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“ The great traveller speaks of it as “a noble city,” “which has seven and twenty other wealthy cities under its administration. . . . The people,” he adds, “are idolaters and use paper money.” They “live by trade and manufactures, for a great amount of harness for knights and men-at-arms are made there.” The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at about 360,000. ”

“ Unlike Chinamen generally, they prefer trade to husbandry, and have earned for themselves pre-eminence as a community of shopkeepers. Another of their characteristics is their extreme superstition. Their observance of full moons and festivals exceeds in ritualistic display that which is commonly thought to be good enough for such occasions by their fellow-countrymen; and their jealousy for the honour of their gods has on more than one occasion led to religious outbreaks. ”