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.

§. VII. [ 30]

Of their Gentlemen, and how they are made; Their Dancings, Sports, Diseases, Cures, Visitations, Mournings, Funerals: and of their Gold.

THere are many Gentlemen in that Countrey, but of small meanes, for assoone as they * 1.1 haue bought their Gentilitie, they are then poorer, and in miserable estate then they were before, and for that they thinke to be men of great account when they are Gen∣tlemen, they seeke much after it, and begin to gather some wealth from their youths [ 40] vpwards to obtayne the place of a Gentleman. First, they giue three gifts to be made a Gen∣tleman, the first gift is a Dogge, which they call Cabro de Matto, which is as much to say, as a Field-sheepe. The second Gift, is a Sheepe or a Goat. The third Gift, is a Cow, with many o∣ther things, and then he is made a Gentleman. These Gifts are giuen among those that are * 1.2 Gentlemen, and are giuen the one now, the other at another time, as the man that is made a Gentleman can best doe it, and hath the meanes to performe it, and then hee makes the Cap∣taine acquainted with it, which done, he buyeth a Cow, which is carryed and tyed in the Mar∣ket place, and then it is made knowne to the people, that such a man shall bee made a Gentle∣man at such a time, in the meane time all those that are Gentlemen make themselues as fine as * 1.3 they can to goe with him, and to fight and shew many Apish Toyes. The man that is to bee made a Gentleman, makes all things readie, as meate and drinke to entertayne his Guests, [ 50] and to bid them welcome in good sort, he buyeth Hens and many pots of Palme-wine, and sen∣deth euery Gentleman a Hen and a pot of Palme-wine home to his House, to make merrie withall.

When the Feast day comes, the Inhabitants assemble together vpon the Market place, the men (as he masters) goe and sit on the one side, hauing many Instruments, as Drums, Hornes, Bels, and other things with them. The Captaine armeth himselfe, and with him hath many young Batchelors with Shields and Assagaies, their faces being coloured and their bodies pain∣ted with red and yellow Earth, which makes them looke like a company of yong Deuils. The man that is made a Gentleman is accompanied with a number of other Gentlemen, hauing a [ 60] Boy behind him which carryeth his stoole to sit vpon when hee goes to speake with any man, and his fellow Gentlemen come to salute him, and wish him good fortune in his new estate, at which time they take a great deale of straw in the one hand, and lay it vnder his feet, which he treadeth vpon (the like also they vse when their owne friends come to visit them, and bring

them any Presents, which they vse for a great honour.) The wiues of the Gentlemen goe to her, to doe all the honour they can to the wife of the Gentleman that maketh the Feast, and dresse her finely, folding her haire with many golden Fetissos, and Crosses, putting about her necke a Ring of gold, and in the one hand shee carrieth a Horse-taile, and on her right arme shee hath a Ring of gold, at each end thereof hauing a round thing like the Lid of a Pot, all made of gold; and being readie, they are placed in order, as their manner is, one after the other; then the Cow is led forth, and then all the Gentlemen in the Towne come and follow them, as it were on Procession, dancing and leaping round about the Towne, and when they come againe into the Market-place, the Cow is bound to a stake, and there they make a great noise with Drummes and Pipes, and the young Bachelors with fencing and leaping, with their Shields and Assagaies, now in one place, then in another, making, as they thinke, great ioy about the [ 10] Gentleman; euery man seeking to excell each other, and to get most praise and commen∣dation.

The women also make no lesse adoe with singing and dancing, sometimes carrying both the Gentleman and his wife, vpon a stoole, round about the Towne, casting white Meale in their faces, and in that sort make great pastime three dayes together, and euery night they are led home to their houses, and watcht by the other Gentlemen. The next day he is fetcht by a great number of people, and great honour done vnto him as before; at which time hee hangs a white Flag out of his house, which doth signifie ioy, or open house. The third day, the Cow is killed by the Executioner, and quartered, and euery man hath a piece of the flesh thereof, that they also may be participants of the Feast: but the man and the woman that maketh the Feast, [ 20] may not eate of the Cow; for they make them beleeue, that if they eate any thereof, they shall die within a yeere after. The Feast day being ended, the head of the Cow is carried home to his house, which he hangeth vp, and painteth it with diuers colours, hanging many straw Fe∣tissoes vpon it, which is a signe of his Gentilitie, and a warrant to proue him to be made a Gen∣tleman.

Then he hath great priuiledge, for he may buy Slaues, and doe other things which before he * 1.4 might not haue done. When he is made a Gentleman he is very proud thereof; for, the first thing that they will tell vnto a Stranger, is, that they are Gentlemen, and that they haue many Slaues, esteeming themselues to be great Masters; but it falleth out oftentimes, that after their feasting is done, and he made a Gentleman, that then hee is poorer then he was before, because [ 30] he disbursed all his money to get it, and then he must goe out to fish againe and doe other things, if he will get his liuing. This kind of Gentilitie costs him about eight Bendas, which is a pound of gold; but deducting that which is giuen for Presents of other men which bring them to him, each man according to his meanes and abilitie, it standeth him not in aboue halfe a pound of gold. Those Gentlemen haue a Fellowship among them, and euery yeere make a Feast, and then bid their Friends to be merrie with them, and make good cheere; at which time they hang their * 1.5 Cowes or Sheepes heads, with Millie strawes, and paint them with white colour, signifying thereby the remembrance of their Feast. Besides this, the Gentlemen haue an other Feast a∣mongst them, vpon the sixth day of Iuly, at which time they paint their bodies with white and red stripes, and hang a Garland made of greene boughs and straw about their necks, which they [ 40] weare all that day, that you may know the Gentlemen from the rest, and then also they hang their Cowes and Goats heads full of Fetissoes, as before; in the euening they meet together at a Banket, in the house of the Captaine, where they are very merrie together, eating and drin∣king their heads and bellies full, till they are drunke.

They make themselues very fine, especially the women, when they goe to dance, wherein * 1.6 they take a great pride. They hang many Copper, Tin, and Iuorie Rings about their armes, and on their legs they put Rings with many Bells, that they may sound when they dance. Their heads are frizled, and dressed with a tuft of haire. They wash their bodies faire with water, and then anoint them with Palme-oile, to make them shine. Their teeth also they rub with a hard sticke: then they put a piece of white linnen about their bodies, which hangs from vnderneath [ 50] their breasts, downe below their knees; and commonly about euening they assemble together, and goe to the Market-place to dance there. Others haue instruments whereon they play, as some Copper Basons, whereon they strike with woodden Stickes. Others haue woodden Drums, cut out of an hollow Tree, couered ouer with a Goats Skin, and play vpon them. O∣thers haue round Blockes, cut very handsomly and euenly, whereon also they strike with wood∣den Stickes. Others haue Cow-bells. Some haue small Luits, made out of a piece of wood like a Harpe with sixe strings of Reeds, whereon they play with both their hands, euery one hauing their seuerall Instruments, and each keeping good correspondence with their fellowes Instruments. Others sing, and begin to dance two and two together, leaping and stamping with one of their feet vpon the ground, knocking with their fingers, and bowing downe their heads, [ 60] and speaking each to other; in their hands carrying Horse-tailes, which they cast sometimes on the one shoulder, then vpon the other, vsing certaine order in their sports, one following the other, and each doing as the other doth. Other women take straw, which they let fall to the

ground, and then dancing vpon it, cast it vp againe into the aire with their feet, and catch it as it fa••••eth with their hands, so that they play many apish and childrens sports, thinking that they doe excellent well; but they desire not to be seene by strangers, because they laugh and iest at them, and then they are ashamed.

This continuing an houre or an houre and an halfe, euery one goes home againe, as hauing en∣ded * 1.7 their sports. There are houses also among them, wherein young men and maids vse to dance and play. The young Bachelors vse to drinke themselues drunke, and by night runne through the streets with their Armes and Assagaies, making a great noise with crying and showting, as if a companie of young Deuils ran about the streets; and meeting with other companies, with whom hauing some words, they fight together; wherein they are so earnest one against the other, that they are almost readie to kill each other, and many times cannot leaue off. They [ 10] will not lightly beginne to quarrell, for they are not so hastie, but will indure much, specially of strangers, before they will quarrell; but if they once beginne, they are not easily pacified, but are very earnest and hastie to set vpon their aduerse Parties, and to be reuenged, though it should cost them their liues, and they haue very quicke hands to thrust and to strike.

Their bodies are subiect to many sicknesses and diseases, which they esteeme but little, and * 1.8 make no account of wounds or hurts. The sicknesses wherewith they are most troubled, are Poxe, Clap-dollars, Botches, Wormes, paine in the head, and burning Feuers. These diseases they get from foule and filthie women, whereunto they are much addicted, and although they haue any diseases by such meanes, which are not without much danger, yet they esteeme not much of them, but passe them away as if they ayled nothing, and are not faint-hearted, but of [ 20] a hard complexion, suffering their wounds to swell and putrifie, without any meanes of reme∣die applied thereunto; for they neither haue nor vse any Physicke among them, to ease them in their sicknesse, nor Surgeons or Physicians to heale their wounds, but suffer their wounds and diseases to haue their course, vnlesse any of our Surgeons giue them any Physicke or Surgerie, For the Pox and Clap-dollers they vse much Salsaparillia, which the Hollanders ships bring them; which Salue they seethe with salt water, and drinke the water for drinke against the Pox, and such like diseases, and also against the Wormes that are in their legs, (as I will declare * 1.9 more at large) wherewith also we are much troubled, whereunto they vse no remedie at all, but suffer their legs to continue so, vntill they heale and waxe better of themselues. For the [ 30] paine of the head they vse certaine Pap, which they make of greene leaues, and therewith anoint the place where their paine is; and if they haue any swelling about their bodies, which breaketh not out, then they take a knife and cut two or three long slashes therein, and so giue the * 1.10 wound a meanes to worke, and to heale vp, and grow together againe; which is the cause that they haue so much knobd flesh, and so many slashes in their bodies: but is well to be discerned, whether they be cut and made in their flesh to beautifie and set out themselues, or wounds and sores that are healed vp againe. They also vse no letting of bloud, but onely make a hole in their bodies with a knife to let their bloud come out: when they haue any other naturall sicknesses, they will not helpe nor comfort one the other; but if any of them be sicke, they will shun him as it were the plague, and spurne the sicke man like a Dog, and not once helpe him with a drop of Oyle or Water, although they haue neuer so much need; no, not the Father to the Sonne, [ 40] but let them lie like Beasts; and die with hunger and sicknesse; so that they are not skilfull to helpe sicke persons.

They make difference betweene the word Morian and Negro, for they will not bee called Morians, but Negroes or Prettoes, (which is as much to say) as Blacke men; for they say that * 1.11 Morian is as much to say, as Slaue or Captiue, and also a man that knowes nothing, or that is halfe a Foole; and therefore they will not be called Morians, but Negroes or Prettoes; for if you call them Morians, they will hardly speake vnto you, nor make you any answere. They make one the other Slaues, but in other sort then in Congo or Angola, for there you can lade no ships full of Slaues; but to the contrarie, they desire much to haue them, and buy them: yet there are both Slaues and Captiues; and for that in those Countries they take no great paines, nor [ 50] need any great number of Slaues, therefore there is no great quantitie of them to be had, to sell them as they doe in other Countries, but onely among them of the Land, that haue need of them. Againe, no man may buy or sell them, but such as are of great account and Gentlemen. They are marked with an Iron in their bodies, that if they chance to runne away, they may be knowne againe by their markes.

Such as are blind, or haue any other imperfections in their bodies, as being lame or Criples, and by reason thereof cannot get their liuings, the King placeth them with Smiths, to blowe their Bellows; others with those that presse Palme-oyle, or grind Colours, whereunto such de∣formed [ 60] persons are fit; or to such Occupations and labours wherewith they can helpe them∣selues, and get their victuals; so that there you see none such as begge their victuals, but they are put in some place or other to earne their meate; so that the Inhabitants giue no meate one to the other. The Kings of the Townes haue many Slaues, which they buy and sell, and get much by them; and to be briefe, in those Countries there are no men to be hired to worke or

goe of any errand for money, but such as are Slaues and Captiues, which are to spend their dayes in slauerie.

Hatred and enuy is much vsed in those Countries, and to whomsoeuer they once beare hatred and enuie, they will hate them cruelly, and doe them all the hurt and villany that they can; on the other side, they beare a villany long in their minds, and will keepe malice in their hearts seuen or eight yeeres, and when time serueth them, then show it openly; no lesse hatred and en∣uy is borne by one Towne vnto an other, speaking all the villany they can, and extolling themselues as much as they may, to haue the honour of Traffique, and to the end that the ship should come and Anchor before their Townes, and by that meanes to bring the Countrie Mer∣chants to Traffique there, wherein they are very diligent: and although one Towne lyeth but three or foure miles one from the other; yet they are as enuious one against the other as possi∣ble [ 10] they can be, and report as hardly of their neighbours as they can imagine; that so they may get the Netherlanders to Traffique with them: and to that end, they striue to shew more friend∣ship to the Netherlanders, one then the other, to draw vs to affect them, and bring the trade of Merchandize vnto them.

The men commonly liue there till they be old, as it seemeth by their faces and outward appa∣rance, * 1.12 and as we conceaue; but they cannot reckon their owne ages, nor tell how many yeeres they haue liued. When they begin to be old, then they are not well proportioned nor seeme∣ly; but looke euill fauouredly, with gray beards, yellow wrinckled skins, like Spanish Leather, which proceedeth of the anointing of their bodies with PalmeO-yle. They are likewise leane [ 20] of Legs and Armes, and wholly mishapen, specially olde women, with their long breasts, which then shew and hang vpon their bodies like old Hogs bladders, they would not willingly be old; because as then they are not esteemed of, but much despised, and not respected, and as from their youths vpwards, to the best time of their liues, they still waxe of a fairer blacke colour, so when they are past that time, they begin to decay, and to lose their perfect blacknesse.

In their winter time, they are very sickly, & then commonly there is a great mortalitie among them, by meanes of the vnwholesomenesse of the aire, which they then endure: and when they * 1.13 die, their friends come to the dead mans house, and weepe and sorrow grieuously for him, spea∣king vnto him, & asking him why he died, with many such like foolish Ceremonies, They take the dead body and lay it on a mat vpon the ground, & wind it in in a woollen, purposely made in [ 30] that Countrey, of colour red, blew, blacke and white. Vnder his head they lay a woodden stoole, and couer or dresse his head with a Goats skin, and strew all the body ouer with ashes, and dust of Barkes of trees; they close not his eyes together, they lay his armes downe by his sides, and so let him lie halfe a day in the aire. If it be a man, his best beloued wife goes and sits downe by the body, and if it be a woman, the man goes and sits downe by her, crying and weeping, ha∣uing in their hands a wispe of straw, or of Barkes of trees, wherewith crying and howling ouer the dead body, he or she wipeth his face, sometimes saying vnto it, Auzy, and making a great noyse; in the meane time, the friends or neighbours come to visite the dead, and to mone him for his misfortune, others (as the neerest friends) being women, goe round about the house, singing and beating vpon Basons, sometimes comming to the dead body, and goe round about [ 40] him singing and leaping, and kincking of hands, making a great noyse, and then againe goe round about the house singing and playing vpon Basons, which they doe twice or thrice one af∣ter the other.

In the meane time, preparation is made for the buriall, and to make good cheere together, af∣ter it is ended; to the which end, they dresse certaine Hens, and a Sheepe, and other meats which * 1.14 they are accustomed to eate, and while the dead bodie is aboue the ground, the eldest Morinni of that quarter, goes about from house to house with a Bason, whereon euery one must put the value of twelue pence in gold, with the which money they buy a Cow, which Cow is giuen to a Fetissero that vseth to coniure their gods, to will him to coniure the Fetisso, to suffer the dead body to remaine and rest in peace, and to bring him into the other world, and not to mo∣lest [ 50] him in the way, with this Cowes blood hee coniureth his Fetisso; (for a dead man must smeare his Fetisso with blood) then they bind the dead body vpon a planke, and carry him to the graue singing and leaping: the bodie is carried by men, and the women follow after one by one, about their heads hauing a Crowne or Garland of straw, and a staffe in their hands: the man, if it be a woman, goes next to the dead body crying to the graue, else there goes no man after it, vnlesse the dead body chanceth to be borne to another place to be buried; as sometimes it hapneth that they carry the dead body twenty miles off, from the place where he died, to be buried there: and then many men go armed with the body, to conuey it to the buriall: the body is carried to the earth, & the graue-maker maketh a graue about foure foot deepe, and therein he is laid; ouer the graue there are many stickes of wood aid, close one by the other: the women [ 60] creepe to and fro ouer the graue, making a great noyse, with howling and crying, and ouer that, they lay the earth, and place it, and bind it about the same, as if it were a Chest: all his goods, as Apparell, Weapons, Pots, Basons, Tooles, Spades, and such Houshold-stuffe, wherewith he earned

his liuing, are carried to the graue, and buried with him, which are set round about the graue, to serue his turne withall in the other world, as they did when he liued vpon the earth; o∣ther of the dead mans friends, bring some thing also to set in the graue for a memory, which is put into the graue with the rest of his goods. If he were one that delighted much in drinking, & loued Palme well when he liued: they will set a pot of Palme-wine by him in his graue, because hee should not die for thirst, and what in his life he vsed, that is giuen him, and buried in his graue with him. If it be a woman that died in trauell of her child, the child is laid in the mothers right arme, and buried with her; aboue vpon the graue, there is a straw house made like a Sepul∣chre, wherein all the houshold-stuffe and other things are set. The graue-makers fee, is to haue halfe the goods that are set into the graue, but the friends of the dead content him, and he is paid [ 10] for it; because they should let the goods stand still vntoucht: for it is a great credit to the friends of the dead to leaue good store of goods vpon the graue with the dead body; which they let stand there so long, till it be cleane consumed, and none of them will euer offer to take any of it away by any meanes whatsoeuer. The body being buried, they goe altogether to the Sea-side, or * 1.15 to some other Riuer, where the women goe in, & stand vp to their middles in waters, and taking vp water in their hands, cast it in their owne faces, and vpon their bodies, and wash their breasts, and all their bodies. Other women in the meane time play vpon Basons, and such like instru∣ments, one of those women take the man or woman, whose husband or wife is dead, and lea∣ding them into the water, laid them therein flat vpon their backes, and take them vp againe; which they doe diuers times, speaking one vnto the other, and making great complaints. When [ 20] he or she is well and cleane washt from the head to the foot, she leadeth them out of the water againe, and puts their clothes vpon their bodies again, & then they go together to the dead mans house to make good cheere, and to drink themselues drunk. If it be a man that died that had chil∣dren, the women must not retaine nor keepe any of his goods for the behoofe of the children: but must giue all the mans goods (both that which he had to his marriage, and which he got by his labour while he liued) vnto his Brethren, if he hath any liuing, and must not keepe any thing from them. If he hath no brethren, then the father if he be liuing, taketh all his sonnes goods, and inioyeth it. If it be a woman that dieth, then the husband must deliuer her marriage goods to her brethren, as aforesaid, without keeping any thing thereof for his children, so that no chil∣dren in those Countreyes inherite their Fathers good, neither are they their Fathers heires: No more; may the wife inherite any of her husbands goods, but it is all diuided among his bre∣thren; [ 30] but while their wiues liue, they giue her what they thinke good of that which they gaine, so yong maids and men must endeuour themselues to get some thing in their youths, that they may haue some thing when they marry and keepe houses.

For the Kings death, more sorrow is made by some of the Gentlemen, who in the Kings life serued him: when he is dead, giue him a slaue to serue him, & other men one of their wiues to wait * 1.16 on him, and to dresse his meat: others bring one of their sonnes to goe with the King into the o∣ther world; so that there are a number of people that are appointed to goe with the King to the other world: which are killed, and their heads cut off, but they know nothing thereof, for such men and women as giue them to the King when he is dead; tell not them that they shall be put to death, to goe into the other world with the King; but when the time comes, that the buri∣all [ 40] is to be solemnised, they send them on some message, or to fetch water, and so following them, strike them through the body with an Assagaie, and kill them in the way: which done, they carry the dead body to the Kings house, whereby they shew what faithfull seruants they were vnto their King while he liued: others also doe the like, and those dead bodies are smeared with blood, and buried with the King in his graue, that they may trauell together. If any of his wiues loued him intirely, they suffer themselues to be kild with the rest, and are buried with him, that they may raigne together in the other world. The heads of the dead men and women, are set round about the Sepulchre and graue of the King, for a great brauerie and honour vnto him. Vpon the graue they set all kinds of meat and drinke, that they may eate some thing, and verily beleeue that they eate and drinke it, and that they liue thereby, [ 50] and for that cause the pots of Palme-wine, and of water, are continually fild vp: all his stuffe, as Armes and Clothes are buried with him, and all his Gentlemen that serued him, haue euery one of them their Pictures made of Clay, after the life, and fairely painted, which are set and placed orderly round about his graue, one by the other so that their Kings Sepulchers are like houses, and as well stu••t as if they still liued: which Sepulchres are so much esteemed off, that they are watcht both by night and by day, by armed men: to the end, that if he desireth to haue any thing, they should straight bring it him.

Gold at this day is as much esteemed off by them, as it is with vs, (of whom they say, Gold, * 1.17 is our God) and more too, for they are greedier and earnester to haue it then we are, because they [ 60] marke and see that the Hollanders take so much paines for it, and giue more Merchandise for it in Exchange, then euer the Portugals did.

For I am of an opinion, that there are few Negroes that dwell on the Sea side, that know where the Mines are, or that euer saw them, also there was neuer any Portugall or Netherlan∣der

at them, or neere them, but the Mines are well kept, and lookt vnto by the owners thereof; so I haue heard by some Negroes, that each King hath his Mines, and causeth the gold to be digged by his men, and selleth it to other Merchants, and so it passeth from one to a∣nother.

In what manner the gold is found in Guinea, I know not, but as some Negroes haue told me, they finde gold in deepe pits, which they digge vp, and that with the water it is driuen downe like Sand, at which waters and running springs, many people sit with spoones in their hands, and take vp the gold, sand and all, and put it into a Bason.

Some peeces are couered ouer with Chalke, and Earth, wherein they are found, the small gold, which is found in the Sand, they purge and make cleane in cleare running water, but yet they [ 10] let some Sand and Grauell remaine among it, it is found in no great quantities, (as they themselues say) but with great paine and labour, for it costs many men their liues, which are smothered in the Mines; and a man that can find two or three Englishen of gold in a day, hath done well, and hath earned a good dayes hire. The halfe which is found is the labourers, and the other halfe is for the King, or for him that oweth the Mine; This I haue beene told by some of the Negroes. Gold by them is called Chika, and some great Merchants that dwell a∣bout the Maine, bring the gold aboord the ships to buy wares, as it comes out of the Mine, and that is esteemed to be the best gold, wherein there is left deceit, but the receiuer must looke well to it, to blow the sand cleane out of it, and to beat the yeallow earth with the stones out of it, with a hammer, and so he cannot lose by it? neuerthelesse, the gold that is brought [ 20] rough out of the Mine, is esteemed to be better and richer, and more worth in euery Marke then the other.

It falleth out oftentimes, that some gold is more worth then others, which hapneth by meanes of the receiuers negligence, and many times as the Mines of gold fall out; for some of them are finer gold then others: and also the deeper that the Mines are digged, the gold falls out to be worse, and is more mixed with siluer, euen in the earth it selfe, then the gold that heth higher in the earth.

Besides this, meane Merchants bring much molten gold, as Crakawen, arme Rings, Iewels, * 1.18 and other things, wherein there is most falshood vsed: for such Negroes as haue but small meanes to Traffique with vs, are more vsed and addicted to the falsifying of gold, then others [ 30] are, wherein they vse great subtiltie, but we our selues are oftentimes the cause thereof; for we bring and sell them the matter, and the Instruments which they vse therein; and so deceiue our selues, and make a rod for our owne breeches: but they were wont to falsifie it more then now. For the Portugals hanged vp some for it. They haue good knowledge in Gold, and can soone per∣ceiue whether it be good or falsified; but of other Iewels, as Pearles, Diamonds, Rubies, Emralds, and such like precious stones, they haue no knowledge; but they know fine red Corals wel, which are much esteemed off by them.

Siluer also is well, and too much knowne among them; because they vse it to falsifie Gold withall, and to make it of lesse value then it is. They learned of the Portugals to melt gold. They also haue found the meanes to put an edge of gold round about siluer, and Red Copper [ 40] mixed together, letting the false mettle remaine in the middle of the peece, and so when hee that receiueth it, is in haste, and toucheth it but on the edge thereof, (where it is not falsified) with his Touch-stone, it passeth for good: but such must bee cut in sunder with a hammer, and then the falsifying is perceiued, and when they could find no meanes to falsifie the small fine Chika Foetu Gold, so that the receiuers had no suspition thereof, and tooke the lesse heed there vnto, wee our selues brought them tooles to doe it withall: for wee brought them Files, and Sawes to sell, so that they filed the yellow Copper, and mingled it among the smal gold, that it could hardly be perceiued: because it was no smal, which was the subtillest falsi∣fying of gold by them vsed, but when we blew the sand & dust out of it, then the Copper shewed it selfe, whereby it appeareth that the Negroes haue many wayes and deuises to falsifie gold, but such as looke narrowly vnto them, will not be deceiued: but to trie their falsifyings, the [ 50] best way is to touch their gold, and to be warie of deceit, and of receiuing bad gold. An other way is to looke speedily vnto the Negroes themselues; To see if they haue bad gold or not, for when they bring bad gold, they will be in great feare, with your handling thereof, and when you offer to trie their gold, they will refuse it, and alter their colours, and shake and quiuer withall.

The wormes in the legges and bodies, trouble not euery one that goeth to those Coun∣treyes, * 1.19 but some are troubled with them, and some not, and they are found in some men sooner then in others, some haue a worme before the Voyage is done, and while they are still vpon the Coast, some get them while they are vpon the way, others haue them after their Voy∣age is full ended, some foure moneths after, some nine moneths after, and some a yeere after they [ 60] haue made a Voyage thither: others haue made two or three Voyages thither, and neuer were troubled with those wormes.

The Negroes themselues are much troubled with them, specially those that dwel about the castle of Mina, and it is a thing to be wondered at, for the Negroes that dwel but 25. miles lower East∣ward, are not troubled with wormes as their neighbors are. And another * 1.20 (whereof Iohn Huyghen speaketh in his Itiner ario) are troubled therewith, for the Ilands of East India, West India, China, Brasilia, and other strange Countries are not troubled therwith, nor know not thereof, and which is more; They of the Iland of Saint Thomas, which men esteeme to be the vnwholesomest place in the world; and wherein so many men are sicke, and lose their liues, know not what those wormes meane, but wondred much thereat, when it was shewed them of such as had beene with the Hollanders in Guinea. The Negroes themselues knew not whereof they are ingendred, but the greatest presumption is, that they proceed and breed of the water which men buy of [ 10] the Negroes, which they take out of Wels or Pits, and it is very likely (as we find by the ex∣perience) that they breed of the water; for in Ormus, or in those parts, the fresh water is fetcht vp in pots by diuers, eighteene fathome deepe vnder the salt water, which those people drinke, because they are there also troubled with wormes, and as some men write: the Indians themselues say, that they come of the water. Such as haue them are in great paine, for some of them can neither goe nor stand; some neither sit nor lie, others lie wholy in dispaire, as if they were sence∣lesse, and somtimes are faine to be bound; some haue them with a feuer, or shaking, as if they had a feuer; some get them on a sudden, others haue them before they know it, and haue little paine therewith; so that the wormes shew themselues diuers wayes: they appeare with a lit∣tle Blain, others with a spot like a Flea-biting, others with a litle swelling; so that you may often [ 20] see the worme betweene the skin and the flesh, others shew themselues with bloody vains, &c. It must shew it selfe before men vse any remedie for it: neuerthelesse, it sheweth it selfe many times too much, and too soon, for it were better that it came not so soon, nor appeared at all, but suffered men to be at ease, it will seeke to helpe itselfe, and thrust out his nose, which a man must then take hold on, least he creepe in againe: he sheweth himselfe in diuers places, as in a mans legges, in the sole of the foot, in the armes, knees, buttocks, and commonly in places of a mans bodie, where there is much flesh; and some men haue them in their priuie members, and which is more, in their cods, with great griefe and paine: for those that haue them there, indure extreme paine. But it is true, that one man hath lesse paine with them then another, and shal also be sooner healed of them then another: which commeth by the handling or dealing with them, [ 30] for it is very good, when a man findeth himselfe to be troubled with them, to be quiet, specially being in his legs, and not go much, and to keepe the place warme where they begin to appeare; for thereby they shall indure lesse paine, for they come better out of a mans flesh with warmth, then with cold and disease. For some men haue little respected themselues when they haue had the wormes, so that they appeared with a great swelling, whereby they indured much paine, and were in hazard to loose their legges or their armes. When it comes foorth so farre, that a man may lay hold on it, then they must draw him out till hee stayeth, and then hee must let it rest till hee beginneth to come forward againe; and as much thereof as is come out of the bodie, must bee woond vpon a sticke, or bound close to the hoole, with a thrid that hee creepeth not in againe. When hee commeth out [ 40] euery time, he bringeth good store of matter with him, and a man must euery day looke vnto it, and draw him so long, till he be out, but you must not draw him too hard, least he should breake, so that by reason of the poyson that is in him, the wound will fester: It hapneth oftentimes, that after there is one worme drawne out of a mans body, that there commeth another in the same place, & hath his issue out at the same hole. Some men are soner rid of them then another, for some are eased in three weeks and lesse time, and some are three months in healing of them, some men haue more wormes then others, for some haue but one worme, and others ten or twelue, as I my self knew one that had ten wormes, hanging out at his body all at one time; and I haue known men that had wormes that began to open themselues, and crept in againe, and consumed away, so that they had no more trouble therewith but the next Voyage after. They are of diuers lengths, [ 50] and greatnesse, some are of a fathome long, some shorter, as it fals out; in thicknesse they differ much, some are as thicke as great Lute-strings, and like common peare wormes, others like small Lute-strings, and some as small as silke or fine thred, some say that they are not liuing, and that they are but bad sinowes and no wormes. I haue not long since seene a man that had certaine wormes which shewed themselues, and the Surgeon drew a worme out with one pull, and the worme being drawne out, and held vp on high, wrung and writhed it selfe, as if it had beene an Eele, and was about fiue quarters long, and as thicke as a Lute-string, if it were but a sinow, it would haue no life in it, and therefore they are naturall wormes. The Negroes vse no kind of Surgerie for them, but suffer them to haue their course, and wash the sore with Salt-water, which they say is very good for it. [ 60]

Note that our returne backe from Moure, we vse to put off from that place, from whence you must set sayle with a wind from the land, and hold your course as neere by as you can, losing no wind, and yet you shall hardly get aboue S. Thomas, or Rio de Gabom, because of the ••••reame which driueth you East & by North, & East North-east towards the land. To the Bouthes of

Fernando Poo, which you must beware off, for he that falleth into that Bouthe, will hardly get out, because of the streame, and is in danger to be cast away in that place, or else he must haue some stormes or winds out of the North, and so come out Southward, otherwise it is hardly to be done; for there are some, who hauing had the wind a little contrary, were sixe or seuen weekes before they could get to Cape Lope Gonselues. Heere you must note, that the neerer you come to the Equinoctiall line, the wind bloweth the more Southerly, so that as you passe vnder the line, the wind bloweth South, and South and by East, and somewhat higher, you must also note, when you see great flying Fishes, that you are not farre from Saint Thomas, or aboue Ile De Principe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambition of Gentrie.
• * 1.2

  Gifts for it.
• * 1.3

  Creation.
• * 1.4

  Priuiledges.
• * 1.5

  Annuall Feast.
• * 1.6

  Their dan∣cings.
• * 1.7

  The yonkers.
• * 1.8

  Their wounds and maladies.
• * 1.9

  Wormes in the legs.
• * 1.10

  Barbarous In∣humanitie.
• * 1.11

  Quarrels.
• * 1.12

  Old age and the effects.
• * 1.13

  Lamentable lamentings.
• * 1.14

  Funerall.
• * 1.15

  Viaticum.
• * 1.16

  Kings Fune∣rals.
• * 1.17

  Gold how e∣steemed and found.
• * 1.18

  False gold.
• * 1.19

  Troublesome long-wormes.
• * 1.20

  Ormus. At Boghar in Bactria, there are the like, supposed to come by drin∣king bad water in that place, as M. Ant. Ien∣kinson obserued