downe for my remembrance which are somewhat difficult at present to reade being 14 yeares agoe written in such imperfect Manuscript Yet I thought it not amisse to penn downe what I have lately found which with the helpe of others especially of one William Casey late Purser of an Indian ship who took more paines therin then my selfe if his papers can be found will give some light therein to the helpe of others that will endeavour to attaine the knowledge thereof the particulars which I have now found I will here manifest so well as I can Viz nooroon no zeff how call you this Tona a man Codez a woman Tope a childe Coma a house Ose or Angomba a cow Gose a sheepe Cowhee bread Camba water Bingta or Sooa the head Nunqua the eye or eare Toee the nose Umqua or Songe the lips Coonqua or Niffa the teeth Goma or Soca the chin Coaqua or Effena the arme Cabed the elbow Unaqua or Tanga the hand Hongko the finger Chamkee or Noeno the breast Oncoma the necke Hicuma or Toa the belly Coa or Ungoote the knee Noo or Vote the leg. Iqua or Kambo temba the foote Hica or Vota the yard or virill Charaqua the cod Anatnicke the little finger Voylee the buttocke Lemboshe the backe Sowkee the shoulder Mise yea Maligna a roote that smells sweete and is like a bulrusb Moade a chaine of small beades Voyla haire Maca an eye Saffee an eare Leela the tongue Hoho the thumbe Fala tanga the palme of the hand Choroqua the nailes of the hand Syra salt Humeray tomorrow Soo a pot Pingbara a gun Vyra a sword Fajaro a little dart Leffo or Mura a lance or great dart Caba a bat or cap. Lomba cloaths Memma a cloake or skin Hoboqua shooes or slippers Aqua an arrow Fenga or Talle a rope Siffe a knife Hicha a bow Hehoo a turn spit Acuto to dart Renova milke Hihoo a small fish Longora a great fish Hirhoree brasse Chichata or Ruttee naught Chara good Longasba a good man or friend Laga Rattee a bad man or foe Cheruse nay Calibus a bottle cup or basket CHAP. VI Great incouragement to the plantation the cheapenesse of cloathing or apparrell to be bad out of India for the use of the planters the rich attire for persons of quality to be had there exceeding cheape all sorts of hearbs roots fruits and foules to be bad in plentifull abundance in Madagascar trees yeelding great store of pleasant liquor nothing inferiour to wine and sugar in England the excellent vertue of India Mirabolins TO the furtherance of this renowned plantation these advantageous comodities benefits and accommodation as felloweth far above other plantations are inducements sufficient to perswade pious virtuous rich men and others that desire the advancement of Gods glory the honour of their Soveraigne Prince the the welfare of their owne native Country the inrichment of themselves and their posterity and the charitable reliefe of Gods poore Elect upon Earth to enterprize this worthy action And in the first place the Country is healthfull and pleasant Secondly its already of it selfe furnished with most chiefe things necessary to sustenance of mans life especially Beefe Mutton Goates Poultry Fish and Fowle Thirdly it affordeth Oxen for present tillage the chiefest of all wants in all other plantations which no other hath done or affordeth Forthly it is as near or nearer to India then other plantations to England where all things either for necessity or superfluity are to be had for the fourth part of the price and lesse then in England or other Christian Kingdomes as Rice and excellent dainty food as it is cookt in India whereof Kings and great men daily eate with pleasure and contentment and never furset therein Wheat Barley and other sorts of graine and good rack and excellent strong drinke made of Rice which mixed with Sugar water and Leamonds or surrop of lymes or drunk alone all which are to be had exceeding cheape with all manner of spices make a pleasant wholesome drinke surpassing any wine to be had in London of which good use may be made though water there is more contentfull it being so good and better then in England untill beere made of mault by barly may be brought to perfection which may suddenly be affected as I shall shew hereafter Also from India may be had cloathing fit for those warme Countries to maintaine a man or woman neately comely and cleanly for twenty shillings a yeare and under nay I dare make it good for ten shillings a yeare bedding exceeding cheape and dainty either for cotton wooll or silke cotton far better and more desired then fetherbeds or down-beds and coverlids whereof in those warme countries they vse but few of all prizes and curiosities even fine dainty quilts for five shillings a piece sheets and all sorts of linnen so cheape and fine that no part of the World affords the like Againe good shirts whiter and finer for meane people at-eight ten or twelve pence a piece and cheaper and not so fine and white to be had in England for three or foure times dearer in price my selfe have worne no other these sixteen yeeres of which six of three shillings a piece have lasted me continually three yeeres together of the like finenesse not to be bought under twelve shillings a shirt or dearer in England shooes of English fashion for sixpence a paire and bootes for two shillings a paire capps or mounteiâ—s light and easie and farre better then stiffe heavie hats made of sattin and taffaty fine painted linnen c. quilted or inbroydered much cheaper then hats The better sort of people that affect to cloath themselves wives and children in rich gentile fashion may doe it of sattin taffaty wrought damaske blacke or coloured and rich stuffes mixt with gold silver threed at cheaper rates then with our cheape English cloath or stuffes Jewels of all sorts Pearls Diamonds and other rich stones with curious bracelets for Gentlewomen and others of Christall agget Jasper Cornelion red and white and Elutropian stones c. cheape with rings and pendants of the same so cheape that I have sold that in England to be sold againe by Exchange men and Goldsmiths for five or ten shillings a ring or pendant which have not cost me in India above a penny or two pence per ring or pendant likewise Estredges feathers for womens fannes or for use of Gentlemen Captaines Souldiers and other uses c. with curious paper or leather fannes guilded and painted with brave Cabanets of Ivory Ebony and Sandall wood c. artificially inlayed with mother of pearle Aggets and other stones and Ivory so cheape as cannot be imagined with all dainty purfumes of Civic Muske Amber-grease and rose water in abundance extraordinary cheape which I hope will induce Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen Gentlewomen Farmers Artificers and Manufactors to put on a resolution to undergoe a pleasant easie votage of three or
A BRIEFE Discovery or Description Of the most Famous Island Of MADAGASCAR or St LAURENCE in Asia neare unto East-India With Relation of the Healthfulnesse Pleasure Fertility and wealth of that Countrey comparable if not transcending all the Easterne parts of the world a very Earthly Paradise a most sitting and desirable place to settle an English Colony and Plantation there rather then in any other part of the knowne world Also the Condition of the Natives their inhabiting their affability Habit Weapons and manner of living the plenty and cheapsieÌ„sse of Food Flesh Fish and Fowle Orenges and Lemonds Sugar Amber-Greece Gold Tortle-shels and Drugs and many other Commodities sit for Trade and Commerce to be had and gotten there at cheaper Rates then in India or elsewhere Also trading from Port to Port all India and Asia over and the great profit gained thereby The chiefest place in the world to enrich men by Trade to and from India Persia Moco Achine China and other rich Easterne Kingdomes I being the fittest place for a Magazine or Store-house of Trade between Europe and Asia farre exceeding all other Plantations in America or elsewhere Also the excellent meanes and accommodation to fit the Planters there with all things needfull and superfluous for backe and belly out of India neare adjacent at one fourth part of the price and cheaper then it will cost in England yea Fat Bullocks Sheep Goats Swine Poultrey Rice and Wheat and Barley reasonable c. exceeding cheap for the value of twelve pence or one shilling English will purchase or buy of the Natives as much as 5 6 7 pounds or more in England in this famous Island at their first arrivall which no other Countrey hath afforded By R. B. and Francis Lloyd Merchants The second Edition corrected and amended London Printed for Iohn Hardesty at the Signe of the Black-spread Eagle in Duck-lane 1647. TO His most Royall and I trust in God yet Most Gracious Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES of England c. and to the Right Honourable the Peeres Lords and Commons Assembled in the High and Honourable Court of Parliament MOst Gracious Sacred and dread Soveraigne and most Honourable pious Peares and Commons in Parliament Assembled The despicable condition of my poor Estate ruined through envy malice and revenge abroad in India and cruelly oppressed by deep ingratitude partiality and injustice at home in England the weaknesse and infermity of my decrepit person debillitated by along continued sicknesse now almost six yeares compleat with my simple Ignorant and weak understanding yet true loyall hearty affection to my King and Countryes glory and renowne right Humbly and in all Lowly and Reverend Submission to Your Highnesse and Honours Vertues and Authority craves pardon and remission for my boldnesse in interrupting your most serious and most weighty affaires of State with the dull apprehension of my zeale and affection to Gods glory the Honour of my gracious Soveraigne and his most Royall Posterity and the welfaire and accommodation of my indeared native Country which hath induced or rather impulsed and coacted me to come to counsell before I am called and to lend the opinion of an unintelligent and unfortunate Merchant concerning the aptnes accommodation and assured great benefit of this Kingdom of England by settling a considerable Plantation in the most famous Island of the world Madagascar or Saint Lawrence and that thereby the glory of Almighty your Majesties Honour and the Common-wealths happinesse may redownd to all the world as well out of Asia as Affryca or rather more and better in hopefull or assured expectation as out of America and other parts of the world May it therefore please your Highnesse and Honours to pardon my servent zeale and affection to this worthy designe which if the Lawes of England did forbid or give causion to the projectors of new busines to the Common-wealth under paine of losse of life if their projects proved hurtfull to the same as that as I take it of the Lacedemonians or some otherwell governed Common-wealth and such law perhaps not hurtfull to this Kingdome yet would I adventure without any hope or expectation to my selfe of reward or accommodation to exhibit this project so apparently beneficiall to the common-wealth in my own strong confident opinion if so be it should please his Royall Majesty and the Honourable High Court of Parliament to undertake it as abusinesse of State and of great consequence to this Kingdoms its welfare and Indempnity To insist upon a large Epistle were obnoxious to Your Majesty and Honours weighty and importent affaires and my dull apprehention with the tymorousnesse of my deep offence in such bold presumption forbids me to take that unpleasing task upon me I verily acknowledge it a transcendent haughty presumption in me to exhibit so rude and unpollisht a Pamphlet to Your Highnesse and Honours perusall yea to the meanest of the Honourable House of Commons which though it cannot expect gracious acceptance from any yet if it incurre not unto me thereby Your Majesties and Honours just indignation for my impulsed zeale to my King and Countryes good out of the small experience and weake iniuditious apprehention of my unfortunate travels untill such time as more juditious and better intelligent persons by their more skilfull prevalent perswasive pens give better incouragement for speedy and effectuall means to proceed in so weighty yea most hopefull successefull a businesse I shall have some cause yet to rejoyce in the depth of my misery and affliction in the meane time my daily earnest Prayers to God shall be for his abundant blessings spirituall and temporall to his Sacred Majesty and his most Royal Posterity the Right Honourable High Court of Parliament and all His Majesties true Loyall Subjects and that the Lord Jesus would please to break in peeces the most hurtfull Cords of Contention with the spirit of truth and concord and put away from all them that prosesse his name the offence of quarrels and dissention among them that we may be joyned together in one minde in truth love and Christian Charity to the praise honour and glory of God Almighty and such shall be ever the prayers Of Your Sacred Majesties and Your Honours most Loyall Subject and Servant Richard Boothby To the Reader COurteous Reader this Booke was intended to have been divulged in August anno 1644. but many lets have impeded the same my owne weaknesse of body the hinderance of a captious licencer blameing the rudenesse of the stile and my placeing Madagascar in Asia which he would needs have to be in Affrica but whether in Asia or Affrica I yet rest unresolved by the opinion of some Sea-men accounting it in Asia some detracâ—nesse it hath had by long detention of some cheife member of Parliament to whom I committed the perusal which their multitude of more weighty affaires would not admit time for it's perusall and lastly occasioned by the visit in my long continued sicknesse of an
East India Merchant Mr. Francis Lloyd my loving friend whom I had not seen in seven yeeres or more before who beareing of my intention desired to have a sight of the rude manuscript which after some time he returned me and offering to adde some what thereunto touching the incouragement for a plantation at Madagascar and the assured great benefit by trade from thence to all parts of the world by making or setling there a Magazine or store house for trade into all Christian and heathen Kingdomes which his free offer I thankefully accepted knowing his intelligence in the Easterne parts of the world to be second to none of this Nation he haveing been many times imployed Factor and Purser of the Admirall ship into India and five times at Madagascar and often visited those many rich kingdomes and got great experience in the trades trafficke and commerce of them all from place to place which now he having performed I have here into inserted yet not desirous to attribute vain gloriously to my self nor to detract from his deeper judgement far beyond my owne who never was but once in India and that but one yeare and halfe that time a close prisoner not for any crime but in malice and revenge of a leud President and counsell in India I have caused his advice and intelligence to be marked with some marke or signe and his name in the margenâ—t thereby to be distinguished and knowne from what is of my owne weake capacity and so to giue him his due desert far surpassing mine and second in that kinde to none in England Therefore gentle reader I intreat thee to accept both our endeavours and harty well wishings to Gods glory his Majesties honour and the welfare of our endeared native Country in good part which we referre to thy charitable censure The Contents CHAP. I. The occasion of printing this rude Treatise or pamphlet Prince Ruperts intent to plant at Madagascar Master Walter Hamonds book in praise of this Island will give good incouragement for a plantation be that is Lord or King of Madagascar may easily in good time be Emperour of all India also the cheapnesse of necessaries both for backe and belly to be had out of India for the present reliefe of the planters p. 1 CHAP. II. The Countries scituation under the Tropick of Caprieorne the healthfulnesse of the Country Augustine Bay a cheâ—â—e and excellent harbour for multitude of ships the pleasantnesse and fertility of the Country a second land of Canaan or a Paradice of the world the Portugals rich trade to Mussambeg on the coast of Malindia p. 4. CHAP. III. Hogs in Malinda have stones in their mawes as pretious as rich Iewels the affection of the inhabitants to our Nation above all others Portugall Fryers staine to accompany the King of Madagascar at his death to heaven great store of wilde Foule and Turkies the envy of the East India Company against a plantation may give the better encouragement thereunto no Gold Silver nor any rich commodity of so high esteeme in Madagascar as red Cornelian Beads p. 7. GHAP. IIII. The comlinesse of the Natives though naked yet personable and of pleasant countenance their weapons not dangerous or of great annoyance their small use and unskilfullnesse in labour or manufacture great probability of sugar and spices at Madagascar the praise of the Island comparable with the land of Canaan p. 11. CHAP. V. The Idolatrous worship of God or the Devill the Natives addicted to theft and robbery A project of the Bishops disposed to plant at Madagascar Madagascar sauegard rashly attained unto p. 15. CHAP. VI Great incouragement to the plantation the cheapenesse of cloathing or apparell to be had out of India for the use of the planters the rich attire for persons of quality to be had there exceeding cheape all sorts of hearbs roots fruits and foules to be had in plentifull abundance in Madagascar trees yeelding great store of pleasant liquor nothing inferiour to wine and sugar in England the excellent vertue of India Mirabolins p. 20. CHAP. VII The cheapenesse of all sorts of eattell and food at Madagascar the Turkies before mentioned in Mr. Lloyds intelligence are not so large and good as ours and I rather accompt the Sants or such like fowle but being all over speckled blacke and white our people give them the name of Turkies the great benefit to be made by dayries at Madagascar with the meanes to accommodate the making of butter and cheese in that hot Country as also for poudering of Beefe and brewing of good Beere p. 24. CHAP. VIII The accommodation and meanes for dayries brewing of beere and powdering of meat for the use of ships at sea the meanes to make Saltpeter cheaper then in India or elsewhere all sorts of excellent materialls for building to be had in Madagascar poore artificers may live by their labours in all sorts of manufacture out strip all Nations of the world for the price of their labour trade and commerce to and from Madagascar will exceede in benefit all other p. 27. CHAP. IX The Riches to be aecrewd by Trade between England and India may all be converted by a free Trade to the Planters at Madagascar the benefit of particular commodities to and from between India and Persia the Piscash of a Chain of Gold given by Podomsee though of 500. pound Valew not comparable to the benefit he received by fraight and custome in his Massie Treasure in Pearles the Massie rich Trade of Pearles and Diomonds from Persia into India c. p. 30. CHAP. X. The mighty losse to the Portugalls in Customes by the losse of Ormus which might haue been turned to the benefit of the English who Conquered it and indiscreetly deserted it to the benefit of the Persians p. 34. CHAP. XI A brave Sea fight with the Portugals upon the coast of India another brave Sea fight with one English ship against many Portugals in the gulfe of Persia the Portugals cruelty te our men taken prisoners in coole blood p. 38. CHAP. XII The Portugals mediation for peace with the English Nation the Persians valuation of Ormus at twenty Millions of treasure now they are possessed thereof which the English might have enjoyed if they had had wise Governours Committees and Agents of the India corporation the exceeding folly of the East India court in sending treasure into Persia to touch at Surrat where the money being inverted in commodities would have turned almost to double money profit the unconsionable custome of India Courts in not shipping out our own rich native commodities which would yeeld good profit but transporting much Gold and Silver to their countries losse and proofe of their ill office to the Common-wealth the way to drive a rich trade into India without transportation of treasure Multitude of English commodities beneficiall for transportation into India to save exportation of treasure if the India courts were good members of the common-wealth the beneficiall trade in
that a man can hardly drinke it it will be so coole to the teeth almost to make the chops to chatter And thus I thinke beefe layed in salt in dry vessels of stone lead or other mettall set in saltpeter water will keepe it so coole that it may easily take salt and the coolers for woort in brewing of beere so ordered may happily also cause good beere to be made which if it can as I am confident it may be brought to passe will be such an accommodation and benefit to the plantation both for its owne use and to transport butter and cheese into India where it is not good and but of finall quantity and the country not stored with many Cowes which maketh it deare also as deare or dearer then in England at highest rate and of beefe for victualing of ships to sea as the value will be inestimable At the Island of Madagascar I doe verily beleive and am confident there may a good dairy be made and to make very good butter and cheese which will sell both well in India Persia Arabia and all the South seas over in a hundred severall places likewise for victualling of ships both English Dutch Danes and Portugals and that Cheese which we carry out of Europe to India the Banians doe give us twelve pence per pound At Moca in the Red Sea they doe make very good cheese like unto our English cheese and there it is faâ—re hotter then at the Island of Saint Laurence But concerning salting of Beefe it will keepe for three or foure moneths we have kept it but it will eate very dry the reason is because we presse it with weights for to fetch out the blood otherwise it will not keepe The best way to keepe and preserve Beefe or Mutton is to make it into Jerkins the flesh and meate which the Indians do carry for their sea store which is cut in little pieces like unto steaks they first salt it a little and so dry it in the sun till it be so hard as glew which will be so hard and then you may carry it in baskets to sea and water it about one hower before you boyle it and it will be so fresh as though it was newly killed It will keepe twelve moneths at the least and far better for the healths of mens bodies this is true to mine owne knowledge and experience Now to answer yet one objection that may be made that saltpeter is deare and will be so chargeable that it will not quit the cost to which I answer that saltpeter is cheape in India worth a very small matter a hundred weightâ— and will be transported into Saint Laurence for one fourth part or perhaps one eighth part of the charge it costeth by transporting the same in great quantities into England and salt also is in India good cheape Yet to lessen the charge thereof both may be had exceeding cheape made in Saint Laurence for my selfe have seen salt naturally made of it selfe lying in the concaves and hollowes of the rocky Hill in Augustine Bay which the high water filling those concaves with salt water and at the ebbe when the Sunne hath power over it hath been converted into salt moreover it seemed strange unto me one accident there hapning during our abode in that country The English for their recreation had made a parcell of ground by much treading and playing at nine pinns so bare as a bowling alley or much travelled highway and one day it chanced to raine which raine stood in small puddles in some lower places of the alley which the next day by the heate of the sun was converted into salt browne as our bay salt here in England and that by reason of the saltnesse of the earth in that place so neare the sea not a bow shoote from the same which may be occasioned by overflowing of the same at some times of the yeare in that low ground and the grasse growing thereon is salt which for my experience I have also tasted Now if saltpeter may there be made of salt earth as I take it is in England which I have seen saltpeter men to tast of to know thereby whether it were for their use or purpose or no then assuredly saltpeter may be made there for a trifle having a dainty brook of of fresh water issuing out of the rock in the bay enough to turne a mill if such fresh water be usefull for steeping thereof howsoever for other occasions it 's exceeding usefull and in especiall for present use for the businesse before premissed it issuing out of the rock eight or ten foot high or more at low water may with ease and small charge be carryed in pipes upon the land within a stones throw thereof or nearer and there saltpeter may be made to send into England much cheaper then out of India brought down to the Port Town a thousand miles and more upon Cammels backes and being a great deale nearer England about a fourth part or the way may be shipt home for lesse fraight especially by ships to convey planters into that Country and there they may even at the first returne lade perhaps hides and tallow which will not stand them in a penny though for many thousands For building in this brave Island there is abundance of good timber and stone and no doubt but bricke also may be made as well as in India and Persia where many buildings are made of unburnt brickes dryed only with the heat of the sun And no doubt but in short time being planted diligent skilfull men will finde out there as well as in other the like and not so likely countryes Mines of Gold Silver Brasse Lead Iron Tin and other minerals with precious and costly drugs for phisicke and Allowes we made there some sold in London at six shillings eight pence per pound and excellent materials for Diers uses and multitude of other commodities that cannot at present be conceived And the Country being well planted with Artificers and manufactors will outstrip all others in the world for manufactures which though I should grieve to give incouragement to imploy men therein to the hurt of my native country and to the robbing the poore therein of their labour yet being wrought there by our own natives or by other slaves of Freemen to the benefit of the English Planters I do not conceive any wrong done to the Common-wealth and will draw a boundance of poor people into that and disburden our own of many unnecessary idle vagrant people which think themselves born for no other use but Natus consumere fruges and and to live upon Industrous mens labours But that 's a businesse beyond my reach and capacity and therefore leave it to the deep Judgement of judicious States-men for ne Sutor ultra crepidam These incouragements already mentioned may enduce all understanding and industrious pious Charitable men to take opportunity to advance this unparaleld project yet much
not the like place of trade in all Persia also it is become the best Port Town and doth bring more custome to the King of Persia then all the port Townes besides this the English might have enjoyed if they had been wise or had but good descreet Factors and Commanders which hath brought such exceeding losse to the Adventurers I may boldly say many Millions since Ormus was taken And herein by the way let not the India Courts at home maliciously maligne as they have done a long time to the utter ruine of me and mine for my good service done them and acknowledged by their owne acts of Court for casting aspertion upon them in information to my country-men in generall and to the Honourable Adventurers in particular of their indiscreet and injuditious managing the India trade far from the repute of prudent Merchants which hath brought such exceeding losse to the Adventurers of the second stock and to my selfe a poore member of the company in particular which I manifest in these few words The India Court have shipt for many yeers together great quantities of Silver and Gold viz 20 30 40 or 60 thousand pounds per annum into Persia to buy silke which money hath been at all times first brought to Surrat in India and from thence transported into Persia untoucht which being invested at Surrat in commodities as aforesaid would have turned to the companies great profit 40 50 60 or 80 per Cent. 〈◊〉 money yeelded them not a penny profit for they might have had the same money in Royals of eight for their commodities at the port Town of Gombroone to have fitted their turne at Spahan where it was to be invested in silke and if they had carryed up the commodities themselves to Spahan as the Persia Merchants that came to the port Town with ready money to buy the commodities they might peradventure have advanced their profit as much more for it is very probable that Merchants would not come down fifteen hundred miles by land to buy commodities with ready money but to their great advantage The India Company transport but little of our native commodities viz Cloath and other woollen manufacture which though they vend not in great quantities as in Germany Low-countries Turkey Muscovia Denmark c. yet when they are sold they goe off at great profit especially if transported from the port of Surrat unto remoter parts of India and my self have made double and almost treble money of cloath above the price in London but the maine of their exportation is in Gold and Silver which whether they be good common wealths men or no I leave to the judicious state of this Land to examine and consider But I know and am certainly assured that a great trade may be driven in India without any money at all exported as by experience in the several rich Factors returned who carryed smaller or no stock at all of which I could nominate many yet by 5. or 6. yeares employment or some longer time have brought home Estates of 5.10 or 30. thousand pounds a man their sallery not paying their charge by a quarter part more or lesse which I manifest thus A good stock once setled in India of 100000 pounds more or lesse by goods of severall sorts exported from England as Cloth Kersies fine light Stuffes Quick-silver Lead Tinne Iron Steele Currall Amber Ammell Tapestry hangings Pictures Swords Blades Knives Scissers Sheeres Rasors Looking-Glasses Glasse-Beads Spectacles Locks Keyes Hinges Horses Bitts Stirrops and Curry-Combes for Horses and Oxen and Nailes of all sorts French and Norrembour toyes c. Iron-wyer Brasse-wyer Shaven-latten Red white and thin plated Iron Muskets Pistolls Fowling Peeces Brasse and Iron Ordinance Conny-Skins and Lambe-Skins white and dryed in Colours fit for Persia and cold Countreys as Foot-Clothes Sumpter-Clothes for Cammels and Horse-Clothes for a tryall and to bring Cloth in more use in these hot Countryes Lists of Clothes to make Carpets for ordinary people to set upon Remnants and Taylors Shreds of Cloth and Velvet and Satten and Silke for imbrodery and to lay under Carpets and Cover-lids of Colours Leather curiously cut out in workes and usuall in India and to be brought home for many uses some Silk out of Europe of more esteem then India Silke as coloured Sattens Taffeties wrought Taffeties unwrought Grograms Tammets Durettoes Saies and other light Stuffes of each some small quantities for tryall to bring them in use with stripped Hangings fit for paling to great mens Tents with multitude of other English and Europian Commodities to save the exportation of Gold and Silver which time and industry of men will finde out if an open and free trade were for all men to make use of or in an interloping trade leaving the quintessence and choycest Commodities to the India company these commodities are the chiefest of them with others to be found out with some assistance of some reasonable quantity of Gold and Silver at first tollerated if which permition a standing stock may be raised and kept in India which with credit will be abundantly heaped upon them that have but a small stock in the Countrey a mighty trade may be driven to all the Kingdoms of India and Asia and to great profit and the Surplus thereof still yearely after one or two yeares made hence into England will much advantage the state of this Common-wealth in my simple opinion and for the better accommodation of this tradeing small Ships of a 100. or 200. or 300. Tunne may be kept in India to make speedier returnes then by India Junckes from place to place which notwithstanding may be much usefull for ladeing and transporting of grosse commodities as Cotton Cottonyarne Rice Tobacco Sugar Ruinas Gaules Brimstone Allome and such like of small valuation yet great in Bulke and profitable both for exportation and importation to Surrat and other parts in India and the other English Ships to be laded with finer and lesse bulkey Commodities which as long as Peace continueth in those parts between us and the Dutch and Portugals there is little or no danger the seas of themselves taking opportunity of the munsones or trade winds as pleasant sailing in as in the River Theames or Narrow seas in faire or summer weather And this course as I conceive will save an infinite charge of shipping which now the company are and have been at to passe continually between India and England their abode in the Countrey untill they be worne out and decayed and so dangerous to come home a long voyage whereas shipping upon advice from India sent out once a yeer strong and in good case to stay there a moneth two or three for their relading and recreation will be of much lesse Charge and danger in coming home What I write here is out of the little intelligence I have gotten by being one yeare at the Northern parts of India at Surrat and half that time a close prisoner most injuriously and wickedly oppressed for
one profit Rice doth produce 6. and 7. for one profit China ware 4. and 5. for one profit Cloves Mace Nutmegs and Pepper do produce two for one profit narrow and broad Baftas white 70. per cent Narrow Bastas blew Byrames and Canikeenes two for one profit Chaders Bralls Pentathose Barbers aprons Sallowes fine Shashes course Shashes course and fine Girdles doe produce two and a quarter for one profit Suger Ginger preserv'd Suger-candy Cotten-wooll Cardimons Sope and Shooes will produce two and three for one profit also all your Persian commodities will yeeld very good profit at Moco There is divers sorts of severall commodities which you bring from Surrat and out of the South-seas which produce 2 3 4 and 5. for one profit this I know to be true for I have sold many of these commodities as aforesaid at Moco And from Moco to Surrat Estridges Feathers Ruinas Opium Beazer Stones Cloth of Tissue many rich Gums and Druggs which doe produce two for one profit and upwards but for your Estridge-Feathers I do wish no man to sell them at Surrat but for to bring them for England for I have made ten for one profit selling of them in England And now I doe returne to the first center from which I began The Island of Madagascar or St. Lawrence a gallant commerce of trade may be made in few yeeres if wise and discreet men had but the managing of it in a very short time it might be made a second Ormus for it doth stand in the very center of the world for trade withall Nations and nearer by 2000. Leagues then Ormus was to all Nations in Asia for the Northermost part of this Island doth lye within eleven degrees and a half of the Equinoctiall which is very near to Cape Comrine which is the Southern most part of India so that most parts in India Asia Affrica doe lye neer adjacent to Madagascar and many commodities which this Island doth afford is transported to the neighbouring Countreyes as aforementioned and in short time all the Countreys in Asia and India would come and trade with you and Portugals and many other Nations if once a trade was settled Eccles. 34. 9 10 11. and 12. 9 A man that hath travelled knoweth many things and he that hath much experience will declare wisdome 10 He that hath no experience knoweth little but he that hath travailed is full of Prudence 11 When I travelled I saw many things and I understand more then I can expresse 12 I was oft times in danger of death yet I was delivered because of these things 1 Sam. 17. 29. What I have I now done is where not a cause There is yet another good way in my weak Judgement to raise a great fortune and increase of wealth thereby which me thinkes our rich usurers and money Mongers should looke after and that is by raising a banck or stock in India to be put out at interest at the usuall rates there that is one pound and one pound and five shillings a moneth or more accompting 28. dayes to a moneth the time of the moones circumference which makes 13. monethes in the yeere and so produceth 13.1 per cent interest per an. at the least rate and 16. pounds 5. shillings per cent at the highest rate which is double the rate in Christendome and not so offensive to God in letting out money to the hâ—athâ—n and Idolatrous people and the hazard of breaking and loosing of their principall nothing at all dangerous or farre lesse then in England the name of a Bankroupt being more odious and stricter Lawes to binde men to honest performance of such covenants and the usurers or money masters in banck may get more and advance their estates by furnishing men with moneys or wares at a dearer rate provided in fitting season upon their severall voyages to Persia Bantam Moco c. at 20. or 25. per cent profit or more at the ships return bendâ—s the over ratement of their goods 10. or 20. per cent which in all will produce 30. or 40. per cent profit or more which is usuall in 6. moneths or shorter time and at 60. per cent profit to Achin upon a yeares voyage or lesse more then the overratement and the superfluity of their stock may be returned home by exchange either to English at 50. per cent profit or dearer rates especially to Dutch and Portugals c. and away by exchange may peradventure be found from Persia into Turkey to Constantinople at a farre greater advantage for the usuall Rates of the exchange from India to Spahan in Persia at my being in those parts was 60. per cent profit and sure from Spahan to Constantinople will be an advantage gotten and so also raised from Constantinople to London to the Bankers great improvement of their stock and a good help or stay in these obstructive dangerous plundering times to have some part of their Estates abroad in security to great advantage rather then to hide it in the earth where no doubt but much treasure is at this time hidden in England to preserve it from the spoyling hands of Malignant Plunderers as it is often times to their griefes met withall or utterly lost to their posterity through great secresie thus much for the trade outwards and in India and now for the trade home wards from India that is most beneficiall and advantageous making 3. 4. or 5. for one or more as before I have related The commodities from thence are innumerable and of many sundry sorts all beneficiall yet the India company looks after noon but the chiefe as Callocoes or Bastas broad and narrow white and coloured Dimmities Necaines Saloes Pintadoes and other sorts of Lynnen or Stuffes made of Cotten Yarne and Cotten Yarne it selfe and Cotten wool and Spices of all sorts as Pepper Cloves and Mace Cynomon and Ginger Suger Wormeseed Rubarb and Green-Ginger China Roots and many sorts of druggs and Salt-Peeter Indico Gulmack muske Civet Amber-greece Pearle and Diamonds c. of which sorts some also they regard not but permit their Merchants servants and sea-men to trade in also excepting Chiefly Linnens Spices and Indico and some other of speciall note for most profit But India affordeth and would afford many more rich commodities to industrious understanding Merchants either in an open free or interloping trade if men might have liberty and convenience to passe into India Those which Judgement leads me to conceave beneficiall and which if I could have obtained liberty for my passage into India for considerable fraight which was maliciously denied me a member of the company and granted to Aliens and strangers of forraign Nations Enemies in religion and to the accord of commerce gratis I would have put in practice and made tryall to mine own and Countreyes welfare according to that small insight I had attained by my short time of abode in that Country are these as followeth besides those before mentioned and neglected by
exportation and importation whose welfare prosperitie and felicity I wish as my owne these Merchants I say or other if they have lived at whom or abroad in credit which the Banians of India make good inquiry after and demean themselves civilly in India not rioting and lavishing in those unhealthfull and dangerous sinnes to purse body and soule Sha viva venus deport themselves affably and courteously towards the Banians who themselves will doe no great wrongs nor offer affront to any but will patiently beare all affronts and not resist in word or deed but yet perhaps will conceale malice along time untill opportunity to wreake private revenge they shall never want credit to far greater summes then they shall either need or reasonably desire I will yet make bold to adde somewhat more to the furtherance of this plantation If such course or better as wiser men then my selfe shall conceive be taken to encourage adventurers as was used at the first plantation of Virginia it would peradventure prove succesfull in my weake apprehension this is to allot every adventurer a 100 acres of Land for every 12 pound 10 shillings or lesse disbursed upon superscription in a brooke to that purpose and proportionable for smaller summes of monies though but 20 shillings adventure but none lower which my foolish conceit leades me to imagine will make the adventures to rise to a greater and more considerable sum to set that worke afoote more speedily laying aside the advancement by way of Lottery so much asperced with infamy for robbing of poore people and waste ull expence of a vast summe so collected as in the last project for Virginia unlesse upon better approbation and prevention by the States of this Kingdome moreover to allot every labouring man or artificer that will adventure his person and beare his owne charge a 100 acres of land free inheritance and if some reasonable proportion be alotted to women in that kinde it may peradventure adde incouragement to them the sooner to adventure their persons in the voyage also to proportion to every apprentice youth boy or young maide or girle transported at their matters câ—arge after the expiration of seven yeares the inheritance of a 100 acres more or lesse as wiser judgements shall better approve of And no doubt but if Commission be given to the Iustices of every County and Corporation in England with incouragement of the Godly Ministers in their severall parishes to incite men thereunto by application of the glory done to God to conver ignorant soules to Christianity to adde honour and renowne to their gratious Soveraigne and is royall posterity by enlargement of his dominions to accommodate the welfare of their own native Country and comfort to their poore Christian Brethren therein with the great hopefull assurance to raise their owne fortunes and posterity to great wealth and dignity to frame bookes for superscriptions to that purpose and shew their forwardnesse by their owne good example it will draw on adventurers apace and cause that most worthy famous Plantation to flourish suddenly And if freedome of customes be for a time remitted as at present to the adventurers to Trenedado in America it will also adde greater incouragement to the undertakers of this worthy noble action CHAP. XV The valour of the English Nation against the Salvages in Virginia and new-England also of the Spaniards against a civil nation in America or the west Indies also of the Spaniards and Portugals against the Brasilians and against the Indians a mighty warlike nation also the designe of other Nations jeering us for not setling a plantation somewhere in India for our succour and defence ought to stirre us up to such an enterprize the honour and blessing of a pious christian nation to settle true religion among Idolatrous heathen people to Gods glory and honour The barbarous cruell oppression of the Dutch against the English at Amboyna in east India being to mighty and to strong for the English to resist IF any yet object the difficulty of setling a hrme plantation in this excellent country of Madagaicar in regard of the large extent thereof and multitude of inhabitants therein as Moses foretold what the children of Israell might pretend saying in their hearts this nation is more then I how can I cast them out Moses made reply and said thou shalt not feare them but remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharoah and unto all Egypt for the Lord thy God is among you a God mighty and dreadfull and surely if we of England take this worke in hand to Gods glory as they did though not to cast out but to convert soules so shall the Lord our God doe unto all the people whose face we feare either to convert or to confound them let us againe consider this peoples nakednesse their want of Armes and unskilfullnesse in managing warre against experienced and well fenced souldiers and let them also take notice of our nations valour paines and enterprizes of greater difficulty and hazard and no way so comparable for pleasure profit conveniency and accommodation as in Virginia and New England and let them moreover call to minde the valour of the Spaniards in America in conquering the great and rich Empire of west India with a handfull of men in comparison of the multitudes of the people therein who as I take it being long since and many yeares past since I read that story with 300 orse entred the great City of Mexico and tooke their Emperour prisoner in the company of multitudes of this people riding in his throne of State upon mens shoulders Let them yet not also forget the Spaniards or Portugals their conquest over Brasillia that populous nation and of the Portugals in East India forceing trade and commerce and building strong Cities and Forts inhabiting therein in very prime places of India as Goa Dua Damon Dabull Muscat Mallaco c. maugre the opposition of a mighty warlike Emperous the great Mogull and the like at Ormus in Persia volens nolens that most famous antient warlike Nations King and Kingdome of Persia in an Island within three leagues of his maine Land that afforded not the planters any succour at all not so much as timber to build or wood to make fires withall or cattell or graine to feed upon or grasse to sustaine cattell no not so much as a drop of fresh water to quench their thirst in so hot a clymate but what the dewes from heaven afforded them or they brought with them or forced their sustenance from the Persian and Arabian coasts neare adjacent and yet brought their admirable worke to royall perfection building that famous sumptuous rich strong City and Castle therein surpassing the chiefe Cities of the world for wealth for which it was accounted as the Diamond in the Ring so the chiefest Citie for wealth in the round ring of the world untill the English for wrong ' sustained by or from the Portugals over came it and beate them