[ 67 ] 
the fize of coarfe gravel, and mix them with one 
third, or even an equal quantity, of good yellow clay. 
This mixture being well kneaden, they make it up 
into bricks, which (Irike a greater heat than wood, 
and come incomparably cheaper. The fea coal thus 
tempered is far lefs offenfive ; and befides, the Chinefe, 
in order to draw off the noifom vapours of the air, 
conftantly heated by the coal fire, always keep bowls 
of water in the rooms, and renew them now and 
then. The gold fifhes that are kept in thefe bowls 
are both an ornament and amufement. In the 
palace, the Emperor’s apartments are decorated with 
flower pots, and little orange trees, &c. The 
Chinefe philofophers pretend that this is the beft way 
to fweeten the air, and abforb the fiery particles dif- 
perfed in it. They likewife leave two panes open 
night and day at the top of each window, to re- 
new the air, which they think is too much rarefied 
by the heat. Thefe particulars may appear too 
trifling to be laid before the Royal Society j but, as 
they relate to the prefervation of their fellow citizens, 
we hope the worthy members will make allowances 
in favour of the motive. 
5. The Kang is attended with many advantages 
and conveniencies. 1°, The rich and great are not 
expofed to the troublefome attendance on a fire in the 
chimney, and enjoy all its benefits. 2°, The poor 
ufe all forts of fuel without any other expence than 
what the kitchen requires, and have the comfort of 
fitting warm by day, and lying warm by night. The 
fire in the furnace ferves to drefs vidtuals, and to heat 
the ftove. The poor go further flill : they enclofe 
within the brick work of the Kang a veflel, either 
K 2 of 
6 
