Uillage called Chatsoe where are shéepe and goats great store and very cheape The 29. day we went 12. course to a small Town called Laddanna and there are great store of Cotton Wools. The 30. day we went eight course to a small town called Mosabad where is great store of corne The 31. day we went 12. course to Bandason a smal Uillage The first day of February we came to a faire Riuer called Paddar that runneth to Guzarat and this Riuer parteth the Dominions of the Indestands and Hendownes and falleth into the gulph of Persia. And from thence we went to the City of Esmeere being twelue course from Bandason Héere the great Mogol hath a stately house where are continually kept 600. Elephants and 1000. Horses for the warres to bée ready at the Kings command There is great store of wools and much cloathing for course cloth and cottens also Iauelins Bowes and Arrowes Armour Swords and other weapons for the Warres and two Basars or Markets euery wéeke The Indestands are very gallant people and great Merchants into most parts of the world The second day wée went into the Hendownes Countrey some 12. course and came to Richmall where is great store of Game and a pleasant place for hawking and hunting The fourth day we went 12. course to Mearta a faire City where I saw thrée faire and ancient Tombes or Monuments of the Hendownes there are thrée Basars or Markets euery wéeke Also great store of Indico cotten wooll yarne and cloth This City in my iudgement is as big as the City of Exceter The sixth day we went some twelue course to Hursallo a small Uillage The seuenth day we went 14. course to Lauara a small village where is great store of Corne Cattell and Shéepe and very good cheape The eight day we went 12. course to Towry a Towne of Garrison of the Hendownes The ninth day we went 11. course to Chummo a small Uillage The tenth day we went 13. course to Moulto a Uillage The 11. day we went 10. course to Pucker a small Uillage The 12. day we went 12. course to Senawra a little Towne The 13. day we went but fiue course to Basonpee a small village The 14. day we went fiue course more to Gislemeere a faâ—re City and hath in it a strong Castle where lyeth a grand Cauilier Also there is great trading of Merchandize by Land and in the Castle are thirty peeces of Ordinance The 18. day we went from thence some 14. course ouer the sands that part the Hendownes and Multans and lay in the fields The Hendownes are naturally discended from the Gentiles yet refuse no manner of meat flesh nor fish and are many of them very notable théeues They pray naked dresse and eat their meat naked and where they dresse and eat their meat they make a circle within which circle none must enter during the time of their dressing and eating their meat Their women are brought vp of children with shackles some of siluer some of brasse and some of Iron on their legs and rings in their eares all which are still increased or made bigger as they grow in yéeres and bignesse so that in time they haue holes in their eares so great that a man may thrust his hand thorow Also they doe weare bracelets of Elephants téeth about their armes from the wrist to the elbow The 19. day wée went eight course and lay in the Fields The 20. day wée went 12. courâ—e more and lay in the fields The twenty one day we went 12. course and lay by a well some 60. fathome déepe where water was very scarse The 22. day we trauelled 16. course where wée could get no better water then was almost halfe Cowpâ—sse The 23. day we went some 15. course and lay in the fields The 24. day we went some fiue course and came to thrée Townes viz. Roree Buckar and Sucker where is a gallant fresh Riuer and small ships that may goe to Armoose as the Townsmen report Now the shipping belongeth to Roree being some fifty or sixty saile and are of the burden of fourty fifty and sixty tâ—â— whereby there is trade of Merchandize as far as the coast of Molindee and as far as Mosembique and this Riuer falleth into the gulph of Pâ—rsia Buckar standeth in the middle of the Riuer which maketh it in forme of an Iland and is besides very strongly built The Indians cal this Riuer the Riuer of Damiadee And in this Towne of Bucker lieth Allâ—e Can the Mogols Uiceroy of the Bullochies who are such a stubborne rebellious people that he kéepeth that strong hold of purpose to retire vnto and to gather a head and renew his forces at all assaies to subdue and kéepe them in awe and obedience which notwithstanding he can hardly doe Also this Allâ—e Can is a very worthy and bountifull Prince who gaue vs very gallant and kinde entertainment and commanded vs to come dayly to his Court where we had both costly and plentifull diet at all times and héere wée left Io. Frencham one of our company sicke Sucker is a Towne consisting most of Weauers and Diars and liue by cloathing and serue the Countrey round about and this is the first Towne of the Bullochies And Roree the last confine towne of the Multans who are good husbandmen and painefull people and deale much in Merchandize as Cloth Indico and other commodities and are very good people to deale withall yet their Religion is Mahometicall At Sucker we staied 24. daies and more for a Cofâ—ilo or Conuâ—y For the Captaine of the Castle would not suffer vs to goe without one because the way was dangerous and full of Théeues which afterwards we found true for had we not by the great prouidence of God escaped their hands it had cost vs our liues and yet it cost vs some money besides The 25. day of March 1610. wée came from Sucker and trauelled ouer the plaines some thrée course or thereabouts The 26. day wée trauelled through the woods or Desarts some thrée course more The 27. day wée went thrée course more through the Desarts and there wée tooke in water for two daies which was but bad water neither but there was no better to be had nor any towne to come to vntill we came to Gorra some eight course distant from thence which was on the 28. day at night where we rested two daies and were very well vsed yet being a Towne of the Bullochies and Rebels wée were in great feare but we found no such cause God be praised The Bullochies are Man-eaters being men of huge limmes and proportion euen giantlike nor are they of any Religion at all saue only that they worship the Sunne The 21. day we came to Norry being about 10. course and this is the last Towne of the Bullochies and so to the Puttans The first day of Aprill we tooke our iourney ouer the plaines earely in the morning and about breake of day wée met
twentieth day wée trauelled some nine or tenne forsongs ouer the Desarts to another Cloth towne The twentie fiue day wée went through a mighty great Wood being fifteene forsongs in length where we went downe such an extreame stéepe hill that wee broke two of our Camels necks and had much to doe to goe downe the same our selues without harme and there were sted all night The sixe and twentieth day wée went some two forsongs to an other Cloth towne where wée rested thrée daies and thrée nights and there we paid Custome for our Camels to a great City being but a forsong from thence and is called Nezzeret where on the top of a mighty great mountaine was a monument of a great Sultan or Gentleman and when wée asked why hée was buried there it was directly answered because he was so much the néerer to heauen The thirtieth day we trauelled ten forsongs to the Riuer of Synnee which runneth into the Riuer Euphrates and deuideth the confines of Persia and Arâ—bia and by the Riuer side was remaining some old walles of a rumated Towne of Persia which was rased and destroied by the Turkes and Arabians The one and thirtieth day we trauelled eight forsongs in a waste Countrey where we lay by a Well al night Amongst the Persians the Sultans or Gentlemen and men of better sort are gallant men and of ciuill and courteous behauiour but the baser sort are â—ullen vnciuill and men of very bad conditions And generally they doe worship Mahomet and are common Buggerers as the Turks are yet they are people that labour extreamely as in digging planting and sowing and in picking of Cotton wooll and other wooll in spinning and making Coats and other things of Felt. Nor haue they almost any raiâ—e there but by extreame labour let the water out of the Riuers into their Pastures and Corne grounds There are good shéepe and goats plenty but â—ine and Oxen are very scarce Also Turkies and Hennes and other sorts of foules plenty And there a man may trauell without danger of robbing for it is there a strange thing to heare of a théefe And somuch for Persia and the Persians The first day of September wée trauelled twelue forsongs to a great Towne called Sabbercam being the first towne that wée came to in Arabia where are growing great store of Pomgranats which the Arabians doe call Anarres This is a Towne of Garrison of the Arabians and héere wée staied a day and a night The third day we trauelled â—ouretéene forsongs to a towne called Buldad where we also paid custome and héere we staied a day and a night This is also a towne of Garrison and full of théeues and at our comming out of the towne Ioseph Salenbancke one 〈◊〉 my Companions staying but a little behind the Coâ—â—sâ—lâ—e or Conuoy was by the Arabians robbed stripped and extreamely beaten and hurt So that if by chance I had not reserued some 100. Chickéenâ—es wée had 〈◊〉 beene both quite destitute of money to bring vs home into our Countrey The sixth day wée trauelled eightéene forsongs to the great City of Bâ—gdet or Babylon where we staied vntill the twentie two day of October following This City standeth vpon the great Riuer Euphrates and is a great rich and strong City with mighty strong wals whereon are planted 100. and twenty péeces of brasse ordinance Also there are ships small and great to the number of 300. saile belonging to this Citie and great trade of merchandize both by water and land It is not past 4. yéeres since the Turke wan this City from the Persians Also there is a â—â—oting bridge built vpon 33. great lighters strongly chained and fastened together from Bugdad ouer Euphrates to olde Babilon standing ouer against Bugdad on the other side of the Riuer And within a league from thence standeth the Remainder of the â—â—ynated Tower of Babell being one of the wonders of the world In Bugdad lieth one of the Turkes grand Bashawes called by the name of Mahomet Patteshogh who is estéemed as a Uiceroy and is gouernor of the City vnder the great Turke There are only two Venetian factors who trade for inestymable wealth in merchandize of all sorts Also some small number of Armenians which are all the Christians that are there resident The Turke is a valiant and resolute Souldier as by their proceedings may appeare both in winning the City of Bugdad and another City of as great strength as that called Towras and belonged also to the Persian whereof the Mahomet Patteshogh had certaine intelligence on the 12. day of October whilest we were there And that the great Turke or as they call him the Grand Gushell Bashe assuredly thinketh and intendeth in short space to approach to the wals of Ispahawne being a great and gallant Citie and standeth farre within the kingdome of Persia. The 10. day of October there came vnto vs an English man called Iohn white who said he was sent for a discouery to the East Indies and was bound for Ispahawne to méet with Iohn Midnall who we assured him not to be there but at Armoose Then did I and Ioseph Salebancke perswade him to trauell to the red sea of Cambaia whether he tolde vs Sir Henry Midleton was bound from England with a good ship called the Trades increase of the burden of 1000. or 1100. tun with another ship called the Cloue and a Pinnis called the Pepper Corne and the cause why we thus aduised him was for that he haâ—uing the Turkish language might accompany my friend Ioseph Salebancke to Sir Henry Middleton to acquaint him with the true discourse of our whole voyage and trauels whereby he might beware of and auoid the like dangers that we sustained and were in As also how and where to take his best oportunity for his lading as time and occasion should serue And vpon the 18. day Ioseph Salebancke and Iohn White tooke their iourney accordingly to a great City called Balsara standing vpon the Riuer Euphrates and is 18. daies iourney from Bugdad or Babilon where they were to méet with a Carranant or conuoy to conduct them to the Citie of Iudaia nere vnto the Red Sea And although Ioseph Salebancke was then verie poore hauing béen formerly robbed yet was he very willing to take this long and dangerous iourney vpon 〈◊〉 for the good of his Country And all the good that I could doe for him was to procure him a Camell and to lend him some part of my small store being in all not aboue 6. pound steâ—ling and so I left them to the protection of the almighty The 22. day of October we tooke our iourney from Bugdad or Babilon to the City of Aleppo And hauing trauelled 60. leagues at the least all thorough the desarts which wee did in some 8. daies we came to a Towne called Mussaw Cosam The 31. day we trauelled some 4. daies iourny thorow the desarts to the Towne of Ruseele being onely a thorow faire or lodging place
A TRVE AND ALMOST INCREdible report of an Englishman that being cast away in the good Ship call the Assention in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies Trauelled by Land through many vnkowne Kingdomes and great Cities VVith a particular Description of all those Kingdomes Cities and People As also A Relation of their commodities and manner of Traffique and at what season of the yeere they are most in vse Faithfully related WITH A DISCOVERY OF A GREAT Emperour called the Great Mogull a Prince not till now knowne to our English Nation By Captaine Robert Couerte LONDON Printed by WILLIAM HALL for Thomas Archer and Richard Redmer 1612. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT EARLE OF SALISBVRY KNIGHT OF THE MOST HOnourable Order of the Garter Vicount Cranborne Lord CECIL of Essindon Lord high TREASVRER of England Chancellour of the Vniuersity of Cambridge and one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell AS the most noble Maecenas of all good Arts the most worthy Patron of all such as can any way merit of their Countrey I haue elected you Right Honourable Lord to whom I haue presumed encouraged by your known grace and Clemency to Dedicate these my tedious and dangerous Trauels In which your Honour shall finde vndoubtedly all truth and some nouelty If after your more weighty and serious Considerations you will daine the perusall of this my rude and vnpolisht discourse For being shipwrackt in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies and not dispairing in the power of the Almighty of my safe returne to my Countrey Leauing the rest to the number of 75. that would not hazard so desperate and vnexpected an vndertaking I aduentured to passe thorow many vnknown Kingdomes and Cities ouer Land of all which I haue to my plain vnderstanding made a particular and â—aithfull discouery Protesting to your Honor that in all my trauels and almost incredible dangers I haue heere exprest no more then I haue directly seen and to my great sufferance and difficultie prooued Pardon I intreat your Lordship this my presumption in selecting you the noble and worthy Patron to so rude a discourse whose simplenesse is onely excused in the Truth That granted I shall thinke my selfe most comforted after al my precedent Hazards that your Honor will but daine to accept of this report Your Lordships Humbly deuoted Robert Couerte To the Reader REceiue Courteous Reader a true report of my dangerous Trauels which will I make no question be as pleasing to thee in reading as they were painefull to me in suffering Heere thou maiest safely and without danger see that which hath cost me many a tedious and weary step many a cold and comfortlesse lodging and many a thin and hungry meale I publish not these my Aduentures in any pride or Arrogancie But I thinke I should prooue ingratefull to my preseruer not to let the world know his miraculous power in safegarding me beyond mine owne hope or mans Imagination The report of these my perils are freely thine mine hath onely been the dangers and sufferance Bee thou as well pleased with my faithfull discouery as I am contented with my hard and paineful Pilgrimage Thine ROBERT COVERâ—â— A TRVE AND ALmost incredible report of an Englishman that being cast away in the ship called the Assention in Cambaya the farthest part of the East Indies Trauelled by Land through many vnknown Kingdomes and great CITIES THe 14. day of March 1607. wée came into the Downes and there ancored against Deale about 3. miles from Sandwich where we staied vntill the 25. day of the same moneth being by computation the first day of the yéere 1608. vpon which day about foure of the clock in the morning we waighed ancor and past by Douer betwéene thrée and foure of the clocke in the afternoone without any staying but giuing them notice with 3. peeces of Ordinance of our passing by and so passed forwards some thrée leagues and then by a contrary winde we were driuen backe againe into Douer roade where we ancored and staied till fiue of the clocke in the morning being the twenty sixe day of March. and then weighing ancor we sailed some thrée leagues when the winde contrarying constrained vs againe to cast ancor vntill the 27. day in the morning about seuen or eight of the clocke and then hauing a faire gale of winde we sailed to Plimouth where we arriued the 29. day between tenne and eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone where we staied till the thirtie one day of March. And then hauing a faire gale of winde wee waighed ancor and sailed vntill wee came in sight of an Iland called the Saluages on Sunday being the tenth day of Aprill being about fiue hundred leagues from Plimouth and still sailed forwards vntill the next morning that we came within sight of the grand Canaries which belong to the Spaniard And vpon the twelfth day of Aprill about eight or nine of the clocke in the night we ancored and discharged a peece of Ordinance for a boat to come aboard but to no effect For before our ariuall in the road there was a rumor of twelue saile of Flemmings that were coÌ„ming that way to no good intent as the Spaniards afterward told vs to be some of those Flemmings that had ouerrunne the rest where upon they sent vp into the Countrey for one hundred and fifty horse and foot or more for their defence and safegard if néede should be nor would they be peswaded to the contrarie vntill two of our Factors went on shore and fully satisfied them in any thing they demanded or doubted and that our intent was only to make prouision for such things as we wanted and the next morning as the manner there is we discharged another péece of Ordinance And then the Gouernour of the Towne sent a boat to know what we craued whereupon we certified them of our wants and they told vs they would giue the Gouernour intelligence and returne vs an answere which was that vnlesse wee came into the road it was beyond his Commission to releeue vs yet hauing first sworne and examined our Factors and so knowing the truth of our intended voiage they gaue them a warrant to take a boat to come aboard at their pleasures with licence to supply our wants if they had any thing that might content vs. Yet one thing aboue the rest made vs much to maruell which was two English ships which wee perceiued and knew by their flagges being in the road who had not so much kindnesse in them as to giue vs notice of the custome or manners of these subtill and currish people And of this doubt wee were also resolued that no man whatsoeuer being once within their Dominions may come aboard any ship that shall arriue there and lie out of the roade although they be of their owne Nation without their Gouernors and Councels permittance or licence At our being there some of them came aboard of vs euery day
to Master Iohnson in Cheapside who very curteously went to the Gouernour and acquainted him with our distresse who as hereafter we found it to be true was bribed by the Portugals which told him we were a kinde of turbuleÌ„t people that would make mutinies and sow ciuill discention in the Towne and so aduenture to surprise the Towne whereupon we were put into a Monastery where we liued thrée daies nor could this suffâ—ce but we were remooued to a great house being a Gentiles house where we lay 14. daies in which time by the good aduise of the said William Finch we made prouision of Coaches Horses and other things to trauell to the great Mogol certifie him of our great distresse and misfortunes This is a City of great fame Antiquity being walled about with frée stone and a strong Garrison lying therin and a City of great trading for Merchandize and great store of shipping wherof some are of 500. Tun which they cannot lade at the Town but carry them ouer the bar with their ballance only there lade theÌ„ but for their smaller shipping they lade them at the Town and so goe ouer the bar where at a high water they haue 16. foot water The 22. of September we tooke our iourney from Surâ—at to Agra with our Generall and 52. men with 21. Coaches of our owne and some others being hired and 19. Horses to a great City called Brampoit and the first two nights we lay in the fields The 26. day wee came to Nawbon where Sugar groweth in abundance with Cotten and all maner of graine as Rice Wheat Beanes Pease Chéecore Lanteechoes Motte c. For the Countrey is so plentifull that you may haue a gallon of milke for a halfe penny a Hen for thrée halfpence 16. Egs for a penny From Gandeuee to Sabay is 12. course from Sabay to Surrot is 12 course and euery two course is three English miles The 27. day we trauelled 12. course and came to a City of the Bannions called Daytaotote and there Master Reuet one of our Merchants died This City could neuer be conquored by the great Mogol but yéelded vpon composition and still holdeth his title of King of the Bannians and at this City we staiâ—d two daies This City yéeldes great store of Drugs fine Pentathose and Calico Lawnes The first of October we trauelled 12. course and lay in the fields The second day we trauelled 14. course to a great City of the Bannians called Netherberry where is a great Basar or Market and all maner of brasen wares to be sold as Pots Kettles Candlesticks and Caldrons of foure foot long Shirts of Male Swords and Bucklers Lances Horses in Armour of Arrowe proofe Camels and all maner of beasts There is also great store of Cotten wools Cotten yarne Pentathoes Callico Lawnes Shashes for Turbants for their heades Limmons Potatoes thrée pound for a penny and all maner of Drugs And surely cloth would be a very vendible commodity there for course felt is there extreame deare Also Cold and Siluer is there very plentifull and these are very good people to deale withall The third day we trauelled ten course to a small Towne of Husbandry called Sailote where is also great store of Sugar and fruits of all sorts The next day we trauelled 18 course to a Garrison Towne called Saddisee and there is the Riuer of Tyndee which runneth to Surrat wherein is great store of Fish of all sorts and this Riuer diuideth the confines of the Bannians and the Guzarates The Bannians are a strange people in their beliefe and honour God in a strange fashion viz. in pictures of stone hanging their beades on the heades of the pictures and then with their faces towards the sun doe worship it saying that all their comforts proceeds from it And yet I saw more then this which was a Cow adorned with a veste of gold and many Iewels her head bedecked with garlands and flowers and then being brought to a buriall place where they doe vse to make Sermons they kisse her féet and teats and worship her that it grieued mée to sée their sond superstition and abhominable Idolatry And asking why they did it they answered that shee was the mother of beasts and brought them milke butter chéese and the Oxe to till the ground and lastly her hide did make leather to make them shooes Moreouer they say she is blest by the Mother of God to be honoured aboue all beasts And so leauing the Bannians wee crossed the Riuer of Tindee into the Gentiles Countrey Now at Saddisee we being many some in Coaches some on Horseback they thought we had come to take their Town and did shut their gates bent their Ordinance vpon vs. But our General sent our Linguist or Interpreter to certifie them what wée were and then the Gouernour opened the Gates and came himself to entertaine vs with great curtesie and state Yet that night we lay by the Riuer side and the next day being the fifth of October wée came into the Towne where we lay that night And the next day we trauelled some 12. Course and lay at a Monastery And the seuenth day wée went to the great City of Bâ—amport where the great Generall called the 〈◊〉 Canawe liueth this being his Garrison or resting place when he is out of the warres and on the twelfth of October he came from the warres with 1500. Elephants 30000. Horses 10000. Camels 3000. Drumdaries The Elephant serueth in the Field with a small tower of wood or timber vpon his back wheron is placed 4. péeces of brasse as big as â—abnets and 10. men very artificially placed in the said Tower with bows and arrowes and to discharge those péeces The Elephants skin is musket proofe vnlesse it be on his face and belly and he is a beast of so great vnderstanding that he is ruled and gouerned by word of mouth vnderstanding what his kéeper commandeth him to doe This Countrey beareth towards the Northwest in the height of 28. Degrees or thereabouts And héere Muskets Snaphances Pistols Petronels and Swords be good commodities but no Firelocks in in any wise Also Cloth is an excellent commodity to my knowledge for I was offered thrée pound for an old cloake which héere is not worth 20. shillings at the vttermost And in Bramport we staied from the seuenth of October vntill the 11. of Nouember following Then I and Iohn Frencham one of our Company went to craue the Generals passe to goe to the great Mogol but he asked vs if we would serue him in his warres and he would giue vs what meanes we would desire but we told him we were poore distressed Merchants that had beene shipwracked and hee againe replied that there was no Englishman Merchant nor other but he was a Souldier But we told him that we had wiues and children in our Countrey to whom wee must of necessity goe to which hée said it was very well spoken and
that it was against their Lawes to kéepe any man against his will Then hée asked â—s if wée had any Iewels for his Ladies I answered I had one stone and one Iewell which I sold him for forty pound sterling and then hâ—e commanded his Secretary to make vs a Passe and seale it with his great Sâ—ale for our safe Conduct to Agra Also for the nature strength of the Elephant I can say thus much of mine owne knowledge because I saw it An Elephant roiall being brought to remoue a piece of Ordinance of one and twenty foot long which caried a shot of seuen inches high and lay vpon the cariage on the side of a hill and to carry the same some halfe furlong off which he did as it séemed to the great dislike of his Kéeper who told him hee was a lazy villaine and deserued not his meat Now the nature of the Elephant is not to be disparaged in any thing and standeth much vpon his reputation and valour so that vpon these spéeches of his Kéeper he came to it againe and with maine strength tore the carriage in pieces and left the piece lying on the ground Then were Carpenters set on worke to make a new carriage which being done the same Elephant was broght who clapt his Trunke about the wheeles and brought the Ordinance where his Kéeper commanded him This Citie is farre bigger then London and great trade of all sorts of merchandise therein it is one of the most famous heathen Cities that euer I came in and the Citizens are very good and kind people and very many Gallants in the Citie Also fine riuers ponds orchards gardens pleasant walkes and excellent faire prospects as euer I saw Heere any Gentleman may haue pastime to hunt or hawke and if hee will not goe farre he may buy a Déere in the Busar or market for a Doller being but foure shillings sterling and hunt him where and when he will Now in my iudgement our English cloth of gold and sâ—luer veluets broad-cloth bayes and cottons would be very vendable in regard there are so many Gallants And thus much for the great City of Bramport The eleuenth of Nouember we took our iourny towards Agroe I and Ioseph Salebanck our Purser and one Io. Frencham with one of the Country people for our guide taking leaue of our Generall who was extreame sicke of an Ague and no hope of any spéedy recouery Also we had thought to haue gone along with a Carrauand of foure hundred and fifty strong which were bound for Agro but the Captaine told vs that they were to stay seuen daies longer but said if wée would trauel some two daies iourny which we might safely doe without any danger of théeues we should meet with a greater Carrauand then they were So on the twelfth day wee trauelled to a Towne called Caddor some fiftéene course from thence where we lay that night Heere the Gouernor hearing that wee were strangers or Christians demanded what we would haue and whether we trauelled We answered to Agro to the King and that we came from Surrot Then he asked vs what we would doe with the King And when I heard him so inquisitiue I peremptorily answered that my businesse was too great for him to know but he said he would know it ere we went out of the Towne and I againe replied that my businesse was such that I would goe out ot the Towne and aske him no leaue and so making vs ready to depart we said we would sée who would stay vs without a very lawfull occasion Then the Gouernor sent his Cotwall or the Maior of the Towne who asked vs why we vsed such peremptory spéeches to the Gouernor We told him we answered him in no worse manner then his place and calling deserued and that it was not for him to force vs to acquaint him with our businesse to the King and then we shewed him she Can Canawes passe to the King Whereupon the Gouernor came to vs again with twenty Gentlemen of the Towne and by all meanes intreated vs to stay all night and whatsoeuer wée wanted that the Country could afford should be at our seruice and withall told vs the way was dangerous and very bad to trauell The next day we gaue him halfe a pound of Tobacco for a present which wée brought out of England which he accepted very thankfully The thirtéenth day wée came to a Towne called Sawbon some 14 course from Caddor but before wée were halfe a course out of the Towne the Gouernour sent 12. Horsemen with Launces Bowes and Arrowes to conduct vs some part of the way that was most dangerous which was some 10. or 12. English miles And when we came to Sawbon we found the Carrauand being 500. Camels bound for Agro And were laden with Taffateis wrought Silkes Cloth Sugar and other Commodities some from Bramport some from Bengalla and some from Cambaia The 14. day we set forwards with the Carrauand and trauelled some 12. course to a Monastery called Tindey The 15. day wée trauelled some 10. course and lay in the woods The next day we came to a great City called Cannowe where is much trading for Cloth Swords Shashes Péeces and Armour tied on with strings being but onely Arrow proofe There is great store of fruit and colours for Diars of all sorts and I thinke our English cloth would be an excellent commodity there for it is very cold esspecially in Ianuary February and March for it beareth to the Northwards The 16. day we trauelled some 14 course to a great Riuer called the Riuer of Andee which is as broad as the Thames at Woolwich and runneth into the Bay of Bengalla and this is the vtmost part or border of the Gentiles and one the 17. day we passed ouer the Riuer and went out of the Gentiles Countrey The Gentiles will eat nothing that bléedeth and the Sim is their great god For should they eat any thing that bléedeth they beléeue that they may eat the soules of their Father Mother Sister Brother or friends that are deceased For they say that when any one dieth their breath presently goeth into one beast or other so in eating that beast a man may eat the soule of some friend together with the flesh of that beast such is their great blâ—ndenesse and ignorance Nay more they doe make euery liuing thing their Idols as the first liuing they méete in the morning is their god or saint for that day to worship that and so leauing the Gentiles we come to the Bulloits or Pithagoreans The 17. day we came to the City of Gorra where are many Surroyes or Innes where Trauellers may set their Camels Horses or Catell and cost nothing Also there are foure great Schooles for learning like to an Uniuersity In this Countrey were two Brothers being Kings sonnes who warred for this City being eight miles in compasse and in the middle a great wall and there they laid their Séedge
a long time And at the last the King of the East part got the victory and held the same for seuen yéeres and then the great Mogol Tamberlaine the sixth ouercame the whole Countrey and tooke it into his hands The 18. day we went ten course to a great Tanck or poole of water like vnto the Bath the water boiling out of the earth and is very warme The 19. day wée trauelled sâ—me 15. course to a Towne called Sanday where is great store of Wâ—ll like Spanish Wool héere are made great â—â—ore of Caps to couer Turbants felt gownes to ride in both fine and course there are great store of shéepe and so much Sugar that they féed horses therewith as we do with prouender also there are goodly Surroies or Iâ—â—es for horsemen and footmen The 20. day wée trauelled some fiftéene course to a great Surroy néere vnto a Monastery where wée had great store of fruit called Mangees being like an Apple and haue a stone as big as an Apricocke and in sent or taste and is excellent good for the Flixe and are there much estéemed of The 21. day we trauelled twelue course to a small village called Lee. The 22. day we trauelled some 16. course to a City called Easman where is a great Bussart or Market for the countrey people for Wooll â—â—tten Cotten yearne Swords Iauâ—lins and other weapons for the warres The 23. day wée came to a little Towne called Zingreene some 14. course where is great store of Oad and aboundance of Drugs for Diars The 24. day we trauelled 16. course to a Citie called Barrandonn where are great store of Merchants of the Bannians and Mesulipatanians It is a City where the great Carrauans méet and there is great trade of Merchandise for Cloth Shashes Armour for men and Horses Coats of Male Armour of Arrow proofe bombast Headpéeces and Elephants téeth also many wilde Elephants in the Countrey here we staied two daies and lest our Carrauant in the City The 17. day we tooke our iourney forwards and by the way we met with a Conor Knight of that Countrey with fourty Horse being bound for Agro and fâ—fâ—y shot with whom we also kept company being about 140. strong and trauelled in the Desart some sixe daies where are great store of wilde Elephants Lions Tygars Cat of Mountaines Porpentines and other wilde beasts innumerable but those wee saw These Desarts are 100. course long where euery night we made great fires round about our tents to shunne the dangers of the wilde beasts This Con or Knight told vs the nature or wit of the Elephant who knowing he is hunted to death for his teeth will goe to a trée and there by maine force will wring or wrest his téeth out of his head knowing that so he shall liue secure and frée from that danger and this he protesâ—ed to be true The third of December we past those Desarts and came to a Towne called Tranado The fourth day we trauelled some 16. course to a Towne called Zaioberdee where is hay corne and graine great plenty The fifth day we trauelled some 18. course to a City called Handee where the King hath a Castle and house cut out of the maine Rocke and wrought with carued worke round about This Castle is inuincible and hath fifty péeces of Ordinance in it There lay in this Castle when wée were there 200. Knights Captaines and other Gallants that had transgressed the Law or the Kings commandement as in Treason Rebellion and such like matters Also in this City are two houses much like Saint Iones where Captaines and Cauiliers that haue béene maimed and hurt in the warres do liue and haue each one a Mammothée a day being nine pence English and meat and drinke at the Kings allowance The 6. day we came to the Riuer of Tamluo which runneth into the Riuer Indus which parteth the Countries of the Pythagoreans and the Indestands The Pithagoreans in former times haue béene a vile and treacherous kinde of people and had a Law that when the husband died the wife should be also burnt which is holden till this day though not in so strict a maner for now shée may refuse it but then her head is shauen and she clad in a blacke vesture or garment which among them is reputed most vile and hatefull that the basest slaue in the Countrey will not succor nor reléeue her though she should starue Now the cause why this Law was first made was for that the women there were so fickle and inconstant that vpon any slight occasion of dislike or spléene they would poison their husbands Whereas now the establishing and executing of this Law is the cause that moueth the wife to loue and cheerish her husband and wisheth not to suruiue him As for example I saw a young woman the wife of a Doctor whose husband being dead shée made choise to bée carried in a Pageant by foure men shee being cloathed in Lawne and her head deacked with Iewels and rich Ornaments and before her went Musike of all sorts that the Countrey afforded as Hoeboies Drums fifes and Trumpets and next vnto her all her kindred and so shée was brought to the place of Execution where was a stake and a hole to set her féet in and so being tied to the stake all her kindred knéeling round about her praying to the sun and their other Idols the fire was set to her she hauing vnder each arme a bagge of gunpowder and a bagge betwixt her legges and so burnt to death the fire being made of Beniamin Storare Lignomal lâ—es and other swéet woods Thus much for the Bulloits and so to the Indestands and the next day we trauelled some ten course to a Towne called Addar The eight day wée trauelled some 26. course and came to the great City of Agro where the great Mogoll kéepeth his Court and residence The ninth day Captaine Hawkins came to vs and brought vs before the King as it is the custome and manner of the Countrey For no stranger must stay aboue twenty foure houres before he be brought before the King to know what hée is and wherefore hée commeth Also euery stranger must present the King with some present bée it neuer so small which hée will not refuse And I gaue him for a present a small whistle of gold waighing almost an ounce set with sparks of Rubies which hée tooke and whistleled therewith almost an houre Also I gaue him the picture of Saint Iohns head cut in Amber and Gold which hée also receiued very gratiously The whistle hée gaue to one of his great women and the picture to Sultane Caroone his yongest sonne His eldest son rebelled and is in prison with his eies sealed vp and it is noised amongst the common people that his eies are put out But it was told mée by a great man that they are but sealed vp His name is Patteshaw Shelham which in our language is heire apparant to the Crowne
with tenne or twelue men playing on Fiddles as if they had come in friendly maner to welcome vs but indéed they were no better then Théeues that intended to rob and pillege vs for by the Sun rising wée were beset round with them and their companions whose certaine number wée could not discerne nor know And though wée had a Caffeloe or Conuoy of two hundred strong yet wée were glad to intreat the Captaine of that vnruly Crew to stand our friend and both to bribe him priuatly and to pay openly besides in the name of a custom twenty Checkéenoes in gold nor would all this haue serued the turne but for the Mogols Passe vnder his hand and great seale which they much feared but that all our throats had béene cut as other in greater number had formerly beene yet at last vpon this friendly composition they garded and conducted vs through their Countrey vntill wée were past all danger and so departed and that day wée trauelled some nine course ouer the plaines and â—ooke vp our lodging in the plaine Fields The second day wée trauelled some eight course to a Towne called Daddor where wee rested two daies The fifth day we trauelled eight course ouer the mountaines The sixth day we went ten course ouer the mountaines The seuenth day we went eight course ouer the Mountaines The eight day we went eight course to Vachesto a Towne of ciuill and quiet Gouernment where wee rested that night The ninth day we went thrée or foure course ouer the mountaines and lay in the fields The tenth day we went some eight course in the mountaines The eleuenth day we went nine or ten course in the Mountaines The twelfth day we went some nine or ten course in the mountaines The thirtéenth day we went nine or ten course in the mountaines The fourtéenth day we went some fourtéene course ouer The 15. day we came to Candahar being but two course from thence where we staied 20. or 21. daies This is a great and gallant Citie of the Puttans where Sawdder Conuiceâ—oy of the Puttans keepeth his Court and residence There is great and continuall traffique by land from Persia Indestand Mesopotamia and from all partes betweene that and China with all sortes of merchandize and commodities which those Countries yeelde For there are continually 7 or 8. thousand Camels about the Citie which trade to and fro with merchandize Also the viceroy hath continually 40. â—00 horses for the warres in readinesse for feare of Rebellion because the Puttans are a strong and warlike people and inclined to rebellion by reason they came vnder the Mâ—gols gouernment and subiection by force and conquest and therefore loue him not in their hearts but obey him for feare The 6. day of May we tooke our iourney for Ispahawne in Persia and trauelled some 8 course that day and came to a gallant Riuer where were two Townes on each side of the Riuer one and at one of these Townes called Langor we rested that night The 7. day we went some 6. or 7. course ouer the plaines The 8. day we went in like manner some 7. course more and lay in the fields The 9. day we went ouer the plaines some 12. course and came to a great Riuer which diuideth the land of the Puttans from Persia and there we paid custome for our Owts or Camels and rested 2. daies by the Riuer side The 12. day we were ferried ouer the Riuer which is called Sabbaa to a castle a course from thence and neer to a Towne called Grees This Riuer diuideth the confines of the great Mogoll and the King The Puttans are a warlike and goodly people and were their beards long which the Mogols doe hate also they worship the great God of heauen and despise Mahomet Their Priests goe in Sackcloth with great Chaines about their middles And doe fall downe and pray continuallie in Sackcloth and Ashes And so passing out of the great Mogols kingdomes and dominions we came to the Towne of Grees being the first Towne of Persia where we rested a day and a night The Towne of Grees is a frontier Towne and therefore the King or as they call him the Shawbash of Persia keepeth heere a garrison of ten thousand men and a gouernour to command them The 14. day we went ouer the plaines 6. forsongs euery forsong being a league and euery league 2. course and rested in the fields The 15. day we trauelled ouer the plaines some 6. forsongs more and came to a Castle where we refreshed our selues and our cattle and theâ—e we rested our selues two daies to stay for a Coffeloe or conuoy which came to vs the 14. day at night The 18. day we went 5. forsongs ouer the fields or plaines and lay in the fields The 19. day at night we trauelled some 4 forsongs to a Towne called Doctorcham where wee staied all the next day and night The 21. day we trauelled some 5 or 6 forsongs in the night to a Towne called Sehawe and thus for certaine daies we trauelled al by night by reason of the extreame heat in the day time The 22. day at night we trauelled some 6 forsongs ouer the plaines The 23. day at night we went 5 forsongs to a Town called Vâ—a where are great store of Feltmakers which also make felt Carpets weauers of Turkie Carpets there are also great store of Dates and all sorts of fruits The 24. day wee trauelled some 6. forsongs to a faire Citie called Parra where we staied 22. daies for a Coffeloe or Conuoy my selfe being also sicke there there is great trade of merchandize and great store of raw silke which in the Persian tongue is called Auerisham The 6. day we went some 2. forsongs ouer the mountaines The 7. day we went 4. or 5. forsongs ouer the mountaines The 8. day we went 7. forsongs The 9. day we went some 5. forsongs The 10. day we went 10. forsongs all in the mountaines The 11. day we trauelled some 3. forsongs to a towne called Banda being but a harbor or lodging place The 12. day wee went some 3. forsongs ouer the plaines The 13. day we trauelled some 5. forsongs ouer the plaines and rested till the 14. day at night and then trauelled some 7. forsongs and a halfe The 15. day wee came to a Towne called Sunday where we rested that night and all the next day and night The 17. day we trauelled some 7. forsongs and a halfe ouer the plaines The 18. daie wee went in like manner some 9. forsongs The 19. day we went 5. forsongs to a Towne called Beastâ— The 20. day we went some 4. forsongs The 21. day we trauelled some 6. forsongs to a towne called Gusta where we rested a day and a night The 23. day we trauelled 4. forsongs to a watering place The 24. day we trauelled 10. forsongs and rested in the fields The 25. day we trauelled 7. forsongs to a Towne called Dattee where was great store of
some 30 leagues from Mussaw Cosam The 4. day of Nouember we trauelled some eight leagues to a small village called Deesh The 5. day we set forwards towards Mussell other wise called Niniuy being some 30. leagues or more from Deesh and trauelled thither in 5. daies This Citie is now much ruinated and yet the Remainder thereof is as spacious and great as most Cities that I haue seene in all my trauels within the City is a great Bashaw or gouernour vnder the great Turke Also without the City there standeth a faire strong Castle vpon the bankes of the Riuer Tygris where is also another Bashaw or gouernor for the Castle and Suburbs of the citie Theâ—e is no trade of merchandize in this City but it is only kept by the Turke as a Towne of Garrison yet there are Armenian Christians who haue their Churches and Friars and doe fréely vse their Religion without checke or comptroll Also there are yet remaining manie ancient monuments which make relation and shew that it hath beene a City of great antiquity and famous memory and in this City we staied 4. daies The 14. day we went 4. leagues to a Castle called Nâ—ssebaw and rested that night and the next day we trauelled 12. leagues more and at night came to Nussâ—baw where the Prophet Ionas preached to all the Countries round about and there remaineth his picture in stone though much defaced by the warres yet it is kept and maintained by the Christians whereof there are many dispersed amongst the Turkes euer since the destruction or ouerthrow of Niniuie by the Turkes and are now called by the name of Curgees From thence we trauelled some 25. leagues in thrée daies and on the 18. day at night came to Hamadaine an ancient Towne of the Armenians but much ruinated by the Turkes Here we saw many ancient monuments which shewed that it had bin a Towne of great antiquity and worth and at this Towne we staied one day and a night The 20. day we tooke our iourney towards a towne called Goubba being 25. leagues and 3. daies iourney and came thither the 22. day at night where we met with a Consul of Venice and 5. Venetians more trauelling to Bugdad or Babilon and there we staied a day and a night The 24. day we trauelled towards the great City of Vlfawe being 25. leagues and 3. daies iourney and came thither the 26. day at night and there all trauellers pay great custome This is a mighty strong City and a continuall Garrison kept there by the Turke Nor can any Carrauant or Conuoy or any passenger be suffered to lodge within the City But in the day time they may come into it to the Bassart or market to bâ—y necessaries and so depart againe and here we sâ—â—â—ed 5. daies The 2. day of December wee tooke our iourney to Beere a great Towne vpon the Ryuer Euphrates being â— daies 〈◊〉 and 25. leagues distant whither we came the fourth day at night and staied there one day This is also a strong Towne of Garrison The 6. day we were ferried ouer the Riuer and went 2. daies iourney being soule 15. leagues to the Towne of Lumman and came thither on the 7. day at night The 8. day we trauelled 10. leagues to the City of Aleppo and came thither that night and by the waie we trauelled 2. leagues thorough the plaines where was nothing but figs or as I may â—earme it a forest of â—ig trees and another place of as great length being all vâ—ne trées full of grapes And being come to the great and worthy City of Aleppo we went to the English house where I found Maâ—ter Paul Pinder to be Consul a very worthy gentleman and well deseruing a place of so great credit and esteeme at whose hands we found very courteous and kind entertainment for at my comming to him I was destitute both of mony and cloaths and so was my companion Richard Martin But he releeued vs first with meat drinke and lodging during our abode there being some 12. daies also he furnisht vs with apparrell and at our departure with money for our iourney Also there was one M. Spike who was both kind and bountifull vnto vs. And so were all the rest of the English Merchants whom I cannot particularly nameâ— both kind and curiâ—ous vnto vs which was vnto vs a great refreshing and comfort in our iourney Aleppo is a City of wonderfull great trading and as well knowne to England or at lest to our English Merchants as Kingstone vpon Thames And thus much I can say more of it that within foure daies after our comming thither there came aboue 20â—0 Camels laden with Silkes and all sorts of merchandiâ—e all or most whereof I ouer went in my trauels being in seuerall Carauans some from Mesopotamia some from Agro some from the 〈◊〉 and some from Persia and so at other times continually they come from thence and other places whence any trading can come by Land The one and twentieth day I take my leaue of Master Paul Pindar Master Spicke and the rest of the Merchants and tooke my iourney together with my Companion Richard Martin for Tripolie and that daâ— wee trauelled sâ—me seuen leagues ouer the Desarts and resâ—ed twâ— houres and then trauelled some 15. leagues farther to an old Towne called 〈◊〉 wâ—ere we rested halfe a day and baâ—â—â—d and then trauelled some ten leagues more and baited and resâ—ed our selues in the fields sâ—me seâ—â—e houres and then trauelled 〈…〉 towne câ—lled Hamaâ— And the reason why 〈…〉 thus hâ—rd was to 〈◊〉 company will a Carâ—â—â—â—nd or Coâ—nâ—â—ey of 100â— strong who were bound for 〈…〉 there great 〈◊〉 mee was then resident wâ—ereas also we should haue trauelled in great danger and hâ—â—ard of our liues by reason the Countrey is so full of theeues In this towne are many Weauers that make great store of Dimatree and schamâ—tree and Cottons also it is a great thorow faire and there is a great Oâ—â—sâ—rie or Inne which they call a Caan and there wee rested two daies The sixe and twentieth day we trauelled some eight leagues to a little towne called Roma where wée lay all night The seuen and twentieth day wee trauelled some eight leagues more to a Monastery called Huddreaâ—â—ns which was built by an Armenian Christian who gâ—ue sufficieÌ„t maintenance to prouide Oliues bread and Oile for Lamps for the harbour reliefe of all Christian trauellers and there is the picture of Saint George on Horse backe fighting with the Dragon and his picture on foot and his Crosse and mention in old Roman print of his noble memorable acts which Relique is much honored by many Christians as they trauell by the same and to that end there iâ— a Chapel and Lampes burning therein continually The twenty eight day we went some tenne leagues to a litâ—le Towne called Hone and lay there that night The 29. day we trauelled to Tripolis being tenne leagues from thence where we