out what did befal him or caused him to dye it were a great shame for us we have examined and tryed you but it shall not remain so we will look farther into the business and make the Southsayers acquainted with it Manimassah mad at these inhumane usages burst forth at last into these words This shame is not to be suffered from my own Subjects in my own Countrey I will go under the Conduct of the Spirits of my deceased Friends and seek a dwelling place In this manner leaving his Native Countrey he travelled Northward into Gala inhabited by a mean and simple People and won so upon them by his endearing behaviour that they unanimously besought him to be their Prince to which he consented upon condition That they should give him some of their Plants and Venison for an acknowledgement of their subjection This they yeilded to but such was their brutish Barbarism that though they owned him their Lord they used him as their Companion for being wholly unacquainted with Civility when any of them brought him Wine Rice or Flesh they came again to him to require their Callibashes or Basquets which unmannerly clownish behaviour Manimassah so resented that he withdrew from them to require assistance from Flansire King of Folgia whose Daughter he had Married to reduce the Gala's to his Authority The King hearing the request of his Son in Law lent him many Souldiers under the Conduct of Flonikerry his General who unexpectedly fell into Gala and subdued the People setling Manimassah in an absolute Dominion who hath ever since continned their Prince and taught them with sorrow more respective qualities after this Flonikerry returned to Folgia where he was received and welcomed with great applause and the King willing to gratifie him for his honest performances he according to Flonikerrys Petition gave him leave to go and Conquer and settle himself and his People in Cabo Monte an adjacent Countrey expressing his kindness in saying I shall do the desire of his Heart and sending a considerable force to help him that he might not be repulsed Marching toward this place the Inhabitants being numerous and couragious were not soon subdued but at length tired with the continual onsets of their Enemies who shot poysoned Arrows which made all wounds though never so slight prove Mortal a fatal Invention unknown to these People they went with their Hoods upon their Heads as usual to ask favour which Flonikerry naturally inclined to pity easily granted bidding them go lie down with their Faces upon the ground according to the manner of that Countrey in such cases then coming out of his Fort he trod upon them with his Feet He then made an agreement with them which was confirmed as followeth first some Hens were killed in the presence of them all of whose Blood the Conquered swallowed a little as a token of Friendship Afterward the Hens were boiled and the Flesh eaten among them only the Legs were kept for a perpetual Remembrance for if any Man after that time transgressed or broke his promise to him were the Legs shown who upon sight thereof soon recanted for fear of the punishment that would assuredly follow Flonikerry overjoyed at his success gave free scope to his thoughts to range farther but for assuring his new Dominion he first sought to win the minds of the vanquished to him and then to contract a firm League of Friendship and correspondence with the Lords of his own Countrey But wavering Fortune who minds nothing less than contribuance of her favour will blemish his new gotten glory with a dire and unexpected mishap for scarce were the minds of the Nobility united when there came out of Gala Miminique Son of the aforementioned Manimassah with a great Army of Gala's and others make War upon him of whose design his Father was not ignorant having already forgot the kindness received from Flonikerrys Arms in setling him in his new acquired Dominions Flonikerry upon the first Intelligence drew together his Forces to whom the Nobles joining theirs he formed a considerable Army wherewith marching toward the Enemy they soon met and came to a Battle wherein by the multitude of their Enemies they were at first put to a disorderly retreat which Flonikerry who was of an undaunted Spirit perceiving and not used to shrink in Fight digged with his hand a hole in the ground and put his Knees in it with a resolution either to die there or to remain Conquerour and indeed in one he had his desire for after a long and sharp contest at length being even covered with Arrows he was slain on the spot However his men gathering new courage to revenge their Princes death rallied and gave a fresh charge with such fury that they turned the Fortune of the day and became sole Masters of the Field The death of Flonikerry whose body they privately buried was sometime kept secret till they sent for his Brother Zillimanque to take his charge who immediately accepting the same pursued the Victory and drew near the Enemies Camp which he soon surprized and gave as a spoil to his Souldiers After which he marched farther the People all along yielding subjection without blows whereby they soon became Masters of the whole Countrey and gain'd the reputation of a Mighty People After which he was poisoned as was thought leaving behind him several Sons who were young and not capable to manage their Fathers Conquests However Flansire his eldest was admitted Successor during whose Minority his Uncle Jemmah undertook the Government but Flansire growing to years took the Royal Authority into his own hands and to shew that he inherited as well his Fathers Valour as Countreys resolves to inlarge his bounds yet farther and to that end marcht with his Forces over the River Galinas or Hens taking all the adjacent places as far as Sierra Liona and placing Garrisons therein Having settled his new Conquests he return'd to his own Native Principality where he spent a good part of his Life in peace and quietness when on a sudden there came News from Sierra Liona that Kandaqualla his Governour was driven out thence and forced to fly with all his People to the Islands of Bananeo not being able to withstand Falma of Dogo who with a mighty Force inveded them Flansire startled at this intelligence and knowing nothing more necessary than expedition sent to the Lords his Substitutes to raise an Army and meet him at an appointed Randezvouz but they having made a private Confederacy with Gamina their Master Flansires Brother by his instigation they neglected and slighted his Commands Flansire ignorant of this Combination leaving the Government of his Kingdom Wives and Children to his treacherous Brother Gamina marched with his eldest Son Flambore the present King of Quoia not doubting in the least the Fidelity of his Provincials He went first by Land to the River of Hens and from thence in Canoes to the Isles of Bananes to take with him his
People who were driven from Sierra Liona and so bringing them back thither he began a sharp War with Falma This Falma had been formerly in great favour with the King of Dogo or Hondo but having debauched one of his Wives the King was thereat so much offended that not content the offence should as usual be bought off with Gifts or Slaves he caused his Ears to be cut off and banished him his presence but length of time so wore out the Kings Fury that Falma was again admitted to Court where he had not been long but he began to shew his Insolence and at length addrest the King in these Terms Sir King considering the wickedness committed against you my Lord and Master I am obliged to thank you for your gracious Sentence by which I am punished whereby every one that looks upon me derides and scorns me and the rather because the punishment is unusual and the like offence customarily bought off with Goods and Slaves Now as you were pleased to punish me so I desire the like offence in others may be punished in the same manner It may happen that some of the Kings Servants or Subjects may fall into the same Lapse but if this Sentence be either denied or not performed I shall complain against my Lord the King in the Ways and in the Woods to the Jananen and Belli that is to all the Spirits and Demons The King having heard this audacious Speech took counsel upon it and notwithstanding this seeming Threat determined that the punishment inflicted on him should not follow upon all But yet to pacifie him in some measure he made him General of an Army to recover Sierra Liona out of the hands of Kandaqualla who presided there for Flansire To repel this Invader Flansire as we said coming to Sierra Liona with an Army and making sharp War at length by the help of some Europeans he fell upon the Town of Falmaha and with Axes cutting down the Tree-wall at last they forced an entrance and set the Houses on fire whose fury soon increased to an impossibility of being quenched whereupon Falma unable to resist fled whom young Flambore pursued and though he mist him yet got great Reputation the People stiling him The Pursuen of Falma Flansire having thus reconquered these Countries and settled Kandaqualla in his Lieutenantship retreated with his Forces intending to return to his Wife and Children But on the way he had notice that his Brother Gamana had usurped his Kingdom killed all his Sons he could meet with taken his Wives for himself and had set up his Residence at a convenient place near the River of Hens to intercept and hinder his Brothers approach and as commonly one Trouble falls in the neck of another this Rebellion of his Brother was attended with the Invasion of Monou who dwelt near Cape Miserado and fell into his Countrey at Cape de Monto where they burnt the Town and led away all they met with for Slaves Flansire understanding these mischiefs marched toward the River Maqualbary with all speedy but complaining to the Kanou and Jananies that is to God and the Angels of his distress in these words To you only it is known that my Father left me rightful Heir to his Kingdom which falls to me by the Laws of the Land seeing I was the eldest You likewise know that my Brother hath rebelled against me and hath set himself up to be Lord be you Judges between him and me in this intended Fight and if the Cause be unjust that he manages against me let the mischief fall upon his own head Thereupon he passed with all his Souldiers over the River where the Armies suddenly met and his Brother with great numbers of men being slain he obtained a compleat Victory but still kept the Field though no other opposition appeared against him While the King incamped in the Field to be more ready against any other appearing Rebels his Son Flambore went with a Squadron of Souldiers into the Woods to hunt Civit Cats and being by his sports got far into them they discovered some of the Rebels busie in burying the dead body of Gamana the Usurper who perceiving Flambore and his Followers immediately fled imagining he had come purposely with those Forces to search them out and left the Corps behind them with three Slaves in Chains whom they intended to have dispatcht at his Grave according to Custom Being by this means assured of Gamana's death when they least expected it they brought the three Slaves to Flansire who having from them understood all Circumstances and how all things stood in the Countrey he sent them to their Fellow-Rebels to admonish them to come and ask his pardon and to ascertain them he would utterly forget their misdeeds which goodness of the Kings though presented by the mouth of these Slaves wrought the desired Effect for the Rebels immediately submitted and received their Pardon This Rebellion thus supprest King Flansire with all his Power marched to Cape Miserado to reduce Monou which he did with great slaughter and spoil of the Countrey and then retired home with his Forces till Monou made a New Insurrection to revenge the Losses of Falma but in short time he was again in a manner totally subdued by Flansires People In the Principality of Anten near Tekorari the Hollanders some years since built a Fort which in 1664. was attaqued by Sir Robert Holms in behalf of the Royal African Company with two of the Kings Men of War six Frigats and some other Ships and by them with no great difficulty won but regained the next year by Admiral De Ruyter being at that time only mann'd by four or five in health and about as many more sick English-men leaving in it seven Iron Guns and six or eight Pounders Upon the retaking the Guns being drawn off to the Ship De Ruyter caused it as not being tenable without many People and great Charges to be blown up into the Air and totally dismantled with twelve hundred pound of Powder In the mean time the Negro's of the Mine plundered the Village of Tekorari and laid it waste with Fire and Sword out of malice to the Blacks of that place exercising great Cruelty upon the Prisoners cutting off their Heads wherewith they went dancing and leaping up and down and at last carried them home in token of Victory they were well Armed according to the Countrey fashion some having Caps like Helmets adorned with Feathers and Horns of Beasts and Swords hanging on their Bellies whereon instead of Handles they put the Bones of Lions Tygers and other Beasts their Faces are generally painted with Red and Yellow which make a very strange and terrible sight In the Kingdom of Fetu the Hollanders have a Fort called Cape Corso strengthened with a convenient number of great Guns and mann'd with a strong Garrison of Slaves but in 1664 this with the Forts of Tekorari aforementioned Adia and Anemabo were taken by
like a Coach covered with Velvet on his back in the midst whereof was a great Bason of Gold with a rich Covering of Silk wherein the Letter was put The General was mounted on another Elepant and being arrived the Dishes wherein he was treated were of Gold their Wine is of Rice wherein the King drank to the General out of his Gallery about four Foot higher than where he sate it was as strong as Aqua Vitae After the Feast some young Women danced and play'd on the Musick the King sent a Letter and a Present to the Queen and upon parting asked if they had the Psalms of David and caused them to sing one which he and his Nobles seconded with a Psalm as he say'd for their Prosperity In 1613 Captain Best Anchored in the Road at Achin and was kindly received having an Araacia or Messenger sent riding in a Tent on an Elephants back attended with two or three of the Kings Boys for he is attended by Boys abroad and Women within to receive his Majesties Letter which was thus carried in a Bason of Gold the General following with forty or fifty men After the Letter and Present was delivered the King told them they should see some of his pastime which was first Cock-fighting next that of Rams then his tame Elephants after them his Buffoloes each still exceeding the other in fierceness lastly the Antelopes which the General had given him All this while the King took Tobacco in a Silver Pipe given him by his Women who stood in a close Room behind him Then was Supper served in by Boys of about fourteen in in a Metal of Gold and Copper mixed continuing from seven a Clock to almost twelve in which were served in four hundred Dishes beside hot Drinks Next day the King sent the General an Elephant to ride on which none may do without his leave and appointed one of his Cheif Officers constantly to attend him and free access was granted him at all times and the Articles agreed on between James Lancaster and his Predecessor were promised to be ratified May. 2. All strangers were invited to a Feast kept at the Spring of a River in the Water six miles from the City two Elephants were sent for the General the dishes were served in by Boys swimming with one hand and holding the Dish or strong Drink in the other Of all these drinks they must tast and then throw the rest into the Water This continued from one till five they had 500 Dishes well dressed General Best weary of sitting so long in the Water had leave to depart an hour before the rest The Captain of the Dutch got his Bane either by the hot Drinks or cold sitting so long in the Water and soon after died The King gave the General a new Title calling and charging his Nobles to call him Arancaia Pule that is The honourable White Man June 2. They were entertained with a fight of four Elephants and a Tyger who was fastened to a Stake and yet got such hold on the Legs and Truncks of the Elephants that he made them roar and bleed extreamly Sometimes Wild Elephants fight before him who would soon kill each other but that tame ones are fastned to them who draw them back fourscore or an hundred men helping them To tame them they place a Wild one between two that are tame This King sent a Present and Letter to our King James the first the Letter was written and painted very curiously and being translated runs thus Pedrucka Sirie Sultan King of Kings renowned for his Wars and sole King of Sumatra and a King more reverenced than his Predecessors Feared in his Kingdom and Honoured of all Neighbouring Nations in whom there is the true Image of a King in whom Reigns the true Method of Government formed as it were of the most pure Metal and adorned with the most fine Colours whose seat is high and most compleat like to a Chrystal River pure and clear as the choicest Glass from whom floweth the pure stream of Bounty and Justice whose presence is as the finest Gold King of Priaman and of the Mountain of Gold that is Solida and Lord of nine sorts of Stones king of two Sumbreroes of beaten Gold having for his seats Mats of Gold His furniture for his Horses and Armour for himself being likewise of pure Gold His Elephant with Teeth of Gold and all Provisions thereunto belonging His Lances half Gold half Silver his small shot of the same a Sadel also for another Elephant of the same Metal A Tent of Silver And all his seats half Gold half Silver His Sepulchre of Gold whereas his Predecessors had all these half Gold half Silver His Services compleat of Gold and Silver A King under whom there are many Kings having taken Othe King of Aurow All the Countrey of Priaman Tecoo Barouse being subdued by him is now under his command Seventy Elephants and much Provisions carried by Sea to make his Wars in Aurow where God gave me greater Victories than any of my Predecessors This great King sendeth this Letter of Salutation to James King of Great Brittain that is England Scotland France and Ireland to signifie the great content He hath received by his Highness Letter delivered by the hands of Arancaja Pule Thomas Best His Majesties Ambassador at the receipt whereof his Eyes were surprized with a Coelestial brightness and his Spirits ravished with a Divine Joy The opening thereof rendred a savour more fragrant than the most odoriferous Flowers or sweetest Persumes in the World For which cause I the Great King of Sumatra do profess my self to be of one Heart one Mind and of one Flesh with the most Potent Prince James King of England and do earnestly desire that the League begun may be continued to all Posterities And herein I reckon my greatest Felicity there being nothing in the World more pleasant or delightful to me and for a Testimony that the Friendship begun may be preserved betwixt us I have returned this Letter to your Majesty making also my Prayers to the great God to continue the same and shall count it my greatest Honour to receive a Memorial from so Mighty a Potentate and so remote a Nation and for an assurance of my Love and Honour and the continuance of our League I send your Majesty a Creese or Dagger wrought with Gold the Hilt thereof being beaten Gold with a Ring of Stones an Assagaya of Swasse half Copper half Gold eight Purslain Dishes small and great of Camphire one piece of Sowering Stuff three pieces of Calicoe Lawn Which your Majesty accepting as from a Brother I shall rest satisfied and much honoured And so with my Prayers to the great God Creator of Heaven and Earth for your Majesties long life with Victory over your Enemies and Prosperity in your Land I conclude Given at our Palace at Achi the 1022. year of Mahomet by Accomps of the Moors This Letter for the strange
A Guinean Monarch A VIEVV OF THE English Acquisitions IN GUINEA AND THE East-Indies WITH An Account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other Observables in those Countries Together with A Description of the Isle of St. Helena And the Bay of Sculdania where the English usually refresh in their Voyages to the Indies Intermixt with pleasant Relations and Enlivened with Picture By R. B. Author of the English Empire in America Englands Monarchs and the History of Scotland and Ireland c. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1686. TO THE READER HAving in some late Tracts endeavoured to inform my Country-men of the Grandeur of the English Monarchy by giving them an Account of the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland and likewise of His Majesties Dominions in America The Acceptance they have received hath incouraged me briefly to discover to them what many have only heard of by discourse that is the English Acquisitions in the two other Quarters of the World Africa and Asia wherein I have not so much considered matter of Trade as History by relating the most pleasant Passages I have met with concerning these Countreys If I have in some places seemed to divert from the Design of this small Collection by adding matters which may appear forein thereto I shall not ask pardon provided it prove either delightful or useful to the Reader my intent being in all things to please and not meddle with what may be offensive to any And if others would do the like there is no fear of their falling under such ill Circumstances as too many have too lately done to their cost by forgetting that wholsom Counsel Study to be quiet R. B. An Account of the English Acquisitions Upon the Coast of Guinea in Africa Sect. 1. THat Tract of Land called Guinea comprehends seven hundred Leagues from Cap Verd in fourteen Degrees of North Latitude and nineteen of East Longitude to Cape Gonsalvo in the first Degree of Southern Latitude and thirty of East Longitude The Portugals were the first that ranged this Shore and having some Intelligence of their Commodities and the manner of Trading with them by fair means and force together they got footing upon the Sea coasts building Forts in some and placing Garrisons and Factories in other places which they then found such a Golden Trade that they called some Coasts thereof by that name and perceiving it so beneficial to themselves and their Countrey it was an inducement as what will not Gold attract to their further search on these Maritine Coasts all along to the Cape of Good Hope and thereby consequently to the East-Indies The fair quarter and courteous usage which the Inhabitants received from the Portugals already setled there incouraged them to exchange their Commodities with them which Trade according to the Custom of that Kingdom was maintained by Factors upon the King of Portugals particular account in every Port and Town as if he intended the profits of Merchandizing should defray the charges of his Conquests and Garrisons furnishing the Natives with Salt Iron Tin Copper Basons Knives Cloth Linnen and other European Goods and receiving in exchange partly Cattle Corn Rice and the like but chiefly Gold it self in great abundance both in Sand and melted Ingots which gave Life and Briskness to the further Discovery of those Countreys and continuance of that Trade to this very day though not so considerable as formerly The English and other Nations desirous to share in this Rich Trade in short time Sailed thither and because they had no Forts to Protect their Persons and Goods from the danger of the Portugals and treachery of the Inhabitants they were compelled to Anchor along the Coasts near the greatest Towns of Concourse and signifying to the Negroes what Wares they had brought by their plausible demeanor they at length imboldened them to come aboard their Ships and bring their Gold the manner of which Trade was very different from that of any other Countrey For beâ—imes in the Morning the wind being then generally off the Shore and the weather calm the Natives came aboard in their Canoes and Scutes to Traffique some for themselves and some as Factors for others carrying at their Girdles a Purse wherein were several small Clouts or Papers containing the Gold belonging sometimes to ten several Men which though all of the same weight and goodness yet they readily distinguisht and having made their bargains for Cloth Linnen or the like at Noon they return'd with the Seabrize again to the Shore but beside the agreement these Factors have some small thing for themselves in reward for their Brokage but in process of time the Hollanders frequenting these Coasts and being well acquainted with the manner of the English Traffique and coming into the same places where the English Traded and were known they soon spoiled this Golden Trade by their sinister and indirect dealing for Anchoring with the English whom they found to have a better Trade than themselves they secretly bribed those Factors aforementioned to carry their Passengers and Merchants aboard their own Ships and not the English obliging them to Trade only with the Dutch Which Craft the English perceiving used the same Arts to ingage the Factors to themselves so that out-trying each other these Brokers commonly gained to themselves six or seven per Cent. to the vast prejudice of all Trade upon these Coasts for the future since this ill Custom must be kept up by all Succeeding European Merchants It was observed that many Negro Merchants who dwelt up in the Countrey coming to buy Wares of the Dutch with great quantities of Gold and divers Slaves thirty or more according to their Quality to carry back the Goods they should purchase and taking their Lodgings in the Houses of these Brokers whom they acquainted with their full Commissions and Intentions and to whom they delivered their Gold these Factors would go aboard the Flemish Ships with them to Trade and Barter and if the Negro Merchants were not skilled in the Portugal Tongue these Brokers would bid the Hollanders not to speak the Morisco Language to them because they Inhabited far within the Land thereby giving the Dutch the watch-word that they meant to deceive their Countreymen and afterward divide the Spoil so that the knavish Factor connived at the extravagant prizes of the Hollanders to draw the more Gold from the Merchant whom he likewise cheated sometimes by putting some of his Gold into his Mouth Ears or otherwise which the Merchant Negro finding wanting in the Scale adds to the Cheat himself by blowing into the Christians Ballance to make it weight The bargain being finished and the Negro again landed the Factor returns back to the Ship to share his ill got gains with the Flemings This way of proceeding was very detrimental to the English and other Christians that Trade upon these Coasts so that unless they likewise
connive with these Factors their Voyage will be lost and their Commodities unsold In 1553. Thomas Windam and Anthony Pintado a Portugal in two English Ships Traded along these Coasts as far as Benin where they presented themselves to the King who sate in a great Hall the Walls whereof were made of Earth without Windows the Roof of thin Boards open in divers places his Nobles never look him in the Face but sit with their Buttocks on the ground and their hands before their Faces not looking up till the King commands them when they depart they go backward turning their Faces still toward him The next year Captain John Lock Sailed into these Parts to Trade for Gold and Elephants Teeth And after him Captain Towerson made several Voyages thither who at the River St. Vincent observed a kind of Pease growing on the Shore like Trees with stalks twenty seven paces long At Cape Tres Puntas they made him Swear by the Water of the Sea that he would not hurt them before they would Trade with him Aban a Negro King treated them kindly with a Pot of Palm or Coco-Wine which they draw out of Trees The People are handsom and well proportioned having nothing disagreeable in their Countenances but the blackness of their Complexion some of them have flattish Noses all little Ears my Dutch Author who writ some years since relates that the People go all Naked till they are married and then are clothed from the middle to the knees At the Marriage of their Daughters they give half an Ounce of Gold to buy Wine for the Wedding the Bride in the presence of her Friends swears to be true to her Husband which the man doth not for they have as many Wives as they can maintain yet the first has this preheminence that he can never take another but by her permission but because the multitude of Wives and Children are counted the greatest honour and riches in that Countrey they often persuade their Husbands to take more and glory therein the first Wife likewise has the priviledge to lye with her Husband three Nights successively whilst the rest must be content only with one so that they live very quietly together a Merchant or Captain will have thirty or forty the King of Benin had six hundred wherewith he went in Solemn Procession every year The King of Fetu's Son had fourteen Sons and twelve Daughters and kept an hundred Slaves to wait upon them At Cape Gonsalvo they pink and colour their bodies and offer their Wives to Strangers The King uses his own Daughters when grown up as Wives and the Queens with the like incestuous abomination make use of their own Sons Their Women saith my Author are unfaithful Discoverers of Natures most hidden secrets not being ashamed to be delivered publickly in the sight of Men Boys and Girls They circumcise both Sexes after Travel they accompany not their Husbands in three months after as soon as she is delivered they gave her a drink made of Rice Mays Water Wine and Mallaguette like our Pepper after which she lyes warm three or four hours and then rises washes her self and Child and so falls to her work as before Next they give it a name usually of some Christian they are obliged to then wrapping it in a kind of Blanket or Skin they lay it upon Rushes where it continues about five weeks then the Mother tyes it to a board and carries it on her back with the Legs under her arm-pits and the hands tyed about her neck where it hangs all day and never comes off till it goes to bed and yet few or none of them prove lame or deformed notwithstanding the shaking of their bodies they give them the breast over their shoulders and this may be the reason of the flatness of their Noses by their knocking them continually against the Back and Shoulders of the Mother while she is walking or at work for it is observed that the Children of their Gentry whose Mothers do not labour nor carry their Infants about them have very comely Noses they wash and rub them every morning with Oil of Palms When they are seven or eight years old they hang a Net about their Necks made of the Bark of a Tree full of Fetiches or little Gods to secure them from the Devil who they believe would else carry them away They hang their Hair full of Shells and Coral about the Arms and Legs with several Feticho's of different qualities one being an Antidote against Vomiting a second against dangerous Falls a third prevents Bleeding a fourth causes Sleep a fifth secures them against Wild Beasts and the like giving to each Fetisso a different name They soon learn to speak go and swim When they are born they are not black but red About seven year old they learn them to spin Thred make Nets and go a Fishing with their Fathers and feed as they do picking up any nasty thing in the Streets which they eat with good Appetites The Boys and Girls are all naked together which makes them have no sense of shame or modesty they being neither reproved nor corrected by their Parents They are excellent at Swimming even at this Age so that if their Canoe overset at Sea they are very little concerned all of them swimming back again to the place from whence they came and consequently they can Dive with great dexterity and fetch up any thing from the bottom About twelve their Fathers instruct them how to make a Canoe and catch Fish The Merchants bring their Sons acquainted with Europeans and with the Mystery of Trade At eighteen they begin to set up for themselves two or three together hiring a House and purchasing a Canoe they then cover their Nudities grow amorous and their Fathers look out Wives for them The Girls clean the Houses pick the Rice beat the Mays make the Bread clean the Kitchen buy and sell at Market make Baskets of Rushes and Matts which they weave extream curiously but their chief care is to provide Meat and Drink for their Parents secure their Goods and all other kinds of good Huswifry when grown up they are vary lascivious and boast of their Gallantries especially with Strangers whom they seem to affect above their own Men They are very careful to keep their Teeth white have Wit enough but are very wanton with the Young Fellows stark naked to please whom they wash comb and plait their hair with great curiosity some paint their Foreheads and Eyebrows red and white and hang Pendants in their Ears all love Ribbons especially red they have Necklaces of Coral and Bracelets upon their Wrists Arms and Legs when they go abroad they were a piece of Silk Taffaty or other Stuff wrapt about them from the breast to the midleg and have always a great bunch of Keys though never a Coffer nor Trunk to open the Virgins make it their whole business to appear acceptable especially to white men and are seldom
each other The Negro's relate strange things of them and aver for certain that they not only overpower feeble Women and Virgins but dare also set upon armed Men. There is another strange Beast like a Crocodile six or seven Foot long very slender and the Tongue of an extraordinary length It is a Beast of Prey and very strong close set with gaudy Quills over the whole body wherewith it offends Men and defends it self against other Creatures for when the Leopard attempts to seize it it converts into a round Ball setting up the points of its Quills that no hold can be fixed their Food is generally Pismires which with their Tongues they lick up at a great distance Both on the Sea coasts and the upland Countrey many Civet Cats are found it more resembles a Wolf than a Cat for it hath a long Head small Nose flat Mouth and short Ears Teeth like a Dog the Body part white part ashcolour'd speckled with black spots the Legs and Feet of a middle size with black Hairs having four Claws forward and one backward with black short flat Nails the Tail long bushy and speckled hanging to the ground The Civet lyes between the Privities and the Cods and is taken thence with a Spoon or some other fit Instrument The Giraffa or Camelo-pard is a Beast not often seen yet very tame strangely compounded of a Libard Hart Buffle and Camel and by reason of his long legs before and shorter behind is not able to graze without difficulty but with his high Head which he can stretch forth half a Pikes length in height feeds on the leaves and boughs of Trees The Camels in Africk are more hardy than in other places and will not only carry great burthens but travel fifty days together without any Corn only turn them out at night to feed on Thistles Boughs and the like and no less patient are they of Thirst being able to endure fifteen days without Drink The Lions in cold places are gentler in hotter more fierce and will not flie the approach of two hundred Armed Horsemen in time of their coupling eight or ten will follow one Female with terrible and bloody Battels among themselves They report that Lions spare those who kneel to them and prey rather on Men than Women and not at all on Infants unless compelled by hunger The Africans believe he hath understanding and tell of a Getulian Woman who lying at the mercy of a Lion besought him that being so noble a Beast he would not dishonour himself with so ignoble a Prey as she a weak Woman was whereupon he went away and left her His Tail seems to be his Scepter whereby he expresseth his Passion he shrinks at no danger unless the covert of the Woods shroud him from Witnesses and then he will take the benefit of flight which otherwise he seems to disdain Mento a Man of Syracuse was encountred with a Lion who instead of rending fawned upon him and with his dumb eloquence seemed to implore his Aid shewing his Foot wherein Mentor perceived a Thorn to stick which he pluckt out The like is reported by Gellius of a Fugitive Servant who having performed the same kind Office to a Lion was by him gratified for a long time by giving him a daily portion of his Prey It happened that afterward this Man was taken and presented to his Master a Roman Senator who exhibited Games to the People wherein Slaves and condemned Persons were exposed to the fury of Beasts among whom he put this Servant and by a wonderful fate this Lion was soon after taken and brought to execute these horrid Spectacles The Beasts running with violence to their bloody Encounter suddenly this Lion stayed and taking a strict view of him fawned upon this his Guest and defended him from the Assaults of the other Beasts whereupon at the Peoples Intercession who understood the Passages from him he was freed and the Lion given him who followed him with a string through the Streets the Spectators crying This is the Man who was the Lions Physician This is the Lion who was this Mans Host The Hyaena is another strange Beast which some have thought to be Male one year and Female another it hath no Joint in the Neck and therefore stirs not his Head but the whole Body at once He is said to imitate the Voice of Men and drawing near the Sheepfolds having heard the name of some of the Shepherds will call him and when he comes devour him They say his Eyes are of various Colours and that his shadow prevents the barking of a Dog By ingendring with this Beast the Lioness brings forth a Corcuta of like qualities with the Hyaena he hath one continued Tooth without division throughout his Mouth The Lybard is not hurtful to Men except they disturb him The Dabu is said to be a foolish Creature in shape like a Wolf only his Legs and Feet are like a Mans they that know his haunts sing and fiddle before his Den his Ears being so captivated with the Musick that he is not aware his Legs are captivated with a Rope whereby he is taken The Zebra of all Creatures for beauty and comeliness is admirable resembling an excellently proportion'd Horse but not so swift all overlaid with curious party-colours from Head to Tail they live in great Heards and when one is shot the rest stand still gazing till they see three or four fall down before them The Rivers breed Water-Elephants about the bigness of a large Horse but much thicker and rounder seeming as if they were blown up Likewise Sea-Cats and many other monstrous Creatures There are variety of Fowls of divers kinds as Eagles Parrots Cranes and many more and among others a Bird no bigger than a Thrush by whose chirping they guess at their good or ill Fortune in their Journey Crocodiles are here so large that they will swallow an Ox whole but above all things the monstrous Serpents produced in these Countreys are remarkable among which the most poisonous are of a Grass green Some are so curiously spotted with lively Colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King of Bena whom the Inhabitants call King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he strokes and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteems that none dare hurt or kill it The Negro's rost and eat some of them as great Dainties Africa hath been famous in all Ages for prodigious Serpents and Monsters One called Minia attains such largeness that it can swallow a whole Deer without chewing or tearing to pieces devouring Boars and many other Beasts and Cattel It lurks for Prey within some bush which coming within reach it suddenly seizes winding two or three times about the body and loins till it falls down and dies of which thus glutted he lies not able to stir till his gorged Paunch has digested his Meal Of this kind was that which the Roman
before they bargained though the Captain was resolved not to leave him behind Several times the Negro's padled away with their Canoe resolving not to part with him but what with his intreaties and promises he perswaded them to the Ship again and at last they delivered him on board for forty five Copper and Iron Bars about the bigness of a mans Finger When he came on board his Hair was very long and his Skin tawny like a Mulatto having gone naked all the time he was there and usually anointed himself with Palm-Oyl the Seamen very charitably apparalel'd him and in short time after he arrived safely in England with a thickful Heart for so happy a deliverance And here I shall conclude the view of Guinea Sect. II. A View of the Island OF St. HELENA With the Product thereof BEfore I come to relate the Acquisitions of the English in the East-Indies I will make an halt at the Island of St. Helena This Isle is now by His Majesties Grace and Favour in the possession of the Honourable East India Company as a place for watering and refreshment in their long Voyages to the Indies It was formerly seized by the Dutch but retaken May 6. 1673. by Captain Munday with some other English Ships and three rich Dutch East-India Prizes taken in the Harbour since which the English have fortified and secured it against any future Invasion It was so called by the Portuguess because first discovered by them on St. Hellens day being April 21. It lies in sixteen degrees and fifteen minutes of South Latitude in the main Ocean about fifteen hundred Miles from the Cape of Good Hope three hundred and fifty from Angola and five hundred and ten from Brasile the circumference is about seven miles lying high out of the Water and surrounded on the Sea-coasts with steep Rocks having within many Cliffs Mountains and Valleys of which one is named Church-Valley where behind a small Church they climb up to the Mountains To the South is Apple-Dale so called from the abundance of Oranges Lemons and Pomegranats enough to furnish five or six Ships On the West side of the Church Ships have good Anchorage close under the Shore to prevent the Winds which blow fiercely from the adjacent high Mountains The Air seems very temperate and healthful insomuch that sick men brought ashore there in a short time recover Yet the heat in the Valleys is as intollerable as the eager cold upon the Mountains It commonly rains there five or six times a day so that the bareness of the Hills is not occasioned for want of Water of which it hath two or three good Springs beside for furnishing Ships with fresh Water The ground of its own accord brings forth wild Pease and Beans also whole Woods of Orange Lemon and Pomegranat Trees all the year long laden both with Blossoms and Fruit good Figs abundance of Ebony and Rose-trees Parsly Mustard-seed Purslain Sorrel and the like The Woods and Mountains are full of Goats very large Rams and wild Swine but difficult to be taken When the Portuguess first discovered it they found neither four-footed Beasts nor Fruit-trees but only fresh Water They afterward planted Fruit-trees which so increased since that at present all the Valleys stand full of them Partridges Pigeons Moor-hens and Peacocks breed here very numerously whereof a good Marksman may soon provide a Dinner for his Friends On the Cliff-Islands on the South are thousands of grey and black Mews or Sea-Pies and also white and coloured Birds some with long others with short Necks who lay their Eggs on the Rocks and are so unaccustomed to fear that they suffer themselves to be taken with the Hand and gaze at their surprizers till they are knocked on the Head with sticks From the Salt-Water beating against the Cliffs a Froth or Scum remains in some places which the heat of the Sun so purifies that it becomes white and good Salt some of the Mountains yield Bole Armoniack and a fat Earth like Terra Lemnia The Sea will answer the pains of a patient Fisherman who must use an Angle not a Net because of the foul ground and beating of the waves the chief are Mackrel Roach Carp but differing in colour from those among us Eels as big as a mans Arm and well tasted Crabs Lobsters Oysters and Mussels as good as English It is in this Island that the Scene of that notable fancy called The Man in the Moon or a discourse of a Voyage thither by Domingo Gonsales is lay'd written by a late Reverend and Learned Bishop saith the Excellent and ingenious Bishop Wilkins who calls it a pleasant and well contrived fancy in his own Book intituled A Discourse of the New World tending to prove that it is possible there may be another habitable World in the Moon Wherein among many other curious arguments he affirms that this hath been the direct opinion of divers ancient and some Modern Mathematicians and may probably be deduced from the Tenents of others neither does it contradict any principle of reason nor Faith And that as their World is our Moon so our World is theirs Now this small Tract having so worthy a Person to vouch for the credit of it and many of our English Historians having published for Truth what is altogether as improbable as this as Sr. John Mandevil in his Travels and others and this having what they are utterly destitute of that is Invention mixed with Judgment and was judged worthy to be Licensed 50 years ago and not since reprinted whereby it would be utterly lost I have not thought it amiss to republish the Substance thereof wherein the Author says he does not design to discourse his Readers into a belief of each particular circumstance but expects that his new discovery of a New World may find little better entertainment than Columbus had in his first discovery of America though yet that poor espial betrayed so much knowledge as hath since increast to vast Improvements and the then Unknown is now found to be of as large extent as all the other known World That there should be Antipodes was once thought as great a Paradox as now that the Moon should be habitable But the knowledge of this it may be is reserved for this our discovering Age wherein our Virtuosi can by their Telescopes gaze the Sun into Spots and descry Mountains in the Moon but this and much more must be left to the Criticks as well as the following faithful Relation of our little Eye witness and great Discoverer which you shall have in his own Spanish Style and delivered with that Grandeur and thirst of Glory which is generally imputed to that Nation It is sufficiently known to all the Countries of Audaluzia that I Domingo Gonsales was born of a Noble Family in the renowned City of Sevil in 1552. my Fathers name being Therando Gonsales near kinsman on the Mothers side to Don Pedro Sanches the worthy Count of Almenara My Mother
the vast Atlantick Ocean After this succeeded a Spot almost Oval just as we see America described in our Maps then another immense cleerness representing Mare del Zur or the South Sea and lastly a number of Spots like the Countreys and Islands in the East-Indies so that it seemed to me no other than an huge Mathematical Globe turned round leisurely before me wherein successively all the Countreys of our earthly World were within twenty four hours represented to my view and this was all the means I now had to number the days and reckon the time I could now wish that Philosophers and Mathematicians would confess their own blindness who have hitherto made the World believe that the Earth hath no motion and to confirm it are forc't to attribute to every one of the celestial Bodies two Motions directly contrary to each other one from the East to the West to be perform'd in twenty four hours with an impetuous rapid motion the other from West to East in several proportions O incredible supposition That those huge Bodies of the fixed Stars in the highest Orb whereof they confess divers are above an hundred times bigger than the whole Earth should like so many Nails in a Cart wheel be whirled about in so short a time whereas it is many thousand years no less say they than thirty thousand before that Orb finishes his course from West to East which they call his natural motion Now whereas they allow their natural course from West to East to every one of them therein they do well The Moon performs it in seven and twenty days the Sun Venus and Mercury in a year or thereabout Mars in three year Jupiter in twelve and Saturn in thirty But to attribute to these celestial Bodies contrary motions at once is a very absurd conceit and much more to imagine the same Orb wherein the fixed Stars are whose natural course takes up so many thousands of years should be turned about every twenty four hours I will not go so far as Copernicus who makes the Sun the center of the Earth and immoveable neither will I be positive in any thing only this I say allow the Earth its motion which these eyes of mine can testify to be true and all those absurdities are removed every one having only his own single and proper motion But where am I I promised an history and am unawares turn'd disputer One Accident more befell worth mention that during my stay I saw a kind of a reddish Cloud coming toward me and continually approaching nearer which at last I perceived was nothing but a huge swarm of Locusts He that reads the discourses of learned men concerning them as John Leo of Africa and others who relate that they are seen in the Air several days before they fall on the Earth and add thereto this experience of mine will easily conclude that they can come from no other place than the Globe of the Moon But now give me leave to go on quietly in my Journey for eleven or twelve days during all which time I was carried directly toward the Globe or Body of the Moon with such a violent Whirling as is inexpressible for I cannot imagine a Bullet out of a Cannon could make way through the vaporous and muddy Air neer the Earth with half that celerity which is the more strange since my Gansa's moved their Wings but now and then and sometimes for a quarter of an hour not at all only holding them stretcht out as we see Kites and Eagles sometimes do for a short space during which pauses I suppose they took their Naps and times of Sleeping for other time I could perceive they never had any For my self I was so fastened to mine Engine that I durst slumber enough to serve my turn which I took with as great ease though it may seem incredible as if I had lain on the best Down-Bed in all Antwerp After eleven days passage in this violent flight I perceived we began to approach to another Earth if I may so call it being the Globe or very Body of that Star which we call the Moon The first difference I found between this and our Earth was that it appeared in its natural colours as soon as ever I was free from the attraction of the Earth Whereas with us a thing a League or two from us puts on that deadly colour of Blew I then perceived also that this World was the greatest part covered with a huge mighty Sea those parts only being dry Land which are unto us somewhat darker than the rest of her Body I mean what the Countrey people call The Man in the Moon and that part which shines so bright is another Ocean besprinkled with Islands which for their smalness we cannot discern so far off So that the Splendor which appears to us in the Night is nothing but the reflection of the Sun beams returned to us out of the Water as from a Lookinglass How much this disagrees with what our Philosophers teach in the Schools is very evident But alas how many of their Errors hath time and experience refuted in this our Age and among other vain conjectures who hath not hitherto believed the upper Region of the Air to be very hot as being next forsooth to the natural place of the Element of Fire Meer Vanities Fancies and Dreams For after I was once free from the attractive Beams of that Tyranous Load-stone the Earth I found the Air altogether serene without Winds Rain Mists or Clouds neither hot nor cold but constantly pleasant calm and comfortable till my arrival in that New World of the Moon As for that Region of fire our Philosophers talk of I heard no news of it mine eyes have sufficiently inform'd me there is no such thing The Earth had now by turning about shewed me all her parts twelve times when I finished my course For when by my reckoning it seem'd to be as indeed it was Tuesday September 11. at which time the Moon being two days old was in the twentieth degree of Libra my Gansa's seem'd by one consent to stay their course and rested for certain hours after which they took their flight and in less than an hour set me on the top of an high Hill in that Other World where many most strange and wonderful things were immediately presented to my sight for I observed first that though the Globe of the Earth appear'd much greater there than the Moon doth to us even three times bigger yet all things there were ten twenty yea thirty times larger than ours Their Trees were thrice as high and above five times broader and thicker So were there Herbs Birds and Beasts though I cannot well compare them to ours because I found not any kind of Beast or Bird there which any way resembled ours except Swallows Nightingals Cuckoes Woodcocks Batts and some kind of Wild Fowl And likewise such Birds as my Gansa's all which as I now perceived spend their
multitude of People being present and among them Pylonas himself after I had given them all the last Farewel I let loose the reins to my Birds who with much greediness taking wing quickly carried me out of sight it happened to me as in my first Passage for I never felt either hunger or thirst till I fell upon an high Mountain in China about five Leagues from the High and Mighty City of Pequin This Voyage was performed in less then nine days neither heard I any news of these Airy men I met with in my ascending nothing stay'd me in the least in my Journey whether because of the earnest desire of my Birds to return to the Earth having already missed their season or that the attraction of the Earth was so much stronger than that of the Moon and so made it easier yet so it was though I had three Birds less than before For the first eight days my Birds flew before me and I on the Engine was as it were drawn after but the ninth day when I began to approach the Clouds I perceived my self and Engine to sink toward the Earth and go before them I was then horribly afraid least my Birds unable to bear our weight being so few should be constrained to precipitate both me and themselves headlong to the Earth and therefore thought it very necessary to make use of my stone Ebelus which I clapt to my bare Skin within my Cloths and instantly I perceiv'd my Birds made way with greater ease than before as seeming freed from a great burthen neither do I think they could possibly have let me down safely to the Earth without that help China is a Countrey so populous that I think there is scarce a piece of ground thrice a mans length which is not carefully manured I being yet in the Air some of the Countrey people spying me came running by Troops and seizing me would needs carry me before a Magistrate and seeing no other remedy I yielded to them But when I try'd to go I found my self so light that one foot being on the ground I had much ado to set down the other which was by reason my Ebelus so applyed took all weight away from my Body therefore considering what to do I pretended a desire of performing the necessities of nature which being made known to them by signs for they understood not a word of any Language I could speak they permitted me to go aside among a few bushes assuring themselves it was impossible I should escape from them being there I remembred Pylonas his directions about the use of my stones and knit them up together with a few remaining Jewels I brought from Judea into an handkerchief all except the least and worst Ebelus which I found means to apply in such manner to my body that but the half of its side touched my Skin this done I drew toward my Guardians till coming so neer that they could not cross my way I shewed them a fair pair of heels that I might have time to hide my Jewels which I knew they would have rob'd me of if not prevented Being thus lightned I led them such a dance that had they been all upon the backs of so many Race Horses they could never have overtaken me I directed my Course to a thick Wood wherein I entred about a quarter of a League and there finding a fine Spring which I took for my mark I thurst my Jewels into a hole made by a Mole hard by I then took my Victuals out of my pocket to which till now in all my Voyage I had not the least appetite and refreshed my self therewith till the people who persued overtook me into whose hands I quietly surrendred my self They led me to an inferior Officer who understanding that I escap't from those who first apprehended me caused an inclosure of boards to be made wherein they put me so that only my head was at liberty and then carried me upon the Shoulders of four slaves like some notorious Malefactor before a Person of great Authority who in their Language I learnt was called a Mandarin and resided a League off the famous City of Pequin I could not understand them but found I was accused for something with much vehemence the substance of this accusation it seems was that I was a Magician as appeared by my being so strangely carried in the Air and that being a stranger as both my Language and habit did declare I contrary to the Laws of China had entred the Kingdom without a Warrant and probably for no good intent The Mandarin heard them with a great deal of composed gravity and being a man of quick apprehension and studious of Novelties he told them he would take such order as the case required and my bold attempt should not go unpunished Having dismist them he ordered his Servants I should be kept in a remote part of his vast Pallace be strictly guarded and kindly used This I conjecture by my treatment and what followed for my accommodation was much better than I could expect I lodg'd well eat well was well attended and could complain of nothing but my restraint Thus continued I many months afflicted more with the thoughts of my Gansa's than any thing else who I knew must be irrecoverably lost as indeed they were In this time by my own Industry and the assistance of those who accompanied me I learnt to speak indifferently the ordinary Language of that Province for almost every Province in China hath its proper Tongue whereat I perceived they were much pleased At length I was permitted to take the Air and brought into the spacious Garden of that Pallace a place of extraordinary pleasure and delight adorned with Herbs and Flowers of admirable sweetness and beauty with almost infinite variety of Fruits European and others all composed with that rare curiosity as even ravished my senses in the contemplation of such delightful objects I had not long recreated my self here when the Mandarin entred the Garden on that side I was walking of which having notice by his Servants and that I ought to kneel to him a usual reverence I found toward great Officers I did so and humbly intreated his favour toward a poor stranger who arrived in these parts not designedly but by the secret disposal of the Heavens He answered in a different Language which I hear all the Mandarins use and like that of the Lunars consisting chiefly of tunes which was interpreted by one of his attendants wishing me to be of good comfort since he intended no harm to me and so passed on Next day I was ordered to come before him and being conducted into a Noble dining Room exquisitely painted and imbellished the Mandarin commanding all to avoid vouchsafed to confer with me in the Vulgar Langaage inquiring into the state of my Countrey the Power of my Prince and the Religion and Manners of the People wherein having satisfied him he descended to ask me about
this Island with great Cole-Black Bodies and White Heads called Penguins The Chief Person left here was one Cross who call'd himself Captain He was before one of the Yeomen of the Guard to King James the first but having twice or thrice had his hand in the bloud of men slain in Duels and being now condemn'd to dye with the rest upon very great suit made for him he was banished hither with them whither yet Divine Justice seem'd to persue him for being a very stout resolute man and abusing the Natives he was soon after his arrival surprized by them who shot his Body so full of Arrows that he look't like the man in the Almanack and seemed to be all one wound The other seven recovered their Boat and got off the Continent rowing toward the Island without much damage but the Water running very high as soon as they were ashore their Boat was split in peices so that they were then forc't to continue in that miserable place where never a Tree grew either for Sustenance Shelter or Shade nor any thing else to sustain their lives having no fresh Water but what the Showers left in the holes of the Rocks And which added to their misery it abounded so with venemous Serpents that it was very dangerous treading in the long Grass for fear of them They had but a small quantity of dry Bisket their Bellies were hungry and their sleep unsafe so that nothing could render their condition more unhappy and yet these seven vile Wretches all lived to be made examples of Divine Justice for after they had continued in this desolate place five or six months and were all grown almost mad with Famine it pleased God that an English Ship came into that Road bound for England Four of these seven grew so impatient of an hours stay there that immediately after the Ship came in they made a float of the Ruins of their split Boat and other Wood and with ravell'd and untwisted Boat Ropes fastning as well as they could all together extremity instructing them they got thereon poizing it to the best advantage hoping by the benefit of their Oars and strength of the Tide which ran quick toward the Ship to recover her But their expectation failed them for it being toward Evening when they made this attempt and not being discovered by the Ship which then rid a good way up in their Bay before they could come near her the Tyde return'd and carried them back into the main Sea where they all were cast away The day following the Ship sent a Boat to the Island which took these three yet surviving into her as the other four might have been had their patience held out but one night longer who gave this account of their Fellows misfortune But notwithstanding all the sufferings of these miscreants yet they behaved themselves so lewdly in the Ship in their return homeward that they were very often put in the Bilbows At length the Ship arriving safely in the Downs she had not been at Anchor three hours when these Villains got ashore where they had not been above three hours but they committed a Robbery and a very few hours after were all apprehended for the Fact and suddenly after that their irreclaimable humor being related to the Lord Chief Justice they were by his special Warrant Executed as incorrigible Wretches upon their former Sentence near Sandwich in Kent where they committed their Crime The year following three other condemned Persons were carried to be left in this place but hearing of the ill success of their Predecessors and that they were unlike to be safe here when the Ships were ready to depart and leave them on shore they all came and presented themselves on their Knees with tears in their Eyes before our Captain Joseph humbly beseeching him to order them to be Hanged in that place before they went which they chose much rather than to be left there It was a very sad sight to behold three men in such a condition that they should esteem Hanging to be a mercy Our Commander told them he had no Commission to Execute them but to leave them there and so he must do and probably had done but our fifth Ship the Swan staying in this place a day or two after took these poor men in And so much for the Bay of Souldania Sect. IV. THE English Acquisitions in the EAST-INDIES HAving cleer'd our way let us now Sail merrily toward the Indies doubling first the Cape of Good Hope and then passing by Madagascar called also St. Lawrence one of the greatest Islands in the World stored with all manner of Provisions but inhabited by a barbarous and Heathenish People yet stout warlike and very numerous Over against which on the Continent of Africa are Zefala and Mozambique where the Portugals have got footing and may be strongly supposed to be the places whither Solomon sent his Navy of Ships built at Eziongebar which stood on the Banks of the Red Sea in Arabia the Happy the Countrey of that famous Queen of the South who hearing of his Wisdom and Renown took her Journey thence to visit the Court of King Solomon From that place Solomon sent his Ships for Gold and Silver and Ivory coasting all along the African shore the Art of Navigation being then unknown And the Marriners steering without Chart or Compass were necessitated to keep the Neighbouring Lands always in sight as doubtless they did these places being stored with those rich Commodities above other parts of Africa The Portugals Dutch and English discovered these Countries of India in the last Age and have since setled themselves by Forts and Castles there The Portugals first brake the Ice who in 1494. failing from Lisbon under Vasco de Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope and succeeded so well afterward as to Conquer and Fortify several places in many Countreys of Asia and the Islands thereof In 1595. the Dutch set out our a Fleet from Amsterdam to India wherein they used such extraordinary dexterity with then Cannon Law and Steel Arguments that they made themselves Masters of 28 Forts and Castles and of forty four or forty five Factories in a short time for preserving their Trade In 1600. the English began their Discoveries under Sir James Lancaster with four Ships whose endeavours were so blest and the good Government of the Honourable East-India Company prospered so well that they setled their Residence and Factories in twenty four several places of note as at Ormus and Jasques in the entrance of the Persian Gulf under the Persian Monarch At Cambaja Surat Agria and other places in the Great Mogols Countrey At Maslapatan Armagon Petipoly Pattana Siam and other places on the Coast of Cormandel and the Continent of Asia At Achin Ticko Jambe Prianian on the Isle of Sumatra At Bantam Jacatra and Japarra on the Island of Java At Socodana and Beniermasa on the Island of Borneo At Macassar in the Isle of Celebs
Not only things to do but O'redo Speaking Writing all and more too Believing him therefore an honest Historian since he had not opportunity himself I shall give some Account of his Foot-steps and Flittings up and down who while he lived was like a perpetual motion therefore dead ought not to be forgotten In 1612. He shipt himself for Constantinople now called by the Turks Stambole where he strictly observed all remarkables and found much respect and incouragement from St. Paul Pindar then Ambassador there to whose House he had always free Access Here he took opportunity to view several parts of Greece and in the Hellespont took special notice of those two Castles directly opposite to each other called Sestos and Abidos that stand on the several Banks which bound that very narrow Sea and is famous by the Story of Hero and Leander He much desired to see those seven Churches of Asia which lye now in ruins only Smyrna is still famous for Trade but not Religion and Ephesus with some others which retain their names still though they have lost the profession of their Faith with the rest He saw what yet remains of the Ruins of sometimes Great Troy a place once so populons as if sown with people but now with standing Corn the very ruins of which place are almost gone to ruine there only remaining part of an exceeding great House supposed part of the famous Palace of Great King Priam. From Smyrna he found Passage to Gran Cairo in Egypt anciently called Memphis where he observed the remains of the once famed Pyramids Returning thence back to Alexandria with another Englishman they passed by Sea to Joppa where they met some others going to Jerusalem with whom joining they travelled thither through a very Solitary Rocky uncomfortable way full of danger from the Wild Arabs who Rob and abuse Travellers Arriving at Jerusalem they saw and heard all wherewith Pilgrims are usually treated of which you have a full Account in a small Book called Two Journeys to Jerusalem c. Here our Traveller had the Arms of Jerusalem made upon the wrist of his left Arm and on his Right a single Cross made like that whereon our Saviour suffered on the sides of which were written Via Veritas Vita The way Truth and Life and on the foot three Nails to signifie those which fastened our Saviour to it done so artificially and indelibly by a Black Powder as if drawn by some accurate Pencil upon Parchment The poor man would much glory in beholding these Characters applying the words of St. Paul to himself I bear in my Body the Marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6.17 Hence they went to the Dead Sea the River Jordan Sidon Alexandretta Scanderoon and Alâ—ppo where he was kindly received by the English Consul staying some time there for the Caravan which consists of a mixt multitude from divers parts who travel together to prevent the incursions of Theives and Murderers With these setting forward they came to the City of Nineveh in Assyria which in Jonahs time was of three days Journey but now so very mean and obscure that Passengers cannot say this is Nineveh having lost its name and called now Mozel From thence they journeyed to Babylon in Chaldea Scituate upon the River Euphrates once for its magnitude called a Countrey now much contracted and named Bagdat From hence they proceeded through both the Armenias where our Traveller was told he saw that very mountain of Ararat whereon the Ark sested after Noahs Flood they went thence to Ispahan in Persia the usual residence of Sha Abbas and after that to Shushan where King Ahasuerus kept his Court in Esthers time from thence they journeyed to Candahor the first Province North-East under the Great Mogol and so to Lahore the second City of this Empire a place of great Trade Wealth and Delight more temperate from the Suns heat than any other of his great Cities At length he arrived at Agra the Mogols Metropolis from Lahore to Agra is four hundred English Miles the Countrey very rich even and pleasant and the Road way on both sides all this long distance planted with great Trees clothed all the year long with Leaves of exceeding benefit to Travellers in that hot Clime it is called by Travellers The Long-Walk very full of Villages and Towns convenient for the supply of Travellers At Agra our Traveller made a halt being kindly entertained by the English Factory and there learned the Turkish and Arabian Languages with some proficiency in the Persian and Indostan Tongues in both which he got so much knowledge as was very advantagious to him in his Travels through the Mogols Territories he always wearing the habit and speaking the Language of that Nation He afterward made an Oration to the Great Mogol in the Persian Tongue bringing in the Story of the Queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10. In which parts of the Sacred Scripture the Mahometans have some knowledge and told the King that as the Queen of Sheba having heard of the Fame of King Solomon came from far to visit him and confessed that she had not been told half of what she now saw concerning the Wisdom Greatness Retinue and Riches of Solomon so said our Orator I had heard much of your Majesty before I had the honour of your sight when I was very far off in my own Countrey but what I now behold exceedingly surmounts all the reports thereof Then intermixing other flatteries with his short Speech he concluded and was very well liked by the Mogol who gave him an hundred Roupies about twelve pound ten Shillings in our money looking on him as a Dervise Prophet or Pilgrim as he called him who in that Countrey value not money which might be the reason he did not reward him more liberally He after got a great mastery in the Indostan or Vulgar Language and a Woman belonging to the English Ambassador there having such freedom of Speech that she would scold and rail from Morning to Night Coriat one day undertook her in her own Dialect and by eight a Clock in the Morning so silenced her that she had not one word more to speak At the four Corners of their Mosquets or Churches in this Countrey there are high round small Turrets open with light every way wherein a man may be easily seen and heard into the top of these their devout Moola's or Priests ascend five times every day whence they proclaim as loud as possible these Arabian words La alla illa alla Mahomet Resul-alla that is There is no God but one God and Mahomet the Messenger from God this voice is instead of Bells which they use not in their Churches and puts the most devout in mind of their Religion One time Tom Coryat hearing their Priest thus crying got upon a high place directly opposite to him and thus contradicted him La alla illa alla Hasaret Eesa Benalla that is No God but one God and the
desire your mindfulness of me by some novelties from your Countreys as an argument of Friendship betwixt us for such is the Custom of Princes here And for your Merchants I have given express Order through all my Dominions to suffer them to buy sell transport and carry away at their pleasure without the let or hindrance of any Person whatsoever all such Goods and Merchandizes as they shall desire to buy and let this my Letter as fully satisfy you in desired Peace and Love as if my own Son had been Messenger to confirm the same And if any in my Countreys not fearing God nor obeying their King or any other void of Religion should endeavour to be an instrument to break this League off Friendship I would send my Son Sultan Caroom a Souldier approved in the Wars to cut him off that no obstacle may hinder the continuance and increase of our Affections Some years after the Great Mogol sent two other Letters to the same King one beginning thus When your Majesty shall open this Letter let your Royal Heart be as fresh as a small Garden let all people make Reverence at your Gate Let your Throne be advanced higher Amongst the greatness of the Kings of the Prophet Jesus let your Majesty be the greatest And all Monarchs derive their Wisdom and Counsel from your Breast as from a Fountain that the Law of the Majesty of Jesus my revive and flourish under your protection The second Letter ran thus How gracious is your Majesty whose greatness God preserve As upon a Rose in a Garden so are mine Eyes fixed upon you God maintain your Estate that your Monarchy may prosper and be augmented and that you may obtain all your desires worthy the greatness of your Renown and as the Heart is Noble and Vpright so let God give you a glorious Reign because you strongly defend the Law of the Majesty of Jesus which God made yet more flourishing because it was confirmed by Miracles c. What followed was to testify his care of and love to the English All these Letters were writ in the Persian Tongue the Court Language there and Copies sent to the Ambassador Sir Thomas Row to get them translated The Originals rowled up somewhat long were covered with Cloth of Gold sealed up on both ends according to the fashion of that Countrey wherein we may observe how respectively the King speaks of our Blessed Saviour Christ Jesus But having already over enlarged concerning this mighty Empire we will take our leave of the Great Mogol who is a Prince of much Wealth and Power having vast multitudes of Soldiers in constant pay and in his ordinary removes which is not usually above ten mile at once hath such an infinite number of men and other Creatures attending him whose drink is water that in a little time as it was said of the mighty Host of Semacherib they are able to drink up Rivers The Honourable East-India Company setled Factories likewise at Mastipatan Armagon Petipoly Patania Siam Fort St. George and other places on the Coast of Cormandel and the Continent of Asia Mastipatan is a great City the Houses whereof are only wood built at a distance from each other it stands by the Sea and is a famous Road for Ships from whence they Sail to Pegu Siam Ormus Sumatra and other places Patania is a City South from Siam and was governed many years by a Queen In 1612. some English came hither with a Letter from Queen Elizabeth and a Present from the Merchants of six hundred Rials of Eight the Letter was delivered in great State being laid in a Bason of Gold carried on an Elephant adorned with little Flags Lances and Minstrils they then obtained a Grant to Trade upon the same conditions with the Hollanders Siam is a Kingdom the greatest part whereof lies between the Gulf of Siam and Bengal The Countrey is very plentiful in Rice and Fruits the Forrests full of Harts Elephants Tygers Rhinocero's and Apes where also grow abundance of large Bamboo Canes under the Knots of these Bamboo's are Emets Nests as big as a mans Head which they make there to preserve themselves from the Rain that continues four or five months together The King of Siam is accounted one of the richest Monarchs upon Earth and stiles himself King of Heaven and Earth though he be Tributary to the Kings of China there are Idols in his Temples seven Foot high all of massie Gold when the King appears all the Doors and Windows of the Houses must be shut all the People prostrating themselves on the ground not daring to look up and because no Person is to be in an higher place than the King they that are within Doors are bound to keep their lowest Rooms He suffers no Barber to come near him one of his Wives cutting his Hair for him One part of his magnificence consists in his train of two hundred Elephants among which there is one that is White which he values so highly as to stile himself King of the White Elephant He has a passionate kindness for them accounting them his Favorites and the Ornaments of his Kingdom if any of them fall sick and dye they are buried with the same Funeral pomp as the Nobles of the Kingdom At the Fort St. George an English Factory on the Coast of Cormandel Nov. 3. 1684. About nine at night happened a violent storm which continued till two next morning It untiled all the Houses in the Town with such a ratling terrible noise as if some thousands of Granadoes had been thrown on them and lay'd all their Gardens of which they have many pleasant ones as flat and level as the smoothest Bowling Greens Trees of a great and prodigious growth some perhaps as ancient as the World were violently torn up by the Roots and their aged Trunks riven in pieces the noise of the cracking and breaking of their Boughs and Branches seemed almost equal to that of the Tempest but what was most surprising was that a strong Iron-Bar which belonged to a Window was with the extream Force of the Wind snapped into three peices Had this Hurricane continued two or three hours longer it would certainly have levell'd both the Fort and Town though strongly built and well fortified Sumatra is accounted one of the greatest Eastern Islands in length about seven hundred and in breadth above two hundred Miles where several English Factories were setled Our English had first Trade here in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth whose name was then famous in those parts for her exploits against the Spaniards The Queens Letters to this King were received with much Pomp the King entertained the Messenger with a Banquet presented him with a Robe and a peice of Callicoe wrought with Gold and gave his Passport for the Generals security for whom he sent six Elephants with Drums Trumpets Steamers and many Attendants The cheif Elephant was about thirteen or fourteen Foot high having a small Castle