A TREATISE OF CHINA a.d. 



1590. 



their chanels being overthwarted and fortified with 

 wonderfull bridges and other defences. Yet is it not 

 unlikely 3 that the sayd wall is built in such sort, that 

 onely lowe and easie passages bee therewith stopped and 

 environed ; but the mountaines running betweene those 

 lowe passages are, by their owne naturall strength, and 

 inaccessible heigth, a sufficient fortification agaynst the 

 enemie. 



Linus. Tell us (Michael) whether the kingdome of 

 China be so frequented with inhabitants, as wee have 

 often bene informed, or no ? 



Michael. It is (Linus) in very deed a most populous Abundance 

 kingdom, as I have bene certified from the fathers of °f tnh * httanU 

 the societie : who having seene sundry provinces of %i 

 Europe renoumed for the multitude of their inhabitants, 

 doe notwithstanding greatly admire the infinite swarmes 

 of people in China. Howbeit these multitudes are not 

 pel-mel and confusively dispersed over the land, but 

 most conveniently and orderly distributed in their townes 

 and famous cities : of which assemblies there are divers 

 kindes among the Chinians. For they have certaine 

 principal cities called by the name of Fu : other inferior Cities and 

 cities called Cheu : and of a third kind also named townes - 

 Hien, which be indeed walled townes, but are not 

 privileged with the dignities and prerogatives of cities. 

 To these may be added two other kindes of lesser 

 townes, which are partly villages, and partly garrisons of 

 souldiers. Of the first and principall kind is that most 

 noble citie standing neere unto the port of Macao, called 

 by the Chinians Coanchefu, but by the Portugals com- 

 monly termed Cantam, which is rather the common name 

 of the province, then a word of their proper imposition. 

 Unto the third kind appertaineth a towne, which is yet 

 nigher unto the port of Macao, called by the Portugals 

 Ansam, but by the Chinians Hiansanhien. Al the fore- 

 sayd provinces therefore have their greater cities named 

 Fu, & their lesser cities called Cheu, unto both of which 

 the other townes may be added. Moreover, in every pro- 



35 1 



