Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3 · Royal Society
ΛΟΥΚΙΟΥ ΑΥΡΗ[ΛΙ]ΟΥ ..... ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ.
And after a Blank of three lines all worn out except one single Ο, there followed, [ΤΕΙ]ΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ....... ΜΗΝΟΣ [ΑΠ]ΕΛΛΑΙ[ΟΥ]. And that imperfect one in _pag. 104._ seems to have relation to the same Name. 7. _Pag. 111._ ΜΑΛΕΝΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ _lege_ ΜΑΛΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ, it being written ΜΑΛΗΝΤΟΝ, with Η in the two other Copies I have seen, whereby the Sence is cleared. 8. _Pag. 117._ ΑΓΑΘΑΝΓΕΛΟΣ ΑΒΙΛΗΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΚΑΠΟΛΕΟΣ, _Agathangelus Abilenus, Decapolitanus, Patronymice_. There were in these Parts two Cities known by the Name of _Abila_; to distinguish which, the one was called _Abila Lysaniæ_, from the Name of the Tetrarch: St. _Luke_, ch. 3. 1. and is placed by _Ptolemy_ (in his _Cælosyria_) about mid-way between _Damascus_ and _Heliopolis_: The other in _Judæa_, called _Abila ad Jordanem_, described by _Josephus_ in many Places, to lie over-against _Jericho_, near the _Dead-Sea_. _Decapolis_ was so called from its Ten Cities, enumerated by _Pliny_ (_lib._ 5. 18.) And with them he reckons up, among others, the _Tetrarchy_ of _Abila_, in the same _Decapolis_: Which demonstrates the _Abila Decapolis_ and _Abila Lysaniæ_ to be the same Place. And tho' it cannot be denied, but that some of _Pliny_'s Ten Cities are not far distant from that near _Jordan_; yet it doth not appear that ever this other had the Title of a _Tetrarchy_. Here it is to be observed, that what _Pliny_ calls _Decapolis_, _Ptolemy_ makes his _Cæle Syria_; and the _Cæle Syria_ of _Pliny_, is that part of _Syria_ about _Aleppo_, formerly call'd _Chalcidene_, _Cyrrhistice_, &c.
What this Town of _Teibe_ was anciently call'd, is not so easily conjectured: But if the Numbers of _Ptolemy_ may be confided in, it is very near the Situation of a City he calls _Oriza_; and perhaps his _Adada_ may be our _Soukney_, and his _Rhæsapha_ what is now called _Arsoffa_. It is taken for granted, that Old _Aleppo_ was anciently the City of _Berrhæa_, and there wants not ancient Testimony to prove it; which being granted, I think I may without scruple conclude, that _Andrene_ (_pag. 122._ and 133.) is the Ruins of the City of _Androna_; and _Esree_ (_pag. 135._) that of _Seriane_, both mentioned in the Itinerary of _Antoninus_, in the Journey _à Dolicâ Seriane_. But this whole Country is laid about half a Degree more Southerly than it ought, by _Ptolemy_, who places _Berrhæa_ in Lat. 36 _deg._ For the Meridian Altitude of the Tropical Sun at _Aleppo_ is found there but 77 _deg._ whence the Latitude 36 _deg._ 30 _min._ as it was observed, _Anno_ 1680. by three several Quadrants, in the presence of a curious Gentleman, to whom I am obliged for this Communication.
By the same Observation a much greater Error is amended in the Latitude of _Aleppo_, in the _Rudolfine_ Tables of _Kepler_, who supposes _Aleppo_ to have been the ancient _Antiochia ad Taurum_, and accordingly places it Lat. 37. _deg._ 20 _min._ wherein he is followed by _Bullialdus_ and others; and several Maps have copied the Mistake. But a much greater use of it is, that thereby we are assured, that the City of _Aracta_, wherein _Albatani_ made the Observations we have Publish'd in the _Philosoph. Transact. Numb._ 204. was, without doubt, the same which is now called _Racca_ on the _Euphrates_; of which Town an Account may be seen in _Rauwolf_'s Voyages, and which was not many Miles below the Place where our Travellers first came on the River: And if _Arecca_, in the Language of this Country, relates to Victory (as is said in _pag. 143._) it was, doubtless, anciently the City _Nicephorion_, built by _Alexander_ the Great; with which the Situation exactly agrees. The Latitude thereof was observed by that _Albatani_ with great accurateness, about eight hundred Years since; and therefore I recommended it to all that are curious of such Matters, to endeavour to get some good Observation made at this Place, to determine the Height of the Pole there, thereby to decide the Controversie, whether there hath really been any Change in the Axis of the Earth, in so long an Interval; which some great Authors of late, have been willing to suppose. And if any curious Traveller, or Merchant residing there, would please to observe, with due care, the Phases of the Moons Eclipses at _Bagdat_, _Aleppo_ and _Alexandria_, thereby to determin their Longitudes, they could not do the Science of Astronomy a greater Service: For in and near these Places were made all the Observations whereby the middle Motions of the Sun and Moon are limited: And I could then pronounce in what Proportion the Moon's Motion does Accelerate; which that it does, I think I can demonstrate, and shall (God willing) one Day, make it appear to the Publick.
The Peace having been settled, by the Re-establishing in the Empire and all the Provinces, the Peaceable Enjoyment of their Ancient Liberties: The Emperour departed the 23_d._ of _March_ to go into the Province of _Leao-tum_, the Country of his Ancestors, with a Design of visiting their Sepulchers, and (after having honoured them with the usual Ceremonies) of prosecuting his Journey into the Eastern _Tartary_: This Journey was was about 1100 _miles_, from _Pekin_ to the end of it. The Emperour took with him his eldest Son, a young Prince of ten years old, which had already been declared Heir of the Empire: The three principal Queens went also in this Journy, each in their gilded Chariot; the principal Kings also which compose this Empire, were accompanying with all the Grandees of the Court: And the most considerable _Mandarines_ of all the Orders, who having all a very great Train of Attendants, and very numerous Equipage, made a Court about the Emperour of more then 70000 Persons. It was his Will that I should accompany him in this Journey, and that I should be always near him, to the end I might make in his Presence, the Observations, necessary for knowing the disposition of the Heavens, the elevation of the Pole, the Magnetical Declinations of every Place, and for Measuring with Mathematical Instruments the height of the Mountains, and the distances of Places: He was well pleased also to be informed of what concerned Meteors, and many other Physical and Mathematical Matters.
In so much, that he gave Order to an Officer to carry upon Horses such Instruments as I should have occasion to make use of, and recommended me to the Prince his Unkle, who is also his Father in Law, and the second Person of the State, he is called by a _Chinese_ Name, which signifies an Associate of the Empire: He gave charge to him to cause all things to be provided for me which were necessary for this Journey, which this Prince performed with a very particular goodness, causing me to Lodge always in his own Tent, and to eat at his Table. The Emperour ordered that they should give me Horses of his own Stables, to the End I might the more easily Change in Riding, and some of those were of them He Himself had Rid, which is a Mark of very extraordinary distinction. In this Journey we always went toward the North-east: From _Pekin_ to the Province of _Leao-tum_, the Way being about 300 Miles is pretty equal: In the Province it self of _Leao-tum_, it is about 400 Miles, but much more unequal by Reason of the Mountains; from the Frontier of this Province to the City of _La_, or the River which the _Tartars_ call _Songoro_, and the _Chinoise_ _Sumhoa_, the way (which is about 400 Miles) is very difficult, being crossed sometimes by Mountains extreamly Steep, sometimes by Valleys of extraordinary Depth, and through Desert Plains, wherein for two or three Days March we met with nothing. The Mountains of this Country are Covered on the East side with great Oaks and old Forrests, which have not been cut for some Ages.
All the Country which is beyond the Province of _Leao-tum_ is exceeding Desert where nothing is to be seen on all sides but Mountains and Valleys, and Dens of _Bears_, _Tigers_ and other _Devouring_ Beasts, you can scarce find a House, but only some _poor Reed Huts_, upon the sides of some Brooks and Streams. All the Cities and _Burrow-towns_ which I have seen in the Province of _Leao-tum_, and which are in very great Numbers are intirely ruined: One can see nothing thro' the whole Country, but old ruined Walls with Rubble, Bricks and Stones. In the out-skirts of these Cities there have been of late some few Houses built, but without any order. Some of them made of Earth, others of the Rubbish of the old Buildings, the most part of them covered with Straw or Thatch, and but few with Tiles. There is now not the least Footsteps remaining of a great number of Towns and Villages which were here before the War. Because the petty King of the _Tartars_, who began to kindle this War having but a very small Army, caused the Inhabitants of those Places to take Arms, which Places he forthwith destroyed, that he might take from his Soldiers the hopes of ever returning again to their own _Homes_.
The Capital City of _Leao-tum_, which is called _Xyn-Yam_, is a City very fair and pretty intire, it has as yet the Remains of an Antient _Palace_. It is (for as much as I was able to remark by divers Observations) of the Latitude of 41 _degrees_ 56 _minutes_; that is to say, two _degrees_ above _Pekin_, tho' hitherto both the _Europeans_ and the _Chinese_ have given that City the Latitude of 41 _degrees_. There is in that City no declination of the Magnetick Needle, as I have found by many reiterated Observations. The City of _Ula_ which was almost the very Extream of our Journey, lies in 44 _degrees_ and 20 _minutes_. The compass there declines from the South to the West one _degree_ 40 _minutes_. But to resume the Prosecution of our Journey, from _Pekin_ to this Extream towards the East there is made a new Way, by which the Emperour can commodiously March with his Horse, and the Queens in their Chariots. This Way is about 10 _foot_ broad, and as even and streight as could possibly be made; it is extended above 1000 _Miles_, it has a little Raising on each side of about a Foot high every where equal and perfectly Parallel to one another; and this Way was as neat, especially when the Weather was fair, as a Floor where the Husbandmen beat out their Corn in the Field; there were also certain Persons along this way, who only took care to Smooth and Cleanse it. The Christians have no where so great care of Sweeping their Streets and publick Places where the Holy Sacrament is to pass in the Processions, as these Infidels have of cleansing the Ways, where their Kings and their Queens are to pass, every time they go out of their Palaces.
There was made for their Return a way like the former, they plained or levelled the Mountains as far as they were able, they raised Bridges over the Rivers, and for ornamenting them, they had extended on each side of them a sort of Mats upon which they had Painted divers Figures of Animals, which had the same effect with Tapestry Hangings, with which the Streets are usually hung in Procession. The Emperor did very seldom make use of this Way, being almost always in Hunting: And when he accompanied the Queens he only Rode by the side of it, to the End that the great number of Horse which were in the Train that followed should not spoil it: He ordinarily Marched at the Head of this kind of Army. The Queens followed immediately in their Chariots, with their Train and their Equipage; they notwithstanding left some space between the King and themselves: After these Marched the Kings, the Grandees of the Court and the _Mandarines_, every one according to his Rank, behind these an infinity of Attendants, and other People on Horse-back brought up the Rear-guard. As there was not one City upon all this Way, that could either Lodge so great a Multitude, or Furnish them with Provisions, and that the greatest Part of their Journey was through a Country very little Inhabited, so they were Necessitated to carry along with them all things that were Necessary for the journey, and even Provisions of Victuals for three Months.
Upon this Account there were sent before by the Ways which were made on each side of the Emperors Way, an Infinity of Waggons, Cammels, Horses, and Mules for to carry the Baggage: Besides these the Emperor, the Kings and almost all the Grandees of the Court, had great numbers of Horses led, for the use of changing from time to time. I do not here reckon the Droves of Beefs, Sheep, and other Cattel, which they were obliged to have with them. And though this great Multitude of Men, Horses, and Droves, passed by a way at a good distance from that of the Emperor, yet it raised so horrible a Dust, that we always seemed to March in a cloud, and thence found it Difficult to distinguish those that Marched 15 or 20 Paces from us. The March was so well regulated, that this Army Incamped every Night upon the sides of some River or Brook. 'Twas for this Reason that they caused the Tents and the Baggage necessary for this Incamping to set out very early in the Morning; and the Quarter-masters upon their first arrival, Marked the Ground most proper for the placing of the Emperors Tent, of the Queens, of the Kings, of the Grandees, of the Court, of the _Mandarines_, each according to his Dignity, and according to the Dignity he had in the _Chinese_ Militia, which is divided into eight Orders or into eight Standards.
In the space of three Months we passed about 1000 _Miles_, advancing towards the North-east, and about as many in our return: In fine, we arrived at _Kam-Hay_, which is a Fort situated between the South Sea and the Mountains of the North: It is there where is the beginning of that so much Celebrated Wall, and which separates the Province of _Leao-tum_ from that of _Pekely_; from whence it is extended very far on the side of the North over the tops of the highest Mountains. When we entred this Province, the Emperor, the Kings, and the Grandees of the Court, quitted the great Way of which we have hitherto spoken, to take that of the Mountains of the North, which are extended without Interruption towards the North-East: There some Days were passed in Hunting, which was performed in this manner.
The Emperor chose 3000 Men of his Life-guard, Armed with Arrows and Javelins, and dispersed them some on this side some on that; so that they possest themselves of a great Circuit about the Mountains, which they Environed on all Parts, which made a kind of Circle whose Diameter was at least 3000 _Paces_; then Marching to draw nearer together with equal Progress and without quitting their Range, what ever Obstacles they found in the way (the Emperor having joyned with them several of the Captains, and of the Grandees of the Court, for the better keeping of their Order) they Reduced this great Circle to another much less, which had about 300 _Paces_ in the Diameter: So that all the Beasts which had been stayed within the first, found themselves taken in this last as in a Net: for that every one setting his Feet upon the Ground, they Locked themselves together so closely, that they left no meshing Place for them to make their Escape by. Then they Pursued them so Vigorously in this little Space, that the poor Creatures tired with the violence of their Coursing, came and fell down at the Feet of their Chasers, and suffered themselves to be taken without trouble. I saw taken in this Manner two or three Hundred Hares in less then one day, without counting an Infinite of Wolves and Foxes. I have seen the same thing divers times done in that part of _Tartary_, which is on the other side of the Province of _Leao-tum_, where I remember to have seen, among others, more than 1000 Deer so pent up by these sort of Nets, which came to cast themselves into the Hands of the Hunters, having found no passage to save themselves by: they kill'd also Bears, Boars, and more than 60 Tigers, but these are taken by other means, and with other Weapons.
The Emperor will'd that I should be present at all these different Huntings, and he recommended to his Father in Law, in a most obliging Manner the having a particular care of me, and of giving charge that I should not be exposed to any danger in the Hunting of the Tigers, and the other fierce Beasts; I was the only Person of all the _Mandarines_ who was without Arms, and so near to the Emperor; though I made Light of the Fatigue during the time we were in our Journey, I found my self so wearied every Evening when I got to my Tent, that I was not able to support my Self; and I should have dispensed with my self divers times from following the Emperor, if my Friends had not counsel'd me to the contrary, and if I had not fear'd that he would have taken it ill if he should have perceived it. After having passed about 400 Miles in Hunting daily after this manner, we arrived at last at _Xyn-Yam_, the Capital City of the Province, where we stayed four Days. The Inhabitants of _Coree_ came to present to the Emperor a _Sea-Calf_ which they had taken, the Emperor caused me to see it, and asked whither our _European_ Books had spoken any thing of this Fish? I told him we had a Book in our Library at _Pekin_ which had explain'd the Nature of it, and dispatched presently a Courrier to our Fathers at _Pekin_, who brought it me in a few Days: The Emperor was pleased to see that what was said of this Fish in this Book, was agreeable to this which he had seen, and caused it to be carried back again to _Pekin_ to be carefully preserved.
During the stay which we made in this City, the Emperor with the Queens went to visit the Sepulchers of his Ancestors, which are not very far distant, from whence he sent them back to _Xyn-Yam_, to continue his own Journey into the Eastern _Tartary_. After several Days of Marching and Hunting, he arrived at _Kirin_, which is distant from _Xyn-Yam_ 400 Miles: This City is built along the great River _Songoro_ which takes its source from the Mountain _Cham-pe_, distant 400 Miles towards the South: This Mountain so Famous in the East for having been the Antient Seat of our _Tartars_, is always covered with Snow, from whence it had its Name, because _Cham-pe_ signifies the white Mountain. So soon as the Emperor saw it, he alighted from his Horse and fell on his Knees on the Bank of the River, and bowed Himself three times to the Ground to Salute it: After which, he caused himself to be carried upon a glorious Throne of Gold, and so made his Entry into the City: All the People ran in a throng before him, testifying by their Acclamations the Joy they had to see him. This Prince took great Pleasure in those Testimonies of their Affection; and that he might give them some Marks of his being very sensible of it, he was pleased to suffer himself to be seen by all, and forbid his Guards to hinder the People from approaching him, as they used to do at _Pekin_.
They make in this City Barks of a very particular manner: The Inhabitants keep always a great number of them ready fitted to Repulse the _Muscovites_, who come often into this River, to dispute the Fishing of Pearls. The Emperor reposed himself two Days, after which he Descended upon the River with some Lords, accompanied with more than 100 Boats, till he arrived at the City of _Ula_, which is the fairest of all this Country, and which at other times hath been the Seat of the Empire of the _Tartars_. A little below this City, which is at most about 32 _Miles_ from _Kirin_, the River is very full of a certain Fish which resemble near enough the Plaice of _Europe_: and 'twas principally for the taking the Divertisement of Fishing, that the Emperor went to _Ula_; but the Rains coming on so suddainly, swelled the River so much, that all their Nets were broken and carried away, by the great Flood of those Land Waters: The Emperor notwithstanding stayed 5 or 6 Days at _Ula_; but seeing the Rains were not at all discontinued, he was obliged to come back to _Kirin_, without having enjoyed the Pleasure of Fishing: as we ascended the River, the Bark wherein I was with the Emperors Father in Law, was so indamaged by the agitation of the Waves, that we were constrained to go a Shore, and mount a Chariot drawn by one Ox, which carried us very slowly to _Kirin_, the Rains not at all ceasing during our Journy.
In the Evening when the Emperor was entertained upon all these Adventures, he said Laughing, _the Fish have cheated us_; at length, after we had stayed two Days at _Kirin_, the Rains began to diminish, and we retook our Way towards _Leao-tum_. I cannot here express the Pains and Fatigues these had caused us to undergo, during the whole Course of this Journy, by Reason of the Ways which the Rains had Spoiled, and rendred almost impassable: we went without staying over the Mountains and over the Vallies, and we could not pass but with extream Danger, the Brooks and Rivers which were swelled by the Floods and Inundations which ran from all Parts: the Bridges were either overturned by the Violence of the Currents, or all covered by the great overflowing of the Waters. There were made in divers Places great Collections of Water, and of Mud, that it was almost impossible to be drawn out of it. The Horses, Cammels, and other Beasts of Burthen, which carried the Baggage could not advance, but remained sticking in the Mud of the Marshes, or died of tiring upon the Ways. The Men were not at all less incommoded, and all were enfeebled for want of Victuals, and of Refreshments necessary for so great a Journy: Many of the Horsemen were obliged, either to lead their Horses on Foot, who were no longer able to carry them, or to rest in the middle of the Fields to suffer them to take Breath: And though the Quarter-masters and the Harbingers, spared not their Pains, nor for Wood (which they cut on all sides) to fill with Faggots all the bad Passages: Yet notwithstanding after the Horses and Chariots, which took the Van early in the Morning had quite passed, it was impossible to pass after them: The Emperor himself, with his Son, and all the great Lords of the Court, were obliged more than once, to Foot it over the Mud and the Marshes, fearing to expose themselves to greater danger, if they should have passed them on Horse-back.
When they came to Bridges, or those other obstructions all the Army stayed: And as soon as the Emperor was passed, with some of the most considerable Persons, all the rest came together in a Throng, and every one striving to pass first, many were tumbled over into the Water: Others taking Ways more about, found them more dangerous, falling into Sloughs and Bogs, out of which they could not Recover themselves. In fine, there were so many Inconveniencies to be met with, in all the Ways of Eastern _Tartary_, that the old Officers who had followed the Court above 30 _Years_, said they had never suffered so much in any Journy. It was on those Occasions, that the Emperor more than once, gave me the Marks of a Respect altogether particular: the first Day that we put our Selves in the way for returning, we were stay'd in the Evening, by a Torrent so great and rapid, that 'twas impossible to Ford it: The Emperor having by chance found a little Boat, which could not hold above 4 Persons at most, passed first with his Sons, and some of the Principal Kings followed: All the other Princes, Lords, and _Mandarines_, which the rest of the Army attended, (in the mean while) with Impatience the return of the Boat, to carry them to the other side of the Torrent, because the Night approached, and the Tents had long before passed: But the Emperor being come back to us in such another Boat as the former, demanded aloud where I was? and his Father in Law having presented me to him, he added, let him come in and Cross over with us: So we were the only Persons that passed with the Emperor; and all the rest stayed on the Bank, where they must pass the Night _under the open Heaven_: The same thing happened the next Day almost in the same manner. The Emperor at Noon meeting with a like rapid and swelled Torrent, gave order that the Boats should be made use of for Transporting the Tents, Packs, and other Baggage till the Evening; then willed that I should pass alone with him and some few of his Attendants, having left on the other side all the great Lords, who were necessitated to pass the Night there. The Emperor's Father in Law himself, having asked if he should not pass with me, since I Lodged in his Tent and eat at his Table? this Prince answered him, that he should stay, and he himself would take Order to give me what was necessary.
Ideas discussed in this chapter
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.