acknowledged to the Jesuite that he was an _Israelite_; and he found the Kings Bible, and acknowledged the _Hebrew_ Letters, though he could not read them. By this occasion our people learnt, that ten or twelve families of _Israelites_ were there, and had built a very neat Synagogue which cost ten thousand Crownes, in which they have kept the five Bookes of _Moses_ with great veneration for six hundred yeares. He also affirmed, that in _Hamcheu_ the Metropolis of the Province _Chequiona_, there are farre more Families, with a Synagogue; and else-where that many Families live without a Synagogue, because that by little and little they are extinguished. He relating many things out of the Old Testament, he differed but little in pronouncing those names. He said, that some among them were not ignorant of the _Hebrew_ Tongue, but that himselfe had neglected it, having studied the _China_ Tongue from a Childe. For which cause he was counted almost unworthy of their society, by the Ruler of the Synagogue. But he chiefly looked after this, that he might get to be Doctor. Three yeares after _P. Matthæus Riccius_ sent one of our brethren to that Metropolis, who found all those things true. He compared the beginnings, and endings of the Bookes which the _Jewes_ keep in their Synagogue, with our Pentateuch, and saw no difference, this only, that those had no pricks. The other Jesuite is _Alfonsus Cimedro_, who likewise saith, that there is a great number of _Jewes_ in the Province of _Oroensis_, on the West part of _China_, who know nothing of the comming, and suffering of Jesus. And he from thence gathers, that they are of the ten Tribes, (which opinion I also am of) because those _Chineses_ observe many _Jewish_ Rites, which you may see in a manuscript, which the noble _Jaochimus Wicofortius_ hath. And why might not some of them saile from _China_ to _New-Spaine_, through the streight between _China_, and _Anian_, and _Quivira_, which doe border upon _New-Spaine_; and from thence they went to the Isles of _Panama_, _Peru_, and those thereabouts. These in my judgement are those _Chineses_ of whom _Isaiah_ speakes, Chap. 49. vers. 12. (treating about _Israels_ returne to his Country.) _Behold, these shall come from afarre, and these from the North, and from the West, and these from the Land of Sinim._ And so _Ptolomy_ in _lib._ 7. _c._ 3. _tab._ 11. cals it The country of _Sinim_, or _Sina_; and this is the true sense of the words; _Aben Ezra_ therefore is mistaken, who derives it of Sene, a bush or wood, which he placeth in _Ægypt_. _SECT. 17._