G I N G - S E N G. 163 



territory has alfo its guard, but no better than a precincSl of 

 palifadoes with a few mean gates. The capital Mitgden, which 

 the Mane hews look on as their metropolis, has a Tartarian 

 commander in chief, and is inhabited by multitudes of Chi- 

 nefe, who carry on the trade of Tartary. Juft without the 

 gates are the magnificent tombs of their antient princes. Pa- 

 per, made of cotton, is a great manufadlure of this country, 

 its principal ufe is for the falli windows of the palaces and 

 houfes of men of rank in Peking ; thofe of glafs have not 

 reached even the cold latitude of fo fplendid a people. Ging- Ging-seng. 

 fengy the celebrated medicinal plant of the Chinefe, is found in 

 this country, and many parts of Chinefe 'Tartary^ of Korea, and 

 even in the provinces of Shan-fi and Ho-nan, in China itfclf ; 

 but the latter is of an inferior kind. It grows on the fteeps of 

 wooded mountains, or rocks, and on the banks of deep rivers. 

 The root which is applied to ufe is faid to be of the fliape of a 

 man. There is not a phyfician of eminence but who has cele- 

 brated its virtues ; and exa(Stly in the ftyle of our empyrics. 

 *' It fortifies," fays Shi-Chin^ " the noble parts, keeps the body 

 *' in good plight, fixes the animal fpirits, cures the palpitations 

 " occafioned by fudden frights, difpels malignant vapours, clears 

 " the fight, opens and dilates the heart, and ftrengthens the 

 " judgment. When it is taken a confiderable time together, ir 

 " makes the body light and adtive, and prolongs life." In a few 

 words, there is not a difeafe incident to the human body but 

 what it infallibly cures. The Manchews fl:yle it Orbota, the moji 

 noble, or queen of plants ', others the golden well bordered with 

 pretioiis /tones. There are extant nine antient receipts and fixty- 



Y 2 nine 



