I N EIGHT LETTERS. BEING. #itie gears CraMs, Begun i 6 yz. *And Finifhed 1681. Confaining Obfervations made of the Moral, Natural, and Artificial Eftate of Thofe Countries: Namely, Of their Government, Religion, Laws, Cultoms. Of the Soil,- Climates, Seafons, Health, Difeafes. Of the Animals, Vegeta¬ bles, Minerals, Jewels. Of their Houfing, Cloathing, Manufaftures, Trades, Commodities. And of the Coins, Weights, and'Meafures, ufedin the Prin¬ cipal Places of Trade in thofe Parts. By JOHNFRYER-, M, D, Camabrig. And Fellow of the R'oval Society. SSttttftrateD ana Sffeful Cablet l Q M $ Q Mi ■ Printed by % for R1. Chiswel l, at the C. Cooly °3 10 opo 400 3 ^ Sampfon C.Erning ■ °3 12 100 460 40 Rere-Ad* Cafar C; Andrews °3 °3 130 560 46 miral . Antilope C.Golsherg °3 12 op 4 460 3 6 Qui mare flucl'ifonum fulcat , curyifque Carinis Admoyet extends yaga per commercia Gehtes, . Non ignota illi Diyina potentia , nec qua Monfir at in immenfo miracula jape prof undo. Geo. Buchanan, Pfal. cviL b THE THE C O N T letter I. CHAP. I. Trents of Embarking, and Pajfage till jmfi St. Iago. T H E Proem. Taking Ship at Gravefewl , and falling down to the Buoy in the Nore. Number of our Ships, with Letters of Mart. War with Holland. The reafon of going over the Flatts. Stay at the Downs. The Majfenberg difabled. Leaving the Lizzard, we met with Ships from Gales. We crofs the Bay of Bifcay to the Main Atlantick. Why this Sea is always troubled. The St. Helens Fleet ftand for the Madera. Little Credit to be given to the Log-board. Hercules-BiUar. We drop our Compani¬ ons by degrees. The Ifland of Madera the largeft in the Atlantick Ocean. The Advantage of underftanding the Trade- Winds and Azimuth. The Meteor Cafior and Bollux. The St. Helens Fleet overtake us. We crofs the Tropic of Cancer. A Guinea Ship took leave of us laid. We draw near the Sun. Flying Fifhes, and their Purfiiers. Sharks and Pilot-Fifhes. The Men of War out-fail us. The Ifland Beunavijla, Cafe-Verd Iflands, Nine in Number. Me of Mato. Arriving at Sr. la- go. Found three Anchors flipped in the Bay. The Natives accoft us with their Wares. A ftately Garden. Of the Coco- Tree. Other Fruits. Their Militia. Their AlTes fure-footed. Their manner of En¬ tertainment. A Rural Chappel. The Na¬ ture of the Ifland; and Inhabitants. Del Fogo. ENTS. CHAP. II. faff age to Johanna, and Relation of that Ifland. N Eceffity of knowing the Trade- Winds, by a Proof. Met the Tor¬ nadoes near the Coaft of Guinea. Crofted the Line. Outfailed the North-R ar. Rai- fed the Crociers and Magellanian Clouds. A North Sun makes Noon, as a South Sun did before. The Calenture rages in the Fleet. Extent of the Atlantick. The Tro¬ pic of Capricorn. The Courfe of the Sun through the Zodiac, Gaufe of the Seafons. Sea-Filhes for Food. The Dolphin. Stone- Bafs. Gales from the Wefi to reach the Cape. The Current of the Sea againft the Wind. Cape-Birds. Winter at the Cape. Separated from the Fleet for two days. Soundings off the Cape Good Hope. Spoke with fome Englijh Ships homeward bound. Doubled Cape d’ Angullis to gain St. Lawrence. The Eojlern Sea. A Whale. We follow die Sun. Loft light of St. Law¬ rence. Arrival at Johanna, Care of the Sick. Situation of the Ifland. The Inland inacceffible. The Circuit. A Tree fourteen Fathom round the Body. Belt Water, next Thams-Watev. Their Town and Buildings. Two Mofques. The King’s Court. Their Nobles. Their Priefts. We Prefentthem. Vaflals to the Arabs. Vil¬ lages. A pleafant Grove. The Hills fruit¬ ful. Temper of the Inhabitants. Their Veflels for Sea. Aftive at climbing. Slaves, how known. Skill’d in Letters and Aftro- logy. App 'Printing. Their Speech. Reli¬ gion. Women. Their Children troubled with the Navel-Rupture. Their way of killing Fowls, Arc. Their Diet. Corn. Want AlTes, Mules, and Horfes. Fowls for Game. A Budget. Their Hate to the Mohelians. We are called aboard to fet CHAP/ The Contents. chap. hi. 'Declares our Courfe from Johanna, to our lauding at Mechlapatan. W E repafs the E^uinoBial Lme. The North-Sut is raifed again. The MaUiva Elands. Near Ceilon. A couple of Whales. A Fright occafioned by a Mi- frake in the Night. Sight of Cdlon. Ceilon has the bed: Breed of Elephants. TheAr- henoes. Three Country Junks. Catamarans. Sanderaflapatan on the Main. Refolved to fight the Flemmings. Put to Sea again, on Advice from the Agent. Saw a French Man of War. Diftnifled the Junks. Met the Frelhes caufed by the Rains. Flaving quartered the World, anchor at Mechla¬ patan. C II A P. IV. Daks up our Stay at Mechlapatan, to our landing at Fort St. George. T H E Treafure fet alhore. The Boat¬ men deferibed. Teems to wait on us. Landing at Mechlapatan. The Fort and Town. Their Cuftom-houfe Keys. Pub- lick Strudtures. The Bridges. The Story of this Place, and Kingdom of Gulconda. At firft governed by their Tribes, How alter’d. Their Kihg a Cbias-Moor. All Nobleifiens Eftates fall to the Kihg. The barbarous Cuftotri ofpoyfoning among the Eafiern Mcharchs. Gulconda the Me¬ tropolis gives Name to the Kingdom. The Prime Minifters are Eunuchs. Their Wealth, how rais’d. The. Army, how paid. The Bignefs of the Kingdom. The Governor bf Mechlapatan. The Verfians Favourites at Court. Their Port and Grandeur. The E aft-Mia Company’s. Factors. Their manner of living. _ The Populoufnefs of the Gentues. Their At¬ tire. The Gravity and Pride bf the Morn. Their Jealoufy. Striftnefs towards their Women. ' Contrary Freedom among the Gentues. Their fearful Difpofition. Their Complexion. Execution in Cafes Capi¬ tal. ‘The'PoJf,- ah8 nattire, thereof No Law-Difputes long depending. Their Re¬ ligions. Their Doitors of Divinity, atid their Tenets. Their Ceremonies. They marry young. Their Speech. The Maho¬ metans bury, the Gentues burn their Dead. Chriftian Strangers. Coin current, and Commodities. Beafts wild and tame. Their hanging Coaches, and thofe that carry them. Beafts for War and Food. Reptiles. Fowls. Fifties. Corn. Fruits. The Water and Air bad. Rain caufes In¬ fers. The Air better up the Country. Twelve of the King’s Elephants. Our repair aboard Ship, and coming to Fort St. George. The Maffenberg given over for loft, we found here. CHAP. V. Gives a true Narrative of the Eng- . lifh, French, and Dutch, on the Coaft of Coromandel, conti¬ nuing till we double the Cape for the Coaft of Malabar. W E went alhore in a Muffoola. Rowed by St. Thomas. Landed at Fort St. George. The Fort deferibed. Neat Dwellings. The Portugal Chappel. The Englijh Mailers of the Place. Sir William Langham Agent. Diligence of the Friars. Number of Englifi and Portugal. The City of Maderas. Vifited a Pagod. The Evghjh Tombs. What Pawn is. Nature of the People and Country. A Chamelion. Our Ships return to Mechlapathn. The grow¬ ing Power of the French at Sea. Twenty Sail of French, under a Viceroy. Sixteen arrive at Surat. ■ War with Holland. The French take Trincomalai from the Dutch : St. Thomas from the Moors. Fortify it. The Dutch come againft it. The Vice¬ roy brings his Ship in by a Stratagem. The French fally out upon the Moors. The Dutch appear again. Hiftory of St. Tho¬ mas. St. Thomas Chriftians. King of Gul- comla weak at Sea. A Feftival of the 'Gentues. Trihlitme. . Antilopes. The Queen of the SoKfA We fight the Hollanders,arid lofe three Ships. The Bombaim and Lon¬ don difabled. Antilope funk. Trejident and Sampjon taken. Dutch Forces march to raife the Siege of St. Thomas. The Wealth and Power of the Flemmings. Their Po¬ licy. Our feven Ships difpatched to the Malabar Coaft. The Mcnjoons on both Coafts. The Heats tempered by Art. The Rains more intermittiftg on the . o Coafts The Contents. Coafts of Coromandel. The caufe of the Mmferns enquired into. The Tail of the Elephant. Water-Snakes. The difference on the Malabar Coaft. A Rejoinder of the Seafons. Small Birds - drove to Sea. Land-lock’d betwixt Ceilon and die Cape. Strange colour’d Fillies. The Mountain Gates.TuttjcarjpurekngerbeK.CapeComeri. CHAP. VI. Views the Malabar and Canatick ' Coafts, up to Bombaim.' A Dark Night enlightned by Fijh. The Dutch grafp all the Spice-Trade. How far’tis poflible. Cochin. We left the bad Weather, but not the Dutch. Practices. Went alhore at Tamre. Their Wares. Their Houfes mean. Their Nation di- ftinguilhed. The Naims. The Husband¬ men. Their Men, how glad. Their Wo¬ men. Manners and Religion.. Hofpitals for Cows. ; St. Thomas Chriftiatis. Coins current. . , The Pepper. Blackamore .Pul¬ len. Intenfely cold a-nights. Latitude of "Tanore. Calicut. The ; Tortuga l Fort overflowed. The Story of Calicut. Its condition fince die Tortugals leftit. Coins. The right Afcent of the Sun to the Me¬ ridian. Malabar Coaft harbours Pyrates. Thdlapatan. The King. Crocodiles in the River. Cutpicohy. Its ProfpeA. The Gentiles loth torefign it to the Etigkjh. The Fort. Unfafe travelling without a Nairn Naugbtiuefs .of, their Women. Coins. Wc ’eft Malabar Ccsaft. Omr the firft Land \v,e touched on the Canatick Cp aft. The Protector of Coma went aboard our Fleet at Mrcja. His obftreporous'Mufick. Oiir Lading. Carwar in the hands of Seva. The People partly Moors , partly Gentues. Goa. The Vortugalh’cmado. Light-Houfes. Rajapour. Chou!. Bombaim. .. -■ ' L E T T E R - II. c n A p. I. Mentions 'the Ifland and itsPof- fejfors. 111 the Ifland is called Bombaim. What Im¬ port it is to the Englijb. The Tortugals. loth to part with it. The Englifh Fleet- go to Swallj. Thence to Apjediva. The Tortugals brought to yield up Bombaim , Mortality of the Englijh at AnjeJiva. The remaining Englip take Pofieffipn of the Ifland. The Fort rafed. A Governor fent out by the King. The Government transferred to the Eaft-India Company. The old Soldiers ftomach tjie Yoke of the Company’s Servants. Governors for the Company. Strength of the Ifland. The Fort ill contrived. The Town. Fresh¬ water Springs fcarce. Woods of Cocoes. Fortugal Churches. Salt-Pans. Mdjmi Salvefong. Malabar-Hilh Bignefs of the Ifland, A mixt People. Esigltjh Govern¬ ment. Power and State of the Prefi- dent. An unhealthy Climate. Engl/jls Women no good Nurfes. The Air agree¬ able to the Country People. Few return home. What Credit it bears with its Neighbours. CHAP- It A Survey of the Ifland Cariorein, near Bombaim. T HE Superior of thejefuits compli¬ mented. Their Convents ferve for Cattles. A fine Profpedt on the Water. A Journy of Pleafure, and Civility of the Jefuits. Delightful Alisas. Magnatana a Country-Seat. The City of Camnin for¬ merly an Heathen Fane., Reported to be dug out of .the Rocks ,by Alexander. Ta- nap the chief Place. Mein a great Town. Happinefs of the Soil. ■; j; . C H A P. III. Afiftt fo Bacein, a Portugal G- ty in India: Our %eturn by Ele- ■phanto, infert and, 7 23 /«r Fire-Guns r. five Guns' 68 3 /«* being r.bringing. 78 28 for Band* r. Danda, 80 14 for Naynt r. Nan Gi. 85 10 after Company add feldom« for Camear r. Carwar. for Pomarium r. Pmsritmi for Decoy r. Deny, j j for^;»5 37 fas MaMe 1. Marl,. ■ 3 26/or clear r. chear. a a / determining to make the Madera IJland , went away more Eafterly, and the next day were out of fight. Two through Divers Climates. 3 Two days after we efpied one Sail to th.e Leeward under a main Chap. I. Courfe, fleering very doubtfully; after fhe had had her full view of U s,lhe made from us too nimble for us to follow; we fuppofed her to be either an Algerine Pirate, or a Dutch Privateer. We ftill directed our Courfe South, and in Twenty four Hours ran One hundred and feventeen Miles by our Log-board for fome days together, the Wea- Little credit ther not allowing us to obiferve with the Quadrant; but as foon as “te given w we could take the Suns Altitude, we found our felves to be in the l^re^aT/ Latitude of 36 deg. 2 min. North, Longitude 7 deg. 26 min. Weft, the Ships way. an hundred Miles in four Days more than we judged our felves to be; which fufficiently proves the little credit to be given to the for¬ mer way of reckoning. The following day maintaining the fame Courfe, we paft by the Mouth of the Streights of Gibraltar , one of Hercules’s Pillars , the Hmukh Pi!, fartheft Point South of all Europe. Iar - Here we began to drop the reft of our Company, fome ftriking We loft our Eafl for the Streights, others Wefi for the Canaries, Virginia , &c. Companions At Noon our Admiral fired a Gun, and hoifted his Ancient, bydegrees - whereby we underftood he faw Land , which we thought to be Porto Porto, bearing off us Eafl. An hour more being hardly run, we in like manner made the Madera Ifland, the largeft of the whole The ifland of Atlantick, being South Eafl fome twelve Leagues, too great a di- the fiance to take a perfed Landfchap, it being only difcernible to be Land , and confirmed to be fo by this days Obfervatioii, which " K " was 3 3 deg. 17 min. to the Northward of the Equator , in Latitude and Longitude from the Hzzard as before, we having neither raifed nor deprefled it. Where the Trade-winds begin to offer themfelves, the Mariner relaxes his anxious care of Sailing, and is at more lei* fure to Repofe; he not being fo often called upon to fhift his Courfe, or hand his Sails; which has yet this inconvenience, giving him leave now to fall into thofe Diftempers Idlenefs contrads, viz. the Scurvy , and other ill Habits; unlefs rouzed by an Adive Com* mander, either to Sports, or more ufeful Employments: Although the perfed knowledge of thefe Trade-winds (which are more con- ftant within the Tropicks) are of fuch importance as to make our Modern Navigators perform that in fix Months, which took up the Pains and Travels-of as many Years from the firft Difcoverers, they keeping all along the Shore, whereupon they became not only liable to unaccountable Changes, as they met with Landbriezes, The advan- Head-lands, or Contrary Winds; but were many times difappointed wgeofunier- either to go on, or return, by the feveral Accidents they v encountered {* andin g. the thereupon; which thefe more experienced and bold Adventurers andtheXi’ by (landing off to Sea, and ftudy of their Compafs by .a more accu- mwh - rate Computation of their Way by theQuadfant and Azimuth, and . a Arid enquiry of the commencing and terminating of thefe Winds, avoid. * In this fhort fpace we have almoft out-ran the Northern Winters Blafts, and begin to be fenfible of a more vigorous Clime, whofe temperate Warmth adds Spirits to our frozen Limbs: Yet in this. forward Spring (for fuch it feemed to us) we cannot efcape-fome Lafhes of that cold Nemefis; for Night being come, fhe fends a Storm of Rain and Hail with an high and bleak Wind, in which ii a appeared 4 A twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. appeared the Sailors deities, C aft or and Pollux, or the fame it may vbe gave light to thofe Fables, they boding fair Weather to Seamen, The Meteor never f ee n but in Storms, looking like a Candle in a dark C«p r and Pol- Lant | 10rn> 0 f n hich there were divers here and there above the Sails and Shrowds, being the ignes fatui of the Watery Element; by the Portugals chriftned Querpo Santos, the Bodies of Saints, which by them are efteemed Ominous. But I think I am not too pofitive in relating them to be a Meteor-like fubftance exhaled in the Day, and at Night (for except then, they fhew not themfelves) kindled by the violent Motion of the Air, fixing themfelves to thofe parts of the Ship that are moft attra&ive: For I can witnefs they ufually fpent themfelves at the Spindles of the Top-maft-heads, or about the Iron-hoops of the Yard arms, and if any went towards them, they lhifted always to fome Part of the like Nature. The fucceeding Morning had not long withdrawn this black Vail, and brought us tidings of a more ferene Day, when we beheld our The St Helen's Frigots that had left us, busking after us with all the winged fpeed Fleet over- they could, and about Noon they gained us, keeping on the fame take US. Courfe as we, but milled of their defign of touching at the Ma¬ dera s. Being bleffed with a profperous Gale, in fifteen Days from Eng- We crofs the W we were to the Southward of the Tropical Circle of Cancer, Tropick of which lies in 23 deg. and ~ North, and pafleth through Bariary , In - emcer. ' j- ia China, and Nova Hifpania-, we making at Twelve at Noon, Latitude 22 deg. 16 min. North, Longitude 8 deg. Weft , when we muff be 1 deg. 14 min. South of the Tropick. kGmma Ship , A Guinea Merchant-man bound for the River Gamloa kept us took leave of Company hither, - but his Voyage requiring a more Eafterly Courfe, us ljft> was the Iaft Merchant Ship took leave of us. We holding on ftill South, the frequent Noife of Thunder, the We draw near fultry Rains, quiet Seas in refpe <2 of what we had before, were the Sun. afTured tokens of our drawing nigher to that Fountain of Heat, the Sun. By reafon whereof it was familiar to behold, the fportful Fifties greedy of their Prey raife whole Flocks of that Scaly Nation. For thofe whom Nature has placed in the vaft Deep, defencelefs of themfelves, and innocent to others of a more powerful Greatnefs, fo as many times they become their Prey, ihe has not altogether left them unprovided; either out of her abhorrency of Idlenefs, re¬ volving every thing Ihould labour for its Belly, or elfe out of a pe¬ culiar refpeft towards-every individual Species for their Preferva- ElyingFifes tion as well as Production; furnilhing thefe with Fins of larger and their Fur- f ize - and double ufe for fwifter conveying them underWater, asalfo fuers> for foaring into the Air when they are too clofely purfued. Of thefe fort we faw good (tore flying from Bonetos and Albecores , who were hunting them. Some of thefe flying Fifli (for no other Name they have as I can learn) were fo put to it, that after often dip¬ ping their fifliy Wings in the briny Water (without which genuine Artifice they could not ufe them) chofe rather to make our Ship their San&uary, than to yield themfelves to the Jaws of their devouring Adverfaries: By which means you have their more exatf: ' Defcription, they being as large as a River Perch bedeckt with Silver-fpangled Scales, - and long Fins as before. Not 5 through Divers Climates. Not many days after-, two of the lefler Offspring of the great Chap. I. Leviathan, (the Weather being calm, thefe fort of them elfe not vifible, being of no fwift motion) came failing after us; our Men as eager of them as they of their Prey, haftned their Engines for • to take them; which no fooner in the Water, but each of them guided by fome half a dozen delicately coloured little Fifhes, which for their own fafeguard perform the Office of Pilots, (they never offering to fatisfy their Hunger on them) who lead them to the Baits; when they turning their Bellies up, feize upon them on their Backs, hook themfelves in the Toils, beating the Sea into a Breach, and not without a great many Hands are drawn over the fides of the Ship; which feen by the poor filly little Fillies (as confcicus of their Error) they fwim to and again-, and hardly for- fake the Ship; but being within Board, the Ship’s Company.armed with Hatchets' prefently divide the Spoil. They are not fcaly, sharks Pi- end therefore imagined to be a kind of Whale, being finned like lot-FiJhes. them, with a great Fin on their Backs near their Tails; (which dried is ufed in Head of a Slate) of a darkifh grey Colour on their. Backs, lighter on their Sides, and white under their Bellies; their Snout on the fame Plain with their Mouths, but their Mouth within that a great way; the caufe why they turn their Bellies when they take their Prey. The Mouth of one of them extended, is two Spans wide, armed within with three Tire of fharp pointed Teeth on both Jaws, fo piercing that Needles exceed them not,-and of fuch flrength that a Leg or an Arm, Bone and all, is but an eafy Morfel; wherefore called Sharks by the Seamen, on whom they are bold enough to faften, and difmember if not fliunned when they wafli themfelves: They are of a rank fmell, and not good to eat but by flout Stomachs.; of Length they are ten, fometimes fourteen Feet. By this time we had got into 17 deg. 19 min. North Latitude, Longitude 9 deg. 10 min. Weft , when our Men of War thinking to birth themfelves before us at St. logo, (where our Ships were permitted to.refrelh, being otherwife tied up by Charter-party not The Men of to put in anywhere unlefs forabfolute neceffity) made all the Sail War °M-ftn cn head they could. us - Our Commanders were well enough content with their proffer, knowing the danger of,a many Ships going in there together: The el, r T/* g plying t0 the we Covered Beunovifta bearing The Iihmd lull Weft ten Leagues, but at Noon were within two Leagues It is one of the Iflands of the Gorgades or Cape Verde j becaufe One of the lituate over againft that Promontory on the Land of Negros ca P cM e They are laid to be Nine in Number. Bemmoifla , amft good Thevte fight it defervmg that Appellation from four Hills, which raifing Nmein.ni. themfelves to an Eminency above their Fellows, yield a fair Pro- pc , , ac a diitarice; but approaching nigher it is not unlike the crawling of a Snake, it s various Hills and Vallies flu&uating as it were feem to borrow that riggling Shape, the two remqtcft Mourn tains figuring her Crown and Head. The 6 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. 7 he View of Beunovifta. The View - Bmm vijla. The ifle of The fucceeding day, South-Eaft of us, we faw the Ifle of Maijo, another of the Gorgades, plentiful in nothing more than Salt, whi¬ ther our Traders in that Commodity often fend Ships to fetch it, which is brought down to them in Barrows blowed by the Wind, they having Satis fitted for that purpofe. T be View of the Ifle of Maijo. The View of Ifle of Maijo. In two and twenty days from the Lizzard, early in the Morning we were clofe under St. lags , another Ifiand of the fame Knot; whofe interwoven barren Mountains are as impoffibly expreft as Arriving at Stonehing numbred. Towards the South-Weft they are very high mifttheMen anc * burnt; but fleering to loof about the. Bay, we found it empty, of War! and the Men of War milling; for all that we came to ah Anchor • about ten a Clock in the Forenoon in the Bay of St. Jago. The View of the Say of St. Iago. The Ground was covered with Corral of all forts, under which it was Sandy of aduskilh Colour. Having difcovered three Buoys," our Commander fent his Boat to feize on one, which proved to be the Mark to a fpecial good Anchor of 2400 weight, with a Cable feven Inches Diameter; the reft of the Fleet fhared the other two. The Bay the Ships rode in Was fmooth Water,the Wind coming from the Shore; in Figure a Semicircle, in which it might contain four Miles, the weathermoft Point bearing South-Wefi, and half a Point Weft, the other Point to which was an Iflet, Baft and by South, and South, Found three great Anchors flipped in the Bay. Of through Divers Climates. 7 Chap I. Of the Iflattd of St. Iago, one of the Cape Verde Jjlands. I N the Afternoon I went.alhore, which was near two Miles from the Ship, where was a convenient watering place, which emp* tied its frtlh Current into the Salt Sea; the Beach was Candy, and eafy going afhore. Here met us whole Troops of the Natives with The Natives their feveral Wares, fome offering us Cocoes, others Oranges and Limes; fome brought Jackanaps’s, foch green Ones as are com¬ monly feen in England to be fold; and all at the price of a cleanly Rag, or a Bunch of Ribbons. Before us in a Valley was a moft (lately Grove of Cocoes and A fateiy Oranges (through which ran the Stream our Men filled their Casks Grove * with Water) furrounded with a Wall. The firft of which Trees, fo much celebrated for its ufefulnefs, deferves as much for the pleafure it affords the Sight. It grows with an upright, tall, and (lender Body, the Bark of an Alh colour, lori- cated; not fending any Branches forth till it come to its chiefeft Summit, where it fpreads its (hady Branches with fome refemblance to our Ofmond Royal Fern, but more like the Palm; and under thefo Of theCocoe protefts its weighty Fruit; which hang very thick round about the Tree,to which it y ields but one Stalk, but that fit to fupport its ponde- ufefalnefi. roufnefs; every Moon produces a frelh Harveft both of Fruit and Boughs; the firft being gathered, the others being (hruft off when faplefs by the young ones: If the Juicy ones be wounded, there diftills an heady Liquor, which they preferve in Earthen Pots fitted to re¬ ceive it, but that fpoils their bearing Nuts. Next to the Stalk it be¬ llows a Crl.x, not differing (only in bignefs, and that i't is fmoother) from that of our Acorn; from which proceeds the Rind of a lighter Green, under which a fibrous fubftance prefents its felf,' which might fupply them with Ucenfils, for Roaps and Sails; beneath which ap¬ pears a fpacious brown Shell, proper for many Neceffaries, big- enough for a Drinking Cup, a Ladle, and many more; fervingthem for the chief part of their Houlholdftuff: Enclofed in this is a deli- cious Meat, white in Colour, cloathed with a pithy matter, as our Hade-nuts, and notinferiour to them in Tafte; this they chufe for their ordinary Nourilhment. Nor does it afford them a lefs grateful emulfion, contained in the Nut to the quantity of a Pint, or Pint and half; in colour like Whey, and of that confiftency, but in re- lift far excelling. When the Meat of the Nut grows rancid, they exprefs an Oyl ferviceable for their Lamps. Thus abundantly has Providence furnilhed them from this one Root. The figure of the Fruit, take it intire, is oval, and as bis as the larged Melons. • On t he other Fruits it’s needlefs to infift, as Oranges, and the like, Other Fruits being planted nearer home, and therefore not fuoh (hangers. . lefs common. Having obferved enough here, we entred a Door which Save us admittance to a-Court in the fame Valley, whofe party Wall made of Mud and Stone, feparated it from the Grove. Here 8 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. Here lay at the Foot of the afcending Mountain, in a carelefs po- fture, one Company of their Militia, raifed on this occafion, having weUappo/nt- refted their Arms> as Muskets, and Pikes, with their Colours of ed. White Silk, with a Green Crofs athwart, and the Arms of Portugal in the midft of it, againft the Wall, but Breaft high ; which could not have held up the Pikes, had not fome adjoining Trees contribu¬ ted to their aid. They faluted us with the civility of the Hat, and Congeed to the ground; thofe of them that walked about, had Javelins in their hands, and long Swords tied to their Backs. Their Afles as Labouring to reach the top of the Mountain , which was very Goats° OKti ” ft ee P’ F° me we met on foot, others mounted on Afles, with Jacka* naps’s behind them, palled us with no fmall Grandure and Ceremony of the Cap j and which was wonderful, to fee them ride thefe Crea¬ tures over Precipices, only Goats and they could clamber-on. Atlaft gaining the higheft part, another Wall accofted us, over which a Gate, and upon that a Crofs. On the left hand, as foon as we were in, was either a Prifon, or a Guard-houfe. Not many Paces from it, on the fame fide, a Row of Houfes, one Story high, thatcht with the Branches of the Cocoe, and Windows with wooden Shut¬ ters, but no Cafements, built with Mud and Stone, as all their Build¬ ings were which I faw; the infides vifible enough, for the biggeft of them had not four yards Front, and half that, for the greater Bate, was taken up by the Door: Their Furniture is anfwerable to the fplen- Tlielrtmnnet dourof their Habitations; butbecaufewe will not refufe the Cour- Entertain ^ te fy t ^ e ^ r Entertainment, fee in what a manner they prefent us menc. w " with their Viands. They invite us with an Hubble-bubble (fo called from the noife it makes) a long Reed as brown as a Nut with ufe, inferted the Body ofaCocoe-lhell filled with Water, and a nafty Bole juft prefling the Water, they ram Tobacco into it uncut, out of which we may fuck as long as we pleafe, but for any thing elfe they tell us as the Poet did, Vina tnibi non fmf Gazetica , Chia, Falerna , . Quaque Sereptano palmite tnijffa hilas. . Their common Drink being only Water; and their Food as plain, being only the Fruits of the Earth. But to keep on our way, which here we found eafy and jxfain; on the Right flood another Crofs, propped with a four-fquare Pillar A Rural raifed on fteps, and half a Stone’s call: from it, a Chappel, not proud enou §h t0 brag of any great elegancy for its Architedure ( being G«ari * but the Rural Seat of one of their Black Padres.) Not much beyond it the Corps de Guard , from whence they fupplied their Sentinels, . which were placed in a Military Order here and there: Nearer the Water-fide,on the brow of the Precipice which overloo’k the Haven, jn.a well-appointed place, were planted half a dozen fmall Pieces of Ordnance,which fpake Thanks for our refped paid when we came to ail Anchor; not far from hence another Guard and Houfe regarding the Main, which gave notice to the reft of what Veflels they faw at Sea. ■ ' 9 through Divers Climates. And now we began to think of returning, when we met with Chap. I. fome had happen’d to fee the glory of the Day; who told us, our Ad- iniral had fent to the Deputy-Governour, refiding here, to be certi¬ fied about the Anchors; who firft claimed thofe Anchors of our Emiflaries with the Majefty eflential to that Nation he reprefented News of the ' ( being a White Portugal ) for his Mailer, being flipped’ in Port; H l“ and then informed them, that they were left there the Afternoon iS^mhis before we came in, by Three great Holland Men of War, who were Bay. - feparated by foulnefs of Weather, from the Squadron of Admiral Everfdon , who was fent to vex the Englijh Plantations at Virginia: Who at the fight of our Men-of War, had put to Sea in great condi¬ tion, leaving fome of their Crews behind them, Who went off in their Shallops, but could not reach their Ships; keeping therefore the Shore on board, they put in at St. Jago Town, where they now re¬ main : Frorp whence this Morn hy frefh Advice he was allured oniy fix Ships were feen to ply to windward; which mult be our Fleet ftriving to regain the Illand, which is difficult by reafon of the Trade- winds, it being befide their Commiffion to purfue them. Thus being The Caufe of alarm’d to our Ships, that Night we weighed. outfudden In the dusk of the Evening came into this Bay a Sattee of Portugal, de P atture> laden from Madera with Wine, fome of which we purchafed, but reftored not the Anchors. The Country without is rocky and mountainous, the Ifliand but finall; what Towns it has of note, our fmall flay would not permit the Enquiry: It is faid to be pleafant within the Country; well wa- The Nature tered, and furnilhed with all things neceflary for the life of Man; of the Wand, difcovered for the King of Portugal, Anno 1440. Well peopled by the Portugals, and a Colony of their Plantation from Ginea. In refped of the Heavenly Bodies, it lies in North Latitude, 15 deg. ay min. Longitude from the Lizzard 12 deg. 10 min. iVeft, the length of Days altering very little. The People are of a comely Black, their Hair frizled, Tall of fta- ture, cunning and Thieviffi; they flaring one in the Face, and in the mean time cut a Knot from the Shoulder, or ileal an Handker¬ chief out of the Pocket. Their Speech is broken Portugal, asalfo is their Habit, imitating therein the Portugals; though few of them fo well clad as to hide their Nakednefs fo, but that either Leggs,Shoulders and Back may be feen, and in fome all. If they get an old Hat with a Bunch of Ribbons, two White Sleeves,a Waiftband.or a Coat flaffit to hang back to Ihew their Sleeves, or an old Pair of Long Breeches to their Buttocks; an unfizeable Sword to their Backs, a Javelin in their Hands, without either Hofe or Shooes (as if cut out for Sir John Falflaft's Hu- And what* mour) they {hall have them ftrut, and look as big as the greateft Don tarns, in Portugal , , The Women are not fo handfome as the Men, Blubber-lipp’d, more corpulent, and fliorter; notorious-alfo for their Levity. Their Head geera Clout rowled up like our Water-bearers; their Backs, and Breads (which were large, and hanging down ) bare, as alfo to their Wads, from whence a thin Cloath, infafliion of a Petticoat, down to their Feet, which are bare likewife. Some of the beft of them adorn’d with Bracelets about their Arms and Necks, falfe C Jewels so AT welve Month's Voyage Letter I. Jewels in their Ears, with a kind of Vail from their Head to their Knees, with a Clofe-bodied Coat with Hanging-fleeves. By Religion they are Chriftians of the Romifb Church. Their Governour is from Portugal. Nothing more obfervable in this little time, but that at Night on Ds'l %. Shipboard, we had the fight of Del Fogo’s Flames; it being an Ifland of Fire, the Smoak of which is alfo apparent at Noon-day ; which is of the fame Batch with the reft, we feeing only thefe Four Iflands of the Nine belonging to the Gorgades. CHAP. II. Contains our faff age from St. Iago to Johanna,, and ^ek» tion of that ifland. T HUS forfaking thefe African Hands, and being forfaken of all but our own Fleet, with a brisk Gale we gave our Ships head to the Eaflward of the South ', whereby we came nearer to the Coaft of Africa ; the Northern Monfoons (if I may fo fay, being the Name impofed by the firft Obfervers, i. e. Motiones) lafting hi¬ ther 5 they (fpringing from the preflure of the Winter’s Snow, Clouds A proof of or Vapours lodged on the Artie Mountains, and now beginning to be the necefllty diflolved )' leave us to ftruggle with thole moving with the Sun, the Trade- 2 between the Tropicks Eafl and Weft, as thofe without do North and winds. South, moftly or collaterally to thofe Cardinal Points. And therefore we are forced to fleer mox&Eafterly, either to fetch aWind to crofs the /Equator , or gain a Side-wind from the conftant ones to carry us to Brafil. For which caufe thofe Ships bound for St. Helens from • Europe, muft come into the Latitude of 28 deg. South, and fome- times to the Cape of good Hope, before they can bend their Courfe thither, though in a dired Line it would cut off three quarters of the way. When we were in four degrees of the Line, and Longitude from St. Iago 7 deg. 22 min. Eaft, ( renewing thence our Meridian ) we became fubjedt to the moft parching Heat of the Torrid Zone; whofe Effeds were fo much the more outragious, by as much as the Winds fhrank upon us from off the Coaft of Ginea (which we drew nigh to) and had left us at a ftand, theulual Treatment hereabouts, imputed to the fcarcity of Mountains on that vaft Trad of ground: NeartheCoaft Infomuch, that welay whollyattbe mercy of the two unruly Ele- theTr^JT 1 ments ’ Fhe and Water; the one afiailirig us with flaihy Lightnings, t e ma ». anc j j )orr j £ j jsj 0 if eSj breaking forth the Airy Region; the other pour¬ ing cin us whole Streams of unwholfome and dangerous Flouds, when they fall in Spouts, (which are frequent here:) Nay the kindeft and the fofteft downfal oil our Bodies is produdive of Vermin, fuch as Flies, and Maggots, if our Cloaths be not quickly dried and fhifted; (thefe Sealons the Seamen term the Tornados.) But above all, when thefe had played their parts, the fcorching Sun making towards us with his fiery Face made us almoft breath- lels: through Divers Climates . 3 I lefs: In this remedilefs Condition we lay, till Heaven pitying our lan- Chap. {[. guifhing under this burningFever,difpatched to our Relief an £4/? South Eafl Wind,which leading us Weft and by South, brought usto the South of the Equinoctial Line, depreffing our Longitude to y deg. yy min. Crofled the Eaft. And now we were to the Northward of the Sea four degrees* Line - with whom circling a little Eafl, in nine days time we were in a Perpendicular, whereby our Quadrants became of fmall ufe, we not being able to make an Obfervation for their want of Shade, but by an Aftrolabe at Night : The San pafling over our Heads, Out-failed the and we being to the Southward of the Line, the firft fair Wind made Aw ^-Star. us out-fail the Northern Polar Star, it not being to be feen in this. Horizon. Steering now by the Crojjefs , a South Conftellation, taking its Raifed the Name from the Similitude of that Paftoral Staff; as alfo fupplied Cro fi‘ n and by the Magellanian Clouds, in number Two, (averred to be fuch by cloud T"* thofe that ufe this way continually) fixed as the North Star; but to me they feem no other than a Galaxia, caufed by the Reflexion of the Stars. Being to the Southward of the Sun' s Declination, it is obvious to a Nmh sm note, a North Sun makes the fame time of Day a South Sun does on makes Noon the contrary fide; _ g™* Smi An Epidemical Diftemper, by the Sea-Chyrurgions termed a The Calen- Calenture (a malignant Fever with a Frenzy, fo that if not watch- ««‘rages in ed, they leap into the Sea) raging in the Fleet, many were thrown 1 e Fleer ' over-board. * Where the Atlantick (wafhing the Shores all along from the Extent of the Streights of Gibraltar ) mixes with the /Ethiopick Ocean, there the ufc W f e \ and Meridian Compafs varies very much, fo that the Wind being at Azimuth to South-Eaft and by Eafl, lays out a South and by Weft way, but cor- corre &' the reded by the Magnetick Azimuth (which gives the Suns Ampli- £™™ on tude) it differs two Points and an half, which with Leeway allow’d,, makes a South-Weft Courfe, which we held on till we were on the Coafts of Brafil, when we were atdiftance enough to take the Alti¬ tude of the Sun, which made 14 deg. 40 m. South Latitude, Longi¬ tude 2 deg. 14 min. Eafl. Being between Brafil and feveral Iflands, as Tr ini dado, Ift.de Titos , Santta Maria , &c. we met with Winds carried us to the South of theTropick of Capricorn, which crofleth xEthiopia Inferior The Tro P‘d>' and the midft of Peruviana. ’ of Ca t r,cer >’~ Before we leave this Ecliptick Circle, we muft oblerve at the Equator, the Sun becomes twice Perpendicular; at each Tropick but once; beyond them never; becaufe hence may naturally be collected all the Seafons of the whole Year; unlefs fome accidental Caufe, as the Interpofition of Mountains, Headlands, Lakes, or fuch like intervene. But m his Solar Progrefs Through the twelve Signs, the Sun always carries Rain along with him, its Heat otherwife could not be endured; for which reafon, the firft Contriver and Former of all things,has ordained the wet Seafon a Winter to thofe inhabit here, and The Comfc to them as dreadful as our cold Seafons to us (which we Ihall evidence °. f th V“” more experimentally when we come to live among them): On this z 3 £ account is it, that under the Line two Winters and two Summers “ u £ e of C 2 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. alternately fucceed, but not above three quarters of that length as wTVV, the one at each Tropick , they continuing four Months together; to wit, four Months Winter , as many Summer, and the other four Months moderate or cold Weather; though nearer the Line, the Rule holds not good as to the cool Weather, for that caufe more frequently viftted with Wet than the Sunihine. Our Men at length tired with fait Provifions, began to be flu- dious for frefh; Neceflity having taught them an Invention, by Certain Sea- counterfeiting thofe formerly mentioned Flying-filh, with a white fiflies for Food. Rag fluffed to hide the Hook, and Feathers pricked in inflead of ■ Fins, to catch their Enemies at their own game, and fo they did; providing for themfelves and us too, Bonetos and Allicores ; the latter bigger than the former, in length two Feet, in thicknefs one, of a brave fhining Colour, with fpiked Fins; but the other preferred by the Palate, bearing the make of our Jacks; both of them a good Repaft at Sea, where it is denied to be curious in our choice. The Dolphin. The Dolphin is extolled beyond thefe, which they firike with a Fifgig: They are fwift and ftrait when they fwim, and for Co.mpo- fure furpafs all others in neatnefs, as well as for variety of Colours, for which it feems to vie with the Rain-bow, or Juno’s darling Bird) the Peacock. The stone-Bafi There is another Fifli they call a Stone-Bafs, which eats better than it looks, it being of a Colour fandy, but has a Relilh equal to our Soles. Hitherto having kept moftly a South-Weft Courfe, furthered in it by Gales from the Coafl of Ginea, we are now to exped Wefterly Giles from Winds to carry us to Calo da loa efperanca ; near the Latitude of Schthec^. 3 ° de & South we had a promifmg Frefeo, but fomewhat dulled by too frequent Calms, yet here not fo vexatious as before, we going retrograde with the Sun. Tlie Current It is obfervable here, that the Sea had a contrary Courfe with, the °ainft the a " ^ nd ’ P re ^ umed t0 proceed from its blowing fo long in one Qyar- WkuJ 6 ter; and now not altered fo long as to be powerful enough to cum the Gurrent of the Waters. Gaining upon the Eaft with a flow pace, we met with thofe fea- Cape-Birds, thered Harbingers of the Cape, as Pintado Birds, Mangofaleudos , Alhetrojfes ; the firfl remarkable for their painted Spots of black and white; the laft in that they have great Bodies, yet not pro¬ portionable to their Wings, which mete out twice their length. Three Months being near confirmed, we were at laft accompa¬ nied with long lookt for Weftern Blafts, and now we fly afore the Wind : But by the way take notice a South-Weft Wind becomes as bleak here, as a North-Eaft in England. So that all the Seafons of the Year being undergone in this time, we may begin to calculate our Ephemeris afrefh; and as a fit Platform, Eafter Holy-days bring with them fuch Weather as is effential to Chriftide. But bidding Adieu to thefe Fancies, the Wind that till now feemed to dally, proves in good earneft, and begins a frowning April , driving the trembling Sea on heaps, and on them piling more, till the fwelling Surges menace the lowering Skies, leaving a Hollow where they borrowed their Gigantine vaftnefs, as if they were intended through Divers Climates. 15 intended to exenterate the Treafures of the Deep. At top of which Chap. If. ’tvvas dreadful to behold the angry Surface of the foaming Billows, f defending down beneath no lefs uncomfortable, when the Vans of and Temped the next Ships (though groveling with a neighbouring Wave) attend us to could not be difcerned. theCape ' This tolling Condition lafted long, and was taken kindly too, as long as we fpooned before the Sea, and kept from running foul of one the other ,• but when a Fret of Wind rowled the Waves athwart our Quarters, it made our Ship iliake, proving the found- nefs of her Sides, where had fbe given way never fo little, we muft have funk without Bail or Mainprize. Still the Tempeft encreafes, and brings with it Gulls of Rain.and difmal darkfome Weather; whereby we were feparated from the reft of our Fleet: For all, we put our Lights abroad as did they, yet in the' badnefs of the Night we loft them, and were left alone to fhifc with the boifterous Winds. At laft the Morn appears, but with the Symptoms of a blowing We and the Day. She had not wafted many Hours, but on the advantage of a fe P ara - rifing Wave, we fpied a Sail to Leeward with her Fore-top-maft by Fle«°for ms the Board, which at Noon we knew to be the Ciefar crowding under Days, all its Sails. In this Encounter we ffiipped many a perilous Sea, (not with¬ out being well-drenched our felves ): Such was the force of this Nights Storm, that our Boat, and fome of our Men, were not without difficulty reftrained from being carried over-board. In this pickle we reeled out this Day, and out-ftretching the CcSfar , we made what Sail wedurft, and by the next Light had fight of our Fleet, who fliortning Sail, we came up with them, to whom we declared the misfortune of the Ctefar, and that it bore South - Weft; wherefore they lay by, (the Wind flackning) and in half an hour we faw the Hull, and presently after it made up our Company compleat again. Near the middle of this Month we could have made that known Cape, the Cape of Good Hope, being in the Latitude of 36 deg. Hid Sound- 14 min. South, and Longitude from St. lago 37 deg. 19 min. Eaft. in s s off the But the Dutch having fome Forts there, it was thought no good W Policy; wherefore veering to the South, the Cape bore Eaft-North- Eaft, fome thirty Leagues off us; for heaving our Dipfy-lead we were in foundings eighty Fathom depth, which the Pilots note to be in thafdiftance. Here we made two' Sail to Leeward, and one to Windward, who directed her Courfe with us; but the Wind from the Shore coming Eaft, they Tacked, and fhepafled without fpeakingtoher: ButtheLeeward-moft cameup boldly tous and the Ann (we be¬ ing the neareft and ready to receive them); but making them En- Spoked lijh built by their Galleries, we only fliewed’ them our Colours fome (which they anfwered by St. George 1 s Crofs) and fired a Gun; SdboTnd. when they brought to, and we bearing up, our Commander went Aboard one of them,, the Johanna, a Ship of 700 Tuns laden from Bantam , who told us, That five more were in Company with them from the Coafts, butdifperfed byTempefts; the other Ship was the Btrnardifton that which efcaped us, the Mecca. *4 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter J. They alfo inform’d us, The French had worfted the Flemmings in j nc lia, taken and demolifhed a Fort on the ifland Ceilon ■ and that they had beat the Moors out of St. Thomas: That on our fide never a Ship was loft, as they heard. So likewife giving them an Account of what we knew, with fome inftrutftions communicated on both ftdes, we left them to take their Courfe, which ferved them for St. Hellene , the Antartick Monfoons favouring them direftly thi¬ ther, and the Squadron under Captain Munday, if they have raifed the South Latitude of 2,8. may be there a little before to expedt them. , We kept on South-Eafl, till we had doubled the moft Southern Promontory of the Cape, Cape de Angullis , (which Courfe would lead us to Bantam) when bending to the North, we held on till wei Doubled Cape came betwixt Sr. Lawrence or Madigafcar , and the Main, reckoned de^nguiUs to one 0 f ^e four biggeft Iflands in the World, viz. Sumatra, Java, gaiaSt.iuip- Lawrence and Britannia. The moft traded Empories here, are St. Auguflint on the Ifland, and Mofamlique on the Main; frequent¬ ed by the Portugals for Elephants Teeth, Gold, Camphire, and Ambergreece. Why we creep in between this Ifland and the Main, Is to borrow from the Land-briezes afliftance againft the general ftated Winds fettled for thefe Months between the Cape and this Ifland. The Eajhm- The Sea here takes the Name of Oceania Orientals, beginning Sea. from the Cape till it joyn with the Indian, Red, and Arabian Seas. Here it was We had a notable Fifh ftretched its felf along our ftdes for the fpace of an hour: Some called it a Grampos; but thofe that pretended skill, would have it a young Whale: It might be iri length forty Feet and upward, bolting out of the Water with a ' great Surf; the Mouth large, but not refponfible to fo large a body, the Form whereof was a Pyramid inverted, the Bafts of which from Gill to Gill near five Feet in breadth, the Conus termi-' nating with a narrow Snout ; where his Mouth opening, he fuckt in a huge quantity of Water, and with that fame eddy his Prey, which he retains within his Jaws, but fpouts the Water out with the - fame fpurting noife our Engines make, and asimmenfean heighth from an hole in his Neck, opening after the fafliion of a Mouth or Slit; at the performance of which A&ion it contracts its felf into an Orbicular Figure, and again dilates its felf in its Diaftole: The A Whale. Back is of a dark Gray without Scales, fixteen Feet over, leaping as other Fillies, but in a more Majeftick manner, moving but flowly, whereby we had the fight of bis Head and Neck firft, (all one Rock, and as impenetrable, it being proof againft the Prongs o( the lharpefl: Harping-Iron); his whisking Tail laft, near which a ridge of Fins, the true mark of Diftindiion for a Whale: The extreme part of his Tail extended is very broad and finny, which is the Rudder to this great Leviathan, wherewith, and two Fins more proceeding one from each fide, he guides himfelf through his watery Territories. We follow May had now began, when making after that glorious Charioteer, thesiw. the Sun, we were once more fpirited with milder Weather; the Mariners cafting off their wet Cloaths, cared not for any more than would flightly cover them. We *5 through Divers Climates . We being in fight of five Small Iflands off St. Lawrence, for fear Chap. II. of the Tides driving them on fhore, fome of our Ships anchored; by which lingring we loft two of our Companions for two days; s. Lamms. but we fleering fomething Weft, and lying by a-nights to'prevent falling on St. Chriftophers and Juan Je Novo, both Low Lands, they had time to reach us: Being becalmed , it was the middle of the Month before we loft fight of St. Lawrence. The day after we had Meoty on our Larboard Bow, bearing North- Eaft vo Miles, High Land. The Tim of Meoty. The View of Mioty. At Night we had fight of Mohelia, Johanna, and Meoty to- The View of Mohelia. The View of Johanna. T HE Morning following we came under the Weftward part Arrival at 0\Johanna, where oppofed us a lofty Ridge of Mountains, one of which advanceth its afpiring Head up to the towring Clouds: Over agatnft which lies the Ifland called Mohelia, at the fame di- ifance Cahce is from Dover ; the better Ifland of the Two, though not So big, nor quite fo Mountainous; it being more plentifully,. 16 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. as ’tis faid, llored with Provifions; but not furnifhed with fo fafe an Harbour for Ships as Johanna: The only difficulty here being the Weathering the Point, in which, notwithstanding feveral Ships have been driven off to Sea, not being able to recover the Ifland again, the Winds defcending in defperate Gulls drive them into the Trade- winds, which here commence again. But our Ships were bleft with better fuccefs, and came all fafe to Anchor under a Lee-(hore, which Efficiently protected them from the Winds by the highth of the Mountains. A Bleffing not to be palled by without a grateful Com¬ memoration, when half the Fleet were difabled by Diftempers ac¬ quired by Salt Meats', and a long Voyage without Refreffiments; and mull have fullered too for want of Water, had not they met with a feafonable Recruit. Care of the The firlt care then was to fend the Sick Men alliore, which it is Sick. • incredible to relate how ftrangely they revived in fo Ihort a time, by feeding on Oranges and Frelh Limes, and the very fmeil of the Earth; for thofe that were carried from the Ships in Cradles, and looked upon as defperate, in a days time could take up their Beds and walk; only minding to fetch them anights, that the Mifty Vapours might not hinder the kind Operation begun on their tainted Mafs of Blood, by thefe Specifick Medicines of Nature’s own preparing, situation of We had Leifure now joined to Security of the Dutch , for that no the ifland. Ships from India can readily return this way into Europe at this time of the Year; and the Hollanders, after having touched at the Cape , ufually go firlt to Batavia , before they coalt India ; which gave us free leave to dedicate our felves to all the Pleafure this Place could afford; which for its Excellencies may deferve to be called Happy, as well as any the Ancients bellowed the Name of For¬ tunate, Macaria or Fcelix on. It lies in 12 deg. South Latitude, Lon¬ gitude 6 2 deg. 4 min. It is oqe of the Illands of Africa , though lying in the Eaftern Sea; yet becaufe the Coalls of Africa extend themfelves to the Line on this North fide of the Cape, we mull take thefe Adjacent Tiles in the fame Account: On the South-Ea/t lies Meoty, North-Weft Mohelia, and North-Eaft Comoro , all Four Co¬ lonies of the Moors or Arabians, or at leaft in fubjedion to them. The inland But to return to Johanna ; the innermoll part we fuppofe to be inacceflible, fruitful, by what the Verge of it declares; for to be fatisfied in that Point would be hardly worth the while, the Mountains requiring more pains to conquer than would quit coll, they being altogether inacceflible, or their Paflages unknown to us. The Circuit. The Relation therefore to be expeded, mull be of that lies Iowell and nearelt the Sea. The Circuit I imagine to be almoll an 100 , Miles, all along which, it is varioufly call into Hills, and furrowed into Vales; as if Nature had plowed them on purpofe for encreafe. The outwart Coat of which is embroidered with fhamarind Palmetto (from the Tree dillills a Wine intoxicating, and an Oil medicinable, externally applied to Bruifes, Strains, (§c .) It-yields alfo fome {lore of Pine Apples, Ananas, growing on Shrubs like Arti- Among other chokes." But above all, there is a Tree famed fo'r being 14 Fathom Trees, there cdmpafs, it refembles moll a.fmall Ivy Leaf; the Body feems to be thorn 6 round," man y ^ ma '* er incorporated into one huge one, of no other ufe than to be admired, Hederti formofior allct , unlefs in oppofition to the Heathen through Divert Climatet. ly Heathen, who adore it, they throw the Dead Bodies of their Slaves Chap. II. under it, when Juftice is executed on them, to expofe them for Ter- rour to others, many Bones of Humane Bodies lying there at this time. There is alfo a Gourd efteemed of them more for the large Shell than Meat; it will hold a Pailful, in Figure like a Man’s Head, and therefore called a Calabafb. Rivers they have not many, but Rivulets good (lore; andoffuch TfceJrRivulets Water, that next our Thames, it is the belt, which is juftly prefer- the beft Wa¬ red, (I mean our Thames Water) becaufe it bears a Body beyond ^ra«Water others, and therefore kept till the' laft to be fpent, always referving a ft'ock thereof to ferve them home; for though it Rink like Pud¬ dle-water when opened firft, and have a Scum on it like Oil (which the Coopers affirm they are as cautious to ftrike with their Adds on the Cask for fear of taking fire, as of Brandy it felf) yet let it ftarid unbunged on the Deck twenty four hours, it recovers its goodnefs, and is the only Water they rely on in an Eafl India Voyage, and therefore they are careful to fave it till the laft. Towns fome few they are Matters of, but for Sumptuous Fabricks none will be found here. Their Chiefeft Town bears the Name of the Ifland, which is feated Their Town along the Strand, under an high Hill; on one fide refrefhed with a andBwldin g s ' gentle gliding Stream} on the other fide recreated with a fine Plain, prodigal of its Fertility. The Town it felf is to look on, an heap of Ruins, nothing remaining but the Marks of former Induftry (pro¬ bably the Portugals) here being left Walls of an huge thicknefs, compofed of Stone, and cemented with Lime : To every Houfe a Portal, but miferably defaced with Age; the Planks of their Doors fewed together, their Buildings not exceeding one Story ; againft thefe, Lazinefs has fuggefted them to lean their Flaggy Manfions: Flags efpecially in their Villages (by them called Cajans, being Co- Coe*tree Branches) upheld with fome few Sticks, fupplying both • Sides and Covering to their Cottages. They commonly order their Model fo, as to make a Quadrangle with only one Entrance, all the reft being clofed outwards without any Windows; in which every Houfe of Note on the Right-hand has a fhady Contrivance, like the Walks to our Tennis-Courts, but not fo long; on the upper end of which fits the Matter of the Family on a Bed of Rattans, a kind of Cane: Here he, with the Steward of his .Houfe, are obferved by his Slaves (who ftand aloof) to fpend the heat of the day; Among thefe, but at fome remotenefs from any of their Dwd- Two Mofym;, lings, are two Mofques, or places for Devotion, built after the manner of our Churches (but for Magnificence much like their other Strmftures) with Ifles and Naves walled up to the very top; within them only a place left for entrance at the Weft end. They are de¬ cently Matted on the Floor, though not hung fomuch as with a Cobweb on the Walls'; which they keep (and in that to be com¬ mended ) very clean. In the Piatzos ( for fuch their Porches had ) ftands on the Right-hand a fquare Stone Cittern, full of Water; and the whole without any Doors always open. The Nobler of the Two has at the Weft-end a round Tower, not very high; to this like- wife belongs a more fpacious Yard, filled with Tombs reared Man’s heighth, covering them with a falling Ledge atop, leaving open a D Port-; A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. Port-hole at the North-end, where the Head lies, for a Lamp: To '-''"V inrich them, they are beftuck with China Ware of good value. The King’s Having given you the Defcription thus far, I muft crave leave Couit ' for my Error, in not giving it the Style of Regal before now: For it proves to be the Seat of one of their Kings, which I had almoft forgot, had not my greedy Eye efpied a Houfe more eminently feated, and more decently covered than the reft, but the Materials not much different ; only they have allotted him a little more Air to breath forth his fwelling Title, King of Johannah Town. Where¬ fore after a fmall Enquiry, it was manifeft it was the Palace Royal ; nor did I much doubt it, after we had gained admiflion; where did fit the King in ftate, at the upper end of fuch a Place as before was taken notice of, on a Cott, or Bed, ftrewed with a Quilt. On a Bench at each Elbow were placed two of his Nobles by him: We being introduced, inftead of Killing his Majefty’s Hand, he took us one after another moft gracioully by the Fift, and by the Mouth of his Interpreter pronounced us heartily welcome, and bad us take our Seats according to our Qualities; which,after we had put our Hats on, we did; and the Interpreter with great Refped took his on the Floor crouching in the midft of us. In this manner, without Ihew of dread or fear of being mifconftrued, we talked freely of matters re¬ lating to both our States; as he firft examining if we had any Gun¬ powder or Compafs-Glafles to fpare him ? We feconded his Demands with what regarded Provifions for our Voyage; for which Licenfe our Captains are obliged to make him Prefents of Scarlet-cloth, and other Europe Rarities, that they may unmolefted buy the Bullocks, Cows, Goats and Hens of his Subjects. Both being at length out of Difcourfe, or not Very well underftanding one another, he fpeaking Arabick, we as good Englijh as we could; we had liberty in this in¬ terval to furvey the Gorgeoufnefs of his Attire. On his Head he wore a large White Turbat, and had as good a White Shirt on his Back; from his Girdle half way his Legs, a Blue Silk Veil fringed with Purple, without Shooes or Stockins to his Feet, which he often pulling up into his Cott or Couch, would fmilingly crofs them, and with his Nails claw off the Dirt. By him lay a Purple Silk Robe, attended with a Black-guard of fome a Dozen Slaves; compared with whom he looked great, and was a comely well Limb’d Perfon, though a Woolly-pated Coffery. Their Nobles. His Nobles (becaufe we are not to meet with many of them) pray take them in their belt Liveries. On their Crowns they wear Caps of Arabian Needle-work intermixed -with divers Colours; •which notwithftanding no bigger than Skull-caps, they move not to the belt Man in the Company; it being their Cuftom only to Salam, giving a bow with their Hands acrofs their Breafts: Their Bodies clad in White alfo; about their Loins Cloth of Arabia, Chec- quered as our Barbers Aprons, but not fogood (pace tantorum vi- rorum) over all a thin Robe; both King and Princes encourage their Beards to their full growth. Their Priefts. Their Priefts, one of which attended, are habited in fafhion not much different, had not the Colour inclined to Black; and on their Heads a Leather Coif lined with Fur. through Divers Climates. l 9 When we took our leave?, we Preferred him and his Peers with Chap. II. a few Brafs Rings with Falfe Stones, with which they feemed to . u WePrefent be well .pleafed. them. What Towns they have of Note we could not learn; but Towns They are Vat they have, if not Cities, within the Country. And certain it is, G | s J° the their Chief Govcrnour is an Arabian Lord. J! ' This Johanna Town is about Three quarters of a Mile in length, and may contain Two hundred Houfes; their .Streets being no broader than our Allies. Villages are very thick, and Cottages difperft in every place. Villages. Every Valley makes a delightful Grove, one of which exceeding A pieafant all the reft, was cooled with two dainty Currents, decked with a Grove- continual Spring, charming the Senfes with the real Sweets of any the moft exquifitely feigned Paradifes; to fee Limes grow on Shrubs, Leafed and Thorned like our Crabs, Oranges, (ol which there.is a pleafing fort, though fmall, not giving place to our China ones) tempting the Sight from a more exalted, and lefs fufpicious Tree. Over which the lofty Cocoes with unparallel’d ftraitnefs ftretch forth their Boughs, difpofed in R.anks, as if ordered by the Skilful- left Planter. Lower than thefe, but with a Leaf far broader, ftands the Curi¬ ous Plantan, loading its tender Body with a Fruit, whofe Clufters emulate the Grapes of Canaan, which burthened two Mens Shoulders; below which, an odoriferous Plant feizes the Smell ; and winding through its fubtile Meanders, revives the Faculties of the Brain: Here the flourilhing Papaw (in Tafte like our Melons, and as big, but growing on a Tree leafed like our Fig-tree), Citrons, Limons, and many more, contend to indulge the Tafte; the warbling Birds the Ear; and all things, as if that general Curfc were exempted* drive to gratify the Life of Man. Neither has Nature fo played the Wanton here, as to be unmihd- The Hi!k are ful of the Afcending Hills, which in other places by chance are pro- as duftive, but here they abound, and liberally beftow on the humble v!lL“ the Valleys: Notwithftanding the Clime it is fituate under, bears.the reproach of that uninhabitable Zone ; yet that Afperfion is blown off by thofe admirably tempered Breizes of the Mountains. The Inhabitants are black, though not fo black as at St. Iago, as Temper of well Limb’d, and as well Featur’d; neither fo tall, nor fo proud as the Inhabi ' they, but more honeft : Whether out of fear of Punilhment, or na- tams ' tural Integrity, may be left to conjecture : For our Fleet lying as now at an Anchor, feme years pafled, they filched feme.flight things from the EnglUh ; as like wife feme Sailers from them; the Grievances .on both fides known, and the Parties detected. Our Commanders had their Men flafhed publicity on Shore, when they cut the Throats of theirs. J To proceed; They are like the Country they live in, innocent; for as the one produces nothing hurtful, fo they have always had the Charader of being harmlefs. They are courteous to Strangers, but above all to the Englijh ; puncftual in their Words, and as ready to tax for breach of Promife: Lazy above-meafure, defpifing all Mechanical Arts ; and in them Neceflity compels them to employing . their Priefts; as in building Boats* making Mats. Yet in one thing 20 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. to be wondred at, for making Old Iron, which'they covet mightily, into Knives, or Tools, as Iharp as Raifors ; in other things but rude¬ ly imitating, but not deferving the name of Artifls. The while we were there, they had a great Veflel on the Stocks; Stocks like the Cheeks to our Long Boats; the Keel of it was a whole Tree, no otherwife fitted than it grew, only the Branches lopped off! To it, for Stem and Stern, were fattened two others, Ihorter; on both fides Planks fewed to the main Timbers, with the Thread of the Cocoe-nut, each Hole flopped with Pitch. Thus had they railed it to the capacity of Thirty Tuns: When it will be finilhed, at the rate they work, will be hard to guefs. Tiisir Veflels They are Owners of feveral fmall Provoes, of the fame make, for Sea. and Canoofes, cut out of one intire piece of Wood; poifed with Booms to keep them from over-fetting ; in thefe they paddle with broad Sticks, not row as we with Oars. Aftiveac They are very adive at Climbing, Running like Jackanapes up Climbing, their Cocoe-nut Trees, which they do by twitting a Band to keep clofe their Feet, as they raife their Bodies by their Arms grafped about the Trees. They are not folicitous for much to cover them, only a Clout to hide their lhame, truft with a String round about their Waifls, in which they flick their Knives, in a readinefs to cut down their Food from the Trees. Slaves how Their Slaves have a dejeded Countenance, diftinguilhed by bore- hnown. j n g their Ears: They fit on Stones,,or low Seats, their Arms folded like Monkies. skilled in Let- However, they are not fo abjed, but that they have the ufe of tersandMro- Letters, and fome fcience in Aftrology, by what I can teftify: For lo sy- walking the Country, and almoft tired, I ftept into an Houfe, where I faw a Man writing with a Pen made of a Cane, in the bottom of a Bowl befmeared over with black; confidering a-while, at length I obferved he made Arabian Characters, and aimed to draw a Scheme, which when he had done, he poured Water upon, and ftirring it round with his Finger, wiped it out again,, and as he did this, mut¬ tered ferioufly to himfelf, doing fo thrice. I watched what he intend¬ ed, and found that a Woman lay Tick there, and this Charm was her Phyfick. Ape-Printing. Befides this, I have it on report from fome that faw their Schools for Education of their Youth, where they teach them to write, and by Bundles of Charaders tied together to Ape Printing. What they make their Impreflion on, I cannot inform you; but Paper is no defpicable Commodity among them. Their Speech; That Arabick is their Speech, is without contradiction; with what purity I am no competent Judge. Religion. The Religion among them is Mabometifm ; their Priefls not fo much exercifed in Learning, as the Labour of their Hands. Women: Their Women are fat and Ihort, not fo big Breafted as thofe at St. Iago , better clad than the Men, wearing a courfe Sheet about them from their Breads below their Knees; about thejr Heads they wear an Hairlace, or fome what inftead of it, not to tie their Hair up, which is Ihort enough; but it may be, as our Dames in England , to keep the Wrinkles out of their Foreheads: In their Ears Mock- Jewels ; 21 through Divers Climates. Jewels; about their Necks and Wrifts trifling Bracelets of Beads, Chap. II. Glafs, or Wire of Brafs; about the fmall of their Legs Brafs Chains, and on their Fingers Rings of the fame Metal. Seemingly fearful of a White Man, as are their Children, who are much troubled with the Navel-Rupture ( Hernia umhilicalis ) , either from the Their chii- Windincfs of their Food, or Ignorance of their Mid wives in-cutting the Navel-firing, when they defign to makethe Boys good meafure; veF Rupture". which fucceeds in thefe, for their Penis is of the larger fliape. The Wives are very obfequious to their Husbands, feldom ftirring abroad, doing the Drudgeries of the Houfe. They drefs Fowls very well, but kill them very barbaroufly, pul- Their way o' ling firft their Feathers off to the Wings, then by degrees raife the hilling Fowls. Skin, after which Torture they as flowly cut their Throats, till they &c ' have finifhed a fhort Litany, which is the Prieft’s Office, if at hand; otherwife the Good Man of the Houfe fays Grace; they butchering their Goats in as Jewijh a manner. Their ufual Diet is the Fruits of the Earth, not caring much for Their Dist. Fief!?, though they have great ftore of Pullen, Goats, and Kine; which hft but fmall, and not very good Meat, their Fat cleaving to the roof of the mouth; not fo big as our Weljh ■ Beafls, yet have this peculiar, a Bunch of Fat betwixt their Shoulders, which eaten taftes like Marrow. Their Pafture, for want of Agriculture, rather Reeds than Grafs; Their Coni, they have Rice in the Low-lands, and a Peafe called Garavance : On the Sand near the Sea grows femper vivum maximum , from whofe Juice comes Aloes, the beft from Succotra : Here grows Cow-Itch in abundance, and all forts of Saunders , w'hich the Seamen cut for firing to bring aboard. Deftituteof AfTes, Mules, andHorfes, but Wantottfe, that want compenfated by a richer Commodity, Amlergreeee , for Mules, an 4 which the Arabian is the greateft Merchant and Sharer. Hotfo ' Fowls for Game they have feveral, the beft of which is the Guinney Fowls for Hen, Turtle Doves; Crowswith white Brcafts, Buzzards, and Bats Game - bodied like and near as big as a Weafel, with large Wings wove upon ftrong Griftles. They have a fort of a Jackanape they call a Budgee , the hand- ABud«ee fomeft I ever faw. b Honey and Mullafles they have good ftore. Having thus taken a Survey of them, one would think Ambition Their invete- banilhed hence, and that Difcord Ihould have little countenance iate Hate to from Subjeds fo alike contemptible. Such is the growth of that Seed, that no Ground comes amifs to it: Here, where neither Care nor Toil is burthenfome, are they vexed with continual War by their oppofite Neighbour the Mohelian, whom formerly they ufed to. engage on Planks at Sea, calling Stones and Darts; fince, by a better Mind, they have provided themfelves of fecurer Veflels, and as at this time devifing greater, they adventure with better force, and in ihrewder Battels, beginning to enquire after; Swords and Guns, with the firft of which the &g/i/&dofupply them: For which, and a former Courtefy of a Vefiel fent them to land fome Men on the Enemies Coafts, proceeds their more than ordinary, love for the Enghjh. How 22 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter f. How thefe behave thcmfelves in War, or with what Difcipline, is not in me to tell: Some Marks of their Valour many of them bear about them, as the Badges of their greateft Honour, who have their Limbs diftorted, or Flefh beaten in. What the ground of thefe Feuds are, we cannot learn; unlefs the bad Influence of fome malignant Planet, or elfe that Make-bate of the world, whofe great- eft bulinefs is Contention, Ihould infinuate it into them. The Ara¬ bian Lords of each do ftrive to reconcile them; which if theydofor a time, it breaks out again in open War: And probable it is, that thefe Animofiries have rendred them liable to the Subjection they are now in; whofe very Iflands elfe, with an united Force of Stones and Arms to bear them, were able todefend them. We are called Four days being fpentin this fweet Wildernefs, our Admiral by aboard to fee firing a Gun, and loofing his Fore-top-fail, fummoned us aboard. C H A P. III. declares our Courfe from Johanna, to our landing at Mechlapatan. Werepafs the A Gale and a fair Wind foon fet us once more to the Nor- r.qmmsiid ±\ ward of the Equincttial, accompanied with foakingShowers, Lme. Thunder, and Cloudy Weather, Which with the continuance of the Winds did us a bindnefs; for following the heels of the Sun, we. were got within Twelve Degrees of him, when we failed into the Indian Sea, Eafl North-Eaft, the Maidive Iflands being South-Eafl, the Red Sea Weft North Weft, and the Arabian North hy Weft, with¬ out labouring under that irrefiftible Heat we did before; by reafon of which adjundt Heat, the Rains however became intemperate not but that they mitigated the Heat in atlu, tho as to its effects, it proved more virulent, impregnating the Air with a difeafed Confti- tution, u hereupon we had many hung down their Heads. The mnh- ■ About the third Degree of North- Latitude we loft fight of the Srarisraifrd Mage Banian Clouds and the Crociers, and railed our Northern Polar agjin - Director. The j/.i itii-M Having 8 deg. 5-3 min. North Latitude, we left the Sun to run his iflands. Race to the North; and fleering Eafl to raife our Longitude, we fell into a Channel between the Maldiva ( a Concatenation of Iflands from the Equator hither, and here only parted by this Chan¬ nel, the reft of them lying fcatteredly to the 10 th deg. of North La¬ titude) which makes us lye by a-nights, (fignified by One Light out of the Main-Top of our Admiral ( which he always carries at Night), and another out of the middle Lanthorn on the Poop, an- fwered by all the reft with one at the fame place ), for fear of fal¬ ling foul of them, the Weather continuing wet, dark, and tem- peftuous. Neat c aim. After which we Ihaped our Courfe Eafl South-Eafl, when the Ad¬ miral fired a Gun, fpreading St.Georges Flag in theMizen-flirowds for a Confultation, knowing we began to draw near Ceilon, an Ifland 2 5 ' through- Divers Climates. in the Eaft-India, divided from Cape Cory by Ptolomy, Comory by our Cfaap-III- Modern Authors,by a narrow, fwift, and unnavigable Current, where the Flemings have nefled themfelves in the Portugals Caftles at Co- lumlo, Point tie Gaul , and elfewhere ; fo that if at all, we are to meet with them hereabouts, they commonly having a Fleet of Ships in thefe Seas: We out of neceffity are forced to make this Land, and were it peaceable Times ihould fail all along in fight of it, till we came upon the Coaft of Cormandel. Wherefore our Commander returning on board, after aligning every one his Pofl, to be ready on any furprize, he found a Chear- fulnefs in all to obey him. . ' Here two Whales, bigger than the former, lhewed themfelves. a Couple of In the dead of the night a lamentable Outcry was caufed by fome A Fright oc- of our Men on the Forecaftle, who looking out thought they had feen «fioned_ b y “ a Rock, with which thefe Seas abound, whereupon they cried out, A Breach , a Breach ; which made the Mates leap out of their Cabins with the fame grifly Look as if going to give up their laft Accounts : Here was Doomfday in its right Colours, Diftra&ion, Horror, and Amazement had feized on all, one commanding this, another a&ing quite contrary; the Breach furrounding us, every one expe&ed the fatal ftroke, when the Ship Ihould be dalhed in pieces. In this Pa- nick Fear, had any had fo much heart as to have ventured a Compo- fition for his empty Noddle by looking over-board, he might have difcovered the Jig: For at length it was evident that only a Chorus of Porpoifes had taken the Sea in their Dance; which Morris once over, the Seas were quiet, and our Men left to repofe themfelves with a IhorterNap than they thought themfelves like to have. Five days after our Summer Solftice we had foundings 14 Fathom, and at break of day had fight of Ceilon, when we altered our Courfe to Eaft North-Eaft ; it bore from ns North ly We/liz Leagues, the out-Land low, but rarely enriched witli Woods of Cinamon, from whence only it is brought. T he View of Ceilon. The View of Ceilon. This is the firft Shore prefented its felf in India: The Inland hath a Profped over the Sea: It lies’in North Latitude 6 deg. 3 min. and Longitude from Johanna 37 deg. 10 min. Ea/l. This is the Ifland where (if true) the Elephants are bred, w'ho, calm has the tranfported, exaft Homage from all Elephants of other places, and left Breed of they withal, by proftrating (as it were) their Necks between their ep ants ‘ Feet, fubmiffively acknowledge it. ' At Nights we flood off to Sea to efcape the infidious Rocks, a-days Th ertnhamt. we made for the Land, to gain the Land Breizes, which are not felt far off at Sea, by reafon of the Conftancy of the Trade-Winds: They begin about Midnight, and hold till Noon, and are by the Por¬ tugals named Terrhenoes; more North they are more ftrong, and . hardly give way to the Sea-Breizeswhich fometimes fucceed the others twelve hours, but not always on this Coaft. Two 34 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. Two Days patted after we made Land, we difcovered three Coun- *-~v—try Junks a-head, and coming up with them we commanded their tty TimhSkippers on board; examining their Cockets, they produced Eng- r l/Jh Pafles, the Matters of two of them being Portugals, the other a Moor, from whom was taken a Packet of Dutch Letters: Their Grew were all Moors (by which Word hereafter mutt be meant thofe of the Mahometan Faith ), apparc-ll’d all in white, on their Heads white Scull-caps, their Complexions tawny: Their Junks had three Matts, wearing an Eajl-India ftrip’d Ancient, and might con¬ tain an ioo Tuns apiece. They managed their Sails but aukwardly, and are unskilful in Maritime Affairs; wherefore in any long Voyage they employ Eu¬ ropeans to navigate their Veffels. c,ut,meram Coafting along, fome Cattamarans ( Logs lattice! to that advantage that they waft off all their Goods, only having a Sail in the midtt, waft oft"’ their and Paddles to guide them ) made after us, but our Ships having Goods. freili way, we were unwilling to tarry for them; befides, at that in- ttant we efpied under the Shore a mighty Veffel, with her Yards and Top-mafts lower’d; but they continuing to follow us, the Anne lay by for one of them, who affirmed that a Fleet of 24 Sail of Bata¬ vians were patted to retake St.Thsmas from the French. The Eaft- India Merchant and Antelope by this were up with the Veflel under fliore, who proved to be a great Junk of the Moors: Overagainft where Ihe rode, a fair Pagod or Temple of the Gentus, beleaguer’d with a Grove of Trees ( excepting that it was open towards the Sea ) caft a Luftre bright and fplendid, the Sun reverberating againft its refulgent Spire, which was crowned with a Globe white as Alabafter, of the fame tindure with the whole. sandrajiapa. Nearer the Point we deferied a Town, in which a Cattle over- on the awing if, and upon the higheft Pinacle Dutch Colours, which high Noon gave us to be Sandrajlapatan , a Fadory of theirs, our Staff having as much as together with the Sun’s declination made 11 deg. yo min. North Latitude, but 10 Leagues to the South of Fort , St. George , where our Commanders were to touch firft, according to their Charter-Party. Kefolved to Whereupon we put abroad our Jacks, Ancients, and Penants, and fight the it*, running out all our Guns, it was unanimoufly confented to fight our nm&s ' way through the Flemijh Eafl-Indians , had we not feen a Mujfoola hailing our Admiral, which came off with Advice from the Agent: This Afternoon therefore we lay by, the Admiral calling a Council , aboard'him; and at night our Mercury was waited on towards the Shore by the Bcmbaim : All this while we lay in fight 6f Sandrajla¬ patan, whofe Soil is Fat and Opulent, like their Netherlands. The View of Sandraflapatan. The View of Sandrajlapa- Put to Sea a- The Water here ran fmooth and difcoloured: Till once again vice from 4e committin g our felves t0 the Sea, we ploughed deeper Water, North- Agent. ‘ Eajl, of .a Cerulean dye. The through Divers Climates. 25 The next day we faw a French Man of War, and he us, but would Chap III. not rruft us. We knew him to be French by our Intelligencer, who •iaid us out his Station, where he had encountred five Batavians , Man of War" and difcomfited them. This Day’s obfervation made 30 m. to the North of Fort St. George. DHmilTed t i, e We were beating now againft the Wind (which blows fiercely from 3mb ' the Shore) and a ftrong Current, which had fet us 14 deg. 20 min. North in three days time, when the funks we compelled with us hi¬ ther, had the liberty to make the beft.of their way for the Bay of Bengala; for which the Winds ferved them well enough, though full in our Teeth, who laboured for the Land.. However, in four days time we met with the Frefhes off the Shore MettheF«/j« caufed by the Upland Rains: The Sea defpifing to defile its purer “1 fed b y the Azure with their Muddy Green. The fame Antipathy was held be- Rauls- twixt the lively Fillies and their Hi my Brood, they intermixing with fiich unfriendly Concord ; for playing in whole Shoals about the Edges, they would not exceed the Limits the jarring Torrents had won upon each other. So the fierce Tigris in his fwift Career ne- gledts the fcorned Arethufa, and Ihe with the like difdain retaliates his unkindnefs, neither Stream mixing either Fifh or Water. Thus quartering this Sublunary Globe, out of Europe into Africa, Having quar- fiom thence cruifing on the Coaft of Brafil upoh the American Seas, world*"we till joining with the Ethioptck , we double the Cape of good Hope into Anchor at Africa again, atlaft we came in fight of the Afian Shores; and the latter end of June we call Anchor in Mechlapatan Road; which was compofed of Shoals and Deeps, where we found three Portugal Ships riding. Our Fleet expreffed their joy by the roaring of the wide-mouth’d Cannon, and the founding of the fhriller Trumpets; which the Eng- lifh Fadtory, welcomed by delaying their Flag, (being allowed no Ordnance, but what they privily plant for their own fecurity) as being under the Tutelage of the Natives, as alfo are the Portugals and Flemmings (who each have here their Staples) - fo in like man¬ ner all they have any Commerce with : No A 6 t of Hoftility., ei¬ ther on Shore, or in the_Road, being tollerated without leave’ firfl obtained; thofe on Shore being the Pledges forfeited on the breach of Peace. The firm Land was,_ _ unlefs Edifices of the European eredtion. E ; C HA P. 2 6 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. urvx, C H A P. IV. Takes up our flay at Mechlapatan, to our Landing at Fort St. George. TheTreafure ' _ j“'HE next Morning the Second of the Fa&ory (the Chief) lit on Shore. being at Fort St. George, vifited the Admiral, and ordered the Treafure to be fet on Shore. That if the empty Hollander fhould be fo hardy as to face us, their fmall hopes of Plunder might abate their Courage; which other wife might tempt them to attack us with the greater vi¬ gour. The Boatman The Boat-men that came for it were of a Sun-burnt Black, with dtfcribed. Jong black Hair, tied up in a Clout of Calicut Lawn, girt about the Middle with a Salh, in their Ears Rings of Gold ; thofe that were bare-headed, were Ihorn all to one Lock, which carelefly twitted up ( fome have foolilhly conceited ) to be left for Ferimel (one of their Prophets) to hold faft by when he Ihould haul them to Heaven; but more truly to preferve them from the Plica Polo- nica, which attends long Hair not cleanly kept, and to which thefe People are incident. pm,:, or Ser- ' Among thefe, fome more modilh than the reft, as going in a vants to wait Garb more Civil, Coiling Calicut about their Heads, Turbat on us ' fafliion, on their Bodies light Veils, underneath long loole Breeches, and fwadled about the Waift with a Salh; offered their Service for a fmall Penfion, to execute our Affairs on Shore, or wait onus Aboard. Thefe fpake Englijb, and acquainted us, how the French had fet fire to four Veflels of the Moors , and made Prize of four more, as they were in this Road not two Months ago; that they had con- ftrained fome Dutch Factories to run on fcore to fupply their wants with Victuals, and other Neceflaries; whole Credit, by thefe Emergencies, and their Calh failing, begins to fink: Money be¬ ing here not only the Nerves and Sinews, but the Life it felf of Trade. Landing at Being fent for on Shore by the defire of the Fadlcry, by one of the Michlapatan. Country Boats, I was landed at Mechlapatan : Thefe Boats areas large as one of our Ware-Barges, and almoft cf that Mould, failing with one Sail like them, but padling with Paddles inftead of Spreads, and carry a great Burthen with little trouble; outliving either Ship or Englifh Skiff over the Bar. Which by the rapid motion of the Waves driving the Sands into an Head, makes a noife as deafningas the Catara&s of Nile, and not feldom as difficult a Downfal. Over this the Land Ihuts us up on both fides, and the ftiller Waters con¬ tentedly do part their Streams to embrace the Town. The Fort and ' Near which a Fort or blockade (if it merit to be called fo) made Town. of Dirt, hides half a fcore great Guns; under the command of which feveral Moors Junks ride at Anchor. AlBow-lhot from whence the Town jt felf, environed with a. Mud Wall, entrenched with a {link¬ ing V through Divers Climates. ing Moras, and at fome time Moated with the Sea, creates a fpa- cious Profpea; it is of Form oblong. ' . Theif BankSoBs, or Cuftom-Houfe Keys, where they land, are Two; but mean, and fhut only with ordinary Gates at Night. The High-ftreets are broad, fet forth with high and lofty Builds ings, the Materials Wood and Plaifter, beautified without with fold: ing Windows, made of Wood, and lattifed with Rattafts, .entring into Balconies Ihaded by large Sheds covered with Tiles: Within a Square Court, to which a ftately Gatehoufe makes a Paflage, in. the middle whereof a Tank vaulted, with a flat Roof above* and on it Terras Walks are framed, the one to wafh in, in the heat of the day; the other to take the Air in the cool of the day; the whole Fabrick intire within its felf, covered atop Taber-like. The poorer, of which multitudes are interfperfed, both in their High-ftreets and Allies, are thStched, caft round as Bee Hives, and walled with Mud; which in the Summers drought often take fire, and lay the taller equal with the ground. . .. For publick Structures their principal Streets prefent fundry Mofques, one Cuftom-hdufe, one Court of Judicature, arid that but mean. For Places of refort there are three Buizars , or Market-places* crowded both with People and Comtfiodities. On the Mortb-Eafl a Wooden Bridge, half a Mile long, leading to the Bar Town; on the North-Weft one, a Mile Long, tending to the Englijh Garden, and tip the Country. Each of which' have a Gate-houfe, and a ftrong Watch at the beginning, next the Town: Both thefe are laid over a Sandy Marfh, where Droves of People are always thronging. The prefent Incumbents are the Moors, Perjians, Gentiles ; So¬ journers Armenians, (who maintain their Gorrefpondence over Land) Portugals , Dutch and Englijh ; and fome few French. For the Story of it, and with it of the Kingdom; the Gentiles, .the Portdgal Idiom for Gentiles, are the Aborigines , who enjoyed their freedom, till the Moors or Scythian Tartars (whether mediately from Perfia, of immediately from that overflow of Tamerlane into thefe Parts, is not material, fince they both pretend to the fame Ex- trad, and that will be fitter declared in another place) undermi¬ ning them, took advantage of their Civil Commotions. For one Caff or Tribe (by the Chief of which they were ruled) clafliing with another, overturned all; which that we may the better un- derftand, Thefe Tribes were diftinguilhed by their Occupations, efpoufing therefore Vocations as well as Kindred; and thereby, as one was a more honourable Calling than the other, fo they flood upon their Nobility in that Imployment, never marrying put of it. • As the Head were the Brathmines , the Ancient Gymnofophifls ; out of whom branched their Priefts* Phyficians, and their Learned Men. Next in efteem were the Rajhwaws , Rafhpoots , or Souldiers. Butthemoft infolentwere the Artificers; as the Engravers, Re¬ finers, Goldfmiths, Carpenters, and the like; who behaved them- felves not only difrefpe&fully to their Superiours, but tyrannically to E z thofe Chap. IV. UfVVi Their Cu- ftom-Houfe Keys. Their Private Dwellings. Publick Stru- Sures. The Bridge]. The Story of this Place, and the Kingdom of GuUmda. At fxrft go- verned by their Tribes, How altered, 28 A Twelve Month'$ Voyage Letter I. thofe of a viler Rafik 5 as the Husbandmen and-Labourers. Whereupon. VJTV'V they jointly confpired their Ruin,and with that their own Slavery ^ta¬ king the Moors to their abidance, who not only reduced the Usurpers to Compofition, which was, That they Ihould be accounted- the Qff feum of the People, and as bafe as the Hvlencores ( whom they ac¬ count fo, becaufe they Defile themfelves by eating any thing, and da all fervile Offices) and not be permitted: to ride in a Palenkeen at thein Feftivals or Nuptials, but on Horfebaek, which they count art bight. Difgrace; but they alfo took the Power into their own hand';: which though Defpotical, the Gentits endure, rather, than endeavour the re¬ covery of their former Liberty,, and to fubvext it from a Monarchy into an Aridocracy. Their King reigning is a Moor, raifed to the Throne from the lowed ebb of Fortune. Their King . For it being in the bread of the Regent to appoint his Succeflor, a chm Mm. Predeceflor, on defed of his own Children, raifed him; by the pra&ice of Siegmanjaffa, his Chief Eunuch (who are made in this Kingdom the prime Miniders of State) partly to drengthen his own Intered by ingratiating with the Heir Apparent, and partly out of gratitude to the Young man’s Father, a Great Man, and of the Bloud- ' Royal, who,, when alive, was the promoter of Siegmanjaffa: This fame.Prince of the Chios, or Sopbian Extrad, was raked out of the Embers of Oblivion. All Noble- Where you mud note, That though his Father expired a Blazing fiiTt E th atM Comet 10 Court > y et at t!ie death of any Nobleman, his Wealth Kingat their all' into the King’s hands; whereby thispoor Gentleman for a Deaths. long time lived an obfeure and (inferable Life, no one taking his word for the Vi&uals he put into his Belly.: But upon the old King’s importunity for one to fway the Scepter after him of his own Line, ■Siegmanjaffa urged him; and placed him poor and lean.as he wasji where the King might fee. him, but not he the King. At fitd the King rejeded him, as having no promifing look; dill Siegmanjaffa interceded, and defired his Lord to allow.him like a Gentleman, and fee to what ufe he would expend his Money: Whieh condefcended to, a Brachmin (who are become the Farmers of the King’s Rents) was difpatched to offer him the Loan of Mo¬ ney, which he willingly accepted of, and therewith put himfelf into an handfome Equipage, both for Apparel and Attendants ( which fpecious Shews recommend here more than profoundnefs of parts) and withal Fed and Whored (which is a great point of Manhood) as well as the bed of them. Wherefore after a ffiort time he was again bror^ht into the King's Prefence, who now began to have fome hopes of him; and therefore to try him farther, he gave him a con* ftant fupply of Money; and bad Siegmanjaffa put him on fome lau- dable Enterprize in hi$ Army, of which Siegmanjaffa was General- which “he tmdettookiraih much Alacrity, and behaved bitnfojf with that Gallantry, that at length the Old King feat him a Tipftaffwith a Royal Robe, requiring him to come to Court in one of the King’s own -Palenieens: At which he was difmay’d, Saying he ihould never , return to .his Houfe again. - However., by iSiegmanjaffas .encouragement he apparelled him- felf, and rode on the Kings iPaienkeen : His Jealouiy ^.grounded on 2 9 through Diver? Climates,. on a barbarous Cuflom of the Eafleru- Monarchs',. who/whemany Chap. IV. Subject becomes fufpe&ed, fend them allfte honourable Prefentswitb thofe in Favour, which in their receit onlyvfttatlfteftify. to tint World ron , cuitoin the King’s Difpleafure, though they whom; they are ddigned-for, ofPoyfoning live not to know the caufe, being poyfoned by them before they can ™°" r s n plead for themfelves. But he was allured no ill Intentions; were to- mrchs. wards him when fpeaking with the King face to face, he declared him his Succeflor to the Crown, which not long after he was efta- blifhed in by the Death of his Matter. His Refidence is at Guloonda, the Metropolis, and' bearing, the. G»/«iirf n hths Name of the Kingdom, fifteen days journey W^fromhenqe, Under him Siegmanjaffa orders the whole Realm, amafling great, Treafures ( though he himfclf pays Homage to the Great Mogul ') Kingdom, exacting every Man’s Eftate when he pleafes, muift/ng them at his own Will, fcjueezing the common People to perfeift Penury: Be* Eunuch. ™ fides the Reverfions of Great Mens Eliates, he has large Revenues The Weahh from his Diamond Mines, which he lets out yearly to thofe bid moll. ow rilfed- His Expences are inconfiderable, bis Subjects in their diftind Pro- The Army yinces ma’int-aining his Soldiers, of whom' he has a Handing Army how P aid - of an Hundred thoufand Horfe and Foot, when all together; befides. Two hundred Elephants in continual readinefs, which are-provided for by the Farmers of his Revenues- All that he confuipes is on his Yoluptuoufnefs, with which heis: fwallowed up. - - The Kingdom of Guloonda extends from to deg. North -Latitude, Thebigners to 19 deg. I along the Coaftsof Coromandel , and up into tf\e Costs,-. t^King- try Three hundred Courfe ( which is a Mile and a quarter) though dom ' in fome places thinly inhabited The next, in Dignity to Siegmanjaffa, is the Governor of Mecbla rheGovemor patan , an Eunuch alfo, and a Slave to SiegmaKjaff'^vfho came through, of Mecbla^. the Town while we were here, waited on by a Noble Train, befides tm ' Soldiers and Followers; having an Elephant led before his Valenkm, which nope prefume to do, tyflefs the King honour them therewith 1 nor to ride on any but Females, unlefs of the Royal Family, who may only mount a Male to ride in State through their Cities. J 3 j$ Subftituce here is a Chias Moor , who tal^s charge of the Store? every Night, Qve r the Gentues they keep a Arid hand, enfrufling tbem with no Place they ar ^ f° on ended; the Governor fputes long" hearing, and the Cadi or Judge determining every Morning.' depending. Religions of all Inventions are licens’d. The Moors are Mabome- Their Reiigi- ^ 0 f t jj e jralianStGi : The Perfians as much; deluded by Mortis Ali or Halt , accufed therefore of Herefy by the Moors. The Na¬ tives are Idolaters worfliiping many Penates or Houlhold-Gdds, yea, the Devil too for fear: Yet they acknowledge but One Supreme God; and the various Reprefentations or Shapes adored, are but fo many different Attributes. After every day’s Devotion they dawb their Forheads with Paint, and as Principles of Zeal, abominate eat¬ ing with any, unlefs of their own Caft, when they ftrip and wafh themfelves before Meals. r They through Divers Climatei. '' 33 They have a due command of their. Appetite both as to Time and Chap. IV, ' the Matter they feed on, to wit, Roots, Herbs, Rice, and Ciitchery , all manner of Fruits, but nothing that has had Life, or likely to pro¬ duce Vital Heat, as Eggs, which they will not eat; but they will drink Milk and boil’d Butter, which they, call Ghe. For their Eafements both Men and Women keep a fet hour, and go with every one a purifying Pot in their hand ( for to take up Wa¬ ter to walh after their occafions) to fome Publick Tank or Pond ; the Men apart from the Women; neither of them concerned for Paflengers, keeping their back-fides towards them till they have done their Bufinefs. Among them all it is common to make water lifting, as when they evacuate the othetl way; and it is a fhame for any one to be feen to do otherwife, t}iey farcaltically faying, Such a one pilles like a Dog ( which is held/unclean J Handing. Their Dodtors of .Divinity are the Bradmins , who inftrudt them Their Doflon in their Law, topreferveall Creatures that are beneficial, and teach of Divinity,. , them the old Pythagorean Me-n^uyam;, Tranfmigration of Souls out of one body into another; as a Tyrant into a Tygre, a Cove¬ tous Man or Cruel into a Boar, a fearful Man into an Hare, and fo on: If they fee a Tree twined about with another ( as moll Bind- Weeds will), they tell you that in this life, when Human, the Soul. got into that Tree was a Debtor to the other, and therefore it is held fall by the other. The Soul of a Good Man is believed to depart into a Cow, wherefore ’tis Sacrilege with them to kill a Cow ora Calf; but highly piacular to lhoot a Kite, dedicated to the Brach- mins, for which Money will hardly pacify. Their Religious Worlhip confiftsmoft in walhing and.purifyings; Their Cere- . more of which hereafter. ' * - monies. •They marry very young, not knowing their Wives though till They marry t at riper years they come to confummate their Hymeneal Rites. ) 0 Un s- Their Language they call generally Gentu: They write on the Their Speech Leaf of a Cocoe with a lharp Iron Inftrument. The peculiar Name of their Speech is Telinga. T.yy. /V®> /vO ^ -^-9. The Mahometans bury their dead; the Gent ties burn them; and in The W», w - the Husband s Flames the Wife offers her felf a Sacrifice to his Manes, tam bur >'. the or elfe flie fhaves and turns Whore for a Livelihood, none of her Friends looking upon her; hers, not her Husband’s Acquaintance, thrufting her upon it ;■ to which end they give her Dairy ; when half mad fhe throws her felf into the Fire, and they ready with great Logs keep her in his Funeral Pile. F The . 94. Vi Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. ,The Armenians are fettled here on account of Trade ( whofe Hi- . chMhT'"* ^ or y ‘ s re ^ erve ^ f° r a fi tter place ); they are Chriftians of a feparate Stnngets. Communion. The Portugals, of the Romijb Church. The Englijk, of the Orthodox Epifcopacy. The Dutch, moft Cahini/ls. ^thTcom’ The Coin current here is a Paged, 8 s.-, Dollar, 4 s. 6 d.; Rupee, modities. 1 3 5 Cajh, I d.\\ a Cajh 5. Staple Commodities are Calicuts white and painted, Palempores, Carpets, Tea; Diamonds of both Rocks, the Old and New ; Efcre- tores, and other Knick-knacks for Ladies,becaufe far-fetch’d and dear- bought. Ceafts wild Beads they have, Wild Lions, Leopards, Bears, Boars, Tygers, and tame. Antelopes, Spotted Deer. For Service, Oxen, BufFola’s, Camels, Affes which they ufe for burthen, to carry Packs, Water in great Leathern Sacks about the Town for every Family, and any other Slavery: But their HorfeS, which are fmall and hot-mettled, they put to no fuch drudgery, but ufe them with all the kindnefs and fairfpeeches imaginable. Their hang. With thefe ( without difparagement to that Image God has anddwfttHat ^ am P^ on t l* 3t Enchiridion of his Handy work, Man} we might carry them, recite the Coolies, Duties, and Palenkeen Boys; by the very Hea¬ thens efteemed a degenerate Offspring of the Holencores ; and in earned: (excepting the Shape) they come nigh to Brutes. Thefe are the Machines they journey by : On the Shoulders of the Coolies they load their Provant, and what Moveables neceflary. The Du¬ ties march like Furies, with their lighted Mutfals in their hands (they are Pots filled with Oyl in an Iron Hoop, like our Beacons, and fet on fire by hanking Rags). Ambling after thefe a great pace, the Palenkeen-Boys fupport them; four of them, two at each end of a Bamho , which is a long hollow Cane, thick, light, and ftrong, arched in the middle ( which is done in Cafes while it is growing ), where hangs the Palenkeen, as big as an ordinary Couch, broad enough to tumble in; cieled with Silk, and Bofles pendent to raife withal, and others at each Corner, as our Coaches have; un¬ derneath it is laced with ftrong broad Girts, over which a Quilt, Skin of a Tyger, or Hide to lye upon, and round Pillows of Silk or Velvet, to. bolfter their Heads. At every Angle turn’d Staves, and overspreading it a Scarlet Coverlet of London Cloath. A Set of thefe Rafcals, who are eight, in a Week’s time with this Load lhall run down theft choiceft Horfes; and bait them gene- roufly lhall ftage it a Month together. Beiftsfor War For War, Elephants : For to eat, Sheep, poor, fleeced rather with ami Food. Hair than Wool, their Afpedt bewraying as much Goat as Sheep: Goats; Hogs low and black, unclean to the Mahometans: Cows, facred to the Gentues, as Serapis to the Egyptians ; Conies, Hares. Riptiki. Reptiles, Snakes, Serpents, the Amphhlena and other kinds; all which they pretend to charm, carrying them up and down in Baskets ,, to getMoney of the People, as well as Strangers; when they ftrike up on a Reed run through a Cocoa-Shell, which makes a noife fome- thing like our Bag-Pipes, and the fubtle Creatures will liften to the Mufick, and obferve a Motion correfpondent to the Tune; a Gene¬ ration through Divers Climates ; 3 5 ration 0 f Vi ipers that w- ell defer ve to be f filed fo, knowing when the Cha[ Charm:’ r cb arms wifely Fowl; > of all fort belt mging t :o India : ire plenty’, but chiefly tame Fowls. Geefe. Filhe; ; in abundance, from ’ whence t he Town derives its Etymo- Fifes. logy, Mechlafatan fignifying the Fifh-Town. For Corn, they have Rice the Staff of the Land, fcrne Wheat. Com. . Fruits to variety. Fruits. The Water they drink they dig for; not that they are without The Water Rivers, but they are brackiih. It lies in 1 5 deg. North Lat. 40 min. and Air bad. From the Lizzard 9 6 deg. Eafl. By reafon of the Multitude of Peo¬ ple and ill Site it is unhealthy; though it agree with the Natives, who live to a good Old Age. The Englijh for that caule, only at the time of (hipping, remove . ■ to Medapollon , where they have a whollbme Seat Forty Miles more North, Rain they have none from November to May, ail which time the Rj ' n "hen it Land-Breezes ( which blow one half the day off the Sea, but faint- j,™^ cat ' res ly the other) torment them with a fuffocating Heat; fo that the Birds of the Air as they fly, often drop down dead, the Wind co¬ ming as hot as the Steam from an Oven, by the reflecting of the Sun upon the Sands, which are hurled about the Marlhes. When they feel themfelves freeft from Sicknefs, though all Perfpiration through the Pores by Sweat is dried up: From the beginning of May they are refreflted with cooling Showers, which at length with the overflowing Sea caule an Inundation ; in which fpace, the Air growing foggy, Empyema’s and Fluxes are rifeft; and Swarms of Ants, Muskeetoes, Flies, and (linking Chints, Cimices , &c. breed apd infeft them: This Ssafon we experimented ; which though moderately warm, yet our Bodies broke out into fmall fiery Pimples ( a fign of a prevailing Crafts') augmented by Muskeetoc-Rites, and Chinees rai- fing Biilters on us. To arm themfelves againfl: this Plague, thofe that live here have fine Calicut-Lawn thrown over their Beds, which though white as Snow when put on, (hall be in an hour befmear’d all over, which . might be tolerable, did not their daring Buzzes continually alarm, and fometiines more fenfibly provoke, though cloath’d with long Breeches to their Toes, and Mufflers on their Hands and Face, and a Servant to keep them from them with a Fan, without which there isnofleeping. Notwithllanding thefe provifions, yet there is another InfeCt more difturbing than thefe, and not to be efcaped but by this Device, and that is the Ant, which creeps up to all their Quarters, and between their Beds, if the Bed-Pofls were not fet in Pans of Water to hin¬ der their Progrefs. Chinees flick among the Cotton, and in rotten Polls, whole birings wheal mod fadly, and if they Hrive.to take a Revenge for that abufe, and chance to fqueeze them, they leave a • llink enough to choak them. The Air fo bad here, that it agrees with few new Comers ; The Air bee- removing Three Miles up the Countrey it is an infallible t«u P inth« Cure for the Difeafes .of this place, provided it be done in time : • ountiey ' F 1. Where A Twelve Month s Voyage Letter I. Where the Engltjb have a Garden for Divertifement; where alfo is a Burial-place graced with Monuments both of Antique and Mo¬ dern Workmanfhip. Twelve of Half a Mile beyond, a Dozen of the King’s Elephants are (fabled, the King’s E. when we came they were feeding out of their Houfes on Sugar- lephams, Q nes f re (h gathered and adminiftred by their Keepers: Alighting from our Palenkeens , they loofed one which was Fourteen Feet high, and the Black clawing his Poll with an Iron Engine, he (looped down for him to get up, and being upon his Back guided him as he lifted. His Body is a Symetrical Deformity (if 1 may fo fay)'; the Hanches and Quarters clapt together feem lb many heaps; his Neck fhorr, flapping Ears like Scates, little-Eye’d, a broad Face, from 'which drops hlsProhofcis orTrunk, thrufting it but, or Ihriveling it in, as he chufes; through its Hollow he fucks his Liquor, and with two Fingers, as it were, reaches the Fodder, (halting off the dirt againft his Thigh, or Vermin, fuch as Mice, which he abhors, he brings it under to his Mouth, from whence proceed two huge Tusks of Ivory for Defence, not Maliication, for which he is fupplied with¬ in with others; his Tail is curt: He fhuffles an end a great Pace, moving all the Joints of his Legs, though the Motion of his Hinder- Legs imitate Human Progreflion, having a Patella or Knee-Pan afore, not articulated behind as other four-footed Beads are. When he dands, his Legs appear fo many Columns fcollop’d at bottom, being flat-hoof’d. The She’s have their Paps under their Bowels afore, as Laurentius truly relates. Their Modedy in ingendringhas given matter for difpute, though doubtlefs they perform it after the manner of other Beads. They are of a Moufe-Colour. With their Trunks they drike a violent Blow, and are taught to fling Iron Links, tothededru&ionof their Enemies. That they draw their weighty Cannon is certain ; but that they engage with fmaller on their Back, lam no Eye-Witnefs. Our Repair a- After a Month’s Stay here, a Patamar ( a Foot-Poft) from Fort andcomink St ‘ Geor i e ’ macle lls fenfible of the Dutch being gone from thence to to Brtst. § Ceil on: The Treafure was reihipped, and we in lefs than a Week, Gorge. through contrary Monfoons and Ill Weather (the Sun being in his Zenith, and encountring the Dog-Star over our heads) arrived there. When Aiding by four French Men of War at Anchor under St. Tho¬ mas (of whom the Admiral the Brittoon was a Ship of 1100 Tuns, 68 Brafs Guns; the fecondhad yoBrafsGuns ; the other two were lefs; and the Platform of the City mounted with Brafs-Pieces, that . flung their Shot an incredible way ), we againft all probability found The Maffm. the Majfenlerg there, having ventured alone, and but the day before berg given o- us came into the Road under our Fort; there alfo rode two Portugal wefoundhere 1 unks - T h e Colours the Fort (hewed us, was St.George’s Flag; it bore from us one League Weft, Low-Land : St. Thomas one League and an half South-Wefl; High-Land behind it; North Lat. n deg. 3 o min. Long, from the Lizard 9 6 deg. Eaft. CHAP. through Divers Climates. 37 CHAP. V. Chap. V- -m j Gives a true Narrative of the Englifli, French and Dutch on the Coafl of Coromandel, continuing till m double the Cape for the Coaft of Malabar. I Went alliore in a Muftoola, a Boat wherein' ten Men paddle, the • two aftermoft of whom are the Steers-men, ufing their Paddles inltead of a Rudder: The Boat is not ftrengthned with Knee-Timber, as ours are; the bended Planks are fowed together with Rope-yarn of the Cocoe, and calked with Dammar, (a fort ofRofin taken out of the Sea) fo artificially, that it yields to every Ambitious Surf, other- wife we could not get afhore, the Bar knocking in pieces all that are inflexible: Moving towards the Shore, we left St. Thomas, which lies but Three Miles to the South of Maderas, and Fort St. George- Wentaftore in the midway Modern River in great Rains opens its Mouth into in a Bmt the Sea 5 having find faluted the Banks of Fort St. George on the Weft Towards the Sea the Sand is caff up into a Rampire, from whence the fluid Artillery difcharges it felf upon us, and we on the Shoulders of the Blacks muff force our way through it. Though we landed wet, the Sand was fcalding hot, 'which made me recoiled my Reps, and haften to the Fort. As it looked on the Rowed by Water, it appeared a Place of good' force. The Outwork is walled St ' I)W With Stone a good heighth, thick enough fo blunt a Cannon-bullet, kept by half a dozen Ordnance at each fide the Water-gate befides an Halfmoon of Fire-Guns. At both Points are mounted twelve Guns eying the Sea, Maderas, and St. Thomas ; under thefe in a Line ltand Palmadoes, reaching from the Wall to the Sea; -and hedge in at ieaft a Mile of ground. On the South fide they have cut a Ditch Landed, are a lumcient depth and breadth to prevent fcaling the Wall, which is ' veI * wectet *ac a quarter of a Mile in length afore it meets with a third Point or Ba- ** Ce ° rge ' llion, facing it. Thomas, and the adjacent Fields; who fufFera De luge when the Rains defcend the Hills. From this Point to the Fourth, where are lodged a Dozen Guns more that grin upon Ma¬ deras, runs no. Wall, but what the Inhabitants compile for their Gardens and Houfes planted all along the River parallel with thir .that braces the Sea. From the firft Point a Curtain is drawn with - a Parapet-, beneath it are two Gates, and Sally Ports to each for to enter Maderas ; over the Gates five Guns run out their Muzzels and two more within them on the Ground. ’ Over all thefe the Fort it felf lifts up its Four Turrets, every Point Tfl = f„ h a of which is loaded with Ten Guns alike : On the South-Eatl Point feribed. is fixed the Standard; the Forms of the Bafiions are Square fend¬ ing forth Curtains-fringed with Battlements from one to the otter , m whofe Interfotiu ms whole Culvenn are traverfed. The Gover¬ nor s Houfe in the middle overlooks all, flaming diagonally with the Corn, Entnng the Garrifon at the Out-gate towards the Sea a • Path of broad pohihed Stones fpreads the way to pafs the Second Guard 5 8 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. Guard into the Fort at an humble Gate; oppofite to this, one more w''"'V"' N - ftately fronts the High-ftreet; on both Tides thereof is a Court of Guard, from whence, for every day’s Duty, are taken Two hundred Men : There being in pay for the Honourable Eaft India Company of Englifh and Portuguez 700. reckoning the Montroffes and Gun¬ ners. Neat Dwel- The Streets are fweet and clean, ranked with fine Manfions; of lings. no extraordinary Height (btcaufea Garrifon-Town ) thigh Beauty, which they conciliate, by the Battlements and Tarras Walks on every Houfe, and Rows of Trees before their Doors, whofe Italian Porticos rnake no ordinary conveyance into their Houfes, built with Brick and Stone. The Portugali Edifices of common note are none, except a fmall Chappel the have a Chap- Portugal5 are admitted to fay Mafs in. psI ' Take the Town in its exad proportion, and it is Oblong. The EngUjh The true Poflefibrs of it are the Englifh , inflated therein by. one Mailers of of their Nails, or Prince of the Gentues, 90 years ago, 40 years that Place. Lcfore their total fubjtdion to the Moors ; who likewile have fince ratified it by a Patent from Gulconda , only paying 7000 Pagods yearly for Royalties and Cufloms, that miles the Mony fourfold to Sir mui.vn the Company; whofe Agent here is Sir William Langham, a Gentle* Laugham man nf Indefatigable Induflrv and Worth. He is Superintendent Agent. over a jj t j )e faftories on the Coafi of Coromandel, as far as the Bay of Bengala, and up Hmgly R.ver f which is one of the Falls of Ganges) Viz. Fort St.Gerrge alias Maderas, Pettipolee, Mecblapatan , Gun- dor Medapollon, Balifore, Bengali, f/uygly, Caflle Bttizar, Pattanatv. He has his Mint, and Privilege of Coining; the Country Stamp is only a Fanam , which is 3 d. of Gold; and their Cafh, twenty of which go to a Fanam. Moreover he has his Judiciaries; to give Sentence , but not on Life and Death to the Kings Liege People of England; though over the reft they may. His Perfonal Guard con- lifts of 3 or 4C0 Blacks; befides a Band of xjoo Men ready on Sum¬ mons; He never goes abroad without Fifes, Drums, Trumpets, and a Flag with two Balls in a Red Field; accompanied with Iris Council and Fadors on Horfeback, with their Ladies in Palankeens. Diligence of The Englifh here are Proteftants, the Portugals Papifts, who have the Fryers, their feveral Orders of Fryers; who, to give them their due, com- pafs Sea and' Land to make Profelytes, many of the Natives being brought in by them. Number of The number of Englifh here may amount to Three hundred ; Enghjh and of Portuguez as many Thoufand, who made Fort St. George their Re- Portugah. f U g e ( w hen they were routed from St. Thomas by the Moors about ten years paft, and have ever fince lived under protedion of the Englifh. Thus have you the Limits and Condition of the Englifh Town : Let us now pafs the Pale to the Heathen Town, only parted by a wide Parrade, which is ufed for a Buzzer, or Mercate-place. Maderas. through Divers Climates. 39 Chap. V. Maderas city of «»*. T HEN divides it felf into divers Long Streets, and they are checquered by asniany tranfverfe. It enjoys fome Choultries For Places of Juftice; one Exchange, one Pagod, contained in a Vi/M a p,z- fquare Stone-wall,* wherein are a number of Chappels (if they may e< “Hea- be comprehended under that Claffis, moft of them refembling ra- 1 en qmp e ' ther Monuments for the Dead, than Places of Devotion for the Li¬ ving) one for every Tribe; not under one Roof, but diftindlly fe- parate, though altogether, they bear the name of one intire Pagoda, The Work is inimitably durable, the biggeft clofed up with Arches continually fhut, as where is fuppofed to be hid their Mammon of Unrighteoufnefs, (they burying their Efiates here when they dye, by the perfuafion of their Priefts, towards their viaticum for another State) admitting neither Light nor Air, more than what the Lamps, always burning, are by open Funnels above fuffered to ventilate: By which Cuftom they feem to keep glive that Opinion of Plato, in fuch a Revolution to return into the World again, after their Tranf- migration, according to the Merits of their former living. Thofe of a minuter dimenfion were open, fupported by Render ftraight and round Pillars, plain and uniform up to the top, where fome Hiero- glyphical Portraiture lends its alfiftance to the Roof, flat, with Stones kid along like Planks upon our Rafters. On the Walls of good Sculpture were obfcene Images, where Aretine might have lurnilhed his Fancy for his Bawdy Poftures : The, Floor is ftoned, they are of no great altitude ; {linking moft egregioufly of the Oyl they wafte in their Lamps, and befmear their Beaftly Gods with: Their outfides Ihew Workmanlhip and Coft enough, wrought round with monftrous Effigies; fo that oleum & operam perdere , Pains and Coft to no purpofe, may not improperly be applied to them. Their Gates are commohly the higheft of the Work, the others concluding in fhorter Piles. Near the outfide of the Town the Englijh Golgotha, or Place of The EngUp, Sculls., prefents variety of Tombs, Walks and Sepulchres; which Tombs - latter, as they ftand. in a Line, are an open Cloyfter; but fuccin&ly and precifely a guadragone with Hemifpherical Aparti- tions; on each fide adorned with Battlements to the abutment of , every Angle, who bear up a Coronal Arch, on whofe Vertex a Globe is rivitcd by an Iron Wedge fprouting into a Branch ; paved under¬ neath with a great Black Stone, whereon is engraved the Name of the Party interred. The Buildings of lefs note are Lbw and Decent; the Town is walled with Mud, and Bulwarks for Watch-places for the Englijl) Peons; only on that fide the Sea walhes it, and the Fort meets it. On the North are two great Gates of Brick, and one on the Well, where they wade over the River to the Walhermens Town. Its Map renders it a Trapezium by an Oblique Stroke of the River on that Corner, and another next the Sea, thus. A Twelve Month's Voyage 7he Figure of Maderas. S M The E»s/ifi Without the Town grows their Rice, which is nourished by the Gardens. letting in of the Water to drown it: Round about it is beftrewed with Gardens of the Englijh ; where, befides Gourds of all forts for Stews and Pottage, Herbs for Sillad, and fome few Flowers, as Jaf- . famin, for beauty and delight; fkmrilh pleafantTopsof Plantains,. Cocoes, Guiavas , a kind ot Pear, jlawks, a Coat of Armour over it like an Hedg-hog’s, guards its weighty Fruit, Oval without for the ' length of a Span, within in falliion like Squils parted , Mangos, the delight of India , a Plum, Pomegranets, Bonanoes, which are a fort of Plantain, though lefs, yet much more grateful, Beetle-, which laft muff not be llipt by in filence: It rifes out of the Ground to twelve or fourteen Feet heighth, the Body of it green and Render, jointed like a Cane, the Boughs flaggy and fpreading, under whofe Arms it brings forth from its pregnant Womb (which burfls when her Month is come) a Clufter of Green Nuts, like Wallnuts in Green Shells, but different in the Fruit*, which is hard when dried, and looks like a Nutmeg. what Pamis.' The Natives chew it with Ch'mm ( Lime of calcined Oyfter- Shells ) and Arach, a Convolvulus with a Leaf like the largeff Ivy, for to.preferve their Teeth, and corred: an unfavoury Breath : If fwallowed, it inebriates as much asTobacco. Thus mixed, it is the only Indian Entertainment, called Fawn. Thefe Plants fet in a Row, make a Grove that might delude the ■ Fanatick Multitude into an Opinion of their being facred; and were not the Mouth of that Grand Impoftor Hermetically fealed up, where Chriftianity is fpread,. thefe would ftiil continue, as it is my Fancy they were of old, and may ftiil be the Laboratories of his Fal¬ lacious Oracles: For they mafquing the face of Day, beget a fo- lemn reverence, and melancholy habit in them that refort to them; by reprefenting the more inticing Place of Zeal, a Cathedral, with iall its Pillars and'Pdlafters, Walks and Choirs; and fo contrived, that whatever, way you turn, you have an even Profped. Nature of the But not to run too far out of Maderas before I give you an Ac- People and count of the People; know they are of the fame Nation with Metcb- Idpatan, have the fame unbelieving Faith, and under the fame Bon¬ dage with the Moors, were not that alleviated by the Power of the EngHjb, who command as far as their Guns reach: To them therc- fore they pay Toll, even of Cow-dung (which is their chiefeft Firc- ing) a Prerogative the Dutch could never obtain in this Kingdom, and by this means acquire great Eftates without fear of being me-' lefted. Their only Merchants being Gentues, forty Moors having hardly The Figure of Milderg!. through Divers Climates. 41 hardly Cohabitation with them, though of the Natives 30000 are Chap. V. employed in this their Monopoly, The Country is Sandy, yet plentiful in Provifions; in all TheCounny. Places Tops of Trees, among one of which , on the top of a wi¬ thered Stump fate petching a Chamelion , Grace wv, clafping A chamim. with its Claws its rotten Station, filling himfelf with his Aferial Food, ex tali fatietate facile eft parare famem• a.Banquet which molt other Creatures elfe arife an hungred from: But to be confirmed in the truth of what we have only by Tradition, I caitfed a Black who had a Bow there, to fell him with an Earthen Pellet, which when he had, after a fmall time he revived, and making a Collar of Straw for his Neck, he carried him to my Lodgings, where I dieted him a Month on the fame Provant. That he changes his Colours at a con- ftant time of the Day, is.not to be contradicted} but whether he live by the Air alorie,! will not ftand to it, unlefs there were a Dearth of Flies in the Countrey; though for my part I never did fee him eat any. In Shape he comes! neareft a Newt; with his Lungs his Body does agitate its felf up to its Neck; he crawls on all Four, and has a Tail longer than his Body, which all together was no more tharl half a Foot; he has Teeth, and thofe lharp, which makes me think . him an Anti-led-ulian. , Nine Days fpent here, our Ships fet fail again for Mecbldpatan, Our Ships leaving us behind them. ‘ “ Mtch ~ In this Interim we have leifure to fay fomething, if not a plenary Panegyrick, Of the French Tranfailkns in the Eaft-Indie$. Of late Years, that ftirring Ring Lewis the XIV th (who Of the grow, was well inftructed firftby Mazarine, and fince having been no'bad “8 Power of Proficient under fo expert a Mafter) has made himfelf to be taken Frmh af notice of in Europe by his Conquefts and Attempts upon Flanders and the Low-Countries by Land; and has alfo by his Foreign Expeditions, acquefled the World’s admiration j by his fpeedy Growth in Maritime Power. Infomuch that at his Infant Entrance upon the Watry Stage he was fo audacious to join with the Belgians againft his Pioyal Patrori of Britain ; having his Ends of thofe he pretended to fuccour, his wary Policy taught him another Leffon, that caufed him to mediate a Triple Alliance. ' About which’ time enjoying full Coffers, he ruminated on great Twenty Sail Defigns, as the railing an Army againft Spain ; to the fame intent off^ships 1 it was neceffary for him to think of the continuing a Supply of undeca Vi ^ Money: He therefore (omitting other ways of enriching his Ex- r ° y ' chequer ) put in a Stock with his Merchant-Adventurers, fitting out a Fleet of Twenty Sail of lufty Ships, to fettle a Trade in India, committing them to the Charge and Condudt of a Viceroy; who Coming fate about the Cape , touched at St. Lawrence , where they ; did but little befides burying their Viceroy, and difpatching four i Ships into Europe. In G 4.2 A Twelve Month's Voyage In thefteadof the Viceroy deceafed, the now-reigning fucceeded. From thence they failed to Surat, where the Great Mogul endowed them with immunities of Traffick. In the mean while a fecond War betwixt England and Holland was fomented, in the which the French threw off the prote&ing the Dutch, and Tided with his Majefly of England. When negleding his newly-hatch’d Fadory at Surat ( whether out of its not an- fwering his expedations, or his earneftnefs in profecuting the Hol¬ landers by Sea as well as by Land, may be known by thofe that are more'intelligent in his Affairs at Home), fenfeof Honour, obliged his Fleet in the Eaft-Indies to New Adventures; and want of Money, the Merchants at Surat to Trade upon the Credit of the French King. With fourteen Sail of Ships they roved on the Coafls of Malabar , and atlaft came to the Ifland Ceilon, fetting upon the Dutch at Trin- comalai , and forced it; but being deftitute of Provifions forfook it, after the lofsof abundance of their Men, and four of their Ships. From whence they pafled along the Coaft of Coromandel, and with Ten Sail came before St. Thomas, demanding Viduals of the Moors j but they denying, they brought their Ships to bear upon the Fort, and landing fomefmall Pieces they ftormed it, driving the Moors to the fearch of new Dwellings. After they had taken it, they broke up their weather-beaten Veflels, and brought afhore their Ordnance, keeping their Trenches within, and mounting it with the Sea without; they ftill maintain it maugre allthegreat Armies the King of Gulconda has fent againft it. Till now the 18 th Month of its Siege, and the fourth year of their leaving France, the Dutch of Batavia, in revenge of the Inroads the French have made on their Countrey at home,- undertaking to way¬ lay them, that no Suftenance might be brought to them by Sea, came againft it with 20 Sail, 15 Men of War, great Ships, fome ' of 72 Brafs Guns apiece, well mann’d. The Viceroy For all that, the Viceroy, who had then been gone out with four glm brings in Sail, but returning alone, got betwixt them and the Fort with his his Ship. Tingle Ship in the Night: The. Device this; He left his Light upon a Catamaran, To that they thought him at an Anchor without them, when the next Morn he play’d upon them from under the Fort: This Exploit, and the bruit of our Approach, made them withdraw to the Southward for frelh Recruits of Men and Ammunition. The French Which gave the French encouragement to Tally out upon the Moors tL«r«. Up ° n C they before being beaten from their Works near the City, had de¬ camped. Seven Miles off St. Thomas'), and With an handfullof Men pillaged and Tet fire to their Tents, foraging the Countrey round about, returning Ioaden with Spoils. The Dutch' Three days after our Ships departed, the Batavians came again, appear again. an( j ca fl- Anchor over-againft St. Thomas with their Flags flying; in the Afternoon they received fome Shot from the French Fort and the Ships that lay in the Road: The next day all but five weighed; who tarried not many days before they followed the reft tp Policat, a Strong-hold of theirs, but 50 Miles North of us: Where we, leave them to the landing 700 Men, to join with the Moors by Land, and their Ships tp wait upon ours, upon their repair for Fort St. George • And at a diftance ( becaufe too near an Intrufion would but exafpe- Letterl. Sixteen arrive War with Holland. ■ The French take Frincmh- Im from the St. Thomas from the Fortify It. Dutch come againft it. through Divers Climates. 49 rate the enraged. Moors to enhanfe the Price of 'our Curiofity) we Chap. V. will take a Survey Of St. Thomas. I T is a City that formerly for Riches, Pride, and Luxury, wasfe- Hiftory of cond to none in India; but fince, by the mutability of Fortune, Sc ’ Thma ’- it has abated much of its adored Excellencies. The Sea on one.fide greets its Marble Walls, on the other a Chain of Hills intercepts the Violence of the inflaming Heat; one of which, called St. Thomas his Mount, is famous for his Sepulture, (in Honour of whom a Chappel is dedicated, the Head Prieft of which was once the Metropolitan Bilbop of India), and for a Tree called Arbor Trifiis, which withers in the Day, aridbloflbms in the Night. About this Mount live a Call of People, one of whofe Legs are as StT/w big as an Elephant’s; which gives occafion for the divulging it to c riftlins- be a Judgment on them, as the Generation of the Aflaflins and Mur- therers of the Blefled Apoflle St.Thomas, one of whom I faw at Fort St. George. 1 Within the Walls feven Churches anfwer to as many Gates; the Rubbilhof whofe flupendious Heaps do juftify the truth of what is predicated in relation to its priftine State. The Builders of it were the Portugals. The Confounders the Moors, who furprized them wallowing in their Wealth and Wantonnefs. The prelent Competitors are the French, who are very unlikely to keep it (riot for want of Valour, but for that few and unprovided, are not able long to refill: multitudes) th t Moors, and thirdly, the Hollanders , whofe Intereflsare to deftroy the French in India ; Which the French forefeeing, had wifely folicited a Truce with Qulconda, and had hopes of that King’s complying, till the Arrival of the Dutch, when they could not be heard. For confidering a Kindnefs extorted not fo obliging as that freely offered, and his Honour at¬ tainted by their Swords being flill in their hands, he clofed with the Hatred of the Hollanders , for their final Extirpation. Before which be accomplilhed, he may chance to find it an hard Task, efpecially had the French any hopes of Succours: For now they are 6co flrong in the Fort and Ships, all flout Fellows, every Soldier'fit to be a Commander. Their greateft fcarcity will be of Food, with which had not rhe Englilh privately befriended them, they could not have fubfifted hitherto. Though the Englijh, Ihould they have War with France, would find them to be an Annoyance to their Trade : So that were the City again in the hands of the Moors, or even with the Ground, it were better for us. Here it may be queried, Why Gulconda being a Potent Prince, King of c«l- fhould permit Garifons to be in the hands of Aliens ? To this may be a ” d “ weak « anfwered, That this of St. Thomas was founded when the Indians Sea " were naked and unarm’d. But this fatisfies not the QueftioD; fince that the Moors having conquered it,' they again offered it the Portu- gals, who flighted the Propofitions, unlefs they would reftore them their Guns which they carried away with them. The true reafon then is this, That Gulconda, as all the Indian Princes are, is weak at G z Sea; A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. Sea ; therefore it is a Maxim among them to commit their Strong- holds on the Sea-Coafts to thofe they can call their Friends, for not only preventing Invafions at the Charge and Courage of Foreigners} but they (not being Abfolute, butfubjed to the Authority of the Great Mogul) upon any Defeat, have thefe Places as fure Afylums of Retreat. Amidft thefe Scenes of Affairs, what next offers to our View, is odd in it felf, To find an Aptnefs in thefe People to improve all Gain¬ ful Arts, and not to have advanced one footfep from the falfe Ru¬ diments either of Religion or Cuftoms of the Old World ; for they do in my mind more than imitate, pertinaciouflv holding their Anti¬ quities of Pan , Ceres, and Flora; as may appear by this and other following Farces. A Ftftival of Towards the latter end of Auguft, when their Corn was in the the Gmttta. Blade, and they were expecting a plentiful Crop, the Gentues of Ma¬ dera* held a Feaftin Memory of fome of their Saints of the Devil’s canonizing. Their Ceremonies were uflier’d in with Tumult; in the middle of them were carried their Gods in State, garniflied with the Riches of the Orient; they were cut in horrid Shapes; thereafon of which, Divina afimulatio eft caufa diverfitatis in rebus ; though I fhould al¬ low the diverfity of Creatures in all Orders of the World, hath no other aim but to reprefent the Divinity, by whatfoever Image, yet I cannot imagine fuch Deformities could ever be invented for that end. Before them went the Brachmins, making a Noife with their loud Mufick; after them their dancing Wenches (who always Morning and Evening tumble afore their Gods, which with fome Mimical Gefture is all their Dancing) with Ephods of Silk and Gold upon their Breafts: With thefe in a Ring hand in hand, were the dancing Boys, all naked but a Clout about their Privities, like the Bacchanalian Youths that ufed to revel it with Floras Strum* pets through the Streets of Rome. Thus went they in Proceflion, till they came to a Pageant, where¬ on was pictured their Gods; from whence, over a crofs Piece of Timber, hung a Cocoa Nut, which the Hinds in Yellow Caps, and Clouts about their Waftes, ftriving to hit with a great Club, are ' Walhed by a Shower of Water, by the Brachmins placed on purpofe ; after a long Trial of their Patience, they buffer one to bear it away in Triumph. All the time of their Sport, Beetle and Cocoa-Nuts are fcattered among the People, for which they fcramble as earneflly as if they were Medals at Coronations. On a Pageant over-againft the Paged they had a Set of Dancers handed like Puppits, to the amuftng of the Mobile. Then Petting open the Gates of the Pagod, they received all the unfanflified Crew> and ffut them in; where how they conclude their Rites, is not to be divulged, Ignorance with them being the Mother of Devotion. Tribtiure. At Triblitore , four Miles North of Maderas, is a Pagod tranfeend- ing bqth in refped of Building and Antiquity; there being Chara- ders, the Expounders of the Gentu Language or Holy Writ under- ftand nor: To thisMother-Pagod, at certain Seafons of the Year, long 45 through Divers Climates. long Pilgrimages are fet on foot, at what time there is an innume¬ rable Concourfe, whereat fome of the Vifitants count it meritorious to be trod to death under a weighty Chariot of Iron made for the carriage of their Deities;, and with themfelves lay their-Wives and Children to undergo the fame Self-martyrdom. In one of their open Paged* or Chappels, {lands a Venerable Sir at the upper end, with the-Attendants of Lamps and Bats, to whom they pay a world of Worlhip: Who this fhould be, unlefs that Pe- riomel, from whole Head the Brack mins , Pallas-like fable their ori¬ gination, I am yet to feek. In the way hither are {lore of Antilopes, not to be taken but by a Decoy made of Green Boughs, wherein a Man hides himfelf, and walking with this Buih upon his Back, gains fo near on them, while grazing or browzing rather on Shrubs or-BuIhes, as to hit one with an Arrow, when it may be run down with Dogs, the reft of the Herd Iliunning it : They are of a delicater lhape and make than a Deer, their Horns not jagged; but turned as an Unicorn’s; nor fpread into Branches, but ftraight, and long, and tapering, rooted on the Os front'**, fpringing upon both Tides. At the end of Auguft one of the Portugal Junks, we found in the Road, fet Sail for Achein ; where is Gold, and the Uland thought by fome to be Scl.mns Ophir ; and the Queen thereof, by whom it is conftantly governed, confidently reported to be the Queen of the South , Achein being on the Ifland Sumatra in the South Seas. The firft of September only Seven of our Ten Ships returned from Mechlapatan , with their wounded Men and torn Hulks, who had met the Hollanders , and tried their Force; two days after they were difpatched from Mecldapatan , in Pettipolee Bay, where as foon as Day began to peep, a Thicket of Twenty Sail of our Enemies were difeovered Hemming the flowing Tide at an Anchor. Our Fleet might have palled them without giving Battel; but that the un¬ daunted Britain* fcorned to fly, chufing rather to lye a Battery for them, than cowardly to flinch : Wherefore they braced their Sails to the Mads,and being to Leeward, Hayed for the Wind which favoured the Hollanders', who coming up with our-Fleet, made as if they would have gone by them ; but were intercepted by the headmoft of ours: Which perceived by the foru'ardeft of theirs, they fent their Shallops aboard their Admiral for Orders, for vis confilii expers mole ruit /^Strength void of Counfel finks with its proper weight; which was but too truly the fault of our Commanders, overconfident, of their own Conduct, and lightly regarding the Authority of their Ge¬ neral. When they came back again, they brought their Fleet up in a Body, and after the Signal given, it thundred and hailed Bullets till Night. The firft that felt the warmth of the Showres, was the Bomlam ; who after an hours hot difpute almoft board and board with one'of' their biggeft Ships, bore off hardly able to keep above water, and never came in again, having received 80 Shot in her Hull, and fome between Wind and Water, fo that in-the Hold there was four Feet and an half Water; befides innumerable in her Rigging; Malts and Sails-, from thofe that pelted at a diftance. Chap. V,- WWi ufntihpu* The Queen of the South. We fight , tfie HoOmdirs,zni lofe three iimlmm and London dlfa- bled. 4 6 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. The next Ship that behaved her felf ftoutly, was the Admiral’s; who loft 34 of her Men by the fcurvy Accidents of Powder 17 of them were ilain outright. itntHope funk. But the Three fatal Ships were the Antilope , Captain Golslery- PnpMvt and Sampfon , Captain Ernnig , Reer- Admiral; and the Prejident, Vice- a! ' Admiral Captain Hide, whofe rigid fortune faved the drooping Ho¬ nour ot the Engjifh, which is not lefs confpicuous in Adverlity than in Profperity. For having fuftained the B;unt of the day, they left not off when they were penned in by the Enemy, and "deferred by their Friends: For by Five in the Afternoon the London bore away to flop her Leahs, the reft were glad to follow ; and left them to maintain fo unequal a Fight. The Vice-Admiral was feen to blow up his Decks feveral times, diftributing the Hollanders as Doles to the Fifties, and left not off till Night parted the Fray ; fo that what became of them our Ships could give us no account. Dutch Forces Six days fince this, aThoufand Men under Dutch Colours, with th-' siJ'e'of 1 a ^ ozen Carriages with great Brafs Pieces, marched by out of Ihot Sc. WjobL. of our Leaguers , and fixed their Standard with the Moors in fight of St. Thomas. The next day was fent from Mechlapatan hither, the Copy of a- Letter from Captain Hide, which allured us of his being alive, but wounded, his Ship as it is, at the difpofal of the Dutch ; as alfo Cap¬ tain Ernnigs, though he was killed firft: That Captain Golshery funk his, rather than it Ihould go to Batavia; that he, and what Men could Ihift for themfcves, were Me. It may be wondred why the French did not aflift us, they being as much at odds with the Dutch as we; the reality is, they offered their Devoirs, but we muft equip their Ships'; for which our Com¬ manders pretended lack of Orders as well as Money and Materials: Though the plain truth was, they defpifed kindnefs, thinking it be¬ neath them to be beholden to them for their help. The Wealth The Factories of the Hollanders on this Coaft, are Ceilon, Jafna- and Power of pat an, Sandrajlapatan, Negapatan, Po/icat, Mechlapatan. iaind!a‘ dtrl The Danes have a few, the French lefs. In the South Sea, under the Agent of Bantam, the Englifh have Fatftors at Pegu, Siam, Jamhee: The Dutch have Batavia , and the Moluccas, from-whence Nutmegs, worth more alone than all we have in India-, they being as powerful for Men, Riches and Shipping in Batavia, as in Europe; which is grounded on a different Principle from our Eafl-India Company, who are for the prefent Profit, not future Emolument. Tiiefe, as they gain ground , fee are it by vaft Expences, raifing Forts, and maintaining Souldiers: Ours are for raifing Audfions, and retrenching Charges; bidding the next Age grow rich as they have done, but not affording them the means. Our Ships that were left, were now fooner repaired, than fraited with their Salt Peter and Fine Cloth ; and had leave to make thebeft of their way for the Malabar Coaft in lefs than a Fortnight’s time, when it was determined to keep off to Sea, as well to elcape the Hol- landers , as the Violence ofthe Moffoons; who being upon the point of fluffing their Quarters, are moft dangerous near the Shore. Tlielr Policy in fecuring. lp.tchad for the Malabar Coaft. Thefe through Divers Climates. 47 Thefe Mojfoons or Monfoons, are the Winds and Rains cuftomary Chap. V- to all India, varying here only in refpetft of the Mountains. Therefore on thefe Coafts the South Winds blow for Eight Months, on four of which are May, June, July, Augufl. Then the Sun is fo C 0J fts, and ftrong, that it would be uninhabitable, “did not there fall at Night ^ r f “ i ' ations thofe Vapours which the Sun draws up in the Day; and by decli- ereon ’ hing of his exorbitant Heat, leaves them to be condenfated at Night; when the Air is more grofs, and the Earth is cooled either by thick Miffs, or a more palpable Moifture ( which you may call pouring Showres) and thereby made fertile, which otherwife would be irf- fupportable and barren. • That which makes this the more plaufible is, That the Ajtatick India intra Gangem, is a Pene InJula, and the Seas lie near round the Land.* But about the Sun’s retiring to his Southern Tropick, the Winds The Heats. take their Northern Courfe, the Rains do ceafe, and the Sea alters ^mperedby its Current to the South,, when by the innate coldnefs of thefe Blafts 1 ‘ the Clime becomes more habitable, unlefs where the Sands caufe a refle&ion of heat, as at Mecblapatan; where they keep clofe all Day for three or four Months together, (though then the North Wind. begins to abate its impetuofity, and the South Winds prevail) repel¬ ling the Heat by a courfe wet Cloath, continually hanging before their Chamber-windows; which not only, refills the Ambient Air, but by the afflux of Nitrous Particles from within, does caft a Chil- nefs over the Room; without which, the Walls, that for that in¬ tent are plaftered, would be fo hot, you could not abide your Hand on them ; the fame way they have of cooling their Liquors, by a wet Cloth wrapped about their Gurgulets and Jars, which are Vef- fels made of a porous kind of Earth ; the beft of Mteiha, reafonable' •good from God, which are carried with them in this nature when¬ ever they travel. ' • * Before we difmifs this Difcourfe, it may be noted, That the Rains TheRaim bn this Coaft are more intermitting than on the Malabar Coaft, fo inter- that they can Ibofe hence their Ships for Perfia, Mascha and Juddah , ^eCmft°of and to the South Seas in thofe Months they are Wind-bound on the Cc nmmdcl, other Coaft: for having the Land-Breezes to carry them off to Sea, the Mojfoons are more favourable. Concerning the Regularities of thefe Winds, perhaps fome others may give patter Gueffes than my felf, who am not concerted enough to dogmatize. Among the many that be alledged, I am not fond of any, though The Caufe of this have won a little upon my Opinion ; That the Sun may be as th eMafms . , well the reafon why thefe Winds fhould obferve his Annual Circum- inquired im ° ; rotation; as that the Ebbings and Flowings of the Sea, by the Moons meer depreflion of Air, fhould be afcribecf to her-Monthly Revolutions. And here one thing may be worthy our Curiofity, That after the Seafons of the Heats and Rains, the Rivers Indus and Ganges are faiJ to fwell their Banks, and thereby abundantly to encreafe the Border- ing Countries, where thefe Rains arelefs frequent: Whence, it may be, forne infight may be had for the Overflows of Egypt* which has* fet fo many Wits on the Tenterhooks, where it is reported it never . . rains :' A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I» rains: But in the Countreys near the fuppofed Sourfe of Nile, it does *■' to Excefs.' But you who have greater Reading and Leifure to digeft thefe Metaphyfical Notions, will mightily oblige me to furnilh me with ' your folider Arguments. Among which/I would intreat you to confider the Variety of the Loadftone in the common Chart: For what the incomparably Inge¬ nuous Des Cartes has wrote on that Subjeft, acquiefces only in mo- deft Hypotheticks, not any ways informing the Underftanding to a clear Apprehenfion; but after he has brought it through the Maze of Probabilities, he parts with it at the fame Predicament it entred. the Ttiiof iht Not to deviate any longer, we are now winding about the South- tk P hant - Weft part of Ceilon; where we have the fait of the Elephant full in ' our mouths; a Conftellation by the Portugals called Rabo del Ele- ■ phanto, known for the breaking up of the Munfoons, which is the laft Flory this Seafori makes , generally concluding with September, which goes out with difmal Storms. Water-Snakes. Yet fo good is Providence, as to warn us here, when all is obfcured, by Water-Snakes , of our too near approach to the Land; which are as fure Prefageson the Indian Coafts, as the C^e-Birds are there. The diffe- . Here the Mountains running Eaft and Weft, the Winds are to the //"/«LrCoaft t * ie South, and to the Weft of the North ; elfe quadrating ", * r with thofe on Coromandel ; only here in April zn&May the Winds are variable, and then they haften to leave thefe Coafts for Perfia, the Red-Sea, and South-Seas , or thofe make in that are to return hither; otherwife they run an hazard of lofing their Voyage, when the South to the South-EaftWmd is fixed, which continues to the latter end of September , or beginning of OHober : Then from the North to the North-Weft fets in again; and this Courfe is obferved moftly on all the Indian Shores, only fome few days different in the beginning and ending, which happen to the South, and in Lands commonly earlier than to the North, and break up later when they are more fevere, but the Intervals are milder; the middle Months clearing up in the day time; but from the firft fettingtothe going out towards’the North, the Sun hardly fhews his Face, unlefs a Fortnight after the Full Moon in May, and a Fortnight before the Elephanto. A Rejoinder of the Seatons.' 5 Gemini to Libra. This happens in the Sun’s Ecliptick Road. r Taurus On the Coaft of Coromandel from , to (Scorpio. And thus much may be faid in general; only the Land and Sea- Breezes in particular, on this Gaft of Surat and Malabar, when the Rains are over, keep exadly Land-Breezes from Midnight to Mid¬ day , and Ska-Breezes from the Noon of Day to the Noon of through Divers Climates. 4 ^ Making Land, we beheld it all a Flame, they burning their Stubble Chap. V. for Soilage, the Forerunner of the enfuing Rain; notwithftanding a Kingfijker flew aboard us with the flattering Coaks’s of Halcyon drove tosL days ; but like an unskilful Augur was defervedly reproached vvith the Ignorance of her own Deftiny, to dye in Captivity} which fatal. Neceflity made her eletR, rather than fuffer with whole Flocks of . little Birds blown from the Main, who not able to Item the boifte- roufnefs of the Winds, were hurried thence to perilh in the Sea. And now we were begirt with Land: the Maldivce Iflands lying South; Cape Comzrin North and by Weft I the Malabar Iflands Weft, ( whofe Inhabitants have no relation with thofe' on the Coaft); whence is brought great quantities of Ambergreece ; Ceilon , & 3 V. The Land our Mailer took for a Malabar Ifland proved a miftake; Lmd-iocic’d for by a ftrong Current we were lock’d in between the Ifland Ceilon , betwixt c e ,u n and the North Eaft fide of the Cape, within that defperate Canal and the Ca F- we before defcribed. Our Error was firft corrected by fome Filher- men bufy at their Nets, who brought aboard plenty of Fillies, all Strange co- new to us, who never had feen fuch coloured ones, fome gilded like lour’d Fite, Gold, others with Vermilion, varied by feveral Intermixtures. Whilft we were.loftin admiration* our Mates found themfelves no lefs at a lofs in their accounts, when they underftood they were drove 30 Leagues to Leeward of the Cape, by the broken Portugueze fpoken by thefeMen, and that we could not fail much farther than Tutticaree, a PcrtugalTown in time of Yore, where they had a Cita¬ del, and two famous Churches; and before us, which was the Lure, a Ketch of the Dutch's ( which we chafed for hopes of Prize) was failing to that Port, and prefently' after anchored: We were then in feven Fathom Water. This is the place where they drag Pearl. All along here the Top of Gates is feen above the Clouds., the The Monti-: . Ground beneath it Fair, Low, and Sandy. tain Gates. - Tutticaree is now in the hands of the Dutch, running the fame T„ttic amm t Rifco with Columbo, overagainft which it lies; we being now in the danger here, very Jaws of our Enemies, might have here concluded our Voyage, had their Fleet been nigh us. The next day we were becalmed, and thereby carried into the midft of the Streamand although in the Afternoon we had an humming Frifto, it ran with fuch Violence that we loft more than regained : This Miftakecoft us a Fortnights time before we could compafs the Cape, befides Fears and Jealoufies both of our falling into the Torrent, and our Enemies hands. The Cape lanches into the Sea with Three Points, running into a Campaign feveral Miles together, till it grows big with Mountains, • procreating their prodigious Race 400 Leagues, fevering the Coaft of Coromandel and Malabar, Eaft and Weft; Latitude 8 deg. <0 mitts North ; Longit. 9 6 deg. Eaft. C H A P., VI: Views the Malabar and Canatick Coajls tip to Bombaim.' A a ar t Night / T '0 prevent the mifchief of ingulphing again by.the Current, enlighten’d J. we anchored a-nights; when a Pitchy Blacknefs was inter- by Fifln p 0 fed betwixt us and the Skies, and not a Star to be feen : The Plehs Squammofa beneath the Surface of the Salt Ocean, gathering their little Fry (which proved to be Pilchards), either by the Repercuf- * fion of the Saline Bodies of the Waves, which is frequent, or by the more apt Pofition of their Glittering Scales, through that Me- * dium to refrad the hovering Light benighted in the Atmofphere, difperfed a Luftre as bright as Day; infomuch that a fmall Print might eafily be read by it. The Dutch Taking advantage of the Land-Breezes and the Tides, we fcud- grafp at all the ded along the Shore, which was Woody, and well flock’d with spice-Trade. j rees ^ t ^ e Q r0 und even for many Leagues together ; the Moun¬ tains peeping up behind a great way in the Country. Being againft Carmpoly , a Portugal Friar boarded us: It is fome Miles to the North of' Caulam , formerly inhabited by the Portugals, and from them taken by the Dutch, who have built a Caflle there, and Lord it over the Natives, fo that at Carmpoly the Dutch exad Cuflomforall the Goods they carry off to Sea, though there live but one Boy and two Dutchmen. The Portugals have only Five Per¬ rons here. The Englijh had alfo a-Fadory for Pepper, but they are gone both from hence and Purcat, 2a Miles more North; theCaufe through Divers Climates. 5 1 we are unacquainted with, but believe the Dutch will leave nothing Chap. Vf. unattempted, to engrofs the Spice-Trade; for none has efcaped them but this of Pepper.; Cinamon, Cloves, Mace, and Nutmegs, being wholly theirs; and by the Meafures they follow, this aifo in time mult fall into their hands. . Nor indeed are Pretenfions wanting, they holding here their How far ’tis Right by Conqueft (a fairer Claim than undermining), theyboaft- Fok¬ ina- they have in a manner fubdued the Natives; which is no hard matter, ftnce this Region of Malabar (in which general Name I reckon as far South as the Land?'s-End , and Thalapatan North ) is divided into feveral Petit Signiories, or Arch-Rebels againft the Za- merhhi of Calicut , only paying feme flight Acknowledgments of his Supremacy, as their Chief Bilhop, and joining with him againft the Great Mogul ; elfe driving to fupplant each other; having a Govern¬ ment moil like Ariftocracy of any in the Eafl , each State having a Reprefentative, and he to ad according to the Votes of the Nairn Gentry in full Aflembly; which as they interfere u ith one anothers Interefts, the weakeft have always been ready to call in help: For which reafon the Dutch were firfl permitted to rear Caftles tojecure the Sea-Coafts; which they have made fo good ufe of, as to bring them under their Yoke; the Great Mogul not difeouraging them in the leaf!;. . Keeping on our Courfe we left Cochin to the Southward, once a fa- c whin. mous.Mart of the Portugals , fince wrefted from,them, and made impregnable by the Dutch. At this place we bad adieu to all our bad Weather, though not to Left the Bad the Practices of the Dutch , who had prevented the Englifb at Pahana aifo; fo that here neither being any Pepper, we had nothing elfe p° a a; c e es . a, “ to do but hoift Sails for tanore, where, we touched the fi'rftof No¬ vember, the Natives having hardly lhaken off the fear of the Dutch : For a Boat with Sails of Mats ( all their fmall Boats making them . their Sails) came to take a Survey of us, and made towards us un¬ certainly ; when after feveral Fetches to and again, at laft they were within Call of us: We faw two Sumlreros ( a Mark for fome of Quality ) held up in the Boat-ftern, and a Man Hand up and wave his Hat, which made our Mailer ftretch his Throat to know what he was;. whereupon down went th eSumlrero’s held up in the Boat- ftern, the Boat cleverly tacked, and the Men tugged ftoutly at their Paddles, and we as roundly fent feven Shot after them, andthe/aw- don as many; but they were more fear’d than hurt; for after we had mann’d three Boats af ter them, they return’d with their Labour for their Pains, the Boat getting fafe from them. AtNight another Boat with an Englijhman came to ask what Ships we w r ere: Whom when we anfwered Englifb , he boarded us, and told us our ynadvifed Salutes were level’d at an Englijb Merchant fent off by the Chief, who not- withftanding he prefented two Piftols at the Breads of the Boatmen, could not beat out of them the fufpicion they were pofieffed with of our being Dutch .- Which (hews how ftrangely they are awed by them; and the rather, they being folicitous Blazers of their own good For¬ tune upon Us, and our Defeat by them; which they had taken care to publilh , to bring us into Difrepute, which commonly waits on Ill Succels, before we could come to tell our own Tale. Hz At 5 2 A Twelve Month's Voyage Letter I. At our arriving afliore the Natives flocked about us, and gazed upon us as if they would have flared us through; amidft a Lane of Et r"L«.° re whom we were ulhered by a few Portugals to their Chappel, at the Door whereof flood the Padre to receive us, and through it to con- dud us to his Houfe. Their Wares. From whence I went to obferve the Town, which is miferably , poor and draggling, though in the heart of it a double Row of Cot¬ tages opened their Shops of Wares, which confided of Pepper, Tur- merick, Ginger, Caff a Lignum , the lefler Cardamoms, Bunco, i. e. Tobacco, and Hubble-bubble Canes, the Produd of this Coaft, as arc alfo Beetle-Nuts the greateft Gain from this place to Surat , to be reaped by them. Amongftwhom were Shroffs, or Money-changers. On one fide in a fquare place was their Fifh-Market, through which we came into another Lane, at whofe end there was a Mofque. Their Houfes Their Houfes are littie Hovels or Hogflies, the beft of them fcarce mean. worthy the Name of a Booth. The Englijh Houfe is in the fafliion with the reft, covered all over with Cajans, and feated (which they mightily affed ) under Trees. The People are Tawny, not Black. Their Language Malabar. Here is a Specimen of their Charader. MaUbar Cha- rafter. They are fubjed to the ‘Zamerbin of Calicut, who fent hither his Delegate to welcome us, and invite us to a Continuance of Trade: He gave our Fleet feven Guns, which were planted near the Water- fide; which Compliment was returned by the Fleet. Their Nation The Nation is diftinguilhed by Three Ranks. The Priefts make h ° J ni d a Kn ' t ^ ie ^ ’ ^ ley v come a b‘‘ oad in feveral diftraded Poftures, fometimes gmihed. a ]j nakec j } piaifter’d over with Allies,, their Hair plaited like an - Horfe’s Tail j at other times appearing lefs barbarous, being cover¬ ed, but as Stoical in their Behaviour. The At»r»v. The fecond For m is that of the Nobiles, who are all bred Soldiers, and therefore called Nairo’s; the one part of them wearing naked Swords rampant in one hand, and a Target made of a Buffolafs Hide lacquer’d and curioufly painted in the other, with which they defend tbemfelves as afluredly as with an Iron Shield; the reft of them walk with a fpiked Lance barbed, as long as a Javelin, and poifed at the But-end with Lead ; at darting of which they are very expert. TheHusband- The laft and loweft are the Artizans Tillers of the Earth, of men. which here are no great ftore, being ever negligent in that they reap the leaft Benefit by; wherefore their Vaflals are commonly employed in that fervice, they being Drudges both to their Matters and Prince, who here as in all India is foie Proprietor of Lands; allowing the Oc¬ cupiers no more than a bare Subfiftence,and not that when a bad Year fills not the Publick Granaries; drubbing the poor Hinds till their through Divers Climates: . 55 Bones rattle in their Skins, they being forced often to fell their Chil- Chap. VI. dren for Rice, which is the beft here on this Coaft of any place elfe in the whole World. ’ In Habit they excel not one another; the Peer as well as Peafant, Their Men wrapping only a Lunga about his Middle, and thence reaching to his how cM - Knees. Only their Men of Honour that have, deferred it from the Zmerh'm , have their Wrifts rounded with thick golden Bracelets, illuftrated with Precious Stones. . Their Women are nearer white than the Men, of an Olive or Their Wo- Sallow Colour, cloathed as they on Coromandel , ftretching their men - Ears with Gold and Gems. In Manners the Natives are flovenly enough, if not brutilh. In Manners and Religion molt Heathens, though the Infedion of Mahometifm is con- Region, tagious among them. . They have Hofpitals here for Cows; and are charitable to Dogs, HofpMsfar providing for them abroad, but not fuffer them to defile them with- Cows - in Doors; being more merciful to Beafts than Men. Of Chriftians here are not an inconfiderable number. Here are alfo St.iw thofe Elephant-Legged St.Thomeans, which the unbiased Enquirers G^wns. will tell you chances to them two ways: By the Venom of a cer¬ tain Snake, for which the Jangies or Pilgrims furnilh them with a Faditious Stone (which we call a Snake-(tone) and is a Counter- poyfon to all deadly Bites; if it flick, it attrads the Poyfon; and put it into Milk, it recovers it felf again, leaving its virulency there¬ in, difeovered by its Greennefs: As alfo by drinking bad Water (to which, as we to the Air, they attribute all Difeafes) when they tra¬ vel over the Sands, and then lying down when they are hot, till the Earth at Night is in a cold fweat, which penetrating the rarified Cuticle, fixes the Humours by intercepting their free concourfe on that fide, not to be remedied by any Panacea of their Efculapian Senators; it is not much unlike the Elephantiajis Arahum. Their Coins are of Gold; a St. Thomas, io s. a Fanam, 7 and I of Coins Cur- which go to a Dollar, or Petacba: Thefe are Gold. Of Copper, a rent - Buferook, 20 of which make a Fanam. The Country is inticing and beautiful, Woody in the Plain, up The Pepper. : the Country Mountainous, where grows the Pepper: It is a Berry ; that is brought forth by a Bind-weed, wedded to a Tree, which it ; hugs as affedionately as the Ivy does the Oak; it is firft Green, ? when dried it is black, and husked white: Long Pepper grows on a i Shrub leaved and ftalked like our Privet. ' Their other Trees and Fruits are common with the reft of India ; Rice is their chief Grain. Beafts and Fowls, Tame and Wild, are not fcarce. : The firft Blackamore Pullen I everfaw, were here; the outward Bfacfamore Skin was a perfed Negro, the Bones alfo being as black as Jet; un- Pullen - ; der the Skin nothing could be whiter than the Flelh, more tender, ‘or more grateful. \ After two Nights cold and difquieted Lodging on the Ground IntenfelycoM (though under covert of the Englijh Houfe) and an Hellilh Confort Ani 2 ht$ - of Jacka/ls (a kind of Fox), with the Natives finging and roaring all Night long; being drunk with Toddy, the Wine of the Cocoe-: I Was defirous to go Aboard; when, it being Evening, the Sea Breezes 54 A lmlve Month's Voyage Letter I. began to drive the Waves with a great furf upon the Shore; infomuch that our Men could not carry me to the Pinnace, riding at the Grap- ling without; wherefore hiring a Canos, the Blacks played the Cha¬ ron, and I narrowly efcaped with my Life (being overfet) 5 finding by fad Experience, that Cold Nights affed even in thefe Hot Coun¬ tries, as fenfibly as under the Frozen Bear: Leaving off to wonder at the Natives' quivering and quaking after Sun-fet, wrapping them- felves in a Comfy, or Hair-cloath, and the better fort with Quilts, and making good Fires: For being well drenched in the Sea,the Wind . blowing very high, I was almoft nummed to death before I could reach the Ship. The reafon of this Coolnefs anights is becaufe the Rains have lately cooled the Air as well as Earth, which alfo may be afcribed to the Sun’s Ecliptick diftance, as well as the length of the Nights, which are but little longer than the Days; but chiefly to the foaking Mills bedewing the Earth after Sun-fet. Latitude of Tanore lies in io deg. 30 min. North Latitude. Having taken in what Bales of Pepper this Place afforded; we weighed by Two in the Morning, and by Four in the Afternoon An¬ chored againft that Anciently Traded Port of Calicut, in the Lati¬ tude of 11 deg. 30 min. North. escut. Of Calicut. A Shore the firft Houfe facing us was the Engli/h ; near it were placed fix fmall Pieces, refounding our Salutes at our Entry. ‘ The Portugal On the back-fide lay two great Guns, difmounted, of Brafs, all Fort over- that is extant of the Portugal Town and Caftle (which ran out as far 0W£ • into the Sea as our Ships now ride, near four Miles) overflowed by Water; nothing remaining of it but only what is taken upon Chro¬ nicle. The Story of . What is alfo left of Calicut, is not equivalent-to what might be calm. expe&ed from the gleaning of.fo many Ages of Traffick; unlefs, as Antiquaries efleem, moft of thofe things are Moth-eaten by Time, which Vermin has been plaguy pernicious here : For the City that flood upon Stilts, is tripped up, for down it is gone; and the Tem¬ ple, whofe Marble Pillars durft compare with thofe of Agrippa’s in the Roman Pantheon, is Topfy-turvy. And if any one that comes after me, make you believe it to be not above Four Miles in length, and in that not an Houfe befitting a Chriftian ; here and there a Mofque, and Burying Places with Tanks: A good long Bttzzar with Trafh, and Ripe Fruit; another with Opium, and Spices of this Coafl; Changers and Jewellers, unfenced and rude in Building; he tells you but the truth. Indeed it is pleafantly fituated under Trees, and it is the Holy See of their Zamerhin or Pope. Its Condition Ttie Citizens are urbane, being trained up to Commerce; but the ilnce the f»r- Trade gone to Goa, along with the Portugals; who at their firft ar- t*£*h left it. r j, va j j nt0 t jjj s g a y 3 f ounc j more Ships by 500 than we did, without either Chart or Compafs, who moft of them tranfported their Com¬ modities to the Red Sea , along the Coafts j or to the Gulph of Per- ■ .fa 55 through Divers Climates. fia- and thence they were carried over-land to Scanderoon, Aleppo, Chap, VI. or Conflantinople, unto the Hands of the Venetians, from whom we were ferved with them; and by that means they gained for them-. felves the Power and Greatnefs of their State. Since by the Profperous. Attempts of the Portugals about the Cape of good Hope, we are taught to bring them home at a cheaper Rate; whereby th ek Indian Hugfters begin to decline. For a long time the Portugals kept in with Caliiut, and drew a great refort hither, as well over-land as by Sea; till the Zamerhin, not brooking them as Inmates, ruined their Fortifications, (which oc- cafioned their remove to Goa ), and with them the Fame of Calicut. Their Coin admits no Copper , Silver Tans, zS of which make a fcoins, Tamm, palling inftead thereof. They have yet a correfpondence with Perfia, as may appear by their Ahfees, a Sixteen penny piece of Silver, current among them. . Their Trade in common with India is moftly for Beetle Nuts, and Cocoe Nuts, for Oyl, which latter they dunging with (Bubfhd) Fi£h, the Land-Breezes brought a poyfonous Smell on board Ship caufed by their putrifying. ' , Breaking ground hence, the Mountains were‘grown to that The tight height , that they feemed' to be the Partition Walls betwjxt this afanc of the World and the Sphere of Fire ; for the Sun was a long while after i he had gilded the Canopy of Heaven, before he could drive his Steeds over thofe Olympick Towers with his blazing Orb: Which I take notice of, becaufe the Sun and Stars afeend the Horizon to the Meridian dire&ly in the Torrid Zone, and fo delcend; whereby there is little or no Twilight, as there is nearer the Poles, where they af¬ eend and defeend more obliquely. ■ > At Mangalore the Dutch have- a Fort, and 6 Miles td the North the French have a Flag flying; within a League off Which a Grey . Rock extols its hoary Head eight Fathom above Water, navigable on all Tides, jullly called by us Sacrifice Ijland ; in remembrance of Several places a bloody Butchery on Tome Englijh by the Pirate Malabars, who aretheworft Picketoons on this Coaft, going in Fleets, and are let boufsfopi out by the Great Men alhore; the Chief of whom lives at Duma- rates. patan , where we took in fuller and larger. Pepper than any yet: They are ftronger here in ShippingThan the reft; they houfing Te- veral Junks of Burthen, drawn up on the Banks of the River, not yet lanched fince the Rains; which they always do when they fee in*' keeping them dry all the Winter with the Thatch of Cajuns. ■ Parting from hence, the Mountains above, and the Valleys below, were covered with Woods, only now and then Hills of Red Earth were huerfperfed (which our Dawbersufe for Painting) that held, on their pace till we were up with Canamore, another Forrrefs of the Dutch: From whence they fpake Defiance by fpending three Shots unregarded by tis. • From Diimapatam , five Leagues North, lies Phalapataii-, where! took Boat, and failed up the River with the Lafcarf or Sea-men of the Country; of whom. I Ihall fay no more at prefent,- than, that they are a fhame to our Sailors, who can hardly ever work without horrid Oaths and hideous Curfing and Imprecationsand thefe Moor - men , A Twelve Month s Voyagt ■ 5 < Letter f. men, on the contrary, never Let their Hands to do any Labour, but that they fing a Pfalm, or Prayer, and conclude at every joint Ap. plication to ir, Allah, Allah , invoking on the Name of God. On each fide upon the Teaming Banks are homely Villages, a plain Drefs becoming Art, the Servant, where her Miftrefs, Nature,is jo corufcant, here being whole Armies of Trees furprifingly beautiful. Befides thefe Benefits for Delight, there.flow no lefs for Profit; they improving the Commodioufnefs of the River ( which is Sailable round to Durmapatan) by a Free Trade. Six Miles up ftands Phala- patan , of Building bafe; it is overgrown with the Weeds of Mahome- tifm , the Moors planting themfelves here; whofefiing I was fo lucky to fee out of my Boar, my Lafcars entreating me to give them leave to go afliore to provide Vi&uals in the Buzzar. The King. His Meen was Patriarchical, his Head gray, his Beard Snowed with Age, his Raiment white in the Eaftern Mode. His Son and Heir, a Child, followed him; as he pafled, the People payed him humble Refpedf; he was without a Guard, it being tieedlefs where j Subje&s are Loyal-hearted. Crocodiles in The River was full of Aligators, or Crocodiles, which lay basking the River. j n t h e Sun in the Mud on the River’s fide, whom the Natives are fearlefs of 5 conceiting the Brachmznes have power to lay a Spell up¬ on them, that they do no harm. Which, whether true or falfe, ’cis certain they as feldom do harm in the Water, as the Tigres in the Woods, over whom they fancy their Priefts have the fame preva¬ lency. ■ , . cuttj-cony. A Mile more up was Cutty-Cony, the fair Palace, as it fignifies in Malahar-, but though it do in their Language* it would not make the Interpretation good in Englijh, it agreeing but in one particular, that is, the Site. It. having the advantage of an Hill, has an eafy Its profpedt. .ProfpetSt over the Water, as broad.here as our Tbamejjs ; and over the Verdent Meadows, which fpread themfelves Weflmrd, till Hills of Cardamoms do bound the fight, running from thence North by Eafl, while they meet with Mount Sephir (all along unchriftned Gate ) thefe are the minor Cardamoms, and thebeft, if not the only in the World : On the Eafl a gravelly Foreft with tall benty Graf, offers, befides its taking Look, diverfity of Game;, as Hares, wild Boars, Tigres, and wild Elephants, which are dreaded by Travel- • lers, they ftriking all down before them, Trees as well as Animals: The like Terror is conceived by the cradling noife among the Woods made by the wild Bulls; for all which, ’tis the practice of the Wood¬ men to dig deep Pits, and cover them with Sads, laid over with Boughs, to entrap them in their headftrong and unwary Courfe. I Monkeys with white Ruffs, and black lhagged Bodies, looking very gravely, are brought from hence. On the South a Wood of Jamloes, Mangoes, Cocoes ; on the North a Grove of Pepper. The GeotHe, The Place is now refigned to the Englijh , though the Gentiles it» wereunwi,lin S (,efert it being an Arch-Brachmine’s Seat, where i,jb. S ‘ was a fmall Paged Handing in the middle of the Yard well endowed, till they had robbed their Gods of their Gold and Silver; and npw they are faid to be dumb and fullen becaufe of the Englijh. But without any prejudice to Truth, we may believe the Ufurers Faith and theirs to be both under one Lock and Key ; Quantum nmmorum Chap. VI. kabet in arch , tantum habet & fidei. It is walled about by the Englijhvi'iih. Mud, except the two round The E r . s njh Points towards the Land, whole Foundations and Baftions are of Fort ' Stone. They have Fourteen fmall Guns mounted; here are twenty two Soldiers, befides Fa&ors: The Air fo falubrious, that never any Englijh are remembred to lay their Bones here. . The Fort is a Tetra- gone from Corner to Corner. Without, befides th e Englijh, there are a feledi. Company of Nai¬ ms, who are flout, ready, and refolute for any Aftion: Their Wea» . ponsare Bows and Arrows, with Falchions by their fides. By thefethe Countrey is inhabited; among whom if a Man fall Unfifetiwei. Angle, falvage Beafts are more compaffionate; but if you have but ling without" a Boy with you of their Caft. you may travel fecure enough. a Beyond the Outworks Jive a few Portugals Mufleroes or Miflera- Naughtinefs does-, among whom are Stews and Brothels; the Women of.this ^ f e „ heir Wo " Coaft being the moft profefiedly Lewd of any; being faid to in- ftrudt the Men to be Patients, while they adt the Mafculine Part in their Lafcivious Twines. Sixteen Tarrs here make one Fanam; Nine Fahams one Piece of Coins. Eight; four Cajh are the eighth part of one Rupee. Outftretching the Malabar Coaft, we/ailed along by Batticalai Left the mh. on theCanatick Coafts;' and the next Morning, between two Iflands bar Coafl we fa w fculking Six Malabar Proes waiting their Booty; but making ufe of their Oars as well as Sails, foon outftripped us. ' The Day after we came to an Anchor at Onor y the Land Hilly and 0mr the Barren, which I went to fee; it is in 13 deg. 10 min..North. We l^hedo' pafled to it through a narrow Bite, which expatiates into a wide the Canatick Swallow,. and then thrufts us up the River. On the North fide a Shore - Bow and Arrow Caftle overlooks it,. while it runs peaceably to the Town. Where we landed, the Dutch had a Houfe, and a new Junk lanched, with her Colours furl’d :K 5 ne end of the Town ftands in an hole; over a Rocky Hill ftands the other part, upon which the Ca¬ ftle with its Stone Wall faces an Heath a great way, yet looking alquint on the Under-woods. It is built after the exa but his Majefty finding it expenfive to bear out this Man’s Company. Pride, and in the cafting up Accounts, not available to him. only to the Commanders of his Majefty’s Ships, who by their own Adven¬ tures made good. Improvements; and the Eafl-India Company there¬ by began to be fenfible that their Trade would be impaired in the vending their Commodities at home, and their Ships in India little bettered by the King’s Port in India ; and above all, they being lia¬ ble to be Sufferers for the Hoftilities committed by his Maje¬ fty’s Officers on the Indians (who underftand no diftindion between King and Company) they as freely fupplicated for, what his Majefty was as willing to grant, the Ifland: They holding it, from that time, of his Majefty about four years after the King had poflefled it, they defraying all Charges. In this Exigency on either fide, the Martial as well as Civil Af¬ fairs, are wholly devolved on the Merchants; and now how they will manage the Sword as well as the Quill, concernes them. The Old Sol- The Old Soldiers are conftrained to fubmit, or disband, which diets ftomach makes them ftomach a hard Service under harder Matters: For be- the Compa°- f fides that natural Antipathy betwixt the Subtilty of the one, and Ge- ny’s Servants, nerofity of the other; the ftupendious elevation of their Servants on this new acquired Power thrown into their hands, Men, moft of them of no Experience or Education, coming young hither, but what they learn from a Luxurious and Griping People, whofe Go¬ vernment quadrates not with a Britijb MilitiaIt will not be eafy to conceive, 65 Bombaim, and the Parts Adjacent. conceive, as well from the incoherence of Difpofitions, as the Lordly Chap. I. Government of a Servant, what Grudges or Mifcarriages may be produced ? For where the Soldiers and Generals have different Inte- refls, and mutual Obligation is interrupted, the courfe of things muft neceflarily run-counter: Moreover, where they lhould be molt eminent in Dangers and Aflaults, and lead them on to bold Enter- prizes; yet if a tendernefs to Self-prefervation ftep in between the Publick Honour and Safety, (as it always does, where that bane to Noble A&ions, Covetoufnefs, is concomitant) and which is almoft eflential to a Merchant, a fear of being laught at for venturing too far 5 the Cafe is defperate. For Inftance, Our Ten Ships, moft of them hired by Merchants, and the Commanders fome of them (not to fay a)f for there were of them as worthy Men as any in the World) Principal Owners, were more willing to fhift for themfelves, than to hazard a {lout and unanimous Refinance: Which had they main¬ tained boldly, as they imprudently gave the firftOnfet ( by the HoU la-den own confeflion ) they had gained a Vi&ory never to be fu- Ikined by them, nor for our Fleet fufficiently to have been recom- penfed; whereas for want of wife Conduft, and a joint Defence, they imprefled on themfelves and Nation a Blur never to be wiped off! Yet fuch, by the Conftitution of the Company it felf, istheprefent Misfortune,that inftant Gain is preferred beforeGlory or a future emo¬ lument; which is the reafon, why they are lefs folicitous for fetling by Power, what th,ey mult ever be forced to beg, a Trade; and com¬ plywith Injuries, than command a Submiffion, as the Dutch do: But here alfo being left Tenants at will, they think it enough to leave Bu- finefs in no worfe plight than they found it. And here might be confidered, Whether it were not more for the Publick Welfare, lhould His Majefty be pleafed to make it a Royal Company, or a National Concern, as the Hollanders is ; than to let it be at the will of the Company under the forementioned Cir- cumllances to nnpofe Governours on the Ifland. The firfl of which was Sir George Oxendine, who being Prefident, Govemouts and therefore more immediatly requifite for him to refide at Surat, for As Corn- ordered Mr. Goodyeer, his Deputy, to govern Bomlpim; but Sir George pany ’ not long after finilhing his days, together with his Prefidency at Su¬ rat, Goodyeer battens thither in hopes to fucceed, when gaping for that which included this, he is excluded of both: Upon which account there happened an Interregnum at Bomhaim ; whereby this Body Po¬ litick grew up into an Anarchy, and fet upon its weak Limbs a Quin¬ tuple Head, called Commiflioners, who were as followeth, viz, Mr. James Adams, Chairman, (outed in two days) Mr. Sterling, a Scotch Minifter, Mr. Cotes, Captain Burgefs, Lieutenant Houghton; who upon the juft and happy choice of the Honourable Gerald Aun- gier , were diftolved; and Mr. Matthew Grey nominated Deputy, till the Company fent out Captain Toung , who had it not long before Mr. Philip Gy ford was put in; who deferves to be rerrtembred for his great care in railing the Baftions, and in a manner finilhing, what always w as Hill but beginning by tjie reft.He ruled three Years, when the Company thinking their Work to go on too fall, gave the Charge of Deputy-Governour to Captain Shaxton, and an handfome Recruit of Soldiers; which revived the not yet extinguilhed Fewd be- - K tween 66 An Hijlorical Account of Letter II. tween the Merchants and the Soldiers: Whereupon Shaxton was kept from it a full year; and in that Interim, the Prefident diftafled at the Infolencies of the Mogul’s Governour at Surat, and fearing a fe- cond Confufion of Government at Bomhaim, together forefeeing Clouds gathering from the Netherlands , not minding fo much thofe of the Seafon (the Muffoons being about to enter) infomuch, that narrowly efcaping a Dangerous Voyage, he came and took the Go¬ vernment himfelf in the Year 1671. where thefe three Years he has regulated Affairs with that Prudence, that whereas he found a Dif- affe< 3 ed and Incongruous Counci 1 , he has now knit them into a Bond of at leafl: Teeming Friendlhip 5 and does daily ftudy to advance the Company’s Intereft, and the good and fafety of the People under him. Strength of To this the Hollanders are witnefs; for the Spring before our the iiland. p[ eet arr f ve d (the fame Fleet that we unfortunately engaged ) the Dutch attempting to furprize the Ifhnders, found them and the Fort in fo good a Condition, that they were glad to betake them- felves to their Boats without any Booty, and the nest day hoifled Sails (for, faid they, Bomhaim been as hark as de Deel ) and not without good reafon ; for within the Fort were mounted no Pieces of Ordnance, and in other convenient Stands zo more, befides 60 Field-pieces ready in their Carriages upon occafion to attend the Mi¬ litia and Bandarines. To the Fort then belonged 3C0 Erglifh, and 400 Topazes, or Portugal Firemen: To the Militia out oi Portugal mufters 500 under Englijh Leaders, all well armed : Of Bandarkes (that lookt after the Woods of Cocoes) with Club: and other Wea¬ pons, 300. Befides fome Thoufands 'more’ would make a Shew, but not to be relied on, fliouid it come to the pufh. Moreover in the Road were riding Three Men of War, the beft of 30 Guns. The Fort ill Thus were they provided at our Arrival ; nor'were their Forces contrived, leffened by our coming. Since which a Trench out of the hard Rock the Fort is founded on, is digging to Moat it with the Sea: And they aredevifing Horn-works for its better fecurity; a thing, to (peak truly, of greater undertaking and expence than ever to endure ac- complilhingby the Company ; and without it, it will prove a thing of ill contrivance, it being ftraitned for room to receive a fuflicknt number of Defendants, and w'orfe fupplied with Water for Store, or Granaries for Provifion for a Siege. The firiT Modellers were to blame in not enlarging it to a Tank that Hands without the Parade, which they might have done with almoft the fame Charges. The Town. From whence let us walk the Rounds. At difiance enough lies the Town, in which confufedly live the Englifh, Portugueze, Topazes, Gentues, Moors, Cooly Chriffians, moft Filhermen. It is a full Mile in length, the Houfes are low, and Thatched with Oleas of the Cocoe-Trees, all but a few the Portugals left, and fome few the Company have built , the Cuftom-houfe and Ware- houfes are Tiled or Plaftered, and inftead of Glafs, ufe Panes of Oifter-fhells for their Windows ( which as they are cut in Squares, and polifhed, look gracefully enough.) There is alfo a reafonable hand fome Buzzar. At the end of the Town looking into the Field, where Cows and Buffoloes graze, the Portugals have a pretty Houfe and Church, with Orchards Bombaim, and the Parts Adjacent. 67 Orchards of Indian Fruit adjoining. The Englifb have only a Bu- Chap. I. rying-Place, called Mendams-Point, from the firft Man’s Name there interr’d, where are fome few Tombs that make a pretty Shew aten- tring the Haven ; but neither Church or Hofpital, both which are mightily to be defired. There are no Frelh Water Rivers, or falling Streams of living Wa- Frefh Water- tcr: The Water drank is ufually Rain-water preferved in Tanks, fpnngsfcarce - which decaying, they are forced to dig Wells, into which it is {train¬ ed, hardly leaving its brackiftiTafte; fo that the better fort have it brought from Mafegoung, where is only one frelh Spring. On the backfide of the Towns of Bombaim and Maijm , are Woods Woods of c«- of Cocoes ( under which inhabit the Banderines, thofe that prune and cultivate them ), thefe Hortoes being the greateft Purchafe and Etiates on the Ifland, for fome Miles together, tili the Sea break in between them: Overagainft which, up the Bay a Mile, lies Mafe- goung, a great Ftlhing-Town, peculiarly notable for a Filh called Bumbelo, the Suftenance of the Poorer fort, who live on them and Batty, a courfe fort of Rice, and the Wine of the Cocoe, called Toddy. The Ground between this and the great Breach is well ploughed, and bears good Batty. Here the Portugais have another Church and Re¬ ligious Floufe belonging to the Franciscans. Beyond it is Parell, where they have another Church, and De- F ° rU ‘i d . mefnes belonging to the Jefuits; to which appertains Siam, manured Churches - by Cokmleens , Husbandmen, where live the Frajfes, or Porters alfo ; each of which Tribes have a Mandadore, or Superintendent, who give an account of them to the Engli/h, and being born under the lame degree of Slavery, are generally more Tyrannical than a Stran¬ ger would be towards them ; fo that there needs no other Task- mafter than one of their own Tribe, to keep them in awe by a rigid Subje&ion. Under thefe Uplands the Wallies of the Sea produce a Lunary Salt-Pans. Tribute of Salt, left in Pans or Pits made on purpofe at Spring-Tides for the overflowing; and when they are full, are incruftated by the heat of the Sun. In the middle, between Parell, Maijm, Sciam, and Bombaim, is an Hollow, wherein is received a Breach running at three feveral places, which drowns 40000 Acres of good Land, J’telding nothing elfe but Samphire; athwart which, from Parell to Maijm, are the Ruins of a Stone Cawfey made by Pennances. At Maijm the Portugais have another compleat Church and Maj , Houle; the Englijb a pretty Cuftom-houfe and Guard-houfe: The Moors alfo a Tomb in great Veneration for a Peer, or Prophet, in- ltrumental to the quenching the Flames approaching their Prophet’s Tomb at Mecha (though he was here at the fame time) by the Fervency of his Prayers. AiSahefmtg, the fartheft part of this Inlet, the Fmcifcans enjoy &rfw/w. another Church and Convent; this fide is all covered with Trees of Cocoet, jams, and Mangoes ; in the middle lies Verulee, where the Engltjb Dave a Watch. On the other fide of the great Inlet, to the Sea, is a great Point MohhM abutting againft Old Woman’s Ifland, and is called Malabar-hill, a Rocky, Woody Mountain, yet fends forth long Grafs. A-top of all is a taoy Tomb lately reared ; on its Declivity towards the Sea, the Ri Remains 68 An Hifiorical Account of Letter H. Remains of a ftupendious Pagod, near a Tank of Frefh Water, ■^\y which the Malabars vifited it moftly For. Bignefsofthe Thus have we compleated our Rounds, being in the Circum- Ifl°nd. fertnce Twenty Miles, the Length Eight, taking in Old Woman's Ifland, which is a little low barren Ifland, of no other Profit, but to keep the Company’s Antelopes, and other Beafts of Delight. A mixtPeople. The People that live here area Mixture of moft of the Neigh¬ bouring Countries, moft of them Fugitives and Vagabonds, no ac¬ count being here taken of them: Others perhaps invited hither ( and of them a great number) by the Liberty granted them in their feveral Religions; which here are folemnized with Variety of Fopperies ( a Toleration confiftent enough with the Rules of Gain ), though both Moors and Portugal! defpife us for it; here licenfed out of Policy, as the old Fhmidians to build up the greateft Empire in the World. Of thefe, one among another, may be reckoned 6ooco Souls; more by 5C000 than the Portugals ever could. For which Number this Ifland is notable to find Provifions, it being moft of it a Rock above Water, and of that which is overflowed, little hopes to recover it. However, it is well fupplied from abroad both with Corn and Meat at reasonable Rates; and there is more Flelli killed for the Englijh alone here in one Mofith, than in Surat for a Year for all the Moors in that Populous City. Engiijb Go- The Government here now is Englijh ; the Soldiers have Martial vemment. Law: The Freemen, Common; the chief Arbitrator whereof is the Prefident, with his Council at Surat-, under him is a Judiciary, and Court of Pleas, with a Committee for Regulation of Affairs, and prefenting all Complaints. Power and The Prefident has a large Commiflion, and is Fie e-Regis ; he has State of the a Council here alfo, and a Guard when he walks or rides abroad, ac* rdl eilt ’ companied with a Party of Horfe, which are conftantly kept in the Stables, either for Pleafure or Service. He has his Chaplains, Phy- flcian, Chyrurgeons, and Domefticks; his Linguift, and Mint- Mafter: At Meals he has his Trumpets ulher in his Courfes, and Soft Mufick at the Table: If he move out of his Chamber, the Sil¬ ver Staves wait on him; if downStairs, the Guard receive him; if he go abroad, the Bandarines and Moors under two Standards march before him : He goes fometimes in his Coach, drawn by large Milk- White Oxen, fometimes on Horfeback, other times in Palenkeens, carried by Cobors, Muffl' Seat, here prefented with Rich Game, as Peacocks, Doves, and Pigeons, Chitrels, or Spotted Deer. When we came to the Town, two feveral Churches flrove to re¬ ceive us; but having fome Acquaintance with the Father of the one, and not with the other, we excufed our felves to the latter, and took up with our Friend.. As foon as we came in, the Servitors fetch’d us warn! Water to walli our Feet, which was very refrefhing; it put me in mind of Lot’s Courtefy to the Angels. After this, as a piece of extraordinary Civility, they (hewed us the Neceflary Houfe; and it is fo in a Countrey where Fluxes are fo common ; and for that rea- fon it is kept as neat as their Lodging Rooms, having. Water to walli after you- have ufed a clean Towel hung there for that purpofe. This Night we fared very well. Next Morn before Break of Day we diredted our Steps to the anciently fam’d, but now ruin’d City of Canorein ; the way to it is fo delightfome, I thought I had been in England ; fine Arable, Paflure, and Coppices; thus we paffed Five Mile to the Foot of the Hill on which the City (lands, and had Faffed half a Mile through a thick Wood, peopled by Apes, Tygers, wild Buffolo’s, and Jackalls; here were fome Flocks of Parockets: When An Hiftorical Account of Letter II. The City °f merly an Hea- Reported to be dug out of the Rocks by When we alighted, thb Sun began to mount the Horizon over the Hills, and under our Feet, as if he had newly bathed his fiery Cour- fers, there appeared the Mouth of a Tank, or Aquedud, out of a Rock, whofe (learning Breath was very hot, but water cold : From hence it is thought the whole City to be fupplied with water; for as we afcend, we find fuch Places, where convenient, filled with Lim¬ pid Water, not over-matched in India : If it be fo, (as I know not how to contradid it) that it fliould have its Current upwards through the hard Rocks artificially cut, the World cannot parallel fo wonderful a Water-courfe! From hence the Paflage is uneafy and inacceffible for more than two abreaft, till we come to the City, all cutout of a Rock; where is prefented Vulcan’s Forge, fupported by two mighty Colofles, bel¬ lied in the middle with two Globes. Next a Temple with a beauti¬ ful Frontispiece not unlike the Portuco of St:Pauls Weft Gate: With¬ in the Porch on each fide (land Two Monftrous Giants, where two Lefler and one Great Gate give a noble Entrance ; it can receive no Light but at the Doors and Windows of the Porch, whereby it looks more folemnly; the Roof is Arched, feeming to be born up by huge Pillars of the fame Rock, fome Round, fome Square, 34 in number. The Cornijh Work of Elephants, Horfes, Lions ,• at the upper end it rounds like a Bow; near where (lands a great Offertory fomewhat Oval, the Body of it without Pillars, they only making a narrow Piatzo about, leaving the Nave open : It may be an xoo Feet in Length, in Height 60 Feet or more. Beyond this, by the fame Mole-like Induftry, was wmrked out a Court of Judicature (as thofe going to (hew it w ill needs give Names) or Place of Audience, 50 Feet fquare, all beftuck with Imagery , well Engraven according to old Sculpture. On the Side, over againlt the Door, fate one Superintendent, to whom the Bradmin went with us, paid great Reverence, not fpeaking of him u ithout a token of worlhip; w'hom he called Jougy, or the Holy Man ; under this the way being made intohandfome Marble Steps, are the King’s Stables, not different from theFafhion of cur Noblemens Stables, only at the head of every Stall feems to be a Dormitory, or Place for Devotion, with Images, which gave occafion to doubt if ever for that End; or rather made for an Heathen Seminary of Devotes, and thefe their Cells or Chappels, and the open Place their Common Hall or School: More aloft flood the King’s Palace, large, (lately and magnificent, furrounded with lefler of the Nobility. To fee all, would require a Month’s time; but that we might fee as much as could be in our allotted time, we got upon the higheft part of the Mountain, w'here we feafted our Eyes with innumerable Entrances of thefe Cony-burrow's, but could not fee one quarter part. Whofe Labour this fliould be, or for .what purpofe, is out of memory; but thisPlace by the Gentiles is much adored: Some con¬ tend for Alexander ; and as a proof, think they have faid enough, when it is received by Tradition, that a great Gap out of a (olid Rock was cut by him to make this an Ifland : But this is contradi- dory to the Story delivered of Alexander , That he failed up Indus, and encountred King Porus, of whom fome little Remains may be colleded, they fpeaking of that King by the Name of Por in Cam- 73 Bombaim, and the Tarts Adjacent. laia, where Alexander landed with his Army; and followed the Chap. III. Courfe of Indus , dire&ly contrary to this Place, that lying North- W'VNJ Eafti this South from thence; nor do we read his flay in India was fo long, to atchieve fuch Ads as thefe, this Place being not the only Inftance of this nature ; but more probable to be an Heathen F«ne\ or Idolatrous Pagod, from the Superfluous Opinion they ftill hold . of its Sacrednefs: Wherefore the Portugals, who are now Matters of it, ftrive to erace the remainders of this Herculean Work, that it may fink into the oblivion of its Founders. Returning to Magatana, we fpent fome days in riding about the Country, which we found every-where provided with Churches. The Chief City of this Ifland is Tanaw: In which are Seven ta the Churches and Colleges,, the chiefeft one of the Paulijlines ; the Chief Place. Houfes Tiled, but low : Here are made good Stuffs of Silk and Cotton. There is another great Town called Mein, where is a Cattle and Mem a great fome Soldiers, towards the Sea; over-againft Bagein there is another Town - Fort and Aquada. The Portugals fuffer none but Chriftians here : It has no Rivers, Happinefsof but only Inlets of the Sea; but good Springs from the Rocks; the the Soil. Ground excellently fertile, either of it felf, or by the care of the Inhabitants; that it yields as good Cabbages, Coleworts, and bet¬ ter Rhadilhes than ever I yet faw: Befides Garden-Fruit, here are incomparable Water-Melons, and Onions as fweet, and as well tatted as an Apple; and for the natural growth of the Soil, it is known hot only to fupply the adjoining Iflands, but Goa alfo. It is more than 20 Miles in Length, and 70 in Circumference. CHAP. III. A Vtfit to Bafein, ' a Portugal City in India; our return by Elephanto, and the Putachos, with ObJerVations on the Ifland Bombaim. T HE feveral Capitaneos of the Portugals are triennial, which The capita are the Alternate Governments entailed on.the Families of ""' oftfl = the Conquerors, and therefore made Circular; every one in his temafe. “ courfe having his turn to rule in fome Place or other for Three Years, and upon thefe they can borrow, or take up Rfrony as certain as upon their Hereditary Eftates, the next Incumbent being Secu¬ rity for the payment: Purfuant to this, a new Governour coming to CU,_ his Honour the Prefident fent to congratulate him; and the Admiral of the North coming to Baqein , another was fent on the fame Meflage. . 1 Nor could the hot Months be over, before John de Mendos, ’of a Noble Family, fent for me to Bafein for the cure of his only Daughter, illuftrioully born, handfome, and on the point of L Marriage 74 An Hiftorical Account of Letter II. Marriage with the Admiral of the North , though not full Twelve y ears old. ■ A Meffige to Leaving Bomlaim, at this time of the year, we could go either at?™;. within or without; but the firft being related to be plealanteft, [ chofe that way,- failing by Trumlay , where we receive Cuftom, we might fee a comely Church and AUea .- At Noon we reached Tanaw ; Having gained our PafTage over the Flats, we made no flay, but rowed ftreight to Bacein ; every half Mile we were prefented with frefli Profpeds of delicate Country-Manfions; two of which of fpe- cial note draw the Eyes of the Beholders; one of John de Melos , three Mile off Tan aw, it Handing high, curioufly built, has a Tarns Defcent with Walks and Gardens half a Mile, till it lead to a fpacious Banquetting-houfe over the Water, with Stone-flairs for Landing: Beyond it a Mile, on the fide of an Hill, {lands Grehondel , a large neat built Town of Martin Alphonfds- f m& at top of alfhis Houfe, Fort and Church, of as {lately Architecture as India can afford; he be¬ ing the Richeft Don on this fide Goa. Here we are Land-locked by the Gut, which is fabled to be made by Alexander; from which we have an open paffage to Bacein, it lying bare towards the Sea. BACEIN The city is Is incircled with a round Stone-wall, and has a Gate for every I0Und - . Wind ; it is ftrong enough againft the Indians , but not able to en- , dure an European Foe: There are upon the Out-walls, and in the Fort, Forty two great Guns; the Fort in the middle of the City is 'circular; towards the Market appears a State-houfe Piatzed, where the Governour convocates the Fidalgos every Morning upon confu¬ tation, in which they all {land, a Chair not being permitted the Go¬ vernour , though Gouty: Towards Evening they meet there to Game. six Churches Within the Walls are fix Churches, four Convents, two Colleges, Walls”* 16 0ne ^ ie J e I u ^ ts ' anot her of the Franciscans. It bears the Name of J s ' an Academy; the Students are inftruded in the Jefuits College, but live in Town: Where is a Library, with Claffes of Hiftorians, Mo- . ralifts, Expofitors, and no more. It is a College of Polite Strudure, in the Fortuco is a Copy of Angelos , reprefenting the Refurredion; above Stairs, as well as below, are fine fquare Cloifters, as all their Collegiate Churches have, on the fides whereof are their Cells; they have a fpacious Refedory, and a goodly Church j three-parts of the City is devoted to their ufe. The Dwei- The Fidalgos ( for few Artifans are tolerated within the Walls) lings of the have {lately Dwellings, graced with covered Balconies, and large v ‘ R&0! ' Windows two Stories high, with Panes of Oifter flielJ, which is their ■ ufual Glazing among them in India , or elfe Latifed. They Ihew their Greatnels by their number of Sumhreeroes and Cofferies , whereby - it is: dangerous to walk late for fear of falling into the Hands of thofe Pilfering Abufive' Rafcals. None but Chriftians lodge within the City, the Banyans repairing to the Suburbs upon Tattoo. The City is a Mile and half round ; it Hands on an Ifland, feparated by a fmall Channel- from the Main, as far off the Ifland Canorein , as. Canorein from Bomhim, and parted after the like nature. The 75 Bombaim, and the Parts Adjacent. The Land about it plain, and fruitful of Sugar-Canes, Rice, and Chap. HI. other Grain; a great part of which has lately been deftroyed by the Arabs oi Mufchat, who put them to a fore fright in Bagein: and this m e a 'j e 3 ' is done often, fetting fire to their Villages, and carrying away their by the Arabs Ftdalgos Prifoners, together with their Wives and Families, butcher- about ingthe Padres, and robbing the Churches without refinance, con¬ ceived on a deadly Feud, partly out of revenge of the Portugal Cruelties at Mujchat ; but chiefly out of deteftation of each other’s Religion ; infomuch that .Quarter is denied on either fide : But that on this Pretence. The Portugals ftriving to pof- fefs themfelves of Mufchat , were put to fuch ftrefs, that had The ground not their Armado come to their.'relief, they muft have defifted of their Quar- their Enterprize: Upon the arrival whereof the new Recruits rek gained fo much on the Arab Governour, that he yielded up the otherwife invincible Fort of Mufchat; where the Portugals adiing all nefarious Outrages, contrary to their Promife, the Arabs rearmed themfelves with Courage and frefh Succors, and at length beat them from hence to Ornus in the Gulf of Perfia ; from whence alfc they were routed by the help of the Engli[h ( we then being at : war with them ); the firft blow to their Greatnefs in thefe S Parts. \ To check thefe Incurfions of the Arabs, the Portugals every Year The Arabs are at the charge of a lufty Squadron in thefe Seas, which were tnofe “ re a n “ c t ^ we met on the Coaft returning from thence; who were no fooner ° gone, than the Arabs fent their Fleet to do this Mifchief here; which now ’tis done, they are again in queft of them, but they flv as of¬ ten as thefe purfue. And if fuch be the gafping Strength of the Portugals, to terrify the f heir hit Ef- Potentefl Enemies to Chriftianity in thefe Parts, what was theirflou- forts - riffling Eftate ? Whence it may eafily befuppofed before now all had bowed to the Crofs, which yet bend under Heathenifm or Mahome- : tifm, had they not been prevented by unhappy Pretenders, that (I fear) too hiuch preferred Merchandize and private Pieques, before the welfare of Religion: For it is morally probable, that had not the \ Dutch and 'we interrupted them, all might/have been Chriftian in | thefe parts of the World. [ Having in a Week’s time compleated my Buftnefs, returning the Eiiphamo^no- [ fame way, we fleered by the South fide of the Bay, purpofely to tber 1 ~ ,a ’ .. ; tou ch at Eliphanto, fo called from a monftrous Elephant cut out of cutout of a * the main Rock, bearing a Young one on its Back 5 not far from it folid Rock ' the Effigies of an Horfe ftuck up to the Belly in the Earth in the Val¬ ley ; from thence we clambred up the higheft Mountain on the Ifland, on whole Summit was a miraculous Piece hewed out of folid Stone: It is fupported with Forty two Corinthian Pillars, being a Square, open on all fides but towards the Eafi ; where ftands a Statue with three Heads, crowned with ftrange Hieroglyphicks: At the North fide in an high Portuco ftands an Altar, guarded by Giants, and im¬ mured by a Square Wall ; all along, the Walls are loaded with huge Giants, feme with eight handshaking their vaciquifhed Knights ftoop lor mercy. Before this is a Tank full of water, and beyond.that ano¬ ther Place with Images. This feems to be of later date than that of Canorein, though defaced by the Portugals , who have this Ifland alfo j Li but y 6 An Hifioricd Account of Letter If. but no Defence upon it, nor any thing elfeof Note ; it may be Ten Miles round, inhabited by the Povn, or Poor: From hence we failed to the Putachoes, a Garden of Melons ( Putacbo being a Melon) were there not wild Rats that hinder their Growth, and fo to Bom- laim. The Heats. The Weather now was grown exceffive hot, the Earth beginning to gape for Thirft, the Sun being in its Zenith with us; the South Winds are fet in ftrong, and the Toddy-Trees ferment their Wine over the Veflels, the Prodromi of the enfuing Rains; which make their firft lhew at the firft Full Moon in May, and continue a Fort¬ night, in which fpace it is unhealthy; till after a Fortnight’s fair 1 Weather they fet in for altogether. The m„ ui's This Seafon makes the Syddy retreat hither with his Fleet, who. Fleet winter from a Lord of Duccan is promoted to be the Mogul’s Admiral; or at Bmbaim. truer, driven to diftrefs by Seva Gi, undertakes this Employment, in confidence to recover his own Dominion on the Sea-Coaft, whilft the Mogul’s General at Land is to flop his Proceedings on that fide: But Seva Gi poffefled of his Country, and bidding for his flrong Caftle at Dan de Rajapour Bay, which he has been to defend this Summer, derides his Attempts, and is preparing to be inftall’d Mau Raja, or Arch Raja, at his Court at Rairee ; for which an Embafly to keep all right muft be difpatch’d. The Ingenui- In the mean while Nature affords us a pleafant Spedacle for this ty of the Toddy Seafon, as well as Matter for Admiration; whereby I know not why 11 ' we fliould deny'Reafon wholly to Animals; unlefs it be, Man ha¬ ving fo much, theyfeem comparatively to have none: For hereisa Bird ( having its Name from the Tree it chufes for its San&uary, theTcddy-Tree') that is not only exquifitely curious in the artificial Compofure of its Neft with Hay, but furnilhed with Devices and . Stratagems to fecure its felf and young ones from its deadly Enemy the Squirrel; aslikewife from the Injury of the Weather; which being unable to oppofe, it eludes with this Artifice, contriving the Neft like a Steeple-hive, with winding Meanders; before which hangs a Penthoufe for the Rain to pafs, tying it by fo {lender a Thread to the Bough of the Tree, that the Squirrel dare not venture his Bo¬ dy, though his Mouth water at the Eggs and Prey within; yet it is ftrong enough to bear the hanging habitation of the Ingenious Con¬ triver, free from all the Aflaults of its Antagonift, and all the Acci¬ dents of Gufts and Storms: Hundreds of thefe Pendulous Neds may be feen on thefe Trees. The BrM- Here is another Tree called Brail, bodied like a Cocoe, but the Tree. Leaves grow round like a Peacock’s Tail fet upright, of the fame fubftance with the Cocoe, only varying in figure; the Fruit of this is lefs than the Cocoe, and filled with a Geliy; the Wine from this is preferred new, before the other; there is a Tuft at top, cut off and boil’d eats like Golliflowers; on which Tree thefe Birds build alfo. The Rains And now the Rains are fet in, all Hoftilities and Commerce ceafe, fet In.- ' and every one provides for this time, as the laborious Ant for the , Winter; here being no ftirring out to Sea, or travelling in the Coun¬ try ; the beft Paftime now being good Fellowlhip. Thus lies this place afloat, and the Rains and Thunder are violent enough to con- . vince the incredulous of a pofiibility of a General Deluge. This holds 77 Bombaim, and the Parts Adjacent. holds with little intermiflion till St. Frauens Mom, the firft Full Chap. IV. Moon in Jiigufi ; when our Europe Ships, if they fave their Paffage about the Cape, venture to make in here, by the diretdions of the yellow Bellies of the formerly mentioned Water-Snakes, who are a warning to them of adventuring too near the Shore, till this open Weather appear. After this Full Moon, the Banyans, a (Tilled by their Brachmins, go The Heathens in Procehion to the Sea-lhore, and offer Cocoe-Nuts to Neptune, that fc r f n V t o?he he would reftore them their Mare Pacificum-, when they make Pre- Sea. ° parations to go to Sea, and about their Bufinefs of Trade. By this opportunity our Ambafladors eroded an Arm of the Sea, and returning from Seva Gi, delivered the Prefident this following Account; which I the rather infert, becaufe the manner of dealing with thefe Princes and Great Men may be the better underltood by this formal Addrefs. CHAP. IV. A Narrative of an Embajfy to Seva Gi, and Journey to Rairee, the Court of the Rajah. T H E Ambadador having received Inftru&ions, and got all things ready for his Journey, embark'd on a Bomhaim Sbehar (together with two Englijh Fa&ors, who were appointed by the Honourable the Prefident to accompany him) ; and about Nine a Clock at Night arrived at Choul, a Portugal City, on the Main, into which he could not enter, the Gates being fhut up, and Watch fet; fo that they paded this Night in the Suburbs, in - fmall Church called St. Selaflians; and the next day about Three in the After¬ noon receiving Advice that Seva Gi was returned to Rairee from Chihlone, departed thence to Upper ’Choul, a Town belonging to the Rajah, about two Miles didant from the Portugal City; and was in former time a great Mart of all forts of Duccan Commodities; but now totally ruined by the late Wars betwixt the Mogul and Seva Gi, whofe Arms have plundered and laid it wade. The Sulidar of this Town being a Perfonof Quality, who com- Howriies^/. mands the Countries oppodte to Bomhaim , as Magatan, Penn, and , <&r is created, TuS, he thought good to give him a Vidt, and to prefent him with a couple of Pamerim ; and the rather, becaufe he underdood by the Linguid Naran Sinaij, he had fome Averfion to our Nation, and might hinder our Proceedings at Court; from which he was willing to take him oft by all fair means: He received the Vi(it kindly, and pronufed all Courtefy that lay in his Power to perform; and after iome immaterial Difcourfe they returned to their Tents. The Day following they took Boat, and failed up Choul River, to Proceed on aTowncaHed^ewy, fix Leagues didance from Choul, where they theIr J° urn ^ Raid till next day; and fet forth about fix in the Morn from Efihemy,' and about Sun-fet pitched their Tent in a Plain, fix Miles fhort of Nijbampore, where they dayed about an hour to refrefli their Coolies, and 78 An Hiflorical Account of Letter. II. and then fet forward for Ni[hatnpore, and at Nine palling by Ni- jh,impure, arrived next Morning at Gongouly , a little Village fituated on the Bank of a pleafant Rivulet; from whence in a fair Day may be difeerned the Caffle of Rairee: The day after they proceeded on their Journy to Rairee , and about Nine of the Clock in the Evening came to Puncharra , a Town at the Foot of the Hill, where they un- derffood that Seva Gi was departed thence to Purtaalgur , to vifit the Shrine of Bomany, a Pagod of great effeem with him, and celebrated fome Ceremonies there in order to his Coronation; having carried with him feveral Prefents, and among the reft a Lumhrko of pure Gold, weighing about one Marnd and a.quarter, which is Forty two Pounds, wnich he hath dedicated to the faid Pagod. ssvt > Gi gone In the interim, underftanding they could not be admitted into the i Pilgrimage. Caftle till Seva Gi's return, they pitched their Tent in the Plain; and in order to their more fpeedy difpatch, make their Bufinefs known to their Procurator Narun Gi Pundit (whofe reception was very kind) and delivered him his Honour’s Letters; fhewing him the feveral Prefents they brought for the Rajah, and Minifters of State; of which he highly approved, and promifed them to help them'to the Rajah’s prefence, as foon as conveniently he could after his return from Pil¬ grimage to Purtaalgur: And bad them reft content, that his Endea¬ vours fhould be totally employed in the Honourable Company’s In- tereft, and procuring them a fpeedy difpatch: For which having ren¬ dered him Thanks, he prefented him with the Articles which they broughtfor the Rajah to fign, tranflated into Moratty Language} which he faid he would perufe, arid then give his judgment of them. He then took occafion todifeourfe with him concerning the Conclu- fion of a Peace betwixt the Rajah and the Syddy of Banda Rajapore ; urging many Arguments to create in him a belief it would be for the Rajah's advantage, but he would not be perfuaded it was for his Ma¬ iler’s Intereft to raife a Siege which had coft him fo much Blood and Treafure; efpecially now he hath fuch hopes of gaining the Place: And therefore told them, it would be in vain to move it to the Rajah , who was refolved to take in the Caftle, let it coft him what it will: - And to that efFed was daily fending down more Ordnance, Ammu¬ nition, Men and Money. Our Ambaflador replied, The Prefident had no other Defign in making this motion, than that of a good Neighbour; having ob- ferved the Miferies each Party endured, and the general obftrudion of Trade, occafioned by the War; but fmee he defired him to defift mentioning it to the Rajah , he fhould hot trouble him therewithbut what was more confiftent with our own and his Intereft; which was the encouraging Trade and Merchandife in his Country, and opening the ways to Baligaot , that Merchants might with fafety bring down their Goods to Port; which would be much to the Rajah's Profit, and encreafe’of his Treafury: And this he recommended to his Pru¬ dence to perfuade the Rajah thereto; who being a Soldier from his Infancy, its poflible minded not fuch concerns. The Offici- To which he anfwered, That he doubted not but it would be ef- ChSnf- feJ ' but was returned for Anfwer-, The Rajah ftopt his Ears to all Af¬ fairs, declaring he had granted all the Demands, except thofe two Articles, expreffing, Our Money ffiall go current in his Dominions, and his on Bombaim; and that he ffiall reftore whatever Wrecks may happen on his Coafts belonging to the Englijh, and Inhabitants of Bombaim: The firft he accounted unneceflary to be inferted,. becaufe he forbids not the pafling of any manner of Coins; nor on the other fide, can he force his Subjects to take thofe Monies whereby they ffiall be Lofers; but if our Coin be as fine an Allay, and as weighty as the Mogul’s, and other Princes, he will not prohibit it. To the other he fays, that it is againft the Laws of Conchon to reftore any Ships, Vefltls, or Goods, that are driven affiore by Tempeft, or otherwife ; and that ffiould he grant us that Privilege, the French, Dutch, and other Merchants, would claim the fame Right; which he could not grant without breaking a Cuftom has lafted many Ages: The reft of our Defires he willingly conceded , embracing with much fatisfa&ion ourFriendffiip, promifwg to himfelf and Country much Happinefs by our Settlement and Trade: Notwithftanding tfarun Gi Pundit did ntit altogether defpair of obtaining our Wrecks, becaufe we enjoyed the fame Privilege in the Mogul, and Duccm Country. The Ambit Near a Month after they had been here, Narun Gi Pundit fent fador fum- word, That to Morrow about Seven or Eight in the Morning, the Coronation.* Seva Gi i nten ^ e ^ t0 a ^end his Throne; and he would take it . ’ kindly if they came to congratulate him thereon; that it was necef- fary to prefent him with fome fmall thing, it not being the Cuftom i ' ' ' of 8i Bombaim, and the Farts Adjacent. of the Eaftern Parts to appear before a Prince empty-handed. 1 The Chap. IV. Ambaflador fent him word, according to his Advice he would wait ‘-’“v-s* on the Rajah at the prefcribed time. Accordingly next Morning he and his Retinue went to Court, Accordingly and found the Rajah feated on a Magnificent Throne, and all his No- he atten t | s p ome p a ftime to fee what Shift the Banyan makes, being bit by them, he dare not kill them, for fear of unhoufingaSoul, according to their Notion of Tranfmigration; but giving them a fevere Pinch wall put them to Ihift for themfelves in a Nell of Cotton-Wool. The other Vermin are the Banyans themfelves, that hang like Horfe- leeches,till they have luck’d both Sanguinetn & Succum (I mean Mony) from you: As foon as you have fetyour Foot on Shore, they crowd in their Service, interpofing between you and all Civil Refped, as if . you had no other Bufinefs but to be gull’d ; fo that unlefs you have fome to make your way through them, they will interrupt your going, and ,never leave till they have drawn out fomething for their Advantage. At this time of Shipping they Prefent the Governor „ -- ■’ of §3 Bombaim', and the Parts Adjacent. of Surat to licenfe them to keep a Mart here, which they make the Chap. V. European's pay dearly for: Yet fuch is.their Policy,that without thefe, Th f^ neither you nor the Natives themfelves fhall do any Bufinefs, though pa)' Money td they are worfe Brokers than Jews ; if they be not the Spawn of keep a Marc, them, the Rechahites, that would drink no Wine. Thefe generally are the Poorer fort, and fet on by the Richer to Trade with the Sea¬ men for the meancft things they bring; and notwithftanding they take them at their own rates, get well enough in exchange of Goods with them. They are the abfolute Map of Sordidnefs, fareing hardly, and profefling fairly, to entrap the unwary; enduring fervily foul Words, Affronts and Injuries, for a future hope of.Gain ; ex¬ pert in all the ftudied arts of Thriving and Infinuation ; fo that, Lying, Diflembling, Cheating, are their Mafterpiece: Their whole defire is to have Money pafs through their Fingers, to which a great part is fure to flick: For they well underfland the conflant turning of Caflt amounts both to the Credit and Profit of him that is fo occupied ; which thefe Banyans are fenfibleof, otherwife they would not befo induftrious to enflave themfelves. Having viewed the Tombs by the Sea-fide, and fome more con- Travel to s* fpicuous at' the end of the Plain belonging to the Englifh ; others rat - feated behind the Dutch Choultry , partly Englijh , partly Dutch : Marks fet to avoid, as well the Sylla and Charibdis of Datnkht and Mora, two Nurferies for Stews, as to warn them of the Sands coming into the Hole where the Ships ride at Anchor very fecurely: We in the Company’s Coaches Travelled to Surat, Ten Mile, brave Champion ground; but the Coach wherein I was, breaking, we were forced to mount the Indian Hackery , a Two-wheeled Chariot, drawn by fwift little Oxen. By Sun-fet we entred the Company’s Barge, waiting to carry us over the River; where faluted us the dreadful Noife of the Moors Drums and Trumpets, it being cuflo- mary for them to found at the Caflle every Three hours; but chiefly at Sun-rife and Sun-fet: I could think of nothing but the laft Trump; fo that I could perfuade my felf there was little Mufick in it; but they fay Time will bring it to be agreeable to the Ears. On the other fide the River, other Four wheeled Coaches expected us, and the Moors let us pafs the Cuftom-houfe without Examination, having Women among us; which was no ordinary point of Civility, they otherwife being ftridt Examiners, unlefs the Prefident crofs the River, when they forbear alfo. / ' The Coach where the Women were, was covered mih Cheeks, a The Coaches fort of hanging Curtain, made with Bents varioufly Coloured with and Guards. Lacker, and Chequered with Packthred fo artificially, that you may fee all without, and your felf within unperceived; Ours was open, and guarded by fuch a Troop as went to apprehend our Saviour, drefled after the fame manner we find them on old Landskips, and led by the fame Phanatick Lights we fee there Painted. Our Reception at the Englijh Houfe was Courteous and Welcome, for the Heat of the Day had tired us. The Houfe the Englijh live in at Surat,- is partly the King’s Gift, The Englijh partly hired; Built of Stone and excellent Timber, with good Car- FaSory. M a ving, 84 An Hifloricai Account of Letter II. ving, without Reprefentations; very flrong, for that each Floor is w/'V N » Half a Yard thick at leaft, of the beft plailered Cement, which is very weighty. It is contrived after the Moors Buildings, with up- per’and lower Galleries, or Terras-walks; a neat Oratory, a con. venient open Place for Meals. The Prefident has fpacious Lodgings, noble Rooms for Counfel and Entertainment, pleafant Tanks, Yards,’ and an Hummum to Wafh in'; but no Gardens in the City, or very few, though without they have many, like Wildernefles, overfpread with Trees. The Englijb had a neat one, but Seva 62s coming, deflroyed it: It is known, as the other Factories are, by their feve- ralFIags-flving. Full of Noife. Here they live (in Shipping-time) in a continual hurly-burly, the Banyans prefenting themfelves from the hour of Ten till Noon- and then Afternoon at Four till Night, as if it were an Exchange in every Row ; below flairs, the Packers and Warehoufe-keepers, to- gether with Merchants bringing and receiving Mufters, make a meer Billinfgate ; for if you make not a Noife, they hardly think you intent on what you are doing. The Four Among the Englijh, the Bufinefs is diftributed into four Offices- Chief Offices, the Accomptant, who is next in Dignity to the Prefident, the general Accompts of all India , as well as this place, palling through his hands; he is guafi Treafurer, figning all things, though the ■ Broker keep the Caflr. Next him is the Warehoufe-keeper, who Regiflersall Europe Goods Vended, and receives all Eafiern Commo- dities Bought; under him is the Purfer Marine, who gives Account of all Goods Exported and Imported, pays Seamen their Wages, pro¬ vides Waggons and Porters, looks after Tackling for Ships, and Ships Stores. Laftof all is the Secretary, who model's all Conful- ■ rations, writes all Letters, carries them to the Prefident and Council to be perufed and figned;. keeps the Company’s Seal, which is affixed to all Pafles and Commiffions j records all Tranladti* ons, and fends Copies of them to the Company; though none of thefe, without the Prefident’s Approbation, can aft or do any thing. The Affairs of India are foleiy under his Regulation; from him iffue out all Orders, by him all Preferment is difpofed; by which means the Council are biafled by his Arbitrament. TheCompj. The whole Mafs of the Company’s Servants maybe compre- ny’s Senrants. hended in thefe Clafles, viz. Merchants, Fadors, and Writers; fi*** fome Blewcoat Boys alfo have been entertained under Notion of Apprentices for Seven Years, which being expired, if they can get Security, they are capable of Employments. The Writers are obliged to ferve Five Years for to l. per Ann. giving in Bond of 500/. for good Behaviour, all which time they ferve under fome of the fore- mentioned Offices: After which they commence Fadors, and rife to Preferment and Truft, according to Seniority or Favour, and therefore have a 1000 1 . Bond exaded from them, and have their ■ Salary augmented to 20 1 . per Ann. -for Three Years, then entring into new Indentures, are made Senior Fadors; and laflly, Mer- - chanfs after Three Years more) out of whom are chofe Chiefs of Fadories, as PlacesfaH, and are allowed 40 1 . per Ann,, during their Bombaim , and the Parts. Adjacent. 85 flay in the Company’s fervice, befides Lodgings' and Viduals at the Chap. V- Company’s Charges. ... Thefe in their leveral Seigniories behave themfelves after the run- The under damentals of Surat, and intheirrefpedive Factories live in the like P aitori f mo ’ Grandeur, from whence .bey rife Lceffively to be of the Council d "“ in Surat, which is the great Council; and if the Prefident do not contradict, are Sworn, and take their place accordingly, which confifts of about Five in Number, befides the Prefident, to be conftantly Re- fident. As for the Prefidency, though the Company interpofe a deferving The Prefideh- Man, yet they keep that Power to themfelves, none afluming that «=y- Dignity till confirmed by them .- His Salary from the Company is yoo /. a Year; half paid here, the other half referved to be received at home, in cafe of mifdemeanor.to make fatisfadion; befide a Bond of 5000 l. Sterling of good Securities. The Accountant has 7 a l. per Annum, Fifty Pound paid here, the other ,at home: All the reft are half paid here, half at home, ex¬ cept the Writers, who have all paid here. 1 Out of the Council are eleded the Deputy-Governor of Bomlaim, The advan . and Agent of Terfia ; the ,firft a Place of great Truft , the other of tage of being Profit ; though, by the appointment from the Company, the fecond ^theCoun- of India claims Rombatm, and the Secretary of Surat the Agency of c ' Perfia, which is connived at, and made fubjed to the Will of the Prefident, by the Intereft of thofewhofe Lot they are; chufmg ra¬ ther to refide here, where Confignments compenfate thofe Emolu¬ ments ; fo that none of the Council, if noted in England, but makes confiderably by his Place, after the rate of Five in the Hundred, Commiffion ; and this is the Jacob'& Ladder by which they afcend. It would be too mean to defcend to indited ways, which arechief- Tlie Bal - eflers ly managed by-the Banyans, the fitteft Tools forany deceitful’Under- ofthe&wyLj. taking; out of whom are made .Breakers for the Company, and private Perfons, who are allowed Two per Cent, on all Bargains, be¬ fides what they fqueeze fecretly.out of the price of things .bought which cannot be well underftood for want of knowledge in their Lan¬ guage; which Ignorance is fafer, than to -hazard being poyfoned for prying too nearly .into their Adions: Though the Company, to encourage Young men in their Service, .maintain a Matter to learn them to Write and Read the Language, and an Annuity to be annex¬ ed when they gain a perfedion therein, which few attempt, and fewer attain. ' , To this Fadory Belongs Twenty Perfons in number, reckoning N ■ Sioal/y Marine into the Account; a Minifter fof Divine Service, a Snfin the Chirurgion, and-when the Prefident is here, a Guard of Englifk Sol- Faftory. diers, confiding of a double File led by a Serjeant. The prefent Deputy has only Forty Moor-men, and-a Flag-man car¬ rying St. George his Colours Swallow-tailed in Silk,faftned to a Silver Partifan; with a fmall Attendance of Horfe with Silver Bridles, and Furniture for the Gentlemen of theHoufe, :and Coaches for Ladies and Council. The Prefident befides thefe has aNoife of. Trumpets, and is car- $ta t eoTthe ned himfelf in a Palenkeen, an Horfe.of State led Before him, a Mir- Prefident. chal 86 An Hiforical Account of Letter II. chal (a Fan of Oftriches Feathers) to keep off the Sun, as the Om- uP’WJ Irahs or Great Men have, none but the Emperor have a Sumbrero among th e, Moguls: Befides thefe, every one according to his Quality has his Menial Servants to wait on him in his Chamber, and follow him out. All Places in The Prefidency of Surat is efteemed Superior to all in India, the hdu fubjeft Agency of Bantam being not long fince fubordinate to it, but fince den^ P with made independent; tho th e-South Sea Trade is ftill maintained from their 1 Com- hence to Bantam with fuch Cloath as is vendible there, from thence modities. with Dollars to China for Sugar, Tea, Porcelane, Laccared Ware, Quickfiher, Tuthinag and Copper ', which with Comeys, little Sea- Shels, come from Siam and the Philltpine Ijlands; Gold and Ele¬ phants Teeth from Sumatra, in exchange of Corn. From Perfia, which is ftill under the Prefidency, come Druggs and Carmania Wool; from Moco, Cohor , or Coffee. The Inland Fa&ories fubjed to it, are Amidavad, whence is provided Silks, as Atlafes wrought with Gold; Agra , where they fetch Indico, Chuperly, Courfe Cloath, Siring Chints, Broach Baft as, broad and Narrow; Dimities, and other fine Calicuts: Along the Coafts are Bombaim, Rajapore for Salloos ; Carnear for Dun¬ garees, and the weightieft Pepper; Calicut for Spice, Ambergreez, Granats, Opium, with Salt Peter, and no Cloath, though it give the name of Calicut to all in India, it being the firft Port from whence they were known to be brought into Europe; All which, after the Europe Ships have unladen at Surat, they go down to fetch ; and bring up time enough before the Caphalas out of the Country come in with their Wares. The invert- The Places about Surat afford variety of Calicuts, but not fuch vaft ment fet on quantities as are yearly exported, and moreover not fo cheap; which fains." ' 6 IS reafon at every place the Fa&ors are fent to overfee the Wea¬ vers, buying up the Cotton-yarn to employ them all the Rains, when they fet on foot their Inveftments, that they may be ready againft the Seafon for the Ships: Or elfe the Chief Broaker imploys Banyans in their fteads, who is refponfible for their Fidelity. This Trade On thefe Wheels moves the Traffick of the Eafl, and has fucceedcd managed by better than any Corporation preceeding, or open Trade licenfed in the' time of Oliver Cromwell’, though how much more to the be- Free Traders, nefit of England than a Free Commerce, may be guefled by their already being over-flocked with Europe Merchandile, which lowers the Price.- What then would a Glut do, which certainly muft fol¬ low, but debafe them more, and enhance thefe ? TheirFree- But left the New Company Ihould be exclaimed againft as too Slaveftha'n § reec ^ Monopolizers, they permit Free. Traders on their Ifland thelrServants. Bombaim ; when, to ipeak truth, they are in a far worfe Condition than their Servants; being tied up without hopes of raifing them- felves: So that in earneft they find out that to be buca Trick. The Charges However, to confefs on the Company’s behalf, the Trade (1 of the Enghfb mean on thisCoaft) for.lome years lately pafTed has hardly ballanced Company not Expences, They employing yearly Forty Sail of flour Ships to and iEl ' Aomall Parts where they trade, out and home; Manning and main¬ taining their Ifland Bombaim, Fort St. George, and St. Helens') be¬ fides Bombaim, and the Pam Adjacent. - 8 7 Tides large Sums expended to bear out the Port of their Fa&ors; Chap.V. which notwithftanding by impartial Computation has been found in- ferior to the Cofts of the Hollanders , and therefore more to the pro¬ fit of the Englijh Eaft-India Company, than theirs, in the few Years they have adventured; fothat I lhould mightily blame them, lhould they prove ungrateful to His Majefty, who by his gracious Favour has united them in a Society, whereby they are Competitors, for Riches (though not Strength) with the Noted’ft Company in the Univerfe. This was granted prefently after the Happy Reftoration of our Their charter Gracious Sovereign, when Order began to dawn, and difpel the dark P ut «» force. Chaos of Popular Community: Then wasfent out a Prefident, to put their Charter in Force, and eftablilh a Graduation among their Servants, which before was not obferved; only for Orders fake, they did nominate an Agent; the reft being independent, made no diftin&ion. When as now, after a better Model, they commence according to their (landing, and are under a Collegiate manner of Reftraint. The laft Agent was Agent. Rivinton, who was abolilhed by the TheCourfeof Company’s lending out Prefident Wpch, who lived not much more 1 eFr 1 ents ' than two years: Prefident Andrews took his place; and he refigning, Sir George Oxendine held it till his Death; in whofe time Seva G't plunder’d Surat ; but he defended himfelf and the Merchants fo bravely, that he had a Collat or Serpaw, a Robe of Honour from Head to Foot offered him from the Great Mogul, with an Abatement of Cuftoms to Two and an half per Cent, granted to the Company: For which his Mafters, as a Token of the high Senfe they had of his Valour, prefented him a Medal of Gold, with this Device: Non minor eft virtus qttam iputerere parta tueri. After whofe Deceafe, the Honourable Gerald Aungier took the Chair, and encounter’d that bold Mountaineer a fecond time, with as great Applaufe; when the Governor of the Town and Province durft neither of them Ihew their Heads: . Flutlum enimtotius Barlarice ferre urls una non poterat. The Enemies by the help of an Europe Engineer had fprung a The En$fl> Mine to blow up the Caftle; but being difcovered,. were repulfed; theta- For though he had fet Fire to the reft of the City, they retained Honour^ the Caftle, and the Englijh their Houfe. gaintl sma Gi The Extent of the Prefidency is larger in its Millions than Reft- ifecond time, dency; in which Limits may be reckoned anhundred Company’s 4ePrSt Servants continually in the Country; befides the Annual Advenues of Ships, which during their Stay are all under the fame Command: Therefore what Irregularities are committed againft only the Prefi¬ dency or Company, in cafe of Non-Submiffion, the Perfons offend¬ ing are to be fent home, and difmiffed their Employments for Re- fra&oripefs; but if an higher Court lay hold of them in cafe of Murder, 88 An Hiftorical Account of Letter If. Murder or any Capital Crime, then, they are to be fent to Bomlaim , there to have a Legal Trial, according to jhe'Laws of England, as the.Prefident is created Governor of his Majefty’s IHand. The ill fuccefs The ill managing of which Penalties formerly, or the Invalidity of the firft Ad- t0 inflid them, maybe the true Caufeof the Unprofperoufnefsof venr “ rer '^ the Ancient Undertakers; who had thislnconveniency ftill attend- ofGov°m- n ing, to wit, the incorrigible ftubbornefs of their own Men, after they menr, overcome all other Difficulties, pccafioned by the Grant of the War with Per- ^ w ^ p ortu g a p m & Wefl-Indies to the Spaniard Neverthelefs this Fairy Gift was the Ground of a long and tedious .Quarrel in each of the World’s Ends; fo that our Ships encountring with their Carracks, feldom ufed to part without thelofs’of one or both. Nay, the iong-liv’d People yet at Smiley , remember a notable Skirmilh betwixt the Englifh and Portugals there, wherein they were neatly intrapp’d; an Ambufcado of ours falling upon them behind infuch fort, that they were compelled between them and the Ships in the Road, to refign moft of their Lives ; and gave by their Fall a me¬ morable Name to a Point they yet call Bloody Point , for this very reafon. But fince thefe Sores are fortunately bound up in that Con¬ jugal Tye betwixt ourSacred King and the Sifter of Portugal , laying all foul Words and Blows afide, let us fee how the Affairs ftand be¬ twixt them and the Dutch, who followed our Steps, and got in at the Breach we made. They made them more Work, not only beat¬ ing them out of their South-Sea Trade, but polfefled themfelvesof all their Treafures of Spice, and have ever fince kept them, with all their Strong-holds, as far as Goa ; they only enjoying the Gold Trade of Mofamhipte undifturbed ; the Japanners having banifhed both -their Commerce and Religion. TheCompa- Wherefore our Ships almoft alone, were it not for a little the ny enrich this French of late, lade Calicuts for Europe .The Dutch have a Fadory Port ' ’ here, that vend the Spices they bring from Batavia, and invert part of the Money in courfe Cloath, to be difpofed among their Planters, or fold to the Malayans, and fend the reft back in Rupees: So that we fingly have the Credit of thePorr, andareof moft ad vantage to the Inhabitants, and fill the Cuftom-Houfe with the fubftantialeft In¬ comes. 1 But not to defraud the French of their juft Commendations, whofe Fadory is better ftcr’d with Monfieurs than with Calk, they live well,.borrow Money, and make a Shew: Here are French Capuchins, who have a Convent, and live in Efteem. TheDiamond And here I might conclude, did not the Diamond-Trade and other hands' Jewelsinterpofe; which I could wilhfor the Company’s fake mght of the Com- never be (truck out of their Indulgence allowed to their Servants: pany’sSer-_ for it will never amount to Advantage, in their hands, becaufe the theirs. 1 ' an in J eivs >- who are the chief Chapmen in England will blow upon them, unlefs they come to their Prices, when more than enough is offered them. But in particular hands the Cafe is otherwife, every one (hatching at a Prize, which none is fenfible of, but the private Buyer; but when they are publickly Invoiced, it will be at their own Wills to make their Bargains. Withal, in the Company’s Servants hands, it not only keeps them Honeft, but they grow Rich without wronging Bombaim, and the Farts Adjacent. 89 the Company: Whereas fhould they retrad this, not only the Jews Chap. V. would find others to furnilh them, as the French and Dutch , with their Encomiendums; but other Monied Gentlemen in England might be tempted to fet up for Interloping, who know not how bet¬ ter to difpofe of their Monies on any Bank, than by adventuring Large Sums, that do now to my knowledge return them in a Year and a half’s time from yo l. to 70 1 . per Cent, advance, and the Fadors good Gainers too; and all this while no Prejudice done either to Freight or the Company’s Trade; which if they will not believe, let ' them experiment to their own Cod. Nor can I fay more on this Sub- jed, than both French and Dutch Jewellers coming over Land do un- derftand, who have made good Purchafe by buying Jewels here, and carrying them into Europe to be Cut and Set', and returning fell them here to the Omhrahs, among whom were Monfieur Tavernier, and now Monfieur Rezin, and Monfieur Jordan. Thus much may ferve for this Year; by the next I may prepare a- farther Account, if I live; for fo long I will be Tour Si From Surat, >.iy. id 7 f. DESCRIPTION SURAT, AND Journy into DUCCAN. LETTER III. CHAP. I. Jninuidverftons on the City and People of Surat in the Eaft-Indies. SIR, G OING out. to fee the City of Surat , I pafled without » any Incivility, the better becaufe I underftood not what J-vKj they faid; for though we meet not with Boys fo rude as TheRudenefs in England, to run after Strangers, yet here are a fort of oftIieDswto » bold, lufty, and moftan end, drunken Beggars, of the Mufjlemen Call:, that if they fee a Chriftian in good Clothes, Mounted on a ftately Horfe, with rich Trappings, are prefently upon their Puncti¬ lios with God Almighty, and interrogate him, Why he fuffers him to go a Foot, and in Rags, and this Coffery (Unbeliever) to vaunt it thus r And are hardly reftrained from running a Muck (which'is to kill whoever they meet, till they be flain themfelves) efpecially if they have been at Hodge , a Pilgrimage to Mecca , and thence to Juddahy where is Mahomet sTomb; thefe commonly, like evil Spi~ rits, have their Habitations among the Tombs: Nor can we com¬ plain only of this Libertinifm, for the Rich Moormen themfelves are perfecuted by thefe Rafcals. As for the reft they are very refpedful, unlefs the Seamen or And Semen; SoIdlers; get Drunk, either with Toddy, or Bang (a pleafant intoxi- catmg Seed, mixed with Milk) then are they Monarchs, and it is N z Madnefs 9 2 A Defer if tion of Surat , Letter III. Madnefs to oppofe them r but leave them to themfelves, ancj they ti /^-4 will vent that Fury, by breathing a Vein or two. with their own Swords, fometimes flafhing themfelves mod. Barbaroufly. The Build- The Town has very many noble lofty Houfes of the Moor-Mu-. inss ' chants, flat at top, and Teralled with Platter. There is a Par fa Broker to the King of Bantam , has turned the outfide of his Pockets on a fumptuous Houfe, afpacious Fabrick, but ill contrived, as are many of the Banians. They, for the moft part, affed not ftately Buildings, living in humble Cells or Sheds. Glafs is dear, and fcarcely purchafeable ( unlefs by way of Stamlole, or Conftantimplc , from the Venetians , from whom they have fome Panes of Painted Glafs in Salh Windows ) therefore their Windo.ws, except fome few of the higheft Note, are ufually folding Doors, skreened with Cheeks, or Latifes, Carved in Wood, or Ifing-glafs, or more com¬ monly Oifler-fhells. The greateft Commodity here is Air, which is to be admired in the Rich Banyans, how they flew themfelves out of a penurious humour, crowding Three or Four Families together into an Hovel, with Goats, Cows, and Calves, all Chamber-fel¬ lows, that they are almoft poyfoned with Vermin and Naftinefs; but furely they take delight iri it, for they will frefli and falling be- fprinkle themfelves with the Stale of a Cow, as you behold a good Chriftian with Holy-water, or a Moorman flabber his Beard with Rofe-water: Nay more, they ufe it as a Potion, or Philter, and bid the Devil do his worft after it; fo ftupid, that notwithftanding Chints, Fleas, and Muskeeto’s, torment them every Minute, dare not prefume to fcratch where it itches, left fome Relation lhould be untenanted its miferable abode. The Heathen The Habits and Cuftoms of this place are reconcilable with them Rites more j n t y, e Kingdom of Gulconda , only the Moguls being more abfolute, here rhan in and of a more Puritanical Sedt than the Chias ; the Heathens are Guicmda. fupprefled in refpedf of their Barbarous Rites, and reduced to a more civil Garb, being more decently Clothed. Moguls mA. The Moguls, who are Lords here, differ from them of Gulconda a agree! d f point of their Caliph’s Succeflion, the firft maintaining the Scdtof the Arabs, the others of the Sujfean, or Perfian. Sefts of the They have Four Expofitors of the Law, to whom they give Cre- MognU. dit in matter of Ceremonies, viz. Hanoffi. Shoffi. Hamaleech. Maluche. Their great fcruple is about Eating together among all forts of , thefe Eafiem Nations. All Mufjelmen (true Believers) as they call themfelves of this Perfuafion, Communicate in that point; only fome Pundtilio’s in refped of Marriage remain yet undecided; as for an Hmoffi to offer his Daughter to a Shoffi, is a great lhame j but if the other requeft it firft, he may comply without derogation. • They and fourny into Duccm. 93 They are diftinguilhed, fome according to the Confanguinity Chap. I. they claim with Mahomet; as a Siad is a Kin to that Impofture, and ^WJ therefore only a flumes to himfelf a Green Veil and Puckery (or Xurbat) none other being permitted to wear them. A Shiek is a Coufintoo, ata diftance, 'into which Relation they admit all new made Profelytes. Meer is fomewhat Allied alfo , and Mujfame. The reft are adopted under the Name of the Province or Kingdom they are Born in, as Mogul the Race of the Tartan , and are efteemed, as the Name imports, White Men ; Patan, Duccan; or Schifms they have made, as Bilhim, Jemottee, and theloweftof all is Borrah. ThefeEat highly of all Flelli Dumpoked, which is Baked with TiwirDlec Spice in Butter j Pullow, a Stew of Rice and Butter, with Flelh, Fowl, or Filh; Fruits, Achars, or Pickles, and Sweatmeats: If they invite a Chriftian, they order Difhes apart, and between Meals Entertain with Coho , Tobacco, Pawn, which makes a fragrant Breath, and gives a rare Vermilion to the Lips; and as a great Compliment drown you with Rofewater, Senting themfelves with EfTence of Sandal and Oranges, very Coftly, and exquifitely Ex¬ tracted. They drink no Wine Publickly, but Privately will be good Fellows, not content with fuch little Glafles as we drink out of, nor Claret or Rhenifli (which they call Vinegar) but Sack and Brandy out of the Bottle they will Tipple, till they are well warmed. At the Firft entrance into their Houfes, for the greater Refped, Way of En- they meet at the Portal, and ulher Strangers to the place of Enter- tertainment. tainment; where, out of common Courtefy, as well as Religion, ( when they enter an Holy Place ) they pull off their Slippers, and after the ufual Salams, feat themfelves in Choultries, open to fome Tank of purling Water; commonly fpread with Carpets,or Siturngees, and long round Culhions of Velvet to bolder their Back and Sides, which they ufe when they ride in their Chariots, which are made, to fit Crofs-legg’d on, not their Legs hanging down as ours j it be¬ ing accounted among them no good breeding to let their Legs or Feet be feen whilft fitting: In their Palenkeens, Coaches, or fwing- ing Cotts, which they affett for Eafe, are laid huge Bolfters of ftate, and Quilts of Cotton to lie at length, their Ceilings and Polls are Hung with Mechlapatan Pintado’s , and adorned with other Gallantry. They go rich in Attire, with a Poniard, or Catarre, at their Their Attire Girdle; as they are Neat in Apparel; they are Grave in their “Rich. Carriage. Their Women wear the Breeches, but in a molt fertile condition; The Women yet they have their Ornaments of Head, with. Bracelets of Pearl, we”Jewels. Ear-rings and Nofe-rings, to which they hang Jewels, moftly fet m Silver, becaufe Gold is Nigefs, or Unclean. ' , They are ftrid obfervers of the Hours of Prayer, when they Striaobfer- "P off r al t leir Gorgeous Habiliments to their Shift, and after ^ of the Waflnng Hands and Feet Proftrate themfelves during the time of £? t ofJ Devotion, whenRifing they Salute their Guardian- Angels according ' ' to the Opinion of theStoicks, who allotted every ode his Juno and his Gemus ; having made their Orifons , and Purified themfelves, they return to Company as before. They 94 and Journy into Duccan. Letter III. Great Revel¬ lers at Cir- cumcifions Marriages. Quick in La¬ bour. Great Lamen- The Duty of their Priefts. They are great Revellers by Night, in the heat of the Day they fleep and dally. They circumcife the Foreskin of the Male, which is performed by a Barber, at Eight years of Age; with Feafting, and carrying the Boy about in pomp, with Mufick and great Expreffions of Joy. Of the Girls they make fmall account,they being inftru&ed within doors how to pray. The Cazy or Judge, after the Match is made by the Parents, mar¬ ries them; from whence doubtlels our Phanaticks borrowed their Cuftom of Marrying by a juftice of Peace : This is alfo a time of Solemnity fometimes kept for feveral Weeks together with Illumina¬ tions on their Houfes, their Garments tindtured with Saffron, riding triumphantly through the Streets with Trumpets and Kettle Drums; fetching the Bride from her Kindred, and they fending Banquets, Houlhold-ftuff^ and Slaves their Attendants, with a great Train through their Streets, which is all their Dowry : But the Cazy has a Knack beyond thofe Couplers of Europe, he can loofe the Knot when they plead a Divorce. They have four Wives if they can maintain them, and as many other Women as they pleafe; flic that bears the firft Son is reckoned the Chief. At their Labours they feldom call Midwives, being pretty quick that way, though there are not a few live well by that Profeflion; known by Tufts of Silk on their Shooes or Slippers, all other Wo¬ men wearing them plain: At the end of their Quarantine, which is Forty days, after the Old Law, they enter the Hummums to Purify; and the Child, without much Ceremony, is named by the Pa¬ rents. At Funerals, the Mullahs or Priefts, make Orations or Sermons, after a.Leflon read out of the Alchoran, and'lay them North and South, as we do Eajl and Wefl, when they are Inhumed, expecting from that Quarter the appearance of their Prophet. Upon the death of any, in the hearing of-the Outcry, which is great among the Women, beating their Breads, and crying aloud, they neither ear, nor Ihift their Cloaths, till the Perfon be interred; the Relations mourn by keeping on dirty Cloaths, and a negletd of their Apparel; neither walking nor lhaving themfelves: It is ufual to hire People to lament, and the Widow once a Moon go to the Grave with her Ac¬ quaintance to repeat the doleful Dirge, after which Ihe bellows HA- ' way, a kind of Sacramental Wafer ; and entreats their Prayers for the Soul of the Departed; and for that reafon the moft {tore of Graves are in Crofs-ways, or High-roads, that the Paflengers may be put in mind of that Office: They never Enlhrine any in their Mofchs , but in the places adjoining them; where they build Tombs, and leave Stipends for Mullahs to offer Petitions up for them. The Duty of the Mullahs, befides thefe, is to call from the Stee¬ ples of their Mofchs every Pore, that is, once in Three hours flop¬ ping their Ears with their Fingers: Allah Ecklar, Allah Eckler, Ef- chadu ela Hale ilallah we Efchedu, Mahmed eweful: Cuah Fleje ala Selah heie ula Felah, Alla Eckler, Alla Eckler, La Jelah Hallah: i- e. God is Great, I profefs, there is no Deity but God, and confefs that Mahomet is the Prophet of God. Their Priefts fay Prayers five times and foamy into Duccan. 95 a-dav, and expound the Alchoran once a-week, and that on Friday, Chap. f. which day they are not to Ive with their Women, fetting it apart for g/'Wj the Service of God. Here is a JFeriff, who is as it were their Primate, under him the' The Xmff Cazys , or Judges, are the next, then the Inferior Clergy, as the ' h ^High- Midiahs , and Scribes, or Teachers of Youth in the Aralick P ™ ’ Tongue. _ . With thefe, by the favour'of the prefent Mogul, who lived long Extravagan- in that Order, till he came to the Throne, mull be numhred the clesof the Falters or Holy Men, abftra&ed from the World, and refigned to fyMeJ,° rH °' God, for the Word will bear that Interpretation ; on this Pretence are committed fundry Extravagancies, as putting themfelves on vo¬ luntary Penances. Here is one that has vowed to hang by the Heels, till he get Money enough to build a Mofcb to Mahomet] that • he may be held a Saint. Another {hall travel the Country with an Horn blowed afore him, and an Ox it may be to carry him and his Baggage, befides one to wait on him with a Peacock’s Tail; whilft he rattles a great Iron Chain fettered to his Foot, as big as thofe Ele¬ phants are Foot-locked with, fome two yards in length, every Link thicker than .a Man’s Thumb, arid a Palm in length ; his taking this fpeaks hisNeceffity, which the poor Gentiles dare not deny to relieve; for if they do, he accufes them to the Cazy, who defires no better opportunity to fleece them : For they will not flick to fwear they blafphemed Mahomet, for which there is no evafion but to de- pofit, or be cut, and madea Moor. . Moft of thefe are Vagabonds, and are the Peft of the Nation they They make live in; fome of them live in Gardens and retired Places in the Fields eve -7 place in the fame manner as the Seers of old, and the Children of the Pro- iSiTh’ phets did : Their Habit is the main thing that fignalizes them more own. “ r than their Virtue; they proofs Poverty, but make all things their own where they come; all the heat of the Day they idle it under fome flrady Tree, at night they come in Troops, armed with a great Pole, a Mirchal or Peacock’s Tail, and a Wallet; more like Plun¬ derers than Beggers; they go into the Market, or to the Shop¬ keepers. and force an Alms, none of them returning without his ilnre: Some of them pafs the bounds of a modeft Requeft, and bawd out in the open Streets for an Hundred Rupees, and nothing Ids will fatisfy thefe. 6 They are doathed with a ragged Mantle, which ferves them alfo How dad. lor a Matrafs, for which purpole fome have Lyons, Tygres or Leo¬ pards Skins to lay under them : The Civileft of them Wear Flelh-co- Jourecn efts, fome what like our Brick-makers Frocks, and almoft of that Co our. Ihe Merchants, as their Adventures return, are uponk t0W3rds thcm ’ by which means fome of them thrive at the hours of Devotion beat a Drum, They are be- rom them called the Fabers Drum; here are of thefe Strolers about V™ formi ' miTWo y f e o n r 0 h 8 ^ 0makeanArmy c’ thatthey are almoft become for- ? n ,ZeDSi T 1S , the , G^ernour powerful enough to SI'* h h lr nf i e T“- For lateIy fettin S on a Nobleman of the Moors, when his Kindred came to demand Juftice, they unanimoufly arofe g 6 A Defection of Surat , Letter II. rofe in defence of the Aggreflor, and refeued him from his deferved Punilhment. TheGovcrnor For all the Governor comes to his Seat attended every Morning notable to w ith joo Foot with Fire-Arms, Three Elephants in their Cloathing quell them. ( w hi c h i s here alfo a principal Mark of the Greatnefs of thefe Men in place, the more Elephants they keep, they are looked on as more Honourable) Forty Horfes mounted, Four and twenty Banners of State; befides a large Retinue of the Cazy’s, who is always prefent to affift him in Law Points. Moreover he has Loud Trumpets made as big, and like our Stentoro Phontca, or fpeaking Trumpet, with Thundring Kettle-Drums; yet neither the Formality of this Ap¬ pearance, nor regard due to his Office, is terrible enough to prevail with thefe to fubmit to relign the Caitiffi and hardly is his whole Force able to keep them from bare-faced Rebellion. The Villany But though thefe Outlaws (for as fuch they ought to be look’d nor’s Servants on ’ w ^ e they difown all Subje&ion ) behave themfelves thus, the had a Tragi- poor Inhabitants that work for their Bread, are under feverer Re- cal Event. ftraints, for the Governor’s Servants being upheld by as uncon- trouled Licentioufnefs, on pretence of preffing the Craftfmen from their daily Labour into the Governor’s Service, extort continued Fees from them, or elfe they are fure to be fet on work, without any thing for their Pains: Which was but even now made a Publick Grievance, by the Refiftance of a fturdy Patau, ( who is fprung from a Warlike People, of whom it is faid, They never draw their Swords, but Blood muft follow): And thus it happen’d; The Tat an having employ’d a Taylor at his houfe, one of the Governor’s Men feized him for his Mailer’s Service; but the Pat an milling in to re- leafe him, the Soldier ran a young Brother of the Patan s through, naked and unconcerned in the Scuffle; which fo enraged the Pat an, that forcing the Sword out of the hand of this inhuman Butcher, he kill’d him and two more that camero his Refcue; and going in¬ to his houfe, flew his own Wife, and Siller, and a little Son of his own, that they might not fall a Sacrifice to the Governor’s Rage: The wretched Taylor, animated by the Example of the Patan (tho but coolly), had murder’d his Wife had Ihe not fled;-but laying hold on his Old Father and Mother, he difpatched them; and bolt¬ ing forth into the Street, fet upon what Governor’s Men he and the Patan could meet: Tidings whereof linking the Governor’s Ears, he came with all his Power to befet the exafperated and defperate Men; . but though a Thoufand Men were up in Arms, and gazing upon the Patan Handing with his Sword in his hand at the Entrance of the Houfe, none durll venture to apprehend him; till his Fury abating, and Promifes given by a Great Man, of Favour if he refigned; he attending to his Parley, in the mean while two Men with Guns from atop of the Houfe difeharged on him, and wounded him and the Taylor mortally, but not before they had carried this falfe Great Man with fome of his Attendants along with them out of the World: So that thefe Curs fet to keep the Sheep, are the firft that worry them. Left therefore all Shew of Juftice Ihonld be banilhed, now and then, when they have not Mony to buy it off, or the Emperor be inform- 97 and Jonrny into Duccan. informed, feme Exemplary Punifliments are inflided : Some In- : fiances whereof I flrall relate. • ■■ r>- r c i The one was of an Armenian , Chawlucked through the Cityfor fel¬ ling of Wine. The other was of a Goldfmith who had coined Copper rupees ; firft they fliaved hi; Head and Beard, as our Countrymen do ' Bayliffs when they prefume to Arreft in Priviledg’d Places ; then ; putting a Fool’s Cap on his Head,, they fct him on an Afs, with his Face to the Tail, which is led by an Holencore, and one of their Drums is beat before him, which is an Affront of the higheft degree ; thus they lead him up and down the City, where the Boys and.Sol- diers treat him but fcurvily, pelting him all the way he paffes: Being brought back toPrifon, they cut off his Hand, and let him lye du- i ring the Governor’s Pleafure. The Third was of a Pack of Thieves ! that had infefled the Roads a long time, and after fome whiles Impri- | fonment the Banyans proffered Money for their Redemption ; but the i Great Mogul fending an Exprefs, they were led to Execution; They i were Fifteen, all of a Gang, who ufed to lurk under Hedges in nar- I row Lanes, and as they found opportunity, by a Device of a Weight I tied to a Cotton Bowftring made of Guts, (with which they tew Cot- I ton) of fome length, they ufed to throw it upon Paflengers fc,that i winding it about their Necks, they pulled them from their Beaftsjand., | dragging them upon the Ground ftrangled them, and poflefled them- \ lelves of what they had : One of thefe was an Old Man with his i two Sons, the youngeft not fourteen. This being their Pradice, i t hey were fentenced, according to Lex Talionis, to be hang’d; | wherefore being delivered to the Catml , or Sheriff’s Men, they led them two Miles with Ropes about their Necks to fome wild Date- Trees: In their way thither they wetc chearful, and wentfinging, and fmoaking Tobacco, the Banyans giving them Sweetmeats, they being as jolly as if going to a Wedding; and the Young Lad now ready to be tied up, boafled, That though he were not Fourteen Years of Age, he had killed his Fifteen Men ; wherefore the Old Man, as he had been aLeader of thefe Two, was firfl made an Exam¬ ple for his Villany, and then the two Striplings were advanced, as all the reft were, half a Foot from the Ground; and then cutting their Legs off that the Blood might flow from them, they left them miferable Spedacles , hanging till they dropped of their own accord. The following Delinquents being of another kind, we Ihallfee how they fare: The one was of a Rich Merchant of the Moors kil¬ ling his Wife, and a Child he had by her of Three Years old, upon taking her with her Paramour in Adultery; for which Crime a Pe¬ cuniary Muld excufed him : The other was a Boy’s flicking a So- domiti[b Moor to the Heart with his own Catarre , while he attempt¬ ed upon his Body; which Fad was fo far from being accufed as a Fault, that the Boy came off with Commendation; though there is nothing more frequently committed among them, than the unna¬ tural Sin of Buggery. There isanother thing above all the reft an unpardonable Offence; for a Banyan or Rich Broker to grow Wealthy, without Protedion of fome Great Perfon ; for it is fp mighty a Difquiet to the Governor, . O that Chap. I. IA-V. Some exem¬ plary Punifli- mens. Delinquents of another kind. The Crime of growing rich. • 9 8 A Defection of Surat , Letter III. that he can never be at eafe till he have feen the bottom of this Mif. U/’V'V, chief; which is always cured by Transfufion of Treafureout of t| 1{ . Banyans into the Governor’s Coffers: Which makes them becon-p humble Suiters for the Umbrage of any of Quality, to skrten the/ from this Violence. The Sheriff The next in the Executive Power is the Catival , the Governor c, the Night, as the other two Great Officers rule the Day ; or nearer our Conftitution, the Sheriff of the City: For after the Keys are carried to the Governor, it is the Catwals Bufinefs with a Guard of near Two k hundred Men,to fcower the Streets and Brothels of Idle Companions- 7 to take an account of all People late our, to difeover Fires and Houfe.’ breakers, and to carry all lewd Perfons to Prifon, which is folely committed to his Charge: So that all Night long he is heard by hij Drums and Trumpets, ihouting and hallowing of his Crew in their Perambulation through all Parts of the City; with Lights and Flam, beaus, with fome few of his CompanionsTn Coaches or Paknkeois: Moreover he feifes all Debtors, and fecures them, and has the careof Punching and Executing all Offenders. The Chief' This is a Place of great Truft, but neither fo Honourable or Pro- 1 Cuftomer. Stable as the Shawbunded& is; who is King of the Port, or Chief 1 Cuftomer, though fomething abated by the Mogul's too fondly inag Religious Vanity granting Immunity to the Muiflsmen lately, which f 1 is no fmall detriment. r The Cuftom-houfe has a good Front, where the Chief Cuftoim | appears certain hours to chop, that is, to mark Goods outward- ’ bound, and clear thofe -received in : Upon any fufpicion of default he has a Black-Guard that by a Chaabuck, agreatWhip, extortsCon- feflion: There is another hangs up at the daily Waiters, or Meerkfi Choultry , by the Landing-place, as a terror to make them pay Crs/ar his due; the Punilhment, if detected , being only Corporal, not Confiscation of Goods: This Place is filled with Publicans, Waiters and Porters, who are always at the Receipt of Cuftom, but are a lit¬ tle too tardy Sometimes in the delivery of Goods, making the Mer¬ chant dance attendance, till a right underftanding be created be¬ twixt the Shambunder and them, which commonly follows when the Fift is mollified. The Mint. Over-againft the Cuftom-houfe is a (lately Entrance into the Mint, which is a large Town of Offices within it felf; hither re¬ pair all Shroffs or Bankers, for the proof of Silver, which in this place is the moft refined, and pureft from allay, in the World; asis alfo their Gold: Their loweft Coyn is of Copper. Many Mar. Between thefe two is a crowded Buzzar of all thofe who come to kets - fell and buy Cloath; being difengaged here, we pafs the High-Streets, with Shops on each fide, not like ours in Europe, being more like Pedlers Stalls; we crofled feveral Buzzars, which yielded fuflinence to the many Mouths we encountred. Piercing thorough the City to the Walls which are building to fut* round it,, and a Ditch accompanying it, (though but fhallow, p the Wallis high, and of good well baked Brick) at length we came in fight of the Caftle, having a large Pomrium. 99 and fourny into Duccaii. They fay it has been {landing ever fince Taralerlane was here ; who they give our to be its Founder: It may be fo, for it is old, yet bears 30 or 40 flout Pieces of Ordnance, fronts the River, and is Moated by it; to which they pafs a Draw-bridge, but admit no Stranger: It is Manned by 300 Lufcarries or Soldiers, armed with Gun, Sword and Buckler, has a peculiar Governor independent from him of the Town or Province, being as it were confined to it, not prefuming, on forfeiture of his Head, on any account to pafs out of a Garden by the Bridge, it being his fartheft Walk. Up and down the City are Remains of Seva Gi’sFury, the Ruins being not yet repaired; of whom they {land in hourly fear, having their Sores ftill freih in their Memory: To prevent whofe Rage, they are colledling an Hundred thoufand Rupees till their Walls be finifhed, when we {hall fee how they will defend them; having 700 Men allotted for that Office, bd\&&Europe Gunners at every Gate, which are Six in number, befide 3 6 Baftions with half a dozen great Guns apiece: Upon the top they have piled fpiked Timber to annoy the Chap. I. The Caftle built by Tm- ocaiers. ■. . Every Gate is barbed with Iron Spikes to break the ruflnngin of The Wall and the Elephants; thefe alfo are under a diftindt Command. _ Gates - The Governor of the Town has an Army of 1 yoo Men in pay, Number of with Matchlocks, Swords and Javelins; Two hundred Horfe with Soldiers. Quivers full of Arrows at the Bow of their Saddles, Lances at their Right Stirrup, and Swords of an unweildy bulk, with Bucklers hang¬ ing over their Shoulders; their Bows are curioufly and ftrongly made with Horn, and for that reafon better in Dry than Wet Weather. Among the mmy Mofchs to and again, only two are famous with Their long Spires by the Wall, where is a {lately Dwelling for the Xeriff. They have Three other Places for Strangers called CaravanSe- carman, rawes , or Inns, intended by the Donors gratis, but fince perverted, and let out to Foreigners. Near the-Governor’s Stables were Forty Camels houfed, ready for Stables. War, and half a dozen Elephants. Thefe Stables are rather Sheds, or Booths of Hair-cloath, to re¬ move on occafion, than any Building fixed for that purpofe; and were it not for the manner of treating their Horfes, not worth the mentioning: They have no Racks, but feed as Nature intended them, from the Ground, if they get Hay; for their Corn, it is ufually 6 a- ravance, a fort of Peafe which they put into' an Hair Bag, and by a String (clapping their Mouths into it) faftned behind their Ears, is kept from the Ground; out of this they have their daily Allowance; befide Butter, Sugar and Jaggaree or Mulaflo s made into Paft, with the Meal of Garavance, which fattens all their Beafls of War, and makes them flick and fine; they cover them very warm with a kind of Felt or Flock-work, two or three double, and tye them by all their Feet ftretched out at length; in which pofture they always {land: When they make their Beds, they fift the Dung they make, after it is dried in the Sun, and make a foft lying for them of it; they court them with all the gentlenefs and kind Speeches imagi- 01 nable, 100 A Dejcriftion of Surat, Letter III. nable, feldom or never.fpeaking to, or ufing them harfhly; every LAOj Horfe has one Man wholly imployed abont his Service, and pretends to no other bufmefs; fo that as good Horfes are chargeable to pur. chafe, they are alfo chargeable in keeping. The Gover- The Governor about this time taking occafion to quarrel with the nor quarrels Dutch, offering feveral Abufes both of Body and Purfe; the Commo. " , ‘ t ( 1 f ', the dore was refolved no longer to endure it, and therefore had lent for their Fleet, and in the mean time threatned to remove the Fadory to Gogo, a Port over-againtt Sivady, which with Din Point makes Swally Hole : To prevent which, a Decoy was put upon all Pringts , that we could not go out of the Gates of the City, but by efpecial Commiffion from the Governor. C H A P. II. i Shews the Tombs , Outwalks, Ceremonies, and'Aufierities of tk Gentiles, with the Ships and ^iVer about Surat. The Rafpi ms TTAving obtained Leave of the Governor, we went out of the takeToii with Jj[ Walls by Broach-Gate (they taking Names from the chief Pk« the Mogul. ces t [ ie y J ead t0 ^ where, as at every Gate, Hands a Chocky , or Watch to receive Toll for the Emperor ; and which is a fhame, a Rajpoot alfo for the Rajpoots , otherwife they would infeft the Villa- ges adjacent, and drive away the Cattel; for all which it is unfafe to be far out of the Town late at Night, unlefs well guarded. This way was all ftrewed with Moor-mens Tombs, and one of efpecial Note of a Perfian Ambaflador, who returning from England with Sit Anthony Shirley, is reported to poyfon himfelf here,, rather than anfwer fome ill Management of his Office to his Matter: Not far from whenGe, on a fmall Hill on the left hand of . the Road, lies Tom Coriat , our Englijh Fakier ( as they name him ), together with an Armenian Chriftian, known by their Graves lying Eaft and Weft: He was fo confident of his Perfection in the Indoflan Tongue, that he ventured to play the Orator in it before the Great Mogul. In his re¬ turn from him he was killed with Kindnefs by the Englijh Merchants, which laid his rambling Brains at Reft. mch and At- From hence we palled over to the Dutch Tombs, many and hand- mmmt tombs, fome, moftof them Pargetted. Adjoining to which the Armenians have a Garden, where on a Terras (Forty Yards in Length, and Five in Breadth) are reared feveral Monuments Coffin-Fafhion, with a place to burn Incenfe at the Head, like th o. Moors, only over it a Crofs: One of more Eminency had an Arch over it at the upper-end. Thence we took a Round, though the Inclofures are contiguous, to the Englijh Tombs, fhort of which the Portugals have a Burial- Place. The EvgHfi The Ground the Englijh Dead are inhumed in, is flocked not with Burial-Place, fo many Tombs as the Dutch ; though in one of Sir George Oxendinh it excels the Proudeft. The 101 and foamy into Duccan. The French have a feparate Place to depofit their Dead, overagainft Chap. N. the Euglijh, with only one Tingle Tomb, and that a fmall one. " In every place up and down the Fields are Tombs of Mufjlemen .- ^^ raic/j A Mile from the City, buried like Diogenes with their Heels upwards, The E, :r fu\ ftand a Row of Sepulchres of the Mutt any, or Burfta’s Pilgrims, “ H “ tlien with the Soles of their Feet imprinted on the middle.,- Tome under a Wanderers - Fourfquare, others Round rifing Tombs, by the fide of a Tank, on an afcending Mount. A Mile and a half further is Pulparra , a Town feparated for the Paipana, an Banyans to exercife their Funeral and Feftival Rites. This is a Se- Heathen Se¬ minary of their Heathen Doctors or Brachmins , many of whom mmary ‘ were in the River doing their Devotions, which confifts in Walhing and Praying. The Elder fate in a Row, where the Men and Women came down together to walh, having Lungies about their Waftes only, which before they put on, they feledfc a Brachmin of their proper Call to hold. their Yell; which they lhift fo cleaverly, that the quickeft Eye can difcover nothing more than decent. At their coming up out of the Water they bellow their Largefs of Rice or Doll ( an Indian Bean ) and the Brachmin his Benedi&ion, by imprefling a Mark anfwerable to their Calls on their Forheads; which-is the way they live, purely on Benevolence. Here they have Two Pagods remaining, but defaced by the TwoPagoJs Moors: One of them, however, ftilllhews a Cruft of Plafter, with ^™ eIknc Images Antick enough, but of excellent durance and fplendour, ' like Alabafter, made of a white Loam calcined, and then called Arras ; which they powder and fteep in Water Three or Four Years before it be fit for their purpofe; the longer the better. . Here are many Monuments of their milled Zeal; the molt dread- The Burning ful to remember, is an extraordinary one ere&ed by the River-fide, of their Dead, where they Burn their Dead, in Honour of a Woman who Burnt her felf with her dead Husband. Several Corps were Flaming in their Fu¬ neral Piles,- which after the Fire has fatisfied'its felf with, they call the Alhes up into the Air, and fomeupon the Water; that every Element may have a lhare. Some of the Devouteft defire to ex¬ pire in this Water, giving in charge to their Relations to lay them up to the Chin in it at the Article of Death. Thofe whofe Zeal tranfportthem no farther than to die at home, They carry are immediately Walhed by the next of Kin, and bound up in a them t0 Pa '- Sheet; as many as go with him, carry him by turns on a Colt-ftaff - tmaM and the reft run almoft naked and lhaved, crying after him, Ram Ram, making all the hafte they can to Pulparra to Burn him; which Fire is often very coftly, being maintain’d with Wood of Aloes; fome- times they expend fome Thoufands of Rupees. The Relations ex¬ clude themfelves all Society till the time of Mourning be over • the Women cry ing, 0 Si, OSi, beating their Breafts violently, and expoftulating thereafon of their Departure, as if he had not a kind Wife, loving Children good Pofleflions, and the like: In the time of this Mourning they bellow largely to redeem Creatures appointed to Die, to excufe Oxerland Buffolah from Labour, feeding them at their own Charges, befides purchafing Milch Kine, and giving them 102 A Defection of Surat, Letter III. to poor People, inviting them to Funeral Feafts, with ether Lar- geiles to the Brachmins. The Mures Here are out-a&ed all the boafted Authorities I ever heard of; I and Severities f aW a p a kier of the Gentus, whofe Nails by negled were grown as then Bhen' long as my Fingers, fome piercing through the Flelh. Another grave Old Man had a Turbat of his own Hair ( which they ail Covet) Sun-burnt towards the ends, Grey nearer the roots, Plaited like the Polontan Plica, but not fo difeafed, above Four Yards in' Length. Others with their Arms Diflocated fo, that the §ta*Qao>z$ of the Joints is Inverted, and the head of the Bone lies in the pit or valley of the Arm; in which Cafe they are defrauded of their Nourilhment, and hang as ufelefs Appendices to the Body; that unlefs relieved by Charity, they are helplefs in all Offices to themfelves. Others Fixing their Eyes upon Heaven, their Heads hanging over their Shoulders, are uncapable of removing it from the Pofture they are in, being accuftomed to that uninterrupted Reft, having con- traded and ftiffned the Tendons of the Mufclesand Ligaments of the Neck, that both thofe belonging to the Gullet, or the motion of the Head, are unferviceable; infomuch that no Aliment, not Li¬ quid, canpafs, and that too with much difficulty. Others by continual Abftinence bring themfelves into a ftrange Emaciated habit of Body, that they feem only walking Skelitons. All of them go Naked (fome plump younglufty Fellows) ex¬ cept their Privities, and bedawb themfelves over with Allies; who with their pleited' Hair about their Heads, look like fo many Afega- ras ; thefe wait on the others. The Ancienteft .of them addid them¬ felves to Reading, they live Six or Eight together, as they pleafe; lie upon the Ground or a Matt, fome of them' in all Seafons abide the open Air. Piimch Aag h At another time a Gentu Fakier was enjoined for Forty days to en- nance of Five ^ ure the Purgatory of five Fires; there being a great refort by rea- Eites. 1 fon of a Feftivity folemnized all that while; when I came early in the Morning (invited by the novelty and incredibility of the thing) he was Seated on a four-fquare Stage or Altar, with three Afcents, fome Two Feet high, and as many Feet fquare, ready to fliew: While he was in a mufing pofture, other Fakiers ( whofe Duty it is daily to falute the Sun at his Height, Rifing, and Setting, with their Mufick of long hollow Canes) blew them for an hour, or Gho»i ; after which he fell to his Mattins, which he continued till the Sun began to be warm; then rifing he Blefied himfelf with Holy Water, and threw himfelf along on the loweft fquare, ftill muttering fo himfelf on his Knees, he at length, with one Leg bowed upright between his Thighs, rifes on the other, telling his Beads (which both Moormen and Gentus wear) which he had in his hands a quarter longer, and Hands, like a Goofe, unmoved all the time; then call¬ ing himfelf down, heexercifed himfelf, as Wraftlers do here, very briskly, but guarding the pofition of his Leg, which he kept fo fixed as if it had grown in that nature, as well when he rofe as gro¬ velled on the ground ; aefting thus a quarter more, it had the I fame operation as the Stork’s Bill ufed for a Suppofitory, for it 1 brought and Joumy into Duccan. 103 brought him to a Stool ; he taking his Purifying-pot in his hand, Chap. If. marched on one fide, where he tarried not long before he returning took up his Beads he had left; and in this Interim four Fires being kindled (any of them able to roaft an Ox) at each Corner of the upper and leaft Square, he having finifhed forne Fopperies with his Pm, Saevola -like with his own hands he increafed the Flames by ad¬ ding combuftible Stuff as Incenfe to it; when removing from his Neck a Collar of great Wooden Beads, he made a Coronet of them for his Head ; then bowing his Head in the middle of the Flames, as it were to worfhip, holding the other Beads in his hands, with his Head encircled between his Arms, his Face oppofite to the Sun, which is the fifth Fire, he mounted his Body with his Feet bolt up¬ right, and fo continued handing on his Head the fpace of three hours very fteddily, that is, from Nine till Twelve; after which he feats himfelf on his Breech crofs-legg’d after their way of fitting, and re¬ mains fo without either eating or drinking all the reft of the Day, the Fires ftill nourifhed, and he fweating ( being one of a good Ath- letick Habit, and of a Middle Age ) as if bailed in his own Greafe. This is imagined to be an Impofture; but if it be, it would make whether it be a Man disbelieve his own Eyes: Others more rationally impute the *u Impoftwe, Heat from the Fires to be allayed by that overpowering one of the Sun ; which I cannot wholly incline to, fince we daily when abroad roaft our Meat by Fires made in a clear Day without any fhelter: But I rather conceive Cuftom has inured his Body to it; for the very Mountebank Tricks declare it a Pradice; and the other I think as feafible as to eat Fire, tread on Hot Irons, ( which is here ufed ), or for Cooks to thruft their hands into fcalding Water without Injury. Another Devote had made a Vow not to lye down in Sixteen a Devote that Years, but to keep on his Feet all that while ; this came accompa- Jj ad no . t fat j nied with two others under the fame Oath, the one had pafled Five, te °n years!"" the other Three Years; all Three of them had their Legs fwoln as big as their Bodies, with filthy running Ulcers, expofed to view for the greater Applaufe: Standing, they leaned on Pillows hung in a String from the Banyan Tree, and had a Pompous Attendance of fuch ragged Takiers their Admirers, with Mufick, Flags, and Mir- chals: The Eldeft having undergone the compleat Term, to crown all, was intombed in the fame Handing Pofture Nine Days without any fort of Food ; and left any Pretext of that kind might leffen his Undertaking, he caufed a Bank of Earth to be heaped on the Mouth of his Cave, whereon was to be fown a certain Grain which ears in Nine Days, which accordingly being done, eared before his being taken thence. I faw him presently after his Refurre&ion, in great State railed on a Throne under a Canopy, before which was a Fire made in the Pit he had been, where he put his Hands, y being anointed with Oyl, untouch’d by the Flames: Which whether this maydif- cover the Cheat of both this and the other, that fuch an Un&ion may be to refill Fire, Naturalifts have not agreed in; and therefore I judge this rather a Delufion, I having not been prefent at this Ex¬ periment: But that this is none I am allured, That the Banyans gave mm Divine Honours, and faluted him proftrate, offering before him Rice, and throwing Incenfe into the Fire: He had a Red Trident in 104 A Definition of Surat , Letter III. his hand, and is enrolled one of the Heroes or Demi-Gods in their Superfluous Kalender. From this place of Pulparra to Surat, a Row of Trees on each hand (hade the way, it being conftantly filled with all forts of people . ither for Worlhip or Pleafure. A gre.u Taut. The only thing of Grandeur extant of the Devotion of the Anci¬ ent Heathens, is a great Tank without the Walls of Surat, a Mile in Circumference, walled all about with defeending Stone Seeps: In the middle an High Place of the Heathens: Many fumptuous Maufi. leums are eretted near its Brink, with Aquedudts to convey Water, with which were it filled, thebeft Ship that fwims in the Sea might ride in it: It looks now more like a Circus or Gymnafeum, able enough to contain as many as fuch Spe&acles would delight. In their great Solemnities it is ufual for them to fetit around, with Lamps to the Number of two or three Lecgues, which is fo many Hundred thou- fand in our Account. Gardens. The Citizens by the King’s Favour have good (lore of Gardens 31 ' neighbouring Surat ; the biggeft of all is the Queen’s, though fome Private Men have neater, where we often go to take the Air, and feafl in pleafantCWfr/fj-orSumrner-Houfes, fpread after th e Moors manner with Carpets, refreflied with various Figures of the Rifing Water, out of feveral Spouts from fquare Tanks Pargetted. All the time of our durance here Water is fprinkled, to mitigate the Fierinefs of the Sun. Grottoes. Here are Grottoes defeending alfo under Ground by huge Arches and Stone Steps (haded by Trees on each hand, till it come to the deep Well at bottom, from whence by Leathern Bags drawn upon Wheels by Oxen, the Water is carried up, and in Gutters flreams about the Gardens. • The Cotton- In thefe by the help of a Brachmin skilled in Simples, I have found Tr5e - the Silk Cotton-tree, diftinguilhed by us from the Vulgar beneficial one, by its being a Tree, the other a Shrub; it is moft like a Maple in Leaf and Branch, only the Bark is not furrowed; it brings forth between three Leaves, firft a Bud or Button,then a white Flower, lad of all Seed about which the Cotton grows,' in three diftintfl Cells an- fwering the three Leaves. Bang . As alfo the Plant of which Bang is made; it grow's as our Hemp,the Juice of whofe Seed ground in a Bowl like Muftard-feed, and mixed with any other Liquor, is that they equivocate with their Pro¬ phet inftead of the Grape ; and that which follows agrees to what Mr. Ray notes out of LOB in Ado: Lacuftris aqua cui cannabis into- ' luerit tantopere viro meet , ut epotafit prrefentijftmo fitientilus venens; this with Dutry ( as has been Laid ) is the inebriating Confe&ion of the Poft. Aiiuli. Here he difeovered to me his beloved Allah, the Bark of a Tree, the prefent remedy againft all manner of Fluxes. No great Va- Though thefe People delight much in .Gardens, yet are they but riety of Flow- rude, compared to ours of. Europe', they make a noble Entrance, a ers ' Banquetting-houfe in the middle eying the four Quarters of the Gar¬ den, befet with Trees like Wildernefles in every Quarter, or elfe planted with Potatoes, Tarns, Berenjatvs, both hot Plants, and their Coolers, and fottrny into Duccan. 105 Coolers, zsPompkins, Cucumbers, Gourds, and fuch like; they are Chap. I[. only divided by Gravelly Walks and Water-courfes; not curioufly adorned with Flowers', Bifmalvas and fome Wall-flowers or Stock- Gillyflowers being the height of what they aim at: Only the Culga, fo famed for the Silk, in imitation of its Paint, I take it for our Ama- rillis ; and or the Tree Mallow, which is red as Scarlet in the Morning, and at Noon faints into a pale Colour, and towards the Evening is pure white j fome few Lyfmachias, which befides their feveral forts of Jefamins, is all the choice : Rofes would grow here if they would but cultivate them. A Mile from the City grows the humble Senfitive Plant, common TheSenfibie in the Fields; Eafhvard of Surat, two Courfes, i. e. a League, we Yjyj* Ar pitched our Tent under a Tree, that befides its Leafs, the Branches " ‘ bear its own Roots, therefore called by the Portugals, Arbor de Rais: For the Adoration the Banyans pay it, the Banyan Tree (by whom it is held as facred as the Oak to our Old DruidsJ; who paint it daily, and make Offerings of Rice, and pray to it: It has Leafs like an Ivy, and is the fame with that at Johanna, only that was incorporated into one Body, and this by often taking Root is capable of overfpread- ing a whole Field, fo that it is faid there are of them able to lhade an Army of 30000 Horfe and Men ftngly; however it is poffible to be fo contrived, if it be lookt after, to make a Wood alone of it felf. The Hedges and Lanes are chiefly fet with two forts of Bulhes, m ;iv t^r w called by us Milk-Trees, becaufe of a fucculent Juice like Spurge, white, and of the confiftency of the bell: Milk; but if it comes near the Skin or Eyes it is not lb benign,according to the Experience of the Famous Verulam, [Nat. Hifl. Cent. 7. Exp. 39. Omnem fuccum latti ft. milem ex plantis incifis acrem etfe,} and my Obfervation here; for if ' by chance it flick upon any part of the Body, it frets like an Efcaro- tick; and I have feen an unruly Horfe, rulhing through it, both blind , himfelf and Rider, both their Heads being fwoln to an extraordinary bignefs. I believe it to be a kind of Tithymal,quod tenerum lac non /ecus ac Manna effmdit ; the firft fort of which has broader and jucier Leafs, and has four or five together; not jagged, but fomewhat oval, a. Finger’s length, and half as broad; one only thick Stalk arifes from the Root, and feveral Branches proceed from thence; they are all Green and Tender, fpringingupaMan’s height, full of Prickles as our Carduus, of whofe Milk infpiffated is made Euphorbium. The other grows up into the Body of a Tree, and is Woody; above which it fends forth feveral tender fmooth Stalks, which fprout out into Boughs feeming almoft naked, becaufe its Leafs are fmall, and come out at its Joints, fometimes fingly; it is moft like a Privet, very quick of Growth, and each of them make good Fences. The Goats defpife it not, feeding, though' very .cautioufly, on the Leafs and Branches of the latter, when the Heats have parched up the Grafs and other Plants. Before we leave the pleafant Fields for the dufty {linking Town, Sugar-Canes Sugar-Canes and Tobacco would deferveour Remark, which are and Tobacco, both plentifully thriving here j had not thefe been already the Subjed P The o 6 A Defcriftion of Surat, Letter III. The next diverting Profpedt muft be that of the River; it glides by the Town in fwift Tides, and at Spring-Tides ( which it would commodious alwa Y s ^o, were they induftrious to keep it in its Banks) it bears fo™ iheirShips. Ships of i ooo Tun Burthen up to Surat Walls; but they unlade firft, becaufe of the Sands, occafioned by their Sloth. They lye very thick a Mile together, and fcattering down to the River’s Mouth, reckon¬ ing more than an Hundred Sail of good Ships, befides fmall VefleJs: For all which they were beholden to the Poverty of fome Englm . Shipwrights, thefirftof whom received the deferved Reward of his OfEcioufnefs (being Scutica dignus) from the Moors , who appre- hending him Healing Cuftoms, Cbawhucked him handfomly. The Dunk The Dutch never permit the Natives to be taught any Eminent Art teach the NaC whereby they may become their Competitors: Nor is it, I think, bet- uves nothing. ter p 0 jj C y t0 inftrud them in any beneficial Science, as that of Na¬ vigation, no more than one would an Adverfary how to ufe his Wea¬ pons; which thefe, had they equal Courage to their other Advanta¬ ges of Strength and Nature , might eafily thereby turn the Points of their Weapons upon us. Theii Navy. But for all thefe great Preparations, as yet they dare not venture out without Europe Pafles, or Pilots; though fome of their Ships carry 30 or 40 Pieces of Cannon, more for Shew than Service. Be- ftdes thefe Merchant-Men, here are Three or Four Men of War as big as Third Rate Ships: The other are Frigats fit to Row or Sail, made with Prows inftead of Beaks, more ufeful in Rivers and Creeks, than in the Main. The Emperor alfo has four great Ships in Pay al¬ ways, to carry Pilgrims to Mcecha on free Coft, and bring them back from Hodge, where they prove a Crew of fan&ified Varlets. The young The Heir of Bantam is now here to take his Paflage thither in one King of Ban- of them, with his Retinue, which are fome of the Pengrims or Lords tm - of the Country, his Unkle and others, which were about Twenty, with their Wives: He was firft at Bomhaim , where he was entertain¬ ed like a Prince, for the Obligation the Company have to their Trade there, he having been difobedient to the King his Father, and has not yet Ihewed any kindnefs to the Englifh, fiding rather with the Dutch Intereft to undermine the Old King, and fettle them in the Pepper-trade, which afterwards will not be in his Power to redeem out of their hands: Here little notice is taken of him, they all being in miferable poor Habits, and he of little Credit, being a Giddyhead, were it not for the Englifh Captain that brought him, a Confident of the Old King’s, who furnilhes him with Money but fparingly, he being indifcreet in his Expences. He is of the Java Extraction, Ihort of Stature, broad-fac’d, little Eyes, and lefs Beard, a mere Boy; the reft wear their Beards like the Chinefes , which is compa¬ ratively like a Cat’s ; their Heads fhaved, covered only with Skull- Caps of Knit-Work, their Upper-Garments loofe like a Frock: When they appear before him; they proftrate themfelves along, then rifing up with Refped, fit crouching on their Heels: Their Women were covered with dark Blue Sheets. His Story. The Old King had retired from the Cares of Government,and com¬ mitted all to this his Son; but the Pengrims foon tired with his exor¬ bitant Sway,made Interceffion for the Old King’s reaflumirig his Au¬ thority) and fourny into Duccan, 107 thority; whereupon this Voyage was framed as an- Expedient to fet- Chap. III. tie his Mad Temper, being intruded to the fober Condud of the King’s Brother. Thefe Veflels that are for this Voyage are huge unlhapen things, Their Junks, and bear both the Name and Model of their old Junks: They return and ufually very Rich, and are at their Arrival adorned mod abundantly with Streamers. Their way of Salutes are with Even, as ours with Odd Guns. The Seamen and Soldiers differ only in a Vowel, the one being Seamen, pronounced with an «, the other with an a; as Lufcar is a Soldier j Lafcar, a Seaman. The Captain is called Nuquedah, the Boatfwain \Tmdal. \ CHAP. III. : Of their Solemnities, Sports and faftimes their Marriages; of the , Parfeys, their Strength by Land and Sea, their abundant Wealth, and Vitnefs for Trade. A N D now having entertained you thus far, I lhall continue to you the Gircumftantial or Accidental Shews, together with. their Sports and Exercifes. The firft depends on the New Moon, when, all Malice apart, the Their New Moors embrace one another, and at the fight thereof make a Jubilee, Moons, by firing of Guns, blowing of Trumpets, Feafiingand Praying ve¬ ry devoutly. The next is the Day of the Week obferved for the Great Mogul's Advancement to the Throne ; which is not fo generally kept, only by the Soldiers and Officers. But that which affe&s them all, is at the end of their Ramazan or R01 Lent, which is always the firft New Moon in November; which as um. . it is obferved with the greateft Stridnefs, not fwallowing their Spittle all the Day of its Continuance, fo is it celebrated when it concludes, with the higheft Expreffion of Joy and Solemnity. ■ The Governor goes in Proceffion, and beftows his Largefs in his Grandeur 0 f ; Paffagetothe Chief Place of Devotion, liberally fcattering Rupees their Gorer- ; as Kings do Medals at their Coronations, waited on by all the Gal- and Great ; lants of the Town: His Son firft leading a Body of Horfe of the Men ' Cavalry of the City; himfelf beginning the firft File on the Left- hand, the place of higheft Honour, it was as deep as the Street would admit,obferving no Rank: After whom followed the Cazy,mth Green Banners, with a Band of Foot of 100 Men; then the Cu- ftomer with his Men and Colours, both carried in Palenkeens; whom followed the Mullahs and Merchants, without any diftindion, fome in Coaches, others in Palenkeens, with their large Troops of Servi¬ tors : Then five Elephants in Armour, with Banners fupported by thofe that were in their Seats, capable of a dozen Sitters; they ma¬ nage them by one Rider fitting near his Neckj with an Iron Inftru- ioB A Definition of Surat, Letter III. ment a Cubit in length, the Point bended downwards as long as a C/.~i£v0' finger, afcribed by Livy to the Invention of that famous Leader’s Brother Afdrubal, who feeing thefe Creatures of great Terror to the Enemy, but if taking an heedlefs Courfe were as liable to damage Friend as Foe, found out this Remedy; delivering a Graver to their Mailers with an Hammer, ordered them to ftrike it with their main ftrength on the JumSure where their Head was faflned to their Ned, if they were unruly, whereby the great Bulk fell to the Ground, Magifter falrile fealprum, cum ma/leo inter aures pofitum, ipsa in cm. page quel jungitur capiti cervix, quanto maxima poterat iclu adigcht , But afterwards they learned by ftriking on the Vertebra’s of the Neck, to rule them ; which Cuftom I fee here maintained. After thefe came a Dozen Leopards on Stat e-Hackeries with their Keepers, who train them up to hunting. At convenient diftances the Trumpets founded, and Camels of War with Pate reroes on their Saddles, marched with a Pace laborious to the Guiders, giving themaDif. eafe not much different from a Gonorrhea. Here nothing was feen but Banners and Streamers, nor heard but Kettle-Drums and Trum- pets; after which followed the Governor in the middle of a Troop of Soldiers, all in Coats of Mail and Headpieces, armed at all Points, both themfelves and Horfes; himfelf mounted on a little She-Ele- phant, with all the Trappings and Accoutrements of State. Etd morem antiquum quo puberes filii & jam in virili togh, comitabantur tri- umphantem pattern, quod etiam ex Livio appareat de Paulo loqueutt. Two or three Striplings ( his own Children ) rode fmiling with him, who were very White refpe&ively; the Governor himfelf being a Mogul, which is as much as Suffet in Arabic, from whence the Per- fm Emperor is called Suffee, and this, Mogul, as being derived from the fame Parent; as alfo are all thofe defcended from them. In this State he rode to a Place fet apart for this Day’s Solemnity, out of the Walls, to the Queens Garden-Gate, before which it Hands, where after Prayers he receives the Compliments of the Grandees, and returns to Feaft. At this time the Walls of the City, and Towers of the Caflie, wanted not their Adornments, being befluck with bloody Enligns, and fmoking with Guns of Jubilee, as well as tooting with their Trumpets, and beating with their Drums; as the Jews on their Sabbaths, or their folemn Feaft days were wont. The utm The New Moon before the New Year (which commences at ' the Vernal Equinox) is the Moors /Ede, when the.Governor in no lefs Pomp than before, goes to facrifice a Ram or He-Goat, in re¬ membrance of that offered for Ifaac ( by them called Ijbauh ); the like does every one in his own Houfe, that is able to purchafe one, and fprinkle their Blood on the Tides of their Doors. The Mourn- About this time the Moors folemnize the Exequies of Hoffeen Gif- cf/° T f een ' 3 t “ ne ten da y s Mourning for two Unfortunate Champions t p, e j rS) w jj 0 p er iflj ec j by Thirft in the Deferts, fighting againft the Chriftians: Wherefore every Corner of the Street is fupplied with Jars of Water j and they run up and down like Furies in queft of thefe two Brethren, laying about with Swords, Clubs, and Staves, crying with that earneftnefs upon their Names, and dancing in and Journy into Duccari. 109 in fuch Antick Dances 3s refemble the Pyrrhical Saltation. Hac Ce- Chap. Ill, lelratio non omnino diffimilis ei generi exercerifolita ajuvenihus armatis •/"V'VJ Lacedemonice cum Patris Achillis rogum celebrant ; that a foberMan could make no other judgment on them, than that they weredi- ftradted. This is done through the Streets; where if two Compa¬ nies encounter, they feldom part without bloody Nofes; which Oc- cafion being given like Efaus Intentions on the Day of his Father’s Lamentation, to revenge himfelf on his Brother Jacol, has been the Caufe why the Mogul has reftrained it for the prevention of Out¬ rages; but yet his Mandate is not fo valid to make them forfake it hereAfter Sun-fet they eat, and fall to Tinging the Pfalms of Doud, or David, in the mod confonant Tone I have heard. The lad: Day they prepare a couple of Coffins, and have a Man or two on Horfeback all beduck like our Man in the Almanack, with Arrows; thefe ride reeling, and ready to drop,off their Horfesfor Faintnefs, till they come to the River, where they put the Coffins afloat with a loud Cry, and then returning, repeat with great Vene¬ ration their Names, and after this trim their Beards, waih and lhift their Cloaths, (all this while worn negligently, as Mourners) and re¬ turn to their more beaffly Vomit of Luxury, than this of more than Manly Fury. ; This Religious Bigot of an Emperor Auren Zed, feeks not to Tup- The Emperor j prefs it utterly, but to reduce the Celebration, topreferve their Me- a grat Zealot i mories by a pious Refped, fuitable to the Gravity, of the Moors: For, g“ n his • fays he, hereby Opportunity is offered to the Gophers (Unbelievers) to think Mufflemen favour the Lewd Worlhip of the Heathens; which is not only a Scandal to the Mahometan Religion, but an En¬ couragement to the Enemies thereof to perfift in their own, whilft fuch Licentioufnefs is connived at in that which ffiould be fet as a : Pattern for them to imitate: For’even at this inftant he is on a Project I to bring them all over to his Faith, and has already begun by two fe- veral Taxes or Polls, very fevere ones, efpecially upon the Brachmins, • making them pay a Gold Rupee an Head, and the inferior Tribes proportionable; which has made fome Rajahs revolt, and here they begin to fly to the Portugal Countries, and Bomhaim; though ffiould they make a joint Refiftance they are a thoufand to one more than the Moguls can with an unanimous Contrivance fairly rnufter. On an Eclipfe of the Sun or Moon, the Moors are in a lamentable How they bs- f Plight, making a great Noife with Pots and Pans, and other noify h“ ve them. ; Inftruments; not omitting their Prayers, fancying them prevalent E ' ; to deliver them from their Travel. When the Heathens, indru&ed ' ‘ by their Brachmins, by a better Philofophy, declare to them the Day before the two great Luminaries are obfcured by the Interpofition of the Moon’s, or Earth’s Globe, that they may Fall, Waffi, and Purify themfelves for Twenty four Hours before the Eclipfe happens, and all the time of its laftingi after which is pad, theyfeaft and beftow their Benevolence freely on the Brachmins, holding them for this their profound Knowledge, in mighty Admiration. And though the Jollity and Pomp of the Heathens is much al¬ layed by the Puritanifm and unlimited Power of the Moors, info- much that they are wholly forbidden to Burn their Wives with the Huf- no A Definition of Surat, Letter III. Husbands ; yet muft not the Indians be totally denied their Feafls and chiefly that of their publick Nuptials, which comes in twice a Year; as the Atticks in their yx.y/M'Awv in January and Oftokr, f 0 thefe in the Months Fulgannau and Puxu, in January and March • to enjoy which times of Feftivity, the Governor expeds large Gratui. ties, which they colled as every one can afford; All which times they make Proceffions, and appear, (efpecially the Children and young Folks) in rich Drefles of Gold and Silver, Mitres on their Heads, and weighty Safhes about their Middles, bedawbed and ftained ail over with Saffron Colour; the Married Folks riding on Horfeback, Palenkeens , and Coaches, fplendidly adorned, drawn by Oxen, Goats, and Elks, Painted over with Saffron, their Horns tipped with Silver; Mufick, Streamers, and Banners going before them, the Women Singing Epithalamiums , the Men following, and a great Attendance with Pageants, Mirchals, and Kitfols , giving Pawn and Coco-Nuts frankly, as they pafs. Ceremonies in The Ceremonies after Wafhing and Cleaning, conclude by their | Marriage. . Sitting Two Hours Tied by the Neck, while the Prieft Prays, the ■Woman being then Manacled with Gold or Silver Shackles about her Wrifts and Ankles, a white Sheet hasgg held over them Unvailed, a • Coco-Nut exchanged to confirm the bargain,and Corn fcattered upon them; all Emblems of the Matrimonial Bands, Chaflity and a firm refolution to comply with one anothers Fortunes; and then difmif- fes them, by fprinkling Water on the Married Couple, that they may Increafe and Multiply. The Women are never Married more than once, the Men are under no fuch Obligation, of the The firft New Moon in Ottofar, is the Banyans Dually , a great Heathen. Day of Celebration to their Pagan Deities, when they are very kind- hearted, prefenting their Mahers with Gifts, as knowing they fliall be no Lofers, and Entertain one another with mutual Mirth and Banquetting. The Women The next Moon their Women flock to the Sacred Wells; where, have a time of they fay, it is not difficult to perfuade them to be kind, fuppofing iee om. thdr Pollutions not to remain after their Wafhing in thefe Holy Waters. Feaft of Flies March begins with a Licentious Week of Sports and Rejoycing, wherein they are not wanting for Lafcivious Difcourfe, nor are they to be offended at any Jeff or Waggery. And to fhew their Benefi- ! cence at the beginning of the Rains, they Treat the Ants and Flies with Sweatmeats and Wafers, ftudioufly fetting Hony, Syrups, or any thing that may entice them to their own death, out of their way; allowing them Sugar, or any other dried Confe&s for their Repaft, inflead of them. Hofpitable to . They are conftant Benefactors to the Dogs, which are many, the Dogs. Bitches littering in the Streets; but avoid touching them, as they would an Holencore , whom if their Garments chance to brufh, they hie them home, Shift, and Wafh. Their Exerd- Anc ^ now we enter upon the Agonalia , firft of the Moors : They fes, or Recre- love to outdo one another in Feats of Activity, as Riding full fpeed, ations. anc j to flop with a Jerk, or motion of the Body, their Horfes be¬ ing well managed ; Tilting and Gereeding. that is, Calling of Darts, and fourny into Duccan. Darts, both for Utility and Recreation ; Shooting with Bows and Arrows, which is near at hand, not far off, as we at Rovers; Running on Foot, which belongs to the Pattamars, the only Foot-pofts of this Country, who Run fo many Courfes every Morning, or elfe Dance fo : many hours to a Tune called the Patamars Tune, when they labour as much as a Lcmcajhire Man does at Roger of Coverly, or the Taran¬ tula of their Hornpipe; thefe wear Feathers in their Turbats. TheWreftlers Anoint with Oil, and are Naked, only a Belt about their Waftes, in which they weary one another only by . pure ; Strength and Lu&ation, not by Skill or Circumvention; thefe two laft ufe Opium to make them perform things beyond their ftrength ; and it is incredible to think how far thefe will Travel before the vir¬ tue of it be worked off Hunting of Tigers is fometimes a Paftime, at others a Tragy-Co- | medy; for b'efetting a Wood where Tigers lurk, with Men and Hor- fes, and putting a Set of their loud Mufick to ftrike up in the middle of it; they rouze at the unaccuftomed Noize, and ruffing forth feize ; the firft in their way, if not Shot or Launced, to prevent them: Wild Bulls and Buffolds are as dangerous, nor is the Boar left fierce than any of them. Antilopes are fet upon by Leopards on this wife; they carry the Leo¬ pards on Hackeries,both for Iefs fufpicion, and to give them the advan¬ tage of their Spring $ which if they lofe,they follow not their Prey .be¬ ing for a furprize; wherefore the Hackeries wheel about at a diftance, till they come near enough to apprehend them, they feeding fearlefs ; of the Hackeries ; then with three or four Leaps, afterafmallChace, I feize them, andeafily become their Mafters. | The Great Men have Perfian Greyhounds, which they Cloathe in . Cold Weather, and fome few Hawks ; a Colum may be Hunted with • a Greyhound, as we do Buftards, being a great Fowl and long in Rifing. Buffo la’s animated by their Keepers, fight with great fury; their | Horns, being reverfed, areufelefs; but they knock Foreheads with a I force adequate to fuch great Engines, till they are all of a gore, and ! follow their blow with fuch vigour, that the ftrength of their Backs ; exert themfelves into their Natural Parts, which they brandiff as if ' ftimulated toVenery; the ftrongerwill hardly permit the weaker to go back to return with his force, but prefling on him, endeavours to bear him down; thus foiling one another, they are a long time before they will yield. Perfian Rams fet together in this manner, are not parted without : a bloody Cataftrophe, which are kept on purpofe for the fport of | their Great Men ; as likewife are Elephants, who engage at the Will of their Mafters. ; Here are no Gladiators, but at Cudgels they will play as at Back- i fword, till they warm one another. I The chief Pleafure of the Gentiles , or Banyans , is to Cheat one I another, conceiving therein the higheft Felicity, though it be | Cuckolding, which they are expert at. They will play at Chefs, : or Tables; but their utmoft Fewds are determined by the dint of | the Tongue, to (bold luftily, and to pull one anothers Puc I keries. 11 i Chap. III. Wreftling; Hunting. Bufftti s and Rami fet to Fight. The Mailer- piece of the Banjtam, 112 A Defection of Surat, Letter III. keries or Turbat's off, being proverbially termed a Banyan Fight, Neverthelefs they are implacable till a fecret and fure Revenge fall upon their Adverfary, either by malicioufly plotting again ft their Life, by clancular Dealings, or Eftate, by unlawful and unjuft Extor¬ tions : Then you Ihall have them with this Prayer in their Mouths, ———- Tulchra Laverna . Da mihi fallere , da juft am [anBumque videri ; Nottem peccatis & fraudibus adjice nubem . Education of Example is more than Precept, and the Youth have no other Edu- Youth, cation befides their Parents, more than fome mean Pedagogue’s, who teaches the Children firft their Letters or Cyphers on the Ground, by writing on the Duft with their Fingers, which is their Primer; where when they are perfect they are allowed a Board plaftered over, which with Cotton they wipe out, when full, as we do from Slates or Table-Books; when they arrive to Paper, they are prefumedto be their Crafts-mafters, and to earn it. The (loth of The Moors, who are by Nature flothful, will not take pains; being the Mom a proud, fcorn to be taught; and jealous of the Bafenefs of Mankind, whet to the wybe apart, both for yours and my own fatisfa&ion, together with a ge- imptove neral Collection of Coins and Weights, as time and opportunity fhall make me better acquainted: In the mean time, telling you what I faw at the Houfe of an Hindu that wrought in Coral, where was to be wondred the Tools he worked with, more than his Art, becaufe we fee it furpafled in Europe ; but with far more invention of Inftru- ments: Here Hands and Feet beingall the Vice, and the other Tools unfliapen bits of Iron: From whence I went the fame day to a Moor¬ man that cuts all forts of Stones, except Diamonds, with a certain Wheel made of Lacre and Stone ground and incorporated, only to be had at Cochin, and there the Name is known. They cut Diamonds with a Mill turned by Men, the String reach¬ ing, in manner of our Cutlers Wheels, to letter that are in a flat Prefs, where under Steel-wheels the Diamonds are faftned 5 and with its own Bort are worn into what Cut the Artift pleafes: Thefe are fold moft in the Country, they coming fhort of the Fringies in Fancy; wherefore they are fent rough into Europe, where they are both fet and cut to more advantage. A Banyan that feemingly is not worth a Gosleek (the loweft Coin they have) fhall pull out of his Puckery fome thoufand Poundf- worth of thefe for fale; when all the Warinefs in the World is re¬ quired, and fo I difmifs them. This City is very natty by their want of Privies, and their ma- The city kept king every Door^a Dunghill; yet never had they any Plague, the nattily. Heats evaporating, and the Rains wattling this Filth away. TheDifeafes reign according to the Seafons; the North blowing, The Difeafes, Bodies are rendered firm, folid and aCtive by exhaufting the Serous Humours, ad Hyp.17. Aph, Lih. 3. for which caufe Dry Weather is H 4 A Defection of Surat 3 Letter III. more healthy than Moift, it haftening Digeftion, and facilitating U 'VNJ Excretion, when no Fevers that are treacherous root themfeives in a deep Putrefadion. About the Variable Months they are miferably afflided with Coughs and Catarrhs, Tumors of the Mouth and Throat, Rheumatifms, and intermitting Fevers; AlfoSmall Pox invades the Youth, as in all India, fo here: In the extreme Heats, Cholera Morlus, Inflammations of the Eyes by Dull and the fiery Tem¬ per of the Air: In the Rains, Fluxes, Apoplexies, and all Diftempers of the Brain, as well as Stomach; to corred which, the Natives eat Hing, a fort of liquid Affa Fostida, whereby they fmell odioufly. For all Lethargick Fits they ufe Garlick and Ginger, given in Oyl or Butter. Remedies out- To Cup they ufe Ventofoes, without Scarifications. They have ward and ' n " § 00C ^ Efcaroticks and Veficatories, made by a certain Nut, the fame war ' they chop or mark their Calicuts black with inftead of Ink. They apply Cauteries moft unmercifully in a Mordijheen, called fo by the Tor tv,gals, being a Vomiting with a Loofnefs; the like is done in a Calenture. Phyfick here is now as in former days,open to all Pretenders ; here being no Bars of Authority, or formal Graduation,- Examination or Proof of their Proficiency; but every one ventures,and every one fuf- fers; and thofe that are moft skilled,have it by Tradition,or former Ex¬ perience defeending in their Families; not confidering either altera¬ tion of Tempers or Seafons, but what fucceeded well to one,, they apply to all. In Fevers their Method is to preferibe Coolers, till they have ex- tinguilhed the Vital Heat; and if the Patients are fo robuft to con¬ quer the Remedies ufed.to quench the Flame of the Acute Difeafe, yet are they left labouring under Chronical ones, as Dropfy, Jaun¬ dice , and Ill Habits, a long while before they recover their Pri- ftine Heat. They are unskill’d in Anatomy, even thofe of the Moors who fol¬ low the Arabians, thinking it unlawful to difled Human Bodies ; whereupon Phlebotomy is not underftood, they being ignorant how the Veins lye; but they will worry themfeives Martyrs to death by Leeches, clapping on an hundred at once, which they know not how to pull off, till they have filled themfeives, and drop of their own accord. Chirurgery is in as bad a plight, Amputation being an horrid thing: Yet I confefs it is ftrange to fee, that what Nature will effed on fuch Bodies, Intemperance has not debauch’d. Pharmacy is in no better condition; Apothecaries here being no more than Perfumers or Druggifts, at beft; for he that has the bold- nefs to pradife, makes up his own Medicines, which are generally fuch Draughts, that if their own Energy .work not, yet the very Weight muft force an Operation. They pretend to underftand the Pulfe, but the Urine they will not look on. I have feen a Barber undertake the Cure of a Bloody Flux, by pretending the Guts were difplaced, and laying the Patient on his Back, and gently tickling his Reins, thruft on each fide the Aide- “5 and Journy into Duccan. men with all his ftrength; then placing a Pot filled with dried Earth, Chap. Ilf. like that of Samos, upon his Navel, he made it faft by a Ligature; and on fome Bodies thus treated he had gained Credit, but this died. Profper Alpinus mentions fomething like this among the Egyptians. Here they will fubmit to Spells and Charms, and the Advice of Old Women. _ ' Here is a Bracbmin Do&or who has raifed a good Fortune; they pretend to no Fees, but make them pay in their Phyfick; and think it Honour enough if you favour them with the Title of your Phy- This Bracbmin comes every day, and feels every Man’s Pulfe in the The Country Fa&ory, and is often made ufe of for a Powder for Agues, which Phyfic,ani works as infallibly as the Peruvian Bark ; it is a Preparation of Na¬ tural Cinnalen Midwifry is in efteem among the Rich and Lazy only; the Poorer, while they are labouring or planting, goafide as if to do their Needs, deliver themfelves, walh the Child, and lay it in a Clout or Hammock, and return to wojk again. The Mixture of Cafts or Tribes of all India are diftinguilhed by The federal the different Modes of their binding their Turbats; which cannot Tribes how be found our prefently, there being fuch variety of Obfervation. own- Amidft which it is time to return, to fee what Grace we are in The Emup, among this divided Multitude: Our Ufage by the fhamamd (or jgaJgj, Charter) granted fucceffively from their Emperors, is kind enough, 0 mMs. but the better, becaufe our Naval Power curbs them; otherwife they being prone to be imperious, would fubjugate us, as they do all others that are harnefs’d with the Apron-ftrings of Trade: Suppo- fin 1 came t0 Intwally, Three Courfe, or Seven Mile and burnt and de- an t ^ le Seafon of the Year (the Heats being now moft vio- Itroyed. lent) aswell as the Time of the Day not permitting us any longer to endure their Extremity, I never ftaid for Licenfe, butlhadedmy felf under a Wooden Mofque, the only Srrudure Handing in the Town, it fullering the fame Fate with Gullean, and was then reaking in its Allies,the Moguls hr my laying wafte all in their Road,both Villages, Fodder, and Corn; and for their Cattel they drive them along with them, and take them, their Wives and Children for Slaves; fo that none efcape, except thofe that can fly fafteft,or hide themfelves in the Woods, which they alfo fet on fire, to leave them deftitute of thofe RecefTes. This Gom or Town flood in a large Grove of Mangoes, on the Bank of a deep Creek, which though at this time fordable, yeti believe the Rains may fwell into a Torrent. Thence to Having refrefhed my felf and Coolies , I hired an Ox, they com- ’ plaining they had too much Burthen, travelling more advifedly by Moonlhine, (through a better Soil, and more exchange, as Arable Ground, Heaths, Forefts, and Woods, fome of which were on Fire two or three Miles together) from Six till Twelve, when we took up our Reft at a poor Village called Moorbar, fix Courfe from Intwtt] i and Journy into Duccan. 125 htmll'j ■■ This place was not able to afford us an Houfe or Shed, but Chap. IV. we were forced to creep into one of their Cottages, half finilhed, they thatching it with Bents fhelving from the Ridge down to the Bottom on both fides, no bigger than a Man might carry. I kept the Coolies to their Watch, not withflanding their hard Force to keep Days labour, as well to keep Tigres and Wild Beafts from us, as watch ' Thieves and Robbers: The day following I Raid here till Four in the Afternoon to avoid the Soultrinefs of the Weather, which I could hardly do where I was lodged, there being no Air; which caufed me to remove out of the Town at Sun rife to the left of two pitiful tanks belonging thereto; they being all here ignorant Idolaters, and Husbandmen, every one chufing his own God ; no Family being without fome Pan Damon, or Incubiis ; which they paint with hide¬ ous Forms, bedaub with {linking Oil , and offer the Fruits of the Earth to : Mofl Abominably Superftitious, that an ill Augury {hall detain them idle a whole day, though they and their Houlhold muft ftarve, if they work not; fuch as an Hare croffing the Way, or a Crow on the Left hand. They have no publick Pagod, or Place of Worlhip, befidesthefe 7 tf»ib, where they wafh and burn their Dead, giving me a Nofegay of one of their Carkafes, before I got my Break- faft, as I lay to repofe under a Tree; which made me range for Game, and difperfe my Servants for Provant, being otherwife likely to go without; they living upon Batty, or Seeds of Grafs, eating neither Fifh nor Flelli, neither indeed have they any, unlefs by chance; for after my Purveyors had made diligent fearch,with much ado they purchafed one Hen, tho feveral Villages were in fight, and all of them greedy enough to take Money, had they had Provi- fions. It is all Plowed Land hereabouts, but Seva Gi commonly reaps the Harvefl,. leaving hardly fo much to the Tillers as will keep Life and Soul together. And now' going to fet'out, I began by the murmurings of the Coo - The Guides lies to underftand that the Guides,being jealous of falling into the Ene- lead us abour, my’s hands, had a defign to lead us about; (but every one befides the Cams Peons being Strangers, and they fearful to difcover themfelves, we were perfuaded to refign our felves to their Conduct) over Hilly, but none of the word Ways; two or three Miles together they are all burnt, bearing nothing but withered Benty-Grafs, which burning afore the Rains,benefits the Ground much; and are now out of diftruft the Moguls fhould Forrage their Army here. Below this, we palled over a fine Meadow checquered with Pur¬ ling Brooks, and three Villages, much about an equal diftance one from another: And now the broken Ribs of thefe lofty Mountains feen fo far off at Sea all along from Cape Comory, as if founded for an Afcent unto the Skies, begin to be dilcovered by our near approach; when Night interpofing her black Vail between our Eyes and them, they became veiled with a more benighted Darknefs than hung over us; which ferved as a fable Cloud to dired us to Debir, by Eleven a Clock at Night, nine Courfe from our laft Stage, feated at the end of a large Plain, at the foot of that Chain of Hills fuppofed to crofs the Taurus, trending through the Continent North and South, as that does 12 6 A Definition of Surat, Letter III. does Eafi and Wefi; it is by molt Geographers concluded to be Mount Sepbir’ here called the Gaot. Come to dc- We found them all in Arms, not buffering their Women to ftir out Townofsrtifl °f the Town Unguarded to fetch Water, being accuflomed to G;’s, at the continual Alarms; which cautioufnefs obliged them to ufher me into the Market-place; by a fmall Party which lighted on me in their Rounds; when I fent my Gulleon Peon, one of our Guides, with his Matters Cliitty, or Pafs, to the Governor, who received it kindly, and gave me leave to be my own Quartermafter (little Complements being expe&ed from Soldiers). My Company, as wellasmyfelf, being Tired, and now ftiff with a little Reft allowed them till the return of the Peon, we were not wil¬ ling to be at more pains to feek for a better Inn, than what a Fakier had taken up before us; but we rouzed a Lion, who had juft been lain afleep with Bang, who opened,with fuch a Clamour, that I was afraid it would have brought all the Watch about us, had they not been in the fame tune, calling on one another, as Children when the Light is out, do for fear; beating their Drums, and founding their Trumpets (Shriller than the Moors, and more Tuneable ) all Night long; by which means, and my Quarrelfome Inmate, I could compofe my felf to no Quiet; though for the latter, at length I thought of an Expedient, plying him with Arack till his Tongue re- folved its felf in Silence, which was much more grateful than his Bawling. The next Morning when Day had cleared our Eyefight, I faw the Idol, this Drunken Prieft Adored, hard by me; it was thick and fiiort, Carved in Stone, of a Monftrous Vifage, whisking his Tail over his Head; the upper Parts to the Wafte,were Painted with Red; it infulted over another ugly Creature it trod on; it was of a Sooty Colour, and Swam in ftreamsof Oil; yet it called in a great many Devotes , who came to pay their Salams. The Advan- . I fent to the Havaldar, to know when he would Pafs us up the aDTrampo- f Gaot ’’ wo ^ was brought he -was not awake, having been up ail fed Coante- Night; in the interim therefore, I Walked about the Town, which nance, (hewn is Crowded with People, but miferably Poor, and of no Note, were &wg&Ho£ not Seva Gi Stables his choiceft Horfes here, for the conveni- feskepthere. ency of this Plain to fupply them with Hay and Corn, which cau- fes them to have the greater Force, and makes it the Refidence of an Havaldar, .who is a kind of petty General: Changing the Town for the open Fields, I was led to a Grove of Mangoes and Thamarincls, at the end of which, wasaMofque, and a great many Tombs of ex¬ cellent Stone, Demolilhed; one of which they remember with Re- fped, by the Name of Melech-Bury, a great Warrior 5 however, that which pleafed me moft of all, was a fudden furprize, when they brought me to the wrong fide of a pretty Square Tank, or Well, with a Wall of Stone, Bread high; where expeding to find it cove¬ red with Water, looking down five Fathom deep, I faw a clutter of Women, very Handfome, waiting the diftilling of the Waterfront its dewy Tides j which they catch in Jarrs, and conftantly carrying it away, leave it only weeping: It is cut out of a firm Black Marble Rock upalmoft to the Top, with broad Steps to go down. foot of the Awakes a Kilter Drunk with Bang. i2 7 and fourny into Duccan. Now we could not only fee their Forts, but hear alfo the Watch- Chap. IV. men from their Garifons aloft, fome Five hundred, feme more, fome fewer Men, to and again among the Hills, the main ltrength of this a n about _ Prince confifting in thefe ; coming back I found my troublefome Comrade very Merry, and packing up his Houlholdftuffj his Ban g- bowl, and HulbleBullle , to go along with me, before I had got¬ ten leave from the Havaldar, who had newly fent word he was ready to receive me. I made him not tarry long, following the Meflenger, who brought me into the middle of a ragged Regiment, diftinguilhable from the Mogul’s on that fcore, but more peculiarly by their Hair appearing on both Ears under their Puckerier, their "Weapons are much alike, though to me they give more caufe of Laughter * than Terror (confidering the awkwardnefs of their wearing them) notwith- ftanding they are the Inftruments of Death. When I came before the Governor, I found him in State, though under an Hovel; where were many Bracbmins with Accompt Books, r ’ writing at fome diftance; nearer, his Privy-Council, with whom he feemed to Advife: I was placed on his Left hand, and defirea my Interpreter to acquaint him my Errand, withal intreating his Fa¬ vour for my fecure pafling the Hill: He made it a piece of difficulty, and told me I mutt return to Bimly for Orders, to whofe Havaldar he was accountable, not to him of Galleon ; which was within half a days Journy from whence I fet forth. Hearing this I bore my felf as fedately as I could, having been informed of the advantage they take of a diflurbed Countenance ; and fweetned him with his own Au¬ thority being fufficient, telling him of his Matter’s Kindnefs to the Englijh , and their Friendfhip towards him; which worked him to a yielding Temper; yet he fcrupled my Canijler f or Trunk, might be lined with Pearl, my Horfe fold to the Enemy, hoping to fuck fome- whatoutof me; I replying, What I had brought were at his liberty to fearch, and that I went only on an amicable account to Cure a SickPerfon, andfhould be as ready toferve him, if required, his Fury was quite pawled ; but perceiving an hungry look to hang on them all, and fufpedting left they fhould ferve me fome Dog-trick, I made a fmall Prefent, and he figning the Pafs, difmifled me with a Bundle of Pawn, the ufual Ceremony at Parting. Being clear, I could not fo readily fhake off my Fakier, he would Got dear of march with me; when we were not gone above two Courfe, or Dl three Miles, the Liquor working out by his Walking, he began to grow weary, and called out for the Horfe, which I had caufed the Portugueze to Mount, which he took in fuch dudging, feeing hini- felf on Foot, and him on Horfeback, that he turned Tail, and went back again to his Vomit, without bidding adieu. And now our mighty Task began to try our Feet, as well as weary A troubie- our Eyes: I not caring to hazard my felf longer in my Palenkeen, ^°” e p ^ 3 ^ if alighted, and though I thought it a work impoffible to conquer, I ° vert * G< ” f ' put the beft face on it I could, tarrying till they were all together, the better to chear them. The Coolies providing themfelves with Staves, diftrufted nouonly their own Legs, but the Ground they went on, it 128 A Defcripion of Surat, Letter III. it having forfaken many a tall Tree around us; fome holding by the mouldring Earth with half their Roots bare, others half buried in Pits they never grew in, lay expecting their quondam Neighbours downfal. The Monkies The bufy Apes, the Forlorn hope of thefe declining Woods, afrighced. deeming n0 pl ace f a f e where they beheld us, made ftrange Levaltoes with their hanging Brats from one Bough to another, Chattering an Invafion; but thefe faw us prefently exalted beyond their Bowers, and feared us from above, as much as we to falute them below: Thus far was paifable enough, when the Sun levelled bimfelf unto our Steps, and we looked for Day beneath us. Here I made a fecond paufe, and promifed them Nedtar in the Skies; this proved but 3 faint Cordial to the Frafes, who failed afore they got a quarter up; for whom after I had provided (the Moon affifting us with a lefs parching Light) I found my Hinds as neceffary to Clamber as my Feet, Travelling on all Four; the Stones were laid ftep by ftep, but in little order; and now fo fteep, that it differed little from Perpen¬ dicular, only by the winding of the Mountain; and fo Narrow, that Two Men could not pafs abreaft; where chiefly were laid Trees and Timber to make work for the Army, Ihould they attempt this \Vay; which forely increafed our trouble,being the firft Adventurers, befide the danger we incurred of being Afiaulted from above, they not yet knowing who we were. To lookdown made my Brains turn round; over my Head pendulous Rocks tfrfeatned to Entomb me. Flurries from We had not gone long thus, before the Cry came, the Ox was Mel^and'o* ^ en » ’ twas we ^ he chofe not the place where I was in, for the ei/down the leaft lapfe had irrecoverably whirled him to the bottom: Arguments Precipice were too weak to perfuade the Coolies to go back to him to help him; I therefore proceeded to Threats, which made Two of them return to his Aid : I confefs the fenfe of their hard Labour urged me to pity; theAngui/hof which extorted Tears from fome, unfeafonable at this time to take notice of to them ; we had only this Comfort, the Even was Calm and Serene, and we were mounted beyond the humble Mills, which we could difcern fluctuating again!! the impe¬ netrable Promontories; which may be the reafon fometimes (they fay ) Men and Oxen are hurled down the Precipice by fudden Gulls, when they are exalted to the Clouds, and they break with too great an Impetuofity: For all this Light we feemed Obfcured, the fplen- dour of the Moon being lhaded by the fidesof the Mountains, which appeared here all Marble. The Horfe ( being a Turkj one ) made the bell Ihift of all, and was more forward than convenient, pelting us with great Stones his Hoofs had removed, which caufed us to retard his halle, and leave him to come lalt. About Nine a Clock at Night the Moon Ihone over our Heads, more joyful at her prefence, than her feignedly beloved Endimion: An hour after we came tired to the Brow, through a narrow Cavern cut out of the main Rock; here being no Guard, thenoifeof the Army being over,I was the fecond Man Trampled on the Top,half an hour after the Palenkeen came,and all the reft within two hours more: Here I was as good as my word, and diftributed Arack among them, which and Journy into Duccan. 129 which made them, for all their tedious.Tug, run amain to the next Chap. IV Town Of fagotti where early in the Morning I crowded under an ° This G#r or Hill is reckoned four Courfe up (every Courfe being a Mile and half) : From whence is beheld the World beneath all fur¬ led with Clouds, the Carulean Ocean terminating the Horizon, the adjacent Iflands bordering on the Main, the Mountains fenced with horrible Gulphs, till ftrange Vertigoes prejudicate Fancy, not daring longer to be made a Spectator: The bandying Eccho ftill perfecutes with terrible repeated Sounds, meeting frelh Objedts to; reuridulate it, though at the greater diftance, being yet enclofed with Moun¬ tains, which they maintain asFortrefles; and I can give noreafon why they do not this Entry, alfo, unlefs becaufe it is fo contrived that Ten Men may keep down Ten thoufand. . . Here is a fenfible alteration of the Air: The Dawn of the Morning, and latter part of the Night, ’twas fharp, cold, and piercing; fo that all I gathered about me would fcarce keep me warm; and all the Day there were fine cool Briezes, though below we were almofl choaked with foultry Heats: The Reafon whereof I judge to be, be¬ caufe the High Mountains reverberate the flowing Particles of the Atmofphere; as we fee the Rocks do Water more ftrongly, by how much more force the Waves affail them; fo here the Air (which is thicker below) driven againft thefe Hills breaks off in Flurries, which feeking to retire into their own Ocean, mitigate the violence of the Heat in their paffage, by fanning as it were the Air; by which means, and the Sun’s rarifying the Mifty Vapours, they are left pure, and fall at Night in more limpid Dews to cool and refrelh the Earth : To which Senfe fings Lucan , Alteration of Air on the Hills. Fttlmmlus proprior terra fuccenditur aer, Jmajue teSuris ventos trattufaue corufcos Flammarum accipiunt: Nubes excedit Olympus . Moreover, Bogs and Fens are rarely found to foil the Air, or pen in the Heat for want of ventilation. This is a fad Starvling Town; to it belongs a Sulidar, or Cu- oppagnth ftomer; who blown up with the confidence of half a dozen Bill-men, thought to have compell’d me to ftay till the Governor of the Caftle iliould examine my Cocket, which he had fent him by the Haval- dar: I ordered him to fend it with one of the Gulean Peons', but he made Anfwer, the Governor having been up all Night, was not then at leifure. While we were talking, a Drove of Comlies (Hinds) pafled with Provifions on their Heads for the Caftle; and I having ftaid till Three in the Afternoon, not getting any other Anfwer, I commanded the Coolies to march, though the Sulidar prohibited' and kept them from following them with my Men and Arms, as Carbines and Blunderbufles; and the Governor not coming as he told my Peons they would, by Four, I difmifled the Gulean Peons „ they daring to go no farther; and if there were farther occafion for a Pafs, to bring it after me ; thereby fruftrating their Intention, which was to retard me, whereby to make their Booty of me. * 130 A Defcripion of Surat 5 Letter III. They durft no more than cnrfe, for all I departed without leave, taking my Courfe into a deep Valley, which winded and turned like a We face our R j ver> anc j j believe is one in the Rains: Half way we met another Caphala of Oxen laden with Provifions, hardly efcaping the Mogul’s Army, which they told us was not far afore us: My Coolies more jealous of the Villany of Seva Gi s People than my felf, made hafte, and by Ten at Night arrived at Aumlegaum, Ten Courfe. Our efcape to From whence Mucklis Cam's Men had driven all away with a Par- AmrMgamn, t y 0 f bjs Horfe, only one Fakier, who had fet up his Standard in a Of tlleclfo;. Shop in the BitZzar, next to whom I fhrowded my felf under one of the fame Stalls: Before Five in the Morning, for fear of farther In¬ terruption , I polled hence', up Hill and down Hill, not having Rice for my People to eat (all being fled) we came to a neat Stone Well of good Water; hard by which was an excellent Fig-tree, on whofe Fruit, yet Green, my Indians fed heartily, and trouped by three or four wretched To7. ns, up another Mountain, not altoge¬ ther fo bad as the firff, yet on the account of their wanting thtir wonted Food, it went hard with the Coolies to foot it to Beelfeer, two Courfe fhort of Jeneah, where we baited; it being high time, they having gone near Fifty Miles without eating more than a few fquafhy Figs: They unloaded at Noon under a Row of fpreading Mangos , on the fide of a Brook ; and provided themfelves with Vi- ftuals in an adjacent Village, liable to continual pillaging on both fides; but being reduced to the Condition of having little or nothing to lofe, it is the better born. Our entrance Hence it is plain to Jeneab, the Hills keeping their diftance from into the city its Invincible Gar: The length of whofe Bottom fills moftof the of janah. fp ace f rom this p] ace t0 t j ie City, which is the Frontier of the Moguls Territory this way ; and has been for many Years the Seat of War to the South, which is the fignification of Duccan.. I fent the Governor’s Peon to acquaint him of my approach (I not arriving till Sun-fet) when he met me with others that were appointed at a Garden Ihort of the Town, with the Governor’s Com¬ plement ; and conduced me to a Palace in a Compleat Garden, adorned with Cyprefs Trees (not ufual in India) Hummums , Tanks, Choultries and Walks, with Water-Courfes When I was afleep, the Nabob or Governor fent me a Service in Plate covered with Em¬ broidered Velvet over Noble Surpoofes or Covers, ulhered with two Silver Staves, and a Trumpet founding afore it ; which Courfe was obferved as long as I remained there. The laft day of April, being Friday, and the next after my arri¬ val, he fent to excufe himfelf, becaufe it was his day of Devotion; when after a Princely manner fie rides on an Elephant to the Mofpie ; and thence divertifes himfelf in fome place of Delight within his Se¬ raglio till high Night. ^ ihc JlocockS-u^ba. Genp&L kBaruLAlh -iP^L x ; Gomroon^ria; ^ BetuUrAbqfjri and fourny into Duccan. CHAP. V. 131 Chap. V. Introduces me into the Nabob’* prefence ; my Bufinefs with him; a [VrofpeB of the Gur (Seva Gu Birth-place ); the Amy and Country of Duccan: Of the Bafs of Tanaw, and benefit thereof , were it in the hands of the Englifh. I T was thefirft of May therefore before I waited on him; when he ordered a Guard of Horfe to attend me to the Caftle, which was large, but rude, and the Wall of raw Brick ; ferving as well to fecui e Cattle as Men from the Enemy. His own Apartments in the middle encompaffed a verdent Qua¬ drangle of Trees and Plants; in whofe chief Choultry were aflembled Thee*™ re. all his Great Men on his Right hand, he being enclofed in a Seat of ce f es ,? e State, boulftered up with Embroidered Culhions, fmoaking out of a pa c y ‘ Silver Hullle bubble-, afore whom lay a rich Sword and Buckler,with a Crefcent Moon inftead of Boffes, his Page bearing his Bow and Ar¬ rows, much after the Turkifh manner, as Busbequius reports of the Grand Segnior , Sedebat in Solio humili inflrato; juxta autem arcus & fagittte. All the Flpor was ipread with a. foft Bed, over all a fine white Calicut; the Pedeftals were Mafly Silver, where I put off my • Shooes, and after Refpedb paid, delivered the Prefident’s Letter, and was received immediatly next to him on his Left hand, all that fide being kept void for my entertainment: The refult of this Vifit was, after he had acquainted me who were to be my Patients, to tell me I muft be patient till a good day prefented, and then I Ihould be called again ; it remaining a Cuftom ftill in the Eafl to defer im»' portant Affairs till a Lucky Day, totis harentiafaftis. I only intreated he would be mindful the Rains were at hand, falling earlier .here than in the Low Countries. Our Difcourfe being ended, a Couple of Singing-men began their Sycophants Songs of Praife, which they pride themfelves in, not being content encourage! with moderate Flattery, a thing odious to a generous Spirit, ac¬ counting thofe that do it, fervile; and thofe that admit it, impru¬ dent to be deluded by Fawning Knaves: But here are not only thofe that profefs it for Lucre, but it is the general ftrife who may impole moft obfequioufly. Adulandi certamen eji, © mum amicorum omnium cfficium, quis blandijfime fallat ; as Seneca obferves in the corruption of his Age, de Benef. Cap. XXX. Such as appear before him make a Salam or Bow before they afcend Several man. the Choultry, when if he allows them Conference, leaving their Slip- S/ Ad " pers below, they mount the Buchanna, where they bow, by firft 1 **’ putting their Hands to their Heads, then to their Feet, which Sa¬ lute they call Pervenau, ufed to Cams or Dukes. Above their Head/ crofs their Breaft to the Foot is Pharntau, only for Kings; the moft familiar is a Bow with the Head: If they are permitted to fit in his Prefence, thofe only of Confular Dignity have liberty to fit (as they call it at eafe) crofs Legged; but an European,btfore he is accuftomed, will not be reconciled to that Term: Others of inferior Rank kneel, S 1 fitting 13 2 A Defcripion of Surat 3 Letter III. fitting on their Heels, to which Pofture, though I was not tied I was thankful when he fent me a Bundle of Pawn, and had leave ’t 0 make ufe of my Legs; being led out, as I was conduced in, by Two Virgers, and a large Train following, with a Matter of Cere¬ monies accompanying. The Cattle no In my paflage through the Caftle they feemed rather Encamped ftrong place. than Fortified; therefore if Seva Gi brings any Power, they betake themfelves to fpeedy Flight, or retire to the Body of the Army un¬ der Badur Cam, Generaliflimo in thefe Marches; being ill provided to endure a Siege, and more able to defend themfelves, joined to an Hoftof Forty thoufand Horfe always at Pergom, three Days Journy hence. ' Curiofity invited many Spedhtors, and Courtefy fome of Quality to be my Harbingers at my Lodgings; which at my return I found peftered, as I had the Streets all the way I came: They were very Civil, making no Intrufion before they had requefted leave ■ and then interrogating the State of Europe, the Government, Policy | and Learning ; nodding a fatisfa&ion in the account I gave them: Nor were they lefs communicative in their Relations, of thofe Occurren¬ ces which wheeled in their Sphere, being highly concerned to lhew they had Book-men as well as Sword-men. A good Day . A g ood Da Y coming, the Governor fent for me to Vifit his Lady confulted , in the Haram, which was oppofite to a Chamber he fate in, Accom- pSelnvt- P a T nied onl y with one P re «y Wanton B °y> his Only Son by this tion to the Woman; upon which account he had the greater bindnefs for her: cam. An Old Gentlewoman with a Tiffany Vail, made many trips, being' I fuppofe, the Governant of the Womens Quarters; at Iaft I was called and admitted with my Linguift. Admitted the At our being ready to enter, fhe Clapped with her Hands to give Womens Notice; when we were led through a long dark Entry, with Dor- Qparters. m i tor i es on both fides, the Doors of which Creeked in our paflage ( but I was cautious of being too Circumfpeft ) till we came to an aiery Choultry ; where was placed a Bed hung with Silk Curtains; to which being brought, I was Commanded to place my felf clofe by it, from whence I might conveniently Difcourfe and Feel her Me, putting my Hand under the Curtains. It was agreed among them to impofe upon me; wherefore at firft they gave me a Slaves Hand, whom I declared to be Sound and Free from any Difeafe, nothing contradi&ing the true Tenor and Rythme of Pulfation; when they began to be more ingenuous, telling me, it was done to try me: Then was given me another Hand, which demonftrated a weak languid Conftitution *, and colledfing the Signs and Symptoms, I feared not to give Sentence j which met with their Approbation, and fol was fent back the fame way I came. The Cam had been acquainted with what had paffed, and feemed pleafed; whereupon s I mutt vifit the Haram again the next day to Bleed another of his Wives, he being tolerated Four, though he keeps more than Three hundred Concubines. wllJ ^ a P' r And now the Curtain was extended athwart the Choultry, and an was in the 6 Arm at an hole; but this was a flight fence for fuch Ani- a™*, mals,who leaning too hard as they peeped, pulled it down, and difeo- vered • * 5 ? and fourny into Duccan. vered the whole Bevy, fluttering like fo many Birds when a Net is Chap. V. caft over them; yet none of them fought toefcape, but feigning a ihamefacednefs, continued looking through the wide Lattice of their Fingers: The Lady I had by the Arm was a Plump Ruflet Dame, , fummoning the remainder of her Blood to enliven her Cheeks (for among the darkeft Blacks, the Paflions of Fear, Anger, or Joy, are difcernible enough in the Face ) and fhe bearing a command, caufed it to be hung up again; pouring upon her extravafated Blood a Golden Ihower of Pagods, which I made my Man filh for. In this Interview they appeared to me not altogether unimployed, Scandal there lying pared Mangoes, and other Fruits for Confedion, and Achars, or Pickles; fomeSamplers of good Houfewifry in Needle¬ works ; and no indecent decorum in managing their Cloyftered way of living, making it agreeable to the choice of Cuftom rather than Reftraint: But here are foulmouthed Homers that Stigmatize them, how defervedly I dare not fay. r £l; ax atonspii, « wJ m&v ccAAo ■yjva.k@u. Nil gravius nil improhius qumfcemina vivit. * And a Man would guefs no lefs, to fee the number of Spies upon them, of Toothlefs Old Women, and Beardlefs Eunuchs, that they are incontinent in their Defires, for which reafon they debar them the fight of any thing Male, but their Lord; they Waiting, as well to hand them Neceflaries, as Wood, Water, Meat, and the like, taking them at the Door, as to prevent unlawful Intruders. Thefe have their Singing Wenches; exercife their Ears and Nofes Their Dre& with weighty Jewels, as the Gipfy of Old did her Hair and Neck. “ Rick . ■. I , m.Colloqtte comifque Divitias Cleopatra gerit, cultuque Lahorat. Lucan; And are Cloathed like the Men, only they go in their Hair within, and abroad with Vails. Gaining by thefe fteps a nearer intimacy with the Nalol, he cut A Conference me new Bufinefs out every day; headvifed me of the intention of a . b ° u . t die . the Governor of the Caftle on the Hill, to commit his Brother to ** my Care; and I in a private Conference, according to my Inftru&i- ons, propounded the Commodity might arife from an intercourfe of Commerce between this place and Bomlaim , from thence to Bufforah , Terfia, and Mucha, for to provide the Army with Horfes; in re¬ turn of whom might be exchang’d the fame Goods procurable at Surat and better Cheap, Ihould they fucceed in their Conquefts over the Low Countries; which is not a matter of fuch impoffibi- lity Ihould they earneftly fet upon it, confidering the Avenues are , open: But by that proceeding, it would takeaway a powerful ob- ftacle to the maintaining fo vaft an Army as is always in Duccan, whereby a main Body of the Soldiery would be out of pay; which is abfolutely againft the Generals intereft, and therefore he would never confent: This I foon faw was the main Argument, though he coloured it with pretext, that’twas a work of more pains to reduce Seva , ■34 A Defmpion of Surat, Letter III. Seva, than was reprefented, in refped of his Situation, being im- ^r\T\J powered not only to make Excurfions, but to bid them Defiance. Whereupon 1 told him, If the latter was not feafible, it was in vain to propofeany thing in relation to the former, for that all Ac- cels was flopped if the Low Lands were not cleared 5 the Havaldars being unconfcionable in their Cuftoms, and without doubt would interrupt what might be ferviceable to their Enemies, orbring pre¬ judice to their Prince ; whereas were the Ways free, it would enrich his Jageah beyond the Bunder at Surat, and tie the Englijh to a per¬ petual Truce, who were known in thefe Parts addided to Traiiick, and Friends to Peace: He asked further, How far we defired to ex¬ tend this Liberty ? I replied, beyond the Portugal Dominions, which would front the Ifland of Bombaim about full-, otherwife we muft be at the charge of dduble Cuftom, to them as well as the Mogul. He faid all this had been moved to Badur Cam, . but thofe to whole hands the Prefents for him had been entrufted, had defrauded him of them, on whom nothing was to be wrought without liberal Tifcajhes, he bearing it as high as the King himfelf, and at this jundure he was an unfit Mediator to him, having lately had fome jarrs with him (the Governor of Jeneah undervaluing his Authority in an Expe- pedition, not long enough ago to be thoroughly forgot); however did the Prefident immediately apply himfelf to him, he was incli¬ nable enough to let him Settle Fadories; which I gave him to un- . derftand, without a mutual Benefit on both Tides, was not the pre- fent Defign; but for the efteem we bore to Men of Honour, and that made account of their Word, it was wifhed the Moguls were poflef- fed of thofe Parts 5' which was never to be cultivated, either with good Manners, or Profit, whilft Perfidy reigned there. This being the fubftance of bur Difcourfe, after he had related the Bufinefs to his Council (he replied) he would intimate what might be effeded in it, to the Prefident, in anfwer to his Letter. Mifchiefdone At Night it was difmally Tempeftuous, Killing Two of the Watch by Thunder. on p) ut y ) anc | carrying a Tower of the Hill at one Clap; below, it brake one Man’s Arm, the Prologue to the Rains. TheGover- The Day after the Nabob’s Brother, of the Caftle, was received nor’s Brother kindly here, bringing a noble Train, and Pifcajh to befpeak his defcendsfor Welcome; he was Lodged in a Palace;adjoining that where I was. Cure. ( The Eleventh of May I went abroad to a Garden left by a common b St ?S peCs Strumpet, in which was a noble Tomb built in remembrance of her, ene » on. w ^ a We jj ^longing to a lovely Spring, which by Aqueduds fup- plied the City with Water. Who when {be died, like Flora Fair, Did make the Commonwealth her Heir. The Empe- Hence we went to a ruined Palace, where Auren Zeel, the prefent tor’s Palace, Emperor, was hofpitably received in his Father’s Reign, and lived a pretended Fakier. The Fields no * Cotton inits feafon is Planted all hereabouts: The Fields produce fooner Sowed Wheat in abundance, and other Grain; but are often ferved as the tiian fet on philijline's were by Sampfon, the Foxes from the Mountains with Fire¬ brands and fawny into Duccan. 135 brands confuraingthem; which made us bethink of retiring, they Chap. V. defending fometimes in Parties to Prey on Straglers, that often Troopers are fent home difrobed and difmounted, to be Iaught at for their Misfortune. Having tarried now till the Rains had made their firft onfet Four- Dmgemfs ana* teen days together, with horrid Thunder; at the end thereof I fet Heathen apart a day to take notice of the adjacent Rarities; among which is * a City called Duugenefs, of like Antiquity and Workmanlhip, as Canorem , cut out of a Mountanous Rock, with a Temple and other fpacious Halls, by no means inferior to it both for Water and other Refrelhments, and much more entire; Time having not dealt fo cruelly with it, but the Lines of its ruined Beauty are ftill legible, though in old Characters; however it is left a defolate Habitation for Batts and Wafps; to difturb which it is dangerous, being over¬ grown and defperately revengeful, following their AggrefTors till they have Whealed them into Contrition for their unadvifed Provo¬ cation : To be out of the Noife of thefe buzzing Hornets, and to fe- cureour felvesjrom the furprize of any difturbed Idolater, who might bellow the report of our being here, we halted to the fafer Plain, and ended the reft of the day in a pleafant Garden, on the brink of the River which glides hence to Surat. The Governor of the Gur hearing I was preparing for to return The Requeft to Bombaim, requefted before my departue to accept of my choice, of the Gover- either to afcend the Gur, or elfe to meet him at his Garden below, for my being the prefcribed Limits of his Walk: Hignified my readinefs to Afcenr. comply with the former, wherefore he fent Four Palenkeens , his Kin (man, an Ingenuous Mogul, and his Brother to attend me. We Travelled Two Miles before we came to the Foot of it, where The Suburbs is a Garifon, or Fortified Town, walled with ftrong Chockies , or a (belter to the Watches, and a Troop of Five hundred Horfe, and as many Camels ClMe ’ of War; here are great Stacks of Hay and Corn, all their Droves of Beafts being Iheltered here anights. Seva Gi has diftrefled this often, and put them to the rout; but that, whofe Top we are endeavouring to gain, is inacceflible, unlefs by Seven winding Gates, which are ve¬ ry ftrong, and able to clear one another as they rife, the Way being lined with Murtherers, and they themfelves defended with good Pieces of Ordnance,: The laft is a Piepe of excellent Work and Strength, and the place filled with Soldiers. Hence it is painful Riding, and requires a ftrong Back to keep The Hill in-' State in- a Palenkeen , it being carried almoft bolt upright, over flippery Marble fteps, cut out of the Ihining Rock, as fmooth as Gates. Glafs, and reflecting the Sun-beams as much: After we had mounted near an Hundred Stairs, we were received into the Neck-of the Caftle, which is collared about with a Wall, rather to keep them from falling down, than needful to prevent Afiailants; from whence an eafy Afcent leads to a Level, which is the Circus to train the In¬ fantry; where are confpicuous Tombs of their former Kings, being firmly Built, and a Mofque of polifhed Marble, which on Feftivals only they repair unto: No Houfes here are able to refill: the Storms of Wind, or the Sun’s Heat, for which conveniency they have made the Eaftern fide of the Hill moft Inhabited, it ferving inftead 136 A Definition of Surat 3 Letter Ilf. of a Bank ; where they live in little low Huts, the Governor’s net exceeding in height, (though a pretty neat Dwelling, fenced with Trees, no where elfe to be found ) who had expeded'me Two whole Hours; but being impatient of delay,and the Sun growing too hot, he betook himfelf to his Harm, having ordered his Kinfman ( whofe Civil Deportment met with his Commands) to Entertain me; he is but Poor (fo that he threatens the Nabob to turn Fakier ) yet Ge¬ nerous, of a free open Temper, neither Jealous nor Lazy, as the Moors molt are; but applying himfelf to feveral Handicrafts,which he has learned of the Europeans ; he is learned too in the Per.fian and Ara- bick Languages, though not to Vain-glory; being fo Humble, Face¬ tious, and Merry, that nothing but Spightand Envy can difagree with him: His Name is Nijbamheak; fuch another I have not met with, fo general a lover of Franks; which he fpecified in an efpe- cial manner to me, receiving me in an Airy Banquetting-houfe, Embellilhed and Adorned on purpofe; and notwithlhmding the Go¬ vernor’s Son was to pay his Compliments, would not fuffer me to give him Place, but diverted me with feveral Interludes of Morifco Dancing. That which took molt with them I perceived,was a Jefter, srMimick, the Ancient Salt at publick Banquets, as we may gather from Statius ; Flon ego Mercatus Pharia de puppe Loquaces Delioias, doflumquefui convicia Nile Infantem , Lingulaefimul falibusque protermm. And from Lucan to Fife: SedMiferum ( clientem ) parvh fiipe numerai - ut pudibmdds Exercere /ales inter convivia poftt. Feafled by the Having feafted the Fancy, he contends to cloy the Stomach, with Governor’s loads of Viands {towed in Plate, ferving me with his own Hands, 0rder ' his Friends and he being content to feed on the defire they had to fatisfy me, not being to be courted to fall to till I had done;, they ferved me with variety of Stews and Baked Meats, but offered me Sherbet only for Drink; I had provided againft this chance by fil¬ ling my Metarrah with Beveridge, which palled for Water, being drunk out of a Leather Bottle Tipped with Silver, for Travel. • None appear After Dinner they made their loud Mufick proclaim my going before Great to the Governor (whereat flpcked all the Gur) and after formal aPrefcnt! 0Ut Salutes > prefent him with a Glafs of Chymical Spirits. As the Parthians were wont not to receive Vifits without a Gift; Ft exem- plain Orienteplura funt, interea & Magorum in facris qui Chrifium ado- raturi, munera attulerunt. So here the like Cuftom prevails. How ftnnge 1 was P lacecJ clofe him, he like an Hermit, having the Court our Arms brought to him, admired the Splendour as well as the Novelty of and Apparel our £ uro pe Drefs; asking my Servant if I lay in them, becaufe it is eem to t em. f a fljj on not t 0 undrefs to go to Bed, but lye in the fame Clothes they wear id the day; he made me declare the ufe of my Rapier, at firlt firft not apprehending it fo ferviceable as their Broad Two-handed Chap. V. Swords; ’twas a Queftion out of my road, yet I made him under- W ftand our Cuftom in War was to appear all armed Cap-a-pee, where their Broad Swords would find a rebate; whereas thefe Sharp-pointed - \ Weapons would pierce the Jun&ures of the Harnefs, or the Pleats of ' 1 • a Coat of Mail (they denying a Stab to be more mortal than a Slaih). He was very inquifitive about our Military Difcipline; and heard it with pleafure. He called all his Male Children about him, who fate at his Feet, and gave me an Hiftory of their Maladies; as moll here did that durft fpeak, there being an infinite number of Captains and Grave Fellows: The Old Men mended their Eyes with Spectacles, the young marred theirs with Haring. The Choultry was hung with Green and Red Velvet checkered; his Permitted the Pawn Boxes were large, and of Mafly Gold; his Retinue grave, his Carriage affable; he gave me a Bow-Ring off his Thumb, of Caffi- 8 a e " mire (of equal value as Vertue, being a Charm againll Thunder) and the liberty to take a Round about the Caftle,never before granted any not lifted in his Service: A Portugmt Mejlko , Chief Gunner of the Caftle, was very officious, though I was entrufted to the charge of his prime Eunuch. The firft Objcd bufied me, was a Place Sew Gi’s Men had at- A bold At-' tempted to fcale, by me efteemed a defperate Defign, and very im- Smt probable; yet two Men got up, and a Stone cafually tumbling, de- ,s en ‘ terred their Accomplices, leaving them a Sacrifice to the Governor and Women, who being left alone to the defence of the Caftle (all the Men deferring on the approach of a vaft Army of Seva Gi’s) hurled them down the Mountain .for their rafh Adventure; con¬ firming to me by a great Stone let fall, the unavoidablenefs of their deftrudion; it running with that force where-ever it came, that it beat all a-fore, rill it refted in the middle of the Valley. ■ It is ftored with Granaries hewed out of Stone, I fuppofe for Re- Granaries for ligion’s fake at firft, being too delicately engraved for the prefent | or “?°g’ u(e j though there be feveral Tanks filled with Butter of 400 years delis' Handing, prized by the Gentiles as high as Gold, prevalent in Old Aches, and Sore Eyes, one of which was opened for my fake, and a Prefent made me of its black ftinking and vifcous Balfom: There are other Tanks or Cifterns for Water, which look naftily, Green, Yellow, and Red, being diftilled in the Rains, and in the Heats evaporated to a Confiftency; in fome of thefe Gurs the Water is fo bad, that they ufe Onions to corredt its unfavorinefs. (Garlick in¬ deed with us is called the Countryman’s Treacle). They have Provifions for a Seven Years Siege fo'r a Thoufand Fa- A Rajd {lain milies, but no other Ammunition-than. Stones, excepting twoun- ^ Barbarous fhapen Sakers of Two and twenty Foot long, with a narrow Bore of Fimeral. at0US Brafs of Gentu Mould,at each end one,on huge winding Carriages; one of which at random killed a Rajah fome four Months ago,, when Sew Was encamped about Jeneah flinging a Bullet two Gourfe off; which Shot caufed a Bonfire of a couple of his Ladies, befide other Dome- fticks, one of each fort to attend him in another World, as his Chief Phyfician, Barber, Walherman, Horfe-keeper, and the like, to the number of Twenty odd ; a thing as cuftomary at the death of T ' any A Defection of Surat, Letter III. any great Rajah, as’tis for the Wife of every Gentue of note at the death of her Husband. By this fatal Inftrument of Mortality flood the remaining part of the Tower the Thunder had cleft in twain : Near where a Dutch Apoftate has a wretched Dwelling, enjoying a Pair of Wives, the miferable Tools who induced him to this lamentable Condition, that he is defpifed and flighted by them all; few of thofe that endure Cir- cumcifion meeting with better fortune. Took leave of Having taken my full view, and returning to give the Governor the Governor. Thanks for this freedom, I met him as he came from Prayers through a Lane of Soldiers, followed by a Crowd of his Domefticks, when taking my leave, he ordered my releafe, being, ufhered with the fame State down as I came up, leaving him Prifoner in his ftrong Hold. Hence might be beheld many Dens and Caverns, fondly believed to be carved and cut out of the Rocks by fome Divine Power; having no account of their original. Indeed they are miraculous; And lam apt to judge, the pious Zeal of former Ages, when undifturbed in their Tranquility, thinking the greateft labour too little to exprefs their love to a Deity, fet them upon fuch imployments, more than that they could promife to themfelves any fecurity from thefe Places; which though the Paffages to them be difficult, yet they are gene¬ rally unprovided of Human Neceflaries; This Hill being only inde¬ pendent, whereby it Hands out againft all the oppofite Forts of Seva Gi , many of whom in a ftill Night may be heard by Voice, but more by Trumpets. This Giir Here are a Thoufand Sword-men in pay, no Horfe or Elephant be- puts a flop to Jng able to climb it : It was never fairly taken, the Governor is one sm*Gi this ap p rove d Fidelity; the Mogul having not the like Fort in all his Kingdoms, and is of main concern to the Frontiers ; putting a flop to Seva Gi’s progrefs, otherwife likely to overrun Duccan. His name is Hagiefs Caun, originally a Brachmin, now a Arid Mujleman ; fome years paft Governor of the City, when'opprefling the Poor, their Cries reaching the King’s Ears, lie was tranflated hither, in confide- ration of his good Service; where he receives a liberal Penfion, and is at no Expence, which agrees well enough with his covetous Hu¬ mour ; which Humour of his Seva Gi being informed of, left no means unattempted to gain the Surrender of his Truft; promifing Mountains of Gold in exchange of this, which hefcrupled not to receive; appointing a day for the delivery of it to Seva Gi, if he fent 7000 to take pofleflionwho keeping touch, met with the fame meafure he had meated to others, they being all furprifed by an Ambufcado from Badur Caun } whom the Governor had advertifed of all the Tranfiuflions. jew/ih Gar the That which makes Seva Gi fo intent on this more than the fore- Birth-place of mentioned Advantages, is, becaufe it was his Birth-place ; to whom Sev» Gi. that of Virgtl is applicable^ Non tili diva parens generis, nec Dardanus author Ferfide : Sed duris genuit te cautilus ingens Jenneah j Ditccanteque admorunt ulera tigres. and Journy into Duccan, What makes it more famous, it was anciently the Seat Royal of the Duccait Kings, under whom Seva Gi’s Father was Keeper; but Auren- zeeb in his Conqueft of this Kingdom ( after he had fled hither for protection) had itfurrendred unto him : It is reckoned twoCourfe and an half in height; is furrounded, though a good way offj with Hills, all but towards the North, where it feems to Hand Captain of the Mountains. The Moguls I perceive are inclinable to the like Credulity the Gentues are, pointing out a Mount where undoubtedly Solomon gave Audit to the two Women claiming the fame Child, and pronounced Judgment in favour of the true Mother; and it Kill bears the name of Toll a Schelimon, Solomons Throne; I brought Night with me to Jeneah, being too well guarded to fufped any Attempt; though notable enough by the multitudes of Oily Flambeaus. This Day gave me occafion to take notice of the fneaking Offici- oufnefs of the Banyans, who prefled on my Heels, and where-ever I went, waited like Lacquies, which put me in mind of that Diftich of Martial's, Letticam fellamque fequor, nec ferre recufo Ter medium properans, fed prior ire tutum. The New Moon brought the Soldiers to their feveral Standards, againft the Governor’s Houfe, by their Salam to refrefli his Memory of their Pay, being Fourteen Months behind-hand. Pay, fays Tacitus, is the Caufe of Soldiers, and Money is the Caufe of Pay; which is not wanting to the Mufter-mafters, who abufe the common Troopers in retarding, it; to the end, that having run into debt, they might compound for half their Wages in ready Money; for all which they leave not often their Side, for they are fure of fomething with eafe, whereas Seva Gi is a kind of Free-booter, whofe Maxim is. No Plun¬ der, no Pay; which comes with pain and hazard: Yet it is common for him to have Moors in his Army; for the Liberty of their Country is not flood fo much upon, as Whofe Salt they eat (their own Phrafe) ; fo that you may fee Gentues in the Moguh Army, as well as Moguls among the Gentues: For the moll part of the Body of the Cavalry confifts of Moguls , the Infantry of Gentues , with Match-Lock Muskets. In order to this Convention every Petty Officer brings the number of his Men and Horfe along with him, who firft falute him, and he the Governor, owning none elfe for their Commander, though they fall off under fuch an Enflgn as they are ordered to march with: They are taught little more than the Grand Paw, and to make a Salam: They ride in wide Saddles as our War Saddles, but hold with the Calves of their Legs, not fallen themfelves to their Saddles by their Thighs, as we do; by which flight they raife themfelves to mow down their Enemies, and will caft a Spear, and take it up from the Ground on full fpeed: They flop with a jerk, not taking their Horles up by degrees, which they laugh at us for, as well as our riding with our Feet at length: They have no Spurs to their Heels, but in their T i Bridle* 199 Chap. V. Tie Moor: toucht with the SuperiK- tion of the Gentim, Of the Lufcari rj or Army. Its Appear* ante. 140 A Defer if tion of Surat Letter Ilf. Bridle-bit is one to flop the moft untamed Horfe, or bore his Mouth through, pointing out of a Circle upon their Tongues. They have other excellent Qualities; as he that runs fafteft, is the belt Soldier: Befides, their Arms are kept fo bright, they are afraid to handle them for fear of foiling them: Their Leaders are good Carpet-Knights, loving their Buchannos better than the Field. The Difci- The old Roman Difcipline takes place, wV Commanders of Tens, phne. f 0 0 f Hundreds, thence to Legions; and accordingly receive their Salary, making their own Terms with thofe under them: The Go¬ vernor diftributing to the Officers, and they to the Soldiers, every one having their Snips; that never was more truly verified that Pro¬ verb, Half the Kings Cbeefegoes away in Parings. The Com- The Grandees of the Army appear with their Furniture of Silver menders rich- an d Gold, on PerJjan , Aral, or Turki[b Steeds; the reft rarely get ly accoutre • an y ot }j er t (j an t ] le R ace 0 f the Country, which are Fiery and Met- tlefome, but very Flaffiy, probably becaufe they pinch Their Bellies to put into their Own. I take my And now the Rains began to urge me to take my Leave of the leave of the Caun of Jeneab, which I did in a full Affembiy convocated for the Cam ' purpofe; where I was informed Two hundred of Seva G/\ Men had purfued me almoft to Amlegaum , with a refolution to have carried me back, but durft come no further, for the Report of the Army being in Motion; wherefore the Naibob advifed me to take another way, and a feledt Guard of hisfliould.attend me totheutmoft Extent of his Territories; after which he difmifled me very honourably, with a Letter to the Prefident, which is not fealed on the Paper, but in a Neat Bag of Cloath of Gold or Silver. This Naibob Mud Us Caun lives not in that Splendor the Governor of Surat does, though he have ten times the Salary, being liable to the daily Aflaults of Seva Gi; but he exceeds in Command, being Abfolute, without any Dependance on the General; which caufes an Emulation on either fide, and the-more, becaufe the Mogul Im lately heaped new’ Honours on Badur Caun, doubling his Stipend, and giving him the Title of Fofter Brother, his Mother nurfing the King: But this Governor, to equalize him in Wealth, keeps but half the alotted Number in Pay, and lives fparingly, which makes him take Sandhiary with regret fometimes under Badur Caun , he being always upon the Forlorn Hope. Falfe Mutters This Cheat is pradtifed all over the Realm, notwithftanding here a . re Fublick Notaries placed immediately by the Mgul, to give No- " ticeof all Tranftdhons; which they are fureto represent in favour of the Governors where they refide, being Fee’d by them, as well as Paid by the Emperor; fo that if a Defeat happen, it is extenua¬ ted ; if a Vidtory, it is magnified to the height: Thofe in this Of¬ fice are called Focanoveces. The Govern- TheGownment of this Place is as in all other Cities of the Mo- ment and _ g»/j. The Walls are broken down, but the Gates are {till remain- ommo mes. j n g. With the City’s Safeguard Trade is fled, though it be commo- dioufly feated, and'furniffied with courfe Ghints, fine Lawn, and plenty of Cotton-Grounds; but the Plowmen and Weavers have followed the Merchants, a Rich one not being to be heard of in fe- ven or eight days Journy from hence. The 4 * and foamy into Duccan. The Buzzars therefore confift chiefly of Provifsons, which they Chap.V. compel the Country to bring in, and fometimes take them by Force, WY'SJ by reafon of the general Poverty reigning among them. Wherefore the n d of May I left them, and took my Way by Returned by iJmmy Gaot, or the Little Hill in refpedt of the other, which we w«»n/G«t, 0 c faw mounted a prodigious height above us: Hither I came by twelve the llttle HU1, a Clock at Noon, a farlhorter and eafier Way than the other: It is ten Courfe from fetteah, wherein we travelled between a Couple of Seva Gfc Caftles; and overlooking the Gaot, is a third v.ery like Je- neabGur , which hailed us; I fent one to anfwer them, but kept on my Courfe till I came to the Gaot, where I was conftrained to beftow more time than I was willing, joo Oxen laden with Salt (which is fo precious up the Country, as to be proverbially preferred to Bread, they faying, Whofe Salt they eat, as we, Whofe Bread, ~) flopping . ' the Gap; but with a little Intreaty, after an hour’s {landing ftill in the Sun, I got them, by fending my fW, to defift below, till we had widen’d the Pafs above; after which it is feafible, being fup- plied at fit diftances with charitable Cifterns of good Water, and to¬ wards the bottom adorned with beautiful Woods, delighting as well as refrefliing us with the Shade: By Sunfet I was in the Plain, where an honeft Subidar that took off his Liquor, let me pafs without trou¬ ble, being more like a Scout than a Set-Watch. Nor do I believe the Mogul's Army dare venture to advance be- No Army tween thefe Streights, which are fo well maintain’d; but farther likel ? t0 P at3 North the Hills feem to ftoop more to the Plain, and it may be that this way ' Way they may pafs; though this Way be tolerable for Caphalds and Merchants who have their Pafsports. We reckon to have meafured this Day Fifteen Courfe, moft in the Heat of the Day, to the fide of a poor Village called Wefnure , where we refted under a Tree, the Coolies being unprovided for; nor could they purchafe any thing here, the Inhabitants being hared out of their Wits, miftrufting even their own Countrymen as well as Strangers, living as it were wildly, betaking themfelves to the Thick¬ ets and Wildernefles among the Hills, upon the approach of any new Face ; for my Horfe by chance breaking loofe, fet a whole Gom or Town upon the hoof, they thinking Auren ‘Zeeb's Lufcarryat hand; thus unhappily live thefe, a Prey to every one. The Clouds had fpread themfelves over the Tops of the Hills, that they feemed to make a Neplus ultra, or the World’s-End. The next Day at Twelve a Clock at Noon we ftruck into our old Glittering Road at Moorhar, from whence before we were mifguided ; we Flies about a packed hence by .Five in the Afternoon, and left our Burnt Wood on Coolies’ 16 * 8 the Right-hand, but entred another made us better Sport, deluding ’ * us with falfe Flalhes, that you wduld have thought the Trees on a Flame, and prefently, as if untouch’d by Fire, they retained their wonted Verdure. The Bodies beheld the Sight with Horror and Amazement, and wereconfulting to fet me down, and Ihift for them¬ felves ; whereof being informed, I cut two or three with my Sword, and by breathing a Vein, let Shitan (the Devil) out, who was crept into their Fancies, and led them as they do a ftartling Jade, to fmeli to what their Wall-Eyes reprefented amifs ; where we found an Hoft Letter III. of Flies, the Subjed both of our Fear and Wonder, which the fultry . Heat and Moifture had generated into Being, the certain Prodromus of the enfuing Rain, which follow’d us from the Hills. This gave my Thoughts the Contemplation of that Miraculous Bulh crowned with Innocent Flames, that gave to Mofes fo pleafant and awful a Profped; the Fire that confumes every thing, Teeming rather todrefs than offend it. Forc’d»keep Thus we came to Barfta, a defpicable Country Town, Seven Watch againft Courfe more; it is in pofleflion of the Comities, who are not ftrong Eeaftf lId enough to aid their Herds againft the devouring Jaws of the Wild ’ Beafts, a young Buffbla being leized the Night before, out of the Ta¬ bernacle they lodged me in; wherefore they cautioned me to keep Fires all Night, left the Horfe might lofe one of his Quarters, or our Oxen might ferve them for a Supper; I added to the Fires a ftrid Watch, whofe mutual anfwering each other in an high Tone, was deafen’d by the Roarings of Tigres, Cries of Jackals, and Yel- lingsof Baloos, or over-grown Wolves: At Cock-crow (the Lions Charm ) we parted hence, and obferved the Sheds here were round, thatch’d, and lined with broad Leaves of Teke ( the Timber Ships are built with), infafhion of a Bee-hive: Thefe Combies are the Wood-men. About Seven we overtook our deep Creek, and being fomewhat fwelled by the Rains, we followed its Current till we found it paffable; about Eleven we returned to Gullean. The ciiHes The Hardlhip thefe poor Combies undergo was obvious to the fenfe theWeriesof ^ ie very CW/fj,who often in this Journy would refled on their own thefe People. Happinels under the Englijb Government; thofe being all fo harafs’d, that they dare not Till the Ground, never expeding to reap what they fow, or remain in their Houfes, but feek lurking-PJaces in De- ferts and Caverns, being naked to the Violence of the Plunderer, and therefore both unfafe and uncomfortable Journeying for Tra- ' vellers. I took up my Station where I was before, and fent my Man to the Havaldar to complain of the Treachery of the Guides; he profefied he was alham’d, but a new Governor being fince put over his Head, with the Command of a Party of Horfe, he was incapable of punilhing them; yet for what further Courtefy he was able to do he was ready, and to that end fent to the Subidar for his Licenfe for a Boat, which now are all pluck’d up and houfed afhore, the Rains more than approaching, fo that it was troublefome procuring one; but by their joint Power it was at laft atchieved; which a crofs- grain’d Bracbmin, fupported by an outlaw’d Portugal, contradided in defpight of both, feizing it by Force with Three Files of Soldadoes. Prodigious For which caufe I was tied to the Confort of croaking Frogs, ma- greatFrogs, king fo hideous a Noife, that I took little Reft this Night: When Day broke I could hardly believe my Eyes,for Bulk, or Ears,for Sound, exceeding ours incredibly; and to raife the Wonder, this Night was - the firft of theRains,before which none were heard: Wherein Pliny may be trufted, better than in fome other Reports; for fpeaking de Ranis , he fays, Mirumfemeftri vitH refolvuntur in limum, nullo cernente, & rur- fus vernis apis renajcuntur , pee fuere natos, proinde occaltH ratione cum omnibus annis id event at. Et Ariftot. de Gen. Anim. cap. 4. Generantur autem in terrfr & bumore animalia (S’ plantce ; quoniam humor in terres, fpiritus and Jonrny into Duccan. Jpiritus inhumore, color animalis in univerfo eft, it a ut quodammodo ani -, -marum plena font omnia. S/rOvidius. Semina litmus halet virides generdntia ranas. Who all confent to the poffibility of the thing, the prolifick Virtue lying hid in the flimy Matter, till a conjunction of fit Caufesdifpofe it for (uddain A (Sion. Walking the Quarters of my Lodgings, a more delightful, and as unufual aProfpedt attra&ed my Animadverfion; a great Tree full of ftringy red Flowers, fet in open Calices upon a long Stalk, like budding Grapes; which before the Sun had colledted much force, I faw begin to fall in (howers upon the Ground; defiring to handle one Bough, lobferved them fixed; ftill they upon the Tree dropped.till all was Ihedded, and the Ground ftrewed with them, which a Brach - min carefully gathered up to referve for a Phyfical ufe; but more truly out of Superftition, paying Rent for the Privilege : This Wonder is renewed daily, they Blofloming in the Night, and con¬ trary almoft to all other Plants, are difgufted with the Sun-beams, drooping in the day; which is like the Arlor Triftis at St. Thomas his Mount, only the Flowers of that are White and Sweet, and this Red and indifferently Scented; the Leaves of the Tree refemble thofe of a Walnut; in the Country Nomenclature it is called Nitre • of what Virtue I cannot learn. Difcharging here my Oxen, which I- hired of a Gentue, who though they will not Kill their Neat, make no Confcience to Work them to Death, allowing them hardly Food to keep them alive. Neither are they lefs Inhuman toward their Sick, a Woman being ■ brought to die among the Tombs in my fight; pretended to be done to avoid the Governor’s troubling the Family ( where die lived a Dancing Wench) Tor Money ; they making themfelves Heirs to their Eftates when they die: Non ad eundtmfinem quem Herodotus ait, uti Antiquiores /Egyptii cegrotos fuosnon ad medicos, fedincompita, (f? puhlicas mas deferebant, populum prcetereuntem pro morlorum cura - tione confulturi .- Not for that purpofe, as Herodotus prefumes; the Egyptians brought not their Sick to Phyficians, but laid them in the Streets and publick Paflages, that the People palling by might be confulted for their Cure. Every Third Hour I had the din of a Man of God of the Moors, permitted to come hither to call them to Prayers; as he cried aloud he flopped his Ears with his Fingers, -that he might emit his Voice with the more ftrength, and lefs difturbance to himfelf; experience thereby dire&ingus to hear our own Sounds the better; and fome Anatomifts tell us, -Nature has framed a Cartilaginous paflage from the hollow of the Drum of the Ear, to theprocefsof the outward part of the cuneal Bone reaching to the Palat, which being open may polfibly divert the Noife } but whether this do help, or is un¬ derstood by them, yet this they do Pra&ife; and this Afternoon their Santtum Sanftorum was open, the Prieftentring in Barefoot and Proftrating himfelf on the Mats fpread on the Floor, whither I mufl r 43 Chap. V. The Kurt- Tree.. Cruelty to their Beads,' -Inhumanity to their SicJr.' The Msor-meri Priefb folloiy Trades. 1 44. A Defection of Surat, Letter III. not have'gone, could his Authority have kept me out j the Walls were white and clean, but plain, only the Commandments, wrote in Aralick in the Weft-etui, were hung on a Table over an Arched Place, where the Pried Expounds on an Afcentof Seven Steps, railed at top with Stone very handfomely : It is fupported within with Four fub- ftantial Pillars of Timber well carved, the Roof all Wood, with a fquare ' Hole over the Pulpit: Underneath are fine cool Vaults, and Stone Stairs to defeend to a deep Tank, where this Pried: was following the Occupation of making fuch Paper as they ufe; which after he had fteeped Cotton Rags inWater,he by beating brought it into the form of Paper; and cutting them, or Hieing the Mafs into Sheets, was pall¬ ing them up on the Stone-fides of the Mofque, next the Sun, to dry • after which they are polilhed and glazed, and lb made fit for their ufe. a Pragmatical In the Evening I law the reafon of our flay this day; a Pragma- pomgni bm- t - ca i Portugal fled to this Place, for defigning the death of a Fidalgo barking. * m " in the front of 40 Men marching to the Governor’s; his Name Pedro Sylvie, a Rich Lout, no Gentleman: Befides thefe he keeps as a Guard to his Body, he has a Bloudy Lealh of Cofferies imployed to be revenged on his Antagonist at Bacein;herc he ads without Controle, and is about to accept of Pay under Seva Gi , he being courted there¬ to, becaufe he is a bold defperate Fellow, the fitter Inftrument to ruin his Nation. A In the mean time here arriving a Bomlaim Boat, Ihe was prefently sMar carries disburthened of her Lading, and 1 Embarqued, and the 26th of May carne abrealt of Tattaw, the Pafs here being another main Impedi¬ ment to the intended Trade up the Country with the Moors ; which, had We in our poffilfion, according to the Conirad with Portugal, we might the eafier make Seva Gi comply; and more than thaf, find Lordlhips for Engjifhmen , where they might live contentedly, and not be beholden to Foreign Supplies for Provifions: By Three the next Morning I Ancho;ed againlt the Bunder at Bomlaim, and Landed prefently after Travally-Beat, delivering my Letter from the Caun to the Prtfident. What Europe Here rode an Europe Ship called the Fleece 5 which loft her Paffige in'tlieVoad' 1 ' 1 ^ Year, coming too late out of England-, and about Noon the Rain- low arrived, they being both forced to put in at Bomlafs, an Illand of the Portugals on the Coaft of Melinda , which produces excellent Ivory, and other Miracles, from whence they failed together; till juft on this Shore a Storm feparated them, the Fleece gaining this Port; the Rainlow fell firft in with Surat , and to Day came to an Anchor here. The Conclu- Thus if I have been too prolix in this Narrative, I muft beg your fon. pardon for endeavouring to fatisfy you on two Scores, which none but one of my Profellion muft pretend to; the one relating to the Women, and the other to their Fortified Gurs or Caftles; and if it find your Acceptance, it is all the Aim I have, and my Pains is there¬ by fufficiently rewarded. Bomlaim 1675. Sept, zz. ARE- A RELATION Canatick-Country. LETTER ' CHAP. • I. Concerning our Shipping for Carwar; of the Pa&ory there ; the Unfetled Condition of the Place} and our coming to Goa. T H E Pleafure you exprefs on the Receipt of Mine, makes chap. I. me continue your Invited Trouble, as truly not enjoy- ing any thing till I know your Sentiments; and there¬ fore is it, next the quieting your Concern for my Life in fo unhealthy a Place, I let you know Bomhaim is my Station no longer than the Prefident refides there: From whence you may perceive I have had Opportunities to expatiate. And now the Rains are over, and Friendfhip concluded as well ThsPrefidenr between particular Fadions, as the Dutch ; the Prefident efteemed g° es tosurat, no Enemies fo formidable as ftill to exadt his Prefence on this Ifland ; Wherefore conftituting Mr. Philip. Gyffard in his Place, he took Ship¬ ping in the Fleece, for Surat, accompanied by the Rainbow, Nab Lon¬ don, and Eaft-India Merchant, Englijh Ships, the Bomhaim Merchant, and other Country Ships. After fome time, Curiofity more than Bufmefs tempted me to go j t0 c»ma r : with the Chief of Carwar , that I might fee Goa. In-our Paf- Gh Na. fage at Serapatan, to the South of Dan de Rajapore, a Strong Ca- val Pow£r - file of Seva Gi’s defended a deep Bay, where rode his Navy, confifting of 30 Small Ships and Yeflels, the Admiral wearing a White Flag aloft. 146 A Relation of the Ganatick Country. Letter IV. ’ Arriving at Carmr, and the Chief going alhore, he was met on the River by the Governor with two Barges; and landing, was wel¬ comed by the Ordnance of the Houfe. . His Arms Carmr, what remains of it, is under the New Conqueft of Seva quer’d ail" being lately, with Anchola, Pundit, Cuderah and Semifiar, brought round caraar. under (though all of them very Strong Places): At which time the Englijh were moulding a Fortification, or Houfe of Defence, for their own fafety, when by the Afiiftance of a Small Pink they defended themfelves from all Hoflile Mifchances; and though their Town was wholly laid in Afhes, yet they built this their ftately Manfion Four-fquare, guarded by Two Bulwarks at the Commanding Corners , of the Houfe: In the mean while Seva Gi made himfelf Mafter of Carwar Caftle, together with the reft, the Inhabitants flying to the Woods and Hills for Ihelter: Thus it continues not without daily difturbance from thefe Sy Ivans and Mountaineers, the commiferated Subjects of Vifiapour, who often make an Head and fall upon them; by which means the Government is unfetled, and the Governors fhift from Place to Place. The Ground Our Houfe ftands on a delicate Mead (on the Ground of * * * * fhnds°on Cutteen Efq; a Cornijb Gentleman, who had it by grant from the granted by Ring of Vifiapour, being impowered by a Claim of his Countrymen rhe King. t0 t j ]e Right of Trading to the Eafi-Indies, but long fince left off) Seated on an Arm of the River, furveying a pleafant lfland ftored with Game: The Caftle is nearer the Hills, and higher up the Streams; about a League off the Sea the Hills guard the Plain till they make a Bank againft the Ocean. scva governs Seva in his Government imitates the Moors in this, appointing a y Brathmmi, Governor here for Town and Caftle, and over all thefe a Commander with a Flying Army, who is Superintendent: Into Places of Truft and Authority he puts only Brachmins , or their Sub- ftitutes, viz. Pundits, (a mean caft) for Phyficians; Sfofdars or Cen¬ turions, Suhidars, Havaldars, Civil Governors, Generals or Fight¬ ing Bilhops; of whom truly may be faid, Privata caique Jlimulatio vile decus publicum. They are neither for Publick Good or Common Honefty, but their own private Intereft only: They refufe no Bafe Offices for their own Commodity, inviting Merchants to come and trade among them, and then rob them, or elfe turmoil them on ac¬ count of Ctiftoms; always in a Corner getting more for them¬ felves than their Mafter, yet openly muft feem mighty zealous for their Mafter s Dues: So that Trade is unlikely to fettle w here he hath any thing to do; notwithftanding his Country lies all along on the Sea-fliore, and no Goods can be tranfported without hisPermiffion; vmlefs they go a great way about, as we are forced to do. The hard It is a General Calamity, and much to be deplored, to hear the si'M-G/’s Sub- ^° m P' a i nts °f the poor People that remain, or are rather compelled jefts, to endure the Slavery of Seva Gi .- The Defies have Land ipipofed up¬ on them at double the former Rates, and if they refufe to accept it on thefe hard Conditions (if Monied Men) they are carried toPri- fon, there they are familhed almoft to death; racked and tortured moft inhumanly till they confefs where it is: They have now in Limbo feveral Brachmins, whofeFlelh they tear with Pincers heated , Red- A Relation.of the Cmitick Country. .147 Red-hot, drub them on the Shoulders to extreme Anguilb, (though Chap. T. according to their Law it is forbidden to ftrike a Brachmin. ) This is the accuftomed Sawce all India over, the Princes doing the fame by the Governors, when removed from their Offices, to fqueeze their ill-got Eftates out of them; which when they have done, it may be they may be employ’d again: And after this falhion' the De- . fies deal with the Comhies ; fo that the Great Fiffi prey on the Little, as well by Land as by Sea, bringing not only them, but their Fa¬ milies into Eternal Bondage. . However, under the King of Vijiapour the Taxations were much milder, and they lived with far greater comfort i but fince the dom of^fl Death of the late King, his Son being in Minority, and the King- tw. dom left to a Prote&or, the Nobles, who held their Provinces as Feu¬ datories or rather Vaffals of him, begin to withdraw their Duty; Build Caim, General under the Protestor Cowls Cam , an Hobfy, or Arabian Coffery (they being preferred here to Chief Employ¬ ments, which they enter on by the Name of Siddies ) having but the other day fet upon the Prote&or and affaffinated him; who was fo terrible to Seva Gis Men, that to render him the more dreadful, they fpeak of his Hobfies after this manner, That with their Swords they are able to cut down Man and Horfe: That greater Commoti¬ ons than yet have happened, are to be expe&ed in this Kingdom; not only Seva Gi, but the Mogul at this time bidding for the Kingdom. Build Cam is a good Soldier, and a Tat an ; yet as much envied by the Duccan Princes, as Cowis Caun w as by him; whereupon it be¬ hoves him to be watchful of their Motions, to W'hich Vigilancy addingExpedition, he yet keeps them from joining Forces: Where leaving him on his Guard, I willprefent you with a fmal.l Tafteof the Condition of the People about us, which fell ou t the Day before I fet out fo* Goa, being defirous to beprefent at the Natal. Early in the Morning came Delvts Men, 500 in Company; Mifenble whereupon Seva Gis Men being but 100 Foot, and 25 2 TiSi° f Horfe, retired into the Cattle; miferable Souls for Soldiers on both "betwixt Tides; they look’d like our old Britains, half naked,' and as fierce, the D ‘ti a nd where all lies open before them: They had a loud Noife of Mufick, Seva G, ‘ and a tumultuous Throng of People, and thus they marched on without any Order, till they encamped near our Houfe: Their Leader was a Man of a good Prefence, but a Rogue, an Hindu by Birth, a Soldier by Education; making this his Maxim, Ui Fas ub't maxima Merces: There is the greateft Right where is the belt Pay. At Noon, by the Wtrly-burly of all Ranks of Men, Women, and Children, with wndMittle Subftance they had, flying under our Guns for Succour, we were given to underftand Seva Gi’s Men were in Motion ( whom they dread more than the other); but on ap¬ pearance of the Defys Grob they retreated again : This Defy is one that was Rendero of all this Country, under the King of Vifiapour , and had icioo Men under him (of whom Delvi was Chief); but being entrapped by his Subtilties, whom he leaft fufpe&ed ( being raifed by him ), he was forced to fubfcribe to the Power of Seva ; of whom Delvi not having his Ends, he turns about, and does pro- mile to fet his former Matter in Pofleffion once more. At Night we 148 A Relation of the CamticVrCountry. Letter IV, had Letters ( for you muft know both Parties Salam to us, being i n fo ftrong an Houfe, elfe we fhould be liable to their Fury ), That SevaGi's Party of Horfe, whilft Delvi had paffed the River, fcized his Baggage, which was left guarded by 60 Men, whereof he ha¬ ving Notice, foon overtakes them, and caufes them to furrender their Booty, driving them to the Caftle, with the lofs of two of their Horfes, and one Cavaleiro flain : Under thefe Circumftances thefe Folks are left to ftruggle, without hope of Relief-from Pi fin- pour, they being all to pieces there. Take Barge The next Morning, in the Company’s Baloon of 16 Oars, with for Goa; feven Peons, two Englijh Soldiers, twoFa&ors, andmyfelf, having found the a Competency of Arms and Ammunition, with a final! Piece a-head, Paffes well we fet Sail for Goa. We had not gone far down the River, before we guarded, met two Boats full of Men fora Supply to SevaGi. Near Sun-fet we reached an OyHer-Rock, on which we landed, and fed plentifully, being in their prime this cold Seafon; our Bargemen would frequent- ly dive 9 or 10 Minutes, and rife with great Lumps of Oyilers clod¬ ded together, as big as a Man could well carry. The next Morn we put into the River Sal, half way to Goa: At Three in the After¬ noon we entred the Mouth of Goa River, where in convenient Pla¬ ces Hand four Forts and a Block-houfe, not only impaffable by Wa¬ ter, but impregnable by Land ; as the Dutch proved them twelve Years together, having a Fleet riding conftantly before them, and for that time, while the Monfoons permitted, making continual Af- faults, but with little Succefs: On the left, ftored with Brafs Pieces, Hands the Agoada, or the King’s Aquadudf, running from the Top of the higheft Hill to the Water-fide, where for a confierable Space is a Platform of their chiefeft Ordnance ; facing this is the Fort and Monaftery of Nos Signior de Cabo, apleafantas well as ftrong Cita¬ del : Beyond this, in a wide but dangerous Bay ( fo thatjwhat Boats come in muft pafs the Channel under the Muzzles of the Guns) Hands Marmagom, defending that Ifland and Bay: By the Bar is Rojs Magi on the Left, and Gafper de Dios on the Right: Before Sun-fet we came to Captain Garys Houfe at Pangeim, over the Bar a Mile; a Seat by reafon of the Healthinefs of the Air chofen by the Fidalgoes, who have beautified it with their Summer-houfes;- the Viceroy ha¬ ving a Palace here, where he retires in the Heats and time of Ship¬ ping : Beta on the other fide enjoys the fame good Fortune. TheGallantry The.Eve to the Eve of the Natal, or Chriftmas, we came up the of the Portu- River, adorned all along with ftately Churches and Palaces; theWa- gieftof th* ter circling with its Stream feveral Iflets,j^yd half-way up to the Canucks. City paffes under a Bridge of 36 Arches of' Wvvtne ; and from thence runs a Caufeway of Stone two Miles in length, admitting the Flood only by two Sluces, into Wears or Dams made for Fifli and Salr, and ends with three Arches more : A little beyond which is departed on a Church, a Story of a Ship brought fromC^e Bon Efperaozo, hither in one Night, and fixed where the Church is now but it, and by that means helping them with Timber for the Roof, and two Crofles fet up as far off as the Ship was in length; whether true or falfe, I ask no queftions, for fear of the Inquilition, which here is a terrible Tribunal. At Noon we came in view of Goa, not without the 49 A Relation of the Ganatick-£W»Jry. 1 the ficrht of a many Baloons palling to and again very fwiftly, it Chap. II. being °the greateft Paftime they have to Row againft one another; \~A~V~\j more bewitched with fuch outward Gallantry, than prompted on to more Benficial Charges; their Europe Shipslying here negleded till they rot for want of Cargo, Three great Carracks being ready to drop in Pieces; notwithftanding they have fmall Trading Ships in the River, and againft. the City, befide a Carrack under the Agoada, which they fend home this Year. C H A P. II. Takes a View of Goa ; makes a Voyage to Vingula ,• Engages with the Malabars, and returns us to Carwar. T HE City of Goa looks well at a fmall diftance, not being to be feen far by reafon of the adjacent Hills and windings of the River; it is Ten Miles up the River, ftands upon Seven Hills ; every where Colleges, Churches, and glorious Stru&ures; it v has Gates to it, and a Wall; it is Modelled but rudely, many Houfes dif- T!ie Atch . gracing it with their Ruins, the Streets interfereing moft confufedly: bilhop’s See, We were direded to a Tavern againft the See, the Habitation of the Archbifhopof.theOrderof St .Bernard', which the Clergy here mightily ftomach, efpecially the Jefuits, who bend not to his Au¬ thority, having a Provoft of their own, going in as great State as and Provo ft the Archbilhop; he appears abroad in a Sedan, and has Eight Cle- of the jefuits. rico’son Foot Bareheaded, walking on each fide, befide other At¬ tendance: The Cathedral is not often excelled by ours at home for the bignefs of. the Pile; the Archite&ure but Plain, though very Neat; the Altar and fide Chappels filled with Images of delicate Sculpture of our Bleffed Saviour and the Virgin Mother, Gilded all over with Gold. . From thence we were brought to the College of the Dominicans, The College the Seat of the Inquifidor, who is always one of this Order; a mag- 0 ftheaJ<- nificent Front to the Street, afcending by many fteps, being a huge Fa- the Seat brick; the Church furpafled the Cathedral, the Pillars from top to ° or _ the In King; on the furrender of which followed the Conqueft of the Low Country bey on&Carwar: And by this means the Diamond-Trade is intercepted, this being the greateft Mart for finall Diamonds, be¬ fore thefe Incurfions: And not only fo, but they are ftraitned for Butchers Meat, which ufed to come down plentifully that way; for thefe had rather bill a Man, than fuffer a Bead to be led to the Stall 5 and not only for Meat but Firing, they being beholden to that Coun¬ try for Fuel, as well as Timber for Building. Thefe Calamities, be¬ tides the Approach of Seva Gh Army, make no fmall Diftraiftions, X % efpe- 156 A Relation of the Gamtick'Country. Letter IV. efpecially having frnall Recruits of Europe-Mea ; fothat the Padres rnuft not only Pray but Fight, there being in the Convents more than in the Garifons. GOA The Power of Is the Metropolis of the Portugals in the Eaft-Indies, and the Refidence and Archbi- a Viceroy, who gives Laws to all Seculars, though he cannot exe- Zp. r cute them on the Fidalgoes in Capital Crimes, the King referving The outward t h e Definitive Sentence in fuch Cafes to himfelf; they are therefore fZfeeV * fent home to be tried in Europe , by the efhablifhed Courts of their Kingdom. The Archbifhop is Supreme in Spirituals, or ought to be fo. The City is a Rome in India , both for Abfolutenefs and Fa- bricks, the chiefeft confiding of Churches, and Convents, or Reli¬ gious Houfes; though the Laity have fumptuoiis ones all of Stone; their Streets are paved, and cleaner than the tops of their Houfes, where they do ail occafions, leaving their Excrements there. They live with a fplendid Outfide, vaunting in their number “of Slaves, walking under a Street of their own Umbrelloes, bare-headed, to avoid giving Diftafte in not removing their Hats: They being jealous of their Honour, pardon no Affront; wherefore to ogle a Lady in a Balcony (if a Perfon of Quality ) it is revenged with a Bocea Mortis , or to pafs by a Fidalgo without due Reverence, is feverely chaftifed; they are carried moftly in Palenkeens, and fometimes on Horfeback. The Clergy The Clergy affedt little of outward State, going out only Fratet rn reflect- (m Soc ^ j n Couples; they falute a Father by firft killing the Hem of his Garment, then begging a Benediction. The Mafs of the People are Canorein , though Portuguezed in Speech and Manners; paying great Obfervance to a White Man, whom when they meet they muft give him the Way with a Cringe and Civil Salute, for fear of a Stochado. The Women The Women, both White and Black, are kept reclufe, vailed and Children, abroad; within doors,the Richer of any Quality are hung with Jewels, and Rofaries of Gold and Silver many times double; Moneloes of Gold about their Arms, Necklaces of Pearl about their Necks, Lockets of Diamonds in their Bodkins for their Hair, Pendants in their Ears; a thin Lungy , or Half-fmock reaching to their Wafte, fhewing their Skin through it; over that, abroad, a clofe Doublet; over their Lower Parts a Pitticoat or Lungy, their Feet and Legs without Stockins, but very Rich Slippers. Amongft them fome are extraordinarily featur’d and compleatly Ihap’d, though not of that corufcant Beauty our Englijh Ladies are; and for Mien far be¬ neath them, being nurtured up in a lowly Bafhfulnefs, whereby they are render’d unfit for Conversation, applying themfelves wholly to Devotion and the Care of the Houfe: They fing, and play on the Lute, make Confedtions, pickle Achars, (the beft Mongo debars coming from them ), and drefs Meat exquifitely, not to put the Sto¬ mach to much trouble, but fuch as lhall digeft prefently; Supoes, Pottages, and varieties of Stews, in little China Difhes or Plates, which they fliift before you are cloy’d, and at a common Enter- . tainment >57 A Relation of the Cmmck-Country. tainrnent alter half a dozen Modes: Their Relifhing Bits have not Chap. II. the Fierinefs of ours, yet all the pleafure you can defire; and to fpeak truly, I prefer their ordirnary 'way of ordering Viduals be¬ fore any others. If a Stranger dine with the Husband, and he con- fent to have the Wife come in and fit at Table as our Women do, there is no means of perfuading her, but Ihe will be much offended if you tafte not of every thing they cook. The little Children run up and down the Houfe naked, till they begin to be old enough to be afhamed. The fineft Manchet it may be in the World is made here, and the £ ne(l pureft Virgins Wax for Tapers. At Nerule is made the beft Arach anc et ’ ‘‘ or tfepa de God, with which the Englijh bn this Coaft make that ener¬ vating Liquor called Paunch ( which is Indojlan for Five ) from Five Ingredients; as the Phyficians name their Compofition Diapente; or from Four things, Diatejferon. The way they give Notice from theOutguards of what Ships are HowtheOut- feen off at Sea, is after they have fpread the King’s Standard, to ele- vate fo many Baskets on Poles; which Sign the next appointed Watch receives, and fo fucceffively till it arrive at the City. On New-Year’s Day, Stilo Veteri, with Captain Gary in his Ba- Return’d to loon of Ten Rowers, and Six Servants, we fet fail for Carwar, and had Camiir ‘ brought half Salfet behind us, when the Moon being two Hours high we difcovered a Light, and immediately Three Sail making after us, and by the Shore another fmall Sail intercepting us: Our Men that before would not handle an Oar, fell to it tightly, and two more purfuing us out at Sea, we ran fairly into Cola or Salfet, a Fifh- ing Town, where lay feveral Boats to carry off Mountains of Fifh falted on the Beach, the Scent whereof was very noyfom under a . miferable Shed we took for our Lodging: The next Morning we came early to the River S58 A Relation of the Cahatick -Country. Letter IV. CHAP. Ill* A Pilgrimage to Gocurn , where was a great Gentile Solem¬ nity. A curfory Difcourfe of. the Bordering Princes . A S much to the Southward as Goa is to the North, lies Gocurn, whither I took a Pilgrimage,with one other of the Fa< 3 :ors,Four Peons, and.Two Biggereens, or Porters only; we fet out all on Foot the Second of February , at the beginning of the Heats, at Ten in the Morning, and with wonderful toil clambered up Anchola Hill, a woody Mountain of an extraordinary height; where retting a little while we made for the bottom; at which lies an Horfe of an Hand- dads Interred under an huge fquare Stone, and his Effigies Dormant upon it Efcuthceon, orDiamond-wifej not much farther, the Wood being on Fire, we were in danger not only of being Smothered but Roafted (this place not long fince the receptacle of Delvi and his Crew, and therefore I fuppofe purpofely Burnt): Et neque jam cineres ejeblatam^ue favillam Ferre pot eft, calidoque involvitur undipe fum. But having conquered by our better Angels this lively portraiture of Hell, we were led into an happy Elyfium, or Plain, that was bounded by the immenfe Ocean ; and had we been Shades, to have been fatisfied with an Aierial Diet, we might have fared well, for nothing elfe could we purchafe, the poor Inhabitants being Fifhermen, were left by the iniquity of Dehi, without either Fifh, Boats, Nets, or Rice ; and upon that account unlikely to fupply us. Night approaching we knew not where to better our, felves than un¬ der a Mango-Tree; where our wearied Spirits afforded us not much time for Contemplation , nor our eager Stomachs much Sleep; wherefore by break of Day we made for Anchola , where we found the Buzzar half Burnt, and the remaining Shops without Tenants, a bad Cordial to an empty Maw: We fent our Pafs to the Gover¬ nor, and procuring from him another, we haftened to feek our own Provifions. ytnchia Cattle $ ev!I G* fpared not this Town when he took the Cattle, fo that it fupplied with is almoft downordeferted; the Soldiers by that means diffurnifhing fromaXta- themfelves of all Neceflaries, but what they feize by Violence £«/Shipwreck. abroad; the Cattle is a fine place and of good force, bearing Fifty Brafs Guns, the Moors had got out of a Portugueze Shipwreck; it commandsas far as the River Gongole, the utmoft extent of SevaGi's Dominions, South; Two or Three Mile out of the Town we met with fome Game, and made Prey of it, walking by the Strength of it to Gongole River. The Country Where we Ferried over and took up our refidence this Night at properly co- Gongola , the firft Town in the Country, which ftill retains the Name Mtitk. 0 f canatick , and therefore is properly fo called; though we lhall ffiew by A Relation of the QzmvkrGomtry. 159 . and by all this Trad of Land we have paffed from Guzzerat deferves Chap. III. the fame appellation, being originally fo. urv ^ The People looked Chearful, and live in Peace under a quiet Go- Peace makes vernment. fui. -—— Sine militis ufu. Mollia fecum peragehantotiagentes. By the break of the next Dawn we got to Gocurn , and ex- 0ur ““‘"g changed our EngBJhior Moors Cloaths, yet not fo privately but that we were difcovered by fome that told our Banyan .( who was come to perform a Vow to the Manes of his dead Father,) that Two Emlijbmen were come to the tomafia, or Sight; whereupon he came to us before we expe&ed, with a Band of Thirty or Forty Men; but we defired to be concealed and pafs for Moguls , that we m'ight fee without being taken notice of; he was conformable thereto, and we went into.the Town, which was in a Valley/near the Sea; formerly very fplendid, now of more efteem for the Re¬ licks of their Pagods than any thing elfe. , ItisanUniverfityof the Brachminsand Well Endowed ; here are It is an Uni- innumerable, but ruinated Pagods; Two only of any Mark, and verflt y- they half ftanding; they were Large and of good Workmanfliipin Stone, after their Antick and Hieroglyphical Sculpture; they had, as all have, a dark Entry at the farther end, wherein are continually lighted Lamps burning before the Duel, or Image, feated there to reprefent a Glory, or Phofphorus, whither they refort to Worfliip and Offer Oil, Rice, and Frankincenfe, at it’s Feet, on an Offer¬ tory ; fome make a great pother of Anointing and Wafhing it, being lavilh both of their Pains and ColK At this time the Brachmins Reap a great Harveft, for this Place is TWs of.fuch repute for its Sandity and Meritorioufnefs of a Pilgrimage imajia, or hither, that all forts of Idolaters, from the remote!! parts of India, come in fholes, celelritas ad quam plurimi mortales \^ rachnins convenimt -nrAasrl (iep-mi and we found fo many, that the Harveft. Streets .were troublefome to crowd through; with much ado we got into the Buzzar, or Fair, only fo upon this occafion, long Rows of Sheds being put up on both fides the high Streets/where the Two great Pagods flood, one at each end. We were carried by the,Tide of the People that bore that way out of this place, to a large oblong ftone Tank, with Defcents to go down all about it *, in the middle a neat Pagod fupported on Four Marble Pillars; here during this Feftival at Evenings, are blazing a Lecque of Lamps. In this all of both Sexes Wa!h (this Solemnity being called the The imp Jatry, or Walhing) and Prefent Rice and Mony to the Brack- “Walking. minsb and the Filh which Swim here frequently receive their Benevolence, being fo Tame you may catch them with your Hands; to be the death of one of thefe is held Piaculare, Thofe whofe Parents or Friends are deceafed, the Hair of the A v owpet . Head is an Offering to their departed Ghoft on this manner; After formed, the Barber in this Water has lhaved the Head and Beard, it is deli- " yered 16o A Relation of the Camtick-Corntry. Letter IV. vered wrapped up to the Brachmin ; who brings a-Cow and a Calf into the Water, and binding them with Frontlets ceremonioufly, they bellow on them, as they 3re difpofed, either for Ornament or Main- tainance ever after ; imagining their Souls to have their refidence in them: From whence they are conduced to the Paged, which they enter bare-footed, and offer to the Duel ; returning, theyfmiteona Bell hung in the Body of the Church; and going to the Porch, re¬ ceive their Slippers, walhing afterwards at more liberty for the reft of the Feftival. It was a Primitive Cuftom among the Jews to fhawe when they had made a Vow, Acl. Apnfl. Chap. *8. v. 18. 'jougiei or De- Coafting along the Sea-fide, we came to the Pomremm. of the v °tes. greateft Paged, where near the Gate in a Choultry fate more than Forty naked Jougies, or Men united to God, covered with Allies, and pleited Turbatsof their own Hair,- two above the reft remarka¬ ble, one fitting with his Head hanging over his Shoulders, his Eyes Ihur, moving neither Hands or Feet, but always fet acrofs, his Nails overgrown like Talons: The other as a check to Incontinency, had a Gold Ring faftned into his Viril Member. A Solemn And now we returned into the Market-place, having obtained Proceffion of leave to feat our felves by the Chief Captain to fee their Duels pafs by Heroes.'* ° r Pom P> being to do their Devoirs to a Mother Paged .- At the upper- end of the High-ftreet were two great moving Pageants drawn on Wheels, two Stories high,with a Cupulo on the top,which was ftuck • round full of Streamers of Orient Colours; the inferior Stories were painted with deformed Figures of their Saints, on every fide Portals: In the loweft was placed the Duel, attended by their Chief Priefts with a dark Blue Cope o.ver their Shoulder, their under Garments White, and Puckeries on their Heads, a Mujfal within, and an Ofta- vary (a Skreen of Silver and Velvet with Sarcenet Borders) to keep ' off the Sun. Thus the Chief Naik with his loud Mufickof Horns, Trumpets and Drums waited on it,and’the Brachmins with fofter, of the Dancing Wenches finging, with Bells at their Wrifts and Heels,' and their Tamhles or Tabrets: An Enlign of Red, Swallow-tailed, feveral Chi- tories ; little, but Rich Kitjolls ( which are the Names of feveral Counties for Umbrelloes); jeo Men, with Javelins of Brafs and Steel, with Bells and Feathers, as many more with Guns under his Command; and the Naik Wherry with like falhioned Enlign of Green, bordered with a Checker of White and Green, followed by aoo in the fame order as before ; after thefe followed a Medly of Pots and Pans of Copper or Brafs, Men clattering on them, and dancing a good meafure: When the Train drew near, it was drawn by a Team of Holy Men, the People rifing and clapping their Hands as it paffed to the oppofite Paged ; a Troop of the Gentry in Cavalcade rode after it, where having paid a Vifit, it returned with the like Solemn Proceffion, and by difeharging of Guns the Cere¬ mony ended : There were feveral other Duels fanned by Women, offering Cenfers of rich Perfumes with huge Lights; before which People poffeffed with Familiars ran Cudgelling themfelves; others in a different fort of Mumrctery belaboured themfelves, till they •could A Relation of the Canatick-C’o^ry. 161 could notftand, all driving to outdo others; thus blind and heated Chap. III. were they in their Zeal. .. Todeicribe every particular Duel or Paged, both for the number, and difficulty of the Shapes, would be impoflible; take therefore only one that had efcapedthe Fire, and therefore highly venerable j ’twas cut out of Excellent Black Marble, the height of a Man, the Body of an Ancient Greek Hero, it had four Heads, and as many Hands, had not two been cut off*; it was feated on an Offertory in a broken Paged ; a Piece of Admirable Work and Antiquity, ex¬ ceeding, fay they , Blares, the other Noted Univerfity of the Heathens. Who founded thefe, their Annals nor their Sanfcript deliver not. Their Foun- But certainly Time, and the Entry of the Moors, ruined them. -This, though a Principal Univerfity, can boaft of no Bodlean or Vatican ; ° wn * their Libraries being Old Manufcripts of their own Calalas , or Myfteries underdood only by the Brachmins. They live not under a Collegiate Confinement, but in pretty Neat Their Divines Houfesplaftered with Cow-dung, which is done afrefli as oft as they under no fweep them, where they abide with their Families, Celibacy being X ow of Ge- no Injun&ion to their Divines; excepting one Houfe of the Sinai acy ' Cali, where is a Reverend Old Man, Head of their Tribe, who pro- fefles a Life without the Company of a Woman, and has the Atten¬ dance of a great many Young Afbmeti, and Grave Brachmins: Thefe live a referved Life, and fperid it wholly in Praying and Abdinence; es the others count their Prayers by Beads, thefe do it by CowrejSi Fiffi- lhells: They wore Red Caps, fuch asthofeare brought from Tunis', and our Seamen wear daily aboard Ship: But the.Strifter, and more Undefiled Cafi, is the Butt, the reafon whereof you will find in the General Account of India. ■ All Brachmins are diftinguiffied by a Cotton-thred athwart their A Bratbnin Body from their Left Shoulder,hanging down under their Right Arm; “ n hardly at* which Badge, if they violate it, cods themvaft Sums of Money to “Sonofibk redeem, befides the undergoing of drift Pennances. c 4. They fetch Water for the Duels from the Tank with loud Mufick The °f and Dancing Wenches three or four times a-day (the Brachmins tbe Wj,f ‘ waiting in courfe) and thofe dancing Wenches and Boys fet a-part for that Service, dare not dance afore any elfe: Thefe Dancers are taken out of the Cafi of the Doivlys,. who are obliged to devote the Eldeft of the Males and Females to that ufe; having for that reafon large Difpenfations concerning their Marriage, or the Liberty of getting Children, being common to all: To conclude with thefe, Whether Religion make thefe People Morofe, or it be to be attributed to the Virtue of their Manners; you fee in them a carelefnefs of behaviour towards Strangers, neither regarding the Novelty, nor Gawdinefs of their Garb; being here, as it is faid, Roma, Lutetia ac Venetice, -—-Nemo quicquid miratur. From hence we trooped to Tudera, at the Mouth of Mirja River, over a Rocky barren Hill, where the Company’s Barge or Saloon met us; and went up in it to Mirja, where our brisk Young Banyan treated us ■ Y with 162 A Relation of the Ganatick Country. Letter IV. with the Dancing Wenches ; his Father dying foon, left him young, and he out of Government, laviihes into Exceffes not approved of by that Itingy Tribe. Of Mirjn. At Mir i a ftan( k a Ca ^ le ’ w ^ ich oW 1S a ver y one, being double Wall’d and Trench’d, with high Turrets on the Ba- ftion's: It was furrendred by the Treachery of a -Moor Governor, and is now under the fubjedion of the Can a tick Ranna; it has a wide Moat about it, but-few Guns: The Town has a Buzzar, at the end of it a Ctsmitery for the Moors, with an ample Aquadud of good Stone. An huge Being tired, and lying to repofe out of the Noife of the Dancers, Snake. on t }j e Bank of the River, under a fliady Tree, I was made at by an unfizable Snake, which I hardly efcaped, had it not hilled with an unheard-of Noife before me, which rouzing me , made me fhift its fpeedyCourfe, as it angrily gathered up its Body, and darted its felf into the Flags on the River-ftde: Thefe Creatures are dreadful to the Inhabitants, and when I related my Hazard, they wondred I came off fo, there being of them big enough to matter the lsrgett Ani¬ mals: After my Danger was over, I was told fhe had a Nett in that - Place, it being lately turned into a Burial-place. Hie, obiter, notandm quod fir Hit Plimits, lib. 10. Hifl. Nat. cap. 6 ( 5 . fcilicet, Ex cerdro putrefeente bumano angues gigni. Hujus rei exemplum bsbet Plutarclm in vita Cleominis, quern feribit a Ptolomteo in crucem attain fuijje, ejttf- que Caput paucis pojl diebus ingentem Draconem Complicate. Et Rolji- ms Jtmile quidnarrat declarante Diemerbrook, Anat. lib. 3. cap. q. Here by the by, might be noted what Pliny writes, to wit, That Snakes are generated out of Human Brains putrifying, &c. Returning we overtook the Portugal Armado from the South , with Two hundred Paddy-Boats with their Convoys, and touched at An- gediva, from whence we came to Caraar. The Story of Before I left Mirja I received this Information from the Natives, emm.' That the Canatick Country reaches from Gongola to the Zamerbm Country of the Malabars, along the Sea, and Inland up to the Pepper-Mountains of Sunda, and the Precind of SergiCaun. Red- mure, four Days fourny hence, is the Capital City, the Refidenceof the Ranna, the Relid of ShamShanker Naig , ( murdered by his No¬ bles ) Raja of- Canora ; who now Rules in her Son’s Minority, Bajfe- pte Naig, the young Raja, by and with the Authority of one Tim Naig, that from a Toddy-man has by his cunning Policy, more than by true Prowefs arid Valour, railed himfelf to be General and-Pro- tedor. Sergi Cam , a Prince of the Kingdom of Vifiapour, and he, have lately entred into an amicable League and firm Confederacy, who have already Eat together, whereupon it is bruited Turn Naig ' is about to embrace the Mahometan Faith. The Prime Nobility have the Title of Naiks or Naigs, as thofe of Malabar , Nairoes. . The Language is Cqnorein, which to me feems to. be the Primitive, from the Malabars up to Surat ; the Country lliort of it, as well as Speech, being Canorein, and thofe between varying only in Dialed, and the Names of the Country altered, as the Chance of War pre¬ vailed. ■Here A Relation of the Canatick- Country. 163 Here ate Wild Elephants, fame Pepper, and ftore of Beetle-Nut, Chap. Ilf. and Wild Nutmeg, ufed to dye withal. The belt Pepper in the World is of the Growth of Sunda , known in England by Carwar Pepper, comef ep " though five Days Journy diftant from thence. This Raja vends his from s m da. pepper, as it is the belt, at the beft rates, finding a Trade up the Coun¬ try, and therefore is it we have little of it in Europe ; he contents himfelf to live at Sunda, from whence he and his Country receive denomination, being as little Abfolute as the reft of the Princes of Fifiapour , being Tributary, or rather Feudatory, obliged as well by Allegiance as Purfe. The Raja of Saranpatan muft not be flipped by in filence, becaufe TheNofe-cut* his way of fighting differs from his Neighbours ; he trains up his TJ’mptlf Soldiers to be expert at a certain Inftrument to feize on the Nofes of ** his Enemies with that flight either in the Field or in their Camps, that a Budget-full of them have been prefented to their Lord for a Breakfaft ;■ a thing, becaufe it deforms them, fo abafliing, that few care to engage with him; and this he makes ufe of, becaufe it is againft his Religion to kill any thing. He enjoys a vaft Territory on the back of the Zamerhin. Beyond him lies Raja Madaree, pofleffing all from him as far as the Rap Madam. Cape, bordering on them both. All thefe are the disjointed Members of Fifiapour , neither truft- ing on another, nor uniting for the common Good of the Kingdom: Since Seva Gi has put all into a Ferment, they know not who to fide with, being uncertain of his Intentions; though he tells them, his Compeers the Duccanees^ he is their Champion, and that none of them befides himfelf has the heart to ftand up for their Country; and therefore if he chance now and then to rob them, it is but to reward himfelf and Soldiers for his and their pains in endeavouring to free them from a more unnatural Slavery. This makes them begin to Cabal, not brooking the Perfidy of this The irreiblij- Man on the one hand, or the Infolence of BuBul Cam , being a Fo- rion the reigner, on the other; nor to call in the Mogul to their Afliftance; Dmme! < though (till it is not refolved by a General Confent to be aiding to each other* In the mean while Seva taking advantage of their Irrefolution,. Emboldens ranges where he lifts, quite through Fifiapour , as far aS Badnagur in ©. Gulctnda, with one Detachment led by his Son; with another he flies himfelf as far as the Walls of Surat, leaving tbe Main of his Ar¬ my at Pundit , before Goa: His Son, after he had plundered and burnt Badnagur , having been obferved in his Paflage thither by Bullul Cam , did no harm in Fifiapour ; but the Protedor being to watch the Confpiracies of the Duccanees, could not be long put, for fear of being intercepted in his Return, and was therefore prefled to retreat to his Poll; and Samlu Gi retiring, fet upon Hully , Rabay,- and other Mart Towns, and ranfack’d them: And Seva Gi his Father being not wholly difappointed at Surat ( which-he calls his Treafury ) by their fhutting their Gates upon him pro formfr, but give him his ufual * Pip- cajh ; whither on his repeated Excurfions being forced to ask leave of His wild ti¬ the Raja of Ramnagur , to carry his Army (byreafon of the Mogul’s curfions - Forces in the Plain Country ) through his Country, over the Hills Y 2, that 164 A Relation of the QmdXvk-Comtry « Letter IV. that reach within Thirty Miles of Surat-, and having obtained leave of the Raja of Ramnagur, made himfelf thoroughly acquainted with the Avenues, and in his laft Return took it; giving only this R ea . fon, That it was inconvenient for him to truft him with the Door of his Exchequer. The Inhabitants of Rammgur are the Salvages cal. led Coolies. - • Bullul Cam being at the Helm, thought fir, on thefe unaccounta- ble Pranks, to fend to him, to be informed how he durfl attempt the Robbery of thefe Places? 0 , quoth he to theMeflenger, Go tell tk Mafter, I wonder how he durfl difpoffefs any Great Man of Life or Place, without having advifedfirfl with me, (refle&ing on hisufurp. ing the Protedorlhip by the Death of Cowis Caun) ; Jdid this oL to let him know, I, not he, am a Member of Vifiapour. f The Protestor B y which , Bullul Caun forefeein g the approaching Storms, was too Of yifiafeur wary to flay the breaking of them over his Head, but fairly ft eps MeafureTof f° rtfl t0 P revenc them: Wherefore furprizing Sergi Caun and Ttm theConftde- tdaig, as they were moving to join with fome of the forwardeft of the rates. Duccanees, the firft fled, not without lofs, the other was environ’d by Bullul Cauns Army, and compelled to Hand it our, till the Ca- mels of War, who carry fmall Petareroes, flew the greateft part of them, and T'rni Naig himfelf was trodden to Death under his Ele¬ phants Feet, whereupon an eafy Vidtory enfued, the reft yielding when their General was {lain; who is not much lamented by the Nobles of Canora, whofe Greatnefs he diminifhed by cutting them off upon fmall Sufpicions, and advancing in their fteads inferior Per- fons to great Employments; confining the Princefs-Mother with her Son to a Penfion, and that but ordinary. Things now begin to return to the Royal Current, and they confefs him a Chaftiftment for their former Rebellions againft their Natural Prince, vowing a perfed Allegiance to the Infant Prince, in whofe Name fince the Death of Timi Naig, all things are tranfaded. Buihic«m Thefe were to have been feconded by Badur Cam, the Mogul's Ge- beats the Me neral, who has fince appeared twice before Vifiapour with a formida- iuh Army, ble Army, pretending to right the Duccanees , and to call BullulCam to an account, but has been as often repulfed by Bullul Caun and 12000 of his Patans, who the laft time made them leave their Kofanna or Treafure, fome Elephants, 1000 Camels, feveral Pieces of Ordnance, and cut off the Baffa of Buferah with his Son, whofe Heads were put on long Poles on the Walls of the City, and flew of the common Soldiers Four or Five Thoufand; not without great da¬ mage on their own Party: So that he mull be diftreffed for all this Rout given, unlefs the ftomachful Duccanees come to an Accommo¬ dation ( from which they are averfe as yet), if, as it is likely, the Mo¬ gul fend frelh and more numerous Supplies. So miferable is that State where the other Members grow too pow¬ erful for the Head, as in this conftituted Government of Duccan, . where the King’s Munificence to the Grandees has inflated them in Abfolute Authority over their Provinces, that they are Potent enough to engage one another, and countermand the King’s Com¬ mands, unlefc fuitable totheir Humours. By A Relation of the Qmmk-Couniry. 165 By the fundamental Eftablifliment of this Realm, every Lord in Chap. IV- courlewastocome to Court once a Year, and all to pay their Ac- knowledgmentby doing Homage to their Sovereign, where he could demand their Heads, they becoming obnoxious to his Difpteafure ; but the prelent difturbanceshave found matters of excufe to releafe them from thefe Injundions, and furnilhed Seva Gi in this buftle with encouragement to March up the Gaot again with i yooo Horfe and 30000 Foot, knowing Buhl Cam neither to be. at leifure from his Inteftine nor Foreign Broils, to divert him from his wild Enterprifes. ■ , C H A P. IV. Of the I\ing and kingdom of Vifiapour; their Policy and Government • Hobfie-Coneries Preferred: The prefent Protestor, and other Members of Duccan: The ,Life, Exploits, and Expeditions of Seva Gi: He Wealth , Strength , and Powers of each, with refpeft to the Great Mogul as Supreme. O F which Incendiary of India , as Well as of thefe Parts, to give you fome knowledge, it will beneceflary (thefe Affairs being fo interwoven ) to look back as far as the time of Ramras, about Two hundred and fifty Years ago, foie Monarch of India hr traGangem, and the laft Emperor that was a Gentile; he nouriffied Three Slaves that were Chias Moors , and advanced them to the prin¬ cipal Employs both of.Court and Empire, to wit, Catul Cam, Mar fterof his Hunt; Uijbam Maluke, his Chief Treafurer ; AdulCam, Catwal , or High-Conftable; from thefe Offices-they rofe to be Commanders of the greateft Provinces in the Realm, with as Ab- folute Power and Authority as could be transferred on Subjects, be¬ ing Rings, only wanting the'Appellation: The firftof Baynagur, now Gulconda ; the fecond of Dovolet Alud, and all the Country from Guzerat to Bengal , and great part of Duccan (into which his Succelfors were crowded till they Annihilated ); the Laft, the other part of Duccan, with all the Continent on this ftde the Gates, till it conclude in the Cape of Comara. Thus were they feated, and by the fequel not minded to be dif- The Confpi- mounted; wherefore they jointly Combined againft their fupine Matter, whilft he too creduloufly relied on their Fidelity, and outed • a ' rourites ’ him and many of his Heathen Nobles, only fuch as were befriended by ftrong Gurrs, or Faftnefles upon the Mountains, who are thofe that retain the Name of Raja’s to this day; and who are ftill not- withftanding fo Numerous, that would they ftand up unanimoully for their ancient Freedom, the Mahometans could not ftand in Com¬ petition with their Idolatrous Tribes; fed quos fgpiter' vult perdi, dementes facit ; but whom God will deftroy he makes them infatua- 166 A Relation of the Crniivk-Country. Letter [V. ted to their own Ruin ; for they are fo jealous one of another, that without that inbred Difpofition it were impoflible to keep them under. They make After this Confpiracy every one betook hitnfelf to his Govern- rhemfeives nient, there being no more to poflefs themfelves of; the imprudent Curled by the King having given all away, even to his Perfon, which they fc ru . Mogul. pled not to Violate, Extinguilhing the very Lineage, or leaving them fo undefenceable, that they are only laid to be a petty Rajafhip in the Plain, and thereby eafily prevented to afpire to their Lawful Sovereignty ; the Supremacy being eftablilhed in their own Hands, and fhared to their mutual Contents, they took upon them without controul the Regal Dignity and Title of Pedejhaws, and exercifed their Functions very Amicably fome Years; and fo long they kept themfelves fafe enough from the Moguls, who began to make Inroads into their Country, without any notable Succefs, till they found means to make them break with Nijhmfbaw, who maintained the Frontiers againft them; for all that, he was befet afore and aban¬ doned behind, he held them play a long while; though by degrees the Moguh from without, and the perverfe remifsnefs of his own Sed at home, reduced him to that part of Duccan, the entire Con- quell of which the prefent Auren Zeeh finifhed (though unhand- fomely) he having been Hofpitably receiv’d when he came under Co¬ lour of a Fakier ,and a Banilhed Man from the Court at Jeneah ; where I faw the Ruins of a fumptuous Edifice Nifliamjbaiv Ereded for the prefent Emperor of the Moguls : The Reward which he gratified him with, was the Extirpation of the. Royal Race of the Ni/hau. (haws ; whofe Deltrudion the remaining Two may at leifure repent, "being thereby incapacitated to make Head againft the Mogul, maugre all their Forces; when before, Nijhamjhaw alone could wirhftand, and even Defeat his molt puiflant Armies; but fmce his downfal On the fill of they have enough to do to Guard themfelves. The Rajah's (the moft Powerful of whom fubfcribed to his Jurifdidion ) beginning ’ to fet up for themfelves; fo that the Two Kings of Piftafour and Gulconda are often left alone to endure the brunt, the Rajah’s coming in as they lift. For all that, what is left of Duccan under the King of Fiftapour, is ftill a fpaciousKingdom, reaching North to Jeneah, South to Porto Novo, bounded Eaft with Gulconda , Weft with the Ocean; though unfettled and ill Governed, whereby it is often diftreffed; but when it comes near to the uplhot, Gulconda puts in either as a Mediator, ' or an Affiftant with Men, (for which he pays dear if it be publickly, for then the Mogul turns his Arms on him ) or Mony he hel ps him to underhand; though he is mightily awed by the Mogul, fufferingthe MoguPs AmbalTador to refide at Court in quality of a Supervifor; who • Lords it without controul, caufing his Coin to be ftamped with his Mailer’s Infcription, his Subjeds Mulded and Sefled by his Impofi- tions; yet he is fenfible Ihould he feize Duccan, Gulconda would lofe the ftouteft Bulwark on that fide his Kingdom, which hath made him thefe Forty Years a firm Confederate to Fifiaj>our m , fometimes fending Pifcajhes of confiderable Value to Seva Gi and the Bordering Princes and Rajas to difturb the MoguPs Forces, other-whiles Hopping A Relation of the Canatick Country. \ 6 j Which are the Reafonsthe Mogul hath made no farther Progrefs How it comes of late Years, fatisfying himfelf to keep thefe Kingdoms in the na- ture of Vaffals, though never abfolutely Conquered • fruftrated fo father chiefly by the means of the Soldiery and great Omlrahs , who live progrefs in his Lazily and in Pay, whereupon they term Duccan, The Bread of the of Military Men: Or becaufe that he is never wholly at leifure to profe- cute thefe Wars himfelf, being always bufied in one place or another of more import, as lately againft the Patans, and now againft the . „ Ztsktjue tartars ; befides a vaft Army always upon the Marches of Perfia and Candahar ; fo that this huge Empire feldome has its Auxiliary Bands entire: However diftra&ed as they are, this flying Battalion would eaftly fuffice todifpatch thefe Two Kingdoms one after another, there being ready on the Confines of Duecan never lefs than Forty thoufand Horfe, befide Foot. Notwithftanding all thefe formidable Numbers, while the Generals and Vocanovices confult to deceive the Emperor, on whom he depends for a true ftate of tilings, it can never be otherwife but that they muft be mifreprefented, when the Judgment he makes muft be by a falfe Perfpe&ive; whereby it is apparerft on what Bafes thefe Kingdoms are fupported. Of the Government of Gttlconda fomething hath been fpoken al- The Govern, ready, it remains therefore to give an account of Duccan ; the fub- ment fiance of which is, that as the former was Modelled according to can ' the Policy of Indoflan , with this difference, Eunuch's wedded to their Matter’s Concerns, were promoted from the dregs of Slavery to Empire, fo here Cofferks at their firfl: arrival as Slavifh, are be¬ come as endeared to their Matter; who, as they Merit, have the firfl: places of Honour and Truft impofed upon them, with this Provifo, ever to be faithfully obliged to their Lord ; in which point {heir ap¬ proved Faith has rarely failed, Intereft teaching them to be true to him that raifed them; they thereby being liable to the envy of. thofe they are purpofely fet as a Checkmate to; for by their exalta¬ tion, the fwelling exorbitancy of other Princes is corre&ed, and they being only at the Will of their Matter, are tied to their good Behaviour. On the contrary, the Lords of Duccan are Born Princes, aflume The Honour from their Lands, have as perfed a Right to them as the me! ue Pm- King to the Kingdom, and defeend from Father to Son by Inheri- ces otn ‘ tance (though the Commons are as meer Slaves as any where in the Eafi befides, excepting none ); whereupon they grow Infolent anc) Stubborn, and are not fo eafily Bridled, as where the Rule is Arbitrary , and are only reftrained from Railing Men in the King’s Name and for his Ufe; but thefe make Peace and War, Build Forts, and fall out one with another, and with their Sovereign too at their own Pleafure; and hardly Unite, though a common necef- fity require; nay many times fide with the Enemy. However, when the King gets them in the Toil, they are treated as theydeferve; for he makes bold with their Heads, takes their Eftates wholly into his Cuftody and for his own Ufe, bellowing them on his Creatures, when Forfeited, making them underftand, . that i68 A Relation of the Qmmk-Country. Letter IV. that they are obliged by Fealty to follow his Command, as their Ihewing themfelves at Vifiapour in courfe to pay their Refpe&s de- monfirates; which yet of late they have done but remifly, making a Salam at Four or Five Courfe didance, and then accompanied in an Hodile mariner, as if coming to Befiege the City, more than to perform their Duty: For which they plead the King’s Minority, be¬ ing either Afraid, or too Proud to commit their Perfons, or give Ho-, mage to the Prote&or, being an Alien, and a Patan, who hath but lately wreded the Management of Affairs from the hands of Com Cam , to whom was intruded the Safeguard of the King and King¬ dom, by the Laft Will and Tedament of the Deceafed King, and (withmuch.ado) at length confirmed by and with the general Confentof the Duccannees ; he being from an HobfyCaphir made a free Denizen, and Naturalized by the precedent King (who only in this Nation arrive to great Preferments, being the Frizled Woolly, pated Blacks ) under the known ftile of Syddies ). Cm i, cam He, although an excellent Man of War, fubmitted himfelf too the Prote£br often to be overcome with Wine (than which among Mutfelm *Treatby aC nothing renders them more odious) and upon that fcore Pretences Buiiuicmn. were found to lay the blame of the Government, and the.Lofs of the Country, over-run by Seva Gi, upon his Head, together with other Diforders. Though the Tatan knew well his Commiffion was to put a flop to thofe growing Mifchiefs, and had he not been emu¬ lous of the other’s Charge, was Man enough to have deterred Seva Gi from his Attempts. But Ambition knows no mean, and therefore lets all to the hazard, rather than admit the Commands of a Supe¬ rior} wherefore he dands Idle, and dudiesonly how to difplace the other, which was effe&ed in a fmall time after his being called back. For he inviting Cowis Cam to a Treat, who fufpe&ing lead, when no¬ thing was pretended but Friend/bip, came with a flender Retinue, and taking off his Cups freely, fell dead drunk into the mercilefs Snare of his Enemy , who furprizing his Followers with izooo brave Tatans, made way into the Royal Caftle, where the young King became a Prey, the Cam firft a Prifoner, and then a Sacrifice to the Lull of theUfurper. onof'th Cefl; " And l ^‘ s * s t ^ le ^ um P re f ent Tumults of this Kingdom, Engsof * which at this jundure of time, in the face of a mighty Hod of the Kfuim:' Moguls, and the frequent Incurfions of Seva Gi from the Mountains on the other fide, befide the Civil Mutinies and Difientions within, to prevent ill confequences, calls for a skilful Pilot ; for it never, fince the primary defection of Add Cam , was in fuch danger, from whom to this prefent King, is tranfmitted the Stile of 1. Add Shaw: As Cafar to the Romans, or Pharaoh to the Egyptians. 2. Afoph Add Shaw. 3. BijfaAlab Add Shaw: 4. Ibrahim , Add Shaw. 5. Sultan Mahrnd Add Shaw.' 6 .,Alah Add Shaw. 7. Sdton Socodre Cauder. Add Shaw, Long A Relation of the CdmuchCountry. 169 Long controverted whether he fliould reign after his Father Alah Chap. IV. Ahl Shaw, it being bruited that Alah Add Sham was begotten by an Elephant-keeper , when the King’s c'noiceft Elephants were for¬ ced to be {tabled near the Womens Quarters, to hide them from the Mogttfc Ambafiador ( whom they dare not refufe any thing he begs in his Great Matters Name ), where one of them found the Conve- niency to defcend from the Trunk of his Elephant into the Queen’s Apartment, and get her a Son when the good Old King was paft his. Labour, and withal fhe fixed him upon the Throne: Which feme of . the IfTue of Sultan Mahmud enquiring into, made their Claim, and upon the expiring of Alah ftirred up Fa&ions, with hot Altercations on either fide; but were finally quelled by Cowls Cam, who conti¬ nued Sultan Socodre Caudre Add Shaw, till he was taken Prifoner and flain by Build Cam the Tat an, who may do now as he thinks fit, the Young King being fcarce Ten Years old. It was thought he intend¬ ed to have delivered both King and Kingdom to the Mogul ; but’tis believed as long as he can keep both for his own Ends, hewillnot. . He yet Salams to the King, and carries it fairly, endeavouring to mu cam win the Duccanees to a good Opinion of him, which they feem little keeps the King to regard, unlefs he would reftore theFortj' City, and Royal Perfon of the King, and diveft himfelf of his Power; all which he holds yet Hero-like, maugre all the Pra&ices of his Adverfaries; who now, as he hath attained the firft Place in the State, we therefore mutt reckon him the Chief Grandee or Prince of Duccan, imme¬ diately next the King. • . Build Cadi, General arid Prote&or. His Salary is 60 Lecgue of Pagods, xoooo Horfe, 100000 Foot out of the Kings’sDemefnes annually; befides Camels and Elephants equipped for Battel. Sergi Caut?s Country maintains 3006 Horfe and 10006 Foot, at ij Lecgue of Pagods per Annum. Sunda Rajas Pepper-Country is worth 30 L. P. but pays one half into the King’s Coffer, and now and then Seva Gt fhares with him; it maintains in good Pay 11000 Foot, and 3000 Horfe. Samba Gt Raja, Brother to Seva Gt, In Baligaot can raife 10000Horfe, andzooooFoot; worth 30 L. P. per Annum. Ekou Gt Raja, another of Seva Gi’s Brothers, Who is very felicitous with him to defift from his lewd Courfes of Z Robbing i jo A Relation of the C&nztichComtry. LetterIV. Robbing and Stealing, and content himfelf with his Purchafe; which he derides, and tells him he is no flowbelly, to defire to expire lazily on a Bed, rather than to meet his final Doom in the Field; and to fit down as he does, with io L.P. 2000 Horfe, and 8000 Foot. Sjddy Jore Maintained 2000 Horfe, 16000 Foot, 28 L. P. per Annum. Ruftam Gemma Was worth 30000 L. p. 10000 Horfe, 20000 Foot. Both thele outed by Seva Gi. Syddy -Maffute, 5000 Horfe, 10000 Foot, 20 L. P. A Potent and Eminent Member of the Realm. Sheke Minas in Baligaot, Enjoys large Poflefiions there, as does the Raja of Canora in Canon, The Members Seva Gi is reckoned alfo as a difeafed Limb of Duccan , impoflu- of mated and fwoln too big for the Body 5 in fome refpeds benefiting, in others difcommodingit; beneficial, byoppofing the Mogul’s Entry into the Kingdom,* but prejudicial in being his own Paymafter, rewarding himfelf moft unconfcionably ,* all Conchon being little enough for him, extending in Length along the Sea-Coafts, 2^0 Leagues, that is, from Balfore Hills to the River Gougole; where nei¬ ther is he limited in his extravagant Defires, expedingonly opportu¬ nity to gain further. Inland he hath not much, the Gaot feeming to be a Natural Line of Circurnvallation to the Up-Country, where it is Campaign, though below Hilly; fo that you afcend to it by Mountains piled on one another, over which SevaGi hath total Do¬ minion, the Duccanees not ftriving to retake any thing, for all he hath blocked up their Ports, which may prejudice them for the fu¬ ture ; an irreparable Damage, ( Aral Steeds being the Life of their Cavalry ); they having only Porto Novo beyond Tutticaree left them free. , Nor has he done this Injury to them alone, but the Mogul hath the fame meafure up as far as Surat ; fo that he enjoys them wholly, ex¬ cepting what the Portugals have, and the Englijh at Bomlaim; which are of no Import in refped of Trade, while the Capbalaes are him ' dred to pafs thofe Ways; of which did he know or confider the Ad¬ vantage, he might amafs greater Treafures than he purchafes by pil¬ laging and pilfering, and might come off with the Glorious Name of a Conqueror 5 whereas otherwife, following his barbarous Courfes of Fire and Sword, he merits no more than to be branded as a Thief: Witnefs thofe intolerable Cruelties, Devaftations, and De- ferts made by him every where in his Range up and down in^the MoguPs Territories, as well as in the Duccanean. ’T‘ s A Relation of the Camiick-Country. 171 °Tis undeniable he hath taken and maintains againft the Moguls Chap IV. Sixty odd ftrong Hills: But the Caufe is, the Moguls are unacquaint- ed with, and their Bodies unfit for fuch barren and uneafy Places j fo that they rather chufe to defert than defend them: Whereby it is Efficiently evident Seva Gi is unable in the Plain to do any thing but Rob, Spoil, and return with all the fpeed imaginable: And on that account it is Aurenzeel calls him his Mountain'Rat, with which the greateft Syftems of Monarchy in the World, though continued by an uninterrupted Defcent of Imperial Anceftry, .have ever been infefted, finding it more hard to fight with Mountains than Men. Thus it falls out here, by the like Chance as in mofl Conquefts, TheMoun- that though the major Part have fubmitted to their Vidorious taineeis in all Arms, yet fome out of Confidence in their.Strength, Reputation, or Fortitude, have been fo daring as to oppofe by openViolence or fe- out. cret Stratagem, the acquired Trophies of the Triumphing Party: As the Apennegeni did the Romans , and the Wild People about Taurus and Caucafus the Grecians} the Weljb , the Englijh ; the Highlanders, the Switz ; and as many as have been encouraged thereto by the inac- celfiblenefs of their FortrefTes, or the Difcontent of fome Great Ones to head them: From whence, though inconfiderable in them- felves, it is, that they prefume to boaft of their never being totally fubdued. Such are the Rajahs of the Mountains, the mofl: eminent among Sma Gi ra jf e s whom is Seva Gi, derived from an Ancient Line of Rajahs, of the himfeifonthe Caftof the.Bomceloes, a Warlike and. Adive Offspring: His Grand- j^s° fotlier father was'a Man in Efteem under Jdijham Shaw, whofe Name was Fangu Gi Rajah; his Father Shaw Gi Rajah was madeCommander by the lame King of Juneah Gur, where, upon that Rock his firft Wife brought forth the Obdurate Seva* Gi, his Eldeft Son, and Samba Gi, his Second ; by another Wife he had a Third Son, called Ekou Gi. Upon the Downfall of Nifiham Shaw, the Father and his other Sons lifted themfelves as Penfioners to the King of Vifiapour, where the Father was, and the Sons now are advanced to confiderable Em¬ ploys. Seva Gi could not be won upon, but fought to raifehimfelf by the Ruins of others, letting the lefler Lords at variance with their Prince, in whofe Quarrels he always made fure-of the upper Ground; wherefore his Father at his Death difmherited him, and inflated his youngeft Son Ekou Gi in the Rajahfhip of Benglure', a Starveling Ra- jahjhip, flnce it hath been harafs’d by the Troubles of Duccan, where he fits down quietly, whilft this Turbulent Young Man works him- felf into Greatnefs. At which the King of Vifiapour beginning to caft an Eye, finding The King of him afpiring, and intending to blaft him in the Bud, fent a Potent *'#./>»>»• fa- Army againft him, conduced by Abdul Cam , an Experienc’d Sol- g, us of ^ dier, yet outwitted by Seva G 't: For he underftanding of his having taken the Field, while the Main Body was yet at diftance enough, he fent to him flattering and feducing Meflages, intimating withal, if he would but flop his March, at an appointed Choultry out of fight of each Rendezvouz, he would meet him, and kifs his Feet; beg¬ ging that he would ad: the obliging Office of a Peacemaker between him and the King. Z 2 Abdul t'j’i A Relation of the CmmchComtry. Letter IV, Abdul Cam thinking no Iels than that he meant fincerely, conferit- Lrvvj e d, though advifed to the contrary by his Friends, ( whether out Sy toflTy- of: Superftition, as the dying of an Elephant, and other bad prefaging ing Abdd s Omens, or they doubting the Integrity of Seva Gi, I know not), but they could not prevail: At the Day prefixed therefore he tabes with him his Son and a feledted Number, which he credited would not be out-equalled by Seva Gi, upon his former Proteftations and Hopes of Reconcilement ; but the Perfidious Man had placed an Am- bufeado, and with a fmaller Shew in appearance than Abdul brought, waits his coming; who as foon as he fpied him afar off, went forth to meet him, and proftrates himfelf before him with feigned Tears, craving Pardon for his Offence, and would not rife till he had allured him of his being his Advocate to procure it: Going to enter the Choultry together, he cries out, like a fearful Man, That his Lord (fo he Ailed the Genera!) might execute his Pleafure on him,and eafe him of his Life; which Abdul Caun furmifing was becaufe he was armed, and the other came feemingly unarmed, delivered his Sword and Ponyard to his Page, and bad him enter with Courage; where after fome Parley he flips a Stiletto from under his Coat-fleeve, and then eying his Blow, ftruck it at his Heart, whereat the Signal was given, and his Men came forth, in which Scuffle Abdul’s Son gave Seva Gi a Wound, but was forced to change Habit with a Frafs im¬ mediately, and venturing through untrodden Paths hardly efcaped to the Camp, who thereupon werefodifeomfited, that they quickly difperfed themfelves, and left the Field open to Seva Gi. Whereupon Who, grown proud with this good Fortune, refolves not to return Difcomfiture * le ^ ^ c k ei * p Mala , one of their Wealthieft and Strongeft Ci- of the Army, ties; but finding it a Work not over-facile, they within, though and taking Pa- thinly Mann’d, being obftinate, he disbands therefore, under pretext !W of Ill Ufage, Seven or Eight Hundred of his Men, who prefently took their way to theGity, and offer their Service, complaining of Seva Gi as an Inhuman Butcherly Fellow, fome Marks of which they produced on thofe fuborned for that purpofe: The prefent Occafions -urging, and being willing to blind themfelves with the Improbability of its being a Cheat, they Within admitted them the City, but fo as for fome time they could-not put their Plot in execution, the Citizens watching at Night the Gates with their own Men,and difpofing them on the Walls and Out-pofts: But the Inhabitants taken up with their Delight more than Security,had peffer’d the Ditches withGardensand Trees,whereby on a Set Night,they on the Walls having fo contrived it, received their Friends ot the Camp under Covert of the Trees, and overpowering the Citizens, opened the Gates, whereupon the Enemy entred, and by this Treachery the City was gained for Seva Gij which he makes his Retreat, ordering thofe Trees to be cut down that were fo fatal to the former Pofleflors. Sm r b R T ' And now he f° ra g es r h e Country, and lays all wafte in his ty Perfidy™ e R° un d , till young Abdul was reinforced to revenge his Father’s - Death, and to join with another General Ruftam Gemma, with whom Seva Gi had been tampering; Such is the Covetous Nature of thefe people, that Money lhall corrupt the moll Loyal among them: Which made him when they were ready to give Battel, withdraw his Cavalry, A Relation of the Canatick-C onntry. i7 3 Cavalry, leaving young Ahdul and his Men to try it out with Sev .1 Chap. IV; Gi 1 whofe Force, though an Handful, fell bravely on, andfogauled v - / ~ v ~ SkJ SevaGi, that he wilh’d him well off; Ahdul crying out wherever he went, Thou Coward Seva, here am I; whereof though Seva had notice, he avoided him, faying, He was a Rajh Touth, letfomehody elfe kill him He made through his Army two or three, times in Per* fon till being fired he was fain to leave off, and fpeed to Fiftapour, to complain of Rujlams Falfhood: Upon this Ruftanrs Horfe disband* ed, feme choice Friends only going over with him to Seva Gi, advi- ■ fing him to follow his Blow, and fet upon Fiftapour its fe'lf, which he did; and had not Syddy Jore come to its Relief with a vaft Recruit, he had not only attacked, but carried it. Then it was time for Seva to retire to Panala , W here being long s™.i !m detained by Syddy Jore’s lying before it, at length ( as ’twas thought) through the Connivance of the faid Syddy , he ftole out by Night; phammd. and by a falfe Pharmond takes the Syddy’s Town of Rajapour , pre¬ tending the Syddy was to furrender it in exchange for Panala. After which the Syddy reforts to Fiftapour to his Mailer, who bore s y Uy jore his Difguft for letting the Traytor go, under a ferene Countenance, ” ut df and difmifs’d him withThanks: But having made Bullul Cam Com* Ihf cJL mander in Chief,, he difpatches him after the Syddy, who being wa¬ ry and doubtful of the King’s Intentions, had provided to ftand to it, putting Bullul Caun to Flight: Whereupon begins another Civil Dif- cord ; the King in Perfon refolves to bid at his Head, which other- ' wife by the clandeftine Practices of Bullul Caun was hoped to be at- chieved, as it proved, he doing that by Fraud he could not do by Force: For the Night after both Armies were in view, the Omrahs on the Syddy s fide.forfook him,and he was (lain,and his Head brought to the King, without any more Strokes fought; fuch deadly Venom bears Secret Malice and Hellilh Infinuation. This ftill makes for Seva Gi, for he was not able to cope with him fingly; wliich Impediment thus lopped off to his hand, he feizes at leifure fmaller Places, as Dan de Rajapour , whofe Prince fueth for Prote&ion to the Mogul , being beaten out of all but his Strong Ca- llle at Dan de Rajapour, environ’d about by the Sea, but within Shot of the Main, which Seva with a great Effort has lain before thefe fif¬ teen Years: The Mogul fuccouringit by Sea, it derides the Batteries of his Artilleries; and thefe are the Fleets wearefo often troubled with at Bomlaim. In this Juncture of Affairs the King dies, and leaves a Babe to The King of difpute for the Throne; when Seva Gi enlarges himfelf, flies out as far viji^ur dies, as Surat, and comes home with Rich Booty; which hapned prefently after the Emperor of the Moguls was warm in his Seat ( by the Over¬ throw of his Brethren, and the Death of his Father Shaw Juan, by his Intereft on Raja Jejfeign ); who defirous to try if by Kindnefs he could reclaim this famous Rebel, allures him to Court ( Faith being plighted for his Safety), whereIhortly after, the Outcries of the Women in whofe Kindred’s Blood his hands were imbrued, made him Ihift for himfelf in an Hamper on a* Porter’s Back, which palled the Guards among many other, which were forced to be fent as Pifcafhes to his Friends, as the manner is when under Confinement: With this i 74 A Relation of the Canatick-Country. Letter IV. Slight he got away ( not without the Mogul’s Privity ), and ’tis be- \S~V~u jieved wiil hardly venture to Ay a again, unlefs better guarded. For this he made a fecond Rape on Surat, and now lately has ta¬ ken the Rajahjhip of Rbamnagur, though he had hi ft fpread himfelf more South, even to the Walls of Goa, from whence he Aided to the Borders of the Canatick and Sunda Rajah's Country: His Chief Reft- dence is at Rairee, where he bids Defiance to the Emperor, Gulmia, Duccan, Portugueze, and all the World; magnifying himfelf in his Strong-Holds; inftalled Man Rajah Two Years fince, when I fenc you a Journal of an Englijh Gentleman’s, fent Ambaflador to him at that time: His Mother was then alive, to whom he (hewed Filial Obedience: He is married to Four Wives, to whom he keeps reli- gioufly, being a ftriQ: Obferver of his Heathen Rites. WsSoldiers He fways by Brachmins ; his Soldiers are Hardy Brave Fellows, hlrd y- fit for the Mountains; 30000 Horfe is the moft he can make, Foot innumerable. - Merchants have little Countenance from him: Of the Common People he fays, Money is inconvenient for them ; give them Vittuals mi an Arfe-Clout , it is enough. They tell their Tale in Moratty ; by Pro- feflion they are Gentues ; fome few Moors are among them; Whores and Dancing Wenches he allows none in his Army: This Barhritm Commander being like the Scythian Ateas, who hearing one fweetly modulating on an Ifmean Pipe, fwore he had rather hear the neighing of an Horfe, or the Clangor of Horns or Trumpets. At Sea he is no ftronger than his Neighbours; once he went Admiral of his Fleet of Grobs and Boats, againft Dan de Rajapore, but Storms arifing dif- hearten’d him for a fecond Adventure. The Kingdom of Vifiapour. The King not ' Although it be Hereditary, and not Ele&ive, yet it comes neared Abfolute. i t at prefent, fince the remaining part of the Duccan Kingdom is dwindled into it, and fome more Southern have withdrawn, and the reft at Pleafure only own .themfelves Members thereof; itmuft bor¬ row the Compofition of thefe feveral difagreeing ones to make it bear the Port of a Kingdom. For when entire, it was of large Extent, taking in the Zamerhin and Malahars ; and while the Three Chius Moors reprefented the An¬ cient Geron ; where for the common Safety, if any Part were af* flkfted, every Member ran to the Succour of the other, as if it were * to their peculiar Tranquility; their Counfels one, their Minds one, their Defignments one ; their Dominions flouriihed, and every one owned Subje&ion, and held their Provinces as Vaflals to the fame Monarch : When that Band was loofed, they were' broken with more eafe; Duccan is loft already, Vifiapour feems de¬ clining, Seva Gi’s Example putting others on to un-yoak themfelves; fo that as yet no Tye is ftrong enough to reduce them to their for¬ mer Temper. The Dmtmms Whereupon it is clear the Duccanees are a Warlike and Trouble- of a reftiefs f ome Nation, apt to diflike Government, Proud and Brave, haying emper ‘ an Army more iplendid than the Mogul’s ; adorning their Elephants, Horfes, A Relation of the Canatick -Country. 17 5 Horfes and Lances with Silver Bells and Feathers, Gallant and Rich Chap. V. in Apparel and Sumbrero’s : The People Swarthy or Olive ; of all — Religions. The Country Fruitful, Rich, and Campaign , unlefs it be near theSea-Coaft, where the Mountains are bled with Woods and Cattel, the Valleys with a bountiful Increafe of Rice and Coco-Nuts, with ftore of Rivers both Frelh and Salt j though thefe Hilly People are of a rougher Temper, more Hardy, and lefs addicted to the foft Vanities of Mufick, Cloathing, Pomp, or Statelinefs, being all Naked Starved Rafcals; Seva GPs Men thereby being fitter for any Martial Exploit, having been accuftomed to Fare Hard, Journy Fail, and take little PJeafure. But the other will mifs of a Booty rather than a Dinner; muft mount The Diffe- in ftate and have their Arms carried before them, and their Women « nc ^«'veen not far behind them, with' the Matters of Mirth and Jollity; will pie and the* 0 ' rather exped than purfue a Foe ; but then they ftand it out better - PIa 'n for Seva Gi’s Men care not much for a pitched Field, though they Country ‘ are good at Surprizing and Ranfacking ; yet agree in this, that they are both of ftirring Spirits. The Language of Viftapour is peculiar. Cities of Note in this cities, Matts, Kingdom, bear commonly the Names of their Grandees: Mart- and Ports. Towns are Hubly, Rabag, and Huttany. The King’s Sea-ports Gullean, Bimly, Blocked up by the Portugah ; Rajapour , Dabul, Vingula , Carwar, which is Seva Gi’s; the relt are Poflefled by the Malabar Raja's round to, Porto Novo , which only is properly the King’s; whofe Revenues are very large, though not computed by common Rumour as the others are. • C H A P. V. Shews the Pleafure and the ProduB of the Woods : The People bewitched to Idolatry ■ the Sottifhnefs of the Atheifl. 1 am fent for to Bombaim ; afterfome endeavours to go thither , and fame time fpent at Goa, am forced to Winter at Carwar, and then 1 return to Surat. T H E Exercifes here are common with India , only Cock- Fighting 5 for which Sport they have a Breed of Cocks as big asTurkies; which they Arm with Razors tied flat under their Claws, and faulched Two Inches inftead of Gavelocks, with which they flafh one another Mortally; fo that theDifpute endures not long, for moft an end the firft or fecond Blow decides it. For our own Diverfion here we had none befides Shooting, in Diverfion , which we fpent fometimes a whole Week in the Woods and Rivers fides; for if we expeded Flefh, or Fowl, we muft take Pains for it; no Beef being to be Bought here, though up the Country from the Moors we could; fo that our ufual Diet was ( befides plenty of FimJ Water-Fowl, Peacocks, Green Pidgeons, fpotted Deer, Sa¬ bre, * j6 A Relation of the Canatick -Country. Letter IV. bre, Wild Hogs, and fometimes Wild Cows. Going in queft where- '-''V'w of, one of our Soldiers, a Youth, Killed' a Tigre-Royal; it was A Tigre Kii- brought home by Thirty or Forty Comlies , the Body tied to a long Dil ' Bamboo, the Tail extended; fo they brought it to the Houfe, where we faw ’twas Wounded in Three Places, one through the Head with Two Bullets, another through the Body Hinting up to the Shoulders, a Third in the Leg.; it was a Tigre of the Biggeft and Nobleft Kind, Five Feet in Length belide the Tail, Three and art half in Height, it was of a light Yellow, ftreaked with Blach, like a Tabby Cat, the Ears Ihort, with a few Briftles about the Lips; the Vifage Fierce and Majeftick, the Teeth gnalhing, Two of which fhe brake againft the Stones for anguilb, the Shoulders and Fore-legs thick and well fet, the Paw as Large us the biggeft Lift ftretched out, the Claws thick and ftrong. The Bby Shot it in the Night from a Choufe, or Efiarzo, as it came to Drink, fuppofing it to have been a Deer; the firft Shot was that under the Shoulder, which made her Spring Three times an incredible Height,at the laft of which fhe fell into the Choufe from whence flie faw the Flalh, where with the Englifh Boy were a Comby, and a Comhy Boy of Eight Year old, afleep a little on one fide; (he pawed the Straw with her Feet, while all but the Child afleep fled; but being wrung ■ by her Pain, fhe foon left the place with an horrible Noife that made the Woods tremble, all which awaked not the Lad, nor had it any Harm. In this interval, the Englifb Youth Charged again with a couple of Slugs, and tracing the Blood, as fhe was making at him, difeharged through the Brain-pan, at which fhe was quiet; but to make fure, he made another fliot at her, which he believed was that in the Leg: All this time the Moon was Obfcured and Cloudy; the Comby that had left him and his Son, at length came with a many more, calling Fringi, the Term they have for Europe- Men and Franks ; the Boy was walking about, fearing to venture within reach, till at laft laying ’ afide his weli-advifed Sulpicion, he approaching, found the Terror of the Wood,Slain. b'n'nd^h Difrobed of its Royal Hide, Two Bones of the Bigriefs and Figure sSteim- a Levator, prefented themfelves to our view, that had no Connexi- merfedinthe on with the other Bones, but wholly immerfe4in the Flefli per (y Fidh. farcafin, in the ends of each Pe&oral, and the Three’circumducing Mufcles, towards the joining of the Shoulder-blades, and the upper Bones of the Fore-feet, commonly called Shoulder-bones; of thefe there goes a Story handed by Tradition, as that Licking the Right Shoulder it appeafes Hunger, the Left it whets it where thefe Bones lie; but probable enough it is, that Nature added thefeforits greater Strength; The Entrails were little variable, but the Heart was mighty, and the Liver (they fay) had as many Lobes as that was Years old, which were Six and an half, like to a Foxes. The Cbflom The Chief, to encourage the Lad, told him, That though he were * ° 0 nm°enf ! 3 B °y> he had done a Manly A&ion, and therefore according to the AQion. Cuftom of the Country, in prefence of all his Admirers, he plucked off his own Coat, which was Venetian Cloath of Silk and Silver, and gave it him. The Great Ombrahs always do the like upon any hazardous . Atchievments, A Relation of the Q^mivck-Comfry. lyy Atchievments, and if Wounded, throw them their Safhes and Pa- Chap. V. menus to Bind them up, and Cover them, though never fo Rich: Having likewife another Cuftom among them, to Cloath the Gun with Scarlet that has made any notable Breach, Slain any great Sol¬ dier, or done any extraordinary Feat. It is memorable what is attefted, by thefe Woodmen, of the Tigre, MonIdes the that when he intends to Prey on the Monkies ( with which thefe common Re- Woods abound) he ufes this Artifice or Stratagem; the Monkies at ^ftofthe his firft approach give warning by their confufed Chattering, and im- lgte ‘ mediately betake themfelves to the highefl and fmalleft Twigs of the Trees; when the Tigre feeing them out of his reach, and fenfible of their fright, lies Couchant under the Tree and then falls a Roar¬ ing, at which they trembling let go their hold, and tumbling down he at leifure picks them up to fatisfy his Hunger: They-are his ac- cuftomed Repaft, feldom making Man his Meal, and they are judged (as St. Paul’s Barbarians, did him ) guilty of fome horrid Crime that fuch Vengeance' overtakes; the Woods and Mountains yielding them variety of other Food. The Tigre is dull Scented, and not long Nimble, Three Leaps Tiring him, otherwife it’s probable he would make morehavock than he does. The She brings forth but once in Twelve Years, and then but a Angle Cub; they are Ingend- ring Three Months, in which time their Fury as well as Lull rages upon one another ; thus has Providence fupprefled the Growth of this mafterlefs Creature: Befides, if the Proverb be true, the Bitch - brings forth but once in her life, or very rarely more; Iteraius baud partus leaem amtigit , notwithstanding '/Elian fays otherwife in his 4 lib. de Hifiorill Animalium. The moft frequent -in thefe Woods are the lefler fort of Tig'res fpotted like a Leopard ; thefe are Cruel and, Ravenous, but more Fearful than the others are; that Monkies are their Food, the very Ordure declares fcattered up and down, where is vifible the fhagged Coats or Hair of. tjiefe Creatures. Many of thefe Apes fell by our hands, either for being noify and Apes.Anato- impertinent fpoiling our Game, or provoking us by their conftant purfuingus, being of the.largeft fize, upon which account many came under my Knife •; opening them I found and obferved their fe- minary Veflels turgid, their Virge White and Nervous. To Kill one of thefe the Natives hold Piacular, calling them Half Men, faying, once they were Men, but for their Lazinefs had Tails given them and Hair to cover them: Towards'2«/v« they are Deified; at the Straits of Baligaot they pay them Tribute. Bamboos make the grofs of the Woods, which are High, Taper- Bamboos, jng, Thorny Trees, incumbred from the Roots with abundance of fhrubby ones, the Bark Green and jointed with the Wood, the Branches are Tapering and inclining, fending from every Joint fprouts of the fame form, leafed like-long Five-fingered Grafs, the Body is thick and ftrait; their ufe is for Staffs, Poles, or Rafters for Houfes, and Fences; being flit they are hollow and ferve for Laths. Thofe they carry their Palenkeens on, require an exad attend¬ ance, Shaping them while Young and Tender, and taking care to keep them growing in that Pofition; Cut and Pickled they make A a good 17 8 A Relation of the Ganatick Country. Letter IV. good Achar: Bamboos are fo general, that by way of Excellency they call all Sticks and Canes, Bamboos; the Woods are over-grown with them ; for which reafon often impaffable. Cajjjft Bjiuk. I travelled to the Tops of the Hills for the Caffia Fiflula Tree whofe Trunk is but flender, but Tree tall, leafed moft like an Alii’ with fmall Veins, and the Caffia hanging down in long Green Canes or Cods, in manner of its Keys betWjeen the tender Nodes, by the Natives called Stnga. Et Lolel Siliqua, aut Caffia purgatrix Aralum Carolis fimilis. c#> Lignum. In the Groves about Carwar grows Caffia Lignum, Xylo-Caffia, or Baftard Cinamon; the Trees are large as a Pear-Tree,, a Leaf of the like bignefs, but ribbed like our Plantain, the main Bark and Body like other Trees, of no different Smell or Tafte till dried, when it bites, and fmells Spicy; the Leaf bruifed and chewed fmells like ftrong Cinamon, and upon the Tongue is as hot as a Clove; the Bark of the fmall Branches alfo when Green alters nothing in Tafte from Cinamon, but dried is more flimy, and is very good Caffia Lig¬ num: It bears little longWhitifh Flowers, of no Smell nor Take, but the Leafs of the Branch that bear them have a more Aromatick Tafte.- The Thma- The Thamarind Tree hath a fmall Leaf like a Vetch, bears the rmd Tree.j p ru i t j n a Qjjj jjk ea p rm h- Bean, wherein is the Pulp, inclofing the Stones and Fibres; it is a great fpreading Tree, the Body thick, the Bark rough and brownilh, bears its Fruit in March ; the Indians feed on it, and grow Fat with it; they have not the Art to preferveit with. Sugar, but Salt it up: This is Siliqua Aralica too, but not Ni¬ gra, as the Caffia Fiflula is. The Indian Teke by the Portugueze, Sogrnn by the Moors, is the firmed Wood Oak- they have for Building, and on the account it refills Worms and Pu¬ trefaction, the belt for that purpofe in the World; in Height the Lofty Pine exceeds it not, nor the Sturdy Oak in Bulk and Sub- fiance; the knotty Branches which it bears aloft, fend forth Green Boughs more pliant, in Form Quadrangular, fed within by a Spongy Marrow or Pith, on which at the Joints hang broad, thin, and po¬ rous Leafs, fending from the main Ribfome Fibres, winding and fpreading like a Fan. This Prince of the Indian Foreft was not fo attra&ive, though mightily glorious, but that at the fame time 1 was forced to take notice of the creeping Cow-Itch, raifing its felf upon the Shrubs and Under-woods, there fpending in Jafcivious Twines its Verdure, leaving nothing but withered Stalks to be the Props of its brindled Offspring, which is a fmall Cod covered with a light and tickling Down; within, it includes in four Cavities, four fpecked Beans; the fallen Leafs makefome appearance of a Nobler Stock, having a Countenance like thofe of Lawrel; the Root is dif¬ ficult to find, being mixed among other Trees, like our White Briony. Nun Vomica. Here grows Nux Vomica on a Tree of indifferent'bignefs, in a round Shell as bigas an Orange, filled with White Pulp, where the Nuts are lodged Near the Sea grow Squills, or Sea-Onions, as alfo a Species of Sarfaparilla, with which they do great Feats with the Juice of the Leafs in Venereal Cafes. ft A Relation of the Canacick -Country, In their Fields they plant, befides Rice, Nucherp , a fmall Seed they make Bread of,. as alfo Cufkcufh, which is Millet, Hemp, and Flax : In the Inclofures fumerick, which rifes with a broad Leaf like our Water Plantain, bearing a broad flaggy Leaf of a Span long, oblique¬ ly ribbed till it end in a Spear-Point at top; it proceeds immediately from the Root by a winding Stalk, which the main Leafs embrace, the other Leafs creeping through it till it rifes SixFoot. Ginger comes up like our Gentian; they pickle it well, but cannot preferve it with Sugar. Potatoes are their ufual Banquet. And to give the Soil its due Praife, it obeys in all things the firft Commandment, Increafe and Multiply. For thefe Bleffings, as if Men were to lofe their Reafons, and fink below Brutes by a bafe.Superftition, they are ready to acknowledge a Stock for a Deity, rather than to go without, infatuated by the- Delufions of the Devil, being captivated at his Will; for which caufe they not only make Oblations to him, but give up their Souls and Bodies to his Devotion: As might about this time have been be¬ held at an Idol Worlhipof Priapus, (where the Women proftitute themfelves to him, and receive the Pleafure of Copulation, all that while being as it were poffeffed ) at Semi far, on the other fide of the Water from our Houfe, where he lay with Two and twenty,' who reckon it a great Honour, and the Husband thinks himfelf happy iri his Cornucopia. There are a fort of Jougies , Priefts. fit for fuch a God, among the Linguits of this Country, who pradtife this daily; the Husbands entertain them courteoufly, wafh their Feet, and the whole Family is at his Beck, as long as he flays to do the Wife a Rindnefs. Others flafh themfelves with fharp Knives, amffuffer themfelves to be hooked by the Mufcles of the Back, and hang fo fome Hours upon a Vow. Under the Banyan Tree, an Altar with a Dildo in the middle being ere&ed, they offer Rice and Cocoe-Nuts to the Devil* and joining fome fmall Ladders together made of Ofiers, do the like; when the Gotncar or Bayliff of the Town takes a falched Knife for Sacrifice in one Hand, and a DunghilCock in the other, and cutting off its Head, fixes it at top of the Ladder, and fprinkling the Blood they all dance, and beat Brafs Pots with a great Shout, faying, The Devil mufl he pacified with Blood, God with Prayers. Some of thefe fell themfelves to Wickednefs* and thefe mufl be endued with the Spirit of Fafcination, always nourifhing a Familiar in their Families, which they keep moftly in the forms of Snakes or. Serpents, appearing to. them upon their Command;.and undergo fiery Affli&ions to have the moft hurtful Devil; anias they wreak their Malice more powerfully , efteem themfelves more in favour with their Grand Matter; Thefe are the Dregs of the People, who are full of Envy and Ill Defigns, who glory in their Shame of In¬ cantations and Charms: Such as thefe are thofe that out of Fear pray to the Devil and Evil Spirits, faying, God will do them no harm: The better fort acknowledge a God, and live in the Rules of them Tribes, abftaining from Flelh, and all things of a Senfitive Beings A a % Sic I 79 Chap. V. AFeafto'f The Dregs of the People ufe Charms, or think they do i8o A Relation of the Canatick -Country, Letter IV. Sicuti Pythagorici, qui berlis © bellariis tantum vivelant : And thefe Patronize thefe more Innocent Rites,fuch as the Swains asking Advice of their Deities about Increafe; and to that end offer Rice, Oyl, and Cocoe-Nuts in a thick Grove, where they piled an huge Heap of long Jars like Mortivans, about Figures refembling Serpents, before which they prefent their unbloody Sacrifice by the Prieft, the Peo. pie circling the whole Grove in a Ring, beating on Brafs Inltru- ments, and Ihouting. Their Sactl- 1° their Hooly, which is at their other Seed-time, I obferved they fice for the* cut a whole Tree down to the Roots, and lopped off the under- Fields. Branches till it became ftrait, when leaving the upper Boughs, they Ihoulder’d it with great Clamours, the Brachmin beginning a Note which they all followed: Thus they brought it into the Pale of their Pagods, before which, eafing it down at one end, the foremoft madea Salam, and hoifted.it with the fame Noife again, and about they went three or four times repeating the fame; which being finilhed, the Jrch-Brachmin digs an hole, and baptizes it with Holy Water, where¬ in they fix the Tree, crowning it with Flags aloft, and about the Bo- dy up to the Green Boughs they bind Wifps of Straw, to which they put Fire, and look earneftly on the Flame, according to the Afcentof which the Brachmin pronounces his Auguries; then they offer Rice and Flowers, painting their Bodies with the Allies, depart¬ ing with a Mace of Flowers carried before them, beating of Drums and a great Noife. This refembles the Amhar vallis hoflia , or Sa¬ crifice for the Fields ; of which fee Scaliger, and alfo Virgil, terque tievas circum fcslix fuit hojliafrages. But to be clear, f§ut FamaadliquUumproducatur, let us confide, Wretchredo that thefe Underlings of the People that do thefe Services to the work by the Devil, or are faid fo to do, may be afperfed : For the Brachmins, and DevH, or no. other the Purer Sort, as they account themfelves, may defame them only, becaufe Ihedding of Blood is horrible to them, and therefore Diabolical: Befides, thofe Difeafes that are faid to be Devils put into one another, ( which as many as I have met with, I have been cu- rioufly inquifitive of) their Phcenomenaes or Energies are difcuffed by Natural Caufes, and as often cured by Natural Means; but on the contray, it is allowed where they refill them, it is fufpicious: And the Devil without doubt cannot eafier work on any, than the Weak and Simple, (wherefore he chofe the Woman { not the Man } and upon that account may probably delude and overawe thefe People, that give themfelves up to him wholly out of Fear, having notfo much Virtue, Fortitude, and Cunning, to refill and check their own Lulls, as the Wifer fort. As for the vifible appearance of a Devil or Daemon (which they fay is common among them, by thofe that fee it) I am convinced it may be credible,- but in the mean . while, Rage and Melancholy Madnefs, aflifted by the Infernal Pow-. er, may create great Illufions to a Fancy fitted for fuch an Opera¬ tion, and they may think they fee things which in reality are not fo. Now as thefe, by the low and mean Conceptions they have of a x Godhead, reach not the great Branch of its Omnipotency and Good- nefs, A Relation of the Qamtkk-Couritry. 181 nefs whereby it is able to defend them from all Aflaults and Wilinefs Chap. V. of the Devil, depreffing their Underftandings, bow under the in- tolerable Yoakof his Slavery; fo there are a. fort of fublimated w,t as much Wits, that will.own neither God nor Devil, and put all things upon inthewrong Chance fo long, that the very Notions they framed to themfelves, ^thedeptef- after beating of the Air, fly out of their Giddy Heads in Fumo. Let them place themfelves under the /Equator, where the Sun is at pre- fent, and take a Profped on each hand of the Orderly Courfe of the Creation; How hepafles the Ecliptick, and difpenfes his Irradiations as far as either Pole: How within the Tropicks, entring.the firft De¬ gree of the Ram till the fecond Degree of Taurus , it is Summer; that is, from January till the One and twentieth of March ;when the Woods are moft denuded of their old Leafs by the parching Heat of the Sun, though new ones fucceeding, the Trees keep their , perpetual Verdure; yet thefe lying on the Ground, makes this time then the moft like Autumn of any till the Rains fall; which while the Sun is over their Heads make their Winter; till which come, it would be unfufferable living here, did not the Variable Winds ga¬ ther the Clouds toobfcure the Sun: After the Rains, follows their Spring, when by reafon of the Remotenefs of the Sun it is moft pleafant living. Thus truly might Ovid be deceived, whilft he only reafoned, and not experimented, when he fang of the Zones and the Climes: ZJtque dues dextrh Coslum totidemque finiftrb Parte fecant ‘Zonce, quinta eft ardentior Hits. Sic onus ihclufum numero diftinxit eodem Cura Dei, totidemque plagce tellure premuntur , Quarum quee media eft non eft habitalilis teftu. But what Colour is therefor the Ignorance of our Atheiftical Young NoEw(;onfor Gallants? Certainly none: Would they abate fo much time from li- theAtheift. ving, as to fee and confider an admirable and well-contrived Provi¬ dence, and not to harp too much on Gafualty; which I am confi¬ dent their own Logicians would hifs at as an Abfurdity, to fay, That fuch an exadt Progrefs and Obfervance ever fince the Frame of Na¬ ture was inftituted, fhould continue fuch an unalterable Decorum on thefe Four great Anniverfary Wheels, fitly adapted to every Climate; or that they firft proceeded from a Bundle of Nonfenfical Fortuitous Atoms conjoined into an Hodg-Podge of confufed Nothings. For' the very Matter being Chance, would without doubt produce a rare Stability for the Impreflions of any Forms, but what muft be blowed out of as idle Chimeras. I could wilh therefore, fuch bold Difputes being waved, they would confefs an All-Wife Creator and Preferver of Heaven and Earth; unlefs they will verify the Proverb, Atheus eft talpade die cacutiens, Rationi autem paretqui Religionem feilatur: The Atheift is a Mole, being blind at Noon-day; the Man that adores God, and follows Religion, is the only Mafter of his Rea¬ fon. Which made Cicero profefs in Lil.x. Divinat. EJfe preeftantem aliquam aternamque Naturam, & earn fufpkiendam adorandamque, ho- minum genus car deque rerum Caleftium cogit confiteri. Et in Nat. Deor. Lib. z. Quid poteft ejfe tam apertum tamque 'perfpicmm, cum Ccelum fufpeximus - 18 2 A Relation of the Camtick-Country. Letter IV. fafpexirntts Cisleftiaque conternplati fiimus, quam aliquodejfe numen pr®. ftantijfwue mentis , quo bac reguntur? I am rent for The Deputy-Governor of Bombaim being Tick, the Pbtenix- Ketch to Bmhim. was ordered to bring me up to that Ifland; wherefore the 6 th of April, 1676. I took my leave of Carwar , which hath no peculiar Commodities or Manufactories of its own ProduCt, but lies conve¬ niently for the Markets of Pepper, Beetle-Nut, or Arrach; Cloath as Potkaes, Suffaguzes, from Httlly, fix days Journy hence; Dia’ monds from Pifiapour , ten days Journy: But the Fadory decays, by reafon of the Embroils of the Countrey, Merchants being out of heart to buy or fell: Here are good Returns to be made from this Port to Perfia, and back again ; as likewife from Mocha , from whence are brought Horfes for War. All Butchers The Variable Winds kept us fix days before we could reach Got, Fiefhforbid- though but twelve Leagues: At the City all Butchers Meat is for- the Hefts'ex" bidden, except Pork, upon account of the Heats, which afford not cept Pork! much Suftenance for'the Cattel; and the approaching Rains, which robs them of that little Fiefh they retain, and fcours them to mere Carrion: Wherefore the Religion of the Indians has enjoined them the moft Healthy Rule to avoid Sicknefs, the forbidding them to eat- Fiefh, than which nothing now can be more prejudicial. At this time the Citizens remove moftly to their Aldeas, the Air of Goa being lefs temperate than the Fields and open Bays. Mangws good The.Difeafes here are Epidemical, unlefs Plagce Veneris be more to cleanfe the Endemial, for which at this Seafon they have a Noble and Familiar Blood ' Remedy, the Mango ( which they have improved- in all it kinds to the utmoft Perfection) being a Sovereign Medicine; they are the beft and largeft in India, moft like a Pear-Plum, but three timesas big, grow on a Tree neareft a Plum-Tree; the Fruit when Green feents like Turpentine, and pickled are the beft Achars to provoke an Appetite; when Ripe, the Apples of Hifperides are but Fables to them ; for Tafte, the Netftarine, Peach, and Apricot fall fhort; they make them break out, and cleanfe the Blood, and Salivate to the height of Mercurial Arcanaes; and afterwards fatten as much as Antimony, or Acorns do Hogs; thefe and Sarfa being their ufual Diet. c ht,-u[es. Cherufes grow on a Tree whofe Branches fend forth a Stone firft, like a Bean, whofe Meat or Kernel when Green taftes like a Walnut, roafted, like a Chefnut; the Fruit follows, large and of a fine Co¬ lour, fquafhy, of a better Relifh than Smell, the Leaves Oval and Succulent. Annuss, or The Fruit the Englijh call a Pine-Apple (the Moors , Ananas) Pine-Apple, becaufe of the refemblance, cuts within as firm as a Pippin; Seedy, m?red°for d " ^ not r ?P e 5 the Tafte inclinable to Tartnefs, though moft ex* Tafte. cellently qualified by a dulcid Sapor that impofes upon the Imagina* tion and Guftative Faculty a Fancy that it relifhes of any Fruit a Man likes, and fome will fwear it: It grows on a thick Stalk like an Artichoke, emitting a Tuft of Leafs upon the Crown ; the Leafs a-kin to a Carduus Afwinus ( as has been partly related already) 5 the Juice will corrode any Iron or Knife, like Limon. The A Relation of the Canatick Country. l8 3 The Eleventh of May, being ftilf Wind-bound, I received a cour- Chap.V. teous Invitation to return to Carwar ; but I could not be diverted till UTVV the Full Moon had paffed with Rain, Clouds, and Thunder'; . Jamque erat in.tot as fparfurus fulmina terras. When the Current changed, with which were brought innumerable Shoals of dead Fifh; the Toddy worked on the Tree over the Pots, the accuftomed Forerunners of the Rains, but hitherto fallible ; which is a wonder even to the Country-People; though our Pilots have obferved an unwonted Deviation thefe two or three Rains to¬ gether. The Nineteenth an Exprefs coming from the Chief of Carwar, That a Gentleman there being almoft defperate, importuned my Afliftance, and I fearing to Winter here, for Expeditenefs chofe a Balooh, though he had lent Horle and Peons, in cafe I could not ac¬ quire one; and the next day by Two in the Afternoon I returned to Carwar Houfe, though two days after the Winds fet in Southward to¬ gether with the Rains, when the Ketch fet fail for Bomhaim, with a great Fleet of Grots to the North. It is the Frefhes from the Up¬ lands that kills and fickens the . ' And now the Rains invade all India, which puts a flop to all Journying and Voyaging, as well as Warlike Preparations, Afpera turn pofitis mitefcunt fecula lellis. Till St. Francis's Moon in Augufl, when the Earth is difcovered, and the Rice begins to ripen, which all this while floated in Water, which it rejoices in; and this is the firft Harveft; for it is to be under¬ load this World produces two Harvefts; this molt natural and un- compell d, becaufe of the Rain; the other about March, with great pains of bringing Water by Gutters to their fown Fields, which not- withftanding yields not fo plentiful a Crop as the firft, which this Year increafes vaftly ; but the misfortune is, three quarters of the Land lies unmanured, through the Tyranny of Seva Gi. OMer the Seventeenth l bad a final Adieu to Carwar, and em¬ bark’d in the Berkly-Caftle with Mr. Oxendine, who was called up to fecceed Mr. Gyffard , the deceafed Deputy-Governor of Bomhaim: Coming again to Goa l lodged at the Houfe of a French Phyfician in the Camp of St. Thomas, which the City overlooks in the fame manner Old Rome did the Martian Vale. I few there an unfinifhed Piece of the St. Thomas Chriftians, but the Troubles of their Prince called them back before it could be per- fe< 2 ed; others fay prevented in it by Thunder and Lightning. The great Traders of this Place for Diamonds are the two Martins, both Jew S) yet to carry on their defigns permitted to live as Chriftians, they conftantly frequenting Mafs, and at Table every Meal during our Stay had Hogs-flelh ferved up. We left Goa on the Eve of St. Xeverius’s Feaft; the Tomb there- lore was richly fet.out; and as Erafmus relates of- Thomas a Bechet, that nothing could be feen bafer than Gold, fo truly here Silver was the Bid a final A- a or, and come again to God. Jem feed on Hogs-fle£b,fbr fear of the In- quificion. Left Goa oh |t. Xiutmi'i 184 A Relation of the Cemtick-Country. Letter IV. themeaneft; Pearls and Precious Stones, as well as Gold, caft forth their Luftre, by the reflection of the Virgin Flambeaus upon them .- From the tops of the Towers belonging to the Jefuits we beheld Lamps at Night driving to vie with the Stars for Number and Luftre; which appeared Glorioufly on the Water as we Rowed down the River to our Ship. In Danger of Being in fight of Bombaim, the Tides horfed us to the Northward being Ship, which infenfibly threw us on a Ledge of Rocks running from Old Womns Ifl and > where the Ship Struck; after a Quarter of an Hour m mm. ^ cleared, but with the inconvenience of falling more upbn them not without danger of Bulging; whereupon we Fired feveral fingle Pieces of Ordnance to give notice; for the Tide being made, the Water began to Ebb and forfake the Ship, fo that fhe flood wavering without any prop, which way to incline j and though the .Wind and Sea were Calm, yet the fear of Over-fetting caufed a general Confternation; no help appearing, we won on the Captain to fpare Hands for the Yawl, wherein Four of. us got Alhoar (though fhe was very Leaky ) leaving them in defpair of their Ship, her own preffure threatning tp break her Back; at Night Boats and Pilots went off to her Relief, and with the Tide of Flood as lhe Floated, re¬ leafed her to a wonder, being heavy Laden, receiving no damage but in her Sheathing. . ~ Return to I Reimbarked and arrived at Surat the Eleventh of December, sura. where giving you a general Account of all India , you will hear from me next out of Terfta. A SPE- EAST-INDI A. . CHAP. YI. Js a Summary ehearfal of the Whole. E A St-INDlA, when Alexanders Sword had enlarged Chap. Vf. its felf thither, was Inhabited by the Dadali, Mezegi, MeSi, Oxydraci, and Gangarides (if Hiftory tell truth)» which of Nations Time has long fince worn out of the Indian Annals, ana King . Something they do fpeakof King Pore, but fo uncertain, that it is a ^ Isfufp!c '' doubt whether ever he and Alexander waged War, though good . Authors do atteft it. But it is plain that Two hundred and feventy Years ago, between the Indians and Scythian tartars, under tamer « lane, there was begun, whatafter-Emperors compleatedby the then introduced Forces, a total Conqueft; under which the greater part of the Natives reft content with their Subje&ion. India it’s likely took its Name from Indus , whofe Mouths are The Name of fochoakedupbySands, that they cannot fpeak much in this behalf |^^ 0 h ub *? neither, it being changed into the Name of Sinda, which impofes at gSg, at this day a Name to as la^e a Province as is in all India ; the fhal- low Currents of which K. n r ftretching themfelves far and near to the River Ganges almoft, has given occafion to Geographers to call it a Peninfula. Omitting thefe Difputes, I Ihall at prefent apply my felf to give you a faithful Chorography and Account of thofe things that fell under my Remark : It is then thelargeft Country in Afia, ■■ which Ptolomy divides into Within and Without the River Ganges, being in Length from the Golden Cherfonefe , now called Cmory, 3600 Miles: In the moft Northern part the Day lengthens to Fifteen Hours, but in the Southern it has no more or lefs than Twelve: The Breadth of it, from the wideft place, to wi t,. Bengal to Candahar, 1500 Miles; from whence, like a Wedge, it leflens into the Cape of Co- rmy. On the Weft it was formerly bordered by the River Indus ; on the North by the difperfed Mountains from Taurus 5 from the Eaft it B b is 18 6 A Special Ghorvgraj>hy and Letter IV. is wafhed with the Oriental Sea, and from the South with the Indian. hidin produ- It is a Land in all places very fruitful, and enjoys a Temperater ces Three Air than would be allowed by the Poet under the Fifth Zone, under ftmepiaces whiclr the greatefl part of it lies; as often as the Sun vifits the Ardic Pole, it brings with it grateful Showers arid Winds ( whole Heat otherwife would be intolerable ) by which the Earth is cooled and made Productive; neither in the extreameft Heat does it want by the equality of Days and Nights after Sun-fet, the favourable Dews of the Heavens, when you lhall foon perceive a kind Moiflure fall to refrelh the Earth, and nourilh the almoft fcorch’d up Plants- though thefe alone are not fo powerful to take away the Labour from the induftrious Husbandman, who this Seafon is forced by artificial Channels to affift Nature to produce, otherwife fhe would fall one -Ihortof a threefold Harveft in fome places, every Year; but every where they have a double Harveft. The Year As the.Sun becomes Twice Vertical to them within the Tropicks, made up of at each Tropick but once, beyond never ; fo nearer the Equator the Calendar" 0 ^ Sun and Stars afcend and defcend more diredly, but the farther from Months. the Equator the more Obliquely, whereby the dawn of Light here is but ihort before either the appearance or fall of thefe Bodies, when as the Twilight is fome Hours after Sun-fet or afore Sun- rife the nearer either Pole: Having premifed this, know they begin their Alma¬ nack with our Lawyers, or rather when the Sun is in the Equinodial Line; but their Months being Lunary, every Third Year bears an Intercalary one, which they clap in Augufi, and count it double: . The Names of their Months are March Falgunu i Cbaitru a Faixaque J Zefitbh 4 AffadH y Srauana 6 Bharapadrh 7 Afuinu 8 Caftica 9 Margaffica 10 Puxu 11 Magu ia. Sunday Ob-' They diftinguilh their Time by Weeks, i e. Seven days; Sunday ferved by the being obferved by the Indians as an Holy Day; agreeable to what is " ,m - Taught by Philoflratus, DionCaJJius , and JuHin Martyr. Howthey The Hours of Day and Night have all the Year round the fame count the Number, Twelve; not minding their Length or Decreafe: They have no Watches or Hour-Glafles, but meafure Time by the drop¬ ping of Water out of a Brafs Bafon, which holds a Ghong, or lefs than half an Hour; when they ftrike. once diftindly, to tell them it’s the Firft Ghong , which is renewed at the Second Ghong for Two, and fo Three at the end of it, till they come to Eight; when they ftrike on the Brafs Veflel at their liberty, to give notice the Pore is out, and at laft ftrike One leifurely, to tell them it is the Firft Pore-, which is repeated after the fame manner for the Second about Mid¬ day, when they ftrike Two, and fo at the end of the Third Pore Three, and of the Fourth Four; at the end of which Pores the Priefls Afcend their Steeples and are Monitors to them of their Devotion; Hiftory of Eaft-India. 187 And as folemnly dividing the Night into as many Pores ; fo that Chap. VI. Thirty two Ghongs and Four Pores make the Day, and as many C/JSY 3 more the Night; in all Sixty four Ghongs and Eight Pores. As our Year is divided by the Seafons of Spring ,. Summer, Autumn, Their Year ttsAWinter'i to every which we allow a Quarter of a Year: Theirs alfo agree with their Seafons of Weather, but fquare not in refped fbtis* ^ of the Account of the Year, having Four Months for each Seafon; but divide the Year into no more than Three Parts* viz. New Coda The Rains. Ger CoUa The Cold Seafon. Deup Coda The Heats. To every one of which they attribute Eight Confteilations; are skilled in the Sun’s Courfe through the Zodiac, have their wandring and fixed Stars, and are exa&in the Eclipfes of the Two Inferior Luminaries. What has been Experienced in the particular Accounts, I muft confirm again in this general one, That the firft Full Moon in May brings the Rains, when it Rains a Fortnight only, and holds up till the middle of June, in which times, Empyemas, Fluxes, Fevers of all forts ( except Peftilential) Haemorrhages, rage; after the Rains are fully fettled* it grows Healthy. From the fetling in of the Rains till the Full Moon in Augujl, it Rains without intermiffion, after which it clears up for a Fortnight, and with little variation ( bating the accidental Caufes of its beginning earlier or later) it Rains all September till the Elephant breaks up, the laft Rainy Star: After which is the Harveft for Rice, when it is gathered; and then juft af¬ ter the Rains they are moft Sickly, the Sun exhaling Vapours, the ■ Earth grows Muddy and Stinking* though abundantly Produ&ive : From thence to the latter end of January commences the Cold Sea¬ fon, when their Bodies are Healthier, and a lovely Verdure Cloaths the Earth; at the latter end of this they reap another Harveft with¬ out extraordinary pains; all this time the Evenings are very fharp, and at Surat I have feen an hoar Froft in the Morning. From Fe- Irttary the firft, till the Rains fet in, are the Heats, and in March the Leafs fall off the Trees, yet always fupplied with frefh, fo that the . Trees are always Green, though the Grafs and Fodder are quite burnt up; and with difficulty, by the advantage of Aquiduds, a lean Harveft is brought forth: The Peafants Morning and Evening draw Water out of Wells by Buffolds, or Oxen; or elfe by a thwart Poll: poifed with a fufficient weight at the extremity, laid over one fixed in the Earth; the Water is drawn by a Bucket of Goats Skins; others have Pans or Buckets of Leather hanging round about a Wheel, fome always in the Water, others rifing up, and at the fame time others pouring out a$ the Wheel turns round: And thus are their beft Gardens kept alive. The Mountains here are one continued Ridge, dividing the Two Mountains.- Coafts each from other, and are all along called the Gaot; they run North and South till they crofs the Imaus ; and are the reafon of fome difference of the Seafons, both in refped of themfelves and Low- Bb 2 Lands; i88 A Sfectal Cborografhy and Letter IV. Lands: They are plentifully flored with Woods, and Increafe of all things, except Rivers, which are in fome Places corapenfated by living Springs out of the Rocks, but every where by Water falling in the Rains. Kiveis. The Rivers are innumerable ; but thofe of greateft fame are In- Jus and Ganges, the latter not only for its many Navigable Streams for fome Hundreds of Leagues, but for its Purity in the efteem of the moft Religious; befides all which, are great Tanks or Ponds of Rain-Water, where it wants the other Benefits, with deep Wells, of extraordinary Colls and Charges; fome purely for Pomp, and to tranfmit their Names to Pofterity; others for the good of Travellers, but moll for the fake of Religion, in which they are extravagantly profufe,every great City ftriving to outvye each other; the moll ad¬ mirable whereof are thofe cut on high Hills and Fortrefles thereon, out of the main Rocks, feeming rather the Works of many Ages than one to finilh them: At Rajapore are Hot Baths; here arc very few other Mineral Waters. Tht Country The Plain Country is Rich in all things neceflary; Pallurage, by rich in in- reafon of the long Summers Drought, being the only lack; which cce ‘ lfe - in the Rains and Cold Seafon they have Time and Store to provide againll. Cocoes grow all along the Sea-fide round India, within theTropicks, and Beetle-Nut is in great Requell, not only for that it is the Courteous Entertainment or Farewel at all Friendly Interviews, but be^aufe wrapped in Pawn-Leaves with Chinam, it exhilarates and makes a kind of pleafant Drunkennefs, if much eaten, as the Na¬ tives of any falhion are feldom without it in their Mouths; and thefe are peculiar to the Low-Countries as are Water-Melons; other Fruits, as Grapes, Mangoes, and the like, are the common Growth of In¬ dia : Rice thrives beft in Watry Places, it fwimming always there¬ in till Harvell, when the Water is let out by Drains; all other Corn rejoices better in drier Grounds; Cotton is a Lover of the fame, from whence comes all the Wealth to India, qua effodimtur opes, which are dug for in other Places and laid up here. Woods are every where, in which fometimes are met Inhabi¬ tants not yet mentioned, and for their Solitarinefs called Men of the Woods, or more truly Satyrs ; there are Nereids too, or Men of the Rivers, but dye as foon as taken: A Couple of the former I law alleep in the day-time, in the Night they Sport and Eat; they were both in a Parrot-Cage, they had Heads like an Owl, Bodied like a Monkey, without Tails; only the firft Finger of the Right Hand was armed with a Claw like a Birds, otherwife they had Hands, and Feet which they walk upright on, not pronely, as the other Beads do-; they were coloured like a Fox, of the length of Half a Yard; though they grow bigger till Twelve Years old, when they copulate. Defats, Here are Sandy Deferts near theGuIph of Cambaja, and beyond JBengala, towards Bo tan and Cochin China, whence they fetch Musk. Mines. Mines, befides thofe of Diamonds, Rubies, Agars, Cornelian, Granats, Topazes, and Iron, none are difcourfed of; which with what eHe comes to Memory, lhall be fpecified in their proper place. Of Diamond-Mines there are two forts, the Old and New Rock, the latter Hiftory of Eaft-India. 189 latter the Larger, the other the Beft; the firft in Duccan, the other in Chap. VI. Gttlconda. Wild Beafts frequent here,are the fierce!! Tigres in the World, with wild Beaiis. all their forts; Lions here are fome, but feeble and cowardly; Leo¬ pards, Bahts, a fort of Wolf, wild Cats, or Catamountains, Monkeys, wild Dogs, which they fay Pils out the Eyes of Venifon as they feed in the Woods, and fo Venom them with their Urine, that they be¬ come their Prey; Squirrels, Jackals, Mungoofes, wild Bulls, Ele¬ phants, Rhinoceros, BufFolaes, Bears. For Game, all forts of Antelopes, Deer, Boar, and Elks. The For Game. Fields are ftored with Tame of all kinds; but moftly with Kine and Goats. Fowls of Prey, Eagles, Vultures, Kites, Newries, Crows, which Fowls of Prey, lafthathan Enemy, though in Bulk contemptible, yet in Revenge implacable, being no bigger than a Bumble-Bee, yet it never leaves the Crow’s Breaft till it have left it breathlefs, making a Vent there¬ in by its piercing Bill. For Game, abundance of all forts: The Bats here ate the biggeft of any place. ' - ' Fifties common to India are not to be numbred, fome fpangled Filb. with Gold, Vermilion, and other Colours, not ufual with us; but the beft known are Sharks, Whales, Sea-fnakes, (the affined Tokens to the Pilots of their approaching the Coafts of India ); Pilchards come inSholesas cur Herrings do; Porpoifes, Oyfters, Crabs, Tor- toifes, the Sword-fiih, Stspte, or the Ink-filh of G'efner, Spanifh Mack- rel. The Rivers are well provided ( and the Grafs too ) with Snakes, many of which are venomous, and fome big enough to devour a Sow and Piggs, if the Natives may be believed. Infetfts ( befides Fleas) are large Flies in the Rain, who will be InfeQs. fare to be our Tafters, unlefs one ftand purpofely to beat them off with a Mirchal ; nor are Ants lefs vexatious, nothing eatable can be fet by but they will be at it; but the greateft Peft is the Mofauito, who not only wheals, but domineers by its continual Hums; the Chints are as venomous, and if fqueezed leave a nioft Poyfonous Stench; thefe breed in the Cotton, and where once they befet an Houfe, they are not eafily removed, they being Proof againft all Fumes or Remedies ufed to deftroy fuch-like Vermin; and there¬ fore keep Pofleflion, while the Inhabitants being not able to endure them, muftturn out toother Dwellings; and thefe Plagues are in all their Quarters. The Inhabitants and Natives of India are divided into Five Sefts, to wit; I. Gentues ; the firft Pofleflors, Aborigines, or Natives. II. Moguls ; the next Invaders or Conquerors by Land. nr.. Portugals ; the firft Difcoverers or Conquerors by Sea. IV. Dutch, English, ©c. Strangers; partly by Conqueft; partly by Trade- V. Parfes , by Permiffion. The The Gymnofophifls , Brachmins, or Book-Men. The dietaries, Rajhpoots, or Soldiers. The Merchants or Mechanicks. The Labourers, Peafants, Counties, Coolies, Frajfes and Holencores. The Brachmins Their men of Are chiefly diftinguifhed by Butts and Sinais ; from thefe two Learning. Roots fpring the other BranchesThe difference was occafioned by a Famine in the Low-Countries, where the latter refided, on which ac-' count they were conftrained to break their Faff with Filh, or elfe ftarve; for which reafon they are greatly defpifed by the purer Butt, having never deviated from his Pythagorean Inflitution and Primary Abftinence from all living Creatures. Yet norwithftanding, the Si- mi keeps his Cotton-String Badge ( the Charaderiftick Note of a Braohmin') under his Left Shoulder as well as the Butt, and has his Difciples. The Butts addid themfelves to the profoundeft Myfteries in their Religion, giving themfelves over to an exad Regular Life, abftraded from all Worldly Employments, unlefs fuch as are for the faving and preferving'of Life, theChiefeft and Skilfulleft Phyficians being of their Tribe: Thefe are the Matters of all their Heathen Cere¬ monies, orDodorsof their Canon Law, every Tribe being inftruS- ed by them; they chiefly confift in Wafting, Abftinence, and other Aufterities impofed at their Pleafure. The Sinais are more biafs’d by Secular Offices, out of which are made their fighting Biffiops, Defies, or Farmers of the Ring’s Rents, Pundits ( Governors of Towns and Provinces), Phyficians, Ac¬ countants, Scrivans, and Interpreters: Any of thefe, if theyar- , rive to any fmattering in Learning, are admired and highly reveren¬ ced by the Vulgar. Their CalaltPs or Pious Secrets are kept in a Language communicated to none but themfelves, as are all the Ar- canaesof every Science, written in a peculiar Charader; they are very dogmatical in their Didates to the People, finging them out in a Lofty Tone, as the Fauns and Bards of old are reported, as the Sy- tils by LaHantius, the Salians by Livy, the Druids by Cre far, the Delphian Enigmaes by Herodotus, the Spartan Rites by Eufiathim: Suas nimirum cogitationes non eel pervulgata & detritb & diffolutb Jiti quilibet uteretur oratione, confignare, fed alia exquifita, & aftritta, & numeresa, & vinculis alligata, prceclarum eeflimarunt. Dr . Reyn, in Or at. 6. Their Notion God % > s incomparably Good; in fome of their Languages of God. they hardly have a name for Hell; their Notions of the World’s Creation and the Origine of all things, are mere confufed Stories ; their Account of Time is perplexed, and not to be reckoned up. For the Immortality of the Soul, they rely as well on Plato as Pythago¬ ras, (viz.) That it is tranfmigrated, and in fuch a Revolution of time they appear in the World again, Princes or Rajahs, according to the Demerits Biftory of Eaft-India, 19* Demerits of their former living, or Penalties inflided on them topu* Chap. VI. r ify them, their Souls not being informed, but inclofed as a Bird in ^Y\J a Whence it is that, propped by thefe Perfuafions, the Women The Conceit freely Sacrifice themfelves, in hopes of coming into the World of TWfmi-. great and famous, after they have pafled the Limbo of Tranfmigra- tion with their Husbands ; and in the mean while are Canonized and n J ' Invoked as Saints by their Kindred and Relations 5 and their Patri¬ archs oblige themfelves to incredible Abftinence From Food, for ma¬ ny days together refufing any Suftenance, undergoing the ftri&eft Penances ; having learned from Pythagoras, Angujlam & afperam ejfle mam ad vkam beatam. S C *1 E If C E S In Efteem among them are principally Magick and Judicial Aftrolo- Their apmefs gy, one of the Se&ators of which on all accounts are confulted, as to a Ie ” n a {^ n * well by Moors as Gentues ; Grammar and Rhetorick, fome of them fkmm phi. being Matters of Perfian, Indojian, Aralick , Sanfcript . ( or Holy Lan- Iofophy. . guage ) Portugueze, and all the depending Speeches of Indojian , as Duccany, Moratty, Gonchany , and the like; befides the Canatick , in which all their Sonnets and Poefies are exprefled, being fofter and more melting than the others; which is an Argument alfo of its Antiquity, Indojian not having a Charader toexprefs its felf in, on which the later Dialeds depend. Elocution, Phyfick, Metaphyficks, are not out of their Element: Their Philosophers maintain an Ari¬ stotelian Vacuity; nor are they quite ignorant of Medicks, though Anatomy is not approved, wherein they lean too much on Traditi¬ on, being able to give a .very (lender account of the Rational Part thereof. In what Perfedion Mufick Hands (as I am no competent Judge ) I could never give my Ears the trouble to examine, it Teem¬ ing loud and barbarous; yet they obferve Time and Meafure in their Singing and Dancing, and are mightily delighted with their Tum¬ bling and Noife. They as much diflike our Thriller Mufick, hardly allowing our Wayts fit to play to Bears, and our Stringed Inftruments ftrike not their hard-to-be-raifed Fancies; but our Organs are the Mufick of the Spheres with them, charming them to liften as long as they play. Arithmetick being the moft profitable Science, is the belt underftood by them; to which they have a Natural Propenfity, and will in a trice, without the help of Pen or, Ink caft up thedif- ficultefl Sums, and never paufe upon it. In fome Places they write on Cocoe-Leafs dried, and then ufe an Write on Iron Style; orelfeon Paper, when they ufe a Pen made with a Reed, for which they have a Brafs Cafe, which holds them and the Ink too, always ftuck at the Girdles of their Scrivans. Among thefe are enrolled the Muttanies , fougies , or Pilgrims, , n a wholeadaBeaftlyLife, having all things common, and are courted wherever they come; nor do they ever depart, without leaving a Stain to their Profeffion: When they eafe Nature they fcrape an Hole, as Dogs or Cats do, to bury their Excrements, to prevent breeding of Infers. Thefe are covered, the firft with a White Sheet, and 1 9 2 Letter IV. UT-VNU Juglers, c rc. A Special Chorography and and carry Perfuming Pots, and Blefs all as they pafs; the others have a Snapfack, a Mirchal , and a patch’d Goat, rambling up and down as the Fakiers ; the firft are buried with their Heels upwards and Heads downwards; the others fometimes buried, fometimes burnt. At the Heel of thefe may be reckoned the Bengal Juglers, Moun¬ tebanks, and Conjurers, as alfo the Dancing People; thefe are V a . grants, that travel to delude the Mobile by their Hocus Focus Tricks (living promifeuoufly like our Gypfiesj ; among whom I faw one who fwallowed a Chain, fuch as our Jacks have, and made it clink in his Stomach; but pulling it out, it- was not fo pleafant to the Spedators (being moftly Ladies, for whofe Diverfion he was brought) they puking when it was accompanied with a filthy roapy Slaver. Others prefented a Mock-Creation of a Mango-Tree, arifing from the Stone in a Ihort fpace ( which they did in Hugger-Mugger, be¬ ing very careful to avoid being difeovered ) with Fruit Green and Ripe; fothat a Man mull ftretch his Fancy, to imagine it Witch¬ craft ; though the common fort think no lels: Sed Magus quo peri- tior eo detefialilior. I was promifed to fee a Fellow that call up his Tripes by his Mouth, Stomach and all, Ihewing them to the Beholders; but he was excu- fed, having fome time allowed him to prepare himfelf for it: In his Read were brought me two; the firft of which, by Sudion or draw¬ ing of his Breath, fo contraded his lower Belly, that it had nothing lefttofupport it, but fell flat to his Loins, the Midriff being forced into the Thorax, and the Mufcles of the Abdomen as clearly marked out by the ftiff Tendons of the Linea Alla, as by the moft accurate Difledion could be made apparent, he moving each Row like living Columns by turns. The ^Etiology whereof I think to be this; that while all the Contents of the Belly are moved upwards,all Refpiration is expelled, only the voluntary Motion of the Animal Spirits ads upon the Nerves (the Mind or Soul commanding them ) while the Vital or Natural are compelled to the contrary. After this I faw another Fellow of a good Habit of Body, that had taught himfelf by ufe to deprefs his Sternum, with the Serntus Toflicus Inferior , Sacro lumhs, and Triangular Mufcles, fo that the Cartilaginous Subftanceof the Ribs, which Anatomifts feparate for Difledion of the Thorax , and throw it back over the Face, by this means was crowded in, that it made a notable Cavity as deep as the Spine would fufFer; in the mean while the Man was almoft firangled, as if prefled to death; for under this Conftraint neither he nor the former could take their Breath, yet remained fo fome time: Which may be a vifiblelnftance that divers Urinators may continue a long fpace, being inured from their Infancy to keep under Water. From the reft of thefe I obferved nothing more excellent than what is perform- ed by our Rope-dancers, for Feats of Adivity, or Slight of Hand. Thefe pefter every open place in great Cities and Publick Fairs, as they do in Europe. The next Rank , ■ Is of the Soldiers, commonly called Rafhpoots , who by their Valour have Hijlory of Eaft-India. 193 have won unto themfelves the Perpetuity of their Arms, and the Chap. VI. Credit of being called in to the Aid of divers Princes, and are in con- tinual Adion under fome one State or other bordering upon them 5 bj e 7 “c“ t ‘ never altering their Vocations, being bred Warriors; thefe' afpire intimates a not to great Charges, nor admit Commanders over them, unlefs of t0 their own Caft ; fighting Pell-mell, as every one is infpircd from the Conqueror! Pay they receive; their Arms are Sword, Pike,’and Buckler. A Soldier that puts on a Crocus-dye, intimates a Refolution either todye or be Conqueron Opium is frequently eaten in great quantities by the Rajhpoots, Opium eaten Queteries, and Patous, when they fight, which.makes them run up- in on any Enterprize with a raging Refolution to dye or be vidorious. H Before Engaging, it is ufual for them to embrace one another, as if parting for another World; efteeming it happier to be killed in their Vocation, than to fubmit to the Luft of a Conqueror; their very Women difdaining to own them for their Husbands, when they once turn their Back upon their Enemies: Of one of which Vira* goes goes this Story; Her Mate had made an Efcape honourable enough for a prudenfRetreat, when coming home and craving Meat from his Spoufe, after many obloquious Salutes fhe put this Affront on him, fhefery.ed him with a Brafs Ladle, whereas before his Meals were taken up with one made of Iron; whereof he demanding the Reafon, lhe tartly replied, Left the Jight of Iron fbould turn jour Sto¬ mach from your Victuals, as it had done from Fighting. The Banyan Follows the Soldier, though as contrary in Humour, as the Antipodes whether tha in the fame Meridian are oppofite one to another: Thefe have for- Banymbea got if ever they were Jews, or no; but if any of thefe People are fuch, Jea ‘ thefe are moft likely; and by a double Right of Jew and Gentile, are a Compound of thegreatefl Cheat in the World,'the fitted there¬ fore to make Brokers and Merchants of: They are devout Profely tes in the Worlhip of this Countrey, and tenacious of their Rites and Cuftoms; Arid Obfervers of Omens, fo that in travelling ten Miles they fhall fometimes double the Ground, to avoid encountring a Caphak of A'fles, or to take the Hand of a Flock of Goats or Cows grazing: In the Rains they will not ride in a Coach, for fear they fhould kill the Infeds generated in the.Cart-Ruts, or {linking Puddles: So foolifhly fuperflitious are they and precife in Matters of Religion; in cafes of Trade they are not fo hide-bound, giving their Confcien- ces more Scope, and boggle at no Villany for an Emolument. The Poor Artifan Can hardly live for thefe, who will grind their Faces to fill their own Hoards, as much as the Defies do The feafants And Comlies, who Till the Land, and drefs the Corn, with no re- C.c markable 194 d Spcial Chorograjiby and Letter IV. markable difference from other Nations; they plough with Oxen, the;,. Coulters unarmed moftly, Iron being fcarce, but they have hard Wood will turn their light Grounds. The Gentues thrafh their Corn with a Stick, riot a Flail ; the Moor- men thatare Husbandmen tread it out with Oxen ( but muzzle their Mouths), which they do in the open Fields, before they carry it home; fixing a Stake in the Earth, and yoaking the Oxen three, four, or more abreaft, fallen them to a turning Pole, palling round till all be done; Coolies, Frajfes, and Holencores, are the Dregs of the People, and are not permitted to have their Funeral Rites or Marriages with the others 5 fo abjed, that the others think themfelves defiled if they touch or converfe with them. DifHnguifhed All thefe are diftinguifhed one from another by the Cut of their astir or different Painting of their Bodies and Foreheads, as well on their Bot- as winding of their Turbants. A Brachmin paints himfelfon the Front heads, with a Pythagorean Y between his Eyebrows, defcending to his Nofe, . and gives to every Tribe their peculiar Mark. And’Cuts of TheSentues wear little Beards, and lhave them; the Moors great their Beards. Beards, and trim them only to keep them decent: And fince their Barbers ate fo necefTary, as well to give them their diftinguifhing Shape, as for other Ufes, we will let you know they feldom keep Shop, but go about the City with a Checquered Apron over their Shoulders, and a Mirror in their Hands, which they offer any to fee their Face in; and if any employ them, they are well paid with a Gosb'eek , much under a Farthing: When they pluck out a Razor not an Inch long, a Bafon of Brafs as big as a Coffee-difh, and a piece of Caftle-Soap, which they dip into the Bafon of Water, .and rub about the Lips or Head, with no more Water than it gathers up, and fo lhave very well; and for the Head few out-do them, both for Eafe and Readinefs: They have, an Iron Tool alfo,one end to pick the Ears, another to cut the Nails, both which they do dextroufly, clearing the Ears of great quantities of that thick Wax inclofed therein; they alfo wafhand anoint their Bodies, it being not obfolete here to anoint every day with Sweet'Oy-ls, and the Poor, both Men and Wo¬ men, with Cocoe Nut Oyl, which being Rank, together with their eating Ring and Garlick, makes them always fmell fo ftrong, that it is very offenfive palling through Places of Refort, before one be accuftomed to them; they alfo rub the Hair of their Head with a fweet Powder to get the fweat out, and then bedawb it with {linking . Oyl, which they fay preferves it: In the Bath or Hummums they have a large Province. The Moguls Are the Invaders of their Liberties and Properties, ruling tyranni¬ cally 5 yet more tolerable than what they were when firft invited hither by the Plenty of this Country, and Scarcity of their own, which was a means to gain, as well as now to preferve their Conqueft ; for they were originally Tartars , coming from Scythia with their Leader Tamerlane , and thence prided themfelves to be called Whites , and ftill do fo in fccirn of the Indians , who ar e'Blacks ; Hijiory of Eaft-India. 195 and it is the Flower of their Emperors Titles to be called the Great Chap VI. Mocul, Burrore Mogul Todejhar, who reckons but few Defcents from Tamerlane, and is at prefent Auren Zeeb ; who Governs by this Maxim, To Create as many Ombrahs, or Nobles, out of the Moguls or Perfmn Foreigners, as may be fairly entrufted; but always with this Policy, To remove them to remote Charges from that where their fageah, or Annuity arifes; as not thinking it fit to truft them with Forces or Money in their allotted Principalities, left they ftould be tempted to unyoke themfelves, and flip their Neck from the Servitude.impofed on them; for which purpofe their Wives and Children are left as Pledges at Court, while they follow the Wars, or are Adminiftring in Cities or Provinces 5 from whence when they return, they have nothing they can call their own, only what they have Cheated by falfe Mufters and a hard Hand over both Soldi¬ ers and People; which many times too, when manifeft, they are forced to refund to the King, though Viot reftore to theOpprefled ; for all Money, as well as Goods and Lands, are properly his, if he call for them. Out of thefe are made Generals of Armies, under whom are The omkah. Commanders of Hundreds and Thoufands, as the Centurions and Legions, from thence to Fifty, Twenty, and Ten. A Cavalier is Armed with a Poniard at the Right fide of his Gir¬ dle ; a broad Bladed Sword of an unwieldy fize ( and therefore poi- fed with an heavy Pummel), on his Left fide in a Belt i a Bow made of Horn ftrongly and artificially Glutinated (Adduclo fltttere cornua nervo ) and Arrows in a Quiver at the Bow of his Saddle; and a great Lance in his Hand, with a Target hanging crofs his Shoulders Boiled. A Foot Soldier carries a Match-lock Gun, or elfe a great Lance and Target, and fometimes a Sword; the former are tanked under the great Ombrahs, or the Chief Commanders of Hazory, the latter have a Standard of their own to repair to. Munfubdars, or petty Ombrahs, own the King only for their Lead- vmyomlrdt. er, and have not above Four or Five Horfe under them. Roufanders are Cavaliers that are Paid by the Day, a confiderable Salary, furpafling the Munfubdars, though not fo Honourable. A Ample Cavalier under the Ombrahs have Lome of them Two Horfes apiece, as his Lord favours him, and his Pay 30 or 25- Rupees per Month. Among thefe may be reckoned the Artillery in which the Fringts are Lifted; formerly for good Pay, now very ordinary, having not above 30 or 40 Rupees a Month. For Artillery they have both great Ordnance and fmall Field The Artillery. Pieces, drawn by Elephants and Oxen, adorned with Streamers, be- fides Camels that carry Petereros. ’ The Soldiery are Paid, partly out of the Treafury, and partly out of the Lands allotted for that purpofe. The Husbandman is forced to Build low, and the Doors like en- tring Ports, otherwife the Soldier would bring his Horfe .in as well ashimfelf. Cc 1 The A Special Cborografhy and Letter IV. The Moormen domineer over the Indians molt unfufferably ; gnc j ' thefe are of the Purkijh or Arabian Sedt in matters of Religion, Their Differ- own j n g Mahomet , and his Brother to be his Succeffor: The Cbias , or don wkhthe Perjtanjown Mahomet alfo,but place the Succeflion of the Caliphjhip i n Ptrfimn. the Daughter; and this is a Difpute of fo high a nature, that they Eat not, neither Communicate one with another. Their Pride There are fome great Merchants among them, that are buoy’d and Luxury. up more ^ ^ Authority of their Religion and Cafl, than Cunning, the Banyan being forced to flee to them for Patronage: They imitate a noble Pomp, and are not encountred abroad nift magna Comitante catervh, without a great Train, ufing many Odors in the Hummums, or Balneo’s; nor are they without Oils, Perfumes, and Effences of Sandal, Cloves, and Oranges, which are in their kind very exqui- fitely drawn off. They go Rich in Apparel, their Turbats of Gold Damask’d Gold Atlas Coats to their Heels, Silk Alajah, or Oman® Breeches, Embroidered SaiheO and Slippers, Golden Hiked Swords and Poniards, as alfo Golden Embofled Targets; Silver and Gold Capparifons for their Horfes, which are of Arabia , Perfia , or 7 urhy. The Moguls Feed high, Entertain much, and Whore not a little. The Women are conformable to the Wills of their Husbands, be¬ ing truly no more than their Chief Slaves; Drefiing the Viduals, and Waiting till their Lords have Dined, before they Eat themfelves! Every Cafl in India refufe to Eat with thofe of a contrary Tribe or Opinion, as well Gentues , Moors , and Perfians, as any other ; nor fo much as to Drefs the Meat in their Veffels, they accounting them Defiled. A Pokier The reafon of Is an Holy Man among the Moors ; for all who Profefs that Stri&nefs oufnefsofthe (forfuchitfliould be ) they efteem them Sacred; and though be- Fdisn. fore apparent Tray tors, yet declaring for this kind of life, and wear¬ ing a patch’d Coat of a Saffron Colour, with a pretended carelefs negled of the World, and no certain Refidence, they have Immunity fromall Apprehenfions, and will dare the Mogul himfelf to his Face: Of this Order are many the moft Diffolute, Licentious, and Pro- phane Perfons in the World, committing Sodomy, will be Drunk with Bang , and Curfe God and Mahomet ; depending on the Tole¬ ration the Mogul indulges them with, having been one himfelf in the time of the Conteft among his Brethren; fo fecuring himfelf till they had deftroyed one another, and made an eafy paffage for him to the Throne; thefe. People Beg up and down like our Bed¬ lams with an Horn and Bowl, fo that they enter an Houfe, take what likes them, even the Woman of the Houfe; and when they have plaid their mad Pranks, away they go to repeat them elfewhere. Under this Difguife many pafs as Spies up and down, and reap the belt Intelligence for the benefit of the Prince that Employs them. The Hijlory of Eaft-India. *97 Chap. VI. The Portugals, Not to defraud them of their due, might have Subdued India by The Portugal this time, had not we fallen out with them, and given them the firft Coffer'd blow at Orms; upon which the Dutch fell in and took from them j° a hadno/’" the bell of their‘Conqueft, and all their Spice Trade; notwith- the Enghjb In- ftanding they have added feme Chriftians to thofe formerly Con- verted by St. Thomas , but it is a fond report to fay all India ; no more the Dutch fal- than to have Conquered all the Inland Country, where they never pierced, their Pofleflions being moft by the Sea-fide; yet at this• day 1 em ‘ they bear the Port of a Vice-Roy at Goa, who has his Council, and Governs after the Mode of Portugal : His Reign is Triennial, as are all their Capitaneas. The Dutch , Though a Commonwealth in Europe , find it propereft to bear th6 face of a Monarchy here, appointing a General at Batavia , whofe Power is extenfive over all India : Thefe begin to be taken notice of, and areefteemed as Men of War among thefe Nations; for obliging and fair Means prevail not here, they being of a lefs Ingenuous Temper than to be won by any other ways than Force; lo that a Tyrannical Government in India is asneceflary to keep them under, as abfiaining from Fiefh and Walhing their Bodies, to keep them in Health; wherefore they have wifely Ordained Religious Rites: And this is the reafon they have a value for The Englijb, Who they fee are content with Bomhaim, and a peaceable way of The EngUjh Trade; fquare with the Humour, and meet with the Praife of the Banyans ; but command not that Awe by which thefe People v ue • , are belt taught to underftand themfelves. The Parfies , As they are called, are of the old flock of th ePerfidns, Worfhipthe Thep«ji« Sun and Adore the Elements; are known only about Surat ; where expofe their they are famous for what all other Nations deem infamous, the ex- pofing their Dead to the Fowls of the Air: And thefe coming in by, Air. permiflion are obliged to Conformity with the Heathen Cuftoms, being almoft, as the Gileonites to the Ifraelites , Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water; having been curbed formerly by the Gen¬ tiles, and now by the Moors ufed as perfed Slaves; yet they en¬ dure this, that fo they may enjoy their Religion, and that benefit, which is tolerated to. the Indians more than any where, the liberty of getting Children, arid an indulgence for Poverty. The Indians are Tall of Stature, Large Boned; their Colour va¬ ries according tothediverfityof the Region; the Parfies are Straw Coloured, as Hyppocrates witnefled for them; ^Ethiopians are Black and Letter IV. and Frizled ; the Indians here are a mixture of thefe, but long Haired. The heat of the Sun alters our Europe- Men to a dark' Brown; fuch as Sail to and again conftantly in thefe Climates, by going Naked and expofed to the Sun, being almoft as Swarthy , as the Natives, with this difference, that by Cloathing the Sunburnt wears off; but contrariwife, it remains indeleble on the Indians, Infants when newly Born have the fame Flefli ColoQr as ours- but in a few Days, by the inbred Humour, and the Sun’s Heat, de¬ clare their Hew' to be of the fame with their Parents. The Women The Women are Small, and moft an end Plump, and Short in of the fame re fp e 6 M d Surat. the Sear, whereby bdico, Silks, and other fine Goodsarefold. 3 M 6 M w> ' * ' By ' 2o6 A Corollary of Weight !, Letter IV. By the forefaid Maund of 20 Vice to the Sear, 40 Sear to the Mauni, all -•—forts of Grain are fold, and other Goods of Weight, whereof 23 Maunds make a Candy. Amber and Coral, 18 Tice weight goes to a Sear. Meafures of Surat ire only Two; The LefferO and $» Coveld. Greater j The former of. 27 Inches Englijh, the latter of 36 Inches Englijh : By T r s is an the firft are fold all things ( except Broad-cloth, Velvet, and Sattin, which English Yard, are fold per Englijh Yard ) j by the other, the forefaid. Goods in all .other Places. . . > ,->i Goldsmiths and Jewellers Weights in Surat A .i//z. Goldfmiths Weights. 1 Sear is 3 y Tolaes. 1 Tice is 1 Tola |. I Tola is 12 MaJS,i 1 Tola is 32 Vails, x Tola is 2 Gudjanas. 1 Tola is 9 6 Ruttees. 1 Tola is 21 Tanks. 2 Tolas and 19 Vails \ or 83 Vais make 1 Ounce Troy. ■zTol. 6 Val. the Weight of zCruzado. 2 9 the. Weight of a Doiar. 9 9 £, the Weight of uChequeene. 100 Ducbra , 1 Rupee , an Imaginary Coin. 48 Juttals, 1 Tagod, an Imaginary Jewel Weights. 3 Ruttees is x Val. x Tank is 24 Rutt. X Rupee Oranjbaw, 64 1 Rutt. I Mifcall is 1 Tank and 4 Ruttees. 8 Ruttees is 7 Carracks. 1 Carrack, 4 Grams. 20 VaJJael, 1 Rutt. 3 Tanks, x Tola, l Mangere , 1 Rutt. 11 \Vas. Note, That 3 Grains Gold, make one Carrack, Diamond-weight. A Venice Ounce is neareft 1 Toh \: And 1 and | Venice Ounce, makes 1 Ounce Troy. Coins, Weights, and Meafures of Rajapore. Imaginary Coins. The Tagod is 3 and 3 Rupees. 48 Jattals is 1 Tagod. 10 and I Larees, x Tagod. Zeraphins 2 1 , 1 Old Dollar. Weights, &c. The Candy is 14 Maunds Surat. 4 Maunds Rajapore, 1 Surat Mauni 56 Sear Rabag, is 40 Surat Sear. 9 Maunds Rabag, is 8 Maunds Rajs- pore. And 8 Maunds Raja, is & Maunds Surat. Coin and Meafure in Rabag. 48 Rues in Rabag, is 1 Ticca. , The Guzz is 28 Inches 8 1 Tuccaes 1 Tagod. 5 Guzz is 4 Yards. Coins 2 . 0-7 Coins 3 and Pmms Stones. Coins and Weights in Goa. C^ap. VII, unrw Weights. The Old St. Thomas,x6 Tan. 30 Ref. TheNewSt. 7 &«w,iy 7 a». x $Baf The Fagod, 1 fT*».lefs for Cloath, &c. 27 Inches 1 Guz for Carpets, Silk, Fine Stuff, &c. Coins of Mofambique* I Cruzado is 4 Tefcones. 1 Roy of | is 3 Tefioones. Elephants TeetH. Elephants Teeth of Mozambique, are bought per Weight, whereof are three forts, viz. Map, fuch are the greateft, free from Flaws. Mujda, which are the leffer, or the great ones with Flaws. >, Sira, the leaft, or worft fort., ^ The Weights by which they are bought,' are Baharrs and Fraflees j each Babarr 20 Fraflees, each Fraflee 12 l. arid they call the Baharrs Grofs. Of Muyne, j Baharr of 20 Fraflees, makes x Baharr Grof. Of Muyda and Muyn they hold equal Price, in regard that though the Teeth of Muyn be bigger than the other, yet the Muyda giving more Weight, they balance Account. Formerly they have been worth 260, 270, 280 Cruz, per Baharr Grofs. Of Sera, the current Price was 130, or 160, and rarely 180' Cruz, per Ba- har Grofs. In Surat are three diftin&ions of Elephants Teeth: All over 16 Sear fell at 40 Sear to the Maundy from 10 to 16, at 60 Sear to the Maund ; from 10 Sear and under, 80 Sear allowed to the Maund. Tortoife-fhelj. When one Head ( as they call it ) which is more properly an entire Body, weighs il. I, or 2 l. ’tis worth 3.0 or. 3 6 'Cruz. per Fraflees E e 2 Dire&ions A Corollary of Coins , fetter IV. c/SO-* Dire&ions for Knowledge of Be^oar-flows, & C ; b e zo a r. T HE Monkey Bezoars which are long, are the belt; thofe that are rough prove commonly faulty, breaking with Stones in the middle: Others in form of Tares, fomewhat flat, which break in fmaller Stones in the middle, are better than the rough one;. Rezoar is tried fundry ways: As the rubbing Chalk upon a ^aper, then rubbing thg Stone hard upon the Chalk, if it leave an Olive-Colour it is good. Alio touch any with a Red-hot Iron, which you fufped becaufe their Colour is lighter than ordinarily they ufe to be, and if they fry like Refin or Wax, they are napght. Sometimes they are tried by putting them into cigar Water, and if there arife upon themfmall white Bubbles, they are good, and if none, they are doubtful. The ufe of the Hot Iron is efteemed infallible. M 0 S K. It is bell to buy it in the Cod, for fo it will be preferved; that which pppneth with a bright Mosk Colour is the beft, and will yield per 0met. \Vhen takgn out of the Cod, if a little being chawed, and rubbed with a Knife on clean Pgpg.r, do look fmpoth, bright, or yellowifli, it is pro- bably good, but if the Colour be as it were mixed with Gravel, it is bad. The Goodnefs is beft difeerned per. Scent. AMBERGREEC E. The Grey is beft; for Trial thereof, if a little be chewed, and yield an odoriferous Fragor, feeling in fubftance like Bees-Wax, then it is good, otherwife not. The Names of Precious Scones of the Eafl, A Diamond. Agat. Ruby. Sqpbire. Splen. Jafper. Emerald. Lapis Lazuli. Topaz.' Opal. Hyacinth. Vermillion. Amethijt;. Clyfirapk. Garnett. Cornelian. Chryfolite. Onix. Turkis. Bezoar. The diamond I S the hardeft, and when Cut, the moft beautiful of all Stones; in knowledg whereof there is great difficulty, having a Cruft on them before they ere Cut; thejefore Caution js.to be uled in buying them, be¬ fore-hand to mete si Patern in Lead;. Their.'Waters are White, Brown, ‘ 1 Yellow, 21 ^ Weights, and Precious Stones. Yellow, Blue, Green, and Reddilh; whereof take notice, rating them Chap. VIL according to their Waters: In our Climate the perfeft White Water is ‘.^rv~vj m oft efteemed. Rough, Brute, or Uncut Stones, are in Value half the Price of Cut, Brute Stones, or Polimed Stones. Neither the Thick nor too Thin inSubftance is belt; a Thick Stone, OfPerfeaion, which is high and narrow Table, not making a ftiew anfwerable to its Weight, muft be valued at left than that which is well fpread, hath its Corners perfect, and a pure White Water: Without Spots orFoulnefs, is called a IV Scipio African was enough, and more than enough, it only carrying aGawdyOutfide, having Gilt Galleries two Stories, rounded with Banifters after the French Mode, more for Shew than Ufe; which was taking, till the bottom of the Bufinefs was enquired into, Whe¬ ther it came as by Capitulation, to be a Guard to the Gulf ? Which not anfwering that defign, it could exped to be received with a Welcome only fuitable to fuch a Pageantry, and no other. Where- 218 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Whereupon it was laden like a Merchant-man more than a Man of War; though at the fame time we carried with us a Portugal Fi- dalgo, Emanuel Men Jos, to appear for their Royalties, which are lit- tie inferior to ours, they fupplying our Defers in a conftant main- taining a Squadron, not fo much to defend the Perfian, as to annoy the Arab , their fworn Enemy ; yet by that means gain both the Ho¬ nour and Reputation due only to us, did we not negled it. With Emanuel MenJos was fhipped a Young Friar of the Order of St. Francis, who had undergone the Difcipline of the Goa Phyficians with that Severity, that his Mouth was full of backward Bleffinos for their having exhaufted almoft his Heart-Blood by their unmerci¬ ful bleeding him j infomuch that he feemed to have little more left than would fuffice to make him a walking Ghoft. Few Chriftian There are few Chriftian Ships on the Seas, or Capbalaes on Shore move without thefe Paflengers, they finding not only fafe Conduft among them, but courteous and inexpenfive Entertainment. Dm tgavely Having quitted Surat River’s Mouth, we kept the Coaft of Mia d ainft i he *’ f on ^ oarc ^ tiN we had weathered the Flats of Diu Point, the Eafler- lh\ Force. T ' ,r * mo fi Point of the Bay of Cambaia , in whofe Bottom the Mouth of the River Indus opens, and themoft Northern Fortification the Par- tugals poflefs on this Coaft, as Ancient and as Strong as any they have. Itwasfignally famous for the defeat given Sultan Badur the Emperor of Cambaia , and all his Forces, when at the fame time it was befieged by a numerous Fleet of Turks from the Red Sea, as well as Arabs from the Perfian Gulf; thus aflaulted on all Tides, it fingly bore the Fury of the Barbarous Nations, till relieved by a Fleet raifed when the Exchequer at Goa was impoverilhed, the Militia difpirited, the Ecclefiafticks were forced to ferve as Volunteers, and the Gen¬ try to take up Arms in Perfon, under the Command of Don John de Caflro, Viceroy; to whofe Virtue even the Females were fo devoted, that they willingly parted with their moft precious Jewels for no other Pawn thdn an Hair of his Beard ; which he held to be fofa- cred an Obligation, that he could not be fatisfied till he had redeem¬ ed it at the Expence of all his Wealth; fo that in that profitable Sta¬ tion, lying on his Bed of Sicknefs, he had not left himfelf where¬ withal to provide common Neceflaries. This City is placed under Twenty one Degrees and an half of North Latitude. Pirates in'feft And now launching into the Main Ocean, the Wind at North- the Indian Eaft, we braced our Sails clofe, in expe&ation of the Southern Gales, which met us about the Nineteenth Degree of North Latitude, fooner by Ten degrees than ufual. Here in this large Field of Water the Sindanian Pirates wreak their Malice on the unarmed Merchants, who not long able to refift their unbounded Luft, become tame Slaves to their lawlefs Rage, and fall from the higheft Hopes, to the humbleft degree of Servitude: Thefe are alike cruel, and equally falvage as the Malabars, but not fo bold as to adventure longer in thefe Seas than the Winter’s Blafts have difmifled them, retiring with their ill-got Booty to the Coafts of Sinda, where they begin to rove nearer their Dens of Thievery,not daring to adventure Combat with th eMalabars, or ftir from thence till the Seafon makes the Malabar retire. No part of Travels into PERSIA, 219- thefe Seas are without thefe Vermin, the Bay of Bengal being in- Chap. I. felled as much as the Coaft of Coromandel by Outlaw’d Portugals, and a mixture of that Race, the moft accurfedly bafe of all Man¬ kind, who are known for their Baftard-Brood lurking in the Iflands at the Mouths of the Ganges, by the Name of Buccaneers. Of the two former we had often fight, neither of which fort were fo fool-hardy as to come nigh us, being content to gaze on what they durft not feize, and to wiili us Impotence inftead of Force. When we had made Way Three hundred feventy four Miles to the The r^uk Weft from the Shore, at Sun-fet wefaw the Tropick Birds, which all Birds, day long had lliewn us the Recreation of the Sea, they being a kind of Sea-hawk, and fomething bigger than a Lannar, mount upon the Train to a lofty Pitch; and {looping to their Game ( which is the poor Flying Fifh, when raifed by thofe.that hunt them in the Wa¬ ter) they perform it at one down-come: When they fly for Plea- fure they are more free than the. beft Falcon : They being now a pretty way from Land, and not to be fuppofed to reach it e’re dark, ’ris believed they make the Sea their Home, unlefs in moulting . time. Here is another fort follows the fame Game, but not fo cautious where they alight, the other being fearful of the devouring Inhabi¬ tants of the Deep, but thefe fly clofe to the Water, and turn about every Wave, fo that they often efcape our view, and feem to be overwhelmed by the fwelling Surges, by the Giddinefs of their Flight being oft given pver for loft, when by a pleafwg Surprize they ap¬ pear, contrary to all hopes: Thefe have White Bodies and Grey Wings, their Beaks are Red, and two Feathers ftand at diftance for the Tails, by which they guide themfelves to their Prey- In Calms thefe Birds reft themfelves upon the drowfy Tortoife, fupinely float¬ ing in the Sea, fo that we could take them by our Long-Boat mann’d, and bring them captive tamely aboard Ship ; which was often done, the ftupid Tortoife only lamenting with deep Sighs and piteous Tears the Condition their Heedlefsnefs had brought them ' into: The Sluggards helplefs and utmoft Effort; to bewail what a timely Care and aiftive Endeavours might prevent. The Princely Dolphin and the brisker Train, afforded more Sport Thec«■ by Wine, (he being priviledg’d with a Wine-prefs for that Nation at Sir as, as well as the other Europe Nations), they could not fubfifh But Monfieur makes an outfide, lives retiredly, and without more Bufinefs than to vifit and be vifited ( which Courtefy paffes inter¬ changeably among the Chriftians as well as Natives) lounges his time away. The convenient Situation of our Fa&ory Butting fartheft out on the open Strand, yields a Profped over the Sea to the ArabianCoift, and on a clear day Orms Caftle might be difcovered by the naked Eye, it being not above a League from our Houfe, as all the Iflands interfperfed in this Gulph; though the molt diverting was of our Europe Sailors mounting their torn or Affes, the briskeft, neateft, and nimbleft of that kind I ever faw; fo that they feemed both by their Mettle and eafmefs of their going, to lofe the Epithet of M affixed to their Nature: For their Mailers waiting here their Fare, no fooner had left them to the Guidance of the Seamen, who would prove their Skill in Riding, where many times they would call them on the Sand, both to the Sport of the Standers-by, and Mirth of their Companions; letting them know a Yard was more fquared for their Cavalcade, than thefe Headftrong Creatures: Though for this Diverfion afforded from the Seamen on their ac- cuftomed Element, they are quit, when thefe Afles forfake their furer Footing on Land, to flagger on board Ship; which was often at¬ tempted for the Gilded Outfide of the beautiful Scipio, where the Captain entertained the Governor and all his Train, and as many as would.venture out of Curiofity the Laughter of theRoguy Mari- The scipio ners: Till on the 15 th of April, 1677. it returned to the Indian difpatcli'd for Coaft ; but not before the Sailers had ftigmatized this Place for its imho. Excelfive Heat, with this farcaftical Saying, That there was but an Inch-Deal betwixt Gomberoon and Hell. The cxcertive . And to fpeak truth,, when the raging Dog-ftar reigns with us, it e “ t5 ‘ is not half fo hot as it is now here; wherefore all People of any Quality are preparing to leave this Place; and the Caun had been gone Travels into PERSIA. 225 g o n e e’re now, had not the King fent him a Collat or Robe of Ho- Chap. I. hour, he having by his Male-Adminiftration of his Office not long aero provoked his Matter; for which, large Sums of Money have hardly made Attonement, even to his utter Impoverilhment, had he been difplaced as he expefled. But a Goloomy Sham, or Meflenger, arriving with the joyful News of his Reftoration, he invited all the City to be a Witnefs of this Grace. The Goloomy Sham ftaid at the Garden without the City fome days The manner at the Expence of the Caun, till things could be provided for his Re- Meffige 1 from ception, which was thus ; Early in the Morning the loud Trumpets the Emperor, and Drums gave notice that the Caun and all his Troops were ready to take Horde, and waited the Attendance of all Ranks to the chief Mofyite, thence to the Garden; where coming and feeing the Mef- fenger with the King’s Letter advanced on the Top of hisTurbat, with his Back towards the Caun, he alights, and after Three Obey- fances and Thrice kitting the Ground, he approaches and takes it in his Hand, fealed up in a Sarlaff-Qzg, or Cloth of Gold , and firfl kitting it, gives it to the Mullah , or Chief Prieft, when he retires to Prayers, and vefts himfelf withtheRobeof Honour; in which time all feat themfelves in a decent Pofture,' and at his appearance rife till the Mullah have read the Emperor’s Pleafure, when every one pays him their Congratulations, and after a Dilh of Coho or Tea, mount¬ ing, accompany him to his Palace; the Ships in the Road on this Occafion difeharging their great Guns, and the feveral Forts and Blockhoufes faluting him as he pafles: Where alighting, a Noble Banquet, and truly Perfian, was ulhered in, to which the fly Banyans were invited with the reft; who durft not but be prefent, though on¬ ly to make their Honours, and return; for they will not eat with any but their own Tribe, left they Ihould be defiled: Yet here they live not fo exadly up to their Pythagorean Rule, as they of Guzerat do, though the very next Neighbours to them, coming from the Pro¬ vince of Sinda ; for thefe indulge themfelves in Goats-Flelh, Sheep, Pullen, and almoft every thing but Cows-Flelh, for which they wil¬ lingly pay }yo Tbomands Yearly, to fpare them alive; and for this reafonis it the Shambles have none; but of everything clfe, both Flefli and Filh, here is as great.Plenty as the World has befides. The Oyftersof thisGulph are the belt, next the Britijh ; which Plenty of I purpofe to treat of in their turn. Amidft this Fulnefs of every Food ‘ thing, it is wonderful to confider where they fetch them, or how they are bred ; for thefe Sandy Meadows produce little more than Shrubs ( neither Grafs nor Corn being to be feen near this Town );, yet on thefe, both Goats, Sheep, Oxen, and Camels, Mules, and Afles, brouze and grow fat; were not the Food of the Commons Dates (which this Soil ispropereft for) and Filh, and fo the Merchant is furnilhed for his Money good cheap. The Water ferving this Town generally, is of two forts; the firft Their Ware* and moft brackilh drained through the Sands into Pits from the Sea, with which they boil Meat, and give it their working Cattle to drink; the other is immediately from the Heavens, referved 'in Ci¬ tterns built by the Charity of well-difpofed Perfons; out of which, the Poor, the Covetous, and Slaves, the Flocks and Herds too, are G g often 226 Travels into P E R S 1 A, Letter V. often fupplied, when a plentiful Rain has made them overflow, l/V\J For here are neither Frelh-Water Rivers nor Springs to be found' . nigher than four Pharfangs ( whither the Rich load an Afs, Mule,' or Camel, and fend a Servant to fetch every day’s Store ); fo that did they not lay up fuch Provifions Yearly, they would fubfift very poorly. Thefe Citterns or Storehoufes for Rain are digged out of the Ground deep into the Earth, beyond the Surface of the Sand, and are curioufly covered above with Stone, and plaftered within with excellent durable Platter ; fomeSpherical, others Tranfverfe, cutting one another in manner of a Crofs; others, and the largeft, Oblongj Square, Orbicular, or Oval; which being once finifhed, like their Caravan Seram have no Endowment to maintain them, either to keep them clean, or from falling to Decay; fo regardlefs are they of Futurity,that no one is fuffered to repair them:On which account it is, that about their great Cities fo many of all forts are found, newly built, fuperannuated, defiled, (which theyefteem fo, if either Man or Beaft have dropped in and been drowned), unfrequented, and full of Naftinefs ,* fo pervicacioufly Vainglorious, that they will have the Repute of an entire Founder, or none. It tains but To repleniih which, two Seafons ihower down their Benedi&ions; twice a Year, the one about this time in May or June, and the other at or near and then not chriflmas ; and then not of a long continuance, by reafon the intenfe ong ' Heat of the Sun permits not the Vapours to condenfe themfelves in¬ to Clouds, but expands them into Air: For this caufe is it that the Rains do not always fall, or if they do, more fparingly in this Month than in December', which gives more opportunity by its Retrograde Courfe, and longeft diftance from this Circle, .than when that great Luminary approaches neareft. The Winds. The Periodical and ftated Winds of the Gulph are the Nortkmjl, by the'Inhabitants termed Sbemauls , which begin when the Cowfbees or South-Eafl leave off, which is not before the Heats are entred, when the Shemauls blow from the Sea to aflwage them; this Climate, otherwife uninhabitable, would become more miferable than the Ve- fuv'm Plains, or Tops of /Etna, fmce it is not above Three Degrees and an half beyond theTropickof Cancer, towards the Artick Pole, and floored with vaft Sands pent in by the furrounding Sproutsof Tams and Imam continued hither: By either of thefe Winds when they blow impetuoufly, the Sands are whirled about, totheobfcu* ring of the Day, and burying all alive in darknefs, as ProfperAlfi- ms relates to happen fometimes h Egypt; which, as he obferves, oc* cafions fore Eyes and Blindnefs in all Sandy Regions, from the in¬ flammable Particles kindled by the Sun-beams ftriking on the Sands, which here is verified in an high degree on the Natives; nor are they lefs affliding to Strangers newly arrived, chafing and fretting their very Skin to Rawnefs, and then vexibg them by their frelh aflailiog with Botches and Blanes. To thefe Winds we may add the Diary, or Terrheneos from the Mountains, which breathe a gentler Air all ’ the Morning, hardly, curdling the Ocean; in the Afternoon ftronger from the Sea, refrelh the Fiery Plain. The moft unhealthy of thefe are the South-Eafl, for that then the Air is thicker, by reafon of the Seas Vicinity, and the Sun’s depar¬ ture 2 37 Travels into P E R S I A. ture towards its Southern Progrefs; for upon its return the Skies do Chap. I. clear and the Clouds, which ufed to hang about the Mountain-tops '- rv ' Xj till Mid day, vanilh earlier at the Sun’s approach; whereupon this Climate is not fubjedt to the greater part of Diftempers a more Wa¬ tty Country may abound with; though' it be to fome; to wit, to Rhcumatifms, Npmbnefs, and Periodical Fevers, fuch as are Ter¬ tians and Quartans, but chiefly to Quotidians; rarely incident to Dropfies; oftner obnoxious to Jaundice, Obftru&ions of the Spleen, Mefentery, and Windinefs of the Hypochondrias: They dread not a Lask, but are concerned when they cannot go to Stool: The Furyof thefe were not over at our Arrival; to avoid which The inland 1 was forced in the beginning of May. to betake myfelf t oAffeen, a ft^ghot. Country Village Three Miles from Gomlroon, than which it is not much better, only remoter from the Sea, wherefore it labours under the Incommodity of a ftifling Air, it being fo near the Hills that the free Blafts are’ thereby intercepted; only it enjoys a greater benefit of limpid Water, for which it is highly valuable; and by the In- duftry of the Hinds fome things do fprout here, and the Date-Trees are nourilhed by the unwearied drawing of Water, which flourilh the better.for their Pains. The conftant Din of a great many at this Work together, like the . creeking of fo many Cart-Wheels ungreas’d, afford the Sick little Reft; and without this obftreperous Noife no Water could be had; for they ufe (inly the Indian Wheel, drawn upand let down by Oxen, with as little Intermiflion Day or Night, as Syfiphons repeated Trou¬ ble is reported. In the day, befides the Heat and Sands, the Winds brought with Locuffs come them another Plague, the Locufts, to benight the day, and fly in in Annies. Armies to devour the Greens wheree’re they find them, gnawing the Palms and other Trees, both Leaf and Fruit, fpreading where they alight as thick as Bees drove out to fwarm a new Colony ; no other Charm than Fire can expel this Peft, when kindled with Wifps and withered Boughs they run up and down from Tree to Tree, ma¬ king an hideous Clamour, yet fcarcelymake them leave, where they once befet: Thus Salamander -like thefe People live in Fire, making a Remedy of their Difeafe; for here all things feem as if they had un¬ dergone a General Conflagration , or that Phoebus with his Solar Rays had like another Phaeton fcorched this part of the World; or rather this unhappy Soil retains the Curfe of Adams Fall, for being This Earth once fonigh thatTerreftrial Paradife; concerning which I am not ignorant that it is left undetermined among-Divines, and for that caufe there is always adminiftred matter of difpiite to the Interpreters of Genefjs. Elias the Theslite is pofitivethat the Garden of Eden is {fill in being, not doubting many ftill go thither, and that the Paf- fage to it lies eafy arid open, but that overcome with the Delights thereof they never care to return. Origen and Philo, tenacious of their Allegories, have fancied aMyftical Paradife, the true'Ideas of Plato- and are imitated therein by Pfettus, who fays, that Chaldean Pardyfe (fo he calls it) mtycop , is nothing elfe but a Choir of the Heavenly Virtues which illuftrate the i&therial Father, and the Rays of Holinefs flowing from the firft Gg 2 , Creator. 2§8 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Creator. Some fituate this contended-for Place in Mefipotamia • w-vn# others in India, between both which we now are; but there remains the difficulty of reconciling the Four Rivers, which admits of no other fubterfuge than to have recourfe to the General Inundation. But I leave this, and proceed to acquaint you, that nothing is i e ft here but a fenfible Map of Purgatory, if that may pleafe Come to be a Road to Paradife; to fee how the Fiery Element makes the Moun- tains gape, the Rocks cleft in funder, the Waters dagnate, to which the Birds with hanging Wing repair to quench their Third; for want of which the Herds do lovy, the Camels cry, the Sheep do bleat, the barren Earth opens wide for Drink, and all things appear calamitous for want of kindly Moidure; in lieu of which, hot Blads and Showers of Sand in fed the purer Air, and drive not only us, but Birds and Beads to feek remoter dwellings, or elfe to perilh here; for which purpofe ’tis familiar to behold the Crows and Spar¬ rows take their flight to Upland Countries, as alfo Dogs and other Vermin to remove, to avoid the Tyranny'of thisSeafon. The Cam and Shawkmder were gone before us; at length by their Example we left the Port, tho it was not before the latter end of Jims. The Cm of The Governor of this Province is Ailed the Cam of Bunder Abajfc, Bmicr either for the ftore of Abajfes Ihipped off here, or that it more im¬ mediately refpe&s the Alajfeen Countrey than any other: The adjacent Iflands, with the Soldiery, are annexed to his Jurifdi&ion; though Nprtbweft beyond Gombroon his Rule extends not far, nor much Inland, yet along the Gulph to its very Mouth he pofleflesa large Trad of Ground for many Leagues together: His Metropolis is Gombroon, where he refides till the foultry Summer makes him fly beyond the Hills, to breathe in cooler Air. Which we betook our felves to, after I ha,d Returned from Ajfeen, whither I went for thefake of the Water, as welcome to our parched Throats, as a drop of that cool Liqu.br to the importunate Dives, who was involved in the Center of thofe Flames which we on the Brink of the Abyfs only had a Tafte of. Sent us a Pre- Nor was.aPrefent at this time from the Caun, of Apples candied rent of Apples in Snow, fefs grateful, though more feafible, the Mefienger being wtndie ‘ m P°wered, for all the fcorching Gulph iqterpofed, at Night to bear middieofthe them to us; and by Break of Day wedrankaGlafsof Wine quench- Heats. ed. with a Lump of Snow and Ice, to the Cam's Health. Nor had we leis hope to pafs this dreadful Lake of Sulphur , fince hehadfent us a Token of his difeovery of a more Temperate Climate, by a Fruit not unknown to. us ( Genetins ), being Natives of a calmer Region; with t.hefe we cheated our Third for a while: In the mean time it fared not much better with us, than with thofe groaning un¬ der a burning Fever, who by large Draughts endeavour to quench their Appetite,' till it enrage.the Didemper toan higher Fit: For now we law ( what before we believed ) the tardy Fowls pay for their lin- gring here, and leave their dead Bodies to be mummied.in the Sands: Nor does,this proceed from Heat alone, but the Seas nearnefs, which now furrs, the Shore with difeolpured Foam, poyfons the Air as well as its own Inhabitants by its Corruption, daining the Strand,with Molly Green, and evaporating thence a Noyfome Scent, by the {ni¬ trifying 239 Travels into PERSIA. trifying of Fiih left dead at the Ebbing Tides. Whence the Air Chap.T. breeds Infefts, their Water-(lores growunwholefome, and a languid Habit feizes Human Bodies, difpofing thfcm, though not to Scurvies, vet fomething analogous thereto; for fewefcape without depafcent Ulcers feeding on their Limbs, which creep out into long Worms our Idioms hardly find a fit Name for, unlefs we may reckon them a-kin to Wolfs, Thagadcence, or Cacoetbicks. Upon their firft appearance they carry with them the prefence of Worms breed Impofthumations, but prefently after fuppuration a long white Fife- in their Bo merit like a fmall Gut comes forth, which gently caught by the Head ^“''^^be is wound on a tender Twig, which while it increafes is turned round, treated . 1 and fed with Rofe Water, by a Clout dipped therein to keep itmoift, left becoming dry it Ihould dye; this by Congeltion of Humours caufes great Pain, and as long as it continues, the Part affe&ed fwells into an huge Tumor ; and if by chance the Worm be broken or ill bandied, that it come not entirely forth, it breaks out in other pla¬ ces with more fevere Symptoms; wherefore great Care is taken to bring it out whole, left it Ihould reduce the Patient to a worfe Condi¬ tion : It is rebellious to all common Medicines, and muft be nou- rilbed with Milk and Butter, or elfe a Poultice of the Patient’s own Ordure. At this time alfo the Pullen fare but ill, a Peft among them kil- Poultry dya ling them without the help of Cookery; nor do the Perfum care f “ddenly ; much for eating of them; whether fufpicious of the Ill Pra&ice of their own Nation, who fancy Difeafes gotten of Proftitutes are drawn out by buggering of them, or out of any other Superftition, as that Worms and Scorpions are bred in their Guts; I know not; yet this is certain, they are often found to dyefuddenly. Here, if the Subtilty of the Enquiry could difcover any thing to find the Reafon of this Slaughter, ’twould be worth the while; but a fimple Putrefe&ion muft not bear the blame, for then all living Creatures would fall under the like Fatality, as well Sheep and other Cattle, as thefe; ’tis neceflary therefore fome more fecret and pe¬ culiar Caufe ihould be rendred; which feems to be fairly hinted at by Virgil: Hie quondam morlo Celt , mifiranda coorta ejt Tempefias, totoque Autumno incanduit aftas : Et genus mne ntci pecudum dedit omne ferarum, Corrupitque Lacus , infecit palula talo Here once the Air infe&ed, did beget A Plague which rag’d through the Autumnal Heat} All kind of Cartel and of Wild Beafts did, The Graft was tainted, Rivers putrifi’d. Which whether it be done by the Influence of the Stars, or difpofi* tion of Particles,. I difpute not., Certain it is, the Sun by itsEelip* tick Motion, determines generally the various Seafonsof the Year, as Summer, Winter, Autumn, and .the Spring; yet all Summers are not equally hot and dry, nor do all Winters ihare of the like Cold and Moifture; 2J0 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Moifture; whereupon fome Summers bring Swarms of Flies and Gnats, others are clear from them; and on this account is it fo many Armies of Locufts have invaded thei'e Quarters ( which though often, is not perpetual), that they have devoured all things as they bud, unlefs where the Husbandmen have drove them away by Fire, fo that I am willing to incline to the unaccuftomed Alterations of this Year, which by the more conftant blowing of the South Winds has filled the Air with a longer time of Moifture, and thereby impreffid fomething more Mortal by fome unwonted Conjunction of Planets, than other Years: For thefe South-Eaft Winds as they are the molt unhealthy, fo ufed they to be the lead: durable; but hitherto they have hovered with Clouds without Rain, and kept off the Northern hot ones, which reftore Health to the too hafty perfpiring Spirits by the dewy Southern Gales. CHAP. II. Our fetting forth from Gombroon, and leaving Lhor. A T laft the Heavens drop Fatnefs, and the Showers refrefh the Earth, and fill the Tanks with purer Water, wafting away the old Filth and Naftinefs contraded by the former indifpofitions of the Seafons. The Certmo- now we I> av i n g this Opportunity, fet forward towards ny at our Efe- the Evening of the a8 th of June, the Ships in the Road Saluting pnture. us, and the Merchants, both French and Dutch, Conducing us onward of our Way, with Pomp and Ceremony, till we came to the Garden out of the City, where we entertained them with a Sum- ptuous Treat, and took our Leaves; they returning to Gomlmn, and we going on Three Pharfangs that Night to Band Ally, Inhabited only by Poor People, in pitiful Cabbins covered with the Palm-Tree Boughs, by the Sea-fide, expeding Profit, as well by Strangers as by Filhery; thefe Houfes are placed on Wheels, to draw up and down at their Pleafure. BmlAU], a ^lly > s Ally, to whom this Caravan Seram is De- c smmiss- dicated, in the fame manner as we our Churches and places Sacred, Tfa ' to our Saints in Commemoration of them : Caravan Seram, fignifies no more than an Inn, viz. Se, the Head, Ram, of the Way. For this Journy we have no Wains for our Baggage, or Chariots for our felves; we Ride on Horfeback, and our Sumpters are Loaded on Mules, Afles, or Camels, which march toward Evening and Travel till Morning ,- We go but flowly by reafon of our Bealls of Burthen, though a greater part of them were difpatched a Month before us by another Road, lefs Mountainous, though farther ■ about. Coming 231 Travels into PERSIA. Coming to our Inns, we have no Hoft, or Young Damofeis to Chap. II. bid us Welcome, nor other Furniture than Bare Walls; no Rooms WV’w Swept, nor Cleanly Entertainment, Tables neatly Spred, or Maid¬ ens to Attend with Voice or Lute to Exhilarate the Weary Paflen- ger; bufinftead of thefe, Apartments covered with Dung and Filth ; Mufick indeed there is of Humming Gnats pricking us ta beep an unwilling Meafure to their Confort: So that here is neither Provifion for Man or Bead, only an open Houfe, with no enliven¬ ing Glafs of Pontack, or Poinant Cheer to encourage the Badnefsof the March; but every Four or Five P bar fangs, i. e. Pqrafangee, a. German League, on the King’s High way, a Caravan Ser Raw, as dirty as Augeus his Stable, thofe before always leaving the next comer work enough to cleanfe where they have been; that after coming in Tired, they are more intent to fpread their Carpets for Repofe, than re¬ move the incruftated Cake of Sluttery, the conftant Nurfery of Flies and Bees, they often bringing their Horfes into the fame Bed- Chamber. Thefe Houfes Built by Charitable Perfons, are always fupplied Out. manner with Tanks and Cifterns, which now run over fince yefterdays ^ow'pio’ Rain, and are commonly very Fine and Coftly; but other Com- vided. modifies we muft bring with us, otherwife we are likely not only to go to Bed on the bare Groundnut depart more Hungry than we came thither (very few Places maintaining Sutlers for Horfe-meat, or Diet for the Wayfaring Man ): Therefore when we undertake this Journy, we carry not only all our Family, but HoulholdftufF too $ for which every one has a feparate Allowance for his Servant and his Baggage, and a Butler in common, who Mounts the Trojan Horfe, fupplied with Bread, Wine, Salt, Cold Meat, Knives and Napkins for the Viaticum, inTwoCanifters, or Chefts hung on each fide one, under whofe Belly is girt a Metarrab, or Goat Skin full of Wine, and another of Water; a Metarrab full of the latter every one ties to his Horfes Saddle, in the faihion of a Leathern Bottel, and a Silver Tofs, or Cup, in a Cafe at the Bow of the Saddle: In the middle of the Munfel (i. e. a whole Day’s Journy ) the Butler alights, and by fome advantageous Brook, or Tank, fpreadsaTableon the Ground, while the whole Capbala refrefh: (We generally make our Munfel from Four in the Afternoon till before Four in the Morning ) when after a Glafs of Wine, and the Fragments of yefterdays Provifions, we betake ourfelves toReft with much eagernefs, if it be poftible among fo many ftrange Cuftoms at firft 5 as Noife-of Carriers Bells, Feeding, Neighing, Breying, and Noile of fo many Creatures, Loading and Unloading, with the Singing, Chatting, and Din of Servants, Horfe-keepers and Muliteers; but Cuftom makes all things familiar and eafy, that we generally Repofe till Two the next Day; when our Cook has provided not only our Dinner (which is as Sumptuous as if at Home, and brought in with the fame Order) hut furthermore, ournecellary Provant for the enfuing Day’s Jour- ny j and after this manner are we fitted to meafure out our future Hardfliips. ' Hither the Banyans, or Englijh Brokers, Accompanied us, they Tk Shttefu takingtheir Leave for the Port, we keeping on our Courfe, Three orFootmer,i Englijhmen 232 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Englijhmen with our Retinue anfwerable to the Quality of each; we haj with us Twenty Camels for Lumber, Fifteen Horfes, Three Mules, and Two Afles, befides Three Shatters for our Guides, which are the only Men herealfo.who'wear Plumes of Feathers in their Tur- bats, fmall Bells about their Wades, Truncheons in their Hands, Horfe-CIoaths over their Shoulders richly Embroidered-on Scarlet* Packthread Shoes on their Feet, and clofe Jerkins with Breeches be¬ low their Knees; thefe are our Guides, and hold our Horfes while we Mount, look after them and the Equipments, as Bridles and Fur¬ niture, (the mod: mean of which are Silver ) when we alight; and are not only fwifr, but lading Footmen. Beginning to fet forward, neither Trad nor Road was followed, all being covered with Sand ; but our Guides deered by their own Experience; this was not fo comfortable, to behold nothing but a Sea of Sand; for now we began to turn our back upon the Gulf, and deer a more Northern Courfe,from whence to refled what Suflenance this barren Earth could produce, that, Jliould our Stores fail> we might want; yet even for this Jealoufy we had not the lead HVadow of Reafon, for had w.e been lefs provided we might have met with Plenty, every one driving to Vend us Neceflaries, to the no fmall encreafe of my amazement how they came by them. Of the Palm- After we had waded through Two Pharfatigs of this Defolate Tree. Way, we began to Clamber up thofe Hills, which feem hanging over the Road of Gombroon, now beating the Hoof on more folid Rocks: In this Paflage we could here and there defcry fome Groves of Palms, whofe Fruit were tindured with a Cherry Red, the condant fore¬ runner of their full Maturity; at which time they look for the fame Unhealthinefs we do in our Autumn; though I find them not fo fu- perditioufly addided to Symbols, as the Egyptians to their Hiero- glyphicks, yet they exprefsthe Year by this Tree; becaufe this Tree, fay they, of all others alone ( which 1 before noted of the Coco-Nut Tree, and therefore I think it a kind of Palm ) at every appearance of the New Moon procreates a frelh Branch, by which Twelve Produdions the whole Year is refembled and compleated; the Trees are Tall and Slender, bearing their Boughs all atop, like a lhady Tuft, fome danding bolt upright, and others fpread abroad, with others flagging and ready to give way to the Birth of more; when they are Young and in their Infancy, they no fooner fprout up but the prickly Leafs guard its tender Head, which is of a pithy fubdance, and when Wounded fpoifc the Trees Growth, fo that it Dies; but while it efcapes that danger, it rifes by degrees after the former Order, the under Branches bowing Arch wife to their upflart Youngflers; the Leafs are fet in Rows like Ribs to a great Spine, arifing from a Circular Bafe, till it end in a lharp Point ; under thefe Boughs the mighty Branches hang full of Dates in Cluders, and which is more than fay fo, The more they’r Burthened better clo they Thrive , Like deprefs’d Virtue letter kept alive . So patient under great Loads of this Fruit, that they feem to rejoyce with Travels into F E R S I A. with a more chearful Verdure, and unconcerned reje&the withered Boughs, whilft a more lively Produft makes them glad by a new Succeflion ; by which means it keeps Green the whole Courfe of the Year. Nor when the old ones fall, are thefe only fit for the Fire; for they being orderly laid, and finely Gilded or Painted between the Beams of the fame Wood, fupply the Ceilings and other Adorn¬ ments of their beft Houfes; nor are they lefs ferviceable to Thatch their meaner Cottages: The Trunk being deprived of thofe Comb¬ ings, fropi the main Head is beheld a flourifhing Peruke ofPalms, fit to be worn by the greateft Heroes; from whence downwards without any Sprouts,it appears all in Coat of Mail Cap-a-pee,or like a Pine-Ap¬ ple from its fcaly Stru&ure, caufed by the falling of the precedent Branches, by which compa&nefs it emulates its Conelike Figure* Of thefe Trees there are Male and Female,and which is worthy our Notice, the Female Palms (which only Bear) will not Bring forth ' before they are Impregnated at the Roots with the Seed of the Male, firft pounded into Meal and fprinkled about them; which how true Idifpute not; but certainly Tradition has confirmed the Practice, and they are not to be perfuaded to negled the Cuftom. Inthemidftof this Days Munfel, among the Mountains we palled by the Mouth of an horrid Cave; where they entertain Travellers with Tragick Stories, and a Legend of Fables, as that it is the Road to Hell; for, fay they, whoever Enters never Returns; as if thence had arofe the Proverb, No Redemption from the Shades; or that of the Poet, • * *———Facilis defienfus Averni; Sed revocaregradus, hie labor, hoc opus eft. Eafy the Defcent’s to Hell, but back again Our ftepstocall, this is the Work, the Pain. But it ftuck not on my Fancy, who had been informed of Plea* fanter Stages on that Journy, and an higher way to more open Doors. / - -Tatet AtrijamaDitis. Hell Gate wide open Hands. . But it may more probably be an Invention to fright Paflengers into the right Way, and that they Ihould avoid, by fo fad and terrible a Remark, the wrong, which would wilder them in an unlucky Maze; for here the. Way was not only Intricate but Difficult 5 whereby I was encouraged to aufpicate a more Cceleftial Path might lead us to Ge/cie, in the Turkijh Language fignifying zGoat Village; which was on Wheels, as the other, being not Twenty Miles diftant; it is in a Sandy Valley full of Shrubs, on which the Camels Feed, but the Afles, Mules, and Horfes, on Barly and chopt Straw; [ the Ter¬ ms learn’d the Indians how to Treat their Horfes; where having H h declared 2 33 Chap. II. Hell Gate. Glide a Vil¬ lage on Wheels. 234 Travels into P E R S I A. Letter V. declared the manner, I forbear here, it being exa&ly the fame ] f or w-v*** thefe Eight or Nine Munfels they care not to Houfe them, but only Cover them, with Tawpengees , or Horfe-Cloths, and expofe them to the open Air; which is not fo Unhealthy for them, as for Human Bodies who carefully prevent fuch Lodgings for fear of Aches, and other Inconveniences incident thereupon; wherefore in the middle of the Vale we repaired to the Caravan Ser Raw , almoft buried in the Sand it being the only obftacle to their rowling Billows. ’ The next Morn we were waited on by the Country Women bringing us Cheefe, and Butter made before our, Eyes, with no other Churn than a Goatskin, in which they fliook the Milk till Butter came; Fi(h, Roots, and Herbs, with all forts of Pullen: [ n thefe Two Munfels we only meet with thefe Servitors, in other P| a . ces Men appear alone, not allowing their Women that Freedom i but were they no more tempting than thefe Swains, they’d have fmall caufe for the Reftridion; for they are Strapping Sunburnt LafTes, with little more Cloaths on than a dark coloured Smock, or Frock ; and for their Meen it is not enticing; thefe bring,us Water ' to Drink out of their Tanka,, newly filled, which was Thick, Troubled, and Slimy; for which reafon the Vapours, or rather Fumes from the Sun’s violence, were very Offenfive, and the more ; irkfome,. becaufe we were conftrained to tarry here another Night, for that the River Rate Cotma Sbure, or Salt»Water, was now over¬ flown by the Waters falling from the Mountains beyond the Banks to that excefs, that it could not be Forded by Travellers, and the Stream ran with that Rapidnefs, that it was unfafe to venture over till the defending Catarads had left off pouring on the overfweU’d Brinks, and emptied themfelves into the wider Gulf, not many Leagues diftant hence. The Day after, as foon'as we heard the Waters were abated; we fet forward, and found it true what had been reported ( Three Ct- '■phalas not daring to pafs the Lake, where they had lain fomeDays, till we had led the way ). It was fultry Hot when we affayed to go, but Delays in this cafe were dangerous; befides, we were uncertain whether it would hold uplbould we tarry, which made us confide on our Guides, who gave us affurance, that the Marfhes were pafla- ble ; we were more troubled with Waves of Sand than Water, both which, by Rain, or Wind, keep on their Courfe with fome noifetill filenced in the Terfian Gulf. A Great Athwart this Fen, which was upward of Three Miles, was Built ri £e ' notlong fmce,as by theModern Architecture may be gueffed, a {late¬ ly Stone Bridge with Arches, on which high Banifters with Niches, and a brave paved Cawfey Elegantly Built, which kept pace with us, but by the Negligence of thefe People, as well as Injury of Floods and Sands, it was broke down in feveral places, efpecially where the . Torrent made the deepefl: Channel, fo that though firm and ftrong in the greateft part of it, yet by its being ruined in themoft needful, it is become impaflable; and though a Work of ex¬ traordinary Benefit and Charge, yet already, rendred of little Ule. ■ The Travels into P E R S I A.- The reft of this day’s Journy was between the Mountains, where W e were encounter’d by ftrange Flalhes of Lightning, the Foretellers of this Night’s Rain, which we hardly efcaped before we came to Cmreflait, in all Twenty Miles: This Caravan Ser Raw is named from a Tree growing here, and a Village properly fo called (of which it is a Compofition in Perftaa ), it being the firft we met with whofe Houfes were fixed. The following Day we continued going between two Chains of Dry and Burnt Hills, through a ftony Valley, not without fear of fuffocating, although it was near Evening e’re we fet out* and Ye- fterday’s Showers had benignly diftilled on the Fiery Drought, to cool the parched Earth: But this is the dreadful Vale, where when the Hot North Winds blow at this time, it fweeps both Men and Beads away, either by Night or Day, the Heat being as intenfe. and as intolerable as that from the Mouth of an Oven: We were con- eluded through this Furnace by the Divine Prote&ion ( without being put to- make ufe of the common Remedy in this Exigency, which is, upon perceiving of the hot Blafts, to caft our felves flat on the Ground till-they are over, thereby to prevent the Fate attending thofe who refufe to ftoop to this known Prefcription, which is, to fall down dead, never to rife more alive), till we were mounted whore thefe two Chains are linked to each other, and by their mutual Afcent we were lift up on high, and then gently defeending we were let down to Goorlazergum, Fifteen Miles from Caureflan. ' In this Bottom is a folitaVy Inn, very commodioufly feated; it is furrounded with Mountains, at whofe Bottoms are ftore of Water- Melons, a grateful Cooler in this Extremity of Heat: Goor-Bazergum is as it were, to fay , The Merchants Grave , in the Terjian Tongue. Hence up Hill and down Hill, through broken Rocks and unftea- dy Stones, through kindled Fires from fulphuriousCaverrts, and the more raging effeefts of the burning Orb, enlightening and enliven¬ ing all the (World befide; here it kills and confumes theUn-nurtur’d Plants, leading them dry and faplefs; as if thefe great Heaps of Rocks were made for no other end but to counterpoize the more Fruitful Part of this Terreftrial Globe; infomuch that it had been utterly impoffible to have drawn Breath in this Place* had not the late unufual Rain fomething allayed the Fury of the Heats, which yet were troublefome enough by reafon of the {teaming Milts ari- fing boiling hot with the Sun; which fo late in the Year are by the moft Ancient of this Country efteemed fo far out of courfe, that their Memory fails them to relate the like. Nor do the Publick Roads deny the Calamity of thefe Munfels, which are frequently ftrewed with Bones of labouring Beafts, expi¬ ring under their Burthens, many of which were frelh Examples of this Truth, lying reeking Carkafles in our Way from Goor Batergum to Jehmi, which is but Twelve Miles, where we were forced to flay to get more Camels, for Three had failed us in thisConflidtj and af¬ terwards with much Pain we raeafured fix Miles more to Tangedelon, where we eafed our felves at a Caravan Ser Raw , near a Stream of li¬ ving Water fweetly gliding through the middle of it, and wafh’d Hhi the 235 Chap. Ik Cagrtjlan. The Piece where Men and Beads have been de-J fttoyed by the Heats. Gmeazerguvi, the Merchants Grave, JihiaU 2 $6 Travels into P E R. S S A. Letter V. the DuftofF ourfweaty Bodies, in a Tank contrived to make a Dies fant Bath under the Roof of the Seraiv. ^ a ’ Tmgddm and Tangedelon exprefles in its Mothers Speech, A Strait Paffage which comm. hits.exadly with the following Munfel ; for we travelled long under . hollowed Mountains, whofe lofty Rocks hung over our Heads threatning to flop our Career, which after Twenty Rocky Miles di-’ reded us to Cormoot , a Town of Dates, Cormoot being a Date n&T If ’ ii. Thus far we came diredly in a Line; now we wander to and again in the Meanders of the Barren Hills, with indefatigable Indu- ftry,till we defcend into a large Plain,at the End whereof Sham Zannt an \AhJfm, had built an old Caravan, Twenty Miles from Cormoot- where we met a Caphala of light AfTes going for the Port; and here p jere obliged to change more of our Camels, they being q u ; te In this Plain the Heats increafed upon us fo, that we could not touch the Waljs but they were like Fire, the Winds that lhould re- frejh us were ready to inflame us, nor was any thing cool but the Water, which they had kept in Earthen Vefiels dipped in their Wells 9F T?flk?, where being drowned they came up Ihivering cold, which Was gll the Comfort we received here; wherefore at Sun fet we made ipr Lhor, choaked with Duft and Heat ; half-way, at a new Carmn §?r R Weencountred three Caphalaes laden with Dry Fruit for the Port : This was founded by the Overfeer of the Building of the Long-Bridge oyer the Lake leading to the Gulph, who raifed him- ^begins (though covetous in other things) to be- hi? Mony on thefe Works, having laid the Foundation for ano¬ ther at Sham Zangee, from this Place to Lhor the Ground is more Even, and fit for Cul- ttvafion, the Husbandmen haying planted their Cottages along the pl'?y, on each fide of a gliding Broojf, here, and there befet with Tmfttsk Trees. _ Abp^t Nine in t-he Morning we came, to Lhor, near Forty Mile tAngee-. The Hollanders have here a neat, but final! ^Welling, whither their Commodore comes fometimes: In this we to, have worn feme days, away, but: neither the Heat nor ^m u m. would let us reft long in thisCity; wherefore defiring to fty ftopv thefe we changed our Camels, for. Mules,, that we; might b?tterfpeed thamthefe; fJp.wAnjmpistWGuld endure; for thefe W^tWpwateSeats.. were too, hot for. us,. fo;that the, fame; Afternoon; We.mounte.di and. on l&rfebagk.fa.w the.remaining palt of the City a mgus on our Way. The Road from Bunder to it isfpacious and open, through a pleafant Campaign, for near Twenty Miles, the fountains obfervinga.modeft diftance on that fide, although behind ls begirt with enough for defence; at top. of which is a notable Jat,fit for a Cafile, being of ; difficult Accefs, from whence thofe: • ? may hear the. Thu.ndring Cannons roar among the Xal|eys, which were moft; taken, from the Portugal! in their being beaten .quf of the. Gulph. 6 ,. °f an- Ancient . Date, and ftill retains its. Name, w «hfch for ; that-it wasfoguarded.by. Nature; that it;couldnpt eafily 2 37 Travels into PERSIA. be conquered, held many Ages the Majefty of a Kingdom; but Chap. If now it is governed by a Puritanical Caun ( for 'that he has Vifited ufV’V Mahomet’s Tomb ) under the Ter ft an Emperor; yet ftill it extends its fell far 'in i £s Province, reaching almoft to Bunder Alajfee, and has two eminent Ports tending to the Mouth of Euphrates, viz. Bun- der Congo and Bunder'Reek, with half the Pearl-fifhing, divided be¬ tween the Aral and Per fan. He is in fuch Vogue at Court for his Probity, that his. Neighbour Caun was ordered to fubmit to his Judgment, before whofe Tribunal he appeared to anfwer the Crimes objedled to him in his Government. However he is not fo great a Bigot as to abftrad himfelf wholly from the Pleafures of this World, fo as to deny himfelf. his Paradife here: For his, Palaces fhew not onlyftudious Contrivances, but are Luxurious both for inward Furniture and outward Beauty, with which Pleafures he oftner indulges, himfelf than he is at Leifurefor Publick Affairs. Before his Palaces a Fourfquare Piatzo takes in a large Space of Ground, with Gates toevery. Quarter; over Which his loud Muffck are placed, either to entertain Strangers, or by their Noife to give the Time of the Day at every Three or Four Hours: At the Gate entring the Palace is a conftant Guard: Within are ftately Apart¬ ments, with Lakes and Gardens, equal to the Reman Pride in its Age of Wantonnefs; but fo much the more to be extoll’d, by how - much more this Soil is incompatible with the Italian Mold. Strufturee magnifies undique Latius Bxtrutta vifuntur Lucrino, . Stagna Lacu, populofque vitis Evincit alias: Turn Violaria S? Mjrtus & omnia copia narum Spargentque pometts tdorem. . Fertilihus Frugilufque eleftis Aurdhtiorumfpiftor igneos Excluditittus , arhor & foliis Fragranti's Hefperi Poma -- Aufpicij pariens fecuhda. Magnifick Buildings (hortlywill alloW Few Acres of firm Landuiito the Plough. Now may be %n huge Pools to'make,. Of much morewide Extent than LucrinLOke. The folitary Plarte the Vine fupplants, Nor any Flower fweet Odours breathing, wants; As Myrtle, Rofes, and the Violet, . Where the firftOwner fertile Date-Trees fed TheOfange now toPW«x piercing Eye, Through his thick ; Branches Paffage doth deny. Befides all theft, there-is an Exchange,; orAar/e, full of. Wares, in the Figure of a Crols, r eared with polilHed Stohe on a large Area before the Duke’s Houfe. The 258 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Brimftone the moft refined here. The Btzoor- ftoneitsname. How bred. Its Trial. The Water in ufe for the common People is chiefly Rain; where¬ fore the Cifterns are more coftly than in other Places; of the fame Figure as at Gombroon, only fome few are tubilated and built of Mud. Many Merchants poflefs Princely Edifices in this Town, it being a Place of fome confiderable Trade both Inland, and from the feveral Ports. The Earthisprodu&iveof Sulphur, whofe Chymical Spirit is ex- traded here, and is preferable to any other, I never having met with more refined Brimftone; they generally diftil it per Campanam. The Rezw-Stone is purchafed at this Mart, being laid to befound in the Stomach of the Mountain-Goats hereabouts, occafioned by fome Plant they delight to feed on, to which they attribute its Growth: On which Subjed more may be feen in Bint ins Junior’s Animadverfions on the Second and Sixth Paragraph of Garcius al Orta : Whofe Words are to this Effed; ‘This Stone I find not only to be generated mPerfia, but alfoin ‘ other Parts of the World ; and becaufe none as I know of befote 1 my felf have given the true Etymon or Derivation of this Stone, or ‘ how if grows, hear theBufmefsina few Words. • ‘ The Per (bans then call this Stone Pazahar , being a Compound of ‘ Pa and Zahar,' the firft of which is againfl , the other is Pojfon; as ‘ much as if you fliould fay in Greek, Antidoton , in Englijb, Counter- * Poyfon. ‘ It grows after , this manner; there is a Place in Perfia called Ste- t lanon, as Bontius writes, the Perfians Sbabanat, Three Days Jour- ‘ney beyond Lb or, in whofe Fields there fprings up an Herb like ‘ Saffron and Hermodadyls, on which the Flocks of Goats (or ‘ Sheep) feed, and by their eating thereof thefe Stones concrete ‘ and become an hard Subftance; but I fufpend my Vote, whether ‘ in the Stomach, Reins, or Bladder: However, that Belief may be ‘ gained for any of thefe, feeing them halt and complain as muchas ‘Men under the fame diftrefs, would more than incline the moft in- ‘ credulous. They are not, fays he, unlike the Europe Goats, only ‘ they have longer and ftraiter Horns: They are not of divers Co- Hours, as he affir ms, neither go they in Flocks or Herds together; ‘ though I have eaten of their Fleffi more than once, hunted by ‘ Greyhounds, being turned loofe from the Mountains, they having ‘ much of the Nature of Venifon both in their Tafte and Afpefr ‘Moreover thefe Creatures (father Sheep than Goats) as they breed | greater or lefler Stones, they difeover it by their Gate, of which ‘ both the crafty Armenian as well as Perfian are well advifed. Other Creatures as well as thefe are fubjed to this Diftemper, as Cows, Sheep, and Apes; which laft is reckoned the moft excellent ' Bezoar by more than a few. ' To the Directions already given, Ilhalladd, That the true Bezoar Stones have a Straw, or fomething in refemblance thereof, which never fails but in the Adulterate; and if the upper Coat being Iha- ved off, there fucceed not another Round, as is vifible in Onions, till you come to the Straw, without doubt it is Counterfeit. But the following Method will better betray the Cheat, becaufe they leave nothing unattempted to impofe upon the Buyers: If y ou rub Travels into PERSIA. 2,39 rub the Stone with a little Lime, and if in the chafed Part there ap- Chap. II. pears a Purple Colour, it declares it true and genuine, without fophi- ftication. Or if you call them into a Bafon of Water, after an ex- ad Account is taken of their W eight, and they be taken' out Three ' Hours after, and weighed again, and it anfwer the firft Account, nei¬ ther lofing nor gaining by their flay in the Water, then pronounce them right: But if being rubbed with Lime they chance to crack, or a Flaw be made in the Trial, or that they alter upon their Im- merfion in the Water, you flander them not, if you fay they are Falfe. In this Country Ap Feetida is gathered at a Place called Defcoon-, ^ Fstillg: fome deliver it to be the Juice of a Cane or Reed infpiflated ; others, of a Tree wounded: It differs much from the (linking Stuff called /ling, it being of the Province of Carmania: This latter is that the Indian. ? perfume themfelves with, mixing it in all their Pulfe, and make it up in Wafers to corred the Windinefs of their.Food, which they thunder up in Belchings from the Crudities created in their Stomachs ; never thinking themfelves at eafe without this Thenac .• And this is that they cozen, the Europeans with inftead of Ap Fts- tide, of which it bears not only the Smell, but Colour alfo, only it is more liquid. It is ufual on the News of our Approach to thefe great Cities, or The Civility Papulous Towns, for the Governors or their Deputies to exped the °f the Per T m coming of our Agent a Pharfang out of Town, bringing the Men of ends'inCove- Note with him to attend us to our Lodgings, and bring us with Pomp toufnefs. through their Streets, and at the fame time lay in Store for us and our Horfes , ulhering in huge Courfes of Provifions, both ready drefs’d and undrefs’d, as alfo Services of Sweetmeats dried and un¬ dried, fending in Sheep, Goat, and Pullen, Barley, Rice, and the like j and at our departure Prefent us with Terfian Steeds for our Journy: For which we muff: not ftir till we have paid fufficiently,by return of our Country Manufadures, as Scarlet, Watches, or fome- thing of greater Value: Tam cito in avaritiam excurrit fuahumani- tas ; quommodo enim leneficium eft quod in queeftum mittituri cum a bene- ficio abeffe debeat negotiation &c. Senec. lib. 3. de Benefic. So foon their Humanity is turned to Avarice; for how can that be efteemed a Gift, which is bellowed with an intent to gain? Since any manner of Profit, which is fordid, makes void an entire Benefadion. But being, rewarded for their forced Courtefy, upon our mounting they conduded us on our Way, as far as they waited to bring us in. C H A P. 2 4 ° Letter V. ? ohital Prophet’s Travels into PERSIA. CHAP. Ill; We Meafure the utmofi Bounds of the Provinces of Lhor and Gerom, to the City of Siras. B EING now advanced upon the Mountains, among whole Tops and Turnings we make our Progrefs; frelh inftances of the Convulfions which this Sulphurious Soil is fubjedt to encounter us, as by the Cloven Hills and Rocks we may be convinced could be effe< 3 ed by no other means than by terrible Earthquakes from the Bowels of the Earth: Among thefe droughty and uncouth Paths, having wearied our Steps for Three Pbar fangs, we came to a Caravan Ser Raw, by Name Pokutal, at the foot of thefe Mountains, and the beginning of a fpacious Plain, where we found the firft alleviation from the fierce Heats of the Noon of Night, though at Noon Day we could not think our cafe much amended. To is interpreted the Bafis, Ratal of the Hill;, this Inn was a new, flrong, fquare, large Inn; the firft we ftabled, or rather Jhut our Doors in a-Nights, it being Built after the beft Form, and Capacious of a great Number, both in the outward Square and inner Stables; to this belonged Three ftately Tanks with a deep Well, fomean Hundred Fathoms down to the Bottom, with a Pond, either to Wa¬ ter or WafhtheCattel in, hard by it; the perfed proof of our be¬ ing palled the Sands, which hold not digging fuchadepth, this being White Marble; and the whole Plain promifed a more fruitful Clay. Hence to Bury metes out Twelve Miles more, where the. beft Caravan Ser Raw is on all the Road, it being not only well Adorned with White facing Stone, but is both a Large and Convenient, as well as Stately Fabrick. Hard by this is a Peer, or Burying-place of one of their Pro¬ phets, being a goodly Monument, with an Arahick School Founded in his Honour, and Endowed with a good Penfion for to maintain the Devotion of their Priefts. The next Munfel we hardly Went, but Crept onward to, through almoft impaflable and dangerous Precipices, with all the heed imagi¬ nable, for a Trip here could not have been retrieved without thelofs of our Lives; but by the Divine Providence w'e came to Bonaru, an Eight Cornered Car oaf an, . Eighteen Miles from Bury; thereon an Hill are the remains of a regular Fortification, with a fuppliment of Outworks on every fide, without any Avenue, unlefs on one fide; between this Village and Bury, the Inhabitants reckon a many Ca- files on the Mountains with large Tanks of Water, and Store-houfes for Provifions of Corn, Cut out of the main Rocks with indefari- gable Coft and Induftry, which Works were they to be begun now ( fay they ) could not be Finifhed by the Experteft Artifts in Fifty Years. They yet retain a Warlike Difpofition, being ftill accounted the beft Gunnels here of any other places in Perjia ; at the Entrance into this place are unfizable Heads of Mountain-Rams with their Horns, 241 Travels into PERSIA. Horns, fet up as the Trophies of their Skill in Shooting them ; and Chap. Ilf. as a farther Argument of the cruel flaughter made among their Fore- fathers, for more than Three Days Journy together, the Fields are every where filled with Graves. • And now we began to be acquainted with the fhift they make for Whatfhifc Water in thefe dry Countries, where there is little Rain, and no Rivu* \y^ e ® akefi)r lets; they Dig for Springs, and when they have found one, they fol¬ low the Water-Courfe which way it direds under Ground, Hollow¬ ing the Ground, and at every Thirty or Forty Yards, caft up a Mole-Hill, where they make a Pit to Ventilate and let in the Air to Purify the Water, aswellastoCleanfe the Channel, and this Courfe holds on many Tharfangs together for the advantage of the Vallies; and this I look upon to be as much the caufe of the Generation of the Bezoar-Stone in the Animals afcrefaid, as the reafons alledged there by Bontius for their Production; for by the confentof all Phy¬ sicians, nothing contributes more to the Breeding of the Stone, in Men, than fuch things as are Undigefted and create Obftrudi- ons; nor can any thing be more Obftruding than fuch Water as is drawn from Wells and deep Caverns, where the Sun has little influ¬ ence, as we may have occafion to manifeft afterwards; and there¬ fore we may probably Conjecture, thefe Unconcoded Waters tb.be a main inftrument of their production, fmce where thefe- are in ufe, this Accident is more general than in other places. From Bonaru to Moufar, another Eight-fquare Caravan , are Fif- umfur theut- teen Miles, fine, plain, and eafy way; near the Caravan Ser Raw was a molt extent of pleafant Garden, theutmoft extenfof the Caun of Lhorh Dominions of on this Road. And as a Boundary, thereto, is oppofed the fteepeft Hill we have yet met with, infomuch that we found it a notable Task to gain the Top by the Morning of the following Day, contenting our felves to fit down at Chaw talk, but Nine Miles from Bonaru , being advifed of a more troublefome Day’s Journy the Munfel after this j not fo diffi-: cult for Accefs as this, but a more continued Labour by the multi¬ tude of Mountains we were to Matter, and on that account it was highly neceflary to Feed our Caphalas well before we undertake fo great a Work. Chawtalk, ( by the moft valuable Munificence of the Benefador, yet living to Overfee this good Deed compleated ) isa noble new Caravan , an Ample and Princely Building: Near to it was, not long fince, only a Well of Bitter Water, which gives Name to the Place; but by the Coft and Inqueft of this Pious Benefador, Sweeter Waters are at this time produced, fomething more remote, for Men to Drink, though the Cattel refufe not generally .the other. On thefe Mountains the Mafiich Tree brings forth plenty of that Minn*; Gum, of which the Country People make good Profit: Nor does lels Benefit accrue by the Mellifluous Dew a-Nights turn’d into Manna, from the Leafs and Shrubs, as well as Plants, upon the Tides of thefe Mountains, which are not altogether fo Barren, as thofe we have hitherto palled; this Manna is White and Granulated, and, what I have found my felf, I think not inferior to the Calalrian. Ii . .As • 242 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. As for the Maffick Trees, they bore Red Berries, and if wound- ed would fpew out the liquid Refin from the Branches; they are not' Maftick, very tall, of the bignefs of our Bully Trees: Whether they bring forth a Cod or not, this Seafon would not inform me, nor can I fay it agrees in all refpeds with the Lentisk Tree of Clufm, The Bitter Here alfo grows the Wild or Bitter Almond, the Wands or Sticks Almond. qf which are in Efteem, for that Tradition of their being of the fame Tree with thofe of Aarons Rod, which budding brought forth Almonds, and for that reafon are worn by thofe of the higheft Rank among them: More of this anon. And now the time approaches we muff pals over in one Day as many Mountains as we have hitherto been conquering, fome of whofe Clifts could never be gained, had they not been joined toge- 1 ther by vaft Arches from Rock to Rock, their difmal Pits otherwife being rendred impaflable: Thus by inexpreffible Endeavours we ftrive to clear this formidable Ghain of Hills, all in the Heat of the Sun ( not daring to trull our felves in the Night), whereby we had our Skins Head off of thofe Parts expofed to the Solar Rays; and thofe that fared bell had Bladders railed, as if fcalded or burnt by the Fire ; for which, when we had travell’d One and twenty Miles, we found at Gerom a ready Medicine of the Butter of the Seed of Gourds made into an Ointment, which appealed the Inflammation by its cooling Virtue, and immediately afiwaged the Pain by Baiting our felves herewith, being half Roalted. Germ. We refreshed our felves one entire Day at Gerom , whereafmall White Grape, without any Stone, was an excellent Cordial; the Wine prefledfrom it is white alfo, and the Itrongelt by Natural Fer¬ mentation only, that I ever drank; they are called Kifmas Grapes, and the Wine is known by the fame Name farther than where they grow, it being of fo flout a Body that it is not fubjed to decay prefently; though their bell Wines when they begin to turn, are fit for nothing but Vinegar, they being inexpert either in their Cure, ortoprefervethem; that which we drink is pure, without any So- phiftication. «r e ftro aTo There grow no where better Dates than at this Town; and pack- Dates here . 6 ed up dry are preferred before others all the World over. The People that dwell.here are for the molt part blind; for of Three you meet, Two lhall not fee, and it may be a Third lhall have but half an Eye. The Caufe of The Occafion whereof, as they report, is, becaufe little pretty their Blind- coloured Mice and Weafels by their poyfonous Stale infed the Trees ne s ' fo,that they produce Worms,the Parent of this Diftemper; more tru¬ ly fancying than proving this Secret, for want of that Microfcope whereby Kepler aflifted this enquiring Age to difcover, That no kind of Plant whacfoever but procreates of its fuperfluous Juice, fome putrid Humour, which by adive Nature is enliven’d into Vital Motion, forming to every one their proper Infeds. Whether any Virulency may be afcribed to thefe,or the immoderate eating of Dates ought to be accufed of their exceflive Heat, as we do Wormwood, which for that reafon we account offenfive to the Eyes, 1 know not; following herein the Prince of Phyficians, Calidis eriim ftcpe Trawls into PERSIA. fafe mltamqae utuntur, nervorum infirmitatem adfermt, in Aph. 16. Hyp. lib. 5. who fays, They who accuftom themfelves to eat Hot things, bring on themfelves the Weaknefs of the Nerves, and con¬ sequently decay their Eyefight, the Optick Nerves, being fignally affedted, through which Organs, Spirits ought to be conveyed princi¬ pally for the fervice of the Eyes. To which Evil no doubt Sympathy makes a great Addition, whe¬ ther in the Individual, or in refpeCt of others; Wherein the Poet Philofophized, when he fang, . Cum fpeftant cculi Iref os laduntur & ipfi . But above all, the Sands, which have here the fame effeft as elfe- where. This is a Free Town, enfranchis’d with Liberties peculiar to its felf, being independent on any other Governor but its own; though he be but a Calenture or BaylifF, giving Laws, and ruling by his own Power, being accountable to none but the Emperor: His Jurifdi&i- on fpreads a great way, for that he is not inferior in Wealth to many Cams , only fomewhat lefs in Dignity. Mr. Herbert in his Itinerary relates Gerom to have its denomina¬ tion from certain Jews who took up their Abode here, and gave it this Name in honour of their Kirjotb-Jerom: But whether more of that Nation dwell here than in other great Towns, I am not tho¬ roughly advertifed, and therefore forbear determining. A Mile from the Town had been a Colofs, now half ruined by Age, bearing Hill fome Marks of its priftine Majefty, it being more than Sixty Foot high, and Thirty in Circumference, raifed in Me¬ mory of fome departed Saint; it overlooks a great many more hum¬ ble Tombs, not liable therefore to fuch Dilapidation. Leaving thefe, we pafs through plough’d Fields, fowed with Wheat and almoft mowed, it being Harveft time. In this Plain abundance of Liquorice grows wild; and by the Brooks fides are planted Country Manftons, with (tore of Sallows and Willows. At Midnight we came to MocockSugta ( i. e. a dry Clove) Twenty two Miles, having forded feveral Plafhes where flourifhed lafcivious Shrubs, more like Southernwood than Ofiers, till we were inclofed again in the Mountains. The Rhadars here had apprehended a fturdy Thief, who had fet upon a poor Merchant, and drove away hisAfs loaded with Indian Cloth: Thefe fort of Vermin are rare, either for. the exemplary Pu- nifhment infli&ed, which is Immuring, when detected, or for the for¬ mer mentioned Satisfaction to be made by tfie Shawbunder, who em¬ ploys thefe Rhadarees , reftoring to every one their proper Goods, or elfe giving them the foil Value. I lhall not deviate much to give a credible Inftance from our Agent, who upon the Road bytheRemifsnefs of the Shatters had his Gold Bridle and other Furniture ftoleout of zCaravanSer Raw, after they had come tired in. As foon as they were miffing, upon notice given to the Captain of‘the Rhadars , a Arid Search being made prefently, it was not long ere the Criminal was dete&ed, and taken with his I i z . Prize, 245 Chap. III. This Town is Mr. llirhrt's Kirjith-Jenm. Wheat. Liquorice. Theft punift. ed with im¬ muring. Travels into PERSIA. Le; -cr V. Prize, the latter reftored, and_ the other left to the Mercy of the A^ent, who might have cut him to pieces without any other F Qr . malityof Procefs, ha.d he not delivered him over to be chadded by his Accufers, who Were not wanting to inflid what Punilhment his Fad deferyed, the next Cam adjudging him the Severity of the Lair. Monflrmis Here again over the Portal of the Inn, were advanced the Crefts to Pirjim Rams, the Perfian Arms, I mean huge Rams-heads, Horns and all, which declare what would feem monftrous to relate, they furpafling in Bulk as well as Courage all thofe of other Nations; not for their Heads alone, but their Tails, which fometimes prove fuch Incum¬ brances,' that unlefs fmall Carts were ordained for their Carriage ( efpecially the tame ones ), they would trail upon the Ground, and wound themfelves againft every fharp Stone and rough Piece of Ground: But thefeexalted are the Offspring of the Mountains, (he!- tring themfelves among the Rocks and untrodden Paths of the Hills, Where, and in our Paflage, grew the Mountain-P^/j, which ftruck our Scent, till we defcended a Fruitful Valley, abounding with . Springs of Water, which gave Increafe to many Furlongs loaded with Rice or Paddy, being courier than the Indian ; from whence not only Ter fa , but all the World befides, muft fetch the beft and fineft Rice. c,ufer hounds This Valley led us to Caifer, fome Five Tharfangs, a Village bled Germ, and the U'ith all Fruits Perfia glories in, but above all, the choicefl Oranges; Growth of but this unfeafonable Year, with the help of the Locufls, had blaft- ’ ms ’ ed them all. This Town, as it terminates the Bounds of Gerom, fo it puts an end to the genuine Growth of the Palm-Tree, it being barren beyond this Place, and therefore only fet in Great Mens Gar¬ dens for Shew, it delighting rather in Hot and Dry Ground, fuch as Sands, and fuch as come nigheft in Nature to them: Moreover, the Climate beyond this Place admits of too cold a Winter for their Non- rilhment, which I impute to be the chiefeft Cairfe. This Town is planted in the Bofom of two Rows of Hills, reach¬ ing Siras, which delivers us to a delightful Plain, adorned with Cy- prefs-Trees on each hand, and plenteoufly ftored with Villages and Running Water on every fide. And now it was pleafant to behold the Harveft-men labouring with their Sythes, the Wheat blading low; the Ruther Beafts with diftended Bags grazing in the Meadows, the Sheep with their broad Tails gathered into Folds, and the wary Shepherd on his Guard to defend them, as well as to drefs them when infe&ed with any Ma¬ ladies; the Groves look’d Green, asin the midft of Summer’s Pride,' whofe Bowers the Winged Chorifters made chearfui with their in- confined Notes, their Mirth as free as their Melody untaught, being actuated by no other Rule than Iriftind. „ Thefe gave us hopes of future Moderation; nor were they flat¬ tering ; for we had not traced Ten Miles of this pleafant Way, when we came to Firaw, (The Foot of the Way ,) where Aga Tocke had placed a Caravan Ser Raw ; but here we were forced to gather thofe Garments clofe about us, the wearing of which we hitherto rather thought an ufelefs Decency, than a real Requifite. From Travels into PERSIA. 245 From hence to Muffaferry we toiled through rugged and uneafy < Ways to a very fpiendid Caravan Ser Raw, fome Fourteen Miles more, J where we took our Reft: And thence along a.fweet Campaign, wa- tred by a delicate Rivulet on the Left, at the Bottom of the decli¬ ning Hills, bellowing its Blefling on the adjacent Villages and Coun¬ try Towns. We continued journying all this Night; wherefore the Sun had i gilded the Firmament with his Vermilion Red, before we took up at %ila Hodge, Thirty Miles compleat from our laft Stage. Where intending to have been quiet, we were interrupted more than ever by impertinent Gnats and Flies, byreafonof the Concourfe.of Wa¬ ters nourilhing abundance of Rulhes and Fenny Plants, which har¬ boured thefe and gave them Refuge in the Day, but at Night they broke out- of their Lurking-places, and befet us with that Rage and Force, that no Refiftance or Fence can be made againft them; for, fay they hyperbolically, They will bite through Armour; the beft Terfm Boots ( which are low-heel’d and good Cordavan Leather) ' being not Proof againft their Aflaults. Wherefore the Eve to the fame Day, to avoid thefe invincible u Alfailants, the difturbers of ourRepofe, we held on our Pace through Pallure-Grounds, fuch as our Commons, where they are down-fed, that little more than Green-Sod appears, in which were wanton Foies and unback’d Colts, with Mares for Breed, and unbridled Stal¬ lions, fportingonthe fpacious Downs, which brought us onwards to Sim Twelve Miles more, viz. to the Beggar s-Gar den ( but one Pbar¬ fing fhort of the City ) called Vdgemlly. Here we had fcarcely alighted, but the French Agent having no¬ tice of our coming, beat up our Quarters, and broke us of our Sleep. By Break of Day the Armenian Chriftians, which are numerous, came to congratulate our Arrival, and brought Banquets of Wine, Fruit, and a Cold Treat, with Led Horfes ofState, and loud Mu- fick, to make our Entry the more Pompous. In order whereunto, Qur Entry in: about Eleven in the Morning, condu&ed with much Ceremony, t0 $<>«- we approached Siras, where we found Spedtators anfwerable to the Novelty of our Appearance, and the Greatnefs of otir Train, with which we were palling through this City nigh Two Hours, before we were enclos’d within the Walls of the Englijb Houfe, which is a Noble one, in the middle of a ftately Garden. Hither came the Fathers of all Orders to bid us Welcome, that wererefidentin the feveral Convents allowed them inthis City; all. which, and other Chriftian Attendants, were not difmifs’d till after a Splendid Dinner provided by our Interpreter, who makes fome Thoufands a Year by the Licenfe of our Wineprefs, the Profit where¬ of is wholly his. The Wines of the Growth of this Country are efteemed the moft The wines of Stomachical and -Generous in all Terfta, and fitteft for common ^ fgene ' drinking, when allayed a little with Water, otherwife t'Oo heady for 1 the Brain, and heavy for the Stomach, their Paflage being retarded for want of that proper Vehicle: It is incredible to fee what Quan¬ tities they drink at a.Merry-meeting, and how unconcerned the next day 24 6 Travels into P E R S I A. Letter V, day they appear, and brisk about their Bufinefs, and will quaff y 011 thus a whole Week together. J The People In which Exercife when they engage, they obferve this Maxim good Compi- Always to lay in Ballaft, they eating heartily; and all the time that mons - Healths are palling about, they have Cucumbers, Melons, and other Fruits before them, which mull be acknowledged to receive the moft perfedt Ripenefs, and therefore are more innocent here than any where elfe. Tobacco is a general Companion; and to give them their due, they are Convertible Good-Fellows, fparing no one his Bowl in their turn; and to be fure none lhall efcape a Nofegay, Orange, or fome fuch Mark as paffes with every Health; fo that fometimes when they mind Difcourfe more than the Bufinefs in hand a whole Neft of Pofies wait on one Man, who mull clear himfelf, or difgufi: thofe whofe Healths remain unpledg’d. ’ Having difcharg’d the Fatigue of this Day, it remained incum- bent on our parts to return thefe Civilities, which was to renew the Trouble again, each ftriving to outvye others in their Entertain¬ ments: In thefe Courteous Vifits we fpent a Week, nor was that fuf- ficient, but we being late in the Year for this Journey to Spaham, our Interpreter exculed our Negleft. CHAP. IV. Of Siras, and the Ancient City Perfepolis, and our Journpi quite through Perfia. I N our Stay here we had Opportunity to obferve Siras,not only by Fame, but indeed*to be, fecond to none, except the Royal City, in the whole Empire: And in this Country, the Country which is pro¬ perly Perfia ( extended from the'GuIph to Efduchos , which parts Tarthia from it by a great Ditch made for a Boundary on that Side to this Ancient Kingdom) it is the principal Metropolis. sim the chief It is delivered as a Tradition, That it arofe from the Ruins of Per • City in Pap. fepolis : Others will have it as old as Cyrus, who contend for him to be the Founder, forthatthenearnefsof the Name intimates as much: But that he lliould raife it as a Monument, feems not fo probable, . who would not permit it at his Death, as that thefe People, devoted to his Memory, might ontheMifcarriage of Perfepolis, raife this in Honour of him, whofe Remembrance might at once revive the Glo¬ ry of the then fallen Monarchy, and bury the hated Name of the new Conqueror in Oblivion, who had fullied all his Lawrels by hearkning to the unlimited Revenge of a Proftitute, to lay the molt flourilhing Perfepolis in Alhes, from whence, Phoenix like, this is fuppofed to fpring. And when we enter its Wealthy Markets, or Buzzars, Bafilid Buildings, Supported by Rows of vaft Pillars covered at top, of which there are innumerable, large and fplendid, abounding with - Rich Travels into P E R 5 I A. 247 Rich Merchandize; the {lately Palaces of the Cam and other No- Chap. IV. bles; the pleafant Walks and Gardens, Colleges and Temples, the. Tombs, and Water-Courfes; we may afflid our felves with the Lofles magnified by Hijlorians, but at the fame time do Injuftice to fo valuable a Reparation, which, for ought I know, exceeds the worth of the other: And what adds to its Efte.em,it is reckoned by the Terjians an Holy City,wherefore it’s Endowed with Schools and Con¬ vents, with Allowance for Students; nor do they in any place ex¬ cel, ( for theConcinnity of Harmony in Chorus from the high Towers of their Mofques at their Rated Hours for Devotion ) thefe fweet Singers of Siras: It boafts therefore of its being an Univerfity; which it truly merits from the confluence of all the Learned Tribe coming hither for Education. Their (lately Gardens and Summer-Houfes are out of the Town, Their Gw- whithet refort thofeInvited either by Curiofity or Recreation; the dens, mod famous of which we Vifited, under whofe lhady Bowers we wereFeafted, from the Heel of every Day till Midnight, while we remained here, by the interchangeable Solicitations of o.ur Chriftian Friends. Among which, that,honoured with the Royal Claim, and there- TheCyprefi fore {tiled the Kings Garden , defervedly carries the Luftre from the j^theU 1 ?* reft, and though every one {hare in fome Excellency or other, yet.this vlrfe .' 6 W " comprehends them all in one, being a large Map of the whole: Here grow the loftieft Cyprefs-Trees in the Univerfe; nor do they want Bodies proportionable to their Height, one of which is faid to be Set by Shaw Alas, their Beloved Emperor, Meafures fome Fathoms round: So addided are thefe People to Loyal Heartednefs, that what is Great, or Magnificent, they offer up as a grateful Teftimo- ny to perpetuate the Fame of thofe Princes who have deferved well in their Annals; for which reafon thefe Trees keep the Name of To - hnCyr, even down to this our Age; willing thereby to Immorta¬ lize the Grand Cyrus , tranfmitting an unalterable Tradition as lafting as Pofterity its felf. Thefe fet in Order make Majeftick Walks, under Whofe {helter thrive the. Underwoods; which were they removed from thefirft Rank of the Quarters, whether our Cotlntrymen would allow the reft to be Wildernefs, Orchard, or Garden, would be a Qpeftion 5 fince thefe, with the Water-courfes, make the whole Defign of the Perfpedive; in which prortiifcuoufly are included Philberts, Hafle- nuts, Piftachias, Sweet Almonds, Cherries of both forts, Peach, Apricot, Prunello’s, Figs, Prunes, Grannet, Cheftnut, Nedorines, Quince, and all thofe we call Wall-Fruit, without any Affiftance:. Oranges and Limes begin to flag here, rejoycing more where Cold is lefs felt; for though it is Very Hot now, it has a lhort but fevere Winter; for which caufe, Rofes, Lillies, and jaflemin, are Shaded under all thefe to defend them from each Extreme; and below thefe the Violet and Primrofe, with what exalt not their Heads above the Grafs. In the midft of all a Banquetting-Houfe, or- Houfe of Pleafure, with this Conveniency, that which fide fo-ever we caff our Eyes, ntoft grateful Greens refrelh our Profped, and cooling Springs feed {pouting 248 Travel? into PERSIA. letter V. fpouting Fountains, till they unite in a full Sea, and thence are di- >wj verted into pleafant Streams, both for Diveirlion and benefit of the Here is beheld the Trembling Poplar, the Tall Sicamore, and the Humble Elm, contrary to what we fee in Europe \ the Pine and All] are Natives of this Soil, by the diligence of the Skilful Planters; but out of thefe Enclofures, no Woods, nor Thickets of any of , thefe accoft us. The Nightm- The Nightingal, the fweet Harbinger of the Light, is a conftant sol. Chearer of thele Groves, Charming with its Warbling Strains the heavieft Soul into a pleafing Extafy.. We return’d back to the City, Lighted by Torches and Flambeaus over a noble Bridge, from whence the Street enlarges gracefully a good length, till we were received into ftraiter Allies, the reft of the Streets being moftly fuch, or elfe covered Buzzars; this Bridge ferves only to pafs over, when the fudden Showers, and Water falling from the Mountains, raife a Flood, at other times it being dry un¬ der it, here being no River; though Water is not lacking every where there, flowing plentifully in Rills or Brooks, taking their fource from the Mountains, with which it is inverted on every part, except the South-tide, which lies plain and open a great way. The Vine- Thefe Mountains, as well as Vallies, are flocked with Vineyards, yards. being difpofed to bear good Grapes, out of which they prefs their ■ Wine, and from the Wine-fat fet it to Work in great Earthen Jars, from which it is drawn off into Flasks, and fo packed up in Cherts. _ Glafs only In this place only thefe Glafles, and feme courfe Drinking Glalles made here. are ma de • as alfo Rofe-Water Bottles, the beft Water whereof is Diftilled here; they likewife recftify Spirit of Wine very well: Moreover this City has the noted’ft Copperfmiths in all Perfia. . It has neither Fortification nor Walls, neither Ditch nor Mounds, NoFortifica- ^ ot ^ er Guard, fave its own Soldiers, which are the only Bui- works. The Chief Magiftrate was the Catm, Governor of the City and all the Province; but he, poor Man, lately by the King’s Tyranny, is Depofed and caft into Prifon, laden with Irons, as a Capital Of¬ fender, for no other reafon, but that of abounding with unheard of Treafures; all that he could not convey away the King Seized, and in his room has Nominated the Steward of the King’s Houlhold’s Brother ( who is Chief Favourite at Court) as Delegate for the time being, but not wholly Deprived theCauu, giving him hopes of Re- leafe, provided, he confefs his Wealth and confign it for the ufeof his Mafter. The Cam im- Some % theKing took occafion to quarrel with him for neglecting prifoned. ’ to fend his Annual Tribute of Limes to the Haram, he expeding to be ferved firft, with the Produdof every Province for the Expence of hisHoufe, by the Governors thereof before any other; which as it appears reafonable, it is unlikely the Cam would have been defe&ive in that point; ' but it. is an eafy thing to find a Staff to Beat a Dog; Facile eftinveuire baculum Canem ut cadas. By Travels into PERSIA. 249 By which Angle Jnftance it is vifible how it fares where Arbitrary Chap. IV. Power bears fway, and how Monarchy is defaced when it takes upon it to be Circumscribed by no Sandion, and what a Monfter it looks like when all Laws are fwallowed in the Abfolute Authority of Di- fpenfing with them,• by which means the Godlike Government be¬ comes aij infupportable Thraldom. In all the Cities of Perfia, as well as this, there are abundance of The Kindred the 5 km(h Nation (known only at Lhor, t where the Cam is an of Hedge, bvthe upper Garment, marked with a Patch of Cloth'of Jhet&dedes. different Colour ); Banyans alfo, and Armenian Chriflians, with Eu¬ rope Roman Catholicks; driving a Trade, and exercifing the Su perditi¬ ons of their feveral Religions with freedom, being difturbed by none unlefs fometimes by the Bigotted Kindred of' Mahomet 5 who. prefume on that account ( knowing the Reverence everywhere paid to that Impoftor) very often on open and extravagant' Injuftice, fetting poor People at Work and never fatisfying them; entitling tfiemfelves Lords Paramount, and all others by a fervile Tie of Conference to be their Slaves; which fort of People (though Curfed by all) mud be appeafed, or elfe all will be in a flame: Which fort of Behaviour of theirs, has wrought the mod undemanding 'among the Perfians to a Diffidence of that Dodrine with its Author, they fo mightily preach up, yet pradife fo little. The Houfes of Siras are Built with Brick, not Red , but better Their Houfes- Hardned than they are, I mean theirs of the, Better fort, not of the Common People, they agreeing with the red elfewhere modly, being compofed of Mud and Clay. Pipes, or Conduits for Ven¬ tilation are not fo requifite here as in other parts, and therefore not fo univerfal as in the Sandy Countries; here they are more Expenfive on the Beautiful Adorning the Porches and Gatehoufes leading to their Houfes,' taking care to Enclofe them with huge high Walls, fo that they are hid from the Streets; to which they are admitted by double Gates, over which are Folding Doors op ening into Balconies. Their Publick places of Worfhip are illudrated with Mofaick Their Tem- Work: Painted and Glazed Slates grace the outward Cafe; artifici-..P les ‘ ally difpofed into Convex Towers, reprefenting the bending Heaven about them: Panes of Glafsforthe more folemn Light, are fetched from Venice, Tindured with divers Colours; the Portuco’s' and lower Walks ffiine with polilhed Marble, fupported by fubdantial Pillars of the fame. The Midan, oropenfpace before theCWs Palace, is an Oblong The cam’s and Stately Piatzo, with real, not belied Cloifters. Palace. Taking our leave of this City, we were uffiered out as we came We take our in, the Armenians compelling us to take a Treat in their Garden ap- ,eave « t|ie propriated for the Burying of their Dead, where were many Neat Tombs; but the Oddeft, becaufe New, was one befet with Young Cyprefs Trees, and Trimmed-to that advantage,, that they flood like deep Mourners Clad with Sable Green; pretty Attendants by their Tapering Figure to fo fad an Office. Kk On 250 . Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. On the outfide of this City are Repofitories for Snow and Ice, which they preferve to Cool their Wine with, and Sell it conftantlv for P Snow ,eS > n ^ ie Market for fuch ufes; thefe are fine Buildings. Ice diflolved ice, and To- in their Liquors, is as prevalent, even among the Vulgar, asDrink- baccoufed by [ n g Tobacco. When we had eroded the fruitful Valleys and Hills t ie u gar. ^ Vines, we turned out of the high Road to Ifpahaun , to a poor zergnn. Village called Zergoon , Inhabited by Mulateers, in the plain of Per- fepolis, Fifteen Miles diftance from Sir as. The River From hence to the River Bindamire , or the River Araxes , (fa. mous f° r * ts Ulltrace d Windings upon the Mountains, and fomctimes ” Ire ' under their very Bottoms, till by its'Vapid courfe it vents its felf i n . to the Sea ), were Twelve Mile more ; which having pafled, I be¬ gan to revolve whether ever Alexander, the Macedonian Vidor, had been over it or no; which becaufe it is Recorded he pafled his Army ovtx Araxes by a Bridge of his own Building, I know not if that be proof enough of this being that River, or of his palling this place more than that; the Stream runs with a Torrent whereby it is unfafe Fording the River without fuch a Suppliment. Though as if that were too Trite and Common, I cannot forbear without fome Mirth, relating what I had from a Terfian in this Journy, pointing to an Hill; There, quoth he, (lands the Monu¬ ment of a Miracle performed by Band Haimero, the Prophet who gave Name and Credit to this Plain, and confequently to the Bridge athwart this River, which is a thing beyond Human reach to effeft, otherwife too mean to exaft our Belief. This Prophet was one of the Twelve Apoftles, or Succef- 1 fors of Mahomet ; nor was this Fad unworthy of fo great a Title; for he leading an Hod this way, after a notable defcent of Rain, which caufed this place to overflow, the progrefs of his Forces was thereby impeded; which he peceiving, thusbefpoke that Mountain, March into the middle of the Waters Confluence, and lay thy felf in that mm- ner , that there he fure Footing for my Hofi ; to whom it readily obey¬ ing, became an high Road for his Soldiers to pafsover dry (hod: But when after this device he had Ferried over his Multitude, it was told him an huge Cafm, or Hell-Kettle was left where the Mountain had emptied its felf; not being much concerned at the Accident, and meeting a Country Fellow who by chance had aCheefe, he call it into the Well; which was not filled fo, but that it gave occafion to the Satyrifts of that time to Lampoon it in their own Language, Band Haimero has Agger bau tank koonet As Colohe Painer has. ; What wanting is to fill the place. Not from BandHaimer is, but the Cheefe, Why called 1 Band was the Epithet to the Prophet, which fignifies Abftemious, Bautmm. a Virtue-more admired than followed, and Haimero his Proper Name, wherefore both the Bridge and Plain, as well as River, by Boterus is corruptly called Bindamire , as' appears by this ridiculous 2 5 ! Travels into P E R. S I A. Tale; which I mention for this end, that the true Appellation the Chap, IV. Terjtans now give them, and their Reafon for it may be recovered. l/VV The Bridge over the River is very old, raifed high by four Arches, in the middle a Watch-Tower for the Rhadars to look out on, to ap¬ prehend fuch as lhall by By-ways attempt to deprive them of their Cuftoms, asalfoto be at hand to fecure thofe that Travel the Road. Unlefs fometimes they connive at Excurfions for their own Booty, We fufpea as this Day we had caufe to fufpetft; for this Evening the Rear of our Caphala we had taken with us, being only Servants with Arms a kergofim .* (the other coming more leifurely, kept the dired Road ), were let upon twice; but finding them in a condition to receive them,, they wheeled off in the Dusk, but with an intention to take us napping when we were in our Lodgings at Meergofcoon, Twelve Mile off the Bridge, fraooth Way, full of Farms and Country Towns; among which Plain dealing feems moft an end to be their only Guard; for they being alarmed by the Rogues that dogged us, rofe immediately in our defence, and gave us notice of our Danger, after one of the Villains, on pretence to light his Pipe, had rudely broke in upon us, to difcover in what Poflure we were, who perceiving their Pains # would be only Blows, gave us no farther difturbance. However we were the more willing on this account to get up by Perfyoiit now the crowing of the Cock* to purfue our journy to Perfepolis, whofe chuMmr. Ruins we had reached by Break of Day; when having compaffed its Marble Foundations ( being above, an Area of a large Extent, on the Plain an high Wall, giving fome Pains to the attollent Mufclesof the Neck, to give the Eyes leave to reach its Height), wedambred a fpacious Staircafe united fome part of the Way up, when on each hand it led to the feveral Apartments two different Ways; at top were the Portals, and the Heads of the Columns worn with Age [Imnofa enim quid non immimit dies ) which confumes every thing; whofe Bodies were Corinthian , but the Pedeftals and Capitals of Do- rick Order, as might be gained from what had refilled the corroding Jaws of Time, hardly lifting up their Reverend Crowns, though of moft durable Stone. Being entred the Pomceriumo f Cambyfes Hall ( if Faith be to be given to the moft Learned of thefe Relators), at the Hall Gates we encountred two horrid Shapes both for Grandeur and Unwontednefs, being all in Armour, or Coat of Mail, ftriking a Terror on thofe about to intrude ; their Countenances were of the fierceft Lions, and might pals for fuch, had not huge Wings made them flying Gryf* fons, and their Bulk and Hinder-Parts exceeded the largeft Ele¬ phants. In this Auguft Place only Eighteen Pillars of Forty remain, about Storitsbuild Fifty Foot high, and half an Ell Diameter, of the diftance of eight on the Plllars - Paces one from another, though we could count the Twenty two Safes; which agree with the Perfiau Memoirs, Who therefore ftill call it Chulminor , The Palace of Forty Pillars : Thefe may be feen on the Plain a great way, and at prefent are the Refidence only of the Tyrants of the Lakes and Fens, Storks only keeping their Court here, every Pillar having a Nell of them. Rk i Nutrit Travels into P E R S I'A. Letter V. irf'VSJ Nutrit uli implumes peregrina Ciconia fetus, Ad nidos ahies confita primo fait. Which may ferve to contradid the received Opinion, of Storks abiding only where Commonwealths are; this always having been an Empire, and at this time is the moft Abfolute in all the Earth. Beyond thefe, many Pieces and Scraps of Antiquity offer us a View, and great Colojftis’s fupporting vaft Giants, as if they had been Yeomen of the Guard in the Anti-room to the Prefence-Cham¬ ber, which was Eighty Foot Square, where on the Fragments of Walls {landing, and over the Porticoes efpecially, were moft curi- oufly cut out of delicate White Shining Marble, Men in Military Habit, like the Old Grecian Phalanx (if there be leave for Con¬ jecture ) encompafling-a Monarch reprefented fitting on his Throne, with a Moving Canopy, fuch as the Eaflern Kings have carried over them: On other parts Bucephalus, or if that pleafe not, fome Per- fm Steed priding himfelf to carry an Emperor, or fomeDemi-god. Becaufe neither Quintus Curtius , nor after him Plutarch, mention the reedifying this Palace either by Alexander or any of his Cap¬ tains , yet I cannot let it pafs without this Remark, That they are habited more like the Ancient Grecians , than Per fans now are; be- fides, the Hair of their Heads is hanging down, and not tied up, Which is different from the Modern Falhion of this Country. In this Apartment Eight Doors feem to anfwer each other, Two on each fide of every Square; which Conformity is attended with . extraordinary Elegance and Workmanftiip; the Roof feems never to have had any intervening Pillars, and whether the Beams were of Cedar, it is not fo fortunate as to have a Voucher of its own Nation. Many other Parts declared Coft and Pains enough, but nothing more worthy Study than the Chara&ers fairly impyefled and engra¬ ven, which would unfold the Truth of the Founders of. this Build¬ ing, were they as Intelligible as Legible ; for they remain like the Hand-writing on the Wall ( Mene Tekel ), till fome Divine Expo- fitor interpret them; yet I muft needs fey, many of the Characters may be found in the Greek Alphabet. This vaft fiabrick is made bigger, by being joined to a great Mountain, out of whofe Entrails were worn, rather than digged, Noble Caverns with Stately Sculptures, and wide Ponds of living Water conftantly diftilling from the Marble Rocks, either for bath¬ ing or neceflary ufes: It is an admirable Piece, overlooking all the Plain, where we took this day’s Repaft, and over, Head few the Cornifli of theFrontifpiece embellflhed with the Royal Arms of the Per fun Emperor, immediately on the Union of the Medes and Per- fans into one Empire, which was a Ram’s Head delineated as far as the Cheft, ‘ ARam’s-head In the Afternoon we few another of the feme Make, anfwering Ptr^ tmS ° f the other part of the Palace, and underneath on the Plain took no¬ tice of Two Pillars at a fit diftance, the one for the Goal, and the otljerfortbe Starting-place of their Couriers'when they, run Races. Having thus finilhed our Perambulation, we descended bn the con¬ trary Travels into P E R S I A. trary fide we came up, and found there Goats and Sheep grazing on the Grafs between the Joints of the Pavements; but on the Walls of the Staircafe (which confifted of an Hundred and twenty Stairs of Black Marble on each fide, till they united to Forty more, which de¬ livered us to the Plain ) were the Portraitures both of Men and Beads on each fide, and more of this Ancient Writing diftint in large Panes; at the Bottom whereof our Horfes waiting us, we mounted, and returned to Meergofcoon , not a full Pharfang from hence. The following Day drove us, out of the fame Curiofity, over fe- veral Branches of Bindamire River, to enquire for other Stru&ures of the like Nature, of which thefe Mountains afford plenty, bating the great Area of Perfepolis , which diftinguilhes it from thefe; but we did not alight for thefe, fatisfying our felves to flare on them from beneath, they being fit only for Atlases, or for Winged Folk to look into, there being no paffage to them, appearing like Dens or Open Holes on the fides of the Rocks, from their very Mouths per¬ pendicular to the Ground: Only one above the reft attra&ed our Sight and Animadverfiori, reported and ftill averred to be of old the Court of Ruflam, an Ancient King of the Gattrs or Galers (the true Original Perfian Race),, whofe Statue was of a Gigantine Sta¬ ture, on as large a fized Horfe, triumphing over his Foes at the Front of his Cave, with many Attendants clad down to the Heels, with Caps on their Heads (not Turbats) and their Hair loofe about their Shoulders. From whence obferVing frequent Numbers of thefe, I was apt to colled, that even what goes now for the Perfepolis which Alexander gave leave in a DrUnken Fit to be feton Fire at theRequeft of the Coftly Thais, may be the Ruins of fome Heathen Temple, having feen of the fame Receffes among the idolatrous Indians, which they Hill pay Adoration to, and own to be the Temples of their Gods. But that that City might ftand in this Plain, not only the recei¬ ved Tradition among ^ European Travellers, but the concurrent Opinion of undoubted Hiftorians, certify with all the probable Con- je&ures. ■ : . n- • ■ From hence under thefe high Hills we kept our Courfe, proving it to be a Wealthy Plain, : ftored with all Cattel, Corn, and Wild Fowl, by the plentiful Afflux of Water to the River from the Mountains, and Cuts from the River into the Plain, whereby it might be 1 a fit Situation for the; m\gkty]Perfepolis, vis it now is-'fdr ftore of Country Towns, befides whole Armies of Nomades, or wafidring Shepherds! who pitch their Tentswith all their Families; wherever they firida Soil fuitable to their Employment; Not far from whom were mul¬ titudes of fuch Tombs as we met with at Bonaru Lzvd, which perhaps may give fome furer Account than that more Romantick one in ap¬ pearance we met with-there, of their being the dyingTrophies of former Battels; though here wants not matter to countenance fuch Tales to tr.ofe of eafy Faith. . For two Mountains lhut up this hap¬ py Campaign fo, as if Nature had taken fpecial Care of its Security; which as formerly they terminated the Territories of the contending Gam, by their oppofite : Pdfition, : that nothing could creep'between ■ n ’ them 253 Chap. IV. Ruflam a Prince of the ■ Gaurs. Uncertain whether it be Perfeptlit, The Straits where Artiia- Alexander, 2 54 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. them unexamined, fo it is not unlikely that thefe were the Strong, holds Artilazanes defended againft Alexander , when he repulfe] him, and had put a Stop to the Torrent of his Victories, had not a Ter fan Ruftick Ihewed him an unknown Paffage by the Pylte P er . ficce , or Poftern-Gates on the back of thefe Mountains, which open¬ ed a Way to his farther Progrefs, as well as to the ravilhing this thus bafely betray’d Country to the Lawlefs Rape of an ungovern’d Ambition. To conclude therefore from hence, That thefe Burial- Places took their beginning fo long ago, as it would favour of fmall Judgment in the Affirmative, .yet it may leave fome ground to the credulous, that it is poffible fome as notable Fights might fucceed, for the gaining fuchaKey to fo Rich and Spacious a Valley, as well from time to time after Alexander , as that not a Century fince, this Part remained almoft unfubdued, till Shaw Ahas the Great brought it to perfect Obedience, when there might be occafion for fuch In¬ terments, if their Piety extended to fuch a Care of the Dead. But thefe Field-Inhabitants incline me to think it their Work, being far.from any Town; though the common Fame give it to the other Report, as well to aggrandize their foregoing Anc^ftry, as to call a Luftre, on the prefent Pofterity. This may ferve alfo to prove their Scythian Antiquity ; for as the Worthy Mr. Sheringham obferPes, Sacte opiliones Afiam incolentes ; that the Saete were wandring Shep¬ herds ; whofe Names, to ffiew their Original, he derives from the Hebrew fOD, i . e. Takrnaculum, or Tent in Englifl) ; from whence came the Getce, as well as prefent Terftan , from their frequent dif- burthening themfelves by Colonies difperled both into Scythia, fo to Europe as well as Afia, where they firft inhabited. From Meergofcoon to this Strait is meafured Twenty Mile, which finiihes not this Stage, for now we were encompafled again with Rocks and Stones among the Mountains, (which we know whofe In- fligation it was to command they Ihould be made Bread ), our Provi¬ sions being fpent which we had taken for this Deviation; wherefore we were forced to march Twenty Miles farther, to Maijm, before either we or our Cattel baited; where we arriv’d before our Capita- la we had left at Sim, they pretending they had loft their Way, but more truly lingred, not having us to fpur them on; wherefore we were obliged this Night to make the Earth our Lodging, our Arms our Bolfters, and the uneven Stones our Feather-beds; which though we Travellers often do in this Journey out of choife, yet we found it difagreeable, becaufe the Nights now were as intenfely Cold, as the Days were Hot. In the Forenoon to the next Day the Caphala came, which created us this Day’s Stay at Maijm , a Town where grows the beft Walnuts, of the fame bignefs with the Spanijh, and the choiceft Tobacco Terfta affords. . After a fweet Nights Repofe, early in the Morn between the Straits of the Mountains, we traced the Source of the River Araxes, purling under frippery Pebbles, which no fooner removed, than the Cryftal Water, bubbles forth, by which means, though a little fup- preffed at firft, in Half a Mile’s fpace it emits a Stream able to drive Three Mills, which notwithftanding were not forcible enough to reftrain the impetuous Blafts of Heat pent in between the Hills : Although Travels into PERSIA.. '255 Although on the other fide when we approached in the Night, all Chap. IV. the Cloaths we had wrapped about us, could hardly preferve the in- flare Warmth, when the Sun hadlhrowded itsfelf under the Horizon. At Noon-day we overcame an high Mountain after a troublefome Luxation , this delivering us to another Golden Plain of Ojoau, gilded over with Ripe Wheat, being no more than Five Miles from Jflaijtn- This Ojoau glories in the Sepulchre of another Royal Prophet,which o/m»: : s well endowed with neat Dwellings and Orchards for the Mullahs, who take their Service by turns to officiate in their Priefthood, by- loud Exclamations and Mufick calling People to their Devotions: In this Manfion we were permitted to make our Abode this Day; which becaufe it was fo ffiort a Munfel, and thefe Gardens fo de¬ lightful, I could not but give my felf the Pleafure to refletR as Well on thofe Plants we had met wild, as thefe more cultivated which grew here. The Bitter Almond-Tree we met formerly in the Highways wild, if it may be called a Tree, and not a Shrub; the Body refem- bles an Halle, but flenderer, from whence come Stalks like Brootp, on which fprout Leafs fynonimous to our Privet; it brings forth Fruit in March or April, and delights in Hot and Barren Countries. The Sweet Almond grows on a taller Tree, whofe Leafs are like The Sweet Alh, and ripen about the fame time. Almond. The Tift acta fends forth its Branches on high, and renders its Nuts Nut. edible in Autumn, whofe Leafs are as bigas a Walnut’s, covered un¬ derneath with a foft Grey Down; ail thefe are covered with a fuccu- lent Green Shell like a Walnut without, which includes an harder within, in the Shape and Subftance we have them brought: Though I find then] differently defcribed both by Gerard and Lobelias. \ The Capper- Shrub accompanies us in the Valleys from Caifer hi* The ano¬ ther, and is encompafs’d with Prickles fomething emulating our sfuub - -v Goosberries; the Leaf is Ibaped like Purflain; the Seeds or Fruit; which we call Cappers, have a Cod not different from the God of the Major Cardamom, in which they are inclofed : In May the Flower, is white and open, like a Sweet-Briar’s. The lofty Pine, theTop of -the Woods, aswell as of : thofe float- ThePiae, ing on the Main, is;not fo Tall in Afia as in Europe, though ftralt up to the very Top, and is not bunched till the Boughs aloft thruft out the Leafs to embrace the Woody Subftance of its Cone-like Ap¬ ple; the Body is fcaled like the Palm-Tree. The Peach byway of Excellence is termed, The Perfiau Apple '; The Peach, nor does it leflen the Repute, it far exceeding here what can be faid in its praife in other Countries. . • ' • ThePomgranat is paffing good, being the juicieft and biggeft \ The Pomgra- ever met with, iior does any parallel them, urilefs thpfe about Ba- nlt ' bfleu. .0- Early the next'Morning we ' departed from Ojoau , -beginning to alter our Courfej the Air being more moderate, crofting a River (by a Bridge) running the whole length of the Plain, in whofe Bofom great ftore of Corn was nourilhed; it looking yellow, and fit tor the Sickle: On the other hand, in the Meadows and Marlhes were 2 . For the Renowned Shaw Alas being placed in his Throne by the valour and Condu&of the Trudy Imam Coaly Cam, Maugreall the oppofite Fadions of Court and Empire, he could not be reckoned to fit firm on his Throne, fo long as thefe Impediments remained in • the Hands of either Friend or Foe, becaufe that they not only en- abled the Pofleflors to dand on Terms with the Emperor, but were a lure Refuge, -not only to Villains and Traitors, but to Thieves and Jobbers, as well as Fugitives that fled from the hands of Judice • ' L1 whereby 258 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Mmite&igg. whereby they became at once an (Made to Trade, Preying on the Subjeds at their own pleafure, and became Lurking places, as well as Sanduaries, to the King’s Enemies, bidding Defiance* and many times oppofingthe Forces of the Empire. ’ To Supprefs which Infolencies, and Revenge himfelf on Offended Majefty, none under the Imperial Banners appeared a more vigorous Chaftifer than this General, behaving himfelf with that Prowefs, that he overthrew the Nells of Robbers, releafed the People fro© their Fears, and reftored an entire Tranquility to the Monarchy: For which mighty Deeds he received a Reward altogether Injurious and Undeferved; for at his return to Court, being Courteouliy re¬ ceived with all the Marks of Favour and Royal Complements, his Jealous Mailer Invited him far from the City into the Woods© Hunt, remote from the Army, whofe Life and Delight he was, the better hereby tolntrap him, not being able otherwife toper- form hisDefign; but even here, when he was Seized by the Com. mand of the Emperor, he was proffered his Efcape by his Keepers, which he'refufed, knowing his Innocence; but this ferved to enrage Shaw Alas the more, fo that he could not be quiet till he had the Death of this Great Man; who fell for no other Caufe, than Vir¬ tue emulated and envied by his Lord, he being too much the Peo¬ ple’s Darling; which makes that Maxim true. Kings Hate where they Fear, Reges ut oderint dum mtuant.-, he having obliged be¬ yond Retaliation. Shaw Alas being otherwife a great Hero, llridly bound himfelf to the obfervance.of the Rules of Virtue, only where a Jealoufyof his Honour was tainted by Popular Air, according to the Axiom of Julius Ctefar , Si violandum eft jus, regnandi caufa violandum, ceteris rebus pietatem colas. Moxnteleggy is near Twenty Miles from Efduchos , and admits us into a Caravan Built on the Road; through whofe Gates all that Travel this Road mull pafs as under a Buzzar, where we took up in a Convenient Room, formerly deligned for a Coffee-Houfe, having a Tank of Water in the middle, with broad Seats around, either to LieorSiton. Here among the Tombs I took notice of feveral Figures on the Grave-Stones; which, becaufe repugnant to the Command of their Prophet, I had a mind to be informed the meaning of, which they told me was only to exprefs the feveral Ages of the Departed; as one that Died in the ftrength of his Age ( fpeaking of whom,, they term King of the World ) had a Lion Deciphered on his Grave- Stone ; many of which I found in fundry places; whereby I am confirmed, that Reprefentations, or Emblems, were not wholly abdicated by the Perfians ; which-I fuppofe alfo to be a Relick of their Scythian Extrad, what Power, notwithftanding Religion fmce introduced, may have over their Confidences, yet this Ihews their natural Inclination to their Primitive Cultom; for Getee fquiiem Hieroglyphicis ex diverfts animalium figuris fepulchra decoralant, £«** bus tacite vel res gejlas, vel officia adminiftrata, vel mores , vel virtu ,• res, aut vitia mortui not hunt; Lttpo tyramum , Agno tranyuihm, Travels into PER: S I A. 259 forco fordidum , E}uo generofum, Leone Regent, Aquiltlfortem expri- Chap. V. mehnt. Shering. p. 471. Annot. ultim. From this Town to Com Shaw (i. e. the King’s Friend) is rec : cmeshm. Ironed Twenty four Miles more, which was a Town of Caravan Ser Raws, made of Mud and generally tubilated atop; in which we re¬ futed to take up this Summertime, defiring more Air; and for that purpofe chofe the Maufolaum of another Prophet of theirs, Shalv Rezin, in the middle of a great Grove of Elms. Under thefe ran a purling Brook, which fed a Sacred Fifhpond full The Supetfc of Fifh Dedicated to this Tomb, as appears by their Nofes and Finns tfle being hung with Gold Rings; with which odd, and doubtlefs to ■ ‘ them unvalued Adornment, they Swam up and down in the clear Water, and tamely would vifit all Comers, for Meat j befides thefe, here were Ducks devoted to as foppilh a Maintenance; which no one dare meddle with under pain of Excommunication and dread¬ ful Anathema’s: Which Superftitions I could not but admire to be Licenfed among the Moors. As we drew nigher Spahaun, the Dovecots were more thick and Dovecots f 0 t more (lately, they being covered over with a white Plaifter, and SlIt ‘ petre ' neater than thofe we firft faw : Of fuch concern is it to the King to preferve thefe. The next Day brought us to Mayar, Twenty Miles farther, (ano- m therTown of Country Caravans) through Gravelly, Unfruitful, but Plain way, and good to Travel. In the Afternoon therefore, we went to Mirge, Eight Miles more, Mirge. to an old lonely Inn, where was the laft place we rufticated. The Morning following being met by the Citizens of SpabauH beyond the Urchin Hills, Three Miles from Mirge, who Congratulating our Arrival, fpread in the Highway a noble Table on Carpets furnifhed with the Delicacies of this Country, which is.enough to commend it both for Cold Treat, Fruit, and Wine. : After we had received their Complements, 1 they undertook to be Met by the both our Guide and Guard to Ifpahaun, Three Miles farther, defend* c,tizens - ingusagainft the unwary Intuits of Thieves; with which this place is infefted ; being a fit place for Robbery among the uhdifcovered Mazes of the Mountains, efpecially while the Emperor ! is;Refident with his Army; who living beyond their Pay, are oftetfatiemptihg to maintain their Luxury by fuch unlawful Enterprifes. From this Avenue we had a fair Profped of the Cityfilling the A Ptofpea of one half of an ample Plain, few BuilcJihgs, ( befides the High ; Towers of the Mofques and Palace Gates) (hewing therhfelves, by reafon of the high Chinors , or.SicamoreS;lhading the choiceft of theni; yet the Hills begin to keep a more decent diftance, and we pafled. part of a fpacious Field before we Saluted the City; into which ^we en- tredby Two fair Rows of Elms, on each hand one, planted by the fides of the Chryftal Streams, reaching a long way - through a broad Street, whofe Paved Cawfeys Condu&ed us to the River j Stc Anguftiishiohis deviftis - adAugufta ferimur. ■ ' ; “ LU' Which 26 o Travels into PERSIA. Letter V Which River was Fifty Ells wide, but not Navigable; this Summers drought having made it Fordable in many places, efpecially now the Emperor fills this place with his Court and confluence of' Mili. tary Men ; the great Commanders and Minifters of State diverting the Channel to their own private Commodity, and for want of t lij s Years Rains, it is hardly fufficient, (they Watering their Gardens therewith ) by reafon of which unkindly Nurture, both the Beauty and Goodnefs of the Fruit and Trees do Flag this Autumn. J A Stately ’ Here at the Foot of the Bridge waited to bid us Welcome the Bridge. Jelfeline Chriftians, with the feveral Europe Refidents, as Dutch French , Portugal, and Ruffian, with their refpedive Trains, Truin’ peters with their Enfigns, and Led Horfes richly Trapped, with Shatters and Pages, befides thofe of our own, appearing in their greateft Glory •, thus Attended we were brought over a moft Mag. nificent Bridge with Arches over our Heads, and'on both fides Rails and Galleries to view the River, the Cloyfters whereof were Paved .. with broad Marble, in which were feveral Niches and open Portals; • the upper part was all Brick, the Foundations Black Marble with gradations to. the bottom. >ered Which led us to a {lately large Street, continued on the other fide ■juzzun. ^jfh equal Gallantry of Buildings and Trees,till we were carried under their Lbfty-Ceiled and Stately-Ereded J?«zz ..‘i a howey.erf/pecious Fabricks they are fhrowded. under; admitting Ljghtsiby s |iwnthorns ^-top, or open Holes, not on the fides, the better tq Illuftrate their Goods, and caft Falle Lights on them. The MiV«»,or .. Through thefe wp.were dirededto the Mi Jan, or Hypotfrmne, an ayfiirtme. QHpqg$qpa r ? Cpurt,where the Horfes are Exercifed before the Ring’s PaVce, and, where are upper and lower Walks, with open Arche$ fo^Spedators; not Inferior, though of different Shape, to theoldAraphitheatres. The Royal ' At the Entry the Royal Mofque, with its variagated Marble Pil- Thtoneover ^ rs > polfe^s the higheft end, on whofe left hapd runs the Front of the Palace the Palace; the Gates whereof are guarded by feveral Brafs Bafilisks, Gate. where feveral Chevaliers Mounted, as well as Foot Soldiers, flood on travels into PERSIA. i&i on Duty, over which is the Imperial Throne, all Covered with Chap. V. Gold: Regia cujtts eratfullimilus alta columnh Clara micante auro. -- • '' From whence the Emperor beholds the Combats between Lions and Bulls, or terfian Rams fet to run at one another; the Tournaments of the Nobles Tilting at each other, or on Courfersfull Speed, ftri- ving to Shoot backward with Bow and Arrow, (after the Parthian (Mom ) at a Golden Bowl fixed on an high Pole,which who Hits by Fixing his Dart, is not only extolled with threefold Praife, but car¬ ries the Prize away, and is taken notice of as a Candidate for the - next Preferment: Where the Inferior Citizens have a lhare in their Diverting their Prince, by entring the lift to Wreftle, and Gladia¬ tors fometime have the Honour to Kill one another. Over-againft this Bafilick Seat, a Clock-Houfe anfwers it; as if a Clock, it had relation to Homers Fancy, who makes the Hours to prefide Houfe. over Heaven Gates, the Abode of his mighty Jove. At the lower end the Royal Exchange, or Quejhery, ( filled with Plate and Jewels, like our Lomhardflreet') opens its folding Doors, over whole rifing Porch, in {lately Turrets, the King’s Mufick alternately refound and compleat this Noble Square, whofe Court is fo large, except on fuch Days as thefe, as to make room enough for a great Fair. Through this Qttejhery we palled under many Fine The Exchange Buzzars, till we came to our own Palace, which was a noble one, *" d both Siras and this being the King’s Bounty; nor are thefe mean,being ° U *’ as high as any bellowed, under the Blood-Royal; the Porches {hiring with Gilded Foliages, Architrave and Marble Pillars, as all' the Pa¬ laces of their Nobles do; here being refigned we returned Thanks with the bell Entertainment this City could afford, before our Friends departed. Thus we accomplilh’d, on the Seventh of Auguft , a tedious Journy in the hotted Seafon of the Year, over defolate parching Sands, and naked Rocks, through all Perfia into the heart of Par- thia to Ifpahaun, not only the Chief City of this vaft Empire, where the prefent Emperor fets up his Standard, with all his moving Forces, but of Par thia efpecially; in which Itinerary' the Moun¬ tains never forfook us,nor for the greateft part met we with other Wa¬ ter than what was Impure and Filthy, being .devoid of the Ihelter . of thick Woods, or Forefts to lhade us from the fultrinefs of the Sun; which was the worft inconvenience that purfued us till within a few Days Journy of this City; which though it appear a large Wood fpread oyer.the Plain by reafon of the abundance of Orchards and Gardens,, yet it wants more on that account than any other, (fending at leaft Twelve Days Journy; for; their Fuel, whibh is dearer than Victuals) and is Built with Brick and Mud for lack of Timber. . , ■ . . To the Store of Provifions we carried with us, we never' failed of a fupply in fome part where-e,ver we came; and for.. Deer, Antilope, Wild Goat, and Sheep -of the. Mountains, moft places 2&2 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. places made us Prefents of them, which with Young Kids is not only /v\j a Noble, but Pleafant Food. The Diftance t' r °m Bmder Abafee, or Gombroon, to Spabarn, is Seven hundred iiiT Miles, or an Hundred feventy five Pharfangs-, which we performed from Bundtr jn Thirty two Days, abating the Time for Refreihment, and One Gmbm. p a y f or our Excurfton to Perfepolis. A Pillar of We were not long here, but we muft return the Civilities of thole Skulls. w ho had honoured us with their Company; when riding through the Town, we lighted on an huge ftupendious Pillar, compofedof the-Skulls of all forts of Creatures, occafioned by an Oath of Sim - Abas the Great ( of whom they hardly fpealc without Idolizing his Memory, his Name being invoked when any Commendable or Fa¬ mous Albion is performed; faying, Shaw Abas, or Sbahas, as we are wont to fay, Well done ;) for that the Great Men of this Place hand¬ ing out againft his then unfettled Authority, he vowed, That if they perfifted to difpute, he would rear a vaft Column of their Heads, to the eternal Reproach of their Difobedience ; who after fome fmall Capitulation, furrendred upon difcretioi|, confidering his implacable Revenge to the Obftinate, and his Natural Propenfity to Clemency towards the Submiffive; which was not effected fo foon, but that he was forced to make ufe of an Equivocation to falve his Oath, commanding every one of them to bring a decollated Head of fome Beaft, and lay at his Feet, which accordingly they did; and he pla¬ ced them into an entire Colofs , as a Monument of Obloquy to their Indifferency, and an everlafting Trophy of his fubduing them, It is more than Sixty Feet in height, withaproportionableCircum- ference enlarged about the Bafis, which we could notmeafure, by reafon of Market-Sheds built about it. Romi/b Friais. Here by the King^ Permifiion are not only allowed, but nourifhed from the King’s Table, ail the Begging Friars of the Romiflo Order, with a fmall Annuity to maintain them in a Pious Manner of Life; this fame Shaw Abas bellowing on them pretty Dwellings for Con¬ vents, with Orchards and Gardens, which they cultivate with their own Hands; live meanly, and up to the Rules of the Poverty prefcri- bed them} gaining for that reafon a Reputation and Reverence not only from the Emperor; but the well inclined Subje&s 5 who often by the King’s Example fend them Meat, Bread, and other Provifi- ons for their Suftenance, and pay them a Refped equal to their own Devotes: And I muft needs confefs fome of them, are not only Holy Men, but Difcreet and Learned, the Chief of whom is Father Ra¬ phael, a Capuchin, who has lived exemplary among them many Years, and,is well acquainted with the Country, from whom I muft own I received the beft and moft Authentick Information: And this I fpeak knowingly of him, That he is no Intruder on Mens Princi¬ ples, when about to depart this Life, as moft of them are, but re¬ commends them to God with their own Confcience. Thefe walk humbly about the Streets and Markets, difcalceated, and in their diftind Habits, none of them mounting anHorfe, on- - ly. the Superior of the Dominicans, who being Refident for the Porta- gals, bearsaPort fuitable to that Charader, and lives in a Splendid Palace, with Noble Walks and Gardens: Therein is a Magnificent Chap* Travels into PERSIA. 263 Chappel, beautified with good Painting , Sculpture, and Rich Or- Chap. V/ naments. . r c ■ ii- Having undergone the Pompous Fatigues of Saluting, and being thereby taught the Formalities of Compliments, more than truly acquainted with the Current of Affairs here ; I found it true, That an exalted Pitch of State is more tirefome than a meaner Condition, it being only a more confpicuous Confinement; for not to move abroad without a Retinue, is to have a Supervifor to every Motion, . and a Man is lefs free either to obferve or ad: Wherefore being tutored before-hand what a Difrepute it was to the Nation whofe Title we bore, to appear to its Difgrace, I refolved to avoid that In¬ decency, and change my European Cloaths for a Perfian Veft and Turbat, that I might walk about undifcovered , without any Re- ifledion tothePublick Minifterof my Country, and give my Eyes that Satisfadiori my Ears were not capable of receiving; by which Expedient my View was lefs tranfient, and I had time to dwell lon¬ ger on any Objed. The firft whereof that attradcd my Stay, was to examine the 7«. f j re Drug- Druggifts, whom I found to be all Jews, who are very numerous, g' fc - and live apart, though their Shops are in common with the Natives in the Buzzars, mixed among a Crowd of other Tradefmen; who fell by Retail, and pafs without any Brand, having their Synagogues open every Sabbath-day. Thefe are the greateft Brokers, and as cunning, if not exceeding the Banyans, who alfo are in every Cor¬ ner, lurking to make a Prize. The Fruiterers place themfelves at. the Entry, and in the wide open Fruiterers. Places under the Chief Cupuloesof their Buzzars, vending, befides Fruit, Sherbets of Pomgranats, Prunellaes, Limes and Oranges, with Ice and Snow to cool them. Ice diffolved in their Liquors, is as prevalent here as at Sir as, fo that the Poor, have they but a Penny in the World, the one half will go for Bread, and dried Grapes, or Butter-milk, and the other for Snow and Tobacco. Befides thefe common Buzzars,- there are others fet apart for choice Silk Bteuun. Commodities, as Silks and Velvets, Sarlaff, that is, Gold and Silver Cloth, Embroidery, Perfian Carpets, both Woollen and Silk, inter¬ mixed with Gold and Silver very coftly, which are the peculiar Ma- nufa&ure of the Country: In thefe we meet with Merchants of all Nations and Languages, brought hither for the fake of Traffick, who furnilh this City With all Foreign Wares, and in exchange car¬ ry the Produd of this Land into the utmoft Parts of the World. On which account it is, the Armenians being skill’d in all the In- the Amm- tricacies and Subtilties of Trade at home, and travelling with thefe «« foMe into the remoteft Kingdoms, become by their ownlnduftry, and by Dea,ers ’ being Fadors of their own Kindreds Honefty, the Wealthieft Men, being expert at Bargains wherever they come, evading thereby Brokeridge; and ftudying all the Arts of Thrift, will Travel for Fifty Shillings, where we cannot for Fifty fhomands ; fetting out with a flock of Hard Eggs and a Metarrah of Wine, which will laft them from Spabaun to the Port; riding on a mean Beaft, which they fell or (hip off for Advance, their only. Expence being Horfe-meat j travelling with no Attendance, their Matrafs ferving at once for Horfea . 264 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Horfe-cloth,and them to lye on; they are a kind of Privateers inTrade, No Pur chafe , m Pay ; they enter the Theatre of Commerce bv means of fome Benefa&or, whofe Money they adventure upon, and on Return, a Quarter Part of the Gain is their own: From fuch Be¬ ginnings do they raife fometimes great Fortunes for themfelves and Matters. London Sack- And from thefe expatiating the Terreftrial Globe, together with WooienCloth t * 1e m ' x ^ Concourfe of other Merchants from all Parts it is, that the ascheapasin Commodities of all the Earth are feen in diftind Buzzars in this one Lnpand. City, as cheap as in their feparate Homes. For beholding the Sack¬ cloth Buzzar, for fo they call Englifh Cloth, I thought it exceeded BlackwelMzW , or any Cloth-Fair in England, being piled in huge Quantities both in their Shops around Pnz Buzzar, and Heaps amidtt thereof, of all Sorts, Colours, and Conditions; where I bought a Coat of Broad-Cloth to line with Furrs againft the Winter, for Fourteen Shillings the Colit , almoft equal with our Yard, for what I am fure I have paid Twenty Shillings the Yard at home. Enghjh Cloth • Whereby it was eafy to guefs, that the Company’s Broad-Cloth and BadMaT came t0 3 ^ ar ^ et * t ^ ie Merchants bringing it in Truck for their k°t! 1 U " Goods cheaper from the Mediterranean, than the Company could fend it, of which at prefent there is a great Glut: Nor will their Tin fare much better, for that Tuthinage brought from the South- Seas anfwers in all refpeds, if not furpafles the fineft of that Metal. The caravans - From hence T went to the Caravan Ser Raws, {lately huge Fabricks of the City. 0 f g r i c {j anc i Stone, bigger than our Inns of Court, but far more uniform, being Three or Four Stories high, with Walks and Galleries; every Country has a feparate one, where they lodge whole Caphalaes for Sale of Indian Cloth, Turkijb, Arabian , European, and all manner of (roods from the Four Quarters of the Univerfe. Here they Rent the Warehoufes and Apartments, not Let them out at free-coft, as up¬ on the-Roads: The King and Queen, as they have built Royal Ones, receive from them a great Annuity: Some of thefe Caravan Ser Ram with their Goods and Chapmen, refemble moftour LeadenhaSMit • ket and Market-houfe (not for the Shambles there, which is be¬ yond any other, but) for Hides and Leather from Bulgaria, Turk 7, and of their own dreffing, which excels that we call Spanijh, or the bed Cordevan for Finenefs, arid Shagreen for Durablenefs; for Bri¬ dles, Harnefles, Boots, andShooes, here are beyond compare. Baitua. The next great Buildings are the Balneos, to which they go with as much Devotion as to their Temples, not permitting any Hetero- dox to their Opinion, to Bathe with them. Coffee-honfes. Their CofFee-houfes, as they are more publick, are fine Rooms, ihining with Lamps in all their Buzzars. Necroman- Nor can we forget another fort of Black Traders, burning Light cws. 3t Noon day, which are the Necromancers, whofe Shops are beftuck with Candles lighted in every Hole, who pretend to unravel the Secrets of Nature, to difcover Things loft, help the fooliftly-inqui- fitive to the Sight of their Abfent Lovers, and.by their Art can command Fate, and prophefy all things to wheedle their Admirers; which is fo general, that they have Profelytes of all Qualities and Degrees. In Travels into P E RSI . A. 265 In their high Btazars no Bakers or Cooks are allowed; and from all Chap. VI. but their own feparate Stalls, are banilhed Poulterers and Butchers. Colleges, Schools, and Temples, are very Magnificent; which will admit of a corapleater Difcufiion in the General Account of this Country. • I, T- C H A P. VI. Carries us to Jelfa; where is treated of the Gabers,, or Original Perfians, ^Armenians, Georgians, andEutopedrti/ans. I N the Interim therefore I Hull attend the Agent to Jelfa, the Abode of the Armenian Chriftians, from whence they receive the Name of Jelfalines: We pafs to this City through two or three of the Palace- Yards, by a great Gate that brought us to a long Walk planted on both Tides with high Sycamors, afpiring like the lofty Cedar, whofe Roots are waflied with two Streams all the length of it. In the middle is a neat Bridge, built more politely than the other: (though the Water has long fince forfook- the Channel): Leaving the Bridge on the left, we crofs the old bottom of the River to the Town, fituate in the fame manner Southwark is from London. Here inhabit not only Armenians , but the Ancient Galers, who remain here with their Tribes; with Tome Mechariick French ( as Jewellers, Gunfmiths, and Watchmakers); and {omekw Mufllemen, as Spies rather thin Inmates. - r .■ • Of the Armenian Chriftians .here, are more than Six thoufand 6060 Families Families , befides an innumerable Company of difperfed Husband- men in the Villages, following their Patriarch in the fame Faith. The French are all Calvinifts. ■ ; The Galers, or Gaures, are the true Per fan Race, the undoubted Heirs both of their Gentilifm and Succeffion, attributing Divine J,. Honour to the Fire, maintaining it always alive in their Delulriums, or Places fet apart for their Worlhip; and if by Chance they Ihould let it go out, they muft take a Pilgrimage to Carmania, where.their, moft Sacred Fire was never extinguilhed, as if it were a Piacular Wickednefs to attempt the renewing of it elfewhere, that being preferved by a more than Veftal Care, from the firft time the Sun,, their Chief Deity, was pleafed to enlighten it with Sparks from its', own Rays. The Men and Women are clad with long Vefts and Breeches to their Heels, the Hair of the Men appearing under their Caps or. Bonnets; the Women have along Mantle, and are bound about the. Head with an Hair-lace, like the Defcriptibn Curtius gives of thofe. conquered after the Ruin of, Perfepolis , who bound their Heads with the Slings they ufed to flay the Venifori they fed on, ftraggling on. the Mountains, and kept in Dens and'Caverns of the. Earth, which made it a matter of great difficulty to overcome them. • Mm Thefe 266 Travels into PER S I A. Letter V. Thefe feem to me the molt lively Reprefentations of the Figures > -AW. both on the Rocks, and on the Palace it felf at Perfepolts .- Thefe How degene- are j n ft ances how momentary the Grandeur of this World is- Thefe, once the Lords of all the Earth that the Ocean wafhes on this Side, and the HeUefpont fhuts in on the other, forgetful of the Everlafting Name of the Grand Cyrus, who firft fubjugated the Medes and Affyridns under the Perfian Yoak, and eftablilhed the Seat of the Empire among their Renowned Anceftry: Thefe, Un . happy for their Sloth and Cowardife, are the reproachful Relicks nay, Dregs rather of the former Glory of their Name and Nation’ which once gave her Laws, as Unalterable Decrees to all People’ Nations, and Languages: Thefe thus dwindled and degenerated’ are the miferable Pofterity of the Perfians; who for fo many Ages have with a tame Patience fubmitted by a fordid Servitude to thofe whom their Forefathers would have fcorn’d to have admitted to be their Slaves; only that they might idely enjoy their Country Gods Adore the Eternal Fire, and the Influence of the Sun upon their Al¬ tars, now Beaftly and Impious more than ever, becaufe they have contaminated them with the Impure Rites and Diabolical Cuftoms of the worft of Pagans. Their impure For there are fome of them Couple together in their Sacred Feafts. Feafts (as they term jthem) promifcuoufly, when they meet in their Delubriums, where they fpread a clean Table- cloth on the Floor, on which they place their Banquets to inflame their Lafcivious Heat, which mult be acknowledged to be fet on Fire by Hell, whatever the Extra# that they Worfhip as a Spark of the Sun, may be defended to be. When they take away, they ftrew the foul Cloth with Meal- Flower, and the better to perpetrate their Inceftuous Lulls, they put out the Lights, and Ihifting themfelves Hark naked, both Men and Women, the Men caft their Breeches on an heap in a Cor¬ ner of the Room : Which being done, the Women run in the dark to catch as catch can; and whatever Lot they light on, the Lamps being again lighted, they firmly embrace for their Lover, if it be Father or Brother, or any other Relation: And which is ftillworfe, the Night being fpent in Beftiality, the naftyFlower (whichby their Filthitiefs either of Vomit or Excrement in which they wallow¬ ed like Brutes) is kneaded into a Paflt, and eaten as a Sacrament tore- peat the fame ungodly Feftivdl Annually, as if it were a Sacrifice well-pleafing to their Deities.But Propagation after this kind is as odi¬ ous to Mankind, as offering Children to Moloch, or making them run through the Fire is execrable and abhorrent to Nature: Which made an Ancient Heathen, in deteftation of fuch horrid Crimes offered as grateful Services to the Gods, burlt out into this Exclamation: Eve¬ ry one indeed ought to have a Seitfe of Religion, and a profound Vene¬ ration for their Country-Gods tranfmitted by Tradition-, but that the Immortal Gods Jhould be appeafed or p/eafed with fuch ffickednefs, is the higheft Frenzy to believe! . From thefe, thofe of fhdia have learnt thefame Principles of Reli¬ gion i and hence it is they agree in their Ceremonies of expofing their Dead in an open Sepulcher, to be torn in pieces by Birds of Prey, and to adore the Sun as a Chief Being, and, fubordinate to it, 7 the Travels into PERSIA. 267 the Four Elements > and here, as there, they are Preferred to no Chap. VI. higher Employments than to Cultivate the Earth as Villains, not Inheritors. • . . Out of the Women are chofen Whores, or Dancers for the TheirWo- Court, and Comedians for the Emperor; who by Gefturfe, Voice, ^diara. C °" or Shew, are Licenfed to utter things Prophane, Lewd, and Ridi¬ culous to Chaft Ears; only to move the itching Vanity of the Cour¬ tiers, indulging themfelves in Obfcenity. They Feed on Flelh, Live Naftily; whereby that of Ovid is appropriated to them, Trux caper in alls ; being of a Goatilh Smell, as well as of a Rampant Temper, that they are rather an Antidote than Provocative to Lechery; fo much fallen are they from their primitive Worth, according to the Obfervation of the Lyrick Poet : /Etas Parentum, pejor Avis, tulit Nos nequiores woxdaturos Progeniem vitiofiorem. Our Fathers Life much worfe than Grandfires Age, Sees us more Wicked to produce An Offipring fuller of Abufe. Contrary to what has been reported by a Laureat in their Com¬ mendation: Jlle penes Per fas Magus eft qui fidera nor it, gut foil herlarum vires cultumque deorum, Perfepoli facit ijla Magos fapientia triplex* , He ’mong the Perftans wasa Wife Man thought* ' Who knew the Stars and Worlhip’d as he ought, Was Skill’d in Plants, and Virtues of them Taught. '» Proper Names among them, are.C«/ef, Biram, Rujlam, but the m'oft general is Afa; whereupon I Ihall let them pafs with this Re¬ mark, Whether, we mayn’t here find the Induftrious Mr. Shering- Ws Labour in fearch of Truth anfwer’d in his far-fetch’d Afte ; Afa being the Commoneft Name among the Galers, whom he makes the Companions of Woden in his German Expedition; which ftill confirms our Aflertion, both of the World’s being Repeopled from the Scythian Mountain?, and of thefe being Allied to our Firft Plan¬ ters, however Degenerate they now appear. Among this OfF-fcum left to upbraid their Predeceflors, are placed the Armenians, who are forced to comply to an over-ruling Fate, out of the fame neceffity that attends the Chance of War, but with a better referve to their Virtue, which is not altogether fo much,deprefled. Though the State, for publick Ends, think it convenient to inter- the Annmi- fperfe b/loors among them, as the Egyptians wifely enough did Task- a ” s hwe 3 c! - Mafters over the Jfraelites in the Land of Gofhen, to fupprefs, by a ofthdcow” timely forefight, what might prove irremediable by an overgrowing as well as one Mm* Strength; ofthe Mmr - 268 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Strength; wherefore one of the Suffean Creed is Conflicted Go- vernor, to put an end to thofe Differences they cannot Compofe themfelves; who have for that purpofe a Civil Magiftrate of their own, Elected Yearly, to whofe Arbitriment, if they fubmit not, it is their own fault, nor can it be by any means imputed to the' Tyranny of the Government, who leave them freely to try their own Caufes. They are ua* For fo it was provided by Shaw Ahas when be deprived them of der Protefli- their own Princes, and redeemed them from the iurkifh Slavery; ™fiface Em ’ between whofe Arms and the Ter funs, they hung miferably harraf. their Tran- fed, according to the Succeffes of eithers Forces, for a long time; fplanring to removing them from Erewan, Ta&erez , and Syria, their Native Je ‘^' Soil, he Tranfplanted them to Jelfa, and fhaded them under the Prote&ion of the Queen-Mother, aflerting thereby their Rights and Privileges in an higher manner ( abating fome little Circumftances) than the Moors themfelves; by which they became not only fafe from their Enemies, but they' improved the Glory of Spahaun by their unwearied Induftry, there being many of them Credible Mer¬ chants at this time, accounted worth an Hundred thoufand 7 k- mand ( each Thomand being Three Pound and a Noble); fo mightily do they increafe under this Umbrage, in Riches and Freedom; for whilft they fit lazily at Home, their.Faftors abroad in all'parts of the Earth return to their Hives laden with Honey ; to which Exer- cife, after they themfelves have been brought up, they train, their Children under the fafe Condudf of Experienced Tutors, who inftrudt them firft to Labour for a Livelihood, before they are permitted to Expend. Thus this Prince not only exprefled himfelf a good Patron, but a prudent Emperor, by Favouring their Defigns, and taking all Occa- fions from their Adverfaries of Injuring them, expofed as they were to open Violence; and at Home Securing them from the Treachery and Envy of his own Subje&s; not only allotting them a place over-againft his own Palace to Build their City, but encouraging them to Rear Coftly and well Endowed Temples, without any Moleftation, to the Honour of the Blefled Name of Chrift; lhaking off thereby the dreadful fear of Captivity, they began to hope for better things, than they could promife themfelves in their diftrefled Condition. Atque iUi primum fperare falutem Sic-Aufi, affliftis melius confidere relus. Nor was this hope founded on a vain confidence; for he diftinguiihed them neither in Habit, Excife, or Cuftom, from his own Terfians, only Their being excepting in one thing, fmallandinconfiderableinifsfelf, being but forbid c ckms an exterior piece of Honour; for it is not lawful, even for thofe ol the Apoftatizing. b. e ft Rank, to Ride into Spahaun with their Servants bearing after them their Coleons, or Glafs Veflels, out of which they Smoak To¬ bacco, by a long Reed, or Cane, fixed into Golden, Silver, or Brafs Heads, with other Magnificent Appendices, carried (lately behind them, invented to fignalize Men of better Fortune among them; and Travels into PERSIA. only forbid the Armenians ; whereby letting them know, however Bleffed they are with this World’s Goods, yet they were to appear i« the Royal City only as Merchants: Which thing, how filly and trivial it is in reality, and to Wife Men is but an wholefome Admo¬ nition, yet it has been but too often the ground of Apoftatizing from their- Heavenly Inftitution ; it feeming a Curb to Ambitious arid Afpiring Spirits, who prefer the Plealures and Pomp of this Life, iliort and uncertain as they are, before thofe more Permanent in the Affurance of the Life to come; and are as little in love with their own Country Manners, as they are tenacious of the Religion of their Forefathers; Ihipwrecking thereby, Faith and a good Confcience, for the affe&ation of the adulterate and glofly Cuftoms in efteetri among the I’erftans, to which indeed they generally incline. On which fcore it is their Women are little converfant with the Men, lb that Women here, (more than any where elfe) are truly Women, and nothing more; the Men here being unexpert how far the Friendly Offices, a Graceful Mein, and Innocent Difcourfe, wins among more refined Chriftians from the becoming Behavibur of that Sex. .In heaping up Riches they ftoop to any bafe means, for they arife from the moft avaritious Temper: In their Profufenefs they are rather Specious and for Shew, than Generous. They have fumptuous Houfes, Enriched either by being'Mer¬ chants, or Interpreters to Foreign Minifters, they being addicted to Learn Languages; few care for Manual Arts, or Mechanick Trades, though fome apply themfelves to Husbandry. They are great Revellers, and like long Feafting; have as mtich Religion as ferves their turn : Their Rufticks are truly fuch; and fuch as are employed in neceflary Vocations and inferior Callings, are Sluttifh and Slothful. Their Speech, as well as Character, is their own, and if it bor¬ row any thing, it is from the Greek j by which it is poliihed from its Barbarity, and reduced to a more Modifll Dialed. Eflablilhed thus by the King’s Favour, they, cannot but be excited as a grateful return to the Difpofer of the Hearts of Kings, and the Giver of all things, to pay a Tribute of their Increafe in Build¬ ing and Adorning {lately Churches to that God who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; bellowing largely both towards their Beautifying in every kind, as being fufficiently ftored with the beft Patterns, as well as precious Subftance, by their conftant Tra¬ velling and rich Adventures, as alfo towards a plentiful Allowance! By whofe Munificence and Charge, befides Colleges and Com vents for Monafticks, are Thirteen Parilh Churches, and a Cathe¬ dral, whofe Defcription {hall ferve for all: The Majefty of the Mo¬ ther-Church at J elf a, rifesnot to that Loftinefs, either to Oflend the Eyes with its Splendor, or to create a Jealotlfy, from its prodigious Structure, of another Tower of Rfl^e/; but keeps the mean, as truly becomes the place feparated for the Service of the only True God; not fo fpacious as neat, leaning on Four. Pillars, which bear an OvalLanthorn, or Crown, over the Center of the Dome, by which the chief Lights are tranfmitted to the reft of the Building, and by them 269 Chap. VI. UTNTVJ They Retrain their Women. Their Tem¬ per. Thirteen Pa¬ rilh Churches, a Cathedral, arid Convents. 270 Travels into PERSIA, Letter V. them the Temple divided into four parts; the firft whereof is almoft gll taken up by the High Altar, Garnifhed with the Images of the Blefled Mother, and the Holy Child Jefus, unlefs a fmall Afcent left for the Singers, the Bilhops Chair, and for Perfons of Quality among them; the Side-Wings and the Middle half way down the Nave, being left for the Men; all the reft is Occupied by the Women, even to the very Folding Doors of the Temple 5 the Roof or Vault of the Arches, the Side-Walls and Polls of the Cathedral, . are all Painted with Sacred Hiftories; and had it not been for fear of the Moors, after the Deceafe of their Patron Shaw Abas, who envied them fo Magnificent a Pile, they would have known no meafure to the defire of enlarging, nor could have ever thought it venuft enough, whilft they abounded with Pious Benefa&ors; but to this Enterprize there wanted not Obftrutftions, even in their own Bowels, For every perverfe Apoftate, on any .pretence of Quarrel among themfelves, to obtain an unjuft Vitftory over his Antagonift, has no more to do, but throw away his Soul, Renounce his Saviour, be Cut, and made a Mujfelman ; offering himfelf a Sacrifice to his Malice, Pride, and Revenge, and thence of a Convert, becomes an implacable Enemy to Chriftianity; and endeavouring to fhew him¬ felf a fincere Profylite, grows a great Bigot for his new Profelfion, and the more to ingratiate himfelf with Antichrift, ftudioufly bends himfelf to the Ruin of that Church he deferted; whence follows an affured Spoil, and Sacrilegious Rapin, when he declares the exu¬ berant Treafure, the vaft Profufenefs and Prodigality of the Chri- ftians on their Churches, concluding all with an Inuecftive againft their Idolatrous Worfhip: However fuch as pertinacioufly adhere to the true Dodtrine of Chrift, and the received Ceremonies of the Armenian Church (their Nobility by the Hardlhip of War being long fince extind ) acknowledge Three Patriarchs as Head in Eccle- fiaftical Affairs, though Anciently they had but one Patriarch, Pri¬ mate of all Armenia, and Succeflor to St. Gregory. St. Barthth- For upon the Glorious Afcent of our Lord Jefus Chrift into »)£», and Heaven, the Holy Apoftles, St. Bartholomew and St. Thadm , in foftPreach’d pu^fuance of the Commiffion they had received by the Infpiration the Gofpel in of the Divine Spirit, with the reft of the Apoftles, to go and Teach the Gofpel to all Nations, had their Lot to be Miflionaries in the Regions of Armenia ; where they compleated their Martyrdom under Sanatrughio the King of the Armenians , who Slew them, not before they had ga'ined many Difcipies. St. the From which time, Two hundred Years being paft, arofe theVa* r atnatch. Rant Champion for the Chriftian Faith, St Gregory, the true Inheri¬ tor of the Apoftolick Seat; in.whofeDays ’tis unfpeakable to de¬ clare what ftreams of Blood of the Evangelical Martyrs watered the Armenian Earth, before the ever-to-be Canonized Patriarch St. Gre¬ gory could bring forth the budding Fruit of the Gofpel to perfect Maturity. In Mount Ararat, under the Perfecution of Dioclefian and Maxi minian, fell Ten'thoufand to the Lull of the Tyrants, befides many others in other places. The Holy Patriarch himfelf is faid to funer Fifteen Travels into PERSIA. 271 Fifteen Years Maceration in a Well, where he was privately relieved Chap. Vf. - by the daily Charity of a poor Godly Woman, who call therein a l/V\ pieceof Bread for his conftant Sultenance, when it was believed on all hands that he had been difpatch’d by the cruel Commands of Ty- riittes ; who refie&ing afterwards with Remorfeori his raft Precept, took him from that {linking Dungeon, arid endured his Reproof for his Befliality towards the Good Man, and became an hearty Penitent for his inhuman Ufage, and other Prevarications of his Life, and from a Salvage Prince refidred himfelf a tame Follower Of the Pa¬ triarch St. Gregory y who ruled the Church Thirty Years: From whom the Armenians received their Confecrated Bilhops, Priells, and Monaftick Orders,called Vortoleeds, who profefs Celibacy, and are as much as to fay, Mafters, going out with the Formality of a Paftoral Staff and Bible ; who are generally fuch Teachers whofe Cogency of Pra&ice and Inftru&ion no other Church furpaffed, while they held the Orthodoxy of their Founder. Which might Hill have continued, had not that Tnlligator of Ills, Falfe Do- and Stirrer up of Strife, by. his reftlefs and mifchievous Machinati- arines f P tead ons purpofely forbid its Durance, by malicioufly lowing Tares among among them ' the Wheat: Whence fprang up fo many Monfters without Heads, blown up by Eunomians and ApoSinarians , and that Peililent Arlan Herefy which fpread its Infedtion over the whole Face of theCbri- llian Churches, maintaining, That God the Son was not of the fame Subftance, with God the Father; which after it was crept in here, Araftarces, the Son and immediate Succefforof St. Gre¬ gory, although he wasprefent at the Nicene Council for that purpofe, could not by all bis Pains and Endeavours repel. After whom (the fpace of Sixty or Seventy Years being firfl fpent) St. Bafil illuminated the lower Armenia. In the Time of Sourmach , falfe Patriarchs were foifted on them by the Mandates of the Perfian Kings, when fome began to celebrate the Nativity of our Saviour on one and the fame Day with the Epi- phony, which is on the Sixth of January; and that while John Chrp- fijlom, the Golden-Tongued Orator, furvived. About this time there flourifhed in Armenia a Famous Learned Hermit, called Mefroh , who firfl difpofed the Languages of the Georgians as well as Armenians, into their proper Alphabets, with an admirable Exadtnefs and Accuracy. In the Year of our Redemption Four hundred thirty five, Four Ktr r es P(Kfi . Years after the Ephefian Synod, (in which the Writings of Theodo- n,mmm call’d rus Mopfuiftius, and Diodorus the Tharfian, from whom Nejlorius \ s ^ noi i and fucked the Poyfon of his pernicious Opinions, were publickly con- [hem from demned ;) by Command of the Emperor of Perfia, Nierfes Pacri- the Greek veruanus called a Synod at fhevin, where by a Decree patted by the greater Suffrage, it was confirmed, That the Nativity and Baptifm lhould be kept on the fame Day; giving this Reafon, That as Chrift was conjointly God and Man, fo it was fit the Feftival of his Birth and Baptifm lhould be jointly obfervedononeand the fame Day, and not feparately on two Days; which Synod alfo added to the Hymn \™Trifagium nowufed in the Greek Church, ay©, aSaVar©. 5 ay© i$y§©, ay© a^W© lAfW j gui cmifixus pro 272 Travel? into P E R, S I A. The Georgians depart from the Armenians. The Patriar¬ chate branch¬ ed into Three Divifions. nobis; Holy, Holy, Holy, Almighty and Immortal God, mho was cruci- fed for us, have Mercy upon us: Forbidding the Armenians to go to Jerufalem on Pilgrirriage, or to unite with the Greek Church. Where- upon enfued the ovfir-running.of: thefe Parts in thofeDays with the* abominable Weeds of falfe Doctrine of the Acephali Sectarians, faid to be without an Head, becaiufe none, is known to be their Author or elfe becaufe they burned no Bifliops: They acknowledged tu o di- ftindt Natures in Chrift, fo confounding their Properties, as a Drop of Vinegar dropped into the Sea, lofes its Qualities: Which Headlels Seift fpruiig up in the Eafl at firft, and oppofed one another with many Armed Heads; but afterwards confederated upon the Death of the'Sacrilegious Diafcorus, w hom they villanoufly defended, contra¬ ry to the Sacred Synod held at Chalcedon. This Blaft peftered not only the inferior Syria, but fpread its deadly EfFedts over all AW by the Contagion Sevens Bifhop pf Antioch had fucked in, from whom they were denominated Severians: And as the Saying is, IS Weeds grow with Jpeed , fo from the fame Root grew that horrible lhap’d and prepofterous Julian Birth, from whom came the Julia- nijls ; and from their feveral ill-begetting Sires, the Gaunits, Tlieodo- fians, Berfanians; and at laft the moft deformed of all, by the unhap¬ py Labour of Jacob the Syrian, was produced the Jacobites , who jumbling tpgether with the Acephali and Monofyphites, they confefs the One Nature in Chrift to he. compounded of Two after the Uni- Oh: With the Theodofm Theopajftts, they aflert the Divinity of our Savidur'to be Paffible ; and with the JulianiJls,Gaianifts, and Afthar- docits, afiiim the Body of Chrift to be altogether Corruptible; from whence-they are nicknamed Corrupticulte and Thantaiflce. Under Abraham Rufidianus, the Iberians, now called Georgians, de¬ parted from the Armenians, ana embracing the Chalcedonian and Epheftan Councils, were reconciled to the Greek Church. In. the Year of our Redemption, yyi, Moyfes Arcazuodamis placed the Turkijjf Computation in the Armenian Kalender, which began about this Time;- which number, if it be added tO the Thoufaiid of the Armenians , makes out their Gregorian Account;, which they follow, and not that of our Lord. In the Reign Of this Patriarch, while the Univerfal Church were bufied in corroborating the Four General Councils, to wit, ,the Nicene, Con- Jlantinopolitan, Epheftan, and Chalcedonian, Armenia was employed in refitting and oppofing their Determination. When was revived that filthy Sedt of the Manechites ; which fort of Hereticks had inhabi- ted Armenia before, receiving their Name from a Perftan, who was called Maries \ he denied the Trinity and the Old Teftament, and held Two Principles,, the one of Good, and the other of Evil: By whole Inaufpicious Influence, and the Incurfions of the Saracens and Tartars invading and fubduing the Per fans, all the hopes of recon¬ ciling the Grecian Church, and extirpating thofe Herefies, vanilhed. But on the contrary,,in Procefs of Time they withdrew from their Primitive Patriarch, 1 into the letting up of Two more; fo the See of St. Gregory became divided,' and they defpifed the Holy Well of Va- garfciebat; for at Erewan , near Taberez, or Taurus, they tranllated the Metropolitan j which gave.'occafion to the Bilhop of Sis to fet Travels into P E Ki> S V 1 A. up for Patriarch at Sis in Cilicia ; and the Moflafttybf Canfabar plead- Chap. Vf. ing Antiquity, lying towards Candahar, on that Prefcript- refufed Obedience to any but their own Patriarch. ; f'f By which Seraphick Triumvirate they are now 'gove^fled, own¬ ing no other Head of the Church. . _ But before we defcend into the particular Tenents (till maintained by them, it will not be amifs to note, That froth the Time of St; Gre- gory to this Divifion, was Four hundred twenty five Years, in which there were Thirty three Patriarchs, agreeable to their own Annals» I having herein confulted their own unbiafs’d Chronologers, and by their Authority corre&ed Galenas, when tripping in Partiality to the Papal Authority. St. Gregory Years 30 1 Chrijlopher- Years " . r ■ $ Ariflarces 7 Leontius ■ 1 ' 2 Verthanes $ i Nierfes ■. 5 Hefechius 6 % John ' J >5 Tarnierfjh 5 Moyfes ' 30 Nierfes 34 Abraham 23 Ifaac 4 3 John 26 Zaven 4 Chomitas V " ' 8 Ashuraches S 1 Chrijlopher'■ S Sumach ' 6 Jefer 10 Jcfepb 2 3 Nierfes ' : ’ ‘ zo Chyut M' Anajlafius . •' f 6 John 12, Ifrael 6 Samuel 5 l Ifaac *9 Guodanus 6 Elias ■ ' 24 Ifaac 5 The Series after this Succeffion of Patriarchs, as it was immediate¬ ly puddled with the Mud of Herefy, fo it often was diftiirbed by the Impofition of the Secular Power, forcing not only Igrioratit but Ungodly Men upon them; who now at this Time have their Conge (P Ejlire from a Prince of another Religion, and many times putchafe -;■■ ■ r ? it by Simoniacal Contrads: So that the Purity of Chrifiiartity cah- " ’ : j.; ; not be expeded, where Gain is made of Godlinefs, and thefe high 1 Cures of Souls are bought and fold; entring upon them with the Emperor’s Licenfe, not the Approbation of their own Clergy ; not byDefert and Merit, butby Fraud and Circumvention: Andwhere- as Humility and Godlinefs, learning and Ingenuity, fliould he the Qualifications, now Pride and Envy, great Gifts with Stupidity are exalted: And which ismoft deplorable, generally fuch Men are put into the Patriarchates as are moft Odious to them 1 ; whence it tomes to pafs, that thefe Prelates have as little Integrity as Orthodoxy, they favouring the Jacobites even to this day. They are confident In the Superftitious Omens of the Heathens. Their T£ Judaize in the Choice of Meats, not eating Conies or Pork;: ' ; ”«ks, Affert the One Nature in Chrift, according to Piofcorut. 1 Nn Hold Travels into P E R. S I A. m Letter V. Hold that the Holy Ghoft proceeds not from the Son, according U'VNJ to the Error of the Greek Church. That the Souls of Saints departed enter not into the Kingdom of Heaven,nor of the Wicked into Hell, but are in the Middle Region of the Air, expe&ingtheDay of Judgment. And therefore Pray for the Dead. Deteft the Council of Chalcedon. They have Five Sacraments, leaving out Confirmation and Ex¬ treme Un&ion, which makes theirs lefs by Two than the Papifts. They buy and fell the Sacraments of the Church for a Price. The Clergymen Merchandize. They make Divorces for Money. The Subftance of the Deceafed fall into their hands, till the Right Heir redeem them. They adminifter the Sacraments to Children, before the Ufeof Right Reafon. They deny the Superiority or Primacy to the Romifb Church, and they ufe this Interrogation for an Argument, ‘ Why rather That than ‘ the Church of Antioch, in which City we were firft called Chriftians, ‘by the Preaching of Si. Peter ? They are againft Purgatory. For which reafon the Romanifts affix the Error of the Alajfins upon them, Of Cauterizing when they Baptize Infants, or initiate any into the Church; according to the Words of St. John, He (hall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft, and with Fire ; taking the Words literally: Wherefore the Alaffms, not the Armenians, are called St. Johns Chriftians. They diftribute the Eucharift in both kinds to the People, in Com¬ memoration of the Body of Ghrift, dipping the Wafer into the Wine and Water mixed together, and then give it to the Commu¬ nicants. They wrap the Word of God in a clean Piece of Silk, which when the Prieft unfolds, he kifles the Bible, and bows: The like Ceremony is ufed at the Elevation of theHoft, which he gives to all alike to falute, as alfo both the Teftaments. The Patri- ' Thefe are the Cuftoms and Opinions divulged and maintained by archs initall’d their Patriarchs, to whom great Honour is paid; being introduced with Pomp. i n to their feveral Sees as well by the Pomp of the Moors as the Solem¬ nity of the Chriftians: The Cams of the Provinces conducing them with all their Train, and Forces of Horfe and Foot, with Banners flying, and loud Mufick refounding, great Guns difcharging, and all the Exprefiions of • Joy congratulating their Inftalment, and the Ring’s Favour towards them. The Clergy meet them in their feveral Habits; the Laity alfo ihew their Gallantry, and the Patriarchs themfelves are in their Holy Veil* ments, Rich Copes, Mitres, and Crofters, befet with ineftimable Jewels. They are diftinguilhed from the Bilhops by wearing Rings ’ on their Fingers, embellilhed with Diamonds, whereas the Bilhops wear only plain Gold Rings. Their Pontificals being put off, they walk in a Black Gown with a Mitred Hood and Paftoral Staff, as do the Vortoleeis , who are thelearned’ftand beft efteem’d of all their Orders, Travels into PERSIA. 275 Orders, and in abfence of the Patriarch and Bifhops exercife all the Chap. VI. • Pontifical Fundtions: Thefeare Eloquent Preachers in their Pulpits; thefe only vow Chaftity, and what is more ftridt, endure not the ^ht of a Woman; and if in the Street by chance they meet one, they prefently turn their Backs; and if they have any Bulinelsiti that part of the CJiurch allotted them by Cuftom, they commit not tbemfelves to them, but caufe them to be drove away, before they ivill read the Service. At feme Forty ofthefe live a Celibate Life, at theMonaftry t joining to the Cathedral, in Cells and Cloy fters, with an Archbilhop orMonafticks, of the fame Order, faring hardly, and living devoutly. • The Archbilhop of Jelfa fubmits his Province to the Patriarch of The Archbi- Vagarfialat; he is a goodly Reverend Old Man, fnowed with Age, “ op- but not worn with it; he has a Countenance of Sandity apparent in his Looks, worthy the Gravity of fo Eminent a Dignity. The other Orders of the Clergy, whether Priefts, Deacons, Ca- Their Clergy nons, or Chorifters, ufe Chriftian Liberty in refped of Matrimony, marry, it being difallowed none but the Vortoleeds : They are diftinguilhed no other ways from the Rufticks, than tjieir wearing Blue Veits, Turbats, and Tunicks, as they do, unlefs a long Cloak, or Gown of Black over all, points them out to be an Armenian Father, or an Ec- clefiaftick in Orders: They are lhaved as the Romans are, and unco¬ ver their Heads in Salutation; they are conftant Frequenters of their Churches, and have Lamps always burning in them; and every one takes his turn in the Order of the Priellhood, to wait Day and Night in the Temples, according to the Mofaick Inftitution, to whom are appointed Lodgings adjoining to their Churches; at other Times they live with their Families in the City: Every one approaching them pays them a Reverence, and begs their Blefiing, killing the Hem of their Garments, which the Priefts return to the Vortoleeds, the Vortoleeds to the Bifhops, and the Bifhops to the Patriarchs. Having been prefent at their Malles for the Dead, for Infants in Baptifm, and for the Husband and Wife new-married; Ilhall thence take occafion to relate in Ihort their Banquets, Falls, and Ceremo¬ nies ufed on their Celebrating thefe Rites. We lhall begin with their firft Admiffion into the Pale of the Baptifin. Church. While they are at Divine Service a proper Mafs is faid, when the Midwife or Nurfe brings the Child to Church, with a Tribe of Women, where lhe delivers it to the Godfather; who carries it to the Minilter waiting at the Font on the Right Side beneath the Altar, who unwinding the Swathes, receives the Infant naked , and his Thumb being anointed with confecrated Oyl or Balfom, figns it with the Sign of the Crofs, not only on the Forhead, but on .the Breaft and Back, Feet and Arms, and all the other Parts of the Bo¬ dy: After this, pouring of the fame Ghryfm into the warm Water in the Font, reciting fome fpecial Prayers, and dipping the Crucifix into it, it becomes an Hallowed Bath, in which the Babe is wafted all over by the Pr ieft: When it is taken out, it is crofted from Head to Foot,: and fpitting into the Ears and Eyes it is difmifs’d with an Amulet hung at its Breaft for Eight Days; asaGharmagainftWitch- N n a craft, 276 Letter V. '^sstsj Travels into P E R. S I . A. craft arid reftored to the Women to be cloathed. The Mafs being done the Guefts return to the Houfe of the Parents, with a Noife of Mufick before them', and the Choir in Proceflion Tinging Anthems where they all make merry before they depart. If it be a Girl it is Efpoufed immediately afterBaptifm, to prevent its being Lent for into the Harm by the Emperor, who pretends a Power over them to chide for his own ufe out of thofe not betrothed. The great Feftivity of the Birth and Baptifm of our Saviour, ob¬ eyed on the 6 th of 'jamary, is celebrated with Rites of the like na- tU re v for they confecrate the Tank or Ciftern, filled with Water and Odoriferous Oy Is,' which, after the Sacrament received, is given out among the People with great Clamour and Striving. This Solemnity has been fo Splendid, that the Emperors and the Court were wont to'honour it with their Prefence, when they were entertained with Interludes, and Reprefentations of the Birth, the Morning being ulhefed in with Vocal and Inftrumental Mufick, with Millions of Flambeaus, and fhewing the Angels and Shepherds, with the Heavenly Holt, Singing praifes to God on high, andgooim towards Meit. When this was performed, the Rich Merchants urove toexprefs their Senfe of thefe Favours, by inviting them to extraordinary Ban¬ queting and Feafting; and after Expenfive Repafts, the River being confecrated for the purpofe, the Ceremonies of Baptifm were per¬ formed, when notwitbftanding it is extreamly cold, thofe of Riper Years Were baptized, and fwam about forthe Diverfion of the Court; concluding all with a Night: of Jollity. The mOdefteft- account of which Pranks mull be. The Hopes of gaining Profelytes by filch Shews,, rather than to expofe their mod H6ly Religion to the Contempt of Infidels, out of any Defign or In- tereli; otherWife this Pr a< 9 :ice admits of a fcandalous Interpretation: But alas ! it is too true in the affirmative, That in India among the Idolatrous it might fake, but amofig thofe that abhor all manner of Forms arid Shapes in their Worftip, it turns to the Reproach, and not - Advancement of Chriftianity. The next thing after being Baptized, is to commit Matrimony, tlie-.only way they have of propagating their Faith; it being a Pu- nilhmenfno lefs than Capital, to attempt by any means to perfuadea Mufjleman to abjure his befotted Fancy concerning their Falfe Pro¬ phet; but that is not lb much the Reafon, as prevailing Cuftom, which has from Age fo Age led them to marry their Children very yoking; chiefly becaufd the Advantage made by their Bargain is not of fuch Concert asitiBdrope, where Portion, more than Honefty of the Family, is corifidered ; but here the greafeft Dowry is the Credit of the Relation's, and the Women not the Men make the Price, they being Miftreffes of nothing more than their Beauty and Virtue 5 fo that they riever' afb fnatch’d up for their Great Fortunes, however Wealthy their Parents are, they beingwholiy at their Difpofals who makb theMathhes, without rheGourtlhip of Knowledge of the Cou¬ ple to beimrried; wherefore they are entred into that fort of Lire bfefofb they know how to get but of it; for they rarely psfs their Child* Travels into PERSIA. 277 Childhood before they are tied in that indiffoluble Band; whence Chap. VI. fome Excufe may be made, for the Priefts fo frequently taking Mo- ney to Unmarry them ; a thing I have heard more than once wilh’d for in other Countries, but in vain; though they promife to beas liberal to the Parfon who had that Knack, as any one grieved with the Gout, would be to the Phyfician who had an infallible way to Cure that Diftemper. i ; The Ceremonies enjoined by the Church are agreeable enough to the Romifk Inftitution: Returning home, the Wedded Pair are kept ciofeup together'for Forty Days, loaded with Rofaries and Images, and none fullered to come at them , that are Strangers, for the Womankind to fpeak to any but their Husband; left ,an evtf Topgiie jhould have a Sorcerous effeift, or a bad Eye fhould Inchant their fo tureBlifs. , This Quadrageffimal Reftraint being oyer (if no Fa’ft intervene, of which their Church is fuH ). they prepare themfelves to Cele¬ brate the Nuptials with their Kindred; which is on this manner: The Eideft of the Family on the Husband’s fide, opens the FeftiVal by lirft Inviting the Gueitls to the Marriage Feaft, where the Bride¬ groom appears in a mean Drefs and poorly Habited, till the Prints have received Richer Habiliments of the. Grandfathers, or Bldfeft Uncles Gift, and brought them covered into the middle of the Gueff Chamber, where they San&ify them and Blefs them for his ufe, the Youth handing by; to verify wbat PaladiasuM for a Pro¬ verb, Inve(lem Puerum quaji imlerlem , when he called a Beardlefs Boy by the Epithet of an Undrefled Lad; and every one taking their Places, the Servants lay them down on the Carpets, and unwinding . the SilkE mbroidered^or to wrap'them in, difcover only the Bride¬ groom’s Suit, with an old rufty Sword of the Family’s^ hot worn fince Sham Alas reduced them; for in thefe Countries it is not the Cuftom that Women of good Fame, or Repute, Ihould.meet iri Publick Conventions with the Men, but they Tranfaft their own Affairs in their own Houfe of Parliament among themfelves. On the Heels of the Servants come the Clerks'with their Choir, and taking the Cloaths, only one (which is all Cloth of Gold ) being the uppermoft Garment, isa loofeGoat of London Cloth, without Sleeves, Lined with Sables to keep off the Winters Cold ; When'the Reverend Sages call forth the new Mamed-Stripling,whom'they place between Two Bridemerr about bis' own Age, they all Three Kneel¬ ing , while they Sing the Epithalamium, not fo much as lifting up their Heads till all the Rites ate. finilhfed'; then they wait on the Bride¬ groom into another Room, whither his Robes arecamied, and when he is Ihifted, he returns attended by his Bridemenr; when every one of them Salute the Hands of all that ate called to this Solemnity, and, after an Ancient Cuftom, Invite them to take a Cold Ban¬ quet among the Tombs, to put them in mind-of Mortality at fher fame time they are contriving to continue the World. The Y.oung Spark being lift tip on Horfeback, and fome tihe carefully held on each fide on Foot, leads the Way fo the Cavalcade, Riding in State,; after a Noifeof Fidlers, Drummers, Pipers, and other LacquieSj Pages, and Footmen ; after whom : an innumerable ' Concourfe Travels into PERSIA. 278 Letter V. Concourfe of Horlemen follow to the Graves, near a Mile out of the City C among whom arefome very noble Sepulchres fit to re¬ ceive fo great a Company ) but in fair Weather they fpread their Carpets, and fet up their Tents near the fide of a Brook, almoit walhingtheir Burial place. Here Ceres and Bacchus having Ihewn their good will to Venus, (for it is known without them no hearty Sacrifice is paid her) Hymen delivers out his Torches, the Sun having withdrawn his; and every one there takes a Wax Light in his Hand, and Mounting, diredt themfelves towards the City, in the fame manner they came our, only Bonfires, Flambeaus, and Fireworks Illuminate the Road all along: Entring Jelfa, the (lately Gates of their Friends and Rela¬ tions, efpecially fuch as are prefent at the Collation, are beftuck with Tapers in divers Coloured Paper Lanthorns; which look gracefully and divert the Company with variety of Artful Fires, each driving to outvie others ; and are Entertained at the fame time with Wine and Sweetmeats, Drinking of Healths, and at laft diftnifs’d with frelh Tapers given to all the Guefls. This continues in the Way to the Cathedral, where about Mid¬ night the Bridegroom arriving, begs theBlefiingof the Archbilhop, and they hardly return to the Houfe from whence they fet out, till almoft Break of Day. Where they are fcarcely compofed to Sleep, before the Father of the Bride knocks on the fame Errand, calling the Guefls to accept of a Treat at his Houfe; where thofe Invited are carried into a noble open Banquetting-Houfe in a Garden, with Tanks and Adornments very Magnificent, after their Falhion ; the Room is Perfumed with coftly Odours, Smoaking out of Antick, Weighty, Silver Perfu- .ming Pots', or Pans; and being Seated, Voiders of Sweatmeats ( with a Ruffian Coat, as they call it) a Dram of Brandy is fet be¬ fore every one; and then the Servants bring thebeft Raiments yet prefented the Bridegroom, being the Father-in-laws, or his Repre- fentatives; the Ceremonies are the fame of the Clergy, only with this addition, the Bridemen which Kneeled yefterday, to day Hand upright with’ flaming Flambeaus in their Hands. Tliefe Ceremonies ended, and the Sweatmeats taken off, a Table is fpread, and more than twice Seven Plates are differently Modified to invite the Palate to Luxury; to which that of Muturantius, for which Juvenal Lampoons him, is a modeft piece of Temperance: —— Quis fercula feptem Secrete cenavit Avus - But here are fuch loads of Provifions, that none need fear a quicker Eye than Appetite, at leifureto take notice what each Eats; for fhould.they do nothing but devour, their Stomachs muft be cloied before their Portions fink. Yet all thefe Preparations, with the enticing Poinant Sawces, and provoking Pickles, prevail not on the Bridegroom to fall to, till the Father-in-Law lays to his new Son’s double Mels, a Purfe of Gold ; and this is the only thing they bear away by way of Dowry: • / After Travels into P E R S I A. . . 279 After this Debt is cancelled, no Cloud appears to difturb the Mirth, Chap. VI. Eating, Drinking, and facetious Difcourfe is all the Bufinefs; andin WV\, earnefl: it is one, and a tedious one where it lavilhes into fuch For what was reported of Old, ftill holds good, The Perfians Drink Wine in Bowls; and they obferve Gellius his Rule, de Lege Cmrum, as a Law to their Feafts, Dumlibentifmeedas, tunc aufer- tur & alia efea melior atque amplior fuccenturiatur, ifque flos coma ha- letur; as if they, never thought you Welcome before you had Eat like a Glutton, and Drank like,a Swine: After Ibiftingof Plates unaccountably, and every one’s Health has reafon done it, they take off the Table-Cloth, but not remove their Seats; Fruit, Wine, To¬ bacco, and Salt Bits for a Whet, being placed before them, they continue Drinking till Midnight, being diverted, by Stage-Players, Dancers, and Mountebanks all Day 5 nor will they themfelves dif- dain to take up a Tabor and Roar out a Song behind that, and a Flute Playing to them. At Night Fireworks begin again, having had the conftant ones of the Water all the time, arifing in Crowns and Garlands, with other, Figures ; at laft they bring the News that the Matrons had difmifled the Bride Adorned with all her Wealth and Gallantry; when they rife, but proceed not tilllhe is delivered to her Groom, who waits on her to her Horfe; when they are both Mounted, the Ecclefiafticks marlhal the Procefllon; all the Streets are Illuminated, the loud Drums and Trumpets proclaim their approach; in the Front is car¬ ried a Tree full of Fruit; after it follows the Europeans , then the Ar¬ menians in order • in the midft of them the Canonical Gentlemen and Boys, fingingand Playing on Mufical Inftruments;" all in their peculiar Habits, which were Rich, and the Choirifters Surplices full of Red Crofles; after thefe the Bride and Bridegroom, He nobly Mounted and fplendidly Accoutred with Magnificent Trappings; his Horfe led, and the Bride held on by Matrons, Crofs-legg’d, after the Country Falhion for Women to Ride, but Vailed all over with a Saffron-coloured Vail; Lutea demitfos velhrunt flammea mltus. Left if the Blulhes of the Virgin Bride Ihould be difcovered, or if too high a Colour Ihould be difcerned in the Maiden Face, it maybe im¬ puted to the Vail, not the Floridnefs of the Cheeks; after all, in the clofe of the Proceffion, come the Matrons Attired in White Sheets. Nor do they go far before they repeat their Banquets, with Prefents of Tapers, Sweetmeats, Squibs, Serpents and Rockets, astheypafs; the Glory of this Night is always defigned to pay their Refpedb to their Governor in Chief, who receives them very great, and grants a Licenfe for the Youth to carry his Spoufe home, which he does, departing from hence to his Father s Houfe, where the Company end their Tbalajfes t and leave them to Contemplate the Joys of Matrimony. The 280 Travels into P E -R S I A. Letter V. . The next day, if it be a Faft, is intermitted; but the Feaft holds on till the Relations have finiflied their Courfe, which is fometimes more than a Month ; fo profufe are they of their Time and Money on this occafion. Purification. After Marriage, of right fucceeds Child-bearing, which keeps the fame ftate in Lying in as with us, only they are fomething long, er before their Purification, agreeing therein with the JewiJb Account of Forty days; when they enter their Baths to Cleanfe, and bring the New-born Babes with them to the Church, that the Prieft may at once give his Benedidion to the Infant, and the Mother return Thanks to God, who affifts at their Births and their own Delivery. The Feafls From thefe Feftivals thus Celebrated at large, it is meet we lhouid and Falls Or- p ee fj 0W t h 0 f e enjoined by the Church are tempered with days of Ab- Stoch. ftinence, as well to fit them for the ftudies of Piety and,Moderation, as on their Feaft-days'by aChriftian Chearfulnefs, to declare to the World the excellency of their Original, _ and that they were Ordained as a Refrelhment after ftncere Humiliation and Penance. Two Days in every Week they hold a Arid Faft, not only from all manner of Wine, Oil, and Butter, but from Flefh and all Nou¬ rishment whatever indued with a fenfitive Being; living like the Pythagoreans , on Herbs and Roots, efpecially the Ecclefiafticks, who Macerate themfelves feverely ; thefe Days are Wednefdays and Fri¬ days, unlefs Chriflmafs Day, or the Baptifm of our Saviour, hap¬ pen on either of them: Before which they prepare themfelvesby a Weeks continued Faft. The Laics indeed, indulge themfelves with Wine, but the Clergy by no means: Their much admired St .Chryfoflom has exempted Women with Child, the Infirm and Children, from the Rigour of thefe Obfervances, leaving them this as a Maxim, That Health is not to he impaired , lut the Mindjlrengtkd ly a due fitkjettm. ; On the'Daivn Of the Gofpel,, which had been Glorioufly dif- played by the ‘Angels Appearance to the Shepherds tending their flocks, We have.already related the Solemnity; yet becaufe here re¬ mains a difpute among the Armenians, which Day to affix the fol¬ lowing Tradition to, I fhall only mention it here, and leave it to their own decifton; for it is a queftion among them, If it be not moil probable, that after the bright Phofphor of the Heavenly Hoft, the Shepherds Eyes might not bedazled, and for that reafon wanting mbre.thatl the Light of the Stars, were conftrained to kindle dry TWigs, of Boughs of Trees to light them in queft of the decked Meflias ? : ‘However this fatisfies not the Generality, but that it has many Oppofers, and they fay, it was on the Morning to the Purifi¬ cation of the Blefled Virgin, when Old Simeon had his Age Re¬ newed an'd.be'came Young enough to Embrace the Child Jefus, and being Divinely Infpired, Prophefied of the Salvation of all Nations, and brought.the Holy Babe in at the Folding Doors of. the Temple; Wlhifch,'by a recfeived Belief among the were never tobeopened. till' thofe Days of Peacejhould come wfterein. Cbrift.lhouid appear; rife Novell of “Which Accident be'ingTpread about the City offeru- falem, all forts of People came flocking before day with fuch com* buftible Torches, to be Witnefles of the truth: On which day . therefore Travels into P E R S I A. therefore it being more univerfally received, the Armenian Divines and Interpreters of thefe Myfteries appoint Fires to be kindled in their Churches, and Annually rejoice for that they ha ve found their Lord and Matter. On the 13 th of January, for a lefs Apocryphal Story, they pro¬ claim a Faft, and humble themfelves in Duft and Allies on their Heads, and Sackcloth on their Bodies, for the Denunciation Jonas made of God’s Judgment againft Niniveh ; and on the 2,0 th rejoice for the Averfion thereof on their unfeigned Repentance. The Preparation for, and Continuation of their Lent till th ePaftion Night, they religioufly keep with almoft a Suguntin Faft, that is, al- moft familh themfelves to Death; when they repair to the Tombs of their Friends and Relations, with burning Incenfe and lighted Can : dies; where they pray for the Dead, or more charitably recommend them to a quiet Repofe by the Mouth of their Priefts, and at the fame time refrelh themfelves with Fruit.and Melons, the Women with their Husbands and Infants drinking to their pious Memory, freely taking off their Cups, and weeping plentifully with a fad La¬ mentation and mighty Outcry; till the Wine make them have 4 Light Heart and a Merry Countenance; which courfe they take till the Afcenfion, Weeping and Wailing, Drinking and Quaffing. Eafter and Whitfuntide they keep as the Primitive Chriftians did. From the 28 th of May they caftigate themfelves with cutting Difciplines; for that Conftantine the Great when Emperor, marching out to fight, breathed nothing but Slaughter againft the Chriftians, till convinced by an Apparition of the Sign of the Crofs in the Hea¬ vens, with this Advertifement, In hoc Signo tantum vinces, where¬ upon he became the firft Ghriftian Emperor, defending that Religion againft all its Adverfaries: For which miraculous Converfion, they find now, as the Chriftians then did, Matter for Thankfgiving. For their Patriarch and Martyr St. Gregory, on the 9 th of June they afflid themfelves for his being foaked, Six Days, and on, the Seventh they magnify his more than Human Patience. Before the Transfiguration of our Saviour on the 19 th of June, they Faft, and end that Day with a Feaft. From the 18 th of Auguft, for the Death of the Blefled Virgin, they have inftituted fix days of Mourning, and the next after is a Thankfgiving for her being tranflated from this Life to a better. On the 17 th of September they reiterate their Devotions for the Dead, which is preceded by fix days of ftri£t Penance. On the fame day they commemorate St. Helens Invention of the Crofs at Jerufalem, being Emprefs to the forementioned Conftantine. St .Guywark has a Faft of the fame length, and a Feaft at the end of it, on the 26 th of the fame Month. The 17 th of November they put themfelves on diftrefs for the Health and Safety of their Cattle, to free them from Rot, and pray for their Increafe; this at firft lafted but fevendays, but it is nowfo many Weeks, all which time they keep Lent. Laft of all for St. James they are grievoufly concerned fix days together, and are content with one day only to Feaft on: So that the Year round there are more Falling than Feafting-days. O 0 Through 281 Chap. VI- 282 Travels into P E R S I A. Letter V. Through all thefe Scenes, Time keeps jogging on, and it is a p. ^/"Vj pointed for alt men once to dye ; at which Article the Neighbours and TheirFune- Acquaintance, efpecially thofe of the Blood, come to bewail and weep for the lofs of their Friend or Relation ; when, and not till then, the Parifh-Prieft is fent for, that he fhould pray by him, and put him into an happy Pofture of Departure, by minding him of his Soul’s Health, notwithfianding his Bodily Indifpofition; which being recommended into the fame Hands that bellowed it, and-having ta- ken its Flight from Earth to its affigned Place, there are no Words made of Anatomizing or Embalming the Body; but walhing it often with Aromatick Waters while it is purified and kept clean, and then apparelling it as when'alive, in its belt Cloaths, it is wrapped about with a Sheet, and bound with Swathings to the Bier, his Arms being firft placed acrofs, over which is thrown a Pall of divers Colours The Parifh-Prieft with his Collegues and others bearing Enligns of Saints, and the Chanters finging, manage the Solemnity, and lead the Way to the Church, no matter whether before or after Noon; immediately after thefe the Bearers bring the Corps, when many of the Funeral Train with Heads hung down, and fmiting of their Breafts, make a difmal Cry: Being entred the Church- Porch, the Prior of the Convent with his Aflociates receive the Proceffion, a Vortoleed being prefent, who leads the Choir up to the High Altar, the Body being left on the Bier among the Women, while they fay High Mafs, and perform the Office for the Dead. In, the mean time the Relift or next of Kin to the Defunft, uncovering his Face and throwing by the Burial-Cloaths, with neglefted Drefs and dif- ffievel’d Hair falls on the Face of the Dead, deploring the Lofs of her Father, Husband, or Relation, by often biffing his cold Lips, and piteouflyiamenting; which is feconded in fo mournful a Confortby all the other Women, that one Would think the Shades themfelves could not entertain their new-come Guefts with a more doleful Dirge: Thus (he continues, and hardly fuffers her felf to be pulled away, till.Mafs is Laid, and the Vortoleeds are turning towards the Coatfe, when all the Women are driven out of the Church, and Candles lighted are given to every Man there: The Vortoleed (land¬ ing at the Head, the other Clergy poffiefs the Sides, and the Prior with his Fellows enclofe the Feet. At the Reading the Epiftle and Gofpel, they change their Cope, Mantle, and Hood, and Whine them forth; as alfo does the Prior when he chants the Liturgy, to whole Key the other Priefts tune the Refponfes: in the Interiih they Fumigate the Body with holy Incenfe, and fprinkle it with holy Water; which Ceremonies being ended, the Bearers are ready to carry the Body to the Burial-place, tar from the Town; before which only one Vortoleed with the Parifh Priefts in coiirfe, and their Clerks with Tapers lighted compleat the Exequies, and commit it to the Ground: As if they had refpeft to the Latvof the Twelve Tables, Mortmrn infra Vrlem ne fepelito, neve urito: Though more truly to the Emperor’s Commands, who has granted them Ground for that purpofe, with a ftrift Injunftion to bury no where elfe. ' Thofe Travels intoi. PERSIA. Thofe whofe Cowardice has made their Lives uneafy either by Chap VT Temper or Misfortune, and thereby precipitated their Deaths by laying Violent-Hands on themfelves, are reproached with this odd 2 jK° f diftintfion in their Funeral from other Mortals; in what part of the « r ' Houfe foever they are found to commit this Self-Murder, there the Wall is broken down to make a Paffage to their Graves; fignifying thereby, That if they would not exped: the common Period of Life with other Men, they ought to be carried forth by an unaccuftomed Way, and not through the Doors of the Houfe, throwing them un¬ concernedly and unpitied into any Pit, like the Burial of a Do<* without any Solemnity. Thus having difpatched the Formalities attending every Stage of Life, fomething ought to be mentioned of’the Excellencies of their Minds and Faculties, and how far qualified in common with the reft of Mankind. In order hereunto firft may be confidered their Pro- penfity to Languages, they making Syriac, Arabic, Turkijh, and Perjiiw, their own at Home ; and by Lingua-Franca become conver- ■ fant with moft of the Weftern Foreigners; which Language is a Mix¬ ture of Portugueze, Italian , French, and Spanijh, and thereby made intelligible to European Traders as univerfally as Latin to the Gentry and Scholars: So that it has often been Matter of Wonder to hear a Merchant difown any Skill in the above : recited Speeches, yet con- verfe feverally with thofe of each Nation! ’ They as much hate the Greek Language as their Church, although they derive their Armenian Elegancies from its Themes. But what cannot Religion perfuade? Becaufe they have diffented in Opinions, therefore do they abhor the very Words of the Greek. In Philofophy they utter fome Specious and Trifling Things, but nothing Pithy or Nervous. Some things they boaft of Antiquity: For Armenia, famous here- Their Anti- tofore for many notable Tranfadions, owns faphet as its firft Foun- qu!ty - der and Planter; or, as others will have it, to grow from Aram the Son of Sem: However, it is certain that after the General Deluge it v/as inhabited by the Sons of Noah, and it afforded Landing-place for all Living Creatures after their Tranfport from the Ark, accord¬ ing to the Literal Senfe of the Divine Teftimony; And the ark refled Gen 8 m the twenty feventh day of the fevenih month , on the mountains of Ar- ' ' 4 ' miia-, that is to fay, on the Mount Ararat ; which we know admits of a large Interpretation. It contains in it Iberia, Albania, and Colchis', which latter,-as it abounded in the days of King Mgeas with Mafly Treafures, which occafioned that perilous Voyage of the Argonauts under Jafon, for the Golden Fleece ; fo now it remains fruitful in all manner of Na- - tures Riches, flowing with Milk and Honey, and ftored with Pa- ftures, Corn, Woods, and Cattel; but I hear of no other Difcove* nes either of Gold or Silver made there fince. Their Country formerly enjoyed mighty Kings and Potentates, and tome the moft Pious in Story; among whom Abagares is related to p h v ^ rote . an Anfwer to an Epiftle of our Lord and Saviour Jelus Uirift; which thing, whether a Figment or tip, is not in my Power Oo i / to 284 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. to determine : Yet thus much I am fure of, that neither Riches, Ho- nour, or High Birth, make any either happier or better, unlefs this World’s Goods be feafoned with a Mind endued with Virtue, and Moderation fuitable tofuch extraordinary Benefits. The next Neighbours, if not the fame with the Armenians , were The Gur&im t jj e il er - mSi now called Georgians , who underwent the fame Cala¬ mities with them; but with a contrary Difpofition of Humour, be- ing a Martial People bred up to the Wars, and now ferve the Emperor as his beft Infantry; of thefe, Forty thoufand are at prefent in Arms under Military Pay, in and about Spahaun. Their Country at this time bears the Name of Gurgeftan , from whence they are Chriften’d Georgians ; not from the famous St. George, but becaufe they follow Husbandry, yiufyti. They were converted to the Chriftian Faith near the fame time with the Armenians ; which they Hill retain, and maintain their State and Country; but both Chriftianity and their Country are pail their Vertical Point, and are upon their De- clenfion. , Their Princes, to uphold their Prerogative, are inclined to fubmitto the Per ft an Yoke, with the Ignominy of Apoftatizing, ra¬ ther than by a flout defiance refill the Temptations and Allurements of Government under the Beftiality; Such Power has the Ambitious Third of Rule. They are Proper, Frelh-colour’d, Well-limb’d People: Their Wo¬ men fo Fair and Beautiful, that the Queen-Mother is always of the Family of the Georgian Princes; and for that reafon is it their Chil¬ dren are fo often fold to Infidels, becaufe they make good Markets of them. Mars has the Afcendent over this Nation, as Mercury has over the Armenians. Of a different There is therefore an inveterate Contrariety of Tempers between humour from them; and fince the Armenians deferted the Greek Church, this t e /Srmmm, g reac fj j s widen’d ; being impatient at the performance of each others Services in the Churches, the Georgians frequently interrupt¬ ing them in their Devotions, and doing defpite to their Altars on their moft Publick Solemnities: Such Abfurdities does Religion in¬ troduce, which Ihould be the only means to cement and unite Man¬ kind in the Bond of Humanity. The Blame whereof mull chiefly lye at the doors of their Pre¬ lates , whofe Obftinacy and Perverfenefs, abdicating all Force of Reafon, are guided by no other Impulfe than the prefent Enjoyments of this Life , and keep, on foot particular, Piques and Animofities, purpofely to diftratfl and vex the Church, thereby to carry on their own Interefl or Ambition: Otherwife, how Ihould it come to pals that thole baptized under the fame Symbol, and in many ( and the molt difficult) Points of Religion are'agreeing, Ihould not be all of one Mind in every refped, unlefs the Idle Dreams and Malicious Pra&ices of the Inorthodox ihould inculcate Debates and fow Divi- fions, only to be Head of a Party? How far the ' 0 ° which occafion, whether the Pope hath been aiding or Audi- Pope is con- ous to compofe thefe Differences, I know not: But fure I am, as it cemed here, jj t jj e D ut y 0 f a g 0Qc j King, that would avoid the Imputation of a Tyrant, fo to govern, that the laws as well as Arms fliould be a Safe¬ guard Travels into PERSIA. 285 guard to his People that have intruded themfelves to his Protection, Chap. VI. not only to defend them in time of War, but conferve them by thofe wholfome Sandions in time of Peace fo is it the Office of the Chief Paftor to inftrud the People committed to his Charge, with the faving knowledge of found Dodrine, and then by an Ex¬ emplary and Chriftian Convention, to pray for the Expiation of their Sins by the Death and Merits of our Saviour Chrift, the only acceptable Sacrifice on that fcore, incontinently imploring an happy and perpetual Union of the Myftical Body of the Church Militant here on Earth, and perfifting in an holy Prefidency all the days of his Life: By which method they will clear to the World what is their end, as the Apoftledid, zCor. iz. 6 . when he told the Corinthians he fought not their Earthly Subftance, but their Eternal Welfare. And were this the defign of either the Pope or their Pa¬ triarchs, we could not find fault with the Emiffaries of the one, or the Condud of the others compafling Sea and Land to make Profe- lytes, but for having gained them they become fevenfold worfe Children of the Devil.than before. Nor, to fpeak truth, are the Popelings flothful in thefe Parts: At , Jelfa is a College of the Jefuits; and both in Georgia and Armenia they have had many Monafteries beyond the Euxine Sea, as far as the Cherfonefe, looking towards Scythia, at the City fheodofia , now cal- ' led Caffa; but thefe Places being over-run with the Turks and Per¬ sons, they were expelled thence by the Cruelty of the Heathens on one hand, and Perfuafion of the Hereticks of the feveral foremen- tioned Seds on the other, that they were at laft crowded into the Province only of Nockjhuan in the greater Armenia, three days Journy from Erernn; where are only left in Ten poor Villages as many ftarveling Convents of the Order of the Dominicans , fettled by Bifhop Bartholomew, fent out by Pope John the zz\ to reconcile the Armenians to that See. But he could obtain no more than the reducing his own Order to that Obedience ; which left they Ihould be wholly extirpated, the fucceeding Popes provide for them Eleemofynaries by way of Goa: • Befides thefe, feme fay the Pope defrays the Charges of thofe at Spa- ham, of whom we have fpoken before; from whence it is needlefs, if they be content with what may ferveto be inftrumental to honeft Studies, for the King is their Almoner. • And as he is bountiful to thefe for their feeming Integrity and pious Behaviour, fo he is muni¬ ficent to the Handicrafts-men which come from Europe ■ to thefe he has given large Salaries, and graceful Houfes in Jelf a, befides their peculiar Offices at Court, where they attend when in waiting. All thefe when they encounter one another, pay the Civility The 6f of uncovering the Head, but falute the Moors after their own Salute. y manner. Befides thefe Chriftians vn jelfa, St. Rhipfima has her Devotes, whb Nunneries at five m a Nunnery, and vow Virginity all their Life; they are about 3el ^' torty, and profefc Poverty for Chrift’s fake, having nothing but B 1 v l ft y 8et ty begS ‘ DBj they S ° in B,ack Hoods over 3 Here a86 Travels into PERSIA, Letter V. Here are, two other Orders that are more reclufe, refemblirm Sm- Ha Monacba, and Sadia Clara. And thus I have run through all th* Degrees that live in Jelfa, with what Brevity and Faithfulnefs may be cxpe&ed in fo tranftent an Account. CHAP. VII. Gives us a Sight of the Palace, and parities there ; our Enter, tainmmt by the French Artifans in the Emperors Service ■ the 'Diverfms of the Place, and its ProduB • and the Clofe of the Tear, with its Seafons. H Aving been taken up thus long among the Armenians, we in our Return cannot but take notice of the famous Walk be¬ tween the two Cities of Jelfa and Jfpabatm: It is planted with two Rows of Sycamores (which is the tall Maple, not the Sycamore of Alkair ) upwards of two Miles: It is called the Cbaurbaug, from Four Gardens belonging to the Palace, oppofite one to another; thefe take up all the Ground on the fide of the Bridge towards 5^. haun-, on the other fide, Seats of Noblemen and Great Minifters of State grace the Way up to the biggeft of all, the Emperor’s, which is at the End of this Stately Place, over-looking with a pleafant Pro- fpedt all the reft up to the Palace-Gates, which are dire&ly anfwer- ing the Majeftick ones of this Garden, they fronting one the other: The great ° ver f h e P° rta ' are curioufly painted Men and Women in Europe® Garden at the Drefles: From the Entrance up to the Mountains, Marble Steps mak| cwJ? th . e Afcent eaf y> which Nature had framed difficult enough other- wife ; up which the Limpid Streams are forced to fend their Currents through Five feveral Channels laid with Marble, two at the feet of the Sycamores, which railed in two Foot-pads, and ran immediately to the River; the other three emptied themfelves into the Tanks, to which two Stone Caufeways gave an Even Walk to Foot-men, by the middle Channel parting them, and at every Tank afcended or defcended by Marble Grades, while the Horfe-way was Hoped for their Paflage, entring on one fide, and coming back the other; and every Two hundred Paces, Bathing places of a large Circumfe¬ rence receive great plenty of Water from the three Channels in the middle, into which the Marble Stepsgo down to the Bottom, which is paved with a cleanly Floor of the fame Polilhed Stones ,- and this is begun from the beginning of the Cbaurbaug, whence it defcends ' to- the River, and thence rifes the fame height to the End of the Gar¬ den: In the Garden its felf, variety-of Green Trees flourifhing, ' fweet Odors fmelling, clear Fountains and Rivers flowing, charm all the Senfes; nor is there lefs furprizal at the ravilhing Sight of the delicate Summer-houfes by each Pond’s fide, built with all the Advantages for Recreation and Delight. Travels into P E R S I A* 287 In a Wildernefs beneath this, are kept the Bears, Leopards, and Chap. VII. Lions, belonging to the Emperor : And drom this place up to the Palace Gate, are feen every Evening all the Gentry of the City for theEmpe- Riding to and fro with Hawks on their Fills f managing their Steeds, .tor’sDiverfi- making of Matches for Shooting, Hunting, Courfmg, or Hawk- on ’ ing; fhewing their Gallantry in Apparel and Retinue, as well as difpofition to Sport; being as much frequented as our Hide Park, and for as little purpofe, only to fee and be feen, though the whole pretence be to take the Air. Near thefe Ponds, or tanks , are CofFee-Houfes, which furniih them when they difmount, with Coho, Tea, or Sherbets j while they fit in State, and fmoak Tobacco with their Attendance about them* The adjacent Houfes, Orchards, and Gardens, may be truly faid to be in the Virge of the Court, many of them ferving only for the Emperor to Ihift with his Seraglio, while the other Apartments are Aired; though the great Divan , or Council be always held in that place refpeding the Midan, or Tommrim, in the heart of the City 5 and the reft are but given during Pleafure, to the chief Officers at Court: Wherefore reckoning all thefe Dwellings as Appendices (which indeed they are ) fe w Monarchs will appear to have a larger extent to hold their Court in, it being above a Third part of the whole City; which being granted, it will not be hard to imagine fo Great and Abfolute a Potentate fhould be Courted by all the World, and from all the parts of the Earth- the wonderful Works of thp Creation fhould be brought as Honorary Prefents; nor can it be fup- pofed that fo wide and fpacious a Palace fhould not afford room for more than the ancient Ark, though not freight with Pairs of all the Species, yet more of feveral. Whence it is, that here is to be feen more readily, and with Iefs hazard, the Offfpring of molt Soils, except Human, and the Creatures of every Nation, rather than the Women of this Court, which are at lefs liberty than the Beafts, being Cooped up in their Sties, more 1 flri&ly than thefe are kept in their Dens; many of the fierceft and untamedft of thefe being allowed only to breath in the open Air as Nature Ordained them: But not to tire my felf, nor you with Parti¬ culars, I (hall only mention what were ftrange to me. The firft whereof was the Rhinoceros, who is a Cruel Bead;, of a large Size, there coming from his Nofe an Horn a Cubit TheRhinoce- long, (Brown towards the Bottom, Whiter near the Point) and Six Inches Diameter, whence the derivation of his Name from ” P^, Nafus, a Nofe, and K i&u;, Cornu, an Horn; between this Ani¬ mal and the Elephant, is a mortal ftrife, for which Nature feems to have armed it on purpofe; it being a Four-footed Beaft, with Three Partings of the Hoof, built on thick ftrong Thighs, butfhort, con- fidering the great bulk of its Body which^prefles them; it is Tall enough to reach the Bowels of its Antagonift with its Horn, with which it Gores him to Death ; nor has ihe given him lefs firm Bones • to the Trunk, if by chance it fhould be crufhed by the Elephant, de¬ fending its very Hide with a Coat of Mail; wherefore before on the Neck and Shoulders, and behind in the Quarters, the Skin lies in Folds, like Fifh Scales, over one another; the Face bears much of 288 Travels • into PERSIA. Letter V. an Hogs Countenance, unlefs the upper Lip, which refemble a Cows, and the lower, the form of a Whales; theMouth difeoversa mifhaped Tongue, fet about with Two rowes of Teeth ; it is of the fame Moufe Colour, and Tailed as an Elephant is, and Feeds of the fame Fodder, and is kept facing Two mighty, but lean Elephants. Whether the Rhinoceros be the Unicorn, I fufpend my belief fince I have feen an Horn turned with Furrows and Ridges from the Bafts to the Point, and Tapering like that of our King’s Arms: But what Petrus Angelius relates concerning the Onager, or Indian Afs, can have no congruity with this, unlefs in refpet of the Virtues' for though his Verfes are moft Elegant in his 5. lib.Cyneget, yet the defeription is very wide: - Ouos India pafcit-Onagros, ' jam primum niveo corpus candore tegmtur , InfeSli Ajfyrio circum caput omne colore . Cteruleis oculis, unojue in fronte fuperli Cornu, &c. His words in Prole are thefe; ‘ The Wild Afles of India are as big, ‘or bigger than Hqrfes, whofe Heads are of a Purple die, their ‘ Eyes Blew, the reft of their Body White; on their Foreheads they ‘ have an Horn a Cubit in length, whofe lower part for Two Hands ’* breadth is White, and the .Top, which is fharp, inclining to a * bright Red, but the Middle partis blood Red ; of thefe they make ‘Cups, out of which whofoever Drinks, neither Cramp nor Falling .‘.Sicknefs feizes them; nor has any manner of Poifon any force, if * that immediately before or after taking of the fame, either Water, ‘ Wine, or other Liquid thing be taken out of thefe Gups. That this Opinion is taken up upon the account of the Rhino¬ ceros his Horn, I can certainly verify, and that great Prices are of¬ fered for thofe that are inadulterate; which they in India pretend to try by the Liquors prefently fermenting in them > but notwithfland- ing that Experiment they are often deceived by falfe Horns made into drinking Cups; thus much is true of the Rhinoceros, but the other part of it holds not Water; they come from Bengala, and are elteemed terrible and indomitable Creatures: And thefe muff be (or none) what this Author calls Afles, there being no other Bealls in thefe Parts with but one Horn; and I am afraid he is mills- ken as to the African Afs alfo, fome Writers having called Afrki India, which might have been urged in his excufe, whofe Skin 1 having formerly admired when in India, you will eafily be convinced it is no fuch Creature, it having never an Horn ; Two Live ones were fent hither from the Alafftn Emperor, as an Exprelfion of Re- fpedt to this Court; which, with other valuable Rarities brought by his Ambafladors, were lately gracioufly received. The Aatfm They are as large as a Mule, but for the exaft Symetry of the fothfsi Lineaments,. Zeuxis his Pencil, would but faintly lhadow over the Wild Afs. lively Portraiture of their Skins, the ground whereof was of a light Alh Colour, over which along the Back firait black Streaks in Rows at length reached to the Tail; the Shoulders, Flanks, and Haunches had Travels into PERSIA, had the fame waving towards the extremity of their feveral Mem¬ bers ; but that which was the oddeft was on the Forehead, they had ib many Geometrial Figures, like the Trapezium, or Square, in which the oppofite Tides are parallel one with another, fo diftindly painted, as at laft to fill up a black l'pot of a Diamond cut in the very Centre of the Face. What Family to mix this Kind with, I am at a lofs, unlefs they be a-kin to the Onager, or Wild Afs, mentioned by Xenophon in the Expedition of the Lefier Cyrus; the fame we read in Pliny in his 8. Lih. and 4 th Chap, where he afcribes them to Phrygia and Lycao- nia ; but the Words of the before-recited Author have it thus; ‘The ‘ Onager is a Wild Afs, excelling at pleafure the fwifteft Courfer; ‘whofe.Flelh differs not much from Stags Flefh, were it not forne- ‘ thing tenderer; Arabia , fays he, abounds with Flocks of them. Now nothing can be Tamer than thefe before us, and therefore un¬ likely to be the Wild ones of Xenophon in Arabia , but are moft allu¬ red ly the Breed of Africa ; however Petrus Jugelius Bargceus comes pretty near the Mark in this, though not the other; however he is miftaken in the Place, as well as the Race of both: At fonitu ingenti putrem quatit ungula campum Cornua , venantem quoties ftigiere ; fuisque Temporibus flant long# A'ures, turn Corpora Cervos ' . Exjuperant ; nec Lana nitet non albo colore. Mixta Nigro, ceu cum Nubes denfantur op acre Et totmn eripiunt oculis ctelumque diemque. Nigraque per medios decurrit tenia lumbos Linda , quam clunes traUim comitantur adimos, Vlraque diflinguens niveo fua tergora ddlu. The Horny Hoof with mighty found, As oft as Hunted lhakes the ground; Upon their Temples Hand long Ears, Bodies bigger than Stags are theirs ; A Wooily Hair, of colour White, Outlhines the mixture of black Night. Along the Back, and down the Loins, A Lift of Black the White disjoins; The fame accompanies the Haunch, Diftinguilhing the Flanks from Paunch; Hence we were carried to the Ducking Ponds, where Swam Out- Iandilh, as well as Native Wild Fowl; and thence to the Aviaries, where Nature prefents not only divers Species, butlhe has plaid the Wantqn, even in diverfifying thofe of the fame Kind, either adding or diminilhing, as Ihe was provided with Matter; fome Birds having more Feet, Wings, or Bills, than belongs to the wonted Frame oT the fame fort; others again, are deficient in the Parts ufually be- itowed on the Individuals of the fame. Race, feme exceeding, and others wanting in Stature. But thefe.being accounted Monftrous and out of the Road, I fhall forfake them to follow a Couple of long P P ftriding 289 Chap. VII. 2pO 7 ravels into PERSIA. Letter V. finding Oftriches robbed of their Feathers, which muft be certainly < very Glorious j they are of the largeft fize of Birds, wherefore by The Oftnch. an j rony ca ii ec j , as if one Ihould fay of a Giant, f Uc h an one is an Infant, or a Camel-Bird to be a Sparrow ; their Heads’- or Crowns, are perfectly Bald, a Palm in Circumference; which Fliny avouches in exprefs Terms, Qucechm animalia mturaliter enfant pent Strutho Cameli ; fome Creatures are naturally Bald, as Oftriches ] their Feet have Two Claws only. The Flower Night drawing on, we unwillingly left thefe Spetftacles, and fell mJcanfins into a lovely one between thefe Groves; for now all the Pride of in'the \Vaik Spafmn was met in the Cbaurhaug , and the Grandees were Airing belonging to themfelves, prancing about with their numerous Trains, ftrivingto the PjIjcc. out yi e each other in Pomp and Generofity ; but come Ihort of thofe Incentives to Chivalry that fpur on our Gallants; the Graces Adorn our Parks and Malls Crowned with Virgin-Garlands, whole loofe Garments wave with the flowing Wind, and provoke the Amorous Spark to lift himfelf a Volunteer under thofe Banners; whofe Maiden Faces bear the frelh Colour of the blooming Rofes on. the Lilly White of their natural Complexion, being wonderfully taking both in their Shape and Meen; Chearfuland Free in their Difcourfe, but with an awful Comelinefs; Facetious and Pleafant, but with an un- fpotted Innocence ; enough to make Cato Ihake off his Severity and reconcile himfelf to Good Nature: Such Daphnes as thefe. ( worthy the great Apollo ) alas! this Curfed Soil knows not the Blefling of, nor dare they truft them out of Doors; for their fiery Spirits (like Water call: on Sea-Coal) by the Society of fuch Nymphs, would render their Heat more intenfe by intemperate Jealoufies. The French After the Armenians had treated us, the French Artifans thought TOtuT dl " themfelves concerned to do the like; that they.might not be thought to live here in Slavery, but in a Condition to Entertain, not only their Friends, but to equal the higheft Flights the Armenm could pretend to; and for the Honour of their King and Nation, we were called on St. Lewis his Day, which they Solemnized with frefh Devices of Fireworks, Illuminations, Interludes, and Farces; befides the Extravagances of Banquetting and Carowfing, Drink¬ ing the Sophis Health, and their Matter’s, after all the Eurtptm Monarchs. River Fite. The next day, with the Noifeof loud Mufick, we were Invited by them into the Country to a Filh Dinner by the River fide, asof Mullets, Crey Filh, Pickeril, and the like; for it is not for every one to feed on Lampry, Turbat, Goldney, or Sturgion, formerly held as dainty Bits by the Rich Roman Gluttons, as Apicius, Vitehs, and Lucullus. However here are Salmon from' the Cafpian Sea, and the Urchin (though not that admired one of the Ocean for its de* licious Tafte) this being not for Food but Diverfion, under the Hedges and Trees of an Orchard by the Bank of the River. •' The Hedge- The fly Nature and cunning Thefts of which Creature, though they are made famous by many of theLearnedftPhilofophers, yet none more Graphically exprefles them than thefe Facetious Verfes: *8 travels into PERSIA. 291 Chap. VII. Ergo uli lapfa jacentfua quifque ful arlore poma t/’Y'Vj Accedmt Lietijequein fua terga volutant, Donee 'fixa rulis hierentia malafupremis Exportent; mplc'ntque penum liventilus uvis ; • Quorum acinis quoties fentes onerantur acute Terjucunda fui pmhent fpeftaculanolis , Quippe humeros tettific ingrediuntur, ut ipsh Ire putes totos avulfos vite racemos. Jb! till ne cupidos fenfus tarn tangat halendi, i!i fant us amor fur em ut tentes arcerejocofum, Atque oculos durusjucundo avertere Ludo Eripere, & natis dulcem expeftantilus efcam. Under the Trees where Apples lye, " ■■ They come apace, full fraught with Joy; ’ And rowling on their Backs, they fix The tender Apples to their Pricks; . J Which carrying off, they come again, ■ And with ripe Grapes their Store maintain: • Whofe Thorny Briftles fully Buck, A pleafant Sight it is to look, And fee them march, lac’d o’re with Fruit, As if they’d ftole the Vine to boot. ' Ah! let not Covetous Intent, The Waggilh Thief at all prevent; 1 Or Surly drive him from his Prey, Who bears them thus to’s Young away. It is called by the Latins , Echinus, from the Greek, ntyf, to fgtv, feu mn^eiv laimv, becaufe it contracts its felf, being touched; by fome Erinaceus , of which there are two forts, and in our Tongue are called Hedge-hogs, the one with a Snout like an Hog’s, and the other a Nofe like a Dog’s, both which are befet withfharp Thorns or Prickles on their Backs; and when they fear any harm towards them, gather themfelves into a round Fuz-ball. In fome few places where the Water was purpofely pent in, we Water-Fowl, faw fome Flocks of Water Fowl, which the Ferfians are skill’d, by their long Cafe-harden’d Guns, to ihoot flying. ’ The beft Hawks of Mufcovia are purchafed here at great Rates, nor undefervedly, for they will ftrike down thofe Colum that' are as big as Wild Turkies, and vifit India in the Cold Seafon, eleven Or a 1 dozen one after another, as they fly in Trains like Wild Geefe, and come down with the laft themfelves: Some of thefe we faw tried, which was pleafant Sport: They have fome Hawks of their own,, but they are of a Cowardly Breed to thefe, they teaching the Crows of the Country to be too hard for them ; whereby it is familiar to give an Hundred Thomands for a right Mufcovia Hawk; of which they are fo great Lovers, that they feldom appear abroad without one of them on their Hand. P p a Some Travels into PERSIA, Letter V. Some of them in their Swoops are fo couragious, as to feize the x^r>Li Heads of Deer or Antelopes, andfeating themfelves with their Ta¬ lons between their Horns, pick out their Eyes, or doze, them with their Beaks, or ftupify themwith their Strokes; fo that no Huntimr in the World is like it, to fee them foaring in a wide Plain where Herds of thefe are, ( efpecially if there be thefe Water-pits for the Courfes under Ground ), at once to obferve them guarding their Fronts, fcampering with their Heads to the Earth, to,avoid the tow’ring Enemy aloft; fometimes unawares, to fall Captives into thefe Wells, not fufpe&ing the Danger under foot, fo much a s avoiding that which threatens them over head,, whereby they run into Thickets, or againft Shrubs and Stumps of Trees, tumbling and leaping unadvifedly, fothat Greyhounds being fet upon them, eafily overtake them. Greyhounds. Not by this Stratagem to derogate from their Greyhounds, which are as good as moft of that kind, well-lhap’d and fwift, but fhagged with long Hair, yet for all that are kept cbathed as their Horfes in Winter, and all the Year befides rubbed, drefled, and covered with lighter Cloaths: The other Dogs are but Curs; they are Strangers to our Bloodhounds; but have many Englijh Maltiffs in good Repute, which breed , and are very ferviceable to keep their Houfes, flri- king Terror into the Aflailants more than a Guard of Watchmen. No Woods or Here are no Parks, Forefts, or Chaces for Sport, nor Meres or ’ Decoys for Game, nor indeed Medows yielding Hay for their Cat- tel, their Fodder being chopped Straw, and Barley their Provender all over the Empire; nor are here any Woods more than inclofed in Gardens, which is unfit for Building or Firing; yet of the tall Ma¬ ple or Sycamore they have flit Boards for their Chefts for Wine and Fruit; neither is there any Turf or Coal, fo that Firing is more worth than Food, being forced to fehd Camels to fetch it many days Journy hence, as has been faid at our firft coming hither. In our Return we obferved feveral Tombs of the Ancient 6 dm, after the fame manner as the Farfies in India ; and at top of the Mountains fuch Monuments as are on the Tides of the Plain of Per- fepolis , and one more eminent, in Honour of their great Champion, Ruflam ; but who this Rttftam was, both their Annals and Tradition give an unfatisfa&ory Account. An Edypfe On the 19 th of Auguft an Eclypfe of the Sun made us take notice of the Sun. 0 f t h e Alteration of the Weather, which was ftormy and tempeiiu- ous; as well as the lamentable plight all the Mahometans were in, they fuppofing that Orb to be in Labour, and therefore by Pray¬ ers and Incantations concerned at its Delivery, all the time beating Pots of Brafs, making a Noife as dreadful as the Day of Doom: The Eclypfe being over, the Weather cleared up again, as alfo the Madnefs of the People was allay’d. The Suburbs. All September the Mornings and Evenings were ftiarp, and the North-Weft Winds began to bring the Winters Cold, though the Day¬ time was Hot and Serene; wherein we made another Excurfion through the Suburbs on the farther fide of the Court, to Jelfo, through new Buzzar's, finer and better Arch’d than thofe in the City, terminating in the Squares of divers Noblemen, who bad reared . - ■> them Travels' into PERSIA. 295 them at their own Charge and Advantage; whereby they were Chap. VII. more Coftly and Neat, broad enough for two Coaches to pafs abreaft, though this City is unacquainted with thofe Carriages ; nor indeed would they be convenient, by reafon of the Narrow Streets within, and Mountains without. Thefe brought us a long way to the River-fide,, adorned with A Third Dwellings of their Great Men, over which, to the Cliriftian Town, Bndge - lay another Bridge, inferior neither for Length,'or Elegancy of Structure, to either of the former two, but much later built. At the Foot of it is a large Coppice of Willows, reaching a great, way by the Water-fide; here the jf elf alines met us with their. ufualNoife of loud Mufick, and led us diredtly up to a Mountain, where the Emperors have digged a Grotto overlooking all the City, at their Retirements hither fhading them from the Sun’s Violence: This is fabled to be alfo Solomons Throne, as we remarked before in Duccan ; others pretend it was proje&ed by Darius, but for what end, unlefs for a Profped of this large place hid in a Wood, I cannot guefs. Hence in two days we compafled the two Cities of Ifpabaun and We were two Jelfa, taking more Ground by far than London and Southwark with da y s enconi - their Suburbs, but then the moft part is filled with Gardens; how- p™^ 8 s ?*- ever I believe them not to be fo populous: Yet the Frenchmen here avouch, That more Melons, Cucumbers, and other Horary Fruits are confumed in this Place in a Month, than in Italy , France , and Spain, in half, a Year, eftiniating by Balance of Six thoufand Afs or Mules Loads of them expended every day: For though they have good Butchers Meat and Poultry, their chiefeft Diet is on Fruit; and if fuch vaft Quantities be brought out pf the Country daily, befides what may be planted within their own Walis, it may be concluded fome Thoufands of Inhabit,arit ( scontribute to the devouring of them; Citizens, That it is the biggeu Cityin the World, and therefore by way of Excellency called, The World. It is not fenced by Walls,- nor has it more than one ftrong Tower with Mud Walls, fitter for Butts for Bows and Arrows, than to re- pulfe a Cannon-Bullet; only ferviceble at prefent to be the Exche¬ quer of the Emperor, where are laid up great Treafures, the prefent Sophi being an intolerable Hoarder, beneath theMajeftyof fo migh¬ ty a Prince, repining even • at mean Expences. But leaving him to his.Covetous Humour, it remains only to changes of take notice of the Seafon at: the end of this Month, inafmuch as the Weather. Bodies undergo herein the Autumnal Changes, which affli&s them with Pleurifies, Catarrhs, Hoarfenefs, Conlumptions, Coughs, Ma¬ lignant, Putrid, Intermitting,ias alfo continued Fevers, under this Fifth Climate: To which the Aphorifm of the Medical Divine has regard, when it fays, Sv % jd&v zj ; Difpicere opm-tet regionem, tempus, &c. The'Regions andSeafonsof the Year ou ght m be endued into; for the Alterations and Deviations from the ufual Sea'foris are chiefly productive of Difeafes; for from-Hot and Dry, the Air now pafles into Cold and Dry, and at laft into Moift; for which reafon the Perjtans begin now to put ori. their Furrs; and the Sky, which hitherto had been clear (except a little m Letter V. A Catalogue of Plants growing at ifahmn. Travels into PERSIA. at the Change of the Moons), near the middle of Offober, wears a frowning Countenance, and at the end of November fends fome Showers, according to the Wifh of VirgiPs Husbandman, to fatten the Earth. Humida folflitia atque hiemes optare ferenas. The Solliice -of the Tear let them he moifl , The Winter clear , and curdled o’re with Frofl. But before that Barren Time approaches, take a fmall Catalogue of what the other Seafons produce. FRUITS, Apples. Cherries. Jujubics. j Mulberries , White and Red: On the firfl: of which only the Silk-Worms are fed, defpifing the Leafs of the other.. Tears. Trunellaes. Selajlans. All thofe we call Wall-Fruit , without that help. HERBS, Balm. Burdock. Betes, White and Black. Borrage. Cabbage. Coleworts. Colliflowers. Cichory. Clary. Hyffop. Laid ife. Muflard. Marjoram Mallows. Minth. Nettles , Alive and Dead. Parjley. Tlantain. Turjlain. Pennyroyal. Pimpernel. Savory. Spinach. Thyme. FLOWERS, ClovegiBflowers. Blewbottles. Jafmins of all forts. Lillies of all forts. Holyoak. I Marigolds. Rofes. Poppies , White and Red. Primrofes. Saffron. Violet. ROOTS, Bulbu’s, Afparagus. Artichokes , not in the Leaf as ours, but from the Root and Stalk. Carrots. Eringoes. Garlick. Hermodattyls. Liquorice. Madder. Onions. Parfnips. Rhadifh % Wild and Gardil. Rhubarb. Turnips. Shrubs, Travels into PERSIA. 2 95 Chap. VII. S H R u B s, TREES, Berberies. Sycamore. Cotton. Ivy. Coriander. Maple, the Lefler. prenide. Poplar. fenigrece. Dimes. Sena. Willows. Rofebriar. ‘ Which I mention only to fee what relation it has to what grows in England, and have fet down thus to avoid Tautology. Tolhutup therefore this Difcourfe, Ifhall borrow an Indication - from the Tall Trees growing in a free Air; for from their bending towards any Point of the Compafs, thence is colle&ed from what Quarter of the Heavens the moft forcible and frequent Winds do come, in what Region foever they blow ; fo Trees growing near the Sea-lhore, incline towards the Land, but up-land in Perjia they grow upright, which {hews no conftant Winds to have any fuch In¬ fluence ; though from the Autumnal Equinox, the North-Weft ufliers in the Wet Weather, to make way for the Froft and Snow till Decem- kr , yet it is often variable, and veres to the EaH, when it is pinch¬ ing Cold, from January to the middle of February. The firft New Moon in Oftober brings the Mujftemens Lent of Ra¬ mzan, which bapnedon the 10 th this Year, and was the fame day our Agent fet forth for Bunder, leaving me fick behind. The 16 th of November put an end to their Fail, and began a Day of Jubilee; when the Leafs were all dropped off, and the Earth and Trees were naked ; after which, Bodies indifpofed fue for a Writ of Eafe, and as the Winter is more piercing, they recover Health. December locks up all in Ice and Snow, and conflipates the Pores Sharp Winter of the Earth that it cannot be ^tilled; the Tops of Mountains are here ' all capped, and the Sharp Winds and Serene Air make it lefs tolera¬ ble than in Great Britain, it being ready to cut you through; though then in the Sun it is fo warm, that the Poor are beholden to it for their Stores: Itfeldom fnows above three or four days together, but that is fufficient to load the Mountains, and to fill the Valleys for many days, before it be diflolved. And then it proves fatal to the Houfes built only of Mud; for whilft they feek to fecure the Roof, many times by fweeping it thence, the Snow melts at the bottom , and undermines their Foundations, that oftentimes they become mixt with the Dirt in the Streets. In this Seafon Stoves are no lefs in ufe in Perjia, than in the ex- Ufe of Stoves tremeft Cold Parts of the World, by which they cherifh the innate in Pir J‘»- Heat, othervvife like enough to be oppreft; which they do after a peculiar manner: In the middle of a Square clofe Room, they dig an Hearth Fourfquare (not railed, as in our College-halls ), over which is fet a Square, Low, but Large Table, whereon is thrown a Quilt, and upon the Hearth is only fet an Earthen Pot of Char- coal; travels into PERSIA. Letter V. A pure Air without Soil. Death of the Prelident. This Agent the Chair at Surat. Artifices of the Dutch. coal; all the reft of the Room is fpread with Beds and Quilts, into which, whoever comes ( after his Slippers are put off) he thrufts his Feet under the Qyilt covering the Table; which way, though it keep them warm, is prejudicial to the Nerves and Brain, by rea- fon of the Mercurial Fumes arifing from the Charcoal ; being obli- ged to ufe that for want of plenty of Wood to Burn in Chimnies; the Conveniency whereof they are unacquainted with, having ne’ ver feen any Chimney but what is in the Englifh Factory. Their Kitchins are all over of a Smoak like our Malt Kills, with fuch ventilating Tiles as they have, they rounding theft Cooil Rooms with fmall Furnaces, fuch as our Chymifts make in their Laboratories, fetting their Earthen, or Copper Pots thereon, not hanging them on Pothooks as we do. And laft of all, for a final and undeniable Experiment of the Purenefsand Clearnefsof the Air here, let a Sword, never fotvell Polilhfed, (and they have the beft Damafcened Swords) lie un- ffieathed a whole Night, or longer, in Snow, or Water; take it thence and never wipe it, and it lhall not Ruft: Befides, now at Chriftmas time the Grapes fold for Food in the Market are fo dry they may be powdered; Carry thefe individual Grapes down to Port, and you lhall in Four or Five days (lhort of the Bunder') fenfibly perceive them to imbibe the thicker Air, and contra# a Clammi* nefs; which proceeds from the remotenefs of Spabaitn it om any Sea, Navigable River, Lake, orFenn; the Cafpiau Sea being the nearelf, which is Five hundred Miles off; befides its being environed with dry barren Mountains, whence come fine, rare, and thin Blafts; infomuch that could Bodies ever be in an Equilibrium as to their Temperament, certainly it might be preferved here rather than in any other place;.for whatfoever Stranger comes hither with an Healthy Conftitution, it is very lafting; and the Natives who live Temperately, witnefs a good old Age, with a continued ftateof Health; the Endemial Difeafes of this Country being rather Acute than Chronical. We muft clofe up this Year with the fad News of the Death of our Prefident at Surat; He was a Mectsnas of Honeft Studies; a great Cherifher of Ingenuity; of a Generous and Free Accefs; Mafculinely Candid; a Mafter of all Languages and Sciences, as well as Skilled in Military Virtues; as if Mars had undertaken the Protection of the Mufes: But fo envious are the Fates, that the beft things are fnatch’d away firft. To this lover of Arts and Learning, our Agent, now at Port, by the Appointment of the Honourable Company, is to Succeed, and accordingly he is preparing for his departure to fupply that Vacancy. And, as if it were not fit one Mifchief Ihould pafs unattended; at the fame time we had an Account of theVillanous and Barbarous Attempt of the Malagans at Bantam , on the Englifb Agent and the Factors there ( who were only fuppofed to Efpoufe the Old King s Quarrel againft the New ) as they were in their Boats diverting themfelves with their Ladies, unawares were fet upon and Affoffi* nated by Ruffians hid in the Flags and Ofierson the Rivers fides, and travels into PERSIA. 297 all Cut off; not without lotne reafonable Reflexions that the Dutch Chap.VIII* were Acceffaries, being but falfe Neighbours to them at Batavia , having a jealoufy of the Englijh Trading for Pepper inthofe Parts, and for that caufe have promoted Animofiries betwixt Father and Son; taking this opportunity to fend Forces to the Son’s Afliftance, but in reality to fecure Bant am for themfelves, while they have for¬ ced the Old King up the Country, to exped his Majefty of Great Britain's Strength in vain, by EmbafTador’s fent thither to Reinftate him. Thus watchful and vigorous are the Hollanders to get all the Spice Trade of Eaft- India into their own Hands, that they may folely enjoy it without any Competitors. CHAP. VIII. firings us in the midjl of Winter from Spahaun to Gombroon ; Ihe Caun’s Tranks there: The Hot Baths at Genoe: The Equinox and Sea/ons attending are fomewhat parallel . f betwixt this Coafi and the Indian: A New Agent arrives. T H E Agent of Per/a having left Gomlroon to go to fill up the Chair at Surat, the Second at Spahaun was obliged to re¬ pair thither to take care of the Company’s Concerns there; with whom, I being now Recovered, on the 10 th of January , with a French Chirurgeon in our Company, in the depth of Winter wefet forth for the Per fan Gulf. We return’d the fame way, Travelling only in the Day time till Valleys filled we came to Efduchos, where becaufe the Snow had fhut up the Wlth Snow - Valleys, we were forced to leave it on the right, and go about by the high Road, not frequented in Summer time fo much by light Horfemen, as now, there being no PafTage the other way; wherefore our Entertainment this Journy is lefs Hofpitable, and the Caravan generally more rude, it being the ufual Trad for Camels and their Drivers (they mod an end providing only for themfelves) and better Guefts being feldom or never expeded; fo that in all probability we might exped to encounter Hardfhips; but the Silver Bait procu¬ red all things that Man could furnifhus with ; and we met with no other Difficulties than what the Weather created us. Agamft which we guarded our felves by good warm Furs, which We defend are fome of Sables, Fox-Furs, or Sheeps-Wool artificially Crifped, and out felves others for Servants of Sheep Skins undrefled, and their Coats lined Wlth Furs ‘ therewith, the fhaggy Fleece remaining untouched; and over all, to prevent the lharp Winds deglubating us, we Houfed our felves Cap-a-pee under Felts, or Taupengees , kneaded into Coats with Sleeves, with a Scapular to pull over our Heads and Face ; a well fixed Nofe being hardly Proof againfl fuch cutting Cold. Whether thefe Coats we wore againft this Seafon, might not be fuch as our Rq Saviour 298 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Saviour is faid to have on, (thefe being Seamlefs and the Wear of th Poor People) I remit to our Cafuifts. e At ckudejian From Efduchos to Chuldefian , is Eight Tharfangs , whither withTulT aCl came * n a ^ t ^ e of our Shatters, or Footmen guiding u$! u ’ whofe Bells our Horfes followed, when we durfl not peep out to di’ red them. Here a large Camel, raging with Lull: for the Female as his Keeper was Feeding him, withPaft of BarlyMeal made into Balls, he got his whole Arm into his Mouth, and had not there been prefent a great many ready for his Relief, he had been de- ftroyed by him : This Fury lafts Forty Days, when they Foam at the Mouth, and are very Unruly, at other times nothing being more Governable. oidah, a From hence to Ohedab are Six Tharfangs ; it is a large Village VtoTards abounding with Vineyards, which reach as far as Zermaw, Four meyar fharfangs farther; hitherto we Travelled Carpet-way , all the Ground being covered with Snow, and moft an end the Sun obfcured and fometimes the Clouds falling in fleecy White Rain, as the poor Indians exprefs it, who were almoft ftarved to Death by the excel- five Cold, andftormy Blafts from the Mountains. C snucarna and At Conacaraw, Eight Tharfangs more, it began to clear up dm. (though we feemed to carry the Winter with us, there having been little afore our Arrival); and at Dehid, Six Tharfangs more, we left the Plains on the Hills all along Planted with Vines, to afcend the piled Terfias, now covered with Snow, horribly bleak, and pe- riloufly cold with frofty Winds, that either Pole might poflibly be more tolerable, they being fenced with Thicker Air, this being fo fharp that it pafled our skill to keep bur Skins whole; for if the Sun did favour one fide, the other fide was fhaved with cruel Blafts; nor did that fare better which was expofed to the fcorching Beams; that had we not been provided with the Pomatum mentioned before ( the Butter of the greater cool Seeds) we had been in a fore con¬ dition ; but Anointing our Hands and Face going to Bed, the next Morning healed them. c macmpi and At Conacurgu we found a Bridge neceflary to pafs upon the diffol- ving of the Snow from the Ridges of the Hills, and tracing the Mountains, we came in Eight Tharfangs to Mufhat- notable for the Sepulchre of one of their Twelve Apoftles. to their falfe Prophet; here we were glad to take up in a Farmers Houfe, in an Apartment whereof having caufed a Fire to be kindled, where I was to lie, my Servant, after I was in Bed and afleep, hulking about the Fire, fell with his Felt Coat, being Drowfy, upon the Embers; which Burn¬ ing made fuch a fmother, that I was almoft ftifled in the clofe Room before I could find the Way out; yet he lay Snoaring and unconcerned, when I could not get rid of the flench in my Throat fome Days after. The Day following, we by Two Bridges crofted Two Rivers more, or it may be the fame that run to Bindamire ; and in a rainy wet Day took up our Lodgings at Zevan, but Five Tharfangs, and the next Day faw Terfepolis again ; entring the Plain by Two Pillars, upon whofe Cornifh was delineated double-headed Horfes as far as the Cheft; leaving thofe Ruins Quintus Curtins fo much Celebrated, defpoiled Travels into P E R. .S I A. . 299 , f ;| e d of their Riches, we went through Meergofcoon, at the back- Chap.VIli. fide whereof the Plain was covered all along with Wild-Fowl, which werefoTarae theywould almoft permit us to knock them on the head with our Sticks, not offering to ftir till we came on them, they being not ufed to bedifturbed. , At Night we reached Zergoon, through flippery and flabby Way, and the Day after we brought with us the firft Snow to Sir as. Here we relied Five Days, having loft Two Mules and One Pack- The Cold horfe out of Seven and twenty, and One Houlhold-Servant out of mateour Ten that attended us; another we left behind at Moxuteheggy, who dim Servants was our Cdok; and had it not been for the French Chirurgeon, we ufelefs - had been put toourlhifts, hebothlhooting and drefling molt of our Viftuals after the mod exquifite French Way of Cookery: Normuft any of us at this time take State upon him ; for our Servants, not ufedtofuch Weather, became rather an Impediment than Help to us; lilllefs,. and loth to ftir, ..butalways.crowding in .'among us, cringing, and never at eafe but when about the Fire;' riot to be rowz’d on any occafion • rather looking for Service from us;;by whofe Slothfulnefs we became as lowfy as Beggars, their huge Shags har¬ bouring fuch Vermin, and they* by no means being to be drove out out of our Company, but laid themfelves a-nights on the fame Floor with us. In this Ihort fpace the Sun began to recover Strength, diflol ving the Snow, as fall as it felL . Having Ihifted our Lowzy;Companions, they began to brisk up by degrees, as they.felt the Warmth to increafe upon them: Here our Interpreter, a Georgian Soldier,, and a Carmelite Friar, joined us ; (the French Chirurgeon being bound for Bunder Reek , left us) : And the 19 th of January, lhaking off the hofpitable Impertinencies of fuch as followed us out of the City, we gained that Night Bella- Hodge ; and the next Day travelled Fading, for the Execrable Death of the Martyr Charles the Firft; which fomething difcountenanced the Carmelite, feeing a Table fpread, as Cuftomary, at Noon, and not an Englifhman to eat a Bit, or drink a Drop; but being informed of the Reafon, he was more amazed, faying, He wonder’d at our Stridtnefs, fince on their Falling-days they were allowed a Buccado of Sweetmeats and a Glafs of Wine before Noon, and at Noon a fmall Repaft, and fo likewife m the Afternoon, but at Night a good plentiful Supper: With the latter part we promifed we would agree with him, but for the other we thought there was no great Reftraint put upon Nature. • - On the ladDay of the Month we found Caifar, a pleafant Village, bearing the firft Fruitful Palm this Way, where the Myrtle and the Orange-Tree is always Green, yielding Flowers in Blofldms, Ripe and Green Fruit all at one and the fame time: Here fpringsup the Bell-Flower, Violet, and Primrofe; fo that- we may now fing with Horace ; Solvitur acris hyems grata vice veris &.Favoni, ; odtW.ad Ac ne^ue jam Jlalulis gaudet pecus aut arator igni, &c. . Simm - Favoniut 3 o° Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. i^VNJ Favonius Breath lharp Winters Ice doth thaw; Beafts leave their Stalls, Plough-fwains their fires forgo 5 Nor are the Meadows White with Drifts of Snow. No wCytherea under Cynthia’s Shine, _ Danceth around, and lovely Graces join With Nymphs, the Earth in meafured Strains to beat, Whilft Vulcan in his glowing Forge doth fweat. Now with Green Myrtle crown thy fleek oyI’d Head, Or Flowers, which the mellow Earth doth fpread. To Faunas now in Groves I do advife, Either a Kid or Lamb thou facrifice. Which Counfel we took, not out of an Epicurean Fancy, to live merrily, be.caufeof the common Neceffity of Death, as in this Ode he exhorteth Sextius ; but to compenfate for our part Labours, and enable us the better to undergo this troublefome Journy: Here we indulged in a never-dying Green Orchard, mixing the Flavour of the Oranges, which are as good as grow, with our new Siras Wine, exhilarating ourfelves with the true Relifli, and Natural Sweets of this delightful Rural Seat. But the Checquer-work of this World prepared other Bufinefs for the fucceeding Day, bringing us over high Rocks, made plain by Coft and Pains: Here on the Tops of Mountains we only faw the Snow; however, the Winds blowing off thence, made us feel our quaking Joints {truck through with horrid Numbnefs; by which means nothing more frequently happen’d, than one quarter of an hour to be feized with fhivering Blafts; and when they were over, the Sun by its powerful Heat another Quarter to fcorch our Skin, expofed to his Rays; by which fudden Alterations, not only our Hands and Faces were vexed, but our whole Bodies fufFered Lan- guilhment, as Ovid before us had tried in his Exile. Cum modo Frigorilus premitur y mode folvitur /Eftu Tempore non certo, corpora Languor hahet. We begin to After we had run this Gantlope, the Weft Winds fetting in, the lofe the Win- Seafon grew more mild, and the 5 th of February we fet out long Kr ' before Day, which hitherto we had not done; and in our way found fprouting between Bonaru and Rhadar , Santtonicum , Wormwood, Maudlin, Tanfy, Sowthiftles, White Horehound, or rather Hermc- da&yl, bearing fuch a Flower as Saffron, on which the breeding Bezoar-Gqats do feed; the Lilly of the Valley, as alfo, which.is rare, Grafs, or rather a kind of Grafs like our Mofs, or fuch as we fee grow among Pavements after a Shower of Rain with us: This was admired by our Interpreter, as if no Place in the World ex¬ celled this; which muff be imputed, to the home-bred Temper 01 thofe Ferfians whenever ftir abroad, or the neftcio qua dulcedme cm- 80s, which adopts a Fotidnefs of their own: In which I pronounce thefe People happy; for they havefmall regard either to Foreigners or their Countries, in refped of their Native Soil or Abilities, con- Travels info cP E 301 ceiling themfelvesfuperlativein every thing: .And'from this Habit Cbap.VIII. of AfFe&ation i-Ihave often; LcPiifefs, declared them the-preach in thefe Parts, though they raife.■ themfelves a friiall degree from the Traditions andRudimentsoftheiOldWorld,.. ;: In the middle Way bet ween P.ofatal mdBury, we werethrea tried with Showers/but got in before they.fell: .T;his Caravan Ser Raiv, fince the time of our being here,; is ahnoft Thunder-ftruck a-pieces; and Lhor has endured the fhqckof two terrible Earthquakes:: J ' - r From whence the Air daily, thicken’d in the Atmofphere/andthe The Air Sweat began to pour through eur Pores, which in a more fubtle gtows th!cL Air we could not petfpire, though Urine flowed there more plenti¬ fully ; for a Thin Air gathers andcontracfts the Pores, forbidding the Efflux of Heat or Spirits, conftraining the Matter which otherwife would gently breathe forth, precipitating the Serum through the Urinary Conduits,, and feparating it from the Blood, either by Colla¬ tion in the Reins, or by virtue .of fome particular Ferment;; accord¬ ing to the Dodlrine of the Learned Willis. At Cormoot we met a Lion . and a Spotted Deer carrying up as Pre- Our Enghjb fentsto the Sopbi from the Mogtih The Lion.feemed rather a Cata- mountain, than fuch a Majeftick Creature as ours in Europe , being 0 ns. nigher a Dun Colour than a Dprk Red, without Beard, nor haired all from the Head down to theiCreft and Thighs; about the Lips it had Bridles like a .Cat, and when the Keepereftroaked it, it would make a Noife much the fame as a Cat when; fhe purls: Thefe are kept to fet upon Bulls before the €mperor, which they do fneaking- ly, coming behind them to leap upon their Quarters, which one of our right bred Englifh MaftifFs would fcorri to do; a true Bull dog being too hard a Match for one of thefe Lions, which has often been proved 'at the Court of Perfia , to the. Commendation of their Courage. Hereabouts the Locufls have for thefe Tfifee Years fucceffively made fuch wafte, that they are almoft farrt.ifhed for want of Dates; and though this Town ufed to fupply other Parts,; they are forced to feek Suftenance elfewhere for themfelves. On Valentine s Eve, two Days before we could fee.the Sea; .we per¬ ceived its Stench, the Sun being up fome time every day, before he could difpel the Vapours railed thence. The French Agent came to us at Band Attu before the Cock- Returned to crow on the 15 th . of February, and at Noon the Dutch Commodore Gmbrm'. welcomed our Return, and conduced us to Gombroon from the Cauns Garden; as did all the Merchants congratulate our Arrival, as well as all the Ships in the Road faluted us upon our entring the Fa&ory. ' Since our Departure from Gombroon, theCaun has.been playing his The E„giijh Pranks, having expended vaftSums to buy off his. former .Offences j! refid '; n ' af T and Rapins committed in his Government, and endeavouring now by c°m! byt * unjuft means tp reimburfe himfelf: Wherefore no fooner was our Agent come to Port, but he caughp our Broker, a Rich Banyan, and clapt him into Prifon, contrary to- the Royal Mandat granted him, extorting from him Five hundred thomands , denying Leave for our Agent in the mean time to go Aboard Ship, in order to embark for his Prefidency at Surat ; begirtirigthe Houfe with Soldiers, left he lhould 302 Travels into P E R S I Letter V. Ihould clancularly get away, as he had plotted, and which at lafl fo. did, adorning the firft Step to his new Province with a foul Dif grace when he might have done more honourably as the Dutch ^ by defending their Houfe, and driving away the Guards, keeping their Broker fafein their Houfe, fending a Courier, on purpofe to ac¬ quaint- the- Emperor; with Orders to let him know,'That if this Cam were hot removed, he muft give them Licenfe to be gone. Whilft thefe things were t ran fa ding, Two Stout Ships from h- r: tavia , well appointed with Men and Arms, came 1 before Gomkmi when the Caim began to comply; and our Two. Ships fent to .fetch the Prefident, fneak’d away, doing nothing. "Upon our Arrival at Port the Flemijh Ships were braving it in the Road, and the Com, to hinder our protefting againft his Proceedings*.-was very humble, ' and fent to let us underhand he would upon the Englifk Account fubmit to any thing .- Wherefore to avoid being deluded by his pre¬ tended: Eriendfhip, which we were hotftrong enough to affront; and fearing we Ihould have beemufed as 1 Properties to an Arbitrament, : we feigned Excufes to leave the Town for Ajfeen. The myrn There was not in this Conteft x-Banyan left in Town, they fhifting & for themfelves as foon as they forefaw the Storm a coming, removing ali to Congo , under the Cam of Lhor, for Refuge, when they faw the Death of the Laws, when no Sanduary could be had, nor no Pro- mifes nor Oaths were obligatory, Religion made a Stale, and their Houfes likely to be made a Prey: ’Being invited to return, and asked a reafon for their Defection,' they gaVe the Tyrant the fame Anhwei theiFox did the Lion;; ■ . . , —r-r- Quia me vefligia terrent. Omnia teadverfum fpeUant fed nulla retrorfum. His Tyranny. F° r the Cam in hisCups ( which indeed being fober he has more than once repeated ) tranfgrefled not only the Bonds and Ties of Govern¬ ment, but even of Humanity* perpetrating thofe Wickednefles which are only eflential to Salvages, though never hut once called to reckon for . them; which once had like to have forfeited his Head as well as Place.. . The Story is this: Having cruelly butchered one of thefe Hea¬ thens to poflefs himfelf of his Wealth, by ripping up'his Belly, info- much that his Entrails ifiued forth with his Blood, he was fo brntilk and hard-hearted as to fport at the Mifery of this helplefs Wretch, fallen into the bloody Hands of this Mercilefs Hellhound: His Friends not being able to deliver him by Force, made ufe of a direder way to Revenge, and- engaged by their Money the great ‘Favourites at Courtthinking no other means fo proper to reftore to them the , Lofs of their Aflaffinated Relation, as by procuring the Overthrow of the Cam: Which while they were endeavouring, and had call him under a Cloud, yet they failed in that Power, whereby he was able to fight againft them with their own Weapons, he Squeezing ' them.here, while the Great Men drained them like Courtiers, let¬ ting! their Suit fall in the Mid-way; fo that while they flagged in their Bribes, he recovered on their Ruin: The King being only in- Travels into PERSIA. 303 formed of fome Mifdemeanor, but never inftru&ed with Truth Chap.VIII enough to ordain a total Deprivation, or a Punilhment equal to the blacknefs of the Crime: On which fcore it is the Banyans at this time Ihun his Dominions, as a Pilot would Charildis , or any Rock he is certain to fplit on. We being at Afeen, the bufy Birds in Rearing and Contriving Going to their Nefts and Tenements, became Emblems of Self-prefervation ; ^ cm ' nor were we lefs taken with produ&ive Nature, that lets not the moft unfit Soil want her influence as far as it is capable to bring forth, fhe not being Idle, even in this place; which as it delighted our Minds, this being the moderateft Seafon, lb we had fome pleafure afforded for the exercife of our Bodies, as Hunting the Wild Boar, which fatten themfelves chiefly on Dates, and are therefore worth the Toil and Danger of Aflailing; and for to fecure the Flocks, it is no lefs meritorious to Chafe the Wolf, for which, not only Bows and Arrows, Sword and Gun, but Spears, Pikes, and Dogs are called in to gain the Conqueft; thefe are Martial Exploits; the Timerous Hare and Antilope require not all thefe Weapons, but only giving them the Law of the Field. At Genoe are wholfome Hot Baths, whofe Fame made us pierce We Vint the Twenty Mile nigher the high Mountains than Afeen, yetfeemingto G° t , £ Bwhsat overlhadow Gomhroon 5 thefe Baths arife between the Promontories * ‘‘ being India, half a Mile out of the great Road to Carmania, out of feveral places in a deep Bottom rather than a Valley, and where they have their fource alfo: As they Hide along they Line the Earth with a Molly Slime tinCtured with a yellow Sulphureous Green > under which are Stones of live Brimftone exhaling a Nitrous Scent, (linking like that Water the Mariners call Bilge Water; their Taffe was a Brackilh Sweet, not Nitrous; to the fight they are Clear and Perfpicuous, of a Citrine Colour ( or like Lie well Boiled ) from their Tranfparency, by the reflecting of the flimy Matter at the Bot¬ tom; for otherwife taken up in aVeflel not fubjed to be tainted by them, they are Diaphanous; Extracted by Fire there remains a Salt, both Vomiting and Purging, more violent than Vitriol or Antinomy. For as Galen Teaches, til. Nat.fac, zdo. Salt things Elaborated by immoderate Heat, are troublefome to the Stomach: They are not fo hot as Boiling Water, but rather by the mildnefs of their Heat they caufe Tranfpiration, that if you pleafe to flay longer in them, Sweat may be raifed to the higheft degree : The moft ufual fpace of tarrying in them, is from Half an Hour to an Hour, and then betaking themfelves to a Warm Bed, lie an Hour or Two longer well covered, or as the Spirits ferve, which is repeated, Three, Se¬ ven, or Nine times; as if God delighted in an Odd Number, as maybeobfervedinthe Pool of Bethefda, or of Naamans Waihins in Jordan. 0 They are held good againft all humoral Chronical Diftempers, Their Virtues, and Remedy inveterate Ulcers, Cleanfe and Heal Old Sores, Eafe Aches and Pains of the Limbs, Joints, and Membranes, for which they are much frequented: In places where they bubble up they caft a Spume of many Colours; which thofe troubled with Scabs, or Leprofy, Travels into P E R. S I A. as they flow through the feveral Caverns or Cavities, So they partake of feveral conditions in their paflage ; which diftinguiflies them, as Sea- Water, River-Water, Rain-Water, Spring-Water, Well- Water, Salt, Bitter, Vinous, or Warm Waters, deriving-their Name^-f conftantly arifing Hot out of the Ground from thenearnefs ot fome Hot Minerals; and for this reafon it is almoft all of them have an Hot and Dry quality, whereby they: help Moift and Cold Tempers moil of alii which Faculty Platens at¬ tributes to the nature of Lime; which leans on the Sentence of Arijlotle, who in his Second Part, Chap . z. fays, there is left in Lime a kind of Mother, : Efi.7iVf$jpg.,tAdttfta fereomnia hahent alicfuid cali- Aitatis, at calx, cinis, &c. Alriiofl all Burnt things haveremaiffingin them fomethibg of Heat. But to let that pafs as not being much to the purpofe : All Waters, in general, participate of the Mixture and Nature of thofe Places through which they take their Current, though all do not alike ftrike the Senfes, becaufe fome havevailefler Tindure than others ; and Heterogeneous Particles confounded; or confufed, in a, larger Vehicle, are not fo eafily- perceived by the Tongue; which proves no more than this;-That whatever-Water has a Angular propriety from the common Water; -.mutt come tinder- the denomination of Mineral Water. Which, mtS Varenm, we draw from a threefold Fountainj-viz. from Corpcr&l; 'Spiritual, and rMixture of-either; thofe which run through Subterranean Meanders, in which the Metalline Earths are not over denfe, they carry, with them the Grains of thofe Mi¬ nerals, and therewith beget the firftCorporeal Waters. <•': - If the Ores afelefs denfe,-as -Vitriol, Sulphur, andAalts, which diflol ve of themfelves in Water; thefe create the fec'orid Clafs of'Cor-, poreals, of Mixed.--'/: r/ v: •- ■ t And thofe in their paffage which are impregnated with th'eTumes of thefe Minerals, ; are, as it’were. redified Spiritual Wafers 1 ;' and’ make the moft refined Order bf fehem all. r . '-r? /; . Out of thefe Three proceed ^Mineral Waters, which are either Golden, Silver, Tin,; Lead, or Iro’n,, Waters ; Waters ’of Common Salt, Aluminous, Vitriolated, - Bituminous, Stilphurious, or Ahti- monial: Waters of feveral Earths', Stones-;-blame 1 , GhSlfe^'and^ Ochre, Cinnabar, Marble, Alabafter, and laft'df all/ Mereuriaf Waters. - h..-' ;'M!bnuo*;g,<} vd bwJ* - The differences are to be referred fo the iridiVidualSpecieSfef etrefy Water, as far' asyrelates' to their -Eflencd Capacities fuch do not fo readily occur, they when Bodies «re parchedby intolerable. Heat, and the Dull galls and frets the Skin by Travel, then are they .not only clesnfed, but. highly rejfcefhed by bathing in fweet Water; fo that they are conyenieijt both in Dry and MoiftAirs; for in Dry, without thefe they could no more breathe,than thof sAriJlotle teftifies of,could with- outEagSi.of Water on the Top, of Olympus ; and. in Moift, they are as neeeftary to wafhDjrtiandSand out of the Pores of their Bodies. As for the Medical Intent, many Diflempers caufed by Fulnefsof HutnmtfV Or ill-bred Chyme, are expelled by this Exorcifm ; but th$ . Grand Expe& 3 $Qfl relating to Venereal Difeafes, is baffled and defeated by a groundlefs Fallacy. Un-Rtfs .: P.n/th§c0ay.;df:;th?:Vdrndj Upinoxi wereturned to Grata .. when.tiie#^ introduce, theft; New-Year JEde, .ot^NwRefe, with Banquettingrandgreat Solemnity- , V :■/..., The Air moift, , •ThgrjAjp, which friSpabaun: is fb. Serene that: it leaves; bo Impurity upon Metals,is of aijotberTemper her^all thing^Cbntraifting Soil and Tarfiijh, be they never;foi carefuljy preferved from the dailyTncreafe of a thick corruptiog AtTi Which proceeds from the Reign of the SoutkWwi ufual; attfeisiSekfoniTrcttn whence the. Brain and Nervous Offspring fuftcry.ua^ets an. unnatural;-Mo’ifture; 'wfaPm Capfa qua eftpermipfc Herpi Paraph,in Part.:Hyp..Aph.aa-Lib.* Sicy?; Apfe y- and Quick - fjefsipf,; Sights bribgsriEiftlefsrtefs btndian Unweildihefs over the whokBodjO TPjM&hvlncdavfcmepoes,' notwonly of the Wind* v "■ Sand, Travels into PERSIA. ' 3°7 Sand and eating of Dates, we may add the condant feeding upon Chap.VIII. Fijhalfo, as an Enemy to the Eyes ; for by fuch Food the Body is filled with putrid Humours,whence proceed Malignant Fevers, Gout, Falling-ficknefs, and an Iliad of Didempers. The reafon to be ren¬ ted for all this, may be, Becaufe the Strength of the Nerves con- fift in a Mediocrity of Heat; for what comes neareft to Heat, agrees better with their Conditution; but what brings Moidure is mod pre¬ judicial, according to the Mind of the great Author of Phyfick, Mb. 16. lil. Which notwithdanding, asevery Nature is difpofed, fo it is affedted with this or that Difeafe: For the Fountain of all Maladies, with their feveral kinds, fpring either from the Irregu¬ larities of Air or of Diet, fince we are nourilhed by both, and can no longer live than while we breathe and fuck in Air, than we can fubfid without Food: Such therefore as the Air is, fuch are the Spi¬ rits and Humours generated thereby; fuch as the Humours, fuch are the folid Parts of the Body, and in general the whole Microcofm. By Repletion therefore of the Brain, the Optick Nerves are debi¬ litated and clouded by the Impurity of the Innate and Adventitious Air: The beginning of the Nerves being filled with Humidity, not only the forementio'ncd Sicknelfes, but Ulcerous and Foul Sores, by the aptnefs of the Air at this Jun&ure combining with other con¬ curring Accidents, make an open Way for their Procreation. Hence the Maritime Goads, from the filthy Exhalations and natty Vapours diffufing.themfelves, imprefs aDyfcrafy, or undue Mixture over the Mafs of Blood: Tomr, As if the Sulphurous Saline Particles Ihould be exalted, a Ranknefs of Temperament follows; by which means the Spirits are de'prefs’d, and the Blood alter’d into a fickly corroding Habit, for want of liberal Evacuation through the Emunftuaries, and fo are quite degenerated. As we fee, for indance, now daily, the Clouds hovering about the bottom of the Mountains, fo the Hu¬ mours profligated no other way,- fettle in the extreme Parts, till they break out into ungovernable Ulcers, Scurvy, and the like. To avoid therefore the Stench of the Port,, as well as Commu¬ nication with the Cam, we often exchange Gorpbmn for Ajfeen, which now is perfumed with Jafmine of all forts, Rofes, Violets, and Prim-. rofes, with other fragrant Flowers; here grow alfo the Black Hore- hound, Spurge, Catminfh or Nepe, Liverwort, the lefler Centaury, Hedg Muftard, Wintercrefs, Grunfel, Field-Poppy, Broom, Goofe- foot, Arach, Cichory and Dill: The Barley growing here is now fit for the Scythe, being their fird Harved. In this Place as we rode to take the Air through Stony and Barren Places, we met a Channel of living Waters, brought from the Mountains ( whence it breaks forth) by an Aquadudt, fometimes over little Bridges, fome- times piercing the very Mountains, at the Cod of the Dutch Banyan (the fird of this Tribe of Men that deferves Praife for his Contempt of Money, laviflied in many Places for the Publick Utility ), to the.' Dutch Garden, where it difembogues its felf into a great Stone Ci¬ ttern, for the ufe of the farms on that fide of the Town. All thefe Plains bear Indian Shrubs, fuch Milky ones as we have p|3ms defcribed there; but near the Head of the Channel, in an Hollow grow here, made by the falling of the Water in the Rains, grows Willow-wort; Rrz Lyfi'_ . 308 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. Lyfirnachia cumflore alio quinque foliis expanfo e rulefcente calke prog, m floret ; which difcovers a Participation or Communication of this fide of Perfla with India: But that which farther confirms it, is, that as in our Way home we made Nalond our Road, a Fifhing-Town a Pharfang to the Eaflward of Gomlroon , on the Brink of the Gulph we found two Temples after the Cuftom of the Idolatrous Mia ,,/ where a Devote of theirs had drawn a great Concourfe, at the Re¬ port of his Falling Nine Days ; which being ended, the rich Em. ans made a Feaft and Prefented him with Gifts; for which he return- ed them an Ear of Grain fpiked, in that time Sown before their Mammon, or God, with a Silver Head, which they bore away as a thing Sacred. Here are many Tombs of their Religious Men, who are wholly devoted to their Superftitions; and becfufe’of the diverfity of in- burning them, I fhall give you the manner as I received it ; A round Pit, infalhionof a Well, being made, they place a ftone of Orms Salt for him to Hand on, and another weighty one is put on his Head; a Lamp being lighted, they lay Bread and a Jarr of Water by him, and give him a Staff in his Hand with fome Deneiros for his Journy; then they cover the Hole with Molds, and build a Turbi¬ nated Tomb, without any Hollow more than for a burning Lamp. Thus as this part bears the fruits of their Superftition, fo the • Earth brings forth the Weeds of their Idolatrous Worihip; the Arlor ele Rais by the Portugals ; by the Banyans Ka7?|o;«ir, for the Reverence paid by them to it, the Banyan-Tree : Befides this, this , Soil yields good Mango’s, Water Melons, and Sweet Onions, with that rank Poyfon Dutry, nigheft our Solamm Lethale. At our return from our Country Delights to. Gomlroon, we found it clear of the Cam, he being abfent, otherwife no Grift was like to come to the Shaw Bunder ; for during his flay no Banyans could be invited hither; butnofoonerwas he gone, than they came to their Stalls, as Sheep do after the fear of the Wolf is over, to their wonted Pafture. The ptrtugai About the beginning of April Fifteen Tall Ships, with Gallies of Fleet and our the Portugals, appeared in this Gulf to terrify the Arabs ; and about arrive^"* the middle of the fame Month, the fame Ship that carried off the ,rn ' Prefident, brought us a New Agent; who being fickly,- was willing to leave the Port with all expedition, to be at Spahaun before the Heats; which Journy commenced after an almoft total Eclipfe of the Moon, notified to us by the loud Mufick and conftant Hubbub continued all the while. CHAP. travels into PERSIA. 309 Chap. IX. C H A P. IX. Ifego up in the Spring with our Neiv Agent to Ifpahaun: Tj }>o Jrifli Greyhounds jent for a frefent to the Emperor: We leave the Agent there } and return in the Fall. W E fet out the Laft of April , and reachedLbor the 8 th of May, ThehaffyRe- which City was vehemently warm; through which Intern- ° t f he the perance, whatever we eat, turned into Choler; for the Air being cauftof the Hot and Dry, in refped of that we left at Gomkroon, rendred the Sickiinefs of Bile thicker and fharper, whereby moft of us fell Tick of Cholera Twer's.' 5 Morbus", and Three of our Company were taken from their Horfes, not being able to fit them, and carried on Indian Litters: Others in Kedgmys, or Wooden-Houfes, one on each fide of a Camel, tied like Panniers; by which Conveyance we carried two Irijh Buck- hounds for Prefents to the Emperor, a Dog and a Bitch, as large as ever I faw; but they being cramped by this Contrivance, we were perfuaded to let them loofe, after we had. conquered the Soultry Sandy Ways; but then it was as irkfome to them to foot it over the Rocks and Stony Paths; for this, the Company had provided Shooes for them, which they found more troublefome than is reported of the Jackanapes’s caught by fuch Apilhnefs; fo that at laft they were left to their Liberty: Thefe are fuch Carriages as their Women tra¬ vel in, and thofe Paffengers that wander the Deferts of Arabia. — l lueis tentant & arantes arenas . Littoris Afyrii viatores. - Several new Caravans on this Road have been lately overturn’d by' Earthquakes, and all along they cry for Rain, both to fill their Wa- ter-ftores, and to bedew the Earth; which is moft miferably parch¬ ed till we come to Bonaru ; in whofe Plain, Wheat and Barley are newly mow’d; but the Oyl-Seed for Lamps were {landing. In the Thickets along the Brooks fides grew Bitter-Sweet, and among the Corn fuch Weeds as choak ours in England. Chaw talk is become famous, not only for its new and fpacious Cara- a notable .van, but for an Exploit lately committed oh the Rhadars or Watch Robbery at by half a dozen Highwaymen, who had certain Intelligence of a chmtalL Prize of fome Merchants having a great Charge of Money: Where¬ fore they fet upon the Rhadars as they were on Duty in the Caravan Gate, and beheaded their Captain, and the Caravandar, or Warden of the Caravan Seraw, and a {faulted the reft unawares, flaying Eight more outright, but promifed Mercy to the reft if they did not refift; 0 Four more were wounded in making their Efcapp, -and died of their Wounds, before they could gain Gerotn. Thus having fecured their Prey, they carried it off in the fight of Four hundred Men, faint-hearted and timerons Companions, only ' fcne Armenian difcharging a Gun; not one elfe, either Merchants of Cowardly Travels into PERSIA. 310 Letter V. Cowardly Drovers, daring to make any Defence , but refigned unrv« themfelves tamely to their Wills, while they rifled and took aw-ay above a Thoufand Thomands , which amounts in our Coin to Four thoufand Pound in Silver, and are hitherto undifcovered. I cannot but refled on this Faint-heartednefs with fome Aflonifa. mentOnly when I confidcr the Merchant is Infured by the S/m. hinder, it abates fomething of the Wonder; for he mullreftore the whole Sum to the right Owner, it being his bufinefs to find out the , .Thieves, and recover the Money. Diary Fevers. Hence we came to Gerom, and by labouring in the Heat of the Day to get over the Mountains, we were perfecuted with Diary Fo vers: In this Munfel we found Avens Mother of Thime, Mullen, man Wormwood with a Scarlet Flower, divers forts of Thiftles, efpe- cially the Holy Thiftle, a Remedy for the now raging Difeafes ; as I am of Opinion, Nature has provided all Regions with Medicines peculiar for their Diftrefles. aiuynthis. Cole quint a Apples grow like a fmall round Gourd on. the Ground. Here in the Gardens were the firft true Beans and Peafe I faw fince 1 left England. The Taian- The old Caravan Ser Rato at Mocock Sugta is deferted by the Cm- tula. van Dar , who has fhifted to a new one built by the fame Hand as that lately at Cbawtalk , and abandoned the declining one to Serpents, Chameleons, and Tarantulaes ( which are not fo venomous as in the Straits), Centipedes, and Scorpions, it lying an open Receptacle for all Wild Beafts. Pains in the. The. North Winds about the middle of May raifed many a Whirl- joints, and wind ; and before we came to Caifar, we found a fenfible Alteration Putrid Fevers f rom f corc hing Heat to a fearching Cold; by which Change, our Garments that before hung loofe about us, are gathered together to wrap us clofe; for all which, few efcaped without complaining of a fudden Pain in the Joints; and many were incident to putrid Fevers, ■ who had indulged too largely on Raw Fruits. Occafioned as This fudden Mutation of the Air, brought not only on Mankind, wen by the but Beafts alfo, Catarrhs, and Defludionsof all forts 5 to wit, from ater as lr. an£ j ( w fi ere by we were bedew’d all over with Sweat) into Hot and Dry in the Day, and at Night Cold and Dry, by rea- fon of Impetuous Blafts-from the North Eafi , by which the Pores being Ihut, the inclofed Humours are put into a Fluor; there being not a Man among us, nor hardly an Horfe, but ran freely at the Nofe: Here, as the Air varied, we left off drinking Rain-Water; which might have fome Influence upon us, it being preferred before all others, as having the Sun and Ocean for its Parents: The River- Water here is muddy, and is often carried under Ground by Pits, wherefore it pafies not, without leaving fome Putrefadion behind; but the moft indigefted is Well-water, which is wholly deprived of the Sun. Nor muft we flip without Remark what happen’d in our Winter- March ,- as we there carried the Winter with us, fo now we bring the Summer; for Harveft is beginning everywhere, where we arrive: Though here the Barley be mowing, yet the Wheat Hands, to en- •dure a farther ripening, being kept back by the Chill Winds, which Travels into PERSIA. 311 full attend us; whereby we found Fevers of all forts ( except Pe- Chap. IX. ftilential ) at Sir as; Rheums diftilling from the Head, Falling down Lj ‘ rv "' Vj of the Vvida, Aches and Pains, Hoarfenefs, and violent Coughs ,* as Hipocrates foretold from this Quarter, 5. Aph, lib.y Si autem Aquilo tc'rram perflat', if the North-wind blows on the Earth (which it has done a long time) it brings Colds, Swelling of the Face, Sore Throats, difficulty of Breathing, Stitches, and Pleurify; the Body is bound, end Urine flows, with cold ihaking, which are conftantly to be ex¬ pected while this Wind rules. The Water of this Place alfo contributes to the Endemial Diftem- pets, for it is weightier than other, which by Experience is found of drinidng m to offend the lower Belly, or Hypochondria , breeding Obftru&ions, Ice, and the Ills arifing thence; nor can I excufe that deftrutftiveCuftom of drinking Ice with their Liquors; which the Old Gentleman takes notice of to be of no good Confequence ; Aph. 24. lib. 4. Frigida i cujupnodi funt Nix; Cold things, fuch as Snow and Ice, are Enemies to the Stomach and Lungs; and fo on: On which the Learned and Skilful Hamms makes this Paraphrafe, “ Thofe People that ufe thefe, are troubled with Swellings in their Throats ( as on th e Alps'), “ are afflided with Catarrhs, and live not long. But the moft per¬ nicious of all is the cramming themfelves with much Fruit; which is a Temptation hardly to be denied, where fuch Plenty and fo Ex¬ cellent are offered; however, they fill the Body with crude and re¬ bellious Humours. - - . From all which therefore to come home to what concerns us, who had undergone fome part of a Southern Winter ( if it may be fo called, at Gombroon ), the Author of Salt Phlegm, the fubfequent _ .. Spring entring with the North Winds, which are Dry, made ms re -1 tain that Phlegm ; by which means we are followed by pertinacious ' - ; and continued Fevers, as well as thofe that, accompany Catarrhs* ' 1 from the Intemperament of the Spirable Parts, whereby tjie Hu¬ mour expreffed from the Brain, diftills upon the Lungs, bytranflati- ' on of Evacuation from the Habit of the Body, where it waswont to perfpire 5 but now thofe Channels being ftopt, it drops from the Head, to the difturbance of the whole. Frame. ThiskComment relates only to us ;.for the Natives make light ;qf fuch things.aswe call Colds, though they are aSedted with thenvthis Seaipa,-but not to fo high a degree as we; for they eat and dripk rather.themore for them, and flight them at this time of the Year, but Awards- the Winter-Quarter they are more cautious. I muff confejfs it al¬ ways my Opinion, Colds were not hurtful, fo long as phey keep within the Bounds of a fimpie Cold, but rather a means to,rack; off the Impurities from the Blood, as^the F«ni5ntaiion.of;^|ncs,k(rf the like Advantage to them; but when irtftbad of clarify ing it con¬ founds the Humours, it is then to-be taken care of,- which,'daily Experience teaches it tranfgreiles often; as. ; almoft all cm Engtijb being now down, can witnefs. ; , e, The 29 th of May, the Agent, weary of. thefe uncertaiqvYMtns of The Agent Weather, proceeded to make Trial of more iteddyat^^^,; .but leav <* Sim - mol!: of the reft being fiefe, and the Father Vifitador Gr.thq.Camcr Mes, a Spaniard, and a good Scholar, having; b'eenipsgjgrieyed with 312 1 1 HUGH tfllv 1 *-> i-V U't L 1. Letter V. with a continued Fever, and finding no Relief from the Country Phyficians, perfuaded the Agent to leave me it Sir as, which he coni- plied with, perceiving an urgent rieceffity on the part of the Emjifr, 1 Ml fid. [n which Stay I fell fick my felf, after the Father was recovered- and before I was got up ( for this Sicknefs had well nigh coft me my Life, being one of thefe peevifh Fevers), a great Saint, becaufe Rich and one of Mahomet's Kindred, prevailed with the Father, who li e heard was reftored to his Health by my means, and their Convent being feated here by his Permiflion( he being Treafurer of the Pro¬ vince, and as wealthy, though by unjuft means, as any in the Em¬ pire, next the Sophi ), to fpeak to me to give him a Vifit, being hid up by Debaucheries both of Wine and Women. ; The Refpedt I had to the Padre, made me yield to be carried to his Court in one of his Palenkeehs or Chairs, at a time I was more fit to be kept at Home and in Bed; for that all the Armenian Cirri- ftiansj as well as Foreign, feemed to be concerned, not out of Love, but fear of this powerful Man to mifchief them: Whereupon my Attendance is engaged, and a Million of Promifes, could I reflore him to his Health, laid down from his Wives, Children, and Rela- tiorts, who all (with the Citizens, as I could hear going along, pray to God that iheHackiti Fringi, the Frank Dodtor, might kill him 1 ) play’d the Hypocrites, wilhihg his Death; the firft to corn- pleat their Expedition of what he might leave them, the other for his being a Plague to them; as it proved after his Recovery, for they performed as much .as He, difmiffing me with a Compliment, and no other Reward. On my Reco- ’ After my Strength came again, though this Blade had provided very i fet for- for my. ; Div'erfion at his Summer-houfes, ( which are built (as theen- ^ rdfor s f g - Having Friars do oh Penances their moft ftately Buildings) by his am ‘ ufurped^Authority; of; the Obligatibn.they had to ferve him, as M> ^we/VKihdredi and the meritorious Tye he had on their Confcien- ces thafway, by which means the Emperor has not more ftately Palates.;) yet I refufed his Offer. Tarrying here from the 23 d of May till the 6 th of July, I am ca- pableiof giving fome-Apcpunt how : the Air proves fo fatal to Stran¬ gers: If feems tp enjdiyi'Mean between Lhor and Ifpahaw, notfo hot as 'the former,‘nor (fo fubtile as the latter; for which reafon it would be generally rh'6re healthy, were it not for thefe North-Winds, which fet in every Afternoon; and continue till the Sun is a good height riejttMbfningr Infomuch that in'the fpace of Twenty four Hours;'there is a Turnftbm the, higheft degree of Heat into the et- tremeftdegfee of Gold, which infersthe-former Difeafes (adAph. 1. lib. 3’,;'-Ar pjiiASoter?&c}f thefd’laft Three Months together n|oftly.c,; ; t After thefe'are'fpent/iih’e’H'eats'bring Health,.for no other rdafdb : biit ; b'ecaufe r they’siriff'confta'nfelwhichlails hom Jane till*/- tem'bfr, Wh'erV tKefeWinds begin-* tmflRieigri afrefli; and according to the Obfervation of the 4 th Aph. in the lame Book, ‘ In faguju ■,\ ni modo fri^orh'-dominatu Cwlm Difeafes 5 afe^hrie^uaTfqr letter; -Syniptoms; Ihyafibns,. JucJgnndnis, and-Ditafhinatidnsi; WKieh' I experienced & hVtrUe all: this tittle; *:■ ■- ' both Travels into PERSIA.'-. 3 h 3 both in refpeft of Judgment and Ill Habit; for if it happen’d to be Chap. IX. a Tertian, Quotidian, or Quartan, they were all uncertain; the uncertainty of the Seafon broke that Viciffitude of Motion and Reft belonging to the Humours, which interruption occafioned' the diffi¬ culty of their Cure. _ And now taking the diretft Road for Spabaun , I had joined with me Polygon and zn.Armenian Frenchman ( a Wealthy Trader) , a Dominican and a Au h m ’am. Carmelite Friar. Early in the Morning of the following Day we had, iorfaken Sir as, we made Pclygore, Six Pbar fangs ; it is a famous Cara¬ van without Entertainment, byreafon of bad Water; wherefore at ' N:ght we reached Auhgurrum, an old Caravan Ser Raw , better provi- ■ ded uich Water, though theNameof the Place would intimate no¬ thing lefs, being called the Hot Water ; this is Three Pharfangs be¬ yond Polygore. ■ ■ Hence we entred a Fenny kind of Ground, occafioned by the Overflow of Bindamire'y over which, Stone Caufeways and Bridges were laid, where convenient, for half a Pharfang: In this Way, though we met not with Towns fo frequently, yet we found the Plain overfpread with Husbandmen and Shepherds, dwelling in Tents made of Hair-Cloth, at the End of the Plain of Perfepol/s, which we could difcover plainly with our naked Eyes, but came not near it, cutting a ffiorter Way to Maijm, over a Bridge almoft con- fumed with Age, and Force of the Waters; at which Town, after efficient Thunder and Lightning, it fhower’d apace. The Harveft isbackwarder in thefe Fruitful Valleys than whence we came from ; but thefe kindly Rains plump and clear it for an hopeful Crop. Two Days after, we took Imam Zadahjn our Cpurfe, where Ma • Imaum zMl flick is made? the Mountains hereabouts are productive of Wines. ° hmmZadah was another of their adored Prophets or Succeflorsto Mortis Ally, who lies buried here in a Neat Stone Sepulchre; all the Town therefore belongs to the Mullahs or Priefts attending here, and is furrounded. with a Wall, having only Admiffion at one Gate! In the Medows between Ogoan and Afspafs, we met with two Troops of ftroling Shepherds, moving with their Families, Flocks, Herds, and Subftance, with their Hairy Houfes on their Camels Backs. As alfo huge Droves of Horfes for the Emperor’s Breed : But the moft furprizirtg was to fee Corn mowing and newly fprung up at one and the fa me time. Arriving at Cufcufar as foon as it was Day, and having laid my T ; „ r felf to Repofe, a Courier, or Goloomy Shaw, from the Emperor, wait- of a gE? ingthe coming in of our Caphala, to prefs the belt Horfe he could 5hgo - lay his Hands on, feeing my Sumpture-horfe come in, feized it for the King’s Ufe; which alarmed the whole Caravan Ser Raw, defiring my Servant to wake me, and inform me I was in danger to lofe my Horfe, and withal befeeched my Protetftion for theirs, fome of them being high priz’d; The thing was new to.me, nor did I under- ttand till then my Authority; for none of them durft oppofe a Cbu- per or Horfe- Poft fent from the King on an Errand ( which Privilege is granted only to Europe Nations), they being wholly at the Devo- fon of their Sovereign, ( Foreign Minifters with their Retinues be- ln g exempted ); but feeing me refraeftory to his Proceedings, he S f came ' 3*4 Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. came to me full- mouth’d in the King’s Name; I returned Anfwer j n that Name I refufed to obey him: He perfifting in his Demands’af- ter it was made known who I was, the Servants and People there were ready to beat him, had I encouraged them; I bad them only hinder him from taking any manner of Beaft belonging to them, and do no manner of Violence to him. He finding no good to be done with me, began to terrify the Capbala Bajbee and his Crew; but I undertaking their Quarrel, he departed, not without fome bouncing Curfes in the Turkijh Language, finding himfelf defeated of his ex . pedation, and was content to make the Villages find him one; ■ which indeed he fhould have done at firft, had he not hoped to have been brought off by their mollifying him with Gilt; but miffing that End, he went away with Shame and Fury, while I (laid gratu- lated with the Thanks of all the Travellers, and on the 19 th of July was handfomly conduded by them into Spahaun. Want Of Rain. For the defed of Rain-water this Year, this W oody City fuffers, the Trees decay, the River is dried up, Corn is fcarce, and a general Drought invades all things, fo that a Famine is mightily dreaded: For to fupply thefe Wants, Well-water is made ufe of; which not being fo familiar, by its deadly Coldnefs defrauds both Men, Brutes, and Plants, of their Natural Nourifhment; whereupon Difeafes enfue. Nor is the winding Quarter of the Year lefs contributing, theRa- ging Dog having not only fhewed his Teeth, but bit hard, the latter part of Augttjl palling into Autumn with unfteady Heats and Colds; introducing fore Eyes, Lasks, fpitting of Blood, dejeded Appetite, ill Concodion, Fiftulaes in Ano, Leprofy, St. Anthony's Fire, creep¬ ing Ulcers, Tetters, Morphew. Laft Years Honour is not paid to this, for the Trees every where Ihed their imperfed Leaves, not . bringing their Fruit in due feafon; fo that the Autumnal Tribute falls fhort, the Summer going out without bringing things to Matu¬ rity , by reafon of the too hafty approach of the bluftring Fall; though the Skies clear up to a Misfortune, whereby f™ the Summers Heat, and dry Autumns, Dyfuries and Stranguries among Children, Hyp. Apb.4. Sett. 3. as alfo Empyemaes. This notwithftanding, we are tempted at the Fame of one of the Paradifeupon Emperor’s Gardens, called Hefte Behefl, i. e. Paradife upon Earth, in Earth. Imitation of Cofroes, their former King, to make a pleafant Pilgri¬ mage: It is a fweet Place doubtlefs, were it cloathed with its Glory; but as it is, it is a Rich Piece; the Summer-houfe in the middle is fa- luted by two Channels, in which are Ships and Boats to reprefent a Naval Scene of War; Swans and Pelicans find here their diverfion; the Summer-houfe is built entirely of polifhed Marble, the Arch ol the Cupilo is Inlaid withMaffy Gold; upon the Walls are depainted the famous Adions of their Heroes; the Tank in the middle is all of Silver, the Pofts are ftuck with Looking-glaffes, refleding the Po; ftures of the Body, and the Figures of the whole Fabrick; an Hem* fpherical Turret preffes on Four Pillars, which are the main Sup¬ porters. Murmurersa. For all this Excefs the Poor do murmur, who have riot any Care gainft the G07 taken for their Subfiftence; and not only the Inferior Rank, tf •vernment. tltf Travels into PERSIA. 915 the Pairicii, begin to exclaim againft the Negligence of the Govern- Chap. IX- merit while thofe who Ihould provide for them in this Exigency, -''"'V''- (from* Provinces biefled with more Increafe) inftead thereof fquander 1 or f e li abroad what Ihould be applied to their Maintenance at home. : j n t befe Straits they find Pretences to calf an Odium on the Divan or ' Council; and to that purpofe have recriminated the Chief Favourite at Court, laying to his Charge not only the Mifcarriage of his Ma- ; Iter,but the effeminating and debauching him withWine and Women, : and'enervating him by Witchcraft, (he being neither able to Stand or Ride); and for Proof of this latter, they had taken from his : Surcoat a Paper wrote in the Hebrew Tongue, full of Magick: ‘ Which whether true or falfe, half a dozen JewiJh Levites, accufed • as Acceffbries, were ripped open; but not confefling in their bittereft : Torments, any thing againft the Steward of the King’s Houlhold, j he was again received into Grace, and intrufted with the Manage- : mentof Affairs; they having no Redrefs by this Complaint, butra- • ther a Continuation of their Miferies, a fad Cry for Want of Bread | continuing. ; Although the Emperor efpoufed this Great Man’s Caufe, at once The Steward f toalferthis own Authority, and skreen him from the Fury of his «ftoredtoFa- ; Perfecutors; yet another Menial Servant in Difgrace never recover- fi°hn'hand’d" ! ed, till he had given full Satisfaction to his Revenge ; viz. his Chief ■ Phyfician: He being difmifs’d the Court, lived in Repute fome time ! in the City, till the Emperor difearded his Chamberlain ; when j being informed that this imprudent Phyfician was entertaining at a j Fcaft the Eunuch he had turned out of his Service, fent a Mefienger i to call his Phyfician; who fuppofing it wasto be readmitted, fpruc’d 1 himfelf, that he might be the better accepted before the King, and | went on chearfully, til! coming under the Palace-Gate he faw a Rope ; prepared to tye him up j which was the Reward he received for his [ Unadvifednefs. I Amidft thefe Diftratftions and Heats, it was no time for our Agent \ to move for an Audience; and the Time of Shipping drawing on, . ; it was convenient fome Ihould appear at Port; whereupon I am f again commanded to Gombroon, the Agent flaying for the Benefit of the Air, as well as to watch a Time to appear before the Sophi; which was a thing of great Difficulty and Expence to the Company, ; by reafon of the leveral Officers of different Interefts, employed as ; Inftruments to procure it, befides the little Leifure the Emperor af¬ fords himfelf for Bufinefs; it feldom cofting lefs than a Thoufand . Thomands in Fees and Prefents. The Iri(b Buckhounds brought up ! tor that end, were admired and talked of by all, and reprefented to ; be as big as Camels; and though they were young, proved fwift Creatures, I feeing the Bitch in our Journey turn an Antelope, which none of their Hounds ever came near j and had the Dog been yare, no doubt but they had feized it. .. ^he Rarity of them is a thing of Moment for the Emperor’s De- IriJh Grey . hght; nor may.we be lefs affured of the Terror they ftrike on their hounds a Pre- Fancy, when I Ihall relate what paffed at Mujfaferry in the Caravan | nt f or the Ser Raw there, as they were bringing up to Spaban: The Dog, which was the biggeft, and at other times lefs voracious, and better con- S f 2 ditioned Travels into PERSIA. Letter V. ditioned than the Bitch, being let loofe, rambled about the Caray a „ for what he could get to fatisfy his Hunger; whilft an Hodge ( 0ne of their Pilgrims to Mahomet's Tomb ) who was- at his Devotion on the moft confpicuous place of the Ser Raw (they loving to be feen of Men), had placed a Bowl of Buttermilk tempered for his Tooth ready by him, to fall to after his Prayers.; he bowing his Face to the Ground, as their Cuftom is to worfhip, and there lying proftrate- The Dog feenting the Bowl, mounted the Quadrangle 4 and clap! ping one Leg on the Neck of the Hodge, kept him in that Pofture while he had made cleaner Work than the Pilgrim, who for f Mr ’ durft neither ftir nor cry out, left he lliould provoke fo terrible a Monfler to devour him; but filently paffed by both the Affront ( for if a Dog touch them they are Nigefs, i. e. defiled ) and the Lois- while in the mean time it was occafion of much Laughter to the whole Caravan Ser Raw, to behold the Man of lofty Thoughts of his own Purity, thus handled by the Beaft, and none offering to ftep in to his Refcue, till we had called him off; for which the H4}j thought himfelf obliged to return us Thanks, for delivering him from fo great danger. a Robber. At Moxuteheggy , as we were returning to Gomhroon, we met with one of the Robbers ( or one apprehended as one of them ) that fo boldly fet upon the Caravan at Chawtalk, being under a Guardof Soldiers, pinion’d, and loaded with Chains: He is a long-hair’d Black, of the Province of Ketchemacroon , formerly Hyrcania ,lately reduced by the Valour of the now-imprifon’d Caun of Siras: They are carrying him to Ifpabaim, to receive his Sentence and Judgment from the Emperor; it being an Enterprise of that Fame, and fo much in every ones Mouth, that the Punifhment is to be as Exemplary, as the Fad Notorious. Some people more than whifper, as if the ne- ceflitous Caunoi Bunder were not only an Abettor, but an Accom¬ plice in this Villany: But a Man had as good be out of the World, as lye under the Scandal of an Ill Name. In this Paflage the Evenings and Mornings were fo intenfely Cold, as to fix Icicles to our Metarrhaes, as they hung under our Horfes Belly ; although from Nine in the Forenoon until Three in the Af¬ ternoon, it was extremely Hot. When we left Spahaun , Cotton had juft broke the Cod, and an imperfed fort of Barley, fown only to foil their Cattel, was crept out of the Hofe, being as Green as Grafs ; but as we drew nearer Siras, all was mowed, and the Vintage being over, they were left common to the Cattel,who fatten on thefe Shrubs; fo that what once tickled the Spleen of a Philofopher, might here hourly give him the Diverfion, Thiftles being their choiceft Fodder. Ciium, the The Forerunners of the approaching Cold are the Colums, whofly Forerunners in Flocks daily over our heads; thefe, impatient of the Extremity o ne os. 0 f Heat or Cold) ta j (C now their Flight towards the Warm Coun¬ tries, and when the Ram ends his Reign, return to their Northm Quarters. Bartholin Junior relates fomething of the Swan, agree¬ able to what I obferved in India of this Bird, concerning the Ajf ai Arteria , from whence is conceived the reafon of its obftreperous and loud Note: His Words are thefe, Diverfum tamen effe fituotin Cys" Travels into P E R. S I A. 317 Cyg«0 & plane fingularem ; longior enim cum fit, in flerni capfulam in - Chap. IX. curve flexu ft infinuat, moxque ex f undo capfuls furfum regreditur & dmeulis afeenfis ad thoracem fe fleftit, &c. De fifiula pulmonari verba fsciens. It’s of a different Make from other Fowls, and is wound up, as has been faid, in the Breaft-bone as in a Cafe, fometimes fmgle, fometimes double, like'a writhen Trumpet; they have long N^cks, and long Feet, of an Alh-Colour, and great Bodies as large as a Wild Turky ; their Flefh but courfe. The latter end of Oflober we departed from Siras, not before my Cuftomer the Siad had fent for me, to defire thofe Medicines where¬ with he had been fo unexpectedly recovered: I delay’d going to him till I was certain the Caphala was out of the City, when waiting on him I reaped the fame fair Promifes and Exprelfions I had done be¬ fore ; wherefore I told him my Phyfick was packed up, and my Ser¬ vant gone with the Caphala-, he told me he would fend a Couple of his truftieft Domefticks, which were a Prieft and another, to the end of the Munfel, which I told him he might do: At my Return to the Factory, there being prefent a Number of Chriflians and others to attend our Motion out of the City, moft thought l had received a Rich Reward, therefore they demanded how I had fped ? I anfwered. As I had before; at which one that knew the Temper of the Man, replied in Lingua Frank, Foi multo ben ill non tenho terardo voso Chapeo ; It was very well you came home with your Hat, and that he took not that off your Head: However, at the end of the Munfel I was not at Leifure to fpeak with his Meffengers, who underftanding the reafon, had Ingenuity enough to blufh at their Mailer sunhandfome dealing with me. This Varlet, of the Race of Mahomet, two or three days before our Arrival at Siras, at the Funeral of one of his Wives, fent Fifteen hun¬ dred of his own She-Slaves to attend her to the Grave, out of his own Family; fo fuperfluoully abounding is he in all manner of Luxury. We came into Siras with frowning Weather: Horrida tempeflas Ctelum contraxit © imbres. But parted thence with a fuitable Remainder of Autumn ; for the Grapes were in the Prefs, and the new Wines in the Ferment, yet the Pomgranats were on the Trees, nor was the Fall of the Leaf fet in: In the Fields were Millet, hurtful to Pullen, but Food for the Poor for Bread; in the Garden, Wall-Flower, and Violets, Garden Mallows, and Crocus: For all that, at Night the Cold was fevere; the reafon whereof ( befides the length of the Nights) is, the Moun¬ tains about Siras are rather Stony than Sulphurious; for which caufe we find the Winds blow as fenfibly as at Spahaun; whence may be colleded, that the Seafons depend not fo immeditely on the Sun and its Motion, as from theSpecifick Determination of the Winds, the Afpedts of the Stars diverfified, the Innate Quality of the Coun¬ try, and peculiar Site in refped of the Heavenly Bodies. As for the difference of Stars, none here could beobferved, diflind from thofe I ,, 6 Temperate Zone, by reafon of the indeterminate Horizon, ery where occafioned by the interfering Mountains. The 5 18 Travels into PERSIA, Letter V. Crows of fe- veral Colours- Monuments of Robbers, The Air as well as the Food, the Caufe of Birds beeping one place, The Crows here are like our Royfton Crows, Grey on their Bach and Wings; at Jerom their Beaks and Feet are as Red as Vermilion, where alfo at our appearance Barley is ripe, and new Barley fow’d- and as we travelled, we now and then let fly an Hawk at Hoberaes a Bird larger and of the fame Colour with our Kites; at firfi beino brought to the Ground by the Hawk, it parries, and makes fame falfe -Shew of Defence, brisking up its Plumes about the Neck, asa Cock does when going to engage ; but the Controverfy is foon deci- ded, after the Hawk ftizes it with his direful Talons, and inftead of denouncing farther War, it refigns its felf an humble Viftim to the Conqueror: The inward Coats of the Gizzard are Ruffed with Wormfeed, of which it fmells flrong, which dried and beaten to Powder, and given w ith Sugar, is a Panacea for an Aflhrna , or dif¬ ficulty of breathing, and the whole Body is delicate Meat. On the right hand of the King’s Highway, between Sim and Germ, at Deral, on the fide of a Mountain, iflues the Pifafphdtm of Diafcorides, or Natural Mummy, into a large Stone Tank or Storehoufe, fealed with the King’s Seal, and that of the Calentures, and all the Noblemen of that City, and kept with a conftant Watch, till at a Rated Time of the Year they all repair thither, to open it for the King’s Ufe, to prevent its being Role: Which notwithftand- ing, though it be Death if difeovtred, yet many Shepherds follow¬ ing their Flocks on thefe Mountains, by chance light on great Por¬ tions of the fame Balfam, and offer it to PaRengers to Sale, and fometimes play the Cheat in adulterating it. The Firft of November entring upon the Plains of Dedamhh, we found it all frofledwith Salt; for the Waters from the Mountains mixing with the Superficies of the Earth, together with the Sun and drying Winds, incruftate; nor have I met with fharper Colds than here, for that the invironing Hills as well as Dales are full of Salt, and the Sun rifing with horrid Winds prefles the Ambient Air from the high Tops by its Circular Motion; fo that it hurricanes us with fuch difmal chilling Gufts, that had we not been adive here in cour- Ring Hares and Wild Goats, we might fooner have frozen than kept our Innate Heat entire; the Sun being conftantly attended all the Day with blufiering Weather, leaving a quiet Calm at fetting. From this Plain to thor , both in the Highways, and on the high Mountains, were frequent Monuments of Thieves immured in Terror of others who might commit the like Offence; they having literally a Stone-Doublet, whereas we fay metaphorically, when any is in Prifon, He has a Stone Doublet on ; for thefe are plaftered up, all but their Heads, in a round Stone Tomb, which are left out, notoutof Kindnefs, but to expofe them to the Injury of the Weather, and Af- faults of the Birds of Prey, who wreak their Rapin with as little Remorfe, as they did devour their Fellow-Subjeds. Beyond Lhor, Water-Fowl that make not their Abode on the Sea, are feldom feen, for want of Frefh-Water; nor do Hoberaes fly on the other fide fo far as Siras ; whether for the fake of its beloved Food, or by reafon the Subtilty of the Air may fail them in their due Poife, making them delight more in one place than another, I know not; as it is evident in the Nature of Fifties to prefer one Water Travels into PERSIA. 319 Water before another, as being better fitted for their freer Refpi- Chap. IX. ration. We fet out of Spahawt tiie firft day of their great Fall, which was The Old and the 8 th of October , all which time it was grievous to the Moors to Moon Travel, becaufe they might not eat, nor fwallow their Spittle in the twelve hours Daytime, it being denied the Muliteers, and thofe accuftomed to time. Labour; but the Hodges, and thofe who lead a delicate Life, are permitted to eat; for which they plead their being unaccuftomed to Labour ; which exempts them from an Impofition they lay on the more hardy, not touching fuch heavy Burthens with the leaft of their Fingers : Wherefore the poor Mule-men made hard fhift to get to Lhor the Morning before the Evening the New Moon appeared on, viz. the 4 th of November , when I faw the Old Moon go out on the Hills at Lhor, and the Night following, the Horns reverfed, the whole Body or Circumference having only as it were a dark Veil or Curtain of Air drawn over it, that part alone which was Crefcent, being illuminated. , But it was fome Damp to their defigned Mirth, when by too much hafte to come to this Capital City, they perceived they had loft a Mule with its Lading, by driving in the Dark all Night; whereupon I was employ’d to inform the Caun, who immediately difpatched the Rhadary in queft, and before Night reftored the Lading, which was Shagreen Leather, fuch as they make their beft Boots of, but the Mule was found dead under its Burthen, ftrayed a little way out of the Road; fuch Care is there taken to fatisfy Merchants. ■This Night pafled with great Rejoicing among the Mujfelmen, and retarded us three Days, before we could make our Muliteers fettle to their Gears again. Here the doubtful Autumn inclines towards Winter, refigning the . Dates, Citrons, Oranges, and Lemons, to the expecting Planter: Here grows the Emblem of Peace, the Olive-Tree • and though the Leafs are fallen, yet here is an uninterrupted Spring, all things keep¬ ing a perpetual Green, though they obferve the appointed Times of bringing forth their Increafe. And now we begin to enjoy Temperate and Shorter Nights, in InHotCotm. , exchange of Cold and Longer; and although the Goat is not yet ^“$5 afcended with bis Conftellation, yet I pronounce it Winter, fince all centersin *ur Terreftrial Things move with a Pace as if they were juft almoft at the Winter. Centre of the Year; but after the Sun, carried by the rapid Courfe of the Heavenly Impulfe, in order with the other Glorious Stars, has reached its utmoft Southern Bounds, then a new Face of things re¬ turns, and the alternate Accretion and Diminution render an Ever¬ ting Conftancy; which with the admirable Frame and manifold Courfes of the Celeftial Spheres, witnefsanddeclare, That the Praife of fo great and wonderful Works, are not to be attributed to Chance and Fortune, but to an All-wife Creator, who conftituted the Uni- verfe from the Beginning, and will govern andprefervetheiameto all Eternity; who alfo brought us fafe to Gombroon the 13 th of No - vernier: To whom be Honour now and for ever. CHAP. 320 Travel? into PERSIA. Letter V. i/V\ • Come toCw/go. A Dearth in the Water as well as on land.' Come again ti Bunder Aajfb The Pearl. CHAP. X. jVopge to Congo for Tear !; a Difcourfe of their Generate . Departure from Perfia, and Return to India. T W O days after our Arrival at Gombroon, I went to Congo, l Ql . ving only the George, a Ship o.ur Agent had built, in this Port; 1 was rowed in one of their Boats till the Wind grew ftrong enough to Sail: Thefe Boats have been in ufe time out of mind ; the Keel is made of one piece of Timber, and the Planks are fewed to. gether, with an high Prow and a low Poop. The next Morning we had brought Loft on the left hand of the Ifland Kij'maff, leaving a Woody Ifland uninhabited between Kifmajh. and the Main : At Noon we came to Baffatu, an old ruined Town'of the Portugals, fronting Congo, where we touched till the Turning of the Tide and the Sea- Breeze were forcible enough to deliver us to that Port, where were Five Merchant Ships, and Two Trading to Mocha for Religion. Congo is fomething better built than Gombroon, and haslome fmall Advantage of the Air, and is about Twenty Leagues nearer the Mouth of the River Euphrates. ■AsuponLand we have obferved the Fruit and all things flagfor want of Rain, fo we found the fame Cry torefpecft the Sea for- want of frequent Showers, the Oyfters neither bringing forth, nor are,any Pearls produced; fuch Influence does common Fame allow the Hea¬ venly Moifture to have in their Generation 5 infomuch that little Choice is to be had, and whatever is of any Value, is very dear. Here is great Plenty of what they call Ketchery, a Mixture of all together, or Refufe of Rough, Yellow, and Unequal, which they fell by Bufliels to the Ruffians, who carry them over Land to Arclrn- gelo, and difperfe them through the Northern Coafts, for Ornaments to their Furr Caps; which being no Purchafe, I returned, o Sailing abreaft of Kifmafb, I put in at Loft , the chief Place of the ’• Ifland, and loaded with Oyfters, which were the neareft our E «0 I had yet rafted; here are Creyfifh, Crabs, Shrimps, Place, Soles, and Smelts, befldes Mountains of Salt-filh for Sale: From hence Gombroon is furnilhed with Wood; where arriving, we faw the Phoenix , another Englifh Ship; on which before I embark, I ilujl premife fomewhat material, according to my Promife, of Pearls in general. The Pearl is a Jewel fuppofed to be the Geniture of a Shell-filh cal¬ led Margaritifer, congealed into a very fair, tranfparenr, Diaphanous, beautiful Stone, which is the Partus or Birth of this Filh. As con¬ cerning their Original and Conception, there is fome difference among Authors, as betwixt Pliny and Anfelmus Boetius, and between them and Cardanus Pliny faith that they are conceived in Oyfters, by a certain Maritime Dew, which thefe Fiih (and fo likewife Scol¬ lops ) do at a Set Time of the Year moft thirft after; and according as the Heavens are more Cloudy or Clear in the time of the taking Travels into PERSIA. 321 in of this Dew, fo they are generated more Fair,, or Obfcure; as may Chap. X. be feen in his Boob, where he fpeaks of thofe Pearls called Unions, and of the Shell-fifh in which they are found, lib. 9. c. 28. But this Opinion of Pliny concerning their Conception, is not, by Anfelmus Boetius, thought confentaneous to Truth: For, faith he, I have ta- . ben out of thcfe Shell-fifh many Margarites , and they are generated in the Body of the Creature, of the fame Humour of which the • Shell is formed • which Vifcous Humour is expelled fometimes ( not always ) for the Fabrick of another Shell; for whenever this little Creature is ill, and hath not ftrength enough to belch up or expel this Humour which fticketh in the Body, it becometh the Rudi¬ ments or beginning of the Pearls; to which, new Humour beingad- ded and afiimulated into the fame Nature, by concreting and con* gealing begets a new Skin or Film for the former Rudiments; the continual Addition of which Humour generates an Union, or Pearl ; even as Stones are generated in the Gall or Bladder of a Man; and after the fame manner the Bezoar is generated in the Terjian Goat. Car h»us, lib. 7. de Lapidibus, faith, It is a Fabulous thing that the Pearl Ihould be generated by the Dew of Heaven, feeing the Shell- fillies in which they are conceived have their Refidence in the very bottom of the Deep. That which is reported of them, That they are foft in the Water, and grow hard, like'Coral, as foon as theyare taken out, is not true, faith Boetius, p. 84. For the firft, not only common Fame, but common Experience avouches; for the latter, l know not why it may not be as probable, as for an Egg newly laid, to have the Shell harden’d as foon as dropped into the Air, when before in the Ovarium it participated of a Slippery, Tough, Giewy Sub- flance ; not otherwife to be fuppofedtocome forth, than by endan¬ gering the Foetus. Unions are fo much the moreefteemed, becaufe they cannot eafily itsAduto. be adulterated. There are fi&itious Jewels made of double Glafs, tion - which being fet in Gold, Jewellers cannot difeern from Pearl, except they take them out: Sqme will adulterate them with the Powder of the Shell of the Margarite, and others with Chalk covered with Leafs of Silver, and then anointed With the White of an Egg. Some adulterate them with the Powder of Pearl mix’d with the White of an Egg, and dried, and then polilhed; but thefe will eafily be difeo- vered from the True, by their Weight and Colour.- The Union is in Hebrew called W'aJ, as Job 28.20. And fothe. i tsNames . Word Gabijh is interpreted by Rabbi Sevi Gerfon : It is alfo taken for Margarita, □O’JQ ; but in the Proverbs it is interpreted by Junius, Carbunculi, Prov. n. If they be great, they are called Unions, be¬ caufe then they are found fingle in a Shell. If they be fmall, they are called Margarita ?, many of which may be found in one Shell to¬ other. In Greek they are called ^pytejmc, In Latin the great Pearls are called Uniones , © Margarita fimplicit'er. Lman calieth the Pearl, Lapis Eritbreus ; Arrianus, Lapis Indicus 5 Statius, Eritbreus LapiUus\ Virgil, Bacca, & Bacca Conchea ; Pliny, Unio ; Cicero , Margarita ; St. Jerom, Gramm maris rubri; and others call it Perla: The Germans call it Perlin : In Italian, Perle : In Ard- tick, Indojlan, Phurfiflan , Sulu : The Indians call them Moti; in Ma¬ il t lobar. Travels into PERSIA. 332 Letter V. labar, Mutu : The Lufitanians call it Aljofar, which in Arahic f oun( ] s as much as j klfar, the Port in Shu Perfico where the moft excellent Pearls are caught. The kinds of The kinds of Pearl are no otherwife diftinguilhed, but either firft Pearl. from their Greatnefs or Littlenefs, that is, either as they are Unions or Margarites , or Seed- Pearl; and fecondly, as they are of tran- fcendentPurity, Beauty, and Glory; or Cloudy, Reddilh, andfo lefs beautiful. The Places The belt are found in the Perfian Gulpb, ( fhared between the where caught. j> er f latt anc ] they farming the Filhery yearly to thofe that bid moft ), between the Illand Ormus and Byran; and were heretofore brought into the Ifland Ortms, while the Portugals were Lords there; whence the Diflich; If all the World were hit one Ring, Otamsjhould the Union bring. They are alfo found between Cape Comory and Geilon, as I for¬ merly declared ; but thefe are not to be compared with the Perfm, which are the true Oriental ones: There are of them in the Illand Sumatra , by thofe that place the Golden Cherfonefe in Java, difputed to be the Ancient taproban. Betwixt'the greater Java and Ida there are very many; between Panana and Cochin are good ftore, but very fmall, as alfo all along the Coaft of Malabar. In Borneo and Anian, there are great ones. The Occidental are of a Milkifh Co¬ lour, and of a Silver-like Splendor, and therefore not fo commenda¬ ble as the Oriental. It is confented to by fome, That by how much the deeper the Shell-filh refides, by fo much they are Parents of the leffer Mir- garites. d,trips, or The Indians call the brighter, candid, or fplendid Shell filh, Ck- Seed-Pearl. r jp 0 , w hich is a kind of Oyfter, of which they make Spoons, or little Cups: Thefe Fillies do generate excellent Margarites , or Seed- Pearl. ch m There are others they call Champuo ; the Shells of which are the Mo- Mother'of therof Pearl: Thefe bring not forth fo fair Pearl as the other, be- Pearl. cau f e their Shells are very fmooth and bright within; they are ufed to adorn Tables, Efcritores,and other things with; they are brought to Bengala for-Bracelets and other Embellilhments; the Cuftom there was to have the Virgins Arms to be fet off with Monelaes of this kind, left they Ihould be corrupted. Scallops. They are alfo found in many places of Europe, as in Scotland and Ireland , there having been very excellent ones found in Scallops and common Oyfters, as I my felf have found at Sheernefs in En¬ gland. They are no Strangers in Silefja, Frifta, and Bohemia. About the’ Promontory of Comory they are found of the Weight of an Hundred Grains of Wheat, and near the Illand of Borneo , of the Weight of an Hundred and fixty Corns of Wheat, though not fq fair as the other. It Travels into PERSIA. 3=3 It is delivered from Authentick Authors, That Cleopatra , Queen Chap. X. of Egypt » drank one diflolved at a Supper, of which Draught flie boafted flie had a more coftly Supper than ever Antonius had; the Value of which Draught then muft amount to, according to Bit- leus, an Hundred and fifty thoufand Aureos , for thus much did one Supper of AntoniUs coft him, as related by Pliny , lib. 9. cap, 3 5. gf Macrob. 3. Satarnal. c. 17. The fame Budaus doth alfo mention an Union of the Bignefs of a Filbert , which was : ,bought, in prance for Three thoufand Aureos, and another for Four thou¬ fand. Solinus , and Scrap Hager Alkali , fay that thefe Stones are cold its Properties, and dry in the Second Degree, and that they are goodagainft Syncopes and Cardiacal Paffions; that they comfort the Spirits ,. (lop Fluxes of Blood, cure Lienteries and Diarrhoeas, and that they are good for the Sight: The fame fay Car dams, Rulandus, and Beams, in their Books de Gemmis. But the more Mechanical So¬ lution of their operating, is ( as all Conchous things do j either by precipitating the Saline or Acid Particles, or elfe as all Alkalies do, by imbibing the fame, obtund their Fury by Iheathing their Iharp Points, and fo render them capable of affiftingfuchDifeafes. They are of great Worth for their Sacred Ufe: St. Auflin in its Dignity his Explication of the Pfalms , fpeaking of the Twelve Stones men* .and Value, tioned in the Book of the Revelations, Rev. 21. n. and of the Gates of the New jferufaletn, which were every one of one Pearl; faith, That the Twelve Apoftles are fignified by the Twelve' Stones, and Chrift the Spotlefs Lamb by the Pearl. Their own Glory, Beauty, and Excellency, furpals their In- trinfick Worth: If they be of the Weight of Four Grains, they are worth Three CroWns apiece; fo according to their Bignefs, Weight, Roundnefs, and Fairnefs, their Price is raifed, doubled, or trebled, according to the following Scale. Tt % bire&lona We undergo Afcending the Vhosnix thelaft of Novemler, after a formal Vale- Difficulties in di&ion alhore, the next day we pafled the Straits in a gloomy Even- our ]Paffige defigning to repeat our Gourfe to the fo long forfaken Coaftr of through Ne-’ lrtik ; but the Wind being ftrong at EaflSoutb-Eafl, it blewdireflty giigence of in our teeth, that very Line we lhould fleer. This contrary Wind the Pilots. detain’d us fome days, but the continued Calms more-; for in Seven and twenty days we gained but Nine Degrees out of Thirteen and but Three out of Seven in Latitude; nor could we reach any Shore, or meet with any Ship, whereby we began to want both Wood and Water; being Twelve Europe-men, Seventeen Lafiars, TwdAm'enian Servants, and as many Black Slaves, with one Mm- inan Servant; Ten Sheep with large Tails, and as many Carmm Goats, Travels into PERSIA. 325 Goats, for to waft to the Company’s Ifland at St. Helena, to create Chap. X. a Breed; (which could it be effected, might prove of as great a Bene- fit, as Cotfwall Sheep imprudently fent a Prefent into Spain for the Im¬ provement of their Wool,)' befides ftore of Cocks and Hens for the Voyage, and four Perfian Greyhounds: To ferve thefe we had no more than Three Hoglheads of Water left, and Wood for Firing no more than for fix days; nor yet ( Chriflmajs-day being pall) had we any Hopes of a favourable Wind. This made us melancho ! y ; fince we were already put to. AJiowahce, and'all through the Negligence of the Mafter and his Mate, who lay Revelling alhore, when they fiiould have provided better for their Voyage. Nor had they taken other Care in loading their VefiH, which being moft Carmania Wool and light Loading, had required a fufE- cient Ballaft at Bottom ; but on the contrary, the heavy Goods were upon Deck; which Error when it was too late to remedy, they perceived, being out at Sea; jam ferib de lana caprina controver - fia fit ; and now that, whereby we ufed to exprefs a thing.of no Va¬ lue, or not worth our difcourfe (Goats-wool) becomes a thing of ferious Controverfy; therefore it was God’s Mercy we were not try’d with Stormy Weather hitherto: But now weweredilemma’d, not knowing what to wifh, when the Divine Providence fent us a Weft North Weft Gale, which after we had meafured the whole Coaft from Perfia, round the Bay of Camhaia , to Sinda, we were . ' drove to Ditt, where founding we had Eighteen Fathom Water; and bending tdth xt South, we were direfted a-nights by the Light-houfes ; and at laft out-ftretching the Flats, we fell in with the. Highlands of St. John&m India. The Head land'of Diu is the higheft Land there in view, the reft of the Ground being low, nor is Gates to be feen there; it lies in North Latitude zi deg. 10min. ; but St. Johns in 10 deg. being a notable high Peak on the Gaot. < On the firft day of the Year 167!,. and the laft of the Moon, the Gufts blowing horribly from Shore, we were again drove to Sea till Night, and anchored very uneafdy while Two the next Morning,, when the Tide horfed us towards the Shore, we not being able otherwife to prevail againft the Wind with our Sails; but anchor¬ ing another whole Night and Day; ■, follimur in Ctelum curvato gargite, & idem Suhdutta ad manes imos defcendimus unda. By th’ rifing Waves we’re lifted up on high; ' Defcending down we in the deep do lye. ] Where we had remained, had we offer’d to unfurl our Sails, for the aforementioned Reafons. But’from our. Want there fprang this Commodity; pur Water being well nigh all fpent, the Ship was better able to live, her Bur¬ then finking aloft, and thereby gave occafion to bear a fteadier Poife below, while we expe&ed the abating of the Tempeft, iri order to outshappy Deliverance; which at laft permitted us to come more under the Land, where ftruggling every Tide, though the Water con: Travels into P E R. S LA; 32 6 Letter V. continued ftill troubled with foaming Billows, yet obferving when to gain, we palled Surat River’s Mouth, where rode thirteen Moor Merchant-men, and two great Belgians, and fo came to our defired Haven in Smtlybole on Twelfth-day, where I remain, Tour Humble Servant 3 f. F. Sending you with this the General Account of Terfia , which I had time to write during almoft Forty Days floating upon .theft Waters; which hadjike to prove as fatal to Us, as the great Deluge did once to the-Oid World in that fpace of time. T H E THE Chap. XI. Prefent State OF PERSIA. CHAP, XL. Of the various Names, Situation, and Bounds; the Temper of the 'Air; of the Seafons and Winds ; of the High and Stupendous Mountains, their Advantage and Convenienty ; of the Fruit • fulnefs of the Valleys, occafioned by Snow uport the Hills: Of the Vegetables, Flants, and Minerals; of their Fowl, Four* footed Beajls, and Fifhes: Their Caravans, Mofques, Hum- mums, Busbars, Houfes, and Bridges. The City Suffahaun propofed as a Fatern of their Government. P ERSIA by Claffick Authors is fabled to have its Name from Kiog Perfeus, Son of Andromeda ; it was anciently called Elam by the Hebrews , and now by the Inhabitants, Pburfifian. ' It is fited in the Temperate Zone, under the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Climates: In time of Yore the Monarchy of the whole World devolved upon.it, and which is miraculous, is not quite ex- tinguifhed to this day; although the Bounds of the Empire were ftraitned or enlarged, according to the ebbing or flowing of Fortune. In its Infancy it was mighty, for Nimrodms a Powerful Hunter, that is, a great Prince; and as it grewupit increafed in Strength; but from the Grand Cyrus to Darius the Mede, it feemed to be in the Flower of its Age, when it was Miftrels of all the Earth which the vaft Ocean Wallies' on this fide, and the Hellespont on the other. After the Death of Alexander the Great,, it was - miferably divided by the Contentions of, his Captains; and loDg fince by the Incur- Its Names. Situation and Bounds. 528 the Prejent State of PERSIA. Letter V. fions of the Saracens it has been declining,-unlcfs where it has healed its felf towards thofe Parts bordering on India ; by which means it has not loft much of its Modern Greatnefs, though the Turks within this Century have forced the Low Countries of Babylon and Mefp tamia, which the Perfians were as willing to refign as they to take they being a continual Charge to defend, and no Advantage to the Perfians, but rather, ah unneceffary Trouble: On which Reflexions there is nothing forbids, but that with the Judicious Boterns we tiny ftate its Limits between the Cafpian Sea, the Perfian Gulph, the Like Stoke, with the Rivers Oxus and Tigris, and the Bay and Kingdom of Camlaia ; which .Trad contains in it from Eajl to Weft more than Twenty Degrees, and from North to South above Eighteen, whereby the Days are prolonged or Ihortned three Hours. Under this Account is to be reckoned the greater part of Georfti, with the Iflands in either Seas. It is diftinguilhed into Provinces; the exad Number whereof, as divided at prefent, ( they as often changing Names as Governors), I have not been certainly informed. a Quintus Curtius erred fomething when he Laid, Regio non ahk of The Air* tota Aficl faluhrior haletur, temper at am Caelum ; him perpetuum jngm opacumetumlrofum, quod /Eftas leevat ; Mine Mare adjunHlumqiuiw> dico tepore terras fovet. There is not a Region in all Afia elleerned healthier, the Air being temperate; on this hand the Heaven is fhaded and the Vales defended by the Tops of Mountains, which qualifies the Heat; on the other, furrounded with Seas and Rivers, which by a friendly Warmth cherifh the Land; for that Places near 1 the Tropicks make Lome Exceptions, where in the Summer they en¬ dure great Heat, not only from the nearnefs of the Sun (becauie we often obferve flrange differences to happen in the fame Climate), but from the Sands, and Sulphurous Exhalations (teaming from the , Mountains, which are impregnated herewith; whenas Reafon per- fuades, the Time muft be hotter than in other Seafons of the Year: As alfo in the Midland Country the Caufe holds good for its intenfe Coldnefs in Winter, and almoft through every Quarter at Nights; the Penury of Vapours where the Earth is Rocky and Mountainous, the Rivers are fcarce and fmall, the Snows lye undiflolved, nor are there any Woods of that Bignefs to hinder the freedom of the Blafls defeenaing pure upon the Vales: On which account immoderate Drinefs invades, the Mediterranean Parts, the Air is Serene and Vo¬ latile, which as it is highly ferviceable to the Refpiration of all Li¬ ving Creatures, fo it mightily contributes to their Prefervation as well as Generation: Moreover, from this Rarity of the Air, follows an undeniable Argument of its Frigidity, and thence a farther con¬ comitant of its Siccity; from all which refults a Dry Conftitution; for r! -? yyiwc, ^yK iT0tJ l TH Tn'jTHTl ; Siccitas /»• mores facit qualitate ficciores; Drinefs of the Air makes the Hu¬ mours drier, which the Inland of Perfia enjoys from a Concatena¬ tion of Caufes both of Heat and Cold. • High Moun. The whole Region is very fruitful of BarrenMountains, inclofiog tains. . the Valleys, being Excrefcencies of the Mountain Tmus ; nor can I disbelieve in many places, but that the Plains do more than enough abound The Prefent State of PERSIA. 329 bound with Plenty, fince no Place is unprovided with ftore of all Chap. XI- oood things; but on the contrary, like the Promifed Land, it oyer- L^'V'V flows. What Arcbifeles relates of the Ifland Ithica, may be applied to this Country, p&v iytSnv & m&ryxpw ; fragofum efe pidetn, a hwicularum optimum mtritorem: That it was craggy indeed, but an excellent Breeder of Cattel; the Sheep it brings forth are prodigioully large, trailing Tails after them, of the Weight, fome of them, of Thirty Pound, full of Fat, they being flailed to that pitch, that Hogs fed among us with the moft Care and Skill; cut not thicker thanthefedo, especially after Vintage, and the Cotton- Harveft, when they are turned in to crop the Leafs and tender Branches of the Vine, and gather up the fcattered Seeds of the Cot¬ ton, with which they thrive fo infinitely, that little Flelh is to be feen, it all being converted to Suet: At other times, for want of Pafture they brouze on Shrubs and Thiftles fpread to and again, and in Winter are foddered with Barley-Straw, and now and then with a little Barley i Their Neat, though lmall, are fleek and well-liking, whofe Milk is very good for prefent fpending, but it’s better to make Butter on than Cheefe. This Country has Goats in Herds, Tame ones, as well as both Sheep and Goats on the Mountains, which arb Fierce and Wild, producing Bezoar ; which together with Stags and Antelopes are caught by Hawks inftru&ed for that purpofe. Their Horfes, though they have degenerated from their Primitive Their Four- Race, (iuefi enim Epis patrum virtus ; for even in Horfes the Vir- footed Beafts - tue of their Sires are communicated to their Breed;) ftill are they the beft of all the Eafl , unlefs the Arabian be preferred for fwifter Courfers and light Horfes: However for Charging Horfes, and Stout Warlike Steeds, they are valued above all others. The Afles, though little, yet will they amble with a quick Pace over Mountains where Horfes cannot pafs, and thofe ufed to Packs are fuch as no other Nation can equal. The Mules and Camels are their over-Land Ships, by which they tranfport their Merchandife over all the Earth. Hyrcania brings forth Wild Beafls, fuch as Foxes, Wolves, and" Tygres, but for want of Dens and Lurking-places, and by reafon of the untilled and wafte Defarts being devoid of Food, is lefs in- fefled with them than other places; wherefore in long travelling here they go more unconcerned than in thofe parts where they are conftantly alarmed by them, and are forced to be on their Guard, left at unawares they fhould be furprized, they fnorting every where fecurely under the wide Canopy of Heaven; and thofe that fet upon the Flocks by chance are eafily mattered by the Shepherds Curs, which are fharp Biters. Wild Fowl, dsoth for Wing and Water, are brought forth in great wi]d p owi Plenty of all forts, near the Fountain-heads, and Inundations of the • ° w ' melted Snow, falling not into Channels, but overfpreading the Bot¬ toms, where they diffolve, whereby they feldom ftretchinto Rivers at length, but flagnate in the Low Grounds, which they walh. In which Walhes fometimes are fpawned Mud-Filh, and fuch as Fifte5 Fens and Lakes are famous for.' The Cafpian Sea nourilhes Salmon, U u Trouts, 330 The Prefent State of P E R S I fa Letter V. Trouts, and Sturgion, and the Ferfian Gnlph fends abroad much Filh for fairing; the Rivers'are not very full, nor are they flocfe] with great Variety. The Valleys Bread- Corn in many places admits a threefold Crop, and generally- made fruitful without that Toil by Water-Gourfes as between the Tropicfo, th e frrmrheH-ns Rains in moft places bellowing a more welcome Nutriment; bur ' ’ more efpecially from the white Spume of the Celeftial Waters (with which the Hills are coated all theSeafonsof the Year), in Winter crufted by Froft, in Summer (by reafon of the Sun’s Heat, and more exalted Motion ) thawed, thereby conftantly diddling on the •humble Vales an inexhaufted Store, as wealthy as what flows from /Emus Tops to enrich the Theffalian Fields. Where thefe Supplies are notfo lafling (or altogether wanting) as nearer the Zodiac, there often under Ground a Vault is continued for many Leagues, with open Pits at a fit diftance to let in the Air, and the Water carried deep to keep it from tailing of the Salt Sur¬ face (after the manner of common Sewers in our great Cities), which it would do, were not the Wells Mouths left open: For Houlhold Service Rain-Water is only ufed. . In all this Country neither Oats nor Grafs are found, becaufe lon¬ ger Time is required to their fpringing up, than either the Intervals of Heat or Cold will grant; for no fooner does the Spring enter, than the Sun defaces their Verdure by parching up the Blades of either; and when Autumn claims Preeminence at its Equinox, then no foon¬ er do they peep out, than they are nipped by the Recefs of the Innate Heat: Wherefore no Green Meadows or fpangled Fields are here ex- petfted,but fuch as are created by indefatigable Labour, unlefs they be hoped to befeen in Vintages, or under Groves or Orchards, or by Rivulets fides gliding from the declining Hills. The firft are fet generally on Fruitful Ridges of the Eafiern Mounts, • —. Demqite apertos Bacchus amat Colles - Virg. Georg, i. The latter are the frequent Advantages to Villages, and the feet Pleafure of the larger Towns; where Trees and Flowers grow up together, that the one may yield a fafe lhelter to the other, againft the Extremes of Heat or Cold; in both whofe Prime a fragrant Blandilhment confpire no lefs, than to entice the willing Senfes: But for Elegancy of Culture and choice of Slips, 1 fee them not over emulous j which Negledt gives juft occafion of Wonder, fince their Worldly Happinefs is placed in fine Gardens, which no Nation ap¬ pears to me more to Idolize. Plants. For Fuel, the combuftible Heath is more common than flourim* ing Trees for Timber; but for Sallads it yields all that are defirable, both Herbs and Roots; and fome of the molt Medicinal Plants areot the Natural Growth of this Country. Tobacco. Them is an heavy Tax laid upon Tobacco, though it be the choiceft in thefe Parts. , Manufafto- To thefe Bleflings for Pleafure, Neceflity, andPhyfick, are added others for Profit: Gums,, the moft Rich, dillil every where: Froo Carmam, Goats-Wool (as much to be prized as fafons Golden Fleece; The Prefent State of PERSIA. 33 s with which our Hatters know well how to falfify their Bt&vers; and Chap. XI. the Natives how more honeftly to weave both Cloth and Carpets very fine, which they fell at dear Rates. The Flocks and courfer Wool of their Sheep' ftand them in fome Read, they kneading it into Felts, for Seamlefs Coats for the ordinary fort of People, for their common wearing; and their Skins with the Wool on, are both an Ornament and Safeguard againft the rougheft Weather: But Lambs-skins with their crifped Wool are of more Credit, (they being excellent Artifts to make them keep their Curl), and notdifdained to be worn by the chiefeft Gentry; of whofe Leather they make nood Merchandife, it being efteemed better than Tttrkifh , their Tan¬ ners being expert at drefling, not only thefe and Kid, but other Hides of larger fize, which therefore are bought up withGreedinefs by all Foreigners, for their real Excellency. • Goats and Camels, after other good Services performed, be¬ queath their Hair to their Weavers, of which they make water’d Camlets. But above all, the Wool-bearing Cotton-Shrub renders by its Wealthy Down thofe Riches which are deeper digg’d for. Nor does the Silk-worm Jay it felf out lefs for the Publick Weal, while it fpins out its own Bowels, until nothing be left within its Cask but Air; contrary to the Trite Saying of Ariftotle, Ex mhilonihil fit ; Out of Nothing comes Nothing; for by the Induftry of this Infed, the firft Foundation of the Perfian Silks,Velvets,and Rich Embroider’d Carpets, are laid, with which the greateft part of the habitable World do Pride themfelves. And fince we defeend to thefe bufy Tutors of Mankind, who up¬ braid the flothful and ofcitantly idle, let us Rep through the Mo¬ narchy of the Bees, and tafle the Sweets they fuck from Nature s ample Storehoufe, and fee how they return with Thighs laden with Honey, to flock themfelves, and build, their Manfionss to nourifh their young, and enough to fpare to feed Mankind befides ; and in their La A Teftament make the Perfians Legatees,’ by leaving them hugeCakesof Wax. Let’s look a little lower, and ranfack the Deep,-and we Ihall find Pa .p m p earIs the Perfian Pearls excelling all others that are generated in Sea-fhells, the belt, from which Beds are brought forth Z/nhns, adorning the Necks and Ears of the greateft Princefles, and the Crowns and Diadems of the mightieft Emperors, begot at certain Seafons of the Year in the Fleih of Oyfters, as the Concrete Grains or Hardnefs in Swines- Flelh (I fuppofe fcrophulous Tumors), by the Dew of Heaven, fays Tertullian. Whence if it Thunders or Lightens, fays Pliny, the Oyfters are ftraitned, or mifearry; but others render it quite con¬ trary: So that I fhould leave their Original as difputable here as ever, if no Belief could be fixed on Experience, which confirms their Increafe to be chiefly owing' to the Virtue both of Showers and Thunder. • ' ■ Before, we launch too far, let us examine with what Faculties G and thence, as from the bell Omen, were encouraged j as X x not Letter V. not being perfuaded the Capitol could be a fit Bafis far the Monar. iVWJ chy of the World, unlefs it were built on the Foundation that was fo luckily offered them : So from the fame Aufpicious Sign Sbm Aha prefaged the like happy Event, building a Pillar of his Enemies Heads, raifed as a Trophy to his Valour. What elfe is Auguft in. Sufi bam, are the remaining Produces of his Brain, more truly than S nerva wasfaid to be the Offspring of Jove. The magnificently-arch’d Buzzars, which form the Noble Square to, the Palace ; the feveral Publick Inns, which are fo many Sera¬ glios; the ftately Rows of Sycamores, which the World cannot pa- rallel; the glorious Summer-houfes, and pleafant Gardens, the Ifo. pendious Bridges, fumptuous Temples, the Religious Convents, the College for the Profeffors of Aftronomy, are fo many lading py ra . rtiids and Monuments of his Fame ; though many of them beginto fink in their own Ruin, for want of timely Repair; fuch is the fatal Calamity of human Stru&ures, Time corroding the mod; durable: But to fpeak properly and truly, the Caufe of fo early a Decay it the flothful Nature, anddifregardof their Forefathers Honour, that poffefles the improvident Perfians^ left any thing tending to perpe¬ tuate their Memories, Ihould by reviving their Virtues be made ufe of as a Reproach to their inftant Supinenefs; and for that reafon they let all fall to the Ground, never offering to underprop a decli¬ ning Building. The cmms. This City has Ctefar. for its principal Patron; under him the Cm, who is Prefident of the Province, or County-Sheriff, (who is ever one of the Prime Nobility, and of the higheft Rank among the Courtiers, always on Duty near the Emperor’s Perfon, that he may be ready to give an account of his Charge upon demand, and at hand to introduce all Addreffes that concern his Office to reprefent; being as it were a Skreen between fo high a Majeftv, and the meannefsof the Popularity under his Protection, left they Ihould intrude too pro- phanely, or be ftruck blind by the too bright Rays of an Abfolute Power ) is interpofed as a fit Medium, to qualify by a fuitable Interceffion the neceffary diftance each Condition ought to be kept at, to maintain the mutual Benefit expected on both fids. Whilft he is thus employed, and receives the greateft Profits of hit Lordlhip, he deputes his Lieutenant to the Truft of governing, who transits all in his Name, as his Chief Vicar. EtmmimUt, Butthe Suffers Vicar-General is by his Place the Second Perfon ot Chancellor. the Empire, and .always the Firft Minifter of State, called by them Etimundmlet , The Chief Slavey under whofe Jurifdittion the Provinces of lefler Note do fall, and are at his difpofing immediate¬ ly next the Emperor’s; whofe or Dukes therefore are obliged» conftantilefidence iwtheir feveral Diftricts; and if it fortune that at any time they have Bufinefs with the Emperor, they apply fclves to die Etimndoulet, as to the Lord Chancellor of the whole Kingdom, to whofeManagement they commit themfelves and th^ Caufe; who cannot be abfent from their Metropolis at any time, bj fore they .hive canftituted a Ganizeen, which is an 'Unde^SherA whotherebyttanftnifctheir Authority to him, only referving the Ho¬ nour itp themfelvss.. all the Prefent State of PERSIA. - 339 All thefe Prefers in their Dominions behave themfelves after the Chap. XI. Example of the Emperor himfelf, in refped of Grandeur as well as Rule, only remembring they are'but Tenants at Will, and therefore Deputy w* fail not to prefent their Mafter and his Family with the Firft Fruits of thee™*, the Growth of each Province; which Annual Commemoration is a Monitor of their Homage and Fealty to their Supreme Lord, which he exaCts as a due Debt, and they pay as an acknowledgment of their Servitude to him; in which as long as they continue in his Grace at every New-Year’s Day he fends them a Livery, or Robe of Honour, to be retained his Slaves, which they receive as a Mark of the higheft Favour; arid to be Called a Goloomy Shaw , The Kings Kafal, is the higheft Apex of their Ambition.-; '' Subordinate to the forementioned Officers, is the Droger, or Thea^. Mayor of the City, or Captain of the Watch or the Rounds: It is his Duty to prefide with the Main Guard a-nights before the Palace- Gates, and thence to make Excurfions through the City; to difperfe, fecure, and apprehend Idle and Vagrant Perfons, that can give no Account of themfelves, to punilh Offenders of that nature, and to keep the Peace. , In all their Buzzars, which are locked up in the dead of the Night, there are Watches to prevent Thieves, at the common Expence of every Shopkeeper. The next in Office is the Queflor Zygoflates, or Clerk of the Mar- Thee ahntm, ket, known among them by the Title bf Calenture • he' fixes the Price of Cbm, has. the Overfight of all Bakers, Cooks, ©c. and by his own Authority can not only confifcate their Goods to the Poor, but mulft With lofs of Life fuch Offenders as are notoripufly. irre¬ claimable otherwife; many times throwing a Baker into his own Red-hot Furnace, that vends poyfonous Corn, or cheats in the Weight$ and the Cook into his own Boiling Caldron, for impofing on the People Carrion, or ill-nourilhing Flelh, found in Highways or Ditches: Thus deals he with Malefactors of this Batch. Befides, he is Receiver of all the Rents of the City, and pays it into the King’s Treafury. The laft Perfon to be treated bf is the Cazy, or Publick Jufticiary, The any. who will deferve a fpecial Treatife by himfelf, and therefore is to be - referved for a fitter feafon. Butin the mean time we may obferve, That by fuch Cyclops as spahmm the thefe are formed the. Thunderbolts of the Almighty Jove, whereby chief Empory. he both makes the whole Olympus lhake, and ■ preferves the Laws of every private City as well as Country to which they belong. As all things by a Natural Tendency move from the Circumference to the Centre, fo from the Confluence of all Nations of the World hither, it becomes the Chief Empory, as well as an Exemplar of their Go¬ vernment; although it hath declined muchfince the Europeanshave difeovered the way by Sea to India ; For long before that it- was the Storehoufe and general Market for Indian Wares aswellas its own; andbyconfequence, as it was the Staple of the Univerfe, it was the common Receptacle of all the Money ebbing and: flowing froth all Parts: But this Bofphorus being flopped, from a Sea it became a Xx z Lake, 540 the Frsfent State of PERSIA, Letter V. Lake, in which Riches do now ftagnate, not circula te, or at leaft not .✓Vs* with that Force they did before. However, as long as the bufy Merchant from the uttermoft Coafe gapes after its Commodities to advance his Pelf, and for his fake the Publick Buzzars are kept in better Repair than lefs-frequented Bail, dings, it muft be allowed it is fo far from a Total Decay of Trade that few Cities in the World furpafs it for Wealth, and none come near it for thofe ftately Buildings; which for that reafon are kept entire, while others made of Lime and Slate, belonging to private Perfons, hardly laft their Founders Lives, for want of timely Care The Citizen* For the Citizens rather chufe to dwell in a tottering Houle, than humbled, appear laviih in Coftly Building or Apparel, for fear their Governors fhpuld fufped they have too much Riches, when they are fure ne- ver to beat reft till they have dived into the bottom of theirTrea- furies ; which Extortion is returned by the King upon their Rqfe rS) whereby the Emperor’s Treafure grows exuberantly great: Which is the caufe the Citizens fo often lay up their Talents in Napkins, fince it is a Crime to expofe their Wealth by fpecious or luxurious Shews, according to the accuftomed Pride of Wealthieft Corpora¬ tions among us. Courtiers and Whence it proceeds that only Courtiers and Soldiers in this Coun- Soldiers live try, who are maintained by Annual Penfions, are permitted to live great. gallantly; whofe regard of the Publick Utility is rarely fo much confidered, as to fpare any thing from their manner of enjoying themfelves, either to adorn or benefit the Cities in which they refide: On which ground it is, that their beft Cities fejdom have fplendid Edifices to commend them, from mean or private Hands', though in the Suburbs of their Capital Cit ySpahaun, there are many by the Rivers fide, both of the Nobles and the Emperors ftately Palaces But what celebrates it moft, are the covered Buzzars, or Market¬ places, continued through the whole City; and the Inns of Stran¬ gers, occupying them in the time of their Bufinefs; their Baths, Temples, and Convents, which have Stipends to fupport them from being an Eyefore and Blemifli in their principal Places; all which deferve a particular Pefcription. Their Cara- And therefore! fhall begin with their Inns, or Caravan Ser Rm, vans. which are divided into Three Species, both in refped: of their Site and Form, as well as. Matter, through the whole Empire. Thofe near the Sea-fhore for Seven Days Journey or thereabouts, are com¬ monly of this Figure; they are reared of unpoliihed Stones, on an Area Three Foot high, to keep out the Horfes, and leave an out¬ ward Space for Servants to lye on, whereon are eretfted Four Pillars, which fupport Four hpwed Roofs, furrounding an Hemifpherical , Arch in the middle, where at each fide over head are large open Windows ( or Dpors rather ) to receive the Air, and at every Cor¬ ner of the Square, Forms within aiepwate Apartment for their Men of Note, whiph are in open Cloyfteys; and without, Four more, ciofe, for thofe that con.not endure, the Air, or for their Women; every Quarter has a wide Entrance or open Cate to add to its Airy- nefsj to which Inns are no Stables or fliady Places for the'Beafts ot Burthen, uplefs there happen to be Trees, which is a great chance in the Prefent State of PER. S I A. 3.4,1 fuch Sandy, Wild, and Defert. Places.. To. the. rnoft famous qf Chap. XI, thefe now and then happens to be aaHoft pro.vided.v^ith.Neceflaries for Travellers, flenderly provided to furnifh them at,eafy Rates. with Cheefe and Fruit, Bread and Barley, the firft whereof the Eppr make their Meals on, and their Beafts; on the latter:. But, they muR drefs both their Vi&uals and their Beafts, themfelves, for he, afford? neither Cook nor any other to the bell that come, no, more than to the loweft; offering at no more than to fell Mans-.Meat,apd ; Hprfe- Meat. They moftly neft in common, and obferve no diftindion among No Priority themfelves either at Church, iq, the Bath, or in the Caravan S,er Raw; at Church, he that comes firft, is firft ferved, none give way to, another; where- by there is in the fame Inn a multitude.of ajl,forts, Footmen, Horfe- men, Merchants, together with an hideous Confufion, of People within, and the Noife of Beafts, Packers, and Servants. - Notwithftanding, which, if a Foreign Ambafladqr with a great Retinue arrive, or any of their Nobles ( whom they only, refped as Men among them ) pitch hts Tent, or take up his Quarters with them, thefe will remove, and. proffer him, Room, feeking Lodgings on the Outward Lodge, or Advance-Border of the Caravan Ser Raw for themfelves; but then this mull be efteemed a great Mark of their Compliance, and indeed almoft forced, they ufually ftomaching fucha Difturbance with frowning Countenances, and foipetimesopen Revilings. _ This Form,after Seven Days travelling, is from aq huddled Stack of Buildings expatiated into a large Square in the middle of the Area, where in the Summer-time both theCattel and Packs are ffiut in by Doors lock’d a-nights, and open’d early in the Morn, takeepin tbs ftraying Troop tpgether, and for the fafety of their Bundles, left any fliould beftollen: In the heart of this Square is raifed a place as large as a Mountebank’s Stage,where the Gelabdar , or Mailer Muliteer,with his prime Paffengers or Servants, have an opportunity to view their whole Caphala. This Office in Turky is held a Place of Trull and Honour, be The Gelabdar being Captain of all the Troops going together, and hires Soldiers, “otfoefteem. and lifts them in his Pay, being a ChurlilhbWa/ toChriftiansjbut ttcaSl as he is here of no other Account than to look after his. Number of BajbainTurky. Mules, Camels, or Afles, and to fee they bring their Lading fafe where configned, and often Becomes fubjed himfelf to Baftinadpes on the Soles of the Feet: Whereas the other in his Journey takes upon him a kind of a Baflalhip, and never fails to lay any Mifcarri- age or Misfortune on the Bones of the Fringi, or Franks: Bqt it is otherwife here, becaufe of the Rhadary undertaking tp fecnre Tra¬ vellers; which is eafily done in an entirely-fubjeded Empire, not liable to Treacherous Infults of Ravening Thieves m Compares, as they are to the Wild Arabs and other Outlaws. In Winter-time there are Stables capaciqus of holding Four hun¬ dred Carriers Horfes together with their Burthens, on the backfide , ®f little Chambers, fronting the Perifiylium or Gloyfter’d Entry, ajl black with Smoke when they retire into them in the Winter ; lying elfe before them on open Qoyfters, which are fp many Anticham¬ bers 542 fbePrefent State.of P E R S I A. Letter V. bers to everyone of them, and at firfl appearance make a Piatza Ltf’V'Vi were not every diftindt Arch on each fide feparated; by a Party-Wall’ being all alike, and did not the Middle Arch of each'fide make a diffe¬ rence by a more fpacious and exalted diftin&ion, . each anfweriim the Loftinefs of the Porch within, though that rifes higher into an afpiring fquare Tower, with lightfome Summer-Chambers aloft, which makes a Magnificent Entry; and thence the Covering of the Caravan runs on a plain Terras, convenient for the whole Number of Guefts to fpread their Carpets, Matrafles, Plads, or Beds, for lodg. ing in the Night time. . ; They may Since the Architecture to thefe in View and Variety ( by their make Fotts of alternate Chambers and Cloyfters, which by diftinct Arches keep theitCara- t jj e [ r due Order) is no deformed fight, it yields befides a double a ' Utility, for the defence of Strangers againft both the Injuries of Heat and Cold: And thofe of them that are built of Stone or Brick, have not once only flood it out in the nature of flrong Forts againft their Oppofers, but have many times been made tenable, being flored with Ammunition and Provifion. Thofe nearer Spahaun have moft an end the fame Form or Shape below, but are oftner tubiiated than tabulated above, and are made of Mud for the moft part; but in Spahaun its felf, where Strangers abide longer, they are more fplendid, and larger than any where elfe; for to this lower Order we have been deferibing, they add ano¬ ther, and fometimes a third, which bear Proportion andexadtSyme- try with each other. Their Tern- Their Temples reprefent no great Bulk to the Beholders, nor exalt pies. themfelves much towards Heaven, unlefs fome Obelisks, which are fometimes joined with, at other times feparate from them: But mod an end they obferve this Form; The Foundation being laid in a Square, the Roof is fupported by four Pillars, in whofe middle a great Cupilo lifts up its Head, which the Priells vifit Day and Night at every Fourth Hour to call the people to Prayers; the Whole par¬ ticipates more of Mofaick than any other Work. In the Dome is no Ornament, nor Seat; on the Ground Mats are ftrewed; any manner of Carving or Reprefentation whatfoever is' banilh’d hence. From the Pomtermm to the outward Court they afeend by Steps, where they bare their Feet, alluding to the 'Command in Mofes his Vifion, Pull off thy fhooes, for the place whereon thou Jlandeftis hoi] Ground. As foon as they have walhed themfelves in the Porch, where always is a Baptiflery, or Tank for that purpofe, they pluck off their upper Garments, efpecially if they be Cloth of Gold, for Gold alfo is to them Migefs, i. e. unclean; wherefore they call from them Gold-Rings, or whatever is fet in Gold, not being fuffered either to fleep or pray with them upon them; but at the fame time they open their Silver Phylacteries and Rofaries, wherein in Aggat.are engraven fome Scraps of their Alcoran, and uncovering their Heads they enter their Churches, and fall down on the Ground, and as they recite their Prayers, often kifs the fame, always bowing towards the riling andfettingof the Sun, and agree with the Indian Moors in faluting their Genii, and then they depart; unlefs on their Sabbath-day, which is Friday every Week, the Mullah detain them by a Preach¬ ment, The Trefent State of P E R. S I A. 345 raent, or with a Chapter out of the Alcoran, which be undertakes Chap. XI. to expound by a large, and, nodoubt, learned Periphrafy, to whom on the Ssiith-fide. they have appropriated a Pulpitrailed.Qp$tep ! s, i||t may be faid to be one without any Desk or Rails, on vyhiph he fits, not hands, it being placed in an Oratory apart. Sometimes they pafs about by little Portals! tq the Door- p£ (fie Temple, iiich an Oftle being left open, a? we fee in grey Qal^s of Noblemens Houfes, that he who js about to go in, niuft firfi take heed left he break his Shins, before he ftopp to make bps Entrance: This Place carries fomething folemn about it; whep u js fhqp up, the Pulpit receives a fmal} Light thpough Grates inftead of Windows. The Colleges in Spaharn are moitly founded and endowed; % Colleges. Royal Donation, partly by other?. There are Twenty or Thirty Fair Ones that havefopome?, and many more whofe Manners are devolved by a tacit Prefpript iqto Secular Hands. To every College there is a Prefidept pyectheStu- dents, and another oyer the Fajapricjs, wjjg lets out tjig (Chqfnber?, and receives the Rents, difppfing them as he pjeafe?, and difpiacLng at pleafure: Every Chamber ha? One, Twfh "Thr£g fl or. mope' Stu¬ dents, where they fit and lye; tp this the ordinary. %pr ftands for a Window; there are np Fprms or Benches, more, th^fi an old Moth-eaten Carpet, not lit for a Cypfy’s Mantle, for to pfe, either for Repofe or other purpofe. The Number of Scholars in each, depends upon the of Chambers, and the Conftancy of tiie Revenuesj tiiere being in fome not above Forty, in others from an hundred tp an Hundred and fifty ; He who is eleded into thefe, livesSparingly and fepa- rately, not-eating in common Halls, having no mores allowed than two or three Gosbeeks a Day, which isabont fo many §fi?eri pp la¬ things, from the Prefident; if thefe are not enough, then lie affigns the Tranfcription of fuch and fuch Books to his, Aid , jfpr vvhjch they are paid. There are alfo three, four,'or more Sprint?’ jg ppp- ftant Salary from the CoIJege, which any Student' may of feight command to buy Fruit for their Food,fapd fetch them’pther Jifegj. farics; who fometimes, Illiterate as they are, go aw ( ay with forpe of the College Revenues, and ate reckoned arpong the Students; being fitter to ihoop Hqrfes, or drive a Wain with Fefpafiaits.; Cha¬ rioteer, than to fhare in that Charader.. ’ • . .. Their token or Hummums are the moft fumptuous, wfiicllttfp Humniumv in all their Cities, always hot; and it is lawful for every pneof ,both ocB*km. ' Sexes, on ftated times of the Day to'bath for a fmall Price: Tkp Prepofitor of each Houfe gives Notice tp all Comejs by blpwipg an Horn, when the Houfes are ready to attend |hem;j of'^hfob thereare innumerable defttned to thefe ufes, eachftriyingto'owtjlipp the other; infomuch that no time either of Day p/fjjight pafles, but you (hall hear perpetual Noifesof Horns to invitpyputp,them$ jjof no fooner is the Fire kindled under them, but they fete.very ope know by thofe loud Inftruments. ■ ' • In which Places the Treatment is alike to all; for as before faid in the Church and Inns, fo in the H^rJIpufes ail ttungs are.CQ$,- mon t0 all : Wherefore if apy one define $ joe gar 344 The Prejent State of PERSIA. Letter V. gar Rout, he muff: hire an Houfe for a whole Day ; which nuybj done, if he pay the ufual Expence and Income of that Day, which Chriftians are always obliged to, where they have not Balms of their own to refort to; for the Per fans prefume too Pharifaically on thefe Baths, judging thereby all their Offences to be walked away ; according to that of Lattantius , Flagitiis omnibus inquinati nenimt & femetfacrificafle opinantar, fi cittern laverint ; tanqiam libidim in. tra peftus inclufas , alia armis abluat aut maria ulla purificem : Xhty come polluted with the heinoufeft Sins, and think when they have waffled they have attoned by a fufficient Sacrifice; as if any River or Sea could purify their Luffs included in their Hearts. Thefe Houfes are beneath the Earth, only fome little round Globes embellilh’d with Painted Glafs peep out above the Ground to give Light, and are well clos'd, left the ambient'Air ihould offend by too forcible a Ventilation through any negleded Crevife: They are built with divers diftind Cells one from another, in which Mm fit, are rubbed, and cleanfed: Immediately within the Porch is the greateft Cell, or rather a large Room, where they d’off their Cloaths, and being undrefled leave their Garments; in the middle of this Place is a Cyftern of cold Water coming into it by feveral Pipes: All the other Cells are fo conveniently framed, that every one may breathe a different Air as to the degrees of Heat, fuch as may fuit with the divers Temperaments of feveral Bodies, iince every Conftitution re¬ quires not the fame Bath: For as Galen has left it written in lib. 7 . Mori. Med. Some want an Hot, others a Tepid, and others a Cold Bath, as Hedical Habits declare. The Pavements are all Marble, on which, the more Hot Water is thrown, the more it increafes the Heat, although at the fame time the Subterranean Fire be as Hot as it can be : On thefe Marble Floors ■ they at laft extend themfelves, when they think they have tarried in long enoughj that the Barbers, whofe bufinefs it is, Ihould wind and turn every Limb and Joint of the Body, before, behind, and on every fide, with that Dexterity and Slight, that it is admirable to behold them perform it; whereby they leave no Mufcle, Nerve, or fuperficial Joint, either unmov’d, ornotrubb’d: Then with a courfe Hair-cloth and Hot Water theyfcrape off all the Filth and Sweat; and laft of all by a Depilatory they take clean away al! manner of Hairs growing either in Secret Parts, or any Emunduary to caufe either nafty Smells, or troublefome chafing. When they retire to put on their Cloaths, ( this is to be only un- derftood of Great Men) there waits them a Collation of Fruit, Sweetmeats, and variety of Perfumes, as Rofewater, Rackbeet, and the like, with all befitting Attendants, befides the ufual Servitors, to adminifter either Coho, Tea, Tobacco, or Brandy, if faint. When they are drefs’d, they emplaifter their Feet and Hands with a Red Pafte, which wonderfully helps fweaty and moift Palms, as-alfo Clinking Feet. Thefe things being premifed, the Benefits coming from theufeof thefe are, when, the Body is inflamed and dried by immoderate Heat, it is finely refreffied by fweet Water, and the Pores become moiften’d ; the farther profecution of which Advantages having been fpoken of before, The Frefent State of PERSIA. 345 before, I refer you thither, and proceed to the other Houfes of Re- Chap. XI. fort, which are only for the Men, and not for the Women. Their CofFee-houfes, where they fell Coho, better than any among Their Coffee, ns, which being boiled, has a Black Oil or Cream fwimming at houfes ' top, and when it has not, they refufe to drink it: Hither repair all thofe that are covetous of News, as Well as Barterers of Goods; where not only Fame and common Rumour is promulged, but Poe*' try too, for fome of that Tribe are always prefent.to reherfe their Poems, and difperfe their Fables to the Company ; fo true is it, 'P dagtH'to ©Ex Otio Negotiant, That their Bufinefs pro¬ ceeds from Idlenefs. They are modell’d-after the Nature of our Theatres, that every one may fit around, and fuck choice Tobacco out of long Malalar Canes, fatten'd to Chryftal Bottles, like the Recipients or Bolt-heads of the Chy mills, with a narrow Neck, where the Bole or Head of the Pipe is inferred, a Ihorter Cane reaching to the bottom, where the long Pipe meets it, the Veflel being filled with Water: After this fort they are mightily pleafed; for putting fragrant and delightful Flowers into, the Water, upon every attempt to draw Tobacco, the Water bubbles, and makes them dance in various Figures, which both qualifies the Heat of-the Smoke, and creates together a pretty Sight. • At Night here are abundance of Lamps lighted, and let down in Gaffes from the Concave Part of the Roof, by Wires or Ropes, hanging in a Circle. The Buzzars having,been mentioned before, I fhall only add,' That however Great all their other Buildings are, yet thefe carry away the Glory from them all; as much as the Halls of the Ci¬ tizens of London exceed Noblemens Houfes about the City, being the Work and Bufinefs of Joint-Stocks; and their Shews and Entertain¬ ments are as Pompous as Princes, however fparingly they live at their own Homes: For thefe being the joint Advantage both of the Emperor and his Subje&s, he encourages their forwardnefs in adorn¬ ing thefe, though he fupprefles all their Extravagancy of Garb, or Exorbitancy in Building, if it bears not with it the becoming Defign of giving him the greateft Share of Honour in the Foundation. Their Bridges are made either of Brick or Stone, and want neither for Skill or Ornament in their Contrivance; and are chiefly built for (Mentation, or to preferve their Memories, as their other great Buildings are: They are of more Ufe to join divided Rocks for Pat fengers, than to lay ovdr Rivers; the former of which are more frequent in the Road to the Port than the other. Yy C H A P. Letter V. k^nru CHAP. XII. Of the prefeiit Inhabitants ; of the Jews king interfperfed fence the Captivity of Babylon; the Cuftom of exocuki m their 'Princes; Nobility among the Perfians ; the Ufttem tk have of the Emperor’s Per Jon being Divine ; his Name ^ Succefjton: Of the Englifli overthrowing the Portugal , i; Ormus ; the Proceffion of the Court ; its Grandeur, m i Reception of Ambajfadors : Of the Suffees; of their Ci< Valry , Infantry , Seamen , and Navy. The prefent / 't ' v HE Inhabitants of this City, as well as of all Per fa (tie Perf.amscy- j[ Ancient Stock being, as it were, extind) fpring from tie tham. Overflow of the Northern Scythians , by whom the Native Perfmi were either totally expell’d, or fo fupprefs’d, as to remain of no Ac¬ count among them: Thefe notwithftanding, by the Benefit of tie Climate, have chang’d fo much of their innate Roughnefs, as they have acquired the more corufcant Beauty inherent in the Temperof the Air; for they ate of a delicate Compofure of Body, Tall and Strait, efpecially the Women, who though not generally fo proper, yet excel in Softnefs of Texture, and Comelinefs of Form: Their Outfide is no falfe Indication of their Natural Ingenuity, which ex¬ ceeds all the Eaflem People both for Facetioufnefs of Wit, Civil Be¬ haviour, and Gallantry in Appearance, as much as they do the Bar¬ barous Africans . They cohabit generally with their Relations together in one Houfe, or at leaft as near one the other as it is poflible. teas here ever 3 em are amon g them of the fame Antiquity as the Exportation fincethe Cap- from Jerufalem to Babylon , who live in the fame Cities, though ia tivit y- diftind Streets, and with iefs Mark of Reproach here than elfcwhere: But how far their Liberties extend, I pretend not to tell; only they congregate on their Sabbaths, New Moons, and Feaftdays, in ftll Synagogues, without any Diflurbance. Here are ftoreof Banyans , dwelling in their great Inns, but de¬ generate from the ftrid Indian Banyans , indulging themfelves in moll forts of Flelh, and all kind of Wines. In this City of Spahaun, befides the Rornifh Monks, Us, the Bel¬ gian Reprefentative, and the Polijh Ambaflador, are no Chriflians fuffered to live; the reft repair to Jelf a among the Armenians , unlefs' accidentally fome Strangers tarry a Night or two in a Caravan Sir Raw, which are the Receptacles of all Foreigners. On the Death Tflefe being of a lower Orb, creep fafely on the Ground, while of their Em- thofe exalted to an higher Sphere, like Fortune itsfelf, are fetonllip* one°caufch7s P er y ^ aces > an£ I are deprived of their Eye-fight. Long fince that Brothers and Barbarity has been exploded here, which as foon as the Witness of near Relations Virility appeared, to teftify their being Men not of an Hours Birth, out? to eput or of a Minutes rather, were delivered to bloody Villains, crueller than the Prefent State of P E R S I A. 3 47 than Beads, ( whofe unrelenting Mercy fpar’d not the Royal Infants Chap. XII. Cries ) to make away inhumanly, or at lead fuddenly difpatch them. Such is the fatal neceffity of Tyrants, that lead can credit thofe that are mod allied to them; which addition to their Crimes they think is fomewhat extenuated by exoculating them only at this Court; whereby they are render’d uncapable of the Throne, (being to be prefented to the Supreme Government, like the Levites in the Old Law, without Blemilh, being whole in every. Member ): But cer¬ tainly thofe are bound up in hard Circumdances, who to avoid Difputes of Succeffion to the Crown, unmercifully butcher Tender Innocents, hurrying them to Execution as foonas they have efcaped Imprifonment from their Mothers Womb: On this Bads the Old Monarchy of the Perjians was founded, as if no other Cement could fo firmly knit, as Blood. And at this Indant their Jealoufy is fo fervent, that they keep their Sons like Captives, till the Father’s Death enlarges the Elded ; when the Younger Brothers, Uncles, and Nephews on both fides, on the Appearance of the Riling Sun, fee their lad: As if the Blood- Royal were prophan’d, unlefs they fled to the Hot Iron, as the only means to expiate for its Affinity ; which being drawn over the mod fenfible Parts (their Eyes), drikes from the Rays of their Kinfman’s Diadem fuch a Sparkling Ludre, as for ever after, makes them irre- • ' coverably blind; to feek Recovery whereof, or any for them, is;a Treafon unpardonable. So abhorrent are they of a Partner or a Ri¬ val in Empire, that they endure not any to emulate or outdo them by an overforward Strain of Loyalty, whereby they mightTeem obliged - to their Subje&s, or that they fhould outlhine them by a Popular Af- fedion, however meritorious their Deeds havebeen; whereby they teach their Children perfedt Obedience, before they permit them to think of Command. But whether by this way it is bed;to be converfant with Toothlefs Old Women, Ignorant and Effeminate Eunuchs, a Tutor more wer- fcd in Books than the Affairs of the World, and all thefe bound in the highed Allegiance to their Liege, is a fitter Topick for the Mtcbiavilms of our Age, than for me to handle. Although Plu¬ mb has delivered this as a Maxim to Poderity, Thofe who are ge- neroufly and Princely indrutded, let them be compared with thefe, and the difference will prefently difcover,its felf which is the more eligible Education: But for the Good of the Chief Miniders of State, it is more profitable, I confefs, to keep their Princes Judgments al¬ ways in Minority, provided they can thereby make them more plia¬ ble to their Ends and Defigns. Contrary to the Principles of the red of the Eafl, Nobility is re- Nobles by garded and maintained among the Perfians, confiding rather in their Birth among Homebred Honedy , than entertaining Mercenary , Foreigners in &ePtrJim ' their Armies, to whofe Fidelity and Condud mod other Countries commit their greated Strength, while thefe rely on their own Sub- jeds: For though they claim Nobility of Race, yet they are not of ' the fame Stock with the Royal Line, and therefore ( content to move beneath) afpire hot to the Top of Empire j nor can they uretch out their Hands to the Diadem, without apparent Ufurpa- Y y i tion, 348 The Prefent State of PERSIA. Letter V tion, which thofe of an Equal Order would oppofe, as having jj -'-'V'V good a Title thereto as the bold Violator himfelf; which they who are of a more fublime Spirit would never brook, much 1 efs bear fuch an Indignity, or pay Homage and Refpedt to One they mull; have in Scorn and Contempt. On this Account it is they have ample Lord. Ihips.afiigned them, which they poflefs by Inheritance and Lawful Right, with the fame Tenor as our Barons, who are before others in Wealth and Honour, but are fomethiDg retrained in their Power, left they Ihould take up Arms againft their King. The Emperor often rewards thefe with great Offices and high Employments, where he finds Defert meet with the Grandeur of their Birth; gracing them with his Commands the rather, becaufe (to their Eternal Renown be it fpoken) they feldom defert their Sovereign , or prove unfaithful to the Throne: So innate a Sted- dinefs being ingrafted in their Souls, to conform themfelves to their Mailer’s Wills, that they are always found obfequious ; which if it be not altogether to be attributed to their Virtue, muft admit of the Dread the Anger of their Emperor imprefles ( being like the Roaring of a Lion), which frights the trembling Herds among the Woods ; for their Lives are immediately at his Difpofe, which keeps them in Awe. The Govern. .They efteem their Emperors not only as Lords Paramount, mentHierar- but reverence them as Sons of the Prophets, whofe Dominion chica], therefore is grounded more on Hierarchy than bare Monarchy, for as of old the Ter [ms adored the Sun as a Deity, and celebrated his riling with Morning Hymns, and were daily employed in Sacred An¬ thems to its Praife; fonow from Idolaters becoming Infidels, they ftill efpoufe the Divine Right as well as Lineage of their Sovereigns: From which fond Belief, the Potenteft General at the Head of a Puifiant Army, or the Provincial Cams, though furrounded with Legions of Soldiers, upon the Arrival of a fingle Chuper (that is, a Poll with Royal Order), attended with no other Warrant than being one of the Ring’s Creatures, and he pronouncing Death from the Emperor, they lay down their Heads without any Tumult, with an entire Refignation to their Matter’s Pleafure. They refute And what is yet more ungrateful to men of their Jealoufy, (it the Emperor being fo bafe and diffioneft, that no Reparation can be made among command! the Moors for an Indignity of that kind) if he commands them on the great Feftival ( begun by Ahafuerus, and continued to this Day by the Ter (tan Monarchs, an Hundred and Fourfcore Days every Year ) to bring their own proper Wives to Court, to remain' there all that time proftitute to his Luft; this fo hated a thing they are fo , far from refufmg, that they obey himin every thing, no lefs than an Immortal God. From which piece of Service, no Man that is known to have an Handfome Wdman to his Wife, is exempted; for after his Pimps and Panders have had the Scent, he is not long from the Hunt with a full Cry s To that end, in whatfoever Quarter of the City the Pufsfquats, he fetsup his Crook, or Interdict, that no Man pis’ fume to ftay within doors, till he be paffed whither he intends ,* bn in the mean while, the Females are permitted, nay, commanded^ the Vrefent Stats of P E R c Hf a »es the Armenian prefently put an end to that Stock,in the ZuTis called Year 1471 ; who gave his Daughter in Marriage to Adir Sophi, or sufikmv. rather Suffee, which fignifies White; in Arabic, Suffet; wherefore Spahaun is corruptly fo called, it being in the Per ft an Language &/• fahaun, or the City of the Whites 5 which fince the Irruption of Tamerlane, the Scythians afle£t as well here as-in India, ( Mogul,® we have faid, fignifyingno more , in Indoflan ); which I purpofely infert, having promifed before to give the reafon why this City Ihould be called Suffahaun, as the Perfians now do call it, and not Spahaun, or Ifpdhaun, as Strangers pronounce it. Oppofitlons Craving leave for this Digreflion ; Adir Suffee ,. the Son of 60 zfbthsa* Su ff ee ' receivio § Guffane’s Daughter as his Wife, was enabled tore- e vive the loft Caliphihip, a long while continued in his Family 0 “° obfeurely ), deriving it from Mufa Cerafa, one of Hal? s Twelve Succeflorsj from which time till then it lay buried, as well by their own Divifions, as the Malice of the Turks, who difown that Extract of the Caliphihip with the fame Inveteracy to each others Claims 1 The Prefent State of P E K S I A. $51 as among us Papifts and Proteftants we dilpute about the Lawful SuC- Chap. XII. ceflor of our Saviour; for Haly took the Daughter of thefalfe Prophet UTVV Mabcmet to Wife, and thence took upon hinil and bore away the Suc- ceifion of the Caliphs amongft the Ferfiam ; Repudiating Abubefuer, or Abubezar , Omor and Ojman, in right of Mahomet’s Brother, with all the Turkijb Followers ; and thus the Sujfean proclaim Mortis Haly the next of Kin, being Son-in-law to Mahomet , and in that Right Lawfully induced into the Caliphlhip ; and though hereby in pro- cefs of time the Caliphlhip and Empire were united, Adir Suffee maintaining his Claim and his Sons, at laftgot honourably enough into the Throne ; yet here arofe matter of perpetual Animofity, be* vertobeextinguilhed, while the Omerans, whence fpring the Otto- mn Family and Sed, ftill Oppofe, Contradid, and Perfecute the Sttffean Sed. Infomuch that the lafl Imaum, or the lafl: of the Twelve falfe Apoftles, from Maly, by Name Mahomet Mehdi Sahel Elzamon y i. e. The Lord of Times , being taken by the Snares of the Omerans they would haveflain him; when ( fay the Per fans) God rendred him Invifible, and retains him out of harms way, and Alive, till Beggage come; which with us is rendred Antichrijl ; then the Lord if Times lhall appear and lhall reduce all thole that are led away by Magical Inchantments, into the right way; declaring moreover, ’ Cbrifl Hazare Taiffa at that time lhall be reftored to the Living,and be received by Mahomet Mehdi into his Service; that by his Prayers and Meritorious Interceflion, he, with all the Faithful Mahometans , may be' partakers of eternal Glory at the Day of Judgment. Not under- llanding in the mean time, that at the name of Jefus every knee fall low, both of things above and things below; and that there is no other time given in earth or heaven whereby we can be faved. And while the Turks and Per fans contend at this rate, it is alone the pretence of an everiafting War, while the Pe'rfians Efpoufe the Sufee, being uncertain where to place the Caliphlhip after the Af- faliination of Mahomet Mehdi, and the Inter-regnum thence enfuing,. better than on this^r Suffee , who though he was flain by Cujjanes his SuccefTors, was afterwards revenged by Ifmaelhis Son, who was , firft faluted King of Perfia, as well as acknowledged Caliph by right • of Confanguinity; obtaining the firft by right of Conqueft Two hundred Years and more, after the Caliphlhip was "covered in the Embers of Oblivion raked up, and in the ferfian Annals is let down; , > Shaw Ifmael Moffy ; whom follows Shaw tomage ; after him , Shaw MahmudCondubad ; then Shaw Abas the Great: Who when he had enlarged his Dominions from the Per fan Gulf TheM QwiCafpian Sea; and laftly, when he was about to wage War Sack or™ by with the Sea it felf, in the Year 1610, or thereabouts, having not fur P rift< one Port in the Bay of Perfia before the Arrival of an .Englijb Ship, ent out by the Company of Merchants Trading then to this Place, Com- 352 The Frefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. Commanded by Captain JofephWedal, when England was at Wars with Portugal , and Imaum Cooly Cam , the famous Warrier-General of the Emperor of Perjia’s Forces, was then fet down againft and all the Harbours the Portugals had; in PofTeflion on this fide the Gulf; which Ship of our Nation coming in, the Captain was ini. plored to Affift the Perfians again ft his and the Emperor’s Enemies j which the General asking, the Sea Captain confented to. ’ f Firft Stipulating, That the Perfian Soldiers {hould not meddle Agreement with theSpoils before the Englijh Mariners were fatisfied ; ( which between the we re fuch of all forts of Jewels, Gold and Silver, that they refufed jvwll!™ 1 to carry off anymore). Secondly, That Bunder Abajfee , now Gombroon , {hould Yearly divide Half the Cuftoms between the Englijh and Perfians, and that whatever Englijh Ship {hould enter the Port {hould be free frotnany manner of Tribute. Thirdly, That it {hould be Lawful for them to Tranfport Twenty Horfes, of which Number Two might bewares, Yearly. Provided Firft, That the Englijh {hould keep Two Men of War conftantly to defend the Gulf. And, Secondly, That they {hould deliver the Portugals Forts into the Perfians hands; in doing which the Englifl) lliould always be eftecm- ed the Emperor’s Friends. And, Laftly, Should have the Firft Seat in the Council, and their Agents be looked on with equal Grace to their Prime Nobility; The Articles being Ratified on either fide, the Enterprife is under¬ taken ; though of it felf it was too great an Arftion for one Ship to perform, or even a well-appointed Navy, had they been upon their Guard ( or any Commander to Promife without the Confent of the King his Mafter j wherefore the Englijh betake themfelves to Stra¬ tagem , and gaining leave to Careen their Ship under their Guns, whilftthe Portugals dreamt nothing lefs, they poured in Men (the Perjtans being hid under Deck ) at unawares, that they were put into a Confternation before they could think of their Defence; whereby they became Mafters prefently of the Caftle, ftrengthned both by Sea and Land, by this unexpected Attempt Vanquillted, which otherwife was Invincible j being poflefled whereof by this Rape, the reft of the Ifland foon fell proftrate to the Luft of the Sur- prifers; and the Englifl) having got their Booty, left the Chriftians (Oh Impiety)! to be fpoiled by the Infidels. Vengeance Which thing, as it gained us Efteem among the Perfians, was the purities the utter Ruin of the Lufitanian Greatnefs, iteverfince declining, and nterpr eis. a | mo fl. at j K f ata j Cataftrophe; for immediately upon this, theit Fleet before Mufchat is Defeated, and they were driven out of all their ftrong Places in the Gulf, fo that the Lo(s was greater than if they had loft Mofambique , from whence they have their Gold; becaufe all the Trade of the World centred here, all Merchandize both going and coming paid them Tribute; .that the Wealth of this place thus entred was incredible; yet to fee the juft Vengeance The Prefent State of PERSIA! 353. ' (where private Avarice and Pelf is preferred before Virtue and Ho- Chap. XII. nefty, and a due Refped to the only Supreme Deity ) overtakes U'V'Sj tliofe Wretches who were the caufe of their Overthrow'. How it fell out with the Perfms, who feemed to have the jufter Caufe, I cannot tell; but fome of Thofe People now alive, who were the Un- doers of Thefe, are as Miferable, and it may be more, than thofe they madefo; the Captain’s Children having been known to go anights to the Brew-houfe for Grains for their Subfiftence, and the reft of them who are flill furviving are the unhappy fcorn of all that know them ; whereas they thought by this deed to have purchafed a lading Fame, and lived to have enjoyed their Ill-got Goods; which how it did thrive at home, thofe from whofe Information I take this, have been, in part, Eye-witneffes j but here I am fure, at this time both Per [ms, Arabs, and Turks , fare the better for it, while they have divided among themfelves what was entirely the Portugals ; the Perffans in the mean while doing what they pleafe with us, fo that at this prefent, all things confidered, they allow us little more than a Name ; but even here the truth muft be confefled, it is be* caufe we have no Ships to guard the Gulf; which if done, and the Ferfrns could be made to ftand to their firft Terms, in my Opinion muft turn to a good account, and be a thing of greater concern than can be well managed by left than a Royal Company; though as things 1 now ftand they have free recourfe to Tigris and Euphrates, this Sea being open, which was always kept fhut by the Pvrtugals, to their no fmall profit. ; This Emperor, Shaw Abas, in whofe time this was Atchiev’d, was . Cotemporary with our King James I. who had been .happy in a Son, Shlsfon if the Fates had not envied fo greataMan his Father’s Favour ; but for “>-*• his Virtue he reaped Hatred; for there were not Wanting fawning Parafytes, whoabufedthe Emperor’s Ears by fpreading abroad, and calling out words, as if his Son Mirza Suffee courted the Popular Air; whereupon he withdrew his Countenance, and deprived him of the common Light, by that barbarous Cuftom of the hot Iron drawn over his Eye-balls; but feeing that could not fufficiently break his Spirit, he having gone thus far, could not reft till he had per¬ ked his Mortality by Poyfon: Thus what Virtue had raifedto full growth, Jealoufy foon cut off, although he could leave no bet¬ ter Effigies of his Manners, Virtue, Conftancy, Piety, and towardly Difpofition, than his Son Suffee; to whom our Countryman Drejdeti has ventured to give Immortality in his Tragedy called, The Sophy - Suffee after his Grandfather’s death enjoyed the Throne; whti when he gave place to Death; permitted * Shaw Abas the Good, who was the Father of. Shaw Scholymon, the' prefent Emperor r Who is a Man of a good Prefence, and of no mean Capacity* unlefs The prefent cy indulging his Body he thickens his Underftanding, as well as he Emperor nasmade his Body Grofs; he is Tall and very Flefhy, fothat when he ftirs or laughs, all the Mufcles of the Scapula, as well as Ribs, ° e aU ' hMy ' Zz move 354 The Prefent State of PERSIA. ?,etterV. move together. In the beginning of his Reign, like another N en Vvv he gave good Specimens of his Inclinations, not unworthy the He¬ roes that were his Anceftors; but when he began to hearken to Flat¬ terers, and give himfelf over to Idlenefs, he left off to Govern, and lifted himfelf in the fervice of Cruelty , Drunkennefs, Gluttony, Lafcivioufnefs, and abominable Extortion, where he perpetrated things not only uncomely tobefeen, but even offenfiveto the Ears; wherefore at his libidinous Feafts, to enquire what he tranfads, or how he behaves himfelf, is fitter for an Aretin than a model! Author. ■ . x The way of But when he is enthroned and encompaffed with the flower of ^ living Courtiers, and gives Audience to Foreign Minifters; the manner is Ambafladors, jjj us . An Ambaflador is Introduced his Prefence by the Mailer of the Ceremonies, who inftru&s him and tells him his Duty; the Emperor is Seated on a Throne alone, boulftred up by Embroidered Culhions; his Counfellors are placed behind him, with Caps on, proper to the Kings and Magi of Perfia, the Emperor being diftinguilhed only by one White Plume of Feathers from theirs; when the Ambafla¬ dor enters his Prefence, he makes three profound Obeyfances, after which he is permitted to deliver his Meffage, and then produces his Prefents to the Emperor, having gratified the Chief Officers before his Admiffion. Thofe Men of Note that are Governors, ax Cams, ftand now at¬ tending with Guns hung over their Shoulders, performing the Ser¬ vice of our Gentlemen Penfioners: If the Emperor is pleafed to Honour the. Perfon entring, or is pleafed with the Meffage, he or¬ ders him to fit at his Feer, and a Table to be richly fpread: About the King-ftand Veffels of Gold befet with Gems, and the Carpets, are of high Value, one of which, not a Yard Square, I fair worth Fourfcore Tbomands ; and all his Plates he Eats out of,are Gold inlaid, or befet with Jewels, as well as the Cups he Drinks out of; as Lipfius Notes the Cuftom of Old ; Capacibus ^gemmis inter ji propimrent : So Lucan, Gemtweque capaces excipere Merum ; and Cica i confirms it in mer. 4. Non pauca pocula ex auro , quee at ms efl, Rtyh & maxim in Syria gemmis erant diftintta clarijjimis. Whatever Cup the Ambaflador is drunk to out of by the Enipe- - ror, whether of Gold Enammelled, or befet with Jewels, it is fib j led with the fame Liquor, and the Cup is his Fee of Right, which, firft Pledging the Emperor, he receives and carries away with him: The Civility of the Court being paffed, he is Clothed with his Reti¬ nue in an honourable Habit; and if the Petition be granted, he wears the Pharmond open in his Turbat, to be feen by all as he is K- conduced from the Palace to his Lodging. When the King pleafes to Mount on Horfeback, he is guarded by a mighty Band of Horfemen that follow him; before him pals 3 Legion of Footmen, all with Guns, and Sbotters, or Pages, about his Horfe in great Crouds; thefe all wear Feathers 5 the firft w 3 kind of Hat or Steeple-Crowned Cap, the other in their Turbats, ' which are covered with them, but the Gunmen have only one Plu» s The Prefent State df P E R S I A. - bolt upright ; the others are of any Colour, and fometimes many Chap. XIL Colours. . . ' ■ i n . r. When the Emperor marches out with his Women, and all the Se- The Proceffi- faglio, it is forbidden the Day before by aPublick Gryer, for any on of the sc Man on pain of Death to invade his Walks; nor is it lawful for any ^ 01 a ®“ one to (lay within doors, though fick or decrepit with Age, till the Female Proceffion is pafled by; which obferves this Order; The Ring, like a Dunghil Cock, ftruts at the Head of the Amazonian Army; him, his-Mother follows, and the Royal Comforts, which are reckoned as Wives; all the reft, Concubines or Slaves, accord* ing to the Grace they have merited; carrying Hawks on their Fills, get a ftraddle on Horfeback, bearing Confort to the Mufick GereeJ, i. e. Tilt and Turnament, play with the Ball as Men do. For this Effeminate Shew^irg/Vs Defcription for Dido may lerve; Oceanumin'tereafurgens Aurora reliquii. It portis jubare exorto caflrata juventus , Retiarura plagte, lato venabula ferro Regem quern Thalamis cunElantemadlim'maprima Charbaug Afiroque infignis & auro t Stat fonipes ac frmaferox fpumantia mandit. tandem progreditur magna flipante Catena ; lilt Londina eftquechlamys circumdata limbo His pharetra ex humeris crines noduntur inumm. The early Morn had left the Sea, And flaming Day bore Company; When the Gelt Youth afore the doors, Stood pimping to the King and’s Whores j* With Nets and Toils for Countrey Sport, At the Charbaug expert the Court; Where in as ample manner wait The fiery Courier, full of State; Bedeck’d with Gold he chews the Bit, And paws and foams as he were hit. At length comes forth with a great Train, The mighty Monarch through a Lane: A Scarlet Cloak, edg’d with a Welt, Was thrown him o’re, and hid his Belt.' But the Women that went with him, Were clad with Silk, and may be Linen. Yet all their Hair was ti’d in Braids, And Bow and Arrow by their fides. If he chufe a Noifturnal Perambulation, he makes them put on the Drelsof thefeveral Nations they belong to; Europeans in Hat and Feather; Turks , Indians , and Arabians , in their own Habit; and! having Tapers in their hands they go two and two ahreaft; and be¬ tween every third File an Eunuch with a large Flambeaux marches, both as a Spy and Guard. Letter V, Tne Soldiers that are to guard the Outskirts, are ; Band of Eunuchs, who line the Way for their Pailage and ^ ? that are led out of Curiouty to behold this Sight; but upon'd'f” 8 very, never examining who they are, difcharge their Pie r « ‘ ^ they had found a Wild Beaft; for which they receive great C' mendation from the King, and are rewarded with great Guts 0ni ' ting .thereby into the Chief Places of Truft in the Family *' ’ §et ' the Cruelty The moft read y for this Mifchief are the Black Eunuchs of the Black White being generally more fparing of Life, and lefs inclined tofu h iiunuchs. unnatural Barbarities; wherefore he has Regiments of both i), one to ferve his Pleafure, the other his Black Purpofe. 1 l£ Thus is the Life of this Prince taken up, rarely permitting him felf to be feen either by Strangers or his own Subjects ; according to that Ancient Axiom of the Empire, Majefiati major ilowkmJ verentia; as if they feared that of Livy , Continue afpecks m m verendos magnos homines facit ; Left an often appearing to the V'u!a Jr Ihould make them contemptible and common. ° The Cavalry. But that which he leaft cares for, is to go forth armed at the Head of his Army, againft his Enemies, chufing rather to be Terribleat Home under the Perfian Banner, (which when difplayed is A Bloody Sword with a double Point, in a White Field, and is-always carried next the Emperor’s Perfon ) than become Formidable abroad to his Foes: Let others reap thofe hazardous Praifes of Grimin' Honour, he has no Stomach nor no Mind to Feats of Arms, whilft ° Colorogojfe, the Generaliffimo, leads the Hoft. Corgee Bafhee , Adjutant-General, is next him, Commander of Twelve thoufand Horfe. Min Bafhee is a Colonel of a Thoufand Horfe. Eus Bafhee , Captain of an Hundred Horfe. Below this Office none of Noble Extrad will accept, chufing ra¬ ther to ride Volunteers till they gain Preferment, being lifted Golm; Shams, the King’s Slaves, which is a Title they of the higheft Dignity pride themfelves in. Under thefe, thofe who compofe the Main Body of the Cavalry, are .the Cufle Bafhees, or with us, the Chevaliers; who are not left quite without hopes of riftngby a juft Defert, for the Prize lies open to them as well as others; and they are often advanced on that fcore to great Authority, both to animate them to atchieve, and their Superiors to prevent their being.put over their heads • for, VU hi- ms non eft, ihi capiditas glorias efje non potejl .- Where Honour is not the Recompence, there can hardly be a defire of Glory. Where¬ fore of thefe are made Sub-centurions, Commanders of Fifty, and fo downwards to Ten Horfes. Their Arms, - Thefe, agreeable to the Old Scythian Cuftom, fmite their Enemies of fighting! ^* rows at a diftanee, and Hand, to Fift, fight with Sword and Spear, (though they are longfince skill’d in Weapons of another nature, as Guns and Piftols,) Their Bows are ffiorter than ours, not made of Wood, but glutinated Horn; which being not fo long,makes them more ferviceable on Horfeback; but being made of Horn, they are The Prefent State of P-E R-"S I A.- 357 are lefs fit for Rainy Weather: They draw their Bows with the Chap XII. Thumb armed with an. Horn Ring, not after the fame manner as our Archers do. The full number of their Cavalry may be Sixty thoufand Horfemen compleat, many whereof are double-hors’d ; • out of fo great a Strength, Six thoufand Horfemen are upon conftant Duty every day. ■ More than thefe, as a. Guard duCorps to the King’s Majefty, when The stiffen, a he is to take the Air abroad (withindoors they are footmen, abroad Warlike"Or- Horfemen) a feled Band wait on his Perfon, of the fame Race with MiU°anB Urch the King, challenging Kindred with Adir Suffee, but of a lower UtantS ‘ Stock than to cnnfpire againft the Empire, and are therefore bound in a common Tye of Confanguinity to preferve a firm Faith for the Head of their Tribe, as well as the Common Father of the Coun¬ trey : And fince their Pretence reaches no higher than a Superftitidus Affinity, or Adoption rather, the Throne,is fo far out of danger by them, that they are the Chief Pillars that fupport it; they being allowed to brag both of their being of the. Blood of their Emperor and their Prophet, which obliges them to a double Obedience both of Children and Subjects. ... The countenancing of this Sed,' is not to be afcribed to this plau- Ereaed to fible Argument, more than to put a Check to the growing Perverfe- che <* the nefsof the Siads, boafling their Original from Mahomet himfelf, and Shds ' to be more immediately fprung from his Houfe and Lineage: Thefe arefo bold as to infringe the Royal Prerogatives, and to let the Em¬ peror know, That whenever he girts his Sword about him, he ought to draw it only in their Defence, and at their Commands; not de- fpotically to rule according to his own Didates, but patiently fub- mit to their Inftrudions: This Order is uneafy under Monarchy, nor are they for any Government where they are not uppermoft. A Dodrine unpleafant to the Abfolutenefs of the Perjian Emperors; and had not the Sword of the one the prevalency of the others Preach¬ ing, it were no ways to be redrefled; for as the one keeps them in Awe, fo the Reverence paid the other on account of their Religion, makes them : prefume to inveigh, and often raife Fadions againft their Princes. Wherefore the Forefight of their Auguff Anceftry is commenda¬ ble, in providing another Church-Militant Tribe to fupprefs and re¬ claim the Infolencies of the Siads ; for out of refped to their own Laws, which are ftill unalterable, as well as to withhold their Hands from violating what the People repute as Sacred,they rather fought by one Nail to drive out another, than openly to denounce War againft them: Wherefore when they find themfelves perplexed with the fame Dilemma, they feek not to abrogate any former Decree of their Emperors by a dired Contradidion, but ftudyto impugn it feme other ways: As for Example; In Shaw Abas the Great’s time on the days of their Feafts and Jubilees, Gladiators were approved and licenfed; but feeling afterwards the. Evils that attended that Liberty, which was chiefly ufed in their Hoffy Goffy, any private Grudge being SrV penly reven S ed; k never was forbid, but it paffed into-an Mid by the following King, That it Ihould be lawful to kill any found with Naked Swords in that Solemnity. And on thefe, fubftari- tial 358 Th'gFrefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. tial grounds this new Order enjoys not only the Name of but the Emperor himfelf will be their Captain, and fuffers none elfe to head them, and thence takes on him the fpecious Name and Title of Grand Suffee ; and to perpetuate their Memory, has given it i n . delibly to Spaharn , for this reafon joined with the former, to be cal- led Suffahaun. The!t Habit To diftinguilh thefe from the others, who cloathe themfelves i Q and the Per};- Green Attire, and forbid it to any elfe, they wear an fiigh Red Ve[. an Standard V et Cap, plaited at top like, a Cap of Maintenance ; whence on a White! Wooden Creft they fix a little Brafs Ball, tied on with three wreathen Chains,, which they bring down ftrait to the fore-part of the Bonnet, whofe lower Brim is bound about with a White Salh, and fome-’ times a Plume of one Feather is fet up with the Creft, much after the fame Falhion the Noble Senators wear in the King’s Prefence: Befides which they have a Surcoat of Scarlet Cloth, as it were in defiance to the Grafs green of the Siads ; fomuch monopolized by. them, that in Turky, if any other wear it, he pays dearly for his Folly ; The Grand Signior's Standard is alfo of that Colour, being called Mahomet’s Banner: In oppofitipn to whom, the Grand Suffee ereftsa double-pointed Bloody Sword in a White Field, and brings it out in honour of Mortis Ally. Their Privi- at ^°P te ^ Kindred (now Regulars under him, their Chief) ieg«! rm " are many Privileges granted, and by them to be held inviolable. They are allowed a peculiar Miffa, or Service, in a Chappel apart in the Alacoppe, or place where the Grand Council fit, where they attend the King, oroneinhisftead, every Friday Night, at the Sa¬ crament of Holway, ( or Wafer made up in Sweetmeats,) in Imita¬ tion of theShew-bread. When any one has run into Debt, or committed any Capital Crime, as Murther, Adultery, Theft, or the like ; if the one to defraud his Creditor, and the other to avoid the hands of Juftice, make their Efcape to the Alacoppe , the firfl Gate of the Palace-Royal, or to the King’s Stables, and implore their Prote&ion, and they engage for ' their Refuge, it is a Piacular Offence to force them thence; nor will they refign them to the Emperor, though he command them to be taken from their San&uary. Nor are they fo wholly devoted to compaffionate others Afflicti¬ ons, as to defend their own Rights ; for whofoever’s Face the Em¬ peror commands them to cover, they are dead in Law5 nor will they fcruple being Executioners, no more than the Roman Lifiors, who bore the Rods and Axes; the latter of which are their proper Weapons of War, as well as a fit Badge of their Office. Their preferibed Number cannot enlarge its felf to all of their Sedb; wherefore they are interfperfed among the common People, fome following Trades and Husbandry, and others other Employ’ ments; retaining always their Habit, which none of the Vulgar dare affront or ftrike, however provoked ; but taking off their S#/* fean Cap firfl:, and kiffing it, laying it down reverently, they will not then be afraid to cuff theip, or drub them to purpofe ; being careful in the mean while to offer no Indignity to the Order, while they revenge themfelves on the Perfons. Befides The Prefent State «/ P. E R S 1 A. . 359 B-fides thefe, there is another Mark of Honour wholly in the Chap. XIL Ring’s Power, and never beftowed but on thofe of the Prime No- bility and thofe who have endeared him by fome famous Perfor¬ mance for which they are fignalized by wearing a fmall Kettle¬ drum at the Bow of their Saddles in their Cities; which at firft was invented for the training of Hawks, and to call them to the Lure, and is worn in the Fields by all Sportfmen for that end > but he who is rewarded with it from the King, is a Man of Supreme Dignity; and therefore, . • -— ; — fitttlo dignatus equejlri f'trtutem titulis titulos virtutilus oraans. "— -—A Knight of high Degree Adorns his Title by his Chivalry., And thus having mufter’d the Horfe,. let us difmount and take an The infantry. Account of the Foot, who are not fo formidable for Multitudes as Valour; the Infantry are all Gun-men., and are better in Garifon, and under Covert, than in open Field, fighting Hand to Fift; chiefly becaufe having been brought, up under that Difcipline, they are un¬ acquainted with any other way of Engagement. But the Georgian Veterans (who are in the fame nature among the Perfians, as the Janizaries among the Turks) will ftand it out either for Vidory or Peath; both Perfians and Georgians, are thus difpofed of in their Ranks: The Firft Order is Cool, ^9 Thomands per An. At tTheir Sa-J *•«*•*<*«• The Second Order is Corge\ The Third, Jeferve, J . « Cloaths and Diet. la T fid,, without Charges. . \S, all Charges defray’d. Which are the King’s own Regiments, walking with Feathers in their high Hats, armed with Muskets and Axes. The Fourth, Topangee, 7 jTy Thomands ’ without \Their Sa- j Charges,defray’d. The Fifth, Taterdars, C lary 14 Thomands , . without ') L Charges defray’d. Armed only with Poleaxes and Muskets. Of whofe certain Number, Rumour and common Fame muft be be¬ lieved, where no other Notice can be had. There are in readinefs 40000 Georgians: Befides 80006 Statio¬ nary to and again in Garifons. All thefe receive their Pay out of the King’s Treafury, or from Set Rents. To thefe may be added the Provincial Cohorts, as Subfidiary Forces, which are refervedfor the laftPulb, tofuccour the declining Army The Prefent State of PERSIA. I etter V Army in great Neceffity : Thefe differ both in the manner of their Funiftion and Pay: Ocherwife, whatever the other foregoing Orders perform to the Emperor, thefe are bound to pay to their refpeftiv e Cauns, receiving their Penfions from the alotted Lands of feveral Colonies, not from the common Bank. , The loweft Degree of all thefe are the Watchmen on the Roads, men. " maintained at the Charge of the Sbawlmder, to clear the Waysof Robbers, and to demand Cuftom ; for which, if any are fet upon, in the King’s Highway, whatever Lofs is fuftained, the Countrey isat no Charge, neither does the Merchant or Traveller fuffer the Da¬ mage; but whatever is entred at the Cuftom-houfe, the Sbawkiukr becomes obliged to fee fafe through the Kingdom, and makes full Si- tisfa&ion for any Mifcarriage of this nature. The Men that ferve under this Warfare are armed with Halberts; Bills, and Falchions, and are hired by the Day as,need requires. Now follow the Sons of Nereus, or the Seamen; thefe in the The Navy. Qulph are either Filhermen, or fuch as brulh the Ocean to get a Penny by Freight: What are in the Cafpian Sea, I cannot be pofitive in my Relation, but I never heard them boaft of more hardy ones: In the Per (tan Bay, they have at Ormus, Bunder-Atajfee, U. rack, and Kifmafh, fome few Gallies laid up, but unprovided either of Men or Tackle *, and if at anytime they are launched, they (ill them put of the Provincial Auxiliaries under the Cam of Bmk Thus have we run through this kind of Warlike Men from Top to Bottom. C H A P. XIII. Of their (Bookmen and 'Books ; of their Religion and fylifm Wor(hif> i of their Notions in Thilojopby ; of BedVen mil Bell: Their Ajlrommers, Bbyfcians, and Lawyers. A Learned A Fter Thefe come the Academicksj for fuch is the Civility of Clerk rare. thefe Regions, that Arms take place of .the Gown, Letters being of fmall Efteem among them; for the Incitements to Study are but few,the Toil and Labours are many; whereby it is no won¬ der that fleudernels of Profit, and Afliduity, fhould be alike irkfome; when on the contrary, a Military Condition flights thefe Inconve- . niences and Aufterities, and lives more at large, taking Pleafure, and commanding all where they come, and are in a continual Pro- fpeft of Advancement: On which fcore, a Learned or a Noble Clerk in thefe Parts is as rare as a Black Swan, they being raifedto that Station out: of the Dregs of the People. The Scbpol- The School-Language among the Perfians is Arahick, as Lm is Language, held lb among ps ; in whichlnot only theMyfteriesof their Aim*, but of all their Sciences are written. Theit Books • They have their Grammars, Di&ibnaries, a^d Vocabulaes, m written with w {y C [j are : the Roots i of the AtdVick Tongue , Which with other a Pen, not , ' “ BOOKS Printed. \ ' - The Prefeni State of PERSIA. $ 6 l Boobs are all written with the Penby great Induftry and Pains, not Chap.XIII. committed to the Prefs; wherefore they are chargeable, and Iefs free from Errors; to corred which, they compare with others more cor- re d one reading with a loud Voice, while the other takes notice of the Faults: They reckon Fifty Letters to a Verfe, and for a Thou- fandVerfes of ordinary Writing, they give Two Akees; from Five to Ten and upward, for that which is moreexquifite; after this rate are their Books for Sale valued. An Account of the Charader being dated, they numerate the Verfes of any one Page, and multiplying' the other Pages thereby, the Price of the Book is produced: If there be Lines of Gold, Silver, Oker, or the like, furrounding the Mar¬ gin, for Ornament, as is their Cuftom, they reckon nothing for them, but beftow them gratis on the firft Buyer, and only pafs as a better Grace to fet off the Book; they being mightily taken with a fair Hand and good Writing. This agrees with the Cuftom of the Ancient Romans: - Candida nec nigra, cornua frdnte geras Nec titulus minio nec cedro ebarta notetur. Ovid. Et Frontis gemino decern honore EtCoccordens fuperlus index. Martial. They ufe Indian Ink, being a midling fort, betwixt-our common Pens made of Ink, and that made ufe of in Printing: Inftead of a Pen, they make Reeds - ufe of a Reed, as in India. The Children of Nobles, or other Rich Men, are brought up at Education of home, not ftirring out of their Houfes without a Train of Eunuchs Youth ' and Servants, for fear of Sodomy, fo much pradifed among the peftilentSed of Mahometans: Other Children of Inferior Rank are taught in theirPublickSchools fora fmallmatter. Their Childhood being paffed, and they beginning to write Man, Prepofterous they frequent the Schools and Colleges, and every one chufesaMa- •^ ofLearn " Her where he pleafes; and having chofe him, after a few Months leaves him at his own Will, and goes over to another: Forfucha ftrange Itch is here of Learning, that before they are half way in-. ftrufted in one Boob, they are defirous to be perfeded in another ; and before they have read Philofophy, Morality, or any other Sci¬ ence to qualify them,- they leap into the Alcoran ; for here are neither Publick Profeffors to examine, or Publick Ads to be kept, either in Divinity, Law, orPhyfick: They are conftituted by the Primate of their curbed Fabulous Dodrine, without formal Deputation, or other Approbation than the Popular Fame, Intereft of Friends, and’a falfe" Appearance of a Pious Life, • and are introduced by thefe.means into the Penfions and Benefices of their Wealthieft Mofques..; - Whence it comes to pafs that they are fo inclinable to - read to all Emulation in Comers; for he whofe Ledures are moft.frequentedy ftands faireft gaimngDifci- tn the Noify Applaufe of the Town, andiTeldom miffes of. Promo- p es ' fton; though it is known many of them’confume their Patrimony in purchafmgDifciples, and after all, reap; nothing but Poverty! for their Pains: Which kind of Philofophers are always.attended with Aaa Envy 562 The Trefent State of PERSIA Letter V. Envy and Ambition ; nor care they who they defame, may they but extol themfelves: And after a long Invedtive both of Ma(le r and Scholar, againft whomever they think fit to befpatter, or they are in danger of being outdone by, infulting in the mean whj e over them as the greateft Dunces and Afles in Nature; at length, cw of Kindnefs to themfelves, having ftretched their own Worth to th« higheft pitch (left the fwoln Bladder ihould burft by too muchWindj they feign an humble felf-reprehenfion; which becaufe nothing is more pradifed, I will ufe their own Phrafe : Ezked tacrit gttftl at hehefl amma hemme kefs me donet. ‘It is indecent for a Man to ‘ fpeak his own Praife; but were I filent, this is a Juftice you would ‘ do me, it being nothing but what you know. _ Whereby it i s v j. fible, if they abate of their own Tumour, it is likely to be very little to the favour of him they declaim.againft. Notwithftanding thefe Tricks and difingenuous Infinuations, yet this fcabby Herd increafesfo, that they are at their Wits ends howto live: Some find Meccenas's among the Noblemen, and content them, felvesto live flaviihly, according to their.Humours, fora Morlciof Bread: Others, by laving what they have fcraped up from the poor Trade of Scribes, and teaching School, hire an Houfe, purchafe ao Horfe, and a Servant to run before them, (hieing a fign of the greateft Poverty to foot it through the City ) ; and if by good Luck they get a Name, and are reputed Men of Note for Learning, they then enlarge their Stock and Family: And thefe are they that pride themfelves in being the greateft Dodors among them, and fo fet up for Academies of their own; and teach Anflotle’s Dialed, and the Four Figures of Syllogifm ; though the Queftion being pro¬ pounded, they bind not'themfelves up to the ftrid Rules thereof; but they beg the Premife by way of Interrogation, as a Truth grant¬ ed, and from thence draw their Conclufions. logicfc. The Terms of Negation and Conceflion are exotic among the Ter fans, contending that Diftindions and Laconical Evafions,on which the Strefs of the Ariflotelian Dodrine feems to be laid, are not to be held for the true Solution of the Argument; but by along Harangue and Affluence of Speech, the Auditors are brought both to admire them, and be of their fide; whereupon the greater die Convention of Auditors is, the more earneft will their Contention be; for to yield in fuch Aflemblies, is not at all to be expeded, tin- lefs he that holds his Tongue firft, intends to lofe both his Credit ana hisCaufe. ! _ . Their Phy- Univerfals, Catagories, and their depending Queftions, they 01- ficfa. tenrejed; concerning the nature of a Body, Place, Vacuum, Cor- ruprion, Quantities, and Qualities, they inform their Students I after the Ariflotelian vt ay; being unacquainted with the Refolution of Caufes of Sublunary Beings by Atoms, according to our modern Cartefian Difciples, revived in honour of Epicurus ; whom they lop pofe they have fufficiently Confuted by the Name of Zin with feme vain and boyilh Inftances againft Compofition without Interruption and infinite Particles; preaching up a? Vacuum, where¬ by. they believe the Abfurdity to be demonftrated. The Prefent State of PERSIA; 363 In their Theology, after the Contemplation of One Eternal Di- Chap.XIli" vinity after its Unity and Attributes, which they maintain to be H 0 ne with its Eflence; they hold the World to be from Eternity, and fuch aTreatife of the Soul and Paflions, with the other precifi- ons of thelntelled, which is no where to be found in Metaphyficks. In thefe, as in their other Speculations, they cleave fo pertinacioufly to their Books and undoubted Authors, -as if it were piacular to de¬ part from their Traditions. r They fancy to themfelves a Chimerical Creation of the World by ten Intelligences, which by the fame inexpugnable Reafon pafles in¬ to their Creed; and being freight with this Notion, they fay, from one moft fimple Caufe can proceed no more than one Effed; and therefore God framed the firft: Intelligence, and that mediating the Firft Heaven, and fo in their fubaltern order to the Tenth.. That the World was many Ages before Adam and Eve, (our firft Metaphyficks. Parents Edudion out of the Earth ) Inhabited by Devils; and that the Poffelfion thereof was fo long entrufted in their Hands, till they had extirminated the true Worlhip of God (which at firft they applied themfelves Religioufly to obferve ) and gave themfelves up to Uncleahnefs and Prophanenefs; when Man was Created in their room, and they caft out of any farther PoflelTion, and Men took their Places. That Souls were from all Eternity, and commanded by God on the adual Exigency of any Body to enter a Relation, or a certain dependency with them, not an Information, or real Prefence, tota intoto © tota in qualihet parte corporis vitam hahentis y being all in all, and all in every part where Life does exift; from this foolilh Con¬ ception of theirs, they attribute Place and Circumfcription to the Soul; therefore they Objed not a Spiritual, but a Corporal Sub- ftance to be inferred* They acknowledge Four kinds of Caufes, viz. Material, Formal, Efficient and Final; they allow not of an exemplary, but admit of a total Caufe ; by which they underftand fuch an one as no conditi¬ on is defedive to put it into Ad; and on thefe. Foundations they fiippofe the World’s Creation from Eternity to be enough proved. The Books of greateft vogue, are thole of Corge Nefir Tuft, of Books in the City Tttfs, in the Province of Korafam , wrote Five hundred Efleenfc years ago; he, as it is credible, underftood the Greek Lan¬ guage as well as others; from whence he has explained fome Anci¬ ent Authors, as Euclid ^ Ptolomys Alguma and Opticks, and has re¬ duced them into a Compendium, as alfo the Works of Plato. Some Expofitors they have of their Law, with Rules of Juftice and Morality; which they admire and extol to the Skies, and reft impli¬ citly on the ipfe dixit of their Prophet, never enquiring farther: If any thing happen to oppofe common Senfe, they protrad the meaning Myfterioufly or Anagogically, not to thedifquifition of the Truth, but to defend their Fopperies. Among which they have in the firft efteem, the Written Letter of their Prophet, as immediately prefcribed by him, and thefe. are Oracular. In the Second place, thofe who are fince publilhed by the Mahometan Sedatbrs, and thefe are look’d Hpon as Human; any whereof, if they appear foolilh, yet Aaa i ‘ they 364 Letter V. US* s V^*i Mahmet's Re* velations. The Frefent State of PERSIA. they doubt not but their Prophet uttered them, that he might bring hitiifelf to the Capacities of his Hearers, and of the Arabians , to whom he was fent to call them from Idolatry to the Worfhip of'thc only One God; for which the Perfians make this Anfwer, Should a DotSor talk to a Ruflick, and fpeak as if he were' difcourfing with a Profeilor, and not conform himfelf to the apprehenfion of the Countryman, How Jhould he be underftood ? Which courfe, fay they, Mahomet took for the better Information of his Profelytes. Who leaving Natural Caufes, declares thefe Secrets were Revealed to him: That The Winds were raifed by an Angel’s moving his Wings. The Flux and Reflux of the Sea wascaufed by an Angel’s putting his Foot on the middle of the Ocean, and comprefling the Waves, the Waters ran to the Shores, which being removed, they retired to their proper ftation. Falling Stars are the Firebrands wherewith the Good Angels drive away the Bad when they are too fawcily inquifltive, and ap¬ proach too near the Empyreum (the Virge of the Heavens) to hearken to, and eves-drop the Secrets there. Thunder is nothing elfe but the Cracking of an Angel’s Whip, while he flalhes the dull Clouds to fuch and fuch a place, where Rains are wanting to make the Earth fertile and remedy its Drinefs. Eclipfes, he delivers, happen not by the mutual Interjection of the Heavenly Bodies, but that the Sun and Moon are lliut in a Pips (a Cupboard as well) and turned up and down, and that from each Pipe is a Window by which they enlighten the World; but when God is angry at the Inhabitants thereof for their Tranfgreli- ons, he bids an Angel clap to the Window, and turn the Lights, towards Heaven from the Earth; then the Light is taken away from the unworthy Mifcreants, and an Eclipfe is made; for which occafi- on he has left them Forms of Prayers tobeufed by the Malmilm, that God would bepleafed to avert his Judgments and reftore Light to the World. In an Eclipfe of the Moon they beat Pots and Pans, ! or any other brazen fyiftrument, as in time of Idolatry it was a pre¬ vailing Cuftom, even in Europe (as well as here and in Itm) which ftillfome ignorant Old Women, and the dregs of the People are ready enough to continue; for the Tradition was handed down to them, wherewith they were feduced of Yore, that the Moon might be Inchanted, and unlefs it were roufed up by this Noife would certainly fall down dead afleep upon the Earth from Heaven. Juvenal in his Satyrs Comments pleafantly enough on the Garrulity of the Female Sex, by this Inve&ive on one of them: Vna laloranti poffit fuccurrere Lunce. Whofe Tongue alone could help the Moon, Recover its Lethargick Swoon. But the incomparably witty Per ft am have anevafian for fib , telling The Prefent State of PERSIA, 365 telling this Tale; Their Learned Do&or Nefir (on whofe Words Chap.XIIL they’l Swear ) had Predicted to the Reigning King an Eclipfe of the Moon, but fearing left the drowfy King fhould be afleep, andfo he fhould lofe the fruit of his Predi&ion, perfuaded the Vulgar, that to drive away the ill Influences the Eclipfe Prefaged, they would fmite with all their force on fuch Inftruments; whereby the Ring being perfe&ly awaked, he lift up both his. Hands and his Eyes in Aftonilhment, and admired the Skill of his Aftrologer, for which he was well Rewarded. But this is but a Story, however pofitive they are, ftnce it was a Cuftom all the World over long before. Their Thick-fcull’d Prophet has fet another Angel at work for Earthquakes, who is to hold fo many Ropes tied to every Quarter of the Globe; and at God’s Command, he is to pull and fo fliakes that part of the Globe; and if a City, Mountain, or Tower, be to be overturned, then he tuggs harder at the Pulley,, till the Rivers dance and the Valleys are filled with Rubbifh, and the Water fwallowed up in the Precipices. Such Stuff as this he has abundance of; and the moft impartial Interpreter of the Alcoran , as the Mahometans ' themfelves confefs, can afford no better: But for all that they hold that it contains profound meanings; for it has feveral degrees of Senfes, the fecond of which it is hardly poffible for the greateft Doiftor to apprehend; wherein are couched Words of fuch efficacy, which if they were pronounced by Unpolluted Lips, and whoever fhould underhand them and Pray, might both Raife the Dead and work Miracles; and that of an uriquettioned truth this Book came from God, asboththqFmcundity of Stile, and admirable Eloquence doth teftify. For they are not afraid prophanely to fay, That God accommodated his Millions to Place, Age, and the exigency of Times; in the Days of Chrift there were excellent Phyficians, Menus, i. e. Galen, Pichagor, Pockate, Afflaton, (prodigious Re¬ concilers of Time!) all thefe Healed Diieafes by their Plants and Herbs; but God to outdo thefe, gave Chrift Power to Raife thofe from the Dead who had been Buried; acknowledging withal, that this Prophet exceeded the degree of meerMan. When Mofes lived, many Magicians and Cunning Men were entertained by Pharaoh ; God therefore gave Mofes a more wonder¬ ful Art, that his Serpent fhould devour theirs, whereby they were compelled to own him fent from God. And now to nick Mahomet , when he had the Impudence to fet up for a Prophet, Oratory was in its full perfection; wherefore Ma~ •met, by the Miniftration of the Angel Galriel, brought forth the Chapters of his Alcoran j which when he had propofed to the Wifeft; Men of that Age to pronounce but Three or Four thereof, and they not being able, were forced to confefs, that That Work muft e .™®ly of God, fince they knew Mahomet to be Illiterate; which he relates in his Alcoran, and takes thence an opportunity to hoalt, undervaluing the Pfalms of David in the mean while (which we David s Pfalms) becaufethey know not with what Figures of words and Sentences they are Illuminated, nor with what vehe- nfiS u ‘ nc ‘ tea Devout Soul; that the Perfian Interpreter, ud ae ex P r efs the Numbers and Elegancies of Speech contained in 366 The Prefeiit State of PERSIA. Letter V. in the Hebrew , would leave off to admire the Nonfenfe 0 f t | le Alcoran, and look upon the miftake with deteftatiori: Nor would they dare to call their Impoftor, as they do, the continual fl n y, Kl Miracle of Rhetorick , but rather a meer Stammering Fool, and Baftard-brood the Alcoran , Sottifhnefs. Afliftedby The Antiquaries among the Chriftians, who have fearched more stains the narrowly into this upftart Religion-Monger, have fcented who wj s ° n ' his real Inftru&or, though he belied the Archangel Gabriel- f or this Hodge podge was forged between him and one Sergius a Monk who fled to him in Arabia, when the Nefiorian Herefy, which he profefled, Was Condemned in Syria ; Mahomet received him being now rifen to Power from a poor Lad, of the Father’s fide j Pagan , by the Mother a Jew ; by their joint perverting the Holy Bible, fprang up this Motly of Blafphemous Dotages; in which that he made ufe of Sergius as his Tutor, may be difcovered by. fome Footfteps ftill appearing out of the very Alcoran; for in the Chapter entitled Nahil, thus it is rendred word for word; the People mu[t thee, that whatever thou pretendejl to utter as from Godthou art tomf all this by thy Companion .• His Blafphe. B ut tjjg whole matter is related by Pomponius Lest, and fyi. ”°“ s pmi ' tius ; thus Sergius the Matter of Mahomet , was, as many believe, the Author of the Monothelites alfo: He cherilhed the wicked Herefy of Arius and Nejlorius ; therefore being Excommunicate, by the Orthodox, he was fent a Vagabond into Banilhment, and at length he came into Arabia, where the falfe Prophet Mahomet obliged him by his Friendlhip, and by him learn’d to corrupt the Holy Scriptures, foas to frame a New Religion, which was neither Chriflian, nor altoge¬ ther Jewilh, but a Compofition of both, obliterating what was not to their purpofe; whereupon the Hagareens and Saracens, held Mi- hornet pot only as their King, but alfo as a Prophet Divinely Infpi- red, and follow him in all his Abfurdities. He denied the Trinity, affirming it to be ridiculous to believe Chrift to be God; wherefore with Socinus and Eumenius, he allowed him to be only a Creature, but with Carpocrates, an Holy Prophet, He held with Cedren, that it was a thing impoffible that God ffiould Beget a Son who never had a Wife. With the Manachites he would not have Chrift Crucified, butano- ther fo like him that he could not be diftinguilhed. With the Difciples of Origen, he held that after a Revolution of time the Devils might be Sav’d; afcribing with the Anthropomorphic, Members and Human Shape to the Deity ; placing, with Cerhthm, all Felicity in Pleafure. He has Commanded Circumcifion, with Elion, though with fr crates, he has forbidden Wine to his Difciples; he Damns thofe to Hell that fpec.lv againft the Alcoran, aflerting it to be given by _ Infpiration. Friday his . Friday is his Sabbath ; and two Falls are by his appointment, fabbath. the one the Firft Moon of Ottober, the other before the New Year at the Vernal Equinox. . Polygamy. Polygamy is his Mafterpiece, it being lawful to play the Brute with what Women they pleafe; although to Eat Swines Fleih be a the Prefent State of PERSIA. Crime unpardonable; attributing to Beafts,as well as Men, a capa¬ bility of a Refurredion. The Holy Baptifm he explodes asinfignificant, preferring thereto bis Superfluous Walhing before Prayers, and at Exonerating the Body; he lets them not Cut the Foreskin before the Eighth Year ; he efteems the Eucharift given in Commemoration of Chrift, as fri¬ volous, becaufe heconfeffes not that hefuffered Death; but that the Eucharift was inftituted of God for the benefit of worthy Receivers, and for the deftrudion of fuch as fhould not receive it worthily. His Ecclefiaftical Orders are the Mufty, Cadies, and Talmen. The Mufty is the Head of the Law in Turky ; to Kill, Depofe, Defpife, or to behold whom with Difregard, is a Sin of an high nature: -But in Perfia there is one in Title only, without any' Authority of the Keys; for that our Perfians infift, It is a Referve only for Mahomet and his Twelve Succeflors; yet as their Vicar there may be Moutched, i. e. Dottor Vitce, one of that approved ftritdnefs of Manners, and eminent Knowledge for a Diredor and Guide to the People, that all Affairs and Strifes concerning Con¬ fidence may be determined by him; but what is more, all Prefer¬ ments relating to the Church are at his Difpofal. Where this Car¬ ets is, there the Eagles will be gathered; for to this High-Prieft is not lacking wherewith to maintain his Inferior Brethren, would he [pare fomething from his own Hoards; btit he is a-kin to that fort of Animal which the more it hath, the more it craveth; nor is any thing more griping than. he. There are more than 60000 Thomands reckoned Yearly to be coffered up; a Stipend fufficient to feed the whole Herd, were it not perverted from the intention of the Donor, and converted to pri¬ vate ufes ; fotrue is it in him who is Head of their Law, while he prefumes on that Office, he becomes the greateft Grievance thereof; whereby it is plain he is an Amphibious Creature, only affording the Priefts an half Patronage, from whom he receives his Dignity ; but the Lawyers give him Power,and Wealth; fo that though he delight to be called Primate of the Mullahs , yet he covets more the Rule of the Cadies or Cazies, from whom there,is no Appeal. For as in Nunc'upatives the irrevocable Decrees and Commands of the Emperor ftand firm, fo his Determinations in' the Written Law are as Authentick; fo that where he has Wit to keep his Canons from interfering with the King’s Prerogative, heads as hepleafes: They were formerly fo refoluteto interpofe where they found their Sovereigns about to do a ralh Mifchief; but that Permiffion is laid afide, and he fings that Leflon to King Solomon, ,as to one that is deaf, lie being impatient of any Reproof; not being willing, to be drawn off from his Cups and his Gormandizing,' nor at leifuretobe prefent even at their Sacred Rites, having not faluted the Temple'Twelve times fince he began to Reign, which is Eleven Years; which his Stat ^ 161-5 Were Wont t0 Gnce a Week with great Pomp and Godiinefs is not only the chief, but the. Foundation of. ail other irtues ;.for therein is agreatTye upon MfeU to keep them in their ut y; and where no other Arguments ptevaii upon theif Reafon, yet 367 Chap.XlII. The Mufti. His Revenue. His.Antho- . rity. 368 The Prefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. yet Religion compels: Tietate autemfublata, inpit Cicero, Tides eti - v"Nj am, Societas bumani generis, & una excellentijjima, fuflitia, immo omnis Trobitas tollitur. Lib. 1. nat. Deorum. , Piety being negle&ed, fays Cicero, Truth, Human Society, and the excellenteft part thereof, Juftice, yea, all manner of Goodnefs is taken away and perilhes. The Tahnniflt Now the Aidile may lock up the Ghurch Doors, and the Reverend Prelate, whofe Office it was to Adminifter before the King, may fol¬ low other Works, or fupinely take his eafe in his Cathedral Chair, while at conftant Hours the Inferior Clergy ftretch their Lungs from their Obelisks and high Towers, and ftrenuoufly call to the People to Pray; any one of whom, if he can Read like a Clerk a Chapter out of the Alcoran, let his other endowments be as mean as his Brethren?, he ffiall be ; crowned with the honour of being a Mullah or Taiwan; wherefore though Learning be an Ornament, yet they efteem it lefs neceflary than that it ffiould interrupt their quiet or repofe, to acquire it. Their Fune- The greateft Burthen here too, is to perform the Funeral Obfe- Pompous quies, when to their Liturgy they add an Oration: Before the Herfe than the Turk- they carry Banners, taking their Way through the high Streets to iib Seftsare. the Burial Place; after the Corps the Mullahs follow Singing, the Corps its felf being decently Vailed with a Coverlet of divers Co¬ lours, and carried by Four Bearers, it lying on . the Herfe arrayed in the beft Cloaths the Man wore, when alive: If it be a Woman Ihe is put into a Coffin, or Cheft, and an Awning made over the Herfe, covered with a White Sheet infiead of a Pall; after thefe come the Relations and People Hired to Mourn; at the clofe of all are carried on {lately Voiders, th zHolway a as among the Turk if!) Sect, which the Chief Mullah, after the Ceremonies are over, diftributes to the Attendants, being, if required, obliged to repeat every Moon with the Kindred, who come with Lighted Lamps, Sherbets, and this Holmy, to Pray for the Soul of the Departed, which they modeftly continue Twelve Moons. This is the thing makes the Clergy fweat, for they have nothing elfe to do for the.Republick, leaving the Peo¬ ple to Pray for themfelves that are Alive, only concerning them- ielves with the Dead. Their Tribe) Barbers Circumcife their Children when they think meet, when M r jfmt^eto Parents S‘ ve ^ lefn ^ Name, joining to that of his Fathers his their° own > as Mahomed Hoffeen, i. e. Mahomet the Son of Hoffeen\ taking Names given their Sirnames, as the Old Jews, from their Tribes, which they tents 2 Pa ' S ,or y * n> **• ^at of Jfmael ; of which Tribe they have many among them tranfmitted out of Arabia hither; which not- withftanding, are yet reckoned a Villanousfortof Breed; agreeing well with the TfalmiJPs Paraphrafe on them, Wo is me.that my dwel¬ lings are with Mefech, and my habitation among the Tents of Kedar ; comparing thefe Men, among which he was an Exile, to the wick¬ ed Ifmaelites, addided to Pilfering and Stealing, Prophanenefs and Blafphemy; Kedar was the Son of Jfmael, Mefech of Japhet, which Stock are very plentiful. But thofeof them that think the beft Tribe not clarified till they have enobled it by fome Religious Ad, are not at • reft till they have wiped off thefe Stains;, which fet them on foot fo often to Mahomet s ’ Tomb, The Prefent State of . P E R S I A. 969 Tomb; returning whence, all former Taint is abolilhed, and they Chap.XHL become pure Mafelmen indeed, which is the ftrongeft Confirmation after Circumcifion: For That is a time of Jollity, This of Labour and Travel, whereby they approve themfelves what their Parents only Sponded for them; and this is a Task impos’d moftly on their new Profelytes. The Cadies, or Juftices, can both Marry and Unmarry: Which Lay-Clergy, with the whole Bookilh Tribe, is hard to be known chekcklb. from the Grofs of their Nation, by Strangers; unlefs Tome affed White Veftments in token of Purity, and walk with Eyes fixed on' the Ground, a Rofary in their Hands, an outward Appearance of Demurenefs and Sandity, and a Negled of the World; a Book of Hadis in their Breaft; and if any feem to mind them, they tune their Pipes to the Uncertainty of Riches; the Frailty of Human Nature; that all things.are vain and fleeting; that our Minds ought to bp fix’d on our End ‘ with all the Train of Hypocrify well per* fonated. The Parifh-Prietls are maintain’d in the Country by Colledions; Howthey ar- in great Towns or Cities, by the Ring, or Cams. mamum . Beiides thefe, thofe who are called Hodges are fuch ft rid. Puritans, that if they meet a Chriftian, Jew, or Banyan, and by chance his Garment brufli againft them, they hye them home, fhift and waih, as if they had been defiled with fome unclean thing, a Dog or Hog ; undervaluing all but their own. Sed, as if there were no Holier Creatures in the World. And now haying difpatch’d this Crew, moulded up in dull Clay, let us mix with thofe of more liberty in their own Language, al¬ lowing them at the fame time to be kept in Bounds by the rigid Compreftures of their Taskmafters in Religion, fo that all the Strain of their Wit muft biafs that way. , And firft, They have fome (though few ) fet up for Admirers of Po6Bl the MufeS, and value themfelves in being call’d the Wits of the Age, and thefe are their Poets;, who confine themfelves to Rhime and Numbers, and fometimes to Quantity, inferring their Verfes with Comparifons, Exaggerations,. Flights of Ingenuity, and Fidi¬ om, which they repeat with Geftures both of Hands, and Body, and Mouth contorted, animating them with fuitable Tones and Arti¬ culations, proclaiming them dead without fuch Information. They have Romances of Famous Heroes and their Deeds; among which are pleafant Rancounters, Huntings, Love-Intrigues, Ban- quetings, defcriptionsof Flowers and delightful Groves, emphatical- Limr ‘ ers ’ ly fet down, with Cuts and Pidures reprefented lively enough, would their Colours endure; for which Skill, otherwife than for hit¬ ting the Life, their Limners, are to be reckon’d defedivej not know¬ ing how to mix theip Colours. The exadeft Hiftory they ha ve to brag on,is Roaze elSaphetp Book Historians, of Three or Four Volumes, in Folio ; which gives an account from the firft Habitation of Men upon Earth, till the Two laft Centuries. They are but bad at Chronology, making nothing of a ThoUfand Years confounded together: Had they the Aira of AugufiuS, or the Julian Period, or a faithful State of Time, there might be fome Bbb likelihood 370 TbePrefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. likelihood of Truth in their Hiftories; but they being Convided of inadvertency in thefe Points , the whole Superftrudure muft fall ; which to defend even in their very Alcoran , they are forced to Forge Afperfions to confront the lamenefs of its Stories, whereby they endeavour thus to come off: A Wicked Emperor having ob¬ tained the Rule of the World, got the Sacred Writs together by force, and burnt them ; after which, what occurred to the Memory of the Chriftians, were committed to Paper juft as every one could recoiled or fancy ; and hence arofe the feveral Miftakes and Diffe¬ rences. Others pretending to a farther reach, follow our Saviour to the Fourth Heaven, where they affirm he now is, whither he carried the Gofpel with him from the unworthy Nations, excited by the fame Zeal Mofes was, when he brake the Two Tables of the Deca¬ logue. With fuch Artifices as thefe they ftudioufly befpatter the Chriftians and their Religion , to uphold their own Dogmatical Tenents. Sed mgm eft Veritas^ & prcevalehit. A Book like our Mfiofts Fables, called Emuel Sohaly , is preferred before all others, written in the Perfian Language ; yet their Super- ftition is fuch, that they dare hardly give it Houfe-room, or afford it a place in their Libraries, left it ihould bring ill luck. At the fame time this wasTranflated out of Indoftan into the TV < fian Speech, there was Cotemporary another Perfianyiho had compo- ' fed a Book of his own, but of a far inferior Stile; and being fenfi- ble his Work would be Poftponed thereby, he induftrioufly took care to fpread a rumour among the Vulgar, that this Book of Emuel Sohaly was an ill thing, becaufe it introduced Creatures irrational Talking one to another, alledging for proof fome Texts of the Alcoran ; and at that jundure laying hold of an Accident which happened to a Youth fleeping while he was reading this Piece, that fell down from the Upper-Room to the Ground, whereby he brake his Skull, and his Thighs, confirmed the Mobile in the New-broached Opinion of this Book ; it ever fince bearing an ill Name, becaufe they looked on this as an Exemplary Judgment, wherewith their Prophet was pleafed to forewarn others, and denounce his Anger againft fuch as ffiould attempt the reading of it. juhpnp Alchymy has bewitched fome of them to fpend both, their Time and Money without any other benefit than to fupply them with a peculiar Cant, and affeded Terms of their Teachers,which thofe,who feized with that Itch, not only infed themfelves but others , with vain hopes, which at laft, together with the Confumption of all their Subftance, vanilb in Smoak. Thefe are fuch as cry up the Tranf- mutation of Metals, till they have refined them to be the moft Ex¬ cellent in Nature’s Cabinet, whereby they would arrive to that de¬ gree of Midas's Wiih, that whatever they touched ffiould become Gold; a fottiffi and imprudent thirft of Wealth, as if it were in the power of Art to outdo the defign of the Creation, wherein every thing was formed good in it’s kind ;"by which thefe Dabblers caft afcan- The Prefent State of PERSIA. a fcandal on the Noble Profeffion of Chymiftry, to which is owing Chap.XlIf the true Knowledge of Phyfick, by an Analytical Separation of the ' Parts of the Compound , from the grofs Dregs of the mixture, whereout may be fucked fuch Particles, as are applicable for the Remedies of Human Infirmities, while they depart not from the nature firft imprelfed on them. Here are many good Writers in this Honourable Science, but are at prefent unskilful and unprovided with their Inftruments or Furnaces, fuch as we find the Learned Sons of this Art ufe in their Laboratories elfewhere. Mathematicks being the Foundation of all Arts, fhould have pre- t ^' iema ’ ceded; but Treating of an indigefted Nation, I deliver'you them conformable to their own method ; they underftand Euclid's Ele¬ ments, and Cceleftial Phcemmenas, though they want the. Citations and Adjuncts in the Demonflration of their Propofitions: They have the Theodofian and Autolican Dodrine of the Spheres, fome Frag¬ ments of Archimedes , but have not'the.Contracted Proclivity. Pradical Geometry is common with them; Arithmetick in intire Numbers and Fradions they Exercife, performing their Multiplicati¬ on and Divifion in Tranfverfe Lines: The Ancient Algebra , a Cal¬ culation by Geometrical Progrelfions is not hid from them, though they have no fpecious Invention. Trigonometry of ftreight Lines and Spherical is their own, with the Canons of Signs and Tangents, yet without Secants: The Staff of 60 Parts, with fo many Fradions, by a Prolix reckoning, they bring to Three, Four,or Five Minutes, our Chy mical Arithmetical Tranfmuta- tion never entring their Thoughts of the Sixtieth Number fwelled into an unity by Cyphers, that all the Chords may evade abfolute and intire ; no more have they any fmattering of that never enough to be admired Science of Logarithms. The Theory of the Planets, the Middle Motions of Ptole j»y,and the . folid Orbs, as delivered by Purlachius, they are perfed in: Copernicus, or rather before him Pythagoras’s Hypothefes, are confufedly and ig¬ norantly difapproved by them, neither defiringto be informed, nor caring to concern themfelves with any other than what they have imbibed Traditionally, by their Forefathers; For which reafon Tick's Inftruments for Obfervation of the Heavenly Phenomenas are under¬ valued by them. Their Aflrolahe is the moft Workmanly Tool among them, it being neatly framed of Brafs, Copper, or Silver, in a.truly plain and familiar method, on one double Square only divided into xBo Parts each, with their Tangents; from the Strudure of which In- ftrument, all the Centers of the Circles, are fooner found out by Steel Compaffes, hung in an Arch with their Screws, than by our old way of Stcefler, and Regiomontanus , which though true in it felf, yet it hardly is made to come right. They have Tables fliewing the exad Motion of the Planets, and thence colled their Bphemeris, which is Twofold ; One whereof is . Camer /, Anfwering to our Almanack, where are fet forth the Con- jundions and Oppofitions of the Luminaries, the Rains, the Alte¬ rations of the Air, alfo obfcure and implicit Predidions, to catch the believing^ Multitude: The other is Chamefi, in which the Lon- B b b z gitudes, 572 the Prefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. gitudes, Latitudes, and Afpe&s of the Stars, the Eclipfes fcmetimes u? B v' c 5 iW agreeing, fometimes difagreeing .with ours. In this Book are the fufpicions of War, fcarcity of Corn , and other Incidents not dif- cernible in Human Learning ; but fo adapted, that like the found of Bells to the Fancies of fome, To thefe admit of an interpretation agreeable to every one’s fenfe, that the Prognoflicator may not be reproved of unskilfulnefs. Such an itch of knowing Contingencies reigns here, that no Journey is undertaken, no New Book read, no Change of Garments put on, no frefh Dwelling entred upon before the Stars are confulted ; here is controverted when is the good when the unlucky Hour‘to begin or end upon any Ehterprize: The’ Moon’s or other Planets ingrefs into Scorpio is much dreaded among them ; and if that Planet be Retrograde, a flop is put to all bufmefs. Whence comes the vulgar Juggle of the oblong Cube's, in which equal and unequal Numbers are dilpofed, where they being caflat ad¬ ventures , what Figures they happen to be' upon from thofe Points they thence make their judgments: Something parallel is found in the occult Philofophy of Cornelius Agrippa , in Page z% t. Thefe draw Schemes, and are puffed with Necromantick Problems: Necromancy. If a Thief have ftolen any thing, if a Servant have run from his Mailer with ftolen Goods, if any would be acquainted about Hus¬ bands or Wives, they betake themfelves tb fuch Oracles as thefe. Who begin their Delufion with a Gipfy Cant, with Eyes and Hands lift up to Heaven; then calling the Dye, he obferves the Points, and enigmatically canvefles the Event; fometimes hitting the Cafe, and fometimes as wide from it as the Eafl is from the Weft; and though by Experience they have found them tripping an Hun¬ dred times, and upbraid them for the Cheat; they put it off as if they had - not ftated the thing fairly; that a Minute in the Calcula¬ tion varies the truth; that this is the true profeflion Daniel tranf- mitted to Poflerity; and if it anfwer not the Queflion, it is not be- caufe the Art is defective, but becaufe few are fo happy as to attain its perfection; and thus do they willingly continue in their belief of the Gull: They encourage an infinite number of thefe South- Payers, as many as can invent new Tricks to get Money by it. When they confult for future fuccefs in Matters of great confe- quence, they go to fome Learned Dodtor, who Divines by the Al¬ coran ; and he having prayed, opens the Alcoran , (that Legend of Lies;) and the firft Page he fets his Eyes upon, if the Firfl Com¬ mandment happen to be in ir, the Augury is of force, and they have no delay allowed them, but liaflen with all fpeed about their Work; and if Twenty more come on the fame Errand, they are fent away with the fame Refponfe, which after comparing Notes, though the Event be as unfortunate as may be, yet they content¬ edly acquiefce in the verity of the Prophecy, however coritradi- e dtory to their Senfes; and fhall repeat the fame method, as if it were a Point of their Faith to go oh in palpable ABfurdities, by con- flantly enquiring of the Alcoran. Aflrologets. The Emperor nburifhes a great many Aflrologers, the chief of whom is always by his fide, with his Aftrolabe at bis Girdle, and dictates The Frefent State of F E fi S I A. dictates the good hour or bad hour, when to rife,, when to go to bed, or to perpetrate any adtion of Note; ere&ing a Scheme on the Sand; whofe Advice is always followed, though fom ; e Stories are upon Record to their difadvantage: Two whereof I ihall rer late. About Eighteen Years ago, it being famous, and no longer fince, remains freih in memory, and is made ufe of to make fppjt with the Aftrologers: The Colfaks on the River Tanais, came thence over the Cafpian Sea, and made a Defcent into Perfect, and carried off a great Booty, loading their fmall Ships without any oppofition : The Emperor of Perjiainccnfcd with this Affront, and Depredation made on his Subjects, arms fuch a Fleet as he thought fufficient to corred their Infolence with his Soldiers, and bad them take the S'ea at the precife time the Aftrologers ihould dired, that the Heavens alfo confpiring, they Ihould effe&ually chaftife their Enemies; .which being without doubt carefully ftudied, Ihould as infallibly conie to pafs s fo that upon their invading them.not one pf them fhqujd efcape ; And for the better obtaining their end,advifed ’em to fallen their Ships together by ftrong Chains, that fo they Ihould keep their Body intire, left the Cojfacks Ihould fet upon any Angle .Veflel, and at" the fame time Ihould enclofe the Pirates ,fo, that they Ihould. by no means get cut of their hands: But the cunning, Cc/faff* being ufed to Stra¬ tagems, forefeeing their Defign, fell upon tbe.fitft Ship j with their Guns, which fo bored her Sides, , that lhe funk, and by her weight occasioned the reft to fink one after another, fothat jpo-Men, arid Twelve Ships werefent to the bottom in a well-chofen hour, arid the Cojfacks by this Exploit left Mailers of the Sea, and the Borders thereon liable to their continual Incurfions. . .. Three Years after, one of the fame Tribe contriving how to aug¬ ment hisPenfion, in a chofen time, prefented a Petition to the Em¬ peror, when he happened to be out of humour ; and therefore com¬ manded an exadt Account to be given him of the expence he was at in maintaining thisVermin ;the return, whereof amounting to 20060 Tbomands Yearly, made him exceeding wroth, fo that he not only denied an addition of Salary,but had extirpated the Funaion had not great interceffion been made. Des Cartes , the Prince of Philofophy in this Age,giyes his Senators caution tie minis fuperbede nobis ipfis fentirems decreta Dei a nobis intelligi fupponawus ; left we Ihould too vainly conceit the Decrees of God to be underftood by any of us; arid thefe had done better had they ftuck to their primitive Aftronomy- Cdique meatus ‘ Adjcribunt radio © furgentia fydera dicent. The Heavenly courfe with Staff to clear The rijtng Stars tell through the Tear. Which thing is, but llightly touched by them ; but becaufe they do foretel fome Revolutions of the heavenly Bodies, they arp migh¬ tily admired by the Vulgar ; and not only by them,, but by, thole 373 Chap.XIIf. Aflronoitiy.' 874 The Prefent State of PERSIA, Letter V. of better falhion aHo: Which here opens a Gap for all pretending i ^r^r\J Knaves, who fatten tbemfelves on the folly of this Licence, which in all civil Governments is punilhed by the fevereft Laws; whole execution are fo far negledted in Perfia, that even now in the King’s Court an old Hagg is refpe&ed 5 a relation of which, becaufe it has as much of rarity,as truth, 1 lhall not think ted ions to infert. A certain furkijb Woman, born at Constantinople ( by thefe People A Pytlmip, named Stamhole , and Romeree") now an old Witch, in her young cuWitch, j a y S provoked by the heat of her Lull, ran from her Husband with her Paramour ; with whom enjoying her beaflly pleafure for fome time, at length Ihewas carried into a Wood, where die lived live years without remembring how Ihe came there, or what befel her in that fpace ; but that time being fpent, die perceived her felf poflelTed with the Devililh Spirit of Prophecy, and fo returned to the City from whence Ihe had fled a Strumpet, a Pythomffa ; which being noifed abroad, and Coming to the Grand Seignior's Ears, lie caufed her to be banilhed as a Portentous Evil out of Conflanti- nople : Who thence wandering here and there, found fmall encou¬ ragement, till fhe came to Suffahaun, where being arrived, and the News brought to Court, without imprecation of the Gods to avert the mifehief, Ihe is the daily diverfion of the Perfrn Monarch, and he delights to difeourfe her often. She calls every one by their proper Name, though never feen before: She gives an account of adions paft, both ridiculous and fe- rious; which though it be the Emperor’s iport to hear, the Cour¬ tiers are Ihy of her Company, becaufe of reaping up their old Sins; and being proved in this point to anfwer expectation, it is granted that Ihe can Divine future Contingencies; toward which the Genius of this Nation being difpofed, Ihe is efteemednot only by the King, but by all People as a Prodigy. When Ihe is feized with a Fit of Prophecy, the firft infult begins, (where the Devil firlf entred,) at her Belly, which works ftrangely; and at fuch times there may be heard as it were the noife of Three or Four Kitlins, fucking and crying when Ihe falls into an Extafy. Af¬ ter which, the Spirit feems to anfwer from the bottom of her Belly to all queftions propounded; and being in this tranfport, gives this account of her felf: “I (fays Ihe) am a Damon, whether of an . “ airy, fiery, or either fubftance compounded, I know not; nor of “ what Principles I am made, either heavenly or human; but that “ we are many and divided into Three Tribes or Orders; in eve- “ ry of which we have learned and wife, foolilh and illiterate among “ us 3 the fame Religions and Opinions, prevail as are upon Earth ; “fomeprofefiingChriftianity, others Mahometifm; and again others ‘‘ are Pagans and Idolaters,, and there are fome few Atheifts among “us : As for mylhare, I follow the Perfian Sed of Mahometifm, and “ confefs my felf an Ideot, underftanding no other Language than “ Turkijb ( where under a Cloven Foot may be difeerned conform¬ ing to a Foreign Religion, though skilled in no other Language but •her Native; a pretty Wheedle to infinuate into the Sujfees favour) “if therefore any thing be asked beyond my reach, that needs an “Expofitor, I betake my felf to fomeOEdipus of our Order, , who * “ unfolds The Prefent State of P E R S I A, . 375 “unfolds the Myftery to me, whofe Senfe I only render forfatisfa- Chap.XIIL “ftion of my Inquirers. This being a new Dodrine to the Suffee, he commanded her to give him fome Demonftration of the truth of what (he had told ; and therefore put her upon difcovering how he might believe the airy Region to be peopled after this rate ; (he confented to convince him, and ordered all the Nobles attending the Emperor, to retire with him into one part of the Room, and leave her t6 work their Convidion, which fhe did after this mander: Falling into her ufual Trance , (he at that inftant wrought their Fancies to be perfuaded of the confufed Articulation of Multitudes met as in a Fair, converfing and making a chattering, to the amazing of them all. Father Raphiel the Capuchin, who gave me this account, was fet upon by the Emperor to encounter her; but he prudently enough avoided it, left he might be brought into fome Praemunire about Difputes of their Religion, in which he found the craftySIut would involve him; but befides his (ingle Teftimony of this Affair, here are many Turkiih Merchants in Town who all declare the fame as to her being poflefled, having known her many Years ago at Conftanti- mple , from' whence lhe was expelled by a fpecial Precept of their Sultan. Here is a large Field of Controverfy offered, to wit the Pofleffi- ons of Cardan, and the Lapland Witches ; but thefe being Foreign to this intended Account, I purpofely omit what might be faid oii this Subject, referring it to more acurate Pens. But not to let the credit of this Opinion lie as if it were of this Beldams broaching ; Plato had long ago declared his approbation of it, that there were Dtemons wandring about the World : In Epinomcde: Summos Deos,ultra mundanos amplijftmam rerum providenti - m ' am habere, fuh his in coelo quofdam confpicuos effe, tertio infimoque loco Die- mimes horum genus, mum ,ex cethere, alterum ex aere efte,at neutrumcon- Jpici to turn pot eft ;fed quamvis hi Datmones prope nos fint,nunquam tamen manifeftb nobis apparent: Etmox; Aliudvero ex aqua, &c. Poft Die- mones Heroas. And what Plato promifcuoufly calls Dtemons, the Latins diftinguilh by their Offices, as thofe prefiding over Countries are Penates ; thofe over Families Lares 5 thofe that are frightful and terrible reprefen- tations are Larvee or Hob-goblins: But thefe that are Witneffes of the actions of every individual perfon are termed Genij, and thofe the Ancient Greeks called Heroas, the Latins gave the name of Lemures, Ghofts or Spirits to. But to return to our Men of Learning, from whence we have been Will-ith-whifped ; the Longitude and Latitude of the Stars are writ- L . , ten in an intire Volume, together with eight and forty.Signsbeaftly a n°dLtimde. pi&ured; thefe compared with our Maps or Globes, differ feven or eight degrees in Longitude ; only fome few Minutes in Latitude. Dialling and its profound Sections and Projedions of the heavenly Circles in the Plain, by the mediating lhaddw from the World’s Dialling. Axis, is not underftood by them ; no more than Conic’s, although Apollonius his Books are often turned over by them. In 57 6 The Prejent State of PERSIA. Letter V. In Mufick they lift up their Voices with a loud'{training behind a Taber, which is the only Inftrument,with the Flute, ufed with the Mu !Ck ' Vocal} for Inflrumental, they have little regard to Stringed, but the Orgiaflick they are very expert at, and ufe it on all Fefilvals at the Rifing and Setting of the Sun in their publick Midans, or Courts, before the Emperor’s Palace,as alfo before all their Governors • though within doors they chufe the other, where the Stage-players Tumblers, and dancing Wenches, uiher in their Interludes by Songs' Tabers, and Flutes. ". ’ Medicks. At length 1 convert my felf to that Noble and Excellent Art, fo beneficial to the Life of Man, Phyfick; which though it be here in good Repute, yet its Senators are too much wedded.to Antiquity, not being at all addidted to find out its Improvement by new Enqui' ries; wherefore they Rick to the Arabian Method as devoutly as to the Sacred Tripod, which they hold as Infallible as of old that Del¬ phic Oracle was accounted. Anatomyre- On which fcore Chymiftry is hardly embraced ; nor to the Pa« jeaed. thological part do they think the Anatomical Knife can bring much Profit: However, many of them have Wealthy Prefentsfrom their Grandees. Whoever applies himfelf to this Profeflion, takes a Mailer of that Calling, who Inftru&s him in the Stile and ordinary Chara&ers of Medicine; where being throughly verfed in the'Employment, and able to fetup for himfelf, he confults'whereabouts the feweft Phyfi- dans are planted in the City, and thelikelieft place to drawCufto- mers to him; there he joins an Apothecary to him to make up his, Prefcripts,'and fell them to his Patients, the half of which Gain comes into his Pocket: Thus by degrees increafing in Fame, he co¬ vets many Students to Read to, who are fure to fpread abroad his Fame, like fo many Speaking-trumpets, andarefent about in quell of Prey, to bring in Game like fo many Decoys. .. But the Bait that takes moll, are the Womens crying up their Man, when he is found to pleafe them by a fair Carriage and volu¬ ble Tongue, who never leave off till they have rendred him graci¬ ous to all their Acquaintance 5 who flock to him in Droves, and are as full of Chat as a Magpy when Ihe has found an Owl in the Wood at Noon-day; nor. wants he his Lime-twigs for lucTTTort of Birds, by whofe frequentings he arrives to the top of his hopes, and fucks thofe Riches Galen is faid to offer his Difciples: Dat Galenas opes. But as all the Eggs laid under one Hen do not always prove, fo many of this Tribe mifs their aim, and after an expence of timTand endeavour, are forced to fall upon other Trades to get a Livelyhood. Here is no precedent Licenfe of Pradtifing, but it is lawful for any one to exercife this Function who has the impudence to pretend to it. ■“ < The sufee’s " ~Th eSuffee retains feveral in Ordinary,and others inExtraordifiary, without aI ?y Salary; the Chief of whom is Hakaim Bajhed, and Phyfician. fufifers on his Mailer’s Death, not only Banifhment from Court, but Difpoylingof all his Goods, and muft acknowledge it a Favour to efcape with Life. In The Prefent State of PERSIA. 377 In the matter of their Phyfick, Extra&s, or Eflences of Plants, Chap.XIIL Roots, or Minerals, are beyond their Pharmacy; only they ufe u#r ' Y ~^ cooling Seeds, and Medicines of that nature; fo that in repelling a Fever, they make but one work of that and the Innate Heat, where moft an end both become extinguilhed at once ; or at leaft, the Body is left in that condition, that Obftru&ions or an Ill Habit fucceeds; although I am not ignorant, that fometimes after the greateft Care in Chronical Diftempers, fuch things will happen, according to the Experience of Hippocrates, yet in Acute Diftempers fo frequently to fall into thefe Inclifpofitions, I cannot excufe the Indifcretion of thefe Medicafters, whofe Patients in Suffdmi ieldom pafs out of this Life by any other way to their Graves. Befides this Abufe, their Prefcriptions are Pancraftical, a Salve That Pr& - for every Sore, without refpetft had to difference .of Temperament, fcnprs ‘ orConftitution;. nay, or even to the Diftempers themfelves; but asking fome frivolous Queftions, viewing the Veins of the Hands and Feet, infpe&ing the Tongue, they write at adventure. The Apothecary difpenfes the Ingredients into .fo many Papers, and leaves them to be boiled according to his Dire&ions, and given to the Sick Party at fuch and fuch hours of fuch a day, by any good Wo* man, or heedlefs Servant; who not attending the Quantities of the Liquor more than the Qualities of the Ingredients, boil more or lefs, not as the Exigency either of the Medicines or the .Patient re¬ quires, but as if they were to make Pottage, and give him to drink of this heterogeneous Broath, fometimes Three or Four Pints at a time ; fo that if it fails moving the Belly by its excitative Faculty, yet by its exceffi ve Dofe it makes way for Evacuation: And this they do re¬ peat moft an end for a Fortnight or Three Weeks together; which if it fucceed not, another Phyfician is confulted; for among fuch (tore they think it hard to mifs of a Cure; and in that are fo opiniona¬ ted, that if their own Nation cannot give them Remedy, they think none other can. (Though as to Chyrutgery they are of another mind, thinking the Europeans better at Manual Operation than them¬ felves. ) But to proceed, being feverely handled by one, they fly to another; and he from extreme Cold things runs upon the other extreme; fo that'between thefe two Rocks its no wonder the Pati¬ ent fo often mifcarries, and fo many concurring Caufes joined with their Diftemper, hurry them to another World. Rhaharl , Turhith, and Scammny, are dreadful to them; but Sena, WktPurges Caffia , Manna, and Turpentine , are fwallowed without any appre- a P proved - henfion of evil. Many of their Phyficians infift on Diets unufual elfewhere, as Goats-fleffj, Horfes, Afles, and Camels flefii; for which reafon they have diftinft Shambles for the fame purpofe. Avicen, Averroes, and Rhajis ,are known Authors among them ; wiatAuthoM and among the moft Learned, Galen, and Hippocrates, and fome more “ eem ' Modern, who have treated of Botany, and Human Parts. Their Law forbids them to infpeft a dead Garkafs; they therefore lean implicitly on what they find among Ancient Anatomifts, and yet think themfelves at no lofs in that Science; whence it is their Practice is tyme, and their Theory no more than the prating of a Parrot. . , C c c , Hence 378 Letter V. u*'-V a VJ Unskilful in Chyrurgery. Kndemul Difcafo. TJ>e Prefent State of PERSIA, Hence it follows they are imperfed in the Chyrurgeons Art; they can tell how to protrad flight Wounds into Length of Time, but for things of real danger they are to feek which way to handle ; especially where Enfe reddendum ne pars ftncera trahatur. The Knife is us’d to part the dead, and give The Vital Part occafion to live. Yet they are bold enough with the Blood, where they command Phlebotomy, bleeding like Farriers. The.Endemial Difeafes of this Country, are Phrenfles, Plurifo, Peripneumonies, Empyemaes, Catarrhs, diftempers of the Eyes; Red Gum, which befets our Children in Europe, is pernicious to Old Age here; St. Anthony's Fire, or more properly the Ferjian Fire, imprefling on the adult Blood the nature of Atrabile: But the f;> Ihionable Malady of the Country is a Clap, fcarce One in Ten being free from it; which the unbounded Liberty of Women, Cheapncfs of the Commodity, and the Encouragement of their filthy Law, are main Incentives to,. And to back this Lewdneis, they bring the Example of their Prophet Haly, who lying down without a Female Companion, is reported to be Author of this doughty Dialogue be* tween the Earth and him, wherein the Earth upbraided him by fay¬ ing, ‘Whilft you lye on the Ground an unfruitful Log, a burthen to ‘myTides, I Sweat and labour in producing Vegetables, Minerals, ‘ and Animals for your ufe; Why then do you notbufy your felf in ‘getting Children, to tranfmit your Offspring to Pofterity.’ Which pleafing Reproof of the Venerable Prophet’s recommending to his eafy Difciples, they embrace with both Arms, while thePoy- fon creeps into the Marrow of their Bones, fo that they are not come to Maturity, before they are rotten 3 though by reafon of the Purenefs of the Air, it feldom or never arrives to that height of Cruelty as in Europe ; inafmuch as when any are fo dealt by it, they reproach it with the Frank Difeafe, Atecheque Fringi , when it breaks out into Sores and Ulcers, after it has leized the whole Mafs of Blood, and eats them up alive; while they wear theirs dormant al- moft to extreme Old Age, which makes them not much folicitous for Remedy, nor are there any who profefs its Cure. There .is another Infirmity as general almoft, proceeding from their Ceremonial Waffling, when they exonerate, too frequent ufing of Baths, which caufes a Relaxation of the Mufcles of the Anus, whereby the great Gut of the Fundament falls down: Moftof them by a Fulnefs of Body, are fubjed to the Hemorrhoids -, but what chiefly vexes them, walking or riding, ( putting them into mifera- ble Pain, and contorted Poftures of the Back, and whole Trunk of the Body), is a Fijlula in Ano, which they contrad from their Athletick Temper, and confiant being on Horfeback; as has been obferved not only by Sennertus, but Platerus, Fernelius, and others: Nor does it feldom fall our, from their aptnefs to Venery, and prone- nefs to make ufe of Boys, that they are afflided with terrible Ma* The Prefent State of PERSIA. 379 rifcte, or fwoln Piles of feveral forms, by them called Ohe\ where- Chap.XW; in Worms, as they perfwade themfelves, are bred, that excruciate them with fuch an Itch as they cannot lay, without'adding Sin to Sin, and therein they report their Cure to be compleated ; and this brings on them a white Leprofy, not incommoding the Body with Illnefs, but difgracing it with Spots in the Face, Arms, Thighs, Bread:, and other parts about them. Children have frequently Scald Heads, which makes them keep clofe Ihav’d. The Plague has not been known among them this Eighty Years and upwards, but the Spotted-Fever kills them prefently, yetis not contagious: The Bezoar-& one in this Cafe is highly approved. The Gout affli&s few here, the Pox commonly fecuring them from it; however as painful as that proves to their Bones, or rather Mem¬ branes furrounding them, they applaud all Provocatives in Phyfick, and will purchafe them at any Rates; which are fometimes foftrong, that they create a continued Priapifm to thefe Goats and Satyrs, and by their Bows being always bent, are brought to an Inability of re¬ ducing them. To divert their Care and Labours, they are great Devourers Large quanti- of Opium , and Koquenar ( which is Poppy-heads boil’d ), which " a “° f they quaff when they have a mind to be merry; for which time, reafon, as Hemp is fown among our Fens and Fields ,. fo they few Poppies, and when ripe, make Incifion for the Juice, which ga¬ thering, they infpiflate and eat; to do which, thole unaccuftomed adventuring unadvifedly upon too large a Dofe, inftead of the ex-' pe&ed effedt of cheering the Spirits, chain up the Vitals fo that they are never loofed more, for they never awake from the Lethargy it intrances them in: So that they begin gradually, and then arrive to great Quantities; as from a Grain to half an Ounce, without any Harm, befides a frolickfome fort of Drunkennefs; by means where¬ of, without any other Suftenance, they are qualified to undergo ■ great Travels and Hardlhips: But having once begun, they rouft continue it, or elfe they dye; whereby it becomes fo neceffary, that if they mif-time themfelves, as in their Ramzan , or on a Journey, thUy often expire for want of it :• Yet thofe that live at this rate are always as lean as Skeletons, and feldom themfelves; but fuch is their love towards it, that they give themfelves up to the lludy of infatuating themfelves by ( all the ways they can, never fmoaking a Pipe without the Leafs of the intoxicating rBangpiad Flowers of the fame, mixed with their Tobacco ; befides which; they contrive ma¬ ny more Medicines fo put a Cheat'upon the'Pungency of their Cares, and drive Sorrow from their Hearts; which indeed diverts them for fomefew hours, till they return with a more fixed Melancholy, bur- thenfome to themfelves and others : Whilejtbe Operation’of their forced Mirth Ms, they are incapable .at that time of any Bufinefs; Whence they proverbially fay f Belt[ue Teriac ne refid, td any Trifier, or Fiery Spirit; That the Force bf your Tfcacleyouihave eaten;; Hill remains. ' ° : \ 'i Moreover, they have opher Treacles, fuch as are taken notice to be fold in the Markets, by Apulcies, and the Circe of "prepat- red as Counter-Poyforis, which are compounded of Garlick, Mother G c c % of 380 The Prefent State of P E R S I A. Letter V. of Thyme, and other Herbs beaten together: That Rich one made l/Y\J ufe of only by the Nobles, is adventitious, and is brought by their Merchants from Venice, the Poor not being able to go to the Price of fuch Medicines or Phyficians as exceed the common Rates; and therefore is it that their great Towns and Buzzars are full of Mounte- . • banks, Charmers, and £uackfalvers, to gulkthem of their Calh. Lawyers, After thefe Sons of Fate » the Lawyers, who hold the Chief Cazy or Codre for their Oracle, which is here ufurped by the Mufti, who fubflitutes others under him; who though the Courfe of Law meet moftly with quicker difpatch here than in Europe , yet they know well enough how to retard a gainful Caufe ; which is confentaneous enough to the Comedian, - 0 Lerrueam vere fololem Fragmticorum, qui lites ex litibusferunt Mortalibus immortaliter -— 0 wretched Crew of Pettifoggers, who Raife Strifes from Strifes, the Client to undo. : ; Again!! whom he has fet down this wholfome Advice; . -- —Lites fuge , * Mqcrum arbitrium judicio potius eft. Flee lingring Suits, a lean Arbitrament Is more than Trial gain’d, when Money s fpent. Here are no Inns of Courts, or Courts of Chancery ; no Moot¬ ings, or emulous Contefts for Vi&ory ,• no being called to the Bar, or a fele<2, Learned, and upright Bench, which juftly concert the Right of the Community; no diffindf Courts, or fubalternate Cham¬ bers to appeal to, which are illuftrated with Venerable Knowledge of. Eloquence and .Oratory, befides the Splendor, of Nobility and Majefty to adorn them: Here are no Counfellors, : Advocates, or Se¬ cretaries diflinguifhed by .their Robes. • Here only a MuSah is chofenby the Codre or Mufti, to be Cadi (corruptly called JCazy) or Judge, in his own Houfe, at his own time, and m no other Garment than ufual, .unlefs a Red Cap make fomeNoteof Dignity. , The ca*. To him comes the injured Party to^complain of his Adverfary, and implores the Cadi to do him Juftice: At theCadi's Elbowftand feveralOfficers ready to execute his Commands, to whom he pays no Wagesy but what theyjget.. by Gatchpolling; to one of thefe he gives ;his Mandates, faying, • Fetch fuck an one hither ; who, glad of the Employment, feizes. him by the Cali’s Authority, and brings him before him .; .nor fnall he be let go, till he have difcharged his Fees, guilty or not guilty; fo clofe do thefe Harpies hold their Prey, that they; never,let go their Grafp, unlefs a Morfel be offered to their Mouths* ialieu of their Purehafe. . Some- The Prefent State of PERSIA. 381 Sometimes when the C who hath by his Apoflle given us befound but the true Chara&eridick of the Right Religion, which is firft pure,- “ Chnlham.. then peaceable. Then what depravity of underflanding hath corrupted the Minds of thefe Sedators, that hath framed to themfelves a nafly Stable, more full of Filth than Augeus his, indead of that beautiful'and un¬ defiled Structure of the Gofpel; and for the mod Holy and Pure Dodrine taught by Chrid, embrace with prodrate Body and bended Knees, the Libidinous and Lafcivious Worlhip of Mahomet i What Stupidity, what Inchantment bewitchesthem to admita'nlmpodor for a Prophet, a Deluder for a Saviour; for a Juno, as Ixion did, to grafp a Cloud ? Nor let Succefs animate them, fince it is an Argument might ferve Succefs nd the Gentiles as well as them, whofe numbers exceed all the Gontro- Ar s ument - verted Religions put together, whom St. Paul, their profefled Emif- fary, brands with unadvifed Piety, and lays them under equal Con¬ demnation; where he conjoins the Folly,' rh ymdv iti , i.e. What can be known of God , is manifested. among, them ; and .fotyrioSn, their foolifh heart is darkened ; which is the fault of the Mahometans as well as them, becaufe the pravity.of their Underdandings has cor¬ rupted their knowledge,, of God, the only True'God, whereby they Ihould know his only Son Chrid jefts, and ihim cfucifibd. to fulfil both the Law and the Prophets. Thus from 'theiprevious Knowledge or Idea of Religion, as it is either true or falfe,> fo it happens there refulcs a true Piety, Superflition or Idolatry, which would clearly appear, were Reafon Mader of our Conceptions; :.j.‘ . Dda a CHAP. 388 Letter V. The Mer¬ chant. Cheats in all Profeflions. The Frefent State of PERSIA. CHAP. XIV. the appellations of the Warrior and the Scholar ; of the Mer» chanty and Mechanicks and Villains ; of their Garb, Civility of Scanners, Facetioufnejs , Hovelling , Sports , Weddings, Cleanftngs and Burials ; of their Women, and Licenje of Cur- tifans. The Eunuchs, Venues and Vices s and lafilyy their Supputations of Coin, Meafures and Time. A ND now being about to difmifs the Two Upper Forms from farther examination, we Ihall part with them with their pro¬ per Appellatives; The Warrior bluff ering in the Title of Bcgue, and the Gown-man priding himfelf in the courteous Name of Miirza ; who being thus Marlhalled with Refped,and palled by with what Or¬ der they are allowed, The Crowding Multitude prefs for Admittance, fcarcely affording Priority to the Wealthy Merchant; the molt Honourable of whom are the Armenians, and therefore ftyled Cogee, or Rich, by the Per- [tans ; though even among the Perflans many covet to be fo reputed, but care not to meafure the wide World, like them, venturing no far¬ ther than over tolndia, which is their ne plus ultra, while the diligent Armenian, Per Mare per Terras, per pod tegit omnia, Ccelum.. By Sea and Land does fearch for Store, And all Heaven’s Covering ranfacksore. The Moors are by Nature, heavy, dull and lazy; and were they not ftimulated by Neceffity, would not trot from their own Homes; for they are content with the Rags of Poverty, rather than to put their Hands to labour; and when they do exert their Faculties, they rather ftudy toimpofe by Fraud, than by Induffry and honeft Gain to re¬ pair their Fortunes. Uijderpullers to thefe are the Shopkeepers, whofe Mercurial Parts are fitted to put off the worft Wares, by making appearance of the belt, either by falfe Lights, or crafty obtruding the Choifeft to the view pn their Stalls, and foifting Goods difagreable to the Patterns on their Chapmen. Nor are the Handicraft free from Sophiftry, having tailed the fame Philtre ; the Cook, a Cheating Knave, will fell Affes, Camels, or Horfe Flelh, inltead of Ox’s; and that often fetched out of the High-ways, being billed with Labour, or dead of Difeafes, while the Unwary Buyer pays for wholfome Food. The Baker mixes with his Meal fome Chalky Earth, which the Imprudent fuppofe to be good Wheat; though thefe when dete&ed (as intimated already) fuffer feverely for it. The The Prefent State of PERSIA. 589 The Artizans alfo confpire in this, that Strangers are to be cozen- Ch. XIV. ed; from whence refults the neceffity of employing Broakers or Banyans , that the Crates may deal with the Cretes ; or as our Eng- BroakeKne- lijh Proverb hath it, Always fet a Knave to catch a Knave. csffiry. For all thefe Mifcarrjages, not the Government fo much, as the Adminiftrators of Juftice, are to be blamed : For the Laws are found enough, were not the Magiftrates faulty in the Execution; and the Reafon is plain, their Offices being purchafed at high Rates, indired Courfes muft be taken to repay themfelvcs: Wherefore there is hardly any Villany unconrtived at, if they bribe but honeftly, and have the wit not to be open in their Cheats; fo that thofe, whofe duty it is to preferve'the Commonweal, are fo far from being intent thereon, that on the contrary, their main fcope isdireded how to vex and opprels the Innocent; whereby, inftead of being Difpenfers of Equity and Right to the Citizens, they are the only Plague and Grievance they lie under: For their, Gain arifes moftly from the Ills they contrive for thofe under their malevolent Authority, as may ap¬ pear by the fubfequent, much to be lamented Story. A certain Droger or Calenture of a City, being introduced by the The Villany ruminate within himfelf (nor is the Devil wanting to fuch Servants;) wherefore, befides the ufual Exadions, to wit, fo load the Rich with Injuries, Tributes, Prifon, Stripes and Shackles; Whereas he could not bring that to account to all, he devifed a more fureand available Stratagem; be enters a League and Amity with all the Men of Note, treats them civilly abroad, and invites them friendly at home, but not without defign; entertaining at the fame time rorre- fpondence with all the Pimps, Panders and Bawds of the Town, and charges the latter to mix with all the lawful Wives in the publick Baths (fince only Men of the higheft Rank have them in their Houfes) and to obferve their Manners, Geftures, Garments, Shoes; and their very Smocks, and give him an account; nor dare they be deficient in their part: At the next Aflembly, where every one ftrives to the utmoft of his Gravity to behave himfelf, he puts on a fober Vizor, looks concerned, and out of order; after many Expreffions of fincerity,and a deep fenfe of Honour, he bur Its out into heavy fighs; at which the Good Man, to whom he diredshis Difcourfe, afflided to fee him in thefe Dumps, muft to his own ruin ask the occafion of his fudden alteration: He craftily return's, The bufinefsis no other- wife mine, than as it relates to my Friend,! whofe Credit is dearer to me than mine own, nor can I endure to fee him abufed; then the de¬ ceived Coxe grows more inftant, begging that he would not conceal it from him. The Droger being Mafter of his Science,perfifts; What comfort cart I reap from your difturbance ? It were better I Ihould be ftlent; yet-— whereat the other inflamed, thinking the Mifcarriage aimed at him, greedily fwallows the Bait; and whilft he endeavours to clear the doubt, is much more intricated than before, and therefore leaves not off till he have wrought him todifcover the dangerous Secret ; the Droger with much ado fuffersffiimfelf to be overcome, and tberi 2^0 TbePrefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. be declares, to his great grief, he took his Wife in Adultery with a lv'V'W Scoundrel, on whom, according to the Law, he infli&ed fudden Death, as he deferved; but for the Refpedt born to him, he permitted his Lady to efcape; nor had he made more words of it, had not he extorted this Confeflion; nor fhould he have known it, even at this time, had he not feared fome lefs affe&ed to him might have re¬ proached him openly, with what he now privately advifed him only of, otherwife it fhould have been buried in filence for all him. The Husband aftonilhed, by degrees hardly recovers himfelf, but fpeaking incoherently as his Temper provokes him; fometimes breaks forth in a paffion and hurries to the deftru&ion of his Wife and Children, facrifidng all to his Fury, cutting off both Root and Branch by a defperate depriving them of their Lives; than which the Droger defires not a greater benefit, feifing both him and his Goods for fatisfa&ion of the Law: But if he begins to confider, and cooly toexaminhow can this be? Such a night I am fure fhe lay with me, or was fo and fo employed at fuch a time in her own Houfe. The Droger in nothing abalhed, goes on. Has not your Wife fuch a fort of Smock ? Such a Pair of Breeches ? Such a Vefl ? And then particularizes her Habit; which things are too well known by him to be denied, and fo is poflefied with a belief of the Levity of his Wife, and the Kindnefs of the Droger not to publilh his Shame; which compells him to gratify the Favour by good Sums of Mo¬ ney, and either Repudiate, Bear, or Kill his Innocent Wife for the malicious and wicked Invention ofan unjuft Magiftrate. The Pirfm In . Hitherto we have taken notice of little change in Apparel to l '" C'W diftinguifli them, the Tatricii , or Nobles, being of the fame make res " with the meaner Multitude, only their every-day Cloaths furpafs in Richnefs, being Surlaffs, or Cloath of Silver or Gold, and the middle Sort only appear fo on great days, otherwife they are Habit¬ ed alike, unlefs Bufinefs, orNeceffityof the Weather create a dif¬ ference ; they Ride Ihorter, and are booted over their Stockins, with a kind of Buskin u ith flat Heels, only ihod with an Iron Horfe-ihoe; in the Winter they wrap themfelves in Furs, and in the Summer¬ time go in loofer as well as lighter Garments: Moft an end their Stockins and upper Jerkins are made of Englijh Broad Cloth; within doors they are clad more carelefly, as alto when they are on Foot near their own Homes. But the fet Drefs cf the Perfian is after this manner; His Head be¬ ing Shaved, a large Turbat 'is placed upon his Crown, of divers Co¬ lours, either Silk or Cotton, in the Figure of an over-grown Cabage, with a great broad Leaf a top, which is wrought of Gold or Silver, and fpread to make a Ihew ; his Beard is Cut neatly, and the Whiskers kept in Cafes, and encouraged from one Ear to the other, in falhion of an Half*Moon on the upper Lip, with only a decent Peak on the under; notfomofly or flovenly, as either Turki^ or In¬ dian Mahometans : Next, upon his Body is a Shirt, which he covers with a Veil, tied double on his Breaft, and ftrait to his Body as far as the Wafte, from whence it hangs in Pleats to his Ancles, fometimes Qpilted, fometimes not; his Loins are Girt with Thrigm Girdles or The Prefent State of P E R. S I A. 391 or rich Sallies, above which his Belt carries a Falched Sword or Chap XIV. Scimiter ; from his Hips long clofe Breeches of Linnen, come down to his Hole, of London Sackcloth of any Colour, which are cut loofe, not refpe&ing the lhape of the Leg ; over all a looieCoatof the fame, without Sleeves, Lined with Furs, or Sables, orelfeSilk; theoutfide either Scarlet, or the fineft Wool of Europe, or Cloath of Silver or Gold of their own Manufa&ory; his Shoes of the beft Shagreen Leather, moftly Green, with narrow Toes, high narrow Heels, Ihod with neat Iron Half-moons, without Shoe-ties or Quar¬ ters to pull up about their Heels, being the readier to flip off and on asoccafion requires; inftead of Gloves they Tin&ure not only their Hands, but Feet, with a dark Red Colour, which they do with the Aitana, or Hen of the Arabs, fmall Twigs of which Plant Lobeli¬ as writes, are brought out of Africa to be Sold, wherewith they Dye their Hair Yellow, or of a fandy Red; and not only the Turks, who are delighted with that Colour, ftain their Hair, but their Hands and Feet, with the Nails on each, and other parrs of the Body, to reftrain Sweating and filthy Smells proceeding therefrom, Plat.p. 1 65. de Difcoloratione. Both which are miftakes, in relation to the framing of the Hair, bat as to the other part it is true. They only ufe a Glove when they carry their Hawks on their Fills, with which they are as often feen to carry them on Foot, as onHorfeback, And thus have we Robed the Sparkilh Perjian in his City Drefs; and now we fhall attend the Ruder and lefs carefully At¬ tired Ruftick about his Country Affairs; which we fhall bring under a Threefold confideration; for whether they be Carriers, Herdfmen, or Farmers, or rather Hinds, they are all Vaflals to fupreme Mahers. The firft therefore are fuch as Travel to and again, who muff not The Drovef. enter upon that Truft without a fure Return, non eft abire domum vacuumtjue redire ; for they, for fo many Bealls of Burthen, with their Bells and Trappings, much like our Pack-Horfes, ( fuppofe Twenty Mules, Thirty Affes, Forty, Fifty, Hundred, Two hun¬ dred , more or lefs committed to their Care,) flipulate for an equivalent Profit to the Owners; the Pack-faddlesare a Load them- felves, being thick and broad, and made afore with an high Steeple, or Pyramid, and the Ridge in the middle is like a Mountain, over which they hang their Carriages; the like is to be faid of their Ca¬ mels. The Chief Drover is called Gokhdar, and is priviledged only to Command over his Fellow-Servants, not to Domineer over any Paffengers, whether Franks or Natives, as among the Turks vs pra- dlifed, but rather to yield themfelves to the Obedience, of thofewho employ them. r- Thofe that breed up Cattel are wandring Shepherds, and have TheHerdt no Hated Habitation; but where they find the beft Pafture they men. pitch their Tents, together with their Wives, Children, and Fami¬ lies, with all their Troops, in the fatteffc Vallies, - living abroad'far ; : from great Towns, like the Wild Arabs, whofe Chief, or Father of the Tribe, is owned by them, and np other, he giving account to the Emperor for the Number of their Flocks, and the Annual far creafe; for they are Morofe and Untamed, and ; aw apt- enoughs to Worry 592 The Prejent State of P E R S I A. Letter V. Worry any who fall unadvifedly among them : Their Dogs, with which they guard the Folds, are like Wolves, as fierce and ftronger than their Wolves are here. Among thefe we mull reckon thofe that bring up the King’s Breed of Horfes, becaufe they lead a Life very like thefe, though under the Jurifdidion of a Prime Courtier, who lives like a Ter [tan both for Eating and Pomp in his Pavilions of State in the open Fields, keeping there a kind of a Court with his Fellows and Companions, while the Inferior Servants provide for innumerable Droves of Cattle; for whofe Foies newly coked, the Mules are the beft de¬ fence, (fecuring them from the attempts of the wildeft Creatures when their Mares lhall defert them, by a vigorous refiftarice with their Heels,) never leaving to profecute them till they have drove them from their defigned Rape; and to this End Jhall mufter them- felves together when they perceive any danger threaten the Young ones in their refpe'diive Droves, and for the fame purpofe are nou- rifhed to be their Keepers. The Huf- Thefe then are Vagrants, while the Husbandman fixes himfelf in landman. the Villages, to whom the native Soil is fweet, who reaps the Fruit of his Labour, provided he take care todifcharge his Landlord, who generally is the Emperor, or elfe as bad a Task- raafter. Thefe go clad in courfe Cloths underneath, above with Felts, kneaded into,the form of a Coat, and are covered with Hats of the fame, but their Hats are grey, bound about with a Linnen Cloth either of White, Green or Blew; their Coats are of what Colour they pleafe, but moftly Blew; their Hats are high-crowned, and the Brim flit before and behind, which if it be cold, they pulldown and bind with their Cloth; if the Sun offend their Eyes, they draw it over their Faces, or cock up when it is fhady: When they reft, the upper Garment is put on with Sleeves, armed with an undrefled Sheep’s-skin againft the injury of the Weather; their Shirt next their Skin is rugged enoughj over it a plain Jirkin is tied with an hard Linnen Girdle of the fame wooft with the Shirt: About the Calves of their Legs they bind Rowlers for want of Stockins, and their Shoes are foled with Wood, and the upper part wrought over with Packthread. The Dtrvifei. The Dervifes profefling Poverty, affume this Garb here, but not with that State they ramble up and down in India; being without Beafts of Burthen, without Wallets full of Provifions, which the others feize by force, without Attendance, without other Enfigns or Wea¬ pons more than a Staff and Horn; travelling without Company, or indeed any Safe-pafs; and if they fix up their Standard, it is among the Tombs; none giving them harbour, or encouraging this fort of ' Madnefs, as well for the natural Antipathy to Beggery, as for that under this Cloak many Intrigues and ill Defigns have been car¬ ried on. Vine drefa. The Cbriftians labour intheir Vineyards, as do the Jews alfo. Slaves made In all otherServility and Slavery the Old Gders or Gaars, the true of the Old Ancient Perftans, who differ from the prefent in'Speech, Jnfticutes, pcrfmit. Laws, Countenance, Voice and Gate, which they retain with all the Abje&nefs and Sordidnefsa continual preffure of Misfortune can reduce The Prefent State df P E R S J A. 999 reduce them to ; being once Lords of all the World., are no more Ch. XIV. now than the OfF-fcum of the Earth.,, and the meanefi on whom the Sun Ihines, although Hill he is.adored as their Deity V - And thefe being the Loweft of Mankind, made, fo by their Sloth,* TheEunuchs. we {hall pafs from them, to thofe difabled from being:Men by the Barbarous Cuftom of thefe Nations; whofe Favour mult be courted ' before we can come to the fpeech of their Women/.I mean the Eunuchs; who barking,ftraitly.wake their:Mailers; to t^ipm being well difpofed, it is hard to call a feducing Bait befote them;, for fince they are incapable of Enjoyments, though not of the.Thoughts of Venery, their Mailers confide in their Impotency to prefide over the Female Senate, fetting them as Spies over their Incontinency, and as faithful Keepers of their Vertue of Neceflity: They order aJf. their Cloths, and fee that every one be arraid as becomes'them, and that nothing indecent be committed among them; fo pertefiacious are they in the Authority placed in them,out of a tyrannical Humour,that they are never brought over to their Miltrefles Defigns,, but are ever trufty to their Mailer’s Pleafure, being molt exquifite in the Art:of Bawdery, and impure Afliftants to Lechery; infomuch, that whoever beholds them, mull pronounce them a Mapof Villany ;. for they look as if they had Itolen an Old Woman’s Face, , and a Puppit’s Voice, feldom Fat in Body, but always Lean in Vifage, without Beard, that not fo muck as the Haiivof a Good Maaappears,' and the very Image of that Divine Creature feems utterly eraced; that one would fufpedt them to be Gypfies inverted,transformed fromYoubg Men in¬ to Deformed Old Beldams, unlels their Cloaths were v allowed to be the lame as the Mens; for they have no other Teltimony left of their once being of the fame Sex; for they are,Gelded fo iriartificially, or Butcherly rather, that All is cut off, nothing of witnefs being left'; but as clear as the Skin will permit; and thus are they given over ter Nature to cicatrize: If they live; it is well; if not, they try others, till they do; wherefore a Chyrurgion skilled in this Art, is of greater value, than if he were expert in every other part, and defi- . dent in this. ; • :' ' They have both White and Black; the firft from Georgia , the other from Arabia and Africa ; thefe are the fit Tools of their Beallly Offices, and therefore the more endedred to their Mailers, by how much the more lewd they are. • ' ■ Which would hardly be born with filence by the Ancient Procu- rr s of the Female Sex, had they not been found faulty in their often 0 en ’ contriving and helping their Young Miftrefles out in their Afligna- tions; ot which they being confcious, they the more quietly admit them into their Quarters, not to fay more contentedly; for they look upon them to be Overfeers of their Actions, and impofed asfo many Argus's to difeover all. their Intrigues. In the mean while, the Women of this Country are in a bad State, Their w<* where Jealoufy reigns with fuch a fway, (and itis faid not without men ' caufe;) for which reafon they are without hope of redrefs, or any one fo much as to pity them, fince they’r known above once to breakthrough thofe Bars; nor is it wonderful when their Profoundeft Divines teach them to be without Rational Souls, and tbere- Eee fore 394 P re f en * $ tate °f PERSIA. Letter V. fore exclude them their Mofques; nor are they traihed up in thofe Principles from their Youth, which Ihould render them fit to be- come prudent Matrons; but meafuring from extraneous things the fweetnefs of their Being, are inftrufted in Affairs of the Bed, Ban- quetting, Luxury, and Brutifh Obfequioufnefs. Their Excel- They are taught to Ride a Straddle like Men, to Leap, to Dart lencies. nn d drink Tobacco. ’ None, though of the Royal Lineage, are permitted in Matters of State to tneddle, or have their Cabals or Inftruments, whereby to convey their Policies; nor muft they fiir abroad Unvailed, unlefs fhut up in Cedgewaies , and then well attended. They have little care over their Children, nor have they much bufinefs with the Reel or Spindle; as if they were created only to be Idle Companions for the Men; their Garments differ no farther from the Mens than Conveniency requires; their Hair is braided with Eleganty under their Veils, with a Golden Crown or Gar¬ land, beftuck with Jewels and precious Stones in pretty Knots and Fancies. Pectoris S? cordis pariter proprieque monile Qrnatus. CoHi font torques , auris in aures, Aimulus eft mnuum, ficut armillte Iracbiorum, ! Atque perifeelides txornant crura puella. i Befides the Breaft, the Neck, the Ears, the Hand, Their'proper Ornaments, the Thighs command. The Plelean T^omen walk without Doors, either on Foot, orelfe B ide on Horfe-back covered with White Sheets, with Holes for their Eyes and Npfe; content to enjoy Day at a little Hole rather than proftitute their Face to publick View; the honeft Women have no Borders to their Sheets. The Mark of Thofe that defire to be reputed Whores have large Borders, and a Whore. wear them as a Sign of their Trade $ with which to difgrace a Mar¬ ried Woman, and to lhave her Head, is the greateft Mark of Infamy fhe can be branded with; unlefs to add a perpetual ftigmatizing Note, flie be carried on an Afs, with her Face to the Tail, quite through the City. The Women are fair, with rather too much Ruddinefs in their Cheeks; their Hair and Eyes moft black; a little Burly, by reafon they wear their Cloths Ioofe, yet not altogether fo, but more at eafe than our Dames; a Plump Lafs being in more efteera than our Slen¬ der and Straitlaced Maidens. The Lovers court not one another; for theReclufenefs of their Condition is fuch, that fhould they attempt to carry on a Secret Amour, it could not long lie hid; wherefore when they are at leafure to Love, they ask the Parents of the Daughter for their Confent, which if they gain, the Match isftruck up: That of Catullus being granted, Virgmitas The Prefent State of P E R S I A. 395 Chap.XlV. Virgimtas non tota ttta eft, ex parte parentum eft' } . Tertia pars matri data , pars, tertia patri, Tertia fola tua eft. Molt pugndre duohus. Your Virginity is not all your own; Two Thirds your Parents claim, one Third alone. Remains to you. Fight not then two to one. She is led through the Streets in all her beft Apparel vailed, with¬ out Dowry, more than what Goods and Chattels, are fent with lulty Slaves, by her feveral Relations, with a pompous Proceffion and Illuminations, with noify Mufick for feveral Nights together; and thus the Men.do as it were, buy their Wives, while'the Women are ignorant of the Chapman till they come together; it being no? reputable for Women of good Fame to enter upon ’ fuch Bar- gains. Only profefled Whores are tollerated to make the beft of their Curtczans. Markets; Curtezans therefore are difpenfed by the King, they gi¬ ving him fo much for their Licenfe when they firft fet up, and An¬ nually as long as they pra&ife, not exceeding the number of Forty thouland in his Chief City of Suffahaun ; and thefe are always Mar¬ rying, as the Poet pleafantly relates^ Quotidie viro rnlit , • Nupfitque hodie, Nidit max nottu. , ’ r Daily Man lhe Marries, : She has, been wed to Day; If till Night flie tarries, ■' She thinks flie does delay- When they go to Bed, they (Glamber ‘not up to them, as we do; but throw themfelves on the Ground after Carpets are laid, and a Bed made in a Summer-Houfe in fome Garden, left open in Sum¬ mer-time, or elfe on the Tablets upon the Tops of their Houfes;, where, if they obferve any peeping upon them, or their Wives, an Arrow drawn up to the head is let fly; nor does any blame the Marks-man when he hits. In Winter-time they keep all dofe. If a Curtezan conceive, and it proves a Girl, flie is regiftred of TheltCMl- her Mothers Profeflion; if a Son, lhe fixes it on fome Father. d rovided 1 br There are coftly Whores in this City, who will demand an hun- proV1 e ° r ' dred Thomands for one Nights Dalliance,' and exped a Treat befides of half the price; thefe" while their Wit and Beauty laft, outfhine the Ladies of the higheft Potentate, and brave it through the Town with an Attendance fuperior to the wealthieft. In their Lyings in, it is common for the ordinary Peoples Wives Lyings in, an a to meet together to affift the Woman that Cries out: And the Mo- Fari *yings. ther, and the Babe, are purified by walhing iri their Hummurtis after forty Days. , Eee» When 396 The Prefent State ^PERSIA, Letter V. When their Husbands dye they make great Lamentations; the t yv\, Widows howling with their Neighbours and Relations, crying out, Widows. ^ho will take care for us, who will defend the Gaufe of the Widow Mutes! 4 and the Fatherlefs; after the Cuftom of the Hebrews, where in Sa¬ cred Scripture they are termed Mutes, becaufe there is none to plead for them; and if by chance they offer to urge any thing for themfelves, no one regards their Complaints: For three Days after their Kindred’s Death they change not their Garments; .the Men fhave not their Heads, or trim their Beards; thie Women fhear their Heads, vow Widowhood, and go carelefly Clad, only in a Sheet or mean Drefs. > • • Sodomy. The Terfians , when they let go their Modefty, put no bounds to their lafcivious Defires, not being content with Natural Inclinati¬ ons, outdo the Senfuality of the hotteft Beads, who never attempt on other than the Females of their own Species; but thefe, oh fhame! covet Boys as much as Women; and to fpeak an horrid Truth, are too guilty of Buggering other Creatures; thefe poor Children thus abufed are fad Spe&acles, looking difeafed, and are not long liv’d. Addicted to So wholly bent on Pleafures are thefe People, that to -grow Pleafures. Rich, be faluted with Honour, appear magnificently, be account¬ ed Noble and fpecioufly Great, to Play, to Ride on Horfeback with Gold Trappings on Prancing Steeds, to feaft Day and Night, they will venture on any Evil Enterprize, and fell themfelves to any Mifchief, well knowing without Money they can arrive at none of thefe, fo that they are intent to get'it right or wrong: There¬ fore neither in Court, Camp, or in Judicature, is there catching any thing without a Golden Hook; no one fues in forma pauperis , Jufliceisnottobe had without a Bribe; and if you Appeal toCeefar, he is deaf,if you knock not at the Door with the Showre that opened the way to Danae’s clofe Confiners. On the other hand, commit any Wickednefs, caff but a Golden Mill before the. Chief Minifters, and the King fhall know nothing of it; but if the Clamour of the Subjed force a Maglefs , the Cale is not reprefented fairly to the Emperor, but as a Blend they mix Ealfities with Truth, •Atque it a mentmtur, fie veris falfa remifce»t. Comiptnefs No Court in the World is fuller of Corruption than the Terfian Court, of the Cour- whereupontheCrowd is fent away no better fatisfied than it came; tIMS ' which caufes ill Blood, a perpetual Reproach to the King, and if they durft, Infurredions, which whether Fear, or want of Courage reftrain them, :or the innate Fidelity and Paflive Obedience on the formerly mentioned grounds,I fhall not determine .- Since at rhis time they feem to be more provoked by the Supinefs of the Emperor, and the Ill Management of the Government, and the general out-cry of the Mo¬ bile; but yet, even in this Conftifion I do not perceive a Propenfity to Rebellion, though they refrain not from open Curfes, efpecially the Womeokind, who are fet on by the Men to bellow their Oppref- fions, which they roar at the Palace Gates, by Troops of Women, the Prefent State of PERSIA. 397 in a Tumultuous manner fome Weeks together; to which Vocal Chap.XIV. Weapons they are fparing.. , When as fliould the Men come in a Riot, they would handle them Women made otherwife; which is the reafon they thrufl them on to complain, “poatocom- when they dare not fpeak their own Grievances, it being not held p aiD ‘ manly to fight with a Woman. , And hence it comes to pafs that the Law lofes its Authority, and Th e pir/im the Subject becomes a Prey to the Avarice and Violence of the Ma- f^Prot^erit'^ giftrate ; and while the one grows exorbitantly Rich, the other be- *“ 10 peMy ' comes miferably Poor, through an unpropor,tionable diflribution; .and by thefe Exactions is verified the Proverb, Homo homini Lupus; One Man devours another more cruelly than a Wolf. Nor is it pof- iible for one that is Poor ever to rife without a Miracle, there'being no Mean between extreme Poverty and the height of Wealth or Honour, which makes the Great ones truly Great, while the deject¬ ed Wretches have no other SanCtuary than to appear under the Ihel- ter of the Mighty; and to be reckoned of their Retinue, is all the . Favour to be expected in recompenfe for the mofl notorious Injury; which would augment the Affli&ion of a Generous Spirit, to follow on Foot the exalted Extortioner that has undone him, who climbed over others Ruin to be eminently Rich, and is Rill upheld by their " Downfall. And this mufl ever be the Rate of thofe Kingdoms where Goodnefi is banilhed, and Virtue mufl give place to Vice; and this unavoidably happens where-ever the, Mahometan Religion takes place; which makes a voluptuous Life the only Benediction both on Earth and in their Heaven ; and this fquares more peculiarly with the . Climat and the Temper of the Perftans , than any other Nation un¬ der the cope of, Heaven: For fince Misfortunes are looked on as the mofl grievous Gurfes, they all aim either to be, or to be thought Profperous; whence it is not only indecent, but unhappy to walk on Foot out of Neceflity; and he that comes abroad with the fineR Palfry, the richeR Accoutrements, the moR Followers, with Foot¬ men with Bells at their WaRes, Feathers in their Turbats, Em¬ broidered Horfe-Cloaths over their Shoulders, delicately wrought Saddles for War and Houfings, Golden Bridles, BreaR-Plates and Cruppers often befet with Precious Stones; has his Golden Headed Coleon behind him magnificently carried, with change of. Vefls in rich Buy-Shoes or Portmantles; he is the Favourite of Heaven and the Darling of Fortune, is courted by all, and efleemed the chief . care of Providence. Thus mightily are the gaudy Bubbles of For¬ tune admired here ; on which account to be mofl Impious is moR emulated, fince to arrive at thefe Ends there is no other method than what has already been related.. . ' And thus Equipped they appear in their Martial Camps, not to Their Recrea- out-do, but out-lhine each other, where- they have Obelisks for tions and Ex' Goals, where they try their Steeds, not giving them a long Race, ereifes - but Ihortandfwift ; they, as mofl of the Eafl do, Ride Ihort, and flop with a Jerk'; for which, as has been faid in India, their Curbs are ufeful,that on a motion they Obey; otherwife they (being placed , with a lharp Cone, in a round Ring pointing on the Tongue,) fo pierce it that it Bleeds as if flruck with a Fleme; here they Gerede, or 59B TbePrefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. or caft Darts, play u ith Balls on Rackets, bringing their Steeds to obferee the Rebound; here they train their Ha wks to fly at Crowi, and Crows to fly at Sparrows: Here they Exercife among themfe! ves what the King requires to be prefented before him; and the Nobility learn to Shoot backward, as the Partbians, their Predecefiors, were wont, and in that were dreaded more on flight than when they flood to it; nor is this the only Skill they pretend to with Bows and Ar¬ rows, but Shoot at Marks not far diftant, though they feldom pra- ftife Rovers. Onthefe Sands the Anointed Wrefller keeps himfelf in Breath, and the undaunted Fencer bares his Livid Arm; Rams are fet againft Rams,and againft Bulls. Lions,©c. and againft all, our EngHjh Maftiffs, who carry the Prize from the Combatants, when they Celebrate the Boetian Games They Hunt a They are frequent Huntfmen : When they go out; on this fport aether 1610 " the y return not * n a Days time, as we do, but remove from place to place, where Game is to be had; take with them their Wives and Family, and Travel in ftate with full prepared Tables, and a ft the Bacchinals like Alexander ; for which purpose they have their Tents and clofe Carriages, their Gogdans for Proviflons; they carry alfo Bulgar-Hidts, which they form into Tanks to Bathe thcmfelves, and Women, in their Progrels; for drinking Cups they have both Gold and Silver ones, as alfo large Flasks of chat Metal; bdtdes Earthen Jars for Water, and Puckerks, which are porous Veflels to keep their Liquor Cool. How Treated Upon their Return, or Entrance of any Magiftrate into any great ontheirre. Town, or City, all of any Quality meet them at. fome Garden, a Wrn ' Pharfang off, with led Horfes, Mulick, and Banquets, to Congra¬ tulate their Arrival, which is alfodone upon their Departure, with a Train of Servants, and efpecially thofe bearing their Tobacco-Vef- fels, Tea, and Coffee-Pots; which, with hotRofe-Water, and Su¬ gar-Candy, is their preparatory Fore runner to a fplendid Entertain¬ ment ; which they are fure to have at the return to their Palaces, where they Treat like Perfians. in AekFeaft- Alighting they are introduced the Gueft-Chamber, all beftrewed ing. " with Flowers and fweet ^Hcrbs, befides perfumed with Odoriferous Gums, or the Aloes Wood alone, or other refiny Matters made into Candles, and in Mafiy Silver Fuming-Pots very coftly and delicate; leaving their Slippers where they begin to tread on Carpets; they take their Seats on Sufanees, a rich Tapeftry of Needle-Work that Bordets the Carpets, behind which are placed huge Velvet Bolfters, before them Spitting Pots to void their Spittle in when they Smoak Tobacco, or Eat Pawn ; thefe Rooms are large and airy,and open fold¬ ing Windows on every fide, where being placed they bring their Coloens 5 after which they Welcome you -by a flood of Rofe-Water, or other Compound Water poured on your Head and Beard, then they bring in, in neat Voiders, China Plates of Fruit, as Piftachia’s, Walnuts, Almonds, Hafleiiuts, Grapes, Prunes, Prunello’s, Apri¬ cots Dried, and Sweatmeats Wet and Dry of all forts, amidft whereof they fill out Coffee, Tea, and Hot Rofe-Water, and all the While have Mimicks, Stage-Players, and Dancers to divert, between The Prefent State of P'.E R S I A. whofe Interludes is mixed theCuftom, as ancient as Nebuchadnezzar , of certain Wife Men repeating Verfes in their Praife, or reading Mo¬ numents of Antiquity, which continues till Victuals are brought in, and the Cloath fpread on the Carpets, every one keeping their places 5 Firft, Water being brought in great Silver Bafons and Ewers to Waih, the Courfes are ufhered in with loud Mufick, and the Table being filled, the Servitors are placed fo as to furnilh every onewith Plates of the feveral Varieties, which they place before each, and give them long Wheaten Cakes, both for Napkins, Trencher’ and Bread, and fometimes thin Pancakes made of Rice; though Boiled Rice ferves ufu'ally for Bread, which they mix with their Soops and Pottage. f . , . The ufual Drink is Sherbet, made of Water, Juice of Lemmons, and Ambergreece, which they drink out of long thin Wooden Spoons, wherewith they lade it out of their Bow Is. The moft admired Dainty, wherewith they fluff thernfelves, is V allow, whereof they will fill thernfelves up to the Throat and re* ceive no hurt, it being fo well prepared for the Stomach. . After they have Eaten well, and the Cloath is rehoved, they Walh again. And then moft of them will fredy take off their Bowls of Wine, ( which is brought to each by their feveral Servants) moft of. Silver, fome of Gold, which we call a Tofs, and is made like a Wooden Difh, purpofely fo lhap’d lor convenient Carriage, at the bottom of their Coofdans placing their Gurgulets upon it.which Coofdan is a Cafe made neatly of Rattans or Canes, covered with a Coverlet of Scarlet, Bordered with Silk for Shew as well as to keep the Duftoff; . , ....... When they have tired thernfelves with Feafting ( Which is not fuddenly ) as they depart, they return Thanks, by Inviting every one in courfe to an Entertainment of the like nature^ where they ftrive to outdo each other. Thus extravagantly Luxurious and im¬ moderately Profufe are they in their, great Feafts, ftately Dining" Rooms, magnificent Gardens, and Water-Courfes; exceeding the Roman Voluptuoufnefs, of whofe Prodigality Seneca. fur pis libido (fcilicet ) potent venere Lux aria viftrix, orbis immenfas opes, Jampridem avaris mdnibus utperdat, rapit. Adtive in Luftful Fires, they heap up ftoresi To wafte in Riot, and to fpend on Whores. Seize all the World by Avaritious Hands, Get to conlume on Prodigal Commands. In their Weddings, Childbearings, Circumcifions and Purifying Ban" quets, they make great Revellings, Fireworks and Rejoycings Night and Day for a Month together, that it is troublefome living in great Cities by reafori of their Notfturnal Perambulations,when they Shoot,’ Shout, and make great Acclamations, with hideous thundring Ret* tie Drums and Trumpets; and however obfcure they live at other times, they are wholly taken tip in Expences at thefe Times, and fometimes 399 Chap.XlV" U^r\j 400 The Ffejent State of P E R S I A. Letter V. fometiraes forgetting the main Chance, they lay out all, and more, to imitate Men of Fame. Their Reiigi- But the greatefl: Feftivities are injoined by the Church, fome ous Feafts, whereof are common to the Turks and Per/ians, others belong only to the Terftan Sedt; as thofe in the end of their great Fall of the Ramzan, and that of Imaum Offeen , No Rofe, when the Caliph, or Archflamen, or one for him, fhould facrifice a Ram in memory of that intangled in the Thickets, which Ahraham offered up an Holri- cauft inftead of his Son Ifaac , and thefe are equally obferved by each. When the Emperor, feating himfelf on his Throne, arrayed in his' Royal Robes, that he might difplay all the Wealth and Glory of the Empire both to the Plebeans and Potentates, and ought after the Pri¬ mitive Inftitution to make a Feaft for all the Princes and his Servants, the Power of Perfia, the Nobles and Prefers of Provinces, for many days together: By placing Golden Vefleisat the Gates of his Palace for the Lions and ftrange Beads to drink out of, as large Golden Jan s for Pafiengers; where, upon the frequent expedationof their Liege Lord, arid the Shews and Paftimes reprefented before him on thefe Days, great Numbers of People flocked into the Hypodrome, where the Prefence of the King was as eagerly defired, as Cajdr's Advent was welcomed by Martial. Thnfphore redde diem ; cur gaudia noftr.a moreris , C re fare venture ? Phofphore redde diem . But as if nothing were owing either to the Affedions of the Vulgar, or to Honeft Report, he not only negleds the Sports and Games, but by contracting new Impieties,loofens the very Bonds by which the Subjects Faith are tied; for be being commonly drunk on thefe Solem¬ nities within doors, with his Pimps and Panders comes abroad like a Royfter, neither regarding the Temple, or the Grandure of the Magelefs: For on No Rofe, the Firft Day of the Year, which is the Tenth of March , he being attended by the Great Council, fhould re¬ ceive the Homage of all his Great Slaves, and they fhould pay their Feuditory Tributes,for which he fhould return them Co fats, or Robes of Honour, either by themfelves or Subflitutes,- and at the fame time- entertain them Royally; where, befides the ufual Sports, on this Day there is a peculiar Diverfion of the Shotters or Footmen, begun at Two or Three in the Morning, and held for Twelve Hours; in which fpace the Shatter that is appointed, fetches Twelve Small Streamers placed a Pharfang diftant from theStarting-Poft, which is before the Palace-Gate, which reckoning four Miles to a Pharfang, is four times Twelve, or Forty eight Miles backwards and forwards, but at a niodeft computation it is full Three Miles that they run, and then it will amount to Seventy two Miles that they run in Twelve hours time; which I once faw performed at the Caun of Bunders (who all over the Realm imitate the Emperor on this Day) on the Sand along the Sea-fide, we being there at the Vernal /Equi¬ nox, when this is performed. He The Prefent State of P E R. S I A* 401 He fets out with his Fellows, who by Turns wait his return, and Ch. XIV* are obliged to attend him, both to make way, and to fan him in his paflage, and to be ready with Towels to rub the Sweat off his Body: 00t ' KCing - Two or three hours before Noon the Prime Nobility gather to rer ceive the King’s Commands; fome to be Spectators, others to ad afore the Magelefs ; where at the appearance of the Shutter , with his Streamer in his Hand, the loud Mufick proclaims his coming: When he has fetched the Iaft, the King has notice, and all with him amend¬ ing their Steeds, wait on theEmperor, who meeting him, the Shorter runschearfully afore his Horfe, and holds his Horfe till he alights, and proffrate before him, delivers the Streamer, for which, after he is cleanfed,and the Magelefs is feated, he is brought before the Emperor of the Saffees, clothed with nothing more than his running Breech.es, and then a Rich Veil is thrown over him, and receives a Gratuity befides from the Suffee, whofe Example all there prefent following, he is plentifully rewarded, and made Chief Shorter for the enfuing Year: After the Shatters Race is over, the Suffee calls all his No¬ bles to a Sumptuous Feaft, which concludes with demonftrations of Exceflive Joy. At the beginning of April they have a proper Feaft of their own, where the Emperor is to give the People of Suffahaun a Camel to be flain, which they lead about the Streets with a confufed Noifej be¬ ing drefled very fine.with Flowers and Garlands for the Altar; and being brought to the Prieftj: he cuts the Throat, and burns the En¬ trails, diftributing to each Principal Ward of the City the feveral Quarters to be eaten publickly after they are roafted, the Head only being prefented to an Old Sybil, the only RelitSt of the Tribe to which it appertains by right, which fhe preferves till next Year, and then produces it at the Feaft, for which fire has a fetled Penfion ; and the Blood of the frefh flain is fcrambled for to befmear their Lin¬ tels and Side-pofts, figning them with the Sign of the Crofs: What relation it has to the Paflover ordained to the Jews, I could never learn from them; but they fay it is to keep their Houfes free from Hobgoblins and Evil Spirits: It is called MdeCorboon. About December they obferve a Feaft for the happy Cojijun&ion of Mahomet and Alii, known by Aide Chudeer. In January is the Commemoration of the Snares of the Ottoman intended againft the Ofmeran Family, JE.de Bobba Sbujawhfmdeen, which are ridiculous enough. They celebrate the New Moons with the reft of the Moors; and to fpeak fairly, they outdo others in Civility of Manners: Nor (to give them lefs than their due) are they behind-hand in ex- Their Valour, er.ting their Valour where requifite, whether out of the opinion of whence it Fatal Neceflity, or an Innate Difpofition, I know not, nor will I P toceeds - judge j but that of Lucan prevails with them. -- A prima defeendit origine Mmdi Caufarum feries , atque omnia fata laborani ; Si t/uidtjuam mutajfe veils. 402 Letter V. TheirUrkni- ty. The Frefent State of PERSIA. Since the World’s Frame at firft began, All things in fetied Order ran; What you’d change, Ihould have been changed then. Friendly and Courteous Salutation is no where fo much promoted as among the Per fans , as if they had learned Catos Prefcript; wherefore I think it not impertinent to give you fome Forms of their Addrefs, and a Specimen of their good Behaviour; not that f would hereby pretend I underftood the Language (for I confefs, be¬ yond theDifcourfe of TrafEck, and for ordinary Occafions, I do not,) but rather to vindicate the Place, famous for fo many Ages part, from the Barbarity of the reft of the Eaflem Nations; and to fhew that it has tranfmitted fome of its Civility (though by ano¬ ther Conveyance than the dired Anceftry) through the repeated Alterations of Fortune, to the prefent Pofleftors, who were originally of a morofe Extrad; yet have they put oft' their Native Ferity, to comply with the over-ruling Influence of the Climate. / For the very Plebeans in other Parts, forly and unconvertible, are here Affable and Kind, not Rude and Unmannerly; where-ever you meet them, before you falute them, they accoft you with Sa- lam Aleekum , God’s Peace be with you; and if you dp the like to them, they refaluteyou, and bowing with their Hands acrofs their Bread, return Aleekum Salam , God fave you; approaching nigher, they Embrace with the Appellation of mi Sahah , my Friend, or more properly, my Lord; Cuddah tie gardin, God be propitious to you; in paflant, they cry with fome vehemence, CheJmldore-, how fare you ? to which they reply, Choukofee, at your Service; at Departure, Salamut hafbeet , Peace be your Companion; at Meeting, Nofajun Bafhut , I am glad to fee you; at Meals, Aupbeat Bajbut, much Good may it do you; if any fail the appointment after Invitation, or come late, being called, they fay Ja Shaman coSee booth pi/bee eauroon. Your Seat is empty among lo many good Friends; and what I wonder at more, many Words in ufe among the High Dutch , are in Common Difcourfe with them, as Fader fignifies Father; Mnder , Mother; Broder , Brother;! lad, leeter, and innumerable of the like fort; which not only confirms their being Scythians, but corroborates the Learned Antiquary, Mr. She- ringhams Opinion of Woden, and his Afas or Afiaticks, ( Afa being a Common Name among the Parfys in India and Gaurs here) and of our being derived from them, as appears in his Anglorum Gentis ■ Origine, The Courtiers think the Turkijh Language more commanding, and therefore addid themfelves to that Speech, which is neither io Polite or Verbofe, but more Gutteral; the prefent Dialed: of the Perfians is much more fmooth and near, yet not agreeable with the old Cbarader, as may appear by our Polyglot Bible, which they underftand no more than they do Welch. But to perfed their Urbanity; when they Encounter, they pluck . not off their Caps, but with a pleafing Modefty bow their Heads; within Doors they bare their Feet by pulling off their Shoes, which The Prefent State of PERSIA. 405 which they leave at the Entrance upon the Bucchanms; not that they Gbap.XIV. falute thereby, but out of Cleanlinefs to preferve their Carpets, from ' which when they defcend, their Servants ftand ready to help them to their Shoes, and while they arefeated, glory to be incircled with Servitors; nor do they prefume afore their Betters to ufe any other Seat than their Heels, till they have Licenfe to fit at eafe. They are formal in the matter of going Firft, and fhall protratft the Ceremony into a tedious Contention, and generally are prefled hard to Precedency, and will ftrain a Courtefy to Strangers. The Cuftom of carrying Aves one to another, is not Obfolete. The Cuftom of carrying Prim a Baht antes atque altera continet bora. Aw!t No more than among Martial's Parafites, the very Slaves Reveren¬ cing the Threfhold of their Lord’s Doors 5 fo extravagant are they of their Courtefies, with an hundred fuch good Morrows; but if any weighty thing be to be prefented, it is with an eye to Profit. However, not toexempt them from all good Inclinations, could TheirVirtues; we excommunicate Self-Praife, Philautia, from their Pious Adts, we might difeern fome noble Deeds for which they merit to be extolled, as the Building of Temples, Publick Hofpitals for Travellers, (not for Sick or Wounded) which are the Caravan Seraws , Colleges, Bridges, Fountains, plaining Mountains, and raifing Vallies, for to facilitate the Way for long and troublefome Journies. The Colleges that are not of Royal Foundations, are Adjuncts to the Prophets Tombs, or Built in Commemoration of fome Noble Warrior; to be Buried near which, is the defire of thefe Martis A- Irnni, as much as for Catholicks to be Buried in St. Francis his Ha¬ bit; which Sepulchres are, as it were. Triumphant Arches, after the Figures of their Mofques, in the middle whereof isdepofited the Corps in a Stone Tomb, like a Chefl, or Coffin, with Four Golden or Silver Apples, at each Corner One, commonly covered with a Purple wrought Pall, with curious Artifice; over- head hang Stream¬ ers and Banners, and it is Railed with Iron Rails, in which are Lamps always Burning 5 nor do any enter with their Shoes on, the Floor being Matted, or fpread with Carpets; and if a Mullah attends, he goes to Prayers for the Quiet of the deceafed Soul. They never Bury in the Church, and feldom in the City ; they per¬ mit Reprefentations of Lions or Tigers, on Grave-Stones, as has been faid, to exprefs a Man taken away in the prime of his Age; have Infcriptions and Places for Incenfe; they always lay the Body North and South, in oppofition to us Chriftians , who Bury our Dead Eafi and We(l ; agreeing in moft things with the other Mahometans. To this Magnificence and Civility of Temper, we may add a Third Virtue, their Fidelity .to their Princes. For which Excellencies they feem to be beholden to the purenefs of their Air ; for it is Hot and Dry for the moft part, whereby their Hearts are more firm and folid, which makes them more conftant and refolute, they being of a.more refined Head than the other Eaftems , their Brain being more fpirituous and clear. 404 Tt> e ? re ft nt btaie of PERSIA, Letter V. Vices. How fat be¬ holden to Conftitution of Body and Air. Their Diet. Dumfike. Stews. To which Three Graces, notwithflanding, there are a Trine Afpeft of Vices; to Magnificence, Oppreflion and Covetoufnefs ; to Munificence, Intemperance and Luft; to Fidelity, Jealoufy and Revenge. The Philofophers agree not with Galen, 3 rtm; 7} to ; that the Body futfers from the Affe&ions of the Mind; they faying, That they depend not on the Texture of the Body, but are Conjoined with it; yet Experience teaches, That as often as the Mind is Troubled, the Spirits are varioufly Agitated, which move the Blood and put it on a Fret, whereby the Heart is Con- vulfed, and many times the whole Frame of the Body is put out of Order. And therefore is it necefTary, that to the excellency of the Air, and difpofition of the Body, a requifite Diet, as well for Meat as Drink, fhould correfpond with both; and indeed Nature feems to have provided them with both, for thofe they defire arethefe: Caboh is Roftmeat on Skewers, cut in little round pieces no bigger than a Sixpence, and Ginger and Garlick put between each. Thus fparingly do they feed on Flelh alone, ordered after this manner; and if at any time they intend a Meal thereon, they have it well Boiled, Baked, Fried, or Stewed, or made into Tullom ; which is a general Mefs, as frequent with them as a good fubftantial piece of Beef is with us, and reckoned their ftanding Difh ,• which is made either of Flefh, Filh, or Fowl, as the Indian Moors do ; hut the heft is made of the fatteft Meat, for which the pondrous Tails of Suet ( which their Sheep bear) is moft coveted, in regard it faves Butter. To make Pullow, the Meat is firft Boiled to Rags, and the Broth or Liquor being ftrained,it is left to drain, while they Boil the Rice in the fame; which being tender, and the aqueous parts evaporating, the Juice and Gravy incorporates with the Rice, which is Boiled almoft dry; then they put in the Meat again with Spice, and at laft as much Butter as is necefTary, fo that it becomes not too Greefy or Of- fenfive, either to the Sight or Tafie; and it is then Boiled enough whqn it is fit to be made into Gobbets, not flabby, but each Corn of Rice isfwelledand filled, not burft into Pulp; and then with Mango or other Achar, they will devour whole Handfuls (for Spoons are not in ufe, unlefs to drink Sherbet with, they mixing their Pottage with dry Rice, and cramming themfelves with their Fingers) and never Surfeit; always taking this for a Rule, never to Drink till they are fatisfied, it caufing them otherwifeto fwelltoofoon; and then they will Eat as much at a Meal, as an Horfe or Mule can of Barly. Baked Meat they call Dumpoke , which is drefled with fiveet Herbs and Butter, with vvhofe Gravy they fwallow Rice dry Boiled. Their Stews are alfo made of Cooling Fruits, as Cucumbers, Gourds, &c. which they mingle Rice with. But the bulk of their Diet confifls of the Fruits of the Teeming Earth, fowre Milk, with foft Cheefe, Grapes and Wheaten Bread. They have a kind of Cooling Mufilage of Seeds, like PfyBium ; in the Maritime parts they ufe Dates inftead of Bread, or Bread made Pancake Fafhion of Rice. They The Prefent State of PERSIA. 405 They have a Difli they call Cookoo Challow , which is dry Rice and Ch. XIV. a Fritter of Eggs, Herbs, and Filhes, They feldom Eat frefh Butter, and as feldom Beefs Flefh 5 the Poor near the Sea live only on Fill] and Dates; the Rich live plenti¬ fully every where. No Country is more taken with Sweetmeats, not even the Lufi- Nogood Cdii» tanians; wherefore Sugar is a good Commodity from India, for Perfia feaions ' produces none of its own; they are not fuch Confectioners, not- withflanding, as might be expe&ed from fo conftant a defire and praftice ; the chief reafon I can impute it to is Cuftom, which in every thing they are very tenacious of. They mightily covet cool things to the Palat, wherefore they mix Snow, or diffolve Ice in their Water, Wine, or Sherbets. Out of Tayletsof Willows they make a compound Cool-Water, very fweet fmelling and refrelhing. Sherbets are made of almoft all Tart pleafing Fruits as the Juice of Pomegranets, Lemmons, Citrons, Oranges, Prunellas, which are to be bought in the Markets. Thus by Diet, as well as Air, they procure not only a firmnefs of Conftitution, but Propernefs and Tallnefs of Body, for none excel them either for Beauty or Stature. But before we part with this Subjed, fince they are not fo ftarch’d and precifely bent as the more rigorous Mahometans , we may be ac¬ quainted with their conftant courfe of Eating, and lie down with them at Meals, and receive a good Welcome. Their Breakfaft is begun W'irh Melons, Cucumbers, Gourds, Grapes, or other Fruits, as Peaches, Apricots, Cherries, or the like, with foft Cheefe or Butter-Milk $ which is about Ten in the Morning, from which time they abftain from all manner of Food (f mean when they obferve their fet Meals till near Sun-fet) when they feed heartily on Fielh, or any other hot Meats, and enlarge fometimes till Midnight. They obferve the fame ufage for going to Stool as the other Eafterns, wafhing away the Filth with the Left hand, for no other caufe than that they feed themfelves with the Right. They fit down to make Water, but whether that way empties the Bladder better. I leave to conje&ure; though their continual fit¬ ting within doors with their Legs up to their Bellies helps digeftion, is a thing beyond difpute. That the Perfians never Spit, I cannot allow to be true, fince The perfim they Smoak Tobacco in their meft folemn Aflemblies, and for that Spitasmuch purpofe we have already Ihewed they are provided with Spitting- p, t ot et e0 ‘ Pots, or Pigdans; but fince Xenophon relateth it in the Firfl Peedia Cyri, as a reproach for any to Spit in Company, and brings it as an argument of Gluttony, orLazinefs, Nunquamfputantin conventu Per- jtc, quia maximum ignominits argumentum, quafi indicaret eos aut plus c 'tli, quam par ejfet fumere,aut nullis corporis exercitationihus uti; I muft add, that I find them to indulge both; nor are they alhamed to Caroufe or Eat luftily, but on the contrary Gormandize to excefs; there is therefore nothing but the Thinnefs of the Air, exprefling their fuper* fluous Humours can befpeak this Virtue; nor indeed do I find them differ much in that point from other Nations. T& 406 The Frefent State of PERSIA. Letter V. To conclude then; to the Endowments of Mind, they have an ‘ Happinefs of Body , through the extraordinary Finenefs of Air, nefs'of Body, v hich by a fuitablenefs of Food nourifhes a well-mix’d Temper both of Soul and Body; for as they have the ftart in the firft, fo they fur- pafs all their Neighbours in the latter, being not only Ingenuous and Free, but Fair, Tall, and Comely, with a Stock of Health not eafily to be impaired, unlefs violent Debauchery root up the Stabi¬ lity they enjoy by Nature. Commutative Thus having run through their Diftributive Juftice, their Religion, Juflice. and Morality, their feveral Rites, Ufages, and Ceremonies; it re¬ mains then, as we have declared their Wealth and Merchandize, fo we Ihould ihut up all with their Commutative or Trading Juftice, which keeps an Arithmetical Proportion; asbuying, felling, jetting, and hiring. The Valuation of every thing is made either by Num¬ ber, Weight, orMeafure: Number is the fame, and common to all People, Tongues, and Nations; but Weight and Meafure are not fo, there being a great Variety of thefe, and every Country has a Sta¬ tutable Account of Weight and Meafure after their own form. All things in Perjia are put into Balance, but Silk woven and Cloath; wherefore they weigh all Liquids, as well as Wood, Straw, and Metals; and meafure by the Colit , or Cubit, what comes from the Loom, even their moft fine Carpets. Which brings us to examine their Weights, Meafures, and Coins, or Current Money. L A Maund Skate is -— 1 a—Five Eighths. A MaundTalerez -06—and a half. Cbarach -01—and a quarter. Mifcolle. Their loweft Weight is a Mifcolle ; neareft our Ounce: whereof, 6) Tan Ounce. 9 ^Cmake< 3 Pound - 6 oor maKe laAW 7 ^. nooj Ca Maund Shaw , or the King’s Maund. The Kings Colit confifts of Inches, —— --36 The Carpet Colit is little more than half the") s King’s, it being but-— J IS '< Or nigheft four Thirds of our Yard. The Money which pafiesis a Golden Venetian, equivalent to our Angel. And a Turkijk Alrahmee , of inferior Value. The one efteemed at 19 Shdees, and is called Shekre. The other but at 27 and is called Miferee. Money The Prefent State of PERSIA. 407 Money coined by Shaw Ahas in Silver, has Perf an Characters Chap.XlV. imprefied, the higheft worth Five Alaffes, which is half’d, and then it is worth Two and an half, which is Two-pence more than our Half-Crown; or ——--- 2 s.— —8 d. A fmgle Alafee is-—--1-4 Which amounts to Sixteen of our Pennies, intrinfick Value. Which Alafee makes two Mamoodies, —~ ■ — --0—8 Or two Eightpenny Pieces, —----0—8 A Mamoody is two Shahees, -----——— o—4 A Shakes is Four Pence, or equal to our Groat, —-0—4 Fifty Ala fees make a Thomand, ----3 1 . —8 d. Which is only Imaginary, there being no fuch Coin, but is to them to reckon by, as Pounds are to us, which wefuppofe to be Twenty Shillings; and their thomand is valued at Three Pounds and a Noble, or Six and Eightpence in Englijh Account. . Brafs Money with Chara&ers, Are a Gofs, ten whereof compofe a Sbabee. A Gosleege, five of which go to a Shahee. Four Gofs make one Biflree. And 100 Deniers one Mamoody. And 20 fife one Shahee : Both which are Nominal, not Real. Geographical Meafures, Are the Terfian Stathmus, anfwering our Perch: And Parafangy now Pharfangi which contains an Hundred and thirty Stathmi, or 3000 Paces; three of their Paces make a Colit Shaw , in way of Menfuration. The laft thing to be meafured is Time, which accords with that which has been delivered in India. A FAR- A FARTHER LETTER Vt C H A P. I. Takes Ifotice of Broach; the Change of Governors at Surat• inteftine Broils of the Empire ■ (Rencounters of the Englifli } and Portentous Jccidents of this Pear. SIR, M Y laft I had thought to Have prefented yoti with my own Chap. I. hands., but being ftill detained, I muft perfift to give you J farther Trouble. Forty Courfe Northward of Surat lies Broach; it therefore being elteemed in relation to the Englijh as a Branch of this Fadtory, up¬ on any one of our Merchants being ill, they can ealily and fuddenly fend a Meffengerfor Affiftance; which gave me opportunity of fee¬ ing that City, food after I had returned with the Prefident to Surat. The Way thither is twofold, either by Sea or Land; the firft, from Smally-hole, makes an eafy Paflage up that Creek, or rather The Author Arm of the Sea, to Broach River’s Mouth, into which the River fent j™ t0 empties itsfelf: The latter is meafured over a fpacious Plain, and is 6m ' travelled either by Coach or on Horfeback, both which I had for my Conveyance, together with the Attendance of a good Guard of the Company’s Tew, becaufe of frequent Robberies hereabouts. Going out by Broach- Gate, we fell into a notable beaten Way; Hoc iter mamfefia rotas vefligia cernes. Contrary to whatever we found in any Place of Ferfia ’ where are neither Carts, Coaches, or Wains: There we fel- Ssoftfa" dom meet any to turn us out of our Way; here the Roads veiling in are pefter’d with Caphalaes of Oxen, Camels, and Bufolaes, with di p from thlt heavy Waggons drawn by Teams of Oxen, yok’d Eight, fome- of Pa '^' times a Dozen or Sixteen times double, bringing and carrying Goods of all forts: There with Guides, here with Guards, for fear of Thieves defending from the Mountains, or lying in Ambufcado among the Ggg Thickets: 410 A farther Difcovery of India, Letter VI. Thickets: There they journey at all Seafons tj fecure from Weather or Aflaults; here they muft obferve the fe,t times, and move with a good Force, both to defend them from their own Armies, and the Infults of Outlaws: Here are no Caravans or Inns to {hat them in a-nights, for then is their time of travelling} and when they reft, if they have no Tents, they enuft flicker thcmlelves under Ihady Trees, or fometimes great Tombs in the Highways, un lei's they happen on a Chowkre, i. e. a Shed, where the Cuflomer keeps a Watch to take Cuftom .■ Yet good Rivers are more often found here than there ; and. wjiere they are deficient,;they want not great Tanks or Ponds of Rain-Water nioftly uncover’d and opeh to the Heavens, orelfe deep Wells many Fathom under Ground, with ftately Stone Scairs, Cool Apartments, and Grottoes, whence Oxen ( as has been faid) draw Water, with huge Leathern, Buckets or Pots around a Wheel, to water their Gardens: But one thing you are more fure or here than there, and that is, Provifions of all forts, in almoft every Village, which ftahd thick hereabouts. TheirCIwiots • The Goaches (unlefs thofe called the Prefident’s) and Carts are for travelling. muc h alike, the laft being o,nly,ftronger, buik, with main Timber for ftrength. But it being no unpleafant fpedacle to fee one of theft Chariots equipped, I cannot forbear giving it you; though I am fenfible it cannot be fo well exprefs’d in writing, as the Sight is now comically reprefented .unto me : Two large Milk-white Oxen are ( putting.,in,to d(awiit,. with circling Horns as black as a Coal, each Point tipped with Brafs, from whence comei Brafs. Chains acrofs,to the Headftall, which is all of Scarlet, and a Scarlet Collar to each, of Brafs Bells,, about.their Weeks, their flapping Earsfnipped with Art, and from their Noilrijs Bridles covered with Scarlet: The Cha¬ riot it felf,is not ftvinging like purs,, gut faften’d to the main Axle by. neat Arches,.vyhieh'lupport a'Foursquare Seat, which is inlaid with Ivory, or enriched as they pjeafe; at every Corner are turn’d Pillars,. which make ( by. twilled Silk or.Cotton Cords} the Sides, and fppport.the Ropf, revered with Englijh Scarlet.Cloth, and lin’d with Silk, with,Party-colqur’d Borders; in thefe they fpread Car¬ pets,. and lay. Bolfters to rjde.pfofs-legg’d, fometimes three or four iu.oqe,: It |s,born on two ,Wheejs pnly, .fuch.little ones as our Fore¬ wheels are, and pinn’d on with a Wooden Arch, which ferves to mount them: The Charioteer rides'afore,, a-ftraddle on the Beam that makes the Yoke for the Oxen, which, is covered with .Scarlet, and finely carved underneath; he carries a Goad inftead of a Whip : In Winter (when.they rarely ftir) they have a Mmjuma, or Wax- Cloth to throw over it. Thofe for Journeying are fomething ftrong- cr than thofe,,fqr the,Merchants to ride about the City, or to, take the Air oh 5. which with .their nimble Oxen they will, .when Alley .meet in, the . Fields, run ,R a ces on, and contend .for rhe’Garland as , much as for,an Qlympick Ppiz^.j.^w.hich js$ Diver,fion, To fie ,a Cm ,galloj >,.as ,wp fay.ipfcorg^ but .thefe. nqt,o^Iy ( .^uck up /their Heels apace,.,but are taught to amble, , the^.qfteq riding on them. , . ^our-wl^l’d.^ch^’an^iojit withihe/jlegs hanging down, here are nonej.mnleisfqmeAewi tl^’ 4 «w/e Merchants have, covered with Scarlet, and illhung', being much like thofe fold at Londonxo A farther Difcovery of India. .411 pleafe little Children with, only larger, and lin’d with Velvet; they Chap. I. having no Horfes managed for the Coach, or any skill’d to drive them, fo that thefe alfo are drawn by Oxen. Setting out about Sun- rife, we pafied by pleafant Inclofures fpread far from the City, and flourilhing Fields of Corn, and Plantations of Tobacco; we came Three Courfe, and then ferried over the River to Bereaw, a'Village on the Bank of the other fide; a.a&at Perfaw, two Courfe more, we broke our Fall: ; when it growing hot, we went but a Courfe and a half over another fmall River, before we baited under a Grove of Palms, or Toddy-Trees. When the Crows came hither to rood ( which they did in great UmS f ea . t Flocks) we departed, and at Midnight arrived at Vnclifeer, the mod Northern Extent of the Province of Guzerat (after the old ac¬ count ) where Cudom is exa&ed, a Bar of Thorns being duck into an high Gate, oppofmg fuch as are to pay at each end of the Town. Here we dept at our Broker’s Houfe, and at Sun-rife proceeded over delicate Medows to Broach-River, where round about it is all. Cam¬ paign ; betwixt where, we met more than Five hundred Oxen laden with Salt for the Inland Countries; and betwixt Nine and Ten palled Broach River irt a Boat; which is a broad, fwift, and deep River, but choaked up with drifts of Sand, by reafon of Rains forced into the very Channel, fo that good Pilots are required, to deer clear of them; by whofe dire&ions good ludy Veflels are brought up to the City-Walls, where they are laden with Salt and Corn, to be carried to thofe Parts that are not fo Well furnilhed; here being excellent Wheat and good Cottons, of the Growth of this Country. It is likewife the Thoroughfare to Lhor, Dhely, Agra, and Ami- zmih-Cay davad, which is the chief City now of this Province, as well as of Guzerat ; though Broach was the Metropolis when Camhaia was an Empire, which was before the Portugals were flrong in thefe Parts, who made way for the Mogul to make an entire Conqued thereof: But as to what concerns its peculiar Hidory, it was difmantled, and the Walls thrown down, for refufing Paflage to Sham Juans Army, the Father to the prefent AurenZeeb; which, as appears by the Ruins, were very drong of old, being doubly wall’d and trench’d, into which Nine Gates dill lead the way; wherein was an Heathen Temple, now converted into a Mofque, looking over a rich Plain towards another, a Mile from the City, the Burying-place of their Emperors, where is entomb’d Mahmoody, the lad of their Sultans; whofe Progenitors being Aral Moors, were not fprung from the Hea¬ then Rajahs on the Fall of Ramras, but laying hold on thofe Divifi- ons, came in by Conqued, and were the occafion alfo of the Mogul- Tartars being called in to affid the opprefled, who made not only Refidance againd Nijhamfham, one of the three Treafonable Con- fpirators againd Ramras, but a long while defended themfelves againd the Mogul, till unfortunately broke at the Siege of Diu, Sul¬ tan Badur being defeated both by Sea and Land; he left a tottering Kingdom to Mahmoody, hisSuccedor, who was afterwards vanquilh- ed by the Mogul, near the place where he now lies buried. Ggg % Nor 412 A farther Difcmry of India. •■-ryVj Nor does this place now yield fmall Advantage to the Great Mo- toth gt*l, Cuftoms being paid here, and here being a good Trade ,- though at prefent a ftop be put thereto by Raja Jefinfms being lately dead, who fet the prefent Emperor on his Throne, together .with Emir Sends, and the Emperor’s demanding the Treafury and territories of the Widow ; and her fending this Anfwer thereupon (the fame almoftin effed the Spartans were wont, among whom it was a fay* ing. Our Kingdoms extend as far as we can cafl our Darts ); fo Ihe re* turned, Money I have none, kt Swords goodflore: Which has btought all the Infidels into a Confederacy with her. R m-stfafm And the Governor of this Province, but a late Convert, and defies the Em- a kin to her, begins to make Parties for the Advancement of one of peror - the Sultans he hasefpoufed, to Dethrone Auren Keel, as he did his Father Shaw Gehaun , by the AflSftance of his Father Emir Gemla: Whereupon the Mogul is engaged over Head and Ears in Wars, cal¬ ling the Cams of Brampore to his help. The Confede- Which gives occafion to Seva Gi, and a Neighbouring Raja, the rates make di- one to move towards Surat, the other to fet upon Brampore ; which ■ ur ance ‘ had put fuch a Confternation on the Merchants, that at my return they were all fled with their Wealth, Wives and Families, not think* ing themfelves fafe within the Walls of Surat ; which are now com* pleat and able to beat off a ftrong Enemy, would they Hand to it: But having formerly felt the hoilile Cruelties of Seva Gi, befides the prefent Governor being a better Politician than Watrier, has hitherto only Mulded the Banians to cafl: a Cruft before this Wolf, and he ftill expe&ing the ufual Tribute, defcends now in hopes of the fame Booty, Burning and Spoiling the Country about till they (end him a Peace Offering; of which they having informed the Emperor now the Walls are built, that he Taxes them as much as before, and that his Mufters are not half filled for the defence of the place, MoradBeck the prefent Auren ZeePs Armour*Bearer in all his Wars, iscoming with force both to difplace him, and to fuccour the place: Merad Beck Whotook Poffeflion in the beginning of May, and the late Go* nude Govet- vernor parted well content with what he had gotten during his hold* nor of sarat. i D g that Employment. This Exchange brought foffie Blows upon Seva Gi’ s pilfering Troops, being encountred before the latter end of the Month by the new Governor s Soldiers, not without lofs, fome Cartloads of the flain being brought hither to be Interred. Great inun- The Rains are this year fet in with that violence, that the very danons by the Tops of the Trees hereabouts are all under Water 5 and fince the great Rams ‘ Mogul by reafon of thefe interruptions cannot go on to overcome the Pagans, he wreaks his Malice by afleffing them with heavy Polls, that are not of his Faith, under his Dominions; and thofe not able to pay, are compelled to turn Mujfelmen, fo that they begin to delert in abundance. A farther Bifc&my. of India. 413 The Rains being over, great preparations are making togoagainft Chap. f. the obftinate Pagans , the Emperor marching out of Juan Aland xoooo ftrong, befides Ordnance, Elephants, and other Warlike preparesto provifions. ^,f the At the beginning of September the Juddab Fleet, freighted with The return of Religion and Pelf, made this Port, bringing Fifty ixyaes worth of Rupees in Calh, which is fo many Hundred Thoufand : it could not be improved till the Governor had releafed the Shroffs or Bankers, whom he had clapp’d up on pretence of Confpiring with the late Governor to Cheat the King, by Coining more Money than had been accounted for; but interceffion being made by our Prefident, they were fet at liberty, for that our Company’s Bullion was alfo coming from England, the Ships being arriv’d at Bombaim) and thefe are they that try and fet the value on all Metals. Our Englifi Ships had no fooner left the Port at Bombaim , but that seva Seizes Seva Gi had polled feveral Hundred Men on Henry Kenry , a Rock in Hm y Kem '>- the Mouth of the Bay, on pretence of hindring the Syddy’s Men go¬ ing in and out; whereupon a fmall Barb, with an old Captain, be¬ ing fent to demand their Bufinefs there, and he . landing with his Men imprudently, were all cut off by the Barbarians. After this A&ion, Seven Prowes and one fmall Ship (the Pink ) The were ordered to lie at an Anchor and block up the Avenues before m!K ieveit ’ the Rock; which feen by the Barbarians on Shore, the. firft fair Wind they Manned out Forty Gailies, at whofe approach our Prowes fled all but one, which was eafily vanquilhed ; and the Pink feign¬ ed a fearlikewife, whereat they being encouraged, Boarded her with a terrible noife, who cleared her Pecks with her fmall Ihot, and blew fome Hundreds up from her Prow and Poop, and then plying her great Guns, on thofe who were Board and Board, funk Four of their Gailies, and put the reft to flight; which made them more afraid than at the firft onfet, being glad to bear away with the reft; however they in this skirmilh filccoured the Befieged with Five Boats laden with Provifions! A Month after they appeared again With all their ftrength, and Their Fleet the Englijh being recruited with another fmall Ship, engaged them, j™ veint ° and gave them the rout, following them into their own Harbours, where they got haftily aihoar and drew up their Veflels under fome fmall Guns planted to fecure them. Whilft our Fleet were bufy in this Enterprife, and left fome Boats to fhut up the River TM, the Sjddy came before Henry Kenry , where he lies with his Fleet; who, Ihould he get Footing there, would be as bad a Thorn as Seva Gi. In the mean while that the Mogul Marched againft the Rajhpoots , The elded . his eldeft Son came to Brampore with a mighty Army ; for all that ^ n b ° rin y Seva fpoils the Country at his pleafure, knowing well the Sultan Army to will not break his Forces to hazard a Battel till he fees how,his Father Bram ^ fpeeds, that he may be the better able to promote his own Intereft for the Crown: On which fcore it is unhappy both for the Husbandman and 414 A farther Difcovery of India. Letter VI. and Merchant, who fuffer on all hands, being pillaged and plundered without redrefs. TtfoPortents. This Year hath been filled with Two Portentous Calamities, the one Inland, a Shower of Blood for Twelve Hours; the other on the Sea-Coaft, Mechlapatan being overturned by an Inundation, wherein Sixteen thoufand Souls perilhed. And this being the fum of this Anniverfary, I remain, Surat, Dicemlir 31 . 1679. fours, J.F. letter A farther Difcovery of Indk. 415 LETTER VII. CHAP. I. Continues the general Occurrences Tpith Remarks. SIR, A Midft thefe Wars and rumours of Wars, we quietly lay Chap. L down our Arms, and leave Seva Gr and the Syddy alpne to L*. our Ships fetting fail then from S»>.i/7j'-Hole, i6£°. Tours, Hlilii. .LEI 4*9 Chap I. 420 Ler. VIII L-^iTV,- Set Sail for Eiighmd. A Voting Aim Jolt Om.Bctrd. LETTER VIII. C H A P. I. Concludes with my Return to ENGLAND. SIR, 1 Having the Affairs of India in the pollute I have ac¬ quainted you; I begin to think of returning to' my , Native Soil, the Fleet here being ready to fet Sail for England) The Succefs, Captain Cooly Commander , Maflenberg, Captain Gladock ; Jofiah, Captain Owen. At the fame time Mr. Rolt the late Prefident took his Paflage iti the Jofiah : The Second of India, Mr. Chamlerlane, in the Succefs as I took mine in the Majfenberg : Mr. John Child being removed from the Government of Bomlaim to the Prefidency,- which was the 19th. of January in the Year i68 |. Till the Twelfth of f ehuary we directed a Southern Courfe, when about Two in the Morning the Moon fuffered an Eclipfe, and in half an hours time was almoft totally hid, which endured till Four in the Morning: In Four or Five days after, about the Seventh Degree of North Latitude, we met the Sun coming to¬ wards the North, and pafled him to the Southward, when he often raifed Vapours from the Sea to thicken the Air, and obfcure his Face, which were as often poured down upon us, we having here uncertain Weather, fometime wet, fometime calm, though raoft an end, according to Varenms Pofition, the Winds hold Eafterly from the Firft of January till the End of July, as far as Afcenfion, and then turn Wefterly : We met hereabouts with a Tree beftuck with Sea-Shells, which made us lie by a-nights for fear of the Chango’s. And now dreadful Thunders caufe the Sea to tremble, and Lightnings fly through the Heavens in frightful Flalhes; by reafon of thefe alterations we went but flowly, being but Ten Degrees Southward of the Sun on the Firft of March , when a Sout:i- Eaft Wind favoured us; with which failing fortunately enough, we were damped by a Mifchanbe on one of our Young men, who going up the Shrowds to loofe the Top-Gallons, by the un- adviled letting go of fome Bowling, was hoiflcd into the Main, and perilhed, Our Return to ENGLAND. 42 1 perifhed, the Ship having frelh Way, and the Boats lying on Chap. I. Board ; they threw over l'cveral Planks and Veflels, but he made no fign of contending with the Waves, or Motion to fave himfelf: Wherefore it was judged he had his bane againft the Ships f:de, or feme Gun in his Fall before ever he came at the Water; and in this hurry we were prefently carried out of fight, fo that he was left for defperate, and given over as loft. Before the Tenth of this Month, St. 2 ?r Wok an Ifland on the Eaft, we Sail on and Diego Rais to the South, were pafled by ; as alfo Sr. Maurice Backfide kept lately by the Dutch, for no other end but to prevent others ofS ' Lmnmi ' fetling there ; as Mafcarenas , not far from it, by the French, for the fame reafori. The day after the Sun was poflefled of the /Equi¬ nox, we made the Tropick of Capricorn , from whence the Platonifls feign the Souls defeend upon the Earth ; but more truly it decla¬ red that we drew near the Coafts of Africa ; for having hitherto meafured a Southern Way almoft diredly, we now incline towards the Weft, having not more Meridional diftance from Joanna than Nine Degrees; but now we begin to bend our Courfe Weftward, which we fliould do in a ftrait Line, were it not for St. Lawrence, theoutfide whereof our Navigators always pafsby homeward bound, it lying Twelve Degrees South, to Six and Twenty and an half, which wc fuppofe to be Three hundred Leagues Weft of us, though here being a ftrong Current to the Weft, inmakes our Judgment very unfteady ; however to make the Cape, it is neceffary to ele¬ vate our Longitude more than our Latitude, which we did till we had made Fourteen Degrees Weft from our fuppofed Meridian of Joanna, whereby we reckon our felves clear of the Ifland Madagaf car , or as the Portugals call it, St. Lawrence ; when the Eaft Wind failed us, and the Weft blew hard upon us, contrary to the aflertion of the forementioned Author; the Winds, as we formerly Noted, beyond theTropicks being unaccountable, for that they obferve no Rule > and hereupon it happened we were fo long beating about the Cape, and had been much longer, had we not made for the Shore ; which we did about the middle of April, when it is high Winter in thefe parts, wherein we tried all Weathers, the worft of which were Calms, according to our Englijh faying, Worfe is a Winters Calm, By far than Summers Storm. Which we buffered till we got under the Shore, whence we were We Weather n (lifted with fine Briezes, we falling firft in with Cape £ Aguthas t G h ® rf ^, of the low Land being bare and naked, the high Land, a Ridge of Mountains only gaping in one place, from which the Portugals gave it the name £ Agutha, or of the Needles: Fifteen Miles North¬ ward of it lies the Promontory called Cape Falfo , which we wea¬ thered in the Morning, and afore Night did the like to the Cape of Good Hope, which in refped of the Heavenly Pofition is 34 Degrees and a half South Latitude, Longitude 47, in a ftrait Line from Joanna 1800 Leagues. The Marks of this Promontory are agreeable to Sellie/s Atlas: It is inhabited by a Barbarous People 422 Our Return to ENGLAND. Let. VIII. called Hottentots: As Nature defigned their Looks deformed, fo they kr-V"* are untradable in Manners, and harfli in their Voice 5 thefe wind the Guts of Beads Excrements all about their Necks, both for Food and Ornament, confenting to what jhi Ludolpbus, Author of the Ethiopick Lexicon , relates of the Abaffwians , under which Go¬ vernment (.if any they have ) this Region mud be comprehend¬ ed, who fays, they prefer the Meat digefted in the Maws of Beads, before the bed Saliads, fuppofing tbofe Animals better at diftin- guifliing the good Plants from bad, than Men. Here in Soldania Bay the Dutch have a ftrong Fort, for the fame purpofe we keep St. Helena, to refrelh and water our Fleet on their return home ; but thefe touch here both going and coming ; whereas ours put in at Joanna in their Voyage to India ; Tn thefe Seas are the Sea- • Calves, and Sun-Fillies; the Nights are very cold, and the Days are Ihortned near Two hours. Land on The end of April we loll: fight of the high Tops of thefe Hills, St.He/™.i. anc ] j n thirty and two Degrees South, met with the dated South-eajl Winds, when we left the Cape-Birds behind us, daily deprelling our Southern Latitude, directing our Courfe full North weft, being too often retarded by frequent Calms, and fometimes contrary Winds, fa thing not known between the Tropicks) till at lad we made feven- teen Degrees South ; when we altered our North Courfe to the Weft only, for fear of outsailing St. Helena ; which is a thing full of ha¬ zard and difficulty, fince the Seafon proved Cloudy, though not Rainy, yet often io Dewy, that it wetted to the skin; the deputa¬ tion of the Longitude on which we depend, being no lefs obfcure than fallible: Befides, the Ifland its felf is but a fmall Rock in the middle of the Main Ocean, which cannot be feen far, unlefs in a clear Day; but by the Grace of God, the 19 th of. May it lay fair be¬ fore our eyes like a little Cloud by eight in the Morning; from whence are fmall White Birds floating fometimes on the Sea, at other times taking their flight to and from the Ifland, which they dir not far from: It is very high Land, and may be difeerned twenty Leagues off' at Sea; wherefore we gained not the Harbour till Ten at Night, where we filently let go our Anchor, neither we nor the Fort las¬ ting one another till next Morning. When going affiore, the Guns roared, and the Governor Mr. John Blackmre received us on the Beech, which was dony and troublefome afeending; we palled through Rows of Soldiers, called to their Arms on this occafion, into a Valley furrounded with high Mountains, except towards the Sea, where flood the Fort and Platform for the great Cannon, which reach farther than there is any Anchor-hold, io that no Ships can come in, or endure their Force, without their Leave. Notwithftanding which, it is yet frelh in memory, that the Dutch landing on thebackfide of the Ifland, gained the Tops of the Hills, and invading the Ifland, drove the Englijh from their Fort, for all they had two Ships in the Road at the fame time, which did no farther fervice than carry off the Inhabitants, leaving the Dutch in Polleffion, till Captain Munday by the King’s Command was fent out to retake it that very Year we came out for India ( which was the very Our Return to ENGLAND. very Fleet that fet out with us, and bore us company to St. Iago ); which the faid Captain retook alio by Surprize ; and added to his good fortune the feizing of Four of their Eaji-India Ships richly laden; which, after he had left fufficient Strength upon the Ifland, he brought as Trophies of his Vidtory into England. The Ifland thus reduced, was governed immediately by the Royal Contniflion, till at the Importunity of the Company, his Majefty reinftated the former Colony planted by the Honourable Company , and reflored them to their firfl Poffeflions, advifing them to be more cautious for the future. It is feated in Sixteen Degrees South in thevaft AtUntick Ocean, diftant from Cape Bon Efpsranzo Six hun- dred Leagues; placed opportunely for the Englijh in their return to Europe from the Eajl Indies, both for Wood, Water, and frefh Pro- vifion,; which are comfortable Refrelhments thefe long Voyages ; thofe Ships that mifs it being in an ill Hate, ready to be eaten up with the Scurvy, and mod: an end make for Barbados in their diftrefs; which makes the Company to be at fome expence for this benefit, fupplyingthem with Englijh Beeves, Cows, Hogs, Turkies, Ducks, Geefe, and all manner of Pullen, with Tools tor Husban¬ dry, and a conftant Guard of Soldiers. The Portitgals firft found it out, as is faid, by an unhappy Accident; one of their great Car- racks being caft away here, or not able to proceed farther, they drew on fhore her weather beaten Tides, and all the Armory and Tacklin, Building with the Timber a Chappel in this Valley, from thence called Cbappel-Fa/ley, and flocked it with Goats, Afles, Hogs, and other Cattel, left any other time they fhould be under the fame misfortune; but as their Credit fell in thefe parts, they grew more carelefs of .Futurity, and long fince deferred it, that it became free to the next bomer to makehis own; and now by the Induftry of the Englijh 1 it is much improved, yielding, partly by the good- nefs of the Soil, and the care of the Husbandmen, all things necek fary for human fubfiftence to its own Inhabitants, and to fpare, good Cheap to fuch as need. Yet to whet their Diligence and Labour, here is a mifchievous Virmin forely vexatious to them, which are Wild Rats, which in- feft all their Grounds, whereby they can have no Bread-Corn, they deftroying it all; inflead whereof they have a large Root, very biting when it is Raw, fo that they will not touch it, but being Boil¬ ed, it is both nourilhing and pleafing; and of this they make an in¬ toxicating Liquor, called Mobhy ; the Indian Name of this Root is Taum. It is very troublefome clambering thefe Hills; yet to acquaint my felf with the Country delights, I affayed it; at top it is fomething evener, where were many Rural Seats of the Planters, Cows grazing, Goats feeding; their Cottages placed near Rivulets, whofe next Downfal hurried them into the Sea; from thefe advanced places we difcovered Two Sail making m hither, which is noticed by the Firing of fo many Guns and hoifting of the Flag, who proved to be the Joftah, being an heavy Sailer, we loft Company about the Cape , where keeping off at Sea, the Golden Fleece came up with it; upon the Hills the Air makes a great difference from the Vallies, it being purer 423 Chap. I. The ftory of the Ifland and Wanders. Our Return to ENGLAND. 424 Let. VIII. purer above, andfomethingharlh by reafon of the conftant Eafltrly Blads, which is not fo kind to the Fruits on the Mountains as in the Dales. The courfe taken to People the Ifland is this; they indent either as Servants or Soldiers for Five Years with the Company, at the ex¬ piration of which Term, they are free either to go or flay ; if they flay, they have liberty to chufe Twenty Acres of Ground unoccu¬ pied, as their own proper Portion, on which they live and maintain themfelvts and Families; of which Wanders there may be Four hundred Englijl >, reckoning Men, Women, and Children, Of jfiengon, A Week being fpent, the St/ccefs and we (coming in firft) fee and Catching Sail for Afienfion, another meer Wart in the Sea, being a Barren of Tortoifes. £ oc k jeditute of all manner of Natures Stores, it being an horrid place, without any green thing, Plant, or Water, a meer Cinder- cake burnt by the Sun, and incrufted by the filth and dime of the Sea-Fowl, who both Nell and Rood here:.Here is no covering or fhade from the Heavens, more than the Holes or Tops of Rocks, no Turf nor Grafs, but all is fcorched by the Sun’s heat; and here I ap¬ prove, rather than confent to the general Opinion, of its having been once a Vulcano, or Ifland of Fire; but fince no fuch matters appear for fuch a fubjetd, I Ihall deem it Fabulous, fince it would be altoge¬ ther ftrange, had it e’er been fo, that no Footfteps of Bitumen,Sulphur, or Combuftible fubdance fliould remain, which mod an end flow from an unexhauded Fountain, bred as fad as the Fire can feed up¬ on it; otherwife thofe ancient Fiery Mountains in Italy, and elfe- where, had many Ages fince been confumed; and we might have admired them as Poets Fiftions handed by Tradition, but not have had ocular Demondration to convince the incredulous: Befides, the continual confluence of Flocks of Water-Fowl declare they ne¬ ver feared Smoak or Fire here; they having paved orpargetted the whole Rock with their Filth, that it feems incorporated with ir. FoolillBirds, Thefe Birds are fo heedlefs or fool-hardy, which I cannot tell, that they will fly fo near as to be druck down with a Cane, When I went to Land (if fuch it may be called ) bating the Sands around the Rocks, we could tread no other Ground but on Stones cemented by the Sun’s heat; all the advantage or pleafure propofed was to dretch our Legs, and fee the Seamen turn the Tur¬ tles, or Tortoifes, which they did anights when they came alhoar to lay their Eggs, which thefe Sands hatch, they lying in ambufli be¬ twixt them and the Sea, and with Hand-fpikes catting them on their Back; at which they mud beyare; for they perceiving themfelves purfued, make towards the Sea, and cad a cloud of Sand upon the Aflailants with their Feet or Claws; they are very big, and forae- times as much as Three or Four Men can do to lay them fprawling, where as fad as one is conquered they leave it to mader more; for they cannot refeue themfelves out of that pofture; fo that what they ferve thus in the Night they are furefto find them in the Day where they left them, and fo bring them aboard Ship for their frefli Food, the Flelh of fome being as much as our little Indian Bullocks. Of Our Return ^ENGLAND. 425 Of thefe' ( we gathering for the Four Ships that were behind ) to Chap. I. lofe no time , they turned One hundred and twenty, whereof ✓vs* Eight and twenty came to our fhare ; which ( without any other fubfiftence than three or four times a day throwing Sea-water on them,) we kept alive above a Month, on which the Ship’s-Crew fed daily with great eagernefs while they lafted,dreffing their Flelh fe- veral ways; and befides that,thefe are reckoned the belt in the World, and to which they fall the more greedily, becaufe they are efteemed fpecifical for the Scurvy,Pox,or Gout, they fancying their whole Mafs of Blood to be altered by them, and their Flefli to become new and found again ; and this Opinion takes the rather, becaufe through all the Emunduaries, and efpecially near the Genitals, they fee the colour of their Sweat altered to a nafty yellow Green : And indeed to fpeak the truth, whether Fancy or real virtue in this fort of Dyet be the caufe, they continue healthy and lively while they feed thereon, and will mightily lament the want of it when fpent, be¬ caufe they muft return again to their fait Meats. In catching of thefe we tarried five Days, in which I had time enough to recoiled: my Thoughts about thefe Creatures ; but ha¬ ving already been particular thereon, I Ihall forbear to add more : Only the Cuftom of this place is to leave Letters of what Ships have been here, in a great Hollow of a Rock, fealed in aGlafs Bottle; and where the Portugals have ereded a Wooden Crofs to affix Leaden or Brafs Plates Engraven : An Example whereof may be this: Anno Domini l 6 f?. Mart's} 14. In Nave Aureum Vellus dittk Joanne North Navsrch!i,huc appulerunt Edmundus Haltey & Jacobus Clerk, ah Infula Sanftae Helente reduces; uhi Obfervationilus casleftibus Annum integrum im - penderunt. Afcenfion lies under the Seventh Degree of South Latitude, ip Leagues from St. Helens, which we made in a Weeks time from'thence with a North-Weft Courfe; here is little Meridional di- ftance Eaft from England , not much more than two Degrees; but now we muft go more Weftward to meet with the Winds, and this is juft as the Sun is upon his Summers Solftice in our Coun¬ tries, but here quite contrary. In the middle of June we came under the Arch of the ^Equator, Me of where lies Sr. Thomas Illand, and elevating the Ardick Pole fix St- ’ Ihma! ' Degrees, we met with Storms and fome Calms; this then was the realon we moved but flowly, till the Sun began to be vertical, it bringing thofe Winds with it, which were for our turn ; to wit, the North-Eaft Winds; which was the Twelfth of July before we had it the laft time, perpendicular in Twenty Degrees North, and • an half, the next day, made us parallel with Surat; infomuch that all this while we feem to have done nothing, being no farther, ba¬ ting our Weftern way, than where we fet out; which would be evident, could we have paffage through the Red-Sea into the Me-, I i i diterranean; 42 6 Our Return to E N G L A N D. Let. VIII. diterranean ; but Nature having oppofed a fmall Neck of Land of iy'W' Sixty Miles, has thought fitter to let the unquiet Ramblers go about thefe vaft Coafls, than to cut them out a nigher Way to fo long undifcovered Regions. The Sixteenth we palled the Northern Tropick into the Tern- ° P erate Zone, where take an account of a deiperate Aftion. In Slave. the Jofiah an Englijb Seaman held in Captivity by the Algereens, had fo perfected himfelf in that^durance in the Art of Thieving, that nothing could efcape him ; in which being often Apprehended, and as often Bound with Chains and Ropes, they were all too little to hold him fad ; for he could unty the hardeft Knot with his Toes as well as Fingers, and was expert at filing or eating off his Irons: But continuing in thefe Pranks nothing could be lafe from him, even the Ships-llores were imbezelled by him, which touched the Lives of all in theShip, he having feveral times broken open the Lazeretto , from which no Correction could deter him ; at laft allured by a general Confult, fome punilhmcnt was deviling for him, he unmanacled himfelf, and came before them as they were thinking what to do with him, and bidding them Adieu, leapt into the Sea, at once putting an end to their Confult, and his Fear and Fury. In Thirty Degrees North, we met with Alga or Sea Weed, fup- pofed to be brought hither by the rapid Courfe of the Gulf of Florida , which notwithftanding is a great way to the Weft off us. The Azores. The North-Eaft Winds have been very faint hitherto, whereby we were hindred from meeting with the South Weft Winds fooner; but between jo and 40 North they, enter to purpofe ; that in the beginning of Auguft we left the Weftern Illands, which are called Flmdrictz , or the Azores , which lie between the Ifles of Corvo and Flores ; where many place the firft Meridian, becaufe here is found in thefe Seas and the parts adjacent, that the Magne- tique Needle has no declination from the Meridian Line, and that it points out North and South exaflly; which beginning of Longi¬ tude, Mercator obferves in his Tables. And now we let our Face dire&ly for England, knowing by lng ' our Account we are paft thefe Spots of Earth, which thofe return¬ ing from India think themfelves obliged to be fecure of, before they do; we having deprefled our Longitude Weft, from Afien- fion Eighteen Degrees take a North-Eaft Courfe, and being paft forty Degrees North, we take our Fortune both for Wind and Wea¬ ther , fometimes fair, fometimes foul, fometimes for us, fometimes againft us, till having our Latitude almoft compleat, we again raifed our Longitude within a Degree and half of that of Afeenfion , which brought us the Fourteenth of Auguft in light of our Allion. Un&otFsiijtoti When entring the Channel, the Pilots were more concerned near Dover. t jj an a jj ^ y 0 y a g e a f ore . we came up we daily met with Ships outward bound, and others overtook us coming in, and the Com¬ panies Waiters Boarding us, every one was as cautious to own his Eftate, as a Mifer toconfelsona Poll Ad. With thefe Caterpil¬ lars Our Return to ENGLAND. lars we failed till we came on the Suffix Coaft, when longing to be on Shore, we hailed a Fifher>Boat on Board, who put me on Shore at Folkfione in Kent, Five Miles South of Dover, on the Twentieth of Augufl, 1681. From whence fending you this, give me leave to come leifurely to London, that in that time I may feel my Legs, and try how agreeable the natural Sweets of England by degrees may be -to one who in this long Abfence has fo little felt the Hardfhips of Travel, efpecially coming home; which though a tedious Voyageof Seven 1 ' Months, we pafled away merrily with good Wine, and no bad Mufick ; but the Life of all, good Company and an honeft Com¬ mander ; who fed us with frefli Provifions of Turkies, Geefe, Ducks, Hens, fucking Pigs, Sheep, Goats, &c. And to Crown all, the Day we made England , kill’d us a fatted Calf; fo that you may fpare that Welcome when you received Tours, Soli DEO Gloria. Amen. F I N 1 & Iii i An 4 V Chap. I. Index Explanatory. Proper Names. A Bagares , vitoj Abdul Cam, Ab G't Fundtt, AdulCaun, — —■ — Aga Toky ,——— Alab Add Shaw, Ana Gi Tun Jit ,— Aram, - Atreh Zteeb, -i. Page 28 % * 4 1 > *J 7 171 80 l6y — *44 i6$ *— s-i 4±6 -* *-^•287 iibj k' 94 ; Names of Plates* Abaffee, - -*** Acbtin, —-—-—4 S’ rig/p, - 21 f tsStbiopia, -— *-—” Africa, - ™ afgrn,-■ —— J 99 A&otm, — Aleppo, —— ' 22 4 Algiers, - - 120 America, —"— —zy Amidavad, » - - Ii 6 j 120 Anchola ,—■ 146 Angediva, ,v ’ ■' " ’f — C. Angmhs, or C. / 4fc#&wj 14, 4 21 Antartick, -- -- 14 Arabia, -~a~~Z2d Aram, ——• ■ ■ » 283 Ararat, ■ ■■ — ■ *——27° Atiaxcs ,-——- ■■■-■ ■ ifo Armenia, ■-- - 1 *76 Artick, -- 10 4T«*$w, 4 2 ) 4 /Tet», . -- Page 227 Afipafi ,——- -— . 2 j6 Atlantick, - 2, 3, n Aubgurrum, ' » ■• ’ ■ 313 AiimbegaUm, - - -■ 130 Aurengebad, - 416 Azmcs, -— — —426. Names of Things. Abrabarnee, i Gold Coin, 216,406 Abfte, U Silver Coin, yy Aibar, a Pickle, 117 Admipme, an Admiral, iyij Adtdvdun, ah High Cottftable, 16 y VEde, the New-Moon before the New- Year, id8, 308 oEde Bobbafid®, 1 ) tiEde Corbocm, > Feafts, 40 i csEde Chudeer, J eAsquator, ) Imaginary Circles or f18 tAEquinox, 3 Lines |ii Agiadti, an Aquaduft, 70 Atacoppe, a Chappel, 3 y8 Alajab, Silk and Cotton, 196 Albicbre, aFilh, 12 Albitroffes, Cape Birds, 12 Alcoran, the Turkics Golpel, 94 Aldca, a Country Seat, io, 16 Aligator, a Crocodile, y6 Ampbiskna, aSerp'eiit with two Heads, 34 AfUtrms, a Pine-Apple, 182 Ant dope, a Goat Stag, Apada, a Watering-place, 71 Aratb, a Leaf, 4° Araik, Indian Brandy, 69 ArrfiidS, a Fleet, J9 Arras, a Loam, 101 Arundel, a Shield to keep the Sun off, 3 o Atlas, Sattln, • 86 AuBo de Fie , the Gaol-delivery of the Inquifition, . iyy Index Explanatory. B. Proper Names. B Aiur Caun, -— Page 122 ^ BaJJepa Naig,— ——. 162 Bull'd Cmm ,— — ■■■■» 147, 169 Names of Places. BaJJdtu, . Batavia, . .—— Batticaki, - Bedmtre, - Beelfeer, -, _ Bengala, .' Berreau,- - . - Betu, - -. _ Beunovijla, Iff. - Bimly, ■ Bindamire,— _- -BoWiZ bodge, r Bombaim, alias Bombay, BombafI, __ 73) 74 -163 78 —38 82 . 2 3° 4 2 3 — 4 141, 142 .333 — ?2o ■—16,. 46 .57 •-162 130 --2f 410 , ‘ I48 ~:I 27 2 5° “ 2 45 Brampore, St. Brandon,- —41 2 —* 4 2 i ix. 2 4 409 T 2 4° Names'of Things. Baftats, fine Caliches,' Baloon, a Barge, Balu, a Wolf, 86 70 142 Bambo, a Thorn-Tree, p age , Bandanna, the Militia and Woodmen, 66 Bang, a poifonous Plant, • „ Bankjol, Cuftom-houfe Key, . * Banyan, an Indian Merchant, 0, Barker, a Difeafe, ,0 Bajfa, a Turkifb Lord, ' the Chief, . "J , Bafikn, a Term in Fortification, 4 4 Batty, courfe Rice, Bezoar, a Stone generated in a Goat, &L Bege, a Soldier, ^ Berenjau, a Fruit, Betel, a Nut, Leaf, &c. Biggereen, a Porter, BHbim, a Schifmatick, Bifiree, a Copper Coin, Blabber, the Carvil, or Sailing Filh Bocca mortis, a Gun, If6 an Indian Fig, or theleffer Plan. Boneto, a Filll, £tr « 4 , a Schifmatick of Mahomet, n Bowany, an Image of the Buncelos, n \ Brabb, a Tree, 5 Bracbmin, a Prieft, ,, Bttbjho, a Rotten Filh, ~ Buc ^™ a > an Afcent cover’d with Car-. a 131 n Ape, 21 Cloak-Bag, 397 .Beaft bigger than a Cow, 118 ' pets, Budgee. a , a Filh, Buncelo, a Call or Tribe, Bunco, Tobacco, Bunder, a Dock or Port, Burrow, Great, Bufiook, a Coin, Butt, the pureftSeft of Brachmins, Buzzar, a Market, 67 171. 57 115 195 . 53 i6r ' 54 c. Proper Names. f^Abul Caun, Catub Caun, SanBa Clara, Cowls Caun, — Cuffit, _. Cyrus, — - • 16; —— —ifi — —147 ■—- 26 7 Name* Index Explanatory. iii Cuderah, -- Page 146 Names of Places. Nos Signior de Cabo, Page 148 Caffa,-~ *■■■'■ 28y Caifar, - . *» -—244 Grand Cairo ,— .- 220 Calicut, •• ■■ * i —~54 Cambay, ■■ - 120 C ananore,>~~+ —• Canaries, --• ■-3 C anatick. 57,119 Candabar, ■ — 273 Canora, - —•• - -J 8 Canorein, -- —~ 6r, 70 Carmania, r - —303 Carnopoly, -- 1 — P Canvar, ■- . -y8 Casbin ,—• • » — 234 Cajelbuzzar,— ——• 38 Calhmire, —• —137 — - 296, 328 5 ° Caure/lan, •- —235 Caufabar,——'. —— ' 273 C«/«v, alias *— —22,23 Celicia, - -- »—■ 273 Charajan, * •—336 Changes, — - 420 Chawtalk, ■■■ 241 Chet ore, -- -" . - 416 Chiblone, ~—»— *- 77 China, - -■ 223 Choul, - ■ ‘ — 59 Chriftophers, Ifl. -- *5 Chuldefian — ■■■■" — 298 Chulminor,' • — -2fl Chuperly, —— -—86 C«, —- 273 Cochin, " *— 1 5 * Cochin China, ——. 188 Cola, — ■ ■» *■ —157 Columbo ,—' 11 23 Comora, Id. • —— 16 C. Comory, 1 - •-22 Cw»7 Shaw, '■ " 259 Conacaraw, —— —298 Conacurgu, -* ■- 298 Congo ,—— — -237, 320 Confiantinople, 55 Cormoot,' - »■ 236 Coromandel ,——— >■■■■■■ 29 Ccrw,-~~ -■ * 426 C.Cory, —*■■"■» 5 ° Coufabar 1 — ' <■■■". . 273 ..- - 373 CufcuZar,—~~~' - ■ " 256 Cutty-conyj " •— 56 Names of Things. Cabeffo, an Head, 154 Cabob, Roaft-meat, 404 Ofi, a Judge, 32 Cajan ,. a Bough of a zy^vjree, 17 Or, Rope-yarn, 121 Calabajh, a Gourd, 17 Calapee, the Breaft-platq of the Tortoife, 122 Calenture, a Fever, n Calentur, a Bailiff, 243 Caliph, Mahomet’s SuccefTor, 122 Callipet, the Hut of the Tortoife, 122 Camari, an Almanack, 371 Cancer, the North Tropic, 4 Canifier, a Cheft, 127,231 C anoo, an Indian Wherry, $4 Capbir, an Infidel, 109 Capitaneo, a Government, 73 Ctfphala, a Troop, 120 Capricorn, the South Tropic, 1 ix Caravan Ser Raw, an Inn, 99 Cargo, a Freight, 1 f 3 Carrack, a Ship, 88 Carvil, a failing Fiih, 69 Ca(h,- a Copper Coin, 57 Cajjawar, a Bird that digefts Iron, 116 Caffia,. a Tree. 176 Cap, a Tribe, 27 Caflor and Pollux, Meteors, 4 Catarre, a Poniard, 9 ? Cattamaran, a Raft of Logs, 24,25 Catubcaun, Huntfmafter, 16 j Catwal, a Sheriff, 97 0 /», a Duke, 131 C«£i, a Judge,' . 94 Cedgeway, a clofe Carriage for Women, 309 Cbampore, a ftrutting Cock, 11 6 Chamft, gn Almanack, 37 1 Chanquo, Mother of Pearl, 320 Charack, a Weight, 200 Chaur, Four, 286 Chawbuck, a Whip, 97 ,98 Cheek, Painted Bents, tied artificially to deceive the Sight, 83 Cheik, an High Pried, 3 8 5 Cheripo, a Shell-fifh, 320 Cberufe, a Fruit, 182 Cbinam, Lime, 4 ° Chias, a Seft, 28 Ch'mor, Index Explanatory. iv Chinor, Sycamore, Ch'mt, a fort of Ca'.lico painted, Chints, Stinking Infecis, Chitoree, an Umbrello, Cbitonl, Deer, Chitty, a Pafs, Chop, a Mark, Choufe, a Stand, Choultry, a Seat of State, Chocky, a Watch, Chuper, aFoot-poft, Cohit, a Cubit, Cockatooa, a Bird, Coco, a Nut, Coin, an High-Prieft, Coffcry, a Woolly-pated Negro Unbeliever, Coge, an Eunuch, Cm, a Merchant, Coho, Coffee, Cohor, a Porter, Colton, a Glafs Veffel, CoHat, a Robe of Honour, Colorogoffe, a General, Colum, a Bird, Columheen, a Porter, „ , fa Hair-Cloth, Cmh h |a Woodman, Commodore, a Commander, Conchon, the Netherlands , Conge, Starch made of Rice, Cookoo-chalm, Fritters, Cool, a Soldier, Cooly, a Tribe, Coofdan, a GurguUt Cafe, Corge, a Soldier, Gorge Baffie, Adjutant-General, Cormute, a Date, Cofanna, Treafure, Conrfe, a Mile and a quarter, Cowreys, Fife-ftells, Cowffiees, South-Eaft Wind, Cnciers, a Conftellation Page 2 f 9 176 82 m 406 116 7 „ 387 alfo an 9 * 393 388 86 3f6 119 67 J4 142 ir 7 62 207 407 319 34>77 399 319 376 236 164 29 161 226 making that Fi¬ gure, 11 Cw£, an Interdid, 348 a painted Plant, from whence the Name to the Silk, 107 Culverin, a fort of Cannon, 37 Cnfficiijh, a Grain, 179 Cujjelbaffi, a Chevalier, 3 76 Catcher], a Mixture of Pulfe, 81 D. Proper Names. D Aritu, -' Delvi, —- Doitd, alias David,- Page 370 H7 —109 Names of Places. Dabul, — I7J Dan de Rajapoiir, • —— 78 Dedmnbah, —— -—318 Dehid, -■ .— — 298 Dehir, - .— 12 7 Derab, -- —— 318 Defcoon, . . 239 Dh'tly, — — 199 Diego Rais ,— —— 421 Doulet Abad, 167 Duccan, ——— —167 Dungenefs ,—■ 137 Dungham, ■ — - — Durmapatan, —— —.77 Names o£ Things. Dammar, Pitch, 121 Dar, a Keeper, 309 Dehir, a Scrivan, or Secretary, 80 Denier, a Coin, 407 De-Roy, an Interdid, 31 Dervife, a Beggar, 392 Deft, a Farmer of the King’s Rents, Den Bafft, an Interpreter, Deup Colla, the Heats, Dipfy, a Plummet, Divan, a Council, Doll, a fort of Grain, Dolphin, a Fife, Dowly, a Caft, Droger, a Mayor, Dually, an Heathen Feaft, Duel, an Image,' Dumpoke, Bak’d Meat, Duppar, a Veffel made of Skins, Dutry, a poyfonobs Confedion, Duty, a Link-boy, Dungaree, a fort of Calicut, Duccan, the South Wind, 3 147 30 187 13 3U 389 404 118 33 34 86 93>“3 Proper Index Explanatory. v E. G. Proper Names. Names of Places. E Koii Gi Raja, — Page 169 Emanuel Lobos ,—- 153 Emanuel Mendos, - — — 218 Emir Jemla, ——120 Emuel Sobalj, ■- -370 Names of Places./ Elipbanto, • — — : 61,7 5 Erewan, — —— 268 - Efducbos, —— —246, 2 C. B. Efperanqa, — — 12,13 Eftbemy, — — 77 Euphrates, — -— - 220 EWflff, —■ 25 Names of Things. Embargador, the Council, . 151 Embajhe, a Centurion, , 3 Efcritore, a Box to put Writings in, 34 Efcrivano, a Secretary, 80 Etimutidoulet, a Chancellor, 338 F. Names of Places. CTjAlfi, . . ' — — X/ Ftraw, •—~ 244 G. Florida , — —- 4^ Flandrica, — 1 *—ib; Flores, - ■- ~ib. I. D«/ Fgo, an Ifle of Fire, —- —10 Names of Things. Falser, a Beggar, 9f Fattam, a Gold Coin, 38 Fetifcm, a Wizard, iff Fidalgo, a Gentleman, 74,123 Frajs , a Porter, . 67 Fringi, an European, 1 13 Frejco, afrelhAuy 49 AT '1 Amboa, •- Page 4 VJ Ganges, — —■ 47 Gaot, -- -126 Gafpar de Dios, , — '-148 Gates, —— —— 49 Foint de Gaul, 23 Sr. George,— — ■ Georgia, -— —284 Genoe, — . — 303 Gerom, —, 242 Getcbe, Gibralter, — - 3 Gideon ,— Ginea j ' •—— ii Goa , - ■■ ■ —■ ^8,149 Gocum, ■■ -»■ —— 158 Gogo, Gombroon, — —221 Gomora, ' —■ —« x 6 Gobgole, -- Gongoulp, '\l Gorgades, -- y, 6 ], 10 Goorbazergum, »- ~ 235 Grobundel, — — 74 Gulconda, — —=• 29 Gudean,~ r —' — 123 Gtmdore, —■ ■ -—38 Gurgejlan, — ■ — —284 Guzerat, —— — ~I20 Names of Things; Gabers, the old Verfiatis ; 253 GaravAnte, aPeafe, 21 Gelabdar, chief Muliteer, . 341 a Gentile, 27,33 Ger coda, . the Cold Sbafon, 187 Gereed, Tilt and Turnament, no Ghe, Butter, 33 Gbong, an Hour, . . 102 Goloomy Sbaw, the King’s Slave, 225 Gom, a Town, 124 Gomcar, a Bailiff of a Town, 179 GoJ'si the loweft Coin, 407 Gosbeek, a fiiiall Coin,- 343,407 Grob, a Boat, 151 Goualar, the Pbft-prifon, 416 Guiana, a Creature like a Crocodile, which Robbers ufe to lay hold on their Tail torobHoufes, 116 K fc!k Gukva; Index Explanatory. Gtiiava, a Pear, Page 40 Gur j an Hill, 12 9 Gtirgulct, a Veffel of Earth to drink Wa¬ ter with, 47 Proper Names. I Proper Names. Maun), Guardian of Mahomet's $ep,yl- Page aao J chre, lmaum Cooly Gr rjJgiefiCatm, -. H Halh Hamalecch, - Bmofji, flacker*, an Wi» Chariot, flackim, a Phyfieian, flaythun, a Governor, Hammock , a Bed, Hm, the Womens Apartment, Havaldar, a Commander, Hazary, a Thoufand, Hefiehebefi, Paradifeoa Earth, Hindu, a Tribe, Hing, Liquid Ajjk FabiM, flobera, a Bird, Hobfy, mArab'mC-efferfo or wooSy.-.pated Negro, Hodge, a Pilgrim, Hfdway, a Sacramental Wafer-, Holencore, a mean Tribe, a Feftival, Ho;-to, a Garden, Hubble-bubble, a Tobacco-JSpe, Hwmty, a Bath, Nairas of Things. ■ackal, a fort of Fox, 53 Uggaree, Meloffees, or eoarfe Sugar, 99 Ugeab, an Annuity^ ' ' 120 Umbo, a Fruit, 5:6 ' (een, aSubftitute, 338 an huge Earthen Veffel for Water, 10.8 .. aWalhing, ij9 Jawk, a Fruit, 40 Jehm, Hell, 233 Jemotty, Index Explanatory. vii fanotty, a Schifmatick of Mahomet’s, jeferee, a Soldier, \ m mm, the Prince of Arabia, jougj, an Heathen Devote, j„nk, a Ship, 93 • 35 ° 119 72 24 M. Proper Names. K. Names of Places. K Erenjati, Ifl. — • Retcher-macroon,— Kijmajh, - Korafam ,—" ~ -61 -316 363 M Ahamoody ,—— Page 411 Mahmud Emir Cam, 120 Mahomet, — Moloch-bur], •» St. Monacha, - Mm ad Beck, — Moro Pundit, — l*i 196 ——126 - xyi -,412 - 79 Mortis Ally, —;— -- 32, 358 MucklisCatm, — - - -130 Names of Things. Names of Places. Ketchery, a Mixture, 31° Rcdgways, Carriages, 309 Kitjoll, an Urabrello, 160 3 ” uenar. Poppy, 379 tnna, a Treafure, 164 L. Proper Names. St.T Awrence, - —14 i j Lewis Mendofo ,»-- — IJI Names of Places. 221 St. Lawrence, Ill. 11 —14 Lhr, -- —199 > 236 Loft, - - 320 Names of Things. G. Lace, Wax, Lacre, harden’d Wax, 12 Lafcar, a Seaman, U Lecque, 100000, I04 Linguit, a Call, **3 Lumbrico, a Sconce or Veffel , where Lamps burn together. 78 Lunga, a Wafte-Clout, J3> Al Lufcar, a Soldier, 107 Ltifcarry, an Army, 139 viii Index Explanatory. Mnfchat ,- Mttfbat, Muffaferry, - Mujfemloim, Page 220 2 98 ——24 * •—221 Names of Things. Magelefs > a Council, Maluche, an Expofitor, Mammoody, a Coin, ManAaAor, a Commander, Mango, a Plum, MangofaleuAo, a Cape-Bird, Mama, a Weight, Maw Raja, chief Raja, Meer, a Tribe, Metrbar, a daily Waiter, . Metanah, a Leathern Bottle, Mew-colla, the Rains, Mi Ann, the Palace-Yard, Mfe, a Grain, Minbajhe, a Colonel, Minhal, a Fan of Peacocks Feathers, 8* Muza, a Courtier, Mifcollt, a Weight, Mifiree, a Gold Coin, White, Mogul, a Tribe, Moneloes, Bracelets, Mmgoofe, a Squirrel, Monjoom, Tempeftuous Seafons, Montrofi, a Gunner, MorAijkeen, aDifeafe, Moors, Mahometans, Mora tty, a Language, Mofaue, a Moor Church, MoutcbeA, Debtor Vita, Muck, a Religious Frenzy, Mufti, an High-Prieft, Mullah, aPrieft, Munijumma, a Wax-Cloath, MttnjubAars, Petty Lords, Mtmfel, the Stage, Mufal, a Link-boy, Mufceto, a Gnat, Mufal, a Fan of Oftrich Colours, Mufl'als, Links, Muffanne, a Tribe, Muf elman, a Believer, Mufoola, a Boat, Mufiezo, a Mixture, MufubAar, a petty Ombrah , Muttany, a Pilgrim, N. ' Proper Names. 396 92 20* 67 *6, 182 12 78 7 6 93 98 136 187 249 179 3*6 Gi Tim Ait, Nartm Sinai, Neflr, - Niftambeak, - Nifhamfhaw, —— — Page 78 — 77 -36* 136 -16*, 166 Names of Places. 381 206 406 ?3 lb. i*6 116 48 38 ”4 ?4 78 *7 ,367 9J 3 ^ 7 , 3 fo 9f 419 34 3f x6o ’ 34 93 H> 37 6 9 m m NabonA, -- Nerapatan, Nerez,——- Nerule, —— Mus, - Nijhampore, Nockjhuan, - Norway, > Nunny-gaot,— 1 Ntmjarry ,' -1* 7 —48 --77 -20*, 28* —117 Names of Things. Nabob, a Governor, •Nig, a Gentleman, Naik, a General, Naik-whrry, Lieutenant-General, Nairo, a Gentleman, Naptha, a Bitumen, Natal, Chriftmafs, Nepa Ae Goa, Arach, Newry, a Bird, Ntgejs, Unclean, Ntjbam-mahke, chief Treafurer, Noerofe, New Year, Nuchery, a fijiall Grain, NuctjueAah, a Sea-Captain, Nunny-gaot, a little Mountain, Nure, a Flower, o. Proper Names. O I Sfetn, Names of Places. Index Explanatory. ix 0SW} _ — Page 57 Purtaabgur, • •" '* Page 78 Oppagaot, *-- -129 Putachos, - - — -76 Omits, - - - 221 Oxus, - - -328 Names of Thing Names of Things. courfe Rice, 67 f adre, a Father, J* Oftamh a Skreen to keep the Sun off, 160 Pagoda, a Temple, 24 Okas, Leafs, 66 Pagod, an Idol, Ombrah, a Lord, *91 PagoJ, a Gold Coin, ?3 Obne, fwoln Piles, m Palempore, a Coverlet, 34 falenkeen, a Sedan, 2 8, 29 ) 34 P # Palrnto, a Tree, 16 Pamerin, a Mantle, 77 Papaw , a Fruit-Tree, . 19 Proper Names. Parade, a void fpace before a Fort, 66 Parapet, a Walk brcaft-high. 37 'QAuh(lo, - -- - IfQ Parochet, a Parrot, 7 i Pedro ile Sylvia, 144 Parfy, an Old Perjian, 117 Vermel, -- — — ■45 Patamar, aFoot-Poft, 36, in Pet.i Gi Pundit, - ■- 8q P«ta>, a Tribe, 93 St. Pilar, ■ ■ - *54 Paulifiin, ajefuit, 7 ° j> crr - Paunch, Five, m 3 Paunch-augy, -Five Fires, Names of Places, Pawn, an Indian Treat, Pengrim, a Lord of Bantam, .40 106 Peon, a Servant, 26 ■—17* Peor, a Prophet, 67 Petunia, -51 Petacba, a Dollar 1 , • 53 Pangctm, —— --- 148 Pejbua, a Chancellor,- 79 Parcll, - — >nnm iv.^67 Pervenaa, a Salute to a Caun, 131 Partbia,—' — —. —^246 feterraro, a Gun, - 108 Patanaw, -—• —TT -38, 2J7 pharman, a Salute to a King, • 131 Pegu, _ — — ■"■"-4* Pharmaund, Letters Patent, 1.15 Penn, - — — ' 77 Pharjang, i. e. Parafang, ■ a Perfu » League* Pergom, — — -~rI32 Pfaarjijian, Perfia, - 2 57 PcT'/fpo/w* ■'■i.i — -^2yi Pigdans, Spitting-Pots, 223 Ptrfm, -- — 217,246 Pintado, painted, - 1-2 Pent, - Pi/wjfe, a Prefent, 134 Ptrlaw fife, a Copper Coin, ; Pet echos. Ill.' 1 ■ —■■ 61 Plantain, a Fruit-Tree, 19 Petttpolee,.^ ■— - S 8 Podejhaw, arvEurperox, . , 166 Phalupatan, —■ — —ji» 55 Pore, an Hour, ‘ 186 Pbdlipme, Ifl.-- — - 86 Porpoife, a Sea-Hog, 23 - —m rmll Pom, a Prifon where Prifoners are in- Ife i 4 w,— — toxicated, 3 ? Pokutal, -—■ r-^T'r.240 Potkafs, Calicoes, 86 Policat, - nOTr.42 fovo, the Poor, - 76 foljgore,-. - - - ■ Puchmiiy 'drinking Cups, - 223 j Porto, Inf.- - Puckery, a Turbat, 9.2 ror/o < ' {Novo, — - . —■* 7 j Pifllow, Meat ftew’d, 9,3 Portugal, - - — • Pundit, a Branch of Sinai Bmhmins, 196 Vulpana, ' • »- -rfioi Putacho, a Melon, 7 $ Puncharra, — --. ■ 7 ? Pythonifs, a Witch, Pundit, - «■ ■ " ■ ^146 Pur cat,~ - —i —y° ... _ - lil: Names X Index Explanatory. Qs. Names of Places. Q Uedah, - —Page Names of Things. Querpo, a Body, 4 Quetery, a Soldier, 190 Quefhery, an Exchange, 261 Quilt, a Bed-Covering, 29J R. Proper Names. R Amras, ■ x6y Raima JejfmJin, —* Raja, - -- 173 Rtzdn, -- —- - 2J9 St. Rock, —- -149 Rufiam, ■- —170, 172, 2J3 Names of Places. Rabag," -- —— 16; Rhamnagur, —— _ — ib. Rajapour, ——• , » —— « J9 Rairee, r - - . •—76, 79 JW/er Reek, - 237 Rays Magi, ———■ 148 C. Roujelgaet, ■ - —>■ , 220 jRrtfe Co»»(» ■ - 234 Names of Things. Ekphanto, the Tail of the Ele¬ phant, 48 Racanners, Pirates, 2X8 Rackbeet, fweet Water, 223 Rhaiars, Watchmen of the High-ways, 222 Raja, a Prince, - y8 Ramazan, Lent, 107 Ramrarn, God, 101 Raima, a Princefs, 162 Rajhpoot, a Soldier, 27 Rattan, a Cane, X7 Raw, the Way, Page 230 Recarder, Service, 70 Rendero, a Farmer, 123 Roufunder, a Chevalier, 19^- s. Proper Names. C^Amba Gi, - 79 |J y./w Gi W 79 j Sham Shanker Naig, -» - 162 Sham Zange, - — 236 Shaw Gi, -- - — 171 Siddy, -— - 76 Siigman-jaffa, — Sultan Aljum, •——— —28 - 416 Sultan Badur, —— 218 Sultan Echbar, . >" ,.>16 Sultan Majfum, —— — ib. Names of Places. Salfet, - —61, 157 Salvefing,— - - . . 67 Sandarajlapatan, — — - —-24 Saranpatan,- -■ • 163 Scandaroon, -— 224 Scbamccbia ,“—— ■- 333 Scythia, - - -2J4 Semiffar,—— 146 Sepbir, — - — 126 Serapatan, -- ——* 144 Shabanat, — ■■ - . ——238 Sham Zange,- . —— Sherwan, —— -334 Siam, - •- —46, 67, 86 Sinda, — ■ - — 120, 187 Siras ,— —246 Smirna, - ■ ■ 224 Soldania Bay, ■——- ———-422 Stambole, - ——224 Suffubaun — —224,336 Succotra, Ifl. • 21 Sumatra, Ifl. — ■ ■ —14, 45- Sunda, ■■■ ■■■ —— 162 — —61,82,120 Syria,—— 268 —— —63,82 Names Index Explanatory. XI Names of Things. Sabre, an Elk, Page 17 y Sahab, Sir, 4x7 Sackcloth Londre, Englijh Cloth, 224 Salam, a Bow, Hearth, or Complement, 18, 93, 126 Salloos, Calicoes, Sarbaff, Cloth of Gold or Silver, 22 j Sa[b, a Girdle, 26 Sattee, a Portugal Veffel, 9 , 112 Scrivan , a Secretary, 191 Ser, the Head, 230 Seraglio, the Court, 130 Serai, a Bird, Serpaw, a Robe from Head to Foot, 87 Shagamn, Leather, Shaw, a King, 168 Sbawbmder, Chief Cuftomer, . 98 Shakee, a Coin, 406 Shebar, a Boat, 77 Shekree, a Gold Coin, 406 Shemaul, N. W. Wind, 226 Sherbet, Liquors for Drink, 263 Shiek, a Judge, 9 ? Shitan, Satan,” 14 1 Shofji, an Expofitor, 9 2 S.hroff, a Banker, • 98 .Shatter, a Footman, 232 Siad, Mahomet’s Kindred, 93 Sinai, an Under -Brachmin, 161 Singanias, Pirates, . 218 Siturngee, a plain courfe Carpet, 93 Snicker-jnee, Dutch Duelling, 119 Sogg, an Herb, ib. „ C boiled Salad, 119 |an Oak, ' x 7 8 Soldado, a Solfe, IJ 1 Start, an Afs, 224 Stathmus, a Perch, 407 Stochado, a Stab, iy6 Stone-bafs, a Fi(h, 12 Subidar, a Commander, 77 Suffaguzes, Calicoes, 182 Suffabaun, the Suffees City, 3 f 0 Suffee, the Emperor of Yerfta, ib. Suffet, White, „ ib- Sumbrero, a Shade from the Sun, Ji fyirpoofe, a Covering to a Dilh, 130 Sufanees, Embroider’d Cloaths, 398 Proper Names. T Imi Naig,— Tockerjy, Page 1 6i 3 °4 Names of Places. Tangedelon, Tanaw ,- - - Tar afore, Tartdria, Taurus ,— St. Thomai^S.. Triblitore,—— Ifle Trinidado, Trincomalai ,—— Tripoly,- -- Taumbay, Tudor a,- Tull ,— Tunis, - - fufs, - Tutticaree,-— 373 — I2f -* 4 » 3 «* 43 ' 44 —363 Names of Things. Tabardars, Foot-Soldiers, 3*9 Talak, a Bill of Divorce, 382 Talman, aPrieft, 3 48 Tambole, aTabret, 16.0 Tank, a Pond or Cifterri, 27 Tart, a Coin, SS Teh, the Indian Oak, 142 Tel'mga, a Speech, 33 Terrhnos, Land-Breezes, 23 Theatini, an Eccleiiaftical Order, 1 * 1 Thamarind, a Tree, t& Thomand, an imaginary Coin, 222 Tindal, a Boatfwain, x °7 Tocta, a Throne, ' 13 9 Tody, CocoeWine, Token Cyst, a Cyprels-Tree, 247 Tomafia, a Shew, I i 9 Tofangee, aGufln er > 3?9 Topazes, Musketeers, 66 Topes, Groves, or places of Trees, 41 Tornados, Storms, 10 Tols, a Drinking Cup, 133 39 ? Tropick, xii Index Explanatory. Tropick, an imaginary Circle in the Hea¬ vens, Pag e 4 Tidje, Calaminth, 199 Turbat, an Head-drefs for Men, t8 Tuthinag, a Metal, 86 V. Proper Names. Afauez de Gamez , ——62 Vangu Gi, - " ’ I 7 1 Names of Places. Fagarjlabat, • — * —272- Falentim’sPeak, - —— 8 8 Udgewally, -—■ —~ 2 4 J Venice, - -JJ, 2 49 > 3 So C.Verd, T Vendee, - —* ——67 Vtngula, -— -iyij IJ 2 VtfopX -— j8, 148, x6j DSd^w, - — 4 rr Urchin ,- - — 2 f 9 Usbecjue, - - 167, 3 32, 373, Names of Things. Ventcfoa, Funnels, 22 ' 2 Ventofoes, Cupping-Horns or Glanes, 114 Vifur, the Prime Minifter of State, Umbrello, a Shade, 222 Vocanovice, a Publick Notary, 80, 140 Vockeel, a Fador, iif Vortobeed, a Monk, 2 7 ° w. Proper Names. Oden, - —402 X. Proper Names; .'^^Avierui, -Page ryo Names of Things. Xeriphan, an High-Prieft, 95 Xeripbin, a Coin, ifo y. Names of Things. Y Jm, a Root, 104 Tattpengee, a Felt, 234 Yogdans, Chefts for Provifions, 398 z. Proper Names. Z Amerhin, the Pope of Calient, yi Zimorat Epicurus, —— [362 Names of Places. Zergom, ■■ — 1 - - 2 5 ° Zermav>, — ■ - — —298 Zevan, ' *— 2 98 Names of Things. 2e»fo&, 7<5 187 2Seas only madetranfpareht, 122. Tortoife weeps; its large Heart caufe of itk Pufilani* mity, Ib. Tortoife or Turtle-flelh eat¬ en a Month together, fpecifical for the Cure of Difeafes gotten in long Voya- _ g e , s > 4 2 £ Trade to Euphrates laid open by the Eng- liff, 3 y 3. Trade of India over Land, y y. Trade not underdood by Seva Gi, 170 No travelling m India without a Cuard, 120 Treafure centres in India, 112. Treafure amafs’d by Trade, ijq- Trees bending indicate the Condancy of the Wind, 29 y Trumpets of the Moors found dreadful¬ ly, 83. Trumpets of Seva Gi more, tuneable than the Moors, 12 6 Tumadoes productive of Storms, 10 Twilight in the Torrid Zone but little, the realon, yy Tyrannical Government in India as ne- ceflary to keep them under, as abdain- ing from Field, and walhing their Bo¬ dies, to keep them in health, 197 Tyrants friid thofe lead' are mod allied, 347 V. V Ainglory of an entire Founder, 226 Vafquez, de Gama the Fird Difcover- er of the Eaft-hdies, 61 Venetians ralfed their State and Grandeur by Over-land Trade from Calicut, yy Venetians decline in Trade fincc the Portugals Difcovery to the Eajl-Indies, y y Venom of Malice and Infatuation, 173 Viceroy of Goa, iyi Victor/ xxiv A Table of Principal Matters. Victory dearly purchafed, ' 164 Vilianage exercifed by the Tortugals, 71 Virgil's Account of Dido is falfe, 1 fz Vifiiipottr the greateft Mart for fmall Dia¬ monds, iff. Vifafeur Kingdom, its Extent, 166 Vortobeils, Armenian Monks, profefs Celi¬ bacy, 27° Voyages made in Six Months by obfer- ving the Trade-Winds, .which were wont to require fo many Years, 4 w. R Eligious Wars are cruel, when to kill our Fellow-Creatures is thought a ' Service to God, ' 220 Walkings too much prefumed on to pu¬ rify Sins, 344, Walhing the Feet an hofpitable Entertainment, 72. Walh¬ ing before Meals, 32. Walh at Eafe- ments, ' 33 Watch in Garifons call bn one another, 126 Water made fitting, 200. Water defiled if any,, dead Carkafs have fallen into it, 2*5. Water reckoned good or bad, as we do Air, yj. Water the clearer, the better, 304. Water characteri¬ zed, 310. Thames Watef apt to take Fire, keeps longeft, 17 Water-Snakes on the Coaft of India, 45 Wealth of the Subjects falls into the Kings hands at their Death, 28. Wealth a neceffary Adjundt attained by a few, 70 Wealth centres in India, 188 Dancing Wenches common Whores, 1 y2 Dancing Wenches facred to their Gods, 44 Wheat the bell at Efducks, 257 Wheelbarrows fail laden with Salt on the Ifle of Man, 6 Whirlwinds from the '.fountains hurl Men and Oxen to thebottom, 128. White Men expedt obfervance, iy6 Whoring in India a point of Manhood, 28 Wild Bealls entrapp’d, r6 Winds fent before the Rains, to qualify the Heat, 120. Winds why they fhrink on the Coaft of Guinea, 10 Wine odious to Mujjelmen, 168. Wines turn Vinegar, for want of Cure, 242. Wine in Hot Countries makes ill Nur- fes, 69 Winter at the South Cape, 12. Winter and Summer how varied, lb. Winter at the Mauritius, y8 Wives burn with their dead Husbands, 33 , 1173 JJ2 Women in India quick in Labour, 115 Women of Repute converfe not with the Men, but tranfad their Affairs by themfelves, 277. Women ride aftride, 279. Women coop’d up, 287. Wo¬ men that burn not with their dead Husbands, defpifed, 198. Women fet on to complain, 400. Women cabal not in-Ferfia, 396. Women held to be 393. Women how puri¬ fied, 94. Women married but once, 110. Women ftri&ly guarded, 31,13 3 Women carry Water, and do the Drudgeries of the Houfe, 199. Inde¬ cent to ftrike a Woman, 383. Worms breed in Human Bodies, 229 Y. Y Ear, its Seafons varied by the Speci- fick Determinations of Winds, &c. 317 Yearly Seafons in India, ■ 186,187 Z. Z Amerhin not brooking the Portugals as Inmates, they removed to Goa, 5 5 Zeal blinds and warms, 160. Zeal of former Ages thought no Labour enough to exprefs their Love to the Deity, 138 F I N I S.