C sU ) 
The Third Treats of the Towns, Buildings, and con- 
fiderable Works of China , where he tells us, that Pekin 
is fix meafured Leagues, about (3600 paces toeach)thac 
Houfe^ are there one Story high, Two MilLonsof In- 
habitants, being double to Paru ; they are troubled here 
with Daft in Summer and Dirt in Wmter ; the King's Pa- 
lace is large,theOb{ervatory "^tted withgreatlnftruments, 
made by Ferh'ieH, a Celeftial Globe of Brafs fix Foot 
Diameter, being reputed the beft, the Inftruments gene- 
rally are not exad ; five People are perjpetually Watch- 
ing, one in the Zenith, and another to the North, a 
third South, a fourth Eaft, and a Fiftli Weft, to obferve 
the Eclipfes, Rains, Winds, Comets, ^c. The Eclip- 
fes they think to be a Dragon devouring the Sun or 
Moon, ^c. China Wall has flood 1800 Years, and is 
yet intire. He defcribes a large Tower and great Bells 
to be in Mankin , one of them eleven Foot high, the 
Diameter feven Foot, fifty thoufand Weight, twice as 
large as that of Erfort, Founded three hundred Years 
fince feven at PekiHy eleven Foot Diameter, forty in 
Circuit, and twelve high, w^eighing One hundred and 
twenty thoufand weight : By the ftrokes on thefe, 
with a wooden Mallet, they know the feveral Wat- 
ches, or what a Clock 'cis. Chenjjis^ according to this 
Author, three Leagues about : Seven or eight Towns 
he faw bigger, or as big as ParJs, and vaft Numbers oj 
lefler, thick or near one another, which made the Chi- 
nefe believe themfelves the only People, having no Trade 
but with Japan and Tartajy ; from the firft of which 
they bring Copptr, Gold, and Silver, in Exchange for 
Silks, Sugar, Drugs and Wine. 
The Fourth Letter treats of the Climate, Earth, Ca- 
nals, Rivers and Fruits of China, wherein he tells us, 
the Chinefe endeavour to make their Ground level, as^ 
much as may be, to avoid the inconvenience of Drought 
or 
