in India and first of a certain fruit called Ananas ANanas by the Canarijns called Ananasa by the Brasilians Nana and by others in Hispaniola Iaiama by the Spaniards in Brasilia Pinas because of a certain resemblance which the fruite hath with the Pineapple It commeth out of the Prouince of Sancta Croce first brought into Braâ—lia theÌ„ to the Spanish Indies and afterwardes into the East Indies where nowe they grow in great abundance of the bignes of Citrones or of a common Melon They are of a faire colour of a yellow greene which greennes when it is ripe vadeth away It is sweet in taste pleasant in smell like to an Abricot so that by the very smell of them a man may know the houses wherein these fruites are kept A far off they shew like Artichâ—kes but they haue no such sharpe prickes on their leaues the plants or stalkes whereon they grow are as bigge as a Thistle and haue a roote also like a Thistle wheron groweth but one Nut in the middle of the stalke and rounde about it certaine small stalkes whereon some fruite likewise doeth often times grow I haue had some of the Slips here in my garden that were brought mee out of Brasilia but our colde countrey could not brooke them This fruite is hot and moist and is eaten out of wine like a Peach light of disgesture but superfluous in nourishing It inflameth and heateth and consumeth the gums by reason of the small threedes that run through it There are many sortes of this fruite among the Brasilians which according to the difference of their speeches haue likewise differeÌ„t names whereof three kindes are specially named and written of The first called Iaiama which is the longest the best of taste and the substance of it yellow The second Bomama that is white within and not very sweet of taste The thirde Iaiagna which is whitish within and tasteth like Renish Wine These fruites likewise do grow some of themselues as if they were planted and are called wilde Ananasses and some growe in gardens whereof we now make mention The wilde growe vppon stalkes of the length of a pike or Speare rounde and of the bignesse of an Orange ful of thorns the leaues likewise haue sharpe pricks and round about full of soft 〈…〉 the fruite is little eaten although they are of an indifferent pleasant taste The whole plantes with the rootes are ful of iuyce which being taken about seueÌ„ or eight of the clocke in a morning and drunke with Sugar is holden for a most certaine remedie against the heate of the liuer and the kidneyes against exulcerated kidneyes mattery water and excoriation of the yarde The Arabians commend it to be good against Saynt Anthonies fire and call it Queura He that is desirous to reade more hereof let him reade Costa in the proper Chapter of Ananas and Ouâ—edius in the eight booke and eighteenth Chapter and Theuetius in his obseruations of America in the six and fortieth Chapter Ananas preserued in Sugar are like Cocumbers whereof I haue had many Ananas is one of the best fruites and of best taste in all India but it is not a proper fruit of India it selfe but a 〈…〉 fruite for it was first brought by the â—ortingalles out of Brasillâ— so that at the 〈◊〉 it â— is sold for a noueltie at a 〈…〉 and sometimes more but now there are so many growen in the Countrey that they are very good cheape The time when they are rype is in Lent for then they are best and sweetest of taste They are as bigge as a Melon and in forme like the heade of a Distaffe without like a Pine apple but softe in cutting of colour redde and greenish They growe about halfe a fadome high from the grounde not much more or lesse the leaues are like the Hearbe that is brought out of Spayne called Aloe or Semper viua because it is alwayes greene and therefore it is hanged on the beames of houses but somewhat smaller and at the endes somewhat sharpe as if they were cut out When they eate them they pull off the shell and cutte them into shee s or peeces as men desire to haue them drest Some haue small kernelles within them like the kernelles of Apples or Peares They are of colour within like a Peach that is ripe and almost of the same taste but in sweetenesse they surpasse all fruites The iuyce thereof is like swéete Muste or newe Renish Wyne a man can neuer satisfie himselfe therewith It is very hotte of nature for if you let a knife sticke in it but halfe an houre long when you draw it forth again it will bee halfe eaten vppe yet it doeth no particular hurte vnlesse a man shoulde eate so much thereof that hee surfet vpon them as many such greedie and vnreasonable men there are which eate all thinges without any measure or discretion The sicke are forbidden to vse them The common way to dresse the common Ananasses is to cut them in broad round cakes or slyces and so being stooped in wine it is a very pleasant meat The 50. Chapter Oâ— Iaqua or Iaacca THis fruite groweth in Calecut and in some other places of India neere to the Sea and vpon ryuers or waters sides It is a certaine fruite that in Malabar is called Iaca in Canara and Gusurate Panar and Panasa by the Arabians Panax by the Persians Fanax This fruite groweth vpon great trees not out of the branches like other fruites but out of the body of the tree aboue the earth and vnder the leaues The leaues are as bigge as a mans hand greenish with a thick hard veine that goeth cleane thorough the length of them The smallest of this fruite specially that which groweth in Malabar and is the best of all is greater then our greatest Pumpians I meane of Portingall They are without couered with a hard shell of colour greene otherwise it is much like the Pine apple saue onely that the shell or huske seemeth to be set ful of pointed Diamants which haue certaine greene and short hookes at the endes but at the verie points are blackish and yet are neither sharpe not pricking although they seeme so to be These fruites are like Melons and sometimes greater outwardly greene and inwardly Yelow with many soft prickles apparrelled as it were like a Hedgehog Those that grow in Goa are not so good nor of so good a taste as those in Malabar This fruit being ripe which is commonly in December smelleth very sweete and is of two sorts wherof the best is called Barca the other Papa which is not so good and yet in handling it is soft like the other The best cost about 40. Maruedies which is somewhat more then a Ryall of plate and being ripe they are of a blackish colour and with a hard huske the outward part thereof which compasseth the Nut is of many tastes some times it tasteth like a Melon somtimes like a Peach and
blacke sauing the first outmost huske is white and smooth without any wrinckle but hath the verie self same vertue and taste that black pepper hath It cometh oftentimes mingled with the Malacca pepper The pepper that groweth in the countries about Malacca is many times also brought into Portingal but verie little for that it is 2 yeares betweene euery ship that sayleth out of Portingale thither which being there taketh in some pepper but most Cloues and Nutmegges with their flowers and other marchandises of China But the most part of that pepper is vsed in the same countries as in Pegu Syon specially in China and other countries bordering on the same which deal continually one with an other Pepper by the Malabares is called Molanga and in the countries by Malacca Lada in Arabia Filâ—il the Gusarates of Cambaia and Decamins of Ballagate cal it Meriche and they of Bengala Moroâ—s and the long pepper which groweth onely in BeÌ„gâ—la and Iaua is called Pelcâ—m Pepper groweth and is planted at the foote of an other trée and most part at the foote of the trée called Arecca or some such like trée groweth vpon the tree like Bettele or Iue The leaues of pepper are like Orange leaues but somewhat smaller they are green and sharp at the ends in the chawing it biteth the tong and tasteth much like to Bettele it growes in bunshes like grapes but a great deale lesser and thynner yet somewhat thicker then Gooseberries they are alwaies green til they begin to drie and to ripen which is in DeceÌ„ber and Ianuary for at that time they are gathered The long pepper groweth in Bengala and some in the Iland of Iaua and is an other kinde of trée the long pepper is of the length of a néedle or the tagge of a point but somewhat thicker and all of a like thicknes it is outwardly rugged and of an ashie colour and within somewhat white with small seedes but in taste and vse it is like the other black and white pepper The white pepper as I sayd is like the black both in taste and forme yet it is accounted for better stroÌ„ger and is not in so great quantitie as the black The Pepper called Canariins in the countrie of Goa and Malabar almost of the fashion of Panike it is of an ashe colour and holow within with some smal kernels which in eating tasteth and heateth like other pepper yet it is vsed onely by the poore people and therefore is called Canariin pepper that is to say Countrie mens pepper or poore peoples pepper therefore it is neuer laden away for it is verie course and of little value neither would it be able to rayse the fraight and therfore is it left in the countrie The other pepper is in India and all other Eastern countries much vsed and spent by the Indians themselues and that in greater quantitie then yearelie is carried or laden from thence for other places for they eate not any kinde of meate but they put therein handfuls of pepper al vnbeaten so that they waste the more In the description of Malabar I haue set downe in what places pepper doth grow and is coÌ„monlie laden and the hauens where the Portingall shippes doe come and fetch it therefore it néedeth not here to be rehearsed pepper is likewise much vsed wheÌ„ it is green to be put in pots with vineger and salt and so is kept a long time and in the same manner carryed into Portingal but it is most vsed in that sort to be eaten in India and is called pepper in Achar in which manner they vse to dresse all other sorts of spices in India and eate it commonlie to procure an appetite as we doe Capars Oliues and Lemons being pickled Pepper is vsed in the kitchen and in Apothecaries shoppeâ— although in both places not as a meate or food but for physicke it warmeth the mawe and consumeth the cold slymenes thereof to ease the payne in the mawe which proceedeth of rawnesse and wind It is good to eate fyue pepper cornes euerie morning He that hath a bad or thick sight let him vse pepper cornes with annis â—ennel seed and Cloues for thereby the mystinesse of the eyes which darken the sight is cleered and driueÌ„ away The Apotheâ—ries make a confection of 3. sorts oâ— peppeâ— in this sort of whâ—te blacke and â—ong Pepper of each 25 draÌ„mes wilde tyme ginger â—nis seed of each an ouâ—ce with honnie is much as needeth to make a conâ—eâ— which is good for such as haue a cold 〈◊〉 the Nucken the paine in the liuer and the Dropsie The 63. Chapter Of Cinamom CInamon in Latin is called Cinamoâ— by the Arabians Quirsa by the Persians Daâ—china by the men of Seylon where it most groweth Curdo of the people of Malacca Caysman and by the Malabares Camea the trees are as great as Oliue trees and some lesser with leaues of Colmi like Baye leaues but of fashion like Citron leaues though somewhat smaller They haue white blossomes and a certaine fruite of the greatnes of black Portingall Oliues whereof also Oyle is made which is vsed for manie thinges The tree hath two barkes but the second bark is the Cinamon it is cut off in foure square péeces and so laid to dry at the first it is ashe colour after as it beginneth to dry it roulleth together of it self and looketh of the colour as it commeth hether which procéedeth of the heate of the Sunne The trée from whence the barke is taken they let it stand within 3 yeres after it hath an other barke as it had before These trees are in great abundance for they grow of themselues without planting in the open fields like bushes the roote of this tree yeeldeth a water which smelleth like Camphora it is forbidden to be drawn forth for spoyling the trees The Cinamon that is not wel dried is of ashe colour that which is ouer much dryed blackish but the best dryed is reddish there is much and excellent water distilled out of CinamoÌ„ while it is half gréen which is much vsed in India manie times caryed into Portingal and other places it is very pleasant both to drinke and to smell but very hote and strong it is vsed against the Colicke and other diseases procéeding of cold it is likewise good against a stincking breath and euill sauor of the mouth There is likewise a water made of the blossomes of this tree but not so good nor so well esteemed as that of Cinamon it self The places where Cinamon groweth is most and best in the IlaÌ„d of Seylon wherin there is whole woods full of Cinamon trees in the coast of Malabar there groweth likewise great store and some woods of Cinamon but not half so good and lesser trees the barke being grayer and thicker and of smal vertue The Cinamon of the Iland of Seylon is the best and finest and is at the least three times dearer in the price The
inwardly yealowish but in cutting it is waterish yet some not so much they haue a verie pleasant taste better then a Peach and like the Annanas which is y e best y e most profitable fruit in al India for it yeeldeth a great quātity for food sustenance of the countrie people as Oliues do in Spaine and Portingale they are gathered when they are gréene and conserued and for the most part salted in pots and commonlie vsed to be eaten with Rice sodden in pure water the huske being whole and so eaten with salt Mangas which is the continuall food for their slaues and cōmon people or else salt dryed fish in stéed of Mangas without bread for Rice is in diuers places in stéed of bread These salted Mangas are in cutting like the white Spanish Oliues and almost of the same taste but somewhat sauorie and not so bitter yet a little sowre and are in so great abundance that it is wonderful there are others that are salted and stuffed with small péeces of gréene Ginger and Garlike sodden those they call Mangas Recheadas or Machar they are likewise much vsed but not so common as the other for they are costlie and more esteemed these are kept in pots with Oyle and Vineger salted The season when Mangas are ripe is in Lent and continueth till the Moneth of August The 52. Chapter Of Caions THis fruite groweth on great trees not much vnlike Apple trees but the yong trees haue leaues like Lawrell or Bayleaues they are of a pale greene and thicke with white blossoms like Oringe trees but thicker of leaues yet not so sweete of smell The fruit is in greatnesse and forme like a Goose Egge or a great Apple verie yellow of good sauor moyst or spungie within and ful of Iuice like Lemmons but without kernels sweete of taste but yet harsh in a mans throate they seeme not to haue beene common in East India but brought thether from Brasillia where those Nuts are much eaten although Theuet in his description of America 61. Chapter writeth otherwise At the end of this fruit groweth a Nut of forme like the Kydney of a Hare whereof I had many brought me by a Pylot of Portingall of an Ash colour or when they are ripe of a reddish Ash colour These Nuts haue two partitions betweene which two partitions there is a certain spongious fattie matter like Oyle hotte and sharpe but in the innermost part thereof is a white kernell very pleasant to eate like Pistaccios with a gray skin ouer it which is pulled off These Nuts being a little rosted are eaten in that sort vsed to prouoke lust The fruit and also the Nuts are vsed in bankets being eaten with wine without wine because of their good taste They are good for the weaknesse of the Maw and against perbreaking and loathing of meate but such as will not vse them to that ende doe eate them only dipped or steeped in a little water the sharpe Oyle betweene both the partitions is verie good for Saint Anthonies fire and flashing in mens faces The Brasilians vse it against scurffes this tree was at the first planted of the very Nut but the first and greatest fruite had neither seede nor kernell some thinke it to bee a kind of Anacardy because it is very like it for the sharpe iuyce that is betweene the partitions Reade more hereafter in Carolus Clusius his obseruations vppon Graciam first Booke and third Chapter Cajus groweth on trées like apple trées and are of the bignes of a Peare at one end by the stalk somewhat sharp and at the head thicker of a yelowish colour being ripe they are soft in hādling they grow very like aples for wher the apples haue a stalke these Cajus haue a Chesnut as big as the fore ioynt of a mans thumb they haue an other colour and fashion then the Chesnuts of Iaqua and are better more sauorie to eate but they must be rosted within they are white like y e Chesnuts of Europa but haue thicker shelles which are of colour blewish and dark gréene When they are raw and vnrosted you must not open them with your mouth for as soone as you put them to your mouth they make both your tongue and your lippes to smart whereby such as know it not are deceiued wherefore you must open their shelles with a knife or rost them and then they wil péele This fruite at the end wher the stalke groweth in the eating doth worke in a mans throate and maketh it swel yet it is of a fyne taste for it is moyst and full of iuice they are commonlie cut in round slices and layd in a dish with water or wyne and salt throwne vpon them for so they do not worke so strōglie but are verie good and sauorie to eate the time when they are ripe is in Lent and in Winter time like Mangas but not so good as Mangas or Ananas and of lesse account They are likewise in great numbers ouer all India The 53. Chapter Of Iambos IN India ther is an other fruit that for the beautie pleasant taste smell and medicinable vertue thereof is worthie to bee written of and is of great account in India being first brought out of Malacca into India The tree whereon this fruite groweth is as great as the greatest Orange tree in all Spaine with manye branches which spread verie broade and make much shadow and is faire to behold The bodie and great branches thereof haue an ash colour-gray barke the leaues are faire soft longer then the breadth of a hand they are somewhat like the point of a Speare or Pike with a thicke threed or veine in the midle and many small veines or branches in the sides outwardly verie greene and inwardly somewhat bleaker with blossomes of a liuely darke Purple colour with many streekes in the middle verie pleasant to beholde and of taste like the twynings or tendrels of a Vine The fruite is as bigge as a Peare or as some are of opinion of the bignesse and colour of a great Spanish Wal-nut they tooke their name of a King Ther are two sorts of this fruit one a browne red seeming as though it were blacke most part without stones and more sauory then the other which is a palered or a pale Purple colour with a liuely smell of Roses and within it hath a little white hard stone not verie rounde much like a Peach stone white and couered with a rough skin This is not ful so great as the other yet are they both fit for such as haue daintie and licorous mouthes They smel like sweete Roses they are colde and moyst and altogether soft couered with a thinne Rinde which cannot be taken off with a knife The Iambos tree taketh deepe roote within foure yeares after it is set doth beare fruit and that many times in one yeare and is neuer without fruite or blossomes for that commonly euerie branch hath both
Indian writing vpon it you may sée some at D. Paludanus house which I gaue him for a present These trées are for the most part in the Islands of Maldiua wâ—ere there are Cocus Nuttes that are excellent good against poyson Garsius and Costa esteeme this for a fable Costa writeth that he hath searched into it many times but found it contrarie as I likewise haue done and can finde no such great effect Those Islandes haue no other dealing or liuing but with Cayro whereof they make ropes and Cables and with the Copra or the white substance of the Cocus whereof Oyle is made so y t they doe oftentimes come into India wheÌ„ the ship all the furniture victuaile and marchandise is onely of those Palme trées whereby it is wel to be considered that it is one of the greatest principalest traffiques and victuaâ—ls in all India This shall suffice for the description of the particular commodities of this trée the liuely picture whereof is here to be séene together with the Cocus or Nuttes and the pottes hanging at the same to draw y e water out of them as also the growing and sprowting of the Fig trées as well with fruit as with blossoms all liuely set downe The 57. Chapter Of the Duryoens a fruit of Malacca DVryoen is a fruit y t only groweth in Malacca and is so much comeÌ„ded by those which haue proued y e same that there is no fruite in the world to bee compared with it for they affirme that in taste and goodnes it excelleth all kind of fruits and yet when it is first opened it smelleth like rotten onions but in the taste the swéetnes and daintinesse thereof is tryed It is as great as a Mellon outwardly like the Iaacka wherof I haue spoken but somewhat sharper or pricking and much like the huskes of Chesnuttes It hath within it certaine partitions like the Iaacka wherein the fruit groweth being of the greatnesse of a little Hennes egge and therein are the Nuttes as great as Peache stones The fruite is for colour and taste like an excellent meat much vsed in Spaine called Mangâ—ar Blanco which is made of Hennes flesh distilled with Sugar The trees are like the Iaacka trées the blossoms white and somewhat yellowish the leaues about halfe a spanne broad somewhat sharpe at the end within light gréene and without darke gréene Arundo Indica femoris pene habiti crassitudine Indiaens riet wasschende inde dick te van cen mans dije ofte been Indicus en truncus brachijs sepandit opacis Grata etiam ut justis umbra sit agminibus Vt nova protrudens in apertas exerat auras Grandia germinibus sustinet ipsa suis Arbor admiranda quae e ramis novos in terram truncos dimittens tam lata tandem occupat spatia ut justum exercitum umbra possit contegere Ficum Indicam vocant Een wonderbaerlicken boom welcke wt haere rancken weder neer waerts wortelen beslaet ten laetsten soo veel plaets datter cen vol sleegen leeger mach onder berusten Duriones fructus jucunda saporis suavitate prae alijs omni bus habiti eximij nascuntur tantum in Mallacca Die vruchten diemen Durioens noemt boven alle ander van smaeck en lieffelick heyt gepreesen wassen alleen in Mallacca Ecce tibi ramum nigra quem nox suavibus ornat Exuit ornatum floribus alma dies Vt decus hoc una vigeatque et defluat hora Continuas obeunt illa diesque vices Traxit et hinc nomen tristi quod squalido trunco Auricomum rutilo cum nitet orbe jubar Haud secus et nostro quae sensu splendida fumos Esse fidem veri hâ—x rediuma facit Arbor soli Indiae nota cui per totum annum occidente sole flores gignuntur multi et odoratu suaves oriente defluunt unde tristis illi nomen Een boom welcke in Indien alleen bekent is in t ondergaen vande Son voort brengende veel welrieckende bloemen welcke alle in t opgaen vande selve weder af vallen en dat het gantsche Iaer door This fruit is hot and moist and such as will eat them must first treade vpon them softly with his foote and breake the prickes that are about them Such as neuer eate of it before when they smell it at the first thinke it senteth like a rotten Onyon but hauing tasted it they esteeme it aboue all other fruites both for taste and sauour This fruite is also in such account with the learned Doctors that they think a man can neuer be satisfied therwith and therefore they giue this fruite an honourable name and write certaine Epigrammes thereof yet there is great abundance of theÌ„ in Malacca the apples cost not aboue four Meruedies the peece specially in the Monthes of Iune Iuly and August at other times the price is higher Here you must note a wonderful contrarietie that is betweene this fruit Duriaoen and the hearbe Bettele which in truth is so great that if there were a whole shippe shoppe or house full of Duriaoens wherein there lay certayne leaues of Bettele all the Duriaoens wold presently rotte and bee spoyled And likewise by eating ouer many of those Duriaoens they heat the Maw make it swell and one leafe of Bettele to the contrarie being laide colde vppon the hart will presently cease the inflamation rising or swelling of the Maw And so if after you haue eaten Duriaoens you chance to eat a leafe or two of Bettele you can receyue no hurt by the Duriaoens although you haue eaten neuer so many Hereupon and because they are of so pleasant a taste the common saying is that men can neuer be satisfied with them The 58. Chapter Of the tree Arbore de Rays that is root tree and the Bambus or reede of India THere is a trée in India called Arbore de Rays that is to say a Trée of rootes this trée is very wonderfull to beholde for that wheÌ„ it groweth first vp like all other trées and spreadeth the branches theÌ„ y e branches grow ful of roots grow downwards again towards the earth where they take roote againe and so are fast againe within the ground and in length of time the broader the trée is and that the branches doe spreade themselues the more roots doe hang vpon the branches and séeme a farre off to bée cordes of Hempe so that in the ende the trée couereth a great peece of ground and crosseth one roote within the other like a Mase I haue séene trees that haue contayned at the least some thirtie or fortie paces in compasse and all out of the rootes which came from aboue one of the braunches and were fast growne and had taken roote againe within the earth and in time waxed so thicke that it could not be discerned which was the chief or principal trunke or body of the trée in some places you may creepe betweene the rootes and the more the tree spreadeth so much the more
eateth a dozen or two of the same leaues or more not that they vse them for foode but after their meale tides in the morning and all the day long as likewise by night and as they goe abroad in the stréetes wheresoeuer they be you shal sée them with some of these leaues in their handes which continually they are chawing These leaues are not vsed to bee eaten alone but because of their bitternesse they are eaten with a certaine kinde of fruit which the Malabares and Portingales call Arecca the Gusurates and Decanijns Supariâ— and the Arabians Fauffel This fruite groweth on trees like the Palme trées that beare the Nut Cocus in India but they are somewhat thinner with the leaues somewhat longer and smaller The fruit is much like the fruit that groweth on Cipresse trees or like a Nutmeg though some of them are on the one side flat on the other side thicker some being somewhat greater and very hard They cut them in the middle with a knife and so chaw them with Bettele they are within ful of veines white and somwhat reddish There is a kinde of Arecca called Cechaniin which are lesse blacker and very hard yet are likewise vsed with Bettele and haue no taste but onlie of the wood and yet it moysteneth the mouth and coloureth it both red and blacke whereby it séemeth that the lips and the teeth are painted with blacke blood which happeneth when the Arecca is not well dried There is another sort which in the eating or chawing beeing swallowed downe maketh men light in the heade as if they had drunke wine all the day long but that is soone past They vse yet another mixture which they eate withall that is to say a cake or role made of a certaine wood or tree called Kaate and then they annoint the Bettele leaues with chalke made of burnt oyster shelles which can doe no hurt in their bodies by reason of the small quantitie of it all this being chawed togeather and the Iuice swallowed downe into their bodies for all the rest they spit forth they say it is very good for the maw and against a stinking breath a soueraigne medecine for the teeth and fastning of gummes and very good against the Schorbucke and it is most true that in India verie few men are found with stinking breathes or tooth aches or troubled with the Scorbuch or any such diseases and although they be neuer so old they alwaies haue their teeth whole and sound but their mouthes and teeth are still as if they were painted with black blood as I said before and neuer leaue spitting reddish spittle like blood The Portingale women haue the like custome of eating these Bettele leaues so that if they were but one day without eating their Bettele they perswade themselues they could not liue Yea they set it in the night times by their Beddes heades and when they cannot sleepe they doe nothing els but chaw Bettele and spit it out againe In the day time wheresoeuer they doe sit goe or stand they are continually chawing thereof like Oxen or Kine chawing their cud for the whole exercise of many Portingale women is onely all the day long to wash themselues and then fal to the chawing of their Bettele There are some Portingales that by the common custome of their wiues eating of Bettele doe likewise vse it When the Indian women go to visit one an other the Bettele goeth with them and the greatest pleasure or entertainement they can shew one to the other is presently to present them with some Bettele Arecca and chalke in a woodden dish which they kéepe onely for that purpose This Bettele is to bee sold in euery corner and streete and shoppe of the towne as also in euery high way for trauellers and passengers and is ready prepared that is to say so many Bettele leaues one Arecca some chalke and many times some Cate for such as desire to haue it which they commonly keepe in their houses or beare in their hands in a woodden painted dish and so eate in this sort first a peece of Arecca and Cate which they chaw after that a leafe of Bettele and with the naile of their thumbe which they purposely weare sharpe and long not round as wee doe they pull the veines or stringes out of the leafe and so smeare it with chalke and rowling it together they thrust it in their mouthes and chaw it The first â—ap thereof they spit forth and say that thereby they purge the head and the maw of all euill and flegmaticke humors and their spittle being as fowle as blacke blood which colour proceedeth from the Arecca the rest of the Iuice they swallow downe The Indians goe continually in the stréetes and waies with Bettele and the other mixtures chawing in their handes specially wheÌ„ they go to speake with any man or come before a great Lord therby to retaine a good smell and to keepe their breathes swéet and if they should not haue it in that sort with them whensoeuer they meete or speake with any man of account it were a great shame for them The women likewise when they accompany secretly with their husbands doe first eat a little Bettele which they think maketh them apter to the game All the Indians eate it after their meales saying that otherwise their meate wold vpbraide them and rise in their stomakes and that such as haue vsed to eate it and leaue it doe presently get a stincking breath They doe at certaine times forbeare the eating of Bettele as when any of their neerest friends die and also on certain fasting daies as likewise some Arabians and the followers of Ali Mahomets brother in lawe doe vpon their fasting dayes In Malabar this leafe is called Bettele in Decam Gusurate and Canam it is called Pam in Malaion Siri by Auicenna Tambul but better by others Tambul Auicenna sayeth that Bettele strengthneth the maw and fastneth the flesh of the Gummes for which purpose the Indians doe vse it but where he affirmeth those leaues to be cold in the first degree and drying in the second it is not so for either his Booke is false printed for hee was deceiued therein for those leaues are hotte and drie in the end of the second degree as Garcius ab Horto himself hath found out likewise the taste and smell therof doe affirme it to be so This Bettele is like a Citron leafe but somewhat longer sharpe at the ende hauing certaine veines that runne along the leafe The rypest are holden to bee the best and are of colour yellowish although some women chuse the vnripe because they are pleasanter in the chawing The leaues doe wither by much handling The Bettele in Malacca beareth a fruit like the tayle of an Efte which because it tasteth well is eaten it is planted like a Vine vpon stickes as Hoppes with vs. Some for their greater benefit Plant it among Pepper and among Arecca and there of doe make a
pleasant Gallerie This Bettele must be carefully looked vnto and often watered He that desireth to knowe more hereof let him reade the worthie commentaries of learned Clusius vppon the Chapter of Garcius touching Bettele The Noblemen and Kings wheresoeuer they goe stand or sit haue alwaies a seruant by them with a Siluer ketle in their hand full of Bettele and their mixtures and when they will eat giue them a leafe ready prepared And when any Ambassadour commeth to speake with the King although the King can vnderstand them well yet it is their maner to maintaine their estates that the Ambassadour speaketh vnto them by an interpreter that standeth there in presence which done be answereth againe by the same interpreter In the meane time the King lyeth on a bed or else sitteth on the ground vppon a Carpet and his seruant standeth by readie with the Bettele which he continually chaweth and spitteth out the Iuyce and the remainder thereof into a Siluer Bason standing by him or else holden by some one of his slaues or his wiues this is a great honour to the Ambassadour specially if he profereth him of the same Bettele that he himselfe doth eate To conclude it is their common vse to eate it which because it is their dayly exercise and that they consume so much I haue made y e longer discourse the better to vnderstand it although somewhat hath béene said thereof in other places The Kings Lords of India vse pilles made of Arecca Cate and Camphora with beaten Lignum aloes and a little Amber which they eate altogether with Bettele and Chalke in stéede of Arecca Some mixe Bettele with Licium some and those of the richer mightier sort with Campher others with Lignum aloes Muske and Amber Grijs and beeing so prepared is pleasant of taste and maketh a sweet breath There are some that chaw Arecca either with Cardamomum or with Cloues Within the lande farre from the Sea those leaues are solde verie deare It is said that the King of Decan Mizamoxa spendeth yearely thereof to the valew of aboue thirtie thousand Milreyes This is their banquetting stuffe and is giuen them by trauellers and the Kings giue it to their Subiects To the rich they giue thereof being mixed with their owne hands and to others they send it by their seruants When they send any man of Ambassage or otherwise there are certaine Silke Purses full of prepared Bettele deliuered vnto him and no man may depart before it be deliuered him for it is a signe or token of his passe port By the pictures hereafter following you may sée the figures of the fruites of Malacca called Duryoens y e trée Arbore de Rays or roote trée likewise the thicke Réedes named by the Portingales Bambu and by the Indians Mambu with the trée called Arbore Triste or the sorrowfull trée as it is both by day and by night and the trée whereon Arecca doth grow as likewise the Bettele And because Pepper is oftentimes planted at the foote of the Arecca trée where it groweth and clymeth vp round about the body thereof I haue set it downe in the same order as it groweth The description whereof shall in an other place bee shewed among the Spices and drugges of India as also the Hearbes seruing for Physicke and Apothecarie ware c. The 61. Chapter Of the Hearbe Dutroa and a Plant called Herba Sentida or the feeling Hearbe THe Hearbe called Dutroa is verie common in India and groweth in euerie fielde the leafe thereof is sharpe at the ende like the pointe of a Speare and is indented on the edges like the leafe of Beares claw and about that bignesse hauing in it many long thréedes or veines it groweth without taste or moysture and somewhat bitter and smelling like a Raddish The flower or blossome of this Plant is verie like vnto the blossome of Rose-marie in colour and out of this blossome groweth a bud much like the bud of Popie wherein are certaine small kernels like the kernels of Melons which being stamped and put into any meate wine water or any other drinke or composition and eaten or drunke therewith maketh a man in such case as if hee were foolish or out of his wittes so that he doth nothing else but laugh without any vnderstanding or sence once to perceiue any thing that is done in his presence And some time it maketh him sléepe as if he were dead in that sort he continueth for the space of twentie foure houres but if his féete bee washed with colde water then hee commeth to himselfe againe before the twentie fower howers be expired This Herbe the Indian and Portingall women vse much to giue vnto their husbandes and often times when they are disposed to bee merrie with their secrete louers they giue it him and goe in his presence and performe their leacherie together and taking their husband by the beard they will call him Cornudo with other such like iestes the man not knowing any thing thereof but sitteth with his eyes open not doing or saying any thing but laugh and grin like a foole or a man out of his wits and when the time commeth that he reuiueth out of his transe he knoweth nothing what was done but thinketh that hee had slept This Hearbe the slaues vse likewise to giue their masters and mistresses therby to robbe them and to breake open their Chests which is oftentimes done this Dutroa must bee vsed in measure because it is a kind of poyson for if a man giue too much thereof hee may bring a man to his ende vnlesse some strong and present remedie be taken by some conterpoyson or Purgation The remedy thereof consisteth in medicines which cause vomiting for he must cast al out of his body meate or what soeuer is remaining in his Maw then take diuers purgations and strong Glâ—ers as also hard rubbing binding both hands and feete together with letting bloud in the great toeâ— This Hearbe groweth in all places in aboundance and although it is forbidden to be gathered or once vsed neuerthelesse those that are the principal forbidders of it are such as dayly eate thereof for their owne wiues sakes that thereby they might fulfill their pleasures with other men which is the common liuing of them all some few excepted Some men are so vsed to eate and drink Dutroa not knowing of it that tasting onely of the Iuice of the leaues they are presently in a transe and so the wife is well assured and without all feare to satisfie her lust This and such like Hearbes there are in India and are much vsed for that all the care studie that y e women and wiues of India haue is day and night to deuise meanes to satisfie then pleasures and to increase lust by all the deuises they can imagine and to make their bodies the apter thereunto Which to effect they know all the diuelish inuentions and practises which is like the
doe the rootes spring out of the same branches and still grow downe til they come to earth and there take roote againe within the ground and still increase with rootes that it is a wonder This tree hath no fruit that is worth the eating but a small kind of fruite like Oliues good for nothing but for birdes to eate Carolus Clusius that hath written very diligently of this tree nameth it by authoritie out of Plinie the Indian Fig tree and saith it groweth very high first out of a straight thicke trunke or body that afterwarde yeeldeth many small and thinne twigges which being young and tender are of a gold yellow colour and growing downewardes towardes the earth doe waxe againe like young Rushes and so make as it were new trees again which in time become as thicke as the first so that they cannot easily be discerned one from the other sauing onely for the compasse thereof which in the ende proceedeth to the thicknesse of three mens fadomes out of the which roundnesse or circuit on euery side there groweth other rootes and â—o to an innumerable number so that this tree doth couer sometimes a little Italian mile and doth not onely spread from the lowest branches down againe into the ground but also from the highest whereby that one tree seemeth to be a thicke woode The Indians that they may go through this tree do cut away some of the branches and make as it were galleries to walke vnder and to keepe them from the heate of the Sunne because the tree is so full of branches that the Sun cannot shine through it and by reason of the many crookinges and wayes that are vnder this tree there are many soundes of a great Eccho hearde vnder the same so that in many places it will repeate a mans words three or foure times together He that tolde Clusius of this tree saide hee had seene 800. or 1000. men whereof hee himselfe was one hide themselues vnder one of those trees saying further that there were some of those trees which might well couer 3000. men vnder it the leaues which the new branches bring forth are like the leaues of the Quince trees the outside green the inside whitish rough as if they were couered with Wooll whose leaues are much desired by Elephants who therewith are nourished the fruit is like the first ioint of a mans thumbe and haue the fashion forme of little small figges reddish both within and without and ful of little greines like common figges sweet of taste and good to be eaten but not so pleasant as our common figs they grow between the leaues the new branches as our Figges doe it groweth in Goa and in some places bordering on the same also Clusius saith out of Curtius Plinius and Strabo that those trees were also knowne of the auncient writers Hee that desireth to know more hereof let him reade Clusius in his Chapter of Indian Figges There are in India other wonderfull and thicke trées whereof shippes are made there are trées by Cochiin that are called Angelina whereof certaine scutes or Skiffes called Tones are made there are of those Tones that will lade in them at the least 20. or 30. Pipes of water and are cut out of one péece of wood without any péece or seame or any iointes whereby men may well coniecture the thicknesse of the trée and it is so strong and hard a woode that Iron in tract of time would bee consumed thereby by reason of the hardnesse of the woode There are also ouer all India many Sugar Canes in all places and in great numbers but not much estéemed of all along the coast of Malabare there are many thicke Reeds specially on the coast of Choramandel which Reedes by the Indians are called Mambu and by the Portingales Bambu these Mambus haue a certain matter within them which is as it were the pith of it such as Quilles haue within them which men take out when they make them pennes to write the Indians call it Sacar Mambu which is as much to say as Sugar of Mambu and is a very medicinable thing much esteemed and much sought for by the Arabians Persians and Moores that call it Tabaxiir Tabaxijr is a Persian word signifieth no other thing but a certaine white or milke moisture for any sap or moisture cleauing together is called Sacar Mambu because the reeds or branches which bring forth the same are called Mambu the trees whereon Tabaxijr groweth are some as great as a Popler and some smaller commonly hauing straight vpright branches sauing that some of the fayrest of them are bowed for their galleries Arbours and other walking places they haue many ioyntes each of a spanne length hauing leaues somewhat longer then the leaues of the Oliue tree betweene euery ioynt there is a certain sweete moysture white and cleauing together like Starch sometimes much sometimes little euery tree or branch doth not bring forth such sweet moisture but such onely as grow in Bisnagar and in some prouinces of Malabar And therefore commonly in Persia and Arabia it is weighed against siluer and is a marchandise much vsed esteemed among y e foresaide nations this groweth within the ioynts of the reed is white and sometimes blackish and sometimes Ash colour It is not therefore reiected or cast away because it is blackish for this blackishnesse proceedeth either by reason of the superfluitie of the moysture or that it was too long inclosed within the tree not by burning of the tree as some are of opinion Rhases writeth hereof in his third book and 36. Chap. and Serapio in his booke of phisicke in the 342. Chapter and Auicenna in his 2. booke and 617. Chapter who are of opinion that Tabaxijr is made of burnt rootes but his opinion is hereby proued to be false The Indians vse it against the payne in their priuie members or such like secrete diseases as also against hotte or burning feauers the Colerica passio and the redde Malison and laskines with such like diseases Those réeds grow most in the coast of Choramandel in Bisnagar and Malacca in many places and in great abundance they growe very high and are diuided in each ioynt one knot from another at the least a spanne and a halfe and rather more and are as thicke as a mans leg aboue the knee they do commonly grow vpright and most of them as high as the highest house in the Low countries they bow them many times in growing that they may bring them into a forme or fashion to serue for their Pallamkins wherein the Portingalles and Indian Lordes are caried as I saide before the leaues of those réedes or Bambus growe wide one from another and haue almost the fashion of an Oliue leafe Of the tree or reede called Bambus some of the Indians make scutes or little Skiffes wherein two men may sitte which they doe not altogether make hollow within but leaue
two knots or partitions vncarued In those scutes the Indians sit naked at ech end one crosse legged in each hand an oare wherewith they rule the boate and driue her swiftly against the streame specially in the riuer called Cranganor and they are of this opinion that those Scutes are neuer ouerturned by the Crocodiles although they come about them as others are but for these it was neuer heard of The 59. Chapter Of the tree called Arbore Triste THe Tree called Arbore Triste that is the sorrowfull tree is so called because it neuer beareth blossoms but in the night time and so it doeth and continueth all the yeare long it is a thing to be wondred at for that so soone as the Sunne setteth there is not one blossome seene vppon the tree but presently within halfe an houre after there are as many blossomes vppon it as the Tree can beare they are very pleasant to behold and smell very sweet and so soone as the day commeth on and the Sunne is rising presently all the blossomes fall off and couer all the ground so that there remayneth not one to be seene vpon the tree the leaues shut themselues close together so that it seemeth as though it were dead vntill euening commeth againe and then it beginneth to blossome as it did before the tree is as great as a Plum tree and is commonly planted behinde mens houses in their gardens for a pleasure and for the sweet smell it groweth very quickly vp for that many young plantes do spring out of the roote and as soone as those young plantes be aboue halfe a fadome high they haue presently as many blossoms vppon them as the branches on the trees and although they cut the tree down to the ground yet within lesse then halfe a yeare there will branches spring out of the roote and likewise if you breake a branch off from the tree set it in the earth it will presently take root and grow within few dayes after beareth blossoms the blossomes are in a manner like Orange tree blossomes the flowre being white and in the bottome somewhat yellow and reddish which in India they vse for Saffron therewith to dresse their meats and to die with all as wee doe with our Saffron but it is neyther so good nor of so pleasant a taste yet it serueth there for want of the other Some say that the water of this tree being distilled is good for the eyes steeping linnen clothes in it and so laying them to the eyes This tree is found in no place but in Goa and Malacca in some other places where the Portingalles inhabiting haue planted them for that they first came out of Malacca into India but within the land there is none they are called in the Malayan tongue Singady in Decanun Parisatico in Decan Pul of the Arabians Guart of the Persians and Turkes Gâ—l The cause of this name as the Indians say is that a Gentleman â—alled Parisatico had a faire daughter of whom the Sunne became amorous and in the end obtained his pleasure of her but not long after he fell in loue with another forsook her wherupon she falling into dispaire killed herselfe and according to the custome of the countrie her body was burnt of whose ashes they say this tree sprang vp and for the same cause was called Parisaâ—ico and therefore they say by reason of the hatred it beareth vnto the Sunne it neuer bringeth foorth blossome or flowre but hy night and in the day time for griefe they presently fall off The description of this Tree by Christopherus de Costa is set downe in this manner that it is of the greatnes and similitude of a plumme tree with many small branches seperated by diuers knots and partitions the leaues growing two and two together and as bigge as plumme tree leaues soft and rough on the out side verie like to leaues of Sage and inwardlie greene and somewhat sharp but not so vneuen on the sides as plumme leaues neyther yet so full of veines In the middle betweene the two leaues there groweth a little stalke whereon are fiue small heads out of them foure little rough leaues out of the middest wherof there doe spring fiue small white blossomes of the greatnesse and forme of Orange blossomes but somewhat smaller fairer and sweeter The stalke seemeth more red than yellow wherewith the Indians colour their meate as wee doe with Saffron The greene fruite is of the greatnes of a Lupyne and in fashion like a little hart somwhat long and deuided in the middle hauing two places wherein the seed doth lie which is also like a hart and as bigge as the seeds of Saint Iohns bread couered with a greene Skin and somewhat bitter Of all other Trees these are the pleasantest of smell so that they bee not handled for if they be they doe presently loose their sweetnes and smell The Indians are of opinion that these flowers doe quicken and comfort the heart but they are somewhat bitter the Heathens likewise doe account the seede among their medicines that strengthen the hart The flowers may be vsed in meat the seed hath oftentimes bin caried into Portingall and there sowed but neuer would grow what meanes soeuer they vsed the flowers fall off when the sunne riseth as Clusius saith eyther by reason of some contrariety or because of the subtill nature of the sap which the beames of the Sunne doe drie and consume for those wheron the Sunne shineth not stay somewhat longer on the tree These flowers are very carefully gathered whereof a very sweet and pleasant water is distilled which is called water de Mogli some of this seede was brought me out of India by Iohn Hughen which I sowed in the grouÌ„d but it came not forth The 60. Chapter Of the Bettele leaues the fruit Arecca THe leaues called Bettâ—eâ—e or Bettre which is very common in India and dayly eaten by the Indians doe grow in all places of India where the Portingals haue discouerd not with in the countrie but only on the sea coast vnlesse it bee some small quantitie It wil not growe in cold places as China nor in ouer hot places as Mosambique and Sofala and because it is so much vsed I haue particularly set it downe in this place although it is already spoken of in many other places You must vnderstand that this Bettele is a leafe somewhat greater and longer out than Orange leaues and is planted by sticks wherevpon it climeth like Iuie or pepper and so like vnto pepper that a farre off growing each by other they can hardlie bee descerned It hath no other fruite but the leaues only it is much dressed and looked vnto for that it is the dayly breade of India The leaues being gathered doe continue long without withering alwaies shewing fresh and greene and are sold by the dozen and there is not any woman or man in all India but that euery day