684 THE GREATEST RARITY IN CHINA.

 

“VERY WELL AKMED, AND PROVIDED FOR ALL BVENTS.”

expense of buying forage on the way, where it was not otherwise
to be had, and for satisfying the guides, getting horses, and the
like. And here they constituted the journey, as they call it;
namely, they named captains and officers to draw us all up, and
give the command in case of an attack, and gave every one their
turn of command. Nor was this forming us into order any more
than what we found needful upon the way, as shall be observed
in its place.

The road all on this side of the country is very popluous, and
is full of potters and earthmakers; that is to say, people that
temper the earth for the China ware. And as I was coming
along, our Portugal pilot, who had always something or other to say
to make us merry, came sneering to me, and told me he would show
me the greatest rarity in all the country, and that I should have
this to say of China, after all the ill-humoured things I had said
of it. that I had seen one thing which was not to be seen in all