A new voyage to the East-Indies in the years 1690 and 1691 being a full description of the isles of Maldives, Cicos, Andamants, and the Isle of Ascention ... / by Monsieur Duquesne ; to which is added, a new description of the Canary Islands, Cape Verd, Senegal, and Gambia, &c. ; illustrated with sculptures, together with a new map of the Indies, and another of the Canaries ; done into English from the Paris edition.

CHAP. XXIV.

A short Description of Pontichery, and the Garrison; of the Negros and Negresses.

POvichery, commonly cald Pontichery, is situated on the coast of Coro∣mandel, depending on Prince G'ingi, in 12 Deg. Nor. Lat. and a 114 Deg. of Long; the French have within these two years built a Fort of four Towers, mounted with twenty four guns; nei∣ther the walls nor situation seem'd strong to me, but the garrison, com∣pos'd of a 150 French soldiers, are able to defend it against any at∣tack.

Monsieur Martin and the chief Of∣ficers are lodg'd in't, with the Capacins, who serve the Chappel which is built

there. A great many of the Soldiers are settled there, and married to Por∣tuguese Women, so that they scarce ever desire to return to France again, they have built themselves houses, in which they live very happily; and tho' that bread and wine is a little scarce, they have every thing else in great plenty.

They drink Punch, Rack, and Le∣monade, to which they accustom them∣selves very much; and if they trade ne'er so little, and are good husbands, they may lay up mony; so that 'tis not to be wonderd, that most of them having come hither for ill things done in France, they are not fond of return∣ing thither, from this very hot and distant Country.

All the Inhabitants are black, and of a comely Stature, having long hair and beards; their cloathing is nothing but a white Cavage, with a turbant on their heads of the same colour, with gold pendants set, with pearls in their ears, the chief Mer∣chants cover part of their bodies with a red or yellow scarfe, which they throw over their shoulders, and

wear Baboaches, which are a sort of shoes, never going barefoot like the rest, and are follow'd by several Ser∣vants, who carry their Parosals or Um∣brellos.

The Women are generally little, and inclind to love; they are girded with a callico scarfe, one end of which crossing their shoulders, covers their breasts: they gather their hair about their heads, and knot it about their Ears, which are loaded with gold Rings.

They are as fond too of adorning their arms and legs with braceletts; and wear gold rings on their toes as well as their fingers, and add to these, odd bizzarre ornaments, another of making hols in their Nostrils, where they hang a ring of gold or any other mettle which is their greatest pride.