of Litter or Sedans carried by two men upon their Shoulders with a bar They bring up their Elephants with much care and are at great charge about them They delight much in Hawking and Hunting Their Greyhounds are somewhat less then ours but they tame Tigers and Leopards whereof they make use in hunting and these surprise their prey at a sudden leap but they never pursue it They are particularly industrious at the catching of River-fowl by means of the Skin of a tame Duck which being fill'd with Hay they swim even with the Water and drawing the Decoy-duck after them they insensibly get among the others and take them by the feet without ever frighting them They are very expert at the Bow which they make of a wild Oxes horn and the Arrows of a very light kind of Cane nay they are so excellent at it that sometimes they will take a Bird flying They delight much in Chess and have also a kind of Game at Cards They are lovers of Musick though there be no great Harmony in their own But above all things they are besoâ—â—ed with judiciary Astrology in so much that they never undertake any business of consequence but they first consult the Minatzim They have some of Aristotle's Works translated into the Arabian tongue which they call Aplis as also some Treatises of Avicennas for whom they have a very high respect because he was born at Smarcanda under the jurisdiction of Tamerlam Their Writings are not ill and their Productions are not void of Eloquence They keep a Register of all the remarkable Actions that are done among them and have such an exact account thereof as might serve to write a History of the Countrey Of their Language there are many Dialects but it is easie enough to be learnt and they write as we do from the left hand to the right Most of any quality about the Mogul's Court speak the Persian tongue nay some but very few speak also the Arabian The most common Diseases of those parts are the bloudy Flux and burning Feavers and the Remedy they ordinarily make use of against them is Abstinence They have good store of Physitians but no Surgeons Barbers of which Profession there is a great number are they who let bloud and apply Leeches In the Kingdom of Guzuratta Winter begins towards the end of Iune and lasts till September but there are not such continual Rains there as at Goa for it rains only in certain Intervals and particularly at new and full Moon The North-wind blows constantly for six moneths together and the South-wind for as many The hottest moneths in the year are April May and the beginning of Iune during which the sultriness of the weather is such that it were insupportable were it not that some Winds rise ever and anon which moderate the excessive heats but with that convenience they bring along with them an inconvenience which is their raising such an extraordinary Dust that it deprives a Man of the sight of the Sun There is a vast Trade driven in many Commodities all over the Kingdom of Guzuratta but particularly in Cotton and Linnen Cloaths which are in fairness and fineness equal to those of Holland as also in several Silk-stuffes as Contoms which are of several colours Satins Taffatas Petolas Commerbands Ornis of Gold and Silk which Women commonly make use of to cover their Faces withall Brocadoes Tapistry or Alcatifs Chitrenges or streaked Carpets to lay over Chests and Cabinets quilted Coverlets of Silk or Cotton which they call Geodris or Nalis Tents Perintos or Neuhar which they make use of instead of Couches Cadels or Bed-steads Cabinets of Lacque Chess-boards of Tortoise-shell Seals Beads Chains Buttons and Rings of Ivory Amber Rock-Crystal and Agat The best Indico in the world comes from about Amadabath from a Village call'd Chrichees whence it derives the name The Herb of which they make it is like that of yellow Parsnip but shorter and more bitter sprouting forth into branches like a Reed and growing in kind years six or seven foot high the Flower is like that of a Thistle and the Seed like that of Fenu-greek It is sown in Iune and cut in November and December It is sown but once in three years and the first year the leaves are cut off within a foot of the ground The stalks are taken away and the leaves are set a drying in the Sun and that done they are set a soaking for four or five dayes in a Stonesâ—trough containing about six or seven foot water which is ever and anon stirred till such time as the Water hath suckt out the colour and vertue of the Herb. That done they let out the Water into another Trough where they suffer it to settle for one night The next day all the Water is taken away and what is left in the bottom of the Trough is strain'd through a course Cloath and is set a drying in the Sun And this is the best Indico but the Countrey people adulterate it by mixing therewith a certain Earth of the same colour And whereas the goodness of this Drug is discovered by its lightness they have the cunning to put a little Oyl into it to make it swim upon the water The second year the stalk which was left the year before shoots forth other leaves but they are not so good as those of the first Yet is this preferr'd before Gyngey that is wild â—udico It is also the second year that they suffer some part of it to grow up to seed That of the third year is not good and consequently not sought after by forraign Merchants but is imploy'd by the Inhabitants of the Countrey in the dying of their Cloaths The best Indico is almost of a violet colour and hath somewhat of its smell when it 's burned The Indâ—sthans call it Anil and after it hath been in the ground three years they suffer the Land to lye fallow for one year ere they sow it again Most of the Saltpeter which is sold in Guzuratta comes from Asmer sixty Leagues from Agra and they get it out of Land that hath lain long fallow The blackest and fattest ground yields most of it though other Lands afford some and it is made thus They make certain Trenches which they fill with their Saltpetrous Earth and let into them small Rivulets as much water as will serve for its soaking which may 〈◊〉 the more effectually done they make use of their feet treading it till it become a Broath When the Water hath drawn out all the Saltpeter which was in the Earth they take the clearest part of it and dispose it into another Trench where it grows thick and then they boil it like Salt continually scumming it and then they put it into earthen pots wherein the remainder of the Dregs goes to the bottom and when the Water begins to thicken they take it out of these pots to set it
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
that end sent them forty gallant Horses out of his own Stables the Saddles and Harnesses whereof were adorn'd with great plates of Gold The Ambassadors made use only of two and also ordered the Gentlemen and the principal Officers to ride on Horse-back but the rest went a-foot in the following order First march'd three men or Horse-back two whereof were in compleat arms having Flowers and other Workmanship of Gold The third was arm'd only as a Horse-man with Back Breast and Pot yet all very rich After him march'd forty Persons having every one a Case of Pistols the best that could be had in the Low Countries with their Holsters the laps whereof were Embroider'd Next four men carrying two rich Cymitars the sheaths whereof were of yellow Amber garnish'd with Gold in very rich Cases Next two men with Walking staves done about with Amber which the Persians esteem above Gold in very rich Cases Four men carrying so many great Candlesticks of Amber Two others carrying a Cabinet of white and yellow Amber Four others carrying a Cabinet of Ebony garnish'd with Silver having within it in Golden Boxes several Druggs Essences and Magisteries and the coverings thereof beset with fine stones which signify'd what Magistery there was in every Box. And whereas it is the custom of the Country that Ambassadors are oblig'd to make some Presents from themselves and upon their own accompt the Ambassador Crusius sent in an Arquebuss the stock whereof was of Ebony which cock'd it self by letting down the Cock A vessel of Rock Chrystal done about with Gold and beset with Rubies and Turqueses a Cabinet of Amber and a small striking Clock The Ambassador Brugman presented the King with a gilt brass Candlestick that had thirty branches having a striking Watch within the body of it a pair of gilt Pistols in very rich Holsters a very fair Hour-glass a Watch in a Topaze case a Bracelet of Diamonds and Rubies and a Writing whereby were presented the two pieces of Canon which we had left at Ardebil Every one had his place assign'd him to the end that all things might be presented to the King with the observance of some Order but the Persians never observe it in any Ceremony insomuch that they were no sooner got into the street but they were all in disorder and march'd with such â—onfusion that the Ambassadors Retinue could not make the Procession they expected First there should have march'd three Sergeants with Halberds in the Head of fifteen Musketiers After them the Mashal or Steward alone in the Head of the Gentlemen who march'd three a breast Then three Trumpeters with silver Trumpets and after them march'd the Guards four a-breast immediately before the Ambassadors who had on both sides eight Halberteers and behind them the two Interpreters The eight Pages follow'd on horse-back in very rich Liveries and after them the rest of our people marching three a-breast and eight deep The Ambassadors being come in this order attended by a great number of Kisibachs and Persian Gentlemen on Horse-back whom the King had sent to them through the Maidan to the Gates of the Palace-Royal they were there received by Iesaul Senhobet who is as it were the Introductor or Master of the Ceremonies He commanded those who carried the Presents to make way for the Ambassadors whom he conducted into a Hall where the Divanbeki or Judges are wont to meet for the Administration of Justice and intreated them to rest themselves till he had acquainted the King with their arrival About half an hour after several great Lords came to give the Ambassadors notice that the King expected them We were brought through a spacious Court which was of greater length than breadth and in which there was on both sides about six paces distance from one Wall another lower Wall built close to a row of Tzinnar-Trees and all along that lower Wall stood the Musketiers and the other Guards in a file on both sides The Guards were distinguish'd from the Musketiers by the Coiffure they wore about their heads which was pointed and set out with plumes of Feathers of several Colours They call this kind of Courts or Walks Cheywan and they afford a very delightful prospect At the end of this Court there was a great Hall having light coming in of all sides which was the place design'd for our audience It is called Diwan Chane as being the place where the King administers Justice in Person there being a great difference between the Custom of Persia and that of Muscovy where the Great Duke hath a particular Hall wherein he gives audience to Ambassadors whereas the King of Persia does it in those places where he accidentally is either about other business or for his Divertisement Near the said Hall and under those Trees between the two Walls there were to be seen fifty excellent Horses with their covering-Cloaths of Brocado or Embroider'd with Gold and Silver and among those some Arabian Horses ready to be back'd with their Saddles and Harness cover'd all over with plates of Gold and beset with abundance of precious stones All the Horses stood in the open Air fasten'd by one of the hinder feet to a stake struck in the ground and they were most of them of an Isabella Colour about the Belly and Legs There stood hard by Pails of Vermilion Gilt for the watering of them Not far thence there were two great Cisterns four foot square for the cooling of Wine This Hall was rais'd three steps from the ground and was eight fathom broad and twelve in length There was at the entrance into it a Partition like an Alcove with Curtains drawn before it of red Cotton which were taken up and let down with silk strings When they were drawn up they rested upon the Chapters of certain wooden Pillars made Cylinder-wise Embellish'd with Branch-work Painted and Gilt as were also the Walls On the left hand as you came in there were some pieces of Painting done in Europe and representing certain Histories The floor was cover'd all over with Tapistry whereof the ground-work was of Gold and Silver and in the midst of the Hall there was a Fountain and in the Basin of it abundance of Flowers Citrons Orenges Apples and other Fruits which swom upon the water About the sides of the Basin there were a great number of Gold and Silver Flaggons and Bottles which either had Garlands or Flowers about them or posies in their Mouths The King sate upon the ground having a satin Cushion under him behind the Fountain with his back to the VVall. He was about seven and twenty years of Age handsome Bodied having a gracefull Aspect and of a clear and smooth Complexion somewhat Hawk-Nos'd as most of the Persians are and he had a little black Hair upon the upper lip There was nothing extraordinary in his Habit save that his Cloaths were of Brocadoe and that at his Coiffure there was a Plume of
afterwards to the Town of Lenkeran upon the River Warsasaruth This Town as also all the adjacent Country derives its name from the easy anchorage of shipping thereabouts though to speak rigorously there is no haven in those parts but only a kind of Bay between two Capes or Promontories which reach a great way into the Sea one on Lenkeran-side which is cover'd with trees on the other on Kisilagats-side on which there is nothing but canes But the Sea thereabout is so shallow that little Vessels can hardly get in there and when they are in they ly exposs'd to the violence of the East-wind Georâ—e Dictander saies in the Relation of his Travels that in the year 1603. there came to that place by Sea an Ambassador from Rudolph II. Emperour of Germany and that he died there with most of his retinue but the Inhabitants thereabouts from whom I would have inform'd my self of that particular knew nothing of it The Kurtzibaschi hath the revenue of the Countrey allow'd him as part of his pay though our Mehemandar and the Persians for what reasons I know not would have perswaded us that it belong'd to the Chan of Ardebil and depended on his Government We were receiv'd there by a Visir or Secretary who had the over-sight of the Demesn in those parts We continu'd there the 8. 9. and 10. as well to refresh the Camels which the ill and slippery waies had almost wearied off their legs as in expectation of the rest of our retinue who were not yet come up with the baggage and with them fresh horses for the better prosecution of our Journey The 11. we left Lenkeran and travell'd five leagues on to Kisilagats crossing that day four great Rivers to wit those of Kasiende Noabine Tzili and Buladi the three former over Bridges and the last which was very broad in little Boats swimming over the horses At our coming out of the River we were forc'd to travel with much inconvenience for half a league or better through the water which the adjacent Sea had forc'd up there and to send the Baggage by Sea in six great Fisher-boats The Sea-side in those parts is cover'd all over with Canes as are also the Islands along the Coast where the Cosaques some times lye in ambush to surprize and set upon the ships which pass that way as also in expectation of an opportunity to cross over to the Continent At our coming out of the said water we found the Lord of that place who was come to meet us accompany'd by a hundred persons on hors-back The little City of Kisilagats that is red or gilt wood hath no walls no more than any of the other Cities of those parts and lies in a plain half a league or better from the Sea towards the North-west upon a little River called Willeschi Sulfahar-Chan sold it heretofore to the Chan of Ardebil by whom it was left to his Son Hossein Sultan who still enjoyes it The mountain of Kilan presented it self to our sight towards the West-north-west sinking by degrees into little hills towards the Countrey of Mokan At the foot of the mountain there were â—eral Villages among others those of Buladi Matzula Buster and Thaliskeran and abundance of trees planted in a streight line along a vast piece of Meadow-ground where there was excellent Pasture for Cattel I conceive this to be the place which Strabo speaks of when he says that towards the Portae Caspiae there is a fertile plain very fit for the breeding of Horses He adds that it is able to keep fifty thousand breeding Mares which number the Kings of Persia were wont to have kept there But this is not true at least there is no such thing now though a Military Officer of the Duke of Holstein's who made it his bragg that he had travell'd into Tartary though he had not been beyond Astrachan being question'd concerning the truth of this breeding-place had the confidence to affirm that what Strabo had said of it was very certain About these parts and in the neighbouring Mountains are the Countries of Kuawer Maranku and Deschiewend and the Village of Dubil otherwise called Chatifekeka the Inhabitants whereof were extirpated by the express command of Schach Abas for the abominable lives they led They had their meeting in the night time at some private houses where after they had made good cheer they blew out the Candles put off their Cloaths and went promiscuously to the work of Generation without any respect of age or kindred the Father many time having to do with his own Daughter the Son with the Mother and the Brother with the Sister Schach Abas coming to hear of it ordered all the Inhabitants of the Village to be cut to pieces without any regard or distinction of age or sex and peopled it with others I conceive it is of the Inhabitants of these parts that we are to understand what Herodotus affirms of their going together without any shame and publickly after the manner of Beasts Over against Kisilagats and about three leagues from the Continent there are two Islands named Kelechol and Aalybaluck The latter which is three leagues or Farsangs in length hath its name upon this accompt that Aly being there one day extremely put to it for fresh water to quench his thirst God immediately caus'd to break forth out of the ground a Spring of fresh water which is to be seen there to this day Febr. 12. we travell'd on through a plain Country but cross'd by several small Rivers the chiefest whereof were the Vskeru and the Butaru and we lodg'd at night at Elliesdu a Village seated at the entrance of the Heath of Mokan at the foot of a hill which is very fruitful as is also the rest of the Country on the mountain-side It belong'd to a Military Officer named Beter Sulthan who had his ordinary residence at a place six leagues thence The houses of this Village were very wretched ones as being built only with laths nail'd across and plaister'd over with clay They were inhabited by Souldiers on whom the King bestows the revenue of his Demesin in these parts with certain Lands which they are oblig'd to cultivate In this Village the Ambassador Brugman caus'd a Persian to be kill'd with cudgelling His Groom would have gone into the first house he came to with one of the led-horses the Kisilbach or soldier who was the Master of it told him that his house was free from quartering and that besides he had no convenience for the entertainment of horses whereupon having a stick in his hand he therewith struck the horse over the head but very slightly The Ambassador Brugman who saw this contestation was so enrag'd at the resistance of the Kisilbach that he immediately alighted and ran in to him The Kisilbach who said afterwards that he knew him not and was far from imagining that an Ambassador would engage himself in such a business and as a
defensible The Indians perceiv'd it not till 't was past their hopes of forcing it so as in this despair of driving out the Dutch they made use of the bad correspondence betwixt the English and them which chiefly appear'd in a Sea-fight they had near Bantam and Iacatra Ianuary 2. 1619. The Holland Fleet which consisted but of seven Vessels had the worst of the English that were eleven The Dutch being forced to retreat the King of Iacatra with the English Forces besieg'd the Dutch Fort now called Batavia which Siege lasted six moneths till the Holland General having reinforced his Fleet with the Ships that lay in the Molâ—cques constrain'd the English to raise the Siege to embark their Guns and quit the Streight of Sunda to get into the main Sea The King of Iacatra would have cast the blame of all these disturbances upon the English but the Dutch General would not be satisfied with such excuses but landing his Forces to the number of eleven hundren men he assaulted the Town of Iacatra which he took by force and having put all to the sword fir'd it That done the Dutch compleated the fortification of their Quarters and brought it to a regular form with four Bastions of Free-stone well trench'd and pallisado'd with Half-moons Redoubts and other necessary Works The King of Matram who is as 't were Emperour of Iava in the year 1628. besieg'd this Fort and lying under the Cannon storm'd it several times but in the end was forc'd to raise the Siege as hein like manner was the year following and since that time the Dutch have established their Commerce joyntly with the Chineses the Iaponeses Siameses Succadans and other Neighbours taking ten in the hundred Custom upon all Commodities whether brought thither or carried thence The City of Batavia is twelve Leagues from Bantam Eastward in a Bay which being sheltred with some small Islands on the Sea side is one of the best Roads in all the Indies Strangers that inhabit there pay a certain tax by the moneth according to the profit they make which is great for a Porter who will with ease get two Ryals a day payes but one and a half in a moneth a Fruiterer four Ryals a Fisherman three Ryals Distillers of Arack eight Ryals Mechanicks as Shoomakers Taylors c. two Ryals so as at present the most important place and firm est establishment the Dutch have throughout the Indies Between the Isles of Iava and Borneo North-east from the former lies the Isle of Madura governed by a particular Prince that resides in the City of Arossabaya In this Isle there is no Commerce at all as well because the soil is barren of all Spices as for that 't is inaccessible by reason of the Shelves of Sand that on all sides environ it The Islanders for the most part live by Pyracy and run up to the very Coasts of Pegu which their Neighbours are forced to connive at least they should hinder the exportation of Rice which is there in great abundance The Hollanders who had been hardly used by the Iavians near Tubam and Cidayo Towns three Leagues from Ioartam in the Isle of Iava coming in sight of the Isle of Madura in the beginning of December 1596. and apprehending some danger to be taken by certain Praus or Ships equipped for War where the Prince and Cherif or High Priest of the Island were in person to prevent the Iavians whose intent was to surprise them fir'd some Guns at the great Pran where the King and Cherif with divers others lost their lives for that Ship being three Tires high and filled with Souldiers there was not a Gun fired which destroyed not a great number so as the Hollanders who in the mean time got into their Shallops with little difficulty became Masters of them This done they made no stay there but fail'd from thence to the Isle of Baly where they arrived Ianuary 30. 1597. The Isle of Baly lyes towards the Oriental part of the Isle of Iava being in circuit about twelve Leagues towards the South putting out a Cape or Promonâ—ory a long way into the Sea The North point of it is eight degrees and a half beyond the Line and the chief City where the King hath a magnificent Palace derives its name to the Island The Islanders are Pagans and adore the first thing they meet with at their going out in the morning they are black and their Hair curling In habit they differ nothing from their neighbour-Islanders with whom they likewise correspond in wearing no Beards for when the Hair first begins to come they pluck it up by the roots Their Women who have an aversion to Beards oblige them to do so as also to squat down when they make water because Dogs held with them unclean beasts piss standing There is not a Man but hath several Wives whence the Island grows so populous that they reckon upon six hundred thousand Souls there though they give way for abundance of Slaves to be bought from them The greatest part are Husbandmen or Weavers by reason the Land produces great store of Cotton and is very proper for Rice but they permit not any to be transported lest some hard year should bring them to a necessity of being beholding to their Neighbours They have store of Oxen Buffles Goats and Swine likewise Horses but they are so small that none but the Country people use them Persons of Quality being carried in Sedans or Coaches Their Forrests of Oranges Lemmons and Pomecitrons are stored with Feasants Partridges Peacocks and Turtles theiâ— back-Yards swarm with Poultry and their Fens and Rivers with Ducks and other wild Fowl In the whole Island there is no other Spice then Ginger which generally grows in all parts of the Indies but here are found several other Drugs as Galigan Doringui Canior Bangue c. as likewise a certain Fruit inclosed in a Shell like a Chesnut white within of excellent taste and sovereign against the Scurvy also another Fruit as big as a Walnut that grows in the ground like the Saligots The Coasts of the Island and the Rivers so abound in Fish that next to Rice 't is the subsistence of the Inhabitants They entertain in a manner no Commerce only they set forth some small Barks to the Isle of Iava for vending their Cotton-clothes The Chineses sometimes come hither to fetch it and in exchange bring them Sword-blades and Purcelane This is a common Road for all Ships bound from the Continent to the Molucques which here take in water and refreshments provisions being at exceeding cheap rates Iron and Brass Mines there are as likewise Gold but the King will not suffer them to be wrought for fear of attempting his Neighbours to an Invasion he is well furnished with store of Gold-plate for his own service Subjects render him the same respect and speak to him with the same Ceremony as the other Indians
custom they have to make Entertainments for the Women distinct from those of the Men. They all came and wondered not much that the Mistress of the house was not to be seen in regard her Husband told them that she was busie in the Kitchin but dinner being well-nigh past and the Guests perceiving the Woman appear'd not they intreated him to send for her which he promised to do Whereupon rising from the Table and going into the Room where she was ty'd to the Ladder he unbound her put a Shrowd about her and put into her hands a Box of Lacque wherein were the Privy-members of her Gallant cover'd with Flowers charging her not to open the Box and saying to her Go and present this Box to our common Relations and see whether I may upon their meditation grant you your life She came in that equipage into the Hall where they sate at dinner and falling on her knees presented the Box with the precious Reliques within it to the Kindred but as soon as they had opened it she swounded Her Husband perceiving it went to her and to prevent her returning again now that she was going cut off her Head which raised such an horror in the Friends that they immediately left the Room and went to their several homes To prevent these disorders they have in their common Inns upon the Road as also in certain places in Cities the convenience of furnishing Travellers with a kind of Women who are for the most part Slaves but very well clad in Silk and make no difficulty to proffer themselves to keep men company all night These have the Custom of Masters of Ships and common Sea-men that are Forreigners but if they will bid at a little higher Game and be more sure of their enjoyments they may buy a concubine with whom they contract for the time they are to stay in the Country allowing them five or six pence a day towards their diet a Garment or two certain pair of Shooes of Cordevant and about eight or ten Crowns for the Father or Master who lets her out We are so far from charging this Nation with being over-superstitious that on the other side we affirm that there is no mark of Devotion to be observed among them Those who are conceived to have very much go once a moneth to their Pagodes and pronounce several times the word Nammanda which is the name of one of their Gods but they are never seen praying to God neither morning nor evening nor at any time of the day There is a certain Sect among them which hath Priests who preach thrice a year to which Sermons all those of the same perswasion resort There are also some who make use of another kind of Ecclesiasticks especially in their long diseases wherein they have prayers made which last twenty four hours with such a noise that they stunne such as come near them who yet cannot understand one word they say not only in regard they pronounce ill and confusedly but hence that whatever they compose as well in matter of Religion as Medicine and the other Sciences is couched in such high and obscure terms that many times they understand them not themselves Notwithstanding this irreligion there are in Iapan an incredible number of Pagodes or Mesquites some of which have fifteen or twenty Priests belonging to them They are distinguished from the Laicks in that their Heads are shaved as also by their cloathing in as much as they go in a kind of Cassock made like the Frocks worn by some Country people but upon Holidayes they go in a sort of long Garments which they sold up under the left Arm like a Cloak Their principal employment is to pray before their Gods and to bury the dead or at least the ashes of such bodies as have been burnt They are divided into several Sects and consequently have so many different wayes of doing their Devotions especially on the Anniversary dayes of the deceased which they call Bom on which the Priests are employed in praying and singing Letanies in making Processions about a Chappel set about with Wax-lights much after the same manner as is done in some parts of Europe Their Sepulchres are near their Pagodes covered with great Stones two or three foot high on which such as go to do their Devotions there cast Flowers or branches of Trees and put into a little Pit made in the ground some fair Water and a little Rice which is taken away thence by the poor Persons of Quality erect a little Pillar near their Sepulchres and grave thereon their names with a certain Elogy which serves for an Epitaph Their Ecclesiasticks are divided into twelve principal Sects of which eleven eat not of any thing that hath had life and make a Vow of Chastity with so strict an Obligation for the observance thereof that if they break it though in never so small a point they are put to the most cruel death that ever was heard of For the Priest who hath broken his Vow is put into the ground up to the Waste near the High-way and all that pass by who are not nobly descended are obliged to give a little stroke upon his Neck with a wooden Saw which being very blunt makes the Wretch languish three or four dayes together This course is taken with them upon this account that being permitted to use Sodomy they may forbear Women The Priests of the twelfth Sect live after another rate For it is lawful for them to feed on any thing that Earth or Water affords as also to marry and yet this Sect which they call Icko whence the Priests whereof it consists are named Ickois is accounted the holiest and most perfect of them all He who is Head of this Sect is also Supream Head of all the Clergy of the Country and is in so great veneration among his followers that they do not only carry him in a Palanquin but indeed do him such honours as are almost Divine All the Priests depend on the Dayro who still hath the same power over the Ecclesiasticks as he had heretofore joyntly with the secular power Only such Pagodes as belong to these last have a settled Revenue and enjoy many Priviledges and Immunities granted them by the Emperours All the other Pagodes are maintain'd by what is given them either by way of Alms or the Gratifications that they get from those who imploy them about Prayers for the dead wherein the main part of the exercise of their Religion consists Some among them believe that the Soul is immortal that the Body is reduced to its first Principle and becomes Dust and Ashes but that the Spirit is either raised to eternal joy or condemn'd to an endless grief and that at its return into this World it shall find good or evil according to what it had done during this life Others make no distinction between the Souls of Men and those of Beasts and as
their Voyages They express little Devotion and respect for their Idol's For being extreamly addicted to consult Incantations and Charms in all their affairs of great Importance in so much that they will not undertake a journey nor marry nor indeed do any business of consequence till they have consulted them If they prove not according to their expectations they raile at their Gods call them Dogs and reproach them with all baseness But when their indignation is a little over they change their reproaches into flattery and kindness ask them pardon promise them what they least intend to perform and then return to their Incantations again If they are otherwise answered then before they flatter and praise their Gods but if they are still threatned with misfortune they give them both ill words and blows throw them down tread upon them beat them drag them into the dirt burn them with a candle or whip them till the Spell favours them and then they offer to them Ducks Geese Poultry boild Rice c. Their great Sacrifices consist of offering to their Gods the head of a boil'd Hog adorn'd with flowers and 〈◊〉 and a Jar of Wine Their way of Incantation is performed by two pieces of Wood about the bigness of a Wall-nut whereof one side is flat the other round like a half bowl These they cast upon the ground and if it happen that both or one fall so as that the round side be downwards they take it for a very ill omen but they cast them so often that they must at last fall as they would have them Another way they have and that is by casting into a Pot several pieces of Wood each whereof hath a certain Character upon it and they have them drawn out by a Child and as they are taken out they turn over a Book till they come to a Page that begins with the Character drawn out of the Pot and they accommodate the words they find in the Page to the thing whereof they would know the event by the said drawing out of the Characters They also invoke the Devil and the gestures of those who are employed in these Invocations are such as a man would say they were really possessed nay there have been some Christians so simple as to believe it The Chineses believe that the Heavens the Earth and Water have been from all eternity but that heretofore they were so confounded together that it must be the work of a Divinity to reduce them into order They call the God who did this Tayn and affirm that in the beginning he of nothing created a man whom he called Panzon and a woman whom he namen Panzona That Panzon in like manner of nothing created another man named Tanhom and his thirteen brethren and that this Tanhom was so learned that he gave names to all things that were Created That Tanhom and his brethren had diverse Children but particularly that the second whom they call Teyencom had twelve sons and that his eldest whose name was Tubucom had nine That their Race hath lived upon the Earth above ninety thousand years but that at last Tayn kill'd all the Males for their Rebellion That at that time the heaven fell but that Tayn raised it again and created another man named Lotzitzen who had two horns in his forehead ou◠of which came forth a pleasant scent from whence were begotten males and females and that all now alive are descended from Lotzitzan who as they affirm lived nine hundred years That the Heaven begot also another man named Atzion by a very extraordinary production inasmuch as his Mother whom they call Lutim was got with child by looking on the head of the Lyon in the Zodiack and that she was brought to bed in the City of Tengcheu in the Province of Xantung That many Ages afterwards one named Vsao taught Architecture and began to build houses and make cloathes That Huntzui his successor found out fire and taught people how to boil and roast meat as also how to buy and sell and make contracts That a woman named Hautzibon had conceived by setting her foot in the step of a man and brought forth Ocheutey who first made marriages and invented several musical instruments That Ezonlom his Son was the first Teacher of Medicine and Judiciary Astrology and the first who made use of the Plough and the Spade They affirm also that he was wont to feed on a Sallad of seven of the most venemous Herbs could be found and that instead of receiving any harm thereby it kept him alive four hundred years and that he left a son from whom are descended all the ancient Kings of China They believe the Immortality of the Soul and affirm that the Heaven communicates its Eternity thereto and that after this Life it shall enjoy eternal bliss or be eternally tormented according to the good or evil done in this World They believe also a kind of Purgatory and that there is a certain place where Souls are to be cleansed from the impurities they derived from the bodies which they had informed and that as to this particular the Suffrages of their Friends and Relations may procure them some refreshment Whence it comes that in August they have a Day appointed for Prayers and supplications to be made for the Deceased but instead of performing these Ceremonies in their Pagodes they do them in the private Houses of such as are inclined to this kind of Devotion To that end three of their Religious men go to the House appointed and exhort the Family to make the Prayers requisite for the purging of those sins which obstruct the Beatitude of their deceased Relations Of these three Religious men one carries a little Drum another certain Images and the third a small Bell. Having set the Images upon the Altar they Incense them while in the mean time some others are busied in setting on five or six Tables certain Dishes of Meat for the Saints and Souls of the Deceased and that done they fall a-dancing and singing certain Hymns which the younger of the Religious men writes down on Paper and afterwards lays on the Altar Assoon as he is returned to his place they fall a-singing again till such time as he who says the Service strikes his Image against the Table whereto the others answer with their heads and that done they burn the Images before the Altar Having spent the night in this kind of Devotion which is not begun till after Sun set the Religious men and those of the House make good chear with what they find on the Tables and had been set there for the spirits of the other World and thus they procure the purgation of the Souls departed Most of them do also believe the Transmigration of Souls but few speak of it with any rational ground They have four Orders of Religious men whereof some are clad in black some in white and some in a dark