The history of trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes As Moscouia, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Ægypte, Ethiopia, Guinea, China in Cathayo, and Giapan: vvith a discourse of the Northwest passage. Gathered in parte, and done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden. Newly set in order, augmented, and finished by Richarde VVilles.

The maners of the people of the citie of Cambaia: and of the Soltan thereof. Cap. 2.

THe Soltan of Cambaia, at my beyng there, was named Maca∣mut, and had raygned fourtie yeeres, after he had expulsed

the kyng of Gugerat. They thynke it not lawefull to kyll any lyuyng beaste to eate, or to eate fleshe. They are no Mahume∣tans, neyther Idolaters, and therefore I beleeue that if they were baptised, they were not far from the way of saluation, for they obserue the exquisite rule of iustice, doyng no worse to other, then they woulde to be done to them. As touchyng theyr ap∣parell, some of them go naked, and other couer onely theyr pri∣uities. On theyr heades, they weare fyllettes of purple colour. They them selues are of darke yelowe coloure, commonly called Leonell coloure. This Soltan maynteyneth an army of .xx. thou∣sande horsemen. Euery mornyng resort to his pallace, fyftie men, syttyng on Elephantes. Their office is, with all reuerence to salute the king or Soltan, the Elephantes also kneelyng downe. In the mornyng assoone as the kyng waketh, is hearde a great noyse of Drummes, Tambartes, Tymbrelles, Waytes, and also Trumpettes, with dyuers other musicall instruments, in reioycyng that the kyng lyueth. The lyke do they whyle he is at dinner: and then also the men sytting on the Elephantes, make hym the lyke reuerence as before. We wyll in due place speake of the wytte, customes, and docilitie of these beastes. The Soltan of this citie, hath his vpper lyppe so grosse, that it is a monstrous thyng to beholde: Insomuche that sometyme he beareth it vp with a fillet, as women do the heare of theyr heades: his bearde is whyte and long, euen vnto the nauell. He is so accustomed to poyson from his infancie, that he dayly eateth some to keepe it in vse. And although he hym selfe feele no hurte thereof by reason of custome, yet doth he thereby so impoyson hym selfe, that he is poyson to other: for when he is disposed to put any of his noble men to death, he causeth hym to be brought to his presence, and to stande naked before hym. Incontinent•• he eateth certayne fruites (whiche they call Chofolos) lyke vnto Nuttemegges: and eateth also the leaues of certayne hearbes, whiche they call Tambolos, addyng also thereto the pouder of beaten oyster shelles. And a whyle chawyng al these togeather in his mouth, he spitteth it vpon hym whom he desyreth to kyll, who being sparkled therwith, dyeth, by force of the poyson with∣in the space of halfe an houre. He entertaineth about foure thou∣sand concubines: for when soeuer he hath lyue with any of them,

shee with whom he hath lyen, dyeth the daye folowing, be∣yng by hym impoysoned. And therefore when he changeth his shyrt or other apparrel, no man dare weare it: and for this cause he hath great change of apparrell. My companion enquired di∣ligently of the merchants by what meanes he was of so veno∣mous nature? They answered, that the Soltan his father brought him so vp of a childe with poison by litle and litle, with preserua∣tiues so accustomyng hym thereto. But let vs nowe returne to speake of the maners of the people: For the most part they weare but only one syngle vesture, and are very warrelyke men: also greatly geuen to merchandies. The fruitfulnesse and plentiful∣nesse of the region can not be spoken. It is frequented almost of al nations. Therfore from this citie, and from an other (wher∣of we wyll speake hereafter) diuers and innumerable sortes of merchandies, are transported to almost all the regions of the worlde, and especially to the Turkes, Syrians, Arabians, Indians: also to diuers regions of Affricke and Ethiopia: principally ex∣ceedyng abundance of sylke and Bombasyne, and therefore is this Soltan marueylous rych. He keepeth in maner contynuall warre with the kyng of Ioga, whose realme is fyfteene dayes iorney from Cambaia, and reacheth very farre euery waye. This kyng mayntayneth an armie of .xxx. thousand fyghtyng men: he and all his people are Idolatours. He lyueth in contynual progresse, with a mightie trayne at the charges of the people: and contynually carrieth about with hym foure thou∣sand tentes and pauilions: also his wyfe, chyldren, concubines, & slaues, furthermore, foure or fiue of most couragious horses: like∣wyse muskattes, moonkeys, Parrottes, Leopardes, & haukes. And in this order he walketh almost ouer all India. The kynges apparell, is a double gotes skinne, one coueryng his brest, and the other his backe, with the hearysyde outward: he is of we∣sel colour, enclining to blackenesse, as are the most part of these Indians, beyng in maner scorched with heate of the Sunne. They weare al earerings, precious stones, and iewels of sundry forts: some couer theyr body with a single, light, & thinne vesture, puttyng out one arme naked. The kyng and certaine of his no∣ble men, paynt their faces with certaine sweete gommes & spi∣ces: and some also other partes of their bodies. They are ledde with many vayne superstitions: for some professe neuer to lye on

the grounde, some to lyue in continual silence, as though they were speechelesse, hauing two or three appointed by signes to serue them meate and drynke.

They haue all hornes hangyng about theyr neckes: and there∣fore when they come to any citie, they blowe theyr hornes all at once, to make the inhabitantes afrayde, as do they that with vs keepe Crowes or Rookes out of the corne. Then commyng to talke with the citizens, they demaund victuales, and what so∣euer other thynges they stande in neede of. Whyle the kyng any tyme resteth a whyle in one place, almost all the whole ar∣mye gardyng his person about his pauylion, fyue or syxe hun∣dred in the meane tyme raunge abroade togeather to geat what they can. They tarry not past three dayes in one place, but are euer wanderyng after the maner of the vagabunde Egyptians, Arabians, & Tartars. The region is not fruiteful, but rough, with craggie mountaines. The houses of the citie are despicable: the citie is also without walles. This kyng is enemie to the Sol∣tan of Machamir, & vexeth hym greatly with diuers incursions.

Notes

• Pithagorici.
• Good people.
• They may see me the suc∣cessours of Darius and Po••us.
• The great pompe of the kyng of Cambaia.
• Elephantes.
• Monstruos great lyppes.
• A straunge his∣torie of a kyng accustomed to eate poyson.
• A venomus kyng.
• Belyke he get∣teth no chyl∣dren.
• Great fruitful∣nesse & abun∣dance of mer∣chandies.
• Plentie of sylke.
• The kyng of Ioga, an Ido∣latour.
• Continuall progresse.
• Wyues and concubines.
• The colour of the Indians.
• Hornes.
• Wanderyng nations. Feelde men.