70000. gallant Harquebusiers go out to meete the king at his returne from a victorious iourney against the Turkes vpon whom hee had conquered foure Prouinces and because they were not come farre enough to his minde he did condemne them to pay three Zequins a peece with threats that if they offended againe in the like he would cut off their heads And did compell them to remaine in guard in a large spatious place before his Pallace where euery euening he caused them to play and exercise themselues as though they had beene in warre causing withall store of artillery to bee shot in among them and if any one through feare seemed to neglect his dutie hee caused his Turbant to be taken off the man knockt downe to death with staues himselfe giuing the first stroake At this his entrie they made him a great triumph with a long magnificence Among the rest they erected in the said place before his Pallace foure fortresses all full of fire-workes with Lions Dragons Leopards Crocodils and other beasts whose motion was artificially made to run vpon lines from one fort to another fighting as they had beene aliue They made likewise foure forrests to be burnt consisting of all sortes of fruit full trees whereon the fruits were so naturally represented that nothing could be more perfect The said place is all vaulted about with Porches like to the Place Royall in Paris hauing faire shops of euery side as wel within as without There the king commanded each one according to his seuerall trade to deck their shops in the richest manner they coulde which they also did and hauing shut vp all the passages for the sunne there was no other light but with lamps and torches placed in the best order that can euer bee deuised which burning continually did returne a brightnes cleerer then the day it selfe and I might well haue saide there was all the riches in the world for so they had dilligently sought after and either bought or borrowed it of purpose from all parts to appeare euery one more gallant and well-minded to their Prince then his neighbor Surely all that euer I haue seene since through al my trauails I thinke I saw it first there About foure a clocke in the euening the King vsed to come within that place remained there til morning playing walking passing the time which triumphs continued so for the space of two moneths togeather There I saw the greatest quantity of rich stuffes and tapistries that euer I saw before or since siluer and coyned money of all countries yea with a good quantity out of Frāce Spaine Within that place there is a 1000 peeces of ordinance as well great as small which they say they had gotten from the Turke And among the rest I perceiued foure French peeces of which hauing told the king he made me answer that hee had taken them from the great Vizier when he defeated him before Tawris in his fathers time He is in a manner of the same religion the Turke is of except some I know not what differences which I vnderstand not being hereticks one to another When the King dies he that succedeth puts out the eyes of all his Brethren and keepeth them close prisoners in a great Castle but yet with as much ease as he can a kinde of curtesie which hath beene but since this kings time that now is for in times past they slew them as they doe in Turkie From Ispaan I went to Casbin 12. dayes iourney distant a very Populous and rich Citty of great Traffick about the bignes of Orleans which though it bee great and strong enough yet the chiefest strength thereof lieth in the great number of horsemen that are continually about it But there are no further commodities then at Ispaan From thence I trauailed 15. daies iourny through very faire and well manured countryes till I came to Tauris A Citty very populous too and of great traffick some-what perhaps bigger then Toulouze And was heretofore farre greater yea of a huge bignes as yet is to bee seene by the ruines but since hauing bin sackt and sackt againe by the Turke hath lost allmost all former beauty hauing heretofore both for the fairenes and plentifulnes of the soyle and statelines of the place bin the seate of the Persian Kings Thence I prosecuted my trauail to Syras being 16. daies iourney distant It is still a braue place for trade but chiefly for armour the healthfullest Seate and the fairest in all Persia where the Verdican or lieutenant generall of the Sophie resideth with all his Ianizaries to the number of 50000. horsmen the best horses in the world next to those of the desert for they dare not haue any other but such as the king giueth them neither can they sell them and when they die he giueth them others as also to all the rest of his horsemen The Citty is some-what greater then Auignon where there are the fairest remnants of greatnes of stately buildings the finest Gardens Brookes and Fountaines that can be seene There are kinds of causeys in those parts made for pleasure 12. leagues in length bordered on each side with faire trees in forme of a vaulted palisado so thick that the sunne beams cannot pierce through Of each side of them there are faire springs of cleere running water and betweene euery 15. foote of ground are great vessells full of cleere water made in forme of a fountaine which throwes out water the bignes of a mans bodie From Syras I went 8. daies iourney to the chiefe Citty of the great Realme of Lar which giues his name to the whole kingdome and from whence coms the best Bezar-stones There is the galantest the strongest and best stored Castle vnder the Persian king being impossible to be battered or mined vnderneath is the Cittie wholly commanded by this Castle There the king causeth such an order to be obserued through his whole kingdome that before his Subiects sell any thing those commodities that are his owne shall first be put to sale then they must sell theirs at the same rate He is verie affable to strangers From Lar I went to Bandier a small fort which the Portugals hold in Persia to supply Ormus with water and victuall which hath but verie litle or none at all Thence I past to Ormus an Iland and kingdome which the Portugals do hold though the Moorish king hath not abandoned his possession but liue in some reasonable peace one with another It is of a great force and consequence to them drawing from thence very great commodities for it lyeth iust in the passage to Mecha and of necessitie euerie ship that passeth that way must make a stay there to pay the customs Among the rest I can affirme to haue seene one that willingly taxed her selfe at 100000. Francs for her customs There is but Brimstone and salt in this Iland with out fresh
a cap a long cloake in forme of a gowne They lie in the field vnder vile Cabbins of Turfe Thence I entred the Kingdome of Brameny which containeth but 2. dayes iourney in length and in a manner of the same qualities and habit with the Canarrins Onely they haue a kind of linnen cloth which they make Marchandice of Thence to the Kingdome of Coulam who are Gentiles and of a swartie hue which hauing trauersed from one end to the other in a 11. dayes iourney I beheld no place of importance There is nothing there but all open Thence I tooke my way to Conchin possessed by the Portugals though the King keepes neuerthelesse still there his title and Court The Cittie is about the bignesse of Mante and is as well frequented with Marchants as any other place in all the Indies being the thorow-fare to China And there is a Citadell of exceeding great strength Thence I went to the Mountaine of S. Thomas where they are all Christians and haue alwayes so borne themselues notwithstanding their king is a Gentile their number being so great that very hardly may they be rooted out besides that the passages to it are most difficult They goe for the most part almost naked as commonly they doe in all those Countries And there is a certaine place where there is a Miraculous crosse whether they goe to procession in the holy weeke And then during their seruice time while they repeate the passion this crosse begins to change colour and to sweat I know not what kind of blacke liquor like inke but the passion being ended it returnes to its former nature They hold it to be a grace which Saint Thomas obtained from God for their perseuerance in the faith The Cittie is about the bignes of Poissy there are found certaine stuffs by them much esteemed although they bee made but of hearbs wherewith they cloath themselues and make a great trade thereof Thence I returned to Conchin from Conchin to the kingdome of Bengala wherein the Portugals also hold the capitall citty best fortresse of which the whole kingdome takes their name which notwithstanding is very small of little strength It is a countrey full of all sorts of commodities Among the rest they haue prettie couerlets of yellow linen-cloth all pinkte and wrought with needle worke whereof some are to bee seene in these parts This Cittie lies all open being of the bignes of Saint Denis and is some 5. weekes iourney from Conchin Thence to the kingdome and Iland of Seilan which the portugals holde being a place of importance In that contrey are whole forests of Cinamon all other countries being destitute of it There be also whole mountaines of Christall and out of their riuers they draw Perles Rubies Saphirs and Cats-eyes which are of great valew and whereof they make a great trade in China It is a good country and exceeding plentifull in corne rice fruits and all other things which are frequent throughout the Indies And is held to be 300 leagues compasse being all Gentiles True it is that the beasts which they adore varie from the others for they will worship the first creature they meete withal They eate nothing that hath bloud and of their very bread they will make no more then wil be eaten at a meale for if it be kept but 2. houres they are forbiden by their religion to eate it Moreouer there is a Riuer of salt water which issueth out of the sea and runneth neere the fort where there is a certaine fish or rather a kind of sea dragon a monster or I know not what coms often howling euen vnder the windowes will not depart before they haue giuen him his pray because as they say the Gouernour hath vsed him to it causing all such as he beareth grudge vnto or he any way distrusteth to be throwne to him so that none but he and his men can tell what is become of them Thence I bent my course for the kingdome of Ior as much as I could by land for this climate is all full of waters and Ilands and is very temperate being about a monthes trauaill betweene Seilan and Ior which is a very pretty little towne about the bignes of Auignon They are Gentiles and of a yellowish hew they worship I know not what shape with three heads they obserue the like abstinence as is aboue mentioned and haue very neere the selfe same commodities Thence I past to Malaca an exceeding strong fortres belonging to the Portugals 10. dayes trauaill beyond Ior. There you haue an aire most vnholesome and those whose constitution is able to beare it and liue at least their complexion is all changed to a yeallow There groweth a certaine fruit prickled like a ches-nut and as big as ones fist the best in the world to eate these are somewhat costly all other fruits being at an easie rate It must be broken with force and therein is contained a white liquor like vnto creame neuerthelesse it yelds a very vnsauory sent like to a rotten oynion and it is called Esturion There groweth likewise and no where els Nutmegs and Cloues vpon their trees or stalkes as also the Bezar-stone which is found ioyned to the breast of Monkies but not so good as those of the Persian Goates Likewise there be Diamonds but farre inferior to those whereof I am to speake anon yet are there Porcupine-stones of the couller of white soape which are had in great estimation hauing seene one about the bignes of a Nutmeg sold for 300. crownes which indeed was a faire one they make vse of it allmost against all diseases leauing it an howre to steepe in water which afterwards they drinke of though it be as bitter as Gall. This kingdome is of the Molucos and the Hollanders possesse there a strong fortresse called Sonde whence they bring vs the birds of Paradice for they are found noe where else the countrey folkes take them vp dead and sell them for 8. rialls a peece All a long this coast is found great quantitie of gray Amber and black Muske and Ciuet But the men of those countries are very liquorish of the Amber and eate the most part of it as fast as they finde it They are well furnished with all manner of commodities wine only excepted But they haue in steed of it a certaine drinke called Caahiete as blacke as inke which they make with the barke of a tree and drinke it as hot as they can endure it Their houses are low vaulted and tarrased on the top the better to sleepe in the coole aire From Malaca I went to Macao neere a months trauaile which is a Cittie scituate on the sea coaste at the foote of a great Mountaine where in times past the Portugalls had a greate fort and to this day there be yet many that dwell there This is the entrance into China but the place is of no
certaine king who forbad his people the exercise of husbandry and Tillage or any other thing necessary for the vse of man And hauing gathered togeather all the victualls of the country caused it strongly to be immured where he kept his residence suffering the most part of his subiects to perish through famine or sicknes so that at this instant the whole countrey remaines waste and desolate Where in times past there was wont to be found many rare commodities namely most faire rubies and is now all togeather frequented with sauage beastes yea in so great quantity that they haue almost driuen out the inhabitants Yet for such as remaine there to this day they bee Gentiles and of a swhartie hue Thence I made it 18. dayes iourneyes to the Realme of Camboge which is very spatious but voyd of any rarieties of note onely that the King is able to bring 400000. men to the field and makes warre vpon the King of Sian Thence I came to Sian the King whereof is able to bring 600000. men to the field These two Kings haue neyther Horses nor any fiery Instruments but make vse onely of bowes and a certaine kind of pike made of a knottie wood like Canes called Baubuc which is exceeding strong though pliant and supple for vse Both these Kings are Gentiles but yet differ enough in manners for the King of Sian worshippeth a white Elephant And that of Camboge doth as the most of the aboue-mentioned I saw nothing remarkable in both these kingdomes hauing but coasted them but onely much Benzoin in Sian which is an aramaticall gumme distilling out of a certaine tree when they haue first cut an incision into it whereof they make a great trade as being the onely place where it is found I spent three moneths in trauersing these two Kingdomes Thence I embarqued my selfe in one of the Portugall ships which vsually trafficke thither for Benzoin and arriued at Conchin a most fertile Kingdome as likewise all the others be in those Climes Pegu onely accidentally excepted From Conchin I trauailed by land 2. moneths and a halfe to Bisnagat otherwise called Ballagat by the Portugals which is a most faire Cittie and the Metropolitan of the kingdome vnto which it giues his name It stands within two leagues of the rocke of Diamonds belonging to the King who makes his ordinarie abode in the said Citty and retaineth 15000. men continually labouring in the said mine with straight commandement that all the great ones be layed vp in his Treasurie suffering none to be sold but little ones such as we see in these parts So that there is not any great ones sold or transported vnlesse it bee by stealth or some deuice As I haue seene one with the great Mogor as bigge as a Hens egge and of that very forme which he caused expresly to bee peirced like a pearle to weare it on his arme which stone had beene so purloin'd from this King and cost the other 500000. Parots which is little lesse then a million It waigheth 198. Mangelins and each Mangelin waigheth fiue graines I my selfe found meanes by mony priuily to haue another great one conueyed into my handes whereof I will speake more by and by This King is a Gentile and of a hard Swartie complexion Hee worshippeth the tooth of a Monkey and some in his Kingdome worship a certaine kind of Serpent Thence I trauailed 11. dayes till I came to the Realme of Decan Dialcan or Idalcan their King dwelleth within a dayes iourney of Goa which is a strong Citty the Portugals hold and the viz-roy of the Portugall-Indies keeps there his residence against whom this King who is a Mahometan and very mightie makes warre now and then Thence I came to Goa it selfe an Iland but fiue leagues in compasse neuerthelesse the greatest Mart towne in all the Indies for there all the aboue-mentioned Kingdomes and the Portugals mutually come to discharge and recharge themselues It is a verie faire Cittie about the bignes of Poictiers At the mouth of the Port on each side is erected a great Fortresse very strongly manned by the Portugals In this Iland is the hard Waxe made which we call Spanish Waxe and is made in manner following They inclose a large plotte of ground with a little trench filled with water then they sticke vp a great number of small staues vppon the sayd plot that being done they bring thither a sort of pis-mires farre bigger then ours which being debar'd by the water to issue out are constrained to retire themselues vppon the sayd staues where they are kil'd with the heate of the Sunne and thereof it is that the Lacka is made This is a Climate where it raines without intermission the three moneths of Winter and so outragiously that it is vnpossible to keepe the sea vppon that coast without Shipwracke After the rayne is fallen comes there a land winde which dryeth vp the ayre and two houres after is very safe sayling Thence I embarqued my selfe with the permission and Pasport of the Viz-roy for Lisbone but we had such a terrible tempest that we were eyght whole dayes in the bottomes and Iles of Las Chagues despairing euer to come out againe in the end God miraculously deliuered vs and brought vs to Mozambique which is a Fort belonging to the Portugals Then to Solfale where they are Mahometans and all blacke And thence onely commeth the Ebony Then we arryued at Lisbone where I was imprisoned and continued so foure yeeres long without euer telling me the cause why Finally after much adoe I was set at libertie through the great meanes my LORD the Duke of Mayenne made for me when he came into Spaine about the marriages And as it seemeth in fauour and hope of them or els I fully beleeue I had neuer beene released For as I heard there by the meanes of some prisoners the Viz-roy of Goa had giuen straight warning that I was an vndertaking man who had exactly viewed all those Countries and could doe much hurt vnto the King their Master by the acquaintances and intelligences I had of them if euer I could come among the French English or Hollanders There was I in my chamber of the prison by an vnlucky aduenture miserably robd of a little hollow pipe of white latten long and slender which I had euer kept so close that no body in the world knew of it and therein were 35. rough Diamonds which was all that I euer had gotten in my long and painefull trauels among which the others being but common there was a mighty great one waighing no lesse then 79 Carrats and therfore of an vnestimable valew the first theefe was presently yea within a quarter of an howre robd of them by another so being passed from hand to hand when after many daies and troubles I almost had giuen ouer at enquiry all last the second theefe was found out by meanes of the first and being found
any They make their prouison of water in great Borachoes made of whole goate-skins and sometimes are much distressed through want of it There is no fowle in all the desart but Pigions which nestle in those ruines The king of this hether part of the desart is a Mahometan tributarie to the Turke and so superstitious or timorous that by reason of certaine vowes customes and auncient traditions hee neuer entreth vnder any roofe the better to behold his forces about him He is so strong that at an hours warning he will bring 100000. horsemen to the field with out any difficulty their horses being the goodliest in the world Their Attire is after the Turkish fashion Turbant onely excepted in steed whereof they haue a kind of Capp rowled about with a black Turbant They are of a swart complexion and all as well men as women goe almost naked It is very true that such as intend to write back to Aleppo take with them at their departure some sitting Pigions from their young-ones which afterwards they let flie backe againe from what part soeuer they will handsomely loaden with their letters And the like doe they in some other cases for speedy warnings through all those parts After thirty dayes iourney more or lesse wee came to Nane where the whole Carauan takes water vpon Euphrates and there we reposed and refresht our selues some eight dayes together expecting boates for our transportation It is a good Towne full of bad people but yet there begins to cease all penury and discommodity for want of victuals finding in that Country all kind of meates and refreshings fit for mans life So wee embarked our selues there and after twelue dayes came within foure leagues of Babilon hauing seene nothing else on either side the riuer but Palme-trees Date-trees which beare most excellent fruite when they bee ripe and returne a most comfortable odour on the water Betweene Nane and Babilon there is a great lake which is vulgarly named the Pitchie sea I went expresly to see the head of it which proceedeth out of a rocke in fiue seuerall clefts about the bignes of a mans waste which soone after meeting al in one run 18. leagues long till it looseth it selfe vnder the ground This blacke and thick lickour serues to build withall instead of lime There the Basha sent vs all manner of necessarie assistance to bring our men and Merchandice to Babilon paying a certaine custome as one per centum siluer and precious stones excepted which are tole-free This Citty which now the Turkes call Bagdat is at this present scituate vpon the Riuer Tigris and not vpon Euphrates as aunciently it was though it bee still the selfe same stuffe and rubbish which the Babilonians carried foure leagues further to rebuild their CITTIE on the banke of TIGRIS wherein finding yet a further inconuenience they transported it on the other side as to this day there are yet extant great tokens togeather with some habitations which haue still kept in the first place There is also a great bridge of boates though som-what incommodious by reason of the largenes and height of the Riuer The towne is twice as bigge as Paris but therein are many great Gardens Orchards and arrable grounds that which seemes most admirable is to see so great an enclosure compassed with so faire wals For indeed 4. waggons may goe a front vpon them and are built all with bricke The houses within the Cittie are lowe enough vaulted vnder and tarassed on the top The Castle is exceeding strong faire great and well stored with munition There the Basha makes his dwelling place I sawe him walke abroad on a day and t was reported hee had very neere 50000 foote to waite vpon him and as many horse the best arraied that can euer bee hauing their harnesses all deckt with gold siluer and precious stones to the very stirrups with a great noise of Trumpets Drummes Cimbals Clarions and hautbois I was so curious likewise as to goe to the place where it is said the great tower of Babel was built being about halfe a dayes iourney distant where I sawe nothing but a high mountaine of earth in the midst of a plaine wherein digging you may finde certaine bricks whereof it is laide the tower was built From Babilon I went to Ezpan now the cheife and most gallant Cittie of Persia I durst allmost say of all the world where the Sophy is most resident The way is troublesome and discomodious enough beeing of fifteene long dayes trauaile through wast desarts voyde of al townes and houses or any other succour partly by nature partly so wasted of purpose to impeach th' approches of the Turke Onely from one dayes Iourney to another the Sophie hath caused to bee erected certaine kind of great harbours or huge lodgings like hamlets called Carauan-sara or Surroyes for the benefit of Carauanes out of which lodgings trauailers dare not issue without a conuoy which the gouernors of the said places giue from one to another and the Captaine of the conuoy must bring back a good certificat from the Captaine of the Carauan how hee hath faithfully brought them to the next lodging and that they were wel pleased with his conuoy Otherwise vpon the least complaint the king should heare hee would cause the Gouernors head to be cut off his house set a fire vnder whom the spoyle were committed restoring to the full out of his owne treasure what goods soeuer of the Marchants which were past recouerie Yet is it true thereof haue beene seene few examples by reason of very few misdemeanures in that nature but whensoeuer any hath happned that iustice hath beene seuerely executed Now these lodgings are exceeding comely with faire shops belonging thereto and are able to entertaine all Carauans neuer so great the like being so set throughout all Persia. Hispaan is halfe as bigge againe as Paris very strong very populous wonderfull frequented aswell because of trafficke as for the Kings presence and all the Courts of Iustice Checker and Religion It is vnpossible to relate the pleasures recreations and delights which are there either for stately Buildings great faire Gardens store and goodnes of fruits continuall riding and all other kinds of noble exercises with an incredible Pompe triumph and magnificence where once they vndertake it There is also great peace and plenty through all Persia both of common things which others haue in some sorte aswell as they as of sundry other singularities which none haue but they indeed or at least with such abundance and excellencie Among other the finest fairest and best bezear-stones which they find cleauing to the liuer of certaine goates There also is found the greate mine of Turquesses and the greatest quantity of silke that can be imagined which the men themselues doe spinne For their bodyes they are reasonable handsome for their minds reasonable tractable and ciuill Being in the said Cittie I saw
water or any other commodity and they must carry from Persia all what they stand in need of the Iland is but 3. leagues compasse but there depends on it diuers other countryes the goulph is but 4. leagues ouer which is all the distance from Persia to Ormus There I embarked my selfe for Macati which is a fortresse in Arabia Petrea on the same side of Ormus and some 8. daies iourney distant belonging to the Portugals This place is betweene Ormus and Sourat there are exceeding good horses swifter then those of Persia but lesser and yet more headstrong There is also a great quantitie of Dates which is their best merchandice for man and horse doe eate of them They are Mahometans of a duskie hue and as well men as women weare long gownes with long high hats without brim and nothing but the crowne There I imbarked againe for Sindio which is another Iland and kingdome about 80. or a 100 leagues compasse and there I saw nothing but store of faire feathers and plumes of two kinds of Herons whereof they make great traffick because they are found no where else Likewise they haue all sorts of skins which are wrought very curiously with needle-worke seruing to sleepe on in the coole There is also great quantitie of Rice which is all their marchandise and is a great trafficke throughout all the Indies They are Gentiles and adore that creature on which they first place their deuotion They wash themselues euery morning before the Sunne rising and in the euening after Sunne setting they wash their haire also which they weare very long and combe them very carefully like women They burne their dead men and their best beloued wiues being trickt vp in their best and sumptuosest apparell are conducted by their neerest kinsfolkes and goe nine turnes about the fire and at the ninth round throw themselues very cherefully in the midst of it They are a very loyall and chaste people and who would not be a lier for a world Thence I returnd the same way I came to Bandier and prosecuting my trauaile by land I entred the confines of the great Mogor and made it two moneths and a halfe till I came to Cambaya the Metropolitan Citty of that Kingdome and whereof it beareth the name There are found all kind of Marchandises and Iewels to wit Diamonds Saphirs Pearles Rubies Cats-eies great quantitie of Christall Cotton linnen and silke stuffes This Citty is very neere as bigge as Hispaan The great Mogor oftentimes makes there his residēce he is a Gentile and adoreth a Bull and a Cow which they Marry together and keepe them in a kind of Temple of an inestimable value their Cratch is all couered with Diamonds Emeralds and other more precious Iewels the Arches and wals are all full of them and no sooner they can recouer any rare things but they carry them thither to the offring Then the of-spring which is produced from this noble Marriage succeedeth also to be their God They haue an hospitall for all sorts of sicke beasts wheron they bestow great costs and they obserue the before mentioned custome in burning their dead bodies This is a wonderfull mightie Prince able to bring at any tyme 400000. gallant souldiers and aboue to the field In my conscience I thinke he is very neere as mightie as rich and Lord of as much ground better peopled at least I am sure then the Turke himselfe with as many great Kingdomes with their Viceroyes as many braue Townes as Bramport by name Agra Lahor and others not inferior in any thing to any the Turke hath They altogether make vse of Elephants as well to carrie burdens as to launch forth ships to guard their Fortresses or any other Military actions making them to carry a pretty big Tower on their backs with 24. or 25. bow-men 4. harquebus a crocke by which meanes they mightily molest the Portugals who haue not yet found any inuention to defend themselues from them except with fired lances which they throw in their eyes but whatsoeuer comes within their reach they breake into peeces with their trunkes For to take them as it was related to me in the Country they make vse of a female when shee goeth proud in her heate which they let goe vp and downe in a great wood well enclosed and enuironed with great stakes and trees leauing but onely one passage open with a strong Portcullis on the top whereof stands a man as a Centinell keeping himselfe vnseene letting downe the Portcullis as soone as the Elephants be entred then very solemnly some certaine men which haue therof a particular skil goe to them and capitulate with them as with prisoners of warre what exercise they will be put vnto either to serue in the warres or some other imployments wherupon according as they like the conditions they make signes with their head to the Interpretor then they suffer them to come forth they faile not to follow him vnto whom they haue yeelded themselues Then men must be sure to keepe promise with them or else finding themselues abused they would wilfully pine themselues to death But some there are who eyther through shame or courage will not yeeld themselues and had rather suffer themselues to be slaine on the place The Interpretor must giue them to vnderstand whether they goe and how they shall be intreated but if they come and find the contrary they starue themselues to death if their Lord doth sel them to a meaner man then himselfe they will not goe to him I haue seene one my selfe at Cochin esteemed the valiantest of that Countrey finding himselfe vnable to bring to passe an enterprise imposed vpon him which was to lanch a very great ship made all the signes he could to auoide it whereupon the Trucheman told him that they should be constrained to goe and find out another that should doe it which would proue a vile affront vnto him hauing already purchased so great a reputation as he had whereupon he went to worke vpon meere desperate vaine glory and drew the shippe into the sea then bursted which I haue also heard to be vsuall and haue hapned to many others in some such cases It is a creature that neuer lieth downe the female onely excepted in her copulation with the male which is very much alike to the man woman then with his trunke hee gently raiseth her vp againe Now for the people they are of a swartie kind like to those of Sindio and weare a white turbant very little with Cotton garmēts They bequeath their goods to their sisters Children before their Brothers being well assured that without doubt they are sprung of their bloud It is very profitable trading with this people for if but a child went thither with his wares he should gaine as much as the subtlest Merchant in the world For as soone as you are arriued into the Citty the Kings officers come and dis-burthen you
of what you desire to expose to sale which they lock vp by account within the publique Store-house you need but tell them the price and make choyce of one of their Brokers who goeth to exhibite them to their Merchants and so make more of your wares by th' one halfe then you should haue done your selfe in the end he comes and giues you a faithfull account of all Likewise for such Merchandise as you desire to haue among them in giuing them a note thereof they will by by bring you all kind of Patterns and they themselues will fraught your shippe you needing not to trouble your self any further most cōmonly will furnish you with better wares thē they had before shewen you yea after hauing giuē you vp their accounts as well of the sale as of the goods bought and restored you the ouerplus if there be any somtimes they will present you with some good gift for hauing done them the credit in making choyce of them aboue all their fellowes The fruits of this Country are excellent and farre differing from ours among the rest there is one not much vnlike a Mellon which groweth on the ground betweene two leaues with a verie yealow rinde being ripe and this is called Ananas very hot of qualitie but of taste aboue all things so sweete that after hauing eaten of it water will seeme to you as bitter as gall There is another very licquorish fruit called Amangues growing on trees is as bigge as a great quince with a very great stone in it Moreouer there is another that groweth on trees resembling a great Citrull with a kind of hornie rinde after the forme of a pointed Diamond They are greene in colour and called Iugues containing a licquor like honie which licquor is found likewise in another fruit named Chatagu very good to eate but dangerous to those that are not accustomed vnto it by reason of the heate of it Furthermore there is another named Iambes which also groweth on trees and is of the bignes of an apple very good and wholesome containing fiue stones in it the outside halfe red and halfe yellow They haue yet another fruit of colour greene coole and wholesome which groweth on a tree called Carambole square and of a fingers length they make great vse of it in Phisicke There is with-all great quantitie of Anis-seed white Ginger whereof they make great Trafficke which also they preserue and confect Thence I continued my iourney 12. dayes together all along the coast till I came within foure leagues of Sourate which is a most faire Iland and a very populous Kingdome much frequented by Merchants subiect to the great Mogor There I embarked my selfe to passe that little gulfe The Citty is about the bignes of Roan the Castle impregnable because inaccessible for of one side it is inuironed with the Sea and the other side is built on so strong and sleepe a Rocke that it is as much as a man can do with great difficultie to get vp and withall the best garded and furnished with Ordinance and all kind of Munition as euer I saw indeed they haue good reason for on that place depends the saftie of the whole Iland Thence I held my course for Diu some foureteene dayes iourney distant which is a most important strong hold which the Portugals possesse there by them conquered from the great Mogor very neere as bigge as Pontoise They are Gentiles and differ little or nothing from the others in humours Religion Trafficke soyle or fruits Thence I trauailed to the Kingdome of Calicut the King whereof is a Mahometan and made it 17. dayes iourney compleat along the coast no extraordinarie thing presenting it selfe to my view beside the fore mentioned Commodities the men being of a wartie hue Departing from the afore said Kingdome I entred into that of Malebar where they are exceeding black but yet not curled flat nosde or great lipt as the Negroes be neuerthelesse with as good faces as any in all Europe They are Mahometans and valiant although they are somewhat of a sauage inclination and would neuer come to composition with the Portugals but delight themselues to be at variance with all their neighbours They lie in the field and haue very few houses of any importance Meane while that I was there they tooke 160. Carauels from the Portugals And when they take any prisoner who by chance hath his garments cut or iag'd they say hee did teare them of purpose knowing they should once bee theirs and knocke him in the head with staues This Kingdome containes in length some 14 dayes Iourney Departing thence I entred the Kingdome of Cananor where I trauailed foure dayes without the sight of any rarity of importance more then is abouesayd It is a little Mahometan Kingdome they are swartie and great Traffickers Thence I entred the Countrey of Mangalor which is also a little Mahometan Kingdome the inhabitants of a swartie colour where I trauailed 8. daies along the coast without any thing worth writing besides that which is in their neighbour Countries onely that they haue no formall Townes or scarce any good houses Thence I entred the Iland and Realme of Sumatra resembling altogether the former in all things as well for Religion and commodities as for the stature hue of men Onely they haue more then the rest the great pepper in abundāce whereof they doe furnish the Portugals But they are wise enough to keepe the best from them which they call Ganry of a gray colour bigger smoother then that which they send vs which is but that which falleth from the tree before it be ripe which makes them become so withered and bare keeping the better sort for their owne vse whereof they preserue a great part delighting much to eate hotte things although their Countrey be very hot This pepper groweth on a tree about the bignesse of a mans arme there groweth also a great quantitie of good Ginger Thence I entred the Kingdome of Bombas in all things like the other Pepper onely excepted being found in no part of the East Indies but in Sumatra and I trauailed 12. dayes iourney along the coast without seeing one good Towne Departing thence I returned within the Countryes of the great Magor and arriued at Chaoul a small Towne about the bignes of S. Clou. There are made the fairest Cabinets in the world being not to be matched by any or Germany or of China They are Gentiles as in Cambaya and great Traffickers Thence I wont to Damans which is a place fortified by the Portugals about the bignesse of Chaoul being 11. dayes iourney one from another and are likewise Gentiles Thence to the Kingdome of the Canarrins which is but a little one 5. dayes iourney from Damans They are tall of stature idle for the most part therefore the greater theeues They hold some points of Christianitie They weare