CHINA. 101 



and appeared to give his account with candour, though not always^ 

 perhaps, witn sufficient care and accuracy, the total of the army in 

 the pay of Cnina, including Tartars, amounted to one million infan- 

 try, and eight hundred thousand cavalry. From the observation made 

 by the embassy, in the course of their travels, through the empirej 

 of the garrisons in the cities of the several orders, and of the military 

 posts at small distances from each other, there appeared nothing 

 improbable in the calculation of the infantry ; but they met few ca- 

 valry. If the number mentioned really do exist, a great proportion 

 of them must be in Tartary, or on some service distant from the 

 route of the embassy. As to the marine force, it is composed chiefly 

 of the junks we have already mentioned; and other small ships that 

 trade coast-ways, or to the neighbouring countries, or to prevent 

 sudden descents. 



A treatise on the military art, translated from the Chinese into the 

 French language, was published at Paris in 1772, from which it ap- 

 pears that the Chinese are well versed in the theory of the art of 

 war : but caution, and care, and circumspection, are much recom- 

 mended to their generals ; and one of their maxims is, never to fight 

 with enemies either more numerous or better armed than themselves. 



Royal title. ...The emperor is styled " Holy Son of Heaven, Sole 

 Governor of the Earth, Great Father of his People." 



Religion.. ..There is in China no state religion. None is paid, pre- 

 ferred, or encouraged, by it. The Chinese have no Sunday, nor even 

 such a division as a week ; the temples are, however, open every day 

 Lur the visits of devotees. Persons of that description have, from time 

 to time made grants, though to no great amount, for the maintenance 

 of their clergy ; but no lands are subject to ecclesiastical tithes. The 

 emperor is of one faith ; many of the mandarins of another ; and the 

 majority of the common people of a third, which is that of Fo. No 

 people are, in fact, more superstitious than the common Chinese.. 

 Besides the habitual offices of devotion on the part of the priests and 

 females, the temples are particularly frequented by the disciples of 

 Fo, previously to any undertaking of importance; whether to marry,, 

 or go a journey, or conclude a bargain, or change situation, or any 

 other material eventun life, it is necessary first to consult the super» 

 intendant deity. This is performed by various methods. Some place 

 a parcel of consecrated sticks, differently marked and numbered, 

 which the consultant, kneeling before the altar, shakes in a hollow 

 bamboo, until one of them fajls on the ground ; its mark is examined, 

 and referred to a correspondent mark in a book which the priest holds 

 open, and sometimes even it is written upon apiece of paper pasted 

 upon the inside of the temple. Polygonal pieces of wood are by others 

 thrown into the air. Each side has its particular mark : the side that 

 is uppermost, when fallen on the floor, is in like manner referred to 

 its correspondent mark in the book or sheet of fate. If the first throw 

 be favourable, the person who made it prostrates himself in gratitude; 

 and undertakes afterwards, with confidence, the business in agitation. 

 But if the throw should be adverse, he tries a second time ; and the 

 third throw determines, at any rate, the question. In other respects, 

 the people of the present time seem to pay little attention to their 

 priests. The temples are, however, always open for such as choose 

 to consult the decrees of heaven. They return thanks when the ora- 

 cle proves propitious to their wishes. Yet they often cast lots to 

 know the issue of a projected enterprise, then supplicate for its be- - 



