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.

§. IX. The Ships of India described, the Ile of Zipangu, the Sea Chin, and World of Ilands, the two Iauas, Zeilan and other Ilands, with the rarities therein.

WE will now enter into India and begin with their Ships, which are made of Firre, and the Zapino Tree,* 1.1 with one deck, on which are twentie Cabbins (or lesse, as the Ships are in quantitie) each for one Merchant. They haue a good Roother, and foure Masts with foure Sailes, and some two Masts, which they erect or take downe at [ 10] pleasure. Some greater Ships haue thirteene Colii, or diuisions, on the inside made with boards inchased, that if by blow of a Whale or touch on a Rooke water gets in, it can goe no further then that diuision; which being found is soone mended. They are all double, that is, haue two course of boards one within the other, and are well ••alked with Ocam, and nayled with Iron, but not pitched (for they haue no Pitch) but anointed with the Oile of a certayne Tree mixed with Lime and Hemp beaten small, faster then Pitch or Lime. The greater ships haue three hundred Mariners, others two hundred, one hundred and fiftie, as they are in bignesse, and from fiue to six thousand bags of Pepper. And they were wont to be greater then now they are; the Sea hauing broken into Ports and Ilands, that the defect of water, in some places, causeth them to build lesse. They vse also Oares in these Ships, foure men to an Oare; and the greater Ships [ 20] haue with them two or three ships lesse, able to carry a thousand bags of Pepper, hauing sixtie or more Mariners, which lesse ships serue sometimes to tow the greater. They haue also with them ten small Boats for fishing and other seruices, fastned to the sides of the greater ships, and let downe when they please to vse them. Also they sheath their ships after a yeeres vsage, so that then they haue three course of boards; yea proceed on in this manner sometimes till there bee six courses, after which they breake them vp. Hauing spoken of the ships, we will speake of In∣dia, and first of certayne Ilands.

* 1.2Zipangu is an Iland in the East, one thousand and fiue hundred miles distant from the shoares of Mangi, very great, the people white and faire, of gentle behauiour, in Religion Idolaters, and haue a King of their owne. They haue gold in great store, for few Merchants come thither, and [ 30] the King permits no exportation of it.* 1.3 And they which haue had commerce there tell of the Kings house couered with Gold, as Churches here with Lead, gilded Windowes, Floores of gold: there are many Pearles. Once; the fame of these riches made Cublai Can to send to con∣quer it, two Barons, with a great fleet of ships, one named Abbaccatan, the other Vonsancin, which going from Zaitum and Quinsai arriued there; but falling out betwixt themselues, could take but one Citie, and there beheaded all they tooke saue eight persons, which by an inchanted precious stone inclosed in the right arme betwixt the skinne and flesh, could not bee wounded with Iron; whereupon, with woodden Clubs, at the command of the two Barons they were slaine. It hapned one day that a Northerne winde made great danger to the ships there riding, so that some were lost, some returned further into Sea, and others with the two Leaders and o∣ther [ 40] Principals returned home. Out of many broken ships some escaped by boards, and swim∣ming on an Iland not inhabited foure miles off Zipangu, and were about thirtie thousand, with∣out prouisions of victuals or Armes, against whom the Zipanguanders, after the Tempest was calmed, set out a fleet of ships and an Armie. These comming on Land to seeke the wracked Tartars without order, gaue occasion to the Tartars to wheele about, the Iland (being high in the midst) and to get vnseene to their ships, which were left vnmanned with the Streamers displaid: and with them they went to the chiefe Citie of Zipangu, where they were admitted without suspicion, and found few others but Women. The King of Zipangu besieged them six moneths, and they hauing no reliefe yeelded themselues, their liues saued: this happened An. 1264. The Can for this disorder of his two Commanders,* 1.4 cut off the head of one, and sent the other to a [ 50] saluage Iland, called Zorza, where hee causeth Offenders to die, by sewing them, their hands bound, in a new-flayed hide of a B••ffall, which drying shrinketh so as it puts them in a little-ease to a miserable death. The Idols in this and the adioyning Ilands are made with heads of Kine, Swine, Dogs, and other fashions more monstrous, as with faces on their shoulders, with foure, ten, or an hundred hands (some, and to these they ascribe most power and doe most reuerence) and say, that so they learned of their Progenitors. They sometimes eate the Enemies which they take, with great ioy, and for great dainties.

The Sea in which this Iland standeth, is called the Sea of Cin or Chin, that is the Sea against Mangi: and in the language of that Iland, Mangi is called Chin: which Sea is so large, that the Mariners and expert Pilots which frequent it, say, that there are seuen thousand foure hundred [ 60] and fortie Ilands therein, the most part inhabited, and that there growes no Tree which yeelds not a good smell, and that there growes many Spices of diuers kindes, especially Lignum Aloes, and Pepper blacke and white. The ships of Zaitum are a yeere in their voyage, for they goe in Winter and returne in Summer, hauing Windes of two sorts, which keepe their seasons. And

this Countrey is farre from India. But I will leaue them (for I neuer was there, nor are they subiect to the Can) and returne to Zaitum. From hence sayling South-westward one thousand fiue hundred miles, passing a Gulfe, called Cheinan (which continues two moneths sayling to the Northward, still confining on the South-east of Mangi, and elsewhere with Ania, and Tolo∣man, and other Prouinces before named) within it are infinite Ilands, all in manner inhabi∣ted. In them is found store of Gold, and they trade one with the other. This Gulfe seemes ano∣ther World.

After one thousand and fiue hundred miles sayling ouerthwart this Gulfe,* 1.5 is the Countrey Zi∣amba, rich and great, hauing a King and Language proper, Idolaters, and paying tribute to the [ 10] Grand Can, of twentie Elephants, and Lignum Aloes in great quantitie yeerely. Anno 1268. the Can hearing of the riches of this Iland sent thither Sagatu with an Armie, to inuade it. Ac∣cambale the King thereof was old, and made this composition of tribute. There are many Woods of blacke Ebonie.

Sayling thence betwixt the South and South-east one thousand & fiue hundred miles, is Iaua,* 1.6 supposed by Mariners, the greatest Iland in the World, aboue three thousand miles in circuit, vnder a King which payeth tribute to none, the Can not offering to subiect it for the length and danger of the voyage. The Merchants of Zaitum and Mangi fetch thence store of Gold and Spi∣ces. South and South-westward sixe hundred miles from Iaua are two Ilands, one Sondur, which is the greater; the other Condur, lesse, both desolate. Fifty miles South-east from them is a Pro∣uince [ 20] of firme land, very rich and great, named Lochac, the people Idolaters, hauing a Language and King peculiar. There growes Brasill-wood in great q••antitie, store of Gold, Elephants, wilde beasts, and fowle, a fruit called Berci, as great as Limons, very good. The place is moun∣tainous and sauage, and the King permits not many to come th••ther, l••st they should know his secrets. There is store of Porcelane shells for money transp••r••ed to other places.

Fiue hundred miles Southward from Lochac is the Ile Pentan, a sauage place,* 1.7 which produ∣ceth in all the Woods sweet Trees: sixtie miles of the way the Sea is in many places but foure fathoms: after which being sayled to the South-ea••t, thirtie miles further is the Iland and King∣dome of Malziur, which hath a peculiar King and Language to it selfe; and here is much Mer∣chandise of Spices. From Pentan one hundred miles South-east is Iaua the lesse, encompassing [ 30] about two thousand miles, and hath in it eight Kingdomes, and as many Languages. They are Idolaters, haue store of Treasure, Spices, Ebon: Brasill, and are so farre to the South, that the North Starre cannot there be seene. Ma••••er Marco was in sixe of those Kingdomes, of which shall here be spoken, leauing the other two, which he saw ••ot.

One of those eight Kingdomes is, Felech: here the Idolaters by frequent Trade of Saracens are conuerted to the Law of Mahomet, in the Cities, the Mountainers being beastly, eating mans flesh and all impure food; and worship all day wha•• they first see in the morning. Next to that is Basma, which hath a Language by it selfe; they liue without Law, like beasts, and sometimes send Hawkes to the Can (who challengeth all the Iland) for Presents. They haue wilde Elephants, and Vnicornes much lesse then Elephants, like the Buffals in haire. Their feet [ 40] are like Elephants feet. They haue one horne in the midst of the fore-head and hurt no bodie therewith; but with the tongue and knee. For on their tongue are certaine long prickles and sharpe, and when they hurt any, they trample on him, and presse him downe with their knee, and then wound him with their tongue. The head is like to a wilde Boares, which hee carries downwards to the ground; and they loue to stand in the mire, and are filthie beasts, and not such as they (Vnicornes) are said to be in our parts, which suffer themselues to be taken of Mai∣dens, but quite contrarie. They haue many Apes and of diuers fashions. They haue Gos∣hawkes all blacke as Rauens great, and good for prey. There are certaine small Apes faced like men, which they put in Boxes, and preserue with Spices, and sell them to Merchants, who car∣rie them thorow the World for Pigmeys, or little men.

[ 50] Samara is the next Kingdome where Master Marco stayed fiue moneths against his will,* 1.8 for∣ced by ill weather. There none of the Starres of Charles wane are seene. Hee descended once on land with two thousand people, and there fortified for that fiue moneths, for feare of those bru∣tish man-eaters, and traded meane while with them for victuals. They haue excellent Fish, Wine of the Date-••ree, very medicinall for P••tisicke, Dropsie, diseases of the Spleene;* 1.9 some white, some red▪ and Indian Nuts as big as a mans head, the middle whereof is full of a pleasant liquor, better then Wine: they eat all flesh w••thout any difference.

Dragoian is another of those Kingdomes, claymed by the Can, hauing a proper King and Lan∣guage. I was told of an abominable custome, that when one is sicke, they send to enquire of the Sorcerers whether hee shall scape; if the Deu••ls answere, No; the kindred send for some [ 60] whose office it is, to strangle the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 partie, after which they cut him in pieces, and the kin∣dred eat him with great ••o••lity, euen to the marrow of the bones, For (say they) if any sub∣stance of him should rem••yne, wormes would breed thereof, which would want food, and so die, to the great torture of the soule of the deceased. The bones they after take and carrie into some Caue in the hils, that no beast may touch them. If they take any stranger they also eat him.

Lambri is a fifth Kingdome of Iaua in which is store of Brasill, of the seeds whereof Master Marco brought to Venice,* 1.10 and sowed them, but in vayne, the soyle being too cold. Some men (the most) in this Kingdome haue tayles more then a palme long, like Dogs, but not hairy; and these dwell in the Mountaines out of Cities. They haue Vnicornes in great plentie, and chase of beasts and fowles.

* 1.11Fanfur, the sixth Kingdome hath the best Camfire, which is sold weight for weight with Gold. In that Prouince they take meale out of great and long trees, as great as two men can fa∣thome, whence taking the thinne barke and wood about three fingers thicke, the pith within is meale, which they put in water, and stirre well, the lightest drosse swimming, and the purest setling to the bottome; and then the water being cast away, they make thereof paste, of which [ 10] Master Marco brought to Venice,* 1.12 tasting like Barley bread. The wood of this tree throwne in∣to the water sinkes like Iron, whereof they make Lances, but short, for the long would be too heauie to beare: these they sharpen, and burne at the tops, which so prepared will pierce an Armour sooner then if they were made of Iron.

About one hundred and fiftie miles from Lambri, sayling Northwards, are two Ilands, one called Nocueran,* 1.13 in which they liue like beasts, goe all naked, men and women, and worship I∣dols, haue excellent Trees, Cloues, Sanders white and red, Indian Nuts, Brasill, and other Spi∣ces;* 1.14 the other, Angaman, sauage as the former, and I was told, they had Dogs heads and teeth.

* 1.15Sayling hence one thousand miles to the West, and a little to the North-west, is Zeilan, two thousand and foure hundred miles in circuit▪ and of old encompassed three thousand and sixe [ 20] hundred miles, as is seene in the Maps of the Mariners of those parts, but the North winds haue made a great part of it Sea. It is the best Iland of the World. The King is named Sender∣naz. The men and women are Idolaters, goe naked (saue that they couer their priuities with a cloth) haue no Corne, but Rice, and Oyle of Sesamino, Milke, Flesh, Wine of trees, abundance of Brasill, the best Rubies in the World, Saphires, Topazes, Amathists, and other Gems. The King is said to haue the best Rubie in the World, one palme long, and as big as a mans arme, without spot,* 1.16 shining like a fire, not to be bought for money. Cublai Can sent and offered the value of a Citie for it, but the King answered, he would not giue it for the treasure of the world, nor part with it, hauing beene his Ancestours. The men are vnfit for warres, and hire others when they haue occasion.

[ 30]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Here begins the third book of M. Polo. Ships of India.
• * 1.2

  Zipangu.
• * 1.3

  De magnis ma∣iora: golden f••bles; and make diffe∣rence betwixt his owne Re∣lations and those which he had at the second hand: although it be true of much gilding in Edoo sup. l. 4. c. 1. & 3.
• * 1.4

  This punish∣ment the Mo∣gol vsed to Cor∣s••roons Cap∣taines: and in many things you shall see Sir T. Roe and our Mogol Re∣lations agree with these of Polo the Mogol being of Tartar originall. Note for China. Cin in Italian is pronounced Chi••

  The Monsons.
• * 1.5

  Ziamba.
• * 1.6

  Iaua maior, I suppose this is Borneo, and Iaua minor that which still is called Iaua.
• * 1.7

  Lochac. A Sou••h Con∣tinent, if true. P••ntan. Mala••ur. Iaua minor, in which are eight King∣domes. The Mahometans by commerce first, and after by conquests & religion haue here altered all things, both Names, Peo∣ples, and Rites; that hardly they can now be designed, and reco••ciled to l••ter names. Vnicornes, or rather some kind o•• Rhi∣noceros. Pigmeys ••ow made.
• * 1.8

  Samara.
• * 1.9

  See of this Wine (••addy) in Master ••••r∣ry pag 1469 &c Coco-nuts. Dragoian.
• * 1.10

  Lamb••i.
• * 1.11

  Fanfur. Sagu, see in Sir F. Dr••ke, and other Indian stories.
• * 1.12

  Heauie Wood.
• * 1.13

  Nocueran.
• * 1.14

  Angaman.
• * 1.15

  Zeilan.
• * 1.16

  A glorious Rubie.