War large and handsome A Market was kept this day in Saghèr as 't is the custom every Sunday and at Ikkeri every Fryday There was a great concourse of people but nothing to sell besides necessaries for food and clothing after their manner The way between Ikkeri and Saghèr is very handsome plain broad almost totally direct here and there beset with great and thick Trees which make a shadow and a delightful verdure As we return'd home at night we met a Woman in the City of Ikkeri who her Husband being dead was resolv'd to burn her self as 't is the custom with many Indian Women She rod on Horse-back about the City with open face holding a Looking-glasse in one hand and a Lemon in the other I know not for what purpose and beholding her self in the Glass with a lamentable tone sufficiently pittiful to hear went along I know not whither speaking or singing certain words which I understood not but they told me they were a kind of Farewell to the World and her self and indeed being utter'd with that passionateness which the Case requir'd and might produce they mov'd pity in all that heard them even in us who understood not the Language She was follow'd by many other Women and Men on foot who perhaps were her Relations they carry'd a great Umbrella over her as all Persons of quality in India are wont to have thereby to keep off the Sun whose heat is hurtful and troublesome Before her certain Drums were sounded whose noise she never ceas'd to accompany with her sad Ditties or Songs yet with a calm and constant Countenance without tears evidencing more grief for her Husband's death then her own and more desire to go to him in the other world than regret for her own departure out of this A Custom indeed cruel and barbarous but withall of great generosity and virtue in such Women and therefore worthy of no small praise They said she was to pass in this manner about the City I know not how many dayes at the end of which she was to go out of the City and be burnt with more company and solemnity If I can know when it will be I will not fail to go to see her and by my presence honor her Funeral with that compassionate affection which so great Conjugal Fidelity and Love seems to me to deserve November the thirteenth I took the Altitude of the Sun at Ikkeri and found it 31. gr 40′ The Sun was now in the 20th degree of Scorpio and declin'd Southwards 17. gr 45′ 40″ which taken from 31. gr 40′ leave 13. gr 54′ 20″ The former time I found Ikkeri to be in 13. gr 30 31″ but now I found it to be in 13. gr 54′ 20″ between which there is onely the difference of 23′ 43″ which is a small matter And therefore I account my observation right for the small variation between the two times is no great matter in regard the declination of the Sun not being punctually known may cause the difference At night walking in the City I saw in the Piazza of the great Temple which I understood was dedicated to an Idol call'd Agore Scuarà who they say is the same with Mahadeù although they represent him not in the same shape with that I saw of Mahadeù in Cambaia but in the shape of a Man with but one Head and Face and sixteen Arms on each side in all thirty two which is not strange since our Antients call'd many of their Idols by names sufficiently different and pourtray'd them in several shapes and wherein also I understood there was an Idol of Parveti who is the Wife of Mahadeù though the Temple be not dedicated to her I saw I say in the Piazza one of their Fryers or Giangami clad all in white sitting in an handsome Palanchino with two great white Umbrellaes held over him one on each side which two were for the more gravity and a Horse led behind being follow'd by a great train of other Giangami clad in their ordinary habits Before the Palanchino march'd a numerous company of Souldiers and other people many Drums and Fifes two strait long Trumpets and such brass Timbrels as are us'd in Persia Bells and divers other Instruments which sounded as loud as possible and amongst them was a troop of Dancing-women adorn'd with Girdles Rings upon their Legs Neck-laces and other ornaments of Gold and with certain Pectorals or Breast-plates almost round in the fashion of a Shield and butting out with a sharp ridg before embroyder'd with Gold and stuck either with Jewels or some such things which reflected the Sun-beams with marvellous splendor as to the rest of their bodies they were uncover'd without any Veil or Head-tire When they came to the Piazza the Palanchino stood still and the multitude having made a ring the Dancing-women fell to dance after their manner which was much like the Moris-dance of Italy onely the Dancers sung as they danc'd which seem'd much better One of them who perhaps was the Mistress of the rest danc'd alone by her self with extravagant and high jumpings but alwayes looking towards the Palanchino Sometimes she cowr'd down with her hanches almost to the ground sometimes leaping up she struck them with her Feet backwards as Coelius Rhodiginus relates of the ancient dance call'd Bibasi continually singing and making several gestures with her Hands but after a barbarous manner and such as amongst us would not be thought handsome The Dance being ended the Palanchino with all the train went forward the Instruments continually playing before them I follow'd to see the end and found that they went into the chief street and so out of the City by the Gate which leads to Saghèr stopping in divers places of the street to act the same or the like dances over again and particularly in the Entrance of the said Gate where amongst many Trees and Indian Canes which make the City-Wall there is a small Piazza very eeven and shaded about like a Pastoral Scene and very handsome At last the Giangamo with his Palanchino and train enter'd into certain Gardens without the Gate where his House stood and after the last Dance he remain'd there and the rest went away They told me this Honor was done him because they had then cast water upon his Head and perform'd some other Ceremony equivalent to our ordaining one in Sacris or creating a Doctor As I was going along the streets to behold this Pomp I saw many persons come with much devotion to kiss the Feet of all those Giangamoes who on Foot follow'd the principal Giangamo who was in the Palanchino and because they were many and it took up much time to kiss the Feet of them all therefore when any one came to do it they stood still all in a rank to give him time and whilst such persons were kissing them and for more reverence touching their Feet with their Fore-heads these Giangamoes stood firm with a seeming
which lies on the left side of the River as you go against the stream Having landed and going towards the Bazà r to get a Lodging in some House we beheld the Queen coming alone in the same way without any other Woman on foot accompany'd onely with four or six foot-Souldiers before her all which were quite naked after their manner saving that they had a cloth over their shame and another like a sheet worn cross the shoulders like a belt each of them had a Sword in his hand or at most a Sword and Buckler there were also as many behind her of the same sort one of which carry'd over her a very ordinary Umbrella made of Palm-leavs Her Complexion was as black as that of à natural Aethiopian she was corpulent and gross but not heavy for she seem'd to walk nimbly enough her Age may be about forty years although the Portugals had describ'd her to me much elder She was cloth'd or rather girded at the waste with a plain piece of thick white Cotton and bare-foot which is the custom of the Indian-Gentile Women both high and low in the house and abroad and of Men too the most and the most ordinary go unshod some of the more grave wear Sandals or Slippers very few use whole Shoos covering all the Foot From the waste upwards the Queen was naked saving that she had a cloth ty'd round about her Head and hanging a little down upon her Breast and Shoulders In brief her aspect and habit represented rather a dirty Kitchin-wench or Laundress then a delicate and noble Queen whereupon I said within my self Behold by whom are routed in India the Armies of the King of Spain which in Europe is so great a matter Yet the Queen shew'd her quality much more in speaking then by her presence for her voice was very graceful in respect of her Person and she spoke like a prudent and judicious Woman They had told me that she had no teeth and therefore was wont to go with half her Face cover'd yet I could not discover any such defect in her either by my Eye or by my Ear and I rather believe that this covering the Mouth or half the Face as she sometimes doth is agreeable to the modest custom which I know to be common to almost all Women in the East I will not omit that though she were so corpulent as I have mention'd yet she seems not deform'd but I imagine she was handsome in her Youth and indeed the report is that she hath been a brave Lady though rather of a rough then a delicate handsomeness As soon as we saw her coming we stood still lay'd down our baggage upon the ground and went on one side to leave her the way to pass Which she taking notice of and of my strange habit presently ask'd Whether there was any among us that could speak the Language Whereupon my Brachman Narsù step'd forth and answer'd Yes and I after I had saluted her according to our manner went near to speak to her she standing still in the way with all her people to give us Audience She ask'd who I was being already inform'd as one of her Souldiers told me by a Portugal who was come about his businesses before me from Mangalòr to Manel that I was come thither to see her I caus'd my Interpreter to tell her that I was Un Cavaliero Ponentino A Gentleman of the West who came from very farr Countries and because other Europaeans than Portugals were not usually seen in her Dominions I caus'd her to be told that I was not a Portugal but a Roman specifying too that I was not of the Turks of Constantinople who in all the East are styl'd and known by the Name of Rumi but a Christian of Rome where is the See of the Pope who is the Head of the Christians That it was almost ten years since my first coming from home and wandring about the world having seen divers Countries and Courts of great Princes and that being mov'd by the fame of her worth which had long ago arriv'd at my Ears I was come into this place purposely to see her and offer her my service She ask'd What Countries and Courts of Princes I had seen I gave her a brief account of all and she hearing the Great Turk the Persian the Moghol and Venk-tapà Naieka nam'd ask'd What then I came to see in these Woods of hers Intimating that her State was not worth seeing after so many other great things as I said I had seen I reply'd to her that it was enough for me to see her Person which I knew to be of great worth for which purpose alone I had taken the pains to come thither and accounted the same very well imploy'd After some courteous words of thanks she ask'd me If any sickness or other disaster had hapned to me in so remote and strange Countries How I could have done being alone without any to take care of me a tender Affection and incident to the compassionate nature of Women I answer'd that in every place I went into I had God with me and that I trusted in him She ask'd me Whether I left my Country upon any disgust the death of any kindred or beloved person and therefore wander'd so about the world for in India and all the East some are wont to do so upon discontents either of Love or for the death of some dear persons or for other unfortunate accidents and if Gentiles they become Gioghies if Mahometans Dervises and Abdales all which are a sort of vagabonds or despisers of the world going almost naked onely with a skin upon their Shoulders and a sttaff in their Hands through divers Countries like our Pilgrims living upon Alms little caring what befalls them and leading a Life suitable to the bad disposition of their hearts I conceal'd my first misadventures and told the Queen that I left not my Country upon any such cause but onely out of a desire to see divers Countries and customs and to learn many things which are learnt by travelling the World men who had seen and convers'd with many several Nations being much esteem'd in our parts That indeed for some time since upon the death of my Wife whom I lov'd much though I were not in habit yet in mind I was more then a Gioghi and little car'd what could betide me in the World She ask'd me What my design was now and whither I directed my way I answer'd that I thought of returning to my Country if it should please God to give me life to arrive there Many other questions she ask'd which I do not now remember talking with me standing a good while to all which I answer'd the best I could At length she bid me go and lodg in some house and afterwards she would talk with me again at more convenience Whereupon I took my leave and she proceeded on her way and as I was afterwards told she went about
in Towns that people have need of refreshing themselves and drinking of a little water but because every one hath not a drinking-vessel of his own ready to avoid defiling or being defil'd by his companion 's cup there 's a way found out whereby any person may drink in that or any other what ever without scruple or danger of any either active or passive contamination This is done by drinking in such manner that the vessel touches not the lips or mouth of him who drinks for it is held up on high with the hand over the mouth and he that lifts it up highest and holds it farthest from his mouth shews himself most mannerly and thus powring the liquor out of the cup into the mouth they drink round while there is any left or so long as they please So accustom'd are the Indians to drink in this manner that they practise it almost continually with their own vessels for delight without the necessity of shunning communication with others and they are so dextrous at it that I remember to have seen one of them take with both hands a vessel as big as a basin and lifting it up above a span higher then his mouth powre a great torrent of water into his throat and drink it all off Having been frequently present at such occasions that where ever I came the Indians might not be shie of reaching me a cup of water I purposely set my self to learn this manner of drinking which I call drinking in the Air and at length have learn'd it not with cups as big as basins like his abovesaid but with a handsome cruze like those we use or with a little bottle or drinking glass made on purpose I do it very well Sometimes in conversation we drink healths all Indiana after this fashion with consent that all do reason in the same manner and he that cannot do it right either wets himself well or falls a coughing and yexing which gives occasion of laughter But to return to the opinions of the Indians As for good works and sins they all agree with the Doctrine of Morality and the universal consent of Mankind that there are differences of Virtue and Vice in all the world They hold not onely Adultery but even simple fornication a great sin nor do they account it lawful as the Mahometans do to have commerce with femal slaves or with others besides their own Wives Yea slaves of either Sex they no-wise admit but hold it a sin making use of free persons for their service and paying them wages as we do in Europe Which likewise was their ancient custom as appears by Strabo who cites Megasthenes and other Authors of those times for it They detest Sodomy above measure and abhor the Mahometans whom they observe addicted to it They take but one Wife and never divorce her till death unless for the cause of Adultery Indeed some either by reason of the remoteness of their Wives or out of a desire to have Children in case the first Wife be barren or because they are rich and potent and are minded to do what none can forbid them sometimes take more Wives but 't is not counted well done unless they be Princes who always in all Nations are priviledged in many things When the Wife dyes they marry another if they please but if the Husband dye the Woman never marries more were she so minded nor could she find any of her own Race who would take her because she would be accounted as bad as infamous in desiring a second Marriage A very hard Law indeed and from which infinite inconveniences arise for not a few young Widows who in regard of their Reputation cannot marry again and have not patience to live chastly commit disorders in private especially with men of other Nations and Religions and with any they find provided it be secret Some Widows are burnt alive together with the bodies of their dead Husbands a thing which anciently not onely the Indian Women did according to what Strabo writes from the Relation of Onesicritus but also the chaste Wives of the Thracians as appears by Iulius Solinus But this burning of Women upon the death of their Husbands is at their own choice to do it or not and indeed few practise it but she who doth it acquires in the Nation a glorious name of Honour and Holiness 'T is most usual among great persons who prize Reputation at a higher rate then others do and in the death of Personages of great quality to whom their Wives desire to do Honour by burning themselves quick I heard related at my first coming that a Kagià that is an Indian Prince one of the many which are subject to the Moghol being slain in a battel seventeen of his Wives were burnt alive together with his body which in India was held for great Honour and Magnificence I have heard say for I have not seen any Women burnt alive that when this is to be done the Wife or Wives who are to be burnt inclose themselves in a pile of wood which is lay'd hollow like the rafters of a house and the entrance stop'd with great logs that they may not get out in case they should repent them when the kindled fire begins to offend them Yea divers men stand about the pile with staves in their hands to stir the fire and to powre liquors upon it to make it burn faster and that if they should see the Woman offer to come out or avoid the flames they would knock her on the head with their staves and kill her or else beat her back into the fire because 't would be a great shame to the Woman and all her kindred if she should go to be burnt and then through fear of the fire and death repent and come out of it I have likewise heard it said that some Women are burnt against their own Will their Relations resolving to have it so for Honour of the Husband and that they have been brought to the fire in a manner by force and made besides themselves with things given them to eat and drink for this purpose that they might more easily suffer themselves to be cast into the fire but this the Indians directly deny saying that force is not us'd to any and it may be true at least in Countries where Mahometans command for there no Woman is suffer'd to be burnt without leave of the Governour of the place to whom it belongs first to examine whether the Women be willing besides and for a Licence there is also paid a good sum of money Nevertheless 't is possible too that many Widows being in the height of their passion taken at their word by their kindred who desire it go to it afterwards with an ill will not daring to deny those that exhort them thereunto especially if oblig'd by their word nor to discover their own mind freely to the Governour Things which amongst Women through their natural fearfulness and
severity and without taking notice of it as if they had been abstracted from the things of the World just as our Fryers use to do when any devout persons come out of reverence to kiss their Habit but with Hypocrisie conformable to their superstitious Religion Returning home I met a Corps going to be burn'd without the City with Drums sounding before it it was carryed sitting in a Chair whereunto it was ty'd that it might not fall cloth'd in its ordinary attire exactly as if it had been alive The seat was cover'd behind and on the sides with red and other colours I know not whether Silk or no. It was open onely before and there the dead person was to be seen By the company which was small I conjectur'd him to be one of mean quality But they told me All dead people are carry'd thus as well such as are buried as the Lingavani whom they also put into the Earth sitting as those that are burn'd and that he whom I saw was to be burn'd we gather'd from the Fire and Oyle which they carry'd after him in vessels The night following there was a great solemnity in all the Temples by lighting of Candles singing Musick dancing about twenty Dancing-women who went in Procession with the Idol into the Piazza dancing before the great Temple but as I was told they began very late namely at the rising of the Moon which was about an hour before mid-night so that I was gone to bed before I knew of it although in the Evening I saw the lights in the Temple But though I saw nothing yet I heard of it as I was in bed being awaken'd by the noise and hearing the same was to be acted over again the next night I purpos'd with my self to see it November the fourteenth I went at night to the Temple to see whether there was any extraordinary solemnity but there was nothing more then usual nor did the Idol come forth onely in the great Temple and its Inclosure or Court into which they suffer not strangers to enter they made their accustom'd Processions with musical instruments singing and other Ceremonies which I conceive were the same with those I saw in Ahineli onely they are celebrated here every night because as 't is a more eminent Church so consequently the service is more pompous besides that they told me Venk-tapà Naieka had a great and particular devotion to the Idol Agoresuà r who is here worship'd On the fifteenth of the same moneth came first in the day-time and afterwards at night to our House twelve or fifteen publick Dancing-women who by consequence are also publick Strumpets although very young being conducted by certain of their men In the day time they did nothing but talkt a little and some of them made themselves drunk with a certain Wine made of dry'd Raisins or a sort of Aqua Vitae and other mixtures call'd in India Nippa I say some of them because certain others of less ignoble Race as they are more abstinent in eating so they drink not any thing that inebriates At night they entertain'd us a good while with Balls or Dancing after their mode accompany'd with singing not unpleasant to behold for they consist of a numerous company of Women all well cloth'd and adorn'd with Gold Jewels and Tresses of several fashions who sing and snap their wooden instruments They begin all their Balls slowly and by degrees growing to a heat at last end with furious and quick motions which appear well enough Amongst their other Dances two pleas'd me well one in which they continually repeated these words and another wherein they represented a Battel and the actions of slaughter in the conclusion the Master of the Ball who directs all and was one of those that brought them dancing in the midst of them with a naked Ponyard wherewith he represented the actions of slaughter as the Women did with their short sticks But the end of this shew was more ridiculous For when they were dismiss'd they not onely were not contented with the largess of the Ambassador although I added as much of my own to it but went away ill satisfi'd testifying the same by cholerick yellings which to me was a new Comedy November the sixteenth I was told that the above-mention'd Woman who had resolv'd to burn her self for her Husband's death was to dye this Evening But upon further enquiry at the Womans House I understood that it would not be till after a few dayes more and there I saw her sitting in a Court or Yard and other persons beating Drums about her She was cloth'd all in white and deck'd with many Neck-laces Bracelets and other ornaments of Gold on her Head she had a Garland of Flowers spreading forth like the rayes of the Sun in brief she was wholly in a Nuptial Dress and held a Lemon in her Hand which is the usual Ceremony She seem'd to be pleasant enough talking and laughing in conversation as a Bride would do in our Countries She and those with her took notice of my standing there to behold her and conjecturing by my strange Habit what the meaning of it was some of them came towards me I told them by an Interpreter that I was a Person of a very remote Country where we had heard by Fame that some Women in India love their Husbands so vehemently as when they dye to resolve to dye with them and that now having intelligence that this Woman was such a one I was come to see her that so I might relate in my own Country that I had seen such a thing with my own Eyes These people were well pleas'd with my coming and she her self having heard what I said rose up from her seat and came to speak to me We discours'd together standing for a good while She told me that her Name was Giaccamà of the Race Terlengà that her Husband was a Drummer whence I wonder'd the more seeing Heroical Actions as this undoubtedly ought to be judg'd are very rare in people of low quality That it was about nineteen dayes since her Husband's death that he had left two other Wives elder then she and whom he had married before her both which were present at this discourse yet neither of them was willing to dye but alledg'd for excuse that they had many Children This argument gave me occasion to ask Giaccamà who shew'd me a little Son of her own about six or seven years old besides an other Daughter she had how she could perswade her self to leave her own little Children And told her that she ought likewise to live rather then to abandon them at that Age. She answer'd me that she left them well recommended to the care of an Uncle of hers there present who also talk'd with us very cheerfully as if rejoycing that his Kins-woman would do such an action and that her Husbands other two remaining Wives would also take care of them I insisted much upon the tender
Age of her Children to avert her from her purpose by moving her to compassion for them well knowing that no argument is more prevalent with Mothers then their Love and Affection towards their Children But all my speaking was in vain and she still answer'd me to all my Reasons with a Countenance not onely undismay'd and constant but even cheerful and spoke in a such manner as shew'd that she had not the least fear of death She told me also upon my asking her that she did this of her own accord was at her own liberty not forc'd nor perswaded by any one Whereupon I inquiring Whether force were at any time us'd in this matter they told me that ordinarily it was not but onely sometimes amongst Persons of quality when some Widow was left young handsome and so in danger of marrying again which amongst them is very ignominious or committing a worse fault in such Cases the Friends of the deceas'd Husband were very strict and would constrain her to burn her self even against her own will for preventing the disorders possible to happen in case she should live a barbarous indeed and too cruel Law However that neither force nor perswasion was us'd to Giaccamà that she did it of her own free will in which as of a magnanimous action as indeed it was and amongst them of great honor both her Relations and her self much glory'd I ask'd concerning the Ornaments and Flowers she wore and they told me that such was the Custom in token of the Masti's joy they call the Woman who intends to burn her self for the death of her Husband Masti in that she was very shortly to go to him and therefore had reason to rejoyce whereas such Widows as will not dye remain in continual sadness and lamentations shave their Heads and live in perpetual mourning for the death of their Husbands At last Giaccamà caus'd one to tell me that she accounted my coming to see her a great good fortune and held her self much honour'd as well by my visit and presence as the Fame which I should carry of her to my own Country and that before she dy'd she would come to visit me at my House and also to ask me as their custom is that I would favour her with some thing by way of Alms towards the buying of fewel for the fire wherewith she was to be burnt I answer'd her that I should much esteem her visit and very willingly give her some thing not for wood and fire wherein to burn her self for her death much displeas'd me and I would gladly have disswaded her from it if I could but to do something else therewith what her self most lik'd and that I promis'd her that so far as my weak pen could contribute her Name should remain immortal in the World Thus I took leave of her more sad for her death then her self cursing the custom of India which is so unmerciful to Women Giaccamà was a Woman of about thirty years of age of a Complexion very brown for an Indian and almost black but of a good aspect tall of stature well shap'd and proportion'd My Muse could not forbear from chanting her in a Sonnet which I made upon her death and reserve among my Poetical Papers The same Evening Lights being set up in all the Temples and the usual Musick of Drums and Pipes sounding I saw in one Temple which was none of the greatest a Minister or Priest dance before the Idol all naked saving that he had a small piece of Linnen over his Privities as many of them continually go he had a drawn Sword in his Hand which he flourish'd as if he had been fencing but his motions were nothing but lascivious gestures And indeed the greatest part of their Worship of their Gods consists in nothing but Musick Songs Dances not not onely pleasant but lascivious and in serving their Idols as if they were living Persons namely in presenting to them things to eat washing them perfuming them giving them Betlè-leavs dying them with Sanders carrying them abroad in Procession and such other things as the Country-people account delights and observances In rehearsing Prayers I think they are little employ'd and as little in Learning I once ask'd an old Priest who was held more knowing then others grey and clad all in white carrying a staff like a Shep-herds crook in his Hand What Books he had read and what he had studied Adding that my self delighted in reading and that if he would speak to me about any thing I would answer him He told me that all Books were made onely that Men might by means thereof know God and God being known to what purpose were Books as if he knew God very well I reply'd that all thought they knew God but yet few knew him aright and therefore he should beware that himself were not one of those November the seventeenth By Letters brought from Barcelòr with News from Goa we heard that the Prince of England was gone incognito into Spain to accomplish his Marriage with the Infanta and that his arrival being known and the King having seen him preparations were making for his publick Reception That the Fleet was not yet arriv'd at Goa except one Galeon and that the News from Ormuz was that Ruy Freyra was landed in that Island and having entrench'd himself under the Fort held the same besieg'd with that small Armado he had with him Whence 't was hop'd that great supplies being to be sent to him from Goa and the enmity of the English ceasing in consideration of the Marriage between the two Crowns and consequently their assistance of the Persians Ormùz would shortly be recover'd and indeed in respect of the above-said circumstances I account it no hard matter November the twentieth In the Evening either because it was the next night after Monday or that 't was their weekly custom or perhaps for some extraordinary solemnity Tapers were lighted up in all the Temples of Ikkeri a great noise was made with Drums and Pipes together with the Dancings of the Ministers of some Temples before the Gates as is above described Wherefore I went to the great Temple where being the principal I thought to see the greatest and most solemn Ceremonies After the people were call'd together by the sounding of several Trumpets a good while without the Temple they began to make the usual Procession within the Yard or Inclosure with many noises of their barbarous instruments as they are wont to do here every Evening Which after they had done as often as they pleas'd they went forth into the street where much people expected them carrying two Idols in Procession both in one Palanchino one at each end small and so deck'd with Flowers and other Ornaments that I could scarce know what they were Yet I think that in the back-end was Agorescuèr to whom the Temple is dedicated and the other Parveti or some other Wife of his First march'd the Trumpets
Relion yet all agreed in the story and in all the circumstances thereof Now for the disposition of that King it ever seemed unto me to be composed of extreams for sometimes he was barbarously cruel andat other times he would seem to be exceeding fair and gentle For his cruelties he put one of his women to a miserable death one of his women he had formerly touched and kept Company withall but now she was superannuated for neither himself nor Nobles as they say come near their wives or women after they exceed the age of thirty years though they keep them and allow them some maintenance The fault of that woman this the Mogol upon a time found her one of his Eunuchs kissing one another and for this very thing the King presently gave command that a round hole should be made in the earth and that her body should be put into that hole where she should stand with her head only above ground and the earth to be put in again unto her close round about her that so she might stand in the parching Sun till the extream hot beams thereof did kill her in which torment she lived one whole day and the night following and almost till the next noon crying out most lamentably while she was able to speak in her language as the Shunamits Child did in his 2 King 4. Ah my head my head Which horrid execution or rather murder was acted near our house where the Eunuch by the command of the said King was brought very near the place where this poor Creature was thus buried alive and there in her sight cut all into pieces That great King would be often overcome by Wine yet as if he meant to appropriate that sin to himself would punish others with very much severity who were thus distempered Sometimes for little or no faults the Mogol would cause men to be most severely whipt till they were almost ready to die under the rod which after they must kiss in thankfulness He caused one of his servants of the higher rank to be very much whipt for breaking a China-Cup he was commanded to keep safe and then sent him into China which is a marvellous distance from thence to buy another Sometimes in other of his mad distempers he would condemn men to servitude or dismember or else put them to death as sacrifices to his will and passion not Justice So that it might be said of him quando male nemo pejus that when he did wickedly none could do worse as if it had been true of him which was spoken of that monster Nero observed before who was called Lutum sanguine maceratum Dirt soaked in blood For his good actions he did relieve continually many poor people and not seldom would shew many expressions of duty and strong affection to his Mother then living so that he who esteemed the whole-world as his Vassals would help to carry her in a Palankee upon his shoulders The Mogol would often visit the Cells of those he esteemed religious men whose Persons he esteemed sacred as if they had been Demigods And he would speak most respectively of our blessed Saviour Christ but his Parentage his poverty and his cross did so confound his thoughts that he knew not what to think of them Lastly the Mogol is very free and noble unto all those which fall into and abide in his affection which brings me now to speak SECTION XXVI Of the exceeding great Pensions the Mogol gives unto his Subjects how they are raised and how long they are continued c. WHich great revenues that many of them do enjoy makes them to live like great Princes rather than other men Now for those Pensions which are so exceeding great the Mogol in his far extended Monarchy allows yearly pay for one Million of Horse and for every Horse and Man about eighteen pounds sterling per annum which is exactly paid every year raised from Land and other Commodities which that Empire affords and appointed for that purpose Now some of the Mogol's most beloved Nobles have the pay of six thousand horse and there are others at the least twenty in his Empire which have the pay of 5000 horse exceeding large Pensions above the revenue of any other Subjects in the whole World they amounting unto more than one hundred thousand pounds yearly unto a particular man Now others have the pay of four thousand horse others of three or two or one thousand horse and so downward and these by their proportions are appointed to have horses always in readiness well mann'd and otherwise appointed for the Kings service so that he who hath the pay of five or six thousand must always have one thousand in readiness or more according to the Kings need of them and so in proportion all the rest which enables them on a sudden to make up the number at the least of two hundred thousand horse of which number they have always at hand one hundred thousand to wait upon the King wheresoever he is There are very many private men in Cities and Towns who are Merchants or Trades-men that are very rich but it is not safe for them that are so so to appear lest that they should be used as fill'd Sponges But there is never a Subject in that Empire who hath Land of inheritance which he may call his own but they are all Tenants at the will of their King having no other title to that they enjoy besides the Kings favour which is by far more easily lost than gotten It is true that the King advanceth many there unto many great honours and allows them as before marvellous great revenues but no Son there enjoys either the Titles or Means of his Father that hath had Pensions from that King for the King takes possession of all when they are dead appointing their Children some competent means for their subsistence which they shall not exceed if they fall not into the Kings affection as their Fathers did wherefore many great men in this Empire live up to the height of their means and therefore have a very numerous train a very great retinue to attend upon them which makes them to appear like Princes rather than Subjects Yet this their necessary dependance on their King binds them unto such base subjection as that they will yield with readiness unto any of his unreasonable and willful commands As Plutarch writes of the Souldiers of Scipio Nullus est horum qui non conscensa turri semet in mare praecipaturus sit si jussero There was never a one in his Army by his own report that would not for a word of his mouth have gone up into a Tower and cast himself thence head-long into the Sea and thus the people here will do any thing the King commands them to do so that if he bid the Father to lay hands of violence upon his Son or the Son upon his Father they will do it rather than the will
of the King should be disobeyed Thus forgetting Nature rather than Subjection And this tye of theirs I say upon the Kings favour makes all his Subjects most servile flatterers for they will commend any of his actions though they be nothing but cruelty so any of his speeches though nothing but folly And when the King sits and speaks to any of his people publickly there is not a word falls from him that is not written by some Scriveners or Scribes that stand round about him In the year 1618. when we lived at that Court there appeared at once in the moneth of November in their Hemisphear two great Blazing-stars the one of them North the other South which unusual sight appeared there for the space of one moneth One of those strange Comets in the North appeared like a long blazing-torch or Launce fired at the upper end the other in the South was round like a pot boiling out fire The Mogol consulted with his flattering Astrologers who spake of these Comets unto the King as Daniel sometimes did of Nebuchadnezzars dream Dan. 4. 19. My Lord the dream is to them that hate thee and the interpretation thereof unto thine enemies For his Astrologers told him that he needed not trouble himself with the thought thereof for it concerned other places and people not him nor his But not long after this their season of Rain before spoken of which was never known to fail till then failed them and this caused such a famine and mortality in the South parts of his Empire that it did very much unpeople it and in the Northern part thereof whither the Mogol then repaired his third Son Sultan Caroom raised and kept together very great forces and stood upon his guard and would not disband till his Father had delivered his eldest Son Sultan Coobseroo into his hands And how when he had him in his power he used him you shall after hear In the mean time take one admirable example of a very gross flatterer but a great Favorite of that King who was noted above others of that Nation to be a great neglecter of God believing it Religion enough to please the Mogol his Master This man was a Souldier of an approved valour But upon a time he sitting in dalliance with one of his women she pluckt an hair from his breast which grew about his Nipple in wantonness without the least thought of doing him hurt But the little wound that small and unparalle'd instrument of death made presently began to fester and in short time after became a Canker incurable in fine when he saw that he must needs dye he uttered these words which are worth the remembring of all that shall ever hear them saying Who would not have thought but that I who have been so long bred a Souldier should have dyed in the face of mine Enemy either by a Sword or a Launce or an Arrow or a Bullet or by some such instrument of death But now though too late I am forc'd to confess that there is a great God above whose Majesty I have ever despised that needs no bigger Launce than an hair to kill an Atheist or a despiser of his Majesty And so desiring that those his last words might be told unto the King his Master he died The Mogol never advanceth any but he gives him a new name and theis of some pretty signification as Pharoah did unto Ioseph when he made him great in his Court Gen. 41. 45. The new names I say that the Mogol gives unto those he advances and favours are significant As Asaph Chan The gathering or rich Lord whose Sister the Mogol married and she was his most beloved Wife and her Brothers marvellous great riches answered his name for he died worth many Millions as I have been credibly informed the greatest Subject I believe for wealth that ever the World had So another of the Mogols Grandees was called Mahobet-Chan The beloved Lord. Another Chan-Iahan The Lord of my heart Another Chan-Allaam The Lord of the World Another Chan-Channa The Lord of Lords He called his chief Physician Mocrob-Chan The Lord of my health and many other names like these his Grandees had which at my being there belonged to his most numerous Court And further for their Titles of honour there all the Kings Children are called Sultans or Princes his Daughters Sultana's or Princesses the next title is Nabob equivalent to a Duke the next Channa a double Lord or Earl the next Chan a Lord. So Meirsa signifies a Knight that hath been a General or Commander in the Wars Umbra a Captain Hadde a Cavalier or Souldier on horse-back who have all allowed them means by the King as before proportionable for the supports of their Honours and Titles and Names His Officers of State are his Treasurers which receive his revenues in his several Provinces and take care for the payment of his great Pensions which when they are due are paid without any delay There his chief Eunuchs which command the rest of them take care for the ordering of his House and are Stewards and Controulers of it his Secretaries the Masters of his Elephants and the Masters of his Tents are other of his great Officers and so are the keepers of his Ward-robe who are entrusted with his Plate and Jewels To these I may add those which take care of his Customs for Goods brought into his Empire as for commodities carried thence But these are not many because his Sea-ports are but few The Customs paid in his Ports are not high that strangers of all Nations may have the greater encouragement to Trade there with him But as he expects money from all strangers that Trade there So it is a fault he will not pardon as before for any to carry any quantity of silver thence He hath other Officers that spread over his Empire to exact monies out of all the labours of that people who make the curious manufactures So that like a great Tree he receives nourishment from every even the least Roots that grow under his shadow and therefore though his Pensions are exceeding great as before they are nothing comparable to his much greater revenues By reason of that Countries immoderate heat our English-cloath is not fit to make Habits for that people that of it which is sold there is most of it for colour Red and this they imploy for the most part to make coverings for their Elephants and Horses and to cover their Coaches the King himself taking a very great part thereof whose payments are very good only the Merchant must get the hands of some of his chief Officers to his Bill appointed for such dispatches which are obtained as soon as desired And this the King doth to prevent the abuses of particular and single persons And now that I may present my Reader with the further glory of this great King I shall lead him where he may take a view SECTION XXVII Of the Mogols Leskar or Camp
Royal c. WHich indeed is very glorious as all must confess who have seen the infinite number of Tents or Pavilions there pitched together which in a Plain make a shew equal to a most spacious and glorious City These Tents I say when they are altogether cover such a great quantity of ground that I believe it is five English-miles at the least from one side of them to the other very beautiful to behold from some Hill where they may be all seen at once They write of Xerxes that when from such a place he took a view of his very numerous Army consisting at the least of three hundred thousand men he wept saying that in less than the compass of one hundred years not one of that great mighty Host would be alive And to see such a company then together of all sorts of people and I shall give a good reason presently why I believe that mixt company of men women and children may make up such an huge number as before I named if not exceed it and to consider that death will seize upon them all within such a space of time and that the second death hath such a power over them is a thing of more sad consideration Now to make it appear that the number of people of all sorts is so exceeding great which here get and keep together in the Mogols Leskar or Camp Royal first there are one hundred thousand Souldiers which always wait about that King as before observed and all his Grandees have a very great train of followers and servants to attend them there and so have all other men according to their several qualities and all these carry their Wives and Childern and whole family with them which must needs amount to a very exceeding great number And further to demonstrate this when that King removes from one place to another for the space of twelve hours a broad passage is continually fill'd with Passengers and Elephants and Horses and Dromedaries and Camels and Coaches and Asses and Oxen on which the meaner sort of men and women with little children ride so full as they may well pass one by the other Now in such a broad passage and in such a long time a very great number of people the company continually moving on forward may pass Thus this people moving on from place to place it may be said of them what Salvian speaks of Israel while they were in their journy to the land of promise that it was Ambulans Respublica a walking Commonwealth And therefore that ancient people of God were called Hebrews which signified Passengers their dwelling so in Tents signified thus much to all the people of God in all succeeding ages that here they dwell in moveable habitations having no continuing City here but they must look for one and that is above The Tents pitch'd in that Leskar or Camp Royal are for the most part white like the cloathing of those which own them But the Mogols Tents are red reared up upon poles higher by much than the other They are placed in the middest of the Camp where they take up a very large compass of ground and may be seen every way and they must needs be very great to afford room in them for himself his Wives Children Women Eunuchs c. In the fore-front or outward part or Court within his Tent there is a very large room for access to him 'twixt seven and nine of the clock at night which as before is called his Goozulcad His Tents are encompassed round with Canats which are like our Screens to fold up together those Canats are about ten foot high made of narrow strong Callico and lined with the same stiffened at every breadth with a Cane but they are strongest lined on their out-side by a very great company of arm'd Souldiers that keep close about them night and day The Tents of his great Men are likewise large placed round about his All of them throughout the whole Leskar reared up in such a due and constant order that when we remove from place to place we can go as directly to those moveable dwellings as if we continued still in fixed and standing habitations taking our direction from several streets and Bazars or Market places every one pitched upon every remove alike upon such or such a side of the Kings Tents as if they had not been at all removed The Mogol which I should have observed before hath so much wealth and consequently so much power by reason of his marvellous great multitudes of fighting men which he always keeps in Arms commanding at all times as many of them as he pleaseth that as the Moabites truly said of Israel while they had Almighty God fighting with them and for them so it may be said of him if God restrain him not That his huge Companies are able to lickup all that are round about him as the Oxe licketh up the grass of the field Numb 22. 4. When that mighty King removes from one place to another he causeth Drums to be beat about midnight which is a signal token of his removing He removes not far at one time sometimes ten miles but usually a less distance according to the best convenience he may have for water there being such an infinite company of Men and other Creatures whose drink is water that in a little time it may be as truely said of them as it was of that mighty Host of Sennacherib that Assyrian Monarch Esay 37. 25. That they are able to drink up Rivers But when the place he removed to afforded plenty of good water he would usually stay there three or four days or more and when he thus rested in his Progress would go abroad to find out pastimes to which end he always carried with him divers kinds of Hawks and Dogs and Leopards which as before they train up to hunt withall and being thus provided for variety of sports would fly at any thing in the Air or seize on any Creature he desired to take on the Earth The Mogol when he was at Mandoa which was invironed with great Woods as before was observed sometimes with some of his Grandees and a very great company beside of Persian and Tartarian horse-men his Souldiers which are stout daring men would attempt to take some young wild Elephants found in these Woods which he took in strong toyls made for that purpose which taken were mann'd and made fit for his service In which hunting they likewise pursued on horse-back Lions and other wild beasts and kill'd some of them with their Bows and Carbines and Launces I waiting upon my Lord Embassadour two years and part of a third and travelling with him in Progress with that King in the most temperate moneths there 'twixt September and April were in one of our Progresses 'twixt Mandoa and Amadavar nineteen days making but short journeys in a Wilderness where by a very great company sent before us to make those passages
and places fit to receive us a way was cut out and made even broad enough for our convenient passage and in the places where we pitched our Tents a great compass of ground rid and made plain for them by grubbing a number of Trees and Bushes yet there we went as readily to our Tents the same order being still observed in the pitching of them as we did when they were set up in the Plains But that which here seemed unto me to be most strange was that notwithstanding our marvellous great company of men women and children there together that must all be fed and the very great number of other creatures which did eat Corn as we never there wanted water so we had so many Victuallers with us and so much Provision continually brought in unto us that we never felt there the want of any thing beside but had it at as low rates as in other places The Mogols Wives and Women when as they are removed from place to place are carried in Coaches such as were before described made up close or in Palankees on mens shoulders or else on Elephants in pretty Receptacles surrounded with curtains which stand up like low and little Turrets on their backs and some of the meaner sort ride in Cradles hanging on the sides of Dromedaries all covered close and attended by Eunuchs who have many Souldiers which go before them to clear the way as they pass they taking it very ill if any though they cannot see them presume so much as to look towards them and therefore though I could never see any of them I shall here take the liberty to speak somewhat I have heard and do believe SECTION XXVIII Of the Mogols Wives and Women where somthing of his Children c. WHom I conceive to be Women of good feature though for their colour very swart which that people may call Beauty it being the complexion of them all as the Crow thinks his bird fairest but as before I never observed any crooked or deform'd person of either sex amongst them For the honesty of those great Mens Wives and Women there is such a quick eye of jealousie continually over them that they are made so by force though as they say they are never much regarded by those great ones after the very first and prime of their youth is past For that great Monarch the Mogol in the choice of his Wives and Women he was guided more by his eye and phansie than by any respect had to his Honour for he took not the Daughters of neighbouring Princes but of his own Subjects and there preferr'd that which he looked upon as beauty before any thing else He was married to four Wives and had Concubines and Women beside all which were at his command enough to make up their number a full thousand as they there confidently affirm'd And that he might raise up his beastly and unnatural lusts even to the very height he kept boyes as before c. His most beloved Wife when I lived at his Court he called Noor-Mahal which signified The Light of the Court and to the other of his Wives and Women which he most loved he gave new Names unto them and such Names as he most fancied For his Wife I first named he took her out of the dust from a very mean Family but however she made such a through Conquest on his Affections that she engrossed almost all his Love did what she pleased in the Government of that Empire where she advanced her Brother Asaph-Chan and other her nearest Relations to the greatest places of Command and Honour and Profit in that vast Monarchy Her Brother Asaph-Chan was presently made one of the Stars of the first Magnitude that shined in that Indian Court and when he had once gotten so kept the Mogol's Favour by the assistance of his Sister Noor-Mahal that by the Pensions given and many Offices bestowed on him he heaped up a mass of Treasure above all belief as before and married his Daughter unto Sultan Caroom who is now King The Mogol of all his so many Wives and Concubines had but six Children five Sons and one Daughter The Names he gave his Children and others were Names that proceeded from Counsel as he imagined rather than Chance His eldest Son was called Sultan Coobsurroo which signified the Prince with the good Face his Person and Beauty answered his Name for he was a Prince of a very lovely presence His second Son he called Sultan Perum Prince of the Pleiades or of the sweet influences of the Pleiades His third Son now King though that great dignity was never intended to him by his Father was called Sultan Caroom or The Prince of Bounty His fourth Sultan Shahar or The Prince of Fame His fifth and last Son was called by him Sultan Tauct Tauct in the Persian Tongue signifies a Throne and he was named so by the King his Father because the first hour he sat peaceably on his Throne there was News brought him of that Sons Birth Yet the first Son of that King which he hath by any of his married Wives by Prerogative of Birth inherits that Empire the eldest Son of every Man as before is called there the great Brother And he that inherits that Monarchy doth not openly slaughter his younger Brothers as the Turks do yet it is observed that few younger Brothers of those Indostan Kings have long survived their Fathers Yet notwithstanding that long continued custom there for the eldest Son to succeed the Father in that great Empire Achabar Sha Father of that late King upon high and just displeasure taken against his Son for climbing up unto the bed of Anarkelee his Fathers most beloved Wife whose name signified the Kernel of a Pomegranate and for other base actions of his which stirred up his Fathers high displeasure against him resolved to break that ancient custom and therefore often in his life time protested that not he but his Grand-childâ— Sultan Coobsurroo whom he alwayes kept in his Court should succeed him in that Empire And now by the way the manner of that Achabar Sha his death as they report it in India is worthy observation That wicked King was wont often to give unto some of his Nobles whom upon secret displeasure he meant to destroy Pills prepared with Poyson that should presently put them into incurable diseases But the last time he went about to practise that bloody Treachery he dyed himself by his own instrument of death for then having two Pills in his Hand the one very like the other the one Cordial for himself the other Corrosive for one of his Grandees he meant to purge and flattering him with many proffers of Courtesie before he gave him the Pill that he might swallow it down the better at last having held them both in the palm of his Hand long by a mistake took the poysoned Pill himself and gave him the other which Pill put the King immediately