A TREATISE OF CHINA ad. 



1590. 



of the societie, which even now at this present are con- 

 versant in China. First of all therefore it is not un- The situation 

 knowen, that of all parts of the maine continent this *£t^ m "^ 

 kingdom of China is situate most Easterly : albeit 

 certaine Hands, as our native Japon, & the He of Manilia 

 stand more Easterly then China it selfe. As touching 

 the limites & bounds of this kingdom, we may appoint 

 the first towards ye West to be a certaine He commonly 

 called Hainan, which standeth in 19 degrees of Northerly 

 latitude. For the continent next adjoining unto this 

 He trendeth towardes the East, and that especially, where 

 the promontorie of the citie called Nimpo or Liampo 

 doeth extend it selfe. Howbeit, from that place declining 

 Northward, it stretcheth foorth an huge length, insomuch 

 that the farthest Chinian inhabitants that way doe be- 

 hold the North pole elevated, at least 50 degrees, and 

 perhaps more also : whereupon a man may easilie con- 

 jecture (that I may speake like an Astronomer) how large 

 the latitude of this kingdom is, when as it containeth 

 about more then 540 leagues in direct extension towards 

 the North. But as concerning the longitude which is 

 accounted from East to West, it is not so exactly found 

 out, that it may be distinguished into degrees. Howbeit 

 certaine it is, that according to the Map wherein the 

 people of China describe the forme of their kingdom, Chinian Cos- 

 the latitude thereof doeth not much exceed ye longitude. m W a P hers - 

 This kingdom therfore is, without all peradventure, of 

 all earthly kingdoms the most large and spacious : for 

 albeit divers other kings under their jurisdiction con- 

 taining in dimensions more length & breadth then all 

 China, do possesse very many kingdoms & far distant 

 asunder : yet none of them all enjoieth any one kingdom 

 so large and so ample, as the most puissant king of 

 China doeth. Now, if we shall make enquirie into his Tke rick 

 revenues and tributes, true it is, that this king of all re ^ en ^ es °f 

 others, is endued with the greatest and the richest, both chint^ 

 in regard of the fertilitie & greatnes of his dominions, 

 & also by reason of the severe collection and exaction 



349 



