Part 13
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.
This part of _Tartary_, lies without the prodigious Wall of _China_ 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_.