'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎25] (878/1024)

om OJ 1 U N Q_ u I
N.
Men of Europe, which are altogether unknown to the
Eaftern People , and much lefs the Philofophy of Jriftotle,
of which they never fo much as heard. But we mean the
knowledge ol the Laws of their Country , by means
whereof they obtain the charges of Judicature- the Mathe
matic ks, and particularly Aftronomy , to which all the Ori
entals have a great inclination , as being great obferyers of
the Stars, by whole afllftance they flatter themfelves to be
able to foretel things to come. The Tunquinefes are alfo paffio-
nate lovers of and ^Poetry, as being great admirers
of Comedy and Tragedy, of which thole two Sciences are
the main Compofition • fo that the Muficians and A&ofs
of Tunquin are accounted the bell in the whole Eaftern
part of the World.
That you may acquire Nobility by Learning ? in your
Youth, youmuft pafs through three degrees, of the'6)Wc,
the Toucan, and the Tanfi, from which degree you may
afeend to that of the Nobility. .
To attain the firft degree ^ it behoves the Youth of
Tunquin to apply themlelves for eight years together to their
Studies / and that very clofe, to enable themfelves for the
Office^of a Notary, Proftor, and Advocate , to which
there is nothing more conducing then to fpeak Eloquently
in public. At the end of eight years, they are examin'd
concerning the duty of thole Employments« and if arty
one fail to give an Anfwer to the Queftions propounded, he
is lent back again as incapable to obtain any Employment
for the future, or to ftudy any longer. For thole that
acquit themlelves well of their Examination, which is
very rigorous, their Names are let down in a Regifter,
and prelcnted to the King, who firft grants them the liberty
to take upon them the Title of Symk ,, and then if it be
their aim to enjoy the Quality of Toucan, they are com
manded by the 7 anft s to ftudy Mujtc , Aftrology, and Toejie,
not only to be able to be judge of it, but alfo to perform
themfelves upon occaflon, : For to be good judges of Co
medy, which is a great Honour among them, it behoves
them to be both good Comedians and Muficians. Nor in
deed is there any Paftime more frequent then that of the
-Theater in this Country-for there is never any folemtt
Feftival among them , which is not accompany’d and fee
E forth