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
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
Thus was the Ship lost and all the Merchandise that was in her and afterward we arrived at Rochelle the 3d of Sept. from thence I came to Paris the 23 of the same Month when our young King Lewis XIII whom God preserve and prosper was gone to be Crowned at Rheims I had heard no News of the unhappy accident happened in the Person of King Henry the Great my good Master untill we were in sight of Lisbon for then according to the custom there came a Caravel from the Port to see and know who we were who told us that sad History which I could scarcely believe but coming to Land it was too much confirmed to my Eternal regret and sorrow THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO Syria and the Holy Land BOOK V. HAving return'd to Paris from so many long and troublesome Voyages after the Death of King Henry the Great whom I can never sufficiently lament and all other good French Men I had a desire to make a Religious Voyage into the Holy Land there to go pay like a good Christian so many Vows I had made to God for the innumerable Perils and Dangers from which it hath pleased him mercifully to preserve me so often In this Resolution I parted from Paris the 19th of July 1611. and took Coach to Marseilles where I arrived Embarkment at Marseilles the 14th Day of August and tarried there for some Days to wait for passage which at last I found in a Ship of Toulon called the St. Francis belonging to Ode Bergue and Vander Strate Merchants of Toulon and Marseilles There embarking the 8th of September we set sail and the 12th saw the Isle of Sardania which Sardania we left on the North-East and the 15th we saw the Coast of Barbary passing near the Isle of Guerite which Guerite Isle is a little Island not far from the main Land where the Robbers and Pyrates lurk as well Turks as Christians we had this Isle towards the South-West The 17th we passed along by Malta Malta then by Sicilia where we found a Sicilia Ship in the fashion of a Galiot who came directly towards us to know if they durst engage us but when they had perceived our Strength they tacked about taking their course towards Barbary seeking other Prey more easie to surprize The 21st we passed along by Candia Candia where there is a little Island called Agose Isle Agose which advances into the Sea with a Point towards the South Then the 27th we went to the Isle of Cyprus towards the City of Bafe Cyprus not far from the Coast and went to pass the Cape de Gate designing to go to Famagusta But having a sharp Gale and good for our Voyage we continued our course bearing towards Tripoly in Syria where we arriv'd Arrival at Tripoly the last Day of September the next Morning the 1sâ— of October I went on shore to lodge in the City in a Campo near the Juderie or Jews-Place Campo These Campo's are great Houses with large Courts and Fountains where Strangers retire themselves for shelter like Inns. These belong to some great Person who letts them out and he who is the Porter thereof whom they call Boabe receives the Money of the Passengers and gives it to the Master of whom he holds it upon Rent Having tarried some time at Tripoly Voyage to Mount Lebanon I had a mind to see Mount Lebanon and for this effect took a Turk with an Ass to carry our Victuals We left the City the 11th of November and went over very high Mountains and troublesome to pass and in the end arrived at the Lodging of a Chaldean Archbishop called Father George who received us after the best manner he could His House is right above Mount Lebanon his Church is under his Habitation and a Water-mill underneath his Church I saw a good Father a Chaldean Priest and Kinsman to this Archbishop who came from grinding his Corn as he shewed us by his Visage all white with Meal and seeing him in this case we knew him not to be of the Church until the next Morning which was Sunday when I saw him go with the Host in his Hand from thence to a Village there to sing Mass The Father George lived there with his Mother Sisters and Nieces making one and the same Family altogether He shewed me a Chapel above his House upon a little Rock right under Mount Lebanon and told methere was there a Hole out of which every Year upon the 1st Day of May only gushes an abundance of Water at such time as they sing Mass in the Chapel The Mountain is covered all over with Cyprus-Trees The Place is very agreeable but the Winter is there very troublesome because of the excessive Cold and great Snows which mightily afflicts these good Fathers so that they are constrained for that cause to pass the Winter near Tripoly and return there again in the Spring The next Morning after we had heard Mass we set forward towards the Place where the Cedars are about Cedars Three Leagues from thence where being come we had such a cold blast of Wind that my Turk blew his Fingers I order'd him to get upon a Cedar-Tree to break me off some Branches but he tarried there not long for the Cold soon made him to descend that he could not get me so much as I desir'd But I feared he would tumble down being half frozen and besides he had not eaten his Breakfast because of their Romadan Romadan or Fast in the which they fast till Evening not daring to eat any thing upon pain of Death except it be in private and those who observe not strictly their Law and when I saw him tremble in good earnest I presently made him come down fearing to lose him From thence we reassumed our way to return to Canibi which is a Place Canibi belonging to the Chaldean Patriarch and had very bad Weather of Rain so that we arrived there late in the Evening after having passed many little Habitations situate for the most part upon the side of inaccessible Rocks and are almost all Chaldean and Greek Christians with some few Moors amongst them We were there very well received and drank excellent Wine which grows in these Mountains The next Day having heard Mass we returned to Tripoli where I passed a very troublesome Winter because Inundations of the great Inundations of Water which came from the Mountains and so swelled a little River which runs through the middle of the City that it bore down part of the Houses with great loss of Merchandise and Water-mills which it carried quite away with the Stone-bridge This was the cause that Bread was there very scarce and dear that we had much adoe to get a little black Biscuit half spoiled which was sold me by weight and at what rate they pleased and that by halves and the People already
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 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
all this that they might be thought not to Sleep for they mightily fear their Enemies the Caripous Now our Ship being laden with Another Voyage of the Author as many Commodities as we were well able to procure and being ready to set Sail I took a Resolution the 17th of May to go once again towards their Habitations with some small Ware as Knives Combs and other Things and gave all these to an Indian to carry in a little Basket who was wonderfully pleased to follow me but he being subtile and sly would not march before me saying that it did not belong to him to go first which made me not a little wonder that this Indian could know what Honour was due to another But the Rascal did it that he might the more easily put his Hand into my Basket and sharp something out I perceived it happily turning my self about and so caught him in the very act upon which I shewed him gently that that was neither handsome nor well done He excused himself as well as he could and then went before me until he found in the Wood a little Way or Path on the right Hand which went straight to his Habitation and then he returned me my Basket not being able to retain him for all I could do I gave him a Comb for his Labour of which he was very glad I do not know but that he had cast something aside of what he had taken out of my Basket I proceeded on my way untill I came to a high Mountain where there were a great number of Caribes with their Wives and Children There by chance I found the Indian our Interpreter who helped me mightily in making my Bargains for what I wanted as well for Parrots as other kind of Animals Having exchanged what I desir'd these Indians led me into another Habitation where I saw Yapoira the Brother Caribe of Atupa who was in our Ship He was upon Yapoira the top of one of their Houses of Palm and as soon as he perceiv'd me he cast himself down and came to embrace me remembring that I had given him a Hatchet when he had broke his own in our Service He spoke to me of his Brother Atoupa and that his Mother had no more than this little Boy who was all her Comfort That the Caripous had killed all his Brothers and Sisters and that if our General would let him return to his Mother he himself was content to go with us into France I told that he should go along with me to make his Remonstrances which he did I asked him for some Water which they call Tonna and presently he caused his Wife to bring me some who was of an extraordinary sweet Nature and very handsome though she was stark Naked Having drank they caused me to enter into a great Hall made of Palms where they keep themselves in the day time with their Amaca's to hold Counsel concerning the Affairs of War Then they led me into a certain House where there was a great many Women and Girls stark naked and put some Patato's upon the Fire for me to Eat and having made some exchange as well for Mace and Patato's as Gums which is a black Bitume which they Chaulk Gums their Cannoes with I laded 2 or 3 Indians and so we returned towards the Port to our Ship I had a great deal of trouble in returning back because these Savages led me through the Wood where there was a great many Waters to pass besides it rained and was very bad Weather After we had gone 2 or 3 Leagues of this bad way we came to the end of a little River and found a Cannoe on Land that wanted only to be set a Float but we had no Oars yet these Indians looked so long amongst the Herbs that at last they found out some that were hid These Oars are very little and like to a Battle-dore which they beat Hemp withall Being thus Embark'd we Rowed so hard that we soon arrived at our Ship where they waited for me with great earnestness not knowing where I should be kept out so late and they were to have set sail the next morning as we did But before we come out of this Country I will not forget that amongst other Rarities that grow there there are certain Gums to be found called Copal and Anime and certain Animes Gums Bitum or black Gum very Odoriferous when it is put upon the Fire It is also good for the Rhume by receiving the Smoak of it the same is also the Anime which is a Gum yellow and transparent like the Gums of Arabia and is found in great Tears As for the Copal it hath not this quality but it serves for * Swellings Aposthumes to ripen and heal them so they come from a cold Cause and Phlegm For as for those which come from Heat and Blood the Copal is not so proper to apply being it is hot This Copal is a White Gum enclining to gray The Tree which bears it is like to a Lawrel in its Leaves but 't is bigger in the Trunk and hath also young ones I picked out some of this Gum by making an Incision in the Tree then the next morning or two days after I found the Gum pure and clear upon the slit The Anime is gotten after the same manner and its Tree also resembles the other As for the Bitum or black Gum it comes from a place where there are Springs of Water and it is gathered mixed with Earth at the foot of certain Trees amongst Green Moss The Indians make use of it instead of Pitch to Chalk their Cannoes As for the Language of these People I will only say that it is of Language of the Caribes several sorts and that of the Caripous is something different from that which the Caribes speak and have much ado to understand other although they are not far distant These Caribes were mighty desirous to know of us what it was that we Worshipped in Heaven whether it was the Sun which they call Occayou or the Moon which they name Nona the Stars Cherica Heaven Capa the Clouds Canopa as for the Fire they call it Ovato Water Tonna the Sea Parano the Woods Vropa the Mouth Pota the Eyes Onou and the Hair Omchay Now as for the Religion of all these Religion of these People People of Brasil and amongst others the Caripous and Caribes they live without Faith and Law and without any certain Belief of a Divinity true or false not Worshipping Idols nor any thing whatsoever only they believe some kind of an Immortality of the Soul They speak much of a God which they call Toupan which is some Caribes deal with the Devil Toupan Devil with whom they have Familiarity and exercise several sorts of Divination and Witchcraft And I remember we were told that when Camaria King of the Caribes had a mind to know any thing concerning their Wars
look for so far and besides there is but little to be found the Weather being so excessive hot for all their Matamores were dried up at that time Having a little refreshed our selves we went to rejoyn the Camp of the Almahalle and pitched our Tents near the River Tensif a little days Journey from Morocco We met a great Tensif â—iver many Arabians all on Horseback with their Launces who came about us to Salute their General Abdassis and others of their Friends who were in our Company I saw them again come with great Humility to Kiss the Hands of this their Chief Abdassis as before There we quenched our Thirst a little with this Water though it was very hot All the Land in these Countries is various some part good and others bad but for the most part Incultivated except that which is near some Water which they Till This River Tensif Breeds the most excellent Trouts of any in the World being very little and their Flesh red but of an excellent Taste and are mightily esteemed at Morocco The next morning going a little Morocco further we discovered Morocco in a great Campagne and this City seems to be situated near to Mount Atlas Mountain Atlas though it is above 7 Leagues distant VVe found by the way some Christians who came about us These are People that Traffick there and when they hear that any other Christians come with the Casile they are very glad and meet them by the way They bring with them a little Mule laden with Victuals Now the most part of the Christians of this Casile were English Prisoners with Irons upon their Feet and had been English Prisoners at Morocco Arrested at Saffy upon the account of an Alcayde named Abdelacinthe who was a Portuguese by Nation but a Renegado And for his Capacity and VVorth he had given him the Command of the Casile who returned from Morocco to Saffy with about 500 Soldiers under his Charge Now it happened by chance that Abdelacinthe and 〈…〉 to him Antonio de Soldaigne and Petro Caesar Portuguese Gentlemen had been both taken at Tangier in Africa and brought to Morocco and being there detained Captives 13 or 14 years until such time that they were Released by the Sieur de l' Isle a Physitian and at that time Agent there for King Henry the Great As these two Portugueses were returning in liberty this Alcayde Abdelacinthe had Negotiated with them to save himself in their Vessel wherein they were to Embark For this cause he went to Pitch his Almahalle towards the place where they come to take Water for the Ships near to the Cape of Cantin and being Cape of Cantin there one night he told his Men that he had caused a Moorish-Woman to be brought him with whom he desired to speak in Secret a good way off from the Camp and took none along with him but a Slave of his When he was near to the Sea-side he fired a Fuzee which was the signal that he had given to those of the Ship As soon as they heard this presently the People of Boat who were hid in the Bushes came to seize upon his Person and took him and carried him away in their Vessel by which means he saved himself The Slave fled to the Almahalle to give them notice of the taking of his Master at which they were mightily astonished and presently retired to Saffy But as the People of an English Boat at the same time were come on Shore for some things they had then occasion for they were Arrested and had Irons clapt upon their Feet as I saw them in the Castle of Saffy in very poor Equipage and were since carried to Morocco where the Merchants paid for them I don't know how many Ounces of Gold which was very near the Ransom of the Alcayde Abdalacinthe who had escap'd For those Kings will not loose any thing it being the Custom at Marocco that when a Slave runs away all the others assemble together and pay for him cautioning one another to go freely about Cautioning of the Slaves at Morocco the City without Irons which is meant of the poorer sort But as for the Rich they are put into the Sisane which is the Kings great Prison Sisane where they are well guarded as these two Portuguese Gentlemen vvere of vvhom I have already spoken To return to the Christians of Morocco who met us by the way they made us very good chear in a Garden along by a pleasant Water running some two Leagues from Morocco The Almahalle entered not into Arrival at Morocco Morocco this day but I left it where it was pitched and went to lie within the City in the House of the Christians paying for my entrance to the Talbe or Register This was the 2d of September 1606. As soon as I was arrived I failed not to go visit the Sieur de l'Isle Physitian who was lodged in a very fine House in the Juderie or Jews-Place The Sieur de l'Isle was a long time near to the Person of the King of Morocco in Quality of an Agent for our King Henry the Great And there had been since sent the Sieur Hubert the King's Physitian in the room of the Sieur de l'Isle Then both went into France but since that the said Sieur de l'Isle returned there again The Sieur Hubert lived about a year at Morocco practising Physick near the King and there following his principal design that is the Learning the Arabick Tongue so that since he rendered himself very expert therein as he hath made publick Profession thereof at Paris it self with great Solemnity He contented himself to depart out of this Country more laden with Science and Arabick Books than with Riches or any Commodities in which the Sieur de l'Isle was more happy than he Being then in the Juderie I was there conducted by a Jew who Cozened me of some Rials giving me falsly to understand that I was to pay some at the Door of this place where we were to enter and indeed he brought one who came to demand it and I was forced to Content them This Juderie or Jews-Place is above Juderie of Morocco a good League from the Douane where the Christians inhabit and near the King's Palace and is like a City by it self encompassed with good Walls having but one Gate guarded by the Moors It may be as big as Meaux There the Jews inhabit to the number of above 4000 and pay Tribute There is also some Christians And in this place also live the Agents and Ambassadors of strange Princes As for the rest of the Christians Trafficking and others they live in the Douane The City of Morocco is very great Desâ—â—iâ—tion of the City of Morocco and is much bigger than that at Paris which is called the City being wonderful populous containing above 400000 Inhabitants of all sorts of Religions and such Streets that for the great multitude
2 or 3 Leagues from thence The next day the 2d of October we went to lie at Saffy and as we approached there passing through some Woods of Broom very high there was two Moorish Cavalliers who took me out of the right way making me go with them cross these Brooms which were so high that one could scarce see another in the middle of them I was upon my Mule and coming near to an old Well they got down bidding me also to do the like I thought there had been there some Fountain to refresh our selves but seeing that they had a mind to make me get down only to entice me into this Well I immediately â—aâ—ger of the Author turned my Mule about towards the great Highway with all the speed I possibly could and thus narrowly escaped from their Hands Their design was as I believe to make me quit the Gold and Silver which I carried and then to cut my Throat and to cast me in some Ditch But I had a good Inspiration when I was just upon the point of descending and as my good Angel would have it the great Road through which the Caravan passed was not far from thence which did facilitate my safety My too much Diligence and the great desire that I had to advance to get to Saffy the first had been the cause of this Accident At last by the Grace of God I arrived happily at Saffy After having a little refreshed my self I took care for my Embarkment and caused my Materials to be visited by the Talbes and payed them their due The next day when I thought to Embark causing my things to be carried to the Port the Talbes came and demanded of me the Letter and Passport from the Haquin of Morocco and having given it them they told me it signified nothing to the purpose because Muley-Boufairs was no longer King of Morocco and that it behoved me to have another from Muley-Abdalla Muley Abdalla King of Morocco who was then King of Morocco under his Father Muley-Chec who was at Fez I was very much afflicted at this Retardment which made me loose the convenience of a Ship that was bound for France Nevertheless being forced to have patience it behoved me to send a Trotier or Messenger to Morocco with our Letter to have another which could not be done without a great deal of Trouble and Expences But my ill fortune was that this Letter being come I must be forced to wait there near 2 months upon the account of a Dutch Ship which was not to set sail till January 1607. This change of Affairs at Morocco happened after my departure from the Revolutions at Morocco City For Muley-Boufairs King of Morocco having lost the Battle against his Nephew Abdalla fled away into the Mountains where he was Robb'd as I have said and Abdalla was then in peaceable possession of Morocco But during the Peace Abdalla having discovered that the other hatched some Treason to dispossess him he Stabb'd him with his own Hands after having reproached him with his Perfidie But after that Zidan his Uncle with the help of a Santon or Marabou hath chased away Abdalla and made himself King of Morocco Afterwards he himself was chased away by the Santon and it was said that they were ready to engage in Battle together and since I have heard that the Santon had been taken by Ziden who had put him to Death by Sawing him down through the middle with two pieces of Wood Since that he and his Nephew Abdalla had agreed together and by the Agreement the Kingdoms of Fez and Sus fell to Abdalla and that of Morocco to Zidan As for the Marabous or Santons they Santons dangerous are very dangerous amongst these People by reason that the pretext of Devotion and Sanctity of their Law as in all others is a great means to Commotions against the State as it is often seen and of fresh memory in him who within this 100 years hath founded this last Family which does Rule there at this day As for Muley-Chec who was at Morocco he went into Spain out of a desire to become Christian and indeed he delivered the strong place of Arache into the hands of the King of Spain who for this gave him a Pension and promised to restore him with an Army to the Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco But those of Fez would not hearken to that not agreeing with the Spaniards And Abdalla his Son returned to Fez who also hindered him insomuch that the Chec has been since constrain'd to go back again of his own accord without gaining any thing of the Spaniards save the loss of putting such a place into their Hands But to return to the Abode that I was Sassy and its Description forced to make at Sassy I employed my self in the mean time in viewing this City and the Parts there abouts 'T is a little City situated upon the brink of the Sea which has no convenient Haven but only a Road and flat Shore and has formerly been possessed by the Portugals It may be as big as Corâ—eil and very well Walled being in habited by all â—oâ—ts of People as Jews Moors and Christians and hath a Douane Doing there I observed amongst other thingâ— the manner of their Marriages which are performed with this Ceremony Manner of the Marriages They put the Bride upon a Mule well furnished and surrounded with a Hoop like a Cage covered with a Carpet after the Turkish manner Scarcely can any see this Woman thus shut up but she can see the whole company through a transparent Vail At the top of this is a Scarf They walk her in this Equipage round about the City and cause to follow after several Mules laden with Baggage of that which the Bride has given her in Marriage Then follow the Men and Women mounted also upon Mules Both the Men and Women make a strange and ridiculous noise as they pass along with their Mouths and Tongues Amongst these are double Drums A-la-Moresque After having finished this walk they go to Dinner then they return to the place And if it is the Wife of a Cavallier or Man of War all his Friends assemble there on Horseback who exercise themselves at justing continuing 2 or 3 hours before the Bride then after that every one withdraws As for the rest if the Husband does not find his Wife a Maid he Divorces her and sends her back with all that she brought and for this they cause the Drawers of the Bride to be carried about the City all stained in Blood to testifie that she was a Virgin The Jews cry and observe the same thing As for what concerns the Dead they have Burying-Places and Sepulchers where they go to Weep and Lament Burials upon the Graves of their departed Friends especially the Women who fail not to go there every Friday and the days of their Festivals The Jews do the same as I have observed
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
they have their Nests and Ducks of China hatch their young ones A Man who shall have a Boat garnished with these Ducks is rich For they sell 'em raw in the Market and some they also Rost to sell A Portugal told me at Goa that going from Macao to Canton he had been Cozened by a Chinese after this manner for having bought one of these Rosted Ducks at a Cooks shop seeing it look well and appearing to be very fat he carried it with him on board his Vessel to eat it but when he had put his knife within it to cut it up he found nothing but the skin which was upon some paper ingeniously fitted up with little sticks which made up the Body of the Duck the Chinese having very Guile and deceits of Chinesâ— dexterously plucked away the flesh and then so well Accommodated this skin that it seemed to be a true Duck of which the Portugal was so ashamed that he durst not say a word thereof to any one for fear of being Laughed at both by the Chinese and his Companions and so eat the skin alone of the Duck without making any further ado These People of China are very subtill and great cheats patient in Labour they wake all the Night long And when two or three are upon one piece of work some go to sleep whilst the others work they come to relieve one another Chiniseâ— cuning Merchants and desirous of Money by turns If they see any Merchant that has Money to lay out they do all they can to have his traffick fetching all sorts of Merchandise if those do not please they go for others untill they have catched his Money There the custom is for all People of the same Office or Trade to live together in the same street as all the Painters in one street all the Shoe-Makers in an other and so also the rest of the Tradesmen the persons of honour are in one street the less Noble in an other and never mix together thinking that a great shame and disgrace They also bring up their Children in their own calling and no other and observe this very strictly When they have a mind to marry their Children they cause them to come all to a certain place designed â—arriages â— China for that purpose which is a great Hall and there put all the Males on one side and the Maids on the other directly over against one another The young women have their faces covered with a Vail and the Boys go to choose which pleases them best and keep to those whom they have taken by the hand this is the manner of their Marriages The Portugals are mighty desirous to have these Chineses for Slaves because they are not only faithful and industrious but also very active in business When the Portugals come to Canton there are Chineses on purpose who make it their Trade to go into the Country towards the Habitations and Villages And when they see there some pretty little Boy or Girl they entice them away with little toys promising them more then when they see them at a little distance they carry them away by force and hide them in certain places waiting till Night comes and then come to the Sea side where they know there are Traffickers to whom they sell them for 12 and 15 Tays a piece which is about 25 Crowns My Hostess at Goa told me that she Chineses â—ow â—tole away had been thus deceived by a Chinese at 8 years of Age A young Chinese Slave gave me an account returning from the Indies how he had been also thus trappan'd by a little Cake which had been given him made of a sort of paste fried of which they make very much use In China are a great Number of Hogs like wild Boars of whom they make Gammons to sell to those who belong to the Sea and especially to the Portugals who come there and have also the same cunning tricks with the Rosted Ducks to pluck away the flesh leaving nothing but the skin which they fill with black Earth with the bones therein then rub it so well with the fat that it seems to be the flesh it self They sell this by weight and 't is no easy matter to discern the right from the wrong Nay if you put your knife in it if it be but as they cut it in slices you may perceive the deceit In the Isle of Macao where the Chineses and Portugals inhabit together Trick put upon a Portugal there was a Portugal Merchant very rich who being in Love with a Chineses woman that was Married used all the Solicitation and Courtship he could to oblige her to condescend to his will but not being able to bring his designs to pass he continued to importune her insomuch that she declared it all to her Husband who prudently told her that she should permit him to come at an hour appointed and that he would make shew of going abroad and then presently return and would knock at the Door Having thus agreed betwixt them it was put in Execution and the Portugal had assignation of the Lady who failed not to come at the time appointed not a little Joyful of this good fortune at last But no sooner was our Gentleman entered the House the Door shut than the Husband knocks at the Door at which the Good Wife seeming to be mightily astonished prayed the Portugal to hide himself in an open Tub or Pourcelainfat and having caused him to enter therein and Locked it fast opened the Door to her Husband who without making shew of any thing let him there soak till the next Morning when he ordered this Tub to be carried to the Market or Lailan as they call it saying that there was some of the finest sort of Pourcelain therein to sell and that there was so many Courges or Dozen and carried a sample thereof in his hand When he had agreed with some one for the price they opened the fat And then appeared the poor Portugal ashamed and almost starved and every one mightily astonished to see him there in that condition and the Chinese himself pretending great wonder thereat and the Portugal had his belly full of Jearing and hissing at without any other harm When the Chineses can catch any Portugal they use them very scurrilously as Treatment of the Chineses towards the Portugals it happened to a Portugal Captain who going from Macoa to Canton the Mandarin Governor of the province sent for him telling him that he had been advertised that the Portugals had carried away a great many Chinese Captives and for that cause he must be content to be put to Death and have his Ship Consiseated The other thought this very strange and began to entreat the Mandarin as well as he could with fair words and promises to let him go but the Mandarin not having a mind to quit him at so easy a rate commanded him to be stripped stark naked and