REPORTS OF CHINA ad 



c. 1565. 

 made of many barges, overlinked al together with two 

 mightie cheines. There stayed we untill it was late, but 

 we saw not one go either up thereon or downe, except 

 two Louteas that about the going downe of the Sunne, 

 came and set them downe there, the one on one side, the 

 other on the other side. Then was the bridge opened in 

 many places, and barges both great and small to the 

 number of sixe hundred began to passe : those that went 

 up the streame at one place, such as came downe at an 

 other. When all had thus shot the bridge, then was it 

 shut up againe. We heare say that every day they take 

 this order in all principall places of marchandize, for pay- 

 ing of the Custome unto the king, specially for salt, 

 whereof the greatest revenues are made that the king The Kings 

 hath in this Countrey. The passages of the bridge revenuei - 

 where it is opened, be so neere the shoare, that nothing 

 can passe without touching the same. To stay the barges 

 at their pleasure, that they goe no further forward, are 

 used certaine iron instruments. The bridge consisteth 

 of 112. barges, there stayed we untill the evening that 

 they were opened, lothsomely oppressed by the multitude 

 of people that came to see us, so many in number, that 

 we were enforced to go aside from the banke untill such 

 time as the bridge was opened : howbeit we were never- 

 thelesse thronged about with many boates full of people. 

 And though in other Cities and places where we went, 

 the people came so importunate upon us, that it was 

 needfull to withdraw our selves : yet were we here much 

 more molested for the number of people : & this bridge 

 is the principall way out of the Citie unto another place 

 so wel inhabited, that were it walled about, it might 

 be compared to the Citie. When we had shot the 

 bridge, we kept along the Citie until it was night, and 

 then met we with an other river that joyned with this, 

 we rowed up that by the walls untill we came to another 

 bridge gallantly made of barges, but lesser a great deale 

 then that other bridge over the greater streame : here 

 stayed we that night, and other two dayes with more 



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