from the countries beyond the kingdom o f Pontus, and by the
name, probably from the Rba. He defcribes its ufes, but none
o f them are ilmilar to that o f the rhubarb ; I cannot therefore
venture to fay that it is the fame plant.
Ik Cbinefe Partary the Bobak Marmots, (Hift. Quad. ii. N° 324)
are faid to be the propagators o f Rhubarb. Wherever ten or
twenty plants grow you are fure o f finding feveral burrows under
the lhades o f their broad fpreading leaves. It is probable the manure
they depofit about the roots contributes not a little to its in-
creafe; and their calling up the earth makes it ihoot out young
buds aud multiply. It appears that the never-accounted it
worth cultivating ; but that the world is obliged to the Marmots
for the quantities feattered, at random, in many diltridts o f this
country. For whatever, part o f the ripe feed happens to be
blown among the thick grafs, can very feldom reach the ground
but mull there wither and die; whereas, ihould it fall among
the loofe earth thrown up by thofe animals, it immediately takes
root, and produces a new plant.
T h e Cbinefe call rhubarb Pay-whang; they ufe it nearly in the
fame manner as is done in Europe; efteem its virtues much as we
do, except that which comes from Canton: the greateft part of
the Partarian, or moll valuable, is engrolfed by the Ruffians, who
purchafe it at their town of Kiacbta (a little fouth of lake Baikal)
from Bucharian merchants, and fend it to Peterjburgh.
This is called the Pur key Rhubarb, becaufe formerly it was brought
from, Conjtantinople, the merchants there receiving it from the
Bucharians, who now find a readier market near home. -The
Cbinefe prohibit the exportation of the bell rhubarb under
fevere
fevere penalties, but much of it is procured, either by concealing
it mixed with roots o f inferior quality, or by a contraband trade.
The Ruffian government is very attentive to the bufinefs, and
appoints at Kiacbta perfons to infpeit the drug, and to rejeft all
that is bad.
A l l this extenfive tradf has a moil elevated fituation, ■goi vinog CEOlJeTyNaTtReYd.
rife to numbers o f great rivers, which, running fouth ward, water
the feveral parts o f India, both intra and extra Gangem : the
Ganges itfelf is one: the Burrampooter, or Pfampoo of the Cbinefe,
another, with the various contributary ftreams that fall into
thofe amazing rivers : the river of Arrakan may be added to the
lift ; as to thofe o f Ava, Pegu, Siam, and Cambodia, each o f them
originate in the fouth o f China. The elevated plains of this part
o f Afa. did not efcape the notice, o f Marco Polo, for he mentions
his journey of twelve days over one called Pamer *; and afferts
that he found on thofe heights the fire to burn with difficulty,
by reafon of the exceffive cold and rarefailion of the air.
Thefe plains are on the north o f Cafpgur, and to the weft o f
Little Bucharia.
T h e immenfe deferts o f Gobi, or as the Cbinefe call them, D e s e r t s or
ShamoxnA. Hankai, are dreadful boundaries tothenorthand north- HAM0-
vy.eft of the Cbinefe dominions,. They confift o f fands that move
with the. winds like the current of a river. Nature has formed
three pafiagesacrofs them, by means of three chains o f mountains,
which run from the great Partary, and are mixed with pleafant
vallies amidft thefe oceans of fand. Travellers . who take any
other courfe are liable to be overwhelmed with the torrents of
* Bergeron, p. 31,
fand,