'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎375] (398/448)

Chyna.
oppofes, by that of Jannes and Jambres contending with Mofes, which were mcer illu-
fions. Aquino* alfo is of opinion, That both good and evil Angels have power to vary
fhapes: But that the good have afliimed human fhapes is recorded in facred Writ, and
that there teive been apparitions of bad, we alfo read in prophane Stories. Mer& pr<e~
(tigu a Dtmone confefta, faith Euflath. of Antioch. But leaving this fubjed to the learned)
1 proceed. Due Weft from Japan is
CHINA, the moft Eafterly part of the Continent of the greater Afia. A Kingdom
no lefs great than wealthy, and as famous as great, but not well difcovered; their jea-
loufie and difcourtefie to Strangers (for they fuffer many to enter but few return) chiefly
caufes it.
This is fubjed to many feveral Names, fcarce any two ftrange People according in one
denomination *, and no wonder, fince amongit themfelves they afed variety: yea, it is a
cuftom for the King to new name both themfelves and the Kingdom at their Coronation^
as they beft fancy.
In Ptolomy it is called Sinarurh Regio, Seres by other Geographers: the Moores in Indiu
flam call it Cathay a, the Arabians T'fynin, the Syamites Cyn, the Malayans Tabenzo, the
Japomtesfhan and X^fyv, the Tartars Ham (from the Metropolis which they call
Ham-ceu) Alhacen Tagit, Paulm Venetus Mangi •, the Inhabitants (lay Per era, Riccim and
Trigamim) Tamen ? and themfelves Tamegines, But how various fo e're that be, this is not
fo uncertain that it is a fpacious Monarchy, and extends from 17 degrees to 47 of North
Latitude, which to the South Cantam, and to the North Fequiny two Roal Cities feem
to terminate: on the Eaft and South it has the Ocean ^ on the Weft the Defarts of /«-
dufiant: on the North the Tartars, and on the South-weft Cochyn-chyna and Pegu: Square,
and from every oppofite fide not much lefs than 1500 Englijh miles as fome have ima-
gin'd', which granted, the whole compafs will be 4000 and upwards. The Countrey is
fullof fweet and navigable Rivers, fome of which are no]efs inhabited than Cities,
which are reported to be 600, befides the Jefmtes report it has 2000 wall'd Towns, 4000
unwallM, 1000 Caftles, and Villages fcarce to be numbred: and many they had need to
be, lince they lodge (as fome Fryars that inhabited there have undertaken to eftimate)
above threefcore millions of Men, Women being uncounted : which if fo, it has four
times more than all is fuppofed to have*, and well conhdered excufes that
conjedure Brearwood makes in his Enquiries, faying, That if the whole World were divi
ded into 30 equal parts, the Chriftians will appear to be but 5 of the 30, the Mahome
tans 6, and the Gentiles ip of that diftribution. The whole Empire is divided into fifteen
Provinces, governed by fo many Quon-fu and Laiifia who have their Tutons and Chyans, as
their Deputies are intituled. Each of thofe Provinces has a Metropolis; but every way
more excellent than the reft are Paqmn by fome called Pafjuin, Nanquin, or Nant on. Can-
tam or Canton^ and QuinzJty by them called Ham-cm : of which four, Paqmn hath now the
precedency, albeit Qnin^ay had'formerly.
P aQU IN elevates the North Pole 41 degr. 15 minutes*, and by late Geographers is
accounted the fame City fome call Cambdn watered by Polifanga, differing from the lat.
of Camhulu which is placed in 45 degrees, and Countrey in which 'tis placed: but if Pan-
toja and Dicanti fay right the Chyna Monarch is that fame great Cam with M. P. Venetus
and Mandeville-, who doubtlefs were no further Eaft than Induftant and Baftria, and from
the reports there met of the more eafterly parts, by them made famous. The City Paqmn,
as defcribed by fome (which are without good authority) is not onely the greateft and
beft peopled City in all Afia but ail the World: if as fome report it hath 30 Patch leagues
circumference, in which are many ftately Buildings, and 24000 Mandarin Sepulchers, the
meaneft of which are not without fome beauty •, and a no lefs number of little gilded Chap-
pels, befide 3800 Temples devoted to Idolatry: it has fo many Gates and Pofterns as days
in a Year; fixfcore Buzzars and above a^thoufand Bridges. This City is diftant about a
hundred miles from that marvellous wall fome fay Chrifnagot others Zaintzon the 117
King built 1000 years fince to keep out the Tartar, a wall 1200 miles long, twelve
yards thick, 'and fix fathoms in height, fuch as was feven and twenty years ereding, by
a continued labour of 750000 Men', which neverthelefs could not hinder the Tartar of
late who not only forc't his palfage but with little oppofition hath over-run and fubje*
ded this great Empire, as reported. t * .
N AN QJ.11N (the fecond City for grandeur ) was once the Metropolis. It elevates
the Ardic Pole 3 5 degr. and is diftant from the Sea 8 leagues or thereabouts. The City
is 12 leagues about; circled with three ftrong walls and ditches: The King's Palace is
vaft-, the other Buildings many (for 200000 are reckoned) but meanly beautiful; The
Temples fuch as they be,are above a thpufand ♦, the ftreets fair,and the People induftrious.
From