under a mortal apprehension that they would Eat him desiring me mightily to give them something of that which I had brought to exchange with them Then I commanded them to make Ovato Courende which is to say a good Fire because we had been Wet with the Rain by the way which the Indians did not much matter being not much troubled to dry their own Cloaths They presently made me a a Fire it being very late at night so that we were pretty well dried in this great Hall where all these Indians were and thus we Supped with the King and his Wife in the sight of all the others They made mighty much of us with their Savage Victuals I had brought a Bottle of Wine and some Bisquet with me which was no small help to us after so many Fatigues by the way troublesome with Water and Woods where sometimes the Indians were forced to carry me upon their Backs in certain places that were very hollow After Supper the King caused us Amacas or Hanging Beds to retire into his House where he ordered two Amica's or Beds to be hung up for me and my Companion They had put my Bed so that it joyned to the King 's and my Companion 's a little higher and that of the Queen 's was on the same side with the King 's and all the night there was Guards which kept a Fire near the King and me Our poor Carpenter did nothing else but tremble all the night long thinking every moment they were coming to Eat us The King Camaria in the mean King Camaria time began to discourse with me of the King of Yapoco whom he said he did not fear and who had come up into one of his Rivers where he had killed a great number of his People but that he desired mightily if it was possible to have in his Clutches his Nephew Yapoco who was in our Ship and that I should speak thereof to our General and use my utmost Policy and Endeavour to have him delivered up that he might be Eaten saying that he would send for all his Subjects and his Friends to be at this Feast of the Caripou As for my part when he talked to me after this manner I would not contradict him but gave him the hearing and promised if I could to do all he desired And he told me that he would willingly give all he had to have this poor Yapoco and that I would take care to have him delivered up which I durst not refuse him I thought this Night very long seeing also that the Queen Wife of Camaria did not sleep I rose up two or three times to go out of the House continually suspecting the Malice and Cruelty of these Anthropaphages and Anthropophages or Cannibals Eaters of Human Flesh Besides that I perceived in the middle of this House a Toad of the strange and Wonderful Toad most horrible bigness that ever I saw and I believe that it was rather some Devil than a Toad because Camaria Caribes speak with the Devil often spoke with the Devil to know what their Enemies were doing As soon as it was day I presently rose up to know what we had to do and Camaria shewed me his Throat which was very much out of order by a Cold that he had I carried him with me into the Woods to seek for Herbs fit for his Disease and used my utmost to procure some Honey to compose a Remedy for him but he could neither understand me or comprehend what I demanded of him At last having Breakfasted we went along with some Indians to look for Wood of Aloes This is a Tree of an extraordinary bigness bearing Leaves like a Fig-Tree but a little greener The Tree contains in its Heart a black Wood very oiley sharp and of a very good Odour And a Tree as big as a Tunn shall have in its Heart but a very little quantity of this black Wood. This Tree is very hard and where it is black 't will sink to the bottom of Water like a Stone We laded thereof about 35 Tuns which are 70000 pound weight or thereabouts We laded Store of 2 or 3 other sorts of Wood one resembling a Red-Sandal and the other a Cittern and partly of the same Odour It is of a very sweet Scent when first cut but by succession of time it comes to lose its Odour I have learnt that this black Wood is certainly a sort of Wood of Aloes but not so sweet-scented as that of the East Indies because it comes so far upon the Sea receiving thereby a certain Saltish quality But at such time as I was at Goa being in an Ensarail where the Idolaters Work I there saw some Wood of Aloes of the River of Ganges which was sweet and had almost the same qualities as that of the West as I since found out by curious Virtue of the Wood of Aloes Experience The Gentiles told me that this Wood was very excellent and odoriferous and neither Rotten nor Worm-eaten and was chiefly a good Remedy for the Head-Ach or the Ague For the Head-Ach you must rub this Wood against a flat Marble agitating it with rose-Rose-Water or common then rub the Forehead therewith And for the Ague drink Water thus agitated taking 2 or 3 Ounces This Virtue is not found in that Wood of Aloes which is brought us because it is quite Rotten and Worm-eaten having in it no other Virtue but for the Perfumes and very little for Medicine So that I advise all curious Apothecaries to chuse for the good and right Wood of Aloes True Wood of Aloes which is sharp joined with a certain bitterness As for the colour the best is that which is black enclined to grey with Veins very hard and ponderous rendering a sweet-scent in the burning and above all very Gummy These are the marks of the best as far as I could take notice of in my Travels I know very well that the price thereof is a little high and that is the reason why it is so seldom kept in Shops where they have instead thereof the Sandal-Cittern which is of a quite contrary Faculty and Vertue And so likewise of the Turbit * Which is a Root of which they chuse more of that which is white light and falling to Powder in the breaking than the grey which is of a sweet scent gummy and heavy which is the good and right as I have seen at Goa where they gather it The Indians themselves never make use of any other sort than the grey inclining to white but one Dram of that will make more in effect than three of the other and I believe that this white is not the right Turbit never having seen any such in the Indies but that it rather comes from Persia because 't is brought from Aleppo and Alexandria by the Caravans which come from Babilon Thus much can I say at present of the right Turbit As for the rest
four Leagues without finding any Water at which our Companions were mightily astonished and deceived as well as those the day before For we had nothing at all to quench our Thirst amidst such excessive heat of the Sun As for me I had carried in my Pocket a Coco's or Palm-Nut full of Liquor which was no small help to me at this time and I believe without that I should had much ado to have returned Our Carpenter was forced to stay behind earnestly desiring me to tarry with him But it was not my intention to lie in these Desarts besides the Ship was to set Sail the next morning which gave me the more courage to return the same day After having thus rambled about and run from one side to the other at last we came under a great Tree where we sat down in the Shade to take our rest And as it is certain that there is no better Remedy to quench the Thirst than Sleeping all our Men who were a little harrassed and fatigued as much with Thirst as by the way and having run after the * A sort of Spanish Kid. Cabrettes fell presently a Sleep But I not being at all sleepy laid down upon my Back with my Face upwards to suck in the Air and upon this I espied a great Lizard full and very high the Tail very long and about the bigness of a Cat I Hunting of the Lizards presently rose up without awakening our Men and having taken a Pike I gave the branch of the Tree therewith such a blow that there tumbled down two of them which the Indians call Gouyana's I run after them Guyana's or Lizards trailing along my Pike which broke in two pieces and made such haste that I overtook one which was creeping under a Rock and I took it by the Tail plucking it with all my force but it being very strong stretched it self in such a manner against me having very long Paws that it saved its Body but the Tail remained in my Hands and was alive above three hours after continually moving As soon as our Men were awake I gave them an account of what had happened and made so many Courses about this Island that I caught two of these Lizards whereof I made very good chear for the Flesh thereof is pretty good I kept their Skins to carry away with me This Creature is of a very hard Life for after having taken and leaving them for Dead yet they from time to time come to move and start up so that carrying them in a Napkin I thought to let them fall every moment After we had reposed our selves a little under this Tree we took our way towards the other side of the Sea finding a little beaten Path which went towards these Cabrettes thinking that it was the way where they went to look for Water to Drink but after having gone about a League of this way we found in a flat ground a great place where these Cabrettes came to take their rest for the place was mightily beaten We saw there another Path which went from this place and hoping that it would lead us to some Water we found it brought us to the Sea-side where we saw some Sea-Water upon a Rock which was high and flat it made us glad thinking it had been fresh but tasting of it we found the contrary and that it was nothing but the Waves of the Sea which broke against this Rock where there always remains some little of it besides the Sun had Congeled it into Salt exceeding clear and pure Seeing then that we found no Water it behoved us tho' with great regret to take again the way to our Ship each one seeking the nearest he could for we went confusedly striving who might arrive first to quench his Thirst but the allowance we had was not sufficient not being more than a little Cupfull of Drink which was sower Citter with two parts Water but some had provided Liquor for themselves I arrived the third at the Ship and Bathed my Body in the Sea to refresh my self sopping also a little Bisket in the Sea to Eat and swallowing some Mouth-fulls thereof The rest of our Men were tarried behind and being come there with the Fleming and Scotchman we called the Boat But the Ship being above a League and a half from Land which was a great hinderance to us for the Boat would not carry us back without the others who were still far enough off and kept one another up by the Arms But at last I persuaded the Mariners to carry me on Board where as soon as I came I went to visit my Chest and my Bottle and remained full three days without being able to quench my Thirst The rest of our Men returned very late and were wonderful weary and fatigued But the poor Carpenter tarried behind to keep company with the Cabrettes Lizards and Parrots who were there in abundance and very beautiful Our General seeing that he was wanting said he would not part from the Road until he had News of him and sent Seamen all the Night with the Trumpet Adventures of the Carpenter to Sound all about the Island to call him but all to no purpose for he was far enough from thence The morning being come his Seamen was commanded to take a Shovel with other Mariners who knew pretty nigh the place where they had left him and went thus seeking about these Desarts for it is a flat Island having very few Trees At last they found him trailing along his Musket as well as he could for he was very Sick and being come to the Ship he was taken with a Fever accompanied with a Frenzie continuing 3 or 4 days and did nothing but cry out for Drink and it was almost impossible to satisfie him He told us afterwards how he had lain under a Tree quite full of Parrots which he could easily take with his Hand and that the Cabrettes came to smell upon him in the night time but that he never stirred from his Musket which he always kept close by him The moisture of the night had a little quenched his Thirst He was also forced to Drink his own Water Being parted from this Isle the first of June to go to the Margueritta as we were under Sail very late at night we descry'd two Ships coming full sail upon us We had sunk our Patache in this Desart Island We got the Wind a little upon them and being very near one to the other their Trumpets began to Sound and ours to answer them As we were prepared to receive them having put out our Cannons and ready to come to handy Strokes the Wind being very savourable for us and the night very dark they would not come on board without having first known who we were We got the Wind of them as much as we could and in the end during the dark and stormy night we escaped and made towards the Isle of Margueritta where we
to pitch the Almahalle near to the Adouars or Tents of the Arabs and went to see them with some Moors their Enemies These Arabians caused us to enter into their Tents then they put some Carpets very thick and hairy upon the Ground for us to sit upon and brought us some Camels Milk to Drink with I don't know what other things After that we retired in the night to the Camp of the Moors which was not very far from thence The next morning we raised our Tents and went to pitch the Almahalle at the Duguele were there is Water The Arabians had made there a great many large and deep Ditches which they call Matamores in such manner that it is a very dreadful thing to look to the bottom of them 'T is there they find Water in some of which there is some in others none And these Arabs come to look there for VVater above 4 or 5 Leagues round about From the Puquelle they come with their Camels which they lade with this VVater in Oudres or Goat Skins And when they have Reaped their Corn they raise their Adouars or Tents and go away to some other place far distant from thence leaving this Ground to lie waste a long time Then afterwards they return there again laying their Houses and Husbandry VVives and Arabians and their manner of Living Children upon their Camels like as the antient Nomades and the Tartar Hordes at this day and go altogether in a Company by Cabilles or Generations so that if any one comes to strike one of their Generation they think themselves all thereby injured and presently Revenge it There are some of these Cabilles who joyn themselves together to make VVar upon other Cabilles that are not their Friends There are sometimes above Twelve thousand of a Cabille or Parentage For they Marry one another like Cousins and thus conserve the Memory of themselves The most Ancient and VVisest amongst them they make Chief and Obey him in all Things and every where as their own Father with a wonderful Respect as I have seen in their Alcayde-Abdassis Captain of one of these Cabilles which conducted us from Morocco to Saffy to hinder those of his Cabille from doing us any prejudice for he had taken us in his Custody upon his Head having so promised it to the King of Morocco forasmuch as his People held a good part of the way betwixt Morocco and Saffy But to return to our Voyage the morning being come we raised the Tents and in waiting till the Camels were Laded the Cavaliers Moors and Arabians exercised themselves at the Lance And there was amongst others a young Alcayde who took his Course with his Lance against me crying out to me in his Language Senari Christian Bara bara aben senari which is to say Guard thy self thou Son of a Christian I spurr'd then my Horse which was a Barbe very nimble having two Pistols at my Saddle-bow I ran at the Re-incountre with this Cavalier but my Horse being strong in the Mouth was very near Precipitating me to the bottom of these Matamores or Pits of Matamores Water which I have spoken of for the Mouth of them are hid amongst the Grass and they are there in great numbers But seeing my self almost upon the brink and my Horse going to leap to the other side which he could never have done without loosing us both I reined him so to the purpose that if the Alcayde which exercised with me had not also stopped seeing me so near this Precipice I had infallibly tumbled therein but never come out again entirely considering their great and horrible Depth When I saw my self delivered from this danger I praised God and retired as far as I could from thence leaving these Moors to exercise by themselves not knowing so well as they where these Matamores are so dangerous to those who are not aware of them After that we Travelled all the rest of this Day and endured extream Heats until toward Evening then we pitched our Tents along by some Water where all these Arabs cast themselves to wash and refresh 'em at which I was not a little vexed for I had a great mind to drink of this Water all muddy and dirty as it was and besides a little faltish yet I was forced to Drink thereof We pitched then in these Desarts and the next Desarts without Waters day early in the Morning we departed Travelling all the Day in the Heat of the Sun the greatest that can be possibly imagined in these Fields Scorched and Burnt because of the Hot Winds which blew after such a manner that we were ready to Die with Thirst At last we came into a Desâ—rt where we were forced to look for Water a far off There was there the Adouars of the Arabians who Adouars helped us to some Refreshments of water and Camels Milk which is not very sweet but of a strange tast to those who are not accustomed to it but necessity makes every thing to seem Good as I have often experienced in all my Voyages The next morning going on our way we perceived several Arabs with their Camels laden with Corn who came to joyn with us to go to Morocco We met also great Numbers of Arabians on Horse-back with their Launces who came about us to salute their chief Abdassis and others of their kindred who were in our Company I saw them come with great Humility to kiss the Hands of their General Abdassis who had Govern'd them a long time I went always in their Company leaving the other Troops behind for the desire I had by following them to get some Water of the Arabs their Friends whom we found encamped in a Valley of the Desarts for we went continually with so excessive a Heat that I durst not so much as lift up my Eyes Going thus we met at the bottom of a Mountain some Arabian Shepherds who kept Flocks of Sheep Goats and Camels We went with a number of Cavalliers towards them to know where we might find some Water but they would not shew us Hereupon one of these Arabs who came a long with us commanded one of these Shephards to give him his Stick and having it in his Hands began to beat these poor Wretches with such Water 〈◊〉 fury that I was very sorry to see it although I was also very Thirsty This Savage Treatment made the Shepherds shew us where their Adouars were about a League from thence where we went with all diligence and found there one of these Arabs who came to fetch Water far from thence in a Goat-Skin This Water was very Salt and hot yet every one of these Cavalliers cast themselves thereupon for it was very little for so many Men. I obliged them so with Money that I obtained some of one of these Arabs where we were come Truly it seemed that they bereaved these poor Wretches of their Lives in taking away their Water they come to
prepared our Boat with some Indians thinking it had not been very far off or else not well understanding our Interpreters insomuch that we took not Victuals enough with us only I furnished my self with some Bisquet acd gave of it to one of our Indians who was very glad of this Provision that I had made Having then Rowed a good way up into this River we found nothing but Branches of Trees which covered in a manner all the passage so that we were forced ever and anon to lie all along in the Boat to pass underneath these Branches of Trees which were laded with Oysters At last we came to a certain place where there were Trees cut down by the People of some Ships that had been there before us These were exceeding Red-Wood great and the Heart very red like unto Brasil yet it was not so as I have experienced it Moreover the Indian whom I had given the Bisquet to did not mind to follow our Men but sought for something to live upon and came again presently towards me shewing me by Signs he had found something good for us and went to find out the Wooden-Bowl of the Boat which served only to cast out the Water so led only me along with him a good way into the Wood to a Tree cut down which was hollow and had in it a Bee-Hive the most excellent clear sweet and agreeable that could be imagined This Honey was of a Jelly like Oil and exceeding clear of a greenish colour and enclosed in Bags like those great Purses the Merchants use wherein there is several little Leather ones There the Honey is environ'd with a Membrane or Skin which is the Crisis very clear When this little Skin is broke the Honey comes out of this only and not the others so the Indian broke one after another throwing the Honey into the Bowl which he gave me to drink of as a choice Liquor Having taken some of it in this manner he went to look for Water to mix with it to the end that we might have the more of it as also to quench our Thirst the better In the mean time our Companions were in another place on the other side of this Wood seeking for the Brasil-Trees I saved some of this Honey in the Bowl not having elsewhere to put it But our Thirsty People returning from this Wood and taking the Bowl to Drink mixed Water with the Honey and so drank it up which caused me to Quarrel with out Carpenter who had done it on purpose like a Man of his Country where they are born to Envy and Malice I bore the loss of this Honey so excellent as patiently as possibly I could because our Lieutenant was there who had not a mind to do what this bold Carpenter did but had taken Water with his Hand out of the River to Drink I could never since find any more of this sweet Liquor by whatever Signs I could make to the King of the Caribes to cause him to understand what it was for he did not know the name of it But what I wondered at most was that this Indian could so easily find out this Honey in these Woods seperating himself from the others for that reason If I could have saved only 3 or 4 Ounces of it I would not have parted with it for any thing whatsomever but would preciously have preserved it to make a Present thereof to the late King my dear Master as I gave him some of that which I brought from Africa which he found of an excellent Taste Honey of Africa and caused me to lay it carefully up in his Trunk as they do in the same Country from whence I had brought it This Honey of Africa was as white as Snow clear and of an excellent good Taste also the King confessed that he had never before seen any so excellent But that was but course Honey in comparison to this of the Country of the Caribes The Bees which make this Honey in the West-Indians are of a pale and yellowish colour little and harmless and are not troublesome at all as I found out in the place whence I took this Honey which was like to a most precious Balm and I believe that as the Honey of Africa is excellent for Healing of Wounds so this of the Indies quite exceeds it every way as in its consistence taste smell and colour Being then returned from this River where we could discover nothing to serve our turn our General was resolved to send me vvith the King Another Voyage to the Caribes of the Caribes to go to their Habitations and look in the Woods to see if vve could there find a certain Tree vvhich is a sort of Wood of Aloes Aloes Wood. called by them Apariebou for vve had found of it in the Country of Yaposo For this effect I parted the 29th of April vvith Camâ—ria the King of the Caribes vvho had left in Hostage for me 7 or 8 of his Indians and Embarked in a Cannoe with vvhich vve entered into a little River vvhich runs about two Leagues up into the Country and was very narrow the Branches of Trees quite covering it so that we had a thousand Inconveniencies and much ado to lie flat down in the Boat to avoid ' em The Indians being stark Naked did not matter it so much for if these Branches had made them tumble into the River they knew so well how to Swim that they would not have much needed to fear That which did us the most harm was that some of these Branches were laden with certain Oysters little and of the colour Oysters of Pearls of a very good Taste for I was willing to try opening some before these Indians who wondered mightily to see me open 'em so easily not knowing how to do it We went thus Rowing along to find out their Dwellings that at last coming to the end of the River we went on Shore and about a League and a half from thence we saw one of their Habitations and the Caribes came about us offering to their King Fruit and other Things to Eat with which he also presented me After that we left this Habitation and continued our way towards that of Camaria When we were come to the foot of a Mountain this King fell a crying out as loud as he could and desired me also to do the like which I did and I believe that it was to call home all those who were about the Woods because thereupon they presently returned to the Habitation for I saw them run from all parts to their place which was in a Valley where being come I found a great number of Caribes Men and Women amongst the 〈…〉 King of the 〈◊〉 others the Wife of Camaria who was making an Amica or Bed of Cotton All these Indians Men and Women naked as they were came running to see me and my Companion a young Carpenter of our Ship who was
against their Enemies he made made a hole in the Ground pronouncing some certain Words and then came something up with a horrible thundering noise which spake to him and instructed him giving him notice what their Enemies were doing at that time And indeed when Camaria and his Brother Yago came on board our Ship they told us that they knew very well that their Enemy Anacajoury King of the Caripous was preparing himself to come to attack them that which he could not have known so readily but by such means But to return to the Caripou-Yapoco of whom I have spoken before that Yapoco Camaria King of the Caribes had instantly desired me being at his Habiration to order the business so with our General that he might have him in his power to Eat him in Revenge of the mischief that his Uncle Anacajoury had done them before VVhen I was returned back to our Ship I spoke to the General about it who told me that I did very well to promise but he would take care to avoid such VVickedness Thus Camaria was promised to have Yapoco given him of which he was mighty Joyful and sent about all his Country to all his Friends and Confederates that they should prepare themselves to come to this Feast The next morning hoising our Sails and weighing Anchor to go away presently comes Camaria with a great many Indians to have Yapoco who being refused him in good earnest went away so affronted and vexed that I had not a mind to return to be his Guest for I believe they would have done the same to me they designed to do to the poor Yapoco This Camaria had but one Eye and was mighty Crafty and Treacherous As for Yapoira the Brother of Atoupa the Caribe who had tarried all night in our Ship as I have said before Atoupa did all that ever he could to persuade us to let go his Brother but seeing he could not obtain that of our General he said that he would also willingly go with us into France and that he would either kill or drown himself rather than leave him The General told him that he was content and that he should come betimes in the morning and whilst he was in such a good Humour This being thus resolved upon as soon as we began to set sail we saw the Mother of these two Caribes who came towards us in a Cannoe crying and howling after the most pittiful manner that could be imagined She brought along with her the Bow and Arrows the Paintings and the Amica of Yapoira which is all their Wealth Yapoira was mighty sorry to see his Mother keep such a mourning for him and desired our General to give her a Hatchet to appease her a little which was done yet she returned again thus Disconsolate After that we set sail the 18th of Departure from the Country of the Caribes May and passed by a little Island very pleasant near to the Coast of the Caribes holding our Course to go to the Isle of Santea-Lucia but we Santa-Lucia were deceived by the Currents which come from the South-East having made according to the Estimation of our Pilot in one night above seventy Leagues without scarce any Wind. We went to touch at the Isle of Tabuco which remained Northwards of us Tabaco Isle Then leaving the Isle de-la-Trinadad towards the South we discovered Isle de la Trinadad the Testigues of the Isle Blanche which Blanche-Isle are 5 or 6 Peninsula's very near to one another and passed through the middle of them then seeing Land of some places above We were a long time considering if it was Land or thick Clouds because it was very low and thereupon several Wagers were laid whether it was Land or not At last bearing directly towards it we found out that it was really Land but unknown to us since deceived by the Currents As we approached it we saw Animals running in great Companies Wild-Goats along the Coast Some of us not knowing what they were said at first they were Bands or Cavalliers but these Cavalliers proved to be Wild-Goats of which this Isle is full Taking down then our Sails very low we went as near to this Island as we could our Patache going continually before to discover if there were any Rocks as indeed we had gone directly upon one had not the Patache given us notice thereof with a signal at the end of a Pike and took the way that she shewed us leaving this Rock about a little Stones cast off us It was not covered with above a Foot or two of Water so that we going so swift with a light Gale of Wind had without doubt split and been all lost in such a place without help or succour and besides it being in the night but God by his mercy preserved us there from and being there was not much clear Water to be seen we could not find the bottom to Anchor but at last we found but 30 Fathoms of Water where we cast Anchor for this night The next morning the 29th of May Voyage into the Isle we caused our Boat to be Equipped to go on Shore and to seek some Water Our Men after Breakfast went thus away with their Muskets and Pikes without the least drop of Water along with them but they payed dear for it For after having gone a good way up into this Island with the heat of the Sun and running after the Goats they were so wonderful dry and thirsty that they thought they should all have Died for want of a little Water and returning again with great Trouble and Fatigue they were forced to carry the weakest upon their Shoulders They brought along with them a great many Pelicans and coming confusedly one after another very weak and discomforted and not minding any thing but Drinking and then our General 's Brother of Friendship coming on board our Ship said aloud that they looked for Pearls but he had rather have a Barrel of Water than of Pearls for the great Thirst that he had endured with the rest The next morning we went sixteen The Author visites the Isle Men to discover the other side of the Island and if there was any Water and coming on Land we saw before us a great number of Wild-goats who came running along the Sea side and began to enter into a Valley where we with Harquebuss and Musket killed five or six upon the place These Creatures not being used to be Hunted after this manner made a horrible noise and bellowing and though they were Shot quit through the Body yet they did not fall for that but fled away with a light pace We left there a Man to order these we had killed I never thought then to look for the Besoart-Stone which these Besoart-Stone Beasts carry in their Ventricle but to follow the others about this Isle to find out Water and some curious Things We went thus three or
arrived the next day towards the Evening and cast Marguerite Island Anchor near to a little Habitation on the East-side Then we sent our Boat on Land with Arms to discover the place They found Fire still in the Houses but no Body within all being fled into the Woods at the sight of us We found a Cannoe which came from Fishing of Pearls not having any thing in it but Shells The Master's Mate was sent to a rising Ground in the Island to see if he could discover any thing He espied 3 or 4 Blacks who run away into the * Thorn-Bushes as soon as they saw him and it was impossible to find 〈◊〉 them out tho' very diligent search was made We had a great mind to take some one of the Islanders to shew us the place where they Fish for Pearls which is in certain places along by the Isle but it was impossible to find any one of them The third of June in the night time we had so violent a Tempest that our Ship was in danger to have run aground but leaving an Anchor in the Sea to save the Ship we were preserved from this imminent danger The fourth day of the same month seeing we could not find any sweet Water we weighed our Anchors and bore towards Cumana and arriving 2 or 3 Leagues on this side we perceiv'd Cumana a Fleming Ship in a Bay or Gulf lading with Bay-Salt which is there in abundance We cast Anchor on the Starboard-side of her and put out our Boat into the Sea to Board them and so to ask them where we might find some fresh Water After having saluted us with their Cannon they told us that bearing towards the River of Cumana we should find some and that we should by the way meet their Shalop which they had sent there which we did accordingly but the Men therein would come near us by no means they were so afraid needlesly We continued our Course towards Cumana where coming near the River Extream Thirst we espied along the Coast two Ships at Anchor not knowing what they should be Nevertheless we proceeded on for it was necessary to have Water and could not live without Drinking We found that of these two Ships the â—encounter with the English one was a Fleming and the other English The Fleming Traffick'd there underhand with those of Cumana where the Spaniards are And the English Patache came there to seek some fresh Water for their Admiral whom she had left along by the Margueritta 〈◊〉 After several Guns for Salutation the English came on Board our Ship Feasting our English Pilot and 5 or 6 others of their Countrymen which we had in our Ship Our Trumpeter shewed me their Strange History of â—n English 〈◊〉 Pilot and told me that he some years before being in an English Vessel as they were upon the Coasts of the West-Indies towards St. John de Love the first place of the Indies to go to Mexico where the Spaniards are then their Sworn Enemies a great Storm overtook them which cast them upon the Coast where they were all lost except this Pilot who saved himself by Swiming to Land carrying with him a little Sea-Compass and went thus wandring about to return by Land to the Newfound Countries Upon that he had found an Indian-Woman of whom he was Enamoured making her fine Promises by Signs that he would Marry her which she believed and conducted him through these Desarts where she shewed him the Fruit and Roots good to Eat and served him for an Interpreter amongst the Indians which he found she telling them that it was her Husband After having been thus 2 or 3 years continually wandering about and that for above 800 Leagues without any other Comfort but this Woman At last they arrived at the Newfoundland guiding himself by his Compass They had a Child together and found there an English Ship a Fishing He was very glad to see himself escaped from so many Dangers and gave these English an account of all hiâ— Adventures They took him on Board their Vessel to make him good chear but being ashamed to take along with him this Indian-Woman thus Naked he left her on Land without regarding her any more But she seeing her self thus forsaken by him whom she had so dearly Loved and for whose sake she had abandonned her Country and Friends and had so well guided and accompanied him through such places where he would without her have been dead a thousand times After having made some Lamentation Strange and Cruel Acts of an 〈…〉 full of Rage and Anger she took her Child and tearing it into two pieces she cast the one half towards him into the Sea as if she would say that belonged to him and was his part of it and the other she carried away with her returning back to the Mercy of Fortune and full of Mourning and Discontent The Seamen who took this Pilot into their Boat seeing this horrible and cruel Spectacle asked him why he had left this Woman but he pretended she was a Savage and that he did not now heed her which was an extream Ingratitude and Wickedness in him Hearing this I could not look upon him but always with Horrour and great Detestation After then that we had Feasted one another the English Convoyed Water found us to get some Water All the night long I went to Drink in full Streams to compense the former Thirst I endur'd filling the empty Vessels of my Chest for the time to come In the morning before we set Sail two Spaniards with an Indian-Woman came from Cumana on Board to exchange Pearls with some of our Merchandize but we had nothing fit for them We weighed then our Anchors and took our Course the 5th of June and repassing along by the Isle of Margueritta and the White Island we went to get out of the Channel by the Virginies But having Virginia seen there a great Ship at Anchor we could not imagine what she should be whether English or Spanish we passed close by her without perceiving any one upon the Deck And bearing a little further we perceived a great Ship in form of a Galley coming full sail upon us We kept our selves to the Wind as much as we could nevertheless we were prepared to receive them but the night coming on when they were near us and at such time when we thought to come to handy-Blows this great Ship that we had left at Anchor made a Fire on Land which made them leave of Chasing us We bore all night along by Portorico and Portorico the next day at night the 12th of July passed all the Island We saw our selves at break of day out of the Channel and very joyful that we were in the Main-Sea holding our Course about the height of the Isle of Bermuda We had tarried a long time without making any way because Bermude-Isle of the Calms And visiting our
these a Carrack and two Hulks We parted from the River of Lisbon the 29th of March on Easter-Eve Parting from Lisbon and bore to the S. W. and to the S. We had great Winds in the sight of Madera and passing close thereby the Galley of Good Jesus lost us and took her Course as far as Mosambique where she was taken by the Hollanders Amongst us was the greatest Disorder and Confusion imaginable because of the Peoples Vomiting up and Misery upon the Sea down and making Dung upon one another There was nothing to be heard but Lamentations and Groans of those who were straightned with Thirst Hunger and Sicknesses and other Incommodities and Cursing the time of their Embarkment their Fathers and Mothers and themselves who were the cause thereof so that one would have thought â—hey had been out of their Wits and like Mad-mâ—n amongst the excessive heats under the Line and the Abrolles and Calms This continued a long time and the hot Rains upon the Coast of 〈◊〉 was also very troublesome to us which afterwards turned to Worms â—f that which was wet was not presently dried It was a wonderful trouble to me to see my Quilt wet and Worms crawling all over These Rains are so stinking that they rot and spoil not only the Pody but also all Cloths Chests Utensils and other Things And not having any more Cloths to shift my self withall I was forced to dry upon me that which I woâ—e with my Quilt by lying thereupon but I was well fitted for that for the Fever with a great pain in 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 the Reins took the in such a manner that I had a fit of Sickness almost the whole Voyage yet this was not all for I had besides that the Lovende Sâ—uâ—â—â— which the Portugals call Berber and the Hollanders Scurbus which rotted almost all my Gumbs and rendered a sort of a black and puâ—rified Blood My Knees were so contracted that I could not bend my Limbs my Legs and Thighs were as black as Members Gan-green'd and was constrained to be continually Launcing to get out this black and putrified Blood I Launced also my Gums which were black and blue and surmounting my Misoâ—y of the Authoâ— Teeth going every day out upon the side of the Ship holding by the Cordage with a little Looking Glass in my hand to see where to cut When I had cut away this dead Flesh and drawn away abundance of black Blood I washed my Mouth and Teeth with Urine but the next morning there was as much And my ill fortune was that I could not Eat having more mind to swallow than to chew upon the account of the great pains which this Disease causes I found no better remedy than the Syrop of Gilli-flowers and good red Wine Great numbers Died every day thereof and there was nothing to be seen but Bodies a flinging over-board and the most part Died without help some behind Chests having their Eyes and the Soles of their Feet eaten up with Rats Others were found Dead in their Beds after having been let Blood and moving their Arms the Veins opened and their Blood ran out Oftentimes after having received their Allowance which might be about a Pint of Water and putting it near them to Drink when a-dry their Companions rob'd these poor Sick Wretches of this little Water they being asleep or turned to the other side Sometimes being under Deck in a dark place not seeing Strange â—hirst one another they would fight amongst themselves and strike one another if they caught any about to Steal their Water and thus oftentimes were they deprived of Water and for want of a little Draught they miserably died without any one offering to help them to never so little no not the Father the Son nor the Brother the Brother so much did every Man's particular Thirst compel him to Rob his Companions I found my self oftentimes thus deceived of my allowance but yet I comforted my self as well as I could seeing so many others in the same case And this was the cause that I durst not Sleep too much and commonly put my Water where it could not be easily taken without wakening of me After we had suffer'd thus much and passed the Line the Count de la Fera Vice-roy was took sick of a hot Count de la Fera falls Sick and Dies Fever and continued so but 6 days before he died He had a little before Commanded the Estrinquere which is he whose Office is to hoise the great Sail by a Wheel to be made Prisoner because he had Amancebado that is to say he kept a Concubine which he had brought from Portugal and she being with Child when she Embark'd was brought to Bed in our Ship The Woman was sent back to Portugal in the Hulk in which was the Body of the Count de la Fera. This Gentleman being dead I Embalmed his Body because of the hotness of the Climate then having Embark'd it with about 50 sick Persons who were to return again to Portugal tho not without great Intreaties to have the Licence of Captain More Major We called this Captain of Captain Major-Mor the Vice-Admiral named Don Christoval de Norogne to Command in the Admiral where the said Captain Mor being did us a thousand sorts of Injuries and Cruelties as well by Prisons as by cheating us of our ordinary allowance of Victuals for he reserved several Pipes of Wine and a great deal of Flesh and Oil to sell at Mozambique Don Alfonce de Norogne Captain of our Ship under the Vice-roy when he was alive was mightily displeased at this bad usage of Don Cristoval but he died within few days and his Body was cast into the Sea Having passed about 9 or 10 Degrees on the other side the Line the Wind not being favourable to us the Pilots held Council what they should do whether to Tack about and return to Portugal or to pass on fearing they could not pass the Cape of Good Hope in regard it was too late in the year because that the Mâ—eson's or Muessons Winds of the Season were almost passed already After having well disputed upon this subject they tack'd about to return to Portugal and having sailed some time the Captain Mor who had a mind to make himself by this Voyage seeing himself at that time Chief Commander of the Fleet threatned the Master and Pilot with ill Language and commanded them to Tack again for the Indies This was in the night and thereupon Fires were made for a signal for the other Vessels to return but we were not long together in Consort for the rest knowing the Viceroy to be Dead separated from us and each held theirs a part we continuing alone until we came to the Isles of Angoche near the River of Cumana Cumana where we found the St. Anthony and St. Bartholomew Galleys We held then our Course tho' our Men dying every day of the
place where I was But they fetch the good VVater out of the Continent at a place called Cabassie There is indeed a little Spring but it was little better than nothing After that I went again on Board the Ship Then the next day I returned again to Land to look for some to lodge in because the Hollanders had burnt all the Houses and by chance I found a Soldier who took me into his Lodging within the Fortress where I carried all my Materials But after having been there some days as well to Purge my self as to be cured of my Disease comes some of the Servants of Captain Mor to look for me and commanded me to follow them to speak with their Master I followed them in abundance of pain and they hastning me forward which I did after the best manner I could through these Sands towards the Sea-side in the end they laid me upon the Back of an Ethiopian to carry me into his Almadie which is a sort of a Almadie little Boat of the Country made of a hollow Tree They cast me within it as if I had been a Log of VVood and one of the Serjeants Embarked with me The Tide being come he made the Blacks row to bring me on board the Vice-Admiral St. Jerome I was a long time in this Almadie du ring the excessive heat of the Sun a-Noon-Day and I expected to Die with Heat and Thirst and bought a Lagne or Nut of Palm of these Ethiopians to drink of the Water of it giving half to him who kept me Prisoner When I came on Board he put me into the Hands of the Merigne or Serjeant of the Ship who demanded of him how he would have me fastened to which he answered by the Neck the Merigne opened the Collars of Iron Imprisonment of the Author and his Misery and caused me to lie down all along and shut my Neck betwixt two pieces of Wood But seeing me Sick he had some Compassion upon me and gave me a Pillow to put under my Head I was in this miserable Condition from the 7th to the 28th of October at which time I was set at liberty I being then thus taken and shut up about 4 in the evening comes the Ovydor or Judg of the Army with the Register and demanding of me my Name and from whence I came and who gave me Licence to pass into the Indies They knew it very well but made as though they were ignorant thereof For they hnew that I had Embarqued in the Service of the Count de la Fera and besides at such Nature of the Portugals time when they themselves had been Sick I had served and assisted them for which they said then they were mightily obliged to me But these Portugals being for the most part of the Race of the Jews are by Nature Cruel and Ungrateful When they had enquired concerning my Person and writ it down they demanded of me where my Chest and Utensils were and to give them the Key Their design was to Rob me of that little Money and other concerns which I had They had taken a little before one John Baptisto a Geneueâ—e who had been Secretary to the late Viceroy and had made much enquiry after him â—eâ—ing him that he had some Papers and Memorials against the State of the Indies The Captain Mor had deceived him For he had caused him to come on Shore from the Pangais where he was Embarked with Don Louis Alves Brother to the Count de la Fera desiring him to go with him to the Conquest of Cumana This Don Louis carried Voyage to Cumana 200 men to the assistance of Monomoptata one of the Kings of the Lower Ethiopia against another King his Neighbour who made War upon him and the said Monomoptata had promised the Portugals to give them all they could Conquer Now when this John Baptisto was come on Shore upon the Faith of the Captain who John Baptisto taken promised him that he should not have any harm done he was immediately sent as a Prisoner to the Vice Admiral and presently after I was taken as I have before given account and found the said John Baptisto Prisoner under Deck not having then any Irons upon his Feet He was mightily astonished to see me fastned so as I was and endeavoured to render me what Consolation he could that I might take it patiently But this was not all my Misery to be thus fastened by the Neck for Hunger Thirst and the Disease of my Gums tormented me much more for they would not so much as give me a little Water to Drink And by ill fortune I had taken no Money along with me not knowing where they would lead me and had not in all above two Rials one of which I was Robb'd of and with the other I prayed the Merigne to buy me some little Fishes if any passed by our Ship when the Blacks come from Fishing abroad who commonly pass by asking in their Language if any one had occasion for Somba that is to say Fish and Macacoua or Fish dried in the Sun I had still my Instrument Case and a Gold Ring upon my Finger which I pawned for Victuals The evening being come after the Inquest was made concerning the said John Baptisto and me the Captain Mor sent Soldiers to guard us and ordered Irons to be fastened also upon John Baptisto's Feet then caused him to be put at the bottom of the Ship and to shut the Hatches upon him and the Keys to be brought to him and continued thus five days without having any thing given him to Eat As for me the Merigne in the evening took the Collars from about my Neck and put Irons upon my Feet and caused me to lie upon a Chest in his Cabbin As for Don Louis d'Alves Brother to Don Louis d'Alves the Count de la Fera when he saw how Captain Mor had served his Secretary such an ill Trick by thus falsifying his Faith he was mightily troubled thereat besides he had before fallen out with this Captain and would have fought him upon a difference about the Sea-Provision of the Count de la Fera which was worth very near 10000 Ducats in Victuals as well Flesh Biscuit Wines Oil as other Refreshments for the Sea and this Captain who was before Vice-Admiral and since the Death of the Count Admiral himself had made use of some of them and carried the rest to Mosambique and there sold them Don Louis seeing that he could obtain no Restitution of this wicked Man he Embarked to go on his Voyage to Cumana to the Conquest of the Gold which this King Enemy to Monomopata had and Captain Mor thinking that Don Louis upon his setting Sail would board the Ship where we were Prisoners sent a great number of Soldiers and Cannoniers with charge to fire at and sink the Pangais of Don Louis if he made the least shew to Board them In the morning
Canoniers to Fire upon the Pangais to sink them not careing for the Loss of his Merchandise so he might but sink Captain More also at least to do him some mischief The Canoneer took his Aim and was going to fire one of the great Canons But as good fortune would have it both for one and the other nothing but the Priming took Fire and hereupon the principal of the City of Masambique ran in all hast upon the Ramparts to appease Don Estevan who was resolved to sink them all and promised him to procure the Pangais out of the Hands of Captain Mor. The Reason that moved this Captain to do thus was nothing but Mallice and Revenge to make the Pangais lose the opportunity of the Voyage to the no small damage of Don Estevan to whom it had been above an hundred thousand Crowns Loss for that year for as much as he could not have sent the Pangais at any other time to bring back the Profits which he uplifts every year from those Countries of Covama Besides he had endured a long siege of the Hollanders in this place At last the accord was made betwixt him and Captain More and he sent his Pangais to their accustomed Traffick but yet they still retained betwixt themselves a secret hatred and ill-will Since which time Ruy de Mello came to relieve Don Estevan of his Government his three years being Expired This Country of Covama is the Finest of all Africa from whence the best Gold is brought and in the greatest quantity insomuch that the Captain of Mosambique during the three years that he Commands there may carry away from Mosambique Sofala and Covama above three hundred thousand Crowns without reckoning that which he Pays to the Soldiers and some Tibute which he renders to the Gold of Africa King While I was there I saw the Soldiers Pay which was Gold in Powder as it is found giving every one so many Carats This Gold is so yellow and pure that our Pistol-Gold and Crowns seems to be but Copper thereto There dares none Traffick towards all this Coast of Mosambique without 〈…〉 Licence of the Captain who sends several Vessels to the Cape of Courrants and to Covama who return laden with the finest Ivory for there the Eliphants are in abundance and very great They bring back also Amber-greace and Gold in liew of some small Ware which they give in Exchange to the Blacks or Cafres who gather the Gold in the Field at the Foot of certain Mountains at such time as the Floods of Water come which running from on high forces down store of Gold in Powder and then each Ethiopian hath his little Brook with a little Net made in the Fashion of a â—ock for to catch Rabets withal but wove more slender with which they stop all this Gold-Sand running from the Mountains They sometimes find great pieces of it and very fine as I have seen some of them at the Senior Francisco Meindi Judg of the Orphans at Mosambique and one of the Richest belonging to the Captain This Piece weighed about half a Pound and was Refined But he kept that as a rarity for such Pieces are not often to be found Now the time of our Embarkment drawing nearer and nearer which was â—oss of the Ships in the Month of March I was not a little Joyful to quit this Desart Country where I was ready to Dye for Hunger the most part of the time As for the other Ships of our Fleet I must not forget to tell that they were all cast away in their Voyage to the Indies And First the Carraque called Nostra-Seniora d' Aiuda was lost upon the Coast of Ethiopia where the most part of the Men Died of Violent Diseases which are incident to that Country Strange Disease and amongst others a certain disease which breaks out at the Fundament like an Ulcer and is presently full of Worms which Gnaw as far as the Belly and so they die in great misery and torment There hath been no better remedy found for this Disease than the Juyce of Lymon in washing therewith the Fundament for that obstructs the Worms breeding there I believe this Disease comes only by Drinking the bad Water which is there in great abundance As for the Galion of the Holy Ghost Galion of the Holy Ghost they seeing the Water coming in upon them with such great Violence were forced to Sail back to Bresil where being come they sent into Portugal to know what they had best to do whether to return to Portugal or to persue their Voyage they were commanded to proceed Having Chaulked their Galion they set sail for the Indies and being at the height of Cape de Bonne Cape of Good-Hope Esperance they met with contrary Winds and Tacking about from one side to the other continually beating about the Sea they could no longer hold out and the Vessel struck a Leak in the Fore-Castle which the Master seeing he together with the Captain and Pilot cast out the Boat in haste with a Barrel of Water and some Biscuit therein slipping down themselves by a Rope The Captain not being Pitious Accident of a Ship able to hold so well as the rest fell into the Sea and they within were ready to cut of his Hands when he caught hold of the Boat but one among the rest crying out 't was the Captain saved him Several were kept off with Swords and had their Hands cut as they laid hold on the Boat There was but 16 Persons out of 300 saved The Boat endeavoured to gain the Cape of Coarrants and sailed above 400 Leagues before they arrived at the place designed but in the end they came to Mosambique and from thence to Goa where I was told this accident The Galion of Good Jesus was taken by the Hollanders near Mosambique and burnt setting the Men at liberty The Carrack called the Palm was Mogincal Woman-Fish lost at Mogincal where the Blacks Fish for Pisce Mulier which is to say Women Fish This Fish resembles a Woman having the Privy Parts after the same manner and carrieth her young under her Fins which are on each side serving for Arms and goes often on Land and is there disburthened of her young The Blacks who Fish are to swear not to have to do with these She-Fishes Their Teeth are of great Virtue as I have experienced against Hemorhoids Bloody Flux and hot Fevers in rubbing them against a Marble and agitating it with Water and so to be Drunk These Blacks are extream fond of these Fishes and refresh themselves by having Communication with them These Pisces Mulieres have a hideous Face like the Snout of a Hog and all the Body like a Fish These People also Eat human Flesh for which they are called Macone 'T is Macone said they drank the Blood of the Hollanders Barbarity of the Blacks when the Portugals made a Salley out of Mosambique And
a Soldier of that place told me that he saw a Black cut the Throat of a Hollander that remained upon the place and swallowed down the Blood hot They are very hardy and couragious in War fearing neither Sword or Dart yet there are some Cowards The subjects of Monomotapa when they kill any Strange Customs of the Blacks of their Enemies cut off their Privy-Members and having dried them give them their Wives to wear about their Neck of which they are not a little Proud For they who have the most are the most esteemed in regard that Evidences the Husband to be the more hardy and valiant They carry them before the King to declare where and when they purchased the same As for the Carrack called Oleveira Oleveira Carrack she was lost near the Isles Quemades not far from Goa being so close pursued by the Hollanders that they were constrained to put out the Boat and save themselves by going a shore setting Fire to their Ship The Carrack named the Salvation was carried towards the Coast of Arabia to the Confines of the Abassins and was there also Shipwrackt I believe this happened through the Villany of the Master and Pilot who having a mind to Inrich themselves with the Money of private Persons and the Cavedal which is that of the King 's for the lading of Peper run purposely a ground upon the Coast Then was it time for every one to save himself taking with him his Money and Arms not thinking to lade themselves with Victuals The Master and Pilot agreed before to put the Money into the Boat with some Victuals and Arms and some of their Confidents went to cross the Coast passing the Red-Sea as far as the Persian Gulf to recover Ormus When this was known at Goa they dispatch'd Gallies after them and were taken towards Ormus and brought Prisoners to Goa whilst I was there The rest who were about 400 white Strange Adventure of the Portugals in Ethiopia Men and 300 Negro Slaves set themselves in order to march along the Coast and recover a certain Port of the Red-Sea to Embark for the Indies But as they marched with Colours displayed and crying * Sautiago thinking to make the Ethiopians afraid of them but it fell out to the contrary Insomuch that being fatigued with Hunger Thirst and weariness and troubled with the Enemy behind every one was forced to shift for himself and the hindermost were killed by the Ethiopians The rest who saved themselves fell into the hands of a most barbarous King who seeing so many Blacks of their own Nation Captives amongst these Portugals Hypocritically told them that if they would tender their Arms they should receive no hurt They believing that and seeing themselves encompassed about on every side delivered up their Arms and presently this Abassin King caused them to be taken and led one after another into a great place before his Pallace and afterwards having stripped them stark-naked ordered them to sit down in a Ring and caused an Herald to Proclaim their Death saying that it was his Pleasure to have all their Heads chopt off before his People But it happened by chance that in the same Ship that was thus lost there was a Persian Ambassador who had been sent into Europe from the great Sophy of Persia to demand succour of the Christian Princes against the Turk This Ambassador having been well received and amongst others by the King of Spain with noble and rich Presents he returned in this Ship by the way of the Indies I saw him at Lisbon march about the City in great State and had his Turbant covered with precious Stones Now this Ambassador who saved himself among these poor Wretches fell upon his Knees before the King desiring that he would please to give these Christians their Lives seeing he had taken from them all they had and suffer them to Embark in some Port of his Country telling him amongst other things that if he knew but the Power of Spain he would not offer them the least Injury and that their Prince was able in a little time to Ruin him The King was a little pacified at these Words and told the Ambassador that for his Sake he would give them their Lives on condition they would presently depart his Dominions or else he would put them to Death The Portugals seeing this were not a little glad to have their Lives saved got away Naked as they were and Embarked in a Ship of an Arabian Trafficking upon the Coast of India who gave them Victuals and Passage upon hopes to be recompenced at Goa and being arrived the Master came to demand his Hire and Charges but Good Office ill requiâ—ed was Laughed at He came to the Viceroy Andre Furtade de Mendoce but could not get any thing One of these Seamen that were saved being my Friend told me That the Master Cannonier mightily lamented the loss of a Stone of a strange Virtue and excellent Odour for having it about Odoriferent Stone him he seemed to have a Scent of Musk and Ambergreece The Virtue was such that being Soaked in Water it was an excellent Remedy against any Disease and had experienced it upon several of their Men who as soon as they drank of the Water wherein it was soaked found themselves presently eased and were cured according to the quantity which they took The aptain would have given him a 1000 Duckets for it but he would not take under 3 or 4000. He came by it one day as they made a Halt taking his Harquebuss and going about the Woods to shoot something to Eat he found an Animal of the bigness of a Deer but a little higher who had two Horns below the Eyes Animal carrying an excellent Stone and had the fortune to shoot him in the Head This Beast gave a leap to run upon him but he fell down dead He and his Companions cut him up to Roast him upon the Coals and as he was going to Eat some of the Pluck he found this Stone in a little bag which at first he made no account of but having washed it he found it of so curious and polished bright colour and of so sweet a smell that he kept it up carefully The Coast of Ethiopia is full of excellent and odoriferous Herbs and perhaps this Animal might feed thereupon and that may be the cause of the Virtue of the Stone Thus was the greatest part of the Fleet lost For of 14 Vessels there arrived but 4 at the Indies with a Hulk which served us for a Patach yet not without having the Masts broke in pieces There was a Carracon of the Fleet which sailed back for Portugal But before we depart from this Coast of Africa I will relate the strange Tragick Distory of Emanuel de Sosa Sepulveda Fortune which formerly happened to one Emanuel de Sosa called Sepulveda a Portugal Gentleman and how he was lost upon this Coast of Ethiopia
and never went on Land but when the Female Wonderful-Bird laid her Eggs she mounts up out of sight and so lays her Eggs one at a time as she mounts up after this Egg comes down tossing in the Air which is very hot in that Country before it falls into the Sea 't is Hatch'd after which the Sea nourisheth it which I found to be very wonderful and rare in Nature The 26th of May 1609. we arrived Arrival at Goa in the Indies at Goa the Old as they call it and the 27th went on Land being Ascension-Eve to Dine at Pangin before we should come to Goa As soon as the Fleet arrived there the Kings Packet was published which Andre Furtano Elected Vice-roy was to be opened no where but at Goa containing that in case the Vice-roy chanced to Die by the way Senior Andre Furtado de Mandoze should be Elected and if he was not there at that time they should send for the Governor of the Isle of Seilan Andre Furtado having thus been received Reys-Magos or the Church of the three Kings for Vice-roy I went to Reys-Magos which is the Church of the Cordelieres where the Vice-roys commonly reside whilst Preparations are made for his Reception to speak with him and desire him to help me in my necessity He made me answer that I should come to him when he was setled in his Government But all this signified nothing for I could never speak with him until such time as he sent for me to go with him to Portugal being relieved of his Charge by Ruy de Talbe who came the next year to Goa He sent for me then by his Cup-Bearer to come and speak with him at the Pass of Madre de Dios half a League from Madre de Dioâ— or the Mother of God Goa the which I did and told me if I would go along with him to Portugal he would content me to which I willingly agreed I went to live in his House till we Embarkt which was in January following It was in November when he sent for me to this Pass where there was a Captain who kept the Passage so that none could go into the Main-Land without being marked in the Hand except those of the Country and the Portugals who must have the Licence of the Coregidor I desired then this Captain from Andre Furtado to give me an Almadie with Mariners and a Naique for Guide which he willingly did and recommended me mightily to this Naique telling him that I went to look for Herbs for Andre Furtado which was true and accordingly brought some which served him for Fomentation of the Opelation of the Spleen Passing then to the Main-Land we went by these Places in the Habitations of the Gentlemen Bramenis and having demanded some Water to drink at the House of one of these People he gave me some but stayed to see if I drank without touching the sides of the Cup the which I knew not and Drank without any Ceremony which the Son of this Gentleman seeing cried out as loud as he could to his Father who was in a little place behind the House who presently came running in great Ange so that I was constrained to march of and make clean the Cup by my Naique to appease them After that I passed by a Pagod or Temple very well built and entering therein I found one of the Natives stark-naked adorning their Idol with Flowers which had a Head like a Calf when presently an old Woman amongst them cried out to me Why I came in there with my Shooes my Naique excused me in telling her that I knew not the Custom As for the Pay-gods they have several Paygods sorts of them Some for War others for Peace and for Love where the Maids coming to be Married are brought to be Desâ—oured and their Idol hath the Privy Parts like a Man The Damsels who serve these Pay-gods like the Vestal-Virgins continue there from 10 to 20 years of Age and Dance all night long carrying lighted Lamps in their Hands and go to Sleep round about their Idols I saw there very beautiful Girls and Women They Marry their Daughters at 8 or 9 years of Age when they are once past 12 or 13 they are not regarded because they believe them to continue no longer Maids considering the heat of the Country At the end of 20 years these Religious Women that Indian Women Religious have thus served the Pay-gods are kept in a certain place the rest of their Lives After I had gathered some Herbs which I had occasion for we went to a little Habitation of Gentiles where I demanded by my Truch-man if they had any Victuals to give us for our Money for there is no Inns or Taverns there but there were some little Shops where they sold Fruit and other things fit to Eat These Gentiles having Compassion on me there was a Woman who put me under a Gallery of her House where there was a Napkin full of Leaves and Plantane accommodated with Thorns then she threw me some Rice thereupon with a certain Sauce which they call Caril I Eat all this and when I was about to Drink out of a little Vessel of Copper that they had given me full of Water they began to cry out upon me because I touched it in Drinking for they never touch the Cup in Drinking only heaving it up with the Server whereon it stands and so Drink The Floor and Pavement of their Houses are composed with Cow-Dung Ants troublesome which they make look exceeding bright and think that it keeps away the Ants which are there in abundance and they can keep nothing free from being destroy'd by these little Animals to prevent which they have also Cupboards bore upon Piles set in Vessels full of Water where the Ants drown themselves by thinking to mount up Near to this Habitation I found a great Tree laden with Tamarins of which I gathered a few Tamarins They had yet nothing but a sower Taste I carried away the Husk which are almost like French-Beans but larger and greater Now as I returned by a very Desart Place I saw some of these Gentiles running in great haste and having caused my Truch-man to ask what ailed them they answered that their Father was gone to Drown himself a little after I saw them return bringing back their Father and Comforting him after the best manner they could He was troubled for some Misfortune that had happened to him It is a common thing with these People to Drown or Poison themselves or to Indians subject to Dispair Die after some such way when any Accident happens to them As for the Women 't is the Custom that when the Body of their Dead Husbands are Burnt they cast themselves into the Funeral Pile and Burn Women who burn themselves themselves after being first adorned with their richest Accoutrements and Jewels Dancing at the Sound of Instruments and
to be sliced with a Razor then rub it with Salt and Vinegar for fear it should Fester They have another sort of punishment which they call Pingar Viue which Cruelty of the Portugals is to drop Lard put into a red hot Pelle upon the Body of the poor Patient stark naked and lying upon his Belly The Parents of these miserable Wretches are sorry they brought them into the World to feel such Torments which pierces them to the very Entrails I have sometimes seen part of these Barbarous Cruelties which afflicted me so much that I have still a horrour when I think thereof There was one day a poor Indian Girl who came running to my Lodging crying out for help and praying me to be a means to obtain Mercy but I could not save her to my great Sorrow For she was taken and laid all along on the Ground and Bastinadoed without pity There was a Metice Woman who had by these horrible Chastisements killed 5 or 6 Slaves which she caused to be Buried in her Garden And one day as she ordered another to be thus punished he who gave her the Blows going to leave off the miserable Creature in the mean time Died and when 〈…〉 i.e. â—ive it her â—ive it her 〈◊〉 an old â—â—x he told his Mistriss that she was Dead no no she answered she counterfeits Daly Dalyes Rapose Veille that is to say Lay on lay on 't is an old Fox Another had a Slave who was not vigilant enough and ready to rise when she called her her Mistress caused an â—â—heard of 〈…〉 Horse-Shooe to be nailed upon her Back insomuch that the poor Creature died some time after the place thus abus'd being invaded by a Gangreen Another for not being nimble enough had her Eye-Lids sowed to her Eye-brows which had like to have cost her her life her Face being swell'd so One day I heard another young Indian or Chinese Woman who was Chastised after the same manner the blows sounding very loud but she did nothing but groan so low that one could scarce hear her very cry saying Ja Ja Me Signoe I then demanded of Ja ja mi Senior my Host's Brother what it was who told me 't was a Slave a Chastising and that she would have three times as much if she complained and that this was nothing to what others endured and that there was another of them who was hanged in a Chamber by the Hands for 2 or 3 days together and that for a very small matter as for letting fall some Milk as he thought Portugals without Compassion for they would have made him believe he drank it And having asked him if they ever let him down to give him any thing to Eat he told me no but some times as a great favour would let him a little lower just to give him a little Rice sopt in Water and presently hoise him up again But that this would not be all for after that he would be well Bang'd and that they only tarried for his absence that they might begin again this cruel Chastisement He told me also how his Brother who was Master of the Lodging having one day bought a Japan Slave a beautiful Girl and how in Dineing with his Wife he happened to say in Jesting that this Slave had exceeding White Teeth fallâ— it So that I was forced to let them alone For 't is not the custom there to 〈…〉 succour such except one has a mind to â—ight and be killed by them afterwards so mischievous and perverse is this Nation Insomuch that a Portugal-Gentleman being in bed with his Wife in the Night Dreamed that she commited Adultery with one of his Friends after he was awaked he was so Transported with Rage and Jealousy that he killed her at that instant with his 〈…〉 Portugal Poynard as she slept and then fled away to the main Land of Goa and from thence to the Court of Dialcan in whose service he put himself in the City of Isapor For this King seeing him a Cavallier of good fashion received him into his service giving him means to entertain himself and to be Lodged near his own person and also hoping to make him deny the Law of Jesus Christ and embrace that of Mahomet he gave him one of his Sisters in Marriage but for all that the Portugal would never Apostatize whatsoever Dialcan or his Sister could do which this Prince seeing was resolved to put him to Death But she having notice of it advertised her Husband thereof advising him to save himself with all possible speed and he asking her if she would follow him she made Answer that she willingly would with all her heart so that one Night having provided a great Number of precious stones and other Riches with two good horses they set out upon the high way and made such haste that they soon arrived at Pichelin and from thence passed to Goa where this Cavalter so ordered the business by Friends and Money that he had his Pardon for the Murder he committed upon his first Wife excusing himself to the Justice that she had dishonoured her self In the mean time Dialcan seeing the next Morning that neither this Portugal nor his Sister came to â—isit him as they were wont to do soon doubted of the business and having understood that they were fled sent a great Number of Horsemen after to catch them but all in vain for they were already out of his reach This mightily vexed Dialcan an Enemy to thâ— Portu the Prince and caused him to be a greater Enemy to the Portugals than ever he formerly was For they have no greater Adversary than he who hath several times befieged them at Goa but at present they have made truce together and I saw an Ambassador from him at Goa when Andre-Furtado commanded there who Marched about the City in great Pomp and Magnificence after the Moorish Indian manner I saw also other Ambassadors from 〈…〉 Goâ— Pegu and Calicut and it was a very fine sight to see them March in order with their Guards about the streets who carried Bows and Arrows in their Palanquns going with this Ceremony to find out the Vice-Roy in behalf of the Kings their Masters to confirm the Peace in their Ports and Coasts as far as their power permitted 'em to do But Andre-Furtado being Exasperated against the King of Pegu would not so much as read his Letters but tore them telling the Ambassadour that he would come and visit him within a few days and that he remembered how he had given Port and entertainment to the Hollanders their Enemies 〈◊〉 of Andre-Furtado against what had been concluded upon by the Peace and accord made betwixt them And that he had also an intention to visit the King of Achin in Sumatra for he had also received the Hollanders into his Ports to Traffick tho he at the same time knew that they were their Sworn Enemies
Thus was the Ship lost and all the Merchandise that was in her and afterward we arrived at Rochelle the 3d of Sept. from thence I came to Paris the 23 of the same Month when our young King Lewis XIII whom God preserve and prosper was gone to be Crowned at Rheims I had heard no News of the unhappy accident happened in the Person of King Henry the Great my good Master untill we were in sight of Lisbon for then according to the custom there came a Caravel from the Port to see and know who we were who told us that sad History which I could scarcely believe but coming to Land it was too much confirmed to my Eternal regret and sorrow THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO Syria and the Holy Land BOOK V. HAving return'd to Paris from so many long and troublesome Voyages after the Death of King Henry the Great whom I can never sufficiently lament and all other good French Men I had a desire to make a Religious Voyage into the Holy Land there to go pay like a good Christian so many Vows I had made to God for the innumerable Perils and Dangers from which it hath pleased him mercifully to preserve me so often In this Resolution I parted from Paris the 19th of July 1611. and took Coach to Marseilles where I arrived Embarkment at Marseilles the 14th Day of August and tarried there for some Days to wait for passage which at last I found in a Ship of Toulon called the St. Francis belonging to Ode Bergue and Vander Strate Merchants of Toulon and Marseilles There embarking the 8th of September we set sail and the 12th saw the Isle of Sardania which Sardania we left on the North-East and the 15th we saw the Coast of Barbary passing near the Isle of Guerite which Guerite Isle is a little Island not far from the main Land where the Robbers and Pyrates lurk as well Turks as Christians we had this Isle towards the South-West The 17th we passed along by Malta Malta then by Sicilia where we found a Sicilia Ship in the fashion of a Galiot who came directly towards us to know if they durst engage us but when they had perceived our Strength they tacked about taking their course towards Barbary seeking other Prey more easie to surprize The 21st we passed along by Candia Candia where there is a little Island called Agose Isle Agose which advances into the Sea with a Point towards the South Then the 27th we went to the Isle of Cyprus towards the City of Bafe Cyprus not far from the Coast and went to pass the Cape de Gate designing to go to Famagusta But having a sharp Gale and good for our Voyage we continued our course bearing towards Tripoly in Syria where we arriv'd Arrival at Tripoly the last Day of September the next Morning the 1sâ— of October I went on shore to lodge in the City in a Campo near the Juderie or Jews-Place Campo These Campo's are great Houses with large Courts and Fountains where Strangers retire themselves for shelter like Inns. These belong to some great Person who letts them out and he who is the Porter thereof whom they call Boabe receives the Money of the Passengers and gives it to the Master of whom he holds it upon Rent Having tarried some time at Tripoly Voyage to Mount Lebanon I had a mind to see Mount Lebanon and for this effect took a Turk with an Ass to carry our Victuals We left the City the 11th of November and went over very high Mountains and troublesome to pass and in the end arrived at the Lodging of a Chaldean Archbishop called Father George who received us after the best manner he could His House is right above Mount Lebanon his Church is under his Habitation and a Water-mill underneath his Church I saw a good Father a Chaldean Priest and Kinsman to this Archbishop who came from grinding his Corn as he shewed us by his Visage all white with Meal and seeing him in this case we knew him not to be of the Church until the next Morning which was Sunday when I saw him go with the Host in his Hand from thence to a Village there to sing Mass The Father George lived there with his Mother Sisters and Nieces making one and the same Family altogether He shewed me a Chapel above his House upon a little Rock right under Mount Lebanon and told methere was there a Hole out of which every Year upon the 1st Day of May only gushes an abundance of Water at such time as they sing Mass in the Chapel The Mountain is covered all over with Cyprus-Trees The Place is very agreeable but the Winter is there very troublesome because of the excessive Cold and great Snows which mightily afflicts these good Fathers so that they are constrained for that cause to pass the Winter near Tripoly and return there again in the Spring The next Morning after we had heard Mass we set forward towards the Place where the Cedars are about Cedars Three Leagues from thence where being come we had such a cold blast of Wind that my Turk blew his Fingers I order'd him to get upon a Cedar-Tree to break me off some Branches but he tarried there not long for the Cold soon made him to descend that he could not get me so much as I desir'd But I feared he would tumble down being half frozen and besides he had not eaten his Breakfast because of their Romadan Romadan or Fast in the which they fast till Evening not daring to eat any thing upon pain of Death except it be in private and those who observe not strictly their Law and when I saw him tremble in good earnest I presently made him come down fearing to lose him From thence we reassumed our way to return to Canibi which is a Place Canibi belonging to the Chaldean Patriarch and had very bad Weather of Rain so that we arrived there late in the Evening after having passed many little Habitations situate for the most part upon the side of inaccessible Rocks and are almost all Chaldean and Greek Christians with some few Moors amongst them We were there very well received and drank excellent Wine which grows in these Mountains The next Day having heard Mass we returned to Tripoli where I passed a very troublesome Winter because Inundations of the great Inundations of Water which came from the Mountains and so swelled a little River which runs through the middle of the City that it bore down part of the Houses with great loss of Merchandise and Water-mills which it carried quite away with the Stone-bridge This was the cause that Bread was there very scarce and dear that we had much adoe to get a little black Biscuit half spoiled which was sold me by weight and at what rate they pleased and that by halves and the People already
Jacob 's House From thence we passed through Deserts where was a great Number of Tents of the Arabs on each side and began to mend our pace for the great Fear we were in without resting or refreshing our selves at all and I was very angry with my Turk who would not give me time to eat a bit of Bread being very weak having set out a little after Midnight and made so much way and besides our evil Fortune was not to find the least drop of Water to drink When we had passed all these Habitations of Arabs we went to pitch along by a Rock where it was exceeding hot and there seeking for Water we found some though very little which was Rain-water kept there a long time We had a mind to taste of it but it was so bitter and stinking that it was impossible to swallow the least drop thereof tho' I formerly had drank that which had been very bad and fancied that the Lizards Serpents and other venomous Creatures which are there in abundance had come to drink and to plunge themselves therein Our Turks though they are exceeding dry and are rustical and rough in their manner of living could not drink the least drop thereof By good Fortune I had still a Pomegranate or two left of which I gave to every one a little bit to refresh their Mouths not daring to eat any thereof before them without giving them some tho' I had very great need of it my self But it behoved me so to do if I had a mind to live quietly my endeavour being to humour them as long as I was with them Thus passed we this troublesome Way as far as the Cistern of Joseph Cistern of Joseph where we drank some of the Water which is very good and fresh and filled also our Teronques therewith This Cistern is a little Place raised up where there is a Building in which live certain Arabs It is covered with a Cupolo sustained with Four Pillars of White Marble but at present there is but Three entire the other being broken Having drank enough we went on our way but these Arabs striving to force us to give them something for this Water my Turk ran to hinder them from taking my Bread which I had brought from Damascus where I was furnished with Provision for several Days but at last it behoved us to give them something And thus escaped we from their Hands passing along Valley of the Five Loaves by the Valley of the Five Loaves where our Lord wrought that famous Miracle From thence we came to the Sea of Tiberias the 18th of April Sea of Tiberias and found the Chec-Marabou who was going to Jerusalem to the Temple of Salomon accompanied with 4 or 5000 Persons of all sorts The Place where we were was then called Lameny there we pitched our Baggage hard by Lameny a Bush and in the mean time I went to bathe in this Sea to ease and refresh my self a little I found the Water thereof very sweet and still and excellent good to drink having a very soft Sand at the bottom The River of Jordan passes with a very swift course just through the middle without mixing it self therewith and from thence runs into the dead Sea near Jerusalem from whence it is plainly to be seen from Mount Olivet for it is in a Valley having the Land of Arabia very high and Desart on the other side as I saw from Mount Olivet This Place of Lameny hath Cafars but I met with none of them I there saw all these Marabouts Santons who dance before the Chec's Tent and it is a fine sight to see them perform their Ceremonies and Follies ranging themselves Strange Dancâ—s all into a Ring as in a Dance then clapping their Hands and crying Nila Nilala then bowing and heaving themselves up with a great force There was a Sanâ—oâ— that led them by Signs of his Hands Gestures and Motions like a Master of Musick and who was in the middle of the Dance following with his Face towards them It would be impossible to represent all the great Follies and silly Tricks which they shew in these Dances for there are some of them who going out of the Dance cast themselves all along upon the Ground then two of these Santon-Marabouts take him one by the Head and the other by the Feet and stretch him out as far as they can after that this Man pretends himself dead and makes as tho' he had great Convulsions and Tremblings shaking himself mightily two or three times then seems as if he gave up the Ghost the Marabouts seeing that he neither stirs nor takes his Breath look upon him as a dead Man he who is at the Head takes his Right Hand and puts it upon his Face then does as much to his Left and after that puts them upon his Belly he who is at the Feet plucks him very hard and the other holding him by the Head raises him upon his Feet whereupon presently this dead Man reviving runs to dancing with the others They employ themselves thus 4 or 5 at a time one after another going to this fine Sport As I was beholding these Fooleries there was a Moâ—â—ish Woman hard by me who seeing all this entred into such a Fransie that she fell to shaking and crying out like the rest so that they had much adoe to quiet her making as if she had been ravished into an Exâ—asie The Evening being come they all fall to their Sala or Prayers and light a great Number of Lamps before the Tent of the Chec-Marabou who is the Captain of the other Santons and Marabous placing before his Tent all the Standards where there is writ in Arabick Letters something of the Law of Mahomet Afterwards in the Morning when the Caravan comes to decamp all these Santons take every one one of these Ensigns and go singing before the Chec who is encompass'd about with these Standards then he mounts upon a fine Horse with some other Cavaliers that accompany him and march thus in great Ceremony before the Caravan As we thus parted from Lameny my Turk took me out of the way of the Chec telling me That in the way where the Chec was to pass there was abundance of Water which my Ass could not pass over He thus deceived me on purpose to make me pay the Cafars with whom I believe he participated We went over Mountains very high and almost inaccessible with no small trouble and there was also some Turkish Men and Women with us who had taken this way as the best At Night we arrived at Eonjar Eonjar which is a place some two Musquet-shot from Mount Tabor We thought Mount Tabor the Chec would have come there also but he came not that Day which those of the Campo seeing they caused us to enter into the Court for fear of the Arabs and there I accommodated my self in the middle with my Ass close by me
Tickets like Countercharms and Notes for it We had there great Rains which we were forced to endure Day and and Night very patiently without having any thing to shelter us But seeing it continued without ceasing I placed my self with these Three Turkish Brethren not trusting my self any longer with my Turk and followed them into the City with my little Baggage not knowing then where this my gallant Mouquary was We took up our Quarters in an old Vault full of Spiders This Vault is An Ancient Vault so ancient that they say 't is above Three Thousand Years since it was made In this Place lodge the Camels and the Caravans which go and come I tarried thus in this dark Hall amongst the Mules and Asses not having my self so much as a Wisp of Straw to lie upon and being so crowded that I could not lie down but was forced to remain close by my Ass who was very impatient for I cou'd get him nothing to eat Having there passed this bad Weather the next Day my Turk came to seek me out pretending himself to be mighty busie in looking for me but he was a Drunkard and minded nothing else but drinking of Shirbet which was sold in the Tents from which he never stirred all the Day long nor the very Night and would fain have perswaded me also to go there to drink of this Liquor which they swallow down hot It 's of a very unsavoury Tast and blackish Colour the Syrians call it Cody In Tripoly are a great many Vaults like Taverns where they most commonly go to drink this Shirbet which is made of Seed and Water boiled together Leaving this Place we went to pitch our Tents two or three Leagues from Jerusalem in a Place where formerly was a Chapel which is half ruined and there is a pleasant Fountain hard by upon the way The 27th of April 1612. we arrived Arrival at Jerusalem at Jerusalem and were there first Not far from the City I met with the Soubachy or Governour who came out with a great Number of Cavaliers and all in good order going to meet the Chec-Marabou This Soubachy ask'd me if I was a Christian and having answered Yes he commanded my Turk to take me to the Gate of Jafe and to leave me there at the Gate until he had fetched me a Trucher-Man which was a Greek belonging to the Cadi or Judge My Turk failed not to do what the other had commanded him and made me tarry at the Gate of Jafe where I was a long time waiting for the Trucher-Men and an Officer of the Cadi to visit my Baggage They being come caused me to enter into the City and led me where the Religious dwell where they view'd my things leaving me with these good Men whom I saluted After Dinner they gave me a Greek Trucher-Man to accompany me to Bethlehem whither Bethlehem I went passing by the Fish-pond of Bersabee and drank at a Fountain which is upon the Bridge From Description of several Holy Places thence we went to the Turpentine-Tree where the Blessed Virgin reposed her self going from Bethlehem then to the Cistern or Well where the Star appeared to the Three Kings going to Worship our Lord my Trucher-Man made me to drink of the Water which is very good Not far from that Place we saw Jacob's Tower which is almost quite ruined after that the Place where the Prophet Ely slept upon a Rock along by the Highway they shewed me still the Mark of his Body in the Rock From thence we went to see the Field of the Shepherds and near to that the Five Cisterns which David caused to be made there are Three of them open and the other Two stopped up they are all round in a Ring some Three or Four Foot one from the other about a little Stone's-cast from the Highway We there found some Grecian Women and Maids who were drawing Water which my Trucher-Man caused me also to drink of being very excellent When we came to Bethlehem we went into the Monastery of Bethlehem Monastery which is a Place very agreeable and then the Father Guardian a good and devout Religious Old Man put on his Ornaments and gave me a lighted Wax-Tapor shewing me all the Holy Places and amongst others the Place where our Lord was born then the Place where the Three Kings worshipped and and that where St. Jerome was buried and other Places But should I give an Account of all I wou'd never have done I therefore remit my Reader to the more particular Descriptions which have been made of these Places After having visited this Holy Place on Saturday Morning the 28th of April and heard Mass which was said upon the Manger and bought some Beads which the Greeks make there I went to see the Grotto where the Virgin fled when Herod slew the Innocents As I was coming out of this Place I met some Greek Women who came to desire me to give some Remedy to their sick Children because they had heard that I was a Haquin or Surgion I instructed them according to my small Capacity and as that Place would permit Round about the City of Bethlehem are Vineyards It is now nothing but a lttle Village full of old Ruines and not far from thence is a Monastery the Ruines of the City of Bethuly where there is no Habitation Bethuly As for the Place of the Manger it is at this Day nothing but an old strong Vault sustained with little Pillars of Marble to keep it from falling The Vault is gilt with counterfeit Gold they descend by ten or a dozen Steps In the Place of the Manger is a great Marble-Stone After that I reassumed my way to Jerusalem where being come it behoved me to sell my Ass to maintain me as well at the entrance of the Holy Sepulchre where I was to give 14 Sequins which are about Twenty Crowns as also to give my Turk who so insulted over me that I could scarce find Money enough to content him He brought one of the Citiers or Serjeants of the Cadi to have me before his Master When I had payed him by the Hands of my Trucher-Man yet he almost deny'd that I had given him any thing and would have done it had not this Trucher-Man been with me to witness that I had payed him and he was then contented yet he alledged that he had bought me an Ass not having Money enough to pay for him as if it behoved me to pay it as if I had been obliged thereto and that I had not given him enough for the Courtesie which he would shew to be as much as the Principal which I had agreed with him for a Month. In the end seeing my self so pestered with this Man who threatened to have me before the Cadi or Judge of Jerusalem I was forced to pluck a Ring from my Finger and give it him in the presence of the Trucher-Man But I saw him no The
Lovende At last we approached the Cape of Good Hope seeing Cape de Bonne Esperance Alcatraz Mangues de Velours the signal of Alcatraz and Mangues de Velours Alcatraz are Birds like Sparrows Mangues de Velours are Birds like Cranes having the bottom of their Bellies and Backs white and the end of the Wings Tail and Neck black and these Birds continually keep above 80 Leagues round about the Cape These Signals did a little chear us up and encouraged us to come nearer to this so dangerous and tempestuous Furious Tempest place For coming there we had the most furious and greatest Storm that I ever saw Our Carrack was about 2000 Tun one of the Gallantest Ships in all Portugal having been built above 30 years and yet seemed to be but like a simple Boat amongst these high and dreadful Waves We needed little Fore-Mast to the Wind and 30 or 40 Mariners at the Stern In this Stormy Weather we could not keep our Ship with Wind and were about a 100 Persons 50 on each side to Devise how to get again before the Wind which we had lost Our Deck was covered all over with Water and it was impossible to get any farther than the Planks of the Ship either behind or before Amongst these Miseries and Calamities we expected nothing but Shipwrack committing our selves to the Divine Mercy and made a General Procession Praying Devoutly to God that he would preserve us from this imminent Danger besides we could no longer resist because of the weakness and sickness of our Men But God of his Goodness heard our Prayers appeasing by little and little this great Tempest which we had so long endured so that having passed this dangerous place we descried the Cape of Aiguâ—lles which made us judg Cape de Aiguilles that we had passed that of Good-Hope and from thence we arrived at the Land of Natall where it was very Natall tempestuous and almost as dark as night We found there boisterous Winds and we were forced to labour day and night to avoid the Baixos ds los Judios or da Judia that is the Baixos de los Judias Shelves of the Jews in the Channel of the Coast of Sofala where there is a great many Ships lost and where amongst others happened that no less lamentable than memorable Ship wrack of the Ship called the St. James in the year 1585. who going to Goa in the East-Indies split upon these Rocks and of 250 Persons not above 90 escaped by different manners with as much or more misfortune and miseries on Land as they had enjoy'd on the Sea There was some Fathers Jesuits and Dominicans cast away there and others saved themselves The strange and lamentable circumstances of the Accidents have rendered this Shipwrack the most remarkable that ever happened in these Seas which is the reason that these Rocks are so much feared which are like great heaps of sharp Stones and spikes of White Coral and commonly covered with Water so that they are not perceived until you are upon them and the Ship splitting but we by the help of God escaped them so that having taken the height and seeing our selves escaped we made the best of our way towards this Harbour where we found the two Gallies as I have said before and knowing them again we bore towards them and cast Anchor 4 Leagues from the Isles sending the Boat to Land to hear news from Mosambique which is about 25 Leagues from thence There came on board us a Pangais who told us how Mosambique had been Besieged by the Hollanders and that it was not above 15 days since they had raised the Siege and had taken the Galley of Good Jesus which they burnt and Hollanders at Mosambique having known by this Gallion that we were coming they presently retired for those of the Gallion knew nothing of the Death of the Count de la Fera nor of the dispersing of the Fleet they being separated from us hard by the Isle of Madera We weighed Anchor from thence not finding above 5 or 6 Fathoms Water As the Wind began to clear it behoved us to cast our Anchors and the next day to raise them again this was the 15th of Sept. but the Currents of Water which run towards the Islands of Angoche were like to have swallowed us up We endured a world of Hardships in casting and weighing Anchor which left me some Blisters upon my Hands and as weak as I was I laboured with all my might to be rid of these dangerous passages In the end we cast and weighed our Anchors so that we arrived at Mosambique the 29th of Sep. and Anchored near the Isles of St. George Arrival at Mosambique which is 3 or 4 Leagues distant The next morning we Anchored near ths Fortress As soon as we arrived at Mosambique we understood how our Vice-Admiral had passed the Cape of Good-Hope immediately after us when the Storm was a little allayed and how they had seen a Sea-Monster passing Sea Monster along by the Ship which was of a strange form and wonderful greatness He blowed and snored with a great noise and kept his Body in a round like a Pillar carrying a thing like a Shield before his Head and a Saddle upon his Back As he passed close by the Ship he made so terrible a noise that they thought themselves all lost but he left them and they saw him no more Being then arrived at Mosambique we were mightily astonished to find there nothing to Eat being then so fallen away by the fatigue of the Sea We went on shore having Anchored the St. Bartholomew St. Anthony St. Jerome and our own which was the Admiral They were there full five Months waiting for the Muesson of VVinds to convey us to Goa VVe endured there not a little for as I have said we could find nothing to live upon there not being any Bread The Sick were put in Cabins of Palm some in the Fortress and others in the City but they Died by 10 and 15 aday and there remained 735 Buried Number of the Dead as the haplain of our Ship told me who kept a List of them I went also on Shore scarce able to go and walked about the Streets looking for something to Eat but I could find nothing save some little Fishes fryed which these Ethiopian VVomen sell about the Streets with some Cakes of Meal Baked upon the Coals which Mocates they call Mocates I bought some of this Fish fryed in the Oyl of Gerselin a little Seed like Carraways which they make Oil Rape-Seed of which has a very ill Taste Then retiring alone to make a Feast and comforting my self the best I could relying wholly upon God I demanded a little Water of these VVomen who gave me some but it was so Salt that I could scarce drink any of it for they had drawn it out of a nasty VVell which was hard by the