I formerly told you, that the Emperor design'd to have come to the Island of _Pou-to_ (a place of great Devotion) to worship in the Month of _May_ last, being the 40th Year of his Age, I should have said of his Reign; but all things being prepared there for his Reception, he was dissuaded from his purpose by some of his _Mandarines_, who made him believe that the terrible Thunder there was very dangerous. This _Pou-to_ is a small Island about 5 Leagues round at the East end of this Island, famous for the Superstitious Pilgrimages made thither for the space of eleven hundred Years: It's inhabited only by _Bonzes_, to the number of 3000, all of the Sect call'd _Hoshang_, or unmarried _Bonzes_, who live a _Pythagorean_ Life; and there they have built 400 Pagodes, two whereof are considerable for their greatness and finery, being lately covered with green and yellow Tiles brought from the Emperor's Palace at _Nankin_, and inwardly adorn'd with stately Idols finely grav'd and gilded, the chief whereof is the Idol _Quon-em_. To these two great Pagodes belong two chief Priests, who govern all the rest. They have several Ways and Avenues cut through the Island, some whereof are pav'd with Flag-stones, and over-shaded with Trees planted on each side: Their dwellings are the best I have yet seen in these Parts. All which are maintain'd by Charitable Devotions; and the Junks which go from _Ning-po_ and this place to _Japan_, touch there both going and coming, to make their Offerings for their good Success. There is another Island call'd _Kim-tong_ 5 Leagues hence in the way to _Ning-po_, whither, they say, do retire a great many _Mandarins_ to live a quiet Life after they have given over their Employments; on that Island also are said to be Silver Mines, but prohibited to be open'd. The rest of the circumjacent Islands are either desert, or meanly inhabited by a few fishing People, but all of them stor'd with abundance of Deer. For it is not long since this Island of _Chusan_ began to be Peopled; it's true, in _Martini_'s Days, about 50 Years ago, it was very Populous for the space of three or four Years, at which time the fury of the _Tartarian_ Conquest was so great, that they left it desolate, not sparing so much as the Mulberry Trees (for then they made a great deal of raw Silk here) and in this condition it continued till about 18 Years ago, that the Walls of the Fort or Town, which now is, were built by the Governor of _Ting-hai_, for a Garrison to expel some Pyrats, who had taken shelter here. About 14 Years ago, the Island beginning to be peopled, there was a _Chumpeen_ or General sent to govern it for three Years, to whom succeeded the late _Chumpeen_ (who procur'd the opening of this Port to Strangers) whose Government continued till _April_ last, being translated to be _Chumpeen_ of _Tien-cing Wei_ near to _Pekin_, and was succeeded by the present _Chumpeen_, who is Son to the Old _Chunkoon_ of _Emuy_.