PROVINCE OF TCHE-TCHIANG. 157 



bit the appearance of two, and even three tails. Mr. Edwards', 



tab. 209, and Blocb. iii. tab. 92. give figures of the varieties. 



They have been introduced into all parts of Europe, and will 



not only live but multiply prodigioufly in our little ilews. 



Du Halde gives the following account of the treatment of 



them in Cbjna : " The next thing remarkable (fays the accurate 

 hiftorian) is the Kin-yu or golden filh ; thefe are kept, either in 

 little ponds, made for that purpofe, wherewith the houfes of 

 pleafure belonging to the princes and great lords are embel- 

 liflied, or elfe in bafins, that commonly adorn the courts of 

 their houfes ; in thefe bafins, which are more deep than wide, 

 they put the leaft that can be found ; for the fmaller they are, 

 they think them the more beautiful ; befides, the greater 

 number may be kept of them, and they afford more di- 

 verfion. 



" The prettiefi: of them are of a curious red, fpeckled as it 

 were with gold duft, efpecially towards the tail, which is forked 

 with two or three points ; fome are of a filver color, others 

 white, and fome fpotted with red ; both forts are extraordinary 

 lively and active, delighting to play on the furfaee of the water; 

 but then their fmallnefs renders them fo tender, that the leaft 

 impreffion of air, and even any violent fliakingof the veffel, 

 will kill great numbers of them. Thofe that are bred in 

 ponds are of various fizes ; fome are bigger than our largeft 

 pilchards ; they teach them to rife up to the top of the water 

 at the noife of a clapper, which the perfon ufes who feeds 

 them. What is moft furprifing is, that according to all. 

 accounts, the belt way to preferve them is to give them 



" nothing 



