574 SOMETHING ABOUT CHINA.

in the ship, the gunner being now made second mate and purser ;
the Dutchman I made boatswain: so they were both very well
pleased, and proved very serviceable, being both able seamen, and
very stout fellows.

We were now on shore in China. Uf I thought myself banished
and remote from my own country at Bengal, where I had many
ways to get home for my money, what could I think of myself
now, when T was gotten about a thousand leagues further off
from home, and perfectly destitute of all manner. of prospect of
return ?

All we had for it was this, that in about four months’ time there
was to be another fair at the place where we were; and then we
might be able to purchase all sorts of the manufactures of the
country, and withal might possibly find some Chinese junks or
vessels from ‘Tonquin that would be to be sold, and would carry us
and our goods whither we pleased. This I liked very well, and
resolved to wait; besides, as our particular persons were not
obnoxious, so if any English or Dutch ships came thither, perhaps
we might have an opportunity to load our goods and get passage
to some other place in India, nearer home.

Upon these hopes we resolved to continue here; but to divert
ourselves, we took two or three journeys into the country. First
we went ten days’ journey to see the city of Nankin: a city well
worth seeing indeed. They say it has a million of people in it;
which, however, I do not believe. It is regularly built, the streets
all exactly straight, and cross one another in direct lines, which gives
the figure of it great advantage.

But when I come to compare the miserable people of these
countries with ours, their fabrics, their manner of living, their
government, their religion, their wealth, and their glory (as some
call it), IT must confess I do not so much as think it is worth
naming, or worth my while to write of, or any that shall come
alter me to read.

it is very observable, that we wonder at the grandeur, the
riches, the pomp, the ceremonies, the government, the manu-
factures, the commerce, and the conduct of these people; not that
it ia to be avondered at, or, indeed, in the least to be regarded, but