Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 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.

§. X. Of the firme Land of the Greater India.

* 1.1FRom Zeilan sayling sixtie miles to the West is the great Prouince of Malabar, which is not an Iland, but firme Continent, called India the greater, the richest Prouince in the World. There are in it foure Kings, the chiefe of which is Senderbandi, in whose Kingdome they fish for Pearles, to wit, betwixt Malabar and Zeilan, in a Bay where the Sea is not aboue ten or twelue fathome,* 1.2 in which diuers descend, and in bags or nets [ 40] tyed to their bodies bring vp the Oysters in which they are. And because there are great fishes which kill the Fishermen, they hire certaine Bramines to charme them (being skilfull to charme all sorts of beasts also and birds) and these haue the twentieth, the King the tenth. These Oy∣sters are found all Aprill, and till the midst of May, and not else: in September they finde them in a place aboue three hundred miles off, and till the midst of October. The King goeth as naked as the rest, saue that he weareth some honorable Ensignes, as a Coller of precious stones about his necke, and a threed of Silke to his breast with one hundred and foure faire Pearles (as Beads) to number his Prayers,* 1.3 of which he must daily say so many to his Idols: like Bracelets he weareth on three places of his armes, and likewise on his legs; and on his fingers also and toes. The [ 50] prayers which he sayth are Pacauca▪ pacauca, pacauca, one hundred and foure times. This King hath one thousand women, and if any please his sense he takes her; as one he did from his bro∣ther, whence warres had followed, but the mother threatning to cut off her breasts which had nourished them, if they proceeded, stayed the broyle. He hath many Horsemen for his Guard which alway accompanie him, who when the King dies, throw themselues voluntarily into the fire wherein he is burned to doe him seruice in the next World.* 1.4 This and his brethren the Kings of Malabar buy their Horses from Ormus, and other parts. The Countrey breeds none, and if it happens sometimes, yet are they there bred ill-fauoured and naught. Condemned per∣sons will offer themselues to die in honour of such an Idoll, which is performed with twelue Kniues, and twelue wounds in diuers parts of the bodie, at euery blow, saying, I kill my selfe in [ 60] honour of that Idol, and the last he thrusts in his heart; and then is burned by his kindred. The wiues also cast themselues into the fire with their husbands; they being disreputed which re∣fuse it.

They worship Idols, and most of them Beeues, and would not eat of so holy flesh as Beefe,

for all the World. There are some called Gaui, which eate those Beeues which dye alone, may not kill them, and dawbe ouer their houses with Oxe dung. These Gaui are of the Posteritie of those which slue Saint Thomas, and cannot enter the place where his bodie is, if ten men should carrie them. They sit on Carpets on the ground in this Kingdome, they haue no Corne but Rice, are no Warriours, kill no beasts, but when they will eat any get the Saracens to doe it, or other people; wash twice a day, morning and euening both men and women, and will not otherwise eate; which they which obserue not, are accounted Heretikes. They touch not their meat with the left hand, but vse that hand only to wipe, and other vncleane offices. They drinke each in his owne pot, and will not touch another mans pot, nor suffer their owne to touch their mouth, [ 10] but hold it ouer and powre it in. To strangers which haue no pot they powre drinke into his hands to drinke with them. Iustice is seuerely executed for Crimes,* 1.5 and Creditors may encom∣passe their Debtors with a Circle, which he dares not passe till hee hath paid or giuen securitie: if he doth, he is to be put to death: and M. Marco once saw the King himselfe on Horse-backe thus encircled by a Merchant whom he had long delayed and frustrated, neither would the King goe out of the Circle which the Merchant had drawne till he had satisfied him, the people ap∣plauding the Kings Iustice.

They are very scrupulous in drinking Wine of the Grape, and they which doe it are not ad∣mitted to be Witnesse; a thing denyed also to him which sayles by Sea, for they say such men are desperate. They thinke Leachery no sinne. It is very hote, and they haue no raine but in [ 20] Iune, Iuly, and August, without which refreshing of the Ayre they could not liue. They haue many Physiognomers and Sooth-sayers, which obserue beasts and Birds,* 1.6 and haue an vnluckie houre euery day of the weeke, called Choiach, as on Munday betwixt two and three, on Tues∣day, the third houre, on Wednesday the ninth, &c. thorow all the yeare set downe in their Bookes. They curiously obserue Natiuities: at thirteene yeares old they put the Boyes to get their owne liuings, which runne vp and down to buy and sell, hauing a little stocke giuen them to begin: and in Pearle-season they buy a few Pearles, and sell them againe to the Merchants, which cannot well endure the Sunne for little gaine. What they get they bring to their Mothers to dresse for them, but may not eate at their Fathers cost.

They haue Idols Males and Females, to which they offer their Daughters,* 1.7 which when the [ 30] Monkes (or Priests) appoint, sing and dance to cheere the Idols; and diuers times set victuals be∣fore them saying, that they eat, leauing it the space of a meale, singing the while, and then they fall to eating in deed, after which they returne home? The cause of these solaces is the house∣hold quarrels betwixt the God and his Goddesse, which if they should not thus appease, they should lose their blessing.

The great men haue Litters of large Canes, which they can fasten artificially to some vpper place, to preuent Tarantulas byting and Fleas, and other Vermine; and for fresh Aire. The place of Saint Thomas his Sepulchre, is a small Citie, smally frequented by Merchants,* 1.8 infinitely by Christians and Saracens for deuotion. The Saracens hold him a great Prophet, and call him Ana∣nias, that is a holy man. The Christians take of the Earth where he was slaine, which is red, and [ 40] carry it with them with great reuerence, and giue it mixed with water to the sicke.

Anno 1288. A great Prince hauing more Rice then roome to lay it in, made bold with Saint Thomas his Church in the roome where Pilgrimes were receiued, but by a Vision of Saint Tho∣mas in the night was so terrified that he quickly freed the place. The Inhabitants are black, not so borne, but often anoynt themselues with Sessamine Oyle to obtayne that beautie: they paint the Deuill white, and their Idols blacke. The Beeue-worshippers carry with them to battell, some of the haire of a wild Oxe as a preseruatiue against dangers: and therefore such haires are deare∣ly prized.

Murphili or Monsul is Northward from Malabar fiue hundred miles, they are Idolaters. They haue Diamonds in their hils, which they search for after great-raines.* 1.9 West-wards from [ 50] Saint Thomas is Lac, whence the Bramines haue originall, which are the truest Merchants in the World, and will not lye for any thing,* 1.10 and trustily keepe any thing committed to their cu∣stodie, or sell, or barter Merchandice for others. They are knowne by a Cotton threed which they weare ouer the sholder tyed vnder the arme crossing the brest. They haue but one Wife, are great Diuiners, of great abstinence and long life: obserue their owne shadow in the Sunne when they are to buy, and thence coniecture according to their Discipline.* 1.11 They vse to chew a cer∣tayne Herbe which makes their teeth good and helpes digestion. There are some Religious of them called Tingui, which goe altogether naked, liue austerely, worshippe the Beeue, whereof they haue a little brasse Image on their forehead, and of the Oxe bones ashes make an Ointment, wherewith they anoynt their bodies in diuers places with great reuerence. They nor kill nor eate any quicke creature, nor herbe greene, or Root before it is dryed, esteeming all things to [ 60] haue a soule. They vse no Dishes but lay their Viands on dry leaues of Apples of Paradize. They doe their Excrements in the Sands, and then disperse it hither and thither, lest it should breed Wormes which must presently dye for want of food. Some of them liue to one hundred and fiftie yeares, and their bodies after death are burned.

In Zeilan I had forgot to tell of a high Mountayne, which none can ascend but by Iron chaines,* 1.12 as I was told, in the top whereof the Saracens say is Adams Sepulchre, the Idolater say it is the body of Sogomonbarchan the first Idol-founder, sonne to a King of that Iland, which gaue himselfe to a solitarie life on the top of this hill, whence no pleasures nor perswasions could draw him. His Father made an Image after his death to represent him, all of Gold adorned with Gemmes, and commanded all the Ilanders to worship it, and hence began Idolatry. Hither they come from farre places in Pilgrimage; and there his haire, teeth, and a dish of his are reserued, and solemnly shewed. The Saracens say they are of Adam, which report caused the Can, Anno 1281. to send Ambassadors thither,* 1.13 who obtayned two teeth, and a dish, and some of his haires by grant of the King of Zeilan; which he caused to be receiued by the whole people of Cam∣balu, [ 10] without the Citie, and brought to his presence with great honour.

* 1.14Cael is a great Citie gouerned by Astar, one of the foure Brethren, very rich and a good vser of Merchants: he hath three hundred women. All the people haue a custome to carrie in their mouthes chawing, a leafe called Tembul, with Spices and Lime. Coulam is fiue hundred miles North-west from Malabar, they are Idolaters; there are also Christians and Iewes which haue a speech by themselues. They haue Pepper, Brasill, Indico, Lions all blacke, Parrets of diuers sorts, all white as Snow, others Azure, others Red, and some very little: Peacockes and Pea∣hens much differing from ours, and greater, as are their fruits. They are leacherous, and marrie their sisters and kindred.* 1.15 There are many Astrologers and Physicians. In Cumari are Apes so great that they seeme men: and here we had sight of the North starre. Dely hath a proper King [ 20] and Language: the people Idolatrous and haue store of Spices. The shippes of Mangi come thither.

* 1.16Malabar is a Kingdome in the West, in which and in Guzzerat are many Pirats, which come to Sea with aboue one hundred Sails, and rob Merchants. They bring with them their wiues and children, and there abide all Summer. In Guzzerat is store of Cotton, the Trees six fathoms (or paces) high, and dure twentie yeeres; the Cotton of the old Trees is not good to spin, after they are past twelue yeeres old, but for Quilts. There are many * 1.17 Vnicornes: they haue artifi∣ciall embroideries. In Canam is store of Frankincense; it is a great Citie, where is great trade for Horses. In Cambaia is much Indico, Buckram, and Cotton. Seruenath is a Kingdome of a pecu∣liar language, Idolaters, Merchants, a good people. Chesmacoran is a great Kingdome of Idola∣ters [ 30] and Saracens, the last Prouince of the greater India towards the Northwest (vnderstand the Author according to his iourney, from China or Mangi by Sea) fiue hundred miles from which, are said to be two Ilands, one of Men, the other of Women, those comming to these, and there stay∣ing March,* 1.18 Aprill, and May. The Women keepe their Sonnes till twelue yeeres, and then send them to their Fathers. It seemes the Ayre admits no other course. They are Christians and haue their Bishop, subiect to the Bishop of Soccotera; they are good Fishers and haue store of Ambar. Soccotera hath an Archbishop, not subiect to the Pope, but to one Zatolia which resides in Bal∣dach, who chooseth him. The Soccoterans are Inchanters and great Witches, as any in the world (howsoeuer excommunicated therefore by their Prelate) and raise Windes to bring backe such ships as haue wronged them, in despite of all contrarie working. [ 40]

A thousand miles thence Southward is Magastar, one of the greatest and richest Iles of the World, three thousand miles in circuit, inhabited by Saracens, gouerned by foure old men. The People liue of merchandise, and sell great store of Elephants teeth. The Currents in these parts are of exceeding force. They tell of Fowles, called Ruch, like an Eagle, but of incomparable greatnesse, able to carrie an Elephant (but I am not able to carrie it.) Zenzibar also is said to bee of great length, &c. there are Elephants, Giraffas, sheepe vnlike to ours: the Men and Women are very deformed. I haue heard Mariners and great Pilots of those parts report, and haue seene in their writings, which haue compassed the Sea of India, that there are in it twelue thousand and seuen hundred Ilands, inhabited or desart. In India maior, which is from Malabar to Ches∣macoran are thirteene Kingdomes. India minor is from Ziambi to Murfili, in which are eight [ 50] Kingdomes, besides Ilands many. The second or middle India, is called Abascia. The chiefe King is a Christian; there are six other Kings, three Christians, and three Saracens, subiect to him: there are also Iewes. Saint Thomas hauing preached in Nubia, came to Abascia, and there did the like, and after to Malabar. They are great Warriors, alway in Armes against the Sol∣dan of Adem, and the people of Nubia. I heard that An. 1288. the great Abissine would haue visited Ierusalem, but being disswaded by reason of Saracen Kingdomes in the way, he sent a Bi∣shop of holy life to doe his deuotions, who in his returne was taken by the Soldan of Adem, and circumcised by force: whereupon the Abissine raysed a power, discomfited the Soldan with two other Mahumetan Kings, tooke and spoyled Adem. Abascia is rich in gold. Escier is subiect to Adem fortie miles distant South-east:* 1.19 where is store of white Frankincense very good, which [ 60] drops from small Trees by incision of the barke; a rich merchandise, &c. Some in that Coun∣trey for want of Corne make Bisket of Fish, whereof they haue great plentie. They also feede their beasts with fishes. They take them in March, April, and May, &c.

Hauing spoken of the Prouinces on the Coast, I will now returne to some Prouinces more to

the North, where many Tartars dwell, which haue a King called Caidu, of the Race of Cingis Can, but subiect to none. These obserue the customes of their old Progenitors,* 1.20 dwell not in Ci∣ties, Castles, or Fortresses, but abide with their King in the Fields, Playnes, Valleyes, and Fo∣rests, and are esteemed true Tartars. They haue no sort of Corne, but liue of Flesh and Milke in great peace. They haue store of Horses, Kine, Sheepe, and other beasts. There are found great white Beares, twentie palmes long, black Foxes very great, wilde Asses, and little beasts called Roudes which beare the Sable Furres, and Vari arcolini, and those which are called Pharaos rats, which the Tartars are cunning to take. The great Lakes which are frozen except in a few mo∣neths of the yeere, cause that the Summer is scarse to bee trauelled for myre. And therefore the [ 10] Merchants to buy their Furres, for fourteene dayes iourney thorow the Desart, haue set vp for each day a house of Wood, where they abide and barter:* 1.21 and in Winter they vse Sleds without wheeles, and plaine in the bottome, rising with a semi-circle at the top or end, drawne easily on the Ice by beasts like great Dogs * 1.22 six yoked by couples, the Sledman only with his Merchant and Furres sitting therein.

In the end of the Region of these Tartars, is a Countrey reaching to the furthest North, called Darknesse, because the most part of the Winter moneths the Sunne appeares not, and the Ayre is thicke and darkish, as betimes in the morning with vs. The men there are pale and great, haue no Prince; and liue like beasts. The Tartars oft rob them of their Cattell in those darke moneths, and left they should lose their way, they ride on Mares which haue Colts sucking, which they [ 20] leaue with a Guard at the entrance of that Countrey, where the Light beginneth to faile, and when they haue taken their prey giue reynes to the Mares, which hasten to their Colts. In their long continued day of Summer they take many the finest Furres (one occasion of the Tartars go∣ing to rob them) of which I haue heard some are brought into Russia.* 1.23 Russia is a great Countrey in that Northerne Darknesse: the people are Greeke Christians, the Men and Women faire, and pay Tribute to the King of the Tartars of the West, on whom they border on the East. There is store of Furres, Waxe, and Minerals of siluer. It reacheth, as I was told, to the Ocean Sea; in which are store of Gerfalcons and Falcons.

[ 30] To the Reader.

IN this admirable Voyage of Polo, I confesse, Inopem me copia fecit; the Translation which I had of Master Hakluyts from the corrupted Latine, being lesse then nothing (nimirum damno auctus fui) did me no steed but losse, whiles I would compare it with the Latine, and thought to amend it by the Italian; and was forced at last to reiect both Latine and English, and after much vexation to present thee this, as it is, out of Ramusio. I haue not giuen thee word for word as an exact Translator, but the sense in all things substantiall, with longer Relations then I haue admitted in others, because many which haue read M. Paulus, neuer saw M. Polo, nor know the worth of the worthiest Voyage, that perhaps any one man hath written; a man credible in that which hee saw himselfe, in some things receiued by Relation, rather telling what he heard, then that which I dare beleeue, and specially [ 40] toward the end of his third Booke, which I haue therefore more abridged. Pitie it is that time hath so gnawne and eaten some-where, and some-where deuoured vtterly many his names and Tracts, which new Lords and new (Lawes, the Saracenicall Conquests, especially euer since his time) in those parts haue caused. And farre easier by the Cans greatnesse then, and his employments vnder him, might hee know the World in those times; then in the combustions long since begunne and still continued, in diuersified and quarrelling States is possible: the Saracens quarrelling with Ethnikes, Christians, and other Saracens; the Tartars diuided and sub-diuided into so many quarrelsome Serpentine heads, whereby that hugenesse is broken in pieces; the Chinois and others prohibiting ingresse of strangers, egresse of their owne; that I mention not Ethnike and Moorish Diuisions amongst themselues. In the same time with Polo, liued this following Armenian, of whom Ramusio relateth,* 1.24 and this Discourse intimateth that the Ho∣ly [ 50] Land being quite lost, Pope Clement the Fift minding to recouer it, was giuen to vnderstand of helpes which might be gotten from the Tartars, and withall of this Haiton or Antonie a Kinsman of the King of Armenia, then liuing a Monke or Frier of the Order Premonstratensis in Episcopia in Cy∣prus; who in his young time had beene exercised in the Warres betwixt the Tartars and Egyptian Sol∣dans, by whom he might receiue the best Intelligence of Tartarian Affaires. He therefore (as hee first remoued the Court from Rome to France, where it abode seuentie yeares) caused the said Hayton to be brought from Cyprus to France with all his Memorials and Writings of that subiect, and being comne to Poitiers, caused one Nicolo di Falcon a Frenchman to write in French, which the other dictated in Armenian, which was done Anno 1307. A Copie of this Storie written aboue two hundred yeares since [ 60] came to Ram••sioes hand (whereto I here, that I say not you, are beholden) whence hee tooke that which concerned the Tartars, omitting the rest, or remitting rather his Reader to M. Polo. Betwixt which two some difference may seeme, but so little, that Wisemen need no aduertisement thereof.

One thing is remarkable, that the Author and the next, who in many Geographicall Notes agrees with him, diuide Asia into two parts, one called profound or deepe, the other the greater, and diuided in the

midst by the Caspian Sea,* 1.25 and Caucasus, which our Armenian cals Cocas, which Alexander passed not, nor was euer well knowne to the Ancients, who called all beyond that Hill Scythia, as wee now call the most of it by a generall name Tartaria. Strabo * 1.26 hath made like diuision of Asia into the inner and vtter, Taurus being the Vmpire; which Hill (with diuers Appellations) beginning at Pamphylia runnes Eastwards thorow the midst of Asia to the Indies, that part to the North beeing called Asia within (Taurus) and that to the South Asia without. Some ancient Geographers as Dionysius mentions, extended Europe to the Caspian Sea, which most of the Ancients thought to concurre with the Ocean, as the Mediterranean, Arabian, and Persian doe. Dionysius his Verses are worth obseruation,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 * 1.27 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. [ 10]

They called it Taurus, as there followes of the Bull-forme, &c.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

Hereof we are the more curious, to giue to the more curious a reason of our method in this Worke, who in our former Tome haue first encompassed the shoares of Asia from the West to the East: and then in the In-land parts haue in the eight and ninth Bookes principally (as Voyages gaue leaue) viewed Asia without Taurus, and to the South of the Caspian: but this Profound or Inner, more vnknowne part, we suruay here, where we handle the Voyages and Discoueries of those parts of the World, which the Ancients [ 20] knew very little or not at all. And indeed, how little was Mangi, Cataio, or Tartaria knowne, till the Tartars obtruded vpon the World, a terrible knowledge of themselues, in manner as Rubruquius and the former Friers, with these Gentlemen, Polo and Haiton describe? Yea, how were they by ignorance of following times buried againe, till Portugall, English, and other moderne Voyages haue reuiued them, as it were in a resurrection? and that often in new names, as if they had suffered that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, so often here rehearsed, and so much credited in many Religions of those Easterne Asians, whence it comes that they are hardly knowne to be the same. The Reader must pardon me (or go to the Author himselfe) if I haue here omitted some pieces of Haiton, which you haue had in Polo and others before, specially not so pertinent to our present Tartarian subiect. The figures note the Chapters, after the Latine, from which Ramusios Diuision is much diuided, and we therefore from both. [ 30]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Malabar.
• * 1.2

  See my Pilg. l. 5. c. 12.
• * 1.3

  Bread-deuo∣tion.
• * 1.4

  Most of these following cu∣stomes are still in vse, as in Linschoten, and in my Pilg. l. 5. is seene.
• * 1.5

  Det-circle▪
• * 1.6

  Boyes put to timely 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Their Idols & Vota••ies.
• * 1.8

  Malabar is by this Author extended to Choromande•• also.
• * 1.9

  Murphil.
• * 1.10

  Lac. Bramines.
• * 1.11

  Betre, or Be••••le▪ after called Tem••ul and Are••••a.
• * 1.12

  Adams sepul∣chre.

  Sogomonbarchan the fi••st cau••e of Idolatrie.
• * 1.13

  Cans supersti∣tion.
• * 1.14

  Cael.
• * 1.15

  Cumari or Cape Com••r••. D••ly.
• * 1.16

  Pirates, still vsed.
• * 1.17

  Hereby ap∣peares the V∣nicorne hee mentions, is the Rhinoceros: for India hath no other.
• * 1.18

  These Relati∣ons which fol∣low by relati∣on of others, are of lesse weight: yea, therefore I haue omitted the greatest part. I had trouble e∣nough to finde and translate the truth: and for such as loue such heare∣say-fables, as that of Ruch, &c. let them seeke else∣where.

  12700. Ilands. India maior, media and mi∣nor.

  Abascia, or In∣dia media. Soldan of A∣dem.
• * 1.19

  Frankincense.
• * 1.20

  Caidu and his Northerne Tartars.
• * 1.21

  Tragule.
• * 1.22

  Perhaps these are a kind of Deere. Region of Darknesse.
• * 1.23

  Russia.
• * 1.24

  See Tom. 1. l. 8. c. 4. §. 3.
• * 1.25

  Haiton and Mandeuils a∣gree in many things.

  The reason of our method in thus ordering our Pilgrimes.
• * 1.26

  Strab. l. 11. ad eum Nat. Ca∣saub.
• * 1.27

  Dionys. Alex. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ vid. & Eustach. com.