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Traujlation of an Extrafl from the Concujn, or Chinefe Annals, 

 rejpe&'ing the hiventicn of the Game of Chefs ^ delivered to me by 

 Tinqua, a Soldier Mandarin of the Province of Fokien, 



T H RE E hundred and feventy-nlne years after the time of 

 Confucius, or one thoufand nine hundred and fixty-five years 

 ago, Hung CoGbu, King of Kiangnan, fent an expedition into 

 the Shenfl country, under the command of a Mandarin, called 

 Hanfing, to conquer it. After one fuccefsful campaign, the 

 foldiers were put into winter quarters ; where, finding the 

 weather much colder than what they had been- accuftomed 

 to, and being alfo deprived of their wives and families, the 

 army, in general, became impatient of their fituation, and 

 clamorous to return home. Hanfing, upon this, revolved in 

 his mind the bad confequences of complying with their 

 wiflies. The necefilty of foothing his troops, and reconciling 

 them to their pofition, appeared urgent, in order to finifli his 

 operations in the enfuing year. He was a man of genius, 

 as well as a good foldier ; and having contemplated fome time 

 on the fubject, he invented the game of Chefs, as well for 

 an amufement to his men in their vacant hours, as to in- 

 flame their military ardour, the game being wholly founded 



on 



