ABSTRACT
China is almost all a well husbanded country; for as the country is well inhabited, and in the other services of their houses, especially that they are great eaters, and every one seeketh ways to earn their food, and how to maintain their great expenses. Wherefore there are many in those parts, who if they get anything or money one day or one week, they will not labour until after they have consumed all that they have earned in eating and drinking; they may find nothing to take from them. From hence it cometh, that they have in India many grounds in divers places unprofitable; which is not so in China, for every one enjoyeth the fruits of his labour. In the dry lands and stiff, they sow wheat and pulse. In the low lands which are overflowed, which are very extensive, they sow rice; and some of the low lands do yield two or three crops a year.
