No one dare come within a stones throw of the
chariot in which the emperor rides, except those who are expressly
appointed. The number of his own followers, and of those who attend the
empress, and on his eldest son, would appear quite incredible to any person
who had not seen the same, and is therefore omitted. The whole empire is
divided into twelve great provinces, one only of which has 2000 great
cities within its bounds; and the whole is so extensive, that one may
travel continually for six months in any one direction, besides the islands
under his dominion, which are at least 5000 in number.
[1] In the plates of La Monarchie Francaise, by Pere Montfaucon, the French
ladies of the fourteenth century are represented as wearing conical
caps on their heads, at least one third of their own height. - E.
[2] One hundred and forty millions of florins, as the value of the dresses
of the nobles of the imperial court! It seems that most writers
concerning China are apt entirely to forget the power of numbers, in
the fervour of their admiration. - E.
[3] Odericus, or his Bolandist biographer, seems to have forgot that
thirty-three tomans make 330,000 useless ministers of luxury and
folly.
