from Mufcovy to Chin^               55
which the Fire Is kindled by the Door of the Houfe, and the Smoak
goes out at the other fide of it. And this Chimney in Winter feryes
inftead of a Stove, tho' the habitation is not much warmed by it;
but the indwellers which fit on this Bench in the Day time and lie
on it at Night, are indeed fomewhat the better for it. There are al-
ways in thefe Dwellings two fixed Iron Kettles, in one of which is
vi arm Water to make Tea, and the other is referved for boiling of
Victuals. The Houfe is all round provided with fquare Windows,
which are placked with Paper inftead of Glafs, and in warm Wea-
ther are fet open with a Stick, to make way for the cool breezes to
pafs through the Apartment.                                 „         ®
Thefe Men are generally well (haped, but more efpecialiy the
Women. The Men, Women and young Girls, wear the fame Habit
as the Manfiourian Tartars in China, as is exprefled by the annexed
Print. The Secretaries of the Mandaryns% which are in Service of
the Cham, and are fent hither or to any other place in 7'artary;
whenever they are inclined to Venerial Pleafures, feize for their own
ttfe as many Wives as well as young Vimins as they like, at pleafure;
and I have frequently feen them carry offthe moft beautiful Creatures
on Waggons as to the flaughter. Some Men being obliged to fend
their Wives after thefe Men, boaft of it as a very particular favour,
that they have the honour to have fuch a Lord for their Brother-in-
Law; but others, tho' perhaps not very well fatisfied with this Cuftom,
for fear of falling into difgrace and being punifhed, are obliged to
bear it patiently.
Leaving  this  Frontier People on the x8th Inftant,  and fetting
forwards with the Mandaryn from Xixigar% by the Evening we reach-
ed a Village where we palled that Night.   On the 2,9th we pafled
through feveral Villages,  and arrived on the other fide of the Juk^ ,
where it falls into the Naunda,   We forded the Jalp without  gny
difficulty, it being but fliallow,  but the Namda is very broad,   pro-
vided with high Sand and Earth Banks on each ftde:   The Stream is
not very rapid, by reafon it is deep $ its Water looks brown; it abounds
With Sturgeon, Jacks and feveral forts of {mail Filh, and feveral Mo- -
ther of Pearl Shells are found on its Shoars.
On the 30th we turned off from the River Naund^ and left it on the
Left: its courfe is farther extended downwards, Eaft South-Eaft between
large Mountains, but we travelled over Mountains of Sand and Earth till
the Evening, when we firft reached the Mongalian Rivers. Thefe Monga-
Hans are fubje^t to the Emperor of China. Here we were obliged to con-
teat our felves with the Water we took out of Wells or Pits, whichdid
not