also to Dr. Macgowan's paper _On the "Mutton Wine" of the Mongols and
Analogous Preparations of the Chinese_. (_Jour. N. China Br. R. As. Soc._,
1871-1872, pp. 237-240.)--H. C.]

[1] _Kington's Fred. II._ II. 457. So, in a French play of the 13th
century, a publican in his _patois_ invites custom, with hot bread,
hot herrings, and wine of Auxerre in plenty:--

"Chaiens, fait bon disner chaiens;
Chi a caut pain et caus herens,
_Et vin d'Aucheurre_ a plain tonnel."--
(_Theat. Franc. au Moyen Age_, 168.)

CHAPTER XXX.

CONCERNING THE BLACK STONES THAT ARE DUG IN CATHAY, AND ARE BURNT FOR
FUEL.

It is a fact that all over the country of Cathay there is a kind of black
stones existing in beds in the mountains, which they dig out and burn like
firewood. If you supply the fire with them at night, and see that they are
well kindled, you will find them still alight in the morning; and they
make such capital fuel that no other is used throughout the country. It is
true that they have plenty of wood also, but they do not burn it, because
those stones burn better and cost less.[NOTE 1]

[Moreover with that vast number of people, and the number of hot baths
that they maintain--for every one has such a bath at least three times a
week, and in winter if possible every day, whilst every nobleman and man
of wealth has a private bath for his own use--the wood would not suffice
for the purpose.]

NOTE 1.--There is a great consumption of coal in Northern China,
especially in the brick stoves, which are universal, even in poor houses.
Coal seems to exist in every one of the eighteen provinces of China, which
in this respect is justly pronounced to be one of the most favoured
countries in the world. Near the capital coal is mined at Yuen-ming-yuen,
and in a variety of isolated deposits among the hills in the direction of
the Kalgan road, and in the district round Siuen-hwa-fu. (_Sindachu_ of
Polo, ante ch. lix.) But the most important coal-fields in relation to the
future are those of Shan-tung Hu-nan, Ho-nan, and Shan-si. The last is
eminently _the_ coal and iron province of China, and its coal-field, as
described by Baron Richthofen, combines, in an extraordinary manner, all
the advantages that can enhance the value of such a field except (at
present) that of facile export; whilst the quantity available is so great
that from Southern Shan-si alone he estimates the whole world could