,78 C H I x\ A. 



Avails, of no better materials than of mud ; but bis palace 

 called Wangan, was of great magnificence. Rubriquis* gives 

 a full account of it to his marter. He informs us that Wil- 

 liam the Goldfmiih v/as employed in the ornamental work. The 

 Silver Tree, famous filver tree in one of the courts was in a fine tafte. At 

 the foot of the tree were four lions, the fame number of gilt 

 ferpents twined round the flem, and their heads appeared out of 

 the branches pointing different ways, fpouting- various liquors, 

 one of wine, another of Caracofmos, or the liquor of mares 

 milk ; the third made of honey ; the fourth of rice ; and each 

 fell into a great filver ciltern placed beneath. On the fummit 

 of the tree was an angel with a trumpet, which founded by the 

 help of a pipe blown by a man artificially concealed. All this 

 fliewed tafle in the Khan., as well as beauty of defign in the 

 artift. This city, placed in the middle of the defert, on a falient 

 chain of mountains, might well aflonifli the traveller with its 

 population, and the fplendor of its palaces. Thefe parts of 'far- 

 tary were about that period full of opulent cities, but little more 

 than the fite of them, or of Karakarin itfelf, was difcoverable by 

 the Jefuits who were employed by the emperor in the vaft work 

 of the furvey of his Tartarian dominions. The labors of the 

 Fathers Regis^ Fidelli, and many others, are comprifed in twelve 

 map?, in the fecond volume of Du Halde. In the third fheet is- 

 fhevvn the fituation of this once famous city ; and in fome of the' 

 others, the whole of the defert which lies in the Chinsfe terri- 

 tories. The chains of communication are expreffed; and the 

 roads, which the more hardy travellers ventured over, amidft 

 the tracklefs finds. 



- • P. i©6 and 95. 



The- 



