A MAP OF CHINA
Journeyes ; but it hath not European Art, it being neyther graduated, nor Hils, nor Woods, or other differing places presented to the view ; only having Characters, Lines, Lakes, and Rivers. I have adventured to adde Degrees Degrees. to helpe such Readers as cannot doe it better themselves, following the Jesuits prescripts in generall, although I cannot but marvell at that longitude, so farre differing from the generall opinion, and could almost doubt, that herein these Portugals are minding that division agreed on betwixt the Spaniards and them, which hath anciently caused such contentions, and wherein you have read some Offices of the Jesuits in these China Discourses. But I will not contend, where themselves speake faintly.
Now for Quian which Polo hath mentioned, as the Quian. greatest River in the world (it is here called Jansu, or *Mandevile Others Caramoran Hiansu, or Yamsu, that is, the Sonne of the Sea, and Jansuchian) and another called Caramoran (Cara signifieth (rremlariiie&t blacke, and this great Northerne River is alway thicke and troubled) and their Marriage by Art, is here viewed; and more then two hundred Cities (one of Polos Wonders) communicating their Merchandizes by that Quian, or Chian, as they now terme it Jansuchian, chian signifying the chiefe River. For the name Cathay to bee given by the Tartars to China, Goez his Journey hath made it out of doubt ; also that Pequin is Cambalu, that is, the Citie of the King. I doe conceive that Polos Mangi was the nine Southerne Provinces of China ; the Northerly before conquered was knowne by the name of Cathay; a name by the Tartars given to divers Countreyes, as Cara Catay and Catay Calay and Great Catay. This Great Catay is China.
Polo and other Authors speake of Cathay and Mangi as two; perhaps the Tartars so accounting them ; the one, to wit, the North parts being formerly subject to them, and called by their ancient name, the other called Mangi in contempt; as the Romanes called the subject Britaines of this Hand by their former name, and the others Picts and Barbarians; and as our Ancestors called those Britons477
