[ 32 * ] 
tions made with only a micrometer and pendulum 
be ever fo accurate, they are rare, and cannot always 
be made. In the mean time we will place the tranfit 
inftrument, and ufe it as far as its ufe extends. , For 
a quadrant we apply to the court of Lisbon ; be- 
caufe we have it not in our power to purchafe one. 
And indeed, the report of the wealth of the Jefuits 
at Pekin is a mere fable. 
We have not yet had the good fortune here at 
Pekin to fee an accurate figure of the male musk 
animal : the figure here inclofed is that of the female ; 
and it is not this, but the male, that is faid to bear 
the musk. This figure was drawn in our houfe by 
Father Ignatius Sichelbarth, from a dead animal, as 
it was brought to us. The Chinefe, who have feen 
the male, fay, that it is not much unlike- this figure, 
excepting that it has larger teeth, and fometimes tusks 
like thole of a boar. On fome other occafion we will 
take care to fend you its figure. In fine, the Chinefe 
call both the male and female hi am chant fit , which 
means the little odoriferous deer ( damula odor if era). 
We carefully keep the fyllabus of other things, t of 
which you defired to be informed ; and fhall ufe our 
endeavours to fatisfy you on thefe heads, and any 
other that may give you pleafure. As to geogra- 
phical maps, and plans of cities, it would he very 
difficult at prefent either to obtain or make any, 
but thefe already publifhed in Europe, until a more 
favourable air from this court breathes on us. Laft 
year I and Father Felix de Rocha travelled into 
North Tartary, beyond that valL wall, which fepa- 
ratrfs (or at leaf leparated) the Chinefe from the 
Tartars : where by the emperor’s order, we drew a 
S f chorographical 
