's meer depression of Air should be ascribed to her Monthly Revolutions And here one thing may be worthy our Curiosity That after the Seasons of the Heats and Rains the Rivers Indus and Ganges are said to swell their Banks and thereby abundantly to encrease the Bordering Countries where these Rains are less frequent Whence it may be some insight may be had for the Overflows of Egypt which has set so many Wits on the Tenterhooks where it is reported it never rains But in the Countreys near the supposed Sourse of Nile it does to Excess But you who have greater Reading and Leisure to digest these Metaphysical Notions will mightily oblige me to furnish me with your solider Arguments Among which I would intreat you to consider the Variety of the Loadstone in the common Chart For what the incomparably Ingenuous Des Cartes has wrote on that Subject acquiesces only in modest Hypotheticks not any ways informing the Understanding to a clear Apprehension but after he has brought it through the Maze of Probabilities he parts with it at the same Predicament it entred Not to deviate any longer The Tail of the Elephant we are now winding about the South-West part of Ceilon where we have the Tail of the Elephant full in our mouths a Constellation by the Portugals called Rabo del Elephanto known for the breaking up of the Munsoons which is the last Flory this Season makes generally concluding with September which goes out with dismal Storms Yet so good is Providence Water-Snakes as to warn us here when all is obscured by Water-Snakes of our too near approach to the Land which are as sure Presages on the Indian Coasts as the Cape-Birds are there Here the Mountains running East and West The difference on the Malabar Coast the Winds are to the East of the South and to the West of the North else quadrating with those on Coromandel only here in April and May the Winds are variable and then they hasten to leave these Coasts for Persia the Red-Sea and South-Seas or those make in that are to return hither otherwise they run an hazard of losing their Voyage when the South to the South-East Wind is fixed which continues to the latter end of September or beginning of October Then from the North to the North-West sets in again and this Course is observed mostly on all the Indian Shores only some few days different in the beginning and ending which happen to the South and in Lands commonly earlier than to the North and break up later when they are more severe but the Intervals are milder the middle Months clearing up in the day time but from the first setting to the going out towards the North the Sun hardly shews his Face unless a Fortnight after the Full Moon in May and a Fortnight before the Elephanto On the Coast of Surat from Gemini to Libra A Rejoinder of the Seasons This happens in the Sun 's Ecliptick Road. On the Coast of Coromandel from Taurus to Scorpio And thus much may be said in general only the Land and Sea-Breezes in particular on this Coast of Surat and Malabar when the Rains are over keep exactly Land-Breezes from Midnight to Mid-day and Sea-Breezes from the Noon of Day to the Noon of Night Making Land we beheld it all a Flame they burning their Stubble for Soilage Small Birds drove to Sea the Forerunner of the ensuing Rain notwithstanding a King fisher flew aboard us with the flattering Coaks's of Halcyon days but like an unskilful Augur was deservedly reproached with the Ignorance of her own Destiny to dye in Captivity which fatal Necessity made her elect rather than suffer with whole Flocks of little Birds blown from the Main who not able to stem the boisterousness of the Winds were hurried thence to perish in the Sea And now we were begirt with Land the Maldivae Islands lying South Cape Comerin North and by West the Malabar Islands West whose Inhabitants have no relation with those on the Coast whence is brought great quantities of Ambergreece Ceilon c. The Land our Master took for a Malabar Island proved a mistake Land-lock'd betwixt Ceilon and the Cape for by a strong Current we were lock'd in between the Island Ceilon and the North East side of the Cape within that desperate Canal we before described Our Error was first corrected by some Fishermen busy at their Nets Strange colour'd Fishes who brought aboard plenty of Fishes all new to us who never had seen such coloured ones some gilded like Gold others with Vermilion varied by several Intermixtures Whilst we were lost in admiration our Mates found themselves no less at a loss in their accounts when they understood they were drove 30 Leagues to Leeward of the Cape by the broken Portugueze spoken by these Men and that we could not sail much farther than Tutticaree a Portugal Town in time of Yore where they had a Citadel and two famous Churches and before us which was the Lure a Ketch of the Dutch's which we chased for hopes of Prize was sailing to that Port and presently after anchored We were then in seven Fathom Water This is the place where they drag Pearl All along here the Top of Gates is seen above the Clouds The Mountain Gates the Ground beneath it Fair Low and Sandy Tutticaree is now in the hands of the Dutch Tutticarce our danger here running the same Risco with Columbo over-against which it lies we being now in the very Jaws of our Enemies might have here concluded our Voyage had their Fleet been nigh us The next day we were becalmed and thereby carried into the midst of the Stream and although in the Afternoon we had an humming Frisco it ran with such Violence that we lost more than we gained This Mistake cost us a Fortnights time before we could compass the Cape besides Fears and Jealousies both of our falling into the Torrent and our Enemies hands The Cape lanches into the Sea with Three Points running into a Campaign several Miles together till it grows big with Mountains procreating their prodigious Race 400 Leagues severing the Coast of Coromandel and Malabar East and West Latitude 8 deg 50 min. North Longit. 96 deg Eost Cape Comeri The Taprobanum of Pliny over-against the Prâ—montorium Celliacum Cape Comeri CHAP. VI. Views the Malabar and Canatick Coasts up to Bombaim TO prevent the mischief of ingulphing again by the Current A dark Night enlighten'd by Fish we anchored a-nights when a Pitchy Blackness was interposed betwixt us and the Skies and not a Star to be seen The Plebs Squammosa beneath the Surface of the Salt Ocean gathering their little Fry which proved to be Pilchards either by the Repercussion of the Saline Bodies of the Waves which is frequent or by the more apt Position of their Glittering Scales through that Medium to refract the hovering Light benighted in the Atmosphere
I. Treats of Embarking and Passage 'till past St. Iago SIR FOR your singular Favour The Proem in seeing me Aboard-ship which might reasonably be supposed the last kind Office to a departing Friend considering the various Chances of so long a Voyage as well as the Uncertainty of my Return I must keep to that Promise whereby you obliged me to give you an account not only of my Being but of what Occurrences were worth my Animadversion You may remember Taking Ship at Gravesend and falling down to the Buoy in the Nore It was the 9th of December in the Year of our Lord 1672. when by virtue of an Order from the Honourable East-India Company I being received on Board the Vnity we took of each other a long Farewel the Ship then breaking Ground from Graves-End to fall down to the Buoy in the Nore The London Number of Ships with Letters of Mart. War with the Hollanders our Admiral lay expecting our whole East-India Fleet there which were Ten in Number to whom his Majesty Charles II. was pleased to grant Letters of Mart Which impowered them to wear the King 's Jack Ancient and Pennant and to act as Men of War the English and French at this time being at open Defiance against the Dutch When they were altogether Letter I. their Commands were to go over the Flats The reason of going over the Fâ—ats which notwithstanding the Hazard to Ships of their Burthen was thought securer now than to venture about the King's Channel where they might be exposed to the Attempts of the Hollanders By which means together with the unsteadiness of the Weather it was the day after Christmas before we arrived at the Downs where rode a rich and numerous Fleet of Merchants with their respective Convoys designed for their several Places of Traffick when the Wind should present Here Stay at the Downs as we ended the Old Year so we began the New with a desire of prosecuting our intended Voyage But a South-West Wind prevented our Course and held us there Three Weeks when an East Wind made a general delivery and a clear Downs Being at Sea we made easy Sail that our Ships might have the liberty that Night to single themselves from the Crowd of the other Ships notwithstanding which Proviso we had a shrewd Suspicion for Night hastening on and in such a swarm of Vessels of greater bulk not so readily manageable as smaller we beheld three Lights out of the Poop of a goodly Ship the same unfortunate signs our Directions bound us to take notice of which made us conclude the Damage on our side as indeed it proved by the next Morning-song for having cast our Eyes abroad to look what Ships we had in company running over a great many that had shrowded themselves under our Protection and of Six Men of War more Captain Munday Commander in chief whereof Two were Fireships sent for to meet the East India Fleet at Sancta Helena for their better Defence homeward-bound and to prevent their falling into the Enemies Hands who had lately possessed themselves of that Island we at length missed the Massenberg The Massenberg disabled on whom it seems a small Pink falling foul had carried away her Head and Boltsprit and 't is to be feared has disabled her this Voyage we saw her afterwards make for Portsmouth Off the Land's End we met with Four English Merchant Ships Leaving the Lizzard we met with Ships from Cales Two French Men of War their Convoys laden from Cales bound for London In Four â—â—ys from the Downs we were losing England on our Backs reckoning the Lizzard the most extreme part South to bear North and By East 14 Leagues from whence hereafter we were to fetch our Meridian Distance It lies in the Latitude of 50 deg 10 min. North. Thus relinquishing the British Seas We cross the Bay of Biscay to the Main Atlantick we make our selves Possessors of the Western Ocean for a while 'Till following our Compass more South we contend with the troublous Wind and tempestuous Waves for some part of the Bay of Biscay whose Mountain Seas we are to cut through to the Main Atlantick Why this Sea is always troubled What makes these Seas in such a constant Turmoil is imputed to the falling in of the whole Force of the Western Ocean into this Sinus without any Impediment 'till it recoil against its Shores so that in the calmest Season here are always high swelling Billows About the Latitude of 41 the Men of War The St. Helens Fleet stand for the Madera that came out with us determining to make the Madera Island went away more Easterly and the next day were out of sight Two days after we espied one Sail to the Leeward under a main Course Chap. I. steering very doubtfully after she had had her full view of us she made from us too nimble for us to follow we supposed her to be either an Algerine Pirate or a Dutch Privateer We still directed our Course South and in Twenty four Hours ran One hundred and seventeen Miles by our Log-board for some days together Little credit to be given to the Log board in respect of the Ships way the Weather not allowing us to observe with the Quadrant but as soon as we could take the Sun's Altitude we found our selves to be in the Latitude of 36 deg 2 min. North Longitude 7 deg 26 min. West an hundred Mâ—les in four Days more than we judged our selves to be which sufficiently proves the little credit to be given to the former way of reckoning The following day maintaining the same Course we past by the Mouth of the Streights of Gibraltar Hercules's Pillar one of Hercules's Pillars the farthest Point South of all Europe Here we began to drop the rest of our Company We lost our Companions by degrees some striking East for the Streights others West for the Canaries Virginia c. At Noon our Admiral fired a Gun and hoisted his Ancient whereby we understood he saw Land which we thought to be Porto Porto bearing off us East An hour more being hardly run we in like manner made the Madera Island The Island of Madera the largest in the Atlantick Ocean the largest of the whole Atlantick being South-East some twelve Leagues too great a distance to take a perfect Landschap it being only discernible to be Land and confirmed to be so by this days Observation which was 33 deg 17 min. to the Northward of the Equator in Latitude and Longitude from the Lizzard as before we having neither raised nor depressed it Where the Trade-winds begin to offer themselves the Mariner relaxes his anxious care of Sailing and is at more leisure to Repose he not being so often called upon to shift his Course or hand his Sails which has yet this inconvenience giving him leave now to fall into those Distempers Idleness contracts viz.
Appellations of the Warrior and Scholar of the Merchant Mechanicks and Villains Of their Garb Civility of Manners Facetiousness Revellings Sports Weddings Cleansings and Burials Of their Women and License of Curtezans The Eunuchs c. THE Merchant Cheats in all Professions make the Brokers necessary The Villany of a Droger The Persian in his City Dress The Drover The Herdsman The Husbandman The Dervises Vinedressers Slaves made of the Old Persians The Eunuchs The Old Women Their Women Their Excellencies The Mark of a Whore Curtizans Their Children provided for Lyings in and Purifyings Widows reckoned Mutes Sodomy Addicted to Pleasure Corruptness of the Courtiers Women made use of to Complain The Persian places Felicity in Prosperity Their Recreations and Exercises They Hunt a long time together How Treated on their Return Immoderate in their Feasting Their Religious Feasts Foot-Racing Their Valour whence it proceeds Their Urbanity The Custom of carrying Aves Their Virtues Vices How far beholden to Constitution of Body and Air. Their Diet. Cabob Pulloe Dumpoke Stews Cookoo Challow No good Confections Sherbets The Persians Spit as much as other Folks Their happiness of Body Commutative Justice LETTER VI CHAP. I. Takes notice of Broach The Change of Governors at Surat Intestine Broils of the Empire Rencounter of the English and Portentous Accidents of this Year THE Author sent for to Broach Different Modes of Travelling in India from that of Persia Their Chariots for Travelling Bereaw Uncliseer Broach City What Profit to the Mogul Rama Jessinsin defies the Emperor The Confederates make Disturbance Morad Beck made Governor of Surat Great Inundations by the Rains The Mogul prepares to Chastise the Pagans The Return of the Juddah Fleet. Seva Seizes Henry Kenry The Barbarians Relieve it Their Fleet drove into Tull. The Eldest Son of the Mogul brings an Army to Brampore Two Portents LETTER VII CHAP. I. Continues the General Occurrences with Remarks THE Syddy and Seva left to contend for Henry Kenry The English Reproach'd The Mogul inflicts a Double Poll. Seva Gi Dies Heats about Succession The Mogul's Eldest Son sent to the Post Withdraws his Army An Example on Treason The Mogul's Secretary's Reasons to dissuade the Emperor from his Persecuting the Heathens A Drought feared The First Interloper A Comet LETTER VIII CHAP. I. Concludes with my Return to England WE set Sail for England A Young Man lost over-board We Sail on the back side of St. Lawrence We weather the Cape of Good Hope Land at St. Helena The Story of the Island and Islanders Of Ascension and Catching of Tortoises Foolish Birds Isle of St. Thomas A bold Act of an Algier Slave The Azores England We Land at Folkstone near Dover By reason of the distance of the Author These Errors have escaped the Press which the Reader is desired to amend before he read the Book ERRATA P. L.  4 6 â—â—R Querpâ—s r. Aequator 11 40 â—â—R Querpâ—s r. Aequator 14 12 for Southern r. Northern 19 36 for of r. off 20 2 dele but.  5 for Cheeks r. Checks or Chocks 21 49 for sent r. lent 27 39 for Caff r. Cast 29 36 for Stores r. Keyes 31 8 for Tapon r. Capon 32 24 for Bung r. Bang  26 for Solarium r. Solanum 35 18 after day insert and. 37 23 for Fire-Guns r. five Guns  34 for braces r. braves 41 4 for Tops r. Topes 42 24 for mounting r. moating 46 30 r. despised their kindness  46 for now r. no. 57 15 for Musterâ—es r. Mustezos 65 38 d. of 68 3 for being r. bringing 78 28 for Banda r. Danda. 80 14 for Nayne r. Nan Gi. 85 10 after Company add seldom 86 19 for Carnear r. Carwar 98 50 for Pomarium r. Pomâ—rium 100 10 for Decay r. Deroy 102 16 for it r. them 104 15 for Lecgues r. Lecques  42 for viro r. viru  51 for both r. all 105 5 for Amarillis r. Amaranthus  â—4 for Manna r. Mamma 109 25 for Cophers r. Caiphirs 111 17 for Noize r. noise 115 â—6 for Bundeâ—s r. Bunders 117 22 for thither r. hither 119 M. for Columbinâ— r. Colums 120 6 for infect r. infest 125 10 for left r. least  50 d. trending 129 46 for they r. he â—34 33 for of r. off 136 39 for present r. I presenâ—ed 137 14 for grave r. brave 138 41 after 7000 add Horse 152 2 for power r. powder  4 for We r. they  5 r. We discharged  41 for aptasse r. â—ptasse 153 41 for Caves r. Coves 154 17 for Pover r. Pove  27 r. celebrated  43 for Lap-fraternity r. Lay fraternity 157 26 for or r. on 159 32 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 162 13 before by me 163 23 for on r. one 33 for nor r. and.  45 for Rabay r. Rabâ—g 165 28 r. Bagnagur 173 50 for forced r. fained 187 5 r. every one of which  8 for New Colla r. Mew Colla. 193 43 for Hoards r. hords 195 2 for Burrore r. Burrow 197 21 r. Ordained them 218 43 r. Singanian 219 5 for Buccaneers r. Racanners 220 38 r. nor Wood nor Timber 227 12 r. Three Persian Miles or Parasangs  25 r. Sisyphus's 230 35 for Se r. Ser. 231 16 for Bees r. Beetles 232 30 d. yet 240 23 for Marble r. Marle  34 for Carousan r. Caravan Ser Raw. 248 19 d. there 258 23 for ut r. autem 277 49 r. held by one 291 21 for lac'd r. laid 295 33 for Stores r. Stoves 296 47 for Molagans r. Molaians 297 1 r. not without some reasonable reflections that the  2 neighbouring Batavians were Accessories having  3 a jealousy of the English 298 24 for piled r. Pyla.  25 for perilously r. perishingly 301 15 for Collation r. colation 303 27 for Nitrous r. nidorous 305 37 for Marble r. Marle 313 26 for clear r. chear 332 1 for generally r. generically  3 for Microcosm r. Macrocosm  7 for Marble r. Marle  21 r. is falsly imputed 338 49 for Ganizeen r. Janizeen 341 3 d. slenderly provided 350 27 for Tangrolope and r. Trangrlopex  30 r. Haalam who was 354 50 r. one Whire Plume 355 19 for Astroque r. Oestroque 359 33 for Taterdars r. Taberdars 376 47 for Bashed r. Bashee 385 24 for Press r. stress  50 for lighty r. lightly 388 15 for Coges r. Cogy 391 39 for Golabdar r. Gelabdar  30 for domum r. domo 397 38 for Buy-Shoes r. Bugshoes 398 20 for Gogdans r. Yogdans 404 49 for Musilage r. Mucilage 405 14 for Taylets r. Taglets 412 5 for Semla r. Jemla 413 3 for 10000 r. one hundred thousand 420 6 for Gladock 1. Haddâ—ck  26 for Changos r. Chaugâ—s 421 40 for d'Aguthas r. Anguillis  43 for Agutha r. rather of Anguillis or the Snake A NEW ACCOUNT OF India and Persia In Eight LETTERS LETTER I. Containing a Twelve Month's Voyage through Divers Climates CHAP.
War thinking to birth themselves before us at St. Iago where our Ships were permitted to refresh The Men of War out-sail us being otherwise tied up by Charter-party not to put in any where unless for absolute necessity made all the Sail on head they could Our Commanders were well enough content with their proffer knowing the danger of a many Ships going in there together The day ensuing plying to the West The Island Beunavista we discovered Beunovista bearing full West ten Leagues but at Noon were within two Leagues of it It is one of the Islands of the Gorgades or Cape Verde One of the Cape Verde Islands They are Nine in all because situate over against that Promontory on the Land of Negros They are said to be Nine in Number Beunovista quasi good sight it deserving that Appellation from four Hills which raising themselves to an Eminency above their Fellows yield a fair Prospect at a distance but approaching nigher it is not unlike the crawling of a Snake it 's various Hills and Vallies fluctuating as it were seem to borrow that riggling Shape the two remotest Mountains figuring her Crown and Head The View of Beunovista The View of Beunovista The succeeding day The Isle of Maijo South-East of us we saw the Isle of Maijo another of the Gorgades plentiful in nothing more than Salt whither our Traders in that Commodity often send Ships to fetch it which is brought down to them in Barrows blowed by the Wind they having Sails fitted for that purpose The View of the Isle of Maijo In two and twenty days from the Lizzard The View of Isle of Maijo early in the Morning we were close under St. Iago another Island of the same Knot whose interwoven barren Mountains are as impossibly exprest as Stonehing numbred Arriving at St. Iago we mist the Men of War Towards the South-West they are very high and burnt but steering to loof about the Bay we found it empty and the Men of War missing for all that we came to an Anchor about ten a Clock in the Forenoon in the Bay of St. Iago The View of the Bay of St. Iago The Ground was covered with Corral of all sorts The View of the Bay of St. Iago under which it was Sandy of a duskish Colour Having discovered three Buoys our Commander sent his Boat to seize on one Found three great Anchors slipped in the Bay which proved to be the Mark to a special good Anchor of 2400 weight with a Cable seven Inches Diameter the rest of the Fleet shared the other two The Bay the Ships rode in was smooth Water the Wind coming from the Shore in Figure a Semicircle in which it might contain four Miles the weathermost Point bearing South-West and half a Point West the other Point to which was an Islet East and by South and South a. Represents the young Plant as it appears firstabove ground Spring-ing from the Nut under ground b. Shews the shape of the Tree w th that of its branches new the tâ—p the under more ripe being fallen off leaving the Signes of their rects n the bark of the Stock c. The shape of the Branchâ—s w th their stemms feet as they grow from the Tree extending sometimes from the foot to the tip to near 5 ½ yards in length fringed or feathered on both sides with long narrow leaves d. The Purse or Sheath containing the branch of flowers e. The branch of Flowers which when fallen leaves the young nutts f. One of the branches grown more ripe g. One of those Nutts full ripe h. The Coco Nutt shell intire the outward Pill or husk being fallen off i. The Roots blade peircing through the holes of the Shell k. The Kernell of the Nut half the Shell being taken off l. Represents the intire tree of an older longer standing m. Represents the manner how they fasten a gourd to collect the liquor Of the Island of St. Iago one of the Cape Verde Islands IN the Afternoon I went ashore which was near two Miles from the Ship where was a convenient watering place which emptied its fresh Current into the Salt Sea the Beach was sandy and easy going ashore The Natives accost us with their Wares Here met us whole Troops of the Natives with their several Wares some offering us Cocoes others Oranges and Limes some brought Jackanaps's such green Ones as are commonly seen in England to be sold and all at the price of a cleanly Rag or a Bunch of Ribbons Before us in a Valley was a most stately Grove of Cocoes and A stately Grove Oranges through which ran the Stream our Men filled their Casks with Water surrounded with a Wall The first of which Trees so much celebrated for its usefulness deserves as much for the pleasure it affords the Sight It grows with an upright tall and slender Body the Bark of an Ash colour loricated not sending any Branches forth till it come to its chiefest Summit where it spreads its shady Branches with some resemblance to our Osmond Royal Fern Of the Cocoe Tree its beauty and usefulness but more like the Palm and under these protects its weighty Fruit which hang very thick round about the Tree to which it yields but one Stalk but that fit to support its ponderousness every Moon produces a fresh Harvest both of Fruit and Boughs the first being gathered the others being thrust off when sapless by the young ones If the Juicy ones be wounded there distills an heady Liquor which they preserve in Earthen Pots fitted to receive it but that spoils their bearing Nuts Next to the Stalk it bestows a Calix not differing only in bigness and that it is smoother from that of our Acorn from which proceeds the Rind of a lighter Green under which a fibrous substance presents its self which might supply them with Utensils for Roaps and Sails beneath which appears a spacious brown Shell proper for many Necessaries big enough for a Drinking Cup a Ladle and many more serving them for the chief part of their Housholdstuff Enclosed in this is a delicious Meat white in Colour cloathed with a pithy matter as our Hasle-nuts and not inferiour to them in Taste this they chuse for their ordinary Nourishment Nor does it afford them a less grateful emulsion contained in the Nut to the quantity of a Pint or Pint and half in colour like Whey and of that consistency but in relish far excelling When the Meat of the Nut grows rancid they express an Oyl serviceable for their Lamps Thus abundantly has Providence furnished them from this one Root The figure of the Fruit take it intire is oval and as big as the largest Melons On the other Fruits it's needless to insist Other Fruits less common as Oranges and the like being planted nearer home and therefore not such strangers Having observed enough here we entred a Door which gave us
our Commanders over-confident of their own Conduct and lightly regarding the Authority of their General When they came back again Bombaim and London disabled they brought their Fleet up in a Body and after the Signal given it thundred and hailed Bullets till Night The first that felt the warmth of the Showres was the Bombaim who after an hours hot dispute almost board and board with one of their biggest Ships bore off hardly able to keep above water and never came in again having received 80 Shot in her Hull and some between Wind and Water so that in the Hold there was four Feet and an half Water besides innumerable in her Rigging Masts and Sails from those that pelted at a distance The next Ship that behaved her self stoutly was the Admiral 's who lost 34 of her Men by the scurvy Accidents of Powder 17 of them were slain outright But the Three fatal Ships were the Antilope Antilope sunk President and Sampson taken Captain Golsbery the Sampson Captain Ernnig Reer-Admiral and the President Vice-Admiral Captain Hide whose rigid Fortune saved the drooping Honour of the English which is not less conspicuous in Adversity than in Prosperity For having sustained the Bâ—unt of the day they left not off when they were penned in by the Enemy and deserted by their Friends For by Five in the Afternoon the London bore away to stop her Leaks the rest were glad to follow and left them to maintain so unequal a Fight The Vice-Admiral was seen to blow up his Decks several times distributing the Hollanders as Doles to the Fishes and left not off till Night parted the Fray so that what became of them our Ships could give us no account Six days since this Dutch Forces march to raise the Siege of St. Thomas a Thousand Men under Dutch Colours with a dozen Carriages with great Brass Pieces marched by out of shot of our Leaguers and fixed their Standard with the Moors in sight of St. Thomas The next day was sent from Mechlapatan hither the Copy of a Letter from Captain Hide which assured us of his being alive but wounded his Ship as it is at the disposal of the Dutch as also Captain Ernnig's though he was killed first That Captain Golsbery sunk his rather than it should go to Batavia that he and what Men could shift for themseves were safe It may be wondred why the French did not assist us they being as much at odds with the Dutch as we the reality is they offered their Devoirs but we must equip their Ships for which our Commanders pretended lack of Orders as well as Money and Materials Though the plain truth was they despised kindness thinking it beneath them to be beholden to them for their help The Factories of the Hollanders on this Coast The Wealth and Power of the Hollanders in India are Ceilon Jaffnapatan Sandraslapatan Negapatan Policat Mechlapatan The Danes have a few the French less In the South Sea under the Agent of Bantam the English have Factors at Pegu Siam Jambee The Dutch have Batavia and the Moluccos from whence Nutmegs worth more alone than all we have in India they being as powerful for Men Riches and Shipping in Batavia as in Europe which is grounded on a different Principle from our East India Company who are for the present Profit not future Emolument These Their Policy in securing as they gain ground secure it by vast Expences raising Forts and maintaining Souldiers Ours are for raising Auctions and retrenching Charges bidding the next Age grow rich as they have done but not affording them the means Our Ships that were left Our Seven Ships dispatched for the Malabar Coast were now sooner repaired than fraited with their Salt Peter and Fine Cloth and had leave to make the best of their way for the Malabar Coast in less than a Fortnight's time when it was determined to keep off to Sea as well to escape the Hollanders as the Violence of the Mossoons who being upon the point of shifting their Quarters are most dangerous near the Shore These Mossoons or Monsoons are the Winds and Rains customary to all India varying here only in respect of the Mountains Therefore on these Coasts the South Winds blow for Eight Months The Monsoons on both Coasts and Observations thereon four of which are May June July August Then the Sun is so strong that it would be uninhabitable did not there fall at Night those Vapours which the Sun draws up in the Day and by declining of his exorbitant Heat leaves them to be condensated at Night when the Air is more gross and the Earth is cooled either by thick Mists or a more palpable Moisture which you may call pouring Showres and thereby made fertile which otherwise would be insupportable and barren That which makes this the more plausible is That the Asiatick India intra Gangem is a Pene Insula and the Seas lie near round the Land But about the Sun 's retiring to his Southern Tropick The Heats tempered by Art the Winds take their Northern Course the Rains do cease and the Sea alters its Current to the South when by the innate coldness of these Blasts the Clime becomes more habitable unless where the Sands cause a reflection of heat as at Mechlapatan where they keep close all Day for three or four Months together though then the North Wind begins to abate its impetuosity and the South Winds prevail repelling the Heat by a course wet Cloath continually hanging before their Chamber-windows which not only resists the Ambient Air but by the afflux of Nitrous Particles from within does cast a Chilness over the Room without which the Walls that for that intent are plastered would be so hot you could not abide your Hand on them the same way they have of cooling their Liquors by a wet Cloth wrapped about their Gurgulets and Jars which are Vessels made of a porous kind of Earth the best of Maecha reasonable good from Goa which are carried with them in this nature where-ever they travel Before we dismiss this Discourse The Rains more intermitting on the Coast of Coromandel it may be noted That the Rains on this Coast are more intermitting than on the Malabar Coast so that they can loose hence their Ships for Persia Maecha and Juddah and to the South Seas in those Months they are Wind-bound on the other Coast for having the Land-Breezes to carry them off to Sea the Mossoons are more favourable Concerning the Regularities of these Winds perhaps some others may give patter Guesses than my self who am not conceited enough to dogmatize Among the many that be alledged The Cause of the Massoons inquired into I am not fond of any though this have won a little upon my Opinion That the Sun may be as well the reason why these Winds should observe his Annual Circumrotation as that the Ebbings and Flowings of the Sea by the Moon
the next Morning between two Islands we saw sculking Six Malabar Proes waiting their Booty but making use of their Oars as well as Sails soon outstripped us The Day after we came to an Anchor at Onor Onor the first Land we touched on the Canatick Shore the Land Hilly and Barren which I went to see it is in 13 deg 10 min. North. We passed to it through a narrow Bite which expatiates into a wide Swallow and then thrusts us up the River On the North side a Bow and Arrow Castle overlooks it while it runs peaceably to the Town Where we landed the Dutch had a House and a new Junk lanched with her Colours furl'd One end of the Town stands in an hole over a Rocky Hill stands the other part upon which the Castle with its Stone Wall faces an Heath a great way yet looking asquint on the Under-woods It is built after the exact Rules of Ancient Fortifications with a Drawbridge and a Mâ—at round now a dry Ditch the Castle without Soldiers falling to decay It was built by the Portugals seized by the Canareens by the help of the Dutch between whom and the Portugals the Town of poor Buildings is divided Many of the Natives have receiv'd the Christian Faith Though those that continue in their Paganism are the most impiously Religious of any of the Indians being too too conversant with the Devil The Nairoes have no footing here nor have the Moors much They live in no diffidence of one another nor Strangers of them journeying among them without a Guide in Broad Roads not in By-Paths as in the Nations properly called the Malabars They have well-constituted Laws and observe them obediently From hence we came to Mirja in the same Dominions At Mirja the Protector of Canora came aboard I went to view the Place the Boat that carried me was Brigantine built At the Entry into the Harbour only a Rock withstands the Washes but on the Shore huge craggy Mountains are drawn up for a second Onset all of Black Stone yet somewhat undermined by the beating of the Sea where it works its self into a Syrtes on the other side of which the Fragments of the Town are shelter'd At my Landing one of their Princes was the first that welcomed me ashore who here as well as in Italy scorn not to be Merchants he was seated under a shady Tree on a Carpet spread upon the Sand and his Retinue standing about him he it seems was expecting the Protector of Canara the Raja being in Minority who came anon with his Lords and Guards armed with Swords and Gantlets Partizans adorned with Bells and Feathers as also were the Horses that carried his Luscarry or Army with such Trappings as our finest Team-Horses in England wear He ventured off to Sea to see our Ships His obstreporous Musick he was rowed by a Gang of 36 in a great deal of Pomp his Musick was loud and with the Kettle-drums made a Noise not unlike that our Coopers make on their Hogsheads driving home their Hoops He went aboard two or three Ships who entertained him with their Guns and Chears of their Men presenting him with Scarlet Cloath He is a Gentile as are his Subjects Our Lading here was Pepper Our Lading Salt-Petre and Beetle-Nut for Surat In our way from Mirja we met with a Man of War Pink commission'd from the President for the scowring these Seas which had 22 Guns and seventy odd Men the Name The Revenge Near Carwar is the Island Angediva Fam'd for the Burial of some Hundreds of our Countreymen Carwar was the Chief Port of Visiapour on this Coast Carwar the Chief Port of Visiapour now in the hands of Seva Gi. but a Grand Traytor to that King Seva Gi is now Master of it and the adjacent Countrey as far as Guzerat having well nigh forced our Factory and done other Outrages on us which would ask our Fleet a longer time to require Satisfaction if they were able than they could stay unless they would lose their Passage round the Cape of Good Hope and content themselves to winter at the Mauritius which all Ships that outstay their time are forced to For the Sun being almost at his Southern Solstice at his return he leaves a sharp Winter which we proved and adverse Winds in those Seas they lying without the Tropick which spurs them on for expedition What this Seva Gi is and the reason of his Usurped Power a longer Duration in the Countrey must declare who is every where named with Terror he carrying all before him like a mighty Torrent The Shore is Hilly and indifferent Woody near it Islets are scattered to and again The People partly Moors The People partly Moors partly Gentues partly Gentues under the King of Visiapour who was till this turbulent Seva Gi drove all into a Commotion a perfect Monarch hardly paying the Mogul Tribute when Duccan and Visiapour were united into one Kingdom Hence it is Hilly up to Guzerat though Gates hold on where the Coasts of Guzerat begin and outstretches them Fifteen Leagues to the Norward of Carwar lies Goa Goa the only place of consequence the Portugals retain of their first Discoveries The City lies up the River out of our sight on Shipboard though we could discern the River to be thwacked with small Craft without the Bar a great Carrack unrigg'd and on both sides the River Magnificent Structures The Soil Fat Level and fit for the Share many Miles together the Hills keeping a wide distance from them About two days after we passed Goa The Portugal Armado a Ship with a Portugal Flâ—g at the Main To-Mast Head weathered our Admiral and after seâ— what we were lay by for a Fleet of six more good Ships one 〈◊〉 and half a dozen Proes being their Northern Armado they fitting out one for the South also the one against the Arabs the other against the Malabars The beginning of December the North West Wind blew bitter cold upon us 〈…〉 and would hardly give the Sun leave to be Master in his own home though a Cloud in the day time ever since the Rains cleared up could hardly vapour betwixt him and the Earth At Nights we had hospitable Lights shewed us from the Shore Light-houses to mark out the Rocks which lye very thick along to intrap the unwary Pilot. In 17 deg Rajapour 20 min. North lies Rajapore a French Factory now formerly English Twenty Miles to the Northward Choul Choul a Fortress of the Portugals lay fair in sight And having the Latitude of 18 deg 40 min. North Bombaim opened its self the Tide being spent we came to an Anchor without the Bay not having our Bearings right and December the Eighth we paid our Homage to the Union-Flag flying on the Fort of Bombaim The BAY Is indented a vast Circumference Bombaim in which it is able to contain 1000 of the best Ships in Europe
to rule in some Place or other for Three Years and upon these they can borrow or take up Mony as certain as upon their Hereditary Estates the next Incumbent being Security for the payment Pursuant to this a new Governour coming to Choul his Honour the President sent to congratulate him and the Admiral of the North coming to Baçein another was sent on the same Message Nor could the hot Months be over before John de Mendos of a Noble Family sent for me to Baçein for the cure of his only Daughter illustriously born handsome and on the point of Marriage with the Admiral of the North though not full Twelve years old Leaving Bombaim A Message to Baçein at this time of the year we could go either within or without but the first being related to be pleasantest I chose that way sailing by Trumbay where we receive Custom we might see a comely Church and Aldâ—â— At Noon we reached Tanaw Having gained our Passage over the Flats we made no stay but rowed streight to Baçein every half Mile we were presented with fresh Prospects of delicate Country-Mansions two of which of special note draw the Eyes of the Beholders one of John de Melos three Mile off Tanaw it standing high curiously built has a Tarras Descent with Walks and Gardens half a Mile till it lead to a spacious Banquetting-house over the Water with Stone-stairs for Landing Beyond it a Mile on the side of an Hill stands Grebondel a large neat built Town of Martin Alphonso's and at top of all his House Fort and Church of as stately Architecture as India can afford he being the Richest Don on this side Goa Here we are Land-locked by the Gut which is fabled to be made by Alexander from which we have an open passage to Baçein it lying bare towards the Sea BACEIN Is incircled with a round Stone-wall The City is round and has a Gate for every Wind it is strong enough against the Indians but not able to endure an European Foe There are upon the Out-walls and in the Fort Forty two great Guns the Fort in the middle of the City is circular towards the Market appears a State-house Piatzed where the Governour convocates the Fidalgos every Morning upon consultation in which they all stand a Chair not being permitted the Governour though Gouty Towards Evening they meet there to Game Within the Walls are six Churches Six Churches within the Walls four Convents two Colleges one of the Jesuits another of the Franciscans It bears the Name of an Academy the Students are instructed in the Jesuits College but live in Town Where is a Library with Classes of Historians Moralists Expositors and no more It is a College of Polite Structure in the Portuco is a Copy of Angelos representing the Resurrection above Stairs as well as below are fine square Cloisters as all their Collegiate Churches have on the sides whereof are their Cells they have a spacious Refectory and a goodly Church three parts of the City is devoted to their use The Fidalgos for few Artisans are tolerated within the Walls have stately Dwellings The Dwellings of the Fidaâ—gos graced with covered Balconies and large Windows two Stories high with Panes of Oister shell which is their usual Glazing among them in India or else Latised They shew their Greatness by their number of Sumbreeroes and Cofferies whereby it is dangerous to walk late for fear of falling into the Hands of those Pilfering Abusive Rascals None but Christians lodge within the City the Banyans repairing to the Suburbs upon Tattoo The City is a Mile and half round it stands on an Island separated by a small Channel from the Main as far off the Island Canorein as Canorein from Bombaim and parted after the like nature The Land about it plain and fruitful of Sugar-Canes Rice and other Grain a great part of which has lately been destroyed by the Arabs of Muschat The Devastations made by the Arabs about Baçein who put them to a sore fright in Baçein and this is done often setting fire to their Villages and carrying away their Fidalgos Prisoners together with their Wives and Families butchering the Padres and robbing the Churches without resistance conceived on a deadly Feud partly out of revenge of the Portugal Cruelties at Muschat but chiefly out of detestation of each other's Religion insomuch that Quarter is denied on either side But that on this Pretence The Portugals striving to possess themselves of Muschat The ground of their Quarrels were put to such stress that had not their Armado come to their relief they must have desisted their Enterprize Upon the arrival whereof the new Recruits gained so much on the Arab Governour that he yielded up the otherwise invincible Fort of Muschat where the Portugals acting all nefarious Outrages contrary to their Promise the Arabs re-armed themselves with Courage and fresh Succors and at length beat them from hence to Ormus in the Gulf of Persia from whence also they were routed by the help of the English we then being at war with them the first blow to their Greatness in these Parts To check these Incursions of the Arabs The Arabs care not to engage the Portugals the Portugals every Year are at the charge of a lusty Squadron in these Seas which were those we met on the Coast returning from thence who were no sooner gone than the Arabs sent their Fleet to do this Mischief here which now 't is done they are again in quest of them but they fly as often as these pursue And if such be the gasping Strength of the Portugals Their last Efforts to terrify the Potentest Enemies to Christianity in these Parts what was their flourishing Estate Whence it may easily be supposed before now all had bowed to the Cross which yet bend under Heathenism or Mahometism had they not been prevented by unhappy Pretenders that I fear too much preferred Merchandize and private Pieques before the welfare of Religion For it is morally probable that had not the Dutch and we interrupted them all might have been Christian in these parts of the World Having in a Week's time compleated my Business Eliphanto another Idolatrous Temple cut out of a solid Rock returning the same way we steered by the South side of the Bay purposely to touch at Eliphanto so called from a monstrous Elephant cut out of the main Rock bearing a Young one on its Back not far from it the Effigies of an Horse stuck up to the Belly in the Earth in the Valley from thence we clambred up the highest Mountain on the Island on whose Summit was a miraculous Piece hewed out of solid Stone It is supported with Forty two Corinthian Pillars being a Square open on all sides but towards the East where stands a Statue with three Heads crowned with strange Hieroglyphicks At the North side in an high Portuco stands an Altar guarded by Giants and immured by
a Grob but we soon made him yield his Prize to engage with us which they did briskly for Two hours striving to board us casting Stink-pots among us which broke without any Execution but so frighted our Rowers that we were forced to be severe to restrain them they plied their Chambers and small Shot and flung Stones flourishing their Targets and Darting Long Lances they were well Manned in a Boat ten times as big as our Barge and at least Sixty fighting Men besides Rowers we had none to manage our small Gun the Gunner running away at Goa after Sluts in Brothels One of the Factors undertaking it was blown up by a Cartrige of Power and squenched his Cloaths a-flame in the Ocean so that they were fully bent to board us but they rising to come in we all this while having sculked under their Targets discharged our Blunderbusses which made them sheer off never to come near us again after which we chased them they flying afore us The Spectators of this Encounter were the Dutch Chief and Governor on the Shore They caress us ashore at Vingula and a Ship of a dozen Guns in the Road by Three we came a-shore with slight Hurts but cried up mightily by the People who are continually infested by these Pirats without any Resistance The Dutch receiv'd us at their Factory very kindly whose House is handsomely seated a Mile up a Shallow River except at Spring Tides when lusty Ships may come up it is built upon Arches Geometrically by the present Chief in the Figure of a Roman T all of Solid Stone it is Trenched with a Square Trench and defended by a Platform of Two Great Guns on every side and Two Great Bulwarks bearing Smaller Guns at the Two Corners of the House the Front is Italian Fashion passing to it over a Draw-Bridge at Night we walked into the Town part of it lately destroyed by the Syddy where was a Buzzar and a neat Choultry of the Dutch's and beyond a Garden watered by a Fresh Stream where we bathed After Supper they treated us with the Dancing Wenches and good Soops of Brandy and Delf's Beer till it was late enough We went next day to the Governor Monuments for Women burnt alive with their dead Husbands who Complimented us highly he is under the Tyrannical Government of Seva Gi where all Barbarous Customs are exercised and here it is permitted the Women not only to burn with their dead Husbands but here are many Monuments raised in honour of them Et certamen habent laethi quae viva sequatur Conjugium pudor est non licuisse mori Ardent victrices flammae pectora praebent Imponuntque suis ora perusta viris A shame 't is not to die they therefore strive Who may be fam'd to follow him alive The Victor burns yields to the Flame her Breast And her burnt Face does on the Husband rest Which Custom if we believe Tertullian is as old as Dido on a generous Account not by constraint as these are mostly said to be Dido profuga in alieno solo ubi regis nuptias ultro aptasse debuerat ne tamen secundas expeteretur maluit è contrario uri quam nubere The Famous Dido driven a Stranger into another Country was courted by the King which one would have thought she should willingly have entertained rather than to refuse a Second Marriage on so hard Terms as to burn her self alive for fear of polluting her self thereby which shews that Virgil in his Account of that Lady killing her self for Aeneas was a Fiction more to his own Credit than hers At Hubly in this Kingdom are a Cast called Linguits who are buried upright whose Wives when they have a mind to accompany their Husbands into another World are set in the same Pit with them covered up to the Shoulders with Mold who after Ceremonies performed have their Necks wrung round and the Pit filled up with Earth immediatly Our Factors having Concerns in the Cargo of the Ships in this Road Return from Vingula to Goa loaded two Grobs and departed I leaving them to prosecute their Voyage I put in at Goa again and in Captain Gary's Baloon rowed round the Island over against Goa where the Industry of the Portugueze Ancestry is worthy of our commendation in securing their Land both from Water and their Enemies by strong Banks and necessary Block-Houses Seva Gi possessing all against it called Norway famous for Curtisans Hence I went to the King's Yard The King's Yard viewed where lay half a Score Galeons fitted for any Expedition in these the Best Fidalgos think it no scorn to go Commanders it being the only thing they can serve their Country in these are they they send out with their Caphalas to convoy them when they return with Corn either from the North or the South when every Cabesso de Squadroon has Two or three Royal Galleys under him that wear the Arms of Portugal in their Ancients only and the Admirante Vice Admirante and Captain-Major wear the King's Flag aloft as well as a Stern The best of these carry no more than Eight or Ten Small Pieces and the rest fewer over all these there is a Generalissimo both by Sea and Land who is John Corea de Saw Incited daily by New Wonders The Industry of the Portugal Ancestry I intended to inviron the Island of Goa which is circled by High and Strong Walls with Flankiers on every winding of the River besides Four or Five lusty Block-Houses commanding the whole Work a thing of vast Compass and Expence striking through the heart of the Island which is altogether near Thirty Miles in Circumference the Wall parting it in the half We passed as far as to the Fort of St. Lawrence which is placed conveniently to command the Mouth of the River from Marmagoun Bay we endeavoured farther but Wind and Tide prevented us wherefore thinking it more facile to enterprise it on the other side we deferred it till another day All the Land about Goa is divided into Islets it lying in the heart of them Whereupon the next day that lay fair for our Design we came over the Bar and sailed with a favourable Wind into Marmagoun Bay on the right part of it were many pretty Caves or small Bays in one of whom rode near twenty Grobs loaden with Cocoe-Nuts Cair Salt and Salt Fish Beyond it half a League an Islet of Emanuel Lobos fortified and maintained in despight of the State till lately reconciled From hence we parted to Old Goa on the main Island of Goa A well weighed choice of an Harbour which with its various Creeks and Bays makes up the left side or Cod of the Bay pointing out in the middle of Nos Segnior de Cabo it lying short between Marmagoun and the Agoada which makes the Mouth of the Bay to be reckoned from the Head-lands or Out-guards some Three Leagues over and Nos Segnior de Cabo a
View it is much frequented by Merchants over the Deserts and no less by those from Mocha in the Red Sea and by the way of Grand Cairo it vends all Drugs and Arab Steeds and pays Gold for Indian Commodities Here they keep safe those Ships they steal or purchase for Wood no Timber growing here They are a Fierce Treacherous People gaining as much by Fraud as Merchandize The Matchless Outrages Breach of Faith the Loss of Muschat after Faith plighted committed in that Place by the Portugals was not only the Occasion of their being quite beaten out thence but of an eternal and irreconcilable Quarrel between them For where Religion backed with the greatest Interest strives for the Prize I know not whether is most concerned to gain a Conquest or to perpetrate Barbarities the common Event of such a War where to kill their Fellow-Creatures is esteemed a service to the Creator And thus it proved here For while that bold Nation persisted in its Discoveries Navigation perfecting their Geography they began to enquire into the course of Profit as well as their Ships way and found that all their Inland Trade tended to this Sinus and the Red Sea wherefore they bent themselves to be Masters of their Keys that unlocked the World's Treasures for which Muschat is very commodious of which becoming Possessors had not a too hot Zeal thrust them on they might to this day have enjoyed it with a just Commendation due to their Industry but sacrificing to Lust and Rapin what should have been to the Glory of God and True Religion which is Pure as well as Peaceable they soon were driven out thence to Ormus where we shall conclude what belongs to this Story In the mean time we had gained the Tropick of Cancer Enter the Streights of the Persian Gulf. the very day the Sun had gained the Aequinox when the North-West Winds envied our entry into the Gulf and drove us out for Sea-room on the Persian Coast nearer the Shoars of Sinda so that we spent a Week in tossing up and down and striving against a mighty Stream before we reached Muschat again but then the Winds were spent we calmly passed by some Islands in the Gulf and a South Wind gently blowing we stemmed the furious Current till we could see on each side Land from Persia and Arabia on the one side St. Jaques his Head-land on the other that of Mussendown appeared and afore Sun-set we entred the Streights Mouth not above a League wide It lies in Thirty six Degrees North Latitude a Mile within its Neck on a row are Four or Five Rocks or Islets by Mariners called the Coines from the resemblance of those Leavers of the same Name wherewith they raise or lower the Breeches of their Guns About Midnight we were between Ormus and Larack Forty four Miles from the entry of the Streights the biggest not above Four Mile in Length the lesser is Ormus great indeed for Name in time of yore now only famous for its Clifts of Salt which though pierced by extream Heat yet are a cure for the most burning Fever the only known Remedy for such cases in this Climate and the Castle built by the Portugals the chief strength of all these Seas Passing both these Islands we made Kismash and leaving it a-stern we turned off short to the Port of Gombroon or Bunder Abassee in which Road we found Two lusty Dutch Ships Two great ones of the Moors and One small one from Bombaim it is good Riding for Ships in this Harbour though an open Road by reason of the firm Anchor-hold it is otherwise subject to hot Blasts from the adjacent Hills which move the rowling Sands between in such sort that in the station near the shoar when these are raised to Clouds the Ships cannot be seen The 22d of March in the Forenoon we were wafted ashoar just to the English Factory Wafted ashoat at Gombroon the Sea washing the very Sand afore its Doors upon our Landing we were Welcomed with a Civility more essential to the Temper of the People than what could proceed from any Demerits of ours for they are naturally the most Courtly of the East So strange an alteration in Three hundred Leagues as passes admiration for whereas we left a Sullen Melancholy Sunburnt Nation an Open Jovial and a Clear Complexioned Race of Mankind is offered in exchange The House the English reside in was formerly a Caravan Seraw and built after the best manner with upper and lower Piazzo's flat atop with a stately Portal where every Morning the Servants belonging to it make a profound Reverence and the Puritannical Banyan will Kiss the Threshold Adoring that for his God that brings him most Profit though pretended to be done out of respect to their Masters It bears St. George his Banner at one Corner as do the Dutch and French their Flags between whose Factories it is seated Ours was the Emperor's Gift both theirs purchased the first Beautified and Strengthened with good Stone Building all the rest but the Caun's being most of Mud and Stone the usual Materials for Building in this Town without either Lime or Mortar The Structures are all plain atop The Structures only Ventoso's or Funnels for to let in the Air the only thing requisite to living in this fiery Furnace with any comfort wherefore no House is left without this contrivance which shews gracefully at a distance on Board Ship and makes the Town appear delightful enough to Beholders giving at once a pleasing Spectacle to Strangers and kind Refreshment to the Inhabitants for they are not only elegantly Adorned without but conveniently Adapted for every Apartment to receive the cool Wind within The Streets are generally Narrow especially where Merchandise are exposed to Sale the better to receive the advantages of Umbrello's extended from side to side to keep the Sun's violence from their Customers It reaches more than a Mile along the shoar has Three Block-houses and one old Castle dismantled the other stored with Guns the Portugals left behind them The Governor's Palace fronts the Sea and is a stately Mansion a Mile from the same is a Garden as good as can be imagined in this sandy Desart whither the Merchants as well as the Caun resort to Feast or upon any publick Solemnity go in Cavalcade for the more pompous observation thereof The Shawbunder has his Grandeur too The Custom properly belongs Half to the English as well as receipt of Custom for which he pays the King yearly Twenty two thousand Thomands every Thomand making Three pound and a Noble in our Accompt Half which we have a Right to were our Company as good as their words the Persians having not failed in theirs before the defection on the part of the English which I reserve for a more proper place the Agent sitting content only with one Thousand Thomands paid out of the Customs yearly and the Custom free of all the Agent
grievous to Mankind I am J. F. The 25th Jan. our Ships setting sail then from Swally-Hole 1680-81 Yours LETTER VIII CHAP. I. Concludes with my Return to ENGLAND SIR LEaving the Affairs of India in the posture I have acquainted you Let. VIII I begin to think of returning to my Native Soil the Fleet here being ready to set Sail for England The Success Captain Cooly Commander Massenberg Captain Gladock Josiah Captain Owen At the same time Mr. Set Sall for England Rolt the late President took his Passage in the Josiah The Second of India Mr. Chamberlane in the Success as I took mine in the Massenberg Mr. John Child being removed from the Government of Bombaim to the Presidency which was the 19th of January in the Year 1681-82 Till the Twelfth of February we directed a Southern Course when about Two in the Morning the Moon suffered an Eclipse and in half an hours time was almost totally hid which endured till Four in the Morning In Four or Five days after about the Seventh Degree of North Latitude we met the Sun coming towards the North and passed him to the Southward when he often raised Vapours from the Sea to thicken the Air and obscure his Face which were as often poured down upon us we having here uncertain Weather sometime wet sometime calm though most an end according to Varenius's Position the Winds hold Easterly from the First of January till the End of July as far as Ascension and then turn Westerly We met hereabouts with a Tree bestuck with Sea-Shells which made us lie by a-nights for fear of the Chango's And now dreadful Thunders cause the Sea to tremble A Young Man lost Over-Board and Lightnings fly through the Heavens in frightful Flashes by reason of these alterations we went but slowly being but Ten Degrees Southward of the Sun on the First of March when a Southâ—East Wind favoured us with which sailing fortunately enoughâ—â— we were damped by a Mischance on one of our Young mâ—â— who going up the Shrowds to loose the Top-Gallons by the uâ— advised letting go of some Bowling was hoisted into the Main aâ—d perished the Ship having fresh Way and the Boats lying on Board they threw over several Planks and Vessels but he made no sign of contending with the Waves or Motion to save himself Wherefore it was judged he had his bane against the Ships side or some Gun in his Fall before ever he came at the Water and in this hurry we were presently carried out of sight so that he was left for desperate and given over as lost Before the Tenth of this Month We Sail on the Backside of S. Lawrence St. Brandon an Island on the East and Diego Rais to the South were passed by as also St. Maurice kept lately by the Dutch for no other end but to prevent others setling there as Mascarenas not far from it by the French for the same reason The day after the Sun was possessed of the Aequinoâ— we made the Tropick of Capricorn from whence the Platonists feign the Souls descend upon the Earth but more truly it declared that we drew near the Coasts of Africa for having hitherto measured a Southern Way almost directly we now incline towards the West having not more Meridional distance from Joanna than Nine Degrees but now we begin to bend our Course Westward which we should do in a strait Line were it not for St. Lawrence the outside whereof our Navigators always pass by homeward bound it lying Twelve Degrees South to Six and Twenty and an half which we suppose to be Three hundred Leagues West of us though here being a strong Current to the West itmakes our Judgment very unsteady however to make the Cape it is necessary to elevate our Longitude more than our Latitude which we did till we had made Fourteen Degrees West from our supposed Meridian of Joanna whereby we reckon our selves clear of the Island Madagascar or as the Portugals call it St. Lawrence when the East Wind failed us and the West blew hard upon us contrary to the assertion of the forementioned Author the Winds as we formerly Noted beyond the Tropicks being unaccountable for that they observe no Rule and hereupon it happened we were so long beating about the Cape and had been much longer had we not made for the Shore which we did about the middle of April when it is high Winter in these parts wherein we tried all Weathers the worst of which were Calms according to our English saying Worse is a Winters Calm By far than Summers Storm Which we suffered till we got under the Shore We Weather the Cape of Good Hope whence we were assisted with fine Briezes we falling first in with Cape d' Aguthas the low Land being bare and naked the high Land a Ridge of Mountains only gaping in one place from which the Portugals gave it the name d' Agutha or of the Needles Fifteen Miles Northward of it lies the Promontory called Cape Falso which we weathered in the Morning and afore Night did the like to the Cape of Good Hope which in respect of the Heavenly Position is 34 Degrees and a half South Latitude Longitude 47 in a strait Line from Joanna 1800 Leagues The Marks of this Promontory are agreeable to Sellier's Atlas It is inhabited by a Barbarous People called Hottentots As Nature designed their Looks deformed so they are untractable in Manners and harsh in their Voice these wind the Guts of Beasts Excrements all about their Necks both for Food and Ornament consenting to what Job Ludolphus Author of the Ethiopick Lexicon relates of the Abassinians under which Government if any they have this Region must be comprehended who says they prefer the Meat digested in the Maws of Beasts before the best Sallads supposing those Animals better at distinguishing the good Plants from bad than Men. Here in Soldania Bay the Dutch have a strong Fort for the same purpose we keep St. Helena to refresh and water our Fleet on their return home but these touch here both going and coming whereas ours put in at Joanna in their Voyage to India In these Seas are the Sea-Calves and Sun-Fishes the Nights are very cold and the Days are shortned near Two hours The end of April we lost sight of the high Tops of these Hills Land on St. Helena and in thirty and two Degrees South met with the stated South-east Winds when we left the Cape-Birds behind us daily depressing our Southern Latitude directing our Course full North-west being too often retarded by frequent Calms and sometimes contrary Winds a thing not known between the Tropicks till at last we made seventeen Degrees South when we altered our North Course to the West only for fear of out-sailing St. Helena which is a thing full of hazard and difficulty since the Season proved Cloudy though not Rainy yet often so Dewy that it wetted to the skin the supputation of
the Longitude on which we depend being no less obscure than fallible Besides the Island its self is but a small Rock in the middle of the Main Ocean which cannot be seen far unless in a clear Day but by the Grace of God the 19th of May it lay fair before our eyes like a little Cloud by eight in the Morning from whence are small White Birds floating sometimes on the Sea at other times taking their flight to and from the Island which they stir not far from It is very high Land and may be discerned twenty Leagues off at Sea wherefore we gained not the Harbour till Ten at Night where we silently let go our Anchor neither we nor the Fort saluting one another till next Morning When going ashore the Guns roared and the Governor Mr. John Blackmore received us on the Beech which was stony and troublesome ascending we passed through Rows of Soldiers called to their Arms on this occasion into a Valley surrounded with high Mountains except towards the Sea where stood the Fort and Platform for the great Cannon which reach farther than there is any Anchor-hold so that no Ships can come in or endure their Force without their Leave Notwithstanding which it is yet fresh in memory that the Dutch landing on the backside of the Island gained the Tops of the Hills and invading the Island drove the English from their Fort for all they had two Ships in the Road at the same time which did no farther service than carry off the Inhabitants leaving the Dutch 〈◊〉 Possession till Captain Munday by the King's Command was sent out to retake it that very Year we came out for India which was the very Fleet that set out with us and bore us company to St. Iago which the said Captain retook also by Surprize and added to his good fortune the seizing of Four of their East-India Ships richly laden which after he had left sufficient Strength upon the Island he brought as Trophies of his Victory into England The Island thus reduced The story of the Island and Islanders was governed immediately by the Royal Commission till at the Importunity of the Company his Majesty reinstated the former Colony planted by the Honourable Company and restored them to their first Possessions advising them to be more cautious for the future It is seated in Sixteen Degrees South in the vast Atlantick Ocean distant from Cape Bon Esperanzo Six hundred Leagues placed opportunely for the English in their return to Europe from the East Indies both for Wood Water and fresh Provisions which are comfortable Refreshments these long Voyages those Ships that miss it being in an ill state ready to be eaten up with the Scurvy and most an end make for Barbados in their distress which makes the Company to be at some expence for this benefit supplying them with English Beeves Cows Hogs Turkies Ducks Geese and all manner of Pullen with Tools for Husbandry and a constant Guard of Soldiers The Portugals first found it out as is said by an unhappy Accident one of their great Carracks being cast away here or not able to proceed farther they drew on shore her weather-beaten sides and all the Armory and Tacklin Building with the Timber a Chappel in this Valley from thence called Chappel-Valley and stocked it with Goats Asses Hogs and other Cattel lest any other time they should be under the same misfortune but as their Credit fell in these parts they grew more careless of Futurity and long since deserted it that it became free to the next comer to make his own and now by the Industry of the English it is much improved yielding partly by the goodness of the Soil and the care of the Husbandmen all things necessary for human subsistence to its own Inhabitants and to spare good Cheap to such as need Yet to whet their Diligence and Labour here is a mischievous Virmin sorely vexatious to them which are Wild Rats which infest all their Grounds whereby they can have no Bread-Corn they destroying it all instead whereof they have a large Root very biting when it is Raw so that they will not touch it but being Boiâ—ed it is both nourishing and pleasing and of this they make an intoxicating Liquor called Mobby the Indian Name of this Root is Yaum â—â—t is very troublesome clambering these Hills yet to acquaint my 〈◊〉 with the Country delights I assayed it at top it is something â—â—ener where were many Rural Seats of the Planters Cows grazing Goats seeding their Cottages placed near Rivulets whose next Downfal hurried them into the Sea from these advanced places we discovered Two Sail making in hither which is noticed by the Firing of so many Guns and hoisting of the Flag who proved to be 〈◊〉 Josiah being an heavy Sailer we lost Company about the Cape where keeping off at Sea the Golden Fleece came up with it upon the Hills the Air makes a great difference from the Vallies it being purer above and something harsh by reason of the constant Easterly Blasts which is not so kind to the Fruits on the Mountains as in the Dales The course taken to People the Island is this they indent either as Servants or Soldiers for Five Years with the Company at the expiration of which Term they are free either to go or stay if they stay they have liberty to chuse Twenty Acres of Ground unoccupied as their own proper Portion on which they live and maintain themselves and Families of which Islanders there may be Four hundred English reckoning Men Women and Children A Week being spent Of Ascension and Catching of Tortoises the Success and we coming in first set Sail for Ascension another meer Wart in the Sea being a Barren Rock destitute of all manner of Natures Stores it being an Horrid place without any green thing Plant or Water a meer Cinâ—ercake burnt by the Sun and incrusted by the filth and slime of the Sea-Fowl who both Nest and Roost here Here is no covering or shade from the Heavens more than the Holes or Tops of Rocks no Turf nor Grass but all is scorched by the Sun's heat and here I approve rather than consent to the general Opinion of its having been once a Vulcano or Island of Fire but since no such matters appear for such a subject I shall deem it Fabulous since it would be altogether strange had it e'er been so that no Footsteps of Bitumen Sulphur or Combustible substance should remain which most an end flow from an unexhausted Fountain bred as fast as the Fire can feed upon it otherwise those ancient Fiery Mountains in Italy and elsewhere had many Ages since been consumed and we might have admired them as Poets Fictions handed by Tradition but not have had ocular Demonstration to convince the incredulous Besides the continual confluence of Flocks of Water-Fowl declare they never feared Smoak or Fire here they having paved or pargetted the whole Rock with their Filth
Bill of Divorce 382 Talman a Priest 368 Tambole a Tabret 160 Tank a Pond or Cistern 27 Tarr a Coin 55 Teke the Indian Oak 142 Telinga a Speech 33 Terrhenos Land-Breezes 2â— Theatini an Ecclesiastical Order 151 Thamarind a Tree 16 Thomand an imaginary Coin 2â—â— Tindal a Boatswain â—07 Tocta a Throne 139 Tody Cocoe Wine 53 76 Token Cyr a Cypresâ—-Tree 247 Tomasia a Shew 15â— Topangee a Gunner 359 Topazes Musketeers 66 Topes Groves or places of Trees 41 Tornados Storms 10 Toss a Drinking Cup 131 398 Tropick an imaginary Circle in the Heavens Page 4 Tulse Calaminth 199 Turbat an Head-dress for Men 18 Tuthinag a Metal 86 V. Proper Names VAsquez de Gamez 62 Vangu Gi 171 Names of Places Vagarsiabat 272 Valentine ' s Peak 88 Udgewally 245 Venice 55 249 380 C. Verd 5 Verulee 67 Vingula 151 152 Virginia 3 Visiapour 58 148 165 Uncliseer 411 Urchin 259 Usbeque 167 332 373 Names of Things Ventosoes Funnels 222 Ventosoes Cupping-Horns or Glasses 114 Visier the Prime Minister of State Umbrello a Shade 222 Vocanovice a Publick Notary 80 140 Vockeel a Factor 115 Vortobeed a Monk 270 W. Proper Names WOden 402 Names of Places Wesnure 141 X. Proper Names St. XAvierus Page 150 Nameâ— of Things Xeriphan an High-Priest 95 Xeriphin a Coin 150 Y. Names of Things YAum a Root 104 Yaupengee a Felt 234 Yogdans Chests for Provisions 398 Z. Proper Names ZAmerhin the Pope of Calicut 51 Zimorat Epicurus 362 Names of Places Zergoon â—25 Zermaw 2â— Zevan 2â— Names of Things Zenith 36 76 Zodiac 187 Zone 19 A TABLE of some Principal Things herein contained neither reducible to the Index Explanatory nor the Contents A. ABASSINES and their Emperor Page 315 Abdul Caun outwitted by Seva Gi 171 Absolute Authority circumscribed by no Sanction 249 Adventures of the Portugals taught us to bring the Eastern Commodities home by Sea 55 Aegyptians given to Hieroglyphicks expressing the Year by the Palm-tree 232 Affronts not pardoned 156 Agent of Persia his Character and Emolument 223. He waits to appear before the Suffee 315 Agility of the Indian Women 31 Air and Climate what Influence 346 Air the chiefest Commodity in hot Countries 222 〈◊〉 that is thick tarnishes a thin Air 〈◊〉 â—reeds no Soil 306. Open Air not so healthy for Men as Beasts 234 Air infectious at Gombroon 227 229 Alah Adul Caun bruited to be begotten by an Elephant-keeper 169 Alcoran a Legend of Lies 372 Alexander in all probabilitâ— had been stopt in his Career of Victory had not a Persian Rustick discovered to him the Pylae Persicâ— 2â—4 Alexander's Army followed the Course of Indus 72 Alexander whether he ever conquered Porus 185 Aligators Amphibious Creatures 118 Almond-Tree Wandâ— worn by the best men in Persia 242 Alteration of Humours between Indian 〈◊〉 Persian 221 Ambition knows no mean 168 Amphisbena c. Serpents observe Musick 35 Ants and Muscetoes how remedied 35 Antilopes taken only by a Decoy 45 Hunted by Leopards 111 Guardian Angels saluted 93 Ancestry of Portugals commended 153 Animals not void of Reason 76 Antiquaries esteem things moth-eaten by Time 54 Sir Anthony Shirley 100 256 Apostacy grounded on a trivial piece of Pageantry 289 Apostates despised 138 Arms take place of the Gown 360 Arabs fly as oft as pursued 215. Are true Rovers both by Sea and Land 119. Are fierce and treacherous gain more by Fraud than Merchandise 220 Armenians use Amulets against Witchcraft 276. Are to appear in the Royal City as Merchants 268. Converted to Christianity by St. Bartholomew 270. Are most Jacobites 273. Move their Turbats as we our Hats 31 Aristocracy countenanced on the Coast of Malabar 51 Army every New Moon refresh the Officers of their Pay 139. The Cheats in the Army 140. Armies make the Indians miserable by their Devastations 142 Art of painting Calicoes most perfected at Mechlapatan 31 Arts that are profitable more in vogue than Liberal Sciences 191 Articles betwixt the Persians and English 222 Asae the Companions of Woden what relation to the Gabers or Old Persians 267 Astrolabe supplies the defect of the Quadrant when the Sun is perpendicular 11 Astrology eluded by two Examples 373 Asdrubal Hannibal's Brother Inventer of the Graver to govern Elephants 118 Author of the Goa-Stones a Florentine Apothecary 150 Aureng-Zeeb conquers Duccan Page 166 Austerities of the Pagans outdo the Papists 102 Awe teaches People to understand themselves 197 Aucto de Fie 155 Azimuth Compass corrects the common Chart and gives the Sun's Amplitude 11 B. BAlance all things in Persia 406 Baker offending thrown into his own hot Oven 339 Banyan Tree adored by the Heathens despighted by the Moors 16 17 Banyans offer to Neptune 77. Dare not kill a Flea 82. They present the Governor to keep a Mart at Swally 83. Worse Brokers than Jews Ib. Banyans whether Rechabites Ib. Servile and sneakingly officious 139. They affect not stately Buildings Besprinkle themselves with the Stale of a Cow Live sordidly Hold Transmigration 92. Banyans Largess to Beasts at their Funerals 101. Implacable in their Revenge 112. Banyan though despicable intrusted with Thousands 113. A base sort of People full of Tricks Hypocrisy and Cheats 113. Boggle at no Villany for an Emolument 192. Adore that for their God which brings them most Profit 222. Banyans in Persia not so strict Pythagoreans as in India 224. Pay 350 Thomands to excuse Beeves from the Shambles 225 Barter for clean Linnen Rags at St. Iago 7 Bashfulness unfits Women for Conversation 157 Bassa of Bussorah and his Son's Heads set on the Walls of Visiapour 164 Bassa of Bussorah protected by the Mogul 113 Beads common to Moor-men as well as Gentues to tell their Prayers 102 Behaviour of the common People rude at Church 151 Beggars discouraged in Persia 406 Beggars of the Musslemen stand on Punctilio's with God 91 Benefaction voided by â—ordid Gain 237 Benefit of the Balneos 306. Best go first 296 Bezoar-stones bred in several Creatures 238. It s Account 212 Cape-Birds and Water-Snakes presage tâ—e approach to Land Page 48 Birds fall down as they fly by reason of Heat 35 Fighting Bishops 146 Blood of the Persians how puddled 382 Bodies when dead washed and apparell'd as alive 282 Bombaim capable of securing 1000 Ships against Weather 61 Bombaim part of Q. Katherine's Dowry and would be of great Import were it transferr'd according to Contract 62 Boats housed in the Winter 55 Boat-men dive 9 or 10 Minutes 148 Books adorn'd with Gold c. in the Margin 361 Bonds how firmed 384 Bows of Horn unserviceable in Wet Weather 99 Bounty to the Brachmins 78 80 101 Breaking out in Botches a sign of a prevailing Crasis 35 Breezes from the Land 12 hours as many from the Sea 23 Bride veil'd with a Saffron-colour'd Veil 279 Bridegroom eats not till his Father-in-Law produces a Bag of Gold 278 Bury North and South among the Moors 94. Never bury in Mosques Ib. Bulls Elephants and Tygres intrapp'd 56 Bullul