"When the foreign merchants come to that place to trade, the Customs
authorities, according to the relative strength of its fragrance,
distinguish thirteen classes of incense. Of these, the very best is called
_kien-hiang_ or 'picked incense': it is round and of the size of the end
of a finger; it is commonly called _ti-ju_ or 'dripping milk.' The second
quality is called _p'ing ju_, or 'potted milk,' and its colour is inferior
to that of the 'picked incense.' The next quality is called _p'ing hiang_,
or 'potted incense.' so called, they say, owing to its being prized so
much at the time of gathering, that it is placed in pots (_p'ing_). In
this _p'ing hiang_ (variety of frankincense) there are three grades,
superior, medium and inferior. The next quality is called _tai-hiang_, or
'bag incense'; thus called, they say, because at the time of gathering, it
is merely put into bags; it is also divided into three qualities, like the
_p'ing hiang_.

"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