about 1000 _Chinese Stadia_, that is to say more than 300 _European_
Miles, and extends from the North-east towards the North.
The Emperor Rides on Horse-back, in the Head of his Army through these
Desert Places, and these Steep Mountains, and far from great Roads,
exposed all the Day to the Scorchings of the Sun, to the Rains, and to
all the Injuries of the Air. Many of those which had been in the last
War, assured me, that they had not suffered so much during all that as
during this Hunting. In so much that the Emperor, whose principal Aim
it was to give his Forces a Breathing, performed effectually what he
pretended.
The second Reason he had of undertaking this Journy, was that he might
keep the Western _Tartars_ in their Duty, and to prevent any pernitious
Designs that might be formed against the States.
It was for this that he entred their Country with so great an Army, and
with so great Preparations for War. Having carried along several great
Guns, that he might cause them to be Discharged from time to time into
the Vallies, and by the Noise and Fire which issued out of the Mouths
of those Dragons, which served to Ornament them, he might cast a Dread
upon the Rout.
Besides this great Retinue, he would yet be accompanied with all the
Marks of Grander, with which he was environed at the Court at _Pekin_.
To wit, with a Multitude of Drums, Trumpets, Timbals, and other Musical
Instruments, which formed Consorts During his sitting at Table, when
he entred the Palace, or when he went out. He caused all these to
March with him, that he might by this outward Pomp Astonish these
_Barbarous_ People, to strike them with a Fear and Respect of his
Imperial Majesty.
For the Empire of _China_ never had any Enemies more to be feared
than these Western _Tartars_; which beginning on the East of _China_
encompass it with an almost infinite of People, and keep it as it were
continually beleaguered on the North and West sides thereof; and 'twas
to make a Bulwork against their Incursions, that a _Chinese_ Emperor
in antient Times caused this great Wall to be Built, which separates
_China_ from their Country. I have passed it four times, and have
considered it very attentively. And I can say without Hyperbolizing,
that all the seven Wonders of the World put together, are not
comparable to this Work. And all that Fame has spread concerning it
among the _Europeans_, is far short of what I my self have seen.
Two things have more especially caused my Admiration. The first is,
that in this long extent from the East to the West, it passes in
several places not only through vast Champains, but also above the
tops of exceeding high Mountains, upon which it is raised by little
and little, and fortify'd at certain Intervals with great Towers;
not distant the one from the other more than two flight Shot. At our
return I had the Curiosity to measure the height of it in one place
by means of an Instrument, and I found that it was in that Place 1037
Geometrical Feet above the Horison; in such sort that 'tis hard to
comprehend how 'twas possible to elevate this enormous Bulwork to the
height we saw it, in places dry and full of Mountains, whence they
must be obliged to bring from a great distance with incredible Labour,
the Water, Brick, Mortar, and all the Materials necessary for so great
a Work.
The second thing that surprized me was, that this Wall is not continued
upon the same Line, but bent in divers places following the situation
of the Mountains, in such manner, that instead of one Wall, one may say
that there are three, which Environ all this great part of _China_.
After all, The Monarch which in our Days hath re-united the _Chinese_
and the _Tartars_, under one and the same Government, has done some
things more for the advantage of the security of _China_, than the
_Chinese_ Emperor that built the long Wall. For after having reduced
the Western _Tartars_, partly by Artifice, partly by force of Arms: He
has obliged to go and remain at 300 Miles distance from the Wall of
_China_; and in this Place he distributes to them Land and Pastures,
whilst he has given their Country to other _Tartars_, his Subjects
which have their Habitation there at present: Notwithstanding which,
these Western _Tartars_ are so powerful, that if they should agree
together, they might make themselves Masters of all _China_, and of the
Eastern _Tartary_, even in the Face of the Oriental _Tartars_.
I have said, that the _Tartarian_ Monarch that conquered _China_,
used an expedient for subduing the Western _Tartars_. For one of his
first Cares was to engage to his Interest by his Royal Bounties, and
by demonstration of a Singular Affection, the _Lamas_ (or _Priests_)
these Men having a great Repute about all those of their Nation, easily
perswaded them to submit to the Government of so great a Prince; and
'tis in consideration of this Service done to the Estate, that the
present Emperor looks upon these _Lamas_ with a favourable Eye, that
he bestows Presents on them; and that he makes use of them to keep the
_Tartars_ in the Obedience which they owe him: Tho' at the bottom he
hath nothing but Dis-esteem for their Persons, and looks upon them as
a sort of Ignorant Fellows, which have not the least Tincture of the
Sciences or commendable Arts, in which without doubt this Prince shews
a Wise Policy, in so disguising his true Sentiments, by these exterior
Marks of Esteem and Good-will.
He has divided this vastly extended Country into 48 Provinces, who have
submitted and are Tributary to him. From whence it comes to pass, that
the Emperor that Reigns at present in _China_, and in the one and the
other _Tartary_, may justly be called the greatest and most powerful
Monarch of _Asia_, having so many vast Estates under him, without being
any where interrupted by the Territory of any Foreign Prince, and he
alone being as the Soul which gives motion to all the Members of so
vast a Body.
For after he had charged himself with the Government, he did not at all
intrust the Care to any of the _Colaos_, nor to any of the great Men of
his Court. He has not at all suffered, that the Eunuchs of the Palace,
or any of his Pages, or any of the young Lords that have been raised by
him, should dispose of the least thing in his House, or should regulate
any thing of themselves: Which appears very extraordinary; especially
if we examin what Customs his Predecessors were wont to use.
He chastises with wonderful Equity the great Ones as well as the
Inferiors; he deprives them of their Charges, and makes them descend
from the Rank they held, proportioning always the Penalty to the
heinousness of their Fault. He takes Cognisance of the Affairs which
are transacted in the Royal Counsel, and in the other Tribunals,
even to the causing them to render to him an exact account of the
Judgments there given. In one Word, he of himself Disposes and Orders
all things; and 'tis by reason of the absolute Authority which he hath
thus acquired, that the greatest Lords of the Court, and Persons of the
highest Quality in the Empire; even the Princes of the Blood, never
appear in his Presence, but with a profound Respect.
But to what remains, the _Lamas_ or _Tartarian_ Priests, of whom we
have spoken, are not only respected by the People, but also by the
Lords and Princes of their Nation, who for Politick Ends testifie
to them a great deal of Friendship: This makes us fear that the
Christian Religion, will not find so easie an entrance into the Western
_Tartary_. They are also very powerful upon the Mind of the Queen
Mother, who is of their Country, and who is at present Threescore and
Ten Years Old; they are wont to tell her, that the Sect (of which she
makes Profession) has no more declared Enemies than us. And 'tis a
kind of Miracle, or at least an extraordinary Protection of God, that
notwithstanding this, the Emperor, who has very much regard and respect
for her, has not hitherto ceased to heap on us Graces and Honours,
considering us after another manner than the _Lamas_.
During the Journey, as the Princes and the chief Officers of the Army
went oftentimes to the Queen to attend at her Court; and that we also
were advertised to do so likewise: We were willing first to consult a
Person of the Court, who loved us very much, and who spake for us to
the Emperor in our Affairs. This Lord having enter'd the Princes Tent,
told him what had passed, and presently coming out again: _The Emperor_
(said he to us) _has given me to understand, that 'tis not at all
necessary for you to attend the Queen as others do_; which made us to
apprehend enough, that this Princess did not favour us.
The 3d Reason which the Emperor had for making this Journey, was for
his Health: because he knew by his Experience long enough, that when he
is too long at _Pekin_ without going Abroad, he cannot avoid his being
attacked by several Distempers, which he prevents by means of these
long Progresses. For during the whole time he never sees any Woman; and
that which is more surprizing, there appears not any one in all this
great Army, except those which are of the Retinue of the Queen Mother:
'Tis yet also a Novelty that she has accompanyed the King this Year, it
having not been practiced above once, when he took with him the three
Queens as far as the Capital City of the Province of _Leao-tum_, to
visit the Sepulchers of their Ancestors.
The Emperor and the Queen Mother pretend moreover by this Journey, to
avoid the excessive Heats which are in _Pekin_, in the Summer during
the Dog-days. For in this part of _Tartary_, there reigns during the
Months of _July_ and _August_ so cold a Wind, especially in the Night,
that 'tis necessary to put on thick Cloths and Furs. The Reason that
may be assigned for this so extraordinary Cold, is that this Region is
very much elevated and full of Mountains: There is one among the rest,
upon which we continually ascended, for the space of 5 or 6 Days March.
The Emperor being desirous to know how much it surmounted the Plains of
_Pekin_, distant about 300 Miles; at our return (after having measured
the height of above a hundred Mountains that lay in our Road) we found
that it had 3000 Geometrical Pace of Elevation, above the Sea that
nearest approached _Pekin_.
The Salt Peter also with which these Countries abound, may contribute
to this great Cold, which is so violent, that in digging the Earth to
three or four Foot deep, there are fetched out Clods all frozen, and
pieces of Ice.
Divers of the Petty Kings of the Western _Tartary_, came from all sides
for 300 Miles, and some for 500 Miles, together with their Children,
to salute the Emperor. These Princes, who for the most part know none
but by their own natural Language, which is very different from that of
the Eastern _Tartary_: Took regard of us, with Aspects and Gestures of
a goodness very particular. There were some among them, who had made a
Journey to _Pekin_ to see the Court, and who had seen our Church.
One or two Days before we arrived at the Mountain which was the
boundary of our Journey, we met a Petty King very aged, who returned
from accompanying the Emperor, he seeing us stayed with all his
Retinue, and enquired by his Interpreter, which of us was called
_Nauboaij_; one of our Servants having made a sign that it was I, this
Prince accosted me with a great deal of Civility, and told me that for
a long time he had known my Name, and that he had desired to know me.
He spoke also to Father _Grimaldi_, with the same marks of Affection.
The favourable Entertainment he gave us in this Re-encounter, gave some
Reason to hope that our Religion might find an easie Entrance to those
Princes, particularly if care be taken to insinuate into the Minds of
those Princes, by the means of the Mathematicks: Which if there should
at any time be a design to penetrate into their Country, the most sure
way for divers Reasons, (which I have not the leisure to explain here)
will be to begin the entrance with the other _Tartars_ more remote,
which are not all Subjects of this Empire, from whom we may pass on to
these, advancing by little and little towards _China_.
During the whole Journey, the Emperor has continued to give us singular
Tokens of his good Will, shewing us Favours in the sight of his Army,
which he shewed to none besides.
One time meeting us in a great Valley, where we were measuring the
height and the distance of some Mountains, he made a stay with the
whole Court; and calling to us from a great distance, he demanded of
us in the _Chinese_ Language, _Hao-mo?_ that is to say, are you well
in Health? And then asked us several Questions in the _Tartarian_
Language, concerning the heighth of these Mountains, to which I
answered also in the same Language; after which, turning to the Lords
that were about him, he discoursed with them concerning us in very
obliging Expressions, as I learned the same Night from the Prince his
Unkle, who was then by his side.
He testifyed also his Affection to us, by causing often Meat to be
carry'd to our Tents from his own Table, willing also that on some
Occasions we should eat in his; and every time he did us this Honour,
he had a regard to our Days of Abstinence, and of Fasting, sending us
only such Meats as we could use.
The eldest Son of the Emperor, after the Example of his Father, gave us
marks also of his Bounty, for having been constrained to stay more than
10 Days, by reason of a fall from his Horse, by which he was hurt in
his right Shoulder; and one part of the Army in which we were, having
attended, whilst the Emperor with the other, continued his Hunting,
he was not wanting in sending to us daily, and sometimes twice a Day,
during this space, Food from his own Table. In fine, we look'd on all
these Favours of the Royal Family, as the effects of a particular
Providence which watched over us, and over Christianity, for which we
had so much the more occasion to thank God, for that the affection
of the Emperor, was never so constantly shewn to the Grandees of the
Empire, nor to the Princes of the Blood.
As to what relates to the other particularities of our Journey, they
are like to those which happened to us the last Year, in the Journey to
the Eastern _Tartary_, which I have fully described in my last Letter;
that is to say, that we made use of the Emperor's Horses, and of his
Litters, that we lodged in the Tents, and eat at the Table of the
Prince his Unkle, to whom he had particularly recommended us.
During more than 600 Miles, which we had passed in going and returning
(for we did not return by the same Road) he caused to be made a great
High-way cross the Mountains and the Vallies, for the Queen Mother, who
went in a Chariot; he caused also an infinite number of Bridges to be
made over the Torrents, as also the Rocks to be cut, and the Points of
the Mountains, with incredible Pains and Expences: Father _Grimaldi_
shall describe the other particulars in his Letters.
As to the benefit which the Religion may draw from our Journey, I have
spoken elsewhere; it sufficeth to say that the Emperor, to whose Will
we cannot make the least resistance, without exposing all this Mission
to a manifest Danger, has order'd us to follow him. I ceased not
however to speak twice to that Lord of the Court, who is our particular
Friend, to excuse us for the time to come from these long Journeys, and
especially me, _who am not of an Age fit for it_: I tried to obtain at
least that they would be contented to take only one of us; the Letters
of our Fathers were daily brought us during the Journey, and I had
the convenience of writing to them, by means of the Couriers which
continually went to and came from the Royal City: I write all this in
haste, that I may continue to give you an account of our Affairs.
_An Explanation, necessary to justify the _Geography_ supposed in
these Letters._
It may seem wonderful, that the Author of these Letters makes mention
in his former, of a kind of War between the _Oriental Tartars_ and the
_Muscovites_, notwithstanding the extream distance these People appear
to be from one another in our Geographical Charts; but those who know
how much the _Muscovites_ have extended the Bounds of the Empire along
the _Tartarian_ Sea, will judge the thing less difficult, besides those
who have seen these Countries, have made Discoveries much differing
from those which our Geographers have informed us of hitherto. Very
lately _Monsieur D'Arcy_, who commands one of the King's Ships, in the
Fleet of _Monsieur Le Marescal d'Estrees_, informed us, that having
served in _Poland_, and having been made Governor of a Place towards
_Moscovy_, the _Moscovite_ Ambassadors in their return having pass'd by
him, and being by him treated in such a manner as put them into a very
good Humour; one of them shewed him a Chart of the Countries between
_Moscovy_ and _China_: and told him, that from three Cities which he
shewed him, whose Names were _Lopsla_, _Abasinko_, _Nerginsko_, all
three under the Government of the great Dukes, tho' situated in the
great _Tartary_, there was a way to _Pekin_, which was not more than
25 or 30 Days Journey. This Map it seems must be kept very secret in
_Moscovy_: For the next Day the _Moscovite_ was in despair, for having
given it, saying that if it should be known, he should come to great
Damage. The Officer being come back since into _France_, has given a
Copy to the King, and another to _Monsieur Le Marquis de Signelay_.
To confirm this, it may be added, what a _French_ Man has writ from
_Moscovy_ within this two Months, that they are actually raising Troops
to go to War with the _Chinese_.
_Some Observations and Conjectures concerning the _Chinese_
Characters. Made by _R. H._ R. S. S._
Whether there ever were any Language natural, I dispute not: But
that there have been, are, and may be, artificial Languages 'tis not
difficult to prove. The _Chinese_ Court Language is said to be of
this kind, invented and spoken by the _Literati_ and _Mandarines_
throughout the whole Empire of _China_, differing from all the other
Languages spoken in it, and I conjecture it to be nothing else but
the Names of the Character by which they write and express their
meaning, arbitrarily imposed by them, as we in _Europe_ set names to
Arithmetical Figures, not as we pronounce Words written with a litteral
Character. This I Judge by comparing the Characters with the Names,
Monosyllables or Words they pronounce and read them with. Nor do they
ascend above a Monosyllabical Name, tho' the Character be composed
of many single Characters, each of which hath its proper Sense, and
Monosyllabical Name, and though the meaning of each Character, be an
ingredient in the Notion of that compounded Character.
I might give an Instance also in the Artificial Language Invented by
the Late Reverend Bishop of _Chester_ Dr. _Wilkins_, which in all the
accomplishments of Language doth excel any one yet extant; to which is
also annexed a real Character, Legible into that or any other Language
Spoken. By which Language the Character and every additional Mark
is effable, and yet the Character is not Literal but Real, which is
more curious and useful than the _Chinese_ way. Great pity it is that
Discourse is not published in Latin, that the Learned of _Europe_, may
think of further Improving it, and bringing it to Use.
But whatever we may judge of Language, 'tis past dispute that
Writing was ever Artificial, how Antiently so ever it were in Use,
and was the Invention of some thinking and Studious Men. 'Tis also
evident that there have been various ways thought of for Expressing
Significancy, according to the several _Genii_ of the Persons that were
the Inventors. As may be guessed by the _Ægyptian_ Hieroglyphicks,
the _Chinese_ Characters, the _Mexican_ Chronology, and the Literal
Characters of several Nations, each of which seem to proceed upon
differing methods, and from differing thoughts of Invention.
Which of these ways is the most Antient, is hard to prove. The
_Ægyptian Mummies_ and _Obelesks_ prove a great Antiquity of the
Hieroglyphicks, but yet the _Chinese_ Chronology (if to be credited)
outstrips the _Ægyptian_ in pretence to Antiquity. For the _Chinese_
make _Fohi_, the first King of _China_, to be the inventer of their
Character: And account him to have lived 2950 Years before the time
of Christ, during all which time they pretend to have a certain
and written Account in their Books: But their Account of the times
preceding, they esteem more Hypothetical and Fabulous; depending
chiefly upon Fiction and Oral Tradition: As you will easily believe,
when you understand how many Years they make it since the Creation of
the World to the present Year 1686. which by the Account thereof in Mr.
_Graves_'s Translation of _Vulg. Beig._ will be found to be no less
than eighty eight millions six hundred and forty thousand one hundred
and two Solar Years, there having been run out since the Creation 8864
_Ven._ of Years (every _Ven._ containing ten thousand such Years) and
of the present _Ven._ this Year 1686. is the 102d. Which Account is
abundantly more extravagant than the _Ægyptian_: But this need not
invalidate their History since _Fohi_; by which it appears that their
Character was invented before the time of _Moses_ about 1400 Years,
and even before _Menes_ the first King of _Ægypt_ about 500 Years. So
that the _Chinese_ Invention of Writing or Characters, seems to be the
most ancient of that kind. And the Book _Yekim_ said to be written by
_Fohi_, the most antient Book.
These Accounts made me the more desirous to understand somewhat of
the Reality and Truth, of what is related concerning the Knowledge of
Literature and manual Arts, which these People of _China_ are said to
have possessed so long a time in so great Perfection, and without
Alteration from the primitive Institution, especially upon the Account
of their Art of Printing, which gave a hint to the Inventors of that
admirable and most useful of all Inventions (for the Common Wealth of
Learning) the way of Printing here in _Europe_. For _Paulus Jovius_
affirms that the first occasion of that Invention in _Germany_, was a
_German_ Merchant, who returning out of _China_ into his own Country,
related what he had observed concerning the Practice of it as used in
that Country. And tho' the _Chinese_ way be wholly differing as to
the method of composing, from what was invented and perfected here:
Yet such an intimation was enough to an ingenious Artist to improve
the first Contrivance, and make it more accomodate to the literal way
of Writing with us: And as our way may possibly be now brought to the
greatest Perfection for exactness and expedition, so without doubt
must be their way of Printing any thing just as it is written, since I
find, that they can engrave their Stamps for a Sheet, as soon as one of
our Compositers can set and correct a Sheet of our literal Character,
and when so done, one Man alone will print off 1500 Sheets in one Day.
And though 'tis generally believed to be much the same with our Wooden
Cuts for Printing, yet from some Observations I have made, I believe
it to be much another way; of which I shall hereafter say more when I
describe their other Arts of Pottery, Staining, Varnishing, _&c._
By a _Chinese_ Manuscript, out of which I transcribed the Lord's Prayer
in the Year 1666 (when it was lost) I found that the Pronunciations
had no affinity with the stroaks of the Character. Whence I conceived
it was either a numeral Character consisting of Numbers, or else a
real Character, but not a literal, unless it were a literal Character
of some other Language than that by which it was pronounced, whose
pronunciation is lost though the significancy be retained, as if one
should read what is written in _Hebrew_ בראשיהברא into the _Latin_ or
_Roman_ Language, _In Principio Cræavit_ instead of _Brasit bra_, or
_Beresith Bara_ according to the _Masorethæ_.