two knots or partitions vncarued In those scutes the Indians sit naked at ech end one crosse legged in each hand an oare wherewith they rule the boate and driue her swiftly against the streame specially in the riuer called Cranganor and they are of this opinion that those Scutes are neuer ouerturned by the Crocodiles although they come about them as others are but for these it was neuer heard of The 59. Chapter Of the tree called Arbore Triste THe Tree called Arbore Triste that is the sorrowfull tree is so called because it neuer beareth blossoms but in the night time and so it doeth and continueth all the yeare long it is a thing to be wondred at for that so soone as the Sunne setteth there is not one blossome seene vppon the tree but presently within halfe an houre after there are as many blossomes vppon it as the Tree can beare they are very pleasant to behold and smell very sweet and so soone as the day commeth on and the Sunne is rising presently all the blossomes fall off and couer all the ground so that there remayneth not one to be seene vpon the tree the leaues shut themselues close together so that it seemeth as though it were dead vntill euening commeth againe and then it beginneth to blossome as it did before the tree is as great as a Plum tree and is commonly planted behinde mens houses in their gardens for a pleasure and for the sweet smell it groweth very quickly vp for that many young plantes do spring out of the roote and as soone as those young plantes be aboue halfe a fadome high they haue presently as many blossoms vppon them as the branches on the trees and although they cut the tree down to the ground yet within lesse then halfe a yeare there will branches spring out of the roote and likewise if you breake a branch off from the tree set it in the earth it will presently take root and grow within few dayes after beareth blossoms the blossomes are in a manner like Orange tree blossomes the flowre being white and in the bottome somewhat yellow and reddish which in India they vse for Saffron therewith to dresse their meats and to die with all as wee doe with our Saffron but it is neyther so good nor of so pleasant a taste yet it serueth there for want of the other Some say that the water of this tree being distilled is good for the eyes steeping linnen clothes in it and so laying them to the eyes This tree is found in no place but in Goa and Malacca in some other places where the Portingalles inhabiting haue planted them for that they first came out of Malacca into India but within the land there is none they are called in the Malayan tongue Singady in Decanun Parisatico in Decan Pul of the Arabians Guart of the Persians and Turkes Gâ—l The cause of this name as the Indians say is that a Gentleman â—alled Parisatico had a faire daughter of whom the Sunne became amorous and in the end obtained his pleasure of her but not long after he fell in loue with another forsook her wherupon she falling into dispaire killed herselfe and according to the custome of the countrie her body was burnt of whose ashes they say this tree sprang vp and for the same cause was called Parisaâ—ico and therefore they say by reason of the hatred it beareth vnto the Sunne it neuer bringeth foorth blossome or flowre but hy night and in the day time for griefe they presently fall off The description of this Tree by Christopherus de Costa is set downe in this manner that it is of the greatnes and similitude of a plumme tree with many small branches seperated by diuers knots and partitions the leaues growing two and two together and as bigge as plumme tree leaues soft and rough on the out side verie like to leaues of Sage and inwardlie greene and somewhat sharp but not so vneuen on the sides as plumme leaues neyther yet so full of veines In the middle betweene the two leaues there groweth a little stalke whereon are fiue small heads out of them foure little rough leaues out of the middest wherof there doe spring fiue small white blossomes of the greatnesse and forme of Orange blossomes but somewhat smaller fairer and sweeter The stalke seemeth more red than yellow wherewith the Indians colour their meate as wee doe with Saffron The greene fruite is of the greatnes of a Lupyne and in fashion like a little hart somwhat long and deuided in the middle hauing two places wherein the seed doth lie which is also like a hart and as bigge as the seeds of Saint Iohns bread couered with a greene Skin and somewhat bitter Of all other Trees these are the pleasantest of smell so that they bee not handled for if they be they doe presently loose their sweetnes and smell The Indians are of opinion that these flowers doe quicken and comfort the heart but they are somewhat bitter the Heathens likewise doe account the seede among their medicines that strengthen the hart The flowers may be vsed in meat the seed hath oftentimes bin caried into Portingall and there sowed but neuer would grow what meanes soeuer they vsed the flowers fall off when the sunne riseth as Clusius saith eyther by reason of some contrariety or because of the subtill nature of the sap which the beames of the Sunne doe drie and consume for those wheron the Sunne shineth not stay somewhat longer on the tree These flowers are very carefully gathered whereof a very sweet and pleasant water is distilled which is called water de Mogli some of this seede was brought me out of India by Iohn Hughen which I sowed in the grouÌ„d but it came not forth The 60. Chapter Of the Bettele leaues the fruit Arecca THe leaues called Bettâ—eâ—e or Bettre which is very common in India and dayly eaten by the Indians doe grow in all places of India where the Portingals haue discouerd not with in the countrie but only on the sea coast vnlesse it bee some small quantitie It wil not growe in cold places as China nor in ouer hot places as Mosambique and Sofala and because it is so much vsed I haue particularly set it downe in this place although it is already spoken of in many other places You must vnderstand that this Bettele is a leafe somewhat greater and longer out than Orange leaues and is planted by sticks wherevpon it climeth like Iuie or pepper and so like vnto pepper that a farre off growing each by other they can hardlie bee descerned It hath no other fruite but the leaues only it is much dressed and looked vnto for that it is the dayly breade of India The leaues being gathered doe continue long without withering alwaies shewing fresh and greene and are sold by the dozen and there is not any woman or man in all India but that euery day
inwardly yealowish but in cutting it is waterish yet some not so much they haue a verie pleasant taste better then a Peach and like the Annanas which is y e best y e most profitable fruit in al India for it yeeldeth a great quātity for food sustenance of the countrie people as Oliues do in Spaine and Portingale they are gathered when they are gréene and conserued and for the most part salted in pots and commonlie vsed to be eaten with Rice sodden in pure water the huske being whole and so eaten with salt Mangas which is the continuall food for their slaues and cōmon people or else salt dryed fish in stéed of Mangas without bread for Rice is in diuers places in stéed of bread These salted Mangas are in cutting like the white Spanish Oliues and almost of the same taste but somewhat sauorie and not so bitter yet a little sowre and are in so great abundance that it is wonderful there are others that are salted and stuffed with small péeces of gréene Ginger and Garlike sodden those they call Mangas Recheadas or Machar they are likewise much vsed but not so common as the other for they are costlie and more esteemed these are kept in pots with Oyle and Vineger salted The season when Mangas are ripe is in Lent and continueth till the Moneth of August The 52. Chapter Of Caions THis fruite groweth on great trees not much vnlike Apple trees but the yong trees haue leaues like Lawrell or Bayleaues they are of a pale greene and thicke with white blossoms like Oringe trees but thicker of leaues yet not so sweete of smell The fruit is in greatnesse and forme like a Goose Egge or a great Apple verie yellow of good sauor moyst or spungie within and ful of Iuice like Lemmons but without kernels sweete of taste but yet harsh in a mans throate they seeme not to haue beene common in East India but brought thether from Brasillia where those Nuts are much eaten although Theuet in his description of America 61. Chapter writeth otherwise At the end of this fruit groweth a Nut of forme like the Kydney of a Hare whereof I had many brought me by a Pylot of Portingall of an Ash colour or when they are ripe of a reddish Ash colour These Nuts haue two partitions betweene which two partitions there is a certain spongious fattie matter like Oyle hotte and sharpe but in the innermost part thereof is a white kernell very pleasant to eate like Pistaccios with a gray skin ouer it which is pulled off These Nuts being a little rosted are eaten in that sort vsed to prouoke lust The fruit and also the Nuts are vsed in bankets being eaten with wine without wine because of their good taste They are good for the weaknesse of the Maw and against perbreaking and loathing of meate but such as will not vse them to that ende doe eate them only dipped or steeped in a little water the sharpe Oyle betweene both the partitions is verie good for Saint Anthonies fire and flashing in mens faces The Brasilians vse it against scurffes this tree was at the first planted of the very Nut but the first and greatest fruite had neither seede nor kernell some thinke it to bee a kind of Anacardy because it is very like it for the sharpe iuyce that is betweene the partitions Reade more hereafter in Carolus Clusius his obseruations vppon Graciam first Booke and third Chapter Cajus groweth on trées like apple trées and are of the bignes of a Peare at one end by the stalk somewhat sharp and at the head thicker of a yelowish colour being ripe they are soft in hādling they grow very like aples for wher the apples haue a stalke these Cajus haue a Chesnut as big as the fore ioynt of a mans thumb they haue an other colour and fashion then the Chesnuts of Iaqua and are better more sauorie to eate but they must be rosted within they are white like y e Chesnuts of Europa but haue thicker shelles which are of colour blewish and dark gréene When they are raw and vnrosted you must not open them with your mouth for as soone as you put them to your mouth they make both your tongue and your lippes to smart whereby such as know it not are deceiued wherefore you must open their shelles with a knife or rost them and then they wil péele This fruite at the end wher the stalke groweth in the eating doth worke in a mans throate and maketh it swel yet it is of a fyne taste for it is moyst and full of iuice they are commonlie cut in round slices and layd in a dish with water or wyne and salt throwne vpon them for so they do not worke so strōglie but are verie good and sauorie to eate the time when they are ripe is in Lent and in Winter time like Mangas but not so good as Mangas or Ananas and of lesse account They are likewise in great numbers ouer all India The 53. Chapter Of Iambos IN India ther is an other fruit that for the beautie pleasant taste smell and medicinable vertue thereof is worthie to bee written of and is of great account in India being first brought out of Malacca into India The tree whereon this fruite groweth is as great as the greatest Orange tree in all Spaine with manye branches which spread verie broade and make much shadow and is faire to behold The bodie and great branches thereof haue an ash colour-gray barke the leaues are faire soft longer then the breadth of a hand they are somewhat like the point of a Speare or Pike with a thicke threed or veine in the midle and many small veines or branches in the sides outwardly verie greene and inwardly somewhat bleaker with blossomes of a liuely darke Purple colour with many streekes in the middle verie pleasant to beholde and of taste like the twynings or tendrels of a Vine The fruite is as bigge as a Peare or as some are of opinion of the bignesse and colour of a great Spanish Wal-nut they tooke their name of a King Ther are two sorts of this fruit one a browne red seeming as though it were blacke most part without stones and more sauory then the other which is a palered or a pale Purple colour with a liuely smell of Roses and within it hath a little white hard stone not verie rounde much like a Peach stone white and couered with a rough skin This is not ful so great as the other yet are they both fit for such as haue daintie and licorous mouthes They smel like sweete Roses they are colde and moyst and altogether soft couered with a thinne Rinde which cannot be taken off with a knife The Iambos tree taketh deepe roote within foure yeares after it is set doth beare fruit and that many times in one yeare and is neuer without fruite or blossomes for that commonly euerie branch hath both
lie to catch fish about twoo miles further there is another Island hard by the firme lande where on the loofe side the ships may harber it is called Chulâ— from whence there are wares sent to Arequipa and is from Quilca nine miles it lyeth vnder seuenteene degrees and a halfe The way by lande from Lyma or Cidado de los Reâ—es to Arequipa DEparting from Lyma and following the coast about three spanish miles or twelue Italian miles you come to the vally of Pachacama in our card Pachamma a most pleasant place and wel known among the Peruuians because of the most statelie Temple that sometimes stood therein for riches exceeding al others in that countrey being placed vpon a litle hil made of square stones and earth in the which temple were many painted doores wals with formes of wilde beasts in the middle therof where the idoll stood were the priests that shewed themselues to be verie holie and when they offered sacrifice for all the people they turned their faces towardes the gates of the temple and their backs to the Image casting downe their eyes and ful of fearefull demonstrations made great stamping as some of the old Indians say like the maner of the sacrificators of the Idoll Apollo when the people staied to heare the prophesies Those old Indians likewise say that they vsed to offer many beastes and some men vnto this Idol at their cheefe feastes this Idol gaue them answere to their demaunds and what he sayd they beleeued in this temple there was great treasor of golde and siluer hidden and the priestes were greatly esteemed the Lords of the countrey being much subiect to their commaundements rounde about this temple were certaine houses made for Pilgrims and no man was esteemed worthie to be buried about that Church but onely their kings noblemen and the priests that came thither on pilgrimage bringing certaine offerings with them when they helde their greatest feast in al the yeare there assembled many people that according to their manner plaied on instruments when the kings of Casco subdued the vallie they hauing a custome throughout al their countries to erect temples in the honour of the sunne and beholding the greatnesse and auncientnes of that temple with the perswasion that the common people had of the holinesse of that place as also the great deuotion vsed therein they thought it not conuenient to destroy that church but appoynted another to be made by it in honour of the sunne which shuld be esteemed the greater which according to the kings commandement being finished be indowed it with great gifts sending thither certaine women wherwith the diuell of Pachacanâ—a was verie well pleased as it appeareth by the answere hée gaue vnto them being serued as well in the one temple as in the other and keeping the poore soules vnder his power and now although this temple is defaced yet hee ceaseth not secretly to speake with some of the Indians telling them that the same God which is preached by the Spaniards and hee are all one thereby to keepe them in obedience vnto him and not to become christians In steede of those Idols there are crosses erected as they think to please the diuel the name of the diuell was Creator of the world for Camac is creator and Pacha world but God permitting Francis Pizaâ—ius to take King Atabaliban prisoner he sent his brother Fernando Pizarrus to destroy the temple and to take away the treasure although the priestes before his comming had hidden part thereof which could neuer be founde yet a great part was carried away This vallie is verie fruitful rich and ful of trees abounding with kine and other cattel as also good horses From the vally Pachacama you come to Cilca where there is a notable thing to be noted for the strangenesse thereof for it neuer raineth there neither is there any riuer whereby they may conuay the water therwith to water their groundes yet the most part of this vallie is ful of Maiz and other rootes that are good to eate with fruitfull trees the meanes they haue to helpe themselues therein is thus that they make certaine deepe pits within the earth wherein they sow their Maiz and other rootes and other fruits and by reason of the cleare and pleasant aire as also the smal dew and moisture that falleth God sendeth them great aboundance of Maiz and other things but no other corne neither would that likewise grow therein if they did not throw one or two heades of the fish called Sardinia into the ground with euerie eare of corne which fish they take with nets in the sea and by that meanes it groweth in great aboundance whereby the people maintain themselues The water that they vse to drinke they take it out of great deepe pittes and for the better prouision of their corne they do euerie yeare fish for so many Sardines as they shal neede both to eate and sowe theyr corne There was likewise in that country many houses for prouision and munition belonging to the King of Peru therein to lodge and rest themselues when they trauaile through their countryes Two miles and a quarter from Ciâ—ca is the prouince of Mala where there runneth a faire riuer the coast whereof is ful of trees and not full foure miles further lyeth Goarco well knowne in that countrey being great and broade and ful of fruitful trees speciallie of Guuyas a certaine Indian fruit verie pleasant of smel and taste and also Guauas and Maiz in most great aboundance with al other things as wel Indian as Spanish fruites Besides this there are great numbers of Pigeons Turtle Doues and other kindes of foules in the woods and wilde countrey which make a good shadow in the vallie vnder the which there runneth certaine streames of fresh water The inhabitants of this country say that in times past that place was verie populous and that they ruled and hadde commandement ouer some of the hils and ouer plaine countries and when the Ingen or Kings of Peru or Cusco came to subdue them they held wars against him for foure yeares together minding not to loose the liberty which their predecessors before them had so long maintained During the which wars many strange things happened which are herein needlesse to rehearse because my meaning is not to make a History but onely to describe the coast and although the Kings of Peru in summer time because of the great heate withdrew themselues into Cusco yet they had their Captaines and Souldiours that helde continuall warres and because they might the better bring their affaires vnto effect the Ingen in this vally caused a newe Casco to be built whether he and his nobilitie repaired giuing the streetes and other places the names of the olde Cusco when he had subdued that people the saide residence of the King and the towne did both decay yet in steede thereof there remaineth a goodly Castle which he left in signe of victory situate
Mossambique Being at Mossambique wee were foure of our Fléete in company together only wanting the Saint Phillip which had holden her course so nere the coast of Guinea the better to shun the Flats of Bracillia that are called Abrollios whereon the yere before she had once fallen that she was so much becalmed that she could not passe the Equinoctiall line in long time after vs neyther yet the cape de Bona Speranza without great storms foule weather as it ordinarilie happeneth to such as come late thether whereby shee was compelled to compasse about came vnto Cochin about two months after we were al ariued at Goa hauing passed and endured much misery and foule weather with sicknes and diseases as swellings of the legs and the scorbuicke and paine in their bellies c. The 4. Chapter The description of Mossambique which lieth vnder 15. degrees on the South side of the Equinoctiall line vppon the coast of Melinde otherwise called Abex or Abexim MOssambique is a Towne in the Iland of Prasio with a safe although a small hauen on the right side towardes the cape they haue the golden mines called Sofala on the left side the rich towne of Quiloa and by reason of the foggie mistes incident to the same the place is both barren vnholsome yet the people are rich by reason of the situation In time past it was inhabited by people that beleeued in Mahoomet being ouercom kept in subiection by the tirant of Quiloa his lieftenant which the Arabians called Zequen that gouerned them Mossambique is a little Iland distant about halfe a mile from the firme land in a corner of the said firme land for that y e firme land on the north side stretcheth further into y e sea theÌ„ it doth before it there lie two smal Ilands named S. George S. Iacob which are euen w t the corner of the firme land and betwéene those two Ilands not inhabited the firme land the ships doe sayle to Mossambique leauing the Ilands southward on the left hand and the firm land â—n the north and so without a Pilot compasse about a mile into the sea to Mossambique for it is déepe enough and men may easily shun the sands that lie vpon the firme land because they are openly séene The ships harbour so neare to the Iland and the â—ortresse of Mossambique that they may throw a stone out of their ship vppon the land and sometimes farther and lie betwéene the Iland and the firme land which are distant halfe a mile from each other so that the ships lie there as safely as in a riuer or hauen The Iland of Mossambique is about halfe a mile in compasse flat land and bordered about with a white sand Therein growe many Indian palmes or nut trées some Orange Apple Lemmon Citron and Indian Figge trées but other kindes of fruit which are common in India are there verie scarce Corne and other graine with Rice and such necessarie marchandizes are brought thether out of India but for beasts and foule as Oâ—en shéep Goats Swine Hennes c. there are great aboundance and very good and cheape In the same Iland are found shéepe of fiue quarters in quantitie for that their tayles are so broad and thicke that there is as much flesh vpon them as vpon a quarter of their body and they are so fatte that men can hardlie brooke them There are certaine Hennes that are so blacke both of feathers flesh and bones that being sodden they séeme as black as inke yet of very swéet taste and are accounted better then the other whereof some are likewise found in India but not so many as in Mossambique Porke is there a very costly dish and excellent faire and swéete flesh and as by experience it is found it farre surpasseth all other flesh so that the sicke are forbidden to eate any kinde of flesh but onely Porke because of the excellency thereof MOssambique signifieth two places one which is a whole kingdome lying in Africa behinde the cape of Bona Speranza betweene Monomotapa Quiloa the other certaine Ilands herafter drawne and described lying on the south side of the Equinoctiall line vnder 14. degrees and a halfe whereof the greatest is called Mossambique the other two Saint Iacob and Saint George These Ilands lie almost in the mouth of a riuer which in Africa is called Moghincats About Mossambique is a verie great a safe hauen fit to receiue and harbour all ships that come and goe both to from Portingal the Indies and although both the Kingdome and the Iland are not very great yet are they very rich and abundant in all kinde of thinges as appeareth in the description of the same Mossambique the chiefe greatest of them is inhabited by two maner of people Christians and Mahometanes the Christians are Portingales or of the Portingales race there is also a castle wherin the Portingales keepe garrison from whence also all other castles and fortes thereabouts are supplied with their necessaries speciallie Sofala where the rich mine of Gold lieth there the Portingale ships doe vse to harbour in winter time when of wind or by meanes of foule weather they cannot accoÌ„plish their voiage The Indian ships doe likewise in that place take in new victuals and fresh water This Iland beeing first discouered by the Portingales was the only meanes that they found the Indies for that froÌ„ thence they vsed to take Pilots which taught them the way touching the manner and customes of these people read the Authors description at large they are good shooters in musket and caliuer and expert Fishermen Sayling along further by the coast towardes the Indies you passe by Quiloa which in times past was called Rapta not great but verie faire by reason of the great trees that grow there which are alwaies fresh and greene as also for the diuersities of victuals it is also an Ilande lying about the mouth of the great Riuer Coauo which hath her head or spring out of the same lake from whence Nilus doth issue This Iland is inhabited by Mahometans and they are all most white apparelled in silk and clothes of cotton wooll their women weare bracelets of gold and precious stones about their neckes and armes they haue great quantitie of siluer workes are not so browne as the men well membered their houses are commonly made of stone chalke and wood with pleasant gardens of all kind of fruit and sweet flowers from this Iland the kingdome taketh his name This point asketh a larger discourse which you shal finde in the leafe following They haue no swéet water in this Iland to drinke but they fetch it from the firme land out of a place called by the Portingales Cabaser and they vse in their houses great pots which come out of India to kéepe their water in The Portingales haue therein a verie faire and strong castle which now about 10. or 12. yeares past was fullie
and that after their deathes they shall receiue either good or euill reward in the world to come according to their workes Wherefore they vse faire and costly Graues and beléeue that in the world to come men shall neuer more die but liue for euer there are also in this land many and diuers faire Vniuersities and Schooles for learning where they studie Philosophie and the lawes of the land for that not any man in China is estéemed or accounted of for his birth family or riches but onely for his learning and knowledge such are they that serue in euery Towne and haue the gouernment of the same being serued and honoured with great solemnities and worthinesse liuing in great pleasure and estéemed as gods They are called Loâ—ias and Mandorijns and are alwaies borne in the stréetes sitting in Chariots which are hanged about with Curtaines of Silke couered with Clothes of Golde and Siluer and are much giuen to banketing eating drinking making good cheare as also the whole land of China No man may rule gouerne or vse any Office of Iustice in the Towne or place where he was borne which they saye the King doth because their friendes or parents should not mooue or perswade them to doe any thing contrarie to Iustice or to the hinderance of the Kings seruice When any of the aforesaide gouernours or rulers die in China they kill diuers of their seruants and wiues and cause all kinde of victuals and necessaries with diuers Iewels to bee put into the Graue with them whereby they thinke themselues well prouided and to haue good companie with them to liue withall in the other world The Countrie is verie temperate good ayre for it beginneth vnder 19. degrées and is in some places higher then 50. degrées whereby it is to be presumed that it must of force be fruitfull a great helpe thereunto is the earnest and continuall labour the countrimen and inhabitants take to build houses in their land whereby there is not one foote of land lost or that lyeth wast for euen to the verie mountaines it is both plowed planted because there are so many people in the Countrie It is not in mans memorie that euer there was plague in that Countrie and they haue a law which is very straightly holden that no man may goe or depart out of the Countrie without licence nor yet that any stranger may come into the land without leaue vpon paine of death Likewise no man may trauaile through the Country to begge whereof they haue a great care and looke néerely vnto it The people are well formed and commonly fat and well liking of body broade and round faces smal eyes great eye-browes broad foreheads small and flat noses litle beards seauen or eight hayres aboue their lippes and vnder their chinnes and verie blacke haire which they estéeme verie much haue great care in y e keming thereof and in keeping it cleane as well men as women and weare it as long as it will growe and then binde it in a knot on the top of their heads and vpon it they put a péece of Silke netting Those that dwell on the Sea side with whome the Portingals traffique that is in Machau and Canton are a people of a brownish colour like the white Moores in Africa and Barbaria and part of the Spaniards but those that dwell within the land are for color like Netherlanders high Dutches There are many among them that are cleane blacke which haue great eyes and much beard but verie few of them as it may well bee thought and as the men of China themselues report Their ofspring was out of â—artaria or from other of their neighbours of straunge Countries at such time when they had licence to trauaile into those Countries and to haue conuersation with them by trade of marchandise which nowe they may not doe as it is saide before They vse to weare the nayles of their left hands very long and on the right hand short which they hold for an auncient ceremonie of their law and beliefe Their apparell as I said before is most of Silke of all colours that is such as are of welth indifferent rich others such as are poore do weare apparel of Cotton linnen of blacke and coloured Sayes and such like stuffe Cloth made of Wooll nor Veluet they can not make in all China although there wanteth no wooll and they haue many shéepe notwithstanding they know not how to vse it and wonder much at it when the Portingalles bring it thether The women goe verie richly apparelled with long and wide Gownes they weare many Iewels on their heades within their haire and also vppon their bodies they doe commonly hold their hands couered they are but little séene abroad but sit most part within the house and estéeme it for a great beautifying vnto them to haue small féete to the which end they vse to binde their féete so fast when they are young that they cannot grow to the full whereby they can hardly goe but in a manner halfe lame Which custome the men haue brought vp to let them from much going for that they are verie iealous and vnmeasurable leacherous and vnchast yet is it estéemed a beautifying and comlinesse for the women Those that are of any wealth or estate are born in chaires through the stréets hanged and couered with Silke Sattin and Damaske Curtins wouen with siluer and golde thréedes and haue small holes to looke through so that they may sée and not be séene The 24. Chapter Of the Prouinces Townes and other things worthie of memorie in the kingdome of China THe kingdome of China is deuided into 15 prouinces euery one being as great as it is reported founde written as the best kingdome in Europe and are gouerned by a Viceroye or Gouernour which by the Chinaes is called Cochin Two of the said Prouinces are ruled by the King himselfe and his Councell which are Tolanchia and Paguia wher the King is alwaies resident The other Prouinces are called Foquiem Olam Sinsay Xansay Oquiam Aucheo Hona Canton Quicheo Chequeam Saxi Aynaon Susâ—an Most of these Prouinces haue riuers and waters running through them haue conference and familiaritie by buying and selling with each other both by water and by land It is recorded by the Chinaes themselues in their Chronicles that in these fiftéene Prouinces ther are 591. chiefe Citties 1593. other Citties besides villages whereof some are so great as Citties whereby you may consider the greatnesse of the land Most of the Townes are built vppon riuers and running streames and closed about with broade ditches and thicke stone walles Without the Walles betwéene them and the Ditches is a walke where sixe men on Horse backe maye ryde in ranke and the like within which space is made to mende and repaire the Walles when néede requireth whereof they are very carefull and looke warily vnto them The high waies and foote pathes throughout the
for thrée or foure Ducats the péece and some came with their wiues and children to offer themselues to bee slaues so that they might haue meate and drinke to nourish their bodies And because the Portingales haue traffique in all places as we haue béene in many it is the cause why so many are brought out of all countries to be solde for the Portingales doe make a liuing by buying and selling of them as they doe with other wares What concerneth the Caffares in Mosambique I haue in an other place declared in the description of Mosambique Hereafter followeth the pictures of the Arabians and Abexijns with their wiues as they goe in India also the pictures and manners of the Caffares both men and women as they goe in Mosambique all liuely portracted The 42. Chapter Of the Malabares and Nayros in India with their manners and customes THe Malabares are those that dwel on the Sea caost betwéene Goa the Cape de Comorijn Southward from Goa where the Pepper groweth They haue a spéech by themselues and their countrie is diuided into many kingdomes as in the description of the country we haue already declared these are the greatest and worst enemies that the Portingales haue and by Sea doe them great mischiefe they are strong and very couragious they goe all naked onely their priuie members couered the women likewise haue but a cloth from their Nauell downe to their knées all the rest is naked they are strong of limmes and verie arrogant and proude of colour altogether blacke yet verie smoth both of haire and skin which commonly they annoint with Oyle to make it shine they weare their haire as long as it will grow tyed on the top or crowne of their heads with a Lace both men and women the lappes of their eares are open and are so long that they hang downe to their shoulders and the longer wider they are the more they are estéemed among them and it is thought to bee a beautie in them Of face body and limmes they are altogether like men of Europ without any difference but onely in colour the men are commonly verie hayrie and rough vpon the breast and on their bodies and are the most leacherous and vnchast nation in all the Orient so that there are verie few women children among them of seuen or eight yeares olde that haue their maiden-heades They are verie readie to catch one from an other though it bee but for a small penie In their houses they are not verie curious their houses and houshold stuffe differeth not much from the Canarijns Corumbijns of Goa Their Idolatrie ceremonies and superstitions are like the other Heathens Of these Malabares there are two manner of people the one is Noblemen or Gentlemen called Nayros which are souldiers that doe onely weare and handle armes the other is the common people called Polias and they may weare no weapons nor beare any armes the Nayros must in all places where they goe or stand weare such armes as are appointed for them and alwaies bee readie at the Kings commaundement to doe him seruice some of them doe alwaies beare a naked Rapier or Courtelas in their right hands and a great Target in their left hand those Targets are verie great and made of light wood so that when they wil they can couer their whole bodies therewith they are so well vsed thereunto that they esteme it nothing to beare them and when they trauell on the way they may be heard a great way off for that they commonly make a great knocking with the Hilt of their Rapier against the Target because they would bee heard There are some that carrie a bow and a venimous arrow vppon their shoulder wherein they are verie expert others carrie long Pikes some Péeces with the Match readie lighted and wound about their armes and haue the best lockes that possible may bee found in all Europe which they know so well how to vse that the Portingales can haue no aduantage against them Wheresoeuer they goe they must alwaies haue their armes with them both night and day Not any of them are married nor may not marrie during their liues but they may freely lie with the Nayros daughters or with any other that liketh them what women soeuer they bee yea though they be married women When the Nayro hath a desire thereunto hee entreth into a house where he thinketh good and setteth his armes in the stréete without the doore and goeth in and dispatcheth his businesse with the good wife or the daughter the doore standing wide open not fearing that any man should come in to let him for whosoeuer passeth by and séeth the Nayros armes standing at the doore although it be the goodman himselfe hee goeth by and letteth him make an end and hauing done he taketh his armes and departeth thence and then the husband may come to the house without making any words or once moouing question about it In that manner they goe where they will and no man may denie them As these Nayros goe in the streetes they vse to crie Po Po which is to say take héede looke to your selues or I come stand out of the way for that the other sort of people called Polyas that are no Nayros may not once touch or trouble one of them and therefore they alwaies crie because they should make them roome and know that they come for if any of the Polyas should stand still and not giue them place whereby hee should chaunce to touch their bodies hee may fréely thrust him through and no man aske him why he did it And when they are once touched by any Polya◠or by any other nation except Nayros they must before they eate or conuerse with other Nayro◠wash and clense their bodies with great ceremonies and superstitions Likewise they must not bee touched by any Christian or any other man And when the Portingales came first into India and made league and composition with the King of Cochin the Nayros desired that men shold giue them place and turne out of the way when they mette in the stréetes as the Polyas and others vsed to doe which the Portingales would not consent vnto thinking it to be against their credits and honors for them to be compared to the Polyas and vnprofitable sort of people whereas they estéemed themselues better then the Nayros both in person and armes therefore they would haue the Nayros to giue them place whereby they could not agrée in the end it was concluded to pacifie the matter and to kéepe peace and quietnes among them that two men should be chosen one for the Nayros and the other for the Portingales that should fight body to body and he that should be ouerthrowne that nation should giue place vnto the other this was done in the presence of both nations and the Portingall ouercame the Nayro whome hee slew whereupon it was agréed that the Nayros should giue place vnto the Portingall and
in India and first of a certain fruit called Ananas ANanas by the Canarijns called Ananasa by the Brasilians Nana and by others in Hispaniola Iaiama by the Spaniards in Brasilia Pinas because of a certain resemblance which the fruite hath with the Pineapple It commeth out of the Prouince of Sancta Croce first brought into Braâ—lia theÌ„ to the Spanish Indies and afterwardes into the East Indies where nowe they grow in great abundance of the bignes of Citrones or of a common Melon They are of a faire colour of a yellow greene which greennes when it is ripe vadeth away It is sweet in taste pleasant in smell like to an Abricot so that by the very smell of them a man may know the houses wherein these fruites are kept A far off they shew like Artichâ—kes but they haue no such sharpe prickes on their leaues the plants or stalkes whereon they grow are as bigge as a Thistle and haue a roote also like a Thistle wheron groweth but one Nut in the middle of the stalke and rounde about it certaine small stalkes whereon some fruite likewise doeth often times grow I haue had some of the Slips here in my garden that were brought mee out of Brasilia but our colde countrey could not brooke them This fruite is hot and moist and is eaten out of wine like a Peach light of disgesture but superfluous in nourishing It inflameth and heateth and consumeth the gums by reason of the small threedes that run through it There are many sortes of this fruite among the Brasilians which according to the difference of their speeches haue likewise differeÌ„t names whereof three kindes are specially named and written of The first called Iaiama which is the longest the best of taste and the substance of it yellow The second Bomama that is white within and not very sweet of taste The thirde Iaiagna which is whitish within and tasteth like Renish Wine These fruites likewise do grow some of themselues as if they were planted and are called wilde Ananasses and some growe in gardens whereof we now make mention The wilde growe vppon stalkes of the length of a pike or Speare rounde and of the bignesse of an Orange ful of thorns the leaues likewise haue sharpe pricks and round about full of soft 〈…〉 the fruite is little eaten although they are of an indifferent pleasant taste The whole plantes with the rootes are ful of iuyce which being taken about seueÌ„ or eight of the clocke in a morning and drunke with Sugar is holden for a most certaine remedie against the heate of the liuer and the kidneyes against exulcerated kidneyes mattery water and excoriation of the yarde The Arabians commend it to be good against Saynt Anthonies fire and call it Queura He that is desirous to reade more hereof let him reade Costa in the proper Chapter of Ananas and Ouâ—edius in the eight booke and eighteenth Chapter and Theuetius in his obseruations of America in the six and fortieth Chapter Ananas preserued in Sugar are like Cocumbers whereof I haue had many Ananas is one of the best fruites and of best taste in all India but it is not a proper fruit of India it selfe but a 〈…〉 fruite for it was first brought by the â—ortingalles out of Brasillâ— so that at the 〈◊〉 it â— is sold for a noueltie at a 〈…〉 and sometimes more but now there are so many growen in the Countrey that they are very good cheape The time when they are rype is in Lent for then they are best and sweetest of taste They are as bigge as a Melon and in forme like the heade of a Distaffe without like a Pine apple but softe in cutting of colour redde and greenish They growe about halfe a fadome high from the grounde not much more or lesse the leaues are like the Hearbe that is brought out of Spayne called Aloe or Semper viua because it is alwayes greene and therefore it is hanged on the beames of houses but somewhat smaller and at the endes somewhat sharpe as if they were cut out When they eate them they pull off the shell and cutte them into shee s or peeces as men desire to haue them drest Some haue small kernelles within them like the kernelles of Apples or Peares They are of colour within like a Peach that is ripe and almost of the same taste but in sweetenesse they surpasse all fruites The iuyce thereof is like swéete Muste or newe Renish Wyne a man can neuer satisfie himselfe therewith It is very hotte of nature for if you let a knife sticke in it but halfe an houre long when you draw it forth again it will bee halfe eaten vppe yet it doeth no particular hurte vnlesse a man shoulde eate so much thereof that hee surfet vpon them as many such greedie and vnreasonable men there are which eate all thinges without any measure or discretion The sicke are forbidden to vse them The common way to dresse the common Ananasses is to cut them in broad round cakes or slyces and so being stooped in wine it is a very pleasant meat The 50. Chapter Oâ— Iaqua or Iaacca THis fruite groweth in Calecut and in some other places of India neere to the Sea and vpon ryuers or waters sides It is a certaine fruite that in Malabar is called Iaca in Canara and Gusurate Panar and Panasa by the Arabians Panax by the Persians Fanax This fruite groweth vpon great trees not out of the branches like other fruites but out of the body of the tree aboue the earth and vnder the leaues The leaues are as bigge as a mans hand greenish with a thick hard veine that goeth cleane thorough the length of them The smallest of this fruite specially that which groweth in Malabar and is the best of all is greater then our greatest Pumpians I meane of Portingall They are without couered with a hard shell of colour greene otherwise it is much like the Pine apple saue onely that the shell or huske seemeth to be set ful of pointed Diamants which haue certaine greene and short hookes at the endes but at the verie points are blackish and yet are neither sharpe not pricking although they seeme so to be These fruites are like Melons and sometimes greater outwardly greene and inwardly Yelow with many soft prickles apparrelled as it were like a Hedgehog Those that grow in Goa are not so good nor of so good a taste as those in Malabar This fruit being ripe which is commonly in December smelleth very sweete and is of two sorts wherof the best is called Barca the other Papa which is not so good and yet in handling it is soft like the other The best cost about 40. Maruedies which is somewhat more then a Ryall of plate and being ripe they are of a blackish colour and with a hard huske the outward part thereof which compasseth the Nut is of many tastes some times it tasteth like a Melon somtimes like a Peach and
most part sold and vsed with dust and stalkes and all together but such as are to bee sent to Portingall are seuered and clensed The Cloues are so hotte of nature that whensoeuer them are made cleane and seperated from their Garbish if there chance to stand either Tubbe or Payle of water in the Chamber where they clense them or any other vessell with wine or any kind of moysture it will within two dayes at the furthest be wholly soken out and dryed vp although it stand not néere them by reason of the great heate of the Cloues that draw all moysture vnto them as by experience I haue often séene The same nature is in the vnspunne Silke of China so that whensoeuer the Silke lyeth any where in a house vpon the flowre that is to say vppon boordes a foote or two aboue the ground and that the flowre is sprinkled and couered with water although it toucheth not the Silke in the Morning all that water will bee in the Silke for that it draweth it all vnto it And this tricke the Indians often times vse to make their Silke weigh heauie when they sel it for it can neither be séen nor found in the Silke But returning to our matter the Cloues grow about the length of a great shot from the Sea side and are neither planted nor set and nothing else is done vnto them but only when they plucke and gather them they make the place vnder the trées verie cleane The trée will not grow verie close to the Sea side nor farre from it for these Ilands are altogether compassed about with the Sea When it is a fruitfull yeare then the Cloues are in greater abundance then the leaues When they gather them they do not pluck them with their hands but with ropes which they fasten about the branches and by force they shake them off and by that meanes the trées are so spoyled that the next yeare after they yeelde but little fruite but the second yeare then after ensuing there grow vp trées of the Cloues that fell vpon the ground when they gathered them two yeares before like Chesnut trées and they growe verie sound because of the great rayne that falleth in those places for those Ilandes lye vnder the Equinoctiall line and yéelde fruite within eight yeares and so continue aboue a hundreth yeares The time when they are gathered and dried is from September to Ianuarie When the Cloues are gréene they make good conserues in Sugar and are likewise salted in Vineger so kept in pots and made of Achar in which manner they are carried into Malacca and India They likewise distill water out of the gréen Cloues which is verie cordiall and vsed in many Medecines The Indian women vse much to chawe Cloues thereby to haue a swéete breath which the Portingales wiues that dwell there doe now begin to vse the leaues of the Cloue-trees are altogether like Bay-leaues Cloues grow on trees like Bay-trees both in forme and quantitie saue onely that their leaues are somthing lesser like Almonds or Willow leaues They are full of branches and haue aboundance of blossomes which doe turne these fruites and are called Cloues because in forme and shape they doe resemble a Birdes clawes They growe like the Mirtle-tree vpon the vttermost branches Cloues are much vsed both in meate and in medicines The people of Iaua desire the gray Cloues that hang a whole yere and more vpon the trees and are no Males as Auia doth absurdly aduise and as we of the common sort doe who couet the thinnest When they are greene they vse to salt them with salt and Vineger in Maluco and some they put in Suger which are verie pleasant to bee eaten The water of greene Cloues distilled is very pleasant of smel and strengthneth the hart likewise they procure sweating in men that haue the Pox with Cloues Nutmegges Mace long and black Pepper some lay the poulder of Cloues vpon a mans head that hath a paine in it that proceedeth of colde They strengthen the Liuer the Maw and the hart they further digestion they procure euacuation of the Vrine and stop lascatiuenes and being put into the eyes preserueth the sight and foure Drammes being drunke with Milke doe procure lust The 66 Chapter Of Mace Folie or flowers of Nutmegges and of Nutmegges THe Nutmegge trée is like a Peare tree or a Peach trée but that they are lesse and it hath round leaues These trées growe in the Iland of Banda not farre from Maluco and also in the Ilandes of Iauas Sunda from whence they are carried to China and Malacca and also into India and other places The fruite is altogether like great round Peaches the inward part whereof is the Nutmegge This hath about it a hard shell like wood wherein the Nut lyeth loose and this wooden shel or huske is couered ouer with Nutmeg flower which is called Mace and ouer it is the fruite which without is like the fruite of a Peach When it is ripe it is a verie costly meate and of a most pleasaunt sauor This fruite or Apples are many times conserued in Sugar being whole and in that sort caried throughout India and much estéemed for in truth it is the best conserue in all India and is many times brought ouer into Portingall and from thence hether They are likewise salted and put in Vineger which is much vsed in India When the Nuttes begin to be ripe then they swell and the first shell or huske bursteth in péeces and the Nutmegge flowers doe continue redde as any Scarlet which is a verie faire sight to behold especially if the trées bee full of fruite Sometimes also the Mace breaketh which is the cause that the Nutmegges come all together without the Mace and when the Nutmegge drieth then the Mace falleth off and the red changeth into Orenge colour as you sée by the Mace that is brought hether The Ilands where they grow specially Banda are very vnholesome countries as also the Ilands of Maluco many that traffique thether die before they depart from thence or if they escape they are in great perill of their liues by sicknesse notwith standing great gaine maketh men to trauell thether The Nutmegge by the inhabitants of Banda where they are most growing is called Palla and the Mace or Nutmegge flower Buna Palla The Decanijns and Indians call it Iapatry and the Mace Iayfol The trees whereon Nutmegs and Mace do grow are not vnlike to Peare trees but shorter and rounder leaues they are good for paine in the head for the mother and the Sinewes The Nut is compassed about with three kinds of Barkes The first outermost is like the greene shell of an Acorne and when they are ripe that shel openeth then you find a thin shell or barke like a Nutte which compasseth the fruite and by vs is called Mace which both in meate and Medicine is verie seruiceable and wholesome The third shell is harder and more
like vnto wood then the first and is like the Acorne but that it is blacker which being opened you find the Nutmegge therein When the fruit is ripe and that the first shell breaketh open then the Mace is of a most faire red colour and when the fruit is drie the Mace likewise doth change and becommeth a Golden yellow There are two sorts of Nutmegges one long which are called Males the other round which are better stronger The Nutmeg comforteth the braine sharpneth the memorie warmeth and strengthneth the Maw driueth winde out of the body maketh a sweet breath driueth downe Vrine stoppeth the Laske and to conclude is good against all colde diseases in the heade in the braine the Mawe the Liuer and the Matrice The Oyle thereof is better then the rest for all the aforesaid named infirmities Mace is specially good for a colde and a weake maw it procureth digestion of the meate drieth vp all euill humors and breaketh wind The 67. Chapter Of Cardamomum CArdamomum is a kinde of spice which they vse much in India to dresse with their meates and commonly they haue it in their mouthes to chaw vpon It is very good against a stincking breath and euill humors in the head and serueth also for other things in medecines it groweth like other graynes and is verie like to Panyke but of a white colour drawing somewhat towards yealow The huskes are as great as the huskes of Panyke graines but somewhat smal within there is about 10 or 12 graines of berryes which is the Cardamomum There are two sorts of Cardamomum that is to say great and small and called by the Malabares Etremilly the Gusurates Decaniins Bengalers cal it Hil and the Mores inhabiting among them call it Hilachij This is much vsed in India and is a marchandise which is caryed into all places of India most of it groweth in Calecut and Cananor places on the coast of Malabar it is likewise in other places of Malabar and in the Iland of Iaua and from the countries aforesaid it is most caryed into other places but little brought into Portingal because of the great charges and long way yet many times the Saylers and other trauellers bring it They sieth no flesh in India but commonly they put Cardomomum into the pot it maketh the meaâ— to haue as good a sauor and a taste as any of the other spices of India Auicenna sayth there are two kinds of it the one he calleth Saccolaa quebir that is great Cardamomum and the other Saccolaa Regner that is smal Cardamomum in Malabar it is called Etremelly in Seylan Encal in Bengala Gusaratte and Decan sometimes Hil sometimes Elachi but that is by the Moores for the Heathens throughout all India call it Dors Cardamomum to the auncicient Grecians as Galen Dioscorides and others it was altogether vnknowne although Galen in his seuenth booke of Simples saith that Cardamomum is not so hot as Nasturcium or water Cresses but pleasanter of sauour and smell with some small bitternesse yet those signes or properties doe not agree with the Cardamomum of India Dioscorides in his first booke and fift Chapter commending the Cardamomum brought out of Comagens Armenia and Bosphoras although hee saith also that such doe growe in India and Arabia saith that wee must choose that which is full and tough in breaking sharpe bitter of taste and with the smell thereof causeth a heauinesse in a mans head yet is the Indian Cardamomum caryed into those places from whence Dioscorides affirmeth that his Cardamomum doeth come although it bee neyther tough in breaking nor annoyeth the heade neyther is bitter of taste nor so sharpe as Cloues the great Cardamomum hath a shell that is long and three cornered wherein are certaine pale red kernels with corners the small Cardamomum hath likewise a three cornered huske yet shorter and with smaller kernels parted in the middle with a thinne skinne this Cardamomum is of three sorts as minus medium minimum that is small smaller and smallest of all It heateth the Mawe digesteth the meat and driueth away the giddines of the head it is also eaten with Bettele to purge the head maw of slime and filthinesse The 68. Chapter Of Lacke or hard Waxe LAcke by the Malabares Bengalers and Decaniins is called Aâ—sii by the Moors Lac the men of Pegu where the best is found and most trafiqued withall doe call it Treck and deale much therewith by carrying it vnto the Island of Sumatra in time past called Taprobana and there they exchange it for Pepper and from thence it is carried to the redde sea to Persia and Arabia wherevpon the Arabians Persians and Turkes call it Loc Sumutri that is Lac of Sumatra because it is brought from thence into their countries The manner how it is made is thus in Pegu and those places from whence it commeth there are certaine very great Pismyres with winges which fly vppe into the trées that are there like Plum trées and such other Trées out of the which trées comes a certaine gumme which the Pismires sucke vp and then they make the Lac rounde about the branches of the trées as Bées make Hony and Waxe and when it is ful the owners of the trees come and breaking off the braunches lay them to drie and being drie the branches shrinke out and the Lac remayneth behinde like a Reede sometimes the woode breaketh within them but the lesse woode it hath within it the better it is the peeces and crummes that fall vpon the ground they melt them together but that is not so good for it hath filth and earth within it it happeneth oftentimes that they finde the Pismires winges within the raw Lac. When the Lac is raw as it commeth from the Tree it is a darke red colour but being refined and cleansed they make it of all colours in India They beat the Lac to powder and melt it and so mixe all manner of colours vpon it as they list redde blacke greene yellow or any other colour make peeces thereof such aâ— are sold here to seale letters withall Them they dresse their bedsteds withall that is to say in turning of the woode they take a peece of Lac of what colour they will and as they turne it when it commeth to his fashion they spread the Lac vpon the whole peece of woode which presently with the heat of the turning melteth the Waxe so that it entreth into the crestes cleaueth vnto it about the thicknesse of a mans naile then they burnish it ouer with broad straw or dry Rushes so cunningly that all the woode is couered withall and it shineth like Glasse most pleasant to behold and continueth as long as the wood being well looked vnto in this sort they couer all kinde of housholde stuffe in India as Bedsteddes Chaires stooles c. and all their turned woodworke which is wonderful common and much vsed throughout all India
the grasse that groweth on the riuers side and hath an head like an ore whereof there are some that weigh fiue hundred poundes the Fisher men that take them are bound vpon pain of death to bring them to the King There you finde an other hooke of land called Cabo di Padran and alittle from thence the riuer Lelunda which commeth out of a small lake lying within the land from whence more Riuers haue their off-spring specially one called Coanza wherof hereafter I will speake This riuer Lelunda when it rayneth not is very drie so that it may be passed ouer by foote it runneth vnder the hill whereon Congo the chiefe cittie doth stand and from thence to the riuer of Ambrizi which is a great riuer with a hauen and runneth not farre from the riuer of Congo into the sea a litle further you come to an other riuer called â—â—ze which hath no hauen and from thence to Onzo another riuer with a good hauen hauing her spring out of the same lake from whence the riuer Nylus doth issue and somwhat more to the south lieth the riuer Lemba but it hath no hauen nor yet saileable From thence you come to Damde a very great riuer wherin ships of two hundred tuns may saile out of this riuer there runneth an arme or braunche lying southward called Bengo which with Coanza another great riuer make the Island of Loanda both their streames meeting together driue foorth much filth and sand which make the Island greater Bengo is a great streame or riuer which may be sailed vppe at the least fiue and twenty Italian miles which are about fiue Dutch miles and betweene these two Islands as I saide before lieth the rich Island of Loanda with the hauen called by the name of the Island Loanda which is as much to lay euen or flat land without hilles This Island is about four miles long and somewhat lesse than a quarter of a mile broad and in some places not aboue a bowe shoote broad where there is a thing much to be wondered at that when it is ful sea if one dig but twoo or three handfuls deep into the grouÌ„d they shal find fresh water and digging in the same ground when it ebbeth the water is salt and brackish In this Island of Loanda are fished the Schulpekens which in the kingdome of Congo and other places borduring thereabouts are vsed for mony which fishing is done in this maner There are certayne women that being on the sea side goe alittle way into the water lading certayne baskets with sand which being filled they carry them on land wash the sand from the Schulpkens that are very small and in great numbers by them esteemed of twoo sortes some males other females which in shew and colour are the fairest and although many of them are found vpon the strand or shore of the riuer of Congo yet those of Loanda are the best fairest most esteemed of they are very shining and of an ash colour other colours are of no account for those Schulplikens you may buy any kinde of thing whether it be gold siluer or any kinde of victualles whereby you may perceiue that not onely in the kingdome of Congo and the countries about it but also in other places of Affrica and in the kingdome of Chyna and some part of India they haue vsed other kindes of things in steed of mony as we vse gold siluer copper and such like mixtures for in Ethiopia they vse pepper corns for mony In the kingdome of â—buâ—o about the riuer Niger Shuâ—penes and Porcelleten as also in China and Ben â—alen so that mettall is not so much esteemed of in most partes of the worlde as it is in Europa and other places circumtacent In this Island there are seauen or eight villages by them called Libatâ— whereof the principall is called the Holighost wherein the gouernour is resident being sent from Congo where he administreth Iustice and looketh sharpelye to the fishing of Schalpekens There are many beasts goates and wilde swine for that the tame become wilde and runne into the woods also therein groweth a great and strange tree called Enlanda being alwaies gréene of a strange form specially in the branches that grow very high and cast downe certaine small threedes which touching the earth do bring forth roots from whence other plants or trees do spring forth most aboundantly in great numbers vnder the first rhinde or barke of this tree groweth a certaine linnen which being beaten and made cleane and then stretched foorth in breadth and length it serueth to apparell the common people In this Island also they vse shipps made of palme or Indian nut trees the boordes being peeced together after the manner of the Portingale barkes wherein they vse both sailes and oâ—es and with them they fish in all the riuers thereabout which are very full of fish and with them likewise they row vnto the firme land On that side which reacheth towardes the firme land there are trees that growe in certaine deepe places on the shore vpon the rootes whereof the sea continually beateth where groweth oysters as broade as a mans hand verie good to be eaten and wel knowne to that countrey people which they call Ambiziamatare which is to say stone fish The Island at one ende is very neere vnto the firme land and the chanell is oftentimes swoome ouer by the countrey people and in the same chanel there are certaine smal Islandes which when it floweth are not seene but when it ebbeth they appeare aboue the water and being vncouered they finde the oysters lying at the rootes of the trees hare by the Island on the outwarde part swim many whales that are blacke and fight togither killing ech other wherof being fished taken vp by the Moores they make treane oile with the which and with pitch togither they dresse their ships the mouth of the â—auen lieth in the north in breadth aboue halfe an Italian mile being very deep and right ouer against it on the firme land lieth the village of S. Paul not very strongly fortified and inhabited by Portingales that are brought the thither with wife and children out of Portingale all the channell is very full of fish specially of Sardins and Enchâ—ones which in winter time are there in so great abundaunce that they leape vpon the shore also diuers other good fishes as soales sturgeons barbles and great creuiâ—hes which are very wholesome and are there found in great numbers whereby the common people doe liue Satling further from Loanda you come to the Riuer called Coanza which Riuer with Bengo and other Riuers aforesaide doe make the Island of Loanda so that Coanza also hath her off-spring from a little lake which maketh a Riuer that floweth out of the same greate lake from whence Nylus and other Riuers haue their issue which Lake in this Carde is called Zane or Zembre of the ancient fathers Tritoms Lanis because therein as it is saide
two streames like Englâ—nâ— and 〈…〉 so that it seemeth almost to be two Islands it hath many goodly hauens the naâ—◠〈◊〉 giuen it of our Lady of Guadalupe it is â—ul of villages each of twentie or thirtie houses all wood and rounde made of certaine great okes which they thrust into the earth and those serue for the doores of their houses then they place smaller which hold the rest from falling Their branches on the toppe being bound together like tents which they couer with Palme tree leaues to keep them from the raine within they fasten ropes made of cotten wool or of Bâ—esen wherupon they lay cotten mattresses and hanging beddes therein to sleepe This Island hath seuen faire riuers the inhabitants were called Caâ—ucâ—erum it hath verie great Parrots much differing from others being red both before and behind with long feathers the wings speckled with red some yellow some blew al mixed together whereof there are as great abundance as of Spree 〈…〉 er in our countryes there groweth in this Island a certaine gumme called A 〈…〉 m not much vnlike Amber the smoke or aire of this gumme being let vp into the head driueth out the colde the tree bringeth foorth a fruit like dates but of a spanne and a halfe long which beeing opened hath a certaine white and sweete meale This fruit they keepe for winter as we do chesnuts the trees are like figge trees they haue likewise in this Island al kind of orchard fruit and some are of opinion that al kindes of sweete fruites were first brought out of this Islande into the other Islandes round about it for they are hunters of men which hauing taken they eate them and for the same cause they trauaile abroade many hundreth miles both farre and neare and in their trauell whatsoeuer they finde they bring it home and plant it They are not friendly but fierce and cruell They indure no strangers among them both the men and the women are verie subtile and expert in shooting with their bowes and their arrowes being poysoned when the men are gone abroad the women keepe their places and countreyes most stoutly defending them from al inuasion to conclude al parts of that Islande both hils and dales are verie fruitfull and in the hollow trees and clifts of hilles and rocks they find home Desiada or Desiderataâ— ABout eighteene miles from Guadalupa towards the East lieth Desiada another Island being twentie miles great Desiada or Desiderata that is desire so called by reason of the fairenesse of the Island ten miles from Guadalupa towards the south lyeth Galanta being in compasse aboue thirtie miles it is an euen and faire country wherof the Island hath taken the name for Galanta in Spanish betokeneth faire Therein are diuers sweete smelling trees both in barks rootes leaues There are likewise many great Horsleaches Nine miles from Guadalupa towards the East there lieth six smal Ilands called Todos los Sanctos or al Saints and Barbara spokeÌ„ of before Those Islandes are verie full of cliffes stonie and vnfruitful which the Pilots are to looke vnto to auoyde the danger that may ensue A little further lyeth Dominica taking the name from the day because it was discouered vpon a sunday and also an Islande of Caniballes so ful and thicke of Trees that there is scant an elle of free land Thereabouts also is another Island called Madannina or the womens Islande where it is thought that women onely inhabited in maner of Amazons whither the Canibales often times resorted to lie with them and if they had daughters they kept them but boyes they sent vnto their fathers it lyeth fortie miles from Mons Serratu After that lyeth yet thrée Islands besides other little Islands and diuers cliffes called S. Vincent Granada and S. Lucia Comming further towards the coast of Florida where we left right against it there lyeth certaine smal cliffes called Martires and the little Ilands called Tortugas because they are like a Torteauxes From this poynt of Florida to Ancon Baxo are 100. miles and lyeth fiftie miles distant East and West from Rio Secco which is the breadth of Florida from Ancon Baxo 100. miles to Rio di Nieues from thence to the riuer Flores 20. miles and somewhat more from the riuer of Flores to the bay called Bahya del Spirito Sancto which is likewise called La Culata being in the entrance thereof thirtie miles broade from this Bahya which lyeth vnder 29. degrées are 70. miles to the riuer called Rio del Pescadores from Rio del Pescadores which lyeth vnder 28. degrees and halfe there is 100. miles to the Riuer called Rio de las Palmas from whence Tropicus Cancri beginnneth from Rio de las Palmas to the Riuer Panuco are 30. miles and from thence to Villa Rica or Vera Crus are seuentie miles in which space lyeth Almeria from Vera Crus that lyeth vnder 19. degrees to the riuer of Aluarado by the Island called Papa Doapan are thirtie miles from the riuer Aluarado to the riuer Coâ—zâ—coalco are fiftie miles from thence to the riuer Gritalâ—a are fortie miles The said two riuers lying about eighteene degrées from the riuer Gritalua to Cabo Redondo are eightie miles as the coast stretcheth along wherein are contained Champoton and Lazaro from Cabo Redondo to Cabo di Catoche or Iucatan are 90. miles and lyeth about 21. degrées so that there are in al nine hundred miles in the length of the coast of Florida to Iucatan which is another Cape or hooke which stretcheth from off the land northward and the further it reacheth into the sea the more it crooketh or windeth about and is sixtie miles from Cuba The Island whereof we haue alreadie spoken which doth almost inclose the sea that runneth betwéene Florida and Iucatan which sea by some men is called Golfo de Mexico of others Golfo de Florida and of some others Cortes the sea that runneth into this gulfe entreth betwéene Iucatan and Cuba with a mightie streame and runneth out againe betweene Florida and Cuba and hath no other course A breefe description of Noua Hispania or new Spaine THe second part of America is called Noua Spaigna or new Spaine it beginneth towards the North about the Riuer of Panuco vppon the borders of Florida on the South side it reacheth to the prouince Darienâ— where it is diuided from Peru on the East it hath the maine Sea and on the west the South sea called Mare Australe this whole Prouince was in times past by the Inhabitants called Cichemecan Cathuacan or Coâ—acan which peple came out of the land of Culhua which lieth aboue Xalisco made their habitation about the Moores of Tenuchtitlan where at this present lyeth the towne of Mexico which people hauing neither countrey nor dwelling place chose that for the best and most profitable therein building diuers houses and habitations and in that manner placed both their new and old villages vnder the commaundement of Culhuacan giuing the same name
coast from the riuer of Maragnon to Cabo de S. Augustin is as followeth first an Island called Isla de S. Sebastian Acencâ—o Ascension P. de Pracell the hauen of Bankes P. de Corrientes the hauen of the Streame Rio de Ilâ—ieo the riuer of y e Islands Costa Branca the white coast Rio de Coroa the riuer of the Crowne Cabo del este the Easter coast Rio des Lixos the riuer of filth Rio dos Reciffes the riuer of cliffes Rio S. Miguel the riuer of saint Michael Bahya dos â—ortugos the Riuer of Torteeux Grand Bahya the great Bay Cabo de S. Roque the point of S. Roche Cabo de S. Raphael the poynt of S. Raphael Baya de Traicam the Bay of Treason Paraiba os Petiguares Pernambuco the Cape of S. Augustin was discouered in An. 1500. by Vincentio Ianes Pinzon in the first month of the yeare Brasilia NOw followeth the East prouince of America or of Peruana commonly called Brasil the which was most discouered by the Portingales and by them subdued and brought vnder subiection they had therein from North to south 40. miles and from East to West 160. miles which stretching along by the coast is more then 700. miles This country hath the name of Brasilia by reason of the great aboundance of red brasil wood which from thence is brought into these countryes in this countrey are manie prouinces and sundrie people some subiect to the Portingales some to the Frenchmen as Margaâ—atan Tabaâ—arren Ouetaâ—aten Tououpiâ—ambaultiem and Morpions all cruel Indians and most of them Canibals whereof in the description of the coast we make mention not far from the Cape S. Augustin lyeth Pernambuco a place where the Portingales haue great traffike for sugar and Brasil wood This cape lyeth vnder eight degrees and a halfe on the south side of the Equinoctiall line and was discouered by Vincente Ianes Pinzon in the yeare of our Lord 1500. in the moneth of Ianuary and is the neerest place to Affrica or Spain of al the country of America for y t it is accounted but 500. miles from this pointe to Cabo Verde in Affrica the common reckoning of the sea Cards yet some esteeme it to be lesse From this cape to Baia de todos Sanctos lying vnder 13. degrees are 100. miles between the which two places I let passe S. Alexio S. Miguel Rio de Aguada that is the riuer of watering Rio di Francisco Rio de cana Fistola because in that place there groweth much Cassia such as is in Egypt Rio Real the kings riuer Rio de Tapuan A. Pouoacam the village or commom assemblie c. after the which followeth the Baya de todos Sanctos From this bay to the Cape dos Abrollios or dos Baixos that is the Cape of the droughts which lieth vnder 18. degrees are 100. miles and between them lieth these places Rio de S. Giano that is the riuer of S. Iulian os Ilhos the Islands Rio de S. Antonio Rio de S. Crus P. Seguro the sure hauen Rio de Brasil Rio de Caruelas c. Margaiates MArgaiates are certaine people mingled with the Portingales are Canibals the country wherin they dwel is gran both in winter and summer as it is with vs in May and Iune both men and women go naked as they come out of their mothers wombes painting themselues with blacke strikes like the Tartarians The men shaue themselues like Friers they make holes in their nether lippes wherein they weare certaine greene polished Iasper stones wherewith they shutte and open the holes which stones they weare for a great ornament which notwithstanding being taken out of the holes maketh them shew most vgly as it they had two mouthes one ouer the other the women lette their haires grow long like our women and bore not their lippes but make holes in theyr eares wherein they hang certaine white bones which hang as low as their shoulders This countrey yeeldeth much Brasill wood from the Cape dos Baixos to Cape Frio which lyeth like an Island are an hundred miles betweene these two places lye many riuers and hauens specially these P. del Agnado Rio Dulce Reâ—os Magos Spirito Sancto where the Portingales haue a Castle which the Margarites or Barbarians call Moab from Moab you come to Tapenury where there lieth certaine Islands friends vnto the Frenchmen from thence you come to Paraiba people that dwell in cottages made like ouens From thence passing along the coast you come to certaine running sandes whereabouts also are certaine cliffes that iutte into the sea whereunto the sailors are to take great regard Right against those shalowes or flattes there lyeth an euen or flat land about twentie miles great inhabited by the Ouetacaters most cruel Barbarians Ouetacates THis people make warres not onely against their neighbours but also one against the other as likewise agaâ—nst al strangers They suffer no man to deale or traffike with them and being hardly besette by the enemies although neuer ouercome they can runne so fast away that they seeme in a manner to surpasse the wild Hart as it is seene by their hunting of wild beasts They go naked like other Brasilians and let their haire grow long downe to the middle of their bodies coÌ„trary to al other Brasilians yet they cut it away on the fore part of their heades and behinde in their neckes as the rest doo These cruel Canibals dwel in a smal but an inuincible countrey they eate raw flesh like dogs and wolues they haue a seueral speech different from their neighbours and because of their cruelty they haue but little of our wares brought vnto them and that they haue they get it in exchange for certaine gréene feathers This exchange is done one standing distant from the other at the least an hundred paces shewing each other their wares without speaking one word and each of them laying their wares in a certaine place appointed they take it away giuing no longer credite one to the other then for the time that they haue exchanged their wares after that beeing returned to their places they to then best to rob each other of his marchandise wherein the Ouetacaters running faster then the other and faster then hounds do oftentimes win the prise Being past this countrey of the Ouetacaters you come to another prouince called Maq-He which is likewise inhabited by cruel Barbarians which neuerthelesse cannot sleepe nor rest in peace for their bad neighbours the Ouetacaterâ— Vpon this coast lyeth a great high sienie rocke made like a tower whereon when the sun shineth it glisters like Sinaragâ—uâ— whereby many haue thought it to be a recke of Sinaragdus stones and therefore by the Frenchmen and Spaniards it is called Mâ—nsis that is Sinaragduâ— It is not possible neither by ship nor on foote to get vnto that reck because of the cliffes wherewith it is compassed and being by it there is no wayes or meanes to get vpon it About this country lyeth three