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CHAP. II.
Of the Indian Prouinces next adioyning to China.
CAuchin-China a 1.1 is an Indian Kingdome, situate betweene the Riuer Cantan, and the Kingdome of Siam, diuided into three Prouinces, and as many Kings, but one of them is Paramount. It b 1.2 aboundeth with Gold, Siluer, Aloes, Porcelane, and Silke. They are Idolaters and Pagans, and c 1.3 haue had some deuotion to the Popish Christianitie, moued thereto by certaine pictures of our Ladie, of the last Iudge∣ment, and Hell (a new kinde of preaching) and haue erected many Crosses amongst them, of which the Friers report (after their fashion) some miracles. Their Religion seemeth little to differ from that of the Chinois.
Nigh vnto this Kingdome is Champa, the name of a Kingdome, and chiefe Citie thereof, of great Traffique, especially of Lignum Aloes, which groweth there in the Mountaines, prized at the weight in Siluer, which they vse in Bathes, and in the Fune∣rals of great Princes. In Religion they are as the former.
Camboia lyeth Southward from thence, a great and populous Countrie, full of Ele∣phants and Abada's (this Beast is the Rhinoceros:) Here also they begin to honour the Crosse, as Frier Siluester (a man, as they say, much reuerenced by the King, and honou∣red of the people) hath taught them. When the King dieth, d 1.4 his women are burned, and his Nobles doe voluntarily sacrifice themselues in the same fire. The women are generally burned with their husbands at their death. The Camboyans dealt treche∣rously e 1.5 with the Hollanders, An. 1602. whome they inuited to the shore, with pro∣mise of certaine Buffes, and then cruelly slew them. They detained the Admirall on shore, to be redeemed, with some of their Ordinance. When they intend a iourney, they vse diuination with the feet of a Henne, to know whether it will be luckie, or no; and as the Wizard shall answere, they dispose of themselues, eyther to goe, or stay.
On this side of Camboia, is f 1.6 Siam, mother-Citie of a Kingdome bearing the same name, in which are reckoned thirtie thousand families of Mores, besides the Naturals. In these parts are huge woods, harbours of Lions, Tigers, Ownces, and Mariches, which haue maidens faces and Scorpions tailes. Heere runneth Menan out of that huge lake Chiamay, which yeeldeth this and other Riuers of like nature to Nilus in E∣gypt. They haue amongst them many religious g 1.7 men, which leade an austere life, and therefore had in great reputation of holinesse. These liue in common: they may not marry, nor speake to a woman (which fault is punished with death) they goe alway bare-foot, in poore aray, eating nothing but Rice and greene herbes, which they beg from doore to doore. They craue it not, nor take it with their hands, but goe with a wallet at their backes alwaies, with their eyes modestly fixed on the ground, and cal∣ling or knocking, stand still, till they receiue answere, or some thing be put in their wallets. Many times they set themselues naked in the heate of the Sunne: notwith∣standing that himselfe, with such direct beames, together with his frie (whole armies of Gnats) doe their vtmost malice vpon them. They rise at Mid-night to pray vn∣to their Idols, which they doe in Quires, as the Friers doe. They may not buy, sell, or take any Rents, which, if they should doe, would bring on them the imputation of Heretikes. Some Merchants of Siam being at Canton, and hearing that Frier Martin Ignacio and his companions, were there imprisoned, for •••••• that Chi∣nian Kingdome without licence, they visited them, and seeing their poore Friers weedes, they, besides other almes, offered to pay their ransome, if money would doe it.
The Siamites h 1.8 commonly hold, that GOD created all thinges, rewardeth the good, punisheth the bad: That man hath two Spirits; one good, to keepe; and the