of their refreshments at this place In the Isle of Teneriffe there is a Mountain called El Piâ—o de Terraira It is certainly the highest Mountain in the World since that a man cannot get it up in less then three dayes and that must be too either in Iuly or August in as much as all the year besides it is covered with Snow though there never fall any in those Islands It is so high that it may be seen at the distance of sixty Leagues and from the top of it a man may discover and easily count all the other Canary Islands though some of them be above fifty leagues distant from this The Island of Fierro is also one of the most considerable of all the Canaries and I conceive that name to be given it upon this account that its soil not affording so much as a drop of fresh water seems to be of Iron And indeed there is in this Island neither River nor Rivulet nor Well nor Spring save that towards the Sea-side there are some Wells but they lie at such a distance from the City that the Inhabitants can make no use thereof But the great Preserver and Sustainer of all remedies this inconvenience by a way so extraordinary that a man will be forced to sit down and acknowledge that he gives in this an undeniable Demonstration of his Goodness and infinite Providence For in the middest of the Island there is a Tree which is the only one in its kind in as much as it hath no resemblance to those mentioned by us in this Relation nor to any other known to us in Europe The leaves of it are long and narrow and continue in a constant verdure Winter and Summer and its branches are covered with a Cloud which is never dispelled but resolved into a moisture which causes to fall from its leaves a very clear Water and that in such abundance that the Cisterns which are placed at the foot of the Tree to receive it are never empty but contain enough to supply both men and beasts Some affirm that above a hundred leagues West of the Canâ—ries there is sometimes seen an Island called St. Borondon which they say is very delightful and fertile and inhabited by Christians yet can it not be said what Language they speak nor how the Island came to be peopled The Spaniards of the Canaries have often endeavoured to find out the said Island but whether it be that it is alwayes covered with a thick mist which hinders it from being discovered or that the current of the water thereabouts was so strong that it is a hard matter to land thereat certain it is that as yet it subsists only in the opinion wherewith most Sea-men are prepossessed that certainly there is an Island in those parts The 30th of November the wind South-south-west we got 31. leagues to the North-east and were at noon got to 40. degrees 32. minutes Latitude December 3. With the same wind we got 34. Leagues taking our course North-east The 4. The wind North-east carried us twenty seven Leagues to East-north-east The 5. The wind came to South-west and continuing the same course we got 34. leagues This day it was just eleven moneths that we had been tossed up and down the Sea for we left Surat the 5. of Ianuary though our Voyage had been prosperous enough ever since our departure from the Island of Madagâ—â—ear The 6. The same wind was heightned into a tempest but having it Easterly we got 50. leagues that day When a man is once come to the Azores he may assure himself all the year after of a West-wind which will bring him into England and never almost turns to South or North though it may sometimes vary some points of the Compass from one side to the other The 7. The wind came to the North-west and we got 39. Leagues to East-north-east The 8. The wind turn'd to South-west and was so high that we got 47. leagues keeping on the same course The 9. The wind South-south-west we got 31. leagues to North-north-east We were this day at 49. degrees 13. minutes It was very cold and we found bottom at 68. fathom the Sand very white In the evening we founded again and found some change in the Sand which was yellower then that in the morning at fifty three fathom water The wind changed at night and coming to North-east was just in our teeth The 10. About noon the wind came to south-South-west and we found we had got 22. Leagues The 11. At break of day we saw two English Vessels and soon after we discovered on our left hand that point of England which is called The Lands end and in the County of Cornwal The wind was against us which oblig'd us to endeavour doubling the point by Laveering We made shift to get that day 16. Leagues The 12. The wind still contrary we continued Laveering We saw another English Vessel but could not come near it The 13. The wind south-South-west and South-south-west we continued our course to East-south-east and to East with a point towards the South We got that day 64. Leagues and were at 49. degrees Latitude Then we chang'd our course taking it to East-north-east to get into the channel which divides England from France The 14. we saw two Scotch Ships and a Dunkirker We came somewhat near them but the Sea made such a noise that we could not possibly hear one the other The 15. We continued our course to East-north-east and met three Dutch Ships bound for Brâ—sil That day we passed in sight of the Isle of Wight which lies at 50. degrees 36. minutes Latitude and at 19. degrees and 4. minutes Longitude The 16. About 10. in the morning we passed in sight of Dover-Castle and at noon came to the Downs We cast Anchor near three men of war which lay at Anchor in the same Road and thus we compleated our Voyage in the 12. month after our departure from Surat There were in the same Road above a hundred other ships lying at Anchor in expectation of some change of weather which was then so boystrous that for two days we could not get out of our Ship The Lord Admiral who commanded the Men of War ventured to send his Shallop to our Ship to congratulate the Presidents safe return The 19. The wind being somewhat laid the Admiral invited the President to dinner I went along with him and participated of the civility wherewith he received him I must confess I was somewhat surprised to see upon the Sea such a prodigious quantity of silver Plate and a Table as well furnished as that I may boldly say the King was not better served at London then the Admiral was in his Vessel We were so well treated there that night began to draw on ere we got away Our Ship was not above a Musket shot from the Admiral 's but we were no sooner got into our boat
The Great Duke sent us for the solemnity of the enterment a Pristaf and 15. white Horses out of his own Stables The 9. We had our second private Audience The 10. being Palm-Sunday the Muscovites had a noble Procession to represent our Saviour's entrance into Ierusalem and that we might the more conveniently see it having express'd our desires to that purpose the Great Duke sent the Ambassadors their ordinary Horses and fifteen others for their retinue He order'd also to be kept for us a place near the Castle-Gate whence they drove out the people which had throng'd in to the number of 10000. The Persian Ambassadors were plac'd behind us in the little Theatre we have spoken of before The Great Duke having been at service in our Lady's Church came out of the Castle with the Patriarch in very good order First came a very large Chariot made of boards nail'd together but low drawing after it a Tree on which hung abundance of Apples Figs and Grapes In it were four little Boys with surplisses who sung the Hosanna Then follow'd many Priests in their surplisses and copes carrying Crosses Banners and Images upon long Poles some of them sung others cast Incense among the people Next came the Goses or Duke's Merchants after them the Diaken Clerks Secretaries Knez and Boâ—ares having most of them Palms in their hands and went immediately before the Great Duke who was most richly clad with a Crown upon his head supported by the two principal Counsellors of State Knez Iuan Borisowits Cyrcaski and Knez Alexey Michaelouits Won and led himself by the bridle the Patriarch's Horse which was cover'd with Cloath and made to represent an Asse The Patriarch who rid on him had on his head a round white Satin Cap beset with rich Pearls and about it a very rich Crown He had in his right hand a Cross of Diamonds wherewith he bless'd the people who receiv'd his benediction with great submission bowing their heads and incessantly making the sign of the Cross. About and behind him were Metropolitans Bishops and other Priests whereof some carried Books others Censers About fifty little Boys most clad in red put off their Casacks and scatter'd them along the way others had pieces of Cloath about an Ell-square of all colours which they laid on the ground for the Great Duke and Patriarch to pass over The Great Duke being come over against us made a halt and sent his principal Interpreter Iohn Helmes to ask after our health and went not on till our answer was brought him This done he went into the Church where he stay'd about half an hour In his return he stopp'd again at the same place to give the Ambassadors notice that he would send them a Dinner from his own Table which yet was not done but instead thereof our ordinary allowance was doubled The honour the Great Duke did the Patriarch in leading his horse is worth to him 400 Crowns which the Patriarch is oblig'd to give him Upon Pain-Sunday the same Ceremonies were observ'd all over Muscovy the Metropolitanes and Bishops representing the person of the Patriarch the Weiwodes or Governours that of the Great Duke April 17. was their Easter-day 'T is the greatest of all their Festivals and they celebrate it with abundance of Ceremonies and great rejoycings as well in remembrance of our Saviour's Resurrection as that it puts a period to their Lent The streets were all full of a sort of Merchants who sold Eggs of all sorts of colours which the Muscovites send by way of Present one to another for a fortnight together after Easter during which time when they meet they kiss each other and their salutation is in these words Christos wos Chrest that is Christ is risen whereto the other answers Wostin wos Chrest that is He is risen indeed No person what condition sex or other quality soever he be of dares refuse these kisses or the Eggs that are presented to him The Great Duke himself hath Presented some to the principal Counsellors and Lords of his Court He is wont also on Easter-day betimes in the morning to visit the Prisoners before he goes to Church and to order every one to have an Egg given him and some sheep-skin for bestow'd on them exhorting them to rejoyce since Christ dy'd for their sins and was now truly risen again That done he causes the Prison-doors to be shut again and goes to his Devotions Their greatest rejoycings consist in Feasts and good Cheer but especially in debauches in common drinking-houses which are full of all sorts of persons Men and Women Ecclesiastick and Laicks who get so drunk that the streets are pav'd with Drunkards The present Patriarch hath prohibited them and order'd that on Easter-day no drinking places should be open but he is not much obey'd April 29. The Ambassador Brugman desir'd and had a private audience of the Bojares to which he went alone without his Collegue and but few persons about him It was given him in the Exchequer and lasted above two hours what he treated about we could never learn till afterward by the charge put in against him at our return home May 6. The Ambassadors had together their third conference with the Bojares the 17. the fourth and the 27. the fifth and last private audience May 30. The Great Duke permitted the young Prince's Governour to go a-hawking and to invite to that Divertisement the Gentlemen of our retinue He sent us Horses and carried us two Leagues from the City into most pleasant Meadow grounds Having sported two or three hours we were treated with a Collation under a Tent pitch'd there for that end The treatment was ordinary Strong-water Hydromel Ginger-bread and preserv'd Cherries Iune 1. The Muscovites celebrated with great solemnities the birth-day of their young Prince Knez Iuan Michaelouits Our ordinary allowance of Provisions was doubled The 3. The Ambassador Brugman had a second private conference with the Bojares Iune 14. being Whitsun-eve the Great Duke gave publick audience to all the Ambassadors then in Mosco in order to their departure That of Persia went first to audience he was a Cupzâ—n or Merchant as he came back he had on his other Cloaths according to the Persian custom a Garment of Crimson-Satin lined with the best kind of Sables which the Great Duke had Presented him with After him went the Greeks Armenians and Tartars who in their return caus'd their Letters and the Presents they had receiv'd to be carried before them The 12. Arrived there our Controller who had stay'd at Dantzick to look after the finishing of some Presents which we were to carry into Persia. The Great Duke was gone on a Pilgrimage out of the City and the Chancellor durst not permit the Controller to enter in without his Majesties express order which occasion'd his staying three dayes in the Suburbs The 15. The Great Duke and Dutchess return'd to Moscou The Duke was attended by
consideration that if we had travell'd along the Heath we should have wanted water both for our selves and our Horses We found in that place abundance of Tortoises which had made their Nests along the side of the Torrent and in the Sand of the little Hills thereabouts but all expos'd to the Mid-day Sun so to give the greater heat to their Eggs which cannot be hatch'd but in the Hot or rather burning Sand. Perceiving some men on the other side of the Torrent some of our people had the curiosity to cross it to observe their manner of Life Their Children were stark Naked and Aged persons had nothing about them but a shirt or smock of Cotton The poor people entertain'd us very kindly and brought us some Milk They thought that the King of Persia had sent for us to serve him in his Wars against the Turk out of which perswasion they pray'd for our good success that God would make their and our Enemy fly before us as far as Stampâ—l that is Constantiâ—ople April the 5. we overcame the Heath of Mokan and came to the Mountain and Country of Betzirwan after we had twelve several times cross'd one little River which lay so many times in our way We got that day five leagues and lodg'd at night in a Village called Schechmâ—r at Most of the Houses were built at the foot of the Mountain and some within the Mountain and were cover'd with Reeds but we found not any Body in the Village for those who went along with the Chan of Schamachie's Present for Ispahan had made the Country people believe us they pass'd that way that we were a sort of Barbarous people who thought it not enough to take and ransack all but did also abuse and beat such as entertain'd us upon which accompt of us they were all gone to hide themselves in the Rocks of the neighbouring Mountain There were some of our company who got up a very high Mountain to see what Simples they could find there and to take a view of the adjacent Country but they found not any there and the other nearer Mountains which were higher than that we were upon absolutely deprived us of the sight of the Champain They met not with any thing remarkable there save that upon the very top of the Mountain there was a pleasant Spring near which we saw coming out of the clefts of the Rock a kind of Crabb which some among us who had never seen any before took for some venemous Creature The Author is of opinion that it is a Sea-fish but he is mistaken for it is properly no other animal than that which in Latin is called Cancer is found in Rivers and is of a different species from the common Sea-crabb which is called Acastus We sate down by the Spring-side and in what Liquor nature had furnish'd the place with drunk to our Friends in Germany April 6. We could not possibly get above two Leagues over Mountains and Rocks where we saw a great number of Fig-trees which the Earth produc'd there without any Cultivation We came at night to a ruin'd Village called Tisle but ere we had quite taken up our Quarters and unloaded the Baggage word was brought us that it was the Plague which the Autumn before had consumed 〈◊〉 the Inhabitants of that place whereupon we immediately left it The Ambassadors caus'd a Tent to be pitch'd in the fields but all the rest of the retinue had at first no other covering over their Heads than the Sky till the Mehemandar had sent for some Tartarian Huts which were brought late in the night loaded upon Oxen. These kind of Huts are made of several pieces of Wood which are fasten'd together at the ends so as they may be taken a-sunder or set together in a short time The Sieur Vchterits who had stay'd a while in the Village to see the Baggage loaden and convey'd thence coming to the Ambassadors Tent was so rail'd at by the Ambassador Brugman who reproach'd him that he came from an Infected House to bring the Plague among them that he fell into a Feaver There were some in the Company who finding the weather somewhat close and cold went and lock'd themselves up in a house where they made a good fire and spent the time merrily with the Wine they had kept the day before diverting themselves and singing to drive away Melancholy and to forget the froward humour of the Ambassador Brugman which they were as much afraid of as the unwholsome air The Indians had begun the building of a Caravansera in that place for the convenience of Commerce which was grown to a considerable height but the Plague had hindred them from finishing it The 7. we had a very sad dayes journey of it being forc'd in a continual trot to travel above ten leagues without ever baiting in the cold the wind and the snow which not onely disheartned our people many whereof fell sick but lay so heavy upon the Camels that divers of them fell down under their burthens There is in these parts abundance of Absynthium or Wormwood and we were told that the Herb of it is so venemous that if Horses or any other Creature eat thereof they die immediately upon which accompt it was that we durst not unbit that day About noon we came in sight of a Caravansera called Aggis the structure whereof is of the noblest kind we had seen Not far from it we met a Persian who was excellently well mounted and attended by two servants who told us that the King had sent him to be our Mehemandar to take order for our subsistence and to Conduct us with the soonest to the Court We lodg'd that night in a Village called Tzanlu at the foot of a Mountain where we found excellent Gardens and abundance of fruit-trees but no Wood for firing insomuch that we were forc'd to make use of Cow-dung Hors-dung and Camels-dung We sent away that day our Forrager to take up Quarters for us at Ardebil The 8. having broke our fast we got on Hors-back and after we had travell'd three leagues along the Mountain of Tzizetlu we came to the River Karasu which rises out of the Mountain of Bakru in the Countrey of Kilan VVe cross'd it near the Village of Samajan over a very fair stone bridge containing six noble Arches which were in all thirty eight fathom in length About half a league thence we came to the end of that day's journey to a Village called Thabedar two little leagues from Ardebil where we stay'd that night The next day being Easter-day we saw how the Inhabitants dawb the VValls of their Houses with Dung that the Sun may the sooner dry it and make it combustible but we were also in this place terribly persecuted with Fleas and Lice and other nasty Vermine wherewith we were in a manner cover'd The 9. we Celebrated our Easter beginning the Festival with the firing of our
Governour of Kentza At the entrance of this Gate they demanded our Arms it being not lawful to carry any of any kind whatsoever to the place where the Sepulchre is insomuch that if a Persian were found but with a knife about him it would cost him his life The threshold of this Gate as also of all the following Gates was of white Marble and round and notice was given us not to set our foot upon it but to step over it the right foot foremost out of this reflection that having been kiss'd by so many Millions of Millions of persons it were as they said very irrational that our feet should prophane it Thence we enter'd into another Court which was at least as long as the first but much narrower and pav'd after the same manner having vaults and shops on both sides as the other On the right hand there came out of the Wall by a brass-Cock a fair Fountain the water whereof was brought a League distance thence that they might drink who retir'd thither out of Devotion At the end of this Court on the right hand we were shew'd a very fair and spacious Vault arched above pav'd without with green and blew stones and within hung with Tapistry In the midst of this Vault there were two fair brass Candlesticks with lights in them All along the Walls sate several Priests cloath'd in white who sung as loud as ever they were able expressing a great humility and an extraordinary Devotion by a continual moving from one side to the other which motion was performed by them all at the same time and with the same shaking and that with so much exactness that a man would have thought they had been all fasten'd to the same Cord and that they had been all drawn at the same time This place is called Thschillachane in regard Schich-Sefi retired thither every year to fast eating only for 40 days together but one Almond a day at least if we may believe the Relations of the Persians Thence we pass'd through a third Gate over which there hung also a Silver-Chain bestow'd on the place by Alli-Chan Governour of Kappan in another Court which was less than the two precedent and pav'd all over with little square-stones of several colours We entred into the place where the Sepulchre was by a Gate which was built like a great Tower the Clappers whereof were all cover'd with plates of silver and adorn'd with several Rings of the same Metal which Gate brought us into a great Structure The pavement before the Gate was cover'd with Tapistry to express the holiness of the place and we were told that for the said reason it was expected we should put off our shooes The Ambassadors at first made some difficulty to render that respect to a place for which they could not have any Veneration but perceiving that if they did it not they would not have been permitted to go in they at last resolv'd to comply with the custom The Persians to let them know they did not any thing that might abate ought of their Dignity told them that Schach-Abas himself when he came to see the Sepulchre many times put off his shooes when he was come within half a League of the City and came so far bare-foot but that they could not expect that Devotion from us We pass'd thence into a very fair spacious Gallery hung and cover'd with Tapistry and afterwards we entred by another Gate cover'd with plates of Gold into another Sumptuous Structure which was Arch'd all about Schach-Abas being upon the point of his departure into the War he was then engag'd in against the Vsbeques Tartars made a vow and promis'd to bestow a Golden Gate on the Sepulchre of Schich-Seâ—i at Ardehil and another upon Risa's at Chorasan if his Armies had the success he expected which vow he very religiously performed immediately upon his return having had all the advantages over his Enemies that his own heart could have wish'd This Vault was about four fathom square and was enlightned by a great number of Gold and Silver Lamps among which there were some above three foot Diameter On both sides sate twelve Hasifahns or Priests having before them upon Desks great books of Parchment wherein were written in Capital Arabian Characters certain Chapters of the Alchoran which they sung much after the same manner as our Monks do their Vespers but with the same motion as we had observ'd at the Tschillachane Having gone through that Vault we came to another appartment which was divided from it only by a Silver Rail though rais'd higher by three silver steps to get up into it The Governour and our Interpreter Rustan having kiss'd those steps he went into it with the Ambassadors who took along with them four persons of their Retinue This apartment was much more richly adorn'd than any of the rest and there was at one end of it another place rais'd a foot from the ground the Rails whereof were of massy Gold It is behind that Rail or Partition that the Sepulchre of Schich-Sefi is to be seen built of white Marble and not of Gold as some have written It was cover'd with Crimson Velvet and rais'd three foot from the ground being about nine foot in length and four in breadth From the Roof there hung certain Lamps of Gold and Silver and on both sides two huge Candlesticks of massy Gold in which there were set great Wax Candles lighted in the night time The Door of that Golden Rail was lock'd and though the Ambassadors were very importunate to have it opened yet could they not prevail the Persians telling them that the Laicks even to the King himself were not permitted to come within that place In the same apartment where we then were was to be seen on the left hand in a particular Vault the Sepulchre of Schach Ismael the first of that name as also that of Scach-Sefi's Wife and those of some other Queens of Persia but we were permitted to see no more of them than we could discover at the meeting of the Curtains which were drawn at the entrance of it and from what we could judge thereof there was nothing remarkable There came all along after us a grave old man who with a perfuming-pot in his hand purify'd the places through which we had pass'd Having taken notice of all that was to be seen in that place we were conducted through the same Gallery towards the right hand into another spacious apartment which was Arch'd all about and Gilt where we could not but admire the manner of its building which being near as large as a fair Church was nevertheless sustain'd by the strength of the Roof and without Pillars This Hall is called Tzenetsera and serves for a Library The books were lay'd in Drawers shuffled one upon another without any order but otherwise well enough kept They were all Manuscripts some upon Parchment others upon Paper most in Arabick and some
presuming we should have kept the High-way was gone before us with all the Provisions Iune 18. we got on Horse-back after Sermon and Dinner marching after the rate of a full trot between two very sleepy Hills and we came about midnight to the Village of Kamahl which is two leagues or better out of the High-way and six from our last Lodging and we were Lodg'd in several houses scatter'd up and down upon three hills They had taken up for the Ambassadors a great unfurnish'd house at the entrance of the Village but finding there was no convenienee at all for them they refus'd to Lodge there and having left two of their Guard upon the Avenues of the Village to give an account of them to the rest of the Retinue they took up other Lodgings and we after their example though the Country-people who were surpriz'd at our unexpected arrival and could not so soon get their Wives and Daughters out of the way deny'd us entrance and put us to the necessity of taking up Quarters by force half-dead as we were with cold and spent with hard travelling But we were hardly laid down hoping to rest our selves the remainder of that night when our Trumpet sounding to horse made us get out of our Beds to see what the matter should be Being come to the Trumpetter he brought us to the Ambassadors Lodgings where we understood that twenty Persians of the same Village all hors'd had set upon abus'd and dis-arm'd the Guard which the Ambassadors had left upon the Avenues of the Village and that they had kill'd them if our Steward with the Muscovian Interpreter who by reason of his sickness had not been able to follow us had not come up to their relief and made the Persians draw back fearing there might be others coming after them There was a Lieutenant with twenty Musketiers commanded out to clear the High-ways all about and all the Retinue were Lodg'd as near as could be to the Ambassadors The 19. we continu'd in the same place where we caus'd Tents to be pitch'd Here our Secretary fell sick of a burning Feaver The next day being the 20. we departed thence about two in the moâ—ning and march'd all the Fore-noon which was extremely hot through a vast Plain where we saw only barren and heathy grounds About noon we came to the little City of Senkan six Leagues from Camahl The City is not enclos'd with a Wall but is otherwise sufficiently well built Within half a League of the City we receiv'd from the Governour of Sulthanie who was then in the City a Present of certain Dishes of Aprâ—cocks and Cowcumbers which were a great refreshment to us in that excessive heat and sultriness of weather At the extremity of the Suburbs we were met by thirty persons on Horse-back well mounted who receiv'd us in the name of the Governour of Sulthanie whose name was Sewinduc Sulthan Among these Gentlemen there was one who though he had neither hands nor feet yet made a shift to guide his horse with as much skill as any of the rest He was son to one of the principal Inhabitants of the City who had been heretofore much in favour with Schach-Abas the Grand-father of Schach-Sefi for his Poems and other excellent Productions of his Understanding upon the accompt whereof he was so well respected at Court that the King not only granted him the life of his son who for some Crimes had deserv'd death but would also continue him in his favour contrary to the custom of the Country according to which all the relations of a Malefactor or unfortunate person participate of his disgrace or misfortune The young man had been guilty of strange debauches and extravagances even to the Ravishing of Maids and Women in their houses so often reiterated that they became at last insupportable so that the Schach ordered him to have his hands and feet cut off and caus'd the stumps of his arms and legs to be thrust into boyling Butter to stop the blood He had wooden hands crooked at the extremities wherewith he made a shift to hold his Bridle The City of Senkan was heretofore of a considerable bigness and famous for its Trading before Tamberlane destroy'd it but what reduc'd it to the condition it is in now is the Turk who hath taken and plunder'd it several times Yet are there some very handsome houses in it and those well furnish'd in which we were entertain'd with much civility and our sick people extremely well accommodated The Sulthan came to visit the Ambassadors immediately after their arrival and made his excuses that he had not met them which was upon this score that having been wounded in the shoulder at the siege of Eruan and the wound being lately opened he could not have waited on us in person We sent to him our Physician and Chyrurgeon who dress'd him which he look'd on as so great a kindness that he thought it not requital enough to send us a Present of several excellent Fruits but he also doubled the ordinary allowance of our Provisions All about this City there are only Barren and Sandy grounds which bring forth only Briars of about the height of a mans hand About half a League from it there may be seen a branch of the Mountain Taurus which they call Peydar Peijamber and reaches from North to South towards Kurdesthan where may be seen as they affirm the Sepulchre of one of the most antient Prophets from whom the Mountain derives its name At the foot of this Mountain there is a very pleasant Valley which is checquer'd up and down with a great number of Villages Iune 21. having stay'd till the great Heat were over we left Senkan after Sun-set taking our way by Moon-light through a Plain of six Leagues at the end whereof we came with the Sun-rising to Sulthanie It had been so calm and cold in the Night that we had hardly the use of our Limbs so that we had much ado to alight This sudden change from extreme cold to the excessive heats of the next day occasion'd the falling sick of fifteen persons of our retinue at the same time all of a violent burning Feaver the fits whereof were very frequent accompany'd with a benumd'ness of all the Members but that misfortune hindred not but that they were set on horse-back and though to avoid the heats of the day we afterwards travel'd only by night yet were they so far from over-mastering their former weariness that they were brought lower and lower Two of our Guards took occasion to fall out at this place and fought a Duel wherein one of the two who was a Scotch-man named Thomas Craig was run into the Lights near the Heart of which VVound he lay long sick but at last was Cur'd As to the City of Sulthanie it lies at eighty four degrees five minutes Longitude and at thirty six degrees thirty minutes Latitude in a spacious
Horse and upper Garments which he did every day while the Hunting lasted The morning was spent in Hawking the Hawks were let out at Herns Cranes Drakes nay sometimes at Crows which they either met with by chance or were set purposely upon About noon we came to an Armenian Village where we found a great number of Tents of divers colours pitch'd after an odd kind of way which yet made a very pleasant Prospect After the King had been brought by his Grandeâ—s into his Tent they came for the Ambassadors who with some of their Gentlemen and Officers Dined with him There was nothing extraordinary Fruits and Conserves were brought in first and afterwards the Meat upon a kind of Bier or Barrow which was cover'd all over with plates of Gold and it was serv'd in Dishes of the same metal In the after-noon the Mehemandar carried the Ambassadors to be Lodg'd in another Village about a quarter of a League from the place where the King had his Tents The Inhabitants of those Villages are Armenians and they are called Desach and Werende from the Countrey where they liv'd before near Iruan whence they were heretofore translated by Schach-Abas to the end that living near Ispahan they might be employ'd about the Vines When they understood we were Christians they entertain'd us much more kindly and made us several Presents of Fruits and Wine Scferas-beg and some other Lords gave the Ambassadors a Visit to be merry and participate of a Collaiâ—â—on with them They brought along with them two of those fallow Deer which the Pesians call Ahu's and some Herns which we sent to Ispahan The King coming to hear that the Mchemandar had Lodg'd us in another Village was very much displeas'd at it and commanded that we should be brought the same night to be Quarter'd in the next house to that where he was Lodg'd himself which was accordingly done and our Supper was brought us out of the Kings Kitchin in Dishes of Gold The 18. betimes in the morning the King sent the Ambassadors word that he would go with very few persons about him a Crane-Hunting intreating them that they would bring along with them only their Interpreter out of this respect that the Cranes might not be frightned by the great number of people and that the pleasure of the Hunting might not be disturb'd by too much noise The Ambassadors took only Father Ioseph along with them but the sport was no sooner begun with the day ere they sent for all the Retinue They had made a great secret way under-ground at the end whereof there was a field about which they had scatter'd some Wheat The Cranes came thither in great numbers and there were above fourscore taken The King took some of their feathers to put into his Mendil or Turbant and gave two to each of the Ambassadors who put them into their Hats That done they rode up and down the fields and spent the time in Hawking till that drawing towards noon the King went to take his repast in the same house where he had Dined the day before and was in a very good humour They had sent for his Musick thither At night he sent to entreat the Ambassadors to come only with six persons along with them to the hunting of the Drake and Wild-Goose at a place half a League from the Village They all alighted within two hundred paces of the place where they expected the sport and went into a great Hut built of Earth near which they had hidden the Nets upon the side of a small Brook where there is abundance of fresh-water Fowl The King caus'd us to sit down all about the walls of the Hut and oblig'd us to help him off with some Bottles of excellent Wine which was all the Divertisement we had that day For not so much as one Bird appearing we return'd to our quarters where the King sent us cold Mutton boyl'd and roasted sowr Sheeps milk which they account a great delicacy Cheese and several Vessels full of Citrons and other Fruits raw and preserv'd The next day was our greatest day for sport the King having ordered to be brought to the field a great nâ—mber of Hawks and three Leopards taught to hunt but very few Dogs Having spent some time in beating the bushes up and down and found nothing the King carried us into a great Park which was above two Leagues about The Persians call it Hazartzirib that is a place where a thousand bushels of Wheat may be sown It was compass'd with a very high Wall and divided into three Partitions In the first were kept Harts Wild-Goats Deer Hares and Foxes In the second were kept that kind of Deer which they call Ahu's and in the third Wild Asses which they call Kouhrhan The King first commanded the Leopards to be let in among the Ahu's and they took each of them one Thence we went to the wild Asses and the King seeing one of them at a stand spoke to the Ambassador Brugman to fire his Pistol at it and perceiving that he miss'd it he took an Arrow and though he Rid in full speed shot it directly into the breast of the Beast Another he took just in the Fore-head and afterwards he wounded others in several places He never fail'd though he alwayes shot Riding in full speed He was as well skill'd at his Sword as at his Bow for perceiving one of the wild Asses could hardly go he alights and going directly to the Beast gave it a blow with his Sword over the Back with which single blow he cleft it down to the Belly He struck another with his Cymitar over the Neck with so much strength and slight that there wanted not an inch of his having cut it clear off One of the Chans took the King's Sword wip'd it clean and put it into the Scabbard Then we all went to another small Partition that was in the middle of the Park At the entrance of this enclosed place the King commanded one of the two Huntsmen who carried his Fowling-piece after him to shoot at a wild Ass which had before been wounded with an Arrow The antienter man of the two thinking it a disparagement to him that the command was directed to the younger would needs prevent him shot at the Beast and miss'd The company laugh'd at him which put him into such madness that suffering the King to go on he returns to his Camerade drew his Sword upon him and cut off the Thumb of his right hand The wounded party makes his complaints to the King who immediately commanded the others head to be brought him but upon the Mediation of several of the Grandees his punishment was changed and he had only his Ears cut off The Executioner I know not upon what inducement cut off but some part of the Ear which the Grand-Master Mortusaculi-Chan perceiving and thinking the man had foul play done him to have ought of his Ears left
another ill day's journey in regard the ground being frozen the beasts we rode on were so tir'd that most of our people were forc'd to march afoot Nay some were not able to perform the journey whom we were afterwards oblig'd to send for We lodg'd that night at the Village of Membre The 11. we came to the Citie of Caswin where we were forc'd to continue nine dayes till fresh Horses and Mules could be got for the prosecution of our journey Neer the Ambassadors lodging there was a great Tree full of Nails and Pebble-stones which are so many marks of the Miracles that one of their Pyrs or Beats who lies interr'd under that Treeâ— is wont to do at that place in healing the Tooth-ach Agues and several other Diseases Such as are troubled with the Tooth-ach touch the aking Tooth with a Nail or Pebble which they fasten to the Tree as high as they can reach with their mouths and hope by that means to get ease They whose imagination is so strong as to be ever the better by this kind of Cure express their acknowledgement thereof by tying certain Ribbands to the boughs of the Tree though in other respects these Miracles are not done gratis but are very beneficial to a certain Religious man who hath the keeping of the Tree and makes his advantage of the Offerings and Alms made there This profit which is enough to maintain one man hath encourag'd several Mountebanks and Impostors to expose their Cheats in dressing up Trees with these trifles and finding Sepulchres of Pyrs where there never were any The 15. The Posâ—anick or Muscovian Ambassador made a great entertainment for our Ambassadors and the chiefest of their Retinue and treated us very Magnificently It was in Commemoration of the birth-day of Knez Iuan Basilouits one of the chief Ministers of Muscovy whose favour he courted Ian. 20. we left Caswin and leaving on our left hand towards the Northwest the way of Solthania and Ardebil which we had taken at our coming into Persia we took that of Kilan directing our course Northward We travell'd that day four leagues for the most parâ— over Hills manur'd and sowen and lodg'd at night in the Village of Achibaba at the foot of a Mountain on our right hand We were told that Village was so call'd from an antient man of that name who liv'd in the time of Schich-Sefi and obtain'd it of him in memory of a Miracle which God had done in his person in reviving in him and his Wife who were each of them neer a hundred years of age the heat of younger years in so much that they had a Son who had bestow'd on them the Tomb which they shew'd us under a great Vault The 21. we pass'd through a fruitfull Country but somewhat uneven to the Village of Tzitelly by some called Kellabath that is a place fit for the breeding of Cattel so far as that the Grass which there is excellent good and grows very plentifully invites the Inhabitants of Caswin to drive their Heards into those parts The Vice-Daruga of Caswin who accompany'd the Ambassadors to this place and Supp'd with them entertain'd them a long time and much to their Diversion with the relation of his life and told them he had been carried away in his Infancy out of Georgia which was his Countrey in the time of Schach-Abas during the War he made in those parts and that he had been transferr'd to Caswin with his Father and Mother who were then alive and still Christians though in appearance forc'd to embrace the Religion of the Persians He told us also that Abasculi made his advantage of our journey as well as other Mehemandars to exact Provisions and other conveniences from the places which lay in their way but that there was not one half employ'd for the service of the Ambassadors They made him a Present of certain Ells of Cloath and Satin The 22. we travell'd seven leagues all over Mountains and Rocks interwoven with a Brook which thereabouts ran winding up and down so as that we were forc'd to cross it above thirty times ere we got to the Village of Kurtzibaschi where we lodg'd that night The next morning we travell'd all along Mountains which were not very high but delighted the eye by a diversity of colours Red Yellow Green and Blue which afforded a very pleasant prospect But about noon we could see nothing but Rocks dreadfull for their height and steepiness and in the evening we came to the River Senderuth which we cross'd by a Bridge that joyns the two Mountains through which it runs We discover'd from the top of the Mountain some pleasant and fruitfull Valleys at least if I may so call the other lower Mountains which are till'd and cultivated and appear'd to us from the top of the Mountain as little Hillocks This Village belong'd heretofore to a Kurtzibaschi or Colonel of a thousand Horse who gave it his own name and was seated in a very pleasant place but the houses were built onely of Earth and Canes whereto there adjoyned certain shepheards Huts where with we made the best shift we could The 23. we travell'd two leagues very good way along a Forest of Olive-Trees at the end whereof we came to a place antiently called Fauces Hyrcaniae but by the Persians in the time of Alexander the Great as it is indeed to this day Pylas The passage is very narrow and serves for a Gate to the Province of Kilan At the entrance of it joyn two swift Rivers which fall down with a dreadfull noyse through the Rocks under the name of the River Isperuth though before their joyning together the greater of the two had the name Kisilosein and passing under a stone bridge in order to its falling into the Province of Kilan it there again divides it self and by two several Chanels falls into the Caspian Sea This is a very fair Bridge built on six Arches each whereof hath a spacious Room a Kitchin and several other conveniences lying even with the water The going down into it is by a stone pair of stairs so that this Bridge is able to find entertainment for a whole Caravanne At the end of the Bridge the road divides it self One way leads through a delightful and even Countrey into the Province of Chalcal and so to Ardebil the other goes streight into the Province of Kilan and this last is the most dangerous and most dreadfull way of any I think in the World It is cut out of a Mountain which is pure Rock and so steepy that they found it a hard matter to make way enough for the passage of one Horse or Camel loaden nay in some places they have been forc'd to supply it with Mason's work where the Rock fell short On the left hand the Rock reach'd up into the Clouds so as that the top of it could not be seen and on the right there was a dreadfull Abyss
little Citie of Kurab lies within two leagues of the Caspian Sea as that of Rescht do's and is hid within its Trees They who call it Kesker give it the name of the Province wherein it lies In this place was born Schach-Sefi who reign'd at the time of our Embassy For his Mother was brought to bed in this Citie upon occasion of a journey which Schach-Abas took into Kilan wherein she follow'd him along with Sesi Mersa her Husband The house wherein he was born belong'd to a rich Merchant named Chotza Mahmud but in regard a Prince Heir to the Crown had his birth there it was converted into a Sanctuary February the first we left Kurab about ten in the morning having very fair weather save that the heat was greater than we could have wish'd Emir-Chan conducted us a league or better out of the Citie where he took leave intreating us to be carefull of his Calenter who had order to accompany us through his Government This Calenter was a young man of an excellent good nature and diverted us in our way by shooting with the Bow and shewing tricks with a half-pike at which exercise he had an admirable sleight Having travell'd two leagues we were got to the Caspian Sea-side whence we saw the Countrey which is all cover'd with Trees and Forests towards the North and South spreading it self like a Crescent a great way into the Sea on the right hand from about Mesanderan and Ferahath and on the left from about Astâ—ra We travell'd about a league along the the Caspian Sea-side and lodg'd at night upon the Torrent Nasseru in a house calld Ruasseru-kura which had but two Chambers in all so that being streightned for room most of our people were forc'd to ly abroad at the sign of the Seven-Stars The 2. we travell'd six leagues or better along the Sea coast going North-westward We cross'd over that day fourteen little Rivers or rather so many great brooks and among others those of Sehibern Dinatsar Chalessera Alarus and Nabarrus The River of Dinatsar which is about the mid-way serves for a common Frontier to the Goverments of Kesker and Astara which oblig'd the Calenter of Kesker who had accompany'd us so far to take leave and recommend us to the conduct of the Calenter of Astara who waited for us on the River side The Canton is called Kargaru The Calenter carried us out of the highway and conducted us through Corn-ground to a Village named Sengar-hasara where we lodg'd that night and found brought thither before us five wild boars which they had hunted purely upon our accompt and for our entertainment All the Forests of those parts are well stor'd with them in regard the Persians not daring to eat them are not much inclin'd to the hunting of them The 3. we departed betimes in the morning in snowy and rainy weather and continu'd our way along the Caspian Sea drawing towards East-north-east Our way lay so neer the Sea that the Horses many times went into the water up to the Girts nay some of our people fell horse and man into the water so that this prov'd one of the worst dayes journey we had especially for this that after we had travell'd seven large leagues we were forc'd to lodge that night in a wretched Village named Hove-lemur where all we could get was only a house over our heads The 4. we were upon our way again very betimes in the morning having receiv'd fresh horses We travell'd four leagues along the Sea-coast going towards the North. Then we pass'd through a Forestâ— of two leagues and in that space of ground met with two and twenty Rivers whereof the chiefest are called Lome Konab and Beskeschan The Bridges we were to pass over were so bad that many of our company fell into the water nay there were three Peasants and four horses drown'd and six more died by the way The Chan of Astara with a troop of 200. horse met us within half a league of the Village where we were to take up our quarters and accompany'd the Ambassadors to their lodgings which he had taken up for them in houses scatter'd up and down among the trees The name of the Village as also of the River which runs through it is Choskedehene The word Choskedehene signifies dry-mouth and they have given it that name for this reason that the Sea is so shallow there that the Fish cannot get into the River The Chan lives at Astara which place hath its name from the Province and is an open place without any walls as Rescht is within a quarter of a league of the Caspian Sea His name was Saru-Chan a person furnish'd with all the qualities requisite in a Governour of a Province Feb. 6. which was the last day of their Lent he made a great entertainment for the Ambassadors whereat he discover'd not only the magnificence of his disposition but also the excellency of his wit by the noble discourses that pass'd between him and the Ambassadours Among other things he gave them all the particulars of the War occasion'd by Karib-Sehach's revolt wherein he had been in person and had brought away his table-cloath which being of green Satin with Gold-flowers was laid at this entertainment That service with other he had done upon several other occasions had rais'd him so much into the King's favour that he had appointed him for the Embassy into the Indies whither he was to go the following Spring to which end he had already received his dispatches He confirm'd to us what we had been told before of the danger we might fear from the Cosaques adding thereto that it was not two years since they had plunder'd the City of Rescht and that it were not amiss we stood on our guard and had our Arms fixt The Vines in these parts are so big that they exceed a man's bulk I have said as much before though I believe some will hardly believe it but besides that all who travell'd with us are eye-witnesses of this truth I may allege to make good what I affirm the Authority of Strabo who saies the same thing of the Vines of Margiana which is part of the Province of Chorasan and adds thereto that no stock almost but yields an ordinary pail-full of Wine which is very certain and yet I have some reason to doubt of what he further affirms that the bunches there are above four foot long We saw neer Astara at the foot of the mountain of Schindan the Village of Schich-Sahadan which enjoyes an absolute exemption granted it upon the accompt of the Sepulchre of Aly's Master Febr. 7. we got seven leagues further along the Sea-side and came by a very steight passage into the Province of Lengerkunan The only way to come into it is by a Bank rais'd between the mountains and the fenns besides which there is no other passage At the end of the said bank we came to the River Serdane and
small Caravan so that confident I night undertake this journey without any danger which it had not been safe for me to attempt without this convenience by reason of the Rasboutes and their robberies upon the high-way I took the Presidents advice and put my self into their company These Rasboutes are a sort of High-way men or Tories who keep in the Mountains between Brodra and Broitscheia which are called Champenir where they have their fortifi'd places and retreats wherein they sometimes make their party good against the Mogul himself Not long before he had taken in one of their strongest places and by that means kept them a long time in subjection but they revolted again and exercised their robberies with greater cruelty then ever We left Suratta the last of September being accompany'd by the President and some English Merchants who having brought us a League out of the City there took leave of us We took our way towards Broitschia and came to the Village of Briou or Briauw where we cross'd the River Then at four Leagues distance from Briou we pass'd by Cattodera which is a ruin'd place seated upon a River of the same name and then by Enklisser where we soon made a shift to take above thirty wild Ducks and many other Water-fowl wherewith we feasted our people We also kill'd a Roebuck and met with so many Deer and wild Boars that it was no hard matter for us to get us a good supper since the Dutch and English never travel without their Cooks who dress the Fowl and what else their Masters kill which they never fail to do in abundance The next day we cross'd a River which is more broad then deep before we came to the City of Broitschia into which we were no sooner entred but the English Secretary sent to us to dine with him which we did The City of Broitschia is at 21. degrees 56. minutes 12. Leagues from Suratta and 8. from the Sea upon a River falling out of the Mountains which divide the Kingdom of Decar from that of Balagatta It lies upon a pretty high Mountain having its Walls of Free-stone and so well built that it may be numbred among the strongest places of all the Indies On the Land side it hath two great Gates and two small Gates towards the River by which is brought abundance of Timber for building which none dare unload without the Governours express permission There is a Guard kept in it as well upon account of the place it self which is very considerable as upon this that they exact there two in the hundred upon all Merchandises that pass through it The City is sufficiently well peopled as also its Suburbs which are divided into two quarters which they call Poera though very few persons of Quality live therein most of the Inhabitants being only Weavers who make of those kinds of Cottons called Bastas which are finer then any made in the Province of Gusaratta All the fields about this City lie flat and even unless it be that about five or six Leagues from it towards the South-west may be seen the Mountains called Pindatshce which reach as far as Barampour and beyond it and are very fertile as is also all the rest of the Country which brings forth Rice Wheat Barly and Cotton in abundance It is out of these Mountains that the Agat is gotten whereof are made such noble drinking Cups Seals Handles of Knives and Daggers and several other rarities which are commonly to be bought at Cambays The jurisdiction of the City of Broitschia extends it self over 84. Villages the Demesne whereof belongs to it but heretofore its territory comprehended three other Cities who have now their particular Governours Four Leagues below the City the River divides it self into two branches which there make an Isle near half a League about below which it falls into the Sea by two several channels It hath no Port but only a Road which is so much the more dangerous in that the Ships which may indeed anchor there at seven fathom water lie open to the mercy of all Winds Eight Leagues from Broitschia upon the way of Cambaya there is a great Village called Ianbaysar or Iambouser where abundance of Indico is made and upon the Road to Amadabat there is to be seen the Sepulchre of a Mahumetan Saint named Pollemedory whither the Moors or Moguls go in pilgrimage with so great devotion that some of them put Padlocks on their mouths to keep them from speaking and never take them off but only when they are to eat Others fasten Iron chains to their arms and it is reported that the Padlocks are opened and the Chains loosed by some supernatural power as soon as they have accomplish'd their Vows at the Sepulchre We left Broitschia in the Evening accompany'd by the Secretary who would needs bring us half a League out of the City He return'd thither but it was to the end he might overtake us five Leagues thence for being entrusted with the management of the Commerce of Brodca as well as of that of Broitschia he thought fit to go along with the Caravan We travell'd all night and the next day till the extraordinary heat forc'd us to encamp near a Fish-pond where we pass'd away the rest of that day and some part of the night following our recreation being to set a dancing the Women that were among the Benjans in the Caravan We went thence after midnight I intreated the Secretary to come into my Coach where I learnt of him several particulars of the Country which by reason of my small stay in those parts it was impossible I could have observed We pass'd through the Village of Karawanet and Kabol where they made us pay a certain passage-Toll Being come within some Leagues of the City of Brodra the English Secretary went on before to take order for our lodging and entertainment We met him with his Second about half a League from the City whither we came the seventh of October The Kaffila pass'd through the City to be lodg'd on the other side of it and the English Merchants carried me into a pleasant Country-house without the City purposely built for a Mausâ—leum to a person of Quality of the Country whose desire it had been to be there buried with all his Family Having taken two or three turns in the Garden we went to the Lodge belonging to the English where they made the greatest entertainment imaginable and to come to the height of that Countries endearments they sent for some Benjan women who were very desirous to see my cloaths which I still wore after the German fashion though the English and Dutch who are settled in the Indies go ordinarily according to the mode of the Country and would have oblig'd me to put them off but perceiving I was unwilling to do it and withall that I made some difficulty to accept of the proffers they made
those who keep the passages who make a mark in their Armes which they are oblig'd to shew as they come back for the Portuguez would not have the Decanines and Canarines come into the City without a Pass-port All the fresh-water they have within the City comes from a Fountain which represents a Lucrece out of whose Wound there comes Water enough to supply the whole City but the Ships take in fresh-water near the Castle above which there comes out of the Rock a Rivulet which there falls into the River The City hath now neither Gates nor Walls but the River which makes the Island secures it against the attempts which an open place might be exposed to The publick Buildings are very fair and the Palaces of great Persons very magnificent especially in their Houshold-stuffe The Inhabitants are either Castizes that is Portuguez born of Father and Mother Portuguez or Most zes that is born of a Portuguez Father and Indian Mother The Mestizes are distinguished from the others by their colour which inclines towards the Olive but those of the third Generation are as black as the Inhabitants of the Country which happens also in the fourth Generation of the Castizes though there were no mixture among them The Portuguez are either Titulados as those who are employed in the principal charges Fidalgos da casa del Rey that is Gentlemen in ordinary of the Kings House Mocos Fidalgos young Gentlemen that is the Sons of Titulados or Cavalleros or newly admitted to Gentility by the King Cavalleros Fidalgos Escuderes Fidalgos or simply Gentlemen There are also such as have the quality of Mocos da camra or Grooms of the Kings Chamber who pass also for Gentlemen All the rest are Hombres Honrados and Soldados The former are Merchants or Tradesmen and appear publickly with the same gravity and almost with the same retinue as Gentlemen in as much as some only excepted who cut Leather for Shooes and Stuffes for Clothes all the rest have their business done by Slaves No Person of Quality goes abroad afoot for some are carried by their Slaves in a Palanquin and others ride on Horseback or go in painted and gilty Gondoles but not any without a Slave to carry an Umblello or Fan. The Portuguez have the reputation of being very highly conceited of themselves but those of Goa are such in so high a degree as well in their gate as all their other actions that they treat as unacquainted with the World such as are newly come from Portugal and are not accustom'd to their manner of going and life They are excessively civil one to another nay they are in this so ceremonious and exact that he who should omit to render a person that gives him a visit the honour he conceives due to himself whether it be in making him sit down otherwise then he would or not bringing him to the street-door must expect the effects of a deep resentment whereof the least are cudgelling or caning which they liberally bestow on persons of mean condition who being below them have omitted giving them the respect they look for from those that are not their Equals though indeed they owe them not any Winter begins there towards the end of Iune with a south-South-west Wind which comes from the Sea and reigns for the space of four moneths all along that Coast from Diu as far as the Cape of Comory and during all that time the Sea is not only innavigable but there are few Havens where Ships can ride in safety and unexpos'd to Storms mixt with terrible Thunder and Lightning which disturb the Air there in that season Which is yet so much the more to be wondred at inasmuch as at the same time the Coast of Coromandel which is in the same Peninsula and at the same degree of elevation and in some places is but twenty Leagues distant from that of Malabar enjoyes a pleasant Spring and the most divertive season of the year Accordingly those who go from Cochim to Saint Thome by land as they pass over the Mountain of Balagatta which divides the whole Peninsula as the Apennine does Italy discover from the top of the Mountain on the one side a clear and temperate Air and on the other a Country cover'd with a perpetual mist and drown'd with the Rains that continually fall The same observation may be also made in those Ships which go from Ormus to the Cape of Rosalgate Where as they pass the Cape they suddenly pass out of fair Weather into dreadful Storms and Tempests Whence it comes that in those parts there are but two Seasons as there are also principally but two Winds that reign there in the Summer time to wit those of the East which the Portuguez call Therentos which come from the Land-side and blow from mid-night till mid-day but they are not felt above ten Leagues within the Sea and those of the West which they call Virasons which come from the Sea immediately after dinner and blow all the rest of the day This change of Seasons from one extremity to another is the cause of many Diseases among the Portuguez but the most common there are those which they call Mordexin which kills immediately burning Feavers and bloudy Fluxes against which they have in a manner no remedy but bleeding The Plague is a Disease not known in the Indies but â—o make amends they have the Pox which destroyes every year a great number of Portuguez For though the Country produces present and topical Remedies against the Disease yet so violent are their inclinations to Women who on the other side are as mad for Men that they will not take the time to be cur'd of a Disease which is not got off by Remedies if they be not accompany'd with a very regular diet The Women of those parts â—ave an excessive affection for white Men and being kept very much in restraint they are put to all imaginable inventions to let them know how passionately they love them and â—o get them into their Lodgings where they many times prosecute their delights even in â—he Husbands presence by means of a Drug which so stupifies his Senses as that he seems â—ither to have lost them or to sleep with his eyes open The Indians call this Herb Doutro Doutry or Datura and the Turks and Persians Daâ—ula Garcias ab horto and Christopher d' Acosta affirm that it is a kind of Stramonea that the Herb grows abundantly all over the Indies in the shade and that it is somewhat like Bears-foot They extract the juyce of it while it is green or they beat the Seed to powder and mix it in Conserves or put it into his drink whom they would reduce to that condition for twenty four hours during which time he is depriv'd the use of all his Senses so that he does not see what is done before him though his eyes be open unless some body moisten the soles of his
and Cotton sufficient to cloath the Inhabitants This Island was heretofore divided into ten Kingdoms but Men making this Voyage only for Traffick they are contended to visit those only next the Sea and omit to travel further into the Country where doubtless Riches are to be found unknown to the maritime Inhabitants The Portuguez give us account only of two Mediterranean Kingdoms which they call Andragidan and Arunau as also those of Achim Pedir Pacem Camparam Zâ—nde and Mancabo all on the Sea-side and on this side the Line The Hollanders for advance of their Commerce in the Isle of Iava have discovered the Kingdom of Polymbam beyond the Line and have made there a most firm establishment as may be seen in their Relations The Portuguez have there nothing at all but have freedom of Trade except hindred by the Hollanders The King of Achim hath united to his Crown the Kingdoms of Pedir and Pacem with almost all the Northern Coast of the Isle but he that reigned there in 1596. when the Hollanders first sailed into those parts was a Fisher-man that usurp'd the Crown and in the Siege of Polymbam was slain leaving only one Son of five moneths of age under the government of his Father in Law Which young Prince dying his Grandfather succeeded to the Crown and that was he the Hollanders treated with in the year 1668. The City of Achim stands in a wide Plain upon the side of a very broad River but so shallow that the least Boats get in with difficulty It hath neither Gates nor Walls the Houses all built on piles and covered with Coco-leaves The Castle or Palace Royal stands in the middle of the Town which on two sides hath most excellent pleasant Forrests well stored with Apes Herns and all manner of Birds The Natives are flat-fac'd and of an Olive colour they cover their body with a Cotton or Silk Shirt and their head with a light Turbant of the same stuffe Children go stark naked only Girls have their secret parts hidden with a Silver-plate The Inhabitants of Guzuratta Malabar Negupatam Bengalan and Pegu and all Strangers that live among them cloath themselves after the same manner The Castle is fortified with a good Wall and Pallisado and well flanked so as the Artillery commands all the Avenues and streets of the Town The Houses in the Castle are built of the same matter and same form of those of the Town by reason the River which often overflows drowns them sometimes to the first story The piles that support them are gayly wrought and the Houses covered with Canes They enter into the Castle by seven Gates one within another which are neither curious nor strong Without the Kings special Licence none but the Life-guard and Women enter the Pallisado all others must sue for Audience or expect till the King sends for them Such as present themselves to him do him reverence with their hands joyn'd and lifted above their head crying Daula tuaâ—con that is Long live the King He never recreates himself but with Women or appears in publick but either to see Cock-fighting to bathe in the River or hunt the Elephant He is serv'd only by Women or Eunuchs He uses his Subjects as slaves and governs by four Sabanders who are next in authority to him His Laws are fevere and punishments extreamly cruel so as one shall there meet a multitude of people without either hands or feet and have been so mutilated for miscarriages not worth the name of Crimes The King of Achim as almost all that inhabit the Coast of Sumatra is a Mahumetan for which reason I shall not need to say any more of their Religion only that they begin their Lent with the new Moon in the twelfth moneth and end it at the new of the next moneth observing abstinence all day during that time till night Whence it comes that their impatience to see the end of their Lent makes them still gaze in the West fixing their eyes up to the Heavens to find the new Moon which is no sooner seen but they fall to feasting and jollity for the remainder of that night In Sumatra they get no Corn but Rice sufficient of which the Inhabitants make good varieties particularly Cakes with Oyl they have plenty likewise of Beef and Buffles Goat and Mutton though none but the King hath priviledge to breed Sheep Oranges Lemmons Bonana Tamarindes Batalas Reddish Sprinage and Lettice in great abundance they drink Water or Arac made of Rice or Cocoes There is in Sumatra a Tree in the Malayan Language called Singadi in Arabia Gurae the Canarians call it Parizaticco the Persians and Turks Gul the Decanins Pul and the Portuguez Arbor triste de dia. It puts forth an infinite number of branches very small and full of knots from every knot comes two leaves like a Plumb-leaf save that they are as sweet as Sage and are covered with a beautiful white Every leaf hath its bud which opening thrusts forth small heads whereof each hath four round leaves and from each head comes five flowers composing as it were a Nosegay in such manner as the fifth is seen in the middle of the rest The flowers are white as Snow and a little bigger then the Orange-flower blows immediately as the Sun is set so suddenly that they are produced as 't were in the cast of an eye This fecundity lasts all night till the return of the Sun makes both the flowers and leaves drop off and so strips the tree that least greenness is not to be found upon it nor any thing of that admirable odour which perfum'd the Air and comprehended all that Asia affords of sweetness The tree keeps in this condition till the Sun hath left the Horizon and then it begins to open its womb again and deck it self with fresh flowers as if in the shades of night it would recover it self out of the affliction which it is put into by that Planet whose return enlivens the rest of the Universe There is not in the Island a Tree more common then the Cocoes and in regard 't is general through the Indies I will give here a brief description of it and first tell you there are four sorts thereof That which bears the fruit called Cocoes which are the Nuts of the Country is the most considerable not only of any Tree in this Country but indeed of any other part of the world This Tree not above a foot diameter grows in body exceeding high having not a branch but at the top where it spreads as the Date-tree The fruit comes not out of the branches but beneath out of the body in bunches or clusters of ten or twelve Nuts The flower is like that of a Chesnut and it grows only near the Sea or upon the River side in sandy ground and nevertheless grows so lofty that except the Indians who by practice climb it with as much agility and