Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

8. NARSINGA.

NARSINGA is bounded on the South, with Travancor; on the West, with the Mountain Gates; on the North, with Oristan or Orixa; on the East, with the Golf of Bengala. So called from

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the chief City of it, and the Royal residence of the King.

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is said to be in length 600 miles, or as some say of as much extent as can be travelled in six Months: plentiful in the same commodities which the rest of India do hafford, except Pepper and some other spices which are proper to Malabar. Not so well furnished with Rivers, as some other places: which want is liberally supplyed by water falling from the Mountains, and received into trenches, meers, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which do wonderfully cool, moisten, and enrich the land, causing the Corn and Cat∣tel to prosper above all imagination. Most destitute in this kind is the Province of Choromandel, in which if any year passeth without rain, they fall into such extremities, that they are fain to ••ell their children.

The People, in Religion 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so worshipping one God, as the Lord of all, which is taught them by the light of nature, that they join the Devil or their Pagodes in Commission with him, where to indu∣ced by the perswasion of their beastly Bramines, who thereout suck no small advantage. Some Christians there are intermixt, of the old plantation, especially in Ma••apur, and the Region of Choromandel: but not to well instructed in the Principles of their own belief, as to be able to convince or convert the Gentiles, nor to disswade them from the use of some Heathenigh customes, though barbarous, inhumane, and against all reason; not used in any place but amongst the Indians. Amongst which I reckon for most savage, the forcing of poor women to burn themselves with their husbands bodies, the womens kindred not the hus∣bands thrusting them on these hard conditions, who reckon it a disgrace to their familie, if she should re∣fuse. And because they will be sure not to have that infamy stick upon them, they have ordered that the woman who shall so refuse, must shave her head, and break her Jewells, and not be suffered to eat, drink, or sleep, or company with any body till her death. A life more miserable than the Flames which they seek to shun. This makes them leap into the fire with joy and greediness, and to contend which shall be formost: she being thought to have been most loving during his life, which is now most willing to accom∣pany him in his death, and offer her self to his Mane, at the funeral pile: whereunto thus alludeth the Poet.

Et 〈…〉〈…〉, quae viva sequatur 〈◊〉〈◊〉 r••est non licuisse mori. 〈…〉〈…〉 & praebent pectora sammae: 〈…〉〈…〉

A shame 'tis not to dy: they therefore strive, Who may be sam'd to follow him alive. The Victor burns, yields to the flame her brest; And her burnt face doth on her husband rest.

Chief Cities of this Countrey, 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, on the borders of Travancer, belonging antiently to the Kings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, now to those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the people whereabout called Paravt, are a kind of Christians, who live for the most part by fishing for Pearl, which they fell to the Portugals, and Bengalan Mer∣chants. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the chief City of the Province called Musulipatan, the Lord whereof is a Moor, of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sect; but a Vassal to the Kings of Narsinga. 3. Chamdagrin, one of the Seat-Royals of the King. 4. Prepett, three miles from Chamdag••••n, memorable for an yearly feast here celebrated in honour of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (once s••le King of Malavar) reckoned for a Saint at least in these parts of India: the offerings at which accustomably amount unto 200000 Crowns. 5. Chadambaram, the Mo••he-City of these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Solemnities, which are done to Pereimal, who hath here a Temple endowed with 30000 Ducats of annual reat, all consumed by the Bramines belonging to it, who pretend to have been born out of P••re••••alls head. 6. Madura, honoured with the residence of the Cho••an••t•••• or the Chief Prelsc of the Bramines of this Kingdome; so numerous, that in this Town, and the territories of it only, are thought to be no fewer than an hundred thousand. The seat also of one of three 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or tributary Kings of the Crown of Narsinga: the other two residing at 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Chief Towns of their Principalities, but not else observable. 9. Mahapur, called also St. Thomas, from an opinion that the body of that Apostle was here interred: martyred here by the 〈…〉〈…〉, whose posterity, in other things like unto other men, are said to have one legand foot as big as an Elephants: a punishment inflicted on the whole Generation for the sin of their An∣cestors: How true this is I cannot say, but sure I am that Dorotheus faith, that he resteth at Calaem••na, where he was slain with a dart. However, the Portugali, to make some use of the old tradition, removed some bones from this place which were said to be his, and enshrined them in Goa, their own City; much visi∣ted by profitable 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to their great enriching. The City once so large and populous, that it con∣tained 330 Temples for the use of divers Nations which resorted thither. In these later daies desolate and forlorn, inhabited onely by some old Christians, till the Portugueze began again to people it with new Colonies. 10. Choromandel, giving name to a large Sea-Coast, lying on the West side of the Golf of Bengala. 11. Casta, a Town of Choromandel, in which the woman is not burned with her Husband, as in other places of this Countrey; but buried quick in the same grave with him. 12. Negapatan, in the same Region, inhabited for the most part by Saint Thomas Christians. 13. Tarnassari, once the head City of a Kingdome to called, the King whereof was able to bring into the field, 100000 horse and foot, and 100 armed Elephants, but now subject to the King of Narsinga. The people black, but so out of love with their own colour, that they willingly prostitute their wives or daughters, to any people of a whi∣ter and more cleer complexion. 14. Bisnagar, once the chief City of this kingdome, whence the King is sometimes called the King of Bisnagar. In those times 24 miles in compass, with nine Gates in it, (amongst others) continually guarded with Souldiers; and a magnificent Palace not elsewhere equalled. In the year 1565. sacked by four of the Mahometan Kings of Decan, who with their joint forces had invaded this kingdome, it became desolate and forsaken; and the Court removed to 15. Penegardc,

eight daies journey within the Land (Bisnagar being seated on the borders of Decan) But long it had not staid there when removed to 16. Narsinga, where it hath ever since been fixed, which is now the chief City of this Kingdome, unto which it gives name, though the King many times call himself by the name of that City where he resideth for the present.

Of the Antiquity of this kingdome I have little to say; these Eastern parts not being known at all till these later times, nor well known in these. About the year 1550 their King then reigning was imprisoned by three of his Captains or Commanders; who shewed him only once a year to his Subjects, parting the pow∣er and government amongst themselves. He being dead, and his sonne kept in the like restraint, Romara∣gio the first Captain ascended the Throne, Timaragio mannaged the Estate, and Bengahe commanded the Army. But these Usurpers being overthrown by the kings of Decan, in the year 1565. Timaragio the Survivor took the charge of all; whose sonne, to make himself sure of the kingdome, murdered his impri∣soned Soveraign (the life and liberty of kings being much of a date) whence followed many broiles and troubles touching the Succession, till settled in the person of Chrismarao, the undoubted Heir: who did not only restore peace and quiet to Narsinga it self, but recovered Canara out of the hands of the Idalcan, who had before endangered his estate therein. Of the great Army which he led against this Idalcan, we have spoke already: adding here onely, that before he went upon this enterprise (called the journey of Ra∣chiol) he sacrificed in nine daies 2036 Beasts to the Countrey Idols, the flesh whereof he caused to be distributed amongst the poor; Routed at first, and being perswaded by some about him to go out of the field, he is said to have made this Noble Answer, that he had rather the Idalcan should boast that he had slain him, than vanquished him. And thereupon leaping into the thickest of his enemies, and well followed by the valiantest of his Friends, he obtained the victory. But this vast Army of 606000 foot, 30000 Horse, 537 Elephants, with necessaries answerable to such infinite multitudes, speaks only what he can do on extreme necessiry, or when he hath some long time of preparation, as he had in that Action. The power of Kings is better measured by their standing forces, than by premeditated Levies. And here∣in this Prince comes not much short of his greatest neighbours: his standing bands consisting of 40000 Nai∣ros, or Gentlemen of his own Kingdom, which serve on foot; 20000 Horse, who are either Persians or Ara∣bians, and 200 Elephants; well paid, and kept in continual readiness: his foot defraied out of his Re∣venues, his Horse maintained like the Turks Timariots out of cerrain lands distributed amongst his Cap∣tains (some of which are said to have a million of Crowns per Annum) to furnish him with these stable bands of Horses and Elephants.

As for his Revenue it is reckoned at 12 millions yearly, out of which he is thought to lay up three, de∣fraying with the rest the expence of his houshold, and the entertainment of his Foot. This sum amassed together out of the lands, mines, and forrests of the Countrey, which are wholly his; and the waters of of some Rivers, (sold by him to his subjects) which he monopolizeth; the common people having nothing but their Armes and Labour. Of which, the mines, forrests, and one third of the lands, he retaineth to himself; the other two being divided amongst his Captains. So that it is no marvel if so rich a Coun∣trey yield him such an income, considering it is all his own. I do rather wounder (of the two) it should yield no more.