I go MifcelUnea Qurioja. Vol. IIL 



carried us very flowly to Kirin^ the Rains 

 not at all ceafing during our Journy. 



In the Evening when the Emperor was en- 

 tertained upon all thefe Adventures, he faid 

 Laughing, the Fijh have cheated m at lengthy 

 after we had ftayed two Days at Kirin^ the 

 Rains began todiminilh, and we re-took our 

 Way towards Leao-tum. I cannot here ex- 

 prefs the Pains and Fatigues thefe had caufed 

 us to undergo, during the whole Courfe of 

 this Journy, by Reafon of the Ways which 

 the Rains had Spoiled, and rendred almoft 

 impaHable : we went without ftaying over the 

 Mountains and over the Vallies, and we could 

 notpafs but with extream Danger, the Brooks 

 and Rivers which were fwelled by the Floods 

 and Inundations which ran from all Parts: the 

 Bridges were either overturned by the Vio- 

 lence of the Currents, or all covered by the 

 great overflowing of the Waters. There were 

 made in divers Places great Ck)lleaions of 

 Water, and of Mud, that it was almoft im- 

 poffible to be drawn out of it^ The Horfes, 

 Cammels, and other Beaftsof Burthen, which 

 carried the Baggage could not advance, but 

 remained flicking in the Mud of the Marflies, 

 or died of tireing upon the Ways. The Men 

 were not at all lels incommoded, and all were 

 enfeebled for want of Viftuals, and of Re- 

 frelhments neceffary for fo great- a Journy: 

 Many of the Horfemen were obliged, (^ithet^ 

 to lead their Horfes on Foot, who weitf no^ 

 longer able to carry them, or to reft in the 

 middle of the Fields to fuffcr them to take 

 Breath : And though the Quiarter-mafters ^nd 

 the Harbingers, fpared not their Pains, nor 



for 



