The viâ—ge of magellanus The IlaÌ„des of Moluccâ— ExperieÌ„ce y t teacher of al sciences Sense vnderstaÌ„dinge A sentence of Aristotell ExperieÌ„ce ioined with speculacion A perâ—â—ler proueth no vniuersall what is knowledge and learning Baltassar Castaglionae A false perswasion of y â— freÌ„shmâ— Albertus Magnus â—â—perat regions vnder y e Equinoctial line An error of sâ— Augustine Lactantius antipodes Apâ—anus LactaÌ„tius the rouÌ„dnes of y e earth S. augustyne Apianus The apostles Antipodes the one againste thother The spanyardes the IndiaÌ„s are Antipodes S. augustine of the heresie of manicheus S. augustines boke of retractes Mouâ—taynes let not y e rouÌ„dnes of the earth A galle A SeÌ„tence of S. augustines CoÌ„meÌ„dacioÌ„ of s. augustin Lactantius Of the roundenes of y e earth the earth hangeth in y e aire the fable of Atlas the word of God beareth vppe the worldâ— Iob. 26. The elementes Exo. xv The eleâ—atioÌ„ of â—he pole the largeâ—es of the eartâ— Ilâ—â—des Astrâ—nâ—mers Geometriciaâ—â— Act. xvâ— Psa. 135 The â—â—ther iâ— southweste The citie of Cambaiâ— Calicâ—â— GossipiuÌ„ Bâ—mbage oâ— cottoÌ„ of the treâ—s The â—urkes nauie agaynste the king of Portugale The cytie of Aden The kinge of Aden is hanged The destructioÌ„ of the citie of Aden The turke besiegeth thâ—â—ytiâ— of Dium The turke is repulsed The excellencie of the citie of Cambaia â— Lacha is guÌ„me of a tree is vsed in dying oâ— silke The â—yngdoÌ„ of Ioga The KyngdoÌ„ of â—echaÌ„ The diamonde stone The stone â—iderites The hardneâ— of the diâ—â—ond How the diamâ—Ì„d is made softe The moÌ„tayne of diamantes The citie of Narsinâ—â— The kinge of Narsinga the riche trappiÌ„g of the kingeâ— horse â—pices of Narsiâ—ga The cytie of Caâ—â—nor The vse of â—lephaâ—tâ—â— in the warres The â—â—tie Bisinagar HaukiÌ„â— and huâ—tinge The kinge of bisinagar The Eâ—â—phaÌ„teâ—â—â—wre ElephaÌ„tes vnderstandeth the laÌ„guage of thâ—yr couÌ„trei SeueÌ„ armed meÌ„ vpoÌ„ one ElephaÌ„t The ruler speaketh to the Elephant The ElephaÌ„tes ioynteâ— The bignes and shape of the Elephantâ— the painters erre herein VnderstaÌ„de the handebredth w t the thuÌ„be stretched forth the Elephantes paâ—e The Elephante is vexed w t flyes How the ElephaÌ„t kylleth flyes Enmitie betwene the Elephant Rhinoceros The Rhinoceros ii hornes the fight betwene Rhinocâ—ros the ElephaÌ„t Rhinoceâ—os naturally arâ—ed Rhinoceâ—os sene in Portugale Rhinoceros ouercometh the Elephant Lowe simple houses The â—ing hoâ—oreth â—he deuil The Image of the deuil The bisshop of Romes vicar at Calicut The deuil eateth soules The deâ—illes chaplins Sacrifice to the deuyl the chapleins offer to the deuyl The priestes wait on the kyng Crowes had in estimacioÌ„ The priestes defloure y e quene Priestes Magistrates Artificers â—aâ—ourers The successioÌ„ of the kingdom As are y e priestes such is y e people The priestes kepe y e queâ—e ExchauÌ„ginge of wyues Obedience in â—uyll One woman maried to seueÌ„ meÌ„ The punishmeÌ„t of murther Sinne redemed for money Superstitionâ— Outeward cleÌ„lynes Deuylishe gestures Howe pepper groweth Fruitful grounde without tillagâ— Ginger A roâ—e for a sedâ— Fruytes vnknowen to vs. Aloe Papingiayes of diuers kyndes Sweete siâ—ginge of â—irdes Earthly paradise teÌ„perate ayre CoÌ„tinual spring Munkeys A tree of sundrye commoditâ—esâ— Silke of trees Ropes of trees Wyne of trees Oyle of water SerpeÌ„ts as bigge as swine SerpeÌ„ts without â—oysoâ— SerpeÌ„tâ— counted for heaueÌ„ly spirites grene popingaies Canonor Zaylon Corimucol Meluza Molucha Pego Ormus Cambaia Arabia China Samotoâ— Darnasseri ElephaÌ„tes precious stones Cinomome The Equinoctial lyâ—e weapoÌ„â— of redes Narsinga â—he beast whiche beareth the furre called Sableâ— Fouleâ— of meruelous bignes Beddeâ— of silke Priestes the quene defloured of white menne Adulteri punisshed w t death How the kinge is buried Mâ—â—stre isâ— the queâ—ne dyeth willingâ—ly the herâ— Betola â— What â—redulitie maye doe in false religion Honour dere boughte the king citie of Bangella Silâ—â—â— Chrâ—â—â—iâ— men of Cathay The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Ruâ—ies shyning by night Lacha Lacca or â—â—acta â— is 〈…〉 tree 〈…〉 â—â—laccha â—â—matra â—aprobaâ—a â—he IlaÌ„d of Taprobana MeÌ„ of a huÌ„dreth â—eres of age Shelleâ— of fisheâ— for houses Great pearlesâ— Coyned golde siluer for moneye Fishes of monstrous bignesse 〈◊〉 Pepper solde by measure Cathay the IlÌ„ad of banda The nutmeg tree Mace the IlaÌ„d of Moâ—och Cloues Charles Waine Pole Antartike Idoloters CaÌ„phire Silke groweth in woodes The â—maragde or emerode Golde copper arrowes of redes arrowes infected with venime A straÌ„ge custome Anthropophagi Spyceâ— Mahumetistes ElephaÌ„tes Iuerie the IlaÌ„d of Cuzibet Camels fleshe eateâ— woddes of redde SaÌ„ders Whales Amber Lions Leopardes Bigge men of low stature Peoplâ— deformed Ryce Dates â—rinke of spices Amber the IlaÌ„d of men the IlaÌ„d of womeÌ„ christiaÌ„s Fishing the great Cham of Tartari Famous cities vnder the greate Cham. manye wyues What naturall affectioÌ„ may doe A straÌ„gâ— custome The people of Cathay Idolotours Money of paper Golde Syluerâ— the cytie of Cambalu MarchaÌ„â—yse precious stones spyces Noâ—e the king of Cathay his court The Quene Golden plate worldly glory A liuing Idol Pauluâ— venetuâ— Drinke of rice spyces Digged cole A greate bridge of marble the kiâ—gdome of Tainfu CoÌ„nyng artificers Ginger Quenquinafu the musâ—e catte Siuet or muske MarchaÌ„dyse â—alte Sylke Cloth of golde Ryce VI. â— bridges of stone the great citie of Quinsai Xij. Mâ— bridges of stone Artificers MarchauÌ„tes Eâ—mmoÌ„ baÌ„ketiâ—ge houses A good prouysioÌ„ againâ—te fyre Flesh of horses eaten A pâ—ouision agaâ—nst rebellion Anthropophagi Hennes hauinge heare in the stede of fethers the way froÌ„ Persia to Cathay the cytie of Lop. The iorney by y e desertes Bitter watersâ— IllusioÌ„s of euyl spirites voices of deuyls StrauÌ„ge noises in the ayre the citie of Sachâ—oÌ„ christiaÌ„s of the heresie of Nestorius Monasteries of Idoloters A straÌ„ge custome Ceremonies in funerals A grosse vayne perswasion the region of Taâ—gut Mahumetistes Stele Salamaâ—dra Paulus Venetus Christophorus ColuÌ„bus Great enterprises haue euer ben counted phaÌ„tasticall the fyrst â—â—age of Christophorus ColuÌ„bus the Ilandes called Gades The IlaÌ„des of â—anaria Iohanna Hispana or Hispaniola gold for earth glasse the king of the Iland Bylding without the vse of Iron Câ—nibales Anthropophagi the fearsenes of the canibales maÌ„s fleshe poudered Roates in y e stede of bread Gold iâ— estimacion Howe golde iâ— gathred SerpeÌ„ts wythout veâ—â—â—â— Popingiayes Spices GuÌ„â—es The Indian toÌ„g ColuÌ„bus at his returne iâ— made Admiral of the Ocean sea The second viage of Columbus Gades The IlaÌ„des of Canaria the IlaÌ„â— of Domâ—nicaâ— Insulae Crucis Lisertes Houses of treesâ— Younge men stalleâ— to be made fatte Fiâ—e coâ—eâ—pe Canibales allured with lyâ—beralâ—teâ— Matinina An IlaÌ„d of womeÌ„ onelye The names of sundrye Ilandes arrowes infected w t venime Archipelogus Buchema Change of ayre is daungerous the king dissembleth w t the Admyrall Golde found in riuers mouÌ„taines the Ilandes of Cuba and Iamiaca A multitude of Ilandes The crueltie of the Christian meÌ„ Crueltie of coueâ—ousnes Bread of rotes The tribute of the barbarians
his pompes triumphes are in maner incredible they that wayt vpon the kinge weare on the vpper partes of theyr shoes certayne shyning precious stones as Piroâ—i whiche are a kind of Rubies or CarbuÌ„cles with DiamaÌ„des such other But what maner of Iewelles they vse in y e stede of collers eareringes and ringes you may well consyder wheras they geue suche honour to theyr fâ—te In this kingdom is said to be a mountayne out of the which Diamandes are digged ¶ Of the Diamande stone called in Latine Adamas THe Diamande is engendred in the mynes of India Ethiopia Arabia Macedonia and Cyprus and in the golde mynes of the same countries That of India excelleth all other in beautie and clearenes that which is of the coloure of yron is called Siderites it is ofteÌ„tymes found in colour like vnto cristal though it be sometimes lyke therto in whytnes yet doth it differ from cristall in hardnes in so much that if it be layd vpoÌ„ an anuil and strongly strikeÌ„ with a hammer the anuyl and hammer shal soner be wounded and leape away then the stone perished or diminished it doth not onelye refuse the forse of Iron but also resisteth the power of fyre whose heate is so farre vnable to melte it that it can not so muche as heate it if we geue credit to Plinie and is also rather made purer therby then anye wayes defyled or corrupted neuertheles the singuler and excellent hardnes of this stone is made so softe with y e hoate bloud of a Goate or a Lyon that it maye be broken and if it be put with molteÌ„ lead in hoate fornaces it waxeth so hoate that it wylbe dissolued yet are not aâ—l DiamaÌ„des of such hardnesse for that of Cyprus and also that of the coloure of Iron called â—iderites may be broken with hammers and perced with another Diamand his vertue is to be bewray poisons and to frustrate thopperacion therof and beeing therefore greatly estemed of Kinges and Princes it hath euer been of gâ—eat price The mountaine of India out of the which the Diamandes are digged is compassed with a walle on euery syde kepte with a strong defence ¶ Of the kingdoms cities of Narsinga and Canonor THe king of Narsinga in riches and dominion excelleth all other Kinges in those partes The chiefe cytie where the King is resident is in situaâ—ion and fynenes much lyke vnto the cytie of Milayne but that it sâ—andeth in a place somewhat declyning and lesse equall This king hath euer in a redâ—nes manye thousandes of men of armes as one that is euer at warre with other countreys borderers nere aboute him He is geuen to most vile Idolatrie and honoureth the deuyll euen as doth the king of Calicut The maners and fashions of the inhabitaÌ„tes are after this sorte The gentlemen or such as are of greatest reuenewes vse to weare an inward cote or peticote not very long hauing theyr heades bounde aboute with listes rowles of sundry coloures after the maner of the Turkes The coÌ„mon people couer onli their priuie parts and are besyde all together naked The Kynge weareth on his head a stately cap made of the riche cloth of Asia beyng two haÌ„dfulles in length WheÌ„ he goeth to y e warres he weareth a vesture of y e silke called Gossâ—mpine which he couereth with a cloke adorned w t plates of gold y e hemme or edge of his cloke is beset with all maner of ouches Iewelles Hys horse is iudged to be of such valure if you respect y e price as is one of our cities And this is by the meanes of y e innumerable multitude sundrie kindes of precious sâ—ones perles where with y e â—rappers barbes other furnitures of his horse are couered w t an incredible poÌ„pe glori The soyle of Narsinga beareth nether wheate nor grapes and â—s in maner without al kinde of fruites except â—itrons and gourdes the inhabitantes eate no bread but ryce fishe and fleshe and also walnuttes which that countrey beareth there begin spyces to be found as ginger pepper mirabolanes Cardamome Cassia and dyuers other kyndes of spyces Cananor is a very excellente cytie fayre and beautifull in all thinges sauing that the Kinge thereof is an Idolater This citie hath a hauen whether the horses of Persia are brought but theyr tribute or custome is excedinge great the inhabitantes lyue with ryce flesshe and fyshe as do they of Narsinga in the warres they vse the sweorde the round target speares and bowes haue nowe also the vse of gonnes they are all naked sauing their prieuie partes and go beare headed except when they goe to the warres for then they couer theyr heades with a redde hatte which thei folde double and bind it fast with a lyst or bande In the warres they vse neither horse mule or asse nether that kynde of camels which we coÌ„monly call dromedaries but vse onely ElephaÌ„tes There is also in the kingdoÌ„ of Narsinga another godly citie called Bisinagar it is coÌ„passed aboute with a walle situate on the side of a hyll beeyng .viij. myles in circuite hauinge also in it a famous market place The soyle is very fruitful there are all delicate thinges to be fouÌ„d that may encrease the pleasures of this lyfe There maye no where be fouÌ„d more pleasauÌ„t feldes and woddes for hauking huÌ„tinge a man woulde thinke it were a very Paradyse of pleasure The king of this citie is of great power he keepeth dayly many thousandes of meÌ„ at armes vsinge Elephantes in the stede of horses And hath euer foure hundreth Elephantes prepared for the warres ¶ How the Elephantes in India are prepared to warre THe ElephaÌ„t is a beast very docible and apte to be taught and little inferiour from humaine sense excellinge all other beastes in fortitude and strength Therfore y e Indians when they prepare them to the warres put great packsaddels vpon theÌ„ which they bind fast with two chaines of Iron coÌ„ming vnder theyr belyes UpoÌ„ the packsaddels they haue on euery side a litle house or towre or cage if you list so to cal it made of wood These towres ar made fast to the necke of the beaste with certayne sawed bordes of the thickenes of halfe a hande breadth Euery towre receyueth thre men And betwene both the towresâ— vpoÌ„ the back of the beast sytteth an Indian a man of that countrey which speaketh vnto the beaste For this beast hath marueylous vnderstanding of the language of hys natyue countrey doth wonderfulli beare in memorie benefytes shewed vnto him It is also moste certayne that none other beast draweth so nere to the excellence of humayne sense or reason as doeth this beast as maye most playnly appeare yf we coÌ„sidre how he is geueÌ„ to loue glory to a certeyn frendly gentlenes honest maners ioyned with a marueylous discrecion
exteÌ„ded in length a thousand pases The houses thereof are but simple and very lowe not passinge the heygth of a manne of horsebacke from the grounde In the stede of a roofe they are couered with bowes of trees harde thicke couched together the cause hereof is that yf the earth there be in anye place digged fyue handfull depth the water springeth forth by reason wherof they can lay no depe foundacions for theyr houses sufficiente to beare anye heauye roofe The Kinge of thys citie is geuen to Idolatrie honoureth the deuyll himself Yet he denieth not but that there is a God which made heauen and earth And the same to be the chiefe auctone and fyrste cause of all thinges But sayth that he hath coÌ„mitted the rule and iudgemente of the world to the deuil to whom he hath geâ—en power to rewarde men with good or bad according to their desertâ—s This deuil they cal Deumo but the mightie God and maker of the world they cal Iamerani The king hath in his Chappell the Image of this deuyl Deumi sytting with a diademe or crowne on his head much lyke vnto the myter which the Romayne Bishoppes weare saue that this deuils myter hath foure notable hornes He sytteth gapinge and hath a greate wyde mouthe with foure teeth a deformed nose lowringe eyes a grimme terrible and threatening couÌ„tenauÌ„ce with hooked handes lyke fleshehookes and feete not much vnlyke the feete of a cocke Al such as behold this horrible monster are sodeynly astonied For it is surely a thing most vyle to beholde and no lesse terrible The chappel is on euery syde ful of painted deuyls in euery corner thereof sytteth a deuyll made of copper and that so workemanly handeled that he semeth like flaming fire miserably consuming the soules of meÌ„ This deuyl with his righte hande putteth a soule to his mouth with his lefte hand he taketh another froÌ„ a place beneth Euery morniÌ„g their Priestes called Bramini washe the Image of the deuyll with rose water or such other swete liquoure perfume hym with dyuerse swete sauours kneling on theyr knees and praying vnto him Euerye seuenth day thei take the bloud of a cocke put it in a siluer vessel ful of burning coales addinge thereunto innumerable odoriferous gummes pouders to make a swete smoke or fumigacion Then the Prieste taketh his senser with burning coles putting therto frankencense and thus maketh his oblacion to SathaÌ„ during which tyme of sacrifice a lyttle syluer bell is ronge continuallye The king sytteth not downe to his meate vntyll foure of his chapleins haue offred parte of the same meate to the deuyl And when the Kynge goeth to dyner he sytteth on the grounde withoute eyther carpet or table cloth And as he sytteth at diner foure of the priestes wayte vpoÌ„ him standing not approchinge nere vnto hym by the distaunce of foure pases geuing reuerent attendauÌ„ce vnto the kinges talke WheÌ„ he hath dyned the Priestes take the meate that is left geue it to the crowes to eate whiche byrdes they haue in such estimacion y t it is not lawful to hurt theÌ„ WheÌ„ the king shal marie a wife he goeth not to bed w t her vntil she be defloured of y e high Priest whoÌ„ the king for his paines rewardeth with .v. C. pieces of golde ¶ Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut NExt after the King y e priestes which serue y e Idols are had in chiefe reuerence Nexte vnto them the Magistrates called Nerâ— are no lesse estemed then amonge vs Senatoures or Lordes of the counsayl When these goe abroade they cary with them swordes targettes bowes iauelins Such as are counted of the thyrde order are in like place with them as are Artificers with vs. They of the fourth order lyue by fishinge And to them of the fyfthe order perteyneth the gathering of pepper wyne walnuttes The basest and poorest sort are they which sowe gather ryce beyng conteÌ„ned both of the priestes and Senatours The Kinge the Quene and the inhabitantes of the cytie haue almost no apparel couering onely theyr fylthy partes with cotton of the tree called Gossampine and not with silke and are beside al together naked They goe barefoted and bareheaded WheÌ„ the King is dead yf there remayne alyue any heyres males either childreÌ„ or brethren or brâ—thers childreÌ„ they succâ—de not in the kingdome for by custome of the countreye the systers sonnes are inheritours to y e crown but yf there bee no suche lyuinge he succedeth in the kingdom which is nearest of bloud to y e king of whiche costume the reason is as they saye beecause the Priestes defloure the Quenes WheÌ„ the King taketh any farre iourney or rydeth a hunting the Priestes wayte vpoÌ„ the Quene at home and kepe her company for nothinge can be more thankefull to the kynge then to haue the Quene thus accustomed in adulterye with the Priestes by whiche coÌ„mon prostitucion of the quene he maye well iudge that the chyldreÌ„ borne of her are not to be estemed as his owne and therfore assigneth the right of his inheritaunce to his systers children as to the nerest of his bloude because his brothers children as is sayd before may not succede him in the kingdome by the custome of the countrey The noble men and marchauntes vse this fashion amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues Such as haue wiues do often tymes chaunge theyr wyues one frende with an other for thencrease of further freÌ„dship At which exchaunging of wyues one of them speaketh to another after this maner Forasmuch as you are my veri frend let vs chauÌ„ge wyues on such coÌ„dicion that I maye haue yours you myne The other asketh him yf he speake in earneste He sweareth yea let vs goe theÌ„ sayth his felow to my house when they are come thether the good man calleth forth his wife saying vnto her Woman come hether folow this maÌ„ for he shall froÌ„ henceforth be thy husband She asketh him yf he speake in earnest he answereth in good earnest TheÌ„ sayth the womaÌ„ I wil folowe him gladly He taketh her away w t him and in lyke maner sendeth his wyfe to his frende And this is the custome which thei vse in chauÌ„ging of wyues But the childreÌ„ remaine with theyr fyrste father Other of these Idolaters vse dyuerse other customes For among some of them one woman is maried to seuen husbaÌ„des which lie with her by course one after another And when she hath broughte forth a child she sendeth it to whiche of her seuen husbaÌ„des she list who maye in no case refuse it When they eate they lye along on the grounde haue theyr meate in greate disshes or treys of copper In the stede of spones they vse leaues of trees Their meate is ryce fishe spyces and fruites of the coÌ„mon sorte Yf any man committe murther and
so much that when the nut is full growen the lyquoure fyllethe the inne warde partes of of the same And thys liquoure or wyne is most cleare not muche vnlyke vnto rosewater Of which neuertheles is made a very fatte oile They cut also the trunke or stocke of the tree in y e morning euening by whiche meanes they gather a most excellent liquour which they seeth on the fyre and make thereof so merueylous a drinke that if a maÌ„ drinke therof beyond measure he is drieuen into furie madnes This liquour is vsed there in the stede of wyne But let vs nowe returne to the beastes which are fouÌ„d in Calicut Serpentes growe there vnto such houdge greatnesse that they are in maner as bigge as swyne They haue heades much larger theÌ„ bores heades Thei are foure foted foure cubites in length engendered coÌ„uersaunte in fennie and marrishe groundes The men of that couÌ„trei saye that these beastes are without poyson There are also found other kyndes of serpentes of the whiche one kynde hath so mortall venime that yf they drawe neuer so lyttle blud it causeth preseÌ„t death There are other serpentes which in quaÌ„tite represent the serpent called Aspis Again othersome are much higher of whiche there are greate plentie The men of the countrey thinke y t they are spirites fallen froÌ„ heauen and therfore haue them in great reuerence Thei haue conceaued this opinion of them becauâ—e that in maner with touching they bringe preseÌ„t death And this is the cause whi there is so great abundaunt of serpentes that by the kinges coÌ„maundement it is not lawful to hurt theÌ„ and therefore they wander safelye where them listeth and are estemed of them as thinges that bring good fortune For whereas the men of y e countrey goe abroade aboute anye busines thei take it for good luck to mete any of them by the waye The popingiayes of India are for the most part of grene colour besyde y e head which is ether redde or yelowe like golde They haue a great and large toung and are therfore of a louder voyce speake more plainly They learne the fyrst second yeare such thinges as are taughte them And beare them loÌ„ger in memory They drinke wyne vse theyr fete in the stede of handes when they feede ¶ Of the sundrye kindes of Spices which are founde in Calicut and from whence they are brought thyther GInger groweth in Calicut yet is there much broughte thether from the cytie of Canonor Cinamome commeth from the Ilande of Zaylon whyche is fyftye leages beeyonde Calicut Eastwarde Pepper groweth in Calicut but muche more is broughte thether from Corimucol whiche is .xij. leages beyonde Calicut Cloues are gathered in a place called Meluza certayn leages distant from Calicut Nutmegges and Mace growe in Molucha beyng distante from Calicut hundreth and thre score leages and somewhat more Muske Castoreum is brought from the region of Pego which is froÌ„ Calicut almoste hundreth and fyftye leages Pearles of the biggest sorte are gathered neare vnto the Iland and cytie of Ormus situate in the goulfe called Sinus Persicus And are sente from thence to Calicut as to the generall market towne of all the East partes Spikenarde Mirabalanes as brought from Cambaia to Calicut Frankencense and Myrre come from Arabia Aloe and Camphyre are brought froÌ„ Kyui or China .l. lâ—ages from Calicut Long pepper cometh froÌ„ Samotor Cardamome y e greater is brought from Canonor Presilium or brasyll cometh froÌ„ Darnasseri otherwyse called Tarmasseri almost CC. leages from Calicut ¶ Of the Iland of Zaylon and of Cinomome found there ZAylon is a very large regionâ— bringeth foorth chefelye Elephantes in greate plentie It hath also Mountaynes of merueylous leÌ„gth at the rootes wherof ar fouÌ„d Rubines Hiacinthes Saphyres Topases and suche other precious stones In this Iland groweth the Cinomome tree not much vnlyke y â— bayetree specially in the leaues It bringeth forth graynes much lyke vnto baye beries but somwhat lesse and whytishe That which we commonly call Cinomome is nothinge els but the barke or rynde of a tree which is gathered after this maner Euery thyrde yeare they cut of the braunches of the trees and take of the barke or rynde therof which is our Cinomome They cut not the body of the tree but only the branches When it is first gathered it is grene not perfectly swete vntyll it be kept a moneth This Iland is situate vnder the Equinoctial line where is continuall springe all the yeare The inhabitauntes weare clokes with one arme oute vncouered haue clothe made of Gossampine cotton or of silke A rede is to them in the stede of sworde rapyre iauelyne And are therefore seldome slayne in the warres ¶ Of the cytie of Tarnasseri the maner of the cytezins there THe cytie of Tarnasseri is distaunte from the Kingdome of Narsinga .xiiij. dayes sayling Estward hath a king of great puyssauÌ„ce and marueylous riche The soyle of this citie bringeth forth wheate cotton of Gossampine trees pleÌ„tie of silke The fieldes bringe foorthe all kindes of fruites quinces also and oranges It is replenisshed with manye and sundrye kyndes of beastes aswell wyld as tame as kyne shepe gotes swyne hartes hyndes wolues and lyons There are also seene those kyndes of cattes whiche beare the riche furres called Zibellim which we call Sables In all the fieldes and woodes of this region are founde many Peacockes Faulcons most fayre Popingiayes of white colour intermingled with seuen variable coloures There is also maruelous plentye of hares and partryches There are manye other straunge kyndes of foules and specially such as lyue by praye whiche are muche higher then Eagles whose vpper beakes are of suche bignes hardnes that handles for sweordes are made thereof Also the cockes and hennes of thys region are muche hygher and bigger then ours WheÌ„ the people of the countreye goe to theyr meate they lye downe on the grounde withoute carpet or cloth Yet vse they woodden vesselles workemanlye made Theyr drinke is water myxte with suger but the poorer sorte drinke onelye water Their beddes are made of Gossampine cotton wyth couerlettes also of cotton or sylke They goe all in generall barefooted excepte the Priestes The Kynge of this cytye doeth not commytte his wife to the Priestes to bee defloured as doth the king of Calicut but to whyte men as are the christiaÌ„s Turkes For this office is not committed to the Idoloters But after that the new maried quene hath been thus defloured the fyrst night yf euer after she doe dishonour the Kyng her husbaÌ„d by violating the faith made to him from thencefoorth neuer to knowe any other man carnally her punishment is death incontinently When the Kynges or the Priestes dye their bodies are
they can no longer prouide them of pasture vntyll they haue passed ouer the deserte But they preserue theyr camelles beecause they are susteyned wyth lesse meate and beare greater burthens In this deserte are often tymes founde bytter waters but more often fresshe and sweete waters so that in maner euerye daye for the space of thyrtye dayes a man maye fynde fresshe water but that in so lyttle quantitie that it doeth not suffice al the marchauÌ„tes whiche passe that waye together That deserte is verye full of of mountaynes And when you are come to the lowe and playn grouÌ„d the residue of the iourney is all together by the sandes it is through out baren and saluage so that it is not able to nourishe any beastes for lacke of pasture In this wildernes are often tymes heard and sene as well by daye as by night sundrie illusions of euyl spirites And therefore suche as trauayle throughe the same haue nede to take great hede least they disseuer or depart farre in sundre or leaste any linger behynde his companie aswel for that he may hereby lose the sight of them by reason of mountaynes or hilles lyinge beetwene as also because there are heard voyces of deuyls calling theÌ„ that wander alone by theyr proper names conterfeyting the voyces of theyr companie that goeth beefore by this meanes withdrawing them from the right waye and bringinge them to destruccion There is often tymes heard in the ayre as it were a noyse of musicall instrumeÌ„tes but more often like the sounde of drumslades or timbrels This great desert being passed ouer they come to the cytie called Sachion which is situate in the enteraunce of the greate Prouince of Tangut where amonge certayne Mahumetistes are found a fewe Christian men called Nestoriani of the secte of Nestorius There are also manye Idoloters hauinge theyr monasteries consecrated to dyuers Idols to which they offre many sacrifices and attribute greate honor to deuyls And when a man hath a sonne borne he forthwith commendeth him to some Idol in whose honour he nourisheth a ramme al that yeare which after that his sonne be twelue monethes olde at the nexte feaste of the same Idoll he and his sonne offre with many ceremonies When this oblacion is finished thei bringe the sacrificed fâ—eshe to a place appoynted where al his kinsfolkes being gathered together they eate that fleshe with great religion and kepe the bones reuerently in a certayn vessell but in the funeralles of the dead they vse these ceremonies and supersticions Al the neighbors of the dead prouyde that the dead corps be burned which custome all the people of the East partes do obserue Yet some of theÌ„ kepe y e dead bodye by them certayne dayes beefore they burne it As some seuen daies some for the space of a moneth and some sixe monethes preparing for the same a close cheste so inuoluinge wyth cereclothe and ponderinge with spyces the bodye therein inclosed that no euyll sauoure maye passe foorth Thys done they paynte the cheste verye curiouslye and couer it with a precious clothe placinge theyr dyninge table harde by the same where they dyne continuallye as long as the dead bodie is thus reserued at home And in the dyner tyme for the space of one hole houre they sette wyne meat vpon the cheste supposing the soule of the dead bodye to be partaker of the same The Region of Tangut is verye large and conteyneth in it manye priuate Prouinces as the Prouince of Camul of Cinchital and Suchur wyth dyuerse fayre Cyties whiche are all Subiecte and obeye to the great Cham of Cathay Some of the inhabitantes beleue in Mahumet some acknowledge Christe after the heresye of Nestorius In the lande of Chinchital is a Mountayne oute of the whyche is dygged the myne of stele and Audanici There is also founde the Serpente called Salamandra which lyueth in the fyre wythoute anye hurte Of the heare of this serpeÌ„t is made a certayne cloth which being cast in the fyre when it is foule is thereby made cleane and very white if it remaine there for y e space of an houre Suche other innumerable marueilous thinges writeth Paulus â—enetus that he hath sene and founde in his nauigacions into these partes of whom also I haue gathered thus muche lettinge passe manye other thinges whereof he speaketh more at large ¶ Here endeth the descripcioÌ„ of the Nauigacions from Spayne to the newe India Eastward foloweth of the newe Ilandes and India found in the West Ocean sea from Spayne Westward and Southweste ¶ Of the newe India and IlaÌ„des in the West Ocean sea how when and by whoÌ„ they were found CHristophorus Columbus a GentlemeÌ„ of Italie and borne in the citie of Cenua when he had been longe conuersaunt in the Kyng of Spaynes courte he applyed hys mynde to searche vnknowen partes of the worlde And for his better furtheraunce herein made humble peticion to the kinge to ayde him in this his enterpryse which doubtlesse should redownde to his great honour and no litle coÌ„moditie to all the hole countreye of Spayne yf by his helpe charges he might fynde newe regions But the Kinge and Quene laughed him to scorne saying that his ymaginacion was but vayne and phantasticall At the length eyght yeares beynge passed ouer and Columbus styll persistinge in his purpose and sute the Kyng began to geue eare to his talke and after muche reasoninge debating of the matter determined to trie the witte of the manne And there vpoÌ„ coÌ„maunded a foyst two brigantines to be furnished with all kynde of ordinaunce and vitayles which being prepared the fyrst day of September in the yere of Christ 1492 Columbus departed from the coastes of Spayne and wente forwarde in his viage longe desyred And when he had passed the IlaÌ„des called Gades he diuerted toward the fortunate Ilandes called Insulae Portunaâ—ae which are now called Canariae because they are full of dogges They were in time past called Fortunate for the excellente temperatenes of the ayre and greate fruytefulnes Columbus departinge from hense sayled towarde the Weste and at the length founde certayne Ilandes of the whiche two were very greate wherof the one he called Hispana and the other Iohanna ¶ Of the two Ilandes Iohanna and Hispana AS Columbus came to the Ilande whiche he called Iohanna he hearde a merueylous sweete noyse of innumerable byrdes and especiallye of Nightingales whiche wandred in the thicke wooddes in the Moneth of Nouembre He founde also mooste fayre Ryuers swete to drinke many goodly haueÌ„s And as he sayled by the costes of the Ilande Southweste warde and could fynd no ende he thought it had been the mayne land therfore determyned to drawe backe being partly enforsed by roughnes of the sea and thus returning some what Eastward he came to an IlaÌ„d whiche he afterwarde called Hispana
these partes Magellanus made warre agaynste the inhabitauntes of certayne other Ilandes In which conflicte the spaniardes hauing the ouerthrow Magellanus was slayne with seuen of hys men When the Spaniardes hadde thus lost theyr captayne they elected a new gouernoure of theyr nauie appointing one Iohannes Serranus to that office Magallanus had also a bond man borne in the Ilandes of Molucca whom he had bought in the citie of Malaccha This bondman vnderstode the Spanishe tonge and where as the captayn Serranus could do nothing without him who now lay sicke by reason of the wouÌ„des which he had receaued in the said conflicte so that he was fayne to speake sharpely to him and threaten to beate him or he could geat him out of the shyppe he here vpon conceaued so great hatered and indignacion agaynste the Spanyardes that he wente immediatlye to the Kinge of Subuth declaring the couetousnes of the Spaniardes to be vnsaciable y t thei wold shortely vse crueltie against him also and bring him into sâ—biectioÌ„ and seruitude The barbarous king beleued his wordes therwith pryuelye with the ayde of the other Ilandes conspired against the Spanyardes and toke or slew as many of them as came to a banket whereunto they were bidden vnder pretence of frendship AmoÌ„g the which also Serranus the Captaine was taken priesoner But the resydue of the Spanyardes which remayned in the shippes beyng taught warned by the euyll chaunce which befell to theyr coÌ„panions and fearing greater deceytes and conspiracies lyft vp their ankers and gaue wind to their sayles In the meane tyme was Serranus brought bound to the sea bankes desiring his companions to delyuer or redeme him froÌ„ that horrible capâ—iuitie of hys enemies But the Spaniardes albeit they toke it for a dishonour to leaue or forsake theyr Captayne yet fearing fraude or further dissimulacioÌ„ they sayled asyde from that Iland and came to the Ilandes of Gibeth Porne In this mayne sea were two great Ilandes wherof the one was called Siloli the other Porne the lesse where our meÌ„ were wel entreated The inhabitantes of Porne honoure the sunne and the mone they keepe also a certayn ciuile iustice freÌ„dâ—y loue one to another And aboue all thinges desyre peace and ydlenes Therfore their chiefe studie is in no case to moleste their neygboures or straungers or to be iniurious to anye man They haue lyttle houses made of earth and wood and couered partely with rubbishe partly with y e bowes of date trees They take as manye wyues as they are able to kepe Theyr comon meat is such as they take by foulinge or fisshinge They make bread of ryce â— drinke of the liquour whiche droppeth froÌ„ the brauÌ„ches of date trees cutte Some vse marchaundyse in the Ilandes nere about them some applie theÌ„ selues to huntinge fysshing and some to husbaÌ„dry Theyr apparell is of Gossampine cotton They haue greate abundaunce of camphyre ginger and cinomome ¶ How the Spaniardes came to the Ilandes of Molucca and of the people with great hanging eares THe Spaniardes takinge theyr leaue of the king of Porne departed dyrecting theyr viage towarde the Ilandes of Molucca whiche were shewed vnto theÌ„ by the same King They came fyrst to the costes of the Ilande called Solo where are found Pearles as bygge as turtle doues egges but they are gathered in the depth of the sea The inhabitantes of this Ilande at suche tyme as the Spanyardes came thether toke a shelfysshe of suche houdge bignes y t the fleshe therof wayed .xlvij. pouÌ„d weyght Wherby it is apparaunt y e great pearles should be found there forasmuch as pearles are the byrth of certayn shelfishes FroÌ„ hence thei came to the Iland of Gilona in which are certayn people hauing hanging eares of such length that they hang downe to theyr shoulders Wherat as the Spaniardes marueyled the men of the Iland tolde theÌ„ that not farre froÌ„ thence was another IlaÌ„d in which were a kind of meÌ„ not onely with haÌ„ging eares but also with eares of suche breadth and length that with one of them they myghte couer theyr hole head But the Spanyardes who soughte for golde and spyces and not for monsters sayled dyrectly to the IlaÌ„des of Molucca where they arryued the eyghte moneth after the death of their gouernour Magellanus These Ilandes are fyue in noumbre the names wherof are these Tharant Muthil Thedori Mare and Mathien Some of them are sytuate on thys syde the Equinoctiall lyne some vnder it some beyonde it Some beare cloues some Nutmegges and some Cinomome They are not farre distaunt the one from the other They are but little and narowe The inhabitantes are very poore because ther is no encrease of anye other thinge sauing onely of spyces They lyue with bread and fyshe and sometime popingiayes They lurke in lowe cotages And in fyne all thinges w t them are despicable and vile beside peace idlenes and spices In Thedori is great plentie of cloues as also in Tarante and Mathien The trees which bringe forth cloues growe not but on rockes and broken cliffes where sometime they grow so thicke that they appeare lyke a lyttle wood or groue This tree bothe in leaues biggenes and heyght is much lyke vnto the baye tree It beareth the fruite in y e toppes of euery brauÌ„che The budde springeth out fyrst and theÌ„ in it the floure not much vnlike the floure of an orange tree The cloue is fyrst redde but after beyng scorched by the heate of the sonne it is made blacke The inhabitauntes deuide the groues of these trees betwene them as we doe the vynes The Iland of Muthil bringeth forth cinomome This tree is ful of small braunches baren beste lyking in a drye soyle and is very like vnto the tree that beareth the pomgranate The barke of this tree by reason of the great heate of the sonne rysing from the braunches or bodie of the same is gathered and dried at the sonne and is so made perfecte cinonomome Neare vnto this is another Iland called Beda greater and larger then anye of the Ilandes of Molucca In this Iland groweth the Nutmegge whose tree is bigge highe and much lyke vnto the walnutte tree for as is the walnutte so is this fruite defended with a double couering as fyrste with a grene huske vnder the whiche is a thinne skinne or rimme like a nette encompassing the shell of the nutte which skinne we call the flowre of the nutmegge but of the Spanyardes it is called mace an excellent and hole some spyce The other couering is the shell of the nutte within the which is the fruite it selfe which we call y e nutmegge Ginger groweth here and there in all the Ilandes of this Archipelagus or mayne sea Of the whiche some is sowen and some groweth of it selfe But that which is sowen is the better