The Emperor Rides on Horse-back, in the Head of his Army through these Desert Places, and these Steep Mountains, and far from great Roads, exposed all the Day to the Scorchings of the Sun, to the Rains, and to all the Injuries of the Air. Many of those which had been in the last War, assured me, that they had not suffered so much during all that as during this Hunting. In so much that the Emperor, whose principal Aim it was to give his Forces a Breathing, performed effectually what he pretended. The second Reason he had of undertaking this Journy, was that he might keep the Western _Tartars_ in their Duty, and to prevent any pernitious Designs that might be formed against the States. It was for this that he entred their Country with so great an Army, and with so great Preparations for War. Having carried along several great Guns, that he might cause them to be Discharged from time to time into the Vallies, and by the Noise and Fire which issued out of the Mouths of those Dragons, which served to Ornament them, he might cast a Dread upon the Rout. Besides this great Retinue, he would yet be accompanied with all the Marks of Grander, with which he was environed at the Court at _Pekin_. To wit, with a Multitude of Drums, Trumpets, Timbals, and other Musical Instruments, which formed Consorts During his sitting at Table, when he entred the Palace, or when he went out. He caused all these to March with him, that he might by this outward Pomp Astonish these _Barbarous_ People, to strike them with a Fear and Respect of his Imperial Majesty. For the Empire of _China_ never had any Enemies more to be feared than these Western _Tartars_; which beginning on the East of _China_ encompass it with an almost infinite of People, and keep it as it were continually beleaguered on the North and West sides thereof; and 'twas to make a Bulwork against their Incursions, that a _Chinese_ Emperor in antient Times caused this great Wall to be Built, which separates _China_ from their Country. I have passed it four times, and have considered it very attentively. And I can say without Hyperbolizing, that all the seven Wonders of the World put together, are not comparable to this Work. And all that Fame has spread concerning it among the _Europeans_, is far short of what I my self have seen.