Men but Two lost Savagi now Acts as King and secures himself in the mountains where the Mogol is not able to attack him Caambaia is 3 Miles from the River Indus and about 3 Miles in Compass one of the neatest and best Built Citys in all the East and called the Indian Grand Cairo for its Greatness Traffick and Fertility of soil and so populous as to contain an hundred and thirty thousand Families Here they cut the Agats that come from other Countreys into several sorts of shapes and in the Suburbs they make Indico Here the East-India Company had a Factory the tydes are so swift that a Horse at full speed cannot keep pace with the Waves but the Sea and the Trade is fallen away from it Swalley is more South and about a Mile from the Sea but gives name to a large Capacious Bay where the Ships ride that Trade to Surat from which it is about ten Mile distant Maslipatan MAslipatan or Metchlapatam is a great City the Houses whereof are only Wood Built at a distance from each other It stands by the Sea and the Honourable East-India Company have a Factory here This being the most famous Road for Ships in the Bay of Bengal from whence they Sail to Pegu Siam Ormus Sumatra and other Places of Traffick This City is in Golkonda but the Great Mogol is so much dreaded there that his Commissioner is Master thereof buying selling bringing in and sending abroad his Merchants Ships none daring to contradict him in any thing nor to demand any Customs of him Paâ—…ania is a City South from Siam and was governed many years by a Queen In 1612. Some English Men came hither with a Letter from Q. Elizabeth and a Present from the Merchants of 600 Rials of Eight The Letter was carried in great state being lay'd in a Bason of Gold lay'd on an Elephant adorned with little Flaggs Lances and Minstrils They then obtained a Grant to Trade there upon the same conditions as the Hollanders and there was an English Factory which is now removed Siam is a Kingdom The chiefest part lying between the Gulf of Siam and Bengale the Countrey is plentiful in Rice and Fruits The Forrests stored with Deer Elephants Tyâ—…ers Rhinocero's and Apes Here grew store of large Bamboo Canes under the knots of them are Ants or Emmets Nests as big as a Mans head where they preserve themselves during the Rains which continue 4 or 5 Months The King of Siam was accounted a very Rich Prince and stiled himself King of Heaven and Earth though he be tributary to the Kings of China There were Idols in his Temples Seaven foot high all of massy Gold When the King appeared all the Doors and Windows of the Houses must be shut All the People prostrating themselves on the ground not daring to look up And because no Person was to be in an higher Place then the King they within doors were bound to keep their lowest Rooms He would suffer no Barbar to come near him one of his Wives cutting his hair for him One part of his magnificence consists in his Train of 200 Elephants among which one was White which he valued so highly as to stile himself King of the white Elephant He passionately admires them accounting them his Favourites and the Ornaments of his Kingdom If an Elephant dyed he was burned with the same Funeral Pomp as a Nobleman The English had a Factory formerly in this Kingdom as well as at Armagon As for Ballasore Hugli Chuttanetti Daca Rajamell the present Honourable East India Company have Factorys in all those Places of which little more can be say'd then what has been spoken of others At the famous Port of Bombay Island the English have Built a strong â—…ort and here they Coin both Silver Copper and Tin which passes among themselves and the Villages along the Coast. The Empire and Government of the Great Mogol HAving given some account of the Forts and Factrys of the Honourable East India Company I shall subjoine a breif Relation of the Empire and Government of that Mighty Monarch The name of India is now given to the Empire of the Great Mogol and to the two Peninsula's one on this side and the other beyond Ganges with the Islands scattered in the Indian Sea which are all comprehended under the general Name of the East-Indies yea some Authors take in all the Oriental Part of Asia It is recorded that the Old Inhabitants consisted in 122 several Nations originally descended from the Sons of Noah before their Journey to the Valley of Shinaar and their attempt in Building the Tower of Babel That it was first invaded by the famous Queen Seinramis with an Army of above four Millions whom Staurobates an Indian King opposed with equal forces who overcame and slew her That the next Invasion was by Bacchus the Son of Iupiter and Hercules who by policy and force subdued them and taught them the use of Wine Oyl and the Art of Architecture After this India was invaded by Alexander the Great He vanquishing first Clophae Queen of Magaza and then King Porus both whom he took Prisoners But restoring them again their Liberty and Kingdom returned back to Babylon where he dyed of poyson After this they lived in peace under several Kings In 1587. their Countrey being discovered by the Portugals and after by the Dutch and English they have had much Traffick with them This vast Empire comprehends the greatest part of the Continent of Asia wherein are contained 37 Kingdoms As for Remains of Antiquity there are few or none the Mogols having ruined all the Ancient Buildings which according to the Ancients were 30 large Citys and 3â—…00 Walled Towns and Castles so strong as to be thought impregnable which may not be improbable if Noah first planted there after his descent from Mount Ararat not far distant from hence Since such mighty Armys were raised in those Countreys not many Years after and the Land so well Built and planted so that when Alexander had overthrown King Porus near the River Hydaspis he say'd He found greater Citys and more sumptuous Buildings in India then in all the World besides Some of the Citys that end in Pore as Meliapore Visiapore and others seem to retain the Memory of K. Porus as others in Scander the Name of Alexander The Dominions of the Great Mogol are larger then the Persians and equal to the Grand Seigniors His strength lyes in the Number of his Subjects the Vastnes of his wealth and the extent of his Empire his Revenue exceeding the Persian and the Turks both put together But the K. of Persia exceeds him in Horse Arms and warlike People His Revenue is reckoned to be about Seaven Millions and an half English money The Throne alone wherein he gives Audience is valued at near Four Millions being almost covered with Jewels Pearls and all kind of precious stones of a vast Value The present Mogol derives his Original from
House he had free Access Here he viewed several parts of Greece and in the Hellespont and of those two Castles directly opposite to each other called Sestos and Abidos on the Banks of that narrow Sea famous for the Story of Hero and Leander He much desired to see those seven Churches of Asia which lye now in ruins only Smyrna is still famous for Trade but not Religion and Ephesus with some others retain their names though they have lost the profession of their Faith with the rest He saw the Ruins of Great Troy once so populous as if sown with people but now with standing Corn the very ruins being almost gone to ruine there only remaining part of an exceeding great House supposed part of the Famous Palace of Great King Priam From Smyrna he went to Gran Cairo in Egypt anciently called Memphis and observed the remains of the once famed Pyramids Returning thence to Alexandria with another Englishman they passed by Sea to Ioppa and met some going to Ierusalem with whom joining they travelled through a Solitary Rocky way full of danger from the Wild Arabs who Rob Travellers Arriving at Ierusalem they saw and heard all wherewith Pilgrims are usually treated of which you have a full Account in a small Book called Two Iourneys to Ierusalem c. Here our Traveller had the Arms of Ierusalem made upon his left Arm and on his Right a single Cross like that whereon our Saviour suffered on the sides of which were written Via Veritas Vita The way Truth and Life and on the foot three Nails like those which fastened our Saviour to it done so artificially and indelibly by a Black Powder as if drawn by some accurate Pencil upon Parchment The poor man would much glory in beholding these Characters applying the words of St. Paul to himself I bear in my Body the Marks of the Lord Iesus Gal. 6. 17. Hence they went to the Dead Sea the River Iordan Sidon Alexandretta Scanderoon and Aleppo where he was kindly received by the English Consul staying some time there for the Caravan which consists of a mixt multitude from divers parts who travel together to prevent Theives and Murderers With these setting forward they came to the City of Nineveh in Assâ—…ria which in Ionahs time was three days Journey but now so mean and obscure that Passengers cannot say this is Nineveh having lost its name and called now Mozel From thence they journeyed to Babylon in Chaldea upon the River Euphrates once for its magnitude called a Countrey now much contracted and named Bagdat From hence they pro ceeded through both the Armenias where our Traveller saw Mount Ararat whereon the Ark rested after Noahs Flood They went thence to Ispahan in Persia and after that to Sushan where King Ahasuerus kept his Court in Esthers time from thence to Candahor the first Province North-East under the Great Mogol and so to Lahore the second City of this Empire a place of great Trade Wealth and Delight more temperate than any other of his great Cities At length he arrived at Agra the Mogols Metropolis from Lahore to Agra is 400 English Miles the Countrey rich even and pleasant and the Road on both sides planted with great Trees clothed all the year with Leaves of exceeding benefit to Travellers in that hot Clime It is called The Long Walk full of Villages and Towns convenient for supply of Travellers At Agra our Traveller was kindly entertained by the English Factory and there learned the Turkish Arabian Persian and Indostan Tongues which was very advantagious to him in his Travels through the Mogols Territories he wearing the habit and speakking the Language of that Nation He made an Oration to the Great Mogol in the Persian Tongue ' bringing in the Story of the Queen of Sheba 1 King 10. In which parts of the Sacred Scripture the Mahometans have some knowledge and told the King That as the Queen of Sheba having heard of the Fame of King Solomon came from far to visit him and confessed that she had not been told half of what she now saw concerning the Wisdom Greatness Retinue and Riches of Solomon so said our Orator I had heard much of your Majesty before I had the honour of your sight when I was very â—…far off in my own Countrey but what I now behold exceedingly surmounts all the reports thereof Intermixing other slatteries therewith which pleased the Mogol who gave him an hundred Roâ—…pies being about twelve pound tâ—…n Shillings in our money looking on him as a Dervise Prophet or Pilgrim as he called him who in that Countrey value not money which might be the reason he did not reward him more liberally He after got the Vulgar Language and a Woman belonging to the English Ambassador there having such freedom of Speech that she would rail from Morning to Night Coryat one day undertook her in her own Dialect and by eight a Clock in the Morning so silenced her that she had not one word more to speak At the four Corners of their Mosquets or Churches in this Countrey there are high round small Turrets into the top of these their reists ascend five times every day whence they proclaim aloud these Arabian words La alla illa alla Mahomet Resul-alla that is There is no God but one God and Mahomet the Messenger from God This is instead of Bells which they use not in their Churches One time Tom. Coryat hearing Priest a thus crying got upon a high place directly opposite to him 〈◊〉 thus contradicted him La alla illa alla â—…asaret Eesa Benalla that is No God but one God and the Lord Christ the Son of God and say'd that Mahomet was an Impostor All this he uttered in their own Language as loud as possible in the Ears of many Mahometans present but it may be questioned whether the discretion of our Pilgrim were to be commended for if this had been acted in many other places of Asia it would have cost him his Life with as much torture as cruelty could have invented But being here taken for a madman he was let alone haply since every one there has liberty to profess his own Religion freely and may argue against theirs without danger as Tom Coryat did another time with a Moola The question was which of them was the Musselman or true Believer After much heat on both sides Coryat made this Learned distinction That himself was the Orthodox Musselman or True Believer and the Priest the Pseudo Musselman or False True Believer He was a man of a coveting Eye never satisfied with seeing as Solomon speaks and took as much pleasure therein as others in injoying great and rare things He had the mastery of many hard Languages besides Greek and Latin which he brought from England and had he had Wisdom to manage them as he had skill to speak them he had deserved more Fame in his Generation but his Attainments made him ignorant ef
Elephants Teeth Lead Amber Looking-Glasses Sizars Knives Beads Bracelets Feathers Coral Quicksilver Vermillion Allom Brimstone and many others For which they Import all sorts of Spices Cotton-yarn Callicoes Pintadoes Tamerinds Sanders Spikenard Bezoar Alloes Mirrhe Rubarb Opium Frankincense Cassia Borax Calamus Mirabolans Green Ginger Sugars Sugar Candy Camphire Sandal Wood Benjamin Musk Civet Ambergreece Rice Indico Silks both Raw and Wrought Salt Petre Precious Stones of several sorts Pearl Mother of Pearl Gold Silver Christal Cornelian Rings Agats Lacqure Furrs and Skins of Wild Beasts Porcelane Copper China Roots Tea Sanguis Draconis China Wares of divers sorts with several other Commodities and Drugs Of Ispahan or Spawhawn and Gambroon in the Kingdom of Persia. DEsigning to give some Account of Persia wherein these Factories are setled I shall begin with Ispahan This is the Capital City of all Persia and the Residence of the King being in the Center of his Empire scituate in a great Plain which extends 3 ways 15 or 20 Leagues healthy and pleasant beautified with stately Pallaces delicious Gardens magnificent Piazza's and wealthy Bazars or Market-places only the Streets are narrow and dark to prevent the burning Rays of the Sun and annoyed with Loads of Ordure and Filth In the Summer dusty and in the Winter dirty In this City the East-India Company have a Factory as also at Bussora Gambroon or Gomrow is a City of great Commerce guarded with 2 Castles wherein are planted 80 Brass Cannon The Air is so hot and unwholsome that no Stranger can live there above 3 or 4 Months in the Year but retire to the Mountains 2 or 3 days Journey off All Nations that Traffick upon the Indian Seas and the Land Caravans carry Commodities thither and bring from thence Velvets Raw Silk and other Persian Goods This City of Gombroon where the English have a Factory is risen upon the Ruins of Ormus as you will hear which besng once the Staple of the Eastern World and where we once had a famous Factory I shall give some account of it Ormus is an Island in the Persian Gulf about 20 Miles in compass Stony and full of Rocks and in a manner barren of all Necessaries except Salt wherewith the very Rocks are covered and of Salt Stone many Houses built So destitute of all things fitting for the Life of Man that they had their Victuals yea the Water they drank from the adjoining Countreys the Summer so hot that the People rest in Caves covered with Wood and stand or sit in Water up to the Chin and have Loopholes in their Houses to let in the Wind yet in regard of the Scituation it was one of the richest Empories in the World the Wealth of Persia and India being brought thither and conveyed hence by Water to the River Euphrates and so by Boats or on Camels Backs to Aleppo Alexandria Tripoly and thence dispersed into all the Countries of the Mediterranean Sea The only City was of the same name with the Island founded 700 years ago by Mahomet Danku descended from the Kings of Saba in Arabia Felix who with many Families of the Sabeans passed over the Streights into Carmenia and the Isles adjoining and liking the Scituation of this Island built this City in it which he called Ormus or Armuzium the name of the Promontory wherein it lies It was seated at one end of the Isle about 2 Miles in compass well built with a fair Market place some Churches and a well fortified Castle furnished for a Siege by reason of its wealth and resort of Merchants grown to such esteem that it gave occasion to this distich Si terrarum Orbis quaequa patet Annulus esset Illius Ormusium Gemma decusque foret Were all the World a Ring this Isle alone Might of that Ring be thought to be the Stone It was first under its own King whose Dominion extended also to some part of the Continent on either side and over all the rest of the Islands within the Gulf His revenue was of no great yearly due till the coming of the Portugals thither by whom it was discovered under the Conduct of Albukerque in 1509. Who having fortified some part of it for their own defence made it the Staple of Trade for Indian Merchandize which so inricht the same that the Revenues of those Kings though Vassals and Tributaries to the Portugals amounted to an Hundred and Forty Thousand Seriffs yearly In this flourishing state it stood till 1622. when Abbas the Sultan of Persia having received some affronts from the Portuguess or desirous to remove the Trade from Ormus to some Port of his own gave Order to Emangoli Chan the Duke of Shiras to besiege it with Fifteen Thousand Men Who despairing of prevailing by his Land Forces only furnished himself with Ships and Cannon of some English Merchants to whom he promised many things which he never performed For being once Master of the City he utterly destroyed it removing the Canon to Lar the Wealth thereof to his own Treasury at Shiras and the Materials of the Houses to Gombroon the Portuguess and Christian Natives passing over to Muskat in Arabia Felix Since which though the English Captains that ventured in it were disappointed of the Rewards they expected yet so much Honour hath been given by the King of Persia to the English Nation that the Agent who resides at Gombroon takes Custom of all Strangers who Traffick thither The Religion of the Persians With the Life and Doctrines of Mahomet the Grand Impostor THE Persians are generally Mahometans of the Sophian Sect and the difference and hatred is so great between them and the Turks though both own Mahomet for their Law-giver that they are absolutely irreconcileable Now because this horrible Impostor has infatuated so great a part of the World with his blasphemous Dotages I will here give a breif Account of his Life and also of his Doctrine as it is comprehended in his Holy Book as they call it or the Alcoran Mahomet the Son of Abdalla an Idolatrous Pagan was born after his Fathers death at Iaâ—…hrip an obscure Village of Arabia Foelix but now become a City called Medina Talnahi or the Town of the Prophet to which a multitude of Mahometans go in Pilgrimage every Year His Mother named Hemina was a perverse Jewess both by Birth and Religion who dying when he was but 2 Years old left him to the caâ—…e of his Uncle Abdal Muâ—…alib He unable to give him any other Education than the Irreligion and Ignorance of his Countrey afforded him sold him at 10 Years of Age to the Ishmaelites after the barbarous Customs of the Arabians who exposing him to Sale in the open Market he was bought by one Abdal 〈◊〉 wealthy Merchant By him he was imployed as a Slave in all Servile Offices till observing his great Wit and fitness for better Services he at last used him as his Factor sending him with his Camels and Loads of Merchandize into Syria Persia
Ant the Queen of Sheba's Parrot Esdras his Ass Ionas his Whale the 7 Sleepers Dog and Mahomet's Camel Which sufficiently demonstrates the Author to be Ignorant Impudent and Foolish The Government of the Kingdom of Persia. THe Government of Persia is purely Tyranical for the King has the sole Power of life and death over all his Subjects independent from his Council and without any Trials at Law He can put to what death he pleases the chief Lords of the Kingdom no man daring to dispute the reason Nor is any Soveraign in the World more absolute than he The King deceasing and leaving Male Issuâ—… behind him the Eldest ascends the Throne while his Brothers are kept in the Haram or Castle and their Eyes put out and if the King have the least jealously they are instantly put to death yea the Children of the Kings Brothers and Sisters likewise Formerly they were not so rigorous but only mov'd a red hot Iron to and fro before their Eyes But Sha Sefi perceiving that the poor unhappy Princes had some sight left ordered their Eyes to be digged out of their Heads Sha Sefi's cruelty spared not his Eldest Son Sha Abhas the Heir of his Throne ordering one of the Eunuchs to move an Iron before his Eyes no man knowing a reason but the Eunuch compassionating the young Prince moved an Iron yet not red hot before his Eyes and teaching him to counterfeit blindness preserv'd his sight till his Father lay upon his Death-bed when being very Penitent for having put out the Eyes of his Eldest Son to whom the Crown did of right belong the Eunuch seeing the King so sadly afflicted and ready to give up the Ghost assured him that he would restore the Prince to his sight and brought him with perfect Eyes to his Bed-side the sight of whom prolonged the Kings life till next day and gave him time to command all the Gaandees of the Court to obey Sha Abbas his Eldest Son as his lawful Successor There are several of these blind Princes at Ispahan and I knew one particularly saith my Author a person of excellent natural parts As blind as he is he is a great lover of Curiosities and has built him a House at Ispahan worth seeing He is overjoyed when he meets with any Rarities out of Europe feeling them in his hands and causing his Eunuchs to tell him the meaning of every thing He is a great admirer of Clock-work and Watches and to know what a Clock it is has little points set up in the Dial-plate and a half hand which points to the hour with certain Figures which he makes of soft Wax and sets in order upon a Table he will cast up an Account exactly Several other good quilities are eminent in him and it is a miserable spectacle that a Man should be reduced to that deplorable condition only because he is of the Blood-Royal of Persia This State is distinguished like most of those in Europe into three bodies First that of the Sword which answers to the Nobility and consists of the Kings houshold the Kans or Governors and all the Souldiery The second that of the Gown comprehending all those that belong to the Law and Courts of Justice The third is composed of Merchants Handicrafts men and Labourers Among other cunning Contrivances of Sha Abbas to know the true state of his Affairs without trusting too much to his Ministers he oft went disguised into the City like an ordinary man under pretence of buying and selling to discover whether false Weights and Measures were used so going one Evening in the habit of a Countrey-man to a Bakers to buy a Man of Bread and thence to a Cooks to buy a Man of Roast-meat a Man is six pound sixteen ounces to the pound having bought his bargains he return'd to the Court where causing them to be weighed exactly he found the Bread to want 57 Drams and the Meat 43. Upon which he fell into a rage against the Officers and the Governor of the City whose Belly he had caused to have been ript up but for the intercession of his Lords reproaching them for their negligence of the publick good and of the injustice of false Weights how sadly the cheat fell upon poor Men who having great Families and thinking to give them 800 Drams of Bread by that fraud deprived them of 143 then turning to the Lords he demanded what Justice ought to be done to those people none daring to open their Mouths while he was in that passion he commanded a great Oven to be made in the Market-place and a Spit big and long enough to roast a Man and the Oven to be heated all Night and a Fire to be kindled near the Oven Next Morning the King caused the Cook and Baker to be apprehended and led quite though the City with two Men going before proclaiming to the people We are going to put the Baker into a red hot Oven in the Piazza to be baked alive for selling bread by false Weights and the Cook is to be roasted alive for having sold Meat by false Weights Thus these two Men served for an Example not only to Ispahan but to all the Kingdom every one dreading the severe Justice of Sha Abbas Sha Abbas his successor acted almost such another piece of severity for having made one Iafer Kan a great Lord who kept a magnificent Train Governouor of Asterabat At first he was very mild but at last began to exact such sums from the people that his violences reached the Kings Ear who being one day drinking with his Lords and seeing the Master of his Musick in the Room who was a merry Droll and had always some pleasant news to tell the King he was pleased to ask him what the people said of Iafer-Kan adding that he had made him Governour of divers Provinces and had never heard any complaint of him but now he was accused of Tyranizing over the people The Musick Master being a meer Flatterer and knowing that Iafer-Kan was extreamly beloved of the King confidently averd'd that the Governor was falsly accused and that he had always known him apter to give than receive There was present an Agis lately returned from a Pilgrimage to Mecca him the King also asked what was his opinion of Iafer-Kan and his Government being a person long acquainted with him The Agis thinking to please the King returned the same answer The King who was well informed of the Kans behaviour turning to the Lords present What think you said he of these two Flatterers that absolutely know the contrary to what they speak And commanded two of the Musick Masters Teeth to be pluckt out and driven into the head of the Agis which had like to have cost him his life being a very old Man As for Iafer-Kan he was disgraced for a time but his excellent Accomplishments soon restored him again to favour Murther is severely punished nor will Money save the Criminal The
Moon But this and much more must be left to the Criticks as well as the following Relation of our little Eye-witness and great Discoverer which you shall have in his own Spanish Style and delivered with that Grandeur and thirst of Glory which is generally imputed to that Nation It is known to all the Countries of Andaluzia that I Domingo Gonsales was born of a Noble Family in the renowned City of Sevil My Fathers name being Therando Gonsales near kinsman on the Mothers side to Don Pedro Sanches the worthy Count of Almanera My Mother was the Daughter of the famous Lawyer Otho Perez de Sallaveda Governour of Barcellona and Corrigidor of Biscay I being the youngest of seventeen Children was put to School and designed to the Church But Heaven purposing to use my Service in matters of far another Nature inspired me with spending some time in the Wars It was at the time that Don Ferando the renowned Duke D' Alva was sent into the Low Countreys in 1568. I then following the current of my desire leaving the University of Salamanea whither my Parents had sent me without giving notice to any of my Friends got through France to Antwerp where I arrived in a mean condition For having sold my Books Bedding and other things which yielded me about 30 Duckets and borrowed twenty more of my Fathers Friends I bought a little Nag wherewith I travelled more thriftily than usually young Gentlemen do till arriving within a League of Antwerp some of the cursed Gueses set upon me and bereaved me of my Horse Money and all so I was forc'd through necessity to enter into the Service of Marshal Cossey a French Nobleman whom I served in an honourable imploy though mine Enemies to my disgrace affirm I was his Horse-keepers Boy But for that matter I refer my self to Count Mansfield and other Persons of condition who have often testified to many worthy men the very truth of the business which indeed was this Monsieur Cossey being about this time sent to the Duke D' Alva Governour of the Low Countreys he understanding the Nobility of my Birth and my late misfortune judging it would be no small honour to him to have a Spaniard of that Quality about him furnished me with a Horse Arms and whatever I wanted using my Service after I had learned French in writing his Letters because my Hand was very fair In time of War if upon necessity I sometime dressed my own Horse I ought not to be reproacht therewith since I count it the part of a Gentleman to submit to the vilest Office for the Service of his Prince The first expedition I was in was when the Marshal my Friend met the Prince of Orange making a Road into France and forced him to fly even to the Walls of Cambray It was my good Fortune to defeat a Trooper by killing his Horse with my Pistol who falling upon his Leg could not stir but yielded to my mercy I knowing my own weakness of Body and seeing him a lusty tall Fellow thought it the surest way to dispatch him which having done I plundered him of a Chain Money and other things to the value of 200 Ducats This Money was no sooner in my Pockets but I resumed the remembrance of my Nobility and taking my audience of leave from Monsieur Gossey I instantly repaired to the Duke D' Alva's Court where divers of my Kindred seeing my Pocket full of good Crowns were ready enough to acknowledge me By their means I was received into pay and in time obtained favour with the Duke who would sometimes jest a little more severely at my Personage than I could well bare for though I must acknowledge my Stature is so little as I think no man living is less yet since it is the work of Heaven and not my own he ought not to have upbraided a Gentleman therewith And those glorious things that have happened to me may evince that wonderful matters may be performed by very unlikely Bodies if the mind be good and Fortune second our endeavours Though the Dukes joques a little disgusted me yet I endeavoured to conceal my reâ—…entment and accommodating my self to some other of his humors I was so far interested in his favour that at his going into Spain whither I attended him by his kindness and other accidents wherein by my Industry I was seldom wanting to my self I was able to carry home 3000 Crowns in my Pocket At my return my Parents who were extreamly disturbed at my departure received me with joy which was increased because they found I had brought wherewith to maintain my self without being chargeable to them or lessening the Portions of my Brothers and Sisters But doubting I would spend it as lightly as I got it they sollicited me to marry the Daughter of Iohn Figueres a considerable Merchant of Lisbon to which I complied and putting my Marriage Money and good part of my own into the hands of my Father I lived like a Gentleman many years very happily At length a quarrel-arising between me and Pedro Delgades a Gentleman and Kinsman of mine it grew so high that when no mediation of Friends could prevail we two went alone with our Swords into the Field where it was my chance to kill him though a stout proper man but what I wanted in strength I supplied in courage and my agility countervailed for his Stature This being acted in Carmona I fled to Lisbon thinking to conceal my self with some Friends of my Father in Law till the business might be accommodated At which time a famous Spanish Count coming from the West Indies published Triumphant Declarations of a great Victory he had obtained against the English near the Isle of Pines whereas in reality he got nothing at all in that Voyage but blows and a considerable loss It had been well if vanity and lying had been his only crimes His covetousness had like to have been my utter ruin though since it hath proved the occasion of Eternizing my name I verily believe to all Posterity and to the unspeakable benefit of all Mortals for ever hereafter at least if it please Heaven that I return home safe to my Countrey and give perfect Instructions how those almost incredible and impossible Acquirements may be imparted to the World You shall then see men flying in the Air from one place to another you shall then be able to send Messages many hundred miles in an instant and receive answers immediately without the help of any Creature upon Earth You shall then presently impart your mind to your Friend though in the most remote and obscure place of a populous City and a multitude of other notable Experiments But what exceeds all you shall then have the discovery of a New World and abundance of rare and incredible secrets of Nature which the Philosophers of former Ages never so much as dreamt of But I must be cautious in publishing these wonderful mysteries till our
appointed to that purpose so that most of them can shew their Anâ—…stors Bodies uncorrupt for many Generations There is never any Rain Wind or change of Weathâ—…r never either Summer or Winter but as it were a perpetual Spring yielding all pleasure and content free from the least trouble or annoyanâ—… O my Wife and Children what wrong have you done me to bereave me of the happiness of that plaâ—… But it is no great matter for by this Voyage I am sufficiently assured that when the race of 〈◊〉 mortal life is run I shall attain a greater happineâ—… elsewhere It was the ninth of September that I began 〈◊〉 ascend from the Pike of Tenaâ—…iff twelve days was upon my Voyage and Arrived in that Provinâ—… of the Moon called Simiri Sept. 21. May 12 〈◊〉 came to the Court of the great Irdonozur and 〈◊〉 turn'd back the 17 to the Palace of Pylâ—…s whâ—… I continued till March 1601. When I earneâ—… requested Pylonas as I had oft done before to gâ—… me leave to depart though with hazard of my 〈◊〉 back into the Earth again He dissuaded me 〈◊〉 sisting on the danger of the Voyage the 〈◊〉 of that place from whence I came and the abâ—… dant happiness I now enjoy'd but the remembraâ—… of my Wife and Children out weigh'd all thâ—… reasons and to say the truth I was so elated wâ—… a â—…re of the glory I should purchase at my 〈◊〉 turn as met ought I deserved not the name oâ—… 〈◊〉 if I would not hazard twenty lives râ—… than lose the least particle thereof I replyed I had so strong a desire to see my Children that I could not possibly live any longer without going to them He then requested me to stay one year longer I told him I must needs depart now or never my Birds began to droop for want of their usual Voyage three were already dead and if a few more failed I was destitute of all possibility of return At length with much solliciting I prevail'd having first acquainted the great Irdonozur with my Intentions and perceiving by the often baying of my Birds a great longing in them to be gone I trim'd up my Engine and took my leave of Pylonas and March 29. Three days after my waking from the last Moons light I fastened my self to my Engine not forgetting to take the Jewels Irdonozur had given me with the Virtues and use whereof Pylonas had acquainted me at large with a small quantity of Victuals whereof afterward I had great occaâ—…on A vast multitude of People being present and among them Pylonas himself after I had given them all the last Farewel I let loose the reins to my Birds who with much greediness taking wing quickly carried me out of fight it happened to me as in my first passage for I never felt either hunger or thirst till I fell upon an high Mountain in China about five Leagues from the High and Mighty City of Pequin This Voyage was perâ—…ormed in less then nine days neither heard I any news of these Airy men I met with in my ascending nothing stay'd me in my Journey whether because of the earnest desire of my Birds to return to the Earth having already missed their season or that the attraction of the Earth was so much stronger than that of the Moon and so made it easier yet so it was though I had three Birds less than before For the first eight days my Birds slew before me and I on the Engine was as it were drawn after but the ninth day when I began to approach the Clouds I perceived my self and Engine to sink toward the Earth and go before them I was then horribly afraid least my Birds unable to bear our weight being so few should be constrained to precipitate boâ—…h me and themselves headlong to the Earth and thought it very necessary to make use of my stone Eblus which I clapt to my bare Skin within my Cloths and instantly I perceiv'd my Birds made way with greater ease than before as seeming freed from a great but then neither do I think they could possibly have let me down safely to the Earth without that help China is a Countrey so populous that I think there is scarce a piece of ground thrice a mans length which is not carefully manured I being yet in the Air some of the Countrey people spying me came running by Troops and seizing me would needs carry me before a Magistrate and seeing no other remedy I yielded to them But when 〈◊〉 try'd to go I found my self so light that one foot being on the ground I had much ado to set down the other which was by reason my Ebelus took all weight away from my Body therefore I pretended a desire of performing the necessities of nature which being made known to them by signs for they understood not a word of any language I could speak they permitted me to go aside among a few â—…shes assuring themselves it was impossible I should escape from theâ—… being there I remembred Pylonas his directions about the use of my 〈◊〉 and knit them up with a few remaining Jewels into an handkerchief all except the least and worst Ebelus which I found means to apply in such manner to my body that but the half of its side touched my Skin This done I drew toward my Guardians till coming so neer that they could not cross my way I shewed them a fair pair of â—…ees tâ—…at I might have time to hide my Jewels which I knew they would have rob'd me of if not prevented Being thus lightned I led them such a dance that had they been all upon the backs of so many Race Horses they could never have overtaken me I directed my Course to a thick Wood wherein I entred about a quarter of a League and there finding a fine Spring which I took for my mark I thrust my Jewels into a hole made by a Mole hard by I then took my Victuals out of my pocket to which till now in all my Voyage I had not the least appetite and refreshed my self therewith till the people who pursued overtooâ—… mâ—… into whose hands I quietly surrender'd my self They led me to an inferior Officer who understanding that I escap't from those who first apprehended me caused an inclosure of boards to be made wherein they put me so that only my head was at liberty and then carried me upon the Shoulders of four slaves like some notorious Malefactor before a Person of great Authority who in their Language I learnt was called a Mandarin and resided a Leâ—…gue off the famous City of Pequin I could not understand them but found I was accused for something with much vehemence the substance of this accusation it seems was that I was a Magician as appeared by my being so strangely carried in the Air and thâ—…t being a stranger as both my Language and habit did declare I contrary to the â—…aws of China had entred the Kingdom
Mâ—…avias a valiant Souldier advanced himself and to remove all future pretensions he slew Hali with his Son Ossan and eleven of Ossans Sons but Musa Ceresin the twelsth Son made his escape From this Musa one Guine Sophie derived his Pedigree in 1360. And considering that there had been no Caliphs for many Years past he began to contrive the reviving and establishing that Honourable Dignity in his own Family He dying in the midst of his Projects left the prosecution of them to his Son Aider Sophie who being a man of great industry sanctity and power and strenghtned with the love and real affection of his people Ussan Cassanes Prince of the Armenians gave him his Daughter to Wife But Iacup the Son and successor of Ussan after his fathers Death envying the glory of Aider Sophie and fearing his power caused him to be slain and delivered his 2 Sons which he had by Iacups Sister named Ishmael and Solyman to Amazor one of his Captains to secure them in prison Amazor being of a generous temper afforded them not only liberty but gave them ingenuous education Afterward Ismael the eldest a Gentleman of promising hopes undertook to revenge the Death of his Father which he likewise performed staying Iacup and his Son Elvan After this Victory Ismael being crowned King or Sophie or Shaa of Persia he altered the form of Religion there declaring Hali and himself to be the only true Successors of Mahomet the Prophet and condemning Abubezer Haumar and Osman with the Turks their Abettors and Followers as Usurpers Rebels and Schismaticks and ordered all Books to be Burnt and all Monuments to be defaced that mentioned any thing in honour of those 3 Caliphs This difference in Religion hath created so mortal an aversion in them to each other that the Turks hold it more meritorious to kill one Persian than 70 Christians The City of Medina where Mahomet lyes buried is in Arabia 3 days Journey from the Red Sea His Tomb is inclosed within an Iron Grate and covered with green Velvet which is every year made New and sent by the Grand Seignior the old one being by the Preists cut into small peices and sold at great Rates as Reliques to the Pilgrims In the Temple where this Tomb is placed there are say'd to be 3000 Lamps of Gold and Silver wherein is Balsome and other rich odours ointments and oils continually kept burning They would impose it for a Miracle that this Tomb should hang in the Air by means of Loadstones but besides that there is no such thing for it stands on the Floor were it true there were no such wonder in it For Democrates the Atheniah by order of Ptolomy K. of Egypt undertook to make the Statue of Arsinoe all of Iron and to hang in the Air. And in the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria there was an Iron Sun that hung in the Air by the force of a Loadstone being a rare peice of Workmanship The Turks make a Pilgrimage to this Tomb and all true Musselmen are obliged once in their Lives at least to go thither To this purpose I will relate the following Story from a late Traveller into Turkey A Mahumitan having in obedience to a Religious Vow undertaken this Journey and being of the Opinion of the rest of his fellow Travellers or the Caravan as it is called that they should meet with Water at a certain Well or Cistern upon the Road had made use of the best part of their Provision as the rest had done upon the Ceremony of the Abdest or Ablution which is their washing themseives before their Devotious for they wash the best part of the Head and Neck their Arms up to the Elbows their Feet the end of the Priapus and the Posterior Orifice And for this Reason they never erect any Mosquee or Church without planting Fountains round about it for they firmly believe that their Prayers put up without these Washings and in a state of Impurity would rather draw down the Wrath of Heaven upon them than procure the blessings of God And indeed these severe Commands of washing so often are very troublesome as well to those that live in dry places far from Water as others in the Northern cold Climates so that several Turks could wish heartily that they might be permitted to change their Religion which ties them to so many inconvenient slabberings When these Pilgrims came to the Cistern where they hoped to be supplyed they found the Water dryed up by the heat of the Sun They were extreamly concerned thereat finding themselves in the midst of the Sands Deserts and heats of Arabia They knew not what course to take in that extremity of drowth which tormented them with Impatience nor had many of them Money to buy Water of those who had been more provident and indeed had not much to spare Our poor Mahumetan found himself reduced to endure a scorching drouth and ready to be buried alive in the stifling Clouds of Sand which the Wind raises in that miserable Road. inspired him with more Execrations against Mahomet and his accursed Errors tren the most zealous of the Eastern Christians could have invented for him He said He did not wish the Devil had taken Mahomet for he did not believe him so unjust as to let that Impostor escape his Claws who being the only cause of the death of so many Millions of people as perished in going to his Tomb justly deserved as many deaths in Hell as he had caused poor Creatures to suffer torments in this infamous cruel Pilgrimage But he wisht with all his heart That Heaven had Thunderstruck from above and that Hell had then swallowed in Flames the first contrive s of that accursed Alcoran and the unfortunate Propogators of the Law of Mahomet or that he himself had been born a Christian. Some Christians in the Company were much surprized to hear a Mahometan thus blaspheme his own Religion but they were told That this Person was of a Sect who were neither Turks nor Christians but a sort of Mahumetan Heretics When a Mahumetan has purified himself he goes into the Church with his Eyes fixt upon the Ground and barefoot To which end the Eastern People have Shoes or Slippers of Goats Skins dyed Yellow Red Violet or Black but none of them may wear them Green in the Turkish Dominions this being the sacred colour which Mahomet so much affected only their Emirs wear a Green Bonnet which they put on with great reverence on their Heads and is a mark of their being allied to their Great Prophet and Legislator But this is not regarded in Persia. as we may find by the following Story Sha Abbas the renowned K. of Persia was the most accomplished Prince in all the East It happened that a Turkish Ambassador one time at his Court being much concerned to see Christians as well as Mahometans wearing green Shoes and Trowses over all Persia He in the name of his Master required the King to
Murtherer is carried before the Magistrate he delivers him to the Parents or Kindred of the person slain who carry him to Execution and without compassion torture him to death The Governor of Shiras had a Favourite who falling in love with a young Persian Gentleman endeavoured to abuse his Body One day meeting upon the Road and lying under the same Tent the Favourite about Mid-night came to his Bed-side and after many sollicitations would have forced him But being violently resisted for madness to find himself disappointed and liable to be discovered he stab'd the young Gentleman to the heart and fled to the Mountains The Murther being divulged the Mother Widdow and Sister of the young Man repaired to the Governor for Justice who willing to save his Favourite offered them Money which they with scorn refusing and threatning to complain to the King he was constrained to pursue hiâ—… Favourite at length he took and sent him to Ispahan saying he would not judge of the Affair but refer it to the King The Mâ—…ther Widdow and Sister followed the Murtherer to Ispahan and demanded Justice with that eagerness that though the King had an inclination to save the Favourite for the Governours sake he was forced to abandon him and bid them pay themselves with his blood Immediately he was carried to execution where the Widdow first stab'd him to the heart with a Dagger then the Mother took heâ—… turn and after that the Sister and then holding a Cup to receive his bâ—…ood drank every one a Cup full to quench the thirst of their Revenge Extraordinary care is taken for securing the High-ways and Guards set at convenient distances As the Caravan was one day setting out from Tauris to Ispahan a poor Fellow took an occasion to rob a Cloak-bag and fled cross the Fields not knowing the way the Merchant missing his Goods complain'd to the Governor who sent order to the Guards to search strictly for him The Thief being constrained to forsake his Cloak-bag and cross the Fields for Water was seized and carried to the Governor and soon convicted for Thieves find no mercy in Persia Only they are variously put to death being sometimes tyed to a Camels Tayl by the Feet and their Bellies ript open Sometimes buried alive all but their Heads and starved to death in which torment they will oft desire Passengers to cut off their Heads though it be a kindness forbidden by the Law But the most cruel punishment is when they set the Thief on Horseback with his extended Arms fastned to a long stiek behind then larding him with lighted Candles they burn him to the very Bowels We met two in this Misery who desired us to hasten their deaths which we durst not do only we gave them a Pipe of Tobacco according to their desire One day there was a great hubbub in a Bawdy-house where the Woman had prostituted her own Daughter the King being informed of it commanded the Mother to be thrown head long from a Tower and the Daughter to be torn in pieces by his Dogs which he keeps on purpose for such Chastizements The Forts and Factories of the Honourable East-India Company upon the Coasts of Malabar Cormandel in the Bay of Bengal and in the Empire of the Great Mogul in India With an account of the Religion Government Trade Marriages Funerals strange Customs of the Natives Intermixt with divers Accidents and notable Remarks HAving given some Account of Persia let us next advance unto the Indies wherein the Honourable the East-India Company have these Forts and Factories Fort St. George Fort St David Comineer Cudaloor Porto Novo Madapollam Metchlapatam Pettipolee Carwar Calliutt Surat Bombay Island Balla-sore Hugli Chuttanutti Daca Rhajamal All on the Coasts of Coromandell Malabar and the Bay of Bengale Fort St. George THis Fort is on the Coast of Coromandell where the Honourable East-India Company have a Factory On November 3. 1684. About 9 at night there happened a violent Storm in this Place which continued till 2 next morning It untiled all the Houses in the Town with such a ratling noise as if some thousands of Granadoes had been thrown on them and lay'd all their Gardens of which they have many pleasant ones as level as the Smoothest Bowling Green Trees of an ancient and prodigious Growth some perhaps as ancient as Noahs Flood were violently torn up by the Roots and their Aged Trunks riven in peices the noise of the crashing and fall of their Boughs and Branches seeming almost to equal that of a Tempest But what was most surprizing was that a strong Iron Bar which belonged to a Window was with the extream force of the Wind snapped into 3 peices Had this Hurricane continued two or 3 hours longer it would certainly have level'd both the Fort and Town tho' strongly built and well fortified Fort St. David Commineer Cudaloor Porto Noro Madapollam Pettipole and Carwar are all on the Coast of Coromandell In all which the East-India Company have Factories It is reported that St. Thomas the Apostle wrought many â—…iracles in these Countries and foretold the coming of white People thither And that the Children of those that murdered him have still one Leg bigger than another Callicut This is a Town on the Coast of Malabar where the Portugals first setled themselves and the English Merchants have a Factory The Prince of Calicut calls himself Zamorin a Prince of great power and not more black of colour than treacherous in disposition Many deformed Pagods are here worshipped but with this Ordinary Evasion that they adore not Idols but the Deumo's they represent The Dutch General who was Cook of the Ship Crowned the present Prince with those hands which had oftner managed a Ladle than a Sword Malabar is a Low Countrey with a delightful Coast and inhabited by people that practice Pyracy There is a certain wind which blowing there in Winter so disturbs the neighbouring Sea that it rowls the Sands to the mouths of the adjoining Ports so that then the Water is not deep enough for the least Bark to enter But in the Summer another contrary wind drives back the same Sand and makes the Port again Navigable The great number of Rivers in this Countrey render Horses useless especially for War A Countrey for the most part of the Year green and abounding with Cattle Corn Cotton Pepper Ginger Cassia Cardamum Rice Myrabolans Ananas Papas Melons Dates Coco's and other Fruit. Surat THis Town is about 40 days Journey from Agra and drives as great a Trade as any City in Asia though the access to it be very dangerous For the River Tappy or Tindy rising out of the Decan mountains glides through Brampore and in Meanders runs by the walls of Surat and after 15 Miles wrigling about discharges it self into the Ocean but is so shallow at the mouth that it will hardly bear a Bark of 70 or 80 Tuns So that Ships are forced to unlade at Swally Which is remarkable for
himself being so ambitious of praise that he would hear more than he could possibly deserve yet had he not fallen into the smart hands of the Wits of those times he might have passed better On a time a Merchant who came from England met Tom. Crryat travelling toward East-India and told him that when he was in England King Iames I. inquired after him and when he had certified him of his meeting him the King replyed Is that Fool yet living our Pilgrim was much concerned because the King spake no more nor better of him saying that Kings would speak of poor men what they pleased Another time the English Ambassador gave him a Letter with a Bill to receive ten pound to the Counsul of Aleppo wherein were these words Sir when you shall hand these Letters I desire you to receive the Bearer of them Mr. Thom. Coryat with Courtesy for you shall find him a very honest poor Wretch and further I must intreat you to furnish him with ten pounds which shall be repay'd c. Our Pilgrim liked the gift well but the Language much displeased him saying That my Lord Ambassador had even spoiled his Courtesy in the carriage thereof so that if he had been a very Fool indeed he could have said very little less of him than he did to call him honest poor Wretch and to say no more of him was tâ—… say as much as nothing and his favour does rather trouble than please me when I was at Venice said he a Person of Honour wrote thus on my behalf to Sr. Hen. Wotton then Ambassador there My Lord good Wine needs no Bush neither a worthy man Letters Commendatory because whithersoever he goes he is his own Epistle this said he was some Language on my behalf At length his Letter was phrased to his mind but he never lived to receive his money A little before his death he seem'd apprehensive thereof for swounding away once upon his recovery he declared the occasion was for fear he should die in the way toward Surat whither he intended to go and be buried in obscurity and none of his Friends know what became of him he travelling now as he usually did alone Upon which the Ambassador willed him to stay longer which he thankfully refused and presently turned his face for Surat which was then about three hundred English Miles distant and lived to come safe thither where being over-kindlâ—… treated by some English who gave him Sack which they had brought from England he calling for it as soon as he heard of it and Crying Sack Sack is there such a thing as Sack pray give me some Sack and drinking of it though not immoderately being very temperate it increased his Flux that he had then upon him which caused him in a few days after his tedious and troublesome Travels for he went most on foot to come at this place to his Iourneys end for here he overtook death Dec. 1617. and was buried at Swalley under a little Monument likt those in our Church-yards The Factories of the Honourable East-India Company in the Island of Sumatra SUmarra is accounted one of the largest Eastern Islands in length about 700 and in breadth above 200 where the English have two very considerable Factories named Achen and York Fort. York Fort. IT lyes to Leagues from the Continent of Asia Six Kings command therein the King of Acheen is best known to us They have so well defended their Island that the Europeans could never erect any Fort or Castle in it There is a Mountain that casts forth Fire like Mount Etna The Pepper here is better than that of Malabar because the Land is more moist They find Gold in Grains and in little peices after great Flouds of Water The Inland Countrey is inhabited by Barbarians who kill and eat the Bodies of their Enemies being seasoned with Pepper and Salt The City of Acheen is the best in the Island lying half a League from the Sea upon a Plain by the side of a very shallow River upon the bank thereof there is a Fortress built Our English first setled their Trade here in the reign of Q Elizabeth whose name was then famous for her expoits against the Spaniards The Q. Letters to this King were received with much Pomp the King entertained the Messenger with a Banquet presented him with a Robe and a peice of Callicoe wrought with Gold and gave his Passport for the Generals security for whom he sent six Elephants wiâ—… Drums Trumpets Streamers and many Attendants The chief Elephant was about 14 Foot high having a small Cactle like a Coach covered with Velvet on his back in the midst was a great Bason of Gold with a rich Covering of Silk wherein the Letter was put The General was mounted on another Elephant and being arrived the Dishes wherein he was treated were of Gold their Wine is of Rice wherein the King drank to the General out of his Gallery 4 Foot higher than where he fate it 〈◊〉 as strong as Aqua Vitae After the â—…ast some Young Women danced and played on the Musick the King sent a Letter and a Present to the Q. and upon parting asked if they had the Psalms of David and caused them to sing one which he and his Nobles seconded with a Psalm as he sayd for their Prosperity Another considerable English Factory was at Bantam on the Isle of Java Major tho chief City in the Island at the foot of a Mountain whence issue three Rivers two running by the Walls and the other through the City yet not deep enough to admit any Ships The Houses are very mean consisting of three chief Streets The Natives are Heathens and believe when they dye their Souls enter into some Bird Beast or Fish and so eat neither Flesh nor Fish Toward the South are many of the Turkish Religion some called â—…aquiâ—…s are desperate Vilains who having been at Mecca to visit Mahomets Tomb run through the Streets and kill all they meet with their poysoned Daggers thinking they do God and Mahomet good service and shall be saved thereby If any of these Mad men are killd their Followers bury them as Saints erecting them a Tomb which they visit and bestow Alms upon the Keeper thereof I remember saith my Author that in 1642. a Vessel of the Great Mogols returned from Mecca to Surrat with a great number of these Faquirâ—… or Derviches and one of them was no sooner landed and had said his Prayers but he took his Dagger and ran among several Dutch Marriners unlading goods upon the Shore and â—…fore they were aware this desperate Wretch had wounded 1â—… of them whereof 13 died at length the Sentinel shot him through the Body so that he fell down dead the other Faquirs and Mahometans upon the place took up the Body and buried it and in 15 days erected him a fair Monument Every year the English and Hollanders pluckt it down but when they are gone the Faquirs