936 E. Ysbrants Ides’j Travels Book III. 
which, we obferved a very remarkable Alteration 01 the 
whole Country on the South-lide of the Hills. 
From the River Kailar to thefe Mountains, we tra- 
velled thro* fteep Rocks and high Hills, with which the 
Valleys, which we paflfed thro’, were encompaffed on both 
Sides. There are alfo a few fmall Thickets fcattered 
up and down, befides which the whole Way is void of 
all Trees or Wood j which fometimes gave us the 
Trouble of carrying theWood which we wanted for our 
Kitchen, from one Lodging-place to another. 
Thefe Valleys are wholly covered with fine Grafs, as 
the Mountains are ftocked with all Sorts of Herbs and 
Flowers j befides which, this Country plentifully abounds 
with large Harts, Roebucks and wild Sheep, which 
frequently appear in great Herds of many Hundreds 
together. Here are allb large Flocks of wild Geefe, 
Ducks, wild Turkies, and Partridges ; but none of 
the Rivers, which I pafled from the Argun to this Place, 
abound with Filb, excepting only Roach and Jacks. 
The Air is temperate, or rather cool. But on the 2d 
of September, quitting the Hills and travelling along 
the Side of the River Jalo, we were entertained with the 
Sight of very fine Oak and Lime-trees, as well as a great 
many Hazel Bufiies, which did not grow above an Ell 
above Ground, and yet bore vaft Quantities of Nuts. We 
proceeded two Days in fuch an agreeable Road, and on 
the 4th Inftant, to our mighty Satisfaftion, reached the 
firfl; 'Chi-nefe Guard, which was placed upon a high 
Mountain, that afforded them a very large View, and 
commanded the whole adjacent Plain. As foon as this 
Watch efpy any Perfons, they fummon them, and con- 
dudl them to their main Guard, under their Comman- 
ders on the Mergeen, as they alfo did by us. 
Without any farther Interruption, we proceeded on 
our Journey, and on the 5th Inftant got Sight of the 
firft "Targazinian Huts ; and the next Day we paffed 
by the laft of them. The T’argazinians are a feparate 
independent Hord or Clan, which are obliged to pay 
Tribute to the Emperor of China : They are governed 
by their own Chief, but obey thofe who are moft po- 
tent in tartary. They are an Infidel Heathen Nation, 
and are faid to worfhip the Devil ; They are of a 
middle Stature, and broad-faced like the Mongalians. 
Their Summer-drefs is Compofed of Blue China Callicoe 
and Tanned Leather ; but it being cold betwixt the 
Mountains here in the Winter, they wear Coats made 
of Sheep Ikins. Their Language is very little different 
from the Tunguzians ; and they live in Huts made of 
thin Bamboes or Reeds. They depend chiefly on the 
Tillage of Land for the Produdion of Barley, Oats, 
and Millet ; the Remainder of what they clo not 
confume ihem.felves, they tranfpOrt and fell amongft 
the Xixigarian Villages. Their Cattle are chiefly Horfes, 
Camels, Bulls, Cows and Sheep ; the laft of which are 
very fine and large,^ the Tail being a large Span thick, 
and two Spans long, all of which is fat, and they are 
fo very heavy, that they cannot go faft, much lefs run. 
Thefe People ride very commonly upon Oxen j and 
are very expert Archers i they make great Quantities of 
Bows, which are efteemed the very beft in all Tartary, 
and are therefore fold very dear. We paffed by thefe 
People on our Journey on the charming Banks of the 
River Jalo with the utmoft PJeafure ; but now turned 
our Eyes from thence downwards towards the South. 
I cannot help owning, that the Side of this River is 
perfedly a Paradife, as confifting of beautiful Pafture- 
Grounds, Silver Streams, and the pleafanteft Woods in 
the World j and the moft delicious Entertainment of the 
Eye is not a little improved by the Profpe<ft of the ri- 
fing Ground, and beautiful towring Hills, which offer 
themfelves to our View, at about a Mile and half Di- 
ftance on each Side, and are a perfed Warren or Park 
of Wild Game ; Great Numbers of Wild Swine, 
Harts, and vaft Herds of Tygers and Panthers har- 
bouring under thefe lhady Mountains. Here are Mul- 
mudes of Wild-Ducks ; a fmall Sort of Geefe called 
adorned with all Sorts of variegated Feathers, 
like thole in Azi/a ; and a particular Sort of extraor- 
dinary beautiful Partridges, the Feathers of which are 
of feveral Colours, their Tails about an Ell lont^ which 
prove very delicate, being in Tafte, as well as Size and 
Shape, like Pheafants : They harbour in plain Fields 
in the long Grafs, and in low Nut-bulhes ; and being 
fprung, in their Flight clap their Wings with a Noife 
as loud as a Stork. 
On the above-m.ention’d Day being obliged to leave 
this charming River, 1 turn’d off on the Left from it 
m the.South-Eaft, and fpent the 8th, 9th and loth 
Days in Travelling betwixt Mountains and Rocks on each 
Side, where we were afflided with the Want of Wood 
and "Watet, being obliged to content ourfelvers with 
what the Pits yielded of the latter, which was of a deeo 
brown Colour and almoft ftunk. But on the nth we 
got out of the Hills, and came to a Plain, but fo bar- 
ren a Field, that nothing at all grew upon it ; the beft 
was chat we had but one Day’s Journey to Xixigar, to 
pafs in this defert Field, fo that we held our Night En^ 
campment this Evening not above half a Mile from 
that Place. 
2. Having under the Protedion of Heaven reached 
the Borders of China, I immediately difpatched away a 
Meffenger Poft to the Adaganda or Mandaryn who had 
been fent from Pegu to receive me, and on the 12 th 
early in the Morning, I fee forwards, having ranged 
my Retinue in good Order ; and was quickly informed 
by the Return of my Meffenger, that the Mandaryn 
accompanied with eighty Men, would ride from the 
Town of Xixigar to meet me, and was already advan- 
ced on his Way. 
We approached each other but flowly, and met about 
a Quarter of a Mile ftiort of the Town, where I was 
very civilly welcomed by the Mandaryn •, and after mu- 
tual Compliments were paffed, we rode forwards toge- 
ther in Order, (making a very good Appearance) till we 
reached the Town, where a very good Houfe was pro- 
vided for me, and thofe of my Retinue were well 
lodged fuitable to their Charaders, as well as the 
Coffacks which I had with me, in the beft Houfes in the 
Town. 
This Province is fituated in a very variable, and withal 
unwholfome Climate. About Noon generally rifes a 
high ^Vind, that continues about two Hours 5 but 
otherwife the Sky is very feldom overcaft, fo that the 
Sun continues to fhine very hot almoft always, by 
Means of which and the conftant Wind the Earth is 
fo dried, and driven upwards, that the fubtile white 
Dull is fcarce fupportable. I was very particular in my 
Obfervation of the Alteration of the Air, when I came 
from betwixt the Hills. About five Miles from Xixigar, 
I perceived the Air to be cloudy as far as the Mountains 
extended, but no farther j and particularly, where the 
Hills ended, the Air was clearly and vifibly feparated 
by a windy Arch, from the Weft to the Eaft, towards 
the Albanian Mountains ; a very extraordinary Pheno- 
menon, which I affert as an Eye-witnefs. 
As for what happened to myfelf, the Mandaryn, who 
was an agreeable well bred Man, very civilly envited 
me to take a Meal with him on the 14th Inftant, at 
which I was received with particular Expreffions* of 
Kindnefs, and fplendidly treated : The Entertainment 
was compofed ot good Soops, favoury Herbs, roaft and 
baked Meats, all which were followed with a Banquet 
of Sweet- Meats and Chinefe Fruit. His Men and Sol- 
diers were all difpofed in the beft Order, each as per- 
feaiy and refpeafully knowing and taking his Station 
as is poflible in Europe. What alone was very uneafy 
to me, was, that I was obliged to fit with him on the 
Tapiftry, with my Legs acrofs and under me, which is 
to Strangers a very troublefome Cuftom. 
On the 15th I treated the Mandaryn in Return, having 
caufed him to be invited the Day before. I entertained 
him in the European Manner, and put a Glafs of good 
Sack brifkly about, caufing the Trumpets and other 
Mufick to play j all which wonderfully plealed this 
Gentleman, fo that he and his Company returned Home 
pretty mellow, and mightily fatisfied with European Ci- 
vility. 
On the 25th, the fame Mandaryn again entertained 
us. 
