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.

§. VII. Of the Prouince of Mien and Bengala, how they were conquered to the Can: Of Cangi∣gu, Amu, Tholoman, Cintigui, and some other parts of Cataio. And of the Conquest of Mangi.

ANno Dom. 1272. the Great Can sent an Armie into the Kingdome of Vociam, and Carazan to guard it, to the number of twelue thousand expert warriors, vnder the [ 20] conduct of Nestardin a wise Captaine. As soone as the King of Mien, and the King of Bengala heard of their comming, assembling their forces, they ioyned Horse and Foot together, about threescore thousand, and about a thousand Elephants beating Castles, and in euery Castle twelue or sixteene * 1.1 armed men were placed. With this Armie the King of Mien speedily marched towards the Citie Vociam, where the Armie of the Tartars rested. Nestardin comming forth with a manly courage to fight against the Enemie, encamped against a certaine great Wood, knowing that the Elephants with those Towres were not able to enter into the Wood. Then the King of Mien marcheth forth to meete them. But the Tartarian Horses per∣ceiuing the Elephants to be present, which were placed in the first front of the battaile, were terrified with so great feare, that they could not by any violence or policy be prouoked against [ 30] the Elephants. The Tartars therefore were compelled to alight from their Horses,* 1.2 and tying them to the Trees of the Wood, they come to fight on foot against the Elephants. In the front of the battaile, all the Tartars purposely shot a multitude of Arrowes against the Elephants, which not able to indure the strokes of the Arrowes, speedily betooke themselues to flight, and with swift course went all vnto the next Wood, and brake their Castles, and ouer-threw the armed men sitting in them, which the Tartars seeing, runne vnto their Horses, and getting vp vpon them, furiously fall vpon the Kings Armie with great violence: and many of either Ar∣mie fell, at length the King of Mien being put to flight, left the victorie to the Tartars, who hasten to the Wood, and taking many Captiues, vsed their helpe to take two hundred of these Elephants. And euer since Great Can hath vsed Elephants in his Armies which before hee had [ 40] not accustomed. Hereupon also he vanquished the Countries of the King of Mien and Bengala, and subiected them to his Empire.

Departing from the Prouince of Cardandan, is a great descent, which continueth two dayes and a halfe, nor is there any habitation there, but a very large Playne, in the which,* 1.3 three dayes in the weeke many men meete together for Trading. Many descend from the great Mountaines of that Countrey, bringing gold with them to change for siluer, to wit, giuing one ounce of gold for fiue ounces of siluer: whereupon, many Merchants from forraine Nations come thither, who bringing siluer carrie away gold, and bring thither merchandises to sell to those people. For to those high Mountaines, in which, they who gather gold in that Countrey, dwell, no stranger can come, seeing the way is vnpassable and intricate. When you are past that Playne, going to∣ward [ 50] the South, Mien bordereth vpon India, and the way lyeth fifteene dayes iourney in pla∣ces not inhabited and wooddy, in which innumerable Elephants, Vnicornes,* 1.4 and other wild beasts wander.

After that fifteene dayes is found Mien, a great and noble Citie, the head of the Kingdome,* 1.5 and subiect to Great Can. The Inhabitants thereof haue a peculiar language, and are Idolaters. In this Citie there was a King, who being readie to die, commanded that neere to his Sepulchre, there should be made two Towres in Pyramide fashion, one at the head, the other at the feete, both of Marble, of the heigth of ten fathom. On the top was a round Ball. He caused one to bee couered all ouer with gold a finger thicke, and the other with siluer. And vpon the top round about the Balls, many little golden and siluer Bells were hanged, which at the blowing of the [ 60] winde gaue a certaine sound. The Moniment or Sepulchre was also couered with Plates, partly of gold, partly of siluer. He commanded this to be made in honor of his Soule, and that his me∣morie should neuer decay among men. And when Great Can minded to subdue this Citie, hee sent a valiant Captaine, and the greatest part of his Armie were Iesters, of which his Court is al∣way furnished. These winning the Citie, would not violate that Moniment without the Cans

knowledge, who hearing that the decessed had made it for the honor of his Soule, would not suf∣fer it to be stirred:* 1.6 for the manner of the Tartars is, not to violate those things which belong to the dead. In this Prouince are many Elephants, wild Oxen, great and faire Stagges and Deere, and other wild Beasts of diuers kindes.

* 1.7The Prouince Bengala bordereth vpon India toward the South, which Great Can subdued, when Marco Polo liued in his Court. The Countrey hath a proper King, and peculiar language. The Inhabitants thereof are all Idolaters: they haue Masters which keepe Schooles and teach I∣dolatries and Inchantments; a thing common to all the great Men of that Countrey. They eate Flesh, Rice and Milke: they haue Cotton in great plentie, and by reason thereof, much and great trading is exercised there: they abound also with Spike, Galangal, Ginger, Sugar, and diuers o∣ther [ 10] Spices.* 1.8 Huge Oxen also are there, comparable with Elephants in height but not in thick∣nesse. Many Eunuches are made in this Prouince, which are afterwards sold vnto Merchants. This Prouince continueth thirtie dayes iourney, in the end whereof going Eastward is the Pro∣uince of Cangigu.

* 1.9Cangigu hath his proper King and pecul••ar language. The Inhabitants thereof worship Idols, and are Tributaries to Great Can. Their King hath about three hundreth Wiues. Much gold is found in this Prouince, and many Spices, but they cannot easily be transported, seeing that coun∣trey is farre distant from the Sea. There are also many Elephants in it, and much game of many wild Beasts. The Inhabitants thereof liue with Flesh, Milke and Rice. They want Wine, but they make good drinke of Rice and Spices.* 1.10 Aswell the Men as the Women vse to embroider their [ 20] Faces, Necks, Hands, Bellies and Legs, making the Images of Lions, Dragons and Birds, and so firmely imprint them that they cannot easily bee put out: and the more such Images any one hath, by so much is hee esteemed the more gallant. And there be Professors of this foolish Art of flesh embroiderie, which vse no other Trade but this Needle-worke, and dying of Fooles-skinnes.

* 1.11Amu is an Easterly Prouince subiect to Great Can, whose Inhabitants worship Idols, and haue a peculiar language. They abound with Herds of Cattell, and haue plentie of Victuals, and many Horses and those excellent, which Merchants bring into India. They haue also many Buffes and Oxen, because there are delicate Pastures there. As well Men as Women, weare brace∣lets of gold and siluer of great value on their armes, also the like on their legs: but those of the Women are of most value. From Amu to Cangigu are fiue and twentie dayes iourney.

* 1.12The Prouince Tholoman is eight dayes iourney distant to the East from Amu, subiect vnto [ 30] Great Can, hauing a peculiar language, and worshipping Idols. The Men and Women thereof are tall and goodly, of a browne colour. The Countrey is very well inhabited, hauing many and strong Castles and Cities. The men are exercised in Armes and accustomed to warre. They burne the bodies of their dead, and inclosing the Reliques of their bones in a Chest, hide them in the Caues of the Mountaines, that they cannot bee touched either of man or beast. Gold is in great plentie there, and in stead of money they vse Porcelanes brought from India, as also in Cangigu and Amu.

From the Prouince Tholoman, the way leadeth towards the East on a Riuer, by which are ma∣ny Cities and Castles,* 1.13 and at the end of twelue dayes you come to the great Citie Cintigui. The [ 40] Countrey is subiect to Great Can, and the Inhabitants thereof are addicted to Idolatrie. Excel∣lent Clothes are made in this Countrey of the barkes of Trees,* 1.14 wherewith they are clothed in the Summer. Very many Lions are there, so that for feare of them, none dare sleepe without doores by night. The ships which goe vp and downe the Riuer, for feare of the Lions, are not fastned to the banke. There are great Dogs in the same Countrey, so hardie and strong, that they feare not to aduenture on the Lion: And it often hapneth, that two Dogs and one Archer kill a Lion: for the Dogs set on by the man giue the onset, and the Lions nature is presently to seeke shelter from some Tree, that the Dogs may not come behind him: neither yet will his great heart suffer him to runne from the Dogs, lest he should seeme afraid; but he holds his stately pace, the man mean∣while shooting, and the Dogs fastning on his hinder parts, but with such quicknesse, that when [ 50] the Lion turnes on them they are gone. And then doth this magnanimous Beast hold on his way againe to seeke such Tree succour, that with Bitings and Arrowes he sometimes comes short, and with expense of bloud dyeth by the way. This Countrey aboundeth with Silke, which by Merchants is carried to diuers Prouinces by the Riuer. They liue on Merchandise, their money is Paper.* 1.15 They are valiant in Armes. At the end of ten dayes is the Citie Sidinfu, and twentie dayes from thence is Gingui, and foure dayes thence is Pazanfu towards the South, and is in Cataio re∣turning by the other side of the Prouince. The people are Idolaters and burne their dead. There are also certaine Christians which haue a Church: all vnder the Can and vse Paper money. They make Clothes of Gold, and Silke, and Launes very fine. By this Citie (which hath many Cities vnder it) goes a great Riuer which carries store of merchandise to Cambalu, made by many Chan∣nels [ 60] to passe thither. But wee will passe hence, and proceeding three dayes iourney, speake of Cianglu.

* 1.16Cianglu is a great Citie toward the South of the Prouince of Cataio, subiect to the Can, the In∣habitants are Idolaters, and burne their dead. Their money is the (Mulberie) Paper coine of the

Can. In this Citie and the Territories they make store of Salt, for that Earth is very salt,* 1.17 and out of it they get Salt, after this manner. They heape vp Earth in manner of an Hill, and powre water vpon it, which drawes the saltnesse of the Earth vnto it, and then runnes into certaine Conduits, and is boyled in Pannes till it be congealed to Salt faire and white, to the Cans and their great gaine, being carried into other Countries to sell. There are great Peaches very good, which weigh two pounds a piece. Fiue dayes iourney beyond the Citie Cianglu,* 1.18 in Cataio South∣ward standeth another Citie, named Ciangli (in which way are many Cities and Castles, all sub∣iect to the Can) through the middest whereof runneth a great Riuer,* 1.19 very conuenient for ship∣ping laden with merchandises.

[ 10] Six dayes iourney thence to the South (all which way hath great Cities and Castles of Idola∣ters) is the noble Kingdome and great Citie Tudinfu, which had his proper King,* 1.20 before it was subdued to Great Can, Anno 1272. and hath eleuen Royall Cities, famous for traffick, subiect to the iurisdiction thereof. It is very delectable for Gardens and Fruits, rich in Silkes. The Can sent to the gouernment hereof one of his Barons, named Lucansor, with eightie thousand Horse: who rebelled against his Lord, but was slaine by a power of one hundred thousand vnder two other Barons sent against him, and the Countrey reduced to obedience. Seuen dayes off (riding by ma∣ny Cities and Castles of Idolaters, plentifull of all things) towards the South is the famous Ci∣tie, named Singuimatu, vnto the which on the South, a certaine great Riuer runneth,* 1.21 which be∣ing diuided by the Inhabitants of the place into two Riuers, floweth partly to the East to∣wards Cataio, and partly to the West towards Mangi. By these Riuers, innumerable Vessels for [ 20] multitude, and incredible for their greatnesse and wealth, bring necessaries to both Prouinces. If you goe sixteene dayes iourney towards the South from Singuimatu, you still meet with Cities and Townes where much trading is exercised. The Inhabitants of these Countries are Idolaters, subiect to Great Can.

After that sixteene dayes, you come vnto a great Riuer, named Caramoran,* 1.22 which is said to flow out of the Kingdome of Vincan or Presbyter Iohn, of the North. It is very deepe, and car∣rieth Ships of great burthen: it is also stored with Fish. Within one dayes iourney of the Sea there are in this Riuer fifteene thousand Saile, each of which carrieth fifteene Horses and twen∣tie Men, besides Victualls and the Mariners. This is the Cans Fleet kept there in readinesse, to carrie an Armie to any of the Ilands in the Sea, if they should rebell; or to any remote Region [ 30] Neere the banke of the Riuer where these Ships are kept, is Coiganzu, and ouer against it Quan∣zu, one a great Citie, the other small. After you are past that Riuer, you enter into the noble Kingdome of Mangi. And doe not thinke that wee haue handled in order the whole Prouince of Cataio: yea, I haue not spoken of the twentieth part. For, M. Polo passing by the said Pro∣uince, hath onely described the Cities in his way, leauing those on both hands, and those be∣twixt these, to preuent tediousnesse.

The Prouince of Mangi is the most rich and famous that is found in the East: and An. 1269. had a certaine King, named Fanfur,* 1.23 richer and mightier then any which had reigned there in an hundred yeeres, but a man peaceable and full of almesdeeds, so beloued of his subiects, that there∣by, [ 40] and by the strength of the Countrie, he seemed inuincible. Whereby it came to passe, that the King aswell as the People, lost the vse and exercise of Warre and Armes. All the Cities were compassed with Ditches, a Bow shoot broad, full of Water. Hee held in pay no Horses, because he feared none. And hence it came to passe, that the King giuing himselfe to pleasure more then was meete, enioyed continuall delights. He maintayned about a thousand goodly Lasses, with which he passed his time in pleasure. He nourished Iustice, and preserued Peace. No man durst offend his Neighbour, and disturbe the Peace, for feare of seuere vnpartiall punishment. So that Artificers would often leaue their Shops full of Wares open by night, and yet none would pre∣sume to enter into them. Trauailers and strangers most safely walked day and night, throughout that whole Kingdom, fearing no man. The King himselfe also was pitifull and mercifull towards the Poore, and forsooke not them that were oppressed with necessitie, or pinched with penurie. [ 50] Besides, euery yeere hee tooke vp twentie thousand young Infants, cast off by their Mothers, which through pouertie were not able to keepe them, which he brought vp, and set them when they were growne to some Trade, or married the young Men with the Maids which hee had in like sort educated

Cublai Can was of a differing disposition to Fanfur, and delighted onely in Warres and Con∣quests, and to make himselfe Great; he sent a great Armie leuied of Horse and Foot, and made one, named Chinsan Baian (that is, one hundred eyes) Generall thereof. Hee,* 1.24 therefore comming with his Armie and a Fleet to the Prouince of Mangi, first summoned the citie Coiganzu to yeeld obedience to his Emperour. Who refusing the same, hee departed without any assault giuen to the Citie: and required the same of the second Citie; which likewise refusing, he marched forward [ 60] to the third, and fourth, and receiued the like answere of them all. But he assaulted the next with great courage, and vanquished the same by force, and slue euery mothers child therein; which so affrighted and terrified the rest, that they all presently yeelded. Moreouer, Great Can sent ano∣ther great Armie after the former, with both which Armies hee marched against the chiefe Citie

Quinsai, where the King of Mangi resided: who mightily terrified, as neuer hauing seene any battell,* 1.25 fled with his wealth and treasures in ships which he had prepared to certaine impreg∣nable Ilands in the Ocean (where he after died) committing the custodie of the Citie of Quin∣sai to his wife, bidding her to defend it as well as shee could; for being a woman shee need not feare death,* 1.26 if shee were taken. It is to be obserued, that King Fanfur had beene told by his Di∣uiners, that his Kingdome should neuer be taken from him, but by one which had an hundred eyes: which the Queene knew, and therefore was still in hope not to lose the Citie, howsoeuer streightned; thinking it impossible for one man to haue an hundred eyes. But one day she heard, that the Commander of the Tartars was called Baian Chinsan, that is to say, An hundred eyes, and was much terrified: wherefore, calling for the Commander of the Tartars Armie, thin∣king [ 10] him to bee the man which the Astrologers spake of, shee deliuereth the Citie vnto him. Which being heard, the Citizens, and Inhabitants of the whole Prouince, reuolted to the obe∣dience of great Can. The Queene was sent vnto the Court of great Can, and was most honou∣rably receiued by him, and maintayned like a Queene. And now wee will speake of the Cities of * 1.27 Mangi.

[ 20]

Notes

• * 1.1

  This by rela∣tion; for they vse not to car∣ry aboue three or foure.

  His stratagem.
• * 1.2

  Fight & flight of Elephants.
• * 1.3

  Market in a dis-habited Playne. Change of gold and sil∣uer.
• * 1.4

  Vnicornes or Rhinocerotes.
• * 1.5

  Mien.
• * 1.6

  The pietie of the Tartars to∣wards the dead
• * 1.7

  Bengala.
• * 1.8

  Oxen as bigge as Elephants. Eunuches.
• * 1.9

  Cangigu. The Kings ma∣ny wiues.
• * 1.10

  Embroidred Gallants.
• * 1.11

  Amu.
• * 1.12

  Tholoman.
• * 1.13

  Cintigui.
• * 1.14

  Cloth made of Barkes: which are now vsed in Congo. Great and hardie Dogs.
• * 1.15

  Sidinfu. Cingui. Pazanfu.
• * 1.16

  Cianglu.
• * 1.17

  The Salt of Canglu.
• * 1.18

  Great Peaches
• * 1.19

  Ciangli.
• * 1.20

  Tudinfu.
• * 1.21

  Singu••matu.
• * 1.22

  Caramoran.
• * 1.23

  Fanfur King of Mangi, which is now called China.
• * 1.24

  Chinsan Baian▪ another Argus in the signifi∣cation of his name.
• * 1.25

  Quinsai, the Kings Court.
• * 1.26

  The flight of King Fanfur.
• * 1.27

  This name Mangi and China, are so different that they may seem diuers Regi∣ons. But the Reader is to obserue, that China is a name to the Chinois vn∣knowne, and that Kingdome hath appellations diuersly diuersified: either from the Familie reigning (which now is called Ciu, and the Kingdome Min, and Min Ciu, are not farre from Mangi) and by the Tartars, when they reigned, it was called Han and before, Cheu, which both put together make Han Cheu, without any great dissonance from Mangi: Or else by generall appellations com∣mon to all ages, &c. See our following relations of Ricci and Triganti••.