the same as an infallible law which groweth vpon this occasion A long time since there was in China a great mightie familie which together with all their friends and acquaintance secretly conspired and agréed to ryse vp against the King of China to driue him out of his kingdome and to kill him and hauing so done to place themselues therein but it could not so secretly be contriued and wrought but in the end it was knowne whereupon the king punished them most gréeuously and caused diuers of the principall conspirators to be put to death and all others he found to be consenting therunto should haue felt the like paine which gréeued the Counsell and other Noble men of the countrie for that diuers of their néerest kinsmen were of that conspiracie so that with humble and long petition to the King they besought him to let them liue and to punish them with some easier punishment then death but that which they sought desired at the king all things considered was little better then death which was that he would banish them and all their posteritie for euer out of the countrie into the Ilands of Iapen which as then were not inhabited and this as they desired was done whereby there is so great enuie and hatred betwéene them and the men of China that they hate each other to the death and doe all the mischief one vnto the other that they can imagine or deuise euen vntill this time The men of Iapen haue done much mischief vnto the men of China and many times fallen vpon their coasts and put all to fire and sword and now at this present haue not any conuersation with them but onely they trafficke with the Portingales and to shewe themselues whollie their deadlie enemies in all their actions they are cleane contrary vnto the men of China and to the same end haue changed all their customes ceremonies and manners of curtesie from the men of China To recite the particulars would be ouer long yet I will in briefe set down some fewe examples of the customes and manners therein One is where the China vseth the curtesie of salutation to a man with the head and hand wheÌ„ they méet together the Iapens to the contrarie put off their shoes whereby they shewe them reuerence and as the Chinaes stand vp when they minde to receyue any man and to doe him reuerence they to the contrarie set themselues down accounting it a verie vnséemely thing to receyue or bid a man welcome standing on their féet and as we put on our clokes when we meane to goe abroad into the towne or countrie they put them off when they goe forth putting on great wyde bréeches and coming home they put them off again and cast their clokes vpon their shoulders and as among other nations it is a good sight to see men with white and yealow hayre and white teeth with them it is estéemed the filthiest thing in the world and séeke by all meanes they may to make their hayre and téeth blacke for that the white causeth their grief and the blacke maketh them glad The like custome is among the women for as they goe abroad they haue their daughters maydes before them and their men seruants come behind which in Spaigne is cleane contrarie and when they are great with childe they tye their girdles so hard about them that men would thinke they shuld burst and when they are not with Childe they weare their girdles so slacke that you would thinke they would fall from their bodies saying that by experience they do finde if they should not doe so they should haue euill lucke with their fruict and presently as soone as they are deliuered of their children in stéed of cherishing both the mother and the child with some comfortable meat they presently wash the childe in cold water and for a time giue the mother very little to eate and that of no great substance Their manner of eating and drinking is Euerie man hath a table alone without table clothes or napkins and eateth with two peeces of wood like the men of China they drinke wine of Rice wherewith they drink themselues drunke and after their meat they vse a certaine drinke which is a pot with hote water which they drinke as hote as euer they may indure whether it be Winter or Summer The Turkes holde almost the same maÌ„ner of drinking of their Chaona which they make of certaine fruit which is like vnto the Bakelaer and by the Egyptians called Bon or Ban they take of this fruite one pound and a half and roast them a little in the fire and then sieth them in twentie poundes of water till the half be consumed away this drinke they take euerie morning fasting in their chambers â—ut of an eâ—rthen pot being verie hote as we doe here drinke aquacomposita in the morning and they say that it strengtheneth and maketh them warme breaketh wind and openeth any stopping The manner of dressing their meat is altogether contrarie vnto other nations the aforesaid warme water is made with the powder of a certaine hearbe called Chaa which is much estéemed and is well accounted of among them and al such as are of any countenance or habilitie haue the said water kept for them in a secret place and the gentlemen make it themselues and when they will entertaine any of their friends they giue him some of that warme water to drinke for the pots wherein they sieth it and wherein the hearbe is kept with the earthen cups which they drinke it in they esteeme as much of them as we doe of Diamants Rubies and other precious stones and they are not esteemed for their newnes but for their oldnes and for that they were made by a good workman and to know and kéepe such by themselues they take great and speciall care as also of such as are the valewers of them and are skilfull in them as with vs the goldsmith priseth and valueth siluer and gold and the Iewellers all kindes of precious stones so if their pots cuppes be of an old excelleÌ„t workmaÌ„s making they are worth 4 or 5 thousaÌ„d ducats or more the peece The King of Bungo did giue for such a pot hauing thrée feet 14 thousand ducats and a Iapan being a Christian in the town of Sacay gaue for such a pot 1400 ducats and yet it had 3 peeces vpon it They doe likewise estéeme much of any picture or table wherein is painted a blacke trée or a blacke bird and when they knowe it is made of wood and by an ancient cuÌ„ning maister they giue whatsoeuer you will aske for it It happeneth some times that such a picture is sold for 3 or 4 thousand ducats and more They also estéeme much of a good rapier made by an old and cunning maister such a one many times costeth 3 or 4 thousand Crowns the péece These things doe they kéeepe and estéeme for their Iewels as
and desert as it sheweth and nothing but harde stones and rockes In good ground their Vines will not grow but onely in the wild stony places for that cause they are much esteemed The good groundes and plaine fieldes which in some places are verie many specially by villa da Prava are sowed with corne and woad they haue so much corne that they neede not bring any from other places although that besides their inhabitants natural borne Islanders They haue continually with them 14. companies of Spaniards which are all fed and nourished by the corne that groweth in the countrey vnlesse there chance to come a hard vnfruitfull yeare as oftentimes it doth for then they are forced to helpe themselues with forraine corne and that specially because of the soldiers that lie in the Iland yet it is strange that the corne and all other things in the Iland continue not aboue one yeare and that which is kept aboue a yeare is nought and nothing worth And therefore to keepe their corne longer then a yeare they are forced to bury it in the earth for the space of foure or fiue monthes together to the which end euery townseman hath his pit at one ende of the towne in the common high way which is appointed for the purpose and euery man setteth his marke vpon his pitte stone the Corne is but lightly buried in the earth the holes within are rounde and the toppes thereof so wide that a man may créep in wherunto there is a stone purposely made to couer it which shutteth it vppe very close Some of the pittes are so great as that they may holde two or thrée lastes of corne some greater some smaller as euery maÌ„ hath his prouision and as soone as the corne is reaped and fanned which is in Iuly euery man putteth his corne into those pittes laying straw vnder and round about it then they fill it ful or but half ful according as their quaÌ„titie is and so stoppe it vppe with the stone which they couer with earth so let it stande vntill Christmas when euery man that will fetch home his corne some let it ly longer and fetch it by little and little as they vse it but the corne is as good when they take it out as it was at thâ— first houre that they put it in and although that Cartes horses and men do commonly passe ouer it and also that the raine rayneth vppon it yet there entreth not any droppe of rayne or moysture into it and if the corne were not buried in that manner it woulde not continue good aboue foure monthes together but would bee spoyled and when it hath béene thus for a long time buried in the earth it will continue the whole yeare through and then they keep it in chestes or make a thing of mattes like a coope to preserue it in not once stirring or mouing it and so it continueth very good The greatest commoditie they haue in the land and that serueth their turnes best is their oxen I belieue they are the greatest fayrest y t are to be found in al Christendom wâ— vnmeasurable great and long horns Euerie Oxe hath his seuerall name like men and although there bee a thousande of them in a hearde and that one of them be called by his name hee presently commeth forth vnto his mayster that calleth him The land is verie high and as it séemeth hollow for that as they passe ouer a hill of stone the grounde soundeth vnder them as if it were a Seller so that it séemeth in diuers places to haue holes vnder the earth whereby it is much subiect to earthquakes as also all the other Ilandes are for there it is a common thing and all those Ilandes for the most part haue had mynes of brimstone for that in many places of Tercera and Saint Michael the smoke and sauour of Brimstone doeth still issue forth of the ground and the Countrey rounde about is all sindged and burnt Also there are places wherein there are fountaines and welles the water whereof is so hotte that it will boyle an egge as well as if it hung ouer a fire In the Iland of Tercera about three miles from Angra there is a fountayne in a place called Gualua which hath a propertie that all the woode which falleth into it by length of time conuerteth into stone as I my selfe by experience haue tryed In the same fountayne by the roote of a tree whereof the one halfe runneth vnder that water and is turned into as harde stone as if it were steele and the other parte of the roote which the water toucheth not is still woode and roote as it should bee The Iland hath great store and excellent kindes of woode specially Cedar trees which grow there in so great numbers that they make scutes Cartes and other grosse workes thereof and is the commonest woode that they vse to burne in those Countries whereby it is the wood that with them is least esteemed by reason of the great quantitie thereof There is another kinde of wood called Sanguâ—nlâ—o and is very fayre of a redde colour and another sorte that they call white woode being of it selfe as whyte as Chalke other that is pâ—râ—â—ite yellow and all naturall without any dying and therefore there are diuers good workemen in Tercera that are skilfull in Ioyners ocupation make many fine peeces of worke as Deskes Cubbordes Chestes and other such like thinges whereof many are caried into Portingall and much esteemed there as well for the beautie of the woode as for the workemanshippe and specially the Spanish Fleete which ordinarily refresh themselues in that Iland do carry much of it from thence for it is the best and finest that is made in all Spayne and Portingall although it be not comparable to the Seskes and fine workemanshippe of Nurenbergh and those countries but for wood it excelleth all other countries for that they haue in the Spanish Fleete besides their owne kindes of woodes at the least a thousande sortes of Woode of all colours that man can imagine or deuise and so fayre that more fayrer can not be paynted There is a certaine kinde of Woode in the Islande Pico situate and lying twelue miles from Tercera called Teâ—xo a most excellent and princely wood and therfore it is forbidden to be cut but only for the Kings owne vse or for his Officers The wood is as hard as Iron and hath a colour within as if it were wrought like red Chamlet with the same water and the older it is and the more vsed the fairer it is of colour so that it is worthie to be estéemed as in trueth it is All those Ilands are inhabited by Portingals but since the troubles in Portingall there haue bene diuers Spanish soldiers sent thether and a Spanish Gouernor that kéep all the Forts and Castles in their possessions although the Portingales are put to no charges nor yet hardly
to all that countrey This land is great and hath many people and countries vnder it but the principall and chiefe prouince which the Spanyardes holde therein is Mexicana also â—enustiran or Culhuacan as I saide before the other prouinces are Guatimala Xaliscus Hondura Cha'cos Taicâ— Chamoâ—la Claortomaca Huâ—cacholla and the kingdomes of Michuacan Tescuco Utazcalia Tenuacan Maxcalcinco and Mixâ—eâ—apan Mexico or Culhuacan was brought vnder the subiection of the kings of Spaine by Fernando Cortes Merches deila Valo in the yeere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred and eighteene which countrey is very rich of golde and siluer for that many riuers haue golde in the sand The Sea shore in those Countries yeeldeth manye pearles mustles or oysters wherein they finde the pearles whereof there is a great fishing and much traffike for them There are likewise in this countrey many lakes or meeres that are stil and haue no issue which by the heate of the Sunne tourne into salt There is likewise no lesse aboundance of Cassia Fistulâ— then in Egypt growing on trees with leaues like walnuts and yellow blossoms from whence the pipes or cases of Cassia do issue forth which are vsed to purge in hote feuers to coole and cleanse the gall and heart blood as also very good against the stone in the bladder and kidneys and other diseases There is likewise in that countrie a kinde of fruit that groweth in great abundance called Cacao altogether like an almond which is taken out of the huske and couered with a thinne skinne whereof the kernel is diuided into three or foure partes of a darke yellow with blacke veines being harsh in the mouth and of an euill taste but with them is much esteemed whereof being beaten with some of their countrey pepper they make a certaine drinke which they esteeme of great price giuing it vnto great Lordes and such as are their especiall friends as we esteeme of muscadel or maluesie The sea bordering vpon this countrey as also the riuers running through it are ful of fish wherein also they finde diuers Crocodiles as in Egypt the flesh whereof is so much esteemed before al other meates that they account it for a princely dish whereof some are aboue 20. foote long The country is full of hilles and stony rockes and great difference in their speeche so that they hardly vnderstand each other without Interpreters The places wherein the Spaniardes first placed their men were Compostella where the Bishop and the Kings counsell are resident and Colima which they call the Purification in new Galicia is the chiefe Guadalahara and the head or principall part of the kingdome Mecheocan also a Bishops sea Cacatula the towne of Angels a chiefe towne and bishopricke Mâ—xâ— a kingly citie and Queene of al cities in the new world lyeth vpon the border or side of a lake the market place of the Towne lying ful vpon the lake whereby they can not come at it but they must passe ouer bridges This lake is lâ—â—t and is in length sixe lucas or twelue miles and is in breadth tenne miles without fish onely a smal kind that may rather be called wormes than fishes from the which lake in summer time there ariseth such a stiâ—ke and infecteth the ayre in such manner that it is vnwholesome to dwel there notwithstanding it is inhabited by as many marchants as any towne in Europe the cittie is great at the least three miles in compasse wherein are so many temples that it is incredible the particularitte whereof before it be long shal be translated out of Spanish into our mother tongue by the author therof whereunto I referre you Not farre from this cittie lieth an other fresh lake very ful of fish whereon as also vpon the shore lie many townes When this towne was first taken by the Spaniards there raigned a king called Mâ—ntezâ—mâ— being the ninth in degree and as then the towne was but 140. yeares old which is to bee wondered at howe it is possible that so great a citie in so few yeers should be so famous The marchandises that are most carried out of this countrey are golde siluer pearle balsam cochenilia the white roote Macheocan which is good to purge Salla Pariglia and an other roote which maketh men sweate brimstone beasts skinnes and fish And thus much for new Spaine in generall and of Mexico in particular Not minding at this present time to make any longer discourse because that our Carde sheweth little thereof and now returning to our owne Carde you must vnderstand that the lower ende of Cuba hath an out Hooke called P. de Santa Anthonio which is very fitte for to take in fresh water and to calke and mend the shippes Sailing from this hooke sixtie fiue miles to the firme land you come to the hooke of Iucatan which runneth into the sea like a halfe Island Iectetan is in Indian speech I vnderstand you not for that vpon a time when certaine Spaniards put out of the hauen of Saint Anthony to discouer newe countries and arriued in that Island they made signes vnto the people to knowe the name of the country whereuppon the Indians answered them and saide O Tectetan Tectetan that is We vnderstand ye not and so the Spaniards corrupting the name Tectetan call that land Iucatan yet the furthest point therof in their spéech was called â—ecampi This point of Iucatan lyeth vnder 21. degrees vnder the which name a great countrey is comprehended by some called Peinsula that is a place almost compassed about with water for that the further this point reacheth into the sea the broader it is being in the narrowest part 80. or 90. Spanish miles broad for so farre it is from Xicalanco Therefore the sea Cardes that place this land nearer or smaller do erre much for that it is in length from East to West twoo hundred miles being discouered by Francisco Hernandez of Cordua in the yeare of our Lord 1517. but not al of it for that sailing from out of Cuba from Saint Iacobs to discouer new countries or as some say to fetch labourers to trauell in his mines he came about the Island Guanaxos herein called Caguan xâ— to the cape di Honduras where good honest ciuill and simple people dwelt being fishermen hauing no weapons nor vsed to the warres and proceeding further sayled to an vnknowne point of land where hee found certaine salt pannes whereunto he gaue the name of Donne that is women for that there were certaine stone towers with staires chappels couered with wood and straw wherein were placed diuerse Idols that shewed like women whereat the Spaniardes maruelled to finde stone houses which till then they had not seene and that the inhabitants were rich and well apparelled with shirtes and mantles of cotten white and coloured with plumes of feathers and iewels of precious stones sette in golde and siluer their women likewise appareled from the middle downewardes as also on the head and breast which
some weare such stones that are sharpe and of a finger long when they take out the stones they play with their tongues in the hole which is most vgly to beholde for that it seemeth they haue twoo mouthes some of them weare not onely this stone through theyr lips but also through both their cheekes touching their noses they are flat which they cause to grow so by force when they are yong coÌ„trary to vs which desire straite noses but they esteeme their flat noses for a beauty they paint their bodies with manie colours specially aboue al others their legs with a blacke colour with the sap of a certaine hearbe by them called Genipat so that a farre off they seeme to haue blacke bootes or straight hose like the priests in our countries the blacknesse of this sap cleaueth so fast on that if they wash themselues for the space of ten or fifteene daies together yet it will hardly come off They haue likewise necklaces of eight fingers long made of bones as white as Alablaster which they call Iaci according to theyr forme which they putte vppon cotten strings and weare them about theyr armes as also other flatte and rounde bones like stiuers certaine peeces of money in Holland which beeing bored through the middle and hanged one by one vpon strings they weare them in such sort as wee weare chaines of gold which they call Bouze Besides this they make certaine rounde beades of blacke shining wood which they tie together vpon strings and weare them likewise about theyr neckes which shine as blacke and glistering as if they were Iet They haue likewise many Hennes of our countreyes which the Portingales brought thither from the which they pull the small white fethers which with irons they hacke and make soft and then colour them redde which done they annoint their bodies with gum and strow the feathers therein wherby they looke like new hatched birds wherof this opinion hath risen by some men that haue first gone into those Countries and séeing them drest in that manner that they wereso by nature They dresse theyr foreheades with feathers of diuers colours verie cunningly placed together like the French gentlewomen that ware periwigs of strange haire these apparrels and ornaments of feathers and stones as also the rattles wherewith they make a noyse with their woodden halberdes and many other things to them belonging you may see at Doctor Paludanus house those crownes on theyr heades they call Iempenambi in theyr eares likewise they weare certaine white bones not much vnlike those which the children weare in theyr lips In Brasilia there are certaine blacke Birdes like Crowes by them called Toucan which haue certaine rings about theyr neckes of yellow and red feathers which they flea and drie the skinnes and beeing drie are likewise called Toucan which they weare vppon each Cheeke sticking them on with ware and when they goe to warres or to a banket when they meane to kill a man and to eate him according to their manner because they will bee after the finest sort they putte on that kinde of apparrell made of feathers with hoodes vppon their heades and thinges made of greene redde blewe and other colours of feathers about their armes verie cunningly sette together which by vs coulde not bee mended shewing as if they were of wrought Veluet as Paludanus can shewe you Such feathers likewise they binde vppon theyr Halberdes which are likewise almost like a blacke Spitte Lappe of harde woodde made redde or blacke They wearelikewise on their shoulders certain mantles of Eastrige feathers which is a signe that they haue Eastriges that are verie cunningly set together and hang long about them by them called Aâ—aroy such as wil among them be accounted manly and stout haue the report to haue killed eaten many men they cut great slashes in their breasts hips and thighs wherby they make the flesh to rise which they couer with a certain pouder and make them looke blacke which colour neuer goeth off during theyr liues wherby a farre off they seeme to haue cutte leather Ierkins on their bodies such as the Switsers vse to weare When they will holde any drunken feast or dauncing wherunto they are much giuen to increase their mirth besides the great noyse and crie which they ordinarily make they haue a certaine kind of hollow fruit which Theretus calleth Ahonay the pith whereof being taken out some of them are filled with stones and some without and so are put vpon strings of cotten wooll which they tie about their legs dauncing therewith as our iuglers and morice dauncers in these countreyes dance with belles likewise they carrie in their hands certaine dryed goords which they fil with stones hauing a sticke in the ende make a noyse therewith as our children doo with a blather full of stones which instrument with them is called Maraca the women go naked like the men and pul away their haire from the eyebrowes and eyelids but weare it on theyr heades like our women which they wash and comb derie often and tie it vp with redde cotten hairelaces as our country women vse to do but most parte of them vse to lette it hang downe about theyr shoulders wherin they take great pleasure the women neyther bore lips nor cheekes but onely their eares with so wide holes that a man may thrust his finger through in theÌ„ they hang certain long things which reach vnto their breasts or shoulders like bloudhoundes or water spanels eares They paint their faces with all kinds of colours which their neighbors and other women do for them in the middle of the cheeke they make a rounde circle drawing lines from it of diuers colours vntill theyr face is ful not leauing so much vndone as the eye liddes they weare bracelets of white bones cut thin like plates very cunningly ioyned together with wax and gum also white necklaces which they cal Bonze weare them not about their necks like the men but onely their armes for the which cause they are verie desirous of the glasse beades of all colours such as we haue here in these countries by them caled Maurobi it is to be wondered at that if any apparrel be giuen vnto theÌ„ they wil not weare it excusing themselues saying that it is not their custome but had rather weare stones other things vppon their bodies then such cloathes they haue a custome that in euery riuer where they come they steepe vnto the water and wash their hands many times they duck into the water at y t least ten times a day to wash themselues like birds and if they were apparrelled should put it off as often as they do so it would be ouer troublesome vnto them likewise the women slaues being compelled to weare cloathes many euenings to pleasure themselues doo put off theyr cloathes smock and all and so runne naked about the countrey I must speake somewhat of their little children of the
hornes and a shorter neck long hanging eares smaller and longer legs a whole foot like an asse so that it is not wrong named to be called a cow asse yet different from both first because it hath a short taile as many beasts in America haue no tailes at al sharpe téeth yet without any corage for it runs from a man the Brasilians shoot at this beast with their arrowes or else take them in pits which they dig for the purpose esteeme much of it because of the skin they hauing fleyed it off they cutte the hide in rounde péeces which they drie in the Sunne whereof they make buklers wherwith they defend them selues from the enemies arrowes for that by reason of the heate of the sunne they become so harde that no arrow will pierce them be they neuer so fiercely drawne The flesh of the beast tasteth much like our bores flesh and by the Brasilians it is rosted vpon the coales and so kept for that because they haue no salt they al broyle theyr meat vpon woodden gardirons and so kéepe it in euery village you finde such girdirons which oftentimes he ful of mens flesh Secondly they haue a certaine kinde of Hart by them called Seouaslous yet lesse then ours and with shorter hornes with long haire like goates and wilde American Swine by them called â—aroslou which is as bigge of bodye eares head and feete as ours are as also the like teeth which are verie dangerous but because it is leaner and ranker and grinneth fearefully therefore it is mis-shapen This beast by nature hath a hole in the backe as the sea Swine haue in theyr heades whereat they receiue and cast foorth theyr breath There is likewise a fine coloured beast called Agouti which is a kind of hart with clouen feete a shorte taile with a nose and cares much like a hare very pleasant and sauorie of taste there are also two or thrée kindes of beasts called Tapitis not much vnlike our hares red of haire in the woods are great rats of body and haire like Ekehornes in tast not much vnlike our conies Pag. or Pague a beast of the height and greater theÌ„ an indifferent Grayhound with an euil fauored head a faire skin speckled white and blacke of taste much like veale There is likewise another beast called Sarigoy which because it stinketh y e Barbarians wil not eate yet it is good sauory flesh specially when the fat of the kidnies wherin the stinke lieth is taken away There are also Tatous or Armadillen wherof in other places I haue spoken which are of very white good and sauorie flesh also there are certaine Crocadiles which they cal Iacare as big as a mans leg and indifferent long not hurtfull they come into their houses where the children play with them without any danger The Crocadiles in those countries haue a wider mouth high feet y e taile neither round nor sharp but very thin at the end ther are likewise diuers kinds of Easts speckled like our little ones of foure or fiue foot long in thicknes correspondent feareful to behold but keepe in riuers moores like frogs doing no hurt they cal them Touous being sleyed soddeÌ„ they surpasse al meates for taste goodnes their flesh being as white as a capons flesh sweet short excelleÌ„t good They haue great toades which the Toupinambauiltu eate whole being rosted so that they are not poyson like our toades they eat likewise snakes of the bignesse of a mans arme fiue foote long but of no great taste ther are also many other snakes specially in the riuers that are as gréen as grasse long thin whose sting is very dangerous there are also in some meeres of woods diuers great and dangerous Easts Iohanes Lerus writeth that passing through a wood he met an East as bigge as a mans bodye of fiue or six foot long al couered with white scales like oyster shels which lifted vp one of her forefeete and casting vp her head looked vpon him with staring eyes breathing at the mouth most feareful to beholde and after he and his companie had stayed a quarter of an houre to behold it it clome vp y e hil with such a noise ouer and through the trées that not any Hart running through the wood could make a greater noyse There is yet in this countrey another kind of strange beast caled Ian-ouare feeding only vpon the pray this beast for length of legs and swiftnes is like the Grayhound but vnder the chinne it hath a beard or certain long haire a speckled skin like a Linx and in other parts not vnlike the Linx this beast is much feared by the Brasilians for that whatsoeuer it taketh it teareth it in peeces and spoyleth it like a Lion feeding therof the Indians take this beast in pits to reuenge themselues they cause her therin to pine to death wherby they double her paine Méerecats are there in great aboundance that are small blacke by them called Cay and among the rest one kind of Méerecat called Sagouin of a verie fayre coloured haire as big and of haire as an Ekehorne but as touching the forme of the chaps breast and necke other parts altogither like a lion being one of the airest little beastes in al that country but for the tendernes therof it cannot be brought ouer sea There is yet another very strange beast by the Indians caled Hay as big as a dog with a face like a Méerecat a hanging belly like a sow that hath new farrowed of haire dark white al black with a long taile with rough feet like a beare long clawes when it lieth in y e woods it is very wild but if they take it it will be tamed the naked Tououpinambaultiers play not willingly with it because it hath verie sharpe clawes no man as the Indians say did euer sée this beast wild or tame to eate any thing but as they think it liueth by y e aire wherof I haue spokeÌ„ in other places Lastly there is yet another strange beast called Coaty as high as a Hare with short speckled haire smal sharpe eies a head very smal downe from the eies a snout that riseth vp of a foote long more round like a stick somewhat smal at the end in such maner that it is al of one bignesse with so narrow a mouth that a man can hardly thrust his little finger therein very strange to behold and being taken it pulleth all his foure feete together and falleth either vppon the one side or the other and wil not rise vnlesse they giue it mice whereof it liueth in the wood this countrey aboundeth with al kinde of foule whereof some are to be eaten and some not as Indian Hens by them called Arignow Oussou and common hennes of these countryes first brought thither by the Portingales and among them the white hens are much esteemed to pull out their feathers and
called Araboutan because of tha great and thick branches not much vnlike our oakes some of them are at the least three fadomes thicke their leaues are like boxe or palmetrées but yeelde no fruite the wood would with great labour and paine be conuayed aboord the shippes if the wild people did not helpe them for the marchants shuld hardly lade a ship in a whole yeare because of the hardnesse and troublesomenesse in the cleauing as also that there are no beasts to draw or carrie it to the shippes but must be brought downe by men which for cloathes shirts hattes kniues and such like things are hired to cleaue and rounde it and to bring it out of the woods farre within the lande vpon their shoulders to the shippes it is much burnt in that countrie and is of nature dry whereby when it it is burnt it maketh little smoke the ashes wherof yeeld a certaine red color the Tououpinambaultii wondered much what our men doe with all that wood asking if there were no wood in our countreies for to burne and answere was made vnto them that we vsed it to die withall as they died their ropes or strings this is shewed in another place Beside this Brasill tree there are fiue kindes of Palme trees whereof the principall is called Gerau the other Iri of these trées I haue sufficiently declared in the Histories of the East Indies as also in the description of the Affrican coast there is a tree called Ayri a kinde of Eban wood with leaues not much vnlike the palme trées the body couered with thicke thornes the fruite thereof indiffeeent great wherein there is a pith as white as snow but not good to eate the wood is blacke and verie hard whereof the Barbarians make theyr halbeards coluen arrowes it is likewise so heauy that it sinketh vnder the water there is also much wood in this countrey whereof some is yellow like Box some violet some white like paper some pale red some varnish red and some darke red whereof likewise they make Halberds another wood is founde therein called Copau whereof the trees are like our wallnut trées but beare no nuttes the wood being plained hath graines like Walnut tree there are many other kindes of trees whereof some haue leaues rounde like pence others great of a foote and a halfe long as also a tree which is very pleasant to beholde and so sweete of smell that it excelleth the rose specially when it is cut to the contrarie there groweth another tree called Aou-at which wood beeing cutte or burnt stinketh so vnreasonably that no man can abide it it hath leaues like our apple trée leaues and a fruit not vnlike the Egiel the nut whereof is so venemous that being eaten it worketh presently but because the Indians make their rattles of this fruit they esteeme it much Besides this there groweth in Brasilia many kindes of fruits and apples pleasant to looke on specially on the sea side but not to be eaten and very daungerous some are like mispelles whereof the Indians warned our men that they should not eate them Hiuourae is a barley about halfe a finger thicke good of taste specially being fresh it is a kinde of pox wood and by the Indians vsed for a certaine disease called Pians which is as daungerous with them as the pox with vs there is likewise a trée by them called Choyne of a reasonable height for leaues forme and greenenesse like the Bay trees the fruit as great as a childes head as bigge as an Estridge egge but not to be eaten the Tonoupinambaultians thereof make certaine rattles by them caled Muaracas of it also they make vessels to drinke with such like things cleaueing them in the middle The tree by them called Sabaneay beareth fruit bigger than a mans two fists whereof they make drinking cuppes and is much like a cup in this nut there are certaine piths not vnlike for forme and taste to the almon There is an other tree in bignesse like a Sorben the fruit wherof is by them called Aca iou of forme and greatnesse like a hennes egge which being ripe is of a golde yellow colour like a quince very good and sauory to eate hauing a certayne sharpe taste and in it a iuice that cooleth heate but because this fruit is not easie to be gathered as being high trees the meere-cattes eate them and such as fall to the ground are the Indians parte Paco-aire is a sprig about tenne or twelue foote high the body as thicke as a mans thigh but yet so soft that it may be cutte in twoo with one blow the fruit thereof is by them called Paco which are of a handfull long in forme like cucumbers and being ripe are of the same colour this fruit groweth 20. or 25. vpon a braunch which the Indians plucke off and carry into their houses they are very pleasant of taste whereof you may reade at large in the East Indian Histories the sprigs that bring foorth cotten are there in great aboundance being of an indifferent greatnesse and haue leaues like the yellow bels of the ash trees froÌ„ whence there groweth an apple as bigge as Bulken which beeing ripe openeth in foure partes and yeeldeth forth cotten the Barbarians call it Ameni iou in the middle of which wool are certain blacke kernels pâ—est together like mens kidneyes and as bigge as beanes this cotten is gathered by the Brasilian women which they spinne and therof make many things Citrons and Lemonds by the Portingales brought into those countries grow there in great aboundance very pleasant and good also many sugar canes whereby much sugar is brought from thence into Portingale it is much to be wondered at that seeing there is so swéet a substance in those reedes while they are fresh and newe gatherd that being but a little withered or put into the water they doo presently conuert into so sower a substance that it is as good Vinegere as any can bee founde Besides these sugar reedes there groweth other reedes as thicke as a mans legge which beeing greene are with one blow easily cutte in two peeces but when they are drie they become verie tough and hard whereof they make arrowes sticks to carry in theyr handes in that countrie likewise is much Masticke excellent good Gumme which was ordinarily brought out of Chio also diuers and innumerable sorts of sweete smelling flowers hearbes And although that about this Cabo de Frio there is much thunder raine and great winds as lying vnder Tropicus Capricorn yet because there falleth no frost snowe nor haile therefore the trees are there alwayes gréene as they are with vs in May and in December when the dayes are shortest and coldest here with vs they are there at the longest and hottest but it is to be vnderstood that they neuer fal out to be so long or short as they are with vs for they haue the day and night of an euener length then we and
the poynt is a land which is not ouer lowe where you sée certayne Downes as aforesaide ¶ Here followeth the Nauigation from the Line to the Towne of the Kings called Lyma FRom hence forwarde wee haue declared the coast of Panama in the South sea til you come to the hauen of Quixinus which lieth in the Countrey of Peru now I will goe forward with the course that lieth betweene Quixinus and the towne of Kings so then departing from the poynt de Passos the coast stretcheth south and south and by weast to the hauen called Porto veio or the Old Hauen and before you come thither there lieth the strand called Charaqui wher the ships may put in without any daunger and it is so safe a strand that they may there lay their ships on shoare and mend them if they neede be they neuer so great for it is a good hauen of entraunce onely that in the midle of the entry there lieth certain stones or rugged Islands but the shippes may enter at which side they wil and passe by them without any danger for there is nothing to be shunned but onely that which you sée before your eyes the Olde Hauen lieth vnder one degrée on the south side of the Equinoctiall line and is one of the fiue Townes which the christians or Spaniardes haue built in the flat land of Peru so that Porto Veio signifieth the towne and countrey lying thereabouts which is much ouerrunne wasted because it is a poore vnwholesome country yet it hath certain mines of Sinaragdes which they held long time hidden and by no meanes would discouer them as to this day they yet do They had likewise in times past many golde and siluer vessels which are by the Spaniardes all taken and carried away but now by the kings letters patents being made frée they pay to theyr superiour lords but onely the tenth parte of all their fruits whereby many Spaniards withdrawe themselues from thence séeing their profite to decay The Countrey about Porto Veio was rich of golde where the people made their houses in the trées like birdes nests and because the coast is moorish there is no being for horses whereby it was not so soone subdued by the Spaniardes as also because that out of theyr nests they threw stones iauelines pottes with hot water and whatsoeuer came next to hand whereby they killed many Spaniards wherewith they were forced to couer themselues with boordes and so cut downe the trees before they could ouercome them as also because the Countrey is so rough sharpe and wilde that they could hardely finde prouision for their army there is yet much country thereabouts vnhabited By the Old Hauen two miles within the land is the towne of saint Iacob or Iago which for houses and inhabitants is not inferiour to Porto Veâ—o and thereabouts is the passage of Gainacaua by the Spaniards so called for this occasion that Gaâ—â—acaua the father of Attabalida vpon a certain time sent one of his Captainâ—â— â—â—th a great army to subdue that countrey who minding to passe his people ouer the riuer commanded them to make a bridge of péeces of wood that so they might passe Which being made when his people with their armor and weapons were vppon it the ennemy cutte the ropes wherewith the péeces of wood were fastned together whereby many of them that were vpon it by force of the streame were drowned in the riuer and the rest spoyled by the enemy Which Gainacapa vnderstanding assembled a great number of souldiers and with them departed from Quito and being in the plaine field in open battell he ouercame those people after the which victorie minding to make a passage ouer the riuer that men might passe ouer on foote to the same end he causâ— great numbers of stones and earth to be brought thither and threw them into the riuer being twentie foote broad but whatsoeuer he threw in al wold not preuaile by reason of the great deapth and swiftnesse of the riuer that carried it away by force of the streame which hee perceiuing left off his worke and so departed and therfore the Spaniards haue giuen this place the name of the passage of Gainacaua about the which passage lieth the towne of saint Iacob builded by them About a Spanish mile and a half distant from this town of saint Iacob towardes the south lyeth a round hil by them called Christs Hil. From Porto veâ—o further forward the same course almost foure miles distant in the south lieth the poynt of saint Laurence and two miles and a quarter from thence southwest lieth an Island of the same name which is full a mile in compasse wherein the Indians or Peruuians of the firme land in times past vsed to make their sacrifices and offerings killing many lambes shéepe and some children offering their blood vnto their idolles or diuelles whose figures were made and carued in stone to whome they doe vsually pray When Franciscus Pizarius with his thirteene companions trauelled to discouer Peru they entred likewise into this Island where they found certaine iewells of siluer and golde many cloakes and shertes of very faire and fine wooll so that from that time forwards and for the same cause this Island was called Siluer The poynt of saint Laurence lieth vnder one degrée on the south side of the line And as I sayde before Peru beginneth at the line and stretcheth southwarde vnto Chile The people that dwell vnder the line and thereabouts haue the customes and manners of the Iewes Whereby many men are of opinion that they are issued from the Iews or of the race of Cham they speake hoarsely and in the mouth like the Moores and are much giuen to vncleannesse especially that which is wholy against nature whereby they do not well agree with their wiues but rather despise them The women weare neither hayre nor apparell but onely a certaine aprone before their priuities They plant sowe reape and thrash the corne and wheate meale whereof they make breade which wheate in Peru is called Zara the men weare short shertes without sleeues downe to their nauelles their members being vncouered and some goe naked paint their bodies with a black colour their haire being shauen and cut almost like Friars but they leaue no haire neyther before nor behinde their heades but onely vppon the sides it is likewise a common custome with them to weare many Iewels of golde both in their eares and noses specially emerauldes such as are found in those Countries And although the inhabitants will not discouer the mines yet hath it beene perceiued by certaine rough stones on their arms and legs they weare many beades of gold siluer and small tourqueses also of white and red Teekens and Huyzkens but will not haue their wiues to weare anye such touching the situation of the Countrey it is very hote and vnwholesome and there they haue certayne sore biles that issue out vpon their faces and other partes of theyr
be deeper you must cast anker for if you neglect it you should presentlie fall on ground because the streames and waters doe runne verie strong to sea ward from Tanadare to Belliguao are about 6. myles this place of Belliguao is a verie great créek and from the south syde thereof there appeareth certaine great houels of redde earth that lie within the Créeke and can not bee seene till you be full before the Creeke and on the North syde it hath two small Ilandes close to the land from the which Ilandes there commeth a small sand but it lyeth on the south syde towardes the land From Belleguao to Gualla are fyue myles and the way betweene them is altogether on the sea syde ful of Palme trees and betweene them lykewise lieth an Ilande hard by the land all of stonie cliffes and when you make towardes Gualla you shall perceaue a high land full of woods and a playne desert and from the North syde of the bay it hath a great wood of Palme trees and if you haue occasion to anker in the bay you may well enter at fiftéene and fourtéene fadome deepe but such as desire to keepe on their course neede not put in there From Tanadare to this Hauen of Gualla which are twelue myles you runne from the one to the other Northwest and Southeast and somewhat Northwest by West and Southeast and by east and all the way along this Coast to Gualla is not to be sayled but onlie where you may see ground with your Lead From Gualla to the point called Belitote is fyue or sixe miles which point hath a thicke wood of Palme trees and right ouer against it about half a mile there is a great Cliffe and betwéen them both lyeth many stonie cliffes along the shore by the point of Gualla are two sandes whereon the water breaketh the one is before you come at the point which runneth into the sea about ¼ of a myle and the other is right ouer against the bay on the North syde running a small myle into the sea and of this you must take great care you may well passe by it in the night at twentie fadome deepe so that you need not feare vppon this same the sea breaketh verie long speciallie when it is high water From thence you shall take your course vnto Columbo as the Coast reacheth and from the Iland of Verberijn forward the ground is full of Bankes and shallowes and béeing hard by Columbo about three or foure myles towardes Negumbo you may anker at eight or nyne fadome but by Columbo you cannot doe it but if you haue great occasion then you may anker at eightéen fadome towardes the land There you finde stonie ground and the same you finde at the poynt where you haue twentie fyue fadome deepe inwardes to the sea and that in most places therefore you must bee carefull in throwing out your Anker first prouing with a lead the grounde of this Countrie is in some places small and in other places great sand which is the surest and in some places it hath redde sand and lykewise places of white and blacke sand which are tokens of the ground along the Coast vppon all the which ground you may anker The right markes and tokens of Columbo which is the place where the Portingalles holde their fort are these y t is when you are within the Hauen then the Pico of Adam so called which is a high hill higher then any other in al the countrie about it shal be in the East and setting your course to the Hauen of this fortresse then you shall loose the sight of all the hilles and Houels and begin to sayle by thinne flat land which is a marke and a verie good token of the Hauen the winds that you there shall finde for the most part of that time or Monson are North Northeast Northeast and sometime East Northeast and also East the Viracoins which are the winds that blow out of the Sea are many times North and Northwest I write this that men should not wonder to find them so in that place likewise you finde there West Northwest and West Southwest windes according to the coniunctions of the times when men are in that coast the winds that are called Viracoins which commonly blow out of the west throughout all India at such time as men vse to sayle vpon the Sea which is in Summer from noone to twelue of the clocke at night and come out of the Sea towards the land and therefore by the Portingales they are called Viracoins that is wind out of the Sea and from midnight to noone the winds blow out of the East which come ouer the land into the Sea as it is at large declared in my Indian Viage and is onely heere set downe because it should not séeme strange to any man to reade of these winds and their manner of blowing in these countries when you will put to Sea by night with the Terreinhos or land winds if they be not Northeast then you shall not set sayle before midnight if they be not full to Sea ward then put not to farre off from the shore because it would not bee good for you to put to farre into the Sea for that you could not well get the land againe because the Viracoins or sea winds that come out of the North and Northwest doe often stay late blow but slowly From Negumbo you shall crosse ouer to Cape de Comorijn to the East side of the Cape towards the land called das Areas Gordas that is of the fat or thicke Dounes which is 12. miles from Cabo de Comorijn on the side of Choramandel for it is good to put on there because of y e streame which runneth verie stiffe outward with a hard wind by these Areas Gordas as also some part of the way to the Cape you finde ground and many times sée the land because it is long at 40. fadome and lesse and if you come inward from the Cape being by night and find ground then you may fréely passe ouer this ground from 12. to 18. fadome déepe for as you come right against the Cape then the ground is ful of white Sand and you shal not find aboue 20. fadome to Seaward from Areas Gordas to the Cape for from Areas Gordas inwards the ground is ful of banks and small blacke Sand and you must runne a mile a mile and a halfe and two miles from the shore vpon the ground and depthes afore saide And when you passe by Cabo de Comorijn to Coulaon you shall holde your course along the coast about a mile from the shore that you may Anker and not going néerer to the sand then 12. fadome but it is good to run from 15. to 18. fadome alwayes taking héede of the stones of Trauancor which lie betwéene the Cape and Coulaon and being in the night time the surest marke to know if you be before Coulaon is to
in all India and the principall enemies that the Portingalles haue and which trouble them continually But the better to know the situation of the countrey you must vnderstande that all the coast seuered from India is the low land lying 8. or 10. miles vpon the coast which is that whereof we speake and is called Cuncam and then there is a high or hilly Countrey which reacheth almost vnto the skies and stretcheth from the one ende vnto the other beginning at Daman or Cambaia to the Cape de Comoriin and the vttermost corner of India and all that followeth again on the other coast called Ghoramandel This high land on the top is very flatte and good to build vpon called Ballagatte and Decan and is inhabited and diuided among diuers Kings and gouernors The inhabitants and natural borne countrimen are commonly called Decaniins and Canaras as in the description of Goa and the territories thereof shal be particularly shewed with the shapes fashions and counterfeites of their bodies Churches houses trées Plantes and fruites c. The 11. Chapter Of the coast of India that is from Goa to the cape de Comoriin and the furthest corner of the lande which is called the coast of Malabar THe coast of Malabar beginneth from Cape de Ramos which lyeth frō Goa Southwardes ten myles and endeth at the Cape de Comoriin in time past called Corii which is 100. and 7. or 8. miles whereon lie the places hereafter following which are inhabited by the Portingals and kept with fortresses first from the said Cape de Ramos to the fortresse of Onor are tenne miles lying full vnder 14. degrées and is inhabited by the Portingalles There is great quantity of Pepper for that they are able euery yeare to lade a shippe with 7. or 8. thousand Quintalles of Pepper Portingal waight it is the best and fullest berries in all Malabar or India This land belongeth to a Quéene named Batycola which is a towne not farre from thence inwardes wherin she kéepeth her Court it is she that selleth the Pepper and deliuereth it vnto the Marchantes Factors that lie in Onor but they must alwaies deliuer their money sixe monthes before they receyue their Pepper otherwise they get it not then she deliuereth the Pepper which by one of the Factors is receyued and laid vp within the fortresse till the shippes of Portingall come thether to take in their lading of Pepper There is likewise much Ryce This fortresse is not much frequented but onely in the time of lading of their Pepper which within fewe yeares hath béene vsed to be laden there for before they vsed not to lade any in that place From Onor to the towne of Barselor are 15. miles and lyeth vnder 13. degrées it is also inhabited by Portingalles as Onor is there is great store of Ryce Pepper from Barselo◠to Mangalor are 9. miles and lyeth vnder twelue degrées and a halfe which also is a fortresse inhabited as the others are by Portingals and hath great store of Pepper and Ryce From Mangalor to Cananor are 15. myles which lyeth right vnder 11. degrées and a halfe This is the best fortresse that the Portingalles haue in all Malabar and there is much Pepper The Malabars without the fortresse haue a village with many houses therein built after their manner wherein there is a market holden euery day in the which all kindes of victuailes are to be had which is wonderfull altogether like the Hollanders markets There you find Hennes Egges Butter Hony Indian Oyle and Indian figges that are brought from Cananor which are very great and without exception the best in all India of the which sorts of victuailes with other such like they haue great quantities also very faire and long mastes for shippes such as better cannot be found in all Norway and that in so great numbers that they furnish all the countries rounde about them It is a very gréene and pleasant lande to beholde full of faire high trées and fruitfull of all thinges so is the whole coast from Malabar all along the shore Among these Malabars the white Mores do inhabite that beléeue in Mahomet and their greatest traffique is vnto the redde sea although they may not doe it neyther any other Indian without the Portingalles pasport otherwise the Portingals army which yearly saileth along the coasts to kéepe them cleare from sea rouers for the safetie of their marchants finding them or any other Indian or nation whatsoeuer at sea without a pasport woulde take them for a prize as oftentimes it happeneth that they bring shippes from Cambaia Malabar or from the I le of Sumatra and other places that traffique to the redde sea These Mores of Cananor kéepe friendshippe with the Portingalles because of the fortresse which holdeth them in subiection yet couertly are their deadly enemies and secretly contribute and pay great summes of money to the other Malabars to the ende that they shoulde mischiefe and trouble the Portingalles by all the meanes they can deuise whose forme and images do follow after those of Goa and Malabar From Cananor to Calecut are 8. miles which lyeth full vnder 11. degrées This towne of Calecut hath in times past béene the most famous Towne in all Malabar or India and it was the chiefe towne of Malabar where the Samoriin which is the Emperour holdeth his Court but because the Portingalles at their first comming and discouering of India were oftentimes deceyued by him they resorted to the King of Cochin who as then was subiect to the Samoriin being of small power But when the Portingals began to prosper in their enterprise and to get possession in the countrey and so became maisters of the sea Calecut beganne to decay and to lose both name and traffique and nowe at this time it is one of the townes of least account in all Malabar and Cochin to the contrarie their King being very rich and richer then the Samoriin so that now he careth noe for him by means of the fauour and help he findeth at the hands of the Portingalles From Calecut to Cranganor are tenne myles and lyeth vnder tenne degrées and a halfe there the Portingalles haue a Fortresse From Cranganor to Cochin are tenne miles and lyeth not full vnder tenne degrées The towne of Cochin is inhabited by Portingals and naturall borne Indians as Malabars and other Indians that are christened it is almost as great as Goa very populous and well built with faire houses Churches and cloysters and a fayre and most pleasant Riuer with a good channell and a hauen a little beyonde the towne towards the land runneth a small riuer or water where sometimes men may passe ouer dry footed on the further side whereof lyeth a place called Cochin Dacyma and it is aboue Cochin which is in the iurisdiction of the Malabars who as yet continue in their owne religion there the King kéepeth his Court It is very full and well built with houses after the Indian manner and
they spinne like yearne this yearne is to be sâ—ene at the house of Paludanus it is yealowish and is called the hearbe of Bengalen wherewith they do most cunningly stitch their couerlits pauilions pillowes carpets and mantles therein to christen children as women in childbed with vs vse to doe and make them with flowers and branches and personages that it is wonderfull to sée and so finely done with cunning workemanshippe that it cannot be mended throughout Europe likewise they make whole péeces or webbes of this hearbe sometimes mixed and wouen with silke although those of the hearbe it selfe are dearer and more estéemed and is much fayrer theÌ„ the silke These webs are named Sarrijn and it is much vsed and worne in India as well for mens bréeches as dublets and it may be washed like linnen and being washt it sheweth and continueth as faire as if it were new From Bengala commeth much Algallia or Ciuet but by the subtiltie and villany of the Bengalians it is falsifyed mixed with filth as salt oyle and such like stuffe whereby it is not much estéemed Also in Bengala are found great numbers of the beasts which in Latine are called Rhinocerotes and of the Portingalles Abadas whose horne téeth flesh blood clawes and whatsoeuer he hath both without and within his bodie is good against poyson and is much accounted of throughout all India as in an other place shall be shewed more at large There groweth likewise marble coloured Réedes whereof you may sée many sortes in the custodie of Paludanus which the Portingalles call Canas de Bengala that is Réedes of Bengala within they are full of pith and are about the thicknesse of Spanish réedes but somewhat thinner and when they are gréene they bowe and bend like Willow twigges they are outwardly of diuers colours and speckled as if they were painted They vse them in Portingall for olde women to beare in their handes when they goe abroad or vppon the stones There is another sorte of the same réeds which they call Rota these are thinne like twigges of Willow for baskets whereof Paludanus can shewe you great numbers with the which in India they make many faire baskets and a thousande other curious deuises Sugar Butter and such like ware they haue in great quantitie as I said before but this shall suffice for Bengala whereof we leaue to speake and returne to the description of the coast as it lyeth along the shore The 17. Chapter Of the coasts and lands of Aracan Pegu and Sian to the Cape of Singapura the towne and fortresse of Malacca BEyond the kingdome of Bengala beginneth the kingdomes of Aracan Pegu which coast stretcheth from Bengala south and by East to the town and hauen of Martauan in the land of Pegu and is 70. miles Martauan lyeth vnder 16. degrées from whence beginneth the kingdome or land of Sian these kingdomes of Aracan and Pegu are very rich fruitfull of all things besides Gold and precious stones as Rubies Espinels Saffires Iacinthes Emeraldes Granates and such like as it is well knowne by the great numbers that are dayly brought out of those countries into all places Likewise they make harde ware which is carried throughout the world There are greater number of Elephantes in those countries then in any other place of India or the Orientall countries the Portingalles that traffique there affirme that the king of Pegu hath a white Elephant which hee prayeth vnto and holdeth it to bée holy The Peguans haue a custome that when any stranger commeth into their land to deale and traffique with them of what nation soeuer he bee they aske him how long he meaneth to stay there and hauing tolde them they bring him many maides that of them he may take his choice and make contract and agrée with the parentes of the maid that liketh him best for the vse of her during his continuance there which done he bringeth her to his lodging and she scrueth him about all his affaires both by day by night like his slaue or his wife but hee must take heede that in the meane time hee keepeth not company with other women for thereby hee may incurre great daunger and stand in perill of his life When the time of his residence is ended he payeth the friendes or parents of the maid as much as he agreed for with theÌ„ which done he departeth quietly away and the maid returneth with credite home againe vnto her friendes and is as well estéemed of as euer she was before and if after that the same maide chance to marrie were it with the principallest of the Countrey and that the aforesaid stranger shold come to traffique in the same place againe hee may againe demand his woman and he shall haue her without resistance of her husband or any shame vnto him and she remaineth by the stranger as long as he abideth there and he trauelling from thence she goeth home againe vnto her husband which among them is holden for a most sure and inuiolable law Likewise when any gentleman or noble man will marrie with a maide hee goeth to séeke one of his friendes or a straunger and intreateth him to lie with his bride the first night of their mariage and to take her maydenhead from her which he esteemeth as a great pleasure honour done vnto him that another man wold take vpon him to ease him of so much payne This custome is not onely vsed among the Gentlemen and chiefe nobilitie of the lande but by the King himselfe Also diuers of the Peguans weare a bell vpon their yarde and some two as bigge as an Acorne which is made fast betweene the flesh and the skinne Of the like Belles Paludanus can shew you one which I brought out of India and gaue it him which bels haue a very sweet sounde This custome of wearing Belles was ordained by them because the Peguans in time past were great Sodomites and vsing this custome of belles it would be a meane to let them from the same The women go altogether naked onely with a cloth before their priuie members which as they go openeth vncouereth shewing all they haue which is by them ordayned to the ende that by such meanes it should tempt men to lust after women and to auoid that most abhominable accursed sinne of Sodomie There are likewise some among them that doe sowe vp the priuie member of their female children as soone as they are borne leauing them but a little hole to auoid their water and when she marrieth the husband cutteth it open and maketh it as great or as little as hee will which they with a certaine oyntment or salue can quickly heale I saw one of those women in Goa whom the Surgeon of my Mayster the Archbishops house did cut open men would iudge all these thinges to be fables yet they are most true for I doe not onely knowe it by the dayly trafficking of the Portingalles out of
and that after their deathes they shall receiue either good or euill reward in the world to come according to their workes Wherefore they vse faire and costly Graues and beléeue that in the world to come men shall neuer more die but liue for euer there are also in this land many and diuers faire Vniuersities and Schooles for learning where they studie Philosophie and the lawes of the land for that not any man in China is estéemed or accounted of for his birth family or riches but onely for his learning and knowledge such are they that serue in euery Towne and haue the gouernment of the same being serued and honoured with great solemnities and worthinesse liuing in great pleasure and estéemed as gods They are called Loâ—ias and Mandorijns and are alwaies borne in the stréetes sitting in Chariots which are hanged about with Curtaines of Silke couered with Clothes of Golde and Siluer and are much giuen to banketing eating drinking making good cheare as also the whole land of China No man may rule gouerne or vse any Office of Iustice in the Towne or place where he was borne which they saye the King doth because their friendes or parents should not mooue or perswade them to doe any thing contrarie to Iustice or to the hinderance of the Kings seruice When any of the aforesaide gouernours or rulers die in China they kill diuers of their seruants and wiues and cause all kinde of victuals and necessaries with diuers Iewels to bee put into the Graue with them whereby they thinke themselues well prouided and to haue good companie with them to liue withall in the other world The Countrie is verie temperate good ayre for it beginneth vnder 19. degrées and is in some places higher then 50. degrées whereby it is to be presumed that it must of force be fruitfull a great helpe thereunto is the earnest and continuall labour the countrimen and inhabitants take to build houses in their land whereby there is not one foote of land lost or that lyeth wast for euen to the verie mountaines it is both plowed planted because there are so many people in the Countrie It is not in mans memorie that euer there was plague in that Countrie and they haue a law which is very straightly holden that no man may goe or depart out of the Countrie without licence nor yet that any stranger may come into the land without leaue vpon paine of death Likewise no man may trauaile through the Country to begge whereof they haue a great care and looke néerely vnto it The people are well formed and commonly fat and well liking of body broade and round faces smal eyes great eye-browes broad foreheads small and flat noses litle beards seauen or eight hayres aboue their lippes and vnder their chinnes and verie blacke haire which they estéeme verie much haue great care in y e keming thereof and in keeping it cleane as well men as women and weare it as long as it will growe and then binde it in a knot on the top of their heads and vpon it they put a péece of Silke netting Those that dwell on the Sea side with whome the Portingals traffique that is in Machau and Canton are a people of a brownish colour like the white Moores in Africa and Barbaria and part of the Spaniards but those that dwell within the land are for color like Netherlanders high Dutches There are many among them that are cleane blacke which haue great eyes and much beard but verie few of them as it may well bee thought and as the men of China themselues report Their ofspring was out of â—artaria or from other of their neighbours of straunge Countries at such time when they had licence to trauaile into those Countries and to haue conuersation with them by trade of marchandise which nowe they may not doe as it is saide before They vse to weare the nayles of their left hands very long and on the right hand short which they hold for an auncient ceremonie of their law and beliefe Their apparell as I said before is most of Silke of all colours that is such as are of welth indifferent rich others such as are poore do weare apparel of Cotton linnen of blacke and coloured Sayes and such like stuffe Cloth made of Wooll nor Veluet they can not make in all China although there wanteth no wooll and they haue many shéepe notwithstanding they know not how to vse it and wonder much at it when the Portingalles bring it thether The women goe verie richly apparelled with long and wide Gownes they weare many Iewels on their heades within their haire and also vppon their bodies they doe commonly hold their hands couered they are but little séene abroad but sit most part within the house and estéeme it for a great beautifying vnto them to haue small féete to the which end they vse to binde their féete so fast when they are young that they cannot grow to the full whereby they can hardly goe but in a manner halfe lame Which custome the men haue brought vp to let them from much going for that they are verie iealous and vnmeasurable leacherous and vnchast yet is it estéemed a beautifying and comlinesse for the women Those that are of any wealth or estate are born in chaires through the stréets hanged and couered with Silke Sattin and Damaske Curtins wouen with siluer and golde thréedes and haue small holes to looke through so that they may sée and not be séene The 24. Chapter Of the Prouinces Townes and other things worthie of memorie in the kingdome of China THe kingdome of China is deuided into 15 prouinces euery one being as great as it is reported founde written as the best kingdome in Europe and are gouerned by a Viceroye or Gouernour which by the Chinaes is called Cochin Two of the said Prouinces are ruled by the King himselfe and his Councell which are Tolanchia and Paguia wher the King is alwaies resident The other Prouinces are called Foquiem Olam Sinsay Xansay Oquiam Aucheo Hona Canton Quicheo Chequeam Saxi Aynaon Susâ—an Most of these Prouinces haue riuers and waters running through them haue conference and familiaritie by buying and selling with each other both by water and by land It is recorded by the Chinaes themselues in their Chronicles that in these fiftéene Prouinces ther are 591. chiefe Citties 1593. other Citties besides villages whereof some are so great as Citties whereby you may consider the greatnesse of the land Most of the Townes are built vppon riuers and running streames and closed about with broade ditches and thicke stone walles Without the Walles betwéene them and the Ditches is a walke where sixe men on Horse backe maye ryde in ranke and the like within which space is made to mende and repaire the Walles when néede requireth whereof they are very carefull and looke warily vnto them The high waies and foote pathes throughout the
and tasteth much like a hasel nut but somewhat sweeter The Lanhos haue within them a good draught of water which is very cleare sweet and coole to drink It is at the least halfe a Can full when men walke abroad and are thirstie they go vnto the Canarijns who presently with a great knife in their handes come vp the tree and cut off as many Lanhos as a man desireth selling them for a Basaruco or a two peece which they make very ready and cleare to be drunke the first shell that is ouer the inward fruit which as the nut is come to his full ripenes becometh almost to bee wood is then but thin and soft and very pleasant to eate with salt and do taste almost like Artichokes a man may drinke as much of this water as hee will for it will not hurt him but is a verie pleasant drinke when the fruit is ripe there is not so much water in it and is white within and somewhat thicker of substance and then the water is not so good as it was before beeing Lanhos for then it becommeth somewhat sower These Cocus being yet in their husks may be carried ouer the whole world and not once hurt or brused and it happeneth oftentimes that by continuance of time the water within the Cocus doth conuert and congeale into a certaine kinde of yellow apple which is verie sauorie and sweet The huske beeing taken off the shel serueth for many vses as to make ladles with woodden handles and also certaine little pots which beeing fastned to a sticke they doe therewith take and lade water out of their great pots they make thereof also small vessels to beare wine in when they walke into the fieldes and a thousand other thinges These shelles are likewise burnt serue for coales for Goldsmithes which are very good and excellent Of the white of these nuts in India they make porrage and dresse meate withall strayning and pressing out the milke wherin with many other mixtures they seeth their rice to bee short they neuer dresse any rice which they cal Carrijl is the sauce to their meate thereunto but they put some of their Cocus milk into it els the Cocus is but little eaten for there it is not esteemed of but serueth for meate for the slaues and poore people They likewise breake the Cocus in péeces and taking off the shell they drie the fruit or white meat that is within it and it is caried in great quantities out of Malabar to Cambaia and Ormus to the Northern coastes and quarters beyond Goa as also to the countrie of Ballagate traffique much therewith Of this white substance they make Oyle which they stampe in cesterns like Oliues and it maketh verie good oyle as well to eat as to burne which is likewise very medicinable There are two sortes of Oyle made of these nuts one out of the fresh or greene nuts stamped and mixed with warme water which beeing pressed foorth the oyle swimmeth aboue the water◠this oyle is vsed to purge the maw and the guts for it purgeth very gently without hurt some mixe therewith the iuyce of Thamarindes maketh thereof a verie wholesome medecine the other Oyle is prest out of the dried Cocus which is called Copra is good also to purge the maw and against the shrinking of the sinews as also for old aches and paines in the ioyntes and lims This dried Cocus which is so caried abroad is called Copra When they desire to haue no Cocus or fruite thereof they cut the blossomes of the Cocus away and binde a round Potte with a narrow mouth by them called Callao fast vnto the tree and stop the same close round about with pot earth so that neyther wine nor aire can eyther enter in or come forth in that sort the pot in short space is full of water which they call Sura is very pleasant to drinke like sweet whay somewhat better This water being drunke is very good against the heate of the liuer and the kidnies and cleanseth the yard from corruption and filthie matter The same water standing but one houre in the sunne is very good viniger and in India they haue none other This Sura beeing distilled is called Fula or Nipe is as excellent aqua vitae as any is made in Dor◠of their best rēnish wine but this is of the finest kinde of distillation The second distillation thereof is called Vraca which is verie good wine is the wine of India for they haue no other wine It is very hot strong yet y e Indians drinke it as if it were water the Portingales vse it in this sort They put it into vessels and to a pipe of Vraca they put 3. or 4. Hands of reasons that are brought for marchandise into India from Ormus euerie Hand is 12. poundes which beeing washed they put into the vessell leauing the bung opē the pipe not being full for if it were it wold burst by reason of the heat because therewith it séetheth in the Pipe like water on the fire and boyling so it is stirred euery day for the space of fourteene or fifteene dayes in which time the Vraca getteth as faire a redde colour as if it were Portingall wine and differeth not much in taste but yet sweeter and hotter of it selfe howbeit it is altogether as fayre and of as good a colour as their Portingall Wyne so that they can hardly bee discerned one from the other this Wine is called Wine of Passa or Reasons With this Wine there is great traffique vsed to Bengala Malacca China and other places and euery Pipe thereof costeth within Goa 30. Pardawen the péece little more or lesse Of the aforesaide Sura they likewise make Sugar which is called Iagra they seeth the water and set it in the Sun whereof it becommeth Sugar but it is little estéemed because it is of a browne colour and for that they haue so great quantitie and abundance of white Sugar throughout all India The innermost parte of the trée or trunke is called Palmito and is the pith or hart of the same trunke which is much estéemed and sent for a present vnto men of great account It is as thinne as Paper and also white and is as if it were plaited or prest together as they vse to plait presse womens huykes in the Low countries it is also long and slender and hath sometimes 50. or 60. foldes or plaites in it like a paper booke This the Indians vse for paper and bookes which continueth in the same foldes whereon they write when it is gréene and so let it drie and then it is impossible to get the letters out againe for it is printed therein with a kind of Iron instrument The Indians cal it Olla whereof all their bookes wrytinges and Euidences are made which they can seale and shutte vp as we doe our letters Of this Paper with the
it Xercast and Xerkest that is to say milke of trees for it is the dew y t falleth vpon the trées and remayneth hanging vpon the leaues like water that is frozen and hangeth in drops at gutters and pentises It is also gathered and kept in glasse Vials and so brought into India and other Countries for in India they vse it much in all sorts of purgations There is another sorte of Manna called Tiriamiabiin or Trumgibiin which they gather froÌ„ other leaues and hearbes that commeth in small peeces as big as Hempeséed and somewhat bigger which is red of a reddish colour Some thinke this Manna groweth on the bodies of the trées as Gumme doth it is much vsed in Ormus and Persia for purgations but not in India so much as the first sort there is yet another sorte which commeth in great peeces with the leaues among it it is like the Manna of Calabria this is brought out of Persia vnto Bassora and so to Ormus and from thence into India and is the dearest of all the rest There commeth also a Manna that is brought in leather bags or flasks which in Turkey and Persia they vse to ride withall is melted like Hony but of a white colour and in taste like the other sortes of Manna being altogether vsed for purgations and other medicines Manna very gently purgeth the gall it easeth and moystneth the harshnes of the throat the breastes and the stomacke it quencheth the thirst but because it purgeth but weakely it is strengthened with Tyme or Isop mingled with some strong purgations maketh them to effect their operations with more perfection and power by meanes of the sweetnesse thereof which is apter and more plyable vnto nature But because it is no special marchandise I will speake no more thereof but for that wee are nowe in hande with medicines to purge I wil say some thing of the roote called Rhubaâ—be although there is no certaintie how or in what sort it groweth yet it is most certaine y t it is not to be found in any couÌ„try but in China and in the farthest parts therof it is most brought by land through the Prouince of Vsbeke whereof I spake before which Prouince lyeth in Tartaria and bordereth on the one side vpon China and so reacheth behinde India vnto Persia Out of this Prouince it cometh vnto Ormus and from thence into India yet it is likewise brought by water but because it is not so good and doth sooner rot and spoyle by water then by land therefore most part of it is brought by land That which is most esteemed best sold and greatliest desired cometh in this manner that is first from China through Vsbeke and so through Turkie from whence it is caryed to Venice from thence into all these countries so that the Rhubarbe of Venice is better because it cometh ouer land then that which is brought into Portingall because it cometh by water as also all thinges and herbes that belong to Physicke because they are better preserued by land then by water they are little brought by sea but it is a marchandise that is most caryed by land vnto Venice as also because the Portingales deale not much therein and are little giuen to curiosities conteÌ„ting themselues to deale with such wares as are commonlie knowne to all men without seeking further for they trouble not themselues with other things The 74. Chapter Of the wood called Sanders THere are 3. sorts of Sanders that is white yelow and red the white and the yealow which is the best come most out of the IlaÌ„d of Tymor which lyeth by Iaua This Iland hath whole woods and wildernesses of Sanders both of white and yealow and froÌ„ theÌ„ce it is caryed throughout all India and other couÌ„tries and trafficke much therewith the red Sanders groweth most in the coast of Choramandel and Tanassariin which is in the countrie of Pegu the trees of Sanders are like Nut trees and haue a certaine fruite vpon them like Cheries at the first green and after black but of no taste nor any thing worth for it presently falleth off onlie y e wood of y e trée is accounted of which is the SaÌ„ders It is called by the Inhabitants of the countrie where it groweth Chandanacon the Decannus Gusurates Canariins and other Indians cal it Sercandaa the Arabians and Persians Sandal wherevpon the Portingalles likewise doe call it Sandalo The yellow and white Sanders is much vsed and spent ouer all India by all the inhabitantes both Indians Moors Heathens and Iewes whatsoeuer they beate it or stampe it in water till it be as soft as pappe that done they besmere themselues therewith and let it drie vpon their bodies for it cooleth very much also because all the Indians doe much delight in sweet smelling sauours The white yellow or bleakish Sanders is likewise vsed by vs with Rose-water against the hotte paines in the head annointing it therewith all those woods as well the red as the white and yellow are good against hotte feauers being beaten and drunken into the body they help the hot stomacke as also laid vpon the stomacke with Rose water in burning feauers This Sanders is not onely good for the purposes aforesaid but also for strengthening the hart and therefore with great vse it is put into Cordiall medicines such as are made against the beating of the hart The red Sanders is little spent in India but they vse it onely against hot agues annointing their pulses therewith as also the temples their foreheads but it is much â—ryed into other countries as being very medicinable for many thinges and the Indians make their Pagodes and Idoles thereof because they should be the costlier The â—5 Chapter Of Palo de Cebra or Snake-wood SNakewood is most in the Island of Seylon it is a lowe Trée the roote thereof being the Snake-woode is of colour white shewing somewhat yellowe very harde and bitter in taste it is much vsed in India they stampe and bruse it like Sanders in water or Wine and so drinke it it is very good well proued against all burning feauers one ounce thereof bruised and mixed with water is good against all poison and sicknes as the collick worms and all filthie humors and coldnes in the body and specially against the stinging of Snakes whereof it hath the name it was first found by means of a little beast called Qâ—il or Quirpele which is of bignesse very like a Ferret wherewith in those Countries they vse to driue Cunnies out of their holes and so ketch them whereof in India they haue many in their houses which they play withall to passe the time away as also to kill their Myce and Rattes and to driue them away This beast by nature is a great enemie to the Snake so that wheresoeuer she findeth any she fighteth with them and because it is often bitten by the Snake it knoweth how to heale it selfe with
they passed ouer it on foote and so trauelled by land being neuer heard of againe but it is thought they arriued in Aleppo as some say but they knew not certainely Their greatest hope was that Iohn Newbery could speake the Arabian tongue which is vsed in al those countries or at the least vnderstoode for it is very common in all places there abouts as French with vs. Newes being come to Goa there was a great stirre and murmuring among the people and we much wondered at it for many were of opinion that wée had giuen them counsel so to doe and presently their suertie seased vpon the goods remaining which might amount vnto aboue 200. Pardawes and with that and the money he had receiued of the English men he went vnto the Viceroye and deliuered it vnto him which the Viceroy hauing receiued forgaue him the rest This flight of the English men grieued the Iesuites most because they had lost such a pray which they made sure account of whereupon the Dutch Iesuite came to vs to aske vs if we knew thereof saying that if he had suspected so much he would haue dealt otherwise for that he said hee once had in his hands of theirs a bagge wherein was fortie thousand Veneseanders each Veneseander being two Pardawes which was when they were in prison And that they had alwayes put him in comfort to accomplish his desire vpon the which promise hee gaue them their money againe which otherwise they shoulde not so lightly haue come by or peraduenture neuer as hee openly said and in the ende he called them hereticks and spies with a thousand other rayling spéeches which he vttered against them The Englishman that was become a Iesuite hearing that his companions were gone and perceiuing that the Iesuites shewed him not so great fauour neither vsed him so well as they did at the first repented himselfe and séeing he had not as then made any solemne promise being counselled to leaue the house told that he could not want a liuing in the towne as also that the Iesuites could not kéepe him there without he were willing to stay so they could not accuse him of any thing he told them flatly that he had no desire to stay within the Cloyster and although they vsed all the meanes they could to kéepe him there yet hee would not stay but hyred a house without the Cloyster and opened shop where he had good store of worke and in the end married a Mesticos daughter of the towne so that hee made his account to stay there while he liued By this Englishman I was instructed of al the waies trades and viages of the countrie betwéene Aleppo and Ormus and of all the ordinances and common customes which they vsually hold during their Viage ouer land as also of the places and townes wher they passed And since those Englishmens departures froÌ„ Goa there neuer arriued any strangers either English or others by land in the sayde countries but onely Italyans which daylye traffique ouer land and vse continuall trade going and comming that way About the same time there came into Goa from the Iland of Iapan certaine Iesuites and with them thrée Princes being the children of certaine Kings of that country wholly apparelled like Iesuites not one of them aboue the age of sixtéene yeares being minded by perswasions of the Iesuites to trauel into Portingall and from thence to Rome to sée the Pope therby to procure great profit priueledges and liberties for the Iesuites which was onely their intent they continued in Goa till the yeare 1584. and then set sayle for Portingall and from thence trauelled into Spaine whereby the King and all the Spanish Nobilitie they were with great honour receiued and presented with many gifts which the Iesuits kept for themselues Out of Spaine they roade to sée the Pope where they obtained great priueledges and liberties as in the description of the Iland of Iapen I haue in part declared That done they trauelled throughout Italy as to Venice Mantua Florence and all other places and dominions of Italy wher they were presented with many rich presents and much honoured by meanes of the great report the Iesuites made of them To conclude they returned againe vnto Madril where with great honor they took their leaue of the King with letters of commendation in their behalfes vnto the Viceroye and all the Captaines and Gouernours of India and so they went to Lisbone and there tooke shipping in Ano. 1586. and came in the ship called Saint Philip which in her returne to Portingall was taken by Captaine Drake and after a long and troublesome Viage arriued at Mosambique where the ship receiued in her lading out of an other shippe called the Saint Laurence that had put in there hauing lost her Mastes being laden in India and bound for Portingall where the shippe was spoyled and because the time was farre spent to get into India the said Saint Phillip tooke in the lading of Saint Laurence and was taken in her way returning home by the Englishmen as I saide before and was the first ship that had beene taken comming out of the East Indies which the Portingales tooke for an euill signe because the ship bare the Kings owne name But returning to our matter the Princes and Iesuites of Iapan the next yeare after arriued at Goa with great reioycing and gladnesse for that it was verily thought they had all béene dead when they came thether they were all thrée apparelled in cloth of Golde and Siluer after the Italian manner which was the apparell that the Italian Princes and Noblemen had giuen them they came thether very liuely and the Iesuits verie proudly for that by them their Viage had beene performed In Goa they stayed till the Monson or time of the windes came in to sayle for China at which time they went from thence and so to China thence vnto Iapon where with great triumph and wondering of all the people they were receiued and welcomed home to the furtherance and credite of the Iesuites as the Booke declareth which they haue written and set foorth in the Spanish tongue concerning their Viage as well by water by land as also of the intertainment that they had in euerie place In the yeare 1584. in the month of Iune there arriued in Goa many Ambassadours as of Persia Cambaia and from the Samoriâ— which is called the Emperour of the Malabares and also from the King of Cochin and among other thinges there was a peace concluded by the Samorijn the Malabares with the Portingall vpon condition that the Portingales should haue a Fort vpon a certaine Hauen lying in the coast of Malabare called Panane ten miles â—rom Calâ—cut which was presently be 〈◊〉 built and there with great costs and changes they raysed and erected a Fort but because the ground is all Sandie they could make no sure foundation for it sunk continually wherby they found it best to
then other wise Which custome is a great profit to the King by meanes of the traffique therein vsed because there the Portingall ships doe make themselues ready with their full lading to sayle from thence to Portingall The same yeare in the month of September there arriued in Goa a Portingal ship called y e Dom Iesus de Caraâ—a that broght newes of foure ships more that were on the way with a new Viceroy called Don Duarte de Meneses which caused great ioye throughout the Cittie and al the Bels being rung as the manner is when the first ship of euerie fleete arriueth in Goa out of Portingall In that ship came certaine Canoniers being Netherlanders that brought me letters out of Holland which was no small comfort vnto me Not long after in the same month there arriued an other ship called Boa Vragen wherein were many Gentlemen and Knights of the Crosse that came to serue the King in India among which was one of my Lord Archbishops brethren called Roque da Fonseca the other Lords were Don Iorgie Tubal de Meneses chiefe standerd bearer to the King of Portingal new chosen Captaine of Soffala and Mosambique in regard of certain seruice that he had in times past done for the king in India Iohn Gomes da Silua newe Captaine of Ormus Don Francesco Mascharenhas brother of Don Iulianes Mascharenhas that was slaine in Sanguiseâ— as I said before hee was to haue had the Captaines place of Ormus but by meanes of his death it was giuen vnto his brother Don Francesco for the tearme of three yeares after he that is in it had serued his full time In Nouember after the other thrée ships arriued in Cochijn and had sayled on the out side of Saint Laurence Iland not putting into Mosambique The ship names were Santa Maria Arreliquias and the Admiral As Chagas or the fiue wounds In her came the Viceroy Don Duarte de Meneses that had béene Captaine of Tanger in Africa or Barbarie and in this ship there were 9â—0 Souldiers and Gentlemen that came to safeconduct the Viceroy besides the saylers that were aboue a 100. and had beene aboue seuen Monthes vpon the way without taking land before they arriued at Cochin wher they receiued the Viceroy with great solemnitie and being landed he sent presently vnto the olde Viceroye to certifie him of his arriuall and that hee should commit the gouernment of the countrie vnto the Archbishoppe to gouerne it in his absence specially because the Archbishop hee were verie good friends and old acquaintance hauing béene prisoners together in Barbarie when Don Sebastian King of Portingall was slaine which the old Viceroy presently did and went by Sea vnto Cochijn that he might returne into Portingall with the same ships as the Viceroyes vse to do for that after their time of Gouernment is out they may not stay any longer in India The 10. of Nouember Anno 1584. the ship called Carania went from Goa to Cochijn there to take in Pepper and other wares and then doe all the Factors goe into Cochijn to lade their wares and when the ships are laden and readie to depart they returne againe to Goa wher they stil remaine In that shippe the olde Viceroye with many Gentlemen sayled to Cochijn The fift of Februarie Anno 1585. the Viceroy Don Duarte de Meneses arriued in Goa where with great triumph and feasting hee was receiued In the month of Aprill the same yeare my fellow and seruant to the Archbishop called Barnard Burcherts borne in Hamborough trauelled from Goa vnto Ormus and from thence to Bassora and from thence by lande through Babilon Ierusalem Damasco and Aleppo from whence he sent me two leters by an Armenian wherein hee certified me of all his Vsage which he performed with small charges and lesse danger in good fellowship and verie merrie in the companie of the Caffyles From Aleppo he went to Tripoli in Suria and there hee found certaine ships for England wherein he sayled to London and froÌ„ thence to Hamborough which by letters from him written out of Hamborough I vnderstoode In the month of August there came letters froÌ„ Venice by land that brought newes of the death and murther of the Prince of Orange a man of honourable memorie as also of the death of Mons the Duke of Alenson or Amon with the mariage of the Duke of Sauoy to the King of Spaines daughter The 20. of October there arriued in Goa the ship called the S. Francis that came out of Portingal with it came also some Dutch Canoniers that brought mee letters out of my countrie with newes of my father Hugh Ioosten of Harlems death The first of Nouember after arriued at Cochiin the Saint Alberto that came from Portingal And the first of December that yeare there arriued in Cananor vpon the coast of Malabar the ship called the Saint Laurence and from thence came to Goa most of her men being sicke aboue 90. of them dead hauing indured great miserie and not once put into land At that time ther wanted two of the fléete that came from Lisborne in companie with her they were the S. Saluator and the Admirall S. Iago whereof they could heare no newes At the same time there came certaine Italians by land into Goa and brought newes of the death of Pope Gregorie the 13. and of the election of the new Pope called Sixtus At that time also the ships that came from Portingall sayled to Cochijn to take in their lading which done in the month of Ianuarie Anno 1586 they sayled for Portingall In the month of May Anno 1586. letters were brought into Goa from the Captaine of Soffala and Mosambique vnto the Viceroy and the Archbishop to certifie them of the casting away of the Admiral Saint Iago that set out of Portingall the yeare before being Anno 1585. whereof I spake before she was cast away in this manner The ship being come with a good speedy winde and wether from the Cape de Bona Speranza neere to Mosambique they had passed as they thought all dangers so that they needed not to feare any thing yet it is good for the Master others to be careful and keepe good watch and not to stand too much vpon their owne cunning conceites as these did which was the principal cause of their casting away and so they sayled betweene the Iland Saint Laurence and the Firme land that runneth by the coast to Mosambique which lyeth on the left hand the Iland of S. Laurence on the right hand betweene the which Iland and the fast land there are certain shallowes called the India fiftie Spanish miles distant from the Iland of S. Laurence and seuentie miles from the Firme land right against the countrie of Soffala vnder 22. degrees on the South side of the Equinoctiall and from thence to Mosambique is 90. miles Those shallowes are most of cleare Corrale verie sharpe both of blacke white and gréene colour which
yet laying hold thereon and hauing his hand half cut in two he would not let go so that in the end they were constrained to take him in againe both the which brethren I knew and haue bene in company with them in this miserie and paine they were â—0 daies at sea in the end got to land where they found the Admiral and those that were in the other boate Such as stayed in the ship some tooke bords deals and other péeces of wood bound them together which y e Portingals cal bangadas euery man what they could catch all hoping to saue their liues but of all those there came but two men safe to shore They that before had taken land out of the boates hauing escaped that danger fell into an other for they had no sooner set foote on shore but they were by the Mores called Caffares Inhabitants of that couÌ„try spoiled of al their cloaths so y t they left not so much vpon their bodies as would hide their priuie members whereby they indured great hunger and miserie w t manie other mischieffes which would be ouer tedious to rehearse In the end they came vnto a place where they found a factor of the Captaines of Soffala Mosambique he holp them as he might and made means to send them vnto Mosambique and from thence they went into India where I knew manie of them and haue often spoken with them Of those that were come safe to shore some of theÌ„ died before they got to Mosambique so that in all they were about 60 persons that saued themselues all the rest were drowned smothered in the ship there was neuer other newes of y e ship then as you haue heard Hereby you may consider the pride of this Pilot who because he would be couÌ„selled by no man cast away that ship with so many men wherefore a Pilot ought not to haue so great authority that in time of need he should reiect and not heare the counsell of such as are most skilfull The Pilote when he came into Portingale was committed to prison but by giftes and presents he was let loose and an other shippe beeing the best of the Fleet that went for India in Anno 1588. committed vnto him not without great curses and euill wordes of the Mothers Sisters wiues and Chidren of those that perished in the ship which all cryed vengeance on him and comming with thy ship wherein he then was placed called the S. Thomas he had almost laid her on y â— same place where the other was cast away hut day comming on they romde themselues off and so escaped yet in their voiage homeward to Portingal the same shippe was cast away by the Cape de bona Speranza with the Pilot and all her men whereby much speech arose saying it was a iust iudgement of God against him for making so many widdowes and fatherles children whereof I will speake in another place This I thought good to set downe at large because men might see that many a shippe is cast away by the headinesse of the gouernours and vnskilfulnesse of the pilotes wherfore it were good to examine the persons before a shippe be committed vnto them specially a shippe of such a charge and wherein consisteth the welfare or vndoing of so many men together with their liues and impouerishing of so many a poore wife and child this losse happened in the month of August An. 1â—â—5 In May An. 1586. two ships laden with â—are set saile out of the hauen of Chaul in Indâ—a that belonged vnto certaine Portingalles inhabitantes of Chaul the owners being in them those shippes should haue sayled to the straites of Mecca or the â—dde sea where the said marchantes vsed to traficque but they were taken on the Sea by two Turkish Galleyes that had beene made in the innermost partes of the straites of Mâ—a by Cairo on the corner of the redde sea in a towne called Sues the sayde Galleyes began to doe great mischiefe put all the Indian marchants in great feare The same month there was a great army prepared in Goa both of Fustes and gallies such as in many yeares had not béene séene and was appointed to saile to the red sea to driue the Turkish Galleyes away or els to fight with them if they could they were also commanded by the Viceroy to winter their shippes in Ormus and then to enter into the straights of Persia lying behind Ormus and to offer their seruice to Xatamas K. of Perâ— against the Turke their common enemy thereby to trouble him on all sides if they had brought their purpose to effect but it fel out otherwise as hereafter you shall heare for Chiefe of this army there was appointed a Gentleman named Rioy Gonsalues da Canâ— who once had béene Captaine of Ormus being a very fatte and grosse man which was one of the chiefe occasions of their euill fortune and with him went the principallest soldiers and gentlemen of all India thinking to winne great honor thereby this army being ready minding to sayle to the redde sea they found many calmes vpon the way so that they indured much miserie and begunne to die like dogges as well for want of drinke as other necessaries for they had not made their account to stay so long vpon the way which is alwaies their excuse if any thing falleth out contrary to their mindes this was their good beginning and as it is thought a preparatiue to further mischiefe for comming to the redde sea at the mouth thereof they met the Turkish Gallies where they had a long fight but in y e end the Portingals had the ouerthrow escaped as well as they might with great dishonour and no little losse and the Turkes being victorious sayled to the coast of Abex or Melinde where they tooke certaine townes as Pate and Braua that as then were in league with the Portingalles there to strengthen themselues and thereby to reape a greater benefit by indamaging the Portingall and lying vnder their noses The Portingall armie hauing spedde in this manner went vnto Ormus there to winter themselues and in the meane time to repaire their armie and to heale their sicke soldiers whereof they had many and so when time serued to fulfill the Viceroyes commandement in helping Xatamas thinking by that meanes to recouer their losses being ariued in Ormus and hauing repaired their Fustes the time comming on the General by reason of his fatnes and corpulent bodie stayed in Ormus appointing Lieuetenant in his place one called Pedro Homen Pereira who although he was but a meane gentleman yet was hee a very good soldier and of great experience commanding them to obey him in all things as if he were there in person himselfe giuing them in charge as they sailed along the coast to land vpon the coast of Arabia there to punish certain pirates that held in a place called Nicola and spoiled such as passed to and fro vpon
according to their manner and after many other wordes hee willed them to bring some Iron saying they should haue teeth for it which hauing done he brought forth his teeth This riuer as I saide is verie broad and full of Crocodiles and sea horses it hath many creekes and as they sailed from Crementun it lyeth Southeast where in the night they lauered 2. or 3. houres and came twice on ground and â—â— sayling forwardes they passed by an Island called Caraceâ—â—bo lying in the mouth of the riuer as there are many being verie low and flat land and ful of trees From that Island there came a Caâ—utien aboord their ship and in it eighteene persons and with them they had a smal drum of a hollow stocke whereon they played and being by the ship foure or fiue of them stept in whereof one of them vppon his face breast and armes was al white he bore a greene branch of a tree with a little bel and some whiting in his hand which hee strowed about the ship ringing the bel when they or any of our men spake hee made shewe as it were to consecrate and blesse the ship which done sirting downe and stammering in his words like a man possessed with some sprite or one that had a shaking feuer There was a great pot of Palme wine brought forth whereof they dranke one vnto the other which continued for the space of halfe an houre which done they went into their scâ—te rowed to land making signes to our men to come on shore and to barter with them for their wares which they did carrying them some Iron and other marchandise and went into the gouernors house being in a village where among other things they saw a little cottage about three foote high couered with straw and opeÌ„ on the side vnder the which stood a little gibet wheron hung a little horne with certaine stuffe therein which they would not lette them see by no meanes and vnder the gibet stood a staffe with a dead childes scul fixed vpon it hauing in the one eye a bone much like the bone that is founde in the head of a â—addocke whereof with vs they make horses bridles and collars for degs at the foote of the staff lay al sorts of bones both of fishes and beasts and among the rest the â—awes of a Prisâ—â— which in our countrey is called a sword fish without teeth which the master tooke away brought it vnto me our men asking what y t might signifie they said there lay a dead carcas and being in another village as they passed forwarde they sawe at the least twentie men sitting at the doore of one of their houses whereof some seemed to bee of the principal commanders and within that house there was a noyse of singing both by great and smal that it made them muse whereupon they asked what it meant they saide there was one dead The women being in trauel are not any thing ashamed but euery one both yong and old men and women run vnto her the doore standing wide open but one thing is to be wondered at that the children are al circumcised and yet they haue neither law order nor knowledge of God The countrey is fruitful and ful of al strange fruites and abounding in al kinds of beasts and birds of diners formes both great and smal There are some trees where vpon one branch there hang at the least 100. birdes nests altogether most pleasant to behold They hang by certaine strawes made fast vnto the boughes because snakes should not creepe in and suck their egges many of those nests were brought vnto me This shall suffice for the discription of the coast of Guinea after the which followeth the mightie kingdome of Congo The ancient writers helde opinion that this lande was not inhabited calling it Torriâ—â—am Zonam that is a place in the earth that through the heate of the sunne is burnt vp but they were altogether deceiued for as Odoardus Lopez a Portingale witnesseth hauing with many other Portingales long time inhabited therein There is good dwelling and the aire coÌ„trarie to al mens iudgements very temperate and that in winter there is no extreame cold but onely such weather as it is in haruest time at Rome They vse no linings nor shirte bandes nor change of clothes neither care they for the fire it is likewise no colder on the tops of the hilles then in the vallies but generally it is warmer with them in the winter then in the summer onely because of the continual raines specially about the middle of the day two houres before and as much after dinner which heat is very euill for our meÌ„ to endure The people of the countrie are black but part of the women fear what â—â—llow their haire for the most part is blacke and curled and some haue red haire they are of a mean stature therin not much vnlike the Portingales the balles of theyr eyes being of diuers colours blacke and sea colour their lips not so thicke as those of Nâ—bâ—a other Moores their faces of al proportions fat leane and indifferent betweene both like the Portingales and not like other Moores of Guinea that are foule and deformed The length of the day and night is in a maâ—er al one for that it differeth not one quarter of an houre to anie mans iudgement throughout the whole yeare their winter beginneth in our lent about the middle of March and their summer in the middle of September â— in winter it raigneth there continually for the space of fiue moneths that is Aprill May Iune Iuly August in which time there are but few faire daies and there the raine falleth in such great drops that it is wonderful which water is al dronke vp into the earth with the drienesse of the land in summer time wherein it raineth scarce once in sixe moneths with the raine likewise the riuer is filled with thick muddie water so that it floweth ouer the banks and moystneth the ground The windes that in summer doo continually blow in those countries are as Hippocrates and after him Iulius the first emperor of Rome naming them with a greek name Eâ—esâ—oâ— Northwest by the Portingales called Venâ—o Maestro or general wiâ—d as being ordinarie at that time of the yeare in all those countries which are likewise causes of the raines by driuing vp of mâ—stes and vapors vppon the tops of the hils which being there and resoluing into water doo fil the earth with raine and those continual raines are likewise causes of the growing and increasing of the great riuers that are in Egypt and Ethiopia as Niger and Nylus and al the riuers there abouts some running into the Mediterranean others into y e great Ocean seas by reason of their slime fattines and because in our sumer which is their winter for the most part it raineth throughout the countryes of Congo and Ethiopia it is not to be wondered at if the riuers be greater
prouince was in time past a free kingdome ruled and gouerned of it selfe on the North side reaching towardes Sundy on the South side to Batta on the West to the country of Congo and on the East to the Sunne hilles The cheefest towne is called Pango and lyeth on the West side of the Riuer Barbela which issueth out of the great lake from whence Nilus floweth their traffike is like those of Sundi Batta the fift prouince on the North side ioyneth to Pango and on the East to the Riuer Barbela and so to the sunne hilles and to the foote of the Saltpeeter hils and of the South side of the same hils it reacheth to Barbela til you come to the burnt hil The cheefe towne is called Batta where the gouernor is resident which gouernor is allowed to haue musket and caliuer shot because that Eastward beyond the sun Saltpeeter hils on the East and West side of the riuer Nilus there dwelleth certaine people of the Congoers called Gâ—aquas and in their owne countrie Agag verie fierce and cruel and much giuen to fight to steale whose ordinary incursions into the countries about theÌ„ and also into Batta maketh them necessarily to stand vpon theyr guard so to defend theÌ„selues This prouince can raise 70. or 80. thousande men well armed from thence are brought many Sables and Flumen the rest of their traffike is like these at Pango and Sundi In Peniba being the sixt prouince â—â—th the cheefe Citie 〈◊〉 in times past called Banza that is the head and now by the Portingales S. Saâ—tor it lyeth on a hill within the land distant from the sea 1â—â— Italian miles or thirty Duch mâ—les 〈◊〉 hil verie great and high and most 〈◊〉 yet it yeeldeth iron being about two Duch miles in compasse al built with man â—lages and houses where there are about 100. thousand men This hil is very fruitful by reason of the fresh ayre which is very cleare and sounde it yeeldeth much good water which neuer hurteth inâ— is rich of grasse and al kindes of beastes and fruitfull trees which are alwaies greene aboundant in al sorts of graine that are vsed in those countries specially of one sort called Luco which is holden and esteemed for the best and principall kinde of graine as our wheat but smaller like mustardseed and somewhat greater which they grinde in handmilles whereof they make a verie white flower making bread that is both wholesome and of a good sauour and not much vnlike our bread made of wheate of this grain they haue great store in Congo which not long since was first brought thither from the riuer Nylus specially from that place where Nilus fills the second lake There is also much barly called Mazza di Congo that is graine of Congo and also great quantitie of Maiz that is Turkishe wheate which is there but little estéemed and by their country people called Mazza Manprito that is graine of Portingale wherewith they fatten their hogges of rice they haue great plenty but nothing worth This country is likewise ful of diuers sorts of fruitful trées so that the common sort of people for the most part doe nourish themselues therewith as citrons lemons and specially very pleasaunt oranges neither swéet nor sowre but indifferent betwéene both there are likewise many Bananes which some thinke to be the fruit that in Siria and Egypt are called Mase and in this Booke Indian Figs they are very pleasant and sauery fruit of a swéete and sowerish taste being a good sustenance for the countrey in the fatte land there groweth many sortes of palme trees as the Indian Nutts and such as bring forth Dates some greater and other sortes of Palme trees whereof they make oyle wine vineger fruit and bread they presse the oyle out of the fruite as the Spaniardes do oliues which for colour and substaunce is like our butter but gréene and somwhat yelow which they vse in stéede of oyle and butter and burne it in lampes they likewise annoynt their bodies therewith to conclude it is good to eate in tune of néede as it hapned to our men that without this oyle had died for hunger Of the same oyle brought from thence together with the wine and vineger of the same palme trees I can shew you the wine they draw out of the top of the tree which being bored there issueth a certaine iuyce like milke being colde and fresh to drincke the first that commeth foorth is sweete and very pleasant next issueth sowre and the last is vineger which may be vsed in sallets but beeing drinke when it is fresh and newe it maketh the water to auoyde whereby in those countries men are little troubled with the stone and drincking much it maketh them drunke and fasseneth well The bread they make of the stones of this fruit which in forme are like almonds but much harder within those stones are certaine kernels very pleasaunt to eate increasing sound and good flesh this fruit both inwardly and outwardly is gréene and is eaten both rawe and sodden There are other trées that bring foorth a certaine fruit called Cola as great as a pine apple within it hauing an other kinde of fruit like chesnuts wherein are foure redde or carnation hoales which they holde in theyr mouths sucking and chawing them thereby to quench their thirst This fruit put into water maketh it sowre and of a good taste they strengthen the stomacke and are passing good for an euil lyuer other sortes of wilde Palme trees are likewise found there which yéelde much fruiâ— to bée eaten the leaues seruing to make mais to couer houses and to make baskets or other necessary housholde stuffe whereof I haue many sortes There are likewise other trées caled Ogbeghe which bring forth fruit in forme like yellow plumbes pleasant both in smel and taste from these trees they cut certaine braunches which they plant or sette close together making them fast each to other as wée doe Bore or Thornes therewith making sences for their houses which branches growing vp they make likewise galleries and arbors therein to kéepe them from the heate of the Sunne Besides al the fruits aforesaide there are many other sorts verie good for phisicke as also to eate specially Tamarinde of a verie tart and pleasant taste and verie good against burning feauers The Moores and Turkes trauelling by land take the rind of Tamarinde with them and mixing it with water drinke it to coole the inward heate specially the lyuer kidnies thereby also to make them laxatiue as also Cassia Fistula which is there verie plentiful also Citrons Melons Pompions Cucumbers and al other sorts of fruites that grow out of the earth Such as desire a larger discourse touching the same let them reade Odoardus Lopez translated by Pigaâ—etta and printed in Rome from whence I haue gathered the most parte heereof and although the houses in Congo are small and low yet there wanteth no substance to
along the coast by the riuer of Cuama you come to a small kingdome liing vppon the sea side called Angoscia taking the name from certaine Islandes that beare the same name lying right against it inhabited by Mahometanes and Heathens which in small shippes doe traffike and deale in such wares as those of Sofala vse And sayling further you discouer the kingdome of Mosambique lying vnder fouretéene degrees and a halfe whereof I haue sufficient spoken heretofore as also of the Island lying behinde it called Quiloa and the great Island of S. Laurence making the chanell which in the entrance towards the west is three hundred and forty Italian miles broad and in the middle towardes Mosambique where it is narrowest a hundred and seauentie miles kéeping that breadth all along the coasts towards India containing many Islandes The shippes that saile from Spaine into India and from India into Spaine do commonly keepe their course through this channell vnlesse they be otherwise compelled by the winde and surely this Island deserueth to haue better people than it hath inhabiting therein because of the situation hauing many good and safe hauens togither with fayre riuers sweet fresh waters which cause the land to bring forth diuers kinds of fruits and spices as beans pease rice and corn oranges lemons and citrons and all sortes of flesh tame and wilde hennes swine and harts of very good and sweete flesh by reason of the fertilitie and excellent good fish The inhabitants are heathens and some of Mahomets sect of a fayre colour much giuen to war and to their weapons specially bowes and woodden holberts This Island is diuided into foure gouernments ech fighting against other Therein are many mines of gold siluer copper yron and other metals but the wilde people vse not to traffike out of their owne countrey but onely sayle in small scutes cut out of trées from one place of the Island to the other for the most parte not suffering any traffike in their Island with strangers yet the Portingales at this time traffike in some of their hauens but go not on land and from thence bring ambergreece ware siluer copper rice and diuers other wares In this chanel betwéen the firme land of Affrica and this Island there lieth many both great and small Islands al inhabited by Mahometanes among the which the chiefe is S. Christofer then the Holyghost another called Magliaglie as also Comoro Anzoame Maiotto and such like Returning againe vnto the coast and hauing passed Quiloa you sée the kingdome of Mombaza lying vnder thrée degrées and a halfe on the south side taking the name from a certaine Island so called wherein lieth a faire towne with many goodly buildings beautiffied with diuers Images and figures the king being a Mahometane who withstanding the Portingales spéede like those of Quiloa taking it by force where they found much golde siluer pearles cotten linnen silkes and cloth of golde with other sortes of merchandises This Island bordureth on Quiloa and Melinde inhabited by heathens and Mahometanes and subiect to the king of Monemugi Sayling further you come to the kingdome of Melinde which is likewise verie small stretching along the sea coast till you come to the riuer Chimamchi lying vnder two degrees and a halfe and vpwardes by the riuer it runneth to a lake called Calice about a hundred Italian miles or twentie Dutch miles In this countrey about the sea side there is a very great towne most inhabited by white people al heathens and Mahometanes their houses are built almost like the houses in Portingale theyr sheepe are almost as bigge againe as those in Portingale with tailes which are accounted for a quarter of mutton weighing at the lest fiue and twenty or thirtie pound The women are white and dresse themselues after the manner of Arabia very prowdly and in great pompe al in silkes wearing about their neckes armes and legges iewels rings and bracelets of gold going with their faces couered like the Egyptian women not being seene or known but when it pleaseth them in this towne there is a good hauen for ships to lie in and for the most parte the people are friendly vpright in worde and déede holding good friendshippe with strangers specially with the Portingales giuing them much credit and neuer hurting them Betweene the ii heads of Mombaza and Melinde there lieth three Islands the first called Momsie the second Zanzibar and the third Pâ—mba all inhabited by Mahometanes white of colour very rich and abundant in wealth but not vsed to the warres only to til th earth In those Islands is much sugar which is by them brought in boates vnto the firme land with other fruites of those Islandes within the firme land Beyond those three kingdomes of Quiloa Melinde and Mumbaza lieth the great and large kingdome of Monemugi which on the south lieth vppon the kingdome of Molambique by the riuer of Coâ—uo and on the west vpon the riuer Nylus between the two lakes on the north vppon the Land of Pâ—esâ—eâ— lolin it liueth peaceably with the 3. kingdomes aforesaid traffiking with them for cotten linnen which is brought thither out of Cambaia w t such like wares brought out of India which they barter for gold siluer copper and iuory but on the other side towards Monomotapa it hath continuall warres and that so cruel and bloody that it can hardly be knowne who hath the victory because in that place there méeteth two mighty people and those that are most expert in armes throughout all Affrica for those of Monomotapa the women called Amazon whereof I spake before and for Monemugi the people by those of Mencongi called Giachi but in their owne spéech Agagi which in time past vsed much to inuade the kingdome of Congo nothing incomparable for strength and agillitie to the Amazons This people haue a custome with hote yrons to burne their faces especially their vpper lippes and so make strikes and lines in them also they turne their eye lids vpwards and round about They are blacke with shining skinnes The white of their eies being of so swart a colour that by their faces they seeme to be stange and cruel moÌ„sters they are il fauored great bodies liuing in the fields like beasts eate mans flesh In war they are most couragious setting most fiercely vpon their enemie their arms are darts wherin they are most cunning Comming again vnto the Coast hauing past the kingdome of Melinde to the Cape de Guarda fuy there are many other places inhabited by white Mahometanes where there are some good hauens whither diuers strange shippes and Marchants with their wares doe ordinarily resort wherof the chéefe is Pate the second Braua the third Magadoxo the fourth Amffion and behinde that reacheth the broade and wide head or Cape of Guarda Fuy which because of the greatnes issueth farre into the sea is knowne by many ships comming out of India Arabia Ormus other places And about this Cape the
Portingales do yearely watch for the Turkish ships which saile with many costly wares not hauing licence of them they are boorded and spoyled of their wares by the Portingales presuming themselues to be lords of al the traffike in those coūtries not permitting any other to traffike therin but onely themselues or by theyr licence Hauing sailed about this Cape de Guarda Fuy and setting your course towardes the redde Sea there are other townes and hauens inhabited by the Mahometanes the first called Meth the other being somewhat further Barbora and there are the last white people from thence you finde al blacke people and beyond that you come to Ceila Dalaca Malaca Carachin which coast in their spéech is called Baragiam being al Moores and expert in armes their apparrell from the middle vpwarde being of cotten linnen The chéefe gouernours or nobles weare Cappoten which they cal Bermissi this countrey is rich of gold Iuory mettal and al kind of victuals From thence you come to the mouth of the red sea wherein lyeth an Island called Babelmandel on both sides wherof there runneth a channel into the red sea whereof the West side is almost fiftéene Italian that is three Duch miles broade through the which al the shippes doe passe both in and out the channel lying on the other side is shallow and ful of sandes and cliffes so that in al it is about sixe Duch miles broade whereof the one poynt lying in the Affrican shore is called Raibel and the other lying in the countrey of Arabia Felix is called Ara whereabouts also is the hauen of the rich towne of Aden in Arabia alreadie spoken of in this booke This water runneth inward vnto Swes being about 1200. Italian miles in lēgth on both sides altogether dry and verie shallow ful of Islandes déep only in the middle where the shippes do ordinarily saile which is onely by the great swift course of the water which scouring the channel kéepeth it cleane and déepe casting vp the sande on both sides Now to say something of Prester Iohn being the greatest and the mightiest prince in all Affrica his countrey beginneth from the enterance into the red sea and reacheth to the Island of Siene lying vnder Tropicus Cancri excepting the coast of the same sea which the Turke within these fiftie yeares hath taken from him so that his gouernment towards the Northwest and East lieth most part by the red sea and Northeast vpon Egypt and the desarts of Nubia and on the South side vpon Monomugi so that to set downe the greatnesse of all the countries which this Christian king hath vnder his commandement they are in compasse 4000. Italian miles The cheefe Cittie whereof and wherein he is most resident is called Belmalechi his gouernment is ouer many countries and kingdomes that are rich and aboundant in gold siluer and precious stones and al sorts of mettals his people are of diuers colours white blacke and betwéene both of a good stature and proportion The noblemen and gentlemen of the countrey apparrel themselues in silke Imbrodered with gold and other such like In this countrey they obserue lawes for wearing of apparrel by degrées as they do in Portingale for that some are not permitted to weare any other apparrel but Leather the people are Christians but hold certaine ceremonies of the Iewish lawe and vpon the day of the conception of the virgin Mary al the kings and Princes vnder his obedience do come vnto the saide towne of Belmalechi there to celebrate the feast euerie man bringing with him such treasor or yearely tribute as he is bound to pay and at the same feast the people come thither in pilgrimage to honour it wherevppon that day there is a great procession and out of the church from whence they come they bring an Image of the virgin Mary in form like a man of Massie gold and where the eyes should be it hath two great rubies the rest of the whole Image beeing wrought with excellent workmanship and set with many precious stones laying it on a beere of gold very cunningly wrought At this procession Prester Iohn himselfe is personally present either sitting in a Chariot of golde or riding on an Elephant most richly trapped himselfe apparrelled in most strange and costly cloth of golde al embrodered and set with pearles and stones most sumptuous to beholde to see this feast and Image the people runne in so great troupes that by reason of the prease many are thrust to death This Emperour Prestor Iohn is not rightly named for that his name is Belgian Bel signifying the highest perfectest and excellentest of all things and Gian Lorde or Prince which is proper to all that commaund or gouerne ouer others so then Belgian signifieth the chiefe or highest Prince which name being so ioyned is proper to none but to the king hauing also a surname of Dauid as our Emperours the name of Caesar or Augustus Here I must alittle discourse of the riuer Nylus which hath not her issue in Belgians land neither from the hilles of the Moone nor as Ptolomeus saith from the two lakes which he placeth in the midle between east and weast with the distance of almost foure hundred and fiftie Italian miles one from the other for that vnder the same pole wher in Ptolomeus placeth the saide two lakes lieth the two kingdoms of Congo and Angola towardes the weast and on the other side towards the east the kingdome of Monomotapa and Sofala with distance from the one sea to the other of about twelue hundred Italian miles and Odoardus saieth that in these countries there is but one lake which lieth on the bordures of Angola and Monomotapa which is in bignesse about a hundred ninety fiue Italian miles of the which lake wee are well assured and truely certified by those of Angola but on the east side of Sofala and Monomotapa there is no mention made of any other lake whereby it may be saide that vnder the same degrees there is no other lake True it is that there are yet two other lakes but they lie clean contrary to those whereof Ptolomeus writeth for hee as I saide before placeth his lakes right in the middle betweene east and weast and those whereof I speake lie right by direct line betweene north and south distant about foure hundred miles Some men in those countries are of opinion that Nilus springeth out of the first lake and then againe hideth it selfe vnder the earth and issue out againe in another place which some men deny and Odoardus saith that right the opinion therein is that Nylus passeth not vnder the earth but that it runneth through certayne fearefull and desart valleis where no man commeth or inhabiteth without anye certaine channell and so it is sayd that it runneth vnder the earth Therefore it is most certaine that Nyl◠floweth out of the first sake which lieth vnder twelue degrees by the pole antartike which lake is almost compassed
sun in their wars insteed of Ancients they tie the bones of certaine men who in their liues were valiaunt in armes vppon long staues and so carry them before them to incorage others to be the like and make them the readier to fight Their weapons are arrowes pikes made of palme tree wood and stone swordes They bury their kings with golden neckelaces sette with emerauldes and with bread and wine wherof the Spaniards haue foūd many such graues which they haue opened The people that dwell vpon the aforesaid great riuer are all Caniballs or Caribes as also those that dwell about saint Martha and in time past were Caribes The inhabitants of the Islandes of Boriquen Dominico Matitini Cibuchine now called saint Croce and Guadalupe as it is already declared which rowe on the water with scutes made of a certayn wood called Canois and that fought against those of Hispaniola and the people of the firme land whome they spoyled and eate The common opinion is that they came first out of the firme land of Caribana by Vraba and from Nombre de Dios in Indian speech called Caribes and all strong and valiaunt menne are nowe by them called Caribes which are very expert in bowes and arrowes The Brasilians name them Prophets or Soothsayers and Caribes Priests The people inhabiting in the valley of Tunia poison their arrowes and before the Spaniards ouercame them they hadde continuall warres against the people of Bagota or Bogota they are good souldiers cruel and very reuengeatiue when they goe to warres they carry their Idoll Chiappen with them as a iudge of the victorie vnto whome before they enter into the field they offer many sacrifices and offerings of certaine liuing men béeing the children of slaues or of their ennemies painting all the Image with bloud which doone they doe eate the flesh when they retourned victorious they helde great feasts with dauncings leapings and singings some drinking themselues druncke and agayne besmeering their Image with blood and being ouercome they were sorrowfull and heauy seeking by new sacrifices to intreats theyr Chiappen that hée woulde helpe and assist them and send them victory against theyr enemies S. Martha SAint Martha is also a Towne and Hauen of the Spaniardes lying on the firme land vnder eleuen degrees on the north side of the Equinoctial line about fiftie Spanish miles from Carthagena it lieth at the foote of certayne hills so monstrous high that it is incredible howe in so great extreame heate so great quantitie of snowe should lie vpon the toppes of those hills which is seene a great way off and whereby the hauen is knowne This country was discouered and taken by Roderigo de Bastidas in 1524. where it cost him his life not by the enemy but by his owne men that when he was asleepe killed him and gaue him fiue woundes in his body The people of this country are so cruell and fierce that they haue oftentimes driuen the Spaniards from their countrey not caring for the shippes but running into the sea till the water mounted as high as their breasts shooting with thousandes of poysoned arrowes and neuer would giue ouer were it not by meanes of the great shot together with the cries of such as were afraid and ran away thinking them to be thunder claps which oft times happen in those countries by reason of the euennesse of the countrey with the height of the hills The compasse of this hauen is three Spannish miles and so cleere that they may see stones lying on the ground within the water although it is at the least twentie elles deepe into this hauen there floweth twoo running waters but not fit for great ships but onely for little boates cut out of peeces of wood it is a great pleasure to heare what they report of the great numbers and goodnes of the fishes that are taken thereabouts both in fresh and salt water for the which cause they found many Fishermen thereabouts with many nettes made of packethreede hanging on cotten ropes which was their greatest liuing for that for fish they had whatsoeuer they desired of their neighbours In this country they found saphires emerauldes calcedonies iaspers amber brasil wood golde and pearles that is in the two prouinces Caramaira and Sacurma wherein the two hauens Carthagena and S. Martha do lie Caramaira is a very fruitfull and pleasant countrey wherein there falleth neither hard winter nor ouer hote summer day and night being there almost of a length The Spaniardes hauing taken in this country found gardeins ready planted moystned with strange waters like the gardeins in Italie their common meate is Ages luca Maiz Batatas and some fruites of trees such as other Indians therabouts do vse they eate fish also and mans flesh but not often Ages are rootes of the greatnesse of long turnopes in Italie pleasant of taste not much vnlike chesnuttes which they vse in banquets insteede of fruit Iuca is also a kinde of roote whereof they do make bread the Iuca that groweth in Cuba Hayti other Ilands is very hurtful being eaten raw and to the contrary that of S. Martha is very wholsome being otherwise eaten it is very good of taste these roots are planted not sowne which being ripe are as great as a mans arme or the smal of his leg ripeneth in halfe a yere but if it stand two yéeres in the ground it maketh better bread being ripe they are prest betweene 2 stones wherby the sap runneth forth which is very hurtful in the Islands vnlesse it be sodden as we doe milke otherwise being drunke of men or beasts it kills them as being a strong poison but sod till it consumeth to the half so let stand til it be cold it may be vsed insteede of vineger being sod til it be thick it becoms sweet like hony so they vse it in the firm land being raw for drink and sodden for vineger hony I said in the firme land for that in the Islands it is very dangerous venomous of the material substance of the roote being prest which is like almonds that are stampt they make round cakes as big as dollars which they bake is their Cacaui or bread wherewith they so long haue norished themselues this bread is somwhat harsh in the throat if it be not tempered with water or mixed with other meate Yet I had rather eate bread made of Maiz that is Brasilia wheate for that it giueth no lesse sustenance than our wheate is very wholsome agreeing with y e stomak wherof they make bread as we do of wheat Batatas are also common in great aboundance in this country which are roots of the thicknesse of a mans arme some smaller pleasant of taste and procuring good norishment yet they cause wind vnlesse you rost thē then they loose that effect specialy when they are eaten with any good wine of these rootes they also make conserues not much vnlike that which
coast from the riuer of Maragnon to Cabo de S. Augustin is as followeth first an Island called Isla de S. Sebastian Acencâ—o Ascension P. de Pracell the hauen of Bankes P. de Corrientes the hauen of the Streame Rio de Ilâ—ieo the riuer of y e Islands Costa Branca the white coast Rio de Coroa the riuer of the Crowne Cabo del este the Easter coast Rio des Lixos the riuer of filth Rio dos Reciffes the riuer of cliffes Rio S. Miguel the riuer of saint Michael Bahya dos â—ortugos the Riuer of Torteeux Grand Bahya the great Bay Cabo de S. Roque the point of S. Roche Cabo de S. Raphael the poynt of S. Raphael Baya de Traicam the Bay of Treason Paraiba os Petiguares Pernambuco the Cape of S. Augustin was discouered in An. 1500. by Vincentio Ianes Pinzon in the first month of the yeare Brasilia NOw followeth the East prouince of America or of Peruana commonly called Brasil the which was most discouered by the Portingales and by them subdued and brought vnder subiection they had therein from North to south 40. miles and from East to West 160. miles which stretching along by the coast is more then 700. miles This country hath the name of Brasilia by reason of the great aboundance of red brasil wood which from thence is brought into these countryes in this countrey are manie prouinces and sundrie people some subiect to the Portingales some to the Frenchmen as Margaâ—atan Tabaâ—arren Ouetaâ—aten Tououpiâ—ambaultiem and Morpions all cruel Indians and most of them Canibals whereof in the description of the coast we make mention not far from the Cape S. Augustin lyeth Pernambuco a place where the Portingales haue great traffike for sugar and Brasil wood This cape lyeth vnder eight degrees and a halfe on the south side of the Equinoctiall line and was discouered by Vincente Ianes Pinzon in the yeare of our Lord 1500. in the moneth of Ianuary and is the neerest place to Affrica or Spain of al the country of America for y t it is accounted but 500. miles from this pointe to Cabo Verde in Affrica the common reckoning of the sea Cards yet some esteeme it to be lesse From this cape to Baia de todos Sanctos lying vnder 13. degrees are 100. miles between the which two places I let passe S. Alexio S. Miguel Rio de Aguada that is the riuer of watering Rio di Francisco Rio de cana Fistola because in that place there groweth much Cassia such as is in Egypt Rio Real the kings riuer Rio de Tapuan A. Pouoacam the village or commom assemblie c. after the which followeth the Baya de todos Sanctos From this bay to the Cape dos Abrollios or dos Baixos that is the Cape of the droughts which lieth vnder 18. degrees are 100. miles and between them lieth these places Rio de S. Giano that is the riuer of S. Iulian os Ilhos the Islands Rio de S. Antonio Rio de S. Crus P. Seguro the sure hauen Rio de Brasil Rio de Caruelas c. Margaiates MArgaiates are certaine people mingled with the Portingales are Canibals the country wherin they dwel is gran both in winter and summer as it is with vs in May and Iune both men and women go naked as they come out of their mothers wombes painting themselues with blacke strikes like the Tartarians The men shaue themselues like Friers they make holes in their nether lippes wherein they weare certaine greene polished Iasper stones wherewith they shutte and open the holes which stones they weare for a great ornament which notwithstanding being taken out of the holes maketh them shew most vgly as it they had two mouthes one ouer the other the women lette their haires grow long like our women and bore not their lippes but make holes in theyr eares wherein they hang certaine white bones which hang as low as their shoulders This countrey yeeldeth much Brasill wood from the Cape dos Baixos to Cape Frio which lyeth like an Island are an hundred miles betweene these two places lye many riuers and hauens specially these P. del Agnado Rio Dulce Reâ—os Magos Spirito Sancto where the Portingales haue a Castle which the Margarites or Barbarians call Moab from Moab you come to Tapenury where there lieth certaine Islands friends vnto the Frenchmen from thence you come to Paraiba people that dwell in cottages made like ouens From thence passing along the coast you come to certaine running sandes whereabouts also are certaine cliffes that iutte into the sea whereunto the sailors are to take great regard Right against those shalowes or flattes there lyeth an euen or flat land about twentie miles great inhabited by the Ouetacaters most cruel Barbarians Ouetacates THis people make warres not onely against their neighbours but also one against the other as likewise agaâ—nst al strangers They suffer no man to deale or traffike with them and being hardly besette by the enemies although neuer ouercome they can runne so fast away that they seeme in a manner to surpasse the wild Hart as it is seene by their hunting of wild beasts They go naked like other Brasilians and let their haire grow long downe to the middle of their bodies coÌ„trary to al other Brasilians yet they cut it away on the fore part of their heades and behinde in their neckes as the rest doo These cruel Canibals dwel in a smal but an inuincible countrey they eate raw flesh like dogs and wolues they haue a seueral speech different from their neighbours and because of their cruelty they haue but little of our wares brought vnto them and that they haue they get it in exchange for certaine gréene feathers This exchange is done one standing distant from the other at the least an hundred paces shewing each other their wares without speaking one word and each of them laying their wares in a certaine place appointed they take it away giuing no longer credite one to the other then for the time that they haue exchanged their wares after that beeing returned to their places they to then best to rob each other of his marchandise wherein the Ouetacaters running faster then the other and faster then hounds do oftentimes win the prise Being past this countrey of the Ouetacaters you come to another prouince called Maq-He which is likewise inhabited by cruel Barbarians which neuerthelesse cannot sleepe nor rest in peace for their bad neighbours the Ouetacaterâ— Vpon this coast lyeth a great high sienie rocke made like a tower whereon when the sun shineth it glisters like Sinaragâ—uâ— whereby many haue thought it to be a recke of Sinaragdus stones and therefore by the Frenchmen and Spaniards it is called Mâ—nsis that is Sinaragduâ— It is not possible neither by ship nor on foote to get vnto that reck because of the cliffes wherewith it is compassed and being by it there is no wayes or meanes to get vpon it About this country lyeth three
houskeeper they presently change thou singing into weeping and mourning with such a noyse that all the whole night they neuer cease specially the women that crie out not like men but like wolues and dogs with stammering voyces vtter these or such like complaints saying Alax the strong maâ— is dead that vsed to bring vs so many men to eate others crying O what a lustie hunter and how cunning a fisher man was hee O what a strong and valiant man was hée in destroying our ennemies the Margaâ—aters and Portingales and in that sort lamenting and crying they imbrace each other neuer ceasing till the body be carried to the graue adding many times he is now gone whom we bewaile the man Eheu is dead whome we shall see no more before we goe behinde the hilles there to daunce with him as our prophets the Caribes teach vs with many other wordes which continue for the space of sixe hoâ—â—â—es for they kéepe not their dead bodies any longer vnburied and then they set the dead body in a round pit or graue in forme like a winde pipe wherein he standeth vpright but if the dead man be a house keeper he is lapped in his cotten bed and so buried in the middle of his house with fethers such like things put into his graue as if he were liuing in the same maner that the Perunians bury their kings with their iewelles about them as it shall be shewed The next night after the dead body is buried they set certaine dishes of meale flesh fish and other victualles by the graue because they are of opinion that the Aâ—gnan or the Diuell would come and digge the body out of the graue if hee founde not other meate to eate and withall they set some of their Coaâ—in which they do as long as they thinke the body is not corrupted from the which opinion they can by no meanes bee perswaded although in the mornings they finde the meate whole and in the same sort it was when they set it there This toy or foolish deuise seemes to spring out of the false gloses of certaine Rabines but he that desireth to see more hereof let him reade Lerius and because the Americans do often change their dwelling places by whole villages together therefore when they remooue they couer their graues with a great herb called Pindo whereby such as trauell may easily know where men are buried by the which places whensoeuer they passe they make a most fearefull noyse Thus much touching the generall custome of all the Brasilians and now we wil procéede with the description of the rest of the coast from Cabo Frio to the straites of Magellanes Heere followeth the description of the sea coasts FROM Cabo Frio to Punta de Buen Abrigo in our Carde called Abitrioga are a hundred miles Beyond this point reacheth Tropicus Capricornus and the line of repartition which beareth the name aforesaide from Buen Abrigo to the Bay of S. Michael are 50. miles and fro thence to the riuer of S. Francis which lieth vnder sixe and twenty degrees are seuentie miles from S. Francis to the riuer of Tibiqâ—â—â—e are a hundred miles wherein lieth Puerto de Patos which is vnder eight and twenty degrées and right against it an Island called S. Catherina Puerto de Faraâ—oâ— and others and from Tibiquire to Rio de la Plata are more than fiftie miles so that from Cabo de S. Augustin to Rio de la Plata that is the siluer riuer are sixe hundred and threescore miles which lieth vnder thirty fiue degrees on the South side of the Equinoctiall line This riuer by the Barbarians is called the riuer of Parana or Paranagnaâ—â— that is to say great riuer or a riuer like the sea hauing certayne entries that are very broade many Islands it is rich of siluer pearles precious stones and fish it is in breadth xx miles and many Islands between both the hookes of S. Mâ—â—iaâ— and Cabo Bâ—anco This riuer increaseth and flowesh ouer like the riuer Nilus making the country fruitful at certaine times of the yeere and as some are of opinion it springeth out of the hilles in the kingdome of Peru into this riuer there runneth many other great riuers as Auanca Vicas Purina and Xâ—â—xa which spring out of the high land called Bombon many of the Spaniardes that dwell vppon this riuer haue come vp as high as to Peru and the mines of Potosi The whole coast from Cabo Frio to the Rio de Plata or rio Solis is inhabited by goodly men and well proportioned but all eaters of mens flesh The country is ful of brasil wood and of white Anime From Rio de Plata to Puerto de S. Elena are thréescore miles from S. Elena to Arenas Gordas are thirtie miles from thence to Baros Anagedos forty miles from thence to Terra Baixa fiftie miles from terra Baixa to Bahya Sâ—n Fâ—ndo thréescore and fiue miles and from this Bay which is vnder one and fortie degrees to the Arrecifes de Lobos are fortie miles Vpon this bordereth the country of y e Patagones where the inhabitaunts paint theyr faces with certaine herbs froÌ„ Lobos which is vnder fortie foure degrees to Cabo dâ— S. Dominico are fiue and fortie miles from this cape to another called cabo Blanco are twenty miles to the riuer of Iohn Serrano which lieth vnder nine and fortie degrées and by others called Rio de Trabaâ—os are threescore miles betwéene them lieth Baâ—a de S. Iulian wherein is a good hauen The people being wilde and without weapons couered with skins and without any lawe but of a great stature from thence to the Promontorium or cape de las 11000. Virgins are fourescore miles from Cabo de las 11000. Virgins which lieth vnder one and fiftie degrees and a halfe to the entry of the straits of Magellanas which vnder the same degrees from east to west are accounted 110 miles some say 130. miles and the south and north part from Venezula twelue hundred miles it is two miles broad in some places more and very deepe and rather increaseth than diminisheth and runneth southward In this strait are many Islands and hauens The coast on both sides verye high and full of great rockes the countrie vnfruitful it hath no greene land but is very colde as hauing snowe the most part of the yeare about it groweth many trees whereof are diuers cedars and other trées bearing fruit like Bisnole or Creken There they find Estriges and other greater birds with many strange beasts also in that strait are many sardines flying fishes they eate of all kindes of meates there are likewise many seawolues wherewith they line or furre their clothes and whale fishes the bones whereof they vse to make shippes as also of the barkes of trees This strait was discouered by Fernando Magellanus a Portingale in the yéere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred twenty and one and as some saye one thousand fiue hundred
and ninetéene entring vpon the one and twentie day of October and issuing againe in the moneth of December after when as then the dayes were there at the longest and the nights shortest Touching this strait you may reade at large in the histories of India and the nauigations of the EnglishmeÌ„ that also haue passed the same The K. of Spaine in the yeare of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred eightie and two commaunded a Castle to be made vppon the point or first entry into those straits on the south side towards Peru from whence most part of his treasure commeth thereby to impeach other Nations to enter or passe the same about this strait dwelleth certayne great giantes of tenne or eleuen foote high and higher as some men write Magellanica the sixt part of the worlde MAgellanica is the sixt part of the world which as yet is least knowne but with out al doubt very great and stretcheth farre and wide the prouince in that countrey lying right against the strait of Magellana is called Terra de Fuego Beach another prouince lying in that part of the worlde is esteemed to be rich of golde the furthest Islands thereof are Iaua minor or little Iaua diuided into eight Kingdomes bringing foorth many kindes of spices as yet vnknowen to vs. Iaua maior Timor from whence is brought white and redde sanders wood Banda from whence nutmegges and mace are brought the Islands of Moluco wherin groweth cloues Los Romeros and the Islands Salomonis But hereof I wil leaue to speake vntil a more conuenient time and wil proceede with our description to Peru beginning from Panama right against Nombre de Dios and so containing our description in the briefest maner to Cabo Deleado or the desired Cape lying in the straites of Magellana but before I beginne I wil first make a briefe description of Peru in generall Peru is a common word and signifieth thrée things first a poore small countrey and hauen of the Spaniards discouered by Pizzarro and Almagio lying about Panama vnder two degrées on the north side of the line secondly by this worde is vnderstoode the whole countrey beginning at that hauen and following along the coast within the south seas til you come to Chile containing eight prouinces as Quito Cagnaresia Porto veio de S. Iacomo Cassamalca Cuscoa Cagnasia Calloa and Charcassia Thirdly this word Peru or Peruuia signifieth the sixt parte of the worlde namely that which is diuided southwarde from America which is also seperated from New Spaine by a straight or narrow péece of ground not aboue seuentéene miles in breadth making that Peru which otherwise is wholy coÌ„passed about with the sea is not an Island for that on the south side it hath the sea called the South Sea whereby men passe through the straits of Magelana on the west part lieth the strait it self which diuideth Peru from the land that lieth ouer against it as yet not fully discouered and by some called Terra di Fuegos that is the land of Fire This strait or narrowe passage was found out by Magellanus in the yeere of our lord one thousand fiue hundred and nineteene and as some say in the yeere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and twenty one and reacheth right east weast 110. miles and lieth vnder 52. degrees and thirty minutes being in the greatest part but two miles broad the shore on both sides being full of high stone rockes In this part of the worlde are fiue principall great prouinces as Castilia del Orâ— or the Golden Castle Popaiana Brasilia Chile and Peru and is diuided from new Spaine by the prouince of Dariene Beginning from thence and reaching to the straites of Magellana you must then vnderstand Peru to be a whole sixt part of the world which reacheth wide and broade to aboue sixty foure degrees and thirtie minutes namely on the south side of the line to fiftie two degrées and one halfe and on the north side twelue degrees to Saint Martha which is the furthest part of the country northward in the furthest length this part hath fiftie three degrees accounting from the meridian Passing the Cape Saint Augustine which lyeth vnder 8. degrees and thirtie minutes southward to the Meridian and the head of saint Francis lieth vpon the poynt of two parts southward The whole sixt parte of the world is in forme almost like a Hart or a Triangle standing three equall distances or lines being drawne from the three corners or points of the land The first from the Cape Saint Augustine to the straites of Magellana The second from Magellana to saint Martha and the third from saint Maâ—tha again vnto saint Augustine which in this sort may be described for that placing the one corner of the triangle being Cape saint Augustine vnder eight degrees and thirtie minutes southward and the length thrée hundred forty and one degrées the other corner of the triangle being the strait of Magellana vnder fifty two degrees and thirtie minutes southward and the length 303. degrées The line that is betweene these two heades must haue sixtie degrees as the Meridian three hundred sixtie hath so much then or somewhat more hath the line that runneth from Magellana to Saint Marcha which lieth vnder twelue degrees and in length two hundred ninetie foure degrees therefore this land hath almost the forme of a triangle others say it is formed like an egge which on both sides runneth sharpe downewards and is broad in the middle whereof the better to know it I will first beginne with Peru and the course the Portingales helde from Panama to Peru. In tune past by the name of Peru men vnderstoode all the prouinces that lie thereabouts from Pastoa vnto Chile and from the riuer Maulâ— north and south vnto the riuer Anchasmay Nowe the Spaniards by the word Peru mean the land that lieth between the riuer Argiropilis or Villa de la Pâ—atta the prouince Quito which is a fruitful sound populous and wel inhabited countrey being in length from north to south seuen hundred miles and in bredth from east to weast about a hundred miles so that the borders east and south are Argiropolis towards the west sea and towards the north the prouince Pastoa This land is diuided into three partes that is Planitiem Sierras and Andes that is an euen flat land lying on the Sea side with hilles or hilly countrey which passe through the middle of Peru lying eastward ouer the hilles This land is rich with gold and siluer more than any country in al the world which well appeareth by the yeerely quantitie of golde and siluer brought from thence respecting not the boastings brags vsed by the Perunians themselues that say The summes yéerely brought out of that countrey is nothing in respect of the quantitie therein for that it may be esteemed as much as if a man hauing a sack ful of corne should take a few graines out of it it may
the Compasse that in Portingall lyeth halfe a strike Northeast maketh the same Meridian 100. and so many myles within the countrey of Brasilia which also likewise doth so agrée with the sea In this course aforesaide you see many birdes called Rabos Forcados that is hanging tailes and by all the Islandes of Martin Vaas you shal sée white Garagiaus or sea Mewes Now when you come vnder the height aforesaide hauing a large winde and that you might saile East Southeast let the Compasse wind a strike or a strike and a halfe which will wind so much comming vnder 30. degrées and although the Compasse windeth a strike and a halfe yet you shall not therefore reckon any abatement in your course more then halfe a strike for this way is a strike shorter then it is placed in the sea Carde and vse all the meanes that you runne not higher then two and thirtie or 33. degrées towards the Island of Tristan da Cunha for you shal haue a better and surer course from very foule weather and lesse stormes for commonly for the most part you haue the winde there at North Northeast which to auoid take this counsel giueÌ„ by me because I haue well tried it to be true and comming by the aforesaide Islandes of Tristan de Cunha you shall sée some of the weed called Sargosso driuing vppon the water with diuers Trombas which are thicke peeces of reedes which when you see then you are beside the Islandes you shall there likewise see great sea Rauens and some small Rauens with white billes which flie close by the Islands and when you are right south and north with the Islandes then the winding of the compasse Northeastward beginneth to diminish and lieth but a strike and â— part for that 70. or 80. miles from this Iland you are in the middle or halfe way of the Meridian betweene Brasilia and the Cape das Agulhas also herewith you must vnderstaÌ„d that vnder the height of 35. degrees little more or lesse you must account 330. miles for each strike of the compasse from the Northeast and when you see the tokens aforesaid you must runne to 35. degrees and â— which is a good height holding your course east and east and by north till you be within 100. miles of the cape de Bona Speranza then the compasse will winde no more but â— part of a strike likewise the water wil there draw you northwest or north now if by negligence you chance to faile or by the windes are driuen vnder 35 degrees then when you are 30 or fortie miles from the cape de Bona Speranza you shall see many thicke peeces of reedes and sea wolues which being vnder 36. degrees you shall not see bee it full or scarse and comming within 40. miles of the Cape de Bona Speranza be it vnder 36. or 35. degrées you shall see a gathering or running together of the water that is in the day time for by night if you cannot see it because that when you are once in it then you cannot perceiue it there you find many birdes sitting vpon it by the Portingalles called Cauoitoijns and from thence to the Cape there are some sea Rauens with white billes which is a great signe for it may be you may find ground and neuer sée the birdes called Alcatrases and when you come North and South with the Cape de bona Speranza from fiue and thirtie to thirtie degrées then you shall find muddie grounde to the Cape das Agulhas and when you are past that muddie ground you shall finde a kinde of yellowish ground and somewhat more inwarde by the Cape das Vacquas which is towards the Agua de de San Bras you haue shelly and stone ground The Compasse as I said that is fire at the Cape das Agulhas must in Lisbone be marked or striked and must there lie a halfe strike Northeastward which they must very well know howe to marke although some of our Pilots thinke it not necessary to knowe how much the Compasse turneth or lyeth Northeast or Northwest saying that our predecessors vnderstoode not the Compasse and so marked the coast whereunto I answere that in some nauigations it may be excused but in most part of the voiage or nauigation it is very necessarie specially from the Northeast and Northwest as you must saile from the Cape de bona Speranza to Mosambique as wel in the course as to saile in the middle betwéen the Ilande of Saint Laurence Soffala it must haue a strike from the Northwest to saile in the middle of the channell and this is necessarie to be known by al pylots that saile to India because oftentimes they find themselues sometimes vpon the Islandes some-that by meanes of the streames and wa-times vppon the bankes of Soffala and ters as you take your course from Capo das Agulhas to Mosambique it is good to saile an hundred miles Eastward thereby to shun the coast because of the water and streames that runne southwestwarde and comming north and south with the Bay called Balâ—a Del Goa then the Needle of the Compasse will be 1 â— part of a strike and no lesse Northwestwarde from whence notwithstanding you must not goe néerer then 60. miles vnto the coast continuing your course as I sayde before to kéepe your selfe off from it from this place the Rauens with white billes will follow you vntill the Cape das Correntes be Northwest from you and so when the said Cape lyeth right vppon that strike then the Rauens will leaue you for that they are not found but from the Cape das Correntes to the Cape de bona Speranza being North and south with the point aforesaid then the Compasse will bee 1\â— of a strike rather more then lesse Northwestwarde and in the middle of the channell a whole strike Comming by the droughts of Os Baixos de Iudia being Westward from them or not séeing theÌ„ then you shall sée many of the birdes called Alcatrases that being 10. or 15. miles from them but being 20. miles off on the same side you shall likewise sée some but the compasse will not winde a full strike but if you were on the side of the Iland of S. Laurence within 10.12 or 15. miles then peraduenture you may not sée them and when in the height of those droughtes which lie full vnder 28. degrées you sée the birdes called Alcatrases then passe not by the side of the Iland of S. Laurence for that on that side towards the Iland you shall not see them but hard by and on Soffala side you shal perceiue them 20. miles from the land this is to bee vnderstood at the time of the Monsons which is at the time that the Portingall shippes that depart from thence in the month of March do passe by for they that come in the Monson or winter time may possiblie not find them for that it happened vnto me that comming in the Monson of winter in companie
Earth along the Sea side inward to the land there appeareth certaine high hilles whereof one of them lying most Northward hath a Houell striking out of the toppe thereof which séemeth to bee a blocke house being of redde Earth You may passe betwéene the first Sand and the land at seuen or eight Fadome déepe alwaies kéeping as farre from the land as from the Sand for they are a good myle distant and running about by the Sea you shall find Sandie ground round about it this Sand lyeth vnder 6. degrees and from this first Sand about 6. or 7. miles southward there is yet an other Sand and the course from this one to the other is east Northeast and West southwest along the coast this second Sand lyeth scarce vnder 6. degrées betwéene the which and the Firme land are 12 and 13. Fadome déepe all good ground and from the last Sand to a Créeke called Aâ—alla the coast runneth East and West and East and by North and West and by South 4. or 5. miles further forward froÌ„ this Créeke there lieth an other Créeke called Hulpulam from whence to Tanadare are about 7 miles Tanadare is a point of the land whereon there standeth a woode of Palme trees and when you are right ouer against it you shall see a white Pagode that is a Temple of the Indian Idoles and on the North side of this Pagode stand certaine Houels of white and red Earth and passing before it you shal not goe to close to the shore for there abouts are certaine Sands and beeing past this point then goe presently at 20. Fadome deepe for it is al good and cleare ground and if it should be calme there you may Anker From Tana dare to Belliguon are about sixe myles Belliguon is a verie great Creeke on the South side wherof are certaine Houels of red Earth that stand within the Creeke for that you cannot see them before you haue fully discouered the Creeke and on the North side it hath two Ilands lying close by the land on the South side of those Ilands along ther lyeth a Riffe or Sand. From Belliguon to Gualle are fiue myles all this way from the one to the other the land is altogether close and full of trees along the Sea side about halfe a mile from Belliguon to Gualle there lyeth a stonie Iland close by the land and an other on the South side of Gualle and making towards it you shall sée a high flat land full of trées and an euen wildernesse and on the North side of the bay there standeth a great wood of Palme trées vppon the Sea coast and within the Hauen you shall see a white house which is a small Chappell of the Virgin Marie passing from Belliguon to Gualle and comming right against this point on the South side towards the Bay you must put to Seaward thereby to shunne a Sand wheron you shall sée the Sea breake and to Anker you shal runne North North Northwest in such manner that you may alwaies sée certaine Cliffes that lie on the North side and inwards from the Bay you shall sée the Palme trées which will be vpon the south side towards Belliguon which lay hidden by the point there you shall finde 14. and 15. fadome water and running till you come to 13. fadome finding sandie ground you may Anker for to Seaward it is altogether stones From Tanadare to this Hauen of Gualle which are twelue miles the course is Northwest and Southeast and Northwest and by West and southeast and by East this Hauen of Gualle lieth vnder 5. degrées and 1 â— from thence passing along the coast you sayle about the Portingalles Fort called Columbo this course I haue already sufficiently declared in the Nauigation from Malacca to India therefore it is néedlesse here to be rehearsed The 20. Chapter The righr course from Malacca to Macau in China with the stretchings of the coasts DEparting from Malacca to the Straights of Sincapura and so to China you must set your course to the Ilands called Ilha Grande lying thrée miles from the Hauen of Malacca passing for more securitie without about the Ilands from those Ilands to the ryuer called Muar are thrée miles which hath for a marke a Houel full of trées on the south east side without any other high land thereabouts From the riuer of Muar to the riuer called Rio Fermoso you run along the coast Northwest and southeast and Northwest and by West and southeast and by East the course is nine miles this riuer of Fermoso is great and faire hauing in the entrie 6. and 7. Fadome déepe and also within you enter into it by the foote of a high hill on the South southeast side and it lyeth on the South side of Malacca it hath certaine bankes sticking out into the Sea from the point lying North east which is a flat plaine countrie which you must shunne From this Rio Fermoso to the Iland Pulo Picon the coast runneth the same course southeast and by East and the Iland Pulo Picon lieth halfe a mile from the coast hauing thrée Ilands by it two on the Sea side and one vpon the land side but you must not passe betwéene it and the land for there are many Sands it is distant seuen miles southeastward towards the Sea from Pulo Picon there lyeth a great and a verie high Iland with many Ilands about it called Pulo Carimon along by the West side of the same Iland towards the straight of Sabon which is the way to Sunda and the Iland of Iaua the nauigation and course whereof I will in an other place set downe therefore for this time it shall not be touched and will procéede to our matter aforesaide From this Iland of Pulo Picon to a pointe of land that stretcheth out called Taniamburo you runne East ward by the coast being about thrée miles this point maketh a hooke and from thence forward the coast turneth inward like an arme running froÌ„ thence right southward about a mile froÌ„ this point lyeth a riuer and a little mile further forward there is an other ryuer with a great mouth where there lyeth an Iland called old Sincapura being deepe and faire ground this ryuer issueth out againe in the Hauen of Iantana where Antonio Mello by chance did once enter with a ship of eight hundreth Bhares great each Bhar waighing thrée Quintals and a halfe Portingall waight came out againe at the ryuer of Iantana from this ryuer the land runneth downe towards the South as I saide before which maketh a hooke where the mouth or entrie of the first straight y t you must passe through beginneth The land on the North side of this entrie is higher then the South which is low and flat hauing a Houell of trées striking out about all the rest there is the end or furthest point of that land for that going Eastward on then you finde Ilands and stonie Cliffes which first reach
The 67. Chapter The course right marke of the nauigatioÌ„ from the point called Cabo de Lopo Gonsalues to the riuer of Coâ—go in Angola southwards in the coasts of Guinea and Ethiopia with the situation of the countries SAyling from the point called Cabo de Lopo Gonsalues which lyeth full vnder 1. deg on the south side of the Equinoctial line in the Coast of Guinea or Ethiopia the coast froÌ„ thence forward stretcheth northwest southeast being a flat long land you haue the depthes of 10. and 9. fadome déepe water towards the land being all ground like sand of sand lopers all through the country except it be by the point Cabo de Catarina where you haue great sand some stones if you will make any hast being vpon this coast and voyage then euery night you must anker till you haue the Terreintios which are the winds blowing from off the land holding your course in that manner till you haue the Viracoins which are y e winds out of the sea therwith again to make towards the land vntil it be calme or that y e are at 10. fadom déep theÌ„ you must anker til the comming of the land winds which come dayly at their times as aforesaid if the streames run w t the wind theÌ„ you may wind from the one bough to the other holding to léeward as aforesaid the coniunction or time wheÌ„ the streames run with the winds is with a new Moone about 2. dayes before or after and 3. dayes before it is ful if you desire to run from one bough to the other y t must rule your selfe in such maÌ„ner that you be euery morning by the coast to get before the winds that as then blow off the land the marks of the long land are these it hath certain great thicke houels called As Sierras de santo Espirito that is the hils of the holy Ghost and somwhat further you haue 2 other houels which are very easy to be knowne in this country you haue muddy ground further forward you shal sée a high hill within the créek called Palmella for that it is like to Palmela the which lyeth betweene Lisbon and Setuval you shal likewise sée somewhat further in the créeke a land which stretcheth North south as you passe along by it close by the strand it hath a thicke flat houel which is called Cascars because it is like Cascais by Lisbon you must vnderstand that before you hoyse vp anker in that countrie you must let fal your sayles to see if the shippe may get out and if it cannot get out then lie still till you haue the Viracoins that blow out of the sea for in those countries the streames runne very stronglie out of the riuer of Congo into the sea wherby the shippe can hardlie get out when you are so far as the place called a Palmeirinâ—a that is the woods of Palme trees then let your best anker fall for the groundes in this crosse way is stiffe muddy ground whereby the ankers oftentimes will hardly holde fast but ship out againe And when you are in the riuer of Congo being at the depth of 30. or 40 fadome then you shall loofe the ground then you shall turne your howreglasse and when it is runne out then cast out your lead and you shall find 10 or 12 fadome water on the other side of the riuer of Congo and you shal sayle about the length of a stone cast from the land and the best course is close by the land for otherwise you could not get into the riuer by meanes of the great force of the streames wherby many men are much troubled as being the greatest stroÌ„gest streams that are found in any place and run aboue 12. miles into the sea Sayling from Congo to Angola in maner aforesaid and being 35. miles on your way you shal sée a high hill by the which ther lieth an IlaÌ„d called A Ilha de Loanda but if you be not very close by y e laÌ„d you shal not sée the Iland for it is very low flat if you chance to be by the land at 6. 7. deg then you shal be at the mouth of the riuer of Congo and 10. myles to seaward from it you shal sée many tokens signes thereof as great streames thicke réeds herbs with many cutle bones and wheÌ„ you are by the land at 7. 8. degr ½ then you shall sée a flat land with trées al ouer it and in this country in euery place at 18. 20. fadome you shal haue good ground from 2. to two miles and a halfe from the land on the sea side you haue white downes which shew like sandy strandes the ground by it is sandy with some stones that is from 7. to 8. deg and you must vnderstand that the land from 5 deg southwarde is altogether high all the ground being muddy and a mile from it it is 30. and 35 fadom deepe good ground being a cleare and faire coast with cause of feare of more then is séen before your dayes that is from 7 to 9 deg and the land from 8. degrees southward is verie high if you come out of the sea to the land vnder 7. degr and ½ then you shal sée 7. hils or Houels which stretch Northwest and southeast called As sete serras that is the 7. hils if you come to the land vnder 8. degr ¼ then you shall see a hie land lying eastwarde from you this point in shew hath the forme of cape S. Vincent in the coast of Spaine comming to the land not full vnder 9 degrées then north or northeast you shal sée the aforesaid point hauing vnder it some whit downs that strike somewhat out into the sea but you need not feare them for it is faire and cleare and therefore you may fréely go neere the land theÌ„ better to know it being vnder the hight aforesaid of scarce 9 deg then eastwarde to land you shal see a round hil called monte Pasqual when the point aforesaid is northeast from you then the other land shall stretch southwest which is the furthest land lying without the Iland of Loanda the land that lyeth southwarde from you is a greate thicke land at the foot thereof hauing some red and white downes with certaine small trees vppon it which show like figge trees of Algaruen in Spaine now to runne within y e land of Loâ—ndâ— you must hold your course right vpon the land that lyeth southward so you may go close coâ—t about half a mile froÌ„ it being there southwestward from the Iland you shal discouer the Iland which is very flat and of white sand whereby you can hardlie see it but when you are close by it that is the hauen of Angola This Iland of Loanda is like an Iland called A Ilha das Caruns lying by the cape called Cabo de santa Maria in the land of Algaruen vpon the coast
age of foure or fiue yeares old which being fat of body with white bones in theyr lips their haire shorne and their bodyes painted runne playing in great numbers about the countrey leaping and dauncing most wonderfull and verie pleasant to behold lastly it is to be noted that many are of opinion that the nakednesse of their women should be an occasion to prouoke them vnto lust which notwithstanding is found contrary for that by reason of their vnseemly nakednesse the men rather haue a loathing then a lust and to the contrarie the great and costly apparrell as gownes and peticoates counterfeit haire the sumptuous dressing of the head the chaines and bracelets of gold which our women vse do more prouoke and intice men vnto lust then simple nakednes although it is against the ordinance of God and therfore not to be commended as not beeing conuenient but as therein they goe beyonde the limits of Gods worde our women also doo passe the boundes of godly matrones and sinne no lesse then they in such he athenish customes Of the meate and drinke of the Brasilians THe Brasilians haue twoo sorts of rootes called Aypi and Maniot which béeing planted in three or foure Moneths become a foote and a halfe long and as bigge as a mans thigh which beeing taken out of the earth are by the women dryed by the fire vppon a Boucano and then grated vppon sharpe stones as wee doo Nutmegs whereof proceedeth a certaine white meale and being moyst is of taste like our newe starch which to prepare they haue great earthen Pots wherein they seethe it stirring it continually vntill it bee as thicke as pappe yet they make twoo kindes of meale one sodden till it bee harde which they call Ouyentan that is hard meale which because it will continue long is carried with them into the warres the other is lesse sodden and somewhat softer called Ouypou that is soft meale which tasteth like white bread bran specially when it is eaten fresh and although both these kindes of meale beeing fresh are of a verie good taste and strong meate yet are they not fit to make bread they may well knead it as wée doo wheats or rie and it will bee verie white but being baked it wil on the out side burne and become drie and inwardly continue meals as it was at the first with the broth of fat flesh They make good pappe thereof verie pleasant of taste seeming like sodden ryce by them called Mingant with their hands they presse certaine iuice out of this roote which is as white as milke which being putte in earthen pots and set in the sunne it runneth together like curds which they put into earthen dishes frie them as we do egs The roote Aypi is much vsed to be rosted and eaten as being soft and tasteth like chesnuts the other must be made into meale and sodden otherwise it is dangerous to be eaten both the steeles of the rootes are not much vnlike each other being as great as a small iuniper tree and leaues like Poenie the strangenesse of these rootes consisteth in the great numbers for that the branches that are as brickle as the stalkes of hemp beeing broke into diuers peeces and so thrust déepe into the earth without any other vsage within three or foure months after do bring forth great quantities of those rootes they haue likewise much Indian wheate by theÌ„ called Anati and by others Maiz whereof they make meale which they bake and eat Touching their drinke which they make of those two rootes and also of Maiz it is made in this sort by their women being of opinion that if it should wee done by men that it would haue no taste They cut the rootes in smal peeces as we do turnops which they seeth in yellow pots vntil they be soft which done they set them from the fire and then set themselues round about the pots chawing the sodden rootes which they throw into another pot made ready for the purpose and set vpon the fire wherein they are sodden once againe and continually stirred vntil they thinke them to be inough which done they are poured into other fattes made of reedes not being clarifyed and a third time sodden and skimmed they couer the reedes and keepe it to drinke as their maner is and as hereafter I will shew you in the same manner the women make a drinke of Maiz or Indian wheate which they call Câ—ou-in thicke and troubled in a manner tasteth like milke and because this Maiz and rootes are there in great aboundance they make as much drinke as they wil which is by them likewise done kéeping it til they come altogether to drink and wheÌ„ they come to the drunken feasts and that they meane to kil a man and eate him theÌ„ the women make fiers about the vesseles wherby the drink becommeth warme and then it is first drawne and the women filling a goord halfe ful giue it to the men as they are dauncing which they drink at one draught and that so often and so long that they emptie al theyr vessels as Letio himselfe hath seene from whom I gathered this discourse that for the space of three dayes they haue done nothing but drinke and neuer ceased and being so ful that they coulde beare no more yet would they not leaue off but still kéepe companie at those drinkings they are merrie singing leaping dancing and exhorting each other to be valiant in armes and to kill many of their enemies That done they runne one after the other like cranes in their flight leaping vntill al theyr vesselles are emptie at the which feasts especially when they meane to kill and eate a man they are dressed in fine feathers and w t necklaces and bracelets in theyr daunces there are no women coupled with them but euery one daunceth by himselfe and these drinkings are obserued wheÌ„ those of one village meete together and neighbours drinke one with the other sitting in theyr hanging beds but with more good fellowship wherewith there are twoo things to be considered first that the Brasilians do neuer drinke when they eate as we do nor when they drinke they neuer eate secondly that they eat without word speaking and if they haue any thing to say each vnto other they do it after their meat they vse likewise no certaine houre to eate in but when they are hungrie they fall to their meate as well by night as by day yet they are verie sober in eating washing hands and mouthes both before and after meate which I thinke they doo to take the clamines of the meat off from their fingers Of certain great beasts and Crocadiles in Brasilia FIrst you must vnderstand that in al Brasilia there is not any foure footed beasts like these in our countries they haue great numbers of one kind which they cal Tapirouslou of a midle stature between a cow an asse this beast hath reddish long haire like a cow but hath no
to die them red therwith to dresse themselues yet they eat them not thinking likewise that their egs are poyson which they feare because they see the Frenchmen eate them whereby it commeth that in the villages where no strangers traffike there are so great numbers of hens that you may buy one for a penie besides the hens they bring vp many duckes which they cal Vpec but because they are of this minde that if they should eate such slow birdes they shuld likewise become slow and so might be taken by theyr enemies therefore they eate none of them nor any other beast that goeth softly nor fishes that swim slowly There are likewise many speckled hens of three sorts all blacke with white spots verie pleasant of tast like pheasants there are also two kinds of faire cocks called Moutor as great as pecockes speckled with white spots and black feathers Macocaua Yamboun-Ouaslou are two kindes of partriges as big as ducks and of taste like pheasants wood Doues Turtledoues and yet another kind of partriges al of one tast of foules that are not eaten there are many as diuers kindes of parrats wherof some are so faire that fairer cannot be found specially 2. sorts called Aras Canide the feathers wherof they vse for their apparell hats arme bands They haue verie faire redde blewe and gold yellow shining feathers whereof diuers of them sing Besides those they haue foure other kindes of Parrots whereof one kinde is very little brought hither by them called Aaâ—ourous which haue theyr heades parted in thrée colours as redde yellow and violet the wings all redde the taile long and yellow and the body greene which learne so perfectly to speake as if it were men wee reade of one that when it was bidden would daunce skippe sing and play all the parts of the wilde Barbarians being carried with them into the wars commanded to be stil it would be as quiet as if it had beene dumbe neither stirring soot nor tongue such Parrats as are brought hither they call Marganas and estéeme them not for they are as common there as pigeons with vs which although they haue a certaine harde flesh like heathcocks yet there are many of them eaten in those countryes there are likewise little Parrots which are brought hither but among the cheefe foules of that countrey there is a very smal bird called Toucan as big as a pigeon blacke like a Rauen onely the breast which is yellow with a round red ring about her necke as I saide in another place which they weare vppon theyr cheekes specially when they go to any feastes or dauncings whereupon it hath the name of Toucan-Tabourace that is the feathers to daunce with the bil of this bird is greater then all the body and is one of the strangest things that euer was seene there is another of the greatnesse and colour like a Merlin onelie vpon the breast which is as redde as an ore bloud it is also by the Indians fleyed and the skinne dried like the Toucan which bird they call Panon there is another like a Lister as red as scarlet which they cal Quempian I must not forget a wonderfull strange little bird no bigger then a Scalebiter or a horse flie with white shining feathers which hath so great and pleasant a voyce in singing y t it resembleth our nightingale in such sort y e it may be said it wer impossible that out of so smal a body there could issue so great a voyce which bird by the Indians is called Gonambuch There are yet many other kinds of birds of colour red white violet purple c. al much differing from ours needlesse to rehearse There is one among the rest which the Indians do much regard not suffering it to be hurt or to be taken as thinking it a bird of some secret diuination it is as great as a pigeon of a gray colour crying verie heauily which is heard more by night theÌ„ by day the Touepinambaultii are of opinion that those birdes are sent vnto them by theyr friendes that are dead to bring them good newes and prouoke and stirre them to bee of good courage against theyr enemies in the fielde they thinke also so they take good regard vnto this Birds song and fortune to bee slaine in the warres that after they are dead they shal goe vnto theyr forefathers beyond the hilles there for euer to be merry and continually to dance They certainely perswade themselues that those birdes bring newes from their friendes and that thereby they should be merrie and of better courage so that they take great regard vnto their cries There are likewise in this countrey many battes as big as crowes which by night enter into the houses and finding any man lying naked they sucke the bloud out of their toes in great aboundance whereof in another place I wil say more Their Bees are lesse then ours like blacke flies and make theyr honey in hollow Trées the Indians haue good knowledge howe to gette theyr ware and theyr honey they vse not the wax to burne but onely to stoppe their reedes wherein they keepe their feathers from the wormes Touching smal wormes like flies or Mytes as also scorpions and earth creuishes which are hurtful vnto men it is needelesse to write they haue diuers fishes wherof many are common here with vs as twoo sorts of Barbels the one called Rurema the other Parati both beeing sodden or rosted are of a verie good taste which because they swimme in companicars e by them killed with dartes sometimes two or thrée together The meate or substance of those fishes is verie tender and short wherefore the Indians drie them and make flower meale thereof There are three other kinds of verie great fishes wherof one is called Camoroupouy Ouassou the other Ouara the third Acara Ouassou al veeie good of taste good to be eaten there is a certaine kinde of flat fish called Acarapep which being sodden yeeldeth a certaine yellow fatte which they keepe for sauce This fish likewise is verie good meat Acarabouten is a slymie fish of a redde colour it is better then the other but not so sauorie in the mouth Pira-Ipochi is a long fish like an eele but not to be eaten the Rochets which are taken in the Créeke of Ganabara and thereabouts in the sea are much greater then ours with twoo long hornes sticking out before and fiue or sixe clawes in the belly which men would think not to be natural but rather artificiall with a long thinne venomous taile In their Riuers are many strangs fishes specially one called Tamouata which is a handfull long with a most great and monstrous head others called Pana Pana which likewise hath a great and monstrous head yet both good to eate and verie sauorie A description of certain trees and fruits in those countries FIrst there are many Brasil trées wherby the country hath taken the name this tree by them is