CHAP. XCIIII.
Of SATAGAN the Metropolis of Bengala, and the trade of that coast and the River Ganges.
AT the ending of the coast of Coromandel, beginneth this coast of Bengala, through the middle whereof * 1.1 the famous River Ganges runs, making a large bay or Gulfe, which carrieth the name of the Gulfe of Bengala: This Country is under the command of the great Mogul; whose coynes are here currant; the holy and reverend opinion that the Gentiles through all India have of this River, and the concourse of Pilgrims thereto, for de∣votion sake, addes much to the traffique of Satagam, the chiefe Ci∣tie of this Countrey, which is pleasantly seated on another faire and large River, whose imbosure is not farre distant from the im∣bosure of Ganges, and upon which boats sayle by the violence of the current a hundred miles in fifteene houres without the helpe of sayles or oares, and when the tyde turneth it, is found to be so violent that the saylers are forced to make fast their boats to cer∣taine trees fixed on the shoare side, for they are not able to make way against the streame and current thereof. At the entrance of this River is a place called Butter, which the Inhabitants of the Countrey and Merchants there doe yearly build in forme of a vil∣lage, of straw, branches of trees, reeds, and the like, and is of great largenesse, to which they bring all manner of merchandize, to meet the shippes which at certaine set times with the Monsoons come