Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 261

1841.

Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.

247

colours, which dooth exceed very much the silke of Granada, and is one of the greatest trades that is in all that kingdome. The veluets, damaskes, sattens, and other sortes of webs which is there made, is of so small price, that it is a wonder to speake it, in especiall vnto them that doo know how their prises be in Spaine and in Italie. They do sell none of their silkes there by the yard, neither any other hinde of websterie, though it be lynnen: but by the waight, wherein there is least deceit. They haue great store of flaxe, wherewith the common people doo apparell themselues: also hempe for the cawlk- ing of their ships, and to make ropes and hasers. And on their drie and tough landes, although they be stonie, they gather great stoore of cotton wooll.”

"Besides the fertilitie of this countrie beforesaid, all the fields be verie faire to behold, and yeelde maruellous odoriferous smelles, by reason of the great quantitie of sweete flowers of diuers sorts. It is also garnished with the greene trees that be planted by the riuer sides, and brookes: whereof there is great quantitie. And there is planted there, orchards and gardens, with banketing houses of great pleasure: the which they doo use verie much for their recreation and avoyding the troubles of minde. The loytias or gentlemen doo use to plant great forrests and thicke woods, whereas doo breed many wilde boores, bucks, hares and conyes, and diuers other beasts of whose skins they make very excellent furres, but in espe- ciall of martas ceuellinas, of which there is a great number. There is great aboundance of muske, the which they do make of a little beast that doth feede of nothing else but of a roote which is of a maruellous smell, that is called camarus, as big as a mans finger. They do take them and beat them with blowes till they be brused all to peeces: then they do put them in a place whereas they may soon. est putrifie, but first they do bind very fast such parts, whereas the blood may run out of their brused bones all to peeces remaining with- in them. Then after when they thinke they be putrified, then they do cut out smal peeces with skinne and all, and tie them up like bals or cods, which the Portugals (who doth by them) do call papos : And this is the finest that is brought out of all Indies (if there be no deceit used in it), for many times they will put amongst it small peeces of lead, and other things of weight. There is also great store of kyne, that are so little worth, that you may buy a very good one for eight rials of plate: and beefes that are bought for halfe the mony: one whole venison is bought for two rials: great stores of hogs, whose flesh is as holesome and good as our mutton in Spaine. There