of hands and feet to keep his army more full he entertains the fairest women in the world most gallantly dressed and are onely courted by the great ones and the gallantest persons many strange Lords and Princes flock hither to fight under Mars and Venus but they are not admitted to the Ladies untill they have shewed some Trophies of their valour in some gallant exploit for the Princes service then they are courted by the Ladies honoured and respected by the King who by frequent presents and obligations hurry them on to greater actions Some of them abstain from women to keep their strength and vigour boasting to feed upon Lions Bears and Tigars and drink the bloud of the cruellest and wildest beasts such is their Gallantry and thus they decline effeminacy They use themselves to very violent exercises to war wrastling hunting feeding on strengthning foods onely They anoint their bodies with certain unxious commixtions or oyles to harden their skin They seldome fight in battle-ray their High-Priests or Bramins lead on their Armies who dare not stir if the Bramins are not in the head of them and when two Parties or Armies cannot agree several persons are called out to decide the quarrell and when they have fought sufficiently a retreat is sounded and judgement is given of the victory sometimes they are commanded to fall on again Those Bramins are wise and well-composed persons they never permit their Kings to engage their whole Armies at the great expense of their Subjects bloud and therefore few pitched battles are fought between those Indian Kings at least the Idolaters for the Mahometans they are otherwise governed When this King intends war to any neighbouring Prince or Stranger he marches forth of his capitall Town accompanied with all his Nobility in battle-ray with all his horse and foot and Elephants in good order as if he were ready to march Then the King mounted on a stately courser marches towards the Country he declares war unto and le ts fly an arrow immediately many persons ride their circuits with flaming torches in their hands to give notice of the day they are to attend their King at the capitall Town and the field Marshals keep the passages and let none passe but who are fit for war if war be carried far off their houses are commanded to be burnt that the whole families may go to war they onely uncover their houses for their houshold-stuffe and goods are preserved in a publick place built for that purpose The people thus disposed follow their Prince with resolution and most freely expose themselves to all danger They load their Elephants and Horses with iron and steel hoops three fingers broad keen as rasors which they use in fight they dart them with so strange and dextrous a strength and fleetnesse that an arrow shot from a good arm flyes not swifter with these instruments they make large wounds most of them mortall and incurable poysoning the instruments besides these Armes they carry swords and bucklers of severall fashions javelines bowes and crosse-bowes and some fire-pikes they go so furiously to fight little regarding their lives to serve their Prince Paleacate is another noble Town and haven in Bisnegar upon the gulf Bengale The Inhabitants are Gentiles and profess the same law as at Malabar and Calicut never eating beef they war perpetually with Ternassari onely for Religion sake and are friends with Calicut so are most of the Town upon the same gulf as Aremogan Bigara Caricola Putifama and other fair harbours belonging to the King of Bisnegar The inhabitants of Paleacate are courteous and civil yet you must be cautious of them they wear neither breeches nor drawers but a loose long cassock and cloak over it of silk or some fine stuf with a cap of the same and pumps very neatly made and go bare-leg'd their cassocks reach to their ankles The women wear Turkish coats loose silk stockings and buskins richly faced this town hath great commerce and hither are brought from Pegu and other places all their rich commodities and jewels Between Paleacate and Narsingue is a great vale overgrown with stately trees like Sicamores yielding a continuall moysture like unto those in the Isle of Fer in the Canaries this vale is continually covered with clouds and very deep it resembles a perpetuall night the Sun never appearing the roads are hard to hit this vale is a good mile in length and discovering the great and adjacent plains you are in another world there runs a little River out of the vale one end of the plain is planted with Sugar-canes there are three Sugar works that furnish the Inhabitants with work all the year long They have not the art to refine it but make it up in powder with these canes they feed their cattle as horses bufflers and swine which makes their flesh very sweet delicious and Doctors prescribe swines flesh to sick persons and indeed it is sweeter and wholsomer than mutton because of the clean feeding Near Paleacate stands Meliapur or St. Thomas a pretty fair Town where the Portuguese have a Fort here 't is said St. Thomas the Apostle preached and is interred for the province of Parthia falling to his lot he came into the Indies and to Coulan others say he was first at Socotora towards the Arabick gulf from thence to Granganor then to Coulan where being persecuted by the King of that place he came to Coromandell and to this Town of Meliapur where he suffered martyrdom Many are of opinion he came into Pegu and to China for there are many monuments of Christianism all over the Indies yet 't is likelier that the Indies were since converted by one Panthenus a Grecian Philosopher about the year 200. and rather since by Aedesius and Frumentius who planted there the Christian faith the latter whereof was the first Bishop in the time of S. Athanasius as hereafter we shall say more at large since this they sent into Armenia for sit instructers and the Patriark sent them some itinerant ones and have continued thus ever since The Armenians had the holy Bible in the Chaldean tongue however 't is generally believed St. Thomas was buried here where he was martyred by the Bracmanes and the King of Sagamo others say he dyed in the Town of Calamine and was buried at Meliapur which are one and the same Town and indeed to this day the memory and name of him is much esteemed and reverenced by the Natives by the Gentiles and Moors themselves Many other places of these Indies pretend to have the shrine of this glorious Saint from thence 't is said he was translated to Edesse and from thence into Europe to Otoa There are many more Churches dedicated to St. Thomas five leagues from Cochin there is a fair one but abused by the Gentiles who have got it by force and the Christians revenues many miracles are wrought at the shrine of
of more then three moneths travell True it is he is not at instant of such power as heretofore by reason the neighbouring Mahometans and amongst others the King of Adel with the Zeilan by a continual war have deprived him of many territories even of the best part of the towns and havens he held about the red Sea the chief whereof are Zuachim Manzua anâ— Ercoco So as at present this Empire is much diminished both in extent strength and dominion only that by the assistance of the Portugues of the East he hath regained some places of late years And though at this day he is very ample so must we not give credit to many things of Grandeur and Magnificence we finde in Spanish Authours tasting somewhat of the fable published in a Romantick way which are sufficiently refuted by the Fathers of the society in their more authentick works extracted from the very notes of those who were and are constantly in person there from whom we have exact information both for the spiritual and for the temporal The countrey of the Abissins was known to our Ancestours by the name of Ethiope under Egypt afterwards the lesser India This Ethiopia is divided into the Eastern the Western and the middle The bounds at this day are the red Sea on the East Egypt on the North the Mountains along Nile Maniconge the Black River and Nubia on the West and Southward the Mountains of the Moone and the Lakes where the Nile rises or rather the borders of the Empire of Monopotapa Some afford it fifty kingdomes and more others are satisfied with five and thirty or lesse For absurdly some would make this Empire greater then all our Europe and that it should hold out from Egypt to the Promontory of Guardasu and to Babelmandel and Mogadoxo and of another side to the Southern or Ethiopian Ocean the Cape of Good Hope allowing for Tributaries many Moorish Kings to Monomotapa it selfe with the S. Laurence Islanders though at this day he hath his hands full to defend himself against the Mahometans the Gales or Galois and the Agays a people that are Blacks by whom for these threescore years he hath been rudely jostled till the Prince was constrained to supplicate the aid of the Portugals who brought effectuall assistance and by degrees have restored him to a recovering condition As you go from the red Sea Westward lye these Kingdomes Tigrai Dancaly Angote Xoa Amara Leca Baga Midai Dambea Datali Fatigar Ambra Anogotera Bernagas Belinganza Damure Edear Guiame there are the Cataracts of Nile Vangui Masmude Cafates Gilama and others some whereof Christians inhabit the rest Mahometans and Gentiles The people of these kingdomes when they bring their Gibre or tribute to the Prince They have wound a rope about their head and proclaim with a loud voice The Revenue of such a Province My Lord I am here present Then doth the Negar distribute this Gibre or revenue to three uses the first to relieve the poor of the Nation and support the Church a second for pay and maintenance of his army and the third to his Coffers for the exhibition of his houshold Now is the Revenue small for they have trees of which we finde many growing upon the high ways loaded with silk not by the work of art but nature whereof the gatherers pay a fift to the Prince as they do of their gold and silver mines where they employ their slaves as sometimes they do the children of them who have not paid the King dues for their harvest of silk Of Benjamin Storax and other Aromaticks 't is the same thing for the gathering whereof they make choyce of young lads as concerning their smell to be more exquisit and more firm and indeed the Merchants have a speciall regard for these gatherers and the younger the more they give them They who get Safron pay the same rates but they observe not the like niceness in the gathering The Farmers of these customes have a set day to bring it in to the Prince himself who receives it in person who so much delights in odours that whatsoever used in Court even to the Flambeaus is perfumed But when these are brought in they are attended with Drums Hoboyes with other instruments and consorts of musick which the towns are by duty to provide The same Prince hath likewise his fift out of the souldiers booty in time of warre as the Spanish King hath out of the Merchants mines but that he exacts an impost from thieves or Curtizans is a mistake This State was known to all Antiquity but upon uncertainty enough till about 120. years since the Portuguese gave us a better information of it and specially since these last threescore years that the Fathers of the society came thither The soyle in some part is exceeding fertile in others not It abounds in mines of gold silver brasse lead sulphure fruits of all sorts as citrons oranges but vines are scarce The air is temperate enough though under the torrid Zone the people there are black for the greater part and of long life Their principall traffick is salt which they carry very deep into the Provinces and sell dear making it serve as 't were for their money trucking it for all sorts of commodities whereof they have square pieces of severall proper weights as we have gold and silver In the sacred History the land of Ethiope is called Chuz or Phut from the two sons of Cham. who lived there 'T is said the name of Abassie or Abissine came from the Arabians who called them Elbabassi and Abex Others say 't was given by the Egyptians who by this name understand all such as inhabit a Countrey encircled with deserts as we find this is But the Ancients made ordinarily two Ethiopes the one East on the other side the red sea in Sabia or Arabia the happy the other west on this side or under Egypt And indeed the Homerists a people of Arabia along the coast of the red sea are called Ethiopians and there is some evidence that heretofore Kings of Ethiopia reigned on both sides the Gulph also some do opinion the Queen of Saba came from Arabia others from the true Ethiopia The west Ethiopia was either the lower from Egypt to Meroe or the high from Meroe to the Mountains of the Moon Some there are again who confound the Eastern with the Abissins place the Western towards the Atlantique sea then will have tho interiour towards Zanzibar Some hold the Ethiopians to have been the first Idolaters as descending from Chus the son of Cham and that they first received Judaisme and circumcision upon the Queen of Saba's voyage to Salomon and after Chritianisme by the Queen Candace's Ennuch Times past the Ethiopian Kings were very potent and brought under yoke Egypt it self and being by Semiramis and Cambyses assaulted defeated their armies nor durst Hercules and Bacchus those famous Victors invade them The Poets had this land
till the Spaniards time This is the richer and yields most At the first they drew forth every week above two thousand Weighs or Castillans whereof the gain came to forty thousand They fish for pearle in the South sea neare Paâ—ama and in the North sea in divers places as in the Isle Margareta towards the coast of Paria where the Oysters feed upon Cubuca and surname it so There are very large and precious of them I have seen one no bigger then a nut sold for three thousand duckets there are of higher price The Master of the South fishing assured me he saw one as bigge as an indifferent egge There were three brought to Lisbone that paid a duty of sixteen thousand duckets to the King as is to be seen in the Register of Contracts There is a sort they call stars another demi-stars others Cadenetas Pedreria c. Allofat or minute-pearls and seed-pearls and those of greater price Quilates or Carats For this fishing they choose the best winded men and such as can contain longest under water At Barlouento Cula and Hispaniola I have seen them stay three quarters of an hour under water and I was told they have had some have continued the whole houre The General of Margaita keeps many of these men who are slaves to him called Bouze and are ready enough to pilfer the best and sell them though 't is forbidden upon life to buy them The Master must use all fair means to get them out of their hands with something else otherwise they will sooner return them to the sea then let him have them if he give them not wine and good cheer The Incas make no use of pearls unwilling out of benignity to expose their subjects to so much danger but the Spaniards are nothing so scrupulous they make their poor slaves dive ten or twelve fathom deep to tear oysters from the rock and to fortify their lungs for retention of breath they keep them fasting and hold them to a diet One was brought to the King bigge as a Pidgeons egge valued at 14000. duckets by some at a hundred thousand and 't was called a Peregrina The Negro that extracted it from the oyster had his liberty for it and the Master was made Arguazilmaior of Parama For Emeraulds there is a Mine in Mexico at new Granado in Peru near Manta and Porto Vieio I bought an excellent one of an Abissin Merchant which surpassed in hardnesse and lustre any of Mexico and Peru Being in company with a friend he desired it of me and I gave it him but two dayes after I perceived it broken upon his finger whereat he much admired and I told him the reason which was he had had familiarity with a woman but he was ashamed to acknowledge it there being none but Idolaters which is a great basenesse Another time being in an Indian Town Inhabited by the Spaniards I had an Emerauld which a Lady daughter to the Lalcayde or Governour of the place desired to buy but on the morrow she sent for me complaining I had sold her a broken stone which I disavowed at last I asked her if her husband were in town and answering no I whispered to her smiling she had then been kinde to some friend whereat she stood amazed and in the end acknowledged the truth taking me to be skilled in divination The like happened another time to another friend of mine who acknowledged the like truth for such is the vertue of this stone if it be good and fine and of the old Mine There are very fair ones and of great price did not the plenty of them make them lesse esteemed I once saw one weighed four ounces sold for 6000. realls The Emerald incorporated within a rock is like the mettle contained and while 't is imperfect the rock will be vein'd with green and white and opening the rock the Emerauld lyes there imperfect of the colour of the rock green and white so as to have it come to maturity they leave it there till nature bring it to perfection and go digge another place for riper The Mexicans had a custome to peirce the nose and chin of their Idols to put Emeraulds in them one of their kings himselfe had his nose so bor'd and adorn'd with an Emerauld and from thence was surnam'd Nose-borâ—d CHAP. XIV Of Peru Of the Kings or Incas and of the Country of Chila PEru was first discovered by Vasco Munes de Balbon in the year 1515. and the first Haven knowne was Porto Vieio under the Equinoctial The Dominions of Peru under the Incas reached from Quito to Charcas 700. leagues then to Chila 500. leagues By tradition 't is about 500. yeares since the Natives of Peru living barbarously without civility law or policy some amongst them esteemed descended from heaven and a generation of the Sun civilized the rest and modelized the government The first King was called Maâ—ca Capac all his Progeny and successors Incas Kings as Manco Capac sole King This first instituted adoration of the Sun amongst them with their Temples and Sacrifices Their Priests or Sages are called Amantas who believe the immortality of the soule after death rest for the good and torment for the wicked with resurrection of bodies These Kings or Incas enacted good lawes and by degrees extended the Empire to the state the Spaniards found it in And like as the Roman Empire was as the hand of providence to reunite and sweeten the rude and savage on this side so in a manner the Monarchy of the Incas in Peru did the same amongst these grosse and wilde Idolaters living like bruites to modelize and regulate them and at last lead them to the knowledge of the true God as now it hath Notwithstanding 't is to be admired that in such darknesse and ignorance of all moral and and natural sciences their Amantas or Sages should have a sort of knowledge of the courses of the Sun and Moon and other stars for they knew in some kinde the annual motion of he Sun and the vulgar counted their yeares by the harvests They likewise understood the Solstices observing them of eight days in the East at Cusco and another number in the West they reckoned the moneths by Moons allowing twelve in the year adding though grossely the eleven dayes over-plus at the points of Solstice observed the Equinoctials whence in September they made the principal feast of the Sun The Equinoctial they found by the shadow of a pillar and the Eclipses in like manner during which time they think the Sun angry with them and the moon sick The king took the Rainbow for his Arms and device They kept all accounts by knots upon strings of various colours and they had some harmony of Musick in songs and Instruments of Canes fastened together four and four in the nature of Organs whereon they could expresse their passions of love content or sorrow They had also some
mouth of the great Indus But before I treat of that country for a clearer intelligence of the worthiest remarkes we made in that great journey I say that the East-Indies have bin discovered time out of mind since Alexanders conquests and of his successors the several Kings of Syria Assyria and Aegypt and by the Romans and in these latter ages by the Mahometans means trading in our Western parts amongst the Venetians and Genoeses and others but they have been further discovered and inhabited by the Portuguais since they found out a new way thither through Africa in the time of Prince Henry of Portugal brother to King Edward who through his rare insight into the Mathematicks first caused a Navigation to be made unto the Capes of Non and Boyador where the French having conquered the Canaries had already been since that Alfonsus the fifth his Nephew continued his discovery unto the Cape Verd and Guinny and other Kings since have reached to Conge Maniconge Angolal unto the Cape of good hope discovered by the Grand Vasque of Gama 1497. few years after the new world in the West had been found out by Christopher Columbus from hence the way is open into the whole East-Indies by Cephala Mozambick Quiloa Monbase the coasts of Aben Arabia Carmania Cambaye Malabar Coromandel Harsnique Bengal Aracan Pegu Sian Malaca Camboye Champa Cochinchine and China the furthest part of the East together with the innumerable Islands opposite to these coasts as S. Helena S. Laurence Socotora Maldives Quilan Sumatre Jave Bandan Moluques the Phillippines and the rest of the Antchidel sea or Archipelago of S. Lazarus unto Japan The Portugais made themselves Masters of it under the famous Albukerke of Goa 1510. and since of Matacha Diu Ormus and other places where they establisht their Empire trade and the Christian faith finding the wayes easie and short by their knowledge of several currants of the seas and annual or constant winds that sit for six or seven moneths together in one point and as long in another when they change as in the West-Indies the Eastern winds predominate through the torrid Zone between the Tropicks and notwithstanding this exact knowledge and practice of the Eastern and Southern Seas these two ages past many shipwracks have hapned many ships men and great treasures cast away all which the earth stript off the sea solely inherits neverthelesse 't is a miracle of providence that a handful of men with small means have bin able to establish themselves in those vast Indies to resist and overcome the oppositions of the richest and the most puissant Kings of the world and that their example hath since drawne to their mitution the English Dutch and French who trade therein great numbers In a word the Portugais in matter of commerce dealt not only with the Indians Idolaters Sarasins but also with the Mameluckes and Turks from whom they got their richest trade they have got the superiority likewise in the spiritual against all Sects long since broached by the Gentiles Mahometans Jews and the Nestorians Christians and do daily root out and extirpate those Sects and false religions not without much danger and trouble but they take the greatest paines with the least successe against the Mahometans for their liberty and sensuality hinders much the progresse of our religion although they find great difficulty in the obstinacy of the Jews and little lesse in the foolish horrible and senselesse superstitions of the Idolaters backt by long custom and more by the ambition covetousnesse and presumption of their Bramins Jogues Talipoyes Manigrepes Bonses and other of their Priests and religious of their belief from hence is gather'd a plentiful and glorious harvest by the travels and labours of many regulars and seminaries of Goa Malaco Machat and other places The Franciscans were the first labourers in this vine-yard in the year 1500. or rather sooner and the first Bishop setled at Goa was of that order in the year 1541. S. Francis Xaverius was since there who preached through all those countries and Isles unto Japan and China where he died in the year 1552. and therefore was called the Apostle of the Indies his order continues their mission thither stil where they gain an infinite number to Christianisme At Magor Pegu Sian China Japan Jaso and other places the Colledge of S. Paul at Goa being their chiefest Seminarie where the Archbishop inhabits who is Primate and Patriarch of the Indies having under him the Bishops of Cochin Malaca and Macao The Viceroy rules the temporal affaires and all Governours Captains and Governments of Africa and the East Indies are at his disposal CHAP. XV. Of Diu her state and Forts and the neighbouring Countryes of Cambayette of the fidelity of the Indian Sensalls and of the marvelous ebbing and flowing of the Sea LEt us return to our voyage and arrivall at Diu which I shall treat more fully of here as of Cambaye Goa Cochin Calicut and others having seen them often since Diu is a little neat Town scituate in an Isle joyning unto the Continent of the Kingdom of Cambaye whereof it is a part there have the Portuguais a Fort or Castle inexpugnable no man being permitted entrance there without a Cartaco or passe from the Vice-Roy and the ships pay Custom if they are small vessells they may enter into Cambayette which is the Haven of the Town The Isle of Diu is by the Indians called Marmayrdina 60. miles from the mouth of the Gulf of Cambaye and 100. from the Royall Town of Cambaye she joyns almost to the Continent in the 23 th degree and a half of elevation it abounds in cattell vast trade used by all the Indian Nations for the abundance of all sorts of Commodities which are there to be bought and sold as Gold Silver Spices Medicinal drugs Brasil Jewels Pearles Perfumes Amber Musk Mastick Cloves Safron Corrall Brass Lead Mercury Vermillion and Lacca the Town is as big as Marseills little lesse then Goa there are many fair Churches The Hospitall is large rich and very well provided The West Indians traffick here come in a shorter time and with more surety thorough the sea of Sur then by the Cape of Good Hope a very dangerous passage occasioned by the great winds and frequent tempests as you shall hear hereafter The Portuguais having taken this Town out of the hand of Badurius King of Cambaye at their first settlemen there The Town of Diu was built by a King of Guzerate and Cambaye constituted Governour there of a Melique As or Tas that made the Haven made himselfe Soveraign and was guarded by Turks since in the yeare 1508. the Natives assisted by Campson Soldan of Aegypt fell upon the Portuguais defeated them and stormed Diu severall times so fiercely that it occasioned Nonio Acugna the Vice-roy in the year 1535 to build a strong Fort with the consent of King Badurius which they maintained against the Tartars and Mogors the
Mordesin that begins with vomiting and pains in the head and is infectious There is another disease very common amongst the natives called Scorbus and other diseases proceed from the enchantments of bad women They are no sooner sick but are carried to the Hospital where remedies are presently used for their recovery they are lodged in well-furnished and pleasant chambers and have very fine gardens The Churches of Goa are fair and well adorned the Windores of Mother of pearl very curiously carved At Pegu they are made of Tortoise shells of diverse colours and are the fairest of the world the Lanthornes belonging to the Hospital are made of the shell of a fish a kind of Mother of pearl They burn nothing but wax in the Churches nor little else in the town it is so well provided therewith This town being some eight thousand paces about may be of the bignesse of Roan or Avignon built and tyled as the fashion is in Europe Goa is an Archbishops See and hath four Bishopricks depending to her and her jurisdiction reaches unto Mosambick There are many magnificent Churches and Monasteries of Jesuites Franciscans Austin Friars discalceate and many Nunneries of Virgins and penitents There is great commerce of all wares and merchandise of slaves especially both males and females 't is but a peccadillie for a Master to lye with his slave but if she proves with child the law enfranchises her and she may go whither she pleases The waters are good and well tasted and although the tyde goes up beyond the town yet there remaines not the least brackishnesse in the water the best is fetched halfe a mile from the town from a place called Banquenin which is sold The Portugais are richly clad with breeches like Sea-men very rich buttons coats and Cassocks pretty short and broad hats they have their Parasols carried by them with bottles full of Colos and other pleasing drinks and they weare very rich swords and in a word they are very vain and proud as the Prophet speaks them Pocos y Locos The Haven is very good onely there is a shelf of sand as at Larack in Fez they have an inquisition or Court of Parliament which is their Judicature The Viceroy is removed every third year The profit there accrues to the Governours and officers and little comes to the King that depends much upon his Armies besides the pay of three thousand officers The Isle is mountainous sandy and reddish yet very fertile being well water'd with many springs and rivers of this red earth or clay are made many sorts of cups and vases white some gray others red and as clear and fine as glasse as Bolarmeni They have two crops a year of Rice and French Wheat and it is green all the year long this land is scituate under the Tropick Cancer near to the Equinoctial There grow many Date-trees and ships come daily into the Haven laden with Cocos and other commodities vented in the town The ships stay at the barre or mouth of the Haven wanting water to bring them up They hold it two miles from the town to the mouth of the river where are two strong Block-houses or Forts to defend the ships that sayle in the middle Then a league higher there is another called Pangari where dwells the Captain Major that grants the Cartacoes to trade both within and with out but since many have written of the Judicature Government Nobility souldiers the manner of life of both the Sexes of this town as well Portugais as Indians I will say no more I will onely relate a sad accident happened to some poor French-men that had stolne a ship laden with pepper but having suffered shipwrack some twelve leagues from Goa upon a shelve of sand the ship was taken and saved belonging to a Portugal Merchant of Goa the poor men arraigned and condemned to be hanged for the Pyracy committed as well as for their murdering the Captain the chief of these Malefactors was called Raymondin they were assisted at the time of their suffering by some good Fathers of the Church of the five wounds of our Saviour near to the publick place of execution and the fathers of our Ladies of Mercy cloathed them all in white according to their custom with white caps and a crosse in their hands they died very couragiously and penitently fully contrite and sorry for their sin and shame some were hanged at Saint Katherines key others in the Corne-Market Six of them were hanged there whereof the youngest broak two ropes and fell down from the Gibbet the good father that assisted at his death obtained his pardon and caused him to be taken back to the prison he turned Franciscan to the great contentment of the whole order and was visited by all the Nobility of the town he was born at Diepe his name Ratelin and fell into Raymondins company with no intention to Pyracy but to see the world and thus God gave him grace miraculously to escape I remember that being in Provence a young man borne at Aubayne was upon suspicion of a certain crime cast in prison and arraigned at Aubayne and being convicted thereof was condemned to be hanged he broak two new halters and fell without the least harm from the Gallows to the ground which accident caused the multitude to cry out for pardon for the poor man which was immediately granted him but miserable as he was ignorant of his own happinesse he ended his life by the Gibbet for some detestable crime by him committed in another place A Sicilian Gentleman was accused by thirty false witnesses to have intended the sale of Messina to the Turk and sentenced for that offence to be hanged and his children to be decapited protesting his own innocency upon the ladder the Rope breaking they tyed another to him newer and stronger which broak also the people saved him and his proces was reviewed the false witnesses examined condemned and executed the wronged Innocent with his children undertook a pilgrimage to our Lady of Loretto where I saw him At Goa as also at the other townes in the Portugais possession the Merchants may trade with great security with leave from the Viceroy or Deputy and paying the rights and customes otherwise their goods are confiscated CHAP. XVII Of Baticola Decan Amadiva and of the Kingdome of Cananor FRom Goa unto Comorin which is properly the Coast of Malabar are many Forts belonging to the Portugais as at Onor which is distant 14. degrees at Barcelor 13. degrees called by the Indians Barcelan at Mangalor 12. at Mosiri or Cananor 2. at Cranganor 10. the natives call it Cagnanora then at Cochin 8. degrees distant and at Coulan which is called Cosmans and at other places From Goa we came to Baticola which is a kingdom the town is large rich and plenteous in all commodities scituate upon a pleasant and deep river which yields her accesse easie the haven is a quarter
the wings of the battell most commonly prepared with Afarca a compounded drink that renders them so furious they apprehend not death they are armed with the Cimitterre Cris or Poniard and a Target The Chesonana who conducts the Elephants to battell their teeth armed with steel He that sits upon the beasts neck to guide him is called Dramont and for this purpose is chosen with a strong and loud voice by reason of the great noise in fight Their armour is the skin of Crocodills fastned with strong iron buckels and have double pay when they are expert in the conduct of these beasts who once heated grow furious They put twelve of the largest with abundance of feathers before the rest to guide them These beasts once stirred to fury make strange slaughter in an Army whereof no Indian Prince is so stored as the Peguan where I saw foure thousand five hundered belonging to him and for this cause is he stiled the Prince of the Elephants as I said before They are exceeding chargeable being kept with boyled rice fifty pounds a day a peice the females have not their teeth so long and big who if they are governed by young youths out of sence and civility will lift them gently to their shoulders It hath sometimes happened that the enemy hath turned the Elephants upon their own men with fire-brands which they extreamly dread But to come back to the creation of the Prince all the Princes and Nobles of the Kingdom must be there present and if any one hath exceptions against him for injury or indignity received before Coronation he may bring his complaint before the Caleferech Then is the Prince brought by him into the middle of a field where there is built a Theater of extraordinary height with a bridge or ascent to it covered with a coloured cloth then the first Prince whose office it is pronounces with a loud voice that it is but necessary they should have a Prince to Govern and Rule them to Protect the Common-Wealth and administer Justice then takes a ball of gold with three points exceeding refulgent and lifts it very high all the people observing a profound silence then he declares to them what the Councill hath decreed and names the Prince to be Elected whom he causes to stand stark naked upon a stone with his face toward the Congregation and tells them this is he whose Ancestors governed the Empire and that he hopes by Gods grace he will not degenerate from their vertue At the instant one makes an Oration of his Endowments his Benignity Valour and Magnanimity and in breif all of Galantry he hath ever done and that if there be any one who hath cause of complaint he should speak and order shall be taken before his Creation then all the people cry out God hath blessed and ordained him for our Prince After this they keep silence for a good quarter of an hour to see if any complainant appeare This done the Hoboys sound and the Principal Castle discharges the whole Artillery Proceeding they set a Crown of lead upon his head and put an axe in his hand apparrell him in a sheet of white silk with a short cassock of the same colour but embroydered with silk of various other coloures One then presents to him how he ought to Govern with Presidents of his Predecessors That the Crown of lead signified that in all things he should use both weight and measure and the axe that he ought to Administer Justice and maintaine peace and concord in his Dominions and that the Principall strength of a Prince is the hearts of his Subjects After these wordes they bring him in a Vessell of Emerald the ashes of the first King of Pegu upon which he takes his oath to observe and keep all that his Predecessors have observed and kept at the cost of his very life Then they take off his Crown and Robe which are laid up as things Sacred and they put on him a Cap of Crimson Tissu with a Chapplet of gold that hath a peake before not unlike the Flower-Deluces set with very resplendent stones They invest him in a Turkish Robe furred with the skins of white hares to denote the innocence of his life They say these hares change their coate twice in a year winter and summer Presently the musick sounds and the three Princes that assisted him support him in his descent from the stone he was Crowned on which emblem'd the stability of his life The ash-colour he treads on and the ashes in the cup represents to him death and the incertainty of life that therefore he must imploy himselfe in goodnesse to gain immortality that his people may pray for him Then being conducted to the Palace they present to the 3 Princes three golden censors hung in leaden chaines with odorous perfumes and the Falcada in a white Robe with the golden axe pronounces a loud De Cysimar Caradacy that is God hath created him not the people As he passes by all prostrate on the ground in reverence and reciprocally kissing shoulders congratulate with one another for their new Prince In the field where the Ceremony is performed are abundance of Tents of severall colours belonging to the Princes and Nobility and under Coco and other trees are tables covered with clothes of Cocos and reeds the wood or leaves painted the China way set with meat to feast the people The King being come to the Palace sits down to eat with the three Princes and round about for the subject Kings and Princes are many tables sumptuously set forth and furnished with a device on each of them that is a crown of gold with the arms of the King that eats at it The King of Siam as Emperour hath three Crowns and eats with the Princes Of Tazatay hath two Crowns and eats likewise with the Princes The Caleferech hath a single Crown and eats alone Mandranele hath two Gilolo but one as likewise Verma Salaca Aua Martaban Paleacute Capouin Campa Tauay These are all in the first room In the second are the Princes Nobles and Governours of Provinces as Ternassary Manugaron Pepery Micoan Malaca and Bengala all heretofore Subjects but now for the greater part are infranchiz'd Odiata since did the like but is returned again to subjection The Tables orderly rank'd covered and served royally and what multitude soever there be all is done with order and wonderful silence The three Princes that bear the Censers walk thrice about the Chamber incensing the King then sit down and dine with him at distance notwithstanding when the King calls for drink four Princes who have charge of the Talcadifs or his Cup-bearers every one with his cup of Purcelain hoop'd with horn of Unicorne taste the drinke and present it to him while the hoboys and the rest of the musick sounds These four Talcadifs who are of the Princes blood cry aloud The Prince whom God hath newly
a Merchant of Drogomania told me a Country confining Eastward upon these Kingdomes the deserts of Arabia are little in comparison to them and when I told him the fourty tedious days it cost us betwixt Suria and Medina through the deserts of Arabia he answered this was nothing in respect since by the help of guides they might here and there find a well whereas in the deserts of Asia in two and twenty dayes journey together nothing was to be found but sand and that one day as he travailed along with the convoy by misfortune one of the jarrs of water broke which was a great mischiefe to them and a very important losse being forced for want of it to kill one of their Camells to drink the loathsome water within him and eat his flesh He told me then for more commodious passage above all things it was necessary to provide good beasts and chiefly Persian Asses the best beast the world affords for carriage and the most proper for those wayes and are worth as much as a good horse That after these sands they came to huge Mountains absolutely barren which in my opinion must needs be mineralls but they try them not they are so far distant and the way so troublesom I observed in my East and Western voyages that where the Mines of gold silver and precious stones where the Mountains were ordinarily barren having nothing growing about them as they observe of the Calanfour or clove which suffers no plant near it The Merchant observed likewise that in these Mountains which must be those the Ancients called Juac dividing high and low Asia there are abundance of serpents of prodigious bignesse but are more advantage then damage to them for being free from venom and of an excellent substance and nourishment they eat there nothing else As I remember I saw in the Mountains of Syr in Africa For passing these Mountains and lodging with the Arabians under their tents 't was our admiration to see huge serpents play with children who would give them morsells of bread But to return to our Tartarian Merchant he told me that having passed this Mountainous Country they came to another desert of twenty dayes over void of all food where he was constrained to stray a good dayes journey to hunt for water and other commodities and this too with weapon in hand because there lives a certain Horde or nation of Shepherds or Tartars Nomades who keep huge Mastifes the most fierce and bloody in the world which indeed have more of the wolf then the dog they keep these dogs to destroy passengers on the way to which they train them for diet for themselves He told me that about three yeares before this breed of Rascals were almost all devoured by their own dogs after their cruell usage of certain Merchants who passed that way these to revenge themselves made an Ambush and having taken them served them as they had done others He told me many other curiosities of this country and amongst others that about twenty years before he passed by the Isle of Volmous or Ayman near to Cauchinchina and the country of the Meores that the people are haughty great souldiers well clothed and very civil lovers of honour and vertue and of complexion rather white then black that the land is full of impenitrable Forests but well stor'd with Venison and betwixt the Mountains good pasturadge that they had there a potent King by the title of Emperour on the day of his birth wearing on his head three Crowns in form of a Tiara for the three kingdomes he possessed that this Prince was King of Sinabo the Magers and Patanes Amongst other particulars of this country he related to me a strange History if it be true Thus that in a mountanous country vulgarly called Ismanca very fertile where there are clownes very wealthy in cattell whereof they drive a great trade as also in skins of divers beasts there was a rich shepherd called Ismahan who amongst other children had a daughter of excellent beauty who according to the custome of the country kept her fathers flocks This maid of twenty yeares of age loved a young shepherd her neighbour and kinsman but poor and to whose Father the rich shepherd had sent some corn who seeing he could not be paid and being aware of his daughters affection he told his debtor that on condition he would send his son to live in some remote parts he would forgive the debt which the other did the young man being thus banished by force the maid was extremely afflicted and as one day she walked alone in the fields lamenting the absence of her beloved Liza so he was called a Fiend in the same shape appeared to her and demanded for whom she was so much tormented since she had him assuredly present and that he loved her more then the world besides Some say this poor young man being banished the presence of his dear Mistresse sought out a Magician who promised he should see and enjoy her but bringing into a room to him a spirit in the form of the maid as the spirits of joy and love made him fly to embrace her the Demon strangled him afterwards taking the shape or rather the body of the dead youth continued his visits a long time to the maid whereof her Father and Brothers having notice resolved to surprize him and in effect breaking up her chamber door they found a stinking carcasse in bed by her at which both she and the rest were extremely frighted and the King of the country having notice of it sent for the maid to know the truth which she related as it was The King sent her to live with an Aunt of his where they say the Devil still frequented her and would visit her publickly in the shape of her friend wherein she took extreme content nor could she be disswaded from his conversation How I know not but they say she conceived and was delivered of two children who grown up became the most valiant and strong in the country so as since spirits are incapable of generation as the best Divines conclude we may suppose this was the youth himself who by the Magicians means enjoyed the maid and was afterwards killed by the devil that abused him and indeed some authentick authours mention such another History of one Phillinnion and Machetus and others But let us come back to Tartary where I learnt many other things of one Amador Baliora a Limner with whom I met coming back from Pegu and saw good part of his Memorials He had been in the Indies twelve or thirteen years and had drawn the plots of several Towns excellently well insomuch as having escaped shipwrack and arrived in health at Diu when all his company was hanged for his qualification the Governour saved his life and he drew him many exquisite pictures for which he gave him five hundred Croysades He had about fifty
to effect it so that he who was to own the Asse and the Grecian both would renounce their Faith and hereupon shewed him seven Figures for that purpose in every of which there was one name of these seven principal Demons and a book wherein there were most funestous and execrable things But with horrour we were satisfied with the discovery of so much wickednesse and left him As concerning the Androlychi I have not heard of any thing so strange as that the Governour of Bagaris related one day to me He told me that going with some of his company from Lionac to Montpelier they overtook an old man with a sack on his shoulders going a great pace towards the same town a Gentleman of the company out of charity told him if he would one of his servants to ease him should carry his burthen for him at first he seemed unwilling to be troublesome but at length accepted the offer and a servant of the Commanders chamber called Nicholas took the burthen and being late every one doubled his pace that they might get in in good time telling the good old man they would goe before and he should finde them at the White-horse The servant of the Chamber coming in with the first had a curiosity to see what was in the sack where he found a Wolfs skin so properly accommodated for the purpose that he had a strong fancy to disguise himselfe in it whereupon he got it on his back and put his head within the head-piece of the skin as 't were to shew his Master a Maskarade but immediately a fury seized him that in the Hall where they supped he made strait to the company at table and falling on them with teeth and nailes made a dangerous rude havock and hurt two or three of them so as the servants and others fled to their swords and so plyed the Wolf with wounds that they laid him on the ground and hurt in several places But as they looked upon him they were amazed when they saw under the skin a poor youth wallowing in blood They were fain to lay him presently on a bed taking order for his wounds and hurts whereof he was covered and was long before he could be cured but this cured him of the like curiosity against another time The company by this means had but a bad seasoned supper and many of them were sick either of hurt or apprehension For the old man Wolf 't was not known what became of him but 't is probable that hearing of this tydie accident he was cautious to appear CHAP. XIX Of the Desert Beniermi and the Townes Dangala Machida Georgia c. IN this Navigation which I have interrupted for this prodigigious story we met with a countryman upon a Mare who went aboard a Bark to crosse the river to the Province of Dafila but the man never observed a Colt that followed him and leapt into the water to come after his damme which the man seeing he besought the Pilot to turn back and take him in but the Pilot would not be perswaded so as he was constrained to leap into the water himself to save the Colt But had not we by good fortune been at hand to help him the poor man and his Colt had perished together the violence of the water carrying them both away Being in safety he was so amazed and out of breath that he was not able to speak us thanks But he told us afterwards his Master made him pay for the Colt because he had not tyed him fast After this for four long houres we cut through a Desert they call Beniermi where we saw several kindes of wild beasts amongst the rest two Lions lying in a shade with their muzzles all bloody they stirred not at all at the sight of us though some were afraid they would have leapt into the Bark upon us But others better experienced assured us no except they were disturbed for the noble and generous nature of the beast who are only dangerous to those that hurt them Joyning upon these deserts we saw fair till'd fields some sow'd with Lupines and Beans others with sugar Canes Being come to Misen we rested there one day then about two miles further we had sight of Cafa a gentile town and passing further into the country we went on shore at a gallant town on the coast of Nubia they call Hami to take in Melons and Potatoes the best of the world And from thence steer'd towards Dangala a very good town but bearing so much upon the land our Almadie was so fast gravell'd we were forced to unload our goods which hinder'd us at least two hours and made us lye at Bisen four leagues short of Dangala whither we went on the morrow in the company of continual rain thunder and lightenings which was the cause we could not go on the other side of Nile to see Dafila the chief town of the Province of the same denomination where one of the gallantest and most valiant Princes of the Negusian Empire reigns Touching Dangala 't is subject to Barnagus who at first had it in exchange for Cassina and since hath both by help of money 'T is in Nubia the opposite of the Province of Dafila which extends as far as Danfila Thence in five dayes we came to Mara a neat town opposite to the Province of Ganfila on the other side of Nile The country is well peopled and plentiful of all commodities amongst the rest there is a mine of the finest silver Thence in two days to Bergan and in one more to Tiruti a town abounding in all things but very dirty On the other side of Nile is Gourage in the kingdom of Tamatas Then in two dayes seventeen leagues to Daerue where there is a mine of Lead and Antimony whereof they make great profit sending their mettals every where they mixe brasse in their money and call it Cazec We had the pleasure there to see a morall representation of the Magdabens conversion which was full of delight and contemplation Thence we had a desire to walk under the shades to Machida a town they will have to be built by the Queen of Saba who was so called and they told us we should see in the Church a very antique statue of this Queen but being arrived we saw nothing but the ruines of a town which neverthelesse shewed that in times past they had been something of noble For there we saw the ruines of a Castle which we must needs judge to have been a place of great strength for that all the avenues were of difficult accesse The day following we went to Fuingi or Fungi and thence in four dayes to Rifa then to Sania Asmona Canan Asna where there is a Castle called Asiar Some will have it that the ancient and so much renowned town of Siena was there scituated directly under the Tropick on this side Thence in four dayes to Banaa and on the other sidetowards the red sea
souldiers Some say the Bishop of Conimbria dreamed the night before that the battel was lost and that they were all slaves as it came to passe and that upon this alone he sent his treasure and all things he had of value to Arzille which served for his ransom afterwards Malouco the same day about eleven in the fore-noon left his Littar and mounted on horse-back vested in a rich robe of cloth of gold wrought with a folliage a Cimeterre at his side his saddle set over with precious stones and thus went from rank to rank encouraging his men to combat His Army marched in good order like a half-cressent drums of the Morisco very small beat and the Fifes founded a shriller sound then the Trumpet 'T was thought the battels should have been given on Sunday the third but 't was defer'd to the fourth and Sebastian and Mahomet were advised to stay battel till the approach of night because the Arabians promised to come over to them and leave Malouco which proved false and they were so disappointed King Sebastian was armed as the day before in green Armes upon a white horse one of the best in Portugal The Moores Army was rampar'd on the left hand with the River Sebastian thought himself sure of the Arabians assistance and specially of Melouco's Van-guard which was all of Arabians and for this reason stayed till night that they might not be perceived 'T was in a field of above two large leagues every way without either tree or stone Before the Van-guard marched the Light-horse-men mounted on the Arabians horses composing the point of the Cressent and were wholly cut off with the Cannon The Arabians seeing this rout thought good to do the like but not perceiving a man of the other Battalia's fall they set a good face on it by force Muley Hammet being at hand to instigate them The battail at length grew hot and the Arabians performed nothing of what they had promised Molouco employed the remaining houres of his life in giving order for victory The King of Portugal and the Moor remained on the ground as well as Molouco the one slain the other drowned and the third dead of infirmity in his Littar Hamet remaining only victorious and heire of all Don Sebastian did wonders in his own person but overpowred with number he hung his handkercher on the point of a lance in token of yeilding but the rascally Moores ignorant of this practice run upon him and those that stood with him and put them all to the Sword The slaughter was great but chiefly of those who went along with the baggage who were as many or more then all the Army There were some mingled themselves amongst the dead to save their lives 'T was sad to see 200. sucking children and above 800. women boyes and girles who followed father and mother thinking to inhabit this country who had loaded chains and cords to fetter the Moores and served for the Christians themselves of whom there are 17. thousand prisoners the two hundred infants and the eight hundred women not reckon'd As to the kingdom of Fez or Marocca heretofore Mauritania or Tingitania 't is of vast extent and amongst others hath the two potent towns of Fez and Marocca Fez is the Capitall of the kingdom strong in scite and people seated on two great hills being able upon occasion to raise sixty thousand horse of sumptuous edifice of the Persian building embellished with Folliages of gold and azure their walls strong streets cleanly kept being a Captain for every one with strong gates at the ends for their security and crossed with chaines a fair river called also Fez passes through the middle This River is divided into two channels one towards the South which waters Fez the new the other towards the West watering Fez the old besides divers fountains which creep through Subterranean channels The houses for the greatest part are of brick with Towres and Tarrasses where the women prune themselves in the evening for they seldom stirr abroad There are Mosquees of fair building with their Marabouts for their service the Principall called Cairimen is of as large circumference as the Town of Arles with 31. principall gates sustained by 38. large Arches in length and 20. in breadth every night 900. lamps are lighted and on festivall dayes as in their Romadan the feast of S. John the Nativity of our Lord more Lamps without number upon brasse candlesticks where after Mid-night they sing Mattens Sixty leagues from hence is Marocca chief of all other kingdomes under that Empire as Hea Ducalea Gusula Hascora and Trelle as Fez hath under it Tesmenia Asgar Flabat Errif Garet Escaus c. This Town was built or rather augmented by a Prince called Mansor in the year 1024. scituate in a Plain invironed with Date-trees He built there a Magnificent Mosquee there is the high tower with three Spires on which stand three balls of gold of twenty thousand Miticales or two hundred and twenty five pounds weight a piece Muley Malouco would have had them for his warres but the Inhabitants would not permit him whereupon the Janissaries that came from Constantinople to assist Malouco made some Musquet shot and pierced them in divers places He promised them that after a time he would set the like there again but the others answered if he should dye all was lost as his great Grand-father who sold the foundation rents of the Hospitall of Fez and dyed before he could restore them so as 't was lost to the poor CHAP. XXIII Of the Kingdome of Marocca and Fez. MArocca stretches it selfe very farre and the parts Northward joyn upon the countrey of Asgar crossing the Mountaines of Gouraigoura thirty leagues from Fez whence there flowes a lovely River which runnes Westward and joynes with the River Bar where there are vast Plaines and Pastures without stone like the Camargue of Arles The Arabians call this countrey Suambiz a countrey abounding in Cattell and fronts upon another Nation of the Arabians called Aluzar and betwixt these two people there is ever a mortall warre and hatred The People of Asgar confine Northward on the Ocean Westward on the River Buragray which cuts through Forests full of Celoquintida and Oranges rendring a most pleasant odour Southward on the River Bonazar inhabited by those wealthy Arabians called Alalur whence come a brave company of Cavaliers Here there are many faire Townes as Argac Larais and Casar Alcahir or Elcabir that is the Grand Palace built by the great Mansor upon an encounter hee had being lost a hunting and Northward the countrey of Habar The Region of Habat or Elbabat ends also on this side the Ocean beginning from the South to the River Gonarga or Orga and Suerga and from the East to the Straight The Principall City is Azaget or Ezageu which stands upon the hanging of a Hill neare to the River Gourga and hath many other good Townes as Agla Tonser Merga Omar and others upon the
kils them with intolerable gripings and if the travailers make not all possible speed 't is no scaping for in this short passage of four or five dangerous leagues men loose their senses and often their horses or what they ride on will stand immoveable without sense either of spur or whip so as they are constrained to run on foot and drive their beasts before them Some cover their eyes others stop their ears and their nose others muffle and lap their head and whole body Others put their head in a bag of herbs and aromatick drugs others carry cordials to eat others eat not of all day that they may not have so much matter to vomit but oftentimes this serves not the turn when one is in this pernicious place where there is nothing to be heard but laments and vomitings and notwithstanding that the Sun shine never so clear this vapour hath still its force some go other wayes a side off but they still find the same inconvenience and the danger sometimes more great all the wayes are exceeding bad and the worst by the Sea side The whole extent of this quarter is not above five and twenty leagues without people beasts trees or grasse so desert is the place and beyond the Countrey extends 500. leagues At the foot of these Mountains there are some rascally Innes they call Tambos where one finds but wretched entertainment This is the high-road from Peru to Chila At the foot of the Mountain towards the Sea one would think the passage more benign but there reigns a wind chiefly in May June July and August which cools and penetrates with extremity so as fingers and toes freeze and fall off with cold the greatest part perish in passing and the wind renders them incorruptible Of burning mountains we have spoken sufficiently in Mexico some there are in Peru towards Arequipa which throw forth stones others onely smoak others flaming pumice stones some vomiting flames and cinders others scalding winds In Mexico near a place called la Peubla de los angelos there is a hill five and twenty leagues high answerable to another on the top of a Mountain where when it thunders it makes an Echo that shakes the whole Countrey a formidable thing to those that are not used to it Near Guatimala in 1586. for six moneths this hill casts out flames and cinders followed with earthquakes that they have thought the Countrey had been ruined All Mexico and Peru are subject to these earth-quakes and chiefly on the Sea-coasts from Chila to Quito For above 200. leagues the Sea-men with astonishment beheld flames rising from these mountains and afterwards learnt that the Town of Guatimala was almost entirely swallowed in the earth-quake In 1587. it reached 200. leagues distance and at St. Croix the Refectorian of the Dominicans was beaten dead and twenty of the religious killed under the vaults The Inhabitants of Guatimala having notice made a timely retreat There are of these Mountaines near Lima and another at Arequipa to which you must ascend two dayes in sand Most parts of this India are subject to these furnaces and earth-quakes and chiefly near the Sea Near Leon de Nicaragae there is a terrible one where sometimes by night the flames may be discerned 25. leagues in discourse whereof Benzoni relates the same of a Jacobin as Acosta of a Priest at Guatimala In the Province of Seiron near the Town of Bousan is mount Malat where is one of the most conspicuous furnaces of the Indies next that of Guatimala for the hill at the bottom hath five mouths and at the top one which is more formidable than the other five for casting out fire with miraculous fury but this is by intervals sometimes nothing but smoak appearing at other times throwing up burning stones specially when the wind Tourmacaui reigns during which time there is heard a most hideous tumult and tempest within One King went about to quench it with water but in vain the fire encreasing the more on which design divers perished and amongst the rest a near Allie of the Kings in whose memory he made a statue adorned with plumes mounted on an Elephant and armed with skin of Crocodile All that passed by it prostrated before it with great humility believing the Prince happy as being deify'd by their God this fire which they adore as a Divinity The Mexicans call these furnaces Popocatepech Popoca signifying smoak and tepech a Mount The Neighbouring Inhabitants in their Armes and Ensignes bear a flaming Mountain CHAP. XII Of certain Fountains Lakes Rivers c. in this Countrey NEar Potossi at the bottom of the vale Tarapaye there lyes a Lake round as 't were drawn with a compasse and the water so hot that but at the brims there is no enduring it but thirty paces forward 't is impossible notwithstanding the Countrey round about is excessive cold In the middle it boyles and runs round that you would think some tempest were underneath From this Lake they draw a Channell that sets certain Leather-Engines at worke usefull for the Mines without any waste of the water Titicaca in Collao is famous for largenesse and bearing vessels of burthen fish abounds in it whereof the Inhabitants round about take great quantity very sweet good and commodious for passengers to whom they freely give part of their fish taking them with certain hand Engines If a Priest come that way they will present him a thousand civilities and he is happy with whom he will lodge One is in perfect security amongst them not understanding what theft meanes and you may trust them with all the treasure of the world while you live like good Christians Throughout the Countrey there are abundance of other Lakes as that of Eupama in Brasile whence so many Rivers issue and amongst others the great Paraguay or Plata which make inundations like Nile but not so moderately for Nile comes without any injury but on the contrary with all commodity whereas Plata breaks with fury into the Countrey for three months together coursing from the Cordilleras in Peru to the South Sea They have a way to passe rivers upon floats of gourds or pumpions fastened together which they use for all sort of carriage in some places they have bridges of straw The Spaniards have built stone bridges which the Indians much admire and at first had no confidence to trust themselves upon bridges in the air Now for their Fountains near the cape St. Helen in Peru there is a Fountain of liquor burns like oyl 't is a certain Bitumen or Gum which they call Copey or Copal that never decreases how much soever is taken out Marriners use to liquor their cordage with it The like is in the Isle of Lobos in Mexico which the Marriners can smell three miles at Sea and more if the wind â—it right In Cusco there are Fountaines the water whereof immediately congeals into white salt in which Peru abounds In Guancauesica there are hot
those in colours nor can they well be discerned asunder The Guacamayes have more beautifull and curious feathers than the Paraquito They affect plumes throughout all India but in Mexica above others for wear for adornement of their Temples and Idols and to make pourtraicts of their fashion Feathers are there good chaffer I saw an Indian truck pearls with a Leuantian so they term us for feathers he brought with him which cost him but five Crowns and he had above three hundred pearls for them This was a poor Marriner who made a fortune by it for he made many voyages afterwards to the Indies with a good ship and merchandizes of his own They wear them likewise in their dances First one called the Tamari dances single then makes a signe to a Lady to come dance with him then others follow after the same rule but they never kisse nor touch hands and use all respect to their women Of fish there are abundance of Crocodiles and Tiburons that are man-eaters The Manati that suckles her young ones with teats hath legges to walk by land and eats fruit and grasse the flesh is good like veale there are many about the Isles of Barleuento the coasts of Peru Cape Magdalen and the Isles of Salomon They are very good to salt and eat like powder'd beef There are abundance of Whales but they are ignorant how to take them The Floridans take them and make their chiefest sustenance of them the flesh dryed in the Sun they make into flower and without wetting eat it in powder and it nourisheth exceedingly Another fish with wings flyes as swift as an arrow they are like Mackarels but not so good meat The Meri that swim alwayes against stream and the Indians say in August have a worm in their head vexing them and makes them go upward that the water entring at a little hole may refresh them Another sort called Perpil streaked with divers colours that they eat roasted and is meat for sick persons They have soals of extraordinary growth weighing ten or twelve pound but the flesh is hard Vicognes are like Deer without hornes greater then Goats living on Mountains without fear of frost or snow in their bowels they have a stone of the vertue of the Unicorne or Besar against poyson they bear a wool as fine as silk whereof they make Summer garments that refresh them The flesh is good against divers diseases the stone is like a Pullets egge black or gray this beast they say having eaten some poysonous hearbs eats another called Capas proper against poyson and so breeds this stone of the same vertue There are little wild swine called Saynes that go in heards and are very dangerous others that are also very dangerous to take if the hunters have not good assistance which are good meat and the grease of them serves for oyle for Spanish oyle is there very deare There is likewise a very heavie beast called Manaquail covered with Pikes like the Hedge-hog that will dart them at a distance a snowt like a hogge but nothing so big and a short foot he is very good meat There is also another sort of Crocodile of which we found one hunting in the Forest of Caramel and we judged him to be seven or eight paces long and after we had viewed him a while ' we raised him and put him to flight with strange ejulations Of Apes and Munkies there are great numbers of all sors and sizes Some as little as rattes or mice with a white beard that will imitate all they see and are very serviceable as I have seen at Sevill that seem to have a kind of reason In Candia I saw another that the Master bidding him go stand Centinel and look if he could discover any sayle would presently climbe the Mast or get upon the Lanthorne and if he discovered any vessel would make signs and cry out and was ever very certain Their sheep called Lamas or Pacâ—s serve for all carriages with fine wool whereof they make Combi and Auafra for their apparel One of these sheep will carry eight heavie jarres nine or ten leagues a day but like mules they are humoursome and one must have patience to please them and expect their good mood before they will travail In new Spain they have the Espoulcou about the size of a Hare with a furre so fine 't is not for any but persons of quality to wear it they say the blood of it drunk breaks the stone in the bladder in few dayes For spices in the Isle of Barlouento there is abundance of sugars as also in Brasile Ginger Mastick Aloes Cassia Cinamon In Carabana they have likewise Cinamon and in Canela upon Orellana beyond the Quixos where Gonzala Pizarra went to look it for he was told in form it was little different from that in Borneo Moluccos and Leilan that the other grew in canes and reeds but this on certain fair trees that bore a fruit like an Acorne and that the bark was Cinamon the fruit is not pleasant nor the bark so good as the Cane neverthelesse they make use of both Pizarra at length after great toyle found the trees upon a Mountain in small number and of little value Other trees of such compasse good dwellings may be made within the bodies of them which they call Sesbiraich some in new Hispaniola eight men cannot fathom about and of a flight shot in height on the top whereof they make Arbours CHAP. XII The Mines of the New World AMongst other rarities and riches the New World produces Mines of Gold and Silver pearles and precious stones in divers places and chiefly in new Spain and Peru which of all parts of the world are most indulged with these advantages of nature though other parts of Asia and Africa have them in some abundance and Europe likewise but it appeares America had the principal and better portion as well in these as other Dowries as I have before mentioned In divers Islands they finde most wealthy Mines as in Hispaniola Cuba and the rest upon the great gulph again in Carabana Veragna Castile of gold the country of Dorado or Esâ—ramador In new Spain there are these of silver Paxuco Tasco Zupango Guanaxato Tumazlan and other places in Acapulco At the gold and silver mines they coyne not for want of Artists but they cut pieces and gobbits whereon they mark the price from one reall to eight and so send them to Spain The Mines belong to Merchants who give so much to the King some four some five per centum For want of men that can and will work they get the mettle with much difficulty being the toyle wherein the Spaniards have spent the lives of so many thousands nay millions of miserable Indians The Mines are exceeding deep where the workmen are much inconvenienced with water and with damps that poyson them few free-men will venture themselves and the meanest slave hath his three crownes a day