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 Forces.

[ XI] THe Island hath onely a wall towards the East, right against the land of Salsette, vnto the other side of the land of Bardes. This defence is not good, but against the so∣daine inuasions of the people of the firme land, which are not vnder the dominion of the Portugals: there is no other fortification in this Island. There is in the land of Bar∣des [ E] a Castell standing high at the mouth of the riuer, but it is almost ruined, and hath only three iron peeces, and a man to keepe it.

The Island of Goa toward the sea, for the most part discouers it selfe with high rocks: but the land of Bardes towards the sea, hath a goodly shore of sand fiue hundred paces long. This is the guard of the Island: towards the East there are three or foure ports neere the riuer vpon the extremitie of the Island, right against the firme land of Salsette and Bardes: euerie port hath a captaine and a secretarie, without whose permission no man may go to the firme land; by reason whereof, when the Indian Decanins and other Ethiopian Idolaters which remaine at Goa, go to the firme land for any trafficke, or to seeke for victuals; they must in these passages haue a marke set vpon their naked arme, [ E] which marke they must shew at their returne, and they giue for the libertie of the pas∣sage two Basarucs being paid to the Captaine and Secretarie, who doe set a young man in Seninell all night, whose charge is to ring a Bell which hanges in the Tower.

[ A] There are fiue of these passages, one is towards the South, which leads to the firme land and to Salsette; this passage was called Benesterijm, and now the passage of S. Iames, by reason that the Church of Saint Iames is neere it. The second passage called Sec is vp∣on the East part of the Island, and it is the common passage to go to the firme land, for that the riuer is easier to be waded through there, than in any other place. The third, which is called the passage of Daugijn, or of the mother of God, is vpon the South side, and neere vnto the town; the wal reacheth vnto it, beginning at the passage of S. Iames: and as for the rest of the Island it hath no other defence. From this passage they ferrie ouer vnto the other Island, which answers vnto the firme land, and this fourth is called [ B] Nor••••••. The fifth and last passage is from the towne vnto halfe the riuer, vpon a low flat bending towards Bardes: this is the strongest of all, and is called the passage of Pangijn: and here they stay all vessels which go in, or come out of the riuer. These are all the for∣tifications of this Island, which notwithstanding doth not much feare the attempt of her neighbours, being carefully guarded and full of people. Yet that which might hurt the Portugals is the great multitude of Idolaters & Mahometans which are in this Island. But if there be any feare of that side, the Portugals doe set so good an order and keepe so carefull a guard, as they may well liue in assurance. Moreouer, their armies at sea which scoure the coasts, k••epe them from surprise, and their entertained souldiers which are many in number secure them.