[47] 
froin Kjrin^ the River is very full of a certain fifli which 
refemble near enough the Plaice of Europe : and 'twas prin- 
cipally for the taking the Divertifement of Fifhing, that ths 
Emperor went to 'i la \ but the Pvalns coming on !b &ddain- 
iy, fwelled the River fo much, that all their Nets were bro- 
ken and carried away, by the great Flood of thofe land Wa- 
ters; The Emperor notwithftanding itayed 5 or 6 dayesat 
Xl(i\ but feeing the Rains were not ai all difcoiitmued, he 
was obliged to come back to Kjrin^ without liaving in joy- 
ed the Pieafiire of Fiiliing: as we alcended the River, the 
Bark wherein 1 was with the Emperors Father in Law, was 
lb indammaged by the agitation of the Waves, tliat we 
were conftrained to go a Shore, and mount a Charriot drawn 
by one Oxe, which carryed us very flowly to JQrmy the 
Rains not at all ceafing during our Journy. 
In the Evening when the Emperor was entertained upon 
all thefe Adventures, he faid Laughing , the Fijh have 
cheated us ; at length, after we had ftayed two dayes at 
Ejriny the Rains began to DeminiOi, and we re»t3ok 
our way towards Leao-tum. I cannot here exprefi the 
paines and Fatigues thefe had caufed us to undergo^ dure- 
ing the whole courfe of this Journy, by reafon of the ways 
which the Rains had fpoiied, and rendered almoft Impoffi» 
ble : we went without flaying over the Mountains and o- 
ver the Values, and we could not pals but with extream 
Danger, the Brooks and Rivers which were fwelled by the 
Floods and Inundations which ran from all parts : the Bridg- 
es were either overturned by the Violence of the Cur rents, 
cr all covered by the great overflowing of the Waters. There 
w ere made in divers Places great Cohesions of Water, and 
of Mudd, thatit was almoft impoffible to De drawn out of 
it. The Horfes, Cammels, and other iieafts of Burthen^ 
which carried the Baggage could not advance, but remain- 
ed flicking in the Mudd of the Marflies, or Dyed of tiremg 
upon the Ways. The Men were not at all lefs incommod- 
ed, and all were enfeebJed for want of Vidluals, and ofRe- 
G frefh^ 
