which our farmers ufually calculate, he would fcarcely be able
to fupport his family, after paying the expence o f labour that
would be required to work the farm.
In faCt there are no great farms in China. The inhabitants enjoy
every advantage which may be fuppofed to arife from the lands
being pretty equally divided among them, an advantage of
which the effects might probably anfwer the expectations o f
thole who lean towards fuch a fyltem, were they not counteracted
by circumftances that are not lefs prejudicial, perhaps, to
the benefit o f the public, than monopolizing farmers are by fuch
perfons fuppofed to be in our own country. One o f the circumftances
I allude to is the common practice, in almoft every part
o f the country, o f affembling together in towns and villages,
between which very frequently the intermediate fpace o f ground
has not a fingle habitation upon i t ; and the reafon affigned for
this cuftom is the dread o f the bands o f robbers that in-
feft the weak and unprotected parts o f the country. T h e con-
fequence o f fuch a fyftem is, that although the lands adjoining
the villages be kept in the higheft ftate o f cultivation, yet thofe
at a diftance are fuffered to remain almoft ufelefs ; for having
no beafts o f burden, it would be an endlefs talk o f human labour
to bear the manure that would be required, for feveral
miles, upon the ground, and its produce from thence back again
to the village. That fuch robbers do exift who, in formidable
gangs, plunder the peafantry, is very certain: Sbe-foo-pao was
watching his grain to prevent its being ftolen, when he had the
misfortune o f Ihooting his relation, who had alfo gone out for
the fame purpofe. T h e y are fometimes indeed lb numerous, as
to threaten their moft populous cities. The frequency o f fuch
robberies and the alarm they occafion to the inhabitants are
neither favourable to the high notions that have been entertained
o f the Chinefe government, nor o f the morals o f the people.
Another, and perhaps the chief, difadvantage arifing from landed
property being pretty equally divided, will be noticed in fpeak-
ing o f the population and the frequent famines.'
The province o f Kiang-nan extends from about 31° to 347*
o f northern latitude; and the mean temperature, according to
Fahrenheit’s thermometer, from the 30th o f October to the
9th o f November, was 54° at fun-rife and 66° at noon; the
ik y uniformly clear.
The province o f Tcbc-kiang abounds in lakes and is inter-
feCted with rivers and canals like Kiang-nan; but the produce,
except that o f a little rice, is very different, confifting principally
o f filk. For feeding the worms that afford this article,
all the fertile and beautiful vallies between the mountains, as
well as the plains, are covered with plantations o f the mulberry-
tree. The fmall houfes, in which the worms are reared, are
placed generally in the centre o f each plantation ; in order that
they may be removed as far as poflible from any kind o f noife;
experience having taught them, that a fudden Ihout, or the
bark o f a dog, is deftruCtive o f the young worms. A whole
brood has fometimes perilhed by a thunder ftorm. The greateft
attention is, therefore, neceffary; and, accordingly, they are
watched night and day. In fine weather, the young worms
are expofed to the fun, upon a kind o f thin open gauze ftretched
4 D 2 in