himself being so ambitious of praise that he would hear more than he could possibly deserve yet had he not fallen into the smart hands of the Wits of those times he might have passed better On a time a Merchant who came from England met Tom. Crryat travelling toward East-India and told him that when he was in England King Iames I. inquired after him and when he had certified him of his meeting him the King replyed Is that Fool yet living our Pilgrim was much concerned because the King spake no more nor better of him saying that Kings would speak of poor men what they pleased Another time the English Ambassador gave him a Letter with a Bill to receive ten pound to the Counsul of Aleppo wherein were these words Sir when you shall hand these Letters I desire you to receive the Bearer of them Mr. Thom. Coryat with Courtesy for you shall find him a very honest poor Wretch and further I must intreat you to furnish him with ten pounds which shall be repay'd c. Our Pilgrim liked the gift well but the Language much displeased him saying That my Lord Ambassador had even spoiled his Courtesy in the carriage thereof so that if he had been a very Fool indeed he could have said very little less of him than he did to call him honest poor Wretch and to say no more of him was tâ—… say as much as nothing and his favour does rather trouble than please me when I was at Venice said he a Person of Honour wrote thus on my behalf to Sr. Hen. Wotton then Ambassador there My Lord good Wine needs no Bush neither a worthy man Letters Commendatory because whithersoever he goes he is his own Epistle this said he was some Language on my behalf At length his Letter was phrased to his mind but he never lived to receive his money A little before his death he seem'd apprehensive thereof for swounding away once upon his recovery he declared the occasion was for fear he should die in the way toward Surat whither he intended to go and be buried in obscurity and none of his Friends know what became of him he travelling now as he usually did alone Upon which the Ambassador willed him to stay longer which he thankfully refused and presently turned his face for Surat which was then about three hundred English Miles distant and lived to come safe thither where being over-kindlâ—… treated by some English who gave him Sack which they had brought from England he calling for it as soon as he heard of it and Crying Sack Sack is there such a thing as Sack pray give me some Sack and drinking of it though not immoderately being very temperate it increased his Flux that he had then upon him which caused him in a few days after his tedious and troublesome Travels for he went most on foot to come at this place to his Iourneys end for here he overtook death Dec. 1617. and was buried at Swalley under a little Monument likt those in our Church-yards The Factories of the Honourable East-India Company in the Island of Sumatra SUmarra is accounted one of the largest Eastern Islands in length about 700 and in breadth above 200 where the English have two very considerable Factories named Achen and York Fort. York Fort. IT lyes to Leagues from the Continent of Asia Six Kings command therein the King of Acheen is best known to us They have so well defended their Island that the Europeans could never erect any Fort or Castle in it There is a Mountain that casts forth Fire like Mount Etna The Pepper here is better than that of Malabar because the Land is more moist They find Gold in Grains and in little peices after great Flouds of Water The Inland Countrey is inhabited by Barbarians who kill and eat the Bodies of their Enemies being seasoned with Pepper and Salt The City of Acheen is the best in the Island lying half a League from the Sea upon a Plain by the side of a very shallow River upon the bank thereof there is a Fortress built Our English first setled their Trade here in the reign of Q Elizabeth whose name was then famous for her expoits against the Spaniards The Q. Letters to this King were received with much Pomp the King entertained the Messenger with a Banquet presented him with a Robe and a peice of Callicoe wrought with Gold and gave his Passport for the Generals security for whom he sent six Elephants wiâ—… Drums Trumpets Streamers and many Attendants The chief Elephant was about 14 Foot high having a small Cactle like a Coach covered with Velvet on his back in the midst was a great Bason of Gold with a rich Covering of Silk wherein the Letter was put The General was mounted on another Elephant and being arrived the Dishes wherein he was treated were of Gold their Wine is of Rice wherein the King drank to the General out of his Gallery 4 Foot higher than where he fate it 〈◊〉 as strong as Aqua Vitae After the â—…ast some Young Women danced and played on the Musick the King sent a Letter and a Present to the Q. and upon parting asked if they had the Psalms of David and caused them to sing one which he and his Nobles seconded with a Psalm as he sayd for their Prosperity Another considerable English Factory was at Bantam on the Isle of Java Major tho chief City in the Island at the foot of a Mountain whence issue three Rivers two running by the Walls and the other through the City yet not deep enough to admit any Ships The Houses are very mean consisting of three chief Streets The Natives are Heathens and believe when they dye their Souls enter into some Bird Beast or Fish and so eat neither Flesh nor Fish Toward the South are many of the Turkish Religion some called â—…aquiâ—…s are desperate Vilains who having been at Mecca to visit Mahomets Tomb run through the Streets and kill all they meet with their poysoned Daggers thinking they do God and Mahomet good service and shall be saved thereby If any of these Mad men are killd their Followers bury them as Saints erecting them a Tomb which they visit and bestow Alms upon the Keeper thereof I remember saith my Author that in 1642. a Vessel of the Great Mogols returned from Mecca to Surrat with a great number of these Faquirâ—… or Derviches and one of them was no sooner landed and had said his Prayers but he took his Dagger and ran among several Dutch Marriners unlading goods upon the Shore and â—…fore they were aware this desperate Wretch had wounded 1â—… of them whereof 13 died at length the Sentinel shot him through the Body so that he fell down dead the other Faquirs and Mahometans upon the place took up the Body and buried it and in 15 days erected him a fair Monument Every year the English and Hollanders pluckt it down but when they are gone the Faquirs
of their strong Liquors for they lay up but little II. Sierra Leona THis Fort is in Bence Island and was likewise demolished by the French in the late War It is also rebuilding and will be secured by Sixteen Guns and Thirty Europeans besides Mulatto's and Blacks An Englishman dwelt a long time in one of the Isles having a fine House and was well beloved and protected by the Kings of that Countrey In the first War with Holland 1666. our Author being aboard a Dutch Man of War this English Factor writ to them divers times to come and Trade with them and told him he might do it with safety and upon Parole the Englishman called Abraham came aboard them in his Shallop rowed by three Slaves accompanied by a Hollander and two others which belonged to him and was kindly treated but afterward the Captain contrary to the advice of the rest treacherously made him a Prisoner and the three Moores with him to their great surprizal And Ian. 1. 1667. their great Shallop was manned out with thirty Men and one Cannonto Besiege his House which was built of Brick and Freestone defended with four great Guns incompassed with a fine Wood of Palmtrees which supplied him with Wine On one side were about twenty Cabines for the Natives and on the other a Spring of good Water it being the most beautiful Island upon the River Being about to land they discovered 200 Moores got together about the House with Firelocks and a greater number farther up in the Woods which obliged the Hollanders to make a show of going up higher as being weaker and so had more occasion for the wind but the Negroes thought they had been gone to Bowre and dispatch'd a Canoe to give the King of Boulom the Alarum which was persued by the Enemy who fired into their Boat and at length took them they were two young Slaves belonging to the Portugals who lived with the English Factory but would confess nothing of their Message The English in the House observing what passed fired at them with their Cannon and three of their Bullets fell within ten paces of the Boat The Hollanders got out of the reach of their Guns and came to an Anchor to wait the Tyde About an hour after two Moores belonging to one of the Neighbour Islands made up directly to them in a Canoe and came within Pistol-shot but would not be perswaded aboard the Dutch firing on them they fled and stooping for fear of their fire seemed no higher than Catts the English in the interim played upon them though they saw they were out of their reach to shew the Natives they had undertaken their Defence and desired their Friendship The Tyde coming in the Dutch retreated to their Ship wherein they found several Moores and Portugals and among them the King of Bouloms Son called Bembo about 35 years old well proportioned and abating his Blackness a handsom Man he was a great Friend of Abrahams the English Factor and when he understood he was a Prisoner interceded for his Ransom and on Monday noon came on board again with an hundred Elephants Teeth weighing nine hundred pound and two Civet Catts alive upon the delivery whereof Abraham was dismist the Hollanders giving him a little Barrel of Strong-Waters a Roll of Tobacco a Cheese and a Salvo of three Guns III. Sherbrow THis Fort is Scituate in York River fortified with Twenty Guns and a Garrison of an Hundred and Fifty white men besides Mulatto's and Negro's The Fort consts of two Palankeys exceeding strongly built of Stone and of a great height in forme of an half Moon The Religion of the Natives if we may so call it is generally Paganism they salute the New Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of Adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein their Idols are placed yet this they do rather out of Custom than Zeal using neither Form nor Method in their Devotions every one making a God after his own fancy some seeming to incline to Mahumatism others to Iudaism and many of them are Roman Catholicks yet divers affirm that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thanders Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity They believe that when People die they go into another World and will have occasion for many of the same things they use here and therefore put part of their Housholdstuff into the Grave with the dead Corps and if they lose any thing imagine their Friends in the other World had need of it and have taken it away They have no Letters nor Books yet keep Tuesday for a Sabbath forbearing then their Fishing and Husbandry and the Palm Wine which is gotten that day must not be sold but is offered to the King who bestows it on his Courtiers to drink at night On this Day in the midst of the Market-place they place a Table on four Pillars about three yards high whose flat cover is made of Straw and Reeds woven together upon which they place many Straw Rings called Fetisso's or Gods and within them set Wheat Water and Oil for their God whom they imagine devours it Their Priest they call Fetissero who every Festival day placeth a Seat upon that Table and sitting thereon preacheth to the People but what his Doctrine is the Europeans cannot understand After this the Women offer him their Infants whom he sprinkles with Water wherein a live Snake swims wherewith he likewise besprinkles the Table and then uttering certain words very loud and stroking the Children with some kind of Colours as if giving them his Blessing he himself drinks of that Water the People clapping their hands and crying I ou I ou and so he dismisseth this devout Assembly Many wear such Rings next their Bodies to preserve them from the mischiefs their angry God might inflict upon them in honour of whom they daub themselves with a kind of Chalky Earth which is their Morning Mattens At their eating the first bit and the first draught is consecrated to their Fetisso wherewith they besprinkle it If Fishermen have not a good Draught they present a piece of Gold to the Priest to reconcile them to their frowning Saint who with his Wives makes a kind of Procession through the Streets smiting his Breast and clapping his Hands with a mighty noise till he comes to the Shore where they cut down boughs from certain Trees and hang them on their Necks playing on a Timbrel Then the Priest turns to his Wives and expostulates with them and throws Wheat and other things into the Sea as an Offering to appease the Fetisso's displeasure against the Fishermen When the King Sacrifices to his Fetisso he commands the Priest or Fitessero to inquire of a Tree whereunto he ascribeth Divinity what he will demand The Priest comes to the Tree and in
a heap of Ashes there provided sticks the Branch of a Tree and drinking water out of a Bason spouts it upon the Branch and then daubeth his Face with the Ashes after which the Devil out of the Tree gives answer to the Kings questions The Nobility likewise adore certain Trees esteeming them Oracles and they report the Devil sometimes appears to them like a black Dog and otherwhile answers them without any visible apparition Some worship a Bird called Pittoie spotted and painted as it were with Stars and resembleth the voice of a Bull To hear this Bird low in their Journey is reckoned a good Omen they saying their Fetisso promises them good Fortune and so they set a Vessel of Water and Wheat in the place where they hear it And as the Earth and Air yield them Deities so the Sea yields certain Fishes whom they Canonize upon this account they never take the Tunny Fish the Swordfish they eat but dry the Sword on his back which is held in great Veneration Yea the Mountains are not without honour and if they did not pacifie their Anger by setting daily Presents of Meat and Drink thereon they believe they would bend their sullen Brows and as their High Tops threaten to scale Heaven would overwhelm the Earth and destroy them all Neither has Nature alone this priviledge but Art likewise is concerned in making Gods composed sometimes of filthy things as of a piece of putrified Earth anointed with Suet Grease and Oil of Palms with five or six Parrot Feathers upright in the middle to which morning and night they pay their Devotions when it Thunders Rains hard or the wind blows strong there is not one to be seen in the Streets all hide themselves in their Houses and cry The Gods of the Whites are angry The Devil is so dreadful to them they tremble at naming him and say he beats them and makes them do evil things for their Fetisso which every one carries about him some are only the ends of Horns filled with Dung others as the heads of some Creature and the like which their Priests sell them at their own price and pretend they found them under the Fetiche Tree When any one Dies they make a new Fetisso or Ring of Straw and conjure it to keep company and protect the dead in their Journey to the other World They lay the Corps on a Matt upon the ground wrapt in Woollen with a Stool covered with a Goat-skin under the head the body is then strowed with Ashes the Arms laid by its side and the Eyes open'd this continues half a day the best beloved Wife sitting by the Husband as the Husband doth by his first Wife crying Aury and wiping her Face with a wisp of Straw Other Women go round the House and Corps singing and beating on Basons The Eldest Morini or Gentleman goes from House to House with a Bason into which every one puts the value of Twelve Pence in Gold with this they buy a Cow with whole Blood the Fittessero or Priest appeaseth the Fetisso The Friends and Kindred assembling prepare a Hen and then seating themselves in a corner of the dead mans House they place all his Fetisso's or Gods on a row the greatest in the midst adorning them with Garlands of Pease and Beans and then sprinkle them with the Blood of the Hen and hang a Chain or Garland of Herbs about their Necks after this the Hen being boyl'd the VVomen set it in the midst of his Fetisso's and the Priest taking water into his Mouth amidst his Charms spits it out on the Fetisso's and plucking the Herbs from his Neck he makes a Ball of them wherewith he besmears his Face which Ball hereby is made a Fetisso and the Party deceased is now at rest In the mean time the dearest of his VVives fills all the House with Mourning the Neighbours and Friends assisting with Songs and Dances At length they take up the Corps and carry it to the Grave which is about four foot deep and covered with Stakes that nothing may fall therein The VVomen come about the Sepulchre and expostulate thus with him in a pitiful and lamenting voice Alas why didst thou dye Thou hadst so much VVheat so much Maiz thou wast beloved of thy Family and they had great care of thy Person why wouldst thou dye what have we deserved wherein have we offended thee what discontent have we ever given thee to oblige thee to leave us If he be a man they add Thou wert so valiant so generous thou hast overthrown so many Enemies thou hast behaved thy self gallently in so many Fights who shall now defend us from our Adversaries Wherefore then wouldst thou dye Others cry He is dead that brave Huntsman that excellent Fisherman that valiant Warriour that great destroyer of Portugals that generous Defender of our Countrey he is departed this VVorld Then they throw on a little Earth but none can get into the Corps for he hath with him his Houshold Stuff Armour and whatsoever he used in his life time and VVine too if he loved it to drink in the other VVorld Lastly they cover the Sepulchre with a Roof to defend all from Rain If the King dyes greater Solemnity is used yea his Nobles thinking so great a Personage ought to have Attendants one offers to him a Servant another a VVife a third his Son or Daughter even many of both Sexes to wait upon him all whom are suddenly slain and their Bloody Carcasses buried with him yea the Kings VVives who loved him best refuse not this last and everlasting Service but are willing to dye that they may again live with him The Heads of the Slain are set upon Poles round about the Sepulchre Meat Drink Cloths Arms and other Utensils are buried with them After the Funeral they go to the Sea and there use other Ceremonies some washing while others play on Basons and Instruments where the VViddow or VViddower is laid backward on the water with divers words of complaint at last they return back to the dead Mans House where they drink themselves drunk and wash away all further sorrow IV. Dickeys Cove THis Fort hath Ten Guns very good Saker and Minion It lies on the Southern Part of Guinea and hath four Palankers strongly built of Lime and Stone VVith a Garrison of Thirty white men besides Blacks and Mulattoes There is a Place called Cape Miserado by the Portugals either because it is incompassed with Rocks that lye under water and would inevitably destroy any Vessel which should come nearer than half a League or because the French who were formerly Massacred here cryed out Misericorde Misericorde Mercy Mercy Besides the Natives of this place being very cruel they have denominated the River and called it Duro as being hard and fatal to the Europeans The Government of this Countrey is absolute and unlimited Monarchy so that the King is the only and sole Judge in all Causes and though he
a Cloud they intercept the Sun and having eaten the fruits and leaves they leave their spawn behind who are worse than themselves devouring the very barks of the naked Trees Orosius says that one time after they had done all this mischief they did worse by their deaths for being carried by a strong wind into the Sea and again cast up dead on the Shore their putrified Carcases caused such a Pestilence that in Numidia only there died eight hundred thousand and on the Sea coast near Utica and Carthage two hundred thousand In some places they forced the People to leave the Countrey it being so desart and destroyed that they left nothing to sustain them and lookt as if it had snowed by reason of the Trees without barks The fields of Maiz were as if trodden down after a Tempest of Rain and Thunder they lay above two yards thick upon the Rivers Bank In the River Nilus in the time of Mauricius the Emperour at the place where Grand Cario now standeth a Giant-like Monster was seen from the bottom of his belly upward he appeared like a Man with Flaxen hair frowning Countenance and strong Limbs After he had continued in the view of multitudes three hours there came out of the VVater another like a VVoman with a comely Face part of her black hair hanging down and part gathered into a knot her face was fair rosie Lips fingers and breasts well composed the rest of her body hid under water from Morning to Sun-set they fed their greedy Eyes with this spectacle which then sunk down into the water and was never seen more X. Acra THis is a Strong Fort erected all of Stone and consists of 4 Palankers 25 Guns and 70 white men besides Blacks Mr. Ogilby in his History of Africa names several other Places belonging to the Royal African Company as Madre Bomba Cormantyn Ianasia Eniacham Rio Nuno Rio Grande Serbro Cestos Achin Auta Ardra Benin with Old and New Calabar But I am assured that these mine aforementioned are all the Castles and Forts of which they are possest at this time This Countrey unknown to the Ancients is properly a part of Negroland and called Guinea from the heat hereof The Air is so extream hot and unwholsome especially to strangers many of whom live but a short time after their arrival that were it not for the Rains and Coolness of the Nights it would be altogether uninhabitable It is governed by several Sovereigns the Chief of whom is called Emperor of Guinea to whom divers other Kings and Princes are subject The Capital City is Arda Next to him is the King of Benin esteemed a powerful Prince having several large Territories subject to him Upon the Death of her Husband in the kingdom of Benin the Wife is absolutely subject to her own Son if she have any and cannot be sold for a Slave without leave from the King A late Author gives the following List of the Forts Factories and Places of Trade wherein the Royal African Company are concerued on the Coast of Guinea On the Golden Coast. James Fort in an Island in the River Gambia Sierra Leona upon Bence Island On the Coast of Malaguette Sherborow in York Island Druwâ—…n On the Quaqua Coast Rio de St. Andro Ieaque Ieaque C St Apolonia Aymo in Comore Bay Succundo Cabo Corso Fredecht Burg sold to us by the Danes Annishan unfortifi'd Anmamabou Aggau of no defence In the Kingdom of Loango Moango Mulemba Cabenda The Captivity and Deliverance of John Watts an Englishman from Slavery under the King of the Buckamores and the King of Calanach near Old Mallabar in Guinea HAving met with the following Relation I shall conclude the Account of Guinea therewith In 1668 An English Ship bound for Guinea Sailing to Old Calabar they entred a River called the Cross-River into Pirats-Island after they had taken in their Negro's and were ready to Sail the Master called up the Boatswain and three Men more to look out the Copper Bars that were left and carry them on Shore to sell The Boatswain with his small Company desired they might have Arms not believing they were so harmless a People as reported they took with them three Musquets and a Pistol and so rowed toward the Shore but their Match unhappily fell into the Water and the Ship being fallen down lower toward the Sea quite out of sight and they ashamed to go back without dispatching their business Iohn Watt's went ashore to the first House to light the match but before he was twenty Rods from the Water side he was seized on by two Blacks or rather Tawny-Moores and by them haled half a Mile up into the Countrey and thrown with great violence upon his Belly and so compelled to lye till they stript him and more Company coming they were so eager for his poor Canvas Apparel that some they tore off others they cut off and with that several pieces of his flesh to his intolerable pain With these Rags they made little Aprons to cover their Privities clothing being very scarce there The Boatswain seeing Watts carried away resolved with his two Companions to venture their Lives to have him again and arming themselves they were suddenly beset with a dosen men in several Canoes but they valiantly maintained their Boat three hours for after two or three Musquets were discharged they defended themselves with their Oars and Boat hooks The Boatswain received a mortal wound in his Groin and fell down in the Boat the other two adventured into the River endeavouring by swimming to escape the Hands of these cruel Infidels but the Negro's with their swift Canoes soon overtook them and brought them on Shore to the other They took the Boatswain out of the Boat and instead of endeavouring to preserve what Life remained in him one of them with a keen Weapon instantly cut off his Head And while he was yet reeking in his Blood they in a barbarous manner cut off pieces of Flesh from his Buttocks Thighs Arms and Shoulders and broil d them on the Coals and with much impatience eat it before his Companions Faces to their great astonishment About a Fortnight after one of the Company fell sick And instead of being his Physicians to cure him they were his Butchers to Murther him cutting off his Head and broiling and eating his Flesh rejoicing exceedingly at this rich Banquet Ten days after the other fell sick whom they used in the very same manner Watts continued still in Health though the Natives daily expected such another Banquet because it seems it is not their Custom to kill those that are well and so resolved to sâ—…ll him his Master was free to discourse especially since he had before learned the Tata Language in the West-Indies which is easily attained being comprehended in few words and all the Negro's speak it He began to discourse his Master of the reason of their cruelty who told him he should be content for if he were not
to warm it â—…otwithstanding the Air â—…as very câ—…m and moderâ—… but when the Sun was set it begaâ—… to blow with such violence and grew so cold that taking up our lodging among the hollow â—…ks we were necessitated to keep Fires in the mouâ—… of them all night About four in the morning wâ—… began to 〈◊〉 again and being come another â—…ile up one of our Company fail'd and was ablâ—… to proceed no further Here began the black Rocâ—… thâ—… 〈◊〉 of us pursued our Journey tiâ—…â—…e came to the Sâ—… Loaf where we began to travel again in a white Sand being fitted with Shoes whose single Soles are made a Finger broader than the upper Leathers to encounter this difficult passage Having ascended as far as the black Rocks which lay all flâ—…t like a plain Floor we climbed within a mile of the very Top of the Pico and at last we attained the Summit where we found no such smoak as appeared a little below but a continual perspiration of a hot and sulphurous vapour that made our Faces extreamly sore all this way we found no considerable alteration of the Air and very little Wind but on the Top it was so impetuous that we had much ado to stand against it whilst we drank K Charles II. Health and fired each of us a Gun Here also we took our Dinner but found that our strong Waters had lost their vertue and were almost insipid while our Wine was more Brisk and Spirituous than before The Top on which we stood being not above a yard broad is the Brink of a Pit called the Caldera which we judged to be a Musket-shot over and near sourscore yards deep in form of a Cone hollow within like a Kettle and covered over with small loose stones mixed with Sulphur and Sand from amâ—…ng which issued divers Spiracles of Smoak and Heat which being stirred with any thing puffs and makes a noise and is so offensive that we were even suffocated with the sudden rising of Vapors upon removing one of these Stones which were so hot as not easily to be handled We descended not above four or five yards into the Caldera or Caldron because of the Slippeâ—…inefs under foot and the difficulty but some have adventured to the bottom Other matters obserâ—…able we discovered none besides a clear sort of Sulphur which lay like Salt upon the Stones From this renowned Pico we could see the Grand Canaâ—…ies fourteen Leagues distant Palma eighteen and 〈◊〉 seven which interval of Sea seemed not much wider than the Thames about London We discerned also the Herro being distant about twenty Leagues and so to the utmost limits of the Sea much farther As soon as the Sun appeared the shadow of the Pico seem'd to cover not only the whole Island and the Grand Canaries but the Sea to the very Horizon where the Top of the Sugar-Loaf or Pico visibly appeared to turn up and cast its shade into the Air it self at which we were much surprized But the Sun was not far ascended when the Clouds began to rise so fast as intercepted our Prospect both of the Sea and the whole Island except the Tops only of the Subjâ—…cent Mountains which seemed to pierce them through whether these Clouds do ever sâ—…rmount the Pico we cannot say but to such as are far below they seem sometimes to hang above it or rather wrap themselves about it constantly when the West Winds blow this they calâ—… the Cap and is an infallâ—…le prognostick of ensuing Storms One of our Company who made this Journey again two years after arriving at the Top of the Pico beâ—…e day and creeping under a great stone to Shrowd himself from the cold Air after a little space found himself all wet and perceived it to come from a perpetual trickling of the Water from the Rocks above him Many excellent and exuberant Springs we sound issuing from the Tops of most of the other mountains gushing out in great Spouts almost as far as the huge Pine-tree we mentioned beâ—…ore Having stay'd a while at the Top we aâ—…l desâ—…nded the Sâ—…ndy way till we came to the foot of the Sugar-Loaf which being sâ—…eep even almost to a perpendicular we soon passed and here we met with a Cave about ten yards deep and fiftâ—…en broad being in shape like an Oven or Cupola having a hole at the Top near eight yards over This we descended by a Rope that our Servants held fast on the Top while with the other end being fastned about our middles we swung our selves till being over a Bank of Snow we slid down lighting upon it we were forced to swing thus in the descent because in the midst of the bottom of this Cave opposite to the overtâ—…re at the Top is a round pit of Water like a Well the surface whereof is about a yard lower but as wide as the Mouth at Top and about six Fathom deep we supposed this Water was not a Spring bâ—…t dissolved Snow blown in or Water trickling through the Rocks about the sides of the Grott for some height there is Ice and Isicles hanging down to the Snow But being quickly weary of this excessive cold place and drawn up again we continued our descent from the Mountains by the same Passage we went up the day before and so about five in the Evening arrived at Oratava from whence we set forth our faces were so red and sore that to cool them we were forced to wash and bath them in Whites of Eggs The whole height of the Pics in perpendicular is vulgarly esteemed to be two miles and an 〈◊〉 No Trees Herbs nor Shrubs did we find in all the Passage but Pines and among the whiter 〈◊〉 a kind of Broom being a bushy Plant It is the opinion of some ingenious Persons who have lived twenty years upon the place that the whole Island being a Soil mightily impregnated with Brimstone did in former times take fire and blow up all or near all at the same time and that many Mountains of hâ—…ge Stones calcined and burnt which appear all over this Island especially in the South-West part oâ—… it were cast up and raised out of the Bowels of the Earth at the time of that general 〈◊〉 and that the greatest quanâ—…ty of this Sulphur lying about the center of the â—…land raised up the Pico to that height at which it now is seen which appears by the scituâ—…tion of those Rocks that lye three or four Mile round the bottom of the Pico and in such order one above another almost to the Sugar loaf as it is called as if the whole ground swelâ—…ing and rising up together by the asceâ—…sion of the Brimstone the Torrents and Rivers of it did with a sudden eruption Roul and Tumble them down from the rest of the Rocks especially to the South-West where from the Top of the Pico to the Sea coast lye huge heaps of these burnt Rocks one under another and there still remain the very
tracks of 〈◊〉 â—…ne Rivers as they ran over this Quarter of the Island which hath so wasted the ground â—…ond recovery that nothing can be made to grow there but Broom A View of the Bay of Souldania near the Cape of Good Hope on the Coast of Africa where the Ships of the Honourable East-India-Company used formerly to refresh in their Indian Voyages With an Account of the Natives Birds and Beasts of that Countrey now called Cafaria and Monomopata or the Countrey of the Hottentots With some Accidents happening there BEfore we arrive at the East-Indies I cannot but divert once more to the Bay of Souldania lying in thirty four degrees and an half of South Latitude about twelve Leagues short of the Cape of Good Hope in a sweet Climate full of fragrant Herbs which the Soil produceth of it self pleasing to the sense Where the Honourable East-India Companies ships used formerly to refresh and arriving there very weak and feeble with that Sea disease the Scurvey have often found very great relief and it is observable if any be not too much overgone with this malady as soon as they come to enjoy the fresh Air on any shore with fresh Water and fresh Victuals they presently recover but if the Sâ—…urvey has overmuch prevailâ—…d they instantly dye as soon as they set their foot on Shore Here is a most delicious Brook of sweet Water arising out of a mighty Hill hard by called for its form The Table neer which is another Hill exceeding high like a Pyramid and called by Europeans the Sugar-loaf here are great store of Cattel as little Cows called by the barbarous Inhabitants Boos and Sheep which they name Baas who bear a short course hairy Wooll and seem to have been never shorn These Boos and Baas as they term them were formerly bought in great plenty for small quantities of Kettle-brass and Iron Hoops taken off our empty Cask which for this long Voyage to the Indies are hoop't with Iron These Salvages had the Cattel we bought of them at very great Command for with a call they would presently run to them and when they had sold a Bullock to us for a little piece of Brass if we did not presently knock him down they would by the same call make the poor creature break from us and run to them again and then there was no getting them but by giving more Brass thus they sell the same beast two or three times by the covetousness and deceit of this brutish People Of all Metals they love Bâ—…ass best it may be for the rankness of the smell wearing great Rings thereof about their Arms so that if you lay before them a piece of Gold worth 40s and a peice of Brass worth Two pence they will leave the Gold and take the Brass On this shoar are excellent small Roots for Sallads and store of large fat Mullets This remote part of Africa is mountainous and overun with Lyons Tygers Wolves and many other Beasts of Prey which in the night discover themselves by their noise and roaring To the Teeth and Jaws of which cruel creatures the Natives here expose their old people when they grow decrepâ—…t and troublesome laying them forth in some open place in the night when the Wild Beasts and Lyons roar after their Prey One poor Old wretch was thus exposed when some English Ships were there and by his pitiful cries discovered by our Court of Guard ashoar by whom he was delivered from Death And they asking Cooree one of the Natives why they did so he replied It was their Custom when People had lived so long that they knew not what to do with them thus to be rid of them They saw in this Bay of Souldania many Whales party-coloured Fowls and Ostriches The Soil about the Bay seems good but the Sun shines not upon a People more Barbarous than those which possess it being rather Beasts in the Skins of men than Men in the Skins of Beasts for by their Igâ—…rance Habit Language Diet and other things they appear absolutely brutish For generally all People as well Heathen as Christian acknowledge the great God of Heaven and Earth but they as Cooree told us own no God at all Their speech seems rather an inarticulate noise than a Language like the clucking of Hens or Gabling of Turkies sounding like the word Hott-en-tot from whence they are so called As they walk about they make a strange confused noise if there be two three ten twenty or more in company they walk in rank one after another in small paths they have made by going thus as Cows do when they come home to the pail or as Wild Geese flying in Ranks make a noise so these walking together gabble from the first to the last as if all spake and none answered Their Habits are Sheep Skins undrest thonged together which cover their bodies to the middle with a little flap tyed before them being naked downward when it is cold they put the Woolley and when hot the Fleshy side next their Body Their Ornaments are Bullocks or Sheeps guts full of Excrements about their Necks and when we bought their Cattel they would take their Skins Guts and Garbage which plentifully furnish't them with that stinking attire When they are hungry they sit down and shaking some of that filthy pudding out of the Guts bow down their Mouths to their hands almost as low as their knees and like hungry Dogs gnaw and eat the Raw Guts The Women are adorned habited and dieted in the same manner only they wear more about their lower parts than the men They carry their sucking Infants under their Skins upon their backs and their Breasts hanging down like â—…agpipes they put them up with their hands that they may suck them over their Shoulders Both Sexes make coverings for their heads of Cow-dung mingled with a little stinking Grease and besmear their Faces therewith which makes their Company insufferable if they get the Wind of you They eat rotten mouldy Biskets fit for nothing but the dunghill yea they will devour what a hungry Dog in England would refuse A couple of them had found on the Shoar a large peice of a dead Fish the Sea had cast up which stunk intolerably they made a little fire with dry Cow-dung warmd and then eat it with as much appetite as an hungry man would feed upon a Savoury Dish which makes one believe they have but three senses wanting both smelling and tasting These Brutes devote themselves to Idleness for they neither spin nor dig They are streight and well limb'd though not very Tall their Faces are ill favoured most of their Noses flat have little or no beard the hair on their heads short black and curled their Skins very tawny swift they are of foâ—…t and wiâ—…l throw Darts and shoot Arrows very dangerously In 1615 an East-India Ship returning thence and arriving at this Harbor when she was ready to Sail having two of these Salvages
the Harbour where the Governour lives And about 300 paÌ„ces distant on the West of the Fort is a small Dutch Town of about 60 Houses low but well Built with Stone Walls from a Quarry close by The Countrey for near an 100 Mileâ—… up is pâ—…etty well setled with Farms and yeilds good Crops of Wheat Barley Pease c. to the industrioâ—… Dutch Families and also to a considerable â—…mber of 〈◊〉 Protestants some of whom Bless God that their King hath banished them their Native Countrey since they are now setled in a Lâ—…nd of â—…eace plenty and security There are great quantities of Grapes of which the French make excellent white wine of a pale yellow colour but sweet pleasant and strong There are also Cows Goats Hogs Horses and Sheep very large and fat Ducks Geese Hens and Turkeys are very numerous So are Ostriches who lay their Eggs in the Sâ—…nd one of which will very well suffice 2 men They have plenty of several sorts of Fish one not so big as a Herring of which they pickle great Quantities yearly and send them to Europe On the backside of the Town towards the mountains the Dutch East-India Company have a large House and a Garden 3 mile long incompassed with a high Stone Wall full of divers sorts of Herbs Flowers Roots and Fruits with spacious Gravel Walks and Arbours watered with a Brook which descends from the Mountains and being cut into many Channells is conveyed into all parts of the Garden This water is afterward in Pipes carried into the Sea so far that a Longboat may come under the Pipe which is raised to some height and by turning a Cock will fill all the Casks with fresh water with the greatest conveniency and is the best Watering Place in the World The Hedges that make the Walks of this Garden are very thick and 9 or 10 foot high They are kept heat and even by continual pruning They keep each sort of Fruit by themselves as Apples Pears Pomogranats and abundance of Quinces all which thrive well The Roots and Garden Herbs have also their distinct places hedged in apart which makes the whole extream pleasant and beautiful Great numbers of Negro Slaves are continually weeding and working therein All Strangers are allowed liberty to walk there but not to tast of the fruit without leave The Dutch that live in the Town get well by the Ships that touch there When the Men come ashoar to refresh themselves they must give 3s or a Dollar a day for their entertainment tho' Bread and Flesh is as cheap here as in England Besides they buy good penniworths of several Commodities from Seamen which they sell again to the Countrey Farmers at a dear rate none of which live within 20 Miles of the Harbour The high Tax that the Company lays upon drink makes it very dear There are but 3 Houses in the Town that sell strong liquor One where they sell only Wine and you must buy no where else but by stealth the Vintner paying a considerable price to the Company So that you may sometimes buy as much privately for 8d as you give 18d for there but if the Person that sold it be known he is ruined There is another House for Beer and Mum and a Third sells only Brandy and Tobacco The Natives or Hottentots do likewise fell Beef and Mutton privately at an under rate which else must be bought only of the Companies Butchers all others being prohibited buying of the Hottentots And so we leave the Cape of Good Hope The Factories of the Honourable East-India-Company in Persia. With an Account of the Religion Government and other notable Remarks in that Kingdom Also the Life and Doctrines of Mahomet the Grand Impostor HAving clear'd our way let us now Sail m rrily toward the Indies doubting first the Cape of Good Hope and then passing by Madagascar called also St. Lawrence one of the greatest Island in the World stored with all manner of Provisions but inhabited by a barbarous and Heathenish People yet stout warlike and very numerous Over against which on the Continent of Africa are Z fala and Mazambique where the Portugals have got footing and may be strongly supposed to be the places whither Solomon sent his Navy of Ships built at Eziongebar which stood on the Banks of the Red Sea in Arabia the Happy the Countrey of that famous Queen of the South who hearing of his Wisdom and Renown took her Journey thence to visit the Court of King Solomon From that place Solomon sent his Ships for Gold and Silver and Ivory coasting all along the African shore the Art of Navigation being then unknown And the Marriâ—…ers steering without Chart or Compass were necessitated to keep the Neighbouring Lands always in sight as doubtless they did these places being stored with those rich Commodities above other parts of Africa The Portugals Dutch and English discovered these Countries of India in the last Age and have since setled themselves by Forts and Castles there The Portugals first brakâ—… the Ice who in 1494. sailing from Lisbon under Vasco de Gama doubled the Cape of Good Hope and succeeded so well as to Conquer and Fortify several places in many Countreys of Asia and the Islands thereof In 1595. the Dutch set out a Fleet from Amsterdam to India wherein they used such extraordinary dexterity with their Cannon Law and Steel Arguments that they made themselves Masters of 28 Forts and Castles and of forty four or forty five Factories in a short time In 1600. the English began their Discoveries under Sir Iames Lancaster with four Ships whose endeavours were so blest and by the good Government of the Honourable East-India-Company prospered so well that they setled their Residence and Factories in twenty four several plaees of note as at Ormus and Iasques in the entrance of the Persian Gulf under the Persian Monarch At Cambaja Surat Agria and other places in the Great Mogols Countrey At Maslapatan Armagon Petipoly Pattana Siam and other places on the Coast of Cormandel and the Continent of Asia At Achin Ticko Iambo Prianian on the Isle of Sumatra At Bantam Iacatra and Iaparra on the Island of Iava At Socodana and Beniermasa on the Island of Borneo At Macassar in the Isle of Celebs At Poleroon on the Isle of Banda At Firando in Iapan And lastly at Amhonio Hitto and other of the Molucco's which they quietly enjoyed till our covetous Neighbours deprived us of some of them and others were deserted on several accounts The honourable the East-India Company was incorporated in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and hath been confirmed with divers Immunities added to their Charter by all the succeeding Kings so that now they have as ample Priviledges as any Company whatsoever and are found beneficial to the Nation by the great Trade they drive in Importing so many rich Commodities from India Persia and Arabia They export from hence Peices of Eight Dollars Broad cloaths Perpetuana's Gunpowder
Murtherer is carried before the Magistrate he delivers him to the Parents or Kindred of the person slain who carry him to Execution and without compassion torture him to death The Governor of Shiras had a Favourite who falling in love with a young Persian Gentleman endeavoured to abuse his Body One day meeting upon the Road and lying under the same Tent the Favourite about Mid-night came to his Bed-side and after many sollicitations would have forced him But being violently resisted for madness to find himself disappointed and liable to be discovered he stab'd the young Gentleman to the heart and fled to the Mountains The Murther being divulged the Mother Widdow and Sister of the young Man repaired to the Governor for Justice who willing to save his Favourite offered them Money which they with scorn refusing and threatning to complain to the King he was constrained to pursue hiâ—… Favourite at length he took and sent him to Ispahan saying he would not judge of the Affair but refer it to the King The Mâ—…ther Widdow and Sister followed the Murtherer to Ispahan and demanded Justice with that eagerness that though the King had an inclination to save the Favourite for the Governours sake he was forced to abandon him and bid them pay themselves with his blood Immediately he was carried to execution where the Widdow first stab'd him to the heart with a Dagger then the Mother took heâ—… turn and after that the Sister and then holding a Cup to receive his bâ—…ood drank every one a Cup full to quench the thirst of their Revenge Extraordinary care is taken for securing the High-ways and Guards set at convenient distances As the Caravan was one day setting out from Tauris to Ispahan a poor Fellow took an occasion to rob a Cloak-bag and fled cross the Fields not knowing the way the Merchant missing his Goods complain'd to the Governor who sent order to the Guards to search strictly for him The Thief being constrained to forsake his Cloak-bag and cross the Fields for Water was seized and carried to the Governor and soon convicted for Thieves find no mercy in Persia Only they are variously put to death being sometimes tyed to a Camels Tayl by the Feet and their Bellies ript open Sometimes buried alive all but their Heads and starved to death in which torment they will oft desire Passengers to cut off their Heads though it be a kindness forbidden by the Law But the most cruel punishment is when they set the Thief on Horseback with his extended Arms fastned to a long stiek behind then larding him with lighted Candles they burn him to the very Bowels We met two in this Misery who desired us to hasten their deaths which we durst not do only we gave them a Pipe of Tobacco according to their desire One day there was a great hubbub in a Bawdy-house where the Woman had prostituted her own Daughter the King being informed of it commanded the Mother to be thrown head long from a Tower and the Daughter to be torn in pieces by his Dogs which he keeps on purpose for such Chastizements The Forts and Factories of the Honourable East-India Company upon the Coasts of Malabar Cormandel in the Bay of Bengal and in the Empire of the Great Mogul in India With an account of the Religion Government Trade Marriages Funerals strange Customs of the Natives Intermixt with divers Accidents and notable Remarks HAving given some Account of Persia let us next advance unto the Indies wherein the Honourable the East-India Company have these Forts and Factories Fort St. George Fort St David Comineer Cudaloor Porto Novo Madapollam Metchlapatam Pettipolee Carwar Calliutt Surat Bombay Island Balla-sore Hugli Chuttanutti Daca Rhajamal All on the Coasts of Coromandell Malabar and the Bay of Bengale Fort St. George THis Fort is on the Coast of Coromandell where the Honourable East-India Company have a Factory On November 3. 1684. About 9 at night there happened a violent Storm in this Place which continued till 2 next morning It untiled all the Houses in the Town with such a ratling noise as if some thousands of Granadoes had been thrown on them and lay'd all their Gardens of which they have many pleasant ones as level as the Smoothest Bowling Green Trees of an ancient and prodigious Growth some perhaps as ancient as Noahs Flood were violently torn up by the Roots and their Aged Trunks riven in peices the noise of the crashing and fall of their Boughs and Branches seeming almost to equal that of a Tempest But what was most surprizing was that a strong Iron Bar which belonged to a Window was with the extream force of the Wind snapped into 3 peices Had this Hurricane continued two or 3 hours longer it would certainly have level'd both the Fort and Town tho' strongly built and well fortified Fort St. David Commineer Cudaloor Porto Noro Madapollam Pettipole and Carwar are all on the Coast of Coromandell In all which the East-India Company have Factories It is reported that St. Thomas the Apostle wrought many â—…iracles in these Countries and foretold the coming of white People thither And that the Children of those that murdered him have still one Leg bigger than another Callicut This is a Town on the Coast of Malabar where the Portugals first setled themselves and the English Merchants have a Factory The Prince of Calicut calls himself Zamorin a Prince of great power and not more black of colour than treacherous in disposition Many deformed Pagods are here worshipped but with this Ordinary Evasion that they adore not Idols but the Deumo's they represent The Dutch General who was Cook of the Ship Crowned the present Prince with those hands which had oftner managed a Ladle than a Sword Malabar is a Low Countrey with a delightful Coast and inhabited by people that practice Pyracy There is a certain wind which blowing there in Winter so disturbs the neighbouring Sea that it rowls the Sands to the mouths of the adjoining Ports so that then the Water is not deep enough for the least Bark to enter But in the Summer another contrary wind drives back the same Sand and makes the Port again Navigable The great number of Rivers in this Countrey render Horses useless especially for War A Countrey for the most part of the Year green and abounding with Cattle Corn Cotton Pepper Ginger Cassia Cardamum Rice Myrabolans Ananas Papas Melons Dates Coco's and other Fruit. Surat THis Town is about 40 days Journey from Agra and drives as great a Trade as any City in Asia though the access to it be very dangerous For the River Tappy or Tindy rising out of the Decan mountains glides through Brampore and in Meanders runs by the walls of Surat and after 15 Miles wrigling about discharges it self into the Ocean but is so shallow at the mouth that it will hardly bear a Bark of 70 or 80 Tuns So that Ships are forced to unlade at Swally Which is remarkable for