Ship would not touch there by which means over and above he took in a great many Passengers and Lading for India Being thus disappointed we soon weighed Anchor and steered away South South east with a very gentle Wind but were soon becalmed for many Hours then sprung up an Easterly Wind and we stood away to the South and soon had the Isle of Rischer on our Larboard which is very near the main Land and makes a little Port called Bender-Rischer which is guarded by a Fort and standing away we came up with the Island of Coucher and left it on our Larboard this Island is large and indifferent Fruitful and so Sailing on passed Cape Verdestan at 3 or 4 Leagues distance and as we Sailed we had often a faint view of the main Land of Persia especially where it lay high and Mountainous but before we came to the Island of Lar we lost our Long-Boat which was a great disappointment to us Lar is a little Desart Island bearing nothing but a few Trees at the West North-west end of it we passed by this and the next that presented was Andravia a little low Island near the main Land and passing by we had Kies another Island to the South-West it is indifferently Inhabited the Houses lying up and down in it but Coasting Paloro and leaving Mount Sennas on the Main Land to the Larboard we made Congo a little Town in the Kingdom of Persia 27 Degrees 15 Minutes North Latitude it stands on the Sea-side near the Foot of a black Rock that shelter the Town from the North Winds and behind there is a white Rock or Hill and many such along the Coast The Town lies from West North-west to East South-east and is defended by a little Castle where 3 pieces of Cannon are mounted and has a safe Road for Shipping to Ride in though they are very much tossed in high Winds about it are 5 Gardens replenished with Fruit-Trees as Figs Lemons Quinces Oranges Pears c. Large Pomgranates Mellons and Palm-Trees there are also the Indian Mangoes they have Schiras-Wine and Brandy made of Dates there are near it Hills producing Sulphur which is dug and transported to the Indies The Custom is easie half of it belonging to the King af Portugal by Agreement beside five Horses the King of Persia presents him every Year and to this end there is a Portuguese Agent residing in the Town who has the Colours of that Nation on the Tarras of his House Leaving this place after the sale of some Goods and taking in others we set Sail for Sindy being the first Town of India where the River Indus discharges it self into the Sea but here we narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the Zinganes a sort of Indian Pirates who lie with their Boats behind the Rocks to surprize Vessels as they come near them and if they board a Ship in the first fury till they have mastered and secured the Prize they put all to the Sword and the rest they Lame by cutting the Sinew above the Heel and make them Slaves to keep their Cattle they so use them to prevent their running away Their Arms are only Swords and Arrows therefore our watchfulness and the fire of our great Guns made them retire again among the Rocks so soon as they prepared to attack us But having little to do here we set Sail for Surat having now on Board us by taking in many Passengers 116 Souls and passing many small Islands and some Promontories came to Queschimo a large low Island so that Sailing by it one may see the Mountains of the main Land over it it lies from East to West 20 Leagues in length but indifferent in breadth There is a Fort where Ships Anchor at 6 Fathom Water and this formerly belonged to the Portuguese On the South East of it lies Nabdgion or Pilombo a little low Desart Island and East of it Tonbo affording little beside Antelopes and Coneys but Ships have here the Advantage of many Wells to Water at yet the entrance is dangerous because of the Banks that lie under Water about it the Portuguese were once Masters of most of these Islands and exacted Tribute from Ships that Traded there but their Strength and Riches decaying at Home weakned it abroad so that now they have lost most of their footing on the Coast of Persia and the Indies Sailing from hence in a little time we had the Isle of Angom to the North east and on the South-east a Port of Arabia Foelix called Julfer to which many Indian Barks come to buy Dates and Pearl the latter being fished all along the Coast from Mascat to Babrem and bring European Money to purchase them The next that stood with us were the Isles of Salame these are four Rocks over-against Cape Mosandon one of them bigger than the rest rising a little into a point there is a dangerous Chanel passing between them all Rock at the bottom so that many adventuring to pass it have been cast away Having passed these we met with great storms of Hail accompanied with prodigious Thunders and Lightning insomuch that the Sea seemed to be all on Fire This made us furl our Sails and though the Air on Head of us was as dark as Night there appeared a Rainbow on our Starboard Upon the breaking of this Storm prodigious Spouts began to rise out of the Sea to our Larboard and at length encreased almost on all sides of us some being very near which put us into a considerable fright least falling on our Ship they should sink it they being extraordinary large insomuch that all affirmed they had not seen the like in their Lives so that all Hands were employed to secure the Ship as well as might be from the threatning danger for we as good as gave our selves to be lost however trusting in the Creator of all things and taking to my self more Courage than ordinary I took a view of these watery Prodigies The first that appeared was about a Musket-shot from us as we were steering North-east and before it rose the Water in that place boiled up prodigiously more than a Foot above the surface of the Sea foaming and looking whitish and over it something representing a black Smoak which the Banians foolishly said was the Devil sucking up Water to drown them This made a hurrying noise like a Torrent running in a Valley mixed with a hissing like that of Serpents or Gees A little after appeared a dark puff of steem this seemed to be a Pipe as big as ones Finger the noise continuing this tapered as it were up to the Clouds and the light put it out of our sight so that we knew that Spout was spent but then there was another to the Southward of us which began in the same manner as the former soon after another to the Westward and another to the side of the second the most remote of the three and all these appeared like so many
Privy or Supream Council of the Learned Mandarins in his Pallace who are called his Council of State which is the most Honourable Dignity in the Kingdom these consult and transact all the weighty Affairs and these have several Magnificent Halls in the Pallace wherein they meet to consult according to their Degrees and when he advances any one to this Dignity he adds to his Name the Name of one of these Halls Besides these there are 11 other Tribunals of Mandarins 6 for Ecclesiastical and Civil and 5 for Military Affairs The first of these are called Lo-pu and the last V-fu and these are of ancient Institution the Chineses dating it 2000 Years before the Birth of Christ and to these Tribunals People repair for the determining their Affairs and for Redress besides they dispose of Offices and Trusts and confirm Honour and Dignities Their Power is great for they have a jurisdiction almost over all that belongs to the Court and it is absolute over all the Provinces so that they are much feared and dreaded because they can place and displace at pleasure and examine into all Frauds and Abuses to the Crown and into Ecclesiastical matters They are fearful of doing any injustice by reason there is a Mandarin in the nature of a Controller or Overseer to every Tribunal who examins publickly or privately all that is done and if he finds any injustice or disorder he is bound to make the King acquainted with it he is called Coli so that seldom any Corruptness or Partiality is found amongst them and if it be the Offender is severely punished There are some other dependent Tribunals in Pekim and to every one of the Provinces there belongs a Supream Tribunal which has the oversight of inferiour Courts so that business is managed and dispatched with little difficulty They have made prodigeous Works in this Country to secure the Rivers within their bounds yet notwithstanding sometimes encreased by the violent Rains they break out to the destruction of vast numbers of People Cattle and Houses as it happened in the Year 1668 after violent Rains which almost destroyed the new City of Pekim and they had much ado to secure the Flood from overturning the Walls of the old City and in this Deluge which was accompanied by an Earthquake for it had a long time before been a very dry Season near a Million of People perished and though many got upon Trees Hills and Out Houses they were there starved for the most part for want of Boats to fetch them off and the rapid Flood tumbling Rocks along with it broke down two Arches of the Famous Bridge which is about a Furlong over This Bridge is the most beautiful in China but not the largest the River overflowing is called Hoen Ho or the Muddy River because the rapidness of its Stream carries with it a great quantity of Earth tore from the Banks and Windings which renders it muddy all the Year but it is little Navigable by reason of the many Cataracts or Falls in it yet for bringing vast Stores to Pekim from the Southern Provinces a Canal is opened 3500 Chinese Furlongs through several Provinces accommodated with 72 Sluces every one having large Folding-Gates and these are only open in the day time some of them being very difficult to pass with Barks of great Burthen because the Falls are great but they are drawn up against the Stream by the strength of 4 or 500 Men and let down in the like manner with many Ropes fastned to them to prevent setting on the Piles or plunging and they are guided by long Poles with Iron Heads at the end The Chanel begins at Tum Cheu about 2 Leagues and an half from Pekim where there is a River with the Currant of which Vessels drive till near the Sea and then it falls into another through which Vessels Sail till they come to the Chanel and Sailing about 25 Leagues a Temple presents it self called Fuen Hui Miao or The Temple of the Spirit that divides the Water hither they Row against the Stream but when they come at the Temple they Row with the Stream for on the East-side about half a days Journey is a large Lake between high Mountains this Water swells a great River that bent its course towards the Sea on the East but they stopped up the out-let and with prodigious labour cutting through the Mountain opened a Canal by which they brought the Water to the Temple in that part they hollowed 2 other Canals one towards the South and another towards the North with so true a proportion and regular Line that the Waters coming to the middle before the Temple take leave of each other one running to the North and the other to the South in one and the same Canal which is very admirable and discharges it self into a large rapid River called the Yellow River the Water being so coloured by the yellow Earth on the Banks and Gold coloured Sand and Slime at the bottom upon this River they Sail 2 Days and then entering another Pass to another Canal running towards the City of Hoaingan and running by and through many Cities comes to Yamcheu The vast Wall of China that excludes the Tartars is no less to be looked on as a work of Wonder it runs from East to West and in length 405 Portuguese Leagues making 33 Degrees 10 Minutes reaching from the City of Cai yean Seated in the extreamity of the Country called Leao Tum to that of Canso or Can cheu Seated on the borders of the Province of Xensi in a streight Line for should the turnings and windings in the Mountains be reckon'd it would make much more it is guarded by 1327 Towers and Fortresses the Wall is 2 Fathom thick and 4 in heighth built mostly of Stone though in some places Brick appears where it is supposed to be mended or altered so that were it vigilently guarded and no Treachery which too often happens by the Captains of the Watches being bribed with part of the Plunder the Tartars would be too feeble to surmount it for upon this Wall and Frontier only there are 90254 Men kept in Arms and Pay and those that keep the Watch-Towers give the Signal of the Enemies approach by a Flag in the day time and in the Night by Fire These are but part of the King's Forces for the Auxiliaries that lie ready to march to their assistance are in a manner innumerable for the Horse only amount to 989167 and the Foot are many more their Pay yearly amounting to 5034714 Livres though they in some sort maintain themselves by their Industry and no doubt as great if not a greater number guard on the other Borders so that there are several Millions in Pay for in the Kingdom there are 2357 Fortified Places beside a great many that are Garrisoned upon almost inaccessible Mountains and Rocks that being strong by nature have no Walls In the 15 Provinces there are 332 Famous Bridges 2096
his Officers of State about him and on the Fourth is represented a Battle The other Obelisk is of Free Stone sharp pointed like a Piramid and being much worn by time has no Inscription on it to be discerned Near these stands a Brazen Piller of considerable heighth commonly called the Serpentine Column because it appears like three Serpents wreathed or twisted together their Tails fastned to the ground and at the top it has 3 gapeing Mouths and it is the common opinion that this Pillar was set up in remembrance of 3 Serpents who in Ancient times wasted the confines of the City till the Emperor Leo Haurus by Magick Art drew them into a great Ditch in the middle of the Hypyodrome who were killed by filling up the Ditch with Stones and Earth In this City there are two other Columns one called the Historical and the other the Burnt Column the latter being defaced by Fire but neither of them being much remarkable I pass them over yet adjoyning to them there is a Court where the Archers Exercise and the Turks are very exact in shooting for I see them stick their Arrows one after another in the circumference of half a Crown at 100 Paces The next thing of Note my curiosity led me to visit was Sancta Sophia the principal Mosque in the City it has several Doors that lead into a Portico that gives entrance into the Mosque which is 120 Paces in Length and 80 in breadth having square Walls but the Vault or Roof is round so Artificially contrived that the Frame is supported without Columns though there are many rows of Columns which only appear to support the weight of two Galleries yet are placed so that they prove very Ornamental being 30 on each side about 16 Foot high of hard pollished Stone however the length of Time has made many Clefts and Chinks in them The Vault of the Mosque retains much of its Ancient Beauty as being adorned with curious Mosaick Work consisting of small guilt Stones so neatly joyned that they after so many Ages remain almost perfect and at the four Corners where the Vault begins in Mosaick Work are the Figires of the four Beasts mentioned in the Apocalyps yet Turks who pretend to abhor Images have somewhat defaced them as they have the Figure of our Saviour which is over the Principal Door He is represented sitting on a Throne giving Benedict-to one that prostrates before him the Figure of the Virgin Mary appears on the Right Hand and in a Bass Relief the Holy Ghost is represented in the Figure of a Dove which they have not at all defaced There is to be seen the Tomb of the Renowned Emperor Constantine in this stately Structure in former times a Christian Church it is a Grey Stone 8 Foot long and 4 over and the Turks hold it in remembrance of that worthy Emperor of great Esteem This Mosque or Temple is paved with curious Marble covered with Mats to abate the coldness of the Stone when they prostrate themselves for the Turks are so devoutly superstitious that they put of their Barbouches or Shooes when they enter their Mosques There are also to be seen the ruins of other fine Paintings and Images partly defaced by the Turks and partly by Time Christians are not admitted here without Connivance or Bribery and those only by the Franks for if a Jew or Greek be found in the Mosque he must either die or turn Turk It was built by Justinian the Emperor on recovery of his health having vowed in his Sickness if God spared him to found one of the beautifulest Churches in the World to the honour of the Soveraign Wisdom for Sophia in the Greek signifies Wisdom and this is the only Ancient Structure of this kind in Constantinople for though there are many stately Mosques in the City they are of late building Erected by the Sultans and Sultanesses whose Names they bear as that of Solyman the Magnificent which is very Stately of Achmet Mohomet Selim with those of Chadazet and Valide new and very Beautiful by the Idea of which last you may guess at the rest it was Founded by the Sultaness Valide Mother to Mahomet the Fourth seated in the middle of a large square Court resembling a vast Cloister by reason of the Arched Roof that environs it like a Portico and under are divers Fountains with Cocks where those that are polluted wash themselves e'er they enter the Mosque it has but one Gate and that is surrounded by a Portico of extraordinary heighth paved with white and black Marble supported by 64 Pillars of Red Marble the Platform is adorned with Painting and Figures after the Turkish manner This Portico is covered with many little Domes and a very large one in the middle higher than the rest the whole Structure being very curious Work covered with Lead there are four Turrets at the four Corners of the Buidling called Minarets slender but very high with Balconies round them standing like May-poles with Cressents on the Globes and winding-Stairs just enough for the Muesans to creep up with their loud Bawlings to call the People to Prayers for they have no Bells where clapping their hands on their Ears they go round the Turret in the Balconies and when they cry their Voices are heard very far They call in their own Language which in English is to this Effect God is a great God give Testimony that there is but one God come yield your selves up to his Mercy and Pray him to forgive you your Sins God is a great God c. This Mosque is Vaulted and Adorned with a great number of Lamps and Globes of Glass and in the Globes are many curious Devices as Galleys the model of Mosques Trees Flowers Cities and the like There is a Table at the upper end where usually the High Altar stands in the Romish Churches and to this they turn their Faces when they say their Prayers over which is placed the Name of God Written in Gold Arabick Characters and over-against that are fixed two Brazen Candlesticks holding Wax Tapers of a vast bigness The Sultans or Emperors lie Buried in their Mosques their Tombs being covered with Rich Carpets which have been laid on Mahomet's Tomb at Mecha for they conclude that sanctifies them and keeps them from evil Spirits their rich Turbans are placed at the Head and if they have been Warlike their Cimiters and other Military Atchievements are fix-on or near them Divers Alcorans are chained to the Tombs and there is always one or other that has a Pension left them by the deceased Emperor to Read the Alcoran to the People that come to visit the Tomb and to Pray for his Soul Sultan Amurat has two of his Wives placed at his Head and eleven of his Children round him and at the head of the Tomb or Coffin is a convenient place where his Prayer-Books are laid up appearing through a Latten Grate adorned with Gold and precious Stones The
Keepers of the Turbe or little Chaple in the Mosque where these Bodies lie are obliged at certain hours of the day to Pray for the Souls of the deceased The Arsenal is at the end of the Port belonging to the City being a very compact Building it contains a considerable extent of Ground the Galleys are laid up there under 120 Arches the Christians are not permitted to come into it but the Turks say there are Arms for 60000 Men besides Furniture for Shipping and in the Baths many thousand Slaves are shut up who lead miserable Lives The Captain Bassa and all the Officers depending on the Admiralty have their Apartments and lodg in the Arsenal that they may be ever ready to receive Orders about the Naval concerns In this City are many Hans and Kervanserais which serve most for Warehouses being strongly built barred and guarded to prevent Imbezlement The Hans consist of four sides of building enclosing a square Court with a Fountain the Roof consists of little Domes covered with Lead and here Foreign Merchants who bring their Goods to lay up find entertainment they only contain two Stories divided into Rooms that have no intercourse one with another the lower Story consists of Warehouses for Goods and the upper divided into little Chambers where Strangers that are Travellers Lodge but they must furnish themselves with all necessaries or otherways they must want both Furniture and Provisions The Karvanserais are built after the same fashion only the Stone work reaches but to the first Story and the rest is Wood and Brick whereas the Hans have entire Stone Walls of a good thickness for their better securities against Pilferers They have each of them but one Gate and in the latter indigent Persons are permitted to Lodg from half a Crown to a Crown a Month. The next thing of Note in the City is the Seraglio which Christians and Jews are prohibited to enter except Ambassadors and some few Attendance when they have their Audience and then some crowd in with them that are not concerned or rather bribe their way but it is very dangerous for them to pass any further than the Second Court and further I could not gain access though I profered liberally and the Turks rarely refuse Money where they can oblige one for it and therefore I shall give a description as far as I could observe and something over according to the best information I could get The Seraglio is the Prince's Pallace but of very irregular building it is built on a point of Land that juts out into the Sea as I have before mentioned and surrounded with Walls of a greyish Stone adorned at top with a Parapet and Battlement suitable to the City Walls it is near 4 miles in compass but the greatest part is Gardens the Building clusters together like the ancient building of low Castles or Fortifications so that on the out side they have nothing of Magnificence except a few guilt Spires and Globes the chief Entry is near Sancta Sophia and the Gate is like that of the entrance into many Ancient Cities without either beautiful Architecture or Ornament yet the Capigy keep their Court of Guards under it and carefully watch the entrance Passing this Gate it leads into a large Court where on the right Hand is the Apartment for such as fall sick in the Seraglio with matted Sopha's along the Walls so that they are no better lodged then in Hospitals on the left Hand is a Magazine for furnishing 1000 Men that the Grand Signior's Domesticks may upon any sudden Insurrection in the City defend the Palace and the Person of their Emperor though notwithstanding this precaution several of them have been deposed by the Rabble and Soldery and come by violent Deaths as their Histories make mention at large There being little else remarkable in this Court I passed into the Second fronted with two large Porticoes on one side are the Grand Signior's Kitchens where they Dress for Him his Women and such as live at his Charge in the Seraglio and on the other side are his Stables where 100 Horses may conveniently stand and many Apartments where the Officers Lodg and this great Court is entered on Horseback by none but the Grand Signior all others alight at the Gate It is not so big as the first but consists of a Square extending 200 Paces every way there is round it a Gallery in the Form of a Cloyster supported by a great many Marble Pillars and covered with Lead and at the back of that there are Domes ranging from one end of the Court to the other covered with Lead as the former and on the right Hand where the Kitchins are the Stables I mentioned being towards the Sea The Janisaries draw up in this Court to the right Hand and the Horse to the Left in the middle there is a delicate Fountain shaded with Cypress and Scycamore Trees and heretofore near this Fountain the Grand Signiors caused the Heads of the Bassa's and other great Men of the Court that displeased them to be cut off as a Terror to others for the Government is Despotical and the Lives of the Subjects are at the disposal of the Prince On the left Hand at the end of the Court is a Hall where the Divan or Council of State sits and on the Right a Door which gives entry into that and is more properly called the Seraglio and none but those who have particular Orders can pass it Very near this Seraglio within the same enclosure is another building Founded by Constantine the Great and intended a Pallace but now it is called the Old Seraglio having many additional Buildings yet not fair on the out side though these and the other have costly Gildings and Paintings within the Turks in general having little regard what out side show their Houses make so they appear Sumptuous and Magnificent within It is surrounded with Walls of an unusual heighth without any Windows on the out side the better to prevent the Women from being seen and here the Reigning Sultan shuts up the Wives of his Predecessors whom he Sequesters from the World except he likes any of them himself or pleases to bestow them on the great Men of his Empire for their signal Services otherwise this is a kind of a Nunnery for Life There is yet a Third Apartment properly called a Seraglio joyning close to that of the Grand Signior so that he can pass to it by Galleries privately when he has a mind to divert himself there What more I could gather by sight at a distance is that this place which is so much talked of as the Pallace of the greatest Emperor in the World especially as to largeness of Territories gives but an inconsiderable Prospect and one at a distance can form nothing regular in it it looking like a confused Mass of Building in Apartments and Domes The Grand Signior has here his Officers who have a great many under them most
part of them are Eunuchs Blacks of Aethiopia and others that are most comely of their kind they formerly were only Gelt but it is said that Sultan Solyman one day seeing a Gelding back a Mare and perform as he supposed the office of a Stallion came Home and caused them all to be smoothed by the Belly to prevent their dabling with his Women of which Wound a great number died and now they make Water through a Silver Pipe which they put into the orrifice of the Root of their Yard to prevent polluting themselves by scattering their Urine on their Vestments for then till they have Absolution they think they are unclean as I shall shew hereafter and now they cut off the Genitals of Children they buy or have as Tribute upon the Borders of Aethiopia and other Negro Countries and though many die under this usage for it is not done till they are 8 or 10 years old that they may see whether they are Docil or Ingenious yet they have enough to serve in all the Seraglio's in Europe and Asia for there are others belonging to the Grand Signior beside those at Constantinople and many to the Bassa's and Governors of Provinces in divers Countries and these are so Jealous or rather Envious which makes them to watch over the Women so narrowly that they are rarely too cunning for them they are lodged in a separate Apartment together and the single Testimony of one of them against the greatest Subject in the Empire costs the party his Life nay a bare Sollicitation or too near a View without any Act is sufficient for a Strangling as for Example Sultan Amurat used a Prospective Glass to discover the Actions of those that were in the City and by that means espying a Man at a Window with the like Prospective taking a view of one of his Sultana's walking in the Garden of the Seraglio he thereupon sent a Capigi with 4 Mutes who entered the House and immediately Strangled the over curious unfortunate These Eunuchs have in a manner the sole Government of the Seraglio but particularly of the Women and when the Sultana's take the Air in the Garden the Bostangis or Gardeners stand round the Walls holding Staves with long and broad pieces of Cloth fastned to them which makes them as though they were Blind and is much higher than the Garden Wall to which their Backs are turned it being Death to look if any of the Eunuchs percieve it and complain of it and this Jealousie proceeds so far that no Boat is suffered to come within 400 Paces of the Garden-Wall though it is very high if the Sultana's be walking there and if any persume it there are Sentinels advantageously placed to Fire at them so that those who have business by Water are constrained to fetch a great compass about But notwithstanding this Jealousie which in a great or less Degree reigns all over the Empire the Turks esteem Women as very inconsiderable Creatures without Souls denying that they go to Heaven That they were only made to serve for the use of Man and be obedient to him and their main end was designed for Generation otherwise unless to satisfie their Lusts they esteem them scarce Rational and little better then Beasts In a word these of Quality are but splendid Slaves and the meaner sort miserable ones The Eunuchs have the Charge of bringing up the Grand Signior's Pages called Iâ—hnâ—glians who are the beautifulest Youths that can be got and for the most part of Christian Extraction but taken so young from their Parents that they easily Educate them in the Mahometan Superstition with great care till they are about 28 years of Age and are taught such Arts and used to such Exercise as their Inclination chiefly leads them to If they are of good natural parts and prompt in understanding they usually rise to the greatest preferments in the Ottoman Empire if not they are turned out and entered into pay and employments of other natures living but meanly but whilst they live in the Seraglio the greatest Preferment they can rise to is to be of the number of the Forty who are nearest the Grand Signior's Person and these the Eunuchs look narrowly after least they slip among the Women or defile one another by unnatural Lust for these are not dis membred among the 40 mentioned there are four in high Esteem viz. the Selihtar or Sword-bearer the Tschoader who carries the Cock the Ibrictar who carries Water ready to pour on the Grand Signior's Hands when he requires it and the Kuptar who carries the Pot of Sorbet to give him when he calls for it There are Seminaries of these Ichnogleans as at Peza c. where they are Educated and growing up sent to Constantinople to be entertained in the Grand Seraglio The next that make a considerable Figure in the Seraglio are the Bostangis or Gardeners over whom is a Bassa called the Bostangi Bassa he has his Lodging in the Seraglio and the Priviledge of wearing his Beard not any beside him and the Grand Signior doing it the rest being Shaved in token of Servitude He is very great with the Prince and always steers his Barge when he goes to take the Air on the Sea so that having his Ear and liberty to Discourse with him all the Grandees stand in fear of him and much consider his Power labouring to keep him their Friend and when any considerable Person is put to Death in Constantinople he is sent to fetch his Head There are in this City many little Seraglioes belonging to the great Men of the Court but on the out-side they look much like old decaying Buildings and some hold that they built them without external Beauty and Ornament because the Grand Signior should not be Jealous of their Pride as aspiring to too much greatness but within it is otherways for they have lovely Apartments adorned with Gold and Azure the Floors are covered with Rich Carpets so that those who enter pull of their Shooes to prevent any injury they may do them the Walls of most of them are faced with polished Tiles like China Ware in their Halls and Chambers they have risings about a Foot which they call Divans covered with richer Carpets than the Floor and Imbrodered Cushions placed in order on them Here they Rest receive Visits and spend the best part of the Day and the Womens Apartments in all these are separated from those of the Lodgings none but the Master of the House and some Eunuchs are suffered to enter where they are the Women stir little abroad having Baths in their Houses with suitable Attendance and other convenient Necessaries Thus having described all that is worthy of Note in Constantinople I shall speak something of the Neighbouring places which may properly be termed the Suburbs of this great City and in the first place Galata is a very pleasant place separated from the City only by the Port which may be crossed in Caiques
Kingdoms viz. Narsinga Malavar Ballasia Cambaia Mandao Bengala Aristan Comora and Dellia The second seven viz. Macine Aracan Couchin-Chian Baram Siam Pegue Malavar The whole Country seems to take its denomination from the vast River Indus which runs 1000 Miles e'er it falls into the Sea and the Empire of the Great Mogul is the Principle many of the others being petty Kings some of them paying him Tribute and his Territories are usually called the Mogulistan The present Great Mogul is held to descend directly from the line of Tamarlan the Tartar whose Successors setled in the Indies and took to themselves the Name of Moguls to distinguish them from those to whom that Prince left Zagalay Persia Coraffau with other Countries to be Govern'd after him and they concluding this Name would contribute to the Glory of the Family because the People would be the more easily perswaded they are of the Race of the great Ginguiscan the first Emperour of the Ancient Moguls It has been successively maintained for many Generations and is a mighty Empire established in India As for Mogul is was anciently the Name of a mighty People Inhabiting a Country at the extreamity of East-Tartary inclining towards the North which others have called Mongul and Mongal some Mogulistan where Ginguiscan was Born and that Emperour reduced it wholly under his Obedience before he proceeded to the Conquest of the rest of Asia and both himself and Subjects were called Moguls The Great Mogul is said to carry 300000 Horse into the Field with him when he makes War beside a considerable Army of Foot yet the most knowing Indians say though he pays so many there is not above half of them in Arms at once The great Men that Command usually for their own advantage it being the most they have to live on double the Muster-Roll He has in his Dominions 20 Provinces or Governments and those that have made them more have mistaken by making two of one The true bounds of his Empire to the West are Macram or Sinde and Candabar On the East it reaches to the River Ganges on the South it is limitted by the Gulf of Bengala the great Sea and Decan on the North by a part of Tartary It extends from East to West above 400 Leagues and from North to South 500 and this vast space some Mountains and Desarts excepted is very much replenished with Cities Towns Castles Boroughs and pleasant Villages and the Country about them very fruitful in Corn Rice Fruits c. In the Province of Guzerat in this Empire is the Town of Surat of which I have spoke something already It lies in 22 Degrees 7 Minutes North Latitude watered by the River Tapty The Walls were formerly of Earth but they are framing now of Brick 2 Fathom and an half thick and of the same heighth being cautioned so to do for its better defence upon its being plundered by Raja Savegi who made himself Master of great Riches though he took not the Castle nor was able to force the Factories of the Europeans who had Fortified them with Cannon and making a stout defence saved their Goods from the spoil This Raja had his Government in the Mountains and did great mischiefs in India though Aurenzeb the Mogul or Emperor did all he could to prevent it In building the new Wall a great many Houses are left out of the Town especially those built of Cane When the Mousson or Monson a Wind that serves for Trade of Shiping blows the Town is full of People so that 't is difficult to get any Lodging and this is in January February March part of April and sometimes all that Month. It is Inhabited by Indians Persians Arabians Armenians Turks European Christians and some few other Nations though the proper Inhabitants are divided into 3 Orders the first of these include the Indian Moors and others of the Mahometan Religion the second are Gentils or Heathens who adore Idols the third are the Parsis who are likewise called Guares or Artechpirest adorers of Fire professing the Religion of the ancient Persians and these retired into India when Caylif Oman reduced Persia under the Power of the Mahometans The Banians are here the richest Merchants some of them being held to be worth 8 Millions of Crowns The Dutch particularly among other Europeans have driven a great Trade here as did the English and these had Houses assigned them for their Factories called Lodges very neatly built The Castle is built on the side of the River Tapty and is a Fort of moderate bigness and of good strength it stands at the South end of the Town and defends the Entry against those that would attack it It is square and flanked at each corner with large Towers The Ditches on 3 sides are filled with the Sea Water and the 4th which is on the West is washed by the River In this Castle the Mogul's Revenues gathered in the Province are kept and never sent to Court without Order On the West side there is a stately Gate to enter at which is in the Bazar or Meiden and this Castle has a particular Governor and the Town has another The Houses of the Rich are but meanly built of Timber Brick Lime and Tiles and most of these being fetched a great way renders building very dear by reason there is no Stone in this Province They make their Laths of Bambous Cane and they chuse by reason of the excessive heat of the Sun which drys and craks so fast to build when it Rains rather than in dry weather As for the Houses of the ordinary sort they are made of Cane and covered with Palm branches The Streets are large and even but not Paved They spare the Oxen here to Till the Land and carry Burthens feeding on Cow-Beef especially for the most part they have good Mutton and abundance of Poultry and eat with their Meats the Oyl of Cnicus Sylvestris or wild Saffron the best in the Indies also that of Sesamum which is common but not so good They have white and red Grapes there but they make an eager and unpleasant Wine because the heat is so excessive they have not deliberation enough to ripen nor is the strong Waters drunk there much better it is made of Jagre a a kind of course black Sugar dissolved in Water with the bruised Bark of the Baboul-Tree and so Distilled They make strong Water likewise of Tary and draw a Brandy from Rice Sugar and Dates which however is but very sorry stuff and kills many of the Europeans who coming a long Voyage too suddenly fasten on those Liquors and drink intemperately They infuse these ingredients likewise in Water and by setting them in the Sun make Vinegar At Surat are sold all sorts of Stuffs and Cotten Cloth that are made in the Indies likewise a great many European Commodities and those of China as Purceline Cabinets and Coffers adorned with Turquois Agats Cornelian Ivory and all sorts of Embellishments here are
on carry Burthens draw in Coaches Carts Chariots the white ones are esteemed the best and bear an extraordinary price They make store of Salt-Petre in this Province which is done in this manner They dig a fat black Earth and put it into Pits mingling it there with Water and beating it with great Wooden Beaters so let it stand till the Water has imbibed the saltness then they draw it off in Pots Resine and Boyl it till it Rocks and being dried in the Sun they sell it to the Europeans who carry it home as Ballast and vend it at good Rates This Province is held to pay the Mogul between 30 and 33 Millions a Year by way of Tax and Customs Departing from hence mostly through a Country indifferent Fertil and watered with some small Branches of Rivers I entered the Province of Sinde or Sindy which by some is called Tatta bounded with Azmar to the East and the Mountains that border partly belonging to one Province on the North with Multan on the South with a Desart and the Indian Sea and on the West by Macram and Segestan It reaches from South to North in length on both sides the River Indus and the Orientals call that vast River Sinde or Sindy On the Banks of it was fought a Famous Battle between Ginguiscan first Emperor of the Tartars and the Antient Moguls and Sultan Gelaleddin which alotted the Empire to the former in his gaining a Victory wherein 200000 Men were Slain so that he utterly vanquished the Caezmian Princes who had for a long time been Masters of Persia all Zagatay and the greatest part of the Country of Turquestan This River runs 1000 Miles and receives many other Rivers into it its Banks are thick of Towns but there is no great store of Fish in it by reason of the Allegator or Crocodiles that destroy them The chief Town in this Province is Talta though there are several others of Note and Trade as Died or Diub-sind it lies between 24 and 25 Degrees North Latitude At Talta particularly there is a great Trade where the Indian Merchants come from all parts to buy up the Goods made there the Inhabitants being very ingenious in all kind of Arts. The great River mentioned makes many Islands towards this place which are very Fruitful but little Inhabited yet renders the Town very commodious were it not for the great heat that reigns there in the Summer Season At Lourebender 3 days Journey from this Town upon the Sea there is a fine Road for Shipping being reckoned by many the most commodious in the Indies which causes a great Trade where the Palanquins of Talta are vended being the neatest in Indostan The best and neatest Chariots and Coaches made in India are found here though the Indians Travel in Palanquins which are a kind of Couches with 4 Feet having on each side Ballisters 4 or 5 Inches high and at the Head and Feet a back-stay like a Childe's Cradle This Machin hangs by a long Pole called Pambou by the means of 2 Frames nailed to the Feet of the Couch these Frames have great Rings through which Ropes pass and also the Pole or Pambous and so the Planquin is carried on Mens Shoulders who ply for that end for a small matter These Machins are very richly adorned every one doing it after his own humour as he is able some with Tisue others with Cloth of Gold or rich Embroidery for as the Indians are generally Neat so they are mostly Proud taking a delight to show their finery to Strangers The other Provinces of the Mogul's Empire are Multan Candahar Caboul or Caboulistan Cachmir or Kichmir Lahors Ayoud or Haoud Varad or Varal Becar Halabas Oulesser or Bengala Malva Candich Balagate Doltabud Telenga and Baglana but these and some others in India not under the Jurisdiction of the Great Mogul for want of an opportunity and an indisposition I had by reason of the intemperateness of the Air upon often changing Climates not giving me leave to take a strict survey of them I hope the Reader will pardon some Omissions and be pleased to guess at them by what I have said of many in particular since as to Trade People Building Manners Customs c. they little vary only I shall say something of the Famous River Ganges and then conclude my Travels in this Torrid Country with General but very Material Observations The Ganges as well as Indus is a vast River full of pleasant Islands covered with lovely Indian Trees which delight the Passengers for 5 or 6 days Sailing The Heathens or Gentils Indians esteem the Water They have Temples and Pagods near it and here have a freedom of Worship the chief Pagods are that of Jaganat which is at one Mouth of the Ganges and that of the Town of Bonarous upon the River these are superstitiously decked with Gold and Jewels Millions of People repair thither and Festivals are kept for many days together when they carry their Idols in Triumph The Great Mogul drinks commonly of the Water of the Ganges though many affirm that if it be not boiled it causes a Flux This River having received a vast number of Brooks and Rivers from the North-east and West discharges it self by several Mouths into the vast Gulf of Bengala at the heighth of about 23 Degrees and this Gulf begins in 8 Degrees North Latitude and is reckoned 800 Leagues over On the sides of it to the East is many Towns belonging to divers petty Princes who are Sovereigns with whose Subjects as well as the Moguls the Europeans Trade for rich Commodities On the banks of the Ganges are Herds of Deer grazing but the Crocodiles destroy many of them by pulling them into the River when they come to Drink and then devour them I saw a Negro Boy pulled under by one of them as he was Swiming but saw him no more The Ships that Moar in the River where these most haunt keep Guard by Night to prevent their clambering on the Decks and surprizing the Men a sleep CHAP. XIX Of the Marriages Apparrels Superstitious Customs the keeping the Mogul 's Birth-Day and other Things observed by the Indians as the Funerals of their Dead c. HAving described many Things worthy of Note in India I now proceed to others which I purposely omitted that for Brevity sake I might have the conveniency of collecting and placing them together The Marriages of the Mahometan Indians especially those of Note are celebrated with Pompous shows and much Magnificency they are Married by a Moula or Mahometan Priest and then the Bride in rich Ornaments is carried to the Bridegroom's Apartments on an Elephant The Females Marry very young as at 8 9 and 10 years of Age and some sooner but those that Marry early leave of Child bearing at 30 and are very much wrinkled The Wedding Ceremonies of the Gentil Indians is this the Bramen or Priest after having said some Prayers over the Couple puts a Cloth between