Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 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.

Of the Towne and Iland of Goa, chiefe Citie of India.

THe Citie of Goa, is the Metropolitan or chiefe Citie of all the Orientall Indies, where the * 1.1 Portugals haue their traffique, where also the Vice-roy, the Arch-bishop, the Kings Coun∣sell, and Chancerie haue their residence, and from thence are all places in the Orientall Indies, gouerned and ruled. There is likewise the Staple for all Indian commodities, whither all sorts of Merchants doe resort, comming thither both to buy and sell, and out of Arabia, Armenia, Persia Cambaia, Bengala, Pegu, Sian, Malacca, Iaua, Molucca, China, &c. The Citie and Iland of Goa lieth vnder 15. degrees, on the North side, and is distant from the Equinoctiall, (by the [ 50] way that the Portugals ships doe come thither from Mossambique) foure hundred miles. It is an Iland wholly compassed about with a Riuer, and is aboue three miles great, it lieth within the Coast of the Firme Land, so that the Iland, with the Sea coast of the Firme Land, doe both reach as farre each as other into the Sea. It is onely separated from the firme Land, by an arme of the Sea, or of the Riuer, that runneth in by the North side of the Towne, and so round about the I∣land to the South side, where it entreth againe into the Sea, and is in forme almost like a Halfe∣moone. The Riuer runneth euen vnto the Towne, and is indifferent broad, there are betweene the Firme Land and the Iland, certaine small Ilands that are all inhabited by the naturall borne Countrimen, and on the other side of the Towne the Riuer is there so small, that in Summer time, by wading to the knees in water, a man may passe it ouer on foot. On the which side the [ 60] Iland hath a wall with certaine Bulwarkes, which the Portugals of late yeeres haue caused to be made, to defend them from the Firme Land in time of warre, as it often hapneth, for it hath diuers times beene besieged by Dialcan or Hidalca••, at the mouth and the entrie of the Riuer. On the North side lieth the Land of Bardes, which is high Land, vnder which Land the Portugals doe

anchor safely out of all danger, and there they haue a place to lade and vnlade their wares. This Land of Bardes is also vnder the Portugall subiection, and is full of Villages inhabited with people * 1.2 that are of the Firme Land, lying aboue it, called Canarijns, who for the most part are Christians, but obserue their owne manner of apparell, which is to goe all naked, their priuie members one∣ly couered. This Land is full of Indian Palme trees, whereon the Indian Nuts called Cocos doe growe, as also all the other Ilands lying in the Riuer. This Iland of Bardes is separated from the Firme Land by a small Riuer, which is so little, that it cannot almost be discerned from the Firme Land. On the South side off the Iland of Goa, where the Riuer runneth againe into the Sea, there commeth euen out with the coast a Land called Salsette, which is also vnder the subiection of * 1.3 the Portugals, and is inhabited, and planted both with people and fruit, like the Land of Bardes, and is likewise parted with a little Riuer from the Firme Land. Betweene this Land of Salsette, [ 10] and the Iland of Goa, he also some small Ilands, all full of Indian Palmetrees, and by the mouth or issue of the Riuer, lieth an Iland which is called Goa Ve••••a, that is old Goa, from whence there commeth no speciall thing, neither is it much inhabited. Those Lands of Bardes and Salsette, are by the Kings of Portugall let out to farme, and the rents thereof are employed to the payment of the Arch-bishop, Cloisters, Priests, and other the Kings Officers, yeerely ••••••pends, which is gran∣ted them by speciall Priuiledges and Patents from the King. The Iland is very hilly; and in some places so desart and rough, that on some sides men can hardly trauell ouer land (but with great labour) to the Towne of Goa. The Iland euen to the Sea side is full of Villages, and inhabited by the Canarijns which are the naturall borne people of the Land, and doe altogether line by wor∣king vpon the Land, and by their Palme trees. The Villages and dwellings of these Canarijns are [ 20] most round about the Iland, and on the water sides, or by small Lakes, whereof there are some few within the Iland, and the cause why they dwell thus, is for that the Palme trees will not growe in any other place but on lowe ground, by the waters, specially in sandy ground: so that there are no Palme trees to bee found on the high land within the Countrie vnlesse it bee vpon sandy grounds on the Sea coast, or Riuers sides. On the East side of the Towne of Goa vpwards, into the Riuer, about three miles from the Towne of Bardes, lieth a place where the Portugals ships doe anchor, the Riuer hath some creekes, and a ship of two hundred tunnes or there abouts, may easily discharge before the Towne, but the Portugals great ships must discharge themselues at Bardes: which being done, they may if they will freely goe and l••e before the Towne. The Towne is well built with faire houses and streets, after the Portugall manner, but because of the [ 30] heate they are somewhat lower. They commonly haue their Gardens and Orchards at the back-side of their houses, full of all kind of Indian fruits: as also the whole Iland through, they haue many pleasant Gardens and Farmes, with houses to play in, and trees of Indian fruits, whe∣ther they goe to sport themselues, and wherein the Indian women take great delight. The Towne hath in it all sorts of Cloysters and Churches as Lisb•••• hath, onely it wanteth Nunnes, for the men cannot get the women to trauell so farre, where they should bee shut vp, and for∣sake Venus.

Touthing the Portugals iustice and ordinances, as well in worldly as spirituall causes, they are all one as they are in Portugall. They dwell in the Towne among all sor••s of Nations, as Indians, Heathens, Moores, Iewes, Armenians, Gusarates, Benianes, Bramenes, and of all Indian Nations [ 40] and People, which doe all dwell and traffique therein, euery man holding his owne Religion, without constraining any man to doe against his conscience, onely touching their ceremonies of burning the dead, and the liuing, of marrying and other supperstions, and deuillish inuentions, * 1.4 they are forbidden by the Arch-bishop to vse them openly, or in the Iland, but they may freely vse them vpon the Firme Land, and secretly in their houses, thereby to shunne and auoide all oc∣casions of dislike that might be giuen to Christians, which are but newly baptised: but touching the worldly policy or good gouernment of the Countrie, and executing of iustice, as also for the ruling of the Townes-men in the Citie: it is common to them all, and they art vnder the Portugals law, and hee that is once christned, and is after found to vse any heathenish supersti∣tions, is subiect to the Inquisition, whatsoeuer he be, or for any point of Religion whatsoeuer. * 1.5 [ 50]

The Iland hath nothing of it selfe to nourish it withall, but only some Cattell, Hennes, Goats, Doues, &c. but very few, because of the barrennesse and euill situation of the place, which is a most hilly, barren, and wilde Countrie, and full of waste ground: all their necessaries, as Beasts, Hennes, Hogges, Egges, Milke, &c. come from Salsette and Bardes, but most part out of the Firme Land, Corne, Rice, and other Graine: also Oyle, and all other necessaries come from other Countries, and are brought in by the Riuer, as from Cambaia on the North side, and from the coast of Malabar, and other places, as in the description of the coast we haue in part declared: of Wine called Wine of Palme trees, they haue enough, and so much that they haue to spare for other places. They haue but little fresh water, but onely one Well, called Banga••ijn, which stan∣deth about a quarter of a mile without the Citie, wherewith the whole Towne is serued, which [ 60] the slaues fetch in Pots and sell it in the Towne, and is very good to drinke: for water to dresse meate, wash, and doe other things withall, they commonly haue Wells within their houses: the Land of it selfe is very stony and drie, hauing a kind of red earth, so that some Italian Alchimists

haue promised to get Copper and Gold out of the same, which neither the King nor Vice-roy would euer consent vnto, fearing lest the report of such treasure would bee occasion of grea∣ter * 1.6 trouble.

THe Portugals in India, are many of them married with the natural born women of the Coun∣trie, * 1.7 and the children proceeding of them are called Mestiços, that is, half-countrimen. These Mestiços are commonly of yellowish colour, notwithstanding there are many women among them, that are faire and well formed. The children of the Portugals, both boyes and girles, which are borne in India, are called Castiços, and are in all things like vnto the Portugals, only somwhat diffring in colour, for they draw toward a yellow colour: the children of those Castiços are yellow, and altogether like the Mestiços, and the children of Mestiços are of colour and fashion like the [ 10] naturall borne Countrimen or Decanijns of the Countrie, so that the posteritie of the Portugals, both men and women being in the third degree, doe seeme to be naturall Indians, both in colour and fashion. Their liuings and daily traffiques are to Bengala, Pegu, Malacca, Cambaia, China, and euery way, both North and South: also in Goa there is holden a daily assemblie or meeting toge∣ther, as well of the Citizens and Inhabitants, as of all Nations throughout India, and of the Coun∣tries bordering on the same, which is like the meeting vpon the Burse in Antwerpe, yet differeth much from that, for that hither in Goa there come as well Gentlemen, as Merchants and others, and there are all kindes of Indian commodities to sell, so that in a manner it is like a Faire. This meeting is onely before noone, euery day in the yeere, except Sundayes and Holidayes: it begin∣neth [ 20] in the morning at seuen of the clocke, and continueth till nine of the clocke, but not in the heate of the day, nor after noone, in the principall street of the Citie, named the Straight street, and is called the Leylon, which is as much to say, as an outroop: there are certaine Criers appoin∣ted by the Citie for the purpose, which haue of all things to be cried and sold: these goe all the time of the Leylon or Outroop, all behangd about with all sorts of gold chaines, all kinds of costly Iewels, Pearles, Rings, and Precious stones: likewise they haue running about them, many sorts of Captiues and Slaues, both men and women, young and old, which are daily sold there, as beasts are sold with vs, where euery one may chuse which liketh him best, euery one at a certaine price. There are also Arabian Horses, all kind of Spices and dried Drugs, sweet Gummes, and such like things, fine and costly Couerlets, and many curious things, out of Cambaia, Sinde, Bengala, China, [ 30] &c. and it is wonderfull to see in what sort many of them get their liuings, which euery day come thither to buy wares, and at another time sell them again. And when any man dieth, all his goods are brought thither and sold to the last peniworth, in the same outroop, whosoeuer they be, yea al∣though they were the Vice-royes goods: and this is done to doe right and iustice vnto Orphans and Widowes; and that it may bee sold with the first, where euery man may see it, so that euery yeere there is great quantitie of ware sold within that Citie, for that there die many men within the Towne, by meanes of their disordered liuing, together with the hotnesse of the Countrie: the like assemblie is holden in all places of India, where the Portugals inhabite. There are some mar∣ried Portugals that get their liuings by their slaues, both men and women, whereof some haue 12. some 20. and some 30. for it costeth them but little to keep them. These slaues for money do labor [ 40] for such as haue need of their helpe, some fetch fresh water, and sell it for money about the streets: the women slaues make all sorts of confectures and conserues of Indian fruits, much fine needle-worke, both cut and wrought workes, and then their masters send the fairest and the youngest of them well drest vp with their wares about the streets to sell the same, that by the neatnesse and beauty of the said women slaues, men might be moued to buy, which hapneth more for the affe∣ction they haue to the slaues, & to fulfill their pleasure with them, then for any desire to the con∣serues or needle-workes: for these slaues do neuer refuse them, but make their daily liuing there∣by, and with the gaines that they by that meanes bring home, their masters may well keepe and maintayne them. There are others that vse exchanging of moneyes, and to buy money when it commeth, as time serueth to sell it again, for they buy the Rials of eight, when the ships come from [ 50] Portugall, whereof some buy at the least ten or twelue hundred, and keepe them till the moneth of April, which is the time when the ships sayle to China, for then are the Rials of eight sought for to carrie thither, & are commonly worth fiue and twenty or thirty in the hundred profit, and then they receiue for them a certaine money, which at the same time is brought from Ormus, called Larrijns, that come out of Persia, which they buy for eight or ten in the hundred profit, and keep them till the Portugals on the moneth of September come thither, and so deliuer them againe for twenty or fiue and twenty in the hundred profit, in exchange for Rials of eight, as I said be∣fore, for they must haue these Larrijns with them to Cochin, to buy Pepper and other wares, for that it is the best and most profitable money. There are yet other sorts of money called Pagods, Venetianers, and Santhones, which are gold, all which they doe likewise buy and sell, so that there [ 60] are many that doe nothing else, and become rich, specially he that hath a good stocke. This ex∣change commeth most commonly from the Spiritualtie, who doe secretly vse it, by other mens meanes, without any let or hinderance. Some there are that liue vpon their rents which they haue by their Palme trees.

There are among them but two manner of people, that is, Married men, and Souldiers, for that all Young men vnmarried are named Souldiers, which is the best name that a man can haue; not that the Souldiers are any wayes bound or vnder the commandement and Regiment of any Captaine, which throughout India, is not vsed, but when the Portugals come into India out of Portugall, and are arriued there, euery man goeth where he thinketh best, although in Portugall euery mans name that goeth in the ship is written and registred, which is done in this sort: euery man is written vp, both his name and sirname, with a note what pay they receiue of the King, whereof some beare the title of Fidalgo da Caza del Rey nossas Senor, that is, a Gentle∣man of the Kings House, which is the chiefest title: there are others named Mozos Fidalgos, which is also an Honourable title, and they are commonly Gentlemens Sonnes, or by the Kings fauour aduanced thereunto: There are yet others that are named Caualhiero Fidalgo, which is [ 10] not so much as the other two, yet it is an Honourable title, and is the title of a Knight, who for some Valiant act by him done is made Knight, which they doe for a small matter: for that if he doe any Act to be accounted of, or be in a manner of such an action doing, presently he is of a Captaine or a Gentleman made a Knight, whereof they much boast themselues: and it is now growne so common among them, that very Cookes Boyes and others as meane as they, are made Knights: there are others also that are named Mosos da Camara, do Numero, e do Serui∣ço, which is seruants to the King, some of his Chamber, some of his Accounts, and some for his Seruice, this is the first Title or Degree of credite, whereby through their good seruice they at∣taine vnto better, and are more glorious of their Titles, then of all the riches in the world. There are also that are named Escuderos Fidalgos, that is Esquires, which is likewise a degree of [ 20] credit: Others are named Hommes honorados, which is men of Honour, and the poorest among them (which are not named by any title) are set downe for Souldiers, which are the common and Rascall sort: these are euery man paied their wages according to their Titles, and may each man in his qualitie (by long seruice, or some good action, but most by fauour) rise to higher degree; for that according to their Titles their seruice is rewarded. The Portugals which sayle for India, being thus registred and written downe, the said Register at their arriuall there, is deliuered to be kept by one of the Kings Officers thereunto appointed, which euery three yeeres is likewise changed, as other Officers are, and is called the chiefe Clerke of the Matri∣cola Generall.

THe Portugals, Mesticos, and Christians, keepe Worshipfull and bountifull Houses, hauing [ 30] commonly (as it is said before) fiue, sixe, ten, twentie, some more, some lesse Slaues, both * 1.8 men and women, in their houses euery man according to his estate and qualitie, I meane Mar∣ried men. They are very cleanly and sweet in all things belonging to their Houses, specially in their Linnen, for that euery day they change Shirts and Smockes both men and women, and their Slaues and Seruants likewise, with other things that they weare, which they doe because of the great heat in that Land. The Portugals are commonly serued with great grauitie, with∣out any difference betweene the Gentleman and the common Citizen, Townesman or Souldi∣er, and in their going, curtesies, and conuersations, common in all things: when they goe in the Streets they step very softly and slowly forwards, with a great pride and vaine-glorious [ 40] maiestie, with a Slaue that carrieth a great Hat or vayle ouer their heads, to keepe the Sunne and Raine from them. Also when it raineth they commonly haue a Boy that beareth a Cloake of Scarlet or of some other Cloth after them, to cast ouer them: and if bee before Noone, he carrieth a Cushion for his Master to kneele on when he heareth Masse, and their Rapier is most commonly carried after them by a Boy, that it may not trouble them as they walke, nor hin∣der their Grauities. When they meet in the streets a good space before they come together, they begin with a great Besolas maos, to stoope with their bodies, and to thrust forth their foot to salute each other, with their Hats in their hands, almost touching the ground: likewise when they come into the Church where they haue Stooles readie, which their Slaues haue pre∣pared for them: all that are by him that commeth in, doe stand vp, and with the same manner [ 50] of bowing their bodies doe him great Reuerence, and if it chanceth that any doth him reue∣rence (as the manner is) and that hee to whom it is done doth not greatly esteeme thereof, so that he doth him not the like curtesie, they doe altogether for that cause goe after him, and cut his Hat in peeces, saying that he had disgraced the partie, wherein it is not for them to aske wherefore they should so doe, for it would bee the greatest shame and reproach in the world vnto them, if they should not reuenge so great an iniurie: and when they seeke to be reuenged of any man that hath shewen them discurtesie, or for any other cause whatsoeuer it bee, they assemble ten or twelue of their Friends, acquaintance or companions, and take him whereso∣euer they find him, and beat him so long together, that they leaue him for dead, or verie neare dead, or else cause him to be stabbed by their Slaues. But if they desire not to kill him, [ 60] they baste him well about the ribbes and all his bodie ouer with a thicke Reed, as big as a mans legge, which is called Bambus, whereby for eight daies after and more he hath enough to doe to keepe his Bed, and sometime in that manner they leaue him for dead. This is their

common Custome, and is neuer looked vnto or once corrected. Also they vse long bagges of full of Sand, wherewith they will giue such blowes each vpon other, that therewith they will breake each others limbes, and for euer after make them lame.

When any man goeth to visit another in his House; although he which is visited bee one of the principall Gentlemen of the Citie, and the visitor but a simple Souldier, or some other man, it is the manner that hee which is visited commeth vnto the doore of his House, with his Hat in his hand, and with great curtesie to receiue him that commeth to visit him, and so leadeth him vp into his Hall or Chamber, wherein hee will speake with him, where he offereth him a Chaire to sit downe, and then he himselfe sitteth by him, then he asketh him what hee would haue, which hauing vnderstood hee bringeth him downe againe to the doore in the like sort, and so with a Besolas manos biddeth him farewell, and if hee should not doe so, or when he gi∣ueth [ 10] him a Stoole, should giue him one vnlined, or one that is lesse or lower then that he taketh for himselfe, hee that visiteth him would take it in euill part, esteeming it a great scorne, and seeke to be reuenged on him for the same.

When they haue any Weddings and are married, whosoeuer they bee if they haue any wealth, all the Friends and Neighbours come together, euery man on Horsebacke, and hee that hath not a Horse will borrow one, and are euery man very co••••ly Apparelled, at the least some fiftie or a hundreth Horses little more or lesse, as the person is of qualitie, and so they ride altogether in good order vnto the Church with their Seruants, and euery man his Hat for the Sunne, the Parents and Friends in the hinder part, and in the last row the Bridegroome be∣tweene two of them, whom they call Gossops: after them followeth the Bride betweene two [ 20] Commeres, each in their Pallamkin, which is most costly made, and after follow the Slaues both men and women going in Troupes, as if they ranne to Hunt, and so comming to the Church, and being Married according to the order vsed in the Church of Rome: they are in the same order brought home againe, and passing through the streets, the neigbours leaning vpon Indian Carpets looke out of the windowes, and throw Rose water vpon the Bride and Bridegroome, and other sweet smelling waters, with Roses and Sugar Comfets, or Corne. In the meane time their Slaues play vpon Shalmes and Trumpets most pleasant and melodious to heare, and com∣ming to the House where the Bride and Bridegroome dwell, with great reuerence and courte∣sie bowing downe their bodies, they take their leaues of all the Companie, which are all on [ 30] Horsebacke about the doore. And so the Bride, the Bridegroome and the Commeres, goe vp and sit with great grauitie in a Window, and then begin the Horsemen that led them to Church, in honour of the Married couple, one after the other to runne a course, the Gossops beginning first, and the rest following twice or thrice one after the other, with continuall playing on Shalmes, which are very common in India, for that he which is of any wealth hath them of his owne within his House. This being ended, they all passe before the window where the Bride & Bridegroome sit with a great reuerence, and so passe on all sauing the Gossops, for they goe vp to the Bride and Bridegroome, and bid God giue them ••oy; then is there some Comfets and Marchpane brought forth, to drinke a Cup of water withall, and after some curte∣ous salutations and congratulations to the new Married couple, they take their leaues and de∣part: [ 40] so there remaineth with the Bride and Bridegroome but three or foure of their nearest friends and kinsmen, for whom there is a Dinner prepared, with litle meat, yet very costly, which they passe ouer very lightly, and not many words, which done they presently bring the Bride to Bed, without any other Ceremonies or Charges, wherewith the Marriage is done and ended. Oftentimes it chanceth, that they goe to bed at the least two houres before Sun-setting, not ha∣uing the patience to stay so long as wee doe in these Countries.

When a Child is to bee Christened, it is likewise in the same sort led to Church with Hor∣ses, and last of all commeth the Father alone, after whom followeth two men on Foot, the one with a great Siluer or Gilt vessell full of Bread baked like Cracklings, which in Portugall are called Rosquilhos, and in the middle a great Waxe candle, well made and gilded, thrust [ 50] through with some peeces of money of Gold and Siluer, for an Offering to the Priest that bap∣tiseth the Child, and all ouer strowed and couered with Roses: the other carrieth a great Siluer or gilt Saltseller in one of his hands, and a Lampe of the same stuffe in his other hand, each with rich and costly Towels on their shoulders: after that followeth two Pallamkins, on the one side the Commere, on the other side the Midwife with the Child, couered with a costly Mantle, made for the purpose, and so the ceremonies of Baptisme being ended in the Church, it is againe in the like sort brought home, and being there, they haue the like manner of Mu∣sicke & Shalmes, running and leaping with their Horses before the window where the Commere sitteth, with the same Ceremonies as at the Wedding. This is the manner and custome of those that are Married and keepe House. [ 60]

But concerning the Souldier that is vnmarried, thus it is. They goe in the Summer time in∣to the Armado lying on the water, and being within the Townes and on the Land, they are ve∣rie stately apparelled, and goe verie grauelie along the streets with their Slaues or men hired for the purpose, that beare a Hat ouer them for the Sunne and Raine: for there are many Indians

that are daily hired fort he purpose, and haue twelue Basarucos the day, which is as much as two Stiuers or a Stoter, and they serue such as haue no slaues, and that will not keepe any to that end. The Souldiers dwell at least ten or twelue in a house, where they haue among them a slane or hired Indian or two which serueth them, and washeth their Shirts, and haue foure or fiue * 1.9 Stooles with a Table, and euerie man a Bed. Their meat is Rice sodden in water, with some salt Fish, or some other thing of small value (without Bread) and cleare Fountaine water for their drinke, wherewith they are well pleased. They haue amongst them all one or two good suites of Apparell, all of Silke as the manner is there, and when one goeth abroad, the other stay at home, for in the house they haue no need of Clothes, (but sit whosoeuer they be) in their Shirts and a paire of linnen Breeches, and so as it were naked by reason of the great heat, for if some of them haue occasion to goe out twentie times in one day, they must so often; lend him [ 10] their Apparell, and he must likewise put off his clothes, as often as he commeth home againe. Some Souldiers haue a Gentleman or Captaine to their friends which lendeth them money to apparell themselues withall, to the end when Summer time commeth, they may bee readie to goe with them in Fleet to Sea, as also to haue their friendship, by night and at other times to beare them companie, or to helpe them to be reuenged of any iniurie by them receiued, as I said before: for that he which in India hath most Souldiers to his friends, is most regarded and feared. So that to be short, in this manner they doe maintaine themselues in common, where∣by they are able to come in presence of the best of the Countrey. Many and most of them haue their chiefe maintenance from the Portugals and Mesticos wiues, as also the Indian Christians wiues, which doe alwaies bestow liberall rewards and gifts vpon them to fulfill their vnchaste [ 20] and filthie desires, which they know very well how to accomplish, and secretly bring to passe. There are some likewise that get their liuing by their Friends, trauelling for them from place to place with some wares and Merchandizes, and they are called Chattijns. These doe giue ouer and leaue the office of a Souldier in the Fleet, and the Kings seruice: and now likewise they are all giuen to scraping and catching, as well the Vice-roy, Gouernours, and others, as also the Church-men and Spiritualtie, little passing or esteeming the common profit or the seruice of the King, but onely their particular profites, making their account, that the time of their abode is but three yeeres: wherefore they say they will not doe otherwise then those that were before them did, but say that others which come after them shall take care for all: for that the King (say they) gaue them their Offices, thereby to pay them for their seruices [ 30] in times past.

THe Portugals, Mesticos, and Indian-Christian women in India, are little seene abroad, but * 1.10 for the most part sit still within the house, and goe but seldome forth, vnlesse it bee to Church, or to visit their friends, which is likewise but verie little, and when they goe abroad, they are well prouided not to be seene, for they are carried in a Pallamkin couered with a Mat or other cloth, so that they cannot be seene.

When they goe to Church, or to visit any friend, they put on very costly apparell, with brace∣lets of Gold, and Rings vpon their armes, all beset with costly Iewels & Pearles, & at their eares hang laces full of Iewels. Their clothes are of Damaske, Veluet, and cloth of Gold, for Silke is [ 40] * 1.11 the worst thing they doe weare. Within the house they goe bare headed, with a Wastcoate called Baiu, that from their shoulders couereth their nauels, and is so fine that you may see all their body through it, and downwards they haue nothing but a painted cloth wrapped three or foure times about their bodies. These clothes are very faire, some of them being verie costly wrought with Loome-worke, and diuers figures and flowers of all colours, all the rest of the body is naked without any hose, but onely bare-footed in a paire of Moiles or Pantofles, and the men in like sort. This is their manner in the House both old and young, rich and poore, none excepted, for they goe forth but very little, and then they are both couered and carried, and what they need abroad, that the Slaues both men and women doe fetch in. The Women * 1.12 eate no Bread or very little, nor yet the Slaues, not that they refuse it for the dearenesse or want [ 50] of bread, (for they haue enough and great abundance) but they are so vsed to eate Rice, that they desire no other, which they seeth with water and eate it with some salt Fish, or a kind of salt fruit called Mangas, or with some other composition both of Fish and Flesh, with Pottage which they powre vpon it, and so eate it with their hands: for there they eate nothing with Spoones, and if they should see any man doe so, they would laugh at him. When they drinke they haue certaine pots made of blacke earth verie fine and thinne, much like those that wee vse in Holland for Flower-pots, hauing in the necke thereof a partition full of holes with a spout, (and these Cruses are called Gorgoletta,) to this end, that when they drinke, they may hold the pot on high, and touch it not with their mouthes, but the water running from the spout falleth into their mouthes, neuer spilling drop, which they doe for cleanlinesse, because no man should [ 60] put it to his mouth, and when any man commeth out of Portugall, and then beginneth to drinke after their manner, because he is not vsed to that kind of drinking, hee spilleth it in his bosome, wherein they take great pleasure and laugh at him, calling him Reynol, which is a name giuen in

iest to such as newlie come from Portugall, and know not how to behaue themselues in such graue manner, and with such ceremonies as the Portugals vse there in India: so that at the first they are much whooped and cried at in the streets, vntill by vse and practice they haue learned the Indian manner, which they quicklie doe. The men are very iealous of their Wiues, for they * 1.13 will neuer bring any man into their houses, how speciall a friend soeuer hee be, that shall see their Wiues or their Daughters, vnlesse it be some gossip or other married man with his wife in companie. When they will goe together to some place to sport and solace themselues, they are alwaies well guarded by their Slaues, both men and women, both for their safetie and seruice. If any man commeth to the doore to aske for the Master of the House, presently their Wiues and their Daughters runne to hide them, and so leaue the man to answer him that standeth at the doore: likewise they suffer no man to dwell within their houses, where the Women and [ 10] Daughters be, how neere kinsman souer he bee vnto them, being once fifteene yeeres of age, nor their owne Sonnes, but haue certaine Chambers and places beneath, or besides their house where they lie, and may in no sort come among the women, and thither they send them their meat and other prouisions, for it hath oftentimes beene seene in those Countries, that the Ne∣phew hath layne by his Aunt, and the Brother by the Brothers wife, and the Brother with his Sister: whereof I haue knowne some that haue been taken with the manner, and that both they and the woman haue beene slaine by the Husbands. The women are very Luxurious and vn∣chaste, * 1.14 for there are very few among them, although they be married, but they haue besides their husbands one or two of those that are called Soldiers, with whom they take their pleasures: which to effect, they vse all the slights and practises they can deuise, by sending out their Slaues [ 20] and Baudes by night, and at extraordinary times, ouer Walls, Hedges, and Ditches, how nar∣rowly soeuer they are kept and looked vnto. They haue likewise an Hearbe called Deutroa, * 1.15 which beareth a seed, whereof bruising out the sap, they put it into a Cup or other vessell, and giue it to their Husbands, either in meat or drinke, and presently therewith, the man is as though he were halfe out of his wits, and without feeling, or else drunke, doing nothing but laugh, and sometime it taketh him sleeping, whereby he lyeth like a dead man, so that in his presence they may doe what they will, and take their pleasure with their friends, and the husband neuer know of it. In which sort he continueth foure and twentie houres long, but if they wash his feet with cold water hee presently reuiueth, and knoweth nothing thereof, but thinketh [ 30] hee had slept.

There are many men poysoned by their wiues, if once they be moued: for they know how * 1.16 to make a certaine Poyson or Venome, which shall kill the person that drinketh it, at what time or houre it pleaseth them: which poyson being prepared, they make it in such sort, that it will lie sixe yeeres in a mans body, and neuer doe him hurt, and then kill him, without missing halfe an houres time. They make it also for one, two, or three yeeres, moneths or dayes, as it plea∣seth them best, as I haue seene it in many, and there it is very common. There are likewise ma∣ny women brought to their ends by meanes of their Husbands, and slaine when soeuer they take them in Adulterie, or that they doe but once suspect them; which if they doe, presently they cut their throats, and bring three or foure witnesses to testifie that strange men entred into [ 40] their houses by night, at vnaccustomed times, or else by day, and had their pleasures of their Wiues, or in other sort as they will deuise it; whereby they are presently discharged of the crime, according to the Lawes and Ordinances both of Spaine and Portugall, and presently may marrie with another wife. This notwithstanding is no meanes to make the Women feare, or once to leaue their filthy pleasures, although there are euery yeere many women without num∣ber so dispatched and made away by their husbands, and it is so common with them, that no man thinketh it strange, or once wondereth thereat, because of the Custome. The Women also for their part say and flatly affirme, that there can be no better death then to die in that manner, saying that so they are sacrificed for Loue, which they thinke to be a great Honour vnto them.

The women are by nature very cleanly and neat, as well in their Houses as in Apparell, for [ 50] that although all whatsoeuer shee putteth on her bodie euery day, is both white, cleane and * 1.17 fresh: yet they haue a manner euery day to wash themselues all the bodie ouer, from head to foot, and sometimes twice a day, in the morning and at euening: and as often as they ease themselues or make water, or else vse the companie of their Husbands, euery time they doe wash themselues, were it a hundreth times a day and a night: they are no great workers, but * 1.18 much delighted in sweet Hearbes, and in perfumes and Frankincense, and to rub their bodies and their foreheads with sweet Sanders and such like woods, which with water they doe steepe or breake in peeces: also the whole day long they doe nothing, but sit and chaw Leaues or Herbes, called Bettele, with Chaulke and a certaine Fruit called Arrequa, whereof in another place among Fruits and Herbes I will speake more. This Arrequa, some of it is so strong, that * 1.19 [ 60] it maketh men almost drunke, and wholly out of sence, although in shew and in taste it is al∣most like Wood or Rootes: these three things they sit all the whole day chawing in their mouthes, like Oxen or Kine chawing the cudde: they let the sap goe downe into their throats, and spit the rest out of their mouthes, whereby they make their mouthes so red and blackish,

that to such as know it not it is strange to see: all which, with their washing, Frankinsence, and rubbing with Sanders, they haue learned and receiued of the Indian Heathens, which haue had those Customes of long time, and yet till this day vse them: they say it preserueth the Teeth, and keepeth them sound, good for the mawe, and against a stinking mouth and euill breath, in∣somuch as they are so vsed to chaw it, that wheresoeuer they goe or stand, they must alwaies haue of those Leaues caried with them, and the women Slaues doe likewise goe alwaies chaw∣ing, and are so vsed thereunto, that they verilie thinke, that without it they can not liue, for their common worke is to sit all day, when their Husbands are out of doores, behind the Mat which hangeth at the window, alwaies chawing the herbe Bettele, seeing those that passe by in the streets, and no man seeth them: but as any man passeth by which liketh them, and they will let them haue a sight, they lift vp the Mat, whereby they doe the passenger a great fauour, [ 10] and with that manner of shewing themselues and casting lookes, they make their beginnings of Loue, which by their slauish women they bring to effect: to the which end they haue all di∣uellish * 1.20 deuises that possible may bee inuented, for that both night and day they doe practise nothing else, but make it their onely worke, and to make nature more liuely to abound and moue them thereunto, they doe vse to eate those Betteles, Arrequas and Chaulke, and in the night it standeth by their bed sides, this they eate, whole handfuls of Cloues, Pepper, Ginger, and a baked kind of meat called Chachunde, which is mixed and made of all kindes of Spices and Herbes, and such like meates, all to increase their leacherie.

And they are not content therewith, but giue their Husbands a thousand Herbes for the same purpose to eate, they not knowing thereof, thereby to fulfill their pleasures, and to satisfie their [ 20] desires, which can not by any meanes bee satisfied. They are likewise much vsed to take their pleasures in Bathes, by swimming therein, which they can verie well doe, for there are verie few of them, but they would easilie swim ouer a Riuer of halfe a mile broad.

EVerie three yeeres there is a new Vice-roy sent into India, and sometime they stay longer, as it pleaseth the King, but verie few of them, he continueth in Goa. In the Hall of his Palace * 1.21 stand the Guard, and in the great Hall, where his Councell sit, are painted all the Viceroyes, that haue gouerned in India, since the first Discouerie and Conquest thereof, and as they new come, their Pictures are likewise placed there. These Viceroyes haue great reuenues, they may spend, giue, and keepe the Kings treasure, which is verie much, and doe with it what pleaseth [ 30] them, for it is in their choise, hauing full and absolute power from the King, in such sort, that they gather and hoord vp a mightie quantitie of Treasure, for that besides their great allowance from the King, they haue great Presents and Gifts, bestowed vpon them. For it is the custome in those Countries, when any Viceroy commeth newly ouer, that all the Kings bordering about Goa, and that haue peace and friendship with the Portugals, doe then send their Ambassadours vnto him, to confirme their Leagues with great and rich Presents, therewith likewise to bid the Viceroy welcome, which amounteth to a great masse of Treasure: these Presents in this sort giuen, the Iesuites by their practises had obtained of the King, and for a time enioyed them at * 1.22 their pleasure (looking verie narrowly vnto them, that they might not be deceiued) vntill long time since, a Viceroy named Don Lois de Taide Earle of Atougia came thither, and refused to [ 40] let them haue them, saying that the King being in Portugall knew not what was giuen him in India, and that those Presents were giuen vnto the Viceroy and not to the King, and said the King had no power to giue them to the Iesuites: so that hee kept them for himselfe, which the Iesuites tooke in euill part, and said, the Viceroy was an Hereticke. Yet from his time euer since * 1.23 the Viceroyes haue vsed to keepe them for themselues. They say, and it is found to bee most true, that the first yeere of the Viceroyes time, he hath enough to doe to repaire and furnish his House. and to know the manners and customes of the Countries, without any further trou∣bling of himselfe. The second yeere to gather Treasure, and to looke vnto his particular pro∣fits, for the which cause he came into India. The third and last yeere to prepare himselfe and set all things in order, that he bee not ouertaken or surprised by the new Vice-roy when [ 50] hee commeth, but that he may returne into Portugall with the goods which he had scraped to∣gether. The same is to bee vnderstood of all the Captaines in the Fortes, and of all other Of∣ficers in India.

IN the Towne and Iland of Goa, are resident manie Heathens, Moores, (which are Mahume∣tans) * 1.24 Iewes, and all strange Nations bordering thereabout, euerie one of them vsing seuerall customes and superstions in Religion. The Moores eate all things except Swines flesh, and dy∣ing are buried like the Iewes; but the Heathens, as Decanijns, Gusarates, and Canaras, and other Indians being dead, are burnt to ashes, and some Women being aliue are burned with them, thatis, such as are Gentlemen or Noblemen, and the Wiues of the Bramenes, which are their I∣dolatrous [ 60] Priests. Also for the Merchants, some of them eate all things, except Kowes, or Buf∣fles flesh, which they esteeme to bee Holy. Others eate not any thing whatsoeuer, that hath either life or bloud in it, as those of Gusarata, and the Banianes of Cambaia, which obserue Py∣thagoras

Law: most of them pray vnto the Sunne and Moone, yet they doe all acknowledge a God that made, created and ruleth all things, and that after this life there is another, wherein men shall be rewarded according to their workes. But they haue Idols and Images, which they * 1.25 call Pagodes, cut and formed most vglie, and like monstrous Diuels, to whom daily they offer, and say, that those Holy men haue beene liuing among them, whereof they tell so many Mira∣cles, as it is wonderfull, and say, that they are intercessours betweene them and God. The Di∣uell oftentimes answereth them out of those Images, whom they likewise know, and doe him * 1.26 great honour by offering vnto him, to keeph friendship with him, and that hee should not hurt them. They haue a Custome, when any Maide is to be married, and that they will honour their Pagode, for the more credit to the Bridegroome, they bring the Bride with great Triumph and Musicke before their Pagode, which is made with a Pinne of Iuorie bone, to whom the nearest * 1.27 [ 10] friends and kinswomen of the Bride, together with the Bride doe goe, and by force make the I∣mage to take the Brides maidenhead, so that the blood remaineth still vpon the Image, for a re∣membrance thereof, and then after other diuellish Superstitions and Ceremonies, hauing made their Offerings, they bring the Bride home, where shee is deliuered to the Bridegroome, hee being very ioyfull and proud, that their Pagode hath honoured him so much and caled him of so * 1.28 much labour. They haue for the most part a custome to Pray vnto the first thing they meet withall in the Morning, and all that day after they pray vnto it, bee it Hog, or any other thing. And if in the morning they goe out, they chance at the first sight to see a Crow (whereof there are great numbers in India) they will not goe forth of their doores all that day, no not for all the goods in the world, for they esteeme it an euill signe, and an vnluckie day. They pray like∣wise [ 20] to the New Moone, and when shee first appeareth, they fall vpon their knees, and salute her with great Deuotion. There are among them certaine people called Iogos, which are such as we * 1.29 call Hermits, & those doe they esteem for Holie men, these men liue a verie strict life with great Abstinence, and make the common people beleeue many strange things. They haue likewise many Southsaiers and Witches, which vse Iugling, and trauell through the out Countrie, hauing about them many liue Snakes, which they know how to bewitch, and being shut vp in little Baskets, they pull them out and make them dance, turne, and winde at the sound of a certaine Instrument, whereon they play, and speake vnto them. They wind them about their neckes, armes, and legges, kissing them, with a thousand other deuises, onely to get money. They are all for the most part verie skilfull in preparing of Poysons, wherewith they doe many strange [ 30] things, and easilie poyson each other, their dwellings and Houses are verie little and low, co∣uered with Straw, without windowes, and verie low and narrow doores, so that a man must almost creepe vpon his knees to goe in; their Housholdstuffe is Mats of straw, both to sit and * 1.30 lie vpon, their Tables, Table-clothes, and Napkins, are made of the great Indian Fig-leaues, they serue them not onely for Tables, Sheets, and other Linnen, but also for Dishes, wherein they put their meat, which you shall likewise see in the Grocers, and Pothecaries shops, to put and wrap in all things whatsoeuer they haue within their shops, (as wee doe in Paper.) They likewise joyne them together in such sort, that they can put both Butter, Oyle, and such liquid stuffes therein, and also whatsoeuer commeth to hand. To dresse their meat they haue certaine Earthen pots wherein they seeth Rice, and make holes in the ground, wher••••n they stampe it, [ 40] or beat it with a woodden Pestell made for the purpose, and they are so miserable, that they buy the Rice in the Huskes, as it groweth on the ground, and some of them haue Rice sowen behind their House to serue their necessarie vse. They vse to drinke out of a Copper kanne with a spout, whereby they let the water fall downe into their mouthes, and neuer touch the Pot with their * 1.31 lippes. Their Houses are commonly strawed with Kow-dung, which (they say) killeth Fleas. They are verie cleane on their Bodies, for euerie day they wash themselues all their bodie ouer, as often as they ease themselues or make water, both men and women, like the Moores and Mahometans. They wash themselues with the left hand, because they eate with the right hand, and vse no Spoones. They doe keepe and obserue their Ceremonies and Superstitions, with great deuotion, for they neuer goe forth without praying, when they trauell by the way. They * 1.32 [ 50] haue on euery Hill, Cliffe, Hole, or Denne their Pagodes and Idols in most deuillish and defor∣med shapes, cut and hewed out of the stones and rockes, with their Furnaces hard by them, and a Cisterne not farre from them, which is alwaies full of water, and euery one that passeth by, washeth their feet therein, and so fall downe before their Idoll, some setting before him for an offering Fruits, Rice, Egges, Hennes, &c. as their deuotions serue, and then commeth the Bramene their Priest and taketh it away and eateth it, making the common people beleeue that the Pagode hath eaten it.

When they will make a voyage to Sea, they vse at the least fourteene daies before they enter into their Ships, to make so great a noise with sounding of Trumpets, and to make Fires, that it may bee heard and seene both by night and day, the Ship being hanged about with Flagges, [ 60] wherewith (they say) they feast their Pagode, that they may haue a good Voyage. The like doe they at their returne for a Thanksgiuing fourteene daies long, & thus they vse to doe in all their Feasts, Affaires, Mariages, Childbirths, & at other times of the yeere, as Sowing, & Mowing, &c.

The Heathenish Indians that dwell in Goa are very rich Merchants, and traffique much, there is one street within the Towne, that is full of shops kept by those Heathenish Indians, that not onely fell all kinds of Silkes, Sattins, Damaskes, and curious workes of Porceline from China and other places, but all manner of wares of Veluet, Silke, Sattin and such like, brought out of Portugall, which by meanes of their Brokers they buy by the great, and sell them againe by the piece or elles, wherein they are very cunning, and naturally subtile. There is also another street, where the Benianes of Cambaia dwell, that haue all kinds of wares out of Cambaia, and all sorts of precious stones, and are very subtile and cunning to bore and make holes in all kinds of stones, Pearles, and Corrals: on the other side of the same street dwell other Heathens, which sell all sorts of Bedsteads, Stooles, and such like stuffe, very cunningly couered ouerwith Lacke, most pleasant to behold, and they can turne the Lacke into any colour that you will de∣sire. [ 10] There is also a street full of Gold and Siluer Smiths that are Heathens, which make all kind of workes, also diuers other Handicrafts men, as Copper-smiths, Carpenters, and such like Occupations, which are all Heathens, and euery one a street by themselues. There are like∣wise other Merchants that deale all by great, with Corne, Rice, and other Indian wares and merchandises, as Wood and such like. Some of them farme the Kings Rents and Reuenues, so that they are skilfull euery way to make their profits. There are also many Heathen Brokers, very cunning and subtile in buying and selling, and with their tongues to pleade on both sides.

There are in Goa many Heathen Physicians which obserue their grauities with Hats carried ouer them for the Sunne, like the Portugals, which no other Heathens doe, but onely Ambas∣sadors, [ 20] or some rich Merchants. These Heathen Physicians doe not onely cure their owne Na∣tions and Countrimen, but the Portugals also, for the Vice-roy himselfe, the Arch-bishop, and all the Monkes and Friers doe put more trust in them then in their owne Countrimen, whereby they get great store of money, and are much honoured and esteemed. The Countrimen in the Villages round about Goa, and such as labour and till the land are most Christians: but there is not much difference among them from the other Heathens, for that they can hardly leaue their Heathenish superstitions, which in part are permitted them, and is done to draw the other * 1.33 Heathens to bee christened, as also that otherwise they would hardly bee perswaded to con∣tinue in the Christian Faith. There is in euery place of the street Exchangers of money, by them called Xaraffos, which are all Christian Iewes. They are very ready and expert in all manner of [ 30] accounts, and in knowing of all sorts of money, without whose helpe men dare not receiue any money, because there is much counterfeit money abroad, which is hard to be knowne from the good, were it not for these Xaraffos, which can discerne it with halfe an eye. The Indian Heathens haue a custome, that no man may change nor alter Trade or Occupation, but must vse his fathers Trade, and marrie mens daughters of the same Occupation, Trade, or dea∣ling, * 1.34 which is so neerely looked vnto, that they are diuided and set apart, each Occupation by it selfe, as Countries and Nations are, and so they call one another: for if they speake to a man, they aske him of what Trade he is, whether he be a Goldsmith, Barber, Merchant, Gro∣cer, Fisherman, or such like. They giue no houshold-stuffe with their daughters, but onely Iewels, and pay the charges of the Wedding. The Sonnes inherite all their goods. [ 40]

THe times and seasons of the yeeres are as followeth. Winter beginneth on the last of A∣prill, throughout the whole coast which is called India, from Cambaia to the Cape de Co∣morin, * 1.35 and commeth with a Westerne winde, which bloweth out of the Sea vpon the Coast: the beginning thereof is with thunder and lightning, and after that a stedfast and continuall raine, which lasteth night and day till the moneth of September, and then Winter endeth with thunder and lightning: and by reason of that continuall raine, it is called Winter, as also be∣cause at that time they cannot trauell on the Seas. But in warme weather, when fruit time commeth on, it is then right Summer: for the time, which in India is called Summer, because of the clearenesse and drinesse of the weather, is the colder and the wholsomer, and then there [ 50] blowe East windes, so that the nights are then very coole, and somewhat sharpe; and then there are no speciall kindes of fruits in season, but such as growe continually all the yeere. A∣gainst the Winter commeth, euery man maketh his prouision of victuals, and all other necessa∣ries, like as in a ship that is to make a Voyage of fiue or sixe moneths; also all their ships are brought into the Riuer, and vnfurnished of tacklings, and euery thing being taken out of them they are couered with Mats, otherwise they would rot with the raine, which is so stedfast and continuall all the Winter, that many times diuers houses by reason of the great moistnesse doe fall vnto the ground: and as soone as Winter beginneth, there driueth into the mouth of the Hauen great bankes and shoales of sands, which stop it vp, so that neither Ship nor Boat can either goe out or in: and the Sea both there and along the coast maketh so great a roaring and [ 60] noise, that men can neither heare nor see: also the water of the Riuer of Goa which runneth about the Iland in Winter, by meanes of the land-waters that by the continuall raine falleth from the Hills, is cleane fresh water, and of a red colour, which in Summer is cleane contrarie

and like sea-water, by reason of the concourse it hath with the Sea. In the Moneth of Septem∣ber, when Winter endeth, the bankes of sand doe fleet and vade away out of the Riuer, so that not onely small ships may come in and goe out, but also the great Portugall ships of sixteene hundred tunnes may freely enter without a Pilot, for it is deepe enough, and without danger. In Winter it is a heauy and melancholike being there, for there is no other exercise to be vsed, but onely to sit in their shirts, with a paire of linnen breeches, and goe and passe the time away with their neighbours, in playing and such exercises, for that throughout the whole Towne there is no other doing. The women and Mesticos take great pleasure in the Winter time when it raineth, with their husbands and slaues to goe into the fields, or some Garden, whether they carrie good store of victuals, and there in their Gardens haue many Cesternes or Ponds of wa∣ter, wherein they take their delights to swimme and to bathe themselues. In this time most of [ 10] their Indian fruit is in season.

The Summer beginneth in September, and continueth till the last of Aprill, and is alwaies cleare skie and faire weather, without once or very little raining: Then all the ships are rigged and made ready to sayle for all places; as also the Kings Armie to keepe the Coast, and to con∣uoy Merchants, and then the East windes beginne to blowe from off the Land into the Seas, whereby they are called Terreinhos, that is to say, the Land winds. They blowe very pleasant∣ly and coolly, although at the first, by changing of the weather they are very dangerous, and cause many great diseases, which doe commonly fall in India, by the changing of the time. These winds blowe alwaies in Summer, beginning at midnight, and continue till noone, but * 1.36 they neuer blowe aboue ten miles into the Sea, from off the coast, and presently after one of [ 20] the clocke vntill midnight the West winde bloweth, which commeth out of the Sea into the Land, and is called Uirason. These winds are so sure and certaine at their times, as though men held them in their hands, whereby they make the Land very temperate, otherwise the heate would be vnmeasurable.

It is likewise a strange thing that when it is Winter vpon the coast of India, that is from Din * 1.37 to the Cape de Comorin, on the other side of the Cape de Comorin, on the coast called Chora∣mandel, it is cleane contrary, so that there it is Summer, and yet they lie all vnder one height or degrees, and there is but seuenty miles by land betweene both coasts, and in some places but twenty miles, and which is more, as men trauell ouer land from Cochin to Saint Thomas (which lieth on the same coast of Choramandel) and comming by the Hill of Ballagatte, where men [ 30] must passe ouer to goe from the one coast vnto the other: on the one side of the Hill to the top thereof it is pleasant cleare sunne shining weather, and going downe on the other side there is raine, winde, thunder and lightning, as if the world should end and be consumed: which is to be vnderstood, that it changeth from the one side to the other, as the time falleth out, so that on the one side of the Hills it is Winter, and on the other side Summer: and it is not onely so in that place and Countrie, but also at Ormus, on the coast of Arabia Felix by the Cape of Rosol∣gatte, where the ships lie, it is very still, cleare, and pleasant water, and faire Summer time; and turning about the Cape on the other side, it is raine and wind with great stormes and tem∣pests, which with the times of the yeere doe likewise change on the other side, and so it is in many other places of the Orientall Countries. [ 40]

The sicknesses and diseases in Goa, and throughout India, which are common, come most with the changing of the times and the weather, as it is said before: there raigneth a sicknesse called Mordexijn, which stealeth vpon men, and handleth them in such sort, that it weakneth a man, and maketh him cast out all that he hath in his body, and many times his life withall. This sicknesse is very common, and killeth many a man, whereof they hardly or neuer escape. The bloudy Fluxe is there likewise very common and dangerous, as the Plague with vs. They haue many continuall Feuers, which are burning Agues, and consume mens bodies with ex∣treme heate, whereby within foure or fiue dayes they are either whole or dead. This sicknesse is common and very dangerous, and hath no remedie for the Portugals but letting bloud: but the Indians and Heathens doe cure themselues with herbes, as Sanders, and other such like [ 50] ointments, wherewith the ease themselues. This sicknesse consumeth many Portugals euery yeere, some because they haue little to eate, and lesse to drinke of any meate or drinke that is nourishing, and vse much company of women, because that Land is naturall to prouoke them thereunto, as also the most part of the Souldiers by such meanes haue their liuing and their maintenance, which oftentimes costeth them both life and limme, for although men were of Iron or Steele, the vnchaste life of a woman, with her vnsatiable lusts were able to grind him to powder, and sweepe him away like dust, which costeth many a mans life, as the Kings Hospi∣tall can well beare witnesse, wherein they lodge, whensoeuer they are sicke, where euery yeere at the least there entred fiue hundred liue men, and neuer come forth till they are dead, and they are onely Portugals, for no other sicke person may lodge therein, I meane such [ 60] as are called white men, for the other Indians haue a Hospitall by themselues. In this Ho∣spitall they are very well looked vnto by the Iesuites, and Gentlemen: whereof euery moneth one of the best is chosen and appointed, who personally is there by them, and giueth the sicke

persons whatsoeuer they will desire, and sometimes spend more by foure or fiue hundred Duc∣kets of their owne purses, then the Kings allowance reacheth vnto.

But returning to our matter of sicknesse, Pockes and Piles, with other secret diseases, they are in those Countries very common, and not hidden or concealed, for they thinke it no shame, more then to haue any other disease. They heale them with the root China: there are some that haue had them at the least three or foure times, and are not any thing at all shunned or disliked for the same, but dare both boast and bragge thereof. It is not any thing perilous for the bo∣dy, insomuch that they had rather haue them, and feare them lesse then any of the foresaid dis∣eases. The Plague hath neuer beene in India, neither is it knowne vnto the Indians, but poiso∣ning, witch craft, and such like, whereby some lose their healths, and some their liues, is their [ 10] daily exercise, and very common with them. The stone grauell, and rupture raigneth much a∣mong them, specially among married men, by reason of the great quantitie of water that they drinke being giuen to all pleasure and riotousnesse, enioying all what their hearts desire, sit∣ting alwaies with their bellies open in their shirts in a Gallerie, recreating themselues with the wind which cooleth them, sometimes hauing a slaue to scratch and pare their nayles and feet, another the head, the third holds a Fanne to driue away the Flies. This is the common vse for two houres after noone, where likewise they take an afternoones sleepe, and euer as they haue thirst, they bring him a dish of Conserues or other Com••ets, that the water should not worke too much in his body, but taste the better. With such and the like exercises they doe passe the day till night comes on, so that commonly they haue all swollen bellies like Bacchus, whereby [ 20] the Souldiers and other Indians call them Barrigois, that is, Bellies, or Great bellies.

The day both Summer and Winter is there all of a length, not much difference, onely in the change they haue about an houres difference. The Sun riseth at sixe, and setteth at sixe. When it is noone, commonly they haue the Sunne in the middle of the element iust ouer their heads, and it giue ••••no shadow, although it stretcheth somewhat out as the Sunne taketh his course. In Goa you may see both the Poles of the world, the North and South Starres stand not farre aboue the Horizon.

THe Bramenes are the honestest and most esteemed Nation among all the Indian Heathens: * 1.38 for they doe alwaies serue in the chiefest places about the King, as Receiuers, Stewards, [ 30] Ambassadors, and such like Offices. They are likewise the Priests and Ministers of the Pagods, or deuilish Idols. They are of great authoritie among the Indian people, for that the King doth nothing without their counsell and consent, and that they may bee knowne from other men, they weare vpon their naked bodie, from the shoulder crosse vnder the arme ouer their bodie downe to the girdle, or the cloth that is wrapped about their middle, three or foure strings like sealing threed, whereby they are knowne: which they neuer put off although it should cost them their liues, for their Profession and Religion will not permit it. They goe na∣ked, sauing onely that they haue a cloth bound about their middles to hide their priuie mem∣bers. They weare sometimes when they goe abroad, a thinne cotton linnen Gowne called Ca∣baia; lightly cast ouer their shoulders, and hanging downe to the ground like some other In∣dians, as Benianes, Gusarates, and Decanijns. Vpon their heads they weare a white cloth, wound [ 40] twice or thrice about, therewith to hide their haire, which they neuer cut off, but weare it long and turned vp as the women doe. They haue most commonly round rings of gold hang∣ing at their eares, as most of the Indians haue. They eate not any thing that hath life, but feed themselues with herbes and Rice, neither yet when they are sick will for any thing be let bloud, but heale themselues by herbes and ointments, and by rubbing their bodies with Sanders, and such like sweet woods. In Goa and on the Sea coasts there are many Bramenes, which com∣monly doe maintayne themselues with selling of Spices and other Apothecarie ware, but it is not so cleane as others, but full of garbish and dust. They are very subtile in writing and ca∣sting accounts; whereby they make other simple Indians beleeue what they will. [ 50]

Touching the points of their Religion, wherein the common people beleeue them to bee Prophets: whatsoeuer they first meet withall in the streets at their going forth, that doe they all the day after pray vnto. The women when they goe forth haue but one cloth about their bodies; which couereth their heads, and hangeth downe vnto their knees: all the rest of the body is naked. They haue rings through their noses, about their legs, toes, neckes, and armes, and vpon each hand seuen or eight rings or bracelets, some of siluer and gilt, if they be of wealth and abilitie: but the common people of glasse, which is the common wearing of all the In∣dian women. When the woman is seuen yeeres old, and the man nine yeeres, they doe marrie, but they come not together before the woman be strong enough to beare children. When the Bramenes die, all their friends assemble together, and make a hole in the ground, wherein they [ 60] throwe much wood and other things: and if the man bee of any account, they cast in sweet Sanders, and other Spices, with Rice, Corne, and such like, and much Oyle, because the fire should burne the stronger. Which done, they lay the dead Bramenes in it: then commeth his wife with musike and many of her neerest friends all singing certaine praises in commendation

of her husbands life, putting her in comfort, and encouraging her to follow her husband, and goe with him into the other world. Then shee taketh all her Iewels, and parteth them among her friends, and so with a cheerfull countenance, she leapeth into the fire, and is presently coue∣red with Wood and Oyle: so shee is quickly dead, and with her Husbands body burned to ashes: and if it chance, as not very often it doth, that any woman refuseth to be burnt with her Husband, then they cut the haire cleane off from her head: and while she liueth she must ne∣uer after weare any Iewels more, and from that time shee is despised, and accounted for a di∣shonest woman. These Bramenes obserue certaine Fasting dayes in the yeere, and that with so great abstinence, that they eate nothing all that day, and sometimes in three or foure dayes to∣gether. They haue their Pagodes and Idols, whose Ministers they are, whereof they tell and shew many Miracles, and say that those Pagodes haue beene men liuing vpon earth, and because [ 10] of their Holie liues, and good Workes done here in this world, are for a reward thereof, be∣come Holie men in the other world, as by their miracles, by the Diuell performed, hath beene manifested vnto them, and by their commandements their formes and shapes are made in the most vgly and deformed manner that possible may be deuised. Such they Pray and Offer vnto, with many diuellish Superstitions, and stedfastly beleeue that they are their Aduocates and In∣tercessors vnto God. They beleeue also that there is a supreame God aboue, which ruleth all things. and that mens soules are Immortall, and that they goe out of this world into the other, both Beasts and Men, and receiue reward according to their workes, as Pythagoras teacheth, whose Disciples they are.

THe Gusarates and Banianes, are of the Countrey of Cambaia: many of them dwell in Goa, * 1.39 [ 20] Diu, Chaul, Cochin, and other places of India, because of their trade and traffique in Mer∣chandise, which they vse much with all kindes of wares, as Corne, Cotton, Linnen, Anil, Rice, and other wares, specially all kind of precious Stones wherein they haue great skill. They are most subtill and expert in casting of Accounts and Writing, so that they doe not onely surpasse and goe beyond all Iewes and other Nations thereabouts, but also the Portugals: and in this respect they haue no aduantage, for that they are very perfect in the trade of Merchandise, and very readie to deceiue men. They eate not any thing that hath Life or Blood in it, neither would they kill it for all the goods in the world, how small or vnnecessarie soeuer it were, for that they stedfastly beleeue, that euery liuing thing hath a Soule, and are next after Men to be accounted of, according to Pythagoras law, and know it must die: and sometimes they doe buy [ 30] certaine Fowles or other Beasts of the Christians or Portugals, which they meant to haue killed, and when they haue bought them, they let them flee and runne away.

They haue a custome in Cambaia, in the High-wayes, and Woods, to set Pots with water, and to cast Corne and other Graine vpon the ground to feed Birds and Beasts withall: and throughout Cambaia they haue Hospitals to cure and heale all manner of Beasts and Birds therein whatsoeuer they ayle, and receiue them thither as if they were Men, and when they are healed, they let them flie or runne away whither they will, which among them is a worke of great Charitie, saying, it is done to their euen neighbours. And if they take a Flea or a Louse, they will not kill it, but take or put it into some hole or corner in the wall, and so let it goe, [ 40] and you can doe them no greater iniurie then to kill it in their presence, for they will neuer leaue intreating and desiring with all curtesie not to kill it, and that man should not seeme to commit so great a sinne, as to take away the life of that, to whom God had giuen both Soule and Bodie: yea, and they will offer much money to a man to let it liue, and goe away. They eate no Radishes, Onions, Garlicke, nor any kind of Herbe that hath any colour of Red in it, nor Egges, for they thinke there is blood in them. They drinke not any Wine, nor vse any Vi∣neger, but onely water. They are so dangerous of eating and drinking with other men which are not their Countrimen, that they would rather starue to death then once to doe it. It happe∣neth * 1.40 oftentimes that they sayle in the Portugals ships from Goa to Cochin, to sell their Wares, and to traffique with the Portugals, and then they make their prouisions for so long time as they [ 50] thinke to stay vpon the way, which they take aboord with them, and thereupon they feed. And if the time falleth out longer, then they made account of their water and prouision being all spent, as it happened when I sailed from Goa to Cochin, they had rather die for hunger and thirst then once to touch the Christians meat. They wash themselues before they eate, as the Bramenes doe, as also euerie time when they ease themselues or make water. They are of a yel∣low colour like the Bramenes, and somewhat whiter, and there are Women among them which are much whiter and clearer of Complection then the Portugall women. They are formed and made both in Face, Limbes, and in all other things like men of Europe, colour onely excepted. Their Apparell is a thinne white Gowne vpon their naked bodies, from the head to the feet, and made fast on the side vnder their armes, their Shooes of red leather, sharpe at the toes, and [ 60] turning vp like hookes, their Beards shauen like the Turkes, sauing onely their Moustachios, they weare on their Heads a white cloth three or foure times wrapped about like the Bramenes, and vnder their haire a Starre vpon their foreheads, which they rub euery morning with a little

white Sanders tempered with water, & three or foure graines of Rice among it, which the Bra∣mene; also doe as a superstitious Ceremonie of their Law. Their Bodies are commonly anoyn∣ted with Sanders and other sweet Woods, which they doe verie much vse, as also all the Indi∣ans. Their Women are apparelled like the Bramenes wiues, they eate like the Mahometans, and all other Indians vpon the ground. In their Houses or Assemblies they sit on the ground vpon Mats or Carpets, and alwayes leaue their Shooes without the doore, so that they are alwayes barefoot in their Houses: wherefore commonly the heeles of their shooes are neuer pulled vp, to saue labour of vntying or vndoing them, they haue a thousand other Heathenish superstitions which are not worth the rehearsall.

THe Canaras and Decanijns are of the Countrey of Decam, commonly called Ballagate, lying [ 10] * 1.41 behind Goa: many of them dwell in Goa. Their Apparell is like the Gusurates and Benia∣nes, except their Shooes, which they weare like Antiques with cut toes, and fastned aboue vp∣on their naked feet, which they call Alparcas. They weare their Beards and haire long, as it groweth without cutting, but onely turne it vp, and dresse it as the Benianes and Bramenes vse to doe, and are like them for colour, forme, and making. They eate all things except Kine, Hogges, and Buffles, Flesh and Fish. They account the Oxe, Kow or Buffle to bee Holie, which they haue commonly in the house with them, and they besmeere, stroke, and handle them with * 1.42 all the friendship in the world, and feed them with the same meat they vse to eate themselues, and when the Beasts ease themselues, they hold their hands vnder their tailes and so throw the dung away. In the night time they sleepe with them in their Houses, and to conclude, vse them [ 20] as if they were reasonable Creatures, whereby they thinke to doe God great seruice. In their Eating, sitting in the House, Washing, making Cleane, and other Ceremonies and Superstitions they are altogether like the Bramenes, Gusurates, and Banianes. In their Marriages they con∣tract each with other at seuen yeeres, and at eleuen or twelue yeeres they are married, and dwell together. When they are to bee married, they begin foureteene dayes before to make a great sound with Trumpets, Drummes, and Fires, which continueth day and night for all those foureteene dayes, with so great a noise of songs and Instruments, that men can neither heare, nor see: On the Wedding day, all the friends and kindred on both sides doe assemble toge∣ther, and sit vpon the ground, round about a Fire, and goe seuen times about it vttering cer∣taine words, whereby the Wedding is done. They giue their Daughters no Houshold-stuffe, [ 30] but onely some Iewels, as Bracelets, Eare-rings, and such like of small value, wherewith their Husbands must be content, for the Daughters are no Heyres, but the Sonnes inherite all, but they keepe and maintaine their Daughters and Sisters till they marrie: when they die, they are likewise burnt, and some of their Wiues with them, but not so many as of the Bramenes. Euery one of them followeth his Fathers occupation, and marrieth with the Daughters of such like Trades, which they name Kindreds. They haue their Fasting dayes, and Ceremonies like the Bramenes, for they are as the Laitie, and the Bramenes as the Spiritualtie, the Ministers, Priests, and Prophets of their Idols. They hire and farme the Customes and Rents of the Portugals, and the Kings reuenues in the Land of Bardes, Salsette, and the Iland of Goa, so that oftentimes for any question or strife they must appeare in Law, where they alwayes come without Councell [ 40] or Atturney, and know so well how to place their words, according to the Lawes of Portugall, not onely Temporall but Spirituall, that they are able to set downe, and shew where it standeth written, as well as any Counsellour could doe, and make their Petitions and Requests without any mans aduise, that the Portugals doe wonder at their readie wits, as I haue oftentimes found in them. When they are to take their Oathes to beare witnesse with any man, they are set * 1.43 within a Circle made of Ashes vpon the pauement where they stand, still laying a few Ashes on their bore Heads, holding one hand on their heads, the other on their brests, and then in their owne speech sweare by their Pagode, that they will tell the Truth without dissimulation, what∣soeuer shall bee asked them, for that they certainly beleeue they should be damned for euer, if as then they should not say the truth, but conceale it. [ 50]

THe Canarijns and Corumbijns are the Countrimen, and such as deale with Tilling the Land, * 1.44 Fishing and such like labours. These are the most contemptible, and the miserablest peo∣ple of all India, and liue very poorely, maintaining themselues with little meat. They eate all kind of things, except Kine, Oxen, Buffles, Hogges, and Hens flesh; their Religion is like the Decanijns and Canaras, for they are all of one Countrey and Custome, little differing: they goe naked, their priuie members onely couered with a cloth. The Women goe with a cloth bound about their middle beneath their nauels, and hanging downe to the middle of their thighes, and the other end thereof they cast ouer their shoulders, whereby halfe their brests are couered. They are in a manner blacke, or of a darke browne colour, many of them are Christians, be∣cause [ 60] their chiefe habitation and dwelling places are on the Sea-side, in the Countries borde∣ring vpon Goa, for that the Palme-trees doe grow vpon the Sea coasts, or vpon the bankes by Riuer sides. The Rice is sowed vpon low ground, which in Winter time is couered with water, * 1.45

wherewith those Canarijns doe maintaine themselues: these bring Hennes, Fruit, Milke, Egges, and other such like wares into the Towne to sell. They dwell in little straw Houses, the doores whereof are so low, that men must creepe in and out, their houshold-stuffe is a Mat vpon the ground to sleepe vpon, and a Pit or hole in the ground to beat their Rice in, with a Pot or two to seeth it in, and so they liue and gaine so much as it is a wonder. For commonly their Houses are full of small Children, which crall and creepe about all naked, vntill they are seuen or eight yeares old, and then they couer their priuie members. When the women are readie to trauell * 1.46 with Child, they are commonly deliuered when they are all alone, and their Husbands in the fields, as it fortuned vpon a time, as I and some other of my friends went to walke in the fields, and into the Villages where the Canarijns dwell, and hauing thirst, I went to one of the Canarijns houses to aske some water, therewith to refresh vs, and because I was very thirstie, I stooped [ 10] downe and thrust my head in at the doore, asking for some water where I espied a Woman a∣lone within the house, tying her cloth fast about her middle, and before her hauing a woodden Trough (by the Portugals called Gamell••) full of water, where shee stood and washed a Child, whereof as then she had newly beene deliuered without any helpe: which hauing washt, she laid it Naked on the ground vpon a great Indian Figge leafe, and desired me to stay and she would presently giue me water. When I vnderstood by her that she had as then newly beene deliuered of that Child without any helpe, I had no desire to drinke of her water, but went vn∣to another to aske water, and perceiued the same woman not long after going about her house, as if there had beene no such matter, and the Children are brought vp in that manner cleane naked, nothing done vnto them, but onely washed and made cleane in a little cold water, and [ 20] doe in that sort prosper and come vp as well as man would wish, or as any Child within these Countries can doe with all the tending they haue, and liue many times vntill they be a hun∣dreth yeares old, without any Head-ach, or Tooth-ach, or losing any of their Teeth. They we are onely a tuske of haire on the tops of their Heads, which they suffer to grow long: the rest of their haire is cut short, they are very expert in Swimming and Diuing, they row vp and downe the Riuers in Boates called Almadias, whereof some of them are hewen out of a peece of wood, and so narrow that a man can hardly sit in them, and it chanceth oftentimes that they turne ouer and ouer twice or thrice before they passe the Riuer, and then they leape out into the water and turne them vp, and so powring out the water they get into them againe. They are so miserable, that for a Penie they would indure to be Whipped, and they eate so little, that [ 30] it seemeth they liue by the Aire, they are likewise most of them leane, and weake of limbes, of little strength and very Cowards, whereby the Portugals doe them great outrage and villa∣nie, vsing them like Dogs and Beasts.

In their Marriages and Deaths they obserue the manner of the Decanijns and Canaras, as also in their Religion and Ceremonies. When the Man is dead his body is burnt, and the Woman cuts her haire off, and breaketh all her Iewels, although they bee but few and small, for they are most of Glasse.

THere are many Arabians and Abexijns in India. The Arabians obserue Mahomets Law, * 1.47 and the Abexijns, some are Mahometans, some Christians, after their manner, for they are of [ 40] Prester Iohns land. The Abexijns that are Christians, haue on their Faces foure burnt markes in manner of a Crosse, one ouer their Nose in the middle of the forehead, betweene both their eies, on each of their Cheekes one, betweene their eyes and their eares, and one vnder their nether Lip downe to the chinne. These Abexijns and Arabians, such as are free doe serue in all India for Saylers and Sea-faring men. The Portugals (although they serue for Saylers in the * 1.48 Portugals Ships) that come into India, and haue neuer beene other in Portugall but Saylers, yet are they ashamed to liue in that order, and thinke it a great discredit vnto them, together with a great diminishing of their Authorities and estimations, which they account themselues to hold in India, so that they giue themselues out for Maisters of ships, and by their Captaines are also called Pilots and chiefe Boatswaines, but not lower: for if they should descend but one [ 50] step lower, it would be a great blot and blemish vnto them all their liues after, which they would not indure for any thing in the world. These Abexijns and Arabians, serue for small money, and being hired are verie lowly and subiect, so that oftentimes they are beaten and smitten, not as Slaues, but like Dogs, which they beare very patiently, not once speaking a word: they commonly haue their Wiues and Children with them in the ship wherein they are hired, which continually stay with them, what Voyage soeuer they make, and dresse their owne meat, which is Rice sodden in water with salt Fish among it. The cause why the Women saile in the ship, is, for that in Summer and not else, their ships goe to Sea, when they alwaies haue calme water and faire weather, with good windes: they haue commonly but one Portu∣gall or two for Captaine, Master and Pilot, and they haue a chiefe Boatswaine, which is an A∣rabian, [ 60] which they call Mocadon, and he is ruler of the Arabians and Abexijns, that are Sailers, whom he hath vnder his subiection, euen as if they were his Slaues or Subiects.

This Mo••adon is hee that conditioneth and maketh bargaine with the owners of the Ship,

to haue so many Sailers, and hee receiueth the monethlie money for their wages, and accoun∣teth with the Sailers particularly, but for gouernment of the ship hee hath not to doe, neither troubleth himselfe therewith. The ships when they saile, vse no Caske for water, because there is not any throughout all India, nor any made there, saue onely such as come out of Portugall, and vsed in the Portugall shippes: but in stead of Pipes they vse a great foure cornered woodden Cesterne, that standeth by the maine Mast, at the very foot thereof, vpon the keele of the ship, which is very well pitched, and made fast, wherein they lade as much water as they thinke will serue them for their Voyage. The Captaine, Master or Pilot, Marchants and Passengers, haue euerie man their meat by themselues, and their water in great Indian pots called Martauans. [ 10]

THe Blacke people or Caffares of the Land of Mosambique, and all the Coast of Ethiopia, * 1.49 and within the land to the Cape de bona Speranza, goe all naked, although those of Mo∣sambique, (that is the Women) doe a little couer themselues, which they doe by meanes of the daily conuersation they haue with the Portugals. Some haue all their bodies rased and seared with Irons, and all figured like rased Satten and Damaske, wherein they take great pride, thin∣king there are no fairer people then they in all the world, so that when they see any white peo∣ple, that weare Apparell on their bodies, they laugh and mocke at them, thinking vs to bee Monsters and vgly people: and when they will make any diuellish forme and Picture, then they inuent one after the forme of a White man in his apparell. There are among them that [ 20] file there Teeth as sharpe as Needles, which they likewise esteeme for a great ornament.

There are some of them that are become Christians since the Portugals came thither, but there is no great paines taken about it in those Countries, because there is no profite to bee had, as also that it is an infectious and vnwholsome Countrey: And therefore the Iesuites are warie enough not to make any Houses or habitations therein, for they see no great profite to be rea∣ped * 1.50 there for them, as they doe in India and the Ilands of Iapan, and in other places, where they find great quantities of Riches, with the sappe whereof they increase much and fill their Bee∣hiues, therewith to satisfie their thirstie and insatiable desires.

They haue a Custome among them, that when they goe to Warre against their enemies, if they winne the Battell, or ouerthrow each other, he that taketh or killeth most men, is holden [ 30] and accounted for the best and brauest man among them, and much respected, and to witnesse the same before their Kings, of as many as they haue slaine or taken Prisoners, they cut off their priuie members, that if they bee let goe againe, they may no more beget Children, which in processe of time might mischiefe them, and then they drie them well, because they should not rot: which being so dryed, they come before their Kings with great reuerence, in the presence of the principall men in the Village, and there take these members so dried one by one in their mouthes, and spit them on the ground at the Kings feet, which the King with great thankes ac∣cepteth, and the more to reward and recompence their Valour, causeth them all to be taken vp and giuen to them againe, for a signe and token of Honour, whereby euer after from that time forwards they are accounted as Knights, and they take all those members, wherewith the King [ 40] hath thus honoured them, and tie them all vpon a string like a Bracelet or Chaine, and when * 1.51 they Marrie, or goe to any Wedding, or Feasts, the Bride or Wiues of those Knights doe weare that Chaine of mens members about their neckes, which among them is as great an Honour, as it is with vs, to weare the Golden Fleece.

From Mosambique great numbers of these Caffares are carried into India, and many times they sell a Man or Woman that is growne to their full strength, for two or three Duckets. When the Portugals ships put in there for fresh Water and other necessaries, then they are dea∣rer. In time of Pouertie or Dearth the Fathers may sell their Children, as it happened in my time, that there was such a dearth, and scarsitie of Victuals in the firme land, and Countries bordering vpon Goa, that the men of India came to Goa (and other places where the Portugals [ 50] are resident) to sell their Children in great numbers, and for small prices, to buy them victuals. I haue seene Boyes of eight or ten yeares, giuen in exchange for fiue or fixe measures of Rice, and some for three or foure Duckets the peece, and some came with their Wiues and Children to offer themselues to bee Slaues, so that they might haue meate and drinke to nourish their bodies.

And because the Portugals haue Traffique in all places (as wee haue beene in many) it is the cause why so many are brought out of all Countries to be sold, for the Portugals doe make a li∣uing by buying and selling of them, as they doe with other wares.

THe Malabares, are those that dwell on the Sea-coast, betweene Goa, and the Cape de Co∣morijn [ 60] * 1.52 Southward from Goa, where the Pepper groweth. They haue a speech by them∣selues, and their Countrey is diuided into many Kingdomes, they goe all naked onely their priuie members couered, the Women likewise haue but a cloth from their Nauell downe to their knees, all the rest is naked, they are strong of limbes, and verie arrogant and proud, of

colour altogether black••e, yet verie smooth both of haire and skinne, which commonly they anoynt with Oyle, to make it shine; they weare their haire as long as it will grow, tyed on the top or crowne of their heads with a Lace, both men and women: the lappes of their Eares are open, and are so long that they hang downe to their shoulders, and the longer and wider they are, the more they are esteemed among them, and it is thought to be a beautie in them. Of Face, Bodie and Limbes; they are altogether like men of Europe, without any difference, but onely in colour, the men are commonly verie hairie, and rough vpon the brest, and on their bodies, and are the most Leacherous and vnchaste Nation in all the Orient, so that there are verie few women Children among them, of seuen or eight yeeres old, that haue their Maiden∣heads: They are verie readie to catch one from another, though it bee but for a small Penie. [ 10]

In their Houses they are not verie curious, their houses and housholdstuffe, differeth not much from the Ca••••rijns and Corumbijns of Goa. Their Idolatrie, Ceremonies and Superstiti∣ons, are like the Heathens. Of these Malabares there are two manner of people, the one is No∣blemen or Gentlemen, called Nayros, which are Souldiers, that doe onely weare and handle * 1.53 Armes, the other is the common people, called Polyas, and they may weare no Weapons, nor beare any Armes. The Nayros must in all places where they goe or stand, weare such Armes as are appointed for them, and alwayes be readie at the Kings commandement to doe him seruice, some of them doe alwayes beare a naked Rapier or Courtelas in their right hands, and a great Target in their left hand, those Targets are very great: and made of light wood, so that when they will they can couer their whole bodies therewith; they are so well vsed thereunto, that [ 20] they esteeme it nothing to beare them, and when they trauell on the way, they may be heard a great way off, for that they commonly make a great knocking with the Hilt of their Rapier a∣gainst the Target, because they would be heard. There are some that carrie a Bow and a vene∣mous Arrow vpon their shoulder, wherein they are verie expert, others carrie long Pikes, some Pieces, with the Match ready lighted, and wound about their armes, and haue the best Lockes that possible may be found in all Europe, which they know so well how to vse, that the Portu∣gals can haue no aduantage against them. Wheresoeuer they goe, they must alwaies haue their Armes with them, both night and day. Not any of them are Married, nor may not marrie du∣ring their liues, but they may freely lie with the Nayros Daughters, or with any other that li∣keth them, what women soeuer they be, yea though they be Married women. When the Nay∣ro [ 30] hath a desire thereunto, hee entreth into a house where he thinketh good, and setteth his Armes in the street without the doore, and goeth in and dispatcheth his businesse, with the good Wife or the Daughter, the doore standing wide open, not fearing that any man should come in to let him; for whosoeuer passeth by, and seeth the Nayros armes standing at the doore, although it be the Goodman himselfe, hee goeth by, and letteth him make an end, and hauing done, he taketh his Armes and departeth thence, and then the Husband may come to the house without making any words, or once mouing question about it. In that manner they goe where they will, and no man may denie them. As these Nayros goe in the streets, they vse to crie Po, Po, which is to say, Take heed, looke to your selues, or I come, stand out of the way, for that the other sort of people called Polyas, that are no Nayros, may not once touch or trouble one of them; [ 40] for if any of the Polyas should stand still, and not giue them place, whereby he should chance to touch their bodies, he may freely thrust him through, and no man aske him why he did it. And when they are once touched by any Polyas, or by any other Nation except Nayros, they must (before they eate, or conuerse with other Nayros) wash and cleanse their bodies with great Ce∣remonies and Superstitions. Likewise they must not be touched by any Christian, or any other man. And when the Portugals came first into India, at Cochin it was concluded, (to pacifie the matter, and to keepe peace and quietnesse among them) that two men should be chosen, one for the Nayros, and the other for the Portugals, that should Fight bodie to bodie, and hee that should be ouerthrowne, that Nation should giue place vnto the other, this was done in the presence of both Nations, and the Portugall ouercame the Nayro, whom he slew; whereupon [ 50] it was agreed, that the Nayros should giue place vnto the Portugall, and stand aside vntill he be past wheresoeuer they meet. The Nayros weare the nailes of their hands very long, whereby they shew that they are Gentlemen, because the longnesse of the Nailes doth let and hinder men from working or doing any labour. They say likewise that they doe it, the better and faster to gripe a thing in their hands, and to hold their Rapiers, which some Portugals and Mesticos doe likewise vse, and hold the same opinion with the Nayros, whereof there are many in India, which let their Nailes grow for the same cause.

The principallest or chiefest of those Nayros, which are Leaders or Captaines of certaine numbers of Nayros, weare a Gold or Siluer bracelet, or Ring, about their armes, aboue their elbowes: as also their Gouernours, Ambassadours, and Kings, whereby they are knowne from [ 60] other men, for otherwise they goe all naked. Also their Kings, Rulers, and other Captaines and Leaders, when they goe abroad, are guarded and accompanied by other Nayros. They are ve∣rie good and stout Souldiers, and will set vpon a man very fiercely, they are also veriefull of reuenge, so that whensoeuer they fight against their Enemies either by water or by land, and

that they chance to be thrust into the bodie with a Pike, they are not presently therewith con∣tent to he downe, but if they cannot speedily plucke the Pike forth, they will not spare to pull it forth with both their hands, and draw it through their bodies, therewith to set vpon them that gaue them the wound, and to be reuenged on them.

The King may not Iudge nor execute those Nayros openly, for if they haue deserued Death, he causeth them by other Nayros to be put to death. The Daughters of the Nayros, may not haue the companie of any man, but onely of Nayros, although secretly they haue the company of many Portugals and Christians, but if the Nayros once perceiued it, or finde them in the deed doing, they might kill them without further question. In euery place where they dwell, they haue a Pit or Weil digged, wherein they doe hold water, which standeth openly in the way where euery man passeth by, wherein euery morning when they rise, they wash themselues all [ 10] ouer, beginning first at the Foot and so rising vp to the Head, as well Men as Women, without being ashamed to be seene of such as goe by, or looke vpon them, and the King himselfe like∣wise: which water is so greene, slimie and stinking, that a man can not chuse but stop his Nose as he goeth by it: and they certainly beleeue, that whensoeuer they should forget to wash themselues in that water, that they should then be whollie vncleane and full of finne: and this washing or making cleane, must not be done in any running water, but it must be in a * 1.54 place where the water standeth in a Pit or Well, and by their Bramenes conjured with many Words and Ceremonies, otherwise it were of no vertue but whollie vnprofitable, for their I∣dolatrous seruices. They are like the other Heathens, and are burned when they are Dead: their Sonnes may not be their Heyres, because they haue no Wiues, but vse all women, where [ 20] * 1.55 and when they will, doubting which is their owne Sonne: for the Bramenes also haue the Kings wiues at their pleasures, and doe him great honour when it pleaseth them to lie with their Queene. Their heyres are their Sisters sonnes, for they say, although they doubt of their Fathers, yet they know their Sisters are the Mothers of them. Thus much touching the Nay∣ros and Gentlemen or Souldiers.

The other common people of the Malabares, called Polyas, are such as are the Countrey Husbandmen and Labourers, men of Occupations, Fishers, and such like: those are much con∣temned * 1.56 and despised, they liue miserably, and may weare no kind of Weapon, neither yet touch or bee conuersant with the Nayros, for as the Nayros goe on the streets, and they heare him call, they step aside, bowing their Armes, and stooping with their Heads downe to the [ 30] grou••d, not daring so much as once looke vp before the Nayros be past: in other things they obserue the Customes of the other Indians, for that euery man followeth the Occupation of his Elders, and may not change it for any thing.

THere are great numbers of Moores and Iewes in all places of India, as at Goa, Cochin, and within the Land. In their Houses and Apparell they follow the manner of the Land * 1.57 wherein they are resident: amongst the Indians they haue their Churches, Sinagogues and Mesquitas, wherein they vse all Ceremonies according to their Law: but in the places where the Portugals inhabite and gouerne, it is not permitted vnto them to vse them openly, neither to any Indian, although they haue their Families and dwelling Houses, and get their liuings, [ 40] and deale one with the other: but secretly in their Houses they may doe what they will, so that no man take offence thereat: without the Townes and where the Portugals haue no com∣mandement, they may freely vse and exercise their Ceremonies and Superstitions, euery one as liketh him best, without any man to let or denie them: but if they bee found openly doing it in the Portugals Townes and Iurisdictions, or that they haue any point of Christian ceremonies mingled among theirs, both men and women die for it, vnlesse they turne vnto the Christian Eaith: they are most white of colour, like men of Europa, and haue many faire Women. There are many of them that came out of the Countrey of Palestina and Ierusalem thither, and speake ouer all the Exchange verie perfect and good Spanish.

The Moores likewise haue their Mesquitos, wherein they pray, and aboue the Church they [ 50] haue many Sellers and Galleries, where they learne their Children their principles of Religion before they goe to Church: they wash their Feet, for the which purpose they haue alwayes a Cesterne with water standing without the Church, and leaue their Alparcos (which are their Shooes) standing at the Church doore before they goe in, and being in the Church they fall flat on the ground vpon their faces, and so with their armes and hands lifted vp, make many counterfeit faces. They are also Circumcised like the Iewes, and eate no Hogs-flesh, and when they are dead they are buried. In their Churches they haue not any Images, but onely some Stones or round Pillers standing vpright with certaine Chaldean letters (out of their Alcaron) grauen vpon them. As I and a friend of mine chanced to goe out of the Towne, wee were de∣strons [ 60] to see their Mahometicall Church, and their manner of Seruice, which was denied vs by the keeper of the doore, that bad vs put off our Shooes, but because we would not, hee said it was not lawfull for vs to enter in that sort into the Church: but to let vs see it, hee suffe∣red vs to stand within the doore, and opened some of the windowes, that wee might see what

was within it: then the Portugall asked him for their God and their Saints which they vsed to pray vnto, because he saw the Church emptie, as I said before: then the Moore answered him, that They vsed not to pray to Stockes and Stones, but to the liuing God, which is in Heauen, and said, that the proud Portugall Christians, and the Heathens were all of one Religion, for that they pray to * 1.58 Images made of Wood and Stones, and giue them the Glorie which onely appertaineth to the liuing God: with the which answer the Portugall was so angrie, that hee began to chide; so that there had growne a great quarrell, had it not beene for me.

IN the Kingdome of Narsinga, or the Coast called Choramandel, there standeth a Pagode, that * 1.59 is very great, exceeding rich, and holden in great estimation, hauing many Pilgrimages & Vi∣sitations made vnto it from all the Countries bordering about it, where euery yeere they haue [ 10] many Faires, Feasts, and Processions, and there they haue a Waggon or a Cart, which is so great and heauie, that three or foure Elephants can hardly draw it, and this brought foorth at Faires, Feasts, and Processions. At this Cart hang likewise many Cables or Ropes, whereat also all the Countrey people, both men and women of pure deuotion doe pull and hale. In the vpper part of this Cart standeth a Tabernacle or Seat, wherein fitteth the Idoll, and vnder it sit the Kings Wiues, which after their manner play on all Instruments, making a most sweet melodie, and in that sort is the Cart drawne forth, with great Deuotions and Processions: there are some of * 1.60 them, that of great zeale and pure deuotion doe cut peeces of flesh out of their bodies, and throw them downe before the Pagode: others lay themselues vnder the wheeles of the Cart, and let the Cart runne ouer them, whereby they are all crushed to peeces, and pressed to death, [ 20] and they that thus die, are acounted for holy and deuout Martyrs, and from that time forwards * 1.61 are kept and preserued for great and holy Reliques, besides a thousand other such like beastly Superstitions, which they vse, as one of my Chamber fellowes, that had seene it shewed me, and it is also well knowne throughout all India.

Vpon a time I and certaine Portugals my friends, hauing licence from the Vice-roy were at a Banquet and meeting, about fiue or sixe miles within the firme Land, and with vs wee had certaine Decanijns, and naturall borne Indians, that were acquainted with the Countrey, the chiefe cause of our going, was to see their manner of burning the dead Bramene, and his Wife with him being aliue, because we had beene aduertised, that such a thing was to bee done. [ 30] And there among other strange deuises that we saw, we came into some Villages, and places inhabited by the Indians, where in the way, and at euerie Hill, stonie Rocke or hole, almost with∣in a Pater noster length, we found a Carued Pagode, or rather Deuils, and monsters in hellish shapes. At the last we came into a Village, where stood a great Church of stone, wherein wee entred, and found nothing in it but a great Table that hung in the middle of the Church, with the Image of a Pagode painted therein so mishaped and deformed, that more monstrous was neuer seene, for it had many Hornes, and long Teeth that hung out of his mouth downe to the knees, and beneath his nauell and belly, it had another such like face, with many hornes and tuskes. Vpon the head thereof stood a triple Crowned Myter, not much vnlike the Popes tri∣ple Crowne, so that in effect it seemed to bee a Monster, such as are described in the Apocalips. [ 40] It hung before a Wall, which made a partition from another Chamber, in manner of a Quier, yet was it close made vp without windowes, or any place for light, in the middle whereof was a little narrow close doore, and on both sides of the doore, stood a small Furnace made within the wall, wherein were certaine holes or Lattices, thereby to let the smoke or sauour of the fire to enter into that place, when any Offering should be made. Whereof we found some there, as Rice, Corne, Fruits, Hennes, and such like things, which the Indians daily offered, but there came so filthie a smoke and stinke out of the place, that whosoeuer went neere it, was almost ready to choke, the said place being all black, smeerie and foule therwith. Before this doore be∣ing shut, in the middle of the Church, there stood a Calfe of stone, whereon one of our compa∣nie leaped, and laughing, began to crie out, which the Bramene that kept the Church percei∣uing, [ 50] began to call and crie for helpe, so that presently many of the neighbours ranne thither, to see what the cause migh be, but before the throng of people came, we dealt so well with the Bramene (acknowledging our fault, and saying it was vnaduisedly done) that he was well con∣tent, and the people went home againe. Then we desired the Bramene to open vs the doore that stood shut, which after much intreatie hee yeelded vnto, offering first to throw certaine Ashes vpon our foreheads, which we refused, so that before he would open vs the doore, we were for∣ced to promise him that we would not enter further in, then to the doore.

The doore of their Sancta Sanctorum, or rather Diabolorum, being opened, it shewed within * 1.62 like a Lime-kill, being close vaulted round about, ouer the head without either hole or win∣dow to cast in light, but onely at the doore, neither was there any light in all the Church, but [ 60] that which came in at the doore we entred by. Within the said Cell or Vault, there hung at the least one hundred burning Lamps, in the middle wherof stood a litle Altar, & couered ouer with cloth made of Cotton-wooll, and ouer that with pure Gold, vnder the which (as the Bramene told vs) sate the Pagode being of cleane Gold, of the bignesse of a Puppet or a Babie sold in

Faires: hard by the Church without the great doore, stood within the earth a great foure cor∣nered or square Cesterne, hewed out of Free stone, with stayres on each side to goe downe into it, full of greene, filthie and stinking water, wherein they wash themselues when they meane to enter into the Church to pray. From thence wee went further, and still as we went, in euery place we found Pagodes hewed out of hard Stones, and standing in their holes, of such liuely shapes and figures as we told you before. These stand in the wayes vnder certaine couertures, without the Churches, and haue hard by each of them a small Cesterne of water, cut o•••• of the stone to wash their feet, with halfe an Indian Nut, that hath a handle and hangeth there to take vp water withall. And this is ordayned for Trauellers that passe by, who commonly at euery one of those Pagodes doe fall downe and make their Prayers, and wash their feet in those Ce∣sternes. By the said Pagodes, commonly doe stand two little Furnaces, with a Calfe or Kow of [ 10] stone, before the which they set their Offerings, which are of such things, as are to bee eaten, euery man as his Deuotion serueth, which they thinke the Pagode eateth in the Night, but it is taken away by the Bramene. We found in euery place such Offerings standing, but we had lit∣tle desire once to taste thereof, it looked so filthily, and as we had sufficiently beholden their mishapen figures and monstrous Images, we returned againe into the Village, wherein we saw the stone Church, because the Bramene had aduertised vs, that the same day about Euening, the Pagode should be carried in Procession, to sport it selfe in the Fields, and to fetch a circuit, which we desired to see. And about the time which hee appointed, they rung a little Bell, which they had gotten of the Christians, wherewith all the people began to assemble, and tooke the Pagode out of his diabolicall Cell, which with great reuerence, they set in a Palamkin borne [ 20] by the chiefe men of the Towne, all the rest with great deuotion following after, with their vsuall noyse and sounds of Trumpets and other Instruments, wherewith they went a reasonable way round about a Field, and then brought him to the stone Cesterne, where washing him very cleane (although he were very filthie stinking) they carried him againe into his Cell, leauing him shut herein withall his Lampes, to make good cheere, and hauing made a foule smoake and stinke about him, and euery man left his Offering behind him, they went home to their houses, leauing the Bramene alone, who in stead of the Pagode, made good cheere at their costs with his Wife and Familie.

THere is ouer all India great store of Cattell, as Oxen, Kine, Sheepe, Hogges, Goates, Kids, [ 30] and such like, and very good cheape, and in great abundance, although the flesh is not * 1.63 of so good a ••aste as that in Europe, which proceedeth from the heat of the Countrey, and therefore it is not much esteemed. A man may buy the best Kow in Goa, for fiue or sixe Par∣dawes. Oxen are there little killed to eate, but are most kept to till the Land, all other things as Hogs, Sheepe and Goates, are sold after the rate. Mutton is little esteemed of, and not much vsed to be eaten, for it is forbidden to such as are sicke, and the Hogs flesh is much better and sounder, which is rather permitted vnto sicke persons then Mutton. There are Sheepe in that Countrey of fiue quarters in quantitie, for that the tayle is as great, and hath as much flesh vpon it, as any of the quarters, there are many Buffles, but nothing good to bee eaten, vnlesse it be by poore people, but their Milke is very good, and is very well sold and ordinarily eaten, [ 40] * 1.64 for you shall see the Slaues and Canarijns in great numbers, all day going about the streets to sell the Milke of Buffles, and Goates, and excellent sweet Creame, and fresh Butter in small peeces. They make likewise some small white Cheeses, but they are very salt and drie: wilde * 1.65 Bores, some Hares, Conies, Harts, and Hindes are there also to be found but not many Cockes, Capons, Pheasants, and Doues are there in great abundance and good cheape. In the Iland of Goa and there about ar•• Sparrowes, and some other small Birds, yet not many: but on the Coast * 1.66 of Cochin and Malabar, ••••ere are very few Sparrowes, nor any such like small birds. There are in India many Battes, and some of them so great, that it is incredible to tell. They doe great mischiefe to Trees, Fruits and Herbes, whereby the Canarijns are constrained ••o set men to watch in their Trees, and yet they can hardly rid them away. The Indians eate them, and say [ 50] they are as good meat as a Partridge.

There is a most wonderfull number of blacke Crowes, which doe much hurt, and are so bold that oftentimes they come flying in at their windowes, and take the meat out of the dish, as it standeth vpon the Table, before them that are set downe to eate: and as I my selfe sa••e writing aboue in a Chamber of the house, the windowes being open, one of those Crowes flew in at the window, and picked the Cotton but of mine I••ke-horne, and blotted all the paper that lay on my Table, doe what I could to let him. They fit commonly vpon the Buffles backes, and peeke off their haire, so that you shall find very few Buffles that haue any haires vpon their backes, and therefore to auoyd the Crowes they get themselues into Marishes, and warrie pla∣ces, [ 60] where they stand in the water vp to the neckes, otherwise they could neuer be rid of them.

There are likewise great numbers of Rats, and some as bigge as young Pigges, so that the Cats da•••• not touch them. Sometimes they digge downe the Houses, for that they vndermine * 1.67 the walles and foundations through and through, whereby many times the houles fall downe

and are spoyled. There is another sort of Rats, that are little and reddish of haire. They are cal∣led sweet smelling Rats, for they haue a smell as if they were full of Muske. * 1.68

Of An•••• or Pismires there is so great abundance throughout all India, and so noisome, that it is incredible to such as haue not seene it: for that men may set nothing whatsoeuer it be, that is to be eaten, or fatty, nor yet their clothes nor linnen, but you shall presently find at the least a thousand vpon it: and in the twinkling of an eye they will presently consume a loafe of bread: wherefore it is the manner throughout India, to make all the Cupboords wherein they keepe their victuals, and Chests, where their linnen and apparell lieth, with foure feet or pillars, and vnder euery foot or pillar a stone or woodden Cesterne full of water, and place the Cupboord or Chest in the middle of the roome, not neere the wall, whereby they cannot come at it, other∣wise it would be spoiled, and if they doe neuer so little forget to powre water into the Cesterns, [ 10] if it be but a Pater noster while, presently there will be so many Pismires crawling all ouer it, that it is wonderfull: so that it seemeth to be a curse or plague of God sent vpon that Coun∣trie. There are some likewise that vse such Cesternes of water vnder their bedstead, because they would not be troubled with them as they lie in their Beds, and also vnder their Tables. Some men which keepe Canarie birds, or such small sowles (that are brought thither from Portugall, or out of Turkie and Persia for their pleasures) are forced to set them on a sticke or pearch made for the purpose, with a Cesterne of water vnder it, otherwise it would presently be killed by the Pismires: and though it hangeth in the top of the house, yet they will come at it if it haue a string, to hold it by. The Souldiers and poore people that haue not the meanes to buy Cupboords, with Cesternes) put the bread and other victuals which they leaue (which [ 20] is not ouermuch) in a cloth tied on knots, and hang it on a naile against the w••ll, and make a circle about it of Charcole, so that the Pismires cannot get ouer, nor come at it. There is ano∣ther sort of Pismires which are almost a finger long, and reddish of colour: they runne into * 1.69 the fields, and doe great hurt to the herbes, fruits, and plants.

Moths and wormes which creepe and eate through mens clothes, are there in great abun∣dance, * 1.70 whereby men must vse no more clothes nor linnen in those Countries then that he ne∣cessarily and daily weareth on his backe, otherwise they are presently inoth-eaten and spoiled. They can hardly keepe any Paper or Bookes from wormes, which are like eare-wormes, but they doe often spoile and consume many Papers and euidences of great importance. There are also many Wall-lice. There is a kind of beast that flieth, twice as bigge as a Bee, and is called * 1.71 [ 30] Ba••••tta: These creatures also doe much ••••rt, and are commonly in Sugar, Honie, Butter, Oile, and all fat wares and sweet meates. Many of them likewise come into their Chests among their clothes and linnen, which they doe also spoile and spot. They are in great numbers and very hurtfull. There can be nothing so close shut or made fast, but they will get in and spoile it, for where they lie or be, they spot all things with their egges, which sticke as fast as ••••••op vpon a Paper, so that they may be esteemed as a plague like to the Pismires.

Within the Land there are also Tigres: other cruell beasts, as Lions, Beares, and such like there are few or none: but venomous beasts, as Snakes, Lizards, and such like there are many, for the Lizards will clime and creepe vpon the walls in their houses, and oftentimes fall vpon men, as they lie in their Beds and sleepe, and therefore many men that are of abilitie, doe hang [ 40] Testers and Curtains ouer and about their Beds. There are likewise many Chamelions, which are said to liue by the aire, but they are not hurtfull.

There are many Monkies or Marmosets, that doe great hurt to the Palme trees, wherein the * 1.72 Indian Nut or Cocus doth growe. In those trees you shall commonly see certaint little beasts, called Bis has de Palmeyras, that is, Beasts of the Palmetrees: They are much like Ferrets, where∣with men vse to hunt and catch Cunnies, and haue a taile like the Penner of an Ink-horne, and grayish speckled haire: they are pretie beasts to keepe and to passe the time with all. Parrots are there in great numbers, and flie abroad in the Woods. There commeth in India out of the Iland of Mol••cas beyond Malacca, a kind of birds, called Nayras: they are like Parrots, but they haue, many red feathers, and speake like Parrots: they are worth in India twenty or thir∣ty [ 50] Pardawes the piece: they are very faire to looke on, and speake sweetly: they claw or tickle men with their tongues vpon their heads and beards, and make them cleane at the roots, as al∣so their eares and their teeth, so that they are very pleasant to keepe in a house, for that both in colour and beauty of feathers they surpasse all birds and Parrots whatsoeuer: but there could neuer yet be any of them brought liuing into Portugall, although they haue sought and vsed all the meanes they could to bring them for a Present to the King, which he greatly desireth: but they die vpon the way, for they are very delicate, and will hardly be brought vp.

ELephants are in many places of India. In the Iland of S••••lon there are also great numbers, * 1.73 which are esteemed the best and sensi••••lest of all the world, for wheresoeuer they meet with [ 60] any other Elephants (the Indians report for a truth, that they haue tried it) those Elephants of other Countries doe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and honour to the Elephants of Seylon. The most seruice that they vs•• them for in India is to dra•• their Pipes, Buts, Packes, and other goods, and to ship

them, all which they doe with Elephants. They are kept at the Kings charges, and he that nee∣deth them, speaketh to their Keepers, and agreeth with them for a price to haue their labour: Then the Keeper getteth vpon the necke of the Elephant, and thrusteth his feet vnder his eares, hauing a hooke in his hand, which he sticketh on his head, where his stones lie, that is to say, aboue betweene both his eares, which is the cause, that they are so well able to rule them: and comming to the thing which they are to draw, they bind the Fat or Packe fast with a rope, that he may feele the weight thereof, and then the Keeper speaketh vnto him: whereupon hee taketh the corde with his snout and windeth it about his teeth, and thrusteth the end into his mouth, and so draweth it hanging after him, whither they desire to haue it. If it be to be put into a Boat, then they bring the Boat close to the shoare of the Key, and the Elephant putteth [ 10] it into the Boat himselfe, and with his snout gathereth stones together, which he layeth vnder the Fat, Pipe, or Packe, and with his teeth striketh and thrusteth the Packe or Vessell, to see if it lie fast or not. It will draw any great shot or other Iron worke, or metall being made fast vnto it, be it neuer so heauie. They draw Fusts, small Gallies, and other great Boats, as Car∣uels, and such like, as easily out of the water vpon the land, as if no man were in them: so that they serue their turnes there, euen as our Sleds or Carts with Horses doe heere, to carrie our wares and merchandises. Their meate is Rice and water, they sleepe like Kine, Oxen, Horses, and all foure-footed beasts, and bow their knees and all their members as other beasts doe. In Winter when it beginneth to raine, then they are vnquiet, and altogether mad, so that their Keepers cannot rule them, and then they are let some whither out of the Towne to a great tree, [ 20] and there tied vnto it by the legs with a great Iron chaine, where they carrie him meate, and so he lieth in the open aire, as long as he is mad, which is from Aprill to September, all the Win∣ter time when it raineth, and then he commeth to himselfe, and beginneth to serue againe as tamely, that a man may lie vnder his bellie, so you doe him no hurt: but he that hurteth him, he must take heed, for they neuer forget when any man doth them iniurie, vntill they be reuen∣ged. They are very fearefull of a Rat or Mouse, and also of the Pismires, because they feare they would creepe into their snouts. They are likewise afraide of gun-shot and of fire, vnlesse by length of time they be vsed vnto them. When they haue the companie one of the other, the male Elephant standeth vpon the higher ground, and the female somewhat lower. As they goe along the way, although you see them not, you may heare them a farre off by the noise of their [ 30] feet and clapping of their eares, which they continually vse. They are as swift in going almost as a Horse, and are very proude, and desirous of honour. When there is any great Feast or Ho∣liday kept in Goa, with solemne Procession, commonly the Elephants goe with them, the young before, and the old behind, and are all painted vpon their bodies with the Armes and Crosses of Portugall, and haue euery one fiue or sixe Trumpetters or Players vpon the Shalmes, fitting vpon them that sound very pleasantly, wherewith they are as well pleased, and goe with as great grauitie, and in as good order, as if they were men. It happened in Goa, that an Elephant should draw a great Fust out of the water vnto the land, which Fust was so great and heauie, that he could not doe it alone, so that they must haue another to helpe him: whereupon the Keeper chid him, vsing many hard words, saying, that he was idle and weake, and that it would be [ 40] an euerlasting shame for him, that they must fetch another to helpe him, wherewith the Elephant was so desperate, that hee thrust away his fellow (which was brought to helpe him) and beganne freshly againe to draw, with so great force, more then he was well able to doe, that with ex∣treme labour he burst and fell downe starke dead in the place. At such time as I was to make my Voyage from Cochin to Portugall, the Rudder of our ship was out of order, so that it must of force be brought on land to make it fit againe, and so it was drawne to the Riuers side at the sterne of the Boat, which the Elephant should draw on land vpon two boords, that it might slide vp, and because it was heauie, (as the Rudder of a ship of fourteene hundred or sixteene hundred tunnes requireth) as also that the Elephant was as yet but young, and not growne to his full strength, so that he could not draw it out alone, yet he did the best he could: but see∣ing [ 50] he could not doe it, he fell on his fore-legs, and beganne to crie and weepe, that the teares ranne out of his eyes, and because many of vs stood vpon the shoare to behold this fight, the Keeper began to chide him, and with hard words to curse him, because he shamed him thus in presence of so many men, not to be able to draw vp such a thing: but what strength or labour soeuer the Elephant vsed, he could not doe it alone, but when they brought another Elephant to helpe him, they both together drew it halfe out of the water, so that it lay partly vpon the boords. The first Elephant perceiuing that, with his head and teeth thrust the other Elephant away, and would haue no more helpe, but drew it out himselfe.

They are likewise very thankful & mindful of any good done vnto them. When new yeres day commeth, their keepers vse of common custome to aske new yeeres gifts of the Viceroy, the Arch∣bishop, [ 60] and other Gouernours and Gentlemen, and then the Elephants come to the doore and bow their heads downe, and when anything is giuen, they kneele on their knees with great low∣linesse, and thankfulnesse, for the good deedes so done vnto their keepers (which they thinke to be done vnto themselues.) They vse as they passe by such houses, to bow their heads at the dores,

as also when they passe by the Church doores, and by Crosses, which their Masters teach them. They haue a custome that they goe often into the Market where hearbs are sold, as Reddish, Let∣rice, Coleworts, and such like stuffe, and those that are liberall to the Elephant, doe vse to throw something before him. Among the rest there was one hearbe wife which alwayes vsed to throw something of her wares before the Elephant. Now when the time came on that the Elephant groweth mad, as I said before, they vse to goe with them three or foure dayes, or a weeke about the streets before they binde them vp, (being as then but halfe mad) to aske something of euery bodie for the feeding of the mad Elephant in the winter time. And going thus about the streets, the Master is not able to rule him, for hee runneth about with his head downward, and by his roaring giueth the people warning to beware, and when he findeth or seeth no man, nee leapeth and ouerthroweth whatsoeuer he meeteth withall, whereby hee maketh great sport and pastime, [ 10] much like to the baiting of Oxen in Spaine, which neuer ceaseth, vntill one, two, or more of them be slaine, the like rule is kept with the mad Elephant in India. It chanced in this running about that the Elephant ranne through the streetes, and in haste at vnawares came into the market, throwing downe all that was in his way, whereat euery man was abasht, and leauing their ware, ranne to saue themselues from being ouer runne by the Elephant, and by meanes of the noyse and prease of people, they fell one ouer another, as in such cases is commonly seene. Among them was this woman, that alwayes vsed to giue the Elephant something to eate, which had a little childe in the market lying by her in a basket, and by the hastie rising vp and throng of the people, the woman ranne into a House, not hauing time to snatch vp her Child, and take it with her; and when the Elephant was alone in the Market place, where hee roared vp and downe, ouer∣throwing [ 20] all things that were before him, hee came by the Child (that as I said) lay still in the Market, and as euerie man looked, specially the Mother, which cried out, and verily thought that the Elephant had taken it and cast it on his shoulder and spoyled it as he did all other things. He on the contrarie notwithstanding all his madnesse, being mindfull of the good will and libe∣ralitie of the Childes Mother dayly vsed vnto him, tooke vp the Child handsomely and tender∣ly with his Snout, and laide it softly vpon a Stall by a Shop side, which done, he began againe to vse the same order of stamping, crying, and clapping as he had done at the first, to the great won∣dering of all that beheld it, specially to the ease and ioy of the Mother, that had recouered her Child sound and well againe.

THe Abada or Rhinoceros is not in India, but onely in Bengala and Patane. They are lesse * 1.74 [ 30] and lower then the Elephant. It hath a short horne vpon the nose, in the hinder part some∣what bigge, and toward the end sharper, of a browne blew, and whitish colour; it hath a snout like a Hog, and the skin vpon the vpper part of his body is all wrinckled, as if it were armed with Shields or Targets. It is a great enemie of the Elephant. Some thinke it is the right Vnicorne, be∣cause that as yet there hath no other beene found, but onely by heare-say, and by the Pictures of them. The Portugals and those of Bengala affirme, that by the Riuer Ganges in the Kingdome of Bengala, are many of these Rhinocerots, which when they will drinke, the other beasts stand and waite vpon them, till the Rhinoceros hath drunke, and thrust their horne into the water, for hee cannot drinke but his horne must be vnder the water, because it standeth so close vnto his nose, [ 40] and muzzle: and then after him all the other beasts doe drinke. Their hornes in India are much esteemed and vsed against all venome, poyson, and many other diseases: likewise his teeth, clawes flesh, skin, and bloud, and his very dung and water and all whatsoeuer is about him, is much estee∣med in India, and vsed for the curing of many diseases and sicknesses, which is very good and most true, as I my selfe by experience haue found. But it is to bee vnderstood, that all Rhino∣ceros are not a like good, for there are some whose hornes are solde for one, two or three hundred Pardawes the piece, and there are others of the same colour and greatnesse that are sold but for three or foure Pardawes, which the Indians know and can discerne. The cause is that some Rhi∣nocerots, which are found in certaine places in the countrie of Bengala haue this vertue, by reason of the hearbs which that place onely yeeldeth and bringeth forth, which in other places is [ 50] not so, and this estimation is not onely held of the horne, but of all other things in his whole bo∣die, as I said before. There are also by Malacca, Sion, and Bengala some Goates that are wilde, whose hornes are esteemed for the best hornes against poyson, and all venome that may be found: * 1.75 they are called Cabras de Mato, that is, wilde Goates.

FIsh in India is very plentifull, and some very pleasant and sweete. Most of their fish is eaten with Rice, that they seeth in broth which they put vpon the Rice, and is somewhat sowre, as * 1.76 if it were sodden in Gooseberries, or vnripe Grapes, but it tasteth well, and is called Carriil, which is their daily meate, the Rice is in steade of bread: there are also good Shads, Soales, and other sorts of fishes. The Crabs and Creuishes are very good and marueilous great, that it is a wonder [ 60] to tell, and that which is more wonderfull, when the Moone is in the full, here with vs it is a com∣mon saying, that then Crabs and Creuishes are at the best, but there it is cleane contrarie: for with a full Moone they are emptie and out of season, and with a new Moone good and full. There are

also Musckles and such like Shel-fishes of many sorts, Oysters very many, specially at Cochin; and from thence to the Cape de Comorijn. Fish in India is very good cheape, for that with the valew of a stiuer of their money, a man may buy as much fish and Rice to it, as will serue fiue or sixe men for a good meale.

As our ship lay in the Riuer of Cochin, readie to sayle from thence to Portugall, it hapned that as wee were to hang on our Rudder, which as then was mended, the Master of the Ship, with foure or fiue Saylers, went with the boate to put it on, and another Sayler beeing made fast with a corde about his middle, and tied to the Ship, hung downe with halfe his bodie into the water * 1.77 to place the same vpon the hookes, and while hee hung in the water, there came one of those Hayens, and bit one of his legs, to the middle of his thigh, cleane off at a bit, notwithstanding [ 10] that the Master strooke at him with an Oare, and as the poore man was putting downe his arme to feele his wound, the same fish at the second time for another bit did bite off his hand and arme aboue the elbow, and also a peece of his buttocke.

In the Riuer of Goa in winter time, when the mouth of the Riuer was shut vp, as commonly at that time it is, the fishermen tooke a Fish of a most wonderfull and strange forme, such as I think was neuer seene either in India, or in any other place, which for the strangenesse therof was presen∣ted to my Lord the Archbishop, the picture whereof by his commandement was painted, and for a wonder sent to the King of Spaine.

It was in bignesse as great as a middle sized dog, with a snout like a Hog, small eyes, no eares, * 1.78 but two holes where his eares should bee, it had foure feete like an Elephant, the tayle beginning [ 20] somewhat vpon the backe broad, and then flat, and at the very end round and somewhat sharpe. It ranne along the Hall vpon the floore, and in euery place of the house snorting like a Hog. The whole bodie, head, tayle, and legs being couered with scales of a thumb breadth, harder then I∣ron, or Steele: Wee hewed and layd vpon them with weapons, as if men should beate vpon an Anuill, and when we strooke vpon him, he rouled himselfe in a heape, head and feet altogether, so that hee lay like a round ball, we not being able to iudge where he closed himselfe together, neyther could we with any instrument or strength of hands open him againe, but letting him a∣lone and not touching him, he opened himselfe and ranne away as I said before.

A Ship sayling from Mosambique into India, hauing faire weather, a good sore winde, as much * 1.79 as the sayles might beare before the winde for the space of foureteene dayes together, directing [ 30] their course towards the Equinoctiall line, euery day as they tooke the height of the Sunne, in steade of diminishing or lessening their degrees, according to the winde and course they had and helde, they found themselues still contrarie, and euery day further backewardes then they were.

At the last the chiefe Boteson whom they call the Masters mate, looking by chance ouer-boord towards the beake-head of the ship, he espied a great broad taile of a Fish that had winded it selfe as it were about the beake head, the body thereof being vnder the keele, and the head vnder the Rudder, swimming in that mannet, and drawing the shippe with her against the winde and their right course: whereby presently they knew the cause of their so going backwards: so that hauing at the last stricken long with staues and other weapons vpon the fishes tayle, in the end they stroke [ 40] it off, and theredy the Fish left the ship, after it had layen fourteene dayes vnder the same, draw∣ing the ship with it against winde and weather: for which cause the Vice-roy in Goa caused it to be painted in his palace for a perpetuall memory, where I haue often reade it, with the day and time, and the name both of the Ship and Captaine.

There are by Malacca certaine fish shels found on the shoare, much like Scalop shels, so great and so heauie, that two strong men haue enough to doe with a Leauer to draw one of them after them. Within them there is a fish which they of Malacca doe eate. There were some of those shels in the ballast of the ship that came from Malacca, and kept companie with vs from the Iland of Saint Helena, to the Iland of Tercera, where the ship was cast away, and some of the shels taken out of her, which the Iesuites of Malacca had sent vnto Lisbon, to set in the wals of their Church [ 50] and Cloyster, which they there had caused to bee made, and most sumptuously built. The like happened to a ship called Saint Peter that sayled from Cochin towards Portugall, that fell vpon a Sand, which at this day is called after the same ships name Saint Peters Sand, lying from Goa South South-east vnder 6. degrees vpon the South side, where it was cast away, but all the men saued themselues, and of the wood of the ship that was cast away, they made a small Barke or Caruell, wherewith they all arriued in India: and while they were busied about building of their ship, they found such great Crabs vpon that Sand, and in so great numbers, that they were con∣strayned to make a sconce, and by good watch to defend themselues from them, for that they * 1.80 were of an vnreasonable greatnesse, so that whomsoeuer they got vnder their clawes, it cost him his life. * 1.81 [ 60]

ANanas is one of the best fruits, and of best taste in all India, but it is not a proper fruit of India, but a strange fruit, for it was first brought by the Portugals out of Brasill, so that at the first it was sold for a noueltie, at a Pardaw the piece, and sometimes more, but now there

are so many growne in the Countrie, that they are very good cheape. The time when they are ripe is in Lent, for then they are best and sweetest of taste. They are as bigge as a Melon, and in forme like the head of a Distaffe, without like a Pine apple, but soft in cutting: of colour red and greenish: They growe about halfe a fathome high from the ground, not much more or lesse. The leaues are like the herbe that is brought out of Spaine, called Aloe, or Semper vina, because it is alwaies greene, and therefore it is hanged on the beames of houses) but somewhat smaller, and at the ends somewhat sharpe, as if they were cut out. When they eate them, they pull off the shell, and cut them into slices or pieces, as men desire to haue them drest. Some haue small kernels within them, like the kernels of Apples or Peares. They are of colour with in like a Peach, that is ripe, and almost of the same taste, but in sweetnesse they surpasse all fruits. [ 10] The iuyce thereof is like sweet Must, or new Renish Wine: a man can neuer satisfie him∣selfe therewith. It is very hot of nature, for if you let a Knife flicke in it but halfe an houre long, when you draw it forth againe, it will be halfe eaten vp, yet it doth no particular hurt, vnlesse a man should eate so much thereof, that hee surfet vpon them. The sicke are forbidden to vse them.

IAacas growe on great trees like Nut trees, and onely on the Sea shoares, that is to say, in * 1.82 such Countries as border on the Seas, cleane contrarie vnto all other fruits, for they growe aboue the earth, vpon the trunkes or bodies of the trees, and vpon the great thicke branches, but where the branches spread abroad, being small and full of leaues, there groweth none: they are as bigge as a great Melon, and much like it of fashion, although some of them are as [ 20] great as a man can well lift vp, and outwardly are like the Ananas, but smoother, and of a darke greene colour, the fruit within is in husks, like Chesnuts, but of another forme, and euery huske hath a Nut, which is halfe white, the rest yellowish, and sticketh to a mans hands like Honie, when it is in Bee-hiues among the Wax, and for toughnesse and in taste for sweetnesse not much vnlike. The fruit is on the outside like a Chesnut, and in forme or fashion like an Acorne, when the greene knob that groweth vnder it is taken away, and of that bignesse and somewhat big∣ger: this fruit that is outmost being eaten, the rest is good to be rosted or sodden, and are not much vnlike in taste to the Chesnuts in Europa. There are of these huskes in euery Iaacca an hundred and more, according to the greatnesse thereof. There are two sorts of them, the best are called Girasal, and the common and least esteemed, Chambasal, although in fashion and [ 30] trees there is no difference, saue that the Girasals haue a sweeter taste.

MAngas groweth vpon trees like Iaacca trees: they are as big as a great Peach, but som∣what * 1.83 long, and a little crooked, of colour cleere, greene, somwhat yellowish, and some∣times reddish: it hath within it a stone bigger then a Pe••ch stone, but it is not good to be ea∣ten: the Mangas is inwardly yellowish, but in cutting it is waterish, yet some not so much: they haue a very pleasant taste, better then a Peach, and like the Annanas, which is the best and the most profitable fruit in all India, for it yeeldeth a great quantitie for food and suste∣nance of the Countrie people, as Oliues doe in Spaine and Portugall: they are gathered when they are greene, and conserued, and for the most part salted in Pots, and commonly vsed to be [ 40] eaten with Rice, sodden in pure water, the huske being whole, and so eaten with Salt Mangas, which is the continuall food for their slaues and common people, or else salt dried fish in stead of Mangas, without Bread, for Rice is in diuers places in stead of Bread. These salted Mangas are in cutting like the white Spanish Oliues, and almost of the same taste, but somewhat sauory and not so bitter, yet a little sowre; and are in so great abundance, that it is wonderfull: there are others that are salted and stuffed with small pieces of greene Ginger, and Garleeke sodden: those they call Mangas Recheadas or Machar: they are likewise much vsed, but not so com∣mon as the other, for they are costly and more esteemed: these are kept in Pots with Oyle and Vineger salted. The season when Mangas are ripe is in Lent, and continueth till the moneth of August. [ 50]

CAius Groweth on trees like Apple trees, and are of the bignesse of a Peare, at one end by * 1.84 the stalke somwhat sharpe, and at the head thicker, of a yellowish colour, being ripe they are soft in handling: they growe very like Apples, for where the Apples haue a stalke, these Caius haue a Chesnut, as bigge as the fore-ioynt of a mans thumbe: they haue another colour and fashion then the Chesnuts of Iaquae, and are better and more sauotie to eate, but they must be rosted: within they are white like the Chesnuts of Europa, but haue thicker shells, which are of colour bluish and darke greene. When they are raw and vnrosted, you must not open them with your mouth, for as soone as you put them to your mouth, they make both your tongue and your lips to smart, whereby such as knowe it not are deceiued: wherefore you must [ 60] open their shells with a Knife, or rost them, and then they will peele. This fruit at the end where the stalke groweth, in the eating doth worke in a mans throat, and maketh it swell, yet it is of a fine taste, for it is moist and full of iuyce; they are commonly cut in round slices, and layd in a dish with Water or Wine, and Salt throwne vpon them.

THe trees whereon the Iambos doe grow are as great as Plum trees, and very like vnto them: it is an excellent and a very pleasant fruit to looke on, as big as an Apple: it hath a red co∣lour * 1.85 and somewhat whitish, so cleare and pure, that it seemeth to be painted or made of Wax: it is very pleasant to eate, and smelleth like Rose water; it is white within, and in eating moist and waterish; it is a most dainty fruit, as well for beauty to the sight, as for the sweet sauour and taste: it is a fruit that is neuer forbidden to any sick person, as other fruits are, but are freely giuen vnto sicke men to eate, that haue a desire thereunto, for it can doe no hurt. The blossoms are likewise very faire to the sight, and haue a sweet smell: they are red and somewhat whitish of colour. This tree beareth fruit three or foure times euery yeere, and which is more won∣derfull, it hath commonly on the one side or halfe of the tree ripe Iambos, and the leaues fallen off, and on the other side or halfe it hath all the leaues, and beginneth againe to blossome, and [ 10] * 1.86 when that side hath fruit, and that the leaues fall off, then the other side beginneth againe to haue leaues, and to blossome, and so it continueth all the yeere long: within they haue a stone as great (and very neere of the same fashion) as the fruit of the Cypresse tree.

THere is a fruit called Iangomas, which groweth on trees like Cherrie trees: they are in big∣nesse like small round Plummes of a darke red colour, they haue no stones in them, but * 1.87 some small kernels: they are of taste much like Plummes, whereof there are very many, but not much esteemed of.

There is another fruit called Carambolas, which hath eight corners, as big as a small Apple, [ 20] sowre in eating, like vntipe Plummes, and most vsed to make Conserues.

There are yet other fruits, as Brindoijns, Durijndois, Iamboloens, Mangestains, and other such like fruits; but because they are of small account, I thinke it not requisite to write seuerally of them, but onely of two of them.

The barkes of these trees are kept and brought ouer Sea hither, and are good to make Vine∣gar withall, as some Portugals haue done.

There is also a fruit that came out of the Spanish Indies, brought from beyond the Philipinas or Lusons to Malacca, and from thence to India, it is called Papaios, and is very like a Melon, as big as a mans fist, and will not growe, but alwaies two together, that is male and female: the male tree neuer yeeldeth any fruit, but onely the female; and when they are diuided, and set a part one from the other, then they yeeld no fruit at all. It is a tree of the height of a man, [ 30] with great leaues. This fruit at the first for the strangenesse thereof was much esteemed, but now they account not of it. There are likewise in India some Fig trees of Portugall, although the fruit doth neuer come to good perfection. Oranges, Limons, Citrons, and such like fruit, are throughout all India, in great abundance, and for goodnesse and taste surpasse those of Spaine. Grapes are not there to be found, but onely vpon some houses, as we haue them in Ne∣therland: yet against Christmas and Lent, there are Raisins brought into Goa, by the Decanaes and Indians out of the Firme Land, and from Ballagate, but they are not so good as those in Spaine, and very few they are, but for price as good cheape as other fruits. There are also in India many Melons, but not so good as those in Spaine, for that they must be eaten with Sugar, if you will haue any sweetnesse in them: but there is another sort like Melons, called Patecas or An∣guries, [ 40] or Melons of India, which are outwardly of a darke greene colour, inwardly white with black kernels: they are very waterish and hard to bite, and so moist, that as a man eateth them, his mouth is full of water, but yet very sweet, and very cold and fresh meat, wherefore many of them are eaten after Dinner to coole men. Cucumbers and Radices are there in great num∣bers, also Coleworts, but not so good as in Europe, for the Coleworts neuer growe to their full growth, but are loose with their leaues open. They haue likewise some Sallet herbes, but ve∣ry little: herbes whereof men make Pottage are not there to be had, nor many sweet smelling herbes nor flowers, as Roses, Lilies, Rosemarie, and such like sorts of flowers and plants there are none, yet they haue some few Roses, and a little Rosemarie, but of no great smell. The fields neuer haue any other flowers in them, but onely grasse, and that is in Winter when it raineth, [ 50] for in Summer it is cleane burnt off with the exceeding heate of the Sunne. There is onely a kind of blossomes of trees, which growe all the yeere long, called Fulle, that smell very sweet: the women doe ordinarily throwe them among their linnen and apparell to make them sweet. They likewise make Collars or strings full of them, which they weare about their neckes, and strew them in their Beds, for they are very desirous of sweet sauours, for other sorts of sweet flowers and herbes, whereof thousands are found in Europe, they are not in India to be had: so that when you tell them of the sweet flowers and herbes of these Countries, they wonder much thereat, and are very desirous of them.

INdian Figs there are many and of diuers sorts, one better then the other, some small, some [ 60] great, some thicke, some thinne, &c. but in generall they are all of one forme and colour, * 1.88 little more or lesse, but the trees are all one, and of the height of a man: the leaues are of a fa∣thome long, and about three spannes broad, which the Turkes vse in stead of browne Paper,

to put Pepper in. In the Tree there is no Wood, but it may rather bee called a Reede then a Tree. The bodie of the tree (I meane that which couereth the outward part when it beginneth somewhat to grow) is in a manner very like the inner part of a Siue made of ••aire, but in shew somewhat thicker, and is (as it were) the barke of it: but when you open it, it is full of leaues, closed and rowled vp together, of the height of halfe a mans length, and somewhat higher. These leaues doe open and spread abroad on the top of the Tree, and when those that are within the bodie doe in their time thrust themselues forth vpwardes out of the inner most part of the Tree, then doe the outmost leaues beginne to dry, and fall off, vntill the Tree bee come to his full growth, and the fruit to their perfect ripenesse. The bodie of the Tree may be a spanne thicke at the most. The leaues haue in the middle of them a very thicke and gray veine [ 10] which runneth cleane through them, and deuideth them out of the middest of the leaues, which are in the inner most part of the Tree at their springing vp, there commeth forth a flowre, as bigge as an Estridge Egge, of colour russet, which in time groweth to be long, with along stalke, and it is no Wood, but rather like a Colewort stalke: This stalke groweth full of figs, close one by the other, which at the first are in fashion like greene Beanes, when they are yet in the huskes, but after grow to halfe a spanne in lengh, and three or foure inches broad, as thicke as Cucumbers, which stalke beareth at the least, some two hundred figges, little more or lesse, and grow as close together as Grapes▪ the clusters are so great as two men can scarcely beare vpon a staffe, they are cut off when they are but halfe ripe, that is to say, when they are as yet halfe greene, and halfe yellow, and hanged vp in their houses vpon beames, and so with∣in [ 20] foure or fiue dayes they will be fully ripe and all yellow. The Tree or Plant yeeldeth but one bunch at a time, which being ripe, they cut the whole Tree downe to the ground, leauing on∣ly the root, out of the which presently groweth another, and within a moneth after bea∣reth fruit, and so continueth all the yeere long, and neuer leaueth bearing: they are in all places in so great abundance, and so common throughout all India that it is wonderfull, being the greatest meate and sustenance of the Countrey: they are of a maruellous good taste: when they eate them, they pull off the shels. The most and commonnest sort are by the Portugals called Figos dorta, that is, Garden figges, those are somewhat thicke; there are others which are smaller, and thinne without, and are called Senorijns, which are of the * 1.89 best sort: they smell well, and are very good of taste. [ 30]

There is another sort called Cadolijns, which are likewise well esteemed, but the best of all are called Chincapoloyns, and are most in the Countrey of Malabar: these are but a little yellow, but they continue commonly on the outside greene, and are small and long, with a speciall sweet smell, as if they were full of Rose Water. There are yet many sorts, some that are very great, about a soan long, and in thicknesse correspondent: these grow much in Cananor, and in the Coast of Malabar, and are by the Portugals called Figges of Cananor: and by reason of the great quantitie thereof are dried, their shels being taken off, and so being dried are carried ouer all In∣dia to be sold. These when they are ripe are most roasted, for they are but seldome eaten raw, as other Figges are, they are somewhat harsh in swallowing, and inwardly red of colour, and being roasted they are shaled or pilled like the others, and so cut in slices, which done, they cast some [ 40] beaten Sinamon vpon them, steeping them in Wine, and then they taste better then roasted Quinces; they are cut vp in the middle, as all the other kind of Figges vse to be, and then boy∣led or fried in Sugar, which is a very daintie meat, and very common in India: to conclude, it is one of the best and necessariest fruits in all India, and one of the principallest sustenances of the common people, they are found in all places of the Indies and Orientall Countries. There are also found in Arabia, and are called Musa, as also in Ierusalem, Damasco, and Cairo, as I haue beene truly informed by credible persons, which daily trauell and traffique into India. And they doe be∣leeue that this is the same fruit, which Adam did eate when he sinned first.

There grow in India many Iniamos and Batatas. These Iniamos, are as bigge as a yellow Root, but somewhat thicker and fuller of knots, and as thicke on the one place, as in the other, they grow vnder the Earth like Earth Nuts, and of a Dun colour, and white within like Earth Nuts, * 1.90 [ 50] but not so sweet.

The Batatas are somewhat red of colour, and of fashion almost like the Iniamos, but sweeter, of taste like an Earth Nut. These two fruits are very plentifull.

THis is the most profitable tree of all India. The tree waxeth very high and straight, of the thicknesse of a small span little more or lesse, it hath no branches but in the vppermost part * 1.91 thereof, and in the top grow the leaues, which spread like vnto Date trees, and vnder the leaues close to the tree grow the Coquos together, commonly ten or twelue one close by another, but you shall seldome find one of them growing alone by it selfe. The blossome of this fruit is very [ 60] like the blossome of a Chestnut. The wood of the tree is very sappy like a Sponge, and is not firme, they doe not grow but on the Sea sides, or bankes of Riuers close by the strand, and in sandy grounds, for there groweth none within the Land. They haue no great Rootes, so that a man would thinke it were impossible for them to haue any fast hold within the Earth, and yet

they stand so fast and grow so high, that it maketh men feare to see men climbe vpon them, lest they should fall downe. The Canarijns climbe as nimbly, and as fast vpon them, as if they were Apes, for they make smal steps in the trees like staires, whereon they step, and so climbe vp, which the Portugals dare not venter; their planting is in this manner. They first plant the Coquos or Nuts whereof the trees doe spring, and when they are about the height of a man, in winter time they plant them againe, and dung them with ashes, and in Summer time water them. They grow well about houses, because commonly there they haue good earth, and beeing well looked vnto & husbanded they yeeld fruit in few yeeres. Those trees are more abundant with them then Oliue trees in Spaine, or Willow trees in the Low Countreyes. The profits they reape thereby are these.

First, the wood is very good for many things, although it be spongious and sappy, by reason [ 10] of the length of it, for in the Ilands of Maldiua they make whole ships thereof, without any Iron * 1.92 naile in them, for they sow them together with the Cords that are made of the said Cocus, or Nut, the Ropes and Cables being likewise of the same tree, as also the Sailes which they make of the leaues, which leaues are called Olas. They serue likewise to make the Canarijns houses, and for Hats which they vse to carrie ouer their heads, for the Sunne or the raine; they make also Mats or Tents that lie ouer the Palamkins when it raineth, to couer the women when they are carried abroad, and such like things: they likewise make thereof very fine Hattes, that are much esteemed, and cost three or foure Pardawes the piece, which they weare in Sum∣mer for lightnesse. The Nuts are as great as an Estridge Egge, some smaller, and some grea∣ter and are outwardly couered with a huske or [ 20] shell, * 1.93 which as long as it groweth on the tree, is greene without, like an Acorne with his huske or cup.

This huske being dry and pulled off, is haire like Hempe, whereof all the Coards and Cables that * 1.94 are vsed throughout all India are made, as well vp∣on the Land as in the Ships. It is of colour very like the Ropes of Sparta in Spaine, they are very good, but they must bee kept in salt water, whereby they continue very long, but in fresh or [ 30] raine water they doe presently rot, because they are not drest with Pitch, and Tarre as our ships are. The ship wherein I came out of India into Portugall, had no other Ropes nor Cables, nor any such kind of stuffe, but such as were made of the Indian Cocus, called Cairo, which conti∣nued very good, sauing only that we were forced euery fourteene daies to wash our Cables in the Sea, whereby they serued vs as well as Cables of Hempe. The fruit when it is almost ripe is * 1.95 called Lanha, and within is full of water, and then it is white of colour, thinne and soft, and the longer the Cocus is on the tree, the more the water groweth and changeth into white, which is the meate of the Nut within, and tasteth much like a Hasel Nut, but somwhat sweeter. The Lan∣hos haue within them a good draught of water, which is very cleere, sweet, and coole to drinke. It is at the least halfe a Kan full, and when men walke abroad and are thirstie, they goe vnto the [ 40] Canarijns, who presently with a great Knife in their hands come vp to the tree, and cut off as many Lanhos as a man desireth, selling them for a Basaruco, or two a piece, which they make ve∣rie * 1.96 readie and cleere to be drunke. The first shell that is ouer the inward fruit (which as the Nut is come to his full ripenesse, becommeth almost to be wood) is then but thinne and soft, and very pleasant to eate with Salt and doe taste almost like Artichokes, a man may drinke as much of this water as he will, for it will not hurt him, but is a very pleasant drinke; when the fruit is ripe, there is not so much water in it, and is white within, and somewhat thicker of substance, and then the water is not so good as it was before beeing Lanhos, for then it becommeth some∣what sowre.

These Cocus beeing yet in their huskes, may bee carried ouer the whole World, and not [ 50] once hurt or bruised, and it happeneth oftentimes that by continuance of time, the water with∣in the Cocus doth conuert, and congeale into a certaine kind of yellow Apple, which is very sa∣uourie * 1.97 and sweet. The huske being taken off, the shell serueth for many vses, as to make Ladles with woodden handles, and also certaine little pots, which beeing fastned to a sticke, they doe there with take and lade water out of their great pots, they make thereof also small vessels to beare Wine in when they walke into the fields, and a thousand other things. These shels are likewise burnt, and serue for coales for Goldsmiths, which are very good and excellent. Of the * 1.98 white of these Nuts in India they make pottage, and dresse meate withall, strayning and pressing out the Milke, wherein with many other mixtures they seeth their Rice, and to bee short, they neuer dresse any Rice, which they call Carrijl, and is the sawce to their meate thereunto, but they [ 60] put some of their Cocus Milke into it, else the Cocus is but little eaten, for there it is not esteemed of, but serueth for meate for the slaues, and poore people. They likewise breake the Cocus in pieces, and taking off the shell they dry the fruit or white meate that is within it, and it is carried in great quantities out of Malabar to Cambaya, and Ormus, and to the Northerne Coasts and

quarters beyond Goa, as also to the Countrey of Ballagate, and Traffique much therewith. Of this white substance they make Oile, which they stampe in Cisternes like Oliues, and it maketh ve∣ry * 1.99 good Oile, as well to eate as to burne, which is likewise very medicinable.

This dried Cocus which is so carried abroad, is called Copra. When they desire to haue no Cocus * 1.100 or fruit thereof, they cut the blossomes of the Co∣cus away, and binde a round Pot with a narrow mouth, by them called Callao, fast vnto the Tree, and stop the same close round about with pot earth, so that neither Wind nor Aire can either en∣ter in, or come forth, and in that sort the Pot in * 1.101 [ 10] short space is full of water, which they call Sura, and is very pleasant to drinke like sweete Whay, * 1.102 and somewhat better.

The same water standing but one houre in the Sunne, is very good Vineger, and in India they haue none other. This Sura being distilled, is cal∣led Fula, or Nipe, and is as excellent Aqua vitae, as any is made in Dort of their best Rhenish Wine, * 1.103 but this is of the finest kind of Distillation. The second Distillation thereof is called Vraca, which is very good Wine, and is the Wine of India, for they haue no other Wine. It is very hot and [ 20] strong, yet the Indians drinke it as if it were water, and the Portugals vse it in this sort. They put it into Vessels, and to a Pipe of Vraca, they put three or foure Hands of Raisons that are brought for Merchandise into India from Ormus, (euery Hand is twelue pounds) which being washed they put into the Vessell leauing the bung open, and the Pipe not being full, for if it were it would burst, by reason of the heat, because therewith it seetheth in the Pipe like water on the fire, and boyling so, it is stirred euery day for the space of fourteene or fifteene dayes, in which time the Vraca getteth as faire a red colour, as if it were Portugall Wine, and differeth not much in taste, but yet sweeter and hotter of it selfe, howbeit it is altogether as faire, and of as good a colour as their Portugall Wine, so that they can hardly bee discerned one from the other: this Wine is called Wine of Passa, or Raisons. With this Wine there is great Traffique vsed to Ben∣gala, [ 30] Malacca, China, and other places, and euery Pipe thereof costeth within Goa thirtie Par∣dawen the piece, little more or lesse. Of the aforesaid Sura they likewise make Sugar, which is called Iagra: they seeth the water, and set it in the Sunne, whereof it becommeth Sugar, but it * 1.104 is little esteemed beause it is of a browne colour, and for that they haue so great quantitie and a∣bundance of white Sugar throughout all India. The innermost part of the tree or trunke is cal∣led Palmito, and is the pith or heart of the same trunke, which is much esteemed, and sent for a * 1.105 present vnto men of great account. It is as thin as Paper, and also white, and is as if it were plea∣ted or prest together, as they vse to pleate and presse womens Huykes in the Low Countreyes: it is also long and slender, and hath sometimes fifty or sixty folds or pletes in it like a Paper-book This the Indians vse for Paper and Bookes, which continueth in the same folds, whereon they▪∣write [ 40] when it is greene, and so let it dry, and then it is impossible to get the Letters out againe, for it is printed therein with a kind of Iron Instrument: The Indians call it Olla, whereof all their Bookes, Writings, and Euidences are made, which they can seale, and shut vp as wee doe our Letters.

Those Ilands haue no other dealing or liuing, but with Cairo, whereof they make Ropes and Cables, and with the Copra, or the white substance of the Cocus, whereof Oile is made, so that they doe oftentimes come into India, when the ship and all the furniture, victuall and Merchan∣dise is onely of those Palme-trees.

DUryoen is a fruit that only groweth in Malacca, and is so much commended by those * 1.106 [ 50] which haue prooued the same, that there is no fruit in the World to be compared with it: for they affirme, that in taste and goodnesse it excelleth all kind of fruits, and yet when it is first opened, it smelleth like rotten Onions, but in the taste the sweetnesse and dainti∣nesse thereof is tryed. It is as great as a Mellon, outwardly like the Iaacka, whereof I haue spoken, but somewhat sharper or pricking, and much like the huskes of Chesse-nuts. It hath within it certaine partitions like the Iaacka, wherein the fruit groweth, beeing of the great∣nesse of a little Hennes Egge, and therein are the Nuts as great as Peach-stones. The fruit is for colour and taste like an excellent meate, much vsed in Spaine, called Mangiar Blanco, which is made of Hennes flesh, distilled with Sugar: The trees are like the Iaacka trees, the blossomes white, and somewhat yellowish: the leaues about halfe a span broad, somewhat sharpe at the [ 60] end, within light greene, and without darke greene.

THere is a tree in India called Arbore de Rays, that is to say, a Tree of Roots: this tree is very wonderfull to behold, for that when it groweth first vp like all other trees, and spreadeth * 1.107 the branches: then the branches grow full of roots, and grow downwards againe towards the Earth, where they take root againe, and so are fast againe within the ground, and in lengthof time, the broader the tree is, and that the branches doe spread themselues, the more rootes doe hang vpon the branches, and seeme afarre off to be Cordes of Hempe, so that in the end the tree couereth a great piece of ground, and crosseth one root within the other like a Maze. I haue seene trees that haue contayned at the least some thirty or fortie paces in compasse, and all out of the roots which came from aboue one of the branches, and were fast growne and had taken root againe within the Earth, and in time waxed so thicke, that it could not be discerned, which [ 10] was the chiefe or principall trunke or bodie of the tree: in some places you may creepe betweene the roots, and the more the tree spreadeth, so much the more doe the roots spring out of the same branches, and still grow downe till they come to Earth, and there take roote againe within the ground, and still increase with rootes, that it is a wonder. This tree hath no fruit that is worth the eating, but a small kind of fruit like Oliues, and good for nothing but for Birds to eate.

There are in India other wonderfull and thicke trees, whereof shippes are made: there are trees by Cochin, that are called Angelina, whereof certayne Scutes or Skiffes called Tones are made: there are of those Tones that will lade in them at the least twentie or thirtie Pipes of water, and are cut out of one piece of Wood, without any piece or seame, or any ioynts: [ 20] whereby men may well coniecture the thicknesse of the tree, and it is so strong and hard a Wood, that Iron in tract of time would bee consumed thereby, by reason of the hardnesse of the Wood. There are also ouer all India many Sugar-canes in all places, and in great numbers, but not much esteemed of: and all along the Coast of Malabare there are many thicke Reedes, specially on the Coast of Choramandell, which Reedes by the Indians are called Mambu, and and by the Portugals Barbu: these Mambus haue a certaine matter within them, which is (as it were) the pith of it, such as Quils haue within them, which men take out when they make them Pens to write: the Indians call it Sac••r Mambu, which is as much to say, as Sugar of Mam∣bu, and is a very medicinable thing much esteemed, and much sought for by the Arabians, Pe∣sians, and Moores, that call it Tabaxijr. [ 30]

Those Reeds grow most in the Coast of Choramandell in Bisnagar, and Malacca in many pla∣ces, and in great abundance: they grow very high, and are diuided in each ioynt one from ano∣ther, at the least a span and a halfe, and rather more, and are as thicke as a mans legge aboue the knee: they doe commonly grow vpright, and most of them as high as the highest house in the Low-countreyes: they bow them many times in growing, that they may bring them into a forme or fashion to serue for their Palla••kins, wherein the Portugals and Indian Lords are carried, as I said before: the leaue•• of those Reeds or Bambus grow wide one from another, and haue al∣most the fashion of an Oliue leafe.

THe tree called Arbore Triste, that is, the Sorrowfull Tree, is so called, because it neuer [ 40] * 1.108 beareth blossomes but in the night time, and so it doth and continueth all the yeere long: it is a thing to bee wondred at: for that so soone as the Sunne setteth, there is not one blos∣some seene vpon the tree, but presently within halfe an houre after, there are as many blossomes vpon it, as the tree can beare: they are very pleasant to behold, and smell very sweet, and so soone as the day commeth on, and the Sunne is rising, presently all the blossomes fall off, and couer all the ground, so that there remayneth not one to bee seene vpon the tree: the leaues shut themselues close together, so that it seemeth as though it were dead, vntill Euening commeth againe, and then it beginneth to blossome as it did before: the tree is as great as a Plumme tree, and is commonly planted behind mens houses, in their Gardens for a pleasure, and for the sweet smell: it groweth very quickly vp, for that many young plants doe spring [ 50] out of the roote, and as soone as those young plants bee aboue halfe a fadome high, they haue presently as many blossoms vpon them as the branches on the trees, & although they cut the tree downe to the ground, yet within lesse then half a yeere there wil branches spring out of the root, and likewise if you breake abranch off from the tree and set it on the earth, it will presently take * 1.109 root and grow, and within few dayes after beareth blossomes: the blossomes are in a manner like Orange tree blossomes, the flowre being white, and in the bottome somewhat yellow and red∣dish, which in India they vse for Saffron, therewith to dresse their meates, and to die with all as we doe with our Saffron, but it is neither so good, nor of so pleasant a taste, yet it serueth there for want of the other.

BEttle is a leafe somewhat greater and longer out then Orange leaues, and is planted by [ 60] stickes, whereupon it climeth like Iuie or Pepper, and so like vnto Pepper, that a farre off * 1.110 growing each by other they can hardly be discerned. It hath no other fruit but the leaues onely, it is much dressed and looked vnto, for that it is the daily bread of India. The leaues being gathered do continue long without withering, alwaies shewing fresh and greene, and are sold by the dozen,

and there is not any woman or man in all India, but that euery day eateth a dozen or two of the same leaues or more: not that they vse them for food, but after their meale tides, in the morning and all the day long, as likewise by night, and as they goe abroad in the streets, wheresoeuer they bee you shall see them with some of these leaues in their hands, which continually they are chaw∣ing. These leaues are not vsed to bee eaten alone, but because of their bitternesse they are eaten with a certaine kind of fruit, which the Malabares and Portugalls call Arecca, the Gusurates and * 1.111 Decanijns, Suparij, and the Arabians Fa••ffel. This fruite groweth on trees like the Palme trees, that beare the Nut Cocus in India, but they are somewhat thinner, with leaues somewhat longer and smaller. The fruit is much like the fruit that groweth on Cypresse trees, or like a Nutmeg, though some of them are on the one side flat, and on the other side thicker, some being somewhat greater and very hard. They cut them in the middle with a knife, and so chaw them with Bet∣tele, [ 10] they are within full of veines, white, somewhat reddish. There is a kind of Arecca called Ce∣chanijn, which are lesse, blacker, and very hard, yet are likewise vsed with Bettele, and haue no taste but only of the Wood, and yet it moisteneth the mouth, and coloureth it with red and black, whereby it seemeth that the lippes and teeth are painted with blacke bloud, which happeneth when the Arecca is not well dried. There is another sort, which in the eating or chawing being swallowed downe, maketh men light in the head, as if they had drunke wine all the day long, but that is soone past. They vse yet another mixture which they eate withall, that is to say, a cake or role made of a certaine wood or tree called Kaate, and then they anoint the Bettele leaues with chalke made of burnt oyster shels, which can doe no hurt in their bodies by reason of the small quantitie of it; all this being chawed together, and the Iuice swallowed downe into their bodies, [ 20] for all the rest they spit forth; they say it is very good for the maw, and against a stinking breath, a soueraigne medecine for their teeth, and fastning of gummes, and very good against the Schorbuck, & it is most true that in India very few men are found with stinking breaths, or tooth aches, or troubled with the Schorbuck or any such diseases, and although they be neuer so old, they alwayes haue their teeth whole and sound, but their mouthes and teeth are still as if they were painted with black bloud, as I said before, and neuer leaue spitting reddish spittle like bloud. The Portugall women haue the like custome of eating these Bettele leaue, so that if they were but one day without eating their Bettele, they perswade themselues they could not liue: Yea, they set it in the night times by their beds heads, and when they cannot sleepe, they doe nothing else but [ 30] chaw Bettele and spit it out againe. In the day time wheresoeuer they doe fit, goe, or stand, they are continually chawing thereof, like Oxen or Kine chawing their cud.

The Noblemen and Kings, wheresoeuer they goe, stand, or sit, haue alwaies a seruant by them, with a Siluer Ketle in their hand full of Bettele and their mixtures, and when they will eat, giue them a leafe readie prepared. And when any Ambassadour commeth to speake with the King, although the King can vnderstand them well, yet it is their manner (to maintaine their estates) that the Ambassadour speaketh vnto them by an Interpreter, that standeth there in presence, which done, hee answereth againe by the same Interpreter. In the meane time the King lieth on a bed, or else sitteth on the ground vpon a Carpet, and his seruant standing by readie with the Bettele, which hee continually chaweth, and spitteth out the Iuyce and remainder thereof into a [ 40] Siluer Bason; standing by him, or else holden by some one of his slaues or his wiues, and this is a great hononr to the Ambassadour, especially if hee profereth him of the same Bettele that he himselfe doth eate.

THe Herbe called Dutroa is very common in India, and groweth in euery field. The leafe ther∣of * 1.112 is sharpe at the end like the point of a Speare, and is indented on the edges like the leafe of Beares-claw, and about that bignesse, hauing in it many long threeds or veines, it groweth without taste or moysture, and somewhat bitter and smelling like a Raddish. The flower or blos∣some of this Plant, is very like vnto the blossome of Rose-mary in colour: and out of this blos∣some groweth a bud, much like the bud of Popie, wherein are certaine small kernells like the ker∣nells of Melons, which being stamped and put into any meat, wine, water, or any other drinke or composition, and eaten or drunke therewith, maketh a man in such case as if hee were foolish or [ 50] out of his wits, so that hee doth nothing else but laugh, without any vnderstanding or sence once * 1.113 to perceiue any thing that is done in his presence. And sometime it maketh him sleepe as if hee were dead, in that sort he continueth for the space of twentie foure houres: but if his feet be wa∣shed with cold water, then hee commeth to himselfe againe before the twentie foure houres bee expired. There is yet another Herbe in India, called by the Portugalls Herba Sentida, or feeling Hearbe, the cause why it is called so, is for that if any man passeth by it and toucheth it, or throweth either Sand or any other thing vpon it, presently it becommeth as though it were wi∣thered, and closeth the leaues together and commeth not to it selfe, and to his first force againe as [ 60] long as the man standeth by it: but presently when the man is gone and turneth his backe, it o∣peneth the leaues againe, and becommeth stiffe and faire againe, as though they were newly growne: and touching it againe, it shutteth and becommeth withered as before, so that it is a pleasure to see it, and strange to bee obserued. Also there is a thing to be wondred at, and seemeth

vnpossible to such as haue not seene it: and this it is, within the Towne and Iland of Goa, at the one end of the Towne, where the Kine, Oxen, Seepe, and all kind of Cattle are killed and slaine to be sold for meat for the Inhabitants, called Matauaquas: in that place there lie all the Hornes of the said beasts scattered and throwne about, as if they were altogether vnprofitable, because the Portugalls and Indians vse them not, and it is likewise a great dishonour and iniury to the Spaniards and Portugalls to haue any Hornes, or once to shew a Horne to each other, or to throw * 1.114 it before his doore, for reuenge of which act they would kill each other, and there is sharpe Iu∣stice vsed, if any man doe offend in that sort, by shewing his neighbour the Horne, or naming it vnto him, for that thereby they meane he is a man that is made cookold by his wife. These hornes [ 10] hauing layne there a certaine time, doe sticke fast in the earth (I meane the inner part of the horne) and there it taketh root as if it were a tree, as I my selfe haue seene and pulled forth many of them that had rootes of two or three spannes in length, which was neuer seene in any place of the World.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 28.
• * 1.2

  Bardes. Canarijns.
• * 1.3

  Salsette.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.5

  inquisition.
• * 1.6

  Mines dange∣rous.
• * 1.7

  Chap. 29. Of the cu∣stomes of the Portugals, and such as are is∣sued from them, called Mestiços, or halfe countri∣men, as well of Goa, as of all the Orientall Countries. Mestiços. Castiços. Exchange.
• * 1.8

  Chap. 30. Of the Portu∣gals and Mesti∣ços, their Hou∣ses, Curtesies, Narriages, and other Cu∣stomes and manners of India.
• * 1.9

  Beggerly pride
• * 1.10

  Chap. 31. Of the manuer and Customes of Portugall and Mesticos women in In∣dia.
• * 1.11

  Their pride.
• * 1.12

  Their feeding.
• * 1.13

  Iealousie.
• * 1.14

  Luxurie and filthy Lusts.
• * 1.15

  Deutroa
• * 1.16

  Cunning poy∣soners.
• * 1.17

  Neatnesse.
• * 1.18

  Idlenesse and costlinesse.
• * 1.19

  Bettele and Arrequa.
• * 1.20

  Otia si tollas, pe∣riere Cupidinis arcus.
• * 1.21

  Chap. 32. Of the Vice-roy of Portu∣gall, and of his Gouernment in India.
• * 1.22

  Iesuites goe to the worlds end for the world.
• * 1.23

  Iesuites heresie Da mihi & ad∣••er mihi; nihil baberi, religio est dicere. Ter.
• * 1.24

  Chap. 33. Of the Hea∣thens, Indians, and other strangers dwelling in Goa. Varietie of Religions. Of their Reli∣gions, see more at large in my Pilgrimag. lib. 5.
• * 1.25

  Vgly Idols and Idolatry more vgly.
• * 1.26

  Oracles.
• * 1.27

  Diuellish cu∣stome for Brides.
• * 1.28

  Hog-god.
• * 1.29

  Iogues, Friers or Hermits.
• * 1.30

  Homely hou∣sholdstuffe.
• * 1.31

  Flea-bane.
• * 1.32

  The Diuell ne∣uer hinders the quantitie but the quali∣tie of Deuoti∣on: for false∣hood makes it his, whereof he is ambiti∣ous.
• * 1.33

  Mungrell Chri∣stians.
• * 1.34

  Trade-con∣stancy.
• * 1.35

  Chap. 34. Of the times of the yeere in India, and of their diseases, &c.
• * 1.36

  Constancy of winds.
• * 1.37

  Winter and Summer with∣in few miles in the same height.
• * 1.38

  Chap. 36. Of the Indians called Bra∣menes, which are the Mini∣sters of the Pa∣gods, and Indi∣an Idols, and of their manner of life.
• * 1.39

  Chap. 37. Of the Gusa∣rates and Ba∣nianes of Cam∣baia.
• * 1.40

  One liued sixe dayes with the English, and neither did eate or drinke▪ See lib. 3. c. 14.
• * 1.41

  Chap. 38. Of the Canaras and D〈…〉〈…〉s.
• * 1.42

  Brutish and stinking holies
• * 1.43

  Oathes.
• * 1.44

  Chap. 39. Of the Canari∣ins and Corum∣biins of India.
• * 1.45

  Rice grounds.
• * 1.46

  Childbirth.
• * 1.47

  Chap. 40. Of the Arabi∣ans and Abcxi∣ins dwelling in India.
• * 1.48

  Pride of Portu∣gall Saylers.
• * 1.49

  Chap. 41. Of the blacke people of Mo∣sambique, which are cal∣led Caffares, & of their man∣ners and cu∣stomes. See of these sup. 9. c. 12
• * 1.50

  Note of Iesaites
• * 1.51

  A costly kinde of Chaine for Women to weare.
• * 1.52

  Chap. 42. Of the Mala∣bares and Nay∣ros in India, with their manners and custome.
• * 1.53

  Nayros,
• * 1.54

  Holy water.
• * 1.55

  Heyres.
• * 1.56

  Polyas.
• * 1.57

  Chap. 43. Of the Moores and Iewes in India.
• * 1.58

  See the proofe hereof, sup. pag. 28.
• * 1.59

  Chap. 44. Of their Pa∣godes.
• * 1.60

  Mad Zeale.
• * 1.61

  Deuils Mar∣tyrs.
• * 1.62

  Like lips like lettice.
• * 1.63

  Chap. 45. Of all the kind of Beasts, Cat∣tell, & Fowles, in India. Kine. Oxen. Mutton. Hogs. Sheepes tailes.
• * 1.64

  Buffles and their Milke.
• * 1.65

  Cheeses Wild Beasts.
• * 1.66

  Few small Birds. Great Bats and hurtfull. I haue heard that they breed & haue many young as Rats with vs. Crowes bold.
• * 1.67

  Great Rats.
• * 1.68

  Muske-rats: such are in Virginia. Ants hurtfull.
• * 1.69

  Great Ants.
• * 1.70

  Wormes.
• * 1.71

  They are cal∣led Wall-lice, because they breed in Wals: but in true En∣glish they are called Midges, and in Latin, Cimices.
• * 1.72

  Monkies.
• * 1.73

  Chap. 46. Of the Ele∣phant.
• * 1.74

  Chap. 47. Of the Abadas or Rhino∣cerots.
• * 1.75

  Goats hornes good agains•• poyson.
• * 1.76

  Chap. 48. Of the Fishes and other beasts in the Seas of India. Crabs lest at the full.
• * 1.77

  Sharkes sharking.
• * 1.78

  Monstrous fish
• * 1.79

  Ma••••eus re∣ports it also. Hist. Ind. l. 7. but somewhat differing.
• * 1.80

  Great Crabs.
• * 1.81

  Chap. 49. Of all Fruits, Trees, Plants, and common hearbsin India and first of a certaine fruit ••alled Ananas.
• * 1.82

  Chap. 50. Of Iaqua or Iaacca.
• * 1.83

  Chap. 51. Of Mangas.
• * 1.84

  Chap. 52. Of Caions.
• * 1.85

  Chap. 53. Of Iambos.
• * 1.86

  Summer and Winter at once in the same tree.
• * 1.87

  Chap. 54. Of the fruits in India.
• * 1.88

  Chap. 55. Of the Indian Figs.
• * 1.89

  Many kinds of them.
• * 1.90

  Earth Nuts.
• * 1.91

  Chap. 56. Of the Palme trees, whereon the Indian nuts called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grow.
• * 1.92

  The vses of the Wood.
• * 1.93

  The Indian Nuts are couered ouer with two sorts of huskes or shels, whereof the vttermost is hairie, and of it they make Cairo, that is, all their Cables and Ropes, and stop and make their shippes close with it in stead of Ocam or Two, for that it keepeth the ships closer in salt water then our Ocam or Tow, because in salt water it closeth and shutteth it selfe closer together. Of the other they make not onely drinking Cups, in India, but here with vs also, for that the common people beleeue there is a cer∣taine vertue in them against stirring of the bodie, but it is not so.
• * 1.94

  The hairie huske: Coards and Cables.
• * 1.95

  Water.
• * 1.96

  Inner shell.
• * 1.97

  Vses of the shell.
• * 1.98

  Of the white meate.
• * 1.99

  Oile.
• * 1.100

  There are two sorts of Oile made of these Nuts, one out of the fresh or greene Nuts, stamped and mixed with warme water, which being pressed forth the Oile swimmeth aboue the water: this Oile is v∣sed to purge the maw and the guts, for it purgeth very gently, and without hurt some mixe therewith the iuyce of Thamarindes, and maketh thereof a very wholsome Medicine, the other Oile is prest out of the dried Cocus, which is called Copra, and is good also to purge the maw, and against the shrinking of the sinewes, as also for old aches and paines in the ioynts and limbes.
• * 1.101

  Sura water.
• * 1.102

  This water being drunke, is very good against the heate of the Liuer and the Kidneyes, and clen∣seth the yard from corruption and filthy matter.
• * 1.103

  Viniger and Wine.
• * 1.104

  Sugar.
• * 1.105

  The Palmite.
• * 1.106

  Chap. 57. Of the Duryo∣ens, a fruit of Malacca.
• * 1.107

  Chap. 58. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th•• tree Ar∣〈…〉〈…〉 de R••••s, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, root tree, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or ••eed of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 a great tra〈…〉〈…〉ler which had dwelt some yeeres at G••a told C••••si∣us that some of these trees by reason of this multiplication contained a miles cōpasse, & that the In∣dians made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and chamber•• by c••••ting part a∣way, and that it yeelded an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and he had seene so〈…〉〈…〉∣time 800. or 1000 shadowed vnder one, able to receiue 3000. Ouiedos West Indian Mangle is of the same or like kind and Lopes his Afri∣can Enzanda. Reeds.
• * 1.108

  Chap. 59. Of the tree called Arbore Triste.
• * 1.109

  A maruellous growth.
• * 1.110

  Chap. 60. Bettele.
• * 1.111

  Arecca,
• * 1.112

  Chap. 61. Of the Hearbe Dutroa, and a Plant called Herba Sentida, or the feeling Hearb.
• * 1.113

  Herba Sentida. This Plant groweth an Africa and A∣merica, as in Iobson and M. Hareco••••t you may read; if it be the same: for those are bushes liker Roses and not Hearbs, as this seemeth.
• * 1.114

  Horn-plant.