A new account of East-India and Persia, in eight letters being nine years travels begun 1672 and finished 1681 : containing observations made of the moral, natural and artifical estate of those countries ... / by John Fryer ... ; illustrated with maps, figures and useful tables.

A RELATION OF THE Canatick-Country. LETTER IV.

CHAP. I.

Concerning our Shipping for Carwar; of the Factory there; the Unsetled Condition of the Place; and our coming to Goa.

SIR,

THE Pleasure you express on the Receipt of Mine,* 1.1 makes me continue your Invited Trouble, as truly not enjoy∣ing any thing till I know your Sentiments; and there∣fore is it, next the quieting your Concern for my Life in so unhealthy a Place, I let you know Bombaim is my Station no longer than the President resides there: From whence you may perceive I have had Opportunities to expatiate.

And now the Rains are over,* 1.2 and Friendship concluded as well between particular Factions, as the Dutch; the President esteemed no Enemies so formidable as still to exact his Presence on this Island; wherefore constituting Mr. Philip Gyffard in his Place, he took Ship∣ping in the Fleece, for Surat, accompanied by the Rainbow, New Lon∣don, and East-India Merchant, English Ships, the Bombaim Merchant, and other Country Ships.

After some time,* 1.3 Curiosity more than Business tempted me to go with the Chief of Carwar, that I might see Goa. In our Pas∣sage at Serapatan, to the South of Dan de Rajapore, a Strong Ca∣stle of Seva Gi's defended a deep Bay, where rode his Navy, consisting of 30 Small Ships and Vessels, the Admiral wearing a White Flag aloft.

Arriving at Carwar,* 1.4 and the Chief going ashore, he was met on the River by the Governor with two Barges; and landing, was wel∣comed by the Ordnance of the English House.

Carwar,* 1.5 what remains of it, is under the New Conquest of Seva Gi, being lately, with Anchola, Pundit, Cuderah and Semissar, brought under (though all of them very Strong Places): At which time the English were moulding a Fortification, or House of Defence, for their own safety, when by the Assistance of a Small Pink they defended themselves from all Hostile Mischances; and though their Town was wholly laid in Ashes, yet they built this their stately Mansion Four-square, guarded by Two Bulwarks at the Commanding Corners of the House: In the mean while Seva Gi made himself Master of Carwar Castle, together with the rest, the Inhabitants flying to the Woods and Hills for shelter: Thus it continues not without daily disturbance from these Sylvans and Mountaineers, the commiserated Subjects of Visiapour, who often make an Head and fall upon them; by which means the Government is unsetled, and the Governors shift from Place to Place.

Our House stands on a delicate Mead (on the Ground of **** Cutteen Esq * 1.6 a Cornish Gentleman, who had it by grant from the King of Visiapour, being impowered by a Claim of his Countrymen to the Right of Trading to the East Indies, but long since left off) Seated on an Arm of the River, surveying a pleasant Island stored with Game: The Castle is nearer the Hills, and higher up the Streams; about a League off the Sea the Hills guard the Plain till they make a Bank against the Ocean.

Seva in his Government imitates the Moors in this,* 1.7 appointing a distinct Governor here for Town and Castle, and over all these a Commander with a Flying Army, who is Superintendent: Into Places of Trust and Authority he puts only Brachmins, or their Sub∣stitutes, viz. Pundits, (a mean cast) for Physicians; Sfosdars or Cen∣turions▪ Subidars, Havaldars, Civil Governors, Generals or Fight∣ing Bishops; of whom truly may be said, Privata cuique stimulatio vile decus publicum. They are neither for Publick Good or Common Honesty, but their own private Interest only: They refuse no Base Offices for their own Commodity, inviting Merchants to come and trade among them, and then rob them, or else turmoil them on ac∣count of Customs; always in a Corner getting more for them∣selves than their Master, yet openly must seem mighty zealous for their Master's Dues: So that Trade is unlikely to settle where he hath any thing to do; notwithstanding his Country lies all along on the Sea-shore, and no Goods can be transported without his Permission; unless they go a great way about, as we are forced to do.

It is a General Calamity,* 1.8 and much to be deplored, to hear the Complaints of the poor People that remain, or are rather compelled to endure the Slavery of Seva Gi: The Desies have Land imposed up∣on them at double the former Rates, and if they refuse to accept it on these hard Conditions (if Monied Men) they are carried to Pri∣son, there they are famished almost to death; racked and tortured most inhumanly till they confess where it is: They have now in Limbo several Brachmins, whose Flesh they tear with Pincers heated

Red-hot, drub them on the Shoulders to extreme Anguish, (though according to their Law it is forbidden to strike a Brachmin.) This is the accustomed Sawce all India over, the Princes doing the same by the Governors, when removed from their Offices, to squeeze their ill-got Estates out of them; which when they have done, it may be they may be employ'd again: And after this fashion the De∣sies deal with the Combies; so that the Great Fish prey on the Little, as well by Land as by Sea, bringing not only them, but their Fa∣milies into Eternal Bondage.

However,* 1.9 under the King of Visiapour the Taxations were much milder, and they lived with far greater comfort; but since the Death of the late King, his Son being in Minority, and the King∣dom left to a Protector, the Nobles, who held their Provinces as Feu∣datories or rather Vassals of him, begin to withdraw their Duty; Bullul Caun, General under the Protector Cowis Caun, an Hobsy, or Arabian Coffery (they being preferred here to Chief Employ∣ments, which they enter on by the Name of Siddies) having but the other day set upon the Protector and assassinated him; who was so terrible to Seva Gi's Men, that to render him the more dreadful, they speak of his Hobsies after this manner, That with their Swords they are able to cut down Man and Horse: That greater Commoti∣ons than yet have happened, are to be expected in this Kingdom; not only Seva Gi, but the Mogul at this time bidding for the Kingdom.

Bullul Caun is a good Soldier, and a Patan; yet as much envied by the Duccan Princes, as Cowis Caun was by him; whereupon it be∣hoves him to be watchful of their Motions, to which Vigilancy adding Expedition, he yet keeps them from joining Forces: Where leaving him on his Guard, I will present you with a small Taste of the Condition of the People about us, which fell out the Day before I set out for Goa, being desirous to be present at the Natal.

Early in the Morning came Delvi's Men,* 1.10 500 in Company; whereupon Seva Gi's Men being but 100 Foot, and 25 Horse, retired into the Castle; miserable Souls for Soldiers on both sides; they look'd like our old Britains, half naked, and as fierce, where all lies open before them: They had a loud Noise of Musick, and a tumultuous Throng of People, and thus they marched on without any Order, till they encamped near our House: Their Leader was a Man of a good Presence, but a Rogue, an Hindu by Birth, a Soldier by Education; making this his Maxim, Ibi Fas ubi maxima Merces: There is the greatest Right where is the best Pay.

At Noon, by the Hurly-burly of all Ranks of Men, Women, and Children, with what little Substance they had, flying under our Guns for Succour, we were given to understand Seva Gi's Men were in Motion (whom they dread more than the other); but on ap∣pearance of the Desy's Grob they retreated again: This Desy is one that was Rendero of all this Country, under the King of Visiapour, and had 1000 Men under him (of whom Delvi was Chief); but being entrapped by his Subtilties, whom he least suspected (being raised by him), he was forced to subscribe to the Power of Seva; of whom Delvi not having his Ends, he turns about, and does pro∣mise to set his former Master in Possession once more. At Night we

had Letters (for you must know both Parties Salam to us, being in so strong an House, else we should be liable to their Fury), That Seva Gi's Party of Horse, whilst Delvi had passed the River, seized his Baggage, which was left guarded by 60 Men, whereof he ha∣ving Notice, soon overtakes them, and causes them to surrender their Booty, driving them to the Castle, with the loss of two of their Horses, and one Cavaleiro slain: Under these Circumstances these Folks are left to struggle, without hope of Relief from Visia∣pour, they being all to pieces there.

The next Morning,* 1.11 in the Company's Baloon of 16 Oars, with seven Peons, two English Soldiers, two Factors, and my self, having a Competency of Arms and Ammunition, with a small Piece a-head, we set Sail for Goa. We had not gone far down the River, before we met two Boats full of Men for a Supply to Seva Gi. Near Sun-set we reached an Oyster-Rock, on which we landed, and fed plentifully, being in their prime this cold Season; our Bargemen would frequent∣ly dive 9 or 10 Minutes, and rise with great Lumps of Oysters clod∣ded together, as big as a Man could well carry. The next Morn we put into the River Sal, half way to Goa: At Three in the After∣noon we entred the Mouth of Goa River, where in convenient Pla∣ces stand four Forts and a Block-house, not only impassable by Wa∣ter, but impregnable by Land; as the Dutch proved them twelve Years together, having a Fleet riding constantly before them, and for that time, while the Monsoons permitted, making continual As∣saults, but with little Success: On the left, stored with Brass Pieces, stands the Agoada, or the King's Aquaduct, running from the Top of the highest Hill to the Water-side, where for a consierable Space is a Platform of their chiefest Ordnance; facing this is the Fort and Monastery of Nos Signior de Cabo, a pleasant as well as strong Cita∣del: Beyond this, in a wide but dangerous Bay (so that what Boats come in must pass the Channel under the Muzzles of the Guns) stands Marmagoun, defending that Island and Bay: By the Bar is Roys Magi on the Left, and Gasper de Dios on the Right: Before Sun-set we came to Captain Gary's House at Pangeim, over the Bar a Mile; a Seat by reason of the Healthiness of the Air chosen by the Fidalgoes, who have beautified it with their Summer-houses; the Viceroy ha∣ving a Palace here, where he retires in the Heats and time of Ship∣ping: Betu on the other side enjoys the same good Fortune.

The Eve to the Eve of the Natal,* 1.12 or Christmas, we came up the River, adorned all along with stately Churches and Palaces; the Wa∣ter circling with its Stream several Islets, and half-way up to the City passes under a Bridge of 36 Arches of Stone; and from thence runs a Causeway of Stone two Miles in length, admitting the Flood only by two Sluces, into Wears or Dams made for Fish and Salt, and ends with three Arches more: A little beyond which is depainted on a Church, a Story of a Ship brought from Cape Bon Esperanzo, hither in one Night, and fixed where the Church is now built, and by that means helping them with Timber for the Roof, and two Crosses set up as far off as the Ship was in length; whether true or false, I ask no questions, for fear of the Inquisition, which here is a terrible Tribunal. At Noon we came in view of Goa, not without

the sight of a many Baloons passing to and again very swiftly,* 1.13 it being the greatest Pastime they have to Row against one another; more bewitched with such outward Gallantry, than prompted on to more Benficial Charges; their Europe Ships lying here neglected till they rot for want of Cargo, Three great Carracks being ready to drop in Pieces; notwithstanding they have small Trading Ships in the River, and against the City, beside a Carrack under the Agoada, which they send home this Year.

CHAP. II.

Takes a View of Goa; makes a Voyage to Vingula; Engages with the Malabars, and returns us to Carwar.

THE City of Goa looks well at a small distance, not being to be seen far by reason of the adjacent Hills and windings of the River; it is Ten Miles up the River, stands upon Seven Hills; every where Colleges, Churches, and glorious Structures; it has Gates to it,* 1.14 and a Wall; it is Modelled but rudely, many Houses dis∣gracing it with their Ruins, the Streets interfereing most confusedly: We were directed to a Tavern against the See, the Habitation of the Archbishop of the Order of St. Bernard; which the Clergy here mightily stomach, especially the Jesuits, who bend not to his Au∣thority, having a Provost of their own,* 1.15 going in as great State as the Archbishop; he appears abroad in a Sedan, and has Eight Cle∣rico's on Foot Bareheaded, walking on each side, beside other At∣tendance: The Cathedral is not often excelled by ours at home for the bigness of the Pile; the Architecture but Plain, though very Neat; the Altar and side Chappels filled with Images of delicate Sculpture of our Blessed Saviour and the Virgin Mother, Gilded all over with Gold.

From thence we were brought to the College of the Dominicans,* 1.16 the Seat of the Inquisidor, who is always one of this Order; a mag∣nificent Front to the Street, ascending by many steps, being a huge Fa∣brick; the Church surpassed the Cathedral, the Pillars from top to bottom being overlaid with a Golden Wash, and on the Walls the Martyrology of their Order: In the Sacristan were Massy Silver Can∣dlesticks, and other Vessels very Rich; the Dormitories elegantly contrived in upper and lower Walks, and the whole without Com∣pare to others that fell in our Ken: Erasm. Vincit opibus Parathalassi∣um tot candelabra argentea, tot statuae aureae, Baptisteria, &c. The Ha∣bit is a white Vesture with a Crotchet under a black Gown, or Cowl, like Nuns. Their College was well replenished with Devotes, and commanded a blessed Prospect.

The Paulistines enjoy the biggest of all the Monasteries at St. Roch;* 1.17 in it is a Library, an Hospital, and an Apothecary's Shop well furnished with Medicines, where Gasper Antonio, a Florentine, a Lay-Brother of the Order, the Author of the Goa Stones, brings

them in 50000 Xerephins, by that invention Annually; he is an Old Man, and almost Blind, being of great Esteem for his long pra∣ctice in Physick, and therefore applied to by the most Eminent of all Ranks and Orders in this City; it is Built like a Cross, and shews like a Seraglio on the Water.

We paid a Visit to the Domo of Bon Jesu,* 1.18 the Church an admirable Piece, the Repository of St. Xaverius, the Indian Apostle, where is a famous Tomb in Honour of him, who first spread the Gospel as far as China, and sealed it with his Martyrdom, near Two hundred Years ago, leaving his Body a Miraculous Relick of his better part, it still retaining its vivid Colour and Freshness, and therefore exposed once a Year to publick view, on the Vespers of his Festival.

St. Paul's was the first Monastery of the Jesuits in Goa,* 1.19 from whence they receive the Name of Paulistins; it is the Seat therefore of their Provost, who is Independent, and Rules suo Jure.

The Jesuits are Clad in Black Gowns with a Collar and Rings, with high round Caps flat at top, Shoes but no Stockins, as few in∣deed, either Clergy or Laity have here: (Por Amor de Frisco).

Of all Orders when they die they are Inhumed in the Habit of the Order they belong to, without Coffins.

The Policy, as well as the Trade, of this place, is mostly de∣volved from private Persons on the Paulistins, wherefore this saying is in every Body's Mouth;

A Fransiscano guardo minha mulier; A Paulistino guardo minha denier.

We went to the Convent of St. Austin's,* 1.20 Inhabited by that Order, who when they go out, wear Black Gowns (girt about with a Lea∣thern Girdle) like our Bachelors of Arts, with Black Hoods; with∣in doors White, of the same Fashion with a Scapulary.

We saw several Seminaries,* 1.21 or Schools, where the Students dispute in long Cloaks, or Vests.

We saw the Convent,* 1.22 or Church, of the Franciscans, or Grey Friars, with Cords instead of Girdles about their Middles, Sandals instead of Shoes; they wear Grey Broad brimmed Hats, as Countrymen do, as well as Cowls abroad, their Habit being borrowed of the Rusticks; they touch not Money, but carry one with them that will, and are Mendicants.

The College of Carmelites is on an high Mount,* 1.23 prospecting the whole City, it is a fine Building; these are Begging Friars too, Eat only Fish, except in Sickness, Cloathed with a course Russet Tippet Coat and Vest, girt about with a Cord: In their Hall where they Repast, at the upper end on the Table is placed a Death's Head; over their Cells, Sentences denoting each Virtue, which were Wrote in Capital Letters of Gold over the Doors, as Fortitude, Patience, and the like: Here we left many Devout Old Men on their Knees, Praying Fervently, and Living Piously.

We descended from this lovely spectacle to the Spittle, where we found the Poor ••aring well from their Benefactors.

The forepart of their Vespers to the Natal,* 1.24 I spent at the King's Hospital; where their Care for the Sick is commendable, an hand∣some Apothecary's Shop furnishing them with Medicines: The Phy∣sicians

here are great Bleeders, insomuch that they exceed often Galen's Advice, ad deliquium, in Fevers; hardly leaving enough to feed the Currents for Circulation; of which Cruelty some complain invidiously after Recovery.

In our return we saw a Nunnery,* 1.25 and the Nuns at their Devotion, a Confessor through the Grates Reading Mass, and performing the Ceremonies to a Couple with Maiden-Crowns on their Heads, ready to be admitted into the Virgin Society:

—Innuptaeque aemula Phebos Vitta coercebat positos sine lege capillos.

They had good Faces and excellent Voices; the Nunnery was called St. Monacha; here is another of St. Clara's.

Near the Palace is a Modern,* 1.26 but a compleat Convent of the Theatini, where Captain Gary staid to shew us the Palace, not so Sumptuous as Convenient; passing the Guards we were usher'd into a long Gallery, hung round with the Pictures at length of all the Vice-Roys that had been in East-India down to the present Vice-Roy: At the upper end was the Canopy Royal and Chair of State; upon information of our being there, we were introduced the Vice-Roys Presence; he received us Standing, and after a little Confe∣rence, dismissed us. A Proper Man, Courteous to Strangers, his Name Lewis Mendosa de Albuquerque, newly created Marquess by the King; in this Room was another Canopy of State, with the Arms of Portugal. Coming into the Court-yard we saw some Men in Gowns, like our Aldermen, the Emburgadors, or Council of the City, going to attend the Vice-Roy to his Devotion at the Church of Misericord, where was to be Presented a Pious Comedy; but their Representations being too tedious, and the generality making Re∣ligion the least of their business, not respecting either God or the King, they made such a rout among the Women, that we were glad to leave and Reimbark for our Lodgings.

At Night we were alarmed by a paultry Fellow that took our House for his Sanctuary, being forced to it for his own Security; the Soldiers assuming great license for want of Pay, and the Cofferies for want of Victuals, so that every one walks the City with his naked Sword in his Hand for his own defence at Evening; and now within Doors, and in a Private House, we were forced to make our Arms our Pillows.

The next day we passed the Bar for Vingula;* 1.27 half way we put ashore to refresh our Men, and at Ten in the Morn set out again; by Twelve we came close up with a Malabar that had seised a Grob, but we soon made him yield his Prize to engage with us; which they did briskly for Two hours, striving to board us, casting Stink-pots among us, which broke without any Execution, but so frighted our Rowers, that we were forced to be severe to restrain them; they plied their Chambers and small Shot, and flung Stones, flourishing their Targets and Darting Long Lances; they were well Manned in a Boat ten times as big as our Barge, and at least Sixty fighting Men besides Rowers; we had none to manage our small Gun, the Gunner

running away at Goa after Sluts in Brothels: One of the Factors un∣dertaking it, was blown up by a Cartrige of Power, and squenched his Cloaths a-flame in the Ocean, so that they were fully bent to board us; but they rising to come in, we all this while having sculk∣ed under their Targets, discharged our Blunderbusses, which made them sheer off, never to come near us again; after which we chased them, they flying afore us.

The Spectators of this Encounter were the Dutch Chief and Go∣vernor on the Shore,* 1.28 and a Ship of a dozen Guns in the Road; by Three we came a-shore with slight Hurts, but cried up mightily by the People, who are continually infested by these Pirats without any Resistance: The Dutch receiv'd us at their Factory very kindly, whose House is handsomely seated a Mile up a Shallow River, (except at Spring Tides, when lusty Ships may come up); it is built upon Ar∣ches Geometrically, by the present Chief, in the Figure of a Roman T, all of Solid Stone; it is Trenched with a Square Trench, and de∣fended by a Platform of Two Great Guns on every side, and Two Great Bulwarks, bearing Smaller Guns at the Two Corners of the House; the Front is Italian Fashion, passing to it over a Draw-Bridge; at Night we walked into the Town, part of it lately destroyed by the Syddy; where was a Buzzar, and a neat Choultry of the Dutch's, and beyond a Garden watered by a Fresh Stream, where we bathed: After Supper they treated us with the Dancing Wenches, and good Soops of Brandy and Delf's Beer till it was late enough.

We went next day to the Governor,* 1.29 who Complimented us highly; he is under the Tyrannical Government of Seva Gi, where all Bar∣barous Customs are exercised; and here it is permitted the Women not only to burn with their dead Husbands, but here are many Mo∣numents raised in honour of them.

Et certamen habent laethi, quae viva sequatur Conjugium; pudor est non licuisse mori. Ardent victrices & flammae pectora praebent, Imponuntque suis ora perusta viris.

A shame 'tis not to die; they therefore strive, Who may be fam'd to follow him alive. The Victor burns, yields to the Flame her Breast, And her burnt Face does on the Husband rest.

Which Custom, if we believe Tertullian, is as old as Dido, on a generous Account; not by constraint, as these are mostly said to be.

Dido profuga in alieno solo, ubi regis nuptias ultro aptasse debuerat, ne tamen secundas expeteretur, maluit è contrario uri quam nubere. The Famous Dido, driven a Stranger into another Country, was courted by the King, which one would have thought she should willingly have entertained, rather than to refuse a Second Marriage on so hard Terms, as to burn her self alive, for fear of polluting her self there∣by; which shews that Virgil in his Account of that Lady killing her self for Aeneas, was a Fiction more to his own Credit than hers.

At Hubly in this Kingdom are a Cast called Linguits, who are bu∣ried upright, whose Wives when they have a mind to accompany their Husbands into another World, are set in the same Pit with them, covered up to the Shoulders with Mold; who after Ceremo∣nies performed, have their Necks wrung round, and the Pit filled up with Earth immediatly.

Our Factors having Concerns in the Cargo of the Ships in this Road,* 1.30 loaded two Grobs and departed; I leaving them to prosecute their Voyage, I put in at Goa again; and in Captain Gary's Baloon rowed round the Island over against Goa, where the Industry of the Portugueze Ancestry is worthy of our commendation, in securing their Land both from Water and their Enemies, by strong Banks and ne∣cessary Block-Houses; Seva Gi possessing all against it, called Norway, famous for Curtisans.

Hence I went to the King's Yard,* 1.31 where lay half a Score Galeons fitted for any Expedition; in these the Best Fidalgos think it no scorn to go Commanders, it being the only thing they can serve their Country in; these are they they send out with their Caphalas to con∣voy them, when they return with Corn either from the North or the South; when every Cabesso de Squadroon has Two or three Royal Gal∣leys under him, that wear the Arms of Portugal in their Ancients only, and the Admirante, Vice Admirante and Captain-Major wear the King's Flag aloft as well as a Stern: The best of these carry no more than Eight or Ten Small Pieces, and the rest fewer; over all these there is a Generalissimo both by Sea and Land, who is John Corea de Saw.

Incited daily by New Wonders,* 1.32 I intended to inviron the Island of Goa; which is circled by High and Strong Walls, with Flankiers on every winding of the River, besides Four or Five lusty Block-Houses, commanding the whole Work, a thing of vast Compass and Expence, striking through the heart of the Island; which is altoge∣ther near Thirty Miles in Circumference, the Wall parting it in the half: We passed as far as to the Fort of St. Lawrence, which is placed conveniently to command the Mouth of the River from Marmagoun Bay; we endeavoured farther, but Wind and Tide prevented us; wherefore thinking it more facile to enterprise it on the other side, we deferred it till another day: All the Land about Goa is divided in∣to Islets, it lying in the heart of them: Whereupon the next day that lay fair for our Design we came over the Bar, and sailed with a favourable Wind into Marmagoun Bay; on the right part of it were many pretty Caves, or small Bays, in one of whom rode near twenty Grobs, loaden with Cocoe-Nuts, Cair, Salt and Salt Fish: Beyond it half a League an Islet of Emanuel Lobos, fortified and main∣tained in despight of the State, till lately reconciled.

From hence we parted to Old Goa on the main Island of Goa,* 1.33 which with its various Creeks and Bays makes up the left side or Cod of the Bay, pointing out in the middle of Nos Segnior de Cabo, it lying short between Marmagoun and the Agoada, which makes the Mouth of the Bay to be reckoned from the Head-lands or Out-guards, some Three Leagues over, and Nos Segnior de Cabo a Commodious assistance to them both by its well-placed Ordnance, easily reaching them on ei∣ther

hand; but withal befriending Marmagoun, from which it is the widest, with huge Stakes of Rocks hid under Water, that Vessels of Burthen must either seek out the Channel or Shipwreck themselves, or else force themselves on the Mouth of their Guns; a Fortunate and well weighed Choise of a Port and Harbour: In our Course we saw the bottom of the Bay meet with the River of St. Lawrence, and a Fleet of 30 Grobs more ready to receive their Lading; the Bay is two, if not three Leagues deep; the truly Noble Aldeas of the Fidal∣gos, the Temples and curiously wrought Crosses of the Ecclesiasticks, striving on every open Strand and rising Hill to outshine one ano∣ther, by their Whited Outsides, and Artificial and Delicate Adorn∣ments.

At our Landing the Sea bestowed a kind Murmur on the yielding Sand,* 1.34 and cast us ashore in a Place quadrated more for still Retire∣ment, than noisy Commerce; there lying before its Banks Canooses belonging to Fishermen, and Baloons of Pleasure only; the Segnioros minding nothing less than Merchandizing, and the Pover imploying their Fish-hooks, and knitting-needles to get a Livelihood: So that I presume Old Goa need not complain for the loss of Trade, which she never had; nor lament the deprivation of Costly and Spacious Build∣ings, which she never wanted; but hath them rather as a Country Town (of whom she is the Dame) than City, though she might claim the Title of Mistress; her Soil is Luxurious and Campaign, and abounds with Rich Inhabitants, whose Rural Palaces are immured with Groves and Hortos, refreshed and cooled with Tanks and Rivu∣lets; but always reserve a graceful Front for the Street, which are broad and cleanly at this time of Festivity, celebrating with Trium∣phant Arches and most Pompous Pageants: Palenkeens pass as com∣monly as at Goa it self, the People as urbane, though less pestered with Drunken Comrades, as Soldiers, Seamen and Ruffians; the Market place is stored with Provisions, and the Parish provided with a large Church; but nothing antiquated as I could discover, by which it is easy to judge Old Goa never was deserted; but Now Goa hath stoln from hence for the sake of Traffick, for that purpose the River is more suitable than this Bay; it may measure from one end to the other, two Miles.

Abreast of it on an hanging Hill is a Sumptuous Structure of the Capuchins called Sancto Pilar,* 1.35 the Ascent to it is by a winding Stair∣case cut out of the Rock, and Railed with Stone Banisters; this Or∣der is discalceated also, and consanguineous to the Franciscans, differ∣ing only in Superiority and Austerity, their Hood is long and taper∣ing, on their Scapular in fashion of a Sugar-loaf; to both whom are annexed a Lap-Fraternity, which wear the Mantle and Tippet, but not the Vest and Cord, neither are they shaved as the Fathers are: So that all Degrees of them in every Order are comprehended under these Three Classes, viz. Patres, Fathers; Fratres, Brothers; Ju∣venes, Young men: To these also belong the Sisterhood of Sancta Clara.

Thus parted we from the comely Galataea,* 1.36 and bent our Addresses toward the Courts of the stately Amarillis, whose Highways were full of Travellers, Country Mansions, Villages, Churches, shady

Stands, and Places to ease the Brawny Shoulders of the wearied Slaves: Half Way is a School, where their Cofferies (which come most from Mosambique, or Bombass) are taught to sound on Trum∣pets and Loud Musick; a Gang of whom forced their Noise on us along the Fields. A Mile wide of the City we entred a Gate that was strong, to which the Wall is contingent, that compasses the better Part of the Island together with the City.

From Old Goa it is three Miles: Within the Wall a fair Road leads to the City; a little out of the Way is erected an high-wall'd Well, and goes up Steps to a Pair of Gallows, whereon Malefactors are left hanging till they drop into the Well, or the Birds prey on them.

By Night we gained the Out-part of the City, boasting in as large a Ruin of the Moors, as their own numerous standing Fabricks; ly∣ing so in Obloquy of the hated Mahometans, who once made all stoop, where the Christians have now advanced their Sacred Sign: We quartered our selves this Evening in a Tavern kept by a Chinese, who are White, Platter-fac'd, and Little-eyed, tolerated on account of embracing Christianity; our Baloon met us, and coming round by St. Lawrence was here before us.

Going the next Morning to the Palace-stairs,* 1.37 we saw their Sessions-house, the bloody Prison of the Inquisition; and in a principal Mar∣ket-place was raised an Engine a great height, at top like a Gibbet, with a Pulley, with steppings to go upon, as on a Flag-staff, for the Strapado, which unhinges a Man's Joints; a cruel Torture. Over-against these Stairs is an Island, where they burn (after ex∣posing them to the Multitude) all those condemned by the Inquisi∣tor, which are brought from the Sancto Officio dress'd up in most horrid Shapes of Imps and Devils, and so delivered to the Executi∣oner. As we rowed by the Powder-Mills, we saw several the Holy Office had branded with the Names of Fetisceroes, or Charmers, or in English, Wizards, released thence to work here; known by a Yel∣low Cope, Weed, or Garment, like our City poor Pensioners, sleeve∣less, with an Hole for their Neck only, having a Red Cross before and behind. St. Iago, or St. James's Day, is the Day for the Aucto de Fie, when a general Gaol-Delivery is made of those unhappily intrapp'd in the Inquisition; at which time there is a great Cavalcade to the Cathedral, and every Fidalgo appearing there, is honoured with being a Patron to some of these poor Wretches; St. James being the Tute∣lar Saint of this City.

On whom Seva Gi minds them to invocate,* 1.38 having but just now wrested Pundit, the chief Strength of Visiapour from that King; on the surrender of which followed the Conquest of the Low Country beyond Carwar: And by this means the Diamond-Trade is intercepted, this being the greatest Mart for small Diamonds, be∣fore these Incursions: And not only so, but they are straitned for Butchers Meat, which used to come down plentifully that way; for these had rather kill a Man, than suffer a Beast to be led to the Stall; and not only for Meat but Firing, they being beholden to that Coun∣try for Fuel, as well as Timber for Building. These Calamities, be∣sides the Approach of Seva Gi's Army, make no small Distractions,

especially having small Recruits of Europe-Men; so that the Padres must not only Pray but Fight, there being in the Convents more than in the Garisons.

GOA

Is the Metropolis of the Portugals in the East-Indies,* 1.39 and the Residence of a Viceroy,* 1.40 who gives Laws to all Seculars, though he cannot exe∣cute them on the Fidalgoes in Capital Crimes, the King reserving the Definitive Sentence in such Cases to himself; they are therefore sent home to be tried in Europe, by the established Courts of their Kingdom. The Archbishop is Supreme in Spirituals, or ought to be so. The City is a Rome in India, both for Absoluteness and Fa∣bricks, the chiefest consisting of Churches, and Convents, or Reli∣gious Houses; though the Laity have sumptuous ones all of Stone; their Streets are paved, and cleaner than the tops of their Houses, where they do all occasions, leaving their Excrements there. They live with a splendid Outside, vaunting in their number of Slaves, walking under a Street of their own Umbrelloes, bare-headed, to avoid giving Distaste in not removing their Hats: They being jealous of their Honour, pardon no Affront; wherefore to ogle a Lady in a Balcony (if a Person of Quality) it is revenged with a Bocca Mortis, or to pass by a Fidalgo without due Reverence, is severely chastised; they are carried mostly in Palenkeens, and sometimes on Horseback.

The Clergy affect little of outward State,* 1.41 going out only Frater cum Socio, in Couples; they salute a Father by first kissing the Hem of his Garment, then begging a Benediction.

The Mass of the People are Canorein, though Portuguezed in Speech and Manners; paying great Observance to a White Man, whom when they meet they must give him the Way with a Cringe and Civil Salute, for fear of a Stochado.

The Women,* 1.42 both White and Black, are kept recluse, vailed abroad; within doors, the Richer of any Quality are hung with Jewels, and Rosaries of Gold and Silver many times double; Moneloes of Gold about their Arms, Necklaces of Pearl about their Necks, Lockets of Diamonds in their Bodkins for their Hair, Pendants in their Ears; a thin Lungy, or Half-smock reaching to their Waste, shewing their Skin through it; over that, abroad, a close Doublet; over their Lower Parts a Pitticoat or Lungy, their Feet and Legs without Stockins, but very Rich Slippers. Amongst them some are extraordinarily featur'd and compleatly shap'd, though not of that coruscant Beauty our English Ladies are; and for Mien far be∣neath them, being nurtured up in a lowly Bashfulness, whereby they are render'd unfit for Conversation, applying themselves wholly to Devotion and the Care of the House: They sing, and play on the Lute, make Confections, pickle Achars, (the best Mongo Achars coming from them), and dress Meat exquisitely, not to put the Sto∣mach to much trouble, but such as shall digest presently; Supoes, Pottages, and varieties of Stews, in little China Dishes or Plates, which they shift before you are cloy'd, and at a common Enter∣tainment

alter half a dozen Modes: Their Relishing Bits have not the Fieriness of ours, yet all the pleasure you can desire; and to speak truly, I prefer their ordinary way of ordering Victuals be∣fore any others. If a Stranger dine with the Husband, and he con∣sent to have the Wife come in and sit at Table as our Women do, there is no means of persuading her, but she will be much offended if you taste not of every thing they cook. The little Children run up and down the House naked, till they begin to be old enough to be ashamed.

The finest Manchet it may be in the World is made here,* 1.43 and the purest Virgins Wax for Tapers. At Nerule is made the best Arach or Nepa de Goa, with which the English on this Coast make that ener∣vating Liquor called Paunch (which is Indostan for Five) from Five Ingredients; as the Physicians name their Composition Diapente; or from Four things, Diatesseron.

The way they give Notice from the Outguards of what Ships are seen off at Sea,* 1.44 is after they have spread the King's Standard, to ele∣vate so many Baskets on Poles; which Sign the next appointed Watch receives, and so successively till it arrive at the City.

On New-Year's Day,* 1.45 Stilo Veteri, with Captain Gary in his Ba∣loon of Ten Rowers, and Six Servants, we set sail for Carwar, and had brought half Salset behind us, when the Moon being two Hours high we discovered a Light, and immediately Three Sail making after us, and by the Shore another small Sail intercepting us: Our Men that before would not handle an Oar, fell to it tightly, and two more pursuing us out at Sea, we ran fairly into Cola or Salset, a Fish∣ing Town, where lay several Boats to carry off Mountains of Fish salted on the Beach▪ the Scent whereof was very noysom under a miserable Shed we took for our Lodging: The next Morning we came early to the River Sal, where we found Eight Boats scared in for Protection against the Malabars; where we had this Advice, That Five were roving in sight, and had vowed Revenge for the In∣jury we did them at Vingula, killing their Captain and three or four of their Chief Men, besides as many more Soldiers, all which they buried at Anjediva: We staid here therefore this Night, and lay in the open Air by the River's side, being sufficiently soaked by the Dew.

Captain Gary therefore the next Morn, not willing to hazard himself on a Voyage undertaken only for Pleasure, procured a Pilot Boat to go before us, and make Signs by a White Flag, if the Coasts were clear at every Point; and so we got safe to Carwar River's Mouth, when the Chief having notice of our coming, came on Horseback to welcome us, and accompanied us in the Baloon to the House.

This Captain Gary is he that was the last Governor for the King on the Island Bombaim: He is a Person of a Mercurial Brain, a better Merchant than Soldier, is skill'd in most of the Languages of the Country, and is now writing a Piece in Arabick, which he dedicates to the Viceroy, with whom he is in great Esteem. He lived at Achein, and was created a Noble by that Queen; was born a Vene∣tian, but of English Parents, by which means he understands Ita∣lian, Portugueze, and Latin, perfectly, and is an accomplished Cour∣tier.

CHAP. III.

A Pilgrimage to Gocurn, where was a great Gentile Solem∣nity. A cursory Discourse of the Bordering Princes.

AS much to the Southward as Goa is to the North, lies Gocurn, whither I took a Pilgrimage, with one other of the Factors, Four Peons, and Two Biggereens, or Porters only; we set out all on Foot the Second of February, at the beginning of the Heats, at Ten in the Morning, and with wonderful toil clambered up Anchola Hill, a woody Mountain of an extraordinary height; where resting a little while we made for the bottom; at which lies an Horse of an Haval∣dar's Interred under an huge square Stone, and his Effigies Dormant upon it Escuthceon, or Diamond-wise; not much farther, the Wood being on Fire, we were in danger not only of being Smothered but Roasted (this place not long since the receptacle of Delvi and his Crew, and therefore I suppose purposely Burnt):

Et neque jam cineres ejectatamque favillam Ferre potest, calidoque involvitur undique fumo.

But having conquered by our better Angels this lively portraicture of Hell, we were led into an happy Elysium, or Plain, that was bounded by the immense Ocean; and had we been Shades, to have been satisfied with an Aierial Diet, we might have fared well, for nothing else could we purchase, the poor Inhabitants being Fishermen, were left by the iniquity of Delvi, without either Fish, Boats, Nets, or Rice; and upon that account unlikely to supply us. Night approaching we knew not where to better our selves than un∣der a Mango-Tree; where our wearied Spirits afforded us not much time for Contemplation, nor our eager Stomachs much Sleep; wherefore by break of Day we made for Anchola, where we found the Buzzar half Burnt, and the remaining Shops without Tenants, a bad Cordial to an empty Maw: We sent our Pass to the Gover∣nor, and procuring from him another, we hastened to seek our own Provisions.

Seva Gi spared not this Town when he took the Castle,* 1.46 so that it is almost down or deserted; the Soldiers by that means disfurnishing themselves of all Necessaries, but what they seize by Violence abroad; the Castle is a fine place and of good force, bearing Fifty Brass Guns, the Moors had got out of a Portugueze Shipwreck; it commands as far as the River Gongole, the utmost extent of Seva Gi's Dominions, South; Two or Three Mile out of the Town we met with some Game, and made Prey of it, walking by the Strength of it to Gongole River.

Where we Ferried over and took up our residence this Night at Gongola,* 1.47 the first Town in the Country, which still retains the Name of Canatick, and therefore is properly so called; though we shall shew

by and by all this Tract of Land we have passed from Guzzerat deserves the same appellation,* 1.48 being originally so.

The People looked Chearful,* 1.49 and live in Peace under a quiet Go∣vernment.

—Sine militis usu Mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.

By the break of the next Dawn we got to Gocurn,* 1.50 and ex∣changed our English for Moors Cloaths, yet not so privately but that we were discovered by some that told our Banyan (who was come to perform a Vow to the Manes of his dead Father,) that Two Englishmen were come to the Tomasia, or Sight; whereupon he came to us before we expected, with a Band of Thirty or Forty Men; but we desired to be concealed and pass for Moguls, that we might see without being taken notice of; he was conformable thereto, and we went into the Town, which was in a Valley near the Sea; formerly very splendid, now of more esteem for the Re∣licks of their Pagods than any thing else.

It is an University of the Brachmins and well Endowed;* 1.51 here are innumerable, but ruinated Pagods; Two only of any Mark, and they half standing; they were Large and of good Workmanship in Stone, after their Antick and Hieroglyphical Sculpture; they had, as all have, a dark Entry at the farther end, wherein are continually lighted Lamps burning before the Duel, or Image, seated there to represent a Glory, or Phosphorus, whither they resort to Worship and Offer Oil, Rice, and Frankincense, at it's Feet, on an Offer∣tory; some make a great pother of Anointing and Washing it, being lavish both of their Pains and Cost.

At this time the Brachmins Reap a great Harvest,* 1.52 for this Place is of such repute for its Sanctity and Meritoriousness of a Pilgrimage hither, that all sorts of Idolaters, from the remotest parts of India, come in sholes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, celebritas ad quam plurimi mortales conveniunt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and we found so many, that the Streets were troublesome to crowd through; with much ado we got into the Buzzar, or Fair, only so upon this occasion, long Rows of Sheds being put up on both sides the high Streets, where the Two great Pagods stood, one at each end.

We were carried by the Tide of the People that bore that way out of this place, to a large oblong stone Tank, with Descents to go down all about it; in the middle a neat Pagod supported on Four Marble Pillars; here during this Festival at Evenings, are blazing a Lecque of Lamps.

In this all of both Sexes Wash (this Solemnity being called the Jatry,* 1.53 or Washing) and Present Rice and Mony to the Brach∣mins; and the Fish which Swim here frequently receive their Benevolence, being so Tame you may catch them with your Hands; to be the death of one of these is held Piaculare.

Those whose Parents or Friends are deceased,* 1.54 the Hair of the Head is an Offering to their departed Ghost on this manner; After the Barber in this Water has shaved the Head and Beard, it is deli∣vered

wrapped up to the Brachmin; who brings a Cow and a Calf into the Water, and binding them with Frontlets ceremoniously, they bestow on them, as they are disposed, either for Ornament or Main∣tainance ever after; imagining their Souls to have their residence in them: From whence they are conducted to the Pagod, which they enter bare-footed, and offer to the Duel; returning, they smite on a Bell hung in the Body of the Church; and going to the Porch, re∣ceive their Slippers, washing afterwards at more liberty for the rest of the Festival.

It was a Primitive Custom among the Jews to shave when they had made a Vow, Act. Apost. Chap. 18. v. 18.

Coasting along the Sea-side,* 1.55 we came to the Pomaerium of the greatest Pagod, where near the Gate in a Choultry sate more than Forty naked Jougies, or Men united to God, covered with Ashes, and pl••••ted Turbats of their own Hair; two above the rest remarka∣ble, one sitting with his Head hanging over his Shoulders, his Eyes shut, moving neither Hands or Feet, but always set across, his Nails overgrown like Talons: The other as a check to Incontinency, had a Gold Ring fastned into his Viril Member.

And now we returned into the Market-place,* 1.56 having obtained leave to seat our selves by the Chief Captain to see their Duels pass by in Pomp, being to do their Devoirs to a Mother Pagod: At the upper-end of the High-street were two great moving Pageants drawn on Wheels, two Stories high, with a Cupulo on the top, which was stuck round full of Streamers of Orient Colours; the inferior Stories were painted with deformed Figures of their Saints, on every side Portals: In the lowest was placed the Duel, attended by their Chief Priests with a dark Blue Cope over their Shoulder, their under Garments White, and Puckeries on their Heads, a Mussal within, and an Ofta∣gary (a Skreen of Silver and Velvet with Sarcenet Borders) to keep off the Sun.

Thus the Chief Naik with his loud Musick of Horns, Trumpets and Drums waited on it, and the Brachmins with softer, of the Dancing Wenches singing, with Bells at their Wrists and Heels, and their Tamboles or Tabrets: An Ensign of Red, Swallow-tailed, several Chi∣tories; little, but Rich Kitsolls (which are the Names of several Counties for Umbrelloes); 500 Men, with Javelins of Brass and Steel, with Bells and Feathers, as many more with Guns under his Command; and the Naik Wherry with like fashioned Ensign of Green, bordered with a Checker of White and Green, followed by 200 in the same order as before; after these followed a Medly of Pots and Pans of Copper or Brass, Men clattering on them, and dancing a good measure: When the Train drew near, it was drawn by a Team of Holy Men, the People rising and clapping their Hands as it passed to the opposite Pagod; a Troop of the Gentry in Cavalcade rode after it, where having paid a Visit, it returned with the like Solemn Procession, and by discharging of Guns the Cere∣mony ended: There were several other Duels fanned by Women, offering Censers of rich Perfumes with huge Lights; before which People possessed with Familiars ran Cudgelling themselves; others in a different sort of Mummery belaboured themselves, till they

could not stand, all striving to outdo others; thus blind and heated were they in their Zeal.

To describe every particular Duel or Pagod, both for the number, and difficulty of the Shapes, would be impossible; take therefore only one that had escaped the Fire, and therefore highly venerable; 'twas cut out of Excellent Black Marble, the height of a Man, the Body of an Ancient Greek Hero, it had four Heads, and as many Hands, had not two been cut off; it was seated on an Offertory in a broken Pagod; a Piece of Admirable Work and Antiquity, ex∣ceeding, say they, Bonares, the other Noted University of the Heathens.

Who founded these,* 1.57 their Annals nor their Sanscript deliver not. But certainly Time, and the Entry of the Moors, ruined them. This, though a Principal University, can boast of no Bodlean or Vatican; their Libraries being Old Manuscripts of their own Cabalas, or Mysteries understood only by the Brachmins.

They live not under a Collegiate Confinement,* 1.58 but in pretty Neat Houses plastered with Cow-dung, which is done afresh as oft as they sweep them, where they abide with their Families, Celibacy being no Injunction to their Divines; excepting one House of the Sinai Cast, where is a Reverend Old Man, Head of their Tribe, who pro∣fesses a Life without the Company of a Woman, and has the Atten∣dance of a great many Young Ashmen, and Grave Brachmins: These live a reserved Life, and spend it wholly in Praying and Abstinence; as the others count their Prayers by Beads, these do it by Cowreys, Fish∣shells: They wore Red Caps, such as those are brought from Tunis; and our Seamen wear daily aboard Ship: But the Stricter, and more Undefiled Cast, is the Butt, the reason whereof you will find in the General Account of India.

All Brachmins are distinguished by a Cotton-thred athwart their Body from their Left Shoulder,* 1.59 hanging down under their Right Arm; which Badge, if they violate it, costs them vast Sums of Money to redeem, besides the undergoing of strict Pennances.

They fetch Water for the Duels from the Tank with loud Musick and Dancing Wenches three or four times a-day (the Brachmins waiting in course) and those dancing Wenches and Boys set a-part for that Service,* 1.60 dare not dance afore any else: These Dancers are taken out of the Cast of the Dowlys, who are obliged to devote the Eldest of the Males and Females to that use; having for that reason large Dispensations concerning their Marriage, or the Liberty of getting Children, being common to all: To conclude with these, Whether Religion make these People Morose, or it be to be attributed to the Virtue of their Manners; you see in them a carelesness of behaviour towards Strangers, neither regarding the Novelty, nor Gawdiness of their Garb; being here, as it is said, Romae, Lutetiae ac Venetiae,

—Nemo quicquid miratur.

From hence we trooped to Tudera, at the Mouth of Mirja River, over a Rocky barren Hill, where the Company's Barge or Baloon met us; and went up in it to Mirja, where our brisk Young Banyan treated us

with the Dancing Wenches; his Father dying soon, left him young, and he out of Government, lavishes into Excesses not approved of by that stingy Tribe.

At Mirja stands a Castle,* 1.61 which though old is a very fine one, being double Wall'd and Trench'd, with high Turrets on the Ba∣stions: It was surrendred by the Treachery of a Moor Governor, and is now under the subjection of the Canatick Ranna; it has a wide Moat about it, but few Guns: The Town has a Buzzar, at the end of it a Cemitery for the Moors, with an ample Aquaduct of good Stone.

Being tired,* 1.62 and lying to repose out of the Noise of the Dancers, on the Bank of the River, under a shady Tree, I was made at by an unsizable Snake, which I hardly escaped, had it not hissed with an unheard-of Noise before me, which rouzing me, made me shift its speedy Course, as it angrily gathered up its Body, and darted its self into the Flags on the River-side: These Creatures are dreadful to the Inhabitants, and when I related my Hazard, they wondred I came off so, there being of them big enough to master the largest Ani∣mals: After my Danger was over, I was told she had a Nest in that Place, it being lately turned into a Burial-place. Hic, obitèr, notandum quod scribit Plinius, lib. 10. Hist. Nat. cap. 66. scilicet, Ex cerebro putrescente humano angues gigni. Hujus rei exemplum habet Plutarchus in vitâ Cleominis, quem scribit à Ptolomaeo in crucem actum fuisse, ejus∣que Caput paucis post diebus ingentem Drac••nem Complicasse. Et Rolfi∣nus simile quid narrat declarante Diemerbrook, Anat. lib. 3. cap. 5. Here by the by, might be noted what Pliny writes, to wit, That Snakes are generated out of Human Brains putrifying, &c.

Returning we overtook the Portugal Armado from the South, with Two hundred Paddy-Boats with their Convoys, and touched at An∣gediva, from whence we came to Carwar.

Before I left Mirja I received this Information from the Natives,* 1.63 That the Canatick Country reaches from Gongola to the Zamerhin's Country of the Malabars, along the Sea, and Inland up to the Pepper-Mountains of Sunda, and the Precinct of Sergi Caun. Bed∣mure, four Days Journy hence, is the Capital City, the Residence of the Ranna, the Relict of Sham Shanker Naig, (murdered by his No∣bles) Raja of Canora; who now Rules in her Son's Minority, Basse∣pae Naig, the young Raja, by and with the Authority of one Timi Naig, that from a Toddy-man has by his cunning Policy, more than by true Prowess and Valour, raised himself to be General and Pro∣tector. Sergi Caun, a Prince of the Kingdom of Visiapour, and he, have lately entred into an amicable League and firm Confederacy, who have already Eat together, whereupon it is bruited Timi Naig is about to embrace the Mahometan Faith.

The Prime Nobility have the Title of Naiks or Naigs, as those of Malabar, Nairoes.

The Language is Canorein, which to me seems to be the Primitive, from the Malabars up to Surat; the Country short of it, as well as Speech, being Canorein, and those between varying only in Dialect, and the Names of the Country altered, as the Chance of War pre∣vailed.

Here are Wild Elephants, some Pepper, and store of Beetle-Nut, and Wild Nutmeg,* 1.64 used to dye withal. The best Pepper in the World is of the Growth of Sunda, known in England by Carwar Pepper, though five Days Journy distant from thence. This Raja vends his Pepper, as it is the best, at the best rates, finding a Trade up the Coun∣try, and therefore is it we have little of it in Europe; he contents himself to live at Sunda, from whence he and his Country receive denomination, being as little Absolute as the rest of the Princes of Visiapour, being Tributary, or rather Feudatory, obliged as well by Allegiance as Purse.

The Raja of Saranpatan must not be slipped by in silence,* 1.65 because his way of fighting differs from his Neighbours; he trains up his Soldiers to be expert at a certain Instrument to seize on the Noses of his Enemies with that slight either in the Field or in their Camps, that a Budget-full of them have been presented to their Lord for a Breakfast; a thing, because it deforms them, so abashing, that few care to engage with him; and this he makes use of, because it is against his Religion to kill any thing. He enjoys a vast Territory on the back of the Zamerhin.

Beyond him lies Raja Madaree,* 1.66 possessing all from him as far as the Cape, bordering on them both.

All these are the disjointed Members of Visiapour, neither trust∣ing on another, nor uniting for the common Good of the Kingdom: Since Seva Gi has put all into a Ferment, they know not who to side with, being uncertain of his Intentions; though he tells them, his Compeers the Duccanees, he is their Champion, and that none of them besides himself has the heart to stand up for their Country; and therefore if he chance now and then to rob them, it is but to reward himself and Soldiers for his and their pains in endeavouring to free them from a more unnatural Slavery.

This makes them begin to Cabal,* 1.67 not brooking the Perfidy of this Man on the one hand, or the Insolence of Bullul Caun, being a Fo∣reigner, on the other; nor to call in the Mogul to their Assistance; though still it is not resolved by a General Consent to be aiding to each other.

In the mean while Seva taking advantage of their Irresolution,* 1.68 ranges where he lists, quite through Visiapour, as far as Badnagur in Gulconda, with one Detachment led by his Son; with another he flies himself as far as the Walls of Surat, leaving the Main of his Ar∣my at Pundit, before Goa: His Son, after he had plundered and burnt Badnagur, having been observed in his Passage thither by Bullul Caun, did no harm in Visiapur; but the Protector being to watch the Conspiracies of the Duccanees, could not be long out, for fear of being intercepted in his Return, and was therefore pressed to retreat to his Post; and Sambu Gi retiring, set upon Hubly, Rabay, and other Mart Towns, and ransack'd them: And Seva Gi his Father being not wholly disappointed at Surat (which he calls his Treasury) by their shutting their Gates upon him pro formâ, but give him his usual Pis∣cash; whither on his repeated Excursions being forced to ask leave of the Raja of Ramnagur,* 1.69 to carry his Army (by reason of the Mogul's Forces in the Plain Country) through his Country, over the Hills

that reach within Thirty Miles of Surat; and having obtained leave of the Raja of Ramnagur, made himself thoroughly acquainted with the Avenues, and in his last Return took it; giving only this Rea∣son, That it was inconvenient for him to trust him with the Door of his Exchequer. The Inhabitants of Ramnagur are the Salvages cal∣led Coolles.

Bullul Caun being at the Helm, thought fit, on these unaccounta∣ble Pranks, to send to him, to be informed how he durst attempt the Robbery of these Places? O, quoth he to the Messenger, Go tell thy Master, I wonder how he durst dispossess any Great Man of Life or Place, without having advised first with me, (reflecting on his usurp∣ing the Protectorship by the Death of Cowis Caun); I did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only to let him know, I, not he, am a Member of Visiapour.

By which,* 1.70 Bullul Caun foreseeing the approaching Storms, was too wary to stay the breaking of them over his Head, but fairly steps forth to prevent them: Wherefore surprizing Sergi Caun and Timi Naig, as they were moving to join with some of the forwardest of the Duccanees, the first fled, not without loss, the other was environ'd by Bullul Caun's Army, and compelled to stand it out, till the Ca∣mels of War, who carry small Petareroes, slew the greatest part of them, and Timi Naig himself was trodden to Death under his Ele∣phants Feet, whereupon an easy Victory ensued, the rest yielding when their General was slain; who is not much lamented by the Nobles of Canora, whose Greatness he diminished by cutting them off upon small Suspicions, and advancing in their steads inferior Per∣sons to great Employments; confining the Princess-Mother with her Son to a Pension, and that but ordinary. Things now begin to return to the Royal Current, and they confess him a Chastisement for their former Rebellions against their Natural Prince, vowing a perfect Allegiance to the Infant Prince, in whose Name since the Death of Timi Naig, all things are transacted.

These were to have been seconded by Badur Caun,* 1.71 the Mogul's Ge∣neral, who has since appeared twice before Visiapour with a formida∣ble Army, pretending to right the Duccanees, and to call Bullul Caun to an account, but has been as often repulsed by Bullul Caun and 12000 of his Patans, who the last time made them leave their Kosanna or Treasure, some Elephants, 1000 Camels, several Pieces of Ordnance, and cut off the Bassa of Busserah with his Son, whose Heads were put on long Poles on the Walls of the City, and slew of the common Soldiers Four or Five Thousand; not without great da∣mage on their own Party: So that he must be distressed for all this Rout given, unless the stomachful Duccanees come to an Accommo∣dation (from which they are averse as yet), if, as it is likely, the Mo∣gul send fresh and more numerous Supplies.

So miserable is that State where the other Members grow too pow∣erful for the Head, as in this co••stituted Government of Duccan, where the King's Munificence to the Grandees has instated them in Absolute Authority over their Provinces, that they are Potent enough to engage one another, and countermand the King's Com∣mands, unless suitable to their Humours.

By the fundamental Establishment of this Realm,* 1.72 every Lord in course was to come to Court once a Year, and all to pay their Ac∣knowledgment by doing Homage to their Sovereign, where he could demand their Heads, they becoming obnoxious to his Displeasure; but the present disturbances have found matters of excuse to release them from these Injunctions, and furnished Seva Gi in this bustle with encouragement to March up the Gaot again with 15000 Horse and 30000 Foot, knowing Bullul Caun neither to be at leisure from his Intestine nor Foreign Broils, to divert him from his wild Enterprises.

CHAP. IV.

Of the King and Kingdom of Visiapour; their Policy and Government; Hobsie-Cofferies Preferred: The present Protector, and other Members of Duccan: The Life, Exploits, and Expeditions of Seva Gi: The Wealth, Strength, and Powers of each, with respect to the Great Mogul as Supreme.

OF which Incendiary of India, as well as of these Parts, to give you some knowledge, it will be necessary (these Affairs being so interwoven) to look back as far as the time of Ramras, about Two hundred and fifty Years ago, sole Monarch of India in∣tra Gangem, and the last Emperor that was a Gentile; he nourished Three Slaves that were Chias Moors, and advanced them to the prin∣cipal Employs both of Court and Empire, to wit, Catub Caun, Ma∣ster of his Hunt; Nisham Maluke, his Chief Treasurer; Adul Caun, Catwal, or High-Constable; from these Offices they rose to be Commanders of the greatest Provinces in the Realm, with as Ab∣solute Power and Authority as could be transferred on Subjects, be∣ing Kings, only wanting the Appellation: The first of Baynagur, now Gulconda; the second of Dowlet Abud, and all the Country from Guzerat to Bengal, and great part of Duccan (into which his Successors were crowded till they Annihilated); the Last, the other part of Duccan, with all the Continent on this side the Gates, till it conclude in the Cape of Comora.

Thus were they seated,* 1.73 and by the sequel not minded to be dis∣mounted; wherefore they jointly Combined against their supine Master, whilst he too credulously relied on their Fidelity, and outed him and many of his Heathen Nobles, only such as were befriended by strong Gurrs, or Fastnesses upon the Mountains, who are those that retain the Name of Raja's to this day; and who are still not∣withstanding so Numerous, that would they stand up unanimously for their ancient Freedom, the Mahometans could not stand in Com∣petition with their Idolatrous Tribes; sed quos Jupiter vult perdi, dementes facit; but whom God will destroy he makes them infatua∣ted

to their own Ruin; for they are so jealous one of another, that without that inbred Disposition it were impossible to keep them under.

After this Conspiracy every one betook himself to his Govern∣ment,* 1.74 there being no more to possess themselves of; the imprudent King having given all away, even to his Person, which they scru∣pled not to Violate, Extinguishing the very Lineage, or leaving them so undefenceable, that they are only said to be a petty Rajaship in the Plain, and thereby easily prevented to aspire to their Lawful Sovereignty; the Supremacy being established in their own Hands, and shared to their mutual Contents, they took upon them without controul the Regal Dignity and Title of Pedeshaws, and exercised their Functions very Amicably some Years; and so long they kept themselves safe enough from the Moguls, who began to make Inroads into their Country, without any notable Success, till they found means to make them break with Nishamshaw, who maintained the Frontiers against them; for all that, he was beset afore and aban∣doned behind, he held them play a long while; though by degrees the Moguls from without, and the perverse remissness of his own Sect at home, reduced him to that part of Duccan, the entire Con∣quest of which the present Auren Zeeb finished (though unhand∣somely) he having been Hospitably receiv'd when he came under Co∣lour of a Fakier, and a Banished Man from the Court at Jeneah; where I saw the Ruins of a sumptuous Edifice Nishamshaw Erected for the present Emperor of the Moguls: The Reward which he gratified him with, was the Extirpation of the Royal Race of the Nisham∣shaws; whose Destruction the remaining Two may at leisure repent, being thereby incapacitated to make Head against the Mogul, maugre all their Forces; when before, Nishamshaw alone could withstand, and even Defeat his most puissant Armies; but since his downfal they have enough to do to Guard themselves.* 1.75 The Rajah's (the most Powerful of whom subscribed to his Jurisdiction) beginning to set up for themselves; so that the Two Kings of Visiapour and Gulconda are often left alone to endure the brunt, the Rajah's coming in as they list.

For all that, what is left of Duccan under the King of Visiapour, is still a spacious Kingdom, reaching North to Jeneah, South to Porto Nov••, bounded East with Gulconda, West with the Ocean; though unsettled and ill Governed, whereby it is often distressed; but when it comes near to the upshot, Gulconda puts in either as a Mediator, or an Assistant with Men, (for which he pays dear if it be publickly, for then the Mogul turns his Arms on him) or Mony he helps him to underhand; though he is mightily awed by the Mogul, suffering the Mogul's Ambassador to reside at Court in quality of a Supervisor; who Lords it without controul, causing his Coin to be stamped with his Master's Inscription, his Subjects Mulcted and Sessed by his Imposi∣tions; yet he is sensible should he seize Duccan, Gulconda would lose the stoutest Bulwark on that side his Kingdom, which hath made him these Forty Years a firm Confederate to Visiapour; sometimes sending Piscashes of considerable Value to Seva Gi and the Bordering Princes and Raja's to disturb the Mogul's Forces, other-whiles

stopping the Mogul's Mouth with a Tribute, as also his Generals with large Presents.

Which are the Reasons the Mogul hath made no farther Progress of late Years,* 1.76 satisfying himself to keep these Kingdoms in the na∣ture of Vassals, though never absolutely Conquered; frustrated chiefly by the means of the Soldiery and great Ombrahs, who live Lazily and in Pay, whereupon they term Duccan, The Bread of the Military Men: Or because that he is never wholly at leisure to prose∣cute these Wars himself, being always busied in one place or another of more import, as lately against the Patans, and now against the Ʋsbeque Tartars; besides a vast Army always upon the Marches of Persia and Candahar; so that this huge Empire seldome has its Auxiliary Bands entire: However distracted as they are, this flying Battalion would easily suffice to dispatch these Two Kingdoms one after another, there being ready on the Confines of Duccan never less than Forty thousand Horse, beside Foot. Notwithstanding all these formidable Numbers, while the Generals and Vocanovices consult to deceive the Emperor, on whom he depends for a true state of things, it can never be otherwise but that they must be misrepresented, when the Judgment he makes must be by a false Perspective; whereby it is apparent on what Bases these Kingdoms are supported.

Of the Government of Gulconda something hath been spoken al∣ready,* 1.77 it remains therefore to give an account of Duccan; the sub∣stance of which is, that as the former was Modelled according to the Policy of Indostan, with this difference, that Eunuch's wedded to their Master's Concerns, were promoted from the dregs of Slavery to Empire, so here Cofferies at their first arrival as Slavish, are be∣come as endeared to their Master; who, as they Merit, have the first places of Honour and Trust imposed upon them, with this Proviso, ever to be faithfully obliged to their Lord; in which point their ap∣proved Faith has rarely failed, Interest teaching them to be true to him that raised them; they thereby being liable to the envy of those they are purposely set as a Checkmate to; for by their exalta∣tion, the swelling exorbitancy of other Princes is corrected, and they being only at the Will of their Master, are tied to their good Behaviour.

On the contrary,* 1.78 the Lords of Duccan are Born Princes, assume Honour from their Lands, have as perfect a Right to them as the King to the Kingdom, and descend from Father to Son by Inheri∣tance (though the Commons are as meer Slaves as any where in the East besides, excepting none); whereupon they grow Insolent and Stubborn, and are not so easily Bridled, as where the Rule is Arbitrary, and are only restrained from Raising Men in the King's Name and for his Use; but these make Peace and War, Build Forts, and fall out one with another, and with their Sovereign too at their own Pleasure; and hardly Unite, though a common neces∣sity require; nay many times side with the Enemy.

However, when the King gets them in the Toil, they are treated as they deserve; for he makes bold with their Heads, takes their Estates wholly into his Custody and for his own Use, bestowing them on his Creatures, when Forfeited, making them understand,

that they are obliged by Fealty to follow his Command, as their shewing themselves at Visiapour in course to pay their Respects de∣monstrates; which yet of late they have done but remisly, making a Salam at Four or Five Course distance, and then accompanied in an Hostile manner, as if coming to Besiege the City, more than to perform their Duty: For which they plead the King's Minority, be∣ing either Afraid, or too Proud to commit their Persons, or give Ho∣mage to the Protector, being an Alien, and a Patan, who hath but lately wrested the Management of Affairs from the hands of Cowis Caun, to whom was intrusted the Safeguard of the King and King∣dom, by the Last Will and Testament of the Deceased King, and (with much ado) at length confirmed by and with the general Consent of the Duccannees; he being from an Hobsy Caphir made a free Denizen, and Naturalized by the precedent King (who only in this Nation arrive to great Preferments, being the Frizled Woolly∣pated Blacks) under the known stile of Syddies).

He,* 1.79 although an excellent Man of War, submitted himself too often to be overcome with Wine (than which among Musselmen nothing renders them more odious) and upon that score Pretences were found to lay the blame of the Government, and the Loss of the Country, over-run by Seva Gi, upon his Head, together with other Disorders. Though the Patan knew well his Commission was to put a stop to those growing Mischiefs, and had he not been emu∣lous of the other's Charge, was Man enough to have deterred Seva Gi from his Attempts. But Ambition knows no mean, and therefore lets all to the hazard, rather than admit the Commands of a Supe∣rior; wherefore he stands Idle, and studies only how to displace the other, which was effected in a small time after his being called back. For he inviting Cowis Caun to a Treat, who suspecting least, when no∣thing was pretended but Friendship, came with a slender Retinue, and taking off his Cups freely, fell dead drunk into the merciless Snare of his Enemy, who surprizing his Followers with 12000 brave Patans, made way into the Royal Castle, where the young King became a Prey, the Caun first a Prisoner, and then a Sacrifice to the Lust of the Usurper.

And this is the sum of the present Tumults of this Kingdom,* 1.80 which at this juncture of time, in the face of a mighty Host of the Moguls, and the frequent Incursions of Seva Gi from the Mountains on the other side, beside the Civil Mutinies and Dissentions within, to prevent ill consequences, calls for a skilful Pilot; for it never, since the primary defection of Adul Caun, was in such danger, from whom to this present King, is transmitted the Stile of

• 1. Adul Shaw: As Caesar to the Romans, or Pharaoh to the Egyptians.
• 2. Asoph Adul Shaw.
• 3. Bissa Alah Adul Shaw.
• 4. Ibrahim Adul Shaw.
• 5. Sultan Mahnud Adul Shaw.
• 6. Alah Adul Shaw.
• 7. Sulton Socodre Cauder Adul Shaw.

Long controverted whether he should reign after his Father Alah Adul Shaw, it being bruited that Alah Adul Shaw was begotten by an Elephant-keeper, when the King's choicest Elephants were for∣ced to be stabled near the Womens Quarters, to hide them from the Mogul's Ambassador (whom they dare not refuse any thing he begs in his Great Master's Name), where one of them found the Conve∣niency to descend from the Trunk of his Elephant into the Queen's Apartment, and get her a Son when the good Old King was past his Labour, and withal she fixed him upon the Throne: Which some of the Issue of Sultan Mahmud enquiring into, made their Claim, and upon the expiring of Alah stirred up Factions, with hot Altercations on either side; but were finally quelled by Cowis Caun, who conti∣nued Sultan Socodre Caudre Adul Shaw, till he was taken Prisoner and slain by Bullul Caun the Patan, who may do now as he thinks fit, the Young King being scarce Ten Years old. It was thought he intend∣ed to have delivered both King and Kingdom to the Mogul; but 'tis believed as long as he can keep both for his own Ends, he will not.

He yet Salams to the King,* 1.81 and carries it fairly, endeavouring to win the Duccanees to a good Opinion of him, which they seem little to regard, unless he would restore the Fort, City, and Royal Person of the King, and divest himself of his Power; all which he holds yet Hero-like, maugre all the Practices of his Adversaries; who now, as he hath attained the first Place in the State, we therefore must reckon him the Chief Grandee or Prince of Duccan, imme∣diately next the King.

Bullul Caun, General and Protector.

His Salary is 60 League of Pagods, 20000 Horse, 100000 Foot out of the King's Demesnes annually; besides Camels and Elephants equipped for Battel.

Sergi Caun's

Country maintains 3000 Horse and 10000 Foot, at 15 Lecgue of Pagods per Annum.

Sunda Raja's

Pepper-Country is worth 30 L. P. but pays one half into the King's Coffer, and now and then Seva Gi shares with him; it maintains in good Pay 12000 Foot, and 3000 Horse.

Samba Gi Raja, Brother to Seva Gi,

In Baligaot can raise 10000 Horse, and 20000 Foot; worth 30 L. P. per Annum.

Ekou Gi Raja, another of Seva Gi's Brothers,

Who is very solicitous with him to desist from his lewd Courses of

Robbing and Stealing, and content himself with his Purchase; which he derides, and tells him he is no slowbelly, to desire to expire lazily on a Bed, rather than to meet his final Doom in the Field; and to sit down as he does, with 10 L. P. 2000 Horse, and 8000 Foot.

Syddy Jore

Maintained 2000 Horse, 16000 Foot, 28 L. P. per Annum.

Rustam Gemma

Was worth 30000 L. P. 10000 Horse, 20000 Foot. Both these outed by Seva Gi.

Syddy Massute,

5000 Horse, 10000 Foot, 20 L. P. A Potent and Eminent Member of the Realm.

Sheke Minas in Baligaot,

Enjoys large Possessions there, as does the Raja of Canora in Canora.

Seva Gi is reckoned also as a diseased Limb of Duccan,* 1.82 impostu∣mated and swoln too big for the Body; in some respects benefiting, in others discommoding it; beneficial, by opposing the Mogul's Entry into the Kingdom; but prejudicial in being his own Paymaster, rewarding himself most unconscionably; all Conchon being little enough for him, extending in Length along the Sea-Coasts, 250 Leagues, that is, from Balsore Hills to the River Gongole; where nei∣ther is he limited in his extravagant Desires, expecting only opportu∣nity to gain further. Inland he hath not much, the Gaot seeming to be a Natural Line of Circumvallation to the Up-Country, where it is Campaign, though below Hilly; so that you ascend to it by Mountains piled on one another, over which Seva Gi hath total Do∣minion, the Duccanees not striving to retake any thing, for all he hath blocked up their Ports, which may prejudice them for the fu∣ture; an irreparable Damage, (Arab Steeds being the Life of their Cavalry); they having only Porto Novo beyond Tutticaree left themfree.

Nor has he done this Injury to them alone, but the Mogul hath the same measure up as far as Surat; so that he enjoys them wholly, ex∣cepting what the Portugals have, and the English at Bombaim; which are of no Import in respect of Trade, while the Caphalaes are hin∣dred to pass those Ways; of which did he know or consider the Ad∣vantage, he might amass greater Treasures than he purchases by pil∣laging and pilfering, and might come off with the Glorious Name of a Conqueror; whereas otherwise, following his barbarous Courses of Fire and Sword, he merits no more than to be branded as a Thief: Witness those intolerable Cruelties, Devastations, and De∣serts made by him every where in his Range up and down in the Mogul's Territories, as well as in the Duccanean.

'Tis undeniable he hath taken and maintains against the Moguls Sixty odd strong Hills: But the Cause is, the Moguls are unacquaint∣ed with, and their Bodies unfit for such barren and uneasy Places; so that they rather chuse to desert than defend them: Whereby it is sufficiently evident Seva Gi is unable in the Plain to do any thing but Rob, Spoil, and return with all the speed imaginable: And on that account it is Aurenzeeb calls him his Mountain-Rat, with which the greatest Systems of Monarchy in the World, though continued by an uninterrupted Descent of Imperial Ancestry, have ever been infested, finding it more hard to fight with Mountains than Men.

Thus it falls out here,* 1.83 by the like Chance as in most Conquests, that though the major Part have submitted to their Victorious Arms, yet some out of Confidence in their Strength, Reputation, or Fortitude, have been so daring as to oppose by open Violence or se∣cret Stratagem, the acquired Trophies of the Triumphing Party: As the Apennegeni did the Romans, and the Wild People about Taurus and Caucasus the Grecians; the Welsh, the English; the Highlanders, the Switz; and as many as have been encouraged thereto by the inac∣cessibleness of their Fortresses, or the Discontent of some Great Ones to head them: From whence, though inconsiderable in them∣selves, it is, that they presume to boast of their never being totally subdued.

Such are the Rajahs of the Mountains,* 1.84 the most eminent among whom is Seva Gi, derived from an Ancient Line of Rajahs, of the Cast of the Bounceloes, a Warlike and Active Offspring: His Grand∣father was a Man in Esteem under Nisham Shaw, whose Name was Vangu Gi Rajah; his Father Shaw Gi Rajah was made Commander by the same King of Juneah Gur, where, upon that Rock his first Wife brought forth the Obdurate Seva Gi, his Eldest Son, and Samba Gi, his Second; by another Wife he had a Third Son, called Ekou Gi.

Upon the Downfall of Nisham Shaw, the Father and his other Sons listed themselves as Pensioners to the King of Visiapour, where the Father was, and the Sons now are advanced to considerable Em∣ploys. Seva Gi could not be won upon, but sought to raise himself by the Ruins of others, setting the lesser Lords at variance with their Prince, in whose Quarrels he always made sure of the upper Ground; wherefore his Father at his Death disinherited him, and instated his youngest Son Ekou Gi in the Rajahship of Benglure; a Starveling Ra∣jahship, since it hath been harass'd by the Troubles of Duccan, where he sits down quietly, whilst this Turbulent Young Man works him∣self into Greatness.

At which the King of Visiapour beginning to cast an Eye,* 1.85 finding him aspiring, and intending to blast him in the Bud, sent a Potent Army against him, conducted by Abdul Caun, an Experienc'd Sol∣dier, yet outwitted by Seva Gi: For he understanding of his having taken the Field, while the Main Body was yet at distance enough, he sent to him flattering and seducing Messages, intimating withal, if he would but stop his March, at an appointed Choultry out of sight of each Rendezvouz, he would meet him, and kiss his Feet; beg∣ging that he would act the obliging Office of a Peacemaker between him and the King.

Abdul Caun thinking no less than that he meant sincerely, consent∣ed, though advised to the contrary by his Friends, (whether out of Superstition,* 1.86 as the dying of an Elephant, and other bad presaging Omens, or they doubting the Integrity of Seva Gi, I know not), but they could not prevail: At the Day prefixed therefore he takes with him his Son and a selected Number, which he credited would not be out-equalled by Seva Gi, upon his former Protestations and Hopes of Reconcilement; but the Perfidious Man had placed an Am∣buscado, and with a smaller Shew in appearance than Abdul brought, waits his coming; who as soon as he spied him afar off, went forth to meet him, and prostrates himself before him with feigned Tears, craving Pardon for his Offence, and would not rise till he had assured him of his being his Advocate to procure it: Going to enter the Choultry together, he cries out, like a fearful Man, That his Lord (so he stiled the General) might execute his Pleasure on him, and ease him of his Life; which Abdul Caun surmising was because he was armed, and the other came seemingly unarmed, delivered his Sword and Ponyard to his Page, and bad him enter with Courage; where after some Parley he slips a Stiletto from under his Coat-sleeve, and then eying his Blow, struck it at his Heart, whereat the Signal was given, and his Men came forth, in which Scuffle Abdul's Son gave Seva Gi a Wound, but was forced to change Habit with a Frass im∣mediately, and venturing through untrodden Paths hardly escaped to the Camp, who thereupon were so discomfited, that they quickly dispersed themselves, and left the Field open to Seva Gi.

Who,* 1.87 grown proud with this good Fortune, resolves not to return till he had sacked Panala, one of their Wealthiest and Strongest Ci∣ties; but finding it a Work not over-facile, they within, though thinly Mann'd, being obstinate, he disbands therefore, under pretext of Ill Usage, Seven or Eight Hundred of his Men, who presently took their way to the City, and offer their Service, complaining of Seva Gi as an Inhuman Butcherly Fellow, some Marks of which they produced on those suborned for that purpose: The present Occasions urging, and being willing to blind themselves with the Improbability of its being a Cheat, they within admitted them the City, but so as for some time they could not put their Plot in execution, the Citizens watching at Night the Gates with their own Men, and disposing them on the Walls and Out-posts: But the Inhabitants taken up with their Delight more than Security, had pester'd the Ditches with Gardens and Trees, whereby on a Set Night, they on the Walls having so contrived it, received their Friends of the Camp under Covert of the Trees, and overpowering the Citizens, opened the Gates, whereupon the Enemy entred, and by this Treachery the City was gained for Seva Gi; which he makes his Retreat, ordering those Trees to be cut down that were so fatal to the former Possessors.

And now he forages the Country,* 1.88 and lays all waste in his Round, till young Abdul was reinforced to revenge his Father's Death, and to join with another General Rustam Gemma, with whom Seva Gi had been tampering: Such is the Covetous Nature of these people, that Money shall corrupt the most Loyal among them: Which made him when they were ready to give Battel, withdraw his

Cavalry, leaving young Abdul and his Men to try it out with Seva Gi; whose Force, though an Handful, fell bravely on, and so gauled Seva Gi, that he wish'd him well off; Abdul crying out wherever he went, Thou Coward Seva, here am I; whereof though Seva had notice, he avoided him, saying, He was a Rash Youth, let somebody else kill him: He made through his Army two or three times in Per∣son, till being tired he was fain to leave off, and speed to Visiapour, to complain of Rustam's Falshood: Upon this Rustam's Horse disband∣ed, some choice Friends only going over with him to Seva Gi, advi∣sing him to follow his Blow, and set upon Visiapour its self, which he did; and had not Syddy Jore come to its Relief with a vast Recruit, he had not only attacked, but carried it.

Then it was time for Seva to retire to Panala,* 1.89 where being long detained by Syddy Jore's lying before it, at length (as 'twas thought) through the Connivance of the said Syddy, he stole out by Night; and by a false Pharmond takes the Syddy's Town of Rajapour, pre∣tending the Syddy was to surrender it in exchange for Panala.

After which the Syddy resorts to Visiapour to his Master,* 1.90 who bore his Disgust for letting the Traytor go, under a serene Countenance, and dismiss'd him with Thanks: But having made Bullul Caun Com∣mander in Chief, he dispatches him after the Syddy, who being wa∣ry and doubtful of the King's Intentions, had provided to stand to it, putting Bullul Caun to Flight: Whereupon begins another Civil Dis∣cord; the King in Person resolves to bid at his Head, which other∣wise by the clandestine Practices of Bullul Caun was hoped to be at∣chieved, as it proved, he doing that by Fraud he could not do by Force: For the Night after both Armies were in view, the Omrahs on the Syddy's side forsook him, and he was slain, and his Head brought to the King, without any more Strokes fought; such deadly Venom bears Secret Malice and Hellish Insinuation.

This still makes for Seva Gi, for he was not able to cope with him singly; which Impediment thus lopped off to his hand, he seizes at leisure smaller Places, as Dan de Rajapour, whose Prince sueth for Protection to the Mogul, being beaten out of all but his Strong Ca∣stle at Dan de Rajapour, environ'd about by the Sea, but within Shot of the Main, which Seva with a great Effort has lain before these fif∣teen Years: The Mogul succouring it by Sea, it derides the Batteries of his Artilleries; and these are the Fleets we are so often troubled with at Bombaim.

In this Juncture of Affairs the King dies,* 1.91 and leaves a Babe to dispute for the Throne; when Seva Gi enlarges himself, flies out as far as Surat, and comes home with Rich Booty; which hapned presently after the Emperor of the Moguls was warm in his Seat (by the Over∣throw of his Brethren, and the Death of his Father Shaw Juan, by his Interest on Raja Jesseign); who desirous to try if by Kindness he could reclaim this famous Rebel, allures him to Court (Faith being plighted for his Safety), where shortly after, the Outcries of the Women in whose Kindred's Blood his hands were imbrued, made him shift for himself in an Hamper on a Porter's Back, which passed the Guards among many other, which were forced to be sent as Piscashes to his Friends, as the manner is when under Confinement: With this

Slight he got away (not without the Mogul's Privity), and 'tis be∣lieved will hardly venture to Agra again, unless better guarded.

For this he made a second Rape on Surat, and now lately has ta∣ken the Rajahship of Rhamnagur, though he had first spread himself more South, even to the Walls of Goa, from whence he slided to the Borders of the Canatick and Sunda Rajah's Country: His Chief Resi∣dence is at Rairee, where he bids Defiance to the Emperor, Gulconda, Duccan, Portugueze, and all the World; magnifying himself in his Strong-Holds; installed Mau Rajah Two Years since, when I sent you a Journal of an English Gentleman's, sent Ambassador to him at that time: His Mother was then alive, to whom he shewed Filial Obedience: He is married to Four Wives, to whom he keeps reli∣giously, being a strict Observer of his Heathen Rites.

He sways by Brachmins;* 1.92 his Soldiers are Hardy Brave Fellows, fit for the Mountains; 30000 Horse is the most he can make, Foot innumerable.

Merchants have little Countenance from him: Of the Common People he says, Money is inconvenient for them; give them Victuals and an Arse-Clout, it is enough. They tell their Tale in Moratty; by Pro∣fession they are Gentues; some few Moors are among them; Whores and Dancing Wenches he allows none in his Army: This Barbarian Commander being like the Scythian Ateas, who hearing one sweetly modulating on an Ismean Pipe, swore he had rather hear the neighing of an Horse, or the Clangor of Horns or Trumpets. At Sea he is no stronger than his Neighbours; once he went Admiral of his Fleet of Grobs and Boats, against Dan de Rajapore, but Storms arising dis∣hearten'd him for a second Adventure.

The Kingdom of Visiapour.

Although it be Hereditary,* 1.93 and not Elective, yet it comes nearest it at present, since the remaining part of the Duccan Kingdom is dwindled into it, and some more Southern have withdrawn, and the rest at Pleasure only own themselves Members thereof; it must bor∣row the Composition of these several disagreeing ones to make it bear the Port of a Kingdom.

For when entire, it was of large Extent, taking in the Zamerhin and Malabars; and while the Three Chias Moors represented the An∣cient Geron; where for the common Safety, if any Part were af∣flicted, every Member ran to the Succour of the other, as if it were to their peculiar Tranquility; their Counsels one, their Minds one, their Designments one; their Dominions flourished, and every one owned Subjection, and held their Provinces as Vassals to the same Monarch: When that Band was loosed, they were broken with more ease; Duccan is lost already, Visiapour seems de∣clining, Seva Gi's Example putting others on to un-yoak themselves; so that as yet no Tye is strong enough to reduce them to their for∣mer Temper.

Whereupon it is clear the Duccanees are a Warlike and Trouble∣some Nation,* 1.94 apt to dislike Government, Proud and Brave, having an Army more splendid than the Mogul's; adorning their Elephants,

Horses and Lances with Silver Bells and Feathers,* 1.95 Gallant and Rich in Apparel and Sumbrero's: The People Swarthy or Olive; of all Religions. The Country Fruitful, Rich, and Campaign, unless it be near the Sea-Coast, where the Mountains are blest with Woods and Cattel, the Valleys with a bountiful Increase of Rice and Coco Nuts, with store of Rivers both Fresh and Salt; though these Hilly People are of a rougher Temper, more Hardy, and less addicted to the soft Vanities of Musick, Cloathing, Pomp, or Stateliness, being all Naked Starved Rascals; Seva Gi's Men thereby being fitter for any Martial Exploit, having been accustomed to Fare Hard, Journy Fast, and take little Pleasure. But the other will miss of a Booty rather than a Dinner;* 1.96 must mount in state and have their Arms carried before them, and their Women not far behind them, with the Masters of Mirth and Jollity; will rather expect than pursue a Foe; but then they stand it out better; for Seva Gi's Men care not much for a pitched Field, though they are good at Surprizing and Ransacking; yet agree in this, that they are both of stirring Spirits.

The Language of Visiapour is peculiar.* 1.97 Cities of Note in this Kingdom, bear commonly the Names of their Grandees: Mart-Towns are Hubly, Rabag, and Huttany.

The King's Sea-ports Gullean, Bimly, Blocked up by the Portugals; Rajapour, Dabul, Vingula, Carwar, which is Seva Gi's; the rest are Possessed by the Malabar Raja's round to Porto Novo, which only is properly the King's; whose Revenues are very large, though not computed by common Rumour as the others are.

CHAP. V.

Shews the Pleasure and the Product of the Woods: The People bewitched to Idolatry; the Sottishness of the Atheist. I am sent for to Bombaim; after some endeavours to go thither, and some time spent at Goa, am forced to Winter at Carwar, and then I return to Surat.

THE Exercises here are common with India, only Cock-Fighting; for which Sport they have a Breed of Cocks as big as Turkies; which they Arm with Razors tied flat under their Claws, and faulched Two Inches instead of Gavelocks, with which they slash one another Mortally; so that the Dispute endures not long, for most an end the first or second Blow decides it.

For our own Diversion here we had none besides Shooting,* 1.98 in which we spent sometimes a whole Week in the Woods and Rivers sides; for if we expected Flesh, or Fowl, we must take Pains for it; no Beef being to be Bought here, though up the Country from the Moors we could; so that our usual Diet was (besides plenty of Fish) Water-Fowl, Peacocks, Green Pidgeons, spotted Deer, Sa∣bre,

Wild Hogs, and sometimes Wild Cows. Going in quest where∣of, one of our Soldiers, a Youth, Killed a Tigre-Royal; it was brought home by Thirty or Forty Combies,* 1.99 the Body tied to a long Bamboo, the Tail extended; so they brought it to the House, where we saw 'twas Wounded in Three Places, one through the Head with Two Bullets, another through the Body slanting up to the Shoulders, a Third in the Leg; it was a Tigre of the Biggest and Noblest Kind, Five Feet in Length beside the Tail, Three and an half in Height, it was of a light Yellow, streaked with Black, like a Tabby Cat, the Ears short, with a few Bristles about the Lips; the Visage Fierce and Majestick, the Teeth gnashing, Two of which she brake against the Stones for anguish, the Shoulders and Fore-legs thick and well set, the Paw as Large as the biggest Fist stretched out, the Claws thick and strong.

The Boy Shot it in the Night from a Chouse, or Estarzo, as it came to Drink, supposing it to have been a Deer; the first Shot was that under the Shoulder, which made her Spring Three times an incredible Height, at the last of which she fell into the Chouse from whence she saw the Flash, where with the English Boy were a Comby, and a Comby Boy of Eight Year old, asleep a little on one side; she pawed the Straw with her Feet, while all but the Child asleep fled; but being wrung by her Pain, she soon left the place with an horrible Noise that made the Woods tremble, all which awaked not the Lad, nor had it any Harm.

In this interval, the English Youth Charged again with a couple of Slugs, and tracing the Blood, as she was making at him, discharged through the Brain-pan, at which she was quiet; but to make sure, he made another shot at her, which he believed was that in the Leg: All this time the Moon was Obscured and Cloudy; the Comby that had left him and his Son, at length came with a many more, calling Fringi, the Term they have for Europe-Men and Franks; the Boy was walking about, fearing to venture within reach, till at last laying aside his well-advised Suspicion, he approaching, found the Terror of the Wood Slain.

Disrobed of its Royal Hide,* 1.100 Two Bones of the Bigness and Figure of a Levator, presented themselves to our view, that had no Connexi∣on with the other Bones, but wholly immersed in the Flesh per sy∣sarcasin, in the ends of each Pectoral, and the Three circumducing Muscles, towards the joining of the Shoulder-blades, and the upper Bones of the Fore-feet, commonly called Shoulder-bones; of these there goes a Story handed by Tradition, as that Licking the Right Shoulder it appeases Hunger, the Left it whets it where these Bones lie; but probable enough it is, that Nature added these for its greater Strength; The Entrails were little variable, but the Heart was mighty, and the Liver (they say) had as many Lobes as that was Years old, which were Six and an half, like to a Foxes.

The Chief,* 1.101 to encourage the Lad, told him, That though he were a Boy, he had done a Manly Action, and therefore according to the Custom of the Country, in presence of all his Admirers, he plucked off his own Coat, which was Venetian Cloath of Silk and Silver, and gave it him. The Great Ombrahs always do the like upon any hazardous

Atchievments, and if Wounded, throw them their Sashes and Pa∣merins to Bind them up, and Cover them, though never so Rich: Having likewise another Custom among them, to Cloath the Gun with Scarlet that has made any notable Breach, Slain any great Sol∣dier, or done any extraordinary Feat.

It is memorable what is attested,* 1.102 by these Woodmen, of the Tigre, that when he intends to Prey on the Monkies (with which these Woods abound) he uses this Artifice or Stratagem; the Monkies at his first approach give warning by their confused Chattering, and im∣mediately betake themselves to the highest and smallest Twigs of the Trees; when the Tigre seeing them out of his reach, and sensible of their fright, lies Couchant under the Tree and then falls a Roar∣ing, at which they trembling let go their hold, and tumbling down he at leisure picks them up to satisfy his Hunger: They are his ac∣customed Repast, seldom making Man his Meal, and they are judged (as St. Paul's Barbarians did him) guilty of some horrid Crime that such Vengeance overtakes; the Woods and Mountains yielding them variety of other Food. The Tigre is dull Scented, and not long Nimble, Three Leaps Tiring him, otherwise it's probable he would make more havock than he does. The She brings forth but once in Twelve Years, and then but a single Cub; they are Ingend∣ring Three Months, in which time their Fury as well as Lust rages upon one another; thus has Providence suppressed the Growth of this masterless Creature: Besides, if the Proverb be true, the Bitch brings forth but once in her life, or very rarely more; Iteratus haud partus leoenae contigit, notwithstanding Aelian says otherwise in his 4 lib. de Historiâ Animalium.

The most frequent in these Woods are the lesser sort of Tigres spotted like a Leopard; these are Cruel and Ravenous, but more Fearful than the others are; that Monkies are their Food, the very Ordure declares scattered up and down, where is visible the shagged Coats or Hair of these Creatures.

Many of these Apes fell by our hands,* 1.103 either for being noisy and impertinent spoiling our Game, or provoking us by their constant pursuing us, being of the largest size, upon which account many came under my Knife; opening them I found and observed their se∣minary Vessels turgid, their Virge White and Nervous. To Kill one of these the Natives hold Piacular, calling them Half Men, saying, once they were Men, but for their Laziness had Tails given them and Hair to cover them: Towards Zeilon they are Deified; at the Straits of Baligaot they pay them Tribute.

Bamboos make the gross of the Woods,* 1.104 which are High, Taper∣ing, Thorny Trees, incumbred from the Roots with abundance of shrubby ones, the Bark Green and jointed with the Wood, the Branches are Tapering and inclining, sending from every Joint sprouts of the same form, leafed like long Five-••ingered Grass, the Body is thick and strait; their use is for Staffs, Poles, or Rafters for Houses, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Fences; being slit they are hollow and serve for Laths.

Those they carry their Palenkeens on, require an exact attend∣ance, Shaping them while Young and Tender, and taking care to keep them growing in that Position; Cut and Pickled they make

good Achar: Bamboos are so general, that by way of Excellency they call all Sticks and Canes, Bamboos; the Woods are over-grown with them; for which reason often impassable.

I travelled to the Tops of the Hills for the Cassia Fistula Tree,* 1.105 whose Trunk is but slender, but Tree tall, leafed most like an Ash, with small Veins, and the Cassia hanging down in long Green Canes or Cods, in manner of its Keys between the tender Nodes, by the Natives called Singa. Et Lobel Siliqua, aut Cassia purgatrix Arabum Carobis similis.

In the Groves about Carwar grows Cassia Lignum,* 1.106 Xylo-Cassia, or Bastard Cinamon; the Trees are large as a Pear-Tree, a Leaf of the like bigness, but ribbed like our Plantain, the main Bark and Body like other Trees, of no different Smell or Taste till dried, when it bites, and smells Spicy; the Leaf bruised and chewed smells like strong Cinamon, and upon the Tongue is as hot as a Clove; the Bark of the small Branches also when Green alters nothing in Taste from Cinamon, but dried is more slimy, and is very good Cassia Lig∣num: It bears little long Whitish Flowers, of no Smell nor Taste, but the Leafs of the Branch that bear them have a more Aromatick Taste.

The Thamarind Tree hath a small Leaf like a Vetch,* 1.107 bears the Fruit in a Cod like a French-Bean, wherein is the Pulp, inclosing the Stones and Fibres; it is a great spreading Tree, the Body thick, the Bark rough and brownish, bears its Fruit in March; the Indians feed on it, and grow Fat with it; they have not the Art to preserve it with Sugar, but Salt it up: This is Siliqua Arabica too, but not Ni∣gra, as the Cassia Fistula is.

Teke by the Portugueze,* 1.108 Sogwan by the Moors, is the firmest Wood they have for Building, and on the account it resists Worms and Pu∣trefaction, the best for that purpose in the World; in Height the Lofty Pine exceeds it not, nor the Sturdy Oak in Bulk and Sub∣stance; the knotty Branches which it bears aloft, send forth Green Boughs more pliant, in Form Quadrangular, fed within by a Spongy Marrow or Pith, on which at the Joints hang broad, thin, and po∣rous Leafs, sending from the main Rib some Fibres, winding and spreading like a Fan. This Prince of the Indian Forest was not so attractive, though mightily glorious, but that at the same time I was forced to take notice of the creeping Cow-Itch, raising its self upon the Shrubs and Under-woods, there spending in lascivious Twines its Verdure, leaving nothing but withered Stalks to be the Props of its brindled Offspring, which is a small Cod covered with a light and tickling Down; within, it includes in four Cavities, four specked Beans; the fallen Leafs make some appearance of a Nobler Stock, having a Countenance like those of Lawrel; the Root is dif∣ficult to find, being mixed among other Trees, like our White Briony.

Here grows Nux Vomica on a Tree of indifferent bigness,* 1.109 in a round Shell as big as an Orange, filled with White 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where the Nuts are lodged.

Near the Sea grow Squills, or Sea-Onions, as also a Species of Sarsaparilla, with which they do great Feats with the Juice of the Leafs in Venereal Cases.

In their Fields they plant, besides Rice, Nuchery, a small Seed they make Bread of, as also Cushcush, which is Millet, Hemp, and Flax: In the Inclosures Turmerick, which rises with a broad Leaf like our Water Plantain, bearing a broad flaggy Leaf of a Span long, oblique∣ly ribbed till it end in a Spear-Point at top; it proceeds immediately from the Root by a winding Stalk, which the main Leafs embrace, the other Leafs creeping through it till it rises Six Foot.

Ginger comes up like our Gentian; they pickle it well, but cannot preserve it with Sugar.

Potatoes are their usual Banquet.

And to give the Soil its due Praise, it obeys in all things the first Commandment, Increase and Multiply.

For these Blessings,* 1.110 as if Men were to lose their Reasons, and sink below Brutes by a base Superstition, they are ready to acknowledge a Stock for a Deity, rather than to go without, infatuated by the Delusions of the Devil, being captivated at his Will; for which cause they not only make Oblations to him, but give up their Souls and Bodies to his Devotion: As might about this time have been be∣held at an Idol Worship of Priapus, (where the Women prostitute themselves to him, and receive the Pleasure of Copulation, all that while being as it were possessed) at Semissar, on the other side of the Water from our House, where he lay with Two and twenty, who reckon it a great Honour, and the Husband thinks himself happy in his Cornucopia.

There are a sort of Jougies, Priests fit for such a God, among the Linguits of this Country, who practise this daily; the Husbands entertain them courteously, wash their Feet, and the whole Family is at his Beck, as long as he stays to do the Wife a Kindness.

Others slash themselves with sharp Knives, and suffer themselves to be hooked by the Muscles of the Back, and hang so some Hours upon a Vow.

Under the Banyan Tree, an Altar with a Dildo in the middle being erected, they offer Rice and Cocoe-Nuts to the Devil, and joining some small Ladders together made of Osiers, do the like; when the Gomcar or Bayliff of the Town takes a falched Knife for Sacrifice in one Hand, and a Dunghil-Cock in the other, and cutting off its Head, fixes it at top of the Ladder, and sprinkling the Blood they all dance, and beat Brass Pots with a great Shout, saying, The Devil must be pacified with Blood, God with Prayers.

Some of these sell themselves to Wickedness,* 1.111 and these must be endued with the Spirit of Fascination, always nourishing a Familiar in their Families, which they keep mostly in the forms of Snakes or Serpents, appearing to them upon their Command; and undergo fiery Afflictions to have the most hurtful Devil; and as they wreak their Malice more powerfully, esteem themselves more in favour with their Grand Master: These are the Dregs of the People, who are full of Envy and Ill Designs, who glory in their Shame of In∣cantations and Charms: Such as these are those that out of Fear pray to the Devil and Evil Spirits, saying, God will do them no harm.

The better sort acknowledge a God, and live in the Rules of their Tribes, abstaining from Flesh, and all things of a Sensitive Being:

Sicuti Pythagorici, qui herbis & bellariis tantum vivebant: And these Patronize these more Innocent Rites, such as the Swains asking Advice of their Deities about Increase; and to that end offer Rice, Oyl, and Cocoe-Nuts in a thick Grove, where they piled an huge Heap of long Jars like Mortivans, about Figures resembling Serpents, before which they present their unbloody Sacrifice by the Priest, the Peo∣ple circling the whole Grove in a Ring, beating on Brass Instru∣ments, and shouting.

In their Hooly,* 1.112 which is at their other Seed-time, I observed they cut a whole Tree down to the R••ots, and lopped off the under-Branches till it became strait, when leaving the upper Boughs, they shoulder'd it with great Clamours, the Brachmin beginning a Note which they all followed: Thus they brought it into the Pale of their Pagods, before which, easing it down at one end, the foremost made a Salam, and hoisted it with the same Noise again, and about they went three or four times repeating the same; which being finished, the Arch-Brachmin digs an hole, and baptizes it with Holy Water, where∣in they fix the Tree, crowning it with Flags aloft, and about the Bo∣dy up to the Green Boughs they bind Wisps of Straw, to which they put Fire, and look earnestly on the Flame, according to the Ascent of which the Brachmin pronounces his Auguries; then they offer Rice and Flowers, painting their Bodies with the Ashes, depart∣ing with a Mace of Flowers carried before them, beating of Drums and a great Noise. This resembles the Ambar vallis hostia, or Sa∣crifice for the Fields; of which see Scaliger, and also Virgil,

Terque novas circum foelix fuit hostia fruges.

But to be clear,* 1.113 & ut Fama ad liquidum producatur, let us consider, that these Underlings of the People that do these Services to the Devil, or are said so to do, may be aspersed: For the Brachmins, and other the Purer Sort, as they account themselves, may defame them only, because shedding of Blood is horrible to them, and therefore Diabolical: Besides, those Diseases that are said to be Devils put into one another, (which as many as I have met with, I have been cu∣riously inquisitive of) their Phoenomenaes or Energies are discussed by Natural Causes, and as often cured by Natural Means; but on the contray, it is allowed where they resist them, it is suspicious: And the Devil without doubt cannot easier work on any, than the Weak and Simple, (wherefore he chose the Woman, not the Man) and upon that account may probably delude and overawe these People, that give themselves up to him wholly out of Fear, having not so much Virtue, Fortitude, and Cunning, to resist and check their own Lusts, as the Wiser sort. As for the visible appearance of a Devil or Daemon (which they say is common among them, by those that see it) I am convinced it may be credible; but in the mean while, Rage and Melancholy Madness, assisted by the Infernal Pow∣er, may create great Illusions to a Fancy fitted for such an Opera∣tion, and they may think they see things which in reality are not so.

Now as these, by the low and mean Conceptions they have of a Godhead, reach not the great Branch of its Omnipotency and Good∣ness,

whereby it is able to defend them from all Assaults and Wiliness of the Devil, depressing their Understandings, bow under the in∣tolerable Yoak of his Slavery;* 1.114 so there are a sort of sublimated Wits, that will own neither God nor Devil, and put all things upon Chance so long, that the very Notions they framed to themselves, after beating of the Air, fly out of their Giddy Heads in Fumo. Let them place themselves under the Aequator, where the Sun is at pre∣sent, and take a Prospect on each hand of the Orderly Course of the Creation; How he passes the Ecliptick, and dispenses his Irradiations as far as either Pole: How within the Tropicks, entring the first De∣gree of the Ram till the second Degree of Taurus, it is Summer; that is, from January till the One and twentieth of March; when the Woods are most denuded of their old Leafs by the parching Heat of the Sun, though new ones succeeding, the Trees keep their perpetual Verdure; yet these lying on the Ground, makes this time then the most like Autumn of any till the Rains fall; which while the Sun is over their Heads make their Winter; till which come, it would be unsufferable living here, did not the Variable Winds ga∣ther the Clouds to obscure the Sun: After the Rains, follows their Spring, when by reason of the Remoteness of the Sun it is most pleasant living. Thus truly might Ovid be deceived, whilst he only reasoned, and not experimented, when he sang of the Zones and the Climes:

Ʋtque duae dextrâ Coelum totidemque sinistrâ Parte secant Zonae, quinta est ardentior illis. Sic onus inclusum numero dist inxit eodem Cura Dei, totidemque Plagae tellure premuntur, Quarum quae media est non est habitabilis aestu.

But what Colour is there for the Ignorance of our Atheistical Young Gallants?* 1.115 Certainly none: Would they abate so much time from li∣ving, as to see and consider an admirable and well-contrived Provi∣dence, and not to harp too much on Casualty; which I am confi∣dent their own Logicians would hiss at as an Absurdity, to say, That such an exact Progress and Observance ever since the Frame of Na∣ture was instituted, should continue such an unalterable Decorum on these Four great Anniversary Wheels, fitly adapted to every Climate; or that they first proceeded from a Bundle of Nonsensical Fortuitous Atoms conjoined into an Hodg-Podge of confused Nothings. For the very Matter being Chance, would without doubt produce a rare Stability for the Impressions of any Forms, but what must be blowed out of as idle Chimeras. I could wish therefore, such bold Disputes being waved, they would confess an All-wise Creator and Preserver of Heaven and Earth; unless they will verify the Proverb, Atheus est talpa de die caecutiens, Rationi autem paret qui Religionem sectatur: The Atheist is a Mole, being blind at Noon-day; the Man that adores God, and follows Religion, is the only Master of his Rea∣son. Which made Cicero profess in Lib. 2. Divinat. Esse praestantem aliquam aeternamque Naturam, & eam suspiciendam adorandamque, ho∣minum genus cardoque rerum Caelestium cogit confiteri. Et in Nat. Deor. Lib. 2. Quid potest esse tam apertum tamque perspicuum, cum Caelum

suspeximus Coelestiaque contemplati sumus, quam aliquod esse numen prae∣stantissimae mentis, quo haec reguntur?

The Deputy-Governor of Bombaim being sick,* 1.116 the Phaenix-Ketch was ordered to bring me up to that Island; wherefore the 6^th of April, 1676. I took my leave of Carwar, which hath no peculiar Commodities or Manufactories of its own Product, but lies conve∣niently for the Markets of Pepper, Bettle-Nut, or Arrach; Cloath, as Potkaes, Suffaguzes, from Hubly, six days Journy hence; Dia∣monds from Visiapour, ten days Journy: But the Factory decays, by reason of the Embroils of the Countrey, Merchants being out of heart to buy or sell: Here are good Returns to be made from this Port to Persia, and back again; as likewise from Mocha, from whence are brought Horses for War.

The Variable Winds kept us six days before we could reach Goa,* 1.117 though but twelve Leagues: At the City all Butchers Meat is for∣bidden, except Pork, upon account of the Heats, which afford not much Sustenance for the Cattel; and the approaching Rains, which robs them of that little Flesh they retain, and scours them to mere Carrion: Wherefore the Religion of the Indians has enjoined them the most Healthy Rule to avoid Sickness, the forbidding them to eat Flesh, than which nothing now can be more prejudicial. At this time the Citizens remove mostly to their Aldeas, the Air of Goa being less temperate than the Fields and open Bays.

The Diseases here are Epidemical,* 1.118 unless Plagae Veneris be more Endemial, for which at this Season they have a Noble and Familiar Remedy, the Mango (which they have improved in all it kinds to the utmost Perfection) being a Sovereign Medicine; they are the best and largest in India, most like a Pear-Plum, but three times as big, grow on a Tree nearest a Plum-Tree; the Fruit when Green scents like Turpentine, and pickled are the best Achars to provoke an Appetite; when Ripe, the Apples of Hisperides are but Fables to them; for Taste, the Nectarine, Peach, and Apricot fall short; they make them break out, and cleanse the Blood, and Salivate to the height of Mercurial Arcanaes; and afterwards fatten as much as Antimony, or Acorns do Hogs; these and Sarsa being their usual Diet.

Cheruses grow on a Tree whose Branches send forth a Stone first,* 1.119 like a Bean, whose Meat or Kernel when Green tastes like a Walnut, roasted, like a Chesnut; the Fruit follows, large and of a fine Co∣lour, squashy, of a better Relish than Smell, the Leaves Oval and Succulent.

The Fruit the English call a Pine-Apple (the Moors, Ananas) because of the resemblance,* 1.120 cuts within as firm as a Pippin; Seedy, if not fully ripe; the Taste inclinable to Tartness, though most ex∣cellently qualified by a dulcid Sapor that imposes upon the Imagina∣tion and Gustative Faculty a Fancy that it relishes of any Fruit a Man likes, and some will swear it: It grows on a thick Stalk like an Artichoke, emitting a Tuft of Leafs upon the Crown; the Leafs a-kin to a Carduus A••ininus (as has been partly related already); the Juice will corrode any Iron or Knife, like Limon.

The Eleventh of May, being still Wind-bound, I received a cour∣teous Invitation to return to Carwar; but I could not be diverted till the Full Moon had passed with Rain, Clouds, and Thunder;

Jamque erat in totas sparsurus fulmina terras.

When the Current changed, with which were brought innumerable Shoals of dead Fish; the Toddy worked on the Tree over the Pots, the accustomed Forerunners of the Rains, but hitherto fallible; which is a wonder even to the Country-People; though our Pilots have observed an unwonted Deviation these two or three Rains to∣gether.

The Nineteenth an Express coming from the Chief of Carwar,* 1.121 That a Gentleman there being almost desperate, importuned my Assistance, and I fearing to Winter here, for Expediteness chose a Baloon, though he had sent Horse and Peons, in case I could not ac∣quire one; and the next day by Two in the Afternoon I returned to Carwar House, though two days after the Winds set in Southward to∣gether with the Rains, when the Ketch set sail for Bombaim, with a great Fleet of Grobs to the North. It is the Freshes from the Up∣lands that kills and sickens the Fish.

And now the Rains invade all India, which puts a stop to all Journying and Voyaging, as well as Warlike Preparations,

Aspera tum positis mitescunt secula bellis.

Till St. Francis's Moon in August, when the Earth is discovered, and the Rice begins to ripen, which all this while floated in Water, which it rejoices in; and this is the first Harvest; for it is to be under∣stood this World produces two Harvests; this most natural and un∣compell'd, because of the Rain; the other about March, with great pains of bringing Water by Gutters to their sown Fields, which not∣withstanding yields not so plentiful a Crop as the first, which this Year increases vastly; but the misfortune is, three quarters of the Land lies unmanured, through the Tyranny of Seva Gi.

October the Seventeenth I bad a final Adieu to Carwar,* 1.122 and em∣bark'd in the Berkly-Castle with Mr. Oxendine, who was called up to succeed Mr. Gyffard, the deceased Deputy-Governor of Bombaim: Coming again to Goa I lodged at the House of a French Physician in the Camp of St. Thomas, which the City overlooks in the same manner Old Rome did the Martian Vale.

I saw there an unfinished Piece of the St. Thomas Christians, but the Troubles of their Prince called them back before it could be per∣fected; others say prevented in it by Thunder and Lightning. The great Traders of this Place for Diamonds are the two Martins,* 1.123 both Jews, yet to carry on their designs permitted to live as Christians, they constantly frequenting Mass, and at Table every Meal during our S••ay had Hogs-flesh served up.

We left Goa on the Eve of St. Xeverius's Feast;* 1.124 the Tomb there∣fore was richly set out; and as Erasmus relates of Thomas à Becket, that nothing could be seen baser than Gold, so truly here Silver was

the meanest; Pearls and Precious Stones, as well as Gold, cast forth their Lustre, by the reflection of the Virgin Flambeaus upon them: From the tops of the Towers belonging to the Jesuits, we beheld Lamps at Night striving to vie with the Stars for Number and Lustre; which appeared Gloriously on the Water as we Rowed down the River to our Ship.

Being in sight of Bombaim,* 1.125 the Tides horsed us to the Northward, which insensibly threw us on a Ledge of Rocks running from Old Womans Island, where the Ship Struck; after a Quarter of an Hour she cleared, but with the inconvenience of falling more upon them, not without danger of Bulging; whereupon we Fired several single Pieces of Ordnance to give notice; for the Tide being made, the Water began to Ebb and forsake the Ship, so that she stood wavering without any prop, which way to incline; and though the Wind and Sea were Calm, yet the fear of Over-setting caused a general Consternation; no help appearing, we won on the Captain to spare Hands for the Yawl, wherein Four of us got Ashoar (though she was very Leaky) leaving them in despair of their Ship, her own pressure threatning to break her Back; at Night Boats and Pilots went off to her Relief, and with the Tide of Flood as she Floated, re∣leased her to a wonder, being heavy Laden, receiving no damage but in her Sheathing.

I Reimbarked and arrived at Surat the Eleventh of December,* 1.126 where giving you a general Account of all India, you will hear from me next out of Persia.

A Special Chorography and History OF EAST-INDIA.

CHAP. VI.

Is a Summary Rehearsal of the Whole.

EAST-INDIA,* 1.127 when Alexander's Sword had enlarged its self thither,* 1.128 was Inhabited by the Daedali, Mezegi, Melli, Oxydraci, and Gangarides (if History tell truth); which Nations Time has long since worn out of the Indian Annals. Something they do speak of King Pore, but so uncertain, that it is a doubt whether ever he and Alexander waged War, though good Authors do attest it. But it is plain that Two hundred and seventy Years ago, between the Indians and Scythian Tartars, under Tamer∣lane, there was begun, what after-Emperors compleated by the then introduced Forces, a total Conquest; under which the greater part of the Natives rest content with their Subjection.

India it's likely took its Name from Indus,* 1.129 whose Mouths are so choaked up by Sands, that they cannot speak much in this behalf neither, it being changed into the Name of Sinda, which imposes at this day a Name to as large a Province as is in all India; the shal∣low Currents of which River stretching themselves far and near to the River Ganges almost, has given occasion to Geographers to call it a Peninsula. Omitting these Disputes, I shall at present apply my self to give you a faithful Chorography and Account of those things that fell under my Remark: It is then the largest Country in Asia, which Ptolomy divides into Within and Without the River Ganges, being in Length from the Golden Chersonese, now called Comory, 3600 Miles: In the most Northern part the Day lengthens to Fifteen Hours, but in the Southern it has no more or less than Twelve: The Breadth of it, from the widest place, to wit, Bengal to Candahar, 1500 Miles; from whence, like a Wedge, it lessens into the Cape of Co∣mory. On the West it was formerly bordered by the River Indus; on the North by the dispersed Mountains from Taurus; from the East it

is washed with the Oriental Sea, and from the South with the Indian.

It is a Land in all places very fruitful,* 1.130 and enjoys a Temperater Air than would be allowed by the Poet under the Fifth Zone, under which the greatest part of it lies; as often as the Sun visits the Arctic Pole, it brings with it grateful Showers and Winds (whose Heat otherwise would be intolerable) by which the Earth is cooled and made Productive; neither in the extreamest Heat does it want by the equality of Days and Nights after Sun-set, the favourable Dews of the Heavens, when you shall soon perceive a kind Moisture fall to refresh the Earth, and nourish the almost scorch'd up Plants; though these alone are not so powerful to take away the Labour from the industrious Husbandman, who this Season is forced by artificial Channels to assist Nature to produce, otherwise she would fall one short of a threefold Harvest in some places, every Year; but every where they have a double Harvest.

As the Sun becomes Twice Vertical to them within the Tropicks,* 1.131 at each Tropick but once, beyond never; so nearer the Equator the Sun and Stars ascend and descend more directly, but the farther from the Equator the more Obliquely, whereby the dawn of Light here is but short before either the appearance or fall of these Bodies, when as the Twilight is some Hours after Sun-set or afore Sun-rise the nearer either Pole: Having premised this, know they begin their Alma∣nack with our Lawyers, or rather when the Sun is in the Equinoctial Line; but their Months being Lunary, every Third Year bears an Intercalary one, which they clap in August, and count it double: The Names of their Months are

• March Falgunu 1
• Chaitru 2
• Vaixaque 3
• Zestthâ 4
• Assadâ 5
• Srauana 6
• Bharapadrâ 7
• Asuinu 8
• Castica 9
• Margassica 10
• Puxu 11
• Magu 12

They distinguish their Time by Weeks,* 1.132 i e. Seven days; Sunday being observed by the Indians as an Holy Day; agreeable to what is Taught by Philostratus, Dion Cassius, and Justin Martyr.

The Hours of Day and Night have all the Year round the same Number,* 1.133 Twelve; not minding their Length or Decrease: They have no Watches or Hour-Glasses, but measure Time by the drop∣ping of Water out of a Brass Bason, which holds a Ghong, or less than half an Hour; when they strike once distinctly, to tell them it's the First Ghong, which is renewed at the Second Ghong for Two, and so Three at the end of it, till they come to Eight; when they strike on the Brass Vessel at their liberty, to give notice the Pore is out, and at last strike One leisurely, to tell them it is the First Pore; which is repeated after the same manner for the Second about Mid∣day, when they strike Two, and so at the end of the Third Pore Three, and of the Fourth Four; at the end of which Pores the Priests Ascend their Steeples and are Monitors to them of their Devotion;

And as solemnly dividing the Night into as many Pores; so that Thirty two Ghongs and Four Pores make the Day, and as many more the Night; in all Sixty four Ghongs and Eight Pores.

As our Year is divided by the Seasons of Spring,* 1.134 Summer, Autumn, and Winter; to every which we allow a Quarter of a Year: Theirs also agree with their Seasons of Weather, but square not in respect of the Account of the Year, having Four Months for each Season;

New Colla	The Rains.
Ger Colla	The Cold Season.
Deup Colla	The Heats.

To every one of which they attribute Eight Constellations; are skilled in the Sun's Course through the Zodiac, have their wandring and fixed Stars, and are exact in the Eclipses of the Two Inferior Luminaries.

What has been Experienced in the particular Accounts, I must confirm again in this general one, That the first Full Moon in May brings the Rains, when it Rains a Fortnight only, and holds up till the middle of June, in which times, Empyemas, Fluxes, Fevers of all sorts (except Pestilential) Haemorrhages, rage; after the Rains are fully settled, it grows Healthy. From the setling in of the Rains till the Full Moon in August, it Rains without intermission, after which it clears up for a Fortnight, and with little variation (bating the accidental Causes of its beginning earlier or later) it Rains all September till the Elephant breaks up, the last Rainy Star: After which is the Harvest for Rice, when it is gathered; and then just af∣ter the Rains they are most Sickly, the Sun exhaling Vapours, the Earth grows Muddy and Stinking, though abundantly Productive: From thence to the latter end of January commences the Cold Sea∣son, when their Bodies are Healthier, and a lovely Verdure Cloaths the Earth; at the latter end of this they reap another Harvest with∣out extraordinary pains; all this time the Evenings are very sharp, and at Surat I have seen an hoar Frost in the Morning. From Fe∣bruary the first, till the Rains set in, are the Heats, and in March the Leafs fall off the Trees, yet always supplied with fresh, so that the Trees are always Green, though the Grass and Fodder are quite burnt up; and with difficulty, by the advantage of Aquiducts, a lean Harvest is brought forth: The Peasants Morning and Evening draw Water out of Wells by Buffola's, or Oxen; or else by a thwart Post poised with a sufficient weight at the extremity, laid over one fixed in the Earth; the Water is drawn by a Bucket of Goats Skins; others have Pans or Buckets of Leather hanging round about a Wheel, some always in the Water, others rising up, and at the same time others pouring out as the Wheel turns round: And thus are their best Gardens kept alive.

The Mountains here are one continued Ridge,* 1.135 dividing the Two Coasts each from other, and are all along called the Gaot; they run North and South till they cross the Imaus; and are the reason of some difference of the Seasons, both in respect of themselves and Low-Lands:

They are plentifully stored with Woods, and Increase of all things, except Rivers, which are in some Places compensated by living Springs out of the Rocks, but every where by Water falling in the Rains.

The Rivers are innumerable;* 1.136 but those of greatest fame are In∣dus and Ganges, the latter not only for its many Navigable Streams for some Hundreds of Leagues, but for its Purity in the esteem of the most Religious; besides all which, are great Tanks or Ponds of Rain-Water, where it wants the other Benefits, with deep Wells, of extraordinary Costs and Charges; some purely for Pomp, and to transmit their Names to Posterity; others for the good of Travellers, but most for the sake of Religion, in which they are extravagantly profuse, every great City striving to outvye each other; the most ad∣mirable whereof are those cut on high Hills and Fortresses thereon, out of the main Rocks, seeming rather the Works of many Ages than one to finish them: At Rajapore are Hot Baths; here are very few other Mineral Waters.

The Plain Country is Rich in all things necessary;* 1.137 Pasturage, by reason of the long Summers Drought, being the only lack; which in the Rains and Cold Season they have Time and Store to provide against. Cocoes grow all along the Sea-side round India, within the Tropicks, and Beetle-Nut is in great Request, not only for that it is the Courteous Entertainment or Farewel at all Friendly Interviews, but because wrapped in Pawn-Leaves with Chinam, it exhilarates and makes a kind of pleasant Drunkenness, if much eaten, as the Na∣tives of any fashion are seldom without it in their Mouths; and these are peculiar to the Low-Countries as are Water-Melons; other Fruits, as Grapes, Mangoes, and the like, are the common Growth of In∣dia: Rice thrives best in Watry Places, it swimming always there∣in till Harvest, when the Water is let out by Drains; all other Corn rejoices better in drier Grounds; Cotton is a Lover of the same, from whence comes all the Wealth to India, quae effodiuntur opes, which are dug for in other Places and laid up here.

Woods are every where, in which sometimes are met Inhabi∣tants not yet mentioned, and for their Solitariness called Men of the Woods, or more truly Satyrs; there are Nereids too, or Men of the Rivers, but dye as soon as taken: A Couple of the former I saw asleep in the day-time, in the Night they Sport and Eat; they were both in a Parrot-Cage, they had Heads like an Owl, Bodied like a Monkey, without Tails; only the first Finger of the Right Hand was armed with a Claw like a Birds, otherwise they had Hands, and Feet which they walk upright on, not pronely, as the other Beasts do; they were coloured like a Fox, of the length of Half a Yard; though they grow bigger till Twelve Years old, when they copulate.

Here are Sandy Deserts near the Gulph of Cambaja, and beyond Bengala,* 1.138 towards Botan and Cochin China, whence they fetch Musk.

Mines, besides those of Diamonds, Rubies, Agats, Cornelian, Granats,* 1.139 Topazes, and Iron, none are discoursed of; which with what else comes to Memory, shall be specified in their proper place. Of Diamond-Mines there are two sorts, the Old and New Rock, the

latter the Larger, the other the Best; the first in Duccan, the other in Gulconda.

Wild Beasts frequent here,* 1.140 are the fiercest Tigres in the World, with all their sorts; Lions here are some, but feeble and cowardly; Leo∣pards, Balus, a sort of Wolf, wild Cats, or Catamountains, Monkeys, wild Dogs, which they say Piss out the Eyes of Venison as they feed in the Woods, and so Venom them with their Urine, that they be∣come their Prey; Squirrels, Jackals, Mungooses, wild Bulls, Ele∣phants, Rhinoceros, Buffolaes, Bears.

For Game,* 1.141 all sorts of Antelopes, Deer, Boar, and Elks. The Fields are stored with Tame of all kinds, but mostly with Kine and Goats.

Fowls of Prey,* 1.142 Eagles, Vultures, Kites, Newries, Crows, which last hath an Enemy, though in Bulk contemptible, yet in Revenge implacable, being no bigger than a Bumble-Bee, yet it never leaves the Crow's Breast till it have left it breathless, making a Vent there∣in by its piercing Bill.

For Game, abundance of all sorts: The Bats here are the biggest of any place.

Fishes common to India are not to be numbred,* 1.143 some spangled with Gold, Vermilion, and other Colours, not usual with us; but the best known are Sharks, Whales, Sea-snakes, (the assured Tokens to the Pilots of their approaching the Coasts of India); Pilchards come in Sholes as our Herrings do; Porpoises, Oysters, Crabs, Tor∣toises, the Sword-fish, Saepae, or the Ink-fish of Gesner, Spanish Mack∣rel. The Rivers are well provided (and the Grass too) with Snakes, many of which are venomous, and some big enough to devour a Sow and Piggs, if the Natives may be believed.

Insects (besides Fleas) are large Flies in the Rain,* 1.144 who will be sure to be our Tasters, unless one stand purposely to beat them off with a Mirchal; nor are Ants less vexatious, nothing eatable can be set by but they will be at it; but the greatest Pest is the Mosquito, who not only wheals, but domineers by its continual Hums; the Chints are as venomous, and if squeezed leave a most Poysonous Stench; these breed in the Cotton, and where once they beset an House, they are not easily removed, they being Proof against all Fumes or Remedies used to destroy such-like Vermin; and there∣fore keep Possession, while the Inhabitants being not able to endure them, must turn out to other Dwellings; and these Plagues are in all their Quarters.

The Inhabitants and Natives of India are divided into Five Sects, to wit;

• I. Gentues; the first Possessors, Aborigines, or Natives.
• II. Moguls; the next Invaders or Conquerors by Land.
• III. Portugals; the first Discoverers or Conquerors by Sea.
• IV. Dutch, English, &c. Strangers; partly by Conquest; partly by Trade.
• V. Parsies, by Permission.
• ...

• The Gentues are again distributed into these Classes;
• The Gymnosophists, Brachmins, or Book-Men.
• The Quetories, Rashpoots, or Soldiers.
• The Merchants or Mechanicks.
• The Labourers, Peasants, Combies, Coolies, Frasses and Holencores.

The Brachmins

Are chiefly distinguished by Butts and Sinais;* 1.145 from these two Roots spring the other Branches: The difference was occasioned by a Famine in the Low-Countries, where the latter resided, on which ac∣count they were constrained to break their Fast with Fish, or else starve; for which reason they are greatly despised by the purer Butt, having never deviated from his Pythagorean Institution and Primary Abstinence from all living Creatures. Yet notwithstanding, the Si∣nai keeps his Cotton-String Badge (the Characteristick Note of a Brachmin) under his Left Shoulder as well as the Butt, and has his Disciples.

The Butts addict themselves to the profoundest Mysteries in their Religion, giving themselves over to an exact Regular Life, abstracted from all Worldly Employments, unless such as are for the saving and preserving of Life, the Chiefest and Skilfullest Physicians being of their Tribe: These are the Masters of all their Heathen Cere∣monies, or Doctors of their Canon Law, every Tribe being instruct∣ed by them; they chiefly consist in Washing, Abstinence, and other Austerities imposed at their Pleasure.

The Sinais are more biass'd by Secular Offices, out of which are made their fighting Bishops, Defies, or Farmers of the King's Rents, Pundits (Governors of Towns and Provinces), Physicians, Ac∣countants, Scrivans, and Interpreters: Any of these, if they ar∣rive to any smattering in Learning, are admired and highly reveren∣ced by the Vulgar. Their Cabala's or Pious Secrets are kept in a Language communicated to none but themselves, as are all the Ar∣canaes of every Science, written in a peculiar Character; they are very dogmatical in their Dictates to the People, singing them out in a Lofty Tone, as the Fauns and Bards of old are reported, as the Sy∣bils by Lactantius, the Salians by Livy, the Druids by Caesar, the Delphian Enigmaes by Herodotus, the Spartan Rites by Eustathius: Suas nimirum cogitationes non eâ pervulgatâ & detritâ & dissolutâ quâ quilibet uteretur oratione, consignare, sed aliâ exquisitâ, & astrictâ, & numerosâ, & vinculis alligatâ, praeclarum aestimârunt. Dr. Beyn. in Orat. 6.

God they say is incomparably Good;* 1.146 in some of their Languages they hardly have a name for Hell; their Notions of the World's Creation and the Origine of all things, are mere confused Stories; their Account of Time is perplexed, and not to be reckoned up. For the Immortality of the Soul, they rely as well on Plato as Pythago∣ras, (viz.) That it is transmigrated, and in such a Revolution of time they appear in the World again, Princes or Rajahs, according to the

Demerits of their former living, or Penalties inflicted on them to pu∣rify them; their Souls not being informed, but inclosed as a Bird in a Cage.

Whence it is that,* 1.147 propped by these Persuasions, the Women freely Sacrifice themselves, in hopes of coming into the World great and famous, after they have passed the Limbo of Transmigra∣tion with their Husbands; and in the mean while are Canonized and Invoked as Saints by their Kindred and Relations; and their Patri∣archs oblige themselves to incredible Abstinence from Food, for ma∣ny days together refusing any Sustenance, undergoing the strictest Penances; having learned from Pythagoras, Angustam & asperam esse viam ad vitam beatam.

SCIENCES

In Esteem among them are principally Magick and Judicial Astrolo∣gy,* 1.148 one of the Sectators of which on all accounts are consulted, as well by Moors as Gentues; Grammar and Rhetorick, some of them being Masters of Persian, Indostan, Arabick, Sanscript (or Holy Lan∣guage) Portugueze, and all the depending Speeches of Indostan, as Duccany, Moratty, Conchany, and the like; besides the Canatick, in which all their Sonnets and Poesies are expressed, being softer and more melting than the others; which is an Argument also of its Antiquity, Indostan not having a Character to express its self in, on which the later Dialects depend. Elocution, Physick, Metaphysicks, are not out of their Element: Their Philosophers maintain an Ari∣stotelian Vacuity; nor are they quite ignorant of Medicks, though Anatomy is not approved, wherein they lean too much on Traditi∣on, being able to give a very slender account of the Rational Part thereof. In what Perfection Musick stands (as I am no competent Judge) I could never give my Ears the trouble to examine, it seem∣ing loud and barbarous; yet they observe Time and Measure in their Singing and Dancing, and are mightily delighted with their Tum∣bling and Noise. They as much dislike our shriller Musick, hardly allowing our Wayts fit to play to Bears, and our Stringed Instruments strike not their hard-to-be-raised Fancies; but our Organs are the Musick of the Spheres with them, charming them to listen as long as they play. Arithmetick being the most profitable Science, is the best understood by them; to which they have a Natural Propensity, and will in a trice, without the help of Pen or Ink cast up the dif∣ficultest Sums, and never pause upon it.

In some Places they write on Cocoe-Leafs dried,* 1.149 and then use an Iron Style; or else on Paper, when they use a Pen made with a Reed, for which they have a Brass Case, which holds them and the Ink too, always stuck at the Girdles of their Scrivans.

Among these are enrolled the Muttanies,* 1.150 Jougies, or Pilgrims, who lead a Beastly Life, having all things common, and are courted wherever they come; nor do they ever depart, without leaving a Stain to their Profession: When they ease Nature they scrape an Hole, as Dogs or Cats do, to bury their Excrements, to prevent breeding of Insects. These are covered, the first with a White Sheet,

and carry Perfuming Pots, and Bless all as they pass; the others have a Snapsack, a Mirchal, and a patch'd Goat, rambling up and down as the Fakiers; the first are buried with their Heels upwards and Heads downwards; the others sometimes buried, sometimes burnt.

At the Heel of these may be reckoned the Bengal Juglers,* 1.151 Moun∣tebanks, and Conjurers, as also the Dancing People; these are Va∣grants, that travel to delude the Mobile by their Hocus Pocus Tricks (living promiscuously like our Gypsies); among whom I saw one who swallowed a Chain, such as our Jacks have, and made it clink in his Stomach; but pulling it out, it was not so pleasant to the Spectators (being mostly Ladies, for whose Diversion he was brought) they puking when it was accompanied with a filthy roapy Slaver.

Others presented a Mock-Creation of a Mango-Tree, arising from the Stone in a short space (which they did in Hugger-Mugger, be∣ing very careful to avoid being discovered) with Fruit Green and Ripe; so that a Man must stretch his Fancy, to imagine it Witch∣craft; though the common sort think no less: Sed Magus quò peri∣tior eò detestabilior.

I was promised to see a Fellow that cast up his Tripes by his Mouth, Stomach and all, shewing them to the Beholders; but he was excu∣sed, having some time allowed him to prepare himself for it: In his stead were brought me two; the first of which, by Suction or draw∣ing of his Breath, so contracted his lower Belly, that it had nothing left to support it, but fell flat to his Loins, the Midriff being forced into the Thorax, and the Muscles of the Abdomen as clearly marked out by the stiff Tendons of the Linea Alba, as by the most accurate Dissection could be made apparent, he moving each Row like living Columns by turns. The Aetiology whereof I think to be this; that while all the Contents of the Belly are moved upwards, all Respiration is expelled, only the voluntary Motion of the Animal Spirits acts upon the Nerves (the Mind or Soul commanding them) while the Vital or Natural are compelled to the contrary.

After this I saw another Fellow of a good Habit of Body, that had taught himself by use to depress his Sternum, with the Serratus Posticus Inferior, Sacro lumbus, and Triangular Muscles, so that the Cartilaginous Substance of the Ribs, which Anatomists separate for Dissection of the Thorax, and throw it back over the Face, by this means was crowded in, that it made a notable Cavity as deep as the Spine would suffer; in the mean while the Man was almost strangled, as if pressed to death; for under this Constraint neither he nor the former could take their Breath, yet remained so some time: Which may be a visible Instance that divers Urinators may continue a long space, being inured from their Infancy to keep under Water. From the rest of these I observed nothing more excellent than what is perform∣ed by our Rope-dancers, for Feats of Activity, or Slight of Hand. These pester every open place in great Cities and Publick Fairs, as they do in Europe.

The next Rank,

Is of the Soldiers, commonly called Rashpoots, who by their Valour

have won unto themselves the Perpetuity of their Arms, and the Credit of being called in to the Aid of divers Princes,* 1.152 and are in con∣tinual Action under some one State or other bordering upon them; never altering their Vocations, being bred Warriors; these aspire not to great Charges, nor admit Commanders over them, unless o•• their own Cast; fighting Pell-mell, as every one is inspired from the Pay they receive; their Arms are Sword, Pike, and Buckler. A Soldier that puts on a Crocus-dye, intimates a Resolution either to dye or be Conqueror.

Opium is frequently eaten in great quantities by the Rashpoots,* 1.153 Queteries, and Patans, when they fight, which makes them run up∣on any Enterprize with a raging Resolution to dye or be victorious. Before Engaging, it is usual for them to embrace one another, as if parting for another World; esteeming it happier to be killed in their Vocation, than to submit to the Lust of a Conqueror; their very Women disdaining to own them for their Husbands, when they once turn their Back upon their Enemies: Of one of which Vira∣goes goes this Story; Her Mate had made an Escape honourable enough for a prudent Retreat, when coming home and craving Meat from his Spouse, after many obloquious Salutes she put this Affront on him, she served him with a Brass Ladle, whereas before his Meals were taken up with one made of Iron; whereof he demanding the Reason, she tartly replied, Lest the sight of Iron should turn your Sto∣mach from your Victuals, as it had done from Fighting.

The Banyan

Follows the Soldier,* 1.154 though as contrary in Humour, as the Antipodes in the same Meridian are opposite one to another: These have for∣got if ever they were Jews, or no; but if any of these People are such, these are most likely; and by a double Right of Jew and Gentile, are a Compound of the greatest Cheat in the World, the fittest there∣fore to make Brokers and Merchants of: They are devout Proselytes in the Worship of this Countrey, and tenacious of their Rites and Customs; strict Observers of Omens, so that in travelling ten Miles they shall sometimes double the Ground, to avoid encountring a Caphala of Asses, or to take the Hand of a Flock of Goats or Cows grazing: In the Rains they will not ride in a Coach, for fear they should kill the Insects generated in the Cart-Ruts, or stinking Puddles: So foolishly superstitious are they and precise in Matters of Religion; in cases of Trade they are not so hide-bound, giving their Conscien∣ces more Scope, and boggle at no Villany for an Emolument.

The Poor Artisan

Can hardly live for these, who will grind their Faces to fill their own Hoards, as much as the Desies do

The Peasants

And Combies, who Till the Land, and dress the Corn, with no re∣markable

difference from other Nations; they plough with Oxen, their Coulters unarmed mostly, Iron being scarce, but they have hard Wood will turn their light Grounds. The Gentues thrash their Corn with a Stick, not a Flail; the Moor-men that are Husbandmen tread it out with Oxen (but muzzle their Mouths), which they do in the open Fields, before they carry it home; fixing a Stake in the Earth, and yoaking the Oxen three, four, or more abreast, fasten them to a turning Pole, passing round till all be done.

Coolies, Frasses, and Holencores, are the Dregs of the People, and are not permitted to have their Funeral Rites or Marriages with the others; so abject, that the others think themselves defiled if they touch or converse with them.

All these are distinguished one from another by the Cut of their Beards,* 1.155 or different Painting of their Bodies and Foreheads, as well as winding of their Turbants. A Brachmin paints himself on the Front with a Pythagorean Y between his Eyebrows, descending to his Nose, and gives to every Tribe their peculiar Mark.

The Gentues wear little Beards,* 1.156 and shave them; the Moors great Beards, and trim them only to keep them decent: And since their Barbers are so necessary, as well to give them their distinguishing Shape, as for other Uses, we will let you know they seldom keep Shop, but go about the City with a Checquered Apron over their Shoulders, and a Mirror in their Hands, which they offer any to see their Face in; and if any employ them, they are well paid with a Gosbeek, much under a Farthing: When they pluck out a Razor not an Inch long, a Bason of Brass as big as a Coffee-dish, and a piece of Castle-Soap, which they dip into the Bason of Water, and rub about the Lips or Head, with no more Water than it gathers up, and so shave very well; and for the Head few out-do them, both for Ease and Readiness: They have an Iron Tool also, one end to pick the Ears, another to cut the Nails, both which they do dextrously, clearing the Ears of great quantities of that thick Wax inclosed therein; they also wash and anoint their Bodies, it being not obsolete here to anoint every day with Sweet Oyls, and the Poor, both Men and Wo∣men, with Cocoe••Nut Oyl, which being Rank, together with their eating Hing and Garlick, makes them always smell so strong, that it is very offensive passing through Places of Resort, before one be accustomed to them; they also rub the Hair of their Head with a sweet Powder to get the sweat out, and then bedawb it with stinking Oyl, which they say preserves it: In the Bath or Hummums they have a large Province.

The Moguls

Are the Invaders of their Liberties and Properties, ruling tyranni∣cally; yet more tolerable than what they were when first invited hither by the Plenty of this Country, and Scarcity of their own, which was a means to gain, as well as now to preserve their Conquest; for they were originally Tartars, coming from Scythia with their Leader Tamerlane, and thence prided themselves to be called Whites, and still do so in scorn of the Indians, who are Blacks;

and it is the Flower of their Emperors Titles to be called the Great Mogul, Burrore Mogul Podeshar, who reckons but few Descents from Tamerlane, and is at present Auren Zeeb; who Governs by this Maxim, To Create as many Ombrahs, or Nobles, out of the Moguls or Persian Foreigners, as may be fairly entrusted, but always with this Policy, To remove them to remote Charges from that where their Jageah, or Annuity arises; as not thinking it fit to trust them with Forces or Money in their allotted Principalities, lest they should be tempted to unyoke themselves, and slip their Neck from the Servitude imposed on them; for which purpose their Wives and Children are left as Pledges at Court, while they follow the Wars, or are Administring in Cities or Provinces; from whence when they return, they have nothing they can call their own, only what they have Cheated by false Musters and a hard Hand over both Soldi∣ers and People; which many times too, when manifest, they are forced to refund to the King, though not restore to the Oppressed; for all Money, as well as Goods and Lands, are properly his, if he call for them.

Out of these are made Generals of Armies,* 1.157 under whom are Commanders of Hundreds and Thousands, as the Centurions and Legions; from thence to Fifty, Twenty, and Ten.

A Cavalier is Armed with a Poniard at the Right side of his Gir∣dle; a broad Bladed Sword of an unwieldy size (and therefore poi∣sed with an heavy Pummel), on his Left side in a Belt; a Bow made of Horn strongly and artificially Glutinated (Adducto flectere cornua nervo) and Arrows in a Quiver at the Bow of his Saddle; and a great Lance in his Hand, with a Target hanging cross his Shoulders Bossed.

A Foot Soldier carries a Match-lock Gun, or else a great Lance and Target, and sometimes a Sword; the former are ranked under the great Ombrahs, or the Chief Commanders of Hazory; the latter have a Standard of their own to repair to.

Munsubdars,* 1.158 or petty Ombrahs, own the King only for their Lead∣er, and have not above Four or Five Horse under them.

Rousanders are Cavaliers that are Paid by the Day, a considerable Salary, surpassing the Munsubdars, though not so Honourable.

A simple Cavalier under the Ombrahs have some of them Two Horses apiece, as his Lord favours him, and his Pay 30 or 25 Rupees per Month.

Among these may be reckoned the Artillery in which the Fringi's are Listed; formerly for good Pay, now very ordinary, having not above 30 or 40 Rupees a Month.

For Artillery they have both great Ordnance and small Field Pieces,* 1.159 drawn by Elephants and Oxen, adorned with Streamers, be∣sides Camels that carry Petereros.

The Soldiery are Paid, partly out of the Treasury, and partly out of the Lands allotted for that purpose.

The Husbandman is forced to Build low, and the Doors like en∣tring Ports, otherwise the Soldier would bring his Horse in as well as himself.

The Moormen domineer over the Indians most unsufferably; and these are of the Turkish or Arabian Sect in matters of Religion, owning Mahomet,* 1.160 and his Brother to be his Successor: The Chias, or Persian, own Mahomet also, but place the Succession of the Caliphship in the Daughter; and this is a Dispute of so high a nature, that they Eat not, neither Communicate one with another.

There are some great Merchants among them,* 1.161 that are buoy'd up more by the Authority of their Religion and Cast, than Cunning, the Banyan being forced to flee to them for Patronage: They imitate a noble Pomp, and are not encountred abroad nisi magna Comitante catervâ, without a great Train, using many Odors in the Hummums, or Balneo's; nor are they without Oils, Perfumes, and Essences of Sandal, Cloves, and Oranges, which are in their kind very exqui∣sitely drawn off. They go Rich in Apparel, their Turbats of Gold, Damask'd Gold Atlas Coats to their Heels, Silk Alajah, or Cuttanee Breeches, Embroidered Sashes and Slippers, Golden Hilted Swords and Poniards, as also Golden Embossed Targets; Silver and Gold Capparisons for their Horses, which are of Arabia, Persia, or Turky.

The Moguls Feed-high, Entertain much, and Whore not a little.

The Women are conformable to the Wills of their Husbands, be∣ing truly no more than their Chief Slaves; Dressing the Victuals, and Waiting till their Lords have Dined, before they Eat themselves. Every Cast in India refuse to Eat with those of a contrary Tribe or Opinion, as well Gentues, Moors, and Persians, as any other; nor so much as to Dress the Meat in their Vessels, they accounting them Defiled.

A Fakier

Is an Holy Man among the Moors;* 1.162 for all who Profess that Strictness (for such it should be) they esteem them Sacred; and though be∣fore apparent Traytors, yet declaring for this kind of life, and wear∣ing a patch'd Coat of a Saffron Colour, with a pretended careless neglect of the World, and no certain Residence, they have Immunity from all Apprehensions, and will dare the Mogul himself to his Face: Of this Order are many the most Dissolute, Licentious, and Pro∣phane Persons in the World, committing Sodomy, will be Drunk with Bang, and Curse God and Mahomet; depending on the Tole∣ration the Mogul indulges them with, having been one himself in the time of the Contest among his Brethren; so securing himself till they had destroyed one another, and made an easy passage for him to the Throne; these People Beg up and down like our Bed∣lams with an Horn and Bowl, so that they enter an House, take what likes them, even the Woman of the House; and when they have plaid their mad Pranks, away they go to repeat them elsewhere. Under this Disguise many pass as Spies up and down, and reap the best Intelligence for the benefit of the Prince that Employs them.

The Portugals,

Not to defraud them of their due,* 1.163 might have Subdued India by this time, had not we fallen out with them, and given them the first blow at Ormus; upon which the Dutch fell in and took from them the best of their Conquest, and all their Spice Trade; notwith∣standing they have added some Christians to those formerly Con∣verted by St. Thomas, but it is a fond report to say all India; no more than to have Conquered all the Inland Country, where they never pierced, their Possessions being most by the Sea-side; yet at this day they bear the Port of a Vice-Roy at Goa, who has his Council, and Governs after the Mode of Portugal: His Reign is Triennial, as are all their Capitaneas.

The Dutch,

Though a Commonwealth in Europe, find it properest to bear the face of a Monarchy here, appointing a General at Batavia, whose Power is extensive over all India: These begin to be taken notice of, and are esteemed as Men of War among these Nations; for obliging and fair Means prevail not here, they being of a less Ingenuous Temper than to be won by any other ways than Force; so that a Tyrannical Government in India is as necessary to keep them under, as abstaining from Flesh and Washing their Bodies, to keep them in Health; wherefore they have wisely Ordained Religious Rites: And this is the reason they have a value for

The English,

Who they see are content with Bombaim,* 1.164 and a peaceable way of Trade; square with the Humour, and meet with the Praise of the Banyans; but command not that Awe by which these People are best taught to understand themselves.

The Parsies,

As they are called,* 1.165 are of the old stock of the Persians, Worship the Sun and Adore the Elements; are known only about 〈◊〉〈◊〉; where they are famous for what all other Nations deem infamous, the ex∣posing their Dead to the Fowls of the Air: And these coming in by permission are obliged to Conformity with the Heathen Customs, being almost, as the Gibeonites to the Israelites, Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water; having been curbed formerly by the Gen∣tiles, and now by the Moors used as perfect Slaves; yet they en∣dure this, that so they may enjoy their Religion, and that benefit, which is tolerated to the Indians more than any where, the liberty of getting Children, and an indulgence for Poverty.

The Indians are Tall of Stature, Large Boned; their Colour va∣ries according to the diversity of the Region; the Parsies are Straw Coloured, as Hyppocrates witnessed for them; Aethiopians are Black

and Frizled; the Indians here are a mixture of these, but long Haired. The heat of the Sun alters our Europe-Men to a dark Brown; such as Sail to and again constantly in these Climates, by going Naked and exposed to the Sun, being almost as Swarthy as the Natives, with this difference, that by Cloathing the Sunburnt wears off; but contrariwise, it remains indeleble on the Indians.

Infants when newly Born have the same Flesh Colour as ours; but in a few Days, by the inbred Humour, and the Sun's Heat, de∣clare their Hew to be of the same with their Parents.

The Women are Small,* 1.166 and most an end Plump, and Short in respect to the Men; as to the order which Nature observes in them they are more forward than ours in Europe, and leave off Child∣bearing sooner. It is reported the Menstruums of the Africans are pernicious, but there is no such slander here, these being Neat, Well-shaped, and Obsequious to their Husbands; for the different Positions of their Veins it's a silly Query, they being of the same Species of the rest of the World, bating their Education, which is agreeable to them, and bear as good a Meen naturally, as ours in∣structed by the Masters of Behaviour; they keep their Breasts bound up carefully, and on that account are no more extended than they should be; they are quick in Labour, and Affectionate to their Children, Bearing them Naked on their Hips a straddle; are well Proportioned, and for that reason not ashamed to shew the Motion of their Bodies, all their Limbs being visible, yet love to hide what should not be seen: They are Cleanly, as well in their Cookery as in their Bodies, Pruning themselves by plucking the budding Hairs off their Privities up by the Roots, they being all as smooth there as the back of their Hands, though they suffer the Hair of their Heads to grow in Tresses, which the Rich Embroider with Gold, Coronets, and Rich Jewels; the Poor Brade with Strings of Jassa∣min Flowers, and make Necklaces of the same; the Rich have their Arms and Feet Fettered with Gold and Silver, the meaner with Brass, Glass, or Tuthinag; besides Rings at their Noses, Ears, Toes, and Fingers: Their Attire alters not into new Modes, nor need they a Taylor; a Lungy being tied loose over their Shoulders Belt-wise, and tucked between their Legs in nature of short Breeches, besides a short Wastecoat, or Ephod to keep up their Breasts, being all their Garb; going constantly without Shooes or Stockins, Shoes being allowed their Midwives only, which are like the Mens, only a few Silk Tufts upon them for distinction sake. Those that have Buried their Husbands (or rather Burnt them) are rifled of all their Jewels, and Shaved, always wearing a Red Lungy, whereby to be known that they have not undergone the Conflagration; for which cause they are despised, and live more Uncomfortably than the meanest Servant.

The Moors Women are all Cloathed like the Men, as has been said elsewhere, only Vailed when they go abroad; and thus the In∣dian Women are Habited.

They use no swathing to their Babes,* 1.167 and have very few deformed or Dwarfs among them; are Temperate, and live to a good Old Age, when their Hair also turns from Black to Grey. What Ovid relates

of the Glaucus Fish, Aestivo nunquam conspectus Sydere Glaucus, is true in these Hot Countries of the Colour of the Eyes of these Sun-burnt people, for I never saw but one Grey-ey'd, and therefore I suppose them rare; (unless they should tincture them with some Fucus, it may be of Antimony, which we read in the Sacred Page the Jews used, especially the Women, both to preserve them from Filth, and to procure a graceful Blackness, 2 Kings 9. Jer. 4. Ezek. 23.) Nor but one Dwarf, which was a Brachmin, 109 Years old, well limb'd, and of a quick Apprehension, being not Three Foot high, free from the Infirmities of Age.

In general they are melancholy inclined,* 1.168 and love a sedate Life more than Action; and whether that may not add to their Dye, I leave to the Sceptical; and conclude in this Point of these Asiaticks, as Naso did of his Africks;

Sanguine tum credunt in corpora summa vocato Aethiopum populos nigrum traxisse colorem.

The Indian Wives dress their Husbands Victuals, fetch Water, and grind their Corn with an Hand-Mill, when they sing, chat, and are merry; such prevalency has Custom: They make their Bread as thin as Wafers, bak'd on broad round Plates or Stones, commonly of Rice; the Moors is made of Wheat, thicker and oblong, bestuck with Seeds to correct Wind, and mostly bak'd in a Furnace, which they stick to the sides, when Dough, as we see Cow-Turds on a Mud-Wall. Boiled Rice, Nichany, Millet, and (in great Scarcity) Grass-Roots, are the common Food of the ordinary People; which with a Pipe of Tobacco contents them.

CITIES

Are many and Populous; three more Renowned than the rest (Dhil∣ly, Lhor, and Agra), for the Residence of the Emperor in one of these for every Season of the Year: The rest are known either for Trade, or the Provinces whose Names they bear.

Their Buildings suit with the Country and State of the Inhabi∣tants,* 1.169 being mostly contrived for Conveniency: The Poorer are made of Boughs or Oleas of the Palmeroes, or Leafs of Teke, and thatch'd both Sides and Coverings; the middle sort of the Gentues with Mud one Story; floored with Cow-dung, which they do afresh every day, after they have swept and cleansed them: Under which, their Houshold-Gods, themselves, their Family, and Cattel, are all housed, and many times in no distinct Partition: They plaster Cow-dung be∣fore their Doors, and so keep them clean, having a little place or two built up a Foot Square of Mud, where they plant Calaminth, or (by them called) Tulce, which they worship every Morning, and tend with diligence.

The Richer and the Moors build with Stone and Mortar, some∣times with Brick, making small Shew without, but delicately contri∣ved within, with Tanks, Airy and cool Choultries, private Recesses for their Women, Tarass'd atop, and sometimes three or four Stories

high: Their Furniture is moveable, as Rich Carpets to sit on the Floor, and Rich Cushions behind them, without any Chairs within-doors, unless large Elbow Chairs when they sit at their Doors smoking in State.

And in these they spend their Lives,* 1.170 and have the Length of Days here as in other places, they spinning them out a long while: Whether the Cause may be attributed to the Air, or Temperance in their Diet, I know not: Yet this is certain, they are careful what they eat shall be well dressed, that the Stomach be neither over∣charged, or have much trouble to concoct.

And as they are careful what they take into their Bodies,* 1.171 so are they solicitous to evacuate in good order, always washing their Fun∣daments, and squatting when they make Water; nor do the Wo∣men scruple to do their Occasions in Publick Streets or Highways, going hand in hand for that purpose at Set-times of the day, and if any pass by in the Interim, will turn their bare Backsides upon them, but will hide their Faces; and this at Sun-rise and Sun-set every day they do in Droves; Men by themselves, and Women by them∣selves; if in the City, most an end, under dead Walls, where when they have finished, they wash the Filth off with their Left Hand, be∣cause they feed themselves with the Right. The Moors think hard of them for this Freedom; nor do they conceive a better Opinion of our Women, when they see an Englishman salute them with a Kiss, or walk together in a Garden to take the Innocent Diversion there: So that the Jealousy of the Moor must not reflect on the Modesty of our Indian Women.

As soon as they are gone,* 1.172 the Cows come and lick up their Ordure (which they watch for), being nothing but Herbs, Roots, or Pulse, digested without any other mixture either of Flesh or Strong Drink: If they unload themselves out of the Town, they make to∣wards the River-side, or Brinks of their Ditches, and leave a filthy Stink behind them, notwithstanding they eat nothing Carnous, which remains upon their Excrements; and for that reason it is somewhat strange the Kine should be so fond of them: And hence is it that in their Streets, and near the Towns and Cities, it is but ill taking the Air. Yet however Natural this becomes to them, as well as the rest of Mankind, they are not in this particular to be taxed with Sloth and Sluttery in respect of their Bodies; for besides their constant Washings at the Times of their Devotion, they never eat nor drink before they have cleansed themselves with Water poured all over them from Head to Foot; nor will they suffer their secret Parts to harbour any Nastiness, they using Depilatories for Breast, Arm-pits and Groins, are always shaving their Heads and Beards, cutting their Nails, washing their Mouths, and rubbing their Teeth, whereby they look like Ivory.

And since Cleanliness is the next in esteem to Godliness in Human Society,* 1.173 I will conclude with their Washers, which are Women as well as Men; they are hired at easy Rates, and are the best in the World, as our Calicuts transmitted hither declare; they have each a little Pit, into which the Water springs, and near it a great smooth Stone, on which they beat their Cloaths till clean; and if for Fa∣mily-use,

starch them with Congee, and so carry them home when dried; if for Sale, they lay them a Whitening, and after Congee or stiffen them, and so deliver them to the Packers, Labour being to them instead of Soap, for were they at much Expence therein they could not live, their Pay being inconsiderable. And by this small Taste of their unweariedness in Pains-taking, their Cheapness of every thing, and their faring hard, all their other Craftsmen may be valued, who work for nothing, comparatively with our Europeans; though in many things they exceed them for Curiosity, as in staining of Calicuts, and fine Work either in Gold or Silver.

The Language

At Court is Persian, that commonly spoke is Indostan (for which they have no proper Character, the written Language being called Banyan) which is a mixture of Persian and Sclavonian,* 1.174 as are all the Dialects of India: A good Argument to me of the peopling the World this way originally from the Scythian Mountains after the Deluge; their Speech containing many Words agreeable enough to ours in Sound, as well as Figure; more Scraps whereof may be found when we come to Persia.

The last thing Observable is the Coins, Weights, &c. A Col∣lection whereof follows:

COLLECTIONS OF THE COINS, WEIGHTS, AND Precious Stones, Usual in those Places of Trade within the Charter of the Honourable East-India-Company.

Tantum scimus quantum in Memoria tenemus. Ex Reminiscentiâ fit Scientia.

CHAP. VII.

COLLECTIONS OF THE Coins, Weights, and Precious Stones, Usual in those Places of Trade within the Char∣ter of the Honourable East-India Company.

Coins of Surat, Amadavad, Agra, &c. in India.

THere are divers sorts of Coins in Gold, seldom used in Payments among Merchants, some of a greater, others of lesser Value; so also in Silver; but the Rupee is the most ordinary, whereof there are;

RUPEES

• Cazzanace,
• Hundea,
• Magarree,
• Chillannee,

All valued at Mamoodoes, 2 ¼; the latter is of greater Weight, but course.

MAMOODOES are current only in Surat, and Parts adjacent; they are worth somewhat less than an English Shilling, but are so account∣ed in the Company's Books; and among Merchants in the Countrey, 2 ¼ Mamoodoes is reckoned a Rupee. Yet to change Mamoodoes into Rupees, there is sometimes given 3, sometimes 8 or 10 Mamoodoes on the 100 Ru∣pees, according to their Plenty or Scarcity, or as the Governor or Banyans please to advance the Cambio, which is called among them Vattaw: In Anno 1663. was given 20 Mam. per Cent.

PICE, a sort of Copper-Mony current among the Poorer sort of People;* 1.175 of these, sometimes 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, to 24, make, or are reckoned to a Mamoodoe; therefore because they rise and fall, the Com∣pany's Accounts are kept in Book-rate Pice, viz. 32 to the Mam. and 80 Pice to the Rupee, for that without any reason the Rupee is by the Ac∣comptant rated at 2 ½ Mam. whereas if it were rated at Mam. 2 ¼ per Ru∣pee, then in Book-rate the Rupee would fall to be 72 Pice.

Weights and Measures of Surat, Agra, &c.

The Surat Maund was formerly 18 Pice to the Sear of 40,* 1.176 and made 33 l. Averdupois: At present it is 40 Sear,* 1.177 of 20 Pice the Sear, which is 37 l.

The Maund Pucka at Agra is double as much,* 1.178 where is also the Maund Ecbarry, which is 40 Sear, of 30 Pice to the Sear, whereby Indico, Silks, and other fine Goods are sold.

By the foresaid Maund of 20 Pice to the Sear, 40 Sear to the Maund, all sorts of Grain are sold, and other Goods of Weight, whereof 20 Maunds make a Candy.

Amber and Coral, 18 Pice weight goes to a Sear.

Measures of Surat are only Two; The Lesser and Greater Coveld.

The former of 27 Inches English, the latter of 36 Inches English: By the first are sold all things (except Broad-cloth,* 1.179 Velvet, and Sattin, which are sold per English Yard); by the other, the foresaid Goods in all other Places.

Goldsmiths and Jewellers Weights in Surat, viz.

Goldsmiths Weights.

• 1 Sear is 35 Tolaes.
• 1 Pice is 1 Tola ¾.
• 1 Tola is 12 Mass.
• 1 Tola is 32 Valls.
• 1 Tola is 2 Gudjanas.
• 1 Tola is 96 Ruttees.
• 1 Tola is 2 ¼ Tanks.
• 2 Tolas and 19 Valls; or 83 Valls make 1 Ounce Troy.
• 2 Tol. 6 Val. the Weight of a Cruzado.
• 2 9 the Weight of a Dollar.
• 9 9 ¼, the Weight of a Chequeene.
• 100 Duchra, 1 Rupee, an Imaginary Coin.
• 48 Juttals, 1 Pagod, an Imaginary Coin.

Jewel Weights.

• 3 Ruttees is 1 Val.
• 1 Tank is 24 Rutt.
• 1 Rupee Oranshaw, 64 ½ Rutt.
• 1 Miscall is 1 Tank and 4 Ruttees.
• 8 Ruttees is 7 Carracks.
• 1 Carrack, 4 Grains.
• 20 Vassael, 1 Rutt.
• 3 Tanks, 1 Tola.
• 1 Mangere, 1 Rutt. 11 ½ Vas.
• Note, That 3 Grains Gold, make one Carrack, Diamond-weight.
• A Venice Ounce is nearest 1 Tola ¾: And 1 and ½ Venice Ounce, makes 1 Ounce Troy.

Coins, Weights, and Measures of Rajapore.

Imaginary Coins.

• The Pagod is 3 and ½ Rupees.
• 48 Jattals is 1 Pagod.
• 10 and ½ Larees, 1 Pagod.
• Zeraphins 2 ½, 1 Old Dollar.

Weights, &c.

• The Candy is 14 Maunds Surat.
• 4 Maunds Rajapore, 1 Surat Maund.
• 56 Sear Rabag, is 40 Surat Sear.
• 9 Maunds Rabag, is 8 Maunds Raja∣pore. And 8 Maunds Raja. is 6 Maunds Surat.

Coin and Measure in Rabag.

• 48 Rues in Rabag, is 1 Tucca.
• 8 ½ Tuccaes 1 Pagod.
• The Guzz is 28 Inches ⅘.
• 5 Guzz is 4 Yards.

Coins and Weights in Goa.* 1.180

Coins.

• The Old St. Thomas, 16 Tan. 30 Res.
• The New St. Thomas, 15 Tan. 15 Bas.
• The Pagod, 15 Tan. less 96 Bas.
• The Venetian, 18 Tan. 30 Res.
• The Cruzado of Gold, 12 Zeraphins.
• The Zeraphin, 5 Tangoes.
• The Tango, 5 Vinteens.
• The Vinteen, 15 Basrooks,
• Whereof 75 make a Tango.
• And 60 Rees make a Tango.

Weights.

• 1 Baharr is 3 ½ Kintal.
• 1 Kintal is 4 Arobel, or Rovel.
• 1 Arobel is 32 Rotolas.
• 1 Rotola is 16 Ounc. or 1 l. Averd.
• 1 Maund is 24 Rotolas.
• 1 Candy is 20 Maunds.
• 1 Mark is 8 Ounces.
• 1 Pipa is 4 Barrels.
• 1 Barrel is 6 Almoodaes.
• 1 Almooda is 12 Cannales.
• 24 l. Portugal is 26 English.

Coins, Weights, and Measures of Duccan.

• The Maund or Barkey of Hubly and Carwar, is 26 l. ½, Averd.
• The Gunny of Pepper in Hubly is 12 Maunds.
• The Candy in Ellepore is 20 Maunds, of 26 l. ½ per Maund.
• The Sungar Pagod is 8 s. 9 d.
• The Tipkee Pagods, 4 Rupees.
• But in Vattaw differs from 100 Sun∣gar, to 118, and 123.
• The Asmeloh Pagod is 1 per Cent. less than the Sungaree.

Coins and Weights of Bombaim.

• 3 Larees is 1 Zeraphin.
• 80 Raies 1 Laree.
• 1 Pice is 10 Raies.
• The Raies are Imaginary.
• 16 Bugerookes make 1 Piece of Eight.
• The Company's Mark upon all their Goods, Bales, and Parcels.
  [illustration]
• The Company's Rupee, equal to the Surat, called Paxdro.
• The latter inferior by 4 Pice each.
• 28 l. is a Maund.
• 15 Pice to the Sear.
• The Country Weight is a Rotola, 27 making a Maund.
• A Candy is 20 Maund.
• 100 Mooras, 154 ¼ Candies.
• 8 Parras is a Candy.
• 12 and ½ Parras is a Moora.
• 20 Addalins is a Parra.

Calicut.

• N▪ B. The Weights are the same as at Cocheen and Quilom.
• The Coins are specified in its History, pag. 55.
• Tarrs are the peculiar Coin, the rest are common to India.

Cocheen.

• A Kental 128 Rotulas.
• 120 Rotulas is 112 l. English.
• 7 per Cent. difference.
• The Candy 20 Maunds; 25 l. per Maund.

Quilom.

• The Babar is 20 Maunds; 24 l. Port. or 26 l. English, is the Maund.

Fort St. George, Mechlapatan, &c.

• Pagods
• Gold of
  • 2 Matts fine, 10 Pa∣gods w^t, is worth 2 ¼
  • 3—3 3/8
  • 3 1/••—4
  • 4—4 ½
  • 4 ½—5 1/8
  • 5—5 ¾
  • 5 ½—6 ¼
  • 6—6 ¾
  • 6 ¼—7 1/8
  • 6 ½—7 ½
  • 7—8
  • 7 ½—8 ½
  • 7 ¾—8 ¾
  • 8—9 1/••
  • 8 ¼—9 ½
  • And so on.
  • Note, That a Pagod touch is 8 5/8 Matts fine.
  • Note, 1 Pagod is 1/•• weight of 1 Dollar.

The Standard,

• Is 8 Matts, and 5/8 Matts Fine: Our English 20 s. is 9 and more. Fa∣nams is 4 ¼ Mats fine.
• 9 Pagods weight make 1 Ounce Troy.
• 16 Pagods weight of Silver, is 1 Pa∣god weight of Gold.
• ½ Pagod in 1000 is allowed for loss in Mint.
• 5 Fanams in 1000.
• 8 Pagods is just weight of 1 Piece of Eight.
• The Accounts are kept in Pagods and Fanams, at 32 Fanams to a Pagod, and Cash, 6 whereof make a Fa∣nam.
• There is likewise a double Fanam current at Porto Nova.
• Eight Shillings make one Pagod; 32 Fanams 1 Pagod; every Fanam 3 d. and 6 Cash a Fanam.

Coins and Weights of Siam, Bantam, &c.

SIAM.

• 1000 Couries is 1 Miam.
• 2 Foods is 1 Miam, or Mass.
• 4 Miams is 1 Pecul.
• 80 Pecul is 1 Cattee.
• 1 Cattee is 100 Rupees.
• 500 Cattees is 1 Hobb, or Pecul; or nearest 130 l. English.
• Note, 1 Pecul Macau is a tenth part more than 1 Hobb Siam.
• The Pecul is 1 Rupee ¼.
• 4 Mass is 1 Pecul.
• 15 Pecul is 18 ¾ Rupees.

BANTAM.

• The Bahar Banda is 100 Cattees, and each Cattee 6 l. is 600 l. Neat.
• The Bahar Malaga is 200 Cattees, each Cattee 2 l. is 400 l.
• So that 1 Cattee Banda, makes 3 Cattees Malaga; and 300 Cattees Malaga make 100 Bahar Banda.
• 22 Cattees Banda, make 1 Pecul China, of 132 l.
• 4 Pecul and 12 Cattees Malaga, make a Bahar Banda.
• 66 ⅔ Cattees Banda, make 1 Bahar Malaga.

All Commodities and Merchandizes in Macassar, by the Banda Datchin, or Weight, and from thence, are to be reduced to their proper Weight.

Pepper is sold by the Ganton, of which 225 make a Bahar Banda.

The Quoin, which is the Rice measure, 40 Great Gantons, each Ganton weighs 90 l. English, which makes the Quoin 3600 l.

A Lesser Ganton there is, whereof 20 makes 1 of the Greater.

Tortois-shell is bought by the Bahar Malaga, which is 200 Cattees, weighed by the Banda Datchin.

• 1 Cattee Banda is 4 Catt. China, which is 21 Ounces Averdupois.
• 1 Cattee Malaga, 1 ½ China.

• In Macassar
  • The Mass is 2 s. 10 d. 2/7.
  • 4 Cappans is 1 Mass.
  • 7 Cappans is 1 Dollar of 5 s.

ACHEEN.

COINS.

• 1152 Cash is 1 Mass, 16 Mass is 1 Tale, 1 Tale is Sear, or 18 s.
• 1 Mass is ½ Rupee, and 32 Cash is 1 Pice.

Ditto WEIGHTS.

• 1 Bahar is 10 ½ Maunds Surat; 200 Cattees is 1 Bahar.
• 1 Cattee is 29 Ounces; 1 Bahar is 360 l. English.
• 1 Cattee is 70 Tolas, Surat.
• 1 Buncal Gold Weight, is Tola's 3, 18 Vals.
• 20 Buncals is 1 Cattee of Gold.

Note, That if the following Goods from Acheen hold out the following Rates, the Factor employed is no farther responsible.

• Tin for 1 Bahar Maunds 10 18 Sear.
• Pepper, 1 Bahar Maunds 9 20
• Benzoin, 1 Bahar Maunds 9 20
• Sapan Wood, 1 Bah. Maunds 9 00
• Dammar, 1 Bahar Maunds 9 00
• Patch Leaf, 1 Bahar Maunds 7 20

Quedah and Jahore.

COINS.

160 Tares is a Mass; 16 Mass is a Tale; 1 Tale is 40 Rupees, or 4 l. 10 s. at which Rate 1 Mass is 2 ½ Rupees; and 1 Tarr is 1 1/8.

Ditto WEIGHTS.

2••0 Cattees is 1 Bahar; 1 Bahar is 10 ½ Maunds Surat; so 1 Cattee is 2 ••/10 Sear. The Quedah Baharr of Tin holds out more than the Acheen Bahar, about 10 Sear per Bahar.

MALLACCA.

Coins.

• 1 Cruzado is 6 Tangoes.
• 1 Tango, 10 Vinteens.
• 1 Vinteen, 20 Lashees.

Weights.

• 1 Bahar is 14 Roves.
• 1 Rove, 32 Pounds.
• The Cattee, 32 Ounces.
• 1 Ganto, 2 Cannales of Goa.

MANILLA.

Coins.

• The Royal of Eight is 8 Tominians.
• 20 Barillioes is 1 Tomin.
• 34 Maravidies to the Tomin.

Weights.

• The Rove, or Aroba, is 26 l.
• The Pico is 140 l.
• ••00 Cattee is a Pecul.

MACHAWO.

Coins.

• Formerly the Course Dollar Silver, being in the Year 1657, and since, in Esteem, was current with them; but since they have coin∣ed Dollars of their own of an ex∣quisite Fineness, and buy our Goods with their Dollars, and re∣ceive them again for what Goods we buy; insomuch that all the Dollars the King Ferdinando, &c. ships, they brought back again, to their great Loss.
• 1 Cattee is nearest 16 Taies.
• 1 Teen is 10 Mass.
• 1 Mass in Silver is 10 Quandreens.
• 1 Quandreen is 10 Cash.
• 733 Cash makes one Royal.
• 1 Grain English Weight is 2 Cash.

Weights.

• 1 Pecul the Datchin Weight, is 4 Maunds Surat.
• 1 Pecul is 100 Cattees, which is near∣est 132 l. Averdupois.
• 1 Cattee is nearest 21 Ounces Aver∣dupois.
• The Maund 27 ⅔ Surat Sear, of which 40 makes 37 l. Averdupois.

BƲSSORA.

Coins.

• The Old Royal. Embraems.
• The Laree 5⁸¾ make 1 Royal.
• Abassees turn to Loss.
• 5 Fluce is 1 Parrow.
• 6 Parrows, 1 Shahee.
• 4 ½ Shahees, 1 Abassee.
• 3 ½ Abassees, 1 Royal.
• 2 Mamod. 1 Abassee.
• 2 Royals, 1 Chequeen.

Weights.

• The Maund is 24 l. or 28 Sear.
• 1 Muckee 4 Maunds Surat.
• 1 Mertigat, 1 ½ is a Surat Tola.
• 1 Miscal, 12 Valls, and ½ Ruttee.
• The Measure lacks little of an Eng∣lish Yard.

MAECHA.

Coins.

• The Royal.
• The Ebraim 1 ⅞ is 1 Royal.
• The Cabeer 80 is 1 Royal.
• 2 Royals accounted a Chequeen.

Weights.

• The Bahar 15 Ferasilahs of 30 l.
• The Ferasilah is 10 Maunds of that place.
• The Maund is
• The Ferasilah is 27 l. Rottulas 30.
• The Rottula is 15 Vachia.
• The Vachia is 1 Ounce.
• The Marbat or Catla is 7 ½ Ferasilahs.
• Indico is sold by this Weight.

Weights in Aleppo.

• A Quintal 480 Pound English.
• A Churle, 130.
• A Rottolo, 4.

PERSIA.

Coins.

• 10 Cosbeagues is 1 Shahee; 4 Shahees is 1 Abassee, or 16 d.; 50 Abass. 1 Thomand; 3 Shahees is 1 Mam. Surat; 2 Shahees is 1 Mamood. Persia; 6 ¾ Sha. or 67 ½ Cosb. is 1 Rupee.
• 200 Shahees is 1 Thom. or 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. 2 ½ Sha. is 1 Larree, or 10 d.

Weights.

• 1 Maund Shaw is 12 l. ½; 1 Maund Cannala is 9 l. 3/8, being a Wine-Weight; 1 Maund Taberez is nearest 6 l. ½; 5 Maunds Taberez is 33 l.
• 400 Drachms is 1 Maund Shaw.
• 200 1 Maund Taberez.
• 300 1 Maund Cannab.
• 2 ½ Miscals is 1 Surat Tola.

Measurcs.

• 37 ½ Inches, 1 Guz for Cloath, &c.
• 27 Inches 1 Guz for Carpets, Silk, Fine Stuff, &c.,

Coins of Mosambique.

• 1 Cruzado is 4 Testoones.
• 1 Roy of 8/8 is 5 Testoones.

Elephants Teeth.

• Elephants Teeth of Mozambique, are bought per Weight, whereof are three sorts, viz.
• Muyn, such are the greatest, free from Flaws.
• Muyda, which are the lesser, or the great ones with Flaws.
• Sera, the least, or worst sort.
• The Weights by which they are bought, are Baharrs and Frasslees; each Baharr 20 Frasslees, each Frasslee 12 l. and they call the Baharrs Gross.
• Of Muyne, ½ Baharr of 20 Frasslees, makes 1 Baharr Gross.
• Of Muyda and Muyn they hold equal Price, in regard that though the Teeth of Muyn be bigger than the other, yet the Muyda giving more Weight, they balance Account.
• Formerly they have been worth 260, 270, 280 Cruz, per Baharr Gross.
• Of Sera, the current Price was 150, or 160, and rarely 180 Cruz, per Ba∣har Gross.
• In Surat are three distinctions of Elephants Teeth: All over 16 Sear sell at 40 Sear to the Maund; from 10 to 16, at 60 Sear to the Maund; from 10 Sear and under, 80 Sear allowed to the Maund.

Tortoise-shell.

• When one Head (as they call it) which is more properly an entire Body, weighs 1 l. ½, or 2 l. 'tis worth 30 or 36 Cruz. per Frasslee.

Directions for Knowledge of Bezoar-stones, &c.

BEZOAR.

THE Monkey Bezoars which are long, are the best; those that are rough prove commonly faulty, breaking with Stones in the middle: Others in form of Tares, somewhat flat, which break in smaller Stones in the middle, are better than the rough ones.

Bezoar is tried sundry ways: As the rubbing Chalk upon a Paper, then rubbing the Stone hard upon the Chalk, if it leave an Olive-Colour it is good. Also touch any with a Red-hot Iron, which you suspect because their Colour is lighter than ordinarily they use to be, and if they fry like Resin or Wax, they are naught. Sometimes they are tried by putting them into clear Water, and if there arise upon them small white Bubbles, they are good, and if none, they are doubtful. The use of the Hot Iron is esteemed infallible.

MOSK.

It is best to buy it in the Cod, for so it will be preserved; that which openeth with a bright Mosk Colour is the best, and will yield per Ounce. When taken out of the Cod, if a little being chawed, and rubbed with a Knife on clean Paper, do look smooth, bright, or yellowish, it is pro∣bably good, but if the Colour be as it were mixed with Gravel, it is bad. The Goodness is best discerned per Scent.

AMBERGREECE.

The Grey is best; for Trial thereof, if a little be chewed, and yield an odoriferous Fragor, feeling in substance like Bees-Wax, then it is good, otherwise not.

The Names of Precious Stones of the East.

• A Diamond.
• Ruby.
• Saphire.
• Emerald.
• Topaz.
• Hyacinth.
• Amethist.
• Gurnett.
• Chrysolite.
• Turkois.
• Agat.
• Splen.
• Jasper.
• Lapis Lazuli.
• Opal.
• Vermillion.
• Clystropie.
• Cornelian.
• Onix.
• Bezoar.

The DIAMOND

IS the hardest, and when Cut, the most beautiful of all Stones; in knowledg whereof there is great difficulty, having a Crust on them before they are Cut; therefore Caution is to be used in buying them, be∣fore-hand to make a Patern in Lead: Their Waters are White, Brown,

Yellow, Blue, Green, and Reddish; whereof take notice, rating them according to their Waters: In our Climate the perfect White Water is most esteemed.

Rough,* 1.181 Brute, or Uncut Stones, are in Value half the Price of Cut, or Polished Stones.

Neither the Thick nor too Thin in Substance is best;* 1.182 a Thick Stone, which is high and narrow Table, not making a shew answerable to its Weight, must be valued at less than that which is well spread, hath its ••••rners perfect, and a pure White Water: Without Spots or Foulness, is called a Paragon-stone, and in full Perfection.

Uncut Stones are distinguished into two sorts, Thick or Pointed, which are called Naife-stones, and Flat Stones: The Flat Stones are to be cut into Roses or Thin Stones, the Naife into Thick Stones; and those Rough Stones which will bear a good shape, without least diminishing in cutting, are in best Esteem.

The Names of Rough Stones, according to their Forms and Substance.

• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 A Point.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 An ½ Point.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 A Thick Stone.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 An ½ Ground Stone.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 A Thin Stone.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 A Rose Stone, if round; if long, a Fossel.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 A Naife.

The Rough Diamonds that seem Greenest, prove of a good Water when cut; and those that seem White when rough, prove often Bluish being cut.

Care is to be taken likewise in Choice of Rough Diamonds, to avoid those that have Veins, for they will never cut well, seeming as if they were filed with a rough File.

For vending, Stones of six Grains and under, to one and a half, are best.

For Trial of a Diamond, take a Pointed Diamond, such as Glaziers use, try it on any Stone but a Diamond, and it will cut the same.

The Diamond that is Sandy, or hath any Foulness in it, or is of a Blue, Brown, or Yellow Water, is not worth half the Price of a perfect Stone of a White Water.

For cutting of Diamonds, you must never mould any Diamond in Sand or Cuttle-bone, but you must use the second Lead to make a Patern of, because the first will come somewhat less than the other.

Never cast it off but of the perfect Lead; for if you should cast it with Tin, it being the lighter Metal, you may wrong you Judgment thereby, but in Lead you will find the Experiment to be good; viz.

Take the Mould of the Stone you would buy, which having moulded, cast it off in perfect Lead, then make a Patern of it; but before you go about to make a Patern (of the Stone you would cut) weigh the Lead,

and set down the Weight in a Piece of Paper; then form the Piece of Lead to what fashion you think best and most advantagious to the Stone; then re-weigh the Lead so formed, and setting down the Weight, you may find what the Stone will lose in cutting. The Lead will weigh three times as much as the Stone, which is a sure Rule; and commonly it loseth one third part in cutting.

To make Diamonds clean; if you see a thick Table Diamond in a Ring, a Jewel, or in a Collect for a Jewel, you must first make it cl••an either with a little Pumice-stone, or with a few hot Ashes, or with a lit∣tle Oyl, and boil it, which will make it very clean.

Valuation of Diamonds.

There is a Rule acurately to be observed, which is this; A Stone of one Carrack is worth 10 l.; to value 2 Carr. multiply per 2, which makes 4, and that 4, per 10, the Price of 1 Carr. which makes 40 l.: So for 3 Carr. 3 times 3 is 9 Carr. and 9 times 10 l. is 90 l. This for even Car∣racks comes nearest the true Value; but for ½ or ¼ of a Carr. although a Stone of 2 Carr. be worth 40 l. yet in this Rule and way of reckoning (meaning ½ a Carr. so valued) it is valued at but ¼ of a Carr. which is 50 s. and ¼ of a Carr. but at ¼ of 50 s. although a single Stone, containing a Crain, or ¼ Carr. is worth 30 s. As for Example: You would know what a Stone of 6 Grains is worth; 6 Grains is 3 ½ Carr. 3 times 3 is 9, and 9 times 50 s. is 22 l. 10 s. which is the Value of the Stone of 6 Grains. So of 5 Grains, 5 times 5 is 25, and 25 times 12 s. 6 d. is 15 l. 12 s. 6 d.

To make a Foil for Diamonds.

A Foil to be set under a thick Table Diamond, is to be made with Black Ivory and Mastick, picked and made very clear, with a very little Oyl of Mastick to incorporate them.

Black Ivory and Turpentine heated on the Fire is good, but the former is better.

For a thin Table, Black Ivory scraped very fine is good; or take a lit∣tle of the said Ivory with a little Oyl of Mastick, and dry the same; or Ivory with a little Gum; fair Water is also very good.

If you sell a thin Diamond that hath high Bisalls, then you may set it upon f••ll scraped Ivory, which graceth the Play of the Stone.

A Rose Diamond that is very thick, it's good to set it close upon the Ivory, and it will play very well; or Black Velvet is good under a thin Table-Diamond, scraped as you do Lint.

The RƲBY.

There are four sorts of Oriental Rubies; that which is the hardest, the best, and fairest Colour, if it be very fair and cut Diamond-Cut, is no less esteemed than a Diamond for the Weight, (or of the same Weight), but it is rare to see such an one.

The second sort of Ruby is White, Oriental, and Hard, which also is of good esteem, if cut of a Diamond-Cut, but not of so high Price as the perfect Red Ruby; but yet if it be in Perfection, 'tis very rare, be∣cause there are but few of this sort.

The third sort of Ruby is called a Spinell, which is softer than the for∣mer, and is nothing of like esteem, because not so hard, neither hath it

the Life of the other, nor of such perfect Colour; it's naturally some∣what greasy in cutting, because of its Softness.

The last sort is called a Ballace Ruby, which is not in so much esteem as the Spinell, because it is not so well coloured: This also is a Stone natu∣rally greasy, and will scarce take a Polish: This looks like a Garnet.

SAPHIRE.

There are three sorts, one perfect Blue, and very hard, which if cut of a Diamond-Cut, and without Calcedone, is of very good Esteem, and worth a good Price, if it be in perfection.

The second is perfect White, and very hard, which if without blemish, Diamond-Cut, is likewise in Esteem.

The third, called Water-Saphires, are of small Esteem, being not so hard as the other, and commonly of a dead Waterish Colour; they are of a slender Value.

CORNELIANS.

Cornelian Rings, of pure Red Colour, without spots:

Seal-stones of the bigness of 6 d. or 1 s. well coloured, are esteemed.

TREE-STONES.

Stones with the lively Representation or Form of a Tree thereon, are esteemed.

EMERALD

Is a Stone of good account, and if in Perfection, 'twill bear a very good Price, especially if it be cut Diamond-Cut, which is very rare; for naturally they are foul, and softer than the Saphire or Ruby.

There is a paler sort, but not affected, being base.

The TOPAZ

Is a Stone very hard, full as hard as the Saphire; some are very yellow, and like the Colour of Muskadine, pleasant to look on, which bears a good Price if good and without fault. The Stones may be burnt white in the Fire, and look very well. Another sort are said to be white natu∣rally, which would bear a good Price if perfect, and cut of the Diamond-Cut. There's another sort of them soft, yet shew very well, but have not the quickness of the other, and therefore of low esteem; trial of their hardness may be made by a Saphire or such a Stone.

The HYACINTH

Is a Stone Yellow and Transparent; it's of the hardness of the Eme∣rald; these Stones are naturally foul, and full of little Sands like Gold; if they be in Perfection, and of a very good Colour, they bear a reaso∣nable Price.

The AMETHIST

Is a Stone of three several Colours, some of them are of a Violet Co∣lour, some are of a more Oriental Colour, therefore called (Amethist Oriental) which bears a very good Price, few of these being to be found, but are the pleasantest Colour of all Stones. Another sort being Pale••s called the White Amethist, or Amethist of Carthagena: This naturally is of a quick or sparkling Water, and very good Colour, having for the most part a Blush of Red, which Stones in Perfection bear a tolerable Price.

AGATS for Hafts of Knives, white and well marled are good.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. I.
• * 1.2

  The President goes to Surat,
• * 1.3

  I to Carwar. Seva Gi's Na∣val Power.
• * 1.4

  Letter IV.
• * 1.5

  His Arms have Con∣quer'd all round Carwar.
• * 1.6

  The Ground our House stands on granted by the King.
• * 1.7

  Seva governs by Brachmins.
• * 1.8

  The hard Usage of Seva Gi's Sub∣jects.
• * 1.9

  Distractions of the King∣dom of Visia∣pour.
• * 1.10

  Miserable Condition of the Inhabi∣tants, betwixt the Desy and Seva Gi.
• * 1.11

  Take Barge for Goa; where we found the Passes well guarded.
• * 1.12

  The Gallantry of the Portu∣gals, and ne∣glect of their Carracks.
• * 1.13

  Chap. II.
• * 1.14

  The Arch∣bishop's See,
• * 1.15

  and Provost of the Jesuits.
• * 1.16

  The College of the Domi∣nicans the Seat of the Inquisi∣tor.
• * 1.17

  St. Roch.
• * 1.18

  Domo of Bon Jesu.
• * 1.19

  Why the Je∣suits are called Paulistins.
• * 1.20

  The Convent of St. Austin.
• * 1.21

  Several Semi∣naries.
• * 1.22

  The Francis∣cans.
• * 1.23

  The Carme∣lites.
• * 1.24

  The Spittle.
• * 1.25

  St. Monacha a Nunnery.
• * 1.26

  The Theatini in the Virge of the Palace.
• * 1.27

  In our going to Vingula we Engage a Ma∣labar Pirate.
• * 1.28

  They caress us ashore at Vin∣gula.
• * 1.29

  Monuments for Women burnt alive with their dead Hus∣bands.
• * 1.30

  Return from Vingula to Goa.
• * 1.31

  The King's Yard viewed.
• * 1.32

  The Industry of the Portugal Ancestry.
• * 1.33

  A well weigh∣ed choice of an Harbour.
• * 1.34

  Old Goa.
• * 1.35

  Sancto Pilar the Seat of the Capu∣chins.
• * 1.36

  The Way be∣twixt Old Goa and New Goa.
• * 1.37

  Their Prisons and Executi∣ons.
• * 1.38

  Seva Gi a bad Neighbour.
• * 1.39

  The Power of the Viceroy and Archbi∣shop.
• * 1.40

  The outward Port of the Fidalgoes.
• * 1.41

  The Clergy how respect∣ed.
• * 1.42

  The Women and Children.
• * 1.43

  The finest Manchet, &c.
• * 1.44

  How the Out∣guards inform the City.
• * 1.45

  Return'd to Carwar.
• * 1.46

  Anchola Castle supplied with Brass Guns from a Portu∣gal Shipwreck.
• * 1.47

  The Country properly Ca∣natick.
• * 1.48

  Chap. III.
• * 1.49

  Peace makes People chear∣ful.
• * 1.50

  Our coming to Gocurn di∣scovered.
• * 1.51

  It is an Uni∣versity.
• * 1.52

  This Tomasia, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Brachmins Harvest.
• * 1.53

  The Jatry, or Washing.
• * 1.54

  A Vow per∣formed.
• * 1.55

  Jougies or De∣votes.
• * 1.56

  A Solemn Procession of their Duels or Heroes.
• * 1.57

  Their Foun∣ders un∣known.
• * 1.58

  Their Divines under no Vow of Ce∣libacy.
• * 1.59

  A Brachmin can hardly at∣tone the vio∣lation of his Cast.
• * 1.60

  The Cast of the Dowlys.
• * 1.61

  Of Mirja.
• * 1.62

  An huge Snake.
• * 1.63

  The Story of Canora.
• * 1.64

  The best Pep∣per comes from Sunda.
• * 1.65

  The Nose-cut∣ting Raja of Saranpatan.
• * 1.66

  Raja Madaree.
• * 1.67

  The Irresolu∣tion of the Duccanees,
• * 1.68

  Emboldens Seva Gi.
• * 1.69

  His wild Ex∣cursions.
• * 1.70

  The Protector of Visiapour breaks the Measures of the Confede∣rates.
• * 1.71

  Bullul Caun beats the Mo∣gul's Army.
• * 1.72

  Chap. IV.
• * 1.73

  The Conspi∣cy of Ramras his Favourites.
• * 1.74

  They make themselves Kings, and are Curbed by the Mogul.
• * 1.75

  On the f••ll of 〈…〉〈…〉 the Raja'•• Desert.
• * 1.76

  How it comes to pass the Mo∣gul has made no farther progress in his Conquest of Duccan.
• * 1.77

  The Govern∣ment of Duc∣can.
• * 1.78

  The Duccan∣nees are Prin∣ces Born.
• * 1.79

  Cowis Caun the Protector Murthered at a Treat by Bullul Caun.
• * 1.80

  The Successi∣on of the Kings of Visiapour.
• * 1.81

  Bullul Caun keeps the King and Kingdom in Possession.
• * 1.82

  The Members of Visiapour.
• * 1.83

  The Moun∣taineers in all Conquests the last that stand out.
• * 1.84

  Seva Gi raises himself on the Ruins of other Lords.
• * 1.85

  The King of Visiapour jea∣lous of Seva Gi.
• * 1.86

  Seva's Trea∣chery in slay∣ing Abdul Caun.
• * 1.87

  Whereupon follows the Discomfiture of the Army, and taking Pa∣nala.
• * 1.88

  Another Roy∣al Army broke by Perfidy.
• * 1.89

  Seva has Raja∣por•• surren∣dred by a false Pharmond.
• * 1.90

  Syddy Jore tricked out of his Life by Bullul Caun.
• * 1.91

  The King of Visiapour dies.
• * 1.92

  Seva's Soldiers hardy.
• * 1.93

  The King not Absolute.
• * 1.94

  The Duccanees of a restless Temper.
• * 1.95

  Chap. V.
• * 1.96

  The Diffe∣rence between the Hilly Peo∣ple and the Plain Country.
• * 1.97

  Cities, Marts, and Ports.
• * 1.98

  Diversions.
• * 1.99

  A Tigre Kil∣led and Dis∣sected.
• * 1.100

  Two Bones bound in the Shoulders im∣mersed in the Flesh.
• * 1.101

  The Custom of the Ombrahs on any grat Action.
• * 1.102

  Monkies the common Re∣past of the Tigre.
• * 1.103

  Apes Anato∣mized.
• * 1.104

  Bamboos.
• * 1.105

  Cassia Fistula.
• * 1.106

  Cassia Lignum.
• * 1.107

  The Thama∣rind Tree.
• * 1.108

  The Indian Oak.
• * 1.109

  Nux Vomica.
• * 1.110

  A Feast of Priapus.
• * 1.111

  The Dregs of the People use Charms, or think they do so.
• * 1.112

  Their Sacri∣fice for the Fields.
• * 1.113

  Whether these Wretches do work by the Devil, or no.
• * 1.114

  The sublime Wit as much in the wrong as the depres∣sed.
• * 1.115

  No Evasion for the Atheist.
• * 1.116

  I am sent for to Bombaim.
• * 1.117

  All Butchers Flesh forbid∣den at Goa in the Heats, ex∣cept Pork.
• * 1.118

  Mangoes good to cleanse the Blood.
• * 1.119

  Cheruses.
• * 1.120

  Ananas, or Pine-Apple, the most ad∣mired for Taste.
• * 1.121

  I winter at Carwar.
• * 1.122

  Bad a final A∣dieu to Car∣war, and come again to Goa.
• * 1.123

  Jews feed on Hogs-flesh, for fear of the In∣quisition.
• * 1.124

  Left Goa on St. Xeverius's Eve.
• * 1.125

  In Danger of being Ship∣wrecked at Bombaim.
• * 1.126

  Return to Surat.
• * 1.127

  Chap. VI.
• * 1.128

  The Business of Alexander and King Pore is suspici∣ous.
• * 1.129

  The Name of India doubtful from what be∣ginning.
• * 1.130

  India produ∣ces Three Harvests in some places.
• * 1.131

  The Year made up of Lunary, not Calendar Months.
• * 1.132

  Sunday Ob∣served by the Indians.
• * 1.133

  How they count the Hours.
• * 1.134

  Their Year divided into Three Sea∣sons.
• * 1.135

  Mountains:
• * 1.136

  Rivers.
• * 1.137

  The Country rich in In∣crease.
• * 1.138

  Deserts.
• * 1.139

  Mines.
• * 1.140

  Wild Beasts.
• * 1.141

  For Game.
• * 1.142

  Fowls of Prey.
• * 1.143

  Fish.
• * 1.144

  Insects.
• * 1.145

  Their men of Learning.
• * 1.146

  Their Notion of God.
• * 1.147

  The Conceit of Transmi∣gration forci∣ble to Merits.
• * 1.148

  Their aptness to learn Lan∣guages, and Skill in Phi∣losophy.
• * 1.149

  Write on Leafs.
• * 1.150

  Muttanies and Jougies.
• * 1.151

  Juglers, &c.
• * 1.152

  A Crocus-co∣loured Coat intimates a Resolution to dye, or be Conqueror.
• * 1.153

  Opium eaten often, and in quantities.
• * 1.154

  Whether the Banyan be a Jew.
• * 1.155

  Distinguished by their seve∣ral Paintings on their Fore∣heads,
• * 1.156

  And Cuts of their Beards.
• * 1.157

  The Ombrahs.
• * 1.158

  Petty Ombrahs.
• * 1.159

  The Artillery.
• * 1.160

  Their Differ∣ence in Reli∣gion with the Persians.
• * 1.161

  Their Pride and Luxury.
• * 1.162

  The reason of the Licenti∣ousness of the Fakiers.
• * 1.163

  The Portugals might have Conquered In∣dia had not the English In∣terrupted them, and the Dutch fal∣len upon them.
• * 1.164

  The English much valued.
• * 1.165

  The Parsies expose their dead to the Fowls of the Air.
• * 1.166

  The Women of the same Species as others, the Position of their Veins being the same.
• * 1.167

  Few Crooked or Deformed.
• * 1.168

  The Cause of their Blackness left in sus∣pence.
• * 1.169

  Their Houses built for Con∣veniency.
• * 1.170

  Live to a good Age,
• * 1.171

  By Care of their Diet,
• * 1.172

  And Cleanli∣ness.
• * 1.173

  Their Wash∣ers and other Craftsmen work well for little Money.
• * 1.174

  The World peopled after the Flood from Scythia.
• * 1.175

  As in Anno 1660, 61, 62, 63, when Cop∣per was dear.
• * 1.176

  M^d Surat, 40 S^r, is 37 l. M^d Pucka, double so much. M^d Ecbarry, 40 S^r, 30 Pice the S^r.
• * 1.177

  Letter IV.
• * 1.178

  4 M^d Ecbarry, 6 M^d Surat. 3 M^d Shaw Jehan, 6 M^d Surat.
• * 1.179

  32 Tuss▪ is an Engli••h Yard.
• * 1.180

  Chap. VII.
• * 1.181

  Brute Stones.
• * 1.182

  Of Perfection.