The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ The Manners at this day.

[ X] THe inhabitants of Cambaya giue themselues for the most part to merchandise, and are vnprofitable for the wars. They are of an oliue colour, and go all naked, only they couer their priuities. As for their head, they weare ouer it a mantle, & as it were a hat of a purple colour. They eat no flesh, but liue of rice, milke, barley, and other things with∣out life. They combe their beards curiously, and plait downe their haire like vnto wo∣men. The women neuer marrie but with one man, and the men in like manner, and they liue very chastly being in their widowhoods. They are great sorcerers, and take vpon [ F] them to foretell things to come. They were accustomed whenas they had a particular prince, to come in the morning some on horsebacke, and others vpon elephants before the kings palace to salute him, sounding many trumpets and cornets, and they vsed the like ceremonie whenas the king sat downe to meat.

[ A] The realme of Bengala is inhabited by many sorts of nations, by reason of the tempe∣rature and bountie of the ayre, and riches of the countrie. The Originaries are for the most part white, subtile of wit, of a mild and courteous disposition, and they vnderstand well the things wherein they deale: yet it is true, they are somewhat deceitfull. They are giuen to traffique, and vnderstand the trade of merchandise: they go not naked, as for the most part all other Indians doe, but they couer themselues with a shirt which is rea∣sonable white, and hangs downe vnto their feet, vpon the which they haue other gar∣ments of silke. They weare Turbans like vnto the Turke. Their kings in former times were commonly chosen from among the slaues of Abyssins, whereof the Court was in [ B] a manner full. They are delicat and stately as well in their diet as apparell. They are ig∣norant in regard of the sciences, as well as the people of Cambaya: It is true that some haue affirmed that there are some few among them which haue some little knowledge in Phylosophie, Astrologie, and Physicke. They say that the inhabitants of the countrie ••eare great honour vnto the riuer of Ganges, and they neuer go vpon it but with great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, beleeuing confidently whenas they wash themselues in this riuer, the water thereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 away all the sinnes where with they are polluted. But the auarice of their princes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beene so great, as they may not bath themselues in this riuer vnlesse they pay a cer∣•••••••• summe vnto the king.