REPORTS OF CHINA A . D . 



c. 1565. 

 monethes in poste at your urgent businesse. The post- 

 horses in this Countrey are litle of body, but swift of 

 foote. Many doe traveile the greater part of this journey 

 by water in certaine light barkes, for the multitude of 

 Rivers commodious for passage from one Citie to 

 another. 



The King, notwithstanding the hugenesse of his king- Their moneths. 

 dome, hath such a care thereof, that every Moone (for 

 by the Moones they reckon their monethes) he is adver- 

 tised fully of whatsoever thing happeneth therein, by 

 these meanes following. 



The whole province being divided into shires, and ech 

 shire having in it one chiefe and principall Citie, where- 

 unto the matters of all the other Cities, Townes and 

 boroughes, are brought, there are drawen in every chiefe 

 Citie aforesaid intelligences of such things as doe monethly 

 fall out, and be sent in writing to the Court. If happely 

 in one moneth every Post be not able to goe so long a 

 way, yet doeth there notwithstanding once every moneth 

 arrive one Poste out of the shire. Who so commeth 

 before the new moone stayeth for the delivery of his 

 letters until the moone be changed. Then likewise are 

 dispatched other Posts backe into all the 13. shires 

 againe. 



Before that we doe come to Cinceo wee have to passe 

 through many places, and some of great importance. For 

 this Countrey is so well inhabited neere the Sea side, that 

 you cannot goe one mile but you shal see some Towne, 

 borough or hostry, the which are so aboundantly provided 

 of all things, that in the Cities and townes they live 

 civily. Neverthelesse such as dwel abrode are very poore, 

 for the multitude of them every where is so great, that 

 out of a tree you shall see many times swarme a number 

 of children, where a man would not have thought to 

 have found any one at all. 



From these places in number infinite, you shall come 

 unto two Cities very populous, and, being compared with 

 Cinceo, not possibly to be discerned which is the greater 



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