arrival at Suratta I found my health perfectly recover'd though I must also acknowledge as much contributing thereto my using of Thé to which I had so accustomed my self that I ordinarily took it twice or thrice a day The contrary wind prevented our departure the day that we came aboard so that we lay at Anchor all the night following and the next day being the seventh we set sail taking our course towards the Isle of Ormus but towards night there rose so great a tempest together with a West-wind that to avoid running upon the shore we were forced to cast Anchor in sight of the Isle Sunday being the eighth we laveer'd it with a West-wind endeavouring to pass between the Isles of Ormus and Kismich which are four Leagues distant one from the other About two in the afternoon we cast over-board the body of a young Sea-man who died of the Bloudy-flux two dayes before This Ceremony which I had not seen before put me into so much the greater fright in that being still troubled with the same disease I imagined they would shortly do as much by me The night following we pass'd in sight of the two Islands we spoke of last to wit Ormus and Kismich and the next day being the ninth we discovered the Continent of Arabia taking our course along the Coast which is thereabouts without any danger Tuesday 10. A calm staid us at the same place and the 11. we put off from the Coasts of Arabia to make towards those of Persia which we still kept in sight of till Thursday night April 12. Then a good West-north-west wind rising we took our course towards the East-south-east at 25. degrees 50. minutes elevation Friday morning we could perceive no Land but had sight of a Pirate who by his making ever and anon more or less sail discover'd he had somewhat to say to us One while he came somewhat near us another he kept at a great distance but at last perceiving we made it our business to get the wind of him he made towards the Isle of Zocotora This Island is seated at 21. degrees 40. minutes at the entrance of the Red-sea having towards the South-west and North-east the Country of Melinda or Aethiopia and towards the South Arabia from which it is distant about sixteen Leagues It is about 25. Leagues in length but not above ten in breadth having on all sides very good riding for Ships and safe Harbours It is indifferently well peopled and is subject to the King of Arabia under whom it is governed by a Sulthan The Inhabitants are of low stature and rather lean then fat of a duskish complexion and very laborious Their only sustenance is Fish and Fruits living very temperately They treat their Wives whom they buy in Arabia with much civility and have a certain respect for them but will not permit Strangers to see them They are very crafty in their trading and delight much in it though they have but few things to sell. And whereas they adulterate almost all their Commodities they are accordingly distrustful of those which are brought to them They reduce Dates into a paste and it serves them instead of Bread The Island affords very few Oranges and those not very good Tobacco and Citruls There are also some Cocos-trees but not many the fruit not coming to ripeness there by reason the ground is very full of stones Their main wealth consists in Aloes the juyce whereof they gather in bladders or Goats-skins and dry it in the Sun They have also the gummy juyce called Dragons-bloud and Civet which may be bought there at about three or four Crowns an Ounce but those who are not very well skill'd in that Drug are many times cheated for the Inhabitants of the Island put Grease and other nasty stuff into it They keep abundance of Civet-cats about their houses but they have very little tame Fowl wild none at all They have Camels Asses Oxen Cows Sheep and Goats whose hair about the thighs is curl'd much after the manner that Satyrs are painted The Town where the Sulthan hath his residence is called Tamary and hath in it a Fort which is distant from the Sea about a Canon-shot with four Guns Their Arms are a kind of broad Swords whereof the hilt is very large but without any guard In their Girdles they wear also Poniards the blades whereof are above three fingers broad towards the handle but very sharp towards the point They are so curious as to have something of Silver or Copper about the handles but their Fire-arms are not well kept and yet they are very expert at the handling of them as they are also in mannaging those little Bucklers wherewith they defend themselves in fight Ships may take in fresh water there without any trouble for the waters which come from the Mountains fall into the Sea like a River They have no other Boats then such as are absolutely flat-bottom'd which they make use of in their fishing which is very good thereabouts They have this common with the Arabians and other Mahumetans that they eat no Swines flesh but even in Tamary it self there is no Mosquey nor any other place for them to meet at to do their Devotions These they do morning and evening at the rising and setting of the Sun to which they make very low reverences and mutter certain words between their teeth this they do also three or four times a day besides The 14. of April we were at 23. degrees 24. minutes The 15. at 22. degrees 40. minutes The 16. at 22. degrees 40. min. The 17. at 21. degrees 55. minutes This day the Captain of our Ship fell sick of a burning Feayer The 18. at 21. degrees 8. minutes The 19. at 20. deg 42. min. The 20. at 20. deg 50. min. The 22. at 29. deg 50. min. The 23. at 20. degrees 18. minutes latitude The 25. of April we came before the City of Surat and cast Anchor two Leagues from Land by reason it being the Captains intention not to stay there above three or four dayes he would be sure of the convenience of parting thence when he pleas'd Besides there is no Road along that Coast where Ships can lye with any safety from May to September by reason of the continual Tempests and furious winds which reign there during that time whereas on the Eastern Coast of the Indies in the Gulf of Bengala it is fair and calm at that time The year is divided into three very different seasons for in the moneths of February March April and May it is extreamly hot weather in Iune Iuly August and September there is nothing but continual Rains with Thunder and Lighting and the moneths of October November December and Ianuary are cold at least as far as is consistent with the Climate April 26. The Captin sent one to the President of the English at Surat to give him notice of his Arrival The
Guiny we accordingly removed out of the bad weather which had much incommodated us before The 28. The wind came to North-east which is ordinary in those parts within the 10th and 20th degrees whereas from thence it changes as it does on our Seas on this side We got that day 30. Leagues The 29. The same wind carried us 31. Leagues and at noon we were got to 10 degrees Latitude The next day with the same wind and keeping on the same course we got 28 Leagues to 11. degrees 13. minutes Latitude The next with the same wind the weather rainy 23. Leagues November 1. The same wind continuing we advanced 26. Leagues The 2. The wind North-east we got 24. Leagues holding our course to the North-west The 3. We kept on with the same wind the same course and were about noon at 14. degrees 40. minutes and consequently near the Latitude of Capo Verde which is a point of the Land reaching from the Continent of Africk into the Sea between the Rivers of Gambea and Sanaga by Ptolomy called Promontorium Arsinarium The Inhabitants are black bulky and well-shaped but mischievous and dangerous They are for the most part Pagans whereof some invocate the Moon and others adore the Devil whom they call Cammaté Some among them profess themselves to be Mahumetans but all they have of that Religion is only the name and Circumcision They are in perpetual wars with their Neighbours and are expert enough at the mannagement of their Horses which are brought them out of Barbary and very swift Their Arms are the Bow and a kind of Lance or light Pike which they handle very advantagiously The most illustrious marks of their Victories are the Privy parts which having cut off from their Enemies they present them to their Wives who dispose them into Neck-laces and account them a greater Ornament then Pearls They marry several Wives whom they force to work like Slaves as well in the fields as at home where the Husband is served up alone with what his Wife hath provided for him and as soon as he hath din'd he reassumes his Arms and goes either a hunting or about his business The Women are accustomed to such hardness that as soon as they are delivered they go and wash the Child either in the Sea or the next River The Men are for the most part much subject to drunkenness and such lovers of Wine that some have been seen to take off a Bottle of Aqua vitae at a draught Their times of debauches are at the Funerals of their Friends at which they spend four or five dayes together in weeping and drinking by intervals so that they seldom part ere they get their Skins full of Drink The Entertainments are performed with the Drum and Pipe and there is set at the head of the deceased a Pot of Wine or Water which is changed twice a day and that for several years afterwards They believe the dead will rise again but that they shall be white and trade there as the Europeans do The French Spaniards and Dutch trade much there in the Hides of Oxen Bufflers and Elks Elephants teeth Wax Rice Ambergreece which is excellent there Here it was that Peter de la Brouck a Dutch Merchant bought in the year 1606. a piece of Amber of eighty pound weight We shall here say by the way that the Portuguez began their discoveries of this Coast of Africk in the year 1417. in the reign of Iohn I. who had been Master of Avis under the direction of the Infanto D. Eurique his third Son These first Voyages had not the success he expected till that in the year 1441. Anthony Gonsales having discovered the Cape del Câ—vellero brought away with him certain Negroes whom the Infanto sent to Pope Martin V. desiring him to promote the Zeal he had for the advancement of Christian Religion and to bestow on him the places he should discover upon those Coasts which he pretended were prossessed by such as had no right thereto The Pope was pleased to make him a Present of what cost him nothing and gave him all he should discover in Africk especially in those parts towards the Indies upon condition that at his death he left them to the Crown of Portugal The Infâ—nte had discovered all the Coast between Capo de Naom as far as a hundred Leagues beyond Cabo Verde and died in the year 1453. King Alfonso V. in the year 1457. bestowed all these Conquests on D. Ferand Duke of Viseo Heir to the Infanto D. Eurique and in 1461. the same King ordered the building of a Fort in the Island of Arguin for the safety of Commerce by Suero Mendez which the King D. Iohn II. caused to be rebuilt before his coming to the Crown as Lord of those Conquests and the Commerce of Guiny by gift from the King his Father This Prince in the year 1461. farm'd it out to one named Ferdinand Gomez upon condition he should every year discover a hundred Leagues of the Coast so that in the year 1479. they had discovered the Islands of Fernando del Po St. Thomas Anno Bueno those of del Principe and the Cape of St. Katherine The wars which happened between the King D. Alfonso and the Crown of Castile hindred him from spending his thoughts on these Conquests but the King D. Iohn II. being come to the Crown sent away in December 1481. Diego d' Azambuja who came to Mina Iannary 19. 1482. to a place called then Aldea de dos partes and where reigned at that time a King or Prince named Caramansa This place on which the Portuguez bestowed the name of Mina by reason of the abundance of Gold found there is seated upon the Coast of Guiny five degrees forty minutes South of the Aequinoctial Line between the Kingdoms of Axen and Cara where within the space of fifty Leagues is carried on the trade of almost all the Gold in those parts It hath on the North-west Comana and on the North-east Afuto small Countries subject to those of Abarambues The Fort is built upon an ascent which the scituation of the Country makes by little and little at the end of a skirt of Land which advances into the Sea like a Peninsula having on the North-side the Aethiopian Sea and on the South a little River which serves it for a Ditch It may be easily kept by five hundred men and the Town which is at the foot of the Fort hath about eight hundred Inhabitants But this place is so fenny and barren that such as have settled themselves there upon the account of Traffick are forc'd to buy Provisions of those of Camana and Afuto The Inhabitants are docile enough and better natured then the Negroes though not so rational as to matter of Religion They make Divinities of all they see that 's new and and extraordinary They had at that time enclosed with a Wall a great
the Christian Religion but he had no sooner made his first acquaintances at Surat ere he understood that an Uncle of his by the Mother-side could raise him to great fortunes at the Mogul's Court where he was Master of the Horse Upon this intelligence he soon took a resolution to leave me and to desire the protection of the Sulthan who kept him a while at his own house and afterwards sent him to Agra I was the more startled at this departure of the young fellow the more it run in my thoughts that knowing all the particulars of our engagement with the Indian Embassadour at Ispahan his design might be to betray me into the hands of my enemies And certainly had I known of his going to Agra I should not have had the confidence to take that place in my way though it might appear by what happened afterwards that God sent him to that place expresly to save my life since had it not been for him I might have lost it there In May there came news to Surat that the Chan who commanded at Candahar for the King of Persia had revolted and had rendred the place to the Mogul upon this account that the Scach had threatned to put him to death The Mogul sent immediately 500000. Crowns to the place as a requital for the Governours service and to pay the Garrison which had revolted along with him Alymerdan-Chan Governour of the same place had done such another trick at the beginning of Schach-Sefiâ—s â—s Reign who would needs oblige him to bring his head to Court which if he had done he had never carried it away again upon his shoulders Soon after Scach recover'd Candahar again and it was partly upon this account that the Mogul had sent to him the Embassadour I spoke of before though among his other Instructions he had order to demand the Myrsa Polagi his Nephew Iune 16. I went out a hunting with a young Dutch Merchant and another English Merchant with whom having cross'd the River they brought me to an old ruin'd City called Reniel where the Dutch have a Ware-house The Inhabitants of this City are called Naites and are for the most part either Mariners or Trades-men and of the Mahumetan Religion The streets of it are narrow and the houses so rais'd from the foundation that there is not any but hath one step to get up to it There we staid all night and were nobly treated by the Merchants who had the management of the Trade there The next day we went to a Village called Bodick and in our way let fly at a wild Duck and a Heron there we saw about twenty Deers Their skins which were somewhat greyish were checkquer'd all over with white spots and they had fair Horns with several Brow-ancklers There was among them a sort of creatures about the bigness of our Ro-Bucks the Skins whereof were inclining to a dark brown checkquer'd also with white spots having very graceful Horns Some are of opinion that these are the same that Aldrovandus calls Cervi-capras and that it is from this kind of Beast that we have Bezoar We went thence to another Village called Damre where we saw abundance of wild Ducks in the Rice whereof there grows great store in those parts All the fields have a little ascent raised about them to keep in the water the Rice requiring much moisture In this Village we found some Terry which is a Liquor drawn out of the Palm-trees and drunk of it in Cups made of the leaves of the same Tree To get out the Juyce they go up to the top of the Tree where they make an incision in the bark and fasten under it an earthen pot which they leave there all night in which time it is fill'd with a certain sweet Liquor very pleasant to the taste They get out some also in the day time but that corrupts immediately and is good only for Vinegar which is all the use they make of it The City of Surat or Suratta lies at 21. degrees 42. minutes upon the River Tapta which rises near Barampour and falls into the Sea four Leagues below the City It lies all along the River side and is built four-square It hath no wall to the River side but on the Land side it hath a good Rampier of Stone and a Castle all of Free-stone The City hath three Gates whereof one goes towards the Village of Brion where those who go to Cambaya and Amadabat cross the River another goes to Barampour and the third to Nassary All the Houses are flat as those of Persia and most have very fair Gardens The Castle which they say was built by the Turks upon an Invasion which they made into this Country hath but one Gate which looks into a spacious Plain which serves for a Meidan to the City Not far thence and at the entrance of the City stands the Governours Palace and the Custom-house and near them the Bazar as well for forreign Merchants as those of the City The Governour of the Castle hath no dependance on him of the City whose business it is to look after the administration of Justice and the payment of the Customs at the Exportation and Importation of all Merchandises which pay three and a half in the hundred except it be Gold and Silver whether coined or in wedges or made into bars which pay but two in the hundred The Dutch and English have their Houses there which they call Lodges and are spacious and well built consisting of many fair Appartments Lodgings Chambers fair Halls Galleries and Chappels The Haven of Suratta is two Leagues from the City at the Village of Suhaly whence the Dutch and English call it the Kom of Suhaly There Ships are unladen of their Commodities which are brought thence to Suratta by Land This Road lies at 21. degrees 50. minutes upon the course of North-east and South-west The entrance into it is not very broad since that at high-water there is but seven fathom water and at low but five The Haven it self is not above 500. paces broad before the Village sandy at the bottom and most of the banks are bare and dry at low-water and so sharp and steepy that sounding there is to no purpose at all 'T is very safe riding there being no danger of any wind but that of the South-west But from May to September there is no staying on those Coasts by reason of the winds and tempests accompany'd by extraordinary thunder and lightning which reign there during all that time The Inhabitants of Surat are either Benjans Bramans or Moguls These last are Mahumetans and much better look'd on then the others as well upon the account of their Religion which they have common with the Great Mogul and the chiefest Lords of the Country as upon that of the profession they make to bear Arms. They have an aversion for Trades and Merchandise and had rather serve
which differs from the Soveraign only in time as that the King of Spain hath many Lords to gratifie with an Employment which enriches them sufficiently in that time For besides that his whole Court lies at the Kings charge he hath the disposal of all his Revenue and every year makes a Visit for sixty or eighty Leagues about which is worth to him very much But the Presents which the neighbouring Princes and the Governours and under Officers make him are not to be valued He hath his Council of State and his Courts of Law and Equity He is absolute Judge in all civil Causes the most important only excepted wherein there may appeal be made to the King Criminal Sentences are executed there notwithstanding the Appeal but it is not in the Viceroy's power to indict a Gentleman but he is oblig'd to send him with the Informations brought in against him to Portugal unless the King order some other course to be taken with him The Viceroy at his arrival into the Indies lands in the Island of Bardes or some other Haven on that side whence he immediately sends his Agents to Goa to take possession of his charge and what ever depends on it His Predecessour makes way for him upon the first news he receives of his Arrival unfurnishes the Palace and leaves him only the Guards and the bare walls Thus much we thought fit to say of the City of Goa Ianuary 22. about noon the President sent away the two Ships which came along with us from Surat and were to carry thither the money which had been received at Goa and after he had dismiss'd certain Iesuits and several other persons of quality of Goa who were come to visit him aboard we hoys'd sail yet expecting to come aboard our Ship the General of the Dutch Fleet whose name was Van Kenlen who had intreated him to convey some Letters to his Superiours But he came not In the Evening we saw all the Dutch Fleet under sail whence we imagin'd that the General intended to give us a visit but with the night we lost sight of them and having a reasonable good wind kept on our course Ian. 23. At break of day we had a sight of the Dutch Fleet again and then we conceiv'd they were going to relieve the King of Ceylon who had intreated the General to assist him against the Portuguez who had declar'd war against him About noon we were at thirteen degrees latitude and out of sight of land But in regard we intended to go towards the Coast of Malabar upon intelligence brought us that an English Ship coming from Bantam richly loaden with Spices had been set upon and spoil'd by the Malabar Pyrates the next day we chang'd our course and took it more Eastward so to get towards the land The Malabars had taken their advantage of the condition that Ship was in which was so over-burthen'd that she could make use of but six Guns they found indeed no great difficulty to enter her but they were no sooner in ere the English sent above six hundred of them with the upper Deck into the Sea They dispatch'd as many with the second but afterwards being themselves forc'd to go to the Stern to avoid the fire they yielded to the Malabars who with the Ship took the Captain the Masters Mate the Clark and fourteen others whom we intended to redeem About noon we pass'd in sight of Monteleone a high mountain from which the Malabars discover at a distance the Vessels they conceive they may set upon with advantage and at night we came to the Haven of Cananor where we found three English Vessels the Dragon the Catharine and the Seymour commanded by Captain Weddell one of the most experienced Sea-Captains of his time one that had been at the taking of Ormus and was then entertain'd into the service of a new Company erected not long before in England for the trade of the Indies Having fired some Guns to salute the Castle we sent to Captain Weddell to know what condition the English prisoners were in and hearing they were most of them set at liberty we would stay no longer on that Coast. The Portuguez have a Garrison in the Castle of Cananor but the City is inhabited by Malabars They call by that name all those people who live upon that Coast from the City of Goa as far as the Cape of Comory or Comorin The Country is very fertile and brings forth abundance of Spices but particularly the best Pepper in the Indies which is most esteem'd because the grain of it is bigger then it is any where else even then that which grows in Sumatra and Iava The Inhabitants go stark naked covering only those parts which Nature would not have seen even in Beasts They make holes in the tips of their Ears and are black but have not such great Lips as the Moors of Africk They tye up their Hair together upon the Crown of the Head and let their Beards grow to the full length without any ordering or trimming in so much that they are not unlike those figures under which we would represent the Devil Nor is their disposition unsuitable to this pleasant external shape for they understand nothing of civility nor are capable of any Commerce or Conversation They are for the most part Pyrates and Souldiers who may be said to have rashness rather then courage and are expert enough in the handling of their Armes which are Sword and Buckler Bows and Arrows They make also a kind of Muskets themselves and use them with advantage They obey neither the King of Cuncam nor the Viceroy of Goa but they have their particular King or Prince who also performs the functions of High-Priest and is of the Sect of the Bramans These were the most considerable enemies the Portuguez met with at the beginning of their establishment in the Indies but ever since they made a Treaty with them they have liv'd in very good correspondence Their Prince whom they call Zamorin is also King of Calicuth upon the same Coast. In the year 1604. the Dutch made a Treaty with him for the freedom of Trade but the Portuguez coming to be more powerful in those parts and the Dutch finding it easier to settle themselves in other places where they continue their Trade with greater advantage they have neglected the friendship of these Barbarians I observ'd at Cananor that there were some men among them who never par'd their Nails and that there were others who wore Bracelets and Rings about their Armes These are the Gentry of the Country whom they call Nayres that they may be distinguish'd from Persons of meaner condition whom they call Polyas The Nayres are very proud and conceited of themselves and permit not the Polyas so much as to touch them They alwayes go with their Sword and Buckler wherewith they make a noise in the Streets as they go and perpetually cry out Po Po that people
send us a Pilot we might confide in But the merry Companion was no sooner got to his own ship but he set sayl and left us in the lurch I think what troubled him was that we had not made him some present according to the custom of the Countrey but he regarded so little the slur he had put upon the Ambassadors that he had the impudence to come and Visit them in their ship in the company of several other Tartarian Lords after our arrival at Terki and made no other answer to the reproaches he receiv'd upon that occasion than ja wi nouat a great business indeed to be talk'd of Finding our selves thus abus'd we sent to the Master of the Persian ship to entreat his assistance He though Masâ—â—â— of the ship and owner of all the goods in it came aboard us to proffer us his service as a Pilot with more kindness and civility than we could have expected from a Christian and having recommended his own ship to his servants stay'd with us He was a very understanding man and was not only acquainted with the Navigation of those parts but also with the Compass much beyond what the Persians ordinarily are vers'd in who do not willingly venture very far into the Sea but for the most part keep in sight of Land So that finding the wind serv'd he caus'd the Anchor to be weigh'd about eleven at night taking his course towards the South with an East wind We observ'd it was the same day that we left Travemunde the year before and accordingly we had the same success in this second Voyage We had all that night but ten foot water but towards day we had eighteen The Countrey on our right hand which is called Suchator had four Hills which made a great Promontory reaching a great way into the Sea and from that Cape to Astrachan are counted 100 werstes and to Terki 200. but on both sides they are very short ones The 29. The weather fair we kept on our course in the morning Southward and with a South-East wind and in the afternoon South-west-ward having about twenty foot water and finding the bottom gravelly and full of little shells We could discover no Land that day and the night following we cast Anchor Here the Needle declin'd twenty degrees from North to West Octob. 30. We set sayl at the break of day and soon after Sun-rising we discover'd the Countrey of Circassia which lies all along the Sea-Coast from the South-West to North-East compassing it about much after the form of a Crescent and making a spacious Bay It was our design to get beyond the point of the Gulf but the wind coming to South-East had almost forc'd us into it which oblig'd us to cast Anchor about noon at the entrance of the Gulf at three fathom and a half water finding at the bottom a kind of fat earth about six Leagues from Terki We discover'd in the Bay about 20. or twenty five Boats and upon the first sight thereof it run into our imagination that they were the Cosaques but we were soon undeceiv'd and found them to be Tartarian Fisher-men belonging to Terki and were then coming to bring us fish to sell. For those we bought of them we gave them fifteen pence a piece but they were very great ones and we found in their bellies a great number of Crabs and Lobsters among which there were some alive The remainder of the day we spent in giving Almighty God solemn thanks for all his mercifull deliverances of us particularly that which happen'd on the very same day the year before when we were in so great danger amidst the Rocks and Shelves of Ocland Our Persian Pilot went that day to his own ship which was at some distance behind us to give his men Order what they should do leaving us somewhat of an opinion that he would shew us such another trirk as the Muscovite had done before but he afterwards made it appear that those of his Nation are not only made up of Complements for he return'd very betimes the next morning having sent his Boat before us to serve us for a Guide The last day of October we had in the morning a thick Mist with a great Calm The Sun having dispell'd the one about noon and the wind being come to the North we endeavour'd to get out of the Gulf and with much ado by laveering got the point near which we stayd at Anchor till after midnight and came very betimes in the morning on the first of November before the City of Terki We cast Anchor about a quarter of a League from the City because we could not come any nearer by reason of the shallowness of the water The night before the Cosaques had a design to set upon us but happily miss'd us in the dark and met with the little Fleet which brought the Tartar-Prince but the noise of the Strelits or Muscovian Muskettiers having discover'd to them that they were mistaken and imagining they should find a vigorous resistance they drew back but made it appear they were the Germans that they look'd for Intelligence coming in the morning to the City of this attempt of the Cosaques rais'd a verry hot Alarm there in regard it was known that Mussal their Prince was coming and that he might be in some danger The Inhabitants were confirm'd in that opinion when they heard the going off of our great Guns a noise they are not accustomed to in those parts insomuch that they began to get together and look on us as Enemies but they were put out of all fear by the arrival of their Prince who having given us a Volley as he pass'd by and invited us to honour him with a Visit at his Mother's satisfy'd the Inhabitants that there was no danger either to him or them The City of Terki lies somewhat above half a League from the Sea upon the little River Timenski which issues out of the great River Bustro and facilitates the correspondence there is between the Sea and the City to which there is is no other way to come by reason of the Fens which encompass it on all sides for a quarter of a League about It is seated in a spacious plain which is of such extent that the extremities thereof cannot be discover'd by the eye whence may be corrected the errour of the Map drawn by Nicholas Iansson Piscator alias Vischer though in all other things the best and most exact of any I could ever meet with who places the City of Terki upon a Mountain but by a mistake confounding the City of Tarku in the Province of Dagesthan with that of Terki in Circassia The Elevation of the Pole is here at 43. degrees 23 minutes It is distant from Astrachan sixty Leagues by Sea and seventy by Land and is the last place under the Jurisdiction of the Great Duke of Muscovy It is in length 2000. foot and in breadth 800. all
those who keep the passages who make a mark in their Armes which they are oblig'd to shew as they come back for the Portuguez would not have the Decanines and Canarines come into the City without a Pass-port All the fresh-water they have within the City comes from a Fountain which represents a Lucrece out of whose Wound there comes Water enough to supply the whole City but the Ships take in fresh-water near the Castle above which there comes out of the Rock a Rivulet which there falls into the River The City hath now neither Gates nor Walls but the River which makes the Island secures it against the attempts which an open place might be exposed to The publick Buildings are very fair and the Palaces of great Persons very magnificent especially in their Houshold-stuffe The Inhabitants are either Castizes that is Portuguez born of Father and Mother Portuguez or Most zes that is born of a Portuguez Father and Indian Mother The Mestizes are distinguished from the others by their colour which inclines towards the Olive but those of the third Generation are as black as the Inhabitants of the Country which happens also in the fourth Generation of the Castizes though there were no mixture among them The Portuguez are either Titulados as those who are employed in the principal charges Fidalgos da casa del Rey that is Gentlemen in ordinary of the Kings House Mocos Fidalgos young Gentlemen that is the Sons of Titulados or Cavalleros or newly admitted to Gentility by the King Cavalleros Fidalgos Escuderes Fidalgos or simply Gentlemen There are also such as have the quality of Mocos da camra or Grooms of the Kings Chamber who pass also for Gentlemen All the rest are Hombres Honrados and Soldados The former are Merchants or Tradesmen and appear publickly with the same gravity and almost with the same retinue as Gentlemen in as much as some only excepted who cut Leather for Shooes and Stuffes for Clothes all the rest have their business done by Slaves No Person of Quality goes abroad afoot for some are carried by their Slaves in a Palanquin and others ride on Horseback or go in painted and gilty Gondoles but not any without a Slave to carry an Umblello or Fan. The Portuguez have the reputation of being very highly conceited of themselves but those of Goa are such in so high a degree as well in their gate as all their other actions that they treat as unacquainted with the World such as are newly come from Portugal and are not accustom'd to their manner of going and life They are excessively civil one to another nay they are in this so ceremonious and exact that he who should omit to render a person that gives him a visit the honour he conceives due to himself whether it be in making him sit down otherwise then he would or not bringing him to the street-door must expect the effects of a deep resentment whereof the least are cudgelling or caning which they liberally bestow on persons of mean condition who being below them have omitted giving them the respect they look for from those that are not their Equals though indeed they owe them not any Winter begins there towards the end of Iune with a South-west Wind which comes from the Sea and reigns for the space of four moneths all along that Coast from Diu as far as the Cape of Comory and during all that time the Sea is not only innavigable but there are few Havens where Ships can ride in safety and unexpos'd to Storms mixt with terrible Thunder and Lightning which disturb the Air there in that season Which is yet so much the more to be wondred at inasmuch as at the same time the Coast of Coromandel which is in the same Peninsula and at the same degree of elevation and in some places is but twenty Leagues distant from that of Malabar enjoyes a pleasant Spring and the most divertive season of the year Accordingly those who go from Cochim to Saint Thome by land as they pass over the Mountain of Balagatta which divides the whole Peninsula as the Apennine does Italy discover from the top of the Mountain on the one side a clear and temperate Air and on the other a Country cover'd with a perpetual mist and drown'd with the Rains that continually fall The same observation may be also made in those Ships which go from Ormus to the Cape of Rosalgate Where as they pass the Cape they suddenly pass out of fair Weather into dreadful Storms and Tempests Whence it comes that in those parts there are but two Seasons as there are also principally but two Winds that reign there in the Summer time to wit those of the East which the Portuguez call Therentos which come from the Land-side and blow from mid-night till mid-day but they are not felt above ten Leagues within the Sea and those of the West which they call Virasons which come from the Sea immediately after dinner and blow all the rest of the day This change of Seasons from one extremity to another is the cause of many Diseases among the Portuguez but the most common there are those which they call Mordexin which kills immediately burning Feavers and bloudy Fluxes against which they have in a manner no remedy but bleeding The Plague is a Disease not known in the Indies but â—o make amends they have the Pox which destroyes every year a great number of Portuguez For though the Country produces present and topical Remedies against the Disease yet so violent are their inclinations to Women who on the other side are as mad for Men that they will not take the time to be cur'd of a Disease which is not got off by Remedies if they be not accompany'd with a very regular diet The Women of those parts â—ave an excessive affection for white Men and being kept very much in restraint they are put to all imaginable inventions to let them know how passionately they love them and â—o get them into their Lodgings where they many times prosecute their delights even in â—he Husbands presence by means of a Drug which so stupifies his Senses as that he seems â—ither to have lost them or to sleep with his eyes open The Indians call this Herb Doutro Doutry or Datura and the Turks and Persians Daâ—ula Garcias ab horto and Christopher d' Acosta affirm that it is a kind of Stramonea that the Herb grows abundantly all over the Indies in the shade and that it is somewhat like Bears-foot They extract the juyce of it while it is green or they beat the Seed to powder and mix it in Conserves or put it into his drink whom they would reduce to that condition for twenty four hours during which time he is depriv'd the use of all his Senses so that he does not see what is done before him though his eyes be open unless some body moisten the soles of his
together so as being not able to withstand any longer they yield to be driven away and are tam'd by hunger in a short time The Portuguez heretofore bought there fifteen or sixteen horned Beasts in a year and carried them to Malacca paying a Campan a head for the export But the Hollanders pay nothing neither for those they slaughter in the Country nor for those they ship for Sumatra or Iava for doubtless they win more on their affections then the Portuguez or any other Strangers The King of Patana is Subject or rather Vassal to the King of Siam but payes him annually a very inconsiderable Tribute Not many years since there reign'd a Queen that sent him no more then once a year a Flower of Gold and some Silk-Stuffes and Scarlet she was about that time fifty years of age whereof she had been a Widow fifteen when she appear'd abroad which was seldom to take the Air she was attended by four thousand Persons of Quality with the Armes and Equipage of her deceased Husband born before her The King of Iohor possesses all the utmost parts of the Penninsula the Ancients called Aurea Chersonesus to the Streight of Sincopura the chief Towns are Linga Bintam Caryman c. but the chief City of all the Country is Batusabar scituate six Leagues from the Sea upon the River Iohor divided into two Towns one keeping the name of Batusabar the other called Cottasabrang one being thirteen hundred paces about the other about five hundred They are both built with Free-stone and all the Houses stand along the River-side raised on piles eight or ten foot from the ground which lies so low that at high-water 't is covered twice a day In it are near four thousand Inhabitants able to bear Armes and could they bring themselves to take pains in Fortification with little labour might this River be brought about the Town which might thus be made one of the strongest places in the Indies The Hollanders have used all their Endeavour to bring them to it and to secure themselves from the Portuguez their irreconcileable Enemy but their Houses in Cotta Zabrang and thereabouts being nothing but Straw they care not much for burning so they have but time to save themselves in Batusabar where the building is of Timber and they can defend themselves against flying parties The Country belongs intirely to the King who gives Land to manure to any that desire it but the Malayans are so slothful that the Ground is all as it were overgrown with Moss though by the Herbage and Trees it produces it is easie to perceive great profit might be raised if the Soyl were cultivated For further testimony of this the Hollanders in their Relations amongst other things observe that at a time the King of Iohor presented their Admiral with Sugar Canes eighteen foot long and seven inches about The Malacca or Malayan Language is held the most elegant of all the Indies where it is at least as general as French in Europe and is the easier to learn because there are no inflections neither in Nounes nor Verbs For the Readers curiosity I shall here insert some of their words that he may spend his judgment and begin with the numbers which they thus count Satu one dwa two tyga three eupat four lyma five nam six tousion seven de lapan eight sambalan nine sapalo ten sabalas eleven duabulas twelve tyga balas thirteen capat balas fourteen lyma balas fifteen nam balas sixteen tousion balas seventeen delaban balas eighteen sambalan balas nineteen duo pola twenty saratus a hundred c. Arys the day Malam night Zouson the stomack leheer the neck dangudo the mustachoes Bat the tongue Iargary the fingers Toulang the leg Goumo the foot Tangam the arm Capalla the head Rambot the hair Pourot the belly Ianget the beard Tangan the hand Molot the mouth Martye the eyes Yrotdon the nose Conet the skin Babpa Father Maa Mother Ibou Grandfather and Grandmother bewangdarnet to bleed mackol to beat mollay to begin billy to buy chiuy to pay diem to be silent ambel to take toulong to assist Manyte I Pakanera you andrior to melt boday to deceive dengaer to hear battou to content mansuiry to prick Mus Gold Salacha Silver ada I have Palla a Nutmeg toy quitabo we Lacky a Man bilby to traffick tidor to sleep tavar to promise britacot to menace terran to clear pang to cut Negle Steel Lada Pepper minnon to drink tackana to enchaunt chium to kiss bretoun to make dousta to lye banga to rise suitsidana to wipe the Nose tieda tau I understand it not Sicke Cloves Leaving the firm Land and the Peninsula by the Ancients called Aurea Chersonesus on the Coast of Malacca we find the Isle of Sumatra not above ten Leagues distant Some have said 't was rent from the Continent by the Sea Currents as Ceylon from that part of the Indies heretofore called India intra Gangem but for this conjecture there is little ground in History it being not to be affirmed more of this place then it can of Sicily or England or any other Island in the World except we shall presuppose that at the Creation the Sea compassed the whole Earth and that then there was no Islands but that they were made by the Sea which afterwards by degrees form'd them out of the firm Land To enter into this dispute is not our design no more then to decide whether Sumatra were the ancient Taprobane as Ios. de l' Escale Mercator and divers others think or Ophir where King Solomon's Ships fetch'd the Gold and other precious things as the Scripture sayes but we shall recite only what we could gather out of these last Relations All conclude that Sumatra extends from the fifth degree on this side to the sixth degree beyond the Line by which Rule it should contain a hundred and sixty or a hundred sixty five Leagues in length with a breadth of sixty and so they who inhabit the middle of the Island to have the Equinoctial Line perpendicularly over them By the scituation we may judge the heats to be there extream and herewithall there is so much Wood and such a multitude of Lakes that the Air especially for Strangers is exceeding unhealthful Nevertheless it is abundantly fertile and besides Gold Silver and divers other Metals as Copper Iron Brass whereof they have the Art to make as good Artillery as they do in Europe it produces Rice and Millet particularly Fruit in such quantity as the Forrests are loaden with it and sufficiently furnish all the Inhabitants In the middle of the Isle there is a burning Mountain flaming by intermissions as Vesuvius in the Kingdom of Naples and they report there is a Balsom Fountain running incessantly 'T is wealthy in Diamonds and other precious Stones Silks Spices Wax Honey Camphire Cassia and divers other Drugs used in Medicine There are whole Woods of white Sandale
35. degrees Latitude We took in all our Sails and let down the Yards preparing our selves by that means against the Tempests which are very frequent and in a manner unavoidable about the Cape of Good hope and we hover'd up and down in that posture all the next day April 20. We perceiv'd that the Water was somewhat more whitish then it is in the main Sea and saw abundance of those Birds which the Portuguez call Mangas de valeudo and are a kind of Sea Mews being white all over the bodies and having black wings They have also this in particular that in their flight they beat their wings one against the other whereas the common Sea-Mews seldom do it but glide through the Air in an uninterrupted and even flight It is observed that where these Birds are seen there is ground within a hundred or hundred and fifty fathom at most Accordingly upon trial we found it at eighty fathom We saw also the same day a sort of Black-birds that had only â—â—â—ttle white upon the breast The Englishâ—ffirm â—ffirm they are Birds presaging misfortune as being the infallible fore-runners of a great Tempest The same day we had one with the West-north-west wind which on the 24. turn'd to a North-west During that time we were forc'd to go before the Wind the Water coming into the Ship with such violence that it took off our Carpenter but he was so fortunate as to lay hold on a Rope was cast him by which he was got aboard again We found ground at eighty fathom and in regard the Earth which stuck to the Plummet was â—lack we inferred thence that we were not far from the Cap d' Agulhas which is sixty Leagues from that of Good hope The 15. The Tempest increased so that we began to despair of escaping in regard the current of the Sea forced us towards the Coasts where we had inevitably been wrack'd if it had continued We were at thirty six degrees twenty minutes beyond the Line and this day we had like to have been destroyed by fire occasioned by a Lamp in the Presidents Chamber but it was soon put out The Storm continued all the next day Our Sea-men seeing about the Ship many of those Fish called Pesce Puercos would thence perswade us that it would not be long ere the weather changed and that the Wind would blow from the same quarter that those Fishes came Accordingly about two in the afternoon the Wind came to the North-west and the Tempest ceased so that we could spread our Sails The 27. We had no Wind at all but in the afternoon it came to the North-west which obliged us to take our Course to the North-north-west failing two Leagues an hour We saw that day a great number of Trombas from which we inferred we were not far from the Cape of Good hope These Yrombas are a kind of great Canes about the bigness of a mans arm and three or four foot long which flote upon the water with their roots as if the Sea had forced them away from the neighbouring Coast yet can it not be said whence they come nor that they are seen any where but about that Cape April 28. We discovered the Coast which before us reach'd from North to West Some thought at first it was Gabo-Falso or the Cape of Good hope but finding ground at forty Fathom and at thirty four degrees forty minutes they were soon convinced that it was the Cap d' Agulhas whence it came that we went all that day laveering with a North-west wind The 29. The Wind came to the South-east so that we continued our course to the North-west keeping still in sight of the Land That day we took as many Fith as found the whole company two or three good meals The night following the Wind changed and came to the North-west obliging us to laveer but being in a manner directly contrary we advanced but little Taking the Altitude of the Sun that day we found our selves at 34. degrees 27. minutes and consequently that we wanted 24. Leagues of being at the Altitude of Capâ—d ' Agulhas April 30. We continued laveering along the Coast the Wind being still contrary May 1. The wind coming to the North-east by East we kept along the Coast and perceived a very high shore which was at last known to be Cabo Falso which is within seven Leagues of that of Good hope It is called Cabo Falso because it is seen at a great distance extending it self into the Sea much after the same manner as the other though it be not so high The 2. A North-east wind brought us in sight of the Cape of Good hope but turning immediately to the North-west we could not possibly enter the Bay which obliged us to make off the Coast and get into the main Sea taking our course towards the South The next day with a North-west wind we had a great tempest which yet hindred us not from getting somewhat nearer the Coast. That day we cast one of our Sea men over-board with the ordinary Ceremonies used at funerals upon such occasions This was the third man died out of our Ship since our departure from Goa May 4. We doubled one of the points of the Cape of Good hope which is about ten Leagues distant from the Road or Bay and much about the same time we discovered the Mountain which the Dutch in the year 1601. named the Tafelherg it being flat and square at the top like a Table It was our intention to get into the Bay which is at the foot of the Mountain and at 34. Degrees four Minutes within fifteen Leagues of the Cape but the wind being contrary obliged us to keep along the Coast endeavouring to make the best advantage we could of it The 5. At Sun-rising we were out of sight of Land whereupon we changed our course taking it North-east and turning the prow of the Ship towards the Coast which we discovered about noon About two in the afternoon we passed in sight of the Island called St. Elizabeth which is inhabited and at night we got into the Bay and cast anchor at seven fathom water This Promontory of the Continent of Africk which extends it self into the Sea towards the South at 36. Degrees beyond the Line was named Cabo de bâ—n ' Speranza by Iohn II. King of Portugal under whom it was discovered by Bartholomew Dias about the year 1493. That Prince would needs call it so out of the hopes he conceived to discover afterwards the wealth of the East-Indies and other Nations have continued that name upon this account that having once doubled the Cape there is some assurance of compleating the Voyage whereof the Cape makes one half as lying in a manner at the equal distance of two thousand five hundred Leagues between Europe and the most Easterly Coast of the Indies Most Ships take in refreshments at this place and the Dutch are wont