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.

§. III. Trade at Tecoo and Passaman: their going to Bantam, and thence home.

THe third of August, we were in sight of Priaman, nine or tenne leagues off, it bearing from vs North-east by East,* 1.1 it shewing with two great high hils, making a faire swamp or saddle betweene them both. We sawe also Tecoo the high land on it: it is not more then halfe so high as Priaman land,* 1.2 and riseth something flat. Then we saw also the high [ 60] land of Passaman, which lieth some seuen or eight leagues to the North-ward of Tecoo, euen mid¦way betweene Passaman and Priaman,* 1.3 which Mountaine is very high, and riseth like Monte Gi∣bello in Sicilie.

* 1.4The seuenth in the afternoone we came to Tecoo, and anchored on the East side of the three

Ilands in seuen fathomes. The Souther-most Ile bore West South-west. The middlemost West North-West. The Northermost North, and halfe East a mile from the Ilands.

The ninth, I landed my Merchants; and in the afternoone I landed with the King of Achens Letter. The eleuenth, I called a Counsell for sending the Hosiander for Priaman with the Kings Letter, which departed the next day, and returned the eighteenth, and was sent to Bantam.

The fiue and twentieth, there came in a Iuncke of Bantam, the Owners Chineses. They con∣firmed vnto me the death of Sir Henrie Middleton,* 1.5 with the losse of most of the men of the Trades Increase, and Maine Mast which brake with forcing her downe to carine her, and that now she was gone from Pulo Panian to Bantam: that three hundred Chineses dyed in working [ 10] on her.

The eight and twentieth, my Boat and men returned from Passaman, hauing beene well in∣treated, and brought with them the Scriuane of the place to deale with me: with whom I dealt and went through.

The fourteenth, the Gouernour called me on Land, being set with all the chiefe: I came to him, and after much talke agreed for the price of Pepper: Money, eighteene Dollers the Barre. Lastage, eight pence the Barre. Canikins, thirtie the Barre. Seilars, thirtie fiue the Barre. They indented for Presents to sixteene great men.

The thirtieth, Henrie Long came from Passaman, and gaue mee knowledge of the sicknesse of Master Oliuer and diuers others dead, whereupon I sent my Shalop to fetch both him and all o∣ther [ 20] of my men away, and to surcease my Factorie there.

The one & twentieth of October, the Hosiander returned. The Merchants from Bantam wrote to me that they had readie seuenteen thousand bags of Pepper: all which, if it pleased me to come thither, I should haue, or as much thereof, as should seeme good vnto me, at thirteene Dollers the Timbane. Out of these and many other considerations, I presently called a Counsell: wherein we concluded that the Dragon should goe for Bantam; and the Hosiander should stay in the Road of Teco, vpon the sale of Surat goods: all which being put aboord of her, I departed from the Roade of Teco the thirtieth of October.

In this Roade I had stayed eleuen weekes, and bought one hundred and fifteene or one hun∣dred and twentie tunnes of Pepper, and buried of our men fiue and twentie. All which either [ 30] dyed, or contracted their deaths at Passaman, and not at Teco. And certainly,* 1.6 had wee not at∣tempted trading at Passaman, they had been either all, or the greatest part of them now liuing. Therefore I doe with all our Nation neuer to attempt the sending of our men to Passaman. For the Ayre is so contagious there, and the water so euill, that it is impossible for our people to liue there.

The thirtieth, in the after-noone I set saile from Teco:* 1.7 at sixe at night wee were thwart of the offermost of the three Ilands; all night we steered South South-west.

The eleuenth of Nouember,* 1.8 we arriued in the Roade of Bantam in foure fathomes one quarter lesse. The twelfth, I called the Merchants aboord, and concluded on the price of Pepper at thir∣teene Dollers the Bahar: which is sixe hundred pound of our weight.

[ 40] The fourth of March at eight at night I set saile from Saldanha, hauing bought heere with a little Copper, which at ten pence the pound might be worth some three pound tenne shillings, foure hundred ninetie foure Sheepe, foure Beeues, nine Calues. On the day of our comming to Sea the people brought vs more then we could buy, or knew what to doe withall. We brought to Sea eightie Sheepe, two Beeues, and one Calfe.

The foure & twentieth North North-west halfe West till nine, ten leagues & an halfe. Then West till sixe in the morning twelue leagues.* 1.9 Then we saw Sancta Helena from vs West North-west some eight or nine leagues off. I find the latitude of it to be sixteene Southerly. Also we ob∣serued at noone: and it hath longitude from the Meridian of the Cape of Good Hope, twentie two degrees. At three of the clocke we anchored in the Roade right against the Chappell.

[ 50] While I was at Saint Helena,* 1.10 I sent my Boates to the West-ward to find a shorter way to the Limon Trees, and to bring downe Goates and Hogges with more ease. For from the Chappell to the Limon Trees is a most wicked way: and euen a dayes worke to goe and come. In fine, in seeking they found some three or foure miles to the South-west a faire Valley, which leadeth directly vp to the Limon Trees. It is the greatest and fairest Valley from the Chappell; and ei∣ther the next or the next saue one from the South-west point from the Chappell:* 1.11 Heere in this Valley is better water, and more cleere, then at the Chappell, the Roade all one for ground and depth. Heere at this Valley it is much better being then at the Chappell, both for getting of all prouisions, and for watering. It is from the Chappell some three or foure miles, and is from it the fourth Valley or Swampe: and from the Point to the West-ward of it, the second. So that [ 60] you cannot misse of it. It is heere much better riding then at any other place on the Iland. From this place you may goe vp to the Limon Trees, and downe againe in three houres. Heere we got some thirtie Hogges and Pigges, and some twelue or fourteene hundred Limons. In eight or ten dayes a man may heere get two hundred Hogges, and many Goates, lying on land of pur∣pose to kill them. The variation is here seuen degrees thirtie minutes.

The fourth of Iune 1614. we saw the Lizard North from vs, some foure or fiue leagues off. And now our longitude from the Cape of Good Hope was twentie seuen degrees twentie mi∣nutes,* 1.12 and two degrees carryed by the Current. So tha•• the difference of longitude betweene the Cape of Good Hope and the Lizard is twentie nine degrees twentie minutes, or very neere thereabout.

Note, that this day three moneths at night I did set saile in the roade of Saldanha: yet not∣withstanding our short passage, hauing beene from Santa Helena but two monethes and nine dayes, the one halfe or more of our Company are laid vp of the Scuruie: and two dead of it. Yet had we plentie of victuals, as Beefe, Bread, Wine, Rice, Oyle, Vinegar, Sugar; and all these without allowance.* 1.13 Note, that all our men that are sicke, haue taken their sicknesse since [ 10] wee fell with Flores and Coruo. For since that time wee haue had it very cold, especially in two great stormes, the one with the wind a•• North and North North-east: The other with the wind at South-west. From the Cape of Good Hope to the Ilands of Flores and Coruo, I had not one man sicke. The variation foure or fiue leagues off, the Start is nine degrees thirtie minutes, little more or lesse.

* 1.14The fifteenth, wee came into the Riuer of Thames, it being that day sixe moneths since wee came from Bantam in Iaua.

Blessed bee God.

[ 20]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Priaman.
• * 1.2

  Tecoo.
• * 1.3

  Passaman.
• * 1.4

  They arriue at Tecoo.
• * 1.5

  Death of Sir H. Middleton. The Trade pe∣risheth.
• * 1.6

  Passaman is a very contagi∣ous place.
• * 1.7

  He departeth from Teco.
• * 1.8

  They arriued in the Road of Bantam.
• * 1.9

  They saw San∣ta Helena.
• * 1.10

  Another Road at Santa Helena, better then the former.
• * 1.11

  The best water
• * 1.12

  The Lizard.
• * 1.13

  Comming sud∣denly out of long heat into the cold, see∣me••h 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bee a great cause of the Scuruie.
• * 1.14

  They arriue in the Thames.