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.

Lands lying Easterly from Lahor with their Lords.

ALongst the Rauee Easterly, lyeth the Land of Raiaw Bossow, whose chiefe seate is Tem-mery,* 1.1 50 ^c. frō Lahor. He a is mighty Prince now subiect to the Mogol, a great Minion of Sha Selim.

Out of this, and the adioyning Regions, come most of the Indian Drugges, growing on the Mountaines, Spikenard, Turbith, Miras, Kebals, Gunlack, Turpentine, Costus, &c. This Raia confines the Kings Land Easterly. Bordering to him is another great Raiaw, called Tulluck-Chand, whose chiefe City is Negercoat, 80 ^c. from Lahor, and as much from Syrinan, in which City is a famous Pagod,* 1.2 called Ie or Durga, vnto which worlds of people resort out of all parts of India. It is a small short Idoll of stone,* 1.3 cut in forme of a man; much is consumed in offerings to him, in which some also are reported to cut off a piece of their tongue, and throwing it at the Idols feet, haue found it whole the next day (able to lye I am afraid; to serue the father of lyes and lyers, how euer) yea some out of impious piety heere sacrifice themselues, cutting their throats, and presently recouering: the holyer the man, the sooner forsooth he is healed, some (more grieuous [ 10] sinners) remaining halfe a day in paine, before the Diuell will attend their cure. Hither they re∣sort to craue children, to enquire of money hidden by their parents, or lost by themselues, which hauing made their offerings, by dreames in the night receiue answere, not one departing discon∣tented. They report this Pagan Diety to haue beene a woman (if a holy Virgin may haue that name) yea that shee still liues (the Diuell shee doth) but will not shew her selfe. Diuers Moores also resort to this Peer. This Raia is powerfull, by his Mountaines situation secure, not once vouchsafing to visite Sha Selim.

On this Raiaw Easterly confineth another, called Deccampergas, a mightie Prince, his chiefe seat Calsery about an 150 ^c. from Agra, his Country held 500 ^c. long, North and South 300 ^c. broad,* 1.4 populous, able to raise vpon occasion fiue hundred thousand foot, but few or no horse; the [ 20] Land plentifull in it selfe, but sends forth little.

To the Eastward of this Raiaw, betwixt Iemini and Ganges lyeth the Land of Raiaw Mansa, a mighty Prince and very rich, reported to be serued, all in vessels of massie gold: his Countrey 300 ^c. long, and one hundred and fifty broad, his chiefe seat Serenegar: the Mountaines called Dow Lager,* 1.5 vpon which in time of Winter falls such extreame Snowes, that the Inhabitants are forced to remooue into the Valleyes. Yet doe I not thinke that any of these Lands extend Nor∣therly aboue forty degrees, but the height of the Mountaines causeth this extremity of cold. This Raias Land extendeth within some 200 ^c. of Agra,* 1.6 part within 50 ^c. of Syrinan, very plentifull.

On the further side of Ganges lyeth a very mighty Prince, called Raiaw Rodorow, holding a [ 30] mountainous Countrey, his chiefe seat Camow; his territories extend 400 ^c. long, and not much lesse in breadth,* 1.7 abounding with graine, haue many goodly Cities: thence commeth much Muske, and heere is the great breed of a small kind of Horse, called Gunts, a true trauelling scalecliffe beast.* 1.8 This Prince is puissant in foot, but hath few Horse or Elephants, the mountaines not re∣quiring the one, and the cold excluding the other: his Lands thought to reach neare China.

To the South of this Raia, thwart the streames of Ganges, is seated another, Raia Mugg. very powerfull in horse, foote, and Elephants. In his Land is the old rocke of naturall Dia∣monds,* 1.9 which yeelds him no small benefit. His Lands extend East, somewhat South 700 ^c. from Agra. Beneath him amongst the streames of Ganges, keepeth a Potan Prince of the Dely-Kings race, whom the King cannot subdue, by reason of the streames and Ilands of Ganges. He con∣fineth [ 40] vpon Purrop, and makes often inroades vpon the Kings lands, enforcing Sha Selim to main∣taine a frontire army. Hence to the mouth of Ganges, all is the Kings land: only in the mouth, the Portugall Out-lawes hold a small Fort, and doe much mischiefe, liuing in no forme of sub∣iection to God or man.* 1.10

On the further side of Ganges, is the mightie King of Arracan, enioying a large territory, and infinite numbers of small Barkes. Eastward from him is the Kingdome of Siam; behind it Oua and Iangoma. Between Tanassar and Arracan is the Kingdome of Pegu; the Land now ly∣eth waste.* 1.11 To the South is the Kingdome of Queda, Malacca, &c. On the Sea-coast of Beu∣gala, this King hath two chiefe Ports, Ougolee (tyrannized by the Portugals) and Pipilee,passing which, and the Land of Orixa, you enter into the Lands of Goloconda, on whom Sha Selim ma∣keth [ 50] warres, and hath forcibly taken much of his Land. His chiefe Port is Masulipatan, and his Royall seat Braganadar and Goloconda, that late builded. Alongst the sea side toward the Cape, is the mightie King of Bezeneger, vnder whom the Portugals hold Saint Thome and Negapatan, but are not suffered to build a Castle. But I let passe these neighbouring Indies, and returne to Agra, the Mogols royall residence.

Agra hath not been in fame aboue fiftie yeeres, being before Acabars time a Village, who re∣moued (as you haue heard) from Fetipore for want of good water.* 1.12 It is spacious, large, populous beyond measure, that you can hardly passe in the streets, which are for the most part dirty and narrow, saue only the great Bazar and some few others, which are large and faire. The Citie ly∣eth in manner of a halfe-moone, bellying to the land-ward some 5 ^c. in length, and as much by [ 60] the Riuers side▪ vpon the bankes, whereof are many goodly houses of the Nobility, pleasantly ouer-looking Gemini, which runneth with a swift current from the North to the South, some∣what Easterly into Ganges.* 1.13 Vpon the banke of this Riuer stands the Castle, one of the fairest and admirablest buildings of the East, some three or foure miles in compasse, inclosed with a faire and strong wall of squared stone; about which is cast a faire ditch, ouer it draw-bridges. The

walles are built with bulwarkes somewhat defensible, regalled with a counter-scarfe or front without, some fifteene yards broad. Within this are two other strong walls and gates. To the Castle are foure gates, one to the North, by which you passe to a Rampire with great peeces, an∣other West to the Bazar, called the Cichery gate, within which, ouer against the great gate,* 1.14 is the Casi his seat of Chiefe-Iustice in matters of law, and by it two or three murtherers very great (one three foot in the bore, and fifteene long) of cast brasse. Ouer-against this seat is the Cichery or Court of Rolls, where the Kings Viseer sits euery morning some three houres, by whose hands passe all matters of Rents, Grants, Lands, Firmans, Debts, &c.

Beyond these two gates you passe a second gate, ouer which are two Raiaws in stone * 1.15, who [ 10] were slaine in the Kings Derbar before the Kings eyes, for being ouer-bold in speech, they selling their liues brauely, in remembrance of which they are heere placed. Passing this gate, you enter into a faire streete, with houses and munition all alongst on both sides. At the end of this street being a quarter of a mile, you come to the third gate, which leads to the Kings Derbar, alwayes chained, all men, but the King and his children, there alighting. This gate is to the South called Acabar Drowage, close within which is the Whores child, many hundreds of which attend there day and night, according as their seuerall turnes come euery seuenth day, that they may bee ready when the King or his women shall please to call any of them to sing or dance in his Mo∣holl, he giuing to euery one of them stipends according to their vnworthy worth.

The fourth Gate is to the Riuer called the Dersane, leading into a faire Court extending alongst [ 20] the Riuer, in which the King lookes forth euery morning at Sun-rising, which hee salutes, and then his Nobles resort to their Tessillam. Right vnder the place where he lookes out, is a kind of scaffold whereon his Nobles stand, but the Add••es with others awayt below in the Court. Here also euery noone he looketh forth to behold Tamashan, or fighting of Elephants, Lyons, Buffles, killing of Deare with Leopards; which is a custome on euery day of the weeke, Sunday excepted, on which is no fighting; but Tuesday on the contrary is a day of blood, both of fighting beasts, and iusticed men, the King iudging and seeing execution. To returne to the third Gate, with∣in it you enter into a spacious court with Ates••anna's round about like shops or open stalls, wherein his Captaines according to their degrees, keep their seuenth day Chockees. A little further you enter within a rayle into a more inward Court, with in which none but the Kings [ 30] Addees, and men of sort are admitted, vnder paine of swacking by the Porters cudgells, which lay on load without respect of persons.

Being entred, you approach the Kings Derbar or Seat, before which is also a small Court in∣closed with railes, couered ouer head with rich Semianes to keepe away the Sunne; where aloft in a Gallery, the King sits in his chaire of State, accompanied with his Children and chiefe Vi∣zier (who goeth vp by a short ladder forth of the Court) no other without calling daring to goe vp to him, saue onely two Punkaw's to gather wind. And right before him below on a scaffold is a third, who with a horse taile makes hauocke of poore flies. On the right hand of the King, on the wall behind him, is the picture of our Sauiour; on the left, of the Virgin. Within these railes none vnder the degree of foure hundred horse are permitted to enter. On the further side of this [ 40] Court of presence, are hanged golden bels, that if any be oppressed and can get no iustice by the Kings Officers, by ringing these bells when the King sits, he is called, and the matter discussed be∣fore the King. But let them be sure their cause be good, least he be punished for presumption to trouble the King. Here euery day betweene three and foure a clocke, the King comes forth (and many thousands resort to doe their duties, each taking place according to his degree) where hee remaines hearing of matters, receiuing of newes by letters read by his Vizier, graunting of suites, &c. till shutting in of the Euening, the drumme meane while beating,* 1.16 and Instruments playing from a high Gallery on the next building opposite: his Elephants and Horses passing by in braue fashion, doing their Tessillam, and being perused by Officers to see if they prosper. In the Castle are two high turrets, ouer-laid with pure massie gold, which may be seen from farre, one ouer his [ 50] Mohol, the other ouer his Treasury. After his going in from the Derbar in the Euening, some two houres after he comes out againe, sitting forth in a small more inward Court, behind the o∣ther, close to his Moholl, into which none but the Grandes, and they also with tickets to be re∣newed with euery Moone, are permitted to enter, where he drinkes by number and measure, sometimes one and thirtie, and running ouer, mixing also among, seuere iudicatures. From this Court is his priuy passage into a curious Garden, and to his Barge, by which he often passeth the Riuer to an other Garden opposite. It is remarkeable, that both in Court, and here in these Gardens, no Courtiers or Gardeners are tied to attendance, but by their seuenth dayes turne.

Some adde, * 1.17 that the Citie hath no walls, but a ditch round about, not broad, and dry also: ad∣ioyning to the ditch without the Citie are very large suburbs. The City and suburbs are one way [ 60] seuen mile in length, three in breadth. The Noble mens houses and Merchants built with bricke and stone, flat roofed, the common sort of mudde walls, couered with thatch, which cause often and terrible fires. The Citie hath sixe Gates, the adioyning Riuer Gemini being broader then the Thames at London, on which are many Boats, some of one hundred Tunnes, but these cannot re∣turne

against the streame. Most of the Noble mens houses are by the Riuers side. From Agra to Lahor sixe hundred miles, the way is set on both sides with Mulbery-trees.

* 1.18King Acabars Sepulchre is 3 ^c. distant from Agra in the way to Lahor, nothing neere finished as yet, after tenne yeares worke. It is placed in the midst of a faire and large Garden, inclosed with bricke walls, neere two miles in circuit; is to haue foure Gates (but one of which is yet in hand) each, if answerable to this foundation, able to receiue a great Prince with a reasonable traine) alongst the way side is a spacious Moholl for his fathers women (as is said) to remayne and end their dayes in deploring their deceassed Lord, each enioying the lands they before had in the Kings time, by the pay or rents of fiue thousand horse the principall, so that this should be to them a perpetuall Nunnery, neuer to marry againe.

In the Center of this Garden stands the Tombe foure square, about three quarters of a mile in [ 10] compasse. The first inclosure is with a curious rayle, to which you ascend some sixe steps into a small square Garden quartered in curious Tankes, planted with variety of sweets: adioyning to which is the Tombe, rounded with this gardenet, being also foure square, all of hewne stone, with faire spacious Galleries on each side, hauing at each corner a small beautifull Turret, arched ouer head, and couered with various Marble. Betwixt corner and corner are foure other Turrets at like distance. Here within a faire round coffin of Gold, lieth the body of this Monarch, who sometimes thought the World too little for him. This Tombe is much worshipped both by the Moores and Gentiles, holding him for a great Saint. Some tenne or twelue foot higher, you a∣scend by staires to another Gallery, (like, but narrower, to the former, as are also the rest that follow) containing onely three of those Turrets between corner and corner. Here in the midst is [ 20] his Wardrobe for a memoriall. The third story hath but two of those middle Turrets on a side: the fourth one: the fifth hath only the corner Turret, and a small square Gallery. The Tombe was not finished at my departure, but lay in manner of a coffin, couered with a white sheet, interwrought with Gold flowers. By his head stands his Sword and Target, and on a small pillow his Tur∣bant, and thereby two or three faire gilded bookes. At his feet stand his shooes, and a rich Bason and Ewre. Euery one approaching neere makes his reuerence, and puts off his shooes, bringing in his hand some sweete smelling flowers to bestrew the Carpets, or to adorne the Tombe.

At my last sight thereof, there was onely ouer head a rich Tent, with a Semiane ouer the Tombe. But it is to be inarched ouer with the most curious white and speckled Marble, and to be seeled all within, with pure sheet-Gold richly inwrought. These foure last Turrets also inclo∣sing [ 30] the Sepulchre, are of most rich curious Marble, & the ground vnderfoot paued with the like. There are in continuall worke about this and other buildings about it, the Moholl and Gate, not so few as three thousand. The stone is brought from a rich Quarrey neere Fetipore, which (wee haue said) may be cut in length and forme, as Timber with ••awes, and Plankes and seelings are made thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tem-mery.
• * 1.2

  Negercoat.
• * 1.3

  Idolatrous pil∣grimage, and cruell deuoti∣ons.
• * 1.4

  Calsery.
• * 1.5

  Serenegar. Dow Lager.
• * 1.6

  Extremitie of cold.
• * 1.7

  Camow.
• * 1.8

  Gunts, a race of horse to climbe hilles.
• * 1.9

  Rocke of Dia∣monds.
• * 1.10

  Port-outlawes.
• * 1.11

  See of Pegu Flo••i•• his Rela∣tion before.
• * 1.12

  Description of Agra, and the Castle.
• * 1.13

  The Castle.
• * 1.14

  Seats of Iu∣stice.
• * 1.15

  It is said that they were two Brothers Res∣boots▪ Tutors to a Prince their Nephew, whom the King demaun∣ded of them. They refused, and were com∣mitted, but drew on the Offic••rs slew twelue, and at last by multi∣tudes oppres∣sing were slain, and here haue Elephants of stone, and themselues fi∣gured.

  Singsters or whoores atten∣ding. Some say they are there as a Court of guard of wo∣men, of which are here two or three hundred daily by succes∣sion.

  Tessillam is a gesture of hu∣miliation. The Kings Der∣bar.
• * 1.16

  Of his Ele∣phants yearly presenting of his Treasures in this Castle, &c. see Capt. Hawkins for∣mer relations. Of other things, see that which followes in Sir T. Roes Iournall.
• * 1.17

  A written booke entitu∣led, A discourse of Agra, and the foure principall waies to it. I know not by what Author, except it be Nic. Vphlet.
• * 1.18

  Description of Acabars Tomb.