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.

The View of Sandraslapatan.

[illustration]

The Water here ran smooth and discoloured:* 1.1 Till once again committing our selves to the Sea,* 1.2 we ploughed deeper Water, North-East, of a Caerulean dye.

The next day we saw a French Man of War, and he us, but would not trust us.* 1.3 We knew him to be French by our Intelligencer, who laid us out his Station, where he had encountred five Batavians, and discomfited them.

This Day's observation made 30 m.* 1.4 to the North of Fort St. George. We were beating now against the Wind (which blows fiercely from the Shore) and a strong Current, which had set us 14 deg. 20 min. North in three days time, when the Junks we compelled with us hi∣ther, had the liberty to make the best of their way for the Bay of Bengala; for which the Winds served them well enough, though full in our Teeth, who laboured for the Land.

However,* 1.5 in four days time we met with the Freshes off the Shore caused by the Upland Rains: The Sea despising to defile its purer Azure with their Muddy Green. The same Antipathy was held be∣twixt the lively Fishes and their slimy Brood, they intermixing with such unfriendly Concord; for playing in whole Shoals about the Edges, they would not exceed the Limits the jarring Torrents had won upon each other. So the fierce Tigris in his swift Career ne∣glects the scorned Arethusa, and she with the like disdain retaliates his unkindness, neither Stream mixing either Fish or Water.

Thus quartering this Sublunary Globe,* 1.6 out of Europe into Africa, from thence cruising on the Coast of Brasil upon the American Seas, till joining with the Ethiopick, we double the Cape of good Hope into Africa again, at last we came in sight of the Asian Shores; and the latter end of June we cast Anchor in Mechlapatan Road; which was composed of Shoals and Deeps, where we found three Portugal Ships riding.

Our Fleet expressed their joy by the roaring of the wide-mouth'd Cannon, and the sounding of the shriller Trumpets; which the Eng∣lish Factory, welcomed by displaying their Flag (being allowed no Ordnance, but what they privily plant for their own security) as being under the Tutelage of the Natives, as also are the Portugals and Flemmings (who each have here their Staples) so in like man∣ner all they have any Commerce with: No Act of Hostility, ei∣ther on Shore, or in the Road, being tollerated without leave first obtained; those on Shore being the Pledges forfeited on the breach of Peace.

[illustration]

Mechlapatan.

Dierepoint.* 1.7

The firm Land was plain and nothing elevated beyond the Trees, unless Edifices of the European erection.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The View of Sandraslapa∣tan.
• * 1.2

  Put to Sea a∣gain, on Ad∣vice from the Agent.
• * 1.3

  Saw a French Man of War.
• * 1.4

  Dismissed the Junks.
• * 1.5

  Met the Freshes caused by the Rains.
• * 1.6

  Having quar∣tered the World, we Anchor at Mechlapatan.
• * 1.7

  Bar Town.