Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3 · Royal Society
_SIR_,
I formerly told you, that the Emperor design'd to have come to the Island of _Pou-to_ (a place of great Devotion) to worship in the Month of _May_ last, being the 40th Year of his Age, I should have said of his Reign; but all things being prepared there for his Reception, he was dissuaded from his purpose by some of his _Mandarines_, who made him believe that the terrible Thunder there was very dangerous. This _Pou-to_ is a small Island about 5 Leagues round at the East end of this Island, famous for the Superstitious Pilgrimages made thither for the space of eleven hundred Years: It's inhabited only by _Bonzes_, to the number of 3000, all of the Sect call'd _Hoshang_, or unmarried _Bonzes_, who live a _Pythagorean_ Life; and there they have built 400 Pagodes, two whereof are considerable for their greatness and finery, being lately covered with green and yellow Tiles brought from the Emperor's Palace at _Nankin_, and inwardly adorn'd with stately Idols finely grav'd and gilded, the chief whereof is the Idol _Quon-em_. To these two great Pagodes belong two chief Priests, who govern all the rest.
They have several Ways and Avenues cut through the Island, some whereof are pav'd with Flag-stones, and over-shaded with Trees planted on each side: Their dwellings are the best I have yet seen in these Parts. All which are maintain'd by Charitable Devotions; and the Junks which go from _Ning-po_ and this place to _Japan_, touch there both going and coming, to make their Offerings for their good Success. There is another Island call'd _Kim-tong_ 5 Leagues hence in the way to _Ning-po_, whither, they say, do retire a great many _Mandarins_ to live a quiet Life after they have given over their Employments; on that Island also are said to be Silver Mines, but prohibited to be open'd. The rest of the circumjacent Islands are either desert, or meanly inhabited by a few fishing People, but all of them stor'd with abundance of Deer.
For it is not long since this Island of _Chusan_ began to be Peopled; it's true, in _Martini_'s Days, about 50 Years ago, it was very Populous for the space of three or four Years, at which time the fury of the _Tartarian_ Conquest was so great, that they left it desolate, not sparing so much as the Mulberry Trees (for then they made a great deal of raw Silk here) and in this condition it continued till about 18 Years ago, that the Walls of the Fort or Town, which now is, were built by the Governor of _Ting-hai_, for a Garrison to expel some Pyrats, who had taken shelter here. About 14 Years ago, the Island beginning to be peopled, there was a _Chumpeen_ or General sent to govern it for three Years, to whom succeeded the late _Chumpeen_ (who procur'd the opening of this Port to Strangers) whose Government continued till _April_ last, being translated to be _Chumpeen_ of _Tien-cing Wei_ near to _Pekin_, and was succeeded by the present _Chumpeen_, who is Son to the Old _Chunkoon_ of _Emuy_. They have got no Arts or Manufactories here, but making of lacker'd Ware, a particular Account whereof I cannot as yet send you. They begin to Plant Mulberry-Trees, to breed up Worms for the Production of raw Silk; and they make some Tea, but chiefly for their own use.
Altho' the following Particulars contain nothing of extraordinary matters in them, yet such as they are, you may take, till I can procure you better. The three sorts of Tea commonly carry'd to _England_ are all from the same Plant, only the Season of the Year, and the Soil, makes the difference. The _Bohee_ (or _Voiii_, so call'd of some Mountains in the Province of _Fo-kien_, where it is chiefly made) is the very first bud gather'd, in the beginning of _March_, and dry'd in the Shade. The _Bing_ Tea is the second growth in _April_: and _Singlo_ the last in _May_ and _June_, both dry'd a little in _Tatches_ or Pans over the Fire. The Tea Shrub being an ever-green, is in Flower from _October_ to _January_, and the Seed is ripe in _September_ and _October_ following, so that one may gather both Flowers and Seed at the same time; but for one fresh and full Seed, there are a hundred nought; these make up the two sorts of _Fruit_ in _Le Compte_'s description of Tea: As for his other sort, which he calls slymic Pease, they were nothing but the young Buds of the Flowers not yet open. Its Seed-Vessels are really _Tricapsular_, each _Capsula_ containing one Nut or Seed, and altho' two or one _Capsula_ only comes to Perfection, yet the Vestiges of the rest may be discerned. It grows in a dry gravelly Soil, on the sides of Hills in several places of this Island, without any Cultivation.
_Le Compte_ is mistaken in saying (_pag. 96._) that the _Chineses_ are wholly Strangers to the Art of Grafting, for I have seen a great many of his Paradoxical Tallow-Trees ingrafted here, besides some other Trees. When they Ingraft, they do not slit the Stock as we do, but cut a small slice off the outside of the Stock, to which they apply the Graft (being cut sloping on one side, agreeable to the slice cut from the Stock) bringing up the Bark of the slice upon the outside of the Graft, they tie altogether, covering with Straw and Mud as we do. The Commentator on _Magalhen_ seems doubtful in the length of the _Chinese Che_ or Cubit. Here they have two sorts, one of 13⁷⁄₁₀ _English_ Inches, which the Merchants commonly use: The other is of eleven Inches, us'd by Carpenters, and also in Geographical Measures. Albeit _F. Martini_ is censur'd by _F. Magalhen_ for spelling a great many _Chinese_ Words with _ng_, which the _Portuguese_ and others have done with _m_, yet his way is more agreeable to the _English_ Pronunciation, only in some Words the _g_ may be left out, as in _Pekin_, _Nankin_, &c. Having made enquiry about _Martini_'s Account of Sowing their Fields at _Ven-cheu_ with Oyster-shells, to make new ones grow; I was told that after they have taken out the Oysters, they sprinkle the Shells with Urine, then putting them into the Water again, there grows new Oysters on the foresaid Shells.
_Martini_ says he could never find a _Latin_ Name for the _Fula Mogorin_ of the _Portuguese_, I'm sure it's the same with the _Syringa Arabica flore pleno albo in Parkinsone_. He says also, that the _Kieu-yeu_ or Tallow-tree bears a white Flower like a Cherry-tree; but all that I have seen here bears a spike of small yellow Flowers like the _julus_ of a _Salix_. The Bean, or _Mandarin_ Broth, so frequently mentioned in the _Dutch_ Embassy and other Authors, is only an Emulsion made of the Seed of _Sesamum_ and hot Water. Their chief Employments here are Fishing and Agriculture. In Fishing, they use several sorts of Nets and Lines as we do; but because they have large Banks of Mud in some Places, the Fisherman, to go more easily thereon, has contriv'd a small frame about 3 or 4 Foot long, not much larger than a Hen-trough, elevated a little at each end, in which he rests upon one Knee, leaning his Arms on a cross Stick, rais'd so high as his Breast, and putting out the other Foot often upon the Mud, he pushes forward his Frame thereon, and so carries himself along in it.
As to their Agriculture, all their Fields (where any thing is planted) whether high or low, are made into such Plots as may retain the Water on them when they please. They Plow up their Ground with one Buffalo or one Cow. Where they are to Sow Rice, they prepare the Fields very well, by clearing it of all manner of Weeds, moistening to a Pulp, and smoothing it with a Frame drawn across; on which they Sow the Rice very thick and cover it only with Water for two or three Inches high, and when it has grown 6 or 8 Inches long, they pull it up by the Roots, and transplant it (by Tufts in a straight line) to Fields overflown with Water; and where a Field is subject to Weeds, when the Water drys up, they prevent their growth in over-turning the Mud with their Hands in the interstices where the Rice is planted. When they Sow Wheat, Barley, Pulse, and other Grains, they grub up some superficial Earth, Grass and Roots, and with some Straw they burn all together; this Earth being sifted fine, they mix with the Seed, which they Sow in holes made in a strait Line, and so grows up in Tufts as the Rice does; the Field being divided into Beds and harrowed over, both before and after the Seed is Sown: This makes them somewhat resemble Gardens. Altho' they meliorate their Fields, where they Sow Rice, only by letting the Water on them, yet for other Grains, where Ground requires it, they make use of Dung, Human Excrements, Ashes, _&c._ In watering their Fields here they use the same Instrument mention'd by _Martini_ in the Preface to his Atlas, being all of Wood, and the contrivance the same with that of a Chain-Pump.
Their method in making of Salt is this: All the Shores here being Mud, instead of Sand, in the Summer Season they pare off the superficial Earth, which has been overflown with the Salt Water, and lay it up in heaps for use; when they are to use it they dry it in the Sun, rubbing it small; then digging a Pit, they cover the bottom thereof with Straw, at which thro' the side of the Pit they pass a hollow Cane, that leads into a Jar, which stands below the level of the Pits bottom; they fill the Pit almost full with the foresaid Earth, and pour Salt Water thereon, till it be covered two or three Inches with Water, which drains through, into the foresaid Jar, and is afterwards boil'd into Salt.
Had I not found the Printed News Papers last Year take notice of a singular Root brought from _China_ by _F. Fontaney_, I should not have told you, that I have seen one since I came here call'd _Hu-chu-u_ (which I take to be the same) whereto they ascribe wonderful Properties of prolonging Life, and turning grey Hairs into black, by drinking its Infusion for some time, insomuch that they say it's to be had in value from 10 _Tael_ to 1000 or 2000 a single Root; for the larger it is, the more is its value and efficacy: Which is too much Money here to try the Experiment. You have it mention'd in _Cleyer_'s _Medicina Sinica_ No. 84. under the Name of _Ho-xcu-u_, according to the _Portugal_ Spelling: It's likewise painted in the 27th Table of those Plants Mr. _Petiver_ had of me. If you'll have the Story of its Discovery, which I will not warrant for Gospel, it runs thus. Upon a time a certain Person going a Simpling among the Mountains, fell by accident into such a steep Valley that he could by no means get out of it again; whereupon looking about for something to sustain his Life; in this melancholy condition, he espy'd this Root, of which he made Tryal; and found that in eating thereof, it serv'd him both for Provisions and Clothing, by keeping his Body in such a temperature, that the Injuries of the Weather had no influence upon him during his stay there, which was some hundreds of Years; till at last an Earthquake happen'd in that place, whereby the Mountains were rent, and he found a passage out to his House, from whence he had been so long absent: But the many alterations that came to pass there in such a space of time, would not permit them to give Credit to his Story; till consulting the Annals of their Family, which gave an Account of one of them lost at that time, they were confirm'd in the truth of his Relation. And so much for this.
_A Letter from Mr. _John Clayton_ Rector of _Crofton_ at _Wakefield_ in _Yorkshire_, to the Royal Society, _May 12. 1688._ giving an Account of several Observables in _Virginia_, and in his Voyage thither, more particularly concerning the Air._ Having oftentimes been urged to give an Account of _Virginia_, by several of the Worthy Members of the Royal Society, I cannot but, as far forth as I am able, obey Commands whereby I'm so much honour'd, and show my Respect by my ready Compliance; tho' I am so sensible of my own Weakness and Incapacity to answer your Expectations, that before-hand I must Apologize for my self. And indeed by Sea I lost all my Books, Chymical Instruments, Glasses and Microscopes, which rendred me uncapable of making those Remarks and Observations I had designed, they were all cast away in Captain _Win_'s Ship, as they were to follow me; and _Virginia_ being a Country where one cannot furnish ones self again with such things, I was discourag'd from making so diligent a Scrutiny as otherwise I might have done, so that I took very few Minutes down in Writing; and therefore, since I have only my Memory to rely on, which too has the Disadvantage of it's own Weakness, and of the distance of two Years since now I left the Country, if future Relations shall in some small Points make out my Mistake, I thought this requisite to justifie my Candor; for I ever judg'd it villanous to impose in matters of Fact; but Descriptions of things that depend on Memory may be liable to Mistakes, and yet the sincerity of the Person that delivers them intire. But hereof I shall be as cautious as possible, and shall rather wave some things whereof I have some Doubts, and am uncapable now of satisfying my self, than in any sort presume too far.
The method I design is, First, to give an Account of the Air, and all such Observations as refer thereto; then of the Water, the Earth and Soil; the Birds, the Beasts, the Fishes, the Plants, the Insects; and lastly, the present state of the Inhabitants: But at present I shall neither trouble you nor my self with any more than an Account of what refers to the Air alone, being conscious the Honourable Society may receive such a Glut with the Imperfection of this, as to excuse me from a farther Relation. But before I begin, perhaps it may not be impertinent to acquaint you with some things that happen'd in our Voyage. We sail'd in the Ship _Judith_, Captain _Trim_ Commander, 'twas Fly-boat built, about 200 or 250 Tuns; she sprung a considerable Leak. When the Captain had made long and diligent Search, had tried all methods that Seamen use upon such occasions, or he could think of, all in vain, and that the Leak encreased, he came pensively to consult me. Discoursing with him about it, and understanding that the Ship was Cieled within, so that though the Leak might possibly be in the fore-part, it would fill the whole Cavity betwixt the Cieling and the Planks, and so run into the Hold at all the Crevices of the Cieling up and down: I thereupon conceive, that where it burst in betwixt the Cieling and the Planks, it must needs make some Noise. He told me, they had endeavoured to find it out that way, and according to custom had clapt Cans to their Ears to hear with; but the working of the Ship, the Tackle and the Sea made such a Noise, that they could discover nothing thereby. I happily bethought my self of the Speaking Trumpet; and having one which I had contrived for some other Conveniences, of a differing shape from the common sorts, I bid him take it and apply the broad end to the side of the Ship, the narrow end to his Ear, and it would encrease his Hearing as much as it augmented the Voice the other way, and would ward the Ear too from the confusion of foreign Noise. Upon the first application, accordingly they heard it, tho' it happened to be at a considerable distance; and when they removed the Trumpet nigher, they heard it as if it had been the Current of a mighty River, even so distinctly, as to have Apprehensions of the bigness and figure of the Hole that the Water came in at; so that cutting there the Sealing of the Ship, they immediately stopt the Leak.
In the Sea I saw many little things which the Seamen call Carvels; they are like a Jelly or Starch that is made with a cast of Blue in it; they Swim like a small Sheep's Bladder above the Water, downwards there are long Fibrous Strings, some whereof I have found near half a yard long. This I take to be a sort of Sea-Plant, and the strings its Roots growing in the Sea, as Duck-weed does in Ponds. It may be reckon'd among the Potential Cauteries; for when we were one day becalm'd, getting some to make Observations thereof, the sportful People rub'd it on one anothers Hands and Faces, and where it touch'd it would make it look very Red, and make it smart worse than a Nettle. In my return for _England_ we struck a Hauksbill Turtle, in whose Guts I found many of these Carvels; so that it's manifest they feed thereon. 'Tis commonly asserted by the Seamen, that they can smell the Pines at _Virginia_ several Leagues at Sea before they see Land, but I could receive no Satisfaction as to this Point; I could not discern any such thing when at a moderate distance, I fear much of this may be attributed to Fancy; for one Day there came three or four full scent to tell me they were certain they smelt the Pines; but it afterwards prov'd that we were at that time 200 Leagues from the Shoar, so that I was satisfied that was therefore meer Fancy.
Indeed we thought, by the general Accounts of the Ship, that we had been just on the Coast, but all were deceived by a Current we met with, that at that time set about South-East, or East South-East, which when once becalmed we tried thus: We hoised out a Boat, and took one of the Scuttles that cover'd one of the Hatches of the Ship, tying thereto a great Weight, and a strong long Rope, we let it sink a considerable depth, and then fastening it to the Boat, it serv'd as an Anchor, that the Boat could not drive; then with the Glass and log Line we found the Current set, as I say, Eastward, at the rate of a Mile and a half an Hour. This Current is of mischievous Consequence, it does not always run one way, but as it sets sometimes as we proved Easterly, so does it, as they say, set at other times Westerly, whereby many Ships have been lost; for then the Ships being before their Accounts, they fall in with the Land before they are aware. Thus one Year many Ships were lost on Cape _Hattarasse_, and thereabouts. _Of the AIR._ The Cape called _Cape Henry_, lies in 36½ of the Northern Latitude. The Air and Temperature of the Seasons is much govern'd by Winds in _Virginia_, both as to Heat and Cold, Dryness and Moisture, whose Variations being very notable, I the more lamented the loss of my Barometers and Thermometers, for considerable Observations might be made thereby, there being often great and suddain Changes. The Nore and Nore-West are very nitrous and piercing, cold and clear, or else stormy.
The South-East and South hazy and sultry hot: Their Winter is a fine clear Air, and dry, which renders it very pleasant: Their Frosts are short, but sometimes very sharp, that it will freeze the Rivers over three Miles broad; nay, the Secretary of State assured me, it had frozen clever over _Potomack_ River, over against his House, where it is near nine Miles over: I have observed it freezes there the hardest, when from a moist South East, on a sudden the Wind passing by the Nore, a nitrous sharp Nore-West blows; not with high Gusts, but with a cutting brisk Air; and those Vails then that seem to be shelter'd from the Wind, and lie warm, where the Air is most stagnant and moist, are frozen the hardest, and seized the soonest, and there the Fruits are more subject to blast than where the Air has a free Motion.
Snow falls sometimes in pretty quantity, but rarely continues there above a Day or two: Their Spring is about a Month earlier than in _England_; in _April_ they have frequent Rains, sometimes several short and suddain Gusts. _May_ and _June_ the Heat encreases, and it is much like our Summer, being mitigated with gentle Breezes that rise about 9 of the Clock, and decrease and incline as the Sun rises and falls. _July_ and _August_ those Breezes cease, and the Air becomes stagnant, that the Heat is violent and troublesome. In _September_ the Weather usually breaks suddenly, and there falls generally very considerable Rains. When the Weather breaks many fall Sick, this being the time of an Endemical Sickness, for Seasonings, Cachexes, Fluxes, Scorbutical Dropsies, Gripes, or the like, which I have attributed to this Reason. That by the extraordinary Heat the ferment of the Blood being raised too high, and the Tone of the Stomach relaxed, when the Weather breaks the Blood palls, and like over-fermented Liquors is depauperated, or turns eager and sharp, and there's a crude Digestion, whence the named Distempers may be supposed to ensue. And for confirmation, I have observed the Carminative Seeds, such as warm, and whose Oil sheaths the acid Humors that ever result from crude Digestions.
But Decoctions that retain the Tone of the Stomach, as I suppose, by making the little Glands in the Tunicles of the Stomach, squeeze out their Juice, (for what is bitter may be as well offensive to the Stomach, as to the Palate) and then Chalibiates that raise the decayed Ferment, are no bad Practice; after which, I conceive, Armoniack Spirits might be very beneficial. But their Doctors are so Learned, that I never met with any of them that understood what Armoniack Spirits were: Two or three of them one time ran me clear down by consent, that they were Vomitive, and that they never used any thing for that purpose but Crocus Metallorum, which indeed every House keeps; and if their Finger, as the Saying is, ake but, they immediatly give three or four Spoonfuls thereof; if this fail, they give him a second Dose, then perhaps Purge them with 15 or 20 Grains of the Rosin of Jalap, afterwards Sweat them with _Venice_ Treacle, Powder of Snake-Root, or _Gascoin_'s Powder; and when these fail _conclamatum est_.
But to return, 'Tis wonderful what influence the Air has over Mens Bodies, whereof I had my self sad assurances; for tho' I was in a very close warm Room, where was a Fire constantly kept, yet there was not the least Alteration or Change, whereof I was not sensible when I was sick of the Gripes, of which Distemper I may give a farther account in its proper place. When a very Ingenious Gentlewoman was visited with the same Distemper, I had the opportunity of making very considerable Observations. I stood at the Window, and could view the Clouds arise: For there small black fleeting Clouds will arise, and be swiftly carry'd cross the whole Element; and as these Clouds arose, and came nigher, her Torments were encreased, which were grievous as a labouring Womans; there was not the least Cloud but lamentably affected her, and that at a considerable distance; but by her Shrieks it seemed more or less, according to the bigness and nearness of the Clouds.
Ideas discussed in this chapter
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.