Travels into divers parts of Europe and Asia, undertaken by the French King's order to discover a new way by land into China containing many curious remarks in natural philosophy, geography, hydrology and history : together with a description of Great Tartary and of the different people who inhabit there / by Father Avril of the Order of the Jesuits ; done out of French ; to which is added, A supplement extracted from Hakluyt and Purchas giving an account of several journeys over land from Russia, Persia, and the Moguls country to China, together with the roads and distances of the places.

A Long and Dangerous JOURNEY From Lahor, a City of the Great Mogul, to China over Land, by Benedict Goez.

UPON the Relation of the Maho∣metan mention'd in Xaverius's Letters, Pimenta, Father Visitor of the Iesuits, sent notice thereof to the Pope, and Spaniard. They hearing of such a mighty Christian Nation, the Vice-Roy of India was Commanded to follow Pi∣menta's Directions, who employ'd Benedict Goez, a Portuguese Jesuit in that Discovery: Furnish'd like an Armenian Merchant, and changing his Name to Abdula Isai, which latter appellation signifies a Christian. Thus obtaining the Great Mogul Achabar's Let∣ters Patents to his Vice-Roys, and Gover∣nours,

as also to the Neighbouring Princes, he departed in Company with one Isaac an Armenian, from Lahor the sixth of Ianua∣ry, 1603. Every Year there is a Caravan of Merchants that pass out of these parts into the Kingdom of Cascar, about 500 toge∣ther, for their better defence against Rob∣bers. With these he joyn'd himself, and in a months time came to Athec in the same Pro∣vince of Lahor. After the passing of a Ri∣ver, and a months stay, he came in two months to Passaur, from whence Travelling to a certain small Town, they met with a Hermite, who told 'em, that about 30 days Travel from thence lay the City of Ca∣pherstam, into which no Saracen might be permitted entrance; but Ethnicks might enter except into their Temples. He tasted also of their Wine, of which that Countrey was very fertile. They likewise go to their Temples in Black.

In the place where they met the Hermit they stay'd 20 days, and were forc'd to hire 400. Souldiers of the Governour for their defence. in 25 days they Travell'd from thence to Gtrideli, the Merchants keep∣ing Arm'd upon the tops of the Hills, and the Carriages in Valleys, to prevent Thieves that are accustom'd from the tops of those Hills to stone the Travellers: However, they were assail'd, and many wounded by those Robbers.

After 20 days more they came to Cabul, where they stay'd eight months. At this place there happen'd into their Company the Sister of Mahomet Can, King of Cascar, by whose Country they were to pass toward Cathay. She was call'd Agehane; Age being an Honourable Title annex'd to her Name, as a Pilgrim to Mecca, from whence she was then but newly return'd, and being in some want, borrow'd 600 Ducats in Merchandize of Goez, which she afterwards repaid in Merchandize more proper for Ca∣thay: That is to say, in a kind of Marble, by some call'd Iasper, by the Chineses Tuscé, which is of two sorts; the one taken out of the bottom of the River Cotan, by such as Dive for it, as they do for Pearls, being like to great Flints: The other, meaner, and drawn out of the Mountain call'd Consangui Cascio. The Solitariness of the Place, di∣stant from Catan 20 days Travel; and the hardness of the Stone which they mollifie with Fires over the place, make it very dear: And the Merchants that purchase this Pri∣viledge of the King, carry along with 'em a Years Provision for their Labourers.

From Cabul they went to Ciarcar, where the Mogull's Patents, by virtue of which they hitherto had been Tribute-free, were neglected by the unruly Borderers; from thence to Parua, the last Town in subjection to the Mogull. After five days stay, they

pass'd in 20 days over exceeding high Moun∣tains to the City of Aingharan, and in 15 days more to Calcia, where the People re∣semble the Hollanders. After a Journey of ten days more, they came to Gialalabath, where the Bramins exact Custom, granted 'em by King Bruarate. Fifteen days after, they got to Talhan, where by Civil Broils, they were stay'd for a Month, the Calcians being in Rebellion. From thence they Travel'd to Cheman, under Abdulahan King of Samarhan, Burgavia, Bacharate, and other Confining Kingdoms, where the Cat∣lians rob'd 'em of a great part of their goods. After 8 days troublesom Travel they came to Badascian, where they were fleec'd a se∣cond time; neither were they free at Ciar∣ciumar, which was their next Resting Place; from whence in ten days they arriv'd at Serpanel, a Desart place, and 20 days after to Sarcil, a Country full of Villages. In two days Journey from thence, they reach'd Ciecialith, a Mountain all cover'd with Snow, where in six days Travel many of the Company perish'd with cold.

From thence they attain'd to Tanghetar, in the Kingdom of Cascar, and in 15 days after to Iaconich, which Journey was like∣wise so tiresom, that Goez lost six Horses. From thence he went to Hiarchan the Royal City of Cascar, in November, 1603. a Mart Famous for Concourse of Merchants, and

variety of Merchandize. He Presented the King with a Watch, a Looking-Glass, and other European Presents, and thereby ob∣tain'd his Letters Patents for furtherance of his Journey.

From thence he went with the Caravan Basha, who purchases his place of the King at a dear rate, about the midst of Novem∣ber, 1604. to Iolci, Hancialix, Alceghet, Hagabateth, Egriar, Marcetelec, Thalec, Horma, Thoantac, Mingrieda, Capetalcol, Zelan, Sarc Guebedal, Cambasci, Aconsersec, Ciacot-Acsu in 15 days; a very tedious way over Stones and Sands. In this Journey they pass'd the Desart of Carcathay. Thence ••hey Travel'd to Oitograch Gazo, Casciani, Dellai, Saregabedal, Ugan, and Cucia. And ••ftr a Months stay there, in 25 days more ••o Cialix, Govern'd by the King of Cascar's ••ase Son, with whom at first he had some difference about Religion, which was pa∣••ify'd with a Gift. And in a Disputation with the Mahumetan Doctors, before him ••he Vice-Roy sided with Goez, affirming ••hat the Christians were the true Muzzel∣men, and that their Ancestours profess'd that Law; a thing worthy to be observ'd. Here ••e met with some Merchants in their return from Cathay, who gave him an account of Ricci, and some other Jesuits at Pequin; and ••ere it was that he learnt first of all that China was Cathay. At his departure from

Cialix, the Governour gave him Letters of Pass, and inscrib'd him a Christian, accord∣ing to his desire; at which a Mahumetan Priest very much wonder'd, assirming, that theirs with the Region, shifted also their Re∣ligion.

In 20 days they came to Pucian, then to Turphan a Fortify'd City; thence to Ara∣muth, and so to Camul, the last City of the Kingdom of Ciales. In nine days we came from Camul to the Northern Walls of China, where they stay'd 25 days, expecting the Vice-Roy's Answer for their admission, at a place call'd Ciaicuon. And then being en∣tred the Walls, they came in one days Jour∣ney to the City Socieu.

All the space between Cialis, and the Borders of China is subject to the inroads of the Tartars, which is the reason that Mer∣chants Travel in the day time in great fear, looking out ever and anon, to see whether the Coasts be clear, and Travelling in the Night with great silence and Secresie. They found several Saracens slain in the High way. The Countrey People they seldom kill, but Rob them of their Cattel: As for Corn and Rice, they hold it food for Beasts, and not for Men; and feed upon Flesh, living a hundred years.

The Saracens in these parts are effemi∣nate, and might easily be subdu'd by the Chineses, if they would attempt it. On the

West parts of China stands a Wall, rais'd on purpose to exclude the Tartars, and two fortify'd Cities with strong Garrisons, ha∣ving their Peculiar Vice-Roy, and other Ma∣gistrates; Canceu, the Capital of the Pro∣vince Scensi, and Soceu, which is divided into two parts; of which, the one is Inha∣bited by Saracens, who Trade there for Merchandize; the other by the Chineses, whom the Saracens there call Cathayans. Every Night the Saracens are enclos'd in their own City, in other things like the Chineses, subject to the same Laws and Ma∣gistrates. Neither may any Foreigner re∣turn to his own Country, who has liv'd there Nine Years. Every sixth Year Seventy two Commissioners come according to an Ancient Custom, to pay a kind of Tribute to the King: This the pretence, but the in∣tent is to enrich themselves with Merchan∣dize, as being maintain'd under that pre∣tence, during their stay, at the King's Charge.

Into Soceu, Goez came at the end of the Year 1605. and there met with other Sara∣cens returning from Pequin, who inform'd him of the Jesuits there residing; adding withal, that the King did not Sell, but pour'd without measure a daily allowance of Money into their hands. Which I mention the ra∣ther, to shew, that a Man must be sparing of Credit to Saracen Travellers, and Mer∣chants.

But Goez could not in a long time certifie these his Fellows of his Arrival, as being ignorant of the Chinese Names, and it was some Months Journey from Soceu to Pequin, and the Winter Cold is there very extream. However, in that bitter Season, they sent one of their Converts a Chinese, call'd Iohannes Ferdinandus, who after a tedious Journey found Goez lying on his Death-Bed, when he brought him the Let∣ters from the Society. Eleven days after he dy'd, not without suspicion of Poyson gi∣ven him by the Saracens, to make them∣selves Masters of his Goods: Besides, that they have a Custom, that if any one Dies by the way, his Goods are shar'd among the rest. His Companion the Armenian was sent from Pequin to Macao, and thence into India; and being taken by the Hollanders in the way to Sincapura, was Redeem'd by the Portugueses, and return'd to Ciaul, where he still Lives, as our Author Trigautius affirms.