Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

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Certaine Rules for the choise of sundry Drugges, as also from whence they may be had, as followeth.

LIgnum Aloes, is a wood so called by vs, but of the Mallayens, it is called Garroo. The best commeth from Mallacka, Syam, and Cambaya.* 1.1 The best is that which is in large round stickes and very massie, of blacke colour intermixed with Ashe-coloured veines. In taste some-what bitter and odoriferous, and being burnt, it becommeth like vnto Pitch in bubbles. If a splinter thereof be laid vpon a fire-coale, for if it be good, it will not leaue frying till it bee quite consu∣med, casting forth a most delectable Odour.

[ 50] Beniamin, is a Gumme called by the Mallayens Minnian. The best sort commeth from Syam, which is very pure, cleere and white, with little streakes of Amber colour.* 1.2 The other sort which is not altogether so white, but is also very good, commeth from Sumatra. And a third sort which commeth from Priaman and Barrowse, is very course like Horse-bread, not vendible in England, but well esteemed in Bantam.

Ciuet, the best is that which is of a deepe yellow colour some-what inclining to the colour of Gold, not whitish, for that is vsually sophisticated with Grease, yet if it bee newly taken, it is naturally whitish, and will in continuance of time become of a yellowish colour.

Muske, there are three sorts, blacke, browne and yellow, of which the first is naught, the se∣cond is good, the last best: which ought to be of colour like the best Spicknard, that is, of a deep [ 60] Amber colour, inclosed with one onely skinne, and not one ouer another, as it is oftentimes to be seene, not ouer-moist which maketh it waightie, but in a meane, hauing some haires like bristles, but not ouer-many, cleere of stones, leade, or other trash intermixed, and of so strong and fragrant a smell, that to many it is offensiue, and being tasted in the mouth, it pierceth the very braine with the scent, and ought not ouer-soone to dissolue in the mouth, nor yet to re∣mayne

very long vndissolued in any hand, it must not be kept neere to any sweet Spices, least it lose the sent.

Bezar, there are heere of two kinds, the one brought from the West, the other from the East-Indies, whereof the East-India Bezar is worth double the price of the other. The formes of ••oth are diuers, some round, others long like Date-stones, others like Pidgeons Egges, some like the Kidneyes of a young Goate, and others in forme of a Ches-nut, but all for the most part are ••l••nt at the ends, not picked, and no lesse varietie is also to be seene in the colours, for some are of light redde,* 1.3 others of colour like Honey, many of a darke Ash-colour like that of the Ciuet-Cat, but for the most part of a waterish-greene. The East-India Bezars consist of many peelings and scales, as it were artificially compacted together, in manner of the skinnes and peeles of an Onion, each inclosing other, bright and splendent, as if they were po∣lished [ 10] by Art, the one peeling being broke off, the next is more splendent or brighter then the former, these peelings are some thicke, some thinne, according to the largenesse of the stones, and the larger the stone is, the better for sale. This is a certaine way to make tryall of Bezars; take the direct waight of the stone, then put him into water, and let it stand for the space of foure houres, then see if he be not crackt, wipe it dry, and weigh it againe, if it weigh neuer so small a matter more then he did at the first, then build vpon it, it is not good. Thus haue I proued my selfe many times in Bantam, and haue had diuers turne to Chalke with a little sticke in the mid∣dle, which hath weighed a Taile Iaua, which is two Ounces. The most Counterfeites come from Soocodanna, which is vpon Burneo. These names in the Margent, are the places from whence they may be had. [ 20]

Amber, there is hereof, if you regard the colour, many sorts, as blacke, white, browne, and gray, of all which the blacke is vsually the basest, and the gray the best, of which choose what is best clensed from filth or drosse, pure of it selfe, of colour inclining to a white, and of an Ash-colour intermixed with veines, some Ash-colour, other whitish, being put into a bowle of wa∣ter, it ought to floate aloft. The which, although some which is sophisticated may doe, yet this is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that none which is pure will sinke in the water. The greatest quantitie commeth from Mosambique and Sofala.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Also from Sumatra, Potan∣nie, Cauchau∣chene.
• * 1.2

  Burrowse yeel∣deth Tyurall, called in Eng∣lish Buris, worth there a Riall the Cat∣tee, and heere ten shillings the pound, it is kept in Grease.
• * 1.3

  〈…〉〈…〉 I••sula ••as vacas, which is a•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into Cambaya.