Upon the deck of taoh of these large ju n k s j§ built a long
range of apartments, containing several families. It was
calculated, that every one of these vessels contained not
less than fifty persons; and that there were, between
Tonc-choa-foo and Tien-sing, at least one thousandsuch
grain ju n k s ; thus containing fifty thousand inhabitants.
An immense -number of various other kinds of craft were
continually passing to and fro, or lying before the towns-
bordering upon the river;, and the number of people
in them could not be less than fifty thousand more. So
that upon a branch of a syggle.river, the population of
its moveable habitations amounted to one hundred thorn
sand persons.
In this shallow river, the mud, or diluted clay, raised
from its bottom by the large vessels ‘ passing o v e rit,;,or
detached from its loose banks, or wafted down from the
distant hills, is suspended in .the water iii stteh large
quantities, as to render it scarcely, potable. But it is
quickly refined for use by the fi>Uowingpimple profeeasi
A small lump of alum is put into the hollow joint of a
bamboo, which is perforated with several holes. The
water taken from the river is stirred about with this
bamboo for three or four minutes, during which the
earthy particles uniting with the alum are precipitated
to the bottom, leaving the water above them clear and
pure. This method was not applied in consequence of
any general knowledge of the elective attractions of dif-
69
fferent/bodies-, and isrscarcely known tq chemists, even Parage 'np
wherelthat thsdvyvis f&niliar. pBractical men are satis- - 8 Pe‘ ho‘
fed. >to make trials for answering the particular purpose
they have in view, - The numerous Chinese}’ fwho subsist
upon the; rivers, sought, until they,found, the means; of
rendering the .water -in t h e » ifit^tb’.JIeboide-a wholesome
beverage. The water of tb e ^ fe ^ 's purified
byalum. ■ And its. use,jonthe isam’eipni'posh hja-been
d tlh bw r^ in Europe,1 likewise,ub^{thei)workmen employed
in different manufactures,,jin wb|fe|. the.mixture
of clay ;ajicf other-jearths in wfee%wa,sj inj uKoUs
}TerSQnS'qfirank in China--a^SOjcarefuLabout the'qua-
lifcy of thejwater' intended for their h^b/hfei^sWption,
that th e y seldom drink any without itli-hcjrigijaigtilled ;
and every,Chinese ihfus.es tea, dr > some1 ’sihiiit ^gh^lble
supposed to be salubrious, in the watei^wfech he |uses%"'
It isigenerally taken hot, as is ind^di;,wine,: ancf every
other liquid; and habit-h-as that effect,upon the.senses,
that,ifermented and spirituous1;liquors made hqt; -are
thought agreeableias weR‘^s*salulaf y,7 l a othe^ Glfnaates
warm- bevefagfes;are aho found' most wholesome. In ‘tn®;'-/
hot clinahte of Hindustan, choultries- or inn siaJre;> founded
along some of the' public - roadhthih^WPo®- fot-pious*
uses are elsewhere.' In thps.fi £hdulfeie$w|?ak but-warmed
liquors are provided for-all travellers. The.'Chinese en-
joy,s.however, irfjkdt weather, the gratefuk coolness/pio-x
duced b^lrce, seldom, indeed, applied to any of their