482 PHILOSOPHICAL. THANSACTIOKS. ' [anNO iGsSi 



the people from approaching him, as they used to do at Pekin. In this city 

 they make barks of a very particular construction : the inhabitants keep always 

 a great number of them ready fitted to repulse the Muscovites, who come often 

 into this river, to dispute the fishing of pearls. The emperor reposed himself 

 two days, after which he descended on the river, accompanied with more than 

 100 boats, till he arrived at the city of Ula, the fairest in all this country, and 

 which formerly was the seat of the empire of the Tartars. A little below this 

 city, which is at most about 32 miles from Kirin, the river abounds with a cer- 

 tain fish, nearly resembling the plaice of Europe : and it was chiefly for taking 

 the divertisement of fishing, that the emperor went to Ula ; but the rains com- 

 ing on so suddenly, swelled the river so much, that all their nets were broken 

 and carried away. 



In our return to Pekin, we suffered infinite fatigues, the roads having been 

 spoiled by the rains, and rendered almost impassable, meeting in many places 

 large collections of mud and water ; the bridges were either overturned by the 

 violence of the currents, or covered all over by the overflowing of the waters. 



In this manner, after infinite fatigue and dangers, I arrived at Pekin in perfect 

 health the Qth day of June very late ; though many others were detained in the 

 way by distempers, or were returned much hurt and lamed. 



I shall just add, that I understood from the inhabitants of Ula, that Nin- 

 crita, a place much renowned in those parts, is distant from Ula 700 Chinese 

 stadia, each of which is 36o geometrical paces ; and that embarking at Nin- 

 crita on the great river Helum, into which the Songoro and some other more 

 considerable rivers are discharged, and following the course of the river, which 

 runs towards the north-east, or somewhat more to the north ; they arrive in 40 

 days at the Eastern Sea, which is probably the Straits of Anien. 



A Journey of the Emperor of China, into the Western Tartary, in the Year l683. 

 By Father Ferbiest, Missionary to Pekin. N" 180, p. 52. 

 The emperor this year made a journey into the Western Tartary, with the 

 queen his grandmother, called the queen mother. He set out the l6th of 

 July, with more than 6o,000 men, and 100,000 horses. He positively re- 

 solved, that I, with one of the two fathers that were at the court of Pekin, the 

 choice of which he left to me, should follow him. I chose father Philip Gri- 

 maldi ; because he is the most known, and because he perfectly understood the 

 mathematics. Several reasons prevailed with the emperor to undertake this 

 journey. The first was, to keep his militia, both in peace and war, in continual 

 exercise; and for this reason it was, that after he had established a firm peace 

 in all parts of this vast empire, he recalled his best troops from every province, 



