A voyage to the East-Indies giving an account of the Isles of Madagascar, and Mascareigne, of Suratte, the coast of Malabar, of Goa, Gameron, Ormus : as also A treatise of the distempers peculiar to the eastern countries : to which is annexed an abstract of Monsieur de Rennefort's History of the East-Indies, with his propositions for the improvement of the East-India Company
Dellon, Gabriel, b. 1649., M. C. Treatise of the distempers relating in particular to the eastern countries., Crull, J. (Jodocus), d. 1713?, Rennefort, Souchu de, ca. 1630-ca. 1690. Histoire des Indes orientales. English. Selections., Dellon, Gabriel, b. 1649. Traité des maladies particulières aux pays orientaux et dans la route et de leurs remèdes. English.

CHAP. XX.

What further happened during our Voyage to Malabar.

AS we continued our Course towards Malabar, we passed within sight of the Forts Situate at the Entrance of the River of Goa, whereof we shall speak hereafter, and came before Mirscou, on the 14th, where we cast Anchor the same day, near the Mouth of the River.

Page  58Mirscou is a City of the Kingdom of Visapour,* about 18 Leagues South of Goa, where the French Company has their Ware-Houses for Pepper. The Climate here is very agreeable and Fertile; the first place you meet with after you are entred the River, is the Town and Castle of Mirscou; it is of a considerable bigness, surrounded with a deep Moat, and the Castle is provided with a good Ar∣tillery. He that was then Governour of the place, was a Persian by Birth, who's Name being Cjab∣della, treated us with all imaginable Civility. For no sooner had he been advertised of our Arrival, but he came to visit our Captain, and before his departure invited us all to Supper, tho' it was not as yet Dinner-time; he was so much delighted with our Company, that he oblig'd us to go along with him, so that we followed him to his Palace, some in Palanquins, the rest on Horse-back, with his Guards before us, under the sound of the Haut-boys and Trumpets.

As soon as we were come within the Castle,* we were brought into a spacious Room hang'd all o∣ver with the richest Tapestries, where we were seated round about him upon Cushions made of the same stuff. Scarce had our Interpreters begun to Compliment the Governour in our behalf, when we saw come into the Room a Band of Women Dancers, which he had ordred to appear there for our Diversion; these Women make profession of Dan∣cing and Singing, having no other Employment to get a livelihood. They Dance with an extraordi∣nary activity, and an exact observance of the Ca∣dence, but their Gestures are not very modest, they are generally well shaped, and appear very sump∣tuous in their Apparel. This Ball which lasted the greatest part of the Day, was diverting enough to us, by reason of the Novelty of the Spectacle; but we were extreamly fatigued by the long continu∣ance of the shew, because we had not so much as broke our fast before we came out, so that we had much rather had a more substantial Entertainment, Page  59 than that, which only served to divert our Eyes, and all this time was not so entertaining to us, as a good dish of Meat would have been. Night ap∣proaching at last, we saw the Flambeau's brought in, which put us in hopes, that Supper-time was drawing near, especially when we saw our selves conducted into the inner Court; but instead of Ta∣bles, we saw the old sport of Dancing renewed▪ and this being over, we were entertained with an ar∣tificial Fire-work, which lasted till ten a Clock at Night, and almost put us quite out of Patience. At last we were conducted to the place where we were to Sup, the Table being laid upon the Ground (according to the custom, as well of that, as other Eastern Countries) under a very magnificent Cupo∣lo. There was served up variety of most excellent Meats, of which our hungry Stomacks would not give us leave to distinguish the true relish; our Drink was Fimonade, which was brought in great porcelain Vessels, out of which we took the Li∣quor with Spoons into small Glasses, of which eve∣ry one present had one for his own use. The se∣cond course was made up of the best Fruits of the Indies and preserves, and the Feast being conclu∣ded with the old Dancing sport, we did not take our leave from the Governour till very late, who caused us to be reconducted by his Guards and Trumpets to the House belonging to the French Company.

The next day we prayed him to come on board our Ship, which lay in the Road. He came ac∣cording to our Invitation, giving presents to every Man in particular that had Supped with him. He was received under the discharge of our Cannon, and was entertained the whole day on board our Ship. At his departure, we offered Him and his Officers some presents (more valuable than his) in the Name of the French East-India Company, which he accepted; and went home as well satisfied with our Entertainment, as we were with the many Ci∣vilities he had shewn us the day before.

Page  60 The King of Visapour is one of the most Potent in the Indies,* but is tributary to the Great Mogul; he makes profession of the Mahometan Religion, but most of his Subjects are Pagans.

We parted from before Mirscou the nineteenth of January, five days after our Arrival, and the two and twentieth of the same Month, arrived at Batie∣patan, where meeting with good store of Pepper, our Vessel got her full Cargo.

Batiepatan is a Town belonging to the Kingdom of Cananor,* on the East of Malabar, situate under eleven Degrees, and forty five Minutes of North Latitude. The Town it self is of a very large ex∣tent, not above a League distant from the Sea-side, and is inhabited for the most part by rich Mer∣chants, who are all Mahometans.

At a small distance from the Town, is the King's Palace, surrounded by a great many Pagan Tem∣ples, very magnificently built; and it was near this place the Governour had assigned a settlement to the French at that time, till they could pitch up∣on another place, which might be more suitable to their purpose.

The Ship called the Strong, arriving some days after ours, they were both dispatch'd with all pos∣sible speed, and accordingly set sail on the first of February towards the Isle Dauphine, from whence they were to carry Monsieur Mondevergue into France.