Fernando his vncle of good memorie who came to bee king of Aragon and father of the kinges Don Alonso of Naples and Don Iohn his brother which did succeede in that of Aragon and Sicilia and Grand father to the king Don Fernando the Catholike These Ilandes stande in the thirtieth three degrees of height Northeast and Southwest from the barre of Lishebron in one hundred and fiftie Leages trauies be distant frō the Canaria at the least 80. Leages North Northwest and South Southeast The Infant caused the discouerie of them to bee knowen to Poope Martin the fifth who at that tyme was president in the Catholike Churche and too other Princes of Christendome of the which there was restrainte for certaine yeres vntil y one Gill Yannes being borne in the towne of Logos wold passe y cape Boiador being a feareful thing in the opinion of Saylers of that time who was cause from that time forward that Nauigation was continued the longer and other Captaines comming to the Riuer which is called of Golde because they brought from thence the firste that came into Portugale and it standeth vnder the Tropick of Cancer in the twentieth three degrees and a half of height and the Cape of Blanco and Ilandes of Arguin standeth in twentie where the king Don Alonso his Cosin did commaunde after that to builde a forte and beyonde the Riuer which the naturall people of the Countrey do call Obedec the Portugales do call Sauage which doeth deuide the Countries of the Moores Azeneues and the Ialofes euen vntoo the Capeverdes which is of the moste knowen places in the West Ocean in the fifteene degrees of the North side and to the Weast part of him are within one hundred Leages of Trauisim the Ilands which are called of Gill Yannez and threescore Leagues beyonde that is the Great Riuer and eighty beyond that of Nunno and in seuen degrees and two Terces the mountaine Lioa whiche was the laste time that any discouerie was made in the lyfe of this moste Christiā Infant leauing to the king his Cosin to his successours the open way for the great Nauigations and roades which his subiectes haue made and doe make by all the East Countries with great prayse and estimation of the Portugale Nation The thirde Chapter of the discouerie which was made of the coastes of Ginea in the time King Don Alonso vnto his death of the persons that the King Don Iohn his sonne sent by the Sea Mediterran wherby they myght bryng relation of the states and trades of India and of the Embassage hee sent to the kyng of Aethiopia THE Infante beyng dead it did seeme too the King Don Alonso that it woulde bee a let to him if hee shoulde vnderstande farther in these discoueries by reason he minded to conquer Tanger and Arzila other forces that were neere to the Streightes which with great courage hee gote of the Moores and for the pretence y he had of the Realmes of Castile for his Cosin the Lady Iane daughter to the Queene his sister the second wife of the king don Henry the 4. with whō hee minded to marry hee gaue the discouerie for rent to a subiect of his called Iohn Gomez dwelling in Lisbon for two thowsande fiue hundred Ducates for fiue yeeres with condition that hee shoulde bee bounde to discouer within the sayde time fiue hundred Leagues of Coaste beyond the mountayne Lioa This man which was so bound ▪ did accomplishe his ◅ande very well discouering all these Coastes which they call the Mina whiche stretch in length in the course of the East and West vntyll they came to the Cape of saint Catherin that standeth in two degrees a halfe of height towards the South side so there remaineth behinde discouered the ilandes of the Prince and of Fernando and those of Sancto Thome ▪ being vnder the lyne Equinoctiall In this time died the king Don Alonso and Don Iohn the second his sonne succeeded him who sent foorth a Captain of his called Diego de Acambina with a great number of shippes to this Conquest who caused to bee builte the Castell of saint George with consent of the Prince Caramansa Lord of that Countrey Other Captaines of his discouered the Realmes of Congo and of Beni and the rest of the same Coaste whiche is to bee vnderstoode from the North too the South vntyl they passe the famous Cape of Buena Esperanca being the first Bartholomew Dias one of the officers of his house Of some Embassadours of these blacke kniges which they sent to Portugale and particularly of those of the king of Beni the king Don Iohn had knowledge that farre within the countrey there was a mightie Prince vnto whom some of them gaue obedience and by the maners and tokens that hee declared of him it seemed that hee was a Christian whereof it came to bee agreed vppon that hee should be Prester Iohn of whom then there was knowledge of and of the trade and riches of the India by meanes of certayne religious men Spaniardes that had beene at Hierusalem and like wise of other that were come into Spaine And for to certifie him self the better of the Trade and Nauigation and Portes of the India and of the power of Prester Iohn and of his religion of whom he minded to fauour himself for the trade of the Spicerie hee sent one Peter de Covillana seruaunt of his house and also Alonso de Paiba by the way of Italie that he might bryng him a true relation of all ▪ These men went to Naples and from thence they imbarked them selues for the Rhodes and from thence to Alexandria and too Cairo which at that time was a Royall seate of the Soldans of Aegypt vntill a fewe yeeres after in the yeere a thousande fiue hundred and sixteene Selim Emperour of the Turkes ouercame and slewe in a battayle neere to Damasco the Soldan Campson Gaurio and made himselfe Lorde of all those Realmes and from thence they went too the Citie of Adem whiche standeth at the entrie of Sinus Arabicos whiche is called the redde Sea in the part of Arabia Foelix where they departed one from another The Paiba towardes Aethiopia and the Covillana towardes the India where they agreed togeather to returne and ioyne themselues againe at a certaine time in the Citie of Cairo Covillana did embarke himselfe in a small shyppe of the Moores and came to Cananor and from thence to Calicut and Soa the moste principall Portes of that Coaste of the India and hauing well enfourmed himselfe to the states Trafficke and riches thereof he returned from thence to the Mine of Zofala ▪ which is in Aethiopia aboue Aegypt in nienteene degrees of the height of the Southside betweene Musambike and the Cape of Buena Esperanca and from thence he returned too Aden and to Cairo where hee vnderstoode that Paiba his companion died a fewe dayes before in that Citie And beyng readie to
and the firme land vntill hee came too Moscanbique which standeth in fifteene degrees of height of the South side sixe hundreth leages beyonde the cape of Buena Esperanca which place is nowe themoste principall porte that the Portugales haue in all those Seas Don Vasco taried a smal tyme in this place bicause it was then inhabited with Merchauntes of the secte of Mahoma which were come thither in the trade of merchandize and so hee ran along the coaste and touched in Mōbasa and in Melinde where he was well receiued of the king although hee were a Moore with whome hee concluded a peace and amytie in the name of the king Don Emanuel his Lord and maister And hauing well enformed and instructed himselfe of the coast of the India hee tooke experte Pilotes for the Nauigation and went along vppon his voiage passing ouer a gulfe of seuen hundreth leages in twenty and two dayes vntill hee came too the Citie of Calicut put in eleuen degrees and a quarter of the North side with greate ioy and gladnes too see himselfe at the end of his iorney And beeing at Anker without hee sent woorde too the king of his comming where hee was in a place fiue leages from the Citie who sent him woorde that hee was very glad of his comming and of his Embassadge tooke order that he shoulde passe his shippes too the Porte of Capocate a place moste sure where they might ryde at Anker by reason that it was in the Moneth of May which is in that Coūtry the coldest and hardest tyme of Winter in the yeere and when hee thought good he would aduise him to come to the Court. This region that commonly is called India is the Country with in which is conteined the two famous riuers Indus and Ganges which doo spring in the twoo mountaines Dalanguer and Nangracot so being ioyned one to thother that they are thought to be one and the people of that Country do thinke that they spring out of one common vaine and so runne into the great Ocean Seas The riuer Indus of whom al this Prouince tooke the name by the realme of Guacarate which commonly is called the west part of Cambaya and the riuer Ganges by that of Beugala towards the e◅stparts lying East and West vnder the tropike of Caucer ▪ ◅trauise of threehundreth leages from one mouth to thother from the which commeth out a point of the lande farre in to the Sea and sheweth it self very sharpe euen vntil it come to the cape Camori which lieth Noorth and South from the fountaines of these riuers in distaunce of 400. leages of length in seuen degrees and two terces of heigth of the North side And although that amongst the Princes of these Countries are but twoo differences of lawes Idolaters and Mahomets al the Coūtry is deuided in to many realmes states For although they are very warlyke and of littel fayths yet the height and sharpnes of the hilles and mountaines and the greate nūber of fearce bests which are not to be made tame the riuers the entering of the Seas do make it inuincible is the cause cause that al this region is not brought subiect to the Prince which is of most powre and principally by reason of a long tract and rowe of mountaines which the natural people of the Coūtry do cal Gates stretching from the North to the south in the length of 200. leages from one coast to thother as doeth the high mountains Apenino in Italie beginning at the west part at the riuer Caruants passing vnto the mountain called Delij very wel knowen of the sailers of that coast which standeth in xii degrees and a halfe in height of the North side where is a plaine peece of ground ouerflowen with water of sixe or ten leages as it seemeth by the bayes neere adioyning thervnto which may bee eightie leages long and the natural people of the Country do cal it Malabar where standeth the realme and Citie of Calicut this king beeing the greatest of powre of those of this prouince and therefore hee is intituled Camori which is asmuch too say as Emperour Two daies after that Don Vasco had placed his ships in the port of Capacote there came for him a seruant of the king to bring him too his presence whome they cal their Catual accompanied with 200. men of his garde who put him selfe into his iorney carying with him onely xii Portugales and one Moore called Monzaide ▪ This Monzaide was of the realme of Tunez who did him greate pleasure by reason hee was a faythful interpreter of whome he vnderstood the secrets of the land and the gouernement thereof and in the way came to receiue him another Catual of higher degree who did accompanie him vntil he came to the king who when he should receiue him put himselfe for Maiestie at the ende of a great chamber in a bed which they cal Catel appareled with a certaine kind of fine cloth made of cotton wool burnished set with roses of beaten gold and on his head a long high cap of cloth of gold of the fashion of a close mytre ful of pearles on his legges and armes he had great store of bracelets of golde and stone hee had his head lying vppon a Pillowe of plaine silke wrought with golde firisied there was leaning to the bed a Gentleman which helde a plater of golde in his handes with the leafe of Betely with which kind of leafe they vse to comfort the stomack And Don Vasco entring into the chamber there rose very neere vnto the king a man of great yeeres with whyte garments representing great honor who was his heigh Priest being the chiefe of the religious men of his gentilitie and tooke him by the hande and caried him to the kings presence who receiued him with a mery countenaunce and with a shewe of greate and seuere Maiestie without mouing himselfe more then lifting vp his head a little frō the Pillowe and when he layed down his head againe hee made signes to the high Priest that he should cause him to sit downe by the bed side ▪ And hauing spoken certaine generall woords with Don Vasco and receiued the Letter of Don Emanuel he saide that he woulde see it and woulde heare him when he was at more leysure and for that tyme he shoulde go to take his rest commaunding a Gentleman to haue care too lodge him see him wel vsed with good entertainemēt The next day Don Vasco would returne to speake with him and declare his embassadge but the Gentlemen which kept him company kept him backe declaring to him that the Embassadors which came to that Country were accustomed not too go to speake with the king but when it pleased his Maiestie to cal them but the Moore Monzaide as one which knewe wel the order that was vsed in these causes said vnto him that the most certaine order and custom of that Prince and of
natural people of the countrey doe call Tame they are called Tangis is a Countrey which lyeth moste Easterly of all Asia those of the India Malaca Samatra Sian and Pegu and the rest of the Ilandes and Realmes of that Sea are called China it is sayde that in respect of that Realme of Guachinchina which is neighbour to it on the West side and payeth Tribute keeping in all things theyr lawes and customes and the greattest part of it is washt ouer which the Easterly Ocean Seas begin ning from the Ilande Aynan adioyning to Guachinchina which is in the nienteene degrees of the Northside shewing it selfe by the South part in the course of the East Northeast gathering it selfe towardes the North vnto a point which is most Easterly that it hath where standeth the Citie of Nimpo which the Portugales doe call Limpo and from thence it returneth towardes the Northwest and to she North making a great bay farre into the lande and carriyng on high vpon it selfe and other Coaste set vpon that which standeth aboue and the higher Countrey remaining vnder the colde clowdes of the North where the Tartars doe dwell with whom they haue continuall warres By the West part it bordereth as it hath beene delated with the Realme of Guachinchina and higher towardes the North which the Loas Osioens Maos and with the Bramenes which are a multitude of people and very rich of golde stones and especially of Rubies These are approued people valiant and tall of body and sometime haue warre with the people of China but it is not ordinarie by reason of the great hilles and sharp mountaines that is betweene them Then followeth foorthwith the Patanes and Mogores whose Realme is very great and innumerable of people and of suche as be very warlike they fight with Bowes and Arrowes on horsebacke they weare Murrions and other things of defence The chiefe of that Realme is the great Samarcan they be the true Massagetas by whom it is affirmed that no other Nation haue had them in subiection They are a tall people wel proporcioned and white for the most part by reason they dwell in a colde Countrey And from them forwardes you turne to meete with the Tartares which people are tawnie and not white from the waste vpward they goe naked they eate â–ª rawe fleshe and they annoint them selues with the blood thereof â–ª because they would make themselues to be wondred at And therefore commonly they haue such a filthie smel that when they warre against the people of China yf the winde come of theyr side they are discouered by the smell they fight on horsbacke with Bowes Arrowes and Speares as the Massagetas do In all this description of the Countrey which hath beene spoken of without doubt it is as great or greater than Europe There in are conteyned xv Prouinces that euerie one of them is greater then the most kingdomes that wee know They name some of theÌ„ vnder the name of Metropolitana where theyr Gouernours and Presidents are resident they are named CaÌ„ton Foquien Chequeam Xanton Nanquij Quinquij these are bordering vppon the Sea Coaste Quichen Iunna Quancij Sujuam Fuquam Canslij Xianxij Honan and Sancij these are in the Countrey within wel neere all these Prouinces and particularly those of the Sea Coaste are compassed about with Riuers verye deepe large and Nauigable of the fiesh water and also replenished with small Riuers and Brookes whiche doeth maintayne the Sea with the entraunce of them into it and they runne fatre within that Countrey and because the Countrey is plaine it semeeth as though it were ouerflowen but it is not ¶ The seuenth Chapter sheweth of the temperature of the Countrey and the notable thinges that it bringeth foorth THe temperature of this Countrey is diuers by reason that it doth stretch far froÌ„ the South to the North so much that the Ilandes Ainan doe stand in nientene degrees of height It is also knowen that some Prouinces doe stande in fifteene degrees and others muche more aboue in the borders of the Tartares and this is well too be seene by the difference that is of the Inhabitauntes of Canton and of the reste of the places of that Coaste which are base people as those that are in Barbarie and doo runne the race that they doe And the rest of the people of the Prouinces of the lande within are white and red as in Almanie although that generally there is not in all of it extreme heate nor cold because it is shut vp within the region which the Geographers do cal temperate and it standeth vnder the same Climate that Spayne France and Italie doe stand in â–ª whereby the fruitfulnesse of it may be vnderstood that without all doubt it is the greatest and most abundaunt that is knowen in the wide worlde by reason that the naturall people of the countrey do procure to liue by their owne industrie and continu all labour not sparing Mountaines Ualleis nor Riuers that is not all planted and set with sundrie sortes of Fruites and with great sowing of Wheate Barley Rise and other thinges according too the commoditie and situation And it is easie to them by reason that they inioy freely of their owne substance without any molestation of impositions and tributes And also they doe not suffer nor permit in the Countrey any Uacaboundes nor idle people nor they suffer any of the naturall people of the Countrey to goe foorth of the Realme there are an infinit number of people 〈◊〉 all kinde of Artes and offices And because they are inclined to eate and drinke well and too make muche of themselues and to haue their houses very gorgeously dreste and repaired they geue them selues to labour and to procure it fâ—…eeing from infamie and shunning little estimation the thinges wherewith idle men are there reproched withall This realme doth bring forth as great abundance of al kinds of fruites and garden hearbes as Europe and as sweete and with as good tast as those of Spaine better for in the sweete Orenges there is three differences of marueilous tast and a kinde of plumbes that are wel neere round which are called Lechias which are of an excellent taste without geuing any lothsomnes without taking away the desire of the stomack and without doing any hurt although you eate many Of the mellons of a certaine kind of aples they report wonders their chestnuts they prefer without any coÌ„parison to be made of ours with them They haue great store of sugar and great store of wormes with breede silke which is one of the greatest trades y is in that realme great store of flar to make linneÌ„ cloth of diuers sorts for their wearing In y dry couÌ„tries they sow Wheate and Barley and in the moyste and ouerflowen groundes they sowe Ryse and they are accustomed to gather it three or foure times in the yeere and so it is the moste ordinarie and common meate they haue The high
is greate store of deare and of other game of diuers sortes and all kinde of wilde fowle In Townes that are neere the Sea coast all the houses for the moste parte bee lowe and within the lande they reise their Chambers alofte of faire buildings They haue generally at their dores trees of beawtie set in a rowe one by an other in order which are set with equall distance and by line which are greene al the yeere bicause they should yeld them shadowe and also beawtifie the streetes There are in that Countrie some Cities in which the Barkes may sayle with in them lyke as in the towne of Brudges in Flanders in the which riuer do Barks passe laden with al kind of vitailes and merchaundise and the streets stand on both sides of the Chanelles where they sayle and come to the Wharfes and Bridges of goodly building specially at the going out of the Cities for to passe the fennes and the riuers Whē they be so great and deepe that none cā go ouer them they make bridges vpon many boats or barks after the fashion of the bridge of Seuil tied with strong chaynes and when the freshe waters are very great they vndo thē then they take barkes which they ro we with oares and doo vse them to passe the people and al other things they haue to passe at the kings cost this order is in all the Country although it be in places not inhabited In the hilles mountaines where people cōmonly doo iorney there are made Cause is that are heighest in the middest and wel repayred which is one of the most notable buildings for common vse that is in al China The villages are for the most part al compassed about with trees which doo hyde them bicause the houses be lowe vnlesse it bee the houses of some rich farmers whose housen are very high decked with towres which are to be discouered far of by many partes bycause the Country is much replenished with villages and houses of pleasure of great recreation where they haue gardens parkes of deare and wildfowle and ponds of fishe of al sorts And by reason they are blind in Religion and without light of the knowledge of the true God and of feeling of euerlasting life they indeuour the rather to passe the temporal life with great ease and contentment reposing their chiefe felicitie in things temporal and in things of most pleasure in this life There are many other buildings of great admiration in those cities specially in the prouince of Fucheo certain Portugals with were caried prisoners thither do affirme that they sawe a tower before the house of the kings Tresurer in that Prouince built vpon 40. whole Arches and euery piller of the Arches had in length fourtie pawnnes in cōpasse xii and the rest of the building was so sumptuous and faire that therewith they were amazed and it seemed too them that in respect of that al was little which they could see in all Europe And bycause you may better vnderstande the maiestie of this Empire and the riches and greatnes of it the Portugales doo make particular relation of the Citie of Canton which is one of the least of that realme of the which Cytie they haue moste knowledge by reason of the ordinarie trade of shipping that they haue too that place and porte with their merchaundise which in respect of the rest is as the Cytie of Cadiz in respect of the rest of the great Cities of Spaine and they say that this Citie of Canton standeth before the Iland called Ainan in the same ooast in twenty seuē degrees skarce of heigth of the North side in a playne fayre fielde and delectable to the sight for the trees and fruites that it hath and all kinde of husbandry being placed among the smal riuers being brāches of a great riuer which goe◅h spreading in breath twoo hundreth paces and in deepth from three to seuen fadō and by the sides of these riuers are planted many small villages faire houses of great pleasure vntil you come to the sea which is neere vnto it At the entrie in towards the Citie are certain Ilands inhabited with husbandmē with only do liue by husbandry ▪ It is compassed about on the parte side where the riuer is not with a brode deepe diche or trench ▪ wherevnto commeth great store of water which maketh it strong it is nauigable the walles are built with stone lyme and bricke vppon the face of the earth without any foundation ▪ but filled vp ful of earth and broade There are in the walles eighty three bulwarks Iohn de Barros doth say that they are nientie of a greate shewe and compassed about with galleries which doo beawtifie the Citie very much it hath in circute twelue thousand three hundreth and fiftie paces besides the suburbes which are great and much inhabited the walles are hole and sounde although that they do affirme that it is one thousand eight hundreth yeeres they were built by reason of the great care they haue too repayre them The good fashion that the streets haue do cause the Citie to shew very faire by reason they are long and straight And the said Citie hath seuen gates and they are seene from the one to thother by reason the streets are so broade that ten men on horseback may passe in front one by an other and there remayneth at the one side and thother shops where they sel merchaundyse and all kinde of vittailes The said streetes are very wel paued high by the sides and lowe by the middest that the water may auoide away and beeing so long they haue throughout great number of triumphant Arches made very sumptuous as before is declared At the going foorth of the gates to go ouer the marrish ground there are Bridges of free stone very broade where is solde many thinges too bee eaten and others The houses where the Presideuts are lodged that doo gonerne this Prouince are the kings houses and are of great Maiestie and doo occupy much roome with the courtes and gardens and great houses where the Counselles doo sit and determine causes and doo prouide thinges for the Gouernement of the rest of the Cities and those for the estate of the warres and for the kings rents This Prouince and that of Cansie by reason they be least the rest are prouided with one onely Gouerner which they cal Tutam is asmuch to say among vs as Uiceroy for this cause he is Resident in a Citie called Doucheo which is in the borders and precinet of them both The ordinary common houses of this Citie are in outwarde shewe of small beawtie because they are lowe by reason of the heate which is great in that place but within they are very beawtiful goodly to be seene bicause they are made as whyte as milke in such sorte that it seemeth as if they were set foorth with shyning paper burnished
a certaine kinde of pumpes made of many peeces like to Anorias of Spaine put a long by the shippes sides within so artificially that one man sitting and moouing his feete continually as one that goeth vp a paire of staires pumpeth a great shippe in little time although she make verie much water The great store of Barkes that are for seruice in Riuers are innumerable and it is to the Barkemen an inheritante and continuall habitation They carie in them their wiues and children in one side of them coueved like a house and in the other side they haue made a place for the ease of their passengers And as the Riuers are verie great and broade and nauigable there are in them continually manie Barkes like to vittayling houses â–ª where is to be had meate and drinke verie delicious and there are like wise to be solde all fiue sortes of marchandize that are to bee founde in the great Cities Also there are manie poore people of the villages which are sitting at the Riuers sides they dwell also in Barkes in the water without hauing any other place to goe vnto the men their wiues and children they bring their couerings for to defende them from the raine and from the Sunne and they breede in them hennes Geese Pigeons and in the outside they make a little Garden wherein they plant flowers and some garden hearbs These get their liuing in going to worke in the Countrey in the small villages at all kind of worke And the women they passe ouer by Barke the way fairing men if any come and they also go vp and downe the Riuer with great long canes certaine smal baskets made of twigges tied at the ende where withal they catch shell fishe for to susteyne themselues In other greater Barkes goeth people of wealth and some Barkes do apperteine to riche men where their seruants are they haue in them certaine great cages made of Canes as long as the Barke wherein they are accustomed to bring vp three or foure thousande Duckes which they feede in this manner when it is day they giue them sod Kise not so much as may fill them and immediately they set open the doore where they are that they may cast themselues into the Riuer by a doore that is made of the same Canes And it is a maruellous thing to see the haste howe they goe out one vpon another vntill they come a lande where they goe feeding all the day vntill night in the places where Roses doe growe The owners of the Roses do giue to the Barkemen rewardes bycause they make cleane the places where the Roses growe of the grasse that growes among them at night they make a signe or noyse with a small drumme and then they come all home And although there are diuerse Barks togither they knowe to which Barke they should goe â–ª by reason of the sounde and they returne into the same Barke with the like furie they went forth And bycause there may be moued some question after what sort they raise and breede such great multitudes of Duckes and water foule you shall vnderstand that in the Sommer time they put two or three thousand egges into dung and with continual warmth and gentle heate thereof and with the time there commeth forth this broode as the Chickens doe in grand Cairo in Aegypt and in the Winter they make a great hearth vpon the which they put a great number of egges and vnderneath they make a soft mtidâ—… and gentle fire and so it continueth in one sort for certaine dayes vntill these broodes come foorth and this is the cause that there are such multitudes of them The Barkes of these fishers as well in the Sea as in the Riuers are innumerable for the which cause it is manifest that it is the best prouided Countrey of fish that is in the whole world For as I haue sayde although it be 500. leagues within the lande they eate euery day fresh fishe of the Sea. And for bycause this shoulde not seeme incredible I will referre mee to the order that they haue therfore euery yeare in the month of Februarie and March part of April when the great Freshes do come The fish of the Sea doe come to cast their spawne or egges at the going forth of the Riuers which is the cause that there doth breede great store of small fishe in the creekes thereof to which places all the fishermen doe come that dwell along the coast with their Barkes and nettes with them they fishe of this fishe and they cast them into certeine pondes which they make in the water after the maner of a rounde circle vpon great roddes and course nettes where they liue and are susteyned vntill the fishing be done which dureth certaine dayes In this time there they vse too come downe a great multitude of Barkes of all the Prouinces of the China of the innermost part of the lande in the which Barkes they bring manye Baskets made of twigges and lined with Paper layde vppon with Oyle that the water maye not come foorth and euerie one of these doe buy the Fishe that they haue neede of according to the Baskettes that they doe bring and forth with they returne againe into the lande moouing them euery day into other water for too sell them where best they may be payed for them And al men that are of abilitie doe buy of these baskets for the storing of their pondes which they haue at their houses and places of their inheritances And they are made to growe and increase in short time with the dung of Kine And in all the ditches of the Cities there is cast in and doe breede after this sort great quantitie the which the gouernours and officers of the King doe enioy whereby is vnderstoode the maruellous industrie which they vse for to enioy the great abundance thereof And the king hath for these fishings in all the cities which are built vpon the Riuers sides many sea Rauens or Cormorants putte into cubbes where they breede and multiplie with the which Cormorantes there is made a great fishing And the Barkes that are appointed for this fishing do come togither and are put in compasse in the middest of the Riuer and they doe binde fast the gorges or mawes of these birds bicause the fishe should not discende downe to the guttes and they cast them out to fishe and to swallow downe vntill they fill theyr mawes of small fishes and if they meete with any great one they take him out of his bill wherewith all they returne into the Barke to cast out all he hath taken After this sort they continue theyr fishing vntill they haue what they will and then they vnlose them and do returne them to their places that they may fill themselues at their owne will and so they put them into their cubbes as before Some part of these fishes the king doth giue to his
officers and the rest is distributed for the prouision of the Cities for to encrease his reuenues The Barkes wherein the gouernors and the officers do saile in haue their couerings high and theyr cabans verie well wrought and gilded both without and within with theyr windowes casementes adorned with fine shewes And the Barkes of the officers of lower degree are well neare built after the same maner and with as much gallantnesse There are so many Barkes of the one sort and of the other that they say commonly that theyr King maye make a bridge vpon Barkes that will reach from China to Malaca which is fiue hundreth leages distant The xi Chapter sheweth of the letters cyphers and figures of the people of China and of their studyes in generall THe people of China haue nō number of letters in their A B C for all that they write is by figures signifying the heauen which they call Guant by one onely figure which is this And the king which they cal Bontai which is this And in like order the earth the Sea and the rest of the Elaments and names vsing more than fiue thousande ciphers or figures different one from the other which they make verie readily I saw a China doe it and I requested him to write certaine names and he shewed to me the numbers that they doe account withall and they were easie to vnderstand and to summe and rest any maner of account by Arithmetike by them as well as by those of our ciphers they make the lines throughout both aboue and beneath verie equall and wich great order beginning contrarie to vs After the self same order they haue in their impression which they vsed many yeares before it was vsed in Europe Of their printed bookes which doeth treate of theyr Histories there were two of those bookes in the power of the most excellent Queene of Portugale the Ladie Katherine that now liueth And that which seemeth most to be marueyled at is that they speaking different languages in the most part of theyr Prouinces and the one vnderstande not the other by speache more than the Gascoines doe vnderstande the Valencianos yet generally they vnderstande one another by wryting for one maner of figure or cipher doth serue euerie one of them and to signifie to them any maner of name And although they declare one to another of them any worde that is straunge yet they vnderstande that it is the selfe same thing bycause they see plainely that it doeth signifie a Citie which is this and some doe call it Leombi and others Fu the one and the other doe vnderstand that it is to be vn ▪ derstoode a Citie and the like followeth in all other names And in this sort they talke one with another in writing those of Lapaon and Ilandes of the Lechios and the Realme of Guachinchina without vnderstanding anie woorde the one with another when they speake In all Cities the king hath generall Schooles at his owne cost and to them doe come an infinite number of Scholers to be taught A Frier named Gaspar de la Cruz being a religious mā of Portingale of the order of Saint Dominicke that was in that Countrey in the Citie of Canton and that wrote plentifully the things he saw and that which happened to him in the voyage sayeth that they teach in these their Schooles onely the lawes of the Realme and no other science But there bee some learned men that haue knowledge of the course of the heauens wherby they know the Eclipses of the Sunne and of the Moone and these teach to particular parsones of their owne free wil. And Iohn de Barros doeth say that beside the teaching of their owne lawes they also teach naturall Philosophie and that they be great Astrologers which he knoweth by relation of others and by a booke they brought him from thence of the scituation of the Countrey with a Commentarie vpon the same after the maner of an Itinerary with a Mappe or Carde Geographicall made by the sayde people of the China wherein is mention made of one wall which beginneth from the Citie of Ocoioy and standeth betweene two verie high mountaines euen like vnto a way passage or gate that passeth through that whole Region which doth runne from fortie three to fortie flue degrees from the West to the East and vntill it meete with another great hill which runneth out into the Easterly Seas after the maner of a head lande or Cape and seemeth to be in length more then two hundreth leagues which the kinges in times past did commaunde too buylde for to defende the incursions of the Tartares from his Countrey their auncient mortall enemies And all those Mountaines Rivers Cities and Townes with theyr names which Carde or Mappe did answere well to the booke after the maner as they vse there is after three sortes that is by stature league and iourney and wee vse the like And the first and least distance they call Lij which haue so much space as in a plaine grounde and a calme day the voyce of a man may be heard and ten of these Li◅s doe make one Pu which doe answere little more then a leage of ours of Spaine and ten Pues do make a dayes iourney which they cal Ichan And it is not to be marueyled that they do not scituate the distance of the lande with degrees answering too the celestial Orbe seeing that at the time of Ptolome it was not vsed of the Geographers notwithstanding that hee sayth they haue this vse in their Oroscopos when they vse their Astrologie The king doeth sende to these Scholers euerie yeare visitors to examine the students to see and vnderstand if they profite in learning And those which are able and learne wel they honor with woordes of commendation and do animate them that they go forwarde in theyr studie offering them to increase theyr liuings and those which do not profite in learning they commaunde to be put into Prison and they whip them and when they are altogither vnprofitable they dispatch them away euery three yeares The visitors vse this kinde of examination when they come to take residence of the Iudges and the Kinges Officers and they bring power and authoritie to graduate such as are able men and of sufficient knowledge in the lawe which is to make them sufficient for to serue the king in Offec◅s and gouernements as it is more at large declared in an other Chapter following The xii Chapter sheweth howe that of all this great Realme of China one onely Prince is King and Lorde and of his Councell and Maiestie of his house and Court. AL this great Realme is subiect to one onely king and monarche which doeth gouerne reigne in it And there doth succeede in the Realme from fathers to sonnes and for lacke of them it goeth to the next in kinred but as they marry manie wiues according to the maner of the Turkish
as serue in his house are gelded men by reason of the number of wiues they haue and so are the most part of his chiefe Counsaile bycause that with more assurance they may go in to him consult with him in the businesse of the gouernment of his Realme and estate of his warres and no others doe speake with him but those His Realme is so large and long that for to goe by iourneys from the Citie of Canton to his Court is foure or fiue monethes iourney and yet there are other Cities further Hee hath knowledge euerie Moneth and relation of all thinges that doe happen in euerie Prouince aswell touching the state warres and rentes as of al other successes with ordinarie postes that the Gouernours do dispatch to him for this effect The same order of the poste is as we haue among vs Barros doth write that they runne with collers of Belles and others that haue beene in that Countrey say they vse to blowe with a horne to aske horses and to giue knowledge to Barkes to passe Riuers The Embassadours of Princes beeing his friendes or enemies are receiued with greate veneration they lodge them and prouide them of all things needful with great liberalitie and when they come where the king is al the Lords and knights of the Court go forth to receiue them they giue them great gifts and presents and honor them with the title of Lawiers Some kings being farre of from him as the king of Aua Siam Melitij Bacham Chabam Varagu which fell to the north partes of Pegu and do acknowledge him obedience in remembrance that in olde time they were his subiectes they send him ordinarily their Embassadors with some present for the great iourney they haue to this kings Court they alwayes send with the embassage foure or fiue persons euerie one with like authoritie that if it happe some of them to die in the way or vntill they be dispatched from thence and if they die not of anie disease they alwayes poyson one or two of thē in some banket vnto whom they make verie sumptuous Sepulchres with Epitaphs conteining what they were and the cause of their comming and by what prince they were sent and this is for to continue the memorie and greatnesse of the renowne of his Realme The Embassadors of the rest of the Princes are so priueleged in such sort that those of his counsaile hauing condemned too death one Bartholomew Perez and all the rest of his companie that was sent to this coūtrie by the gouernour of the India as Embassadour of the king Don Emanuel of Portingal surmising that their embassage was false and that they were spies by reason of a certaine relation giuen against them by the embassadors of the king of Malaca and the king himself vnderstanding of the matter did commaund that their Embassage being false or true it was sufficient that there should be no hurt done to their persones seeing they were entred within the realme with the title of Embassadors Other there are that come for some common weales which are Lordes that do owe obedience to him they make no enterteynment to such but vse them with a strange kind of Ceremonie When they say to them that they shall go to see the king they appoint them the day and houre and they cause them to goe on foote or on horsebacke with bridles of strawe for humilitie And in comming too a great place that is before the kings house they stay vntill there come vnto them an Officer of the kings who doth the office of the maister of Ceremonies and doe commaunde them to passe forwarde And at a certaine place they kneele downe hold vp both theyr hands togither as though they prayed to God they beholde one quarter part of the houses of the kings palace where they tel them that the king is at times in equall space they make other fiue times their prayers and without turning their shoulders they returne backewarde with the like Ceremonies and this being done they send them away This say they is to go to see the king If they giue them licence to say what they will they remaine in the last prayers on their knees vntill there come to them an other officer which is the Secretarie that writeth downe all that they aske and with saying to them that they will consult of it with the Lord of the world they are sent away for that time vntill they bee dispatched with the determination and opinion of his chiefe Counsaile The XIII Chapter sheweth of the Presidentes and Officers which are in euery Prouince and the order which they haue in the Gouernment of them THE King doth prouide Officers for the Gouernment of euery Prouince besides ordinarie Iudges which are in some prouince more thē three thousande as also fiue Presidents and euery one of them hath his iurisdiction by himself of diuers causes the chief of them is called the Tutan which is a Uiceroy or gouerner of al the Prouince vntoo whome they come generally with the knowledge of al great griefes and smal offences And al the penalties thereof the ordinary charges being taken away he sendeth to the court and with the relation of al the newes that doeth happen euery moneth His aurtoritie and maiestie is so great that he is not resident where the rest of the Lawyers are bicause hee wil not be visited and frequented of them The second in dignitie is the Ponchasi which is asmuch too say as the chiefe gatherer of the kings rents and President of the Counsel of the kings reuenues This office executeth he without the coū sel of any Lawyers There are many other officers that doo serue to recouer the kings rentes with the which they come to the Tutan as afore saide and it is at his charge too commaunde too pay al mens wages ordinary and extraordinary charges to take accompt of them as head Gouerner of al inferiour Officers The thirde in dignitie is the Anchasi which is the President of the ciuil and criminal Iustice who doth see and determine withal his hearers and Officers all wightes and buzines which goe in degree of appellation to his tribunal frō the rest of the ordinary Iudges of that Prouince all other thinges which are conuenient for the good gouernmēt expedition of iustice The fourth is the Aytao who is the purueiour general and President of the Counsell of warres too whome doth aperteine the liuing of men and prouiding of shippes vittailes and munitions for the ships of warre that goe to the Sea and for armes by lande and for ordinary garisons of the cities and frontier Townes and to know what straungers do come and from whence they come and what they wil. The fifth is the Luytisi which is the Captaine general that doth put in execution that which is ordeined by the Aytao and those of his councel And whē there is giuen occasion of any warres of
other plaine they haue it for an euill signe and they returne against the Idolles and they speake to them shamefull and dishonest wordes calling them dishonest dogges And when they be weary of calling them so any longer then they turne againe with faire and sweete wordes and aske them pardon of that which they haue sayde and desire them too giue them good fortune promising them more then before they had offered them wherevpon they turne to cast anewe and by this order they proceede praysing them and setting naught by them And when they tarrie long and if it bee a matter of importaunce they runne to them and take them and cast them into the Sea and sometimes into the fire suffering them to burne a little and they whippe them and spurne at them with their feete vntill it happe to them as they desire that is the rounde partes of these stickes to fall vpward And then they worship and prayse them with much Musicke and songs and cary to them offerings of Hennes Duckes and Rice all drest and a Pigges heade sodden which they much esteeme and a great iarre of Wine and of all this they set some part of it vpon the Altar in a Platter wherein is the toppes or poyntes of the Pigges eares and snout and the nayles of Duckes and Hennes and a fewe granes of the Rice and some droppes of wine and all the rest they themselues eate before the Idols with much mirth and ioy When there dieth any maried man that hath a wife and children and familie immediately after he is dead they apparell him with the best apparell he had and they set him on a Chaire and there commeth to him his wife and doth put herselfe vpon her knees before him to take her leaue of him with many teares and pitiful words she speaketh and consequently his children and kinssolkes after the like order and and all the rest of his householde following And this ceremonie beeing done they put him in to a coffin made of the wood of Canfora which is conseruatiue and of sweete smel well made fast in all poynts bycause hee shoulde not smell After this they put him into a Chamber which is hanged with white hangings of linnen cloth vpon two bankes and do couer him with a cloth euen to the ground where in is shaped and formed the dead man very naturally made And in another place of the house without or in the gate house comming in they doo put for ceremonie a Table with candles lighted therevpon all full of bread and of sundrie sortes of fruites And in this sort they keepe him xv dayes in the which time there do come at the night season Priestes continually to offer vp their sacrifices and to pray theyr owne inuentions after the maner of Gentiles They bring many Papers painted and with certaine ceremonies they make they burne some of them there and the rest they hang vp in cordes athwart for this cause and they cast them togither making noyse that they sende the deade men to heauen All their superstitions done they take the coffi◅ and carie him to the field where the rest of the dead bodies are wherein time they are consumed In all these dayes there are in the house the Tabels set with manie kinde of meates that the priestes may eate and drinke and their friendes and acquaintaunce that do visite them The mourning apparell which they vse is most sharpe bycause they bring their clothes made of most course wooll nearest to the fleshe girte with hard coards and on theyr heades certaine nightcappes of the sayde cloth with edges like to hattes which falleth downe vppon their eares They ◅eare this for father or mother two or three yeares And if they haue any Sonne that is a Lawyer he doth let the exer◅se of his office which hee hath and d◅h retire himselfe all this time vntill he hath done and then he returneth a fresh to the court to do as he did before But those that are not so nere in kindred do apparell them selues with rawe linnen cloth not verie course They doe easily beleeue lyes and feigned fables or tales that men be conuerted into beasts and beasts into men and other ignorant toyes like too these It is not knowne certainly that any haue preached to them the Gospel vntill the Portingales came thither more thā in the coast of Molea which is the India of the side of the sea of Bengala which they cal now S. Thomas Thither came an Armeniā on pilgrimage did affirme to the Portingals y at that time were there resident that in the publike wrytings which the Armenians had there was relation and memorie that before this glorious Apostle did suffer martyrdome hee past to the China and there did preache the Gospell And bycause hee wrought little fruite in them hee returned to Molea leauing some Disciples that hee had conuerted in that Countrey Of the which there is no knowledge founde amongest them more then this religious man hath declared and sayde that hee had beene in Canton and from thence past to a small Ilande that standeth in the middest of the Riuer before the Citie where there is a Monasterie of those Priestes gathered togither and therein he sawe a Chappell built high from the grounde verie well made with certaine windowes gilded wherein was the Image of a woman marueylously well made with a Childe at her necke and had before it the signe of a Lampe burning and suspecting if it might bee anie rase of Christianitie he did aske of those Priestes and of other people that were there what that Image did signifie and no bodie coulde tell him nor giue him any reason thereof and so it coulde not bee determined if by chance it were the Image of our Ladie that the Disciples of Saint Thomas did set there ▪ There is not in all this Realme anie Iewes nor rase of them And it may be well vnderstood seeing that the most meate they eate is Porke fleshe Neither yet is there anie Moores although there are some that haue discended of them that are arriued thither from the Realme of Samarean by trade of Merchandice and of such as were conuerted of the Countrey but the most part of them dyed by iustice These which are now are discended of such as were vanished for great no offence into diuerse Prouinces therefore there are some in Canton and others in Cansi but as nowe they are few and the children childrens children of those which were vanished and borne of women of the Countrey of China all of them do eate ◅orke and drinke wine and there is no man of remembrance of the sect of Mahoma The xvi Chapter sheweth of the order that may be had wherby these people may turne to be Christians and of the nauigation that is made from the newe Spaine vntoo the Ilande of the West partes called the Philippinas OF some religious men called Iesuites it hath beene vnderstoode that they beganne too
twoo portes or hauens the one is called Acapulco which standeth in xvii degrees a half of heigth which wil holde many shippes although they bee greate and thother is called the Puerto de Naâ—…edad which hath the entry in of it very lowe and standeth in nynetiene degrees and a terce large From these portes do goe foorth the shippes that doo sayle too the Philippinas and they goe too put themselues in the heighth that the course of the Iland is in for the tyme when they goo foorth vpon this Nauigation which is in the ende of October the windes are alwaies Northerly in that coast vntil the end of April Wherewithal they goe with the winde in theyr poope running west and from the ende of April vntil the ende of October they turne too blowe at West Southwest which serueth them too returne rising vpp intoo a higher degree that they lack no height They met at their going with the Ilands called Barbudos for they were so named for bicause such as do inhabite there do let their beards grow long These people are apparelled with mattes made of the bowes of date trees very fine and they haue no weapons nor warre with any CouÌ„trie and theyr vittaile are Cocos and rottes and fishe they haue hennes lyke to those of Spaine more towards the west They turne meete with the Ilands which they cal of the theeues which be xiii and they lye in length North and South the greatest may bee little greater then fourtie leages They are al wel neere after one fashion and trade The weapoÌ„s they haue he sâ—…ings roddes dryed with the fire which doo serue them in place of lances They shootte so farre with the sâ—…ings that no hargubuse can shoott fo far They liue with Ryce and fish Cocos rootes there are in theÌ„ great quaÌ„titie of Ginger so beyonde that more towardes the West they fal with the Ilandes of the Philippinas which are many The IlaÌ„d of Mindanas which is the firste of the South side it beginneth in fiue degrees in the height of the North and it lyeth out shewing it selfe in length as the rest do which stande as a company of trees in the Northnorthwest course vntil you come into xiii degrees and a terce where you meete with the Iland of Luzon This Iland is in length out vnto the nynetiene degree in the same course there is in it three places inhabited with Moores they know not perfectly of what secte they are of but they giue reuerence to Mahoma they eate no porke They haue many riuers wherein they gather golde it is distant from this firme land of China lesse then one hundreth leages and from the Cytie of Canton which falleth too the North part of it one hundreth thirtie little more Our Spaniards are in possession of the said Iland and by reason the trade is greate from it too the firme land and for the curious things that are come froÌ„ thence to the new Spayne and from thence too his maiestie now they cal him China Ann. 1279. Ann. 148 â–ª â—…nno 1516. Ann. 1492. â—…ausies very â—…otable Timber died Tyle not gathering filth A Tower. â—…o Beggers 〈◊〉 descripâ—… of the seâ—… all sorts of 〈◊〉 barkes 〈◊〉 gallies The coast of China is low like as Flaun ders coast is Shouldes anâ—… flats perilous to strange fleetes A pollitike â—…aw that purâ—…haseth insiâ—…ute benesites The kings nauie to cleare the coastes froÌ„ enemies and pirots dispath at thâ—… portes Galleries A pitch of lime and oyle of fishe This pitch is defensiue against the wormes DiscoÌ„moditie of the pitch Pumpes artificial Barkes innumerable Multitudes of families alwayes liuing on the water They breede â—…oultrie and â—…oule in the Barkes Gardens Water foule Rosiers Rewardes The foule returne by noise of the drum Egges hatched by 〈◊〉 perate heaâ—… of dâ—…urg a also by warmth of fire The politik increase aâ—… breeding oâ—… fishe â—…acrowes to 〈◊〉 fish with Astraungâ—… thing worâ—… the noting â—…traunge efâ—…ct in their riting â—…ree scholes The lawes â—…aught in Schooles Astronomers A not able â—…all Visitours of Schooles Ample houses with Princely pleasures Painted gates Graduating Choise of the Captaines Rare coÌ„ming of the king abroade Betwene gate 〈◊〉 than a dâ—… iourney 〈◊〉 horsebacâ—… A table oâ—… golde The kings title An arguâ—… of a largâ—… dominion 〈◊〉 officers prouince AL that is written of the great lordship of China in this woorke I haue gathered my selfe with great diligence and care of men worthie of faith Portingals that haue bene there with merchauÌ„dise of other buzines as also of the saide people of China which haue come too Spayne of whome I tooke that which I thought to be certaine most meete for this shorte discourse â–ª The 〈◊〉 of the Chapters 〈◊〉 are conteyned in this Booke THe first Chapter sheweth of the beginning that the kingdome of Portingale had and of the successe it had vntil that the king Don Iohn the first conquered Ceuta in Barbarie The second Chapter sheweth of the diligence that the Infant Don Henry did make to come to the knowledge of the Moores of Ceuta and of the Prouince of the Negros of Iolofe and of the armed shippes which he sent in the discouerie of the coast of Ginnea euen to his death The third chap. sheweth of the discouerie of the coast of Ginnea in the time of king Don Alonso eueÌ„ vnto his death and of the persons which king Don Iohn his sonne sent by the Mediterrane Sea that they might bring him relation of the state and trade of India and of the Embassage hee sent to the king of Aethiopia The fourth Chapter sheweth howe the king Don Emanuel sent by the nauigation of the cape of Buena Esperanca Don Vasco de Gama with an Embassage to the king of Calicute and of the successe he had vntill hee returned too Portingale The fifth Chapter sheweth how the king Don Emanuel sent an other great army vnto the India with Pedraluarez Cabral and how he discouered in this voyage the coast of Brasil as also of the rest of the shippes that continually went vntil they gat Malaca and so had knowledge of the coast of China The sixth Chapter sheweth of the description of the Countrey of China and of the Prouinces and notable Realmes that are conteyned in it The seuenth Chapter sheweth of the temperature of the land and the notable things that it bringeth forth The viij Chapter sheweth of the greatnes of the cities and temples buildings that are in all the Countrey of China The nienth Chapter sheweth of their faces apparel and conditions of this people The tenth Chapter sheweth of the nauigation the Chinas do make in the Sea and in the Riuers The eleuenth Chapter sheweth of the letters figures of the Chinas and of their studies ingenerall The xij Chapter sheweth how that of this great realme of China is King and lorde one onely Prince and of his counsaile and Maiestie and of his house and Court. The xiij Chapter sheweth of the Presidents and Ministers that are in euerie Prouince and the order which they haue in the gouernment of them The xiiij Chapter sheweth of the gouernment and preuention that the king hath and doth for the successe of his warres The xv Chapter sheweth of the Religion and Rites they haue and the Ceremonies they vse The xvj Chapter sheweth of the order that may be had whereby these people might become Christians and of the nauigation which is made from the newe Spaine vnto the Ilandes of the west partes called Philippinas Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling at the three Cranes in the Vine-tree 1579.