true some present being made to the Executioner he suffers the Debtor to put a thin Iron-plate within his boot to receive the blows or it may be he smites more gently If the Debtor have not to satisfie he must be sold with his Wife and Children to the Creditor As to the Religion of the Muscovites before we enter into the discourse of it we shall say that there have been Lutherane Doctours in Sueden and Livonia who have made it a problematical question whether the Muscovites were Christians or not They might as well have made it disputable in their Acts whether the Muscovites are men since there is not so great a difference between their Religion and that of other Christians as there is between their Morality and manner of life and that of many other men but as laughter and speech makes them men so Baptism and their external profession of the Christian Religion denominates them Christians If a man would take their word for it they are the only true Christians in the World since they only have been baptized whereas others have been only sprinkled which is the reason they receive no Proselyte till he be re-baptized They ground their Religion on the Books of the Old and New Testament and they use Sacraments Their Translation of the Bible is that which they call of the seventy Interpreters which some few years since they have got Translated and Printed in their own Language They permit not that a man should bring the whole Bible to Church for fear of profaning it by several not over-modest passages they find in the Old Testament whence it comes they bring only the New and some Verses taken out of the Psalms and Prophets but in their houses they are permitted to read the whole Bible In the explication of the Bible they give much authority to St. Cyril Bp. of Ierusalem whom they call Quirila Ierusalimski and who writ a Catechism under the Emperour Theodosius He flourish'd about the end of the fourth age and is not to be confounded with Cyril of Alexandria whose memory the Greeks celebrate on the 9. of Iune whereas they celebrate the Festival of the other upon the 18 of March as may be seen in their Menologies The other Fathers whose authority they follow are Iuan Domaskin Iohn Damascene Grigori Bogosloâ—a St. Gregori Nazianzen Iuan Solotauska St. Iohn Chrysostome and Ephrem Syrin Ephram Deacon of the Church of Edessa in Syria They relate of him as also does Gerard Vossius who hath Translated him into Latin that an Angel having presented to him a Book writ in Golden Characters which no body could open he immediately deriv'd those illuminations from it which are at this day apparent in the books he hath publish'd Besides him they have also another particular Doctor named Nicholas Sudatworits who hath writ certain spiritual Treatises The Muscovites have so great a Veneration for this man's memory that it is not long since that Wax-Candles were lighted before his Picture for which they had built a particular Chapel in the great street which leads to T were Gate but both were destroy'd by the late fire S. Athanasius Creed is their rule of Faith They believe in God the Father as Creator of all the World in God the Son as Saviour and Redeemer of all Mankind and in the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier of all the Faithful 'T is true their Religion is full of abundance of chaâ—fy Superstitions in that they consider the Virgin Mary the Evangelists the Apostles and an infinite number of other Saints not only as simple Intercessors as the most intelligent affirm but also as causes and co-operators of their Salvation There is no Muscovite but gives his Saints and their Images the honour due only to God who is so jealous thereof that he treats that false Worship as spiritual Whoredom The ignorance of the meaner sort of people is so gross that they place all Religion in the honours and veneration they give their Images It is also all the instructions they give their Children who in order to devotion learn only to stand with great respect before those Images to say their Prayers Their good works which they believe meritorious are building of Monasteries and Churches and giving Alms besides which they do nothing whereby a man might judge of their Faith by their works They stand very much upon their being Members of the Greek Church and their Histories and Annals say that Christian Religion was planted in Russia in the Apostles times That St. Andrew leaving Greece embark'd upon the River Boristhenes and came by the Sea of Ladoga to Novogorod where he preach'd the Gospel That since that time Christian Religion had been absolutely destroy'd by the Tartars and other Pagans who became Masters of all Muscovy and that about the year 989. Wolodimer Great Duke of Russia having gain'd very great victories over his Neighbours and re-united several Provinces to his Crown became so considerable that Basilius and Constantinus Porphyrogennetes Emperours of Constantinople sent a solemn Embassy to congratulate and complement him That brought him first acquainted with the Christian Religion which he afterwards embraced and was baptized The Bishops and Priests sent thither by the Patriarch of Constantinople further instructed and baptized the people who have ever since made profession of the Greek Religion Iohannes Curopalates who writ part of the Byzantine History and liv'd about that time says that this Conversion was not effected without miracle and that the Bishops faith prevail'd more upon the spirits of these Barbarians than the preaching of the Gospel For being not able to comprehend the wonderful things which are said of our Saviours life they desired a proof of that promise he makes to the faithful of giving them by the Father what ever they should desire in his name The Bishop undertook it and told them that he had so great an assurance of the Word of God that they could not desire any thing which his prayer should not obtain from God Whereupon they said that since God had preserv'd Daniel's companions in the fiery Furnace he might as well prevent the Bible which is full of all those marvellous things from being consumed by fire The Bishop was content to stand to this tryal and so cast the Bible into a great fire where having lyen till the fire was all spent the Book was taken out as untouch'd as when it was cast in Cedrenus and Zonaras confirm the truth of this story and say that Wolodimir was so moved at this miracle that he immediately abolish'd all Idolatry and banish'd it his Territories Hence it comes that the Muscovites love the Greeks and have a kindness for them and do them all the good they can when any occasion offers it self In the year 1649. The Patriarch of Ierusalem came to Moscou and brought the Great Duke some of the earth of our Saviour's Sepulchre though it is known 't was cut out of a Rock and some
all sorts of Victuals as this Isle Zeilon Fowl Fish Venison Poultry Butter Milk and Honey are at extraordinary low rates as well as Ananas Bannanas Cocos Iacques Mangas Oranges Lemmons Citrons and all other sorts of Fruits They eat of all things in general even of Pork and all sort of Cattle except the Oxe Cow or Buffle Wine they drink not no more then the Mahumetans who dwell amongst them and enjoy a full liberty of Religion These Islanders are of the same Religion as other Pagans in these parts They bear great reverence to their Bramans who observe a more austere way of living and eat not of any thing hath had life by reason that for the whole day they adore the first Beast they meet with at their coming out of doors in a morning Maids are here married at the age of ten or twelve years And they burn their dead Corps Fimala Derma Suri Ada had gotten some tincture of Christian Religion if at least it be to be found amongst the Portuguez it was soon raz'd out by the compliance he had for the Cingales and after his decease his Successors fell back to Paganism There are some amongst them who adore the head of an Elephant wrought in wood or stone and say their intention is to obtain wisdom for they are of opinion the Elephants of Ceilon are not only more knowing then other Elephants but further that they out-go men in judgment In their houses they have a Basket wherein they put such things as they design for an offering to their Pagodes to whom they have a particular devotion in their sicknesses because it is from them alone they look for remedy They hold as matter of faith that the World shall not perish so long as their grand Mosquey which may be seen at a great distance from the Sea between Punto de Gallo and Monte Calo shall be extant Another particular opinion they have of a Mountain in this Island call'd Pico d' Adam and say it was there that the first Man was fram'd that the Spring on the top of this Mountain rose from the tears Eve shed for Abel and that the Isle of Ceilon was part of the terrestrial Paradise To conclude they are very docile and willing to acknowledge the errours of their Idolatry in so much that there were great likelihood of their conversion if Christians would undertake these long Voyages as much out of a religious zeal as worldly concernments All the other Kings of Ceilon except the King of Candy pay tribute to the Portuguez but 't is so inconsiderable that the Princes think it not worth while to take Arms to free themselves from a subjection which consists but in a bare acknowledgment For the King of Matecalo who is not the least considerable amongst them payes annually but fifty Duckates The Island produces Pepper but their chiefest Commodity is Cinnamon They find here Mines of Brass and Iron and certainly there is both Gold and Silver especially in the Kingdom of Candy but the King will not permit a search to be made for the discovery thereof Their rich Stones they permit not likewise to be sold to Strangers which are there found in great abundance but there is so great plenty thereof that it is impossible but some may be had under hand for they are found in the heaps of Gravel and in the Town of Candy nay after the Rain hath washed down the Earth of some neighbouring Mountains the Inhabitants find them in the currents of Water and though they are oblig'd to bring them all to the King 't is impossible that Order should be exactly observed The Island likewise yields Timber and Stone for building the Soyl produces Corn Oyl and Wine if any Man will take the pains to plant the Vine Cotton several Roots for Dyers Ginger Cardamoms Mirobalans Corcoma and divers other Medicinable Drugs Nutmegs c. but particularly so great a quantity of Rice that the whole Coast of Caromandel is furnished from hence Likewise here is so great a quantity of Cinnamon that the Hollanders buy it for a hundred and twenty eight Livres forty eight Souls the Quintal or Hundred weight The chief Maritime Towns of the Isle of Ceylon are scituated at this distance following that is from Punto de Gallo Westward Alican 9. l. Verberin 1 l. Calutre 3. l. and Colombo 6. l. Nogombo 5. l. le Gilan 5. l. Putalon 10. l. Maunar 18. l. Eastward to the Coast of Matecala Bellingan 4. l. Mature 2. l. Duâ—dule 1. l. Tamnadar 1. l. Halpilana two Leagues and a half Attalle 3. l. Veleche 9. l. Tansilir 7. l Trincoli 12. l. Matecalo 5. l. and thence to the River of Trinquamale 10. l. To go from Colombo to Candy the way lies through Tranquero grand that is the great Fort or the great Rampier 3. l. Maluana 2. l. Grouabley 3. l. Settavecca 3. l. Grouenelle 2. l. Mumera tuate 4. l. Duiely 3. l. Matappety 2. l. Altonnar 1 l. Ganiattany 1. l. Ballene 1. l. Cady 1. l. From Matecalo to Candy the Road is as follows Aldea de Nore 1. l. Occatoâ—y 2. l. Viador 2. l. Neguritti 5 l. Niluale 2. l. Vegamme 4. l. Vintane 6. l. Vendro 5. l. Candy 4. l. The Calm staid our Ship hard by this Isle for near upon three weeks which I imploy'd in inquiring of our President and certain Iesuits who were aboard our Vessels into this pleasant part of the Indies which I had never seen and merits to be known by the Description I shall make from the report of these persons amongst whom there were some who had spent there the best part of their lives I will then begin with the place where we were and faithfully deliver you all I could learn of those Kingdoms and Provinces which without question are the wealthiest of any in the World Towards the Cape of Comory or Comorin where we then were are likewise those Islands the Portuguez call Maldivas or Maldivar They extend along the Coast of Malabar having the Cape upon the North and taking up about sevenscore Leagues by Sea which divides them into such small parcels that they are esteem'd near upon a thousand Some are inhabited others not by reason they lye so low the Sea often drowns them as it doth likewise the Skirts of the Continent near Cochim and Crangonar The Malabares say that heretofore they were joyn'd to the Continent and were separated by the Sea which in some places hath left such narrow divisions that an active man might leap from one side to the other The Capital City which consists of four Islands and gives them the appellation of Maldives or Naldive is a place famous for trading and the Residence for the King of all the Islands Except Cocoes which are there in great abundance they produce little notwithstanding the Inhabitants by industry make very neat Garments both of Silk and Thread brought from other places in so much that set aside
any Spilki clapt him up in prison but having no evidence to convict him he could not hinder his being set at liberty Timoska had some difference with his Wife who often reproach'd him with his perfidiousness and other vices especially his Sodomy so that fearing on the one side to be called to accompt for what he was in arrear to the Prince and on the other that his Wife might happly be the first that should accuse him bethought him one day to send his son to a friend of his to shut up his Wiâ—e in a stove and to set the house a-fire in which his Wife was burnt Having done thus he went into Poland but so secretly that it was thought at Moscou the same fire had consumed him with the rest of his family Timoska went away about the latter end of the year 1643. but hearing in 1645. that the Greak Duke was to send an Ambassador to the King of Poland and that his being at the Court of Warsaw was known in Muscovy he went in the year 1646 to Chmielniski General of the Cosaques and begg'd his protection against the persecutions which he suffer'd upon no other accompt than this that the Great Duke knew him to be a near kinsman to the Prince Iuan Basilouits Zuski He had wit enough to carry on the Imposture and had got such an influence over Chmielniski that he began to grow considerable when a Muscovian Poslanik named Iacob Koslou who had been sent to this Cosaque General knew him and advis'd him to return to Moscou and endeavour to make up the sum which was due from him to the Great Duke which was not so great but that having paid it the intercession of his friends might easily get his pardon for it was not yet known that he pretended to be son to the Great Duke Iohn Basilouits Zuski But this course he thought not safe and fearing he might be secur'd he went in the year 1648. to Constantinople where he abjur'd the Christian Religion and was circumcised He stay'd not long there but fearing to be punish'd for some Crimes he had committed there also he went into Italy and so to Rome where he became a Roman Catholick Thence he went in the year 1650. to Vienna and thence into Transilvania to Prince Ragotskie who gave him Letters of recommendation to Queen Christina of Sueden This Princes receiv'd him kindly and giving credit to what he related allowed him an honourable subsistence The Muscovian Merchants who were then at Stockholm soon acquainted the Great Duke with this man's Imposture who stuck not to give out every where that he was son to Iohn Basilouits Zuski The Great Duke immediately sent thither the aforesaid Koslou who had seen him with Chmielniski to desire the Queen to deliver up that man to him but Timoska who knew that enquiry would be made for him was already got away His man whose name was Kostka or Constantine whom some business had detain'd after his Master at Stockholm was taken and sent well chain'd to Muscovy where they found Timoska's Mother and Kinred whereof some were put to the Rack and executed Timoska was taken at Reuel in Livonia by order from the Queen of Sueden but he made a shift to get out of prison and went by the way of Holland to Brussels where he saw the Arch-Duke Leopold Thence he went to Wittenberg and to Leipsig where he made profession of the Lutheran Religion and Writ himself his Confession of Faith in Latin Thence he went to Noustadt in the Dutchy of Holstein where Peter Miklaf who had brought Letters from the Great Duke to the Duke of Holstein got him secur'd He was carried thence to Gottorp where he was well guarded till the Great Duke had sent express order for the bringing of his person to Muscovy The Letters which the Czaar Writ upon that occasion are such as may be well inserted in this place that we may thereby discover somewhat of the elegance of the Muscovian manner of writing In the name of Almighty God who does all in all and protects all Nations in good consolations from Him who by the Grace Providence Power Vertue Operation and good pleasure of God to be magnifi'd in the blessed Trinity and glorious in all Eternity hath been chosen and holds the Scepter of the true Christian Faith to govern and preserve with Gods assistance in peace and quiet without troubles the Great Empire of the Russians with all the Provinces thereunto annexed by Conquest or otherwise We the Grand Seigneur Czaar and Great Duke Alexei Michaelouits Conservator of all the Russes c. To the most mighty Frederick Hereditary Prince of Norway Duke of Sleswick Holstein Stormarie and Ditmarse Count of Oldenbourg and Delmenhost Health In the year 1644. or according to the Calculation of Muscovy in the year 7152. the mentioned Timoska Ankudina and Kostka Konichou having robbed our Treasure to avoid the death they had deserved departed the Countries under our Iurisdiction to go to Constantinople where they professed the Turkish Religion There they did so great mischief in a short time that they were forc'd to fly and to retreat into Poland and Lithuania where they endeavoured to sow divisions between the neighbouring Princes To that end they went to Theodat Chmielniski General of the Cosaques whom the King John Casimir of Poland our Brother commanded to put those Robbers into the hands of M. Germolitzowi Gentleman of his Chamber who had order to send them to Muscovy under the conduct of M. Peter Protesiowi a Gentleman of our retinue as the said Chmielniski had made known to our Czaarick Majesty But these Robbers and Traitors got to Rome where they embraced the Latin Religion Afterwards they passed through several other Provinces of Europe where they changed their names so as Timoska sometimes assumed that of Zuski and sometimes that of Sinensis while Kostka went under the name of his Servant till such time as both having been known at Stockholm by some of our Merchants of Novogorod and other places and thereupon secured one at Ruel the other at Narva the Governours of those two places made some difficulty to deliver them up to us without express order from the Great Queen of Sueden But when we had desired the said Great Queen of Sueden to put those Traitors into the hands of the Gentleman whom we had sent expressly for that purpose it happened that at his coming to Reuel with the Orders of the said Great Queen the Governour had already suffered one of them to make his escape so that he could bring along with him but only the said Kostka We have understood since that the other hath been taken and imprisoned in the Country of Holstein wherefore we have thought fit to send to your Highness our Posâ—anick Basili Spilki accompany'd by some of our Subjects with Letters from our Czaarick Majesty to intreat you that you will be pleas'd to deliver up unto
house of Slick in Bohemia and that he had lost his Estate upon the accompt of Religion which the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein believing gave him Letters of recommendation to the Great Duke of Muscovy He was no sooner come to Moscou but he gave out that it was purposely to change his Religion and to be a servant to his Czaarick Majesty The Patriarch and Muscovian Lords were the more glad to receive him because he was accompted among them a person of noble extraction and great worth which yet was further heightned in him by his being vers'd in several Languages especially the Latin and Polish They receiv'd him with great joy caus'd him to be baptis'd and the Great Duke gave him with the name of Leo Alexander Slick and the quality of Knez a Pension of 200. Crowns a moneth He made his Addresses to the Princess Irene Michaelouna and was so fond as to think the Great Duke would have bestowed his own Sister on him so that hearing there were two persons of quality dispatch'd away to Negotiate the Princesse's marriage with a forein Prince he fell into such a melancholy that he came not to himself again till they had given him a Daughter of one of the greatest Bojares in the Kingdom The King of Denmark coming afterwards to hear of this man's carriage and understanding withall that far from being of the Illustrious house of Slick he was a subject of Count Gaspar's of Denhof in Poland and that he had surpriz'd him in his recommendatory Letters he sent notice thereof to the Great Duke who reproach'd him with his dissimulation and imposture but suffer'd him to enjoy what he had bestow'd on him which he does still under the name of Knez Leo Alexandrouits Slakouseskie Colonel Lesley fell into that misfortune out of weakness He had in that quality serv'd the Great Duke during the first War of Smolensko by which he had gotten a very great sum of money But those of his profession being not alwayes the best husbands he soon spent what grew every day less and less To repair the breaches of his fortune he thought it his best course to return to Moscou which he did upon occasion of an Embassy which the Queen of Sueden sent some time since to the Great Duke whereof Eric Gillenstiern a Senator of the Kingdom was the chief But for as much as there was at that time no likelyhood of any War in Muscovy and that the Great Duke was unwilling to burthen himself with Pensions Lesley sent him word that he would be content with some Lands which he would make what advantage he could of and thereupon got a noble Mannor upon the Wolga He was now in such a condition as that he might have lived like a Lord all the rest of his dayes if his Wife 's niggardly humour had not exasperated the Countrey-women against them She treated them so hardly that being not any longer able to endure it they complain'd of her alleging that she forc'd them to eat flesh on fasting dayes that she allow'd them not the time to make their inclinations before the Images much less to go to Church and what was worst of all that she had taken the Images from the Walls and cast them into the fire There needed no more to make her odious to the whole Nation They immediately sent for Lesley and his whole Family and the Countrey-women and the Colonel's Wife were brought face to face she confess'd indeed that she had forc'd them to work hard but deny'd all the rest All the Servants that were strangers took their Oaths on her behalf and yet the others proffering to make good their accusation by enduring the torture she could not so far clear herself but that the Patriarch taking cognizance of the business oblig'd the Great Duke to take those Lands out of the Strangers hands and to put out an act whereby it should not be lawful for any to be possess'd of such Mannors if they were not Muscovites either by Birth or Religion Lesley finding himself reduc'd to his extremity and having not wherewith to maintain his Children and Family declar'd that if the Great Duke would continue him in the said Mannor he and his Family would change their Religion They take him at his word and he his Wife and Children are put into a Monastery where they are instructed and re-baptized Ilia Danilouits Miloslauski and his Wife were pleas'd to answer for them at their Baptism and to be at the charge of their Wedding it being necessary they should be married a-new The Great Duke made them great Presents and among other things bestow'd on them the sum of six thousand Crowns in ready money But the Peasants hearing that by this change of Religion they were to be reduc'd to their former slavery petition'd His Majesty that they might have another Lord and pitch'd upon Monsieur Groin who had revolted at the same time and had some pretence to those Lands as having had a promise made him of some of that nature So that Lesley was forc'd to content himself with a Pension of 90. Crowns per mensem which is the ordinary pay of a Colonel in times of Peace and another somewhat less for his Son I shall here make a short digression for a Lady's sake who hath by an admirable constancy made it appear that if Men are many times subject to the weakness of Women it sometimes happens that Women have those Virtues which may be exemplary to Men. There is this to be said in commendation of the Muscovites that they never force any to profess their Religion unless that in a Family the Husband or Wife be of it in which case they suffer not the other to continue his former profession We said the Baron de Raymond was one of those that chang'd their Religion after the first War of Smolensko He was married to an English Gentleman's Daughter who had liv'd many years at Moscou and whose name was William Barnesley being the handsomest Woman of any Stranger that was in the Country and had chang'd his Religion rather out of fickleness and to comply with the Great Duke than out of any conscientious motive was re-baptised and took the name of Iuan instead of that of Peter which had been given him at his first Baptism According to the Law of the Country his Wife was to follow his Example which to effect her Husband used all means imaginable but found so great a constancy on the other side that he was forc'd to recurr to the Authority of the Great Duke and Patriarch These at first went mildly to work offering her very great advantages in their Religion but the young Gentlewoman though but 15. years of age was inflexible cast her self at the Great Duke's feet and entreated him rather to take away her life than force her to embrace a Belief which she was not satisfy'd of in her Conscience The Father us'd the same submissions but the Patriarch
built of Wood even the Towers and Rampiers yet very well furnish'd with great Guns among which there were then two battering Pieces plac'd upon Carriages before the Governours house The Great Duke hath lately caus'd it to be fortify'd after the modern way of Fortification with Rampiers and Bastions of earth by a Dutch Engineer named Cornelius Nicholas who went Masters-mate along with us into Persia. The ordinary Garrison consists of two thousand men 1500. whereof are under the Command of a Weywode or Colonel and divided into three Pricasses or Regiments each of 500. men The Prince is assign'd the other 500. for his Guard and they are maintain'd upon the Great Duke's charge but oblig'd to joyn with the others in case of necessity The Tartars of Circassia have their habitations on this side the River We shall speak of their Religion and manner of life hereafter as having had more leasure at our return to make a more particular observation thereof The next day after our arrival the Cuptzi and the other Persian Merchants sent a Present to the Ambassadors which consisted of excellent Fruits in great abundance as also to ask them whether they were resolv'd to prosecute their Voyage by Sea or would travel by Land with this by way of Invitation that if they would go by Land there was an opportunity to do it with all imaginable convenience in as much as within three dayes there was expected at Terki a Muscovian Ambassador who was upon his return from Persia and would bring with him to the Frontiers two hundred Camels and a great number of Mules which might carry our baggage To this it was added that by this convenience we might pass safely through the Countrey of the Tartars of Dagesthan and avoid falling into the hands of their Schemkal or Captain who was one of the greatest Robbers in the World and that we might be the further assur'd there was no danger they proffer'd us their company in our Travels This proposal was so well receiv'd by the Ambassadors that they immediately sent to the Weywode to desire his permission to take their advantage of this opportunity and dispatch'd Rustan our Persian Interpreter to the Frontiers of Dagesthan six Leagues from Terki to take order for the prosecution of our Voyage by Land but being come thither he found the Camels and all the other beasts fit for carriage were return'd into Persia. The Weywode had at first absolutely deny'd us the Liberty of passage but as soon as he heard there was no convenience of taking that way he sent an Officer to tell us that though he had receiv'd no express order from the Great Duke to permit any such thing yet he would not stick to grant us passage and assist us in order thereto what lay in his power The night following the Mariners belonging to our ship fell into a mutiny against Michael Cordes our Captain and the noise was so great that many of them were put into Irons The next day an enquiry was made into the disorder that had been committed in the night and Anthony Manson a Sayl-maker being found the most guilty of any he was condemn'd to remain a Prisoner at Terki till our return out of Persia. The Weywode sent for him by two of his Officers at the entreaty of the Ambassadors One of those Officers had a Coat of Mail under his Casaque and a tin Gantelet the other who by his quality was a Knez had a Garment of Crimson Velvet Nov. 4. Our Musick play'd in the morning betimes it being the birth day of the Ambassador Brugman which ended the great Guns were discharg'd The same morning the Tartar Prince's Mother sent one to complement the Ambassadors and to give them thanks for their respects and civilities towards her son in his Voyage entreating them to honour her with a Visit at her house and to come and receive her Benediction In the afternoon we were Visited aboard by a Persian Lord who had a retinue of many servants He was an Eunuch and the King of Persia had sent him express to bring along with him the Tartar Prince's sister to whom he was to be married He made extraordinary proffers of friendship to the Ambassadors and was so well pleas'd with our drink that he grew perfectly drunk in so much that he knew not which way to get out of the ship They that came along with him were so edify'd by his example that one of them was so loaden that we were forc'd to let him down by a rope into the Shallop The 5. The Ambassador sent M. Mandelslo the Pastor and Secretary of the Embassy accompany'd by our Tartarian and Persian Interpreters to the Weywode to Present him a large Vermilion-guilt-cup and the two Chancellors or Secretaries each of them with a Ruby They were also ordered to go and wait upon the Tartar-Prince's Mother and to complement her upon the safe return of her Son We were very kindly receiv'd in all places and treated with Collations of Fruit Beer Hydromel Aquavitae and Wine The Weywode entertain'd us with the same magnificence as that of Nisenovogorod and falling into discourse of the nature and manner of life of the Persians he told us that they would no doubt be extremely liberal of their good words and fair promises but that it requires a strong faith to believe one half of them in as much as their performance would not be consonant thereto Prince Mussal receiv'd us in Person with very intimate demonstrations of affection at the entrance of the Court and conducted us into a high and spacious Hall whereof the Walls were of earth and so built that a man might see on all sides at an equal distance a certain number of Neeches vaulted in which there were either rich beds with coverlets of silk or cotton or there were layd up in them several pieces of Persian Tapestry and coverlets wrought or embroider'd with gold and silk of divers several colours with great chests covered with the same All along the wall just under the seeling there hung two rows of dishes of wood and earth of diverse colours and the pillars which underpropp'd the structure were hung all about with excellent Cymitars Quivers and Arrows The Princess sat in a chair having about her a black loose Gown lin'd with Sables and made after the fashion of a morning-coat The Princess's name was Bika and she was of a very noble stature and had a good countenance and might be about 45 years of age She wore at her neck behind an Ox-bladder blown to the utmost which was wound about towards her hair with a rich Scarf embroider'd with Gold and Silk and had about her neck another Scarf the two ends whereof hung down over her shoulders Behind the Chair stood a Lady who had also a Bladder at her neck and we were told afterwards that it was the Badge of Widdowhood On her right hand stood her three
that they said There is but one God Mahumet the Apostle of God and Aly Coadjutor or Lieutenant of God Nay they presume to affirm that though Aly be not really God yet he comes very neer him And to prefer him even before Mahomet himself they add hereto that it was God's intention to bestow the Alcoran on Aly and that it was by mistake it fell into the hands of Mahomet But as to Abubeker Omar and Osman they who at Prayer time call the people together for the Persians as well as the Turks use no Bells will be sure to Curse these three pretended Prophets and to execrate them to the pit of Hell They have commonly these words in their mouth Kiri Sekder deheni Abubeker Omar Osman Hanifebad that is many Dogs stones stop the mouths of these Prophets which is an abomination to the ears of the Turks who upon this accompt are become irreconcileable Enemies to the Persians especially since Sedredin and Tzinid whom some name Gutnet express'd so great a zeal for the establishment and advancement of their Sect which is in process of time grown so strong that their Schichs are become Schachs that is their Prophets have chang'd their quality into that of Kings The Persians not thinking it enough to have establish'd the Sanctity nay in some measure the Divinity of Aly were of opinion that he had communicated some part of that quality to those of his Family and that they might bestow the denomination of Saints upon his first Successors of whom there were related many Miracles whereby their memories have been celebrated and their Sepulchres enrich'd by the Presents sent into them He had lâ—ft two Sons Hassan and Hossein who left Seinel Abedin Mahumed-Bagur Tzafer-Saduk Musai-Casum Risa Mahumed-Taggi Alli Naggi Hossein Alkeri and Mehedi whereof some to wit Hassan Scinel Abedin Mahumedâ—Bagur Mahumedâ—Taggi and Alli Naggi are interr'd at Medina Tzafer Saduk at Bagdat and Hossein Musai-Kasum and Hossein Alkeri at Kelbula or Kufa They affirm that Mehedi is not dead but lies hid in a Cave near Kufa where he is to remain till the day of Judgement which is to be when his shooes which he left at the entrance of it and which are already turn'd half way shall be quite turned towards the Cave so as that at his coming out he may put his feet into them to go and convert all the World to the Faith of the Alcoran On these twelve Saints they bestow the quality of Imam or Prelate To these as also to the Institutor of their Sect Schich-Sosi they address their Prayers and Devotions and it is to the four Sepulchres of them that they go on Pilgrimages especially when their affairs permit them not to go to Meca or Medina They give the Pilgrims a Certificate or Testimonial called Sijaretname whereby they are not only known to be true Mussulmans professing the true Persian Religion but there is also a further particular advantage of these Testimonials in that they save their lives who are in disgrace with the Kings or Governours of the Provinces where they live We have seen instances hereof in our Interpreter whose name was Rustam who took one of them to avoid the punishment which he migh have suffered for embracing the Christian Religion in England and another in Tzirrachan who took this course to save himself as we have related elsewhere The Persians Celebrate every year with great Ceremonies the memory and death of Hassan and Hossein The Turks deride them for it and on the contrary have a great Veneration for Abubeker Omar and Osman and highly esteem Hanife their chief Commentator and Paraphrast of the Alcoran The Persians execrate the memory of the three former and speak of the last as an Impostor who hath made false explications of the Alcoran They affirm that Hanife being a servant to Tzafur Saduk was very carefull to preserve the water wherein that Saint had wash'd his hands which he carried into Turkey rubb'd therewith the eyes of several blind people who by that means recover'd their sight and wrought divers other Miracles the honour whereof belongs only to the Saints of Persia. They add to this that Schach Tamas after the taking of Bagdat caus'd the body of Hanife who had a very sumptuous Tomb there to be taken up and that he converted the Masur or place of his Sepulture into a Stable and the Sepulchre into a Sink or common House of ease There are many Authors have Commented on the Alcoran but they who have had a particular illumination for that work and have in their opinion best understood the Sentiments of Mahomet are Aly and Tzafur-Saduk whom the Persians prefer before all the rest The Turks most esteem Hanife and the Vsbeques Tartars as also the Indians follow the explication of Hembili and Maleki The Alcoran in many places is not to be understood not only in that Mahomet himself seems to have affected obscurity as not knowing himself what he would say but also in this regard that many times he alludes to stories which peradventure never happened and whereof the Commentators certainly having no knowledge have supply'd the defect with their own fictions fables and impostures which have no likelyhood of truth in them But not to digress from the Persians whom it is our particular design here to give an accompt of it is a thing much to be admir'd that these people who are so ingenious and so wise in their Generation and so excellently well vers'd in the affairs of the World could be brought to believe things so ridiculous and the many fables their Books of Devotion are fill'd with As for instance among others that Duldul so they call Aly's Horse was got of a Rock That it was the Angel Gabriel who brought him the Sword called Dzulfakar wherewith he did so many great exploits That with the said Sword he kill'd a Dragon that had seven heads and cut a Devil to pieces And that Sulthan Mahomet Chodabende being one day a-hunting neer Kufa discover'd thereabouts a Sepulchre with this Inscription Vnder this place ly Adam Noe and Aly and that thereupon the Sulthan had ordered the building of the Citie of Netzef where he had erected a Tomb in memory of Aly. But there is not any thing so ridiculously flat as the story they relate of Aly's drinking with the Angels in Paradise And that there may be no scruple made of the supernatural and as it were Divine power attributed by them to the Author of their Sect they relate a great number of Miracles wrought by him which Miracles indeed are chargeable with some imposture among those of other perswasions but in the Religion of the Persians they are the more impertinent in that they make their Saints do them without any necessity As for instance when they affirm that Schich Sofi being yet very young and going to see Schich Sahadi who was a great Saint and a very wise man and liv'd in
the Village of Sahedan in the Province of Kilan he there took particular notice of the pains the Inhabitants were at in weeding their Grounds and moved to compassion thereat he commanded the Weeds not to pester the Earth any longer He was immediately obey'd But Schich Sahadi observing it said to him I see Son what thou art able to do but thou art to consider that if thou ease these Pesants of the employment wherein they spend their time they will be lost through idleness Schich-Sofi thought this so excellent a consideration that he presently resolv'd to serve that holy man with whom he continu'd seven years and learnt of Sahadi many noble things It is upon this accompt as they affirm that the said Village to this day enjoyes an absolute and perpetual privilege and exemption They relate also that Tamberlane whom they call Temurleng desirous to see Schich-Sofi and to be assur'd whether his Sanctity was answerable to the great reputation he had acquir'd all over the East resolv'd to give him a Visit and to have an evident Demonstration of the truth of his Doctrine he bethought himself to make a tryal of it with a resolution to rest satisfy'd as to his Sanctity if he behav'd himself in three things as he expected he should to wit 1. if he came not out to meet him 2. If he entertain'd him with Rice boyl'd not in Sheep's Milk but that of wild Goats and 3. If the poyson he would order to be given him should not kill him Hereupon Tamberlane being come to Schamasbu where Sofi then liv'd went streight to his Chamber Sofi saw him well enough coming but would not go to meet him till Tamberlane had set foot within his Chamber then Sofi rose up and said to him I know well enough what respect is due to the King but it was your pleasure I should not meet you I humbly crave your pardon 'T is a tryal you were pleas'd to make of me This Complement pass'd he made Tamberlane sit down opposite to the Door and caus'd to come of the neighbouring Forrest a great many wild Goats which were milked in Tamberlane's presence At last Sofi perceiving they were going to give him poyson call'd for a clean shirt which he put on and having drunk the poyson he fell a dancing round the Room according to the manner of the Schichs and continu'd that exercise so long till such time as having put himself into a sweat all over the body he took off the shirt out of which he wrung the sweat which the poyson had made of a Green colour and having put it into a Glass presented it to Tamberlane to satisfie him that it had done him no harm That thereupon Tamberlane made no further doubt of the truth of Sofi's Doctrine that he bestow'd on him several Villages near Ardâ—bil and made him a Present of a great number of Turks whom he was to instruct in his Religion The Turks believe not a word of all these Miracles but however they have a great Veneration for the memory of Aly. They acknowledge he was a near Kinsman of Mohomet's that he is truly an Iman or Saint and that he led a very exemplary life and particularly that he was valiant and a very good Horsman and thence it comes that when they get on Hors-back they say Isa Aly in the name of Aly. As the Persians will not admit of any of the Laws and Ordinances which Abubekar Omar Osman and Hanife affirm to be grounded on the Alcoran so they also contemn all the Ecclesiastical Ceremonies of the Turks and have particular ones of their own which they believe to be as necessary as any thing that is most essential in the business of Religion For instance when the Persians intend to do their Devotions especially their Prayers they prepare themselves by external ablution as the Turks do but after an absolutely different manner They turn up their sleeves above the Elbow wash their hands which they afterwards put two several times upon the Arms stroaking them from the Elbow down to the Wrist Then they stroak their faces only with the right hand The Turks on the contrary take up so much water as they can hold between their hands and therewith rub their faces stroaking them three several times from the Forehead down to the Chin and afterwards from the Chin up to the Forehead They wash also their Noses and Mouths by drawing in with their breath the water which to that end they take up between their hands The Persians stroak their Heads with a moist hand from the Nape of the Neck to the Forehead and afterwards the Feet up to the Ancles But the Turks pour water on their Heads and so apply their moist Hand to the Feet which they are oblig'd to wash before they begin these Ceremonies but this the Persians do not The Turks put the fore-finger into the Ear which they afterwards rub all about with the Thumb and then with the same fore-finger stroke their Heads from the Nape of the Neck to the Throat These Ceremonies are perform'd in their Houses before they go out in order to the doing of their Devotions in the Mosquey whither the Women come not at all out of a fear they might distract the Devotions of the men The Persians have a stone wherewith they often touch their forehead while they are at their Prayers or haply they lay the stone upon the ground and touch it with their foreheads It is made of a greyish Earth which is to be had about Metzef and Kufa where Hossein was kill'd and interr'd near Aly and thence it is that the said stone derives all its vertue The Figure of it is Octogonal and it is somewhat above three inches Diameter and contains with the names of their twelve Saints that of Fattima their common Mother They are made by the Arabians who bring them into Persia to be sold. The Persians being come to the Mosquey begin their Prayers with Alla Ekber When they Pray their Arms hang down negligently and they have their eyes fasten'd on the ground On the contrary the Turks have both their hands upon their Breasts The Persians afterwards put their hands upon their Ears and turn their faces to the South out of this regard that Meca and Medina are towards that Quarter in respect of the Citie of Ardebil where their Sect had its first Institution and Original There is some probability that in this particular they would imitate the primitive Christians who in their Prayers turn'd their faces towards the East to express that Christ their Sun of Righteousness was risen Whence it came that the Christians being charg'd in the time of Severus the Emperour as if they ador'd the Sun Tertullian vindicates them in his Apology and gives an accompt of the true cause of that Ceremony The Persians having thus turn'd their faces towards the South begin their Prayers with that of Allhemdo lilla Having said that they set
the Persian Ambassador was to follow them to conclude with the Duke of Holstein what they had but begun in Persia that the said Ambassador would give him further satisfaction as to that particular and that they should be oblig'd to pass through his Country once a year with Commodities of great value That that Country was not known at all in Germany and that their Prince knew not they were in those parts to meet with so great a Lord otherwise he had sent him very considerable Presents but that it should not be omitted hereafter and that it was their intention to make a perpetual friendship with him This discourse so pleas'd the Schemkal that he would have hasten'd our departure thence that we might the sooner return that way So that we had horses for the sadle and for carriage at a very easie rate to carry us as far as Terki May 16. we departed He himself accompany'd by fifty horse convoy'd us through a thick Wood half a league from Andre where he took leave of us with much civility We travell'd that day two leagues over a great Plain to the River Aksai It runs very slowly in those parts and is not above fifty paces broad The Tartars told us that it is an arm of the River Koisu into which it falls near the Sea There we were forc'd to stay for the Boats and the Hurdles which the Inhabitants of Andre brought in Waggons and in the mean time we cut Reeds and Canes to lay over the mudd which hindred our coming dry to the River side We cross'd it by Moon-light and paid there also two Tumains for our passage Such as were not in favour with the Ambassador Brugman were forc'd to lye down supperless The 17. we travell'd seven leagues over a great Heath where we began to be out of sight of mount Caucasus We came at night to the River Bustro and pitch'd our Tents in the adjoyning Forest. This River is very muddy and near as big but not so swift as that of Koisu Running Northward about five leagues from the Caspian Sea it is divided into two branches whereof one heretofore named Terk and now Timenki hath â—erived its name to the City of Terki by which it passes and is about fifty foot broad The other branch of the said River is called Kisilar by reason of certain Grains like Gold which come down with its gravel and the Chanel of it is as broad as that of the other but hath so little water that many times in the Summer a man may cross it dry-foot The mouth of this arm is eight leagues above the City of Terki It is to be observ'd here that all these Rivers come from the West-north-west and that between Kisilar and the River Wolga which are sixty five leagues distant one from the other there is no other River So that we are to conclude that the Aksai is the Coesius of Ptolomy that Bustro is the Gerrus that Timenki or Terk is the Alonta and that Kisilar is the Adonta in as much as there are only these Rivers between the Albanus or Koisu and the Rha or Wolga The River Bustro is a common Frontier between the Tartars of Dagesthan and those of Circassia upon which accompt it was that the Waggoners of Tarku would not go beyond it May 18. we cross'd the River and got over the Baggage to our greater satisfaction in this particular that we left on the other side of the River the Mahumetans and Pagans and were entred into Christendom For though the Tartars of these parts are also Pagans or Maâ—umetans as well as those of Dagesthan and the rest yet are they under the Jurisdiction of a Christian Prince who is the Great Duke of Muscovy and hath at all places his Governours Magistrates and Priests for the exercise of Christian Religion Provisions were so dear in these parts that we were forc'd to pay above thirty shillings for a Sheep Nay they would not spare us many so that to get flesh we went into the Woods and shot at Crows whereof there were abundance thereabouts The 19. we travell'd five leagues through a plain Country full of Reeds having also some few trees which were for the most part planted round about a great Plain At night we encamped upon the Heath neer a Well or rather a Sink in regard the water of it was so corrupt that the very Beasts would not drink of it The ground thereabouts was all full of holes which the Serpents and Snakes had made there and yet though we were forc'd to lodge on the ground not one of us receiv'd any harm The 20. we got four leagues further over heathy and barren Lands to the City of Terki We saw that day a great many Serpents many whereof where as big as a man's arm and above six foot in length They lay round and sported themselves in the heat of the Sun which gave a delightful lustre to the liveliness of the colours wherewith their skins were spotted all over We saw also neer Terki a kind of Field-mice which in the Arabian Language are called Ierbuah They are about the bigness of a Squirrel and somewhat like the Creature of that kind which is so common in Europe save that their hair is blacker their heads like those of Rats they have long ears the fore-feet short and the hinder feet long whence it comes that they cannot run but when they get up some place and in the plain they only creep unless it be when thy leap for then they spring five or six foot high from the ground having their tails layd over their backs And whereas their tails are long and without any hair like those of ordinary Mice but not so big they are somewhat like the Lions Rampant in Coats of Arms and they made a pretty kind of sport especially when many of them leap'd at the same time as we said before They say there are abundance of them about Babylon and in Arabia where the Inhabitants eat them Some will leave the field and go into peoples houses which if they do the master of the house had need have a care of his money left they light upon it The Persian whom I brought out of the Country and who still waits on me named Achwordi told me a story how that his Father having observ'd that his mony was from time time taken out of his Chamber at first suspected his Wife and Children till one day finding there one of these Ierbuah he presently imagin'd who playd the Thief but to be assur'd of it he set an Abas upon the Table and going out of the room lock'd the door so that no other could get in and coming thither a while after the Abas was gone whereupon searching the nest of that Creature he found in it more mony than he had lost Within a quarter of a league of the City of Terki came up to us a Brother of Prince Mussal's of whom
should make way for them As soon as they perceive them coming they close on both sides look down to the ground and do them reverence Some affirm that this punctilio of Honour whereby they pretend to a respect due to them from all that are not of their race was one of the things that most obstructed the Treaty which the Portuguez were ready to conclude with the King of Cochim at their first establishment in regard they would have the Portuguez do them the same submissions as the Polyas did The Portuguez on the other side who are as highly conceited of themselves as any Nation in the World refused to do it so that to decide the difference it was agreed that a Portuguez and a Nayre should fight for the honour of the two Nations upon condition that the Conquerour should give the Law to the conquered The Portuguez Champion had the advantage and by that means obtain'd the precedence for his Nation and ever since that time the Portuguez have the same honour done them by the Nayres as they have done them by the Polyas Many of these Nayres never marry in regard they have a certain priviledge to see the Wives and Daughters of their Camerades and to that end to go into their Houses at any time of the day When they go into any House upon that score they leave their Sword and Target at the Street-door which mark prohibits entrance to all others whatsoever nay the very Master of the House himself finding those Armes at his Door passes by and gives his Camerade full liberty to do what he please The Polyas are not so much honourâ—d as to have the Nayres visit their Wives who must be content with their own Husbands for it were a great crime in a Nayre to defile himself by conversing with the Wife of a common person The Nayres are all Souldiers made use of by the King both for his Guard and in his Wâ—rs On the contrary the Polyas are forbidden the bearing of Armes and so are either Tradesmen Husbandmen or Fishermen The Malabars write with a Bodkin upon the bark of the Cocos-tree which they cut very thin and in an oblong form like a Table-book drawing a String through the middle which hold the leaves together and comes twice or thrice about the box or case which is as it were a covering to it Their Characters have nothing common with those of the other Indians and are understood only by their Bramans for most of the common people can neither write nor read The King of Calicuth doth not eat any thing which had not been presented before to his Pagode and it is to be particularly observed that in this Kingdom it is not the Kings Son but the Kings Sisters Son who inherits the Crown it being the common perswasion that the Children born of the Queen are begotten rather by their Bramans then by the King himself As concerning the City of Cochim it is to be observed that there are two Cities of the same name in the Kingdom of Cochim one whereof lies upon a great River and belongs to the King of Cochim the other to the Portuguez This last whereof we now speak is seated upon the same Coast at ten degrees on this side the Line having on the West-side of it the Sea and on the Land-side a Forrest of black Trees whereof the Inhabitants of the Country make their Boats called Almadies These Trees they make hollow and so their Boat is all of one piece yet with these they make a shift to go along the Coast as far as Goa The Port is very dangerous by reason of the Rocks which make the entrance into it very difficult At the beginning of Winter there falls such abundance of Rain in the neighbouring Mountains that several Brooks are of a sudden by that means overflown and run with such violence that the Earth which they carry along and which is stopped by the Waves that are forc'd by the Wind against the Earth makes in that place a kind of Bank which so stops up the mouth of the Haven that 't is impossible to get into it or out of it during that time nor indeed till the Wind which changes with the season forces the Sea back again which carries along with it the filth which the Rain had left in that place The Portuguez carry on a great Trade in this place in Pepper which the King of Cochim sells them at a certain rate agreed upon with the Viceroy at his first coming to Goa but the Inhabitants of the Country and other Forreigners pay dearer for it The King of Cochim is one of the most powerful Princes of those parts it being certain that he is able to raise above a hundred thousand men the most part Nayres who are obliged to serve at their own charge either with Horse or Elephants As to their manner of life it is not fully so brutish as that of the Malabars but they observe the same Custom for the succession of their Kings and the Consummation of their Marriages which work is performed by their Bramans This sort of people is so highly respected amongst them that the Master of the House seeing a Braman coming into it makes him way retires and leaves him alone to do what he please with his Wife They make holes in their Ears and hang little weights of Lead at them which stretch them so much that in time they reach down to their Shoulders The principal Commerce of this place consists in Pepper Ginger and Cinnamon It is not long since all the Malabars had but one King but Sarama Perymal Monarch of all that Coast from Goa as far as the Cape of Comeri having imbrac'd the Mahumetan Religion and desirous to end his life in solitude near the Sepulchre of his great Prophet distributed his Territories amongst his Friends upon condition that the Kings of Cananor Cochim and Chaule should acknowledge the Soveraignty of the King of Calicuth on whom he bestowed the Dignity of Zamourin or Emperour but since the establishment of the Portuguez in those parts the power of Zamourin is grown so low that at the present the King of Cochim is more powerful then he Ianuary the 26. We left Cananor and saw going thence Captain Weddell who would gladly have come along with us into England had he not been obliged to go and dispatch some business he had to do at Cochim and Calicuth Captain Weddell cast Anchor there but we only fired some Guns and pursued our Voyage The next day we discover'd at a great distance eighteen Sail of Ships which coming directly towards us easily discover'd what their design was We had much ado to clear our Guns for the Ship was so loaden that every hole was full However we had the time to put our selves into a posture of receiving those Pyrats who had not the confidence to come within Cannon-shot of us while day-light might discover
they have no knowledge of the Worlds Creation so are they ignorant that there is a time appointed for its dissolution The most zealous among them make no scruple to convert their Pagodes into Drinking-houses for as they make choice of the most delightful places of the Country for the Pagodes so they walk in them and divert themselves in the presence of their Gods and have the company of their Priests drinking and debauching themselves to that height that it proves the occasion of many consequent disorders A man shall never in this Country meet with any Controversies about Religion nor ever find that a Iapponese conceives himself any way obliged to instruct his Neighbour or shew him his Errour but on the contrary their indifference for these concernments is generally so great that some among them will not stick to change their Religion for a hundred Crowns They have so irreconcilable an aversion for the Christians that perceiving they went chearfully to their deaths when they only cut off their Heads and crucified them after their death they have since found out such exquisite torments to procure their more painful departure that though they had resolution and constancy enough to endure them yet could they not express that insolence and insensibility as to receive so greivous a death with the same alacrity they had discover'd at the ordinary Executions There were indeed some who sung amidst the Flames but it would have been somewhat above humanity if they should not have groan'd in the torments they endured when they were broild with a gentle Fire upon Gridirons or suffer'd to languish â—or several dayes together Yet did not all these courses much diminish the number of those Wretches in so much that these Monsters of barbarisme perceiving that Death little frighten'd those who look'd on it but as a passage to a better life bethought themselves of other courses to be taken with them Young Maids of any Quality they caused to be stripp'd stark naked to be publickly violated made them go on all four through the Streets and dragg'd them through rugged and uneven places till their hands and knees were cut and their bodies torn in several places and after all put them into Vats full of Serpents which enter'd into their bodies at all the open places and so put them to a very painful death yet was this done with less horrour then when they fill'd the privy parts of a Mother or a Daughter with Match done over with Gun-powder and bound about those of a Son or a Father with the same and forced the Son to set fire to that of the Mother and the Father to that of his Daughter 'T was a kind of favour shewn them when they cover'd their bodies all over with Turfs and incessantly pour'd â—eething Water into their privy parts till they expiâ—'d amidst those torments which commonly dispatch'd them not in less then three or four dayes They drove great companies of them up and down the Country and into Forrests stigmatiz'd in the foreheads with prohibitions upon pain of death that any should give them any sustenance or entertainment Some were put into Cages upon the Sea-side that the Tide might come up to their chins and at the return of the water they might recover their spirits a little to endure the greater torment at the next Floud They bound the Fathers and Mothers to a Post and hood-winked them while they put the Children to inconceivable torments which they being not able to endure intreated their Parents with the most importunate expressions they could imagine at that age to deliver them out of their pains by renouncing This was one of the most insupportable punishments of any they invented and which brought many to death and abjuration Another torment they had for those poor Children was to pluck off their Nails and to prick them with Bodkins in the tenderest parts of their bodies To make a discovery of Christians they ordered that all the Inhabitants should once a year protest before their Pagodes and sign a certain Instrument whereby they renounced Christian Religion and by this means there passed not a year but a great number was discover'd Such as were hung up by the feet and were continued in that posture for ten or twelve dayes endured the greatest torment of any in regard the anguish of this punishment still increasing there is no pain not even that of fire it self comes near it These persecutions must needs have much diminish'd the number of Christians in Iapan but what most contributes to the destruction of Christian Religion is a course they have taken to put the Christians to death even though they proffer to renounce so that there is no way for any to avoid death but by discovering another Christian who may endure it in their stead and by that discovery they escape However there is an exact Register kept of these Renegadoes out of a design as it is conceiv'd one time or other to rid the Country of them when the Executions must cease for want of Christians About the same time there was a search made for Christians in all the Hospitals for Lepers where they found three hundred and eighty Christians whom they sent away in two Ships to the Philippine Islands as a Present to the Portuguez The Leprosie is so common a Disease in Iapan that a man shall meet there with many whose fingers and toes are so rotted that they fall off The Christians who are conducted to punishment are tied but the Priests whether Castilians Portuguez or Iaponneses are otherwise treated They shave off one half of their Heads and Beards which they paint over with a red colour put a Gag into their Mouths and a Halter about their Necks which is tied to the Horse-tail on which they are brought to the place appointed for their execution Most of their Houses are built of Wood sleightly enough in regard the Country is very much subject to Earthquakes They are all raised three or four foot from the ground boarded and matted and very handsom within especially those Rooms where they reveive their Visits They are for the most part but one story high in which they live and the rest serve for Corn-lofts They have places distinct from their Houses where they keep their Merchandises and what else they most esteem in regard their Houses are so apt to take fire that they are forc'd to have Fat 's full of Water alwayes ready against such Accidents which are very frequent among them The Houses of Gentlemen and Souldiers are divided into two partitions whereof one is taken up by the Wife who is never seen and the other by the Husband who hath his Chambers and Halls for the reception of his friends and his business The Wives of Citizens and Merchants appear in the Shops and have a care of the House but they are treated with so much respect that none durst let fall a free or equivocal expression in
who have done their duty and tells them he shall not fail to report the same to his Majesty Then turning to those whom he hath found Delinquent he reproves them deprives them of the Marks of Magistracy which are the Hat and Girdle suspends or absolutely dispossesses them of their charges and puts others into them It is in his power to advance to the greatest dignities such as he judges capable thereof to brand with infamy those who have neglected their duty nay to punish them but not with death inasmuch as the Emperour only is Master of the lives of his Subjects As to the Religion of the Chineses it may be said to be Pagan though from the figure of one of their principal Divinities it might be imagined that they have heretofore had some apprehensions of Christianity and some would infer that three Heads which they make coming out of the Body of one of their Idols represent the blessed Trinity which makes the first and greatest Mistery of Christian Religion They adde hereto that St. Thomas the Apostle Preached the Gospel in China and that there are some Pictures to be found there wherein may be seen men dressed and shaped as the Apostles are painted among us and that some have seen their Images representing the blessed Virgin holding the Saviour of the World in her Armes But the se are only chimerical imaginations since that setting aside the establishments which the Portuguez and Spaniards have made there some years since there is not the least track to be seen of the Ancient Christian Religion They affirm that all things visible and invisible were made by Heaven And this they express by the first Letter of their Alphabet They also believe that the Heaven governs the Universe by a Vicegerent whom they call Laocon Tzautey For him it is they have the greatest veneration next the Sun and say it is an eternal Spirit who was not created They have the same opinion of another Divinity whom they call Cansay and to whom they Attribute an absolute power over all Sublunary things To these three Spirits they add three principal Ministers whom they call Tanquam Teiquam and Tzuiquam whereof the first presides over the Air and makes it rain another over the generation of Men and other Animals and the production of Fruits and the third hath the government of the Sea They also canonize some whose lives have been eminent for Sanctity or otherwise and call them Pausaos that is Saints but they do not render them the same Honours they do the Gods before mentioned or yet the three following Saints who are also in great veneration among them The first they call Sichia who came into China out of the Kingdom of Toungking and is Founder of all the Religious Orders of both Sexes which are at present in the Kingdom and whereof there are very great numbers living in perpetual celebate and inhabiting in Monasteries The second is called Quanina a Female Saint and as they affirm was the third Daughter of King Tzonton who having married his two elder Daughters would also have this embrace the same kind of life But this Princess having made a Vow of Chastity would not hear of Marriage and upon that account lost her Fathers favour who shut her up in a place where her employment was to carry Wood and Water and to weed a great Garden whereof she had the keeping They have great Legends of the Life of this Saint and relate several stories of her among others that the Apes of the neighbouring Forrest came thither and carried Water for her that the Birds weeded the Garden for her and that several other Creatures brought the wood she was obliged to fetch The Father imagining this was done by his Daughter's witchcraft caused the house to be fired which the Princess seeing and considering that it was for her sake would have cut her own throat with a string of hair but she immediately found the fire put out by a great shower which then fell whereupon she went thence and retired into the Deserts of the neighbouring Mountain The King's impiety was punished with the Leprosie which spread it self over all his body wherein it bred so many Worms that he had been devoured by them if the Daughter upon notice given her of it by a voice from Heaven had not relieved him The misery he endured had raised in him a great remorse of Conscience so that finding himself recovered by his Daughter's intercession he fell down on his knees before her begg'd her pardon for what was past and would have adored her but she refused those honours yet so as that it not being in her power to avoid them she set an Idol before her and returned to the Desert whence she came only to cure her Father She dyed there and by an extraordinary austerity of life acquired so great a reputation of sanctity that they still honour her with a Religious worship invocate her and beg her intercession for the remission of sins They have yet a third Saint of the same Sex whom they call Neoma and affirm she was a Daughter of a Prince of the City of Yocheu in the Province of Huquang The aversion she had conceived against Marriage obliged her to retire into the Island of Ingoa where they say she wrought many Miracles They relate among others that a Lord named Compo having received orders from the King to go along with a Fleet which lay ready to set sail it was not in the power of the Mariners to weigh the Anchors Compo was so surprised at the accident that he would needs see himself what might be the cause of it He found Neoma sitting on the Anchor belonging to the Admiral He told her the King had commanded him to go and make a War in one of the neighbouring Provinces and entreated her not to oppose his Design She made answer that she would contribute to his gaining the Victory he promised himself in that Expedition if he would take her along with him which he was the more inclinable to do in regard he already knew her by reputation Accordingly the Army was no sooner come in sight of the Enemies Countrey but she dissolved the Charm whereby the Inhabitants had made all the Sea look as if it had been on fire and forced the Enemies to render themselves up at mercy Compo thought at first it had been an illusion whereupon he would have a stronger assurance of Neoma's power and told her he should make no further question of her sanctity if she could make the stick he had in his hand to flourish and wax green again which she did Compo planted his stick at the stern of his Ship and openly acknowledged that all the success of his Arms was to be attributed to Neoma and thence it comes they say that the Chineses set this Neoma at the Sterns of their Ships and make their Addresses to her for the prosperity of
gave an evident example when upon the irruption of Colonel Bot the Peasants would side with the Enemy and head together to secure their Masters and deliver them up to the Polanders They believe there is another life after this but their imaginations of it are very extravagant A Livonian woman being present at her husband's burial put a Needle and Thread into the Grave giving this reason for it that her husband being to meet in the other World with persons of good Rank she was asham'd he should be seen with his Cloaths rent Nay they so little mind what is to happen in the next World that in the Oath they take to decide any difference at Law instead of interessing the salvation of their Souls therein they are oblig'd to consider their present and temporal advantages and so they are sworn as followeth I N. N. am here present before thee since thou O Iudge desirest to know and askest me whether this Land on which I now am is God's and mine with a just title I swear to God and his Saints and accordingly God judge me at the last day that this Land belongs to me of right that it is God's and mine and that my father hath been possess'd of it and hath enjoy'd it a long time And if the Oath I take prove to be false I consent that the Curse of God fall upon my Body and Soul upon my Children upon whatsoever appertains to me even to the ninth generation And to shew that their Language hath nothing common with any of those wherewith the most learned have any acquaintance we shall here set down the same Oath word for word as they take it Nucht seisen mina N. N. Seihn Kui sinna sundia minust tahat eht minna se Kockto perrast tunnis tama Pean eht sesinnane mah Kumba pehl minna seisan jumla ninc minnu verteenitut mahon Kumba pehl minna minno eo aial ellanut ninck prukinu tollen seperast sihs mannut an minna jumla ninck temma poha de eest Ninc kui nued jummal peph sundina selh wihmb sel pehwal ses in nane mab jumla ninck minnu verteenitur permah on Kumba minna ninck minno issa igkas prukinut ollemei kus ma ulle Kock so wannutan sihs tulke sedda minno tho ninck hinge pehl minno ninck Keick minno lapsede pehl nink Keick minna onne pehl emmis se uduya polwe tagka 'T is the same in Esthonie but about Riga when the Peasants swear at Law they put a Turf upon their heads and take a white stick in their hands expressing thereby that they are content that they their Children and Cattel may become dry as that Turf and that stick if they swear falsly These customs favour of their antient Idolatry The Ministers do all they can to weed it out of them by little and little to which end we saw at Narva the Catechism Epistles and Gospels with their explications which Henry Stahl Superintendent of Ecclesiastical affairs in those parts a person much esteem'd for his Learning and pains in instructing those Barbarians had caused to be translated and Printed in their Language to give them some apprehensions of Christian Religion But Idolatry and Superstiton are too deeply rooted in them and their stupidity and stubborness too great to give way to any hope that they will ever be susceptible of instruction They do their devotions commonly upon hills or neer a tree they make choice of to that purpose and in which they make several incisions bind them up with some red stuff and there say their prayers wherein they desire only temporal blessings Two leagues from Kunda between Reuel and Narva there is an old ruin'd Chapel whither the Peasants go once a year on Pilgrimage upon the day of our Lady's Visitation Some put off their cloaths and in that posture having kneel'd by a great stone that is in the midst of the Chapel they afterwards leap about it and offer it Fruits and Flesh recommending the preservation of themselves and their Cattel to it for that year This piece of devotions is concluded with eating and drinking and all kind of licentiousness which seldom end without quarrels murthers and the like disorders They have such an inclination to Sorcery and think it so necessary for the preservation of their Cattel that Fathers and Mothers teach it their Children so that there is scarce any Peasant but is a Sorcerer They all observe certain superstitious Ceremonies by which they think to elude the effects of it upon which accompt it is that they never kill any Beast but they cast somewhat of it away nor never make a Brewing but they spill some part of it that the Sorcery may fall upon that They have also a custome of rebaptizing their Children when during the first six weeks after their birth they chance to be sick or troubled with fits whereof they think the cause to be that the name given them at their baptism is not proper for them Wherefore they give them another but in regard this is not only a sin but a crime which the Magistate severely punishes in that Country they conceal it As they are stubborn in their superstitions so are they no less in the exact observation of their Customs To which purpose we had a very pleasant but true story related to us at Colonel Barr's concerning an old Country fellow Being condemn'd for faults enormous enough to lye along upon the ground to receive his punishment and Madam de la Barre pittying his almost decrepit age having so far interceded for him as that his corporal punishment should be chang'd into a pecuniary mulct of about 15. or 16. pence he thank'd her for her kindness and said that for his part being an old men he would not introduce any novelty nor suffer the Customes of the Country to be alter'd but was ready to receive the chastisement which his Predecessors had not thought much to undergo put off his cloaths layd himself upon the ground and receiv'd the blows according to his condemnation This is accounted no punishment but an ordinary chastisement in Livoniae For the people being of an incorrigible nature must be treated with that severity which would elsewhere be insupportable They are not permitted to make any purchase and to prevent their so doing they have only so much ground to manage as will afford them a subsistence Yet will they venture to cut down wood in some places of the Forests and having order'd the ground sow wheat in it which they hide in pits under ground to be secretly sold. When they are taken in this or any other fault they make them strip themselves naked down to the hips and to lye down upon the ground or are ty'd to a post while one of their Camerades beats them with a Switch or Hollywand till the blood comes of all sides especially when the Master says Selcke nack maha pexema Beat him till the
be carried away But they have been since baptized and have embrac'd Christian Religion by the means of a Bishop of Vladimer which the late Great Duke sent among them with some Priests to instruct them The Author who hath here made one digression to speak of the Samojedes though not falling under the Subject of his Travels thinks he may make another to say somewhat of Groenland as well in regard of the consonancy there is between the people of that Country and those he had now spoken of and also the Tartars of whom he will have occsion to speak hereafter as for that he hath seen and discoursed with some Inhabitants of Groenland who have told such particularities as would not be undelightful if M. de la Pcreire had not said before himall that could be said of a Country which is as little known as those parts of the World that have not yet been discover'd The Treatise he hath publish'd upon this Subject is such that we shall not need to repeat what he hath clearly and elegantly express'd but only add together with the opinion of our Author who thinks Groenland is a Continent and borders upon Tartary towards the East on one side and on America Westward on the other That Frederick III. King of Denmark coming to the Crown in the year 1648. had besides all other Royal Vertues a great desire to advance the Trade of Groenland Henry Muller Farmer General of the outland customs of Denmark a curious person and rich undertook it and to that end set out a Ship in the year 1652. commanded by Capt. David Dannel one of the most experienc'd Masters of his time The first Voyage having had the success was expected from it the said Muller sent him again to Groenland the next year 1653. But as men of business how curious soever they may be are carried away with some other predominant passion there was nothing learnt in these two Voyages at least those employ'd in them neglected to make any relation thereof that ever could be seen but in the year 1654. a Ship was set out which going from Copenhagen in the beginning of the Spring arriv'd not on the Coasts of Groenland till the 28 of Iuly at a place where the mountains were still cover'd with snow towards the shore the waters frozen and the bottom so hard that it being impossible the Anchor should fasten they were forc'd to let the Ship float upon the water because there were Rocks all about As soon as this Ship appear'd upon the Coasts of Groenland the Inhabitants set out above a hundred Boats and came to view that strange structure which was much different from what they ordinarily saw At first they would by no means come near it but seeing they were intreated to come into the Ship they at last came and in a few days were so familiar that with their commodities which they truckt for such toies as we had they brought also their Wives out of an intention to make advantage of them by another kind of Commerce which though it be not less known elsewhere yet is not so publickly practis'd as among them where fornication is neither crime nor sin The Danes thought this freedom of the Groenlanders a good opportunity to carry away some of them The Ship being ready to set sail for its return and the Savages coming still aboard with their Commodities a VVoman that had a great mind to a pair of knives which one of the Sea-men wore at his Gâ—rdâ—e offer'd him for it a Sea-Dogs skin which the Sea-man refusing as too little she proffer'd him a kindness into the bargain The Sea-man had no sooner express'd his being well satisfy'd with the proffer but she begins to unty the point for they as well as the men wear Drawers and would have laid her self down upon the Deck But the Sea-man made her apprehend that he would not have all see what they did and that she must go under Deck The Woman having got her Father's leave follow'd the Sea-man with two other aged Women a young Boy and a Girl of about 12 years of age who were to be present at the consummation of the bargain But as soon as they were down the hatch was shut they laid hold also of another Man and set sail The Savages perceiving they were trappan'd made a hideous noise in the Ship Those who were upon the Deck got into their Boats and follow'd the Ship a great way into the Sea to see if they could recover the Prisoners The Boy who went down with the Women got out at one of the holes the Cable is put out at and swam ashore They also sent back one of the Women as being too old to be transported so that they had but four persons one Man two Women and a Girl The trouble they were in to be among people they knew not was extraordinary but at last the kindness and good cheer wherewith they were entertain'd won their hearts together with the hope they were put into that within a short time they should be brought back again into their Country so that when they came to Bergues in Norway their affliction seem'd to be quite over nay the Man thought the Women of the Country so handsome and was got into so good a humour that a Lady of quality being come out of curiosity to see these Savages he proffer'd to try what she had under her apron This man dy'd in the Ship before we came to Denmark His Daughter seeing him in the agony of Death bound up his head in his Casaque and so let him dy His name was Ihiob aged about 40 years The older of the two women aged about 45 years was called Kuneling she by whose means they were taken was about 25. her name Kabelau and the Girls name was Sigoka The Plague then very rife all over Denmark had oblig'd the King to retire to Flensbourg in the Dutchy of Holstein where these Groenlanders were presented to him He boarded them at a Chirurgeons and order'd them to be well entertain'd as that at their return to Groenland whither he intended to send them with the first opportunity they might have occasion to celebrate the liberality of his Majesty and the civil entertainment of his Subjects The King honour'd the Duke my master so far as to send them to him to Gottorp where they were lodg'd in my house for some days which I spent in sifting our their humour and manner of life They were all three low of stature but strong being well proportion'd in all parts save that their faces were somewhat too broad and their eyes little but black and very lively especially the more aged of the two women and the Girl their hands and feet short in all things else like the Samojedes or Tartars of Nagaia save that they were beyond comparison much more black those being of a brown Olive-like colour their bodies much more swarthy than their faces and their skins much
intreat Demetrius to come as soon as he pleas'd and take possession of the Kingdom of his Ancestors They also begg'd his pardon for what they had done through ignorance upon the instigation of Boris assured him of their affection and obedience and as a pledge of their fidelity they profer'd to put into his hands the deceased Duke's Son his Mother and all his Family to be disposed of as he should think it Upon these overtures Demetrius sent a Deak or Secretary named Iuan Bogdanou with order to strangle the Mother and Son and to give out that they were poison'd Which was accordingly executed the 10. of Iune 1605. in the second moneth of the reign of Foedor Borissouits The 16. of the same moneth Demetrius came to Moscou with his Army which strangely encreased as he came along The whole City went out to meet him and made him Presents He was Crown'd the 21. of Iuly with extrtordinary Ceremonies And that there might be no question made of the lawfulness of his birth he sent for the Mother of the true Demetrius whom Boris Gudenou had shut up in a Monastery at a great distance from Moscou He went to meet her with a Noble retinue of Courtiers lodg'd her in the Castle where he caused her to be treated with all magnificence visiting her every day and doing her all the honour a Mother could expect from a Son The good Lady knew well enough that Demetrius her Son had been kill'd but she cunningly dissembled it as well out of the resentment she had against the memory of Boris Gudenou and the fear she was in to be ill-treated by this counterfeit Demetrius as for that she was not a little pleas'd to see her self so much honour'd and enjoy the sweetness of a happy life after the miseries and afflictions she had endured in the Monastery since her Son's death But when the Muscovites found his manner of life different from that of the Great Dukes his predecessors that he was resolv'd to marry a Roman Catholick the Weywode of Sandomiria's daughter and ransack'd the Treasuries of the Kingdom to furnish her according to the advancement she expected they began to mistrust him and to perceive they had been mistaken One of the principal Knez named Vasili Zuski was the first that offer'd to speak of it to some other Lords as well Ecclesiastical as Secular and to remonstrate to them the danger whereto both the State and Religion were expos'd by the Alliance which that Counterfeit intended to make with a strange woman and of a contrary Religion adding that of necessity he was an Impostor and a lewd person Upon this it was resolv'd he should be dispatch'd out of the way but the Conspiracy being discover'd and Zuski taken Demetrius got him sentenc'd to death but sent him a pardon upon the point of execution hoping by that mildness to gain the affection of the Muscovites Accordingly all was quiet till the day of his marriage which was the 8. of May 1606. The Bride being arriv'd with a great number of Poles Armed and in a capacity to become Masters of the City the Muscovites began to open their eyes Zuski got to his own house several Knez and Bojares propos'd to their consideration the present State of Affairs the unavoidable ruine of both State and Religion and profer'd for the preservation thereof once more to expose his person and life They gave him thanks and promis'd to assist him with their Persons and Estates when there should be an opportunity to put their design in execution They had a fair one the last day of the Nuptial solemnity which was the ninth after the Wedding and the 17. of May. The Great Duke and his Company being got drunk and asleep the Muscovites caused all the Bells in the City to be rung as they are wont in case of fire to give an Alarm whereupon they immediately put themselves into Arms and set upon the Castle where having defeated the Polish Guards and forc'd the Gates they entred the Great Dukes Chamber who thought to avoid present death by leaping out at a window into the Court in hope to save himself among the Guards which were still there in Arms but he was taken and cruelly us'd The Castle was ransack'd Zuski addressing himself to the pretended Mother of Demetrius oblig'd her to swear by the Cross whether Demetrius was her Son or no to which having answer'd that he was not and that she never had but one Son who had been unfortunately murther'd they shot the Counterfeit Demetrius in the head with a Pistol They imprison'd the pretended Great Dutchess with her Father and Brother as also the Polish Ambassador The Ladies and Gentlewomen were abus'd and deflour'd and above 1700. men kill'd among whom were many Jewellers Merchants who had abundance of Jewels about them Demetrius's body was stripp'd and dragg'd to the place before the Castle where it lay expos'd for three whole days After which they buried it but it was immediately taken up again to be burnt and reduc'd to ashes This conspiracy thus succeeding the Muscovites chose into the place of Demetrius Knez Basilouits Zuski the Ring-leader of the Enterprise who was Crown'd Iune 1. 1606. But he was no sooner got into the Throne ere another Impostor disputed the possession of it His name was Knez Gregori Schacopski who at the pillaging of the Castle having found the Seals of the Kingdom fell into a League with two Polauders and made a shift to go into Poland He made use of the same invention as his Predecessor and took the name of Demetrius giving out where he came that he had escap'd the Massacre in the night time that they had kill'd another in his stead and that he was going into Poland to raise another Army to punish the Muscovites for their infidelity and ingratitude About the same time started up another Demetrius in the City of Moscou He was Clerk to one of the Secretaries of State got into the field made use of the same imposture as the two others and found abetters by whose assistance he became Master of many great Cities This occasion'd many other disorders which the Polanders countenanc'd out of their resentment of the affront they had receiv'd from the Muscovites The events of the War occasioned thereby prov'd so fatal and unhappy that the Muscovites quarrell'd at Zuski and look'd upon him as the sole cause of all their misfortunes They said his Government was unjust because unfortunate and that there must needs be something fatal in his person when victory seem'd to shun him to side with his Enemies Three Muscovian Lords Zacchary Lippanow Michael Molsaneck and Iuan Kesefski were the first that amus'd the people with these reports and perceiving they were well receiv'd among them proceeded in their design depriv'd Zuski of his Dignity shut him up in a Monastery and had him shaved Upon this the Knez and Bojares to avoid the jealousie which the
maintain that he could make it as clear as the Sun at Noon that he was no Muscovite and that there was not any thing in his person language or manner of life which might perswade the World that he was Indeed his beard was quite after another fashion than the Muscovitet ordinarily wear theirs He had the Latin Italian German and Turkish Languages so well as to be understood in any of them and he had such an art in counterfeiting all sorts of hands that it was hard to convince him by that which he writ in his first employment Nay he would have had us suspect as counterfeited the Letters sent by the Great Duke to our Prince because he had not signed them and might have surpriz'd us with that allegation had we not learnt in Muscovy that the Great Duke never signs expeditions but leaves that to be done by the Secretaries of State Timoska perceiving these evasions would not serve his turn â—ell into despair and would have kill'd himself For being upon his way to Travemunde to be ship'd away not far from Neustatâ— he cast himself down headlong from the Wagon and shuffled himself under the Wheels hoping they would pass over his Body but the ground being soft and sandy his fall did him no hurt and the Wagon was immediately staid so that they had the time to return him to his place where they fasten'd him beyond all fear of shewing such another trick He seem'd to be in a very good humour all the way yet sought all the means he could imagine to compass his own death but he was so narrowly watch'd that at last being out of all hope to effect it the joy he had express'd before was much abated Coming to Novogorod he fell into so deep a melancholy that he was become absolutely disconsolate Which yet hindred not but that amidst the greatest tortures he express'd an admirable constancy at least if I may so call the resolute obstinacy in which he persisted as to his first depositions whether it were his design thereby to confirm in strangers the opinion he would have imprinted in them or that he considered with himself that his confession would not prevent his death nor alleviate his misfortune As soon as he came to Moscou he was put to the torture in the presence of divers persons of quality but he impudently told them that of all the Bojares he would not vouchsafe to speak to any but Knez Nikita Iuanouits Romanow and him only as knowing him by fame by reason of his goodness and courage he should be glad to have some discourse withall While two Bojares were gone to find out Nikita Timoska desired somewhat to drink They presented to him some Quas in a wooden dish but he would have Hydromel and that it should be brought him in a silver Cup but after they had so far comply'd with his humour he only put it to his lips and would not drink Seeing Nikita and the other two Bojares come in he gave them a civil salute but still affirmed that he was Son to Basili Iuanouits Zuski though it were prov'd against him that he was the Son of Dementi Aukudina a Linnen Draper of Vologda and that the Great Duke Basili had had no children but only two Brothers Knez Demetri Iuanouits and Iuan Iuanouits Zuski who both died without issue male For of these three Brothers who were sent Prisoners into Poland at the election of Vladislaus in the year 1610. with the rest of the Great Dukes kinred the two elder died there and the third was releas'd and sent back into Muscovy where he died some few years before the execution of Timoska 'T is true there was another Lord of the same Family but he had left only one Son named Michael Basilouits Zuski Scapin who died without issue when the Suedes took the City of Novogorod in the year 1616. While he endured the torture they brought his Mother to him who exhorted him to acknowledge his crime He seem'd to be moved at her presence but persisted in affirming he knew her not no more than he did Iuan Pescou with whom he had left his Son when he left Muscovy This man represented to him how much he was to blame for behaving himself so in the condition he was in and told him that he must at last pull off the vizard he had made use of for so many years to cheat the World and disturb his Country conjuring him to own his Son and rely no longer on elusions and impostures which would only aggravate his misery and bring a greater weight of God's vengeance upon him He was so mov'd hereat that he would not speak one word afterwards though there were divers persons brought before him who had known him while he was employ'd at the Tavern-Office He was search'd and found to be Circumcis'd The next day they put him again to the torture but he would not speak at all so that he was immediately carried to the great Market-place where his sentence was pronounced and presently put in execution They cut off with an Ax first his right arm below the elbow then the left leg below the knee and afterwards the left arm and right leg and last of all the head The members were set up on stakes and the trunk left upon the ground but the Dogs devour'd it in the night and the next morning the Executioner's Servants dragg'd the members to the place where all the City dirt is thrown His man Kostka was pardoned because he had confess'd the truth but in regard he had been unfaithful towards his Prince he was sentenc'd to lose three fingers of his right hand The Patriarch got that punishment to be moderated upon this accompt that the Religion of the Muscovites obliging them to make the sign of the Cross with the right hand which ought not to be maimed he receiv'd his punishment in the left and was sent into Siberia where provision was made for his subsistence during life About this time there came a Polish Envoy to Moscou They gave him audience the same day that Timoska was put to death and brought him through the Market-place just at the execution that he might be an eye witness of it and give an accompt in Poland of the Tragedy of that Impostor who had been there look'd upon as son to the Great Duke Basili Iuanouits Zuski We said before that the Great Duke Michael Federouits died Iul. 12. 1645. The very next day the Knez and Bojares would needs crown his Son Alexei Michaelouits who was not full sixteen years of age He it is that now reigns and makes himself known by the War he made upon Poland as also by that which he daily threatens against Sueden He was born March 17. 1630. Knez Boris Iuanouits Morosou fearing his enemies might take any advantage of the Prince's tender years so hastened his Coronation that they could not send for all those who are oblig'd to be present
haply with some Coat of the deceased and carried to Church If it be a rich man and that the season of the year permit it he is not buried so soon but kept above ground eight or ten dayes during which the Priest comes to incense the Corps and cast holy water on it every day The Funeral solemnity is after this manner First there goes a Priest carrying the Image of the Saint which had been assign'd the deceas'd at his baptism for his Patron Next go four Virgins of the next of Kin to the deceased who are to go as Mourners and who fill the air with their horrid cries and lamentations keeping such exact time that they both give over and then begin all together Then follows the body carried by six men upon their shoulders and if it be a Monk or Nun some of their own Profession do them that Office The Priests go all about the body and incense it all the way to keep off evil spirits and withall sing certain Psalms The Kindred and Friends follow the body but without any order having every one a VVax-Candle in his hand Being come to the Grave the Coffin is uncover'd and the Image of the deceased party's Saint is held over him while the Priest sayes certain prayers in which there come often these words Lord look upon this Soul in Righteousness as also some passages of their Liturgy during which the VViddow continues her lamentations and makes the same questions she had done before Then the Kindred and Friends take leave of the deceased kissing either him or the Coffin and at last the Priest comes up to him and puts between his fingers a piece of paper which is a kind of Testimonial of his behaviour in this world signed by the Patriarch or the Metropolitane of the place and the Confessor who sell those papers dear or cheap according to their abilities who buy them This Testimonial which is a kind of Pass for his admittance into the other VVorld runs thus We whose names are hereunto subscribed the Patriarch or Metropolitane and Priest of the Citie of N. do make known and Certifie by these presents that the Bearer of these our Letters hath alwayes lived among us like a good Christian professing the Greek Religion and though he hath committed some sins yet that he hath confessed the same and that thereupon he hath received absolution and taken the Communion for the Remission of his sins That he hath honoured God and his Saints That he hath said his prayers and that he hath fasted on the hours and dayes appointed by the Church and that he hath carried himself so well towards me who am his Confessor that I have no reason to complain of him nor to deny him the Absolution of his sins In witness whereof we have given him the present Testimonial to the end that upon sight thereof St. Peter may open unto him the Gate of eternal bliss As soon as he hath this Passport given him the Coâ—â—in is shut up and put into the Grave with the face of the deceased turn'd towards the East Those who accompany'd him thither do their Devotions to the Images and return to the house of the deceased where they find Dinner ready and where many times they drown their affliction with all other sentiments of mortality in Hydromel and Aquavitae Their mourning lasts 40. dayes during which they make three Feasts for the Kindred and Friends of the deceased to wit the 3d. the 9 th and the 20 th day after the burial VVherein they imitate the modern Greeks though these instead of the 20 th take the 40 th day upon this ground that about that time the heart corrupts as the body begins to putrifie towards the ninth and the face is disfigured the third Some build Huts over their Graves which they cover with Mat for the convenience of the Priest who morning and evening for the space of six weeks together is to make prayers there for the deceased For though the Muscovites do not believe there is any Purgatory yet they say there are two several places to which the Souls retire after their departure out of the body where they expect the day of Judgement some in a pleasant and delightful place having the conversation of Angels others in a sad and dark Valley having the society of Devils That the Souls being yet in their way may be diverted out of the evil way by the Prayers of Priests and Monks nay that these have so great an Interest with God as to obtain a certain ease and alleviation of their misery for those Souls which are with the Devils and to appease him against the day of Judgement Such as are of ability gives Alms dayly during the six weeks which may indeed be ordinary among the Muscovites who make no difficulty to inrich themselves any way and believe that sin is to be expiated by Alms. VVhence it comes that no Muscovite almost but as he goes to Church or about his occasions buyes bread which he afterwards distributes among the poor who though very numerous yet get so much that being not able to consume all themselves they dry up the rest in an Oven and make it a kind of Bisket which they call Suchari and sell it in the Market to Travellers The Muscovites tollerate all sorts of Religions and suffer all Nations to live among them as Calvinists Lutherans Armenians Tartars Turks and Persians excepting none but Iews and Roman Catholicks There is a great number of Protestants all over Muscovy and in the City of Moscou it self there are above a thousand who have the free exercise of their Religion Those of the Reform'd Religion and the Lutherans had their Churches heretofore in the quarter of Czaargorod but it is about twenty years since that the Lutherans lost theirs by the imprudence of their Wives because those of Merchants would not give place to the Officers wives who indeed for the most part were but servant-maids dress'd up a little finer than they had gone before The contestation grew so high that they came from words to blows in the very Church with so much scandal that the Patriarch then accidentally passing by having understood the occasion of their falling out commanded the Church to be demolish'd which was immediately done But they were permitted to build another in the quarter of Bolsoigorod They took away their Church from those of the Reformed Religion because not content with the wooden Chapel which had been given them within the White-wall they would needs build there an Edifice of stone which was in a manner finish'd when the Patriarch who had not given his consent for the doing of it caused both to be pull'd down Now Foreiners have neither Church nor Houses within the City For the Germans finding themselves exposed to the derision of the Muscovites after the Patriarch had ordered them to go in a habit distinct from that of the Inhabitants of the Country to free themselves
he took it back from me kiss'd it at the begginning and would have given it me to kiss also but I only kiss'd another book I had in my hand and told him that knowing well what book I had my self I made no difficulty to kiss it but not understanding what was contained in his book I should not be too forward to honour it so much He laugh'd and told me I had done very well There was among them an Arabian named Chalil who was a Minatsim or Astrologer born at Hetsa near Meca aged about 65. years He understood Astrology and read Enclid to some of his Disciples I presently knew the book by the figures in it and made him some demonstations as well as I could express my self in the Persian Language whereat the good old man was so much pleas'd that desirous on his part to shew me what he could do he took out of his bosom a little brass Astrolabe and ask'd me whether I had ever seen the like or understood the use of it Whereto having answer'd him that I understood it very well and that I had one at my Lodging he seem'd to be very desirous to see it which oblig'd me to go home to fetch it and to bring along with me the Globe which they wondred very much to see especially when they understood that I had made it my self The honest Arabian desir'd me to shew him how I could set down the Degrees so exactly in regard they have no Instruments wherewith to make their Circles and Degrees I shew'd him the invention of it and how in a short time and with little trouble he might attain thereto for which discovery he acknowledg'd himself very much oblig'd to me insomuch that ever after he let slipno occasion whereby he might assure me of his friendship expressing it as well by his frequent visits coming one day with abundance of excellent fruit and dishes of meat ready dress'd purposely to Dine with me at his own charges as by his earnest proffers of all the service that lay in his power He gave me the Longitudes and Latitudes of the chiefest Cities and places of all Asia which I compared with the observations I had my self made thereof and found them very exact The Molla or Master of the Metzid was called Maheb Aaly and was a very young but mighty good natur'd man and of an excellent humour one who did all that lay in his power to serve me doing me the greatest kindnesses he could upon all occasions especially in my study of the Arabian Tongue He brought me also acquainted with a certain friend of his named Imanculi who was an Ohnbaschi or Captain of a Troop of Horse These two came to see me every day alternately as well to teach me their Language as to learn mine Which they did with very great improvement dayly especially Imanculi who no doubt had in a short time arriv'd to the perfection of it had it not been for the envy or jealousie of some of our own which prov'd so great as to make it suspected that those poor people had some design to change their Religion so that they were forc'd to keep out of the way and for the most part to make their visits in the night Insomuch that one day to wit Febr. 11. being gone to the Metzid to take a Lesson in the Language there came thither a Persian servant to tell the Molla from the Governour that he much wondred how he durst suffer those Christians to come into their Temple that they had nothing to do there and that it was his best course to dismiss them The Molla was at first a little startled thereat but upon second thoughts considering with himself that the Persians are never forbidden the company or conversation of Christians he doubted this was some trick put upon him and having taken the servant aside he understood from him that it was not the Chan but our Interpreter who had sent him to hinder my study of the Language The next day we had such another Message sent us but we knew before both the Author and occasion of it and therefore made no accompt thereof Some time after there hapning some difference between the Ambassador Brugman and our Interpreter he acknowledg'd that it was by order from his Excellency that he had sent the said servant to hinder my learning of the Language Upon the same accompt was it that the said Ambassador ordered me to reduce Persia and Turkie into one Map that so I might be taken off the study of the Language at least as long as I should be employ'd about that teadious and troublesome piece of work Febr. 7. the Ambassadors were visited by a Monk a Roman Catholick named Ambrosio dos Anios born at Lisbon in Portugal The accompt he gave of himself was that he came from Tiflis in Georgia which lies about ten dayes journey from Scanachie where he was Prior of a Monastery of the Order of St. Augustin and that he had undertaken that journey out of no other design than upon the news he had heard that a Potent Prince of Germany had sent a solemn Embassy into Persia and that he could not imagine it should be upon any accompt so much as the advancement of Christian Religion in those parts That he had been the more willing to be at the trouble of that journey out of the hope he had that their Excellencies the Ambassadors would not take it ill that he had taken the freedom to wait on them not only to congratulate their happy arrival in Persia but also to serve them in any thing lay in his power That he had been seven and twenty years in the Kingdom and that during so long a Tract of time he had not been so negligent in inquiring into the affairs of the Countrey and the humour of the Nation as that he might not be in some measure serviceable to them in their Negotiation We knew not upon the first proposal what to imagine of the intentions of this Religious Man and therefore we thought fit to stand as it were upon our Guard till that after ten dayes conversation with him we really found him sincere in all his proceedings insomuch that we made no difficulty to trust him absolutely in all things Besides the Portuguez which was his Mother-Tongue and the Latine in which he entertrain'd the Ambassadors he understood also the Georgian the Turkish and the Persian Languages for the attaining of which last he gave me many excellent directions About this time many of our people were troubled with burning Feavers which was a consequence of their abundant drinking of Wine after the much VVater they had been forc'd to drink before The VVine of Persia is very good but strong and our people drunk so freely of it that the Ambassadors were forc'd to forbid the use thereof by a very strict order There were two and twenty of them kept their Beds at the same time but by Gods
in the Persian and Turkish Languages but all excellently painted richly bound and cover'd with Plates of Gold and Silver carv'd and branch'd The books of History were enrich'd with several representations in colours In the Neeches of the Vault there were above three or four hundred Vessels of Porcelane some so large as that they contain'd above 40. quarts or Liquour These only are used at the entertainments which are brought from the Sepulchre to the King and other great Lords who pass that way for the holiness of that place permits not that they should make use of any Gold or Silver Nay it is reported of Schich-Sefi that he out of an excessive humility made use onely of Woodden Dishes Thence we were brought to the Kitchin the Door whereof was also cover'd with Plates of Silver and all things within it were so handsomly ordered that it was not a little to be admire'd The great Cauldrons were all set in a row and seal'd within the Wall along which pass'd a Pipe which by divers Cocks supply'd all the Kitchin with water The Cooks of all degrees had every one his place according to their functions and employments This Kitchin maintains every day above a thousand persons accompting those belonging to the house and the poor among whom they distribute thrice a day Pottage Rice and Meat to wit in the morning at six at ten and in the after-noon at three The two morning-meals are upon the accompt of Schich-Sefi who to that end lay'd a foundation of fifty Crowns per diem and the third is an Alms bestow'd there by order from the King of Persia. Besides these there are so many Alms distributed there upon the accompt of private persons that there is not only enough to maintain the poor but there is much over and above which is sold to those who are asham'd to beg At the time of these meals or distributions they sound two Timbrels which as they say were brought from Medina with the Banner of Fatima by Schach Sedredin Going out of the Kitchin we entred into a very fair Garden where we saw the Sepulchres of Sulthan Aider Schach-Tamas and several other Kings of Persia which were in the open air and without any thing over them but a smooth stone The principal Lords whose Sepulchres are to be seen in this Meschaich are 1. Shich-Sefi the son of Seid-Tzeibrail 2. Schich-Sedredin the son of Sefi 3. Schich-Tzinid the son of Sedredin whom some Europaean Authors erroneously call Guined 4. Sulthan Aider the son of Tzinid who was flead alive by the Turks 5. Schich Aider the son of Sulthan Aider 6. Schach-Ismael the son of Schich Aider 7. Schach Tamas the son of Schach-Ismael 8. Schach-Ismael the second of that name the son of Schach-Tamas 9. Schach-Mahomet Choddabende son of Schach-Ismael 10. Ismael Myrsa brother of Choddabende 11. Hemsa Myrsa 12. Schach Abas sons of Choddabende Schich-Sedredin ordered his Sepulchre to be built after the death of his Father by an Architect whom he had brought along with him from Medina and according to a Model which he drew of it himself by Miracle for the Persians affirm that both he and his Father wrought many which was that having commanded the Architect to shut his eyes he ravish'd him into an extasie during which he gave him a sight of the Model according to which he would have that Structure built and according to which it was afterwards done Schich-Tzinid adding thereto the great Court and several Houses augmented it so as that now it seems a very noble and spacious Castle whither there comes every day so great a number of persons to Discourse or Walk that there are few Princes Courts where there are more seen The foundations of several Kings its vast Revenues and the Presents which are daily made thereto do so augment the Wealth of it that some conceive its Treasure amounts to many Millions of Gold and that in case of necessity this Mesar might raise and maintain a very powerfull Army and that it would furnish more ready Money than the King could himself Besides the Farms and Dairies which depend on it it hath within the City of Ardebil two hundred Houses nine publick Baths eight Caravanseras or Store-houses that great Vault which is called the Kaiserie all the Meydan with its Vaults and Shops a hundred other Shops in the Basar and the Market-places where Cattel Wheat Salt and Oyl are sold. The Astasnischin or Regraters and Hucksters and those who sell Commodities in open Market having neither Shops nor Stalls pay certain duties thereto It is possess'd about Ardebil of thirty three Towns or Villages and in the Province of Serab of five Villages In the City of Tauris it hath sixty Houses and a hundred Shops and two Villages without the City several Caravanseras and Baths in the City of Casuan as also in the Province of Kilan and Astara The duties of Abschur and Eleschur in the Province of Mokan belong to it and one moyety of those of Chalchat Kermeruth and Haschteruth not accounting what the Tartars and Indians who make profession of the Persian Religion send thither nor the Presents which are brought from all parts in consequence of the Vows which they are wont to make in great Journeys in their Sickness nay indeed in any business of Importance which they very Religiously perform Besides all these there are so many Gifts Donations and Legacies made to it that there passes not a day but a man shall see going thither Horses Asses Camels Sheep Money and other things All these things are receiv'd by two Persons who are oblig'd by an Oath to be faithful to that sacred place and they are called Nessurtzchan from the word Nesur which signifies a Vow and they have an allowance out of the revenue of a fair Village which is within half a League of the City called Sultanabath which was granted by Schich Ismael to that purpose These Commissaries are every day in an apartment on the left hand as a man goes into the Metzid Tzillachane and are set on both sides of a Chest or Box cover'd with crimson Velver into which they put the Money that is brought them as they do also that which arises by the sale of those Horses Camels and Asses which are bestow'd on the Sepulchre for the Oxen and Sheep are kill'd and distributed among the poor They give those who bring them a small Present which is a handful of Anniseed and they are given to understand thereby that their Souls shall enjoy serenity and blisse in the other VVorld They also give the Pilgrims who come thither to do their Devotions a Certificate of their being there and of the Prayers they said there which serves not only for a Testimony of the profession of their Religion but also for a protection against several disgraces and misfortunes nay which is more for the saving of their Lives Accordingly our Interpreter Rustan having resolv'd to leave us and
is done upon the accompt of the Sanctity of the place which is so great that Schach-Abas thought himself oblig'd to banish thence all the publick VVomen Dinner being ended the Musick and the Dancers withdrew and the Ambassadors with the Chancellor made some Progress in their Negotiation and in the mean time we were carried a walking into the Garden where they treated us with Fruit and Conserves As to this Eahtemad dowlet his name was Tagge and he was about sixty years of age having one eye black the other blew a full face but yellowish or inclining to an Olive and very high colour'd whence it came that he was ordinarily called Saru Tagge He wore no beard as being an Eunuch and upon that occasion we shall here give a short account of him and his fortunes which we think may deserve insertion in this place though there are various relations thereof Some affirm that Saru Tagge being yet very young and his employment being to Copy out Writings in the City of Keintze he fell in love with a young Boy and not prevailing with him to consent to his brutality he forc'd him The Boy 's Father made his complaints to Schach-Abas then King of Persia who commanded that Saru Tagge should have his Syk so they call the privy parts with all its dependences cut off Others relate that Schach-Ahas condemn'd him to die and that Tagge coming to hear of it cut off himself those parts with a Rasour sent them to the King with this request that having himself punish'd the Members which had offended his Majesty would be pleas'd to let his head alone which had done no more harm and might one time or other be serviceable to him and that the King astonish'd at the strange resolution of the man conceiv'd an affection for him and finding him an understanding person made him Secretary in his Court of Chancery Schach-Sesi having with his own hands kill'd Taleb-Chan this man's Predecessor sent Tagge the Golden Ink-horn which is the Badge of the Dignity of Chancellor The 21. following the Chancellor invited the Ambassadors to a second entertainment by express order from the King that they might make some further progress in their Affairs They had a very long conference together after which we were treated at dinner but not with the same Magnificence as the time before The 29. the two Brothers Seferas and Elias-beg came to visit the Ambassadors who would needs have them stay Dinner Elias-beg endeavour'd all he could to be merry himself and to make others so but we easily found it was done with some violence and that his heart answer'd not his outward demeanour The reason of it we understood from his elder brother who told us that the King had a great kindness for them and did them very great favours but that it was a dangerous thing to jeast with him and that he had a very sad assurance of it in his brother who being much respected at the Courr for the freedom of his humour and his divertive conversation the King told him one day that he wanted not any thing save that he was not of the Mussulman's Religion and that he could not do him a greater pleasure than to suffer Circumcision Whereto Elias-beg reply'd smiling that that might happen one time or other intreating his Majesty not to speak any further of serious affairs but to prosecute his Divertisements There was no more said to him of it for a good while but upon occasion of the Clock-makers constancy the king sent him word that he should remember the promise he had made to be Circumcis'd He would have excus'd himself pretending what he had spoken was in jeast but those whom the king had sent to him would not be shuffled off with that answer took him and Circumcis'd him by force Elias-beg confirm'd what his elder brother had told us but with this protestation that he was nevertheless a Christian in his Soul and that he would die in the profession he had ever made of that Religion December the second Abasculi Beg our Mehemandar came and brought us the Presents from the king to wit to each of the Ambassadors a Horse with the Saddles cover'd all over with plates of Gold and the Bridles having great buckles of the same Metal Two Garments according to the Persian wearing together with the Mendils and Mianbends that is the Turbant and Girdle of Gold Brocado according to the mode of the Countrey Moreover to be divided between them both two hundred and five pieces of fifteen sorts of silk stuffs Satin Damask Darai Taffata Cotton c. and two hundred Tumains in money which amont to just three thousand three hundred and seventy Piastres or a thousand French Pistols towards the expences of their travel in their return The five principal persons of the Retinue had each of them a Satin Vestment and another of Taffata with Flowers of Gold and Silk The other Gentlemen had each of them one of Taby with Flowers of Gold but the rest of the Retinue had not any thing sent them The Ambassador Brugman seiz'd the money bestow'd some of it among those of our Company who stood in need thereof to buy things necessary for their journey and distributed the rest among some of his Armenian friends The next day Decemb. 3. the King sent to invite the Ambassadors to Dine with him once more which was to be the last Treatment we were to have at Court The Mahemandar told them it was the custom that they should have upon their own cloaths the best of those Garments which the King had sent them The Ambassadors at first made some difficulty to have that complyance but when they were told it was a custom observ'd by all Ambassadors and that no doubt the King would take it very ill at their hands if they presented themselves before him without the marks of his Liberality they at last resolv'd to do it and after their example all the rest of the Retinue We Dined in the Hall of the Divan Chane and all things were performed with the same Ceremonies as at the first time Only this happened more than ordinary that while the fruits were yet upon the Table the Chancellor ordered to pass before the King the Present which he is wont to make every year once and sometimes twice for reasons whereof we shall give some account hereafter This Present consisted in twelve excellent Horses very richly cover'd forty nine Camels loaden with Turkie Tapistry and other fine stuffs of Wool fifteen Mules a thousand Tumains or fifty thousand Livers in money forty pieces of Gold and Silver Brocado and several other stuffs and Commodities whereof there was such abundance that it took up an hour and a half ere all were pass'd by to be dispos'd into the Treasury in as much as for every Tumain there was a several person who carried it in his hand in a silken Purse of several colours
modesty is only as to the external part and that otherwise they are more Luxurious than any other Nation in the World For not thinking it enough to marry several VVives and besides them to have a great number of Concubines they have a kindness left for common VVhores Accordingly there is no City Ardebil only excepted where there are not publick places appointed for that sport under the protection of the Magistrate During our aboad at Scamachie one of our Souldiers having had his pleasure of a VVoman got away without paying her She made her complaints to the Chan who sent to the Ambassadors to entreat them to take same course that she might be satisfy'd sending them word that it was but reasonable that the Kahbe who pay the King a great Tribute should be also paid the Salary due to them VVe have given an accompt elsewhere what use the Persians make of them at their great Feasts and this custom is so antient that Herodotus speaks of it when he sayes that the Ambassadors of the Persians told Amintas King of Macedon that it was their custom when they entertain'd their Friends to give them also the Divertisement of VVomen He brought into the place where they were men in womens Cloaths who kill'd the Ambassadors The King himself maintains a great number of these VVomen at his own charge and makes it his Divertisement at Meals to see them Dancing and shewing all manner of postures before him so that those who are desirous to take up that Profession must not only be handsome but also pleasant and active The King takes them along with him into the Country nay into the Army after the example of the antient Kings of Persia and particularly that of Darius who as Q. Curtius affirms had in his Retinue three hundred and sixty Concubines all very sumptuously Cloath'd Sodomy is no extraordinary sin among them nor is it punish'd as a Crime Saru Taggi who was Chancellor of Persia at the time of our Travels was not punish'd for his Sodomy but for the Violence he had done in the Commission of it The King himself was given to this Vice and so far from punishing it in another that as we were told in the year 1634. Schach-Sefi being at the siege of Eruan one of the Colonels who was got drunk at the King's quarters would at his return to his own in the heat of his VVine having forc'd a young Lad that serv'd him and had often before refus'd to hearken to his lewd addresses The Boy to prevent the violence which he now saw was unavoidable layes hold on the Ponyard which his Master wore at his Girdle and therewith run him into the Heart The next day the King missing the Colonel ask'd what was become of him Some body told him he had been kill'd by one of his Domesticks and gave him an account how it had been done The Boy was brought before him who very ingenuously confess'd what had pass'd between his Master and him and avow'd that the horror he conceiv'd at that sin had made him take that resolution The King was so incens'd that he Commanded him to be cast to the Dogs to be torn to pieces by them The two first that were brought would not meddle with him but afterwards they got two English Mastives which upon the first setting on tore him to pieces The Mahumetan Law allows them to be Luxurious not only by permitting Polygamy but also those other carnal enjoyments wherein the chiefest part of their Beatitude consists even that which the Mussulmans of that Religion expect after this Life it being their perswasion that in their celestial Paradise they shall not only have the same lawfull Wives they had in this World but that they shall also have as many Concubines and Servants as they please and enjoy all other Women as often as they have a mind to it They use all imaginable inventions to stir themselves up to lust and to this end have they at all meetings whether at common Tipling Houses or elsewhere men and women Dancers who provoke them to brutality by their obscene postures They use also the seed and leaves of Hemp to revive languishing Nature though our Naturalists assign it a cold quality which weakens and corrupts Nature I cannot imagine how this can add any fewel to their lustfull inclinations unless it be that the windy humour of it be also expulsive or that in these hot Countries it hath other qualities than it hath in Europe To prepare this Drugg they gather the leaves before they come to Seed dry them in the shade beat them to powder which they mix with Honey and make pills thereof about the bigness of a Pidgeons Egg. They take two or three of them at a time to fortifie Nature As to the Seed they sry it put a little Salt thereto and eat it by way of Desert Imanculi who was sent Ambassador from the King of Persia to the Duke of Holstein took of it at every meal after he had married a young Woman at Astrachan he himself being seventy years of age Persons of good repute in Persia will not eat of it for they say that he who makes use of this remedy commits a greater sin than he that had ravish'd his own Mother upon Mahomet's Sepulchre They call those who use it Bengi kidi bengi But when all is done the Persians think they have sufficiently expiated the sin of Fornication when immediately after they have had their pleasure of a Woman they either bath themselves or wash their Bodies all over with cold water The charges the Persians are at in House-keeping as to the Kitchin and the Cellar amounts to very little unless it be in those Famalies where there are many Women who inflame the Bill very much The Cotton-Cloath which makes most of their Cloathing is very cheap there Their Houses are but poorly furnish'd and they think they have to spare when the floor of their Lodging Room is cover'd with Tapistry and all the provision they make for the whole year is only Rice Flesh is not dear save only at those places where the great number of Inhabitants makes all Provisions scarce in regard they are for the most part brought out of remote Provinces The Garden supplies them with a Desert and the next Brook serves them for a Cellar They are very neat about their Rooms and they suffer not Dogs which out of some other respects they hold to be unclean Creatures or any other Animals to come into them And whereas they have this inconvenience at meals that they use no Trenchers they use a sort of Pots which they call Tustahn about the bigness of our Chamber-pots setting one of them between every two Persons and into these they spet and cast the bones and parings of Fruits We have said elsewhere that they have their Tennrs or Stoves to keep them warm and to spare Wood as much as may be nay some
retire to their own Habitation yet are paid as duely as if they were in actual service and meet not again till there be an Army on foot enjoying in the mean time divers Privileges and Exemptions which the other later kings of Persia have granted them The Meheter that is the Lord Chamberlain or chief Gentleman of the Chamber named Schaneser was a Gcorgian born of Father and Mother Christians He had been carried away in his infancy and sold to the Court of Persia where they had made him an Eunuch so that he needed not be Circumcis'd to receive the Character of the Persian Religion He had been a Page attending in his Chamber to Schach-Abas and was much in favour with Schach-Sefi upon this account that being alwayes near the king's person in all both Publick and Private Assemblies nay even within the Seraglio he had the king's Ear and knew how to comply with his humour and make his advantage of the opportunities he had to speak to him by which means he obtain'd those favours of him which another could not have ask'd The Wakenhuis that is the Secretary of State and of the King's Revenue who having forty Clarks under him perpetually employ'd issues out all the orders and dispatches which are sent into the Provinces and takes an account of all that 's receiv'd towards the charge of the King's house was called Myrsa Masum He was a Peasant's Son of the Village of Dermen in the Mountain of Elwend near Caswin where there are among others two Villages to wit Dermen and Saru whence come the best Pen-men of any in the Kingdom in regard there 's not an Inhabitant but puts his Children to writing as soon as they are able to hold a Pen and keep them so constantly employ'd therein that even in the fields and as they keep their flocks they pass away their time in that Exercise Aliculi-Chan who had the charge of Diwan-beki that is President of the Councel for the administration of Justice was the Son of a Christian of Georgia He had been taken during the War which Schach-Abas had in those parts and sold at Ispahan where he had serv'd as a Lacquey which had also been the condition of his two Brothers Rustam-Chan Governour of Tauris and Isa-Chan Iusbaschi who were made Eunuchs as he was himself The functions of his charge consisted principally in presiding at the judgement of Criminal causes joyntly with the Seder and the Kasi and the other Ecclesiastical and Secular Judges whom they call Schehra and Oef under the Portal of the King's Palace at the place named Diwan-Chane and to be personally present at the Executions of Malefactors The Kularagasi that is Captain of the Kulam or Slaves who are sold to the King to serve in the Wars upon any order they receive to that purpose was called Siausbeki and had been one of Schach-Abas's Footmen Of these Kulams there are about eight thousand and are permitted to live at their own Habitations as the Kurtzi are and have the same pay but they enjoy not the same Privileges or Exemptions having nothing of that kind which is not common to them with the king's other Subjects The Eischikagasi-baschi or Lord high Steward who hath the over-sight of forty Stewards that serve under him called Mortusaculi-Chan was the Son of a heard-man or one of those people whom the Persians call Turk who have no setled Habitation but remove their Tents and Huts to those places where they think to find the best Grass for their Cattel I said these Eischikagasi were a kind of Stewards of whom there are at all times four or five at the Court who stand at the door of the king's Appartment and serve by half-years under their Baschi or Chief who carries the staff they call Dâ—kenâ—k and stands before the king when he eats in publick on dayes of Ceremonies He is also one of the two who take Ambassadors under the Arms when they are brought to audience We have already related how Mortasaculi-Chan succeeded in this charge Vgurlu-Chan whose head Schach-Sefi had caus'd to be cut off Imanculi Sulthan whom the king of Persia sent upon an Embassy to the Duke of Holstein our Master had the quality of Eischakagasi Schahe Wardi who was Iesaul Scebet or Master of the Ceremonies was the Governour of Derbent's Son but his Grand-father was a Peasant of the Province of Serab The Iesaul Scebet carries also a staff and his principal function consists in placing strangers at the king's Table and at publick assemblies The Nasir or Controller of the king's house whom they also give the quality of Kerek jerak because he executes the function of a Purveyer whose name was Samambek was the Son of one of the ordinary Inhabitants of Kaschan The Tuschmal who hath the over-sight of all the Officers belonging to the king's kitchin was called Seinel-bek and was the Son of Seinel-Chan whom the king kill'd with his own hands in the presence of his Mother The Dawatter that is the Secretary of the Closet whose name was Vgurlu-bek was the Son of Emirkune-Chan He had in that charge succeeded Hassan-beg who was kill'd by the king's order because he had been at Supper with Talub-Chan as we related before The word Dawatter is deriv'd from Dawat which signifies an Ink-horn in as much as the principal function of this charge consists in carrying the Ink-horn and presenting that part thereof where the Ink is to the king when he is to sign any thing For the king himself carries the Seal about his Neck and Seals or Signs himself by pressing the Seal upon the Paper after he had put it into the Ink. Aly-baly-bek who was Myra-chur-baschi that is chief of the Gentlemen of the Horse or Master of the Horse of Persia was a Senkene by birth and his Father was a Drover who traded altogether in Oxen. The Mirischikar or Grand Faulconer whose name was Chosrow Sulthan was a Christian an Armenian born one notwithstanding his Religion very much in the king's favour Karachan-bek who had the charge of Sekbahn-baschi that is Overseer of those who kept the Dogs for Hunting or chief Hunts-man as I may call him was also a Sen-kene and the son of a Shepheard The Iesalkor hath two functions to wit that of Grand-Marshal of the Lodgings and that of Judge of the king's houshold He marches before the king as well in the Citie as in the Country with a staff in his hand to make way He hath under him several other Iasauls who are as it were Harbingers and sometimes is employ'd in the securing of persons guilty of Treason and such as are imprison'd by the king's express order The other Officers belonging to the Court are The Suffretzi that is the Carver The Abdar who serves the king with water to drink and keeps it in a Jarr seal'd up to prevent any body 's putting of poyson into it The
Holstein who had them so well instructed that in the year 1642. they were both baptized having before given a publick accompt of their Faith Our Interpreter for the Turkish Language was also a Tartar-born and had been stoln in his Infancy and carried to Moscou where he had been baptiz'd His relations knew him again and would have redeem'd him but he would not consent thereto protesting he would dy in the profession of the Christian Religion since it was Gods pleasure to bring him to the knowledge thereof But ever after he went not far from the Ambassadors Quarters leâ—t he might have fallen into the hands of his relations who would have dispos'd otherwise of him At this place the Persian Ambassador bought him a Wife She was a Tartar and Sister to a Myrsa who was a prisoner and who sold his Sister for a hundred and twenty Crowns in money and a horse which the Ambassador valued at ten Crowns This Ambassador was at least seventy years of age but very vigorous and us'd much Hemp-seed bak'd in the Embers whereof the Persians eat abundance out of an opinion that it revives Nature yet hinders Conception Sept. 7. we left Astrachan and embark'd upon the Wolga the Ambassadors dividing their retinue and taking each of them a Boat We cast anchor within half a league of the City expecting the Persian Ambassador who came to us the next day with three Boats We gave him a volley at this arrival and set sail together The 10. we pass'd before the Iland of Busan where the Tartars of Crim and Precop are wont to swim over the River which in that place is somewhat narrow The Muscovites to prevent them had set a Guard there of fifty Musketteers who sent to us for some Bread and got a bag of Suchary The 15. we cast anchor before Tzornogar which the Muscovites call also Michailo Novogorod from the Great Duke Michael Federouits who built it within three hundred werstes or sixty German leagues from Astrachan The Weywode sent the Ambassadors a Latin Letter which Alexei Savinouits had left for them and sent one to invite them to come to refresh themselves in the City but they would not lose so much time The 24. we got before Sariza two hundred werstes from Tzornogar The 29. the wind fair we got forty werstes The Muscovites attributed the cause of it to the Great Duke's name whose Feast was celebrated that day being St. Michael's October 2. one of the Persian Ambassadors Boats was a-ground They were so long getting it a-fâ—oat again that the Ambassadors went ashore where they dined together Their people made also acquaintances among themselves and those of Persia took so much Aquavitae that we were forc'd to carry and drag them to the Boats like so many Beasts The Persians must also needs fall out with the Musketteers who guarded them Cudgels and Cymitars were employ'd and the Ambassador himself who was got as drunk as any of his people was going to draw upon them when our Ambassadors came in and reconcil'd all The night following one of the Persian Ambassadors Pages who was sick of a bloody Flux fell into the water yet none perceiv'd it till the next morning The 6. we came before Soratof 350. werstes from Sariza We there heard that a party of Cosaques would have set upon the Caravan but fearing they might come by the worst on 't they only cross'd their march with a great noise and by means of their breeding-Mares got away some Archemagues or Persian horses intended for breed The 14. the wind South-west there rose such a tempest that it scatter'd all our Boats That of the Ambassador Crusius and two of the Persian Ambassador's which carried horses were forc'd upon the shore and immediately sprung such aleak that we had hardly time enough to get out our Baggage the Persians their horses whereof there was one drown'd This Tempest having continued two daies we got our Boats ashore caulk'd them and departed thence the 17. but the Persian Ambassador who had two Boats unserviceable was forc'd to send away his horses by land The 24. we came before the City of Samara seventy leagues from Soratof November the sixt we pass'd by the mouth of the great River Kama and entred with the night into the River Casan in very good time for us in regard the next morning the River Wolga was frozen over The Weywode of the City Iohn Wasilouits Moroson who at the time of our former being at Moscou was Counsellor of State to the Great Duke receiv'd us but very indifferently as well in regard the Ambassadors had not made their acquaintance with him by Presents as by reason of his siding with the Muscovian Merchants who opposed our negotiation and would have prevented the establishment of our Commerce The Ambassadors sent their Steward to him with the Great Duke's pass intreating him they might be assigned Lodgings in the City but he sent him back with this answer that he might return to the Boat and there the Ambassadors should hear further from him The next day he sent to the Ambassador Brugman's Boat a Sinbojar who addressing himself to the Ambassador ask'd him which of the two was the Ambassador which the Merchant Brugman thinking himself affronted by that discourse took him by the arm and said to him Go tell thy Master that if he cannot read let him get one that can and withall may shew him what quality the Great Duke gives us But notwithstanding all this we were forc'd to continue several daies on the River though the weather were very cold The Weywode indeed sent us word that we might lodge in the City for our money but he issu'd out orders that none should entertain us and commanded the Sentinel who had permitted the Steward to pass and a Boy who had been his guide through the marsh from the River-side to the City to be cudgell'd Nov. 11. the Persian Ambassador made his entrance into the City and was lodg'd in that part of it which is bult of wood He prevail'd so far with the Weywode that he permitted us to land which we did the 13. taking up our Quarters in the Suburbs Nov. 20. the Ambassadors bestow'd the two Boats on the Weywode and made him some other Presents which put him into another humour and made him very much our friend December the 16. the Muscovites celebrated the Festival of their Patron St. Nicholas for the space of eight daies together during which a man could see nothing but perpetual drunkenness and extraordinary bebauchdness in both men and women The Care or Parson of the Parish came one day to my Quarters accompany'd by his Clerk as well to incense the Images as to comfort the Mistress of the house whose husband was put in prison for debt He told us that about forty years before there had been found in the Monastery of Spas which is in the said
the Christian Religion but he had no sooner made his first acquaintances at Surat ere he understood that an Uncle of his by the Mother-side could raise him to great fortunes at the Mogul's Court where he was Master of the Horse Upon this intelligence he soon took a resolution to leave me and to desire the protection of the Sulthan who kept him a while at his own house and afterwards sent him to Agra I was the more startled at this departure of the young fellow the more it run in my thoughts that knowing all the particulars of our engagement with the Indian Embassadour at Ispahan his design might be to betray me into the hands of my enemies And certainly had I known of his going to Agra I should not have had the confidence to take that place in my way though it might appear by what happened afterwards that God sent him to that place expresly to save my life since had it not been for him I might have lost it there In May there came news to Surat that the Chan who commanded at Candahar for the King of Persia had revolted and had rendred the place to the Mogul upon this account that the Scach had threatned to put him to death The Mogul sent immediately 500000. Crowns to the place as a requital for the Governours service and to pay the Garrison which had revolted along with him Alymerdan-Chan Governour of the same place had done such another trick at the beginning of Schach-Sefiâ—s â—s Reign who would needs oblige him to bring his head to Court which if he had done he had never carried it away again upon his shoulders Soon after Scach recover'd Candahar again and it was partly upon this account that the Mogul had sent to him the Embassadour I spoke of before though among his other Instructions he had order to demand the Myrsa Polagi his Nephew Iune 16. I went out a hunting with a young Dutch Merchant and another English Merchant with whom having cross'd the River they brought me to an old ruin'd City called Reniel where the Dutch have a Ware-house The Inhabitants of this City are called Naites and are for the most part either Mariners or Trades-men and of the Mahumetan Religion The streets of it are narrow and the houses so rais'd from the foundation that there is not any but hath one step to get up to it There we staid all night and were nobly treated by the Merchants who had the management of the Trade there The next day we went to a Village called Bodick and in our way let fly at a wild Duck and a Heron there we saw about twenty Deers Their skins which were somewhat greyish were checkquer'd all over with white spots and they had fair Horns with several Brow-ancklers There was among them a sort of creatures about the bigness of our Ro-Bucks the Skins whereof were inclining to a dark brown checkquer'd also with white spots having very graceful Horns Some are of opinion that these are the same that Aldrovandus calls Cervi-capras and that it is from this kind of Beast that we have Bezoar We went thence to another Village called Damre where we saw abundance of wild Ducks in the Rice whereof there grows great store in those parts All the fields have a little ascent raised about them to keep in the water the Rice requiring much moisture In this Village we found some Terry which is a Liquor drawn out of the Palm-trees and drunk of it in Cups made of the leaves of the same Tree To get out the Juyce they go up to the top of the Tree where they make an incision in the bark and fasten under it an earthen pot which they leave there all night in which time it is fill'd with a certain sweet Liquor very pleasant to the taste They get out some also in the day time but that corrupts immediately and is good only for Vinegar which is all the use they make of it The City of Surat or Suratta lies at 21. degrees 42. minutes upon the River Tapta which rises near Barampour and falls into the Sea four Leagues below the City It lies all along the River side and is built four-square It hath no wall to the River side but on the Land side it hath a good Rampier of Stone and a Castle all of Free-stone The City hath three Gates whereof one goes towards the Village of Brion where those who go to Cambaya and Amadabat cross the River another goes to Barampour and the third to Nassary All the Houses are flat as those of Persia and most have very fair Gardens The Castle which they say was built by the Turks upon an Invasion which they made into this Country hath but one Gate which looks into a spacious Plain which serves for a Meidan to the City Not far thence and at the entrance of the City stands the Governours Palace and the Custom-house and near them the Bazar as well for forreign Merchants as those of the City The Governour of the Castle hath no dependance on him of the City whose business it is to look after the administration of Justice and the payment of the Customs at the Exportation and Importation of all Merchandises which pay three and a half in the hundred except it be Gold and Silver whether coined or in wedges or made into bars which pay but two in the hundred The Dutch and English have their Houses there which they call Lodges and are spacious and well built consisting of many fair Appartments Lodgings Chambers fair Halls Galleries and Chappels The Haven of Suratta is two Leagues from the City at the Village of Suhaly whence the Dutch and English call it the Kom of Suhaly There Ships are unladen of their Commodities which are brought thence to Suratta by Land This Road lies at 21. degrees 50. minutes upon the course of North-east and South-west The entrance into it is not very broad since that at high-water there is but seven fathom water and at low but five The Haven it self is not above 500. paces broad before the Village sandy at the bottom and most of the banks are bare and dry at low-water and so sharp and steepy that sounding there is to no purpose at all 'T is very safe riding there being no danger of any wind but that of the South-west But from May to September there is no staying on those Coasts by reason of the winds and tempests accompany'd by extraordinary thunder and lightning which reign there during all that time The Inhabitants of Surat are either Benjans Bramans or Moguls These last are Mahumetans and much better look'd on then the others as well upon the account of their Religion which they have common with the Great Mogul and the chiefest Lords of the Country as upon that of the profession they make to bear Arms. They have an aversion for Trades and Merchandise and had rather serve
wherewith they continually rub them but also by their abstinences which as they are greater so are they withall much more frequent then those of the Benjans of the Sect of Ceurawath There are some Women become Goêghys but in regard that Sex is too tender and delicate to accustom themselves to so great austerity their number is not very great The Benjans oblige their Proselytes that is the Mahumetans who embrace their Religion to a very extravagant manner of life For to renew their whole body which according to their Opinion is defiled by the flesh they had eaten they oblige them for the space of six moneths together to mix amongst what they are to eat a pound of Cow-dung out of this reason that that Creature having as they hold some thing divine in it here is nothing can purifie the body so well as that kind of nourishment which their Proselytes are permitted to diminish by degrees after the three first moneths of their conversion They also condemn to that kind of Diet those of their own Sect who having been prisoners among the Mahumetans or Christians or conversing ordinarily among them have been perswaded to eat flesh or drink wine and receive them not into their communication till such time as they have been purified in that manner All the Benjans are extreamly superstitious For they never go out of their houses till they have said their Prayers and if at their going out they meet with any ill presage they return into their houses and do not any business of importance that day They take to presage ill Fortune the meeting of an empty Cart a wild Oxe an Ass a Dog if he be not eating somewhat a Goat an Ape a Deer a Goldsmith a Carpenter a Lock-smith a Barber a Taylor a beater of Cotton a Widow a company of People going to the enterment of a dead Body or a Man returning from the same Ceremony as also that of a Man or Woman carrying Butter Oyl Milk brown-Sugar Citrons or any other sharp things Apples Iron or any thing relating to War They are on the contrary well pleased with the meeting of an Elephant or Camel whether they be loaden or not as also of a Horse a Cow an Oxe a wild Oxe loaden with water a He-Goat a Dog eating a Cat coming on the right hand of them and Persons loaden with Provisions Curds and white-Sugar but above all that of a Cock or a Hare and then they cheerfully go about what they have to do as being prepossess'd with the opinion they have that the success of their Affairs will be answerable to their expectations There are some who put the Rasboutes into the number of the Benjans and affirm that they are a branch of the Sect of Samarath with which they believe the transmigration of Souls and several other things But they believe this in particular that the Souls of Men go into Birds who afterwards give their Friends notice of the good and evil which is to befall them upon which account it is that they so superstitiously observe the flight and singing of those Creatures Their Widows burn themselves with the bodies of their deceased Husbands unless it be that at the contract of Marriage there was some promise made that they should not be forc'd thereto But whereas all the other Benjans are of a mild and reserv'd disposition abhorring the effusion of bloud even that of Beasts these on the contrary are a sort of violent and daring people who eat flesh and live only by murther and rapine and never mind any other profession then that of Arms. The Mogul makes use of these Men as do also most of the other Princes of the Indies because they are undaunted and entertain not the least fear of death To this purpose there is a Story of five Rasboutes who forc'd by weariness to rest themselves in a Country mans house there happened to be a Fire in the Village which by reason of the wretchedness of the houses soon came to that where they were They had notice of it but one of them said to the rest that having never turn'd their backs from danger it would be the greatest shame in the world to them to shun death which they had never fear'd That it were baseness in them to stir thence but that they were to make the Fire as much afraid of them as others were of it and force it to stop its progress when it came near them and they were so earnestly engag'd in these temerarious and extravagant discourses that the Fire getting into the Room where they were one only had the time to get out and to drag along with him one of his Camerades who could never afterwards be recover'd out of the melancholly regret he had conceiv'd at his not having follow'd the example of the others It is related also of another Rasboute who going into the Country in the company of two others came in his way to a Pit at the sight whereof his Horse stood still but the Rasboute condemning the caution of the Beast as if it had proceeded from fearfulness told him that he was very much to blame to entertain any fear having on his back a Man that never knew any and thereupon beating him he would have made him leap over the Pit but both Horse and Man falling they were both drown'd the Man acquiring among them by this inconsiderable and brutish action the reputation of a Man heroically courageous They have no compassion but what they have towards irrational Creatures especially Birds which they take the pains to keep and feed out of a perswasion that one day when their Souls shall be lodg'd in Creatures of that kind some or other will have the same charity towards them And this is their employment particularly on Holy-dayes as also for ten or twelve dayes after the decease of their nearest Kindred and upon the anniversary dayes of their death They have this common with the other Benjans that they marry their Children very young which is the less to be wondred at inasmuch as it is very certain that the Indians of both Sexes are capable of engendring much sooner then any other Nation so that there are not any but are fit for the work of generation at ten or twelve years of age To this purpose I have a Story which may seem fabulous but I have it from such grave persons that I shall make no difficulty to communicate it upon their credit Not many years since even in the reign of Scach Choram who is yet living a certain Rasboutes Wife who liv'd at Agra was brought to bed of a Daughter which at two years of age had Breasts as big as those of any Nurse A Lock-smith neighbour to the Rasboute advised the Father and Mother to permit that the hot Iron might be apply'd thereto which is the ordinary remedy they make use of against superfluous humours They consented thereto but as soon
as they had applied the foresaid Remedy the Lock-smith died and soon after the Father and Mother and all those that had been present at the said cure The child had at three years of age what those of her Sex are not wont to have till twelve or thirteen The year after she had nothing of that kind but her Belly was so swollen as if she had been with child That swelling was little abated the year following and at six years of age she was brought to bed of a Boy But this was thought a thing so extraordinary all over the Country though they marry very young as I said before that Schâ—ch Choram sent for both Mother and Child and ordered them to be brought up at the Court Besides the Benjans there is yet another sort of Pagans in the Kingdom of Guzuratta whom they call the Parsis These are the Persians of Fars and Chorasan who fled into those parts to avoid the persecution of the Mahumetans in the seventh Age. For Abubeker having undertaken to establish the Mahumetan Religion in Persia by force of Arms the King perceiving it was impossible for him to oppose it took shipping with eighteen thousand men at Ormus and landed in Indosthan The King of Cambaya who was a Hindou or Indian that is a Pagan as himself received him to dwell in his Country into which that liberty drew several other Persians who with their Religion have preserv'd and continued their ancient manner of life Their habitations are for the most part along the Sea-coast and they live very peaceably sustaining themselves by the advantage they make out of the Tobacco they plant and the Terry they get out of the Palms of those parts and whereof they make Arak in regard they are permitted to drink Wine They intermeddle also with Merchandise and the exchange of Money and keep Shops and are of all Trades except those of Farriers Black-smiths and Lock-smiths in regard it is an unpardonable sin among them to put out the fire The Parsis believe that there is but one God Preserver of the Universe That he acts alone and immediately in all things and that the seven Servants of God for whom they have also a great Veneration have only an inferiour administration whereof they are oblig'd to give an account The first of these Servants is called Hamasda and hath the Government of Men and his charge is to induce them to the exercise of good Works The second whom they call Bahman hath the oversight of Cattel and presides over all the living Creatures that are upon Earth The third named Ardybesh preserves Fire and hinders it from being put out The fourth is called Sarywar and is entrusted with the charge of Metals about which they are very curious and accuses those who neglect the making of them clean which negligence is a mortal sin among them The fifth whom they call Espander hath a care of the Earth and keeps it from being pollutâ—d and hinders it from being otherwise used then it ought Aâ—waerdath who is the sixth hath the same charge over the Water as Espander hath over the Earth and keeps it from being defiled with filth The seventh whom they call Ammadath looks to the preservation of Fruits Trees Herbs and Pulse but without any power either to advance or retard their production For these seven subalternate Spirits are appointed by God only to take cognizance of the abuses committed in this World and to make their report thereof to him Besides these seven Servants whose dignity is very great God hath twenty six other Servants who have all their particular Functions The first whom they call Saroch takes possession of the Soul immediately upon its departure out of the Body and conducts it before two Judges whom they call Meer Resus and Sâ—ros to be examined and to receive according to their Sentence either its condemnation or absolution from its sins Their manner of proceeding in judgment is to put the good and evil Works into two Scales that they may judge of them according to their weight The good and evil Angels stand about the Scales and carry away the Souls adjudged to them either into Paradise where they enjoy eternal bliss or into Hell there to be tormented to the end of the World which they believe will be renewed at the expiration of a thousand years and then they shall enter into other Bodies to lead a better life then they had done in the former The fourth of these Servants is called Beram and hath the oversight of all Military affairs upon which account it is that they address themselves to him that they may obtain of God Victory by his Intercession The fifth is Carraseda that is to say the Sun The sixth Auva that is the Water The seventh is called Ader and governs the Fire under Ardy besth The eighth is Moho or the Moon The ninth is Tiera that is Rain The tenth called Gos hath the oversight of Cattel The eleventh who is called Farwardy hath the custody of the Souls which are in Paradise The twelfth named Aram is he that gives Joy or Sadness to Mankind The thirteenth named Goada governs the Winds and makes them blow as he pleaseth Dien who is the fourteenth teaches Men the Law of God and inspires them with good motions to observe it Apirsanich who is the fifteenth is he who bestows Wealth on Men. Astaet who is the sixteenth is he that gives Men Understanding and Memory The seventeenth whom they call Assaman is Superintendent over Commerce The eighteenth called Gamigat hath the Government of the Earth Marispan who is the nineteenth is Goodness it self who is communicated to those that invocate him They call the twentieth Amiera and his Presidentship is over Money whereof he hath the disposal The one and twentieth is called Hoêm and is he without whose concurrence there happens no Generation of Men or Beasts or Production of Fruits Dimma and Berse are indifferently design'd to attend all Men and the three remaining whom they call Dephader Dephemer and Dephdin are engag'd upon the particular Service of God who imployes them about all Affairs indifferently The Parsis who call these twenty six Servants by one general name Geshoo that is to say Lords believe that they have an absolute power over the things whereof God hath entrusted them with the Administration Whence it comes that they make no difficulty to worship them and to invocate them in their extremities out of a perswasion that God will not deny them any thing they desire upon their Intercession They have a very great respect for their Doctors and Teachers and allow them a very plentiful subsistance with their Wives and Children though some among them intermeddle also with Merchandise which they are permitted to do according to their Law but these are not so highly esteemed as those others who spend all their time in teaching Children to read and write and explicating their Law to the
Feasting and Women for their Law allowing them to take all pleasures imaginable provided they do not injure their Neighbours they are willing enough to make their advantage of that permission and so pursue all the delight their hearts can wish When they eat they sit upon Tapistry and are served by a Carver They have no Napkin nor need any for they never touch the Meat with their hands They keep as many Servants as they can maintain assigning every person his particular Employment wherein the others are so exact that they who are appointed to do one thing will not do the least service for another For a Selvidar whose place it is to look to the Horses will not meddle with an Oxe or do any thing about the Cart because that is the duty of the Belluwan The Serriewan hath the oversight of the Camels and the Mahout that of the Elephants The Frassy looks to the Tents and Tapistry and the Santeles are Lacqueys These have a great Plume of Feathers on their Heads and two little Bells upon their Breasts and will easily travel fifteen or sixteen Leagues a day They are not kept in the House but have their Wages on which they live though it amounts not to above three or four Ropias a Moneth But they have withall certain Vails calied Testury yet with all the Advantages they can make of their services it is as much as they can do to subsist Their greatest expence is that which they are at about their Wives For being permitted to have three or four if they please they are oblig'd to maintain them with their Eunuchs and Slaves according to their quality by allowing them a certain sum monethly as also by finding them Cloaths Pearls and Houshold-stuffe Their Polygamy hath this convenience in it that there is no Woman but uses all Industry and Artifice imaginable to gain her Husbands affection and defeat her Rivals All the caresses all the kindnesses she can think of she makes use of to ingratiate her self There is no Drug eminent for its veneral Vertues but she will find out some means or other to give him to excite him to Voluptuousness and she thinks no complyance too great to purchase his more frequent enjoyments They have also a great kindness for the Eunuchs in whose custody they are to engage them to afford them more liberty in their restraint which they brook so ill that in those parts a man would think Polygamy should rather be permitted the Women then the Men. But of all Tradesmen are in the saddest condition in as much as the Children cannot be put to any other Trades then what their Fathers are of and there is this incouvenience withall that a piece of work must pass through three or four hands before it be finished so that all they can do is to get five or six pence a day They must accordingly fare very poorly their ordinary Diet being only Kitsery which they make of Beans pounded and Rice which they boyl together in water till the water be consumed Then they put thereto a little Butter melted and this is their Supper for all day they eat only Rice and Wheat in the grain Their Houses are low the Walls of Earth and covered with green Turfs They make no fire in their Houses for having nothing that is combustible but Cow-dung the stink of that would be insupportable whence it comes that they burn it before their Doors They also rub the walls with the same dung out of an imagination that it keeps away Fleas and other Insects Merchants are infinitely more happy then Tradesmen but they also have this inconvenience that as soon as they have gotten any wealth together they are exposed to the envy of the Grandees who find out wayes to flecce them as soon as they make any shew of it And whereas they cannot do it with Justice they many times make use of such pretences as cost those their lives who have acquired excessive riches All the Mahumetans of these parts may be said to profess the same Religion but they have among them certain Superstitions and particular manners of life whereby they are distinguished into several Sects though it may be also alledged that they are to be accounted rather so many Nations then different Sects For when they are distinguished into Patans Moguls or Mogollies and Indosthans who are subdivided into many other more considerable Fractions as Sayet Seegh and Leet it must be confess'd that if there be any difference in their humours and manner of life they brought it out of the Countreys whence they came and that it is not to be attributed to their Religion For it is certain that the Patans are those who in the precedent Travels of the Embassadours are called Padars a sort of self-conceited insolent cruel and barbarous people They sleight others for no other reason then that they are not so rash as themselves in hazarding their lives without any necessity The Moguls on the contrary who came out of great Tartary are good natur'd mild discreet civil obliging and full of complyance whence it comes that they are more respected then the others The Indosthans or Hindusthans are the ancient Inhabitants of the Country and distinguish'd from the rest by their colour which is much blacker then that of the two former These are a Rustical sort of people and covetous and not so ingenious and crafty as the Patans and Moguls In the Province of Haca-chan there lives a certain people whom they call Blotious who are of a strong constitution and courageous as the Patans They are for the most part employed about the carriage of Merchandises they let out Camels and undertake the Conduct of the Caffilas and this they do with so much fidelity that they would rather lose their lives then endure the reproach of having lost any thing committed to their charge There are no common Inns in all the Kingdom of Guzuratta nor indeed in all the Mogul's Countrey but instead thereof in Cities as also in some Villages there are certain publick Buildings called Sarai built by some persons out of Charity for the convenience of Strangers and Travellers who were it not for those would be forc'd to lie in the open Air. These are the Caravanseras which have only the four walls and a covering over head so that to be accommodated therein a Man must bring along with him what is not to be had there In travelling through the Countrey they make use of Camels Mules Horses and Oxen. They have also a kind of Coaches for two or three persons which are drawn by Oxen whereto they are so accustomed that they easily go ten or twelve leagues a day The upper part or covering of these Coaches is of Cloath or Velvet but those which carry Women are close of all sides Persons of all quality make use also of Elephants and are sometimes carried in Palanquines which are a kind
out of the Room in very good order The Iesuits told us that by that invention they represented the pains they had taken in planting among the Pagans and Mahumetans of those parts the Church of God whereof our Saviour is the only Pillar or Corner-stone After this there was an entrance of twelve Youths who sung and play'd every one upon a different Instrument all done in exact measure There came in also some Morris-dancers who danc'd to the Castagnets and kept measure with the Musick so exactly that I never saw any thing like it There came in also one Man alone who was covered with Birds-nests and cloath'd and mask'd according to the Spanish mode who began the farce of this Comedy by ridiculous and fantastick postures and the Ball was concluded with the coming in of twelve Boys dress'd like Apes which they imitated in their cries and postures The Ball being over we staid there a while to hear their Musick which was altogether after the Portuguez way As we took leave of our Entertainers they told us that they made use of those Divertisements as well to reduce the Pagans and Mahumetans of those parts to the embracing of Christian Religion by that kind of modern Devotion as to amuse the Children and divert them after their studies The 18. of Ianuary we were invited to dinner by the Iesuits of the Colledge which they call the Bon-Iesus We were receiv'd at the entrance by some of the most ancient Fathers who shewed us in several Halls and Chambers the Pictures of several Princes and Persons of Quality who had been of their Order as also the Histories of those of their Society who had suffer'd Martyrdom for Christian Religion among whom the Authors of the Gun-powder plot in England were not the least But they forbore giving us the Explication thereof only they entertain'd us with a long relation of the cruelties exercis'd some years before upon those of their Society in Iapan where the Emperour had made use of the most exquisite torments could be invented upon the Christians as well the Forreigners who had spent their endeavours in planting Religion in those parts as upon the Iaponneses who had made profession thereof Having shew'd us whatever was worth the seeing in their Colledge they brought us unto the Church which is no question one of the most sumptuous the Iesuits have in all Asia The Structure is vast and magnificent and the Ornaments are so sutable to the greatness thereof that it were not easie to imagine any thing more noble The first thing we were shewed was the High-Altar but though it were one of the noblest I ever saw yet came it not in wealth near another lesser one which had been built in honour of Saint Francis Xavier whom they call the Apostle of the Indies We were shewed his Image which was upon wood drawn according to the life and we were told his body was still to be seen in that Church in the same posture as it was at the time of his departure The Iesuits told us that the body of the said Saint Francis Xavier was found in the Island of Ceylon and that it was discovered only by a most delightful smell which had brought those who found it many Leagues distance from the Sea to the place where it was hidden Which story does not agree very well with what others write of the same body For besides that the scent which is carried from the Island of Ceylon so far into the Sea proceeds from the Groâ—e of Cinnamon wherewith that Island is in a manner covered Maphaeus one of the gravest Authors that ever were of the Society sayes in express terms that Francis Xavier not satisfied with the progress he had made in the Indies by the means of his preaching the Faith of Christ would needs try whether it might have the like success in China but that he died on the Sea-side as soon as he landed Whereto he adds that the Master of the Ship which had carried him thither caused the Corps to be put into unslak'd Lime to the end he might carry away the bones after the flesh had been consumed but that after certain dayes that consuming matter had not made any impression upon it and that the body instead of being corrupted smell'd very sweetly and that thereupon they resolv'd to carry it to Goa where it was received with great Ceremonies They related to us a great many Miracles wrought by that Saint but I remember only two or three of the most considerable to wit that he had caused the Sun to come back an hour after it was set that he commanded the Sea and the Winds with the same power as our Saviour had sometimes done and that he had rais'd up two Men one whereof had been buried a whole day before Out of the Church they brought us into their Refectory where the Tables were placed all along the walls as we had seen them in the Professed House and in so great a number that there was room enough for two hundred persons Yet were there only four of the chiefest among them that dined with us while all the rest stood and waited on us We were as well treated by these as we had been by the others but I must confess these gave us the best Canary that ever I drunk Of all the Moral Vertues there is not any the Iesuits endeavour more to practise then Sobriety in so much that Drunkenness is a Vice they can the least of any be charged withall and yet at this time they often call'd to drink I conceive purposely to engage us to make it appear that it was not out of pure Complement we commended their Wine After dinner they carried us up into the Steeple whence we could take a view of all the City the Sea the River and all the adjacent Champion as far as the Mountain much better then we could have done from the fourth Story of the Professed House As we took leave of them they promised to send two of their Fathers to our Lodgings the next morning who should shew us the great Hospital whereof the Iesuits have the oversight It is a very noble Structure consisting of Chambers Halls and Galleries able to lodge above a thousand sick persons who are very carefully supplyed with all things Every Bed is mark'd with a certain Figure and those which are not taken up are known by their mark which is standing upright whereas those which are have the mark in some other posture The noblest Appartments of the Hospital were the Kitchin and the Apothecaries shop belonging to it both well furnished with all things necessary for the accommodation of the sick whereof there were a very great number but most of the Pox or Bloudy-flux Those who are to look after them have this foresight that they would not have the sick to be disheartened by seeing others dye for as soon as they perceive the sick party so far spent as
the Moguls there are not amongst the Indians any that go more neatly apparrell'd then they As concerning Coromandel the Eastern part of the Indies on this side Ganges is so called a Coast divided from the Malabares by the Mountain Balagatta extending from South to North from the Cape of Comorin or rather the point of Negapatam to the River Nagund and the Town of Masulepatam containing all along the Coast about a hundred Leagues 'T is the more commodious for that it serves for a retreat to all Vessels which are constrain'd to quit the Coast of Gusuratta during the Winter season and it hath many good Havens and the best Roads of any in all the Indies The Portuguez there possess the Town of Saint Thomas at thirteen degrees thirty two minutes on this side the Line and they say that at the time when Vasco de Gama discovered the Indies and seiz'd on Cochim and Cranganor the Inhabitants on this Coast who called themselves Christians crav'd protection of the King of Portugal and that arriving at Saint Thomas they found Christians who made profession of the Greek Religion For this purpose they tell a Story grounded on a Tradition which nevertheless is not to be proved out of the Ecclesiastical History Thus then they say that Saint Thomas one of our Saviours twelve Apostles having long preach'd the Gospel in the Kingdom of Norsingia notwithstanding the opposition of the Bramans resolv'd to petition the King that he might build a Chappel for the doing of his Devotions and that the Bramans engag'd the King to deny him the favour But it happened that a huge piece of Timber was so lodg'd in the mouth of the Haven belonging to the Town of Meliapour then the Metropolis of the Kingdom that not only great Vessels but the smaller Barks being not able to get in the Trade of the Town was in a short time quite lost There was a trial made with a company of Elephants to remove the Tree but in vain then the Magicians of those parts were imploy'd to try if their Art could do what strength could not effect but to as little purpose wherefore the King proclaim'd a considerable reward to him that could clear the Haven which invited the Saint to offer his service and this for no other reward then the mere Timber it self His proffer to draw it out himself made him at first appear ridiculous and specially when they saw him tye his Girdle to it to draw out a weight that many Elephants had not the strength to stir but he pulling the Beam followed as easily as if it had been a little Boat which when he had laid upon the Land the King was amaz'd with admiration and in honour of the Miracle permitted him to build the Chappel as he had requested The Bramans seeing their Doctrine disparag'd by this Miracle and that if Christian Religion began to spread in those parts there was little hope to support the Pagan they resolve to free themselves of the Apostle and cause certain Panyms to murther him while he was at his Devotions in his Chappel Some there are who will have the Church dedicated to this Saint in that place to be built by a King of Narsinga and that the door was made of that miraculous beam but the Portuguez say they built it of which indeed there is most probability Lentscholen saith that in these parts there are certain people with one leg bigger then the other and that they are held to be the Progeny of those that martyred the Apostle Maffeus in the eighth Book of his Indian History relates how Iohn the second King of Portugal made search for the bones of this Saint upon the Coasts of Coromandel which he transported to Goa where he built a fair Church in honour of him but if credit may be given to Ruffinus and Socrates in their Ecclesiastical History the Apostle Saint Thomas suffered his Martyrdom at Edessa in Mesopotamia whither heretofore they made Pilgrimages to his Sepulchre yet Marco Paulo Veneto sayes otherwise though with some contradiction to himself Gasper Balbi a Venetian Jeweller who hath made a very handsome relation of his Travels in the Indies sayes That being at the Town of Saint Thomas in the year 1582. there was a Church then building in the honour of Saint Iohn Baptist and that the building almost finished they found they wanted Timber to perfect it when at the same time the Sea cast a Tree ashore of such a bulk that looking on it as a thing extraordinary they would needs measure it and finding it to be a just proportion for the Edifice the people cryed out a Miracle wherein they were confirm'd when sawing it it yielded just so many Beams as serv'd to finish the Church Headds further that the Tree came from some far distant place because in cutting it sent forth such a stinking smell that it infected the whole Country The Town of Saint Thomas is not very great but the greatest part of the Houses are of Stone and well built The Church there hath no Steeple yet may be seen at a good distance There live here about six hundred Portuguez or Mestizes besides some Armenian Merchants The Indians Pagans and Mahumetans live in the Town of Meliapour which is seated on a small River two Leagues from Saint Thomas Northward but it is faln from the pristine glory it had when it was the Capital Town of the Kingdom of Narsinga The King of Portugal hath no Governour at Saint Thomas nor so much as a Magistrate nor any political Order by reason whereof divers disorders are daily committed without punishment The South and South-west Winds reign here from April to September during which time the Road is very good but all the rest of the year small Barks are constrain'd to get into the River Palacatte and greater Vessels into the Haven of Negupatam You have five fathom water even within Cannon-shot of the Town but the Sea is so rough at all times there is no Landing without danger Upon this Coast the Hollanders have divers Plantations where they drive a great Trade but principally at Potlapouli otherwise call'd Nisapatam where they have had their Ware-houses ever since the year 1606. and at Paleacatte where they have built the Fort of Geldria This Country was heretofore divided into three Kingdoms that is Coromandel Narsinga and Bisnagar but at present 't is all subject to one Prince who resides sometimes at Bisnagar sometimes at Narsinga Above the Town of Masulipatam lyes the Country or Kingdom rather of Orixa reaching from the River of Masulipatam to the River of Guenga but the Hollanders would have it comprehended under the name of the Coast of Coromandel The chief Towns of the Kingdom are Masulipatam and Golcanda the one considerable for Commerce the other for being the Kings Ordinary Residence The Country yields plenty of Salt and Diamonds are likewise there found but all above five
he causes the Army to advance to the very Frontiers of Auva where he accepts a Challenge sent him by his Uncle that they two might decide the difference by a single Combat and was so fortunate as to kill his Adversary in view of both Armies This single Victory was of greater advantage then a defeat of the Enemies whole Army could have brought him for the whole Kingdom of Auva delivered it self up at mercy The Queen who was his Sister fell likewise into his hands and was prisoner during life though kept in a Princely Palace and honoured and attended as a Queen The King of Pegu in acknowledgment of the service his Elephant had done him in the Combate where he fell dead under his Master caused certain Pagodes to be made of his Tooth and had them placed amongst the other Idols kept in a Varella or Mosquee which is within the Castle Amongst these Idols there is the Figure of a Man done to the life in massy Gold having on the Head a Crown enchas'd with precious Stones of divers kinds on the Forehead a Ruby as big as a Plum and on each side the Head Pendants as rich as can be imagined about the Waste a Scarf and over the right Shoulder and under the left Arm a Chain of Diamonds and other Stones inestimable In the same Chappel are likewise three Statues of Silver higher by two foot then the first with Crowns set with Gems and a fourth more massive and rich then all the rest and besides these a Figure made of Ganza which is a mixt metal of Copper and Brass valued at as high a rate as the other four The Kings Father who lived in the year 1578. caused these Statues to be made in memory of that famous Victory he obtain'd over the King of Siam in the War he made against him for the white Elephant we spoke of The Forrests of Pegu have greater store of Elephants then all the Indies besides and they are tam'd with very little trouble in ten or twelve dayes after they are taken by the means of Females who intice them out of the Woods and make them follow into the very Stables where there are Dens that hold but one of these Beasts only where they shut them close in as soon as they are entred The Peguans have Fire-arms but ordinarily they use half Pikes made of Canes short and broad Swords and long and narrow Bucklers made of boyl'd Leather doubled and laid over with a certain black Gum call'd Achiran their Salades or Helmets are made of the same stuff and like ours in fashion They are generally Pagans except some who contracting alliance with the Portuguez have embrac'd their Religion These Pagans believe that God who hath under him many other Gods is the Author of all good which arrives to Mankind but the disposing of all evil he leaves to the Devil to whom these wretches bear more veneration then they do to God because the one will do them no hurt and they must please the other that he may not They do they Devotions ordinarily on the Munday and have besides five principal Feasts which they call Sapan The first which they call Sapan Giacchi is chiefly celebrated by a Pilgrimage made by the King and Queen twelve Leagues out of Town where they appear in triumphal Chariots so set with precious Stones that without Hyperbole it may be said they carry the worth of a Kingdom about them They call the second Sapan Carena observ'd in honour of the Statue kept in the grand Varelle of the Castle in honour of which the Noblemen of the Court erect Pyramides of Canes which they cover with several Stuffs artificially wrought of divers fashions then have them put into Chariots drawn by above three hundred persons to the Kings view that he may judge of their inventions All the people come likewise and bring their Offerings to him The Sapan Giaimo Segienon they celebrate also in honour of some of these Statues where the King and Queen are both present in person and the fourth Feast which they call Sapan Daiche is particularly celebrated in the old Town at which the King and Queen cast Rose-water at one another All the Grandees have likewise a pot of Rose-water in their hands wherewith they so water themselves that their bodies are as 't were bath'd all over nor can any one pass the Streets that day without hazard of being wash'd with water thrown from the windows At the fifth Feast called Sapan Donon the King and Queen go by water to the Town of Meccao attended by above a hundred Boats all which row for the fastest to gain a Prize allow'd by the King The King dying they prepare two Boats which they cover with one gilt Covering and in the middle of these Boats they place a Table whereon they lay the dead Corps and underneath the Table they make a fire of the Wood of Sandale Beniouin Storax and other sweet-scented Woods and Drugs then turn the Barks down the Stream certain Talapoi or Priests mean while singing and rejoycing till the flesh be intirely consum'd These Ashes they temper with Milk so making a Paste which they carry to the mouth of the River where they cast it into the Sea But the Bones they bear to another place and bury them near a Chappel where they build another in honour of the deceased Their Talapoi carry a Bottle made of an empty Gourd at their girdle and live by Alms as our Mendicant Friars They are in great esteem amongst them and they very well preserve their credit by their exemplary life On Munday morning they go about with their Tin-basins to awake the people and invite them to a Sermon They treat not at all of points of Doctrine but chiefly insist upon Morality exhorting the Congregation to abstain from Murther Thefe Fornication and Adultery and to do to others as they would be done by For this reason they are of opinion that Men are sooner saved by good Works and innocency of Life then by Faith They have no Aversion for those that forsake their Religion to become Christans so their Life be correspondent to the Profession they make They exclaim lowdly against the Offerings the Peguans make to the Devil particularly when they perform any Vow they made in their sickness or in any other unfortunate Accident and endeavour to abolish this wicked custom which is grown so inveterate that hitherto they have lost their labour These people ordinarily live in Woods and to prevent the danger of wild Beasts whereof these parts are full they have their Couches hanging in the Air betwixt boughs of Trees They eat but once a day and are habited in red Vestures that reach to their heels bare-footed and over their Shoulders a short Coat or Mantle that comes to their hams They shave their heads nay cannot endure hair upon any part of their body and to guard them from the Sun-beams
Guiny we accordingly removed out of the bad weather which had much incommodated us before The 28. The wind came to North-east which is ordinary in those parts within the 10th and 20th degrees whereas from thence it changes as it does on our Seas on this side We got that day 30. Leagues The 29. The same wind carried us 31. Leagues and at noon we were got to 10 degrees Latitude The next day with the same wind and keeping on the same course we got 28 Leagues to 11. degrees 13. minutes Latitude The next with the same wind the weather rainy 23. Leagues November 1. The same wind continuing we advanced 26. Leagues The 2. The wind North-east we got 24. Leagues holding our course to the North-west The 3. We kept on with the same wind the same course and were about noon at 14. degrees 40. minutes and consequently near the Latitude of Capo Verde which is a point of the Land reaching from the Continent of Africk into the Sea between the Rivers of Gambea and Sanaga by Ptolomy called Promontorium Arsinarium The Inhabitants are black bulky and well-shaped but mischievous and dangerous They are for the most part Pagans whereof some invocate the Moon and others adore the Devil whom they call Cammaté Some among them profess themselves to be Mahumetans but all they have of that Religion is only the name and Circumcision They are in perpetual wars with their Neighbours and are expert enough at the mannagement of their Horses which are brought them out of Barbary and very swift Their Arms are the Bow and a kind of Lance or light Pike which they handle very advantagiously The most illustrious marks of their Victories are the Privy parts which having cut off from their Enemies they present them to their Wives who dispose them into Neck-laces and account them a greater Ornament then Pearls They marry several Wives whom they force to work like Slaves as well in the fields as at home where the Husband is served up alone with what his Wife hath provided for him and as soon as he hath din'd he reassumes his Arms and goes either a hunting or about his business The Women are accustomed to such hardness that as soon as they are delivered they go and wash the Child either in the Sea or the next River The Men are for the most part much subject to drunkenness and such lovers of Wine that some have been seen to take off a Bottle of Aqua vitae at a draught Their times of debauches are at the Funerals of their Friends at which they spend four or five dayes together in weeping and drinking by intervals so that they seldom part ere they get their Skins full of Drink The Entertainments are performed with the Drum and Pipe and there is set at the head of the deceased a Pot of Wine or Water which is changed twice a day and that for several years afterwards They believe the dead will rise again but that they shall be white and trade there as the Europeans do The French Spaniards and Dutch trade much there in the Hides of Oxen Bufflers and Elks Elephants teeth Wax Rice Ambergreece which is excellent there Here it was that Peter de la Brouck a Dutch Merchant bought in the year 1606. a piece of Amber of eighty pound weight We shall here say by the way that the Portuguez began their discoveries of this Coast of Africk in the year 1417. in the reign of Iohn I. who had been Master of Avis under the direction of the Infanto D. Eurique his third Son These first Voyages had not the success he expected till that in the year 1441. Anthony Gonsales having discovered the Cape del Câ—vellero brought away with him certain Negroes whom the Infanto sent to Pope Martin V. desiring him to promote the Zeal he had for the advancement of Christian Religion and to bestow on him the places he should discover upon those Coasts which he pretended were prossessed by such as had no right thereto The Pope was pleased to make him a Present of what cost him nothing and gave him all he should discover in Africk especially in those parts towards the Indies upon condition that at his death he left them to the Crown of Portugal The Infâ—nte had discovered all the Coast between Capo de Naom as far as a hundred Leagues beyond Cabo Verde and died in the year 1453. King Alfonso V. in the year 1457. bestowed all these Conquests on D. Ferand Duke of Viseo Heir to the Infanto D. Eurique and in 1461. the same King ordered the building of a Fort in the Island of Arguin for the safety of Commerce by Suero Mendez which the King D. Iohn II. caused to be rebuilt before his coming to the Crown as Lord of those Conquests and the Commerce of Guiny by gift from the King his Father This Prince in the year 1461. farm'd it out to one named Ferdinand Gomez upon condition he should every year discover a hundred Leagues of the Coast so that in the year 1479. they had discovered the Islands of Fernando del Po St. Thomas Anno Bueno those of del Principe and the Cape of St. Katherine The wars which happened between the King D. Alfonso and the Crown of Castile hindred him from spending his thoughts on these Conquests but the King D. Iohn II. being come to the Crown sent away in December 1481. Diego d' Azambuja who came to Mina Iannary 19. 1482. to a place called then Aldea de dos partes and where reigned at that time a King or Prince named Caramansa This place on which the Portuguez bestowed the name of Mina by reason of the abundance of Gold found there is seated upon the Coast of Guiny five degrees forty minutes South of the Aequinoctial Line between the Kingdoms of Axen and Cara where within the space of fifty Leagues is carried on the trade of almost all the Gold in those parts It hath on the North-west Comana and on the North-east Afuto small Countries subject to those of Abarambues The Fort is built upon an ascent which the scituation of the Country makes by little and little at the end of a skirt of Land which advances into the Sea like a Peninsula having on the North-side the Aethiopian Sea and on the South a little River which serves it for a Ditch It may be easily kept by five hundred men and the Town which is at the foot of the Fort hath about eight hundred Inhabitants But this place is so fenny and barren that such as have settled themselves there upon the account of Traffick are forc'd to buy Provisions of those of Camana and Afuto The Inhabitants are docile enough and better natured then the Negroes though not so rational as to matter of Religion They make Divinities of all they see that 's new and and extraordinary They had at that time enclosed with a Wall a great
prudence and secrecy about publick Affairs which concern the greatness and safety of the State and that they impartially dispose punishments and rewards The Prince when he makes choice of any for his Council regards principally their Age and he bestows the place of Judicature on such among them as have most experience and are best acquainted with Affairs These fit every day to hear Causes and decide Differences They know nothing of our Military discipline but their way of making war hath something particular in it which is this All that are able to bear Arms are disposed into several Regiments and lodged in Quarters appointed for that purpose under their Colonels whom they call Iugarases so that as soon as there is any occasion the Orders are dispatched from Quarter to Quarter and by that means a powerful Army is raised in a few dayes without any need of making new Levies in as much as the places are kept for the Sons of the Souldiers who succeed their Fathers and put the Prince to no charge but what he allows them by way of salary since they bring their provisions and baggage along with them The names of buying and selling are not yet known among them for having neither Gold nor Silver coined they truck and exchange all as well among themselves as with Forreigners Their greatest Commerce consists in trucking of Hides and Slaves Of these they have only such as they take in war which being many times civil among themselves they make the best advantage they can of them They have among them some distinction of Nobility and Peasantry and call the former Sahibibos who are a kind of Knights for whom they have a great respect but not so much as they bear the Grandees whom they call Thubalas out of which rank they chuse their King provided he be full thirty years of age When the Portuguez discovered the Country of the Ialofes there reign'd a very powerful Prince named Brabiran who dying left three Sons by two several Wives By the former he had Cibitam and Camba and by the second who was the Widow of another Prince Father of Beomi Biran who was chosen King after the Fathers death His two elder Brethren envying the greatness of that Prince declared themselves so openly against him that Biran who had great assurances of the affection and fidelity of Beomi his Brother by the same Mother took him so much into favour that he seem'd to have reserved to himself only the name of King But that extraordinary favour prov'd fatal to both for Biran was kill'd by his Brethren and Beomi who thought to make his advantage of that Fratricide to get himself chosen took up Arms against the two Brethren He got together a considerable Army but being afterwards forsaken by his Friends he was forc'd to apply himself to Portugal for relief King Iohn II. having got him instructed in the Christian Religion had him baptized with all his Family and sent him back with a considerable Fleet under the conduct of Pedro Vaz de Cogna whom he ordered to build a Fort at the mouth of the River Zanaga it being his design to get further into Africk as far as the Country of Prester Iohn whereof he had but a confused knowledge But that great design proved abortive and miscarried at the beginning through the cowardice of Pedro Vaz who minding his convenience more then his honour demolished the Fort he had newly built and not able to endure the just reproaches which Beomi made him upon that occasion he kill'd him with his own hands the King of Portugal not expressing the least resentment of so base an action The Islands which the Portuguez call As Ilhas Verdes and the Dutch the Salt-Islands lye over against Cabo Verde and were not discovered by the Portuguez till the year 1472. Some are of opinion they are the Gorgonides of Ptolomy but I dare not affirm that that great Person who hath left us so confused an account of that Coast of Africk knew any thing of these Islands whereof the nearest is 70. and the most remote 160. Leagues distant from the Continent They reach from the 15. to the 19. degree and are in number ten to wit St. Iago St. Antonio Santa Lucia Sant Vincenle St. Nicholas Ilha blanca Ilha de sal Ilha de Mayo Ilha de Eogo and Ilha de Boa Vista It is probable the Portuguez gave them the general name of Ilhas Verdes or the Green-Islands either from the Cape we spoke of before or from the verdure which floats upon the water in those parts and which the Portuguez call Sargasso from its resemblance to Water-cresses The Sea is so covered there with from the twentieth to the twenty fourth degree that they seem to be floating Islands intended to block up the passage of Ships Nay this Herb is so thick thereabouts that without a pretty strong Gale of wind it would be no easie matter to pass that way Yet can it not be faiâ—â— whence the said verdure comes to that place where the Sea hath no bottom there being not any but in those parts at above a hundred and fifty Leagues from the Coasts of Africk They were desert and not inhabited when the Portuguez discovered them but now they are cultivated and bring forth plenty of Rice Millet Abruin or Turkish wheat Oranges Citrons Bananas Annanas Ignaues Potatoes Melons Citruls Cowcumbers Figs and Raisins twice a year The Islands of Mayo de Sal and de Boa Vista are so stored with Cattle that they load whole Ships thence for Brasil The same Islands yield also such abundance of Salt that the Dutch have taken occasion thence to name them the Salt-Islands The same Portuguez brought thither Barbary and common Hens Peacocks and Pidgeons which are so increased there that with the Partridges Quails and other smaller Birds whereof there is plenty people may fare very well at an easie rate There are also among others a kind of Birds which the Portuguez call Flamencos that are white all over the body and have wings of a lively red near the colour of fire and are as big as Swans They have above all abundance of Conies and the Sea supplies them with so much Fish that at all times a man may find there many Portugal Vessels fishing for the provision of Bresil Whence it may be inferred they lie very conveniently for the refreshing of such Ships as are bound for the Indies in as much as going thither they may easily put in at the Island of Mayo and coming thence at that of St. Anthony so as the Portuguez who live there cannot hinder them The Island of St. Iago is the chiefest of them as being the residence of the Governour and Archbishop whose spiritual jurisdiction extends not only over these Islands but also over all the Portuguez are possessed of upon the Coasts of Africk as far as the Câ—pe of Good hope November 4. With a North-east
defeated Cambaya described p. 31 Its Markets Inhabitants Commerce and Gardens an Indian widdow burnt with her own consent ibid. How that custom came up p. 32 The civility of an Indosthan Mahumetan Bettele Areca described much used by the Indians p. 33 Leaves Cambaya the 25. and returns to Amadabat the 27. ibid. Comes to the Village of Serguntra what they feed travelling Cattle with p. 34 Tschitbag Garden described ibid. Leaves Amadabath the second time the 29. and comes to Agra 160. Leagues p. 35 Agra described its Market-places Caravanseras Mosqueys the Sepulchre of a Giant ibid. Its Sanctuaries Baths the Mogul's Palace described p. 36 The Mogul's Throne the Seraglio Treasury a sort of Money of eight thousand Crowns the piece An Inventory of the Mogul's Treasure p. 37 No hereditary dignity in the Mogul's Country the chief Officers the Mogul's Revenue p. 38 The Armes of the Cavalry they observe no order in fighting their Artillery the order of their Armies p. 40 The Mogul's Guard the dignity of the Rajas the Mogul's ordinary Retinue he changes the place of his abode according to the seasons p. 41 How the Mogul celebrates the first day of the year the Mogul's birth-day another Mahumetan Feast p. 42 The Mogul descended from Tamerlane a pleasant story of him ibid. The Mogul's divertisement a combat between a Lyon and a Tiger another between a Lyon and a Man arm'd only with Sword and Buckler p. 43 Another between a Man and a Tiger Mandelslo discovered to have killed an Indosthan at Ispahan p. 44 He leaves Agra and comes to Lahor 70. Leagues p. 45 All the way from Agra to Lahor is planted on both sides with Trees which are full of Parrots and Apes Lahor described the Baths of the Mahumetans ibid. DECEMBER The 19. He leaves Amadabath with a Caravan of a hundred Waggons and comes to Surat the 26. p. 46 Persons of Quality have Banners carried before them an engagement with the Country people ibid. Another with the Rasboutes the English President resigns his charge p. 47 The Sulthan's entrance into Surat how the Mogul came to unite the Kingdom of Guzuratta to his Crown p. 48 The Governour of Amadabath is Vice-roy of Guzuratta disposes of the Revenue of the Kingdom what the Revenue of Guzuratta amounts to ibid. The administration of Iustice the other Cities of Guzuratta p. 49 The Inhabitants of Guzuratta their cloathing p. 50 Their Women their Cloathing they account black teeth a piece of beauty p. 51 The Benjans are ingenious their ceremonies of marriage Polygamy lawful their Religion they worship the Devil p. 52 Their Mosqueys Purification their God Brama their opinion concerning the Creation of the World ibid. Brama's Lieutenants the authority of the Bramans p. 53 They believe the immortality and transmigration of Souls a strange employment of the Bramans among the Malabars the Sects of the Benjans their cloathing their belief p. 54 Their Mosqueys their extraordinary abstinences their publick Assemblies the Sect of Samarath ibid. Their God and his Substitutes a particular ceremony about the dead the Women burn themselves at their Husbands death The sect of Bisnow their God p. 55 Their manner of life their firing their Wives are not burnt the Sect of the Goeghys their God p. 56 Their belief hold not the transmigration of Souls a strange manner of life the superstition of the Benjans p. 57 The Rasboutes their belief a story of five Rasboutes their charity towards Birds they marry their Children young a remarkable story p. 58 The Parsis their manner of life the seven Servants of God twenty six other Servants of God p. 59 They have no Mosqueys p. 60 The Badge of their Religion their houses fire accounted sacred among them they severely punish adultery their manner of burial ibid. The Indous Jentives their belief the Theers p. 61 The Marriage ceremonies of the Indian Mahumetans the effect of Opium Divorce lawful p. 62 The education of their children their interments are called Mussulmans their stature and complexion p. 63 Their habit their houses the ceremonies of their visits their expence ibid. Their Domesticks the condition of Tradesmen their Houses Merchants p. 64 The several Sects of the Mahumetans no lnne in Guzuratta their expertness at the Bow they have of Aristotle and Avicenna's works p. 65 Their Language the Diseases of the Country Winter begins in June the Commerce of Guzuratta the manner of making Indico p. 66 Salt-peter Borax Assa foetida Opium p. 67 The Drugs of Guzuratta precious Stones Weights Measures Money much counterfeit money in the Indies ibid. The fertility of Guzuratta their way of making Bread no Oats in the Indies their Seed-time and Harvest the Mogul Proprieter of the whole Country their Gardens Trees Horses Beef Mutton p. 68 Their Fowl Fish Ships their trade to the Red-sea to the Persian Gulf to Achin the Commerce of the Malabars in Guzuratta p. 69 The Commerce of the Portuguez p. 70 M.DC.XXXIX IANVARY The first he leaves Surat takes shipping for England and comes to Goa the eleventh following p. 71 The way from Goa to Visiapour the names and scituation of several Cities of Decam p. 72 Visiapour described the way from it to Dabul p. 73 The City of Dabul described the City of Rasiapour p. 74 The Inhabitants of Decam the Money of Decam p. 75 The King of Decam tributary to the Mogul the History of Chavas-chan he is made Regent of the Kingdom engages the State in a war the King implores the assistance of his Grandees against him ibid. He attempts the life of his Prince but is prevented and kill'd p. 76 His friends would revenge his death his ingratitude the Mogul concerns himself in Mustapha's fortunes the King of Decam able to raise two hundred thousand Men. p. 77 His Artillery ibid. The English President visits the Governour of Goa p. 78 The Jesuits of Goa treat him a Feast at the profess'd House of the Jesuits there with a Ball. p. 79 The advantage the Jesuits make of those divertisements in order to the propagation of Christian Religion Another Feast at the Jesuits Colledge the Sepulchre of St. Francis Xaverius p. 80 The Hospital of Goa the Monastery of the Augustines the Portuguez pay the English 45000. Crowns p. 81 The Viceroy's Presents to the President those of the General of the Gallions and the Jesuits ibid. He leaves Goa the 20. and comes the 29. near Ceylon Goa described how taken by the Portuguez p. 82 Its Inhabitants Winter begins in June the Diseases of those parts the Women of Goa love white men the Herb Doutry and its use the Women go not abroad p. 83 The jealousie of the Portuguez the Portuguez Souldiers their Marriages and Christnings their Slaves p. 84 The Inhabitants of the Country and their Houses the Decanins excellent Gravers c. p. 85 Their Women deliver'd without pain they live in perfect health to a hundred years of age the Jews of Goa the Mahumetans their Money the Customs upon
French-man who liv'd 20. moneths in Maurice Island p. 198 The Ship puts not into the Island Pintados a Bird discovering nearness to Land p. 199 Mangas de Veludo a kind of Bird the Cape of Agulhas Fish foreshewing change of weather p. 200 Trombas what ibid. Cabo falso the Cape of Good Hope discovered Pinguins a kind of Fowl p. 201 The Inhabitants about the Cape of Good Hope their cloathing food know neither God nor Devil Lions their only enemies ibid. Hurricans p. 202 Madagascar discover'd they put in there what Commodities go off there p. 204 The Lord of those parts makes an alliance with the English Madagascar described p. 205 Dragons-bloud Aloes the Island abounds in Cattle its Inhabitants p. 206 The Men are couragious their Armes Chief Religion Mozambique ibid. When discover'd by the Portuguez p. 207 The first landing of the Dutch at Madagascar p. 208 AVGVST He leaves Madagascar the 21. and arrives in England the 16. of December following Declination of the Load-stone the Isle of St. Elizabeth Sea-wolves p. 209 Badgers St. Helens Island planted by the Portuguez p. 210 Ascension Island p. 211 St. Thomas Island Land Crevices the Inhabitants Rolles Island p. 212 Carisco Island Capo Verde its Inhabitants their Armes the Women do all the work ibid. The men drunkards believe the immortality of the Soul D. Enrique discovers Guiny the scituation of Mina p. 213 The Religion of the Inhabitants their superstition are religious in their Oaths their clothing Armes the settlement of the Dutch in Guiny p. 214 Diego-Can discovers the Kingdom of Congo its Provinces Air the Piver Zaiâ—e Sea-horses p. 215 Gold Mines Serpents Cocos their houses ibid. They are all Architects and Physitians their cloathing the wealth of the Country their Money the absolute power of the King of Congo the Governour of Batta Minister of State his Priviledges their Armes and manner of fighting p. 216 How Christian Religion was introduced there the Kingdom of Beny Cabo Verde described Ptolomy knew nothing of these people the Rivers Gambra and Zanaga p 217 The Inhabitants about the Cape are Pagans their way of raising forces their Nobility the state of the Country when first discover'd the story of Beomi who is baptized p. 218 The green Islands peopled by the Portuguez Flamencos a kind of Bird St. Jago Island the Voyage continued p. 219 The Azores their number they have good fruit p. 220 Potatoes Their Wheat will not keep Tercera Oxen very large the Island subject to Earthquakes an Island started of a sudden A Spring that petrifies wood a kind of wood hard as iron Cedar p. 221 Michael's Island St. Mary's Island Gratiosa Island St. Georges Island Fayal Island Pico Island the Island of Flore p. 222 The convenience of these Islands the Air very sharp in the Azores The Canaries when discovered Lewis Earl of Clermont conquers them a French Gentleman conquers them by Commission from the King of Castile p. 223 They belong to the Crown of Castile great Canary Teneriffe Fierro Island a miraculous Tree p. 224 The Voyage continued the West wind reigns from the Azores to England they come into the Channel ibid. The Isle of Wight the Downs the President and the Author like to be cast away in the Haven another Tempest p. 225 The Author comes to London p. 280 M.DC.XL IANVARY The first be is treated by the Lord Mayor a strange attempt of a Dutch Marriner an example of dreadful solitude p. 226 A strange resolution of two Christian Slaves p. 227 The King of England touches some of the Evil. p. 283 The Author having continued at London near three moneths leaves it the 20. of March in order to his return for Holstein p. 228 A description of Haerlem where the Mystery of Printing was first invented p. 229 The Inscription put upon the house of the first Inventor thereof ibid. He comes to Amsterdam a description of it its commerce p. 230 The first Voyages of the Dutch to the East-Indies ibid. An account of several other places in Amsterdam p. 231 MAY. The first the Author comes to Gottorp where he put on end to his Travels p. 232 FINIS 16â—3 The occasion of these Travels An Embassy sent the King of Persia and Great Duke of Muscovy The Embassadors OCTOB Their retinue NOVEM They embark Orders for civil behaviour Bornholm Sea sickness It s cause A Calm Cap de Demesnes Dunemunde The Ambassadors come to Riga The Magistrat's present Riga described It s foundation Made an Archbishoprick Subject to Poland Taken by the Suedes Its fortifications It s commerce DECEM The Ambassadors leave Riga Ermes Castle Halmet Castle Ringen Come to Derpt An Episcopal City Re-united to the Crown-f Poland Taken by the Suedes An University founded there by the King of Sueden JANUARY 1634. The Ambassadours come to Narva FEBRUARY To Reuel MAY. Return to Narva and meet the Suedish Ambassadors The Muscovites and Persians defray Ambassadors charges Anniversary Ceremonies observ'd by the Muscovites for the dead The Ambassadors leave Narva Gam Fort. Kapurga The civility of the Muscovian Ladies Johannestal JUNE Neuschans Ladoga a Lake The Ambassadors come to Notebourg Spiring a fifth Ambassador from Sueden a Hollander born and sometime an Arrasweaver The Suedish Ambassadors depart A Suedish resolution The Muscovites sleep after Dinner The reception of the Suedish Ambassadors A Muscovian Collation The situation of Notebourg JULY The Ambassadors came to Laba Their reception Another Muscovian Collation The Ambassadors prosecute their Voyage Come to Ladoga The Musick of Muscovy Wolgda The devotion of the Muscovites Wolgda described A dangerous fall of water Troublesome Flies and other insects The Presents of a Muscovian Monk The Muscovites do not condemn those of a contrary belief Corodiza Soliza Grunza Wisoko Krifseuiza The Ambassadors came to Novogorod Brunits AUGUS A Muscovian Procession Crasmistansky Gam Chresta Jaselbitza Simnogora Wolsolk Columna Budeua Torsock Tuere The River Wolga Nichola Nachinski The reception of the Ambassadors The Pristafs take the vpper hand of the Amdors Their Lodgings The Great Dukes refreshing present to the Ambassadors They are under a Guard The Ambassadors Cavalcade The Presents The Ceremonies of the audience The Grand Duke treats the Ambassadors SEPTEM The Muscovian New-years day A Tartarian Cavalcade The entrance of a â—urkish Ambassador The Turkish Ambassadors first audience OCTOB A Muscovian Festival The Great Duke goes a Pilgrimage NOVEM The Great Duke grants the Ambassadors a passage through his Country A Cavalcade of Crim-Tartars The Ambassadors have their last Audience The Czaar's present Klâ—n Tuere Tarsock Novogorod 1635. JANUARY Mokriza Tauerin Orlin Sariza Lilienhagen Narva Reuel Narva Reuel FEBRUARY The Description of Parnau 1635. The Ambassadors come to Riga Mittau Courland made a Dutchy Doblen Bador Hashof Walzau Memel Swenzel Bulcapen Koningsberg Elbing Dantsig It Stetin Rostock Wismar Schonberg APRIL Lubeck Arnsbock Pretz Kiel Gottorp 1635. Preparatives for the second Voyage The Ambassadors retinue They embark The Ship strikes against a
Frontiers Its Cities Its Families and Revenue The prodigious Revenue of one Provincâ— The Province of Chekiang Cities Families It s Revenue It s abundance in Silk The City of Quinsay Marc Paulo justified The greatness of the City of Hangckeâ— The Province of Fokien Its Frontiers Cities Families and Revenues The Inhabitants of Fokien trade most out of the Kingdom The Province of Quantung Its Frontiers Cities Families Revenue The richest Province of China The industry of the Inhabitants The Province of Quangsi Its Cities Frontiers Families and Revenue The Province of Queicheu Its Cities Revenue Frontiers The Province of Iunnan Its Frontier It s wealth Cities Families and Revenue There are both black and white Chineses The difference of Fruits in China The Chineses hate idleness China Fruits better then ours Wax and Honey Sugar Flesh very cheap Spice Their fishing How they breed Ducks How hatched The Inhabitants Their cloathing Their Women Are ingenious Their Money The provision for the subsistance of the poor Printing in China before we had it Their way of writing Their Paper The dignity of Loytia The Chineses very ceremonious Their Feast Plate Their new-years day The honour they do Embassadours Their weddings Polygamy lawful The Government of China Monarchical Offensive Warr become defensive by a Fundamental Law Their King called Son of Heaven The Crown hereditary The Councel of State Astrology requisue in Councellors of State Viceroys Governours Other Officers of Provinces Officers of the Crown 〈…〉 Debtors 〈◊〉 treated An admirable order Their Toâ—tures Prisons Their punishments That of Thieves The Visitors The Religion of the chineses Their Divinities 〈◊〉 China Saints The Fablâ— of Quanina The 〈◊〉 of Neoma The Chineses use incâ—ntations How they do it They invoke the Devil Their beliâ—f concerning the Creation They believe the Immortality of the Soul And Metempsychosis Their Religious men Vse Beads Funeral Ceremonies Their mourning The present State of China The Tartars possessed of China And forced thence The origine of the Royal house of Teyming The beginning of the Tartarian War Take the Metropolis of Leatung Vanlie dies and succeeded by Tayohang He by Thienki Whâ— forces â—way the Tartars But they re-enter Leaotung Take the Isle of Thaoyuen The Kings of China and Tartary dye The Chineses betray their Country Thienzung King of Tartary dies Lizungzo enters the Province of Xansi Takes the City of Peking A Chinese calls the Tartarâ—te his relief against the Rebels Lizungzo flies The Tartars will not go out of China And proclaioâ— their King Emperour of China Usanguei made King The Southerly Provinces chuse another Emperour A Son of Zungchini'â— The Tartars enter the Province of Nanking Hungquang strangled Several Chinese Lords retire to Haneheu Another Emperour Who is also strangled Another Prince in the Province of Chekiang Another in that of Fokien This division proves the ruine of China The Tartars reduce the Province of Fokien The treachery of a Chinese Pirat An Emperour chosen in Quangsi 1639 FEBRVARY The Voyage continued Several sorts of Birds And Fish Marsouiâ— Tuberones MARCH Very changeable weather near the Line Maurice Island described It s Haven And offords the best Ebony A prodigious Thornback * The Dutch have built a â—orâ— there 〈…〉 1640. No four-footed Beasts A French man lived 20. moneths in Maurice Island The Ship â—uts not into the Island APRIL Pintados a Bird discovâ—ring nearness to Land Mangas de valeudo a kind of Bird. The Cape of Agulhas Fish â—oreshewing the change of weather Trombas MAY. Cabo Falso They discover the Cape of Good hope The Cape of Good hopâ— Pinquins a kind of â—owl The Inhabitants about the Cape of Goodhope Their clâ—thing Their food Vse no husbandry Know neither God nor the Devil Lions their only enemies Hurricans IUNâ— IVLY They discover Madagascar Arive there What Commodities go off at Madagascâ—r The Lord of those parts Makes an alliance with the English AVGVST Madagascar described It s greatness It s Havens Dragons-bloud Aloes The Island rich in Cattle It s Inhabitams The men are courageous Their Arms. Their Chief Their Religion Mozambique When discovered by the Portuguez The fist landing of the Dutch 〈◊〉 Madagascâ—â— SEPTEMBER Declinatâ—â— of the Loadstone The Island of St. Elizabeth Sea-Wolves Badger OCTOBER St. Helen's Island Planted by the Portuguez Ascension Island St. Thomas Island Land Crevisses The Inhabitants Rolles-Island Carisco-Island November Capo Verde Its Inhabitants Their Arms The women do all the work The men drunkards Believe the immortality of the soul. D. â—urique discovers Guiny The scituâ—tion of Mina The Religion of the Inhabitants Their Superstitious Religious in their Oaths Their Clothing Their Arms. The settlement of the Dutch in Guiny Diego Can discovers the Kingdom of Congo The Kingdom of Congâ— â—s Provinces Bamba Songo Sunda Pango Batta Pamba The Air of the Country The River Zaire Sea-horses Gold Mines Serpents Cocos Their houses They are all Arâ—hitects and Physiâ—ions Their Clothing The wealth of the Country Their money The obsolute power of the King of Congo The Governour of Batta Minister of State Hâ— priviledges Their Armies and manner of fighting How Christian Religion was introduced there The Kingdom of Beny Cabo Verde described The Inhabitants of the Cabo Verde Are Pagans Their way of raising forces Their Nobility The state of the Country when first discovered The Green Island Sargasso Flamencos St. Jago The Voyageâ— continued The Aâ—â—ores Tercera Angra They 〈◊〉 good Fruit. Battatâ—s 〈◊〉 Potatoes Their Wheat will not keep Tercera Oâ—en very large Is 〈…〉 Earthquakes An Island started of â— sudden A Spring that petrifies wood A kind of wood hard as Iron Cedar St. Michaels Island St. Maries Island Gratiosa Island St. Georges Island Fayal Island Pico Island The Island de Flores The convenience of these Islands The Air very sharp in the Assores 1640. The â—anaries When discovered Lewis Count of Clermont conquers them A French Gentleman conquers them by commission from the King of Casteel 〈…〉 of Castile Great Canary Teneriffe Fierro Island A miraculous tree The Voyage continued DECEMBER The West-wind 〈◊〉 from the Azores to England Come into the Channel The Isle of Wight Dover 〈…〉 like to be cast away in the Haven Another tempest Canterbury Canterbury Come to London IANV S. Edmund Wright A strange attempt of a Duch marriner An example of a dreadful solitude A strange resolution of two Slaves MARCH I left London Mandelslo leaves London MAY.
Province of Bakor lies on the West-side of the Ganges its chief City is called Bikameer The Province of Narvar the Metropolis whereof is call Gehud hath running through it a most noble River which falls into the Ganges The Province of Nagracut or Nakarkut is one of the most Northerly Provinces of the Mogul's Country In the chief City thereof from which it hath the name there is to be seen in a sumptuous Chappel the floor whereof is covered with plates of Gold the Effigies of an Animal or rather a Monster called Matta which brings thither every year a great number of Indians who go to do their devotions there and offer unto it a little snip which they cut out of their own tongues In this same Province is the City of Kalamaka famous for its Pilgrimages which are the more frequent there by reason of the flames cast forth by the cold Springs as they come out of the Rock which flames the Inhabitants adore The Province of Siba whereof the Metropolis is Hardwari gives its rise to the River Ganges The Inhabitants of the Country imagine that the Rock out of which it issues hath a Cows head for which Beast they have a certain veneration and that there is somewhat divine in that production Whence it comes that they bathe themselves every day in the River This Province is no less mountainous then that of Nakarkut though it be not so much towards the North. Kakares the principal Cities whereof are Dankaler and Binsola is a very spacious Province but very full of Mountains Mount Caucasus lies between it and Tartaria The Province of Gor which hath its name from the chief City is also full of Mountains and gives its rise to the River Perselis which falls into the Ganges The Province of Pitan or Partan and its chief City which gives it the name hath running through them the River Kanda which also falls into the Ganges This is also a very mountainous Province and hath on the West of it that of Iamba The River Iderclis divides the Province of Kanduana the chief City whereof is Karaeh by some called Katene from that of Pitan This Province and that of Gor are the further-most of the Mogul's territories towards the North. The Province of Porena is as fruitful as the two last named are barren It lies between the Rivers of Ganges Perselis Gemini and Candach and is so called from its chief City The City of Rajapore or Reyapor is the Metropolis of the Province of Iewal The Province of Meuat the chief City whereof is called Narnol is a Country barren enough reaching from the Ganges Eastward The Province of Voessa or Voeza the chief City whereof is Iascanat is the uttermost Province of the Mogul's Kingdom towards the East The Province of Bengala may no doubt be numbred amongst the most powerful of all the Country giving its name to the Gulf into which the Ganges disembogues it self by four several channels or mouths It s principal Cities are Raymebel Kaka or Daeca Philipatan and Satigam It is subdivided into many other lesser Provinces the most considerable whereof are Puna and Palan from which several Kings have not thought it much to assume their Titles Texeira in his description of Persia speaking of certain Provinces of the Indies names that of Vtrat with its chief City but he only names it without giving any account of its scituation He speaks also of the Kingdom of Caeche and sayes it is considerable for the Race-horses it breeds near Cambaya towards the North but certainly it is no other then the Province of Candisch before spoken of The extent of the Mogul's Country from East to West is about six hundred Leagues and from North to South about seven hundred French Leagues since its uttermost Frontiers towards the South are at twenty and the furthermost towards the North at forty three degrees As concerning the Province of Gusuratta which the Portuguez improperly call Cambaya it lies all along the Sea-side extending it self much like a Peninsula into the Sea and having on both sides a Gulf or Bay one whereof is eight Leagues broad at the entrance and grows narrower and narrower for forty Leagues thence The Land extends it self Westward along the Sea-coast and Northward it hath the Provinces of Soret Quismer and Bando Eastward those of Chitor and Kandish and Southward the Kingdom of Decan Heretofore its Frontiers reach'd along the Sea-coast as far as Gualor eight dayes journey beyond Amadabat and Southward as far as Daman But though its extent be not so vast at present as it hath been yet it is now a very great Province it being certain that it reaches above sixscore Leagues along the Sea-coast and comprehends above twenty thousand Cities Towns and inhabited Villages besides the places which were laid desolate some years since by War or Famine It s principal Cities most whereof are Maritime are Surat Broitschia Gandeer Goga Cambaya Diu Patepatane Mangalor Gondore Nassary Gandivi Balsara or Belsera The City of Hamed-Ewad or Amadabat which is the Metropolis of the Province is at a great distance from the Sea The principal Rivers of this Province are the Nadabat which passes by Broitschia the Tapta and the Wasset besides these conveniences it hath two of the best Ports in all the Indies which are that of the Com of Suhaly to wit that of Surat and that of Cambaia There is no Province in all the Indies more fertile then Gusuratta nor any that affords more Fruits and Provisions which grow in such abundance there that all the neighbouring Provinces are thence suppli'd 'T is true indeed that in the year 1640. the great drought and the year following the continual rains reduced it to so deplorable a condition that the particular account might be given thereof would deprive the Reader of the diversion which it is our design to find him in this Relation But the Province hath since that time well recover'd it self of that desolation yet not so as but the marks of it may be seen every where But to prosecute our Relation as to what happened to me during my stay at Surat While I was at Ispahan having fixt my resolution to travel into the Indies I took into my service a Persian who was to serve me as an Interpreter for the Turkish and Persian Languages which I then began a little to understand He was born of Christian Parents his father and mother having been of those whom Scach-Abas had caused to be translated from Georgia to Ispahan where his brethren then lived in good rank Which considerations oblig'd me to treat him with the greater civility and to promise him by way of wages four Crowns a moneth He had made me believe that his engaging himself into my service was partly out of this respect that he might thereby have the convenience of re-imbracing