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.

§. II. Notes taken out of M. Robert Boners Iournall, who was then Master in the Dragon.

THe first of February, hauing receiued in all prouisions for so long a Voyage, we set saile from Grauesend, and the same day at ten of the clocke we anchored in the Hope.* 1.1

Aprill the thirteenth, wee had the generall wind. Note that you shall seldome meete with the generall wind, till you come in two or three degrees to the South-ward of the Line, and then, when you come to meete with the Ternadoes, (as you shall be [ 10] sure to meete them in two or three, and sometimes in foure degrees to the North-ward of the Line: you must be very diligent to ply to the South-ward) for therein lyeth the mayne of your good or bad passage, and likewise for the health of your men, or they are very vnhealthfull, and for passing the Line, order it so by your course from Maio, that you may passe the Line be∣twixt seuen and ten degrees of longitude from the Lizard. But couet not to come within sixe degrees, for feare of the calmes vpon the Coast of Guinea,* 1.2 and not without ten degrees of lon∣gitude from the Lizard, if it be possible, for feare of meeting with the West North-west streame, that sets alongst the Coast of Brasil, and so into the West-Indies. And so passing the Line in se∣uen, eight, or nine degrees to the West-ward of the Meridian of the Lizard, you shall not feare the flats of Brasil. For the generall wind will blow at the East South-east, and at South-east; so [ 20] that you shall make a South South-west way commonly, and so keepe the ship good full, that she may goe through, for there is losse of time, in hawking of the ship crosse by the wind, there∣fore giue her a fathome of the sheete.

Note, he that comes out of the Sea, bound in for the of Bay of Soldania, let him keep himselfe betweene thirtie three degrees fiftie minutes, and thirtie foure degrees twentie minutes of lati∣tude, so shall you be sure not to come much wide of the Bay. If seeing the land you find it high, then you are to the South-west-ward of the Bay; if low sand hils, then know that you are to the North-ward of the Bay of Soldania.* 1.3 But falling with the high land to the South-ward of the Bay, which is betwixt the Cape and the Bay, the land lyeth North North-west, and South South-east from the Cape seuen leagues, and then it trents away North-east and South-west, [ 30] towards the point of the Sugar-loafe, some foure leagues: and from this point of the Sugar-loafe lyeth Penguin Iland, but keepe faire by the point: for two miles from Penguin Iland lyes a shoales: it is from the point to the Iland some seuen or eight miles North and South, and so borrowing on the said point, at eight or nine fathome, your course South-east, and East South-east, vntill you bring the Table South South west, and the Sugar-loafe hill South-west and by West, and so you may anchor in sixe and an halfe or sixe fathome, as you will, and then will the point of the land by the Sugar-loafe beare from you West North-west, and Penguin Iland North North-west some three leagues off, and the point some two miles off. The latitude of the Bay of Soldania, I meane of the point going in, is thirtie foure degrees fiue minutes, the variation of the Needle is fortie minutes Easterly: when you come in with the [ 40] land heereabouts (although it be thicke) feare not: for the land is bold within a Cables length.

I am of opinion that the Current neere Cape Das Aguilhas sets Southerly not past fiftie or sixtie leagues off the land,* 1.4 and therefore being bound to the East-ward haule off the land sixtie leagues, after you are to the East-ward of Cape Das Aguilhas, so shall you find no Current. The land lyes from the Cape Das Aguilhas, ninetie or one hundred leagues East Northerly, and not as in the Cards East North-east.

Ino de Noua, is a low ragged Iland, about foure miles in length, lying South South-east, and North North-west. This Iland hath latitude seuenteene degrees thirtie minutes,* 1.5 and longitude from the Cape of Good Hope, nineteene degrees fortie minutes, &c. Wee had no ground at one hundred fathome: we can perceiue no danger from it, only at the South South-east end of it lies [ 50] a small breach about a mile off: therefore feare not to haule in sight of it, being bound this waies, for if you shall haule ouer for the Maine, you shall be mightily troubled with a strong Current setting to the South-ward, and there are likewise many dangerous bankes, whereon many Por∣tugals haue lost their ships, wherefore before you haule not much to the West-ward of this Ile Ino de Noua, for you may very boldly haule in sight of it without danger, and so shall you not meete with the Current.

The eight & twentieth day of Nouember, we receiued a Letter from M. Canning,* 1.6 & our Purser cōcerning foure Gallions of War, with thirty saile of Frigats, which were comming to fight with vs. And this day we saw them some two leagues to the South-ward of the Barre of Surat. This day the Sabandar of Surat came aboord to veiw vs as wee iudge being a friend to the Portugals,* 1.7 [ 60] but the more he looked the worse he liked, we hauing all things readie, &c.

The nine and twentieth day, at two in the after-noone wee set saile, and stood with the foure Gallions and Frigats which were come within some two leagues of vs.* 1.8 The first which we met withall was the Vice-Admirall: wee gaue her such a welcome, as that she was glad to haste vnto the rest with all speed: night being neere and our long Boat sunke, at our sterne with an vnluc∣key shot, we anchored.

* 1.9The thirtieth day, early in the moorning wee set saile, and stood with them, and after some houres sight put three of the Gallions ashoare on the offermost sand, and then wee stood into deeper water, and anchored: their Frigats were straight aboord the ships aground, and shoared them vp with their yards, or els I thinke they had neuer come off. Assoone as the Floud came wee weighed, but they were afloate ere wee could get to them: wee fought with them till it was darke, and had one man kild, and another hurt.

The first day of December, 1612. we roade within a league one of the other, alwayes we had thought they would haue come to vs, we hauing gone to them three seuerall times, but they are not so hastie, I thinke they haue more minde to goe for Goa againe.

The nineteenth day, there came a second Messenger from a great Lord of the great Mogols [ 10] from a place called the Castellet, which place this great man lyes in Campe against, sending our Generall word that if he will but come thwart that place with his ships to grace him, hee will be a sworne friend vnto the English for euer. The Generall hearing that hee was a great man in fauour with the King, resolued to goe spend a day or two with him, to see what his desire was.

The twentieth day, we anchored thwart of the Campe beeing close by the Sea-side, for the Castle besieged butted vpon the Sea, they in the Castle being a companie of Rebels and Rouers on the Sea.

The one and twentieth day, vpon the receit of good caution for his person, our Generall lan∣ded, and at three returned to ship.

The two and twentieth day, we saw the foure Gallions and Frigats againe in sight, hauing [ 20] beene at Diu for more fresh Souldiers, to haue a bout more with vs. At night they anchored within a mile of vs.

The three and twentieth day by day light, we were vnder-saile, and stood with the Admirall, and so fought till two of the clocke, at which time they cut their Cable, and began to runne, the Admirall hauing receiued a shot vnder water: but the helpe of the Frigats brought her vpon the Carine presently, and stopped it, and so for this time fled, all the Campe standing by the Sea-side looking on vs, within a league or two miles of vs. For a great Commander did there iust by vs besiege a Castle holden by Rebels and Pirats, and were willing Spectators of this Sea-fight.

* 1.10The foure and twentieth day, we stood with them againe, and fought with them till two or three of the clocke in the after-noone. They fled, and being light ships and cleane, went from vs: one man kild, and no more hurt, praysed be God for all his mercies. Note, that wee haue spent [ 30] sixe hundred eightie great shot,* 1.11 and three thousand small shot out of the Dragon, and some sixtie Barrels of Powder: their Admirall had thirtie eight Peeces, and the rest thirtie by ship, very good Ordnance. This night we steered for Surat South-east, to haule without the sands. South from Mea some sixe leagues off lyes the first spit, on which sand the Ascension was lost.

The fo••rth day of February 1612. wee set saile and stood to the South-ward, wind at North North-west.

The fifth day, being some eight leagues short of Cape Comorin, wee met with the wind at East very much wind, so that we plaine see there is no going to the East-wards, the Easterly Monson not being done. Heere we anchored at a point of the land, from which point the land [ 40] trents away East South-east with the Cape of Comorin, and distant eight leagues: but beware how you come neere this point,* 1.12 for thwa••t of it foure miles off lyes two sunken Rockes close by the edge of the water, and lyes in the streame of twentie or twentie two fathomes: wherefore keepe off in twentie eight or thirtie fathome, and feare them not. But bee sure that you keepe within thirtie fiue or fortie fathome, for the Current sets off South with the Maldines, and being calme some Portugall ships haue beene driuen to the Maldines, and beene in great danger. You shall know this point from the which these two sunken Rockes lye, by this. Thwart of the point lye two bigge Rockes a good heighth aboue the water: a league right off from the Easter∣most of the dry Rockes lye the two sunken Rockes, where we reade, the two dry rockes did beare from vs South-east and by East foure miles of the Northermost: here the people will come [ 50] aboord of your ship euery day with prouisions as Hens, and Hogges with linnesse in their little Canoes.

The fiue and twentieth day at foure a clocke, the Cape of Comorin did beare North North-west some foure leagues off.* 1.13 Note, that the Cape it sel••e is very low land with two craggie Rockes lying a little from it, but vp in the Countrey, high ragged land; the Cape of Comorin hath latitude seuen degrees fiftie minutes and longitude from the Meridian of the Cape of Good Hope, fiftie seuen degrees twentie minutes East. The variation is fourteene degrees thirtie mi∣nutes Westerly: we haue very faire shoalding off from it twentie foure fathomes, foure leagues of sand, from the Cape the land trents away East North-east.

I doe thinke that the Gulfe of Cambaya is the worst place in all the Indies for W••rmes, and [ 60] therefore the ships which goe for Surat,* 1.14 must haue good prouision. The Barre of Surat hath la∣titude twentie one degrees ten minutes, and l••ngitude from the Cape of Good Hope fiftie three degrees thirtie minutes Easterly. Variation sixteene degrees fiftie minutes Westerly. Latitude of Swally is twentie one degrees twentie minutes. Variation seuenteene degrees no minutes.

The Road of Achen hath latitude fiue degrees fortie minutes South, and longitude from the Cape of Good Hope of seuentie three deg. thirtie foure min. East.* 1.15 And from the Cape of Comorin about sixteene degrees twentie minutes East. The variation is sixe degrees thirtie minutes We∣sterly. As you ride in the Road one high great Iland will beare North of you, distant some sixe leagues, and the two other bigge Ilands will beare from the West South-west to the North-west and by West, anchor hold good: in the Westerly Monson, you shall haue many times very much wind, with g••sts of raine, but you shall ride very well: there goes a small Current to the East-ward, and West-ward in manner of a tyde, but not so certaine, and heights and fals some fiue [ 10] or sixe foot water.

The King loueth our Generall exceeding well, in so much that hee maketh no sport, but hee commands some one of his Nobles to goe for the Arrankaia Putee, for so hath hee named him: so that all the Citie through is he called by that name, and all our men by the common people very kindly entertayned, more then euer any strangers heretofore haue beene.

In steering North North-west from the little Iland, which lyes South-west and by West se∣uen leagues from Priaman Iland, wee saw a shoald bearing from the said little Iland South-east and by South fiue miles off. We sent our Boat to it, who found it but three fathome Rockes. From this shoald the Homockes of Tecu beare North and by West: wherefore beeing bound for Tecu, keepe off, so that the Homockes may beare North, or North and by East, and feare not.* 1.16 The Homockes are two round 〈◊〉〈◊〉 standing vpon the low-land close by the Sea-side. At two a [ 20] clocke we saw the three little round Ilands of Tecu, which Ilands you must ride vnder, they beare of vs, North and by East some foure leagues off, wee steere North, keeping the Ilands open on our starboord bow.

Note, that by good looking out you shall perceiue any danger by this: it will shew it selfe in white spots. For otherwise the Sea is of his perfect colour, as in the maine Ocean. At night wee anchored within two leagues of the two outermost Ilands of Tecu in thirtie fathomes, the Ilands bearing North and by East, and the Homocks North Easterly.

Note, the Homockes doe stand some three leagues to the Northward of the Ilands of Tecu,* 1.17 there being in all three of them, but the Northermost of the three Homockes doth not shew it selfe so perfectly, as the other doe.

[ 30] The seuenth of August in the morning, weighed and plyed in, the wind at the North North-east of the land we see a shoale, bearing from the two offermost Ilands of Tecu South-west & by South foure or fiue miles off, right in the faire way. We sent our Boat to it and found it but two fathome & a halfe, being a Rocke of two Cables length long. This is the vnluckey Rocke where∣on the Princely Trade receiued her destruction, as we vnderstand by those people.* 1.18 About eleuen of the clocke we anchored on the Easter-side of the vttermost Iland in nine fathome, soft, Ozie, praysed be God. Riding vnder this outward Iland of the three we saw a breach, bearing South halfe Easterly, and another South and by East some three or foure leagues off, which breach as you come for this place, you must leaue betwixt you and the shoare: wherefore keepe this outer Iland North and by East, or North North-east, and feare nothing. But beware when you come [ 40] within two leagues of this Iland. For South-west and by South two leagues or fiue miles off lyes the Rocke whereon the vnhappie Trade grounded. Wherefore keepe this Iland North and by East, and vpon life feare not, your depth as you come neere the Iland will bee from thirtie to ten, nine and eight fathomes soft, Ozie, you shall haue nine fathomes within your ships length of either side of the Iland.

The ninth day, some people came aboord: we find them very base and subtile.

The eleuenth day, the Hoziander departed for Priaman, to shew them likewise that wee haue brought the Kings Letter of Achen, without the which you cannot trade. Note, that as wee ride here vpon the Poope, we see the foure Ilands of Priaman bearing South-east and by South some seuen leagues off.

[ 50] This day at nine of the clocke wee sailed into the inner Roade, which is betwixt the Mayne and the innermost Iland, halfe a mile from the Mayne, and a Cables length from the Iland, your depth foure fathome soft, Ozie, our depth in was twentie two foot being halfe tyde, it highes and fals some fiue or sixe foot water, the tyde, as I perceiue, runnes twelue houres North North-west, and twelue houres contrarie. To the North-ward of all the Ilands in comming in you shall haue foure fathomes and an halfe: but keepe neere the inner Iland, for from the Mayne on that side lyes a shoald. The Ilands are all of one bignesse, being halfe a mile a piece in circuit, they will beare from the South-west and by South to the North-west: your best water is on the Ilan••: digge a Well, and presently water comes. Thus much out of Master Boner; the rest you haue be∣fore in Captaine Best.

[ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Departed from Grauesend. The generall wind blowed betwixt East South-east, & South-east, Ternadoes.
• * 1.2

  This endange∣red and much hindered the Dragon and He∣ctor in the third Voyage, as you may read ••n the Relations thereof.
• * 1.3

  Soldania▪
• * 1.4

  Current neere Cape Das A∣guilhas.
• * 1.5

  Note.
• * 1.6

  Foure Ga••lions & 30. Frigats.
• * 1.7

  Sabander a Spye.
• * 1.8

  This day wee began our fight.
• * 1.9

  Three of the ships aground.
• * 1.10

  Portugals fain to flye.
• * 1.11

  The number of shot spent in our fiue fights.
• * 1.12

  Sunken rocks.
• * 1.13

  Note, for the Cape of Como∣rin, for longi∣tude, latitude, and variation.
• * 1.14

  Many wormes at Surat.
• * 1.15

  The latitud••, longitude and variation of Achen.
• * 1.16

  Notes for the Road of Tecu.
• * 1.17

  Variation of Tecu is 4. degr. 40. minutes Northeasterly.
• * 1.18

  A ledge of Rockes.

  The Rocke whereon the Trades-Increase was bruised.