From the beft information I could procure, they are divided into several religious fects, among which that of the Theifts is the most rational and refpectable. They worthip one God, whom they call Tien, and pay no religious homage to idols. This fect has fubfifted for many ages before Christianity was known; and is ftill embraced by the emperor, the grandees, and the literati. The common people in general are idolaters. The few Jews and Turks, refiding here, are fuppofed to have entered China with the weftern Tartars, about fix or feven hundred years ago. The Chriftians, at present, are computed to amount to one hundred thousand of both fexes.

I had feveral opportunities of converfing with their phyficians. They generally prepare and adminifter their own prescriptions, and are very little acquainted with the medical principles of the Europeans. Their chief ftudy is the virtue of plants, which they apply on all occafions, and often with fuccefs. They feel the patient's pulfe very attentively, but seldom practise phlebotomy, even in high fevers.

They compare a fever to a boiling pot, and chufe rather to remove the fire than diminish the quantity of liquor it contains, which would only make it boil the fafter. Bathing and cupping, however, are much practifed; and they apply fire in fome cafes, particularly for pains in the joints and gouty diforders. On fuch occafions they use a lighted match, composed of the downy fubftance of mugwort, which, making a fcar, either entirely removes, or confiderably mitigates the pain*.

*As the gout is the opprobrium medicorum, might not this practice be tried in Europe, where the complaint is fo frequent.

Ginfeng

Ginseng is in high estimation for its physical irtues, and is gathered by people appointed by the emperor himself. It is valued at the rate of about wenty-five pounds fterling the pound weight; ret I could never learn what specific qualities his plant poffeffed; only that it was of univerfal ufe. Indeed it may be a good restorative; but if it really has any extraordinary virtues, I never could difcover them, after repeated experiments.

The Chinese language is compofed chiefly of monofyllables, and feems to be eafily acquired, at least as much of it as is neceffary for converfation. The difficulty, however, of learning their characters is very great; though most common tradesmen know enough to read and write what belongs to their particular calling.

On the 2d of March, we fent off our heavy baggage early in the morning; and about noon left Pekin, accompanied by feveral Chinese gentlemen, who were to return with M. de Lange, whom his czarifh majefty had appointed his agent at the court of Pekin.

On the 4th, this gentleman and our Chinese friends left us; and we continued our journey, almoft by the fame route as before, and every where met with the fame attention and hofpitality. A repetition of common incidents would afford little amusement.

It may, however, be pleafing to the philanthropist to remark, that I have heard fome of the people, who inhabit the immenfe track, called Siberia; and which is generally painted in the moft unfavourable colours, as a country and climate, that, "God, who placed them in this country, knew what was beft for them, and that they were fatisfied with their lot." Indeed, many

parts

parts of Tartary and Siberia, through which we paffed, are naturally rich and fertile; and I think there are few places where a man might spend his life more comfortably, provided he enjoyed fecurity, and the fociety of his friends.

JOURNAL

OF AN

EMBASSY TO MEQUINEZ,

THE CAPITAL OF MOROCCO,

BY MR. WINDUS,

A GENTLEMAN IN THE AMBASSADOR'S SUIT.

ΤΗ

HIS embaffy orginated from a defire of confolidating a peace with the Emperor of Morocco, and obtaining the release of the English, who were in captivity in his dominions. The court of Morocco is not often vifited, and a defcription of the occurrences which presented themselves to Mr. Windus, will be read with an intereft proportionate to the infrequency of the opportunities of retracing his fteps.

The Honourable Charles Steward, being appointed ambaffador to the court of Mequinez, landed with his retinue in the Bay of Tetuan, on the 6th of May 1720, about nine in the morning, where, to follow the narrative of our author, we found a fufficient number of tents pitched for our accommodation, and among them a handfome and large one for the use of the ambassador.

At our first entertainment, they brought plenty of cufcufu, fowls, and a fheep roasted whole upc

a great

a great wooden fpit, which was ferved up with t it. In the afternoon, the bafhaw vifited us, ac d companied with two hundred horfe and thre hundred foot, who, having entered the encamp al ment, firing and cavalcading, threw themselves to into the form of a half moon before the principal p tent, where they performed their exercise for more liz than an hour.

f

In this they displayed great activity; the bat fhaw and his brother often heading parties of horfe, who, all clapping fpurs to their steeds, le- f velled their pieces and fired, as if in an actual f engagement. After this they had recourfe to their fpears, and fingling out an opponent to tilt with, dexterously parried the thrufts of the fpear, while their horfes were in full speed.

Meanwhile the infantry kept up a continual irregular fire, with great rapidity. The drums made a warlike found, and were beaten with a heavy stick on the 'top and a small one at the bottom, to the time of a pipe, which had fome resemblance to a fife, and had a loud and fhrill

note.

The manoeuvring being over, the bafhaw welcomed the ambaflador to Barbary, and invited him to his tent, telling him he would use his best endeavours to render the country agreeable to him, and expreffed his partiality for the English above any other nation of Europe. After mutual compliments they parted.

Next morning, the ambaffador repaired to the bafhaw's tent, who, having renewed his congratulations, a row of beautiful horfes were drawn up, which made a noble appearance; many of their faddles being entirely covered with plate. The bathaw then politely defired the ambassador

to