most part sold and vsed with dust and stalkes and all together but such as are to bee sent to Portingall are seuered and clensed The Cloues are so hotte of nature that whensoeuer them are made cleane and seperated from their Garbish if there chance to stand either Tubbe or Payle of water in the Chamber where they clense them or any other vessell with wine or any kind of moysture it will within two dayes at the furthest be wholly soken out and dryed vp although it stand not néere them by reason of the great heate of the Cloues that draw all moysture vnto them as by experience I haue often séene The same nature is in the vnspunne Silke of China so that whensoeuer the Silke lyeth any where in a house vpon the flowre that is to say vppon boordes a foote or two aboue the ground and that the flowre is sprinkled and couered with water although it toucheth not the Silke in the Morning all that water will bee in the Silke for that it draweth it all vnto it And this tricke the Indians often times vse to make their Silke weigh heauie when they sel it for it can neither be séen nor found in the Silke But returning to our matter the Cloues grow about the length of a great shot from the Sea side and are neither planted nor set and nothing else is done vnto them but only when they plucke and gather them they make the place vnder the trées verie cleane The trée will not grow verie close to the Sea side nor farre from it for these Ilands are altogether compassed about with the Sea When it is a fruitfull yeare then the Cloues are in greater abundance then the leaues When they gather them they do not pluck them with their hands but with ropes which they fasten about the branches and by force they shake them off and by that meanes the trées are so spoyled that the next yeare after they yeelde but little fruite but the second yeare then after ensuing there grow vp trées of the Cloues that fell vpon the ground when they gathered them two yeares before like Chesnut trées and they growe verie sound because of the great rayne that falleth in those places for those Ilandes lye vnder the Equinoctiall line and yéelde fruite within eight yeares and so continue aboue a hundreth yeares The time when they are gathered and dried is from September to Ianuarie When the Cloues are gréene they make good conserues in Sugar and are likewise salted in Vineger so kept in pots and made of Achar in which manner they are carried into Malacca and India They likewise distill water out of the gréen Cloues which is verie cordiall and vsed in many Medecines The Indian women vse much to chawe Cloues thereby to haue a swéete breath which the Portingales wiues that dwell there doe now begin to vse the leaues of the Cloue-trees are altogether like Bay-leaues Cloues grow on trees like Bay-trees both in forme and quantitie saue onely that their leaues are somthing lesser like Almonds or Willow leaues They are full of branches and haue aboundance of blossomes which doe turne these fruites and are called Cloues because in forme and shape they doe resemble a Birdes clawes They growe like the Mirtle-tree vpon the vttermost branches Cloues are much vsed both in meate and in medicines The people of Iaua desire the gray Cloues that hang a whole yere and more vpon the trees and are no Males as Auia doth absurdly aduise and as we of the common sort doe who couet the thinnest When they are greene they vse to salt them with salt and Vineger in Maluco and some they put in Suger which are verie pleasant to bee eaten The water of greene Cloues distilled is very pleasant of smel and strengthneth the hart likewise they procure sweating in men that haue the Pox with Cloues Nutmegges Mace long and black Pepper some lay the poulder of Cloues vpon a mans head that hath a paine in it that proceedeth of colde They strengthen the Liuer the Maw and the hart they further digestion they procure euacuation of the Vrine and stop lascatiuenes and being put into the eyes preserueth the sight and foure Drammes being drunke with Milke doe procure lust The 66 Chapter Of Mace Folie or flowers of Nutmegges and of Nutmegges THe Nutmegge trée is like a Peare tree or a Peach trée but that they are lesse and it hath round leaues These trées growe in the Iland of Banda not farre from Maluco and also in the Ilandes of Iauas Sunda from whence they are carried to China and Malacca and also into India and other places The fruite is altogether like great round Peaches the inward part whereof is the Nutmegge This hath about it a hard shell like wood wherein the Nut lyeth loose and this wooden shel or huske is couered ouer with Nutmeg flower which is called Mace and ouer it is the fruite which without is like the fruite of a Peach When it is ripe it is a verie costly meate and of a most pleasaunt sauor This fruite or Apples are many times conserued in Sugar being whole and in that sort caried throughout India and much estéemed for in truth it is the best conserue in all India and is many times brought ouer into Portingall and from thence hether They are likewise salted and put in Vineger which is much vsed in India When the Nuttes begin to be ripe then they swell and the first shell or huske bursteth in péeces and the Nutmegge flowers doe continue redde as any Scarlet which is a verie faire sight to behold especially if the trées bee full of fruite Sometimes also the Mace breaketh which is the cause that the Nutmegges come all together without the Mace and when the Nutmegge drieth then the Mace falleth off and the red changeth into Orenge colour as you sée by the Mace that is brought hether The Ilands where they grow specially Banda are very vnholesome countries as also the Ilands of Maluco many that traffique thether die before they depart from thence or if they escape they are in great perill of their liues by sicknesse notwith standing great gaine maketh men to trauell thether The Nutmegge by the inhabitants of Banda where they are most growing is called Palla and the Mace or Nutmegge flower Buna Palla The Decanijns and Indians call it Iapatry and the Mace Iayfol The trees whereon Nutmegs and Mace do grow are not vnlike to Peare trees but shorter and rounder leaues they are good for paine in the head for the mother and the Sinewes The Nut is compassed about with three kinds of Barkes The first outermost is like the greene shell of an Acorne and when they are ripe that shel openeth then you find a thin shell or barke like a Nutte which compasseth the fruite and by vs is called Mace which both in meate and Medicine is verie seruiceable and wholesome The third shell is harder and more
some after towards Portingall with whom my brother went because of his office in the shippe and I stayed with my maister in India certaine yeares to sée and learne the maners and customes of the said lands people fruites wares and merchandises with other thinges which when time serueth I wil in truth set downe as I my selfe for the most parte haue séene it with mine eyes and of credible persons both Indians and other inhabiters in those Countries learned and required to know as also the report and fame thereof is nowe sufficiently spread abroade throughout the world by diuers of our neighbour countries and landes which traffique and deale with them namely our countrey the East Countries England Fraunce c. which likewise are founde and knowne by the Portingalles themselues which dayly trafficke thither But before I beginne to describe Goa and the Indies concerning their manners traffiques fruites wares and other thinges the better to vnderstande the situation of the Countrey and of the coasts lying on the East side to the last and highest part of the borders of China which the Portingales haue trauelled and discouered together with their Ilandes I will first set downe a briefe note of the Orientall coastes beginning at the redde or the Arabian sea from the towne of Aden to Chinae and then the description of the coastes before named Chapter 5. The description of the coast of Arabia Felix or the red Sea to the Iland and fortresse of Ormus ADen is the strongest and fairest towne of Arabia Felix situate in a valley compassed about vpon the one side with strong mines on the other side with high mountaines there are in it fiue Castles laden with Ordinance and a continuall Garrison kept therein because of the great number of shippes that sayle before it the Towne hath about 6000. houses in it where the Indians Persians Aethiopians and Turkes doe trafique and because the Sunne is so extreame hotte in the daye time they make most of their bargaines by night About a stones cast from the towne there is a hill with a great Castle standing thereon wherein the Gouernor dwelleth In times past this towne stoode vpon the firme land but nowe by the labour industrie of man they haue made it an Iland Aden lieth on the North side at the entrie of the red Sea on the coast of Arabia Felix or fruitfull Arabia and reacheth 60. miles more inwards then the corner or Cape de Guardafum the farthest part or corner of Abex or Melinde as I said before but the coast of Arabia which taketh the beginning from Aden is much more inwarde Aden lieth vnder 13. degrées on the North side and from thence the coast lyeth Northeast and by East till you come to Cape de Rosalgate which lyeth vnder 22. degrées and is the further corner of the lande of Arabia Felix lying on the Indian Sea which is distant from Aden 240. miles the towne of Aden standeth by the hill called Darsira which men affirme to bee onely Cliffes of hard stones and red Marble where it neuer rayneth The people of this coast of Arabia are tawnie of colour almost like those of the coast of Abex or Melinde frō that Countrie they bring great numbers of good horses into India and also Frankensence Mirhe Balsam Balsam woode and fruite and some Manna with other swéete wares and Spices they hold the law of Mahomet after the Persians manner From the Cape of Rosalgate inwardes following the coast North-west to the Cape de Moncado in times past named Albora are 70. miles This point lyeth right against the Iland Ormus vnder 26. degrées There beginneth the entrance of the straights of Persia called Sinus Persicus and the Iland Ormus lyeth betwéene them both hauing on the one side Arabia and on the other side Northward the Countrie of Persia and is in breadth 20. miles From the Cape de Moncadon coasting the Arabian shore inwardes to the Iland of Barem are 80. miles and lyeth vnder 26. degrées a halfe There the Captaine of Ormus being a Portingal hath a factor for the King and there they fish for the best Pearles in all the East Indies and are the right orientall Pearle Coasting along this shore from Barem inwardes to the farthest and outermost corner of Persia or Sinus Persicus lyeth the towne of Balsora which are 60. miles this Towne lyeth vnder 30. degrées and a little about it the two ryuers Tigris and Euphrates do méete and ioyne in one and runne by Bassora into the aforesaide Sinus Persicus Thereabout do◠yet appeare the decayed buildings and auncient Ruines of old Babylon and as many learned men are of opinion thereabout stoode the earthly Paradice From the towne of Balsora the coast runneth againe Northward towards Ormus which is vnder the Dominion of the Persian this Sinus Persicus is about 40. miles broad not much more nor much lesse and hath diuers Ilands and in the mouth therof lyeth the rich Iland Ormus where the Portingales haue a Forte and dwell altogether in the I le among the naturall borne countrimen and haue a Captaine and other officers euery thrée yeares as they of Mossambique Chapter 6. Of the Iland and Towne of Ormus ORmus lyeth vpon the Iland Geru in times past called Ogyris and it is an Iland and a kingdom which the Portingales haue brought vnder their subiection whereas yet their King hath his residence that is to saye without the towne where the Portingales inhabite These people obserue Mahomets law and are white like the Persians And there they haue a common custome that he which is King doth presently cause al his brethren and his kinsmen of the Male kinde to haue their eyes put forth which done they are all richly kept and maintained during their liues for that there is a law in Ormus that no blinde man may bee their King nor Gouernour ouer them Therefore the King causeth them all to haue their eyes put out so to be more secure in their gouernmentes as also to auoide all strife and contention that might arise and to hold and maintaine their countrey in peace The Island is about thrée miles great very full of cliffes and rockes and altogether vnfruitfull It hath neyther gréene leafe nor hearbe in it nor any swéete water but onely rockes of salte stones whereof the walles of their houses are made it hath nothing of it selfe but only what it fetcheth from the firme lande on both sides as well out of Persia as from Arabia and from the Towne of Bassora but because of the situation and pleasantnes of the Iland there is al things therein to bee had in great abundance and greate traffique for that in it is the staple for all India Persia Arabia and Turkie and of all the places and Countries about the same commonly it is full of Persians Armenians Turkes and all nations as also Venetians which lie there to buy Spices and precious stones that in great abundance are brought
and Salsette are by the Kings of Portingale let out to farme and the rents therof are imployed to the payment of the Archbishop Cloysters Priests Viceroy other the Kings Officers yearely stipends which is graunted them by speciall Priueledges and Patents from the King The Iland is verie hillie and in some places so desert and rough that on some sides men can hardly trauell ouer land but with great labour to the towne of Goa the Iland euen to the Sea side is full of Villages and inhabited by the Canarijus which are the naturall borne people of the land and doe altogether liue by working vpon the land and by their Palme trees The villages and dwellings of these Canarijus are most rounde about the Iland and on the water sides or by small Lakes whereof there are some fewe within the Iland and the cause why they dwell thus is for that the Palme trées will not grow in any other place but vpon low ground by the waters specially in sandie ground so that there are no Palme trées to be found on the high land within the countrie vnlesse it bee vpon sandie groundes on the Sea coast or ryuers sides On the East side of the towne of Goa vpwardes into the ryuer about thrée miles from the towne of Bardes lyeth a place wher the Portingals ships doe Anker the ryuer hath some créekes and a ship of 200. Tunnes or there abouts may easily discharge before the Towne but the Portingales great ships must discharge them selues at Bardes which being done they may i◠they will fréely goe and lie before the town The towne is well builte with faire houses and stréetes after the Portingall manner but because of the heate they are somewhat lower They commonly haue their Gardens and Orchards at the backe side of their houses full of all kinde of Indian fruites as also the whole Iland through they haue many pleasant Gardens and farmes with houses to play in and trées of Indian fruites whether they goe to sport themselues and wherein the Indian women take great delight The towne hath in it all sortes of Cloysters and Churches as Lisbone hath onely it wanteth Nunnes for the men cannot get the women to trauell so farre where they should be shut vp and forsake Venus with whome so that they may enioy and fulfill their lustes they had rather loose their liues whereof they make small account The Iland is both winter and Summer all alike gréene and hath alwaies some kinde of fruite in season which is a great pleasure the towne lyeth vppon some hils and dales like Lisbone it hath in times past béene verie small and walled with a drie Ditch round about it wherein there is no water but when it rayneth the walles are yet standing but no Gates remaining and the towne is now built round about with houses so that it is at the least twice as big without the walles as it is within and lyeth open without walles or closures sauing onely that the Iland hath a wal on the East side which beginneth ouer against the land of Salsette and so runneth along vntill you come at Bardes and is onely to defend them from the firme land where the Portingales haue no commaundement The whole Iland hath no other defence but onely vpon the corner of the land of Bardes at the mouth of the ryuer where there standeth an olde ruinous Castle wherein lyeth two or thrée Iron péeces and one man that in the night time kéepeth the watch the Iland on the Sea side is verie high full of stonie Cliffes but the land of Bardes hath on the Sea side a verie faire white Sand about halfe a mile long and somewhat more the defence of the Ilande consisteth herein that on the East side there are thrée or foure passages or Gates that stand vpon the water side on the vttermost part of the Iland right against the firme land Salsette and Bardes euerie gate or passage hath a Captaine and a clarke which kéepe watch that no man may passe into the other side but by their licence And the Indians Decanijus and other Moores and heathens that are resident in Goa and therein haue their habitation when they goe into the firme land to fetch their necessarie prouisions comming to those places which are called Passos they must euerye man haue a marke which is Printed on their naked armes and so they passe ouer to the other side and at their returne againe they must shew the same marke whereby they may fréely enter for the which they pay two Basarukes which is as much as a Hollanders Doit and this is the profit that the Captain and Clarke of the said Passos doe make In the night they haue a Boy that kéepeth watch and hath a small Bell which hangeth ouer the gate which Boylyeth downe and tieth the string of the Bell at his foote and so ringeth it often times to shew that hee watcheth which is all the watch they hold thoroughout the whole Iland There are fiue of these Passos one vpon the South side of the Iland where men passe to the firme lande and to the land of Salsette and is called Benesterijn commonly named Passo de Saint Iago because the Parish of Saint Iacobs standeth ther The Tebe de Passo is on the East side of the Iland where men doe onely passe into The firme land called O Passo Secco which is the drie passage for in that place the ryuer is at the narrowest and shallowest The third Passo on the South side of the Iland ioyneth almost to the Towne called O Passo de Daugijn or of Madre de Deus and so farre goeth the wall beginning at Passo de Benesterijn or S. Iago and from thence the whole Iland is without any wall or closure from this Passo right ouer against it they passe ouer to an Iland which is hard by the firme land where is also a Passo called O Passo de Norwa the fift or last Passo lyeth in the middle way of the Riuer downwards towards Bardes which is the strongest of them all and best looked vnto but no otherwise made then all the rest is called O Passo de Pangijn frō thence they passe to Bardes and also all the boates and ships that passe in and out of the riuer must stay there be searched and this is all their watch and strentgh in the Iland Touching the Portingales iustice and ordinances as well in worldly as spirituall causes they are al one as they are in Portingale They dwell in the towne among all sorts of nations as Indians Heathens Moores Iewes Armenians Gusarates Benianes Bramenes and of all Indian nations and people which doe all dwell and traficke therein euerie man holding his owne religion without constrayning any man to doe against his conscience onely touching their ceremonies of burning the dead and the liuing of marrying other superstitious deuelish inuentions they are forbidden by the Archbishop to vse them openly or in the
cleane golde of the bignes of a Puppet or a Baby solde in faires hard by the Church without the great doore stood within y e Earth a great foure cornered or square Cesterne he wed out of frée stone with staires on each side to goe downe into it full of gréene filthie and stinking water wherin they wash them selues when they meane to enter into the Church to pray From thence we went further and still as we went in euery place wee found Pagodes hewed out of hard stones standing in their holes of such liuely shapes and figures as wee tolde you before These stand in the waies vnder certaine couertures without the Churches and haue hard by each of them a small Cesterne of water cut out of the stone to wash their féete with halfe an Indian Nut that hath a handle and hangeth there to take vp water withall And this is ordained for the trauellers that passe by who commonly at euerie one of those Pagodes do fall downe and make their praiers and wash their féete in those Cesternes By the said Pagodes commonly doe stand two little Furnaces with a Calfe or Cow of stone before the which they set their offerings which are of such things as are to be eaten euerie man as his deuotion serueth which they think the Pagode eateth in the night but it is taken away by the Bramene We found in euerie place such offerings standing but we had little desire once to taste therof it looked so filthily and as we had sufficiently beholden their mishapen figures and monstrous Images we returned againe vnto the village wherein we saw the stone Church because the Bramene had aduertised vs that the same day about Euening the Pagode should be caried in procession to sport it selfe in the fieldes and to fetch a circuite which we desired to sée And about the time which he appointed they rung a little Bell which they had gotten of the Christians wherewith all the people began to assemble and tooke the Pagode out of his diabolicall Cell which with great reuerence they set in a Palamkin borne by the chiefe men of the towne all the rest with great deâ—otion following after with their vsual noyse and sounds of Trumpets and other instruments wherewith they went a reasonable way round about a field then brought him to the stone Cestern where washing him verie cleane although he were verie filthy stinking they caried him againe into his Cel leauing him shut herein withall his Lampes to make good cheare and hauing made a foule smoke and stincke about him and euery man left his offering behind him they went home to their houses leauing the Bramene alone who in stéed of the Pagode made good cheare at their costs with his wife and family This is the maner of their ceremonies and daily superstitions worshippings of false gods wherein the Deuill hath so blinded them that thereby they are without all doubt perswaded to obtaine eternall life and tell many miracles of their Idols whereby wee are mooued and put in mind to call to remembraunce how much herein we are bound to God and to giue him thankes that it hath pleased him to illuminate vs with the truth of his holy Gospel and that we are not borne or brought vp among those Heathens and diuelish Idolaters and to desire God that it would please him of his gracious goodnesse to open their eyes and to giue them the truth of his holy word among them as hee is our onely trust for they are in all things like vs made after Gods owne Image and that when his good pleasure is hee will loose them out of the bands of Sathan and giue both them and vs that which is most necessarie for our soules Amen The better to vnderstand the maner of their diuelish shapes and figures of Pagodes I haue hereunto annexed the picture thereof euen as they openly stand in the high wayes or hilles with a Cow or Calfe of stone by them also their Church called Meskita belonging to the Mahometans and Moores dweling in Malabar with the Cesterne of water wherein they wash themselues The 45. Chapter Of all the kinde of beastes Cattell and foules in India THere is ouer all India great store of Cattell as Oxen Kine Shéepe Hogges Goates Kids and such like and verie good cheape and in great aboundance although the flesh is not of so good a tast as that in Europe which procéedeth from the heate of the countrie therfore it is not much estéemed A man may buy the best Cow in Goa for fiue or sixe Pardawes Oxen are there little killed to eate but are most kept to til the land all other things as hogges shéepe and goates are sold after the rate Mutton is little estéemed of and not much vsed to be eaten for it is forbidden to such as are sicke the Hogs flesh is much better sounder which is rather permitted vnto sicke persons then Mutton Ther are shéepe in that countrie of fiue quarters in quantity for that the tayle is as great hath as much flesh vpon it as any of the quarters there are many Buffles but nothing good to be eaten vnles it be by poore people but their Milke is very good and is very well solde and ordinarily eaten for you shall sée the slaues Canarijns in great numbers all day going about the stréetes to sell the Milke of Buffles and Goates and excellent swéete Creame and fresh butter in small péeces They make likewise some small white Cheeses but they are very salte and drie wilde Bores some Hares Conies Harts and Hindes are there also to be found but not many Cockes Capons Pheasantes and Doues are there in great abundance and good cheape In the Island of Goa and there about are Sparrows and some other small birdes yet not many but on the coast of Cochin and Malabar there are very few Sparrows nor any such like small birdes There are in India many Battes and some of them so great that it is incredible to tell They doe great mischiefe to trées fruites and hearbes whereby the Canariins are constrained to set men to watch in their trées and yet they can hardly ridde them away The Indians eate them and say they are as good meat as a Partridge There is a most wonderfull number of black Crows which do much hurt and are so bold that oftentimes they come flying in at their windowes and take the meat out of the dish as it standeth vpon the table before them that are set downe to eate and as I my selfe sate writing aboue in a chamber of the house the windowes being open one of those Crowes flew in at the window and picked the cotton one of mine Inke horne and blotted all the paper that lay on my table do what I could to let him They sitte commonly vppon the Buffles backes and pecke off their haire so that you shal find very few Buffles that haue any haire vpon their backes and
inwardly yealowish but in cutting it is waterish yet some not so much they haue a verie pleasant taste better then a Peach and like the Annanas which is y e best y e most profitable fruit in al India for it yeeldeth a great quātity for food sustenance of the countrie people as Oliues do in Spaine and Portingale they are gathered when they are gréene and conserued and for the most part salted in pots and commonlie vsed to be eaten with Rice sodden in pure water the huske being whole and so eaten with salt Mangas which is the continuall food for their slaues and cōmon people or else salt dryed fish in stéed of Mangas without bread for Rice is in diuers places in stéed of bread These salted Mangas are in cutting like the white Spanish Oliues and almost of the same taste but somewhat sauorie and not so bitter yet a little sowre and are in so great abundance that it is wonderful there are others that are salted and stuffed with small péeces of gréene Ginger and Garlike sodden those they call Mangas Recheadas or Machar they are likewise much vsed but not so common as the other for they are costlie and more esteemed these are kept in pots with Oyle and Vineger salted The season when Mangas are ripe is in Lent and continueth till the Moneth of August The 52. Chapter Of Caions THis fruite groweth on great trees not much vnlike Apple trees but the yong trees haue leaues like Lawrell or Bayleaues they are of a pale greene and thicke with white blossoms like Oringe trees but thicker of leaues yet not so sweete of smell The fruit is in greatnesse and forme like a Goose Egge or a great Apple verie yellow of good sauor moyst or spungie within and ful of Iuice like Lemmons but without kernels sweete of taste but yet harsh in a mans throate they seeme not to haue beene common in East India but brought thether from Brasillia where those Nuts are much eaten although Theuet in his description of America 61. Chapter writeth otherwise At the end of this fruit groweth a Nut of forme like the Kydney of a Hare whereof I had many brought me by a Pylot of Portingall of an Ash colour or when they are ripe of a reddish Ash colour These Nuts haue two partitions betweene which two partitions there is a certain spongious fattie matter like Oyle hotte and sharpe but in the innermost part thereof is a white kernell very pleasant to eate like Pistaccios with a gray skin ouer it which is pulled off These Nuts being a little rosted are eaten in that sort vsed to prouoke lust The fruit and also the Nuts are vsed in bankets being eaten with wine without wine because of their good taste They are good for the weaknesse of the Maw and against perbreaking and loathing of meate but such as will not vse them to that ende doe eate them only dipped or steeped in a little water the sharpe Oyle betweene both the partitions is verie good for Saint Anthonies fire and flashing in mens faces The Brasilians vse it against scurffes this tree was at the first planted of the very Nut but the first and greatest fruite had neither seede nor kernell some thinke it to bee a kind of Anacardy because it is very like it for the sharpe iuyce that is betweene the partitions Reade more hereafter in Carolus Clusius his obseruations vppon Graciam first Booke and third Chapter Cajus groweth on trées like apple trées and are of the bignes of a Peare at one end by the stalk somewhat sharp and at the head thicker of a yelowish colour being ripe they are soft in hādling they grow very like aples for wher the apples haue a stalke these Cajus haue a Chesnut as big as the fore ioynt of a mans thumb they haue an other colour and fashion then the Chesnuts of Iaqua and are better more sauorie to eate but they must be rosted within they are white like y e Chesnuts of Europa but haue thicker shelles which are of colour blewish and dark gréene When they are raw and vnrosted you must not open them with your mouth for as soone as you put them to your mouth they make both your tongue and your lippes to smart whereby such as know it not are deceiued wherefore you must open their shelles with a knife or rost them and then they wil péele This fruite at the end wher the stalke groweth in the eating doth worke in a mans throate and maketh it swel yet it is of a fyne taste for it is moyst and full of iuice they are commonlie cut in round slices and layd in a dish with water or wyne and salt throwne vpon them for so they do not worke so strōglie but are verie good and sauorie to eate the time when they are ripe is in Lent and in Winter time like Mangas but not so good as Mangas or Ananas and of lesse account They are likewise in great numbers ouer all India The 53. Chapter Of Iambos IN India ther is an other fruit that for the beautie pleasant taste smell and medicinable vertue thereof is worthie to bee written of and is of great account in India being first brought out of Malacca into India The tree whereon this fruite groweth is as great as the greatest Orange tree in all Spaine with manye branches which spread verie broade and make much shadow and is faire to behold The bodie and great branches thereof haue an ash colour-gray barke the leaues are faire soft longer then the breadth of a hand they are somewhat like the point of a Speare or Pike with a thicke threed or veine in the midle and many small veines or branches in the sides outwardly verie greene and inwardly somewhat bleaker with blossomes of a liuely darke Purple colour with many streekes in the middle verie pleasant to beholde and of taste like the twynings or tendrels of a Vine The fruite is as bigge as a Peare or as some are of opinion of the bignesse and colour of a great Spanish Wal-nut they tooke their name of a King Ther are two sorts of this fruit one a browne red seeming as though it were blacke most part without stones and more sauory then the other which is a palered or a pale Purple colour with a liuely smell of Roses and within it hath a little white hard stone not verie rounde much like a Peach stone white and couered with a rough skin This is not ful so great as the other yet are they both fit for such as haue daintie and licorous mouthes They smel like sweete Roses they are colde and moyst and altogether soft couered with a thinne Rinde which cannot be taken off with a knife The Iambos tree taketh deepe roote within foure yeares after it is set doth beare fruit and that many times in one yeare and is neuer without fruite or blossomes for that commonly euerie branch hath both
This fruite at the first for the strangenes thereof was much estéemed but now they account not of it There are likewise in India some fig trées of Portingal although the fruite doth neuer come to good perfection Oranges Lemons Citrons and such like fruite are throughout all India in great abundance and for goodnes and taste surpasse those of Spaine Grapes are not ther to be found but onelie vpon some houses as we haue theÌ„ in netherlaÌ„d yet against Christmas and Lent there are raysins brought into Goa by the Decanaes and Indians out of the firme land and from Ballagate but they are not so good as those in Spaine and verie fewe they are but for price as good cheape as other fruites There are also in India manie Melons but not so good as those in Spaine for that they must be eaten with Suger if you wil haue any swéetnes in theÌ„ but ther is an other sort like Melons called Patecas or Angurias or Melons of India which are outwardlie of a darke gréene colour inwardlie white with blacke kernels they are verie waterish and hard to byte and so moyst that as a man eateth them his mouth is full of water but yet verie swéet and verie cold and fresh meat wherfore manie of them are eateÌ„ after dinner to coole men Cucumbers and Radishes are there in great numbers also Colewortes but not so good as in Europa for the Colewortes neuer grow to their full growth but are loose with their leaues open They haue likewise some sallet hearbs but verie little hearbs whereof men make Porridge are not there to be had nor manie swéet smelling hearbs nor flowers as Roses lillies rosemary or such like sorts of flowers plants there are none yet they haue some fewe Roses and a little Rosemarie but of no great smell The fields neuer haue any other flowers in them but onelie grasse and that is in Winter when it rayneth for in SuÌ„mer it is cleane burnt off with the excéeding heat of the Sunne There is onelie a kinde of blossomes of trées which grow all the yeare long called Fulle that smell verie swéet the women doe ordinarily throw them among their Lynnen and apparell to make them swéet They likewise make Collers or strings ful of them which they weare about their necks and strew them in their beds for they are verie desirous of swéete sauors for other sorts of swéet flowers hearbs whereof thousands are found in Europe they are not in India to be had so that when you tell them of y e sweet flowers and herbes of these countries they wonder much thereat and are verie desirous of them By these pictures you may sée the forme and fashions of the fruites called Iaacka Ananas Mangas Caius Iambos which are the fyue principallest most estéemed fruites in all India for others are but of small account of Ginger also as it groweth whereof in an other place I will say more when I make mention of the spices and drie wares of India all which are set down according to the life although the leaues are not altogether so proportionable with their strings and veynes as they should be or as the Physitions and Doctors in their Herbals haue described them hauing onely shewed the forme and growth of the fruites as I haue seene and vsed them The 55. Chapter Of the Indian Figges Nuces Indicae magni in India usus et ques tuosae cibum et potum homi nibus suaves et navibus materiam prebent idonâ—am quibus e aedem et onerantur et aluntur nautae Indiaensche nooten ofte Palmboomen welcke in Indien veel opbren gen want geven soete spijs en dranck stoff tot scheepen sensen en touwen en daer die selffde scheepen met gelaeden en die schip luyden mede gevoet werden Ficus Indica per totum annum ferens fructâ— copâ—ose â—entes quotidianam mul to rum escam Een plante draegende het qeheele Iaer vruchâ—n dâ—â—men Indiaâ—nsche vygen noâ— seer voâ—denâ— en â—en daegelickse spijse der Indianen Fructuum icon quos Arrecca sive Faufel vocant et Bettele folia quos pauco calcis subactos integrum diem masticant succum deglutientes ad corporis purgationem aliasque utilitates Eruyten diemen Arrecca ofte Faufel noemt en die blaeden Bet telle welcke met wat calcks vermenâ—t die Indianen een gant schen dach kauwen het say doorswelgen om â—lichaem te purge ren en ander haerder crachten Piperis fruteâ— haederae non absimilis Orientaelsche Peeper wasschen de â—inuer cruyt niet ongelyck Indian Figges are by the Arabians called Moris and not Musa not Amusa and the tree Daracht Moris by the Brasilians Pacona and the tree Paquouer by Brocardus in his description of the holy land Paradise Apples by Ouâ—edus in the Historie of India in his eight Booke and first Chapter Platanus in Guinea Bananas in Malauar Patan in Malayen Pican in Canara Decan Gusurate and Bengala Quelli Auicenna Serapio and Rhasis haue likewise written certaine Chapters heereof Auicenna in his second Booke and 491. Chapter writing of the properties and qualities of this fruite sayeth that it yeeldeth but small sustenaunce that it ingendereth Choller and Flegme and that it spoyleth the stomake wherefore he counselleth such as are of a hotte constitution after they haue eaten these Figges to take some Honie and Vinegar sodden together with cold seeds They are good against heate in the stomake Lungs and Kydnies and prouoke Vrine Rhasis of the same in his thirde Booke of Physicke and twentie Chapter sayth also that they are hurtfull for the maw which I also found being in Syrie when I vsed them they make men to haue an euill appetite to their meate a desire to ease their bodies and doe qualifie the rawnesse of the throate Serapio in his Booke of Phisicke in the 84. Chapter sayth that this fruit is in the ende of the first degree warming and moystning and that they are good against the heate of the stomake and Lungs but for him which eateth many of them they breede a heauinesse in his Mawe but by meanes of their hastâ—e ripening they are good for the Kidnies prouoke Vrine and make men apt for leacherie The Indian Phisitians doe vse this fruit in medicines for Feauers and other diseases The opinion as I thinke why this fruite is called Paradise Apples is partly for the pleasantnes of taste smell and colour for the taste is betweene sweete sower the smell somwhat like Roses and the colour a faire yelow and green partly also because this fruit being cut in the middle haue certaine veines like a crosse whereon the Christians in Siria doe make many speculations and discourses which many strangers that haue trauelled in those countries doe verifie He which desireth to reade more heereof let him reade the worthie and learned Commentaries of Carolus Clusius vpoÌ„ Garsia ab horto wher he shall receiue good contentment and satisfaction There
and tasteth much like a hasel nut but somewhat sweeter The Lanhos haue within them a good draught of water which is very cleare sweet and coole to drink It is at the least halfe a Can full when men walke abroad and are thirstie they go vnto the Canarijns who presently with a great knife in their handes come vp the tree and cut off as many Lanhos as a man desireth selling them for a Basaruco or a two peece which they make very ready and cleare to be drunke the first shell that is ouer the inward fruit which as the nut is come to his full ripenes becometh almost to bee wood is then but thin and soft and very pleasant to eate with salt and do taste almost like Artichokes a man may drinke as much of this water as hee will for it will not hurt him but is a verie pleasant drinke when the fruit is ripe there is not so much water in it and is white within and somewhat thicker of substance and then the water is not so good as it was before beeing Lanhos for then it becommeth somewhat sower These Cocus being yet in their husks may be carried ouer the whole world and not once hurt or brused and it happeneth oftentimes that by continuance of time the water within the Cocus doth conuert and congeale into a certaine kinde of yellow apple which is verie sauorie and sweet The huske beeing taken off the shel serueth for many vses as to make ladles with woodden handles and also certaine little pots which beeing fastned to a sticke they doe therewith take and lade water out of their great pots they make thereof also small vessels to beare wine in when they walke into the fieldes and a thousand other thinges These shelles are likewise burnt serue for coales for Goldsmithes which are very good and excellent Of the white of these nuts in India they make porrage and dresse meate withall strayning and pressing out the milke wherin with many other mixtures they seeth their rice to bee short they neuer dresse any rice which they cal Carrijl is the sauce to their meate thereunto but they put some of their Cocus milk into it els the Cocus is but little eaten for there it is not esteemed of but serueth for meate for the slaues and poore people They likewise breake the Cocus in péeces and taking off the shell they drie the fruit or white meat that is within it and it is caried in great quantities out of Malabar to Cambaia and Ormus to the Northern coastes and quarters beyond Goa as also to the countrie of Ballagate traffique much therewith Of this white substance they make Oyle which they stampe in cesterns like Oliues and it maketh verie good oyle as well to eat as to burne which is likewise very medicinable There are two sortes of Oyle made of these nuts one out of the fresh or greene nuts stamped and mixed with warme water which beeing pressed foorth the oyle swimmeth aboue the water◠this oyle is vsed to purge the maw and the guts for it purgeth very gently without hurt some mixe therewith the iuyce of Thamarindes maketh thereof a verie wholesome medecine the other Oyle is prest out of the dried Cocus which is called Copra is good also to purge the maw and against the shrinking of the sinews as also for old aches and paines in the ioyntes and lims This dried Cocus which is so caried abroad is called Copra When they desire to haue no Cocus or fruite thereof they cut the blossomes of the Cocus away and binde a round Potte with a narrow mouth by them called Callao fast vnto the tree and stop the same close round about with pot earth so that neyther wine nor aire can eyther enter in or come forth in that sort the pot in short space is full of water which they call Sura is very pleasant to drinke like sweet whay somewhat better This water being drunke is very good against the heate of the liuer and the kidnies and cleanseth the yard from corruption and filthie matter The same water standing but one houre in the sunne is very good viniger and in India they haue none other This Sura beeing distilled is called Fula or Nipe is as excellent aqua vitae as any is made in Dor◠of their best rēnish wine but this is of the finest kinde of distillation The second distillation thereof is called Vraca which is verie good wine is the wine of India for they haue no other wine It is very hot strong yet y e Indians drinke it as if it were water the Portingales vse it in this sort They put it into vessels and to a pipe of Vraca they put 3. or 4. Hands of reasons that are brought for marchandise into India from Ormus euerie Hand is 12. poundes which beeing washed they put into the vessell leauing the bung opē the pipe not being full for if it were it wold burst by reason of the heat because therewith it séetheth in the Pipe like water on the fire and boyling so it is stirred euery day for the space of fourteene or fifteene dayes in which time the Vraca getteth as faire a redde colour as if it were Portingall wine and differeth not much in taste but yet sweeter and hotter of it selfe howbeit it is altogether as fayre and of as good a colour as their Portingall Wyne so that they can hardly bee discerned one from the other this Wine is called Wine of Passa or Reasons With this Wine there is great traffique vsed to Bengala Malacca China and other places and euery Pipe thereof costeth within Goa 30. Pardawen the péece little more or lesse Of the aforesaide Sura they likewise make Sugar which is called Iagra they seeth the water and set it in the Sun whereof it becommeth Sugar but it is little estéemed because it is of a browne colour and for that they haue so great quantitie and abundance of white Sugar throughout all India The innermost parte of the trée or trunke is called Palmito and is the pith or hart of the same trunke which is much estéemed and sent for a present vnto men of great account It is as thinne as Paper and also white and is as if it were plaited or prest together as they vse to plait presse womens huykes in the Low countries it is also long and slender and hath sometimes 50. or 60. foldes or plaites in it like a paper booke This the Indians vse for paper and bookes which continueth in the same foldes whereon they write when it is gréene and so let it drie and then it is impossible to get the letters out againe for it is printed therein with a kind of Iron instrument The Indians cal it Olla whereof all their bookes wrytinges and Euidences are made which they can seale and shutte vp as we doe our letters Of this Paper with the
Cinamon of Malabar is called Canella de Mato or wilde Cinamon and is forbidden to be carried into Portingale yet there is great quantity shipped but all vnder the name of Cinamon of Seylon whereby it passeth and the King hath his full custome as well for the good as for the bad When the â—on of Seylon is worth in India 50 or 60 Pardawes the Quintale the wilde Cinamon is worth but 10 or 12 Pardawes but it is all registred in India for Seylons Cinamon and payeth custome in Lisbon each Quintale 15 or 16 Milreyes as well the good as the bad and all other spices after the rate and there may be nothing shipped in India no not so much as the slaues but it must all be registred in Cochin and if there be any thing found to be brought into Portiâ—l and not registred there it is forfait to the King There groweth Cinamon also in the Ilands of Iaua and by Malacca but very little and not so good as that of Seylon The trees which they burne in India for wood some of them are like Cinamon in burning and smell Cinamon healeth it openeth streÌ„gtheneth all the inward parts it is somewhat attractiue stretcheth the mawe and digesteth the meate it is also vsed against all kinde of poyson that may hurt the hart Cinamon with Pennyâ—oy all and Biuoet water drunk driueth away the Volgher openeth the matrice and maketh women haue their flowers it is likewise good against Fusten and Catharres that fall downe from the head into the lower parts also against the Dropsie and breaking or stopping of the kidneyes c. The water and Oyle of Cinamon doe greatlie strengthen all the inward parts as head hart mawe and lyuer c. The 64. Chapter Of Ginger GInger groweth in manie places of India yet the best most caryed abroad is that which groweth in the coast of Malabar it groweth like thin and young Netherland reedes of two or thrée spannes high the roote whereof is the Ginger being greene it is much eaten in India for sallets as also sodden in Vineger which they call Achar as I said of pepper and other fruites that are vsed in that maÌ„ner throughout al India the time wheÌ„ they are most gathered and begun to be dried is in December and Ianuarie they drie it in this sort that is they couer it with pot-earth which they doe to stop and fill vp the holes and thereby to make it continue the fresher for the pot-earth preserueth it from wormes without the which it is presentlie consumed by them it is little estéemed in India notwithstanding there is much shipped as well to the red sea as to Ormus Arabia and Asia but little for Portingal because it will not saue y e fraught and custome onlie the gunner of the Indian shippes may lade and bring certaine Quintals without paying any custome which by the King of Portingale was of long tyme granted vnto them and is yet obserued and this they may fel to marchants and so by this meanes there is some brought otherwise but very little for that the most part of Ginger brought into Spain cometh from Cabo verde the Ilands of S. Thomas Brasiliâ— and the IlaÌ„d of S. Domingo in y e spanish Indies which is much trafficked withall in Spaine wherefore that of the Portingall Indies is little brought out of the couÌ„try because of the loÌ„g way great charges yet it is better theÌ„ other Ginger as also all other spices mettals and stones that are brought out of the Orientall Indies that is out of the Portingales Indies are for goodnesse and vertue better then any other which the continuall traffique hath sufficiently made knowne There is likewise much Ginger conserued in Suger which commeth out of the countrie of Bengala but the best commeth from China it is verie good to eate and much vsed in India broght out of Portingal into these countries Ginger by the Arabians Persians and Turkes is called Gengibil in Gusurate Decan and Bengala when it is freshe and greene Adrac and when it is dryed Sucte in Malabar both dryed green Imgi in Malayo Aliaa It groweth like water Lillies or Sword-hearbe but somewhat blacker with a stalke aboute two or three handfuls high and with a roote like a Lillie not spreading forth as Antonius Musa writeth and is not so sharpe specially that which groweth in Bacaim because of the ouer great moysture This roote is cut small and mixed with other rootes and so eaten for Sallets with oyle salt and Vineger it is also sodden with flesh and fish It goweth in all places of India and is sowed or Planted for that which commeth vp of it selfe is not so good The best and greatest store commeth out of Malabar and by the Arabians and Persians it is much desired next it is the Ginger of Bengala The third is that of Debut and Bacaim and of all the coast along in the wilde fields and inwardly within the land there is little found There is also some found in the Ilands of S. Laurence and Comaro The vertue and properties of Ginger is that it maketh a man to goe easily to the stoole and restoreth a mans strength that is decayed But it is found contrary in other Authors that Ginger stoppeth for that it causeth good digestion and so laskements proceeding of raw moystnesse is stopped It heateth a colde maw and is good against humors that darken the eyes and is vsed in many medicines The 65. Chapter Of Cloues CLoues are by the Turkes Persians Arabians and most part of the Indians called Caâ—aâ—â—r and in the Ilands of Maluco where they are only found and do grow Chamke These Ilands are fine lying vnder the Equinoctiall line as in the descriptions therof is declared They haue nothing else but Cloues which are caried froÌ„ thence through out the world the trees whereon they grow are like Bay-trées the blossomes at the first white then greene and at the last red and hard which are the Cloues and when the blossomes are gréene they haue the pleasantest smell in all the world The Cloues grow verie thicke together and in great numbers they are gathered and then dried their right colour when they are drie is a darke yelow and to giue them a blacke colour they are commonly smoked The Cloues that stay on the trée vngathered are thicke and stay on till the next yeare which are those that are called the mother of the Cloues And in the place where the trées stand there groweth not any grasse or gréene Hearbe at all but it is wholly drie for that those trees draw all the moysture vnto them That which the Portingals call Baston or with vs the stocke of the Cloue and is the stalke whereby they hang on the trees is gathered with the Cloues and so they are mingled together for that in Maluco they neuer garble their Cloues but in India they are many times parted though verie little for they are
it Xercast and Xerkest that is to say milke of trees for it is the dew y t falleth vpon the trées and remayneth hanging vpon the leaues like water that is frozen and hangeth in drops at gutters and pentises It is also gathered and kept in glasse Vials and so brought into India and other Countries for in India they vse it much in all sorts of purgations There is another sorte of Manna called Tiriamiabiin or Trumgibiin which they gather froÌ„ other leaues and hearbes that commeth in small peeces as big as Hempeséed and somewhat bigger which is red of a reddish colour Some thinke this Manna groweth on the bodies of the trées as Gumme doth it is much vsed in Ormus and Persia for purgations but not in India so much as the first sort there is yet another sorte which commeth in great peeces with the leaues among it it is like the Manna of Calabria this is brought out of Persia vnto Bassora and so to Ormus and from thence into India and is the dearest of all the rest There commeth also a Manna that is brought in leather bags or flasks which in Turkey and Persia they vse to ride withall is melted like Hony but of a white colour and in taste like the other sortes of Manna being altogether vsed for purgations and other medicines Manna very gently purgeth the gall it easeth and moystneth the harshnes of the throat the breastes and the stomacke it quencheth the thirst but because it purgeth but weakely it is strengthened with Tyme or Isop mingled with some strong purgations maketh them to effect their operations with more perfection and power by meanes of the sweetnesse thereof which is apter and more plyable vnto nature But because it is no special marchandise I will speake no more thereof but for that wee are nowe in hande with medicines to purge I wil say some thing of the roote called Rhubaâ—be although there is no certaintie how or in what sort it groweth yet it is most certaine y t it is not to be found in any couÌ„try but in China and in the farthest parts therof it is most brought by land through the Prouince of Vsbeke whereof I spake before which Prouince lyeth in Tartaria and bordereth on the one side vpon China and so reacheth behinde India vnto Persia Out of this Prouince it cometh vnto Ormus and from thence into India yet it is likewise brought by water but because it is not so good and doth sooner rot and spoyle by water then by land therefore most part of it is brought by land That which is most esteemed best sold and greatliest desired cometh in this manner that is first from China through Vsbeke and so through Turkie from whence it is caryed to Venice from thence into all these countries so that the Rhubarbe of Venice is better because it cometh ouer land then that which is brought into Portingall because it cometh by water as also all thinges and herbes that belong to Physicke because they are better preserued by land then by water they are little brought by sea but it is a marchandise that is most caryed by land vnto Venice as also because the Portingales deale not much therein and are little giuen to curiosities conteÌ„ting themselues to deale with such wares as are commonlie knowne to all men without seeking further for they trouble not themselues with other things The 74. Chapter Of the wood called Sanders THere are 3. sorts of Sanders that is white yelow and red the white and the yealow which is the best come most out of the IlaÌ„d of Tymor which lyeth by Iaua This Iland hath whole woods and wildernesses of Sanders both of white and yealow and froÌ„ theÌ„ce it is caryed throughout all India and other couÌ„tries and trafficke much therewith the red Sanders groweth most in the coast of Choramandel and Tanassariin which is in the countrie of Pegu the trees of Sanders are like Nut trees and haue a certaine fruite vpon them like Cheries at the first green and after black but of no taste nor any thing worth for it presently falleth off onlie y e wood of y e trée is accounted of which is the SaÌ„ders It is called by the Inhabitants of the countrie where it groweth Chandanacon the Decannus Gusurates Canariins and other Indians cal it Sercandaa the Arabians and Persians Sandal wherevpon the Portingalles likewise doe call it Sandalo The yellow and white Sanders is much vsed and spent ouer all India by all the inhabitantes both Indians Moors Heathens and Iewes whatsoeuer they beate it or stampe it in water till it be as soft as pappe that done they besmere themselues therewith and let it drie vpon their bodies for it cooleth very much also because all the Indians doe much delight in sweet smelling sauours The white yellow or bleakish Sanders is likewise vsed by vs with Rose-water against the hotte paines in the head annointing it therewith all those woods as well the red as the white and yellow are good against hotte feauers being beaten and drunken into the body they help the hot stomacke as also laid vpon the stomacke with Rose water in burning feauers This Sanders is not onely good for the purposes aforesaid but also for strengthening the hart and therefore with great vse it is put into Cordiall medicines such as are made against the beating of the hart The red Sanders is little spent in India but they vse it onely against hot agues annointing their pulses therewith as also the temples their foreheads but it is much â—ryed into other countries as being very medicinable for many thinges and the Indians make their Pagodes and Idoles thereof because they should be the costlier The â—5 Chapter Of Palo de Cebra or Snake-wood SNakewood is most in the Island of Seylon it is a lowe Trée the roote thereof being the Snake-woode is of colour white shewing somewhat yellowe very harde and bitter in taste it is much vsed in India they stampe and bruse it like Sanders in water or Wine and so drinke it it is very good well proued against all burning feauers one ounce thereof bruised and mixed with water is good against all poison and sicknes as the collick worms and all filthie humors and coldnes in the body and specially against the stinging of Snakes whereof it hath the name it was first found by means of a little beast called Qâ—il or Quirpele which is of bignesse very like a Ferret wherewith in those Countries they vse to driue Cunnies out of their holes and so ketch them whereof in India they haue many in their houses which they play withall to passe the time away as also to kill their Myce and Rattes and to driue them away This beast by nature is a great enemie to the Snake so that wheresoeuer she findeth any she fighteth with them and because it is often bitten by the Snake it knoweth how to heale it selfe with
this custome they obserued in this our nauigation for sodainely the cloud came with a most horrible storme and fell vppon them before they coulde preuent it whereby seuen or eight of them were sunke into the seas and neuer heard of againe and the rest with great hurt and much daunger escaped But from that time forwards they looked better to themselues and haue learned to know it so that at this present they watch for it and yet it giueth them worke enough to doe This storme falling ouer their heads in this sorte continueth through the whole Countrey of Terra Donatal vntil you passe the Cape de bona Speranza The 12. of March being vnder 31. degrees wée were right in the winde and had a calme whereupon we stroke all our sayles and so lay driuing 4. dayes together which the Portingalles call Payraes hauing a verie high sea which tossed our shippes in such sort that the Saylers estéemed it to be worse then a storme for that there the waues of the Sea mette in such sorte on all sides and clasped the shippe in such manner betwixt them that they made all her ribbes to cracke and in a manner to open so that it is very dangerous for the shippes We were in very great care for our Fouke-maste and therefore we bound our Mastes and all the shippes about with Cables as harde as possible wee might This continued till the 17. of March and then we had a little wind so that we hoised saile againe but it continued no longer then to the next day and then we fell againe into the wind and had a storme wherewith our maine yard brake and then againe wee stroke al our sails and so lay driuing or Payraering as the Portingalles call it In the meane time we mended our maine yard and so wee continued driuing without our sailes till the 20. of March with great risings of the waues of the sea which much tormented vs as in that place they commonly doe all the which time we were vnder 31. degrées and could not passe forward In that time we saw many birdes which the Portingals call Antenalen and are as bigge as Duckes The 2◠of March wee had a little winde but very sharpe yet we hoysed our sailes and sayled by the wind The next night after we had a calme which continued to the 22. day and then we fell againe into the winde with so great a storme that wee were compelled to strike all our sayles which wee coulde hardly pull in and could not stay the shippe in any sort it draue so fast whereby wee were in great daunger so that wee were compelled to binde the bonnet about the Fore-castle which was our sayle for other sayle we might not beare and so sayled backwarde whether the winde would driue vs thereby to haue some ease and yet we had enough to doe for wee were compelled to throwe our great Boate ouer bord with all the chests pots and vesselles that stoode vpon the Hatches with other wares such as came first to hand This storme continued for the space of two dayes three nights without ceasing The 25. of March being the day before Palme sunday we had a better wind and weather after we had giuen great almes to our blessed Ladie of the Annuntiation whose Feast was vppon that day and again hoysed vp our sayles keeping our course towards the Cape At the same time we had a disease in our ship that tooke vs in y e mouth lippes throate and tongue which tooke off the skin and made them swell whereby they could not eate but with great paine and not one in the ship but had it The eight of Aprill in the Morning after we had sayled fifteene daies before the winde towards the Cape we perceiued some signes of the land which is greene water but wee found no ground yet was it not aboue fortie miles from the land according to the Pilots iudgement We saw there also diuers of the Birds called Mangas de Velludo that is to say Veluet sleues for they haue vpon the ends of their wings blacke points like Veluet all the rest beeing white and somewhat gray which they hold for a certaine signe of land that lyeth within the Cape de Bona Speranza called Baya de la Goa or the Bay of the Lake and lyeth vnder thirtie thrée degrées a halfe from the coast that reacheth towards Mosambique The ninth of Aprill at night we were againe right in the winde being vnder thirtie fiue degrees and a halfe with a great storme and foule wether that continued till the 14. of the same Month so that we were compelled not being able to endure the force of the Sea with the continuall storme and foule wether to sayle back againe before the wind with the halfe of our Fouke sayle vp for that wee found our selues not strong enough to driue without sayles as the shippes commonly vse to doe which oftentimes is the cause of their casting away as it may well be iudged by reason of the great force and strength of the waues that runne there so that it seemeth almost impossible for a ship to beare out so great a force though it were of Iron And although we sayled before the winde yet wée had danger inough for that the Sea came behinde and ouer our shippe and filled all the Hatches whereby wee were compelled to binde our Mastes Cables and all the shippe round about with Ropes that with y e great force of the Sea it might not stirre and flye in péeces And forced wee were to Pumpe night and day hauing at each ende of the Fouke-yarde a rope that reached to the Pilot and at each rope there stoode fifteene or sixteene men the Pilot sitting in his seate and the vnder Pilot behinde vpon the sterne of the shippe to marke the course of the Sea and so to aduertise the other Pilot. At the ruther there stoode ten or twelue men and the other Saylers vpon the Hatches to rule the sayles as the waues came and couered the shippe the vnder Pilot called and then the chiefe Pilot spake to them at the Ruther to hold stiffe and commaunded the ropes that were at the Fouke yarde to bee pulled stiffe the Saylers likewise and the chiefe Boteswaine standing on the Hatches to keepe the ship right in the waues for if the waues had once gotten vs about that they had entred on the sides of the shippe it had certainly beene said of vs Requiescant in pace And it was there almost as cold as it is here with vs in winter when it freeseth not whereby wee were all sore toyled and in a manner out of hart so that wee esteemed our selues cleane cast away for we were forced by turnes to go to the ruther from thence to the pumpe not one excepted so that we had no time to sleepe rest eate nor cloath our selues and to help vs the better the staffe of our Ruther brake in péeces and had
almost slaine two or three of our men But God had pittie on vs so that there happened no other hurt but that some of them were a litle amazed This continued to the fourteenth of April without any change whereupon all the Officers of the shippe assembled together with others of the companie taking counsell what was best to be done and perceiuing the shippe not to bee strong enough to passe the Cape they concluded by protestation whereunto they subscribed their hands to sayle with the ship to Mosambique and there to winter and to repaire the shippe and prouide all necessaries for it which greatly greeued the common sort because they did find as great danger in turning backe againe to Mosambique as to passe the Cape for that they were to sayle againe by the land Donatal which they feared as much as the Cape and also though they did arriue at Mosambique yet they accounted it as much as a lost Viage For that they must stay there till the next yeare and there spend all they haue for that all things that come thether are brought out of India so that euerie thing is there as â—eare as gold which would bee hard for the poore Saylers and Swabbers as hauing but little meanes to relieue themselues and therby they should be constrained to sel that litle they had broght with them for halfe the value and besides that they were as then about â—00 miles froÌ„ Mosambique Wherefore there grew great noyse and murmuring in the ship among the Saylers that cursed the Captaine and the Officers because the ship was badly prouided for it had not one rope more then hung about the ship nor any thing wherof to make them if those that we had should haue chanced to breake The Captaine laide the faulte on the Master because hee asked them not when hee was at land and the Maâ—ter saide that he had spoken for them and that the Cairo or Hemp whereof in India the ropes are made was deliuered vnto the Captaine and that he had sold y e best part thereof to put the money in his purse that was the cause why we wanted with this disorder they bring their matters to passe not once remembring what may after fall out but when they are in danger theÌ„ ther is nothing els but crying Misericordia and calling to our lady for helpe the Captaine could not tell what to answere séeing vs in that trouble but said that he maruelled at nothing so much as why our Lord God suffered them beeing so good Christians and Catholiques as they were to passe the Cape with so great torments and dangerous weather hauing so great and strong shippes and that the Englishmen béeing as he said Heretickes and blasphemers of God with so smal weake vessels passed y e Cape so easilie for they had receaued newes in India that an English Shippe had passed the Cape with verie great ease And so wee made backe againe towards Mosambique being in great dispaire for that no man cared for laying his hand to worke and hardlie would any man obay the Officers of the Shippe In this manner sayling wee perceiued diuers vesselles and bordes with dead men bound vpon them driuing in the Sea which comforted vs a little thinking that some other of the shippes were in the same taking and had throwne some of their goods ouer bord and so made towardes Mosambique before vs whereby we thought to haue company and that we alone were not vnfortunate for that is commonlie said that companions in miserie are a comfort one to an other and so it was to vs but I would to God it had bene so as we imagined but it was farre worse then turning backe againe for those were the signes of the casting away of the S. Thomas as being in the Iland of S. Helena as we were afterwards aduertised The 15. of April we had an other great calme which continued till the 17 day and taking the hight of the Sunne we found our selues to be vnder 37 degrees to the great admiration of al the company for that being as I said vnder 35 degrees and hauing sayled for the space of 5 dayes with so great a wind and stormy weather towards Mosambique we should rather by al mens reason haue lessened our degrees by estimation wee made account to haue bene vnder 30 or 32 degrees at the highest but the cause why our shippe went backward in that sort against wind and weather towards the Cape thinking wee made towards Mosambique was by the water which in those countries carieth with a verie strong streame towards the cape as the Pylot tould vs he had proued at other times yet he thought not that the water had runne with so great a streame as now by experience he found it did so as it séemed that God miraculouslie against all mans reason and iudgement and all the force of wind and stormes would haue vs passe the Cape wheÌ„ we were least in hope thereof whereby we may plainelie perceiue that all mens actions without the hand of God are of no moment The same day againe we saw gréene water and the birdes called Mangas de Velludo or veluet sléeues which are certain signes of the cape de bona Speranza which put vs once againe in hope to passe it and about euening a swallow flew into our shippe wherat they much reioiced saying that it was a sign and foreshowing that our Lady had sent the Swallow on bord to comfort vs and that we should passe the Cape wherewith they agreed once againe to proue if we could passe it séeing we had such signes and tokens to put vs in good comfort that God would help vs. This being concluded we sung the Letany with Ora pro nobis and gaue many almes with promises of pilgrimages and visitations and such like things which was our dayly worke With that the saylers others began to take courage and to be lustie euery man willinglie doing his office offering rather to lose life and welfare in aduenturing to passe the Cape then with full assurance of their safetie to returne vnto Mosambique we had as then great waues and very bigge water in the sea which left vs not till wee came to the other side of the Cape The 18 of Aprill we fell againe into the wind with as great stormes and foule weather as euer we had before so that we thought verily we should haue bene cast away for that at euerie minute the sea couered our ship with water to lighten her we cast diuers chestes and much Cinamon with other thinges that came first to hand ouer bord wherewith euerie man made account to die and began to confesse themselues and to aske each other forgiuenes thinking without more hope that our last day was come This storme continued in this sort at the least for the space of 24 houres in the mean time great almes were giuen in our shippe to many Virgin Maries and other Saints
with great deuotion promise of other wonderfull things when they came to land at the last God comforted vs and sent vs better weather for that the 19 of Aâ—â—ill the wether began to cleéere vp and therewith we were in better comfort The 20. of Aprill we tooke the hight of the Sunne and found it to be â—6 degrées and againe we saw greene water and some birds which they call Alcatraces and many Sea-wolues which they hold for certain signes of the cape de Bona SperaÌ„za as we thought were hard by the land but yet saw none the same day we had the wind somewhat fuller and were in great hope to passe the Cape so that the men began to be in better comfort by reason of the signes we haue seene All that day we saw greene water till the 22 of Apr. vpon which day twice and in the night following we cast out the Lead and found no ground which is a good signe that wee had passed the Cape called das Agulhas or the cape of needles which lieth vnder 35 degrees and is about 20 miles from the Cape de bona Speranza which lieth vnder 34 degrées a half And because that about this cape Das Agulhas there is ground found at the least 30 or 40 miles from the land we knew wee were past it as also by the colour of the water and the birds which are alwaies found in those countries and the better to assure vs thereof the great high sea left vs that had so long tormented vs and then we found a smoother water much differing from the former so that as theÌ„ we seemed to be come out of hell into Paradice with so great ioy that we thought we were within the sight of some hauen and withall had a good winde though somewhat cold The 23 of Aprill we passed the Cape de Bona Speranza with a great and generall gladnes it being as then 3 months and three dayes after we set sayle from Cochiin not once seeing any land or sand at all but onelie these assured tokens of the said Cape which happened very seldome for that the pilots doe alwaies vse what meanes they can to see the cape and to know the land thereby to know certainlie that they are past it for then their degrees must lessen and there they may as soone make towards Mosambique as to the Iland of S. Helena for although they can well perceiue it by y e water yet is it necessary for them to see the land the better to set their course vnto S. Helena wherein they must alwaies kéepe on the left hand otherwise it were impossible for them to come at it if they leaue that course for if they once passe it they can not come to it again because there bloweth continually but one kind of wind which is South east and thus hauing passed the Cape we got before the wind The 24 of Aprill the Pilot willed vs to giue the Bona viagen vnto the Cape de Bona Speranza according to the custome with great ioy and gladnes of all that were in the shippe for that as theÌ„ they assure themselues that they sayl to Portingal and not to turne againe into India for so long as they are not past the Cape they are alwaies in doubt and as then we were about 50. miles beyond the Cape The signes and tokens whereby they know themselues certainly to haue passed the Cape are great heapes and péeces of thicke réedes that alwaies thereabouts driue vppon the water at least 15 or â—â— miles from the land as also certaine birds by the Portingals called Feyâ—oins somewhat greater then sea mâ—wâ—s being white full of blacke spots ouer al their bodies very easie to be known from al other birds These are certain signes whereby the Pilotes doe certainly perswade themselues that they are past the Cape and hauing passed it they set their course for S. Helena Northwest Northwest by west The 27 of Apr. we were right in the wind and so continued till the next day and theÌ„ we had a calm being vnder 3â— degrees on Portingal side The â—9 of Apr. wâ— gâ—t before the wind which is the generall wind y t alwaies bloweth in those countries al the whole yere vntill y â— come to the Equinoctial line and is a Southeast wind so y t they may wel let their sayles stand lay them down to slâ—ep for in y e greatest wind y t bloweth there they need not strike their maine yard aboue half the mast The 12 of May in the morning betimes we discouered the IlaÌ„d of S. Helena whereat there was so great ioy in the ship as if we had bene in heauen as then we were about 2 miles from y e land the Iland lying from vs West south west whereunto we sayled so close that with a caliuer shot we might reach vnto the shore being hard by it we sayled about a corner of the land that from vs lay Northwest which hauing compassed wee sayled close by the land West North west the land on that side beeing so high and still that it séemed to be a wall that reached vnto the skyes And in that sort we sayled about a mile and a half and compassed about y e other corner that lay westward from vs which corner béeing compassed we presentlie perceiued the shippes that lay in the road which were those ships that set sayle before vs out of India lying about a small half mile from the foresaid corner close vnder the land so that the land as then lieth South east from them and by reason of the high land the shippes lie there as safe as if they were in a hauen for they may well heare the wind whistle on the top of their maine yards but lower it can not come and they lie so close vnder the land that they may almost cast a stone vpon the shore There is good ground there at 25 and 30 fadomes deep but if they chance to put further out or to passe beyond it they must goe forward for they can get no more vnto y e land and for this cause we kept so close to the shore that the height of the laÌ„d took the wind froÌ„ vs the ship wold not steer without wind so that it draue vpon the land wherby our horesprit touched y e shore therwith we thought that shippe goods had all beene cast away but by reason of the great depth being 1â— fadomes water and with the help of the Boats and men off the other ships that came vnto vs we put off from the land without any hurt and by those Boates wee were brought to a place wher the other ships lay at Anker which is right against a valley that lyeth betwéene two high hilles wherein there standeth a little Church called Saint Helena There we found fiue shippes which were the ship that came from Malacca and the S. Mary that had béene there about 15. daies
meanes we could to saue him yet we could not doe it by reason wee sayled before the winde The same day at night wee saw the Iland of Ascention and lauered all that night because we would not passe the Iland In the Morning the 28. of May we sayled about the Iland to sée if there were any ground to Anker on because the Admirall was so leake that shee could no longer holde out and the men desired the Officers of the shippe that they would lay the goods on land in the Iland of Ascention and there leaue it with good watch and necessaries for them that keepe it and so sayle with the emptie ship to Portingall and there procure some other shippe to fetch the goods thinking it was sufficient to haue it well watched and kept there for that there commeth not a ship in twentie yeares into that Iland because there is nothing in it to be had We went close vnto it by a verie white and faire Sand where the Admirall and all the shippes cast out the Lead and found from eightie to fiftie and 4â— Fadomes water and although they might haue gone closer to the land yet the Officers excused themselues saying that they coulde not goe neerer and that it was too deepe and verie dangerous for them to Anker there Which they said to pacifie the men desiring that they might borow two Pumpes nore of the other shippes and so without doubt they woulde bring the shippe safe vnto Portingall and although it would bee great paine and labour for them to doe it yet they must of force content themselues for that the Admirall and all the Gentlemen that were in the shippe pumped both day and night as their turnes came about as well as the meanest in the shippe onely to encourage the people They borowed one Pumpe of the Saint Mary and sent to desire vs to lend them another and although our ship was none of the best among the Fleet we were of opinion not to lend him any as not knowing what neede wee should haue our selues hauing so long a way to sayle yet in the end seeing the great necessitie they were in we lent them one the rather because they sayd that the Admirals meaning was if it were calme wether to discharge some of their wares into other shippes thereby to lighten themselues but it fell not out as they thought so that with great miserie and labor they ouercame their iournie The 95. Chapter Of the Iland called the Ascention THis Iland was discouered vpon Ascention daye and in shew séemeth as great as the Iland of Saint Hellena but not so high It is ful of hilles and dales lying vnder eight degrées and a halfe on the South-side of the Equinoctiall line and lyeth Northwest distant from Saint Helena 19â— Spanish miles and from the Equiâ—octiall line 140. miles There is not any fresh water in the Iland nor one greene leafe or branch It hath many hilles of a reddish colour which shew like a certaine Earth in Spaine called Almagro and is full of stonie hilles and dryed land it is like Saint Helena There hath beene some shippes there that missed Saint Helena and sought for fresh water in that Iland but could find none It hath certaine faire and white Sandes about it and great store of Fish wherein it surpasseth S. Helena but in it there are no beastes at all onely by reason of the great quantitie of Fishes Ther are so many Birds in it y t it is strange and they are of the bignesse of young Geese came by thousands flying about our ships crying and making great noyse and ranne vp and downe in the shippe some leaping and sitting on our shoulders and armes not once fearing vs so that wee tooke many of them and wrung of their neckes but they are not good to eate because they taste morish I thinke the cause they are so tame is because they see but few men and some desire to goe to them About that Iland and the Iland of Saint Helena vnto the Equinoctiall line there are flying Fishes as great as Herings which flie by great flockes together two or thrée Fadome aboue the water and flie in that manner at the least a quarter of a mile vntill their wings or finnes be drie and then they can flie no longer but fall into the water and there wet themselues and then flie againe aboue the water The cause why they flie in that sort is because they are chased by the great fishes that eate them and to escape from them they flie aboue the water and some times into the shippes for many of them fell into our ship which flew too high for wheÌ„ their wings are drie they must needes fall From that Island of Ascention the shippes held their course Northwest and by West til they be a degree past the Equinoctiall line on the North side where there lyeth a cliffe called Penedo de Sam Pedro which many times they sée and to it from the Islande of Ascention are 300. miles The 5. of Iune we passed againe the Equinoctiall line and then again began we to see the North starre which we had lost vnder ten degrées on this side Cochijn and now began to lose the sight of the South starre and there we had the sun in the South at twelue of the clocke at noone in which on the other side of the line at the same time is in the North. The 8. of Iune being 4. degrées in the North we lost our generall South east winde that had serued vs from the Cape de bona Speranza thether then began the raines and calmes for as then we began to come neare the coast of Guinea which continueth to 9. degrees These calmes and raines helde vs till 11. degrées being the 20 of Iune whereby the ships seperated themselues by reason of the calmes which made them not able to stéerre and in the 11. degrees they met againe and there we had a North east wind which is called the generall winde because it floweth continually in those Countries and holdeth to 30. and â—2 degrées beginning many times at 6. and 7. degrees but wee had it not till wee were vnder 1â— degrées This wind is somewhat scant for wee must of force saile in the wind because our chiefe course is Northwest and by North. The 23. of Iune we passed the point of Capo Verde which is vnder 15. degrées and the 26. of the same month we passed the Islands of Capo Verde which are ten in number They beginne vnder 15. degrées and end in 19. degrées and are distant from the firme land of Capo Verde from 70. to 1â—0 miles inwards to the sea Then wee entred into the sea called Sergasso which is all couered with hearbes so that it séemeth to be like a gréene fielde so thicke that a man can not see the water neyther can the ships passe through them but with great labour vnlesse they haue a strong wind The
hearbe is like Samper but yellow of colour hath berries like Goose berries but nothing in them The Portingalles call it Sargasso because it is like the herbes that groweth in their welles in Portingall called Sargasso wherevpon that sea is called Sargasso It is not knowne from whence it commeth for there is no land nor Island that is knowne to bee neare that sea but the coast of Africa which is at the least more then 400. miles from thence It is thought it commeth from from the ground and yet there is no ground in that place to bee founde and in sayling to India the shippes come not into that sea for then they kéepe closer to the shore so that it is not once séene and it is not found in any place but there beginning at 20. degrées continuing to 34. degrées so thicke and so full as if they were whole Islandes most strange to beholde In that countrey it is as cold in winter as it is here with vs when it fréezeth not which the Portingalles estéeme a great cold and cloath themselues against it as we doe in a mightie great frost The last of Iune wee were vnder 23. degrees being right vnder the Sunne for y t the Sun was then in the same height and we also vnder y e Tropike of Cancer which is the furthest part that the Sunne goeth Northwarde and then it turneth againe vnto the Equinoctial line and from thence into the South Wee passed y e line of Tropicus Capricorni twice once on the South side by the ende of the Island of S. Laurence and then againe vnder 23. degrées after we had passed the Cape de bona Speranza The 2. of Iuly wee were vnder the height of the Islands of Canarie which lie vnder 28. and 29. degrées and are distant from the coast of Barbarie and Africa from 30. to 80. miles which Islandes lay on our right hande and because in those Islandes there are many things that are worthie the noting therefore I thought it conuenient to make a briefe description of them The 96. Chapter A briefe description of the Islands of Canaria THe Islandes of Canaria are seuen which in times past were called the Fortunadas and at this day by the Spaniards are called the Canaries by reason of the great numbers of dogges which they founde in them when they were first discouered The names of the Islands are great Canarie Teneriffe La Palma La Gomera El'Hierro Lansarotte and Fuerte Ventura In the Island of Teneriffe there is a hil called Pico de Terraira which is thought to bee the highest hill that euer was found for it may easily bee séene at the least threescore miles into the sea before they come at it It cannot be climed but in the monthes of Iuly and August for all the other monthes it lyeth full of snowe although below in the Island and in other Islands thereabouts they sée no snow It is thrée dayes iourney to clime vp into it and on the toppe therof it is flat and when it is clear and faire weather a man may from thence sée all the Islandes round about it although some of them are at the least 50. miles distant and as much in compasse The two monthes in which they vse to clime vp vpon the hill they bring downe certaine peeces of brimstone from whence it is much caried into Spaine and at my being in the Island of Tercera a shipper one of my acquaintance that came from Teneriffe gaue me a péece thereof for a remembrance of him In one of those Islandes called Hierro or of Iron there is a wonderfull and strange thing to be séene and I verely thinke it is one of y e strangest things in the world This Island is on of the greatest of all the seuen but it is an vnfruitful and barren land and so drie that in all the Island there is not one droppe of fresh water to bee found but onely in some places vppon the sea side which is farre from hand so that it profiteth the inhabitants but very little But God of his mercie hath prouided for the want of water both for men and beastes in this maner for there is a great trée which no man knoweth for the like is not found in any other place the leaues whereof are small and long and alwaies gréene without chaunging colour this trée is couered and compassed about with a small cloud which alwaies continueth in one forme and neuer altereth nor diminisheth and this cloud casteth dew vpon the leaues of the trée which hang down and drop continually without ceasing a most cleare thinne and fine water which falleth into certaine Cesternes that by the inhabitants of the Island are made round about vnder the trée therein to kéepe and preserue the water The Island of Ascention so called because it was discouered vppon the day of Christs ascention into heauen is not inhabited because of the vnfruitfulnes therof because it wanteth fresh water which is also the cause that it is not visited by the ships for that they hope for no refreshing in the same The hilles of this Iland are redde like Bolus About this Iland are many birds because of the great numbers of fishes that are about it specially small flying fishes which in Portingall are called Pisce Bolodor Reade more hereof in the booke in Folio 175. And this water is in so great abundance that it serueth all the Island for their necessarie vses not onely for the people but also for their cattle throughout all the Isle and no man can remember when that wonder first began On the right side of this Island about an hundred miles distant there is yet an other wonder to be noted which is that oftentimes there is an Islande séene thereaboutes called San Borondon where diuers men haue been on lande being onely such as fell vppon it on the sodaine and not looking for it who affirme it to bee a very fayre pleasant and gréene Countrey full of trées and all kinds of victuaile and that it is inhabited by people that are Christians but no man knowes of what nation they are neyther what language they speake The Spaniards of the Islandes of Canaria haue many times sayled towardes it to view it but they could neuer find it whereupon there goeth diuers opinions of it for some think it to be inchanted and that it may not bee seene but vppon certaine dayes some thinke it to bee very small and alwaies couered with cloudes and that therefore it can not bee séene nor founde out and also the great stormes and strength of the water driueth the shippes from it but to conclude it is holden for a truth that the Ilande lyeth thereaboutes as all those that come from thence doe certainly affirme The Ilandes of Canaria are very fruitfull and plentifull of all thinges both victuailes and other necessaries They haue of all kinds of corne specially excellent good Wine which from thence is caried into
small vnhabited Islandes called Maghensis full of birdes which are so tame that meÌ„ take them with their hands and kil them with staues From thence you go to Cape Frio a verie good hauen well knowne by meanes of the French traffike whereabouts the â—ouâ—upâ—nambauâ—â— friendes to the Frenchmen doo inhabite about this Cape are many great whales in Latine called Prestis and in Duch Sword-fishes yet they are no sword fishes for that their Iawes are full of teeth like Sawes There are likewise on this Cape manie Parrats in as great aboundance as crowes with vs about this Cape lyeth the creeke by the Barbarians called Ganabara and by the Portingales Rio de Ganeâ—râ— because it was discouered in the first moneth of the yeare and the Bayaseâ—moza this creeke is wel knowne to the Frenchmen because they traffike thither and therin had made a fort it lyeth vnder three twentie degrees on the South side of the Equinoctial line right vnder Tropicus Capricorâ— it is in the entrie sixe Spanish miles broad and further in but three or foure miles broad and there lyeth smaller hils then at the entrie The mouth of this creeke is verie dangerous for that if you leaue the sea you must saile by three vnhabited Islandes where it is great fortune but the ships doo strike in peeces vppon the rocks and cliffes you must likewise passe before a pointe not aboue three hundred paces broade which hangeth from a high hil hauing the form of a Piramides which not onely seemeth verie great but far off shewing as if it were made by mans art which by reason of the roundnesse as also because it is like a tower is by the Frenchmen called le pot de Buere that is the Butter potte a little further in the creeke is an euen rock about a hundred and twenty paces great by the Frenchmen called Râ—tier or Mouse fall to which Villagagno at his first arriuall brought all his necessaries and prouision thinking thereon to build a fort but the waues droue him backe againe about halfe a mile further lieth the Islande wherein the Frenchmen did dwell which before their arriuall was not inhabited and is in compasse about a thousand paces yet the breadth is six times more then the length all compassed about with cliffes as also with water in such sort that the shippes cannot come at it but with great danger onely in one place and that with small boates whereby it appeareth that this Island by reason of the situation is very strong on both sides of this Island there standeth a little hill whereupon the Gouernour had made his house and on a Rocke about fiftie or sixtie foote high in the middle of the Islande hee had placed his Court or Castle called Coligni in honour of the Admirall of France that had sent him thither In other plaine fieldes about the same were the rest of the Frenchmens houses made rounde and couered with leaues or boughes being in all about eighty men 10000. paces or two Spanish miles and ½ further from this Island lyeth another verie fruitfull Island in compasse about thrée French miles called the great Island inhabited by Tououpinambaâ—â—iâ—s great friends to the Frenchmen to whome they oftentimes went to fetch meale and other necessaries there are likewise in this creeke many other small and vnhabited Islandes where there are many good oysters the Barbarians diue vnder the water with theyr hands bring vp certaine great stones whereat there hangeth great numbers of Oysters and so fast cleued to the stone that they can hardly gette them off verie good to eate some of them hauing small Pearles within them they are by the Barbarians called Leripes This water is ful of strange fishes specially Barbels and Sea Swine there are likewise whales with verie fatte and thicke skinnes there runneth likewise into this creeke out of the middle part of the land two fresh riuers vppon both the sides whereof lyeth many villages of the Barbarians tenne or fiftéene miles further along the coast towards the riuer de Plata or the straights of Magellana there is another great creeke by the Frenchmen called Vasarum whereunto they vse to saile as they do to the other which they first took in Hereafter followeth the manner and customes of the people THe Toupinambaultii are not much vnlike our people well proportioned of bodie and limbe but stronger and healthsomer then wee and lesse subiect vnto sicknes among them are found fewe lame cripples blinde or mishapen men although there are of them that liue to the age of an hundred and twenty yeares accounting their yeares by the Moones fewe of them likewise hauing gray haires which is a certaine signe of the temperatenes of that land as hauing no extream cold nor excessiue heate hauing greene trées hearbes and fields al the yeare through and because they liue without care they shew alwaies of one age for they haue no hurtful poyson nor foule water to drink whereby all diseases do grow they haue likewise no passions or afflictions of minde in their countreyes which mooue vexe and consume both the spirits and bodyes as not knowing of any fauours couetous desires chidings hate or enuie which but to our shame consumeth the Christians As touching the colour of their bodyes they are not altogether blacke but browne like the Spaniards because of the heate of the sim they go al naked as they came out of theyr mothers wombes not once shaming therat vnlesse it be at bankets or when they goe to warres there are some of them that bind two great leaues together therewith to couer theyr priuie members not so much for their credite but because they haue either some deformity or else disease therin which oftentimes happeneth among them they are not rough nor hairie as some men describe them for they suffer no haire to hang vpon theyr bodyes for that as soone as they perceiue it they plucke it foorth either with theyr nayles or sheeres which they haue either of the Frenchmen or the Portingales which they pull not onely from their chins but also from their eye browes eye liddes which maketh them for the most part seeme feareful and vgly The hinder part of theyr heades is couered with haire the young boyes vntil they come to mans state we are theyr haire from the crowne of the head downe to theyr neckes but al theyr foreheades shauen as if it were a Friers crowne on the hinder part of their heades they let the haire grow after the manner of our auncestors which were all shorne only in their necks and that was rounded They haue likewise for a custome that they bore holdes in their boyes vnderlippes wherein they stick sharp bones as white as Iuorie which they take out and put in as often as they wil and being older they take away the bones and in steed thereof weare greene Iaspis stones being a kinde of bastard Emerauld inwardly flat with a thick ende because they shall not fall out
vpon a hil within a goodly vallie the foundation beeing of foure squared stones so cunningly closed together that it could not be perceiued how they were ioyned froÌ„ the which Castle there went a vast vnder the earth to the sea coast so that the waues beat against the entrie thereof with such force that it is wonderful to think how that péece of worke was made which Castle was most curiously painted and in it also there was a great part of the kings treasor the ruines whereof in regard of the Peruuians perpetual coÌ„mendations ought not further to be spoyled as being workes done by such people which vnto vs wold be altogether incredible if they had not bin seene a mile a half further vpward from the castle of Goarco there is a riuer called Lunaguana in our Card Laguna which vallie is altogether like the former and foure miles and a halfe from that is the great vallie of Chincha much esteemed in Peru specially by the auncient inhabitants In this vallie there is a cloyster of the order of saint Dominike At the spaniards ariual there were aboue 25000. men in that vallie where now there are scarce 5000. and were ouercome by Inga Iupangue of â—opaynga Iupangâ—e who had their gouernours therein with many houses of pleasure and the temple of the Sun yet the inhabitants lest not off to serue and honour their olde Idol called Cinciaycama the king hadde likewise in this vallie many pentioners and souldiers commaunding some of them for certaine moneths in the yeare to repaire vnto the Court and goe to warres with him This vallie of Cincia is one of the greatest vallies in all the countrey of Peru where it is a most pleasant sight to beholde the greene trees that grow in the waters that run vnder them with most sweete and pleasant Citrons not like the Spanish Citrons although in forme not differing much for that these being pilled are yellow and of a good taste and so pleasant that a man can neuer satisfie himselfe therewith in those woods there are many birds but beasts verie few because of the continuall warres in times past there was likewise many graues in this country wherein the Spaniards found much treasor Departing from this goodly prouince of Cincia and trauailing further ouer the plaine countrey you come to the pleasant vally Iâ—a which is no lesse inhabited then the former through the which also there runneth a riuer which in some times of the yeare is so small that they shuld want water but that they haue a channell of water that commeth out of the hilles heerein are many fruites there are likewise manie yong horses kine goates pigeons and turtle doues from thence you come to the vallie and riuer of Nasca otherwise called Caxa Malca which in times past was verie populous where they till their ground and water their fruits in manner before rehearsed These people for the most parte were spoyled and consumed by the disunion and contention of the Spaniards in it were many great places and houses of munition for the kings of Peru and diuers graues all spoyled and destroyed by the Spaniards the vallies of Nasca are many in number whereof one of them hath many canes that yeeld much sugar they haue likewise much sugar which they bring to sel in the townes bordering vpon them through all these vallies the kings great high way doth passe and in some sundrie places there are as yet certaine tokens or signes to shew the right way that men should not stray aside of the which way I meane to say more heereafter when I come to speake of the kings of Peru from this vally commonly called Nasca you goe to Hacary and then to Ocuna Icamanna and Iquilca where there are great riuers and although at this present there are but few inhabitants yet in times past they were no lesse populous then the first they are fruitfull and very fatte to feede cattel in the vallie of Quilca lyeth the hauen of Arequipa and the towne so that from Lima or the Kings towne to Arequipa are ninety Spanish miles or thrée hundred and sixtie Italian miles the town lyeth about eleuen miles within the vally of Quilca distant from the sea in the best and most pleasant place of all the vallie to bée built vpon where there is a verie good and temperate aire whereby it is commended for one of the most holsomest places in all Peru and the pleasantest to dwell in being a Bishopricke and vnder the Iurisdiction of Lyma hauing in it about thrée hundred Spanish houses the countrey thereabouts is verie fat and yéeldeth verie good Corne whereof they make bread the limites or Iurisdiction of the towne reacheth from the vallie of Hacari to Tarapaca and in the prouince or countrey of Condesuyo they haue likewise authoritie ouer certaine places which are vnder the Spanish gouernment those of Hubnas Ciqui Guanitta Quimistaca and Colagnas are all vnder the commandement of this towne in time past very populous and now most part destroyed by the Spaniards they pray to the sun as other Peruuians do and weare shirts and mantles most of their siluer and treasor is brought from Charcas and the mynes of Potoisi and Porco from thence it is carried to Lyma and so to Panama and Spaine about this towne there is a hill of Brimstone which burneth continually whereby it putteth the countrey in great feare doing great hurt vnto the countrey and the town sometimes by reason thereof they haue certaine earthquakes this towne was builded by Francisco Pizarro in his maiesties name in the yeare of our Lord 1536. Many Spanish wares as wine oyle oliues meale corne or wheate c. are brought thither therewith to serue the Countrey of Charcas and the mines of Potoisi Porco There also many of the Inhabitants of the pâ—â—ne countrey do come and traffâ—ke concerning the mines aforesaide wherby much siluer and treasor is brought thither to be conuayed froÌ„ thence into other places therabouts on the sea coast are many great Gieren that spread their wings at the least fiftéene or sixteene handfulles broade that liue vpon Sea Wolues which they take picking out theyr eyes and feeding of theyr bodyes There are likewise great numbers of Sea Mewes by the Spaniards called Alcatraces that likewise liue of sea fish and sea crabs and such like Their flesh is stinking and vnholsome so that many who for want of meate haue eaten them died therof And thus much for the first part of the plain countrey of Peru lying along the sea coast Nowe before I procéede further I will speake somewhat of the Peruuians dwelling vppon the hilles and of their townes withall not forgetting their kings that ruled ouer all those people and haue so rich a country of gold siluer Peru is in length 525. Spanish miles or 420. Duch miles which are 2100. Italian miles in breadth in some places 75. Spanish or 60. Dutch miles in some places broader and in
Snakes like Eales bigger driuing in the sea you must likewise vnderstand that the streame of the water at the Cape de bona Speranza till the times aforesaid doe alwaies runne from the Cape del Gado or to the cape de bona Speranza southwestward notwithstanding y t some streams runne crosse through them that is along the Islandes as I 〈…〉 Pâ—â—iera runne Westward vpon the bankes of Cabo das correntes to the Riuer called Aguada de Boapaz the streames run likewise Westwardes towardes the creeke that lyeth by the Cape das Agulhas at Agundi de San Bras the streame runneth towardes the land and vpon these coastes you shall find y t the stiffer the wind bloweth out of the West the more the water and streames runne against the wind The 5. Chapter Of the nauigation and course from Lisbone to the East Indies written set down by the Kings Pilot called Rodriges de Lagos a Portingall WHen you put out of the riuer of Lisbone to saile to the Iland called Porto Santo you must run Southwest and setting out of Lisbone you must marke the sunne by the Compasse to proue it that is in the rising and setting of the Sunne and the middle betweene her rising and setting which is North and South and as much as you finde the needle of the compasse to lie northeastward so much you must run southwarde for 〈◊〉 lyeth northeast and southwest with y e riuer of Lisbon wherewith it meeteth full and euen when you perceiue or haue a sight of Porto Santo or the Iland Madeia sayling to the Iland La Palma then you shal giue all that which the Néedle of the Compasse lyeth Northeastward and somewhat more for that it lyeth more Eastwarde then it is set downe in the sea Carde and from thence to the Island de Ferro to the which Island you shall likewise winde a little more Westward then it lyeth in the Carde and hereof fayle not as being negligent to obserue it for although you abate ten miles from your course to the Islande La Palma as it is in the Carde yet you shall go right vpon it and hauing past the Island La Palma then your best way is to run southward 30. miles from the Islands of Capo Verde alwaies giuing all that which the Néedle of the Compasse lyeth Northeastward or that you shall runne betwéene two meale tydes that the one mealetide South and the other South and by East setting your course to the South or the better to vnderstand it all that which the Néedle of the Compasse yeeldeth which may be halfe a strike and rather lesse then more and sayling from vnder 22. to 18. degrées you shall sée gréene water which commeth from the point called Capo Branco and from the créeke where the fortresse of Aâ—guâ—â—n lyeth which gréene water if you see it more then two meale tides then it is a signe y t you are near the coast but if you see but a little gréen water that is lesse then for the space of two mealetides then you are nearer to the Islandes and comming vnder ten degrees as long as you are by the coast of Guinea you shall giue the Needle of the Compasse no abatement or cutting off because the water draweth towardes the land whereby the Northeasterne drawing of the Needle of the Compasse which may bee a thirde parte of a strike agréeth with the drawing of the water and so the shippe runneth southeast and the water and streame commeth alwaies out of the south whereby it is driuen vnto the shore Sayling from 5. to 3. degrées it is good to keepe off the coast from 70. to 100. miles and not more for being more it would not be good for your voyage the reason is for y t being 100 miles or more froÌ„ the coast theÌ„ you haue but few south windes to get the coast againe but rather haue all the thunders and lightnings from the East to the South and southeast which kéepe you from getting to the shore and because those thunders come vpon you on all sides therefore it is good to runne if it be possible from â—0 to 8â— miles that is to 2â— degrees and 1 â— where you shall finde a southeast wind continuing from the 2â— of Aprill to the 15. of May but if you stay till the end of Aprill it may happen that as then you shall not haue the southeast wind before you be vnder one degrée of the Equinoctiall line The signes you haue vppon this coast of Guinea are some of the birds Garagiaus and if the thunders come out of the East being 60. or 70. miles from the shore you shal sée certaine Swallows and Duckers when you haue the southeast wind and that you make towardes the point or bough of Brasilia although in the first day of your nauigation it diminisheth not so much in the height as it should you must not be abashed thereat for that which you find to be lesse diminished is not by reason that the water or streame hindreth you as many and the most parte of men are of opinion for that the degrees hard by the Equinoctiall are greater then others that are higher as you shall well perceyue sayling to India or comming from thence with a fore wind vnder the line then the degrées diminish but a little whereby it may be assured that the small diminution or running forwarde is not by reason of the water or streame that runne to the Antilhas or foure Ilandes of the Spanish Indies comming to the line or a degrée further then in any sorte turne not againe vnto Guinea for it woulde bee against your selfe and thereby you should spende your time in vaine for that some ships that departed out of Lisbone in my company that from vnder the line they would wind towardes Guinea which I did not but contrarily made ouer to Brasilia whereby those shippes came a month later then I did into India In this bough or crossing to Brasilia you shall set your course as the wind serueth and looke well to your Compasse for that as soone as you are past the line then the Néedle of the Compasse lyeth halfe a strike and more to the Northeast and sailing from the 8. of the 18. degrée then the more the Néedle of the Compasse lyeth Northeast the further you are from the coast of Brasilia and saie that you lay East and West with Cape S. Augusten and that the Néedle of the Compasse should yéelde two third partes of a strike Northeastwarde then you are 150. miles from it to seaward in which is thus to be vnderstoode that if the Compasse were made in Portingall there lay halfe a strike Northeastward if it bee good and true it will do the same vpon the coast of Brasilia being East and west with the Abrolhos and about 170 or 200. miles from it then the Néedle of the compasse shal lie a whole strike or somewhat more Northeastward for that the Meridian of
to say truth there are none Those Islandes being past it is good to take your course Southwest till you come to foure degrees and from thence south southwest to three degrées on the south side of the Equinoctiall from Cochin all the way aforesaid to this place The compasse lieth northwest a strike and a halfe beeing vnder three degrees on the south side of the line then you begin to haue the thunder out of the west and northwest with a stiffe winde and from thence you shall hold south and south by west to ten or twelue degrees in which you shal haue the wind southeast vnder these twelue degrees the compasse holdeth northwestward a strike and â— parts but shall not therfore be made any abatement in your reckoning for it is often found that the water or streame doth there run to the west which would then be two faults for that as I vnderstand it in this course you must account all that is said the ship hath gone because you shall likewise find streames that draw to the southeast being at 12 degrees as I said before til you be vnder 15. degrees theÌ„ you haue the winde sometime south southeast then you must not lie westward for it is not good but rather runne east and east southeast alwaies keeping good watch to the eightéenth degrée vnder the which lieth the droughtes called 〈◊〉 Baxios dos Garagiaus and hauing a south-East wind then it is good to hold your course southwest vntill you discouer the Island of Diego Rodâ—ges and if it lieth right before you then you shall sée some of the birdes called Alcatrases and some hearbes called Saâ— driuing in the water and there the compasse goeth no higher but beginneth from thence againe to diminish or lessen when you are past this Island or the point thereof then runne southwest and southwest and by west to 26. degrees vnder the which height lieth the first point of the Island of S. Laurence as soone as you are vnder this height then you shall hold your course west southwest to 29. degrees and from thence west and west and by south and to know when you are north and by south with the Island of Saint Laurence that is with the middle of the vttermost land on the south side then marke the compasse well and if you bee by the countrey aforesaid then your compasse will bee a strike and 1 â— one from the other northwestward from thence you shall hold your course as winde and weather serueth for being from about the 15. of Aprill till the last of May it is necessary to haue the Firme land on boarde for that there at those times you haue the winde North and northwest and being in the monthes of Februarie and March then the winde is east and south where you must rule your course as the wind serueth and being right with the land north south then the compasse shall leaue a strike rather more than lesse to the Northwest which is a certaine signe to bee right against it but if it be more then assure your selfe you are not by the land then beeing 30. or 40. miles from thence and though you be but 30 miles from the land you shall see gréene water but you finde no ground The compasse that I speake of shall be sixe and euen at the Cape das Agulhas with those that make them leane northeastward in Portingall a halfe strike rather lesse then more and when you come to the Cape das Agulhas and hetherwards as long as you haue not muddie ground you are not at the Cape das Agulhas wherefore spare not often to cast your lead for it will be for your owne good Passing the Cape das Agulhas to the cape de Bona Speranza it is not good to saile northwest as long as you haue ground for that therewith you should not passe the Cape de Bona Speranza but being past it then runne northwest til you come to 16. degrees vnder the which height the Island of Saint Helena doth lie or to 16. degrees and 1 â— and when you come to that height then run west and somewhat southerlie or the first meale tide west and by south because of the compasse of the sea in some streames for I thinke you shall finde no more heights although you should sayle west and by south and sayling on that course you shall continue it 50. miles further but no more and when you perceiue the Island and cannot reach it by day then strike all your small sayles holding about 5. miles from thence in such manner that in the night time you hold west and west and by north there the compasse beareth full northeast halfe a strike and as you make your reckinng well in your course from the cape de Bona Speranza to this Island with the aduantage of the compasse as it ought to be you shall find that it lieth aboue seauentie miles more westward then it standeth in the Sea Card departing from this Iland to saile to Portingall and to sée the Iland called Ascention you shall run northwest and northwest and by west for 70. miles then you shal goe somewhat Easternly as some doe then it wil be needful to saile 100. miles northwest and by west and from thence northwest vntill you come by the generall wind but come no nearer vnto the land for then you should not make a good voiage and although the south winde doth continue longer in this course which bringeth you to twelue fourtéene degrées on the north side yet leaue it not for that neyther put close vnder the coast of Guinea when you haue the general wind although you might more westernly neyther leaue off therefore to follow your course for it will be large enough althougl sometimes it scanteth because you are close by the land It is good to kéepe 150. or 200. miles from the coast for although that by the sea cardes you finde your selfe to bee two hundred miles from the land notwithstanding you are a good way nearer the reason whereof is that you sayle from the point of the Island of S. Helena which lieth in the sea carde and not from the Island that lieth 70. miles westward as aforesaid and although the pointes doe assuredly lie towards the Island Flores it therfore maketh no reason that it is not so as I say for that in the course through the sea where you finde the hearbe Sargosso the winde being there alwaies northeast the sea or streame runneth to the Antilhas or fore Iland of the Spanish Ilandes whereby the ships doe so little multiplie in the course of Sargosso if these waters and streames doe chance to meete the ships when they are in the course of Sargosso it happeneth often times that the ships beare too loofeward but very seldome and it happeneth oftentimes that by Guinea the streame runneth northward and being somewhat neere the land then the water draweth you presently to the land also the