Cathay

Sources from old books

1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.

CATHAY is bounded on the West, with Zagathay, from which parted by the Mountain Imaus; on the East, with the Orientall Sea, and some part of China; on the North, with the Scythick, or Frozen Ocean; and on the South, with China onely. So called, as some think, from the Chatae, an old Scythian people.

The Countrey, notwithstanding the cold Clime under which it lieth, is said to be abounding in wheat, rice, wooll, hemp, silk, and musk: Great store of that medicinall root called Rhubarb, or Rha-barbarum, to difference it from the Rha-Pontick growing on the banks of Volga. They have also very great herds of Camels, of whose hair they make those stuffs which are hence called Camelets, or Chamlets: and such an infinite breed of horses, that the great Cham feedeth yearly 10000 white mares, which he keeps for their milk. Some of their Rivers are reported also to yield golden sands. But whether it be so or not, certain it is, that it is so well provided of all things both for necessary use, and the pleasures of life, that it is thought to be inferiour to few Countries of Europe. The Air indeed not so temperate, as in many places; in summer-times extremely hot, and in winter miserably cold: the thunders and lightnings being here so terrible, that in summer many men die for fear, when they hear it. The winds no less violent than the thunder, do sometimes tear up trees by the roots, and beat men from their horses; but seldome bring with them any storm of rain: the greatest showers which they have, hardly wetting the ground.

The people are generally very wa•like, strong of body, quick of action, fearless of the greatest dangers, patient both of want and labour: of mean stature, little eyes, sharp-sight, and thin beards. Industrious they are in severall manufactures, of a good wit for dispatch of business: more honourable than the rest of the Tartars, as loving to dress themselves gorgiously, to fare sumptuously (if there be occasion) to live in handsome houses, and to frequent the most populous and best-traded Cities. They accompt not any for a wife till she bear them children, nor till then do medle with their dowries; but repudiate them at a certain time, if they find them bar•en. They reverence their Cham, or Emperor, even to adoration: not suffering any stranger to come in his presence, except he be first purged: if any any otherwise presume, it is present death.

The Religion publiquely allowed and conntenanced, is that of Mahomet, but so that they obey the Pentateuch of Moses, and observe many things there commanded. It was much laboured by Pope Innocent, and King Lewis of France, that they should receive the Christian faith; and they found some inclinations in the people, and chief Princes to it. But finding by the Mahomentan Agents, who then laboured to bring them to their superstition, that Mahomet allowed of many wives, and other things more agreeable to their fleshly lusts, they conformed to that: Yet so, that there are many Idolaters in Cathay it self (I mean Cathay strictly so called) and some Christians also; the state of whose affairs we have shewn before.

Chief Rivers of the whole,

1. Palysanga, navigable up to the City of Cambalu, to which it is a means of conveying great store of merchandise.
2. Caromoram, so broad and deep that no bridge can be made over it.
3. Quiam, one of the greatest in the world; in length about an hundred dayes journey; for breadth, in most places six miles, in many eight, and in some ten.
4. Quiantu, about half a mile over, and well stored with fish.

Here are also very many Lakes, both large, and usefull, as

1. the Lake of Cani•lu, in which are said to be so many pearls as would make them of no value, if every man might have leave to fish for them: which is therefore interdicted (without speciall licence) upon pain of death.
2. the Lake of Caraim, about an hundred miles in circuit, and so full of fish as might suffice for all the Countrey, did they love to eat of it. Their mountains we shall climb over in their severall places.

It comprehendeth those two large and ample Provinces which the Antients called Serica, and Scythia extra montem Imaum: the first conceived to be Cathay especially so called; the last now named Altay, and subdivided into severall Regions, of which more anon.

1. SERICA, hath on the East some part of China; on the South, the rest of China, and some part of India; on the North, Altay, or Scythia extra moutem Imaum; on the West, the mountains of Imans. In which I follow not the bounds laid down by Ptolomy, who for want of that knowledge in these remote Countries which these latter ages have afforded, is fain to shut it up on the North and East, with a Terra incognita. At the present it is called CATHAY, and that most probably from the Chatae a Scythian People, who subduing the old Inhabitants, became masters of it.

But for the name of Serica, it was derived originally from Sera, the chief City of it; whence the people had the name of Seres; very industrious in their times, and amongst other things in the making of silks (made of a fine wooll growing on the leaves of trees) from hence named Serica. Of great esteem amongst the Romans, as is said by Pliny, Tan• multiplici apere, tam longinquo orbe potitur, ut in publico matrona transluceat; being fa••e fetch'd, and dear-bough, they were good for Ladies. Nor were they industrious onely, but chast and temperate. The names of Theeves and whores were not known amongst them. They eat not any unclean flesh, nor used the company of their wives, either after conception, or during their menstrual purgations. So moderate of diet, that they lived commonly to the age of 200 years; the quietness and mildness of their disposition helping much thereto. Of yellow hair, watchet or Sea-green eyes, and good composure. Men of few words, but very just in all which they said or did Governed by a common Councell of 5000 men, every one of which was to find an Elephant for the use of the State.

If you will take the character both of the Countrey and People from Ammianus Marcellinus, he will give it thus.

First of the Countrey, that it is plentifull and large, circled about with a chain of mountains, the two famous Rivers Oechar des and Banthisis with a still and slow stream running thorow the midle of the inclosed plain, spaciously stretched out to the sides of the pr•cipices: in one place large and open, in another lying flat and low with an easie descent; in which regard they have abundance of corn, store of Cattel, and plenty of Orchards. The temperature of the Air pleasant and wholesome, the constitution of the weather clear and pure, the blowing of gentle winds most commodious, and the woods with a pretty glimmering of light, both within and under them: from whence the people with much sprinkling of water, softning that which the trees bring forth like a kind of Fleece, kemb a most fine and tender matter, which they spin into silk, serving in former times for the nobility and gentry, now become common to those also of inferiour rank. Then for the People, he saith that they are a frugall Nation, lovers of quiet, not troublesome unto their neighbours, without the use of Arms, and the knowledge of battels, declining the company of Strangers, and so farre from covetousness, or curiosities, that when any Merchants come unto them to buy their silks, without much beating of the price, they let them have such things as are bred amongst them, without looking after the commodities of other Countries.

So he. And if he did not over-act the Pan•gyrist (as I see no reason why he should) never were people happier in the place of their dwelling, nor Countrie happier in its people.

Chief Mountains of it (and mountains they had very many) were

1. the Montes Casii, and
2. Auzacii towards the East.
3. the Annibae, environing a great part of the Countrey.
4. the Asmirae•,
5. and those called Serici, neer the City Sera.
6. Tagurus.
7. Ennodorus, and
8. Ottorocorus.

But by what names now called it is hard to say. Out of which flowed these principall Rivers,

1. Oechardes, by Pliny called Cambris, rising out of the montes Auzacii;
2. Psitara, issuing out of the Asmiri;
3. Ba•tisus, whose fountain is in the montes Casii; and
4. Lanos.

Towns of chief note amongst them,

1. Sera, which gave the name of Serica, and Seres, to the Province and people.
2. Ottorocora, neer the hills so called; whence it had the name.
3. Issedon, for distinctions sake called Issedon Serica, to difference it from another of that name in Scythia, called Issedon Scythica; the chief City of the Issedones, gens magna, one of the greatest Nations in all the Countrey, as is said by Ptolomy.
4. Orosana,
5. Drosache,
6. Daxata, of which little memorable.

But these and all the rest (about nine more named by Ptolomy) being all decaied, let us next look on the chief Cities, as it stands at the present, by the name of Cathay: The principall whereof,

1. Cambalu, supposed to be the Issedon Serica of the Antients; Built of free stone, and situate in the middest of the Countrey, as the heart and center to the rest. It is seated on the River Polysanga, honoured with the great Chams residence, and enriched with a mighty confluence of Merchants of all sorts. Besides other merchandises, there are every year 10000 Carts loaded with silk, sent thither from China. This City is in compass 28 miles, besides the suburbes: in which, besides other inhabitants of all sorts, are 50000 Astrologers, or rather fortune-tellers.
2. Xundu, the Royall Palace of the Emperor, is of a souresquare figure, every side extending 8 miles in length. Within this quadrant is another, whose sides are 6 miles long: and within that another of four miles square, which is the Palace it self. Between these several Walls, are Walks, Gardens, Orchards, Fishponds, places for all manner of exercise; and Parks, Forrests, Chases for all manner of game.
3. Car•tan, where the women are said to guild their teeth.
4. 4Gouza, a fair City and a great, adorned with many Icol-M•n•steries.
5. Careanfu, neer which there groweth an herb called Chiar-Cathay, of admirable effect against many diseases, and so esteemed of by the natives, that they value an Ounce of this, at a Sack of Rhubarb.
6. Segui, the residence of a Nestorian Bishop.

The old Inhabitants hereof, in those parts which lay next the Scythians, are said to have been Ambr•pophagi, or man-eaters, most probably a Scythian Nation, that custome being so abhortent from the mildness of the Serican temper. Or else, we must correct the Copies of Ptolomy, by the History of Ammianus Marcellinus, who instead of Anthropophagi, placeth the Alitrophagi in the self same tract. The other Nations not distained with the like reproaches, are the Sizyges, and Anabi, not farre off the Auzac•an mountains; the Pialae neer the River Oechardes; the Geranaei, and Rhabbanaei, their neerest neighbours; the Throam dwelling towards the East, the Batae and Ottocororae more towards the South. These with the residue, governed by a Common Councel of 5000 men, every one of which was to find an Elephant for the service of the Common-wealth, as was said before. And more than this we hear not of them in the way of story: the natives never going abroad to vent their wares, and having little speech with Strangers, when they come amongst them. Being vanquished by the Cha•ae, a Scythian Nation, from whom it is likely that it took the name of CATHAY; (for in this I go but by conjecture:) they continued under Kings of their own, till subdued by the Tartars; against whom they made such stout resistance, being besieged by ingis in their principall City, that when they wanted stones to cast out of their engines, they supplied that want with molten silver, and held it out so long, that Cingis finding victuals to grow short in his Camp, commanded that every tenth man should be eaten. But at the last being undermined, the Town was taken, the Citizens massacred, and their King or Emperor (as some call him) slain: after whose death, and not before, Cingis assumed the title of Cham, or Emperor. The residue of their story we shall have hereafter.

ALTAY, called also SCYTHIA EXTRAIMAUM, is bounded on the South, with Cathay; on the West, with the mountain Imaus; on the North, with Tartaria Antiqua; on the East, with the Ocean. Called Scythia, because planted by a brood of the Scythians. Extra Imaum was put to it, to difference it from that part of Scythia which lay on the West side of that mountain, neerest unto the Greeks and Romans. But now the Mountain, and the Countrey, have the name of Altay.

To look upon it as it standeth by the name of Scythia extra Imaum, we find not any thing delivered of the Rivers or Mountains of it, but what is common unto them with the neighbouring nations: the mountains called Auzacii, Casii, and Ennodorus, being common unto this with Serica, as Imaus jointly to both the Scythia's, which it divided antiently the one from the other: though now this last be reckned to belong to Cathay alone, because the Tartars on both sides of it profess themselves subjects to that Cham. This the most famous mountain in the East of Asia; beginning at the shores of the Scythick or Frozen Ocean; and extending the•ce directly Southwards unto Cape Coma•i, a Promontory of the Southern or Indian Seas. By which account it divideth the Greater Asia into East and West, as Taur•s doth into North and South, which Mountain it crosseth in right Angles, about the Longitude of 140. as before was said. That part hereof which lyeth on the South of Taurus, was by the Antients called Bitigo; and by the modern is named Gates: of which we shall speak more when we come to India. That on the North of Taurus, called Imaus properly, was antiently most memorable for dividing the vast Countreys of the Scythians into Scythia intra Imaum, and Scythia extra Imaum; a division much observed by the old Geographers: now chiefly memorable for being the Sepulchre of some of the Chams of Tartary; most generally known by the name of Altay, but by some called Belgion.

Chief Towns hereof were

1. Auzic•a, at the foot of the hills so named.
2. Chaurana, the chief City of the Chauranaei.
3. Saeta.
4. Issedon Scythica, so called to difference it from the other of that name in Serica.

These with the rest, and all the Countrey, as far as it was known in the daies of Ptolomy, inhabited by the Ab•i, Happophagi, or horse-eaters, a diet still used by the Tartars or modern Scythians. 2. The Issedones, who are said by Pomponius Mela to make Carousing Cups of their Fathers heads, first trimed and gilded. 3. The Chauranaei, and 4. the Chatae; who being (as it seemeth) the most potent Nation, caused all the rest to be called by the name of Cathay; communicating that name also to the conquered Seres. Besides the possessions of which Tribes, there were also the Regions of Acbassa, Casia, and Auzacitis, these last so called from the Mountains upon which they bordered.

More than this we have not to say of this Countrey by the name of Scythia, there being nothing memorable of it in the course of story, or worth the observation in the way of Chorography. Let us therefore look upon it, as presented to us by the name of ALTAY: though therein I shall trouble my self no further than by giving a brief touch on the severall parts of it. Of which the most that can be said, will be but little for the information of the judicious Readers; who are not to be bettered by the names of places, if there be not something in them of further use. Now for these Provinces the principall of them are, 1. Cascar, 2. Chesmur, 3. Lop, 4. Camul, 5. Tainfu, 6. Caindu, 7. Carazan, 8. Cardandan, 9. Erginul, 10. Tanguth.

1. CASCAR, bordering upon China, a Mahometan Countrey, but admitting of some Christians also. In some parts both sexes do indulge themselves this mutual privilege, that if the husband or the wife be absent above twenty daies, the other party is at liberty to mary again.

2. CHESMUR, the inhabitants whereof are generally both Idolaters, and Inchanters, causing the dumb Idols to speak, the winds to rise, aud the sun to be darkned. For studying which black Arts (if they come to them by study) they have many Monasteries, in which their Hermits or Monasticks live a strict kind of life, and are very abstemious.

3. LOP, memorable for a great Desart of thirty daies journey: so true a Desart, that whosoever doth not mean to be starved must carry all his victuals with him. Dangerous to travellers, if not beforehand made acquainted with their danger; the evill spirits using to call men by their names, and make them go astray from their company, where they perish with famine, or are devoured with wild beasts. The chief Town hereof called Lop, giving name to both.

4. CAMVL, an Idolatrous Countrey, the people whereof accompt it a great honour to them to have their wives and sisters at the pleasure of such as they entertain. From which brutish custome when restrained by Mango Cham, they petitioned him at three years end to be restored again to their former liberty; protesting they could never thrive since they left that custome. Which desire of theirs was at last granted, and is still in use.

5. TAINFV, more civil than the rest, the people being very industrious and good Artificers, making the most part of the Arms which are used by the Cham; and some also which they fell to Merchants.

6. CAINDU, with a Town in it of the same name, of great resort by Merchants (such as we commonly call petit Chapmen) for the Womens veils here made, with very great Art, of the barks of Trees. And it is well that they have veils to hide their shamelessness, the women of this Tract being prostituted unto every Traveller.

7. CARAZAN, inhabited by a barbarous and savage people, who in the day-time live in dens for fear of Serpents, with which (and some of them ten paces long, and ten spans in thickness) they are much infested; and in the night go forth to prey upon Wolves and Lyons. They have an use, that when any stranger cometh into their houses, of an handsome shape, to kill him in the night; not out of desire of spoil, or to eat his body, but that the soul of such a comely bodie, might remain amongst them.

8. CARDANDAN, neer Carazan, and as savage as that. The people whereof draw black lines on their bodies, which they count for the greatest Ornament. In case of sickness they send not to the Physician, but the next Inchanters: who taking Counsail of the Devil, apply some remedy; or if they think the man past cure, they tell him that his offences are grown too great to admit of help; and so put him off.

9. ERGINVL, possessed by an Idolatrous people, but mixed with some Mahometans, and Nestorian Christians. In which Countrey they have certain Bulls as big as Elephants, with mains of fine white haire like silk, some of which they tame; and betwixt them and their Kine engender a race of strong and laborious Beasts, not inferiour in that kind to Oxen. Here is alsofound a beast of an exquisite shape, but not bigger than a Goat, which at every full Moon hath a swelling under the belly, which being cut off by the Hunters, and dryed in the Sunne, proveth to be the best Musk in the World.

10. TANGVT, the greatest and most potent of all the rest, inhabited by an industrious and laborious people, amongst whom the Art of printing is said to have been extant a thousand years. Blessed heretofore with a great increase of Christianity; but now the Gentiles or Idolaters make the greatest part, with some Mahometans amongst them. And for the serving of those Idols, they have not onely many large and beautifull Temples, built in the manner of Christian Churches, and capable of 4 or 5000 persons; but also many fair Monasteries for the use of their Votaries and Recluses.

They are possessed of many Towns, most of them well fortified, and planted with good store of Artillery. The chief of which,

1. Sachian, bordering on the Desart of Lop, inhabited by some of all three Religions; in which it is affirmed that they first used the Art of printing.
2. Campion, the Metropolis, or Mother City of this Countrey: where the Christians in the time of Paulus Venetus had three fair Churches: now overnumbred by the Gentiles. who have here many Monasteries for the use of their Iaols, and many Religious persons dedicated to their service only. Who though they live more honestly than the rest of their Order, and hold it an impiety to tempt a woman to the act of lust; yet if the woman make the offer, they hold it no small si••e to refuse her curtesie.
3. Succuir, situate amongst Mountains clothed with Rhubarb, from whence conveyed by Merchants over all the world, but so neglected by the natives, that did not the forein Merchant bring it into request, they would scorn to gather it. This once a Kingdome of it self, but subject now, with Ta•guth, to the Cham of Cathay, or the Great Cham of Tartary.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

TARTARIA the Desart answers to the ancient Scythia intra Imaum; Ʋsbeck or Zagathay to the ancient Bactriana and Sogdiana; both the one and the other new Name retaining, in my opinion, something of the ancient; Sogdiana of Zagathay, and Bactriana of Ʋsbeck: Turquestan to the ancient Scythia extra Imdum. Cathay is the Serico Regia. As for the True Tartary it is unknown unto the Ancients, or at least it holds the most Northern part of the one and the other Scythia.

CATHAY is the most Eastern part of all Tartaria, and esteemed the richest and most powerful Estate. It is contiguous to Turquestan, on the West, to China on the South, to True Tartary on the North; and on the East is watered by the Streight of Jessa.

Some esteem all Cathay under one only Monarch or Emperour, whom they call Chan or Ʋlacan, that is, Great Cham, and speak him one of the greatest and richest Princes in the World. Others account divers Kings, but all Subjects to the Great Cham. The Country is much frequented, well tilled, and in most places very fertil, abounding in Wheat, Rice, Wool, Hemp, Silk, Musk, Rhuburh, great Herds of Camels, of whose Hair they make Chamlets, and abundance of Horses, with which they furnish other Countries, and especially China, with what other things can be desired. Cambalu is esteemed its Metropolitan City, in which the Great Cham resides, pleasantly seated in a fertil Soil, and on the River Palysanga, which hath its course through the City, which is seated in the midst of the Country, being as it were the center to others. This City, besides its Suburbs, is esteemed to be 28 miles in circuit, being as it were four square, each Angle being 7 miles in length, all encompassed with a strong Wall 10 paces thick; to which, for entrance into the City, there is at each Angle 3 Gates, to every one of which there is a Palace; besides in every Angle a more sumptuous Palace, in which the Armour of the Garrison Souldiers are kept, which are accounted 1000 of each Gate. The Buildings are (for the most part) of Free-stone, and very proportionably built; the chief Streets large, and so strait, that one may see from one Gate to the other, which gives it a gallant prospect.

In the midst of this City is a stately Palace, where the Great Cham resides; together with his Queens and Children. This Royal Palace is four square, and of a vast bigness, having besides its Out-walls several other enclosures; adorned with stately Structures, beautified with pleasant Walks, Gardens, Orchards, Fishponds, with several other places for Recreation. His Attendance, State, and Riches, is great. Without the Walls are 12 Suburbs, each 3 or 4 miles in length, adjoyning to each of the 12 Gates; and in these Suburbs the Merchants and Strangers reside, each Nation having a several Cane or Store-house, where they both lodge and exercise their Trade, bartering their Commodities for one anothers, being of a great Trade, and frequented by Merschants and Strangers of several Countries, but more especially by the Persians, Chinois, Indians, and the Tartars themselves, which renders it very populous, it being the chief place for Trade in all Tartary, abounding not only in those Commodities aforesaid, but also in the Spices of India, the Gems of Pegu and Bengala, the Drugs of Arabia; also the Carpets, Tapestries, Silks and Manufactures of Persia, &c.

The Mony currant here, and throughout this large Territory, is very different, neither is it made of Gold, Silver, or Copper, as with us; but of the middle Bark of the Mulberry Tree, which being made smooth and firm, they cut round into great and small pieces, on which they imprint the Kings Mark, as we do on our Mony; and these pieces, according to the bigness and thickness, are valued at a certain rate, and are passable for the buying of all Commodities; and it is deemed death for any one to counterfeit, or make any of this Mony. But in some places under the Great Chams jurisdiction, they use polished Coral instead of Mony: and in other places they use twigs of Gold, which is distinguished into several parcels by weight, but without Stamp or Character, and this is held in case of great importance: they also use in some places Porcelain instead of Mony; likewise they make a kind of Mony of Salt, which they boil until it be congealed hard, and then make it up into round lumps, on which is put the Princes Stamp. And these are the several sorts of Mony which passeth amongst them; yet by reason of the Trade that this place hath with other Countries there adjacent, their Coyns are here found currant, as are those of the Grand Signior, as also those of Moscovy.

Besides this Palace aforementioned, he hath another which is esteemed the principal of his abode, which is not far from this City, which Merchants are not permitted to enter; the Palace is called Zaindu, being four square, and, if Authors may be believed, every Square is 8 miles in length, and within this Quadtant is another, whose sides are 6 miles in length, and within that another of 4 miles square, and this is esteemed the very Palace it self, and between these several Walls are stately Walks, Gardens, Orchards, Fish-ponds, Parks, Forrests, Chases, for all manner of pleas•es and game, as also several other places for all manner of Courtly and Military exercises. This Palace is exceeding richly built, having many sumptuous Edifices; his attendance great, 12000 Horse being his daily guard, besides an exceeding great number of other Attendance and Servitures.

The greatest and most potent Parts or Kingdoms of Cathay, are TANGƲTH, whose chief City is Campion; where the Caravans of Forreign Merchants stop, it not being permitted them to go farther; a City well built, and where the Christians, in the time of Paulus Venetus, had 3 fair Churches; but of later time have much lost themselves through the great increase of the Gentiles, who have here several Monasteries, where they keep and worship their Idols, where they have also several Religious persons only dedicated to their service; and this Kingdom hath much Rhubarb. The Kingdom of TENDƲC, with its City of the same name, furnishes Cloth of Gold and Silver, Silks, Chamlets, &c. and it is thought that Prester John resided in these quarters; there being yet a particular King, who is a Christian, but of the Sect of the Nestorians, and subject to the Great Cham.

THAINFƲR is known for the great number of its People, for the excellency of its Vines, for the goodness of its Arms, and of its Cannon, &c. for the rest, all great Travellers count Marvels, of the greatness, power, and magnificence and riches of this Great Cham; of the extent of his Estates, of the Kings subject to him, of so many Ambassadors always in his Court, of the reverence and respect bore him, of the power and infinite number of his Men of Arms; but it is so far from Europe, that we could scarce believe them, till he made seen his power in 1618, having possessed the Ports and Passages of that great Mountain and Wall which separates Tartaria from China; casting an infinite number of Men into the great Kingdom, taking and pillaging its fairest Cities, and almost all its Provinces, forced the King of China to retire himself into Canton; leaving him in possession of not above 1 or 2 of its Provinces: But the relations of 1650 gives the King of China re-entrance into the greatest part of his Estates; its other parts are, Egrigaja, whose chief places are Serra and Mulon: also Egrimul, whose chief place is so called; then Serguth, whose chief place is Erzina; and lastly, Belgian, whose chief place is so called.

The People in this part of Tartaria are generally strong of body, stout, warlike, and couragious, though in the greatest dangers; also very active, and patient in afflictions, ingenious, and given to Manufactures, more civil and courteous to Strangers than the rest of the Tartars; loving to wear good Apparel, and feed deliciously, which the others are negligent of; in Stature they are but of a mean size, but well proportioned, and of an indifferent good Complexion.

In matter of Religion they are either Gentiles, Christians, or Mahometans, which latter is most used, it being publickly and generally allowed amongst them, in which Religions they observe several Ceremonies, not much different from those of other Countries, especially in Christianity and Mahometism.