sometimes with the residence of the King when his Revenues come from Socatra For as his Royalties are very small and his Income inconsiderable because his Subjects are both Poor and Slavish so is he hereby debar'd from maintaining a Princely Pomp or making a show in any Magnificent Appearance and therefore very often turns Merchant himself for hopes of Advantage and for supporting his Royal State and Grandeur Several Gelva's come hither freighted with Rice Its Commodities Dates Camlees which are a sort of Hair Coats made in Persia and Red and White Callicoes which are barter'd for Olibanum Aloes and Butter For the Necessities of the Natives incline them rather to an Exchange of Commodities than a Traffick for Silver which loses its Esteem here as much as it is Idoliz'd in other parts Some Coins however are current among them viz. Dollars Abassees and Mamoodees Seed used here instead of Coin That which is here esteem'd instead of Money is a sort of Seed which passes in the room of small Coins and is distributed commonly by handfuls Here the Natives are mainly addicted to those mean Vices of Cozenage and stealth and think they make a good purchase of any thing which they can compass by Fraud and Cheating Another sin to which they are often given is so vile that the foulness of it I cannot without Immodesty mention The proper Season of the Year for Trade is May June and July Seer A place next to this much more noted both for the Civil Deportment of the Natives and for the Convenience of a Port for a greater concourse of People and for Traffick is Seer which is much frequented by Ships from several Ports viz. Muscatt Gombroon Suratt and Gella and some other places on the Abasseen Shore from whence they bring Butter Myrrh and Slaves and those from Muscatt and Suratt transport with them Olibanum Aloes and what the Port affords Aden Aden which is situated in 12 deg 20 m. No. is one of the Ancientest Fairest and most Pleasant Cities of all Arabia surrounded with Walls on one side and Mountains on the other It was formerly in the Possession of the Portuguese when they were renown'd for their Conquests in the East but by Treachery the Turks made themselves the Masters of it after some time 'till the puissant King of Hyaman became Victorious over the Turks and seiz'd it for his own Inheritance This Prince is here Invested with the Title of the King of Hyaman or Yeoman as the Natives seem to pronounce it which signifies Arabia Felix not that his Dominions stretch so far but because the extent of his Territories and vast Treasures do much exceed all the rest of the Kings that inhabit Arabia For his Kingdom reaches near 400 Miles on the Red Sea from Aden as far as Geron. Aden formerly surpass'd all the rest of the Neighbouring Ports upon this Shore Formerly Noted for Traffick was a famous Magazine for the various Commodities of India Persia Arabia and what was brought hither by the Abasseens and was Inhabited by a Miscellany of People Turks and Arabians Persians Indians and Ethiopians who resided here for the Advantages of that mighty Trade The Houses were built both neat and strong and the Castles from the top of the Mountains afforded a curious divertive Prospect Nature gave it such a fortified Situation that it was a Garrison without Art and was able to defend it self with a small Force from a potent Enemy that might Invade it either by Sea or Land 'Till the Eastern Luxury which is more intent upon Indulgence and Ease than building Forts and raising Sieges made them neglect their Fortifications and leave it open and defenceless for the first bold Assailant The proper Months for Trade here are April May June July Months proper to Trade in and some part of August at which time all the Ships in the Sea take their Departure because of the Change of the Mussouns which always happen towards the end of that Month. They carry nothing from hence but Coffee Aloes Olibanum and Myrrh the three last of which are not the product of the Country I should now take leave of this place and proceed to give some account of Mocha were it not convenient before my departure to insist a little upon the Discovery of some Ports and Passages hereabouts to instruct such as design to Travel into these Seas The Land of Aden because it makes like an Island was formerly reputed to have been one from whence steering W. and W. by N. you will come to the Babbs which in the Arabian Language signifies Gate or Door The Babbs is a small Island opening to the Red Sea The Babbs and makes in form very like a Garr-Fish being low and flat Between this and the Main Land is a safe Passage if you keep the Mid-Channel where is 10 11 and 12 fathom Water But the great Ships for better Security chuse rather to go on the outside where is seldom less than Forty Fathom 'till they hale in for Shore which is commonly done as soon as they are past the Streights Here are seven Islands but none of them so remarkable as the Babbs The Streights here are commonly called those of Babel Mandel Babell-Mandell which are about 7 Leagues over from main Land to main Land about 20 Leagues from Aden and 12 or 13 from Mocha The Course from the Babbs is about N. by West and N. North West Before you come to these Streights you will make a very high Table Land and an opening to the Southward of it which appears very like the passage into the Red Sea but then you will discover the said Babbs Island to rectifie you thro' which steering North or N. by W. as you see occasion there is opening to the Southward of the said high Land a great River that leads to Gella which is the greatest Port on the Abasseen side without the said Babbs Steering up the Arabian Coast before the Arrival at Mocha is a seeming Wood which is several Date-Trees and Gardens to the Northward of which is Mocha which yields a more beautiful prospect at Sea than on Shore Here you must not come into less than 7 Fathom nearer are so many dangerous Over-falls that they will be apt to scare a young unexpert Pilot. When the Southermost Mosque is once brought to bear E. by S. the Ships may luff up or bear into the Road and Anchor in 4 5 6 or 7 Fathom Before this Road lies a long Ridge of Sands which has seldom above two Fathom Water which renders it dangerous for those that enter to go in 'till they have the Bearings abovesaid Near the Southern Fort is a Channel for the Grabbs that use these parts that gives them a passage in or out but is dangerous for Europeans without the assistance of Pilots Mocha its great Trade Mocha lies in 13 Deg. 30 M. North and has been of late the principal Port
Japan who upon Conviction are cast to an Elephant bred up for that purpose who tosseth them in the Air with his Trunk as long as he finds any Life in them And thus in Japan Adultery is punished in the Women only tho' Deflowring of Virgins Coinage of false Money and some other Vices are punished as well in their Relations as in the Persons of the Criminals They make great Lamentations at the Death of their Friends The Burial and mourning Apparel for whose Sepulture they have no particular places set apart but lay them often any where in the Fields Their Mourning Apparel is plain and simple and of inconsiderable Expence made up of a few Leaves of Trees tied about the middle in fashion of a Hanging Fringe Which is as strange in its kind as the Colour is to us at Tunquin where the new King and all the Princes of the Blood mourn in Robes of White Sattin instead of the Dark Colours used in Europe The time of naming their Children Seven Months after the Birth they name their Children at which time is a publick Feast celebrated for their Friends If the Child chance to die before that time they are perswaded of the Efficacy of their Prayers in contributing to its future Felicity The Devil 's frequent appearing Their Idea's of Religion are very dark and superstitious increas'd in them by the constant Apprehensions of the Devil 's frequent appearance among them They give him here the Name of Gregory and affirm that they often meet him in the High-ways and in the Streets and in the Evenings especially by the Water-side The Dread of him confines them to their Houses when it thunders for then they say Gregory is abroad and no Mortal dare stir out of his Dwelling As the City of London had a Custom of burning the Pope every Year The burning of the Devil so here they commonly burn the Devil At an appointed time of the Year all the Dirt of the Country thereabouts is laid in an Heap upon a Black Rock lying between Queens-Town and the Harbour which by the Neighbourhood is put into a Flame till all be consumed A particular Act of Malice in the Devil But the malicious Spirit returns this Affront in a very spightful manner and for the imaginary Injury done to him inflicts a real and grievous Punishment on them by the private Stealth of one of their Children every Year which is yearly wanting upon the Island against all their Vigilance and Care which with melancholy Countenances they often confirmed to us Many of the Natives affect a Familiarity with this Evil Spirit Negromancy practised are addicted to the Invocation of him by their Skill in Negromancy and have often recourse to him upon any Emergencies of Consequence the obsequious Devil never failing of being their Oracle when once the Ceremony of Invocation is over By Advice from him they assur'd us of some English and French Ships which would soon be in the Harbour and accordingly happen'd For the Herbert an English Merchant-man belonging to the East-India Company was in a short time after our Departure set upon in this Road by three or four French Ships and after a vigorous Resistance of their united Force was unfortunately blown up when she was almost ready to give them Chace However we by a careful Providence that preserv'd us left this Island before this Danger and on May the 29th 1690. fortunately arriv'd at the Island of Bombay which is unquestionably one of the most convenient Harbours in the Indies THE ISLAND OF BOMBAY THIS Island has its Denomination from the Harbour The occasion of the Name of this Island which allows the safest Rideing for Ships of any in these parts and was originally called Boon Bay i. e. in the Portuguese Language a Good Bay or Harbour By Ptolomy it was describ'd under the Name of Milizigeris And before it fell into the Hands of the English was under the Dominion of Portugal It belongs to the Crown of England and is now possess'd by the East-India Company from whence it was translated to the Crown of England upon the Marriage of the Infanta of Portugal to King Charles the Second An. 1662. And is now put into the Possession of the East-India Company for the convenience of their Ships and Traffick Before we espyed the Main of India several Snakes of different sizes came swimming round our Ship near the surface of the Water Snakes seen at Sea a token of the nearness of Land by which we knew we were not far from Land because they are never seen at any great distance from the shore they were washed from it I presume by the violence of the Rains in the times of the Mussouns which I shall afterwards describe This was seconded by another sign of our approaching the Land viz. by a multitude of Locusts Locusts lighting upon our Ship at Sea which came flying upon our Masts and Yards when we were distant from it Thirty Leagues as we found by our Computation afterwards They were above two Inches in length and their reaching us at that distance from the Shore argued their great strength of Wing to flie to us so very far by which they mounted aloft after they had rested themselves a while and took their Flight directly upwards While I was at Suratt the President and some more of us observ'd for several succeeding Nights an Infinite number of these Creatures Flying over our Heads for several hours together in such numerous Armies and vast Bodies that they cast a Cloud over the Moon tho' it then was at the Full. They directed their Course towards the South but some of them called by the way and lighted upon a Field of Corn near the City of Suratt A Field of Corn devoured by a multitude of Locusts and in one Nights time devour'd it all The Poor Husbandman bewailed his Loss to the Governour of the City who was invited forth as a Spectator of the sudden devastation that he might be more sensibly moved to repair the Damage and relieve the Man It was just the Season of the Mussouns when we fell upon the Coast of India which generally is extreme dangerous because they break out for the most part in such Thunder and Rains and impetuous Winds that if the Ships are not laid up and in Harbour before that time they incur the hazad of being lost This made our Commander wish himself an hundred Leagues from Land tho' we were then in sight of it The Ship indanger'd by the Mussouns because that all his Care and Skill had scarce secur'd him from being driven by the Violence of the Storm upon a Lee-Shoar by which he saw he must inevitably perish But in 24 Hours space the Danger was well spent and the joy of our Safety commenc'd about the same time that the fear of our Ship wrack did begin according to the Maxim and Observation among Mariners An
such Convenience that it is scarce equalled by any in the World For from the Mountains are convey'd in narrow Channels clear Water down to the Shoar from whence in Leaden Pipes it is carried above forty Foot in the Sea and there rais'd so high above its Surface that the Ships Long-Boats can row under the Pipes and fill their Vessels with much Ease The fam'd Garden abundantly supplies the Ships with variety of Roots and green Herbs The Garden at the Cape which contribute not a little to the Health and even preservation of Life in these tedious Eastern Voyages Here is that variety of Excellent Fruits of Pulse and Roots which either Europe or Asia afford Here are those large Walks those stately Hedges and Alleys of Cypres and Beds of Flowers which make it Beautiful and Pleasant as the Garden of a Prince and useful as that of a Peasant The Conveniencies it abounds with may denominate it a Kitchih Garden but its Delights a Garden of Pleasure It is of large Extent at some distance from the high Mountains but cut out upon a rising Hill water'd with pure Springs descending from the Mountains which make their Passage thro' various Channels that are cut out in every Quarter The Garden in all its Walks is kept so very neat and clean that even in the Winter Season scarce a Leaf is seen upon the Ground The Trees are Curiously Prun'd and the Hedges Trim'd with such exactness that no one irregular Excrescence appears or Branch shooting out beyond his Fellow Much of the Fruit in it comes to maturity twice a Year and many Trees by their nearness to the Sun are verdant and Beautiful all the Year Three and Thirty Slaves besides Europeans are daily imploy'd in looking after it This forc'd a Confession even from the Jesuits in their Siam Voyage of allowing it an equality if not precedence to their most celebrated Gardens they had in France That the Inhabitants might be subject to no surprisal from any Enemies nigh their Plantations The Governours Travels in the Country the Governour with a few Attendants and Victuals necessary for such an Enterprize travell'd by Compass for several Weeks to find its Northerly bounds and Situation 'till he was stopt by impassible Mountains which forc'd a Return from any farther progress that way In this Journey he travell'd over vast Tracts of Land very fit for Agriculture but all Waste and Untill'd and was very well satisfied that those inaccessible heights of Mountains which he saw would stand as immoveable Bulwarks against all In-land Invasions so that nothing was to be dreaded but Attacks upon them from the Sea For their Defence from any Onsets by Water The Fort. is built a strong Fort near the Sea with Bastions and Guns mounted for its security and Officers and Souldiers to guard it from an Enemy 'T is beautified with stately Convenient Lodgings within as well as fortified without Near the Fort is a small Town The Town consisting of about an Hundred Houses strong and neatly built with Stone Walls and pretty Apartments The state which the Governour lives in The present Governour who lives with his Council in the Fort is a very kind and knowing Person is maintain'd in Grandeur and lives Honourably His publick Table wants no plenty either of European or African Wines or Asian Liquors and whatever the Land or Water or Air affords in that place is serv'd up in his bountiful Entertainments To Complete the Magnificence of which sumptuous Fare all the Dishes and Plates upon the Board are made of Massy Silver And before the departure of their Fleets the Dutch Commanders are all invited to a publick Repast where they Drink and Revel bouze and break Glasses what they please for these Frolicks are the very life of a Skipper and the Governour by indulging these Wild licentious Humours ingratiates with them more than by any thing else he could devise I have now consider'd the Situation and Air of this pleasant Promontory the Nature and Customs of the Hotantots and the Profit and Convenience which this Plantation affords the Dutch and should now leave it only a passage or two may divert the Reader which happen'd while I was there While we staid here we met with 3 Spaniards A passage concerning three Spaniards at the Cape who came from the Moneiloes to Batavia and from thence imbarkt upon a Dutch Ship that was loosing from thence to the Cape The Principal of these Spaniards was sent out privately by the K. of Spain in the Imployment of Visitor General He was free in his Discourse and not easily warm'd into Passion and could well discern both other Mens Failings and dissemble his own But he was very zealous in Proselyting all he discours'd with with the Assurance of Ease and Wealth in Spain while they liv'd and Immortal Happiness after Death But he Corrupted his Parts by false Maxims which he borrow'd from an insufferable Pride which not being Contradiction proof could not well bear opposition from an Heretick This Ancient Gentleman was hot in converting us by his Arguments whilst another young one endeavour'd it mightily by his Relicks which were hung in a small Box about his Neck and were sacred Preservatives against all Perils and Misfortunes They were such as these A piece of St. Leonards Thumb of St. Peter's Nail and a little of St. Bridgets Hair Which things tho they seem'd to us inconsiderable yet were of Value and Esteem for those Excellencies that were found in them For as Barbarous Nations commenc'd Civil upon their Infranchisment at Antient Rome so things Contemptible and Prophane become August and Sacred by their Adoption into the Romish Church However the Relicks had as little Charm in them towards us as the Arguments But at length the young Gentleman produc'd a Tamback Ring which I knew was accounted a valuable Rarity in the East This Tambac is a kind of Metal The Value and Virtue of Tambac whose scarcity renders it more valuable than Gold as the Corinthian Brass had its Price augmented by its Rarity 'T is thought to be a kind of natural Compound of Gold Silver and Brass and in some places the mixture is very Rich as at Borneo and the Moneiloes in others more allay'd as at Siam But it is much more remarkable for its Virtues against all noxious Blasts from the unhappy effects of which it effectually preserves him that wears it This is commonly ascrib'd to it in India and thus far receiv'd a Confirmation that very lately some Persons walking abroad there were Blasted on a suddain among whom those that wore those Rings were saved and the rest killed And to preserve me from such Misfortunes the Gentleman was pleas'd to afford me one of them Our President at Suratt was presented while I was there with a Knife Haft of this Metal which was thought a noble Gift At the same time a German Physitian who had Travell'd for ten Years in the
Francis Douee A VOYAGE TO SURATT A VOYAGE TO SURATT In the Year 1689. Giving a large Account of that City and its Inhabitants and of the English Factory there Likewise a Description of Madeira St. Jago Annobon Cabenda and Malemba upon the Coast of Africa St. Helena Johanna Bombay the City of Muscatt and its Inhabitants in Arabia Felix Mocha and other Maritine Towns upon the Red-Sea the Cape of good Hope and the Island Ascention To which is addded an Appendix containing I. The History of a late Revolution in the Kingdom of Golconda II. A description of the Kingdoms of Arracan and Pegu. III. An Account of the Coins of the Kingdoms of India Persia Golconda c. IV. Observations concerning the Silk worms By J. Ovington M. A. Chaplain to his Majesty Qui mores Hominum multorum vidit urbes Horat. Orbesque novos trans aequora pandit Grot. LONDON Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judges Head in Fleet-street near the Inner-Temple-Gate 1696. To his EXCELLENCY CHARLES Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Household Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter c. And one of the Lords Justices of England May it please your Excellency AS the Eastern Princes upon the News of any Foreigner's Arrival are wont to expect some Curiosities of the Place from whence he came to prepare the way for his Reception and Introduce the Stranger into their Presence so in imitation of this respectful Custom this Foreign Voyage hopes for admittance to your Favour and Acceptance upon that Stock of Novelty which it presumes upon and which it brings with it as well from Africa as several remoter Parts and Kingdoms of the East For in those Places there are several Things here taken notice of which have escap'd the Observations of other Travellers I need not mention my Lord with what facility you can employ your Judgment to penetrate into all that is any where useful whilst your vigorous Fancy can as readily present to you all that is divertive in its Entertainment And tho' I confess I have very great Reason to dread the strictness of your Censure upon the strength of your admirable Endowments yet methinks I find a relief to this Fear in that Native Candor which so easily tempers the Accuracy of your Thoughts with favourable Constructions But I will not transgress those Measures of Civility of which your EXCELLENCY is so absolute a Master by being too tedious in this Address nor there violate those Decencies and Respects which your Practice recommends so fully to the World and of which none have had more sensible Demonstration than my self Especially considering how much is due to you from the Sacred Order which you treat with that constant uncommon Civility as if you design'd to ballance that Contempt which is too apt to be cast upon it Imitating as in other Perfections so in this too the Ancient Poets who instructed Men in Reverencing not only the Gods but in a due Regard to such as were their immediate Servants and in all things maintaining still that Greatness by your Munificence which you freely part with in your Condescensions I need not determine with how much Reason the Eastern Subjects ascribe this Character to their Emperours That their Royal Condition is owing to their Merits and that they as far transcend other Mortals in those as they do in Power but I am satisfied 't is the unquestionable Loyalty Prudence Greatness of Mind and other Virtues which have justly rais'd you to that Sphere wherein you move kindly influencing the Affairs of this great Kingdom and from whence you look down like the Heavenly Bodies from the highest Orb with a kind and obliging Aspect And that their other Opinion of their Princes That they are the Adopted Sons of Heaven may be your happy Portion too is not more unfeignedly desir'd by any than Your EXCELLENCY's Most Obedient Most Obliged and Devoted Servant J. Ovington TO Mr. J. OVINGTON ON HIS VOYAGE TO SURATT HArd is our Task to Read with fruitless Pain The Dreams of ev'ry Cloyster'd Writers Brain Who yet presume that Truth 's firm Paths they tread When all the while through wild Utopia's led With Faiery-Feasts instead of Science fed As dreaming Wizzards Midnight Journeys take And weary with imagin'd Labour wake So vain is Speculation's fancy'd Flight But search of Nature gives sincere Delight Through her vast Book the World a curious Eye May Wonders in each pregnant Page descry Make new Remarks which Reason may reduce To Humane Benefit and Publick Use Then Happy they who quit their private Home And gen'rously through Foreign Climates roam Who like Ulysses can despise the Toil And make each Land they meet their Native Soil See Men and Manners scarce by Rumour known Visit all Countreys to improve their own But ah how few my Friend with your Design On such Discov'ries bound have cross'd the Line For sordid Gain new Worlds they will descry Seize Nature's Wealth but pass her Wonders by Their Fleet returns opprest with Trafficks Weight But Knowledge makes no part of all the Freight Yet this of Old was Jason's Noble Prize 'T was this that plac'd his Argo in the Skies Experience was the far-fetcht Golden Fleece The Prize so much admir'd by Ancient Greece From whence may be inferr'd what Thanks are due From Britain's Sons Industrious Friend to you Fame shall in State your useful Book Install In Bodley's Pile the Muses Capitol You have so lively your Discoveries Writ We Read and Voyage with you as we sit With you hoise Sail and reach the Indian shore The real Scene cou'd scarce delight us more As when some Prophet from a Trance awakes And to Attentive Crowds Description makes Of Wonders which he did in Rapture view The Listners think they see the Vision too Thus Entertain'd with Nature and with Art We hear your Travels told and well-pleas'd Guests depart N. TATE THE CONTENTS OF THE Principal Places and Things THE Island of Madeira p. 4 The Island of St. Jago 38 The Island of Annobon 54 The Coast of Africa 59 Malemba on the Coast of Africa 73 The Island of St. Helena 89 The Island of Johanna 108 The Island of Bombay 129 The Island of Elephanta 158 Of the Great Mogul 165 The City of Suratt 214 The Moor Inhabitants of Suratt 235 The Bannians at Suratt 275 The Faquires near Suratt 359 The Persies at Suratt 371 The Halalchors at Suratt 382 The English Factory at Suratt 385 The Confinement of the English at Suratt in the Year 1691 1692. 410 Muscatt in Arabia Felix 420 Mocha and other Places on the Red Sea 447 The Cape of Good Hope 479 The Island of Ascention 512 The late Revolution in the Kingdom of Golconda 525 The Kingdom of Arracan 553 The Kingdom of Pegu. 583 The several Coyns in India Persia c. Observations concerning the Nature of the Silk-worms 599 The Reader is desir'd to Correct these Errata following viz. PAge
than the Indians and therefore less able to repel a contagious Disease I think there is some Reason for the Pious Opinion of the Indians and that the Almighty displays an extraordinary Power in our Preservation From Balsera we received Advice A violent Plague at Balsera in the Year 1691 that Two Hundred ThOusand People in Eighteen Days time were taken away by a sweeping Pestilence but it soon abated its Rage and the violence of it shorten'd its continuance The common Distemper that destroys the most in India is Feavers Feavers common in India which the Europeans with difficulty escape especially if they have boild up their Spirits by a solemn Repast and been ingag'd in a strong Debauch Besides this The Mordechine the Mordechine is another Disease of which some die which is a violent Vomiting and Looseness and is caus'd most frequently by an Excess in Eating particularly of Fish and Flesh together It has been Cur'd by a Red-hot Iron clapt to the Heel of him that is sick The Cure of it so close that it renders him uneasie by its nearness whereby it leaves a Scar behind it Another Distemper with which the Europeans are sometimes afflicted The Barbeers is the Barbeers or a deprivation of the Use and Activity of their Limbs whereby they are rendred unable to move either Hand or Foot This arises sometimes from the neglect of guarding the Limbs from the cold Vapours of the Night and securing them from the Moistness of those Nocturnal Mists which are sometimes felt in these Parts The Cure And nothing contributes more to the Recovery of the benum'd Limbs than frequenting the Humhums which are here in great plenty The White-Powder good against Feavers The general Ease and Cure which the White Powder in India gives to Feavers makes that a very common and acceptable Receipt there and it has with very good Success been administred in England sent from thence by the Indian Physicians And all their Medicines here are generally of the cooler sort because of the Heats to which the Climate naturally inclines them Tho' Theology is the proper Profession of the Bramins yet some of them are skilled in Arithmetick Astrology and Physick and make pretensions to the Prediction of Events the Calculation of Nativities and Cure of Diseases But such as addict themselves to the Practice of Physick Some Bramins Practice Physick are bound to pay an Annual Fine to the rest of their Sect because Physick is both Advantagious and Foreign to their Profession A Bramin A Bramin Physician 's Observation upon Vrine who had spent some Years in studying the Art of Physick was invited to visit an English Gentlewoman labouring under a Chronical Disease who when he came desir'd a sight of her Urine and pouring it into a small China Cup he let fall upon it one drop of Oyle upon which he made this Remark in my presence That if the Oyl sank to the bottom it inevitably betoken'd Death the spreading of it self immediately upon the Urin prognosticated an Increase of the Distemper but if slowly and by little and little an abatement of the Disease The best cure for Feavers Cooling Herbs and Congy that is for Water with Rice boil'd in it and Abstinence are the best Receipts they prescribe for mitigating Intestine Fervors of the Spirits and allaying the Heat of the Blood which they think is better preserv'd and cool'd within the Veins than let out if it boils too fast The Chinese's skill in the Pulse I could never learn that our Indian Physicians could pretend to that wonderful Knowledge in the Pulse which those of China confidently boast of and presume to so much Skill in it as to tell not only the Term of a Man's Disease by it to a Day or Hour but how many Years excepting Violence and Accident a Man in perfect Health may live For Astrology and Natural Physick the Indian Bramins account themselves however still very eminent and renown'd by which they foretel such distant Occurrences and effect such strong Operations as seem to Men very wonderful and astonishing and not to be done without some secret Recourse to the Invisible Spirits or Familiarity with Supernatural Powers We read the same of some excellent ancient Philosophers so learn'd in the Works of Nature as thereby to point out the times both of Eclipses in the Planets and Commotions in the State Earthquakes and Inundations Storms at Sea and Plagues at Land And that the Reader may see that their extraordinary Skill in Magical Operations is not yet vanisht I will here relate a Story of them The Story of a strange Prediction of a Bramin which I remember was often publickly repeated by the last President at Suratt Bartholomew Harris concerning a certain Bramin in the time of the Presidency of Mr. Aungers who foretold the Arrival of a certain English Ship several Months before she came to the Harbour President Aungers being under a Disturbance of Mind and oppress'd with some perplex'd Thoughts for want of Intelligence from England was desir'd by the Bramin Physician who observ'd his Grief and the melancholy of his Spirit the Reason of his Concern and dejected Looks with a chearful Tender of his Service and Willingness to administer to him in any thing that might contribute to the removal of his Malady and to his Cure The President told him that it was beyond the Power of Physick to heal his Disease or abate that Distemper he labour'd under that no Cordial could revive his Thoughts but News from England or chear his Heart except it were the sight of an English Ship which he had long expected but now despairs of If an English Ship then says the Bramin is your only Cure be pleased to give me leave to be absent for three or four Days and I question not by that time but to remove your Trouble and bring you undoubted News of that Medicine you long for Upon which the President consented to his Departure for that time and withal promis'd him as an Encouragement to his Skill a rich Paramin or Indian Mantle for a Reward Within Four Days the Bramin returns and addressing himself to the President assur'd him that at such a time an English Ship would arrive at Suratt River's Mouth with such a particular Person who had formerly been in India on board her and that on such a particular Day of the Month he would arrive at the Custom-House of Suratt before Eleven in the Morning The President pleas'd with this Assurance and this confident Relation of the Bramin diverted himself with the thoughts of it for some time and a little after rehears'd it jocularly at a publick Dinner to all the Factors The Young Men who heard this Discourse did sometime after recollect with themselves as they were walking down the Banks of the River to enjoy the Morning Breeze that this was the critical Morning foretold by the Bramin when an English Ship
administer either to the Exigence or Delight of Man so is it suited with the greatest convenience imaginable to the important Negotiations of the Dutch whose Ships that Design for India and those that return from thence to Holland are refresht here with all Conveniencies as in the mid-way between those two distant Regions The Industry of the Hollanders has inlarg'd their Borders so far upon the main Land of this Delightful Fertile Cape that were they ever put to those straits as to be forc'd to Decamp and leave their Native Country here they might fix in a Soil of so much more desirable Habitation that they might thank the Fates that caus'd the Change and bless the Authors of their Misery Here they might live without any danger of the Seas Incroaching upon their Banks to threaten continually a second Deluge and free from all dread of Invasion from any Neighbouring Land-Tyrant And might spread themselves over spacious Plains which would afford them Work sufficient for all their Husbandry and Pastures Pleasant and large enough for all their Cattle And because nothing can please these People so much as Trade and Traffick therefore here they might find convenient Harbours for their Ships by which they might keep up their Spirit of Merchandizing and establish their Commerce to the Indies and other parts of the World The Refugees of France who are received here with the same priviledge the Dutch enjoy acknowledge the happiness of their Transportation and boast that their Misfortunes are turn'd into their Felicity since they are blest here with peaceable Dwellings and kind Accommodations who had not formerly where in safety to lay their Heads The Encouragements to such as settle here The Encouragements of such as come hither to Cultivate the Land for their own Livelihood and Benefit of the grand Proprietors is thus stated as I understood it Those that design to settle here are allow'd their Transportation from Holland gratis After their Arrival they are invited to range and view the Country and survey such parts as lie wild and unmanur'd where they may choose such a Portion as they fancy they are able to stock and Manure and will yield them a Commodious settlement for their Families This is to be a Patrimony intail'd upon their Children without any Rent or other Acknowledgment to the Dutch East India Company but the Sale of their Goods to the Governour and at his Price This by the way presses hard upon the Tenants and keeps them under by running the chief Profits of what they possess into the Company 's hands The Governour and Council agree with the Country-man for his Goods and Cattle at a very low rate and sell them again to the Ships that put in there as dear as they please because all Men are strain'd from vending any Commodities to Strangers without the Council's leave But however the Industrious Planters want neither plenty of Wine for their Tables nor variety of Tame and Wild Fowls for their ordinary Entertainments of which they have often rather too much Store than any Scarcity because the Company has no occasion for them and therefore they lie dead upon their Hands Some upon this account quit the place and very few of any Substance but easilier may increase their Goods than their Treasure Those whose Poverty renders them unable to stock their Land the Kindness of the Governour provides with Necessaries 'till their Abilities can reach a Payment Which has mightily increased the number of Inhabitants within a few Years For whereas about nine Years since they could scarce reckon above four or five Hundred Planters they can now number almost as many Thousands abundance of whom were sent hither by the French Persecution who are much delighted with the Convenience of their Dwelling The space of Land which the Dutch at present inhabit They have stretcht their Plantations in the Country above seventy five English Miles and see still a vast space of untill'd Land before them In this District they rear their Cattle sow their Corn plant Vines and sedulously improve all things of worth to the best advantage So that within the Revolution of a few Years many valuable Commodities will be Exported thence to the other Quarters of the Universe The Cape Wine Their very Wines in which they will suddenly increase both to a great plenty and variety are now able to supply their Ships and to furnish the Indies with some quantity where they sell it by the Bottle at a Roupie 'T is Colour'd like Rhenish and therefore they pass it under that specious Name in India but the Taste of it is much harder and less palatable it s Operations are more searching and the strength of it more intoxicating and offensive to the Brain The Impositions which are laid upon Wine and other Liquors that are sold by Retail seem almost incredible The great Taxes upon Liquors especially when the small number of People that are presum'd to drink them is consider'd For in the Town of the Cape are not reckon'd above 500 Inhabitants besides those that are brought in Ships and come out of the Country and yet the Annual Impost upon Europe Beer and Wine is four thousand Gilders upon Cape Wine four thousand one hundred and Brandy Arak and distill'd Waters pay twenty Thousand Gilders Yearly to the Governour of the place for a License to sell them All which Taxes summ'd together make up above twenty eight Thousand Gilders Yearly which according to our Accounts raise between two and three Thousand Pounds for the liberty of selling Liquors by Retail This exorbitant Fine upon the Taverns and Tipling Houses makes them exact extravagant Rates from the Guests that drink the Liquor who are indeed the People that pay it For he that resolves to drink Brandy must pay at the rate of ten Shillings a Bottle for it and the Cape Wine which in the Cask is sold for less than six Pence a Quart is in the Tavern half a Crown and such proportionably are the excessive Prices of the rest A tame submission is the only Remedy for these Impositions from which there is no Appeal or Relief which is apt to imbitter the Lives of the People nor can any be very happy who are subject to the Tyranny of a Government that is under no Restraint The Arbitrary Proceedings of the Dutch Commissaries in India have been much resented and have likewise rais'd loud complaints against them by the injur'd Factors but have met with very little redress The Governour of the Cape Min Heer Simon Vanderstel labours much in Improvements and Accommodations for the Inhabitants and Sea-men The Governour of the Cape and to render it valuable to the Company The Sailers are well furnisht with fresh Water and fresh Provisions and in the Bay is caught great store of Fish which is Pickled and put up in Barrels and sent home instead of Pickled Herrings A delicate Watering-place The Watering for Ships is contriv'd with