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.

11. PATANAW.

PATANE or PATANAW, is bounded on the North, with the Realms of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the East, with Ganges; on the West, with Oristan; and on the South, with the Kingdome and Gulf of Bengala. So called from Pata••e the chief City of it. There is another Kingdome of th•••• name in the further India: but whether it were so called because a Colony of this; or from some resemblances in the nature of the severall Countries, or from the signification of the word in the Indian language; I am not able to determine. Certain I am, that though they have the same name, yet they are under several Go∣vernments, and situate in farre distant places: no other wise agreeing than in some resemblances, as Hol∣land in the Low-Countries doth with Holland in Lincol••shire.

The Country yieldeth veins of Gold which they dig out of the pits, and wash away the earth from it in great Bolls. The people tall, and of slender making, many of them old: great Praters, and as great dissemblers. The women so bedecked with silver and copper, especially about the feet, that they are not able to endure a shooe. Both Sexes use much washing in the open Rivers, and that too interm••xt together in their naturall nakedness; especially such as live neer the banks of the River Jemenae (esteemed more ho∣ly than the rest) which from Agra passing thorow this Country, falleth into Ganges.

Chief Towns hereof, 1. Patane, a large town and a long one, built with very broad streets; but the houses very mean and poor, made at the best of earth and hurdles, and thatched over head. The Metro∣polis of this Kingdom, because the antientest, and that which gives the name unto it. 2. Bannaras, a great Town on Ganges, to which the Gentiles from remote Countries use to come in pilgrimage, to bath them∣selves in the holy waters of that River. The Country betwixt this and Patanaw, very fair and flourishing, and beautified upon the Rode with handsome Villages. 3. Siripur, the chief Seat of one of the old Princes of this Country; not yet subdued by the Great Mongu's. 4. Ciandecan, on the bottom of the Gulf of Bengala; the Seat of another of their Kings. One of which memorable for a trick put upon the Jesu••es when blamed by them for the worship of so many Pag••des, as contrary both to the law of God and na∣ture. For causing them to rehearse the Decalogue, he told them that he did offead no more against those

commandements in worshiping so many Pagodes, than they themselves in worshipping so many Saints. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a fair City (for a City of Moores) once part of Patanaw, since ascribed to Bengala.

The people of this Country properly called Patanea••••, but corruptly Parthians, w••re once of great command and power in these parts of India. Lords for a time, of a great part of the Kingdom of Benga∣la, into which driven by Baburxa, the Mongul Tartar, the Father of Emanpaxda, and Grand-father of E••hebar. Their last King being slain in that war, twelve of ••heir chief Princes joined in an Aristocra∣ty, and warring upon Emanpaxda had the better of him. After this, their Successors attempted Oristan, and added that also to their Estate. But they could not long make good their fortunes; subdued by E∣thebar the Mongul, and made subject to him. Three of them, viz. the Prince of Siripur, the King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and he whom they call Mausadalion, retain, as yet (for ought I can learn unto the contra∣ry) as well their antient Paganism, as their natural liberty. The other nine, together with Mahome∣tanism, have vassail••d themselves to the great Mongul, now the Lord Paramount of the Country.