equally co-operates towards a generation of wind and raine in his progresse unto either Tropick Experience the Mistresse of Knowledge taught it us we found it so for from the South many gusts and stormes assailed us Ovid in his 4 lib. de Ponto is of Aristotles opinion to be granted in our Hemispheare Hic oritur Boreas Oraeque domesticus huic est et sumit vires à propiore loco At Notus adverso tepidus qui spirat ab Axe est procul et rarus languidiorque venit Rough Boreas our Domestique ruleth here And takes his vigour from a place more neere But the mild South from adverse Quarter sent Comes farre blowes gently and more impotent After threescore and ten dayes further saile wee came in view of Saint Helena so long were wee with faire winds 'twixt that I le and the Mauritius a very little Ile and strangely founded The spatious Ocean bellowes on every side so fretfully as it might feare an inundation had not the extraordinarie height but chiefly a Supreame providence which hath set the Sea its bounds safe-guarded it It has no neighbour Iles neither great nor small but seemes equally removed from those two famous Ports Rio Grandi and Cape Negro the one in Brazelia th' other in Congo in America the first in Africk the last both in one elevation and in the same parallel with Saint Helena from that in America distant above 400 leagues from this in Africk 300. But let us a shoare and search what she aboundeth in Of Helena SAINT HELENA is an I le was in-nominate till Iohn de Nova gave it one in the yeare after th'incarnation of our Saviour Christ 1502 and so named for that he discovered it in this returne from India to Lisbon the third of May a day consecrated to the memory of Helena the Empresse She that first found the Crosse she that was the most religious of Ladies in her time she that was mother to the first Christian Emperour great Constantine both of them glorious to the world Brittans both both bright Jems of this our Nation St. Helena is removed South from the Aequator sixteene degrees has longitude from the utmost promontory of South Africk two and twenty degrees the needle varies there five degrees and thirteene minutes From the lands end of England is distant 1500 leagues or 4500 English miles From the Cape of Good hope 580 leagues or 1740 miles From Madagascar 1000 leagues or 3000 miles From Surat 2200 leagues or 6600 miles And from Bantam in Iava 2300 leagues or 6900 miles or thereabouts The I le has this front in that Bay which takes name from the Chappell nigh which we anchored St Helena The I le is hard to be ascended not that the passage is craggie but precipitious the Sailers Proverb of it is A man may choose whither he will break his heart going up or his neck in comming down a merry jeast but let them choose it Once up no place yeelds a more delightfull object It is even and plaine above swelling no where to a deformed rising cloath'd with sweet grasse long and curious every where it gives a large prospect and horizon into the Ocean The Springs above are sweet but below are brackish the reason is they participate in their drilling discent of the salt hills through which it cuts a passage salt both by their owne composition and the salt breath the Sea perpetually evaporates There are but two rivolets in that I le the one bubbles down into the Chappell th' other into the Lemmon Vallyes They take their names frō a Lemon tree whence it arises and an old Chappell built at the very bottome by the Spaniard Anno 1571 and delapidated by the Dutch a place once intended for Gods glory but by malice of rude man made ruinous and a prophane nest of uncleane avarice The ruines of a little Towne demolisht lately shew themselves and serve to testifie a like Fate makes men and Villages dye Death and destruction makes both mortall and miserable Some say the Spanish King subverted it in that it became an unlawfull Magazein of Sea-mens Traffick turning and returning out of both the Indyes thereby losing his tribute in too apparent measure It is but lately made sociable the world is but beginning there no Monuments no Antique rarities are there found You see all if you looke upon the shatterd ribs of an old weather beaten Carrique and some broken peeces of great Ordnance left there against the Owners good liking and serve now in stead of Anchors The I le is desolate of reasonable Inhabitants Hoggs and Goats dwell there they agree well-favouredly and multiply in mighty numbers happy in their ease and safety till ships arrive there to banish hunger wee got also other good refreshment Phesants Powts Quailes Henns Partrich and which were as acceptable divers sorts of grasse roots Wood-sorrell three-leav'd-grasse Basil Parsly Mints Spinage Fennel Annys Radish Mustard-seed Tobacco and some others which by a willing hand directed by an ingenious eye may soone be gathered brought hither and here sowne by Fernandus Lupius an honest Portugall in the yeare of our Lord 1509. whose Country-men at this day dare hardly land there to over-see their Seminary or owne their labours lest the English or Hollander in the churlish language of a Cannon question them Anno 1588 Candish our Country-man landed here in his circum-navigating the earth I name him in this respect he reports he found here store of Lemmons Orenges Pomgranads Pomcitrons Figgs Dates c. but now are none of these fruits growing there that I could see or heare of a Lemmon tree excepted to conclude here wee buried in the old Chappell our honest Captaine Andrew Evans his deaths wound as I have told you was given him by a fish at the Mauritius Saint Hellena was a pleasant place but bad for us to stay too long in after six dayes commorance wee paid our reckning in a hearty Farwell and by benefit of a happy gale cut swiftly the yeelding billowes in a Northwest course whereby on the sixteenth of October wee made our selves Nadyr to the Sunne at that time in his Progresse towards the Antartique Tropick our latitude was 13 deg and 13 min the third day after that we got sight of Ascention I le nam'd so by Iohn de Nova in the yeare 1502 't is removed South from the Equinoctiall Circle seven degrees 40 minutes in circuit it is 30 English miles from St. Hellens Ile removed seven hundred and twenty little in it save wood and water observable On the seven and twentieth day we crost under the Aequator whence to nine degrees North latitude wee were pesterd with continuall Tornathes a variable weather compos'd of lowd blasts stinking showers and terrible thunders The eleventh of November we were parallel to Cape de Verd and with the GORGADES Isles famoused by antient Poets who say that the three Gorgons Medusa Stenia and Euryale the daughters of of King
the tip of the little Beares tayle the Sunne at this time was in the 19. degree of Taurus in Artick declination 17. degrees 31. minutes May 6. We had some thunder and lightning or corpo sanctos such as seeme good Omens to the superstitious Portugalls and at night past by Santo croix the holy crosse every houre expecting the Monzoon Monzoons an anniversary wind that blowes one way six moneths and the other halfe yeer the contrary way constantly which if Sea-men neglect they lose their happy passage into India But how preposterous the yeere and wind proved elsewhere I know not doubtlesse it is the Emblem of inconstancy experience taught it us so long time proving our Antagonist that our passage to the Cape of good Hope became sixe weekes longer than we looked for forc't to runne into much more longitude than we desired An Inhabitant of Angola The slaughter of a man doth not suffice These caniballs we see but breasts armes eyes Like dainty meat they eat Aspicimus populos quorum non sufficit itae Occidisse aliquem sed pectora brachia vultum Crediderint genus esse cibi Nothing commendable in them but their Archery in which they excell shooting a dozen shafts ere the first touch ground their Amazonian neighbours forcing their care and diligence The only ornament they have is slashing and cutting their skinne and faces the Sunne and Moone are man and wife the Starres their children in their religion the divell is their Oracle May 24. We had 19 degrees and a halfe from whence to the thirtieth degr the wind was large and prosperous nothing in that great distance observable save that on the 26 day our Admirall the Mary in which one Hall commanded early discryed a saile which he made after with his barge long boat and 80. men at two leagues distance they perceived her a Carrack of 1500 Tun who durst not adventure her hulk against our shot and therefore made all sailes draw and that night escaped tho to grapple her our fleet divided all night but saw her not till the 27. day and but saw her her velocity so much excelled ours till the 7. of Iune she againe deluded us after two houres chase as a phantasma vanishing towards God Vpon May day we crost the line and last of May the Tropick of Capricorne Tropicus Capricorni the utmost limit of Apollo's progresse towards the Antartick and 53 dayes we swet within the burning Zone ere we past under both the Tropiques The first of Iune our observation was in 24 degrees 42 minutes South latitude Iunij 1. the Sunne then in 23. degrees 8l. North in the 20. degree of Gemini In which height we had many sudden and violent gusts and stormes contrary to our desires unable thereby to direct our course being driven to Lee-ward 100 leagues upon the coast of Brazeel to 25. degr latitude and 27. of longitude from the Lizard Howbeit post multos sequitur una serena dies for on the 13. day in the first watch our long lookt for Favonius blew sweetly upon us The West wind most men know From the vast sea is ever felt to blow Semper lenis aura Favoni Spirat ab Oceano At which time some Boobyes weary of flight made our Ship their pearch an animall so simple as suffers any to take her without feare as if a stupid sense made her carelesse of danger which to sympathize I have as simply for your sport depicted A Boobie T is not long since I told you how favourably Aeolus entertained us but his other adjunct is inconstancy for veering into another quarter he began to puffe and bluster yea so furiously that Neptune sweld with rage in such impatience that the Tritons Marriners grew agast not without reason the Cape land thought not neere enough and yet too neere us for foure dayes and nights not daring to beare any saile but lay ahull driving whither the storme compelled us all that while the sea surges so sublime and impetuous that wee were tost up into the Ayre and forth with throwne downe as into an Abisse sometimes dancing upon the liquid ridge of a dreadfull wave and anon inveloped with many others all seeming to swallow us heaven and sea roaring and commixing in an undivided manner yet the Lord be praised having Sea roome and good tite Ships his providence saved us in 16 dayes more meeting together joyfully at the Cape of good hope and I confesse ingeniously not till then did I feele that Ironic Satyre of Iuvenal biting us I nunc ventis animam committe doloso Confisus ligno Digitis â morte remotus Quattuor aut septem si sit latissimataeda Goe now and to the winds thy life commit Trust the smooth wood foure or seven fingers set From death the broadest heart of Pine admit Iune 24. Wee rais'd the Pole Antartick six and thirty degrees our longitude from the Meridian of the Lyzard five and twenty degrees wanting three to the Cape variation three degrees our course E. S. E. the Sunnes declination two and twenty degrees twenty sixe minutes and as many seconds North in the 17. degree of Gemini The same time mid-summer in England and mid-winter with us in those South clymats The 7. of Iuly betimes wee descried land and tho threescore miles distant from its height seemed very nigh us proving the place wee aimed at that famous promontory now no longer Tormentozo but of good Hope Howbeit we could not flie upon the wings of desire the wind withstanding our hast wherby we let fall our Anchor 14 leagues short of the Bay of Soldania and went a shore upon a little Ile 3 miles round corruptly cal'd Cony I le from the Welsh Cain-yne or white Ile where we kil'd many Conies or Cats rather great and rammish bad and waterish commended for dainty meat by hungry Sailers Ie junus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit It also superabounds with Seales piscis marinus as big as Lyons and though doggedly visaged can out barke them yea bellow like Bulls and from such as not till then see any may challenge wonder They turne to oyle and give their skins for buffe coates soft and serviceable Here are also birds cal'd Pen-gwins white-head in Welch like Pigmies walking upright their sinns or wings hanging very orderly downe like sleeves a creature fish and flesh participating sea and shore feeding in the one breeding in the other easie to be caught on land but that their undermining the sandy ground for habitacles makes the passage bad at sea diving like a Duck swift as a Dolphin fat but oylie some dare eat them curiosity may invite a taste but to make a meale on unsapory and offensive to which May-game of nature I may inculcate that made on her acquaintance Divide her I desire but neck and brest They savour well the Cooke may eat the rest Tota quidem ponatur anas sed pectore tantum cervice sapit caetera redde coquo
wandred too farre in reviving the memory of Parthia by this wee are entred Coom where we refresht our scorched and wearied bodies three dayes In which time wee could not chuse but gather something COOM in the latitude of 34 degrees 40 minutes is a City of good note in Parthia placed in the mid-way 'twixt those two royall Cities Cazbyn and Spawhawn It is scituate in an ample and faire sandy plain and yeelds every way an exact horizon Coom gives place to no other Towne in Persia for antiquity the ruines appearing at this day gaine some beleife in the inhabitants whose common saying is it was once comparable to Babylon She has varied into many severall names the first I meet with is Gauna it may bee that which some call Guriana erroniously if so since Guriana has 37 degrees and Coom not 35. Arbacta after that from Arbaces who in the yeere after Adam 3146 tore asunder the Assyrian Dyadem by overture of that monster Sardanapalus the thirty sixt Monarch of the world from Ninus but by Diodore and Ptolomy Coama And by her latitude and antiquity seemes to me to have beene Hecatompylon rather than Spawhawn whose old name was Aspa and from which shee never wholly varied and at this day the latitude somewhat differing changing no lesse in the ill pronunciation of divers men Coim some call it Kom and Kome others the people there name it Koom A pleasant fruitfull and salubrious place it is I can assure you shaken with no great winds clouded with no moist foggs nor so much parcht by flaming Sol but can finde coole refrigerating breezes breathing favourably each morne and evening to refresh it In the Sunnes ambition it has excellent houses to lenifie his beams and umbrellaes in their orchards to shade and taste their delicious fruits in in this City infinity abounding owing their mellowing to a sweet rivolet that streams in a silver current from tke Coronian or Acro-cerawnian hills and grapes also good and in plenty excellent Pomgranads Mellons of both kinds Pomcytrons Apricocks Plums Peaches Peares Pistachoes Almonds Apples Quinces Cherryes Figs wall-Nuts small-Nuts Berryes and the best Wheat-bread in Persia Gumbazellello excepted the Peach or Malae Persica is had here a fruit and leafe so much resembling mans heart and tongue that the Aegyptick Preists dedicated it unto their greatest Goddesse Isis as the truest Hyerogliphick or symbol of unfained affection Coom has two thousand houses most of them of more than common structure well-built well-form'd well furnished the streets are spatious the Buzzar beautifull the Mosque is famous made venerable and richly adorn'd by enshrining the rotten carcasse of once amiable Fatyma Mortis-Ally's wife and sole heyre to Mahomet the Prophet of all Moorish Mussulmen The Temple is round of epirotiq ' forme the Tomb is rais'd three yards high and covered with velvit the ascent is by three or foure steps of refined silver Such time as Tamberlang the victorious Tattar so I may well stile him since in eight yeeres hee conquer'd more than the warlike Romans could in eight hundred returned loaden with spoyle and majestick triumph having hammered the brazen face of the Turkish bravery An. Dom. 1397 Heg 777 this poore Coom parched among many others in the insufferable heat of his incensed fury not from any eye of rage or envie hee darted at him but from that simple affront Hoharo-mirza call'd allso B'heder-cawn spurr'd on by jealousie put upon the triumphant Tattar a complement so much mistaken that losse both of life and Crowne were thereby forfeited making many men Towns concomitate his misery this place esâ—ecially which but for the Ardaveilyan Syet requesting mercie and for Fatyma's Sepulchre had beene levell'd with the lowly earth ploughed up and salted but in the sable weed she now is apparelled shee may sigh with melancholy Statius Death is the common friend to all for what ere yet begun shall end Quicquid habet Ortus finem timet ibimus omnes Ibimus From Coom we rode to Zenzen and thence to Cashan a gallant Citie from Coom six and thirty miles the way was easie and plaine but somewhat sandie CASHAN where the Artique elevation is 34 degrees 7 minutes longit 86 deg is the second Towne in Parthya for all sorts of praises Spawhawn is her Metropolis whence shee is distant North sixty English miles and from Cazbyn South two hundred and ten or there-abouts Whence the name derives it selfe the illiterat Cashanians could not tell wee must therefore search the dim leaves of Time oblitterated by oblivion I know not whether it be that old Ambrodax in many old Authors famoused the position not name makes mee guesse it I once thought it was Ctesiphon the best seat of the Arsacidae but I now perceive Ptolomy states that Towne 'twixt Seleucia and Babylon more probably it may be that Tigranocerta recorded by Straho in his Chorography than that Saway is it after Bonacciolus The name Cashan I imagine is borrowed either from Cushan in the Syriack signifying heat or blacknesse or from Cassan-Mirza sonne to Hocen sonne of Ally or from Shaw-Cashan sonne to Axan begot by Tangrolipix Anno Heg 582 of our account 1202 subjected by the great Cham or which best pleases me from Vsan-Cashan the Armenian Acen or Cassan-beg some call him who in the yeare of our Lord 1470 of Mahomets hegira or flight from Mecca 850 vanquisht Malaoncres call'd Abdulla also the last of Tamerlangs Progeny ruling Persia Cashan at this day is a great and lovely Citie well seated well built well peopled over-topt by no hill unseasoned by no marishes watered by no great streame which augments the heat chiefly when Sol resides in Cancer which rages there in no lesse violence is Scorpio not that in the Zodiack but reall stinging Scorpions which in great numbers ingender here It is a little Serpent a finger long but of great terror in the sting inflaming such they prick with their invenom'd Arrow so highly that some die none avoyd madnesse a whole day and as it was said of another Vna eademque manus fert vulnus opemque so to such as are stung by Scorpions is no such remedy as by the oyle of Scorpions to be cured The Serpents head joyn'd to the wounded part Fitly is said to heale th' infected smart Like Telaphus cur'd by Achilles dart Quae nocuit serpens fertur caput illius apte Vulneribus jungi sanat quae sauciat ipsa Vt Larissaea curatus Telaphus hasta And from hence growes that much us'd Persian adage and curse May a Scorpion of Cashan sting thee But which is more remarkable they say it we found it true some of them creeping into our Ruggs as we slept they never hurt a stranger Cashan is not lesse than York or Norwich above foure thousand families are accounted in her the houses are fairely built the streets be large and comly the Mosqus and Hummums are curiously painted and ceruleated with a feigned Turquoise the Buzzar is spatious and
South sixty leagues and from Cape Comry two hundred a streame or arme issuing from Indus so incompasses her that she becomes a peninsule the Haven before the Towne is so land-lockt so good for anchorage that at Swalley Chaul Danda-Rajapuree and other Havens is no better riding either for the ground or Fort that so well safeguards them Nearchus great Alexanders Admirall from this place begun his Voyage and sayled to Ormus where hee repaired his weather-beaten Navie The Towne it selfe is both large and hospitable yet by reason of the Portugals pride and cruelty Christians are lesse beloved here then in other places 't was of good Trade affording Opium Assa-foetida Puchio Cotton Indico Mirabolans Sugar Arack Agats Cornelians Diaspries Calcedons Hematists Pearl Elephants teeth but since Surat and Cambaya her next neighbors have drawne the English and Dutch thither her Traffick and other allurements are contemned what she best boasts of is the Castle built after long fight and bloodshed by Albuquerque the famous Portugall Anno 1515 of their account 895 by whose cost and care it was so advanced that it compares at this day with any other Sea Towne in the Orient Nor could it ever have succceded had not false protestations bribes threats and other devices drawne beleife into the Pagans that their desire to have so many Castles and Marittim Forts was onely to defend themselves in parts where they were altogether strangers but it appeared afterwards that avarice rapine Tyrannie and lust allured them as Osorius their Bishop in vita Emanuelis 11 libro fol 347. speaks concerning them Etsi Lusitani imprimis arces cupiebant ad se defendendas postea tamen visum est speciem faederis amicitae dominationem quaeri Tyrannidem agitari c. Which caused such turmoyles that in no other part of India they found so long such strong resistance partly by their owne valour but chiefly by help of Mirhocem and his Mamalukes Campson Gaurus the then great Sultan of Egipt sent thither to quell their insolencies Notwithstanding by the ruine of that Sultan not long after by Selim the first 1516. the Portugals by little and little grew victorious though to obtaine it Laurensius-Almeida sonne to their Viceroy the most excellent of all their Captaines at that time perished The river Indus is by Pliny call'd Sandus Sinthus by Arrhian and now call'd Sinde not farre distant hence at 23 deg 15 min. lat some observe 24 deg 40 min. and West var. 16 degrees 30 min. commixes in two ostiums Thevet foolishly names seaven with the Ocean after three thousand miles flux from the Casmirian or as Mela in his third booke the Paropamisian mountaines in her discent receiving growth from many great and famous rivers which from other hills derive their origin mellow Indya and at last incorporate with that famous flood from whose name the most noble part of the universe is named the rivers are Behat Ravee Damiadee Ob-chan Wihy c. of old times named Hidaspes Acesinis Cophis Adris Ob-itarmas Coas Suastes Melzidas Hirotas Zaradas Hispalis c. On the other side the gulph Muskat in Arabia the happy is seated Muscat or Mascat not farre from Cape Rozelgate formerly call'd Ziagrum and Corodamum and almost Nadyr to the crabbed Topick I dare not conclude that this was that old Raamah from Raama sonne of Chush sonne of Cham by Ptolomy Rhaguma and Rhegma celebred by Ezekiel 27.22 The Merchants of Sheba a Citie in Arabia whence came the Queene and not from Aethiopia Chush being misinterpreted to visit Solomon and Raamah were thy Merchants meaning Tyre c. howbeit 't is certaine it has beene much more populous and famous then at this present though now she begins since Ormuz was lost to revive her glory being the best Port Haven and defence for Frigots Juncks and other Vessels of Warre and Trade belonging to the Portugalls who first conquered it and the Ile Anno Dom. 1507. and after it other adjacent Townes as Calajate Curiate Soar Orfaza and divers places till then under the Ormousian Empire at that time Zeifadin was King in nonage ruled by Atar a spitefull Eunuch whose deceit was so apparent as not onely made this Towne to blush in flames but had welnigh ruin'd his Masters Empire Torus the King brother then commanded here with Mamadee the Kings sonne undone by poyson given him from Nordino the second Officer after which it was betrayed to the Turks by Iack a Portugall but after some cost and toyle recovered yet next yeere by bribery the Tunks re-entred and wherein Peribeg the Basha plants a Colony and goes homeward but ere he got thither heares of its revolt and the slaughter of his silly Garrison the Newes so amazing him that hee goes to Mecha and turnes religious but by command of Solyman the great Turk is forced thence and for a reward of his fifty yeares good service is beheaded and his estate forfeited It now obeyes the Portugalls the Towne is seated in a Plain yet armed or propt with two rising advantagious mountaines a ditch and parapet drawne from one hill to the other so inviron her that she seemes inaccessible the Castle is large and defensive fill'd with men and stored with great Ordnance little else is worthy of our observation The seventeenth of December wee took ship in the William for Gombroon in Persia the Exchange the Hart and other brave ships went along with us and above three hundred slaves whom the Persians bought in India Trop Cancri Persees Ientews gentiles Bannaras and others The eightenth day we crost the Tropick and next day elevated the North pole twenty foure degrees odde minutes the gulph in this place straitned the shores of Carmania and Arabia in this forme appearing to us The Persian Gulph Arabia denominated from Arabus sonne of Apollo and Madam Babilonia at this day is more obscured than in ancient times such time as it was the seminary of famous men worthily in those dayes called happie Panchaya and Eudaemonia No part bred better Physitians Mathematicians and Philosophers Galen Hipocrates Avicen Algazales Albumazar Abubeer Alfarabius Mahomet-ben-Isaac ben Abdilla Siet Iooh ben Cazem ben sid ' Ally and others here borne or educated the Arabick so inchanted men that it is a common hyperbole amongst them the Saints in Heaven and Paradize speak it In it the holy Decalogue was given in it was hatcht the delusive Alcaron if gums aromatick succulent fruits fragrant flowers and such like delicacies can captivate thee say then Arabia is the Phoenix of the East with Danaeus the epitomè of delight and with Saint Augustin that it is Paradize 'T is tripartite Deserta Petrosa and Felix Deserta is also call'd humilis profunda and aspera by Servius Lucian and Aristides Petrosa Inferior by Strabo Nabothaea by Ptolomy and Barrha by Castoldus Rathal Alhaga by them habitants and by Zieglerus Bengacalla Foelix varies also in nomenclation by Pliny Sabaea and Mamotta by Solinus
new Testaments in their mother tongue the Letany also part of which is every Lords day read and expounded in the Churches they administer the Lords Supper in both kinds Bread and Wine and deny a reall presence they allow but our two Sacraments Baptisme they celebrate after the Eutichyan sort as Iacobus father of the Iacobites and Iohannes Philipponus Anno Dom. 550 mis-taught them the proselit gentiles or Mohumedans in the fore-head with a burning crosse others they baptise with two fingers and signe the Infant with the crosse as glorying in that hyerogliphick the Jews and Mussulmen esteeme so ignominiously of are also great lovers of Tradition they pray not for the dead imagining that till the generall day of doom they are without joy or torture Five Sabbaths in every yeare they abstaine from flesh fish cheese and butter in memory of those five Ages wherein their barbarous forefathers used to immolate their children unto the old red Dragon all wednesdayes and fridayes also in the yeare except from Easter to Ascention they fast precisely and no other Christians are such strict Lent-observers for they refrayne their wives that time and from flesh fish milk egges butter those forty dayes feeding only upon oyle bread honey water dates cowcumbers melons herbs and the like At other times they eat hogs flesh Before the three great Festivalls they fast twelve dayes they marry betimes at nine or twelve yeers the Layety are permitted to wed twice the Ecclesiastiques but once trigamy to all is hatefull The Presbitry are much honoured Images in their Churches they detest but at home have pictures of Venus and Priapus The crosse they regard but worship not beleeve not purgatory their Temples are but meanely beautifull Obedience and respect to the better and elder sort is much practisd They punish theft and adultery severely In some things they are but refind Idolaters as in some burialls they lead about the Church an unspotted Lambe with much solemnity they then sacrifice divide and give each there a bitt to eat as a Simbol or superstitious bond obliging one another in love and charity to mee it seems they derive this custome from that of the Hebrews who used to divide a calfe as Moses records in 15. Gen. 9. and as Ieremie notes in the 34 Ch. 18.19 verses On good Friday they represent the passion and buriall of our Saviour during which they weep and ingeminate their ejaculations On Easter they intimate the resurrection by a representative body using all that morning the old salute of joy He is risen indeed an Angelicall note they call it That day they celebrate with great Feasts the Mahomitans nor Iews not daring to mingle among them The King allowes them that priviledge They fast upon the Nativity of our Saviour The Iesuits labour to knit them into Rome but in vaine they stand much upon their Antiquity and name two hundred grave and learned Bishops since their conversion many of which were noble Martyrs or witnesses the report of an envious Doeg that they had submitted to Rome agnising the Pope their head made Abbas storme and not to be pacified till a thousand of them were made headlesse upon which the rest implore help and revenge from the Turk raising a bloody scean of ensuing Troubles Some say that Lodovic Grangier a Iesuite lately crost the black sea into Mengrellia where Threbis-chawn entreated him gently and by his charity they are much purged from superstition which if so I wonder that his name is of no more fame amongst them I feare I have made too large a parenthesis Let us therefore to Spahawn againe the Metropolis of the Persian Monarchy yea the greatest and best built City throughout the Orient Et quô te carmine dicam Must Babells lofty Towres submit to thee Tauris Perse-polis and Nynivee Shushan Arsacia and Nabarca fall Before thy seat and power Provinciall Had that ambitious Nymrod thought on this Cambyses or the proud Semyramis With all those princely Rulers which did sway The Eastern Scepters when thou didst obay It would have queld their pride and let them know All humane Actions have both ebb and flow The greatest Monarchs cannot conquer Fate Time doth by turnes advance and subjugate Now royall Abbas rules Spahawn must rise Where Kings affect there most men cast their eyes There flock the people 't is his power not thine Which hath eclipst their light to make thee shine Then use thy Fortune so that none from thence May wish thy fall or grudge thy eminence SPAWHAWN at this day the Persian Metropolis is in Artick elevation 32 degrees 39 minutes in longitude 86 degrees 30 minutes differing from Don Garcias accompt whose height exceeded not 31 degrees 30 minutes In whose description if I seeme prolix impute it to my desire to give thee every thing usefull and observable And in the first place in regard some suppose her like Agra a start-up Towne wee will trace her in her variations as farre as my poore reading will well afford it us That it was Echatan as Niger thinks is ridiculous to imagin two thousand three hundred yeere ago it was called Dura but whether in that Dura the haughty Assyrian erected his golden Colosse I finde it not Hecatompylos is the next name it had recorded by Apollodorus Polibius Ptolomy and Pliny lib. 6. c. 8. so denominated from her hundred gates whereby we may imagine her in those dayes great and stately and though in Alexanders conquest Curtius name her not it seemes she then varied into that Greekish nomenclation and of this name we have a story that Demetrius Nycanor Sotors sonne thirsting after Syria and Jerusalem was upon his trecherous killing Antiochus Alexanders sonne to make the conquest easier affronted by Tryphon Lieftenant of Syria and forced to flie to Arbaces the Persian King for succour who being acquainted with his unnaturall ambition not only denied him the law of hospitality but sent him prisoner to Hecatompylon where he was fettered till upon submission and promise of more obedience hee was releast and by Arbaces reseated in his owne Dominions After that Nymzamaena or halfe the world an Hyperbole borrowed from Rome Epitomen Vniversi by Ben Ionas who was here Anno Hegirae 540. of our Lord 1160 Ashbahan or Acspachan by Mandevil our countriman three hundred forty yeers ago Saphaon and at this day is call'd Spawhawn or as they Sibboleth Sphawhawn and by most writers differently spelled Spaha Spachen Acbaban Aspachan Izpaan Spahan and Hispahan the errors springing from diversity of Idioms From whence the name Spawhawn derives it selfe is not knowne unto the Natives I askt it them how then shall wee get intelligence t is a thing for certainty impossible yet will I venture a conjecture that it is either that old Town Spada where Eunuches were first gelded or from a compound of Aspa a horse and Chawna a house or stable or the like Spawhawn per Apheresin Syncopen euphonically contracted the rather conjectured in
easily perceived had three some six women about them wrapt in linnen the curiosity or rashnesse rather might have cost me deerely the penalty being no lesse than to shoot an Arrow into his braines that dares to doe it The Carravans lodge here exceeds the Mosque the men in this Towne are proud the women lovely both are curious in novelties but the jealousie of the men confines the temper of the weaker sexes yet by that little they adventured at we might see Vetitis rebus gliscit voluntas One Zenal-chan is the Sultan of this Citie a man of no worth in our opinion he had been Ambassador from Shaw-Abbas to Rodulph the second German Emperour but his late imployment his favour with Abbas his wealth his vexation for Nogdi-beg his Cozen made him so proud so discourteous that albeit the Ambassadour sent to visit him hee return'd no thanks he took no notice of his being there The pole Artick is elevated in Tyroan thirty five degrees forty minutes fourescore in longitude From Tyroan we rode to a Village call'd Charah a base inhospitable place it affoorded us no sustenance but torment so much as the scalding sands and frying Sunne could operate as in too great measure we had experience of From hence to Taurys is two dayes riding The Carravans-raw is thus shaped Carravan-raw TAVRYS the late Median Metropolis takes name from that prodigious mountaine Taurus under which t is builded The Turk and Perse call it Taberyz in the worlds adolescencie 't was known by other names of Achmetha as I read in Ezra after that of Echatana spoken of in the Apocrypha of Amatha also as Cortestan and Cordina others have called her by analogie some have placed her in Syria from a Citie Egbatan converted into Epiphania by Antiochus The primier founder of this noble Citie is Arphaxad as we find in Iudiths History Anno Domini 3290. some say Dejoces predicessor to that valiant Phraortes who flourisht in the yeare of the world 3300 the sixt Dynast of Medya after Arbaces who begun it from Adam 3146. It was agrandiz'd not built as Pliny dreamt of by Seluchus 300 yeares after who at that time begun to build Seleucya 200 pharsangs thence to eclipse the pride of mighty Babylon Such time as shee was called Ecbaton she was farre greater than at this present It was fifteene Italian miles about sayes Strabo The walls were strong and stately seventy cubits high and fifty broad beautified with many loftie Turrets and battlements within were numbred many great and excellent Pallaces that which Daniel built the Mausoleum afterwards of the Median Kings was most magnificent and which remained undemolisht in Iosephus his time and some whiles after That built by Darius was no lesse memorable most part whereof was of Cedar wood the roofe studded and plaited with burnisht gold of both which nothing now remaines save memory and ashes I can hardly say memorie since it is become a question whether Tauryz be old Ecbatan and whether it be in Media or no. If to be under Baronta Diodorus Polybius and Ptolomy call it Orontes if to be in 36 degrees 50 minutes if to have the ruines of Tobyas his grave if to be the buriall place of Kings if to be the Metropolis time out of mind if to be the Citie from Ierusalem N. E. foure hundred forsangs can make it Ecbatan or if the authority of Ananias Petrus de la valle Leunclavius Teixera and of Ortelius will serve let it then be Ecbatan and in Medya Ptolomy's conceit of Tabryz mistaken in the Tau a Gamma printed erroniously for it to be in Assyria by Cedrenus in Armenia by Chalcondyles in Persia by Niger in Pers-Armenia or by Paulus Venetus in Parthya what were these conjectures but from the Monarchique Arch-Titles as Assyrian Armenian or Parthyan as they swayed then and chiefly from the mistake how Armenia is devided part of Armenia major extending South of Araxis into Atropatia a part of Medya and from whence the name Pers-Armeniae is compounded for by Abulfeda Vlughbeg and others the latitude of Taurys complies with Ecbatan At this day Tabryz is great and well peopled traded to from farre albeit it keepes a Garrison It is compast with a mud wall five miles about the houses are flat a top their materiall Sunne-dried Bricks the Buzzar large the Gardens lovely that to the South-East planted by King Tamas was famous but the Turks horses have lately grazed there It wants water in the greatest measure yet of that is not wholy destitute What it lacks in that fire and flame supplies it the Sunne warres rage and civill broyles having more than sufficiently parched her To passe by the mutations of the Empire the Turks first passage six hundred yeares since Tamberlayns rage and the like remember we those two deadly factions the Envicaydarlai and Namidlai for three hundred yeares persecuting one another with implacable wrath drawing into their quarrell nine other Provinces who grew so hatefull amongst themselves that not only this Citie but Medya Armenia were therby half depopulated the Gibelyns nor Roses outmatched them They made an easie entrance to any invader Selym the grand Signieur first espies it and to become an eye-sore to Tamas sonne of Izmael their inveterate Adversarie sends a Bashaw who ransackt it Anno Dom. 1514. Heg 894. without much resistance And Anno 1530. Solyman seconded it with so much furie that it flam'd many dayes the insatiate Turks pillaging without mercie and turning topsie-turvie all they met with and into a Chaos those elaborat walks and gardens Shaw-Tahmas so much gloried in It reviv'd againe and againe is made prostrate to Ebrahim Bassa's luxurie sent by Solyman at the villanous instigation of Vlemus a Persian Traytor and brother in law to the King At which time Anno 1534. Heg 914. the greedie Turks new ransackt it But Anno Dom. 1585. Heg 965. it groaned under most affliction when Ozman the wrathfull Bassa and slave to Amurat the third subdued it and perpetrated all sorts of hostile crueltie till thirtie yeares after by that incomparable Pagan Prince Emyr-hamze-myrza elder brother to Shaw Abbas it was regained rebuilt and fortified against the future insolence of those Barbarians Taurys is distant from Cazbyn seven dayes easie journey from the Mare Caspium as many from Araz six from Derbent eight from Spahawn seventeene from Shyraz thirty from Ormus fifty and from Babylon thirty Next night we made our Manzeill at Sangurrabaut a Town consisting of an hundred Cottages In this place we buried a civill Gentleman Mr. Welflit our comrade under a broad spreading Chenoar tree and fixt a brazen scrole over him which spoke his Name and Nation Mors tua non careat fletu linquamus amicis Maerorem ut celebrent funera cum lachrymis We have deplor'd thy death th' insuing yeares Thy kin shall pay thee Tribute with their teares Next night we slept in the open fields under a bespangled Canopie the Firmament and next in Shaw-De i.e.
albeit twice the Grand-Seignior was in person to fight with him Many of his Nobles hee has beheaded but in these things argues his just discent from Ally and is as likely as any that reigned before him to advance the Monarchy of Persia and every way to make it rich and famous To conclude Persia and this second Book give me leave to do it in this Epidicticon The Epidicticon VVHy do the wyndings of inconstant state Molest us Weaklings since the selfesame Fate Turnes Kings and Kingdomes with an equall doome Whiles Slaves too oft possesse their Masters roome So pricking Thistles choak our fairest corne And hopefull Oakes the hugging Ivies scorne Men are but Men and be they strong or wise All their Designes subject to hazard lies Millions of helps cannot support that Crown Which Sin erects Fate justly pulls it down Witnesse faire PERSIA large and rich of ground The fitter Nurse of warre In it was found Even in those golden times which Poëts vant Victorius Cyrus who yet did supplant His Father Oh that men would learne to see What life were best not what doth please the eye But out alas when they have drunk of blood That bitter potion's sweet yea even a flood Of lives food cannot their hot thirst allay Till Tomyris that blood with blood repay So hapt to Cyrus whom th' insulting Queen Upbraid with blood-shed Vengeance is too keen For in a bowle of goar dead drowned lies His crowned Temples and insatiate eyes That King aspir'd and for his itching veine 200000 Subjects there lay slaine Thus faires it still with thee proud Persia Whose various Native beauties freely may A strangers love intice Thy breath is sweet Thy Face well made a Nursery of delight Thy breasts not dry of milk thy armes are strong Thy belly fruitfull legs both clean and long Thy veines are large blood pure quick spirits hast But for thy back Oh stay there lies the wast To this faire Symmetrie of outward parts The giver great to ingage by great desarts Infused hath into thy childrens wit Wisdome and courage best to mannage it Nor wast thou Barb'rous or Indisciplin'd For had thy Eare unto its good inclind Thy Country Prophetisse fore-told thee how Hell and its wrath by Christ to disavow Since which thy Sages Kings or more than Kings If I mistake thee not their Offerings Unto my Infant God humbly present O Faith exceeding almost Faiths extent But now this Light of lights on Earth did shine See how thy Vertues retrograde decline Holy Thaddaeus whom Saint Thomas sent To cure thy King thy Flamens did present With hellish torments and with like foule hands Symon the Cananyt's good newes withstands In after times thy Cozrhoe Persia made A pond of Christian blood Nor here thou staid But in dislike of christ th' Arabian Theife Thou choose to be thy unlearned Judge and Cheife Hence hence proceed those grosse Impieties Which swallow'd greedily delight thine Eyes Blood-shed and lust the foulest out of kind Which my chast Muse is fear'd to name the rind Thou only keeps of zealous awe the heart Is foule defil'd for so thou learnd'st the Art Of lust and pride from thy curst Mahomet Whose thoughts unbounded all on Thrones was set Nor did his Successors as Prophets live But one another murdered All did grieve At Neighbours Diadems The God of Peace For those thy sinnes thy power will sure decrease And thou that oft hast felt a forrain power Once more maist feele a Scithyc race so sower That all the World shall know how greatest Kings Are thrall to change as well as weaker things FINIS LIBRI SECUNDI THE THIRD BOOKE LEt 's now abroad againe and see what Observations wee can make in the Ilands circumjacing Orientall Indya than which the world has none richer pleasanter or every way more excellent To encompasse it we must to Sea againe for without such helps there is but little travelling Apr. 13. We took ship at Swalley when being three or foure leagues off at Sea the wind came faire and made the liquid billowes swell so advantagiously that next day wee lost sight of many pretty marittim Townes at this day owned by the Portugall namely Gundavee Daman St. Iohn de Vacas Chowl Dabul c. most of them subjected by Don Albuquerq ' about the yeare after th'incarnation of our Saviour 1512 Dabul Dunga of old excepted which yeelded to the mercie of Symon Andradius Governour of Choul from whom 't was rapt by the Decanees but by that made a Basis of greater calamity For Almeyda some few yeares after by stratagem recovered and burnt it to the ground but by command of the Goan Vice-roy 't was repaired repopulated and stood victorious till Captaine Hall if I mistake not the mans name about nine yeeres agoe forced it and made th' insulting Portugall know how their bravadoes to the English were no way formidable The South point of DABUL has Artick Elevation 17 deg 35 minuts Dabul variation West 15 degrees 34 minuts It once obeyed the Monarch of Decan but at this day the Lusitanian 'T is seated at the foot of a high but pleasant mountaine whence distills a sweet rivolet beyond measure usefull in those torryd Clymats the Road gives reasonable good Anchorâ—ge The Towne it selfe is beautifull to such as view it at distance the houses are low thick and tarras't at the top serving both to lenifie the scorching flames of wanton Phaeton and to resist the quick and subtill rage of Hyem's icyles an old Castle and a few Temples or Monasteries are all she boasts of the Buzzar or Forum is but ordinarie the streets narrow are nor is her mart now notable Surat and Cambya to the North Goa and Calicuth to the South so much eclipsing her that she condoles with other her disconsolate neighbours and acknowledges a secret destinie change in Townes as well as other temporaries CHOUL in Ptolmyes dayes call'd Comane if Castaldus guesse right is subject to like varietie it is removed from the Aequi-noctiall 18 degrees 30 minuts North and was ravisht from the Emperiall Dyadem of Decan or Decanory by Almeyda that ambitious Portugall in the yeare of our redemption 1507 and in which to perpetuate his Conquest hee erected a gallant Fort or Bulwark planted it with Cannon a Castle also no lesse fortified so terrible to the Indyans as they have forborne to make them rore doubting the very clamour may undoe them The Inhabitants are a few melancholy but lustfull Portugalls and some peacefull crafty Bannyans it affoords naught else to be spoken on in this place The Expedition bearing up to speak with us both ships fell foule to speak in Neptunes language or thwart one anothers houlses by which mischance her bole-sprit gave our mizzen shrouds a churlish kisse but by a happy gale parted without farther inconvenience After five dayes sayle wee were Nadyr to the Sunne at that instant in our Verticé or Zenyth his declination then being just fifteene degrees
from the religion they suckt from their cradle amongst Panyms from that rule of Nature Use others as thou would'st others should use thee The Christians in these parts differ in some things from us and the Papacie yet retaine many principles of the Orthodox and Catholick doctrine Le ts enter their Temples Their Churches are low and but poorely furnished their vassalage will reach no further whether from their subjection or that so the Temples of their bodies bee replenisht with vertue the excellency of buildings conferre not holinesse I know not neat they are and sweetly kept matted without seats and insteed of Images have some select and usefull texts of holy Writ obviously writ or painted They assemble and haste to Church each Lords day with great alacrity at their entring they shut their eyes and contemplate the holinesse of the place the exercise they come about and their owne unworthinesse as they kneele they look towards the Altar or Table neere which the Bishop or Preist is seated whom they salute with a low and humble reverence who returnes his blessing by the up-lifting of his hands and eyes at a set houre they begin prayers above two houres seldome continuing first they have a short generall confession which they follow the Priest in and assent in an unanim Amen then followes an Exposition of some part or text of holy Scripture during which their attention dejected lookes and silence is admirable they sing an hymne and at parting out of Church re-salute the Minister who ceases not till all be gone out to elate his hands and blesse them When they are come home they read a chapter in either Testament both which they suppose they have incorrupt after the Originalls and translated for them by Saint Thomas the Apostle and patron of the Orient they have it also in the Chaldy but none save the Clergie understand it every first Sonday in the Month the Priest reads a Sermon out of an old Homily writ as they say by the Apostle or some of his Disciples they Baptise commonly at the 40 day if the Parents do no sooner desire it they first signe the Infant on the forehead with the Crosse and then wash it all over with water the Sacrament of the Lords holy Supper they administer in both kinds the Communicants receive it reverently kneeling they observe two dayes strict preparation during which they eat no flesh revell not accompanie with no women in the Church they confesse their sinnes and demerits with great reluctancy They marry as wee do the Clergie marry but once the Layety but twice widdowes if they marry before the yeere be expired after which their husbands dyed are ill reported of and hazard their joyncture none save for adultery have lycence to part till death sever them In sicknesse the Priest is sent for to comfort them and to give the Eucharist if it bee heartily desired that done they take farwell of their wife and children and all others and so rid themselves of carnall distractions which too oft hinder the desired meditation of the misery of worldlings and by a holy contemplation of the ineffable joyes of heaven strive to mitigate the pangs of their disease yea the grim aspect of approaching Death and the survivers rather joy than mourne as they solemnize his funeral they first wash then wrap the Corps in clean linnen a few selected friends concomitate it to the grave wherein they place it looking not East but West towards Ierusalem five dayes after that they visit his Family They feast and fast as we their Lent or abstinence from flesh and the like begins each spring and is strictly observed fortie dayes without banquet or bravery their yeare is Soli-genian our three cheefe Feastivalls they celebrate in July they commemorate the martyrdome of Saint Thomas they have many Patriarchs or Protomists the cheife resides at a house built upon a high mountaine nine miles from Cranganor Since the Portugalls traded Indya they have shaven their heads the Layicks pay Decimae or Tythes willingly they affect justice truth peace humility obedience c. and acknowledge Saint Thomas some the Eunuch of Arabia converted by Philip their Tutelary Saint and Patron They beleeve no Purgatory May 7 we had 8 degrees and ere Sunne-set darted our eyes upon that high mountaine commonly called Brin Iohn i. e. the Mount of Iohn and revives the British Antiquity Next day we had 7 degrees 30 minutes variation 14 degrees than which that famous Promontory of East-India extends no further towards the Aequator Next day wee sailed by the Maldyvae Iles memoriz'd by Pyrard de Laval who lived there and reports that the King there styles himselfe Emperour of thirteene Provinces and 12000 Ilands most and least any King in the world is owner of Neere these are other Iles Candu Nicubar and Sumbrero by name in the view of Zeyloon and Sumatra to which place and many other I must guide your patience of Zeyloon ZEyloon or Ceylon one of those five Iles Ptolomy calls Barussae was not innominate to the Antients By Ptolomy cald Panigarensis since him in Arab. Authors Sisuara Tenarisis and Nanigeris At this day Zeyloon by us Chingall by the inhabitants an I le spatious rich and famous severed from the Asiatick continent by a small sea not forty Leagues over It is limitted from 8 to 11 deg of latit North the length is about 70 leagues breadth 40 and circuit 250 or thereabouts an I le famous in some old conjectures as that Paradise was here that K. Salomon had hence his obrize gold or gold of Ophyr but I beleeve neither in regard most writers fix the ruines of the one in Mesopotamia and the other rather in Pegu Iava those wealthy places The most memorable is this That Meleck or Melchior Pyramal King of this Iland is thought one of those wise-men premonisht by that prophesy of Balaam the Edomite in Num. 24. 17. that brought as to a King a Priest a Prophet Gold Frank-insence and Myrrh unto our blessed Saviour foretold also by the Persian Sybill and by a new made Starre guided by the finger of God miraculously directed and who at his returne made knowne the mystery of Gods Incarnation for mans redemption by his laborious teaching made many Proselites some to this day by tradition memorising him and reteining somewhat of Christian knowledge though the greatest part bee Apostats and drunk with abominable demonomy and superstition But whether Melchyor returned upon Saint Thomas his arrivall and with the other two came into Europe and whether those three buried in Cullen be fictitious or no it is not pertinent to a Travellers curiosity to insist upon But this is obvious in History That Candaces Noble Eunuch baptised by Philip left her service to preach Christ whom very fruitfully he made knowne to many parts of Araby and sundry Iles as Socotora this and Tabrobane or Sumatra as Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre in the dayes of the great
structure and daily served by a multitude of hellish Priests or Bonzees not admitted to attend there except they be young well shap't and as strong in venerie as was Hercules Every new Moon they solemnly betroth unto the Devill a Damosell whose Parents account the ceremonie happie and honourable if any be more faire or singular than another shee is selected by the lustfull Priests devoted and brought into the Temple and placed right against the Mamada or Idoll the roome is first made glorious with Lamps of burnisht gold and a preparation by incendiating Lignum vitae or other gums and perfumes such as be curious and costly by and by the Lamps extinguish by myracle and in a grosse darknesse the Prince of darknesse approaches and abuses her so shee imagines and the rather credited in that the Devill leaves behind him certaine scales like those of fishes an argument of no phantasma but by this hellish conjunction they swell not unlesse the Bonzee second it Sathan is no sooner gone but she is saluted by the Bonzees who ravish her with songs and pleasant musique which ended shee acquaints them with her fortune and resolves them in such questions as she by their instruction propounded to the Devill and he had satisfied her in shee issues with applause and ever after is reputed holy and honourable many other things I could present you from tradition but I avoyd as much as may be to insert incertainties from hence therefore faile wee West and land in Chyna where though the travaile be difficult yet suffer me to glean a little though it but expresse my industrie and care to offer you the truest Novelties Of China CHINA is the most Easterly part of Asia A Kingdome both great and wealthie famous also but scarce discovered Their jealousie and discourtesie to strangers they suffer any to enter none to returne chiefly causes it It is subject to many severall names scarce any two strange people accord in one Nomenclation and no wonder since amongst themselves they affect variety the Kings new naming the whole Kingdome at their Coronation as they fancie it Ptolomy long agoe call'd it Sinarum Regio other Geographers Seres the Moores in Industant call it Cathayo the Arabians T'synin the Syamites Cyn the Malayans Tabenzo the Japonites Thau and T'syn the Tattarrs Ham Alhacen Tangis Paulus Venetus Mangi the Inhabitants if Perera Riccius and Trigautius say true Tamen and themselves Tamegines But how various soe're that be this is not uncertaine that it is a very spatious Monarchie for it extends from 17 deg to 43 of North Latitude and to the South Cantam to the North Pequin two royall Cities seeme to terminate it But thus confined On the East it has the Sea of Iapan Corea is part of China no Ile but to the North conjoyned with the Continent On the West the Desarts of Industant On the North the Tattars On the South the Phillipinae Iles and the South West adjoyneth to Cochyn-China and Pegu with part of Siam All agree that it is square and that from any one side to another is 1500 English miles the circuit above 4000. the Country is generally champaign fruitfull full of sweet and navigable rivers and which are no lesse inhabited than the Villages and Cities be of which China has no fewer than 600 Cities 2000 wall'd Townes 4000 unwalled 1000 Castles and of Villages scarce to be numbred and many they had need to be since they give lodging to above threescore millions of men and boyes besides women which be not inrolled The whole Empire is divided into fifteene great Provinces governed by so many Quon-fu and Lausia who have their Tutans and Chyans or Deputies under them Each of those Provinces has a Metropolis full of people fairely built and very spatious But every way more excellent than the rest are these foure Paquin by some called Pasquin Nanquin or Nanton Cantam or Canton and Quinsay by them called Ham-ceu of which foure at this day Paquin is chiefe or Emperiall PAQVIN elevates the North Pole 41 degr 15 minutes and by late Geographers is accounted that same Citie which some call Cambalu watered by Polisanga and China then must bee Cathaya yea if Pantoja and Di Canti say true the Chyna Monarch is that same great Cam which M. P. Venetus and Mandevile afore him have famoused The Citie Pequin is questionlesse the most spatious and best peopled in Asia if not in the world since it has 30 Duch leagues ninety English miles circumference it includes many stately buildings and Mausoleas 24000 are numbered of the Mandarins Sepulchers the meanest of which is not without beauty and a no lesse number of little guilded Chappell 's beside 3800 Temples devoted to Idolatry It has as many Gates Posterns as be dayes in a yeer sixscore Buzzars or Market-places above a thousand Bridges of stone and such water as is every where potable This City is not above a hundred miles from that marvellous wall which Crisnagol their King Zaintzon the 117 King some say built 1000 yeeres ago to keep out the invading Tartarr a wall 1200 miles long six fathoms high twelve yards thick and such as was seven and twenty yeeres erecting by a continued labour of 750000 men NANQVIN the second Citie for grandeur and bravery till of late was the China Metropolis It elevates the Artick Pole 32 degr and is distant from the Sea 8 leagues or there abouts The City is 12 leagues about circled with three strong walls and ditches the Kings Pallace is glorious and vast the other buildings many for 200000 are reckned but meanly beautifull the Temples are above a thousand the streets fayre the people industrious from Paquin removed East six hundred miles English most part of the way is navigable CANTAM is at the South end of China in 17 deg a Towne both rich and spatious our Ships came almost in view of it from it to Paquin is two months travell QVINZAY or Ham-ceu borders Cochin-China of old the greatest at this day the most admirable for variety of antick rarities in the Orient These bee the most noted but many other great and populous Cities this great Empire conteineth generally of one shape and alike governed None be without their Meani or Temples fild with Deastri or Idols The Countrey is generally champaign and fruitfull the husbandmans care and paines make it to fructifie and repay its thanks in various tribute each Province there is well watered and few of those rivers but abound in fish which the Chyneses not only banquet on but on Frogs Snakes Rats Dogs Hogs and such food as many other Nations abhominate they fish with Cormorants The people are Olive coloured more black or white as they vary from the Aequinoctiall they weare their haire very long and fillited their eyes are commonly black their noses little their eyes small their beards deformedly thin and nailes often times as long as their fingers serving as a mark to distinguish the