Dominion in North America as Peru in the South Betwixt both lyes Jucatan Hondura Nicaragua Veraga or Nombre de Dios Panama which chain them together Jucatan is a point of land which extends to the 21. degree like a peninsula being in the streightest place from Xicalanco to Chotemal some hundred leagues over the country was first discovered by one Fernandez in one thousand five hundred and seventeen afterwards by Grisalua who came from Cuba to the Isle of Cosumel or Saint Crois thence to Campechia Champatron and Tauasco Hondura was first discovered by Columbus in his last voyage 1502. last by one Casan who setled the Plantation of Tucillo in 1515. Pedrarias d' Avila in 1519. planted the Colonies in Nombre de Dios and Panama towards the South Sea the first discoverer of that sea was Vasco Muntz coming from Dariana in 1513. who with great joy rendred thanks to God and took possession for the King of Spain Betwixt Nombre de Dios and Panama 't is 17. or 18. leagues of Marshes Mountains and craggy asperous rocks full of fierce wild beasts of all kinds and a multitude of Apes that make a very troublesome noyse They transport their Merchandise from sea to sea either by land with convoyes or by the river Chagra to about five leagues from Panama and then by land with Convoy They have often thought of cutting this Isthmus in the streightest place but the difficulty of the Rocks and Mountains by the way besides the doubt if the seas are levell as at the Egyptian Isthmus hindred the proceeding A Colony at Sancta Maria Antiqua in Dariana displanted for the unsoundnesse of the ayre for but throwing warm water on the ground toads and other venemous creatures would engender Advancing towards the East we came to the Provinces of Vraba S. Martha Cartagena Popayan Dorado new Estramadora new Granada Venecuela Castilia Doro Bagota new Andolousia Paria Cahaqua Cumana c. South lyes Dariana then the great kingdome of Peru then Chila to the Streight Dariana was planted by one Anchisa there are Cowes with feet like Mules and hornlesse Peru according to some extends from Dariana to Chila others clipping it from Popayan North to Chila South It took name from the River Peru in two degrees Northward the Provinces thereof are Quito Quixos Popayan Canela Pacamores Gualsonge then Collao Carchas Anedas Tecuman to Chila Popayan is about two hundred leagues in length and forty in breadth lying upon new Granada towards the East The Provinces are Antioch Tataho Anserma Arma Pacoura Catapa Quinhaya Calix and Pasto Anserma 70. leagues from Antioch is called by the Indians Ombra but the Spaniards seeing the Inhabitants hold salt in their hand and call it Anser thought the town had been so called and continued that name there is a passage over the river Saint Martha at that town Arma is of note for rich Mines Parmoura hath also silver Mines the Province of Arbi extends to the Mountains of Cordilleras which runs a thousand leagues Southward on that side which stretches to the sea they never have raines by reason the South and South-West winds blowing continually drive the clouds away whereby this part is barren without tree fruit or grasse but the other side onely a league distant by reason of the rains abounds in fruits and all commodities In Quinbaya at the end of the Cordilleras over against Andes there is a famous burning mountain In the Province of Pastro there is a large valley called Arris ever cold both winter and summer All these parts are well peopled and the Inhabitants not so bloody nor man-eaters as in other parts living under a government and obedience to their Prince and believe in the resurrection after death and that they shall live in fields of peace with all sorts of delights Peru extends from Pasto to Chila ends Southward at the River Manto North at Augar Mayo here are vast sandy Plains as far as the Indies where the heat is extreme while snow lyes on the Mountains and the like diversity of the seasons I remember when I went to Sicily walking on the coast of Calabria in the beginning of March winter was so sharp there was not the least sprout of a Vine to be seen whereas in Sicily I found them a span high young beanes good Artichocks and they mowed green corn to give the blades to horses In this part between the sea and the Codilleras called Sanaria for want of wood they get a certain earth out of the water which they dry and make turfes like those in the low countreys the Mountains are the most desert and arduous in the world of long extent running from Panama to the streight they throw down divers Rivers and compose very fertile Valleys At the point of Sagotta at the entrance into those vast plains betwixt the Mountains and the Sea lyes a wide countrey covered with nothing but sand like the deserts of Arabia but not so white some shrubs there are or rather stalks strong as the Caper sprigges in the deserts of Palestine the same we call salt grasse which refreshes the passengers exceedingly and continues till May. The seasons differ but little in Quito Cagnales Santiago de porto Vieio Cusco Cagnata Collao Charcas The Province of Quito is called by the Spaniards Poblada de San Francesco and the capitall town S. Francis of Quito The length of Peru from Quito to Chila is some six hundred leagues the breadth about fifty The countrey is divided into three parts the Plaines upon the sea side about ten leagues over the Mountains and Valleys twenty leagues the Forests and Lawns twenty leagues within which little space of fifty leagues there is such difference that it rains as 't were alwayes in one part in another not at all and in the middle upon the mountaines seldome The Cordileras which run from Pole to Pole by the names of Andes and Sierra are very different though in the same elevation one side covered with woods where it rains and is ever hot the other side bare and cold winter and summer These mountains go for a thousand leagues in view of one another dividing at Cusco where they inclose the Province of Collao a Champaign countrey full of Lakes and Rivers Next Collao lyes Charcas a mountanous countrey rich in Mines Quito is under the Equinoctial abounding in all sorts of fruit whereof they make two harvests in the year The spring lasts from Aprill to November and from October to March their rains which they esteem their winter Here they have of those famous sheep called Pacos which serve as properly for carriage as horses of the height of an ordinary asse long legges deep belly long and risen neck and the head like ours in Europe They draw and do any work the flesh is wholesome and savory fresh or salt these beasts are tame and apt to be brought to labour Out of the Province of Cognata towards the
of souldiers her faire Structures many sword knife-cuttlers other expert Artists in steele who give a delicate temper with muske and Amber-greese There I saw a Marseillian Cutler who spent near a hundred Zequins in forging one blade which was by many admired I met him ten yeares after at Paris he told me he sold the same blade to Collo Dornano for three hundered crownes Damas is scituate in a faire plaine her soyle well watered and fruitfull with plenty of Gardens and Orchards round about her she is surrounded with two mountains the one called Amon the other Sahanir There are many grots and caves as 't is said formerly inhabited by the Christians in time of persecution there is one can contain 4000. persons and without doubt are fairer and larger than those at present to be seen at Saragosa in Sicily towards the East there is a lake 7. or 8. leagues about through which run two sweet streams the one called Aman or Amma which runs by the foot of the wall towards the South the other Farfar and threds through the middle of the Town she is also adorned with many fountains the water being brought by pipes from Chrysoran The houses are built of the Moresco modell with galleries do almost cover the whole streets as at Aleppo The Town is strong and begirt with good ditches well flank'd and man'd in time of war A Bassa or Governour keeps it for the Turk who hath a strong life-guard of horse The Suburbs are greater and more populous than the Town There are twenty thousand Mulberry planters for the trade of silk and an infinite number of cutlers and other Artists in steel and iron On the East there stands a Tower where you may yet see the Flour de luces the arms of France which must have been set there when the French were Lords of the Holy land there in a little enclosure is to be seen Zacharies tomb Father to St. John Baptist a place of great veneration the Mahometans themselves celebrating the feast day with solemn rejoycings they yet shew the place where S. Paul persecuting Christians fell from his horse and the place of his imprisonment and where he was let down in a basket They shew you the place where 't is said Cain killed his Brother Abel There is an Alablaster mine affords them great store of fair vessels and other peices From thence commonly are set forth the Caravans or land convoys for Medina and Meca and to many other places of Arabia and the east The Towne is farr fairer without then within by reason of the commodious scituation and beautifull aspect but the streets are not so well contrived the Market place or Baiar is ample and faire built with Piatzza's as at Bolonia most of the houses in Town are served with fountains derived from Chrysorrhoas the graffs are planted with Mulbery trees There is a Citadell said to be built by a Florentine Renegado who then commanded it While we staid at Damas one day walking the Market place we saw an Executioner surrounded with a great crowd of people upon a tall horse and dragging a Malefactor tyed with a rope by the leggs to the place of Execution and enquiring the reason of this Justice we were told he was a Christian and had killed a judge of the Country This poore sufferer as we since understood by attestations and letters he carried about him in a box was a Frenchman and born in Saintonge his name was Roubie returning from Jerusalem where he received the Cross from the hands of the Patriarch and passing thorough this Town met a judge who according to the insolent custome of the sworne enemies to Christians with one blow struck Roubie at his feet which for the present he seemed to take very patiently dissembling the affront with resolution nevertheless when opportunity should serve cruelly to revenge it he absented himself for three whole yeares and in that time having perfected himselfe in the Turkish Language disguised in the habit of a Dervis a sort of Religious in great esteeme amongst them he weares a Cimitere by his side and a dagger hanging at his girdle to see the commands of their Prophet Nabi strictly observed this supposed Dervis begirt with his hanger returned to Damas and assisted dayly in Court the judge his enemy whose diligence to justice was held a good Omen this he practised for three whole years and more not omitting one audience in all that time dayly expecting an opportunity to revenge himselfe Upon a time hearing the judge give Sentence against an Orphan who was sued for some inheritance suddenly stept up to him and with a mortall wound on the forehead laid him dead at his feete took his place and said that the judgement newly pronounced against the Orphan was unjust and that it was fit to repeate the Evidence which without the least interruption in respect to the supposeâ— Dervis was immediately done by Councill on both sides and a Herauld openly declared that he thought it Justice the Orphan should enjoy one moity of the land in question this was spoken to the satisfaction of the Auditory but especially of the Dervis who gave his opinion and approbation in few words and at the same instant judgement was pronounced to the great content of those were cast by the former sentence his body was carried home to his house and the Murtherer highly commended for his great act of Justice Reubie satisfied in his revenge by degrees retired himself to Tripoli where by misfortune being reproached by a certain countrey-man of his who had seen him in the habit he inconsiderately confest it and the reason that moved him so to do and some Turks hearing of it they presently caused him to be apprehended and upon search found uncircumcised he was brought back to Dama where he was thus arraigned and executed and his body cast to the dogs to be devoured Not farre from Damas and the Jordan springs is the town of Philippa whence the woman was that our Saviour cur'd of the flux Belinas sometime Dan Paneas or Caesarea it lyes not far from Libanus and between her and Gallilean or Tiberiade Sea is a great vale where is a Lake swell'd with the snow that falls from the Mount Libanus through this Lake runs the Jordan and is called Es-mal-maron formerly the waters of Merac there did Joshuah overthrow the Kings of Chananee the Lake is in Summer almost drye and from thence unto Jope is a very fruitful country called Charon Towards the Tiberiade Sea there is another vale very hollow between two hills where the Sun is hardly ever seen This hill rises not far from the Sea side and reaches to Sidon or Sayette and of the other side they both reach the Arabian hills near Damas and there lyes the Country formerly called Palmyrena CHAP. III. Of the Deserts of Arabia of Spirits or Apparitions there of the Sea
of Sodome of the Hills of Sina and Oreb and the three Arabia's AFter some few dayes stay we left Damas and passed through Benin from thence we came to Macharaib or Macherib and Masarib three dayes journey from Damas 't is a small town of Palestina not very pleasant formerly called Misor one of the Levies Cities sometime belonging to King Balsan near the torrent of Arnon in the tribe of Reuben At our arrivall there having discharged our Chioas or guide which cost us six Duckets a man my companion Cassis took a little boy for his guide and brought me first to a fair house in the Turkish quarter and inhabited by a Turk instead of going to the place inhabited by Christians which I not a little wondred at because the difference in Religion breeds a discrepance between them and us as I was entring the house a Turkish Dame well fashioned with a child in her armes briskly asked me in the Syriack tongue Achibi Nazarini che senti achelect Christian what do you here I streight made answer Mnaar Jenesay ana cardas amisi antina that my Camarade was within to speak with some body but she with indignation thrust me out of the Porch young as I was I had the wit to present her with a pair of corall pendants which she liked well and said in her language Thou art a good lad but the other is a knave that gave me nothing and as I was retiring my self she courteously invited me in where I saw my companion take some small things out of his bagge which he presented to several women who had every one of them a sucking child at their brest they wore rings in their ears of twice hand compasse richly set with Diamonds and Pearls every one of them made choice of some Venetian curiosity which though of small value they set great esteem upon as we were thus entertaining these Ladies in came a grave Moore Counpayniors brother who upon notice that two strangers were entered his house came presently home fir'd with jealousie a passion most of them are infected with as was easily seen in the rage and distraction of his countenance but after he perceived his brother he ran to his embraces with many caresses took me by the hand in French said we were most welcome and told us he was the Renegado Murat called Silvester compelled thereto by force but resolved to leave Turkisme and become a Christian again as we were after many complements invited us to eat then a cloth of leather delicately dressed being spread upon the ground they brought in boyled mutton rice and their melted butter called Manteque we made a good dinner drinking Ragui their common drink composed of water figges and Dates and is a sort of strong water for wine they have not any At dinner I seriously observed the Renegado Murat a man of graceful personage well proportioned and taller by the head then my fellow-traveller and nothing like him and I observed women with what content they listened to our manner of discourse At dinner the two brothers discoursed of their affaires and design in Arabick conceiving I understood them not but during my eight moneths residence at the Grand Caire I had learnt enough to understand their discourse and heard my fellow relate this shipwrack and the manner thereof and that he came to crave his assistance to recover his losses the Renegado told him that in few dayes he should take a journey for Meka and that he could procure him so many Cherafs or Duckets by the month and at his returne from that voyage he would give him a summe of money if he returned not himselfe home with him to this my camarade made answar he had undertaken to conduct me to Jerusalem and that it would be a shame to him to leave me so young the Renegado replyed that I should go along with them and that he would furnish me with a Camell for the journey and that coming back we should see Jerusalem All this I understood and though not pleased to see my intention crossed yet I durst not take the least notice for feare they should put some trick upon me considering they might leave me behind or sell me or exchange me for some peeces of wine which in those Countreys is both rare and deare sold onely by the Apothecaries for the sick or by Christian Merchants Thus I heard them advise how to be rid of me but at last pittying my tender age they resolved to know my will and then my Camarade freely spoke his brothers intention and that in that journey we should see the great Desart the Mount Sinai and Oreb the Townes of Medina La Meyur and many other remarkable places and that returning we should see Jerusalem I shewed my selfe most willing to what they should resolve finding no other way to save my selfe and upon my fellowes promise coming back to shew me the place I so much desired Thus resolved they provided six fat sheep prize two ducats together with other meat which they boyled in a great chaldron till the flesh came from the bones then put flesh only with a good proportion of salt butter in the same Chaldron and fryed it well and potted it up for our journey This we loaded upon two Cammells with store of onyons bisket three large bottells of strong water with others full of fresh water and other necessaries and my camarade and self had a camell betwixt us Having staid eight dayes at Macherib we set forth with the Caravane composed of great numbers of Merchants and of above twenty thousand camells loaden with all sorts of wares and commodities reaching two leagues in length The Captain of the Town accompanied us with five hundered horse unto the desert but further he could not go by reason of the heat of the sands that burne their horses hoofes and founder them and besides in the desert there is extreme scarcity of water which we carried along with us in leather vessells to make use of in the desert of Arabia where very scarcely any fresh is found We crost a part of the Holy Land leaving Jerusalem on the right hand with a very sensible regret to be within a dayes journey of that place and not to see the City The nights we rested in our Tents which we pitched with ease fastning wooden poles thorough the middle with ropes which by the helpe of pegs struck into the ground susteined the rest drawing towards the south into some vales in search of fresh water we perceived upon an eminent peece of land the ruines of some Towns and a little lower a Lake called Sodom and Gomorra or the Dead Sea anciently called the Lake Asphaltite which to this day doth witness the just judgement of God we tasted some of this water which although very brackish yet refresht us for the present From thence after seven or eight houres rest we took our way thorough the
amongst them feigning himself mad begged an almes of him and seeing he had a Cassock of good fine cloth maliciously threw abundance of vermine which he had in a basket upon his clothes and forced my companion to strip himself of Cassock Doublet and all to shake off the vermine the rest of the Jewes gave their seeming assistance correcting the pretended mad-man or cheat whilst he run away with coat and doublet which my fellow never after heard of but it made us merry in the rest of our journey At length having travelled five and forty dayes travail from Macharib without much rest but on Frydaies which is the Mahometans Sabbath we approached near Medinat al Nabi or the Prophets City and there stopt the Caravane every one pitching his tent 't was a delight to behold our company that seemed a numerous Army rank't in order round about a well in the midst of divers Date trees We arrived at Medina formerly Jesrab a Town of the desert Arabia where Mahomet died and was buried he was born at Jetrib or Meka in this town there are very good waters for which cause it is well peopled There my Camarade put a base cheat upon his brother telling him that if he would intrust him with certain commodities he would go trade with them at Ziden a Haven in the red sea near to Meka where were arrived some ships from the India's as he understood by some Abyssins he met in pilgrimage at Mount Sina the Renegado Murat believed him and bought six Camels at Medina and loaded them with several commodities which he committed to his brother Cassis and to account for them at his return but instead of going to the place he pretended to his brother he turned his course towards the happy Arabia Zibit Aden Ormus from thence through Persia to the East India's and to the Preste Johns countrey and to other places as you shall hear Some have said that either at Medina or Meka was Mahomets tombe all of iron suspended in the ayre with a loadstone but I have heard for certain that the false Prophet died at Medina and is there buried where to this day his tombe is frequently visited by Mahometan pilgrims from all parts of the world as the holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem is visited by Christians thither go the Caravanes from Aleppo Damas and the grand Cair and from other places there meet sometimes above forty or fifty thousand persons and as many Camels with some guards of souldiers This tombe is built of white marble with the tombs of Ebubeker Ali Omar and Ottman Califfs and Mahomets successors and every one a book lying by them of their lives and their Sect or opinion which are very discrepant there are also a great number of Lamps alwayes lighted we were desirous to be informed by Murats means whether the monument had ever been held up in the ayre we were answered by an Alfaquis or Turkish Priest that formerly Mahomets body had there reposed but that since the Angels had translated his body before God to assist him at his great Judgement and told us many other fopperies that occasioned Murat to ask why that tombe was built to which we received some frivolous answer the tombe is three steps or thereabouts in ground the steps are white marble and the Turks believe to this day that the Tombe hangs in the ayre and wonder very much when we tell them we have seen the contrary CHAP. V. How Mahomet composed his Alcoran his victories and of the rarities and ceremonies of Meka THe people of this Country were called Saracenes since Sarazins from a town called Saraco or rather from Elfarack which in their language signifies to live by robbery as all the inhabitants there have ever been great thieves and robbers as well as the chiefest part of the desert Arabians and Africanian Arabians are at present The Impostor-Prophet Mahomet was born amongst them at Itrarib or Jetrib a small village now called Meka or near unto it He derived his Pedegree from Ismael from his youth inventing his false law being a subtle crafty undertaking person he took advantage of the discontents of some Sarazins that were not paid their pay by the Grecian Emperour Heraclius his officers and made use of them to run over that Empire with such success from the beginning that he undertook greater things which the easier to compasse he gave them a newer Law compiled with a mixture of their old one making them believe 't was revealed and inspired into him from above but which in truth he had forged and composed himself by the help of some Christian Apostates among others of two Christians sword-cutlers and slaves then in Meka and very ignorant fellowes and thus fill'd his Alcoran full of fopperies and Impertinencies which he published by the sword and by force of of arms forced all persons he could to receive it Three principal means he made use of to establish his Sect First of all Sorceries impostures and deceits Secondly of a liberty of conscience sensuality and licentiousnesse Thirdly and lastly of the force of arms Medina was the first town he reduced and there was proclaimed King by his Captains and Officers Ebubeker Ali Omar Ottman and the others that succeeded him were called Califfs afterwards he sent them to conquer Asia and Africa and in few years they reduced both those parts wholly to their obedience setting up their law which hath there continued ever since for they and their successors have founded the greatest Empires in the world and so continue at this day as the Turk the Persian the great Mogull the Tartar the Jerez and Moracko and infinite more Kings in Africa and Asia the East India's and the adjacent Isles from this cursed Doctrine are sprouted forth many diverse Sects We left Medina and came to Meka another town of the desert Arabia in the two and twentieth degree and by reason of the impurity of the ayr there is scarce any more then these two townes in the whole country it is two dayes journey from Medina pretty large of the quantity of Roan or twice as big as Marseils 't is surrounded with great and steep hills which serves her for defence and makes the accesse difficult there are abundance of Merchants and very rich having upon the 23. of May yearly a famous Fair which they call their Jubile To facilitate the passage from the plain there are four avenues cut through the Mountain easie to be maintained near unto the Town is the Hill called Jubara where 't is believed Abraham would have sacrificed his Son Isaac and in a certain place there the Marabouts immolate at this time there the pilgrims offer sheep and distribute the flesh and offalls to the poor who are very numerous and give them water to drink they devour those entrails half raw impatient to stay the dressing of them they make holes in the
the coast of Avisa then to Mount Bacour where we sold our Camels upon condition they should carry our goods in to Aden within two leagues of that place The Red Sea from Suez to the Cape Cardafu is in the eighteenth degree in length four hundred leagues and in breadth fifty is navigable but not without great danger especially by night because 't is full of shelvy rocks reeds and Isles and by day besides the common Pilot they have a man placed upon the Mast to discover and direct the ship from Cameran 't is not so dangerous but we were forced to make this voyage by land to escape the dangers at Sea the water to my thinking was of the colour of other Sea-water both in her Superficies and bottom the name of red onely excepted which was given her by allusion to the name of King Erithreus who named it so or because of the sands which in some places are of a reddish colour The Moors call it Babar Corzum which signifies an inclosed sea the havens upon it are at Babel-Mandel which is in the twelfth degree 't is called by some the sea of Meka Arabia upon the red sea side was formerly inhabited by several people principally the Sabaeans since called the Homerites they received the Christian Faith in the dayes of the Emperour Constantius and some will have it that rather from thence then Aethiopia came Queen Saba and since Queen Candaces Eunuch At the end of this Sea in the Streights of Babel-Mandel is the town and Haven of Aden called by those of that countrey Adedoun a town of the greatest fame in all the East and one of the strongest of Arabia and of greatest importance by reason of the trade and concourse of all the Nations of the Indies Persia Tartary Arabia Aethiopia and the Levant she was formerly subject to Sequemir since conquered by the Portugais and now in the possession of the Turk on the land side stands that famous Mountaine Albacoure or Dartzira which must be travell'd over to reach hither the passage is streight and difficult defended by two strong Castles on each side of the way one from the top of the hill you discover Aden standing in a large plain her Haven is great and good butting upon the Cape Gardafu the Town is grown famous since the Portugais set footing in the East Indies for the Merchants leaving the red sea for feare of the Portugais rest here in their journy to the Indies whereas before they went throughout without landing here Here are unladen from the Indies and other places the Spices Aloes Brasil Pearles and pretious stones Myrobolan Safron Wax Steel Sugars Rice Purcelaines Linnens Quick-silver Vermillions Cottons Silks Scarlets Chamlets Musk Amber Beniamin Storax Azure and other Commodities vented in several places Here time out of mind were the Spices landed and from hence by the red sea and the Nile transported into Alexandria formerly they say that the Soudan Governour of this place was so puissant as to send an Army of thirty thousand horse and forty thousand Cammels to assist the Soudan of Egypt against the Christians and waged ordinary warre besides against the Abyssins Aden is well walled and fortified with several Castles on the East side on the North stands Bacoure which divides her from the Happy Arabia and on all other sides she is incompast with the sea Westward the sea enters the land so far through a gulf that you would think the Mountaigne were an Island the Haven is Eastward and large scituate under the foot of the Hill coming from Arabia you would take the towne to stand upon the top of the hill whereas it stands in a plain almost surrounded with the Sea guarded by a strong Block-house in a little Isle adjacent that defends the Towne and the mouth of the Haven as by the side of the Hill there are severall Forts that command those passages The opposite to Aden of this side of the Isle and streight of Babel-Mandel is in Aethiopia subject most of it to the grand Neguz with a creek of Sea and a fair Haven and the Cape called Foubical or Guardufu anciently the Promontory called Aromata from one side to the other the streight is forty thousand paces over and in the midst stands this little Island in length some two leagues the mouth is very dangerous to enter at low water by reason of Shelves Rocks and Reeds and a number of Isles of different bignesse some of them inhabited some not wee travelled most of them and the chiefest I saw was Cameran near the coast of Arabia in the fifteenth degree of Elevation fifteene miles round or thereabouts she hath plenty of fresh water and her Haven is of the continent side but two leagues off or thereabouts the Town is small but increases dayly subject to the Sequemir and inhabited by Moores On the other side in Aethiopia is Dalascia or Dalaca a faire Town inhabited by an Idolatrous King tributary to the King of the Abyssins since the conquest that Alexander the Preste John made of it which hath ever since obeyed his Lawes together with Rocca or Eroca where there is a faire Haven inhabited by Christians Abyssins very good people they weep for joy to see any Christians of these parts they call them Romatas or Roume make very much of them and distribute what they have amongst them according to the charitable practise of the Primitive Church They have a little higher another faire Isle called Mesua or Mezuan peopled with Christians where there is a good Haven that saves many good ships from shipwrack sayling in this dangerous sea a little above Mesua is another Isle called Ibrani on Aethiopia side where there is a good Haven and most of the Inhabitants fishermen beyond that is the Isle of Camera subject to the Preste John she hath two Havens one southward the other eastward hath good water and a good well two hundered paces from the Sea in an orchard called Magodu or Magot conteyning twenty or thirty houses and every house a boate ready to take the water to fish which is their onely livelihood CHAP. IX Of Dalascia Town belonging to the Grand Neguz of the Isle of Socotora with a description of a prodigious tempest THe Caravans that come from the Abyssins Countrey are imbarked at Dalascia or Dalaca or at the Isle of Suachen belonging to the Grand Neguz and bound from thence for the Holy Land most of these places are inhabited by Christians Suachen is an Island in the eighteenth degree of latitude drawing from east to south within a bow shoote off the Continent Dalascia belongs to the Neguz governed by a Mahometan tributary to him and allowes liberty of conscience They have fair Churches their Priests marrying as the Grecians do who are subordinate to the Abuma or Patriark of Ethiopia The air is exceeding benign and productive of all excellent fruits
as oranges citrons melons figs raisins there are good store of cattle especially those great goats of whose hair Camelots fine as any silk are made which hair is very long white soft and delicate whereof they make stuffs so fine they look like white linnen which they traffick in and sell at dear rates They have here likewise the finest and best Lacca of the world produced from minute insects like Bees which feed on a red gum that issues out of a tree like a cherry tree which the more purgative it is the finer and more delicate they render the Lacca There are some who practice no other trade than to take it immediately upon the production and laying it upon little Tables cleanse it then put it up in small pots of various colours not above half an ounce in a pot which by reason of the excellency they sell dear and call it Laca d' Alaca whereof the most excellent colours are made for Limners Of this is likewise made Spanish hard wax The Island abounds in cattle pasturage fish of all sorts pure spring waters which make their gardens flourish They have also of the best ginger notwithstanding not much esteemed by reason that for the too much moysture 't will not last long Here is likewise great store of the wood called Santall red white and citron colour store of Ebony and the most exquisite Rose wood also another sort of wood called Sorba much like Brasill but makes a very deep dye also an herb called Lagarozo that in perfect ripenesse makes a most excellent crimson and being put in cotton cloth the more 't is washed the more lively it becomes The Inhabitants of this Island are great Libertines partly Moors partly Christians each living according to his custome without either confusion or disorder The Mahometan Prince is gracious obliges much his Subjects wears the Turkish fashions with many rich jewels and is honourably attended Those of the Continent speak of this Town by way of proverb Sarbayt Dalca which signifies Dalascian Asses because of those beasts they have the best in the world which do them marvellous good service and are better to travel the deserts than any other beasts they have In Persia I have known them sold at a hundred duckets a piece and more because they are good travellers and of little expense they will go thirty miles a day without any wearinesse The King's Father that ruled this Countrey in the time of my travels there had a fish of a marvellous bignesse which he called Caymans Caymans is a kind of Lezard or Crocodile in the Indies he kept this fish in a Pond near the Sea side and delighted much to feed him with his own hand the fish being very mansuete he bred it of a young one but 't was grown so large 't would come out of the water alone three hundred paces on land As we were sailing in the Arabick Sea in company of many Merchants of several Nations and Religions there arose a dispute touching the diversity of Religions one holding as our Deists and Atheists this day do that all Religions were indifferent and sufficient and that all persons acknowledging a God should infallibly be saved mis-calling the Christians and blaming them for having good opinions of themselves and bad of others to whom a Christian discreetly and learnedly replyed shewing the purity of our religion and that a Christian dying in mortal sin would be damned as well as Turk or Infidel at this the Masters mate offered presumptuously to perswade us that we were all abused and that Duma governed the Universe another acknowledged no other divinity but nature to this our Abyssin presently replyed that Duma had been a servant to the great and onely God but thorough pride from an angel of light was cast into the depth of hell where he remains a fiend and hath no power but by Gods permission after many other discourses as we were sailing towards Guardufu the weather grew very cloudy and we perceived far enough from us a thing like unto a thick black smoak dropt into the Sea one of our company a Grecian of the Isle of Chio drew his sword and having said a Prayer or two and made the sign of the crosse left not hacking and hewing upon the hatches until he had cut out three or four pieces which action set the company a laughing yet we perceived it to dissipate and remove that smoak from the ship the horrible thunder and lightning which presently followed strook us all with terrour for my part I prayed heartily and the tempest so hugely encreased that nothing but lamentations and groans were heard among us bidding adieu to this world some were maimed for this Monster or whirling smoak run in the shape of a baloon from rope to rope and up the masts of the ship exceeding swiftly surrounded with a sparkling fire making a most hideous noyse that astonisht us all and tore and mangled the sailes into a thousand pieces some Indian Gentlemen defended themselves from this terrible thing with their cimeters running up and down and bearing one another down many were killed and hurt some hid themselves under hatches others like madmen threw themselves into the water our poor Christian received a great blow upon the head and all in a gore of blood and upon his knees read St. Johns Gospel and immediately the Spirit vanished having haunted us an hour and a half we were all ready to yield up the Ghost my companion was so bruised that he wore his arm in a scarf for two months after with a bruise black as pitch we all testified our astonishment by our silence gazing upon one another struck with amazement to see so many dead corps lye of all sides of us at length by Gods permission we landed for which mercy we yielded our humble thanks we could not find the man that held there was neither God nor Devil our Masters mate was strucken lame of a leg and thigh which remained black many dayes after yet without sense of the least pain amongst the rest a young man of our company told me he was in great fear during the tempest because of his guilty conscience that venting his commodities in a certain Town we had made some short stay in a Moorish dame under pretence of buying musk and pretending she would shew it her husband left a pearl of extraordinary bignesse with him in pawn she immediately returned asking the price of the whole parcell which was five duckets at the lowest she took him at his word and bade him follow her home for his money which he did and there she detained and treated him for three dayes together Thus those Country Ladies seek their servants and especially strangers of whom they are very amorous Near the Cape Guardufu is the Isle Socotora famous for amber-greece and gum called Dragons blood and for the plant that produces aloes which
leagues from Tecoantepee to Colima 100. leagues by the way is Escapulio and Zacatula from Colima to Cape Coruentes 100. leagues 20. degrees betwixt them is the Porto de Nativitad thence to Chiamelan 60. under the Tropick where are the Havens Calisto and Vanderas from Chiamelan to the deep River or R. de Miraslores 250. leagues 33. degrees In this space of 250. leagues they passe the River of S. Michael Logagaual Porto del Remedio Cape Vermego the Port of Ports the Passe of Miraflores to the point of Balenas 200. leagues or California going to Porto Escondido By the way you come to Belen Port del fuego the gulph of Canoas the Isle of Pearles called Tarrarequi from the point of Balenas to Cape Courantes 't is 80. leagues where comes in the sea of Cortez like to the Adriatick being something coloured from the point de Valenas 100. leagues to the point of Abad and as much to the Cape Lingano 30. degrees from thence to the Cape of Bruz fifty leagues and one hundred and fifteen to the Port of Sardinia On this coast is the Crick S. Michael and the gulf de los fuegos and the white coast resembling the coast of Brasile so as one would think white linnen hung there from Sardinia to Terra Nevada 150. l. passing by the Port of Todos santos Cape Gabeca Cape Nevado Golfo Primero Sierra Nevada in 40. d. This is the last country which runs North to Labrador Thus we find the South sea to contain 3375. l. and the Notth 5960. l. together 9300. l. new Mexico 1000. l. in circuit comprehending 15. large inhabited Provinces CHAP. II. The Authours Departure Particulars of Demingo FRom the Port of Sancta Maria in 37. degrees we steer'd the ordinary course of the Canaries whither 't is 590. miles the gulf de las Yegas lying in the way The Canaries heretofore called the Fortunate had that appellation from some terrible and sanguinary dogs which were there going in packs like sheep and at this day there is abundance of them exceeding fierce and dangerous Of these Islands there is the grand Canari Tenerif Palma Gomora du Fez Fortaventura and others lesse to about 28. degrees They afford divers curiosities amongst which Mount Pic in Tenerif which I esteem to be one of the highest on the earth Libanus it self is not so high by halfe much lesse Mount Gibel in Sicily for it may be discovered at 120. miles distance and is the first land the Marriners discover at sea when they come from Spain This is not to be ascended but two moneths in the year July and August for the extreme colds and because 't is commonly covered with snow which cooles the ayre to such a degree that one cannot breath upon it without iminent danger of life From the top of this the rest of the Islands are all discoverable and amongst them one which seems rather an illusion then a reality For one plainly views the Isle and go to the place you find nothing They have three names for it the Fortunate the Inchanted and the Not to be found and there is no more to be learned of it only the common people say 't is an Island inhabited by Christians and that God prohibits they should be discovered for my part I have seen it as I have the others and I believe 't is conceal'd with clouds which are exhal'd from the abundance of fresh water there which render it so obscure to be found out In the Isle of Tenerife there is a cave in a firm Rock where the heardsmen in bad weather shelter their cattle 't is some 5. leagues from St. Christophers They report that heretofore there was an apparition of extraordinary splendour with an image of the blessed virgin which wrought many miracles and was the reason of a Church built by the title of Nuestra Sennora de la candelaria where there is a monastary of Dominicans In the Island of Iron is that miraculous tree the leaves whereof distill water which suffices the inhabitants for drink The tree is alwaies hooded with a thin cloud of colour between gray and white and never extenuates for wind nor tempest nor suffers any motion whence is deduced all the liquor which the tree emits so plentifully into cesterns placed for the purpose that it waters both the Inhabitants and the heards of the whole Island there being no other water at all so as without this 't would lye waste and desert and by this is rendered inhabitable and fruitfull Having taken in provisions at the Canaries we continued our course towards the Desseada crossing the great pacifick gulph which may be said one of the calmest Seas of the world for during the fourty dayes we were upon it we perceived not the least alteration but an air or gentle gale blew equally and constantly without ceasing so as vessels are there almost alwaies driven by the Poupe without scarce ever using saile for above two thousand four hundred and ninety two miles to Desseada which takes name from the desire they have to get thither there being no other land betwixt that and the Canaries passing the gulph the voyage taking up sometimes thirty two dayes sometimes thirty five as it happens Desseado one of the Antillaes was the first Columbus discovered in his second voyage where from the Canaries he arrived in twenty dayes 't is in 15. degrees towards the North. Thence they come to Domingo a good and a fertile Island in eighteen degrees The inhabitants are sanguinary and man-eaters practising all sort of guile to betray strangers to their broach They are dextrous archers and seldom misse their mark their bowâ— ten or twelve foot long and their arrows will pierce a corselet good sword proof they are made of a hard and strong wood they call Sourgar whereof they poyson the pile They live upon venison grapes and fruit both men and women go absolutely naked adore the Sun have little stock more than a few garden utensils a bed made of cotton in the manner of netting hanging from one side of the house to the other which is round made of straw called Tortora Their goods are all in common and what they have they eat together They are not injurious to one another are very Martial their armes clubs of eight foot long made like Bel-clappers which they will mannage very effectually but they affect their bow more than their club They have some Priests in their Gentilism whom they call Chaouris who solemnize certain ceremonies and feasts There being a necessity of taking in fresh water some of the ship of Cape Moulini would needs go on shore and but that some of the Company disswaded him the Captain himself had gone with them howsoever he sent the Masters mate with twenty resolute men and twelve Musqueteers Our Captain Noguena seeing this rash enterprize knowing the humour of the Countrey immediately sent a shore thirty of his men whereof twenty were musqueteers to assist them but
Saint Vincent Upon the North-side the streight of Magellan are abundance of winglesse birds that live in holes in the ground fat and good meat they called Pinguins Sir Francis Drake found many good Harbours in the Streight where good fresh waters came but they are not easy to enter for the strong and turbulent windes that raigne there The Land on both sides lies exceeding high and banked with inaccessible Mountains particularly on the South and East where they are ever covered with snow The breadth in some places is of two three or foure leagues in the narrowest of one or of two musket shots 'T is excessive cold and never without snow and ice the trees notwithstanding ever green and laden with fruit From this Streight by Cape Foendo and the White Cape they ascend again into the silver river where begins Brasile in 35 degrees beyond the line reaching to the River of Amazons under the Line This silver river or Paravai Parana and Paraguay disgorging altogether like Cordillera de serra Muada in Peru and Charcas over-flow the whole Countrey so as the Inhabitants for that time live in Canoes fastned to Trees till the floud be retired within the banks At the mouth t is about 35. leagues over but further within the Land fifty being streightened towards the Mouth by reason of the Mountains and compassing a number of Islands this River rises near the Town of Plata towards Potossi whence it takes name Others derive it from the great lake called Eupania where the other Rivers take birth as Maragnon but it should rather be Parana which afterwards falls into the silver River The first that came within the mouth of this River was Americus Vesputius sent by the King of Portugall to discover Brasile in the yeare fifteen hundered and one and supposing it a passage from the South sea to the Moluccas satisfied himselfe and returned without looking farther After that in the yeare fifteen hundered and twelve the King of Spain sent one John Solis who named it Solis In fifteen hundered twenty five Sebastian Ganor made a farther advance up the River and by reason of the silver he found amongst the people or rather because the head of it lies near the Town Plata towards Potossi called it the silver River or Plata The Inhabitants along the River are of large stature long-lived light and nimble of foot use bows and slings in warr and speak the Patagonick Language or the Chicaan of later times the Spaniards have ascended this River as farr as Charcas and Colao The other river I mentioned is above fifty leagues in the mouth and rises amongst the Mountains of Cuntisuya near Cusco the Indians call it Apurimac principall and Capacmaya the Prince of Rivers It runs from South to North above five hundred leagues from his source at the equinoctiall Then it turns to the East for 650. leagues in a right line and goes with windings and turns for above a thousand five hundred leagues two miles to the league This is the greatest River upon the earth which at his infusion keeps the Sea fresh for many leagues first discovered by the Pinsons of Siville in the year 1500. then Orellana sailed it from the source almost to the end in 1543. 't is filled with severall Islands and the Tide mounts above a hundred leagues They find Meragnon to be seventy leagues Southward distant from Orellana that rises from the great Peruian lakes which descend from the Mountains covered with snow others put them both in one it may be falling so close together into the Sea they may joyn waters and Orellana bear the name of both CHAP. XVI Of Brasile the Conquest of it and of the Brasilians c. BRasile is a large Province of America appertaining to the Crown of Portugall extending from 25. degrees to the second from North to South some ten degrees in breadth from East to West from fort Para in the mouth of the great River of Amazons to Plata Maragnon bounds it Northward in two degrees Plata South in thirty five on the East the excelse and inaccessible Mountains of Peru and on the East the Ethiopian or Atalantick Sea as likewise on the North. For the Country the benignity and sweetnesse of the air and water and the fertility of soyle is a miracle in such a Climate and temperature which renders the Inhabitants of so healthfull and long life and though the Climate be under the Torrid there come freshgales from the Sea that moderate it so as it becomes a delicate habitation having every morning some mists and dews which the Sun afterwards dissolves into air Here you meet with nothing but fair open fields pleasant hills fertile mountains fresh valleys green meadows abundance of woods rivers and fountains of excellent waters with infinite plenty of all sorts of trees plants fruits grain cattle sugar balm In a word 't is for necessaries and delights the fullest Country on the earth Of strange Creatures there is the Cerigon in shape and bigness like a Fox betwixt yellow and gray whose belly is like a purse or pocket wherein she saves her young ones when she is hunted another the Portuguese call Pereza for his slow gate in fifteen dayes not going a stones cast nor can any force drive him faster he feeds on nothing but leaves of trees and 't is some dayes work for him to climb up and come down There are Camelions whereof I have spoken in another place Betwixt Brasile and the Cape of bona Esperanza there is a Gulph of 1200. leagues formidable and furious for winds and tempests The Countrey is divided into nine Governments or Captainships wherein are 7. Colonies of Portugueses along the coast that is Tamaraco Pernanbuco Todos santos or San Saluador Puerto seguro espiritu santo Paraibi Genero and others the Capes of S. Augustine and St. Vincent the River St. Francis c. The first discoverers were Vespusius the Pinions Lopez and Cabral about 1500. Pedro Aluarez Cabral made the principall discovery in 1500. being sent by King Emanuel for the East Indies but a tempest cast him here and he named it the countrey of St. Chrosse and the place he landed on Porto Seguro Cabral for that time contented himself with taking possession and the Kings of Portugall being full of concernments in Africa and the East neglected new conquests till Emanuell not long before his death sent thither one Gonzalo Cotello who sailed on along the coast not without trouble and danger and returned without any advantage Afterwards King John the â— sent Christopher Jago who discovered about 1100. leagues upon the coast amongst others the Bay of Todos Santos where in the River Paraguasu he found two French vessels traficking with the Natives which shewes the French men traded with this Nation before the Portugueses had any knowledge of it This Jago barbarously sunk their vessels and murthered all the men done like the Spaniard who though he cannot
Trade of Tauris ibid. Principall towns of Persia Page 35 Thais Alexanders Curtisan Page 36 A miraculous tyde Page 45 Toumacant a Western wind Page 63 Treason punished Page 73 Saint Thomas his shrine Page 76 Ternassery Page 80 Tydes from North to South meet in the strait of Magellan Page 109 Tahaba Page 111 Trienniall governments Page 120 The martyrdom of S. Thomas Page 126 A tempest calm'd by charms Page 124 Testimonies of love Page 142 Tygars hunted Page 159 The King of Transiana his curiosity and affability Page 161 Transiana a town and the valour of the women there Page 163 Tazatay a kingdom Page 169 Tartary Page 163 The Tartars conquests Page 180 The King of Tombut 's majesty Page 179 Trees that yield drink and thread Page 184 The Isle of thieves Page 186 The Talmassaca a garment of difference for nobility in Monopotapa Page 202 Land Tortoyses Page 211 Tributes to the Emperour of the Abyssins Page 213 A magnificent triumph Page 228 Titles of Preste John Page 246 Tortoises useful for travel Page 256 Tamatans pillagers Page 251 Triumphs at the inundation of Nile Thebaida and the deserts Page 279 Turkish proceedings against the Authour Page 290 Temesne and the people thereof Page 300 The Turks Religion Page 307 Turks have religious of several orders Page 307 Turkish Obsequies Page 308 Turkish Justice Page 309 Taboucaton the chief town in the kingdom of the Jalofes Page 321 A miraculous tree that continually distills water Page 332 A terrible tempest called an Aroucane and remarkable passages in it Page 335 Temistican the capital town in New-Spain Page 356 A tree yielding linnen and all necessaries Page 368 Balsom from a tree of soveraign vertue Page 369 Fruit used for money ibid. Temper of Peru. Page 374 V. UNicorns horns Page 15 The Virgin Peru. Page 199 Virginia by whom discover'd Page 352 Description of Virginia ibid. Vnknown lands Page 357 A remarkable vision foreshewing the arrivall of the Spaniards in Peru. Page 389 Vanity of the Portugals Page 405 W. WIne sold by Apothecaries Page 9 A draw-well at Outor Page 18 Spanish Wax Page 26 Women chosen Page 38 Women bought and sold Page 47 Wives in common Page 62 A war for a white Elephant Page 103 113 White Elephants adored Page 114 Winds called Monsouns cold in extremity Page 150 Widows married Page 155 Wood to strike fire Page 158 Women swimmers ibid. A furious wind called Tafon Page 182 Winds that preserve bodies incorruptible Page 187 Wine in Oxe horns Page 230 Walking mountains Page 280 A Whale Page 283 A remarkable accident of Whales Page 299 Singular windes Page 342 A wind of the use of rain Page 373 Water boyling hot by nature Page 377 Winglesse Birds Page 394 Z. ZAcharies tombe Page 6 Zibit Page 13 Zagathy Page 34 King of Zeilan Zinguebar Page 192 Zunam an Island Page 293 Zaflan a Lake ibid. Zaire and Zambre two rivers ib. Zuama a river by the Portugals called Rio del spiritu santo Page 218 Zio Marina Christos a Monastary Page 239 The torrid zone and the quality of the climat Page 342 FINIS Alexandria Caire His return and shipwrack in Candia Turluru Isle Canee A maâ—icious shipwrack Just punishment of the persidious The Author preserved Antioche Libanus Manna Chrysorrhoas Aman. Aleppo Damas. A Fâ—ench Cutler Amon and Sahanir Mounains Grots of persecuted Christians Aman and Pharphar Rivers Silkes Zacharies Tomb St. Pauls Imprisonment A fatall Execution A Dervis Armin. Dan Caesarea Benin Macharib foâ— Misor The Torrent Arnor Morets entertainment Wine sold by Apothecaries Provisions for the deserts Caravane Burning sands Want of water Dead sea of Sodome Jurabi a Guide uses the Compass Sad accidents in the deserts Apparitions in the deserts Arabian Robbers Montsina called Lurle or Tur. Oreb called Saint Cather-mount The three Arabia's the desert the stony and the happy Mâ—ka Medina Metar Alcoran Zidem a Haven Jâ—soreh Jewes â—hieves A cheat Medinat al. Nabi Jesrab Cassis deceived his brother Zibit Aden Ormus Description of Medina Mahomets tombe Caravan of Aleppo Dumas and Grand-Cair Books of the lives and Sects of Mahomets successours Surazins Saraca or Elfarabk Mahomets birth Mahomets law Alcoran Medina taken by Mahomet Iubara Abrahams Mountains Marabouts sacrificators Mahometan ceremonies Cassis his treachery Ferragous Outor A draw well at Outor Arabia the happy Zibit Alibenali Black sand Frankinsence Storax Benjamin Sabea Aloes Ladanum Cinamon Cassia Mazari Chicali Pecher a Haven Myrrhe Cosan or Cosara River His state Salsidas devotes Romadan S. John Baptist Dalata Debir Trade in Arabia Cameran Isle Red sea King Erithreus Sabeans Homerites Aden Abacoure or Bacoure The trade of Aden Spices and the trade from time to time Aden how fortified Cameran Dalascia Mezua Ibrani Camera Suachan Camelots Lacca Spanish wax Ginger Santall Dalascia Asses Caymans or Crocodile A strange dispute and a tempest ensuing Duma the Peguans false god Lucifer Strange tempest Amorous dames Socotora Ormus Ceyfadin Albuquerque King of Ormus Gedri Baharen Areca Abrazador Alep Trade from Oâ—mus King of Ormus Ormus regained by the Persian Persia and her bounds Cymits of Persia The Provinces of Persia Rivers Towns of Persia Benmir Babylon Bagded Pitch or Bitume Balsora Bagded Tauris or Tabris formerly Terva or Gerva Zagathy Xabas or Abas and Mirza Trade of Tauris Principall Towns of Persia Derbent Sumachia Bacchat Gezempee Machif Marseilian Curtizan Bezap or Bezouart casbin and Siras Thais Alexanders Cuâ—tizan Samarcant Sorismell Sinderate The Powerful state of the Kings of Persia Delicacies Seleris Women chosen Hunting Forrests Sophy signifies wise Hali. Hamar Cufa Ismael Sophy Sorts of religious orders amongst the Turks Sacar Icorma Calender Deruis cut-throats Nicotiane Some say that Amurath was killed by a Tribullian soldier guised inhabit of a Deruis Durmisar Erade Pluviander Barcas Salsidas Amicabir Nabassan Ostader Amirachor Caidsidibir Cassanderâ— Ageleps Archilep in Pegu. Inhabitants of Genua Places in the Indies The Portugais conquests in the East Christianisâ—e in the Indies Batinisir and her Carpets Diu assaulted by the Tuâ—k Areca a fruit common in the Indies Cambaye Town A miraculous tide The King at this time is tributary to the Grand Mogull Prodigious food Women bought and sold Ivory Children sold by Parents An accident Deli-Decan Sano sararadin Malabar Mandova Goa Guari Rivers Bâ—nactaru Isle of Goa Idolatry Dinary The Virgin Mary Honoured by the Indians Purcelains Mordesin diseases Scorbus Churches at Goa A sad fate of Pirats Provence a Province in France Aubaynea town in France A miraculous discovery of innocence Barcelor Baticola Presumption of the Portugais The strength of Cananor Naires are Gentlemen A most admirable medicine Ebony Areca Calicut Samorin Jonque Gondola Cochin Pepper of all sorts Miticale weight of a crown and a half Cochins scituation severall Christians at Cochin Women are common Toumacaui a western wind in force towards Potereau and Peru. Jenibaronâ— Portuguais go from Cohin into Portugall Aâ— strange History of a Portuguais Captain and certain
losse of their lives and having thus spent near two moneths we put to sea for France and two or three dayes had a prosperous winde which on a sudden turned to the North-East and immediately to a furious violent North-wind that drove us upon the coast of Turluru an Island near Canee which is a Haven and Town in Candia where we cast anchor to ride out the tempestuous weather Here another sad accident befell us by the malice of some of our Merchants and Seamen who reduced to great necessitieâ— by reason of their immoderate and vain expenses in Candia resolved upon a desperate course by sinking the ship to satisfie all their Creditors at a cast and sliding the Anchor on one side betwixt two waters in lesse than a quarter of an hour our ship struck on ground and they having prepared the cock-boat for their refuge about eleven at night got into it leaving some thirty of us behind them to the mercy of the waters of which our ship was already full thus we were reduced to the very brink of despair nothing but confused cryes and groanes amongst us accompanied with prayers to God whose just Judgement left not unpunished the Authours of their own and of our unexpected shipwrack for their boat being overturned within a hundred paces of the ship they were all drowned in an instant And it is worth observation that the greatest part of our company were reprobate persons and absolute Atheists for some of our Marriners seeing themselves in this imminent danger their vessel being filled with water secured some cans of wine which they pour down their throats amongst the rest one Honoratus a Marseillian put on his best apparell and with some French coin threw himself into the Sea those rascals endeavoured to prevent him inviting him to drink saying 't was better to dye full than empty but the poor creature not able to swim sunk immediately his body was within few dayes cast upon the shore the Clark of the ship stript him took his clothes and money and buried him since being sent into France to be impowered by the Merchants to receive four or five thousand Zequines which the goods and commodities saved from shipwrack were sold for he carried the news to Honoratus widow but I doubt whether he restored her his goods as he told us he did This while the greatest part of us perished on the shallowes for of sixty five persons that we were in all but five escaped whereof praised be God I was one and every man shifting for himself by the help of a planck I got to shore after I had been fifteen hours in the water and thus I saved my self together with the Clerk of the vessel After rest and victuals had a little recovered us and our Secretary returned to the sea side to view the remaines of the wrack the Consul of the French Nation residing in a Town in Canee eight leagues distant upon notice repaired with speed to us with twenty Souldiers to preserve what was saved who took good order to see the commodities dryed and restored to the right owners having taken his due fees and leaving our Secretary with the Souldiers in charge with the goods he took me home to his house and provided me clothes after the Greek fashion and other necessaries that I wanted I stayed six or seven months with the Consul who gave me noble and free entertainment for my Fathers sake whose friend and acquaintance he was expecting some ship bound for Jerusalem for I had vowed a pilgrimage to the holy Sepulcher to give God thanks for my preservation in the last great danger At the seven moneths end here arrived a Venetian ship bound for Jerusalem the Master of the ship a Marseillian by name Guillem de Cassis who stood amazed at sight of me saying he had attended at my Funeral at Marseilles and that my Parents heard I was cast away with the rest of the company and that they bore my loss heavier then that of the ship wherein my Father had halfe share as I shewed before that which losse broak my fathers partner Robert Pontoine and forced him to live privately at home then I agreed with William Cassis who was to bring me to Hierusalem and the Consul advanced me a hundred Zequines towards my journy advising me to keep my money private CHAP. II. Of the Townes of Tripoli and Damas with the relation of a Murther LEaving Canee in the moneth of August wee steered out course towards Syria a famous and renowned countrey by the Hebrews called Aram since Halad and Sabal formerly of great extent and conteined the Provinces of Comagene Caelesyria Phenicia Palestina or Judea Mesopotamia and one part of Arabia and others In the time of our Holy Warres it reached from the Tigris unto Egypt from Cilicia or Caramania unto the red sea formerly Antioche was the chief town in Caelesyria The first place we landed at was Tripoli in Syria where Monsieur Toureau a Marseillian most generously entertained us Upon the Mount Libanus two leagues distant from Tripoli you may see snow all seasons of the year you may find the Manna or Celestial dew which I often walking the fields took for snow untill tasting it I found it sweet as sugar and undeceived my self when the natives perceived me gather any they would say Nazarini coul sacor va la Tayhon which signifies Christian eat of the Manna for 't is good The river Chrysorrhoas famous for her waters rises out of Libanus and runnes through Damas there rises also another river called Magora and loses her self in Tripoli In this mount is the Prophet Josua's tombe visited by Christian pilgrims and by Turks I have heard from the Inhabitants and labourers of the Mountain that Vines bear there twice a year to which I give little credit From Tripoli we travelled to Aman three dayes journey thence this Town was formerly called Emitus by the Arabians Camahale by the Turks Amcus and by the Indians Amsa 't is a Country of Mulberries and silke wormes full of Gardens and most excellent fruits The Town is peopled with Grecians Turkes Mores Armenians and Jewes it is very ruinous nothing left entire save the Market exchange for Indian Arabian Aegyptian French Italian English Dutch Merchants they trade there in Cottons Silkes Linnens Carpits Woollens and Pot-Ashes the land is very fruitfull in all sort of fruit Corne wines and Oyles From thence 3. days journey to Aleppo some time Hierapolis a Town of the same and greater trade then Tripoli amongst others in jewells spices and perfumes my Camarade having learnt here what he looked for we went to Damas the Capitall Towne of all Syria She is one of the fairest and greatest Traders in the Countrey remarkeable cheifely for delightfull scituation healthfull ayre fruitfull Soyle abundance of waters fruites and of all sorts of commodities necessary to livelihood her vast treasures trade and number
Desert marching in rank and file following a Jurabi who undertook to guide the Caravane making use of the Seamans compass Upon our March we were from hand to hand advertised that some one of our company was missing that strayed from the rest 't was the companion of an Arabian Merchant very sad for the losse of his freind part of the Caravane made an halt and foure Moores were sent in quest of him and a reward of a hundered duckets was in hand paid them but they brought back no tidings of him and 't is uncertain whether he was swallowed up in the sands or whether he met his death by any other misfortune as it often happens by the relation of a Merchant then in our company who told us that two yeares before travelling the same journey a camarade of his going a little aside from the company about his necessary occasions saw three men who called him by his name and one of them to his thinking favoured very much his companion and as he was about to follow them his reall companion called him to come back to his company and the strength of his voice found himselfe deceived by the others and thus was saved And all Travailers in these parts hold that in the Deserts there are many such fantasms and goblins seen that strive to seduce the Travellers and cause them to perish with hunger and despaire having travelled fifteen dayes thorough the Desert drawing still towards Medina we were seized with a great drowth whereupon the word was given for hand to hand through the company that some whose Camells were not hard loaden should go seek out fresh-water amongst others I and my companion offered our selves three score of us then drew out who waited for us not farr off ready to assist us upon the least notice or signall given we were guarded by a strong Troope assigned us by the Captaine to defend us against the Arabian theeves who have no other livelihoods then the robberies they commit upon the Caravannes we came unto the side of a little sandy hill where we found great store of little trees called Salicor of which they make their pot ashes for glasses a little further we discovered an Indian cane with a flagge at the end of it which is the sign they put upon a spring in those parts and groaping with our hands in the sand we found a great piece of Camels leather that stopt the mouth of a well we drew up some water to drink our selves and some to carry back to our Camarades which we thought pretty good though very salt and brackish a piece of money was given to him that first found out the well and having stayed there some ten houres at least we went back towards our company with whom we joyned and distributed our water among them That night we rested near a hill and left our lodging an hour before day entring into very white sands and so small that the dust troubled us very much We had then entred the stony Arabia and the desert and proceeding in our way we came to the foot of Mount Sina called by the Arabians Lurle or Tur so famous in the Holy Scripture Exod. 19. being the place where God gave the law to Moses and is therefore to this day called Gods Mountain and joyned to Oreb now called Saint Catherines Mount because 't is believed that Saint Catherines shryne reposes there The Arabians pay great reverence to Mount Sina and do not suffer beasts to feed thereon They yet remark the Rock Moses miraculously drew water out of Exod. 17. but there is none there for the present although there be plenty in several other places of the Hill for both the Priests Caloires and Mahometans that inhabit the hill have several good springs Some hold Sina and Oreb to be two Hills others hold them to be but one divided onely in two Copps Sina on the East and Oreb on the West and is not so eminent as the former at the foot of this Hill Justinian the Emperor founded a Monastery called Saint Catherines possessed by the Caloires Monks of the order of Saint Basil as those are at Mount Athos or Mount Santo in Greece this Mountain abounds in herbage and pasture The three Arabia's are commonly called Petrea Deserta and Faelix this is properly Petrea or the stony Arabia through which the children of Israel went into the land of Promise thus called not from the stones or rocks but from Petra a very ancient town since called Herac or Arach which was the chief town of that division of Arabia also called by some Nabathea in this Arabia were the several countries or Provinces of Amalec Edom Moab and Madian containing several deserts as that of Sin Sur Cedat Cadez and others it begins near the Jordan and ends Southward towards the desert Arabia with great hills interposed and the desert of Benascali of great extent where for the benefit of passengers are wells built with bones of dead men and beasts for want of stones The desert Arabia hath great want of water and is called by some Estreiemin by others Soball the Sarasens call it Barraab it contains Meka and Medina The happy Arabia towards Ader is called Ayman The stony hath been peopled with Sarasens or Aragenes the spring of Mahometanisme The desert is chiefly possessed by robbers cut-throats and rogues The happy called Sabea part of it is subject to the Turk part of it to the Sophy of Persia the rest hath Kings and particular Lords and Masters The stony is surrounded with great hills and is well stored with water having West-ward Egypt and the other two Arabia's Northward Judaea and Syria and from Syria through the stony the chiefest part of the desert is least on the left hand This desert hath vast wildernesses utterly uninhabited except in few places where there are small rivers and hath onely the towns of Medina and Meka and the Castle of Metar where some say Mahomet writ his Alcoran the great desert of Benhali or Benaseali of which I late spoke of runnes quite through her is twelve dayes journey over covered with white sand and small as dust The happy called by the Arabians Rahahac is divided from the desert at the Haven Ziden and hath very fair Provinces as Aden Agias and others unto the Isles of Maera and Mazira towards the Cape Rosolgate CHAP. IV. Of the town of Medina and the false Prophet Mahomets successors FRom Mount Sina we came in few dayes to a little hill where there stands a Village called Jusoreh inhabited allmost by Jews onely and a well of the best water can be drunk those Jews hide their secret parts with a linnen cloth and are naked for the rest of their bodies they are naturally crafty and malicious much given to stealing which is esteemed a vertue amongst them They once cunningly stole my Camarades Cassock which he wore one
sand and bake them therein this Abrahams Mountain is a league and a half distant from the Town and near it is scituate a village of a hundred and fifty houses or thereabouts with a Mosquee or Temple frequently called Meka stately high and built upon pillars those dayes they sacrifice they let water run through pipes at the portall wherewith they wash their feet there are no springs in those parts water being brought from other places and is extream scarce and dear and the least quantity you can drink will cost you an estere and sometimes a crown The Turks ascending this Hill throw stones in three places where are great heaps and this they say they do to spite the Devil because he endeavoured in those three places to divert Abraham from his sacrifice for they say that the Devil appeared to Isaac ascending the hill and said to him that his Father would sacrifice him Isaac made no reply and the Devil tempting Isaac the second time he threw a stone at him and from hence begun this custom of the pilgrims from thence by a little descent the pilgrims come to the Mosquee or Temple a league distant or thereabouts from the top of the Hill their heads bowed down and their armes acrosse the Cherifs deputy casts a paile of water upon their heads wetting them from top to toe which they hold a purification or expiation of their sins pronouncing these words Ala rahmani Ala ila which signifies God purifie thee next they proceed to prayers in the Mosquee or Temple which are onely made at the time they call Zilaite which is upon the three and twentieth of May and at the same time without changing their clothes they pray standing with a great modesty and when they keep their fasts they neither eat nor drink by day but they eat all the next night The Mosca or Temple of Meka is a masse of stones built round and much like St. Sophya at Constantinople you ascend unto it fifteen or sixteen steps without and round about it are built fair piazza's or galleries where the Merchants keep their Exchange and expose to sale their drugs perfumes jewels and severall other sorts of commodities in this Town is vented the richnesse of the India's and Merchants flock hither from all parts of the world they come to unlade at Ziden a Haven in the red Sea twelve leagues distant from Meka the road between Ziden and Meka is very full of Merchants they carry their merchandizes upon Camels some bound for Syria others for Egypt and from thence for Europe The Christians are not admitted into the Mosque they view it onely through the gate in disguise you are not sooner entred but you see Mahomets Tomb upon your left hand in the middle of his two Sons in law to visit it you descend three or four steps yet 't is generally believed the Tomb is empty for their Marabouts say that the Angels translated his body into heaven at the end of that side there is as 't were a little turret richly adorned where the treasure belonging to the Soudan or Governour of the Town is kept A little further within stands an altar without any figure and at each side are twelve bookes sumptuously bound all the pillars are hung with rich tapestry very faire and of lively colours but without the figure or image of any animall the Town is Governed by a Sultan or Cherif he is their Head both in Temporall and Spirituall Affaires and held in great esteeme amongst them for he gives absolution to all that visit the Mosque the sacrifice ended he uses a certain washing in lieu of Baptisme The Mosque is most gorgeously adorn'd and hung with tapistry without any Imagary worke you descend unto it eighteen or twenty steps and it is larger in compass then the Colisee at Rome Mahometans esteeme the Town Sacred as well in respect of the excellent things they say were there revealed unto their impostor Prophet as for the magnificent Temple dedicated to his name which they imagine built by the Angells visited by Adam translated into the sixth Heaven during the deluge to preserve it from the waters and since reedified by Abraham by the Modell of the former sent from Heaven they give great reverence thereunto and also to a stone called Alkible or Aliete which they adore and relate a thousand fables of it The Cherif or Sultan Governour of Meka stiles himselfe Alaman Alhascemi which signifies the Prince descended from Hascem Great Great Grandfather to Mahomet formerly he was subject to the Soudan of Aegypt and now to the Turk but in such manner as he retains a great Authority nor doth the Turke stile himself King or Lord of Meka but her humble Subject he is called also Emir that is Prince The Cherif is said to be of Mahomets race he presented and acknowledged Selinus to be the Turkish Emperour when he had conquered Egypt and abolished the Empire of Mamelus and Selinus returned him a great respect and made him the same present of a silken sheet large enough to spread over the Prophets house a present the Soldans used yearly to make they are there much vext with the continuall rovings and robberies of the Arabians Among the greatest rarities we saw in this Town were two pearls the Sultane wore in her ears the three I since saw at Lisboe which paid off sixteen thousand ducates of the Gabelle were not like them for these go beyond them both in bignesse and beauty I saw also in the Sultans Seraglio an Unicorn as since I have seen others in the India's and at the Escuriall I know many miscreants that doubt whether the world hath such a beast but besides those I have read many grave Authors that witnesse the same and Bartheme sayes he hath seen one in the very same Town of Meka I shall say something more of it in my treaty of Pegu and Canarane CHAP. VI. Of Arabia Felix of Prince Sequemir Governour of Cassia and other commodities of Sabaea WE left Meka after a short stay there and as I thought my companion would have struck into the road for Ziden towards the red Sea as he pretended to his Brother Murat and my self I wondered he left the chiefest part of his company bound for Ziden and that with the other part he took his way towards Zibit in the happy Arabia I asked him why he altered his resolution and laughing he made me this answer that the commodities he carried along with him were not his brothers as I imagined but his own and that since his brother had denied Jesus Christ he deserved them not and thought it fitter to make them his own and resolved to see the world at his charge and expenses From thence I gathered my companions inclinations since thus perfidiously he used his Brother who had trusted him yet for fear he should play me some trick I dissembled in hopes that by the grace of God I should be delivered
from him and safely accomplish my intended journey Thus we took our way for Zibit accompanied with severall Christians and other Merchants we Inn'd the first night at a little village called Ferragous where we were but ill accommodated the next day we came to Outor a Castle noted by some travellers not far remote from the red Sea There is a deep well whence they draw water with a wheel turned round by a yoke of Bulls the water was sharp and hard but nothing brackish necessity made us like it at two leagues from Outor we left the most part of our company they took the right hand the ready way to Ziden and we followed our tract for the Happy Arabia and reached a Town called Gaza and thence to Zibit Thus we left the desert to enter the Happy Arabia which is a Peninsula between the red and the Persick Sea scituate under the Tropick Cancer her length is from the Soltania of Sanna towards the red Sea unto Agior towards the Persick gulf or the Elcatif Sea so called by the Arabians I have often travelled there for trade sake and have visited most of her Towns this Arabia is of large extent divided into fair Provinces and Kingdoms We arrived at Zibit a Town of Soltania in the Company of a Jewish Merchant native of Alibenali a great Province of Arabia and married at Zibit he lodg'd us in his own house finding he could make a gain of us accompanying us where ever we would go carrying with him on horse-back things to refresh us being a man versed in the customs of the Countrey and some reason he had to be kind to us for I am sure my camarade was so to his wife she advised her husband to be thus familiarly assistant to us and he offered me a Daughter of his in marriage beleeving my Camarade to be my Father Zibit is five leagues from the red sea there is a Haven where ships are laden and unladen and from this place commodities are transported from the India's to Ziden Suez and other places From Ziden we went to Aden from thence thorough all the Provinces of Arabia trading and visiting the chiefest and fairest Townes and Kingdomes Although there be but one great Prince named Sequemir or Sechemir chief Commander of the fairest Provinces of the Happy Arabia yet there are severall Lords that acknowledge some the Persian others the Turke The King of Bacharin or Bescharin the nearest to Persia was not many yeares since subdued by the Sophy and was likely to have given Lawes unto Elcatif had not the Inhabitants of Erit and other Neighbours opposed him with a considerable Army composed of the people of Massa or Maffa Fartac Mascalat Amazarit Jurmalamam Gubelaemam Machyra or Macyra Suza and others This army had for their General the Sultan of Sanna that commanded the Van the Sultan of Elcatif the rear and gave a notable blow to the Persian with whom since they have made a peace and have thus preserved themselves The Soltania of Tabubari is not now governed by the Sechemir but by the Turk that subdued it in the last warre against the Persian this countries sand is very different from that I have seen in other places being as black as a coale and not so troublesome to travellers being something heavier and firmer upon this countries hills you find great store of Frankincense of Storax and Beniamin growing upon trees and other sweet gummes and persons are purposely appointed to gather them all this country is properly called Sabaea so famous in ancient times There growes great store of Olive trees Myrrhe Aloes Cinnamon and Cassia trees in abundance Falcons Sparhawkes and other birds feede thereupon and an innumerable company of flies bred out of the corruption of the Cassia causes so great an inconvenience as the Arabians are forced to burne part of it and in some other places they gather it not because being remote from the sea the Portage would stand them in more then the value of the Commodity though in many great Towns they use much of it where by reason of their greate heats they distill or melt the juice out of the canes and drink it I observed that the inhabitants of Arcora Ara Teza Samacara and of other Townes and places delighted much in this kinde of drinke which not only refreshed them but loosened them also and in the Townes of Andrivara Lagi and Dante it is the ordinary drinke used the summer time The fruite of this tree being ripe hath an unsavory sweet tast Apes and Squirells flock to it to feed and another beast called Masari those of Fez call it Chicali not much unlike a Fox a beast that unburies the dead to feed upon their carcasses they creepe up the trees shake down the fruit and make a great spoyle it is that sweetnesse that engenders those flyes we have already mentioned which were no small trouble to us passing by This Arabia is full of faire great Townes whether by reason of Traffick Merchants come from all parts as are Taesa Cana Asigni and Kada where is kept the Sequemirs principall Magazine or store house The chiefest haven and the nearest to this side of the Countrey is Pecher in the Soltania of Fartac whither those of Bangale Baticala Dabul Cambaye and Malabar bring their commodities to Bartar for Aromatick Drugges which in that Countrey are most excellent but the Jewes that inhabit those places are such cheates they sophisticate all that comes thorough their hands it is a particular trade to gather the Frankinsence Storax Benjamin and Mastick that harvest is got in July during the dog-dayes for then the trees are in their perfect ripenesse they gather some in other seasons but by a different manner making an incision in the tree towards spring from those holes runs forth a licquor or gumme which thickens of it selfe and is of a reddish colour but not so strong nor good as the other nor of so great a value the gumme that issues from the young trees is whiter then that is gathered from the old ones they have Myrrhe trees too but what of that is brought in to our parts is compounded and falsified all the Myrrhe that the Kingdom of Ciussimi or Elcatif affords is for the Sequemirs own use being the most perfect and the purest what the Prince uses not he sells and is therefore called Sequemir Pure and is sold at Naban Quesibi Naziri Carmon Liva-Orba Lanua-Orba Costague Manabon Batan Caybir Jague Aloron and in other places in the furthest parts of Arabia in the kingdom of Anna through which runs the river Cosan or Cosara very swift and loses her self in the Persick sea near the mouth of Euphrates CHAP. VII Of the state of Sequemir Prince of the Happy Arabia of his Salsidas and of the Califf of Bagdet SEquemir whom we have spoken of is supreme Lord of almost the whole Arabia Felix and is called
fro through very many towns and countries of Persia I could not so exactly remark the dayes journies nor the distances order or proceed of the voyage by reason of my youth I will content my self to discover a view of the country as faithfully and exactly as my memory will serve And first I will affirm that Persia called Azemia Azimir and Farsi is a vast Empire extending from the confines of Turky towards Armenia betwixt the River Tigris and the Persick or Elcatiff Sea The Caspien or the Bachu the Indian and the river Chesel anciently Jaxartes Westward 't is bounded by the Turkish Empire Eastward it lyes upon the kingdome of Samarcant the Empire of the Grand Mogul and Cambaye Northward upon the Caspian Sea Southward upon the great Indian Sea towards the desert Carmania and Guzarate This Empire containes many great Provinces or rather kingdomes and a great number of fair and flourishing Towns and Cities having ever continued famous since the first settlement under the Grand Cyrus two thousand two hundred years since untill it was possessed by the Grecians and Parthians and since she returned unto the natural Persians about the year of Grace two hundred they kept it many ages untill about foure hundred years since the Sarasins and Mahometans obtained it and have kept it ever since by many changes and diverse races of Kings and Lords Arabians Sarasins Parthians Turks and natural Persians and by the last settlement of the Sophyes not many yeares since The chiefest Provinces are Sequel pech formerly Susiania Chirmania or Carmania Struan or Media Corozan Zagathay or Hircania and the Bactriane Jex or Parthia Guzerat or Gedrosia then Arac Podel Iselbas Sigestan Sablestan Chabul Candahar and others The chiefest rivers are the Euphrates or Aforat the Tigris Araxes or Arasse Oxus and others Euphrates hath upon her banks many fair towns as Babylon where inhabit a great number of Christians as likewise at Mazestan Astmosia Artasara Tunisse perbent and elsewhere who freely exercise their religion being tributary to the Prince Northward are the famous town of Giett six days journy from Solstania Saban Comer Cozan Egex Jelli Sengan Maluchia Scio Mesen Ere Then towards the Persick gulph stands Guerdi upon the river Bindinimar or Bindamach and going up the river you discover Marous Viegan Maain Sana in Media are Tauris Rip Sidan Estrana Barbariben Bacchat Madranelli Samachi and others then the Royal townes of Soltania Espahan Casbin Siras without reckoning many other towns upon the river Benmir called by the Russes Bragadet where they trade much in cloth of gold silver and silk Thither they repair from all parts of the world for that trade as from the Indies Aethiopia Arabia Aegypt Turkie Tartary and other countries which yields a great profit to the Sophy of Persia We ran through most of these towns making but short stayes but better profit of our small commodities Babylon or Bagdet so famous and formerly the eye and marvail of all the Eastern towns scituate upon the great Euphrates Erat and Aforat which was fifty miles about there is nothing remaining at this day of that ancient town but the ruines since a total destruction given her by the Sarazens about 900. years since and instead of her upon the other side of the Euphrates some four leagues distant upon the current of the Tigris and Euphrates is built the town of Bagded or at this day the new Babylon whither the remains of the ancient were transported into a town formerly named Seleucia by the Califf Almanzor or Elmantzur It lyes Northward upon Armenia Westward upon the desert Arabia upon the happy Southward and Eastward upon Persia the Tigris washes her walls upon the other side is a pleasant village with a bridge of boats rising and falling with the flow and ebbe in this Burrough is the Fair kept and here inhabit most of the Merchants who trade freely The town is large and full of Merchants well rounded both with walls gardens and Arable land There was a strong Castle well provided with Artillery where a Bassa then Lieutenant General for the Turk lived but since the Persian regained it of the Turk having ever been subject to the Persian untill it was reduced by Soliman the magnicent who caused himself to be crown'd King by the Califf living there at this present day but without any power retaining the name onely and some rights to receive and crown the Emperours of Assyria There goes from this town monethly Caravaneâ— to all parts of the world In lieu of floats they transport their commodities down the river upon goat skins blown then they load the skins upon Camels for service again at need They say that the tower of Babel so much spoken of stood in a plain some two leagues off that she was three thousand paces about and that her foundation is onely at this day seen upon a hill covered with her ruines a Merchant that had seen the place related unto me that the Tower was built with a clay or earth so strongly cimented that endeavouring to take up a piece he could not and that there was a bed or course of that earth first laid then another of reeds platted like a matte not at all decayed but strong beyond imagination He told me he had passed over the lake of pitch proceeding from a great precipice which they trade withall into diverse places and that the great town of Nineve and the walls of Babylon were built with this Bitumen they burn of it in Holland instead of Turf for it casts a great light this lake or river of pitch is between Babylon and another town called Nane whence springs this pitch distilling out of a rock in several clefts and so plentifully especially at the full of the Moon that it is both strange and terrible from thence those springs disgorge themselves into this lake of their own composing Marriners thereabouts make use of it to calk their ships The inhabitants believe it to be Hels mouth 'T is the Bitumen or soft sulphurous mould so much spoken of by the ancients which they made use of and do to this very day instead of chalk I remember I have seen the like in Albema a Region in the Indies which the Inhabitants and neighbours thereunto burn in Torches which yields so black thick and ill-sented a smoak that the very birds flying over are giddyed therewith and fall down dead In Cuba an Isle in the West-Indies is such pitch towards the Cape Magdalen in the country of Aute and Province of Apalihen which Bituminous liquor flows upon the water with such a stink that often ships lost in their road by means of the sent retrive their way Euphrates and Tigris incorporate near Babylon and both run into the Persick sea near Balsora a town of great trade fifteen miles distant from the main sea The Town of Bagded or Babylon is divided into four quarters Precincts or
differ in Religion from the Turks that follow the feast of Hamar another of Mahomets disciples and successor which occasions mortall hatred and continuall Warre betwixt them The Persians Hali was by Mahomet chosen Calife and hiâ— successor after his death but was supplanted by Ebubeker Homar and Otman from whence this Sect was divided Hali was buried at Cufa not far from Bagded this place is much esteemed by the Mahometans and the Turkish Emperours are crowned by the Calife near unto his tomb called Massadali or rather house of Ali The Turks hold the Persians hereticks and the Persians have the same opinion of the Turks the one following their Prophet Hali's interpretation upon the Alcoran the other following Hamars The Persians since the destruction of their Kings and Califes were governed by the Sophy's of the race of Ismael This Ismael pretends himself descended from Hali by a prophet named Sophy and since they retain the title of Sophy In their Sect they have many orders among others one called Sacar people using great austerities and abstinencies and are exceeding indigent they carry about the barren places and the Forest vessels of water which in charity they distribute unto the passengers in the name of Hali without exacting any thing therefore onely taking what is freely given them There is another order called Jcorma consisting of pilgrims they are cloathed in a long Cassock bare-foot and bare-legged begirt with rich girdles hung round with silver bells and are called Jonabam which means Religion of love There are others called Calenden as among the Turks those vow chastity and have places appointed for their prayers called Tachie or Tachiat upon their gate these words are written Caeda Normac Dilersin Cousionge Al cachercuir which signifies who ever enters here must preserve virginity and for this purpose they are rung with silver rings to prevent carnal copulation Next are the Deruis they wear rich rings in their ears are clothed in sheep skins and wear hangers with which they cut and mangle themselves when they feel the emotions of the flesh having eaten of a certain herb that renders them frantick and furious then they cure themselves with Nicotiane Some of them dye of those wounds which they place in the number of their Saints These Deruis are rogues and thieves kill all they meet upon the road that are not of their religion thinking they do their Prophet good service they ask an almes in the name of Hali saying Ferdaxtiay Malday Chinaila Eli this order hath not been in so great esteem amongst the Turks since Amurath was killed by one of them and that they endevoured to murther Bajazeth the second and in Persia the Sophy One of them killed a Bassa at Babylon in the voyd place called Sambacarayma which signifies a place of liberty and was not prosecuted because he was esteemed the Minister of God one of them disguised killed a Judge at Damas as I have before related There is another Sect called Durmisar and they are sooth-sayers and casters of nativities they are called Durmisarnari which signifies Prophets and Fortune-tellers they deal with the devil and the eldest of them are esteemed Saints the younger obey them as their Charif or high Priest They are abominable Hypocrites and make strange faces some of them are very skilful in Astronomy others learned in the countries lawes and others great Preachers they talk extravagantly in their Sermons and speak predictions which sometimes come to passe much credit is given to them by the vulgar as also of those of the best note nay if the Sophy himself happens to passe by the place they are preaching in he steps with all his house to hear him they have a house in Bagdet near the Royal Palace they seem to be remainder of the ancient Chaldeans or Persian Mages so famous Amongst the Persians there is a sort of people called Erade which are wrestlers they are often exposed to wild beasts armed with shining leather liquored and very slippy hard to be taken hold of there are others called Pluviander armed in another fashion these people are welcome to the King from what place soever they come be they but strong and valiant they are exercised in publick Schools and great use made of them in war the strongest amongst them commands the rest and is called Barcas and some of them will carry ten men upon their arms like kids and they will strangle a man with grasping their strength is such others are like the Arabian Salsidas that will obey their King to death it self hold their King a God and think their chiefest happinesse and salvation depends upon the execution of his command and hold it unlawful the King only excepted and their General to be subjected to the power of any man There are Aussares persons still attending upon the King like unto Xerxes his immortals In the Sophy's Court there are many places or offices as Amicabir or Captain General who keeps a great Court leads on and drawes the Army into battalia appoints the Governours to towns and places and fils up several offices using the publick treasure as he needs There is next the Naibessan or Nabassan as Lord Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer his place is next unto the Amicabir and hath a good number of Cavalry under his command Next there is the Estodar or Ostader who guards the Palace and finds persons capable for the Royal Army There is likewise L' Amirachor or Amiracher who is Master of the horse hath charge of all the horse and other cattle of carriage belonging to the Army The Caidsidibir or Field-Master and he manages or orders the battle The Cassandera Pay-Master general receives the Kings revenues to pay off the Army The Amiseralif takes a care of the Sophyes armes the Testacane or Master of the Wardrobe then the Zebedare Farassin Tabucaina and other Commanders they march in great pomp and order There are four sorts of troops severally paid viz. the Cachias persons slightly armed all gentry and very active the Athesia's that wear a Cymeter only the Caraniza or Archers armed with bowes and arrowes and Cymeters the Ageleps or renegats which are slaves Armenians Russians Guserates and of other nations all warlike and stout men keeping good order never breaking their ranks CHAP. XIV Of the East Indies the conquest of them Sects and Religion of the East and other particulars of the country HAving travel'd the chiefest part of Persia and Arabia backward and forward we returned to Aden from thence to Ormus to fall into the East-India road according to our first intention At Aden we agreed upon 't and embarked our selves with our commodities and sailed along the coast of the Indian Sea as far as Carmania Deserta Rasigut and Guzerate passing through the Cape Jacobo Guadel and others we landed at Cambay at Diu neare the
of a league distant for the most part full of vessels that yield great commerce The Inhabitants are partly Gentiles partly Mahometans but much civilized of complection between fair and brown of good statures and dispositions both Sexes The town is invironed with many good Barroughs that reach unto Decan some five leagues off the town is strongly wall'd and frequented by Jewes who drive a great trade and inhabited by all nations she is tributary to the King of Marsingue they are carried in littars by Cammels of horses they have very few we served our selves sometimes with oxen which they harnise and ride they eat bread made of Rice which is more savory then wheaten there grows no grain but the Country beares most excellent fruit their drink is wine of dates About 3. Musket shot from the town there is an Isle named Amadiva which hath a large haven on the continent side inhabited by Moores and abounding in pastures and cattle The inhabitants are the Portugaises mortal and irreconcilable enemies but their Island being small not above 8. leagues about they are not capable to trouble them The town is rich and is called Centacola subject to the King of Baticola there are some Jews amongst them that may easily be distinguisht by the complexion the Moores be tawny the Jews clearer women use waters and other washes that make them very beautiful and they are held the prettiest of all the East the fairest are Jews and they very chaste and strangers can only obtain to visit them in certain assemblies of fair girles but they go meanly clad contrary to the customes of all other towns they sing certain songs like K. Davids Psalms gracefully pronouncing their words and mingling instrumental musick with their vocal and thus they entertain their gallants They refuse no present is made them but if you offer none they are never a whit displeased The doores of those places of Assemblies are alwayes open there they keep their Synagogues every one professes his Religion at liberty in the middle of this Isle is a Lake called Vecharin which breeds good store of fish of severall sorts but causes the ayre to be a little unwholesome to those are not accustomed to the Clymate from thence fish is transported into diverse places for a sort of good lasting fish They have great store of poultry which they feed with grosse rice called Jeracoly Baticola hath lost much of her trade since the Portuguais took Goa for according to the Chafa's or the Clark of the Customes account the Revenew is half diminished which keeps the Princes far in the Continent for fear of being surprised by the Portugais who wage open warr with them exacting great ransomes for the liberty of the prisoners they take neverthelesse the Portugais trade much amongst them endeavouring to draw them to an alliance but they are not so soon driven out of their fears and jealousies those of Baticola say they formerly inhabited Sian in this Kingdome is the Town of Onor that furnishes all the Countrey with rice From Baticola we came to Cananor Mosiri a great Town unwalled under the subjection of a particular King where the Portugais have two Forts and is inhabited by many new Christians who observe the rules and precepts of our Religion stricter then the old ones the Portugais have built about their Fort many dwellings for Merchants and others which make up a Burrough called Cananon where they trade securely and when the Indians have a mind to trade with them they must have the Vice-Roy of Goa's Cartaco yet the Portuguais never kept so good intelligence with the Natives as to prevent many dissentions and disorders as is often seen in other places as at Pegu and Calicut which occasioned the ruine of the Castle and the death of many Christians which the Portugais have since sufficiently revenged for they are of a very cruell nature and revengefull for which reason they maintain a fleet well armed at sea to resist those of Portugall who wage a warr against the Indians not alwayes to their success It happened on a time to Don Alanso De Comera to pursue with two men of warr a Mahometan Frigate richly laden and bound from some part of the India's for Gaza a sea Town in Arabia There were many families with the goods they had gathered in many years abode there making homewards accidentally falling into the hands of this Portugais they hoised saile and thinking themselves too weak offered a composition to the value of two hundred duckats Don Alonso eager and covetous of the prey which he held himself sure of gave her a broad side with many great shots and boarded her she reduced to desperation put her self in a posture of defence and resolved to sell both life and liberty at a deare rate and the very women spared them not so their Alonso got nothing but blowes but lost an eye and many of his men and thus was forced to retreate and the Frigat by a favourable wind got away without any losse this shewes the damage presumption brings with it and that the Portugais are not unjustly accused of vanity and folly which often costs them deare and makes them hated by the Indians as it hapned to them at Calicut where the peoples rage was so raised against them that in an instant they demolished them a fair Castle not leaving one stone upon another and whoever could present the King with any of the ruines was rewarded which hath caused the spilling of much blood amongst them The King of Coulan hath often besieged their Forts but after long Warres they now enjoy a peace The King of Cananor is very potent and elected out of the Princes of the blood as at Ormus He can send 100000. men into the field armed with targets and swords they wear red bonnets turned up on one side and go almost naked the third part of them are Naires or Gentlemen very resolute and valiant they weare red hats and are not niggards of their lives in their Princes service The Portugais have a strong Castle on the side of the Town and another on the sea side both well provided with Amunition and Artillery and have done them good service having often been assaulted by the Naires very gallant Persons Many of them are since Baptized and grown so devout that if they hear the Ave Maria bell though they are in their Coaches or Litters they are set on ground and say certain prayers on both their knees At Cananor they have a quarry of a stone called Azazimit which is much esteemed amongst the Indians and hath many vertues it cures feavers stops fluxes and causes digestion and is a preservative against poyson they use it in their cures against the pox and it is very neere as Soveraigne as that famous Eastern wine that if a man be so rotten as to fall in peeces yet bathed therein for one month he will infallibly be cured This Countrey produces
stories of the beast and actions worthier a rational then an irrational creature I was told most strange things of the animal That Agarida had five sonnes by him all gallant men without the least shape or resemblance of the beast That they left the woods at ten years of age and built themselves a Cabbin or house to dwell in But one of Agarida's Brothers hunting in the woods kild Sagistan with a dart She enraged with disdain sent her sons to her fathers Palace to revenge him and accordingly they kild their two Uncles Ismahan their Grand-father endeavoring to have them seized on and ignorant who they were was slain also with two of the five brothers The other three escaping made themselves so Formidable that none durst meddle with them and hearing of the King of Bisnagar's wars they offered him their service bearing for arms the figure of Sagistan their father The King informed of their strange birth and adventures gave them great commands in his Army their behaviour shewed their desert for they exploited so high and unconceivable actions that one of them married the Sultane of Bisnegar the other the Sultanes daughter from whence sprung that illustrious family of the Sagistans that hath given the name to that town whereof those two brothers were the first founders This was related me of this history or fable rather held for a verity in those parts to this day all Peoples States Townes and illustrious families have their springs and beginnings fabulous and Romantick I have heard a story affirmed of a Spanish Captains wife caught in adultery with another by her husband for punishment he was satisfied to expose them both into a desert Island the man presently dying the woman was accosted by a great Monkey or Drill by which she had two children and at the three years end a ship sayling by discovered this miserable creature liker a phantasme then a human creature she naked with teares in her eyes begged to be released from this horrid and cruell captivity which they did and reembarking the Monkey perceiving full of rage in her sight tore his whelps in pieces and threw them at her she was carried to Lisbon where the Inquisitors informed of her case caused her to be apprehended and had been proceeded against had not Cardinal Cayetan the then Popes Nuntio taken her cause in hand and setting forth the violent necessity she was forced to to yield to that beast that had found her sustenance for three whole yeares saved her from the execution and she ended her dayes in all holinesse and sanctity of life and repentance There are many ancient and modern histories to this purpose all which I refer to Naturalists and Divines CHAP. XXII Of the kingdome of Bengala and Ternassery of musk some rare remarks of the River Ganges of the Torrid Zone and the conversion of a young Prince Idolater to Christianisme FOllowing the coast of Coromandel and the gulph Bengale you come to Ternassery which is held to be between the Cosamba of Ptolome a kingdom lying between Bengal Narsingue Orixa and the sea the Capital town bearing the same name is scituate upon the side of the sea and a fair River called Zayta making a little Island where stands another town of the same name She hath plenty of all things necessary to life Their cowes are low and their horns grow only skin deep The sheep have neither horns nor wool their skin as smooth as a calves there grows great store of long Pepper called Casay they preserve of it and eat it all the year long with sugar vinegar which gives it a pleasant taste in the middle of the Isle is a Lake that breeds good fish better then any the River affords it is called Ademas It affords you Trouts the most savory fish of the East Pykes and Shads taken in March only are Sea-fish They never eat the head because there is a worm found in it which makes that fish chuse the rapid waters and swim aloft by the streams affording him much refreshment The Town of Ternassery is large and pleasant well built not walled on the River side but strengthned by some Forts well fortified and provided she is scituate in a plain with a Castle on the North with an inclosure or Parke fenced with a great ditch where the Queen keepes a breed of stately Mares given her by her Father who recovered them of an Indian Prince that owed him money which he could no otherwise recover for in that Country horses beare a great value The King of Ternassery is provided with good Cavalry which renders him potent and formidable he is of Person strong and Robuste and wars continually with the King of Narsingue and Bengale The Narsinguer would indamage him much did he joyne with the other but he is so generous he scornes it This King is a Gentill and hath above a thousand Elephants trained up to Warr and of the largest size of the East covered to the very ground with beefes hides and severally trapped those hides are fastned underneath the belly with iron chaines and are hardly got off four men may fight on their backs at a time without the least incumbrance to one another bearing broad bucklers made of Tortoyse shells taken in that River he that rides the trunk to guide the beast is the best Armed of the five because he lies open to the enemy their darts have three very sharp points or heads with a ball of iron upon the middle which serves for counterpoise 'T is a warr-like Nation yet curteous civill and voluptuous they have fair women which they Court and Treat in gardens full of rare fruits They have Cattell Poultry and fowle of all sorts they delight much in perfumes in their meates and dresses and chiefly in Musk called Sagay The best Musk is not drawne from the codd nor blood of the beast but from a certain swelling or rising upon the lower part of his belly at the full of the Moone and that is the sweetest of all for there gather the humors mixt with the blood and Impostume-like rise and break which dryed cast so lively and searching sent that it drawes blood from the very nose The codds and skin with some of the flesh are tyed fast together from which they draw their ordinary Musk mingling therewith a little of the better sort I quartered at a Jewes who confest to me he had drawne thirteen or foureteen codds or bunches from one beast They are of the bignesse of a Goate and have foure teeth bigger then the rest two ascending streight upward and the other two oppositely descending Their childrenweare of those teeth about their necks set in silver gold as in some places of France they wear wolve's Persons of Quality set them in a wood called Betell that hath a strange vertue against poyson called by the Aethiopians Euate whereof they make dishes and trenchers of severall sorts much esteemed and
and Tapacura under the obedience of Bengale Westward is Orixae where is the Diamond mine and the deserts of the Kingdom of Deli Southward the maine Indian sea The Kings of Bengale were able to conquer the Kingdom of Deli were not the great deserts of Damida and the Inpenetrable Forrests of Sacara interposed the two limits Southward on the one side is the Cape Sogora or Sagagora and of the other that of Castigan or Catigan at the third mouth of the Ganges over against the Kingdom of Verma where are the mines of Chrysolites Sardonix and Topases Verma hath formerly belonged unto the Kingdom of Bengale the people are very civill and given to trade And all Nations have free traffick as Persians Greekes Abyssins Chineses Guserates Malabares Turkes Moores Jewes Ruffes or Georgians and many others There is great commerce of Jewells and other Merchandises brought by the Mouth of Ganges streight to Bengale going up six miles by land but above twenty by water by reason of the ebb and flow which as I have already said is different from other seas the smallest tides falling out at the full of the Moone but when the water is at the lowest 't is three fadome deepe round the Walls of the Town so that ships safely enter the Haven and are there very numerous 'T is thought there are fourty thousand families in the Town and the King dwells in a stately Pallace built of brick with faire gardens unto it The Town is pleasantly seated The King keepes a great Court followed by a gallant Nobility and his chiefest guard consists of women as the custom is in Jave Sumatra and Fransiane they put more trust in them then in men they march very gravely are very valiant and expert horseriders and vaulters use the Cimitere and buckler and battle axes very dexterously you must take a care to come neer them in their March for they will abuse you calling you Gueriaer which signifies bold villain the King maintains a great many of them in his Pallace and the handsommest are richly attired The Sun once set 't is forbidden to any man to come neere the quarter the Seraglio is kept in it lookes upon a faire garden on the side of a pleasant river where the Ladies walke at night and 't is death for any man to be found there The Captain of the guard carries in his hand a poysoned nosegay which as it were by chance he puts to the nose of any person he hath a mind to kill and he dies within two houres or thereabouts or else he causes his hands and feet to be cut off This customary law is with more rigour executed upon the inhabitants then upon strangers If the women are surprized in their amours they run no danger and men are very seldom exempt from punishments One of those women being caught with a slave was brought before the King weeping to excuse her fault she said that had she not consented to that act the strangling of her matrix had killed her which the King took for an excuse and sentenc'd the slave to death who was a Knight of Malta and married his wife richly to a Lord of his Court. The King of Bengale is an Idolater as generally all the Eastern are he is valiant of Person and can draw into the field a great Army both of horse and foot wanting not wherewithall to maintain them for his Countrey is rich in gold silver and jewels he can draw forth two thousand Elephants caparison'd their teeth are shodd with steele and they will carry as many men as those of Narsingue they use hand-guns muskets swords javelins hallebards and pikes The Bengalians are the gallantest Persons of the East both men and women both sexes go richly apparel'd and perfumed All other Nations of the Indies flock thither to spend their money and chiefly to buy young slaves to attend and guard their women and manage their businesse they are bought and sold as horses are here they buy them young the safer to geld them the Parents being poore do not scruple to sell their children to strangers for three score four score and a hundred Ducates more or lesse for they are sure their children run no hazardous fortune they being instructed in all manner of Vertues The Law is that if a slave return to his father they are both enslaved to the master untill redemption The King of Bengale hath many Kings tributary to him as the King of Apura who payes him fifty Elephants yearly twelve pearls of the weight of a Miticale he yields this for the ransome of six Towns this King had taken of him in open war he made the King of Dimali tributary to him also for assisting his enemy King Apura and makes him pay 50. horses with 50000. cherats or crowns yearly The King of Orixa payes him tribute too and many more Gentiles and Mahometans although he himself in some manner acknowledges the great Mogull he hath an Army ever ready to draw into the field upon an instant the Nobility being generally tributary and released from that duty are obliged to serve their Prince upon his first summons with a certain number of horse and other necessaries And when they are engaged and obliged to it the war once ended the King rewards them with money and favour imbracing them as his children and after a solemn feast prepared for them dismisses them home to repose The Kings benign and gratefull entertninment so highly obliges them that they spare nothing for their Princes service The Climate is very temperate and well air'd that makes them live long witnesse the Moor of Bangale aged three hundred and thirty years in 1537. the oldest of the Countrey never knew him but old and of the same growth and remembred Cambaye without a Mahometan his hair chang'd colour four times from black to white and he lost his teeth as often and still they came again he had about 700. wives in his life time he was an Idolater for a 100. years together and was the rest of his time a Mahometan he was maintained by the Soldan of Cambaye since by the Governour of Diu although the Bengaliens lye under the Torrid Zone they are cooled with much rain that falls from May to mid August it rains from mid-day to mid-night the other twelve hours there falls none and that 's the time they have to travell and trade in Such is the disposition of the air under the Torrid Zone otherwise she would be dis-inhabitable for the great heats as the Ancients believed being not acquainted with the Countrey nor the rains besides many other reasons as the nights being of the same length with the dayes the winds and other causes daily observed The Bengalians are curious and delicious in their diet they feed much upon preserves and sweet-meats for having all sorts of spices green they confect of all sorts the husk of the nutmegs makes an excellent conserve so doth the long
happened to another whose wife was by a Christian perswaded to shut out the Magician that had given his opinion of her husband he recovering was satisfied of the abuses and falsehoods of their Magicians Pagodes and Castigais and of their false Priests and was also instructed in the truth and purity of our Religion that he might leave his own Idolatries but Alas the poor creatures heart being hardened replyed I believe said he that thy God is great and more powerful then ours and that being so great and Majestical he will not vouchsafe to make himself known to such miserable simple creatures as we are and it would be very unfit to believe a God were not willing to command us Ours said he makes his will known to us which we all submit unto and obey but I shall never more trust the Baneans for they are false Prophets and upon these accidents many of them remove their habitations It were easie to perswade them to the truth they being simple and very credulous and besides they bear a great respect to the memorie of Saint Thomas but opportunities to destroy their Idols are wanting that they might see they have neither force nor motion 'T were dangerous to attempt it without a considerable strength Those deceitful Baneans do so enslave the people that they believe things strange and absurd beyond relation In their festivals when their Idols are carried in state upon chariots some of them through zeal throw themselves under the wheels and are broken in pieces Others thrust their heads into steel hoops keen as razers and cut their own throats putting their feet in a rope fastened thereunto and such are afterwards esteemed Saints and registred in their Temples others cut a hole in their sides and fasten a rope thereto and are dragged by the Chariot after their Idol then their friends say to them remember that I have ever been thy friend and believe he hath power to save them Parents are reverenced and if poor they are assisted upon the publick account They have a solemn feast wherein they reckon up the twelve moons or moneths with the twelve signes and make great jollity when they draw their Idols upon Chariots another of Virgins is drawn off one hand to incense and perfume it At Martaban there growes a fruit which opened represents the perfect figure of a Crosse At Martaban some years before we made our travels there a rich and potent King as the Portuguais relate named Chaubaina was besieged by Bramaa of Pegu and reduced to extremity he implored the assistance of Portugal offering great treasures which for some considerations was denied and the distressed Prince forced to deliver up himself wife and children to that inhumane Tyrant of Pegu who contrary to his promise put them all to cruel deaths and sack't that flourishing town and the Portuguais were much blamed for refusing their assistance There was a vast treasure and they say six and thirty thousand Merchants all strangers that repaired thither from fourty several nations of the Indies and other remoter places as Portuguais Greeks Venetians French English Abyssins Turks Jewes Arabians Armenians Tartars Mogors Corozans Persians Malabarians Javans and many others This Town had 24. gates We went from Martaban to Pegu four small dayes journey distant by land and no more by sea although 't is much further but their Frigates fleet sayling bring all to one and putting forth with the tyde if your ship strikes upon a Rock and is able to bear the shock it glides over like a Balon for no arrow flyes fleeter I have shot seven or eight times through the streight of Gibraltar against tyde but with full sayles and so you may stop in those seas without casting Anchor in expectation of better weather but in Macaraou the road to Pegu 't is impossible with the strongest winds against tyde to make a stand for the waves there over-powre the winds I have not seen the like fury of the seas in any place of the world as in Martaban and Pegu for there is a gulph of water and the tyde taking her course meets with those waters the one roling against the main body of the sea there is a terrible conflict they withstand each other for a time at length the weakest must yield the two bodies separate with such swiftnesse and vehemency that it seems a great hill overturned nor is there a courage so great it daunts not and where before a hollow was seen empty and dry covered over with ships on a suddain the Surges are so violent you would believe the infernal powers were all united to tosse those ships I never yet heard a reason given for it a search worthy the labour of the greatest wits in the world I remember that some yeares after meeting with a most famous Sea-Captain at Calis or Cales I related him this wonder of Macaraou saying that I should not be credited if I made any such relation in print he answered me that the words or little faith of ignorant persons could not prejudice the experience of knowing men and that he himself had he not seen could not have believed the impetuous and most violent encounter of two seas from the North and South in the streight of Magellan from the North the water entred 60. leagues within the streight from the South forty where meeting with an unconceivable fury they strike horrour and amazement into all beholders which made him believe the discourses and opinions of all natural Philosophers to be uncertain since his own experience so often contradicted them He told me he was very desirous to go witnesse what I related of Macaraou at Cambay and Pegu but since I have discovered that there is nothing liker to what I have said of Macaraou then the Mascaret of Bourdeaux That is well known to be a mountain of water gathered together in the River of Dourdonne while the waters are all quiet that mountain is framed on a sudden and rolles down the river overturning what boats soever are in the way which every man endeavours to avoyd making with all haste to the shoare I have asked the reason of the Inhabitants who have told me it proceeded from the height of the Seas meeting with the ebbe of the River and by that encounter this water gathers together but others agree not to this for if so the like would happen in the Garonne and in other places which I never heard of so that with more reason they attribute the cause to some ayre inclosed in some channel or spring under ground running from Garonne to Dourdonne which raises this mountain of water when the Sea flows but I know not whether the same reason might be given for Macaraou The Kingdom of Pegu is one of the largest richest and most potent of the Indies next to Mogor and China but to the two last are lately happened strange revolutions they are extremely fallen off from their state
Lances of for Horse-men as the Mores use and of the strongest they make Chests or boxes for they never break of others they make hoops barrels and halfe barrels to keep their drink or water in There are of them of an incredible size In this country as well as throughout the Indies they bear a great respect to the Image of the blessed Virgin and to the memory of Saint Thomas who hath wrought many miracles in the country He raised from death to life a brother of the King of Granganor who became christian thereupon and built a Church upon the side of a little hill near the Sea dedicated to that Saint and left great revenues thereunto which are continued to this day but are very ill deserved They say that the same King of Granganor and another brother named Abanachacon and that the King of Pegu desired S. Thomas to vouchsafe him a visit who promised to become a Christian upon condition he might enjoy all his women which as he alledged he could not live without by the frequent prayers and intercession of this Saint his concupiscence was wholly allayed and asswaged and in a vision this King thought himself dipped in a pond by three celestial vertues to cleanse him of all filth and sensuality from thence lifted up into heaven and made partaker of the heavenly glory and received knowledge of his salvation and was baptized by St. Thomas and by his good prayers obtained of God Almighty that his tomb built of transparent marble should be ever full of that water wherein he was purified that shortly after this King ended his dayes wounded in a battle he fought to assist a Brother of his against King Sangiscan The Bramins who at present have the possession of this Church where stands this Tomb say that his body is covered over with water to this very day which is seen through the transparency of the marble at the light of three bright-burning lamps and that this Tomb is four fathom height raised from the ground This they relate of it And I remember I have seen at Arles in Rolands Chappel in the Church of St. Honoretus an ancient Marble monument replete with water which increases and diminishes according to the motions of the Moon and let the air be never so hot or dry yet at full Moon the Tomb is full of water They relate as much of another in the Church of St. Severinus in the Suburbs of Bourdeaux a German Lord visiting this wonder assured me he had seen the like in Austria as at Verona in St. Zeno's Church the sepulture of Pepin King of Italy Son of Carolus Magnus is seen full of water many things are naturally known to rise and fall according to the course of the Moon as the ebbe and flow of the Sea stones plants and animals They hold that St. Thomas as I have already said was martyred at Granganor by a Huntsman making his offerings to Oysima their three-headed Idol who shot the Saint with an arrow aiming at some wild beast much more they relate of this glorious Saint which they hold by tradition although the ancient testimonies have left us little of his memory The Ecclesiastical History saith that his body was translated from Meliapur or Calamina to Edesse from thence to Ortuna in Pouilla The Christians that are in the Indies who stile themselves of St. Thomas and say they are instructed from Father to Son by that Saint are Nestorians and infected with many more heresies for to this day they are instructed by the Syrian hereticks Those Indian Kings rely much upon Magicians and Conjurers the King of Pegu maintains one in his Court to foretell what he desires to know he was called Bongi or Bonze as their sacrificators are called a bruitish man addicted to all sorts of vices and abominations yet he is the Kings minion He carries ever in his hand a very keen hanger like a Turkish Cymeter onely more bow'd dressed in two Monkeys skins which he wears the one before the other behind hung all over with bells to the weight of fifty pounds which make a hideous noyse upon a time the King taking the air in a chariot spied one of his choicest Ladies at a window he sent for her to take the air upon the lake in a barge or Gondola covered and richly adorned they were no sooner both in but a sudden and dangerous storm arose from the west that overcast and clouded the skies The King presently called to his Bongi to clear the air the Conjurer immediately made a hole in the ground wherein he urined and using strange Conjurations many Devils came forth of the earth making a most horrid and fearfull din and howling scattered the clouds and tempest the King made with all speed to his Palace putting no great confidence in his Duma for fear of being overturned The Enchanter full of mirth and vanity threatned with his Cymiter the tempestuous winds jumping and leaping incessantly he made a confused noyse with his bels and mad-man like ran to the Kings Palace-gate where he skipped and leaped until he frightned and scared away all the birds and tame beasts that were kept in the Park 'T was the same Magician who as I have already said treating of the Maldives undertook to bring birds and beasts out of the inchanted Isle of Pallouis and was soundly beaten for his rash undertaking and brought back onely with life enough to witnesse his shame The great Cham of Tartary entertaines of those Magicians and puts great confidence in them but more of them hereafter As throughout Arabia they obey the Seque or Sequemir in spirituals so do they in the Kingdom of Pegu their Abedale of a Sect called Abedali and there are of them at Malabar They are Santons or Hermites otherwise called Jogues and by the Mahometans Marabouts A people that observe a religious poverty holding property in nothing of austere life and as the Guzarates never feed on any animated creature Though ready to perish with hunger they ask nothing but the people furnish them abundantly with all necessaries If any one have rob'd murther'd or committed other crime he presently repairs to his Charif who supplies the place of principal Abedale confesses entirely what he hath done and the other enjoyns a punishment and penance according to discretion Though he perpetrated all the iniquities on earth if his Superiour give him absolution no man can further question him or call him to account Sometimes they punish with death as it happened to one Vldarin a Native who in a savage quarrel having killed and privately buried his Brother under a tree confessed it to his Charif who caused him to take up the dead body and seeing it so cruelly dealt with condemned him living to be buried together with the dead Another time he caused another to be cast into a pond for that he had denied their Duma These people have abundance of zealous
their houses mingling it with pounded shells whereof they make a mortar that being dryed becomes firm as marble They are a numerous people but were they more they could find meanes to employ them for every man labours and you see no man in want and if they see one in poverty their charity is such that if he be able he is immediately employed or his necessities relieved For account of the Medicinall Drugs of this Country the river Pegu with the inundation brings in the fruit of Cocos of great esteem amongst the Indians of great vertue to purge all humours and proper for all diseases For my part I never used it for we used a method of Physick approved of by Persons of Quality in those parts That is about the entrance of summer which there begins early with the going out of January whence Debla or Scammony thrusts forth it's buds and a sort of little birds feed upon them when we would purge we got of these birds that go in flights like our Snipes and eating three or foure we find the same effect as if we had taken a physicall medicine another sort they have likewise easie enough that is to take the husk of a certain chich pease a grain like Palma Christi of wonderfull operation Likewise Scammony water which they draw like rose-water to make it more operative at the same time they take the root of Rubarb when the leaves are on which are large as the great Lunary and bitter as gall when t is first pulled up t is full of juice near orange colour though the root new gotten be violent you need but break it and the water within distills by little and little Others pound it and distill it with Scammony and take the quantity of half a spoonfull For purging they use likewise the water of Jelac and Mechouacan and other drugs the substance whereof they know how to draw very exquisitly as they can the quintessenece of cinamon and cloves which they put up in Borrachoes and skins and with other drugs load them for the red sea so to Meca thence to Suria where the Venetians fetch them who know sufficiently how to choose them leaving the worst to the Sensall who distributes them to Provence and thence to the other parts of France where in stead of good drugs they have nothing oft-times but pieces of wood and things of small value CHAP. XXXI The Election of the King of Pegu their Officers the Homages and presents of the Subjects to their new Prince FOr account of this Great King of Pegu his creation and Militia I will say in few words what I there learnt A Prince of high Quality in the Empire called the Califerech is as it were Constable and grand Master who by prescription assists at the Election and Coronation of the Prince which cannot be done without him His Residence is in the Town of Mandranelle towards Tazatay When a new King is to be Crown'd this Caleferech comes to Pegu in barks of war and at his arrivall the Prince goes to receive and entertain him kissing his shoulder the other bowes to the very ground and kisses his leg then the people cry out Este lansar that is God be praised then they both ascend into the Princes Chariot no one presuming to approach near them and returning in gracefull order to the Town a thousand sorts of fireworks play the Fortress Cannon is fired and all in good order to receive them Being arrived at the Pallace abundance of Clarions and Trumpets sound and a Noble man sayes with a loud voice The Califerech commands you all to joyn in prayers that if our Prince be not worthy he may die before his inauguration and the people cry out aloud God grant it Immediately after a repast they create Officers being necessary they should be chosen with the good liking of the Prince The better part of the Officers have Arabian names in imitation of Sechemir of Arabia and the Court of Persia to which almost all the Princes of the East conform themselves as the most magnificent The first that is made is the Gadalaro who disposes and rules all that belongs to the Empire and keepes a magnificent Court The second is the Amicassen or Generall of the Army who commands all that have conduct of any Souldiers commissioning Governors and disposing the Kings Treasure in all things necessary to war Then there is the Libaganir and Libasan joynt officers one whereof administers the Revenewes of the Provinces the other the tributes imposts gabells and rents Royall they have both a good strength of Souldiers to assist them and these attend the Prince every where never leaving him There is the Ostades or Captain of the Pallace who takes order for the Provision The Amiracho or Master of horse that disposes of the Kings horses mules elephants camels dromedaries The Amural that governs the Elephants The Cansidibir Master of the Pages and Eunuches The Madrecon that drawes forth the Army and ranges it in battalia The Amiraf Agitant Generall The Armermirac that beares the Kings Poleax The Casandera who gives order to the Captains and distributes the troops where he thinks necessary The Ostender the Treasurer of the Army The Bicassen Master of the Wardrobe The Testacavir Master of the Robes and divers others all Noble Men belonging to the Palace Royall Persons of Honour and well attended Besides these there are abundance of inferiour Officers and Honourable Persons of War who receive pay by the moneth according to the occurrence of Affaires to which the Merchants many times contribute for convoy of their free Commodities Strangers are there exceedingly respected and honoured and if one have use of an Amersent who are as the Chaoux in Turki or the French Exempts they will bear him company every whither with the Kings provision whereof they have the weekly disposall and a reasonable matter is satisfaction to them Then there are the Cachi men of war armed with Cassocks quilted with agglet holes expert horsemen and dextrous at their bow or the Zanfart or Zagaye with three pikes which in full speed they will most actively cast and catch again These I take for the Captains of Forts and Sconces and Governours of holds There is another sort of souldiers called Atefiar who are paid by Country rents not of the Kings Demesus but things left by Heroes and Persons of Armes the Souldiers right after their decease They weare no other Armes then the Alfange or Cimeterre with the steel ring and are skilfull wrastlers The Caranizi leads the souldiers who have nothing but meat and clothes being a Conquered people and obliged to serve the King When one dies another succeeds from father to son The Archilet is a conflux of people of all qualities and religions like the Grand-Seniors Spai These have no pay till they have done some signall service as also they are placed in
them when their keeper speaks to them they will moove their great ears to understand what he sayes They are decently lodg'd and as at Pegu fed in silver vessels The better sort of people live after the Persian way their houses ennobled with gold and azure They have onely one lawfull wife but divers concubines who go richly apparelled their face vail'd in the streets as in Spain and Italy but within door their faces are uncovered and are very sociable They are Gentiles and Idolaters and easie to be dealt withall If a Merchant make stay in Town he shall have a couple of young women will furnish him with a house and all necessaries and serve him like slaves nay 't is lawfull to beat and chastize them if they do not what they are commanded having once submitted to it They go well apparelled and decent as may be are very affable dance and sing well preserve a Merchants goods with great care Larceny amongst them being held a notorious ignominy Almost all the women are clothed in white as all the Inhabitants men and women in Arabia Felix We lay in the Town of Canarena at one Chamuts a Brokers house who had two Unicorns horns one whereof had half the head remaining to it We put the end in water to see if 't would make it boyle as the horn doth but I thought it boyled more vivaciously and it came out like pearle I asked him if he ever saw of these creatures alive he told me he never saw but two which were very young and not come to have hornes That the King going a hunting took one of them but they could not take the damme whatsoever they could do because as they say they shun and fly from the aspect and presence of a man and the places where the Serpents haunt whereof we spoke before who make a cruel warre upon them for greedinesse of their blood which is said to be of excellent scent as it hath been divers times proved particularly when one was sent by their Prince to the King of Pegu which stung by a fly the bloud which issued out was put in a bottle and brought to the King who made no great esteem of it not finding the scent agreeable though notwithstanding he found it more odorous then Civet This the Sensal or Broker told us I my self saw a perfect Unicorn in the King of Regues Seraglio who had the tongue differing from other beasts very long and jagged the head more like a horse then a hart and there are of several haires The Keeper said 't is but an uncleanly beast delights in his own soyle and that having often seen him drink he never observed him to put his horn in the water The Indians report many other things of them but so strange and various there is no great assurance as that they breed but once in their life-time and like Elephants go two yeares with their young and the like A Bramin an order Kings themselves hold it an honour to be of told me once with a protestation laying his hand on the wreath of his order that he was present with the King of Casubi at the taking of one of these Unicorns which was all white and very old the chops so hanging down all her teeth were seen that she was so fierce in her owne defence she broke her horn amongst the boughs that being taken they brought her bound to the Kings Pallace but being so bruised with blowes for having hurt the Kings Nephew she would not eat and so died within five dayes which shewes she is a cholerick and sullen beast The Queens had bracelets made of the bones as Indian Ladies have a curiosity in wearing bracelets of Ivory and the like The King of Casubi reserved the horne of this beast to himselfe about five moneths after being at this Princes Court who was both courteous and curious I desired the Sieur de la Courb one of our own company to request the favour we might see this horne which he did and the King immediately sent for it and gave it him and the Sieur in requital gave him a delicate watch This horne was of different colour to those I had seen in the Sultan of Mecaes Serallio and other places for this drew neare a white gray whereas the other were of a black gray I have been told that Lewis de Bartheme in his travailes recounts how he saw at the Seldans of Meca in Arabia two of these Unicornes which were sent him by the King of Aethiopia high as a two year old colt of a dark colour the head like a Hart the horne three fathome long a little Mane small legges cloven feet and a Goats cley likewise the English and the Hollanders report that in their last voyage towards Spiteberg in a place called Horendsond they found Unicornes hornes not knowing of what beast they were The Prince of Casubi moreover shewed us his Ladies bracelets made of the other piece of this horn which had a very sweet scent He shewed us likewise the bones of an intire head which one of his Princes kept in a Cabinet and divers other curiosities amongst the rest an Estrif that which we call a Griffin but the head was wanting because at the time it was killed it fell amongst brakes so thick and thorney they could not finde it till the morrow by which time the Marmosets had eaten the whole head the feet were of strange length and the Tallons would well have seized a bushel his plume was white and reddish upon the brest they have but two feet and a Tallon is a good halfe ell long from one end to the other I have seen of them of prodigious strength and furiously ravenous that would have carried away a calfe of six moneths old and eaten him There are abundance of them about the lake Chiammay whereof we spoke before From Canarana we made some dayes to Mandranella a fair Town fifty leagues from Tasatay upon Zingis a large and deep river that bears great vessels They traffick with the Tabins or Chineses and the people of Bugazan come thither for all necessaries This is the residence of the grand Caleferech of Pegu whereof we spoke before All persons of quality that passe this way go kisse the Princes buskin who is as affable and courteous as may be There is another Town of the same name in Indostan towards Persia above six hundred leagues from this In this countrey there is a sort of domestical fowle they call Bouiagui which live for the greater part in the water and feed on what is thrown them such as have house and lands upon the river keep abundance of them being of little charge and great profit he who can get two hundred of them thinks himself wealthy for he needs no more then one little lad to drive them a field with a basket to gather up the eggs whereof he will not loose one for they sit down to
say the earth were higher then the heavens which notwithstanding must needs be if we allow Antipodes That the Poles held immovable are not so but that these two starres turn within two degrees round the Pole That 't is an errour the Sun should by night go hide himself under us that the two Poles are not diametrically opposite since as they say they may be seen at the same time upon sea and land though very low neverthelesse That if there were Antipodes that must be the bottom of the earth and all rivers would naturally run thither contrary to experience and a thousand other opinions as strange as absurd for want of knowledge in the spheare and Astronomy So they laugh as at a thing childish and fabulous at the opinion of the Ancients and Moderns on this side of the rotundity of the earth in the middle of the world and the Ubiquitary habitation and that the Sun turns quite round from East to West They hold for certain that the Sunne rises in all other points as they observe in Tazatay where they imagine it to rise as 't were North and North-West They think to prove their phantastical imaginations when they describe the Iliaca a bright starre in the West and opposite to that Biliaca which appears beyond the Line and is that the shepheards fear so much by the Persians called Zobona so mortiferous to cattle for which cause they house them while that starre raignes and the better to preserve them they make them turn tayle to the starre for if they face it it makes them languish and dye in the end They say that these two opposite starres may be seen in a Line at the same time through a trunck and that each moves about his Pole in twenty four houres but that these are not the same as the North and the Crusero The North being no more distant from the Pole then two degrees and a quarter and one of the other two a degree and a half onely And whereas the ancients observed onely two Poles each in his Hemisphere they make six Poles in the same Hemispheare which are Casara the pole of the World that of the Zodiack the Artick and Antartick and these two starrs and a thousand other fancies as incomprehensible as they are farr from the sence of reason and experience And that which confirmes them in their errors is that they can discerne the two polar starrs from the same place as in Japaca seven degrees beyond the Line in Java and the like in Sumatra and other parts and accordingly in travell they make a strange calculation of the distances of places They jeer likewise at the frame of our spheare and the division of the Zodiack into twelve signes some to the North some to the South and understand not this but after their own way They call the Zodiack Cazatoni that is Significator The signes they call Ant Ronia Amiessem Emisen Courpsa Cheoser Irat Metrias Escorgat Tamasee Besir Bizihir Azourac Persan the highest spheare Birquen Emine the Ecliptick Zoberna that is obscurity because Ecclipses proceed thence That the Zodiack is an oblike circle and that from thence and the Region of fire the Sun takes his course and thence makes generation of all inferiour things Like some of the ancients likewise they hold that the Heaven stands like a vault over the earth and floates and swimmes upon the waters In breife I shewed them the work of Paul Rao the Italian who speakes of all this Astronomy of the Ancients which supposes the Equinoctiall divides the Zodiack in two parts South and North at which they scoffed and grew cholerick saying so base a book was fit for the fire that held nothing but errors and wondered our Prince would suffer such frauds and impostures as they called them to be published in his Dominions they believing as well the lands inhabited from East to West as from South to North are in view of the pole Artick and that it is false there should be any part of India under the Antartick since as they think they have the North as much elevated as we in Europe and many extravagancies hereupon which I leave to be argued and confuted by the learned in Astronomy and Cosmography Hearkning to these Indian opinions I have been told that the Chineses that speculative Nation hold the Heavens to be round but the Earth square and the Empire of China stands punctually in the middle as being the excellence and Principality of the World other parts being but as the skirts and accessaries so as they were a little cholerick when they saw our cards designe their Countrey in the extremity of the East as an indignity to the Grandeur and Majesty of their Country and King whom they call the sonne of the sun And truly these poore Indians wanting the knowledg of sciences and experience are not so much to be blamed for their opinions since in the middle of sage and learned Greece there were of the ancient Philosophers that maintained almost the same that the earth was not round but some as Lucipus that it was like a drum others that it was hollow like a barke as Heraelitus others like a Cilinder or Roler as Anaximandrus and Democritus others that it was absolutely flat as Empodocles and Anaximines some have wandered as far as this Paradox to release it from the center and make it run in the heavens about the immovable sun which with no less extravagancy hath been renewed in our times But for the Antipodes they who held the rotundity of the earth allowed them not for all that holding those parts inhabitable either for being covered with innavigable seas or for the insupportable heats of the Torrid Zone even some of the ancient fathers have for other considerations been taken with this opinion as Lactantius St. Augustine and others and they say a learned Germane Bishop was accused of Heresie for maintaining there was Antipodes But besides the reasons of science experience of Navigation and modern voyages shewes sufficiently the truth of this matter whereof I leave the large discourse to the more learned CHAP. XXXVII Of Tartary Frightfull deserts fierce dogs a strange History of two lovers the Empire of the Tartars and their Religion OF Grand Tartary which lies on the North of all the Provinces I have spoken of I know nothing but by the relation I received in these parts and by the Memorialls of a certain Hollander who was at Pegu. The Inhabitants of these Countreys then tould me that beyond the Kingdom of Tazatay Mandranella Transiana and Casubi towards the North are vast solitudes and sandy deserts which you must travell for many dayes before you can arrive at a Kingdom called Sinabo which at one end towards the East confines with Cochinchina subject to the great King of Tabin or China To passe these vast sands there must be made good provision of victualls water and beast for as
make another division likewise into four parts which are Barbary Numidia Libia and Nigres Barbary extends it self by the side of Mount Atlas upon the Mediterranean from Egypt to Messa upon the Ocean and comprehends the kingdomes of Morocca Fez Telessin Tunes c. Numidia or Biledugerid hath in it Segelmesse Bugie Zeb c. Libia is Saira And the land of Negres containes Galata Tombut Melli Gaigo Guber Guinee and others as far as the Cape of bona Esperanza CHAP. II. A Description of the Isle S. Laurence with the conditions of the People WE came then on shore in the Isle of S. Laurence or Madagascar one of the largest in the world scituate under the Tropick Capricorn between fourteen and twenty six degrees of Latitude in circumference about eight hundred leagues double the quantity of Candia Upon one point thereof towards the Meridian line stands a reasonable good Town called Sancta Maria under it is the Coast of Saint Sebastian which compacts a Gulph full of small Islands inhabited only by an excessive number of fowle That point which looks towards the Cape de Corientes in Africa contains six hundred leagues or thereabouts betwixt the river Monica and Mount Monica and is called Gouara or S. Augustins almost under the Tropick Here is a very pleasant being the Inhabitants civill and well clothed yet the heat is extream where a River stuff't with fish frames a good harbour and the soyle is fertile in fruits In progresse upon this coast of Sancta Maria we meet with a gallant Town called Antipara between two Rivers one of which forms the Cape Salido so called from the saltnesse of the water and is precisely the point of one end of the Island Going on we fall upon the Bay of S. Rochon de Machara near the Cape of S. Roch which gives it name then winding about eight miles from thence we arrive at the Cape of Turmey four miles downwards from the Bay Sancta Maria directly underneath the Tropick The country abounds in fleecelesse sheep cattle and fruits of all sorts Fourty leagues from hence ascending towards the Indies you shall see Manalba a gentile Town then Moropata a good Port Manazero Arco Pescado de S. Antonio and about a hundred paces from thence the Point of Soulatar by Mariners called the Cape of Amtar and between them lye two Islands called the Irmanos by the Islanders Bema Passing on from the Cape of Natall in Africa the Coast is well peopled there the Point of S. Anthony is and the fair river Omzel with fertile Plaines all along from the Cape of S. Vincent to that of S. Anthony Here it is that Christianity was first embraced likewise have you there many Townes and many Villages as Acousia Nabrada Monalega Dolaganza Zanabi Zarcara Franonzara Manatape Babonda Mancaua with very good Havens almost throughout with rivers and shallows where the Sea flows and ebbes as in Europe Mancauia abounds in all sorts of necessaries for livelihood and the Inhabitants of a kind disposition because that part is much frequented On the contrary they of Alocanza or Aleganza where the coast abounds with fish are fierce and proud The more Southern Coast towards the Cape of Ambar is not so populous though throughout the Island there are sufficient and some are savage others civil and some of them as well men as women richly clad and adorned with jewels and precious stones The Inhabitants of Secora and Ambia are handsomely housed and well accommodated they reach as far as Cape Salido from whence to Cape Dental is taken the breadth of the Island In generall this Island abounds in all sorts of good fruits as Oranges Lemons and Spices which the Inhabitants eat confectioned but Ginger especially Cecuma or Corcuma and long Peper They likewise boast of Clove-Gilliâ—lowers which I dare not affirm because I know it not Of woods they have Ebony Sendall red white and Citron colour Brasil whereof they make their bowes and arrowes Sicamores and Mastick They have moreover Mines of excellent silver but such is their sloth they had rather live from hand to mouth then work here is gotten the best Indian Safron and very excellent Sugar which they order but very grossely because they have not the perfect art to refine it though neverthelesse they make a great Trade of it They have Melons of incredible bignesse yellow red and white much more delicate then Provence or Spain hath Throughout the whole Island there growes a root they call Igname or Patata from whence the invention was brought to Spain of taste like a Chestnut but more dainty particularly when it is boyled rather then roasted This root is of great use to the poorer sort which though it be produced from seed sown yet it multiplies in a prodigious manner being cut in gobbits They have Dates of five severall kindes and other trees which yield them excellent drinks besides fruits to eat and strings which they pull out to make Akpargates or thread shooes after the Spanish manner which they call Pargas or Otayas they have also thread from another tree called Langir or Coatir in another language whereof they make cloth as fine as silk Then from one certain nut they draw oyle sundry wayes pressing what is within and pouring thereon hot water which makes an oyle like that of Almunds or else pressing a little kernell which growes within the nut when 't is ripe like that of a Pastique or Pumpion Likewise from a grain or nut which is in common Dates they draw a very good oyle and the strong prickles which grow about the leaves serve them for needles to few their sayles and the apparell of the poorer sort which needle they call Cambiza As for the drinks they make of these trees being drawne by distillation they are incorruptible otherwise they grow sowre and dead in four and twenty houres they make a certain compound of the juyce of Igname or Joucas which in taste is like good Aqua vitae and mixt with sugar and cinamon is a good and kindly nourishment The Inhabitants of this Island take thought for nothing but how to live jovially and which is admirable in so great a number of people you see neither beggers nor vagabonds as in Europe They all live happily without injuring others some content with little others will have more and no man wants imployment if he will take paines Here some give themselves to gardening others there labour in the Mines some apply themselves to Merchandizes others to fishing with their boats made of neats leather so well joyned and liquored that water cannot pierce them They live in perfect amity such as if one man take fish he parts freely with it to him that asks him Some there are who addict themselves to hunt wild beasts whereby they get skins of price as Ermins the Girafe striped with white and red which breed in this Isle with all sorts of wild creatures as Elephants
Rhinoceros which they call Couzan and a certain sort of Asses which are like the usual Asses being almost all dapled gray and white or black and bay they will suffer you to come close to them but if you touch them though never so gently they spring away with most stupendious leaps There are in this Island six kingdoms the Kings whereof delight much in field-sports as Hawks for the Hare and for the Partridge which with them are called Gits and others for fishing Here are likewise the birds of Paradise which live on Muschroms and fragrant flowers some call them Lapi others Mie The Rivers feed Tortoises to a wonderful bignesse excellent meat and very fat but are so laxative they cause even Disenterias as it happened to the Sieur Amador and his company of whom we made mention in the first part We finde there likewise Crocodils in the world again none so cruell and bloody which come sometimes above a mile on land to feed on beasts which they devoure at a morsell They are tataken with hooks fasten'd to a strong twisted cord made of canes by them called Restant laying some raschal sheep or goat for a bait which the Crocodile swallows at a bit and so is caught 'T is almost incredible what hideous cries groans and tears this creature sends forth finding himself taken as if foreseeing he were now to be the fishers diet who feast it merrily the flesh being white in taste like Capon and of an excellent favour but in Lent 't is not to be eaten For which reason some have thought Amber gris to come from this creature though there is more likelihood that it comes from the bottome of the Sea and not from a fish as we said elsewhere To conclude the Island is so plentiful of cattle that they have often given a fat sheep for a Counter or a leafe of paper and a Marriner told me for truth that being at the point of Cape Salido to take in fresh water an inhabitant of the Town of Antipara gave him four Cowes for a scurvie piece of leather he was about to throw into the Sea with his dead Master I remember Sieur Amador told me how that passing through this Island Alitadir King of Janiharou sent for him to have a piece of Scarlet and that being upon a River imbarked with a Mahometan they sayled two dayes compleat from the mouth of the River then landed where were ready for them two Chariots drawn by four bufflers a piece which brought them to the King This River is called Janiharou from the name of the chiefe Town where they have extream heats in the month of February which is their Summer It takes name from a fair fountain called Maraca Jenehar that is the fountain of Janiharon then joyning with another called Marouca it divides into two large streames the one whereof presents it self directly face to face with Natal on the Ethiopian Coast the other swelled with that of Macarahou falls down to twenty two degrees near the coast of S. Augustine which is in twenty three There we suffered such violent heat that each moment we were forced to go into the river or sea for refreshment These people are of Olive hue their humour docile enough The women are kind and courteous handsomely clad in Mantles of amiable complexion and take much delight in dancing to the musick of certain Cimbals which as they say they learnt from the Isles of Comore or the Isles of Theives not far from thence Ethiopia lying betwixt them in twelve degrees and a halfe and 200. miles from Mozombique Of these Isles of Cemore there are five principal which are of reasonable greatnesse besides many small ones almost all inhabited whereof the most considerable is Malaquil As for the Edifice in the Isles of S. Laurence their houses are covered with the leaves of Coco tree whence they produce their principal sustenance as the people of the Maladines doe and have great store because this tree furnishes them with all necessaries though here they are not so good as with the Maladines They have moreover another root called Joguia which being dried yields flower whereof they make a very delicate pudding mingling it with milk with sugar or honey and with the yelks of egs They eat also as likewise throughout all India bats of extraordinary greatness and very good taste They who dwell along the Sea coast apply themselves chiefly to fishing making their houses of turfs dried at the Sun or of Date leaves aptly tempered with stone and morter and some again for coverings use the shells of large Tortoises which live both on land and water like Crocodiles CHAP. III. The Customes of the Inhabitants of Belugara or Monopotapa Salubrious windes venting from a Cave AT our departure from the Isle of S. Laurence we steer'd our course towards the Cape of bona Esperanza and in a short space arrived at the Arme del Spiritu Sancto a renowned river which descends from high Ethiopia and thence in two dayes we reacht to Belugara a Town scituated upon the river of S. Lucie in the kingdome of Monopotapa below Cephala in five degrees beyond the Tropick Capricorne upon the side of the Mountain Bezula which stands in the middle Winter is there in the months of June July August The country is fertile and abounding with game for Chase As we stay'd by the way to refresh our selves at a fountain and make some repast The Sieur de la Courbe of whom I made mention in the first part went on hunting where he took some Hares and many white Partridges which did us much courtesy A league or thereabouts from the Town is a Cave where during the violence of the heat the windes are very frequent as in the Monsons of the East and the Tournacaui of Potozzi or Peron And to make free passage for this anniversary gale the inhabitants have slit the Mountain through which it blowes to the very Town refreshing it exceedingly and purifies bodies in such sort that it renders them in a manner incorruptible For which reason the Belugarians and they of Zenzana and Albigara burying their dead in this Cavern the winde dries them and preserves them from corruption as I noted in another place of another Mountain and like windes blowing in the East Indies The People are either Idolaters or Mahometans The greatest part at the rising of the Sun prostrate themselves many times on the ground muttering between their teeth I know not what prayers and all as well Moores as Gentiles are given to these ceremonies You have there men both white and black well civilized and courteous of handsome carriage and addresse there are amongst them some who have received documents of Christianity for one of them observing one of ours reading in a Primmer had a curiosity to see what it was where perceiving a Crosse he kissed it with tears requiring of Captain Inart if there were a
for what concerns Zinguebar or Zanzibar which ancients called Agezymba and which they placed above the high and interiour Ethiopia 't is as it were an Island environed with seas and rivers 't is a plentifull country of all kinds of commodities for livelihood The town of the same appellation in twenty four degrees and a half hath a good Port well frequented upon a lake excellently well built of stone lime and sand after the manner of the Italian Towns embellished with pleasant gardens entirely beguirt with water as Meroc is but there is no drink but the draw-well The Princes Palace seems very lofty which defends the mouth of the haven before which there is a convenient place for calking vessels 'T is scituate in the best part of Monomotapa and fronts Eastward with the Province of Simen or Simis which joynes with the land of Melinde The Inhabitants are well civilized and 't is thought this is the same Monomotapa which lies upon the river of the Holy Ghost where all the houses are flat roofed as they are at Naples and the Palace royall like that at Calicut there is not one but hath his Alfongi which is a boat of one peice The Presterian or Natahachi and Abassi hath often attempted to take in this country but failed only he plundered it taking away a number of slaves to make Christians of his kinde Amongst his other warres he took the Region of Canfild which Geographers place where they should not This country stretches very far even to the lake of Zaflan which makes the faire Island of Zunan or Zanan near which is Garga or Gorga the capitall town of the countrey beautified with pleasant gardens and abounding in fowle and cattle rice and other commodities for livelihood This lake of Zaftan is as 't were a wide and vast sea of sweet water lying close upon the great Province of Gazasele which confines upon Cafates Cara Esaui Noua Ambian all which meet at Agag scituate between the two Cataracts called by the Inhabitants Zembra with the entire kingdome of Aygamar As to Cofala 't is likewise a reasonable large country rich and fertile at least from the lake Gourantes to the Cuama for the rest of the Coast from the River Magnice to the Cape is but barren This Magnice or the River de Espiritu Sancto as the Portugalls call it rises from one of the lakes whence Nile takes its Origine called Zembra or as others will have it more probably from Zachaf and crossing the mountaines of the Moon and the great Empire of Monomotapa deliver themselves in the Meridian Sea in twenty three degrees and a halfe forth of the same lake Cuama or Couesme takes his birth which disgorges it selfe at seven mouthes a little above the Cape of Courantes in sort that this kingdome of Sefala is invironed with two great Rivers which towards Mid August make exceeding inundations and fatten the soyle as Nile by its overflowes fertilizes the countries of Egypt Beniermi Nubie Tamatas Soba Bugamidei Goyame and others These two rivers then launch out of the lake Zaire and Zembre or Goyame as some think and moderne writers say from a lake called Zuman or Zuama or Sachaf as two great branches one whereof which is Magnice runnes into the sea as at a place by the Portugalls called Punca or Labras del Spiritu sancto The other is called Fuama that is faint because it failes at threescore and fifteene miles from Cefala and is lost in the sand whence it rises again afterwards The large lake of Zembre bears great vessels and some report they have sailed upon it above two hundred and fifty leagues It receives other rivers as the Paname sixty leagues beneath Cefala others about twenty leagues as the Libia Mariancia called by the Abissins Eshusula and Sancola both great inundations laying the whole country under water and in Marshes of difficult passage The soyle of Cefala is exceeding rich in gold and the river Cuama brings it ready fn'd in small threads which are found in the sand so as this river passes through mines of gold for which reason the Portugals by permission of a Mahometan Prince who rules the Country have here built a Fort to facilitate their negotiation with the Inhabitants Before they arrived here some Mahometans of Quiloa and Magadoxo built the town of Sefala in one of the Islands made by Geuesme this river augmented by Paname which takes birth near the town Amara and swelled by Laanga who leads with it the Arrouia and joyns with Monoua at the Ruenia and the Inedita called Iradi by the Ethiopians which together water many countries making vast inundations and Marshes which render the land so dangerous to passe that there needs well experienc'd guides and to make Mount Masima by the natives called Manica the way to Ethiopia there are many fair Provinces rich in ore of gold and silver They term the gold mine Manica the country Matuca or Mataca and those which get the gold Bothones There is another an exceeding rich one in the Province of Torta or Toroa and in that of Gag or Agag one of silver as there is also at Bocaua or Batua Boror Tacouir and other places and the soyle is universally very fertile as likewise at Potozzy and Perou To avoid these immense Marshes as I said one is forced to take the way of Mount Manica bending towards Ambea and Sabaim where at this day are seen huge ruines of ancient structures which resemble the greatnesse and magnificence of those of the ancient Romanes chiefly in the kingdomes Batua and Toroa where are the most ancient mines of gold in Africa There you finde likewise store of stones of excessive bulke so excellently pollished they never lose their lustre fixed together without Cement so fine it is not perceivable In like manner we finde there Remainders of walls of above twenty five handfulls thick with certain hieroglyphick characters engraved not to be read as the like is observed in Persia among the ruines of the town Persepolis Many do conceive 't was from hence Salomon fetcht his gold as I said elsewhere and these great ruines to have been of that Ages building and by the same King Howsoever we took not this road by the Mountain for being come from the Cape Gourantes with a Portugall Captain called Baccheo a fiery and insolent person with whom we had contracted for our passage with design to come for Spain by the Cape of Bona Esperanza and along the coast of Africa we were constrained to go on shore at Agoas de san Biasio by some called the coast of S. Rafuel to avoid the tyranny of this Captain 'T is scarce credible what discommodities one suffers in these Portugal vessels for though he shift his clothes and linnen a hundred times the day he is eaten up with lice have you need but of a glasse of water you must make insupportable
with strong walls and good ditches where they were provided of Engines made of great timber-pieces so drawne and bent by cordage and wheeles fixt opposite that the reverse was so vigorous they would founder or break a ship in pieces For which reason the Negus after the trench was filled forbore to storme nor indeed but for the help of a Genoese had he accomplished his designe without extream losse This Genoese by mine blew up a Tower which opened a marvelous breach Then the people mad with despaire choosing rather to dye then be reduced to servitude exposed their wives and children in the face of the assault In the end the town was taken and demolished and the inhabitants to a man put to the sword not one amongst them yielding to accept of mercy The Negus took prisoners the Kings wife and daughters and while he was using perswasions to gain them to come live with his Queen and that he would wealthily bestow the daughters the mother and one of the daughters had dispatched themselves with poyson The other who was faire in perfection had no ambition of death The Negus gave her to his wife who richly clothed her and used all sorts of blandishments to comfort her After this victory in Gorago against the Negus was to visit Barra the inhabitants amongst other magnificences had erected to him a stately Pyramid of timber covered with Fausell garnets either cut by the hand of Lapidaries or coming so from the mine supported by four Gyansts with a spacious Palace of divers works and Niches furnished with statues of Ladies gloriously adorned with gold and silver and laid with colours to the life many Trophies of victories Upon the town River called Morabo was erected a sumptuous Pageant with the figures of an Elephant and a Rhinocerot The Elephant was filled with fire and the Rhinocerot was so contrived with springs that suck'd in water and spouted it against the Elephant the whole supported upon piles by which the fire was conveyed with a singular sleight for from the bank to the Elephant there â—ere secretly lines drawn whereon were hanged cartridges filled with powder which being sired with a cane the blazing cartridge flew like lightening upon the Rhinocerot and at the same instant the springs being set on work the Rhinocerot encountered the Elephant with such a stream of water that the cartridges the fire not being wilde-fire lost their effect It could not but be delightfull to see these flaming squibs of such velocity and in such a multitude in the middle of a bulk of water which opposed and vanquished their fury The Negus and all the Court were much delighted therewith and the Divertisement discharged a good part of those griefes which oppressed the captive Princesse to whom the combate of the artificiall beasts was very pleasant it continued above two houres till at last the conflict grew so robustious they overturned the Fabrick under them and all fell at once and vanished in the River together to the exceeding pleasure of all the Beholders and thus was this day spent The Negus on the morrow went to Masse and as he passed the Militia of the town saluted him with fire-works of ingenious invention Being returned from Masse and going to Dinner unexpected came in a strange Prince who falling to his feet petitioned him he would bestow upon him the captive Princesse or vouchsafe to impose a ransom on her The King looked upon him as admiring how he passed the guards a thing extraordinary and unusual amongst them neverthelesse admitting his passion for an excuse he demanded who he was the other answered that his Countrey bordered upon the dominions of the Barnaguz that is high-Admiral north-ward towards Ganfrila and Drafrila and that the late Zambaze Prince of Gorago had given him this Princesse his daughter for wife whereupon the Negus caused her to be called and after a mutual acknowledgment weeping she told the Negus and Queen that but for hope of meeting again with her husband she would not have preserved her life but had in death wayted on her mother and sister The Queen had gotten a promise from her that she would become Christian and being mov'd anew she said she was most ready then turning to the affianc'd Prince she declared to him that being a Christian she could not match with an Infidel and therefore requested him they might together receive their baptization this at first seem'd very harsh to him yet at length by perswasions and manifestations they so prevailed that he condescended and both of them with divers Lords of his train were baptized together The Negus released him of a certain tribute due which as likewise other Princely presents he gave his Lady CHAP. XIII The manner of service at the Negus's table the receipt of the Portuguese Embassadour AS to the service at the Negus's table 't is as magnificent as with any Prince on earth for the multitude of Officers our curiosity found so much favour as to see it and amongst other things remarkable there were three pages in raz'd tissue suitable with a bed in a corner of the room as we perceived coming in the Negus's lodging as I suppos'd These Pages brought to the Table three dishes made of a black wood they call Euate like to our Ebony of precious esteem with them for the property it hath to burst in pieces as soon as poyson comes within it These dishes were half full one you must know with a sort of pear which cut in middle presents the perfect figure of a Crosse a strange rarity in a fruit the second half full of burning coals and the third of ashes This to represent Christs Passion Death and Hell The rest of the service was most splendid as well for state as delicacy of meats ingeniously dressed and perfumed with an odour so sweet and pleasant as 't is impossible any could be more The canopy of state over the Princes head was of the same as the bed and the Pages apparel were There were others diversly habited but all rich and every one two distinct vestures one that had but a half-sleeve with bases falling over their buskins and hiding some part of their shoe But I will relate the rest of the service when I deliver the reception of the Spanish Kings Embassadour Don Francisco di Lopes sent to the grand Neguz for leave to build Forts upon his coasts as well for the advance of commerce as the propagation of Religion He came on land in Africa towards the river Souac near the Monastery of the Holy Ghost of the religious Observantines I spoke of before We met with him before that in our travels and he came along with us as far as the head of that River where we set him on shore near the Church or the Monastery of the Holy Ghost which is one of the chiefest Fortifications the King of Ethiopia hath and 't is there 't is said 300. religious are where he staid some
a sister to the deceased mourned with such passion that he fir'd his Palace and got himself to so uncouth and solitary a place that no man knew where to find him 'T was in a Cave in the wild of the woods where he concealed himself and this by the consent of his Lady who on her part with two of her daughters became a recluse Nun in a Monastery of women called Aranatingil to whom after decease of the Mother the Negus sent to perswade to become secular again and prevailed with the one who was married to the Prince of Dafila but the other called Agaria persisted in her devotion and proceeded to such sanctity that as they say by revelation she understood the Place where her father was retired and sent her Confessor to visit him whom he found in the hollow of a rock to which one must ascend by many steps and in one corner of the rock he had a little garden with a fountain and some Coco Dates which the Abissins call Miguel and other trees set round There the Prince spent his daies with one onely servant living on the fruits of these trees He was exceedingly beloved and lamented by the whole Court as well for his valour and vertue as for that he was of the bloud of Tigray being descended from the Emperour of Tigray and the Negus himself holding wars with the King of Deli felt special want of him and coming to understand where he was concealed took the pains to go in person with his whole Army thither to entreat his assistance in a businesse of so main importance to the preservation of the Faith promising him that the wars ended he should return to his hermitage whereto the other would not be refractory but leaving his grotte and appearing to the Army they conceived so great a confidence of good successe in the war that with a generall shout they cryed out victory 'T was a noble pleasure to see the kindnesses wherewith the whole Court welcom'd the Prince some embracing his knees other casting themselves at his feet so great is the devotion of these people Then arming him with arms of the skin of Coscuma back and breast and mounting him on a gallant horse with an azure Crosse in a white standart before them as on the day of battel they have a red Crosse of the colour of the Emperours tent they marched into the field and the war was prosperously ended to the wishes of the Negus whether this Prince returned to his grotte or continued at Court I cannot tell But to proceed the Province of Amara confines upon Angote divided by the River Ancona 't is true that Olabi lies betwixt through which the River Cabella passes rising out of the lake of Amara abounding with Sea-horses by them called Gomaraes and by the Arabians Garmaran and another like to a Lamprey which being boiled in water makes pottage white as milk but red being boiled in milk The Negus is esteemed one of the richest and most potent Princes in the Universe His ordinary Army consists of thirty thousand horse and fifty thousand foot partly of tawny partly of entirely black people by reason of the heat of the Countrey though notwithstanding they have both winter and summer The Prince never stayes in Town above three dayes and ever hath a well ordered Army in the field amply provided of all sorts of military ammunition and his Court walled with a strong and magnificent Guard When any one sues for accesse to the Prince there is a Nobleman whose office is to question him what he is whence he comes and what he desires of his Majesty and holding him constantly by the hand at the gate of the Tent-Royal he speaks in a loud tone after a manner of singing and so gives the King notice of this persons arrivall who immediately receives a dispatch of his businesse in few words and short time When the King marches into the field which is never without his Court and Army of above fourscore or a hundred thousand men he removes not above four or five miles a day ever lodging at Churches or Monasteries The Army marches foremost with all the baggage packed up in baskets instead of coffers This Court is not hung upon by such a rascallity as ours is nor is the Countrey harried and eaten up by such a rabble the villages contribute nothing but the whole is discharged out of the treasure and revenue of the Prince After the Army is passed comes about three thousand Officers who carry the provisions for the Kings table wine in Barrels and meat in Panniers every one carrying his proportion on his head those who conduct them are called the Seraif Then the Lords called the Serami follow afoot a javeline in their hand and a guilt falchion like a short sword by their side and the Priests bare-headed whereof four who serve by the Quarter carry the sacred stone for celebration The Prince marches under a Canopy in an Apostolike habit of white silke with wide sleeves and a broad large hat When the Court marches they are all well mounted but ill-armed for their Armes are neither so neat nor so well wrought as ours The Prince hath one compleate suite of Armes which he puts on but seldom The King of Spain presented him with a suit by his Embassadour which was musquet proof Their ordinary Arms are half-pikes and battle-axes of which they know how to make good use Their tents of thick strong cloth the Prince's of white linnen lined with leather so spacious 't is capable to comprehend twelve thousand persons domestick Officers and Servants as I said before and the Ladies of Honour to the Queen besides the Cavalry who serve by Quarter and are those who wear the Lions skin In the middle of the Tent there stands a Church of vast circumference near to which the King and Queen onely inhabit for upon occasion of any conference they come into other apartements His Tent alone is like a little Town containing within it his very stables all regularly composed and well governed He hath his musick singing day and night the Musicians discharging their duties by turns though he be not in his Tent the same reverence and respect is observed as if he were present He who hath the office to expostulate and induct those who make addresses to the Prince after he understands the businesse if he cannot of himself give satisfaction he repairs to the Prince to whom he relates the whole upon his knees without presuming to behold his face or rise up while the King speaks then returns and exacts the like reverence from others to himself As touching Justice there 't is equally and speedily administred without any tedious processe If any man either in court or Army be found guilty of a crime he is immediately punished with bastinadoes the ordinary chastisement but they use also buffeting as the Turks do For the tributary kingdoms and dominions under the Negus the Law is such
nothing for the terrour our late danger had left in us and the affliction for our great losse but for the men above all For the Sieur de la Courb lost a servant that had serv'd him twenty years besides a thousand Spanish doublons and a pound of pearles by estimation of great value with great store of other rich commodities and curiosities Notwithstanding 't was our duty to embrace all with patience with praises to God that preserved our persons and in this misfortune the Sieur de la Courb had a bason full of gold of Pepitas as the Spaniard calls them or seeds given him by one of the Lords in our travaile which was in another Almadie with the rest of his people and now stood us in good stead On the morrow we went to Carsiane and lodged at her house who was saved when our bark was lost she made us a free entertainment and upon her account we were visited by all the principall of the Town There we rested our selves two daies and the good woman in acknowledgement of her obligation thought no treaty sufficient for me taking so much care for me that next morning she brought me a clean shirt and gave me other presents as she was able amongst the rest a peice of very sine cloth of Calicut to make me shirts Thence we went to Saraboma or Saraboesun that so famous Island which the Ancients called Meroe and now Caeguere between the line and the Tropick Some say 't was originally called Saba and took the name of Meroe from a sister of Cambyses king of Persia This Island is embraced by the two arms of Nile the one anciently called Astaboras the other Astupus or Astusapes which is on the west side Saraboma standing betwixt two rivers like Saba is quite hidden in trees very pleasantly There we saw not so much as one Trades-man or publick shop but every man in his own house works by himself The greatest part spin wool or silk and dames of the best quality make stuffs of silk In brief they all work except those of base repute They are a people of honest and religious life where there is not a Malefactor nor a person in the hands of justice no Lawyers nor no Pettyfoggers They celebrate Masse after the Georgian rites with some ceremonies of the Jew or Abissine Through all the churches they say but one Masse a day as through the rest of all Ethiopia and all men women girls and infants must hear every day one there cannot be a people better nor more devout They generally observe lent and the greater part fast it entirely They give the Communion to sucking infants use extream austerities are of very reserved life timorous to offend God in the least grounding themselves on the words of the Evangelist who saith Hardly shall the just man be saved From thence we passed by many habitations of tents composed in the form of Tremisen or Ducalia where throughout the people were very large of person and stoutly armed and waited on with fierce dogs Then we travailed five dayes not meeting with any Town but Guelba a place inconsiderable nor durst we lodge there for fear of some injury but lay in our barks As we passed along we enquired stil of the Country-men if they saw by the banks the bodies of any drowned men but in vain for we could learn no tidings The fifth day we came to a fair Town called Essere in the same Isle of Meroe seated on a soyle covered with dates oranges and other fruit trees They have likewise Coloquintida but make no account of it We had sight of a wild Rhinocerot that was crossing a thick wood that with breaking the boughs as he went made the woods ring afterwards we saw the female follow him The people of the Country venture not to destroy them for that he is so dangerous and his natural armour impenetrable From Essere we made towards Bigan having taken in provision because we had four dayes journey thither The way is something dangerous by reason of certain Cafies assassines who murther the passengers and live onely upon pillage There they call them Tammatans because they are of the kingdom of Tamatas They can subsist three or four dayes together without eating any more then a little butter and two dates a day They are of a large size by a good span taller than the ordinary but very megre and lean and they never lie down As we passed we saw vaste Countries but few inhabitants except some shepherds But before we arrived at Bigan we came to a great hamlet called Carfouran where we went on shore to refresh and recreate a little There we bought a barrel of wine of honey which barrel was made of a cane of one piece all but the ends They have of these barrels that are wonderful large towards the West we saw a great field covered over with capers of which they make little account we boiled a young calf which they gave us I think for fear we should do them some harm seeing us go in company and well appointed and every where we took passes of the Princes and Lords Neverthelesse when we came away we gave them some few dragmes which are little square pieces of silver currant all along Nile up into high Egypt and are taken by weight Thence we came at night to Bigan and we neglected not as soon as we landed to go visit the Governour whom they call the Basira we shewed him the Negus's pasports which with great ceremony in token of reverence he laid upon his head shewed us great kindnesses and invited us to supper He sent us to our lodging four great hornes of date-wine exceeding strong and searching for drinking it without water one would think himself on fire and I believe it passes through some distillatory We kept it to take in mornings in the manner of strong-water We returned the Governour some sweet-meats in exchange which were very acceptable and he gave us besides certain birds which are good meat in Province we call them Fransons with six turkeys and four white partridges Departing from Bigan we came in one day as far as Casima directly over against the desert of Goran which lies on the East and South of it This was a day of great pleasure to us passing still by Lawrels and other sorts of lovely and wholsom fruit-trees and meeting with many Towns and hamlets where they have horses in abundance We saw there a great troop of Munkies passing by a lake in the middle of a Plain and a Gentleman fishing with Hawkes which took great store of good fish and carried them to their Master The sight of this fishing retarded us above an houre though we had seen the like in several places in India When the people saw we were delighted with their sport they brought us a good part of their fish as Eels Trouts Carps and Barbels and we returned them two fine horns excellently wrought full of Date
which for devotion he sent to take baptization at Jerusalem and twenty years after my own natural brother married one of these daughters called Lucretia by whom he had many children at Marsels We travell'd all Africa to Alexandria in eight moneths Having stayed some dayes in Alxandria we departed for Tripoli in Suria without accomplishing my vow to go to Jerusalem for which I had gone so much ground and there we went aboard the Christina of Marsels and were five monthes intire before we could arrive there for that having touched upon Malta we stayed some time to see the sports of their Carnavalle which stayed us awhile By the way it happened that the Saylers having rifled a little vessell of Greek wine drunk so freely that one of them amongst the rest climbing the Mast to do his office knowing his own condition tyed himself for fear of falling and lay down in the scuttle where he slept two dayes before he waked In the mean time the others calling for him to come to dinner and not hearing any answer they apprehended they had heard something fall into the sea the night before which made a great noyse and that 't was the poor Marriner who was drowned in his drink whereupon the Steward of the ship rung the bell thrice then as the custom is threw a fire-brand into the sea and said aloud Gentlemen Mariners pray to God for the soul of poor Veran that was his name because through Gods mercy he rests with the soules of the faithful Then every one kneeling down prayed for him then presently what goods he had were inventoried and prized But the day following the Master of the ship whose name was Pier de Soulier for discovery of the land like a careful Marriner climbed the Maste himself but he was amazed when he found there the supposed dead man fast tyed and yet in a profound sleep but upon the Masters call he awaked suddenly which made the company very merry That night we lay upon a dangerous sea and feared we were upon the Asquequi or Seques which towards the land is a bad bottome that which made us judge of it was certaine Mosse swimming upon the water which hangs to the rocks which made us very apprehensive In the evening a huge Whale followed us as the Pilot told us who had discovered him and at last minding to leave us as he turned brushed so rudely upon the ship that it shook all over as it had dashed against a rock At the instant every man affrighted cryed out for mercy supposing we were lost for we were in the middle of a vast sea where there was no possibility of safety The Master presently ran to the Hold to see if the ship were founder'd on the other side the Pilot from the Poupe discovered the monstrous fish had left us and was gone with a hideous noyse so as we were safe and by Gods goodnesse freed of a desperate fear After some dayes sayling on we came to touch at Malta and being Shrovetide we resolved to stay awhile to see the celebration of this feast and there we put off some pieces of fine cloth which they call Calicut but the mischief was that the Courtizans of which they have there very subtle ones had good share of them cheating us of some crowns under colour of treating us at our own cost Of this Island I will say no more then that at this day 't is the Residence of the Knights Hospitallers of S. John of Jerusalem instituted in the year 1134. in the time of Baldouin of Bourgos the third French King of Jerusalem for the security of them who went to the Holy-land and in the year 1309. their great Master Villaret took by force of Armes the Isle of Rhodes from the Sarasins who usurpt it from the Greek Empire and there establisht the Residence of his Order and maintained it stoutly against the many attempts of the Soldans of Egypt but in the year 1522. Turk Soliman carried it from the great Master Philip Villers and by the license of Pope Leo the tenth this great Master with his order retired to Viterbo till better times and divers places being propounded for their Residence as Sasda in Candia Serigo Elba and others in conclusion they resolved to petition Charles the fifth for Malta to whom it belonged as dependant on the kingdome of Sicily against the French English and Italians who would have had no such obligation to the Emperour but at length they consented because it had good Havens and was near to Barbary so they got Malta and Goza in the year 1529. without other tribute or condition then a solemne Masse annually and a Falcon every yeare to the Viceroy of Naples but withall that they should have free transport of corne from Sicily This in effect was more advantage to the King of Spain then the other Nations of Christendome the Isle of Malta being a guard to all the Spanish and Italian Coasts under his dominion The Order at first was divided by seven Languages three of France which were France Avernia and Provence then of Italy Germany England and Spain Afterwards an eighth was added Spain being divided into Castile and Portugall and England being left out they took in Aragon Of these eight Languages every one had two Electours for election of the Grand Master These Grand Masters have for the greater part been French and the greatest part of the Order consists of our French Nobility but I shall speak no more of it being a matter so generally known Having left Malta we set sayle for Marsells where we landed within few dayes setting a period to that long voyage which had cost us so much time paines and danger God be glorified who guided us to so safe a Port at the time of the great Commet whose extent was thirty degrees the taile pointing to the West embracing Sagittarius and Capricorne and appeared not in the Sublunary Region but the Celestial so as 't was seen throughout the Indies both East and West But I cannot omit to relate how when I came to my Fathers house who was then sixty five yeares of age he knew me not but thought me dead and had made my funeral six years before so as seeing me in the Greek habit he took me for some stranger and asking me who I was I answered him in language barbarous enough I was a Grecian and 't was but truth I had almost forgot my native language being very young when I left my countrey and for that I had discontinued it so long time Some vulgar Greek I understood which I learnt at Canea in Candia where I staid six or seven moneths after our first shipwâ—ack Then my Father who spoke good Greek having traffick'd a long time in that country asked me what was my businesse and telling him I came to dine with him he told me I was welcome and bad me draw near the fire as I did Then he demanded who and of
Straight conquered by the Portuguese as Arzile and others and joynes to the Province of Errif which beginnes at the Straight and Eastward stretches as farre as the River Necor Northward to the Mediterranean The principall town of it is Targa or Terga upon the said sea who traffick with the People of Tunnis and Bisette There are besides the Townes of Jelles Gebba and others Garet joynes to this Province which reaches as farre as the Deserts of Numidia and the Cities there are Mazelle Megger and others where there are many Mines of Iron This Countrey joynes upon the Region of Chaus which Westward runnes to the River Barnagara that goes to the borders of Lybia with her townes of Teurere Besornin c. It extends as farre as the Kingdome of Telesin exceeding rich which on the West bounds upon the Rivers Moluia and La South upon the deserts of Numidia comprehending from West to East near four hundred miles environed with many great deserts confining on the blacks and hath two remarkable Havens Marzalquibir and Oran besides the townes of Gualdida Hauan the great City of Nodroma and Telesin the capitall where the King resides who keeps a magnificent Court There is also Constantina the Walls whereof are black stone polished scituate upon a Mountain at the foot whereof the River Sufamar runnes About it are other Provinces whereof some joyn to the desert of Barqua which borders upon Tenez a City of Numidia and on the North embraces the Province of Daro which joynes upon Sequelme or Segelmesse taking name from the capitall towne and extends to the River of Zez which confines on the Deserts of Lybia All these countries are inhabited by severall barbarous people as Zonetes Azonagia Zabara Egilefe and runnes to the Province of Chenega which joyns to the Mountaine of Atlas This Mountaine reaches to the Deserts of Numidia amongst which there is one countrey terminates upon the kingdom of Bugia called Zeb on the North having Biledulgerib or Numidia Lybia is of great extent and Numidia larger In Lybia are the vast Deserts of Zonzaga and Zuenziga almost all inhabited on the skirts with Arabians who have the blacks on the West and South called Galata confining upon Tombur In the middle is the Desert of Zarat which is two hundred miles over without any habitation but the desert of Aroboan affords some comfort and it joynes upon Tombur Then next are the deserts of Hair over which lyes the passage from Tombur to Telensin We leave the Desert of Gosde on the right hand for the numbers of fierce beasts that resort thither then to the desert of Gir which on the North confines on Tuas Tegerin and Damesab which hath the kingdome of Agades on the South a countrey plentifull of Herbage Fountaines and Manna which they use much in their Diet and Pottages they have such abundance of it it renders them exceeding strong and agile they likewise boyled with water make drink of it They are subjects to the King of Tombur and border upon Cano another kingdome tributary to Tombur The people are all black as pitch Near the Town of of Masar in Arabia Salban there was once a Gulph of the Sea There was formerly a Temple dedicated to Venus where maids did prostitute themselves for pleasure or profit they report but a famous Courtisan beautiful and rich by name Ameliga being courted by divers Princes and great persons would accept of nothing from them only obliging them to give something to the poor using these words Honour the Goddesse Ameliza to whom you offer this which made her famous through all Africa so as they came from very forrain parts to see her and the King of Bodumal sued to have her to wife which she refused amongst others there was a Maraban who visiting her erected a magnificent Temple to her which was immediately frequented with a concourse of people and everyone repair'd thither to obtain their desire provided they were able of member otherwise 't was not to be looked for The People of Guiner Tombur and others were of this devotion The Priests of the Temple received the word and render'd them at certain houres For the kingdome of Melli 't is very wealthy by reason 't is cut through with the black river or Senega or a branch of it or rather a channell made by hand so as 't is very fruitfull in Dates Raisins Cotton and other commodities for 't is said this River flowes as Nile does and at the same houres They have abundance of Canoes or boats of one piece in which they travaile upon their little negotiations passing from kingdome to kingdome moved out of the History of Jonas who they say came on shore there They make great benefit of Whales and believe no Whale can passe that way without bursting An ancient Gentleman of Siban told me that in the yeare one thousand five hundred seventy one walking on the shore he saw three great Whales which being entered the Gulph made a most horrid noyse and on the morrow one of them was cast up with his belly slit as it had been done with a knife the other two were carried away with the streame of the water Whether this be a miracle or magick I will not judge Melli borders upon Gago and Gago is the better countrey of the two and though Melli have the better townes yet the other is of much more esteem for many things but chiefly for the quantity of gold brought thither by the Moores from all parts and this gold is very exquisite whereof they make most part of their pieces of a crown and halfe which they call Miticales But Melly hath the glory from all her neighbours for a fair Colledge of their Prophet Haly where all the other kingdomes come to study the Sciences there being many learned Doctors of their kind Thither for this purpose repaires the youth of Cambre the chief town of Tambur as also from Gago and other place Gago is a Town of great traffick where there is a great Mart for pepper and slaves of all parts of Christendom whom they employ in Mines there being some who for avarice bring their own children for this purpose Gago borders Eastward on Cober and the capital towns of these two countries are 200. leagues distant They are also under the inundation of Niger which manures the countrey and makes it plentifull in cattle and provisions the reason the people apply themselves more to husbandry then study and so are grosse and rustick Westward from thence lyes the great Cape Serrelyonne on the East the kingdome of Agades then Cano Zegeg which breeds such store of horse then Zanfara and Guangara Northward whose King hath a Guard of 7000. men foot and horse with bowes and Cimeterres Then comes Borro which runs above five hundred miles Eastward having on the South the Deserts of Get and on the North those of Barea They are a brutish people and entertain their wives in common Towards the Piroc are the
Cambinga or Jordan and 70. to the Cape St. Helen in 32. degrees to Rio secco 40. to La Croix 20. Berugon in the Indies thence to Cagnoval or Cannaveral 40. leagues People of Cano or Cagnoval the point of Cagnoval in 28. degrees and to Florida 40. leagues the tongue of Land extending it self 100. leagues by Sea over against Caba on the East Behame or Lucaros the point of Florida in 15. degrees thence to the Angle di Baccho 100. leagues Ancon du Baxos and to Rio Nives and Rio di Flores 20. leagues and 20. to the harbour of Spirito Sancto by the Indians called Caulatan 70. leagues in 28. degrees and from thence 200. leagues to the River di Palmo 30. leagues over thence to the River of Pescadoros Ind. Sotassi under the Tropick thence to Panonco 35. leagues to villa ricca 70. to San Jouan de Loua a famous port 5. leagues from the Shallous of Vega to the river Aluarado 40. leagues Ind. Papa Jouapan to Cauacalo fl 50. and to Guisalua fl 50. 18. degrees thence to Cape Rotundo 80. leagues by the way stand Chagraton and Lazaro thence to Cape Catuco 90. leagues Jacatan 21. degrees thence to Florida 900. leagues from the gulf of Mexico 60. leagues where there are strange currents and falls of water from the edg of the gulph to Rio grande 120. leagues passing by Punto di Mugeres and the harbour di la Ascension Rio grande bosomes it self in the Sea in 17. degrees thence to Cape Cameroze 150. leagues thus 30. to Queras 30. to Caualles thirty to Trionfada 30. to Honduma and 20. to Camzone thence to Agata or Gratia dios 70. leagues in 14. degrees Cartago is in the middle of the coast of Gratia a dios to di San Guadero 60. leagues which is a great waste out of the Lake Nicaraga thence to Zanbara 40. leagues and to Nombre di dios 60. Vetagua is the mid-way From Nombre de dios to Sucatan is good 500. leagues the Isthmus is but 5. leagues but from Escarpoucos 't is 17. from Nombre de dios to Faralones 70. leagues 8. degrees there was a design to cut this Isthmus but some were of opinion that the South-sea lying higher would fall in and drown all By the way we meet with Aola and the Porto de Missa so called for that the Prince that discovered it caused Masse to be said there in thanks for the success The harbour of Ordea thence to Carthagena 70. thence to St. Martha 50. leagues by the Port of Zembra and Rio grande thence to Cape de vello 50. leagues and thence to Sancto Domingo 100. leagues from Cape de vello to Guiboucas 40. leagues then the Gulph of Venusuela extending it self 80. leagues to Cape St. Romano thence to Gulph Tuste 50. leagues in the middle of the Gulph is Curiana thence to the Gulph Cariari 100. leagues the coast is in 10. degrees There is Porto di Cassia Tistula Chiribichi and Cumana fl the point of Areya Cubaga or the Isle of Pearle or the Margarite from this point to the Salines is 60. leagues thence to Cape Anegades 8. degrees 80. leagues where in a bosome lies the harbour of Paria from Anegades to Ric dolee 50. leagues six degrees thence to Oreglane or di Amazonas fl 110. leagues from Nombre di dios to Oreglane 800. leagues a river that in the mouth is 50. leagues over there the first that arrived to traffick were massacred by the women Douglane and Onaragnen which is 15. leagues broad in 4. degrees are held 100. leagues distant thence 't is 100. leagues to the Angla di S. Luca and a hundred to Cape Promero thence to Cape St. Augustine in 8 degrees 70 leagues the next land to Vfo for from thence to Cape Verde is 500 leagues thence to the Gulph di ' Todos Sanctos 100 leagues in 13 degrees by the way is the river St. Francesco and the river Reali thence to Cape Abralosoios 100 leagues a Coast full of shelves conceal'd rocks and bars of sands very dangerous wherefore they must hold 20 miles off to sea in 13 and 18 degrees from de Fue to the point bono Abrigo thence to the Point St. Michael 50 leagues and 60 to the river St. Francisco six and twenty degrees thence to Tibiquiri one hundered leagues in the road the Port Patos Port Fariol Sigaro Toubanaco c. Thence to Plata fifty leagues five and thirty degrees from St. Augustino there is six hundered and sixty leagues from the Mouth of it to the Point St. Helen sixty five leagues thence to Arenas Gordas thirty leagues to low Anegado fourty to Tierrabaxa fifty to Baya sin fondo sixty a Gulfe in one and fourty to Arifices de Loubos fourty to Cape Saint Domingo five and fourty to Chiquera or Cape Bianco twenty to the river Saint John Serran twenty called Agova de Trabaios nine and fourty degrees thence to the Promont at the thousand Virgins the Streight ends The summe is twelve hundered leagues from Venosuela to Desrado a Cape in the Mouth of the Streight from North to South From Cape Desrado to the mouth of the Straight not far from the Bell a Rock which seems to cover the mouth of it to the South sea 70. leagues the bounds are first Cape Promero 49. degrees thence to Salmas 44. degrees and 165. leagues from Salmas to Cape Hermoso 110. leagues and 44. degrees thence to the River S. Francesco 60. to Rio Sancto 120. leagues to Chirinaca 100. leagues 31. d. not farre off Gest and Rio de Plata◠to Chinca or Rio de Plobados 200. leagues 22. degrees to Arequippa 18. degrees 90. l. to Lima 12. degrees 140. leagues to Cape Anguilla 100. leagues Truxillo and other Ports are upon this coast Thence to Cape Bianco 40. leagues and 60. to Cape Helena 2. degrees thence to Guegemir 70. leagues the Cape Saint Laurenzo They finde it to be thence to Cape S. Augustine 1000. leagues thence to the River of Peru 100. leagues the way lyes by the Gulf S. Matthew the River S. James and S. John of Peru to the gulf S. Michael 70. leagues 6. degrees extending 50. leagues from thence to Panama 8. degrees 155. leagues the 17. of Novemb. de dios Perou of 1000. in breadth and 1200. in length Corrcalatron 4065. leagues from Panama to Teouentepée 650. leagues adding 70. leagues from the coast of Panama to the Point of Aguera From the Bruche 100. leagues from thence 100. to the Cape Bianco where the Port Heiradura and 100. to the Port of the possession of Niqueraga 12. degrees thence to the gulf Fonseca 15. to Cortega 20. to Rio grande 30. to the River of Guali-Mala 45. to Sitoula 50. joyning to the Lake of Cortes which is twenty five long and eight broad from this Lake to Porto Pourado 100. and 40. to Crantepee which runnes from North to South with the River Coasacalco in 13. degrees and there compleat the 650.
they were no sooner at the fountain but they perceived two hundred Savages making towards them and had they not by the perswasions of some cast up a bulwark the successe had proved worse with them The musquetteers playing on them the Sauages with terrour began to run having lost four or five of their men whereupon ours thought they had been freed of them but were amazed when they perceived them rallyed and advancing from another side came on with such fury that had it not been for good conduct ours had had the worst of it for our Musqueteers were so amazed they knew not how to give fire and for all ours could do they left seven or eight of our men behind them for with main strength they bore down our Barricado but by Gods assistance ours repulsed them so vigorously that some of theirs remained on the place and we were relieved very seasonably They had a resolution to fetch off their fellowes but seeing they could not retreated and left us in peace one that we preserved alive was quite amazed and made us good laughing with his mows and monkey faces He was stark naked round visaged and flat-nosed like a dog We asked in whom he believed he answered in Toquilla and Toupan that is the Sun and the thunder He was instructed in the Faith and afterwards baptized These people know not what tillage is and eat no bread but of a root they call Taquen whereof they make meal in Brasile they call it Caouin they dry it and grind it and boyling it with water make drink of it 't is in taste like sowr milk The root in the mouth is more sharp than unripe chesnuts They have a tree called Sarboul growing naturally in the woods bears fruit all the year 't is firm as a Meloun and looks like those golden apples which in Spain they call Berengenas A kind of flower they also make of fish as they do in Brasile drying it against the Sun 't is sharp and grates the throat of those that are not used to it Beasts they have abundance of all kinds which they call Pascous that is sheep They are great Fishers their boats of that straw they call Tortora and have likewise some of timber all of a piece like Canoes At their nuptials they use some Ceremonies their Priests put on them a kind of open shoes the Spaniard calls Aspargates the Indians Otrya They shooe them both with these shooes then change them and afterwards restore them to their Chaouris While a maid she is free to her pleasurc but married she is lyable to death if she transgresse They are neither avaricious nor ambitious saying as the earth was sufficient to feed their Fathers so 't wil them and 't is a folly to waste our shortned life with care the meanest is as good as the best amongst them The Spaniards who live in the Town of St. Domingo use them very harshly for which cause they call them Salbini that is Tyrants Abundance become Christians and the rest are most zealous adorers of the Sun and Thunder and offer a kind of Sacrifice to them CHAP. III. A violent Tempest The Isle of Cuba and Hispaniola The customes of the Inhabitants and their Kings FRom Domingo about 336. miles lies Nauasse in 17. degrees a very small but a good Island and neighbouring to it another called Jamaica in length 150. miles in breadth 40. These Islands are lyable to a wind the Indians call Vracans or Foracans most violent and dangerous to Saylors who do what is possible to avoid it and when they discover it rising rather then be surpriz'd at sea they lie in harbour two or three months together Betwixt these two Islands were we overtaken with one of these stormes which assaulted us with such fury as if all the Infernals had been broke loose for it bore away sailes and yards tore the cordage with other most prodigious effects it rose all in an instant and before we could think of it cast away a vessel of our Company laden with Souldiers going to relieve Truxillo infested by the English We saved divers of them by a bridge of planks cast into the Sea and fastened to the Ship with a strong cable The first time we saved twenty six men and a woman whose coats had kept her floating on the water But the second time we cast it forth when there were more upon it close by the Ship side the cable broke and all these poor people so near recovery perished and we had not strength to make another we were so num'd and strark with the cold this wind brings along with it so as 't was lamentable to behold these poor people perish for want of help and no assistance could be had from the other vessel being in the evening so driven from us that we could hear no more of it All the night we heard the sad cryes of people calling for help which we knew not how to give them and when day came we saw nothing either of ship or person Some of them died as soon as they got aboard our ship Amongst the rest they had a Capuchin Father worthy of record for his constancy and resolution who in the very sea exhorted them and called upon them to dye well and recommend themselves into the hands of God heard their confessions and gave them absolution and at last died amongst them encouraging and giving consolations to the very last This tempest consists not of a single wind but of all the four together which so incumber a vessel that it cannot stir neither forward nor backward The day brought us some comfort but we were still persecuted with the tempest and waves that flew upon us with such violence that at every blow we thought we should have perished as I believe we had had we not resolved to cast all over-board Then without further dispute or more words seven or eight of us taking a draught of wine a little to reinvigourate us in our extreme feeblenesse we betooke to cast our fraught over-board Cloth Tapestry Camlets Moccadoes Corrall Hunney Wines c. with such celerity that in an houre we cast more over-board then was laded in a day and t was happy we did so for immediately we perceiv'd the Vessell to be more lusty and I and my partners had the happinesse to see the goods we laded to beare our charges cast into the sea in the first place which as little troubled us as if they had been none of ours being satisfy'd with the fruition of our lives after all we were constrain'd to cut down the maine Mast one of the sayles was unfurl'd which made a strange noise and exceedingly annoy'd the Vessell wherefore the Captain commanded the saylers to go up and furle it but at that time he was ill heard and worse obey'd thereupon one who was more obedient and resolute then the rest undertook it as he mounted they called to him to encourage him but by that
relieve Grizalua but he returned without advancing further Cortez undertook the invasion with five hundred souldiers his Captains Auilla Porto Carrecco Orda Escalente Salsedo Olid Escouar Aluarada and others He gain'd the Kingdom with great toyle and industry defeated and took the King Montezuma afterwards being driven out by the Mexicans with a neighbouring people their enemies he returned and brought them absolutely under the yoke The Indians called him Malnixa as a God descended from heaven Amongst the Spaniards themselves he had great enemies as Garary Estrada Olid and Navez whom he routed and compleated his conquest The Emperour made him Marquesse del Valla. He was indued with all the qualities of a Spaniard vertuous and vitious He was bold valiant suddain in execution clear spirited subtle patient and resolute but ambitious out of measure cruell and libidinous He dyed in Spain at the age of 63. in the year 1546. He conquered in Mexica from 12. to 15. degrees The town of Mexica is in 19. degrees about the 8. of May and the 16. of July the Sun is perpendicular The countrey is temperate but rather hot then cold clothes there not being tedious or troublesome nor nakednesse importune or broyling The Mines are not so wealthy as in Peru but more profitable by reason of the lesse charge and danger Besides gold silver iron and brasse they bring from thence sugar cochenell cotton plumage honey wax balm amber salt medicinable drugges c. and few vessels return light which is not in Peru Spain being enriched as well from one as the other For though there is so much treasure to be exhausted yet there is not so much danger The faith hath made a farther progresse the countrey is better peopled the natives better ordered more regular better Markets of cattle horses sugars and meat wherein Peru cannot compare which doubtlesse would be better if it had more rain The natives wondring why the Spaniards were inquisitive of gold and silver at first they made them believe 't was to cure them of a pain at their heart whereto they were subject but in time they found it did hold them there indeed Cortez to bring these people in obedience to his King told them he was Emperour of all the Christians the greatest Lord on earth who had under him more Kingdomes and Provinces then other Kings had subjects That his government was founded on Justice and proceeded immediately from God that he was accomplished with all vertues and that the Monarchy of the whole Universe was by right his inheritance and other Spanish boasts and vanities Concerning the particulars of this great country besides what I have said already In the Province of Mechoacan there is an excellent root of the same name with the countrey by others called Jeheurais of the same vertue to purge as Rhubarb but more light and white and purges with lesse violence which is a great traffick in Spain where 't is worth three or four realls the pound and there almost nothing 'T is taken by the weight of a Crown pulveriz'd in an egge wine or broth I have seen greater effects of it then Rhubarb It may be kept four or five years or longer with care but there is such abundance they matter it not By information of the natives some of the Spaniards were cured of diseases by this root and so it became famous 'T is called Indian Rhubarb Amongst other trees in Mexico or the land of Caperous there is the famous tree of Muguey whereof they tell as many wonders and several uses as of the Eastern Cocos for it yields water wine vinegar oyle honey wax thread and needles so as this is sufficient to keep a man After drawing fresh water the fruit will be like sweet small nuts The water a little boyled becomes good wine more boyled like burnt wine which coagulate again excellent honey whereof they make Syrupes The first water set in the Sun makes good vinegar From the leaves issues sweet milk and out of the leaves you may draw thread strong enough to make cloth I brought with me two shirts of it and some of the fruit as perfect into Europe as it grew on the tree for the rind is very thick and that preserves it cloth made of this yarne will ever have some dark gray streaks in it About the leaves grow little prickles so strong and hard they use them for needles and sew with no other There are many who live on this tree alone which puts forth leaves upon leaves continually and in such abundance that the tree is covered over from the root to the top which makes it unshapely To make it pregnant they lay cindars to the root the wood is of such quality it endures twice as long in the fire as any other and when they will keep fire a long time they use a piece of this wood Balm comes from a tree something like a Pomegranate tree and it produces several sorts of several vertues The first is Opobalsamo excellent for wounds and the plague of gold colour like Ambar another sort is something white another sort is press'd out the leaves and sprigges burnt of such vertue 't will draw any iron out of the flesh I brought some into France wherewith I did most admirable cures of wounds and old ulcers which had eaten to the very bone In a word 't is most soveraigne for wounds paines in the sides contagions and holding a little in the mouth preserves from bad ayrs They much esteeme another tree called Cacao as the fruit is of great use and traffick which passes with them as money to buy all commodities The fruit is like an Almond a little lesse They are never without Cacoas in their pockets to buy what they want for alms or to eat and 't will keep a long time The Province of Guatima produces them in abundance where they make a precious drink of it that accordingly mixt cools or heats it makes good wine They make Cakes of it good for the stomack and ptisick 't is like an Almond tree the leaves a little broader and of a thicker body To make it prosper they plant another by the side of it 't is very tender and suffers equally by cold and heat This latter tree they call Cacaos mother because it preserves it from the injuries of the weather Whosoever hath this tree they esteem him happy and pious in opinion if he were not such their God would not have sent him this tree and when such a tree dyes they believe the Master hath committed some heinous crime In like manner they have their Coca in high esteem at Peru which being chewed and held in the mouth marvellously revives the spirit 'T is of very delicate taste whereof they make great traffick to Potossi Of the Gold and Silver Mines in Mexico I will speak jointly with those of Peru. CHAP. XI Of new Spain the Provinces thereof and of Peru. NEw Spain is the greatest
springs that condense to stone whereof they build their houses but the water drunk is mortall wherefore they stop up all high-wayes to it for it causes a present heavinesse and then they die immediately They have many other fountains hot and cold close together some whereof cure the French disease though never so confirmed by reason of the Sassaparilla that grows in them In Peru there is a sheam red as bloud for that called Rio Vermeio In Caramel they have another Fountain cures all feavers and purges like Rhubarb the water is brackish and salt at the first taste but afterwards one feels nothing but may drink his fill without dammage it drives through the body all that is malignant then passes clear I thought I should have vomited my bowels up but afterwards I found my self sound and cheerfull and cured of a Rhume in my teeth I had been troubled with for a long time I drunk three flagons a day and still it provoked me to drink more They come to it from all parts and for all diseases even for wounds And the place is made so necessary one may bath in it 'T is onely hurtfull to hot livers Round about it are tents of straw and beds of cotton and sheep-skins where you shall have all accomodation for a small matter and they will officiously fetch and furnish you with any thing you want amongst others they bring us a fowle called Magnota more delicate than a patridge another that is white and black and eats like a capon and abundance of turtles But of Lakes where is there any so admirable as that whereon the Towne of Mexica is seated whereof one part by reason of Salt-peter at the bottome is salt as the Sea the other by reason of the Rivers that fall into it fresh as any Fountaine each division being ten leagues in length and five in breadth and three dayes journey in circuite with a delightfull Mountain in the middle and a bath hot as that at Baleru In the middle of the Lake is the Charnell of green Tombs ever covered with herbs and flowers The Spaniards have laid most of the Town dry being before in the manner of Venice and have made conduits that convey water throughout the Towne and chiefly round the walls Out of avarice the new Conquerours admit not the Indians to fish on the Lake without license who now contrary to Articles enjoy not their ancient liberties neither in this nor other things There are three Causwayes lead to the Town of halfe a league long They account upon 4000. houses of Spaniards and thirty thousand Indians For Rivers you have there spacious Lakes or rather Seas as the Magdala in the Province of St. Martha called Rio grande then the Orenoque towards Castilia of gold and Venesuela The silver River in Brasile coming from Mountaines far remote from Peru above all the great Ozeilliana or Maragnon and Amasones which cuts through the South America from Chachaneyas and Quito through infinite Territories and Dominions to the Northern Sea This River comes from the Province of Araquixo or de los Quixos near to Popayan and thirty leagues from the South-Sea discovered first by Francisco Orellano a Spanish Captain sent thither by Gonzala Pizarra who had sought a long this River for the land of Canela and missing the wealth he sought for and finding the trees few in number and of small value not lighting on the Country of the Prince surnamed Dorado in 1562. he sent Orellano with fifty men to seek provision view the Countrey and attend his coming in an appointed place The Captain following the stream which still grew wider by the Rivers that every where augmented it going fifty leagues a day without oar or labour for a long while he discovered no habitations go up again he could not and by land there was nothing but woods and bushes after he had suffered plenty of hunger he met with severall people and of severall tongues and conditions some mild and courteous others fierce and savage pursuing his way without card compasse or guide by many Islands and populous Countryes amongst others of Amazons the female Archers of whom there are some Curtisans at Brasile not much discrepant from those Antiquity renowns in Asia who co-inhabit not with men and at certain times have Neighbours come over to them for procreation to whom again they transmit the Males and keep the Girles After a tedious Navigation and many turns and compasses for above seventeen hundred leagues upon this River he came to the confusion of it in the North Sea fourty leagues over following the Coast he arrived at Cubaga or the Isle of Pearles which is above four hundred leagues whence Orellano with 14. of his men being recruited came to S. Domingo afterwards made an ample relation to the Emperour where Ouiede took his instructions and inserted it in his History Meanwhile Pizarra expected and having suffered extream hunger seeing Orellanio came not he returned to Quito much troubled he found not the sought for Dorado a golden Prince indeed who wore no other garment but pulverized Gold lay'd on with gumme with which he goes dayly covered To conclude this is one of the greatest and longest rivers on the earth and washes more lands and people than any other Afterwards many other Spaniards sailed it as Salinas Orhia and others Adde hereto the great Lake or Ocean Guiana Parimi and Manoa in Countries discovered by the English Sir Walter Rawley in 1595 who equals it with the Caspian Sea that containes many Islands The capital Town is Manoa a Countrey rich in gold fruit and cattle North lies Castile of gold Paria and Caribana West new Andalousia and Peru South Omaga Pegu Picora Paguana East Tisnado Brasile c. Concerning beasts in America there are great numbers as well the naturall of the Countrey as Europian transported which are multiplyed exceedingly Amongst others in Mexico there is one the Spaniards call an Armadillo armed with scales like the Rhinocerot in shape like a little pig about the size of a Cat and lives in Burroughs like a Rabbet The Pacacou like a fox that preys on dead mens carcases and digs them up how deep soever I have seen of them in Asia and Africa where they call them Chicali There are the Birds called Conderos which the Chaca poyas of Peru adore these will carry away a sheep tear in pieces and eat him they are ash-coloured like a Sea-Crowâ— others again so minute they seeme rather Flyes or Gnats Another sort that is as 't were all feathers and none or little flesh and as they say never comes upon the earth Their feathers are of various colours in perfection beautifull when they rest they hang on a bough by the tayle clasped round it their plumes are worn and much esteemed In Marseills I saw one sold for 500. crowns in Portugall they come at 60. The Indians of these curious feathers make Pourtraicts as artificiall as
till the Spaniards time This is the richer and yields most At the first they drew forth every week above two thousand Weighs or Castillans whereof the gain came to forty thousand They fish for pearle in the South sea neare Paâ—ama and in the North sea in divers places as in the Isle Margareta towards the coast of Paria where the Oysters feed upon Cubuca and surname it so There are very large and precious of them I have seen one no bigger then a nut sold for three thousand duckets there are of higher price The Master of the South fishing assured me he saw one as bigge as an indifferent egge There were three brought to Lisbone that paid a duty of sixteen thousand duckets to the King as is to be seen in the Register of Contracts There is a sort they call stars another demi-stars others Cadenetas Pedreria c. Allofat or minute-pearls and seed-pearls and those of greater price Quilates or Carats For this fishing they choose the best winded men and such as can contain longest under water At Barlouento Cula and Hispaniola I have seen them stay three quarters of an hour under water and I was told they have had some have continued the whole houre The General of Margaita keeps many of these men who are slaves to him called Bouze and are ready enough to pilfer the best and sell them though 't is forbidden upon life to buy them The Master must use all fair means to get them out of their hands with something else otherwise they will sooner return them to the sea then let him have them if he give them not wine and good cheer The Incas make no use of pearls unwilling out of benignity to expose their subjects to so much danger but the Spaniards are nothing so scrupulous they make their poor slaves dive ten or twelve fathom deep to tear oysters from the rock and to fortify their lungs for retention of breath they keep them fasting and hold them to a diet One was brought to the King bigge as a Pidgeons egge valued at 14000. duckets by some at a hundred thousand and 't was called a Peregrina The Negro that extracted it from the oyster had his liberty for it and the Master was made Arguazilmaior of Parama For Emeraulds there is a Mine in Mexico at new Granado in Peru near Manta and Porto Vieio I bought an excellent one of an Abissin Merchant which surpassed in hardnesse and lustre any of Mexico and Peru Being in company with a friend he desired it of me and I gave it him but two dayes after I perceived it broken upon his finger whereat he much admired and I told him the reason which was he had had familiarity with a woman but he was ashamed to acknowledge it there being none but Idolaters which is a great basenesse Another time being in an Indian Town Inhabited by the Spaniards I had an Emerauld which a Lady daughter to the Lalcayde or Governour of the place desired to buy but on the morrow she sent for me complaining I had sold her a broken stone which I disavowed at last I asked her if her husband were in town and answering no I whispered to her smiling she had then been kinde to some friend whereat she stood amazed and in the end acknowledged the truth taking me to be skilled in divination The like happened another time to another friend of mine who acknowledged the like truth for such is the vertue of this stone if it be good and fine and of the old Mine There are very fair ones and of great price did not the plenty of them make them lesse esteemed I once saw one weighed four ounces sold for 6000. realls The Emerald incorporated within a rock is like the mettle contained and while 't is imperfect the rock will be vein'd with green and white and opening the rock the Emerauld lyes there imperfect of the colour of the rock green and white so as to have it come to maturity they leave it there till nature bring it to perfection and go digge another place for riper The Mexicans had a custome to peirce the nose and chin of their Idols to put Emeraulds in them one of their kings himselfe had his nose so bor'd and adorn'd with an Emerauld and from thence was surnam'd Nose-borâ—d CHAP. XIV Of Peru Of the Kings or Incas and of the Country of Chila PEru was first discovered by Vasco Munes de Balbon in the year 1515. and the first Haven knowne was Porto Vieio under the Equinoctial The Dominions of Peru under the Incas reached from Quito to Charcas 700. leagues then to Chila 500. leagues By tradition 't is about 500. yeares since the Natives of Peru living barbarously without civility law or policy some amongst them esteemed descended from heaven and a generation of the Sun civilized the rest and modelized the government The first King was called Maâ—ca Capac all his Progeny and successors Incas Kings as Manco Capac sole King This first instituted adoration of the Sun amongst them with their Temples and Sacrifices Their Priests or Sages are called Amantas who believe the immortality of the soule after death rest for the good and torment for the wicked with resurrection of bodies These Kings or Incas enacted good lawes and by degrees extended the Empire to the state the Spaniards found it in And like as the Roman Empire was as the hand of providence to reunite and sweeten the rude and savage on this side so in a manner the Monarchy of the Incas in Peru did the same amongst these grosse and wilde Idolaters living like bruites to modelize and regulate them and at last lead them to the knowledge of the true God as now it hath Notwithstanding 't is to be admired that in such darknesse and ignorance of all moral and and natural sciences their Amantas or Sages should have a sort of knowledge of the courses of the Sun and Moon and other stars for they knew in some kinde the annual motion of he Sun and the vulgar counted their yeares by the harvests They likewise understood the Solstices observing them of eight days in the East at Cusco and another number in the West they reckoned the moneths by Moons allowing twelve in the year adding though grossely the eleven dayes over-plus at the points of Solstice observed the Equinoctials whence in September they made the principal feast of the Sun The Equinoctial they found by the shadow of a pillar and the Eclipses in like manner during which time they think the Sun angry with them and the moon sick The king took the Rainbow for his Arms and device They kept all accounts by knots upon strings of various colours and they had some harmony of Musick in songs and Instruments of Canes fastened together four and four in the nature of Organs whereon they could expresse their passions of love content or sorrow They had also some
held the Spaniards in play with good order and military discipline they had learnt of one Lanearo an Indian sometime page to Valdiuia and afterwards revolted against him This Arauco is a small division in Chila not above ten leagues in length and seven broad upon the Sea-side and breeds the most warlike people of the Indies upon which account the Spaniards stiled it El estado in domito wherein are contained the vales of Ponco Purto Tucapol Angol Cauten c. and the Towns of the Conception and the Imperiall In 1599. the Arucans took and demolished the Town and Fort Valdiuia and others putting all the Spaniards to sword man woman and child and sacked and burnt all and had repossessed the rest of the Country had they not been repulsed This constant war with the Araucans gave occasion to the famous Poet Alonzo de Ercilla to make his Poem the Auracana where he describes the Countrey and their war with the Spaniard and begins with this vanity truely poetical and Romantick Spaniard-like No Las damas Amor no gentilezas Di cavalieros canto enamorados Ni las Maestras regales y ternezas De amorosos a feijos y cay dados Mas el valor los huecos las proesas De aquelles Espagnoles esbercadòs Que a la cermi de Arauco no do madae Pasieron duro y ago per la espada Here I observe a singularity amongst these people in election of their Chief or Captain Generall who is the man that can carry longest a great tree like a date tree upon his shoulders as one Canpolican who was chosen did for three dayes together without the least rest CHAP. XV. Of the streight of Magellan FRom Chila the next is the streight of Magellan of about 100. leagues in length and not much more in breadth or any waies which is not to be survey'd till you are well within the land The tides are strong and dangerous principally from the South sea by reason of the narrow entrance in the mouth and a multitude of rocks and mountains before the mouth of it which render the passage hard to find and being but a little out at sea one can perceive nothing of it so as you must go cast about with the cock-boat though otherwise you know the way and the true heighth which is about 52. degrees There is one very high Mountain hard upon the mouth called la campana being in form like a bell The shallowest place is fifteen or twenty fathoms and a very good bottom The South sea enters thirty leagues within amongst very high Mountains covered with snow the North sea enters it seventy leagues on the other side where they find bottoms in many places as on the contrary on the South side the depth is such no ship can ride at anchor On the North side there are expatiate plains and champians upon the firm land and divers Rivers that fall into this streight shaded with odoriferous trees which shews the goodnesse of the soyle It containes some Islands not to be ventured on without discretion The Inhabitants on the South side are exceeding little on the North of Gyants stature whom in Magellan they call Paragous for their great feet they clothe with skins of sheep and other beasts for the rigidnesse of the Climate These are a people without civility law or policy wandring up and down without any certain abode reposing in Cabins and no other arms than bow and arrows when we speak to them and they understand not the language they lift their eyes to heaven They live upon flesh dried in the Sun enemies to none but give themselves wholly to chase and fishing This Streight is vexed with forcible tides from both sides which like two Cells encounter with a most obstreperous fragour where the danger is great and chiefly in winter when the winds rage there with more violence for the Streight is never free from winds no not in summer divers vessels perish in crossing the Rocks which seem an Archipelagus of Islands both those on the South-sea-side and those which come from Lima. The immense depth on the South side renders the sea more navigable and on the North the length of the fall breaks the force of the waves so as there is no great danger but in the narrowest and in some places of not above a musket shot In the winter the Sea is higher than in Summer and the passage wider notwithstanding the sailing is nothing more secure by reason of the crosse winds and colds Some are of opinion that the Tides do not meet at the same time but as it flowes on one side it ebbs on the other by a locall remotion of the sea but they are deceived for 't is certain that the floud comes in and goes out on both sides at the same time like as the boyling of a pot rising from the center disperses to all parts and cooling ceases all together this hath been proved by experience that at the same time the floud came thirty leagues form the South and seventy from the North the Sea swelling from both parts as the Pilots observed following the course of the Moon the Tides augmenting or diminishing according to her state the Tide and Ebbe coming sooner or later by three quarters of an hour daily conformable to the course of that plannet The Spaniards call the high-tide at the new-moon Cabeza de aguas the tide at the full Aguas viuas the low tides in the wane Aguas muertas This so admirable motion of the Sea seems rather a combat or like the boiling of water in a pot over a fire then a locall remotion which neverthelesse I refer to Naturalists The streight begins Northward at the Cape of eleven thousand Virgins as Magellan called it and ends Southward at Cape Victoria in the middle stood the Towne and Fortresse of St. Philip which afterwards the Inhabitants perishing with hunger and cold was called the Port of Famine The first that passed this streight was Ferdinand Magallanes a Portuguese who had both heard and seen something of it in their cards 'T was in 1519. when he went to find a road to the Moluccas that way for Charles the fifth Afterwards one Pedro Sarmicates passed the streight from North to South from South to North few passe for the danger and difficulty to find the way Since that the famous Argonautes who went round the world by Sea as Sir Francis Drake in one thousand five hundred seventy nine Candish in one thousand five hundred eighty five Oliuier de Nort in one thousand five hundred ninety nine and of fresher memory Spilberg le Maire Hermita and others But le Maire in 1618. a little further in some fifty six or fifty seven degrees towards the South found the new Streight called by his own name much shorter and much easier than the other not being above eight leagues in length and the breadth wide and facile the Spaniards came thither afterwards and gave it the name
very beneficial to them and rejoyce much at the birth of a child especially a Male-child and the joy is general all crying out That is the Infant shall take revenge of their enemies They eat upon the ground or else on a sort of reeds wherewith they likewise cover their Cabbins they sleep commonly in the open ayre without the least inconvenience so sweet and temperate is their climate Letters nor characters they have none but are very ignorant Mandioc a root is their chiefest diet whereof they make flower and eat it without baking likewise boyled with water it makes them drink in taste like turned milke they make flower also of fish dryed in the Sun are great hunters and good archers Brasil or Araboutan is their principal traffick which both men and women go a long way for and bring it on their shoulders to truck for glasse toyes little knives and looking-glasses Brasil is a tree of more then ordinary height with small leaves and infructiferous many kindes of it yellow white and carnation They make their chaffer with Merchants without language setting their wood an end on one side and what they would buy on the other and so bargaining by signes every one takes away his own In some places they make drink of a root called Piroua which hath a sent that flyes into the head of those that are not used to it it refreshes like Tisan of Orange colour when 't is boyled Being at Caramel they feasted us exceedingly with the best dainties they had and on all occasions invited us to eat with them admiring our wayes and highly taken with our civilities amongst other things it seemed strange to them why we so oft took off our hats but informing them it was to do honour they were satisfied they invited us to marry there and live with them offering us their fairest women and much affected our manners and apparell At Feasts most commonly they make their designes of Warre upon their enemies for prisoners and presently joyning all together do reverence to the Sun promising the fairest prisoners for a sacrifice if he prosper them then choosing four of the best experienced amongst them they obey them without exception They march with certain Instruments that make a loud noyse like drummes and are stuck with abundance of feathers their Armes are Clubbes of Brasil which they call Sangal or Araboutan bowes longer then ordinary and arrowes without piles of wood so hard they are as effectuall as steel'd Thus equipag'd they will march fifteen or twenty leagues into the Mountaines to surprize their enemies whom they seldome take unprovided and there will they fight with a bloody obstinacy preferring death before captivity it being their satisfaction and glory to take their enemies alive and feast with their flesh Having taken any they bind them use them well marry them with their sisters or whom they will and let them live together till the day of sacrifice the evening before they acquaint them with it in a friendly way and the other accepts it with alacrity feasting and dancing all together The day come they lead him round the town or habitation and all the people follow him with joy and triumph the boyes shouting and jeering him who without dejection boasts his own feats and prowesse reproaches them that he has done as much for some of theirs and that his slaughter shall be revenged at full then reckons up all theirs that he and his party have eaten the other still singing and dancing regardlesse of what he sayes coming to the place of execution they unbind him and bid him before his death revenge himself the best he can then he with whatsoever comes to his hand falls on and layes at any one he can reach and sometimes wounds such as make not a timely evasion then come two with Clubbes and at a blow beat him to the ground presently they rip him take out his bowels and deliver the heart to their Caraibs or Priests to sacrifice to their Gods the Sun and thunder then washing the carcasse in warme water they cut it in pieces broyle it upon a wooden Gridiron never turning till it be fully enough on one side and then feast all together They assault their enemies in their habitations which are surrounded with a sort of pointed Palizadoes to gore the assaylants the others storme it in the weakest place and being robustious and strong backed ever strive to come to hand-fight The miserable wife of the prisoner makes most sad moan and specially if she be with child foreknowing they will do the like for her infant when it shall come to two or three years old a strange cruelty and so swallow their own bloud under pretence 't is the child of an enemy Savages though they are there appeares something of good natural reason in them which by instruction and addresse might be improved As when we reproach them with their nakednesse they retort that we are the stupid and unreasonable to conceale what God hath so liberally given us and have we nothing to doe with our money but to cast it away upon clothes things of no use being borne without them Another asked me one day why we Christians would hazard our lives in so long voyages if it were to see or possesse their countrey to which we had no right and saying 't was for neither but onely to fetch some things of gaine amongst them and what gaine said he a scurvy piece of wood and other things as little worth And telling him that wood was of value in our countrey and usefull to our livelyhood And how said he is your countrey so wretched it yields you not sufficient for life and sustenance I answered the countrey had a good sufficiency in it to maintain us but we desired to get wealth for the felicity of our selves and posterity And what sayes he will these riches advance you in Gods favour will they preserve from death or can you carry them with you and replying 't was for none of all this but that we took a felicity to leave it to our children Well said he if the soyle were sufficient to maintain you and your Fathers before you why should it not do the same for your children and posterity They alledge the same reason when we blame them for not cultivating their land saying since it kept their fathers 't will not faile to maintain them and their children So these silly people live free from all passion avarice ambition envie and labour of body or spirit If they get any thing that is good they call in their neighbours and make merry together with perfect friendship candor and freedome without quarrels or calumnies go freely to one another and eat what they finde with a good will They have a drink of the root Cavain which the Carmels call Piroa made thus they boyle the root with water and when they use it they stirre it together and drink it warm this
followers who provide them whatsoever they want Likewise are they vertuous people did they not want our true Religion There were some who instructed by the Jesuites yet continuing their belief embraced burning from the Mahometans for holding Mahomet was damned and Jesus Christ was God and born of the Virgin Mary One Ali a Merchant of Guzerate inhabitant of Amiadiva told me he saw at Bagdet fifteen Religious called the Deruis of the Sect of Ali burned for the like confession Some of this order I have seen wear rich girdles others with diamond pendants in their ears one at Pegu with two curious and costly Cassocks one of a Munkeys skin of divers colours the hair fine as silk the other given him by the King covered with a Tortoise shell but of a most splendid delicacy These Santons Joguies or Indian Anchorites lodge in the field in hollow trees seldom speak have some Disciples exceeding obedient to the least notice given them addict themselves to Magick and to recompense their austerities the Devil perswades them either to the precipice or to take a death from their disciples hands who afterwards interre them and build a Chappel over them as to a God Besides these the generall name of Religious in Pegu and Siam is Talapoyes CHAP. XXIX Of the Idols in Pegu bloudy Sacrifices Exorcisms strange Communions WE have mentioned before how the Rivers of the Country yield the King of Pegu a grand revenue in fine gold which he designs for embellishment of his Temples and Idols whereof they have abundance of such extravagant effigies as the Devil presents to their fancies They have excellent casters and sculptors that draw these apparitions to the life which generally are exceeding hideous and formidable for the Devil becomes visibly conversant with these poor wretches shewing them any thing they desire the more firmly to engage them to his service At the Princes Palace in the back Court there are abundance of these Idols all of pure gold with Crowns enriched with gems as I said before one amongst the rest of a prodigious heighth they call Apalita who assists pilgrims and travellers through the world whose Temple no man visits but with some present which is converted to the use of the Priests who ordinarily have wives and children Such as enter these Tambous and Gouias or places of adoration would think to have some miserable end before they returned home if they brought not some offering with them so as he that hath but a leather to cover his pudenda will take it off to offer to the Idol others will present little bels of silver and gold which they hang at their genitories in little rings drawn through the flesh which they do to be the better esteemed of women testifying herein that they delight in no other sex but theirs Some there are so superstitiously devout that they will cut themselves to immolate the bloud to their Idol 'T is something probable that the Turks who so scarifie their bodies for devotion learnt it of the Indians because the Alcoran contains no such precept The Priests confirm them vigorously in this Idolatry and some there have been who meeting poor Portuguese Merchants and travellers ignorant of their custom passing by their Temple have cruelly cut their throats and sacrificed them to their Apalita But the Jesuites complaining to the King and shewing him the horrour and indignity of such an execration he sentenced to death 70. of these abominable Priests and the sentence had passed further even to their wives and children but for the mediation of the Fathers Notwithstanding their devotion the people looked upon this execution patiently and without the least commotion for the affection they bear their Prince Likewise through the supplications of those Fathers they were freed from a pestilentiall disease then reign'd amongst rhem Some amongst these Priests use holy ashes and holy water also They are the ashes of things sacrificed to the Idols and amongst the rest of such as have made themselves voluntary sacrifices There is another Idol of silver in the proportion of a Gyant who as an Oracle makes answer to demands foretells things to come but with a thousand lyes and abuses They believe this Pagode assists them in their wars and as their Mars renders them victorious They coin money in honour of him and stamp his name upon it But he is not alwaies effectuall in his assistance for at the time they sacrificed the poor Portuguese I told you of the Inhabitants of Goa and Malacca for revenge mann'd eight Gallions and some Carvells put in at one of their Towns which they took possession of thence advanced to another which they pillaged burnt the Temples and Idols with all the Priests their wives and children 'T was at the time the King of Pegu was gone to the Conquest of Siam so as the Portuguese alarm'd the whole Countrey and had Don Alouse d' Aquila who commanded the Foot arrived in time they had easily carried the Town of Pegu it self taken the Kings treasure with the Idols rich in gold silver and precious stones which had been a wealth inestimable They put abundance to the sword and carried away numbers of prisoners But at the Kings return the Jesuites reconciled the difference betwixt them at which time 't was accorded that at new Pegu in honour of the Conception of the blessed Virgin a Church should be built at the Kings charges which in these parts is no novelty where from time out of memory as I said they have had an image in honour of the Virgin with her infant illustrated with three lamps and the Temple of God where this image was reverenced was served with divers sorts of Priests The King of Pegu this while was much incensed for the affront the violence and indiscretion of these Priests had brought upon him and conceived a hope that the very Idols would take some revenge for the injuries they had suffered from the Franques Ramatas so they call the Portuguese but he was perplexed when instead thereof he observed them persever prosperous daily overturning more Idols as they had amongst others burnt the famous Apes tooth adored in Zelan which he would have purchased at the rate of so many thousand crowns as I said before Another Idoll they have called Fotoque as likewise in Japan and China of the same stature as the other but of different matter of lead and brasse mixt such as their money is made of They tell us this Idol with his intercession inclines their Duma and obtains grace for all in particular for soules condemned to black and dark places The Palpas are obliged to sacrifice to him every Saturday a black swine and three pullets of the same colour Poultry in this Country contrary to the ordinary have their flesh black which they call Fare and makes the pottage black neverthelesse very savoury All the Sacrifices passe into the Priests bellies for
they burn nothing but the liver with aromatick odours and pulverizing the bones mix it with their holy waters When they would have any sacrifices brought to their Idol they go about the Town ringing a Bell made like a Still and say this is to supplicate for some of their friends who are tormented in the black shades for as to those which immitted into other bodies as of oxen or cows there to be kept till the day of judgement they hold them well quartered and to have no need of prayers For this cause the Peguans had a custome to eat none of these sorts of flesh as in Malabar and other places but since such time as their Duma in a vision gave precept to one of their Chaouris to use all living beasts indifferently and that a soule condemned to the body of one beast when that dyed passed into the body of another they have made no further difficulty to eat it For such beasts they have a reverence and bow to them as they would salute a friend They have a sort of small Asses that come from the Province of Beluacarin almost all red and black or black and white which they hunt and take with hayes like Conies and being brought to hand serve for many uses but are of low price by reason they hold soules never enter them their flesh is so faint and disagreeable we met with heards of them in the Champian which appeared to be tame suffering one to come so near as to lay hand on their neck when on a suddain they sprung away like Munkeys and returned about a quarter of an hour after They are not so courtly to them as to other beasts for the opinion the Priests have put in them and as we in derision would salute them they would reprove us and tell us their great Duma had commanded Fotoque to curse the generation of Asses and the soules that should take up habitation in them They have likewise many other Gods as that they call the god of atomes in the Sun and others Hell they call the dark cavern of the house of smoak where a horrible Serpent devoures soules and whence one of their gods frees them by his power In a word 't is stupendous to consider the number of gods and Idols in their severall temples their Monasteries Priests Monks Hermits Sects Sacrifices c. Their belief likewise of the Creation of the world is strange and of the sin of the first man all disfigured with a thousand fables For in the year 1557. a Cordelier one Bonfer a Frenchman being at Goa moved with a pious vocation went to preach the Gospel in these parts and going to San Thomas and thence by Sea to Port Cosmin and Pegu did what could be done by Sermon to impresse the faith in these people but with small effect they were so hardned so as after some sufferings he was constrained to return from whence he went He learnt that 't is held the Peguans descended originally from certain Jews sometimes banished and by Salomon condemned to work in the mines of Ophir that they believed an infinity of successive worlds to all eternity innumerable gods receding respectively to the diverse worlds and lyable to death at last That men having passed thorough all sorts of animalls at last became Gods and that these Soules after many ages being purified in certain appointed places and having returned diverse times into these new worlds at last were placed some in Paradise others in Hell and some reduced to Niban that is nothing and a thousand other dreams After this Cordelier came the Jesuites with better successe by means of some signal services they did them in certain popular maladies they were infected with As amongst others Father Andrew of the society at the time that an epidemical pestilence destroyed innumerable people in Pegu a Christian Townsman came and besought his intercession for his family that was wholly infected and the Father demanding wherefore he had not caused his wife and children to be baptized he answered he had such a real intention but that their Pagode had prohibited him and that his wife would not permit it but threatned if he forced Baptisme upon her or hers she would publish his obsequies according to custom and marry another which excuse the Father took for some satisfaction and at his supplications the people were cured Whereupon many more repaired to him for the same cause but he would not grant them any such assistances but upon engagement to receive Baptisme which their Priests vigorously sought to hinder telling them 't were better to dy of that malady then be damned by the cure of Baptisme These Indians amongst other superstitions which they have derived by corruption from Christianisme they have one exceeding remarkable which is that once a year they make a solemn communion Having immolated a white sheep and mingled the blood with meal they call Agricar on the day of the great feast of Duma they give it to the whole congregation in form of a heart with exhortations and remonstrance that this which they take is the blood of their God and upon that day strangers are not admitted to celebrate the solemnity but on the morrow they are received and before they communicate a Sermon is made to excite them to devotion telling them their God receives them into his alliance embraces them as his children to whom he gives his grace by meanes of the blood they have taken Behold how they transform and prophane what they have been heretofore taught of the Mystery of the Paschal lamb and the Eucharist In Mexica and Peru they have likewise confession and Communion after their manner But they have another sort of sacrifice yet more strange that is they buy a slave of a high price of thirty yeares age beautiful sound and jolly and having washed him in a lake or other water three mornings by the rising of the Sun they cloath him in a white gown keep him fourty dayes and shew him to the people telling them this is the innocent that must be sacrificed for the sins of the people Then every one brings presents to him and with humility beseeches him to remember them when he shall come before the great God All this while they take a heedful care he escape not giving him good cheer and Areca Every morning for the fourty dayes when they shew him they beat a kind of Pan and melodiously play on flutes doleful and pathetical straines to excite devotion in which conset every one beares a part that he may be mindful of them Thirty dayes expired the ten Priests called Gaica persons of veneration and antiquity habited like the Victim come to advertise him that within ten days he goes to inhabit with the great God and observe diligently if his countenance change at the sound of death and take it for an ominous augury if he shew the least fear For which cause on
effect carrying them on our backs through the boysterous waves we got them safe to shore for which afterwards they vouchsafed us not so much as thanks At Messina I understood the Sieur de Mantis was with his Gallion at Saragossa being dispersed from his Admirall and seven or eight more that put to sea together at Marseills and lighting upon Sanson the famous Pirat with his six ships they maintained a long fight at length the S. Katharine torn with the Cannon sunk and had it not been for Monsieur de l'Isle Captain of the Admiral things had gone worse but night parted them De Mantis his ship repaired intended to put to sea to seek his company but there was news brought that Sanson with six tall ships waited his coming forth within Cannon shot of the Haven mouth Notwithstanding the oddes de Mantis resolved to fight him single 'T was the admiration of all that saw him hoyse sayle looking on him as a frantick man leading two or three hundred men to the Butchery but this censure was changed into applause when they beheld him environed with six Turkish ships whose Cannons made the sea seem on fire of which engagement he cleared himself and restored them a bloody requitall His vessel endured seven hundred Cannon shot he lost twelve men and the Turks above three hundred besides what wounded Thus victorious he returned to Saragossa where he was saluted with Cannon from all the Forts and received into the town with an eminent honour and endearments for his boldnesse to attack these six men of war well mann'd and commanded by an English Renegado the most daring and desperate Pirate on the sea who on the other side incensed with his disgrace new mann'd his vessels and reinforced them with two Gallies and three hundred Muskettiers The Grand Master de Vignacourt had intelligence of it and de Mantis arriving at Malta with his torne vessel he repaired it and at the same time the ships of Marseills coming from Suria put in there Sanson having put to sea rode in sight of Cape Passaro whereof the Grand Master gave notice to the Marsellian vessels laden with Merchandises Mantis with his Admirall design'd to fall upon the Pirats whereupon I had some doubt if I were best go from Malta to Sicily for 't was ten dayes since I had my dispatches from the grand Master who amongst other things had given me order to procure him three Gallies built with all possible expedition I was loth to imbark with de Mantis for the hazard he was engag'd in though of favour he promised me civill usage and I employed my best art with the Master of a ship to carry me to Ligorne and thence to Marseilles promising to load him with Gally timber for Sicily so as he resolved accordingly and that we might passe unperceived of the Turks we set not saile till towards the approach of night The grand Master being advertised of our intention sent the Galley de la Religion to call us in again to my extream vexation having attended so long for a passage But after I with my goods was set a ashore the Master had liberty to go whither he pleased The grand Master blam'd me exceedingly for that the Turks lay then in the Channell which was true and in effect the vessel was taken next day so as I had the better luck to escape Mean while the Gallion of Malta was making ready to execute the Kings command and within fifteen dayes 't was ready to be brought to the key where de Mantis with the Marseillian vessels staid for it to put out together for the coast of France at the same time the Gallies of Malta were departing for Sicily and de Mantis being in the Kings ship where he commanded for his Majesty saluted them not as they passed by whereat the Knights were much incensed looking upon it as a point of honour advertising the grand Master that he ought to fire all the Fort artillery upon him and sink him But the prudent Lord managed the affaire with more moderation and three dayes after the Galley being made ready to launch and being brought to the key they asked de Montis who lay before the Palace if he would salute the Galley of Malta when it came to the key and answering resolutely no there passed tart words from both sides with menaces they would make him do it per-force but he persisted that he would lose his life first and that he had no such Commission and when they demanded to see his Commission he refused it in plaine termes But the grand Master desirous to accommodate all this found out this expedient 'T is an order of Malta when the grand Master comes upon the shore all the vessels in the Haven salute him with three volleyes of Cannon now he gave order that about seven next morning the Gallion should fall down to the key at which time he exactly contrived to appear upon the shore under pretence of going that way to Masse at a sumptuous Church he had built with a faire fountaine before it that cast up waters a Pike high His coming was no sooner discovered but all the vessels prepared with haste to salute him and de Mantis the foremost as a thing not to be deny'd gave him all his Cannon as well of his own vessel as of the Admiralls commanded by the Sieur d'Isle and at the instant all the other vessels did the like so as nothing was to be seen but smoak and fire At that very point the Gallion with her blazing Standart a S. John upon her poop enter'd the mouth of the Haven and thought this discharge of Ordnance was a salute for her who returned them the like with her roaring Ordnance and thus by the prudence of the great Master the difference was composed All this while Sanson lay at sea waiting for de Mantis but having intelligence that the Gallion was of the company he was better advised and knowing himself too weak to close with us hoysed sayle and went his way leaving a Galley to round us and view our equipage which came one morn before the Gallion and made a turn in the head of the whole Fleet the Gallion gave him two culverins and de Mantis one and with this salute they parted and we came safe to Marseills The Authours Voyage to Guinea BEing at Sevill for traffick of stones and pearles I met with some Marseillians who had bought of the English a vessel at a good penny-worth they had taken at sea they invited me into their company and from Sevill being bound for Cadiz by that we got some sixteen leagues at sea they had so prevailed with me that for trade I was resolved to joyn with them whose design was for the white Cape by others called the Cape of fishing to load themselves with fish which there they have for taking there being such abundance that but for salting they might lade many vessels in a days space within ten
days we came to Cape Nona where we took in fresh water and seven dayes after we arrived at the white Cape a main shelter in the winter season where the fish lye so thick the ship brushes and rubbes upon them as 't were sayling through a shelf of sand There we found two vessels a Fleming and a Marseillian the Master whereof was John Baptista le vust called Servat who for his Merchant employed Aurigues the 15. of November we were upon a River of Guinea called Senega I ever carried with me a little memorial or diurnall where I set down all the curiosities I met with for which purpose I informed my self of the scituation of the countrey the quality of the Prince and government of which I will make a brief relation Guinea on the West is bounded with the River Senega which ingulfs into the Ocean at sixteen degrees to the North and the borders of Angela are at thirteen Guinea is divided into the high and the low the high Guinea inclines to the North the lower lyes along the Senega which they call Jeni and reaches to the kingdome Manicongo that begins at the first degree of the Line Upon the coast of Cape Verde are many Islands of one appellation the principal is of S. James in the hands of the Portuguese since the year 1446. where they have a well-fortified town and a Bishoprick stil'd Civitad an Island of 60. miles in length and 36. in breadth a mountanous country where they have never rain but in September and October which comprehend their winter The valleyes are fertile and afford excellent Melons the year round Dates and Sugar-canes in abundance flesh of all sorts Fowle and Venison with beards of horses and special good 'T is inhabited as that of S. Thomas by a conflux of all nations and the ayre being unwholesome they transport their infirm to an Island two leagues distant called Praya under a fine climate the ayr healthful and a commodious Haven betwixt two fair Rivers which compose two gulphs for harbours one whereof is capable to containe many vessels in security having before the mouth of it a little Island which guards it from the Maritime gusts and the land lying high defends it from windes by shore The other Islanders affect to land at this Port for that the rest are pester'd with sands and chiefly Borlouento and S. Thomas where there is ever some vessel cast away This Isle lyes close upon the Isle of Mago otherwise called Barlouento and near to Bona Vista Saint Nicholas Saint Anthony Saint Vincent Saint Lucie and Fell Islands plentifull of Cattle and Venison the inhabitants applying themselves onely to the chase powdering the flesh to sell to strangers as the skinnes likewise A little Eastward lyes the Isle del Fuego where they get as good wine as in the Canaries next is the Isle of Braua full of Venison and wilde Beeves whereof the Hydes are much sought after as being thick and tough But to Guinea the kingdome of the Jalofes is the first which beginnes Northward at the River Senega hath the Ocean on the West the Jalofes called Fonlogageias on the East and the kingdom of Barbessin on the South 't is above a hundred and fifty leagues in length of several commodities there is abundance as gold and silver which the natives conceale with all care from strangeers though in dealing with them 't is plain they have store for that by whiles they produce some unfined Taboucaton is their chief town They are Blacks but of good shape the women comely round-faced with eyes lively and attractive The men are martial dextrous in throwing a Javelin which they will throw with as exact arm as we shoot with our Gunnes They ride on good horses clothe as the African in short breeches a large Harnus like a sheet of wollen covers them from head to foot shod with Date-tree Sandals Vpon the coast they have the good and well-fortified Haven Beziguche whose entrance is skreen'd with a fair Island much frequented with strangers trading for the Indies Here are many Portuguese setled amongst them some married others who think of nothing but to heap up gold living something after the Barbarian Many of the Blacks go naked painted with dissolved gold their bodies carved and drawn with a various tincture as azure red and yellow which hold their life-time There are amongst them maids adorned in the same manner with great pendants in their ears and their lips pierced like the Brasilians they are generally libidinous and given over to luxury They who are thus engraved and inlay'd with paints or juyce of hearbs most commonly do it for want and this curiosiry is their attire Throughout the coast we find abundance of leather wax gold silver ivory and Amber-gris which is the reason the English Hollanders and Flemings visit them so oft The Jalofes are easie of belief and inclined to Christianity when they behold the Moon they make strong ejulations with sorts of adoration They adore yet some other Idols which neverthelesse fixe not their faith the Mahometans on one side who impugne them with their law on the other the Portuguese preaching ours and their own Priests charming them with their delusions and Idolatries They make their sacrifices in the woods making large hollow trees their Temples where they keep many Idols to which they sacrifice pulse Mill Rice and the blood of beasts whose flesh they eat The countrey of Bracala confines upon the rapide River of Gambra which in the mouth is five good leagues over ships cannot enter it without a direct wind with which they may advance three hundred leagues within the Countrey This River cuts the great kingdome of Mandinga in the middle peopled with Blacks Idolaters and abundance of Sorcerers wicked treacherous and base people When they hold a counsel t is in a cavern under ground to secure them from the prying of strangers They have store of Brasil wood as good as they of America and upon the river many townes and villages where they mantain many vessels of Warre to encounter with any whatsoever but upon advantage This countrey ends Southward at the Cape of S. Mary 30. leagues from the river Chougala by the Portuguese called S. Dominick There are two nations of the same quality the Barbachins called Ariates and Falupes who trade in nothing but fish and cattel They have an excellent way to take the sea-oxe the skins whereof they make great use of They apply themselves to till the soyle and get Mill Rice Pulse and other graine Out of this countrey comes the River Casamanca bounded Northward with the Jabundos on the South with the people of Bemum who on the East have the Casangas Of late yeares the Portuguese have discovered a way by an Arme of the Sea to Casangas and for this purpose have erected a good Fort upon the cheek of it called S. Philips This kingdome reaches Northward to Jaren and together do homage to the Sultanship