C H I N A .
acus maxima fquammofa o f Willugbby, Hiß. pifc, a p p . 42. t a b .
p . viii. This grows to forty pounds weight, and is in high
efteem.
A b o u t fifty miles from the eaftern fide o f the Poyang lake, in
Lat. 29° 15', ftands King-te-ching, on a plain furrounded with
mountains, and having a navigable communication with the lake,
by means o f a river that pafies by the city Tau-cbew, and is
crowded with veffels which are continually palling or re-pafiing,
either with the materials for the famous porcelain ware, or with
the porcelain itfelf, which is manufactured in no other place in
the empire than at King-te-ching.
In the Itinerary o f Mr. Nieuboff, Tong-lyu, Ufun, Jnbing, and
Teytong, appear molt delightfully feated on the. river. Tong-lyu
bears numerous marks o f the ravages o f the Tartars ; at Ufun
is a manufacture o f arms famous throughout all the empire.
T he great city o f Nanking or Nanquin, in Lat. 32° 4' 30", is
feated on an extenfive plain, near a league from the river, but
united to it by feveral canals, capable o f bringing up the imperial
barks, which are as large as middle lized lhips. This
city was once the capital o f China, till it was removed to Peking.
It was the Cbambdan of the Nubian geographer, on a river o f the
fame name, which he fays* was the largeft in China. The
Tartars made themfelves mailers of this city in 1127, and before
they deferted it, burnt the magnificent imperial palace, demo-
lilhed the famous obfervatory, and violated and deftroyed the fe-
pulchres o f the emperors and other diltinguilhed perfonages.
The city is reported to be ninety miles in circumference ; later
K in g - t e -
c h in g .
T o n g - l y u .
U f u n .
N a n q u ín .
fu r v e y s
N I E U H O F F ’s EMB A S S Y .
furveys have made it only eighteen, but it certainly had been of
for greater extent; much is now a wafte,and retains all the marks
of the Tartarian fury, but enough is inhabited to make it a molt
populous and flourilhing city. Of the parts which efcaped therage
o f the Tartarian ravages, is the Porcelain tower, a pagoda o f nine
ftages, o f molt exquifite workmanlhip, and lined with beautiful
tiles o f Porcelain, from which it derives its name. It is far the
molt beautiful in China. Mr. Nieuboff gives a fine view of this
curious ftruiture, as he does of one o f the modern ftreets, the
figns, and manner of building; the walls o f the city, fome o f the
gates, and idol temples, evince its former grandeur; it is belides
the feat o f the literati, and confequently abounds with fine libraries,
and is eminent for its bookfellers ihops, paper, ink, and
all that can feed the Cacoethes fcribendi. It is not without other
manufactures ; its fattins are in high requelt, as are the woollen
cloths fabricated here.
Nanquin is garrifoned partly by Chinefe, partly by Tartars;
the laft commanded by one o f their country; they poflefs one
part o f the city, and are feparated from the other inhabitants by
a fingle wall.
A bout the year 1660, the famous Corfair Coxinga came up the
river with three thoufand fail o f lhips, and laid fiege to the place.
It happened that on his birth day, his army palt the day with
caroufals, and all forts o f feftivity. The garrifon, guefling that
they lhould find the enemy buried in fleep, fallied out, furprifed
the camp, flew multitudes, and forced the reft to find fecurity in
their lhips. Coxinga afterwards fought and defeated the Tartarian
fleet, and by his cruelty in cutting off the nofes o f four
thoufand pjifoners, fullied his victory.
T he
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T o w e r .