these a Carrack and two Hulks We parted from the River of Lisbon the 29th of March on Easter-Eve Parting from Lisbon and bore to the S. W. and to the S. We had great Winds in the sight of Madera and passing close thereby the Galley of Good Jesus lost us and took her Course as far as Mosambique where she was taken by the Hollanders Amongst us was the greatest Disorder and Confusion imaginable because of the Peoples Vomiting up and Misery upon the Sea down and making Dung upon one another There was nothing to be heard but Lamentations and Groans of those who were straightned with Thirst Hunger and Sicknesses and other Incommodities and Cursing the time of their Embarkment their Fathers and Mothers and themselves who were the cause thereof so that one would have thought â—hey had been out of their Wits and like Mad-mâ—n amongst the excessive heats under the Line and the Abrolles and Calms This continued a long time and the hot Rains upon the Coast of 〈◊〉 was also very troublesome to us which afterwards turned to Worms â—f that which was wet was not presently dried It was a wonderful trouble to me to see my Quilt wet and Worms crawling all over These Rains are so stinking that they rot and spoil not only the Pody but also all Cloths Chests Utensils and other Things And not having any more Cloths to shift my self withall I was forced to dry upon me that which I woâ—e with my Quilt by lying thereupon but I was well fitted for that for the Fever with a great pain in 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 the Reins took the in such a manner that I had a fit of Sickness almost the whole Voyage yet this was not all for I had besides that the Lovende Sâ—uâ—â—â— which the Portugals call Berber and the Hollanders Scurbus which rotted almost all my Gumbs and rendered a sort of a black and puâ—rified Blood My Knees were so contracted that I could not bend my Limbs my Legs and Thighs were as black as Members Gan-green'd and was constrained to be continually Launcing to get out this black and putrified Blood I Launced also my Gums which were black and blue and surmounting my Misoâ—y of the Authoâ— Teeth going every day out upon the side of the Ship holding by the Cordage with a little Looking Glass in my hand to see where to cut When I had cut away this dead Flesh and drawn away abundance of black Blood I washed my Mouth and Teeth with Urine but the next morning there was as much And my ill fortune was that I could not Eat having more mind to swallow than to chew upon the account of the great pains which this Disease causes I found no better remedy than the Syrop of Gilli-flowers and good red Wine Great numbers Died every day thereof and there was nothing to be seen but Bodies a flinging over-board and the most part Died without help some behind Chests having their Eyes and the Soles of their Feet eaten up with Rats Others were found Dead in their Beds after having been let Blood and moving their Arms the Veins opened and their Blood ran out Oftentimes after having received their Allowance which might be about a Pint of Water and putting it near them to Drink when a-dry their Companions rob'd these poor Sick Wretches of this little Water they being asleep or turned to the other side Sometimes being under Deck in a dark place not seeing Strange â—hirst one another they would fight amongst themselves and strike one another if they caught any about to Steal their Water and thus oftentimes were they deprived of Water and for want of a little Draught they miserably died without any one offering to help them to never so little no not the Father the Son nor the Brother the Brother so much did every Man's particular Thirst compel him to Rob his Companions I found my self oftentimes thus deceived of my allowance but yet I comforted my self as well as I could seeing so many others in the same case And this was the cause that I durst not Sleep too much and commonly put my Water where it could not be easily taken without wakening of me After we had suffer'd thus much and passed the Line the Count de la Fera Vice-roy was took sick of a hot Count de la Fera falls Sick and Dies Fever and continued so but 6 days before he died He had a little before Commanded the Estrinquere which is he whose Office is to hoise the great Sail by a Wheel to be made Prisoner because he had Amancebado that is to say he kept a Concubine which he had brought from Portugal and she being with Child when she Embark'd was brought to Bed in our Ship The Woman was sent back to Portugal in the Hulk in which was the Body of the Count de la Fera. This Gentleman being dead I Embalmed his Body because of the hotness of the Climate then having Embark'd it with about 50 sick Persons who were to return again to Portugal tho not without great Intreaties to have the Licence of Captain More Major We called this Captain of Captain Major-Mor the Vice-Admiral named Don Christoval de Norogne to Command in the Admiral where the said Captain Mor being did us a thousand sorts of Injuries and Cruelties as well by Prisons as by cheating us of our ordinary allowance of Victuals for he reserved several Pipes of Wine and a great deal of Flesh and Oil to sell at Mozambique Don Alfonce de Norogne Captain of our Ship under the Vice-roy when he was alive was mightily displeased at this bad usage of Don Cristoval but he died within few days and his Body was cast into the Sea Having passed about 9 or 10 Degrees on the other side the Line the Wind not being favourable to us the Pilots held Council what they should do whether to Tack about and return to Portugal or to pass on fearing they could not pass the Cape of Good Hope in regard it was too late in the year because that the Mâ—eson's or Muessons Winds of the Season were almost passed already After having well disputed upon this subject they tack'd about to return to Portugal and having sailed some time the Captain Mor who had a mind to make himself by this Voyage seeing himself at that time Chief Commander of the Fleet threatned the Master and Pilot with ill Language and commanded them to Tack again for the Indies This was in the night and thereupon Fires were made for a signal for the other Vessels to return but we were not long together in Consort for the rest knowing the Viceroy to be Dead separated from us and each held theirs a part we continuing alone until we came to the Isles of Angoche near the River of Cumana Cumana where we found the St. Anthony and St. Bartholomew Galleys We held then our Course tho' our Men dying every day of the
were deceiv'd as well by the Currents as the Cards we had with us which were false we finding but one which was sure for those Parts for instead of going to the Islands aforesaid we passed along by the Isle of Tobaco and Trinidad and cast Anchor at the White-Island where we could find no Water of which we were in great want 'T was no small Astonishment to me how such infinite Multitudes of Cabrits and wild Goats besides other Animals which are there could live without so much as a drop of Water But the Divine Providence has otherways order'd it as I have above-touched by the cool Nights and the Dew with which these Beasts refresh themselves From thence we went to Margurite Island but we found no more Water there than we did at the other and so to the Mouth of the River of Cumana where the People of a Dutch Ship had told us we should find some as we did at the entrance of the River This shews the Necessity of having good Cards and well rectified But to return to the Three Continents or firm Lands from the which all the Earth is separated by Waters The first was by the Ancients divided into Three Parts to wit Europe Asia and Africa all joining together The second unknown to the Ancients and discover'd in our Days by Christopher Columbus in the Year 1492 and by Americus Vespusius 1495 is America which for its vast Extent is divided into Two Parts Peru and Mexico The Third is Terra-Australis or Magâ—llanique thus called because of Ferdinand Mâ—gâ—llan who first found it out in the Year 1519. 'T is suppos'd to be very great but for the most part uninhabited and desart 'T is also called Terradâ—l Fuâ—go for the great quantity of Fire there seen the which renders it infertile and uninhabited there being several Mines of Sulphur which cause those Fires as I saw in going to the East-Indies for passing by the Isles of Cape-Verd there is one of them called Fuâ—go because of the Fire there continually seen and is very high One Night we sailed round about her and seeing the Flames in great abundance coming out of the Earth in all parts we were not a little surpriz'd and the next Day passing along by this same Island with a very boisterous Wind and approaching somewhat nigh the Wind drove the sulphurous Vapours just into our Europe Faces which were very unsupportable and stinking Europe the first of the Three Continents is the least in extent and for her Fertility gives not place to the others but for Arms Laws Policy Relâ—gion Sciences Arts and all sorts of Vertues she surpasses them by far And of the Provinces of Europe France alone is the Principal according to the Judgment of the Nations her Enemies whether you consider the Goodness Fertility and Beauty of her Lands the Excellency and temperature of the Air Salubrity and Abundance of her Waters and Number of Inhabitants or in regard of the Manners of her People their Piety Valour Erudition Justice Discipline Liberality Freeness Courtesie Liberty and all other Qualities Military and Civil In short the Renown of the French has been such by their Conquest in the East that their Name remains there for an Eternal Memory So that to this Day throughout all Asia and Africa they call all those who come from Europe by the Name of Franghi let them be of what Country soever The Fertility of France is such that she furnisheth abundantly Spain Portugal Italy and Barbary not only with Corn but several other Commodities and I verily think that every Year there goes from Provence Languedoc Bretagne Poitou Xaintoign and Normandy above Six thousand Ships laden with Corn and other Merchandise To Lisbon only there comes above a Thousand as well great as small And I believe that the Spaniards and Portugueses could not furnish Corn for so many Voyages were they not supplied therewith from France to make Biscuit besides Sails Cordage Salt Flesh and other necessary things to furnish their Ships The Principal Provinces of Europe are France Spain Germany High and Low Italy Sclavonia Greece Hungary Poland Danemark Sweden Muscovy and the Isles of England Scotland Ireland Island Groneland Sicilia Candia Malta Sardania Corse Corfu Majorica Minorica and others of the Archipelago Asia the second Part of our first Asia Continent is of very great Extent Riches and Fertility and ever very Renowned for having born the greatest Monarchies and first Empires as of the Assyrians Babylonians Persians Greeks Parthians Bactrians Indians and others and at this Day the Turks Persians Arabians Tartars Mogols Chineses and other Indians But above all this Part is the most esteemed for the Creation of the first Man planted in the Terrestrial Paradice Colonies and People coming from thence and dispersed through the rest of the World and moreover for the Redemption of Mankind and the Operation of our Salvation acted therein besides for having given Religion Science Arts Laws Policy Arms and Artifices to all the other Parts In short for its inestimable Riches the Wisdom and Dexterity of its Inhabitants Her most celebrated Provinces are the Countries of the Great Tâ—rk of Persia the Great Mâ—gul the â—rand Tâ—rtar Arabia China Indâ—storn of the Eâ—st-Indies Gâ—zarat Cambaya Malâ—bar Coromandel Bengall Pegu Stam and the rest of the Iâ—dâ—es on this and the other side the Ganges The Isles are innumerable as Zâ—ilan Sumatra the Java's Molucco's Philipians Japan Maldaves and others The last Part of this first Continent is Africa separated from Europe Africa by the Mediterranean-Sea and from Asia by the Isthmus of Egypt and the Red-Sea making as it were a Peninsula encompass'd on all sides by the Sea save by this Neck of Land which is betwixt Egypt and Palestine It s principal Provinces are Egypt Barbary Fez and Morocco Aethiopia or Abyssine Nubia Lybia Guinia Congo Monomotapa and others of the South This Part is very good and fertile in some Places but it contains several great and sandy Desarts without Water That part of Africa unknown to the Ancients and discover'd by the Portuguese about the Year 1497. is called by the Arabians Zanzibar and extends from the Lakes where the Nile takes its Original to the Cape of Good-hope containing several good Countries bordering upon Monomotapa as amongst others Cefala and Cuama from whence is gotten great quantity of fine Gold insomuch that it has been the Opinion of several That those Countries of Cefala and Cnama was the Ophir where Solomon sent to fetch Gold tho' others think 't was rather Malaca and other Places of the East-Indies and some will have it to be Peru in the West The last Continent of the World is that Part which we call America America and which as I have said is divided into Two Principal Parts Mexico in the North and Peru in the South separated by the Isthmus of Banama There are several Provinces and People of different Languages Manners and Fashions The greatest City
the most part of the Portuguese there are such People who are carried thither by Force being Condemned to be there for a certain time to make War upon the Moors In short they are almost all Criminals otherwise none would be forced to go there Having then happily overtaken our Ship our Captain for excuse let me understand that he could not possibly wait any longer for me than until it was day and if I had not been on Shore he had set sail the same night knowing well that when I saw them under Sail I would hast to overtake them But I believe the reason that moved him to go away so hastily without me was rather to Cheat me of some Money he owed me and which he payed me since against his Will telling me of his Losses but I was not bound to participate in them forasmuch as the Condition that I made with him was neither for Gain nor Loss But I could not get any thing of him since then but by an Arrest of the Parliament of Britagne in the year 1603. At last we arrived at St. Lucar de Baramede the 26th of May and being Return to Africa laden with Salt in the River of Seville near the Salt Houses which are there along the Coast with some Scutcheneal such as Scarlet is Dyed withall and about 30000 Crowns in silver we set sail the first of July 1692. accompanied with a little Flemish Ship The 15th of the same month we descried two great Ships with their Pataches making full Sail upon us and we prepared our selves presently to receive them ordering our Net-Decks and running out our Guns in number 12 with our Pattereroes and Muskets then hoisting our Sails and handling our Yards we waited for them in so ready a posture It was not long before they were upon us commanding us to yield and lowâ— Sea Fight our Sails and began to Salute us each with a Broadside in the mean time we answering them in the same Language The Fight continued so all the day without gaining the least advantage one upon the other We had a great many Men wounded and burnt with the Fire that was kindled by some shots of Cannon and besides one of the great Guns burst into pieces and the Breech of it broke through the two Decks fell amongst the Salt and had it not been for the resistance that it found there it had broke quite through our Ship In the mean time the small Shot rained upon us like Hail and Fight without ceasing insomuch that our Ship was pierced through and through on every side and our Sails torn to pieces and all the rest in bad Equipage but the night coming on the Fight ceased and our Enemies watched us all until the next morning then they left us at liberty All the night we were consulting what we had best to do whether to yield or to defend our selves to the utmost extremity Our Captain who was of a great Courage would not hearken to yielding Hereupon we went on Board the Flemish-Ship to know their pleasure This Flemish Ship at the first discharge of her Cannon had burnt all her Powder with which a great number of her Men were disabled and destroyed They had put their Powder in a piece of Sail and a Match by chance touched Accident of Powder it which was the cause of this Disaster I went on Board their Ship to see their Pilot who was quite Roasted his Belly Face and Hands mighty big and swoln I brought him some Remedies I was told that there was 4 or 5 others in a very bad condition and ready to die They were Burnt after a pitious and horrible manner In the end after we had well consulted with them it was resolved to send a Boat on Board the Enemies with a Man that understood their Language for they were English which was done accordingly But they would be pacified by no means whatsoever saying that they had suffered a great deal of loss and that it was not their intention to do any harm to the French that being expresly forbidden them by the Queen their Mistress But that our Captain had given them ill Language and that he himself must come on Board them to excuse himself which was done And they came on Board us with the Boats of their two Ships searching in every corner but they found nothing but Salt If they had met with our Money we should have been in a bad condition for they had played us a trick of their Trade At last after we had made them some Presents of Victuals they withdrew themselves Their Mariners and Soldiers told us that they had resolved to have fallen upon us in the morning and had Drank to one another and Eaten all the little Refreshment they had hoping to have more of us but God by his Mercy delivered us from them Note That one of these two Ships by whom we were so beaten was the same that we met withall at the first and who had so Chased us in going to Cape-blane We having then made him good chear which was no small help to us at this time and he told us that after he had left us he took a Ship laden with Sugar which paid him well for the trouble we had given him In the mean time being delivered Return to France from this danger we made such haste that we came near to the Cape de Finibus Terrae On this side of the Cape we found a German Ship of Lubeck very great and put out our Boat to go on board her that we might have a little Biscquet for ours began to grow very short because of the contrary * Weather Winds We had some of them for our Money and they were very honest Men I went also in the Boat to have some Refreshments but the Wind being high the Sea began to rise and the fore part of our Boat was broke drawing so much Water that we could find no way to empty it and the German Ship was already a League and a half off us but they made a little towards us seeing us in the Sea We had much ado to get into her and I to find hold betwixt the Boat and the Ship because the Sea was very high but taking the end of a Rope I was very nimble in mounting up and had only one Leg a little bruised At last we arrived at St. Malo the first of August The next day our Ship Arriving at St. Malo was likely to have been lost in the Road by a great Storm that came so Great danger at An-charing unlooked for that we had much ado to make the Men go on board or otherways the Vessel had sunk at Anchor And so this troublesome Voyage was finished for which God be Praised The End of the First Book A Description of the following Cutts The First The Lybians towards Cape Blanc go in this posture in search of their Enemies The Second
The Form of the Lybian's Fighting when they Encounter A Description of the following Cutts The Third The Moors of Lybia go thus about the Desarts with their Camels The Fourth How the Lybian Women go along by the Sea-side to look for Fish and Ostrich Eggs to Eat THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO THE WEST-INDIES As also In the River of the Amazons The Country of the Caripous and Caribes and other Nations and Isles of the West BOOK II. AFter my return from Africa I continued for sometime in France and knowing that the Sieur de la Ravardiere was going away for the West-Indies I had a wonderful desire to see those Countries And for this cause I Embarking 〈◊〉 the VVest-Indies entered my self with the Sieur and embarked in his Ship in the Haven of Concale the 12th of Jan. 1604. We went to Choâ—e which is an Isle five Leagues from Concale there to wait for weather for us to put to Sea We tarried there till the 24th of the same month not without having suffered by great Winds which gave us no small trouble besides the loss of our Boat but we soon bought another and at last set Sail bearing South East and in a little time we passed the Channel And forasmuch as our Ship was new not having as yet been proved in the Sea we were forced to suffer her to take her Course not being able to bear up Sails for she veer'd after such a manner her Top-Mast being high that she was continually with one side upon the Water which was a great inconvenience Nevertheless putting our trust in God we procâ—â—ded on and at the height of the Cape de Finibus Terrae we found a Ship and made full sail upon her to 〈…〉 know what she was Coming close up to and being prepared to attack her and they also provided to receive us we found out that it was a French Ship the Captain of which came upon the Poop well armed with his Sword in his Hand crying out to us to Steer Leeward or else he would fire at us but we contesting a little thereupon that we might find out and know of what part of France he might be After having well considered him and known him for a right French Man we came up Leewards of him of which he was not a little Proud thinking that we had been a Man of War and durst not assault him for he made signs with his Sword upon the Poop that we had done well to come up so But our design was not to make War upon our Nation besides that might have been enough to have broken our Voyage Holding then our Course we had so favourable a Wind that we came near to the Isle of Lancelot the 6th of February upon which day one of our Men fell over-board into the Sea and A Disaster it was impossible to save him because we had a right Wind. We presently tack'd about upon him but coming to the place where he fell we found nothing but his Breeches All things that belong'd to him were presently put to Sale upon the Deck and every one Bought what he had occasion for as Coats Linnen and other Things with which he was very well furnished For he was of the Rank of the Nobility and was named Duvall of Vire in Normandy This done we steered our Course towards the Coast of Barbary and the Coast of Barbary next day the 11th of the same month we arrived near the Land to find out a Port and cast Anchor in a Creek or Bay putting out our Boat to go on shore But coming there we found nothing but Desarts without any thing else insomuch that we returned again on Board the Ship to weigh Anchor and to look out some other place more proper to stay in and to fit up our Patache scowring along this Coast all the rest of that day and the night following Presently after we found out the Mouth of the River Rio Del Oro Rio del Oro. where we sent our Boat to Sound the depth of it and to see if we might enter in so far as a little Island of flat Sand which those in the Boat had perceived They found but 12 Foot of Water and our Ship drew already as many so that the Keel touched Ground but we had no harm because the River was Calm Coming then to this Island within the River of Rio del Oro about five Leagues within from the Mouth which is not taken notice of in the Map We named the same Touch Island after Touch-Island the Sirname of our Commander the Sieur de la Ravardiere where we cast Anchor to tarry for some time And the 15th of February we began to fit up our Patache which was ready in our Ship and only wanted Mounting and Chaulking During this time we went daily to look for Shells the finest in the world and seemed as if they were enamel'd with Gold As I put some of them into my Handkerchief the Poison within which was like little Snails stained it into a Purple colour and Sea Purple perhaps it might be the same Espece de Murex so celebrated by the Antients and unknown at this time We gathered a great quantity of them for their Beauty We caught also with our Nets as much Fish as we could well find use for This Island was full of Cormorants Cormorants and their watch of which we killed a great number with our Harquebus shot Of these Birds there is always one that watches when the others take their rest as 't is said of the Cranes We had much ado to come near them and were forced to creep along the Ground to take them But after they began to be a little frighted with the Harquebusses they came no more as before We tarried near a month in this place without seeing any Man but about five or six days before our departure we perceived a Smoak in the Country about three Leagues from us which made us conjecture that there were some Lybians and Blacks Blacks of Lybia come there because towards the Coast the Desarts of Lybia begin These Blacks were come a great way out of the Country to look towards the â—oast to see if there was any Ship to Traffick for Ambergreece and carried their Water in Goat-Skins cut out for that purpose In the night time they creep into the Sand to Sleep for fear of being smelt out by the Lions and Tygers who are there in abundance It might be properly said that these Men came out of Hell they were so burnt and dreadful to look upon We sent then our Boat to know the cause of these Fires seen in the Country and found three of these Lybians of which 2 came on board our Ship and one of them told me that he was the Kinsman of Taquide Alforme of Cape Blanc of whom I enquir'd news forasmuch as having heard of him in my former Voyage towards Cape Blanc
some Beads with which they decked their Bodies and in their Ears they had long pieces of Wood and round Stones They had brought a thousand Trifles as Gumbs Egrets Feathers and Parrots Tobacco and other Things which the Country afforded I did my Duty in Exchanging and took as much of their Merchandize as I possibly could We made our Bargains without speaking Merchandize of the Country shewing by signs what we would have or give The King of this Country of Yapoco named Anacajoury was then making ready Cannoe's to go against the Caribes This was the cause that we could not then make much Bartering in thâ—s place For they were all busie at work some at the Cannoes others to make Arms for their Visage and others to prepare Victuals which was the Women's Province we saw all those People mighty busie at that Wine of the Country Amongst others they made a certain Wine or Drink of Fruits which inebritates like Beer or Citre They chaw a certain Root then Boil it and after Strain it There is another sort of it more thick which is made of Fruits and Palms as big as a Gall-Nut they bruise only the Bark which is upon them it 's as yellow as an Orange for they make nothing of the Nut after that they Boil and Strain it They have another sort which might be taken for clear Milk mixed with soft Cheese I had a great mind to Taste of it besides being desired by them to Drink I would not refuse for fear they should have thought that I intended 'em any harm insomuch that they were mightily pleased to see me Drink of it They do not love Melancholly and green Persons and if you make sport with them in Jest it must be Nature and Manners of those Indians in Laughing I clapped them sometimes upon the Back with my Hand in Jest but they would always return again the like in Laughing They are very hardy and warlike courteous and liberal and have very cheerful Looks The Caribes are not so for they would give us as the saying is not so much as a * Patato Patatte This is a Root like a Turnip but longer and of a red and yellow colour It is of a very good taste and they Eat it boiled or roasted upon the Coals but if it is often Eat of it is very Disrellishing and Windy As for Fruits they have several Fruits sorts of 'em good to Eat but wild and unknown to us except the Ananana's or Figs which are very long and as big as a great Pudding They have Plantanes or Fig-Trees which the Spaniards call Plantins They make small thin Cakes of Casavâ— which is a Root that they Grate upon a Stone or a piece of Wood made in the form of a File not having any Mortar to bruise it in Then they put 〈◊〉 it into a great Basket made of little Twigs like Willows These Roots also yield a juice which is poisonous After having well pressed it dried it and sop'd it in Water they make it 〈◊〉 into a Paste spread it upon a great flat Stone that is upon the Fire which gives it the form of a very thin Cake When it is done so it may be kept three or four years or more so it be laid in a dry place I tasted of it but it did not relish as our Bread and I believe that one would soon be weary of Eating it often They make several other sorts of things to Eat but very course and grosly which is not very pleasant to those who are not accustomed vvith them I saw them make their preparations in the Lodgings of their King Anacajoury to Victual the Cannoes which were to go to the War but they put all these Casaves or Cakes which I spoke of into a Pile in the middle of the House and their Drink in Gourd Bottles which hold more than a Pail For these Gourd Bottles are of a wonderful greatness in comparison to ours I saw at the House of this King a Caribe-Slave whom they made to work to get ready these Victuals for the War This little Naval Army was about 35 Cannoes with 25 or 30 men in each But to return again to our arrival in this place of Yapaco as soon as we King Anacajoury were entered into this Country the King Anacajoury gave us two of his Nephews in Hostage if by chance any of ours should there loose himself or his way The Grandchild of this King led me about the Woods for all the Coast is covered with Trees and there was some Indians with him This little Boy was very brisk and mighty witty for a Savage and shewed me the Fruits which Mancenille Fruâ—t were good to Eat and which not Amongst others they have a Fruit called Mancenille of the bigness of an Orange very yellow and beautiful to look upon but yet so venomous that they say if it is put never so little to the Mouth it kills immediately and the Fish themselves which are all along the Coast who suck this Fruit are carried by the Sea to Land for the Tree which bears it is near to Sea which comes up into these Woods and drags along with it a thousand sorts of Fruits as we saw in the River of the Amazons The Fish who suck this Fruit peel and loose their Scales Whosoever Eats of this Fish loose all their Epiderme or Upper-Skin like the Lepers who Eat the Flesh of Vipers As soon as any one finds himself seiz'd with such an accident they presently conjecture they have Eat of the Poison of Mancenâ—lle as the Spaniards have named it who inhabit these Indies This King's Grand-Child shewed me several Herbs which they make use of and one amongst others which Antidote against Poison serves them for an Antidote when they are struck with Poisoned Arrows I took some of the Leaves of this Herb to compound an Unguent which is an excellent remedy for Wounds and other Sores I would also have plucked up some of the Root but this little Boy would not suffer it And besides the Indians who were with him seemed to be very angry he had shewed me this Plant which they prised and esteemed above all others I would not insist any more thereupon for fear his Grand-Father should be displeased with me After I had gathered a great quantity of Plants Fruits and other Rarities I returned on board the Ship to lock them up On Tuesday the 11th of April I went to their Habitations to see if I could get any more Curiosities taking some Knives and other Pedlars-Ware to exchange with them Our Piloâ— being with me we went into a Cabin where there were a great number of Indians Men and Women and there were amongst the rest some about 17 or 18 years of Age pounding in a Mortar made of a hollow piece of Wood with a long Stick I also took a Stick to help her to Pound of which she was very
This Gentleman who was rich being in the Indies fell in Love with the Daughter of one Garsias Sola Captain of Bombain a Fortress of the Portugals esteemed one of the most Beautiful Ladies of the East and had many great Suters to Marry her But he not being able to bring his Designs to pass because of her Father who would by no means give his Consent tho' the Daughter was very willing he resolved to rid himself of the Father and for this cause parted one day from Goa with some of his Sworn Companions with whom he Embark'd and coming late in the evening to Bombain they watched their opportunity so that they found this Captain walking along by the Sea and there killed him This was so secretly done that Sosa had no great trouble to attain to his Desires Marrying this fair Orphan named Leonor whom he brought to Goa where having for some time lived in pleasure with her and having two Children by her he had a desire to go with his Family to Portugal to obtain from the King some Preferment greater than that which he had in the Indies And for this cause having bought a good Ship and being Embarked at Cochim with his Wife and Children a great many Slaves and others of his Train he sailed away But coming towards the Cape of Currants and their Vessel running a-ground they were forced to save themselves in the Boat They thought to have arrived at the Little Cafala where the Portugals have a Fort for the great one is towards Mosambique but they found themselves in a Country betwixt the Cape of Currants and that of Good-Hope where they were troubled with the Blacks of the Country along the Sea-side These Blacks not fearing the Harquebusses killed a great number of them the rest amongst whom were Sosa his Wife and Children saved themselves by recovering the Country and came at last into the Power of a King of these Blacks who treated them very kindly But when they departed from thence as they Travelled towards Mosambique they fell into the Hands of the Enemies of this King who did them all the Injuries imaginable in killing the most part and striping the rest Stark-Naked It was no small Grief to Sosa to see himself his Wife and Children in this miserable Estate wandering about the Desarts and Burning Sands of Ethiopia without having wherewithall to Eat Then began the just Judgment of God to fall on Sosa for the Murder of his Father-in-Law He went up and down about the Woods seeking for Raisins to nourish himself his Wife and Children But the greatest motive of Compassion was this poor innocent Lady who seeing her self Naked covered her self with Sand that she might not be seen in this Condition and made the greatest Lamentations imaginable oftentimes telling her Husband that their great Sins were the cause of so many Evils But having continued some days in this Misery after suffering the Death of her Children overwhelmed with Grief Hunger and all sorts of Incommodities was found dying by the wretched Sosa returning from his Quest yet he received her last Sighs with Complaints and Lamentations of his loss and knowing himself to be the cause of all these Misfortunes went away like a Mad Man about the Woods and was never after heard of All the rest of his Company died after the same manner except one Portugal who with great difficulty escaped and arrived at Mosambique where he related this sad Story of which the Portugals have made a Romance They who have Writ of the East-Indies have made ample mention of this Tragical Accident of Sosa and his Wife but they have omitted the Murder of his Father-in-Law which was the occasion of drawing the Judgment of God upon him But before we leave these Blacks it will not be improper to speak something of their Language because it 's Language of the Blacks different from all the other People of Africa That of Mosambique is called Ethiopians and can number no farther than Ten and begin thus Monti 1 Piri 2 Taton 3 Quinna 4 Chanon 5 Tandaton 6 Fongate 7 Nana 8 Quinda 9 Cohomy 10 They call the Head Mesora the Ear Maro the Nose Buonom the Mouth Muromoiu the Face Cohope the Arms Menio the Feet Mirengi the Hair Cici the Teeth Mannon and so of other Things But to return to the 4 Ships which remained from the Shipwrack viz. Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Jerome St. Anthony and St Bartholomew with which we parted from Mosambique Departure from Mosambique from Goa and set sail for Goa the 20th of March 1609. And having then put out to the Main Sea the 23th of March we saw the Isle of Comba This Isle is very high and is to be Combo Isle seen above 25 Leagues distance After that we passed the Line towards the Indies the 5th of April and the 12th being at 4 Degrees on the other side the Line we found an Arabian Ship Arabian Ship which came from Dia and was going to Mecca Our Vice-Admiral made towards her saluting her with 2 or 3 shot of Cannon to make her strike sail the which they would not do until they saw the Bullets fly then they lower'd their Sails and came to us The Captain came with 6 or 7 Arabians of good Fashion carrying with him a Pass-port from the then Vice-roy of the Indies The Captain seeing this Passport durst not do them any harm but having retained them 2 or 3 days had great Presents from them and sent to visit their Ship to see if there was any prohibited Goods therein as Cinnamon Cloves and other things There was about 700 Persons in the Ship the most part Passengers who were going in Pilgrimage to the Sepulcher of their Prophet Mahomet This Ship was said to be worth above Two Millions for there was nothing but Merchandize of Silk and other curious and precious Things After this Encounter we passed the Mouth of the Red-Sea near to the Isle of Socreta on the 7th of May and there Socoreta Isle we had great Calms which in regard of the want we were in for fresh Water and other Necessaries much troubled us When we arrived at the Bar of Goa we had but little Victuals left and had we tarried but a little while longer we had all Died of Hunger By the way we found a Ship which came from Chaoul and was commanded by an Arabian We commanded him with Cannon Shot to lower his Sails for he would not obey at first and being come on Board us Captain Mor made him Prisoner at the Poop where he was for some time but having made some Presents to the Captain he was let go because he Traffick'd with the Portugals We kept two of these Mariners to serve us for the knowledge of the Coast if by chance we should meet with contrary Winds One of these Mariners shewed me a Bird no bigger than a Linnet and told me it never stirred from the Sea
could catch about the Fields the strongest Killing and Massacring their Companions to have a share of them insomuch that they went to hunt after Men as some Savage Beasts and made Parties and Assemblies for this end During this horrible Famine the People of the Kingdoms round about being advertised of this extream necessity equipped a quantity of Vessels laden with Rice and other Victuals which they brought to Pegu and sold it there for what they pleased Amongst the rest there was a Merchant of Goa who arriving there with a Boat laden with Rice as he went Sad History of a Peguan Damsel from House to House to put off his Merchandize taking for payment Money Slaves or other things they could give him He happened upon a House where they had not wherewithall to Buy so much as a Measure of Rice and yet ready to Die with Rage and Hunger but they shewed this Merchant an exceeding Beautiful Woman whom her Brethren and Sisters had a mind to sell for a Slave for certain Measures of Rice the Merchant offered 2 Measures or Bushels and they would have 3 Remonstrating that if they killed this Girl the Flesh would last them and nourish them much longer than his Rice At last when they could not agree the Merchant went his way but no sooner was he gone than they killed this young Woman and cut her to pieces But the Merchant being not a little enamoured with this Maid and besides having Compassion of her mightily desired to save her life soon returned again to give them for her what they demanded But he was mightily astonished and sorry when they shewed him the young Woman in pieces telling him that not thinking he would return they did it to satisfie Hunger Such was the end of this Peguan Damsel and many others had the same Fate This Merchant-related this Tragedy to one of my Friends who passed from Portugal to the East-Indies in the Galion of Good-Jesus Now to return to those of Siam the cause why the King of Siam so barbarously uses the Portugals is that they Cruâ—lties of the Portugals use the same Treatment towards his Captive Subjects I have seen one of them at Goa above 90 years of Age a Joyner by Trade and Slave to a Portugal Gentleman to whom this poor Man was forced to render every day to the value of two Tangues whether he wrought or no and went thus to seek work about the City with his Tools My Host having one day called him to make something for him he told me all the Cruelties which was used against him For when he failed to pay his two Tangues his Master tied him like a Beast to a Stair-Case and gave him so many Blows with a Stick that he left him bruised and maimed and told me that he had been a Slave for above 40 years and had gained his Master good Money and yet he gave him to live upon but a measure of Rice raw every day without any other thing as they do to all the other Indians and sometimes two Baseruques which are some two Deniers to have some Caril to put Miseries of the Slaves amongst the Rice Thus you may see how these Slaves live withoâ—â— either Bread or any other Meat but 〈◊〉 boiled in Water insomuch that several die with Hunger and Work They lie upon the Ground on little Esteres or Matts made of Bull-rushes or the Bark of Trees The Portugals acquire much Reputation of making good Christians for having caused them to be Baptized they thus make them Die miserably Also the Japans knowing their Letchery and insatiable Avarice seem to have had some reason for their rising against them For these who are a subtile and wary People seeing that the design of the Portugals after having made them Christians was to dispossess them of their Lands and Goods by all Inventions therefore they did not care for their Amity much less did they desire 'em to Domination of the Portugals what Govern and this perhaps was one of the causes that they have Martyred so many Jesuits who were utterly innocent of all this For these Japans are mightily Jealous of their Wives and the Japans jealous Portugals had no other aim but to gain them especially those of the greatest with whom afterwards they do what they please which was the reason that moved these People to so much Cruelty I have found out in the Indies that the Whoredoms Ambition Avarice and Greediness of the Portugals has been one of the chiefest causes why the Indians become not Christians so easily This is the Reason why the People of the Portugal Churches who are in those parts mightily desire some French Dutch or Scots to be with them because these People lead a life less impure and scandalous which is the thing that most chiefly maintains and upholds Religion in that part of the World I Religion how and by what maintained have there known a Father Jesuit of the Country of Artois who lived in Salsete which is a little Isle not far from the main Land depending upon Goa he was there as Curate in a great Parrish and understood very well the Indian Tongue But afterward the Jesuites took him from thence to send him to Chaoul and I then saw the poor People of his Parish who mightily lamented that they had lost him some saying that they had rather have had their Arms cut off than have seen him taken away from them For they feared to have some Portugal who would Tyranize over them Thus ye may see what honest Men can do amongst the very Infidels who know how to discern the good from the bad As for the Father Jesuits they pass as far as China to make there some fruit Jesuits in China and fit their beards and hair after the Chinese manner and have their Cloaths made after the same fashion and Learn the Language to Accommodate themselves the more easily thereto but they dare not Preach the Gospel there but in private for fear of being put to Death I have been told at Goa that they have Converted great Numbers of them yea the very Mandarins themselves and Governors of Provinces They have a Church and Colledge at Macao an Isle and City of China and there they Learn the Chinese Language This is about 45 Leagues from Canton one of the greatest Cities in all China Canton a great City where they go through a great River much bigger than the Sene at Roar and is joyned with the Sea At the Port of Canton are continually above three or four thousand very large Boats and there a great Number of Birds of the River retire themselves 〈◊〉 which they leave in the Morning to go into the fields to seek their Living some on one side and some on the other then when the Night comes the Chinese sound a little horn which is heard at a great distance and then these Ducks return every one to his Boat where