted to Repulse
the _Muscovites_, who come often into this River, to dispute the
Fishing of Pearls. The Emperor reposed himself two Days, after which he
Descended upon the River with some Lords, accompanied with more than
100 Boats, till he arrived at the City of _Ula_, which is the fairest
of all this Country, and which at other times hath been the Seat of the
Empire of the _Tartars_.
A little below this City, which is at most about 32 _Miles_ from
_Kirin_, the River is very full of a certain Fish which resemble near
enough the Plaice of _Europe_: and 'twas principally for the taking the
Divertisement of Fishing, that the Emperor went to _Ula_; but the Rains
coming on so suddainly, swelled the River so much, that all their Nets
were broken and carried away, by the great Flood of those Land Waters:
The Emperor notwithstanding stayed 5 or 6 Days at _Ula_; but seeing
the Rains were not at all discontinued, he was obliged to come back to
_Kirin_, without having enjoyed the Pleasure of Fishing: as we ascended
the River, the Bark wherein I was with the Emperors Father in Law, was
so indamaged by the agitation of the Waves, that we were constrained to
go a Shore, and mount a Chariot drawn by one Ox, which carried us very
slowly to _Kirin_, the Rains not at all ceasing during our Journy.
In the Evening when the Emperor was entertained upon all these
Adventures, he said Laughing, _the Fish have cheated us_; at length,
after we had stayed two Days at _Kirin_, the Rains began to diminish,
and we retook our Way towards _Leao-tum_. I cannot here express the
Pains and Fatigues these had caused us to undergo, during the whole
Course of this Journy, by Reason of the Ways which the Rains had
Spoiled, and rendred almost impassable: we went without staying over
the Mountains and over the Vallies, and we could not pass but with
extream Danger, the Brooks and Rivers which were swelled by the Floods
and Inundations which ran from all Parts: the Bridges were either
overturned by the Violence of the Currents, or all covered by the great
overflowing of the Waters. There were made in divers Places great
Collections of Water, and of Mud, that it was almost impossible to be
drawn out of it. The Horses, Cammels, and other Beasts of Burthen,
which carried the Baggage could not advance, but remained sticking
in the Mud of the Marshes, or died of tiring upon the Ways. The Men
were not at all less incommoded, and all were enfeebled for want of
Victuals, and of Refreshments necessary for so great a Journy: Many of
the Horsemen were obliged, either to lead their Horses on Foot, who
were no longer able to carry them, or to rest in the middle of the
Fields to suffer them to take Breath: And though the Quarter-masters
and the Harbingers, spared not their Pains, nor for Wood (which they
cut on all sides) to fill with Faggots all the bad Passages: Yet
notwithstanding after the Horses and Chariots, which took the Van early
in the Morning had quite passed, it was impossible to pass after them:
The Emperor himself, with his Son, and all the great Lords of the
Court, were obliged more than once, to Foot it over the Mud and the
Marshes, fearing to expose themselves to greater danger, if they should
have passed them on Horse-back.
When they came to Bridges, or those other obstructions all the Army
stayed: And as soon as the Emperor was passed, with some of the most
considerable Persons, all the rest came together in a Throng, and every
one striving to pass first, many were tumbled over into the Water:
Others taking Ways more about, found them more dangerous, falling into
Sloughs and Bogs, out of which they could not Recover themselves. In
fine, there were so many Inconveniencies to be met with, in all the
Ways of Eastern _Tartary_, that the old Officers who had followed the
Court above 30 _Years_, said they had never suffered so much in any
Journy.
It was on those Occasions, that the Emperor more than once, gave me the
Marks of a Respect altogether particular: the first Day that we put
our Selves in the way for returning, we were stay'd in the Evening,
by a Torrent so great and rapid, that 'twas impossible to Ford it:
The Emperor having by chance found a little Boat, which could not
hold above 4 Persons at most, passed first with his Sons, and some
of the Principal Kings followed: All the other Princes, Lords, and
_Mandarines_, which the rest of the Army attended, (in the mean while)
with Impatience the return of the Boat, to carry them to the other side
of the Torrent, because the Night approached, and the Tents had long
before passed: But the Emperor being come back to us in such another
Boat as the former, demanded aloud where I was? and his Father in Law
having presented me to him, he added, let him come in and Cross over
with us: So we were the only Persons that passed with the Emperor;
and all the rest stayed on the Bank, where they must pass the Night
_under the open Heaven_: The same thing happened the next Day almost
in the same manner. The Emperor at Noon meeting with a like rapid and
swelled Torrent, gave order that the Boats should be made use of for
Transporting the Tents, Packs, and other Baggage till the Evening;
then willed that I should pass alone with him and some few of his
Attendants, having left on the other side all the great Lords, who
were necessitated to pass the Night there. The Emperor's Father in Law
himself, having asked if he should not pass with me, since I Lodged in
his Tent and eat at his Table? this Prince answered him, that he should
stay, and he himself would take Order to give me what was necessary.
After we had past, the Emperor sitting on the Bank-side, made me sit by
him, with the two Sons of the two petty Western Kings, and the first
_Colao_ of _Tartary_, whom he distinguished on all Occasions.
As the Night was Fair, and the Heavens very Clear; he willed me to Name
in the _Chinese_ and _European_ Languages, all the Constellations that
then appeared above the Horizon, and he himself first named all those
he already knew; then unfolding a small Map of the Heavens, which I
had some Years since presented him, he put himself upon inquiring the
Hour of the Night, by the Stars in the Meridian: Pleasing himself to
shew to all the Knowledge he had acquired in these Sciences. All the
Marks of his Favours which he so often gave me, even to the sending me
to Eat from his own Table, these Marks I say were so Publick, and so
Extraordinary; that the two Unkles of the Emperor, who bore the Titles
of Associates of the Empire, being on their Return to _Pekin_, said
that when the Emperor had some Regret or appeared somewhat Sad, he
would Resume his ordinary Gaiety upon the sight of me.
I arrived at _Pekin_ in perfect Health the 9_th_ day of _June_ very
late, though divers were detained in the Way by Distempers, or were
returned from their Journy, Hurt and Lamed.
I say nothing of what we did for Religion in this Journy, having
reserved that for a particular Relation, by which it will appear, that
by the Grace of our Lord, the Favours we received at the Court of
_China_, produced considerable Fruits for the Church, and did not take
away the Cross from the Missionaries.
I shall here add the _Tartarean_ Names, and the distance of every Place
through which we passed in the Eastern _Tartary_, from the Capital of
the Province of _Leao-tum_ even to _Kirin_, according to the order
of Days which we Spent in this Progress. A _Topographic Chart_ may
be made and inserted into the Map of the Province of _Leao-tum_, to
be found in the Atlas of Father _Martin Martinius_, by changing only
the _Latitudes_ according to the Heights of the _Pole_, which we have
before Specified.
I shall add one thing more which I Understood from the Inhabitants of
_Ula_, to wit that _Nincrita_ (which is a Place much Renowned in those
Parts) is distant from _Ula_ 700 _Chinese Stadia_ (each of which is
360 _Geometrical Paces_) and that Embarking at _Nincrita_ upon the
great River _Heleum_, into which the _Songoro_, and some other more
considerable Rivers are discharged, and following the course of the
River, which runs towards the North-East, or somewhat more to the
North, they arrive in 40 Days Journy at the Eastern Sea, which is (as I
believe) the Streight of _Anien_: I was told this by the General of the
Militia which is at _Kirin_; and who had performed this Voyage himself.
_The Distances of the Places, thro' which we passed in the Eastern
_Tartary_._
The first Day we passed from _Xyn-Yam_,
the Capital of the Province of _Leao-tum_,
and we arrived at _Seao-Lysto_, so the Place is
called in the _Chinese_ Language. 95. _stadia_.
The 2_d._ day we arrived at _Cha-cay Angha_. 85. _stadia_.
The 3_d._ day at another Torrent of the same Name. 70. _stadia_.
The 4_th._ at _Kiaghuchen_. 50. _stadia_.
The 5_th._ at _Feyteri_. 80. _stadia_.
The 6_th._ at the Torrent of _Seipery_. 60. _stadia_.
The 7_th._ at the Torrent of _Ciam_. 60. _stadia_.
The 8_th._ at _Courou_. 50. _stadia_.
The 9_th._ at the Burrow of _Sape_. 40. _stadia_.
The 10_th._ at _Quaranny Pira_. 40. _stadia_.
The 11_th._ at _Elten eme Ambayaga_. 70. _stadia_.
The 12_th._ at _Ypatan_. 58. _stadia_.
The 13_th._ at _Suayen ny Pyra_. 60. _stadia_.
The 14_th._ at _Ylmen_. 70. _stadia_.
The 15_th._ at _Seuten_. 70. _stadia_.
The 16_th._ the City of _Kirin_. 70. _stadia_.
------
1028.
All this Course being 1028 _Chinese_ Stadia, contains 369 Miles (each)
of 1000 Geometrical Paces; the _Chinese_ Stadium containing as I
mentioned before 360 Geometrical Paces.
_A Voyage of the Emperor of _China_, into the Western _Tartary_, in
the Year, 1683._
The Emperor this Year, which is the 30_th._ of his Age, made a Voyage
into the Western _Tartary_, together with the Queen his Grand-mother,
which they call the Queen _Mother_; he departed the 16_th._ of _July_,
in the Company of more than 60000 Men, and 100000 Horse. He positively
resolved, that I, with one of the two Fathers that were at the Court of
_Pekin_, the Choice of which he left to me, should follow him, I chose
Father _Philip Grimaldi_; because he is the most known, and because he
perfectly understood the _Mathematicks_.
Several Reasons prevailed with the Emperor to Enterprize this Journy.
The first was, that he might keep his Militia during the Peace as well
as in the Wars, in continual Exercise; and for this Reason it was,
that after he had Establish'd a firm Peace in all the Quarters of this
so vast an Empire; he recalled his best Troops hither out of every
Province, and resolved in his Council to make every Year Expeditions of
this kind, in several Seasons, that by hunting of Deer, Boars, Bears,
and Tigers, they might learn to overcome the Enemies of the Empire, or
at least to prevent the cooling of their Courage, or the degenerating
from their Pristine Valour, by the Luxury of _China_, in a too long
Repose.
In effect these kinds of Hunting had more of the shew of a Military
Expedition, than of one for Divertisement, as I have already noted:
The Emperor took in his Train, 100000 Horse, and above 60000 Men, all
armed with Arrows and Cimiters, divided into Companies and Marching in
Battle-Array after their Colours, with the sound of Drums and Trumpets:
During their Hunting, they intirely invested the Mountains and
Forrests, as if they had been Cities which they design'd to Beleaguer;
following in this the manner of Hunting used by the Eastern _Tartars_,
of which I have spoken in my last Letter. This Army had its Van-guard
and Rear-guard, and its Main Body, its Right Wing and Left Wing, was
commanded by so many Generals and petty Kings. There were spent more
then Seventy Days before they were on their March, in bringing together
all the Ammunitions of the Army upon the Waggons, upon the Camels,
upon the Horses, and upon the Mules, by reason of the Incommodious
Ways. For in all the Western _Tartary_ (I call it Western) not with
Relation to _China_, which lieth in Respect of it Westward it self,
but with respect of the Eastern _Tartary_ there is nothing to be found
but Mountains, Rocks, and Vallies; there are neither Cities, Towns
nor Villages, nor so much as any Houses. The Inhabitants Lodge under
Tents, pitched on all sides in the open Fields. They are for the most
part Graziers, and transport their Tents from one Vally to another,
according as the Pastures are better. There they Pasture their Beefs,
their Horses, and their Camels, they breed no Hogs, nor any of those
other Animals, which elsewhere are fed in the Villages, as Poultry and
Geese. But only of such as the Herbs, which an uncultivated Land doth
Naturally produce, will serve to sustain. They pass their Life either
in Hunting, or doing nothing. And as they neither sow nor cultivate the
Earth, so they make no Harvest. They Live upon Milk, Cheese, and Flesh,
and have a sort of Wine, not much unlike our Aqua-vitæ; with which they
make their Feasts, and are often Drunk. In short they care for nought
from Morning to Night, but to Drink and Eat; like the Beasts, and
Droves which they Feed.
They are not without their Priests, which they call _Lamas_, for whom
they have a singular Veneration, in which they differ from the Oriental
_Tartars_; the most part of whom have no Religion, nor do they believe
any God. For the rest both of the one and the other are Slaves, and
wholly depend upon the will of their Masters, whose Religion and
Manners they blindly follow: Like in this to their Droves, who go where
they are lead, and not where they ought to go.