three days they make choyce of one of these three on whom they bestow besides several other Titles the quality of the Prince's Nurse In order to her establishment in that Function she is brought into the Prince's Chamber whom she finds in the arms of one of the chiefest Ladies of the Countrey by whom he had been kept from the time of his birth and after the Nurse hath spurted a little of her milk into the Childes mouth he is delivered up to her All these Ceremonies as also those performed at the ordinary Feasts are very great and they are at this day performed with the Dayro who still enjoys a very considerable Revenue sufficient to defray all the charge and continues the same grandeur his Predecessours have been possess'd of though the force of the Empire hath been devolv'd into other hands as we shall now relate The charge of General of the Army was heretofore the greatest of any in the Kingdom as is that of Constable in France and it was invested ordinarily though contrary to the rules of good policy in the second Son of the Dayro About a hundred and twenty years since it happened there was a Dayro who having a son he exceedingly doted on would needs out of an imprudent compliance he had for the Mother consent that he should participate of the Royal Dignity and it was ordered that it should pass alternately from one to the other every three years But the son willing to make his advantage of the occasion found means so to insinuate himself into the affections of the great Lords and the Soldiery during the three years of his Reign that he resolv'd to continue it contrary to the exhortations of his Father who too late repented him of his devesting himself of an authority which indeed is not communicable This was the first disturbance that ever had been seen in Iapan inasmuch as both Father and Son being equally invested with the quality of Dayro the people conceived they might without any crime take up Arms for either However most of the Lords detesting the ingratitude of the Son joyn'd with the General whom the Father had appointed to reduce his Son to obedience who was defeated and killed in that Civil warr The General finding himself well established in his charge followed the example of the Prince and abusing the lawful power whereof he was seized made his advantage of it to settle himself in the Throne after the Dayro's death yet leaving the lawful heir with the quality of Dayro all the outward appearance of his former greatness This demeanour of the Generall 's occasioned a second Civil warre which was thought the more just out of this respect that in this the people took up Arms against an Usurper who had not the quality of Dayro nor consequently the Character for which the Iaponnesses have so great a veneration Accordingly this war had the same success with the former for the Usurper was defeated and executed But this second General took the same course as his Predecessour had done so that by this second Usurpation the Countrey was reduced to an absolute Anarchy wherein all were Masters there being no Prince nor Lord nay hardly a Village but was engaged in war against some other These disorders gave occasion to a Soldier of Fortune named Taycko to appear at first in the head only of fifty men with whom he did such exploits that he soon improved that handful to a very considerable Army His first adventures were the taking in of several Castles and small Cities but within a while after his thoughts flew much higher and he proved so fortunate in his designs that within less then three years he became absolute Master of the whole State He left the Dayro the external part of his former greatness and thought it enough to be in effect what the other was only in appearance The Dayro on the other side perceiving it was impossible for him to prevent that establishment comply'd therewith and chang'd the quality of General of the Army to that of Emperour Taycko who could not expect much quietness in his newly acquired fortune if he removed not those Lords of whom he conceived any jealousie resolved to keep them at a distance from the Court and to that end he sent the chiefest of them with an Army of sixty thousand men into the Countrey of Corea with order not to return thence till they had conquered that Province They there met with such resistance that they were near seven years reducing that Nation to obedience Taycko in the mean time feeding them with fair hopes and animating them to prosecute a design of so great concernment to the State They were forc'd to obey but being impatient to return to their own habitations they committed such exorbitances as made the Inhabitants of Corea desperate insomuch that not able any longer to endure the burning of their houses the murthers and other violences done them they sent an Embassadour to the Court who to deliver his Country out of the miseries it had suffered for so many years made a shift to poyson Taycko who some days after dyed The Army in Corea was immediately disbanded and the Lords who had the command of it return'd to their several homes Taycko being on his death-bed and considering with himself that he could not hope to derive the succession to his Son who was but six years of age if he made not some powerful Person Protector during his Minority sent to Ongosschio one of the greatest Lords of the Country desiring him to undertake the tuition of that young Prince Ongosschio accepted it and to give Taycko the greatest assurance he could expect that he would be faithful to him promised him by an act signed with his blood that he would deliver up the Crown to Fidery so was the young Prince called assoon as he were come to the fifteenth year of his age and that he should be Crown'd Emperour by the Dayro The disorders of the late Civil Warrs were yet fresh in every mans memory so that there was a general joy conceiv'd to see the Regency in the hands of a person excellently qualified for the execution thereof Ongosschio was indeed a person of very great endowments but he had withal too much spirit and ambition to be reduced to a private life after he had been possessed of the Soveraign Power for so many years He had obliged Fidery to marry his Daughter yet could not so near an alliance smother so that predominant passion in him Whence it came that he immediately gave out that Fidery was grown so distrustful of him that he was forc'd to stand upon his guard and to raise an Army to oppose that which Fidery was going to get together against him He gave out also that Fidery would needs be treated as Emperour and discharge the Functions thereof before the Dayro had acknowledged him to be such or Crown'd him in that quality Accordingly
crackers but what diverted us most of all was that out of those Lanthorns there came a piece of Linnen which being folded together and ty'd up in knots had in each of those knots several squibs crackers and serpents which having much ado to get out made an admirable shew by the windings which the fire made through all the folds of that piece of cloath Others carried in their aprons a certain composition into which some that pass'd by let fire fall as it were negligently whereupon he who carried it shaking his apron there came out a great number of Stars which burnt a long time upon the ground In these Fire-works the Persians make use of white Naphte which is a kind of Petreolum but in regard this Drugg is seldome found in Europe there may be used to the same effect the spirit of Turpentine rectify'd We saw also at a great distance in the air certain flames which vanish'd as soon in a manner as they appear'd I conceive these flames proceeded from a certain Drugg which the Muscovites call ' Plaun which is a yellow powder made of a certain herb commonly found upon the ground in the Forests that are planted with Pines and Birch and is properly called in Latin Acanthus in French Branche ursine in English Bears-foot or Bears-britch Every stalk of this herb hath on it two Buttons which are ripe in August and then the Muscovites are very carefull to gather them dry them in an Oven beat them and keep the powder which comes from them in Ox-bladders to be sold by the pound It is us'd also in Medicine as being a drier and is administred with good success in Wounds and the Itch. But the Muscovites use it for the most part in their Divertisements putting it into a Tin-box made like a Pyramid into which they thrust that end of a Torch which is not lighted and by that means make the powder come out which being very small immediately fastens on the flame and is lighted and disappears almost at the same time so that continually thrusting in the Torch a man makes ever and anon a new flame which is very lively and makes the nobler shew in that it is not accompany'd with any smoke This powder will not take fire if it be not stirr'd after the foresaid manner for if it be cast upon burning coals or if a lighted candle be thrust into it it would not take fire These Fire-works entertain'd us so long that it was after mid-night ere we came to our Quarters where we found not any thing colder than the Hearth for out of a presumption that the Governour would have treated us at Supper there had been nothing provided at home The next day very betimes in the Morning before the Sun was to be seen over the Horizon the Persians made a Procession which was to represent the interment of Hossein In this Procession there were carried a great many Eschders and Banners and there were led several excellent Horses and Camels cover'd with blew Cloath in which were to be seen many Arrows quilted as if they had been purposely shot into it representing those which the Enemies had shot at Hossein Upon these Horses rid so many Boyes who had before them empty Cossins upon which they had cast a little Straw or Hay and they represented the great affliction of the Children of Hossein Upon some of those Horses they had set fair Turbants Cimitars Bows and Quivers full of Arrows As soon as the Sun was up there might be seen in the base-Court a very great number of men who let themselves Blood in the arms in so great quantity that a man would have thought there had been many Oxen kill'd there The young Lads slash'd and cut themselves above the Elbow and clapping the Wounds with their hands they made the Blood spurt out all over the Arm and about the Body and in that condition they ran up and down the City This was done in remembrance of the effusion of the innocent Blood of Hossein out of a perswasion that by this action they expiated some part of their sins which perswasion is the stronger in as much as they are prepossess'd with an opinion that those who dye during this Festival are infallibly saved They speak also with the same assurance of their Salvation who dye during the Festival of Aly and in their Lent As concerning the City of Ardebil which the Turks call Ardevil and may be found in Maps under the name of Ardonil it lies in the Province of Adirbeitzan by the antients called Media Major the chief Cities whereof are Ardebil Tabris or Tauris Merrague Natschan Miane Urumi Choi Salmas c. Ardebil is one of the most antient and most celebrious Cities of all the Kingdome not only by reason of the residence which several Kings of Persia made there but also particularly upon this accompt that Schich Sefi Author of their Sect liv'd and dy'd there Some are of opinion that it may be conjectur'd from the History of Quintus Curtius that it is the City which he calls Arbela In this Citie are to be seen the Tombs and Monuments of the Kings of Persia and it is a place of so great Traffick that it may be justly numbred among the most considerable of all the East The Turkish Language is much more common among the Inhabitants than the Persian I found the elevation of the Pole there to be at thirty eight degrees five minutes and the longitude to be 82. degrees 30. minutes It is seated in the midst of a great Plain which is above three Leagues about and compass'd of all sides by a high Mountain like an Amphitheatre the highest part whereof called Sabelhan which lies West-ward from the City is alwayes cover'd with Snow Towards the South-South-West lies that Mountain of the Province of Kiban which is called Bakru It is from these Mountains it proceeds that the Air there is sometimes extremely hot somtimes extremely cold insomuch that even in August they begin to be sensible of the inconveniences of Autumn as also to be troubled with those Epidemical Diseases which reign there every year and commonly carry away a great number of persons Nor was our Quarters free from them For besides the great number of servants who fell sick the Ambassador Brugman and our Physician lay in of a Feaver but especially the latter who was reduc'd to that lowness that there was no hope of Life In the greatest heat of the day and exactly at noon there rose a kind of a Whirle-wind which fill'd the whole City with dust but it lasted not above an hour The rest of the day and night is calm which gave occasion to the Persian Proverb Saba Ardebil Nimrus Kardebil that is In the morning Ardebil at noon full of dust Yet is it not the cold quality of the Climate but its Situation that hinders the earth there to produce Wine Melons Citrons Orenges and Pomegranates which are
Election might raise among themselves resolv'd to take in a forein Prince The Polanders still countenanc'd the second Demetrius so far as that they forc'd the former's Widow to acknowledge him for her husband and expected satisfaction for the affront they had received at Moscou at the marriage of Demetrius so that the Muscovites willing to satisfie the Polanders and not finding any Prince near them so well qualified as Vladislaus eldest son to Sigismond King of Poland sent to the King his father to desire that he might accept of the Crown of Muscovy The King consented but the Treaty agreed upon among other Clauses had this that Iohn Basilouits Zuski should be taken out of the Monastery and with some other Lords of his Kinred should be put into the hands of the King of Poland who kept them a long time Prisoners at Smolensko where Zuski at last died and his body was buried near the High-way between Thorn and Warsaw Stanilaus Solkouski was in the mean time advanc'd with his Army to the very Gates of Moscou with order to revenge the death of Demetrius and the Polanders who were Massacred with him But news coming of the conclusion of the Treaty they laid down their Arms and Stanislaus had order in the Prince's name to receive homage from the Muscovites and to stay at Moscou till the Prince were come thither in person The Muscovites were content and having taken the Oath of Allegiance they reciprocally administred it to him and permitted him with a thousand Poles to enter the Castle and to keep a Garrison there The rest of the Army stay'd without the City not doing any thing at which the Muscovites might conceive any jealousie On the contrary there was much kindness shewn on both sides till that the Poles having crept by degeees into the City to the number of above six thousand took up the Avenues of the Castle for their quarters and began to incommodate the Citizens and to become insupportable by reason of their insolences and the violences they dayly committed upon Women and Maids nay upon the Muscovian Saints at which they shot off their Pistols So that the Muscovites not able to endure them any longer and impatient for their Great Duke met together on the 24. of Ianuary 1611. in the place before the Castle where they made a noise and complained of the outrages which they daily received from the Polanders saying it was impossible for them to maintain so great a number of Soldiers that their Trade was destroy'd that they were exhausted to the least drop of their blood that the new Great Duke came not which made them apprehend there was something ominous in it that they could live no longer at that rate and that they should be forc'd to those remedies which nature had furnish'd them with for their safety if some other course were not taken The Muscovites having weather'd out all these calamities proceeded to the Election of a new Great Duke and chose Michael Foederouits the son of Foedor Nikitis a Kinsman but far remov'd of Iuan Basilouits This man had forsaken his wife for God's sake as they call it and became a Religious man whereupon he was made Patriarch and in that dignity chang'd the name of Foedor into that of Philaretes The Son who was of a very good nature and much inclin'd to Devotion hath alwayes express'd a great respect for his Father taking his advice in affairs of greatest importance and giving him the honour of admittance to all publick Audiences and Ceremonies at which he alwayes gave him precedence He died in the year 1633. some few dayes before our first Embassy The first thing this new Great Duke did after his establishment was to make a Peace with his Neighbour Princes and to abolish the memory of his Predecessors Cruelties by so mild a Government that it is granted Muscovy hath not had these many ages a Prince deserving so great commendations from his Subjects He died Iuly 12. 1645. in the 49th year of his age and the 33. of his reign The Great Dutchess his Wife died eight dayes after him and his son Knez Alexei Michalouits succeeded him The reign of Michael Foederouits was very quiet But as in the times of Boris Gudenou and Iohn Basilouits Zuski there were Counterfeit Demetrius's so in Michael's time there started up an Impostor who had the boldness to assume the name and and quality of Basili Iouanouits Zuski Son to the Great Duke Iuan Basilouits Zuski His name was Timoska Ankudina born in the City of Vologda in the Province of the same name and son to a Linnen Draper named Demko or Dementi Ankudina The Father having observ'd somewhat of more than ordinary wit in him had brought him up to writing and reading which having attain'd he was look'd upon as a very excellent person among those who have no further acquaintance with Learning The excellency of his voice and his skill in singing Hymns at Church recommended him to the Arch-Bishop of the place who took him into his service wherein Ankudina behaved himself so well that the Arch-Bishop having a kindness for him married him to a Grand-Child of his This Allyance which might have been very advantageous to him prov'd the first occasion of his ruine for he presently began in his Letters to assume the quality of Son-in-law to the Weywode of Vologda and Vellicopermia Having after the Arch-bishops death squander'd away his Wife's fortune he came with his Family to Moscou where upon the recommendation of a friend of the Arch-bishop's he found an employment in the Novazetvert that is the Office where such as keep common Tip-ling-houses are oblig'd to take the Wine Strong-water and Hydromel which they sell by retail aâ—d where they give an accompt of what they have spent He was made Receiver there but became so unfaithful that the first Accompt he made he could not bring in what was due to the Prince by 200. Crowns and in regard they expect a great exactness upon such an accompt in Muscovy he put his invention upon the rack to make up the said sum To that end he went to one of his fellow Officers named Basili Gregorowits Spilki who had Christen'd a Child of his and done him several kindnesses when occasion required and told him that one of the chiefest Merchantâ— of Vologda one to whom he was very much oblig'd being come to the City he had invited him to Dinner and would be glad to let him see his Wife intreating him to lend him his Wife's Pearls and Rings that he might present her in a condition suitable to his employment The other did it without any difficulty nay without any thing to shew from the other of his having receiv'd them though they were worth above 1000. Crowns But Timoska instead of pawning the Jewels to make up his accompts sold them made use of the money and confidently averr'd that his friend had not lent him
fasten'd in a Tree that was in the bottom the Cable broke ere it could be had up again The River is very full of those Trees which it brings down with it when it overflows and these accidents happen so frequently that the bottom of the River is so lay'd with Anchors that the Muscovites say there are as many as would purchase a Kingdom The 13. before noon we saw as we pass'd two Cabaques or Taverns and a Village named Wesoska on the right hand and came afterwards before the City of Suiatski It is seated on the ascent of a hill on the left hand having a Castle and some Churches built of stone but all the other buildings as also the Towers and Rampiers of the City are of wood We cast Anchor there by reason of a Sand-bank which we were to pass by The people in the mean time came in multitudes to the River side to see us and by reason that a little sandy Hill hindred their having a full sight of us many came in Boats to the Ship side others swam over to the Hill Having pass'd by certain white Mountains whereof some were of Chalk others of Sand we came at night before the City of Casan 20. werstes from Suiatski We there found the Caravan of Persia and Circassia and with it a Coptzi or Persian Merchant who had been sent Ambassador to Moscou There was in this place also a Tartarian Prince of Terki whose name was Mussal who had succeeded his Brother in the Principality and had then been doing homage to the Czaar at Moscou which he had left some dayes before us The City of Casan is seated in a plain 7. werstes from the Wolga upon the River Casanka which gives it the name as it does to the whole Province I found the elevation there to be 55. degrees 38. minutes It is of a considerable bigness but all its Houses as also the Towers and Rampiers are of wood Only the Castle and its Fortifications are of stone being well mounted with Canon and having a strong Garrison in it The River is instead of a Ditch to it and makes it a very considerable fortress The Castle hath its VVeywode and the City its Governour who commands and administers Justice to the Inhabitants who are Muscovites and Tartars But in the Castle they are all Muscovites and the Tartars are prohibited entring into it upon pain of death The Province of Casan lies on the left side of the River of VVolga reaching Northwards as far as Siberia and Eastward as far as the Tartars of Nagaja It was heretofore subject to the Cham of Tartary and so populous that it could send 60000 men into the Field The conquest of it cost the Muscovite much blood and the story of its reduction is so remarkable that I think fit here to make a short digression to give an accompt thereof Basili Iuanouits Father to the Tyrant Iuan Basilouits having obtain'd a famous Victory over these Tartars made Chief over them one named Scheale a Tartar by birth but one so ill shap'd as to his Person that his Subjects who soon conceiv'd an aversion for him joyning with the Tartars of Chrim who are Mahumetans as they also are made an insurrection surpriz'd him and ejected him This success gave the Chrim-Tartars who had got a considerable Army together the courage to enter Muscovy under the conduct of two Brethren Mendligeri and Sapgeri who forc'd the Muscovite with certain Troops which he had made a shift to get together and were encamped upon the River Occa to retreat to Novogorod The consequence of this was the besieging taking and plundring of the City of Moscou nay they reduc'd the Castle to that extremity that the Muscovites were forc'd to sue for a Peace The Tartars were willing to hearken to an accommodation and having got very considerable Presents from those who kept the Castle who maintain'd it with more courage than success they made a Peace whereof this was one Article That the Great Duke and all his Subjects should ever after be Tributaries to them Basili was loath to submit to such dishonourable Terms but forc'd to comply with necessity he accepted them and confirmed the agreement by his Letters Patents Mendligeri to make it appear he was Sovereign Lord of Moscou caused a Statue of his to be erected in the heart of the City and would needs oblige the Great Duke to express his subjection to smite the ground with his head before that Statue as often as he paid Tribute to the Tartars After this Victory the Brethren parted Sapgeri establish'd the Seat of his Government at Casan and Mendligeri as being the Elder-Brother his at the City of Chrim But the later desirous to add to his former conquest that of the City of Resan resolv'd to lay siege to the Castle thereof and to that end he sent word to the Weywode Iohn Kowar who commanded it that it was madness in him to think to maintain the place and that he should make no difficulty to deliver it up since the Great Duke was become his Subject The Weywode sent him answer that it was a thing so extraordinary that he could not believe it unless he sent him such assurances thereof as should put him out of all doubt Mendligeri imagining there could not any thing be more convictive in that case than the Letters Patents sent them to him by certain Officers just as he had receiv'd them from the Great Duke But the Weywode not a little glad to have the Original of those Letters in his hands sends Mendligeri word that he would keep them as safely as he would do the place he was in which he resolv'd to maintain to the last drop of blood There was in the Castle an Italian Canoneer named Iohn Iordan well known in those parts upon the accompt of his Wife who would needs have her Husband express his affection to her by beating her with a Bull 's pizzle This man did the Weywode very great services and kill'd so many Tartars that Mendligeri perceiving one day that a Canon-bullet had taken off a piece of his Garment was frighted and proffered to raise the Siege upon condition they would return the Great Duke's Letters But the Weywode would hearken to no such thing and having oblig'd Mendligeri to retreat he sent the Letters to his Prince's Court where they were received with the general joy of all the people who immediately thereupon pull'd down and broke to pieces the Statue of Mendligerâ— Nay the Great Duke himself took such courage from that Action that having rais'd an Army of 25000 men he proclaim'd open War against Sapgeri Prince of Casan sending him word that he by surprising and assaulting him without declaring any War had proceeded like a Murtherer and a Robber but that himself as Soveraign Lord and Conservator of all the Russes proceeded therein as a person of Honour should do and sent
but consisting of choice men and he follow'd him in person with the whole Army He himself got into the Citie and sent Kartzschugai-Chan to meet the Turk whom he wearied out with perpetual skirmishes for six moneths together At last he gave him battel disorder'd and defeated him forcing him to fly as far as Netzed Upon the first news of the Victory Schach-Abas left the Citie to go and meet Kartzschugai-Chan and being come neer him alighted and said to him My dearest Aga I have by thy means and conduct obtain'd so noble a Victory that I would not have desir'd a greater of God come get up on my Horse 't is fit I should be thy Lackey Kartzschugai was so surpriz'd at this discourse that he cast himself at his feet intreated his Majesty to look on him as his slave and not to expose him to the derision of all the World by doing him an honour so extraordinary as that it was impossible he could any way deserve it But notwithstanding all his intreaties he was forc'd to get up the King and the Chans following on foot onely seven paces Schach-Abas had many other Wars against the Turks but the most signal Victory he ever got over his Enemies was at the reduction of the Citie of Ormus which he recover'd from the Portuguez six years before his death Of that an account shall be given in the subsequent Travels of Mandelslo About the end of the year 1629. he took a journey to Ferabath in the Province of Mesanderan which was the place he most delighted in of any in his Kingdom but he there fell so ill that perceiving he should not escape he sent for four Lords of the chiefest of his Councel to wit Isa-Chan Kurtzibaschi Seiul-Chan Tuschmal or Councellor of State Temerbey Ouwogly or Lord High-Steward and Iusuf Aga chief Gentleman of his Chamber who being come to his Bed-side he told them That firmly believing the sickness he was then in would be his last it was his pleasure that his Grand-Child Sain Myrsa should succeed him and assume his Father's name obliging them all solemnly to promise him that after his death they would religiously execute his Last Will. The Astrologers had told Schach-Abas that Sain should reign but eight moneths at most but when these Lords would have spoke to him of that Prediction the King made answer Let him reign as long as he can though it were but three dayes it will be some satisfaction to me to be assur'd that he shall one day have on his head the Crown which was due to the Prince his Father 'T was conceiv'd he had had some poyson given him upon which presumption the Hakim Iusuf his Physician order'd him hot bathing for eight dayes together and for four dayes afterward another kind of Bath of Cows milk but all these remedies being either ineffectual or too weak he seriously prepar'd himself for death even to the appointing of the place where he would be interr'd But that the people might not certainly know it he commanded the Ceremonies of his Funeral should be Celebrated in three several places at the same time to wit at Ardebil Mesched and Babylon but the more general report is that the body was carried to Babylon and thence to the Netzef of Kufa neer the Sepulchre of Aly upon this accompt that Schach-Abas going to Kufa soon after the reduction of Babylon and looking on the Netzef said he had never seen a more delightfull place and that he should wish to be there interr'd after his death What ere became of his body certain it is that he dy'd in the year 1629. having liv'd 63. years and reign'd 45. He discover'd the strength of his memory and understanding in the order he took at his death that it might be kept secret till his Grand-Child were assur'd of the Succession commanding that they should expose his body every day in the same Hall where he was wont to administer Justice set in a Chair of State with his eyes open his back turn'd to the Hangings behind which stood Iusuf Aga who ever and anon made him lift up his Arm by means of a silk string and answer'd those things which were proposed by Temir-beg on the behalf of such as were at the other end of the Hall and who were thereby perswaded that Schach-Abas was still alive This was so well personated that his death was conceal'd for the space of six weeks While Temir-beg and Iusuf Aga expos'd at Ferabath the Carkase of Schach-Abas as we said before Seinel-Chan made all the haste he could to Ispahan whither he brought the news of the King's death to the Daruga Chofrou Myrsa and having consulted with him about the means they should use to advance Sain Myrsa to the Throne they went together to the Appartment of the Princess his Mother which is called Taberick-kale and intreated her to put the young Prince into their hands The Mother who still had before her eyes the violent death of her Husband believing it was some fiction and that they had order from Schach-Abas to Murther the Prince lock'd her self up in her Chamber and made all passages so fast that these two Lords being out of all hopes to perswade her and being afraid to let slip the opportunity of executing the deceas'd Kings last Will after they had lain three dayes at the Princesse's Chamber door sent her word that if she would not open they should be forc'd to break it Upon this message she at last opened the door and presented to them the Prince her Son but conceiving it was in order to his present execution with these words Go child to the same place where thy Father is here are the murtherers ready to dispatch thee But when she saw those Lords prostrate themselves and kissing the Prince's feet her fright was turn'd into perfect joy The Lords conducted the Prince to the Palace-Royal where they set him in the Divan-Chane upon a Table of stone on which were as many Carpets which they call Kalitse Ahdalet or Carpets of Justice as there had been Kings of Persia of his Family in as much as every King at his first coming to the Crown causes one to be made for him and having sent for all the Chans and Lords who were about Ispahan they Crown'd him kiss'd his feet and wishing him a long and happy Reign setled him in the Throne of his Ancestors Immediately after the Ceremonies of his Coronation he took the name of Sefi according to the desire of Schach-Abas and bestow'd on the Chosrou Myrsa the Dignity of Chan with the name of Rustam as desirous by that means to revive in his person the memory of the great Heroe so highly Celebrated in their Histories and Romances It is reported that Schach-Sefi came into the World with his hands all bloody and that Schach-Abas his Grand-Father hearing of it said that that Prince should often bath his hands in blood Accordingly till the time of our
Soldier could not brook an affront in his own house stood upon the defensive and gave the Ambassador such a blow over the arm with his stick that he was forc'd to cry out for help His Domesticks came in upon the noise and gave the Kisilbach such a beating that he was mortally wounded and had much ado to crawl into the next house to avoid their further fury The Ambassador notwithstanding all this would needs make his complaint to the Mehemandar of the insolence of the Kisilbach whereto the other reply'd that he knew not what to do in the business that he had no power over the Kisilbachs that the Superiour Officer was not there to give him satisfaction and withall this that he who had injur'd him had receiv'd such a chastisement as he thought he could hardly ever recover and that if he were not satisfy'd he might do himself what further satisfaction he thought fit Brugman presuming upon this permission immediately sent to plunder the Kisilbach's house and order'd his horse and arms to be brought away The next day he got together all the retinue and caus'd it to be publish'd by sound of Drum that all should get on horse-back in order to their departure out of the Village and that all who should stay there after the Ambassadors were gone might do it at their own peril Not one of the Company knew his design no not his Collegue but it was soon discover'd when he himself being got on horse-back and making a halt before the Ambassador's Lodging told the Mehemandar that he should bring forth the man who had struck him the day before The Mehemandar told him he was so dangerously wounded that he was not able to rise but the Ambassador not satisfy'd with that answer order'd him to be brought thither in a Coverlet and notwithstanding the mediation of the other Persians who with great submissions begg'd the Kisilbach's pardon he commanded an Armenian who was an Interpreter for the Turkish Language named Mark-Filerossein to beat him with a great Cudgel after the same manner as he had been beaten the day before This merciless Rogue gave him one blow over the arm and another upon the side wherewith he dispatch'd the poor Kisilbach who stirr'd a little afterwards but when the Armenian would by order from Brugman have prosecuted the execution he found the man quite dead The Ambassador seeing him in that posture said 't is very well he hath what he deserv'd and thereupon turning to the Mehemandar and the other Persians he told them that if Schach-Sefi did not revenge him for the affront be had receiv'd he would return again in a short time so well attended that he should do himself satisfaction The other Soldiers made it appear by their demeanour that they wanted neither will nor courage to express their resentment of the injury done them and cut all our throats and I know not whether it were the presence of the Mehemandar that prevented them from doing it but certain it is that it would have been no hard matter for them to do it and that it was the effect of a miraculous providence that we escap'd that misfortune We travell'd that day which was the 13. of February two leagues over the Heath of Mokan and lodg'd that night at Oba in Shepherds hurts The Mehemandar who had staid behind in the Village overtook us at night and brought us word that the Kisilbach was dead and demanded of the Ambassador Brugman the Horse Arms and other things which he had from the deceas'd person to be sent to his Widdow and Children whom he had left in a very sad condition I observ'd that morning that the Sun rose towards East-south-east and consequently that the Load-stone declin'd 24. degrees from the North towards the West and at Oba I found the Sun at noon at the height of forty degrees forty eight minutes and consequently that the elevation of the Pole under that Meridian was thirty nine degrees twenty eight minutes The Sea-coast lay from South-west to North-east and we had a sight of the mountain of Scamachie towards the North. As concerning the Heath of Mokan it is held to be sixty Farsangs in length and twenty in breadth The Turks call it Mindunluck that is a thousand wayes or thousand holes at which the smoak comes out and the Persians Mogan or Mokan It is inhabited by several peoples and families whose Predecessors having born Arms under the command of Iesid against Hossein were banish'd into this Desert and they are not permitted to live either in Cities or Villages In Summer they encamp at the foot of the Mountain and in Winter they lodge in Tents upon the Heath They subsist by their Cattel but so poorly that it is as much as they can do Whence it comes that they are called Sumek Rajeti either for that from bone to bone that is from Father to Son they are subject to the King no otherwise than as the most miserable Slaves are or that they have hardly left them wherewith to cover their bones They are a kind of Savages and their chief families are called Chotze Tschaubani Tekle Elmenku Hatzikasilu Sulthan baschelu Carai Ardenduschenlu Chaletz c. I speak in another particular Treatise of the origine of these families and the manner of life of these people The 14. we travell'd three leagues drawing towards the North and lodg'd at night among the Hatzicasilu We saw in a Chapel by the way the Sepulchre of Bairam Tekle Obasi He was the famous Robber who liv'd in the time of Schach Abas who coming to be head of a strong party of Toryes did abundance of mischief to the Bassa Tzakal Ogli who was entred Persia with a Turkish Army insomuch that there hardly pass'd a day but he sent some Turks heads to the King These little advantages and the booty he got improv'd his retinue to the number of twelve thousand men who did the Turks more mischief than the Royal Army could Schach-Abas requited his services by honouring him with the quality of Chan and bestowing on him the revenue of certain Villages and some Lands to maintain the new Dignity We lodg'd that night in Hurts and were hardly laid down ere we heard the noise of a great volley of small shot which gave us a hot alarm and oblig'd us to put our selves into a posture of defence in expectation of some engagement We thought at first that the Kisilbachs had a design to revenge the cruelty which the Ambassador Brugman had exercis'd the day before on one of their Camerades but we understood soon after that what had been done was by order from the Muscovian Poslanick purposely to frighten the Ambassador Brugman though he would make us believe it was to honour him out of an imagination he seem'd to have that it was the said Ambassador's birth-day The 15. we travell'd eight leagues along the Heath and lodg'd within a quarter of a league of the River Aras
of them well satisfy'd with the cheer they made us Some daies after the Ambassadors were treated by another Prince named Emir-Chan who also gave them a visit But all these Barbarians did in this kind was only to get Presents from us The 23. the Daruga got us some Waggons for the Baggage We immediately loaded them intending to be gone the next day but in the evening Surchou-Chan sent us word that he had certain intelligence that Sultan Mahmud so was the Schemkal call'd had possess'd himself of all the passages of the River Koisu with a design to stop us and put us to a ransom and that hindred him from permitting us to depart Late in the evening there came neer Tarku twenty horse-men well mounted aud arm'd who encamped close by our Quarters The Ambassadors accompany'd by some Musketteers went to them to know whence they came and what their design was They made answer that the Prince of Osmin had sent them to the Schemkal to tell him that certain forein Ambassadors friends of the King of Persia and Czaar of Muscovy being come into his Territories he had suffered them to poss without paying any toll or duties and to intreat him to do him the same favour which the Schemkal had promis'd to do provided they carried no Merchants goods We gave not so much credit to this intelligence as to neglect keeping a strong Guard and having our Arms in readiness The 24. these Tartars departed before day and presently after there came to us two Messengers from Sulthan Mahmud who asked the Ambassadors why they did not prosecute their journey promising all the favour and assistance lay in his power for their passage provided they took the way he appointed them These Messengers were hardly gone ere Surkou-Chan came to visit us The Ambassadors asked him why he hindred their departure he told them that the Horses and Oxen we had hired were ready and that we might be gone when we pleas'd giving it him under our hands how that we would needs depart notwithstanding the notice he had given us of the designs of the Schemkal in as much as otherwise he should be responsible to the King of Persia and Great Duke of Muscovy for the misfortunes might happen to us That he knew the Schemkal better than we did That he car'd for neither God nor Devil nor any forein Prince at all That he never observ'd his word That it was his only sport to rob and shed blood and that it were better stay eight dayes longer within which time he promis'd us a sufficient Convoy without which we could not pass through the Prince's Country if we resolv'd not to hazard our lives and lose our Baggage That ere that time were expir'd the Persian Ambassador would come thither with Letters of Commendation from the King without which he durst not undertake to convoy us left he should thereby disoblige all the other Tartars This discourse put us into a great perplexity considering that the arrival of the Persian Ambassador was uncertain and that in the mean time we mâ—ght fear the same thing from Surchou-Chan which he would have us apprehend from the Schemkal We sent an Express to the Weywode of Terki to desire him to send us a Convoy of Strelits such as might secure us against the attempts of the Tartars but he would do nothing Surchou-Chan sent an Express to Derbent to know of the Ambassador how long it would be ere he came to Tarku but he sent us word some dayes after that the man he had dispatch'd for Derbent was return'd but had been so indiscreet as to put the Letter deliver'd him by Imancnla Sulthan into his Quiver and going to shoot at a beast by the way had dropp'd it so that he had been forc'd to send him back again All these proceedings added more and more to our jealousie but what most startled us was the sudden departure of certain Armenian Merchants who having joyn'd with us out of hopes of travelling with greater safety in our Company went into the City upon notice given them that two hundred Tartars intended to set upon us Besides the inconveniences we endur'd by reason of ill weather heightned our affliction for the continual rains had not only sunk through our Tents and Cloaths but also hindred us from making any fire to warm us and dress our Meat No condition for misery could be compar'd to that we were then in forsaken by all destitute of all things even advice and resolution insomuch that we durst not go into the Tartars hutts Surkou Chan himself having given us notice that we might run the hazard of being carried away and sold. Nay Apr. 27. one of our Soldiers a Scotchman named William Hoye being got a little too far from the Quarters was carried away by the Tartars so clearly that we could never learn any news of him though we made great inquiry We heard since that he was carried to the Fortress of Sachur within five or six leagues of Turku The same day there hapned to us another misfortune in that some of our people being shooting with Bows and Arrows our Canonier going somewhat near the Mark to take up an Arrow was shot into the Belly whereof he died the next day The Muscovite whose mishap it was to hurt him had so sensible a remorse of what had happened that he desired to be put to death but the business being taken into consideration it was found done by chance without any design whereupon he was set at liberty We interr'd the deceas'd by the advice of certain Tartar-women who were Christians in the place where our horses stood and made a Grave without the Quarters into which was put an empty Coffin it being certain that the Tartars would after our departure thence dig up the Carcass to give in their Dogs There died also a rich Muscovian Merchant His body was inbalm'd and brought to Terki where it was buried in the Church-yard belonging to those of his Religion Amidst all these afflictions and misfortunes the Tartars came every day to get our Musick plaid upon which was somewhat like that of the Israelites at the waters of Babylon May 1. we dispatch'd a man to Sulthan Mahmud to desire passage Our Messenger return'd the next day accompany'd by four Tartars who told us from the Schemkal that he wondred much to hear that Surchou-Chan would perswade them he was a famous Robber and faithless person that he had given him no cause to dress him in such a Character and that he should take occasion to resent it For us he proffer'd all his Credit and his Subjects for the advancement and safety of our journey and that if we durst not trust him he was ready to send us three of the principal Lords of the Country as hostages whom we should either take along with us or leave with Surchou-Chan till we were out of his Jurisdiction These unexpected proffers put us to some difficulty what
of Litter or Sedans carried by two men upon their Shoulders with a bar They bring up their Elephants with much care and are at great charge about them They delight much in Hawking and Hunting Their Greyhounds are somewhat less then ours but they tame Tigers and Leopards whereof they make use in hunting and these surprise their prey at a sudden leap but they never pursue it They are particularly industrious at the catching of River-fowl by means of the Skin of a tame Duck which being fill'd with Hay they swim even with the Water and drawing the Decoy-duck after them they insensibly get among the others and take them by the feet without ever frighting them They are very expert at the Bow which they make of a wild Oxes horn and the Arrows of a very light kind of Cane nay they are so excellent at it that sometimes they will take a Bird flying They delight much in Chess and have also a kind of Game at Cards They are lovers of Musick though there be no great Harmony in their own But above all things they are besoâ—â—ed with judiciary Astrology in so much that they never undertake any business of consequence but they first consult the Minatzim They have some of Aristotle's Works translated into the Arabian tongue which they call Aplis as also some Treatises of Avicennas for whom they have a very high respect because he was born at Smarcanda under the jurisdiction of Tamerlam Their Writings are not ill and their Productions are not void of Eloquence They keep a Register of all the remarkable Actions that are done among them and have such an exact account thereof as might serve to write a History of the Countrey Of their Language there are many Dialects but it is easie enough to be learnt and they write as we do from the left hand to the right Most of any quality about the Mogul's Court speak the Persian tongue nay some but very few speak also the Arabian The most common Diseases of those parts are the bloudy Flux and burning Feavers and the Remedy they ordinarily make use of against them is Abstinence They have good store of Physitians but no Surgeons Barbers of which Profession there is a great number are they who let bloud and apply Leeches In the Kingdom of Guzuratta Winter begins towards the end of Iune and lasts till September but there are not such continual Rains there as at Goa for it rains only in certain Intervals and particularly at new and full Moon The North-wind blows constantly for six moneths together and the South-wind for as many The hottest moneths in the year are April May and the beginning of Iune during which the sultriness of the weather is such that it were insupportable were it not that some Winds rise ever and anon which moderate the excessive heats but with that convenience they bring along with them an inconvenience which is their raising such an extraordinary Dust that it deprives a Man of the sight of the Sun There is a vast Trade driven in many Commodities all over the Kingdom of Guzuratta but particularly in Cotton and Linnen Cloaths which are in fairness and fineness equal to those of Holland as also in several Silk-stuffes as Contoms which are of several colours Satins Taffatas Petolas Commerbands Ornis of Gold and Silk which Women commonly make use of to cover their Faces withall Brocadoes Tapistry or Alcatifs Chitrenges or streaked Carpets to lay over Chests and Cabinets quilted Coverlets of Silk or Cotton which they call Geodris or Nalis Tents Perintos or Neuhar which they make use of instead of Couches Cadels or Bed-steads Cabinets of Lacque Chess-boards of Tortoise-shell Seals Beads Chains Buttons and Rings of Ivory Amber Rock-Crystal and Agat The best Indico in the world comes from about Amadabath from a Village call'd Chrichees whence it derives the name The Herb of which they make it is like that of yellow Parsnip but shorter and more bitter sprouting forth into branches like a Reed and growing in kind years six or seven foot high the Flower is like that of a Thistle and the Seed like that of Fenu-greek It is sown in Iune and cut in November and December It is sown but once in three years and the first year the leaves are cut off within a foot of the ground The stalks are taken away and the leaves are set a drying in the Sun and that done they are set a soaking for four or five dayes in a Stonesâ—trough containing about six or seven foot water which is ever and anon stirred till such time as the Water hath suckt out the colour and vertue of the Herb. That done they let out the Water into another Trough where they suffer it to settle for one night The next day all the Water is taken away and what is left in the bottom of the Trough is strain'd through a course Cloath and is set a drying in the Sun And this is the best Indico but the Countrey people adulterate it by mixing therewith a certain Earth of the same colour And whereas the goodness of this Drug is discovered by its lightness they have the cunning to put a little Oyl into it to make it swim upon the water The second year the stalk which was left the year before shoots forth other leaves but they are not so good as those of the first Yet is this preferr'd before Gyngey that is wild â—udico It is also the second year that they suffer some part of it to grow up to seed That of the third year is not good and consequently not sought after by forraign Merchants but is imploy'd by the Inhabitants of the Countrey in the dying of their Cloaths The best Indico is almost of a violet colour and hath somewhat of its smell when it 's burned The Indâ—sthans call it Anil and after it hath been in the ground three years they suffer the Land to lye fallow for one year ere they sow it again Most of the Saltpeter which is sold in Guzuratta comes from Asmer sixty Leagues from Agra and they get it out of Land that hath lain long fallow The blackest and fattest ground yields most of it though other Lands afford some and it is made thus They make certain Trenches which they fill with their Saltpetrous Earth and let into them small Rivulets as much water as will serve for its soaking which may 〈◊〉 the more effectually done they make use of their feet treading it till it become a Broath When the Water hath drawn out all the Saltpeter which was in the Earth they take the clearest part of it and dispose it into another Trench where it grows thick and then they boil it like Salt continually scumming it and then they put it into earthen pots wherein the remainder of the Dregs goes to the bottom and when the Water begins to thicken they take it out of these pots to set it
weighed one parcel so as they may have a near guess at the rest pay them present money or according as they have occasion for it and by this means engross so great a quantity that they have sufficient to lade the China Fleet when it arrives selling for fifty thousand Caxaes the Sack what cost them but twelve thousand This Fleet arrives at Bantam in the moneth of Ianuary to the number of eight or ten and are Vessels of fourty or fifty Tun. By them likewise comes the money hither which in the Malayan Language is called Cas in Iavan Pity and is current not only at Bantam and all the Isle of Iava but through all the neighbouring Islands 'T is a little thin plate made of Lead and the Skum of Brass so brittle that letting fall a string of Caxaes you shall break at least ten or twelve They are made in the Town of Chincoa in China and they are beholding to Wanâ—y King of China for them who lived about the year 1590. and finding that the Caxaes made by his Predecessour Huyien King of China went not off by reason the Chineses had so filled the adjacent Islands with them he contrived this brittle money which his Successour Hamendon put forth as now it is corrupted It hath a four-square hole through it at which they string them on a Straw a string of two hundred Caxaes called Sata is worth about three farthings sterling and five Satas tyed together make a Sapocon The Iavians when this money came first amongst them were so cheated with the Novelty that they would give six bags of Pepper for ten Sapocons thirteen whereof amount but to a Crown But they have had leisure enough to see their error for in a short time the Island was so filled with this stuffe that they were compelled absolutely to prohibit all trading which so disparaged this money that at present two Sacks of Pepper will scarce come for one hundred thousand Caxaes Likewise from China they bring Purcelane which they sell here at cheap rates for at the first arrival of the China Fleet six pieces of Purcelane may be bought for a thousand Caxaes They bring their Country Silks Sattins and Damask and take away Pepper and Lacque brought to Bantam from the City of Tabanbaon Anil or Indico brought thither from the Town of Anier Sandal-wood Nutmegs Cloves Tortoise-shell whereof they make Chests and Cabinets Ivory whereof they make Chairs for the Mandorins who prefer this stuffe before Silver The Portuguez that deal at Bantam live out of Town in the same Quarter with the Chineses They drive here a great trade in Pepper Nutmegs Cloves Mace Sandal-woods Cubebs long Pepper and other Drugs and sell here Cotton Cloath and other Stuffs sent them from Malacca for the greater part of them are Factors and Commissioners of the Governour of Malacca and the Arch-bishop of Goa At Bantam they have neither Priest nor Chappel but at Panarucan they have both In the Isle of Iava are all sorts of Beasts both wild and tame The Forrests are full of Elephants and Rhinocerots Leopards and Tigers which are more cruel and furious then those of any other place and do so much mischief that people go not without danger to gather Frankincense Mastick Myrrhe and Benjamin which is there in its greatest perfection and whereof there were great quantity to be gotten if the Forrests were not almost inaccessible by reason of the wild Beasts as also for Serpents Lizards and Salamanders exceeding dangerous and of so extraordinary a growth that there are Serpents have swallowed Children and Sheep intire The Tigers and Leopards often come out of the Woods and make great spoil amongst the Cattle which for this reason are reared with great difficulty Their Swine have no bristles and are so fat their bellies trail on the ground The Rivers breed Fish in abundance and Oysters have there been seen that have weighed three hundred pound a thing would seem incredible if Olearius in his Notes upon Mandelslo's Relation did not observe that being in Holland in the year 1652. he â—ought at Encluysen of the Wife of a certain Sea-Captain who had made a Voyage to the Indies two Oyster-shells that weighed four hundred sixty seven pounds yet to be seen in the Duke of Holstein's Cabinet at Gottorp and he adds That the woman affirm'd there was so much meat within them that it sufficed all that were in the Ship being an hundred and twenty persons 'T is very hard to hunt Deer Goats Boars and other game fallow or black which abound there by reason the Woods are so thick that 't is impossible to make any way through them and the Iavians are so unskilful at their Fire-arms that it hath been observ'd That a Iavian having shot at a wild Buffler made a shift to kill the beast but the Musket recoyling he fell down with his cheek all bruised and the loss of two of his teeth in so much that these creatures may be seen in whole herds feeding up and down the fields There are likewise abundance of Apes Foins Squirrels wild Peacocks and Parrots and infinite other birds exceeding beautiful to the eye In the Rivers there is abundance of Crocodiles which seize not only on men bathing but attempt the Cannows as they pass along snatching men out of them and dragging them to the bottom The Chineses tame this Creature and fatten it to be afterwards eaten as a great dainty Their Civet yields as much perfume as that of Guiny but it is neither so white nor so good They have two sorts of Poultry one like ours the other betwixt ours and the Indian kind and these last which are in a manner monsters are so furious they will fight till death decides the battel Amongst the common sort there are some whose flesh is black yet are they very good meat The Rhinocerot by the Indians called Abadu is not so ordinary in the Isle of Iava as in Bengala Patane and other places though there are some and the Iavians make so great account of this Beast that there is nothing about him which they use not in medicine not only the Flesh the Bloud the Horn the Teeth but even his very Dung They hold there is no better Antidote against Poyson and attribute the same qualities to this that ancient Authors do to the Unicorn The Ants are exceeding troublesom in most of these places but chiefly in the Isle of Iava They are much bigger then in our parts and so mischievous that there is no Stuff they spoil not nor Victuals they consume not if they can get to it wherefore they ordinarily set the feet of Tables and Cupboards in Tubs half filled with Water to hinder the Ants from creeping up and 't were impossible to preserve any Birds did they not set them on Polâ—s planted in a Dish of Water for should they put them in a Cage the Ants would get up and kill
better conveniences Another employment of the women is to transplant the Rice when it grows thicker in one place then another which work takes up much of their time as does also their cutting of it when it is ripe For instead of reaping it by handfulls with a Hook they cut it Corn by Corn some four or five fingers below the Ear so put it up in the house and never beat it but when there is occasion in order to their subsistance that is every day The woman of the house sets over-night two or three little bundles of it a-drying in the Chimney-corner and rising the next morning two hours before day she beats it in a Morter and makes as much clean Rice as is requisite for the Family that day and no more And thus they live all the year long They sow also two or three sort of Fruit which they call Ptingh Quach and Taraun which are somewhat like Millet as also a kind of Pulse much like the French Bean. They 〈◊〉 also several sorts of Roots which they may use instead of Bread and which in effect 〈◊〉 able to sustain them though they had no Rice nor any other kind of Fruit or Corn. They have Ginger Cinamon Sugar-canes Bannanan's Lemmons abundance of Areea and several other sorts of Fruits Simples and Pulse not known in Europe such as it would be no easie matter to describe Though they have no Cocos-wine nor any other natural drink yet have they found out a way to make a kind of Beverage which is as strong and intoxicates a mans brains assoon as the best Sack Their way of ordering it is thus They set a soaking in warm water a certain quantity of Rice which they afterwards beat in a Morter till it be reduced to a Paste Then they chew some Rice-meal in their mouths which they spet into a Pot till such time as they have got a Quart of Liquor which they put to the Pasâ—e instead of Leaven and after they have kneaded all well together till they have brought it to Dough such as that of the Bakers they put it into a great Earthen Pot which they fill up with water and so let it remain there for two months and by this means they make one of the best and most pleasant Liquors that a man need drink This is their Wine which is stronger or weaker according to the time it remains in the Pot and the older it is the better and sweeter it is insomuch that sometimes they keep it five and twenty or thirty years VVhat is towards the mouth of the Pot is as clear as Rock-water but at â—he bottom there are only dregs such as were able to turn a weak stomack and yet the Islanders make it one of their delicacies and eat it with Spoons having first stirr'd at about with a little water put to it When they go into the Countrey they carry along with them a Pot of this stuff and a Gourd-bottle full of water and so they are furnish'd as to 〈◊〉 and drink They make use of the upper part of this Beverage as of Aqua-viâ—ae to comfort the heart and they eat what 's in the bottom ordered as we said before whence it comes that they spend most part of their Rice in this composition When the women have no work to do about their Grounds and particularly to get Oysters which the Islanders prefer before all meat whatsoever They have a way of salting the Fish slightly assoon as it is taken with the shell and whatsoever is within it and they eat them with all the filth nay with the worms which sometimes are bred within them for want of Salt The men especially the younger sort to the age of twenty four or twenty five years do nothing at all but when they are come to forty they help to do somewhat about the grounds where they continue night and day with their Wives in little Huts and return not to the Village till some necessity or divertisement calls them thither They have several kinds of Hunting and use in their sport Snares slender Pikes or Bows and Arrows They spread their Snares or Nets in the Woods cross those Paths which the Deers and wild Boars are wont to make and force those Creatures into them or haply they spread them in the open fields with the convenience of a great Cane one end whereof they plant in the ground and the other is bowed down and fastened to certain little sticks upon which they lay a Suare cover'd with a little earth which assoon as the wild Beast touches the Carie is suddenly as it were unbent and hath him by one of the feet The Hunting with that kind of Pikes is thus There met together at a certain place appointed the Inhabitants of two or three Villages arm'd every one with two or three Pikes and having divided themselves into several parties they send their Dogs into the Woods and they force out the Game into the Fields where they meet and make a great Ring a League or more in compass within which when they have once gotten the Deer and wild Boars it seldom happens that any of them escape without being kill'd or hurt The Pike it self is of Cane six or seven foot in length having an Iron at the top with several Hooks so as that being entred into the beast it is beyond any mans strength to get it out but the Iron is not made so fast to the Wood but that it comes off at the first bush the beast runs into and to the end it may still annoy the Deer there is a Cord fastened thereto which holds both and at the top of the Iron there is a little Bell whereby the Beast is discover'd where-ever it goes They destroy so great a number of Deer by these kinds of Hunting that being not able to spend all they take themselves they sell the flesh of them to the Chineses for little Garments Sweet Wood and other Commodities eating themselves only the Umbles and Paunch which they salt with the filth in them and indeed care not much for them till when they are thus corrupted Sometimes while they are hunting they cut off a piece and eat it immediately so as that the bloud runs about their mouths and if they find any young ones in the belly of the Female whether come into any form or not they eat them with the skin and hair as a thing very delicate Their Military engagements are as followeth They begin not any War till they have first declared it against the Village by which they conceive themselves injured and then they go by small parties of five and twenty or thirty men and hide themselves near the place they are to assault till it be night and then they run about the Fields and if they find any in the Huts where aged persons are wont to keep as we said before they kill them cut off their heads and if they