174 



CHINA. 



from the countries beyond the kingdom of Pontus, and by the 

 name, probably from the Rba. He defcribes its ufes, but none 

 of them are fimilar to that of the rhubarb ; I cannot therefore 

 venture to fay that it is the fame plant. 



In Ckineje Tartary the Bobak Marmots, (Hift. Quad. ii. N° 324) 

 arc fiid to be the propagators of Rhubarb. Wherever ten or 

 twenty plants grow you are fure of finding feveral burrows under 

 theiliades of their broad fpreading leaves. It is probable the ma- 

 nure they depofit about the roots contributes not a little to its in- 

 creafe; and their cafting up the earth makes it flioot out young 

 buds and multiply. It appears that the Monga//s never accounted it 

 worth cultivating ; but that the world is obliged to the Marmots 

 for the quantities fcattered, at random, in many diflrifts of this 

 country. For w^hatever part of the ripe feed happens to be 

 blown among the thick grafs, can very feldom reach the ground 

 but mufl there wither and die; whereas, fliould it fall among 

 the loofe earth thrown up by thofe animals, it immediately takes 

 root, and produces a new plant. 



The Cbinefe call rhubarb Tay-wbang\ they ufe it nearly in the 

 fame manner as is done in Europe ; efteem its virtues much as we 

 do, except that which comes from Canton : the greateft part of 

 the Tartarian, or moft valuable, is engroffed by the Rujfians, who 

 purchale it at their town of Kiacbta (a little fouth of lake Bai- 

 kal) from Bucbarian merchants, and fend it to Peterjbiirgb. 

 This is called the Turkey Rbubarb, becaufe formerly it was brought 

 from Corijiantinofle^ the merchants there receiving it from the 

 Bucbarians, v ho now find a readier market near home. The 

 Cbinefe prohibit the exportation of the bell rhubarb under 



fevere 



