N I E U H O F F's E M B A S S Y. 141 



furveys have made it only eighteen, but it certainly had been of 

 far greater extent; much is now a wafte,and retains all the marks 

 of the "lartarian furv, but enough is inhabited to make it a moft 

 populous andflourifliing city. Of the parts which efcaped the rage 

 of the 'Tartarian ravages, is the Porcelain tower, a pagoda of nine Porcelaim 

 ftages, of moft exquifite workmanfhip, and lined with beautiful 

 tiles of i^orcelain, from which it derives its name. It is far the 

 moft beiunful in China. Mr. NieuLoff gwcs a fine view of this 

 curious ftrudture, as he does of one of the modern ftreets, the 

 Hgns, and manner of building ; the walls of the city, fomeof the 

 gates, and idol temples, evince its former grandeur ; it is befides 

 the feat of the literati, and confequently abounds with fine li- 

 braries, and is eminent for its bookfcllers fhops, paper, ink, and 

 all that can feed the Cacoethes fcribendi. It is not without other 

 manufactures ; its fattins are in high requeft, as are the woollen 

 cloths fabricated here. 



Nanquin is garrifoned partly by Cbinefe, partly by Tartars ; 

 the laft commanded by one of their country ; they poflefs one 

 part of the city, and are feparated from the other inhabitants by 

 a fingle wall. 



About the year 1660, the famous Cor/air Coxingaczmt up the 

 river with three thoufand fail of Uiip.^, and laidfiege to the place. 

 It happened that on his birth day, his army paft the day with 

 caroufals, and all forts of feftivity. The garnibn, guefling that 

 they ihould find the enemy buried in flcep, fallied out, furprifed 

 the camp, Hew multitudes, and forced the rell to find fecurity in 

 their fhips. Coxinga afterwards fought and defeated the Tar- 

 tarian fleet, and by his cruelty in cutting off the nofes of four 

 thoufand prifoners, fullied his vidory. 



The 



