“The next kind is the ju-t’a; it consists of incense mixed with gravel.

“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.  XXXV.

“In chapter XXXVI. it is recorded that in the year 1332 the prince Djang-ghi presented 170 Russian prisoners and received a pecuniary reward.  On the same page we read that clothes and corn were bestowed on a thousand Russians.  In the same year the prince Yen t’ie-mu-rh presented 1500 Russian prisoners to the Chinese emperor, and another prince, A-rh-ghia-shi-li, presented thirty.