a Visit with all his Pomp to our Deputy-President still at Swally though the Europe Ships were gone others from the South-Seas being expected Thus repassing the River after this Great Man in order to repair aboard Ship I beheld whole Droves of all Sexes and Ages coming to wash in the River which is done twice a day and the Finest Dames of the Gentues disdained not to carry Water on their heads with sometimes two or three Earthen Pots over one another for Houshold service the like do all the Women of the Gentiles On this side the Water are People of another Off-spring than those we have yet mentioned The Parseys these be called Parseys who were made free Denizens by the Indians before the Moors were Masters and have continued to Inhabit where they first set Footing not being known above Forty Miles along the Sea-coast nor above Twenty Mile Inland It is likely these upon the overflow of the Scythians and their Irruption into Persia were driven from thence as Fugitives to seek fresh Habitations which those furnished with Boats from the Persian Gulf might easily escape thither where they complying with some Propositions as not to Kill any Beasts or living Creatures and Conform to many of the Gentue Ceremonies were Entertained and allowed to live among them Since the Moors have Subdued the Country they think themselves not obliged by the former Capitulation they Feeding on both Fish and Flesh and for that reason were in hopes of exemption from the present Poll pretending their Law agreeable to the Moors but that would not free them from the Tax These drink Wine and are of the Race of the Ancient Persians They Worship the Sun Worship the Sun and keep at Nunsarry a Delubrium where is always a Fire first kindled by the Sun kept alive as the Holy Vestal Nuns were wont they Adore all the Elements and if at any time they go a Voyage will not exonerate in the Sea or on the Water but have Jarrs on purpose if their Houses be on fire they quench them not with Water rather chusing to load them with Dust or Sand. These Bury not their Dead They expose their Dead to Ravenous Fowls but expose them in round Tombs made on purpose open on top and walled high around in distinct Apartitions to the Vultures and ravenous Fowls to Entomb them and to that end in the middle of this Enclosure is a Well for the Filth to drain away the next of Kin after the Body is put in Watch aloof to know what Part these Birds of Prey lay hold on and from thence make their report of the future Bliss or ill State of the Deceased These are somewhat Whiter Their manner of Living and I think Nastier than the Gentues and Live as they do all of a Family together as if the Father be Living then all the Sons that are Married and Men grown with their Wives and Children house it with the Father and have a Portion of his Stock if he die or be absent the Eldest Brother has the Respect of the Father shewn and so successively they all Rising up at his Appearance and Sit not till he be Seated These are rather Husbandmen than Merchants not caring to stir abroad they supply the Marine with Carts drawn by Oxen the Ships with Wood and Water the latter of which is excellent drawn out of a Well at old Swally where and at others the Women put me in mind of Jacob's Well and the Custom of old for them to draw Water which though here it is fetch'd up by Oxen yet elsewhere the Women draw in Jarrs or Earthen Pots The Moors have it brought on Buffola's Backs or else on Oxen which here also they use as all over India instead of Pack-horses their greatest Caphala's consisting of them Horses being only for War or Pleasure and the best of them Foreigners and of great Prices so that 300 l. is but an easy Rate for a good Persian or Arab. Here are brought up large gallant Milk-White Oxen with Circling Horns Large Milk-White Oxen. artificially Modelled in Cases which they Tip with Silver Gold or Brass and make them shine like Jet putting a Rope through their Nostrils and an Headstal on them of London Cloath surrounding their Necks with Collars for Bells Feeding them delicately as their Horses and one of these fitted for a Coach will Sell for 30 or 40 l. The other Oxen are Little but all have a Bunch on their Neck and how they become Oxen is on this manner Their Religion not allowing them to Castrate them they Bruise their Testicles not Geld them by Cutting them off when Young which answers the intention as fully as the other This kind of restraint upon Nature is exercised on no Brutes but these they never offering to deprive their Horses of their Stones or Tails which they alway suffer to grow a Bobtailed Nag or Gelding being as rare here as a Crop-eared Horse which never was seen A Buffola is of a Dun Colour A Buffola and are all as big as their largest Oxen they love to wallow in the Mire like an Hog there are of them Wild which are very Fierce and Mischievous Trampling a Man to Death or Moiling him to Pieces with their Foreheads their Horns are carelesly turned with Knobs around being usually so ordered or rather disordered for they retain no certain Form that they lie too much over their Heads to do any harm with them Their Flesh is reckon'd Hotter and Courser than Beef which is the most common Sustinence of the Moors as their Milk and boiled Butter is of the Gentues for did they not boil their Butter it would be Rank but after it has passed the Fire they keep it in Duppers the year round On which Dr. N. G. in his Account of the Rarities of the Royal Society has sufficiently enlarged Here in the Marshes are brought up great store of Cattle of all sorts The Marshes breed Cattle and though there lie store of Aligators to and again they are seldome known to Prey either on them or their Young so that what stir they make of Charming them is but a pious Fraud of the Brachmins they being a lazy sort of Amphibious Creature feeding on Grass as well as Fish and I question whether ever their Appetite stand towards Flesh The Mutton here is not much inferior to the Mutton of England for the Pallat though as to its Wool there is no compare Cows Butter sometimes will be hard in the Cold Season and look yellow but they arrive not to the making of Cheese unless it be soft Cheese which pickled our Seamen keep a good while as they do their Achars Here grow Carrots The Growth of this Place Turnips Rhadishes Cabbage rarely though Coleworts frequently Melons of all sorts and Betes Wheat as good as the world affords Rice Barley Millet and Nuchanny Pease and Beans Oyl-Trees and Rape for Lamp Oyl only Wax-Candles for the Rich by
Water-courses make the whole Design of the Perspective in which promiscuously are included Philberts Hasle-nuts Pistachias Sweet Almonds Cherries of both sorts Peach Apricot Prunello's Figs Prunes Grannet Chestnut Nectorines Quince and all those we call Wall-Fruit without any Assistance Oranges and Limes begin to flag here rejoycing more where Cold is less felt for though it is very Hot now it has a short but severe Winter for which cause Roses Lillies and Jassemin are Shaded under all these to defend them from each Extreme and below these the Violet and Primrose with what exalt not their Heads above the Grass In the midst of all a Banquetting-House or House of Pleasure with this Conveniency that which side so-ever we cast our Eyes most grateful Greens refresh our Prospect and cooling Springs feed spouting Fountains till they unite in a full Sea and thence are diverted into pleasant Streams both for Diversion and benefit of the Place Here is beheld the Trembling Poplar the Tall Sicamore and the Humble Elm contrary to what we see in Europe the Pine and Ash are Natives of this Soil by the diligence of the Skilful Planters but out of these Enclosures no Woods nor Thickets of any of these accost us The Nightingal The Nightingal the sweet Harbinger of the Light is a constant Chearer of these Groves Charming with its Warbling Strains the heaviest Soul into a pleasing Extasy We return'd back to the City Lighted by Torches and Flambeaus over a noble Bridge from whence the Street enlarges gracefully a good length till we were received into straiter Allies the rest of the Streets being mostly such or else covered Buzzars this Bridge serves only to pass over when the sudden Showers and Water falling from the Mountains raise a Flood at other times it being dry under it here being no River though Water is not lacking every where there flowing plentifully in Rills or Brooks taking their source from the Mountains with which it is invested on every part except the South-side which lies plain and open a great way These Mountains The Vineyards as well as Vallies are stocked with Vineyards being disposed to bear good Grapes out of which they press their Wine and from the Wine-fat set it to Work in great Earthen Jars from which it is drawn off into Flasks and so packed up in Chests In this place only these Glasses Glass only made here and some course Drinking Glasses are made as also rose-Rose-Water Bottles the best Water whereof is Distilled here they likewise rectify Spirit of Wine very well Moreover this City has the noted'st Coppersmiths in all Persia It has neither Fortification nor Walls No Fortification neither Ditch nor Mounds nor other Guard save its own Soldiers which are the only Bulworks The Chief Magistrate was the Caun Governor of the City and all the Province but he poor Man lately by the King's Tyranny is Deposed and cast into Prison laden with Irons as a Capital Offender for no other reason but that of abounding with unheard of Treasures all that he could not convey away the King Seized and in his room has Nominated the Steward of the King's Houshold's Brother who is Chief Favourite at Court as Delegate for the time being but not wholly Deprived the Caun giving him hopes of Release provided he confess his Wealth and consign it for the use of his Master Some say the King took occasion to quarrel with him for neglecting to send his Annual Tribute of Limes to the Haram The Caun Imprisoned he expecting to be served first with the Product of every Province for the Expence of his House by the Governors thereof before any other which as it appears reasonable it is unlikely the Caun would have been defective in that point but it is an easy thing to find a Staff to Beat a Dog Facile est invenire baculum Canem ut caedas By which single Instance it is visible how it fares where Arbitrary Power bears sway and how Monarchy is defaced when it takes upon it to be Circumscribed by no Sanction and what a Monster it looks like when all Laws are swallowed in the Absolute Authority of Dispensing with them by which means the Godlike Government becomes an insupportable Thraldom In all the Cities of Persia The Kindred of Mahomet Disturbers of their Societies as well as this there are abundance of the Jewish Nation known only at Lhor where the Caun is an Hodge by the upper Garment marked with a Patch of Cloth of different Colour Banyans also and Armenian Christians with Europe Roman Catholicks driving a Trade and exercising the Superstitions of their several Religions with freedom being disturbed by none unless sometimes by the Bigotted Kindred of Mahomet who presume on that account knowing the Reverence every where paid to that Impostor very often on open and extravagant Injustice setting poor People at Work and never satisfying them entitling themselves Lords Paramount and all others by a servile Tie of Conscience to be their Slaves which sort of People though Cursed by all must be appeased or else all will be in a flame Which sort of Behaviour of theirs has wrought the most understanding among the Persians to a Diffidence of that Doctrine with its Author they so mightily preach up yet practise so little The Houses of Siras are Built with Brick Their Houses not Red but better Hardned than they are I mean theirs of the Better sort not of the Common People they agreeing with the rest elsewhere mostly being composed of Mud and Clay Pipes or Conduits for Ventilation are not so requisite here as in other parts and therefore not so universal as in the Sandy Countries here they are more Expensive on the Beautiful Adorning the Porches and Gatehouses leading to their Houses taking care to Enclose them with huge high Walls so that they are hid from the Streets to which they are admitted by double Gates over which are Folding Doors opening into Balconies Their Publick places of Worship are illustrated with Mosaick Work Their Temples Painted and Glazed Slates grace the outward Case artificially disposed into Convex Towers representing the bending Heaven about them Panes of Glass for the more solemn Light are fetched from Venice Tinctured with divers Colours the Portuco's and lower Walks shine with polished Marble supported by substantial Pillars of the same The Midan The Caun's Palace or open space before the Caun's Palace is an Oblong and Stately Piatzo with real not belied Cloisters Taking our leave of this City We take our leave at the Armenians Burying-Place we were ushered out as we came in the Armenians compelling us to take a Treat in their Garden appropriated for the Burying of their Dead where were many Neat Tombs but the Oddest because New was one beset with Young Cypress Trees and Trimmed to that advantage that they stood like deep Mourners Clad with Sable Green pretty Attendants by their Tapering Figure to so
Earth to be heaped on the Mouth of his Cave whereon was to be sown a certain Grain which ears in Nine Days which accordingly being done eared before his being taken thence I saw him presently after his Resurrection in great State raised on a Throne under a Canopy before which was a Fire made in the Pit he had been where he put his Hands being anointed with Oyl untouch'd by the Flames Which whether this may discover the Cheat of both this and the other that such an Unction may be to resist Fire Naturalists have not agreed in and therefore I judge this rather a Delusion I having not been present at this Experiment But that this is none I am assured That the Banyans gave him Divine Honours and saluted him prostrate offering before him Rice and throwing Incense into the Fire He had a Red Trident in his hand and is enrolled one of the Heroes or Demi-Gods in their Superstitious Kalender From this place of Pulparra to Surat a Row of Trees on each hand shade the way it being constantly filled with all sorts of people either for Worship or Pleasure The only thing of Grandeur extant of the Devotion of the Ancient Heathens A great Tank is a great Tank without the Walls of Surat a Mile in Circumference walled all about with descending Stone Steps In the middle an High Place of the Heathens Many sumptuous Mausoleums are erected near its Brink with Aqueducts to convey Water with which were it filled the best Ship that swims in the Sea might ride in it It looks now more like a Circus or Gymnaseum able enough to contain as many as such Spectacles would delight In their great Solemnities it is usual for them to set it around with Lamps to the Number of two or three Lecgues which is so many Hundred thousand in our Account The Citizens by the King's Favour have good store of Gardens neighbouring Surat Gardens the biggest of all is the Queen's though some Private Men have neater where we often go to take the Air and feast in pleasant Choultries or Summer-Houses spread after the Moors manner with Carpets refreshed with various Figures of the Rising Water out of several Spouts from square Tanks Pargetted All the time of our durance here Water is sprinkled to mitigate the Fieriness of the Sun Here are Grottoes descending also under Ground by huge Arches and Stone Steps shaded by Trees on each hand Grottoes till it come to the deep Well at bottom from whence by Leathern Bags drawn upon Wheels by Oxen the Water is carried up and in Gutters streams about the Gardens In these by the help of a Brachmin skilled in Simples The Cotton-Tree I have found the Silk Cotton-tree distinguished by us from the Vulgar beneficial one by its being a Tree the other a Shrub it is most like a Maple in Leaf and Branch only the Bark is not furrowed it brings forth between three Leaves first a Bud or Button then a white Flower last of all Seed about which the Cotton grows in three distinct Cells answering the three Leaves As also the Plant of which Bang is made Bang it grows as our Hemp the Juice of whose Seed ground in a Bowl like Mustard-seed and mixed with any other Liquor is that they equivocate with their Prophet instead of the Grape and that which follows agrees to what Mr. Ray notes out of LOB in Ado Lacustris aqua cui cannabis intabuerit tantopere viro nocet ut epotasit praesentissimo sitientibus veneno this with Dutry as has been said is the inebriating Confection of the Post Here he discovered to me his beloved Alluh Alluh the Bark of a Tree the present remedy against all manner of Fluxes Though these People delight much in Gardens No great Variety of Flowers yet are they but rude compared to ours of Europe they make a noble Entrance a Banquetting-house in the middle eying the four Quarters of the Garden beset with Trees like Wildernesses in every Quarter or else planted with Potatoes Yawms Berenjaws both hot Plants and their Coolers as Pompkins Cucumbers Gourds and such like they are only divided by Gravelly Walks and Water-courses not curiously adorned with Flowers Bismalvas and some Wall-flowers or Stock-Gillyflowers being the height of what they aim at Only the Culga so famed for the Silk in imitation of its Paint I take it for our Amarillis and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Tree Mallow which is red as Scarlet in the Morning and at Noon faints into a pale Colour and towards the Evening is pure white some few Lysimachias which besides their several sorts of Jessamins is all the choice Roses would grow here if they would but cultivate them A Mile from the City grows the humble Sensitive Plant The Sensible Plant and Arbor de Rais. common in the Fields Eastward of Surat two Courses i. e. a League we pitched our Tent under a Tree that besides its Leafs the Branches bear its own Roots therefore called by the Portugals Arbor de Rais For the Adoration the Banyans pay it the Banyan Tree by whom it is held as sacred as the Oak to our Old Druids who paint it daily and make Offerings of Rice and pray to it It has Leafs like an Ivy and is the same with that at Johanna only that was incorporated into one Body and this by often taking Root is capable of overspreading a whole Field so that it is said there are of them able to shade an Army of 30000 Horse and Men singly however it is possible to be so contrived if it be lookt after to make a Wood alone of it self The Hedges and Lanes are chiefly set with two sorts of Bushes Milk Bushes called by us Milk-Trees because of a succulent Juice like Spurge white and of the consistency of the best Milk but if it comes near the Skin or Eyes it is not so benign according to the Experience of the Famous Verulam Nat. Hist Cent. 7. Exp. 39. Omnem succum lacti similem ex plantis incisis acrem esse and my Observation here for if by chance it stick upon any part of the Body it frets like an Escarotick and I have seen an unruly Horse rushing through it both blind himself and Rider both their Heads being swoln to an extraordinary bigness I believe it to be a kind of Tithymal quod tenerum lac non secus ac Manna effundit the first sort of which has broader and jucier Leafs and has four or five together not jagged but somewhat oval a Finger's length and half as broad one only thick Stalk arises from the Root and several Branches proceed from thence they are all Green and Tender springing up a Man's height full of Prickles as our Carduus of whose Milk inspissated is made Euphorbium The other grows up into the Body of a Tree and is Woody above which it sends forth several tender smooth Stalks which sprout out into
thwart Post poised with a sufficient weight at the extremity laid over one fixed in the Earth the Water is drawn by a Bucket of Goats Skins others have Pans or Buckets of Leather hanging round about a Wheel some always in the Water others rising up and at the same time others pouring out as the Wheel turns round And thus are their best Gardens kept alive The Mountains here are one continued Ridge Mountains dividing the Two Coasts each from other and are all along called the Gaot they run North and South till they cross the Imaus and are the reason of some difference of the Seasons both in respect of themselves and Low-Lands They are plentifully stored with Woods and Increase of all things except Rivers which are in some Places compensated by living Springs out of the Rocks but every where by Water falling in the Rains The Rivers are innumerable Rivers but those of greatest fame are Indus and Ganges the latter not only for its many Navigable Streams for some Hundreds of Leagues but for its Purity in the esteem of the most Religious besides all which are great Tanks or Ponds of rain-Rain-Water where it wants the other Benefits with deep Wells of extraordinary Costs and Charges some purely for Pomp and to transmit their Names to Posterity others for the good of Travellers but most for the sake of Religion in which they are extravagantly profuse every great City striving to outvye each other the most admirable whereof are those cut on high Hills and Fortresses thereon out of the main Rocks seeming rather the Works of many Ages than one to finish them At Rajapore are Hot Baths here are very few other Mineral Waters The Plain Country is Rich in all things necessary The Country rich in Increase Pasturage by reason of the long Summers Drought being the only lack which in the Rains and Cold Season they have Time and Store to provide against Cocoes grow all along the Sea-side round India within the Tropicks and Beetle-Nut is in great Request not only for that it is the Courteous Entertainment or Farewel at all Friendly Interviews but because wrapped in Pawn-Leaves with Chinam it exhilarates and makes a kind of pleasant Drunkenness if much eaten as the Natives of any fashion are seldom without it in their Mouths and these are peculiar to the Low-Countries as are Water-Melons other Fruits as Grapes Mangoes and the like are the common Growth of India Rice thrives best in Watry Places it swimming always therein till Harvest when the Water is let out by Drains all other Corn rejoices better in drier Grounds Cotton is a Lover of the same from whence comes all the Wealth to India quae effodiuntur opes which are dug for in other Places and laid up here Woods are every where in which sometimes are met Inhabitants not yet mentioned and for their Solitariness called Men of the Woods or more truly Satyrs there are Nereids too or Men of the Rivers but dye as soon as taken A Couple of the former I saw asleep in the day-time in the Night they Sport and Eat they were both in a Parrot-Cage they had Heads like an Owl Bodied like a Monkey without Tails only the first Finger of the Right Hand was armed with a Claw like a Birds otherwise they had Hands and Feet which they walk upright on not pronely as the other Beasts do they were coloured like a Fox of the length of Half a Yard though they grow bigger till Twelve Years old when they copulate Here are Sandy Deserts near the Gulph of Cambaja and beyond Bengala Deserts towards Botan and Cochin China whence they fetch Musk. Mines besides those of Diamonds Rubies Agats Cornelian Granats Mines Topazes and Iron none are discoursed of which with what else comes to Memory shall be specified in their proper place Of Diamond-Mines there are two sorts the Old and New Rock the latter the Larger the other the Best the first in Duccan the other in Gulconda Wild Beasts frequent here Wild Beasts are the fiercest Tigres in the World with all their sorts Lions here are some but feeble and cowardly Leopards Balus a sort of Wolf wild Cats or Catamountains Monkeys wild Dogs which they say Piss out the Eyes of Venison as they feed in the Woods and so Venom them with their Urine that they become their Prey Squirrels Jackals Mungooses wild Bulls Elephants Rhinoceros Buffolaes Bears For Game For Game all sorts of Antelopes Deer Boar and Elks. The Fields are stored with Tame of all kinds but mostly with Kine and Goats Fowls of Prey Fowls of Prey Eagles Vultures Kites Newries Crows which last hath an Enemy though in Bulk contemptible yet in Revenge implacable being no bigger than a Bumble-Bee yet it never leaves the Crow's Breast till it have left it breathless making a Vent therein by its piercing Bill For Game abundance of all sorts The Bats here are the biggest of any place Fishes common to India are not to be numbred Fish some spangled with Gold Vermilion and other Colours not usual with us but the best known are Sharks Whales Sea-snakes the assured Tokens to the Pilots of their approaching the Coasts of India Pilchards come in Sholes as our Herrings do Porpoises Oysters Crabs Tortoises the Sword-fish Saepae or the Ink-fish of Gesner Spanish Mackrel The Rivers are well provided and the Grass too with Snakes many of which are venomous and some big enough to devour a Sow and Piggs if the Natives may be believed Insects besides Fleas are large Flies in the Rain Insects who will be sure to be our Tasters unless one stand purposely to beat them off with a Mirchal nor are Ants less vexatious nothing eatable can be set by but they will be at it but the greatest Pest is the Mosquito who not only wheals but domineers by its continual Hums the Chints are as venomous and if squeezed leave a most Poysonous Stench these breed in the Cotton and where once they beset an House they are not easily removed they being Proof against all Fumes or Remedies used to destroy such-like Vermin and therefore keep Possession while the Inhabitants being not able to endure them must turn out to other Dwellings and these Plagues are in all their Quarters The Inhabitants and Natives of India are divided into Five Sects to wit I. Gentues the first Possessors Aborigines or Natives II. Moguls the next Invaders or Conquerors by Land III. Portugals the first Discoverers or Conquerors by Sea IV. Dutch English c. Strangers partly by Conquest partly by Trade V. Parsies by Permission The Gentues are again distributed into these Classes The Gymnosophists Brachmins or Book-Men The Quetories Rashpoots or Soldiers The Merchants or Mechanicks The Labourers Peasants Combies Coolies Frasses and Holencores The Brachmins Are chiefly distinguished by Butts and Sinais Their men of Learning from these two Roots spring the other Branches The difference was occasioned by
the Sea refresh the Fiery Plain The most unhealthy of these are the South-East for that then the Air is thicker by reason of the Seas Vicinity and the Sun's departure towards its Southern Progress for upon its return the Skies do clear and the Clouds which used to hang about the Mountain-tops till Mid-day vanish earlier at the Sun's approach whereupon this Climate is not subject to the greater part of Distempers a more Watry Country may abound with though it be to some to wit to Rheumatisms Numbness and Periodical Fevers such as are Tertians and Quartans but chiefly to Quotidians rarely incident to Dropsies oftner obnoxious to Jaundice Obstructions of the Spleen Mesentery and Windiness of the Hypochondrias They dread not a Lask but are concerned when they cannot go to Stool The Fury of these were not over at our Arrival The Inland stifling hot to avoid which I was forced in the beginning of May to betake my self to Asseen a Country Village Three Miles from Gombroon than which it is not much better only remoter from the Sea wherefore it labours under the Incommodity of a stifling Air it being so near the Hills that the free Blasts are thereby intercepted only it enjoys a greater benefit of limpid Water for which it is highly valuable and by the Industry of the Hinds some things do sprout here and the Date-Trees are nourished by the unwearied drawing of Water which flourish the better for their Pains The constant Din of a great many at this Work together like the creeking of so many Cart-Wheels ungreas'd afford the Sick little Rest and without this obstreperous Noise no Water could be had for they use only the Indian Wheel drawn up and let down by Oxen with as little Intermission Day or Night as Sysiphon's repeated Trouble is reported In the day Locusts come in Armies besides the Heat and Sands the Winds brought with them another Plague the Locusts to benight the day and fly in Armies to devour the Greens wheree're they find them gnawing the Palms and other Trees both Leaf and Fruit spreading where they alight as thick as Bees drove out to swarm a new Colony no other Charm than Fire can expel this Pest when kindled with Wisps and withered Boughs they run up and down from Tree to Tree making an hideous Clamour yet scarcely make them leave where they once beset Thus Salamander-like these People live in Fire making a Remedy of their Disease for here all things seem as if they had undergone a General Conflagration or that Phoebus with his Solar Rays had like another Phaeton scorched this part of the World or rather this unhappy Soil retains the Curse of Adam's Fall This Earth accurâ—t for the sake of Adam for being once so nigh that Terrestrial Paradise concerning which I am not ignorant that it is left undetermined among Divines and for that cause there is always administred matter of dispute to the Interpreters of Genesis Elias the Thesbite is positive that the Garden of Eden is still in being not doubting many still go thither and that the Passage to it lies easy and open but that overcome with the Delights thereof they never care to return Origen and Philo tenacious of their Allegories have fancied a Mystical Paradise the true Ideas of Plato and are imitated therein by Psellius who says that Chaldean Pardyse so he calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is nothing else but a Choir of the Heavenly Virtues which illustrate the Aetherial Father and the Rays of Holiness flowing from the first Creator Some situate this contended-for Place in Mesopotamia others in India between both which we now are but there remains the difficulty of reconciling the Four Rivers which admits of no other subterfuge than to have recourse to the General Inundation But I leave this and proceed to acquaint you that nothing is left here but a sensible Map of Purgatory if that may please some to be a Road to Paradise to see how the Fiery Element makes the Mountains gape the Rocks cleft in sunder the Waters stagnate to which the Birds with hanging Wing repair to quench their Thirst for want of which the Herds do low the Camels cry the Sheep do bleat the barren Earth opens wide for Drink and all things appear calamitous for want of kindly Moisture in lieu of which hot Blasts and Showers of Sand infest the purer Air and drive not only us but Birds and Beasts to seek remoter dwellings or else to perish here for which purpose 't is familiar to behold the Crows and Sparrows take their flight to Upland Countries as also Dogs and other Vermin to remove to avoid the Tyranny of this Season The Caun and Shawbunder were gone before us at length by their Example we left the Port tho it was not before the latter end of June The Governor of this Province is stiled the Caun of Bunder Abassae The Caun of Bunder either for the store of Abasses shipped off here or that it more immediately respects the Abasseen Countrey than any other The adjacent Islands with the Soldiery are annexed to his Jurisdiction though Northwest beyond Gombroon his Rule extends not far nor much Inland yet along the Gulph to its very Mouth he possesses a large Tract of Ground for many Leagues together His Metropolis is Gombroon where he resides till the soultry Summer makes him fly beyond the Hills to breathe in cooler Air. Which we betook our selves to after I had returned from Asseen whither I went for the sake of the Water as welcome to our parched Throats as a drop of that cool Liquor to the importunate Dives who was involved in the Center of those Flames which we on the Brink of the Abyss only had a Taste of Nor was a Present at this time from the Caun Sent us a Present of Apples candied in Snow in the middle of the Heats of Apples candied is Snow less grateful though more feasible the Messenger being impowered for all the scorching Gulph interposed at Night to bear them to us and by Break of Day we drank a Glass of Wine quenched with a Lump of Snow and Ice to the Caun's Health Nor had we less hope to pass this dreadful Lake of Sulphur since he had sent us a Token of his discovery of a more Temperate Climate by a Fruit not unknown to us Genetins being Natives of a calmer Region with these we cheated our Thirst for a while In the mean time it fared not much better with us than with those groaning under a burning Fever who by large Draughts endeavour to quench their Appetite till it enrage the Distemper to an higher Fit for now we saw what before we believed the tardy Fowls pay for their lingring here and leave their dead Bodies to be mummied in the Sands Nor does this proceed from Heat alone but the Seas nearness which now furrs the Shore with discoloured Foam poysons the Air as well as its own Inhabitants
they are subject to a perpetual agitation of Particles in greater or lesser quantities or in different places as they flow through the several Caverns or Cavities so they partake of several conditions in their passage which distinguishes them as Sea-Water River-Water Rain-Water Spring-Water Well-Water Salt Bitter Vinous or Warm Waters deriving their Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constantly arising Hot out of the Ground from the nearness of some Hot Minerals and for this reason it is almost all of them have an Hot and Dry quality whereby they help Moist and Cold Tempers most of all which Faculty Platerus attributes to the nature of Lime which leans on the Sentence of Aristotle who in his Second Part Chap. 2. says there is left in Lime a kind of Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adusta fere omnia habent aliquid caliditatis ut calx cinis c. Almost all Burnt things have remaining in them something of Heat But to let that pass as not being much to the purpose All Waters in general participate of the Mixture and Nature of those Places through which they take their Current though all do not alike strike the Senses because some have a lesser Tincture than others and Heterogeneous Particles confounded or confused in a larger Vehicle are not so easily perceived by the Tongue which proves no more than this That whatever Water has a singular propriety from the common Water must come under the denomination of Mineral Water Which Mineral Waters distinguished from Common with Varenius we draw from a threefold Fountain viz. from Corporeal Spiritual and a Mixture of either those which run through Subterranean Meanders in which the Metalline Earths are not over dense they carry with them the Grains of those Minerals and therewith beget the first Corporeal Waters If the Ores are less dense as Vitriol Sulphur and Salts which dissolve of themselves in Water these create the second Class of Corporeals or Mixed And those in their passage which are impregnated with the Fumes of these Minerals are as it were rectified Spiritual Waters and make the most refined Order of them all Out of these Three proceed Mineral Waters which are either Golden Silver Tin Lead or Iron Waters Waters of common Salt Aluminous Vitriolated Bituminous Sulphurious or Antimonial Waters of several Earths Stones Lime Chalk and Ochre Cinnabar Marble Alabaster and last of all Mercurial Waters The differences are to be referred to the individual Species of every Water Their differences as far as relates to their Essence but because to inferior Capacities such do not so readily occur they are made more familiar by Sower Bitter and the like The Explanation whereof both as to their Causes and Generation is the Business in hand Sea-Waters Salt or Bitter Bitterness being only an exalted degree of Saltness come rather from the Pores through which they are strained than from the grosser Particles remaining after the heat of the Sun has Boiled off the Flegmy parts Rain-Waters extracted by Rarefaction are again Condensed and become Sweet in their falling River-Waters vary according to their Colour and Taste from the Qualities of those Conduits through which they take their Course as do Spring-Waters which have a double Origination either from the Deep or from Above the one from the Ocean the other from Snow or Rain for by an obscure Conveyance the Water of the Sea issues through the Bowels of the Earth leaving both Salt and Bitter Taste behind and forces it self in nature of a Syphon up to the highest Clifts as is demonstrated by those Hydraulick Engines commonly known among us supposing at the same time the Sea to equal the Tallest Peak the Land can brag of Sower Waters have for their Progenitors Vitriol and Alum not the Smoke of Sulphur either of which are imbued with Acidity or Acerbity whereas Sulphur enjoys neither which is found true however the Chymical Spirit of Sulphur drawn off as also of Salt become so sharp But to obviate that If Sowerness must be beholden to the Sulphurious Vapours how comes it to pass that all Hot Baths have not that very Taste Which both sufficient Authority and Experience prove to have their Entity from these Two Causes 1. By the Admixture of Sulphurious Effluviums while the Water creeps through these Mines for to break out of the Fountains from which they are strained 2. From Fumes Vapours or Exhalations within the Earth where the Brimstone is Pure or Impure as from Pit-Coals Amber c. But these Waters of Genoe as far as I could gather by Spagyrical Solutions have to their Sulphur an Addition both of Antimony and Nitre whence arise their sweet Salt and fore-recited Operations Besides these Baths The Medical Benefits of their Baths or Hummums which are rare there are more commonly Balneo's to be hired at easy Rates of which I shall say no more than of the Benefits received by them not to note the Injunction of their Law when Bodies are parched by intolerable Heat and the Dust galls and frets the Skin by Travel then are they not only cleansed but highly refreshed by bathing in sweet Water so that they are convenient both in Dry and Moist Airs for in Dry without these they could no more breathe than those Aristotle testifies of could without Bags of Water on the Top of Olympus and in Moist they are as necessary to wash Dirt and Sand out of the Pores of their Bodies As for the Medical Intent many Distempers caused by Fulness of Humours or ill-bred Chyme are expelled by this Exorcism but the Grand Expectation relating to Venereal Diseases is baffled and defeated by a groundless Fallacy On the Day of the Vernal Equinox Noe Rose we returned to Gombroon when the Moors introduce their New-Year Aede or Noe Rose with Banquetting and great Solemnity The Air The Air moist which at Spahaun is â—o Serene that it leaves no Impurity upon Metals is of another Temper here all things contracting Soil and Tarnish be they never so carefully preserved from the daily Increase of a thick corrupting Air. Which proceeds from the Reign of the South Wind usual at this Season from whence the Brain and Nervous Offspring suffer under an unnatural Moisture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Capiti aqua est perniciosa Hern. Paraph. in Part. Hyp. Aph. 22. Lib. 5. Sicut Aph. 5. lib. 5. The South Wind dulls the Hearing and Quickness of Sight brings Listlessness and an Unweildiness over the whole Body To which Inconveniences not only of the Wind Sand and eating of Dates we may add the constant feeding upon Fish also as an Enemy to the Eyes for by such Food the Body is filled with putrid Humours whence proceed Malignant Fevers Gout Falling-sickness and an Iliad of Distempers The reason to be rendred for all this may be Because the Strength of the Nerves consist in a Mediocrity of Heat for what comes nearest to Heat agrees better with their Constitution but what brings
Government transferred to the East-India Company The old Soldiers stomach the Yoke of the Company 's Servants Governors for the Company Strength of the Island The Fort ill contrived The Town Fresh-water Springs scarce Woods of Cocoes Portugal Churches Salt-Pans Maijm Salvesong Malabar-Hill Bigness of the Island A mixt People English Government Power and State of the President An unhealthy Climate English Women no good Nurses The Air agreeable to the Country People Few return home What Credit it bears with its Neighbours CHAP. II. A Survey of the Island Canorein near Bombaim THE Superior of the Jesuits complimented Their Convents serve for Castles A fine Prospect on the Water A Journy of Pleasure and Civility of the Jesuits Delightful Aldeas Magnaâ—ana a Country-Seat The City of Canorein formerly an Heathen Fane Reported to be dug out of the Rocks by Alexander Tanaw the chief Place Mein a great Town Happiness of the Soil CHAP. III. A Visit to Baçein a Portugal City in India Our Return by Elephanto c. with Observations on the Island Bombaim THE Capitaneos of the Portugals alternate A Message to Baçein The City is round Six Churches within the Walls The Dwellings of the Fidalgoes The Devastations made by the Arabs about Baçein The ground of their Quarrel The Arabs care not to engage the Portugals Their last Efforts Elephanto another Idolatrous Temple cut out of the solid Rock The Heats The Mogul's Fleet winter at Bombaim The Ingenuity of the Toddy-Bird The Brab-Tree The Rains set in CHAP. IV. Narrative of an Embassy to Seva Gi and Journey to Rairee the Court of the Raja HOW the Subidar is treated Proceed on their Journey Seva Gi gone a Pilgrimage Officiousness of the Chief Minister of State Who procured a Pass up to the Castle Rairee a strong Hill The Engâ—ish have Audience of Seva Gi. What Presents were made Rajah Seva Gi weighed in Gold Grants the Request of the English The Ambassador summon'd to the Coronation The Rajah marries a Fourth Wife No Nation eat Flesh like the English CHAP. V. Our Passage to Swally and Relation of the English Presidency at Surat ARrival at Swally The Sands full of Fleas and Banyans The Banyans pay Money to keep a Mart. Travel to Surat The Coaches and Guards The English Factory Full of Noise The Four Chief Offices The Company 's Servants and their Salaries The Under-Factories modell'd by this The Presidency The Advantage of being of the Council The Baseness of the Banyans Number of Persons in the Factory State of the President All places in India subject to the Presidency with their Commodities The Investments set on foot in the Rains The Trade managed by a Company better than a Free Trade Their Freemen greater Slaves than their Servants The Charges of the English Company not so great as the Hollanders Their Charter put in force The Course of the Presidents The English defended themselves against Seva Gi with Honour The ill Success of the first Adventurers imputed to want of Government and War with Portugal The Company enrich this Port. The Diamond-Trade better in the hands of the Company 's Servants than in theirs LETTER III. CHAP. I. Animadversions on the City and People of Surat THE Rudeness of the Devotes And Seamen The Buildings The Heathen Rites more suppressed here than in Gulconda Moguls and Chias disagree Sects of the Moguls Their Diet. Way of Entertainment Their Attire is rich The Women wear Jewels Strict Observers of the Hours of Prayer Great Revellers at Circumcisions and Marriages Quick in Labour Great Lamentations when any dye The Duty of their Priests The Xeriff their High-Priest Extravagancies of their Fakiers They make every place their home and all their own How clad The Governor not able to quell them The Villany of the Governor's Servants and Tragical Event Some exemplary Punishments Delinquents of another nature The Crime of growing rich The Sheriff The chief Customer The Mint Markets The Castle built by Timurlan The Wall and Gates Number of Soldiers Their Mosques Caravans Stables The Governor quarrels with the Dutch CHAP. II. Shews the Tombs Outwalks Ceremonies and Austerities of the Gentiles with the Ships and River about Surat THE Rashpoot takes Toll with the Mogul Dutch and Armenian Tombs The English Burial-place The French Tomb. The Burftaes or Heathen Wanderers Pulparra an Heathen Seminary Two Pagods of excellent Lome The burning of their Dead They carry them to Pulparra The Postures and Severities of the Heathen Fakiers Paunch Augy or the Penance of Five Fires Whether it be an Imposture A Devote that had not sat down in sixteen Years A great Tank Gardens Grottoes The Cotton-Tree Bang Alluh No great Variety of Flowers The sensible Plant and Arbor de Rais. Milk-Bushes Sugar-Canes and Tobacco The River commodious for Ships The Dutch learn the Natives nothing Their Navy The Young King of Baâ—tam His Story Their Junks and Seamen CHAP. III. Of their Solemnities Sports and Pastimes Marriages of the Parsies their Strength by Land and Sea their abundant Wealth and fitness for Trade THeir New-Moons Ramazan or Lent Grandeur of their Governor and Great Men. The Moors Aede Their mourning for Hosseen Gosseen The Emperor a great Zealot for his Religion How they behave themselves in Eclypses Ceremonies in Marriage Dually of the Heathens The Women have a time of Freedom Feast of Flies Hospitable to Dogs Their Exercise or Recreation Hunting Buffolaes and Rams set to fight The Master-piece of the Banyans Education of Youth The Sloth of the Moor a Whet to the Banyan All the World brings Treasure to India The Bassa of Bussorah Their Jewellers may be improved The City kept nastily The Diseases Remedies outward and inward The Country Physician The several Tribes how known The English have the respect of their Ombrahs Rarities in the English House Venomous Creatures The Surat Governor forced to comply with the Dutch The Parsies Worship the Sun They expose their Dead to Ravenous Fowls Their way of living Large Milk-white Oxen. A Buffola The Marshes breed Cattel The Growth of this place The Colum-Bird Wine and Strumpets set the Soldiers and Seamen by the Ears Four Arab Ships Left Surat and Sâ—â—dly Mahmud Emir Caun Son of 〈◊〉 Governor of the Province CHAP. IV. Brings me with a New Deputy-Governor from Surat to Bombaim and sends me to the Mogul's General at Jeneah CAptain Shaxton sent home A Sea-Tortoise taken The Fable of its having three Hearts confuted The Flesh restorative Take Boat for Duccan Landing and Reception at Gulean Set forward for Intwally The Countrey all burnt and destroyed Thence to Moorbar Forced to keep Watch. The Guides lead us about Come to Dehir a garison'd Town of Seva Gi 's at the foot of the Gaot Awaked a Fakier drunk with Bang Seva Gi 's Horses kept here His Forts all about State of the Havaldar Got clear of Dehir A troublesome Passage over the Gaot The Monkeys affrighted Flurries from the Hill carry Men and Oxen down the Precipice
Hanging-sleeves By Religion they are Christians of the Romish Church Their Governour is from Portugal Nothing more observable in this little time but that at Night on Shipboard De'l Fogo we had the sight of De'l Fogo's Flames it being an Island of Fire the Smoak of which is also apparent at Noon-day which is of the same Batch with the rest we seeing only these Four Islands of the Nine belonging to the Gorgades CHAP. II. Contains our Passage from St. Iago to Johanna and Relation of that Island THUS forsaking these African Islands and being forsaken of all but our own Fleet with a brisk Gale we gave our Ships head to the Eastward of the South whereby we came nearer to the Coast of Africa the Northern Monsoons if I may so say being the Name imposed by the first Observers i. e. Motiones lasting hither they springing from the pressure of the Winter's Snow Clouds or Vapours lodged on the Artic Mountains A proof of the necessity of knowing the Trade-winds and now beginning to be dissolved leave us to struggle with those moving with the Sun between the Tropicks East and West as those without do North and South mostly or collaterally to those Caâ—dinal Points And therefore we are forced to steer more Easterly either to fetch a Wind to cross the Aequator or gain a Side-wind from the constant ones to carry us to Brasil For which cause those Ships bound for St. Helen's from Europe must come into the Latitude of 28 deg South and sometimes to the Cape of good Hope before they can bend their Course thither though in a direct Line it would cut off three quarters of the way When we were in four degrees of the Line and Longitude from St. Iago 7 deg 22 min. East renewing thence our Meridian we became subject to the most parching Heat of the Torrid Zone whose Effects were so much the more outragious by as much as the Winds shrank upon us from off the Coast of Ginea which we drew nigh to and had left us at a stand the usual Treatment hereabouts imputed to the scarcity of Mountains on that vast Tract of ground Insomuch Near the Coast of Ginea met the Tornados that we lay wholly at the mercy of the two unruly Elements Fire and Water the one assailing us with flashy Lightnings and horrid Noises breaking forth the Airy Region the other pouring on us whole Streams of unwholsome and dangerous Flouds when they fall in Spouts which are frequent here Nay the kindest and the softest downfal on our Bodies is productive of Vermin such as Flies and Maggots if our Cloaths be not quickly dried and shifted these Seasons the Seamen term the Tornados But above all when these had played their parts the scorching Sun making towards us with his fiery Face made us almost breathless In this remediless Condition we lay Chap. II. till Heaven pitying our languishing under this burning Fever dispatched to our Relief an East South East Wind which leading us West and by South brought us to the South of the Equinoctial Line Crossed the Line depressing our Longitude to 5 deg 55 min. East And now we were to the Northward of the Sun four degrees with whom circling a little East in nine days time we were in a Perpendicular whereby our Quadrants became of small use we not being able to make an Observation for their want of Shade but by an Astrolabe at Night Out-sailed the North-Star The Sun passing over our Heads and we being to the Southward of the Line the first fair Wind made us out-sail the Northern Polar Star it not being to be seen in this Horizon Steering now by the Crosiers Raised the Crosiers and Magellanian Clouds a South Constellation taking its Name from the Similitude of that Pastoral Staff as also supplied by the Magellanian Clouds in number Two averred to be such by those that use this way continually fixed as the North Star but to me they seem no other than a Galaxia caused by the Reflection of the Stars Being to the Southward of the Sun's Declination A North Sun makes Noon as a South Sun did before The Calenture rages in the Fleet. it is obvious to note a North Sun makes the same time of Day a South Sun does on the contrary side An Epidemical Distemper by the Sea-Chyrurgions termed a Calenture a malignant Fever with a Frenzy so that if not watched they leap into the Sea raging in the Fleet many were thrown over-board Where the Atlantick washing the Shores all along from the Streights of Gibraltar mixes with the Aethiopick Ocean Extent of the Atlantick and Use of the Azimuth to correct the Common Chart. there the Meridian Compass varies very much so that the Wind being at South-East and by East lays out a South and by West way but corrected by the Magnetick Azimuth which gives the Sun's Amplitude it differs two Points and an half which with Leeway allow'd makes a South-West Course which we held on till we were on the Coasts of Brasil when we were at distance enough to take the Altitude of the Sun which made 14 deg 40 m. South Latitude Longitude 2 deg 24 min. East Being between Brasil and several Islands as Trinidado Isl de Picos Sancta Maria c. we met with Winds carried us to the South of the Tropick of Capricorn The Tropick of Capricorn which crosseth Aethiopia Inferior and the midst of Peruviana Before we leave this Ecliptick Circle we must observe at the Aequator the Sun becomes twice Perpendicular at each Tropick but once beyond them never because hence may naturally be collected all the Seasons of the whole Year unless some accidental Cause as the Interposition of Mountains Headlands Lakes or such like intervene But in his Solar Progress Through the twelve Signs the Sun always carries Rain along with him its Heat otherwise could not be endured for which reason the first Contriver and Former of all things The Course of the Sun through the Zodiack the cause of the Seasons of the Year has ordained the wet Season a Winter to those inhabit here and to them as dreadful as our cold Seasons to us which we shall evidence more experimentally when we come to live among them On this account is it that under the Line two Winters and two Summers alternately succeed but not above three quarters of that length as the one at each Tropick they continuing four Months together to wit four Months Winter as many Summer and the other four Months moderate or cold Weather though nearer the Line the Rule holds not good as to the cool Weather for that cause more frequently visited with Wet than the Sunshine Our Men at length tired with salt Provisions began to be studious for fresh Necessity having taught them an Invention by counterfeiting those formerly mentioned Flying fish Certain Sea-fishes for Food with a white Rag stuffed to hide the Hook
and Feathers pricked in instead of Fins to catch their Enemies at their own game and so they did providing for themselves and us too Bonetos and Albicores the latter bigger than the former in length two Feet in thickness one of a brave shining Colour with spiked Fins but the other preferred by the Palate bearing the make of our Jacks both of them a good Repast at Sea where it is denied to be curious in our choice The Dolphin is extolled beyond these The Dolphin which they strike with a Fisgig They are swift and strait when they swim and for Composure surpass all others in neatness as well as for variety of Colours for which it seems to vie with the Rain-bow or Juno's darling Bird the Peacock There is another Fish they call a Stone-Bass The Stone-Bass which eats better than it looks it being of a Colour sandy but has a Relish equal to our Soles Hitherto having kept mostly a South-West Course furthered in it by Gales from the Coast of Ginea we are now to expect Westerly Winds to carry us to Cabo da boa esperança Gales from the West to reach the Cape near the Latitude of 30 deg South we had a promising Fresco but somewhat dulled by too frequent Calms yet here not so vexatious as before we going retrograde with the Sun It is observable here The Current of the Sea against the Wind. that the Sea had a contrary Course with the Wind presumed to proceed from its blowing so long in one Quarter and now not altered so long as to be powerful enough to turn the Current of the Waters Gaining upon the East with a slow pace we met with those feathered Harbingers of the Cape Cape-Birds as Pintado Birds Mangofaleudos Albetrosses the first remarkable for their painted Spots of black and white the last in that they have great Bodies yet not proportionable to their Wings which mete out twice their length Three Months being near consumed we were at last accompanied with long lookt for Western Blasts and now we fly afore the Wind But by the way take notice a South-West Wind becomes as bleak here as a North-East in England So that all the Seasons of the Year being undergone in this time we may begin to calculate our Ephemeris afresh and as a fit Platform Easter Holy-days bring with them such Weather as is essential to Christide But bidding Adieu to these Fancies the Wind that till now seemed to dally proves in good earnest and begins a frowning April driving the trembling Sea on heaps and on them piling more till the swelling Surges menace the lowering Skies leaving a Hollow where they borrowed their Gigantine vastness as if they were intended to exenterate the Treasures of the Deep At top of which 't was dreadful to behold the angry Surface of the foaming Billows Winter Storms and Tempests attend us to the Cape descending down beneath no less uncomfortable when the Vans of the next Ships though groveling with a neighbouring Wave could not be discerned This tossing Condition lasted long and was taken kindly too as long as we spooned before the Sea and kept from running foul of one the other but when a Fret of Wind rowled the Waves athwart our Quarters it made our Ship shake proving the soundness of her Sides where had she given way never so little we must have sunk without Bail or Mainprize Still the Tempest encreases and brings with it Gusts of Rain and dismal darksome Weather whereby we were separated from the rest of our Fleet For all we put our Lights abroad as did they yet in the badness of the Night we lost them and were left alone to shift with the boisterous Winds At last the Morn appears We and the Caesar separated from the Fleet for two Days but with the Symptoms of a blowing Day She had not wafted many Hours but on the advantage of a rising Wave we spied a Sail to Leeward with her Fore-top-mast by the Board which at Noon we knew to be the Caesar crowding under all its Sails In this Encounter we shipped many a perilous Sea not without being well-drenched our selves Such was the force of this Nights Storm that our Boat and some of our Men were not without difficulty restrained from being carried over-board In this pickle we reeled out this Day and out-stretching the Caesar we made what Sail we durst and by the next Light had sight of our Fleet who shortning Sail we came up with them to whom we declared the misfortune of the Caesar and that it bore South-West wherefore they lay by the Wind slackning and in half an hour we saw the Hull and presently after it made up our Company compleat again Near the middle of this Month we could have made that known Cape the Cape of Good Hope Had Soundings off the Cape of Good Hope being in the Latitude of 36 deg 14 min. South and Longitude from St. Iago 37 deg 19 min. East But the Dutch having some Forts there it was thought no good Policy wherefore veering to the South the Cape bore East-North-East some thirty Leagues off us for heaving our Dipsy-lead we were in soundings eighty Fathom depth which the Pilots note to be in that distance Here we made two Sail to Leeward and one to Windward who directed her Course with us but the Wind from the Shore coming East they Tacked and she passed without speaking to her But the Leeward-most came up boldly to us and the Ann we being the nearest and ready to receive them Spoke with some English Ships homeward bound but making them Enlish built by their Galleries we only shewed them our Colours which they answered by St. George's Cross and fired a Gun when they brought to and we bearing up our Commander went Aboard one of them the Johanna a Ship of 700 Tuns laden from Bantam who told us That five more were in Company with them from the Coasts but dispersed by Tempests the other Ship was the Bernardiston that which escaped us the Rebecca They also inform'd us The French had worsted the Flemmings in India taken and demolished a Fort on the Island Ceilon and that they had beat the Moors out of St. Thomas That on our side never a Ship was lost as they heard So likewise giving them an Account of what we knew with some Instructions communicated on both sides we left them to take their Course which served them for St. Hellens the Antartick Monsoons favouring them directly thither and the Squadron under Captain Munday if they have raised the South Latitude of 28. may be there a little before to expect them We kept on South-East till we had doubled the most Southern Promontory of the Cape Cape de Angullis which Course would lead us to Bantam when bending to the North we held on till we came betwixt St. Doubled Cape de Angullis to gain St. Lawrence Lawrence or Madigascar and the Main reckoned
one of the four biggest Islands in the World viz. Sumatra Java St. Lawrence and Britannia The most traded Empories here are St. Augustine on the Island and Mosambique on the Main frequented by the Portugals for Elephants Teeth Gold Camphire and Ambergreece Why we creep in between this Island and the Main Is to borrow from the Land-briezes assistance against the general stated Winds settled for these Months between the Cape and this Island The Sea here takes the Name of Oceanus Orientalis The Eastern-Sea beginning from the Cape till it joyn with the Indian Red and Arabian Seas Here it was we had a notable Fish stretched its self along our sides for the space of an hour Some called it a Grampos but those that pretended skill would have it a young Whale It might be in length forty Feet and upward bolting out of the Water with a great Surf the Mouth large but not responsible to so large a Body the Form whereof was a Pyramid inverted the Basis of which from Gill to Gill near five Feet in breadth the Conus terminating with a narrow Snout where his Mouth opening he suckt in a huge quantity of Water and with that same eddy his Prey which he retains within his Jaws but spouts the Water out with the same spurting noise our Engines make and as immense an heighth from an hole in his Neck opening after the fashion of a Mouth or Slit at the performance of which Action it contracts its self into an Orbicular Figure and again dilates its self in its Diastole The Back is of a dark Gray without Scales A Whale sixteen Feet over leaping as other Fishes but in a more Majestick manner moving but slowly whereby we had the sight of his Head and Neck first all one Rock and as impenetrable it being proof against the Prongs of the sharpest Harping-Iron his whisking Tail last near which a ridge of Fins the true mark of Distinction for a Whale The extreme part of his Tail extended is very broad and finny which is the Rudder to this great Leviathan wherewith and two Fins more proceeding one from each side he guides himself through his watery Territories May had now began We follow the Sun when making after that glorious Charioteer the Sun we were once more spirited with milder Weather the Mariners casting off their wet Cloaths cared not for any more than would slightly cover them We being in sight of five Small Islands off St. Lawrence for fear of the Tides driving them on shore Lost sight of S. Lawrence some of our Ships anchored by which lingring we lost two of our Companions for two days but we steering something West and lying by a-nights to prevent falling on St. Christophers and Juan de Novo both Low Lands they had time to reach us Being becalmed it was the middle of the Month before we lost sight of St. Lawrence The day after we had Meoty on our Larboard Bow bearing North-East 20 Miles High Land The View of Meoty At Night we had sight of Mohelia The View of Meoty Johanna and Meoty together The View of Mohelia The View of Mohelia The View of Johanna The View of Johanna The watering place bore S. S. E. from the Shore The Peak or 3 Cables one mile and a half high The History of Jehanna THE Morning following we came under the Westward part of Johanna Arrival at Johanna where opposed us a lofty Ridge of Mountains one of which advanceth its aspiring Head up to the towring Clouds Over against which lies the Island called Mohelia at the same distance Calice is from Dover the better Island of the Two though not so big nor quite so Mountainous it being more plentifully as 't is said stored with Provisions but not furnished with so safe an Harbour for Ships as Johanna The only difficulty here being the Weathering the Point in which notwithstanding several Ships have been driven off to Sea not being able to recover the Island again the Winds descending in desperate Gusts drive them into the Trade-winds which here commence again But our Ships were blest with better success and came all safe to Anchor under a Lee-shore which sufficiently protected them from the Winds by the highth of the Mountains A Blessing not to be passed by without a grateful Commemoration when half the Fleet were disabled by Distempers acquired by Salt Meats and a long Voyage without Refreshments and must have suffered too for want of Water had not they met with a seasonable Recruit The first care then was to send the Sick Men ashore Care of the Sick which it is incredible to relate how strangely they revived in so short a time by feeding on Oranges and Fresh Limes and the very smell of the Earth for those that were carried from the Ships in Cradles and looked upon as desperate in a days time could take up their Beds and walk only minding to fetch them anights that the Misty Vapours might not hinder the kind Operation begun on their tainted Mass of Blood by these Specifick Medicines of Nature's own preparing We had Leisure now joined to Security of the Dutch Situation of the Island for that no Ships from India can readily return this way into Europe at this time of the Year and the Hollanders after having touched at the Cape usually go first to Batavia before they coast India which gave us free leave to dedicate our selves to all the Pleasure this Place could afford which for its Excellencies may deserve to be called Happy as well as any the Ancients bestowed the Name of Fortunate Macaria or Foelix on It lies in 12 deg South Latitude Longitude 62 deg 4 min. It is one of the Islands of Africa though lying in the Eastern Sea yet because the Coasts of Africa extend themselves to the Line on this North side of the Cape we must take these Adjacent Isles in the same Account On the South-East lies Meoty North-West Mohelia and North-East Comero all Four Colonies of the Moors or Arabians or at least in subjection to them But to return to Johanna The Inland inaccessible the innermost part we suppose to be fruitful by what the Verge of it declares for to be satisfied in that Point would be hardly worth the while the Mountains requiring more pains to conquer than would quit cost they being altogether inaccessible or their Passages unknown to us The Relation therefore to be expected The Circuit must be of that lies lowest and nearest the Sea The Circuit I imagine to be almost an 100 Miles all along which it is variously cast into Hills and furrowed into Vales as it Nature had plowed them on purpose for encrease The outwaâ—t Coat of which is embroidered with Thamarind Palmetto from the Tree distills a Wine intoxicating and an Oil medicinable externally applied to Bruises Strains c. It yields also some store of Pine Apples Ananas growing on Shrubs
and Princes encourage their Beards to their full growth Their Priests Their Priests one of which attended are habited in fashion not much different had not the Colour inclined to Black and on their Heads a Leather Coif lined with Fur. When we took our leaves we Presented him and his Peers with a few Brass Rings with False Stones We Present them with which they seemed to be well pleased What Towns they have of Note we could not learn They are Vassals to the Arabs but Towns they have if not Cities within the Country And certain it is their Chief Governour is an Arabian Lord. This Johanna Town is about Three quarters of a Mile in length and may contain Two hundred Houses their Streets being no broader than our Allies Villages are very thick Villages A pleasant Grove and Cottages disperst in every place Every Valley makes a delightful Grove one of which exceeding all the rest was cooled with two dainty Currents decked with a continual Spring charming the Senses with the real Sweets of any the most exquisitely feigned Paradises to see Limes grow on Shrubs Leafed and Thorned like our Crabs Oranges of which there is a pleasing sort though small not giving place to our China ones tempting the Sight from a more exalted and less suspicious Tree Over which the lofty Cocoes with unparallel'd straitness stretch forth their Boughs disposed in Ranks as if ordered by the Skilfullest Planter Lower than these but with a Leaf far broader stands the Curious Plantan loading its tender Body with a Fruit whose Clusters emulate the Grapes of Canaan which burthened two Mens Shoulders below which an odoriferous Plant seizes the Smell and winding through its subtile Meanders revives the Faculties of the Brain Here the flourishing Papaw in Taste like our Melons and as big but growing on a Tree leafed like our Fig-tree Citrons Limons and many more contend to indulge the Taste the warbling Birds the Ear and all things as if that general Curse were exempted strive to gratify the Life of Man Neither has Nature so played the Wanton here The Hills are fruitful as well as the Vallies as to be unmindful of the Ascending Hills which in other places by chance are productive but here they abound and liberally bestow on the humble Valleys Notwithstanding the Clime it is situate under bears the reproach of that uninhabitable Zone yet that Aspersion is blown off by those admirably tempered Breizes off the Mountains The Inhabitants are black Temper of the Inhabitants though not so black as at St. Iago as well Limb'd and as well Featur'd neither so tall nor so proud as they but more honest Whether out of fear of Punishment or natural Integrity may be left to conjecture For our Fleet lying as now at an Anchor some years passed they filched some slight things from the English as likewise some Sailers from them the Grievances on both sides known and the Parties detected Our Commanders had their Men slashed publickly on Shore when they cut the Throats of theirs To proceed They are like the Country they live in innocent for as the one produces nothing hurtful so they have always had the Character of being harmless They are courteous to Strangers but above all to the English punctual in their Words and as ready to tax for breach of Promise Lazy above measure despising all Mechanical Arts and in them Necessity compels them to employing their Priests as in building Boats making Mats Yet in one thing to be wondred at for making Old Iron which they covet mightily into Knives or Tools as sharp as Raisors in other things rudely imitating but not deserving the name of Artists The while we were there they had a great Vessel on the Stocks Stocks like the Checks to our Long Boats the Keel of it was a whole Tree no otherwise fitted than it grew only the Branches lopped off To it for Stem and Stern were fastened two others shorter on both sides Planks sewed to the main Timbers with the Thread of the Cocoe-nut each Hole stopped with Pitch Thus had they raised it to the capacity of Thirty Tuns When it will be finished at the rate they work will be hard to guess They are Owners of several small Provoes Their Vessels for Sea of the same make and Canooses cut out of one intire piece of Wood poised with Booms to keep them from over-setting in these they paddle with broad Sticks not row as we with Oars They are very active at Climbing Active at Climbing Running like Jackanapes up their Cocoe-nut Trees which they do by twisting a Band to keep close their Feet as they raise their Bodies by their Arms grasped about the Trees They are not solicitous for much to cover them only a Clout to hide their shame trust with a String round about their Waists in which they stick their Knives in a readiness to cut down their Food from the Trees Their Slaves have a dejected Countenance Slaves how known distinguished by boreing their Ears They sit on Stones or low Seats their Arms folded like Monkies However Skilled in Letters and Astrology they are not so abject but that they have the use of Letters and some science in Astrology by what I can testify For walking the Country and almost tired I stept into an House where I saw a Man writing with a Pen made of a Cane in the bottom of a Bowl besmeared over with black considering a-while at length I observed he made Arabian Characters and aimed to draw a Scheme which when he had done he poured Water upon and stirring it round with his Finger wiped it out again and as he did this muttered seriously to himself doing so thrice I watched what he intended and found that a Woman lay sick there and this Charm was her Physick Besides this Ape-Printing I have it on report from some that saw their Schools for Education of their Youth where they teach them to write and by Bundles of Characters tied together to Ape Printing What they make their Impression on I cannot inform you but Paper is no despicable Commodity among them That Arabick is their Speech Their Speech is without contradiction with what purity I am no competent Judge The Religion among them is Mahometism Religion their Priests not so much exercised in Learning as the Labour of their Hands Their Women are fat and short Women not so big Breasted as those at St. Iago better clad than the Men wearing a course Sheet about them from their Breasts below their Knees about their Heads they wear an Hairlace or somewhat instead of it not to tie their Hair up which is short enough but it may be as our Dames in England to keep the Wrinkles out of their Foreheads In their Ears Mock-Jewels about their Necks and Wrists trifling Bracelets of Beads Glass or Wire of Brass about the small of their Legs Brass Chains and on their
like manner all they have any Commerce with No Act of Hostility either on Shore or in the Road being tollerated without leave first obtained those on Shore being the Pledges forfeited on the breach of Peace Mechlapatan Dierepoint Bar Town The firm Land was plain and nothing elevated beyond the Trees unless Edifices of the European erection CHAP. IV. Takes up our stay at Mechlapatan to our Landing at Fort St. George THE next Morning the Second of the Factory the Chief being at Fort St. George The Treasure set on Shore visited the Admiral and ordered the Treasure to be set on Shore That if the empty Hollander should be so hardy as to face us their small hopes of Plunder might abate their Courage which otherwise might tempt them to attack us with the greater vigour The Boat-men that came for it were of a Sun-burnt Black The Boatmen described with long black Hair tied up in a Clout of Calicut Lawn girt about the Middle with a Sash in their Ears Rings of Gold those that were bare-headed were shorn all to one Lock which carelesly twisted up some have foolishly conceited to be left for Perimel one of their Prophets to hold fast by when he should haul them to Heaven but more truly to preserve them from the Plica Polonica which attends long Hair not cleanly kept and to which these People are incident Among these Peons or Servants to wait on us some more modish than the rest as going in a Garb more Civil Coiling Calicut about their Heads Turbat fashion on their Bodies light Vests underneath long loose Breeches and swadled about the Waist with a Sash offered their Service for a small Pension to execute our Affairs on Shore or wait on us Aboard These spake English and acquainted us how the French had set fire to four Vessels of the Moors and made Prize of four more as they were in this Road not two Months ago that they had constrained some Dutch Factories to run on score to supply their wants with Victuals and other Necessaries whose Credit by these Emergencies and their Cash failing begins to sink Money being here not only the Nerves and Sinews but the Life it self of Trade Being sent for on Shore by the desire of the Factory Landing at Mechlapatan by one of the Country Boats I was landed at Mechlapatan These Boats are as large as one of our Ware-Barges and almost of that Mould sailing with one Sail like them but padling with Paddles instead of Spreads and carry a great Burthen with little trouble outliving either Ship or English Skiff over the Bar. Which by the rapid motion of the Waves driving the Sands into an Head makes a noise as deafning as the Cataracts of Nile and not seldom as difficult a Downfal Over this the Land shuts us up on both sides and the stiller Waters contentedly do part their Streams to embrace the Town Near which a Fort or Blockade if it merit to be called so made of Dirt The Fort and Town hides half a score great Guns under the command of which several Moors Junks ride at Anchor A Bow-shot from whence the Town it self environed with a Mud Wall entrenched with a stinking Moras Chap. IV. and at some time Moated with the Sea creates a spacious Prospect it is of Form oblong Their Bank Solls Their Custom-House Keys Their Private Dwellings or Custom-House Keys where they land are Two but mean and shut only with ordinary Gates at Night The High-streets are broad set forth with high and lofty Buildings the Materials Wood and Plaister beautified without with folding Windows made of Wood and lattised with Rattans entring into Balconies shaded by large Sheds covered with Tiles Within a Square Court to which a stately Gatehouse makes a Passage in the middle whereof a Tank vaulted with a flat Roof above and on it Terras Walks are framed the one to wash in in the heat of the day the other to take the Air in the cool of the day the whole Fabrick intire within its self covered atop Taber-like The poorer of which multitudes are interspersed both in their High-streets and Allies are thatched cast round as Bee Hives and walled with Mud which in the Summers drought often take fire and lay the taller equal with the ground For publick Structures their principal Streets present sundry Mosques Publick Structures one Custom-house one Court of Judicature and that but mean For Places of resort there are three Buzzars or Market-places crowded both with People and Commodities On the North-East a Wooden Bridge The Bridges half a Mile long leading to the Bar Town on the North-West one a Mile Long tending to the English Garden and up the Country Each of which have a Gate-house and a strong Watch at the beginning next the Town Both these are laid over a Sandy Marsh where Droves of People are always thronging The present Incumbents are the Moors Persians Gentiles Sojourners Armenians who maintain their Correspondence over Land Portugals Dutch and English and some few French For the Story of it The Story of this Place and the Kingdom of Gulconda and with it of the Kingdom the Gentues the Portugal Idiom for Gentiles are the Aborigines who enjoyed their freedom till the Moors or Scythian Tartars whether mediately from Persia or immediately from that overflow of Tamerlane into these Parts is not material since they both pretend to the same Extract and that will be fitter declared in another place undermining them took advantage of their Civil Commotions For one Caff or Tribe by the Chief of which they were ruled clashing with another overturned all which that we may the better understand These Tribes were distinguished by their Occupations At first governed by their Tribes espousing therefore Vocations as well as Kindred and thereby as one was a more honourable Calling than the other so they stood upon their Nobility in that Imployment never marrying out of it As the Head were the Brachmines the Ancient Gymnosophists out of whom branched their Priests Physicians and their Learned Men. Next in esteem were the Rashwaws Rashpoots or Souldiers But the most insolent were the Artificers How altered as the Engravers Refiners Goldsmiths Carpenters and the like who behaved themselves not only disrespectfully to their Superiours but tyrannically to those of a viler Rank as the Husbandmen and Labourers Whereupon they jointly conspired their Ruin and with that their own Slavery taking the Moors to their assistance who not only reduced the Usurpers to Composition which was That they should be accounted the Off-scum of the People and as base as the Holencores whom they account so because they Defile themselves by eating any thing and do all servile Offices and not be permitted to ride in a Palenkeen at their Festivals or Nuptials but on Horseback which they count an high Disgrace but they also took the Power into their own hand which though Despotical
Nature thereof and committed to a place called the Post from the Punishment inflicted where the Master of the Post is acquainted with the heinousness of the Crime which being understood he heightens by a Drink which at first they refuse made of Bung the Juice of the intoxicating sort of Hemp and being mingled with Dutry the deadliest sort of Solaâ—ium or Nightshade named Post after a Week's taking they crave more than ever they nauseated Ad illorum vicem qui degustato Sardonum graminum succo feruntur in morte ridere making them foolishly mad Then are they brought into the Inner Lodgings of the House in which Folding Doors open upon delicious Gardens where Apes and Cats Dogs and Monkeys are their Attendants with whom they maintain their Dialogues exercising over them their Humour of an Assassin Usurper Miser or what their Genius led them to whilst themselves After this manner are they imprison'd during the King's Pleasure or he order their Cure to restore them to their Senses again which otherwise after their Spirits are tired by a restless Appetite of doing and in the mean time have not a suitable recruit they linger by a lasting Leanness into the Shades which alive they represented As for their Law-Disputes No Law-Disputes long depending Their Religions they are soon ended the Governor hearing and the Cadi or Judge determining every Morning Religions of all Inventions are licens'd The Moors are Mahometans of the Arabian Sect The Persians as much deluded by Mortis Ali or Hali accused therefore of Heresy by the Moors The Natives are Idolaters worshiping many Penates or Houshold-Gods yea the Devil too for fear Yet they acknowledge but One Supreme God and the various Representations or Shapes adored are but so many different Attributes After every day's Devotion they dawb their Forheads with Paint and as Principles of Zeal abominate eating with any unless of their own Cast when they strip and wash themselves before Meals They have a due command of their Appetite both as to Time and the Matter they feed on to wit Roots Herbs Rice and Cutchery all manner of Fruits but nothing that has had Life or likely to produce Vital Heat as Eggs which they will not eat but they will drink Milk and boil'd Butter which they call Ghe For their Easements both Men and Women keep a set hour and go with every one a purifying Pot in their hand for to take up Water to wash after their occasions to some Publick Tank or Pond the Men apart from the Women neither of them concerned for Passengers keeping their back-sides towards them till they have done their Business Among them all it is common to make water sitting as when they evacuate the other way and it is a shame for any one to be seen to do otherwise they sarcastically saying Such a one pisses like a Dog which is held unclean standing Their Doctors of Divinity are the Brachmins Their Doctors of Divinity and their Tenets who instruct them in their Law to preserve all Creatures that are beneficial and teach them the old Pythagorean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Transmigration of Souls out of one body into another as a Tyrant into a Tygre a Covetous Man or Cruel into a Boar a fearful Man into an Hare and so on If they see a Tree twined about with another as most Bind-Weeds will they tell you that in this life when Human the Soul got into that Tree was a Debtor to the other and therefore it is held fast by the other The Soul of a Good Man is believed to depart into a Cow wherefore 't is Sacrilege with them to kill a Cow or a Calf but highly piacular to shoot a Kite dedicated to the Brachmins for which Money will hardly pacify Their Religious Worship consists most in washing and purifyings Their Ceremonies more of which hereafter They marry very young They marry young not knowing their Wives though till at riper years they come to consummate their Hymeneal Rites Their Language they call generally Gentu Their Speech They write on the Leaf of a Cocoe with a sharp Iron Instrument The peculiar Name of their Speech is Telinga The Telinga Character The Mahometans bury their dead The Mahometans bury the Gentus burn their dead the Gentues burn them and in the Husband's Flames the Wife offers her self a Sacrifice to his Manes or else she shaves and turns Whore for a Livelihood none of her Friends looking upon her hers not her Husband's Acquaintance thrusting her upon it to which end they give her Dutry when half mad she throws her self into the Fire and they ready with great Logs keep her in his Funeral Pile The Armenians are settled here on account of Trade whose History is reserved for a fitter place they are Christians of a separate Communion Christian Strangers The Portugals of the Romish Church The English of the Orthodox Episcopacy The Dutch most Calvinists The Coin current here is a Pagod Coin current and the Commodities 8 s. Dollar 4 s. 6 d. Rupee 2 s. 3 d. Cash 1 d. ½ a Cash ¼ Staple Commodities are Calicuts white and painted Palempores Carpets Tea Diamonds of both Rocks the Old and New Escretores and other Knick-knacks for Ladies because far-fetch'd and dear-bought Beasts they have Beasts wild and tame Wild Lions Leopards Bears Boars Tygers Antelopes Spotted Deer For Service Oxen Buffola's Camels Asses which they use for burthen to carry Packs Water in great Leathern Sacks about the Town for every Family and any other Slavery But their Horses which are small and hot-mettled they put to no such drudgery but use them with all the kindness and fair speeches imaginable With these without disparagement to that Image God has stamp'd on that Enchiridion of his Handywork Their hanging Coaches and those that carry them Man we might recite the Coolies Duties and Palenkeen Boys by the very Heathens esteemed a degenerate Offspring of the Holencores and in earnest excepting the Shape they come nigh to Brutes These are the Machines they journey by On the Shoulders of the Coolies they load their Provant and what Moveables necessary The Duties march like Furies with their lighted Mussals in their hands they are Pots filled with Oyl in an Iron Hoop like our Beacons and set on fire by stinking Rags Ambling after these a great pace the Palenkeen-Boys support them four of them two at each end of a Bambo which is a long hollow Cane thick light and strong arched in the middle which is done in Cases while it is growing where hangs the Palenkeen as big as an ordinary Couch broad enough to tumble in cieled with Silk and Bosses pendent to raise withal and others at each Corner as our Coaches have underneath it is laced with strong broad Girts over which a Quilt Skin of a Tyger or Hide to lye upon and round Pillows of Silk or Velvet to bolster their Heads At every Angle turn'd
right ascent of the Sun to the Meridian the Mountains were grown to that height that they seemed to be the Partition Walls betwixt this World and the Sphere of Fire for the Sun was a long while after he had gilded the Canopy of Heaven before he could drive his Steeds over those Olympick Towers with his blazing Orb Which I take notice of because the Sun and Stars ascend the Horizon to the Meridian directly in the Torrid Zone and so descend whereby there is little or no Twilight as there is nearer the Poles where they ascend and descend more obliquely At Mangalore the Dutch have a Fort and 6 Miles to the North the French have a Flag flying within a League off which a Grey Rock extols its hoary Head eight Fathom above Water navigable on all sides Several places on the Malaber Coast Har bours for Pirates justly called by us Sacrifice Island in remembrance of a bloody Butchery on some English by the Pirate Malabars who are the worst Pickeroons on this Coast going in Fleets and are set out by the Great Men ashore the Chief of whom lives at Durmapatan where we took in fuller and larger Pepper than any yet They are stronger here in Shipping than the rest they housing several Junks of Burthen drawn up on the Banks of the River not yet lanched since the Rains which they always do when they set in keeping them dry all the Winter with the Thatch of Cajans Parting from hence the Mountains above and the Valleys below were covered with Woods only now and then Hills of Red Earth were interspersed which our Dawbers use for Painting that held on their pace till we were up with Canamore another Fortress of the Dutch From whence they spake Defiance by spending three Shots unregarded by us From Durmapatam Phalapatan five Leagues North lies Phalapatan where I took Boat and sailed up the River with the Lascars or Sea-men of the Country of whom I shall say no more at present than that they are a shame to our Sailors who can hardly ever work without horrid Oaths and hideous Cursing and Imprecations and these Moor-men on the contrary never set their Hands to do any Labour but that they sing a Psalm or Prayer and conclude at every joint Application to it Allah Allah invoking on the Name of God On each side upon the Teaming Banks are homely Villages a plain Dress becoming Art the Servant where her Mistress Nature is so coruscant here being whole Armies of Trees surprisingly beautiful Besides these Benefits for Delight there flow no less for Profit they improving the Commodiousness of the River which is Sailable round to Durmapatan by a Free Trade Six Miles up stands Phalapatan of Building base it is overgrown with the Weeds of Mahometism the Moors planting themselves here whose King I was so lucky to see out of my Boat my Lascars entreating me to give them leave to go ashore to provide Victuals in the Buzzar His Meen was Patriarchical The King his Head gray his Beard Snowed with Age his Raiment white in the Eastern Mode His Son and Heir a Child followed him as he passed the People payed him humblâ— Respect he was without a Guard it being needless where Subjects are Loyal-hearted The River was full of Aligators Crocodiles in the River or Crocodiles which lay basking in the Sun in the Mud on the River's side whom the Natives are fearless of conceiting the Brachmines have power to lay a Spell upon them that they do no harm Which whether true or false 't is certain they aâ— seldom do harm in the Water as the Tigres in the Woods over whom they fancy their Priests have the same prevalency A Mile more up was Cutty-Cony Cutty-Cony the fair Palace as it signifies in Malabar but though it do in their Language it would not make the Interpretation good in English it agreeing but in one particular that is the Site It having the advantage of an Hill has an easy Prospect over the Water It s prospect as broad here as our Thamesis and over the Verdent Meadows which spread themselves Westward till Hills of Cardamoms do bound the sight running from thence North by East while they meet with Mount Sephir all along unchristned Gate these are the minor Cardamoms and the best if not the only in the World On the East a gravelly Forest with tall benty Grass offers besides its taking Look diversity of Game as Hares wild Boars Tigres and wild Elephants which are dreaded by Travellers they striking all down before them Trees as well as Animals The like Terror is conceived by the crashing noise among the Woods made by the wild Bulls for all which 't is the practice of the Woodmen to dig deep Pits and cover them with Sads laid over with Boughs to entrap them in their headstrong and unwary Course Monkeys with white Ruffs and black shagged Bodies looking very gravely are brought from hence On the South a Wood of Jamboes Mangoes Cocoes on the North a Grove of Pepper The Place is now resigned to the English The Gentiles loth to resign it to the English though the Gentiles were unwilling to desert it it being an Arch Brachmine's Seat where was a small Pagod standing in the middle of the Yard well endowed till they had robbed their Gods of their Gold and Silver and now they are said to be dumb and sullen because of the English But without any prejudice to Truth we may believe the Usurers Faith and theirs to be both under one Lock and Key Quantum nummorum habet in arcâ tantum habet fidei It is walled about by the English with Mud The English Fort. except the two round Points towards the Land whose Foundations and Bastions are of Stone They have Fourteen small Guns mounted here are twenty two Soldiers besides Factors The Air so salubrious that never any English are remembred to lay their Bones here The Fort is a Tetragone from Corner to Corner Without besides the English there are a select Company of Nairoes who are stout ready and resolute for any Action Their Weapons are Bows and Arrows with Falchions by their sides By these the Countrey is inhabited Unsafe travelling without a Nairo among whom if a Man fall single salvage Beasts are more compassionate but if you have but a Boy with you of their Cast you may travel secure enough Beyond the Outworks live a few Portugals Musterâ—s or Misteradoes Naughtiness of their Women among whom are Stews and Brothels the Women of this Coast being the most professedly Lewd of any being said to instruct the Men to be Patients while they act the Masculine Part in their Lascivious Twines Sixteen Tarrs here make one Fanam Coins Nine Fanams one Piece of Eight four Cash are the eighth part of one Rupee Outstretching the Malabar Coast Left the Malabar Coast we sailed along by Batticalai on the Canatick Coasts and
in safe Harbour from Wind and Weather As we passed up the Bay two of the Mogul's Men of War each 300 Tun with bloody Colours out rode before Kerenjau Under the Castle besides innumerable little Vessels as Hoys Ketches and the like lay Three Men of War with their Top Armour out Waste-Cloath and Penants at every Yard-Arm to wit The Revenge 22 Guns The May-boon taken from the Dutch 220 Tuns The Hunter 14 Guns The Castle is seated towards the bottom of the Bay commanding it every way from the Points and Flankiers At Evening the next day I was sent for on Shore and received by the Honourable Gerald Aungier Governor both for the King and Company and President of all the East-Indies Thus after a plenary Anniversary this Voyage was accomplished and just that Day Twelvemmonth you left me Aboard Ship at Gravesend I set foot on Shore at Bombaim where for this Shipping I remain Yours J. F. 1. Mendam's Point 2. Malabar-Hill 3. This Great 〈◊〉 or Breach of the Sea 4. Veruâ—â— 5. Magatâ—â—-River 6. Bassein City 8. 〈◊〉 City and 〈◊〉 â— The 〈…〉 Watering place AN HISTORICAL ACâ—OUNT OF BOMBAIM And the Parts Adjacent LETTER II. CHAP. I. Mentions the Island and its Possessors SIR BY the Falcon in which Ship I am now taking my Passage to Surat I received at once the News of your good health Chap. I. and that welcome one of Peace with Holland the first I embrace as a Friend the other I congratulate with all good Men. Nulla salus Bello Pacem te poscimus omnes I shall neither apologize for my long Letter or sending this before you give me your Thoughts of the former the Distance of Place shall excuse both And I proceed where you left me last at Bombaim and so on till these Ships shall depart for England BOMBAIM In East-India is one of the Islands of Salset parted from that part of the Canarick Coast which lies nearest Duccan 60 Leagues North of Goa Islands of Salset in number seven and as many South of Surat These Islands are in number seven viz Bombaim Canorein Trumbay Elephanto the Putachoes Munchumbay and Kerenjau with the Rocâ— of Henry Kenry arising as so many Mountains out of the Sea which accords to the Fancy of the Natives who affirm that Nereus has lost these Islets with a great deal more of the Low-Lands from his Trident the Earth gaining upon the Sea And as a Remonstrance of their Credulity they bring for proof the vast Rocks that are many Miles up the Countrey bestuck with Oyster-shells and other Trophies of the Sea 's having had once Dominion there Letter II. all which they call Conchon or the Netherlands In whose opening Arm Their Situation that is from Choul Point to Bacein two famous Cities belonging to the Portugals some 30 Leagues distance lye those Spots of â—round still disputable to which side to incline For at Low Water most of them are foordable to the Main or from one to the other and at Spring-Tides again a great part of them overflowed Bombaim is the first that faces Choul The Bay makes the most commodious Port in India and ventures farthest out into the Sea making the Mouth of a spacious Bay from whence it has its Etymology Bombaim quasi Boon Bay Beyond it lies Canorein Trumbay Munchumbay with their Creeks making up the North side of the Bay Between whom and the Main lies Elephanto Kerenjau Putachoes with the great Rock or barren Islet of Henry Kenry These with some part of the Main constitute the South-East side of the Bay all which together contribute to the most notable and secure Port on the Coasts of India Ships of the greatest as well as smaller Burthen having quiet Harbour in it whither if they can they chuse to betake themselves if they happen as oft they do to lose their Voyages by the Monsoons From whence these Pieces of Land receive their general Name of Salset From whence the Island is called Bombaim if it be worth Enquiry I can only guess either because it signifies in Canorein a Granary as they are to the Portugals North of Goa and sometimes to Goa it self as at this time when their Armado of Rice was all lost which annually used to furnish them with Provisions of Corn or else analogically from the fruitful Peninsula of the same Name near which Goa its self stands But whether this be certain or not the reason of the Denomination of Bombaim is convincing To go on then from whence we deviated What Import this Island is to the English it is necessary you should be first acquainted That after Vasquez de Gama in the Year 1547 had laid open these Seas for Traffick to the East-Indies the Portugals to their Honour took for a while sure Footing of what they had industriously so long laboured for and brought most of the Borderers on the Sea-Coasts under their Subjection not all India as they have fondly reported It suffices then to avoid a Volume of Discourse that Bombaim with these Islets continued still in their hands until the Year 1661 when the Crown of Portugal parted with these together with the Haven to His Majesty of Great Britain as a Portion of the Dowry of Donna Infanta Catherina Sister to the King of Portugal and Consort to Charles the Second late King of England Scotland France and Ireland A matter of great Import to the Kingdom had it been transferred according to Contract as well in regard to the Protection of our Ships as for the Profit of the Soil to the English Inhabitants but most of all for the Awe it might impose 〈◊〉 them who are the Disturbers of our Trade here But upon what grounds they refused to surrender The Portugals loth to part with it may be understood if we consider the different Interests as well as Remoteness of the Portugueze in Europe and East-India It is confessed they will talk big of their King and how nearly allied to them as if they were all Cousin-Germans at least but for his Commands if contrary to their Factions they value no more than if they were merely titular as may appear by what follows For notwithstanding the King of England sent a Fleet of Five Royal Ships under the Command of my Lord of Malbery to waft over a Vice-Roy for them confirmed so by their own King and one of their own Nation and to take possession of these Islands in the name of the King of England yet they not only positively denied to surrender but constrained the Vice-Roy to a negation otherwise to expect never to assume that Dignity which by that Act they made him sensible was more in their disposal than the King 's Whereupon Malbery examining his Commission The English Fleet go to Swally was vexed he was pinched and knew not how to ease himself wearied therefore with Delays he retreated to Swally and there upon the Sands set the Souldery on
to rule in some Place or other for Three Years and upon these they can borrow or take up Mony as certain as upon their Hereditary Estates the next Incumbent being Security for the payment Pursuant to this a new Governour coming to Choul his Honour the President sent to congratulate him and the Admiral of the North coming to Baçein another was sent on the same Message Nor could the hot Months be over before John de Mendos of a Noble Family sent for me to Baçein for the cure of his only Daughter illustriously born handsome and on the point of Marriage with the Admiral of the North though not full Twelve years old Leaving Bombaim A Message to Baçein at this time of the year we could go either within or without but the first being related to be pleasantest I chose that way sailing by Trumbay where we receive Custom we might see a comely Church and Aldâ—â— At Noon we reached Tanaw Having gained our Passage over the Flats we made no stay but rowed streight to Baçein every half Mile we were presented with fresh Prospects of delicate Country-Mansions two of which of special note draw the Eyes of the Beholders one of John de Melos three Mile off Tanaw it standing high curiously built has a Tarras Descent with Walks and Gardens half a Mile till it lead to a spacious Banquetting-house over the Water with Stone-stairs for Landing Beyond it a Mile on the side of an Hill stands Grebondel a large neat built Town of Martin Alphonso's and at top of all his House Fort and Church of as stately Architecture as India can afford he being the Richest Don on this side Goa Here we are Land-locked by the Gut which is fabled to be made by Alexander from which we have an open passage to Baçein it lying bare towards the Sea BACEIN Is incircled with a round Stone-wall The City is round and has a Gate for every Wind it is strong enough against the Indians but not able to endure an European Foe There are upon the Out-walls and in the Fort Forty two great Guns the Fort in the middle of the City is circular towards the Market appears a State-house Piatzed where the Governour convocates the Fidalgos every Morning upon consultation in which they all stand a Chair not being permitted the Governour though Gouty Towards Evening they meet there to Game Within the Walls are six Churches Six Churches within the Walls four Convents two Colleges one of the Jesuits another of the Franciscans It bears the Name of an Academy the Students are instructed in the Jesuits College but live in Town Where is a Library with Classes of Historians Moralists Expositors and no more It is a College of Polite Structure in the Portuco is a Copy of Angelos representing the Resurrection above Stairs as well as below are fine square Cloisters as all their Collegiate Churches have on the sides whereof are their Cells they have a spacious Refectory and a goodly Church three parts of the City is devoted to their use The Fidalgos for few Artisans are tolerated within the Walls have stately Dwellings The Dwellings of the Fidaâ—gos graced with covered Balconies and large Windows two Stories high with Panes of Oister shell which is their usual Glazing among them in India or else Latised They shew their Greatness by their number of Sumbreeroes and Cofferies whereby it is dangerous to walk late for fear of falling into the Hands of those Pilfering Abusive Rascals None but Christians lodge within the City the Banyans repairing to the Suburbs upon Tattoo The City is a Mile and half round it stands on an Island separated by a small Channel from the Main as far off the Island Canorein as Canorein from Bombaim and parted after the like nature The Land about it plain and fruitful of Sugar-Canes Rice and other Grain a great part of which has lately been destroyed by the Arabs of Muschat The Devastations made by the Arabs about Baçein who put them to a sore fright in Baçein and this is done often setting fire to their Villages and carrying away their Fidalgos Prisoners together with their Wives and Families butchering the Padres and robbing the Churches without resistance conceived on a deadly Feud partly out of revenge of the Portugal Cruelties at Muschat but chiefly out of detestation of each other's Religion insomuch that Quarter is denied on either side But that on this Pretence The Portugals striving to possess themselves of Muschat The ground of their Quarrels were put to such stress that had not their Armado come to their relief they must have desisted their Enterprize Upon the arrival whereof the new Recruits gained so much on the Arab Governour that he yielded up the otherwise invincible Fort of Muschat where the Portugals acting all nefarious Outrages contrary to their Promise the Arabs re-armed themselves with Courage and fresh Succors and at length beat them from hence to Ormus in the Gulf of Persia from whence also they were routed by the help of the English we then being at war with them the first blow to their Greatness in these Parts To check these Incursions of the Arabs The Arabs care not to engage the Portugals the Portugals every Year are at the charge of a lusty Squadron in these Seas which were those we met on the Coast returning from thence who were no sooner gone than the Arabs sent their Fleet to do this Mischief here which now 't is done they are again in quest of them but they fly as often as these pursue And if such be the gasping Strength of the Portugals Their last Efforts to terrify the Potentest Enemies to Christianity in these Parts what was their flourishing Estate Whence it may easily be supposed before now all had bowed to the Cross which yet bend under Heathenism or Mahometism had they not been prevented by unhappy Pretenders that I fear too much preferred Merchandize and private Pieques before the welfare of Religion For it is morally probable that had not the Dutch and we interrupted them all might have been Christian in these parts of the World Having in a Week's time compleated my Business Eliphanto another Idolatrous Temple cut out of a solid Rock returning the same way we steered by the South side of the Bay purposely to touch at Eliphanto so called from a monstrous Elephant cut out of the main Rock bearing a Young one on its Back not far from it the Effigies of an Horse stuck up to the Belly in the Earth in the Valley from thence we clambred up the highest Mountain on the Island on whose Summit was a miraculous Piece hewed out of solid Stone It is supported with Forty two Corinthian Pillars being a Square open on all sides but towards the East where stands a Statue with three Heads crowned with strange Hieroglyphicks At the North side in an high Portuco stands an Altar guarded by Giants and immured by
Folks in rich Dresses of Gold and Silver Mitres on their Heads and weighty Sashes about their Middles bedawbed and stained all over with Saffron Colour the Married Folks riding on Horseback Palenkeens and Coaches splendidly adorned drawn by Oxen Goats and Elks Painted over with Saffron their Horns tipped with Silver Musick Streamers and Banners going before them the Women Singing Epithalamiums the Men following and a great Attendance with Pageants Mirchals and Kitsols giving Pawn and Coco-Nuts frankly as they pass The Ceremonies after Washing and Cleansing Ceremonies in Marriage conclude by their Sitting Two Hours Tied by the Neck while the Priest Prays the Woman being then Manacled with Gold or Silver Shackles about her Wrists and Ankles a white Sheet being held over them Unvailed a Coco Nut exchanged to confirm the Bargain and Corn scattered upon them all Emblems of the Matrimonial Bands Chastity and a firm resolution to comply with one anothers Fortunes and then dismisses them by sprinkling Water on the Married Couple that they may Increase and Multiply The Women are never Married more than once the Men are under no such Obligation The first New Moon in October Dually of the Heathen is the Banyans Dually a great Day of Celebration to their Pagan Deities when they are very kind-hearted presenting their Masters with Gifts as knowing they shall be no Losers and Entertain one another with mutual Mirth and Banquetting The next Moon their Women flock to the Sacred Wells The Women have a time of Freedom where they say it is not difficult to persuade them to be kind supposing their Pollutions not to remain after their Washing in these Holy Waters March begins with a Licentious Week of Sports and Rejoycing Feast of Flies wherein they are not wanting for Lascivious Discourse nor are they to be offended at any Jest or Waggery And to shew their Beneficence at the beginning of the Rains they Treat the Ants and Flies with Sweatmeats and Wafers studiously setting Hony Syrups or any thing that may entice them to their own death out of their way allowing them Sugar or any other dried Confects for their Repast instead of them They are constant Benefactors to the Dogs Hospitable to Dogs which are many the Bitches littering in the Streets but avoid touching them as they would an Holencore whom if their Garments chance to brush they hie them home Shift and Wash The Wrestlers Anoint with Oil Wrestling and are Naked only a Belt about their Wastes in which they weary one another only by pure Strength and Luctation not by Skill or Circumvention these two last use Opium to make them perform things beyond their strength and it is incredible to think how far these will Travel before the virtue of it be worked off Hunting of Tigers is sometimes a Pastime Hunting at others a Tragy-Comedy for besetting a Wood where Tigers lurk with Men and Horses and putting a Set of their loud Musick to strike up in the middle of it they rouze at the unaccustomed Noize and rushing forth seize the first in their way if not Shot or Launced to prevent them Wild Bulls and Buffola's are as dangerous nor is the Boar less fierce than any of them Antilopes are set upon by Leopards on this wise they carry the Leopards on Hackeries both for less suspicion and to give them the advantage of their Spring which if they lose they follow not their Prey being for a surprize wherefore the Hackeries wheel about at a distance till they come near enough to apprehend them they feeding fearless of the Hackeries then with three or four Leaps after a small Chace seize them and easily become their Masters The Great Men have Persian Greyhounds which they Cloathe in Cold Weather and some few Hawks a Colum may be Hunted with a Greyhound as we do Bustards being a great Fowl and long in Rising Buffola's animated by their Keepers Buffola's and Rams set to Fight fight with great fury their Horns being reversed are useless but they knock Foreheads with a force adequate to such great Engines till they are all of a gore and follow their blow with such vigour that the strength of their Backs exert themselves into their Natural Parts which they brandish as if stimulated to Venery the stronger will hardly permit the weaker to go back to return with his force but pressing on him endeavours to bear him down thus foiling one another they are a long time before they will yield Persian Rams set together in this manner are not parted without a bloody Catastrophe which are kept on purpose for the sport of their Great Men as likewise are Elephants who engage at the Will of their Masters Here are no Gladiators but at Cudgels they will play as at Back-sword till they warm one another The chief Pleasure of the Gentiles The Master-piece of the Banyans or Banyans is to Cheat one another conceiving therein the highest Felicity though it be Cuckolding which they are expert at They will play at Chess or Tables but their utmost Fewds are determined by the dint of the Tongue to scold lustily and to pull one anothers Puckeries or Turbats off being proverbially termed a Banyan Fight Nevertheless they are implacable till a secret and sure Revenge fall upon their Adversary either by maliciously plotting against their Life by clancular Dealings or Estate by unlawful and unjust Extortions Then you shall have them with this Prayer in their Mouths Pulchra Laverna Da mihi fallere da justum sanctumque videri Noctem peccatis fraudibus adjice nubem Example is more than Precept Education of Youth and the Youth have no other Education besides their Parents more than some mean Pedagogue's who teaches the Children first their Letters or Cyphers on the Ground by writing on the Dust with their Fingers which is their Primer where when they are perfect they are allowed a Board plastered over which with Cotton they wipe out when full as we do from Slates or Table-Books when they arrive to Paper they are presumed to be their Crafts-masters and to earn it The Moors The sloth of the Moors a whet to the Banyans who are by Nature slothful will not take pains being proud scorn to be taught and jealous of the Baseness of Mankind dare not trust their Children under tuition for fear of Sodomy whereby few of their Great Men or Merchants can read but keep a Scrivan of the Gentues On which account it is the Banyans make all Bargains and transact all Money-business and though you hear see and understand them yet you shall be choused they looking you in the face for as a piece of Superstition they must put their Hands under a Ramerin or Mantle when by their Fingers they instruct one another and by that slight often contradict their Tongues Such a subtile Generation is this and so fitly squared a Place is Surat to exercise their Genius in In February the Bussorah
ut pudibundas Exercere sales inter convivia possit Having feasted the Fancy Feasted by the Governor's Order he contends to cloy the Stomach with loads of Viands stowed in Plate serving me with his own Hands his Friends and he being content to feed on the desire they had to satisfy me not being to be courted to fall to till I had done they served me with variety of Stews and Baked Meats but offered me Sherbet only for Drink I had provided against this chance by filling my Metarrah with Beveridge which passed for Water being drunk out of a Leather Bottle Tipped with Silver for Travel After Dinner they made their loud Musick proclaim my going to the Governor whereat flocked all the Gur and after formal Salutes None appear before Great Men without a Present present him with a Glass of Chymical Spirits As the Parthians were wont not to receive Visits without a Gift Et exempla in Oriente plura sunt interea Magorum in sacris qui Christum adoraturi munera attulerunt So here the like Custom prevails I was placed close by him How strange our Arms and Apparel seem to them he like an Hermit having the Court brought to him admired the Splendour as well as the Novelty of our Europe Dress asking my Servant if I lay in them because it is their fashion not to undress to go to Bed but lye in the same Clothes they wear in the day he made me declare the use of my Rapier at first not apprehending it so serviceable as their Broad Two-handed Swords 't was a Question out of my road yet I made him understand our Custom in War was to appear all armed Cap-a-pee where their Broad Swords would find a rebate whereas these Sharp-pointed Weapons would pierce the Junctures of the Harness or the Pleats of a Coat of Mail they denying a Stab to be more mortal than a Slash He was very inquisitive about our Military Discipline and heard it with pleasure He called all his Male Children about him who sate at his Feet and gave me an History of their Maladies as most here did that durst speak there being an infinite number of Captains and Grave Fellows The Old Men mended their Eyes with Spectacles the young marred theirs with staring The Choultry was hung with Green and Red Velvet checkered Permitted the freedom of the Castle his Pawn Boxes were large and of Massy Gold his Retinue grave his Carriage affable he gave me a Bow-Ring off his Thumb of Cashmire of equal value as Vertue being a Charm against Thunder and the liberty to take a Round about the Castle never before granted any not listed in his Service A Portuguez Mestizo Chief Gunner of the Castle was very officious though I was entrusted to the charge of his prime Eunuch The first Object busied me A bold Attempt of Seva Gi 's Men. was a Place Seva Gi 's Men had attempted to scale by me esteemed a desperate Design and very improbable yet two Men got up and a Stone casually tumbling deterred their Accomplices leaving them a Sacrifice to the Governor and Women who being left alone to the defence of the Castle all the Men deserting on the approach of a vast Army of Seva Gi 's hurled them down the Mountain for their rash Adventure confirming to me by a great Stone let fall the unavoidableness of their destruction it running with that force where-ever it came that it beat all a-fore till it rested in the middle of the Valley It is stored with Granaries hewed out of Stone Granaries for Stores now formerly Religious Cells I suppose for Religion's sake at first being too delicately engraved for the present use though there be several Tanks filled with Butter of 400 years standing prized by the Gentiles as high as Gold prevalent in Old Aches and Sore Eyes one of which was opened for my sake and a Present made me of its black stinking and viscous Balsom There are other Tanks or Cisterns for Water which look nastily Green Yellow and Red being distilled in the Rains and in the Heats evaporated to a Consistency in some of these Gurs the Water is so bad that they use Onions to correct its unsavoriness Garlick indeed with us is called the Countryman's Treacle They have Provisions for a Seven Years Siege for a Thousand Families A Rajah slain the occasion of a Barbarous Funeral but no other Ammunition than Stones excepting two unshapen Sakers of Two and twenty Foot long with a narrow Bore of Brass of Gentu Mould at each end one on huge winding Carriages one of which at random killed a Rajah some four Months ago when Seva was encamped about Jeneah slinging a Bullet two Course off which Shot caused a Bonfire of a couple of his Ladies beside other Domesticks one of each sort to attend him in another World as his Chief Physician Barber Washerman Horse-keeper and the like to the number of Twenty odd a thing as customary at the death of any great Rajah as 't is for the Wife of every Gentue of note at the death of her Husband By this fatal Instrument of Mortality stood the remaining part of the Tower the Thunder had cleft in twain Near where a Dutch Apostate has a wretched Dwelling enjoying a Pair of Wives the miserable Tools who induced him to this lamentable Condition that he is despised and slighted by them all few of those that endure Circumcision meeting with better fortune Having taken my full view Took leave of the Governor and returning to give the Governor Thanks for this freedom I met him as he came from Prayers through a Lane of Soldiers followed by a Crowd of his Domesticks when taking my leave he ordered my release being ushered with the same State down as I came up leaving him Prisoner in his strong Hold. Hence might be beheld many Dens and Caverns fondly believed to be carved and cut out of the Rocks by some Divine Power having no account of their original Indeed they are miraculous And I am apt to judge the pious Zeal of former Ages when undisturbed in their Tranquility thinking the greatest labour too little to express their love to a Deity set them upon such imployments more than that they could promise to themselves any security from these Places which though the Passages to them be difficult yet they are generally unprovided of Human Necessaries This Hill being only independent whereby it stands out against all the opposite Forts of Seva Gi many of whom in a still Night may be heard by Voice but more by Trumpets Here are a Thousand Sword-men in pay This Gur puts a stop to Seva Gi this way no Horse or Elephant being able to climb it It was never fairly taken the Governor is one of approved Fidelity the Mogul having not the like Fort in all his Kingdoms and is of main concern to the Frontiers putting a stop to Seva Gi 's progress otherwise likely
strong Cinamon and upon the Tongue is as hot as a Clove the Bark of the small Branches also when Green alters nothing in Taste from Cinamon but dried is more slimy and is very good Cassia Lignum It bears little long Whitish Flowers of no Smell nor Taste but the Leafs of the Branch that bear them have a more Aromatick Taste The Thamarind Tree hath a small Leaf like a Vetch The Thamarind Tree bears the Fruit in a Cod like a French-Bean wherein is the Pulp inclosing the Stones and Fibres it is a great spreading Tree the Body thick the Bark rough and brownish bears its Fruit in March the Indians feed on it and grow Fat with it they have not the Art to preserve it with Sugar but Salt it up This is Siliqua Arabica too but not Nigra as the Cassia Fistula is Teke by the Portugueze The Indian Oak Sogwan by the Moors is the firmest Wood they have for Building and on the account it resists Worms and Putrefaction the best for that purpose in the World in Height the Lofty Pine exceeds it not nor the Sturdy Oak in Bulk and Substance the knotty Branches which it bears aloft send forth Green Boughs more pliant in Form Quadrangular fed within by a Spongy Marrow or Pith on which at the Joints hang broad thin and porous Leafs sending from the main Rib some Fibres winding and spreading like a Fan. This Prince of the Indian Forest was not so attractive though mightily glorious but that at the same time I was forced to take notice of the creeping Cow-Itch raising its self upon the Shrubs and Under-woods there spending in lascivious Twines its Verdure leaving nothing but withered Stalks to be the Props of its brindled Offspring which is a small Cod covered with a light and tickling Down within it includes in four Cavities four specked Beans the fallen Leafs make some appearance of a Nobler Stock having a Countenance like those of Lawrel the Root is difficult to find being mixed among other Trees like our White Briony Here grows Nux Vomica on a Tree of indifferent bigness Nux Vomica in a round Shell as big as an Orange filled with White 〈◊〉 where the Nuts are lodged Near the Sea grow Squills or Sea-Onions as also a Species of Sarsaparilla with which they do great Feats with the Juice of the Leafs in Venereal Cases In their Fields they plant besides Rice Nuchery a small Seed they make Bread of as also Cushcush which is Millet Hemp and Flax In the Inclosures Turmerick which rises with a broad Leaf like our Water Plantain bearing a broad flaggy Leaf of a Span long obliquely ribbed till it end in a Spear-Point at top it proceeds immediately from the Root by a winding Stalk which the main Leafs embrace the other Leafs creeping through it till it rises Six Foot Ginger comes up like our Gentian they pickle it well but cannot preserve it with Sugar Potatoes are their usual Banquet And to give the Soil its due Praise it obeys in all things the first Commandment Increase and Multiply For these Blessings A Feast of Priapus as if Men were to lose their Reasons and sink below Brutes by a base Superstition they are ready to acknowledge a Stock for a Deity rather than to go without infatuated by the Delusions of the Devil being captivated at his Will for which cause they not only make Oblations to him but give up their Souls and Bodies to his Devotion As might about this time have been beheld at an Idol Worship of Priapus where the Women prostitute themselves to him and receive the Pleasure of Copulation all that while being as it were possessed at Semissar on the other side of the Water from our House where he lay with Two and twenty who reckon it a great Honour and the Husband thinks himself happy in his Cornucopia There are a sort of Jougies Priests fit for such a God among the Linguits of this Country who practise this daily the Husbands entertain them courteously wash their Feet and the whole Family is at his Beck as long as he stays to do the Wife a Kindness Others slash themselves with sharp Knives and suffer themselves to be hooked by the Muscles of the Back and hang so some Hours upon a Vow Under the Banyan Tree an Altar with a Dildo in the middle being erected they offer Rice and Cocoe-Nuts to the Devil and joining some small Ladders together made of Osiers do the like when the Gomcar or Bayliff of the Town takes a falched Knife for Sacrifice in one Hand and a Dunghil-Cock in the other and cutting off its Head fixes it at top of the Ladder and sprinkling the Blood they all dance and beat Brass Pots with a great Shout saying The Devil must be pacified with Blood God with Prayers Some of these sell themselves to Wickedness The Dregs of the People use Charms or think they do so and these must be endued with the Spirit of Fascination always nourishing a Familiar in their Families which they keep mostly in the forms of Snakes or Serpents appearing to them upon their Command and undergo fiery Afflictions to have the most hurtful Devil and as they wreak their Malice more powerfully esteem themselves more in favour with their Grand Master These are the Dregs of the People who are full of Envy and Ill Designs who glory in their Shame of Incantations and Charms Such as these are those that out of Fear pray to the Devil and Evil Spirits saying God will do them no harm The better sort acknowledge a God and live in the Rules of their Tribes abstaining from Flesh and all things of a Sensitive Being Sicuti Pythagorici qui herbis bellariis tantum vivebant And these Patronize these more Innocent Rites such as the Swains asking Advice of their Deities about Increase and to that end offer Rice Oyl and Cocoe-Nuts in a thick Grove where they piled an huge Heap of long Jars like Mortivans about Figures resembling Serpents before which they present their unbloody Sacrifice by the Priest the People circling the whole Grove in a Ring beating on Brass Instruments and shouting In their Hooly Their Sacrifice for the Fields which is at their other Seed-time I observed they cut a whole Tree down to the Râ—ots and lopped off the under-Branches till it became strait when leaving the upper Boughs they shoulder'd it with great Clamours the Brachmin beginning a Note which they all followed Thus they brought it into the Pale of their Pagods before which easing it down at one end the foremost made a Salam and hoisted it with the same Noise again and about they went three or four times repeating the same which being finished the Arch-Brachmin digs an hole and baptizes it with Holy Water wherein they fix the Tree crowning it with Flags aloft and about the Body up to the Green Boughs they bind Wisps of Straw to which they put
unless Plagae Veneris be more Endemial for which at this Season they have a Noble and Familiar Remedy the Mango which they have improved in all it kinds to the utmost Perfection being a Sovereign Medicine they are the best and largest in India most like a Pear-Plum but three times as big grow on a Tree nearest a Plum-Tree the Fruit when Green scents like Turpentine and pickled are the best Achars to provoke an Appetite when Ripe the Apples of Hisperides are but Fables to them for Taste the Nectarine Peach and Apricot fall short they make them break out and cleanse the Blood and Salivate to the height of Mercurial Arcanaes and afterwards fatten as much as Antimony or Acorns do Hogs these and Sarsa being their usual Diet. Cheruses grow on a Tree whose Branches send forth a Stone first Cheruses like a Bean whose Meat or Kernel when Green tastes like a Walnut roasted like a Chesnut the Fruit follows large and of a fine Colour squashy of a better Relish than Smell the Leaves Oval and Succulent The Fruit the English call a Pine-Apple the Moors Ananas because of the resemblance Ananas or Pine-Apple the most admired for Taste cuts within as firm as a Pippin Seedy if not fully ripe the Taste inclinable to Tartness though most excellently qualified by a dulcid Sapor that imposes upon the Imagination and Gustative Faculty a Fancy that it relishes of any Fruit a Man likes and some will swear it It grows on a thick Stalk like an Artichoke emitting a Tuft of Leafs upon the Crown the Leafs a-kin to a Carduus Aâ—ininus as has been partly related already the Juice will corrode any Iron or Knife like Limon The Eleventh of May being still Wind-bound I received a courteous Invitation to return to Carwar but I could not be diverted till the Full Moon had passed with Rain Clouds and Thunder Jamque erat in totas sparsurus fulmina terras When the Current changed with which were brought innumerable Shoals of dead Fish the Toddy worked on the Tree over the Pots the accustomed Forerunners of the Rains but hitherto fallible which is a wonder even to the Country-People though our Pilots have observed an unwonted Deviation these two or three Rains together The Nineteenth an Express coming from the Chief of Carwar I winter at Carwar That a Gentleman there being almost desperate importuned my Assistance and I fearing to Winter here for Expediteness chose a Baloon though he had sent Horse and Peons in case I could not acquire one and the next day by Two in the Afternoon I returned to Carwar House though two days after the Winds set in Southward together with the Rains when the Ketch set sail for Bombaim with a great Fleet of Grobs to the North. It is the Freshes from the Uplands that kills and sickens the Fish And now the Rains invade all India which puts a stop to all Journying and Voyaging as well as Warlike Preparations Aspera tum positis mitescunt secula bellis Till St. Francis's Moon in August when the Earth is discovered and the Rice begins to ripen which all this while floated in Water which it rejoices in and this is the first Harvest for it is to be understood this World produces two Harvests this most natural and uncompell'd because of the Rain the other about March with great pains of bringing Water by Gutters to their sown Fields which notwithstanding yields not so plentiful a Crop as the first which this Year increases vastly but the misfortune is three quarters of the Land lies unmanured through the Tyranny of Seva Gi. October the Seventeenth I bad a final Adieu to Carwar Bad a final Adieu to Carwar and come again to Goa and embark'd in the Berkly-Castle with Mr. Oxendine who was called up to succeed Mr. Gyffard the deceased Deputy-Governor of Bombaim Coming again to Goa I lodged at the House of a French Physician in the Camp of St. Thomas which the City overlooks in the same manner Old Rome did the Martian Vale. I saw there an unfinished Piece of the St. Thomas Christians but the Troubles of their Prince called them back before it could be perfected others say prevented in it by Thunder and Lightning The great Traders of this Place for Diamonds are the two Martins Jews feed on Hogs-flesh for fear of the Inquisition both Jews yet to carry on their designs permitted to live as Christians they constantly frequenting Mass and at Table every Meal during our Sâ—ay had Hogs-flesh served up We left Goa on the Eve of St. Xeverius's Feast Left Goa on St. Xeverius's Eve the Tomb therefore was richly set out and as Erasmus relates of Thomas à Becket that nothing could be seen baser than Gold so truly here Silver was the meanest Pearls and Precious Stones as well as Gold cast forth their Lustre by the reflection of the Virgin Flambeaus upon them From the tops of the Towers belonging to the Jesuits we beheld Lamps at Night striving to vie with the Stars for Number and Lustre which appeared Gloriously on the Water as we Rowed down the River to our Ship Being in sight of Bombaim In Danger of being Shipwrecked at Bombaim the Tides horsed us to the Northward which insensibly threw us on a Ledge of Rocks running from Old Womans Island where the Ship Struck after a Quarter of an Hour she cleared but with the inconvenience of falling more upon them not without danger of Bulging whereupon we Fired several single Pieces of Ordnance to give notice for the Tide being made the Water began to Ebb and forsake the Ship so that she stood wavering without any prop which way to incline and though the Wind and Sea were Calm yet the fear of Over-setting caused a general Consternation no help appearing we won on the Captain to spare Hands for the Yawl wherein Four of us got Ashoar though she was very Leaky leaving them in despair of their Ship her own pressure threatning to break her Back at Night Boats and Pilots went off to her Relief and with the Tide of Flood as she Floated released her to a wonder being heavy Laden receiving no damage but in her Sheathing I Reimbarked and arrived at Surat the Eleventh of December Return to Surat where giving you a general Account of all India you will hear from me next out of Persia A Special Chorography and History OF EAST-INDIA CHAP. VI. Is a Summary Rehearsal of the Whole EAST-INDIA Chap. VI. when Alexander's Sword had enlarged its self thither The Business of Alexander and King Pore is suspicious was Inhabited by the Daedali Mezegi Melli Oxydraci and Gangarides if History tell truth which Nations Time has long since worn out of the Indian Annals Something they do speak of King Pore but so uncertain that it is a doubt whether ever he and Alexander waged War though good Authors do attest it But it is plain that Two
hundred and seventy Years ago between the Indians and Scythian Tartars under Tamerlane there was begun what after-Emperors compleated by the then introduced Forces a total Conquest under which the greater part of the Natives rest content with their Subjection India it 's likely took its Name from Indus The Name of India doubtful from what beginning whose Mouths are so choaked up by Sands that they cannot speak much in this behalf neither it being changed into the Name of Sinda which imposes at this day a Name to as large a Province as is in all India the shallow Currents of which River stretching themselves far and near to the River Ganges almost has given occasion to Geographers to call it a Peninsula Omitting these Disputes I shall at present apply my self to give you a faithful Chorography and Account of those things that fell under my Remark It is then the largest Country in Asia which Ptolomy divides into Within and Without the River Ganges being in Length from the Golden Chersonese now called Comory 3600 Miles In the most Northern part the Day lengthens to Fifteen Hours but in the Southern it has no more or less than Twelve The Breadth of it from the widest place to wit Bengal to Candahar 1500 Miles from whence like a Wedge it lessens into the Cape of Comory On the West it was formerly bordered by the River Indus on the North by the dispersed Mountains from Taurus from the East it is washed with the Oriental Sea and from the South with the Indian It is a Land in all places very fruitful India produces Three Harvests in some places and enjoys a Temperater Air than would be allowed by the Poet under the Fifth Zone under which the greatest part of it lies as often as the Sun visits the Arctic Pole it brings with it grateful Showers and Winds whose Heat otherwise would be intolerable by which the Earth is cooled and made Productive neither in the extreamest Heat does it want by the equality of Days and Nights after Sun-set the favourable Dews of the Heavens when you shall soon perceive a kind Moisture fall to refresh the Earth and nourish the almost scorch'd up Plants though these alone are not so powerful to take away the Labour from the industrious Husbandman who this Season is forced by artificial Channels to assist Nature to produce otherwise she would fall one short of a threefold Harvest in some places every Year but every where they have a double Harvest As the Sun becomes Twice Vertical to them within the Tropicks The Year made up of Lunary not Calendar Months at each Tropick but once beyond never so nearer the Equator the Sun and Stars ascend and descend more directly but the farther from the Equator the more Obliquely whereby the dawn of Light here is but short before either the appearance or fall of these Bodies when as the Twilight is some Hours after Sun-set or afore Sun-rise the nearer either Pole Having premised this know they begin their Almanack with our Lawyers or rather when the Sun is in the Equinoctial Line but their Months being Lunary every Third Year bears an Intercalary one which they clap in August and count it double The Names of their Months are March Falgunu 1 Chaitru 2 Vaixaque 3 Zestthâ 4 Assadâ 5 Srauana 6 Bharapadrâ 7 Asuinu 8 Castica 9 Margassica 10 Puxu 11 Magu 12 They distinguish their Time by Weeks Sunday Observed by the Indians i e. Seven days Sunday being observed by the Indians as an Holy Day agreeable to what is Taught by Philostratus Dion Cassius and Justin Martyr The Hours of Day and Night have all the Year round the same Number How they count the Hours Twelve not minding their Length or Decrease They have no Watches or Hour-Glasses but measure Time by the dropping of Water out of a Brass Bason which holds a Ghong or less than half an Hour when they strike once distinctly to tell them it 's the First Ghong which is renewed at the Second Ghong for Two and so Three at the end of it till they come to Eight when they strike on the Brass Vessel at their liberty to give notice the Pore is out and at last strike One leisurely to tell them it is the First Pore which is repeated after the same manner for the Second about Mid-day when they strike Two and so at the end of the Third Pore Three and of the Fourth Four at the end of which Pores the Priests Ascend their Steeples and are Monitors to them of their Devotion And as solemnly dividing the Night into as many Pores so that Thirty two Ghongs and Four Pores make the Day and as many more the Night in all Sixty four Ghongs and Eight Pores As our Year is divided by the Seasons of Spring Their Year divided into Three Seasons Summer Autumn and Winter to every which we allow a Quarter of a Year Theirs also agree with their Seasons of Weather but square not in respect of the Account of the Year having Four Months for each Season New Colla The Rains Ger Colla The Cold Season Deup Colla The Heats To every one of which they attribute Eight Constellations are skilled in the Sun's Course through the Zodiac have their wandring and fixed Stars and are exact in the Eclipses of the Two Inferior Luminaries What has been Experienced in the particular Accounts I must confirm again in this general one That the first Full Moon in May brings the Rains when it Rains a Fortnight only and holds up till the middle of June in which times Empyemas Fluxes Fevers of all sorts except Pestilential Haemorrhages rage after the Rains are fully settled it grows Healthy From the setling in of the Rains till the Full Moon in August it Rains without intermission after which it clears up for a Fortnight and with little variation bating the accidental Causes of its beginning earlier or later it Rains all September till the Elephant breaks up the last Rainy Star After which is the Harvest for Rice when it is gathered and then just after the Rains they are most Sickly the Sun exhaling Vapours the Earth grows Muddy and Stinking though abundantly Productive From thence to the latter end of January commences the Cold Season when their Bodies are Healthier and a lovely Verdure Cloaths the Earth at the latter end of this they reap another Harvest without extraordinary pains all this time the Evenings are very sharp and at Surat I have seen an hoar Frost in the Morning From February the first till the Rains set in are the Heats and in March the Leafs fall off the Trees yet always supplied with fresh so that the Trees are always Green though the Grass and Fodder are quite burnt up and with difficulty by the advantage of Aquiducts a lean Harvest is brought forth The Peasants Morning and Evening draw Water out of Wells by Buffola's or Oxen or else by a
Breath so contracted his lower Belly that it had nothing left to support it but fell flat to his Loins the Midriff being forced into the Thorax and the Muscles of the Abdomen as clearly marked out by the stiff Tendons of the Linea Alba as by the most accurate Dissection could be made apparent he moving each Row like living Columns by turns The Aetiology whereof I think to be this that while all the Contents of the Belly are moved upwards all Respiration is expelled only the voluntary Motion of the Animal Spirits acts upon the Nerves the Mind or Soul commanding them while the Vital or Natural are compelled to the contrary After this I saw another Fellow of a good Habit of Body that had taught himself by use to depress his Sternum with the Serratus Posticus Inferior Sacro lumbus and Triangular Muscles so that the Cartilaginous Substance of the Ribs which Anatomists separate for Dissection of the Thorax and throw it back over the Face by this means was crowded in that it made a notable Cavity as deep as the Spine would suffer in the mean while the Man was almost strangled as if pressed to death for under this Constraint neither he nor the former could take their Breath yet remained so some time Which may be a visible Instance that divers Urinators may continue a long space being inured from their Infancy to keep under Water From the rest of these I observed nothing more excellent than what is performed by our Rope-dancers for Feats of Activity or Slight of Hand These pester every open place in great Cities and Publick Fairs as they do in Europe The next Rank Is of the Soldiers commonly called Rashpoots who by their Valour have won unto themselves the Perpetuity of their Arms and the Credit of being called in to the Aid of divers Princes A Crocus-coloured Coat intimates a Resolution to dye or be Conqueror and are in continual Action under some one State or other bordering upon them never altering their Vocations being bred Warriors these aspire not to great Charges nor admit Commanders over them unless oâ— their own Cast fighting Pell-mell as every one is inspired from the Pay they receive their Arms are Sword Pike and Buckler A Soldier that puts on a Crocus-dye intimates a Resolution either to dye or be Conqueror Opium is frequently eaten in great quantities by the Rashpoots Opium eaten often and in quantities Queteries and Patans when they fight which makes them run upon any Enterprize with a raging Resolution to dye or be victorious Before Engaging it is usual for them to embrace one another as if parting for another World esteeming it happier to be killed in their Vocation than to submit to the Lust of a Conqueror their very Women disdaining to own them for their Husbands when they once turn their Back upon their Enemies Of one of which Viragoes goes this Story Her Mate had made an Escape honourable enough for a prudent Retreat when coming home and craving Meat from his Spouse after many obloquious Salutes she put this Affront on him she served him with a Brass Ladle whereas before his Meals were taken up with one made of Iron whereof he demanding the Reason she tartly replied Lest the sight of Iron should turn your Stomach from your Victuals as it had done from Fighting The Banyan Follows the Soldier Whether the Banyan be a Jew though as contrary in Humour as the Antipodes in the same Meridian are opposite one to another These have forgot if ever they were Jews or no but if any of these People are such these are most likely and by a double Right of Jew and Gentile are a Compound of the greatest Cheat in the World the fittest therefore to make Brokers and Merchants of They are devout Proselytes in the Worship of this Countrey and tenacious of their Rites and Customs strict Observers of Omens so that in travelling ten Miles they shall sometimes double the Ground to avoid encountring a Caphala of Asses or to take the Hand of a Flock of Goats or Cows grazing In the Rains they will not ride in a Coach for fear they should kill the Insects generated in the Cart-Ruts or stinking Puddles So foolishly superstitious are they and precise in Matters of Religion in cases of Trade they are not so hide-bound giving their Consciences more Scope and boggle at no Villany for an Emolument The Poor Artisan Can hardly live for these who will grind their Faces to fill their own Hoards as much as the Desies do The Peasants And Combies who Till the Land and dress the Corn with no remarkable difference from other Nations they plough with Oxen their Coulters unarmed mostly Iron being scarce but they have hard Wood will turn their light Grounds The Gentues thrash their Corn with a Stick not a Flail the Moor-men that are Husbandmen tread it out with Oxen but muzzle their Mouths which they do in the open Fields before they carry it home fixing a Stake in the Earth and yoaking the Oxen three four or more abreast fasten them to a turning Pole passing round till all be done Coolies Frasses and Holencores are the Dregs of the People and are not permitted to have their Funeral Rites or Marriages with the others so abject that the others think themselves defiled if they touch or converse with them All these are distinguished one from another by the Cut of their Beards Distinguished by their several Paintings on their Foreheads or different Painting of their Bodies and Foreheads as well as winding of their Turbants A Brachmin paints himself on the Front with a Pythagorean Y between his Eyebrows descending to his Nose and gives to every Tribe their peculiar Mark. The Gentues wear little Beards And Cuts of their Beards and shave them the Moors great Beards and trim them only to keep them decent And since their Barbers are so necessary as well to give them their distinguishing Shape as for other Uses we will let you know they seldom keep Shop but go about the City with a Checquered Apron over their Shoulders and a Mirror in their Hands which they offer any to see their Face in and if any employ them they are well paid with a Gosbeek much under a Farthing When they pluck out a Razor not an Inch long a Bason of Brass as big as a Coffee-dish and a piece of Castle-Soap which they dip into the Bason of Water and rub about the Lips or Head with no more Water than it gathers up and so shave very well and for the Head few out-do them both for Ease and Readiness They have an Iron Tool also one end to pick the Ears another to cut the Nails both which they do dextrously clearing the Ears of great quantities of that thick Wax inclosed therein they also wash and anoint their Bodies it being not obsolete here to anoint every day with Sweet Oyls and the Poor both Men and Women with
and grind their Corn with an Hand-Mill when they sing chat and are merry such prevalency has Custom They make their Bread as thin as Wafers bak'd on broad round Plates or Stones commonly of Rice the Moors is made of Wheat thicker and oblong bestuck with Seeds to correct Wind and mostly bak'd in a Furnace which they stick to the sides when Dough as we see Cow-Turds on a Mud-Wall Boiled Rice Nichany Millet and in great Scarcity Grass-Roots are the common Food of the ordinary People which with a Pipe of Tobacco contents them CITIES Are many and Populous three more Renowned than the rest Dhilly Lhor and Agra for the Residence of the Emperor in one of these for every Season of the Year The rest are known either for Trade or the Provinces whose Names they bear Their Buildings suit with the Country and State of the Inhabitants Their Houses built for Conveniency being mostly contrived for Conveniency The Poorer are made of Boughs or Oleas of the Palmeroes or Leafs of Teke and thatch'd both Sides and Coverings the middle sort of the Gentues with Mud one Story floored with Cow-dung which they do afresh every day after they have swept and cleansed them Under which their Houshold-Gods themselves their Family and Cattel are all housed and many times in no distinct Partition They plaster Cow-dung before their Doors and so keep them clean having a little place or two built up a Foot Square of Mud where they plant Calaminth or by them called Tulce which they worship every Morning and tend with diligence The Richer and the Moors build with Stone and Mortar sometimes with Brick making small Shew without but delicately contrived within with Tanks Airy and cool Choultries private Recesses for their Women Tarass'd atop and sometimes three or four Stories high Their Furniture is moveable as Rich Carpets to sit on the Floor and Rich Cushions behind them without any Chairs within-doors unless large Elbow Chairs when they sit at their Doors smoking in State And in these they spend their Lives Live to a good Age and have the Length of Days here as in other places they spinning them out a long while Whether the Cause may be attributed to the Air or Temperance in their Diet I know not Yet this is certain they are careful what they eat shall be well dressed that the Stomach be neither overcharged or have much trouble to concoct And as they are careful what they take into their Bodies By Care of their Diet so are they solicitous to evacuate in good order always washing their Fundaments and squatting when they make Water nor do the Women scruple to do their Occasions in Publick Streets or Highways going hand in hand for that purpose at Set-times of the day and if any pass by in the Interim will turn their bare Backsides upon them but will hide their Faces and this at Sun-rise and Sun-set every day they do in Droves Men by themselves and Women by themselves if in the City most an end under dead Walls where when they have finished they wash the Filth off with their Left Hand because they feed themselves with the Right The Moors think hard of them for this Freedom nor do they conceive a better Opinion of our Women when they see an Englishman salute them with a Kiss or walk together in a Garden to take the Innocent Diversion there So that the Jealousy of the Moor must not reflect on the Modesty of our Indian Women As soon as they are gone And Cleanliness the Cows come and lick up their Ordure which they watch for being nothing but Herbs Roots or Pulse digested without any other mixture either of Flesh or Strong Drink If they unload themselves out of the Town they make towards the River-side or Brinks of their Ditches and leave a filthy Stink behind them notwithstanding they eat nothing Carnous which remains upon their Excrements and for that reason it is somewhat strange the Kine should be so fond of them And hence is it that in their Streets and near the Towns and Cities it is but ill taking the Air. Yet however Natural this becomes to them as well as the rest of Mankind they are not in this particular to be taxed with Sloth and Sluttery in respect of their Bodies for besides their constant Washings at the Times of their Devotion they never eat nor drink before they have cleansed themselves with Water poured all over them from Head to Foot nor will they suffer their secret Parts to harbour any Nastiness they using Depilatories for Breast Arm-pits and Groins are always shaving their Heads and Beards cutting their Nails washing their Mouths and rubbing their Teeth whereby they look like Ivory And since Cleanliness is the next in esteem to Godliness in Human Society Their Washers and other Craftsmen work well for little Money I will conclude with their Washers which are Women as well as Men they are hired at easy Rates and are the best in the World as our Calicuts transmitted hither declare they have each a little Pit into which the Water springs and near it a great smooth Stone on which they beat their Cloaths till clean and if for Family-use starch them with Congee and so carry them home when dried if for Sale they lay them a Whitening and after Congee or stiffen them and so deliver them to the Packers Labour being to them instead of Soap for were they at much Expence therein they could not live their Pay being inconsiderable And by this small Taste of their unweariedness in Pains-taking their Cheapness of every thing and their faring hard all their other Craftsmen may be valued who work for nothing comparatively with our Europeans though in many things they exceed them for Curiosity as in staining of Calicuts and fine Work either in Gold or Silver The Language At Court is Persian that commonly spoke is Indostan for which they have no proper Character the written Language being called Banyan which is a mixture of Persian and Sclavonian The World peopled after the Flood from Scythia as are all the Dialects of India A good Argument to me of the peopling the World this way originally from the Scythian Mountains after the Deluge their Speech containing many Words agreeable enough to ours in Sound as well as Figure more Scraps whereof may be found when we come to Persia The last thing Observable is the Coins Weights c. A Collection whereof follows COLLECTIONS OF THE COINS WEIGHTS AND Precious Stones Usual in those Places of Trade within the Charter of the Honourable East-India-Company Tantum scimus quantum in Memoria tenemus Ex Reminiscentiâ fit Scientia CHAP. VII COLLECTIONS OF THE Coins Weights and Precious Stones Usual in those Places of Trade within the Charter of the Honourable East-India Company Coins of Surat Amadavad Agra c. in India THere are divers sorts of Coins in Gold seldom used in Payments among Merchants
protects as English which was but lately granted by the earnest and repeated Request of the present Agent they before only giving us good words instead of Payment This great Officer The Chief Customer obliged to secure the Roads or Farmer of the Emperor's Customs is obliged on the Roads to provide for the safe Travelling for Merchants by a constant Watch insomuch that they are in no fear either of Robbers or Loss of Goods they upon entry into the Customhouse being secured through the Kingdom without Oppressing the Subject the Shawbunder being obliged to make satisfaction for which Rhadorage or high Imposts are allowed by the Merchants both at Landing and in their passage Inland From which we have Immunities the Agent only Presenting an handsome Piscash The English Free of all Imposts to the several Cauns in his Journy of Europe Rarities placed to the Company 's Account and in requital have Provisions of Fruits and all other Necessaries sent in Gratis to the Agent though the Company pay dearly for the Civility while the Agent is only Benefitted thereby they carrying not only Goods but great returns of Money unmolested for which reason the Natives cast themselves upon his Management rather than suffer the Exactions of the Rhadarage for which reason the Agent has no ordinary Recompense it being the chief Emolument of his Place The Natives still paying their Respect to his Character which is one of the Emperor's Friends not daring to Offend him whom the King delighteth to Honour And therefore it is that at Port no small care is taken to carry fair with the Governor of the Province who is a Caun or Duke and the Shawbunder and on this score we were no sooner on shoar but we must Compliment both these where we were received in their open places of Audience and entertained with Coho Tea or Rose-Water Boiled with Cardamoms and sweetned with Sugar-Candy Plates of Persian Fruit dried and Sweetmeats while the Room is Perfumed with Rackbeet a Compound Sweet Water Wood of Aloes smoaking or Glasses of Rose-Water poured on our Garments to excessive slabbering and if leave be desired to Smoak Tobacco they will offer Wine of the Country and at last dismiss us with Pawn which Visit they fail not to return nor must it be forgotten to bestow on them Presents of considerable Value The Rooms are spread with Carpets as in India and they have Pigdans or Spitting Pots of the Earth of this Place which is valued next to that of China to void their Spittle in The Water is preserved in Jarrs and drank out of Puckeries that keep it Cooler than any where else This Port receives most Ships going or coming from Busserah The Hollanders Absolute in the Spice Trade as they find the Markets answer their designs But the greatest Traffick next Indian Cloth comes from the Spice Trade which the Dutch engross beside Sugar and Copper formerly for which they carry off Fifty thousand Thomands worth of Velvets Silk Raw and Wrought with Rich Carpets besides many Tunn of Gold and Silver Yearly so Great and Absolute is their Trade from the Moluccoes and South Sea hither that they are reported to have brought Six Ships laden with Spice which the cunning Merchants thought to make advantage of but the Hollanders being Crafts-Masters sent for the Cargo on shoar of Two Ships and piled it up before the Factory Gate where they not coming to their Price immediately set Fire thereto and consumed it all which the Buyers neglecting or laughing at they caused other Two to be served in the same manner knowing so great a quantity had caused a Glut when they asked the same Rate for the remaining Two as the old Sybils did Tarquin for their Oracular Writings left unburnt whereby the Persians were Taught that their Extravagance was not Madness but Policy they being obliged to Bid Higher for fewer Commodities the Hollanders being well assured none could furnish them with others than was brought by them The English Company 's Trade is but small here The English Trade more in Shew than Reality only carrying off some few Drugs Carmania Wool Goats Dates and Horses though they make it worth their while to keep their Agent in good Port as well from the Allowance from the Shawbunder as by Consulage of 2 l. and ½ per Cent. for all Foreign Goods that seek their Protection on which score they seem to drive a Trade and send up every Shipping Three or Four hundred Camels laden with Indian Wares as many as the Dutch bring down to Ship off on their own Stock and Ships But this Year a great Bluster was made with English Cloth and Tin brought by our Arrival which however the understanding Traffickers smile at knowing it comes better Cheap by the Caphala's in Exchange of other Goods from Stambole i. e. Constantinople Smirna Scanderoon and Aleppo and that Suffahaun is already over-full of London Cloath or Sackcloath Londre as they call it The French have as little to do at this Port as in other Places The French have nothing to do and were it not for the Credit of their Interpreter who gets good Profit by Wine he being priviledg'd with a Wine-press for that Nation at Siras as well as the other Europe Nations they could not subsist But Monsieur makes an outside lives retiredly and without more Business than to visit and be visited which Courtesy passes interchangeably among the Christians as well as Natives lounges his time away The convenient Situation of our Factory Butting farthest out on the open Strand yields a Prospect over the Sea to the Arabian Coast and on a clear day Ormus Castle might be discovered by the naked Eye it being not above a League from our House as all the Islands interspersed in this Gulph though the most diverting was of our Europe Sailors mounting their Starts or Asses the briskest neatest and nimblest of that kind I ever saw so that they seemed both by their Mettle and easiness of their going to lose the Epithet of dull affixed to their Nature For their Masters waiting here their Fare no sooner had left them to the Guidance of the Seamen who would prove their Skill in Riding where many times they would cast them on the Sand both to the Sport of the Standers-by and Mirth of their Companions letting them know a Yard was more squared for their Cavalcade than these Headstrong Creatures Though for this Diversion afforded from the Seamen on their accustomed Element they are quit when these Asses forsake their surer Footing on Land to stagger on board Ship which was often attempted for the Gilded Outside of the beautiful Scipio where the Captain entertained the Governor and all his Train and as many as would venture out of Curiosity the Laughter of the Roguy Mariners Till on the 15th of April The Scipio dispatch'd for India 1677. it returned to the Indian Coast but not before the Sailers had stigmatized this Place for its
by its Corruption staining the Strand with Mossy Green and evaporating thence a Noysome Scent by the putrifying of Fish left dead at the Ebbing Tides Whence the Air breeds Insects their Water-stores grow unwholesome and a languid Habit seizes Human Bodies disposing them though not to Scurvies yet something analogous thereto for few escape without depascent Ulcers feeding on their Limbs which creep out into long Worms our Idioms hardly find a fit Name for unless we may reckon them a-kin to Wolfs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phagadaenae or Cacoethicks Upon their first appearance they carry with them the presence of Imposthumations Worms breed in their Bodies How they must be treated but presently after suppuration a long white Filament like a small Gut comes forth which gently caught by the Head is wound on a tender Twig which while it increases is turned round and fed with Rose Water by a Clout dipped therein to keep it moist lest becoming dry it should dye this by Congestion of Humours causes great Pain and as long as it continues the Part affected swells into an huge Tumor and if by chance the Worm be broken or ill handled that it come not entirely forth it breaks out in other places with more severe Symptoms wherefore great Care is taken to bring it out whole lest it should reduce the Patient to a worse Condition It is rebellious to all common Medicines and must be nourished with Milk and Butter or else a Poultice of the Patient 's own Ordure At this time also the Pullen fare but ill Poultry dye suddenly a Pest among them killing them without the help of Cookery nor do the Persians care much for eating of them whether suspicious of the III Practice of their own Nation who fancy Diseases gotten of Prostitutes are drawn out by buggering of them or out of any other Superstition as that Worms and Scorpions are bred in their Guts I know not yet this is certain they are often found to dye suddenly Here if the Subtilty of the Enquiry could discover any thing to find the Reason of this Slaughter 't would be worth the while but a simple Putrefaction must not bear the blame for then all living Creatures would fall under the like Fatality as well Sheep and other Cattle as these 't is necessary therefore some more secret and peculiar Cause should be rendred which seems to be fairly hinted at by Virgil Hic quondam morbo Coeli miseranda coorta est Tempestas totoque Autumno incanduit aestas Et genus omne neci pecudum dedit omne ferarum Corrupitque Lacus infecit pabula tabo Here once the Air infected did beget A Plague which rag'd through the Autumnal Heat A kind of Cattel and of Wild Beasts di'd The Grass was tainted Rivers putrifi'd Which whether it be done by the Influence of the Stars or disposition of Particles I dispute not Certain it is the Sun by its Ecliptick Motion determines generally the various Seasons of the Year as Summer Winter Autumn and the Spring yet all Summers are not equally hot and dry nor do all Winters share of the like Cold and Moisture whereupon some Summers bring Swarms of Flies and Gnats others are clear from them and on this account is it so many Armies of Locusts have invaded these Quarters which though often is not perpetual that they have devoured all things as they bud unless where the Husbandmen have drove them away by Fire so that I am willing to incline to the unaccustomed Alterations of this Year which by the more constant blowing of the South Winds has filled the Air with a longer time of Moisture and thereby impressed something more Mortal by some unwonted Conjunction of Planets than other Years For these South-East Winds as they are the most unhealthy so used they to be the least durable but hitherto they have hovered with Clouds without Rain and kept off the Northern hot ones which restore Health to the too hasty perspiring Spirits by the dewy Southern Gales CHAP. II. Our setting forth from Gombroon and leaving Lhor AT last the Heavens drop Fatness and the Showers refresh the Earth and fill the Tanks with purer Water washing away the old Filth and Nastiness contracted by the former indispositions of the Seasons And now we having this Opportunity The Ceremony at our Departure set forward towards the Evening of the 28th of June the Ships in the Road Saluting us and the Merchants both French and Dutch Conducting us onward of our Way with Pomp and Ceremony till we came to the Garden out of the City where we entertained them with a Sumptuous Treat and took our Leaves they returning to Gombroon and we going on Three Pharsangs that Night to Band Ally Inhabited only by Poor People in pitiful Cabbins covered with the Palm-Tree Boughs by the Sea-side expecting Profit as well by Strangers as by Fishery these Houses are placed on Wheels to draw up and down at their Pleasure Band Ally is the Chast Ally Band Ally a Caravan Seraw to whom this Caravan Seraw is Dedicated in the same manner as we our Churches and places Sacred to our Saints in Commemoration of them Caravan Seraw signifies no more than in Inn viz. Se the Head Raw of the Way For this Journy we have no Wains for our Baggage or Chariots for our selves we Ride on Horseback and our Sumpters are Loaded on Mules Asses or Camels which march toward Evening and Travel till Morning We go but slowly by reason of our Beasts of Burthen though a greater part of them were dispatched a Month before us by another Road less Mountainous though farther about These Houses Built by Charitable Persons Our manne◠of Travelling and how Provided are always supplied with Tanks and Cisterns which now run over since yesterdays Rain and are commonly very Fine and Costly but other Commodities we must bring with us otherwise we are likely not only to go to Bed on the bare Ground but depart more Hungry than we came thither very few Places maintaining Sutlers for Horse-meat or Diet for the Wayfaring Man Therefore when we undertake this Journy we carry not only all our Family but Housholdstuff too for which every one has a separate Allowance for his Servant and his Baggage and a Butler in common who Mounts the Trojan Horse suplied with Bread Wine Salt Cold Meat Knives and Napkins for the Viaticum in Two Canisters or Chests hung on each side one under whose Belly is girt a Metarrah or Goat Skin full of Wine and another of Water a Metarrah full of the latter every one ties to his Horses Saddle in the fashion of a Leathern Bottel and a Silver Toss or Cup in a Case at the Bow of the Saddle In the middle of the Munsel i. e. a whole Day 's Journy the Butler alights and by some advantageous Brook or Tank spreads a Table on the Ground while the whole Caphala refresh We generally make our Munsel from
them to the open Air which is not so Unhealthy for them as for Human Bodies who carefully prevent such Lodgings for fear of Aches and other Inconveniences incident thereupon wherefore in the middle of the Vale we repaired to the Caravan Ser Raw almost buried in the Sand it being the only obstacle to their rowling Billows The next Morn we were waited on by the Country Women bringing us Cheese and Butter made before our eyes with no other Churn than a Goatskin in which they shook the Milk till Butter came Fish Roots and Herbs with all sorts of Pullen In these Two Munsels we only meet with these Servitors in other Places Men appear alone not allowing their Women that Freedom but were they no more tempting than these Swains they 'd have small cause for the Restriction for they are Strapping Sunburnt Lasses with little more Cloaths on than a dark coloured Smock or Frock and for their Meen it is not enticing these bring us Water to Drink out of their Tanks newly filled which was Thick Troubled and Slimy for which reason the Vapours or rather Fumes from the Sun's violence were very Offensive and the more irksome because we were constrained to tarry here another Night for that the River Rute Conna Shure or Salt-Water was now overflown by the Waters falling from the Mountains beyond the Barks to that excess that it could not be Forded by Travellers and the Stream ran with that Rapidness that it was unsafe to venture over till the descending Cataracts had left off pouring on the overswell'd Brinks and emptied themselves into the wider Gulf not many Leagues distant hence The Day after as soon as we heard the Waters were abated we set forward and found it true what had been reported Three Caphala's not daring to pass the Lake where they had lain some Days till we dhad led the way It was sultry Hot when we assayed to go but Delays in this case were dangerous besides we were uncertain whether it would hold up should we tarry which made us confide on our Guides who gave us assurance that the Marshes were passable we were more troubled with Waves of Sand than Water both which by Rain or Wind keep on their Course with some noise till silenced in the Persian Gulf. Athwart this Fen A Great Bridge which was upward of Three Miles was Built not long since as by the Modern Architecture may be guessed a stately Stone Bridge with Arches on which high Banisters with Niches and a brave paved Cawsey Elegantly Built which kept pace with us but by the Negligence of these People as well as Injury of Floods and Sands it was broke down in several places especially where the Torrent made the deepest Channel so that though firm and strong in the greatest part of it yet by its being ruined in the most needful it is become impassable and though a Work of extraordinary Benefit and Charge yet already rendred of little Use The rest of this day's Journy was between the Mountains where we were encounter'd by strange Flashes of Lightning the Foretellers of this Night's Rain Caurestan which we hardly escaped before we came to Caurestan in all Twenty Miles This Caravan Ser Raw is named from a Tree growing here and a Village properly so called of which it is a Composition in Persian it being the first we met with whose Houses were fixed The following Day we continued going between two Chains of Dry and Burnt Hills The Place where Men and Beasts have been destroyed by the Heats through a stony Valley not without fear of suffocating although it was near Evening e're we set out and Yesterday's Showers had benignly distilled on the Fiery Drought to cool the parched Earth But this is the dreadful Vale where when the Hot North Winds blow at this time it sweeps both Men and Beasts away either by Night or Day the Heat being as intense and as intolerable as that from the Mouth of an Oven We were conducted through this Furnace by the Divine Protection without being put to make use of the common Remedy in this Exigency which is upon perceiving of the hot Blasts to cast our selves flat on the Ground till they are over thereby to prevent the Fate attending those who refuse to stoop to this known Prescription which is to fall down dead never to rise more alive till we were mounted where these two Chains are linked to each other and by their mutual Ascent we were lift up on high and then gently descending we were let down to Goorbazergum Fifteen Miles from Caurestan In this Bottom is a solitary Inn Goor Bazergum the Merchants Grave very commodiously seated it is surrounded with Mountains at whose Bottoms are store of Water-Melons a grateful Cooler in this Extremity of Heat Goor-Bazergum is as it were to say The Merchants Grave in the Persian Tongue Hence up Hill and down Hill through broken Rocks and unsteady Stones through kindled Fires from sulphurious Caverns and the more raging effects of the burning Orb enlightening and enlivening all the World beside here it kills and consumes the un-nurtur'd Plants leaving them dry and sapless as if these great Heaps of Rocks were made for no other end but to counterpoize the more Fruitful Part of this Terrestrial Globe insomuch that it had been utterly impossible to have drawn Breath in this Place had not the late unusual Rain something allayed the Fury of the Heats which yet were troublesome enough by reason of the steaming Mists arising boiling hot with the Sun which so late in the Year are by the most Ancient of this Country esteemed so far out of course that their Memory fails them to relate the like Nor do the Publick Roads deny the Calamity of these Munsels Jehun which are frequently strewed with Bones of labouring Beasts expiring under their Burthens many of which were fresh Examples of this Truth lying reeking Carkasses in our Way from Goor Bazergum to Jehun which is but Twelve Miles where we were forced to stay to get more Camels for Three had failed us in this Conflict and afterwards with much Pain we measured six Miles more to Tangedelon where we eased our selves at a Caravan Ser Raw near a Stream of living Water sweetly gliding through the middle of it and wash'd the Dust off our sweaty Bodies in a Tank contrived to make a pleasant Bath under the Roof of the Seraw Tangedelon expresses in its Mothers Speech Tangedelon and Cormoot A Strait Passage which hits exactly with the following Munsel for we travelled long under hollowed Mountains whose lofty Rocks hung over our Heads threatning to stop our Career which after Twenty Rocky Miles directed us to Cormoot a Town of Dates Cormoot being a Date 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus far we came directly in a Line Sham Zangee now we wander to and again in the Meanders of the Barren Hills with indefatigable Industry till we descend into a large Plain
their Forefathers for more than Three Days Journy together the Fields are every where filled with Graves And now we began to be acquainted with the shift they make for Water in these dry Countries What shift they make for Water where there is little Rain and no Rivulets they Dig for Springs and when they have found one they follow the Water-Course which way it directs under Ground Hollowing the Ground and at every Thirty or Forty Yards cast up a Mole-Hill where they make a Pit to Ventilate and let in the Air to Purify the Water as well as to Cleanse and Channel and this Course holds on many Pharsangs together for the advantage of the Vallies and this I look upon to be as much the cause of the Generation of the Bezoar-Stone in the Animals aforesaid as the reasons alledged there by Bontius for their Production for by the consent of all Physicians nothing contributes more to the Breeding of the Stone in Men than such things as are Undigested and create Obstructions nor can any thing be more Obstructing than such Water as is drawn from Wells and deep Caverns where the Sun has little influence as we may have occasion to manifest afterwards and therefore we may probably Conjecture these Unconcocted Waters to be a main instrument of their production since where these are in use this Accident is more general than in other places From Bonaru to Mousar Mousar the utmost extent of the Province of Lhor another Eight-square Caravan are Fifteen Miles fine plain and easy way near the Caravan Ser Raw was a pleasant Garden the utmost extent of the Caun of Lhor's Dominions on this Road. And as a Boundary thereto is opposed the steepest Hill we have yet met with insomuch that we found it a notable Task to gain the Top by the Morning of the following Day contenting our selves to sit down at Chawtalk but Nine miles from Bonaru being advised of a more troublesome Day 's Journy the Munsel after this not so difficult for Access as this but a more continued Labour by the multitude of Mountains we were to Master and on that account it was highly necessary to Feed our Caphala's well before we undertake so great a Work Chawtalk by the most valuable Munificence of the Benefactor yet living to Oversee this good Deed compleated is a noble newe Caravan an Ample and Princely Building Naer to it was not long since only a Well of Bitter Water which gives Name to the Place but by the Cost and Inquest of this Pious Benefactor Sweeter Waters are at this time produced something more remote for Men to Drink though the Cattel refuse not generally the other On these Mountains the Mastich Tree brings forth plenty of that Gum Manna of which the Country People make good Profit Nor does less Benefit accrue by the Mellifluous Dew a-Nights turn'd into Manna from the Leafs and Shrubs as well as Plants upon the sides of these Mountains which are not altogether so Barren as those we have hitherto passed this Manna is White and Granulated and what I have found my self I think not inferior to the Calabrian As for the Mastick Trees they bore Red Berries and if wounded would spew out the liquid Resin from the Branches they are not very tall Mastick of the bigness of our Bully Trees Whether they bring forth a Cod or not this Season would not inform me nor can I say it agrees in all respects with the Lentisk Tree of Clusius Here also grows the Wild or Bitter Almond The Bitter Almond the Wands or Sticks of which are in Esteem for that Tradition of their being of the same Tree with those of Aaron's Rod which budding brought forth Almonds and for that reason are worn by those of the highest Rank among them More of this anon And now the time approaches we must pass over in one Day as many Mountains as we have hitherto been conquering some of whose Clifts could never be gained had they not been joined together by vast Arches from Rock to Rock their dismal Pits otherwise being rendred impassable Thus by inexpressible Endeavours we strive to clear this formidable Chain of Hills all in the Heat of the Sun not daring to trust our selves in the Night whereby we had our Skins flead off of those Parts exposed to the Solar Rays and those that fared best had Bladders raised as if scalded or burnt by the Fire for which when we had travell'd One and twenty Miles we found at Gerom a ready Medicine of the Butter of the Seed of Gourds made into an Ointment which appeased the Inflammation by its cooling Virtue and immediately asswaged the Pain by Basting our selves herewith being half Roasted We refreshed our selves one entire Day at Gerom Gerom where a small White Grape without any Stone was an excellent Cordial the Wine pressed from it is white also and the strongest by Natural Fermentation only that I ever drank they are called Kismas Grapes and the Wine is known by the same Name farther than where they grow it being of so stout a Body that it is not subject to decay presently though their best Wines when they begin to turn are fit for nothing but Vinegar they being inexpert either in their Cure or to preserve them that which we drink is pure without any Sophistication There grow no where better Dates than at this Town The strongest Wine and best Dates here and packed up dry are preferred before others all the World over The People that dwell here are for the most part blind for of Three you meet Two shall not see and it may be a Third shall have but half an Eye The Occasion whereof The Cause of their Blindness as they report is because little pretty coloured Mice and Weasels by their poysonous Stale infect the Trees so that they produce Worms the Parent of this Distemper more truly fancying than proving this Secret for want of that Microscope whereby Kepler assisted this enquiring Age to discover That no kind of Plant whatsoever but procreates of its superfluous Juice some putrid Humour which by active Nature is enliven'd into Vital Motion forming to every one their proper Insects Whether any Virulency may be ascribed to these or the immoderate eating of Dates ought to be accused of their excessive Heat as we do Wormwood which for that reason we account offensive to the Eyes I know not following herein the Prince of Physicians Calidis enim qui saepè multumque utuntur nervorum infirmitatem adferunt in Aph. 16. Hyp. lib. 5. who says They who accustom themselves to eat Hot things bring on themselves the Weakness of the Nerves and consequently decay their Eyesight the Optick Nerves being signally affected through which Organs Spirits ought to be conveyed principally for the service of the Eyes To which Evil no doubt Sympathy makes a great Addition whether in the Individual or in respect of others Wherein the Poet
their Work being far from any Town though the common Fame give it to the other Report as well to aggrandize their foregoing Ancestry as to cast a Lustre on the present Posterity This may serve also to prove their Scythian Antiquity for as the Worthy Mr. Sheringham observes Sacae opiliones Asiam incolentes that the Sacae were wandring Shepherds whose Names to shew their Original he derives from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Tabernaculum or Tent in English from whence came the Getae as well as present Persians from their frequent disburthening themselves by Colonies dispersed both into Scythia so to Europe as well as Asia where they first inhabited From Meergoscoon to this Strait is measured Twenty Mile Maijm which finishes not this Stage for now we were encompassed again with Rocks and Stones among the Mountains which we know whose Instigation it was to command they should be made Bread our Provisions being spent which we had taken for this Deviation wherefore we were forced to march Twenty Miles farther to Maijm before either we or our Cattel baited where we arriv'd before our Caphala we had left at Siras they pretending they had lost their Way but more truly lingred not having us to spur them on wherefore we were obliged this Night to make the Earth our Lodging our Arms our Bolsters and the uneven Stones our Feather-beds which though we Travellers often do in this Journey out of choise yet we found it disagreeable because the Nights now were as intensely Cold as the Days were Hot. In the Forenoon to the next Day the Caphala came which created us this Day 's Stay at Maijm a Town where grows the best Walnuts of the same bigness with the Spanish and the choicest Tobacco Persia affords After a sweet Night's Repose early in the Morn between the Straits of the Mountains we traced the Source of the River Araxes purling under slippery Pebbles which no sooner removed than the Crystal Water bubbles forth by which means though a little suppressed at first in Half a Mile's space it emits a Stream able to drive Three Mills which notwithstanding were not forcible enough to restrain the impetuous Blasts of Heat pent in between the Hills Although on the other side when we approached in the Night all the Cloaths we had wrapped about us could hardly preserve the innate Warmth when the Sun had shrowded its self under the Horizon At Noon-day we overcame an high Mountain after a troublesome Luctation this delivering us to another Golden Plain of Ojoan gilded over with Ripe Wheat being no more than Five Miles from Maijm This Ojoan glories in the Sepulchre of another Royal Prophet Ojoan which is well endowed with neat Dwellings and Orchards for the Mullahs who take their Service by turns to officiate in their Priesthood by loud Exclamations and Musick calling People to their Devotions In this Mansion we were permitted to make our Abode this Day which because it was so short a Munsel and these Gardens so delightful I could not but give my self the Pleasure to reflect as well on those Plants we had met wild as these more cultivated which grew here The Bitter Almond-Tree we met formerly in the Highways wild if it may be called a Tree and not a Shrub the Body resembles an Hasle but slenderer from whence come Stalks like Broom on which sprout Leafs synonimous to our Privet it brings forth Fruit in March or April and delights in Hot and Barren Countries The Sweet Almond grows on a taller Tree The Sweet Almond whose Leafs are like Ash and ripen about the same time The Pistacia sends forth its Branches on high Pistacia Nut. and renders its Nuts edible in Autumn whose Leafs are as big as a Walnut's covered underneath with a soft Grey Down all these are covered with a succulent Green Shell like a Walnut without which includes an harder within in the Shape and Substance we have them brought Though I find them differently described both by Gerard and Lobelius The Capper-Shrub accompanies us in the Valleys from Caifer hither The Capper Shrub and is encompass'd with Prickles something emulating our Goosberries the Leaf is shaped like Purslain the Seeds or Fruit which we call Cappers have a Cod not different from the Cod of the Major Cardamom in which they are inclosed In May the Flower is white and open like a Sweet-Briar's The lofty Pine The Pine the Top of the Woods as well as of those floating on the Main is not so Tall in Asia as in Europe though strait up to the very Top and is not bunched till the Boughs aloft thrust out the Leafs to embrace the Woody Substance of its Cone-like Apple the Body is scaled like the Palm-Tree The Peach by way of Excellence is termed The Peach The Persian Apple nor does it lessen the Repute it far exceeding here what can be said in its praise in other Countries The Pomgranat is passing good The Pomgranat being the juiciest and biggest I ever met with nor does any parallel them unless those about Babylon Early the next Morning we departed from Ojoan beginning to alter our Course the Air being more moderate crossing a River by a Bridge running the whole length of the Plain in whose Bosom great store of Corn was nourished it looking yellow and fit for the Sickle On the other hand in the Meadows and Marshes were Droves of Fat Cattle and all things appeared with the same Face as in England we enjoyed this Accommodation till we came to Asspass four Pharsangs it is a Village shelter'd by the Mountains on the North from whence spring many Rivulets of fountain-Fountain-Water dispersed among the Under-Grounds a little too much by whose Exuberance Flags Reeds and Osiers offer Covert to Wild Boars and Habitation to some Water-Fowl Here a Countryman of ours is remembred to be Governor of a Castle whose Ruins still are extant for Shaw Abas the Great Asspass once governed by an Englishman in the beginning of King James the First 's Reign viz. Sir Anthony Shirley who took Pay under the Emperor to defend this Pass It is now inhabited by Georgian Christians who are Tillers of the Ground and Planters of Vines which are very productive on the sides of the Hills They are Whiter than the present Persians and of a florid Complexion being Portly well-limb'd Fellows Many of them have embraced the Mahometan Faith after the Persian Sect being Vassals to the Emperor By the favour of the rising Moon Cuscuzar August the first we brought the highest part of another Mountain under our Feet it dividing this Plain from another Rich Valley cloathed with Green Grass and therefore dedicated to the Pasture of the King's Breed of Horses among which were Choice Ones of very great Value We passed two Pharsangs to Cuscuzar giving both Name to the Valley and Village Here is a small but delicate Caravan Ser Raw though something improvidently built
King's Favour towards them The Clergy meet them in their several Habits the Laity also shew their Gallantry and the Patriarchs themselves are in their Holy Vestments Rich Copes Mitres and Crosiers beset with inestimable Jewels They are distinguished from the Bishops by wearing Rings on their Fingers embellished with Diamonds whereas the Bishops wear only plain Gold Rings Their Pontificals being put off they walk in a Black Gown with a Mitred Hood and Pastoral Staff as do the Vortobeeds who are the learned'st and best esteem'd of all their Orders and in absence of the Patriarch and Bishops exercise all the Pontifical Functions These are Eloquent Preachers in their Pulpits these only vow Chastity and what is more strict endure not the sight of a Woman and if in the Street by chance they meet one they presently turn their Backs and if they have any Business in that part of the Church allotted them by Custom they commit not themselves to them but cause them to be drove away before they will read the Service At Jelfa some Forty of these live a Celibate Life The Vortobeeds or Monasticks at the Monastry joining to the Cathedral in Cells and Cloysters with an Archbishop of the same Order faring hardly and living devoutly The Archbishop of Jelfa submits his Province to the Patriarch of Vagarsiabat The Archbishop he is a goodly Reverend Old Man snowed with Age but not worn with it he has a Countenance of Sanctity apparent in his Looks worthy the Gravity of so Eminent a Dignity The other Orders of the Clergy Their Clergy marry whether Priests Deacons Canons or Choristers use Christian Liberty in respect of Matrimony it being disallowed none but the Vortobeeds They are distinguished no other ways from the Rusticks than their wearing Blue Vests Turbats and Tunicks as they do unless a long Cloak or Gown of Black over all points them out to be an Armenian Father or an Ecclesiastick in Orders They are shaved as the Romans are and uncover their Heads in Salutation they are constant Frequenters of their Churches and have Lamps always burning in them and every one takes his turn in the Order of the Priesthood to wait Day and Night in the Temples according to the Mosaick Institution to whom are appointed Lodgings adjoining to their Churches at other Times they live with their Families in the City Every one approaching them pays them a Reverence and begs their Blessing kissing the Hem of their Garments which the Priests return to the Vortobeeds the Vortobeeds to the Bishops and the Bishops to the Patriarchs Having been present at their Masses for the Dead for Infants in Baptism and for the Husband and Wife new-married I shall thence take occasion to relate in short their Banquets Fasts and Ceremonies used on their Celebrating these Rites We shall begin with their first Admission into the Pale of the Church Baptism While they are at Divine Service a proper Mass is said when the Midwife or Nurse brings the Child to Church with a Tribe of Women where she delivers it to the Godfather who carries it to the Minister waiting at the Font on the Right Side beneath the Altar who unwinding the Swathes receives the Infant naked and his Thumb being anointed with consecrated Oyl or Balsom signs it with the Sign of the Cross not only on the Forhead but on the Breast and Back Feet and Arms and all the other Parts of the Body After this pouring of the same Chrysm into the warm Water in the Font reciting some special Prayers and dipping the Crucifix into it it becomes an Hallowed Bath in which the Babe is washed all over by the Priest When it is taken out it is crossed from Head to Foot and spitting into the Ears and Eyes it is dismiss'd with an Amulet hung at its Breast for Eight Days as a Charm against Witchcraft and restored to the Women to be cloathed The Mass being done the Guests return to the House of the Parents with a Noise of Musick before them and the Choir in Procession singing Anthems where they all make merry before they depart If it be a Girl it is Espoused immediately after Baptism to prevent its being sent for into the Haram by the Emperor who pretends a Power over them to chuse for his own use out of those not betrothed The great Festivity of the Birth and Baptism of our Saviour observed on the 6th of January is celebrated with Rites of the like nature for they consecrate the Tank or Cistern filled with Water and Odoriferous Oyls which after the Sacrament received is given out among the People with great Clamour and Striving This Solemnity has been so Splendid that the Emperors and the Court were wont to honour it with their Presence when they were entertained with Interludes and Representations of the Birth the Morning being ushered in with Vocal and Instrumental Musick with Millions of Flambeaus and shewing the Angels and Shepherds with the Heavenly Host Singing praises to God on high and good will towards Men. When this was performed the Rich Merchants strove to express their Sense of these Favours by inviting them to extraordinary Banqueting and Feasting and after Expensive Repasts the River being consecrated for the purpose the Ceremonies of Baptism were performed when notwithstanding it is extreamly cold those of Riper Years were baptized and swam about for the Diversion of the Court concluding all with a Night of Jollity The modestest account of which Pranks must be The Hopes of gaining Proselytes by such Shews rather than to expose their most Holy Religion to the Contempt of Infidels out of any Design or Interest otherwise this Practice admits of a scandalous Interpretation But alas it is too true in the affirmative That in India among the Idolatrous it might take but among those that abhor all manner of Forms and Shapes in their Worship it turns to the Reproach and not Advancement of Christianity The next thing after being Baptized Matrimony is to commit Matrimony the only way they have of propagating their Faith it being a Punishment no less than Capital to attempt by any means to persuade a Mussleman to abjure his besotted Fancy concerning their False Prophet but that is not so much the Reason as prevailing Custom which has from Age to Age led them to marry their Children very young chiefly because the Advantage made by their Bargain is not of such Concern as in Europe where Portion more than Honesty of the Family is considered but here the greatest Dowry is the Credit of the Relations and the Women not the Men make the Price they being Mistresses of nothing more than their Beauty and Virtue so that they never are snatch'd up for their Great Fortunes however Wealthy their Parents are they being wholly at their Disposals who make the Matches without the Courtship or Knowledge of the Couple to be married wherefore they are entred into that sort of Life before they know how
the Point and Tapering like that of our King's Arms But what Petrus Angelius relates concerning the Onager or Indian Ass can have no congruity with this unless in respect of the Virtues for though his Verses are most Elegant in his 5. lib. Cyneget yet the description is very wide Quos India pascit Onagros Jam primum niveo corpus candore teguntur Infecti Assyrio circum caput omne colore Caeruleis oculis unoque in fronte superbi Cornu c. His words in Prose are these The Wild Asses of India are as big or bigger than Horses whose Heads are of a Purple die their Eyes Blew the rest of their Body White on their Foreheads they have an Horn a Cubit in length whose lower part for Two Hands breadth is White and the Top which is sharp inclining to a bright Red but the Middle part is blood Red of these they make Cups out of which whosoever Drinks neither Cramp nor Falling Sickness seizes them nor has any manner of Poison any force if that immediately before or after taking of the same either Water Wine or other Liquid thing be taken out of these Cups That this Opinion is taken up upon the account of the Rhinoceros his Horn I can certainly verify and that great Prices are offered for those that are inadulterate which they in India pretend to try by the Liquors presently fermenting in them but notwithstanding that Experiment they are often deceived by false Horns made into drinking Cups thus much is true of the Rhinoceros but the other part of it holds not Water they come from Bengala and are esteemed terrible and indomitable Creatures And these must be or none what this Author calls Asses there being no other Beasts in these Parts with but one Horn and I am afraid he is mistaken as to the African Ass also some Writers having called Africa India which might have been urged in his excuse whose Skin I having formerly admired when in India you will easily be convinced it is no such Creature it having never an Horn Two Live ones were sent hither from the Abassin Emperor as an Expression of Respect to this Court which with other valuable Rarities brought by his Ambassadors were lately graciously received They are as large as a Mule The Abassin Ass mistaken for the Sabean Wild Ass but for the exact Symetry of the Lineaments Zeuxis his Pencil would but faintly shadow over the lively Portraicture of their Skins the ground whereof was of a light Ash Colour over which along the Back strait black Streaks in Rows at length reached to the Tail the Shoulders Flanks and Haunches had the same waving towards the extremity of their several Members but that which was the oddest was on the Forehead they had so many Geometrial Figures like the Trapezium or Square in which the opposite sides are parallel one with another so distinctly painted as at last to fill up a black spot of a Diamond cut in the very Centre of the Face What Family to mix this Kind with I am at a loss unless they be a-kin to the Onager or Wild Ass mentioned by Xenophon in the Expedition of the Lesser Cyrus the same we read in Pliny in his 8. Lib. and 4th Chap. where he ascribes them to Phrygia and Lycaonia but the Words of the before-recited Author have it thus The Onager is a Wild Ass excelling at pleasure the swiftest Courser whose Flesh differs not much from Stags Flesh were it not something tenderer Arabia says he abounds with Flocks of them Now nothing can be Tamer than these before us and therefore unlikely to be the Wild ones of Xenophon in Arabia but are most assuredly the Breed of Africa however Petrus Angelius Bargaeus comes pretty near the Mark in this though not the other however he is mistaken in the Place as well as the Race of both At sonitu ingenti putrem quatit ungula campum Cornua venantem quoties fugiêre suisque Temporibus stant longae Aures tum Corpora Câ—rvos Exsuperant nec Lana nitet non albo colore Mixta Nigro ceu cum Nubes densantur opacae Et totum eripiunt oculis coelumque diemque Nigraque per medios decurrit taenia lumbos Linda quam clunes tractim comitantur adimos Vtraque distinguens niveo sua tergora ductu The Horny Hoof with mighty sound As oft as Hunted shakes the ground Upon their Temples stand long Ears Bodies bigger than Stags are theirs A Woolly Hair of colour White Out shines the mixture of black Night Along the Back and down the Loins A List of Black the White disjoins The same accompanies the Haunch Distinguishing the Flanks from Paunch Hence we were carried to the Ducking Ponds where Swam Outlandish as well as Native Wild Fowl and thence to the Aviaries where Nature presents not only divers Species but she has plaid the Wanton even in diversifying those of the same Kind either adding or diminishing as she was provided with Matter some Birds having more Feet Wings or Bills than belongs to the wonted Frame of the same sort others again are deficient in the Parts usually bestowed on the Individuals of the same Race some exceeding and others wanting in Stature But these being accounted Monstrous and out of the Road I shall forsake them to follow a Couple of long striding Ostriches robbed of their Feathers which must be certainly very Glorious they are of the largest size of Birds wherefore by an Irony called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Ostrich as if one should say of a Giant such an one is an Infant or a Camel-Bird to be a Sparrow their Heads or Crowns are perfectly Bald a Palm in Circumference which Pliny avouches in express Terms Quaedam animalia naturaliter calvent sicut Strutho Cameli some Creatures are naturally Bald as Ostriches their Feet have Two Claws only Night drawing on The Flower of Spahaun meet a nights in the Walk belonging to the Palace we unwillingly left these Spectacles and fell into a lovely one between these Groves for now all the Pride of Spahaun was met in the Chaurbaug and the Grandees were Airing themselves prancing about with their numerous Trains striving to outvie each other in Pomp and Generosity but come short of those Incentives to Chivalry that spur on our Gallants the Graces Adorn our Parks and Malls Crowned with Virgin-Garlands whose loose Garments wave with the flowing Wind and provoke the Amorous Spark to list himself a Volunteer under those Banners whose Maiden Faces bear the fresh Colour of the blooming Roses on the Lilly White of their natural Complexion being wonderfully taking both in their Shape and Meen Chearful and Free in their Discourse but with an awful Comeliness Facetious and Pleasant but with an unspotted Innocence enough to make Cato shake off his Severity and reconcile himself to Good Nature Such Daphnes as these worthy the great Apollo alas this Cursed Soil knows not the Blessing of nor dare they trust
them out of Doors for their fiery Spirits like Water cast on Sea-Coal by the Society of such Nymphs would render their Heat more intense by intemperate Jealousies After the Armenians had treated us The French Artisans divert us the French Artisans thought themselves concerned to do the like that they might not be thought to live here in Slavery but in a Condition to Entertain not only their Friends but to equal the highest Flights the Armenians could pretend to and for the Honour of their King and Nation we were called on St. Lewis his Day which they Solemnized with fresh Devices of Fireworks Illuminations Interludes and Farces besides the Extravagances of Banquetting and Carowsing Drinking the Sophi's Health and their Master's after all the European Monarchs The next day River Fishes with the Noise of loud Musick we were Invited by them into the Country to a Fish Dinner by the River side as of Mullets Crey Fish Pickeril and the like for it is not for every one to feed on Lampry Turbat Goldney or Sturgion formerly held as dainty Bits by the Rich Roman Gluttons as Apicius Vitellus and Lucullus However here are Salmon from the Caspian Sea and the Urchin though not that admired one of the Ocean for its delicious Taste this being not for Food but Diversion under the Hedges and Trees of an Orchard by the Bank of the River The sly Nature and cunning Thefts of which Creature The Hedge-Hog though they are made famous by many of the Learnedst Philosophers yet none more Graphically expresses them than these Facetious Verses Ergo ubi lapsa jacent sua quisque sub arbore poma Accedunt Laeti seque in sua terga volutant Denec fixa rubis haerentia mala supremis Exportent implentque penum liventibus uvis Quorum acinis quoties sentes onerantur acutae Perjucunda sui praebent spectacula nobis Quippe humeros tecti sic ingrediuntur ut ipsâ Ire putes totos avulsos vite racemos Ah! tibi ne cupidos sensus tam tangat habendi Tantus amor furem ut tentes arcere jocosum Atque oculos durus jucundo avertere Ludo Eripere natis dulcem expectantibus escam Under the Trees where Apples lye They come apace full fraught with Joy And rowling on their Backs they six The tender Apples to their Pricks Which carrying off they come again And with ripe Grapes their Store maintain Whose Thorny Bristles fully stuck A pleasant Sight it is to look And see them march lac'd o're with Fruit As if they 'd stole the Vine to boot Ah! let not Covetous Intent The Waggish Thief at all prevent Or Surly drive him from his Prey Who bears them thus to 's Young away It is called by the Latins Echinus from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it contracts its self being touched by some Erinaceus of which there are two sorts and in our Tongue are called Hedge-hogs the one with a Snout like an Hog's and the other a Nose like a Dog 's both which are beset with sharp Thorns or Prickles on their Backs and when they fear any harm towards them gather themselves into a round Fuz ball In some few places where the Water was purposely pent in Water-Fowl we saw some Flocks of Water Fowl which the Persians are skill'd by their long Case-harden'd Guns to shoot flying The best Hawks of Muscovia are purchased here at great Rates nor undeservedly for they will strike down those Colum that are as big as Wild Turkies and visit India in the Cold Season eleven or a dozen one after another as they fly in Trains like Wild Geese and come down with the last themselves Some of these we saw tried which was pleasant Sport They have some Hawks of their own but they are of a Cowardly Breed to these they teaching the Crows of the Country to be too hard for them whereby it is familiar to give an Hundred Thomands for a right Muscovia Hawk of which they are so great Lovers that they seldom appear abroad without one of them on their Hand Some of them in their Swoops are so couragious as to seize the Heads of Deer or Antelopes and seating themselves with their Talons between their Horns pick out their Eyes or doze them with their Beaks or stupify them with their Strokes so that no Hunting in the World is like it to see them soaring in a wide Plain where Herds of these are especially if there be these Water-pits for the Courses under Ground at once to observe them guarding their Fronts scampering with their Heads to the Earth to avoid the tow'ring Enemy aloft sometimes unawares to fall Captives into these Wells not suspecting the Danger under foot so much as avoiding that which threatens them over head whereby they run into Thickets or against Shrubs and Stumps of Trees tumbling and leaping unadvisedly so that Greyhounds being set upon them easily overtake them Not by this Stratagem to derogate from their Greyhounds Greyhounds which are as good as most of that kind well-shap'd and swift but shagged with long Hair yet for all that are kept cloathed as their Horses in Winter and all the Year besides rubbed dressed and covered with lighter Cloaths The other Dogs are but Curs they are Strangers to our Bloodhounds but have many English Mastiffs in good Repute which breed and are very serviceable to keep their Houses striking Terror into the Assailants more than a Guard of Watchmen Here are no Parks No Woods or Forests about Spahaun Forests or Chaces for Sport nor Meres or Decoys for Game nor indeed Medows yielding Hay for their Cattel their Fodder being chopped Straw and Barley their Provender all over the Empire nor are here any Woods more than inclosed in Gardens which is unfit for Building or Firing yet of the tall Maple or Sycamore they have slit Boards for their Chests for Wine and Fruit neither is there any Turf or Coal so that Firing is more worth than Food being forced to send Camels to fetch it many days Journy hence as has been said at our first coming hither In our Return we observed several Tombs of the Ancient Gabers after the same manner as the Parsies in India and at top of the Mountains such Monuments as are on the sides of the Plain of Persepolis and one more eminent in Honour of their great Champion Rustam but who this Rustam was both their Annals and Tradition give an unsatisfactory Account On the 19th of August an Eclypse of the Sun made us take notice of the Alteration of the Weather An Eclypse of the Sun which was stormy and tempestuous as well as the lamentable plight all the Mahometans were in they supposing that Orb to be in Labour and therefore by Prayers and Incantations concerned at its Delivery all the time beating Pots of Brass making a Noise as dreadful as the Day of Doom The Eclypse being over the Weather
Temperate Zone by reason of the indeterminate Horizon every where occasioned by the interfering Mountains The Crows here are like our Royston Crows Grey on their Backs and Wings Crows of several Colours at Jerom their Beaks and Feet are as Red as Vermilion where also at our appearance Barley is ripe and new Barley sow'd and as we travelled we now and then let fly an Hawk at Hoberaes a Bird larger and of the same Colour with our Kites at first being brought to the Ground by the Hawk it parries and makes some false Shew of Defence brisking up its Plumes about the Neck as a Cock does when going to engage but the Controversy is soon decided after the Hawk seizes it with his direful Talons and instead of denouncing farther War it resigns its self an humble Victim to the Conqueror The inward Coats of the Gizzard are stuffed with Wormseed of which it smells strong which dried and beaten to Powder and given with Sugar is a Panacaea for an Asthma or difficulty of breathing and the whole Body is delicate Meat On the right hand of the King's Highway between Siras and Gerom at Derab on the side of a Mountain issues the Pissasphaltum of Diascorides or Natural Mummy into a large Stone Tank or Storehouse sealed with the King's Seal and that of the Calentures and all the Noblemen of that City and kept with a constant Watch till at a stated Time of the Year they all repair thither to open it for the King's Use to prevent its being stole Which notwithstanding though it be Death if discovered yet many Shepherds following their Flocks on these Mountains by chance light on great Portions of the same Balsam and offer it to Passengers to Sale and sometimes play the Cheat in adulterating it The First of November entring upon the Plains of Dedumbah we found it all frosted with Salt for the Waters from the Mountains mixing with the Superficies of the Earth together with the Sun and drying Winds incrustate nor have I met with sharper Colds than here for that the invironing Hills as well as Dales are full of Salt and the Sun rising with horrid Winds presses the Ambient Air from the high Tops by its Circular Motion so that it hurricanes us with such dismal chilling Gusts that had we not been active here in coursing Hares and Wild Goats we might sooner have frozen than kept our Innate Heat entire the Sun being constantly attended all the Day with blustering Weather leaving a quiet Calm at setting From this Plain to Lhor both in the Highways and on the high Mountains Monuments of Robbers were frequent Monuments of Thieves immured in Terror of others who might commit the like Offence they having literally a Stone-Doublet whereas we say metaphorically when any is in Prison He has a Stone Doublet on for these are plastered up all but their Heads in a round Stone Tomb which are left out not out of Kindness but to expose them to the Injury of the Weather and Assaults of the Birds of Prey who wreak their Rapin with as little Remorse as they did devour their Fellow-Subjects Beyond Lhor The Air as well as the Food the Cause of Birds keeping one place Water-Fowl that make not their Abode on the Sea are seldom seen for want of Fresh-Water nor do Hoberaes fly on the other side so far as Siras whether for the sake of its beloved Food or by reason the Subtilty of the Air may fail them in their due Poise making them delight more in one place than another I know not as it is evident in the Nature of Fishes to p 〈…〉 one Water before another as being better fitted for their freer Respiration We set out of Spahaun the first day of their great Fast The Old and New Moon visible in twelve hours time which was the 8th of October all which time it was grievous to the Moors to Travel because they might not eat nor swallow their Spittle in the Day-time it being denied the Muliteers and those accustomed to Labour but the Hodges and those who lead a delicate Life are permitted to eat for which they plead their being unaccustomed to Labour which exempts them from an Imposition they lay on the more hardy not touching such heavy Burthens with the least of their Fingers Wherefore the poor Mule-men made hard shift to get to Lhor the Morning before the Evening the New Moon appeared on viz. the 4th of November when I saw the Old Moon go out on the Hills at Lhor and the Night following the Horns reversed the whole Body or Circumference having only as it were a dark Veil or Curtain of Air drawn over it that part alone which was Crescent being illuminated But it was some Damp to their designed Mirth when by too much haste to come to this Capital City they perceived they had lost a Mule with its Lading by driving in the Dark all Night whereupon I was employ'd to inform the Caun who immediately dispatched the Rhadary in quest and before Night restored the Lading which was Shagreen Leather such as they make their best Boots of but the Mule was found dead under its Burthen strayed a little way out of the Road such Care is there taken to satisfy Merchants This Night passed with great Rejoicing among the Musselmen and retarded us three Days before we could make our Muliteers settle to their Gears again Here the doubtful Autumn inclines towards Winter resigning the Dates Citrons Oranges and Lemons to the expecting Planter Here grows the Emblem of Peace the Olive-Tree and though the Leafs are fallen yet here is an uninterrupted Spring all things keeping a perpetual Green though they observe the appointed Times of bringing forth their Increase And now we begin to enjoy Temperate and Shorter Nights In Hot Countries to the North the Year centers in our Winter in exchange of Cold and Longer and although the Goat is not yet ascended with his Constellation yet I pronounce it Winter since all Terrestrial Things move with a Pace as if they were just almost at the Centre of the Year but after the Sun carried by the rapid Course of the Heavenly Impulse in order with the other Glorious Stars has reached its utmost Southern Bounds then a new Face of things returns and the alternate Accretion and Diminution render an Everlasting Constancy which with the admirable Frame and manifold Courses of the Celestial Spheres witness and declare That the Praise of so great and wonderful Works are not to be attributed to Chance and Fortune but to an All-wise Creator who constituted the Universe from the Beginning and will govern and preserve the same to all Eternity who also brought us safe to Gombroon the 13th of November To whom be Honour now and for ever CHAP. X. A Voyage to Congo for Pearl a Discourse of their Generation Departure from Persia and Return to India TWO days after our Arrival at Gombroon I went to Congo leaving only
no Value or not worth our discourse Goats-wool becomes a thing of serious Controversy therefore it was God's Mercy we were not try'd with Stormy Weather hitherto But now we were dilemma'd not knowing what to wish when the Divine Providence sent us a West North West Gale which after we had measured the whole Coast from Persia round the Bay of Cambaia to Sinda we were drove to Diu where sounding we had Eighteen Fathom Water and bending to the South we were directed a-nights by the Light-houses and at last out-stretching the Flats we fell in with the High-lands of St. John's in India The Head-land of Diu is the highest Land there in view the rest of the Ground being low nor is Gates to be seen there it lies in North Latitude 21 deg 10 min. but St. John's in 10 deg being a notable high Peak on the Gaot On the first day of the Year 1978-79 and the last of the Moon the Gusts blowing horribly from Shore we were again drove to Sea till Night and anchored very uneasily while Two the next Morning when the Tide horsed us towards the Shore we not being able otherwise to prevail against the Wind with our Sails but anchoring another whole Night and Day Tollimur in Caelum curvato gurgite idem Subducta ad manes imos descendimus unda By th' rising Waves we 're lifted up on high Descending down we in the deep do lye Where we had remained had we offer'd to unfurl our Sails for the aforementioned Reasons But from our Want there sprang this Commodity our Water being well nigh all spent the Ship was better able to live her Burthen sinking aloft and thereby gave occasion to bear a steadier Poise below while we expected the abating of the Tempest in order to our happy Deliverance which at last permitted us to come more under the Land where struggling every Tide though the Water continued still troubled with foaming Billows yet observing when to gain we passed Surat River's Mouth where rode thirteen Moor Merchant-men and two great Belgians and so came to our desired Haven in Swally-hole on Twelfth-day where I remain Your Humble Servant J. F. Sending you with this the General Account of Persia which I had time to write during almost Forty Days floating upon these Waters which had like to prove as fatal to Us as the great Deluge did once to the Old World in that space of time THE Present State OF PERSIA CHAP. XI Of the various Names Situation and Bounds the Temper of the Air of the Seasons and Winds of the High and Stupendious Mountains their Advantage and Conveniency of the Fruitfulness of the Valleys occasioned by Snow upon the Hills Of the Vegetables Plants and Minerals of their Fowl Four-footed Beasts and Fishes Their Caravans Mosques Hummums Buzzars Houses and Bridges The City Suffahaun proposed as a Patern of their Government PERSIA by Classick Authors is fabled to have its Name from King Perseus Its Names Son of Andromeda it was anciently called Elam by the Hebrews and now by the Inhabitants Phursistan It is sited in the Temperate Zone Situation and Bounds under the Third Fourth Fifth and Sixth Climates In time of Yore the Monarchy of the whole World devolved upon it and which is miraculous is not quite extinguished to this day although the Bounds of the Empire were straitned or enlarged according to the ebbing or flowing of Fortune In its Infancy it was mighty for Nimrod was a Powerful Hunter that is a great Prince and as it grew up it increased in Strength but from the Grand Cyrus to Darius the Mede it seemed to be in the Flower of its Age when it was Mistress of all the Earth which the vast Ocean washes on this side and the Hellespont on the other After the Death of Alexander the Great it was miserably divided by the Contentions of his Captains and long since by the Incursions of the Saracens it has been declining unless where it has healed its self towards those Parts bordering on India by which means it has not lost much of its Modern Greatness though the Turks within this Century have forced the Low Countries of Babylon and Mesopotamia which the Persians were as willing to resign as they to take they being a continual Charge to defend and no Advantage to the Persians but rather an unnecessary Trouble On which Reflections there is nothing forbids but that with the Judicious Boterus we may state its Limits between the Caspian Sea the Persian Gulph the Lake Stoke with the Rivers Oxus and Tigris and the Bay and Kingdom of Cambaia which Tract contains in it from East to West more than Twenty Degrees and from North to South above Eighteen whereby the Days are prolonged or shortned three Hours Under this Account is to be reckoned the greater part of Georgia with the Islands in either Seas It is distinguished into Provinces the exact Number whereof as divided at present they as often changing Names as Governors I have not been certainly informed Quintus Curtius erred something when he said Temperance of the Air. Regio non alia in tota Asiâ salubrior habetur temperatum Coelum hinc perpetuum jugum opacum et umbrosum quod Aestas laevat illinc Mare adjunctum quod modico tepore terras fovet There is not a Region in all Asia esteemed healthier the Air being temperate on this hand the Heaven is shaded and the Vales defended by the Tops of Mountains which qualifies the Heat on the other surrounded with Seas and Rivers which by a friendly Warmth cherish the Land for that Places near the Tropicks make some Exceptions where in the Summer they endure great Heat not only from the nearness of the Sun because we often observe strange differences to happen in the same Climate but from the Sands and Sulphurous Exhalations steaming from the Mountains which are impregnated herewith whenas Reason persuades the Time must be hotter than in other Seasons of the Year As also in the Midland Country the Cause holds good for its intense Coldness in Winter and almost through every Quarter at Nights the Penury of Vapours where the Earth is Rocky and Mountainous the Rivers are scarce and small the Snows lye undissolved nor are there any Woods of that Bigness to hinder the freedom of the Blasts descending pure upon the Vales On which account immoderate Driness invades the Mediterranean Parts the Air is Serene and Volatile which as it is highly serviceable to the Respiration of all Living Creatures so it mightily contributes to their Preservation as well as Generation Moreover from this Rarity of the Air follows an undeniable Argument of its Frigidity and thence a farther concomitant of its Siccity from all which results a Dry Constitution for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Siccitas humores facit qualitate sicciores Driness of the Air makes the Humours drier which the Inland of Persia enjoys from a Concatenation of Causes both of Heat
and Cold. The whole Region is very fruitful of Barren Mountains High Mountains inclosing the Valleys being Excrescencies of the Mountain Taurus nor can I disbelieve in many places but that the Plains do more than enough abound with Plenty since no Place is unprovided with store of all good things but on the contrary like the Promised Land it overflows What Archiseles relates of the Island Ithica may be applied to this Country 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fragosum esse quidem sed juvencularum optimum nutritorem That it was craggy indeed but an excellent Breeder of Cattel the Sheep it brings forth are prodigiously large trailing Tails after them of the Weight some of them of Thirty Pound full of Fat they being stalled to that pitch that Hogs fed among us with the most Care and Skill cut not thicker than these do especially after Vintage and the Cotton-Harvest when they are turned in to crop the Leafs and tender Branches of the Vine and gather up the scattered Seeds of the Cotton with which they thrive so infinitely that little Flesh is to be seen it all being converted to Suet At other times for want of Pasture they brouze on Shrubs and Thistles spread to and again and in Winter are foddered with Barley-Straw and now and then with a little Barley Their Neat though small are sleek and well-liking whose Milk is very good for present spending but it 's better to make Butter on than Cheese This Country has Goats in Herds Tame ones as well as both Sheep and Goats on the Mountains which are Fierce and Wild producing Bezoar which together with Stags and Antelopes are caught by Hawks instructed for that purpose Their Horses Their Four-footed Beasts though they have degenerated from their Primitive Race inest enim Equis patrum virtus for even in Horses the Virtue of their Sires are communicated to their Breed still are they the best of all the East unless the Arabian be preferred for swifter Coursers and light Horses However for Charging Horses and Stout Warlike Steeds they are valued above all others The Asses though little yet will they amble with a quick Pace over Mountains where Horses cannot pass and those used to Packs are such as no other Nation can equal The Mules and Camels are their over Land Ships by which they transport their Merchandise over all the Earth Hyrcania brings forth Wild Beasts such as Foxes Wolves and Tygres but for want of Dens and Lurking-places and by reason of the untilled and waste Desarts being devoid of Food is less infested with them than other places wherefore in long travelling here they go more unconcerned than in those parts where they are constantly alarmed by them and are forced to be on their Guard lest at unawares they should be surprized they snorting every where securely under the wide Canopy of Heaven and those that set upon the Flocks by chance are easily mastered by the Shepherds Curs which are sharp Biters Wild Fowl both for Wing and Water Wild Fowl are brought forth in great Plenty of all sorts near the Fountain-heads and Inundations of the melted Snow falling not into Channels but overspreading the Bottoms where they dissolve whereby they seldom stretch into Rivers at length but stagnate in the Low Grounds which they wash In which Washes sometimes are spawned Mud-Fish Fishes and such as Fens and Lakes are famous for The Caspian Sea nourishes Salmon Trouts and Sturgion and the Persian Gulph sends abroad much Fish for salting the Rivers are not very full nor are they stocked with great Variety Breadâ—Corn in many places admits a threefold Crop The Valleys made fruitful by the Snow from the Hills and generally without that Toil by Water-Courses as between the Tropicks the Rains in most places bestowing a more welcome Nutriment but more especially from the white Spume of the Celestial Waters with which the Hills are coated all the Seasons of the Year in Winter crusted by Frost in Summer by reason of the Sun's Heat and more exalted Motion thawed thereby constantly distilling on the humble Vales an inexhausted Store as wealthy as what flows from Aemus Tops to enrich the Thessalian Fields Where these Supplies are not so lasting or altogether wanting as nearer the Zodiac there often under Ground a Vault is continued for many Leagues with open Pits at a fit distance to let in the Air and the Water carried deep to keep it from tasting of the Salt Surface after the manner of common Sewers in our great Cities which it would do were not the Wells Mouths left open For Houshold Service Rain-Water is only used In all this Country neither Oats nor Grass are found because longer Time is required to their springing up than either the Intervals of Heat or Cold will grant for no sooner does the Spring enter than the Sun defaces their Verdure by parching up the Blades of either and when Autumn claims Preeminence at its Equinox then no sooner do they peep out than they are nipped by the Recess of the Innate Heat Wherefore no Green Meadows or spangled Fields are here expected but such as are created by indefatigable Labour unless they be hoped to be seen in Vintages or under Groves or Orchards or by Rivulets sides gliding from the declining Hills The first are set generally on Fruitful Ridges of the Eastern Mounts Denique apertos Bacchus amat Colles Virg. Georg. 2. The latter are the frequent Advantages to Villages and the sweet Pleasure of the larger Towns where Trees and Flowers grow up together that the one may yield a safe shelter to the other against the Extremes of Heat or Cold in both whose Prime a fragrant Blandishment conspire no less than to entice the willing Senses But for Elegancy of Culture and choice of Slips I see them not over emulous which Neglect gives just occasion of Wonder since their Worldly Happiness is placed in fine Gardens which no Nation appears to me more to Idolize For Fuel Plants the combustible Heath is more common than flourishing Trees for Timber but for Sallads it yields all that are desirable both Herbs and Roots and some of the most Medicinal Plants are of the Natural Growth of this Country There is an heavy Tax laid upon Tobacco Tobacco though it be the choicest in these Parts To these Blessings for Pleasure Manufactories Necessity and Physick are added others for Profit Gums the most Rich distil every where From Carmania Goats-Wool as much to be prized as Jason's Golden Fleece with which our Hatters know well how to falsify their Bevers and the Natives how more honestly to weave both Cloth and Carpets very fine which they sell at dear Rates The Flocks and courser Wool of their Sheep stand them in some stead they kneading it into Felts for Seamless Coats for the ordinary sort of People for their common wearing and their Skins with the Wool on are both an Ornament and Safeguard against the roughest
sufficient Sacrifice as if any River or Sea could purify their Lusts included in their Hearts These Houses are beneath the Earth only some little round Globes embellish'd with Painted Glass peep out above the Ground to give Light and are well clos'd lest the ambient Air should offend by too forcible a Ventilation through any neglected Crevise They are built with divers distinct Cells one from another in which Men sit are rubbed and cleansed Immediately within the Porch is the greatest Cell or rather a large Room where they d'off their Cloaths and being undressed leave their Garments in the middle of this Place is a Cystern of cold Water coming into it by several Pipes All the other Cells are so conveniently framed that every one may breathe a different Air as to the degrees of Heat such as may suit with the divers Temperaments of several Bodies since every Constitution requires not the same Bath For as Galen has left it written in lib. 7. Morb. Med. Some want an Hot others a Tepid and others a Cold Bath as Hectical Habits declare The Pavements are all Marble on which the more Hot Water is thrown the more it increases the Heat although at the same time the Subterranean Fire be as Hot as it can be On these Marble Floors they at last extend themselves when they think they have tarried in long enough that the Barbers whose business it is should wind and turn every Limb and Joint of the Body before behind and on every side with that Dexterity and Slight that it is admirable to behold them perform it whereby they leave no Muscle Nerve or superficial Joint either unmov'd or not rubb'd Then with a course Hair-cloth and Hot Water they scrape off all the Filth and Sweat and last of all by a Depilatory they take clean away all manner of Hairs growing either in Secret Parts or any Emunctuary to cause either nasty Smells or troublesome chasing When they retire to put on their Cloaths this is to be only understood of Great Men there waits them a Collation of Fruit Sweetmeats and variety of Perfumes as Rosewater Rackbeet and the like with all befitting Attendants besides the usual Servitors to administer either Coho Tea Tobacco or Brandy if faint When they are dress'd they emplaister their Feet and Hands with a Red Paste which wonderfully helps sweaty and moist Palms as also stinking Feet These things being premised the Benefits coming from the use of these are when the Body is inflamed and dried by immoderate Heat it is finely refreshed by sweet Water and the Pores become moisten'd the farther prosecution of which Advantages having been spoken of before I refer you thither and proceed to the other Houses of Resort which are only for the Men and not for the Women Their Coffee-houses Their Coffee-houses where they sell Coho better than any among us which being boiled has a Black Oil or Cream swimming at top and when it has not they refuse to drink it Hither repair all those that are covetous of News as well as Barterers of Goods where not only Fame and common Rumour is promulged but Poetry too for some of that Tribe are always present to reherse their Poems and disperse their Fables to the Company so true is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ex Otio Negotium That their Business proceeds from Idleness They are modell'd after the Nature of our Theatres that every one may sit around and suck choice Tobacco out of long Malabar Canes fasten'd to Chrystal Bottles like the Recipients or Bolt-heads of the Chymists with a narrow Neck where the Bole or Head of the Pipe is inserted a shorter Cane reaching to the bottom where the long Pipe meets it the Vessel being filled with Water After this sort they are mightily pleased for putting fragrant and delightful Flowers into the Water upon every attempt to draw Tobacco the Water bubbles and makes them dance in various Figures which both qualifies the Heat of the Smoke and creates together a pretty Sight At Night here are abundance of Lamps lighted and let down in Glasses from the Concave Part of the Roof by Wires or Ropes hanging in a Circle The Buzzars having been mentioned before I shall only add That however Great all their other Buildings are yet these carry away the Glory from them all as much as the Halls of the Citizens of London exceed Noblemens Houses about the City being the Work and Business of Joint-Stocks and their Shews and Entertainments are as Pompous as Princes however sparingly they live at their own Homes For these being the joint Advantage both of the Emperor and his Subjects he encourages their forwardness in adorning these though he suppresses all their Extravagancy of Garb or Exorbitancy in Building if it bears not with it the becoming Design of giving him the greatest Share of Honour in the Foundation Their Bridges are made either of Brick or Stone and want neither for Skill or Ornament in their Contrivance and are chiefly built for Ostentation or to preserve their Memories as their other great Buildings are They are of more Use to join divided Rocks for Passengers than to lay over Rivers the former of which are more frequent in the Road to the Port than the other CHAP. XII Of the present Inhabitants of the Jews being interspersed ever since the Captivity of Babylon the Custom of exoculating their Princes Nobility among the Persians the Esteem they have of the Emperor's Person being Divine his Name and Succession Of the English overthrowing the Portugals at Ormus the Procession of the Court its Grandeur and Reception of Ambassadors Of the Suffees of their Cavalry Infantry Seamen and Navy THE Inhabitants of this City The present Persians Scythians as well as of all Persia the Ancient Stock being as it were extinct spring from the Overflow of the Northern Scythians by whom the Native Persians were either totally expell'd or so suppress'd as to remain of no Account among them These notwithstanding by the Benefit of the Climate have chang'd so much of their innate Roughness as they have acquired the more coruscant Beauty inherent in the Temper of the Air for they are of a delicate Composure of Body Tall and Strait especially the Women who though not generally so proper yet excel in Softness of Texture and Comeliness of Form Their Outside is no false Indication of their Natural Ingenuity which exceeds all the Eastern People both for Facetiousness of Wit Civil Behaviour and Gallantry in Appearance as much as they do the Barbarous Africans They cohabit generally with their Relations together in one House or at least as near one the other as it is possible Jews are among them of the same Antiquity as the Exportation from Jerusalem to Babylon Jews here ever since the Captivity who live in the same Cities though in distinct Streets and with less Mark of Reproach here than elsewhere But how far their Liberties extend I pretend
set against Rams and against Bulls Lions c. and against all our English Mastiffs who carry the Prize from the Combatants when they Celebrate the Boetian Games They are frequent Huntsmen They Hunt a long time together When they go out on this sport they return not in a Days time as we do but remove from place to place where Game is to be had take with them their Wives and Family and Travel in state with full prepared Tables and act the Bacchinals like Alexander for which purpose they have their Tents and close Carriages their Gogdans for Provisions they carry also Bulgar-Hides which they form into Tanks to Bathe themselves and Women in their Progress for drinking Cups they have both Gold and Silver ones as also large Flasks of that Metal besides Earthen Jars for Water and Puckeries which are porous Vessels to keep their Liquor Cool Upon their Return How Treated on their return or Entrance of any Magistrate into any great Town or City all of any Quality meet them at some Garden a Pharsang off with led Horses Musick and Banquets to Congratulate their Arrival which is also done upon their Departure with a Train of Servants and especially those bearing their Tobacco-Vessels Tea and Coffee-Pots which with hot Rose-Water and Sugar-Candy is their preparatory Fore runner to a splendid Entertainment which they are sure to have at the return to their Palaces where they Treat like Persians Alighting they are introduced the Guest-Chamber Immoderate in their Feasting all bestrewed with Flowers and sweet Herbs besides perfumed with Odoriferous Gums or the Aloes Wood alone or other resiny Matters made into Candles and in Massy Silver Fuming-Pots very costly and delicate leaving their Slippers where they begin to tread on Carpets they take their Seats on Susanees a rich Tapestry of Needle-Work that Borders the Carpets behind which are placed huge Velvet Bolsters before them Spitting Pots to void their Spittle in when they Smoak Tobacco or Eat Pawn these Rooms are large and airy and open folding Windows on every side where being placed they bring their Coloons after which they Welcome you by a flood of Rose-Water or other Compound Water poured on your Head and Beard then they bring in in neat Voiders China Plates of Fruit as Pistachia's Walnuts Almonds Haslenuts Grapes Prunes Prunello's Apricots Dried and Sweatmeats Wet and Dry of all sorts amidst whereof they fill out Coffee Tea and Hot Rose-Water and all the while have Mimicks Stage-Players and Dancers to divert between whose Interludes is mixed the Custom as ancient as Nebuchadnezzar of certain Wife â—â—en repeating Verses in their Praise or reading Monuments of Antiquity which continues till Victuals are brought in and the Cloath spread on the Carpets every one keeping their places First Water being brought in great Silver Basons and Ewers to Wash the Courses are ushered in with loud Musick and the Table being filled the Servitors are placed so as to furnish every one with Plates of the several Varieties which they place before each and give them long Wheaten Cakes both for Napkins Trencher and Bread and sometimes thin Pancakes made of Rice though Boiled Rice serves usually for Bread which they mix with their Soops and Pottage The usual Drink is Sherbet made of Water Juice of Lemmons and Ambergreece which they drink out of long thin Wooden Spoons wherewith they lade it out of their Bowls The most admired Dainty wherewith they stuff themselves is Pullow whereof they will sill themselves up to the Throat and receive no hurt it being so well prepared for the Stomach After they have Eaten well and the Cloath is removed they Wash again And then most of them will freely take off their Bowls of Wine which is brought to each by their several Servants most of Silver some of Gold which we call a Toss and is made like a Wooden Dish purposely so shap'd for convenient Carriage at the bottom of their Coosdans placing their Gurgulets upon it which Coosdan is a Case made neatly of Rattans or Canes covered with a Coverlet of Scarlet Bordered with Silk for Shew as well as to keep the Dust off When they have tired themselves with Feasting which is not suddenly as they depart they return Thanks by Inviting every one in course to an Entertainment of the like nature where they strive to outdo each other Thus extravagantly Luxurious and immoderately Profuse are they in their great Feasts stately Dining-Rooms magnificent Gardens and Water-Courses exceeding the Roman Voluptuousness of whose Prodigality Seneca Turpis libido scilicet potens venere Luxuria victrix orbis immensas opes Jampridem avaris manibus ut perdat rapit Active in Lustful Fires they heap up stores To waste in Riot and to spend on Whores Seize all the World by Avaritious Hands Get to consume on Prodigal Commands In their Weddings Childbearings Circumcisions and Purifying Banquets they make great Revellings Fireworks and Rejoycings Night and Day for a Month together that it is troublesome living in great Cities by reason of their Nocturnal Perambulations when they Shoot Shout and make great Acclamations with hideous thundring Kettle Drums and Trumpets and however obscure they live at other times they are wholly taken up in Expences at these Times and sometimes forgetting the main Chance they say out all and more to imitate Men of Fame But the greatest Festivities are injoined by the Church Their Religious Feasts some whereof are common to the Turks and Persians others belong only to the Persian Sect as those in the end of their great Fast of the Ramzan and that of Imaum Osseen No Rose when the Caliph or Archflamen or one for him should sacrifice a Ram in memory of that intangled in the Thickets which Abraham offered up an Holocaust instead of his Son Isaac and these are equally observed by each When the Emperor seating himself on his Throne arrayed in his Royal Robes that he might display all the Wealth and Glory of the Empire both to the Plebeans and Potentates and ought after the Primitive Institution to make a Feast for all the Princes and his Servants the Power of Persia the Nobles and Prefects of Provinces for many days together By placing Golden Vessels at the Gates of his Palace for the Lions and strange Beasts to drink out of as large Golden Jarrs for Passengers where upon the frequent expectation of their Liege Lord and the Shews and Pastimes represented before him on these Days great Numbers of People flocked into the Hypodrome where the Presence of the King was as eagerly desired as Caesar's Advent was welcomed by Martial Phosphore redde diem cur gaudia nostra moreris Caesare venturo Phosphore redde diem But as if nothing were owing either to the Affections of the Vulgar or to Honest Report he not only neglects the Sports and Games but by contracting new Impieties loosens the very Bonds by which the Subjects Faith are tied for he being commonly drunk on
upon any one of our Merchants being ill they can easily and suddenly send a Messenger for Assistance which gave me opportunity of seeing that City soon after I had returned with the President to Surat The Way thither is twofold either by Sea or Land the first from Swally-hole The Author sent for to Broach makes an easy Passage up that Creek or rather Arm of the Sea to Broach River's Mouth into which the River empties its self The latter is measured over a spacious Plain and is travelled either by Coach or on Horseback both which I had for my Conveyance together with the Attendance of a good Guard of the Company 's Peons because of frequent Robberies hereabouts Going out by Broach-Gate we fell into a notable beaten Way Hoc iter manifesta rotae vestigia cernes Contrary to whatever we found in any Place of Persia Different Modes of travelling in India from that of Persia where are neither Carts Coaches or Wains There we seldom meet any to turn us out of our Way here the Roads are pester'd with Caphalaes of Oxen Camels and Bufolaes with heavy Waggons drawn by Teams of Oxen yok'd Eight sometimes a Dozen or Sixteen times double bringing and carrying Goods of all sorts There with Guides here with Guards for fear of Thieves descending from the Mountains or lying in Ambuscado among the Thickets Letter VI. There they journey at all Seasons secure from Weather or Assaults here they must observe the set times and move with a good Force both to defend them from their own Armies and the Insults of Outlaws Here are no Caravans or Inns to shut them in a-nights for then is their time of travelling and when they rest if they have no Tents they must shelter themselves under shady Trees or sometimes great Tombs in the Highways unless they happen on a Chowkre i. e. a Shed where the Customer keeps a Watch to take Custom Yet good Rivers are more often found here than there and where they are deficient they want not great Tanks or Ponds of Rain-Water mostly uncover'd and open to the Heavens or else deep Wells many Fathom under Ground with stately Stone Stairs Cool Apartments and Grottoes whence Oxen as has been said draw Water with huge Leathern Buckets or Pots around a Wheel to water their Gardens But one thing you are more sure of here than there and that is Provisions of all sorts in almost every Village which stand thick hereabouts The Coaches unless those called the President 's and Carts are much alike Their Chariots for travelling the last being only stronger built with main Timber for strength But it being no unpleasant spectacle to see one of these Chariots equipped I cannot forbear giving it you though I am sensible it cannot be so well express'd in writing as the Sight is now comically represented unto me Two large Milk-white Oxen are putting in to draw it with circling Horns as black as a Coal each Point tipped with Brass from whence come Brass Chains across to the Headstall which is all of Scarlet and a Scarlet Collar to each of Brass Bells about their Necks their flapping Ears snipped with Art and from their Nostrils Bridles covered with Scarlet The Chariot it self is not swinging like ours but fasten'd to the main Axle by neat Arches which support a Foursquare Seat which is inlaid with Ivory or enriched as they please at every Corner are turn'd Pillars which make by twisted Silk or Cotton Cords the Sides and support the Roof covered with English Scarlet Cloth and lin'd with Silk with Party-colour'd Borders in these they spread Carpets and lay Bolsters to ride cross-legg'd sometimes three or four in one It is born on two Wheels only such little ones as our Fore-wheels are and pinn'd on with a Wooden Arch which serves to mount them The Charioteer rides afore a-straddle on the Beam that makes the Yoke for the Oxen which is covered with Scarlet and finely carved underneath he carries a Goad instead of a Whip In Winter when they rarely stir they have a Mumjuma or Wax-Cloth to throw over it Those for Journeying are something stronger than those for the Merchants to ride about the City or to take the Air on which with their nimble Oxen they will when they meet in the Fields run Races on and contend for the Garland as much as for an Olympick Prize which is a Diversion To see a Cow gallop as we say in scorn but these not only pluck up their Heels apace but are taught to amble they often riding on them Four-wheel'd Coaches and to sit with the Legs hanging down here are none unless some few the Europe Merchants have covered with Scarlet and ill hung being much like those sold at London to please little Children with only larger and lin'd with Velvet they having no Horses managed for the Coach or any skill'd to drive them so that these also are drawn by Oxen. Setting out about Sun rise Bereaw we passed by pleasant Inclosures spread far from the City and flourishing Fields of Corn and Plantations of Tobacco we came Three Course and then ferried over the River to Bereaw a Village on the Bank of the other side and at Persaw two Course more we broke our Fast when it growing hot we went but a Course and a half over another small River before we baited under a Grove of Palms or Toddy-Trees When the Crows came hither to roost which they did in great Flocks we departed Uncliseer and at Midnight arrived at Vncliseer the most Northern Extent of the Province of Guzerat after the old account where Custom is exacted a Bar of Thorns being stuck into an high Gate opposing such as are to pay at each end of the Town Here we slept at our Broker's House and at Sun-rise proceeded over delicate Medows to Broach-River where round about it is all Campaign betwixt where we met more than Five hundred Oxen laden with Salt for the Inland Countries and betwixt Nine and Ten passed Broach River in a Boat which is a broad swift and deep River but choaked up with drifts of Sand by reason of Rains forced into the very Channel so that good Pilots are required to steer clear of them by whose directions good lusty Vessels are brought up to the City-Walls where they are laden with Salt and Corn to be carried to those Parts that are not so well furnished here being excellent Wheat and good Cottons of the Growth of this Country It is likewise the Thoroughfare to Lhor Broach-City Dhely Agra and Amidavad which is the chief City now of this Province as well as of Guzerat though Broach was the Metropolis when Cambaia was an Empire which was before the Portugals were strong in these Parts who made way for the Mogul to make an entire Conquest thereof But as to what concerns its peculiar History it was dismantled and the Walls thrown down for refusing Passage to Shaw Juan's Army the
Father to the present Auren Zeeb which as appears by the Ruins were very strong of old being doubly wall'd and trench'd into which Ninâ— Gates still lead the way wherein was an Heathen Temple now converted into a Mosque looking over a rich Plain towards another a Mile from the City the Burying-place of their Emperors where is entomb'd Mahmoody the last of their Sultans whose Progenitors being Arab Moors were not sprung from the Heathen Rajahs on the Fall of Ramras but laying hold on those Divisions came in by Conquest and were the occasion also of the Mogul-Tartars being called in to assist the oppressed who made not only Resistance against Nishamshaw one of the three Treasonable Conspirators against Ramras but a long while defended themselves against the Mogul till unfortunately broke at the Siege of Diu Sultan Badur being defeated both by Sea and Land he left a tottering Kingdom to Mahmoody his Successor who was afterwards vanquished by the Mogul near the place where he now lies buried Nor does this place now yield small Advantage to the Great Mogul Customs being paid here What Profit to the Mogul and here being a good Trade though at present a stop be put thereto by Raja Jessinsins being lately dead who set the present Emperor on his Throne together with Emir Senda and the Emperor's demanding the Treasury and Territories of the Widow and her sending this Answer thereupon the same almost in effect the Spartans were wont among whom it was a saying Our Kingdoms extend as far as we can cast our Darts so she returned Money I have none but Swords good store Which has brought all the Infidels into a Confederacy with her And the Governor of this Province Rana Jessensin defies the Emperor but a late Convert and a kin to her begins to make Parties for the Advancement of one of the Sultans he has espoused to Dethrone Auren Zeeb as he did his Father Shaw Gehaun by the Assistance of his Father Emir Gemla Whereupon the Mogul is engaged over Head and Ears in Wars calling the Caun of Brampore to his help Which gives occasion to Seva Gi The Confederates make disturbance and a Neighbouring Raja the one to move towards Surat the other to set upon Brampore which had put such a Consternation on the Merchants that at my return they were all fled with their Wealth Wives and Families not thinking themselves safe within the Walls of Surat which are now compleat and able to beat off a strong Enemy would they stand to it But having formerly felt the hostile Cruelties of Seva Gi besides the present Governor being a better Politician than Warrier has hitherto only Mulcted the Banians to cast a Crust before this Wolf and he still expecting the usual Tribute descends now in hopes of the same Booty Burning and Spoiling the Country about till they send him a Peace Offering of which they having informed the Emperor now the Walls are built that he Taxes them as much as before and that his Musters are not half filled for the defence of the place Morad Beck the present Auren Zeeb's Armour-Bearer in all his Wars is coming with force both to displace him and to succour the place Who took Possession in the beginning of May Morad Beck made Governor of Surat and the late Governor parted well content with what he had gotten during his holding that Employment This Exchange brought some Blows upon Seva Gi 's pilfering Troops being encountred before the latter end of the Month by the new Governor's Soldiers not without loss some Cartloads of the slain being brought hither to be Interred The Rains are this year set in with that violence Great Inundations by the Rains that the very Tops of the Trees hereabouts are all under Water and since the great Mogul by reason of these interruptions cannot go on to overcome the Pagans he wreaks his Malice by assessing them with heavy Polls that are not of his Faith under his Dominions and those not able to pay are compelled to turn Musselmen so that they begin to desert in abundance The Raâ—â—â— being over great preparations are making to go against the obsâ—inate Pagans The Mogul prepares to châ—stise the â—agans the Emperor marching out of Juan Aboud 10000 strong besides Ordnance Elephants and other Warlike provisions At the beginning of September the Juddaâ— Fleet The return oâ— the Juddaâ— Fleet. freighted with Religion and Pelf made this Port bringing Fifty Leques worth of Rupees in Cash which is so many Hundred Thousand It could not be improved till the Governor had released the Shroffs or Bankers whom he had clapp'd up on pretence of Conspiring with the late Governor to Cheat the King by Coining more Money than had been accounted for but intercession being made by our President they were set at liberty for that our Company 's Bullion was also coming from England the Ships being arriv'd at Bombaim and these are they that try and set the value on all Metals Our English Ships had no sooner left the Port at Bombaim Seva Seizes Henry Kenry but that Seva Gi had posted several Hundred Men on Henry Kenry a Rock in the Mouth of the Bay on pretence of hindring the Syddy's Men going in and out whereupon a small Bark with an old Captain being sent to demand their Business there and he landing with his Men imprudently were all cut off by the Barbarians After this Action The Barbarians relieve it Seven Prowes and one small Ship the Pink were ordered to lie at an Anchor and block up the Avenues before the Rock which seen by the Barbarians on Shore the first fair Wind they Manned out Forty Gallies at whose approach our Prowes fled all but one which was easily vanquished and the Pink feigned a fear likewise whereat they being encouraged Boarded her with a terrible noise who cleared her Decks with her small shot and blew some Hundreds up from her Prow and Poop and then plying her great Guns on those who were Board and Board sunk Four of their Gallies and put the rest to flight which made them more afraid than at the first onset being glad to bear away with the rest however they in this skirmish succoured the Besieged with Five Boats laden with Provisions A Month after they appeared again with all their strength Their Fleet drove into Tull. and the English being recruited with another small Ship engaged them and gave them the rout following them into their own Harbours where they got hastily ashoar and drew up their Vessels under some small Guns planted to secure them Whilst our Fleet were busy in this Enterprise and left some Boats to shut up the River Tull the Syddy came before Henry Kenry where he lies with his Fleet who should he get Footing there would be as bad a Thorn as Seva Gi. In the mean while that the Mogul Marched against the Rashpoots The eldest Son of the Mogul brings an Army to
Mogâ—â—s Secretary's Reasons to disâ—â—adâ—â—ne Emperor from his persecuting the Heathens he hardly forbears uttering his Mindâ— about his Intention to make all the Heathen Musselmen and told his Chief Scrivan seriously one day That he must lose his Place unless he would be of his Religion To which the subtle Heathen replied Sahab i. e. Sir why will you do more than the Creator ever meant You see hardly two Faces bear exactly the same Features Look farther into the World and behold the variety of Creatures God has made Elephants Tygres Horses Camels Sheep and Oxen of different Figures and Man of a more exalted Composure than the rest whereas had the All-wise Disposer of Things thought it convenient he might have rested contented in one only Form but every one of these in their several Species glorifies their Maker And so it has pleased God to permit Variety of Religions by which Men worship and call upon him nor can they go on in any one against his Will to which whatever is contrary cannot continue and till he make Men to be of one mind in vain does any go about to compel what he has ingrafted in their hearts This rational Discourse kept the Brachmin in his Office but could not quite extinguish his conceived Prejudice against their Superstitions Which he made appear by giving Order to demolish all the Temples and deface the Pagods his Army had possessed themselves of in Asmire the Country of Raja Jessinsin and chiefly Chetore felt in a few days the Overthrow of what many years could not entirely finish most magnificent Marble Structures being levell'd to the ground and laid prostrate to his Rage and Fury A Draught of which City is herâ— inserted being transmitted by an English Gunner in that Service an Eye witness both of its Glory and Destruction A Place by Site invincible had not the Mogul's Commanders Treachery gained on the Faith of an easy Woman who relying on their Mediation neglected the Means of her own Security there being neither Men nor Ammunition to oppose his Entry whereupon they left all open and retreated in disorder from the approaching Foe to Places better provided and inaccessible to any but those who are acquainted with the Recesses Sullying hereby the brave Provocation that drew on her the Emperor's Arms which she might have prevented at first by a mean Compliance or more nobly now by a stout Resistance rather than by a base Flight yield to the Will of a devouring Enemy which not only keeps fast hold by a sufficient â—â—ece but does despite to their Altars and lays waste their Country Gods This shews either want of Conduct or an abject Spirit in the Rashpoots or at least an irresolute Temper in the Ranna who did unadvisedly dare when she was impotent to maintain the Challenge or which is worse she foolishly applied her sell to the Servants when the Master was proud of her Fetters she being a Rare Creature So that the ground of this Quarrel however hypocritically gilded with an Holy War is Love as is demonstrable from the kind Offers left with the Plenipotentiaries towards an Accommodation unless the fordid and unfaithful humour of his Cauns should prompt him to clap up a Peace that he might be more at leisure to ward himself and free his Affairs from such corrupt Ministers What the Cause is though unknown yet that his Forces were withdrawn from following his good Fortune in the midst of his Career against the Infidels appears a Riddle if it be not to carry on the Custom of this Empire never to go through with any Conquest This Year a Drought was feared A Drought feared which the Brachmins interpret a Judgment for the Emperor's persecuting the Gentues which whether it gain credit among all People I cannot tell But that Night and Day a mixed Multitude of all sorts run through the Streets of this City after the Brachmins carrying a Board with Earth upon their Bare-heads and crying Bowo hege panne bes on which old and young make the Chorus to the Precentor sprinkling Water and sowing Rice thereon saying the same after the Brachmin which in English is God give us Water and on this impending Affliction they are very charitable and give great Largesses to the Poor I should have concluded these Remarks here had not a wonderful Sign in the Heavens appeared to call for our Animadversion A Comet which beginning the Twentieth of November disappeared not till the latter end of January which enters on the next Year that within the space of our Europe Fleet may bring you the Rise and Fall of the most prodigious Comet I ever was witness to or it may be the oldest Man alive What makes me the more willing is that I may have your Account over Land whether it was visible in England and what Observations our prying World have made thereon Eleven degrees from the Earth South-East a terrible flaâ—â—ing Torch was seen in the Skies in Capricorn near the Head oâ— Sagittarius darting it's Rays upwards to the Stars at first not above two Ells in a small Stream but day by day as it inclined to the Horizon the Flame grew longer but slenderer it rose first at Three in the Morning and so later and later till the Sun out-shone it and as if it had circled the Globe at last it arose and set at Nights after the Sun was down when we beheld it W. N. W. which was on the Evening of the Twelfth of December and about Seven at Night at first no bigger than a man's hand from its coming forth of the Horizon which thence arose with a mighty Fulgor or shining Light for more than Nine Degrees as big as a Rainbow towards the highest part of the Hemisphere or to speak more truly like a Pillar of Fire whose Basis whether for its tardy rise or the Clouds gathered about the Atmosphere I could not discern till the Seventeenth it setting about Nine of the Clock but after that time it ascended above the Horizon and passing the middle of the Heavens which afore it seemed to enlighten after Seven as it grew higher at lost of its Brightness and Splendour but looked more fiery January the 16th 1680-81 it had attained its Zenith when about the Noon of Night it vanished and so by degrees at last it came to nothing While this was reigning several in the Hole and Buzzar at Swally attested they saw two Moons others of our English-men out a Hunting after Sun-set saw an unusual Star of the bigness of the Sun which must certainly be this fiery Ejaculation striking obliquely upwards being equally thick until its highest part had stretched its self into a Colum. It pointed towards the North and whether it be Meteor Comet or Exhalation it is certainly ominous and since they disclaim its Influence here I wish it may not affect our Europe Kingdoms for says Claudian In caelo nunquam spectatum impune Cometam In Heaven no Comet ever shin'd Which was not
that it seems incorporated with it These Birds are so heedless or fool-hardy Foolish Birds which I cannot tell that they will fly so near as to be struck down with a Cane When I went to Land if such it may be called bating the Sands around the Rocks we could tread no other Ground but on Stones cemented by the Sun's heat all the advantage or pleasure proposed was to stretch our Legs and see the Seamen turn the Turtles or Tortoises which they did anights when they came ashoar to lay their Eggs which these Sands hatch they lying in ambush betwixt them and the Sea and with Hand-spikes casting them on their Back at which they must be yare for they perceiving themselves pursued make towards the Sea and cast a cloud of Sand upon the Assailants with their Feet or Claws they are very big and sometimes as much as Three or Four Men can do to lay them sprawling where as fast as one is conquered they leave it to master 〈◊〉 for they cannot rescue themselves out of that posture so that what they serve thus in the Night they are sure to find them in the Day where they left them and so bring them aboard Ship for their fresh Food the Flesh of some being as much as our little Indiâ—â— Bullocks Of these we gathering for the Four Ships that were behind to 〈◊〉 no time they turned One hundred and twenty whereof Eight and twenty came to our share which without any other subâ—â—stence than three or four times a day throwing sea-Sea-water on them we kept alive above a Month on which the Ship 's Crew fed daily with great eagerness while they lasted dressing their Flesh several ways and besides that these are reckoned the best in the World and to which they fall the more greedily because they are esteemed specifical for the Scurvy Pox or Gout they fancying their whole Mass of Blood to be altered by them and their Flesh to become new and sound again and this Opinion takes the rather because through all the Emunctuaries and especially near the Genitals they see the colâ—â— of their Sweat altered to a nasty yellow Green And indeed to â—peak the truth whether Fancy or real virtue in this sort of Dyet be the cause they continue healthy and lively while they feed thereon and will mightily lament the want of it when spent because they must return again to their salt Meats In catching of these we tarried five Days in which I had time enough to recollect my Thoughts about these Creatures but having already been particular thereon I shall forbear to add more Only the Custom of this place is to leave Letters of what Ships have been here in a great Hollow of a Rock sealed in a Glass Bottle and where the Portugals have erected a Wooden Cross to affix Leaden or Brass Plates Engraven An Example whereof may be this Anno Domini 1677-78 Martij 14. In Nave Aureum Vellus dictâ Joanne North Navarchâ huc appulerunt Edmundus Hallaey Jacobus Clerk ab Insulâ Sanctae Helenae reduces ubi Observationibus coelestibus Annum integrum impenderunt Ascension lies under the Seventh Degree of South Latitude 250 Leagues from St. Helens which we made in a Weeks time from thence with a North-West Course here is little Meridional distance East from England not much more than two Degrees but now we must go more Westward to meet with the Winds and this is just as the Sun is upon his Summers Solstice in our Countries but here quite contrary In the middle of June we came under the Arch of the Aequator Isle of St. Thomas where lies St. Thomas Island and elevating the Arctick Pole six Degrees we met with Storms and some Calms this then was the reason we moved but slowly till the Sun began to be vertical it bringing those Winds with it which were for our turn to wit the North-East Winds which was the Twelfth of July before we had it the last time perpendicular in Twenty Degrees North and an half the next day made us parallel with Surat insomuch that all this while we seem to have done nothing being no farther baâ—ing our Western way than where we set out which would be â—â—ident could we have paffage through the Red-Sea into the Mediterranean but Nature having opposed a small Neck of Land or Sixty Miles has thought fitter to let the unquiet Ramblers go about these vast Coasts than to cut them out a nigher Way â—o â—to long undiscovered Regions The Sixteenth we passed the Northern Tropick into thâ—â— ethperâ—te Zone A bold Act of an Algier Slave where take an account of a desperate Action In the Josiah an English Seaman held in Captivity by the Algerâ—ens had so perfected himself in that durance in the Art of Thieving that nothing could escape him in which being often Apprehended and as often bound with Chains and Ropes they were all too little to hold him fast for he could unty the hardest Knot with his Toes as well as Fingers and was expert at filing or eating ofâ— his Irons But continuing in these Pranks nothing could be safe from him even the Ships-stores were imbezelled by him which touched the Lives of all in the Ship he having several times broken open the Lazeretto from which no Correction could deter him at last assured by a general Consult some punishment was devising for him he unmanacled himself and came before them as they were thinking what to do with him and bidding them Adieu leapt into the Sea at once putting an end to their Consult and his Fear and Fury In Thirty Degrees North we met with Alga or Sea Weed supposed to be brought hither by the rapid Course of the Gulf of Florida which notwithstanding is a great way to the West off us The North-East Winds have been very faint hitherto The Azores whereby we were hindred from meeting with the South West Winds sooner but between 30 and 40 North they enter to purpose that in the beginning of August we left the Western Islands which are called Flandricae or the Azores which lie between the Isles of Corvo and Flores where many place the first Meridian because here is found in these Seas and the parts adjacent that the Magnetique Needle has no declination from the Meridian Line and that it points out North and South exactly which beginning of Longitude Mercator observes in his Tables And now we set our Face directly for England England knowing by our Account we are past these Spots of Earth which those returning from India think themselves obliged to be secure of before they do we having depressed our Longitude West from Ascension Eighteen Degrees take a North-East Course and being past forty Degrees North we take our Fortune both for Wind and Weather sometimes fair sometimes foul sometimes for us sometimes against us till having our Latitude almost compleat we again raised our Longitude within a Degree and half of that of
Caun a good Soldier and a Patan 147 Burning Women with their Husbands a Custom as old as Dido 101 152 Butter is boiled to keep in hot Countries 118 C. CAlicut the See of the Zamerhin 54. Calicut less famous than reported by Travellers Ib. Calicut though it give the Name to Indian Cloth yet produces none 86 Camels Male lust after the Female forty days 298 Camel-Riders subject to a Gonorrhâ—â—a 108 Camelions feed on Flies 41 Canorein the Primitiâ—e Language of Indostan 162 Canoreens too conversant with the Devil 57 Canoreen a Fruitful Island 73 Capuchins at Surat 88 Caravan Ser Raws dedicated to their Saints 230 Minor Cardamoms grow only near Cutty-Cony 56 Carmelites eat no Flesh 150 Cash constantly turned amounts to the Credit and Profit of him so employed 83 Caspian Seâ— receives Rivers plentifully but makes no reciprocal Return 334 Castles inconvenient in the heart of a Kingdom 358. Castle of Rairee 79 Cattle feed on Thistles 316 Charms pretended to be laid on Aligators and Tygres 56. Charms admitted in Physick 114. Charms not having Success are imputed to the Iniquity of those they fail 116. Charms a pious Fraud of the Brachmins 118. Charms against Witchcraft 215 Chastisement brings a due sense of Crimes 164 Getting Children an Indulgence for Poverty 197 Chimneys not known 296 Christians Lions of the Sea 121. Christians turning Moors despised 138 Christianity prevented spreading on Worldly Concerns 75 Christ acknowledged more than mere Man 365 Chronology of the Persians ridiculous At Church Bath and Caravan Ser Raw no distinction 341 Chyrurgeons valued for making Eunuchs 393 Cinamon grows only on the Island Ceilon 23 Cities Safeguard lost the loss of Trade follows 140. Cities of the Portugals receive none a-nights besides Christians 74 From the Circumference to the Centre all things move by a Natural Tendency 339 Cleanliness next unto Godliness 200 Clouds of Sand 221 Coaches drawn by Oxen 68. No Coaches in Persia 292 Coats that are seamless worn by Rusticks whether the same our Saviour wore 297 Coco-Nut a-kin to the Palm-Tree 230 Cock-fighting 175 Cofferies govern in Duccan 167 Cold affects in Hot Countries 54. Occasioned 256 Coin in India the most refined in the World 98 Combating of several Europe Nations 119 Comedians usher in their Interludes with Taber and Pipe 376 Commerce ceases during the Rains 76. Commerce makes People Urbane 57 Commons Slaves in the East 167 Company whether best a National or Private Concern 65. Company 's Servants brook no Competitors 122 Complexions and Colours 197 198 Convents fuller of Men than the Garisons 156 Cornish-men have a Right to Trade to East-India 146 Corn trodden by the Moors with Oxen 194 Cotton-string Badge the Characteristick of a Brachmin 190 Courage conspicuous as well in Adversity as Prosperity 46 Cowardliness of 400 men 309 Cowards when Peril is far from them strike all with Lightning c. 32 Cow-dung the only Firing at Maderas 40 Cows held sacred 33 Cowis Caun Protector of Visiapour 175 Diversity of Creatures hath no other end but to represent the Divinity c. 44 Crime unpardonable to convert a Mahometan 276 Crow has an Enemy contemptible in Bulk in Revenge implacable 189 Custom more venerable than Science 69. Custom makes all things easy 231. Customs abated on account of defending Surat 87. Customs cheated if detected only Corporal Punishment not Loss of Goods 98. Custom of the Moguls never to go through with a Conquest 418. Customs of the Old World retained in the East 44 301. D. DAys and Nights equal almost between the Tropicks 186. Good and Bad Days taken notice of 131 Dan de Rajapore endures Fifteen Years Siege 173 Danger in travelling not feared 329 Dawn of the Day how varied 136 Dead Bodies burnt by the Genâ—ues buried by the Moors 33 Death to attempt the Discovery of their Women 31 395 Delight preferr'd before Security the ill effects thereof 172 Deluge possible Page 76 Dervises charged with Intriegues 392 Devotes morose 52 161 Devotion of the Heathens consists in washing and praying 101 Diamonds only cut Diamonds 113. Diamonds carried into Europe to be Set return'd to India make good Profit 89 Diseases contracted at Mechlapatan cured by timely removing up the Country 35. Diseases produced by the Alteration of Seasons 93 Disrepute attends ill success 51 Civil Dissentions the Ruin of the Indian Government 28 Don John de Castro pawn'd a Hair of his Beard which he redeemed at the Expence of all his Wealth 218 Dowry the Credit of the Affinity not Money 267 Dregs of the People submit themselves to the Devil out of fear 179 Drought the unhappiness of Persia 328 Drunkards Monarchs 91 Duccan the Bread of the Military Men 167 Dutch Policy in burning four Ships Cargoes of Spice 223. Dutch got into the Breach we made on the Portugals 88. Dutch demolish St. Thomas and restore our Prisoners 116. Dutch after twelve years besieging Goa forced to leave it at last 148. Dutch assist the Moors against the French 42. Dutch Interest to quell the French in India 43. Dutch engross the Spice-Trade 57 223. Dutch awe the Natives 51 Dying Persons laid up to the Chin to expire in their holy Waters 101 E. EArs stopt with the Fingers emits the Voice the stronger 145 Earthquakes frequent where Sulphur abounds 301 Easements made at set hours 33 Eating together a Sacramental Obligation 162 Eat nothing has life among the Gentues 33 Eating together among the Eastern Nations a great scruple 92 Ecliptick Course of the Sun creates the Seasons of the Year 11 229 Elephants Male mounted in State only by the Royal Family 29 Elephants imitate human Progression 35 Elephants generate as other Brutes 35â— Number of Elephants give Esteem to those that maintain them 96. How governed 35 Emanuel Lobos Rebel to the State of Goa 153 Emblems of Dominion and Justice 81 Emperors of Persia exoculate their Brothers 347. Emperors of India send their Kindred to the Post to be intoxicated by a Poysonous Drink 32. Emperors only in India allowed a Sumbrero 86. Emperor seizes young Girls for the Haram in Persia 276 Enemies not to be furnished with Weapons 70 106 English possessed of Bombaim after a long Debate of the Indian Portugals 63. Formidable to the Moors 62. Breed sickly Children 69. English privately befriend the French 43. English have a Right to the Customs in Persia 222. Neglect the Gulph of Persia 353. English Trade is chiefly in Calicuts 88 Entertainment in our Travels course unless provided by our selves 231 Envious Eye cast on Bombaim by the Dutch 70 Equilibrium as to Temperament 296 Eunuchs most in favour at the Court of Gulconda 28. Eunuchs Spies upon the Women 393 An Exalted Pitch of State a more conspicuous Confinement 263 Eye-sight lost by an hot Iron drawn over must not be recovered 347 F. FAkiers ungovernable 95 Family Government maintain'd 118 Feast of Ahasuerus continued to this day among the Persian Emperors 348. Feast truly Persian 259 Fidelity a rare Instance in a
48 Sir Anthony Shirley 100 256 Shoot backwards as the Parthians 398 Shroffs try all Metals 413 Siads only wear green 92 93 Siegmonjaffa a Great Minister of Gulconda his Gratitude and Policy 28 Silver Bait procures all things 297 Singers in Siras are the best in Persia 247 Sinus Persicuâ— and the Red Sea Keys to the Worldâ—s Treasury 221 Siras is an University 247. Glasses are made there as well as Wine Spirits of Wine Rose-Water and there are the best Copper-smiths 248 Snakestones a remedy against their Bites 53 Water-Snakes warn the Pilots of their approach to the Indian Shores 77 Snow called White Rain by the Indians 298 Sodomy common yet Revenge on the Aggressor common 〈…〉 97 112 Soldiers Maxim◠〈…〉 Compliments expected fro◠〈…〉 126 Solomon's Throne 139 293 South of the Sun's â—â—clination a North Sun makes the same time of Day a South Sun does on the contrary side 11 Spice-Trade all but Pepper in the hands of the Dutch 51 Spies under disguise of a Fakier 193 Spirit of Sulphur where best 238 Sports of the Moors 110 Spouts very frequent 10 Stab or a Slash which most mortal 137 Stars Ascension and Descension 186. North Star seen in a South Horizon 11 Statists keep Princes Judgments in Minority 347 Stones in the Body generated by bad Water 241 Straw chopped used instead of Fodder 292 Strength void of Counsel sinks with its proper Weight 45 Suffee a great Hoarder 293 Suffees in contradiction to the Siads wear Red 358 Sumptuousness the consequence of Trade 124 Sunday observed by the Indians 186 Sun where Vertical 186. Sun 's Ecliptick Motion determining the Seasons contradicted 317. Sun at the Line twice at each Tropick but once Perpendicular in a year 11 Superstition makes men lose their Reasons 179 Surat advanced from a Fishing Town within this Century 120. Surat Seva Gi 's Treasury 163 T. TAskmasters most severe of the same Tribe 67 Tears the Sluggards helpless and last Effort 211 Temperance a cause of long Life 200 St. Thomas buried in India on whose Mount grows the Arbor Tristis 43 St. Thomas Christians have one Leg bigger than the other see the Cause 53 Time of Heats healthiest at Mechlapatan 35. Time of Rains sickly 35 Time wears all things 251 Timurlan enters India with his Scythians 185 Tobacco and Walnuts the best at Maijm in Persia 254 Toleration in Religion consistent with the Rules of Gain 68 Tombs of Emperors why not durable 332 Tomb of a Persian Ambassador sent into England 100. Tom Coriat's Tomb Ib. Tortoise-shells from the South-Seas only made transparent 122. Tortoise weeps its large Heart cause of its Pusilanimity Ib. Tortoise or Turtle-flesheaten a Month together specifical for the Cure of Diseases gotten in long Voyages 425 Trade to Euphrates laid open by the English 353. Trade of India over Land 55. Trade not understood by Seva Gi 170 No travelling in India without a Guard 120 Treasure centres in India 112. Treasure amass'd by Trade 170 Trees bending indicate the Constancy of the Wind 295 Trumpets of the Moors sound dreadfully 83. Trumpets of Seva Gi more tuneable than the Moors 126 Turnadoes productive of Storms 10 Twilight in the Torrid Zone but little the reason 55 Tyrannical Government in India as necessary to keep them under as abstaining from Flesh and washing their Bodies to keep them in health 197 Tyrants trust those least are most allied 347 V. VAinglory of an entire Founder 226 Vasquez de Gama the First Discoverer of the East-Indies 62 Venetians raised their State and Grandeur by Over-land Trade from Calicut 55 Venetians decline in Trade since the Portugals Discovery to the East-Indies 55 Venon of Malice and Insinuation 173 Viceroy of Goa 151 Victory dearly purchased 164 Vâ—â—â—anage exercised by the Portugals 71 Virgil's Account of Dido is false 152 Visiapour the greatest Mart for small Diamonds 155. Visiapour Kingdom its Extent 166 Vortobeds Armenian Monks profess Celibacy 270 Voyages made in Six Months by observing the Trade-Winds which were wont to require so many Years 4 W. REligious Wars are cruel when to kill our Fellow-Creatures is thought a Service to God 220 Washings too much presumed on to purify Sins 344 Washing the Feet an hospitable Entertainment 71. Washing before Meals 32. Wash at Easements 33 Watch in Garisons call on one another 126 Water made sitting 200. Water defiled if any dead Carkass have fallen into it 226. Water reckoned good or bad as we do Air 53. Water the clearer the better 304. Water characterized 310. Thames Water apt to take Fire keeps longest 17 Water-Snakes on the Coast of India 45 Wealth of the Subjects falls into the Kings hands at their Death 28. Wealth a necessary Adjunct attained by a few 70 Wealth centres in India 188 Dancing Wenches common Whores 152 Dancing Wenches sacred to their Gods 44 Wheat the best at Esduchos 257 Wheelbarrows sail laden with Salt on the Isle of Maio 6 Whirlwinds from the Mountains hurl Men and Oxen to the bottom 128. White Men expect observance 156 Whoring in India a point of Manhood 28 Wild Beasts entrapp'd 56 Winds sent before the Rains to qualify the Heat 120. Winds why they shrink on the Coast of Guinea 10 Wine odious to Musselmen 168. Wines turn Vinegar for want of Cure 242. Wine in Hot Countries makes ill Nurses 69 Winter at the South Cape 12. Winter and Summer how varied Ib. Winter at the Mauritius 58 Wives burn with their dead Husbands 33 117 152 Women in India◠〈◊〉 in Labour 115 Women of Reputâ— converse not with the Men but transact their Affairs by themselves 277. Women ride astride 279. Women coop'd up 287. Women that burn not with their dead Husbands despised 198. Women set on to complain 400. Women cabal not in Persia 396. Women held to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 393. Women how purified 94. Women married but once 110. Women strictly guarded 31 133. Women carry Water and do the Drudgeries of the House 199. Indecent to strike a Woman 383. Worms breed in Human Bodies 229 Y. YEar its Seasons varied by the Specifick Determinations of Winds c. 317 Yearly Seasons in India 186 187 Z. ZAmerhin not brooking the Portugals as Inmates they removed to Goa 55 Zeal blinds and warms 160. Zeal of former Ages thought no Labour enough to express their Love to the Deity 138 FINIS
to return and asked a reason for their Desertion they gave the Tyrant the same Answer the Fox did the Lion Quia me vestigia terrent Omnia te adversum spectant sed nulla retrorsum For the Caun in his Cups which indeed being sober he has more than His Tyranny once repeated transgressed not only the Bonds and Ties of Government but even of Humanity perpetrating those Wickednesses which are only essential to Salvages though never but once called to reckon for them which once had like to have forfeited his Head as well as Place The Story is this Having cruelly butchered one of these Heathens to possess himself of his Wealth by ripping up his Belly insomuch that his Entrails issued forth with his Blood he was so brutish and hard-hearted as to sport at the Misery of this helpless Wretch fallen into the bloody Hands of this Merciless Hellhound His Friends not being able to deliver him by Force made use of a directer way to Revenge and engaged by their Money the great Favourites at Court thinking no other means so proper to restore to them the Loss of their Assassinated Relation as by procuring the Overthrow of the Caun Which while they were endeavouring and had cast him under a Cloud yet they failed in that Power whereby he was able to fight against them with their own Weapons he squeezing them here while the Great Men drained them like Courtiers letting their Suit fall in the Mid-way so that while they flagged in their Bribes he recovered on their Ruin The King being only informed of some Misdemeanor but never instructed with Truth enough to ordain a total Deprivation or a Punishment equal to the blackness of the Crime On which score it is the Banyans at this time shun his Dominions as a Pilot would Charibdis or any â—â—ock he is certain to split on We being at Asseen Going to Asseen the busy Birds in Rearing and Contriving their Nests and Tenements became Emblems of Self-preservation nor were we less taken with productive Nature that lets not the most unfit Soil want her influence as far as it is capable to bring forth she not being Idle even in this place which as it delighted our Minds this being the moderatest Season so we had some pleasure afforded for the exercise of our Bodies as Hunting the Wild Boar which fatten themselves chiefly on Dates and are therefore worth the Toil and Danger of Assailing and for to secure the Flâ—cks it is no less meritorious to Chase the Wolf for which not only Bows and Arrows Sword and Gun but Spears Pikes and Dogs are called in to gain the Conquest these are Martial Exploâ—s the Timerous Hare and Antilope require not all these Weapons but only giving them the Law of the Field At Genoe are wholsome Hot Baths We Visit the Hot Baths at Genoe whose Fame made us pierce Twenty Mile nigher the high Mountains than Asseen yet seeming to overshadow Gombroon these Baths arise between the Promontories facing India half a Mile out of the great Road to Carmania out of several places in a deep Bottom rather than a Valley and where they have their source also As they slide along they Line the Earth with a Mossy Slime tinctured with a yellow Sulphureous Green under which are Stones of live Brimstone exhaling a Nitrous Scent stinking like that Water the Mariners call Bilge Water their Taste was a Brackish Sweet not Nitrous to the sight they are Clear and Perspicuous of a Citrine Colour or like Lie well Boiled from their Transparency by the reflecting of the slimy Matter at the Bottom for otherwise taken up in a Vessel not subject to be tainted by them they are Diaphanous Extracted by Fire there remains a Salt both Vomiting and Purging more violent than Vitriol or Antinomy For as Galen Teaches Lib. Nat. fac 2do Salt things Elaborated by immoderate Heat are troublesome to the Stomach They are not so hot as Boiling Water but rather by the mildness of their Heat they cause Transpiration that if you please to stay longer in them Sweat may be raised to the highest degree The most usual space of tarrying in them is from Half an Hour to an Hour and then betaking themselves to a Warm Bed lie an Hour oâ— Two longer well covered or as the Spirits serve which is repeated Three Seven or Nine times as if God delighted in an Odd Number as may be observed in the Pool of Bethesda or of Naaman's Washing in Jordan They are held good against all humoral Chronical Distempeâ—s Their Virtues and Remedy inveterate Ulcers Cleanse and Heaâ— Old Sores Ease Aches and Pains of the Limbs Joints and Membrances for which they are much frequented In places where they bubble up they cast a Spume of many Colours which those troubled with Scabs or 〈…〉 the part affected which they say works Miracles If Silver be cast into it or receive the Vapours it looks like Coppers which 〈…〉 like the Steam from a Pot of Water sâ—â—thing over the Fire 〈◊〉 chief Spring seems to flow out of an hollow 〈…〉 the Earth which whether it be 〈…〉 required to make it so I 〈…〉 height capable of 〈…〉 but the â—ides are jagged and 〈…〉 always cautioned to have a 〈…〉 Hole 〈◊〉 Well a Square 〈…〉 that are most 〈…〉 rapid and pellucid 〈…〉 Saltness and swift Stream On its Banks grow Palm-Trees not so long liv'd as elsewhere if by the decayed Trunks any guess may be made Hounds-Tongue 〈…〉 and little Fishes live in them Nokada Biram Two Hospitals Built at the Charge of Two Banyans the 〈…〉 Broker and Tocâ—â—sey our Banyan have 〈…〉 an handsome Hospital That of the 〈…〉 Square Capped with Four round 〈…〉 the middle with Two Rows 〈…〉 made his more close upheld by Nine 〈…〉 in the middle with a stately 〈…〉 a close Gell behind commodious to 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 for Rain Water they being both neat and durable Worâ—â— Here 〈◊〉 large 〈◊〉 of Discourse which we will only touch upon 〈◊〉 that little leisure afforded us before our Return concerning these Natural Baths and those Artificial ones every wherein use among the Eastâ—rn People As for the first Principles of things though among the 〈◊〉 Contentions of Philosophers there be 〈…〉 we shall at present insist on the Fourfold one of 〈…〉 nor can 〈◊〉 from hence apprehend any of them 〈…〉 but as the Searchers into Naâ—â—res Secrets have delivered it defined unto us Water 〈…〉 Cold 〈◊〉 Moist Body All Waters partake of the Conditions of the Earth they pass through in which principally 〈…〉 living Creatures Swim and have their Being and receive 〈…〉 much Glearer and more Lympid it is by so 〈◊〉 it is the 〈…〉 to all 〈◊〉 From whence the Approbation of 〈◊〉 Aph. 24. Lib. 5. the lightest Waters â—â—e soonest 〈…〉 whence he concludes them the Clearest 〈…〉 since all Waters except rain-â—ain-Water which also is the 〈◊〉 exhaled are inclosed or at least 〈◊〉 by the Earth