[4o] , 
pal Kings alfo which compofe this Empire, were ac- 
companying with all the Grandees of the Court : And the 
moft confiderable IS/iandarims of all the Orders, who having 
all a very great Train of Attendants , and very numerous 
Equipage, made a Court about the Emperour of more then 
70000 Perfbns. 
It was his Will that I ihould atcompany him in this Jour- 
ney, and that I fliould be always near him, to the end I 
might make in his Preftnce, the Obiervations, necelTary for 
fcnowing the difpofition of the Heavens, the elevation of 
the Pole, the magnetieal Declinations of every Place , and 
for meafuring with Mathematical Inftruments, the height 
of the Mountains, and the diftanees of Places : He was well 
-pleaftd alfo to be informed of what concerned Meteors, and 
riiany other Phyfical and Mathematical Matters. 
In fo mijch,that he gave Order to an Officer to carry up- 
on Horfes fuch Inftruments as I fhould have occafion to 
make ufe of,and recommended me to the Prince his Unckle, 
who is alfo his Father in Law, and the fecond Perfon of the 
_ State, heiscalled by a Chmfe Name , which fignifies an 
Affociate of the Empire : He gave Charge to him 
to canfe all .things to be provided for me which were ne- 
ceflary for this Journey, which this Prince performed with 
a very particular goodnefs, caufing mo^ to lodge always in 
his own Tent, and to e;at at his Table, ' 
The Emperour ordered that they fliould give me Horfos 
of his own Stables, to the end I might the more eafily change 
in riding, and fome of thofe were of them he himfelfhad 
rid, which is a mark of very extroardinary diftinftion. In 
this Journey we always went toward the*North-eaft : From 
Vekin to the Province of L^^g?-^/^!^^, the way being about 
300 miles is pretty equal : In the Province it ^di of Leao- 
^'ttM^ it is about 400 miles, but much more unequal byrea- 
fon of the Mountains ; from the Frontier of this Province to 
-the City of cZ«, or the River which the TJ^ftars call Songoro^ 
and the Chinoife Sf^mhoa^ the way { which about 400 
miles 
