CHINA. 1751. 349 



like cryftals, but opaque, and of the colour 

 of coarfe writing paper. The higheft hills 

 feldom produce any thing befides fome dry 

 gralTes and trees, and thefe but very fparing- 

 ly. This is the reafon why they are ufed 

 for burying-places, or they let cattle graze 

 upon them ; but, thefe excepted, it is very- 

 difficult to find a place which is not ufed for 

 gardens, plantations, or ploughed land. Cat- 

 tle are kept here, but in fmall numbers ; but 

 what dung is loft by this means, is fupplied by 

 another kind of manure before mentioned ; and 

 befides that, by bones, afhes, hair, men's 

 beards, and many other things, which wc 

 make no ufe of. The Chinefe never fail care- 

 fully to gather the bones (which are elfe 

 thrown into the river) from the European 

 fhips. I have been told, that they burn them, 

 and extract a lye from the remainder, with 

 Which they warn their cotton fluffs, which are 

 always whiter in China than we can make 

 them ; and for this reafon we ought to try the 

 experiment. 



The Cotton plant (Gojfypiumherbaceuni) was 

 now in bloffom, and had fruit. It is annually 

 fown in the high grounds, and commonly in 



rows, 



