284 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, [anNO 1686. 



with an almost infinity of people, and keep it as it were continually beleagured 

 on the north and west sides ; and it was to make a bulwark against their incur- 

 sions that a Chinese emperor in ancient times caused this great wall to be built, 

 which separates China from their country. I have passed it 4 times, and have 

 considered it very attentively ; and I can say, without exaggeration, that all the 

 eeven wonders of the world put together are not comparable to this work, and 

 all that fame has spread concerning it is far short of the truth. But the monarch 

 which in our days has re-united the Chinese and the Tartars under one and the 

 same government, has done some things which are more for the security of 

 China than the Chinese emperor that built the long wall. For after having 

 reduced the Western Tartars, partly by artifice, partly by force of arms, he has 

 obliged them to remove to 300 miles distance from the wall of China, where 

 he distributes to them lands and pastures, whilst he has given their country to 

 other Tartars, his subjects ; notwithstanding which, these Western Tartars are 

 so powerful, that if they should agree together, they might make themselves 

 masters of all China and of the Eastern Tartary. 



One of the first cares of this emperor was to engage to his interest, by his 

 royal bounties, and by demonstrations of a singular affection, the lamas or 

 priests ; for these men being in great repute among their own nation, easily 

 persuaded them to submit to the government of so great a prince ; and it is in 

 consideration of this service, that the present emperor looks upon these lamas 

 with a favourable eye, that he bestows presents on them, and that he makes use 

 of them to keep the Tartars in their obedience. 



He has divided this vast country into 48 provinces, which have submitted and 

 are tributary to him. From whence it is that the present emperor may justly 

 be called the greatest and most powerful monarch of Asia. For after he had 

 charged himself with the government, he did not at all intrust the care to any of 

 the Colaos, or any of the great men of his court. He chastises with wonderful 

 equity both high and low ; he deprives them of their charges, and degrades 

 them from the rank they held, proportioning always the punishment to the 

 heinousness of the fault. He takes cognizance of the aflfairs transacted in the 

 royal council, and the other tribunals, even to the causing them to render to 

 him an exact account of the judgments there given. In short, he disposes and 

 orders all things of himself, and it is on account of the absolute authority he 

 has thus acquired, that the greatest lords of the court, and persons of the 

 highest quality in the empire, even the princes of the blood, never appear in 

 liis presence but with the profoundest respect. 



The 3d reason which the emperor had for making this journey, was for his 

 health ; for he knew by experience, that when he is too long at Pekin without 



