CHINA. 1751. 293 



Days and nights in this latitude being con- 

 tinually equal, we often longed for a thing 

 which we do not take any notice of at home, 

 tp wit, the agreeable change-of unequal days 

 and feafons. 



Soldiers are feldom feen, though the army 

 is faid to be very numerous. Thofe which I 

 fay/, had only fabres, and their drefs was no,t 

 diftinguiihable from that of the other Cbinefe, 

 except by their ..caps which were like thofe 

 of grenadiers. 



The Chinefc bought arms of the Europeans, 

 efpecially old muikets and guns, at a very 

 moderate price, and they fold their air guns 

 of yellow brafs. 



According to Du Halde's account, the 

 Chinefe knew nothing of the management of 

 cannons before the year 1621, when they 

 got three cannons from the Portugueze at Macao. 

 In the year 1636, when the roman catholics 

 were feverely perfecuted, and the Tartars 

 made inroads into China, the government had 

 rtotice that the jefuits could moot with guns; 

 father Adam-fchall was defired to affid them; 

 U 3 however, 



