a Soldier of that place told me that he saw a Black cut the Throat of a Hollander that remained upon the place and swallowed down the Blood hot They are very hardy and couragious in War fearing neither Sword or Dart yet there are some Cowards The subjects of Monomotapa when they kill any Strange Customs of the Blacks of their Enemies cut off their Privy-Members and having dried them give them their Wives to wear about their Neck of which they are not a little Proud For they who have the most are the most esteemed in regard that Evidences the Husband to be the more hardy and valiant They carry them before the King to declare where and when they purchased the same As for the Carrack called Oleveira Oleveira Carrack she was lost near the Isles Quemades not far from Goa being so close pursued by the Hollanders that they were constrained to put out the Boat and save themselves by going a shore setting Fire to their Ship The Carrack named the Salvation was carried towards the Coast of Arabia to the Confines of the Abassins and was there also Shipwrackt I believe this happened through the Villany of the Master and Pilot who having a mind to Inrich themselves with the Money of private Persons and the Cavedal which is that of the King 's for the lading of Peper run purposely a ground upon the Coast Then was it time for every one to save himself taking with him his Money and Arms not thinking to lade themselves with Victuals The Master and Pilot agreed before to put the Money into the Boat with some Victuals and Arms and some of their Confidents went to cross the Coast passing the Red-Sea as far as the Persian Gulf to recover Ormus When this was known at Goa they dispatch'd Gallies after them and were taken towards Ormus and brought Prisoners to Goa whilst I was there The rest who were about 400 white Strange Adventure of the Portugals in Ethiopia Men and 300 Negro Slaves set themselves in order to march along the Coast and recover a certain Port of the Red-Sea to Embark for the Indies But as they marched with Colours displayed and crying * Sautiago thinking to make the Ethiopians afraid of them but it fell out to the contrary Insomuch that being fatigued with Hunger Thirst and weariness and troubled with the Enemy behind every one was forced to shift for himself and the hindermost were killed by the Ethiopians The rest who saved themselves fell into the hands of a most barbarous King who seeing so many Blacks of their own Nation Captives amongst these Portugals Hypocritically told them that if they would tender their Arms they should receive no hurt They believing that and seeing themselves encompassed about on every side delivered up their Arms and presently this Abassin King caused them to be taken and led one after another into a great place before his Pallace and afterwards having stripped them stark-naked ordered them to sit down in a Ring and caused an Herald to Proclaim their Death saying that it was his Pleasure to have all their Heads chopt off before his People But it happened by chance that in the same Ship that was thus lost there was a Persian Ambassador who had been sent into Europe from the great Sophy of Persia to demand succour of the Christian Princes against the Turk This Ambassador having been well received and amongst others by the King of Spain with noble and rich Presents he returned in this Ship by the way of the Indies I saw him at Lisbon march about the City in great State and had his Turbant covered with precious Stones Now this Ambassador who saved himself among these poor Wretches fell upon his Knees before the King desiring that he would please to give these Christians their Lives seeing he had taken from them all they had and suffer them to Embark in some Port of his Country telling him amongst other things that if he knew but the Power of Spain he would not offer them the least Injury and that their Prince was able in a little time to Ruin him The King was a little pacified at these Words and told the Ambassador that for his Sake he would give them their Lives on condition they would presently depart his Dominions or else he would put them to Death The Portugals seeing this were not a little glad to have their Lives saved got away Naked as they were and Embarked in a Ship of an Arabian Trafficking upon the Coast of India who gave them Victuals and Passage upon hopes to be recompenced at Goa and being arrived the Master came to demand his Hire and Charges but Good Office ill requiâ—ed was Laughed at He came to the Viceroy Andre Furtade de Mendoce but could not get any thing One of these Seamen that were saved being my Friend told me That the Master Cannonier mightily lamented the loss of a Stone of a strange Virtue and excellent Odour for having it about Odoriferent Stone him he seemed to have a Scent of Musk and Ambergreece The Virtue was such that being Soaked in Water it was an excellent Remedy against any Disease and had experienced it upon several of their Men who as soon as they drank of the Water wherein it was soaked found themselves presently eased and were cured according to the quantity which they took The aptain would have given him a 1000 Duckets for it but he would not take under 3 or 4000. He came by it one day as they made a Halt taking his Harquebuss and going about the Woods to shoot something to Eat he found an Animal of the bigness of a Deer but a little higher who had two Horns below the Eyes Animal carrying an excellent Stone and had the fortune to shoot him in the Head This Beast gave a leap to run upon him but he fell down dead He and his Companions cut him up to Roast him upon the Coals and as he was going to Eat some of the Pluck he found this Stone in a little bag which at first he made no account of but having washed it he found it of so curious and polished bright colour and of so sweet a smell that he kept it up carefully The Coast of Ethiopia is full of excellent and odoriferous Herbs and perhaps this Animal might feed thereupon and that may be the cause of the Virtue of the Stone Thus was the greatest part of the Fleet lost For of 14 Vessels there arrived but 4 at the Indies with a Hulk which served us for a Patach yet not without having the Masts broke in pieces There was a Carracon of the Fleet which sailed back for Portugal But before we depart from this Coast of Africa I will relate the strange Tragick Distory of Emanuel de Sosa Sepulveda Fortune which formerly happened to one Emanuel de Sosa called Sepulveda a Portugal Gentleman and how he was lost upon this Coast of Ethiopia
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
in those Northern Parts is Mexico or Temistitan opulent in Riches and all manner of Delights Before she was subject to the Spaniards she contain'd as they say above 70000 Houses with an exceeding great and glorious Temple where they sacrificed Men Women and Children of all Ages and Sex to their Idols in cleaving them down the Breast and plucking out their Hearts whilst they were beating which they cast into the Faces of these Idols and sometimes they thus open'd Women with Child but especially Virgins tho' how beautiful soever were not exempt and whom they used in a most shameful manner in exposing that which Nature hath hid from the Eyes of all the World For this their great Cruelty and horrible Tyranny they acquir'd a very bad Name amongst the People their Neighbours who would never become their Friends but by Force and what was the most strange they spared not their nearest Kindred for these abominable Sacrifices and when any Man of Authority came to die they interred with him their Slaves alive to bear him Company in the other World When they had offer'd in Sacrifice their Enemies they cut the Bodies into pieces and then roast them to feast with their Friends therewith The Caribes another People towards the South do the same of which we will speak in its proper place Ferdinand Cortez who conquer'd Mexico had no small Trouble to make them quit this abominable Custom also the Hatred which their Neighbours bore them was cause of their total Destruction For they rais'd such great Numbers for the Assistance of Cortez that at last by their Help after a great Slaughter of 'em he got the Victory and took their City to the extream Joy and Contentment of these neighbouring Indians their ever sworn Enemies The Septentrional or North Part of America comprehends the Countries America of Mexico or New-Spain Florida Virginia Canada New France Estotiland the Countries of Labradâ—r and Cortereal and several other Countries towards the North to the Straights of Anian who are not yet discover'd Towards the North of New Spain were several Countries discover'd by the Spaniards in the Year 1583. as the Land of Conquas Passaguates Tiquas Toboses Jumans Quires Pattarabives Cumanes Quivora and others The Meridional or South Part of America contains several Provinces as Peru Chile Los Patagons Brazile Cariabane Cumana Dariena Vraba Castâ—llia d'Oro New-Granadae and others besides the Isles as well in the North Sea as Cuba Hispaniola and others as those in he South-Sea of Solomon and others unknown Brazil has for Limits towards the North the great River of the Amazons and towards the South Rio di la Platâ— or the River of Silver This Country is very pleasant and agreeable with a good Air and temperate for the most part hot and moist abounding in several sorts of wild Fruits and in Raisins Potato's and Cassaves of which the Inhabitants live There are a great Number of terrestrial and watry Animals which feed upon these Fruits and Serpents Wonderful Serpents of such a strange and monstrous sort that the colour of the Skin only is enough to cause Horror and Amazement They frequently eat the Armadilla which is a Creature armed with a Coat as also the Crocodile and Gouana's which is a sort of a Lizard with very long Feet The Flesh of these are savoury enough tho' sweetish and insipid The People of Brazil are great Enemies Brazilians great Enemies to the Portuguese to the Portuguese and when they can catch any of 'em they eat them without Intermission and what is most admirable they know how to find out by the sandy and dirty Ways the Portuguese above all other Nations whatsoever and can discover them by their Tract like as the Hunts-man does the wild Beasts They once took a Portugal Woman Miserable End of a young Woman young and very beautiful whom the French who were there could not save from being eaten and which was done in a strange manner for assembling a Company of them together in a Ring in the midst of whom was set this poor young Woman then having stript her stark naked not at all regarding her Modesty they viewed her from Head to Foot and after having well consider'd her Delineaments some commending one thing and some another they fell to howling and yelling like so many Devils whereupon immediately like a Company of hunger-starv'd Dogs they fell upon this poor innocent Creature and in less than two Minutes tore her into above a Thousand pieces which they as suddenly swallow'd down They are very Vindictive never pardoning but by force and not of Good-will When the French arrive there they give them their Daughters to lie withal hoping they will give them something at their Departure The Third Continent is Terra-Australis not yet discover'd which is otherwise call'd the Land of Fire of Parrots and New Guiney There towards the calm Sea and the Archipelago of St. Lazarus are the Isles of Solomon not yet fully discover'd Some Years since a Portugal Captain named Pedro Fernandes di Quieros sailed round some Parts thereof and tells Wonders of those Countries how that they abound in Beauty and Goodness insomuch that they resemble an Earthly Paradise But we ought to wait for a more certain and ample Discovery The Geographers and Portugal Pilots tell us That these Countries of Terra-Australis are greater than Europe and part of Asia This Captain Pedro-Fernandes found out there the Bays of St. Philip and St. James and the Port of Vera Crux which as they say is capable of above a Thousand Ships in the Altitude of Fifteen Degrees and a half JOHN MOCQVET THE CONTENTS Of this BOOK THE First Book of the Travels and Voyages of John Mocquet to Libia the Canaries and Barbary Page 1. The Second Book of the Travels and Voyages to the West-Indies as into the River of the Amazons the Country of the Caripous and Caribes and other Countries of the West p. 39 The Third Book of the Travels and Voyages to Morocco and other Places of Africa p. 139 The Fourth Book of the Travels and Voyages to Aethiopia Mozambique Goa and other Places of Africa and the East-Indies p. 197 The Fifth Book of the Travels and Voyages to Syria Jerusalem and the Holy-Land The Sixth and Last Book of the Travels and Voyages to Spain with an Intention to pass farther and what was the Hindrance thereof THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO Lybia the Canaries and BARBARY BOOK I. ACcording to the desire I had of a Long time to Travel about the World I had a mind to begin with Africa having occasionally found a Ship bound for Lybia I parted then from St. Malo the 9th Parting from St. Malo 16â—1 Encounter with a Ship of October 1601. and embarqued in the Ship called the Serene Laden with Salt and very well furnished with Victuals and munition of War we were 25. men in all and having born to the S-West and the
the Indians call this Wood of Aloes Aupariebou We gathered then together in the River of Cayenne store of this Wood of Aloes which was very good and excellent but the quantity that hath been found thereof greater than has been hitherto seen hath been the cause that it is not so much esteemed as formerly yet nevertheless the able and learned Apothecaries of Tours Poitiers Angiers Rochelle and other Cities have bought it of me at ten fifteen and twenty Sols the Ounce I believe that if this Wood of Aloes of the West was dryed and cut twenty or thirty years like that of the Ganges where the best grows that it would very much resemble it in Virtue Colour and Odour But in regard I brought it green as it was the ignorant Apothecaries thought it was not the right Wood of Aloes But to return to this River of Cayenne there is in the middle of it a little Island about 100 Paces in compass where a great number of Birds from all parts thereabouts come to take their rest at night and amongst others some of those beautiful Birds have Carnation Feathers quite to the Bill and having a mind to carry some of them alive with me into France I strewed Bird-lime all over this little Island for I had brought 9 or 10 Pounds of it from France and the next day some of our Men went there who found a great number of them taken But as the ill fortune would have it they tarried not till I could see them for I was then in the Ship but Eat them all up like Gluttons as they were which I was mightily vexed at These Birds are of the bigness of a Crane and are at first of a Dove colour then in growing change by little and little into a Carnation The Indians make their Garments of them and Crowns of Feathers for their Heads And it is a fine sight to see them thus array'd painting also their Bodies with * Zinzolin or Red the colour of the Indians a reddish colour which is that they use to Paint themselves withall This is made of a little Seed inclosed in a Vessel of the Fashion of Alquequangi a little Plant which grows commonly in the Vinyards They are called Coquelourdes and are filled full with these little red Seeds wherewith they Paint themselves In the mean time we set these Caribes to work and employed them in looking out the Wood of Aloes and gave them a Hatchet or Bill for a piece or two of this Wood and when they had prepared a piece they came to give me notice of it to know if it was neat and peeled of from the white Wood which is round about it and hath in it neither Force nor Virtue They set several Men to trail a piece of this Wood to the Sea side for it is very heavy Then they chose which they liked best a Hatchet or a Bill to exchange for their Wood. I saw one of these Caribes who was mightily puzzel'd and in great doubt which of the two he should chuse and was a long time considering and pausing with himself which would be the most necessary for him at last after having well considered and bethought himself he took the Hatchet seeing he who gave it him began to be angry for his standing so long about it They brought us also to Sell an abundance of Fruits as Anano's and Plantins which are long Figs and as big as a Cervela with Patato's and other Things good to Eat Also some Cervelas Crocodiles and a sort of an Animal armed with a Coat which the Spaniards call Armadille I made the Armadille Dissection of a Crocodile and Eat some of it's Flesh which is pretty good only it is a little sweet and unsavory though I had well Salted and Spiced it I had also in exchange of them another sort of a Creature which is a kind of an Ape or Marmot but Apis. more Arch and Roguish and with a very long Tail The Indians say that this Beast carries her young ones upon her Back when she has cast them out of her Belly and goes jumping from Tree to Tree with them upon her Reins and when any one of them is ready to fall she holds them up with her Tail This Animal makes such a noise about the Woods that when they are together tho' never so few you would say there were a hundred Hogs a killing That which I bought was Dead and cost me a little Horn It was a Female having two Teats in the Stomach like a Woman The Indians had taken it with the Bow and it had a stroke with an Arrow in the Belly and carried one of her young ones upon her Back which they brought us to Sell for a Hatchet This little one being in our Ship howled after such manner that it made us all quite Deaf it died afterward for it would not Eat There happened to be a Monkey at that time in our Ship and this Creature catching fast hold about its middle griped it so hard that the poor Monkey could not shake it off running about the Cordage from one side to another and endeavouring with his Paws to make her fall but in vain We had another Animal the strangest that can be imagined for it had a very long Beard the Head set up very high and the Legs very long with three Paws behind and two before It kept it self continually in a Ball not being able to stand upon its Legs We tied a Rope cross the Ship and then put this Beast upon it but she continued always in a round like a Ball. That which was given it to Eat she took in her Paw like a Monkey and so put it in her Mouth We had many strange Creatures which it would be too long and tedious to give a particular account of I return then to some Manners and Fashions that I have observed amongst these Caribes A little before our departure from this River of Cayenne we saw one day these Caribes leading a new Bride about the Manner of the Caribes in their Marriages Woods with a very great noise and pursued and killed all that they found about the Forest Then they came to the Sea side to see our Vessels These are People of a very good Stature and Plump They sat down upon the Bank of the River to view our Ship at their leisure This Bride was there all alone with a company of these Savages and having continued there some time to see us with Admiration she again rose up then the others conducted her about the Woods as before Thus they lead about their Wives their Kindred and Friends As I kept Watch one night upon the Deck I saw these Caribes upon a high Mountain keeping also Watch and Sounding with a Horn very loud then all the other Habitations answered in the same manner every hour of the night After that they made a clear Fire which they presently put out again They do
Bread and finding it very short we were forced to come to parting and my part fell to about 8 or 10 pound as well good as mouldy But having a great many Parrots to feed I was in perplexity what to do being this Animal is very Gluttonous At last I was resolved to â—kill the greediest and Rost him which I did and Eat him up before I came to want more Bisquet In the mean time seeing the Wind was not favourable for us we began already to Extream Council hold Council that if this Weather continued any longer we should be constrained to cast Lots who should Eat his Companion We had in our Ship 3 or 4 Indians who would have passed the first But in the midst of these Perplexities it pleased the Divine Goodness to visit us a little after St. John's Day and to send us a fair Wind which carried us to the Isle de Flores one of the Asores where we took a little Refreshment but not being able to have as much as we desired we crossed the Coast in waiting for the Wind but as it came good in the night we quitted the Isle and happily took our Course as far as Conâ—ale in Britagne where we arrived the 15th of August 1604. for which all Praise and Glory be to the Most High The End of the Second Book A Description of the following Cutts First The manner of the Fights betwixt the Caribes and the Caripous Secondly The Indian Woman go thus about the Woods looking Fruits to Eat A Description of the following Cutts The First How the Caripous are Euiqpped going to War against the Caribes How the Caribes take Fish The First The manner of the Dances of the Caribes Amazons going to the Wars A Description of the following Cutts The First The manner of the Cannoes or Boats of the Caripous and other Indians The Second How the Caribes Roast and Eat the Flesh of their Enemies A Description of the following Cutts The First How the Caribes Eat the Flesh of the Caripous and Feast together therewith The Second Amaca 's or Hanging-Beds of the Caripous THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO MOROCCO And other Places of AFRICA BOOK III. THE Voyage that I had made the former year to the West-Indies had left me such a desire to see also the rest of the World that I was resolved to go to the East-Indies if I found any fit opportunity For this effect I parted from Paris the 12th of April 1605. and taking my way straight to Britagne I went to Embark at St. Lezer St. Nazare in a Ship of Poligain where we were not above twenty Persons in all We were at the beginning of this Voyage so beaten with contrary Winds that we were forced to the Coast of Galice a little below Cape dâ— Vere Having continued there for some time we set sail with the Wind and arrived at Lisbon in Portugal at such time as they were Rejoycing for the Birth of an Infant of Spain which was a very fine sight For after having Rejoycing at Lisbon a long time run the Bulls according to their manner of Pastime where there was a great many Horses maimed and Cavalliers overturned Lamed to the Ground they laded a Bull with Crackers but there was such a great number of them on him that he fell down under the Burthen and they were forced to fetch a strong Ox to carry them and yet he stoop'd under so heavy a Load These Crackers were fastened one to another so that they covered all the Body of this Ox then there was others tied to his Horns When the Feast was ended fire was put to these Crackers and then you would have said that the Ox flew in the Air with such an Impetuosity which looked like Lightning for Ten Thousand Muskets would not have made so great a noise each Cracker answering one another so that the Ox remained quite roasted I made some stay at Lisbon upon the hopes that I should as I have said Dutch Army towards Lisbon find passage to the East-Indies if the Fleet had gone there that year But as it was ready to part the Dutch Fleet came to cast Anchor about the Bar of Lisbon where they stayed a long time waiting for the said Fleet but the Portuguese were not so foolish as to venture out After that Don Louis Fajardo General of the Army knowing that the Hollanders were now retired riged out a Fleet of 35 sail to follow after and went a good way out into the Sea sending a little Ship before called the Pearl taken from the Rochellers to discover'em But this Vessel meeting with the Hollanders was taken by them and all the rest returned to the Haven of Lisbon without doing any thing Having then lost this occasion of passing to the East-Indies at that time I was resolved to go to Barbary and for this Cause Embarked at Cascais in a Vessel belonging to Captain Poulâ—t of Rochelle We bore South East and passed Voyage into Barbary along by Azamor near to the City of Lions which is a place ruined having still very high Towers On Wednesday the 8th day of the month we cast Anchor in the Road of Saffy Saffy where I tarried some time without going on Shore at all But Cidi-Hamet Talbe or Secretary to the King of Morocco Mulei-Boufairs being come to Saffy with his Almahalle or Almahalle little Army to conduct the Caravan which was come to Morocco and to reconduct the other which was going there he sell Sick and having heard that there was a Tabibe or a Physitian on board our Ship he sent some Moors immediately to fetch me I went with them on Land not knowing what they would do with me and coming there upon the Port I found this Cidi-Hamet sitting with a great number of Moors along the Walls of the Castle and as soon as he saw me he rose up and taking me by the Hand led me into his Camp which was without Saffy into his Tent being very fine and curiously Embroidered with Figures after the Moresque There I found a Jew which served for Interpreter in the Gemique which is Spanish or corrupted Portuguese which I understood and having discoursed with me about his Disease I resolved upon that which I thought best for his Cure and for this cause went on board our Ship to look for Drugs fit for this purpose In short I Purged him so that I caused him to Vomit up Worms like little Serpents which made me not a little admire for they were so very great and long that it was almost impossible to imagine that such odious and horrible things could be in Human Bodies Since that he was very well and was my great Friend and he and his Alcades shewed me all the kindness imaginable He gave me a Horse to go to Morocco making very much of me by the way Thus we parted from Saffy to go to Morocco the 28th of August and went
in Syria where they use a certain Vessel pierced with holes at the bottom and make their Tears run down from thence right upon the Sepulcher which is environed with all kind of Flowers I will add to this that all the Moors are nothing else but Captives Slaves Moors Slaves to their King of their King for they dare not so much as stir out of the Country and Kingdom without his express Licence and Command as I have taken notice of several times at Saffy I remember one day a young Man a Moor having by chance cast himself into a Boat of the Christians out of curiosity or to play and Fish the Haquin seeing him caused him to be taken by his Serjeants then to be laid upon the Ground and cruelly Bastinadoed Whilst I was at Saffy waiting for my departure I went about the Fields and Desarts to look for Plants and delicate Flowers to carry to the King I gathered a great many of them which I laid up and having caused Biscuit to be made for my Voyage with other Refreshments we set sail the 24th of Jan. 1607. and having contrary Winds Departure for France towards the South Line Having been driven from one side to the other we arrived in the end near the Coast of England in very tempestuous weather having been so beaten by contrary Winds we knew not well how far we had to any Land in regard that we were scarce able to take the heighth of the Sun or Stars But thereupon seeing a Ship coming much about the bigness of ours streight to us we lowred our Sails to tarry for her making signs for her to come up which they did telling us that the South Line was very near South-line us and what Wind was best for us to take We were very glad at this news and a little after we saw the South-Line but the Weather was very tempestuous and I believe that without this advice we should have gone near to have lost our selves on the Rocks which are low and in great numbers Being entered into the Channel we descried a Ship making full sail upon us and believing that it was a Fleming we prepared our selves to receive her but the night coming on which was very Stormy we lost her bearing more to the N.E. The next morning we saw the Isle of Wight imagining Wight-Island it was the Land of England But approaching nearer we sound out our mistake and Coasting it a little we perceiv'd the Land of England which lay to the N. E. of us and went to cast Anchor in a Bay which advanced into the Land and where there was a little Village Those of the place seeing us Anchor there came on board us and told us that when the Sea went out we should be a-ground and that it behoved us to set sail in all haste to go to a Port not far from thence so they helped and conducted us to the said Port near the * Ports-mout Poulle in a Creek not far from a Tower where we were at Harbour But the night being come we had the strangest and most horrible Storm that had been heard of of a long time insomuch that Horrible â—â—mpest we were forced to cast 3 or 4 Anchors which were all little enough to hold our Ship This happened on Shrove-Tuesday the 27th of Feb. and in this Storm two Ships were lost near the Isle of Wight the one a Fleming who was lading and the other a French who seeing themselves near being lost put out the Boat to save themselves leaving nothing in the Ship save a Cat But these People approaching near Land a Wave came which oâ—erturned the Boat and they were all lost The Ship in the mean time went with a right Winds towards Plimouth a Town and Port of England Some People from the Coast seeing this Ship thus sail towards Land where there was no Port ran to give them notice thereof But calling out aloud and no Strange Accident one answering they knew not what to think judging they might be Pirates who had not a mind to be known In the end seeing the Ship like to be cast away they resolved to Board her and entering they found nothing but this Cat at which they were mightily astonished and took the Ship into Port It was laden with Corn and after having heard that the People were lost near the Isle of Wight they left it in the hands of the Justice until it might be restored to the right Owners This great Storm the cause of all these Accidents was such that it caused a great distraction and loss of People along the Coast of England as we heard since When we came to Portsmouth we found out the Truth of this and how the Sea had overwhelmed certain places a good way within Portsmouth which is a pleasant Sea Port Portsmouth Town After having been some days at Portsmouth to refresh our selves and to wait for a Wind to carry us to Havre-de-Grace where our Ship was to go to leave there some Merchandize of Barbary When the Wind was favourable to us we set sail the 16th of March and the nexâ— day in the evening we arrived at the Haven for which I praised God for having delivered me from so many Perils and Dangers and going by Land to Roan I there tarried for my Materials which were brought in the Hoy and having received and laded them in a Boat upon the River I went straight to Paris where I arrived the 25th of March From thence I went to Fontainebleau to give the King an account of my Voyage and to present him with the Plants and Rarities which Ihad brought with which his Majesty was mighty well pleased enquiring of me several things to which I answered him in the best manner I could And desiring to know further of me what it was that Muley-Zidan did I answered him that he had encamped in the Desarts with his Army and amongst other things I gave him account of 3 Cavalliers belonging to Muley-Boufairs his Brother with whom he had War the which being come into his Almahalle to render themselves to him he demanded of them if they came to him of their own Free-Will and having answered him they did and that they had quitted Muley-Boufairs because they had been falsly accused of a Robbery in the Juderie at Morocco Zidan hearing this asked them if they took him for a Receiver of Robbers and thereupon commanded them to be Beheaded shewing thereby a great Act of Justice for a Barbarian and Mahometan Having finished this Discourse and several others to the late King and presented him with the Plants and Rarities and the White Honey of Africa exceeding clear and excellent of which his Majesty tasted and caused me to lay it carefully up I went back to Paris to think in good earnest of the Voyage that I had a mind to make to the East-Indies A Description of the following Cutts The First The manner
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
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