cumference: but having only 40,000 foldiers to defend it, as many more from the neighbouring cities, and 20,000 peasants, were ordered into it; while the emperor published an affecting declaration, animating the people to defend it to the laft extremity. Oktay, having heard with joy of his brother Toley's entrance into Honan, ordered him to fend fuccours to Suputay. On the other hand, the Kin generals advanced with 150,000 men to relieve the city; but being obliged to divide their forces, in order to avoid in part the great road which Toley had obftructed with trees, they were attacked by that prince at a disadvantage, and, after a faint refiftance, defeated with great flaughter and the lofs of both their generals, one killed and the other taken. The emperor now ordered the army at all the fortified places to march to the relief of Kay-fong-fu. They affembled accordingly, to the number of 110,000 foot and 15,000 horse; and were followed by vaft numbers of people, who expected by their means to be protected from the enemy. But many of thefe troops having deferted, and the reft being enfeebled by the fatigues of their march, they difperfed on the approach of their purfuers, who killed all they found in the highways. After this the Moguls took Ton-quan and fome other confiderable pofts; but were obliged to raise the fiege of Loyang by the bravery of the governer Kyang-fhin, notwithstanding he had only 3 or 4000 foldiers under him, while his enemies were 30,000 ftrong. He placed his worft foldiers on the walls, putting himself at the head of 400 brave men; whom he ordered to go naked, and whom he led to all dangerous attacks. He invented engines to caft large stones, which required but few hands to play them, and aimed so true as to hit at 100 paces diftance. When their arrows failed, he cut thofe fhot by the enemy into four pieces; pointed them with pieces of brafs coin; and discharged them from wooden tubes with as much force as bullets are from a musket. Thus he haraffed the Moguls for three months fo grievously, that they were obliged, notwithstanding their numbers, to abandon the enterprize,

Oktay, at laft, notwithstanding his fucceffes, refolved to return to Tartary; and offered the Kin emperor peace, provided he became tributary, and delivered up to him 27 families, which he named. Thefe offers were very agreeable to the emperor; but Suputay, taking no notice of the treaty, pushed on the liege of the capital with more vigour than ever. By the help of the Chinese flaves in his army, the Mogul general foon filled the ditch; but all his efforts feemed only to infpire the befieged with new vigour. The Moguls at that time made ufe of artillery, but were unable to make the leaft impreffion upon the city walls. They raised walls round thofe they befieged, which they fortified with ditches, towers, and battlements. They proceeded alfo to fap the walls of the city; but were very much annoyed by the artillery of the befieged, especially by their bombs, which finking into the galleries, and bursting under ground, made great havock among the miners. For 16 days and nights the attacks con, tinued without intermiffion; during which time a great number of men perifhed on both fides; at length, Suputay, finding that he could not take the city, withdrew his troops, under pretence of conferences being on foot. Soon after the plague began in Kay-fong-fu, and raged with fuch violence, that, in 50 days, 900,000 biers were carried out, befides a vaft multitude of the poorer fort who could not afford any.

In a fhort time, two unlucky accidents occafioned the renewal of the war; which now put an end to the empire of the Kin. Gan-yong, a young Mogul lord, having affumed the government of fome cities in Kyang-nan, and killed the officer fent to take poffeffion of them, declared for the Kin. The emperor unwarily took Gan-yong into his fervice, and gave him the title of Prince. Upon this Oktay sent an envoy, attended by 30 other perfons, to enquire into the affair, but the Kin officers killed them all, without being punished by the emperor. Suputay, having informed his master of all these proceedings, was ordered to continue the war in Honan. Shew-fu now commanded his officers to unite their troops for the defence of the capital; but

before

before his orders could be obeyed, they were attacked and defeated, one after another, by the Moguls. This obliged him to raife foldiers from among the peasants, for whofe fubfiftence the people were taxed three tenths of the rice they poffeffed. The city began now to be distressed for want of provifions; and as it was but in a bad pofture of defence, the emperor marched with an army against the Moguls. His expedition proved unfortunate; for, fending part of his army to beficge a city called Why-chew, it was totally cut in pieces, and Suputay a fecond time fat down before the capital, which was delivered up by treachery, and Suputay put all the males of the imperial race to death; but, by the exprefs command of Oktay, fpared the inhabitants, who are faid to have amounted to 1,400,000 families. After this disaster the unhappy monarch left his troops at Quey-tefu, and retired to Juning-fu, a city in the fouthern part of Honan, attended only by 400 perfons. Here the diftance of the Moguls made him think of living at eafe; but while he flattered himself with these vain hopes, the enemy's army arrived before the city and invested it. The garrifon were terrified at their approach; but were encouraged by the emperor, and his brave general Hu-fye-hu, to hold out to the laft. As there were not in the city a fufficient number of men, the women, dreffed in mens cloaths, were employed to carry wood, ftones, and other neceffary materials to the walls. their efforts, however, were ineffectual, They were reduced to fuch extremities, that for three months they fed on human flesh, killing the old and feeble, as well as many prifoners, for food. This being known to the Mo. guls, they made a general affault in January 1234. The attack continued from morning till night; but at laft the affailants were repulfed. In this action, however, the Kin loft all their best officers; upon which the emperor refigned the crown to Cheng-lin, a prince of the blood. Next morning, while the ceremony of investing the new emperor was performing, the enemy mounted the fouth walls, which were defended only by 200 men; and

All

the fouth gate being at the fame time abandoned, the whole army broke in. They were oppofed, however, by Hu fye-hu; who, with 1000 foldiers, continued to fight with amazing intrepidi ty. In the mean time Shew-fu, feeing every thing irreparably loft, lodg ed the feal of the empire in a house ; and then caufing fheaves of ftraw to be fet round it, ordered it to be set on fire as foon as he was dead. After giving this order he hanged himself, and his commands were executed by his domeftics. Hu-fye-hu, who fill continued fighting with great bravery, no fooner heard of the tragical death of the emperor, than he drowned himself in the river Ju; as did alfo 5co of his most resolute foldiers. The fame day the new emperor, Cheng-lin, was flain in a tumult; and thus a total end was put to the dominion of the Kin Tartars in China.

The empire of China was now to be shared between the Song, or southern Chinese, and the Moguls. It had been agreed upon, that the province of Honan fhould be delivered up to the Song as foon as the war was finished. But they, without waiting for the expiration of the term, or giving Oktay notice of their proceedings, introduced their troops into Kay-fong-fu, Loyang, and other confiderable cities. On this the Mogul general resolved to attack them; and repafling the Yellow River, cut in pieces part of the garrison of Loyang, while they were out in fearch of provifions.

In 1236, the Moguls made great progrefs, took feveral cities, and put vaft numbers to the fword. Prince Kotovan forced the paffages into the diftrict of fan-chong-fu in the province of Shenfi, which he entered with an army of 500,000 men. Here a terrible battle was fought between the vaft army of the Moguls and the Chinefe troops, who had been driven from the paffages they defended. The latter confifted only of 10,000 horse and foot, who were almoft entirely cut off; and the Moguls loft fuch a number of men, that the blood is faid to have run for two leagues together. After this victory the Moguls entered Se-chwen, which they almot entirely reduced, committing fuch barbarities, that in

one

one city, 40,000 people chofe rather to put an end to their own lives than fubmit to fuch cruel conquerors.

In 1237, the Moguls received a confiderable check before the city of Gantong in Kyang-nan, the fiege of which they were obliged to raife with lofs. In 1238 they befieged Lu-chew, another city in the fame province. They furrounded it with a rampart of earth and a double ditch; but the Chinese general ordered their intrenchments to be filled with immenfe quantities of herbs fteeped in oil, and then fet on fire, while he thot ftones upon them from a tower seven ftories high. At the fame time a vigorous fally was made; and the Mogul army being thrown into the utmost disorder, were obliged finally to abandon the fiege, and retire northwards.

In 1255, they re-entered the province of Se-chwen; but ftill met with vigorous oppofition. In 1259, they undertook the fiege of Ho-chew, a ftrong city to the weft of Peking, defended by Vang-kyen, a very able officer, who commanded a numerous garrifon. The fiege continued from the month of February till Auguft: during which time the Moguls loft an immenfe number of men. On the 10th of Auguft they made a general affault in the night. They mounted the walls before the governor had intelligence; but were foon attacked by him with the utmost fury. The Mogul emperor, Meng-ko, himfelf came to the fcalade; but his prefence was not fufficient to overcome the valour of Vang-kyen. At the fame time the fcaling ladders of the Moguls were blown down by a storm; upon which a terrible slaughter enfued, and amongst the reft fell the emperor himself. Upon this difafter the Mogul generals agreed to raise the fiege, and retire towards Shen-fi.

On the death of Meng-ko, Hupilay, who fucceeded him, laid fiege to Vuchang-fu, a city not far diftant from the capital of the Song empire. At this the emperor being greatly alarmed, diftributed immenfe fums among his troops; and, having raised a formidable ariny, marched to the relief of Vuchang-fu. Unfortunately the command of this army was committed to

ས།

the care of Kya-tse-tau, a man without courage or integrity; who being overcome with fear, not daring to take any effectual step for its relief, made propofals of peace. A treaty was accordingly concluded, by which Kyatfe-tau engaged to pay an annual tribute of about £.50,000 in filver, and as much in filk; acknowledging likewife the fovereignty of the Moguls over the Song empire. In confequence of this treaty, the Moguls retreated after the boundaries of the two empires had been fixed, and repaffed the Kyang; but 170 of them having ftaid on the other fide of the river, were put to death by Kya-tfe-tau.

This wicked minifter totally concealed from the emperor his having made fuch a fhameful treaty with the Moguls; and the 170 foldiers maffacred by his order, gave occafion to a report that the enemy 1d been defeated; fo that the Song court believed that they had been compelled to retreat by the fuperior valour and wisdom of Kya-tfe-tau. This proved the ruin of the empire; for, in 1260, the Mogul emperor fent Hauking to the Chinese court to execute the treaty according to the terms agreed on with Kya-tfe-tau. The minifter, dreading the arrival of this envoy, imprisoned him near Nanking; and took all poffible care that neither Hupilay, nor Li-tfong the Chinese emperor, fhould ever hear any thing of him.

It was impoffible fuch unparalleled conduct could fail to produce a new war. Hupilay's courtiers inceffantly preffed him to revenge himself on the Song for their treacherous behaviour; and he foon publifhed a manifesto against them, which was followed by a renewal of hoftilities in 1268. The Mogul army amounted to 300,000 men; but notwithstanding their num bers, little progrefs was made till the year 1271. Syan-yang and Fan-ching, cities in the province of Se-chew, had been befieged for a long time ineffectually; but this year an Igur lord advised Hupilay to fend for feveral of those engineers out of the weft, who knew how to caft ftones of 150 pounds weight out of their engines, which made holes of feven or eight feet wide in the ftrongeft walls. Two of thefe engineers were accordingly.

accordingly fent for; and after ving a fpecimen of their art before Hupilay, were fent to the army in 1272. In the beginning of 1273 they planted their engines against the city of Fan-ching, and prefently made a breach in the walls. After a bloody conflict the fuburbs were taken; and foon after the Moguls made themfelves mafters of the walls and gates of the city. Nevertheless, a Chinefe officer, with only 100 foldiers, refolved to fight from ftreet to street. This he did for a long while with the greatest obftinacy, killing vaft numbers of the Moguls; and the parties are faid to have been fo much overcome with thirst, that they drank human blood to quench it. The Chinese set fire to the houses, that the great beams, falling down, might embarrass the way of their purfuers; but at laft being quite wearied out, and filled with defpair, they put an end to their own lives. After the taking of Fan-ching, all the materials which had ferved at the fiege, were tranfported to Seyen-yang. The two engineers pofted themfelves against a wooden retrenchment raised on the ramparts. This they quickly demolished; and the befieged were fo intimidated by the noife and havock made by the ffones caft from thefe terrible engines, that they immediately furrendered.

Notwithstanding the progrefs of the Moguls, vaft territories ftill remained to be fubdued, before they could become mafters of all the Chinese empire. On the death of the Chincfe emperor, the mandarins raised to the throne his brother, named Te-ping, at that time but eight years of age. His army confifted of no fewer than 200,000 men; but being utterly void of difcipline, and entirely ignorant of the art of war, they were defeated by 20,000 Mogul troops. Nor was their fleet more fuccefsful; for being put in confufion by that of the Moguls, and the emperor in danger of falling into their hands, one of the officers taking him on his thoulders, jumped with him into the fea, where they were both drown

ed.

Most of the mandarins followed this example, as did alfo the emprefs and minifter, all the ladies and maids of honour, and multitudes of others, infomuch that 100,000 people are

thought to have perished that day. Thus ended the Chinefe race of emperors; and the Mogul dynasty, known by the name of Ywen, now commenced.

Though no race of men that ever yet exifted were more remarkable for cruelty and barbarity than the Moguls; yet it doth not appear that the empe rors of the Ywen dynatty were in any refpect worse than their predeceffors. On the contrary, Hupilay, by the Chinefe called Shi-tfu, found the way of reconciling the people to his government, and even of endearing himself to them fo much, that the reign of his family was ftiled by the Chinese the wife government. In the third year of his reign he formed a defign of reducing the islands of Japan, and the kingdoms of Tonquin and Cochinchina. Both thefe enterprises ended unfortunately, but the first remarkably fo; for of 100,000 perfons employed in it, only four or five efcaped with the melancholy news of the deftruction of the reft, who all perished by hipwreck. Shi-tfu reigned 15 years, died in the 8oth year of his age, and was fucceeded by his grandfon. The throne continued in the Ywen family till the year 1367, when Shun-ti, the laft of that dynafty, was driven out by a Chinese, named Chu. During this period the Tartars had become enervated by long profperity; and the Chinefe had been roufed into valour by their subjection. Shun-ti, the reigning prince, was quite funk in floth and debauchery; and the empire, befides, was oppreffed by a wicked minifter named Ama. In June 1355, Chu, a Chinefe of mean extraction, and head of a fmall party, fet out from How-chew, paffed the Kyang, and took Tay-ping. He then affociated himself with fome other malcontents, at the head of whom he reduced the town of Tu-chew. Soon after he made himself master of Nanking, having defeated the Moguls who came to its relief. In December 1356, he was able to raise 100,000 men, at the head of whom he took the city of U-chew; and here, affembling his generals, it was refolved neither to commit flaughters nor to plunder. The moft formidable enemy he had to deal with was Chen-yew-lyang, ftyled “ Emperor of the Han," This man being

grieved

grieved at the progrefs made by Chu, equipped a fleet, and raised a formidable army, in order to reduce Nanchang-fu, which his antagonist had made himself mafter of. The governor, however, found means to inform Chu of his danger; upon which that chief caufed a fleet to be fitted out at Nanking, in which he embarked 200,000 foldiers. As foon as Chen-yewlyang was informed of his enemy's approach, he raised the fiege of Nanchang-fu, and gave orders for attacking Chu's naval force. An engagement ensued between a part of the Beets, in which Chu proved victorious; and next day all the squadrons having joined in order to come to a general engagement, Chu gained a fecond victory, and burnt 100 of the enemy's veffels. A third and fourth engagement happened, in both which Chu gained the victory; and in the laft, Chen-yew-lyang himself was killed, his fon taken prifoner, and his generals obliged to furrender themfelves with all their forces and veffels.

In January 1364, Chu's generals propofed to have him proclaimed emperor; but this he declined, and at firft contented himself with the title of king of U. In February he made himself mafter of Vu-chang-fu, where, with his ufual humanity, he relieved thofe in diftrefs, encouraged the literati, and would allow his troops neither to plunder nor deftroy. This wife conduct procured him an eafy conqueft both of Kyang-fi and Hu-quang. The Chinese fubmitted to him in crowds, and profeffed the greatest veneration and refpect for his perfon and government. All this time Shun-ti, with an unaccountable negligence, never thought of exerting himself against Chu, but continued to employ his forces against the rebels, who had taken up arms in various parts of the empire; fo that Chu found himself in a condition to affume the title of emperor. This he chofe to do at Nanking, on the first day of the year 1368. After this his troops entered the province of Honan, which they prefently reduced. In the third month, Chu, who had now taken the title of Hong-vu, or Tay-tfu, reduced the fortrefs of Tong-quan; after which his troops-entered Pecheli

I

from Honan on the one fide, and Shantong the other. Here his generals defeated and killed one of Shun-ti's officers; after which they took the city of Tong-chew, and then prepared to attack the capital, from which they were now but 12 miles diftant. On their approach the emperor fled with all his family beyond the great wall, and this put an end to the dynafty of Ywen. In 1370 he died, and was fucceeded by his fon, whom the fucceffor of Hong-vu drove beyond the Kobi, or Great Defert, which feparates China from Tartary. They continued their incurfions, however, for many years; nor did they cease their attempts till the year 1583, when vast numbers of them were cut in pieces by the Chinese troops.

The 21st dynasty of Chinefe emperors, founded in 1368 by Chu, continued till the year 1644, when they were again expelled by the Tartars. The last Chinese emperor was named Whay-tfong, and afcended the throne in 1628. He was a great lover of the fciences, and a favourer of the Chriftians; though much addicted to the fuperftition of the Bonzes. He found himself engaged in a war with the Tartars, and a number of rebels in different provinces. In 1636, the Tartars and rebels composed four great armies, commanded by as many generals; which, however were foon reduced to two, commanded by Li and Chang. Thefe agreed to divide the empire between them; Chang taking the western provinces, and Li the eaftern ones. The latter feized on part of Shen-fi, and then of Honan, whofe capital, named Kay-fong-fu, he laid fiege to, but was repulfed with lofs. He renewed it fix months after, but without fuccefs; the belieged choofing rather to feed on human flesh than furrender. The imperial forces coming foon after to its affiftance, the general made no doubt of being able to destroy the rebels at once, by breaking down the banks of the Yellow River; but unfortunately the rebels efcaped to the mountains, while the city was quite overflowed, and 300,000 of the inhabitants perished.

After this dilafter, Li marched into the provinces of Shen-fi and Honan;

where