i4« 



Yanc-choo. 



Singular 

 Vessels. 



Trabr IK 



Women. 



CHINA. 



The paffage over the Kyang from Nanquin, was in the time 

 of Nicuhoffon a bridge compofed of fourteen pontoons. The 

 pretty town oijejenjeen is on the oppofite fide. He entered foon 

 after on the imperial canal, and pafled by Tang-chooy a great and 

 populous city, in Lat. 32° 25', flourifhing by its being the flaple of 

 the fait trade; that ufeful article, made on the fea-fliores, is 

 brought here by the leiTer canals, and by the fame means 

 tranfported to mod parts of the empire; for they extend in 

 many directions weftward, even to the borders of Tartary. The 

 canal is continued northward on the fide of the great lake Kao- 

 yeou-boo, the fame which Mr. Nieuboff calls Piexe. Here the 

 forms of the veflels are very fingular ; they are called Longfcbon 

 or ferpentine, and are ufed to carry fifli, quite to Peking. Thefe 

 are rcprefented in form of a ferpent ; from the prow iffues the 

 head, on which is placed an idol, with fome live ducks pendent ; 

 from the ftern is fufpended a boy, who is playing all forts of 

 monkey tricks. The mafts are decorated with numbers of flags, 

 and ferpents appear cut or painted in every part. It is manned 

 with rowers, who with their broad oars, not unlike paddles, go 

 with moft aftonifhing celerity. It is incredible with what expe- 

 dition fifii are conveyed frefli to Peking, even from diftances of 

 jjx hundred miles. 



The city of Tang-cboo is infamous for its traffic in women. 

 It produces the moft beautiful in all Cbina, particularly for the 

 admirable fmallnefs of their feet, and the fymmetry of their 

 bodies. They arc trained from their childhood in every accom- 

 pUlhment, finging, dancing, painting, and compofing of verfes, 

 but above all, in the practice of every lafcivious attrajSfion. Thefe 



unfortunate 



