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.

NOTE 1.—­“Le fait si bien estuier que il dure bien trois ans ou quatre” (Pauthier):  “si bien estudier” (G.T.).  The word may be estiver (It. stivare), to stow, but I half suspect it should be estuver in the sense of “kiln-dry,” though both the Geog.  Latin and the Crusca render it gubernare.[1] Lecomte says:  “Rice is always stored in the public granaries for three or four years in advance.  It keeps long if care be taken to air it and stir it about; and although not so good to the taste or look as new rice, it is said to be more wholesome.”