Wards and in time of war or troubles the four States or Councels withdraw themselves into their respective limits and call their Councels and he that hath best advised makes it out to the Councel that his advice is most necessary and useful injoyes royal liberty of freedom without paying taxe assessement or imposition what lands soever he be possessed of He is much esteemed and respected by the Prince being ever after freely admitted unto the general Councel which is held annually for the kingdomes good and welfare This is also an observation as in many townes in Persia which inclines the people very much to the study of Astronomy divination and all sorts or kinds of Philosophy that may make them wise and prudent and understanding they are much given to vertues chastity only excepted being a large and lascivious people the women in these countries are the fairest and the sweetest in the whole world which verifies the Proverb a Persian woman and horse CHAP. XII Of the Town of Tauris Sumachia Bachat Casbin and some of the chiefest places of Persia FRom Babylon we passed through all the other towns of Persia the chiefest whereof I will only mention as Tauris in Media a great town and full of Merchants some take her for the ancient Ecbatanes a Royal town belonging to the primitive Kings of Media it hath been several times taken and retaken by the Turks and Persians untill 't was strongly maintained by the Persian since the last battailes given by the Persian to the Turk she was lost when the King of Persia assisted Prince Zagathay which occasioned the revolt of a good part of his country contrived by his eldest son This King to recover his country and to ensnare his son devised a stratagem which was to report himself dead and caused his obsequies publickly to be celebrated concealing himself in the place his treasure was kept in hither his abused Son streight repaired was seized on and ended his dayes in prison after this the King with a great Army went to regain what he had lost of his dominions as Sequetpee Aremnia the towns of Siras and divers others upon the Euphrates Tigris and Araxes The town of Tauris hath been several times burnt and plundered in the several conquests she yielded unto she may be very near as great as London The Prince receives yearly great revenues by trade as well as from the Inhabitants for they are all tributary as also all artificers are acccording to their faculties and callings The Merchants that only passe through the town without making any stay pay for their commodities at the rate of five per centum for toll or custome or the rights of passage and if they are minded to stay in town they pay ten per centum but notwithstanding the height of the custome thither resort very many Merchants with all sorts of wares from all places as it were in spight they come from the Indies Africa Aethiopia Baldec Mosul Cremesol Cambalec Melusia Vaouta Decherin Saltamach Chelmodate Cotestan and from other parts of the world which brings an inestimable treasure to the Sophy Besides the many other towns that pay the like gabels and customs as Giac Soltania Jaban Comer Casera Erget all very rich Towns Then towards Cusistan the great City of Guerd upon the River Bindamar Virgan Marout Asana with Nain all iunumerably peopled Sidan Reib Estrana Barbarihen Samachir and in other parts Maluchia Sengan Sio Meson Ere and many more the Country being five hundred leagues over from Babylon to Corozan and from the Persick to the Caspian Sea all inhabited by people civilized yet most of them Mahometans of the Sect of Hali. A little above Tauris drawing towards the North and the bounds of Media stands Arbena or Derbent which they say was built and so named by Alexander the Great formerly called the Port of Caucase or Iberia because it is a strait of land or narrow passage between the Caspian Sea and the hills which hindred the Scythians entry upon Media since she is called Temircapi or Iron gate and Derbent which signifies a Strait and there be many Iron gates with a strong garrison to stop the Northern peoples passage as the Circassians Albanians Tartars and others Beneath Derbent stands Sumachia a rich Town and full of gentry then Bachat or Bacha another Town of great commerce upon the Caspian Sea and a most famous one being the nursery of the fairest women of all Persia and the Persian dames do far excell in beauty sweetnesse graces and are more taking than any Ladies in that part of the world and they have a proverb in Persia that he that hath a mind to see a fair and handsom woman must go to Bachat They are visited from all parts for they are of amiable complexions and there is a certain place in the Town called Gezempee whither most of the Curtizans do retire and are frequently visited by strangers The Jewes that inhabit this Town do carefully take up all the poor girles that have in any measure received natures favour they cloath them richly and lodge them in a large street near to that quarter called Machif which signifies a stews and make a great benefit of them they are all sumptuously lodged apparelled like Princesses and although they are poor yet they find friends that provide for them you spy them at the windows as at Rome their keeping open houses gives a free access unto all persons to trade with them yet for the most part they are married to rogues or mean conditioned people as Porters Car-men Butchers or Hangmen who often interrupt your entertainments or conversation with their rudenesse shewing themselves to be masters there I saw a Marseillian dame named Louysa Campane brought hither by her husband to keep a house she became so haughty and proud of her gallantry that a certain Merchant desirous to buy her favour at ten crowns price she threw it him out at the window very scornfully and yet was not of the ablest to live amongst them neverthelesse she maintained her husband in silks and satins who was but a poor Seaman ugly and ill behaved but it is rare if this sort of women become not most miserable at last by reason of their vaste and continuall expenses they will thorough vanity give a crown or two at a time to a beggar in the street This Marseillian had lived five or six years in a great heighth in Tauris where by her trade she had got above a thousand crowns which through her pride and vanity she wholly consumed being banisht the Town for braving and giving a box on the ear to a Lord that kept her for a time since she retired to Bachat There are many more fair Towns in Persia as Spahan Casbin Siras Royall Towns at Spahan is kept one of the Sophy's Courts well peopled and rich there are made many silke stuffs and is plenty of a certain
is Georgian a town inhabited by Georgian Christians who have licence with flying banners from the Turk to visit the Sepulcher at Jerusalem without paying Toles or Imposts as others do They recount a miracle upon these people when they were once persecuted by an Infidell King Almighty God covered the enemies with a continual darknesse whereby they were delivered upon which subject the Arabian great Poet and Historian wrote some verses But I have heard others say 't is the same that happened to the countrey of Georgiane or Albania in Asia the greater in a part thereof called Bonhainson where the Christians were pursued by Saure King of Persia a Mahometan and being reduced to save themselves by flight he invironed them with his forces in which extremities they had recourse to their prayers and an obscurity came over the King and all his whereby the Christians had means to save themselves Some say that a darknesse ever since continued in that part of the countrey and that no man dare come upon the ground and that the cries of men and neighing of horses are continually to be heard without knowing any ground for it Having staid one day in the Town of Georgian or Georgia on the other side we passed in two dayes to the town of Erir thence to Cosia then repassing Nile we came to Pemin the first Town of high Egypt Here they are all Moores but yet people of conscience and very courteous to us Thence we went to complement the Sultan or Governour of the Town of Almona and to have his passe because we were to enter into a Countrey all Infidels and subject to the Grand Sinior The Sultan favoured us with many testimonies of affection and sent by a Frigot to the other side of Nile to a garden in the Town of Tima for fruit for us amongst others Peaches of extraordinary size without stones but not so sweet nor good as ours in Europe Thence in two daies we came to Grandole a very Mercantile Town and in two dayes more to Manucat a great Town of about a thousand fires but about a league from thence there is one more large and fair called Bazuelle or Bazielle which was heretofore esteemed the Suburbs of Caire Here are the most sumptuous Mosquees of all Egypt which they call Gemit Azore or Hamore where the Mahometans go to render their vows with diverse offerings and hold this Mosquee was erected in the honour of a holy woman called Nacisse kinswoman to the false Prophet Mahomet people of a most austere life within they give entertainment to divers sorts of Marabuts or hermites who are there to do penance They recount many fabulous miracles amongst others one of the resurrection of a dead person pretended in the time of Soudan Saladin who had a servant called Aliaze married to a fair and rich young maid but she behav'd her self so ill towards him that her love was fixed on another object wherefore in despair he complained to the Cherif or Priest of the Mosquee This Cherif bade him be of comfort and advised him for some dayes to conceale himself to see how his wife would take it In the mean while the Cherif visited his wife and enquired most earnestly of her husband telling her if he were dead or lost through her occasion she was damn'd without hope being troubled hereat she told him she had not seen him of fifteen or sixteen dayes and that she was much afflicted for his absence but that she would make a vow to God and the Prophet if she could have him again she would be more dutifull to him At the same time by fortune there was taken up the body of a young man who was drowned in Nile so disfigured that he could not be known The Cherif taking this opportunity and having conferred with her husband they concluded to take his body and cloathing it in a suit of his and putting his ring on his finger lay him in the Mosquee covered with a cloth and say 't was the corps of this womans husband which was done and the woman hearing the news went presently and knowing the cloaths and the ring fell into a most passionate lamentation whereupon the Priest to comfort her told her that on condition she would make a 9. dayes visit in the Mosquee the most blessed Prophet would restore her husband to life and told her something of a certain vision he had while he said the office of the dead In brief with subtlety and authority he so prevailed with her that in the morning she went to the Mosquee to make her prayers and sacrifice to this purpose upon the Tomb where the Cherif the night before had hidden her husband and then the egregious Priest pronounc'd his conjurations over the dead that in the name of the great God their Prophet and Saint he should rise and comfort his disconsolate relict which was no sooner said but the good fellow began to stir and cryed out behold I am here then the Cherif rejoycing opened the monument and out marches the husband who embrac'd his wife overcome with joy for so great a miracle which was blown immediately through the world and ever since this Mosquee hath been devoutly frequented where every one makes their vows to obtain their wishes and these are the goodly miracles of Mahomet CHAP. XX. Of Grand Caire of Balm of Egypt of Nile of Crocodiles and the particulars of Egypt HAving had a view of Bazuelle and the stately Mosquee which in perfection of architecture is not notwithstanding to be compared with our Churches of the better structure we came in four hours to the great Caire First we arrived at Bebelot or Bebelloch which is but a Burrough or Suburbs of 20000. fires then one league further to another called James Talon or Gemeth Tailon thence to another called Garafa or Charafa joyning upon the Grand Caire and at length to the people of Bebzuailac or Bulac This great Town treads upon the ruines of the ancient Babylon and Memphis the residence first of the Pharoes kings of Egypt then of the first Saracine Emperours and the last Soudans and Califes of Babylon of Caire distinct from the Babylon of Chaldea who in our histories are called the Soudans and Califes of Balda or of Baudas or Bandas the same as Bagded The Town of Caire or Alcayr writes six hundred yeares erection the first stone laid by a slave of Calife Elcaine by name Gehoar or Chetiq where the Califes of Egypt fixt their siege whilst they maintained another at Bagded and one at Cairoan a hundred miles from Thunis This Towne having been long under the Soudans was as at last in the year 1517. taken by the Turks who extirpated the Empire of the Mamelues 'T is seated upon a good place of the Nile and known by four principall divisions One stands upon a rising or eminent place the other along the Nile more low where some say Memphis was heretofore and there Nile composes a sweet
is there the best of the world This Island was discovered by Fernand Bereyta a Portuguese and Aristotle sayes that Alexander conquered this Isle in his return from the India's and peopled it with Grecians purposely to plant aloes Before Portugall had here any Interest the Indians trade both of spices and other precious commodities came from Malaca by Ormus and Aden and from thence by Caravanes to the Leuante some by the Persick Sea Balsera and the mouth of Euphrates thence through Armenia into Trebisonde by the Majorka sea into Tartaria or by Damas Barut or Aleppo where the Venetians the Genovais and the Catalonians fetched them others by the red Sea the Grand Caire and Alexandria as we have already said others by the rivers Indus and Oxus from thence thorough Caspia into our Western regions but they have taken another road round Africa which is kept to this very day CHAP. X. Of the Island and Kingdom of Ormus of the King and his Government of the trade there and of his severall Conquests HAving sayled thorough the Arabick Gulfe and those Coasts we returned to Aden where we spent some dayes trading and exchanging our commodies then we embarked our selves for Ormus to pay custome for some Persian horses we had shipt with us because they pay no tax thorough the cheifest part of the Indies taking a Cartaco or passe which the severall Governors upon demand are bound to give Thus sayling from Aden by the Coast of Arabia and the Cape Taratque Rosolgate and Moncadon or Moalandaon unto the mouth of the Persick Gulfe or the Streight of Bazora at length we arrived at Ormus The name of a Town an Island and Kingdome winding to and fro into the Continent of Persia and Arabia In Ormus we lodged with a Portuguais who took state upon him his man still carrying after him a guilt sword and a dagger with a silver cup to drink in scorning to touch anothers yet nevertheless he kept an Inn common to all passengers The Town of Ormus is scituate in an Isle in the 26 or 27 th degree 9 miles distant from Persia thirty from Arabia the Isle is between 35 and 40 miles compass wholly barren the Town is faire and hath a strong Fort begirt with high walls and eight turrets in the forme of Castles one halfe of the Town is incompast with the sea and hath foure large cisterns or conduits of fresh water brought in pipes from the Continent The Inhabitants are some Christians some Mahometans and others Idolaters There Reigned a Potent King here for 300 yeares since this state was established 'T was in the Raigne of Ceyfadin that Alphonsus Albuquerque reduced both the King and Country to the obedience of the King of Portugall and ever since the Kings of Ormus were tributary to that King who yet meddles not with his Lawes and Rights the native King hath vast Revenues both in the Island and in the Continent of Persia and Arabia He is onely sworne to keepe league and fidelity with Portugall and the Vice-Roy acknowledges him honours him and visits him frequently in his Palace The Isle onely at this day payes tribute to the Portugais The King lives most splendidly and magnificently amongst his Subjects The confines of his State towards the north are the Kingdom of Dori toward Persia and reaches unto the Cape of Rosolgate at the very Gulph from thence unto the Cape Moncadon containing the Isles called Gedri from a great river that runs into another named Dale that separates Persia from Carmania or Chirmania In the Gulph is Baharen an Isle famous for the fishing of the rarest and most pretious Oriental pearls where the Portugais have a Factor the Inhabitants of Ormus are very voluptuous walking the streets they have carryed after them a Cuppe or Box full of Araca a dainty very delicious and much used amongst the Indians They have little Cabans in the Sea covered with boughs and leaves where they refresh and shelter themselves against the wind Abrazador so named by the Portugais which blowes in the afternoon This wind is so subtle and stirres up so small a dust that it choaks people and if a stranger be ignorant of the custom of the countrey he is in very great danger the people are courteous and ready to advertize strangers Their greatest inconvenience is the scarcity of fresh water which they fetch nine or ten mile out of the firm land They have two or three wells nearer at hand five or six miles from the town in a place called Terrabaguen The Isle hath two good Havens one in the East the other in the West the others are not secure There is near the Town a sulpher Myne and a little salt-hill of the like goodnesse to that of Cardonne in Catalonia from which they draw great profit it is used in many places and the Prince receives a Gabel out of it in the town of Ormus there is a Mart of all commodities from the Indies Persia Arabia and Aethiopia in which places the Indians trade as well as Persians Levantins Turkes Abyssins Venetians Portugais and others the Caravane or Casile arrives here twice a year by land from Aleppo the first in April the second in September From Aleppo they travell through Babylon to Balsora guarded by the Janissaries from thence to Ormus They travel seven or eight thousand in a company at Aleppo there are English French and Venetian Consuls From hence they trade in spices perfumes pearles precious stones Carpets Silks Chamlets horses conserves and several sorts of sweet meats We came hither opportunely to see the Creation or Election of their new King which is performed with many ceremonies to which the Viceroy of Portugal contributes great summes for the Honour and State of his Master A Prince of the Royal Mahometan Blood is elected and sworne to maintain his kingdom under the King of Portugals obedience and although all his Lands and Lordships are scituate in the Continent of Persia and Arabia where no Christian can reach them yet neverthelesse the King is sworne to this Fealty and obedience by the Viceroy that delivers him his Scepter in the Fort and accompanies him with a great train and magnificence into his Royal Palace where having made his submission and obeysance takes his leave and returns unto his Citadell This King amongst other things is sworne never to hold a great Assembly without giving notice to the Viceroy and thus they live peacefully and keep a good correspondence some yeares since the King of Persia by the help of the English and Hollander hath regained Ormus and reduced it to his obedience as formerly CHAP. XI Of Persia her confines and provinces Of Babylon and the Lake of Pitch LEaving Ormus we resolved to travel through all Persia before we begun our East-Indian voyage as we first had designed 'T was occasioned by a Merchant I have already spoken of having travelled to and
stone called Besouart which they say goats breed in their stomacks The Turky-stone mine is not far from thence 't is a very amorous Town both men and women thinking of nothing but their pleasures and coolness during the heats fruit is there very plentiful most excellent of all sorts Casbin is another big and Royal Town well inhabited then there is Siras the most delicious and most pleasing of all Persia which affords you fair gardens fountains and other refreshments during the great heats there are many stately and good horses some imagine this Town to be built upon the ruines of old Persepolis the City-royal of the ancient Persian Monarchs scituate near the Araxes now called Bradamir and not far from thence are to this day seen the admirable ruines of that famous pallace of the Persian Kings which Alexander caused to be burnt to please his Thais of Siras more hereafter Going on our Journey we went from place to place without keeping a streight rode to put off our commodities at a better rate drawing right upon the Cusistan of that side we found all the keyes or passages of Persia bad and difficult for which reason the Turk effected not his design in those parts we found it a strange Countrey and all that part of Persia but a vaste solitude unpeopled and very dangerous travelling The Mountains were inhabited by harbarous or insolent persons then we met with great fens or bogs very deep and forrests impenetrable which renders the passages so uncertain and arduous that the merchants have much ado to find them although they are well guided and have often travelled them when you have met with the guide that undertakes to conduct from one kingdom to another he must give account to the Belierbeit or Governour what persons he carries out of his dominions for you may not return into the same country without producing good license and discharge with a certificate or note of the places you have travelled which is a laudable order of the Princes for having such a care both of strangers and of his own Subjects that he wills and endeavours their free and secure trading in all his Territories We went towards Vacharin to enter upon Tartary and raught unto the Province of Samarcant where is a Town bears the same name famous for having been the seat of Tamberland the Great so much mentioned in our Histories these two or three hundered yeares We being sensible of the hardship and inconveniencies in travelling further this way besides the best experienced Merchants disswaded us from it for we discovered that that Countrey coyne was not of any value being neither gold nor silver but of some other base metall and some of the barke of trees as Marke Pole remarkes of Tartarye Li. 2. Cap. 18. we turned back again into Persia from thence by great dayes journey to the happy Arabia and Ormus we now had associated our selves to a jolly company of Merchants and my companion privately acquainted me he had resolved to see the east Indies and that if I were unwilling to take so long a journey he would recommend me to some French Merchant at Ormus that should safely reconduct me into Europe I willingly resolved to go along with him or whither else he would but not to leave him this resolution taken we came back thorough many Towns of Persia as Sorismell twelve leagues thence Sinderate upon the river Adalout where we were lodged at a Renegades that gave us good entertainment his house was built halfe upon the water the Armenian Merchant that desired to go thorough Pegu to buy rubies resolved Cassis to passe thorough Indostan we advised together to regain our way and to escape the excises or payments are paid towards Samarcant and Corozan we had much recreation in this voyage CHAP. XIII Of the Kings of Persia their Power pleasures of the Sophy Hali and of some Sects of Religious Pericans of the antient Mages and other Officers of the Kingdome THe King of Persia is one of the greatest and most Powerfull Princes of the World as well in the extent of Territory treasure and riches as in number of men of warr he can ordinarily set forth a hundered thousand Cavalry and of infantry foure score thousand The state of his Court is most ample and Magnificant his people warlike with a great number of generous Nobility the King is served and attended by the greatest Lords of the Land He is Cheif or Head of the Religion or his Church throughout his whole Empire and leades a very lascivious and voluptuous life keepes many women Royally clad he uses the most exquisite perfumes not in his apparrell and furniture only but also in his meate he weares Jewells of an inestimable value and he hath leave to marry as many wives as he pleases as the Grand Seignior hath He keepes Seleris persons well qualified whose duties are to travell thorough the whole Empire to see and chuse the fairest and rarest women having leave to enter all places nay their very bed-chambers to view them in what postures they please but chiefely to know whether they snore or stir much in their sleepe or whether they sleepe quietly and having made choice of them as they ought to be qualified they carry them in a littar to the Princes service and their parents are much honoured and esteemed When the King hath seen them and hath chosen which please him most he presents the others to the greatest Lords and favourites of his Court which are much happier then those remain with the Prince for so great store he hath of them that few of them have the Honour to enjoy his Person they are kept or guarded by Eunuches as they are in Turky Those are most in his favour the King takes often a hunting with him they are not seen of any although they can see others he goes a hunting as to the Wars his men carry severall sorts of Armes as bowes and arrowes cymiters axes marching in rank carefully guarding their Kings Person whom they adore as a God Their Military discipline is very exact and they suffer much in their exercises they eate nothing untill their chase be ended then they drive heards of savage beasts before the Concubines litters to recreate and delight them killing those the Ladies have most minde unto sometimes they cause of them to be taken alive and restore liberty to the rest this Countrey is fuller of great and pleasant Forrests then all the rest of the east The Prince is called Sophy rather for his Religion then for any other reason he maintains the Law of Hali son in Law to Mahomet and therefore weares a woolen cap and a red turban flock't with white from whence he is called Sophy which signifies a red flock't cap and Caselbas signifies read head although some would have it an Arabick word and to signifie a man purer in Religion then the rest They
sincerity and integrity is such that the Justices esteem their words and writings to equal sacred things and when a Merchant happens to die leaving his goods in one of these persons hands they are very faithfully restored to his heir or next of kindred From Diu and Cambaye unto the Cape Comorin by the Coast of Malabar it is some 300 leagues sayle and neer to Cambaye is the Kingdome of Jogues CHAP. XVI Of Deli Malabar of Goa the capitall Town of India NEer to Cambaye we fell into the Kingdom of Deli and Decan they say that 300. yeares since Sanosaradin King of Deli conquered Decan Canary Bellagatte Concam Goa and all the Countreyes reaching unto Comori but since under his severall Successors those Countreys were divided and allotted to severall Captains that have possessed themselves thereof acknowledging for forme sake only the King of Deli Idalcan was at Goa since Nysamaluco and the Negatana and many neighbouring Countreys are subjected to the Great Mogull who this last age hath conquered the chiefest part of the east Indies and threatens hard to the rest Malabar lies upon the Westerne Coaste from Goa to Comori as eastward on the other side lies Coromandell where are the Kingdomes of Bisnagar or Narsingue Orixa Menduo and severall others from Ormus to Goa it is 500. leagues or thereabouts We sailed all along this Coaste and we arrived at Goa an Isle and Towne of Malabar as faire rich and stately a Town as is this day in the east being as a key to the India's in the sixteenth degree of elevation devided from the Continent by a large River called Mandova as big as the Euphrates and by another little River named Guari from whence the Towne took her name formerly belonging to the Kingdom of Narsingue since unto Decan or Dealcan and since 't was conquered by the Portugall under Alphonsus Albukerke of the Moore Sabaco Generall unto the King of Decan in the yeare 1500. she hath eastward and northward the Countrey of Decan westward the great sea and southward the Kingdom of Mangalor subject to the King of Narsingue The Insularies or Inhabitants having ever been well addicted to trading they are people stout and haughty There is a great concourse of all the Indians a Haven at the village called Bonastariu with a block house that commands the entrance of it though it be strong of it selfe They have severall other good Ports as at Danda Alinga Banda Amolapole and Puntadasall then old Goa Rama Guisantole and Amadina each having her particular river on the continent side there are many Towns and Plantations most of them Mahometans and Idolaters kept in by the Portugais they have stately ship-timber They are pretty well awed for the present since they were punisht for a treacherous conspiracy which by the assistance of some neighbouring Countries they intended to have put in execution but was by Gods permission discovered by the Barbarians inhabitants of Paleacate and although they were 100 Gentills for one Christian and had almost gained the Fort yet they were gallantly repulsed by Don Garcias Acugna Governour of the Fort he very liberally rewarded those that gave him so timely advice distributing the Kings Treasure amongst them and since those freindly neighbours of Paleacate injoyed the same freedomes and Priviledges with the Portugais they were made subsidy and customes-free and so strict an alliance and unity contracted between them that many of them since are baptized turned Christians and do frequently enter-marry the Plotters were most of them put to death the rest banish't and their goods confiscated The Isle of Goa is some 15 or 16 miles about the Inhabitants are strong and able bodyed almost of an olive colour The Town is infinitely rich and the great street very full of goldsmiths that have their shops well stored with gold silver and Jewells The Gentills had a most magnificent Temple built of stone in a little Island neere to Goa called Dinary where they adored the Devill that appeared to them in diverse most terrible and horrid shapes The Portugais seeing this diabolicall profanation demolish't the Temple and the Idols without leaving the least marke behind them and with the stones they fortified the Town and built many fair houses which bred a great malice and hatred amongst the Idolaters The Temple was built of a black stone and their Pagodes or Idolls were most horribly shaped When the Portugais managed that great Warr against Samorin of Calicut it was then in their power to demolish this Temple But the respect they bore to an Image of our blessed Lady Mother of God made them spare it for that time They call the Blessed Virgin Sannacarin which signifies a bird and hold she is the spirit of God they give great honour to the holy Crosse and say that at the founding of the Town a perfect one was found in the ground The Inhabitants live very deliciously feed much upon Areca and are carried in rich Sedans by their slaves and the inhabitants have liberty of conscience Having been often at Goa amongst other things I admired the great commerce the richest good order and administration of Justice and above all a most admirable government in an Hospital which is very rich where notwithstanding are great number of sick and maim'd from the Armies The Viceroy and Archbishop contribute liberally thereunto the Portugais prove themselves of an affable and compassionate nature although the Indians hold them rough and uncharitable because they possesse much of their land This Hospital is the fairest and the most accomplisht in all necessaries I know in the world and I dare affirm that neither that of the Holy Ghost at Rome nor the infirmary of Malta although they are served in plate in both those places do equall her in riches good orders and services that are farre better observed and tended then you can expect to be in your own house as I often was a witnesse of visiting the French that were there sick the Fathers of the society have the keeping of it and are very charitable therein It is built upon a River founded by the Kings of Portugal besides the charity and gifts of the Nobility which are great they have for the most part a Factor at Cambaye a Country plentiful in all sorts of grain who makes their provision at the cheapest rates there a great number of slaves that are employed in all inferiour offices and are also made use of in the other Indian Hospitals and other Monasteries Perfumes are daily burnt to prevent infection and to lessen the unwholesome sents that would otherwise very much offend they use very fine linnen and wine of Dates is their onely drinke and is full as delicious as that of Grapes the Portugais are very voluptuous and great sensualists and are served in Purcelain which will not hold poyson This Country is much infected with the great pox and with another infection called
the River the town is ill built The ayr is good on Coromandel side and is divided but by a little streight not much longer then Gibraltar but more dangerous because the waves raise banks of sand which make it the more dangerous for vessels of great burthen forced to enter the Isle on the other side called Betala or the pearl-fishing Zeilan is held to be the ancient Taprobane and others with more reason say she was anciently called Sumatra however this Isle hath ever been potent formerly governed by one King of the race of the Sun or at least from thence he pretended himself descended This King was dethroned by one of Jafanapatan and since the country hath been divided into several kingdomes The Portuguais warred with the King of Jafanapatan who overthrown was constrained to deliver up the Isle of Manar which they fortified and inhabit to this day the Christians were grievously oppressed by the Badages their neighbours barbarous people great thieves but the Portuguese subdued them at last In this invasion the Portuguese amongst other things took that famous Idol made of the tooth of a Monkey adored by all the Indians of those parts and enriched with Jewels The King of Pegu so highly esteemed it that he sent yearly Ambassadours thither to take the print of it upon Amber Musk and other perfumes which he had great reverence unto and since it was taken he offered to redeem it at a great rate but they christian-like chose rather to destroy that Idolatry then to reap a profit thereby and so they burnt it and from it there came a most stinking and black smoak They relate many fables of that white Monky named Hanimam that he had been a God expelled heaven for some fault committed and Metamorphosed into a Monkey coming from the land of Badages or thence into Ceitan where after his death he was adored and his tooth kept as a relique The sea between the Cape Comori the lower Chilao and the Isle Zelan was called Pescaria Delle Perse a place of pearl-fishing which lasts about 50. days and at the point where they begin to fish upon a sudden many Cabbins and Booths are erected to last during the fishing onely then they that can dyne and fill their bagges with oysters and by a rope tyed about their middle are pulled up again and every fisher makes his own heap The seasons are not alwayes favourable alike some more some lesse and some seasons very dangerous by reason of several fishes that devour the fishers and other fishes will crop off a thigh or arme of a man as close and even as a hangar and those the Portugais call Poccaspada this fish hath two rowes of teeth very sharp and long and therefore to prevent the danger they have Magicians that charme the fishes upon a time a fisher-man ready to be devoured by a fish had his mouth open and within two fingers of reaching him suddenly the Wisard who was present cryed out Veruas which signifies come out or charm and the fish left him and the man having a sword in his hand struck a blow or two and the fish swam away leaving the Sea dy'd with his blood At night when they go to rest they dissolve their charmes because no one should venture to fish There are certain Commissioners to set a rate upon the pearle according to the season and there are of fine sorts of pearls some like stars others half stars others called Pedrati which are much esteemed and divided into five parts The Merchants stand in order to buy them The Portugese have those of greatest price which they call Quercos the Bengalians the seconds the Canaranians the thirds the Cambayans have the smallest and the last which are of little worth fall to the Jewes there which they polish for deceit It is a gallant sight to see so many Merchants together and so many heaps of pearles before every Cabbin which within few dayes are all pull'd down The best pearl is fished in the Channel of Setin near to Zeilan where they use flat-bottome boats called Tune because they have little bottome some are gotten at the other side of Chilao between Manar and the Continent There is no pearl to be found in all the East except in this place and at Baharem in the Persick gulph and the Isle Aynan near China those taken at Baharem are bigger but they are taken here in greater number The whole Coast of Malabar from Comori fifty leagues in length or thereabouts inhabited by people called Paravians is much frequented for this fishing where fifty or three score thousand Merchants resort to that purpose The Paravians are Christians and were instructed by St. Francis Ilaverius and live under the protection of the Portuguesse who have protected them from the Tyranny of the Mahometans their neighbours South-west of the Isle of Zeilan are the Maldives many in number dangerous to Saylers for the shelves of sand and rocks I will say no more of them because my knowledge is but small besides they have amply and exactly been described by others but I will say something of a wonderfull Isle on the Coast of Malduce Southward some ten degrees remote from the Line and called Patovi or Polovis now deserte though formerly inhabited and flourishing which as I learnt since at Pegu was Governed by a Prince called Argiac a Potent King of many Ilands and Kingdomes he having many children by severall wives gave this Island to one of the gallantest amongst them called Abdenac for his portion with several Treasures this Abdenac was possest of it peaceably for five yeares space his elder brother called Argiac after their Father and King of Achez in Sumatra refused him the share of Treasure his father had left him the other enraged craved the assistance of the King of Bengala who furnished him with ships with which he invaded his brother burnt his Townes and put to death most part of his followers but received a mortall wound himself and returning into his Island with the Treasures he had regained of his brother and finding himself near death distributed his wealth and bequeathed his Island to be inherited by his Duma or evill spirit intreating him to preserve it till the day of Judgement and that he then hoped to return into the World This Will made he dyed and had no other sepulchre then the bowells of his Alliance and Friends according to the Custome of that Countrey where in many places they eat the dead flesh of their Kindered and near Relations perswading themselves the Soule to be sooner at rest then if they permitted the corpes to putrifie and to be consumed by the wormes and that there could be no Sepulchre so Honourable as the bowells of a deare friend This Island falling to the devils share he became so turbulent that from the very time he took possession the Island was not
habitable and all the Inhabitants forced to retire into the adjacent Isles ever since this place remained desert yet there are great store of birds and beasts sometimes the Maldivians have landed there by chance but have been forced immediately to retreate the evill spirits do so perplex them they raise great tempests on that sea Being at Pegu I heard a Magitian had promised the King to bring him some birds and the Treasures of Abdena out of the Country but the Demons did so perturb him he could not effect his promise for as he was taking footing in the Isle and beginning his conjurations he had writ upon a leafe and put into the hands of one of his boldest disciples they were by the illusions of the devill so suddenly terrified that the miserable disciple fell dead upon the place and the Master Magician was so horridly beaten and dragged by the devills to the ship side that his companions had onely time to reembarke him and hoist sayles for Pegu. All the rest were strangely tormented and beaten except the Masters Mate and the Seamen that were wiser for knowing the condition of the place they would not put foot on land which afterwards they were very glad of Thus was the Magitian soundly beaten and 't was almost past his skill to recover himselfe but more of him another time CHAP. XXI Of the Kingdom of Bisnegar or Narsingue of the King his Bramins or Priests of Melia-par where they say reposes the body of St. Thomas the Apostle with a strange History of a Beare UPon the Coast of Coromandell in the East of Malabar are the Kingdomes of Bisnegar Orixa Mandao and others Besnaga or Marsingue hath a King formerly the most puissant of the India's amongst the Gentills and was esteemed their Emperour and gave his Lawes from Gemora to Orixa and Bengale to Goa Onoe and Baticola and many other places were under his Dominion but at this time he is much weakned yet he esteemes himself very potent and assumes very superbous and high Titles as God of the great Provinces King of Kings and Lord of the whole Universe 'T is reported that in an expedition against Italca he Mustered seven hundered thousand of Infantry forty thousand Cavalry horse-armed and seven hundered Elephants Bisnegar is the name of the Kingdom and cheife Town Negapatan her Haven the Towne of Bisnegar is faire and large lying in the 17. degree 10. dayes journey from Narsingue and eight from Goa we came for trade and to put off our commodities that paid 4. per cent viz. those that came from the West as cloaths scarlets paper saffron all sorts of Iron and Lary ware except horse-bits that pay but two per cent in the India's Horses are very small here as in Swethland but very high prized the Persian horses are the dearest because they are the biggest and strongest The Prince of Bisnegar is stiled Benganera or Vente cupati which signifies great King and most magnificent in his State potent in Elephants and Horses which he maintaines with the Gabells of the Countrey and the easier to procure horse to strengthen himself against his enemies the toles are abated Some few years before we came to this Town of Bisnegar it was assaulted and sack't by four Kings of the Mores all very potent and united to ruine this Prince These Kings were Idalcan Nisamulaco Cotamulaco and a Brother-in-law of his called Sultan Jordas Prince of the Kingdom of Viridi or Var Their hatred was that this King of Bisnegar was an Idolater and they Mahometans Two Moorish Captains were corrupted to betray their Masters and the day the battle was fought they turned about and proved the destruction of the Town that was that day sack't and taken by the confederate Kings and the King thereof put to flight into another strong Town called Panigont or Panicota where there stood a strong Castle surrounded with a great River and deep trenches ten dayes journey off Bisnegar The enemies pursued him thither and gave him a second battle where this Prince met with better successe and defeated them and had utterly dispersed them without the auxiliaries lent them by the King of Transiane a mortall enemy of this Prince There he took prisoner one of the perfidious Captains made him an example causing him to be nailed on a Crosse and to be shot to death with arrows having rallied a puissant Army to recover his Town of Besnegar he boldly resolved to fall upon Transiane and to seize of Timeragi's Countrey who had given his enemies their greatest assistance there he made great spoyle sacking and burning all before him before Timeragi could resist him He destroyed 22. Towns being advanced unto Gondariane Capitall of that Kingdom he put all to fire and sword and burnt Timeragi's sumptuous pallace his wife and children before Timeragi could stop his cruelties passing thorough Lazaray leaving all places desolate where ever he past untill he returned to Panigoni having spent but three months in this expedition He returned not soon enough to recover Bisnegar for his enemies had strongly fortified it and every one had their post assigned them Dealcan on Panigont side the others at other places the mean time these four Kings enjoyed this Countrey which they plundered and to strengthen themselves against the Inhabitants most affectionate and faithfull to their Prince they commanded all Merchants and other persons of estate in that Isle to bring in horse and Elephants promising payment They were brought in in great numbers but when they had possession of them they turned back the right owners without any satisfaction which was no small losse to them The Town of Bisnegar otherwise called Chandegry is eight leagues about and is so populous and powerfull that she finds her Prince a hundred thousand horse Narsingue the Capitall of the Country is of the compass of Florence stately built but their covering takes much from their beauty being not permitted to use tyle which otherwise they have great store of This Town is partly scituate upon a hill pretty eminent 3. leagues round There is a most sumptuous pallace covered with tyle where symmetry and uniformity is exactly observed the Town is bounded on one side with the Sea the other side with a great River the Town is well peopled and thatched with a course straw reed or rush The King maintaines a numerous Militia that makes him formidable to all the East No man can inhabit there without expresse leave from the King and no person is admitted that appears not an honest and candid person Merchants strangers and passengers have commodious habitations allotted them paying the ordinary duties They live quietly for justice is impartially dispensed and the lawes are so well observed that none breaks them for fear of punishment The Citizens are obliged by oath to serve the king when ere he commands upon pain of life or amputation
and Tapacura under the obedience of Bengale Westward is Orixae where is the Diamond mine and the deserts of the Kingdom of Deli Southward the maine Indian sea The Kings of Bengale were able to conquer the Kingdom of Deli were not the great deserts of Damida and the Inpenetrable Forrests of Sacara interposed the two limits Southward on the one side is the Cape Sogora or Sagagora and of the other that of Castigan or Catigan at the third mouth of the Ganges over against the Kingdom of Verma where are the mines of Chrysolites Sardonix and Topases Verma hath formerly belonged unto the Kingdom of Bengale the people are very civill and given to trade And all Nations have free traffick as Persians Greekes Abyssins Chineses Guserates Malabares Turkes Moores Jewes Ruffes or Georgians and many others There is great commerce of Jewells and other Merchandises brought by the Mouth of Ganges streight to Bengale going up six miles by land but above twenty by water by reason of the ebb and flow which as I have already said is different from other seas the smallest tides falling out at the full of the Moone but when the water is at the lowest 't is three fadome deepe round the Walls of the Town so that ships safely enter the Haven and are there very numerous 'T is thought there are fourty thousand families in the Town and the King dwells in a stately Pallace built of brick with faire gardens unto it The Town is pleasantly seated The King keepes a great Court followed by a gallant Nobility and his chiefest guard consists of women as the custom is in Jave Sumatra and Fransiane they put more trust in them then in men they march very gravely are very valiant and expert horseriders and vaulters use the Cimitere and buckler and battle axes very dexterously you must take a care to come neer them in their March for they will abuse you calling you Gueriaer which signifies bold villain the King maintains a great many of them in his Pallace and the handsommest are richly attired The Sun once set 't is forbidden to any man to come neere the quarter the Seraglio is kept in it lookes upon a faire garden on the side of a pleasant river where the Ladies walke at night and 't is death for any man to be found there The Captain of the guard carries in his hand a poysoned nosegay which as it were by chance he puts to the nose of any person he hath a mind to kill and he dies within two houres or thereabouts or else he causes his hands and feet to be cut off This customary law is with more rigour executed upon the inhabitants then upon strangers If the women are surprized in their amours they run no danger and men are very seldom exempt from punishments One of those women being caught with a slave was brought before the King weeping to excuse her fault she said that had she not consented to that act the strangling of her matrix had killed her which the King took for an excuse and sentenc'd the slave to death who was a Knight of Malta and married his wife richly to a Lord of his Court. The King of Bengale is an Idolater as generally all the Eastern are he is valiant of Person and can draw into the field a great Army both of horse and foot wanting not wherewithall to maintain them for his Countrey is rich in gold silver and jewels he can draw forth two thousand Elephants caparison'd their teeth are shodd with steele and they will carry as many men as those of Narsingue they use hand-guns muskets swords javelins hallebards and pikes The Bengalians are the gallantest Persons of the East both men and women both sexes go richly apparel'd and perfumed All other Nations of the Indies flock thither to spend their money and chiefly to buy young slaves to attend and guard their women and manage their businesse they are bought and sold as horses are here they buy them young the safer to geld them the Parents being poore do not scruple to sell their children to strangers for three score four score and a hundred Ducates more or lesse for they are sure their children run no hazardous fortune they being instructed in all manner of Vertues The Law is that if a slave return to his father they are both enslaved to the master untill redemption The King of Bengale hath many Kings tributary to him as the King of Apura who payes him fifty Elephants yearly twelve pearls of the weight of a Miticale he yields this for the ransome of six Towns this King had taken of him in open war he made the King of Dimali tributary to him also for assisting his enemy King Apura and makes him pay 50. horses with 50000. cherats or crowns yearly The King of Orixa payes him tribute too and many more Gentiles and Mahometans although he himself in some manner acknowledges the great Mogull he hath an Army ever ready to draw into the field upon an instant the Nobility being generally tributary and released from that duty are obliged to serve their Prince upon his first summons with a certain number of horse and other necessaries And when they are engaged and obliged to it the war once ended the King rewards them with money and favour imbracing them as his children and after a solemn feast prepared for them dismisses them home to repose The Kings benign and gratefull entertninment so highly obliges them that they spare nothing for their Princes service The Climate is very temperate and well air'd that makes them live long witnesse the Moor of Bangale aged three hundred and thirty years in 1537. the oldest of the Countrey never knew him but old and of the same growth and remembred Cambaye without a Mahometan his hair chang'd colour four times from black to white and he lost his teeth as often and still they came again he had about 700. wives in his life time he was an Idolater for a 100. years together and was the rest of his time a Mahometan he was maintained by the Soldan of Cambaye since by the Governour of Diu although the Bengaliens lye under the Torrid Zone they are cooled with much rain that falls from May to mid August it rains from mid-day to mid-night the other twelve hours there falls none and that 's the time they have to travell and trade in Such is the disposition of the air under the Torrid Zone otherwise she would be dis-inhabitable for the great heats as the Ancients believed being not acquainted with the Countrey nor the rains besides many other reasons as the nights being of the same length with the dayes the winds and other causes daily observed The Bengalians are curious and delicious in their diet they feed much upon preserves and sweet-meats for having all sorts of spices green they confect of all sorts the husk of the nutmegs makes an excellent conserve so doth the long
women are clothed in mantles of the Spanish fashion which reach lower then their girdles and of a purple colour and beneath that have skirts of blew cotton that trayle upon the ground and ten or twelve of them are dressed after this manner The corps this while is laid forth in some great room covered with a rich cloth or pall according to the quality of the person with four of those women waiting whilst the rest of them are sent abroad the town to deplore and lament the dead person the last whereof a little separate from her fellow-sisters declares the name quality and life of the defunct that all persons may prepare themselves to assist at the funerals They ejulate weep and lament with exotick gestures and tortions and in these postures having walked round the town they return to the corps with numbers of people and when the body is borne to the Temple then they raise yet lowder cries and ejulations One of these women makes a Panegyrick of the dead setting forth the great losse he is to his wife children friends and kindred then the multitude expresse their sadnesse acknowledging the losse they howle and cry out so hideously all together that you would think them distracted or at least at the brink of despaire when the body is carried out of the house Flutes Kettles and other Instruments play to the Church whither the Parents Kindred and Friends follow a most pitiful and sad sight CHAP. XXIII Of the Isles of Archi-Pelagus of S. Laurance of the Island of Sumatra of Elephants and other particulars AT the opening of the Gulph Bengale are many Isles great and small which make the Archi-pelagus called S. Lazarey and near 80. leagues in length and end about the Philippines and the Japon the chiefest thereof are Sumatra Javes Boraco Banda the Molukes the Philippines and others Towards Sumatra are the Isles of Andreman or Andemaon which signifies golden mynes inhabited by Antropophayes who warre with one another and eat their prisoners They make the like provision of humane flesh as we do of beef or bacon each of those Isles have their Kings It happened once to a Portuguese vessel having passed the Canall of Micobar and Sombrero called by the Indians Jenibra lying between Sumatra and the Continent the Portuguais call it Call or Canall of Sombrero because the place is covered by the winding and shade of the Isle as it were with a great brimmed hat One night by a sudden storme she was cast upon the Isles of Andreman otherwise Maduca within two leagues whereof is a shelf or bottome of white rock very dangerous hardly possible to sayle by without shipwrack The Portuguais call the place Pedra bianca Those in the shippe foreseeing the danger they were in threw over-board all their Artilery and all other things of weight they had therein and threw away their main Mast and by this means they escaped the shelve and rock being suddenly thrown out of that narrow passage by a great wave but behold their greatest misfortune escaping one danger they fell into another for seeing their ship begin to fill with water having sprung a leake they were forced to commit themselves to the mercy of their fiercest enemy The Captain Don sano Mendo advised them to prepare for land and to resolve to sell their lives dear since there was no hopes for a handful of people to escape the cruelties of so many barbarous villaines they suddenly cut and broak the ship to flitters every one snatching a planck endeavouring to reach the shore which was about halfe a league off and having put themselves in the best order could be expected in the like disorder or confusion with such arms they could carry as swords and axes as they were ready to land these barbarous insularies met them with their bows and arrowes and truncks and killed some 20. at the first onset the remainder of them about sixty having got footing on land by force made a great slaughter amongst the Infidels and seized of two Merchants houses where they fortified themselves the best they could untill their bloody irritated enemy fell upon them and besieged their sconce The Portugais reduced to this sad extremity resolved to sally forth with firebrands in their hands and to fire the adjacent town or village which being built with reeds and covered with palme was presently consumed then they thought to have escaped in boats belonging to the Isle but knowing not how to use them they returned back again and fortified themselves in the Caselba or Temple where with certain provisions they brought thither and others they found they maintained the place eleven or twelve dayes at the end of which time seeing there was no hope of a composition to be made with that furious people they resolved to dye gallantly with their weapons in hand and after a mutual and unanimous preparation and resignation of themselves they threw themselves amongst those barbarous infidels killed double or trebble their number but at last yielded all to the same doome and were eaten and salted by those sanguinary Barbarians Sumatra is one of the fairest Isles in the world sometime Taprobane and Palesimonde some would have it to be that which in old time was the Chersonese of gold and Ophir most renowned for Salomon It is called by some Tasan which signifies a great Isle because she hath 800. leagues compasse The Inhabitants of Malaca say it was formerly joyned to their continent but divided by an earthquake lyes directly under the Equinoctial lyne in the first climate her dayes and nights are all of a length is divided into many Provinces which make three kingdomes the chiefest whereof is Sougar commonly called Pedir and have all mynes of gold silver and other mettals and of the best sorts of Drugges and Spices the Pepper that growes there is larger and more biting then any other growing under the Torrid zone which causes the country to be the most temperate and best inhabited in the world for the reasons I have already spoken of The ayre is very wholesome and people live there very long and with good health the natives are very tractable but of little truth so 't is not safe trading with them for they will falsifie their word for their profit The kingdom of Assy is the richest in gold which is the finest of the world and Achen is the most potent The Isle is inhabited by Gentiles Moores and Jewes Many Turks have of late planted there for the goodnesse of the country and purity of the ayre The Idolaters only are natives all others come from other parts The earth is strangely fruitful in all products the onely inconvenience is the great flouds from rain which incessantly falls from Mid May untill Mid August and from mid-day to mid-night onely as at Bengale and as it happens in most of the countries under that Zone The King of the country discovering his subjects falshood which
Island assured us those Insularies eat the dead bodies but we have found the contrary for we have seen them buried they believe that the soules of the deceased enter into other bodies as Pythagoras held and therefore they welcome strangers they raise them brave monuments and tombes of stone and in honour to their bodies accompany them with winde-musick to their graves Parents exceedingly lament and abstain for a time from Areca and Betell They use a pretty recreative manner of fowling Their country abounding in many sorts of fruit which near unto their full ripenesse are easily corrupted by the raines they gather such as are rotten as they may not spoyle the rest and cast them into rivers or into the Sea These fruits being of many sorts as Melons Pumpions Pomegranates and others they are not sooner throwne into the water but great number of birds flock to them and feed upon the fruit the fowler stripping himself and hidden behind a tree with his head in a hollow Pumpion that covers his very shoulders they throw themselves thus into the water with a bagge under their arm the silly birds not discovering the men perch upon those fruits and come so neare to them that with ease they catch them by the legges and ring off their necks and put them in their bagge in this manner they take great store which makes fowl little worth There are birds sometimes too bigge and strong for a man to master and they get away not without a hideous noise thaâ— alarms the rest for that day that they are hard to be caught but the next day hunger banishes their fear and thus they are taken again The Kings of this Isle live in a most miserable condition being daily in danger of being slaine by the first person shall have courage and resolution to undertake it for such a person shall be esteemed a God and by all acknowledged their King crying God save our lawfull prince and naturall Lord. He that raigned at Pedir during our travels was called Arioufar and had been a poor fisherman overcharged with children who used to carry fish to the Kings Pallace and being known had free entrance He having on a time lost his nets came straight to the Pallace towards the King who had reigned many yeares and was very good to his people and finding him alone the guards not mistrusting him because he was beloved of the King and finding free egresse murthered the King and assisted by one of his sons he seized of all the treasure and the people received him for their King saying 't was the will of God The Assassin by force of money having raised a potent Army conquered the whole kingdom of Pedir and most of the other States of this Isle Thus the Kings establish themselves then and to such misfortunes are subject From Sumatra we went to Java the great CHAP. XXIV Of the Isle of Java of the Inhabitants their conditions and of the riches of the Countrey JAva the Great lies Eastward from Sumatra and is distant from her five and fourty miles only and the streight between them is called Sunde whence all those Isles in general take name the Isle is of good compass and unknown containing many Dominions or Kingdomes whereof the chiefest is Bentan or Bantan the Clymate sweet and temperate They say it is 150 l. long the breadth is undiscovered and some think it reaches the Continent Southward runs from East to West and South the Inhabitants are Idolaters grosse and brutish and some are Anthropophager it containes severall Kingdomes as Drasima Dragoyan Lembri Falec Sumara Balambua Bavarucam Passeruan Andrageda Auri Sandacanda Bacani Javara and others The Javanians say they came from China being oppressed with slavery they left that place and planted here they were for a time Tributary to the great Cham of Tartarye the Kingdom of Falec abounds in gold silver spices and all sorts of cattell the capitall Town is Bismari two dayes journey from an Island called Cambahar where is Basma a Town scituate upon the Sea towards the East where are bred Elephants Monkeys and Unicorns Dragoyen produces the Camphire as Borneo the Brasill and all Groceries neer this place are the Isles of Bombe Bacheli and Java the lesse The King of Passeruan is a Mahometan he demanded the daughter of the King of Balambua in Marriage and obtained her and having enjoyed her murthered her and all her train because she was not of his Religion Sandacanda and Bacani afford good store of spices their Kings are Mahometans they were infected with that imposture by a famous Pyrate named Mahomet Chap who left them two of his ships full of men to instruct them there are still some Idolaters amongst them who have not left their old error of strangling their neerest kindred when they think them taken with incurable diseases I was told of one named Basaram being sick and ready to be thus dispatched desired a slave of his to bear him company to death which he durst not deny and being tyed together were both cast into the Sea and the slave a lusty strong fellow striving for his own life drag'd his Master to shore untied him and put him to bed and conspired with another slave to save themselves from the Alerir or Magicians when they should come as the custom was to devour them and indeed as they came to strangle the poore men they cudgelled them so lustily that they left the sport and the man recovering his health lived many years after and thus was discovered the roguerie of those Magitians who thorough an insatiate thirst of blood when a man was the least indisposed made him believe he could not live advising him to hast to their fathers God Then the poore patient with teares in his eyes desired them to cleanse their bones when they should have consumed their flesh believing that their soules would not be at rest til their flesh were wholly consumed that then they would reunite to the body and to remain in peace for all eternity Meanwhile the King understanding what had happened to Basaram and his slave caused him to be brought before him and laughing told him that if he would not devour the Magitian he would put him to death The other most willing replyed he was ready to obey his Prince and that if the Magitian were brought him he would eat him up raw in his very sight The Judges had already condemned him and others for their deceipts and villanies to be banished and he others were fled into the I le of Camorre for safety but was taken brought to Basaram who with his slaves made a plenteous feast of him Thus for the most part live those brutish Islanders and although they have Rubarbe Scammone Agric and many other very Soveraine Medicinall druggs at command yet they seldome use them for when they are sick they wholly pin themselves upon the advice of those Magitians who tyrannize over them and
Pegu they called him the Bramaa of Tangu a great Tyrant and a Potent Prince who by force of Armes joyned many Kingdomes to his Empire as Pram Melintay Calani Bacam Mirandu Aua Martaban and others He afterwards was put to death by a Peguan Lord called Xemin of Zatan who made himself King but was defeated and slain by another called Xemindoo who likewise being made King was not long after defeated and put to death by Chaumigren of near aliance to Bramaa who became one of the most Powerfull Kings hath raigned in Pegu who brought totally under the Empire of the Kingdom of Syan with twelve great Kingdomes more They report that in the War of Syan he led into the field seventeen hundered thousand Combatants and seventeen thousand Elephants whereof nine thousand were for fight the rest for carriage To which the immense Armies brought heretofore by the Persian Kings against the Grecians may induce us to give credit the cause is that in all these Eastern Countreys the greater part of the people go to the wars and that there are not amongst them so many Ecclesiasticks Lawyers Clarks Book-men and idle Persons as are with us The King that raigned in Pegu in our time called the Brama was as I think the son of this Chaumigren afterwards hard enough dealt with by the Kings of Tangu Aracan and Syan as I said before But it is time to advance to the Provinces and Towns of high India subject or confining and neighbours to Pegu as Abdiare Vilep Canarane Cassubi Transiane Tasata Mandranella Tartary and others CHAP. XXXIII Of Abdiare and Vilep Towns of Pegu Fismans Apes Unicornes and other animalls Fotoque an Idol with three Heads PErsevering constantly in our trafick thorough the Towns and Provinces of this great Empire of Pegu and the Countreyes adjacent amongst others in the Town of Abdiare and Vilep a Kingdom in high India subject to the Peguan and having traded with certain Merchants whom we found open and reall treating with the Sensall or factor not by words but by fingers and joynts of the hand the practise of all the Indies to conceale the price of Merchandises We parted from Vilep with good company and within three houres came to the descent of a hill exceeding shady upon the hanging whereof was a pleasant fountain where the whole company stayed for refreshment but we had not been long there when there came about us an extraordinary number of Apes the greater part black as jet some small ones black and white very lepid one of them addressed himself to me as it had been to crave something of that I was eating and thinking to fright him away he was not scared at all as if he were accustomed to passengers I cast a piece of bread to him which he took very modestly and divided with his company and two young ones he had with him presently there came three more which seemed to crave their share I gave them something and they eat very quietly but on a sudden part of our company arose and took their Armes by reason of a heard of Fismans or wilde dogs they discovered making towards us which with one musket shot were all scared away in our sight they fed on grasse like sheep Proceeding on our way we met with abundance of other sorts of strange animalls as likewise of fruits some whereof of growth much to be admired some that bore rosin that smell like Mastick others a red berry wherewith they dye carnation which never fades but dayly becomes more lively Having thus travelled ten or twelve dayes through diversity of soyles meeting with many rivers animalls trees and other things unknown to us amongst others abundance of civit Cats whereof they have some domesticall which you may buy foure for one Pardai but they are stinking and their dung smells like Mans. At length we took to the River Jiame and in three dayes came to the Village called Tanza on the morrow to Canarane a faire Town rich and flourishing as any Town in India the Capitall of a Kingdom bearing the same name confining eastward on the Country of Tazatay south on Carpa and northward on Moantay another great Kingdom The Town is seated betwixt two great rivers Jiame and Pegu it is in circuit about foure leagues magnificently built in customes and conditions the people differ much from those of Pegu for they never go barefoot as the others do Princes and Noble Men weare rich buskins and sandalls set with gold The King of Canarane is Potent and Wealthy in Mines of gold and silver He hath also one of Emerald the finest in the east whence he drawes great profit This Prince was never known to diminish but augment his Treasure Likewise they have Mines of Turkesses When a King dies they interr all his Treasure with him and sweare his Successor not to meddle with it For the first year he and his Court are maintained at the Subjects charge and all the Nobility by obligation come to make their acknowledgment with rich presents and sue to be establisht in their Estates Offices Seniories for the King hath right to sell estates of all sorts then vacant and hereupon all his people high and low are tied with petition in hand and with presents to sue for their offices and vacancies which raises him in this year a marvellous treasure No one can wear shooes rings nor girdles of gold without the Kings license which brings him in a great gabel a share whereof belongs to the King of Pegu as soveraign who granted him the grace because the Countrey is colder than Pegu and I have heard it of Merchants that in the winter here rage certain in windes or Mounsons which come from the North so cold that travellers lose their toes the cold is so sharp and rigorous Their custom is if a Merchant will oblige himself he obliges likewise all his goods wife and children and failing at the day promised the Creditor may seize on all for slaves The usual money is called Canza and all the Peguan is currant there which the King stamps in gold or silver through the Indies called Jamis besides what every particular Prince coins of his own They have another sort of silver money called Pardain and Tazifo They make some likewise of tin mixt with copper which being no coyn royal is lawfull for any man to stamp as also another sort called Bise wherewith they may buy any thing one must be carefull in taking it or he may be deceived The King keeps abundance of slaves for his Elephants and stables In their structures they use ciment mixt with sugar as in Pegu which mixt with calcin'd shels becomes very firm the shels are dear and sold by measure They have many plantations of sugar the canes whereof they give their Elephants who love them exceedingly so as when they commit any fault they deprive them of that food and so easily chastize and instruct
the filth out of town and when he muttered or grumbled he gave him the cudgel soundly so as he got his Master a livelyhood who was a poor man newly come out of slavery We often met upon the way with several of these savage beasts but we never met with any so safe as are the Lyons who will not rise at the approach of men be they never so few They seem to look for nothing from passengers but if they are sought for and assaulted they defend themselves in a furious manner and are light and strong runners One day as we went from Casubi to Transiana with a numerous convoy of all nations Moores Gentiles Malabates and others because there is no other travailing through these forests repleat with such beasts and every water and river swimming with Crocodiles or Caymans a youth who waited on de la Courb in his chamber a Frenchman one of our company of a daring spirit had a desire to shoot at a Lyon he had spy'd for which purpose he left the way some twenty paces and had with him an Indian called Talmassac a person of courage likewise a Bramin advised them as soon as they had given fire to make all haste with the best speed of their horses for fear of mischief The Lyon lay along under a tree and though he received two shots at the same instant one in the head the other in the left shoulder notwithstanding finding himself wounded he sprung so vigorously after them that though they made good haste he overtook one of them in going two hundred paces and caught his horse by the Crouper which he killed like lightning though his strength was spent Poor Talmassac was so astonied with a blow he gave with his head on the side that he fell sick and we were fain to send him back to Casubi in a Palanquin or Litter with four Camalous or Porters yet for a further mischief he was stript by the way The Naires with leave of the hunters took the Lyon and presented it to the King of Transiana who admired his growth having teeth great and thick as a pullets egge The King recompensed Talmassac with another horse in lieu of that he had lost which was looked upon as a great liberality for the esteem they make of horses in that country and our Frenchman had a gown of razed cloth of gold and the King caused us all to be treated and entertained in his Palace enquiring diverse things of Sieur de la Courbe amongst others the state of our King and because I understood something of the country language I was called to the conference and I know not if he were pleased with my discourse but he called one of his grooms of his chamber to bring him a handful of gold which he gave me telling me if I would stay with him he would give me every Moon as much and that I should have care of his person for the Sieur de la Courbe had intimated to him that I applyed my self to Physick I made him an humble reverence and acknowledgement saying I was of such a humour I should never serve Princes for their money but I should be sufficiently satisfied with the honour to be near his Majesty he was exceedingly pleased with my answer saying the French are the flower of the world and I am delighted with your conversation Afterwards he shewed us two Culverins given him by a Captain of Diepe well wrought and upon either of them a Dragon for Armes The Sieur de la Courbe presented him with a steel sword of Damis which he had gotten in the Indies a thing the Prince highly prized and instantly taking a ring off his finger with three rich Rubies would have given it him but the Sieur would not receive it rendring thanks and saying 't were a great indiscretion in him to acccept of such a rarity that was worth a thousand times more then his present and that it was a full satisfaction and ample recompence that his Majesty would vouchsafe to accept so poor a thing with many more respects and compliments which gained the Kings esteem much more saying 't was apparent there was something of great amongst the Christians because their discourse was more elegant and polite then the ordinary language of other Merchants and if he would stay at Court he would conferre upon him any office in his Palace he should like of and would tender him as his brother the Sieur rendring his acknowledgement with reverence and submission In brief we were obligingly treated by this Prince on whom we waited to chases which is a thing truly royal and magnificent In this country there is another kinde of savage beast exceeding fierce that indifferently falls on all things come before her She hath four teeth that cut like a razor About the size of a midling oxe a head like a Bear and a taile like a hogge These beasts are naturally black they hunt them for their hydes which are of admirable strength to resist blows the flesh is good and spends like Pork though it be something red This chase is exceeding dangerous and some alwayes perish for she flyes most furiously on the first that attempts her and failes not to strangle him though a hundred should come to his rescue if they kill her not at the first stroake She is exceeding licorous of a fruit they call Coeoma which is of excellent taste and great refreshment so as in Summer 't is much sought after for one shall no sooner eat of it but he perceives an entire refreshment nay a chilness if he eat a quantity The Indians make hollowes in great trees near this fruit and hide themselves within to wait for this beast and kill her when she comes to feed but when she findes her selfe surprized She enters into such rage that she tears up the tree for spight There are so many other sorts of savage beasts that it were too troublesome to rehearse them all They have divers birds of delicate plumage whereof they make divers works the most quaint and lively in the world and birds so great they will take a calf up into the ayre They have Griffins which in my opinion are no other then that they call a Tofon of white plumage and reddish under the belly but they have not four feet as our Painters draw them but two only long and great as likewise Tallons like a Falcon but large and exceeding strong the beake like an Eagle but much thicker they are cruel creatures They have here likewise those we call the birds of Paradise the Irico they cut the feet off and sell them so to Merchants as I said in another place They have abundance of Turkies and wild ones that go in flocks as Peacocks white Partridges and other birds and fowles of divers kinds CHAP. XXXVI Of Transiana the valour of their women THe Town of Transiana which is likewise the name of the kingdome lying
between the Towns of Sian and Tinco is the last in subjection to the Empire of Pegu towards the North having Westward the Province or kingdome of Tazatay Northward the kingdom of Carforan South Pegu and Eastward Cauchinchine situate upon a pleasant river that comes from the lake Daracan The countrey is temperate enough except in the extreme heats of Summer when they must of necessity travel by night Here they have a Myne of Diamonds which they call Geay besides those of Gold and Silver in abundance and of the purest in the East abundance of grain and fruits of all sorts and Palm-wine which they call Serolle The people are insolent and proud of make and fashion like the Persians the women exceeding beautiful more then in other parts but something lascivious and affecting the coversation of strangers They love to dance to the musick of their Pan and delight much in melody and banquets they wear their hair at length in knots and platted with silk ribbands very quaintly in divers manners with rings and jewels according to their quality For none but Princesses and Ladies of the better rank may wear Diamonds set in gold rubies and other stones are for the rest of the nobility whom they call Canubi amongst whom are comprehended the whole Militia of the King For the vulgar they wear bracelets and rings of silver tin brasse and Ivory neatly made and enamel'd with all colours and they hold the same custom I have observed in other places to break them all in token of mourning at the death of their kindred If any one will wear jewels above his degree he must agree with the Kings Officers to be rank'd in the Nobility for there as in other places all is carried by money The women affect to be courted wear their gowns slash'd like the French and go habited like our Europeans quite different from the other Indians Women of what degree or condition soever are obliged to nurse and suckle their own children Adultery is there punished with death for which cause there are divers will never marry that they may live with more liberty for maids and widowes are subject to no law without any dishonour neverthelesse and having taken their pleasure they may marry without any mark of infamy and if she have had children by any others each Father is bound to take his own and breed it When the King goes into the field whether to chase or war he hath a Van-guard of a hundred women who carry Crosse-bowes wherein they will shoot so directly they will hit the breadth of a peny they call them Memeytas and succeed one another for their portion Royal which is great and honourable which they gain'd for a signal service they performed for King Bugunda great Grandfather to Amaous who reigned in our time They have this place for their valour and fidelity and are excellent in all things they keep slaves and may wear jewels as the nobility of the first rank They attend the Prince in his wars as well as the gallantest Cavaliers of his Court and they are more welcome to the Prince at his Table then any other esteeming them for their magnanimity Sometimes for his recreation armed with skins of beasts covered with scales they will enter the Palace four and four and present the King with a civil combat with sword buckler and cask of wood and all with such grace that the King will leave both meat and drink to judge of the blowes and addresse for they combat in order and measure without missing a single step to the purpose like a dance well consorted And they have their Masters to instruct them in the use of all sorts of arms which they practice diligently When they have performed any noble act of dexterity or feat of arms they are assured of a chain of gold from the King they are all lodg'd in the Kings Palace There was one that performed a combat once with such grace boldnesse and dexterity that the King could not forbear but taking off her cask upon the field he kissed her before all the Court and put about her neck a chain he wore himself of rubies pierced in form of pearls and garnished at the ends with fauset diamonds of inestimable value opinion was that after the King had so blandished her and given her such a gift without doubt he would marry her She was indeed one of the most amiable Ladies of the Indies of twenty years age her skin admirably white her hair dis-shevel'd black as jet her name was Langir and I asking mine host who the maid was and if 't were probable the King would marry her smiling he told me in my ear 't was surmis'd she was sister to the Prince himself so passionately his Father Amaycan lov'd her Mother Acosrias who was so gallant and valiant that at wrastling she had not her match and that she threw all the strangers she wrastled with and if they took it with disdain she would strangle them in the place she was a Lady of perfect beauty and was unfortunately slain by a Lion whereupon the King her lover was violently grieved he buried her with royall obsequies and mourned with solemnity a long time abstaining some dayes from eating Areca or Betel being shav'd in sign of grief and sorrow In his huntings the King takes great pleasure to see these women shoot in their crosbows whence they will discharge three arrows at a time with such celerity and vigour that lighting upon a tree they strike themselves so deep that they are not to be drawn out They use also fire-locks and other arms wherein they are well exercised These women are not at liberty to marry without the Princes license who allows them not but to Favourites who at the same time have charge or office at Court or some other place for they never displace any There are other guards called the Viluaires who bear no more before the King than the bow made of Indian cane or Palm-wood which never breaks The servitors and domestick Officers of the Palace are called the Lambri who are for carriage of all necessaries to the Palace and serve likewise in war being honourably habited and armed with great Indian canes which they know how to manage very well and these take orders from the King The Prince is very powerfull both in Foot and Horse being provided alwaies of a thousand Elephants and fifty thousand Horse which are lesse but stronger than the Persian whereof he keeps divers races for the Country hath the fairest and most fertile herbage of the world and abounds in all sorts of commodities This King is tributary to the great Emperour to whom he payes yearly so many horses the best in the Indies being indefatigable in travaile he is likewise exceeding carefull and breedes them of an extraordinary manner getting Mares from Persia when there is a number of foles of foure or five moneths old
they are put to certain wild cowes that are expresly for this purpose kept in the race so as the little cowes the mares and the colts are all together then taking the calves from their dams they put the colts to suck them This course continued for some time makes them more strong and lasting then can be imagined and it is observable their hoofes are more durable then any others All their fault is they are not so sleet as the Persian which horses are most esteemed of all in the Indies and next to them those of Transiana This King hath so great a number of them they render him formidable throughout the Indies he is exceeding peaceful and beloved of his people In the Countrey though it be very fertile and well tilled there are notwithstanding vast and profound forrests stocked with wilde beasts who often intercept the passengers and devoure them as Ounces Lions Tigars beares Wolves and dangerous Boares of an incredible size The King hath huntsmen for the purpose well skill'd in the woodes with little dogs proper for finding out the beasts They have also tame Lions and Hart-Wolves brought up to hunt their own kinde and so animated against their own Species that there are not in the world more cruell enemies as man hath not a more mortall foe then man himselfe and amongst men Renegado Christians more cruell to true Christians then the other Infidels These Lions wolves and other beastes of chase are taught to it when they are young and trained in parkes to hunt others till they are at growth and then they take them abroad to the grand chase armed with caps and pointed collars which with the assistance of the hunters makes them more dangerous so as they make a great slaughter amongst the other beasts There are likewise abundance of harts large as heifers which lie in the fields and will not stir for a passinger When the King goes into the Country he is attended with a thousand horse at least and when he goes to the grand chase he takes along abundance of Pioneers to stop up the Avenues with walls of clay and turf to secure himselfe and his Court. There will be sometimes twelve or fifteen thousand hunters the greater part Lords Persons of Quality and the Kings domesticks who frequently engage themselves there being pleasure without danger Sometimes these beasts come in such heards they are forced to open for their passage and fall upon the last and notwithstanding the walls are strong and high being made of palms and earth mixt with brakes there are beasts so light and nimble they will leap over them and before the souldiers who lie concealed can take them they will do incredible things making such strange assaults and such havock with teeth and nailes but the whole Court with the female guard stands in order upon the curtain and parapet of the walls to attend them at the passage where there is a great slaughter But after this tragicall danger comes a comedy of the Marmosets Apes and Monkeys and others of that kind for the greater part unknown to us The young ones will be there so fastned to the necks of their dams you would think they grew there all together makes a very pleasant prize The hair of these Apes is soft as silk and their genitories violet colour or pale red There are huge Munkeyes white as snow that make a thousand ridiculous faces seeming to crave liberty and they of the guard that know their humour give them a signe to climbe upon a tree and save themselves where of she faile not but then the sport is to see the trees covered over with them with the confused chattering they make one at another For wild swine wild goats harts hindes fallow-Deer and Aloroc with beasts of Beasar there are abundance as also of porcupines the Country yeilding such plenty of grain and wild fruits for their sustenance The boares are very dangerous panching all they meet with their tushes Elephants they hunt but seldom being forfeit of life to kill one They go with such vehemency they break all before them and when by subtlety they are once enclosed they make most horrible cries and roarings for rage breaking all that is near them being tyred they lie along and thrusting their trunk down their throat they fetch up a loathsom water as hot as if it came out of a furnace When all the dangerous beasts are either killed or scaped the King for his pleasure kills the boares the goats and others with the Ront the most assured armes and makes the widest wound Then the hunters all choose their marke taking pleasure in darting their lances taking what serves for provision of the Palace leaving the rest for another time The skins of bears ounces lions leopards serve to Arme the foot and horse and to bard the horses Elephants and other beasts for use in hunting whereof they make them caps that cover so well the head and neck it is not easie for the savage beasts to endanger them there being steel piques that make them loose their hold nor is there great or small who hath not his horse capped with these skins Towns and Villages circumiacent to the hunting come with a thousand presents and rejoycings to the King esteeming themselves much honoured to have any share of the prize wherewith they make a publik feast as of a thing sacred and solemn For their falconry and hawkes the King hath eagles and ravens so well trained both for furr and feather that nothing more Fishing is there likewise much practised As we travailed through the Country we came one day to a mountain of extraordinary height they call the Culma or Columa grown over with all sorts of trees as Sendal Danum Ebony Palmes of all sorts and others All the ground we passed over was full of Rhubarbe with leaves large and very bitter and round the skirt of the mountain Tombes orderly ranged cut in the rock ingenuously carved Maritime windes are frequent there which the Indians call Sourou and other windes exceeding drying which they call the Mounsons and the Portuguese Abrazador which consume even iron These mountains have a reasemblance of the Cordilleras of Peru of a long extent Amongst the rest there is one mountain that rain never falls upon by reason the southern windes which continually blow there force back the cloudes so as the mountain is exceeding barren The mountain of Columa being fanned with the maritime windes on one side preserves and keepes incorruptible all the bodies brought thither The other side towards the North being defended by the heads of trees enjoyes rains in abundance but both the one and the other side are fertilized with large streams that nourish these trees of excellent odour When they will bury a body they wash it and taking out the heart and bowells they burn them with Aromatick woods sacrifising them to their Duma then put the ashes within the
say the earth were higher then the heavens which notwithstanding must needs be if we allow Antipodes That the Poles held immovable are not so but that these two starres turn within two degrees round the Pole That 't is an errour the Sun should by night go hide himself under us that the two Poles are not diametrically opposite since as they say they may be seen at the same time upon sea and land though very low neverthelesse That if there were Antipodes that must be the bottom of the earth and all rivers would naturally run thither contrary to experience and a thousand other opinions as strange as absurd for want of knowledge in the spheare and Astronomy So they laugh as at a thing childish and fabulous at the opinion of the Ancients and Moderns on this side of the rotundity of the earth in the middle of the world and the Ubiquitary habitation and that the Sun turns quite round from East to West They hold for certain that the Sunne rises in all other points as they observe in Tazatay where they imagine it to rise as 't were North and North-West They think to prove their phantastical imaginations when they describe the Iliaca a bright starre in the West and opposite to that Biliaca which appears beyond the Line and is that the shepheards fear so much by the Persians called Zobona so mortiferous to cattle for which cause they house them while that starre raignes and the better to preserve them they make them turn tayle to the starre for if they face it it makes them languish and dye in the end They say that these two opposite starres may be seen in a Line at the same time through a trunck and that each moves about his Pole in twenty four houres but that these are not the same as the North and the Crusero The North being no more distant from the Pole then two degrees and a quarter and one of the other two a degree and a half onely And whereas the ancients observed onely two Poles each in his Hemisphere they make six Poles in the same Hemispheare which are Casara the pole of the World that of the Zodiack the Artick and Antartick and these two starrs and a thousand other fancies as incomprehensible as they are farr from the sence of reason and experience And that which confirmes them in their errors is that they can discerne the two polar starrs from the same place as in Japaca seven degrees beyond the Line in Java and the like in Sumatra and other parts and accordingly in travell they make a strange calculation of the distances of places They jeer likewise at the frame of our spheare and the division of the Zodiack into twelve signes some to the North some to the South and understand not this but after their own way They call the Zodiack Cazatoni that is Significator The signes they call Ant Ronia Amiessem Emisen Courpsa Cheoser Irat Metrias Escorgat Tamasee Besir Bizihir Azourac Persan the highest spheare Birquen Emine the Ecliptick Zoberna that is obscurity because Ecclipses proceed thence That the Zodiack is an oblike circle and that from thence and the Region of fire the Sun takes his course and thence makes generation of all inferiour things Like some of the ancients likewise they hold that the Heaven stands like a vault over the earth and floates and swimmes upon the waters In breife I shewed them the work of Paul Rao the Italian who speakes of all this Astronomy of the Ancients which supposes the Equinoctiall divides the Zodiack in two parts South and North at which they scoffed and grew cholerick saying so base a book was fit for the fire that held nothing but errors and wondered our Prince would suffer such frauds and impostures as they called them to be published in his Dominions they believing as well the lands inhabited from East to West as from South to North are in view of the pole Artick and that it is false there should be any part of India under the Antartick since as they think they have the North as much elevated as we in Europe and many extravagancies hereupon which I leave to be argued and confuted by the learned in Astronomy and Cosmography Hearkning to these Indian opinions I have been told that the Chineses that speculative Nation hold the Heavens to be round but the Earth square and the Empire of China stands punctually in the middle as being the excellence and Principality of the World other parts being but as the skirts and accessaries so as they were a little cholerick when they saw our cards designe their Countrey in the extremity of the East as an indignity to the Grandeur and Majesty of their Country and King whom they call the sonne of the sun And truly these poore Indians wanting the knowledg of sciences and experience are not so much to be blamed for their opinions since in the middle of sage and learned Greece there were of the ancient Philosophers that maintained almost the same that the earth was not round but some as Lucipus that it was like a drum others that it was hollow like a barke as Heraelitus others like a Cilinder or Roler as Anaximandrus and Democritus others that it was absolutely flat as Empodocles and Anaximines some have wandered as far as this Paradox to release it from the center and make it run in the heavens about the immovable sun which with no less extravagancy hath been renewed in our times But for the Antipodes they who held the rotundity of the earth allowed them not for all that holding those parts inhabitable either for being covered with innavigable seas or for the insupportable heats of the Torrid Zone even some of the ancient fathers have for other considerations been taken with this opinion as Lactantius St. Augustine and others and they say a learned Germane Bishop was accused of Heresie for maintaining there was Antipodes But besides the reasons of science experience of Navigation and modern voyages shewes sufficiently the truth of this matter whereof I leave the large discourse to the more learned CHAP. XXXVII Of Tartary Frightfull deserts fierce dogs a strange History of two lovers the Empire of the Tartars and their Religion OF Grand Tartary which lies on the North of all the Provinces I have spoken of I know nothing but by the relation I received in these parts and by the Memorialls of a certain Hollander who was at Pegu. The Inhabitants of these Countreys then tould me that beyond the Kingdom of Tazatay Mandranella Transiana and Casubi towards the North are vast solitudes and sandy deserts which you must travell for many dayes before you can arrive at a Kingdom called Sinabo which at one end towards the East confines with Cochinchina subject to the great King of Tabin or China To passe these vast sands there must be made good provision of victualls water and beast for as a Merchant of Drogomania told me a Country confining
relieve Grizalua but he returned without advancing further Cortez undertook the invasion with five hundred souldiers his Captains Auilla Porto Carrecco Orda Escalente Salsedo Olid Escouar Aluarada and others He gain'd the Kingdom with great toyle and industry defeated and took the King Montezuma afterwards being driven out by the Mexicans with a neighbouring people their enemies he returned and brought them absolutely under the yoke The Indians called him Malnixa as a God descended from heaven Amongst the Spaniards themselves he had great enemies as Garary Estrada Olid and Navez whom he routed and compleated his conquest The Emperour made him Marquesse del Valla. He was indued with all the qualities of a Spaniard vertuous and vitious He was bold valiant suddain in execution clear spirited subtle patient and resolute but ambitious out of measure cruell and libidinous He dyed in Spain at the age of 63. in the year 1546. He conquered in Mexica from 12. to 15. degrees The town of Mexica is in 19. degrees about the 8. of May and the 16. of July the Sun is perpendicular The countrey is temperate but rather hot then cold clothes there not being tedious or troublesome nor nakednesse importune or broyling The Mines are not so wealthy as in Peru but more profitable by reason of the lesse charge and danger Besides gold silver iron and brasse they bring from thence sugar cochenell cotton plumage honey wax balm amber salt medicinable drugges c. and few vessels return light which is not in Peru Spain being enriched as well from one as the other For though there is so much treasure to be exhausted yet there is not so much danger The faith hath made a farther progresse the countrey is better peopled the natives better ordered more regular better Markets of cattle horses sugars and meat wherein Peru cannot compare which doubtlesse would be better if it had more rain The natives wondring why the Spaniards were inquisitive of gold and silver at first they made them believe 't was to cure them of a pain at their heart whereto they were subject but in time they found it did hold them there indeed Cortez to bring these people in obedience to his King told them he was Emperour of all the Christians the greatest Lord on earth who had under him more Kingdomes and Provinces then other Kings had subjects That his government was founded on Justice and proceeded immediately from God that he was accomplished with all vertues and that the Monarchy of the whole Universe was by right his inheritance and other Spanish boasts and vanities Concerning the particulars of this great country besides what I have said already In the Province of Mechoacan there is an excellent root of the same name with the countrey by others called Jeheurais of the same vertue to purge as Rhubarb but more light and white and purges with lesse violence which is a great traffick in Spain where 't is worth three or four realls the pound and there almost nothing 'T is taken by the weight of a Crown pulveriz'd in an egge wine or broth I have seen greater effects of it then Rhubarb It may be kept four or five years or longer with care but there is such abundance they matter it not By information of the natives some of the Spaniards were cured of diseases by this root and so it became famous 'T is called Indian Rhubarb Amongst other trees in Mexico or the land of Caperous there is the famous tree of Muguey whereof they tell as many wonders and several uses as of the Eastern Cocos for it yields water wine vinegar oyle honey wax thread and needles so as this is sufficient to keep a man After drawing fresh water the fruit will be like sweet small nuts The water a little boyled becomes good wine more boyled like burnt wine which coagulate again excellent honey whereof they make Syrupes The first water set in the Sun makes good vinegar From the leaves issues sweet milk and out of the leaves you may draw thread strong enough to make cloth I brought with me two shirts of it and some of the fruit as perfect into Europe as it grew on the tree for the rind is very thick and that preserves it cloth made of this yarne will ever have some dark gray streaks in it About the leaves grow little prickles so strong and hard they use them for needles and sew with no other There are many who live on this tree alone which puts forth leaves upon leaves continually and in such abundance that the tree is covered over from the root to the top which makes it unshapely To make it pregnant they lay cindars to the root the wood is of such quality it endures twice as long in the fire as any other and when they will keep fire a long time they use a piece of this wood Balm comes from a tree something like a Pomegranate tree and it produces several sorts of several vertues The first is Opobalsamo excellent for wounds and the plague of gold colour like Ambar another sort is something white another sort is press'd out the leaves and sprigges burnt of such vertue 't will draw any iron out of the flesh I brought some into France wherewith I did most admirable cures of wounds and old ulcers which had eaten to the very bone In a word 't is most soveraigne for wounds paines in the sides contagions and holding a little in the mouth preserves from bad ayrs They much esteeme another tree called Cacao as the fruit is of great use and traffick which passes with them as money to buy all commodities The fruit is like an Almond a little lesse They are never without Cacoas in their pockets to buy what they want for alms or to eat and 't will keep a long time The Province of Guatima produces them in abundance where they make a precious drink of it that accordingly mixt cools or heats it makes good wine They make Cakes of it good for the stomack and ptisick 't is like an Almond tree the leaves a little broader and of a thicker body To make it prosper they plant another by the side of it 't is very tender and suffers equally by cold and heat This latter tree they call Cacaos mother because it preserves it from the injuries of the weather Whosoever hath this tree they esteem him happy and pious in opinion if he were not such their God would not have sent him this tree and when such a tree dyes they believe the Master hath committed some heinous crime In like manner they have their Coca in high esteem at Peru which being chewed and held in the mouth marvellously revives the spirit 'T is of very delicate taste whereof they make great traffick to Potossi Of the Gold and Silver Mines in Mexico I will speak jointly with those of Peru. CHAP. XI Of new Spain the Provinces thereof and of Peru. NEw Spain is the greatest
losse of their lives and having thus spent near two moneths we put to sea for France and two or three dayes had a prosperous winde which on a sudden turned to the North-East and immediately to a furious violent North-wind that drove us upon the coast of Turluru an Island near Canee which is a Haven and Town in Candia where we cast anchor to ride out the tempestuous weather Here another sad accident befell us by the malice of some of our Merchants and Seamen who reduced to great necessitieâ— by reason of their immoderate and vain expenses in Candia resolved upon a desperate course by sinking the ship to satisfie all their Creditors at a cast and sliding the Anchor on one side betwixt two waters in lesse than a quarter of an hour our ship struck on ground and they having prepared the cock-boat for their refuge about eleven at night got into it leaving some thirty of us behind them to the mercy of the waters of which our ship was already full thus we were reduced to the very brink of despair nothing but confused cryes and groanes amongst us accompanied with prayers to God whose just Judgement left not unpunished the Authours of their own and of our unexpected shipwrack for their boat being overturned within a hundred paces of the ship they were all drowned in an instant And it is worth observation that the greatest part of our company were reprobate persons and absolute Atheists for some of our Marriners seeing themselves in this imminent danger their vessel being filled with water secured some cans of wine which they pour down their throats amongst the rest one Honoratus a Marseillian put on his best apparell and with some French coin threw himself into the Sea those rascals endeavoured to prevent him inviting him to drink saying 't was better to dye full than empty but the poor creature not able to swim sunk immediately his body was within few dayes cast upon the shore the Clark of the ship stript him took his clothes and money and buried him since being sent into France to be impowered by the Merchants to receive four or five thousand Zequines which the goods and commodities saved from shipwrack were sold for he carried the news to Honoratus widow but I doubt whether he restored her his goods as he told us he did This while the greatest part of us perished on the shallowes for of sixty five persons that we were in all but five escaped whereof praised be God I was one and every man shifting for himself by the help of a planck I got to shore after I had been fifteen hours in the water and thus I saved my self together with the Clerk of the vessel After rest and victuals had a little recovered us and our Secretary returned to the sea side to view the remaines of the wrack the Consul of the French Nation residing in a Town in Canee eight leagues distant upon notice repaired with speed to us with twenty Souldiers to preserve what was saved who took good order to see the commodities dryed and restored to the right owners having taken his due fees and leaving our Secretary with the Souldiers in charge with the goods he took me home to his house and provided me clothes after the Greek fashion and other necessaries that I wanted I stayed six or seven months with the Consul who gave me noble and free entertainment for my Fathers sake whose friend and acquaintance he was expecting some ship bound for Jerusalem for I had vowed a pilgrimage to the holy Sepulcher to give God thanks for my preservation in the last great danger At the seven moneths end here arrived a Venetian ship bound for Jerusalem the Master of the ship a Marseillian by name Guillem de Cassis who stood amazed at sight of me saying he had attended at my Funeral at Marseilles and that my Parents heard I was cast away with the rest of the company and that they bore my loss heavier then that of the ship wherein my Father had halfe share as I shewed before that which losse broak my fathers partner Robert Pontoine and forced him to live privately at home then I agreed with William Cassis who was to bring me to Hierusalem and the Consul advanced me a hundred Zequines towards my journy advising me to keep my money private CHAP. II. Of the Townes of Tripoli and Damas with the relation of a Murther LEaving Canee in the moneth of August wee steered out course towards Syria a famous and renowned countrey by the Hebrews called Aram since Halad and Sabal formerly of great extent and conteined the Provinces of Comagene Caelesyria Phenicia Palestina or Judea Mesopotamia and one part of Arabia and others In the time of our Holy Warres it reached from the Tigris unto Egypt from Cilicia or Caramania unto the red sea formerly Antioche was the chief town in Caelesyria The first place we landed at was Tripoli in Syria where Monsieur Toureau a Marseillian most generously entertained us Upon the Mount Libanus two leagues distant from Tripoli you may see snow all seasons of the year you may find the Manna or Celestial dew which I often walking the fields took for snow untill tasting it I found it sweet as sugar and undeceived my self when the natives perceived me gather any they would say Nazarini coul sacor va la Tayhon which signifies Christian eat of the Manna for 't is good The river Chrysorrhoas famous for her waters rises out of Libanus and runnes through Damas there rises also another river called Magora and loses her self in Tripoli In this mount is the Prophet Josua's tombe visited by Christian pilgrims and by Turks I have heard from the Inhabitants and labourers of the Mountain that Vines bear there twice a year to which I give little credit From Tripoli we travelled to Aman three dayes journey thence this Town was formerly called Emitus by the Arabians Camahale by the Turks Amcus and by the Indians Amsa 't is a Country of Mulberries and silke wormes full of Gardens and most excellent fruits The Town is peopled with Grecians Turkes Mores Armenians and Jewes it is very ruinous nothing left entire save the Market exchange for Indian Arabian Aegyptian French Italian English Dutch Merchants they trade there in Cottons Silkes Linnens Carpits Woollens and Pot-Ashes the land is very fruitfull in all sort of fruit Corne wines and Oyles From thence 3. days journey to Aleppo some time Hierapolis a Town of the same and greater trade then Tripoli amongst others in jewells spices and perfumes my Camarade having learnt here what he looked for we went to Damas the Capitall Towne of all Syria She is one of the fairest and greatest Traders in the Countrey remarkeable cheifely for delightfull scituation healthfull ayre fruitfull Soyle abundance of waters fruites and of all sorts of commodities necessary to livelihood her vast treasures trade and number
of souldiers her faire Structures many sword knife-cuttlers other expert Artists in steele who give a delicate temper with muske and Amber-greese There I saw a Marseillian Cutler who spent near a hundred Zequins in forging one blade which was by many admired I met him ten yeares after at Paris he told me he sold the same blade to Collo Dornano for three hundered crownes Damas is scituate in a faire plaine her soyle well watered and fruitfull with plenty of Gardens and Orchards round about her she is surrounded with two mountains the one called Amon the other Sahanir There are many grots and caves as 't is said formerly inhabited by the Christians in time of persecution there is one can contain 4000. persons and without doubt are fairer and larger than those at present to be seen at Saragosa in Sicily towards the East there is a lake 7. or 8. leagues about through which run two sweet streams the one called Aman or Amma which runs by the foot of the wall towards the South the other Farfar and threds through the middle of the Town she is also adorned with many fountains the water being brought by pipes from Chrysoran The houses are built of the Moresco modell with galleries do almost cover the whole streets as at Aleppo The Town is strong and begirt with good ditches well flank'd and man'd in time of war A Bassa or Governour keeps it for the Turk who hath a strong life-guard of horse The Suburbs are greater and more populous than the Town There are twenty thousand Mulberry planters for the trade of silk and an infinite number of cutlers and other Artists in steel and iron On the East there stands a Tower where you may yet see the Flour de luces the arms of France which must have been set there when the French were Lords of the Holy land there in a little enclosure is to be seen Zacharies tomb Father to St. John Baptist a place of great veneration the Mahometans themselves celebrating the feast day with solemn rejoycings they yet shew the place where S. Paul persecuting Christians fell from his horse and the place of his imprisonment and where he was let down in a basket They shew you the place where 't is said Cain killed his Brother Abel There is an Alablaster mine affords them great store of fair vessels and other peices From thence commonly are set forth the Caravans or land convoys for Medina and Meca and to many other places of Arabia and the east The Towne is farr fairer without then within by reason of the commodious scituation and beautifull aspect but the streets are not so well contrived the Market place or Baiar is ample and faire built with Piatzza's as at Bolonia most of the houses in Town are served with fountains derived from Chrysorrhoas the graffs are planted with Mulbery trees There is a Citadell said to be built by a Florentine Renegado who then commanded it While we staid at Damas one day walking the Market place we saw an Executioner surrounded with a great crowd of people upon a tall horse and dragging a Malefactor tyed with a rope by the leggs to the place of Execution and enquiring the reason of this Justice we were told he was a Christian and had killed a judge of the Country This poore sufferer as we since understood by attestations and letters he carried about him in a box was a Frenchman and born in Saintonge his name was Roubie returning from Jerusalem where he received the Cross from the hands of the Patriarch and passing thorough this Town met a judge who according to the insolent custome of the sworne enemies to Christians with one blow struck Roubie at his feet which for the present he seemed to take very patiently dissembling the affront with resolution nevertheless when opportunity should serve cruelly to revenge it he absented himself for three whole yeares and in that time having perfected himselfe in the Turkish Language disguised in the habit of a Dervis a sort of Religious in great esteeme amongst them he weares a Cimitere by his side and a dagger hanging at his girdle to see the commands of their Prophet Nabi strictly observed this supposed Dervis begirt with his hanger returned to Damas and assisted dayly in Court the judge his enemy whose diligence to justice was held a good Omen this he practised for three whole years and more not omitting one audience in all that time dayly expecting an opportunity to revenge himselfe Upon a time hearing the judge give Sentence against an Orphan who was sued for some inheritance suddenly stept up to him and with a mortall wound on the forehead laid him dead at his feete took his place and said that the judgement newly pronounced against the Orphan was unjust and that it was fit to repeate the Evidence which without the least interruption in respect to the supposeâ— Dervis was immediately done by Councill on both sides and a Herauld openly declared that he thought it Justice the Orphan should enjoy one moity of the land in question this was spoken to the satisfaction of the Auditory but especially of the Dervis who gave his opinion and approbation in few words and at the same instant judgement was pronounced to the great content of those were cast by the former sentence his body was carried home to his house and the Murtherer highly commended for his great act of Justice Reubie satisfied in his revenge by degrees retired himself to Tripoli where by misfortune being reproached by a certain countrey-man of his who had seen him in the habit he inconsiderately confest it and the reason that moved him so to do and some Turks hearing of it they presently caused him to be apprehended and upon search found uncircumcised he was brought back to Dama where he was thus arraigned and executed and his body cast to the dogs to be devoured Not farre from Damas and the Jordan springs is the town of Philippa whence the woman was that our Saviour cur'd of the flux Belinas sometime Dan Paneas or Caesarea it lyes not far from Libanus and between her and Gallilean or Tiberiade Sea is a great vale where is a Lake swell'd with the snow that falls from the Mount Libanus through this Lake runs the Jordan and is called Es-mal-maron formerly the waters of Merac there did Joshuah overthrow the Kings of Chananee the Lake is in Summer almost drye and from thence unto Jope is a very fruitful country called Charon Towards the Tiberiade Sea there is another vale very hollow between two hills where the Sun is hardly ever seen This hill rises not far from the Sea side and reaches to Sidon or Sayette and of the other side they both reach the Arabian hills near Damas and there lyes the Country formerly called Palmyrena CHAP. III. Of the Deserts of Arabia of Spirits or Apparitions there of the Sea
from him and safely accomplish my intended journey Thus we took our way for Zibit accompanied with severall Christians and other Merchants we Inn'd the first night at a little village called Ferragous where we were but ill accommodated the next day we came to Outor a Castle noted by some travellers not far remote from the red Sea There is a deep well whence they draw water with a wheel turned round by a yoke of Bulls the water was sharp and hard but nothing brackish necessity made us like it at two leagues from Outor we left the most part of our company they took the right hand the ready way to Ziden and we followed our tract for the Happy Arabia and reached a Town called Gaza and thence to Zibit Thus we left the desert to enter the Happy Arabia which is a Peninsula between the red and the Persick Sea scituate under the Tropick Cancer her length is from the Soltania of Sanna towards the red Sea unto Agior towards the Persick gulf or the Elcatif Sea so called by the Arabians I have often travelled there for trade sake and have visited most of her Towns this Arabia is of large extent divided into fair Provinces and Kingdoms We arrived at Zibit a Town of Soltania in the Company of a Jewish Merchant native of Alibenali a great Province of Arabia and married at Zibit he lodg'd us in his own house finding he could make a gain of us accompanying us where ever we would go carrying with him on horse-back things to refresh us being a man versed in the customs of the Countrey and some reason he had to be kind to us for I am sure my camarade was so to his wife she advised her husband to be thus familiarly assistant to us and he offered me a Daughter of his in marriage beleeving my Camarade to be my Father Zibit is five leagues from the red sea there is a Haven where ships are laden and unladen and from this place commodities are transported from the India's to Ziden Suez and other places From Ziden we went to Aden from thence thorough all the Provinces of Arabia trading and visiting the chiefest and fairest Townes and Kingdomes Although there be but one great Prince named Sequemir or Sechemir chief Commander of the fairest Provinces of the Happy Arabia yet there are severall Lords that acknowledge some the Persian others the Turke The King of Bacharin or Bescharin the nearest to Persia was not many yeares since subdued by the Sophy and was likely to have given Lawes unto Elcatif had not the Inhabitants of Erit and other Neighbours opposed him with a considerable Army composed of the people of Massa or Maffa Fartac Mascalat Amazarit Jurmalamam Gubelaemam Machyra or Macyra Suza and others This army had for their General the Sultan of Sanna that commanded the Van the Sultan of Elcatif the rear and gave a notable blow to the Persian with whom since they have made a peace and have thus preserved themselves The Soltania of Tabubari is not now governed by the Sechemir but by the Turk that subdued it in the last warre against the Persian this countries sand is very different from that I have seen in other places being as black as a coale and not so troublesome to travellers being something heavier and firmer upon this countries hills you find great store of Frankincense of Storax and Beniamin growing upon trees and other sweet gummes and persons are purposely appointed to gather them all this country is properly called Sabaea so famous in ancient times There growes great store of Olive trees Myrrhe Aloes Cinnamon and Cassia trees in abundance Falcons Sparhawkes and other birds feede thereupon and an innumerable company of flies bred out of the corruption of the Cassia causes so great an inconvenience as the Arabians are forced to burne part of it and in some other places they gather it not because being remote from the sea the Portage would stand them in more then the value of the Commodity though in many great Towns they use much of it where by reason of their greate heats they distill or melt the juice out of the canes and drink it I observed that the inhabitants of Arcora Ara Teza Samacara and of other Townes and places delighted much in this kinde of drinke which not only refreshed them but loosened them also and in the Townes of Andrivara Lagi and Dante it is the ordinary drinke used the summer time The fruite of this tree being ripe hath an unsavory sweet tast Apes and Squirells flock to it to feed and another beast called Masari those of Fez call it Chicali not much unlike a Fox a beast that unburies the dead to feed upon their carcasses they creepe up the trees shake down the fruit and make a great spoyle it is that sweetnesse that engenders those flyes we have already mentioned which were no small trouble to us passing by This Arabia is full of faire great Townes whether by reason of Traffick Merchants come from all parts as are Taesa Cana Asigni and Kada where is kept the Sequemirs principall Magazine or store house The chiefest haven and the nearest to this side of the Countrey is Pecher in the Soltania of Fartac whither those of Bangale Baticala Dabul Cambaye and Malabar bring their commodities to Bartar for Aromatick Drugges which in that Countrey are most excellent but the Jewes that inhabit those places are such cheates they sophisticate all that comes thorough their hands it is a particular trade to gather the Frankinsence Storax Benjamin and Mastick that harvest is got in July during the dog-dayes for then the trees are in their perfect ripenesse they gather some in other seasons but by a different manner making an incision in the tree towards spring from those holes runs forth a licquor or gumme which thickens of it selfe and is of a reddish colour but not so strong nor good as the other nor of so great a value the gumme that issues from the young trees is whiter then that is gathered from the old ones they have Myrrhe trees too but what of that is brought in to our parts is compounded and falsified all the Myrrhe that the Kingdom of Ciussimi or Elcatif affords is for the Sequemirs own use being the most perfect and the purest what the Prince uses not he sells and is therefore called Sequemir Pure and is sold at Naban Quesibi Naziri Carmon Liva-Orba Lanua-Orba Costague Manabon Batan Caybir Jague Aloron and in other places in the furthest parts of Arabia in the kingdom of Anna through which runs the river Cosan or Cosara very swift and loses her self in the Persick sea near the mouth of Euphrates CHAP. VII Of the state of Sequemir Prince of the Happy Arabia of his Salsidas and of the Califf of Bagdet SEquemir whom we have spoken of is supreme Lord of almost the whole Arabia Felix and is called
Sequemir as you may say Holy Lord for his goodnesse and clemency because he puts none to death except prisoners of warre but when a person hath committed a crime he keeps him fetter'd in prison during life without debarring him from the sight of the Sunne saying that God hath liberally distributed that light to all persons without exception there have been twenty thousand prisoners in irons at one and the same time His Court is stately and magnificent he hath a great number of men devoted to his service who freely offer up their lives for him at his command believing they go streight to heaven dying for their Prince They relate of a Turkish Emperour returning home from the Persick war through this country desired the sight of the Prince Sequemir and of his Salsidas or Saldridas for so his devotes were called having visited him in his towne of Samacara capital of that country after many Caresses and a Princely entertainment he desired the sight of his Salsidas and a proof of that great love and fidelity they bore unto their Prince Sequemir called some of them in and only spoke these words Amissi Barou and instantly four of them threw themselves out of the window and more of them attempting it were hindred by the Grand Seignior satisfied with the proof he had already made which he held so admirable that he demanded twelve of them to take back into his Country which the Sequemir willingly granted and being asked whether they would have as great an affection for a new Master and if they would as willingly dye for him as for their old Lord one of them made answer to the Turk if our Prince commands us to dye for thee we are from this very instant ready to obey him The Turk told them in time he should have need of them and that he would preserve them and esteem them his best friends and taking them away with him he maintained them handsomely and near his person but after the death of the Turkish Emperour they all returned back to their old Master esteeming it the greatest happinesse and safety to be near unto that Prince They accompany him yearly to Meka upon the three and twentieth of May to celebrate their great feast of Romadan Sequemir wears alwayes a sheeps-skin before and behind in imitation of Saint John Baptist who is there in great respect and honour he travels a foot with his whole Court yet his Courtiers go as they please carrying their wives and other trains upon able and good horses This King is Lord of the Soltania's of Fertac Siligni Dâ—efar and other places he was once Master of the entire happy Arabia but the Turk and the Persian have got several Provinces from him his chief residence is at Almacarama or Samacara a town very strong and impregnable scituate upon the top of a high hill but two wayes leading unto it and those craggy and easily maintained against the foe the town is big and well peopled and full of Nobility and Gentry there he keeps his treasure and his women this Prince cannot be made King but by the consent of the Califf of Bagdet likewise as the Prince of Mefra in pursuance of an ancient Law for that Califf though at present retaines nothing but the bare name yet keeps his ancient and undoubted right to elect and confirm the Kings of Assyria Arabia and others and Soliman himself passing through Babylon for form-sake was installed by his hand Next unto the Sequemir are severall Officers as the Gouvera Armicahir Almiracher the Cayet the Sidibir the Admimia the Bosoldar Amiseriech the Tababait and several others the Tacay Pacou is Master of the house CHAP. VIII Of Babylon the red sea Homerites Aden a strong Town and famous Haven Cameran and other places in the red sea WE travel'd stil through Arabia from town to town venting and trucking our commodities with an earnest desire to reach Persia all the towns of Arabia are fair ones and yield a great revenue to the Sequemir between Zidem and Zibit there are several and well peopled and from thence to Aden many more Zibit is not so near Aden as by some shee is said to be as they relate Dalatia in Aethiopia to be opposite to Meka and they stand three hundred leagues asunder This Arabia joynes to Persia Northward and the way thither lyes through Taeza Sanna Soufar Erit Almacara and other towns Almacara stands upon a hill but Eastward upon Gaza a bigge town and well inhabited where there is weekly a Fair or Market kept by night by reason of the heats and there all sorts of Merchandizes are exposed to sale perfumes especially The Nobility of the Country affect much to eat Ambar Musk and other sweets the Soudan of Aden subject to Sequemir spends yearly six thousand Duccats therein for his self wife and family their kitchins may be taken for perfumers shops so sweet and odoriferous The Red Seas coast towards Aden is thick of good towns and well traded and among the Merchants are many thieves which you must have a care on you see the towns called Ahra Damican Coubita Erit Aridan Magora Rabon Salta and others with many villages subjects to the Sequemir who commands six Soltania's or kingdomes all fill'd with good towns upon the Sea side grow store of reeds or Canes which in time make little Islands rendring the landing difficult and from thence the Hebrewes call that Sea Souf which signifies a reed Caravanes come to a town called Albir or Debir and there load their wares they carry unto Babylon as we found several travelling thither I intreated one of them to furnish me with as many Maps of the chiefest cities he could conveniently for I was very desirous of them and amongst the rest he procured me the Mappe of Babylon or Bagdet printed upon a Cotton which Mappe is made in a kinde of ceremony when the Sequemir receives his Crown and blessing from the Califf of Bagdet as the most ancient of Meka and to instruct him in his way they delineate Samacara from whence he sets forth for Babylon he goes through Byr then in twelve dayes reaches Falouchia in a flat boat from thence to Babylon in one day more As we were making sale of our commodities with intention to visit the East India's amongst other things we got some pieces of Velvet which we had in exchange for our wares I shall by the way advise those who intend to make the voyage of Arabia to store themselves with great horse bits for that is a commodity goes off there at a good rate you may make your own price not exceeding ten Duccats a piece Thus we travelled through Sanna passing through many fine towns as Adimar one of the fairest of all Arabia with intention to passe over into the Isle of Cameran where were three Portugais vessels bound for Calicut but we had so ill a passage that we altered our resolutions and sailed
the coast of Avisa then to Mount Bacour where we sold our Camels upon condition they should carry our goods in to Aden within two leagues of that place The Red Sea from Suez to the Cape Cardafu is in the eighteenth degree in length four hundred leagues and in breadth fifty is navigable but not without great danger especially by night because 't is full of shelvy rocks reeds and Isles and by day besides the common Pilot they have a man placed upon the Mast to discover and direct the ship from Cameran 't is not so dangerous but we were forced to make this voyage by land to escape the dangers at Sea the water to my thinking was of the colour of other Sea-water both in her Superficies and bottom the name of red onely excepted which was given her by allusion to the name of King Erithreus who named it so or because of the sands which in some places are of a reddish colour The Moors call it Babar Corzum which signifies an inclosed sea the havens upon it are at Babel-Mandel which is in the twelfth degree 't is called by some the sea of Meka Arabia upon the red sea side was formerly inhabited by several people principally the Sabaeans since called the Homerites they received the Christian Faith in the dayes of the Emperour Constantius and some will have it that rather from thence then Aethiopia came Queen Saba and since Queen Candaces Eunuch At the end of this Sea in the Streights of Babel-Mandel is the town and Haven of Aden called by those of that countrey Adedoun a town of the greatest fame in all the East and one of the strongest of Arabia and of greatest importance by reason of the trade and concourse of all the Nations of the Indies Persia Tartary Arabia Aethiopia and the Levant she was formerly subject to Sequemir since conquered by the Portugais and now in the possession of the Turk on the land side stands that famous Mountaine Albacoure or Dartzira which must be travell'd over to reach hither the passage is streight and difficult defended by two strong Castles on each side of the way one from the top of the hill you discover Aden standing in a large plain her Haven is great and good butting upon the Cape Gardafu the Town is grown famous since the Portugais set footing in the East Indies for the Merchants leaving the red sea for feare of the Portugais rest here in their journy to the Indies whereas before they went throughout without landing here Here are unladen from the Indies and other places the Spices Aloes Brasil Pearles and pretious stones Myrobolan Safron Wax Steel Sugars Rice Purcelaines Linnens Quick-silver Vermillions Cottons Silks Scarlets Chamlets Musk Amber Beniamin Storax Azure and other Commodities vented in several places Here time out of mind were the Spices landed and from hence by the red sea and the Nile transported into Alexandria formerly they say that the Soudan Governour of this place was so puissant as to send an Army of thirty thousand horse and forty thousand Cammels to assist the Soudan of Egypt against the Christians and waged ordinary warre besides against the Abyssins Aden is well walled and fortified with several Castles on the East side on the North stands Bacoure which divides her from the Happy Arabia and on all other sides she is incompast with the sea Westward the sea enters the land so far through a gulf that you would think the Mountaigne were an Island the Haven is Eastward and large scituate under the foot of the Hill coming from Arabia you would take the towne to stand upon the top of the hill whereas it stands in a plain almost surrounded with the Sea guarded by a strong Block-house in a little Isle adjacent that defends the Towne and the mouth of the Haven as by the side of the Hill there are severall Forts that command those passages The opposite to Aden of this side of the Isle and streight of Babel-Mandel is in Aethiopia subject most of it to the grand Neguz with a creek of Sea and a fair Haven and the Cape called Foubical or Guardufu anciently the Promontory called Aromata from one side to the other the streight is forty thousand paces over and in the midst stands this little Island in length some two leagues the mouth is very dangerous to enter at low water by reason of Shelves Rocks and Reeds and a number of Isles of different bignesse some of them inhabited some not wee travelled most of them and the chiefest I saw was Cameran near the coast of Arabia in the fifteenth degree of Elevation fifteene miles round or thereabouts she hath plenty of fresh water and her Haven is of the continent side but two leagues off or thereabouts the Town is small but increases dayly subject to the Sequemir and inhabited by Moores On the other side in Aethiopia is Dalascia or Dalaca a faire Town inhabited by an Idolatrous King tributary to the King of the Abyssins since the conquest that Alexander the Preste John made of it which hath ever since obeyed his Lawes together with Rocca or Eroca where there is a faire Haven inhabited by Christians Abyssins very good people they weep for joy to see any Christians of these parts they call them Romatas or Roume make very much of them and distribute what they have amongst them according to the charitable practise of the Primitive Church They have a little higher another faire Isle called Mesua or Mezuan peopled with Christians where there is a good Haven that saves many good ships from shipwrack sayling in this dangerous sea a little above Mesua is another Isle called Ibrani on Aethiopia side where there is a good Haven and most of the Inhabitants fishermen beyond that is the Isle of Camera subject to the Preste John she hath two Havens one southward the other eastward hath good water and a good well two hundered paces from the Sea in an orchard called Magodu or Magot conteyning twenty or thirty houses and every house a boate ready to take the water to fish which is their onely livelihood CHAP. IX Of Dalascia Town belonging to the Grand Neguz of the Isle of Socotora with a description of a prodigious tempest THe Caravans that come from the Abyssins Countrey are imbarked at Dalascia or Dalaca or at the Isle of Suachen belonging to the Grand Neguz and bound from thence for the Holy Land most of these places are inhabited by Christians Suachen is an Island in the eighteenth degree of latitude drawing from east to south within a bow shoote off the Continent Dalascia belongs to the Neguz governed by a Mahometan tributary to him and allowes liberty of conscience They have fair Churches their Priests marrying as the Grecians do who are subordinate to the Abuma or Patriark of Ethiopia The air is exceeding benign and productive of all excellent fruits
fro through very many towns and countries of Persia I could not so exactly remark the dayes journies nor the distances order or proceed of the voyage by reason of my youth I will content my self to discover a view of the country as faithfully and exactly as my memory will serve And first I will affirm that Persia called Azemia Azimir and Farsi is a vast Empire extending from the confines of Turky towards Armenia betwixt the River Tigris and the Persick or Elcatiff Sea The Caspien or the Bachu the Indian and the river Chesel anciently Jaxartes Westward 't is bounded by the Turkish Empire Eastward it lyes upon the kingdome of Samarcant the Empire of the Grand Mogul and Cambaye Northward upon the Caspian Sea Southward upon the great Indian Sea towards the desert Carmania and Guzarate This Empire containes many great Provinces or rather kingdomes and a great number of fair and flourishing Towns and Cities having ever continued famous since the first settlement under the Grand Cyrus two thousand two hundred years since untill it was possessed by the Grecians and Parthians and since she returned unto the natural Persians about the year of Grace two hundred they kept it many ages untill about foure hundred years since the Sarasins and Mahometans obtained it and have kept it ever since by many changes and diverse races of Kings and Lords Arabians Sarasins Parthians Turks and natural Persians and by the last settlement of the Sophyes not many yeares since The chiefest Provinces are Sequel pech formerly Susiania Chirmania or Carmania Struan or Media Corozan Zagathay or Hircania and the Bactriane Jex or Parthia Guzerat or Gedrosia then Arac Podel Iselbas Sigestan Sablestan Chabul Candahar and others The chiefest rivers are the Euphrates or Aforat the Tigris Araxes or Arasse Oxus and others Euphrates hath upon her banks many fair towns as Babylon where inhabit a great number of Christians as likewise at Mazestan Astmosia Artasara Tunisse perbent and elsewhere who freely exercise their religion being tributary to the Prince Northward are the famous town of Giett six days journy from Solstania Saban Comer Cozan Egex Jelli Sengan Maluchia Scio Mesen Ere Then towards the Persick gulph stands Guerdi upon the river Bindinimar or Bindamach and going up the river you discover Marous Viegan Maain Sana in Media are Tauris Rip Sidan Estrana Barbariben Bacchat Madranelli Samachi and others then the Royal townes of Soltania Espahan Casbin Siras without reckoning many other towns upon the river Benmir called by the Russes Bragadet where they trade much in cloth of gold silver and silk Thither they repair from all parts of the world for that trade as from the Indies Aethiopia Arabia Aegypt Turkie Tartary and other countries which yields a great profit to the Sophy of Persia We ran through most of these towns making but short stayes but better profit of our small commodities Babylon or Bagdet so famous and formerly the eye and marvail of all the Eastern towns scituate upon the great Euphrates Erat and Aforat which was fifty miles about there is nothing remaining at this day of that ancient town but the ruines since a total destruction given her by the Sarazens about 900. years since and instead of her upon the other side of the Euphrates some four leagues distant upon the current of the Tigris and Euphrates is built the town of Bagded or at this day the new Babylon whither the remains of the ancient were transported into a town formerly named Seleucia by the Califf Almanzor or Elmantzur It lyes Northward upon Armenia Westward upon the desert Arabia upon the happy Southward and Eastward upon Persia the Tigris washes her walls upon the other side is a pleasant village with a bridge of boats rising and falling with the flow and ebbe in this Burrough is the Fair kept and here inhabit most of the Merchants who trade freely The town is large and full of Merchants well rounded both with walls gardens and Arable land There was a strong Castle well provided with Artillery where a Bassa then Lieutenant General for the Turk lived but since the Persian regained it of the Turk having ever been subject to the Persian untill it was reduced by Soliman the magnicent who caused himself to be crown'd King by the Califf living there at this present day but without any power retaining the name onely and some rights to receive and crown the Emperours of Assyria There goes from this town monethly Caravaneâ— to all parts of the world In lieu of floats they transport their commodities down the river upon goat skins blown then they load the skins upon Camels for service again at need They say that the tower of Babel so much spoken of stood in a plain some two leagues off that she was three thousand paces about and that her foundation is onely at this day seen upon a hill covered with her ruines a Merchant that had seen the place related unto me that the Tower was built with a clay or earth so strongly cimented that endeavouring to take up a piece he could not and that there was a bed or course of that earth first laid then another of reeds platted like a matte not at all decayed but strong beyond imagination He told me he had passed over the lake of pitch proceeding from a great precipice which they trade withall into diverse places and that the great town of Nineve and the walls of Babylon were built with this Bitumen they burn of it in Holland instead of Turf for it casts a great light this lake or river of pitch is between Babylon and another town called Nane whence springs this pitch distilling out of a rock in several clefts and so plentifully especially at the full of the Moon that it is both strange and terrible from thence those springs disgorge themselves into this lake of their own composing Marriners thereabouts make use of it to calk their ships The inhabitants believe it to be Hels mouth 'T is the Bitumen or soft sulphurous mould so much spoken of by the ancients which they made use of and do to this very day instead of chalk I remember I have seen the like in Albema a Region in the Indies which the Inhabitants and neighbours thereunto burn in Torches which yields so black thick and ill-sented a smoak that the very birds flying over are giddyed therewith and fall down dead In Cuba an Isle in the West-Indies is such pitch towards the Cape Magdalen in the country of Aute and Province of Apalihen which Bituminous liquor flows upon the water with such a stink that often ships lost in their road by means of the sent retrive their way Euphrates and Tigris incorporate near Babylon and both run into the Persick sea near Balsora a town of great trade fifteen miles distant from the main sea The Town of Bagded or Babylon is divided into four quarters Precincts or
differ in Religion from the Turks that follow the feast of Hamar another of Mahomets disciples and successor which occasions mortall hatred and continuall Warre betwixt them The Persians Hali was by Mahomet chosen Calife and hiâ— successor after his death but was supplanted by Ebubeker Homar and Otman from whence this Sect was divided Hali was buried at Cufa not far from Bagded this place is much esteemed by the Mahometans and the Turkish Emperours are crowned by the Calife near unto his tomb called Massadali or rather house of Ali The Turks hold the Persians hereticks and the Persians have the same opinion of the Turks the one following their Prophet Hali's interpretation upon the Alcoran the other following Hamars The Persians since the destruction of their Kings and Califes were governed by the Sophy's of the race of Ismael This Ismael pretends himself descended from Hali by a prophet named Sophy and since they retain the title of Sophy In their Sect they have many orders among others one called Sacar people using great austerities and abstinencies and are exceeding indigent they carry about the barren places and the Forest vessels of water which in charity they distribute unto the passengers in the name of Hali without exacting any thing therefore onely taking what is freely given them There is another order called Jcorma consisting of pilgrims they are cloathed in a long Cassock bare-foot and bare-legged begirt with rich girdles hung round with silver bells and are called Jonabam which means Religion of love There are others called Calenden as among the Turks those vow chastity and have places appointed for their prayers called Tachie or Tachiat upon their gate these words are written Caeda Normac Dilersin Cousionge Al cachercuir which signifies who ever enters here must preserve virginity and for this purpose they are rung with silver rings to prevent carnal copulation Next are the Deruis they wear rich rings in their ears are clothed in sheep skins and wear hangers with which they cut and mangle themselves when they feel the emotions of the flesh having eaten of a certain herb that renders them frantick and furious then they cure themselves with Nicotiane Some of them dye of those wounds which they place in the number of their Saints These Deruis are rogues and thieves kill all they meet upon the road that are not of their religion thinking they do their Prophet good service they ask an almes in the name of Hali saying Ferdaxtiay Malday Chinaila Eli this order hath not been in so great esteem amongst the Turks since Amurath was killed by one of them and that they endevoured to murther Bajazeth the second and in Persia the Sophy One of them killed a Bassa at Babylon in the voyd place called Sambacarayma which signifies a place of liberty and was not prosecuted because he was esteemed the Minister of God one of them disguised killed a Judge at Damas as I have before related There is another Sect called Durmisar and they are sooth-sayers and casters of nativities they are called Durmisarnari which signifies Prophets and Fortune-tellers they deal with the devil and the eldest of them are esteemed Saints the younger obey them as their Charif or high Priest They are abominable Hypocrites and make strange faces some of them are very skilful in Astronomy others learned in the countries lawes and others great Preachers they talk extravagantly in their Sermons and speak predictions which sometimes come to passe much credit is given to them by the vulgar as also of those of the best note nay if the Sophy himself happens to passe by the place they are preaching in he steps with all his house to hear him they have a house in Bagdet near the Royal Palace they seem to be remainder of the ancient Chaldeans or Persian Mages so famous Amongst the Persians there is a sort of people called Erade which are wrestlers they are often exposed to wild beasts armed with shining leather liquored and very slippy hard to be taken hold of there are others called Pluviander armed in another fashion these people are welcome to the King from what place soever they come be they but strong and valiant they are exercised in publick Schools and great use made of them in war the strongest amongst them commands the rest and is called Barcas and some of them will carry ten men upon their arms like kids and they will strangle a man with grasping their strength is such others are like the Arabian Salsidas that will obey their King to death it self hold their King a God and think their chiefest happinesse and salvation depends upon the execution of his command and hold it unlawful the King only excepted and their General to be subjected to the power of any man There are Aussares persons still attending upon the King like unto Xerxes his immortals In the Sophy's Court there are many places or offices as Amicabir or Captain General who keeps a great Court leads on and drawes the Army into battalia appoints the Governours to towns and places and fils up several offices using the publick treasure as he needs There is next the Naibessan or Nabassan as Lord Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer his place is next unto the Amicabir and hath a good number of Cavalry under his command Next there is the Estodar or Ostader who guards the Palace and finds persons capable for the Royal Army There is likewise L' Amirachor or Amiracher who is Master of the horse hath charge of all the horse and other cattle of carriage belonging to the Army The Caidsidibir or Field-Master and he manages or orders the battle The Cassandera Pay-Master general receives the Kings revenues to pay off the Army The Amiseralif takes a care of the Sophyes armes the Testacane or Master of the Wardrobe then the Zebedare Farassin Tabucaina and other Commanders they march in great pomp and order There are four sorts of troops severally paid viz. the Cachias persons slightly armed all gentry and very active the Athesia's that wear a Cymeter only the Caraniza or Archers armed with bowes and arrowes and Cymeters the Ageleps or renegats which are slaves Armenians Russians Guserates and of other nations all warlike and stout men keeping good order never breaking their ranks CHAP. XIV Of the East Indies the conquest of them Sects and Religion of the East and other particulars of the country HAving travel'd the chiefest part of Persia and Arabia backward and forward we returned to Aden from thence to Ormus to fall into the East-India road according to our first intention At Aden we agreed upon 't and embarked our selves with our commodities and sailed along the coast of the Indian Sea as far as Carmania Deserta Rasigut and Guzerate passing through the Cape Jacobo Guadel and others we landed at Cambay at Diu neare the
mouth of the great Indus But before I treat of that country for a clearer intelligence of the worthiest remarkes we made in that great journey I say that the East-Indies have bin discovered time out of mind since Alexanders conquests and of his successors the several Kings of Syria Assyria and Aegypt and by the Romans and in these latter ages by the Mahometans means trading in our Western parts amongst the Venetians and Genoeses and others but they have been further discovered and inhabited by the Portuguais since they found out a new way thither through Africa in the time of Prince Henry of Portugal brother to King Edward who through his rare insight into the Mathematicks first caused a Navigation to be made unto the Capes of Non and Boyador where the French having conquered the Canaries had already been since that Alfonsus the fifth his Nephew continued his discovery unto the Cape Verd and Guinny and other Kings since have reached to Conge Maniconge Angolal unto the Cape of good hope discovered by the Grand Vasque of Gama 1497. few years after the new world in the West had been found out by Christopher Columbus from hence the way is open into the whole East-Indies by Cephala Mozambick Quiloa Monbase the coasts of Aben Arabia Carmania Cambaye Malabar Coromandel Harsnique Bengal Aracan Pegu Sian Malaca Camboye Champa Cochinchine and China the furthest part of the East together with the innumerable Islands opposite to these coasts as S. Helena S. Laurence Socotora Maldives Quilan Sumatre Jave Bandan Moluques the Phillippines and the rest of the Antchidel sea or Archipelago of S. Lazarus unto Japan The Portugais made themselves Masters of it under the famous Albukerke of Goa 1510. and since of Matacha Diu Ormus and other places where they establisht their Empire trade and the Christian faith finding the wayes easie and short by their knowledge of several currants of the seas and annual or constant winds that sit for six or seven moneths together in one point and as long in another when they change as in the West-Indies the Eastern winds predominate through the torrid Zone between the Tropicks and notwithstanding this exact knowledge and practice of the Eastern and Southern Seas these two ages past many shipwracks have hapned many ships men and great treasures cast away all which the earth stript off the sea solely inherits neverthelesse 't is a miracle of providence that a handful of men with small means have bin able to establish themselves in those vast Indies to resist and overcome the oppositions of the richest and the most puissant Kings of the world and that their example hath since drawne to their mitution the English Dutch and French who trade therein great numbers In a word the Portugais in matter of commerce dealt not only with the Indians Idolaters Sarasins but also with the Mameluckes and Turks from whom they got their richest trade they have got the superiority likewise in the spiritual against all Sects long since broached by the Gentiles Mahometans Jews and the Nestorians Christians and do daily root out and extirpate those Sects and false religions not without much danger and trouble but they take the greatest paines with the least successe against the Mahometans for their liberty and sensuality hinders much the progresse of our religion although they find great difficulty in the obstinacy of the Jews and little lesse in the foolish horrible and senselesse superstitions of the Idolaters backt by long custom and more by the ambition covetousnesse and presumption of their Bramins Jogues Talipoyes Manigrepes Bonses and other of their Priests and religious of their belief from hence is gather'd a plentiful and glorious harvest by the travels and labours of many regulars and seminaries of Goa Malaco Machat and other places The Franciscans were the first labourers in this vine-yard in the year 1500. or rather sooner and the first Bishop setled at Goa was of that order in the year 1541. S. Francis Xaverius was since there who preached through all those countries and Isles unto Japan and China where he died in the year 1552. and therefore was called the Apostle of the Indies his order continues their mission thither stil where they gain an infinite number to Christianisme At Magor Pegu Sian China Japan Jaso and other places the Colledge of S. Paul at Goa being their chiefest Seminarie where the Archbishop inhabits who is Primate and Patriarch of the Indies having under him the Bishops of Cochin Malaca and Macao The Viceroy rules the temporal affaires and all Governours Captains and Governments of Africa and the East Indies are at his disposal CHAP. XV. Of Diu her state and Forts and the neighbouring Countryes of Cambayette of the fidelity of the Indian Sensalls and of the marvelous ebbing and flowing of the Sea LEt us return to our voyage and arrivall at Diu which I shall treat more fully of here as of Cambaye Goa Cochin Calicut and others having seen them often since Diu is a little neat Town scituate in an Isle joyning unto the Continent of the Kingdom of Cambaye whereof it is a part there have the Portuguais a Fort or Castle inexpugnable no man being permitted entrance there without a Cartaco or passe from the Vice-Roy and the ships pay Custom if they are small vessells they may enter into Cambayette which is the Haven of the Town The Isle of Diu is by the Indians called Marmayrdina 60. miles from the mouth of the Gulf of Cambaye and 100. from the Royall Town of Cambaye she joyns almost to the Continent in the 23 th degree and a half of elevation it abounds in cattell vast trade used by all the Indian Nations for the abundance of all sorts of Commodities which are there to be bought and sold as Gold Silver Spices Medicinal drugs Brasil Jewels Pearles Perfumes Amber Musk Mastick Cloves Safron Corrall Brass Lead Mercury Vermillion and Lacca the Town is as big as Marseills little lesse then Goa there are many fair Churches The Hospitall is large rich and very well provided The West Indians traffick here come in a shorter time and with more surety thorough the sea of Sur then by the Cape of Good Hope a very dangerous passage occasioned by the great winds and frequent tempests as you shall hear hereafter The Portuguais having taken this Town out of the hand of Badurius King of Cambaye at their first settlemen there The Town of Diu was built by a King of Guzerate and Cambaye constituted Governour there of a Melique As or Tas that made the Haven made himselfe Soveraign and was guarded by Turks since in the yeare 1508. the Natives assisted by Campson Soldan of Aegypt fell upon the Portuguais defeated them and stormed Diu severall times so fiercely that it occasioned Nonio Acugna the Vice-roy in the year 1535 to build a strong Fort with the consent of King Badurius which they maintained against the Tartars and Mogors the
strength and importance of the place drawing both hatred and envy from the Indians The King of Cambaye and other neighbouring Kings indeavoured to recover it by meer strength but all in vain for the gallant opposition and defence of the Portugall hath kept them masters of it to this day The Indians had some reason for what they did for from thence depended the whole Trade of the Kingdom and adjacent Countreyes and the Portuguais keep all that Countrey in subjection from Diu to Goa and the Cape Comarin 270. leagues in length The chiefest part of the East is furnished with commodities from hence a place very rich well peopled and full of good Townes and of great trade In the adjacent parts to Diu upon the Continent are the Kingdomes of Circan and Reytenbura where stands the Royall Town of Ardanat then Campanell capitall Town of Cambaye stands beyond the River Indus and the Townes of Albiran Casdar Masura Sudustan Abedit all great Townes rich and well traded and inhabited by many Merchants Gentills Mores Jewes and Christians in this Town Malefactors are put to death by poyson only and not by the sword Beyond the River Araba stand many fair Townes viz. Savadir Barca Bermen Patenisir a fair haven where divers of the rarest and richest Carpets of the World are made in silke and figured which are transported to Bengale Malaco and Pegu and other places there are also made Calicoes stained of divers colours which is the chiefest and ordinary cloathing the Natives use and there is brought of it into all parts of the world Halfe a dayes journey from Batenisir stands Diu upon a creek of land separate by a river from the Continent there are paid great Customes upon all sorts of commodities which brings in a great profit to the Inhabitants the King of Spain having the least share in it and what he hath imployed to the maintenance of the Garrisons most of those payments fall to the Officers and receivers shares who agree very well with the Vice-Roy The King is often of a mind to quit the Countrey but his Councill is not of the same opinion the Countrey being too considerable to their Prince for strength and reputation and besides 't would indanger the losse of Christianity that is so hopefully rooted in those parts for the Turkes assault them often and took and sack't the Castle of Diu twice and had reduced the rest of the Town but for the help of three ships that came into their assistance from Cochin that preserved the rest and beat the Turks out of what they had already got The Portuguais in defence of them and the Nations have built two strong Forts the one in the sea the other that commands all passages by Land but the Natives having often fallen upon them to their own losse are now the Spaniards good friends according unto Articles and Agreements made between them The Inhabitants of Cambaye are strict observers of many superstitious customs they will not eat with a Christian although they visit them often if you touch their meat they think themselves polluted and this they have from the Guzerates in which they are more rigidly superstitious than the Jews themselves Those of any quality eat upon silken carpets diversly colour'd and to preserve their silks serve the dishes upon green leaves they are temperate in their diet and drink of severall sorts of liquors and they mingle some Areca to them all a fruit very common in the India's it is also held very wholesom preserves them and cures them of several diseases it preserves the teeth strangely for the Inhabitants are never troubled with any pains or aches in them women are there in very great esteem especially the great Ladies who never stir out of their houses some delight themselves never to see day light and are served all by candle light The whole Countrey is inhabited by Gentills and Guzerates The justest the most reasonable and religious of the East according to the ancient Pythagorean rule they never feed upon any living Creature whatever their chiefest food is rice white and black milk cheese garden stuffe and the like they do wrong to no persons nay they spare the bloud and lives of their mortallest enemies the Countrey towards Rasigut produces great store of Turkey stones of Storax Cornelians red and white This Kingdom extends it self towards South-east and the Sea Southward Westward it buts upon Guzerate Eastward are the lands of Mandao and Paleucate and Northward it reaches unto Sangan Dulcinde and the Territories of the Grand Mogull Through this kingdom runs the famous River of Indus called Indus Inder or Schind and hath given her name to the whole Countrey and chiefly to Indostan and other neighbouring Countries which make up the India citerior her head springs forth of the Mountain Caucasus Paropamisus called at this day Naugracot and Vssonte and taking her course thorough many great Kingdoms is swel'd by many great Rivers that lose themselves in her and at last discharges her self into the Indian Sea at two several mouths near unto the Town of Cambaye Cambaye is a large and flourishing Town seated upon a River called by the Inhabitants Amondoua and separates the Provinces of Guzerate and Cambaye both making one Kingdom This Town stands a league from the Sea and about the same distance from the River Indus which affords her a haven in two places the chiefest is in a corner of the Town Northward and is so narrow that in case of necessity the ships may be chained in the harbour the ships come and go with the ebbe and flow and are often very numerous and 't is to be noted that the tides are weakest at the full of the Moon which is wonderfull and contrary to ours the reason thereof is not yet found out by any Naturalist The same happens in Pegu as we shall speak of hereafter This Town is one of the richest of the Orient built very stately at the Italian model and the passages leading to her strengthened by many forts The Portuguais have often endeavoured to possesse themselves of it being plentifully furnisht with all things necessary to mankind and here are most excellent fruits Here Diu provides her self with what she wants at home Cambaye and she being Confederates she produces the best Turbith Galanga Nardus Assa foetida and other drugs is rich in silks cottons rice and all sorts of seeds and abounds in precious stones and Jewels The Prince that governs is a Mahometan gives liberty of conscience to all his Subjects to the Christians Jews Idolaters his guard consists of 2000. horse and 3000 foot armed with bows and cimeters He keeps fifty Elephants taught to reverence him dayly and are sumptuously trapped and caparisoned upon dayes of publick shews or festivals their stable well and neatly furnished painted and well set forth and are fed in silver vessels and their grooms or Governours dresse them with great respect and humility
without ever offering any rudenesse they are animals approaching very near to reason and want speech onely to expresse themselves they understand the language of the Country and do very readily conceive what is taught them The Prince feeds upon venemous Creatures which he hath ever so used himself to that he is become venemous himself and a fly stinging of him immediately dies he presently killed all the women that ever lay with him infecting them with his breath so that he had change daily The furniture within their houses is rich which they have from the Portuguais they ride in littars and are great Lovers of Musick their houses are sumptuously dressed at Diu and Ormus many of them beautified and enriched with Turkey-stones Amarists Topases and other jewels At Lymadura a village within three miles of the Town there is a mine of Calcedonians whence they have of three sorts of them white red and mingled called Bazayora Merchants from divers places furnish themselves with many of them they saile with their ships into Nogar a Port not far from the Mine the commodities laded from this Town are transported into divers parts of the world to Ormus Ziden Meka others are transported through the mouth of Euphrates unto Bazora Babylon Byr Aleppo and Damas. The imported commodities from Meka are scarlets velvets fine woollen cloaths Iron ware Amsian which is a drug like unto Opium which the Indians frequently take chiefly in their Armies it makes the Souldiers valiant and furious fighting to the last drop of bloud and is therefore a rich commodity the Assa foetida Turbith Agathes and other jewels are brought from Diu where there are many Goldsmiths and Jewellers thither the Merchants bring them to have them cut into several figures Silks purslanes sendals velvets ivory brasile mirabolans confections and preserves of all sorts spices and all sorts of grocery come from China and from other places of the Levant The Town affords you of the best Borrax in the world Trade is very faithfully carried on there for the Factors and Retalers are persons of quality and good reputation and are as carefull in venting and preserving other persons wares as if they were their own proper goods they are also obliged to furnish the Merchants with dwelling houses and ware-houses diet and oftentimes with divers sorts of commodities the houses are large and pleasant where you are provided with women of all ages for your use you buy them at certain rates and sell them again when you have made use of them if you like them not you may choose the wholsomest and the most agreeable to your humour all things necessary to livelihood maybe made your own at cheap rates and you live there with much liberty without great incoveniences if you discharge the customs rated upon merchandizes nothing more is exacted and all strangers live with the same freedom and liberty as the Natives do making open profession of their own Religions Ivory is in very great esteem in this place and the neighbouring Countries and very much is consumed Ladies of the best note wear bracelets of several fashions made thereof and at the death of any friend or alliance they break them in many pieces which is the greatest expression of sadnesse among their sex as the shaving of beard close is to the men and when their time of mourning is over they make themselves new bracelets The Town of Cambaye is much of the bignesse of Roan or rather bigger besides the Suburbs and not much unlike unto the Grand Caire only that she is much lesse the inhabitants call her Byr Armadouar Parents that are overcharged with children sell those they have supernumerary Here I will relate you an accident that happened to my Camarade at Cambaye Having spent some dayes there trading he met a Countreyman of his born at Xaintonge who feigned himself a Merchant and a great dealer but proved at last an impostor This counterfeit under the pretense of trading stole from my Camarade a pack of wares worth 300. crowns which by the opportunity of a Caravane bound for Ormus there he imbarked himself to preserve his theft timely notice being given my Companion he pursued him in another ship together with another Merchant who had formerly been the like served in a greater consequence This diligence was a little rash for I was immediately advised by our host a rich broker or merchant that my camarade had taken his journey in vain having not with him a roll of his goods stoln nor the Viceroy's Cartaco I streight resolved to follow him with the papers and passe-port he stood in need of Cassis overtook this venturer at Ormus where he debauched at his charge and for want of the list of wares nothing could be proved against him The cheat put my companion to his wits denying whatever was alledged against him with an injurious insolence The Judge or Alcade to whom my friend had addressed himself for justice and satisfactiō weighing the others confidence with the slender evidence my friend could bring against him and having received a feeling in the case was ready to commit our friends to prison for barrettors and impostors had I not come to town three dayes after with comfortable news I shewed my self in Court and giving information of the whole truth my testimony and evidence was taken in the presence of the Alcade and a Portugais Gentleman named Seignior Jacomo de Mendez purposely sent by the Viceroy he gave me charge to take great care of my self telling me that if I were found a liar it concerned my life being sworn imposing my hand upon a Crosse held out to me upon the end of a Vare or wand I gave up my evidence at large and informed the Judicature that in the stoln pack there was a memorial of what was therein contained besides I particularly named the chiefest goods therein which Cassis had wholly forgotten Then I produced the Cartaco and other notes that witnessed the discharging of the excises and customes as by advice received from our host Josepho Groyna who witnessed the same The cheat being examined in my sight whether he knew me or no he begun his own defense injuring and abusing me striving to break my evidence by multiplicity of words with a strange boldnesse or rather impudence practised by such persons saying he had taken no exact account of his commodities pretending himself a Gentleman and not used thereunto his many words availed him little for I pressing the pack might be opened my evidence proved true and the roll compared to my book of accounts found answerable all was verified and the miserable man having not a word left in his own excuse was convicted and condemned to the Galleys during life Thus we found justice and recovered our commodities with little losse and returning thanks to Seignior Mendez we came back to Cambaye This I have related to the faithfulnesse and integrity of our Landlord and really their
Mountains of Gates one to the West the other to the East they have contrary seasons for in that that reaches from Cambaye to Comori they have their winter from Aprill to September with rains tempests thunders and windes and the same time in the other appeares a summer most pleasant and benign and in the other moneths the contrary and this contrariety in the same degree and elevation which is a wonder puzles all Astronomers and naturall Philosophers CHAP. XX. Of the Isle of Zeilan where they fish for pearles and charme certain great fishes an Idole of a Monkeyes tooth an Isle deserted for the intestation of spirits and of the Isles Maldives LEaving the Coast of Malabar and the Cape Comori that discover the Isle Malaberi or Zeilan and Geilan one of the best in all India extending from North to South Southward lies the Cape Berebeli or Berbert opposite to Comori on an other side lies the Coast of Coromandell divided from the other by a Gulfe South-west lie the Maldives Northward the Gulfe Bengala and the Indian and Sumatian sea Eastward The Inhabitants call her Tenarisin well peopled hath many great Towns faire and navigable rivers large and safe harbours this Isle yeilds such plenty both of riches and pleasures that the Inhabitants grow very grosse and corpulent and as if their bellies were blown up The aire is temperate the soyle fruitfull in all things and chiefly in wood cinamon called Esquisde the best and finest of the East it abounds also in pepper ginger and nutmeggs they gather the cinnamon in March and Aprill which cleaves with much ease then lay it a fortnight a sunning which increases it's strength and vertue They gather it but every second year because the bark of one yeares growth is little worth yet they distill it with certain juices and Ladies use them with the water to make them smell sweet mingled with orange flowers and other perfumes This tree is of the height and shape of a laurell tree bearing kernells or berries the trunk or body is longer and streighter the leafe larger and fuller of strings hath no smell at all and full ripe and ready to pill the leaves fall which tast and smell like the barke but without any vertue This cinnamon or barke newly pilled hath no tast more then any other common wood but laid in the Sun fifteen dayes gets so great a a strength that it is impossible to eat above the bignesse of a good pea such is the heat and vigour I have seen of this spice at Zeilan onely and in another country of the West-Indies 26. degrees off this side the lyne called Cheit where the Inhabitants burn more then eat of it they use it in their sacrifices and to burn their treasure in The Arabians call the Cinamon Quirsa the Persians Darchini the Zeilaners Cardo in Malabar 't is called Camea and by the Malayans Caysmon That country abounds in most excellent fruits pasture and all sorts of beasts in Elephants and all sorts of fowl which are very cheap Most of the Inhabitants plant Cinamon and make great esteem of the oyle they draw from it which is very odoriferous and useful for many things There are gold and silver mynes but they have great want of workmen For the Islanders are slothful and vicious The country is well stored with butter and hony but not in sugar which is brought them from their neighbouring countries There are many mynes and precious stones and jewels whereof the most in esteeme is one of Rubies which is at one end of the Isle towards the East and although they are not of the best in the world yet they are passable There are Chrysolites Topazes Jacinthes and Granatts At one side of the Isle called Betala Batecalon there is a fishing of pearls dangerous for the Turbets a fish that devoures both fishermen and nets yet they have an art to charm them and make them uncapable of doing harm They fish for pearl only in April in other places in May and in some others in June The King receives great profit from this fishing taking the tenths of the fairest for his share 'T is said that the King hath the fairest and largest Ruby in the world called Matouca and that a Prince of Tartarge offered him a fair and rich Province in exchange In a word this Isle is one of the richest of the world and of great commerce in all commodities which renders the King both wealthy and potent for from the Ruby myne alone he deduces a vast treasure though he hath sold a corner of it which is of great value yet all those that surpasse four or five Abir or Carrats belong unto him The Rubies of Pegu are something high coloured and the finest of the East The Master workmen can adde to their colour and make them finer in which they shew much experience In this Isle the Portuguese have a Fort on India side without the town of Columbo by which means they keep the town in subjection All this Isle for the most part is governed by a King elected like him of Ormus but this King is not tributary to Portugal as the other is so that he stands but in a voluntary subjection having permitted that Fort for commerce sake esteeming the Portuguese valiant and faithful to their allyes This King hath formerly possessed great territories and kingdomes in the continent He is a Gentill in religion magnanimous and liberal Governs his subjects in peace and quietnesse and keeps good correspondence with his neighbour Princes The Isle is held to be 500. miles about The people are rather fair then Brown there dwell no Jewes but many Mahometans Both men and women are richly apparelled begirt with girdles of jewels of value Women do but overcharge their eares with pearles Rubies and Diamonds The country language is the same as is spoken at Malabar There grow great store of Oranges in this Isle and the Inhabitants delight in eating the rinde which is as good as those of Lemmons They drink Areca and other delicious drinks mingled with sugar and cinnamon They make some drinks will inebriate like wine both men and women drink of it and when they are intoxicated they go to sleep They have five sorts of Date trees which augments their trade there grows a herb called Nabuc whereof they make oyle as well tasted as that of Palmes the cinnamon oyle is too strong The Inhabitants of Bengale and Coromandel trade much in this Isle whither they come to truck Indian rarities but they go as much to make merry and carrouze with them as for commerce they eat Rice-bread as they do throughout the Indies Trees are green throughout the year and one fruit extrudes another the soyle is so fertile the trade of Cinnamon belongs to the King onely as do the mynes gemmes gold and silver the best haven of the Isle is Camouch or Cosmuche at the mouth of
stories of the beast and actions worthier a rational then an irrational creature I was told most strange things of the animal That Agarida had five sonnes by him all gallant men without the least shape or resemblance of the beast That they left the woods at ten years of age and built themselves a Cabbin or house to dwell in But one of Agarida's Brothers hunting in the woods kild Sagistan with a dart She enraged with disdain sent her sons to her fathers Palace to revenge him and accordingly they kild their two Uncles Ismahan their Grand-father endeavoring to have them seized on and ignorant who they were was slain also with two of the five brothers The other three escaping made themselves so Formidable that none durst meddle with them and hearing of the King of Bisnagar's wars they offered him their service bearing for arms the figure of Sagistan their father The King informed of their strange birth and adventures gave them great commands in his Army their behaviour shewed their desert for they exploited so high and unconceivable actions that one of them married the Sultane of Bisnegar the other the Sultanes daughter from whence sprung that illustrious family of the Sagistans that hath given the name to that town whereof those two brothers were the first founders This was related me of this history or fable rather held for a verity in those parts to this day all Peoples States Townes and illustrious families have their springs and beginnings fabulous and Romantick I have heard a story affirmed of a Spanish Captains wife caught in adultery with another by her husband for punishment he was satisfied to expose them both into a desert Island the man presently dying the woman was accosted by a great Monkey or Drill by which she had two children and at the three years end a ship sayling by discovered this miserable creature liker a phantasme then a human creature she naked with teares in her eyes begged to be released from this horrid and cruell captivity which they did and reembarking the Monkey perceiving full of rage in her sight tore his whelps in pieces and threw them at her she was carried to Lisbon where the Inquisitors informed of her case caused her to be apprehended and had been proceeded against had not Cardinal Cayetan the then Popes Nuntio taken her cause in hand and setting forth the violent necessity she was forced to to yield to that beast that had found her sustenance for three whole yeares saved her from the execution and she ended her dayes in all holinesse and sanctity of life and repentance There are many ancient and modern histories to this purpose all which I refer to Naturalists and Divines CHAP. XXII Of the kingdome of Bengala and Ternassery of musk some rare remarks of the River Ganges of the Torrid Zone and the conversion of a young Prince Idolater to Christianisme FOllowing the coast of Coromandel and the gulph Bengale you come to Ternassery which is held to be between the Cosamba of Ptolome a kingdom lying between Bengal Narsingue Orixa and the sea the Capital town bearing the same name is scituate upon the side of the sea and a fair River called Zayta making a little Island where stands another town of the same name She hath plenty of all things necessary to life Their cowes are low and their horns grow only skin deep The sheep have neither horns nor wool their skin as smooth as a calves there grows great store of long Pepper called Casay they preserve of it and eat it all the year long with sugar vinegar which gives it a pleasant taste in the middle of the Isle is a Lake that breeds good fish better then any the River affords it is called Ademas It affords you Trouts the most savory fish of the East Pykes and Shads taken in March only are Sea-fish They never eat the head because there is a worm found in it which makes that fish chuse the rapid waters and swim aloft by the streams affording him much refreshment The Town of Ternassery is large and pleasant well built not walled on the River side but strengthned by some Forts well fortified and provided she is scituate in a plain with a Castle on the North with an inclosure or Parke fenced with a great ditch where the Queen keepes a breed of stately Mares given her by her Father who recovered them of an Indian Prince that owed him money which he could no otherwise recover for in that Country horses beare a great value The King of Ternassery is provided with good Cavalry which renders him potent and formidable he is of Person strong and Robuste and wars continually with the King of Narsingue and Bengale The Narsinguer would indamage him much did he joyne with the other but he is so generous he scornes it This King is a Gentill and hath above a thousand Elephants trained up to Warr and of the largest size of the East covered to the very ground with beefes hides and severally trapped those hides are fastned underneath the belly with iron chaines and are hardly got off four men may fight on their backs at a time without the least incumbrance to one another bearing broad bucklers made of Tortoyse shells taken in that River he that rides the trunk to guide the beast is the best Armed of the five because he lies open to the enemy their darts have three very sharp points or heads with a ball of iron upon the middle which serves for counterpoise 'T is a warr-like Nation yet curteous civill and voluptuous they have fair women which they Court and Treat in gardens full of rare fruits They have Cattell Poultry and fowle of all sorts they delight much in perfumes in their meates and dresses and chiefly in Musk called Sagay The best Musk is not drawne from the codd nor blood of the beast but from a certain swelling or rising upon the lower part of his belly at the full of the Moone and that is the sweetest of all for there gather the humors mixt with the blood and Impostume-like rise and break which dryed cast so lively and searching sent that it drawes blood from the very nose The codds and skin with some of the flesh are tyed fast together from which they draw their ordinary Musk mingling therewith a little of the better sort I quartered at a Jewes who confest to me he had drawne thirteen or foureteen codds or bunches from one beast They are of the bignesse of a Goate and have foure teeth bigger then the rest two ascending streight upward and the other two oppositely descending Their childrenweare of those teeth about their necks set in silver gold as in some places of France they wear wolve's Persons of Quality set them in a wood called Betell that hath a strange vertue against poyson called by the Aethiopians Euate whereof they make dishes and trenchers of severall sorts much esteemed and
sought for by the Great Ones studded and garnished with gold and silver jewells ivory and hart's-horn which they hold to be an antidote against poyson which I have experienced in many other diseases as the green sicknesse in women taken in the juyce of a reddish cich pea boyled with harts-horn poudred mingled with steel the weight of half a Crown with the double quantity of sugar taken every morning for twelve or fifteen dayes together This is an approved and infallible remedy against the green-sickness and jaundize yellow or black they have a beastly custome to betray the virginity of their young daughters to any strangers that are not tawny be they Christians or Mahometans but not to Gentiles nor Idolaters the women burn themselves after the decease of their husbands From Fernassery we passed to Ausly a Town upon the North of Narsingue on the east of Bengale and lyes southward to the main sea Governed by a Mahometan Prince Potent by sea and Land and sworn enemy to the Portuguese with whom they make Warr. The Town is provided with all necessaries for Warr and hath a large Harbor of capacity to contain a good Fleet the mouth thereof Southward which is chained in in case of necessity He is Master of another Town called Quelba since Maturane strong and well furnished with shipping and small Frigates wherewith they scowr that sea to the damage of the Portuguese they often fight on both sides reduced to streights This Kings Treasure chiefly consists in three Diamond Rubies and Jacynth mines besides all sorts of Groceries and Spices Their frigats or Busses are caulked with a certain hearb and Mastick is used in stead of Pitch They are built in such a manner they can hardly sink and saile with much security The Vice-Roy of Indies being upon a time informed of that Kings intentions to send his fleet to the Grand Jave to wait for the Spice fleet he set forth two great men of warr with two more St. Maloes men who drawing towards that Haven feigned an escape from shipwrack and the better to play their game tore all their sayles in peeces hiding their Canon and Soldiers under Deck They met with those Busses loaden and returning home desired their assistance to hale and tow them along unto Maturane that there they might mend their sayles and they promis'd a reward for their service the Mahometans enemies to the Christians resolved to conduct them thither and there to use them at will and having tow'd them two nights and a day to that Haven suddenly the others plaid with their Canon and seizing unawares of the place made great slaughter amongst those miserable creatures burnt their fleet sack't the Town and full fraught with rich plunder they retired The two French ships not satisfied with the pillage let the Town all on fire which was easie to effect as I have said of other places the houses were all thatched with palme returning homeward not victualled sufficiently for so much company their thoughts having been wholly taken up with Treasure they cast the men over Decks and landed the women in an Isle The mean time two Portuguais ships sayling by and seeing the Town a fire the Inhabitants fled seized of the Haven plundered the rest of the Town at leisure and loaden with rich prises they found in a Magazine untouched They retired with their booty ignorant of the cause and manner of the destruction of the Town such are the good and bad fortunes of sea-faring men Leaving the Coast of Coromandell we came to the Kingdom of Bengale the chiefe Town whereof beares the name or at least so called by the Portuguese and other Nations by the Natives Batacouta one of the greatest antiquity in the Indies Some would have it to be old Ganges a Royall Town upon the River Ganges This Kingdom of Bengale was 300 years since subdued by the great Cham of Tartary freed her selfe since and after that conquerred by the Parthians or Patates and is at last and remains stil subjected to the great Mogull Prince of Tartary and Supreme Lord of all Indostan and yet there remaine some Lords in that Countrey that are Soveraignes and obey the Mogull in a Noble manner This Kingdom reaches 200. leagues upon the sea side and containes the Kingdomes of Sirapu Chandecan Bacal Aracan or Mogor and others The Inhabitants of Bengale are Idolaters Mahometans and some Christians for there are Portuguaises and Fathers of the Society The Town is scituate upon one of the mouthes of Ganges whereof there are two Principall in regard that river as some persons believe with what reason judge ye is one of the four rivers of the Terrestriall Paradice called Whiton or Giho The opinions of the Antient and modern Authors do not agree whether 't is the true Ganges of the Antients or whether old Ganges be not rather a Canton in China or some more Eastern then this is I leave to be decided by the most curious and shall only say that the Portuguese take this for the true one relying chiefly upon the name Guenga or Gangen which she retaines to this day and 't is confirmed by many relations from the great Kingdom of Tebet or Tibet and Cathay and the Fathers of the Society say they have followed that River a great way since their leaving of Lahir The Moors and Gentills hold there is much holiness and vertue in that River-water and wash themselves therein thorough Ceremony and Superstition as you shall hear hereafter They say 't is the best and the wholesomest water in the World and sent for 500. leagues off Forty or fifty thousand persons bathe themselves therein at a time and many Kings come disguised thither her head springs out of the great hill Inde not far from Indus the Natives think she springs out of the Terrestriall Paradise at the mouth of the River is the Gulfe Gangetick or Bengale 500. leagues in circumference containing the Coasts of the Kingdomes of Narsingue Orixa Ternessari Bengale Pegu Sian and others unto Malaca I have been told that a Frenchman named Malherbe Breton a great traveller had taken a particular view of this River and had gone 400. leagues up the River and that she hath three Mouths or places she disgorges her self into the sea the one toward Pegu the second in the middle that makes some Islands and the third in the Country of Chingara and each eight or ten leagues over That at Labas a Royall Town of Mogor and fourty dayes journey from Bengale towards the North This River is a league over her mouth towards Bengale is in the three and twentieth degree The Kingdom of Bengale borders Northward upon Tartary or Mogor and is bounded by the River Hieropec sometime Hyphasis that looses her self in the Indus the bounds of Alexander the great 's Conquest 's in the East Eastward is the Province Edaspa that joynes to the Kingdom of Aracan on an other side is the Province of Mien
by their enchantments reduce them to such miserable conditions and make many a dainty bit of them being possest of that notorious imposture of the immortality of the soul and that she transmigrates from one body into another and often into strangers and therefore they make very much of them and when one of them dies they either bury him privately or cast him into the sea that he may not be devoured These Canniballs say we are very ignorant to suffer mans flesh that is so sweet and delicious to rot under ground The King keepes his Court in Gazima guarded by women which he trusts rather then such unnaturall and sanguinary men he maintains three or foure score of the handsomest he can pick out armed with Bowes and Arrowes and Cimiteres They are expert Archers he traines them up and sends them to other Maritime Towns as Japatra and others Though these Islanders have many gold and silver mines yet they dare not digg them for going almost naked the stones fall so sharp and keen upon them they are not able to endure it neither do they value that treasure at all being very well stored with flesh fish herbs and fruits all in great abundance but as I have said they are very likorous of mans flesh and of their neerest kin pretending they do it thorough charity as they may not be consumed by the wormes I was informed by a Merchant of an accident happened to two Fathers of the order of S. Francis pushed on with a fervent zeale to endeavour the conversion of that Countrey by the help of the language they had learnt but they got nothing in requital but scorns and jeers of those Barbarians who let them live believing their Idols would revenge them but some of them beginning to taste and disgest their rationall discourses it bred some differences amongst them of which the King being informed and fearing that their instructions might bring prejudice unto his State commanded the good Fathers to be thrown into the Sea those villains unwilling to lose their flesh drained their bloud dry and fed upon it then brought them to the publick place of execution dead and disfigured All those that had tasted of their blood dyed suddenly by the permission or vengeance of God which the King hearing of asked why they were not drowned according to his commands and their false Priests replyed it was not in their power to kill them but the King satisfied of the manner of their death all astonished went to his Temple to ask his Idols forgiveness some fourty Dutchmen having lost their ship upon a shelve saved themselves upon this coast but taken by these Islanders were cruelly murdered and eaten The Inhabitants of Japara a Sea Town adore the Sun and are all flat-nosed have great eyes and are thin bearded like the Chyneses They eat bread made of a root they call Igname or Gouera their complexions the womens especially are rather fair than black they wear nothing on their heads but their naturall hair platted like the Italian Curtizans and if any person offers to cover them with any thing they are in danger of being abused to death Their houses are low being but one story high for they will suffer nothing over their heads they are all Pyrates Thieves and Magicians they are skilfull in Astrology They obey and reverence an old Magician called Manguin as their lawfull Prince when any Pyrates land upon their coast to rob them of their cattle or other commodities the Wizard makes a round hole in the ground and causes some young virgin voted to be sacrificed in their feast of Fotoque to urine therein and at the same time there rises a storm so that the theeves have onely time to save themselves flying to their boats and if any are left behind they are devoured nor do they kill them out-right but prolong their dying pains they pinnacle them and deliver them up to the fury of the children who put them to tedious torments walking them about the Town and expose them to the scoffs and abuses of the multitude some will clap a pompion on their heads hung round with plumes of feathers and every woman and child runs out with their bodkins and aules to prick and torment them then having walked them warm as they do the Buls in Spain to make their flesh tender they cut them in pieces and divide their flesh if there be not enough for them all they play at ball for it and the gainers treat their friends therewith This is the sad fortune travailers are subject to who according to the Spanish proverb Buscan la vida y topan la muerte searching for life they find death 'T is very pretty sport to see them play at that sort of ball or tennis which they call Masiris without ever striking with their armes or hands but with their feet knees head elbows heels and other parts of the body with great dexterity Bantan is the chief Town of the Isle with a good and commodious haven where the Hollanders have a Magazine or Store-house and whither many other people for commerce do resort as Chyneses Guzerates Portuguais Persians Peguans Milacans Turks Arabians and others This Town is of the size of Roan peopled with divers nations the Chineses have a Temple wherein they adore a triple-crown'd Demon offer fruit and other things to him and they say because he is malicious he must be appeased and that the great and good God hath no need of such offerings or adorations They bring into this Town their silks jewels and other rarities here their King resides a Mahometan who governs his own subjects and strangers with great justice allowing all persons free liberty of traffick He is a great Politician well belov'd and honoured by his subjects and observes good orders in commerce wherein consists the glory of his greatness of late the English and Dutch have traded there with good success and very few years since some French have travelled thither and have been courteously received they have a great esteem of the King of France and have permitted Dominicans sent out of France to inhabit there and promise them favour and assistance The commodities that go off best there are iron and steel lead paper and sulphure At Fedeyda a Town in Java is got the best amber-greece of the East that which is found in Aniane an Isle adjacent is equal unto the former in goodnesse Not long since the greatest part of Java and the adjacent Countryes as Bali Madura and others obeyed a potent Prince or Emperour who kept his court in the great town of Demaa and sometimes at Japara he was a Mahometan the Portuguese relate how he had a mind to propagate his law and observing the King of Pasaruan an Idolater to slight it he resolved to invade him with a strong Army made up of his own subjects and the Portuguese of Malaca his greatest
with a prodigious History of Serpents LEaving all those Isles to return into the Continent over against Sumatra Northward stands the Town and Kingdom of Malaca where is that so famous a spot of land with her Cape and Streight called Sicapura at one degree northward Malaca is a potent kingdom formerly the golden Chersonese as some yet hold and the Ophir of Salomon because much gold is found in many places of Sumatra contiguous to the other the Ancients believed her joyned to the Continent as you have heard already This Country obeyed the King of Siam untill a Lord of Java subjected her and by the assistance of some fishermen and Pyrates built the Town of Malaca Since the Malacans became Mahometans trading with the Persians and Guzerates and at last Alphonsus Albukerke surprized the Town for the King of Portugall it is the center of the East for trade and the mart for all Merchandizes of the East-Indies which improves her in grandeur treasure and power The language is esteemed the smoothest most elegant and copious of the Indies as the mother of all their other tongues which they diligently study they are much addicted to Poetry Amours and other Gallantries Malaca is scituate upon a pleasant river called Crisorant alluding to Chrise or land of gold which others rather believe to be China and Japan this river is not altogether so big as the Thames and divides the Town in two parts coupled by fair bridges stately built as is the rest of the Town The people are very civill of a good stature but a little tann'd the Country abounds in fruit subject to the King Siam though the Town belongs to the Portuguese where they have a strong Fort and a Haven that brings in great Revenues by reason of the customes imposed upon the infinite number of Merchandizes are imported from forreign parts Those imposts or customes were formerly paid to the King of Siam The Captain hath two good ships well rigged and man'd with which he scowres those seas and sailes into China loaden with wedges of gold and silver cloves pepper cinamon linnen and woollen cloth scarlets saffron corrall mercury vermillion and all other exquisite commodities of the Indies and brings back from thence silks purcelaines satins damask harts-horn musk rubarbe pearles salt-peter iron ivory boxes and fanns These two places are eight hundred l. distant and a great river upon which they say ships are drawn by Elephants to Quinsay capitall of Tabin or China where the ships arriving salute the King with three peeces of Canon and the Town with one if they think good then the Captain setting foot on land is sworn upon the Kings Picture that he comes Bona Fide to negotiate and then he is admitted The ayre of Malaca is not very wholesom to strangers nor natives From Malaca we went to the Kingdom of Siam very potent formerly containing many Kingdomes Their neighbour the King of Pegu got many of them in a Warr he maintained against Siam for a white Elephant which the Peguans adore and ever since the Kingdom of Siam hath been weak and divided into many Provinces or Dominions where the King is hardly acknowledged formerly it contained sixteen or seventeen Kingdomes or Principalityes and did reach from Tanansterin or Tarnatsery unto Champaa above 700. leagues from Coast to Coast between Malaca the Isles Pacanes Passiloco Capimper Chiammay the Lahos and Guttâ—s 'T is called the Empire of Sornao the King Prechau Saleu who kept his Court at the great Town of Odiva whither the Kings were tied to come yearly to acknowledge the Princes and pay their tribute kissing the Cimiter at his side Then by reason of the great distance and the many Rivers which lengthen their journeys and render them difficult he remitted this kind of acknowledgment to be made to a Lieutenant or Vice-Roy in the Town of Lugor neerer and more commodious This Country confines upon Pegu westward northward upon Chiammay southward towards the Province of Caburi and the main sea and eastward upon the Gulfe of Cambaye 't is one of the plentifullest and best Isles in the world abounding in all fruits victualls silver mines iron lead pewter salt-peter sulphure silkes honey wax sugars sweet-woods benjamin cottons rubies saphyres ivory and great plenty of all spices and other commodities imported from other parts The inhabitants are not warlike The women are very lovely and well disposed they are richly adorned with Jewells their coates tuck 't up to their knees their feet and legs bare to shew how they are decked and loaded with gemms they weare jewells upon their armes also their haire is platted and covered therewith in imitation of the Peguans They are carried in chariots richly covered their gownes open before discover their naked breasts their smocks being likewise slit when they walke they hold both their hands before them to hide their nakedness and yet so as t is plainly seen They say that custom was first brought up by Queen Tirada the wisest of her time and her bones are to this day kept with great reverence perceiving her Subjects to be besotted or violently addicted to Sodomie she thought by such charming allurements to withdraw them from that bestiality as indeed they are since wholly taken off from that abominahle sensuality and in truth that Countrey women are very faire and well shaped they play upon certain Musicall instruments which they are diligently instructed in from their infancy the men may marry two wives but they pay double customes for the second and most of them therefore are contented with one the women are very tractable humble and discreet their greatest care is to be beloved of their husbands They cruelly sacrifice Virgins and their manner of burying the dead is as inhumane for as soone as one of their alliance is deceased they erect him a Monument in the fields according to their conditions and abilities then they shave their whole body in signe of mourning Women cast off their jewels and are cloathed in white the doleful colour there all the deceased's friends and alliance are invited solemnly to attend the Corps to the Interment The Corps is clothed in a rich habit exposed upon a Chariot in a bed of state and drawn by six of his nearest kindred of the best of his family and six more of his best friends covered with an ash-colour canopy and of the same colour his Relations are cloathed before the Corpes go six flutes who with two kettle drums or tabors make so lamentable a noise that it drawes teares from the Assistants The slutes are hired and discharged by the Publick drawing neer to the buriall place they throw perfumes upon the Chariot This done they all retire the parents and kindred only excepted who strip the body and make it clean multiplying their cries and lamentations then roast it with their sweet woods gather round about it and with many sad groanes
feed on in the Indies mean while our Geographers are mistaken who say that the river that runs through Tangus is the same that waters Pegu although they be different countries and remote This River rises at the Lake Chiammay passes through Brema or Brama washing in with her waves refined gold which she drawes from several mynes the country is full of She runs through the kingdom of Prom where are the famous towns of Milintay Calamba and Amirandou Those territories joyn to Alva then to Boldia called by the high Indians Siami where they are very courteous and it passes for a Proverb courteous as a Siamite Siami is a vast kingdom called the Empire of Siammon Then to Berma or Verma whereof the capital is Carpa and butts upon Tazatay and the kingdomes of Pandior and Muantay The King of Pegu subjugated the kingdom of Berma two years after he conquered Siam then there are Vilet Abdiar and Caypuma whereof the chief is Canarane of which more hereafter The King by his Talcada or Lieutenant hath conquered many other countries who subdued all the Provinces of Siam Berma Javay Manar and others unto the kingdom of Perperi Tarnasseri Maragoura Guertale Langoura Nigrane and Joncolan that touches Malaca Winning Siam he got Ban Ploan Odian Macaon and others conquered before by the King of Siam This Prince is a great lover of strange beasts and hath of divers sorts brought him from all parts of the world and land at several places as at Dagon two dayes journey from Pegu Martaban which is four at Guzan two dayes journey from Caponin where beginnes the great Gulph of Saharic at the mouth of Caypumo This River with that of Ava and Siam overflows like the Nile from Mid May to Mid August which improves the Country very much she draws refined gold by wyres wherewith the King enriches his Temples and Idols for gold and silver in those parts are but merchandizes their coin of brasse lead and pewter called Ganze or Ganza and any man coins with the Lieutenants leave who is Generall That coin is currant thorough the kingdom of Tauay the last of the territories of Pegu in the middle of the Province of Manar watered by that famous River of Marsina or Menan Pegu is so temperate that 't is green all the year long the people are rather whites than blacks and well shap'd women amiable gay and neatly dressed There are many hermaphrodites as at Sumatra There is plenty of pepper vermillion mercury cloves They make Chamlets hangings of feathers silk stuffs have store of rice and beasts for chase They want nothing but good horses which the Prince is curious to procure from other parts bating merchants their imposts to bring of them in The Kings Palace stands at the farther end of new Pegu sheltered from the Northwind by a little hill there grow all sorts of trees five sorts of palm trees inclosed with a wall like a park where they keep all sorts of beasts you can meet with in any part of the world which the King carefully seeks after never regarding each price as it appeared by that long war made by him and the King of Siam who refused him the white Elephant to put into his Calachar or park 'T was Aleager or Chaumigrem King of Pegu begun this cruell war with an Army of a million of martiall men two hundred thousand horse five thousand Elephants and three thousand Camels The Vaunt-guard was composed but of 50000. horse he sack't and ruined his principall Town Lagi or Siam which was reputed to be twice as big as Paris and thrice as Fez. The siege lasted 22. months From Pegu to Siam 't is sixty five dayes journey by camels he took all his treasure wife and children and brought them prisoners into Pegu with the white Elephant This deplorable King reduced to extremities cast himself down from the highest turret in his Palace and broke himself in pieces some of his daughters and Princesses made themselves away with a hoop or circle of iron edg'd about that closed it self when they thrust their necks therein with their feet in a noose hung thereunto which strangles them immediately and if Adigola and the other Ladies had had time they would never have been brought away alive there was but one Lady saved wife to the Grand Mogull's Son This Prince followed the Peguan Army to recover his wife was taken prisoner and by his frequent prayers and desires he obtained leave to visit his wife and mother-in-law The King himself gives them much comfort by his visits representing unro them the change and revolution of affairs he gave them freedom and remitted them ransomlesse sent them all back again with many and rich presents and married the young Prince to his Lady who were before but affianced conducted them to his confines with great honour and magnificence whence grew the greatnesse of the Mogor Mogoz or Mogull tributary to the King of Pegu who hath since broke his faith making himself a Soveraign You hear for what reasons the King of Pegu waged this war that bred so much ruine and desolation for a white Elephant onely a fatal and unhappy beast as Sejans horse hath proved to all that ever possessed him and hath cost five Kings their lives and whole Estates as it happened to the last King of Pegu who had it lately taken from him by the King of Aracan by the treachery of the King of Tangus his Brother-in-law White Elephants are very rare yet they are so besotted as to adore them at Siam festivals were kept in his honour called Quinday Pileu which is to say honest mens delight The King of Pegu drew four in his coach and I believe that in the rest of the East there were not more to be found The Kings Palace called Chalousbemba was built square with a Dosme at every corner stands the statue of a Gyant of polisht marble who Atlas-like upheld this goodly fabrick and are represented with such tortions of face you would think they complain of their load The stone 't is built with is smooth and resplendent as glasse for the adjacent forrests and gardens are therein perfectly discovered 'T is inviron'd in with a deep trench you enter over a draw bridge thorough a gate of excessive heighth and strength where are the figures of a Gyant and his wife each of a piece and of a mixt coloured marble the pavement is of the same and represents like the Sea this massy structure They spare neither gold nor azure and in Galleries you shall see carved the Histories of all the wars those Kings have made against their enemies From thence you descend some steps of marble into a lower Court encompassed with ballisters or railes where there is a pleasant fountain whence the water is conducted into severall gardens by pipes the gardens fenced with strong walls one of them is three miles long where grow various sorts of trees
Lances of for Horse-men as the Mores use and of the strongest they make Chests or boxes for they never break of others they make hoops barrels and halfe barrels to keep their drink or water in There are of them of an incredible size In this country as well as throughout the Indies they bear a great respect to the Image of the blessed Virgin and to the memory of Saint Thomas who hath wrought many miracles in the country He raised from death to life a brother of the King of Granganor who became christian thereupon and built a Church upon the side of a little hill near the Sea dedicated to that Saint and left great revenues thereunto which are continued to this day but are very ill deserved They say that the same King of Granganor and another brother named Abanachacon and that the King of Pegu desired S. Thomas to vouchsafe him a visit who promised to become a Christian upon condition he might enjoy all his women which as he alledged he could not live without by the frequent prayers and intercession of this Saint his concupiscence was wholly allayed and asswaged and in a vision this King thought himself dipped in a pond by three celestial vertues to cleanse him of all filth and sensuality from thence lifted up into heaven and made partaker of the heavenly glory and received knowledge of his salvation and was baptized by St. Thomas and by his good prayers obtained of God Almighty that his tomb built of transparent marble should be ever full of that water wherein he was purified that shortly after this King ended his dayes wounded in a battle he fought to assist a Brother of his against King Sangiscan The Bramins who at present have the possession of this Church where stands this Tomb say that his body is covered over with water to this very day which is seen through the transparency of the marble at the light of three bright-burning lamps and that this Tomb is four fathom height raised from the ground This they relate of it And I remember I have seen at Arles in Rolands Chappel in the Church of St. Honoretus an ancient Marble monument replete with water which increases and diminishes according to the motions of the Moon and let the air be never so hot or dry yet at full Moon the Tomb is full of water They relate as much of another in the Church of St. Severinus in the Suburbs of Bourdeaux a German Lord visiting this wonder assured me he had seen the like in Austria as at Verona in St. Zeno's Church the sepulture of Pepin King of Italy Son of Carolus Magnus is seen full of water many things are naturally known to rise and fall according to the course of the Moon as the ebbe and flow of the Sea stones plants and animals They hold that St. Thomas as I have already said was martyred at Granganor by a Huntsman making his offerings to Oysima their three-headed Idol who shot the Saint with an arrow aiming at some wild beast much more they relate of this glorious Saint which they hold by tradition although the ancient testimonies have left us little of his memory The Ecclesiastical History saith that his body was translated from Meliapur or Calamina to Edesse from thence to Ortuna in Pouilla The Christians that are in the Indies who stile themselves of St. Thomas and say they are instructed from Father to Son by that Saint are Nestorians and infected with many more heresies for to this day they are instructed by the Syrian hereticks Those Indian Kings rely much upon Magicians and Conjurers the King of Pegu maintains one in his Court to foretell what he desires to know he was called Bongi or Bonze as their sacrificators are called a bruitish man addicted to all sorts of vices and abominations yet he is the Kings minion He carries ever in his hand a very keen hanger like a Turkish Cymeter onely more bow'd dressed in two Monkeys skins which he wears the one before the other behind hung all over with bells to the weight of fifty pounds which make a hideous noyse upon a time the King taking the air in a chariot spied one of his choicest Ladies at a window he sent for her to take the air upon the lake in a barge or Gondola covered and richly adorned they were no sooner both in but a sudden and dangerous storm arose from the west that overcast and clouded the skies The King presently called to his Bongi to clear the air the Conjurer immediately made a hole in the ground wherein he urined and using strange Conjurations many Devils came forth of the earth making a most horrid and fearfull din and howling scattered the clouds and tempest the King made with all speed to his Palace putting no great confidence in his Duma for fear of being overturned The Enchanter full of mirth and vanity threatned with his Cymiter the tempestuous winds jumping and leaping incessantly he made a confused noyse with his bels and mad-man like ran to the Kings Palace-gate where he skipped and leaped until he frightned and scared away all the birds and tame beasts that were kept in the Park 'T was the same Magician who as I have already said treating of the Maldives undertook to bring birds and beasts out of the inchanted Isle of Pallouis and was soundly beaten for his rash undertaking and brought back onely with life enough to witnesse his shame The great Cham of Tartary entertaines of those Magicians and puts great confidence in them but more of them hereafter As throughout Arabia they obey the Seque or Sequemir in spirituals so do they in the Kingdom of Pegu their Abedale of a Sect called Abedali and there are of them at Malabar They are Santons or Hermites otherwise called Jogues and by the Mahometans Marabouts A people that observe a religious poverty holding property in nothing of austere life and as the Guzarates never feed on any animated creature Though ready to perish with hunger they ask nothing but the people furnish them abundantly with all necessaries If any one have rob'd murther'd or committed other crime he presently repairs to his Charif who supplies the place of principal Abedale confesses entirely what he hath done and the other enjoyns a punishment and penance according to discretion Though he perpetrated all the iniquities on earth if his Superiour give him absolution no man can further question him or call him to account Sometimes they punish with death as it happened to one Vldarin a Native who in a savage quarrel having killed and privately buried his Brother under a tree confessed it to his Charif who caused him to take up the dead body and seeing it so cruelly dealt with condemned him living to be buried together with the dead Another time he caused another to be cast into a pond for that he had denied their Duma These people have abundance of zealous
being come to their fifteen yeares one said to the other Brother it must be you that must murther me for I will sooner dye a hundred deaths then do you the lest harm imaginable the other reply'd believe it not good Brother I desire you for you are as dear and dearer to me than my self But the Father to prevent the misfortune resolved to separate them whereupon they grew so troubled and melancholly he was constrained to protract his design till an occasion happened that invited all three the Father and two Sons to a war betwixt the Kings of Narsinga and Pegu upon Title of Territories one detained from the other but by mediation of the Bramins a peace was concluded upon condition these two young Princes should espouse the two daughters of the King of Narsinga and the King of Baticalas Sister two Princesses of transcendent beauty and that the King of Pegu on him that should marry the elder should conferre all the Countryes he took in the last war with the Kingdome of Martaban and the other Brother besides the Kingdome of Tazatay should have that of Verma which containes the Seniory of Zait that payes yearly for tribute twelve pearles weighing two Serafs of Gold and of intire perfection These contracts agreed upon were signified to the two Princesses of Narsinga who though then very young told their Father they consented to the marriages but on this condition that their husbands happening to die before them if they made not voluntary sacrifice of themselves it should not be imputed an infamy to them because they were unacquainted with them This was agreed to and the Nuptials consummated to the generall joy of all men for the common peace accompanied them and great feasting there was every where The one of these Princes stayed with his Lady in Narsinga the other went to possesse the Province of Verma lands spaciously divided so as a long time they were without inter-view visiting each other onely by missius and presents of value or curiosity Now it fell out the King of Tazatay was engaged in a sharp war with the King of Mandranella and sent to the two Brother-Princes his Sons for aid who both hastening with a good strength of Souldiers one knowing nothing of the other the one declining his direct way marched up to the enemy and in a bloudy fight defeated him thence went to present himself to his Father but by sad destiny on the morrow his Brother arriving from Verma with his Lady in the evening came secretly into the Town to visit a Lady once their ancient Mistresse the other Brother being on the same design they met at the Ladies gate by night not knowing one another where furious with jealousie after some words they drew and killed each other One of them dying amongst many other things said he gave humble thanks to God that he had prevented the direfull destiny of his Horoscope in not making him the assassine of his Brother as 't was prejudicated Hereupon the other finding him by his voice and discourse drawing near his end himself crept to him and embraced him with tears and lamentations and so both dolefully ended their dayes together The Father being advertized of it seeing his white haires led by his own fault to so hard a fortune overborn with grief and despair came and slew himself upon the bodies of his Sons and with the grief and tears of all the people were buried all three in the same monument which shews us the danger of too great curiosity nor is it an easie question how this can be found by knowledge of the stars or if they are things inevitable which I leave to be decided by the more learned But before I end this Chapter I shall observe that amongst such a diversity of Idols as well of the great Corcouitas who is the principal and most ancient on whom all the others depend as of the Oysima the promotor of all things and diverse other strange and horrible shapes every one with Temples and Sacrifices peculiar amongst all this they have as I said the image of the blessed Virgin with her infant which with lighted lamps they honour reverently These lamps are not of glasse but Talc stone of which they have abundance whole mountains at one point of the Countrey eastward They work it very artificially and make of it severall sorts of Utensills compounding the mettle Calin so much esteemed through the Indies from Persia as far as China like silver but as easily melted as tin Of this they likewise make their windowes and lantorns lantorns they likewise make of the triple coloured tortoise shell I spoke of before I omitted to tell you that for their dances they use a sort of pans which being wel handled yeild an elegant melody but to play well requires long practice They have other Musicall instruments not of use in Europe amongst the rest a sort of pans flat and double the cover whereof stands two fingers distant set with wyar strings they call it a Hydrac it is tedious and difficult to learn For the quality of their yeares I could not well understand their manner of account but in generall I find they reckon by Moones as the greater part of the east and their dayes by the sun out of these Moones they raise five dayes allowing thirteen Moones to the year and the fift day being come about midnight they make a solemn sacrifice in their Temples where they universally meet I conferd with some about this matter who told me the Peguan year was like that they use in China which is Lunary and that they compare it as neer as may be to the Solary for their year consisting of twelve moneths twice in five years they gain a Lunary month making that year of thirteen Moones so as they have no knowledg of the golden number nor the nineteen years circle and the anticipation of one hour and twenty eight minutes which remits the new Moones to the golden number with them is accommoded by the annuall supputation for they neither have nor will have a perpetuall Calander but at great charge print every year a new one which they send through all the Provinces of China It may be our Peguans would imitate this after their fashion and according to their understanding which is very weak for such matters which the best wits amongst us find task hard enough Of the Philosophy of the Indians and their opinions in Astronomy and Geography I shall say something hereafter Before I leave the state of Pegu I will not omit what some of the Peguans told me and have mentioned in writing in their Travailes That some yeares before we arrived there was in the Countrey a King of the ancient Royall Race who had many Deputies in the Countrey of Bramaa towards the Lake Chiamay amongst the rest one in the Kingdom of Tangu that rebelled against him defeated and slew him and made himself King of
towards Macharana a dayes journey and a halfe from thence which I may reckon about fifteen leagues and came to a Village entirely surrounded with Palisadoes close by a pleasant river wherein we saw diverse women and girles bathing and smimming as it is the generall custom of the Indies where the women are as expert in swimming as the men and some take great delight in it so as to be more proper they shave all their haire except a lock on the fore part of their head The women of this Countrey have all very black hair which they hold for a great beauty with a white plump body They use an oyle called Quinzin which dyes their hair and makes it shine like ebony We were at a brothers house who had foure beautiful daughters shaved in this manner only a lock on the fore part of their head as it is the fashion throughout the Indies though in some parts they shave only the girles of eight or ten yeares old These maids brought us certain coros to eat with them called Budomel in shape like a quince with a thin skin upon it which bruised betwixt two stones yields a kind of musty flower but laid it the Sun or before the fire becomes like wheaten starch boyling it with Cocoes of Palm mingled with yolks of egges and sugar they make the most delicate dish India affords Of Poultry and Turkies they have abundance as of white and gray Partridges and Pheasants which are there as domestical as Turkies Peacocks both wild and tame of no great price their money except the royal coyn is all tin or brasse They have for another dainty a grain in the Islands called Bindi very small and black they boyl it with milk and sugar or honey drawn from Palm and eat it upon broad leaves which serve but for once they invited us to this as a great dainty Still as we travelled through these parts we were every where troubled with Apes and Monkeys which haunted us continually and whensoever we rested they were importunate to get something of us 'T was our custom in the fields to erect a little tent of cotton cloth with a pole in the middle and cords to hold it and having made our repast we went to rest while two stood Centinel to see that our horses or beasts of carriage strayed not away There is a kind of beast called Azoufa which haunts most commonly Church-yards to scrape up dead bodies and feed on the flesh whereof they are very ravenous I have seen many of them at Fez Morocca and other places in Africa where they call them Chicali I my self saw them one day pull up one of our company that died suddenly There is another beast called an Ira exceeding greedy of mans flesh they go in heards and if they meet with any straying they will devoure him these likewise unbury the dead for food but the skins of these have an odour so excellent that nature seems to have given it them that men may be incited to hunt and take them for the repose of the living and dead Really the importunity of the Apes is great and troublesome but they take good order for them by shutting them out of the high wayes as every one hath notice to do carefully but the Azoufa and Iras are both troublesome and dangerous Throughout these countries there are abundance of other wild and sanguinary beasts as Tygars extremely fierce and are not daunted with men though never so troop'd and armed They are as big as small Asses and go night and day in great heards their heads are like the Cats of Suria but more furious a Lions paws and their colour white red and black and very shining The skins are very precious with them because from Persia Indostan Samarcant and China they come to be furnished here The King and and the whole Court make a great businesse of this chase and take a strong number along for it though notwithstanding some still come to misfortune at narrow passages no man dare assault them for they will fly most furiously at men on horse-back strangle and tear them to pieces in an instant and in another instant leap away to flight so swift 't is impossible to reach them the Kings make this chase their delight and glory and the people pray for him for destroying this pernicious race They likewise chase the Elephant and Rhinocerot beasts so huge and robustious there needs both art and craft to take them for the Elephant which they call Cheses and Gusier is so forcible and impetuous they could never gain him but by means of a female as I said before As to the Rhinocerot there must be good heed taken of him because he is armed from head to foot with his dark gray horn on his nose exceeding sharp of two foot long his scales not penetrable by any thing whatsoever of Chesnut colour if they can lay hold on man and horse they will fling them six paces from them At the Escurial in Spain I saw one that was brought from the Indies but because he had overturned a Chariot full of Nobility though fortunately no harm was done the King commanded his eyes should be put out and his horn cut off The difficulty was in the execution for they were constrained to put him in a close place to bind him which was done with so much trouble and danger that nothing more for he wounded and maimed divers there was one Casabuena a bold resolute man who to prevent danger put an armour of proof under his Cassock the beast came upon him with such force that he threw him against the wall with such violence he was carried forth for dead bleeding both at mouth and nose The Duke of Medina advised the King to kill him with a Musket because he had maimed a Gentleman of his one Cavalier Mortel but the King would not and at last they compassed their ends and his eyes were put out and his horn cut off By this we may see how dangerous the chase is They are chiefly found in Bengala Patana and Macharana There is another kind of beast like to our Wolf but black and so fierce they will venture on a man armed with sword and buckler and he must quit himself well to escape the skin is hard as a Bufflers The Indian Kings delight much to see the fury of this beast exercised upon some unfortunate criminal and 't is lamentable to see how they will tear their throats out For this purpose I remember the King of Casubi had a great black Monkey chained who armed with his staffe the King would set to fight against a man such as came without arms he strangled but he met at last with an Indian so valiant and resolute he subdued him and ordered him so handsomely the King gave him to him for his trophy He made him cleanse the streets and carry
Corpes again that nothing as they say may be wanting at the day of Resurrection For this purpose there are six men engaged who buy their offices of the King and whosoever will cut a Tombe there must pay great rates to the King Their burialls are so considerable to them that so soon as they are marrried they provide for it By the way I shall tell you they are much inclined to divorces which they may make three severall times and accept again but not the fourth time for he must stay till the wife be married to another and after divorce she may marry with her first husband and the children stay with the father As to the dead bodies they who order them cleanse them exceeding carefully putting within them a perfume like Mastick then the ashes put in again as I told you the Nubis or Priests in their Ceremonies recommends them to their God with severall prayers and having dined with their kindered six women approach the corps with loud cries and lamentations which last till evening meanwhile six sworne men put the body in a sheet of Chantli or cotton the better sort have Taffeta with cotton under or over so disposing the hands that one lies on the eare the other stretched down by the thigh Then having watched by it all night they restore it to the kindred to be laid in a coffin and thence to be borne to a Tomb at the foot of the mountain where they remain incorruptible as well by reason of these drying winds as a composition they apply There are abundance of them in this place and if any through fatnesse which causes humidity and by consequence putrefaction chance to be consumed by worms they hold the soule that left this body lost and condemned to darknesse amongst the Devils When they bear the body to the Tomb they go all bare-headed and the women their hair dischevelled weeping and lamenting but wear no sort of mourning onely their nearest kindred will be shaved and abstain from eating Betel In this Mountain there are intire dryed bodies which they say are of seven or eight hundred years and this is the right Mummy brought into severall parts of the world For that Mummy that is taken out of the sands is a meer fable since there is nothing but bones to be found there the rest being eaten by the worms CHAP. XXXVII Of the Kingdom of Tazatay and the Philosophy of the Indians WEst of Transiana lies the kingdom of Tazatay or Tasatail otherwise called the red kingdom or the land of Liarrean or Hiarcan and the Kingdome of the Sun for the severall apparitions the Sun makes there during his twenty four hours course as they say While we were in Transiana a Country appertaining to the Empire of Pegu hearing speech of Tazatay and the wonders of a Mountain there I prevailed with my companion to go thither so with an Interpreter two small Elephants and two Hacambals or Camels we parted thence leaving all our goods and Merchandizes with our Host having registred them in the Casa de la contration in the Indies thoroughout there being such order that a Merchant can loose nothing though he should dye all being faithfully kept and restored to his heirs paying onely the dues of custome and impost After three dayes travaile we came on the top of a mountain where there was a small Town called Brasifir here we had convenient accommodation that night in the morning going down we crossed a River and came to the other great Mountain we so much desired to see that appeared exceeding high and arduous neverthelesse having ascended about two good leagues we met a man mounted on a Dromedary coming down the Mountain and asking him if we had far to the next habitation he answered we had but the tenth part of one Sun as through the Indies they count Suns that is by dayes journies Then travailing about an hour we came to Tambo and alighting from our beasts that were all in a water for the difficult travaile we found there plenty of provision for our refreshment There was a good old man and his wife that gave us freely what they had and amongst other things Areca the best methought I ever drunk At the same time there arrived a man we took by his carriage to be a fool he sate down with us at table neverthelesse would eat nothing but what we entreated him to and while we were at meat he told us severall stories answerable to the opinion we had of him Our Host asked us if we would not go see the Lord of the place at his Chabacaran or Palace to which we agreed and went this visit on foot for 't was on the top of the next mountain not far off Being arrived we went to make our respects to him and he returned us great civilities and discoursing of our voyage he told us 't was truth that at the top of the Mountain the Sun rose three severall times in four and twenty hours as we might easily perceive if we ascended whereupon out of curiositie I requested my companion we might go thither early in the morning and hereupon I asked the Lord being there two houres before day if I should see the rayes of the Sun he told me for this purpose I must be on the top of the Mountain upon a structure we saw some two leagues and a half above us in a bending of the Mountain and that below where his Castle stood it was not seen but twice a year that is once three houres before day and another time an hour and a quarter before Sun rising and seeking to be informed by the most ancient Inhabitants they all told me the same thing But I found my companion so incredulous of this matter as he had reason that we desisted and on the morrow took the way to return whence we came and since meeting with a Gentleman of great curiositie he told me he had been in a Countrey beyond Swedeland where for four moneths together the Sun continually appeared which must needs be in Lapland in seventy eight degrees from May to August And a Merchant of Sabooram assured me that in his Countrey the longest dayes were one and twenty hours of Sun with little or no night which is in about sixty four or sixty five degrees Hereupon I will say something of the Astronomy used amongst these East Indians their opinion is the earth is not round but flat and that there are not nor can be Antipodes else say they there must be two suns one to lighten us the other them that there is but one Hemisphere for the Sun and Moon to move in that the sun is not of the bignesse we make it nor so great as the earth whereof it is but the sixtieth part that the Sun never leaves our Hemisphere no not by night but then conceales himselfe behind certain Mountains That 't were a great folly to
Eastward upon these Kingdomes the deserts of Arabia are little in comparison to them and when I told him the fourty tedious days it cost us betwixt Suria and Medina through the deserts of Arabia he answered this was nothing in respect since by the help of guides they might here and there find a well whereas in the deserts of Asia in two and twenty dayes journey together nothing was to be found but sand and that one day as he travailed along with the convoy by misfortune one of the jarrs of water broke which was a great mischiefe to them and a very important losse being forced for want of it to kill one of their Camells to drink the loathsome water within him and eat his flesh He told me then for more commodious passage above all things it was necessary to provide good beasts and chiefly Persian Asses the best beast the world affords for carriage and the most proper for those wayes and are worth as much as a good horse That after these sands they came to huge Mountains absolutely barren which in my opinion must needs be mineralls but they try them not they are so far distant and the way so troublesom I observed in my East and Western voyages that where the Mines of gold silver and precious stones where the Mountains were ordinarily barren having nothing growing about them as they observe of the Calanfour or clove which suffers no plant near it The Merchant observed likewise that in these Mountains which must be those the Ancients called Juac dividing high and low Asia there are abundance of serpents of prodigious bignesse but are more advantage then damage to them for being free from venom and of an excellent substance and nourishment they eat there nothing else As I remember I saw in the Mountains of Syr in Africa For passing these Mountains and lodging with the Arabians under their tents 't was our admiration to see huge serpents play with children who would give them morsells of bread But to return to our Tartarian Merchant he told me that having passed this Mountainous Country they came to another desert of twenty dayes over void of all food where he was constrained to stray a good dayes journey to hunt for water and other commodities and this too with weapon in hand because there lives a certain Horde or nation of Shepherds or Tartars Nomades who keep huge Mastifes the most fierce and bloody in the world which indeed have more of the wolf then the dog they keep these dogs to destroy passengers on the way to which they train them for diet for themselves He told me that about three yeares before this breed of Rascals were almost all devoured by their own dogs after their cruell usage of certain Merchants who passed that way these to revenge themselves made an Ambush and having taken them served them as they had done others He told me many other curiosities of this country and amongst others that about twenty years before he passed by the Isle of Volmous or Ayman near to Cauchinchina and the country of the Meores that the people are haughty great souldiers well clothed and very civil lovers of honour and vertue and of complexion rather white then black that the land is full of impenitrable Forests but well stor'd with Venison and betwixt the Mountains good pasturadge that they had there a potent King by the title of Emperour on the day of his birth wearing on his head three Crowns in form of a Tiara for the three kingdomes he possessed that this Prince was King of Sinabo the Magers and Patanes Amongst other particulars of this country he related to me a strange History if it be true Thus that in a mountanous country vulgarly called Ismanca very fertile where there are clownes very wealthy in cattell whereof they drive a great trade as also in skins of divers beasts there was a rich shepherd called Ismahan who amongst other children had a daughter of excellent beauty who according to the custome of the country kept her fathers flocks This maid of twenty yeares of age loved a young shepherd her neighbour and kinsman but poor and to whose Father the rich shepherd had sent some corn who seeing he could not be paid and being aware of his daughters affection he told his debtor that on condition he would send his son to live in some remote parts he would forgive the debt which the other did the young man being thus banished by force the maid was extremely afflicted and as one day she walked alone in the fields lamenting the absence of her beloved Liza so he was called a Fiend in the same shape appeared to her and demanded for whom she was so much tormented since she had him assuredly present and that he loved her more then the world besides Some say this poor young man being banished the presence of his dear Mistresse sought out a Magician who promised he should see and enjoy her but bringing into a room to him a spirit in the form of the maid as the spirits of joy and love made him fly to embrace her the Demon strangled him afterwards taking the shape or rather the body of the dead youth continued his visits a long time to the maid whereof her Father and Brothers having notice resolved to surprize him and in effect breaking up her chamber door they found a stinking carcasse in bed by her at which both she and the rest were extremely frighted and the King of the country having notice of it sent for the maid to know the truth which she related as it was The King sent her to live with an Aunt of his where they say the Devil still frequented her and would visit her publickly in the shape of her friend wherein she took extreme content nor could she be disswaded from his conversation How I know not but they say she conceived and was delivered of two children who grown up became the most valiant and strong in the country so as since spirits are incapable of generation as the best Divines conclude we may suppose this was the youth himself who by the Magicians means enjoyed the maid and was afterwards killed by the devil that abused him and indeed some authentick authours mention such another History of one Phillinnion and Machetus and others But let us come back to Tartary where I learnt many other things of one Amador Baliora a Limner with whom I met coming back from Pegu and saw good part of his Memorials He had been in the Indies twelve or thirteen years and had drawn the plots of several Towns excellently well insomuch as having escaped shipwrack and arrived in health at Diu when all his company was hanged for his qualification the Governour saved his life and he drew him many exquisite pictures for which he gave him five hundred Croysades He had about fifty
draughts of the principal townes in the Indies Persia and Tartary and had leave of the Vice-roy to draw the plots of as many more as he would his design being to compile them in a large volume and present it to the King of Spain but I understood afterwards that returning for Europe he died upon the sea of Scarbut and for that his Comerade had disgusted him he would not give him his memorials and draughts but by Testament bequeathed them to the Captain of the ship he was in Joseph Grogne a Portuguese esteemed a Jew though he dissembled the Christian The Memorials was a great losse for besides the draughts there was abundance of remarkable singularities he had noted in his travailes whereof the Captain made small account for that he had written them in French which he understood not and withall in an imperfect and bad character But the plots and draughts were excellently done and besides the deliniation of the towns he had drawn the inhabitants and their garments to the life I drew some my self though rudely which is not hard to compasse THE SECOND PART OF THE TRAVAILES OF VINCENT le BLANC IN AFRICA CHAP. I. A generall Description of AFRICA HAving left the East Indies as I said in the former part of this work towards the end and having taken the road of Africa Westward the first land we came on was the Isle of S. Laurence Before I relate the particulars either of this Isle or other places I have seen in Africa I conceive it not improper to draw a general Description of this third part of the Universe as well for that I have traversed it from one end to the other in three severall voyages as to shew the errour of modern Geographers who in their Maps of Africa have left out more then fifty kingdoms or Provinces of note as I sometime made appear to the late Mr. du Vair then chief President of the Province and afterwards Keeper of the Great Seale of France And first to take it from the streight of Gibraltar or rather from Porto Farina towards Tunes to the Cape Bona Esperanza the greatest extent from North to South there is found to be seventy degrees which are above two thousand leagues And from Cape-Verd to Cape de Guardafu or Guardafy from East to West there is near upon eighty Degrees which are about two thousand five hundred leagues of Teritory comprehending a space most prodigious such as our Europe is a very small matter in comparison of the greatest part lying betwixt the two Tropicks the rest on this side and beyond For from the kingdom of Budonell passing through the Negres lyes Eastward the Empire of Tombut or Tombotu by the Arabians called Iza containing thirteen large kingdomes watered by the famous River Nigrite or Niger with Senega a part of Guinee Melli and many other Countreyes as far as the Cape Verdi The people here so savage they scarce know how to speak so sordid they eat beast-entrailes uncleansed and so brutish they are more like ravenous dogs then men of reason The people toward the Western Coast are better civilized in the Provinces of Gavaga Azemay Galata by the Arabians called Abugazai or Zenaga and Azanaga and on the Coast of Cape-blanc where they drive a great trade in white salt Senega where the River Niger waters large territories abounds in Crocodills and fish with which it furnishes Budonel Meli Gago Guber Agades Cano Gazena or Cassena Zegzog Zanfara Burneo or Borno Gangara Gaoga and others where it reaches The kingdome of Gangara contains seven others as that of Borneo nine who to gain a single dominion have often come to Battell but in the end satiated with blood were constrained to agree again Then have you the kingdomes or Temian Daouma Medra Benin Gorbani Giafiar or Biafar Amas or Amasen which towards the South fronts Damula and Vangue lying towards the Zaire From Senega towards the North we find Scombaya Musmuda Zenera or Havia Gumea Guzula Hea Sus with others called the Whites of Africa who speak not Arabian but use the tongue of Songay as they term it Likewise the usuall Language in Nueâ—edia through the kingdomes of Terga Gaziga Lemta and Berdoa These people have a black or gray cloth hanging from their Turbith over their face that while they eat their mouth may not be seen which were a great incivility There are moreover the Countries of Guzulan Belu Benin Belbee Toga Afar Alates Crin Beni Gumi Muzali Abubenam Zuir Cazai Dura Zinzaler and others The vast kingdome of Fezor Morocco contains Agar or Agal Elebat Eris Geres Elcanus Elegazar or Elgezair with the kingdomes of Tâ—nes Bugie Constantine â—ipoli Telensin Tremesen Telche Teâ—esâ—e c. There is here a River which issuing from the bowels of Africa passes through many countries and threads Fesse where it seâ— three hundred and threescore mill-wheels of extraordinary compasse at work and gliding from thence under Miquinâ— and Elcassour throwes it self in sea at Mamocre under Arache little distant from Arzille Towards Tombut and Meli on the other side Senega lyes the wide-stretcht kingdome of Gago the King whereof is highly potent compelling in a manner adoration from his people who how great soever speak not to him but on knees holding in their hand a cup of sand which they cast on their head while they prostrate before him and retire without tergiversation He affords not audience to his subjects but at certain houres morning and evening and when they are found guilty in any crime he chastises them with confiscation of goods and sale of their wives and children for slaves to strangers The two great Rivers Niger or Gambra and Senega Wash a very great part of the country overflowing in the same sort and times as Nile doth Budomel which is in like manner a River of the same denomination as the country it travailes through unites it self with Gambra and the kingdome of Melli is upon a branch of Senega environed with dismal deserts and impenetrable Forests This river on the North and South is banked with the Deserts of Gilolef and Jalofel on the West it hath the vast Forest of Abacara and Gago on the West Next you come to Guber Mount Chigi or Gigi or Sierra de Meleguete then Guinga or Guinee or Guinoy These people are all black like quenched coles Salt in the kingdome of Gago is more precious then gold which there abounds as likewise Fruit and Cattle Guber abutts Northward on Cano Eastward on Zeger or Zegzeg a woody and desert country peopled with an infinite heard of beasts In these Deserts you meet with Cassena then drawing towards the Cape of bona Esperonza You enter upon the kingdomes of Benin and Zanfara under the Equatour well inhabited containing in length two hundred and forty leagues where from mid May to the middle of August it rains for the most part and almost constantly from noon till mid-night as I have
observed it to do in other countries under the same line In fine so fertile are these countries that like those water'd by the river Nile they yield two harvests annually and each harvest of sufficiency to furnish the people with provision for five years Whence it comes that storing up their corn in Cavernes under ground which the Moores call Mattamorres calked against moysture with a cement made of Sea-shels where being first dryed in the Sun they keep it what time they please they never think of sowing more while they have any thing to live on so as the land being thus laid up at rest becomes more fertile Their sheep breed twice a year and often two or three lambs at a time The Cape of Palmes is in the territory of Isma towards Guinnee with the Castle of Mina which the Portugues built upon this coast drawing towards the Cape de bona Esperanza the kingdom of Manicongo extends it self from the River Val de Biraco or da Borca as far as the River of S. Paul This River da Borca otherwise called Rio de Los Reyes is a quarter of a dayes journey from that of Agina or Asicera True it is there are Maps which place it near to Biafar though it be distant thence more then five hundred leagues Biafar lying near to Amasan and Medra the cause of this errour is that they take it for the River called the Infanta of Portugal which on the East hath the River Angra which waters the Town of Masire or Maciera directly over against the Isle of S. Thomas and fronts the great kingdome of Damute through the middle whereof passes the River of Bancara Vibris and Vamta with a branch of Noir all which conjoyne in Zaire Zaire overflowes like Nilus and runs through many countries some Mahometan some Pagan who adore the Sun and about the break of day compose themselves on some eminent place to make their Salema that is their prayer at his Rising casting themselves covered with a large cloth a hundred times to the ground and kissing it most devoutly Some say that these two great kingdomes Damute and Monicongo bound upon Goyame or Guiame which by reason of their great distance is most incredible It is rather on one side for on the South and West side Monicongo is divided by the River Bancara which lyes three degrees on the other side the line and two from Cape de Lopo or Loubo at his disgorging near the river Gouan or Gabam not far from the Cape Gonzal and the Cape St Catherine directly opposite to Cape Primaco something near the Torrent of Fremo which the Natives call Gouira The last Cape of Damute is Almada or Almadias into the Gulph whereof one branch of Zaire and the River of Saint Helen issuing forth at the same place do cast themselves having on the North Abidara which joynes it self to the Cataracts On the West the land of Jair and Gubara on the East Cogira where begins the Cape de Corrientes twenty four degrees from the South Next we come to the great Empire of the Abissins containing more then thirty five kingdomes insomuch as some would have it equall with all Europe The people for the greatest part are grosse and bruitish clothed with beasts skins though the country abound with gold which the Rivers wash in with their streams The women carry their Infants at their back in Goat skins and never go into the field without their staffe and victualls and cast their hanging breasts over their shoulders for their children to suck For the generality they are a very wretched people subjects to the great Neguz who Commissions certain Deputies for administration of Justice amongst them But these Deputies finding them so voyd of reason retire themselves to Townes twenty or thirty leagues distant and the others will not afford the paines to go so far so as when any difference happens they entreat the next Passenger to decide it and in case he refuses they way-lay him with bow and arrows and by force oblige him to give sentence which be it good or bad is observed most religiously for recompense presenting him with some beast to carry his baggadge most commonly with a Dent which is much like to a little Mule only it hath a hogs taile and little horns which grow only skin deep which it moves as the eares and is much more swift travelling on the sands his hoof will burn and cleave so as 't is impossible to get him wag a foot then their only way is to make meat of him his flesh being exceeding delicate though without salt not long to be kept from corrupting to worms The greatnesse of this part of the world is particularly seen in that we find within it a hundred and fifty large kingdoms without reckoning many more of lesse quantity which people this vast Peninsula of above two thousand leagues in length and latitude It is water'd with many fair rivers some whereof have their overflowes like the River Nile and as beneficiall others role before them sands of gold besides Lakes Marshes and impenetrable Forests rich gold mines numerous heards of cattle double harvests the horrible monsters the diversity of people some civilized others so bruitish they know neither religion nor articulate language some christians of various Sects others Mahometans and a great part Gentiles and Idolaters under the dominion of several Princes of which the chiefest are the Grand Seigniour who possesses Egypt wholly with great part of the Coast of Barbary The great King of the Abissins who holds almost all the intestine Africa with both the strands of Nile The great Monomotapa Lord of almost all the Southerne Verges even to the Cape de bona Esperanza The potent King of Fez and Marocco and a multitude of other Kings and particular Princes as those of Tombut Ganga Borno who possesse many kingdomes Of this so spacious and populous Africa the Ancients had discovered but some few countries under the name of Egypt Cirenaica Numidia Libia Mauritania Ethiopia Nigrites Garamantes Atlantes and very few more The Arabians at this day make a quadrupart division of it notwithstanding that it is not intirely known by reason of the dismal deserts which shut up passages and deprive us of discovery The first begins at the Cape of Babouchi or Guardafuni where they insert many countries out of Africa taken in by a Prince named Tramurat who subdued Arabia Felix and went in Arms as far as Carmanio to which they call Erac and amongst these are the kingdomes of Macran and Guadel which are contained herein The second called Biledugerid heretofore Numidia terminates Egypt at the Town Eleocat The third is a vast and horrid wildernesse which stretches it self to the bounds of Lible by them called Saria or the Desert because it takes beginning at Nile and ends at the Desert of Saria The fourth begins at the kingdome of Gonaga and ends at the kingdome of Galata Some
Priest in our company and being brought to one called Chaousandre who afterwards became a Capchin he confessed to him and told us that he had formerly travailed three hundred leagues to finde one to confesse to but at that time he was not in capacity for voyages of that length being guide of a family that he had but one single wife though fully as perverse as she was faire and deprived of the light of Religion as the rest of his houshold were He feasted us at his home with great kindenesse and we presented him with a Roman Primmer which he held in high esteem for the pictures onely for our characters were unknown to him nor did he understand our language He bestowed upon us a Girafe and a sheep all white but the head which was black as they are all in that countrey For Girafes they are docile beasts white and spotted with red their fore-feet very short in proportion to the hinder with a Deers head and very short horns there is great store of them in the land of Cefala CHAP. IV. The Country of Monbaze Melinde and Quiloa the nature of the Inhabitants and the respect they bear their PRINCE HAving left Bulgara we run all along that stretched forth coast of Ethiope where we visited Melindo Monbaze Quiloa Mozambique Cefala and other Townes for truck of our commodities The country of Monbaze takes name from a Town and Island so called which on the East hath the vast Indian sea on the North Melinde on the South Quiloa and Westward the spacious lake of Zaflan and the kingdome of Xoa belonging to the King of Abyssins Heretofore this kingdome was subject to a great Prince styled the King of Monemuge neighbouring to Ethiope Monatapa and Mozambique As for Monbaze 't is a Town about the rate of Monpellier built almost after the Italian model the people are of Olive colour affable courteous and well apparelled specially the women who delight in rich apparel There is a good Sea-port strong and much frequented by the Indians who drive a great trade in spices drugges and precious stones which much enriches the place and brings a great conflux of people from Zanzbar Penda Agair and other parts of Africa There is gold silver precious stones and Ivory in great quantity The country abounds in good fruit of all sorts particularly in Citrons and Oranges of prodigious bignesse and of excellent taste whereof the rind is sweet and good to eat There are likewise Peaches without stones but of little savour Pomegranates exceeding large and above all excellent waters fresh and light herein surpassing Quiloa which is defective The People are of a sweet disposition contrary to other Maritime places where the natives are ordinarily mutinous and litigious We had there an Host called Francesco Cosmel of complexion between black and white as he were born of a Father black and a Mother white he gave us testimonies of a generous soule and seemed to be of good extraction He lodged us in the chief chamber of the house hanged with Matte both walls and floore with abundance of well-wrought cushions with an artificial fountain on one side which water'd little trees where was a whole flight of birds of Paradise male and female which contrary to the common opinion had feet as I said elsewhere whereupon I shall relate a pleasant passage which befell us My companion resolving to go to a jolly town not far thence to put off some Safron which he had was taken with an extreme cholick which made him go to stool oftner then he would in our chamber there was a little Cistern full of pure water he finding himself pressed and conceiving this Cistern to be a place of purpose for discharge seats himself on it By misfortune there was a young maid washing clothes who finding this nasty showre fall upon her began to cry out and I that knew what the matter was immediately went out pretending I had something to buy so as my companion who suspected nothing was amazed when he saw two slaves fall upon him with cudgels who cured his disease with a new sort of Cataplasme Returning up again I saw this lucky adventure and my companion as well as he could defending himself In fine after many excuses the matter was taken up by mediation of twenty seven Miticales each being in value four French Livers which my companion was forced to pay for mundifying the Cistern True it is he was cured of his cholick but so ashamed of the accident he had not confidence to suppe with us The Territory of Monbaze is of no great extent confining on one side on the Town of Orgaba or Orgabea seated on the river Onchir which runs to powre it self into Nile near Mount Amara where the kingdome of Melinde begins having Amara on the North and Monbaze on the East The common diet of the country is honey and rice their drink Areta Fatigar and Belinganze which they keep in great Oxe hornes cut in severall figures that they may be the more useful This sort of vessel is much used in the Ethiopian Court as well for their capacity as their not being liable to break especially with the Monbazians who neverthelesse will make no use of any but of a beast that had his throat cut deriving this custome from the Jews In their traffick with Merchants they apply charms to force them to their intent a thing I never observed in any other nation When notice comes that some neighbour Prince hath sent Embassadours to their King upon affaires of importance they doe then much more They take a wilde goat by them called Machorati and having laid some charmes upon it mounted upon his Elephant the Prince passes three times over him with most horrible cries and imprecations which their Labis or Priests pronounce against their Singiscan or Demon Then having made three cries more in manner of prayer they require to know if this Embassadour comes for Peace or Warre if it be answered for Peace they march before him with abundance of perfumes and signes of joy and being arrived at the Town the perfumes are cast into the water to shew that all this was only to do him honour and to endear him But if it be for Warre they testify the plain contrary I have heard since my return that the town and Port of Monbaze is by the Portugals taken and demolished For a draught of Melinde which is a kingdom lying above Monbaze and subject to the same King the Capitall Town of the same name is scituate on the sea in two degrees and a halfe beyond the Line the Port is at some distance by reason that on the water side 't is pester'd with many craggy rocks which render the landing dangerous The country abounds in all sorts of Fruits and Viands bread excepted instead whereof they make use of Parates which are both good and wholesom They have likewise variety of flesh which they roast and
for what concerns Zinguebar or Zanzibar which ancients called Agezymba and which they placed above the high and interiour Ethiopia 't is as it were an Island environed with seas and rivers 't is a plentifull country of all kinds of commodities for livelihood The town of the same appellation in twenty four degrees and a half hath a good Port well frequented upon a lake excellently well built of stone lime and sand after the manner of the Italian Towns embellished with pleasant gardens entirely beguirt with water as Meroc is but there is no drink but the draw-well The Princes Palace seems very lofty which defends the mouth of the haven before which there is a convenient place for calking vessels 'T is scituate in the best part of Monomotapa and fronts Eastward with the Province of Simen or Simis which joynes with the land of Melinde The Inhabitants are well civilized and 't is thought this is the same Monomotapa which lies upon the river of the Holy Ghost where all the houses are flat roofed as they are at Naples and the Palace royall like that at Calicut there is not one but hath his Alfongi which is a boat of one peice The Presterian or Natahachi and Abassi hath often attempted to take in this country but failed only he plundered it taking away a number of slaves to make Christians of his kinde Amongst his other warres he took the Region of Canfild which Geographers place where they should not This country stretches very far even to the lake of Zaflan which makes the faire Island of Zunan or Zanan near which is Garga or Gorga the capitall town of the countrey beautified with pleasant gardens and abounding in fowle and cattle rice and other commodities for livelihood This lake of Zaftan is as 't were a wide and vast sea of sweet water lying close upon the great Province of Gazasele which confines upon Cafates Cara Esaui Noua Ambian all which meet at Agag scituate between the two Cataracts called by the Inhabitants Zembra with the entire kingdome of Aygamar As to Cofala 't is likewise a reasonable large country rich and fertile at least from the lake Gourantes to the Cuama for the rest of the Coast from the River Magnice to the Cape is but barren This Magnice or the River de Espiritu Sancto as the Portugalls call it rises from one of the lakes whence Nile takes its Origine called Zembra or as others will have it more probably from Zachaf and crossing the mountaines of the Moon and the great Empire of Monomotapa deliver themselves in the Meridian Sea in twenty three degrees and a halfe forth of the same lake Cuama or Couesme takes his birth which disgorges it selfe at seven mouthes a little above the Cape of Courantes in sort that this kingdome of Sefala is invironed with two great Rivers which towards Mid August make exceeding inundations and fatten the soyle as Nile by its overflowes fertilizes the countries of Egypt Beniermi Nubie Tamatas Soba Bugamidei Goyame and others These two rivers then launch out of the lake Zaire and Zembre or Goyame as some think and moderne writers say from a lake called Zuman or Zuama or Sachaf as two great branches one whereof which is Magnice runnes into the sea as at a place by the Portugalls called Punca or Labras del Spiritu sancto The other is called Fuama that is faint because it failes at threescore and fifteene miles from Cefala and is lost in the sand whence it rises again afterwards The large lake of Zembre bears great vessels and some report they have sailed upon it above two hundred and fifty leagues It receives other rivers as the Paname sixty leagues beneath Cefala others about twenty leagues as the Libia Mariancia called by the Abissins Eshusula and Sancola both great inundations laying the whole country under water and in Marshes of difficult passage The soyle of Cefala is exceeding rich in gold and the river Cuama brings it ready fn'd in small threads which are found in the sand so as this river passes through mines of gold for which reason the Portugals by permission of a Mahometan Prince who rules the Country have here built a Fort to facilitate their negotiation with the Inhabitants Before they arrived here some Mahometans of Quiloa and Magadoxo built the town of Sefala in one of the Islands made by Geuesme this river augmented by Paname which takes birth near the town Amara and swelled by Laanga who leads with it the Arrouia and joyns with Monoua at the Ruenia and the Inedita called Iradi by the Ethiopians which together water many countries making vast inundations and Marshes which render the land so dangerous to passe that there needs well experienc'd guides and to make Mount Masima by the natives called Manica the way to Ethiopia there are many fair Provinces rich in ore of gold and silver They term the gold mine Manica the country Matuca or Mataca and those which get the gold Bothones There is another an exceeding rich one in the Province of Torta or Toroa and in that of Gag or Agag one of silver as there is also at Bocaua or Batua Boror Tacouir and other places and the soyle is universally very fertile as likewise at Potozzy and Perou To avoid these immense Marshes as I said one is forced to take the way of Mount Manica bending towards Ambea and Sabaim where at this day are seen huge ruines of ancient structures which resemble the greatnesse and magnificence of those of the ancient Romanes chiefly in the kingdomes Batua and Toroa where are the most ancient mines of gold in Africa There you finde likewise store of stones of excessive bulke so excellently pollished they never lose their lustre fixed together without Cement so fine it is not perceivable In like manner we finde there Remainders of walls of above twenty five handfulls thick with certain hieroglyphick characters engraved not to be read as the like is observed in Persia among the ruines of the town Persepolis Many do conceive 't was from hence Salomon fetcht his gold as I said elsewhere and these great ruines to have been of that Ages building and by the same King Howsoever we took not this road by the Mountain for being come from the Cape Gourantes with a Portugall Captain called Baccheo a fiery and insolent person with whom we had contracted for our passage with design to come for Spain by the Cape of Bona Esperanza and along the coast of Africa we were constrained to go on shore at Agoas de san Biasio by some called the coast of S. Rafuel to avoid the tyranny of this Captain 'T is scarce credible what discommodities one suffers in these Portugal vessels for though he shift his clothes and linnen a hundred times the day he is eaten up with lice have you need but of a glasse of water you must make insupportable
after their fashion till such time as perceiving a troop of about fifty men wrapt in woollen cloth which covered their whole bodies we made a soft retreat to our Barks Then we saw in the middle of the company one raised above the rest borne on a Palanquin having on his head a Miter enriched with stones who being come near our boates descended and having said Afrares which signifies come nigh entered affably into one of our Barks and saluted us with the word Ergaâ—i which is welcome The Sieur de la Courbe understanding this to be the Lord of Suguelane kissed his hand and by an Interpreter delivered him the occasion and design of our voyage This whole night was divided into good chear and dancing with the wives of this Potentate the Principall of whom The Sieur de la Courbe presented with a chain of various colour'd glasse beads which caus'd as much wonder and envie in the other Ladies as contentment in the Prince who reciprocally gave him a cup of Euate filled with Pepitaian gold which he forced upon our country-man by the strength of entreaties but in retribution out of the civility naturall to his country he presented a guilt Cimeterre with hangers of China work I likewise presented the Ladies with some rare pendants of red Pausell christall and very glittering who immediately cast off their upper garments and fell to dancing To conclude having seen Jerma and Simbada a great and huge Town erected in the water where is the right country of Agisimba staid fifteen dayes at Rifa where we became known to the Chanubi or Governour who gave us good instructions for our journey and brought us better then half the way to Cheticoura in a boat of his The Sieur de Courbe and I who had a particular curiosity to see the country resolved there to go render a deference to the great Taboqui or Monomotapa who was at his capital Town of Zanguebar or Monopotapa who bestowed many indulgements on us while we staid our boats being left with the rest of our company who had no such curiosity with order to meet all together at a certain place called Calboute without parting any more thenceforward I cannot give a particular account of the distance of places I may be excused by reason of the deviations and turnings we were forced to make returning sometimes the same way we came notwithstanding I shall speak precisely enough of what concerns Monopotapa CHAP. VI. Of Monopotapa the Princes estates and Government his way of living and the singularity of his Country THis Prince is by some called the Benemotapa or Benemataxa and by the native people the Grand Tahaqui he possesses so large an Empire that 't is given for a thousand leagues in circuit invironed with seas and great Rivers which render it inaccessable and inexpugnable for on the North it hath the vast lake Zembré or Zembaré on the South the Cape of Bona Esperanza and on the other sides the Eastern and Western seas Towards the Siroch it stretches it self as far as the Mountaines of Manice where the kingdome of Toroca or Toroa takes beginning whereof the principal town is Zenebra next is Tatuca rich in gold silver and ivory Then there are the kingdomes of Agag and Boro which on the Blacks side face towards the Beche on the West towards Tacui which goes as far as Mozambique Likewise within this Empire the Province of Butua lyes as also that of Simbage or Simbatni plentiful in Ivory by reason of the great multitude of Elephants in salt of the rock whence good part of Africa is furnished though at dear rates in some places by reason of the great distance and difficulty of the roads These people for the greatest part are Idolaters stiling their chief God Maziri the maker of all things others call him Atuno In great reverence they have likewise a Virgin by name Peru and have Monasteries where live recluse maids moreover they are grand magicians as they are through the whole country of Guynee There came a certain one who reported he had passed the kingdomes of Candabar Couzani Transiani Vsbeque and many other countries of the East as China San Pegu Bengale Besnagari Calicut and the wide sea of Alondon to have runne through all the dominions of Preste John to have been in the floods of the Torrid without wetting himselfe clothed with a meer Sattin walking upon the clouds to have passed the Zember upon the back of a devill and to have arrived in the kingdome of Sahama to finde the Monopotapa to declare his Religion to him having in few dayes gone thirteen thousand leagues He added far more the particular satisfaction he received after so long a travell in that the Prince caused four Christians their hateful enemies to be massacred and engaged in honour of their God to pray at the Temple five times the day under pain of the scourge The King building a faith in this sorcerer made an ordinance that all should yield obedience to this Mulila and his associates whom they named the Jubacumba For the first time the people presented themselves at their ceremonies but being absent the second time these impostor Priests coming forth fell upon them with scourges made of Elephants hyde and beat them most rudely persevering in this harsh way of treatment till on a day a young Portugues called Francisco Sanche who lived in the Fort of Safala being come to the town for trade and to visit a Mistresse he had a Merchants daughter received some lashes in the street from these magicians whereupon being sensible of his injury le ts flye his cimeterre at one of them and lays him dead on the ground without much trouble confiding in the Kings favour to whom he had brought a present from the Governour of the Fort Henrique Mendez and they joyning in their defence he killed four and wounded four more then mounted on horse and went safe off The King being told of it fell into laughter and praised the Portugues for his courage which ingratiated him with his Mistris so as she after married him True it is this Prince had not long before put some Jesuits to death but he made them ample satisfaction by putting to death all the Mahometans who gave him such councell whereupon the Fathers of Cochin being advertised of it sent others presently who declared to the King the benefit they were to all mankind in instruction and salvation of souls and gain'd so highly upon his grace that besides other particular favours which he did them he granted free liberty to his people to be converted and embrace the Christian faith So it is that Christian faith was introduced by the fathers of the society where to this day 't is preserved and practised by them and the Dominicans and though the Prince be an Idolater he is a well-wisher to the Christians He holds a stately gravity allowing audience to none but on the knee nor tergiversation in
in such esteem were it for the goodnesse or for Religion that here they would celebrate their Deities festivals and inthrone Alemnon Cephee and Perset mighty and illustrious Kings of this Countrey There was one Melilec who holds the chief renown amongst them who they report to have been the son of Salomon and Mecheda Queen of Saba and of whose race by lineal descent from Father to Son all their Kings to this day report themselves descended I know not how justly it can be proved Howsoever it be the most ancient Histories attest that about the year 521. in the time of Justin the Emperour there was one Elesbaan King of Ethiopia a Christian who subdued Dunaam a Jew King of Arabia the happy who infesting the Homerites being Christians Elesbaan he freed them and being returned into his Countrey became Hermite Afterwards there was another King named Hellisteus a Christian also who entred confidence with Justinian the Emperour and brought famous victories from the Infidels in Arabia These kings made the royal town of Cachumo sometimes called Aucumo their mansion which stil holds the name since those times by reason of the length and difficulty of roads we have had little or no intelligence of the Ethiopian Kings the Turks and Saracins having constant possession of the passages til the voyages of the Portuguese who have given us some light since this latter age As to spiritualty this Countrey hath ever submitted to the direction of the Patriarch of Alexandria who for the danger of coming thither by reason of the Saracins who ruled in Egypt sent them a Prelate called Abuma for Governor as the Patriarch of Antioch sends one into the East called Catholica Some say that in the year 1439. the Abissins came to render obedience and to acknowledge Pope Clement 5. at Auignon that they sent since to the Council of Florence in the year 1439. But 't is more certain that since the Portuguese conversed with them the Kings have made a fuller acknowledgement of the Romane Church As to their Religion though it be Christian yet they retain divers Jewish ceremonies and other heresies received as wel from Pagans as from the heretical Eutiches and Dioscorus sent to them by schismatical Patriarchs from Alexandria whereof at present they begin to be purged and better instructed by the Jesuite Fathers and the Patriarks sent to them from Rome as we find in modern relations For a long time there have regular Religious been in the Countrey and Anchorites of the order of St. Anthony St. Macharius and St. Basile but no Dominicans as some would have us believe From St. Anthonies order is proceeded another they call Estefarrus which must be St. Stephen For the nature of the people they have a strong propensity to vertue and orthodox religion render exact obedience to their Prince and most high veneration to Church and Clergie are severely chast and addicted to pennance and austerity of life very charitable and very hospitable Priests while they celebrate mass are covered with a vail after the Greek manner and the men divided a part from the women in the Church The whole Court lodges alwaies under pavilions in the field rang'd in the form of a Town for places and streets drawn to a direct line where there is assigned for every one a Captain or Justiciar to prevent tumults 't is of great circuit sometimes containing two leagues of land with twelve ports in honour of the Apostles within this circuit there are two Churches one for the Emperour and Nobility of seven or eight hundred paces in circumference the other for the vulgar Within there is one Altar onely and upon it the figure of a Crosse of a gray colour shadowed with a vail of white silk on the middle of the Altar stands a picture of the blessed Virgin in colours betwixt two more of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul upon solemn Feasts the Emperours white tent is changed for a red through all the Churches there is said but one Masse a day where there is observed such reverence that 't is not lawfull to spit speak or sit down upon any occasion whatsoever the Temple of our Lord as they say being a place neither for uncleanness nor discourse If one be constrained to passe by on horseback he alights and walks with hat in hand When the Sacrament is elevated one rings a bell of stone the clapper of wood as are all the bells in Ethiope and immediately all fall upon their knees The Emperour himself if he be on horseback alights in haste and continues on his knees till another sign be given The Priest is never seen while he consummates because he is covered and surrounded with a white vail as likewise the people never behold the blessed Sacrament but they bow their face to the ground jogging their bodies in a dancing manner and standing on their toes The Offertory is made at the end of Masse They give the Sacrament to little children as well as others causing them to abstain before The Negus never eats in gold or silver but in vessels of Euate onely which endures no poyson but breaks immediately For wine there is none made but in his Palace or in the Abuma's house As for the Abissine or Nubian language 't is a distinct tongue but much compounded as they say with Hebrew Chaldean Syriack and Arabick words which reaches to the very East by reason of the soft and sweet pronunciation and because 't is plain and easie to learn So the Abissins when they travel as I have often mark'd make themselves easily understood with the Guinoii themselves They use the Chaldaick for sacred matters and sciences in which all their books are written and Masse celebrated as the Abissins do in their Church of St. Stephen of India at Rome in like manner as the Maronites and other Syrians Now for the Rivers in this Countrey there are many very great ones but the principal is the so famous Nile which cuts it from one end to the other sallying as some say out of an unsoundable lake in the Country of Guyame others will have it from the Mountains of the Moon or Cafartes and from Befsi or Zech whence likewise issues the Zaire and the Aquilonde which run Westward and the Zuama southward But the Nile towards the West falls into the lake of Zambra or Zaire and from thence passing betwixt the Kingdoms of Damus and Ambea inclining towards the East then on the other side the Equinoctial enters Beleguanza corporates with another River flowing from the lake Zanflan likewise called the Nile and thence betwixt Bagamidri Vangue and Abiancantiva it visits Tigremabon and having swallowed the Tagazzi or Tecassin and other Rivers swel'd with so many flouds it creates the famous Isle of Meroe with two arms by the Ancients called Astapus and Astaboras at this time Tecassin and Ahambi afterwards re-uniting passes the Tropick Cancer and at Siena or Asma makes the renowned Cataracts
or falls amongst the Mountains which so compresse it that it seems a shot or lightning in quicknesse and thunder in horrid noyse till having crossed Egypt and entertained some Rivers of Nubia branching it self into many streams which compose the so much celebrated fair and fertile Countrey of Delta comes to render it self into the Mediterranean at mouthes and sluces which our Ancestors took for seven others nine at this day the most known and remarkable are those of Damiete Rosete heretofore called Heracleotique and Pelusiaque which compose the two sides of the triangle As to the surfluxes and inundations which fertilize all Egypt and serve instead of fructiferous rains from June to September laying the Countrey like an Archipelagus covered with innumerable little Islands wherein stand their habitations more excelse then the rest which is a piece of water I leave to Philosophers to search the causes who in all ages were much perplext and much divided some attributing it to the dissolving of snows from the Ethiopian mountains where snow never fell others to anniversary winds forcing the waters to remount and so overflow others with more probability to the continual rains of the torrid Zone in this season as I my self have seen it happen all along this Zone to the Indies both East and West Yea there are some who go further for a cause and will have it proceed from winds and furious tempests which at this season rage about the Cape of good Hope swelling the Sea which by certain secret Subterranian channels communicates it self with the Ethiopian Lakes which makes Nile and other Rivers taking birth from thence to surfeit But howsoever it is and whencesoever it proceeds certainly the effect is altogether admirable the encrease lasting fourty daies as likewise the decrease and some say the River Noir or Cambra or Senega do the same The course of this River from birth to dissolution is esteemed to be nine hundred leagues in right line and windings and bosomes considered to be above two thousand which is the longest course of any River in the Universe except the Plate and Maragnon in Brasile CHAP. IX Of the Town of Bagamidri and the coronation of their Kings TO return to our voyage I shal tell you that Bagamidri is a Town in Ethiopia in three degrees of altitude beyond the line in a fair champion upon the River Zuama which disbanks as Nile do's For the kingdom of Bagamidri it reaches to the Tropick watered by Zuama called by the inhabitants Zimbada which crosses the deserts of Manica where are dismal Mountains and goes til it ingulphs it self in the Oriental and Meridian sea composing a most commodious shore where vessels take in fresh-water and fuel Here are abundance of wild goats and small Buls and Cows so fierce that he must be very skilfull that takes them they have little horns which grow but skin-deep mooving them as their ears as I observed in another place This River of Zuama is by the Portugalls called Rio del Spiritu sancto for the content they receive who saile upon it Moreover in passing or bathing in this River there ought great caution to be had and to be well arm'd against the Crocodiles which are here in great numbers nor is the danger on land much lesse for the Tigars of which there are great Troupes and will very sawcily dismount you either from Horse or Mule Towards the West the Countrey borders on Mancigonge Eastward on Cafates to the North it lyes on Gidada which some call the Countrey of Amazons South-ward on Monopotapa The Town of Bagamidri is called Imperial by reason the King of Tigrai or Tigremahon having received his first Crown at the place of his election receives the second here This Ceremonie was first instituted in the time of St. Abiblicanus who lived in a cave near the Town in so high repute that the King who then reigned would have the honour to be crown'd by so great a Saint since which time there is an Ordinance that all the Kings of Tigray shal be crown'd here as the several Crowns of our Emperours were received at Aix Milan and Rome and the third he receives from the hand of the Grand Negus his Soveraign who hath onely a crown of silver whereas the King of Tigray hath his of inestimable value Here I shal tell you by the way that in Tigramahon I saw a Church of one intire piece wrought in a Rock near to Tecassin which they call the Church of Creatures for that 't is dedicated to the four Evangelists In the lower Ethiopia there is the like which they call the Maiant Calassen that is the Seat of Eternity For the Kingdome of the Amazons they report it to be betwixt the country of Damut and Gorage or Goraga and Gongara where they recount many things not unlike the stories of our Ancestors as that the women have the authority are exceeding valiant and excellent Archers that they cut off their right breast to draw a how the better with other things of that kinde There is mention made of the like women in many other parts of the world Some say the word Amazon is derived from a country belonging to the Negus or Monopotapa near Mancinconge where the women are of great courage though the men are Masters and Preste John makes use of them in his warres In this country stands the faire city Felucia or Falacia where they say is a sumptuous Tombe of a Princesse called Agagina built all of a black marble clear and transparent as glasse The people of these countries are of severall complexions according to the place that gives them breath For under the line they are neither white nor black but of a swart tawny colour though the world affords not a more temperate climate then they are under They who live Westward from the countrey of Agagne to Ambian are intirely black and four degrees from the Line troubled with excessive raines for three moneths together But they of the Province of Zembre are more white and very docile especially the women who are passably beautifull and gracefull and good Christians though they were the last that received the faith since the Eunuch baptized by Saint Philip planted it in the better part of the Provinces of Ethiope and as some will have in Arabia the happy it self and as far as Tuprobane CHAP. X. Of the Mansion of Preste John and his Justice A History upon this subject BEing at Bagamidri some of us more curious then the rest of our company agreed to go see the Court of the Grand Negus or King of the Abissins and to this purpose leaving them that had no such desire we took a side-way towards the towns Barra and Barua where we were told the Prince most commonly resided Following on this road and having crossed many Provinces and Kingdomes at length we arrived at Barra the chief town of the Country where we found a numerous multitude of people
dayes to refresh himself then took his journy towards the Court whither from that place he had 4. or 500. leagues of land to crosse and yet 't was a fortune to him that the Court was no further remov'd for as it might have happened he might have had above 700. leagues before he reacht thither Being furnished with horses at this Monastery for himself and his company who were some fourteen or fifteen in number he came as he since told us to another Church or Monastery some seven or eight leagues from thence but with extream trouble his horses so tiring that the servants were fain to carry the baggage themselves for two leagues together At length he got to the Monastery of St. Dominick as he called it where he found good entertainment and changed his horses which were for no further service being so extreamly beaten out with travailing unshod as they use in those parts because they have not the art of shooing As he was upon the point to depart thence there fell such an excesse of rains that the Rivers were so broken out that he was constrained to stay near a month longer and expect till they retir'd within their banks Then he continued his journey and having crossed a vast Countrey came to Mongibir where he made a visit to the King who was then sick but used him with great civilities The Embassadour offered him the advice of his Physician but he told him our Lord who had sent his grief should cure it He furnished him with horses and appointed his own Son to conduct him even to the Court. By the way he met with many other Monasteries and mountainous and unpleasant Countries thence he came to the Province of Tigremahon subject to the Negus who hath five kingdoms under his dominion here 't was he first drunk the honied wine kept in great ox-horns From thence he travailed to Culusen and many other Countries till he arrived near Barra where the Court lay As soon as we had notice of it we failed not to present our respects to him and he returned many civilities to the Sieur de lu Courb as the principal amongst us but neverthelesse with a Sossiego and Spanish gravity of which the Sieur seemed to take no notice for that we designed by his mediation to see the Negus at table which as yet we had not compassed though for his own part out of the gravity or vanity of his Countrey he disdained to see it yet by reason of his quality he might have done it without difficulty This being observed by the Sieur de la Courb he so well feasted a Master of houshold to the Abuma that he promised us we should see him at supper as we did two dayes after but I believe he first demanded his Masters licence then he brought us to the Monastery of Atania for the Negus seldom lodges in tents where he finds Monasteries or Churches as there are plenty in this Countrey 'T was there we saw the Prince sup in the manner I spoke of As concerning the Embassadour the Negus having intelligence of his coming sent a handsom company of Cavaliers to receive him and some eight dayes before had sent a grand Serami to conduct him which Serami was not sparing of his cudgell to any upon the way that gave not the Embassadour honour who being met by these Cavaliers many salutes and complements were interchanged Being arrived at the Camp they presented him a tent of Canvas which was something disliked by the Embassadour as being unsuitable to his quality neverthelesse he seemed to take no notice of it but the Serami perceiving something told him for excuse they used him no courser than the Prince himself who had no better which gave satisfaction to the Embassadour then they brought him in provision of victuals for him and his retinue 'T was three dayes before he had audience then some principall Gentlemen and Officers came for him by night and conducted him to the Court which was then at a goodly Monastery and being brought into the chamber of presence he found the Negus sitting on a bed of raz'd gold and silver tissue four pages in the same stuff standing bare at the bedâ— feet with lighted Flambeaus in their hands The Embassadour made him a most respectfull reverence at seven or eight paces distance bowing exceeding low whereas others kisse the ground and the Negus unvailing a little one side of his face demanded the Presents the King of Spain had sent him where the other being ready to answer supposing he should have a compleat audience the person that brought him in told him at present it might not be and that the King had seen him was sufficient for the first time and so without further ceremonies he delivered his letters which were read by an Interpreter On the morrow about midnight the Embassadour was sent for again in the same sort and ceremony then the Embassadour carried the Present which was in pieces of silk spices and some rich and well-wrought arms The Negus received them then dismis'd him causing one to tell him he should shortly be dispatch'd The next day he was sent for again to Court where he dined with the King and Queen the King a little remov'd at some distance from them The first service was three gold dishes the first full of fire the second of ashes and the third of the miraculous pears I spoke of in which being cut there appears a perfect naturall crosse representing our Redemption as the other eternall pains and death Afterwards came all sorts of exquisite and delicate meats The Embassadour having staid some months in the Court the Negus sent him a letter for his Master though letters are not in use with them content onely to send their messengers who deliver their missives by vocal relation but this letter was at the proper instance of the Embassadour himself as he told me a good while after when I met him at Grenada in Spain When I mentioned the Army of the Negus I forgot to tell you 't is ranged in such sort that the Lanciers are quarter'd outmost round the Camp lined with the Cavalry and musqueteers within them all quarter'd in order and streets as in a Town the Souldiers apart by themselves Merchants on one side and Artificers on the other six or seven thousand tents will serve for fourscore thousand men The Cavalry most commonly consists of thirty thousand horse all unshod for they have not the art to shooe them stout and indefatigable being brought up by Cowes from which they take the calfs and put colts in their places To conclude the Emperour ordinarily depends not upon his proprietary possessions for bedes the gold and silver his people pay as tribute they pay him amber musk civet stones and all sorts of victuals and sustenance so as he hath not much use of money more then to pay his Officers and servants who are paid their stipend in gold or silver uncoin'd in gobbets exactly
that no one can confer the succession on his Children without expresse licence and 't is seldome that the Sonne succeeds the Father but where he hath done some signall service for the State insomuch as they are as it were Governments for life nor have they assurance to continue so long for sometimes the Prince to reward their services will deprive them of their Crown or Government to advance them to a higher If he be displeased with any one he sends but a meer Serami or Lord with a verbal command onely for letters they have no use of and the subject Prince having notice of his arrivall puts on his Lions skin in token of obedience and meets him with all submission and civilities whom the Serami having told that the King commands his presence without reply he immediately prepares for his journey with his treasure wife and children The King afterwards disposes of him at his pleasure either detaining him at Court or sending him to the warres till he shall think to bestow on him some other government or dominion on better or worse according to his desert for this King is a benigne and equitable Prince exceedingly beloved of his subjects which supports the state in happy justice peace and tranquillity every one observing his duty whence it proceeds that they regard not to erect any State by buildings having no assurance they stall descend to their heirs The Crown revenues consist in corn wine cloth linnen silk silver not coyn but counted by weight for here there is no mint no more then in China He hath also an impost upon salt which is a deer commodity here and in some places is used as mony The Prince hath these payments out of the necessaries to livelyhood and hath his receivers in every town His revenue is extraordinary great which he dispenses part in payment of his Army part in support of his family and the rest to the Church and Poor The countrey abounds in all commodities except spice and salt which comes from very forrain parts and are exceeding deer insomuch that for a little bag of salt you shall have what you desire weight for weight for what salt they have comes either from Egypt betwixt whom and them there are immense deserts or from other places seven or eight hundred leagues remote which sets such price upon it As again they have their spices by the red Sea from Cochin Narsingue and elsewhere and as far as the West-Indies All the Towns of the country are ill built and little and the reason is because the Prince resides so little in them and the Court is continually upon march and change of station The principall are Barra Tiena and Barua whereof the greatest is not by a third part so big as Florence They are all strongly wall'd and some well moated but Bastions with them are not used The Fort or Citadel is commonly upon the gates of the Towns where they keep their Artillery whereof they have great store and say as well as the Chineses 't is two thousand years since they first had the invention I saw a piece upon a Chinese vessel of 800. years cast and 't is no small question if they had the invention from us or we from them as 't is more likely if it be of such antiquity with them as they say or whether we happened upon it upon the like accident as they I transferre to more curious inspections Amongst other things I observe it as most singular and laudable in these people that they bear a passionate affection to their Princes and so firm a fidelity that they submit to all sorts of torments yea to death rather then fail in their duties and will consent sooner to the destruction of their proper Parents then of their Princes It being unheard of that any one ever conspir'd against his Prince and if it should ever happen they would extirpate him and his even to the child in the cradle saying there can be no lawful or valuable excuse for the subject that conspires against the King A Tenent strange enough to the perversity of nearer nations and in particular to our unfortunate France who out of I know not what furious enraged and diabolical zeale hath too often dipt her paricide â—ands in the Royal blood God grant her grace to imitate these loyal Abissins better Christians in this then she In all crimes they use a most severe and exemplar Justice and a man once observed to be nefarious is hated and avoyded by all men so as if for any fact he once fall under the hands of Justice he shall be so bastinadoed he shall feel it all dayes of his life And on the contrary men of good lives are beloved and favoured by all men and if any misfortune befall him he shall finde every where assistance The Prisons commonly are full of prisoners maintained at the Princes charge and 't is but rarely that any suffer death in publick but commonly within the Prison where they fell the condemned with a club They have likewise a most remarkable Rule for Creditors and Debtors for if one sell or lend to another any thing upon condition of payment at a certain day and after the day past the Debtor hath not paid it the Creditor goes to the President or Judge to whom he opens his case The Judge gives him a faire hearing and having given sufficient testimony the Judge delivers him a wand wherewith he goes to seek the Creditor and having found him with the end of that wand draws a circle round about him with command in the name of Justice not to stirre thence till he be satisfied then he must either discharge the debt or to prison without excuse or delay and if he endeavour to escape 't is death Being in prison they assign him a day of payment on which if he perform not he must endure the cudgel then they assign him another day and so forward till he either pay the debt or dye with stripes or render his person slave to his Creditor till his service hath made satisfaction Sometimes they have the favour to go get their bread abroad So severely is Justice executed without respect of persons or bribery for in such case the Judge is both degraded and punished but it happens very rarely because they have but few suits amongst them If one be found to have accused another wrongfully he shall suffer the bastinado again if one deny a fact whereof there is evident proof brought against him they put him to rack by screwing his fingers between two planks and in case he confesse not then they break his arms and legs Their prisons are very large and capable to hold many where every prisoner labours for his living The offendors by day have freedome of the house but at night are shut up in a room so close they can scarce stirre In Ethiopia there are many Churches but of mean architecture though something after the Roman way with bells
of the Saviour of high Egypt Father and Creatour of the lower who water'd and manur'd their soyle Now for the Crocodile there are great store in this River as there are in many other places of the East and West-Indies as I observed before The Indians call them Caymans they have so lustful a greedinesse to Mans-flesh that they will venture for it with unspeakable outrage and vigour A man walking by the River side with a little child in his hand a Crocodile leaps suddenly upon him and tore the boy out of his armes not being able to save him If any one by chance fall in the water there 's an end of him therefore 't is exceeding dangerous to refresh or bathe there without good caution the very boats loaded with people have often perished by them These creatures generally make cleare work their assaults being so forcible that from some they crop armes and legges others they devoure intirely They hold a fierce and rude war with the Tigars 't is a creature without tongue moving only the other chop contrary to the nature of all other creatures the Egyptians made him a part of their Idolatry Some observe that they were not pernicious to the countrey hertofore as they have been particularly since the Mahometans usurped it Again some say the â—ountrey hath been much the more infested with these creatures since a Governour of Egypt deprived them of a leaden Crocodile placed by enchantment like a Talisman in a certain place From Caire down towards the sea they are not so dangerous as in the higher Egypt Besides Crocodiles this River breeds Hipopotumes or Sea-horser with divers other Monsters and Fishes About four leagues from Caire and one and a halfe off Nile stand the famous Pyramids of so prodigious a height and admirable structure erected heretofore by the ancient Kings of Egypt either for ostentation and monument of their greatnesse and magnificence or for custody of their treasure or for sepulture of their bodies This structure is by so much the more stupendious for that the stones of such immensity and hardnesse were trasported so far with such cost and pains as some say from Arabia and Ethiopia and these bulks not rear'd to that height with Cranes Scaffolds or other Engines as then not known but by Cavaliers and Platforms of earth by strength of arms and extremity of labour as 't is related of the wonderful edifice of Jugas of Perou at Cusio and other places 'T is not without wonder to be consider'd that the greatest of the three which as they say was erected by Chemmis King of Egypt with the employment of 360. thousand mens labour for twenty years together is at this day perfect and entire though three thousand years since the raising of it They say on every side of the square near the Basis it is 200. fathomes over and 800. foot high 't is hollow and within there are walks and a fair room where the Sepulcher may be The other two are lesse and Massie one built by King Cophus the other by Mycerine or the Curtisan Bhodope The bulk of these structures hath put them in the number of the seven wonders of the world and some say the children of Israel were employed at the building of these enormious Fabricks There is yet to be seen some remainder of a monster wonderfull both in form and quantity which they call a Sphinx wrought in Numidian or Serpentine marble extraordinary hard with humane face and the body of a Lyon as the ancients represented this monster There is yet left a kind of Obeliske or Needle the work likewise of the Ancients which some attribute to King Pheron others to Philadelphe Howsoever those great Obelisks which are at this day at Rome were brought from thence as the Hieroglyphick letters engraved upon them testify for 't was the holy and sacred Scripture of the ancient Egyptians A side off those Pyramids beyond Nile Eastward towards the red Sea lyes the famous countrey called Ehebaida and her deserts where so many Christian Hermits and Anchorites lead their lives as S. Paul S. Anthony and others adorned heretofore with so many Towns filled with religious communities where there were more Monasteries and Churches then other houses and no corner where one might not hear day and night the Almighties praises Amongst the rest 't is said of Oxininchus that at the same time had in it ten thousand religious men and as many women who with emulation kept a marvellous hospitality for poor travellers and strangers Here in Thebaida flourished heretofore the famous town of Thebes with a hundred Ports nothing whereof remaines but ruines On the other side Westward lye the Deserts of Barea towards Barbary and Lybia where was the celebrated Temple and Oracle of Ammon visited by Alexander the great In brief all Egypt is surrounded with Deserts and Sands except on the Sea coast For on the West they had deserts of fifteen dayes over on the East the Thebaidan deserts for three or four dayes up to the Arabian Gulph Then on the other side the red sea the great desert as far as Palestine where the Israelites were forty years of many dayes travail over From Caire to Delbequi 't is all Desert where Mummy is found or bodies dried in the Sand. Of it there is another sort which is of embalmed bodies found in ancient Sepulchers These Deserts are above 18. or 20. dayes over and they who travail them ride upon Cammels in Wainscot cabbins for the great dust and heat with small holes for ayre and light where they both eat and sleep For there is no greater danger then the winds in that place bearing and removing mountains of sand from one side to the other under which Passengers are often overwhelmed and lost as heretofore whole Armies have been without the least possibility of assistance to one another in the convoy which sometimes consists of ten or twelve thousand persons and more every one striving to save himselfe and go with the greatest speed they can without stay night or day there being no possibility to know a track though one should have passed a thousand times by reason of the continual variation of the sand which lyes to day in one manner to morrow in another so as through this sea of sand they must use their Pilot and compasse without hope of refreshment during the journey onely about fifteen leagues from Delbegut where a fair fountain proceeds from a neighbouring river which is thought to be an arm of Nile the water whereof is warm like Niles but something better Afterwards they must again passe over Deserts and dangerous moveable mountains of sand which put me in mind of the gray Tents or Adonars with the Moores of Fez and Morocca which you shall see in a numerous heap upon a field and on the morrow no such thing but removed to another station for so it is with these walking mountaines day by day still in motion differing
from a mountain of sand of excessive height I saw since near the Town of Lima or of Rois in Poru which exalting to an extraordinary height amongst many other hills never alters or diminishes for any wind or storm that can assault it a thing much admired by all men and for this the Indians adore it as divine but of this we shall with Gods leave speak in another tract of a voyage to the West-Indies But returning to the sands of Egypt 't is thence the greatest part of Mummy or flesh buried and rosted in the sand is gotten which the wind uncovering the next passenger brings to town for trade it being very medicinable Here you see a dead man is often more serviceable to the living then the living themselves yet some approve not of the physick But howsoever embalmed flesh is prefer'd before it for the Aromatick drugs the Egyptians used for preservation of dead bodies wherein they were at great charge and study whether for their hope of resurrection or for the opinion of some Philosophers that soules should so long live after departure as the bodies remain intire and incorrupt for which cause they seasoned and embalmed them with Bitumen Salt Frankincense Myrrhe and other Aromaticks and bodies thus embalmed and preserved for many ages by the Arabians are called Mummies To proceed the land of Egypt is highly renowned for a very potent and wealthy kingdom where some say heretofore have been reckoned 20. thousand wall'd towns to entertain the infinite multitude of Inhabitants she had in those dayes but now there remaines but little of all this The first Kings of the world were their Rulers from whom they derive their lines of so many thousand fabulous years Their first and kings were called in the Scripture by the generall name of Pharoes then the Persians became their Masters afterwards the Greeks then at last the Romans till the Saracins got them under their Califes and Soudans and the Turks for this last age The ayre is good and temperate the soyle fertile and abounding in all commodities but so plentiful of corn that 't was held the Granary of Rome in her chiefest glory in medals of antiquity Egypt was still figur'd with ears of corn The country about Caire they call Sabida heretofore Sais and Egypt taken together Chibib in Heibrew Mitfraim by the name of the son of Chus who first possessed it thence the Arabians at this day call it Mesre The region called Delta from the triangular form is the fertile part of it because 't is water'd and cut through by seven branches or armes of Nile This country is exceeding fertile throughout but the rest from Caire to Ethiopia is not so but only along the Nile for three or four leagues on each side where the river flows the rest is sandy parched and waste except some places where the river comes in channels which they say were heretofore the work of Joseph son of Jacob. CHAP. XXI Of the Town of Alexandria the Isle of Malta and the Authours return to Marseils WE staid some dayes at Grand Caire where in the advance of my voyage I staid many moneths but before I go away I will tell you how we met there with a brother of my companion Guillen Cassis whom he had so basely abused at our coming from Meca as I said in another place when he cheated him of seven Cammels under colour to go to traffick in the red sea and Ethiopia and we passed into Arabia the happy to Persia the East Indies and Affrica where in all we were forth in our travailes six years and a halfe But as soon as he perceived at a distance his brother Marat he got slily into a company that his brother might not take notice of him at length he passed by us with a fixed eye but said nothing no one thinking of him for my part I knew him not yet me thought I had seen him before till at last I called him to mind and told the whole story to our company who condemned it for an unworthy action In fine the good fellow by this means scap'd a bad encounter Being departed from Grand Caire we went to embarke in our Almadies which staid for us at Boulac which is the Rendezvous of all Merchants Christians and others who are bound for Alexandria Thence we came in a day and a half to Auas where we met with my friend who had made all speed for fear of his brother From Auas we came in a day and a half to Rousette called by the natives Raschill a town by the ancients called Metilis or Canapus upon an arm of Nile called Heraclettick which Historians call Rexi At Roussetta we sold our Almadies and imbarked by night in a Germe and the next day were in Alexandria Alexandria is a town half ruinate of little pleasure a most remarkable example of the inconstancy of worldly things that this town should now be brought to so lacerate a condition that was for many ages one of the most ample fair populous rich and flourishing towns of the world chiefly renowned for excellent and commodious scituation for her Founder Alexander the great for having been the Seat-royall of the Ptolomiâ—s for her so famous and frequented Haven for her proud buildings amongst the rest Pharoes tower one of the wonders of the world for her Academy renowned for all Sciences for being the mother of so many famous Philosophers great Doctors and holy Patriarcks who kept the christian faith so long flourishing in those parts briefly for so many ornaments of art and nature from which glory she fell after she was taken with the rest of the country by the Sarasins and their third Calife Homar so as after this consternation she never recovered any thing of her pristine splendour But she remains a good Haven and a good landing place for all Merchandizes of the Levant and Indies where all Levantine Merchants Africans and Europians come to traffick Heretofore the Romans afterwards the Ptolemies made it the greatest Mart in the world by the means of the sea and Nile drawing thither all sorts of drugs spices and other Arabian commodities from India by the red sea then by land to Nile and so to Alexandria Since again under the Soudans this course was continued where the Venetians and all Europians fetched their spices till the Portuguese found out another way as we said in another place I will say no more either of this town or Caire as places sufficiently understood in these parts by the ample relations of divers accurate travailers only I shall observe that in this town when the Nile flowes they preserve sweet water in their Cesterns and make Channels to water their gardens There is resident a Consul for the French Nation Le sieur de Rhode was then the person who shewed us much kindnesse and much admired our tedious and painful peregrination He had his wife there with him by whom he had two twin daughters
souldiers Some say the Bishop of Conimbria dreamed the night before that the battel was lost and that they were all slaves as it came to passe and that upon this alone he sent his treasure and all things he had of value to Arzille which served for his ransom afterwards Malouco the same day about eleven in the fore-noon left his Littar and mounted on horse-back vested in a rich robe of cloth of gold wrought with a folliage a Cimeterre at his side his saddle set over with precious stones and thus went from rank to rank encouraging his men to combat His Army marched in good order like a half-cressent drums of the Morisco very small beat and the Fifes founded a shriller sound then the Trumpet 'T was thought the battels should have been given on Sunday the third but 't was defer'd to the fourth and Sebastian and Mahomet were advised to stay battel till the approach of night because the Arabians promised to come over to them and leave Malouco which proved false and they were so disappointed King Sebastian was armed as the day before in green Armes upon a white horse one of the best in Portugal The Moores Army was rampar'd on the left hand with the River Sebastian thought himself sure of the Arabians assistance and specially of Melouco's Van-guard which was all of Arabians and for this reason stayed till night that they might not be perceived 'T was in a field of above two large leagues every way without either tree or stone Before the Van-guard marched the Light-horse-men mounted on the Arabians horses composing the point of the Cressent and were wholly cut off with the Cannon The Arabians seeing this rout thought good to do the like but not perceiving a man of the other Battalia's fall they set a good face on it by force Muley Hammet being at hand to instigate them The battail at length grew hot and the Arabians performed nothing of what they had promised Molouco employed the remaining houres of his life in giving order for victory The King of Portugal and the Moor remained on the ground as well as Molouco the one slain the other drowned and the third dead of infirmity in his Littar Hamet remaining only victorious and heire of all Don Sebastian did wonders in his own person but overpowred with number he hung his handkercher on the point of a lance in token of yeilding but the rascally Moores ignorant of this practice run upon him and those that stood with him and put them all to the Sword The slaughter was great but chiefly of those who went along with the baggage who were as many or more then all the Army There were some mingled themselves amongst the dead to save their lives 'T was sad to see 200. sucking children and above 800. women boyes and girles who followed father and mother thinking to inhabit this country who had loaded chains and cords to fetter the Moores and served for the Christians themselves of whom there are 17. thousand prisoners the two hundred infants and the eight hundred women not reckon'd As to the kingdom of Fez or Marocca heretofore Mauritania or Tingitania 't is of vast extent and amongst others hath the two potent towns of Fez and Marocca Fez is the Capitall of the kingdom strong in scite and people seated on two great hills being able upon occasion to raise sixty thousand horse of sumptuous edifice of the Persian building embellished with Folliages of gold and azure their walls strong streets cleanly kept being a Captain for every one with strong gates at the ends for their security and crossed with chaines a fair river called also Fez passes through the middle This River is divided into two channels one towards the South which waters Fez the new the other towards the West watering Fez the old besides divers fountains which creep through Subterranean channels The houses for the greatest part are of brick with Towres and Tarrasses where the women prune themselves in the evening for they seldom stirr abroad There are Mosquees of fair building with their Marabouts for their service the Principall called Cairimen is of as large circumference as the Town of Arles with 31. principall gates sustained by 38. large Arches in length and 20. in breadth every night 900. lamps are lighted and on festivall dayes as in their Romadan the feast of S. John the Nativity of our Lord more Lamps without number upon brasse candlesticks where after Mid-night they sing Mattens Sixty leagues from hence is Marocca chief of all other kingdomes under that Empire as Hea Ducalea Gusula Hascora and Trelle as Fez hath under it Tesmenia Asgar Flabat Errif Garet Escaus c. This Town was built or rather augmented by a Prince called Mansor in the year 1024. scituate in a Plain invironed with Date-trees He built there a Magnificent Mosquee there is the high tower with three Spires on which stand three balls of gold of twenty thousand Miticales or two hundred and twenty five pounds weight a piece Muley Malouco would have had them for his warres but the Inhabitants would not permit him whereupon the Janissaries that came from Constantinople to assist Malouco made some Musquet shot and pierced them in divers places He promised them that after a time he would set the like there again but the others answered if he should dye all was lost as his great Grand-father who sold the foundation rents of the Hospitall of Fez and dyed before he could restore them so as 't was lost to the poor CHAP. XXIII Of the Kingdome of Marocca and Fez. MArocca stretches it selfe very farre and the parts Northward joyn upon the countrey of Asgar crossing the Mountaines of Gouraigoura thirty leagues from Fez whence there flowes a lovely River which runnes Westward and joynes with the River Bar where there are vast Plaines and Pastures without stone like the Camargue of Arles The Arabians call this countrey Suambiz a countrey abounding in Cattell and fronts upon another Nation of the Arabians called Aluzar and betwixt these two people there is ever a mortall warre and hatred The People of Asgar confine Northward on the Ocean Westward on the River Buragray which cuts through Forests full of Celoquintida and Oranges rendring a most pleasant odour Southward on the River Bonazar inhabited by those wealthy Arabians called Alalur whence come a brave company of Cavaliers Here there are many faire Townes as Argac Larais and Casar Alcahir or Elcabir that is the Grand Palace built by the great Mansor upon an encounter hee had being lost a hunting and Northward the countrey of Habar The Region of Habat or Elbabat ends also on this side the Ocean beginning from the South to the River Gonarga or Orga and Suerga and from the East to the Straight The Principall City is Azaget or Ezageu which stands upon the hanging of a Hill neare to the River Gourga and hath many other good Townes as Agla Tonser Merga Omar and others upon the
Straight conquered by the Portuguese as Arzile and others and joynes to the Province of Errif which beginnes at the Straight and Eastward stretches as farre as the River Necor Northward to the Mediterranean The principall town of it is Targa or Terga upon the said sea who traffick with the People of Tunnis and Bisette There are besides the Townes of Jelles Gebba and others Garet joynes to this Province which reaches as farre as the Deserts of Numidia and the Cities there are Mazelle Megger and others where there are many Mines of Iron This Countrey joynes upon the Region of Chaus which Westward runnes to the River Barnagara that goes to the borders of Lybia with her townes of Teurere Besornin c. It extends as farre as the Kingdome of Telesin exceeding rich which on the West bounds upon the Rivers Moluia and La South upon the deserts of Numidia comprehending from West to East near four hundred miles environed with many great deserts confining on the blacks and hath two remarkable Havens Marzalquibir and Oran besides the townes of Gualdida Hauan the great City of Nodroma and Telesin the capitall where the King resides who keeps a magnificent Court There is also Constantina the Walls whereof are black stone polished scituate upon a Mountain at the foot whereof the River Sufamar runnes About it are other Provinces whereof some joyn to the desert of Barqua which borders upon Tenez a City of Numidia and on the North embraces the Province of Daro which joynes upon Sequelme or Segelmesse taking name from the capitall towne and extends to the River of Zez which confines on the Deserts of Lybia All these countries are inhabited by severall barbarous people as Zonetes Azonagia Zabara Egilefe and runnes to the Province of Chenega which joyns to the Mountaine of Atlas This Mountaine reaches to the Deserts of Numidia amongst which there is one countrey terminates upon the kingdom of Bugia called Zeb on the North having Biledulgerib or Numidia Lybia is of great extent and Numidia larger In Lybia are the vast Deserts of Zonzaga and Zuenziga almost all inhabited on the skirts with Arabians who have the blacks on the West and South called Galata confining upon Tombur In the middle is the Desert of Zarat which is two hundred miles over without any habitation but the desert of Aroboan affords some comfort and it joynes upon Tombur Then next are the deserts of Hair over which lyes the passage from Tombur to Telensin We leave the Desert of Gosde on the right hand for the numbers of fierce beasts that resort thither then to the desert of Gir which on the North confines on Tuas Tegerin and Damesab which hath the kingdome of Agades on the South a countrey plentifull of Herbage Fountaines and Manna which they use much in their Diet and Pottages they have such abundance of it it renders them exceeding strong and agile they likewise boyled with water make drink of it They are subjects to the King of Tombur and border upon Cano another kingdome tributary to Tombur The people are all black as pitch Near the Town of of Masar in Arabia Salban there was once a Gulph of the Sea There was formerly a Temple dedicated to Venus where maids did prostitute themselves for pleasure or profit they report but a famous Courtisan beautiful and rich by name Ameliga being courted by divers Princes and great persons would accept of nothing from them only obliging them to give something to the poor using these words Honour the Goddesse Ameliza to whom you offer this which made her famous through all Africa so as they came from very forrain parts to see her and the King of Bodumal sued to have her to wife which she refused amongst others there was a Maraban who visiting her erected a magnificent Temple to her which was immediately frequented with a concourse of people and everyone repair'd thither to obtain their desire provided they were able of member otherwise 't was not to be looked for The People of Guiner Tombur and others were of this devotion The Priests of the Temple received the word and render'd them at certain houres For the kingdome of Melli 't is very wealthy by reason 't is cut through with the black river or Senega or a branch of it or rather a channell made by hand so as 't is very fruitfull in Dates Raisins Cotton and other commodities for 't is said this River flowes as Nile does and at the same houres They have abundance of Canoes or boats of one piece in which they travaile upon their little negotiations passing from kingdome to kingdome moved out of the History of Jonas who they say came on shore there They make great benefit of Whales and believe no Whale can passe that way without bursting An ancient Gentleman of Siban told me that in the yeare one thousand five hundred seventy one walking on the shore he saw three great Whales which being entered the Gulph made a most horrid noyse and on the morrow one of them was cast up with his belly slit as it had been done with a knife the other two were carried away with the streame of the water Whether this be a miracle or magick I will not judge Melli borders upon Gago and Gago is the better countrey of the two and though Melli have the better townes yet the other is of much more esteem for many things but chiefly for the quantity of gold brought thither by the Moores from all parts and this gold is very exquisite whereof they make most part of their pieces of a crown and halfe which they call Miticales But Melly hath the glory from all her neighbours for a fair Colledge of their Prophet Haly where all the other kingdomes come to study the Sciences there being many learned Doctors of their kind Thither for this purpose repaires the youth of Cambre the chief town of Tambur as also from Gago and other place Gago is a Town of great traffick where there is a great Mart for pepper and slaves of all parts of Christendom whom they employ in Mines there being some who for avarice bring their own children for this purpose Gago borders Eastward on Cober and the capital towns of these two countries are 200. leagues distant They are also under the inundation of Niger which manures the countrey and makes it plentifull in cattle and provisions the reason the people apply themselves more to husbandry then study and so are grosse and rustick Westward from thence lyes the great Cape Serrelyonne on the East the kingdome of Agades then Cano Zegeg which breeds such store of horse then Zanfara and Guangara Northward whose King hath a Guard of 7000. men foot and horse with bowes and Cimeterres Then comes Borro which runs above five hundred miles Eastward having on the South the Deserts of Get and on the North those of Barea They are a brutish people and entertain their wives in common Towards the Piroc are the
days we came to Cape Nona where we took in fresh water and seven dayes after we arrived at the white Cape a main shelter in the winter season where the fish lye so thick the ship brushes and rubbes upon them as 't were sayling through a shelf of sand There we found two vessels a Fleming and a Marseillian the Master whereof was John Baptista le vust called Servat who for his Merchant employed Aurigues the 15. of November we were upon a River of Guinea called Senega I ever carried with me a little memorial or diurnall where I set down all the curiosities I met with for which purpose I informed my self of the scituation of the countrey the quality of the Prince and government of which I will make a brief relation Guinea on the West is bounded with the River Senega which ingulfs into the Ocean at sixteen degrees to the North and the borders of Angela are at thirteen Guinea is divided into the high and the low the high Guinea inclines to the North the lower lyes along the Senega which they call Jeni and reaches to the kingdome Manicongo that begins at the first degree of the Line Upon the coast of Cape Verde are many Islands of one appellation the principal is of S. James in the hands of the Portuguese since the year 1446. where they have a well-fortified town and a Bishoprick stil'd Civitad an Island of 60. miles in length and 36. in breadth a mountanous country where they have never rain but in September and October which comprehend their winter The valleyes are fertile and afford excellent Melons the year round Dates and Sugar-canes in abundance flesh of all sorts Fowle and Venison with beards of horses and special good 'T is inhabited as that of S. Thomas by a conflux of all nations and the ayre being unwholesome they transport their infirm to an Island two leagues distant called Praya under a fine climate the ayr healthful and a commodious Haven betwixt two fair Rivers which compose two gulphs for harbours one whereof is capable to containe many vessels in security having before the mouth of it a little Island which guards it from the Maritime gusts and the land lying high defends it from windes by shore The other Islanders affect to land at this Port for that the rest are pester'd with sands and chiefly Borlouento and S. Thomas where there is ever some vessel cast away This Isle lyes close upon the Isle of Mago otherwise called Barlouento and near to Bona Vista Saint Nicholas Saint Anthony Saint Vincent Saint Lucie and Fell Islands plentifull of Cattle and Venison the inhabitants applying themselves onely to the chase powdering the flesh to sell to strangers as the skinnes likewise A little Eastward lyes the Isle del Fuego where they get as good wine as in the Canaries next is the Isle of Braua full of Venison and wilde Beeves whereof the Hydes are much sought after as being thick and tough But to Guinea the kingdome of the Jalofes is the first which beginnes Northward at the River Senega hath the Ocean on the West the Jalofes called Fonlogageias on the East and the kingdom of Barbessin on the South 't is above a hundred and fifty leagues in length of several commodities there is abundance as gold and silver which the natives conceale with all care from strangeers though in dealing with them 't is plain they have store for that by whiles they produce some unfined Taboucaton is their chief town They are Blacks but of good shape the women comely round-faced with eyes lively and attractive The men are martial dextrous in throwing a Javelin which they will throw with as exact arm as we shoot with our Gunnes They ride on good horses clothe as the African in short breeches a large Harnus like a sheet of wollen covers them from head to foot shod with Date-tree Sandals Vpon the coast they have the good and well-fortified Haven Beziguche whose entrance is skreen'd with a fair Island much frequented with strangers trading for the Indies Here are many Portuguese setled amongst them some married others who think of nothing but to heap up gold living something after the Barbarian Many of the Blacks go naked painted with dissolved gold their bodies carved and drawn with a various tincture as azure red and yellow which hold their life-time There are amongst them maids adorned in the same manner with great pendants in their ears and their lips pierced like the Brasilians they are generally libidinous and given over to luxury They who are thus engraved and inlay'd with paints or juyce of hearbs most commonly do it for want and this curiosiry is their attire Throughout the coast we find abundance of leather wax gold silver ivory and Amber-gris which is the reason the English Hollanders and Flemings visit them so oft The Jalofes are easie of belief and inclined to Christianity when they behold the Moon they make strong ejulations with sorts of adoration They adore yet some other Idols which neverthelesse fixe not their faith the Mahometans on one side who impugne them with their law on the other the Portuguese preaching ours and their own Priests charming them with their delusions and Idolatries They make their sacrifices in the woods making large hollow trees their Temples where they keep many Idols to which they sacrifice pulse Mill Rice and the blood of beasts whose flesh they eat The countrey of Bracala confines upon the rapide River of Gambra which in the mouth is five good leagues over ships cannot enter it without a direct wind with which they may advance three hundred leagues within the Countrey This River cuts the great kingdome of Mandinga in the middle peopled with Blacks Idolaters and abundance of Sorcerers wicked treacherous and base people When they hold a counsel t is in a cavern under ground to secure them from the prying of strangers They have store of Brasil wood as good as they of America and upon the river many townes and villages where they mantain many vessels of Warre to encounter with any whatsoever but upon advantage This countrey ends Southward at the Cape of S. Mary 30. leagues from the river Chougala by the Portuguese called S. Dominick There are two nations of the same quality the Barbachins called Ariates and Falupes who trade in nothing but fish and cattel They have an excellent way to take the sea-oxe the skins whereof they make great use of They apply themselves to till the soyle and get Mill Rice Pulse and other graine Out of this countrey comes the River Casamanca bounded Northward with the Jabundos on the South with the people of Bemum who on the East have the Casangas Of late yeares the Portuguese have discovered a way by an Arme of the Sea to Casangas and for this purpose have erected a good Fort upon the cheek of it called S. Philips This kingdome reaches Northward to Jaren and together do homage to the Sultanship
of Mandinga rich in gold and silver having excellent mines The Prince keeps his Court in the Town of Senrigo more Eastward by a hundred leagues then the Cape of Palmes all the Blacks as well of high as low Guinea acknowledge this King whereas the inhabitants along the Rivers Faraca Nigrate and Budomel obey the King of Tombut Lord of three kingdomes of Blacks This countrey is called by the Protuguese Mandimanca where they adore the Moon called by them the Bariamari that is the God of night or darknesse and offer sacrifices to it in the most obscure woods in hollow trees at midnight as they do likewise at Cassanga who have one China for their principal Idol in whose honour they goe on procession the twenty ninth of November about Midnight One of their Priests or Magicians with them called Acacani bearing a banner of silk with a faggot of Vine branches and divers bones of dead men I believe they are bones of such as have made voluntary sacrifice of themselves to this Demon who appeares to them after divers manners this Ensign weares a garment of woven twigges at which there hang divers heads of little dogs Munkeys and other small creatures Procession ended they repose the Idols within the same tree and burne most sweet perfumes to it sacrificing Mill then make their prayers and depart In their dealings these people are lawlesse trading in slaves with the Portuguese and others which they rapine from all parts and make their Market of them to a miserable slavery The Cassangarians neighbour upon another Nation called Lebouramos who live along the River Saint Domingo by the natives called Jarin full of fish but a dangerous Haven for the Sands and Rocks which lye before it Towards the North is Guinalla another River in the mouth whereof the Portuguese have built a Fort they call Sancta Cruz and the Haven Guinalla They are Negroes which they term Beafares abominable thieves making prey of one another to sell to the Portuguese The King of Guinalla keeps a great State hath a numerous guard of Archers besides fifty huge strong dogges all armed with skin of sea-oxe dressed for the purpose and made of proof to every one a keeper In Townes by night they have no other guards then such dogges who once turned loose spare no man so as there is no stirring out of dores without danger of being worried This they do to defend themselves from such as by night come to break their houses which are onely turfe covered with leaves to carry away Negroes for the Market The King hath a mutiplicity of wives and believes that such wives as dye with him for company meet him in the other world and become his wives again but since they heard the true doctrine by some Fathers of S. Francis who shew'd them their folly they have not been so extravagant Some of them were baptized and went along with the Portuguese At the side of Guinala comes out a branch which runnes to Port Begama and a few leagues higher divides again in two and upwards delivers it self to the Sea The Portuguese hold this Port which they call Balola and the people on this branch are called Lansados Both these are good Havens joyntly inhabited by the Portuguese and the Natives For from the Meridionall point of this River to Cape Vergas there are three nations mingled with the Portuguese the Malus Ebagas and Cosolins Now from the South of that Cape begins a fair well-peopled Province they call Gatulia and the Portuguese Serellionna that is a point throwing it self into the sea by the side of a great river of the same appellation by reason of a hollow concavity roaring like a Lyon This is a very pleasant country full of Groves of Brasill trees and Vines which they have not knowledge to dresse abundance of Midian Figges which they call Bancanes Sugar-canes grow without planting Besides they have good conveniences as Mills and Engines to make their Sugar for they have Mines in all parts There is Rice Cotton Cattle innumerable Fish Pepper in abundance and more keen and pure then other but there is prohibition upon life to carry any to Spain or Portugal for spoyling the sale of that which comes from India Likewise there are Mines of Gold and Silver Ivory Amber-gris white and black in brief 't is absolutely a land of promise and delights This Pepper the Portuguese call Dimienta de cola one would take it for a Chestnut it growes in a shell though without prickles Other strangers who come to traffick for it lade with it but the Spaniard dares not take a grain In this country there is variety and abundance of Birds a sort of Ape they call a Baris he is great and strong the inhabitants take them with nets traps and other engines entrapping the sire and dam with the young ones set in cages They use them but rudely and beat them till they cry like children make them walk upon two feet tying the foremost in their pole to a stick besides make them do many offices as fetch water in a pitcher wash dishes blow the fire draw wine fetch meat from the Butcher and any other domesticall charre But amongst all they will still be committing their petitlarcenies for meat and drink but are well corrected for it The sport is when they turn the spit to see how he will smell the meat and turning his great shaggy head with hanging hair flyly watch if any body see him and they must be very vigilant or he shews them a trick for the roast As it happened to a Portuguese who had invited certain Merchants but when they came to take up dinner Mr. Jack-turn-spit had made use of one of the legs of a Turky-cock His Master for the present beat him not for the necessary use they had of him who filled them wine and washed their glasses and still at last took his cup when it came to his turn and with his rogueries made them very merry To proceed the Portuguese make a good time with these Negroes who bring them unrefined gold for things inconsiderable and to facilitate their traffick upon a point of the Sea called Corco five degrees North they have built a Fort near a Town inhabited by the Natives and Portuguese together The whole Countrey of Serri Lionna is exceeding populous and watered with fair Rivers bounded with tall dates and great orange trees The first River from Capo Verga the Countreymen call Piterones the Spaniards di Pietro dividing into many branches which interweave the land and compose many Islands by the Negroes called Cagasian where at an ebbing tide they find Amber-gris for which cause the Portuguese built a good Town there co-inhabited by Portugueses and Negroes where they live so strangely 't is hard to know a Christian from a Pagan nor is it easie to judge who lives the better there are at least two thousand Christians onely by name living and dying like Pagans After this River there
part of it as likewise the Country of Hari The Spaniards say that Licenciado Ayllon going from Hispaniola run along all these coasts and amongst others visited Chicora They feed here on the roots of Jucca Casabe and Potataes They have variety of Idolatries and Idols with a thousand ceremonies superstitions and feasts Their great God they call Mateozunga the lesser Quexuga and fancy a Mahometan Paradise of all sorts of pleasures musick dancing feminine embraces c. They believe the rotundity of the earth and that 't is in the middle of the Universe and that by consequence there are Antipodes Their Priests abuse them with a thousand prodigies and impostures widows if their husbands died naturally marry not again but if by Justice or other violence they may No man hath more than one wife except the King who may have two They compose their year of 12. moons all their commerce is in exchange They have excellent remedies for all diseases by means of their patriot herbs wherein they have good knowledge amongst others they have one called Guachi against choler The Spaniard Ayllon recounted many other particulars of Chicora that 't was of great extent and contained many Provinces CHAP. VI. Of Canada or new France CAnada or new France was discovered and frequented by the Brittains and Normans in the yeare 1504 and before that also since again by Verrazâ—n who took possession of the Coast and Continent for King Francis the first which hath continued from time to time to this day The Countrey hath not any Mines of gold as they know of but white Corall it yeilds called Esurqui and some Jasper and cassidone stones with abundance of Beavers wherein consists their traffick They have discovered a tree called Aneda or Zuaboya much like our nut-tree the decoction whereof is a soveraine and present remedy for a disease common in this Country which infects them like a plague from head to foot with a violent contraction of the sinews stinking breath and mouth running with purtefication as at Scurbut and at last seizes on the vitall spirits and with extreme torments finishes their lives but Providence hath furnished them with this remedy Aneda as Carter in his Voyages observes All these Countreys of Bacaleos Caneda Hochelaga are comprised under the name of New-found-Lands or new France frequented these many yeares by the French for fishing of Cods For in the exact description I refer myselfe to Histories and published Relations only I will repeat what severall who have travailed it have told me Canada extends it selfe by a point south-west within the Countrey of Goulmaran coming up to the River Diquero where there is a spacious Town of the same name otherwise called Sougoubal where the King keepes his Court towards the sea it joynes with Baraleol and the New-found-Lands the Natives of extraordinary stature favoured like them of new Mexico heavy like a gilt Morian they are of a cruell nature warring upon their neighbours and there are of them that eat Mans flesh they inhabit up as farr as the great river Hochelaga and use boats made of the barke of a tree at the getting of this barke they use particular ceremonies and prayers to their Idols to protect them in warr in which they are assisted with Virgins dedicated to the Gods as our Religious Some amongst them are of more humanity and assasibility addicting themselves only to fishing which they will willingly do for strangers The King derives himselfe from the first stock which peopled world after the deluge whereof they have some light They bear great reverence to the Sun for the light and benefit they receive They feed on bread made of fish and the like as in Florida live in common and diverse families under a roof Men have several wives whom they marry with little ceremony and leave them when they please Their King they call the great Sagamos or Sahagama that is the great King whom they carry upon a Sindela of cotton mixt with feathers very curious and artificiall women wait at his table nor will he trust men with any thing of his diet as he passes by all bow with great respect none is capable of succession but the eldest Son all the other Children are subjects for which cause the other wives rather choose abortion then to live to see it After the Kings decease they live perpetual widows and in signe of mourning immediately put on the Singaye make incisions in their face then laying gum on a fire hold over their faces that smoak may colour the scarifications with this gum and oyle of date-stones the meaner sort make their face black and orange-tawny their hair hangs loose about their shoulders having nothing about their head but the Singaye which they wear as the Moors do their hair appearing both under and over it This is made of feathers of a bird they call Tanaps the Americans esteem this bird ominous when they meet it The vulgar women wear other plumes with cotton but they neither marry the second time The men wear apparel of Deer-skins usefully contrived one arm uncovered and so they wear their garment like a scarf their breeches like the Egyptians but not so long The Countrey is exceeding cold and lyable to earth-quakes for which they sacrifice to their Idols whereof they have one in figure half a man and half a serpent which they call Andouagni and adorn him in a rich habit and their Country diamonds which are not so good as others They have mines but none very good fruits of many sorts and amongst others a tree called Coltan which yeilds an excellent liquor that they make drink of their King drinking nothing else Vines grow there in abundance naturally without labour exceedingly loaded with grapes but they have not the skill to make wine of them except they have been lately shewed they have pumpions and gourds which they eat roasted oyle out of Date-stones very sweet and soveraign in diseases One tree there is which takes away any feaver in few hours They are great hunters and wear engines like raquets on their feet whereby they go the lighter on the snow in pursuit of their chace Of late years the English have changed the appellations the French gave these Countries of New France and Canada to New England New Scotland and New Brittanny above before called Labrador and Estotiland Goulmaran is the name of a river and a country where the savages chief food is fish of which they have abundance and drying it in the sun make flower which they eat without other baking they eat the flesh of their enemies they house in caverns or cabbins of straw without either apparel or houshold-stuffe more then Gourds which the soyle produces in abundance great store of cattle which fatten themselves without further care they live in common and admit no strangers to inhabit amongst them Their mortal enemies are the Siniga neighbouring Mountaneers covered at halfes with beast skins and these nations as professed enemies eat
one another For arms they have staves bows and slings wherein they are very effectual being strong and good wrestlers They lead into the field troops of fierce and strong dogs and fling them the head hands and feet of an enemy for reward they only spare their wives to whom they yield all honour and marry with them There is not amongst them any sort of Science Learning or Character they believe the soul immortal and that the Sun created the world whom they call Courcourant and the Moon Beleida live like brothers without any Law of property every man hath his wife and with her is satisfied no distinction of sin amongst them vice nor vertue all equal onely a particular reverence to one chief as their King whom they call Caraybalan They shave their head and beard with a root called Meite which dryed at the Sun they make into powder and apply it plaister-wise all night Maids deflowr'd before Matrimony never marry though the fact is no dishonour to them Their Singay by the advantage of their mountains often fall upon them they have a sort of trunks through which they will blow their poysoned arrowes with strange vigour and wound incurably They are of admirable Footmanship and will fly like Grayhounds before a pursuing enemy and on such occasions their dogges stand them in good stead They scatter about the fields certain poysoned paste for the enemies dogges and lest their own should be taken with it they hold them up tyed he that hath two with him thinks himself secure When the dogge winds any thing if the Master cryes Taip the dogge stayes till his Master hath viewed his prey they carry burthens like horses Their houses are of straw and their burrowes are fortified with Timber-Palizadoes which they poyson against the invading enemy Of the same straw they cover their houses they make bridges and never make bridge of stone which straw-bridges are of good firmnesse They have some houses made of earth mingled with chopt straw The Charaybalan or King walks through the country with no attendance but dogges and allowes no man to approach him These dogges are his guard being very fierce and when they find any thing they first look on their Masters face to understand if they should eat it or not and stand for good servants the enemy hath strong apprehension of them These dogges have great tayles like Bulles and it hath been knowne that they have assaulted and defeated a good body of men so as the race of them is prized at a high rate CHAP. VII Of Virginia and Florida Fountains of youth dangerous love ON the South and East of all these parts lyes Virginia discovered by Sir Walter Rawleigh and the English and Florida first found by Sebastian Cabot an English Navigator in the yeare 1496. as he looked for another matter and more perfectly afterwards discovered by John Ponce of Lyons who so christened it because he arrived on Palme-Sunday in French called Flowre-Sunday or else because he found the land fragrant and spread with flowers This is a country of wide circuit towards 34. degrees having on the East the Channel of Bahama the Lucays and Virginia on the West Mexico and the gulph Panuco on the South it looks upon Cuba or Jucatan and on that side extends above 200. leagues to the 24. degree on the North lyes Canada New France and the Auanares towards this point or tongue of land in form of an Isthmus 't is dangerous sayling for the opposite winds and currents of water The natives are strong and turbulent eat their enemies of war but their friends and confederates never not for any extremity The men eradicate their beards to appear more lovely and pleasing to the women pierce their nose and ears and hang in rings and jewels they marry not till 40 years of age and the woman 25. holding that the children will be more robustious Women before matrimony observe not chastity and without dishonour but after marriage they will forfeit life as soon as their fidelity North they border on the Aunares and beyond them the Abardaos a cruell and wicked people continually in warre and use a thousand subtleties to ensnare their enemies but especially by night first laying their Engines or Caltrops then give the Alarme and seem to flye so the enemies pursuing are often taken in these trappes as they likewise take wilde beasts as they on the other side make conceal'd pits for them to fall in There are also the Jagares a people so swift they boast they can take a Deere in plain running and indeed the Deere there are not so wilde For they feed in fields in Heards like Cows whereof they make their ordinary sustenance Ponce de Leon sayes he sent one of these people with a letter and some provision to his company and in few houres he went and came thirty 1. They are cloathed with skins of beasts but cheifly Deere which they dresse very artificially Then there are the Apalchen and Chahamo people intirely barbarous and brutish who adore and sacrifice to devills that appeare to them in diverse formes The whole Countrey abounds in all Commodities as flesh of all sorts and fish and they say there are Mines of Gold and Silver whereof they make no great account They have a King whom foure of the Principall amongst them beare in the skin of a Saliabe a beast like a Hart apparrelled with skins and set with feathers they adore the Sun and believe the immortality of the soule and that some go to Heaven and others to the bowells of the earth Towards the Promontory of Baxos there is a fishing of ordinary pearles neither so fine nor great as in the River of Palmes and Margarita nor do the Natives much esteem them and value more a measure of Sperma Caetae then a handfull of pearles The people of Canada maâ—â— a greater account of them for the women weare them in their eares In many places they build their houses in forme of a Cressant in Honour of the Moone and cover them with barkes of trees or sea reeds For Armes they use Bows and poysoned Arrowes as doth the greater part of America They are much given to Hunt and Fish For more of the description of the Country and the manners of the people I refer my selfe to the French and Spanish relations I will only make mention of one miracle in the Countrey attested by the Licentiados Ayllon Figuerra and other Spaniards of Quality 't is a fountain of Youth whereof the water being drunke not only mitigates all maladies but makes the old young again restoring decayed strength and vigour whereof they saw the experience in an old decrepid man quite worne out who became vigorous and lusty that married and got children The Spaniards advanced not into the Country finding the People Martiall bloody and violent enemies to them which I suppose proceeded rather from cruelties they themselves exercised then the inclinations of the people whom the
French who used them mildely found quite otherwise And we see that Once de Leon leaving them by reason of their salvagenesse one Ferdinand de Sotâ— in the year one thousand five hundred thirty four for booty and discovery of Mines made a voyage thither where he committed a thousand cruelties upon the people and the Catiques themselves so as at last in revenge he and all his company were massacred Afterwards Pamphilio de Naruanez brought a good Colony into the River of Palmes where either by tempest or want the greater part perished Then in the year one thousand forty nine some Religious of Saint Benedicts order were sent thither who had but little better successe so as the countrey remaining unplanted by any forrainers in the yeare one thousand five hundred sixty two our French went to make a conquest of it Lo here the first discovery and taking possession of these territories by Verazan in the name of King Francis the first in the year 1524. For Admirall Chatillon ambitious the French should have the honour and Empire of those parts had induced Charles the ninth to commission John Ribaut Diepois to go plant there at his own cost and charges advised to the designe by a French-man who under the stile of a Levantisk and Savoyard not a French-man had before made a voyage that way to New Spain Ribaut with a good party â—f French souldiers and Marriners first touch at the Cape of France so named by him in thirty eight degrees and the faire River May which he so called because he arrived there on the first of May. There the Indians and their King gave him kinde entertainment and many presents were interchanged ours gave them bracelets of Tinne Bills Looking-glasses and Knives They returned Plumes of red feathers Baskets of twigges finely platted and skinnes of beasts ingeniously figured On further they found other Rivers to which they gave the names of Seine Somme Loire Charante Garoma Gironda Belle and others within lesse then sixty leagues off coast then upon the River Jordan they cast Anchor and called that place Port Royal where they set up the Armes of France as they did in the River May upon a stone pillar Ribaut upon his designe of planting built a Fort he called Charles-Fort in the mouth of a faire River by the natives called Toubachire by Chenonceau and placing in it Captain Albert with twenty souldiers and foure pieces of Ordnance he returned for France bringing for a shew some pieces of Rock streaked with gold and silver and abundance of Munkeys and Paraquitoes promising to return shortly with a considerable Colony of men and women Here Captain Albert Governour of the Fort falls in love with a daughter of one of the principal Caoiques very fair and coming whom he had procured into the Fort with her Fathers consent the maid holding it for a great honour to be affected by strangers But here upon a souldier one of the chiefest and gallantest of the company becomes her servant also and by so much the more ardent for some countenance she shewed him though in private the Captain perceiving it he fell into such rage he would have killed him but for fear of mutiny amongst the souldiers so thought better to set him a shore in a desert Island three leagues from thence promising to send him provision from time to time but not performing accordingly the poor man was brought to such extremity he had no sustenance but Oysters Tortoise egges Birds that he took with his hand and hearbs and was forced to creep into hollow trees for security from wilde beasts especially Crocodiles whereof there are great store nor did his sword and punniard stand him in small stead against them The very Apes and Munkies were vexatious to him Sometimes for better security he climbed into trees and they say falling asleep one night in a tree he tumbled down on the back of a Crocodile that was come a shore for his prey 't was hard to say which was most frighted but he pursued the Crocodile to the River side being but slow of pace by reason of his short legges and heavie body Certain Indians fishing saw the miserable condition of this poor man and advertised his comerades in the Fort who incensed against their Captaine for this and other rigours killed him and fetched back the souldier halfe dead with hunger then chose another Captaine and constrained by necessity to return into France by help of the Indians they built a little Bark nailed with wooden pinnes and fitted with Sayles of such linnen as they had victualled with the round corne of the countrey they call Mays and powdered flesh but were driven to such exigent by the way they were fain to cast lots who should be so unhappy as to be food for the rest In the year one thousand five hundred sixty four Captain Landoniere was sent thither with three vessels who built Fort Caroline upon the River May and thence made some inroads upon the Continent amongst other things he relates a flash of lightening the most horrid and prodigious was ever heard of for it covered and burnt above five hundred Acres of Meadow green and watered roasted the Fowle and continued for three dayes without ceasing The year following Captain Ribaut returned thither with his son and about four hundred men and women to compose his colony and till the soyle He was upon opening a Mine of Gold and in the rock was come to fine gold of the bignesse of needle points about 30. leagues from the sea but afterwards being about to go on with the work effectually he was unexpectedly surprized by Spaniards who used him and his company with all cruelty and treachery imaginable Our Histories relate the passage at large so as our Forts were taken and all our countrymen hanged or murthered Young Ribaut escap't came back into France and complained to the King who wrote to the King of Spain about it but he onely sent order to the Viceroy of New Spain to informe himself of the matter and accordingly to do justice which neverthelesse was forgotten and so the outrage was unsatisfied till the year 1567. that Captain Gourgues nobly undertook the revenge at his own charges and bravely drove out all the Spaniards and demolished their Forts I shall make no further progresse for that the Histories of Florida make large relations CHAP. VIII Of Mexico the nature of the Inhabitants their Kings sacrifices c. FRom Florida by degrees we arrive at New Spaine or the kingdom of Mexico A countrey extending in length and breadth from the River Tanasco or Grisalue towards the West or Jucatan to the Province of Caliacan and the river Saint Michael bounded on the North with new Granada and the Provinces of new Mexico On the South lyes the great gulph of the pacifick sea of Mexico On the East the River Panuco and the skirts of Florida The kingdome of Mexico is otherwise called Culbuca and
Anauas by the Inhabitants it holds dominion from Panuco to Dariene which divides it from Peru. The principal Provinces are Guatemala Xalisco Chalcos Taica Mechoachan Tlascalan Acapulco Culiacan Tezuco Tescuco Huaca-chalque Huacachala Claortomaca Maxalcinco Gistecapan and others New Spaine is one of the most excellent Provinces of the New World fully inhabited pure ayre abounding in corne and all sorts of graine Cattle Mines of Gold and chiefely of Silver wanting nothing but oyle and wine The principal and capital town is Temistican or Temoxtitlan or Temuistican upon a Lake of thirty Leagues in circute is contained threescore thousand Houses at the time the Spaniards took it under the famous Ferdinand Cortez The lake is of two waters salt and fresh by reason of the rivers that enter it There are many other great Townes but less then Mexico Before they received Christianity they were all great Idolaters and given to strange superstitions many whereof they continue still Their Sacrifices were formidable Fathers not scrupling to make their own children victims The Mexicans are an ingenuous people and of experience in all sorts of workes particularly in Tapestry of feathers where they have things artificially drawne to the life The Soyle abounds in all sorts of fruits and commodities for livelihood as well naturall as adventitious even vines whereof they have very good notwithstanding the prohibition to plant any True in many parts the grapes come not to perfect maturity by reason of the abundant rains in June and July when the grapes begin to ripen so as they soake raine and corrupt wherefore they are forced to eat them halfe green Some have try'd to make wine but it proves sharp and more like wine of quinces then grapes They have planted olive-trees which come to good growth and full of leaves but without fruit All sorts else grow well and plentifully The wine they drink comes all from Spaine and is very deare for it cost five of us three crowns a day for our parts and a good bargaine the plenty of mony making all things deare for a bed 12 realls a night In Peru t is yet dearer though they get very good wine and figs as likewise in the Isles of Barlouento and Cuba There are many Forrests by the Indians called Arcaboucos store of Ebony Guâ—acum or Lignum Sanctum wide and thick Forrests of Cedars Laurells Dates Pines Oaks and hearbs of all sorts proceeding from the nature of the Climate being hot and moist The greater part of the ground lies notwithstanding uncultivated for want of Labourers of which they have none but some Blacks of Maniconga and Guinea lazy people and no good workers The Country is not very populous many more women then men by reason warr and labour consumes them The extent of these Regions is admirable nay infinite in respect of the few Inhabitants and less agriculture for this late discovered Mexico contains above 15 Provinces of above a thousand leagues in circuite where there are as faire Towns and buildings as in Europe Good part speak the Mexico Tongue Farther on there succeed severall unknowne Nations without number Some Religious went thither to Preach the Faith but the Savages devoured them 'T is not yet found out what Territories border with Cape Mendocino California high Florida new Mexico and others towards the North Pole no more then what is beyond the Streight of Magellan higher by 56. or 57. degrees The Inhabitants of old Mexico do intirely apply themselves to the Trades and wayes of the Spaniard being grown good Weavers and make all sorts of silke stuffs in like manner they are docile and judicious and such as are become Christians follow the Doctrine most religiously The Countrey is of such a scituation that you ascend wherever you go from the sea Coast but so easily you perceive it not So coming from the middle of the land to the Sea-ward you descend on which side soever but so as afterwards one admires how they ascended mounted so high or came so low all the Mexican Territory is of this quality and scituation The Mexicans derive themselves originally from other parts the Ancient Inhabitants were barbarous and eat nothing but venison which they called Chichimeques and Otomies then the Navatalks came from the North from Provinces which since are joyned to New Mexica who peopled cultivated and civiliz'd the soyle and Nation But withall they introduced their strange Idolatries and horrible sacrifices of men and infants whereof they perpetrate abundance every yeare Whereby 't is very probable that not only this but all the other Countreys are inhabited with people deriv'd from the North whither the Asians and Europians may have passed by little and little by the Streights either of Sea or Land as we have already demonstrated These Mexicans being well setled chose a King to Govern them who was one Acamipixtsi a Mexican Lord who had married a daughter of the King of Cublivacan an ancient people of the Country since which time they have ever had Kings not by succession but Election continued to the ninth and last King Montezuma taken by Cortez under which Kings they had diverse Warrs and tooke in many neighbors augmenting it to a great state The King was not Elected by the Commons but by 4 Principall of the Court and had the Crowne from the hands of the Tescaio But the King Elect before he receives his Crown is obliged to go fight the Enemy and bring such a number of Prisoners to their Sanguinary sacrifices If he faile in the first expedition they excuse it but if the second time they poyson him and choose another If he returne victorious they conduct him with great ceremony to the Temple where they make the great sacrifice with processions and musick through the Town He was crowned with a Crown like a Miter and every one made oath to serve him to the last drop of bloud then was conducted with great magnificence to the Pallace-Royal the Electors called Laceocal marching first that is Princes of the Lance then the Lacaterret or Thunder-bolts of men who are the gallantest of the Cavaliers then Hazeuocal that is bloud-shedders and the Lilbancalqui Knights of the black lance These four orders were his Majesties privy Council in the Town they had other Councils for administration of Justice When the King went to the Temple an hundred men marched before him with great bows taller than themselves then 100. more with long staves with a hardbroad keen stone in the end with which he will cut off a horse-head I have seen one cut a sheep in two with it those they call a la a tilpeo The Kings Pallace is sumptuous and magnificent a Parke by it stored with wilde beasts of all sorts ponds full of fish with boates of rich worke and cages for Birds The Pallace is composed of separate apartments and severall habitations for the Courtiers every one according to his dignitie and degree The Mexican Kings had high esteem for men
East comes the great River Maragnon and on the West lyes the Province of Gouacabilcas the capital whereof is Guayaquil then Porto Veio where are good Mines as I shall relate hereafter The Province of Santiago is South under the Equinoctial containing Porto de Passao the River S. Jaques Tamebamba point S. Ellen Valley of Chaga Mount Christo Cheramica Manta Sapil and other towns Their houses are of timber covered for the best part with Tortota a fort of reeds whereof they make many uses Then comes the Province of Caxamolca from the town of Traxillo to Gouancabanca and it may be fifty leagues over In this country Pizaro took King Atabalipa Then followes the Province of Casio with a town-royall of the same name fenced with divers walls 13. degrees to the South the Countrey is cold and mountainous but the valleys fertile The principal Nobility of the Empire resided here who held long ears for a grace and beauty for the hanging of many jewels whence the Spaniards called them Oreiones the most magnificent in Peru. East lye the mountains of Andes There are the Canches and Ayauires great Souldiers The chief Towns are Houtoncana Chicano Cachahurara The Inhabitants of all these parts go cloathed and neighbour upon the Province of Collao the largest of all having the Andes on the East on the South Suchiabo The principal Towns are Culy and Chilane Acos Pamoura Pomata Cepita and Tiquanaco and reaches to Carocoles 'T is a flat Countrey and hath many rivers and the great lake of Titicata that is the Isle of Lead because within it is an Island that yeilds lead 't is 80. leagues in compasse and in some places is so many fathoms deep many rivers fall into it and it again discharges into another called the Oulagas The last Province of Peru neighbouring to Chila is called Charcas in which as the Town of Plata the Capital where the famous mines of Porco and Potossi are Potossi of four or five houses built at first to fine their mettal by degrees is grown a fair Town in 2â— and 22. degrees where notwithstanding the sterility of the Countrey all commodities abound by reason of the rich mine of such power and attraction is wealth Next to Charcas is the Province of Chila which they hold to be 500. leagues over to the Streight 'T is an admiration to observe the quality of Peru on this side For here there is but one wind not that which in the Torrid universally blowes Eastward as we said but this is South and Southwest without which 't were not to be inhabited for the drynesse of the place but this wind renders it very healthfull for 't is to be observed that in this Countrey it never rains snows or thunders nor any thing that may refresh it but this wind alone effects it On both sides of the Countrey are the high Mountains Cordilleras productive of fair trees and there as in other places they have variety of weather hot cold rain snow and on both sides the mountains are bare and cold in extremity This Countrey is long and narrow composed of plains mountains and valleys The plains are by the Sea-coast on the other side the Mountains are reasonable good but some hungry enough The plain may be of thirty or fourty miles broad from West to East and holds the length from North to South And 't is strange that in some parts they never have any rain and in others more than they wish for being but fourty or fifty Leagues distant In the plains then it never rains all they ever have is a dew which is so slender it never wets at all Their houses are covered with straw or reeds In the mountains they feed on those wild-goats that have the Besar stone They have likewise store of sheep and cows which they call Guanacos and Pacos abundance of Apes and Munkeys making most exotick faces upon passengers some you shall see chattering their teeth others scratching their bellies here one running with three or four young ones under her armes there another upon a tree that stirs nor at all but the mischief is if we carry them out of their own air they die immediately Besides there are infinite Parrots upon the trees that never shun the passengers but the young ones for fear thrust the head under the Mothers wing and if we take one of these without the Mother they dye immediately Some valleys are better than others as those of Yneay Andagaylas and those that run up to Cusco the Town-Royall heretofore great and populous now ruined by the Spaniards The Cordilleras mountains of a thousand leagues long where they divide and separate compose the large Campania of Collao The Countrey towards Titicata is barren without either bread or wine but the inhabitants live upon a root called Papas which they dry and make a course bread of it called Choignos the Countrey neverthelesse populous for the heards of cattle goats and sheep it breeds There is abundance of venison partridges and other sorts of game The vales of Charcas yield good ground and the Mountains are rich in Mines The reason they have no rain in some parts is want of matter for exhalation there being nothing but sand and neither Rivers nor Fountains There are some draw-wells of excessive depth it being impossible to derive water from other parts for the interposition of the mountains Besides there blowing no wind but one without any other to oppose it that can engender no vapours Where the Mountains are not so very high there they have sometimes rains as at Arica Arequipa and some other places Notwithstanding the other parts where it rains not by means of the wind are fertilized even to wonder and grasse grows through the sand which feeds the Cattle exceedingly as it doth near Lima where grasse grows on a Mountain entirely sand In May when we first begin to feel heats in Europe in Peru they are extream cold where the Toumacaui reigns as at Potossi and through all the Countrey of Charca as 't were the heart of Peru a wind more cold and piercing than any in Flanders and at Potossi is indurable though the Mountain be higher than Nostre Dame de la garde at Marseills or Mount Martre at Paris there is a lesse Mountain at the side of it called Guayna Potossi or young Potossi both of a colour red without any verdure The air is very intemperate either hot or cold in extremity so as an hermit would scarce live there yet the ambition of gold and silver makes it pleasant to every one The Mines were first discovered by Indians amongst whom one acquainted his master Villaroel a Spaniard who became Lord of it paying the fifth to his King about 1545. One of the wonders of Peru nay of the whole earth is the Mountain Perlaca where the air is so cold thin and piercing that it causes passengers to vomit to that extremity they bring up bloud and
kils them with intolerable gripings and if the travailers make not all possible speed 't is no scaping for in this short passage of four or five dangerous leagues men loose their senses and often their horses or what they ride on will stand immoveable without sense either of spur or whip so as they are constrained to run on foot and drive their beasts before them Some cover their eyes others stop their ears and their nose others muffle and lap their head and whole body Others put their head in a bag of herbs and aromatick drugs others carry cordials to eat others eat not of all day that they may not have so much matter to vomit but oftentimes this serves not the turn when one is in this pernicious place where there is nothing to be heard but laments and vomitings and notwithstanding that the Sun shine never so clear this vapour hath still its force some go other wayes a side off but they still find the same inconvenience and the danger sometimes more great all the wayes are exceeding bad and the worst by the Sea side The whole extent of this quarter is not above five and twenty leagues without people beasts trees or grasse so desert is the place and beyond the Countrey extends 500. leagues At the foot of these Mountains there are some rascally Innes they call Tambos where one finds but wretched entertainment This is the high-road from Peru to Chila At the foot of the Mountain towards the Sea one would think the passage more benign but there reigns a wind chiefly in May June July and August which cools and penetrates with extremity so as fingers and toes freeze and fall off with cold the greatest part perish in passing and the wind renders them incorruptible Of burning mountains we have spoken sufficiently in Mexico some there are in Peru towards Arequipa which throw forth stones others onely smoak others flaming pumice stones some vomiting flames and cinders others scalding winds In Mexico near a place called la Peubla de los angelos there is a hill five and twenty leagues high answerable to another on the top of a Mountain where when it thunders it makes an Echo that shakes the whole Countrey a formidable thing to those that are not used to it Near Guatimala in 1586. for six moneths this hill casts out flames and cinders followed with earthquakes that they have thought the Countrey had been ruined All Mexico and Peru are subject to these earth-quakes and chiefly on the Sea-coasts from Chila to Quito For above 200. leagues the Sea-men with astonishment beheld flames rising from these mountains and afterwards learnt that the Town of Guatimala was almost entirely swallowed in the earth-quake In 1587. it reached 200. leagues distance and at St. Croix the Refectorian of the Dominicans was beaten dead and twenty of the religious killed under the vaults The Inhabitants of Guatimala having notice made a timely retreat There are of these Mountaines near Lima and another at Arequipa to which you must ascend two dayes in sand Most parts of this India are subject to these furnaces and earth-quakes and chiefly near the Sea Near Leon de Nicaragae there is a terrible one where sometimes by night the flames may be discerned 25. leagues in discourse whereof Benzoni relates the same of a Jacobin as Acosta of a Priest at Guatimala In the Province of Seiron near the Town of Bousan is mount Malat where is one of the most conspicuous furnaces of the Indies next that of Guatimala for the hill at the bottom hath five mouths and at the top one which is more formidable than the other five for casting out fire with miraculous fury but this is by intervals sometimes nothing but smoak appearing at other times throwing up burning stones specially when the wind Tourmacaui reigns during which time there is heard a most hideous tumult and tempest within One King went about to quench it with water but in vain the fire encreasing the more on which design divers perished and amongst the rest a near Allie of the Kings in whose memory he made a statue adorned with plumes mounted on an Elephant and armed with skin of Crocodile All that passed by it prostrated before it with great humility believing the Prince happy as being deify'd by their God this fire which they adore as a Divinity The Mexicans call these furnaces Popocatepech Popoca signifying smoak and tepech a Mount The Neighbouring Inhabitants in their Armes and Ensignes bear a flaming Mountain CHAP. XII Of certain Fountains Lakes Rivers c. in this Countrey NEar Potossi at the bottom of the vale Tarapaye there lyes a Lake round as 't were drawn with a compasse and the water so hot that but at the brims there is no enduring it but thirty paces forward 't is impossible notwithstanding the Countrey round about is excessive cold In the middle it boyles and runs round that you would think some tempest were underneath From this Lake they draw a Channell that sets certain Leather-Engines at worke usefull for the Mines without any waste of the water Titicaca in Collao is famous for largenesse and bearing vessels of burthen fish abounds in it whereof the Inhabitants round about take great quantity very sweet good and commodious for passengers to whom they freely give part of their fish taking them with certain hand Engines If a Priest come that way they will present him a thousand civilities and he is happy with whom he will lodge One is in perfect security amongst them not understanding what theft meanes and you may trust them with all the treasure of the world while you live like good Christians Throughout the Countrey there are abundance of other Lakes as that of Eupama in Brasile whence so many Rivers issue and amongst others the great Paraguay or Plata which make inundations like Nile but not so moderately for Nile comes without any injury but on the contrary with all commodity whereas Plata breaks with fury into the Countrey for three months together coursing from the Cordilleras in Peru to the South Sea They have a way to passe rivers upon floats of gourds or pumpions fastened together which they use for all sort of carriage in some places they have bridges of straw The Spaniards have built stone bridges which the Indians much admire and at first had no confidence to trust themselves upon bridges in the air Now for their Fountains near the cape St. Helen in Peru there is a Fountain of liquor burns like oyl 't is a certain Bitumen or Gum which they call Copey or Copal that never decreases how much soever is taken out Marriners use to liquor their cordage with it The like is in the Isle of Lobos in Mexico which the Marriners can smell three miles at Sea and more if the wind â—it right In Cusco there are Fountaines the water whereof immediately congeals into white salt in which Peru abounds In Guancauesica there are hot
springs that condense to stone whereof they build their houses but the water drunk is mortall wherefore they stop up all high-wayes to it for it causes a present heavinesse and then they die immediately They have many other fountains hot and cold close together some whereof cure the French disease though never so confirmed by reason of the Sassaparilla that grows in them In Peru there is a sheam red as bloud for that called Rio Vermeio In Caramel they have another Fountain cures all feavers and purges like Rhubarb the water is brackish and salt at the first taste but afterwards one feels nothing but may drink his fill without dammage it drives through the body all that is malignant then passes clear I thought I should have vomited my bowels up but afterwards I found my self sound and cheerfull and cured of a Rhume in my teeth I had been troubled with for a long time I drunk three flagons a day and still it provoked me to drink more They come to it from all parts and for all diseases even for wounds And the place is made so necessary one may bath in it 'T is onely hurtfull to hot livers Round about it are tents of straw and beds of cotton and sheep-skins where you shall have all accomodation for a small matter and they will officiously fetch and furnish you with any thing you want amongst others they bring us a fowle called Magnota more delicate than a patridge another that is white and black and eats like a capon and abundance of turtles But of Lakes where is there any so admirable as that whereon the Towne of Mexica is seated whereof one part by reason of Salt-peter at the bottome is salt as the Sea the other by reason of the Rivers that fall into it fresh as any Fountaine each division being ten leagues in length and five in breadth and three dayes journey in circuite with a delightfull Mountain in the middle and a bath hot as that at Baleru In the middle of the Lake is the Charnell of green Tombs ever covered with herbs and flowers The Spaniards have laid most of the Town dry being before in the manner of Venice and have made conduits that convey water throughout the Towne and chiefly round the walls Out of avarice the new Conquerours admit not the Indians to fish on the Lake without license who now contrary to Articles enjoy not their ancient liberties neither in this nor other things There are three Causwayes lead to the Town of halfe a league long They account upon 4000. houses of Spaniards and thirty thousand Indians For Rivers you have there spacious Lakes or rather Seas as the Magdala in the Province of St. Martha called Rio grande then the Orenoque towards Castilia of gold and Venesuela The silver River in Brasile coming from Mountaines far remote from Peru above all the great Ozeilliana or Maragnon and Amasones which cuts through the South America from Chachaneyas and Quito through infinite Territories and Dominions to the Northern Sea This River comes from the Province of Araquixo or de los Quixos near to Popayan and thirty leagues from the South-Sea discovered first by Francisco Orellano a Spanish Captain sent thither by Gonzala Pizarra who had sought a long this River for the land of Canela and missing the wealth he sought for and finding the trees few in number and of small value not lighting on the Country of the Prince surnamed Dorado in 1562. he sent Orellano with fifty men to seek provision view the Countrey and attend his coming in an appointed place The Captain following the stream which still grew wider by the Rivers that every where augmented it going fifty leagues a day without oar or labour for a long while he discovered no habitations go up again he could not and by land there was nothing but woods and bushes after he had suffered plenty of hunger he met with severall people and of severall tongues and conditions some mild and courteous others fierce and savage pursuing his way without card compasse or guide by many Islands and populous Countryes amongst others of Amazons the female Archers of whom there are some Curtisans at Brasile not much discrepant from those Antiquity renowns in Asia who co-inhabit not with men and at certain times have Neighbours come over to them for procreation to whom again they transmit the Males and keep the Girles After a tedious Navigation and many turns and compasses for above seventeen hundred leagues upon this River he came to the confusion of it in the North Sea fourty leagues over following the Coast he arrived at Cubaga or the Isle of Pearles which is above four hundred leagues whence Orellano with 14. of his men being recruited came to S. Domingo afterwards made an ample relation to the Emperour where Ouiede took his instructions and inserted it in his History Meanwhile Pizarra expected and having suffered extream hunger seeing Orellanio came not he returned to Quito much troubled he found not the sought for Dorado a golden Prince indeed who wore no other garment but pulverized Gold lay'd on with gumme with which he goes dayly covered To conclude this is one of the greatest and longest rivers on the earth and washes more lands and people than any other Afterwards many other Spaniards sailed it as Salinas Orhia and others Adde hereto the great Lake or Ocean Guiana Parimi and Manoa in Countries discovered by the English Sir Walter Rawley in 1595 who equals it with the Caspian Sea that containes many Islands The capital Town is Manoa a Countrey rich in gold fruit and cattle North lies Castile of gold Paria and Caribana West new Andalousia and Peru South Omaga Pegu Picora Paguana East Tisnado Brasile c. Concerning beasts in America there are great numbers as well the naturall of the Countrey as Europian transported which are multiplyed exceedingly Amongst others in Mexico there is one the Spaniards call an Armadillo armed with scales like the Rhinocerot in shape like a little pig about the size of a Cat and lives in Burroughs like a Rabbet The Pacacou like a fox that preys on dead mens carcases and digs them up how deep soever I have seen of them in Asia and Africa where they call them Chicali There are the Birds called Conderos which the Chaca poyas of Peru adore these will carry away a sheep tear in pieces and eat him they are ash-coloured like a Sea-Crowâ— others again so minute they seeme rather Flyes or Gnats Another sort that is as 't were all feathers and none or little flesh and as they say never comes upon the earth Their feathers are of various colours in perfection beautifull when they rest they hang on a bough by the tayle clasped round it their plumes are worn and much esteemed In Marseills I saw one sold for 500. crowns in Portugall they come at 60. The Indians of these curious feathers make Pourtraicts as artificiall as
those in colours nor can they well be discerned asunder The Guacamayes have more beautifull and curious feathers than the Paraquito They affect plumes throughout all India but in Mexica above others for wear for adornement of their Temples and Idols and to make pourtraicts of their fashion Feathers are there good chaffer I saw an Indian truck pearls with a Leuantian so they term us for feathers he brought with him which cost him but five Crowns and he had above three hundred pearls for them This was a poor Marriner who made a fortune by it for he made many voyages afterwards to the Indies with a good ship and merchandizes of his own They wear them likewise in their dances First one called the Tamari dances single then makes a signe to a Lady to come dance with him then others follow after the same rule but they never kisse nor touch hands and use all respect to their women Of fish there are abundance of Crocodiles and Tiburons that are man-eaters The Manati that suckles her young ones with teats hath legges to walk by land and eats fruit and grasse the flesh is good like veale there are many about the Isles of Barleuento the coasts of Peru Cape Magdalen and the Isles of Salomon They are very good to salt and eat like powder'd beef There are abundance of Whales but they are ignorant how to take them The Floridans take them and make their chiefest sustenance of them the flesh dryed in the Sun they make into flower and without wetting eat it in powder and it nourisheth exceedingly Another fish with wings flyes as swift as an arrow they are like Mackarels but not so good meat The Meri that swim alwayes against stream and the Indians say in August have a worm in their head vexing them and makes them go upward that the water entring at a little hole may refresh them Another sort called Perpil streaked with divers colours that they eat roasted and is meat for sick persons They have soals of extraordinary growth weighing ten or twelve pound but the flesh is hard Vicognes are like Deer without hornes greater then Goats living on Mountains without fear of frost or snow in their bowels they have a stone of the vertue of the Unicorne or Besar against poyson they bear a wool as fine as silk whereof they make Summer garments that refresh them The flesh is good against divers diseases the stone is like a Pullets egge black or gray this beast they say having eaten some poysonous hearbs eats another called Capas proper against poyson and so breeds this stone of the same vertue There are little wild swine called Saynes that go in heards and are very dangerous others that are also very dangerous to take if the hunters have not good assistance which are good meat and the grease of them serves for oyle for Spanish oyle is there very deare There is likewise a very heavie beast called Manaquail covered with Pikes like the Hedge-hog that will dart them at a distance a snowt like a hogge but nothing so big and a short foot he is very good meat There is also another sort of Crocodile of which we found one hunting in the Forest of Caramel and we judged him to be seven or eight paces long and after we had viewed him a while ' we raised him and put him to flight with strange ejulations Of Apes and Munkies there are great numbers of all sors and sizes Some as little as rattes or mice with a white beard that will imitate all they see and are very serviceable as I have seen at Sevill that seem to have a kind of reason In Candia I saw another that the Master bidding him go stand Centinel and look if he could discover any sayle would presently climbe the Mast or get upon the Lanthorne and if he discovered any vessel would make signs and cry out and was ever very certain Their sheep called Lamas or Pacâ—s serve for all carriages with fine wool whereof they make Combi and Auafra for their apparel One of these sheep will carry eight heavie jarres nine or ten leagues a day but like mules they are humoursome and one must have patience to please them and expect their good mood before they will travail In new Spain they have the Espoulcou about the size of a Hare with a furre so fine 't is not for any but persons of quality to wear it they say the blood of it drunk breaks the stone in the bladder in few dayes For spices in the Isle of Barlouento there is abundance of sugars as also in Brasile Ginger Mastick Aloes Cassia Cinamon In Carabana they have likewise Cinamon and in Canela upon Orellana beyond the Quixos where Gonzala Pizarra went to look it for he was told in form it was little different from that in Borneo Moluccos and Leilan that the other grew in canes and reeds but this on certain fair trees that bore a fruit like an Acorne and that the bark was Cinamon the fruit is not pleasant nor the bark so good as the Cane neverthelesse they make use of both Pizarra at length after great toyle found the trees upon a Mountain in small number and of little value Other trees of such compasse good dwellings may be made within the bodies of them which they call Sesbiraich some in new Hispaniola eight men cannot fathom about and of a flight shot in height on the top whereof they make Arbours CHAP. XII The Mines of the New World AMongst other rarities and riches the New World produces Mines of Gold and Silver pearles and precious stones in divers places and chiefly in new Spain and Peru which of all parts of the world are most indulged with these advantages of nature though other parts of Asia and Africa have them in some abundance and Europe likewise but it appeares America had the principal and better portion as well in these as other Dowries as I have before mentioned In divers Islands they finde most wealthy Mines as in Hispaniola Cuba and the rest upon the great gulph again in Carabana Veragna Castile of gold the country of Dorado or Esâ—ramador In new Spain there are these of silver Paxuco Tasco Zupango Guanaxato Tumazlan and other places in Acapulco At the gold and silver mines they coyne not for want of Artists but they cut pieces and gobbits whereon they mark the price from one reall to eight and so send them to Spain The Mines belong to Merchants who give so much to the King some four some five per centum For want of men that can and will work they get the mettle with much difficulty being the toyle wherein the Spaniards have spent the lives of so many thousands nay millions of miserable Indians The Mines are exceeding deep where the workmen are much inconvenienced with water and with damps that poyson them few free-men will venture themselves and the meanest slave hath his three crownes a day
held the Spaniards in play with good order and military discipline they had learnt of one Lanearo an Indian sometime page to Valdiuia and afterwards revolted against him This Arauco is a small division in Chila not above ten leagues in length and seven broad upon the Sea-side and breeds the most warlike people of the Indies upon which account the Spaniards stiled it El estado in domito wherein are contained the vales of Ponco Purto Tucapol Angol Cauten c. and the Towns of the Conception and the Imperiall In 1599. the Arucans took and demolished the Town and Fort Valdiuia and others putting all the Spaniards to sword man woman and child and sacked and burnt all and had repossessed the rest of the Country had they not been repulsed This constant war with the Araucans gave occasion to the famous Poet Alonzo de Ercilla to make his Poem the Auracana where he describes the Countrey and their war with the Spaniard and begins with this vanity truely poetical and Romantick Spaniard-like No Las damas Amor no gentilezas Di cavalieros canto enamorados Ni las Maestras regales y ternezas De amorosos a feijos y cay dados Mas el valor los huecos las proesas De aquelles Espagnoles esbercadòs Que a la cermi de Arauco no do madae Pasieron duro y ago per la espada Here I observe a singularity amongst these people in election of their Chief or Captain Generall who is the man that can carry longest a great tree like a date tree upon his shoulders as one Canpolican who was chosen did for three dayes together without the least rest CHAP. XV. Of the streight of Magellan FRom Chila the next is the streight of Magellan of about 100. leagues in length and not much more in breadth or any waies which is not to be survey'd till you are well within the land The tides are strong and dangerous principally from the South sea by reason of the narrow entrance in the mouth and a multitude of rocks and mountains before the mouth of it which render the passage hard to find and being but a little out at sea one can perceive nothing of it so as you must go cast about with the cock-boat though otherwise you know the way and the true heighth which is about 52. degrees There is one very high Mountain hard upon the mouth called la campana being in form like a bell The shallowest place is fifteen or twenty fathoms and a very good bottom The South sea enters thirty leagues within amongst very high Mountains covered with snow the North sea enters it seventy leagues on the other side where they find bottoms in many places as on the contrary on the South side the depth is such no ship can ride at anchor On the North side there are expatiate plains and champians upon the firm land and divers Rivers that fall into this streight shaded with odoriferous trees which shews the goodnesse of the soyle It containes some Islands not to be ventured on without discretion The Inhabitants on the South side are exceeding little on the North of Gyants stature whom in Magellan they call Paragous for their great feet they clothe with skins of sheep and other beasts for the rigidnesse of the Climate These are a people without civility law or policy wandring up and down without any certain abode reposing in Cabins and no other arms than bow and arrows when we speak to them and they understand not the language they lift their eyes to heaven They live upon flesh dried in the Sun enemies to none but give themselves wholly to chase and fishing This Streight is vexed with forcible tides from both sides which like two Cells encounter with a most obstreperous fragour where the danger is great and chiefly in winter when the winds rage there with more violence for the Streight is never free from winds no not in summer divers vessels perish in crossing the Rocks which seem an Archipelagus of Islands both those on the South-sea-side and those which come from Lima. The immense depth on the South side renders the sea more navigable and on the North the length of the fall breaks the force of the waves so as there is no great danger but in the narrowest and in some places of not above a musket shot In the winter the Sea is higher than in Summer and the passage wider notwithstanding the sailing is nothing more secure by reason of the crosse winds and colds Some are of opinion that the Tides do not meet at the same time but as it flowes on one side it ebbs on the other by a locall remotion of the sea but they are deceived for 't is certain that the floud comes in and goes out on both sides at the same time like as the boyling of a pot rising from the center disperses to all parts and cooling ceases all together this hath been proved by experience that at the same time the floud came thirty leagues form the South and seventy from the North the Sea swelling from both parts as the Pilots observed following the course of the Moon the Tides augmenting or diminishing according to her state the Tide and Ebbe coming sooner or later by three quarters of an hour daily conformable to the course of that plannet The Spaniards call the high-tide at the new-moon Cabeza de aguas the tide at the full Aguas viuas the low tides in the wane Aguas muertas This so admirable motion of the Sea seems rather a combat or like the boiling of water in a pot over a fire then a locall remotion which neverthelesse I refer to Naturalists The streight begins Northward at the Cape of eleven thousand Virgins as Magellan called it and ends Southward at Cape Victoria in the middle stood the Towne and Fortresse of St. Philip which afterwards the Inhabitants perishing with hunger and cold was called the Port of Famine The first that passed this streight was Ferdinand Magallanes a Portuguese who had both heard and seen something of it in their cards 'T was in 1519. when he went to find a road to the Moluccas that way for Charles the fifth Afterwards one Pedro Sarmicates passed the streight from North to South from South to North few passe for the danger and difficulty to find the way Since that the famous Argonautes who went round the world by Sea as Sir Francis Drake in one thousand five hundred seventy nine Candish in one thousand five hundred eighty five Oliuier de Nort in one thousand five hundred ninety nine and of fresher memory Spilberg le Maire Hermita and others But le Maire in 1618. a little further in some fifty six or fifty seven degrees towards the South found the new Streight called by his own name much shorter and much easier than the other not being above eight leagues in length and the breadth wide and facile the Spaniards came thither afterwards and gave it the name
Saint Vincent Upon the North-side the streight of Magellan are abundance of winglesse birds that live in holes in the ground fat and good meat they called Pinguins Sir Francis Drake found many good Harbours in the Streight where good fresh waters came but they are not easy to enter for the strong and turbulent windes that raigne there The Land on both sides lies exceeding high and banked with inaccessible Mountains particularly on the South and East where they are ever covered with snow The breadth in some places is of two three or foure leagues in the narrowest of one or of two musket shots 'T is excessive cold and never without snow and ice the trees notwithstanding ever green and laden with fruit From this Streight by Cape Foendo and the White Cape they ascend again into the silver river where begins Brasile in 35 degrees beyond the line reaching to the River of Amazons under the Line This silver river or Paravai Parana and Paraguay disgorging altogether like Cordillera de serra Muada in Peru and Charcas over-flow the whole Countrey so as the Inhabitants for that time live in Canoes fastned to Trees till the floud be retired within the banks At the mouth t is about 35. leagues over but further within the Land fifty being streightened towards the Mouth by reason of the Mountains and compassing a number of Islands this River rises near the Town of Plata towards Potossi whence it takes name Others derive it from the great lake called Eupania where the other Rivers take birth as Maragnon but it should rather be Parana which afterwards falls into the silver River The first that came within the mouth of this River was Americus Vesputius sent by the King of Portugall to discover Brasile in the yeare fifteen hundered and one and supposing it a passage from the South sea to the Moluccas satisfied himselfe and returned without looking farther After that in the yeare fifteen hundered and twelve the King of Spain sent one John Solis who named it Solis In fifteen hundered twenty five Sebastian Ganor made a farther advance up the River and by reason of the silver he found amongst the people or rather because the head of it lies near the Town Plata towards Potossi called it the silver River or Plata The Inhabitants along the River are of large stature long-lived light and nimble of foot use bows and slings in warr and speak the Patagonick Language or the Chicaan of later times the Spaniards have ascended this River as farr as Charcas and Colao The other river I mentioned is above fifty leagues in the mouth and rises amongst the Mountains of Cuntisuya near Cusco the Indians call it Apurimac principall and Capacmaya the Prince of Rivers It runs from South to North above five hundred leagues from his source at the equinoctiall Then it turns to the East for 650. leagues in a right line and goes with windings and turns for above a thousand five hundred leagues two miles to the league This is the greatest River upon the earth which at his infusion keeps the Sea fresh for many leagues first discovered by the Pinsons of Siville in the year 1500. then Orellana sailed it from the source almost to the end in 1543. 't is filled with severall Islands and the Tide mounts above a hundred leagues They find Meragnon to be seventy leagues Southward distant from Orellana that rises from the great Peruian lakes which descend from the Mountains covered with snow others put them both in one it may be falling so close together into the Sea they may joyn waters and Orellana bear the name of both CHAP. XVI Of Brasile the Conquest of it and of the Brasilians c. BRasile is a large Province of America appertaining to the Crown of Portugall extending from 25. degrees to the second from North to South some ten degrees in breadth from East to West from fort Para in the mouth of the great River of Amazons to Plata Maragnon bounds it Northward in two degrees Plata South in thirty five on the East the excelse and inaccessible Mountains of Peru and on the East the Ethiopian or Atalantick Sea as likewise on the North. For the Country the benignity and sweetnesse of the air and water and the fertility of soyle is a miracle in such a Climate and temperature which renders the Inhabitants of so healthfull and long life and though the Climate be under the Torrid there come freshgales from the Sea that moderate it so as it becomes a delicate habitation having every morning some mists and dews which the Sun afterwards dissolves into air Here you meet with nothing but fair open fields pleasant hills fertile mountains fresh valleys green meadows abundance of woods rivers and fountains of excellent waters with infinite plenty of all sorts of trees plants fruits grain cattle sugar balm In a word 't is for necessaries and delights the fullest Country on the earth Of strange Creatures there is the Cerigon in shape and bigness like a Fox betwixt yellow and gray whose belly is like a purse or pocket wherein she saves her young ones when she is hunted another the Portuguese call Pereza for his slow gate in fifteen dayes not going a stones cast nor can any force drive him faster he feeds on nothing but leaves of trees and 't is some dayes work for him to climb up and come down There are Camelions whereof I have spoken in another place Betwixt Brasile and the Cape of bona Esperanza there is a Gulph of 1200. leagues formidable and furious for winds and tempests The Countrey is divided into nine Governments or Captainships wherein are 7. Colonies of Portugueses along the coast that is Tamaraco Pernanbuco Todos santos or San Saluador Puerto seguro espiritu santo Paraibi Genero and others the Capes of S. Augustine and St. Vincent the River St. Francis c. The first discoverers were Vespusius the Pinions Lopez and Cabral about 1500. Pedro Aluarez Cabral made the principall discovery in 1500. being sent by King Emanuel for the East Indies but a tempest cast him here and he named it the countrey of St. Chrosse and the place he landed on Porto Seguro Cabral for that time contented himself with taking possession and the Kings of Portugall being full of concernments in Africa and the East neglected new conquests till Emanuell not long before his death sent thither one Gonzalo Cotello who sailed on along the coast not without trouble and danger and returned without any advantage Afterwards King John the â— sent Christopher Jago who discovered about 1100. leagues upon the coast amongst others the Bay of Todos Santos where in the River Paraguasu he found two French vessels traficking with the Natives which shewes the French men traded with this Nation before the Portugueses had any knowledge of it This Jago barbarously sunk their vessels and murthered all the men done like the Spaniard who though he cannot
dresse in several manners the fruits excell and chiefly the Melons called there Dormous admirable in taste which they eat not but in Summer because they are excessive cooling and as it were freeze the stomack being neverthelesse not ill of digestion or causing chollicks what quantity soever one eats They are for the most part Idolaters except some Mahometans who dissemble their Religion for which cause the Prince hath but a sinister look for them This Prince hath a high veneration from his people who subjugate their shoulders for his support burn perfumes to him when he appeares in publick as they do likewise for all Princes or Potentates who come to visit them But indeed this Prince is most laudable in this particular that he himself will take cognizance of whatsoever is acted by his Governours and Magistrates and if any one impleads other before him it behoves him on the price of his head to be assured of the fact When a complaint is made to him immediately he sends for the party accused If he be a Noble man when he arrives at the Palace gate he gives notice to the Officers of his presencce by the sound of a Cornet who cause him to ascend single before the Prince who with great patience hears hoth parties in presence of his Council If â—oth are found culpable the inferiour is remitted to the ordinary Justice who punisheth him with stripes of cudgell the Grandee is punished by fine But if the Noble-man prove only guilty the King leads him to his chamber where being disrobed prostrate on the ground craving pardon he receives from the Kings own hand certain stripes with a cudgell more or fewer in proportion to the crime and services he hath done Which done he revests kisses the Kings feet and with all humility thanks him for the favour received Then without further shew of any thing attends the King to his Hall who in presence of all the Court gives him a dismission and recommends â—o him administration of Justice to his people causes him to be accompanied out of town with ordinary ceremony so as what hath passed is not perceived by any and this Grandee returns as well content as if he had received a rich treasure The charges of suit are defrayed out of the Kings Coffers or if he please by the criminall without the knowledge of any one When as this King who by his subjects is esteemed a Saint makes a progresse into the Country he is mounted on a horse richly trapp'd and going out of his Palace passes over a new kill'd heifer where the people raise a loud outcry and instantly go view the entrails of the beast to judge by sorcery if this voyage shall be successeful or no. When he makes entrance into any town all the fairest Ladies walk before him with censers of perfumes burning in their hands some singing his encomiums others melodiously playing on Basons with fine nods endeavouring to render themselves as complaisant as possibly they can To conclude their territories confine upon the country of Zangueliac and Ethiopia Aquiloa is a Kingdome with an Isle and a Town of the same appellation where the Portugals have a Fort the Governour whereof drives a main trade by means of the vessels he sends for the Indies The King of Quiloa was Lord heretofore of Mozambique All these are countries of Zanguebar or Zanzibar which comprehends that large extent of ground which lyes between the Oriental and Occidental seas of the people called Cafres Zanzibar properly speaking is an Island which faces directly Monbaze but the country I intend to speak of is Zanguebar named so by the Arabians because in their language this word Zangue signifies black and this country for the greatest part is inhabited by Blacks Mark Pol esteems it an Island of above a thousand leagues in circuit being water'd with many rivers making as it were an Island Concerning the Town of Quiloa 't was built as Tradition sayes above six hundred years past by one Hali son of Hocen King of Siras in Persia who came to live there Women here go exceeding well arrayed richly adorned with Jewels and Ivory bracelets quaintly wrought which upon death of husband and allies they break in signe of sorrow as the men forbear to eat and shave their hair as I before recounted of the East Indies CHAP. V. Of Mozambique the nature of the Inhabitants Cefala Mines of gold in Ophir Belugara HAving passed by Viada where the people for the best part dwell upon the river Dumes or Humes since the vast inundation of this and other rivers in the country upon the day of Saint Abiblicane we entered the kingdome of Mozambique this River runs towards the East passing by the foot of the Mountain Zet out of which issues one of the heads of Nile the other from the Mount Betzoan which ancients called the Mountains of the Moon streaming towards the points Maestro and Tramontanus The branch which runs Southward is divided not far from the head by a rock into two streams the one watering the land of Sefala the other running to disgorge it self in the sea right over against the Isle of Saint Laurence Mozambique is a small Island hard upon the firm land with a Haven and a Fort of the Portugals within fifteen degrees of the Line 'T was subject to the King of Quiloa till the Portugals became Masters where now in their voyages from Portugal to the Indies is one of their securest harbours to rest and refresh themselves The greatest part of the Inhabitants who are all Blacks professe Mahometisme the rest Idolatry They upon the firm land are absolute brutes going stark naked their privities only covered with a cotten cloth Adorers of the Sun like them of Sephala speaking the same language as they their traffick is Gold Ivory and Ebony their chief food the flesh of Elephants They delight much to parget their bodies with a reddish earth perswading themselves that so dawb'd the world shewes not finer men The better sort paint themselves with a certain Folliage which to make azure they use Indico and other compounds There are amongst them who bore their lips like the Americans enchasing some delicate stone Some say this countâ—y in times past depended upon Ethiopia and and 't was hither Salomon sent his Fleets for gold and that the Queen of Saba stil'd her self likewise Queen of Mozambique and Melindo moreover that their speech resembles in some sort that of Senega Though to speak truth 't is more likelihood Salomon fetched his gold from the mines of Sefala which are not farre thence or may be from the East Indies Touching the country of Cefala or Sefala and Zinguebar which takes up in a sort the whole breadth of that end of Africa even to the Cape of Bona Esperanza which coast is inhabited with Blacks called Cafares or Cafres they appertain to the great Empire of Monomotapa of which we are to speak presently In particular