Tree as big as an Apple-Tree bears a Berry somewhat like an Olive but sharper at each end its Skin is of a reddish green colour which covereth an hard stone They make use of it for Physic in Purges and also to dy black colour Which they do after this manner They take the fruit and beat it to pieces in Mortars and put it thus beaten into water and after it has been soaking a day or two it changeth the water that it looks like Beer Then they dip their cloth in it or what they mean to dy and dry it in the Sun And then they dip it in black mud and so let it ly about an hour then take it and wash it in water and now it will appear of a pale black Then being dry they dip it again into the aforesaid Dy and it becomes a very good black Another use there is of this water It is this Let any rusty Iron ly a whole night in it and it will become bright and the water look black like Ink insomuch that men may write with it These Trees grow but in some Parts of the Land and nothing near so plentiful as Cinnamon The Berries the Drugsters in the City there do fell in their Shops The Dounekaia gauhah a shrub bears leaves as broad as two fingers and six or eight foot long on both sides of them set full of Thorns and a streak of Thorns runs thro the middle These leaves they split to weave Matts withal The Tree bears a bud above a span long tapering somewhat like a Sugar-loaf Leaves cover this bud folding it about like the leaves of a Cabbage Which leaves smell rarely sweet and look of a lovely yellow colour like gold This bud blowes into divers bunches of Flowers spreading it self open like a Plume of Feathers each Flower whitish but very small The Roots of this shrub they use for Ropes splitting them into Thongs and then making them into Ropes The Capita gauhah is a shrub never bigger than a mans arm The Wood Rind and Leaves have all a Physical smell and they do sometimes make use of it for Physic. The Leaf is of a bright green roundish rough and as big as the palm of an hand No sort of Cattel will eat it no not the Goats that will sometimes brouze upon rank poyson There is abundance of these Trees every where and they grow in all Countreys but in Ouvah And this is supposed to be the cause that the Ouvah-Cattle dy when they are brought thence to any other Country They attribute it to the smell of this Tree of such a venomous nature it is to Beasts And therefore to destroy their Fleas or to keep their houses clear of them they sweep them with Brooms made of this shrub 'T is excellent good for firing and will burn when it is green There are no other coals the Goldsmiths use but what are made of this wood Rattans grow in great abundance upon this Island They run like Honey-suckles either upon the Ground or up Trees as it happens near Twenty fathom in length There is a kind of a shell or skin grows over the Rattan and encloseth it round Which serves for a Case to cover and defend it when tender This Skin is so full of prickles and thorns that you cannot touch it As the Rattan growes longer and stronger this Case growes ripe and falls off prickles and shell and all It bears fruit in clusters just like bunches of Grapes and as big Every particular Berry is covered with a husk like a Gooseberry which is soft yellow and scaly like the scales of a Fish hansome to look upon This husk being cracked and broken within grows a Plum of a whitish colour within the Plum a stone having meat about it The people gather and boyl them to make sour pottage to quench the thirst Canes grow just like Rattans and bear a fruit like them The difference onely is that the Canes are larger The Tree that bears the betel-Betel-leaf which is so much loved and eaten in these parts growes like Ivy twining about Trees or Poles which they stick in the ground for it to run up by and as the Betel growes the Poles grow also The form of the Leaf is longish the end somewhat sharp broadest next to the stalk of a bright green very smooth just like a Pepper leaf onely different in the colour the Pepper leaf being of a dark green It bears a fruit just like long Pepper but not good for seed for it falls off and rots upon the ground But when they are minded to propagate it they plant the spriggs which will grow I shall mention but one Tree more as famous and highly set by as any of the rest if not more tho it bear no fruit the benefit consisting chiefly in the Holiness of it This Tree they call Bo-gahah we the God-Tree It is very great and spreading the Leaves always shake like an Asp. They have a very great veneration for these Trees worshipping them upon a Tradition That the Buddou a great God among them when he was upon the Earth did use to sit under this kind of Trees There are many of these Trees which they plant all the Land over and have more care of than of any other They pave round under them like a Key sweep often under them to keep them clean they light Lamps and set up their Images under them and a stone Table is placed under some of them to lay their Sacrifices on They set them every where in Towns and High wayes where any convenient places are they serve also for shade to Travellers They will also set them in memorial of persons deceased to wit there where their Bodies were burnt It is held meritorious to plant them which they say he that does shall dy within a short while after and go to Heaven But the oldest men onely that are nearest death in the course of Nature do plant them and none else the younger sort desiring to live a little longer in this World before they go to the other CHAP. V. Of their Roots Plants Herbs Flowers SOme of these are for Food and some for Medicine I begin with their Roots which with the Iacks before mentioned being many and generally bearing well are a great help towards the sustenance of this People These by the Chingulays by a general name are called Alloes by the Portugals and us Inyames They are of divers and sundry sorts some they plant and some grow wild those that grow wild in the Woods are as good onely they are more scarce and grow deeper and so more difficult to be plucked up It would be to no purpose to mention their particular names I shall onely speak a little in general of them They serve both for Food and for Carrees that is sauce or for a relish to their Rice But they make many a meal of them alone to lengthen out
this way Having said thus much concerning the Cities and other Eminent places of this Kingdom I will now add a little concerning their Towns The best are those that do belong to their Idols wherein stand their Dewals or Temples They do not care to make Streets by building their Houses together in rowes but each man lives by himself in his own Plantation having an hedg it may be and a ditch round about him to keep out Cattel Their Towns are always placed some distance from the High-ways for they care not that their Towns should be a thorough-fair for all people but onely for those that have business with them They are not very big in some may be Forty in some Fifty houses and in some above an Hundred and in some again not above eight or ten And as I said before of their Cities so I must of their Towns That there are many of them here and there lie desolate occasioned by their voluntary forsaking them which they often do in case many of them fall sick and two or three die soon after one another For this they conclude to happen from the hand of the Devil Whereupon they all leave their Town and go to another thinking thereby to avoid him Thus relinquishing both their Houses and Lands too Yet afterwards when they think the Devil hath departed the place some will sometimes come back and re-assume their Lands again CHAP. III. Of their Corn with their manner of Husbandry HAving discoursed hitherto of the Countrey method will require that I proceed now to the Products of it Viz. their Fruits Plants Beasts Birds and other Creatures Minerals Commodities c. whereof I must declare once for all That I do not pretend to write an Exact and Perfect Treatise my time and leisure not permitting me so to do but only to give a Relation of some of the chief of these things and as it were a tast of them according as they that occur to my Memory while I am writing I shall first begin with their Corn as being the Staff of their Countrey They have divers sorts of Corn tho all different from ours And here I shall first speak of their Rice the Choice and Flower of all their Corn and then concerning the other inferior kinds among them Of Rice they have several sorts and called by several names according to the different times of their ripening However in tast little disagreeing from one another Some will require seven Months before it come to maturity called Mauvi some six Hauteal others will ripen in five Honorowal others in four Henit and others in three Aulfancol The price of all these is one and the same That which is soonest ripe is most savoury to the tast but yieldeth the least increase It may be asked then why any other sort of Rice is sown but that which is longest a Ripening seeing it brings in most Profit In answer to this you must know That all these sorts of Rice do absolutely require Water to grow in all the while they stand so that the Inhabitants take great pains in procuring and saving water for their Grounds and in making Conveyances of Water from their Rivers and Ponds into their Lands which they are very ingenious in also in levelling their Corn Lands which must be as smooth as a Bowling-Green that the Water may cover all over Neither are their steep and Hilly Lands uncapable of being thus overflown with Water For the doing of which they use this Art They level these Hills into narrow Allies some three some eight foot wide one beneath another according to the steepness of the Hills working and digging them in that fashion that they lye smooth and flat like so many Stairs up the Hills one above another The Waters at the top of the Hills falling downwards are let into these Allies and so successively by running out of one into another water all first the higher Lands and then the lower The highest Allies having such a quantity of Water as may suffice to cover them the rest runs over unto the next and that having its proportion unto the next and so by degrees it falls into all these hanging parcels of Ground These Waters last sometimes a longer and sometimes a shorter Season Now the Rice they sow is according as they foresee their stock of Water will last It will sometimes last them two or three or four or five Months more or less the Rice therefore they chuse to cast into the Ground is of that sort that may answer the duration of the Water For all their Crop would be spoilt if the Water should fail them before their Corn grew ripe If they foresee their Water will hold out long then they sow the best and most profitable Rice viz. that which is longest a ripening but if it will not they must be content to sow of the worser sorts that is those that are sooner ripe Again they are forced sometimes to sow this younger Rice for the preventing the damage it might otherwise meet with if it should stand longer For their Fields are all in common which after they have sown they enclose till Harvest But as soon as the Corn first sown becomes ripe when the Owner has reaped it it is lawful for him to break down his Fences and let in his Cattle for grazing which would prove a great mischief to that Corn that required to stand a Month or two longer Therefore if they are constrained to sow later than the rest either through want or sloth or some other Impediment yet they make use of that kind of Rice that will become ripe equal with that first sown And so they all observe one time of reaping to prevent their Corn being trampled down or eaten up by the Cattle Thus they time their Corn to their Harvest some sowing sooner some later but all reaping together unless they be Fields that are enclosed by themselves and peculiar to one Man Where there are no Springs or Rivers to furnish them with Water as it is in the Northern Parts where there are but two or three Springs they supply this defect by saving of rain Water which they do by casting up great Banks in convenient places to stop and contain the Rains that fall and so save it till they have occasion to let it out into their Fields They are made rounding like a C or Half-Moon every Town has one of these Ponds which if they can but get filled with Water they count their Corn is as good as in the Barn It was no small work to the ancient Inhabitants to make all these Banks of which there is a great number being some two some three Fathoms in height and in length some above a Mile some less not all of a size They are now grown over with great Trees and so seem natural Hills When they would use the Water they cut a gap in one end of the Bank
sort of Leaches of the nature of ours onely differing in colour and bignessâ— For they are of a dark reddish colour like the skin of Bacon and as big as a Goose quill in length some two or three inches At first when they are young they are no bigger than a horse hair so that they can scarce be seen In dry weather none of them appear but immediately upon the fall of Rains the Grass and Woods are full of them These Leaches seize upon the Legs of Travellers who going barefoot according to the custom of that Land have them hanging upon their Legs in multitudes which suck their blood till their bellies are full and then drop off They come in such quantities that the people cannot pull them off so fast as they crawl on The blood runs pouring down their Legs all the way they go and 't is no little smart neither so that they would willingly be without them if they could especially those that have sores on their Legs for they all gather to the sore Some therefore will tie a piece of Lemon and Salt in a rag and fasten it unto a stick and ever and anon strike it upon their Legs to make the Leaches drop off others will scrape them off with a reed cut flat and sharp in the fashion of a knife But this is so troublesom and they come on again so fast and so numerous that it is not worth their while and generally they suffer them to bite and remain on their Legs during their Iourney and they do the more patiently permit them because it is so wholsome for them When they come to their Iourneys end they rub all their Legs with ashes and so clear themselves of them at once but still the blood will remain dropping a great while after But they are most annoyed by them when they go out to stool a-Nights being small and of the colour of their bodies so that they can neither see nor feel to pull them off And these tho they be in such quantities in some of these Countreys yet in others there are none at all nor ever were known to have been But besides these there are Water Leaches the same with ours Monkeys Of which there are abundance in the Woods and of divers sorts some so large as our English Spaniel Dogs of a darkish gray colour and black faces with great white beards round from ear to ear which makes them shew just like old men There is another sort just of the same bigness but differ in colour being milk white both in body and face having great beards like the others of this sort of white ones there is not such plenty But both these sorts do but little mischief keeping in the Woods eating onely leaves and buds of Trees but when they are catched they will eat any thing This sort they call in their Language Wanderows There is yet another sort of Apes of which there is great abundance who coming with such multitudes do a great deal of mischief to the Corn that groweth in the Woods so that they are fain all the day long to keep Watch to scare them out and so soon as they are gone to fray them away at one end of the Field others who wait for such an opportunity come skipping in at the other and beâ—ore they can turn will fill both bellies and hands full to carry away with them and to stand all round to guard their Fields is more than they can do This sort of Monkeys have no beards white faces and long hair on the top of their heads which parteth and hangeth down like a mans These are so impudent that they will come into their Gardens and eat such Fruit as grows there They call these Rillowes The flesh of all these sorts of Apes they account good to eat There are several sorts of Squirrels also which they do eat when they can catch them Before I make an end of my discourse of their Beasts it may be worth while to relate the ways they use to catch them At which they are very crafty For the catching of Deer or other wild Beasts they have this ingâ—nious device In dark Moons when there are drisling Rains they go about this design They have a basket made with canes somewhat like unto a funnel in which they put a potsheard with fire in it together with a certain wood which they have growing there full of sap like pitch and that will burn like a pitch-barrel This being kindled in the potsheard flames and gives an exceeding light They carry it upon their heads with the flame foremost the basket hiding him that is under it and those that come behind it In their hands they carry three or four small bells which they tingle as they go that the noyse of their steps should not be heard Behind the man that carries the light go men with Bowes and Arrows And so they go walking along the Plains and by the Pond sides where they think the Deer will come out to feed Which when they see the light stand still and stare upon it seeing onely the light and hearing nothing but the tingling of the bells The eyes of the Deer or other Cattle first appear to them glistering like Stars of light or Diamonds and by their long experience they will distinguish one Beast from another by their eyes All Creatures as Deer Hares Elephants Bears c. excepting onely wild Hogs will stand still wondering at this strange sight till the people come as near as they do desire and so let fly their Arrows upon them And by this means they seldom go but they catch something The blades of their hunting-Arrowes are at least a foot or a foot and an half longâ— and the length of the staff of their Arrowes is a Rian that is about two cubits Again they will observe where a Deers haunt is to break over their Hedges into the Corn Grounds There they will set a sharp pole like a Spear full against the Haunt So that the Deer when she leaps over thrusts her self upon the point of it If a Tyger chance to come into their Grounds and kill a Cow they will take notice of the place thro which he passed and set a Cross-bow there ready charged The Tyger coming that way again touches something that is fastned to the tricker of the Cross-bow and so it discharges upon him â—â—aâ—derow â— Rillow The wild Hog is of all other the hardest to be caught and 't is dangerous to attempt the catching of him For the people make valour to consist in three things one is to fight against the Enemy another to hunt the Elephant and the third to catch Hoggs Yet sometimes by their art they entrap them And that they do after this manner They dig an hole in the Earth of a convenient depth and fix divers sharp stakes in the bottom of it Then they cover it over lightly with Earth and Leaves
Sickness And it iâ— now for certain reported that there is not one of his Generation left Once to try the hearts of his Attendantâ— and to see what they would doâ— being in the Water a swimming he seigned himself to be in extremity and near Drowning and cryed out for helpâ— upon which two young Men more venturous and forward than the rest immediately made way and came to his helpâ— who taking hold of his Body brought him â—aâ—e to â—and At which he seemed to be very glad Putting on his Cloaths he went to his Palace then he demanded to know who and which they were that had holpen him out of the Water They supposing by his Speech it was to give them a reward for the good Service they had so lately done him answered We were they Whereupon he Commands to call such a great Man For it is they whom he appoints always to see Execution done by their Soldiers To whomâ— hâ— gave Command saying â—ake both these and lead them to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and â—ut off their Heads who dared to presume to lay their hands on my Person and did not preâ—â—aâ—â—e themselves rather that I might lay my hand on them for my â—â—liâ—â— and â—aâ—eâ—y And accordingly they were Executed CHAP. IV. Of 〈…〉 and â—reasure Three 〈◊〉 in the year they usually carry their Rentâ— unto the King The one is at the New-year called Oâ—rida â—â—tamaul The other is for the 〈…〉 And the last is at a certain Sacrifice in the Month oâ— Noâ—ember to their God called â—â—oy â—â—tamaul But â—â—sides thâ—se whatsoever is wanting in the King's House at any other time and they have it they must upon the King's Order bring it These Rents are but little Money but chiefly Corn Rice or what growâ— out of the Ground To speak a little of the first time Viz. at the beginning of the New year when the King'â— Duties are brought him Their New year is always either the â— th or the 18 th or the 19 th of March At this time upon a specâ—al and good day for which the Astrologers are consulted the King washes his head which is a very great Solemnity among them The Palace â—â—all adorned with 〈◊〉 a sort of 〈…〉 that make a very 〈◊〉 shâ—w They are high Poles standing in towâ— before all the Gates of the Palace either nine or seven in a â—ow the middlemost being the highest and so they fall lower and lower on each side Thro the middle of them there is an arched passage which â—eâ—ves for a Door On the top of the Poles are 〈◊〉 slying and all about 〈◊〉 full of painted Cloth with Images and Figures of Men and Beasts and 〈◊〉 and Flowersâ— Fruits also hanged up in great order and 〈◊〉 On each side of the entrance of the Arch stand Plantâ—â—â— Trees with bunches of Plantaneâ—â— on them 〈◊〉 they were growing There are also 〈◊〉 some places single Poles of an exceeding height standing by with long Honour of divers colours â—lying and a Bell at the end of each as in the Figure â—â— And now they say The Palace â— adorned beyond Heaven All the Army is summoned in to stand and wait at the Palace for the greater State In the mean time he goes to lie Washing houses houseâ— built on purpose for him to wash in called Outpungâ— here are Bathe and Streams and Conveyances of Water and many Servants whole Office it is to wait upon the business of these houses Here he washeâ— his head Which when he has done he comes forth into Publiâ— view where all hâ—â— Mâ—â—â—a stand in then Aâ—â—â— Then the great Guns are firâ—d Now all the great Men the Nobles and the Goverâ—norâ— of the Countrey make their appearance before him with their Paâ—kâ—uâ— then New years Gifts which are due and accustomed Presents for Performâ— in their Places and Offices to give There is a certain Rate for it Their manner of bringing these Gâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ther Duties in thus Their Servants bring them wrapt up in white Cloth to the Court and then they take them at their hands put them upon their heads and so come in humble manner and lay them at the King's feet These Presents are Gold Iewels Plate Arms Knives Cloth each one by a rate according to the Place he is in and the Countrey he hath under him And most oâ— them are to present a Sum of Money besides And if they can procure any precious Stone or Rarity or any other thing which they think the King will accept that also they bring and glad they are to be honoured with the savour of his acceptance These New years Gifts for these many years he thinks scorn to receive and bids them carry them away again till another time Thus they come with them time after time presenting them which he as often refusing at last they bring them no more All sorts of Tradesmen also and such as by their Skill can any ways get Money at the New year are to pay into the Treasury each one a certain rate Which now adayes he accepts not though formerly he always did At this and the other times the things which the People carry as their Rents and Taxes are Wine Oyl Corn Honey Wax Cloth Iron Elephants Teeth Tobacco Money They bring them themselves and wait at Court with them commonly divers Months before they be received The great Officers tell the King the People have brought their Rents The King saith 'T is well But if he give no order withal to receive the things brought as he seldom does there is no remedy but there they must wait with them And this he doth out of State The Rents and Duties brought at the two other times are after the same manner the great Men do only bring theirs once at the New year There are other Revenues the King hath which are accidental but bring in great wealth That whensoever any man dies that hath a stock of Cattel immediately out thence must be paid a Bull and a Cow with a Ca lt and a Male and Female Buffalo which tax they call Marral And there are Officers appointed whose place it is to come and carry them away Also at Harvest yearly there is a certain rate of Corn to be paid by every man according to the Land they hold and enjoy Heretofore the King granted that upon Payment of a Sum of Money they should be clear from this yearly Tax of Corn so long till the present Possessor died and the Land descended to his Son or some body else And then the Estate became liable again to the â—orementioned Duties But now of late there is no mention of any discharge by Money So that in time all Houses and Families in the Kingdom will be liable to the Payment of this Tax of Corn which will bring in no small quantity of Provision to the King Only Soldiers that are slain in the Wars their Lands are free from the Payment of this Tax but if