ruine of the Common wealths.
A pound of mutton is worth a penny, a pigeon a farthing and a halfe, the hire of a man-ſervant for a year, two hundred farthings, and his dyet and lodging. But there is a great difference betwixt ſome places and others, thoſe of the South, as they have the advantage in commerce, ſo they exceed the reſt in money; and the price of things; which continually riſeth, as we find every day by experience: but even there to this day, the rare is very moderate.
Chap. 2.
Of the Provinces in particular, and firſt of thoſe of the South.
This kingdome is divided into two parts, South and North, and both theſe ſubdivided into fifteen provinces, as is above-ſaid. To this Southern part belong nine; which are Cantone, Guamſi, Yunnam, Fukien, Kiamſi, Suchuem, Utquam, Chekiam, Nankim, we wil treate of theſe in this chapter, and of the reſt in the next. That we may proceede diſtinctly, ſpeaking of them in the ſame order that we have named them.
Cantone is the firſt, and lyeth in that part of the South, that is properly named Quamtum. It is in the latitude of twenty three degrees, it is large, rich, and abounding in wheat and rice, of theſe it propuceth each yeare two harveſts though for the moſt part they are of a ſeverall graine. There is ſtore of ſugar, copper and tin, materials, which they worke, with great variety, into innumerable ſorts of veſſels; as alſo, workes made with Charam, an excellent verniſh, and with guilding, ſome whereof are tranſported into Europe.
The Jeſuits in this province had two reſidencies with their Churches and houſes, vvhich periſhed by reaſon of Severall perſecutions, as you ſhall find hereafter.
The people are able Mechanicks, and though of ſmall invention, yet they imitate excellently whatſoever they find invented. To the City called alſo Cantone (though the proper name thereof bee Guamcheufu) the Portugeſſes go twice every year with their marchandice. It is diſtant from Macao an hundred and five miles: and Macao is diſtant from the firſt Iſlands, and from the greater Cityes of that Empire fifty four: The circumference thereof is 15 good miles. The concourſe of merchants thither is very great, and therefore it is more peopled than many of the other Cityes. The moſt and beſt comodities of that Kingdome are brought thither, becauſe it is the moſt open and free ſeat of trade in that nation. And to ſay nothing of the ſix neighbouring kingdomes, from whence all ſorts of merchandiſe is brought thither, as well by natives as ſtrangers: only that which the Portugeſſes take in for India, Giappone and Manila, cometh ore year with another five thouſand three hundred cheſts of ſeverall ſilke ſtuffs; each cheſt including 10 peices of the
