Tzu,
Lin-ngan, etc.; this rich coal region has been explored in 1898 by the
French engineer A. Leclere. (See Congres int. Geog., Paris, 1900, pp.
178-184.) - H. C.]
In various parts of China, as in Che-kiang, Sze-ch'wan, and at Peking,
they form powdered coal, mixed with mud, into bricks, somewhat like our
"patent fuel." This practice is noticed by Ibn Batuta, as well as the use
of coal in making porcelain, though this he seems to have misunderstood.
Rashiduddin also mentions the use of coal in China. It was in use,
according to citations of Pauthier's, before the Christian era. It is a
popular belief in China, that every provincial capital is bound to be
established over a coal-field, so as to have a provision in case of siege.
It is said that during the British siege of Canton mines were opened to
the north of the city.
(The Distribution of Coal in China, by Baron Richthofen, in Ocean
Highways, N.S., I. 311; Macgowan in Ch. Repos. xix. 385-387;
Blakiston, 133, 265; Mid. Kingdom, I. 73, 78; Amyot, xi. 334;
Cathay, 261, 478, 482; Notes by Rev. A. Williamson in J. N. Ch. Br.
R. A. S., December, 1867; Hedde and Rondot, p. 63.)
Aeneas Sylvius relates as a miracle that took place before his eyes in
Scotland, that poor and almost naked beggars, when stones were given
them as alms at the church doors, went away quite delighted; for stones of
that kind were imbued either with brimstone or with some oily matter, so
that they could be burnt instead of wood, of which the country was
destitute. (Quoted by Jos. Robertson, Statuta Eccles. Scotic. I. xciii.)
CHAPTER XXXI.
HOW THE GREAT KAAN CAUSES STORES OF CORN TO BE MADE, TO HELP HIS PEOPLE
WITHAL IN TIME OF DEARTH.
You must know that when the Emperor sees that corn is cheap and abundant,
he buys up large quantities, and has it stored in all his provinces in
great granaries, where it is so well looked after that it will keep for
three or four years.[NOTE 1]
And this applies, let me tell you, to all kinds of corn, whether wheat,
barley, millet, rice, panic, or what not, and when there is any scarcity
of a particular kind of corn, he causes that to be issued. And if the
price of the corn is at one bezant the measure, he lets them have it at a
bezant for four measures, or at whatever price will produce general
cheapness; and every one can have food in this way. And by this providence
of the Emperor's, his people can never suffer from dearth. He does the
same over his whole Empire; causing these supplies to be stored
everywhere, according to calculation of the wants and necessities of the
people.
