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.

§. IIII.

Rites of Meate and Drinke, Bathing, Superstitious Obseruations: Diseases. Education of Children. Fishing, Fashions, Lusts.

THey neuer eate together, but with men of their owne Ranke and Qualitie; counting * 1.1 it a dishonour to eate with their inferiour: Also they feast seldome, except at their Festiuals and Solemnities. If they wil at other times entertaine their friends, they pre∣pare a Seruice of many Dishes, and set it on a great round Table couered with Taffa∣ta, [ 10] and send it into his House whom they will feast: which they hold a great honour. Being in * 1.2 their owne house they loue not the others should see them eate, and goe therefore to the furthest side of their house, letting downe all the clothes and Tapistrie which are before them, that so they may be vnseene. Before they eate, they say their Prayers. They haue no other Table then the floore of their Lodgings, which is couered with a little fine Mat, whereon they sit crosse∣legged. They vse no Naperie, but for feare of wasting their Mats they vse great leaues of the * 1.3 Bannanes whereon they set their Dishes, and others before them instead of Trenchers: they are so neat in their feeding that they shed nothing in the place where they eate, no not one drop of water, although they wash their mouth before and after their repast. Their dishes are of Earth, figured after the maner of the Country, and come from Cambaya; as good as China Porcelane, and * 1.4 [ 20] so common that all vse them. But they haue no Platter of Earth or Porcelane, which is not after the fashion of a Box round, varnished and nealed, and a couer of the same matter. The poorer sort haue couered Platters in stead of these Boxes, which cost little. The reason is because of the Ants, * 1.5 which in great numbers fill euery place, so that it is very difficult to keepe any thing with∣out a couer.

They are also so nice in their Diet, that they will not taste of any meate wherein hath fallen * 1.6 a Flye or an Emit, or any little creature, or the least filthinesse, so that they will giue it to the Birds when they come: for they haue no minde to giue it to the poore, to whom they neuer giue any thing which they would not haue, or which is not aswell dressed as for themselues. Where∣fore when the poore come to their doores, they make them come in, and make them as good * 1.7 [ 30] cheere as for themselues; saying, that they are the Seruants of God aswell as themselues. The Grand Signiors and rich men haue no other Vessels then other men, although they might haue them of Gold and Siluer, yet their Law forbids it. If a dish happen to be a little riuen or crackt, they eate no more in it; saying, that it is polluted. They vse no Spoones neither to eate Rice * 1.8 nor Honey, nor any liquid thing, but take them with their fingers, which they doe neatly and nimbly without losing any thing, for they account it the greatest inciuilitie in the World to let any thing fall in eating. In the meane while also, none dare spit nor cough, but must rise and goe forth. In eating they neuer vse the left hand, because therewith they wash their Priuities. They * 1.9 willingly eate at the beginning of their feeding a Cocos halfe ripe, and drinke the water of it; saying, that it is healthfull, and looseth their belly. They eate all greedily and in haste, holding * 1.10 [ 40] it mannerlinesse not to be long in eating: and in the meane while, though they be in company, they speake not a word.

To drinke while they are eating, is reckond clownishnesse, but after they haue eaten their fill, * 1.11 they drinke once. Their drinke is commonly of water, or of Wine of Cocos drawne forth the same day: they haue also other sorts of drinkes for the King and Nobles, or at their great So∣lemnities. They drinke in Copper Cups well wrought, with couers on them. After their repast, and when they haue washed, they present a Platter of Bettell, instead of sweet meates. For * 1.12 the most part they haue no ordinarie houre of eating, but eate at all houres when they are hun∣gry. * 1.13 Their Wiues and Daughters prepare and dresse their meate, and not men. It is the grea∣test injurie that a man can doe to one, to call him Cisday, that is to say Cooke: and if any bee [ 50] found to addict themselues to this, they are mocked and despised euery where, in such sort that they esteeme them not for men but women: and they dare not accompany with any but women, nor doe any other exercise; also they make it no difficultie to leaue them with them.

When they kill any creature for their food, they haue many Mysteries. They cut the throat * 1.14 turning themselues toward Mahomets Sepulchre, and say their Prayers, and all speedily let it goe, or goe forth, not touching it till it be thoroughly dead. If any touch it before, they cast a∣way the flesh, and eate it not. Also they cut it not euery-where, but in a certaine place of the throat, otherwise they eat it not, and euery one vnderstands not this, but principally their Priests or Mondius know it: they which enterprize it must bee ancient and not yong, and such as haue * 1.15 had children. In all their actions they are very scrupulous and superstitious. After they haue slept, [ 60] whether in the night or day, they faile not presently after they are awake, to wash their eyes and face, and rub them with Oyle, and put also a certaine blacknesse vpon their eye-lids and eye∣browes: they dare not speake nor bid any good morrow till they haue done thus; they are care∣full to rub their Teeth, and to wash and clense them, saying furthermore, that the Red colour

of Bettell and Arecka, which they chawe continually takes the better: so that they haue all red Teeth, by reason of champing of Bettell, & they account this brauerie. They carrie it also alwaies * 1.16 about in the pleats of their Girdle, and it should be a dishonor to be found without it; it is the cu∣stome when they encounter one another by the way interchangeably each to giue the other some of his. They bathe often in the day, not only for pleasure and commoditie, but for Religion, or * 1.17 entrance into the Mosche: they wash their Extreems after they haue made vrine, or done their necessities, they wash their Priuities with the left hand, or they wash all their bodie, which they call Iunan, according to their Feasts with diuersities of formes and ceremonies. So that when they wash in publike, as they doe, a man may know wherefore they bathe, as if they haue ac∣companied with their Wiues whether by night or by day, they plunge their head three times [ 10] vnder the water. When they are to goe any Voyage, they desire not to meet or touch any body, and if any disasterous thing chance to them, they attribute it to him who toucht them. Aboue al when they goe on fishing, they must not salute any, nor bid them good morrow. From the going * 1.18 downe of the Sunne on Thursday in the Euening, till the day following about three or foure of the clocke, they will not permit any thing to be carried out of their Houses, although their dee∣rest Loue, or their Father would borrow any thing, they would not giue it them, neither will they render that which shall be sent for, although it bee not theirs: yet they will receiue any thing, and let it enter into their houses in the meane-while without any scruple. They wrangle not nor quarrell together, although there be enmitie betweene them; aboue all take heed of reproaching. [ 20]

In sailing, if they be surprized with contrarie winds, of calmes or stormes, they make Vowes * 1.19 to him which commands the winds, whom they call not God, but King. There is no Ile where is not found a Siare, as they call it, which is a place dedicated to the winds, in a desolate corner of the Ile, where they which haue escaped danger, make Offerings daily of little Boates and ships made purposely, full of Perfumes, Gummes, Flowres, and odoriferous Woods. They burne the Perfumes, and cast the little Boats into the Sea which goe floting till they be burned, for they put fire in them; to the end, they say, that the King of the Winds may accept them. Also they set not willingly their ships and Gallies afloate, but they kill Hens and Cockes, and cast them in the Sea before the ship or Boat which they will vse. They beleeue also that there is a King of the Sea, to whom in like sort they make Praiers and Ceremonies in their Nauigation, and when [ 30] they goe on fishing, fearing vpon euerie errour and offence, the Kings of the Winds and of the Sea. So that being on the Sea they dare not spit on the windie side, nor cast any thing ouer∣boord, for feare that they should be angrie with them: also they neuer looke behind them. All the Boates, Barkes, and ships are deuoted to the powers of the Winds and of the Sea: and sure∣ly they respect them as if they were their Temple, keeping them neate, and neuer committing * 1.20 any filthy and dishonest thing in them. They haue also the Kings of the other Elements (as they call them) and especially that of Warre, but all with great Ceremonies.

They greatly esteeme certaine Characters, which they call Ta••ide, which they weare vnder their Garments, inclosed in little Boxes, which the Rich make of Gold or Siluer. They weare them often on their armes, on their necke, or at their Girdle, or else at their foot, according to [ 40] * 1.21 the subject of the Disease; for they weare them for all things as well offensiue as defensiue, that they should loue or be loued, or hate, or to heale or cure any Maladie. The Magicians and Sorce∣rers sell them these for monie, and tell them that it brings them good lucke, and heales their Diseases. They haue few remedies for their Maladies, but haue recourse to the Magicians and Sorcerers, who are their only Physicians. They beleeue also that all their euill is caused by the Deuill to vexe them, who is the only cause of their Deaths and Diseases. Therefore they call * 1.22 vpon him, and offer Flowres to him, and prepare Banquets of all sorts of Viands and Beuerages, which they set in a certaine secret place, where they let them consume, if no poore people hap∣pen to take them away. For the same purpose they kill Cockes or Hennes, turning them to∣wards the Sepulchre of Mahomet, after leauing them there, praying the Deuill to ac∣cept [ 50] of them.

The Feuer is common among them, but most dangerous to strangers. From ten yeeres to ten yeeres, here comes a Disease called Curiuadiri, for which they abandon one another, as if it were * 1.23 the Plague. It is like the small Pockes, and kils many. The diseases of the Eyes are very com∣mon, * 1.24 I haue seene a great number blind, and the most part haue little Eyes. It happens also of∣ten that hauing beene long in the Sunne in the height of the day, after the Sunne is downe, they see not at all, whatsoeuer fire or light be put neere them, although it were a hundred Torches, yet without feeling any other euill. To heale it, they boyle the Liuer of a Cocke, and write words and Charmes, and set it toward the point of the setting of the Sunne. My Companions and I were sometimes vexed with this Maladie: but hauing learned the Receit, wee tooke the [ 60] Liuer of a Cocke, rejecting their Charmes, to see if that would serue, and wee found that it healed vs as well as them, without obseruing their Sorceries. They are much subject to the Itch, which they heale with Oyle of Cocos. Remedilesse Tetters terrifie them much: some * 1.25 haue almost their whole bodies ouer-runne with them. These euils come by reason of the quan∣titie

of Salt-fish which they eate, and also because they seldome salt their meates, but powre Sea-water to it.

In the Winter, although the Raines are continuall, yet they goe bare-foot, they haue vnder * 1.26 their feet and betweene their toes, a kind of hand-worme, which breeds in the filth, it maketh Wheales and Pushes full of water, which after they increase ingender Vlcers, which greatly hinders their going. They are also troubled all ouer the bodie with these Wormes. They haue all commonly great Spleenes, and are subject to obstructions, and endure much euill. They haue some Receits and Compositions of Herbes and Drugges for diuers Maladies, and principal∣ly * 1.27 for wounds, which they heale very cunningly.

They vse no bindings nor linnen to their Soares, but only Ointments. Cathaires and Fluxes * 1.28 sometimes trouble them, and aches in the bones. The Neapolitan disease is not very frequent: they [ 10] heale it with China wood, without sweating or any other thing, they call it Farangui Baesrour, this Maladie came from Europe, whose Inhabitants they call it Farangui or Frangui. * 1.29 They are neuer troubled with the Tooth-ache; it seemes their ordinary chawing of Bettell is the cause hereof. As soone as their Infants-are borne, they wash them in cold water sixe times a day, and after they chafe them with Oyle, and continue this washing a great while: and moreouer, when they make Vrine, or doe Natures Office, they wash their Priuities with water.

The Mothers nourish their owne Children, and dare not put them forth to nurse to others, no * 1.30 not the Queenes, saying ordinarily that the beasts bring vp their young, but they haue Seruants to tend, carrie, and gouerne them. Besides the brest they make a kind of Pappe, of Rice or Ho∣ney, brayed and macerated, after boiled with Milke and Sugar of Cocos. The most part (espe∣cially [ 20] the poorest) giue them Bananes. They neuer swaddle their Children, but let them goe free, and yet I neuer saw any deformed. Now their Couch hangs in the Aire, within little Beds of coard, or little Chaires, where they shogge and rocke them. At the age of nine moneths they begin to goe.

At nine yeeres old they bring them vp in the studies and exercises of the Countrey. These * 1.31 studies are to learne to write and to reade, and to vnderstand their Alcoran, and know what they are bound to doe. Their Letters are of diuers sorts, the Arabicke with some Letters and Points which they haue added to expresse their Language: another whereof the Character is peculiar to the Language of the Maldiues, and moreouer, a third which is the vulgar of Ceylan, and of * 1.32 the greatest part of the Indies. They write their Lessons on little Tables of wood, which [ 30] are white, and when they can say their Lesson by heart, they blot it out, and white it againe. If the writing bee to abide and remaine perpetually, they write vpon Parchment which is made of the leafe of the Tree called Macore Queau, which is a fathome and an halfe in length, * 1.33 and a foot broad. To teach their Children to write, they haue Boards made of wood purposely, very smooth and plaine, whereon they spread very fine and thinne Sand, after with a Bodkin they make the Letters, and make them imitate them, blotting out the Rule which they haue written, and neuer vse herein any Paper.

They carrie as great respect and reuerence to their Tutors as to their Fathers: so that they may * 1.34 not contract Marriage together, as being allied in Affinitie. There are some found among them who follow their studies, who are very skilfull in the Alcoran, and Ceremonies of their Law; [ 40] they are principally the Modins, Catibes, or Naybes. These two Offices are compatible, for a Catibe may be a Naybe, and a Naybe a Catibe.

The Mathematickes are there taught, and are greatly esteemed, especially Astrologie, * 1.35 which many studie; for they consult with the Astrologers about euery thing: They will en∣terprize nothing without their aduice. They will not only know their Natiuities and time of their Births, but also if they build, whether with wood or stone, they must enquire of the Astrologer, what houre will bee best to beginne, that it may bee vnder a good Constellation: or * 1.36 if they employ a Boate, although they doe it diuersly, taking a different day or houre for a ship of Warre, or of Merchanchize, or a fishing Barke. If they vndertake any Voyage, or any thing else, they enquire of the Astrologer what shall be the issue, and whether the day bee good or e∣uill, [ 50] if the Planet be fauourable or vnfortunate. Whatsoeuer sinister accident happens to them, they attribute the cause to the day, and take it patiently, saying, it is the will of God that hath brought it to passe.

The Ilanders are much exercised in Armes, either to serue with a Sword and Buckler, or rea∣dily * 1.37 to bend the Bow, or vse the Harquebuse, or mannage the Pike: they haue Schooles, the Ma∣sters whereof are greatly honoured and respected, and ordinarily he Grand Signiors vse this ex∣ercise. They haue no plaies but the Ball and Tennice, which they receiue and cast forth with great agilitie, although it be not but with their feet.

Their greatest exercise is fishing, which all in all places of the Maldiues vse indifferently, * 1.38 [ 60] without hauing any (as in other places) certaine persons of this vocation, or certaine places pro∣per to it, which are not publike. This exercise they account honest and honorable, wherein also the Gentlemen exercise themselues as they doe heere in hunting. The King hath twelue persons appointed to guide and conduct his Boat when he goeth on fishing, and to prepare all things ne∣cessarie for it.

They haue an admirable quantitie of great Fish, as Bonitos, Albachores, guilt-heads and others w〈…〉〈…〉 are very like one another, and of the same taste, and haue no more skales then the Mac∣krell. They take them in the deepe Sea, on this fashion, with a line of a fathom and a halfe of great found Cotton thred made falt to a great Cane. Their hooke, is not so much bowed as ours, but * 1.39 more stretched out, & is pointed in the end like a Pin, without hauing any other beard or tongue. They fasten not on their B••it, but the day before prouide a quantitie of small Fish, as great as our little Bleaks, or Roches, which they find in great number on the Banks and Sands, and keep them aliue inclosed in little pursnets (made of the Thred of Cocos) with little Mashes, and let them hang in the Sea at the Sterne of their Barkes. When they come into the deepe Sea, they sow a∣bout their little Fishes, and let their Line hang downe. The great Fish seeing the little Fish, [ 10] which is not frequent in the deepe Sea, runne together in great shoales, and by the same meanes they fasten them to their hookes, which they white and trim ouer; so that being a rauenous and foolish Fish, it takes the whited Hook, thinking it is a white little Fish. They doe nothing but lift their Line into their Boat, and the Fish falls off presently (being not strongly fastened) and then they put it into the Sea againe; thus they take a strange quantitie, so that in three or foure houres their Boates are in a manner full; and that which is remarkable, they go alwayes with full sayle. The Fish which they take thus they generally cal in their language Cobolly Masse, that is to say, the Blacke Fish, for they are all blacke.

They haue another sort of fishing on their bankes, when the Moone is in the change, and when it is at the full, three daies each time. This they doe on Rafts made of the Wood, called [ 20] Camdou. They haue great Lines of fiftie or sixtie fathome pitched ouer. In the end they hang hookes whereon they fasten the baite as we doe, and thus take great quantitie of fish, one kinde very delicious, which they call the King of the Sea. They haue all sorts of Nets and Toiles made * 1.40 of Cotton twine, Weeles and other Instruments of fishing. Neere the Sea shoare, and where it is shallow, they passe their time, and take delight in fishing for small fish, like Pilchards with ca∣sting Nets. Twice in the Yeere at the Equinoctials, they make a generall fishing, a great num∣ber * 1.41 of persons assemble together in certaine indraughts of the Sea. The Sea at that time ariseth higher then all the times of the Yeere, and passeth the limits of other Tides, the Ebbe after the same proportion recoiles and retires, discouering the Rockes and Shoalds, which at other times appeare not. In those places while the Sea is going out, they obserue some fit corner, and set about it great stones one vpon another to a great height, so that it resembles a round Wall or [ 30] Raueling. This inclosure hath fortie paces in circuit or compasse: but the entrance is but two or three paces large. They gather together thirtie or fortie men, and euery one carrieth fiftie or six∣tie fathome of great coard of Cocos, where from fathome to fathome they tie a piece of the Barke of dried Cocos, to make it float on the water, as we vse Corke: after, they tye them to∣gether, and stretch them out in a round vpon the flats. It is strange, that all the fish which is within the coard, finding themselues taken, although there bee no other Nets nor Instruments, but the Co••rd which swimmeth on the water, but the fish fearing the Line and shadow of the Line; so that they dare not passe vnder to escape, but flye from the Line, thinking that it hath a Net vnderneath: The men goe all driuing them to the inclosure of stone, drawing vp the coard by little and little some in Boates, and some in the water (for vpon these flats the Sea is shallow, [ 40] and not aboue ne••ke high for the most part lesse) so moderately drawing vp the Line the fish flye from it, and are locked vp in the inclosure, so that in the end the Line being all drawne vp, all the fishes enter in: and they speedily stop the entire with Faggots of boughes and leaues of Cocos, bound end to end, twentie or thirtie fathome, and compacted together about the great∣nesse of a man, and so when the Sea is out, the fish remaine taken on the dry Land. They often take thus of all sorts ten and twelue thousand or more. This fishing they make but once in sixe monethes, vpon euery flat, and euery time continues fiue daies, and they change daily their di∣uisions, and returne not often into the same place to fish in this manner, except at another Equinoctiall.

The people are aboue measure superstitious, and addicted to their Religion: but yet extreamly [ 50] giuen to women, wanton and riotous. There is nothing commoner then Adulteries, Incest and Sodomie, notwithstanding the rigour of their Lawes and Penalties: As for simple Fornication, there is nothing more ordinarie: they count it not a sinne, neither their Wiues, nor Daughters which are not married, make it no great matter to yeeld themselues to their Friends, and after (which is very execrable) to euacuate their Fruit by making an abortion, or destroy their children which are not legitimate. The women are strangely impudent, and the men are not lesse vitious (but they cannot be more) and very effeminate. All their desire is to procure (if they can) some * 1.42 Receit, that they may better content their Wiues, and be more strong to exercise their Fornica∣tions. I thinke they spend all their goods on this; hereof they continually speake, and are very dissclute in their words, and almost neuer stirre from their Wiues, of whom they haue pluralitie, [ 60] to three, which is the cause that they cannot satisfie each of them: also the Aire of the Countrey is hot, and exhales part of their spirits and courage: and also their continually softening their flesh in the water, and that the most part eate Opium, or Aphion, as they call it, which tipples.

intoxicates and duls them. The women (as I haue said) carefully hide their brests: to speake of them, they account very lasciuious and dishonest. To kisse, they make as great a matter as to lye together, although they be dissolute in their conuersation, yet they containe themselues before their Parents, and respect their presence. But if a man happen to speake a word (such as I haue * 1.43 said) to a woman, before one or any of her Kindred, they will goe hide themselues, and be great∣ly offended against him; he must therefore make them excuses, and say that hee knew not that they were neere of kin; otherwise they will thinke that he did purposely, and therefore com∣plaine to the Iustice, that hee may manifest which said these lasciuious words in their presence, that he holds them for good and honest people. A man dare not enter into the place where a wo∣man bathes her selfe, or where she is retired (her Robe being off) although they neuer take off the cloth which enuirons them, and serues them for a Coat; but (as I haue said) they esteeme the [ 10] brests as shamefull parts.

When a man and a woman is together, and another person meet with him, hee must not de∣mand of this man if she be his Wife, or Daughter, or Sister: for if it were his Daughter, and hee should aske if it were his Wife, he should offend as if he accused him of Incest; only he must de∣mand if she be his Kinswoman, & he tels the degree of Parentage or Affinitie. As long as the wo∣men haue their tearmes, they bathe not, and wash only their hands and mouth, they change not their Garments, nor lie with their Husbands; nor eate nor conuerse with any bodie. When the women goe a visiting in the night, they must haue a man to accompany them who goeth before, * 1.44 and when hee perceiues that any body comes, hee saith three times Gas, that is, take heede: the men aduertised by this, quite the side of the way where the women goes, making no sem∣blance [ 20] of seeing them, nor of knowing them, with great respect: and if they bee other women, they take each her side of the way, and salute not, except they bee very familiar. They neuer knocke at the Gate (for there is no Ring or Hammer) nor call to bee let into the house, for the great Gate of the Court is alwayes open till eleuen of the clocke in the euening: wherefore they enter into the Court, which is neere the doore of the house, which is also open and spread onely with Tapestrie of Cotton cloth, or other stuffe, and as they approach to this Gate, they cough once, which they hearing within, go forth and see if any one would speake with them. Also the men going in the night through the street, cough often determinately, that they may aduertise one the other, for feare of hurting, or wounding, for they carry their weapons naked: I vnder∣stand the Souldiers and Officers of the King in the Ile of Male. [ 30]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Feasting.
• * 1.2

  Feeding.
• * 1.3

  Neatnesse.
• * 1.4

  Dishes.
• * 1.5

  Pismires trou∣blesome.
• * 1.6

  Nicetie:
• * 1.7

  Gharitie.
• * 1.8

  No Plate, Finger-spoons.
• * 1.9

  Dexteri••ie.
• * 1.10

  Quicke at meate.
• * 1.11

  Drinking rites.
• * 1.12

  Bettell.
• * 1.13

  No man cooze
• * 1.14

  But her-••ites.
• * 1.15

  Sup••••sti••ion.
• * 1.16

  Bettell and A∣recka.
• * 1.17

  Bathing.
• * 1.18

  Superstions.
• * 1.19

  Their Aeolus. rites.
• * 1.20

  Superstitious neatnesse.
• * 1.21

  Characters. See the like in Iobsons Notes of Gambra.
• * 1.22

  Magicians. Deuil inuoked.
• * 1.23

  Feuers.
• * 1.24

  Decenniall Disease. Blindnesse.
• * 1.25

  Tetters.
• * 1.26

  Bare-foot. Feet wormes.
• * 1.27

  Splenetike.
• * 1.28

  Rheumes.
• * 1.29

  Europeans cal∣led Frankes. No Tooth∣ache. Hardinesse.
• * 1.30

  Nurserie of Infants.
• * 1.31

  Education.
• * 1.32

  Letters pe∣culiar. Learning to write.
• * 1.33

  Leafe Parch∣ment.
• * 1.34

  New Kindred of Teachers.
• * 1.35

  Astrologie.
• * 1.36

  Diuinatione,
• * 1.37

  Arme••.
• * 1.38

  Fishing••
• * 1.39

  Strange formes of taking fish.
• * 1.40

  King of the Sea.
• * 1.41

  Generall fishing.
• * 1.42

  Lecherie.
• * 1.43

  Breasts not to be spoken of.
• * 1.44

  Visitation.