272 OS BECK'S VOYAGE* 



nation. The children are adorned with filvef 

 rings about their hands and feet, and with 

 medals hanging on their breafts. Their pa- 

 rents tie- a gourd, or a large fruit which the 

 Chinefe call Po-o (cucurbita lagenaria) which 

 is fhaped like a bottle, to their childrens 

 backs, that they may not be drowned in cafe 

 they fliould fall into the river. The bufinefs 

 of the women in general is to take care of the 

 children, the kitchen, weaving, and fpinning* 

 The elder children mud help to carry the 

 younger on their backs. The men help to 

 warn. 



The eye is every where ftruck with the po- 

 puloufnefs of this healthy country,- in which 

 the people chufe rather to want, than to feek 

 a plentiful fubfiitence elfewhere. They are 

 allowed but little more navigation than what 

 they can carry on by their inland canals. Their 

 foreign trade is chiefly to Batavia, and fome 

 places adjacent. An Engtiflman, whofe men 

 were run away during his flay in China, could 

 with difficulty get fo many Chinefe failors as- 

 were neceffary to navigate his fhip to the Eajl 

 Indies ; though he affured them he would fend 

 them back by the firft opportunity. The 

 itreets are as full of people here, as if there 

 4 was 



