IHTO THE FLORA OF QHINA, 
41 
priests, who govern all the rest. They have several ways and 
avenues cut through the island, some of which are paved with 
flagstones and overshaded with trees planted on each side. 
Their dwellings are the best I have yet seen in these parts ; 
all of which are maintained by charitable devotions And the 
junks which go from Ningpo and this place to Japan touch 
there both going and coming, to make their offerings for their 
good success. There is another island called Kimtong 5 
leagues hence in the way to Ningpo, whither, they say, a great 
many mandarins retire, to live a quiet life after they have 
given over their employments. On that island also are said to 
be silver mines, but prohibited to be opened. The rest of the 
circumjacent islands are either desert or meanly inhabited by 
a few fishing people, but all of them stored with abundance of 
deer. For it is not long, since this island of Cliusan began to 
be peopled. It is true in Martini’s daj^s, about fifty years ago, 
it was very populous for the space of 3 to 4 years, at which 
time the fury of the Tartarian conquest Was so great, that they 
left it desolate, not sparing so much as the Mulberry trees, 
for then they made a great deal of raw silk here, and in this 
condition it continued till about 18 years ago, that tlje walls 
of the fort or town, which now is, were built by the governor 
of Ting hai, for a garrison to expell some pirates, who had 
taken shelter here. About 14 years ago the island beginning 
to be peopled, there was a chumpeen or general sent to govern 
it for 3 years, to whom succeeded the late chumpeen, who 
procured the opening of this port to strangers and whose 
government continued till April last, being translated to the 
Chumpeen of Tien cing weif, near to Pekin, and was succeeded 
by the present chumpeen, who is son to the old Chun hoon £ 
of Emuy. 
They have got no arts or manufactories here, but making of 
lackered ware, a particular account whereof I cannot as yet 
send you. They begin to plant the mulberry trees, to breed 
up worms for the production of raw silk and they make some 
Tea, but chiefly for their own use. The three sorts of Tea 
commonly carried to England are all from the same plant, 
only the season of the year and the soil makes the difference. 
The Bohe, or Voii } || so called after some mountains in the 
* ^ 111 ill iTirt fang shan. 
f Now T*ien tsinfu . 
t *4* Chung Ttun. 
u 
Wu yi, in Amoy bo lit. 
