Race of Infidels After having tarried some time at Tripoly I parted from thence the 18th of May and embarked to return to France We passed along by the Isle of Cyprus the 21 st and the 25th we saw the Coast of Turkey then the Mounts of Phenico and Sately and not The Mounts of Phenico and Sately Rhodes Candia far from the Isle of Rhodes which we left towards the North-West After that we passed by the Isle of Candiae where we espied Two Turkish Caramousins driving full sail upon us but when they saw themselves too weak for our Vessel they tacked about again We chased them with our Shot but Night coming on they escaped us they being in great Fear and using their utmost endeavour with Sails and Oars to get themselves out of our reach From thence we passed along by the Isle of Malta and the 12th Malta of June faw the Isle of Sardania which Sardania we left to the North-East and in the end by the Grace of God arrived at Arrival in France Marsailles the 19th of June I made not long stay there but only to carry a Letter which I had for Monsieur the First President of Varix at Aix from whence I returned again to Marsailles and from thence came streight to Paris where I arrived the 24th of July 1612. For which God be Praised for evermore END of the FIFTH BOOK THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO SPAIN Being design'd to travel to other Places and the Causes which made him desist there from BOOK VI. BEING returned from Syria and the holy-Holy-Land with quantity of curious Plants and other rare things which by my diligent Search in several Places I had procured to present to the King and Queen-Regent I failed not so soon as I came to Paris to go do my Reverence to Their Majesties who were very glad to see my Rarities and commanded that a fit Place should be given me in their Palace of the Thuilleries Cabinet in the Thuilleries there to frame a Cabinet of all sorts of Rarities and other curious things which I had gathered together in all my Travels throughout the World But after having so well begun what I had at that time in hand I judged that to pursue it according to my Desire it would be necessary for me to undertake some more Voyages and I had no less design than to encompass the whole World first by way of the Occident and from thence by the Orient to return again into our Occident an Enterprize I must confess so great that the only Presumption of so much as ever having it in my Mind I believe would have gained me Glory enough and yet I hoped that by the Grace of him who had always conducted me every where I should have been able to have brought it to pass But I was defeated of these my Purposes by the Occasions following With this Intention then I left Paris and followed Their Majesties to Tours in the Voyage which they made there in the Year 1614. in July From thence I embarked upon the River Loir to go to Nantes and to St. Leiger to wait for occasion and conveniency to pass to Portugal from whence I was to pursue my Designs But having put out to Sea the Wind turned so contrary that we were forced to draw back to St. Leiger tho' not without a deal of Trouble and there hearing that the King was at Nants I took the Occasion to go there to furnish my self with some Passports which I had forgotten and which I judged needful for my Voyage This being done I returned to St. Leger but I found that the Vessel in my absence had set sail having a right Wind and which was worse had also carried away all my Provisions which I provided for the Passage with some other things which I never could hear of since This was a great Hindrance to me and also an unlucky Presage for my grand Design Yet it hindred me not from embarking as well as I 〈◊〉 into Spain could in another Ship of Aulonne which was going to Andalusia The Ship was called the Florisand and the Master Franchois Michaâ—d We first of all put in at Aulonne then with a right Wind we set out Seven or Eight in Consort for so many Ships we were in all bearing to wards Spain and having continued some time upon the Sea and given chase to some Cruisers we arrived in the Cape of St. Vincent and taking Cognizance of the Cape we ran along by the shore near the Port des Algerves where some of our Ships anchored to Traffick and the rest bore to San Lucar de Baramede where our Ship was bound being laden with Cloth Being arrived in this Place I began to think of some way how to transport my self to Sevilia to get Knowledge as well in Physick and the Art of Apothecaries of which the Practise is something different from ours as also to find means to pass to the East-Indies and accomplish the Voyage which I had proposed to my self Design of the Great Voyage which was to go streight to Mexico and from thence to embark for the Coast of the South-Sea and so to follow the Coast of the East-Indies along by China Camboja Siam Malaca Peru Bengall Coromandel Malabar Goa Diu Ormus and from thence to return by Land through Persia and Babylon to Aleppo and from thence by Sea repair to France my own native Country thus to accomplish so great a Voyage and by the Example of those famous Heroes Magallan Drake Cavendish and Oliver Van dâ—r Nort to encompass the whole Universe But God had otherways disposed thereof and for my own Good his Pleasure being always Just for his own Glory and our Salvation Parting then from San Lucar following the Mareme along by the great River Guadalquivir I came to Seville Seville and immediately placed my self in the Shop of the most famous Apothecary of the whole City in the Street called di los Francos The Master was named Alonso Rodrigo a Portuguese with whom I continued for some time both to learn the Language of which I had already some Knowledge and to have also some Knowledge of Drugs of which this Man made the greatest Traffick For he had Two or Three great Magazines in his House and as much or more in other Places of the City where his Children put off the Drugs After having tarried some time with him I left him for the great Desire I had to find an Occasion to embark but I was still detained by another named Juan Sancha who had also dwelt with this Rodrigo and was Apothecary to the Army and the Frontier Cities in Africa for the King of Spain He was to have a Shop at Marmorre a Place which the Spaniards had newly taken in Barbary and laboured mightily to perfect this Shop which he was to send to this Fortress I tarried then to help him and continued there from the 3d.
which he did with a great deal of trouble for in his return he was well scorched and tauâ—â—â—d with the Sun in passing these deserâ—â— He caused this Pinnace to come and caâ—â— Anchor in the Moule of the Cape hard by us In the mean time I had a mind to go on shore to get some Ostrich eggs by the means of the King of Baze-Alforme which is a place hard Baze-Alforme by where we were But walking about these sandy-deserts I was in danger to have been taken and carried away captive by these Moors who were holding Counsel thereupon but escap'd the danger by casting 〈…〉 my self into the Sea and got into a boat that was coming towards Land These Barbarians seeing this sell presently together by the ears and the King Baze endeavoured to appease them And thâ—â— I escaped from these People who without doubt had carried me away and sold me at some plâ—â—â—â—ar distant from thence All this County of 〈…〉 Thirty or Forty Leagues off Caâ—â—-blane is nothing but Sands and 〈◊〉 serts and those of the Country are forced to seek for water a far off which they carry in Goat-skins upon Camels they get this water at the Fort of Arguin which is abouâ— Arguin-Fort Seven or Eight Leagues from Cape-blane and is scituated in a little Island where there is some Portugaâ— Souldiers and a Captain Theâ— are great friends to the Moors of the Country who are not quite black but tauny yet there is some amongst them black and are all Mahometans They Traffick in Ostrich-feathers and Fish which they call Hallebranches As for the rest the Ostriches which are there in abundance Lay their eggs in the sand and there they bury them so that it is a very hard matter to find them out but when the wind blows they are discovered These eggs are very good to eat and the Blacks live upon them for the most part Now about Five or Six days after there Arrived a French-Pirate who would have entred into the Haven but we would not suffer him He desired of us to let him take this Portugal-Pinnace but because she was under our Protection we defended her Seven or Eight days after Arrived Spanish-Ships Five Spanish-Ships belonging to the Duke of Adelantade which made us to bestir our selves a little and to stand upon our Guard and to hinder them from entring into the Haven sending out the boat of the Portugal Pinnace to know who they were that if they were friends they might hang out their white Colours and we would let them enter into the Haven which they did and put some of their men in the said boat to come on board us to let us know that they would do us no displeasure Being all Arrived and Anchored in the saâ—d Haven we visited one another after that each one returned on board his own Ship Three days after the Spaniards being Anchored round about us at their case they command us to depart out of the Haven telling us that it was not 〈…〉 permitted to the French to take any Fish there the which we were forced to do and took a Moor along with us to guide our Ship to Cape-veille This Moor was called Hisse one who very well knew this Coast we not being far from the Fort of Arguin where there were Portuguese and Bâ—acks We found this place very good for Fish and having staid there for some time a Spaniard coming from the Fort of Arguin came towards us desiring us to give him some Nails and wood which they had occasion for for their Ship which was in the Cape from whence we were come We gave him what he ask't but this Traitor came only to spy us and to know what we were doing and if we had our Lading saying that they found no Fish in their Haven and that they should be forced to come and seek it on our side And all this to deceive us as they did For about three or four days after Treachery of the Spiniards they came with three boats to force us and they made use of this trick that is they put their Nets into their Boats and hid their Arms under neath then seeing that all our men were on Shore busie about the Fish they sent two of their boats to take our men and the other came on board our Ship as friends and their Arms being hid we suspected nothing we being but three on board the Captain the Carpenter and my self with one Black The Captain commanded me to make ready a Collation for them but they saved me that labour by seising upon our Captain and the Room where the Arms were One of the Duke 's Ship-boy's taking a naked sword in his hand set himself against the Cabine-door to hinder any of us from entering then they weighed the Anchors and set Sail and made towards the Mole where their Ships were Being arrived there they took away all our Arms our Pouder and our Sails then putting again all our men into our Ship to compleat the Lading of Fish they kept good watch all the night continually mistrusting us But Christmas being come which was almost the time to depart from hence to return with the Fish against Lent They took all our men out of our Ship and put them in theirs placing Spaniards in ours leaving some of our men there to help about the Fish Of three Ships that remained there two set Sail and ours made the third to return into Spain But being in the open Sea holding the Master of our Ship in theirs they gave the command to the Spanish-Captain which was in ours and the Duke's Cabin-boy being left there for Master the others then held their Course and left us alone But being about Porto-Santo near to the Isle Port-Santo or Holy I le Madera of Madera we were beaten with contrary winds in so much that we were forced to make towards the Isle where having cast Anchor a good way off from the City of Madera we had a mind to go on Shore to refresh our selves But the Portuguese that lived there would not suffer us saying we had the Plague and therefore set Guards at all the Avenues In so much that we were forced to get down behind the Rocks where we had bread and wine brought us for our money which was from a wall let down to us with a rope yet not without great intreaty We remained Fifteen days in this misery at the end of which the Spanish Ships our companions which we had left in the Sea Arrived in the said Isle with their Main-mast cut down by reason of the bad weather And their General of the Ship made such a doe by words and remonstrances that he obtained leave to enter into Madera upon condition to take the habit of the City of Madera he and his servants a little after this General being somewhat indisposed sent to seek me out in this place where we were in Custody and took the
This was the time that they fasted their Ramadan and would not Eat any thing till night 'T is a great pity to see these People how poor and miserable they are without Bread or-any other Food They Eat nothing but Ostrich Eggs and some dried Fish besides some Flesh of the same He that had stayed alone on Shore was Son to one of these other two and came to receive his Father's coming out of the Boat prostrating himself before him and kissing his Hand Then his Father gave him some of the Bisquet that we had given him of which he was exceeding glad for he was very Hungry and had supped but badly in these Desarts for the most part inhabited by Wild Beasts which are continually there And from our Ship we heard sometimes in the night terrible Cries and Roaring In all this Coast we could not find any fresh Water nor before in the River where we sent our Boat to look for some but in vain all the Country being Desart and quite Barren This Island where we had cast Anchor was directly under the Tropick of Cancer Now having fitted up and put out again our Patache to Sea we set fail the 10th of March and having born South West towards the Isles of Cape Verd Isles of Cape Verd. Sal Santiago Fogo Brava we roved all along by the Isles of Saâ— Santiago and Fogo to go to Anchor at that of Brava where we tarried until the 22th of the same month All these Islands are much subject to Storms and Boisterous Winds as it happened to us at this Isle of Brava where we lost an Anchor being oblig'd to weigh and drop Anchor so frequently there when the Wind would drive us sometimes towards Land presently again to the Sea 'T is supposed that these Winds are shut up there in some Gulf as they come out at certain hours of the day And what is more strange is that a League from thence the Sea was calm and without Wind which made me believe that these Winds being so shut up and come out with such violence have not the force to penetrate far being struck back and repulsed by the Winds which come from the Sea We could not find out the Habitations of these Islanders who are Portuguese Mestices and Blacks The Island bears Tobacco abundance of Mace and other Fruits The Country is very Mountainous and there are some Fig-Trees to be seen with Mulbery-Trees and others After we had well refreshed our selves with sweet Water dried Fish and other things which the Islanders sold us we weighed Anchor to Steer our Course and had the Wind so favourable that we arrived at the Mouth of the River of the Amazons on Palm River of the Amazons Sunday about three hours before day There are great Streams there about the Sea side which run with a strange swiftness and horrible noise carrying along with them Trees and Plants which they pluck up by the Roots along the Coast We seeing our selves as soon as it was morning intangled amongst these roaring Streams and Currents having scarce any Wind they who were up on the Watch began to cry out that we were all lost thinking we had been upon the the Shelves At this noise every one began to stir himself to look out for help and I hearing this word Lost mounted presently upon the Deck to see if there was any way to swim and if we were near Land having no other way to save our selves but by Swiming till day hoping to have sight of Land from which according to our Heights we were not far off Hereupon the Pilot well advis'd took the Plummet in Hand and found in Sounding 25 Fathom whereof being very glad he cried out that we were in the River River of the Amazons of the Amazons which is almost one Degree on this side the Line We made but little Sail in expectation of the day that we might see Land which we saw the next morning and Sounding again we found but nine Fathoms and so lessening to three or four and yet we saw no Land which was a great trouble to us On Monday we descried Land very low towards the South West and by little and little we appâ—oached the Coast to have knowledge of the Country but with fear to run a ground for there the bottom is nothing but Mud which we touched every moment As we were thus wandring about by good chance we perceived a Canoe Encounter with Indians with 17 Indians who came towards us and went to our Patache which was before us after that they came on board us They were all naked and Painted as they go in these Countries with their Crowns of Feathers and told us that they came from War off the Cape of Caypour one of the Capes near to the River of the Amazons and they had some Booty in their Canoe Their Captain seemed to be a Man of good fashion yet he was stark naked and had only a Langoutin which is a little piece of painted Cotton to cover his Privities He spake with such a Grace that he might have been taken for a Man of Counsel for he spake softly and gave a grace to all his Words and Gestures After we had discoursed with him Country of Yapoco about the Country and where we should Anchor he left us two Indians for Guides who conducted us to the Land of Yapaco in the Mouth of the River or very near and caused us to shelter our Ship in a private corner so that when the Tide went out she stuck upon the Mud but the Tide coming in again raised her up Arriving then in this Country of Yapaco we left the River of the Amazons on the left Hand on the other side of which towards the South is the great Country of Brasil and on this side towards the North are the Caripons and Caribes Thirty or forty Leagues off from this great River we found along the Coast a certain Rock which had Veins of the colour of Slate with some silver mixed amongst it out of which I took a little Stone I since lost We saw there also the marks of some English or Dutch Ship that had passed by that way We arrived there on Monday night Arrival in the Land of Yapoco and afterwards on Tuesday morning the 10th of April desiring to know what profit we might make in this Country we went on Shore to Exchange Hatchets Bills Knives and Glass-Beads of several colours with divers other such like things We saw these Indians with two Wood to strike Fire little pieces of Wood strike fire I made the Experiment of it since to the late King Henry the Great at Fontainbleau in the year 1605. All the Indians were run there from their Habitations and had trimed up their Hammocks or hanging Beds made with Wreaths of Palm-Trees and were in great numbers Men Women and Children all as naked as when they came out of their Mothers Bellies except
all this that they might be thought not to Sleep for they mightily fear their Enemies the Caripous Now our Ship being laden with Another Voyage of the Author as many Commodities as we were well able to procure and being ready to set Sail I took a Resolution the 17th of May to go once again towards their Habitations with some small Ware as Knives Combs and other Things and gave all these to an Indian to carry in a little Basket who was wonderfully pleased to follow me but he being subtile and sly would not march before me saying that it did not belong to him to go first which made me not a little wonder that this Indian could know what Honour was due to another But the Rascal did it that he might the more easily put his Hand into my Basket and sharp something out I perceived it happily turning my self about and so caught him in the very act upon which I shewed him gently that that was neither handsome nor well done He excused himself as well as he could and then went before me until he found in the Wood a little Way or Path on the right Hand which went straight to his Habitation and then he returned me my Basket not being able to retain him for all I could do I gave him a Comb for his Labour of which he was very glad I do not know but that he had cast something aside of what he had taken out of my Basket I proceeded on my way untill I came to a high Mountain where there were a great number of Caribes with their Wives and Children There by chance I found the Indian our Interpreter who helped me mightily in making my Bargains for what I wanted as well for Parrots as other kind of Animals Having exchanged what I desir'd these Indians led me into another Habitation where I saw Yapoira the Brother Caribe of Atupa who was in our Ship He was upon Yapoira the top of one of their Houses of Palm and as soon as he perceiv'd me he cast himself down and came to embrace me remembring that I had given him a Hatchet when he had broke his own in our Service He spoke to me of his Brother Atoupa and that his Mother had no more than this little Boy who was all her Comfort That the Caripous had killed all his Brothers and Sisters and that if our General would let him return to his Mother he himself was content to go with us into France I told that he should go along with me to make his Remonstrances which he did I asked him for some Water which they call Tonna and presently he caused his Wife to bring me some who was of an extraordinary sweet Nature and very handsome though she was stark Naked Having drank they caused me to enter into a great Hall made of Palms where they keep themselves in the day time with their Amaca's to hold Counsel concerning the Affairs of War Then they led me into a certain House where there was a great many Women and Girls stark naked and put some Patato's upon the Fire for me to Eat and having made some exchange as well for Mace and Patato's as Gums which is a black Bitume which they Chaulk Gums their Cannoes with I laded 2 or 3 Indians and so we returned towards the Port to our Ship I had a great deal of trouble in returning back because these Savages led me through the Wood where there was a great many Waters to pass besides it rained and was very bad Weather After we had gone 2 or 3 Leagues of this bad way we came to the end of a little River and found a Cannoe on Land that wanted only to be set a Float but we had no Oars yet these Indians looked so long amongst the Herbs that at last they found out some that were hid These Oars are very little and like to a Battle-dore which they beat Hemp withall Being thus Embark'd we Rowed so hard that we soon arrived at our Ship where they waited for me with great earnestness not knowing where I should be kept out so late and they were to have set sail the next morning as we did But before we come out of this Country I will not forget that amongst other Rarities that grow there there are certain Gums to be found called Copal and Anime and certain Animes Gums Bitum or black Gum very Odoriferous when it is put upon the Fire It is also good for the Rhume by receiving the Smoak of it the same is also the Anime which is a Gum yellow and transparent like the Gums of Arabia and is found in great Tears As for the Copal it hath not this quality but it serves for * Swellings Aposthumes to ripen and heal them so they come from a cold Cause and Phlegm For as for those which come from Heat and Blood the Copal is not so proper to apply being it is hot This Copal is a White Gum enclining to gray The Tree which bears it is like to a Lawrel in its Leaves but 't is bigger in the Trunk and hath also young ones I picked out some of this Gum by making an Incision in the Tree then the next morning or two days after I found the Gum pure and clear upon the slit The Anime is gotten after the same manner and its Tree also resembles the other As for the Bitum or black Gum it comes from a place where there are Springs of Water and it is gathered mixed with Earth at the foot of certain Trees amongst Green Moss The Indians make use of it instead of Pitch to Chalk their Cannoes As for the Language of these People I will only say that it is of Language of the Caribes several sorts and that of the Caripous is something different from that which the Caribes speak and have much ado to understand other although they are not far distant These Caribes were mighty desirous to know of us what it was that we Worshipped in Heaven whether it was the Sun which they call Occayou or the Moon which they name Nona the Stars Cherica Heaven Capa the Clouds Canopa as for the Fire they call it Ovato Water Tonna the Sea Parano the Woods Vropa the Mouth Pota the Eyes Onou and the Hair Omchay Now as for the Religion of all these Religion of these People People of Brasil and amongst others the Caripous and Caribes they live without Faith and Law and without any certain Belief of a Divinity true or false not Worshipping Idols nor any thing whatsoever only they believe some kind of an Immortality of the Soul They speak much of a God which they call Toupan which is some Caribes deal with the Devil Toupan Devil with whom they have Familiarity and exercise several sorts of Divination and Witchcraft And I remember we were told that when Camaria King of the Caribes had a mind to know any thing concerning their Wars
and never went on Land but when the Female Wonderful-Bird laid her Eggs she mounts up out of sight and so lays her Eggs one at a time as she mounts up after this Egg comes down tossing in the Air which is very hot in that Country before it falls into the Sea 't is Hatch'd after which the Sea nourisheth it which I found to be very wonderful and rare in Nature The 26th of May 1609. we arrived Arrival at Goa in the Indies at Goa the Old as they call it and the 27th went on Land being Ascension-Eve to Dine at Pangin before we should come to Goa As soon as the Fleet arrived there the Kings Packet was published which Andre Furtano Elected Vice-roy was to be opened no where but at Goa containing that in case the Vice-roy chanced to Die by the way Senior Andre Furtado de Mandoze should be Elected and if he was not there at that time they should send for the Governor of the Isle of Seilan Andre Furtado having thus been received Reys-Magos or the Church of the three Kings for Vice-roy I went to Reys-Magos which is the Church of the Cordelieres where the Vice-roys commonly reside whilst Preparations are made for his Reception to speak with him and desire him to help me in my necessity He made me answer that I should come to him when he was setled in his Government But all this signified nothing for I could never speak with him until such time as he sent for me to go with him to Portugal being relieved of his Charge by Ruy de Talbe who came the next year to Goa He sent for me then by his Cup-Bearer to come and speak with him at the Pass of Madre de Dios half a League from Madre de Dioâ— or the Mother of God Goa the which I did and told me if I would go along with him to Portugal he would content me to which I willingly agreed I went to live in his House till we Embarkt which was in January following It was in November when he sent for me to this Pass where there was a Captain who kept the Passage so that none could go into the Main-Land without being marked in the Hand except those of the Country and the Portugals who must have the Licence of the Coregidor I desired then this Captain from Andre Furtado to give me an Almadie with Mariners and a Naique for Guide which he willingly did and recommended me mightily to this Naique telling him that I went to look for Herbs for Andre Furtado which was true and accordingly brought some which served him for Fomentation of the Opelation of the Spleen Passing then to the Main-Land we went by these Places in the Habitations of the Gentlemen Bramenis and having demanded some Water to drink at the House of one of these People he gave me some but stayed to see if I drank without touching the sides of the Cup the which I knew not and Drank without any Ceremony which the Son of this Gentleman seeing cried out as loud as he could to his Father who was in a little place behind the House who presently came running in great Ange so that I was constrained to march of and make clean the Cup by my Naique to appease them After that I passed by a Pagod or Temple very well built and entering therein I found one of the Natives stark-naked adorning their Idol with Flowers which had a Head like a Calf when presently an old Woman amongst them cried out to me Why I came in there with my Shooes my Naique excused me in telling her that I knew not the Custom As for the Pay-gods they have several Paygods sorts of them Some for War others for Peace and for Love where the Maids coming to be Married are brought to be Desâ—oured and their Idol hath the Privy Parts like a Man The Damsels who serve these Pay-gods like the Vestal-Virgins continue there from 10 to 20 years of Age and Dance all night long carrying lighted Lamps in their Hands and go to Sleep round about their Idols I saw there very beautiful Girls and Women They Marry their Daughters at 8 or 9 years of Age when they are once past 12 or 13 they are not regarded because they believe them to continue no longer Maids considering the heat of the Country At the end of 20 years these Religious Women that Indian Women Religious have thus served the Pay-gods are kept in a certain place the rest of their Lives After I had gathered some Herbs which I had occasion for we went to a little Habitation of Gentiles where I demanded by my Truch-man if they had any Victuals to give us for our Money for there is no Inns or Taverns there but there were some little Shops where they sold Fruit and other things fit to Eat These Gentiles having Compassion on me there was a Woman who put me under a Gallery of her House where there was a Napkin full of Leaves and Plantane accommodated with Thorns then she threw me some Rice thereupon with a certain Sauce which they call Caril I Eat all this and when I was about to Drink out of a little Vessel of Copper that they had given me full of Water they began to cry out upon me because I touched it in Drinking for they never touch the Cup in Drinking only heaving it up with the Server whereon it stands and so Drink The Floor and Pavement of their Houses are composed with Cow-Dung Ants troublesome which they make look exceeding bright and think that it keeps away the Ants which are there in abundance and they can keep nothing free from being destroy'd by these little Animals to prevent which they have also Cupboards bore upon Piles set in Vessels full of Water where the Ants drown themselves by thinking to mount up Near to this Habitation I found a great Tree laden with Tamarins of which I gathered a few Tamarins They had yet nothing but a sower Taste I carried away the Husk which are almost like French-Beans but larger and greater Now as I returned by a very Desart Place I saw some of these Gentiles running in great haste and having caused my Truch-man to ask what ailed them they answered that their Father was gone to Drown himself a little after I saw them return bringing back their Father and Comforting him after the best manner they could He was troubled for some Misfortune that had happened to him It is a common thing with these People to Drown or Poison themselves or to Indians subject to Dispair Die after some such way when any Accident happens to them As for the Women 't is the Custom that when the Body of their Dead Husbands are Burnt they cast themselves into the Funeral Pile and Burn Women who burn themselves themselves after being first adorned with their richest Accoutrements and Jewels Dancing at the Sound of Instruments and
Thus was the Ship lost and all the Merchandise that was in her and afterward we arrived at Rochelle the 3d of Sept. from thence I came to Paris the 23 of the same Month when our young King Lewis XIII whom God preserve and prosper was gone to be Crowned at Rheims I had heard no News of the unhappy accident happened in the Person of King Henry the Great my good Master untill we were in sight of Lisbon for then according to the custom there came a Caravel from the Port to see and know who we were who told us that sad History which I could scarcely believe but coming to Land it was too much confirmed to my Eternal regret and sorrow THE TRAVELS AND VOYAGES OF John Mocquet INTO Syria and the Holy Land BOOK V. HAving return'd to Paris from so many long and troublesome Voyages after the Death of King Henry the Great whom I can never sufficiently lament and all other good French Men I had a desire to make a Religious Voyage into the Holy Land there to go pay like a good Christian so many Vows I had made to God for the innumerable Perils and Dangers from which it hath pleased him mercifully to preserve me so often In this Resolution I parted from Paris the 19th of July 1611. and took Coach to Marseilles where I arrived Embarkment at Marseilles the 14th Day of August and tarried there for some Days to wait for passage which at last I found in a Ship of Toulon called the St. Francis belonging to Ode Bergue and Vander Strate Merchants of Toulon and Marseilles There embarking the 8th of September we set sail and the 12th saw the Isle of Sardania which Sardania we left on the North-East and the 15th we saw the Coast of Barbary passing near the Isle of Guerite which Guerite Isle is a little Island not far from the main Land where the Robbers and Pyrates lurk as well Turks as Christians we had this Isle towards the South-West The 17th we passed along by Malta Malta then by Sicilia where we found a Sicilia Ship in the fashion of a Galiot who came directly towards us to know if they durst engage us but when they had perceived our Strength they tacked about taking their course towards Barbary seeking other Prey more easie to surprize The 21st we passed along by Candia Candia where there is a little Island called Agose Isle Agose which advances into the Sea with a Point towards the South Then the 27th we went to the Isle of Cyprus towards the City of Bafe Cyprus not far from the Coast and went to pass the Cape de Gate designing to go to Famagusta But having a sharp Gale and good for our Voyage we continued our course bearing towards Tripoly in Syria where we arriv'd Arrival at Tripoly the last Day of September the next Morning the 1sâ— of October I went on shore to lodge in the City in a Campo near the Juderie or Jews-Place Campo These Campo's are great Houses with large Courts and Fountains where Strangers retire themselves for shelter like Inns. These belong to some great Person who letts them out and he who is the Porter thereof whom they call Boabe receives the Money of the Passengers and gives it to the Master of whom he holds it upon Rent Having tarried some time at Tripoly Voyage to Mount Lebanon I had a mind to see Mount Lebanon and for this effect took a Turk with an Ass to carry our Victuals We left the City the 11th of November and went over very high Mountains and troublesome to pass and in the end arrived at the Lodging of a Chaldean Archbishop called Father George who received us after the best manner he could His House is right above Mount Lebanon his Church is under his Habitation and a Water-mill underneath his Church I saw a good Father a Chaldean Priest and Kinsman to this Archbishop who came from grinding his Corn as he shewed us by his Visage all white with Meal and seeing him in this case we knew him not to be of the Church until the next Morning which was Sunday when I saw him go with the Host in his Hand from thence to a Village there to sing Mass The Father George lived there with his Mother Sisters and Nieces making one and the same Family altogether He shewed me a Chapel above his House upon a little Rock right under Mount Lebanon and told methere was there a Hole out of which every Year upon the 1st Day of May only gushes an abundance of Water at such time as they sing Mass in the Chapel The Mountain is covered all over with Cyprus-Trees The Place is very agreeable but the Winter is there very troublesome because of the excessive Cold and great Snows which mightily afflicts these good Fathers so that they are constrained for that cause to pass the Winter near Tripoly and return there again in the Spring The next Morning after we had heard Mass we set forward towards the Place where the Cedars are about Cedars Three Leagues from thence where being come we had such a cold blast of Wind that my Turk blew his Fingers I order'd him to get upon a Cedar-Tree to break me off some Branches but he tarried there not long for the Cold soon made him to descend that he could not get me so much as I desir'd But I feared he would tumble down being half frozen and besides he had not eaten his Breakfast because of their Romadan Romadan or Fast in the which they fast till Evening not daring to eat any thing upon pain of Death except it be in private and those who observe not strictly their Law and when I saw him tremble in good earnest I presently made him come down fearing to lose him From thence we reassumed our way to return to Canibi which is a Place Canibi belonging to the Chaldean Patriarch and had very bad Weather of Rain so that we arrived there late in the Evening after having passed many little Habitations situate for the most part upon the side of inaccessible Rocks and are almost all Chaldean and Greek Christians with some few Moors amongst them We were there very well received and drank excellent Wine which grows in these Mountains The next Day having heard Mass we returned to Tripoli where I passed a very troublesome Winter because Inundations of the great Inundations of Water which came from the Mountains and so swelled a little River which runs through the middle of the City that it bore down part of the Houses with great loss of Merchandise and Water-mills which it carried quite away with the Stone-bridge This was the cause that Bread was there very scarce and dear that we had much adoe to get a little black Biscuit half spoiled which was sold me by weight and at what rate they pleased and that by halves and the People already
TRAVELS AND VOYAGES INTO Africa Asia and America THE East and West-Indies Syria Jerusalem and the holy-Holy-Land PERFORMED BY M R. John Mocquet Keeper of the Cabinet of Rarities to the King of France in the Thuilleries Divided into Six BOOKS and Enriched with SCULPTURES Translated from the French By NATHANIEL PULLEN Gent. LONDON Printed for William Newton Bookseller in Little-Britain and Joseph Shelton and William Chandler Booksellers at the Peacock in the Poultry 1696. TO THE KING May it Please Your Majesty ONE of the Principal Graces which it hath pleased Almighty God to shew me in Preserving me from so many Perils and Dangers that I have run through in Travelling about the World is this To see my self at present at Your Majesty's Feet offering in all Humility and Obedience This my Writings as the only Fruit which I have been able to Reap in my Long and Dangerous Travels I know very well that 't is a thing which of its self is not worthy to be presented to Your Majesty But should it please Your Majesty to consider that the late King Your Royal Father of Glorious and Eternal Memory did me formerly the Honour to command me to undertake the most part of these Voyages and to take pleasure in the Relations which I made to him thereof at my Return I dare promise my self that Your Majesty as you follow in all things the Generous Steps of the Greatest King and Best Father that ever was will not also disdain to receive with Your wonted Goodness and Sweetness this little Testimony of my most humble and most devout Affection to Your Majesty's Service the which may encourage me to cause Your Majesty one Day to see God willing something of more Value and to hope that according to Your Royal Design Your Majesty will give me Means to continue and perfect the Cabinet of Rarities which by Your Command I have began to erect in Your Majesty's Palace of the Thuilleries an Enterprize so laudable that it merits to be reckoned amongst so many other Worthy Actions of Honour and Vertue which render Your Majesty Glorious and Commendable for ever And in the mean time I will continue all the rest of my Life to pray to God That it would please him to augment more and more to Your Majesty his Holy Graces and Benediction Your Majesty's Most Humble and Most Obedient Subject and Servant John Mocquet A PREFACE FOR THE Understanding of Circles Zones Parallels Degrees of Longitude and Latitude Climates and other necessary Things in the Description of the Universe BEFORE we come to a particular Recital of the Six Voyages which I have made during 14 or 15 Years in divers Places of Europe Asia Africa and America I think 't will not be much amiss for the more clear Understanding thereof to speak briefly by way of Preface something of the Four Parts of the World and of certain Principles appertaining to the Sphere and Geography to the end that the Reader may the more easily apprehend such things as he shall find dispersed here and there in these my Writings laying down for certain and necessary Maxims several things which I should otherways have been constrain'd too often to repeat tho' but touching as it were upon what might be said of this Science the more exact Research and Knowledge of which I leave to those who make Profession thereof and who are more Learned therein than my self who desire to know no more thereof than what may be necessary for me in the Narration of my Voyages Know then that God hath so dispothe Universe that he hath joined the Earth and the Sea in one round Mass whose Weight reposes in the Centre of the World as being the lowest Place serving for a most sure Retreat and convenient Habitation for Man and Earth for Man and Beast Beast in Parts raised above the Waters which have their limited Place in the Abysms and Depth of the Earth Now these Waters encompass all the Earth and separate it by an admirable Artifice into Three great and spacious Continents or firm Lands upon the which according Three Continents to the order and situation of the superior Parts of the World the Cosmographers place Five principal Circles which are the Equinoctial the Two Tropicks of Capricorn and the Two Polar-Circles Artick and Antartick The first Circle is called Equinoctial Circle of the Sphere upon the Earth because the Sun coming underneath the Circle which happens Twice in the Year about the 21st of March and the 24th of September causes throughout the whole World Day and Night to be of equal length It is equally distant from the Two Poles and divideth the Terrestrial Globe into Two Hemispheres or equal Parts one extending towards the North and the other towards the South The Second Circle is the Tropick of Cancer or Solstice of the Summer because the Sun arriving there causeth Summer to all the Countries on this side the Equinoctial the which happens at such time as the Sun enters into the first degree of Cancer which is about the * Stili novi 22d of June and then we have the longest Days and shortest Nights in the Year The Circle is distant from the Equator 23 Degrees and a half towards the Border of the North. The Third Circle is the Tropick of Capricorn or Solstice of the Winter where the Sun arriving which is about the 23d of December causeth the shortest Days and longest Nights with us for to the other Hemisphere of the South happens the contrary It has the same Declension of the Equator towards the South as the other to wit 23 Degrees The Fourth Circle is the Circle Artick and the Fifth Antartick each of them distant from its Pole 23 Degrees and a half Now by these Four last Circles all the Earth is divided into Five Zones Zones or Girdles which encompass and cover the Face of the Earth one of which is called Torrid or Burnt two Temperate and two Cold. The Torrid is situated betwixt the Two Tropicks 45 Degrees in breadth one of the Temperate Septentrional betwixt the Tropick and Cancer and the Circle-Artick the other Meridional betwixt the Tropick and Capricorn and the Circle-Antartick of 43 Degrees each The two Cold are one betwixt the Circle-Artick and its Pole and the other betwixt the Circle-Antartick and its other Pole each of 23 Degrees The Torrid Zone thus called by the Ancients in regard of the Opinion which they had that because of the Perpendicularity and ordinary Neighbourhood of the Sun all these Countries were uninhabitable because of the excessive Heats also that the cold Zones were so because of the excessive Cold caused by the great distance and lowness of this same Planet But the Navigators of ours and the precedent Ages have by experience found all these Countries Habitable and Peopled so that Torrid Zone Inhabited some of the most Wise and Learned amongst the Ancients have left behind them in their Writings
were deceiv'd as well by the Currents as the Cards we had with us which were false we finding but one which was sure for those Parts for instead of going to the Islands aforesaid we passed along by the Isle of Tobaco and Trinidad and cast Anchor at the White-Island where we could find no Water of which we were in great want 'T was no small Astonishment to me how such infinite Multitudes of Cabrits and wild Goats besides other Animals which are there could live without so much as a drop of Water But the Divine Providence has otherways order'd it as I have above-touched by the cool Nights and the Dew with which these Beasts refresh themselves From thence we went to Margurite Island but we found no more Water there than we did at the other and so to the Mouth of the River of Cumana where the People of a Dutch Ship had told us we should find some as we did at the entrance of the River This shews the Necessity of having good Cards and well rectified But to return to the Three Continents or firm Lands from the which all the Earth is separated by Waters The first was by the Ancients divided into Three Parts to wit Europe Asia and Africa all joining together The second unknown to the Ancients and discover'd in our Days by Christopher Columbus in the Year 1492 and by Americus Vespusius 1495 is America which for its vast Extent is divided into Two Parts Peru and Mexico The Third is Terra-Australis or Magâ—llanique thus called because of Ferdinand Mâ—gâ—llan who first found it out in the Year 1519. 'T is suppos'd to be very great but for the most part uninhabited and desart 'T is also called Terradâ—l Fuâ—go for the great quantity of Fire there seen the which renders it infertile and uninhabited there being several Mines of Sulphur which cause those Fires as I saw in going to the East-Indies for passing by the Isles of Cape-Verd there is one of them called Fuâ—go because of the Fire there continually seen and is very high One Night we sailed round about her and seeing the Flames in great abundance coming out of the Earth in all parts we were not a little surpriz'd and the next Day passing along by this same Island with a very boisterous Wind and approaching somewhat nigh the Wind drove the sulphurous Vapours just into our Europe Faces which were very unsupportable and stinking Europe the first of the Three Continents is the least in extent and for her Fertility gives not place to the others but for Arms Laws Policy Relâ—gion Sciences Arts and all sorts of Vertues she surpasses them by far And of the Provinces of Europe France alone is the Principal according to the Judgment of the Nations her Enemies whether you consider the Goodness Fertility and Beauty of her Lands the Excellency and temperature of the Air Salubrity and Abundance of her Waters and Number of Inhabitants or in regard of the Manners of her People their Piety Valour Erudition Justice Discipline Liberality Freeness Courtesie Liberty and all other Qualities Military and Civil In short the Renown of the French has been such by their Conquest in the East that their Name remains there for an Eternal Memory So that to this Day throughout all Asia and Africa they call all those who come from Europe by the Name of Franghi let them be of what Country soever The Fertility of France is such that she furnisheth abundantly Spain Portugal Italy and Barbary not only with Corn but several other Commodities and I verily think that every Year there goes from Provence Languedoc Bretagne Poitou Xaintoign and Normandy above Six thousand Ships laden with Corn and other Merchandise To Lisbon only there comes above a Thousand as well great as small And I believe that the Spaniards and Portugueses could not furnish Corn for so many Voyages were they not supplied therewith from France to make Biscuit besides Sails Cordage Salt Flesh and other necessary things to furnish their Ships The Principal Provinces of Europe are France Spain Germany High and Low Italy Sclavonia Greece Hungary Poland Danemark Sweden Muscovy and the Isles of England Scotland Ireland Island Groneland Sicilia Candia Malta Sardania Corse Corfu Majorica Minorica and others of the Archipelago Asia the second Part of our first Asia Continent is of very great Extent Riches and Fertility and ever very Renowned for having born the greatest Monarchies and first Empires as of the Assyrians Babylonians Persians Greeks Parthians Bactrians Indians and others and at this Day the Turks Persians Arabians Tartars Mogols Chineses and other Indians But above all this Part is the most esteemed for the Creation of the first Man planted in the Terrestrial Paradice Colonies and People coming from thence and dispersed through the rest of the World and moreover for the Redemption of Mankind and the Operation of our Salvation acted therein besides for having given Religion Science Arts Laws Policy Arms and Artifices to all the other Parts In short for its inestimable Riches the Wisdom and Dexterity of its Inhabitants Her most celebrated Provinces are the Countries of the Great Tâ—rk of Persia the Great Mâ—gul the â—rand Tâ—rtar Arabia China Indâ—storn of the Eâ—st-Indies Gâ—zarat Cambaya Malâ—bar Coromandel Bengall Pegu Stam and the rest of the Iâ—dâ—es on this and the other side the Ganges The Isles are innumerable as Zâ—ilan Sumatra the Java's Molucco's Philipians Japan Maldaves and others The last Part of this first Continent is Africa separated from Europe Africa by the Mediterranean-Sea and from Asia by the Isthmus of Egypt and the Red-Sea making as it were a Peninsula encompass'd on all sides by the Sea save by this Neck of Land which is betwixt Egypt and Palestine It s principal Provinces are Egypt Barbary Fez and Morocco Aethiopia or Abyssine Nubia Lybia Guinia Congo Monomotapa and others of the South This Part is very good and fertile in some Places but it contains several great and sandy Desarts without Water That part of Africa unknown to the Ancients and discover'd by the Portuguese about the Year 1497. is called by the Arabians Zanzibar and extends from the Lakes where the Nile takes its Original to the Cape of Good-hope containing several good Countries bordering upon Monomotapa as amongst others Cefala and Cuama from whence is gotten great quantity of fine Gold insomuch that it has been the Opinion of several That those Countries of Cefala and Cnama was the Ophir where Solomon sent to fetch Gold tho' others think 't was rather Malaca and other Places of the East-Indies and some will have it to be Peru in the West The last Continent of the World is that Part which we call America America and which as I have said is divided into Two Principal Parts Mexico in the North and Peru in the South separated by the Isthmus of Banama There are several Provinces and People of different Languages Manners and Fashions The greatest City
wind being very favourable we passed the Cape of St. Vincent and being come up within view of the Canary Islands we met with a Ship and a Patache whom we descried a far off using their utmost to come up to us the Patache came with a Light-wind to view us nearer and to know who we were but they were not so ill-advised as to come within the reach of our Cannon At last after having viewed us well on all sides and taking notice of the Port and fashion of our Ship they returned toward their Admiral who was about 3 or 4. Leagues off us telling him that our vessel was not so great as theirs yet they did not know what sort of people we were not having spoken with us Their Admiral hearing this sent them again with the Patache to watch us all night with a Lanthorn upon the Mast coasting us continually a good way off But we seeing our selves so close pursued by these Pirate Ships broke our boat to make plat-forms so that we might change our Cannon from one side to the other then having fitted our Net-deck and made ready our Musquets with our Cannons and Patterero's and hoisted our Sails with provision of wine upon the Deck for the Sea-men to drink to make them the more Couragious we were resolved all to die rather than suffer our selves to be taken by these Corsairs Thus having been round about us for two days and two nights at last their Admiral arriving with all his top-â—ails full â—ail he commanded us to vield but we being deaf to that and ready to let fly our whole broad-side he cried out aloud that we should not fire if we were wise and that if we were a French Ship he would do us no harm and that we should only put out our boat we made answer that our boat was broke and he might put out his if he would upon which he was a long time disputing the matter But at last seeing us so resolute and so well cover'd with our net-deck he put out his Boat and came aboard us and seeing nothing but Salt in our ship he returned again without doing us any harm for so smal a matter besides seeing us so resolved to defend our selves to the last man and that there was nothing to be gotten but blows he left us From thence we pursued our course But upon our return meeting with us again he beat us soundly and did us a great deal of damage having three or four ships to our one The 6th of November we perceived Another Eâ—couâ—teâ— a Ship and a Paâ—acâ—â— â—id behind 〈◊〉 blaâ—â— making ful â—ail towards us But we seeing ourselves so near being surprised about four or five a clock in the afternoon we Tack'd from him that we might have time to prepare our selves But befoâ—◠〈◊〉 could run out our Cannon 〈…〉 our Net-deck they came up 〈…〉 and commanded us to 〈◊〉 oâ— they would sink us upon which 〈◊〉 Captain not at all affrighted at these threatnings commanded the Cannoniers to do their duty which they did saluting them very near and they in the mean time answering us very briskly At last having given us several broad-sides A Fiâ—ht and Volies of small shâ—r which rained upon us like â—ail the night came on and the Moon sâ—in'd a little In the mean time we had several of our men wounded but none mortally The enemy had battered us thinking to have taken us but he was as soon repulsed as come he seeing that made on the other side thinking our Cannon had been changed but he was deceived For we had there three Cannons ready with Paterrero's full of stoâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ails besides bullets Coming then close one upon the other we let fly these three Cannons and Patereros directly upon his Fore-castle where there were near Eighty mâ—n 〈…〉 leap into our Ship They seeâ—â—â— themselves cover'd all over wiâ—â—â—ire by so many 〈◊〉 we discharged upon them and many 〈◊〉 their men lay along upon the Deck they sell to crying out God the Lord my God in Enâ—lâ—sh then runing back they fir'd a great shot which pierced our ship through and through and broke the leg of a mariner who in hast was running to the pump because they cryed out that we were sinking for we had already almost six foot water in the hold by a shot receiv'd in the beginning of the fight our Carpenter was very nimble in stopping it Hereupon these Pirates presently bore away and we saw them no more I belieâ—e they had 〈◊〉 a great many of their men otherways they would never 〈◊〉 left us they were so animated against us and having sworn to caâ—â— us all into the Sea They muâ—â— needs have had great want o◠〈◊〉 that being all they demanded 〈…〉 Having then escaped this great danger our next business was tâ—â—it up our Rigging â—ut almost to pieces and our Saâ—â—â—orn on every side Our Maâ—â—s also were ready to tumble down they were so battered with great shot All that we could do was to recover Cape-blane where we found Cape-blane seven Ships Laden with Liquor who seeing us Arrive near the Muscle which is a little Creek or Bay before the entrance into the Haven where we had cast Anchor The Seventh of November about two a clock in the morning two of these seven Ships the greatest and the best armed came and cast Anchor on each side of our ship and the other five round about beating their Drums and sounding their Trumpets which mightily disturbed us at such time when we thought to have taken our rest Then we began to deck our Canons and Musquets order our net-deck and to hoist our sails but they crying out to us to tell them from whence we were we were a long time without giving them any answer not knowing what 〈…〉 pâ—â—ple they were and were jus◠〈◊〉 â—o tell them that we were Spâ—â—â—ards But at last the Master named Hâ—mand Clement cried out that we were French which they would not believe commanding us to put out our boat But it was broke as I have said before so we answered that they might put out theirs which they a long time refusing threatned to fire at us on all sides At last they resolved to come on board our Ship with their Arms to know who we were which having done after they had known us they sent their boat again on board their Ships saluting us with several Cannons The next morning we entred into the Haven where we sound three Lybian-Moors on shore who had run Moors of Lybia away from the people of these seven Ships they not being able to catch them again in these deserts These three Moors came freely enough on board our Ship knowing again our Captain who had formerly travelled into these parts They told us that there was a Portugal Pinnace hard by Cape-veille on the other side Cape-blane upon which our Captain â—â—pe veille was resolved to find them out by Land
against their Enemies he made made a hole in the Ground pronouncing some certain Words and then came something up with a horrible thundering noise which spake to him and instructed him giving him notice what their Enemies were doing at that time And indeed when Camaria and his Brother Yago came on board our Ship they told us that they knew very well that their Enemy Anacajoury King of the Caripous was preparing himself to come to attack them that which he could not have known so readily but by such means But to return to the Caripou-Yapoco of whom I have spoken before that Yapoco Camaria King of the Caribes had instantly desired me being at his Habiration to order the business so with our General that he might have him in his power to Eat him in Revenge of the mischief that his Uncle Anacajoury had done them before VVhen I was returned back to our Ship I spoke to the General about it who told me that I did very well to promise but he would take care to avoid such VVickedness Thus Camaria was promised to have Yapoco given him of which he was mighty Joyful and sent about all his Country to all his Friends and Confederates that they should prepare themselves to come to this Feast The next morning hoising our Sails and weighing Anchor to go away presently comes Camaria with a great many Indians to have Yapoco who being refused him in good earnest went away so affronted and vexed that I had not a mind to return to be his Guest for I believe they would have done the same to me they designed to do to the poor Yapoco This Camaria had but one Eye and was mighty Crafty and Treacherous As for Yapoira the Brother of Atoupa the Caribe who had tarried all night in our Ship as I have said before Atoupa did all that ever he could to persuade us to let go his Brother but seeing he could not obtain that of our General he said that he would also willingly go with us into France and that he would either kill or drown himself rather than leave him The General told him that he was content and that he should come betimes in the morning and whilst he was in such a good Humour This being thus resolved upon as soon as we began to set sail we saw the Mother of these two Caribes who came towards us in a Cannoe crying and howling after the most pittiful manner that could be imagined She brought along with her the Bow and Arrows the Paintings and the Amica of Yapoira which is all their Wealth Yapoira was mighty sorry to see his Mother keep such a mourning for him and desired our General to give her a Hatchet to appease her a little which was done yet she returned again thus Disconsolate After that we set sail the 18th of Departure from the Country of the Caribes May and passed by a little Island very pleasant near to the Coast of the Caribes holding our Course to go to the Isle of Santea-Lucia but we Santa-Lucia were deceived by the Currents which come from the South-East having made according to the Estimation of our Pilot in one night above seventy Leagues without scarce any Wind. We went to touch at the Isle of Tabuco which remained Northwards of us Tabaco Isle Then leaving the Isle de-la-Trinadad towards the South we discovered Isle de la Trinadad the Testigues of the Isle Blanche which Blanche-Isle are 5 or 6 Peninsula's very near to one another and passed through the middle of them then seeing Land of some places above We were a long time considering if it was Land or thick Clouds because it was very low and thereupon several Wagers were laid whether it was Land or not At last bearing directly towards it we found out that it was really Land but unknown to us since deceived by the Currents As we approached it we saw Animals running in great Companies Wild-Goats along the Coast Some of us not knowing what they were said at first they were Bands or Cavalliers but these Cavalliers proved to be Wild-Goats of which this Isle is full Taking down then our Sails very low we went as near to this Island as we could our Patache going continually before to discover if there were any Rocks as indeed we had gone directly upon one had not the Patache given us notice thereof with a signal at the end of a Pike and took the way that she shewed us leaving this Rock about a little Stones cast off us It was not covered with above a Foot or two of Water so that we going so swift with a light Gale of Wind had without doubt split and been all lost in such a place without help or succour and besides it being in the night but God by his mercy preserved us there from and being there was not much clear Water to be seen we could not find the bottom to Anchor but at last we found but 30 Fathoms of Water where we cast Anchor for this night The next morning the 29th of May Voyage into the Isle we caused our Boat to be Equipped to go on Shore and to seek some Water Our Men after Breakfast went thus away with their Muskets and Pikes without the least drop of Water along with them but they payed dear for it For after having gone a good way up into this Island with the heat of the Sun and running after the Goats they were so wonderful dry and thirsty that they thought they should all have Died for want of a little Water and returning again with great Trouble and Fatigue they were forced to carry the weakest upon their Shoulders They brought along with them a great many Pelicans and coming confusedly one after another very weak and discomforted and not minding any thing but Drinking and then our General 's Brother of Friendship coming on board our Ship said aloud that they looked for Pearls but he had rather have a Barrel of Water than of Pearls for the great Thirst that he had endured with the rest The next morning we went sixteen The Author visites the Isle Men to discover the other side of the Island and if there was any Water and coming on Land we saw before us a great number of Wild-goats who came running along the Sea side and began to enter into a Valley where we with Harquebuss and Musket killed five or six upon the place These Creatures not being used to be Hunted after this manner made a horrible noise and bellowing and though they were Shot quit through the Body yet they did not fall for that but fled away with a light pace We left there a Man to order these we had killed I never thought then to look for the Besoart-Stone which these Besoart-Stone Beasts carry in their Ventricle but to follow the others about this Isle to find out Water and some curious Things We went thus three or
in Syria where they use a certain Vessel pierced with holes at the bottom and make their Tears run down from thence right upon the Sepulcher which is environed with all kind of Flowers I will add to this that all the Moors are nothing else but Captives Slaves Moors Slaves to their King of their King for they dare not so much as stir out of the Country and Kingdom without his express Licence and Command as I have taken notice of several times at Saffy I remember one day a young Man a Moor having by chance cast himself into a Boat of the Christians out of curiosity or to play and Fish the Haquin seeing him caused him to be taken by his Serjeants then to be laid upon the Ground and cruelly Bastinadoed Whilst I was at Saffy waiting for my departure I went about the Fields and Desarts to look for Plants and delicate Flowers to carry to the King I gathered a great many of them which I laid up and having caused Biscuit to be made for my Voyage with other Refreshments we set sail the 24th of Jan. 1607. and having contrary Winds Departure for France towards the South Line Having been driven from one side to the other we arrived in the end near the Coast of England in very tempestuous weather having been so beaten by contrary Winds we knew not well how far we had to any Land in regard that we were scarce able to take the heighth of the Sun or Stars But thereupon seeing a Ship coming much about the bigness of ours streight to us we lowred our Sails to tarry for her making signs for her to come up which they did telling us that the South Line was very near South-line us and what Wind was best for us to take We were very glad at this news and a little after we saw the South-Line but the Weather was very tempestuous and I believe that without this advice we should have gone near to have lost our selves on the Rocks which are low and in great numbers Being entered into the Channel we descried a Ship making full sail upon us and believing that it was a Fleming we prepared our selves to receive her but the night coming on which was very Stormy we lost her bearing more to the N.E. The next morning we saw the Isle of Wight imagining Wight-Island it was the Land of England But approaching nearer we sound out our mistake and Coasting it a little we perceiv'd the Land of England which lay to the N. E. of us and went to cast Anchor in a Bay which advanced into the Land and where there was a little Village Those of the place seeing us Anchor there came on board us and told us that when the Sea went out we should be a-ground and that it behoved us to set sail in all haste to go to a Port not far from thence so they helped and conducted us to the said Port near the * Ports-mout Poulle in a Creek not far from a Tower where we were at Harbour But the night being come we had the strangest and most horrible Storm that had been heard of of a long time insomuch that Horrible â—â—mpest we were forced to cast 3 or 4 Anchors which were all little enough to hold our Ship This happened on Shrove-Tuesday the 27th of Feb. and in this Storm two Ships were lost near the Isle of Wight the one a Fleming who was lading and the other a French who seeing themselves near being lost put out the Boat to save themselves leaving nothing in the Ship save a Cat But these People approaching near Land a Wave came which oâ—erturned the Boat and they were all lost The Ship in the mean time went with a right Winds towards Plimouth a Town and Port of England Some People from the Coast seeing this Ship thus sail towards Land where there was no Port ran to give them notice thereof But calling out aloud and no Strange Accident one answering they knew not what to think judging they might be Pirates who had not a mind to be known In the end seeing the Ship like to be cast away they resolved to Board her and entering they found nothing but this Cat at which they were mightily astonished and took the Ship into Port It was laden with Corn and after having heard that the People were lost near the Isle of Wight they left it in the hands of the Justice until it might be restored to the right Owners This great Storm the cause of all these Accidents was such that it caused a great distraction and loss of People along the Coast of England as we heard since When we came to Portsmouth we found out the Truth of this and how the Sea had overwhelmed certain places a good way within Portsmouth which is a pleasant Sea Port Portsmouth Town After having been some days at Portsmouth to refresh our selves and to wait for a Wind to carry us to Havre-de-Grace where our Ship was to go to leave there some Merchandize of Barbary When the Wind was favourable to us we set sail the 16th of March and the nexâ— day in the evening we arrived at the Haven for which I praised God for having delivered me from so many Perils and Dangers and going by Land to Roan I there tarried for my Materials which were brought in the Hoy and having received and laded them in a Boat upon the River I went straight to Paris where I arrived the 25th of March From thence I went to Fontainebleau to give the King an account of my Voyage and to present him with the Plants and Rarities which Ihad brought with which his Majesty was mighty well pleased enquiring of me several things to which I answered him in the best manner I could And desiring to know further of me what it was that Muley-Zidan did I answered him that he had encamped in the Desarts with his Army and amongst other things I gave him account of 3 Cavalliers belonging to Muley-Boufairs his Brother with whom he had War the which being come into his Almahalle to render themselves to him he demanded of them if they came to him of their own Free-Will and having answered him they did and that they had quitted Muley-Boufairs because they had been falsly accused of a Robbery in the Juderie at Morocco Zidan hearing this asked them if they took him for a Receiver of Robbers and thereupon commanded them to be Beheaded shewing thereby a great Act of Justice for a Barbarian and Mahometan Having finished this Discourse and several others to the late King and presented him with the Plants and Rarities and the White Honey of Africa exceeding clear and excellent of which his Majesty tasted and caused me to lay it carefully up I went back to Paris to think in good earnest of the Voyage that I had a mind to make to the East-Indies A Description of the following Cutts The First The manner
Lovende At last we approached the Cape of Good Hope seeing Cape de Bonne Esperance Alcatraz Mangues de Velours the signal of Alcatraz and Mangues de Velours Alcatraz are Birds like Sparrows Mangues de Velours are Birds like Cranes having the bottom of their Bellies and Backs white and the end of the Wings Tail and Neck black and these Birds continually keep above 80 Leagues round about the Cape These Signals did a little chear us up and encouraged us to come nearer to this so dangerous and tempestuous Furious Tempest place For coming there we had the most furious and greatest Storm that I ever saw Our Carrack was about 2000 Tun one of the Gallantest Ships in all Portugal having been built above 30 years and yet seemed to be but like a simple Boat amongst these high and dreadful Waves We needed little Fore-Mast to the Wind and 30 or 40 Mariners at the Stern In this Stormy Weather we could not keep our Ship with Wind and were about a 100 Persons 50 on each side to Devise how to get again before the Wind which we had lost Our Deck was covered all over with Water and it was impossible to get any farther than the Planks of the Ship either behind or before Amongst these Miseries and Calamities we expected nothing but Shipwrack committing our selves to the Divine Mercy and made a General Procession Praying Devoutly to God that he would preserve us from this imminent Danger besides we could no longer resist because of the weakness and sickness of our Men But God of his Goodness heard our Prayers appeasing by little and little this great Tempest which we had so long endured so that having passed this dangerous place we descried the Cape of Aiguâ—lles which made us judg Cape de Aiguilles that we had passed that of Good-Hope and from thence we arrived at the Land of Natall where it was very Natall tempestuous and almost as dark as night We found there boisterous Winds and we were forced to labour day and night to avoid the Baixos ds los Judios or da Judia that is the Baixos de los Judias Shelves of the Jews in the Channel of the Coast of Sofala where there is a great many Ships lost and where amongst others happened that no less lamentable than memorable Ship wrack of the Ship called the St. James in the year 1585. who going to Goa in the East-Indies split upon these Rocks and of 250 Persons not above 90 escaped by different manners with as much or more misfortune and miseries on Land as they had enjoy'd on the Sea There was some Fathers Jesuits and Dominicans cast away there and others saved themselves The strange and lamentable circumstances of the Accidents have rendered this Shipwrack the most remarkable that ever happened in these Seas which is the reason that these Rocks are so much feared which are like great heaps of sharp Stones and spikes of White Coral and commonly covered with Water so that they are not perceived until you are upon them and the Ship splitting but we by the help of God escaped them so that having taken the height and seeing our selves escaped we made the best of our way towards this Harbour where we found the two Gallies as I have said before and knowing them again we bore towards them and cast Anchor 4 Leagues from the Isles sending the Boat to Land to hear news from Mosambique which is about 25 Leagues from thence There came on board us a Pangais who told us how Mosambique had been Besieged by the Hollanders and that it was not above 15 days since they had raised the Siege and had taken the Galley of Good Jesus which they burnt and Hollanders at Mosambique having known by this Gallion that we were coming they presently retired for those of the Gallion knew nothing of the Death of the Count de la Fera nor of the dispersing of the Fleet they being separated from us hard by the Isle of Madera We weighed Anchor from thence not finding above 5 or 6 Fathoms Water As the Wind began to clear it behoved us to cast our Anchors and the next day to raise them again this was the 15th of Sept. but the Currents of Water which run towards the Islands of Angoche were like to have swallowed us up We endured a world of Hardships in casting and weighing Anchor which left me some Blisters upon my Hands and as weak as I was I laboured with all my might to be rid of these dangerous passages In the end we cast and weighed our Anchors so that we arrived at Mosambique the 29th of Sep. and Anchored near the Isles of St. George Arrival at Mosambique which is 3 or 4 Leagues distant The next morning we Anchored near ths Fortress As soon as we arrived at Mosambique we understood how our Vice-Admiral had passed the Cape of Good-Hope immediately after us when the Storm was a little allayed and how they had seen a Sea-Monster passing Sea Monster along by the Ship which was of a strange form and wonderful greatness He blowed and snored with a great noise and kept his Body in a round like a Pillar carrying a thing like a Shield before his Head and a Saddle upon his Back As he passed close by the Ship he made so terrible a noise that they thought themselves all lost but he left them and they saw him no more Being then arrived at Mosambique we were mightily astonished to find there nothing to Eat being then so fallen away by the fatigue of the Sea We went on shore having Anchored the St. Bartholomew St. Anthony St. Jerome and our own which was the Admiral They were there full five Months waiting for the Muesson of VVinds to convey us to Goa VVe endured there not a little for as I have said we could find nothing to live upon there not being any Bread The Sick were put in Cabins of Palm some in the Fortress and others in the City but they Died by 10 and 15 aday and there remained 735 Buried Number of the Dead as the haplain of our Ship told me who kept a List of them I went also on Shore scarce able to go and walked about the Streets looking for something to Eat but I could find nothing save some little Fishes fryed which these Ethiopian VVomen sell about the Streets with some Cakes of Meal Baked upon the Coals which Mocates they call Mocates I bought some of this Fish fryed in the Oyl of Gerselin a little Seed like Carraways which they make Oil Rape-Seed of which has a very ill Taste Then retiring alone to make a Feast and comforting my self the best I could relying wholly upon God I demanded a little Water of these VVomen who gave me some but it was so Salt that I could scarce drink any of it for they had drawn it out of a nasty VVell which was hard by the
thus Die with a wonderful Constancy speaking in the Fire to the very last Those who do not this are held Infamous so long as they live not daring to shew themselves before others nor to appear before their Friends and Kindred Such as have a weaker Courage Poison themselves seeing their Husband Dead and are Burnt together with him T is remarkable that the Body of the Woman hath such an Oyley Property that one Body will serve like Oil or Greese to consume the Bodies of 5 or 6 men The Moors and Mahometans who inhabit the main-Main-Land of Goa towards Pichelin do not allow this sort of Cruelty in the Women but when they see they cannot obtain this favour they Poison themselves This Custom of Burning themselves hath continued as they say ever since a certain Gentile King who reigned amongst them who seeing how all the Men of his Kingdom died and knowing that it was their Wives which Poisoned them to have other Husbands and that those who had Children should continue alive to take care of them but without Power ever to Marry again instituted this They observe this very strictly and do nothing but Groan Weep and Lament during the rest of their Life and at certain hours of the day and night howl and lament after so strange a manner that 't is a great pity to hear them As for my part I was sometimes Deafened with the clamours and noise of some or other who had lost Husband or Children I have heard a Bramin say who had turned Christian that they who have lost a Child mourn and lament 20 years entire He told me also that a certain Woman of those who us'd to serve the Pay-gods that after being retired into a House where they pass their time with Men she entertained one who heated himself so with her that he Died upon the spot Resolution of a Lover at which she was so afflicted that when they Burnt his Body she Burnt her self with him seeing he had Died for Love of her tho' she was no other than a good Friend As I returned from my little Voyage I passed by a Valley where there was a very neat and pleasant Fountain which came out from a â—ock flat and hollow and the Water which came out run through little holes in the Rock 'T was impossible to empty it though there was but very little Water therein For in taking out that which was there more runs out like a strong and active Spring After this I went to Embark at a Paygod which is in a certain place along by the River it being so deep that 't is impossible to find the bottom They have made there large and spacious Foolish Opinions of the Indians Steps along by the side and there the Gentiles come every year 2 or 300 Leagues distant to wash themselves at certain times and sometimes there are assembled there above a 100000 Men Women and Children casting abundance of Fruit in this River who believe that at the end of the year it comes again upon the Water Thus Satan deceives them for there are always some or other who tarry theâ— for security who sometimes drown themselves out of a Pond Devotion As I Embarked by these Steps I Another Voyage of the Author returned to the Madre di Dios from whence I set out about Dec. Then I made another little Voyage to the Main-Land of Pichelin to procure some Pichelin Drugs and other Rarities of the Country and took again my Truch-man with the Almadie and the Mariners which the Captain of the Passage had given me who having expresly commanded them to Obey me and to conduct me where I had a mind to go We departed in a very fine evening and travelled all night the Moon shining insomuch that we arrived at Pichelin a very pleasant City where is a great number of Gentile Merchants and belongs to Dealcan it being some 4 Leagues from Goa We went to the Lodging of one Manate a Gentile who received us kindly upon the Acquaintance he had with our Truch-man and put me to lie under a little Pent-House where an Indian Woman brought her Daughter to lie with me as this Manate had counselled her but this Girl not above 13 years of Age seeing I would not touch her sell to Weeping and Groaning thinking to force me to have to do with her and her Mother did all she could to appease her I understood not the ground of all this Mystery The next morning I saw a Jogue-Gentile who was all perfumed with Incense and stark Naked squat upon his Tail before a Fire of Cow Dung and with Ashes thereof all bepowered his Body having long Hair like a Woman which he held on the top of his Shoulders This was the most hideous and monstrous Spectacle that Strange fashion of the Jogues ever was seen For he remained still looking on the Fire without so much as turning his Head These sort of People are sometimes 4 or 5 days without any meat and use extraordinary Abstinence All these Gentiles and especially the Bramins never Eat any living thing or that has had life and will not taste of Red-Herbs saying that they have Blood in them They Eat Rice and Milk and call the Cow their Mother-Nurse About the Desarts they have Hospitals where they Feed the Pilgrims that pass that way When some rich Men Hospitals amongst the Indians Die they leave something to the Hospitals To this purpose I will relate what happened to one of my Friends coming from the Kingdom of Pegu to Cochin This was a Fleming who was Married at Lyons and had two Brothers Cochin Married at Goa to the Metices of Cochin These 3 were taken in the Ship Good Jesus by the Hollanders who put them on Shore And as they came along by the Sea-side they had but one pair of Shoes amongst them three the which they wore by turns He who wore the Shoes went upon Land and the two others bare-footed went in the Water along by the Shore not enduring the Soles of their Feet upon the Ground it was so hot and burning at that time They were ready to Die with Hunger and Thirst not finding any thing to subsist upon in these Desarts And being very weak and in great Distress they espied two Gentiles who ran towards them crying out to them to stay a little but they not knowing what they meant feared at first that it was to Rob them but having nothing to lose they resolved to tarry and these Gentiles being come to them courteously offered them Meat Courtesie of the Indians and Drink for which they thanked them saying they had no Money to pay for it They spake by Signs not being able to make them understand otherways But these Gentiles pointed towards Heaven as if they would have said 't was God who commanded them to do thus so that these 3 easily consented thereto and afterwards pursued their Voyage This shews how
to be sliced with a Razor then rub it with Salt and Vinegar for fear it should Fester They have another sort of punishment which they call Pingar Viue which Cruelty of the Portugals is to drop Lard put into a red hot Pelle upon the Body of the poor Patient stark naked and lying upon his Belly The Parents of these miserable Wretches are sorry they brought them into the World to feel such Torments which pierces them to the very Entrails I have sometimes seen part of these Barbarous Cruelties which afflicted me so much that I have still a horrour when I think thereof There was one day a poor Indian Girl who came running to my Lodging crying out for help and praying me to be a means to obtain Mercy but I could not save her to my great Sorrow For she was taken and laid all along on the Ground and Bastinadoed without pity There was a Metice Woman who had by these horrible Chastisements killed 5 or 6 Slaves which she caused to be Buried in her Garden And one day as she ordered another to be thus punished he who gave her the Blows going to leave off the miserable Creature in the mean time Died and when 〈…〉 i.e. â—ive it her â—ive it her 〈◊〉 an old â—â—x he told his Mistriss that she was Dead no no she answered she counterfeits Daly Dalyes Rapose Veille that is to say Lay on lay on 't is an old Fox Another had a Slave who was not vigilant enough and ready to rise when she called her her Mistress caused an â—â—heard of 〈…〉 Horse-Shooe to be nailed upon her Back insomuch that the poor Creature died some time after the place thus abus'd being invaded by a Gangreen Another for not being nimble enough had her Eye-Lids sowed to her Eye-brows which had like to have cost her her life her Face being swell'd so One day I heard another young Indian or Chinese Woman who was Chastised after the same manner the blows sounding very loud but she did nothing but groan so low that one could scarce hear her very cry saying Ja Ja Me Signoe I then demanded of Ja ja mi Senior my Host's Brother what it was who told me 't was a Slave a Chastising and that she would have three times as much if she complained and that this was nothing to what others endured and that there was another of them who was hanged in a Chamber by the Hands for 2 or 3 days together and that for a very small matter as for letting fall some Milk as he thought Portugals without Compassion for they would have made him believe he drank it And having asked him if they ever let him down to give him any thing to Eat he told me no but some times as a great favour would let him a little lower just to give him a little Rice sopt in Water and presently hoise him up again But that this would not be all for after that he would be well Bang'd and that they only tarried for his absence that they might begin again this cruel Chastisement He told me also how his Brother who was Master of the Lodging having one day bought a Japan Slave a beautiful Girl and how in Dineing with his Wife he happened to say in Jesting that this Slave had exceeding White Teeth fallâ— it So that I was forced to let them alone For 't is not the custom there to 〈…〉 succour such except one has a mind to â—ight and be killed by them afterwards so mischievous and perverse is this Nation Insomuch that a Portugal-Gentleman being in bed with his Wife in the Night Dreamed that she commited Adultery with one of his Friends after he was awaked he was so Transported with Rage and Jealousy that he killed her at that instant with his 〈…〉 Portugal Poynard as she slept and then fled away to the main Land of Goa and from thence to the Court of Dialcan in whose service he put himself in the City of Isapor For this King seeing him a Cavallier of good fashion received him into his service giving him means to entertain himself and to be Lodged near his own person and also hoping to make him deny the Law of Jesus Christ and embrace that of Mahomet he gave him one of his Sisters in Marriage but for all that the Portugal would never Apostatize whatsoever Dialcan or his Sister could do which this Prince seeing was resolved to put him to Death But she having notice of it advertised her Husband thereof advising him to save himself with all possible speed and he asking her if she would follow him she made Answer that she willingly would with all her heart so that one Night having provided a great Number of precious stones and other Riches with two good horses they set out upon the high way and made such haste that they soon arrived at Pichelin and from thence passed to Goa where this Cavalter so ordered the business by Friends and Money that he had his Pardon for the Murder he committed upon his first Wife excusing himself to the Justice that she had dishonoured her self In the mean time Dialcan seeing the next Morning that neither this Portugal nor his Sister came to â—isit him as they were wont to do soon doubted of the business and having understood that they were fled sent a great Number of Horsemen after to catch them but all in vain for they were already out of his reach This mightily vexed Dialcan an Enemy to thâ— Portu the Prince and caused him to be a greater Enemy to the Portugals than ever he formerly was For they have no greater Adversary than he who hath several times befieged them at Goa but at present they have made truce together and I saw an Ambassador from him at Goa when Andre-Furtado commanded there who Marched about the City in great Pomp and Magnificence after the Moorish Indian manner I saw also other Ambassadors from 〈…〉 Goâ— Pegu and Calicut and it was a very fine sight to see them March in order with their Guards about the streets who carried Bows and Arrows in their Palanquns going with this Ceremony to find out the Vice-Roy in behalf of the Kings their Masters to confirm the Peace in their Ports and Coasts as far as their power permitted 'em to do But Andre-Furtado being Exasperated against the King of Pegu would not so much as read his Letters but tore them telling the Ambassadour that he would come and visit him within a few days and that he remembered how he had given Port and entertainment to the Hollanders their Enemies 〈◊〉 of Andre-Furtado against what had been concluded upon by the Peace and accord made betwixt them And that he had also an intention to visit the King of Achin in Sumatra for he had also received the Hollanders into his Ports to Traffick tho he at the same time knew that they were their Sworn Enemies