"The next kind is the hei-t'a, because its colour is black. The next
kind is the shui-shi-hei-t'a, because it consists of incense which has
been 'water damaged' the aroma turned, and the colour spoiled while on
board ship.
"Mixed incense of various qualities and consisting of broken pieces is
called choe-siau ('cut-up'); when passed through a sieve and made into
dust, it is called ch'an-mo ('powder'). The above are the various
varieties of frankincense."
BOOK FOURTH.
WARS AMONG THE TARTAR PRINCES AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES.
XXII., p. 488.
RUSSIA.
"It seems that Russia [Chinese A-lo-sz' = Mongol Oros; the modern
Chinese name for Russia is Wo-lo-sz'] was unknown to the nations of
Eastern Asia before the Mongol period. In the Mongol and Chinese annals
the Russians are first mentioned after Subutai's invasion of Southern
Russia in 1223. The Yuean chao pi shi terms Russia or the Russians
Orus, as they are called even now by the Mongols. The Chinese of the
Mongol period write A-lo-sz', sometimes also Wa-lo-sz' or U-lu-sz'.
All these names evidently render the Mongol appellation Orus.
"In the Yuean shi, Russia is frequently mentioned.... I may notice here
some other instances where the Russians are spoken of in the Yuean-shi.
We read in the annals, s.a. 1253, that the Emperor Meng k'o (Mangu)
ordered Bi-dje Bie-rh-k'o to be sent to Wu-lo-sz' in order to take a
census of the people.
"It is an interesting fact recorded in the Yuean shi that there was in
the first half of the fourteenth century a settlement of Russians near
Peking. In the annals, chap. XXXIV., s.a. 1330, it is stated that the
Emperor Wen Tsung (Tob Timur, 1329-32, the great grandson of Kubilai),
formed a regiment composed of U-lo-sz' or Russians. This regiment being
commanded by a wan hu (commander of ten thousand of the third degree),
received the name 'The Ever-faithful Russian Life-guard.' It was placed
under the direct control of the council of war. Farther on in the same
chapter it is stated that 140 king of land, north of Ta tu (Peking)
was bought from the peasants and allotted to these Russians, to establish
a camp and to form a military colony. We read again in the same chapter
that they were furnished with implements of agriculture, and were bound to
present for the imperial table every kind of game, fish, etc., found in
the forests, rivers, and lakes of the country where their camp was
situated. This Russian regiment is again mentioned in chap.
