694 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1702. 



distances, besides 4 great gates, on which are planted a few old iron guns, 

 seldom or never used: the houses within are very meanly built: here the chum- 

 peen or governor of the island lives, and between 3 or 4000 beggarly inhabi- 

 tants, most part soldiers and fishermen ; for the trade of this place being newly 

 granted, has not as yet brought any considerable merchants hither. The island 

 in general abounds with all sorts of provisions, such as cows, buffaloes, goats, 

 deer, hogs wild and tame, geese, ducks, and hens ; rice, wheat, calavances, 

 colevvorts, turnips, potatoes, carrots, beets, and spinach. But for merchandise 

 there is none but what comes from Ning-po, Hangcheu, Nankin, and the 

 inland towns, some of which I hope to see, when I have acquired a little of 

 the Chinese language. Here also the tea grows in great plenty on the tops of 

 the hills, but it is not in such esteem as that which grows on more mountain- 

 ous islands. 



Pou-to is a small island about 5 leagues in circuit, and about 3 miles distant 

 from the east end of this island, famous for the superstitious pilgrimages made 

 thither for 1 100 years : it is inhabited only by Bonzes, to the number of 3000, 

 all of the sect called Hoshang, or unmarried Bonzes, who live a Pythagorean 

 life ; they have built 400 pagodes, two of which are large and fine, being lately 

 covered with green and yellow tiles, brought from the Emperor's palace at Nan- 

 kin, and inwardly adorned with stately idols finely carved and gilded, the chief 

 whereof is the idol Quon-em. To these two great pagodes belong two chief 

 priests, who govern all the rest. They have several ways and avenues cut 

 through the island, some whereof are paved with flag stones, and overshaded 

 with trees planted on each side : their dwellings are the best I have yet seen in 

 these parts. All which are maintained by charitable devotions ; and the junks 

 which go from Ning-po and this place to Japan, touch there both going and 

 coming, to make their offerings for their good success. There is another island 

 called Kimtong, 5 leagues hence, in the way to Ning-po, whither a great many 

 Mandarins retire, to live a quiet life, after they have given over their employ- 

 ments ; on that island also are said to be silver mines, but prohibited to be 

 opened. The rest of the circumjacent islands are either desert or meanly in- 

 habited by a few fishing people, but all of them stored with abundance of deer: 

 for it is not long since this island of Chusan began to be peopled. 



They have no arts or manufactures here, except lackered ware, a particular 

 account of which I cannot as yet send you. They begin to plant mulberry- 

 trees, to breed up worms for the production of raw silk ; and make some tea, 

 but chiefly for their own use. The 3 sorts of tea commonly carried to England, 

 are all from the same plant, only the season of the year and the soil make the 

 difference. The bohe is the very first bud gathered, in the beginning of March, 



