*94 OSBECK'S VOYAGE. 



however, he excufed himfelf with his unexpe- 

 rience in thofe matters. But Ferdinand Ver T 

 biejl, a French jefuit, and prefident of the 

 mathematical tribunal, very fuccefsfully fired 

 j 30 cannon fhor, for which the emperor al- 

 lowed the free exercife of his religion. 



Husbandry, efpecially agriculture and 

 gardening, are in a mo ft flourifhing ftate j but 

 as the Cbinefe fow and plant fuch herbs and 

 trees as we can fcarcely maintain in our bot- 

 houfes, our pbfervatlons mud be lefs advan- 

 tageous than if they made ufe of the fame 

 plants for their food as we do. Their em- 

 perors have always fhewn great regard for agri- 

 culture and planting, and even put their own 

 hands to work. Du Halde relates that the 

 emperor Tao (who, according to the accounts 

 of the Chinefe, lived about 4000 years ago) 

 once afked his courtiers whom he fhould ap- 

 point his fuccefibr ? upon which they pro- 

 pofed his eldeit ion : but the emperor know- 

 ing that his fon's difpofition would prevent him 

 from being a good prince, offered this dignity 

 to one of his mod faithful minifters, who ex- 

 cufed himfelf, and propofed a young country 

 fellow, who in his opinion was mofi able, on 

 account of his fidelity anc] prudence ; for as 



he 



