the same as an infallible law which groweth vpon this occasion A long time since there was in China a great mightie familie which together with all their friends and acquaintance secretly conspired and agréed to ryse vp against the King of China to driue him out of his kingdome and to kill him and hauing so done to place themselues therein but it could not so secretly be contriued and wrought but in the end it was knowne whereupon the king punished them most gréeuously and caused diuers of the principall conspirators to be put to death and all others he found to be consenting therunto should haue felt the like paine which gréeued the Counsell and other Noble men of the countrie for that diuers of their néerest kinsmen were of that conspiracie so that with humble and long petition to the King they besought him to let them liue and to punish them with some easier punishment then death but that which they sought desired at the king all things considered was little better then death which was that he would banish them and all their posteritie for euer out of the countrie into the Ilands of Iapen which as then were not inhabited and this as they desired was done whereby there is so great enuie and hatred betwéene them and the men of China that they hate each other to the death and doe all the mischief one vnto the other that they can imagine or deuise euen vntill this time The men of Iapen haue done much mischief vnto the men of China and many times fallen vpon their coasts and put all to fire and sword and now at this present haue not any conuersation with them but onely they trafficke with the Portingales and to shewe themselues whollie their deadlie enemies in all their actions they are cleane contrary vnto the men of China and to the same end haue changed all their customes ceremonies and manners of curtesie from the men of China To recite the particulars would be ouer long yet I will in briefe set down some fewe examples of the customes and manners therein One is where the China vseth the curtesie of salutation to a man with the head and hand wheÌ„ they méet together the Iapens to the contrarie put off their shoes whereby they shewe them reuerence and as the Chinaes stand vp when they minde to receyue any man and to doe him reuerence they to the contrarie set themselues down accounting it a verie vnséemely thing to receyue or bid a man welcome standing on their féet and as we put on our clokes when we meane to goe abroad into the towne or countrie they put them off when they goe forth putting on great wyde bréeches and coming home they put them off again and cast their clokes vpon their shoulders and as among other nations it is a good sight to see men with white and yealow hayre and white teeth with them it is estéemed the filthiest thing in the world and séeke by all meanes they may to make their hayre and téeth blacke for that the white causeth their grief and the blacke maketh them glad The like custome is among the women for as they goe abroad they haue their daughters maydes before them and their men seruants come behind which in Spaigne is cleane contrarie and when they are great with childe they tye their girdles so hard about them that men would thinke they shuld burst and when they are not with Childe they weare their girdles so slacke that you would thinke they would fall from their bodies saying that by experience they do finde if they should not doe so they should haue euill lucke with their fruict and presently as soone as they are deliuered of their children in stéed of cherishing both the mother and the child with some comfortable meat they presently wash the childe in cold water and for a time giue the mother very little to eate and that of no great substance Their manner of eating and drinking is Euerie man hath a table alone without table clothes or napkins and eateth with two peeces of wood like the men of China they drinke wine of Rice wherewith they drink themselues drunke and after their meat they vse a certaine drinke which is a pot with hote water which they drinke as hote as euer they may indure whether it be Winter or Summer The Turkes holde almost the same maÌ„ner of drinking of their Chaona which they make of certaine fruit which is like vnto the Bakelaer and by the Egyptians called Bon or Ban they take of this fruite one pound and a half and roast them a little in the fire and then sieth them in twentie poundes of water till the half be consumed away this drinke they take euerie morning fasting in their chambers â—ut of an eâ—rthen pot being verie hote as we doe here drinke aquacomposita in the morning and they say that it strengtheneth and maketh them warme breaketh wind and openeth any stopping The manner of dressing their meat is altogether contrarie vnto other nations the aforesaid warme water is made with the powder of a certaine hearbe called Chaa which is much estéemed and is well accounted of among them and al such as are of any countenance or habilitie haue the said water kept for them in a secret place and the gentlemen make it themselues and when they will entertaine any of their friends they giue him some of that warme water to drinke for the pots wherein they sieth it and wherein the hearbe is kept with the earthen cups which they drinke it in they esteeme as much of them as we doe of Diamants Rubies and other precious stones and they are not esteemed for their newnes but for their oldnes and for that they were made by a good workman and to know and kéepe such by themselues they take great and speciall care as also of such as are the valewers of them and are skilfull in them as with vs the goldsmith priseth and valueth siluer and gold and the Iewellers all kindes of precious stones so if their pots cuppes be of an old excelleÌ„t workmaÌ„s making they are worth 4 or 5 thousaÌ„d ducats or more the peece The King of Bungo did giue for such a pot hauing thrée feet 14 thousand ducats and a Iapan being a Christian in the town of Sacay gaue for such a pot 1400 ducats and yet it had 3 peeces vpon it They doe likewise estéeme much of any picture or table wherein is painted a blacke trée or a blacke bird and when they knowe it is made of wood and by an ancient cuÌ„ning maister they giue whatsoeuer you will aske for it It happeneth some times that such a picture is sold for 3 or 4 thousand ducats and more They also estéeme much of a good rapier made by an old and cunning maister such a one many times costeth 3 or 4 thousand Crowns the péece These things doe they kéeepe and estéeme for their Iewels as
blacke sauing the first outmost huske is white and smooth without any wrinckle but hath the verie self same vertue and taste that black pepper hath It cometh oftentimes mingled with the Malacca pepper The pepper that groweth in the countries about Malacca is many times also brought into Portingal but verie little for that it is 2 yeares betweene euery ship that sayleth out of Portingale thither which being there taketh in some pepper but most Cloues and Nutmegges with their flowers and other marchandises of China But the most part of that pepper is vsed in the same countries as in Pegu Syon specially in China and other countries bordering on the same which deal continually one with an other Pepper by the Malabares is called Molanga and in the countries by Malacca Lada in Arabia Filâ—il the Gusarates of Cambaia and Decamins of Ballagate cal it Meriche and they of Bengala Moroâ—s and the long pepper which groweth onely in BeÌ„gâ—la and Iaua is called Pelcâ—m Pepper groweth and is planted at the foote of an other trée and most part at the foote of the trée called Arecca or some such like trée groweth vpon the tree like Bettele or Iue The leaues of pepper are like Orange leaues but somewhat smaller they are green and sharp at the ends in the chawing it biteth the tong and tasteth much like to Bettele it growes in bunshes like grapes but a great deale lesser and thynner yet somewhat thicker then Gooseberries they are alwaies green til they begin to drie and to ripen which is in DeceÌ„ber and Ianuary for at that time they are gathered The long pepper groweth in Bengala and some in the Iland of Iaua and is an other kinde of trée the long pepper is of the length of a néedle or the tagge of a point but somewhat thicker and all of a like thicknes it is outwardly rugged and of an ashie colour and within somewhat white with small seedes but in taste and vse it is like the other black and white pepper The white pepper as I sayd is like the black both in taste and forme yet it is accounted for better stroÌ„ger and is not in so great quantitie as the black The Pepper called Canariins in the countrie of Goa and Malabar almost of the fashion of Panike it is of an ashe colour and holow within with some smal kernels which in eating tasteth and heateth like other pepper yet it is vsed onely by the poore people and therefore is called Canariin pepper that is to say Countrie mens pepper or poore peoples pepper therefore it is neuer laden away for it is verie course and of little value neither would it be able to rayse the fraight and therfore is it left in the countrie The other pepper is in India and all other Eastern countries much vsed and spent by the Indians themselues and that in greater quantitie then yearelie is carried or laden from thence for other places for they eate not any kinde of meate but they put therein handfuls of pepper al vnbeaten so that they waste the more In the description of Malabar I haue set downe in what places pepper doth grow and is coÌ„monlie laden and the hauens where the Portingall shippes doe come and fetch it therefore it néedeth not here to be rehearsed pepper is likewise much vsed wheÌ„ it is green to be put in pots with vineger and salt and so is kept a long time and in the same manner carryed into Portingal but it is most vsed in that sort to be eaten in India and is called pepper in Achar in which manner they vse to dresse all other sorts of spices in India and eate it commonlie to procure an appetite as we doe Capars Oliues and Lemons being pickled Pepper is vsed in the kitchen and in Apothecaries shoppeâ— although in both places not as a meate or food but for physicke it warmeth the mawe and consumeth the cold slymenes thereof to ease the payne in the mawe which proceedeth of rawnesse and wind It is good to eate fyue pepper cornes euerie morning He that hath a bad or thick sight let him vse pepper cornes with annis â—ennel seed and Cloues for thereby the mystinesse of the eyes which darken the sight is cleered and driueÌ„ away The Apotheâ—ries make a confection of 3. sorts oâ— peppeâ— in this sort of whâ—te blacke and â—ong Pepper of each 25 draÌ„mes wilde tyme ginger â—nis seed of each an ouâ—ce with honnie is much as needeth to make a conâ—eâ— which is good for such as haue a cold 〈◊〉 the Nucken the paine in the liuer and the Dropsie The 63. Chapter Of Cinamom CInamon in Latin is called Cinamoâ— by the Arabians Quirsa by the Persians Daâ—china by the men of Seylon where it most groweth Curdo of the people of Malacca Caysman and by the Malabares Camea the trees are as great as Oliue trees and some lesser with leaues of Colmi like Baye leaues but of fashion like Citron leaues though somewhat smaller They haue white blossomes and a certaine fruite of the greatnes of black Portingall Oliues whereof also Oyle is made which is vsed for manie thinges The tree hath two barkes but the second bark is the Cinamon it is cut off in foure square péeces and so laid to dry at the first it is ashe colour after as it beginneth to dry it roulleth together of it self and looketh of the colour as it commeth hether which procéedeth of the heate of the Sunne The trée from whence the barke is taken they let it stand within 3 yeres after it hath an other barke as it had before These trees are in great abundance for they grow of themselues without planting in the open fields like bushes the roote of this tree yeeldeth a water which smelleth like Camphora it is forbidden to be drawn forth for spoyling the trees The Cinamon that is not wel dried is of ashe colour that which is ouer much dryed blackish but the best dryed is reddish there is much and excellent water distilled out of CinamoÌ„ while it is half gréen which is much vsed in India manie times caryed into Portingal and other places it is very pleasant both to drinke and to smell but very hote and strong it is vsed against the Colicke and other diseases procéeding of cold it is likewise good against a stincking breath and euill sauor of the mouth There is likewise a water made of the blossomes of this tree but not so good nor so well esteemed as that of Cinamon it self The places where Cinamon groweth is most and best in the IlaÌ„d of Seylon wherin there is whole woods full of Cinamon trees in the coast of Malabar there groweth likewise great store and some woods of Cinamon but not half so good and lesser trees the barke being grayer and thicker and of smal vertue The Cinamon of the Iland of Seylon is the best and finest and is at the least three times dearer in the price The
and do ouerflow more then they are in the furder and very drie countries for in Egypt not accounting Alexandria with the places bordering on the same where it neuer raineth it is holden for a verie strange wonderful thing how the riuer Niâ— should grâ—w so high ful of thicke muddie water and alwaies at one time of the yeare not fayling therein thereby refreshing the earth and giuing foode both to man and beast whereby the ancient inhabitants of those countries did vse to offer sacrifices vnto that Riuer calling it as Ptolomeus in his fourth booke rehearseth a good Spirit and yet at this day many Christians esteeme it for a miracle for that without the increase thereof they would die for hunger their liues â—as Iohn Chrisostome sayth consisteth of the increasing of the waters so then the Northwest winds that in our summer time which is their winter blow in our countries are the meanes in those countries to gather cloudes and moystures vpon the high hilles from whence their raine proceedeth which raine is the cause that their countrey is not so colde as ours ingendering in those hot countries a certaine kinde of warme water Those raines then are likewise the cause of the growing ouerflowing of the riuer Niâ—us and other riuers in those countries wherof the inhabitants haue deuised and written to many fables But in their summer which is our winter there bloweth contrary windes as south and southeast which without al doubt are cold as blowing from the contrarie part of the Pole Antarctike and coole those countries as our winds do here in these countries like as with theÌ„ they cause a faire cleare aire so with vs they cause great store of raines by a certain natural disposition of the heauens the climates ruled and gouerned by the high wisedom of God that hath diuided the heauens ordained the course of the sun and other planets in such maner that al parts of the earth by their light brightnes are filled with warmth and coldnes therein do continue with great proportion and equalitie so that for certain if the freshnesse and coldnes of those winds did not refresh the countreyes of Ethiopia Congo and other places bordering on the same it were impossible for the inhabitants to indure the heate The same windes likewise doo refresh and comfort the inhabitants of Grecia the Islands of Candia and Cipies the countries of Asia Mynor and those of Suria and Egypt which liue by the refreshing of those generall Northwest west winds which rightly by the Grecians are called Zoephero that is bringing life those also are the cause that in Ethiopia Congo and other countries bordering thereon it neuer Snoweth no not vpon the highest hilles vnlesse it bee further off towardes the Cape de Bona Speranza or in some certaine places by the Portingales called Snow hilles as in Congo they finde neither Ice nor snow which with them would bee more esteemed then gold therewith to coole their drink so that the Riuers do not increase by the melting of snow but only by means of the coÌ„tinual raine of fiue moneths as I said before But returning to our former matter you may trauel to Congo by two waies one by the main sea to S. Helena and so further ouer or along by the coast of Affrica to the Island of Saint Thomas and so to the Cape of Lopes Gonzales lying vnder one degree vppon the South side of the Equinoctiall line about 21. Duch miles from Saint Thomas Island and from thence they saile with the wind that commeth off the land along the coast euerie euening casting anker in some creeke or hauen vntill they arriue at the place where they desire to be The kingdome of Congo beginneth at the Cape de S. Catharina which lyeth on the South side of the Equinoctial line vnder two degrees and a halfe and passing along the coast you saile by certain hils and strands not woorth the noting till you come to two creekes in forme somewhat like a paire of spectacles where there is a good hauen called Baro D Aluaro Gonzales that is the creeke or hauen of Aluaro Gonzaleâ— not farre from it runneth a little riuer into the sea by reason of the rednesse thereof by the Portingales called Rio de â—as Boreras Râ—slas because the water runneth ouer a certaine redde sande that coloureth the water at that place beginneth a high hill called by the Portingales la Sierra Complida that is a long hill passing further there is another riuer called â—a â—e â—as Almadias which is as much to say as the creeke or hauen for shippes because in that place many bankes are made in the mouth of this riuer there lyeth three Islands wherof the greatest is the middle being inhabited wherein there is a hauen for little ships the other two are not inhabited Parting from thence you come to the great riuer of Congo called Zaâ—e taking his beginning or spring partly froÌ„ the same lake froÌ„ whence the riuer Nylus doth flow This riuer casteth forth so great aboundance of water that it is incredible for that before it runneth into the sea it is at the least 5. miles broad on y e vpper part it is fresh water for 8 10. 16 Duch miles vnto the red sea whereby the pilots sailing ouer it know what place they are in Vpwards into this riuer you may saile with great barks she length of fine miles but not higher by reason of the discending and fall thereof from a steep high ground as the riuers of Nilus Donow and Rhein do in some places which are called Cataraâ—tas that is shedings or fallings of waters making so great a noyse that it may bee heard a great way from it In this riuer at the entry into the sea are many Islands al inhabited and very populous that haue diuers gouernours al subiectes to the king of Congo In tunes past those Islands made warres one against the other in certaine scutes cut out of the bodie of a great tree in their language called Licondo whereof some are so great that sixe men cannot fadome them with height and length correspondent so that one of the greatest being cutte in proportion of a scute woulde holde two hundred men Those scutes they rowe with ores wherwith they make great speede euery man hauing an ore and a bowe and when they fight they lay downe the ore and vse their bowe and to steere and winde those scutes they vse no other ruther than one of those ores In this riuer there are many strange beastes specially Crocadiles that are very great in their language called Carman the sea horse and another that seemeth to haue handes and a taile like vnto a Flaske which they call Ambize Angulo that is a sea hogge because it is as fatte as a hogge it hath a good and sauoury flesh not like fish although it bée a fish which feedeth not of that which is in the riuer but eateth
some narrower accounting the length from Quito to the towne Delia Platta in this country of Peru are thrée sorts of hilles wherein men cannot inhabite the first parte of the hilles are called Andes which are full of great Woods the country being vnfit and vnholsome to dwell in which likewise were not inhabited but beyonde the hilles the second parte of the hilles taketh her course from the Andes which are verie colde and are great snow hilles so that there also no man can dwell because of the great colde and aboundance of snow which maketh the ground so soft that nothing can grow therin The third parte of the hilles are the Sandie Downes which runne through the plaine land of Peru from Tumbez to Tarapaca where it is so hot that neither water trées grasse nor any liuing creature is seene thereon but onely certaine birdes that flye ouer them Nowe Peru beeing so long and scituate in this manner there are many wilde and desart places not inhabited for the causes before rehearsed and such as were inhabited were great vallies and dales that by reason of the hils are throwded and defended from the windes and snow wherby those vallies and great fields are verie fruitful so that whatsoeuer is plaÌ„ted therein yéeldeth fruit most aboundantly the woods about them bring vp manye beasts and birds the Peruuians that dwel betwéene these hils are wiser stronger and subtiller then those in the plaine countrey lying on the sea coast and apter to gouerne and for pollicy they dwel in houses made of stone whereof some are couered with earth others with strawe because of the raine whereof those in the plaine countrey by the sea side haue no care at all couering theyr houses thereby to keepe them from the sun with painted mattes or boughs of trees out of these vallies lying betweene the hilles there runneth many streames of good water into the south sea and moysten the plain countrey of Peru causing many fruitfull Trees corne and other things necessary for mans life to grow therein as I haue already declared Of the people and countries that are therein lieing from Pasto to Quito THe village of Pasto lieth in the vallie Atris which is in the land of Quillacinga people without shame and good manners as also they of Pasto little esteemed by their neighbours trauailing from Pasto you come to Funez and two miles and ¼ furder to Iles from thence to Gualnatan are two miles and a halfe and from thence to Ipiules two miles and a quarter in al these villages is very little maiz by reason of the colde although they are so neere vnto the line but much Papas and other rootes that are to be eaten from Ipiules you trauaile to Guaca but before you come at it you may see the Kings hie-way which is no lesse to be wondred at then the way that Hannibal made through the Alpes whereof hereafter I will speak also you passe hard by a riuer vpon the side whereof the King of Peru had made a fort from whence he made warre vpon those of Pasto and ouer this Riuer there is a bridge by nature so artificially made that arte coulde not possibly mend it it is of a high and thick rock in the midle whereof there is a hole through the which with great fury the streame passeth and vpon that rocke men may go ouer it this rocke in their speech is called Luâ—â—châ—ca that is a stone bridge about that place is a fountaine of warme water wherein a man cannot endure to holde his handes although the countrie about it and also the riuer are verie colde whereby it is hard trauailing by this bridge also the King of Peru ment to haue built another castle therin to keepe garrison but he was preuented by the Spaniardes ariuall in those countries in this countrie there groweth a certaine fruit as small as plumbs and blacke by them called Mortunnos whereof if any man eateth they are drunke and as it were out of their wittes for the space of foure and twentie houres From this small countrye of Guaca you come to â—usa where y e prouince of Pasâ—o endeth not farre from thence you come to a little hill wherevppon also the Kings of Peru had a castle much defended by the Peruuians and going furder you come to the riuer of Mira where it is very hot an there are many kinds of fruits and certaine faire melons good connies turtle doues and partriges great aboundance of corne barley and maiz from this riuer you trauaile downe to the rich and costly houses of Carangue before you come thither you must first passe ouer a lake in India called Aguarcocia in our speech the opeÌ„ sea because Guianacapa king of Peru at the Spaniards ariuall caused 20000. men of the places thereabout to be assembled destroyed them all because they had displeased him and threw their bodies into that lake making the water red with their blood The houses of CaraÌ„gue are in a little place wherin there is a goodly fountaine made of costly stone and in the same countries are many faire houses belonging to the kings of Peru all made of stone and also a Temple of the same wherein there was alone 200. maides that serued the temple and are verie narrowly looked vnto that they commit no vncleanes if they did they were cruelly punished and hanged or buried quicke with them also were certaine priests y t offered sacrifices and offerings according to their religious manner This Temple of the sunne in time of the kings of Peru was holden in great account being then very carefully looked vnto and greatly honoured wherein was many golde and siluer vessels iewels and treasure the walls being couered with plates of golde and siluer and although it is cleane destroyed yet by roums you may still behold the great magnificence thereof in times past the kings of Peru had their ordinary garison in the houses of Carangue with their Captaines who both in time of peace and warre continued there to punish offenders Departing from the houses of Carangue you come to Oâ—aballo which is also rich and mightie and from thence to Cosesqui and before you come thither you must passe certaine snowie hills where it is so colde that men trauaile ouer them with greate paine from Cosesqui you goe to Guallabamba which is three miles from Quito and because the countrie thereabout is lowe and almost vnder the line therefore it is there very hot yet not so hot that men cannot dwell therein or that it hindereth the fruitfulnes thereof by this discourse you may perceiue the eror of many ancient writers that say that vnder the line by reason of the great heate no man may dwell but to the contrary you see that after their maner they haue both summer and winter in some places colde and in some places hot as also that vnder it there dwelleth many people and there many fruites and seeds do grow In this way you passe
which you commonly finde in those voyages from China to Iapon If you faile of it at sometime it is not often it commeth and beginneth from one point and so runneth with a continuall storme almost about all the points in compasse blowing most stiffely whereby the poore Sailers haue worke ynough in hande and in such sort that not any stormes throughout all the orientall Indies is comparable vnto it wherefore it is necessary to looke well to it and to chuse your times that by calmes sodainely you bee not vnaduisedly ouertaken as euery man that hath sayled those wayes can sufficiently showe you and euery one or most part of them haue found it to be so When you are right against the Island A Ilha Fermosa then runne Northeast by the which course you shall goe right vpon the straight of Arima which is a good way and as soone as you finde ground on the loofe side and haue seuentie fiue fadome water then you shall goe right vpon the middle of the Island of Meaxuma and hauing lesse depth then your course is not good but of force you must séeke another course to sayle the better but being too loofeward it is good especially when you see the Island Sancta Clare which is a smal Island on the Northeast side thereof hauing two or thrée Cliffes and somewhat farther forward the Island Coâ—aquyn which is very great being deuided into thrée parts I haue passed by the land side thereof which is a very good way and there you néede not feare any thing but onely certaine stones that lye along by the Island which you may easily perceiue for the Sea breaketh vpon them You must holde your course along by it leauing the stones on the larboorâ— side about the length of the shot of a Base from you and when you are past them then kéepe aloofe as much as you may inward to Sea thereby to shunne thrée Islandes or Cliffes which lye on the other side right ouer against the thicke and great Lande for betwéene them and it it is all full of Riffes And therefore your best course is to runne to Seaward from the Island of Coiaquyn in the middle way from the aforesaid great thicke Lande that lyeth before the Islandes or Cliffes of the Riffes lyeth the Hauen of Amacusa which is very great where the Créeke of Arima beginneth From thence North North westward from you you shall presently sée the Island of Cabexuma When you are right against Cabexuma somewhat beyond it you shall sée sixe Islands or Cliffes which you shall passe on the Sea side and then East-warde and East and by North you shall sée the Island called Ilha dos Cauallos or of Horses which on the Sea side hath a great houell and on the other side towardes the Island of Firando two Cliffes lying along by the coast which shew like two Ships vnder sayle Also further forward towards Firando there is two flat Islands lying along the coast called the Islands of Resting as that is the Islands of Riffes If when you come out of the Sea you haue cause to anker before you put into the Hauen being by the Islands or Cliffes then put out newe Cables making them fast that you loose not your ankers for there it is very déepe and sharpe Being right against the aforesaid six or seuen Islands or Cliffes then runne right vpon the Island Dos Cauallos and when you are by it that is inward of the point You shall along by the Island sée a Sand aboue the water all the other Islandes and Cliffes that you shall sée shall lye on the lareboord side which is vpon the side of the Island Facunda and so you shall runne till you enter into the Hauen of Langasaque hauing nothing to feare then that you sée before your eyes for there you haue both Sea and ground as it is vpon the coast of Spaine The 36. Chapter A voyage made from Macau in China to the hauen of Langasaque or Nangasache in the Island of Iapon in the shippe called the S. crus the captaine being a Portingall called Francisco Pais and the Gunner Dericke Geritson of Enchuisen in the yeare of our Lord 1585 written by the Pilote of the same shippe THe fift of Iuly Anno 1585 vpon a Friday in the morning wée set sayle from the point that lyeth right against the Cloister of S. Frauncis minding to runne to Loofeward from a round Island or Cliffe lying East Southeast from thence but because the wind was so scant wee could not doe it so that we were forced to driue so to get through the Channell of Lanton as wee did The depth that wee found therein was from fiue to sixe fadome water and that was close by the round Island that lyeth to Seaward from the Island of Lanton and from thence forward it beginneth to bee déeper being eightéene twenty fadome and that depth wee found till wee were without the Island called A Ilha de Leme that is the Island of the Harquebush This Island of Lanton as you make towards it hath a point where the wind fell very scarce in such manner that wee could hardly kéepe of an Island lying on the left hand of the chanell if the streame had not beene so strong that it draue the shippe ouerthwart to Loofeward otherwise we had indured great labor and trouble to passe through the channell because that towards night we were about foure miles from the Island Ilha do Leme the course wee held that night was East and East and by South because wee had a sharpe wind hauing twenty and sixe and twenty fadome déep muddy ground about sunne rising wée sawe right before vs the Island of Branco or the white cliffe and because of the depths aforesaid wée gessed that we were about half a mile beyond it The sixt of Iuly being Saterday we could not take the height of the sunne because it was right ouer our heads hauing a Southeast and South Southeast wind with very hote weather by day but by night it was somewat colder we held our course East Northeast East and east and by North as the winde blewe and about noone we found fiue and twenty and seuen twenty fadome water with small black sandy ground being in sight of lande and at Sunne rising we sawe the Land of Lamon which is a long flat land like a Table or plaine field on the East Northeast side hauing a thin point of Land reaching inward to the Sea and on the West southwest side there runneth out another thinne point of sand into the sea and hard by against the thickest part thereof you sée the forme of a white place which is the Island of Lamon to Seaward whereof lyeth thrée Cliffes Lying at the end of the Riffe of the Island of Lamon there wée call forth our Leade and found 27 fadome water with small white and some blacke sand with small shels among it being about seuen or eight miles from the
them withall which they call Catâ—auentos Cayrus hath very high houses with broad peint-houses to yeelde shadowe therby to auoide the heate of the Sunne in the middle of these houses are greate Pipes of ten cubites longe at the least which stand Northward to conuaye and spread the colde ayre into their houses specially to coole the lowest romes In winter time it is as colde with them as it is in Portingale the water that they drinke is brought from the firme land which they kéepe in great pots as the Tinaios in Spaine and in Cesternes whereof they haue verie great ones within the fortresse which water for a yeare or a yeare and a halfe against they shall neede like those of Mossambique They fetch water by the Iland of Barein in the Sea from vnder the salt water with instruments foure or fiue fadome déepe which is verie good and excellent sweete water as good as any fountaine water There is in Ormus a sickenesse or common Plague of Wormes which growe in their legges it is thought that they procéede of the water that they drink These wormes are like vnto Lute strings and about two or thrée fadomes longe which they must plucke out and winde them aboute a Straw or a Pin euerie day some part therof as longe as they féele them creepe and when they hold still letting it rest in that sort till the next daye they binde it fast and annoynt the hole and the swelling from whence it commeth foorth with fresh Butter and so in ten or twelue dayes they winde them out without any let in the meane time they must sit still with their legges for if it should breake they should not without great paine get it out of their legge as I haue séen some men doe Of these wormes Alsaharanius in his practise in the 11. Chapter writeth thus In some places there grow certaine Wormes betweene the skinne and the flesh which sicknesse is named the Oxen paine because the Oxen are manye times grieued therewith which stretch themselues in great length creepe vnder the skin so long till that they pearce it the healing thereof consisteth in purging the body of corrup fleame c. Reade further In my master the Archbishops house we had one of his seruants borne in Ormus newly come from thence which drewe thrée or The 8. Chapter Of the towne fortresse and Island of Diu in times past called Alambater THe Towne and Ilande of Diu lyeth distant from the ryuer Indo 70. miles vnder 21. degrées close to the firme land in times past it belonged to y e King of Cambaia in whose land and coast it lyeth where the Portingals by negligence of the Kinge haue built a fortresse in processe of time haue brought the Towne and the whole Iland vnder their subiection and haue made it very strong in a manner inuincible which fortresse hath béene twice besieged by souldiers of Cambaia and their assistants first in Anno 1539. and secondly in Anno 1546. and hath alwaies béene valiantly defended by the Portingals as their Chronicles rehearse This Towne hath a very great Hauen and great traffique although it hath verye little or nothing at all of it selfe more then the situation of the place for that it lyeth betwéen Sinde and Cambaia which Countries are abundant in all kind of things wherby Diu is alwaies ful of strange nations as Turks Persians Arabians Armenians and other countrie people and it is the best the most profitable reuenue the King hath throughout all India for that the Banianen Gusaratten Rumos and Persians which traffique in Cambaia from thence to Mecca or the red Sea doe commonly discharge their wares and take in their lading in Diu by reason of the situation thereof for that it lyeth in the entrance of Cambaia and from Diu it is shipped and sent to Cambaia and so brought backe againe to Diu. The Towne of Diu is inhabited by Portingals together with the natural borne Countrimen like Ormus and al the townes places holden by the Portingals in India yet they kéepe their fortresse strong vnto themselues This Iland aboundeth and is very fruitfull of all kind of victuals as Oxen Kine Hogges Shéepe Hennes Butter Milke Onions Garlicke Pease Beanes and such like whereof there is great plentie and that very good and such as better cannot be made in all these Low-countries but that the Fuell is not so well drest they haue likewise Chéeses but they are very drie and sault much Fish which they sault and it is almost like vnto salt Ling or Codde and of other sortes they make hanged flesh which is very good and will continue for a whole Viage of all these victuals and necessarie prouisions they haue so great quantity that they supply the want of all the places round about them especially Goa and Cochin for they haue neither Butter Onyons Garlicke Pease Oyle nor graine as Beanes Wheat or any séede they must all bee brought from other places thether as in the orderly description of the coast as it lyeth I will shew you what wares goods marchandises victuals fruites and other things each lande Prouince or Countrie yéeldeth and affordeth From Diu sayling along by the coast about fiftéene or sixtéene miles beginneth the mouth of the water that runneth to Cambaia which is at the entrie and all along the said water about 18. miles broade and 40. miles long and runneth in North-east and by North and at the farther ende of the water is the Towne of Cambaia whereof the whole Countrie beareth the name and lyeth vnder twentie thrée degrées there the King or Solden holdeth his Court. The 9. Chapter Of the kingdome and land of Cambaia THe land of Cambaia is the fruitfullest Countrie in all India and from thence prouision of necessaries is made for all places round about it whereby there is a greate traffique in the Towne as well of the inhabitants as other Indians and neighbors as also of Portingals Persians Arabians Armenians c. The King obserueth the law of Mahomet but most parte of the people that are dwellers and naturall borne Countrimen called Gusarates and Baneanem obserue Pythagoras law are the subtilest and pollitiquest Marchauntes of all India whose counterfets and shapes are placed in this booke by those of India with a description of their liuing ceremonies customes as in time and place shall be shewed This lande of Cambaia aboundeth in all kinde of victuals as Corne Rice and such like grain also of Butter and Oyle wherewith they furnish all the Countries round about them There is made great store of Cotton Linnen of diuers sorts which are called Cannequins Boffetas Iorims Chauâ—ares and Cotonias which are like Canuas thereof do make sayles and such like things and many other sortes that are very good and cheape They make some therof so fine that you can not perceyue the thréedes so that for finenesse it surpasseth any Holland cloth they make
take their pleasure with their friends and the husband neuer know of it In which sort he continueth foure and twentie houres long but if they wash his féete with colde water hee presently reuiueth and knoweth nothing thereof but thinketh he had slept Deutroa of some called Tacula of others Datura in Spanish Burla Dora in Dutch Igell Kolben in Malaba Vumata Caya in Canara Datura in Arabia Marana in Persia and Turkie Datula Of the description of this hearbe and fruit you may read in the Herballes if any man receaueth or eateth but halfe a dramme of this feed hee is for a time bereaued of his wits taken with an vnmesurable laughter Virginis Lusitanae in India gestus et amictus Cleedinge en dracht van een Portugeesche Dochter ofte Maecht in Indien Matronarum et conjugatarum foras prodeuntium vestitus et ornatus Der Portugeesen gehoude Vrouwen habyt en cÿraet Viduarum Lusit amictus quem iterum nuptae deponunt resumpto nuptar habitu Cleedinge en dracht der Portugeescher We duwen welcke weder houwende afleggeÌ„ weder aen nemende der gehouder dracht Vestitus et comptus Mulierum cujus cunque ordinis et aetatis intra aedes Der Vrouwen cleedinge en hulsel binnen shuys van wat staet en ouder dom die zyn Lectuli quibus Vxores et Filiae Lusitanorum contecte gestantur Coetskens daer de Portugeesche Vrouwen en Dochters bedeckt in gedraegen worden Ratio qua coelo pluvio et alias Lusitanae gestantur comutantibus ante retro et utriumque famulis Mâ—aniere vandie Portugeesche vrouwen en dochters te draegen alst regent en oock op ander tyden met haer slaven en dienaers voor achter en besyden Lusitana templa noctu invisura comitata marito et servis Een Portugeesche vrouwe verselschapt met harc man en slaven des snachts die kercken besoeckende Cachunde in mâ— opinion is made of the mixtures called Galiae Moscatâ— with the sape of sweet wood they are blacke cakes whereon certaine characters are printed at the first very bitter of taste but in the end verie pleasant and sweet they streÌ„gthen the hart the mawe and make a sweet breath And they are not content therewith but giue their husbandes a thousand hearbs for the same purpose to eaâ—e they not knowing thereof thereby to fulfill their pleasuâ—es and to satisfie their desires which can not by any meanes be satisfied They are likewise much vsed to take their pleasures in Bathes by swimming therein which they can very well doe for there are very few of them but they would easilie swimme ouer a riuer of halfe a myle broad This shall suffice for their women now I will proceed to other matters And the better to vnderstand the shapes and formes of their women together with their apparell you may behold it here when they goe to Church and els where both wiues maids and widdows euerie one by themselues as also how they goe in their houses with their dish of Bettele in their hands being their daylie chawing worke also how they are carried in PallaÌ„kins through the stréet with their women slaues round about them also with their husbands and slaues by night going to anie sport or els to Church which they vse after y e maÌ„ner of pilgrimes for theÌ„ they go on foot whereby they thinke to deserue greater reward which by day is not permitted them for they are not so much trusted these visitatioÌ„s or night pilgrimages they hold estéem for a great recreation and fréedome for that they hope watch and looke for the same as children doe for wake-dayes and other playing times likewise the women slaues doe make some account thereof because they doe neuer go abroad but only at such times or to Church on festiuall dayes behind their Pallamkins vpoÌ„ the which dayes they aduertise their louers and leaue their mistresses in the Churches or slip into some shoppe or corner which they haue redie at their fingers endes where their louers méet them and there in hast they haue a sport which done they leaue each other and if she chance to haue a Portingal or a white man to her louer she is so proud that she thinketh no woman comparable vnto her and among themselues doe bragge thereof and will steale both from master mistresse to giue them with the which manie Soldiers doe better maintaine themselues then with the kinges pay and if it chaunceth that these slauish women be with child they are their maisters children who are therwith very wel content for so they are their captiues but if the father be a Portingale or some other frée man when the childe is borne he may within 8 dayes challenge it for his paying the maister a small péece of money for it as much as by law is thereunto ordemed and so the child shall euer after be frée but not the mother but if he stay aboue 8 or 10 dayes and within that time no man cometh to challenge it although it be a free mans child and he after that shall come to aske it then it is the mothers maisters slaue and he may hold it at as high a price as pleaseth him without constraint to sell it and it falleth out verie little or else neuer that the mother destroyeth her child or casteth it away or sendeth it to the father be she neuer so poore free or captiue for they delight more in their children and take more pleasure in carrying them abroad specially when it is a white mans child then in all the riches of the world and by no meanes will giue it to the father vnlesse it should be secretly stollen froÌ„ her and so conueyed away The nursing and bringing vp of the Portingales Mesticos children is that from the time of their birth they are kept naked onely with a little short shyrt like the womens Bain which they weare about their bodies and nothing else till they be of yeares to weare breches or other clothes Some of them are nurssed by their slaues and some by Indian women which they hire whose shape and forme you may sée following the Palamkin wherein the wife is carried euen as they goe bearing their children The 32. Chapter Of the Viceroy of Portingall and of his gouernment in India EVerie 3. yeares there is a new Viceroy sent into India and some time they stay longer as it pleaseth the King but verie few of them hee continueth in Goa which is the chiefe Cittie of India where he hath his house and continuall residence and from thence all other townes in India haue their direction and gouernment From Goa euerie yeare the Portingall armie is prepared and sent out as I said before he hath his counsell Nobles Chancerie and Iustices as they vse in Portingall and all lawes and Iustice are by him executed and fulfilled in the Kings namâ— yet if there be any matter of importante which concerneth the Ciuill lawes they may appeale to Portingall but in
rents of the Portingales the Kings reuenewes in the land of Bardes Salsette and the Island of Goa so that often times for any question or strife they must appeare in law where they alwaies come without Counsellor or Atturney and knowe so well how to place their words according to the lawes of Portingall not onely temporall but spirituall that they are able to set downe and shew where it standeth written as well as any Counsellor could doe make their petitions requests without any mans aduise that the Portingales doe wonder at their readie wits as I haue oftentimes found in them When they are to take their othes to beare witnes with any man they are set within a circle made of ashes vpon the pauement where they stand still laying a fewe ashes on their bare heades holding one hand on their heads the other on their breasts and then in their own spéech sweare by their Pagode that they wil tell the truth without dissimulation whatsoeuer shall bee asked them for that they certainely beleeue they should be damned for euer if as then they should not say the truth but conceale it These are their principall customes and ceremonies yet are there many others which for breuity I omit The 39. Chapter Of the Canarijns and Corumbijns of India THe Canarijns Corumbjins are the Countrimen and such as deale with tilling the land fishing such like labors to get their liuings look vnto the IndiaÌ„ Palme trées whereon the Cocos doe grow There are some among them that doe nothing els but wash cloathes which is there vsed like another occupation they are called Maynattos there are others that are called Patamares which serue onlie for Messengers or Posts to carie letters from place to place by land in winter time when men can not trauaile by sea These Canarjins and Corumbjins are the most contemptible and the miserablest people of al India and liue very poorely maintaining theÌ„selues with little meate They eate all kinde of things except Kine Oxen Buffels Hogs and Hens flesh their religion is like the Decanijns and Canâ—ras for they are all of one Countrie and custome little differing they goe naked their priuie members onely couered with a cloth The womeÌ„ go with a cloth bound about their middles beneath their nauels and hanging downe to the middle of their thighes and the other end thereof they cast ouer their shoulders wherby halfe their breasts are couered They are in a manner blacke or of a darke browne colour many of them are Christians because their chiefe habitation and dwelling places are on the Sea side in the countries bordering vpon Goa for that the palme trées doe grow vpon the Sea coasts or vpon y e bankes by riuer sides The rice is sowed vppon low ground which in winter time is couered with water wherewith those Canarijns doe maintaine themselues these bring hennes fruit milke egges and other such like wares into the towne to sell They dwell in little straw houses the dores whereof are so low that men must créepe in and out their houshold stuffe is a mat vpon the ground to sléepe vpon and a pit or hole in the ground to heate their rice in with a pot or two to féeth it in and so they liue and gaine so much as it is a wonder For commonly their houses are full of small children which crall and créepe about all naked vntill they are 7. or eight yeares old then they couer their priuie members When the Women are readie to trauaile with Childe they are commonly deliuered when they are all alone and their husbands in the fieldes as it fortuned vppon a time as I and some other of my friends went to walke in the fieldes into the villages where the Canarijns dwell and hauing thirst I went to one of the Canarijns houses to aske some water therewith to refresh vs which they commonly drinke out of a Copper Canne with a spout thereat to drinke without touching it with their mouthes which is all the mettell they haue within their houses because I was verie thirstie I stooped downe and thrust my head in at the doore asking for some water where I espied a woman alone within the house tying her cloth fast about her middle before her hauing a woodden trough by the Portingales called Gamello full of water where she stood and washed a childe whereof as then she had newly bin deliuered without any help which hauing washt she laid it naked on the ground vpon a great Indian figge leafe and desired mee to stay and shee would presently giue mee water When I vnderstood by her that she had as then newly béene deliuered of that Child without any help I had no desire to drink of her water but went vnto another to aske water and perceiued the same woman not long after going about her house as if there had bin no such matter and the children are brought vp in that manner cleane naked nothing done vnto them but onely washed and made cleane in a little cold water and doe in that sort prosper and come vp as well as man would wish or as any child within these countries can do with all the tending they haue liue many times vntill they be a hundreth yeares old without any headach or toothach or loosing any of their téeth They weare onley a tuske of haire on the toppes of their heads which they suffer to grow long the rest of their haire is cut short they are very expert in swimming and diuing they row vp and downe the Riuers in boates called Almadias whereof some of theÌ„ are hewen out of a péece of wood and so narrow that a man can hardly sit in them and it chanceth oftentimes that they turne ouer ouer twice or thrice before they passe the riuer and then they leape out into the water and turne them vp and so powring out the water they get into them again They are so miserable that for a penny they would indure to be whipped and they eate so little that it séemeth they liue by the aire they are likewise most of them leane and weake of limmes of little strength very cowardes whereby the Portingales doe them great outrage and villanie vsing them like dogges and beasts In their mariages and deathes they obserue the manner of the Decanâ—ins Canaras as also in their religion ceremonies When the man is dead his body is burnt and the woman cuts her haire off and breaketh all her Iewels although they be but few small for they are most of glasse By the pictures following you may see the Decanijns or Canaras or the Marchantes of Goa also the Banianes or Gusurates of Cambaia with the Bramenes his wife in what sort all the women doe goe as wel Benianes as Decaniins Moores Indian women that inhabite the countrie How those of Goa and Ballagate kéepe their weddings among the Decaniins and Canaras with the manner how the
ripe and vnripe fruit and blossomes all at once contrarie to the nature of all other trees and euerie day as the blossomes fall whereby the earth vnder it seemeth to bee painted red there growe new on and when some of the fruite begin to grow then others are almost ripened and others being ripe are greater The tree being lightly shaken the ripe fruit falleth easily off by reaching the nether bowes This fruite is ordinarily eaten before other meate be set vpon the Table and also at all times of the day The Malabares and Canarijns call this fruite Iamboli the Portingales inhabiting there Iambos the Arabians Tupha Indi the Persians Tuphat the Turkes Alma the trees are called by the Portingales Iambeiro The blossomes and the fruite are conserued with Suger and are vsed for hotte Agues to câ—le mans thirst The trées whereon the Iambos do grow are as great as Plumtrees and verie like vnto them it is an excellent and a verie pleasant fruite to looke on as bigge as an apple it hath a red colour and somewhat whitish so cleare and pure that it seemeth to be painted or made of waxe it is very pleasant to eate and smelleth like Rose water it is white within and in eating moyst and waterish it is a most daintie fruite as well for bewtie to the sight as for the swéet sauour and taste it is a fruite that is neuer forbidden to any sicke person as other fruites are but are freelie giuen vnto sicke men to eate that haue a desire thereunto for it can doe no hurt The blossomes are likewise very faire to the sight and haue a swéet smell they are red and somewhat whitish of colour This trée beareth fruite thrée or foure tymes euery yeare and which is more wonderfull it hath commonly on the one side or halfe of the trée ripe Iambos and the leaues fallen off and on the other side or half it hath all the leaues and beginneth againe to blossome and when that side hath fruite and that the leaues fall off then the other side beginneth again to haue leaues and to blossome and so it continueth all the yeare long within they haue a stone as great and very néere of the same fashion as the fruite of the Cipres trée The 54. Chapter Of other fruites in India THere is a fruite called Iangomas which groweth on trées like Cherrie trées they are in bignes like smal rouÌ„d pluÌ„mes of a darke red colour they haue no stones in them but some small kernels they are of taste much like pluÌ„mes whereof there are very many but not much esteemed of The fruit Iangomas groweth on a tree not vnlike in greatnesse and fashion to our Plum trees as also in leaues and white blossoms saue onely that these trees are ful of Prickles or thornes they grow of them selues in euerie place also in gardens at Bachaim Chaul and Balequala the fruits are like Sorben smal and round they are harsh in the throat like Slowes or vnripe Plums and haue no stone within them but some small kernels when they come first out they are like Pistaccios The fruit being ripe must first bee brused and crushed with mens fingers before it can bee eaten yet it looseth thereby none of his vertue of binding and therefore they are thought good to stop the Flux withall although they are but little esteemed by the Indians They say that this fruite is eaten by certaine foules and being voyded out againe set in the ground together with the same Birdes dung it wil grow the sooner and be the fruitfuller There is an other fruite called Carambolas which hath 8 corners as bigge as a smal aple sower in eating like vnripe plums and most vsed to make Conserues The fruite which the Malabares and Portingales call Carambolas is in Decan called Camarix in Canar Camarix and Carabeli in Malaio Bolumba and the Persians Chamaroch It groweth on trees that are like Quince-trees hauing leaues greater and longer then our apple-trees verie greene and bitter of taste with small blossomes of fiue leaues a peece reddish without any white and of no speciall smel but faire to the eye and of taste like Sorrell The fruit is like a great Hondâ—s bey long and yellow and as if it were parted into foure parts the Coddes are somewhat deepe presse the fruite together in the middle they haue some small kernels which for the sharp tast are pleasant to eate This fruit is conserued in Suger much eaten in medicines and with meate The ripe are vsed for hotte Feauers in steede of Sirop of Vineger which wee vse in these countries The Canarijns vse the Iuyce with other medicines there growing which are mixed with it to make colours thereof wherewith they take spots and blemishes out of mens eyes Costa writeth that he knew a midwife in India which vsed this fruite dryed and beaten to poulder with Bettele leaues to make women to auoide their dead fruite out of their wombes this fruite is alâ—o kept in pickle because it is pleasing to the taste and procureth an appetite There are yet other fruites as Brindoijns Durijndois Iamboloeâ— Mangestains and other such like fruites but because they are of small account I thinke it not requisite to write seuerallie of them but onelie of two of them Fructuum Mangas Cajus Iambos Iaquas et Annanas qui in India nascuntur qui esusuaves et Zimziberis cujus e copia magna illic vilitas virentis viva imago Die fruyten die in Indien wassen en seer lieffelick zyn om te eten al 's Mangas Cajus Iambos Iaquas en Annanas met die Gember welcke om der menichte weynich geacht is affconterfeytinge naert leeven gelyck die staen en wassen The Barkes of these trées are kept and brought ouer sea hither and are good to make Vineger withall as some Portingales haue done Of the fruit called Iambolijns The trees that beare this fruit haue a barke like Lentiscus or the Mastick tree to the shew much like a Mirtle but in leaues like the Arbutus of Italy It groweth of it self in the wilde fields the fruit is like great ripe Oliues of Cordoua and harsh in a mans throate This fruite is little vsed by Physitions but is much kept in pickle and eaten with sodden Ryce for they procure an appetite to meate but this fruit as also Iaka is by the Indians not accounted among wholesome fruits There is also a fruite that came out of the Spanish Indies brought from beyond y e Philippinas or Lusons to Malacca froÌ„ thence to India it is called Papaios and is very like a Mellon as bigge as a mans fist and will not grow but alwaies two together that is male and female the male trée neuer yéeldeth any fruite but onely the female and when they are deuided set apart one from the other then they yéeld no fruite at all It is a trée of the hight of a man with great leaues
pleasant Gallerie This Bettele must be carefully looked vnto and often watered He that desireth to knowe more hereof let him reade the worthie commentaries of learned Clusius vppon the Chapter of Garcius touching Bettele The Noblemen and Kings wheresoeuer they goe stand or sit haue alwaies a seruant by them with a Siluer ketle in their hand full of Bettele and their mixtures and when they will eat giue them a leafe ready prepared And when any Ambassadour commeth to speake with the King although the King can vnderstand them well yet it is their maner to maintaine their estates that the Ambassadour speaketh vnto them by an interpreter that standeth there in presence which done be answereth againe by the same interpreter In the meane time the King lyeth on a bed or else sitteth on the ground vppon a Carpet and his seruant standeth by readie with the Bettele which he continually chaweth and spitteth out the Iuyce and the remainder thereof into a Siluer Bason standing by him or else holden by some one of his slaues or his wiues this is a great honour to the Ambassadour specially if he profereth him of the same Bettele that he himselfe doth eate To conclude it is their common vse to eate it which because it is their dayly exercise and that they consume so much I haue made y e longer discourse the better to vnderstand it although somewhat hath béene said thereof in other places The Kings Lords of India vse pilles made of Arecca Cate and Camphora with beaten Lignum aloes and a little Amber which they eate altogether with Bettele and Chalke in stéede of Arecca Some mixe Bettele with Licium some and those of the richer mightier sort with Campher others with Lignum aloes Muske and Amber Grijs and beeing so prepared is pleasant of taste and maketh a sweet breath There are some that chaw Arecca either with Cardamomum or with Cloues Within the lande farre from the Sea those leaues are solde verie deare It is said that the King of Decan Mizamoxa spendeth yearely thereof to the valew of aboue thirtie thousand Milreyes This is their banquetting stuffe and is giuen them by trauellers and the Kings giue it to their Subiects To the rich they giue thereof being mixed with their owne hands and to others they send it by their seruants When they send any man of Ambassage or otherwise there are certaine Silke Purses full of prepared Bettele deliuered vnto him and no man may depart before it be deliuered him for it is a signe or token of his passe port By the pictures hereafter following you may sée the figures of the fruites of Malacca called Duryoens y e trée Arbore de Rays or roote trée likewise the thicke Réedes named by the Portingales Bambu and by the Indians Mambu with the trée called Arbore Triste or the sorrowfull trée as it is both by day and by night and the trée whereon Arecca doth grow as likewise the Bettele And because Pepper is oftentimes planted at the foote of the Arecca trée where it groweth and clymeth vp round about the body thereof I haue set it downe in the same order as it groweth The description whereof shall in an other place bee shewed among the Spices and drugges of India as also the Hearbes seruing for Physicke and Apothecarie ware c. The 61. Chapter Of the Hearbe Dutroa and a Plant called Herba Sentida or the feeling Hearbe THe Hearbe called Dutroa is verie common in India and groweth in euerie fielde the leafe thereof is sharpe at the ende like the pointe of a Speare and is indented on the edges like the leafe of Beares claw and about that bignesse hauing in it many long thréedes or veines it groweth without taste or moysture and somewhat bitter and smelling like a Raddish The flower or blossome of this Plant is verie like vnto the blossome of Rose-marie in colour and out of this blossome groweth a bud much like the bud of Popie wherein are certaine small kernels like the kernels of Melons which being stamped and put into any meate wine water or any other drinke or composition and eaten or drunke therewith maketh a man in such case as if hee were foolish or out of his wittes so that he doth nothing else but laugh without any vnderstanding or sence once to perceiue any thing that is done in his presence And some time it maketh him sléepe as if he were dead in that sort he continueth for the space of twentie foure houres but if his féete bee washed with colde water then hee commeth to himselfe againe before the twentie fower howers be expired This Herbe the Indian and Portingall women vse much to giue vnto their husbandes and often times when they are disposed to bee merrie with their secrete louers they giue it him and goe in his presence and performe their leacherie together and taking their husband by the beard they will call him Cornudo with other such like iestes the man not knowing any thing thereof but sitteth with his eyes open not doing or saying any thing but laugh and grin like a foole or a man out of his wits and when the time commeth that he reuiueth out of his transe he knoweth nothing what was done but thinketh that hee had slept This Hearbe the slaues vse likewise to giue their masters and mistresses therby to robbe them and to breake open their Chests which is oftentimes done this Dutroa must bee vsed in measure because it is a kind of poyson for if a man giue too much thereof hee may bring a man to his ende vnlesse some strong and present remedie be taken by some conterpoyson or Purgation The remedy thereof consisteth in medicines which cause vomiting for he must cast al out of his body meate or what soeuer is remaining in his Maw then take diuers purgations and strong Glâ—ers as also hard rubbing binding both hands and feete together with letting bloud in the great toeâ— This Hearbe groweth in all places in aboundance and although it is forbidden to be gathered or once vsed neuerthelesse those that are the principal forbidders of it are such as dayly eate thereof for their owne wiues sakes that thereby they might fulfill their pleasures with other men which is the common liuing of them all some few excepted Some men are so vsed to eate and drink Dutroa not knowing of it that tasting onely of the Iuice of the leaues they are presently in a transe and so the wife is well assured and without all feare to satisfie her lust This and such like Hearbes there are in India and are much vsed for that all the care studie that y e women and wiues of India haue is day and night to deuise meanes to satisfie then pleasures and to increase lust by all the deuises they can imagine and to make their bodies the apter thereunto Which to effect they know all the diuelish inuentions and practises which is like the
will be as fresh and liuely as if they neuer had béene sicke hauing vsed this rule aforesaid And although the roote China being sodden in the water causeth a great appetite and a hungry stomacke neuerthelesse they must in any sorte beware that they eate but little and with measure that according to the rule prescribed for if they break it but one day nay but one houre all their labour were lost and so they must be forced to begin their diet again It must likewise bee vnderstood that the older and longer of continuance the pockes are so much the sooner will the roote heale them as also the older the persons to be healed are of yeares because that then the humors are not so ripe as in young yeares When the 3â— dayes are expired they must beware of drinking other drinke and to that end they must keepe the peeces and slices that were cut and sodden as before euery ounce by it selfe and therof take euery day a heape of the same roote so sodden and seeth them againe in a pot with as much water as they shall need to drinke but this seething need not to be done as the first seething with consumption of the water but only let it seeth vp once and no more This water must they drinke in this sorte for the space of 2â— or 30. dayes more and beware of fish or any goose or heauie meates as Oxe Cow or Hogges flesh and such like as also they must keepe themselues from much aire or winde whereby their bodies beeing healed may returne to their perfect healthes againe and after these twenty or thirty dayes are full expired then they must begin to vse all kinde of meates and drinkes although when the first thirtie dayes are out they may well goe abroad so they bee carefull of themselues and they shall not neede to sweate any more after the said first thirty dayes also it must bee remembred that such as meane to take this diet for their healthes it will bee good before they vse it to take a good purgation when the first fifteene dayes are out then take a second and so at the end of the thirtie day anâ— other whereby it will worke with more effect and with Gods help they shall be as lustie and sound as euer they were as it hath beene prooued by many thousandes in India This roote is not onely good for the Pockes and Piles but also for crampes and palsies and all cold diseases as for lumites that are stiffe and benummed with cold for the Gout for the Emperour Charles the fift himselfe did vse the same and found that it did him good But it must bee vnderstood that it is not good to vse it at all times of the yeare for in the dogge dayes and also in Summer by reason of the heat it is not good neyther in winter because of the cold but it is best to be vsed in Lent and Haruest time for then it is most temperate weather yet alwaies with the counsell of the learned Phisition the better to know the disposition complection inclination and age of the persons together with the time of the yeare the situation and climate of the countrie The manner of healing aforesaid is as it is vsed in India but in China which is a colder countrey and almost vnder the same degrees that these Countries are vnder they vse to seeth the water stronger for there they put 2 ounces or an ounce and a halfe of the wood into so much water and let it seeth vntill the water be two partes consumed which in India will not bee borne because of the great heate It is likewise to be vnderstood that the person and the disease of the person must be well considered for that if the sicknes bee not very great they must take lesse roote and let lesse water consume in the seething the younger persons also must haue stronger drinke then old â—olkes because they haue more humors in their bodies And yee must consider that hee which will take or vse this roote or the water thereof not beeing sicke it will waste and consume his flesh and good blood and doe himselfe great hurt wherfore good counsell and aduise must alwaies be taken before it be vsed and also iâ— it bee taken too hotte and too much it burneth both the liuer and the lunges and will fill the body full of pyles scurffe and maâ—gâ—es with other such like diseases whereby a man shall haue worke enough to driue those new diseases out of his body and fall out of one sicknes into another rather become worse then hee was at the first This I thought good in briefe to shew you thereby to teach such as knowe it not the true vse of his roote if it bee done in time when neede requireth for that many doe spende their wealthes and which is more are all their liues long out of hope for eâ—er to recouer their healthes againe vpon a disease which with so little cost is so easilie to be cured The summe of the foresaid water is likewise good against all scabbes and swellinges of the said Mâ— Neapo◠〈◊〉 or y e French pockes the best rootes are the blackest with few knots and white within for the reddish are not so good the wood or trée wherof it groweth is like a Haw-thorne straight and about three or foure spannes high the roote thereof is called the wood of China or Pockewood when they are gréene they eate them raw and being sodden they taste almost like suger canes but not so sweet The tree hath but few leaues but they are almost like the leaues of a young Orange tree These plants or trees in China are called Lampaton as the Chinos themselues doe say This shall suffice for this root of China so called because it is found in no place but in China what is more to be said of it I leaue vnto the learned Phisitions others that deale withall and haue better experience thereof The roote of China is commonlie vsed among the Egyptians not onelie for the pockes but for many other diseases specially for a consumption for the which they seeth the roote China in broth of a henne or cocke whereby they become whole and faire of face This roote drieth much and cooleth sweate it resisteth euill humors and strengthneth the liuer it healeth watery and filthie Vlcers and scurffes Leprie Is is good for a man that hath the pockes and for those that are dried vp and medicinable against a hard and a great milt The 78. Chapter Of Amsion alias Opium AMsion so called by the Portingales is by the Arabians Mores and Indians called Affion in latine Opio or opium It commeth out of Cairo in Egypt and out of Aden vpon the coast of Arabia which is the point of the land entring into the red Sea sometimes belonging to the Portingales but most part out of Cambaia from Decan that of Caâ—o is whitish and
prouince was in time past a free kingdome ruled and gouerned of it selfe on the North side reaching towardes Sundy on the South side to Batta on the West to the country of Congo and on the East to the Sunne hilles The cheefest towne is called Pango and lyeth on the West side of the Riuer Barbela which issueth out of the great lake from whence Nilus floweth their traffike is like those of Sundi Batta the fift prouince on the North side ioyneth to Pango and on the East to the Riuer Barbela and so to the sunne hilles and to the foote of the Saltpeeter hils and of the South side of the same hils it reacheth to Barbela til you come to the burnt hil The cheefe towne is called Batta where the gouernor is resident which gouernor is allowed to haue musket and caliuer shot because that Eastward beyond the sun Saltpeeter hils on the East and West side of the riuer Nilus there dwelleth certaine people of the Congoers called Gâ—aquas and in their owne countrie Agag verie fierce and cruel and much giuen to fight to steale whose ordinary incursions into the countries about theÌ„ and also into Batta maketh them necessarily to stand vpon theyr guard so to defend theÌ„selues This prouince can raise 70. or 80. thousande men well armed from thence are brought many Sables and Flumen the rest of their traffike is like these at Pango and Sundi In Peniba being the sixt prouince â—â—th the cheefe Citie 〈◊〉 in times past called Banza that is the head and now by the Portingales S. Saâ—tor it lyeth on a hill within the land distant from the sea 1â—â— Italian miles or thirty Duch mâ—les 〈◊〉 hil verie great and high and most 〈◊〉 yet it yeeldeth iron being about two Duch miles in compasse al built with man â—lages and houses where there are about 100. thousand men This hil is very fruitful by reason of the fresh ayre which is very cleare and sounde it yeeldeth much good water which neuer hurteth inâ— is rich of grasse and al kindes of beastes and fruitfull trees which are alwaies greene aboundant in al sorts of graine that are vsed in those countries specially of one sort called Luco which is holden and esteemed for the best and principall kinde of graine as our wheat but smaller like mustardseed and somewhat greater which they grinde in handmilles whereof they make a verie white flower making bread that is both wholesome and of a good sauour and not much vnlike our bread made of wheate of this grain they haue great store in Congo which not long since was first brought thither from the riuer Nylus specially from that place where Nilus fills the second lake There is also much barly called Mazza di Congo that is graine of Congo and also great quantitie of Maiz that is Turkishe wheate which is there but little estéemed and by their country people called Mazza Manprito that is graine of Portingale wherewith they fatten their hogges of rice they haue great plenty but nothing worth This country is likewise ful of diuers sorts of fruitful trées so that the common sort of people for the most part doe nourish themselues therewith as citrons lemons and specially very pleasaunt oranges neither swéet nor sowre but indifferent betwéene both there are likewise many Bananes which some thinke to be the fruit that in Siria and Egypt are called Mase and in this Booke Indian Figs they are very pleasant and sauery fruit of a swéete and sowerish taste being a good sustenance for the countrey in the fatte land there groweth many sortes of palme trees as the Indian Nutts and such as bring forth Dates some greater and other sortes of Palme trees whereof they make oyle wine vineger fruit and bread they presse the oyle out of the fruite as the Spaniardes do oliues which for colour and substaunce is like our butter but gréene and somwhat yelow which they vse in stéede of oyle and butter and burne it in lampes they likewise annoynt their bodies therewith to conclude it is good to eate in tune of néede as it hapned to our men that without this oyle had died for hunger Of the same oyle brought from thence together with the wine and vineger of the same palme trees I can shew you the wine they draw out of the top of the tree which being bored there issueth a certaine iuyce like milke being colde and fresh to drincke the first that commeth foorth is sweete and very pleasant next issueth sowre and the last is vineger which may be vsed in sallets but beeing drinke when it is fresh and newe it maketh the water to auoyde whereby in those countries men are little troubled with the stone and drincking much it maketh them drunke and fasseneth well The bread they make of the stones of this fruit which in forme are like almonds but much harder within those stones are certaine kernels very pleasaunt to eate increasing sound and good flesh this fruit both inwardly and outwardly is gréene and is eaten both rawe and sodden There are other trées that bring foorth a certaine fruit called Cola as great as a pine apple within it hauing an other kinde of fruit like chesnuts wherein are foure redde or carnation hoales which they holde in theyr mouths sucking and chawing them thereby to quench their thirst This fruit put into water maketh it sowre and of a good taste they strengthen the stomacke and are passing good for an euil lyuer other sortes of wilde Palme trees are likewise found there which yéelde much fruiâ— to bée eaten the leaues seruing to make mais to couer houses and to make baskets or other necessary housholde stuffe whereof I haue many sortes There are likewise other trées caled Ogbeghe which bring forth fruit in forme like yellow plumbes pleasant both in smel and taste from these trees they cut certaine braunches which they plant or sette close together making them fast each to other as wée doe Bore or Thornes therewith making sences for their houses which branches growing vp they make likewise galleries and arbors therein to kéepe them from the heate of the Sunne Besides al the fruits aforesaide there are many other sorts verie good for phisicke as also to eate specially Tamarinde of a verie tart and pleasant taste and verie good against burning feauers The Moores and Turkes trauelling by land take the rind of Tamarinde with them and mixing it with water drinke it to coole the inward heate specially the lyuer kidnies thereby also to make them laxatiue as also Cassia Fistula which is there verie plentiful also Citrons Melons Pompions Cucumbers and al other sorts of fruites that grow out of the earth Such as desire a larger discourse touching the same let them reade Odoardus Lopez translated by Pigaâ—etta and printed in Rome from whence I haue gathered the most parte heereof and although the houses in Congo are small and low yet there wanteth no substance to
builde withall specially Stones for there are great store whereof may bee made whose Pillers and foure square peeces of fine redde Marble stone and there are such great peeces that a whole Church might bee hewed out of one of them Besides this marble there are hilles of iasper porphier or red marble nured with white and other colours which in Rome is called marble of Numidia Affrica and Ethiopia whereof many pillers are to be seene in Rome There is likewise found many grained stones among the which there are that are mixed with iacinths which maye bee taken foorth and separated from the other stones wherein they growe of those maye likewise pillars and other workes be made wherein might bee seene diuers sortes of stones There are also other strange stones mixed with mettall of diuerse colours as copper in shew greene and shining whereof they maye make Images and other princely workes so that want of substance to builde withall is not the cause of theyr small houses for neyther stone chalke wood nor beastes to drawe or carry them is wanting onelie they haue no masons carpenters nor brickelayers that shoulde make thâ—ir houses so that they dwel in little cotages Heere might be declared how this kingdome in the discouerie of the East Indies being in the yeare 1490. and 1491. was by the Portingales brought vnto the Christian faith also howe shamefully the countrey was left when golde beganne to faile I meane not by the decaying or diminishing of the golde but because the King of Congo was persuaded by a Portingale not to discouer the mine as also not mentioning the euill gouernement of the Bishoppes Priestes Moonkes and Friers that were sent thither as beeing sufficiently declared by Odoardus Lopez in his description thereof shewing that they desired not the health and saluations of mens soules but rather glory and rule and to satisfie their insatiable lustes and gréedinesse after golde Yet not long since the King of Congo now liuing hath twice sent his embassadors to the King of Spaine the Pope of Rome friendly hartily desiring them to send certaine preachers and teachers of the word of God to instruct his subiects withall offering to discouer the rich mines of gold that are within his countrey thereby to winne them to bring preachers to instruct his country but christendome hath other matters in hand as to hang suppres pursue and destroy their christen brethren which being beyond my profession is not for me to deale in But returning to the further description of the coast of Angola to the great cape de Bona Speranza first as touching Angola it is by report very populous and abundant in siluer copper and other mettall rich of al kinds of beasts and victualles specially kine yet the people rather eate dogs flesh which they buy and pay dearer for it than for any other flesh their mony is schulpens like theirs in Congo and are like in speech yet different in some words as Spanish and Portingale their king is an idolater or a Heathen They haue as many wiues as they will whereby they haue such aboundaunce of people that Angola alone can make a million of armed men all ready to serue theyr gouernours in the warrs They vse many glasse beades brought out of Venice beeing of diuerse colours which they weare for an ornament about their neckes and armes in their speech they doe call them Anzoles and being hanged on strings Mizanga Hauing passed the kingdome of Angola and the shoare of Kine called Seno delle Vache southward to the black cape or Out hooke the coast stretcheth about 220. Italian miles This coast is all one land like Angola and is vnder the gouernement of many lordes and from this blacke cape reacheth a line Eastward parting the hills called the colde hilles which also in some high places néerer to the Equinoctiall line are by the Portingales called the Snowe hilles which end at the foote of the Cristall hill taking her name from the great abundance of cristall found therein out of those Snow hilles the waters that make the lake haue their beginning by the Portingales called Dumbea Zocche and this cristall hil stretcheth further into the north toward the siluer hilles as farre as Malomba where the kingdome of Câ—ngo endeth beeing diuided by the riuer of Coari Coasting along the shoare from the kingdome of Angola to the cape de Bona Speranza you must passe by the kingdome of Climbebâ— wherein raineth king Matama this country reacheth to the riuer of Bauaghul springing out of the hill called Luna or the Moone and both together running into the riuer Magnice which floweth out of the lake aforesaide behind this lieth Tropicus Cancri and betweene this Tropicus Cancri and the cape de Bona Speranza there raigneth no king but diuerse seuerall Lords This land is compassed by high sharpe and colde unhabited hilles the people that are there liue in the fields like labourers in cotages apparelled in beasts skins wild rough people and not to be credited not induring or permitting anie traffike with straungers Their weapons are dartes and arrowes their meate fruites of the earth and flesh of beasts The ancient Writers thought the riuer Niâ—uâ— to haue her off spring in the hils of the Moone so that many to this day are likewise of the same opinion In this hil towardes the weast lieth a small lake called Gale out of the which lake floweth the Riuer Camilla by the Portingales called the fresh riuer which about the end of the falce cape de Bona Speranza runnes into the sea This Hooke is called the false or vnright Cape because the ships that saile from India to Portingale doe first discouer a great corner or hook of land called Deâ—li Aguâ—â—ie and after that this smaller hooke and therefore call it the Faise Cape beeing seperated from the right and great Cape The space betweene these two Hookes or Capes is 20 Dutch miles which bearing out like twoo hornes make an intercourse or gulfe where the Portingales at times take in water out of the fresh riuer aforesaide and the people dwelling about this riuer are blacke although the pole antartike is there at 35 degrees as also those that dwell in the colde hilles of the Moone so that it is not the heat of the Sunne but the nature of the Countrey that maketh them blacke And bicause this is the greatest hooke or cape and that reacheth furthest into the sea of any Cape whatsoeuer in al the world and very daungerous to passe as al other Capes are as also because that in this place the sea makes a most fearful noyse that the land windes comming downe make the sea thereabouts most rough and troublesome whereby so many Portingale ships haue there bin cast away and because by ancient Historiographers so litle hath bin said therof before and since the Portingales discouered the same thinke it good in this place to set downe the measure and certaine knowledge of the greatnesse
yet somewhat colde therein is found much Mather seruing to die wooll cloath and leather it is also ful of thicke woods fishponds and faire Riuers of fresh water also of ponds that naturally are salt water In the woods are many hogges and oxen the riuers do oftentimes cast foorth gold in this Island are sixe townes inhabited by Spaniards whereof the first principal is Saint Iacobs the residence and sea of the Bishop but Hauana is the cheefe towne of marchandize and where all their Shippes are made Twoo principal and notable things are by Gonsalo Onetano written of this Island the first that therein is a valley situate betweene two hils in length about two or three Spanish miles wherein nature of it selfe bringeth foorth certaine round balles such as by art cannot possibly bee made rounder and in so great aboundance that they may ballist or loade whole Shippes therewith and are vsed in the shippes in steede of Iron or Leaden bulltes The other is a certaine hil not farre from the sea from whence there floweth pitch in great aboundance and runneth unto the sea where it driueth vppon the shore from place to place as the winde and weather serueth This pitch is vsed by the inhabitants and Spaniards to pitch their shippes The people of the Island are like those of Hispaniola onely differing in speech both men and women go naked and kéepe their bridalles in verie strange manner for that he which is married lieth not the first night with his wife be if it be a Lord he biddeth all the Lordes and one of them doth it for him and if it be a Marchant then Marchants take the paines to helpe him but if it be a countreyman either one of the Lordes or the priest doth ease him of a labour They leaue their wiues for verie smal occasions but the women may not forsake their husbands for any cause whatsoeuer The men are very vnchaste and wicked liuers there are great wormes and snakes in the Island and not venimous but easie to be taken the flesh whereof they eate and are neuer hurt therwith which snakes do liue by eating certaine beastes called Guabiniquinazes whereof many times there are seauen or eight found within their mawes they are in greatnesse like Hares in form like fores onely that their feete are like Conies feete the head like a Wesell a Fores taile long haire like a Badger of colour somwhat red the flesh sauorie and holsome This Islande was verie populous but nowe hath verie few onely certain Spaniards the rest beeing almost cleane rooted out and dead for want of meate Iamaica RIght against Cuba lyeth another Island which stil holdeth the name it alwaies had and is called Iamaica and of the Spaniards saint Iacob it lieth betwéene seuentéene and eightéene degrées on this side the Equinoctiall line on the East side it hath Saint Dominico about fiue and twentie miles distant on the West side the Cape or corner of Iucatana on the north Cubam also fiue and twentie miles distant and somewhat more and on the South another smal Island called Lacerana of fiue and twentie miles distant as the rest This Islande was discouered by Christopherus Columbus in his seconde nauigation into those countreyes and was taken by his son Don Diego gouerning the Island Saint Dominico by one Iohan de Squibel a captaine The breadth of the Islande surpasseth the length for it is from East to West about fiftie miles and from north to south twentie miles it is most inhabited by Spaniards the inhabitants also being burnt and destroyed by them like those of Lucaya The middle of the Island hath the longitude of 191. degrees and latitude or height eighteene degrees and is distant from the line seuenteene degrees on the north side It hath a hill that raiseth it on al sides inward to the middle of the land and so proportionably and euen that it can hardly bee descerned it is verie fruitfull both on the sea side and within the land and in times past verie populous such as were very wittie and subtile more then other of the Islanders thereabouts both in wars and other labours There is likewise gold and verie fine cotten wooll and at this present it is ful of beasts brought thither by the Spaniards and there haue increased The swines flesh is better in that Island then in any other place The cheefe towne in this Island is called Hispalis of Siuilia because of the abby which therein is erected the first abbot being Peter Marti◠borne in Milan an excellent learned man and hee that wrote most concerning this Hystorie Hispaniola or Haiti THe seconde great Islande accounted among the Antillas was by the first inhabitants called Quisqueia or Quisquesia and after that Haiti and then Cipanga Haiti is as much to say as roughnesse or sharpnesse and Quisqueia great land Christopherus Columbus called it Hispaniola and now it is called Saint Dominico after the cheefe Towne in the same Island it was discouered in Anno 1493. on the east side thereof lyeth the Island of Saint Iohn and many others on the West Cuba and Iamaica on the north the Island of the Canibals and on the south the firme land which is the Cape of Vela by Venezuela or little Venice The cōpasse of this Island is 350. miles Benzo saith 400. French miles which is in a manner al one and it is broader then long for in length it is from East to west 150. miles and from north to south 40. miles the middle of the Island lyeth in the longitude of 300. degrees in latitude 19 in it there are verie many and great hauens as Hatibanico Iuua Ozoma Neyua Nizao Nigua Hayna and Iaques which do al runne into the sea There are others that are smaller as Macorix Ciba◠Cotui wherof Macorix is verie ful of fish the other two abounding in gold In this Island are two very strange lakes the one because of the goodnes and profitablenes therof the other by reason of the strangenesse the one comming out of the hilles from whence the Riuer Puizao hath her issue it profiteth no man onely it giueth a feare and a little sinder sulkes The other of Xaragua is salt although many sweete riuers runne into it and hath many fishes among the which are verie great Tortuxes and Tiburones or Hayen it is hard by the sea and is eleuen miles in compasse the riuer sides and shores were much inhabted except the Saline a verie faire hauen and the Riuer Iaques where there is a great salt hil There groweth in this Island great store of very fine blew colour and much brasill wood cotten wooll but they know not how to make any thing of it amber rich mines of gold and is also fished out of lakes and riuers and likewise siluer and other mettals great abundance of sugar it is verie fruitful ground Reddish Lettice and Coleworts beeing sowed therein are within sixteene dayes after ripe and to bee eaten Melons
small vnhabited Islandes called Maghensis full of birdes which are so tame that meÌ„ take them with their hands and kil them with staues From thence you go to Cape Frio a verie good hauen well knowne by meanes of the French traffike whereabouts the â—ouâ—upâ—nambauâ—â— friendes to the Frenchmen doo inhabite about this Cape are many great whales in Latine called Prestis and in Duch Sword-fishes yet they are no sword fishes for that their Iawes are full of teeth like Sawes There are likewise on this Cape manie Parrats in as great aboundance as crowes with vs about this Cape lyeth the creeke by the Barbarians called Ganabara and by the Portingales Rio de Ganeâ—râ— because it was discouered in the first moneth of the yeare and the Bayaseâ—moza this creeke is wel knowne to the Frenchmen because they traffike thither and therin had made a fort it lyeth vnder three twentie degrees on the South side of the Equinoctial line right vnder Tropicus Capricorâ— it is in the entrie sixe Spanish miles broad and further in but three or foure miles broad and there lyeth smaller hils then at the entrie The mouth of this creeke is verie dangerous for that if you leaue the sea you must saile by three vnhabited Islandes where it is great fortune but the ships doo strike in peeces vppon the rocks and cliffes you must likewise passe before a pointe not aboue three hundred paces broade which hangeth from a high hil hauing the form of a Piramides which not onely seemeth verie great but far off shewing as if it were made by mans art which by reason of the roundnesse as also because it is like a tower is by the Frenchmen called le pot de Buere that is the Butter potte a little further in the creeke is an euen rock about a hundred and twenty paces great by the Frenchmen called Râ—tier or Mouse fall to which Villagagno at his first arriuall brought all his necessaries and prouision thinking thereon to build a fort but the waues droue him backe againe about halfe a mile further lieth the Islande wherein the Frenchmen did dwell which before their arriuall was not inhabited and is in compasse about a thousand paces yet the breadth is six times more then the length all compassed about with cliffes as also with water in such sort that the shippes cannot come at it but with great danger onely in one place and that with small boates whereby it appeareth that this Island by reason of the situation is very strong on both sides of this Island there standeth a little hill whereupon the Gouernour had made his house and on a Rocke about fiftie or sixtie foote high in the middle of the Islande hee had placed his Court or Castle called Coligni in honour of the Admirall of France that had sent him thither In other plaine fieldes about the same were the rest of the Frenchmens houses made rounde and couered with leaues or boughes being in all about eighty men 10000. paces or two Spanish miles and ½ further from this Island lyeth another verie fruitfull Island in compasse about thrée French miles called the great Island inhabited by Tououpinambaâ—â—iâ—s great friends to the Frenchmen to whome they oftentimes went to fetch meale and other necessaries there are likewise in this creeke many other small and vnhabited Islandes where there are many good oysters the Barbarians diue vnder the water with theyr hands bring vp certaine great stones whereat there hangeth great numbers of Oysters and so fast cleued to the stone that they can hardly gette them off verie good to eate some of them hauing small Pearles within them they are by the Barbarians called Leripes This water is ful of strange fishes specially Barbels and Sea Swine there are likewise whales with verie fatte and thicke skinnes there runneth likewise into this creeke out of the middle part of the land two fresh riuers vppon both the sides whereof lyeth many villages of the Barbarians tenne or fiftéene miles further along the coast towards the riuer de Plata or the straights of Magellana there is another great creeke by the Frenchmen called Vasarum whereunto they vse to saile as they do to the other which they first took in Hereafter followeth the manner and customes of the people THe Toupinambaultii are not much vnlike our people well proportioned of bodie and limbe but stronger and healthsomer then wee and lesse subiect vnto sicknes among them are found fewe lame cripples blinde or mishapen men although there are of them that liue to the age of an hundred and twenty yeares accounting their yeares by the Moones fewe of them likewise hauing gray haires which is a certaine signe of the temperatenes of that land as hauing no extream cold nor excessiue heate hauing greene trées hearbes and fields al the yeare through and because they liue without care they shew alwaies of one age for they haue no hurtful poyson nor foule water to drink whereby all diseases do grow they haue likewise no passions or afflictions of minde in their countreyes which mooue vexe and consume both the spirits and bodyes as not knowing of any fauours couetous desires chidings hate or enuie which but to our shame consumeth the Christians As touching the colour of their bodyes they are not altogether blacke but browne like the Spaniards because of the heate of the sim they go al naked as they came out of theyr mothers wombes not once shaming therat vnlesse it be at bankets or when they goe to warres there are some of them that bind two great leaues together therewith to couer theyr priuie members not so much for their credite but because they haue either some deformity or else disease therin which oftentimes happeneth among them they are not rough nor hairie as some men describe them for they suffer no haire to hang vpon theyr bodyes for that as soone as they perceiue it they plucke it foorth either with theyr nayles or sheeres which they haue either of the Frenchmen or the Portingales which they pull not onely from their chins but also from their eye browes eye liddes which maketh them for the most part seeme feareful and vgly The hinder part of theyr heades is couered with haire the young boyes vntil they come to mans state we are theyr haire from the crowne of the head downe to theyr neckes but al theyr foreheades shauen as if it were a Friers crowne on the hinder part of their heades they let the haire grow after the manner of our auncestors which were all shorne only in their necks and that was rounded They haue likewise for a custome that they bore holdes in their boyes vnderlippes wherein they stick sharp bones as white as Iuorie which they take out and put in as often as they wil and being older they take away the bones and in steed thereof weare greene Iaspis stones being a kinde of bastard Emerauld inwardly flat with a thick ende because they shall not fall out