( ) 
nificadon of its Name $ tho’ among other Roots there 
may now and then be found fome which by accident 
have very odd Figures. The Tartars with more rea- 
fon call it Orhota , which fignifks the Chief of Plants, 
It is not true that this Plant grows in China, as Fa- 
ther Martini affirms from the Authority of fome Chinefc 
Books, which make it to grow on the Mountains of 
Tong-pinfou in the Province of Peking. They might ea- 
fily be led into this miftake, becaufe that is the Place 
where it firft arrives when it is brought from Tartary 
into China. 
Thofe that gather this Plant preferve only the Roof, 
and bury together in fome certain place in the Earth 
all that they can get of it in ten or fifteen Days time. 
They take care to wafti it well, and cleanfe it with a 
Brufh from all extraneous Matter. Then they dip it 
into fealding Water, and prepare it in the fume of a fort 
of yellow Millet, which communicates to it part of its 
Colour. The Millet is put into a Veffel with a little 
Water, and boyles over a gentle Fire ; the Roots are 
laid upon fmall tranfverfe pieces of Wood over the 
Veflel, and are thus prepared, being covered with a 
Linnen cloath or fome other Veflel placed over them. 
They may alfo be dryed in the Sun, or by the Fire $ 
but then, tho’ they retain their Virtue well enough, 
yet they have not that yellow Colour which the Chi - 
nefe fo much admire When the Roots are dryed, 
they mud: be kept clofe in fome very dry Place $ 
otherwife they are in danger of' corrupting, or being 
eaten by Worms. 
I with the Defcription I have here given of the Gin- 
feng, fo highly efteem’d in this Empire, may pleafib 
you, and thofe to whom you {halt impart it. We 
are now going into Tartar y\ to finifh the Map of 
that Country, having ftill the Weft and Norih Wefi 
Part of it to do. I will fend you as fcon as pof- 
fible 
