¶Of the newe India, as it is knowē & found in these our dayes. In the yeare of oure Lorde. M.D.LIII. After the descripciō of Sebastian Munster in his Booke of the vniuersall Cosmographie. Libr. v. De terris Asiae Maioris. And translated into Englishe by Richard Eden.
THere are two viages or nauigacions made oute of Europa into India. The one southeast frō spayne,The [...]ther i [...] southweste. by the coastes of Aphrica and Ethiopia, euen vnto Arabia to the citie called Aden. And frō thence to the Ilande of Ormus, and frō Ormus to the citie of Cambaia,The citie of Cambai [...] and from thence euen vnto the citie of Calicut.Calic [...]. Cambaia is situate [Page] nere vnto the floudde Indus. This citie is of great powre, riche, and abundau [...]t in al kyndes of grayne & corne. The soyle hereof bringeth forth sondry kyndes of swete oyntmentes, and cotten which groweth on certain trees called Gossampini, Gossipiū, B [...]mbage o [...] cottō of the tre [...]s. this cotton, is otherwyse called Bombage or sylke of the trees. The Kynge of Portugall subdued this cytie, and bylded hard by thesame a strōg fortresse: with which thing the Turke b [...]eing sore greued,The [...]urkes nauie agaynste the king of Portugale. commaunded a greate nauie of shippes with greate sumptuousnes to bee furnisshed in the goulfe called Sinus Arabicus: to the ende that he might dryue the Portugalles out of India, and the better to accomplishe this his purpose, he appointed one Soliman a noble man of warre (beyng also the Captayne of Alcayre,) to be the admiral general, or gouernour of his nauie, hauing in his retenue .xx. thousand [Page] souldiers beesyde mariners & gonners, whiche were in numbre foure thousand. This nauie was appointed in the hauen Suezio, beeinge a port of the redde sea, in the yeare of Christ .1538. And arryued fyrste at the citie Aden:The cytie of Aden. where laying anker. the gouernour of the nauie sent letters to the king of Aden, certifying him that he woulde take his viage into India, from thence to expell the King of Portugall. The Kinge of Aden whiche was thē tributarye to the King of Portugall, receyued the Turkes letters thankefully,The kinge of Aden is hanged. offering him selfe & all that he might make, to so mightie an Emperoure, desyringe the gouernoure to come forth of the ship, and to beholde the cytie obedient and readye at his cō maundemente, in the which also accordinge vnto his dignitie & office, he should be worthely interteyned: but the gouernour agayne allured [Page] and entysed hym to come out of his citie, and so by crafte circumuented him, that he toke him priesoner, and cōmaūded him to be hanged on the sayle yarde of the shyp, & with hym foure other of the rulers of the citie of Aden, affyrming that he was cō maunded of the Turke so to handel them, because the cytiezins of Aden had not only made a leage with the Portugales,The destructiō of the citie of Aden. but had also payde thē tribute: whiche nacion the Turke playnely entended to drieue out of India. And thus after the Kynges death, that most riche and beautiful cytie, was [...]uer a praye to theues, spoylers, and murtherers without resystaunce. Then the gouernoure departing frō thence, lefte there behynde him a garrison of two thousand men of warre, and saylyng forwarde on hys viage, he came to the citie called Dium, The turke besiegeth th [...] [...]yti [...] of Dium. whiche the Portugales held: & his armie was greatly [Page] encreased by the waye, as wel by lād as by sea, by reason of the great confluence of the Turkes which on euery side resorted to him, so that in a short space they rowled before thē a bulwarke or coūtremure of earth, in man [...]r as bigge as a mountayne, which by little and litle they moued neare vnto the trenche or ditche of the castell, so that they might safely stand behynde the bulwarke, (thus raysing a mount.) they besieged the castell on euery syde, & battered the walles & towres thereof very sore: yet that notwithstanding, were at the length enforsed to departe,The turke is repulsed. not withoute great losse and slaughter of theyr souldiers: for this Dium, is the s [...]rongest citie that is vnder the dominion of Cambaia: but the cytie of Cambaia,The excellencie of the citie of Cambaia [...] is situate in the goulfe called Guzerat, and is well inhabited, and in maner most excellēt of all the cities of India, and is therefore called [Page] Cayrus, or Alcay [...], or Babilon of India. It is enuirōned with a walle, & hath in it very fayre byldinges, ye Soldan or chefe ruler hereof, is of Mahumets secte as are ye Turkes.Lacha is gūme of a tree, & is vsed in dying o [...] silke. Lacha groweth there more plētifully thē in any other coūtre. The inhabitaūtes, for the most parte goe naked, couering only theyr priuie partes: they bynd theyr heades about with a clothe of purple color. The Soldā or prince of this citie, hath in a redines for the warres .xx. thousand horsemen, he hath also a mightye and magni [...]ical court. Whē he waketh in ye morning there is heard a great noyse of cimbals, drūslades, timbrelles, shames, pipes, flutes, trūpettes, and diuerse other musical in [...]rumentes, hereby signifying that the king lyueth & is in health and merye: in lyke maner doe they whyle he is at dyner. To the kyngdom of Cambaia, The [...]yngdō of Ioga. is the Kingdom of Ioga nexte adioyni [...]g, which [Page] reacheth farre on euerye syde. In this kingdō, by reason of the greate heate of the sonne, the bodyes of mē begin to waxe blacke and to be scorched: the people of thys countreye haue ringes hanging at their eares and colers aboute theyr neckes of sundry sortes, albeset and shyninge with precious stones. The soyle hereof is not very [...]ruitful, this region is rough with mountaynes, the byldinge are despicable, and [...]uyl to dwel in: there is beyonde this, an other Kingdō called Dechan:The Kyngdō of [...]echā this cytie is very beautiful to behold, & fruitful in maner of al thinges: the king hereof vseth great pride, and solemnitie: his pompes & triumphes are in maner incredible, they that wayt vpon the kinge, weare on the vpper partes of theyr shoes certayne shyning precious stones, as Piro [...]i (whiche are a kind of Rubies or Carbū cles) with Diamādes & such other. [Page] But what maner of Iewelles they vse in ye stede of collers, eareringes, and ringes, you may well consyder, wheras they geue suche honour to theyr f [...]te. In this kingdom is said to be a mountayne,The diamonde stone. out of the which Diamandes are digged.
¶ Of the Diamande stone, called in Latine Adamas.
THe Diamande is engendred in the mynes of India, Ethiopia, Arabia, Macedonia, and Cyprus, and in the golde mynes of the same countries. That of India excelleth all other in beautie and clearenes: that which is of the coloure of yron, is called Siderites, The stone [...]iderites. it is oftētymes found in colour like vnto cristal, & though it be sometimes lyke therto in whytnes, yet doth it differ from cristall in hardnes, in so much that if it be layd vpō an anuil,The hardne [...] of the di [...]ond. and strongly strikē with a hammer, the anuyl and hammer shal soner be wounded and leape away, then the [Page] stone perished or diminished: it doth not onelye refuse the forse of Iron, but also resisteth the power of fyre, whose heate is so farre vnable to melte it, that it can not so muche as heate it, if we geue credit to Plinie, and is also rather made purer therby, then anye wayes defyled or corrupted: neuertheles,How the diam [...] ̄d is made softe. the singuler & and excellent hardnes of this stone, is made so softe with ye hoate bloud of a Goate or a Lyon, that it maye be broken: and if it be put with moltē lead in hoate fornaces, it waxeth so hoate that it wylbe dissolued: yet are not a [...]l Diamādes of such hardnesse, for that of Cyprus, and also that of the coloure of Iron called [...]iderites, may be broken with hammers and perced with another Diamand: his vertue is to be bewray poisons, and to frustrate thopperacion therof, and beeing therefore greatly estemed of Kinges and Princes, it hath euer [Page] been of g [...]eat price.The mō tayne of diamantes. The mountaine of India out of the which the Diamandes are digged, is compassed with a walle on euery syde, & kepte with a strong defence.
¶Of the kingdoms & cities of Narsinga and Canonor.
THe king of Narsinga, in riches and dominion excelleth all other Kinges in those partes. The chiefe cytie where the King is resident,The citie of Narsin [...]. is in situa [...]ion and fynenes, much lyke vnto the cytie of Milayne, but that it s [...]andeth in a place somewhat declyning and lesse equall. This king hath euer in a red [...]nes manye thousandes of men of armes, as one that is euer at warre with other countreys, borderers nere aboute him. He is geuen to most vile Idolatrie, and honoureth the deuyll, euen as doth the king of Calicut. The maners and fashions of the inhabitātes, are after this sorte. The gentlemen or [Page] such as are of greatest reuenewes. vse to weare an inward cote or peticote, not very long: hauing theyr heades bounde aboute with listes & rowles of sundry coloures after the maner of the Turkes. The cōmon people, couer onli their priuie parts and are besyde all together naked.The kinge of Narsinga The Kynge weareth on his head a stately cap made of the riche cloth of Asia, beyng two hādfulles in length. Whē he goeth to ye warres, he weareth a vesture of ye silke called Goss [...]mpine, which he couereth with a cloke adorned wt plates of gold: ye hemme or edge of his cloke is beset with all maner of ouches & Iewelles.the riche trappīg of the kinge [...] horse. Hys horse is iudged to be of such valure if you respect ye price, as is one of our cities. And this is by the meanes of ye innumerable multitude & sundrie kindes of precious s [...]ones, & perles where with ye [...]rappers, barbes, & other furnitures of his horse are couered, wt an incredible pōpe & glori. [Page] The soyle of Narsinga, beareth nether wheate nor grapes, and [...]s in maner without al kinde of fruites, except [...]itrons and gourdes: the inhabitantes eate no bread, but ryce, fishe and fleshe, and also walnuttes, which that countrey beareth, there begin spyces to be found, [...]pices of Narsi [...]ga. as ginger, pepper, mirabolanes, Cardamome, Cassia, and dyuers other kyndes of spyces.
The cytie of Ca [...]nor. Cananor is a very excellente cytie, fayre and beautifull in all thinges, sauing that the Kinge thereof is an Idolater. This citie hath a hauen whether the horses of Persia are brought, but theyr tribute or custome, is excedinge great: the inhabitantes lyue with ryce, flesshe, and fyshe as do they of Narsinga: in the warres they vse the sweorde, the round target, speares and bowes, & haue nowe also the vse of gonnes, they are all naked sauing their prieuie [Page] partes, and go beare headed, except when they goe to the warres, for then they couer theyr heades with a redde hatte which thei folde double, and bind it fast with a lyst or bande. In the warres they vse neither horse, mule, or asse, nether that kynde of camels which we cōmonly call dromedaries:The vse of [...]lepha [...]t [...] in the warres. but vse onely Elephātes. There is also in the kingdō of Narsinga another godly citie called Bisinagar:The [...] tie Bisinagar. it is cōpassed aboute with a walle, & situate on the side of a hyll, beeyng .viij. myles in circuite hauinge also in it a famous market place. The soyle is very fruitful, there are all delicate thinges to be foūd that may encrease the pleasures of this lyfe. There maye no where be foūd more pleasaūt feldes and woddes for hauking & hūtinge,Haukī [...] and hu [...] tinge. a man woulde thinke it were a very Paradyse of pleasure.The kinge of bisinagar The king of this citie is of great power, he keepeth [Page] dayly many thousandes of mē at armes, vsinge Elephantes in the stede of horses. And hath euer foure hundreth Elephantes prepared for the warres.
¶How the Elephantes in India are prepared to warre.
THe Elephāt is a beast very docible and apte to be taught, and little inferiour from humaine sense, excellinge all other beastes in fortitude and strength. Therfore ye Indians, when they prepare them to the warres, put great packsaddels vpon thē, which they bind fast with two chaines of Iron, cōming vnder theyr belyes. Upō the packsaddels,The E [...]phāte [...] [...]wre. they haue on euery side a litle house or towre, or cage, (if you list so to cal it) made of wood These towres ar made fast to the necke of the beaste with certayne sawed bordes of the thickenes of halfe a hande breadth. Euery towre receyueth thre men. [Page] And betwene both the towres [...] vpō the back of the beast sytteth an Indian, a man of that countrey which speaketh vnto the beaste.Elephā tes vnderstandeth the lāguage of th [...]yr coūtrei. For this beast hath marueylous vnderstanding of the language of hys natyue countrey, & doth wonderfulli beare in memorie benefytes shewed vnto him. It is also moste certayne that none other beast draweth so nere to the excellence of humayne sense or reason as doeth this beast, as maye most playnly appeare, yf we cōsidre, how he is geuē to loue & glory, to a certeyn frendly gentlenes & honest maners, ioyned with a marueylous discrecion, to know good from euil, more redy to recōpēce benefites thē reuēge iniuries, which excellēt properties are not to be found in other brute beastes. Therfore whē the Elephantes go forward to ye warres,Seuē armed mē vpō one Elephāt seuē armed mē are appoynted to be caried vpon one Elephant, bearing [Page] with thē, bowes, iauelins, sweordes and targettes: also the lōge snout of the Elephāt (which thei cal his hād) is armed with a sweorde of two cubites in length, and in bredth & thickenes a handfull, standinge righte forth, tyed faste to the snowte of the beast, & thus beeing furnished, they procede to the battaile: and whereas occasiō requyreth to go forward or backwarde, the ruler of the beast geueth him warninge, whose voyce he vnderstandeth & o [...]eyeth:The ruler speaketh to the Elephant. stryke hym, sayth the ruler, forbeare hym, be fearse agaynst these, abstayne frō these, the beaste obeyeth hym in all thinges, as though he had humayn reason, but yf it so chaunce that being made afrayd with fire (which thinge they feare aboue all other) they beginne to flye, th [...]y can by no meanes bee allured to stoppe theyr course, or retourne agayne, for the people of that naciō, can with many [Page] subtyl deuises as oftē as thē listeth, raise vp fires to make those beastes afrayde.The Elephātes ioynte [...]. There be some men which thincke that Elephantes haue no ioyntes in theyr legges, which opinion other affirme to be vntrue, for they haue ioyntes as haue other beastes, but that they are very low & almost at their fete. The females are of greater fiercenesse then the males, and of much greater strēgth to beare burdēs: they are sometime taken with madnes, declaring the same by theyr furious running. An Elephāt excedeth in greatnes thre wilde oxen called Bubali, The bignes and shape of the Elephant [...] and is much lyke of heare, and eyed lyke a swine, hauing a long snout, hāging downward, with the which he putteth into his mouth whatsoeuer he eateth or drinketh, for his mouth is vnder his throte, not muche vnlyke the mouth of a swyne: his snowte hath holes in it, and is holowe within, [Page] with this they ouerthrow ye stūpes of trees: & that of suche bignes, that the forse of .xxiiij. men is not able to do the same. The two great tuskes which they haue cōming farre [...]ute of theyr mouth,the painters erre herein. or placed in the vpper iawe, hauinge on euerye syde lappes hanging downe of the bignes of two hand breath. Theyr fete are roūd like vnto a flat trene dishe, hauing fyue toes like hoeues vndeuided, of the bignes of great oystershelles.Vnderstāde the handebredth wt the thū be stretched forth. Theyr tayles are lyke vnto the tayles of wilde oxen, thre handful in lēgth, hauing but few heares. The males are hygher then the females. They are of sundry bignes: some are of .xiij [...] hādfulles hye, some of .xiiij. and some .xvi. Their pase in goyng,the Elephantes pa [...]e. is somewhat slowe and walowinge, by reason whereof, some whiche ryde on them and haue not been accustomed therto, are prouoked to vomitte, euen as they were [Page] tossed on the sea. Yet it is great plesure to ride on the yong Elephātes, for they goe as softely as ambeling moiles. When you attempt to geat vp, to ryde on thē, they bow downe toward you, as though they would [...]ase you with a sterope, that you may the easelier geat vp, which neuertheles cannot wel be done with out helpe. They are all vnbrideled, hauinge neither withe nor coller aboute theyr neckes, but goe with theyr heades altogether lose. And because they are not couered with bristels or bigge heares, they haue not so muche as in theyr tayle anye helpe to dryue awaye flyes.The Elephante is vexed wt flyes. For euen this greate beaste also (sayeth Plinie) is troubled with this lyttle vermyne. Theyr skinne is verye rowghe, and full of chappes, and riftes, like the barke of a tree, being somwhat filthye and full of swette, [Page] whiche by heate resolued into vapoure, by sauour draweth flyes vnto it:How the Elephāt kylleth flyes. therefore when any flyes or other creping vermē are entered into the sayde riftes of theyr skinnes, sodeynly bending and drawing together their skinne, they hold them fast and kyl them, and this is to thē in the stede of a tayle, a mane, or rough and bristeled heare.
¶ Of the beaste called Rhinoceros.
Rhinoceros is comonly found in the same countrey, where Elephantes are engendred,Enmitie betwene the Elephant & Rhinoceros. and is borne an enemy to the Elephāt (as saith Plinie) no lesse seking his destruction then doth the dragon: wherfore the Romaynes considering the natures of these beastes, were wont to put thē together vpon the theater or stage, for a spectable, therby to declare the natures of enemies.The Rhinoceros ii. hornes This Rhinoceros hath two hornes, whereof the one [Page] is of notable bignes, growing oute of his nosethrilles, and is of flatte forme, and as harde as Iron. The other groweth aboue in his necke, and is but a little one, but wonderful strong: when this beast attempteth to inuade the Elephant, he fyleth & whetteth his horne on a stone and stryke that the belly of the Elephant, which place he knoweth to be most open to his stripes, and easyest to receaue hurt, because of the softenes thereof, which he cutteth with his horne as with a sweord.the fight betwene Rhinoc [...] ros & the Elephāt Some auctours write that Rhinoceros is vnequall in bignes to the Elephante: but [...]ulius Solinus saith, that he is as lōg as the Elephante, but hath [...]horter legges: whē Rhinoceros therfore & the Elephant ioyne together in fighte, they vse theyr naturall weapons: the Rhinoceros his horne, and the Elephante his tuskes, wherewith he so violentlye beateth and teareth the [Page] [...]kinne of Rhinoceros being as harde as horne or shell,Rhinoce [...]os naturally ar [...]ed. & scarcelye able to be pearsed with a dart, that he neuertheles enforseth him to fall downe. Rhinoceros agayne on the other partie so woundeth the belye of the Elephante with the horne of hys nosethrilles, yf he doe not preuente hys strokes, yt he fainteth with bleding. In the yere of Christ .1513. the first day of Maye, was broughte oute of India to Emanuel the king of Portugale RhinoceroS alyue,Rhinoce [...]os sene in Portugale. of the coloure of boxe, somwhat variable and as it wer chekered, couered with shelles lyke scales, or rather lyke shieldes. This beast was in bignes equall to an Elephāt, but had shorter legges, and was armed on euery parte. He had a stronge & sharpe horne in his nosethrilles, the whiche (as I haue sayde) he fyleth, when he prepareth him to fight. All this great hatered betwene these two beastes, is for ye [Page] best pastures which one striueth to take frō the other as some wryters saye. In the yeare of Christe .1515. King Emanuel, set forth a spectacle in the citie of Lisbona, in which was a combat betwene the Elephant and Rhinoceros. Rhinoceros ouercometh the Elephant. A sight doubtlesse worthy great admiraciō. But in this fight, the Elephant had the ouerthrowe.
¶Of Calicut, the most famous market towne of India.
THe cytie of Calicut is in the continente or mayne lande. And the houses therof adioyning to the sea, It is not walled about but conteyneth in circuite .vi. thousād houses, not adherēt together as the maner of bylding is with vs, but one being distant frō another, a further space. It is extēded in length a thousand pases. The houses thereof,Lowe & simple houses. are but simple and very lowe, not passinge the heygth of a manne of horsebacke from the grounde.
[Page]In the stede of a roofe, they are couered with bowes of trees, harde & thicke couched together, the cause hereof is, that yf the earth there be in anye place digged fyue handfull depth, the water springeth forth, by reason wherof they can lay no depe foundacions for theyr houses, sufficiente to beare anye heauye roofe. The Kinge of thys citie is geuen to Idolatrie,The [...]ing ho [...]oreth [...]he deuil & honoureth the deuyll himself. Yet he denieth not but that there is a God which made heauen and earth. And the same to be the chiefe auctone and fyrste cause of all thinges. But sayth that he hath cō mitted the rule and iudgemente of the world, to the deuil, to whom he hath ge [...]en power to rewarde men with good or bad according to their desert [...]s. This deuil they cal Deumo, but the mightie God and maker of the world, they cal Iamerani, The Image of the deuil The king hath in his Chappell the Image of [Page] this deuyl Deumi, sytting with a diademe or crowne on his head, much lyke vnto the myter which the Romayne Bishoppes weare,The bisshop of Romes vicar at Calicut. saue that this deuils myter hath foure notable hornes. He sytteth gapinge and hath a greate wyde mouthe, with foure teeth & a deformed nose, lowringe eyes, a grimme, terrible, and threatening coūtenaūce, with hooked handes lyke fleshehookes, and feete not much vnlyke the feete of a cocke. Al such as behold this horrible monster, are sodeynly astonied. For it is surely a thing most vyle to beholde, and no lesse terrible. The chappel is on euery syde ful of painted deuyls: & in euery corner thereof sytteth a deuyll made of copper, and that so workemanly handeled, that he semeth like flaming fire,The deuil eateth soules. miserably consuming the soules of mē. This deuyl with his righte hande, putteth a soule to his mouth, & with [Page] his lefte hand, he taketh another frō a place beneth. Euery mornīg their Priestes (called Bramini) washe the Image of the deuyll with rose water,The de [...]illes chaplins or such other swete liquoure, & perfume hym with dyuerse swete sauours, kneling on theyr knees and praying vnto him.Sacrifice to the deuyl. Euerye seuenth day, thei take the bloud of a cocke & put it in a siluer vessel, ful of burning coales: addinge thereunto innumerable odoriferous gummes & pouders to make a swete smoke or fumigacion. Then the Prieste taketh his senser with burning coles, putting therto frankencense, and thus maketh his oblacion to Sathā, during which tyme of sacrifice, a lyttle syluer bell, is ronge continuallye. The king sytteth not downe to his meate,the chapleins offer to the deuyl. vntyll foure of his chapleins haue offred parte of the same meate to the deuyl. And when the Kynge goeth to dyner, he sytteth on the [Page] grounde withoute eyther carpet or table cloth. And as he sytteth at diner, foure of the priestes wayte vpō him standing:The priestes wait on the kyng. not approchinge nere vnto hym by the distaunce of foure pases, geuing reuerent attendaūce vnto the kinges talke. Whē he hath dyned, the Priestes take the meate that is left,Crowes had in estimaciō & geue it to the crowes to eate: whiche byrdes they haue in such estimacion, yt it is not lawful to hurt thē. Whē the king shal marie a wife, he goeth not to bed wt her, vntil she be defloured of ye high Priest,The priestes defloure ye quene. whō the king for his paines rewardeth with .v.C. pieces of golde.
¶Of the maners of the Indians in Calicut.
NExt after the King, ye priestes which serue ye Idols,Priestes are had in chiefe reuerence. Nexte vnto them, the Magistrates,Magistrates. called Ner [...], are no lesse estemed then amonge vs Senatoures or Lordes of the [Page] counsayl. When these goe abroade, they cary with them swordes, targettes, bowes & iauelins. Such as are counted of the thyrde order, are in like place with them,Artificers. as are Artificers with vs. They of the fourth order, lyue by fishinge. And to them of the fyfthe order, [...]a [...]ourers. perteyneth the gathering of pepper, wyne, & walnuttes. The basest and poorest sort, are they which sowe & gather ryce, beyng contēned both of the priestes and Senatours. The Kinge, the Quene, and the inhabitantes of the cytie, haue almost no apparel, couering onely theyr fylthy partes with cotton of the tree called Gossampine, and not with silke: and are beside al together naked. They goe barefoted and bareheaded.The successiō of the kingdom. Whē the King is dead, yf there remayne alyue any heyres, males, either childrē or brethren, or br [...]thers childrē, they succ [...]de not in the kingdome: for by custome [Page] of the countreye, the systers sonnes are inheritours to ye crown: but yf there bee no suche lyuinge, he succedeth in the kingdom which is nearest of bloud to ye king, of whiche costume, the reason is (as they saye) beecause the Priestes defloure the Quenes.As are ye priestes, such is ye people, Whē the King taketh any farre iourney, or rydeth a hunting, the Priestes wayte vpō the Quene at home, and kepe her company: for nothinge can be more thankefull to the kynge,The priestes kepe ye que [...]e. then to haue the Quene thus accustomed in adulterye with the Priestes by whiche cōmon prostitucion of the quene, he maye well iudge that the chyldrē borne of her, are not to be estemed as his owne: and therfore assigneth the right of his inheritaunce to his systers children, as to the nerest of his bloude, because his brothers children (as is sayd before) may not succede him in the kingdome by the custome of the [Page] countrey. The noble men and marchauntes vse this fashion amōg thē selues. Such as haue wiues,Exchaū ginge of wyues. do often tymes chaunge theyr wyues, one frende with an other for thencrease of further frēdship. At which exchaunging of wyues, one of them speaketh to another after this maner. Forasmuch as you are my veri frend, let vs chaūge wyues: on such cōdicion, that I maye haue yours & you myne. The other asketh him yf he speake in earneste. He sweareth yea: let vs goe thē (sayth his felow) to my house: when they are come thether, the good man calleth forth his wife, saying vnto her: Woman, come hether & folow this mā: for he shall frō henceforth be thy husband. She asketh him yf he speake in earnest:Obedience in [...]uyll. he answereth, in good earnest. Thē sayth the womā: I wil folowe him gladly. He taketh her away wt him, and in lyke maner sendeth his [Page] wyfe to his frende. And this is the custome which thei vse in chaūging of wyues. But the childrē remaine with theyr fyrste father. Other of these Idolaters vse dyuerse other customes. For among some of them,One woman maried to seuē mē. one woman is maried to seuen husbādes, which lie with her by course one after another. And when she hath broughte forth a child, she sendeth it to whiche of her seuen husbādes she list: who maye in no case refuse it. When they eate, they lye along on the grounde, & haue theyr meate in greate disshes, or treys of copper. In the stede of spones, they vse leaues of trees. Their meate, is ryce, fishe, spyces, and fruites of the cōmon sorte.The punishmēt of murther. Yf any man committe murther, and bee apprehended, he is punisshed after this maner.
They haue a kynde of gallowes made, with a poste of the lengthe of foure pases: On the whyche, not [Page] farre frō the toppe, are fastened two staues wt sharpe endes, ye one lying ouer the other after the maner of a crosse: thē the body of ye offender is thrust through vpō one of ye staues. And so the miserable wretche hangeth vntyll he haue geuen vppe the ghost.Sinne redemed for money. But yf any man wound another, or beate hym with a staffe, he redemeth thoffence, payinge to the king a certayn of golde. When they pray,Superstition [...] they go fyrst before the rysing of the sunne, to some ryuer or standinge water, wherein they plunge thēselues, to thintent to washe thē cleane:Outeward clē lynes. And so beeinge washed, they touche nothing vntyll they haue at home at theyr houses, poured forth theyr prayers before theyr Idols.Deuylishe gestures. When they laye them selues down on the grounde, secretely to praye, they make certayne deuylishe gestures lyke vnto madde mē, staring with theyr eyes, & turning them inward [Page] after a straūge sorte, wyth no lesse deforminge their countenaūce, very monstrous to beholde. When the king prepareth him to ye warres he hath in a readynesse a hundreth thousand fotemen. For of horsemen they haue no vse, but only of such as fyght on Elephantes. All that are of the Kinges bande, haue a silken fyllet of scarlet colour, tied about their heades. Whē thei go to the warres they vse round sweordes, targets, iauelins, and bowes.
¶Of Pepper and other spices which growe in the region of Calicut.
PEpper groweth in ye suburbes of the citie of Calicut. There is some also gathered within the citie. The stalke of pepper is veri weake:Howe pepper groweth so that it can not stande vpryghte, without a stake or proppe to sustein it, as haue ye vynes. It is not much vnlike vnto Iuie: and in like maner [Page] crepeth & stretcheth forth it self: embrasing & ouerspreading such t [...]ees as grow nere vnto it. This tree (or rather shrubbe) is deuided into many braunches, of the lengthe of two or thre hand bredth. His leaues are lyke the leaues of an Orenge tree: sauinge that these are somewhat grosser & fatter, wi [...]h small vaynes running betwene on the contrarye side. On euery twigge ther hāgeth sixe thicke clusters of beries, a hand breadth in length, and of the colour of wild grapes. They are gathered in the monethes of October & Nouember: Inclininge yet to a grene colour, and so laying thē on mattes or couerlettes, they set them in the sunne to be dried: where, within the space of thre dayes, it waxeth black, euen as it is brought hether. They vse neyther cutting nor digging, or other tillage,Fruitful grounde without tillag [...] but onely the simple & pure fruitfulnes and encrease of the [Page] earth. Plinie sayth that the trees of pepper are lyke vnto oure iuniper trees. And that in his time, some affyrmed yt they were brought foorth only in the front of ye mount Calicasus on the southsyde toward the sonne. But the Portugals, whiche in this our daies sayle into the Eastpartes, haue found it otherwise. The region of Calicut, beareth also Ginger:Ginger. which doubtles is a roote, & is oftē tymes founde of the weighte of .xij. vnces: but al are not of lyke bignes. This roote entreth no deper into ye groūd, thē .iii. or .iiii. hādbredth, like vnto the rede. When ginger is digged out of ye ground,A ro [...]e for a sed [...] they leaue the knotte or ioynte of the roote, in the pytte out of which they digged the ginger: couering ye same with earth as a sede, agaynst the next yeare to encrease & bring forth more ginger. It is foūd in playn groūd of a redde erth, as ar Mirabalanes. Ther groweth [Page] also diuers other frutes & shrubbes vnknowen to vs,Fruytes vnknowen to vs. as laceri, graccara, amba, Carocapel, Comolanga, and such other of which some haue the taste and sauours of quinces, some of peaches, some of damaske prunes, some of melones, and some of figges, &c. Aloe groweth also in that regiō:Aloe. and is a certayn gumme, gathered frō a litle tree, which is fastened in the earth, onely with one roote after ye maner of a staffe, pytched in the grounde. The bodie of the tree, is tender and redde, of strong sauour & bitter tast. It somtyme putteth forth droppes of gumme withoute anye cuttinge. And this of India, is muche better then that which groweth in Iudea.
¶Of byrdes & beastes which are found in the region of Calicut: and of the wyne of the merueylous tree.
THere is found in Calicut, diuers & sundry kyndes of foure footed [Page] beastes and foules. As lions, wilde boores, hartes, hyndes, wolues, kyne, wylde oxen, goates, and Elephātes: whych neuertheles are not engendred there, but brought thether. There bee also grene popingiays,Papingiayes of diuers kyndes. & some white fethers of variable colours, lying like scoutchins Some also of purple coloure. Of these there is such plentie, that they are fayne to appoint mē to kepe thē from the rice which groweth there in the feldes. They are merueilous chatteringe & of small price. There are also birdes called Sarau, Sweete si [...]ginge of [...]irdes somwhat lesse then popingiayes, but make a much sweter noyse. There are also manye other kyndes of byrdes vnlyke vnto oures: Of which, euerye morning & euening is hearde suche a harmonie & so swete a noyse, that nothing can be more delectable: In so little mouthes cōsisteth in maner al musicke, and therfore the inhabitauntes [Page] lyue in greate pleasure, as though they were in an earthly paradise,Earthly paradise where floures are euer springing, and trees cōtinue grene al the hole yeare. The heauen is beneficiall vnto thē, and the ayre most temperate cōtinually.tēperate ayre. So that thei are nether bytten with colde in winter nor burnt with heate in somer, but lyue as it were in continual springe tyme.Cōtinual spring The same regiō brīgeth forth also Marmasets & Munkeys,Munkeys. whiche are great hinderaunce to ye men of the countrey: and specially to the poore sorte, beecanse they clyme the walnut trees, and spylle the sweete liquoure of the fruyte thereof, of which the Indians make most pleasaunt wyne. For these Indiās haue a tree most excellent aboue all other trees of the world, which bringeth foorth dates lyke vnto the Palme tree.A tree of sundrye commodit [...]es [...] This tree serueth thē for firewood: [Page] and beareth a kynde of walnuttes most delicate to be eatē: Also a kind of cordes, softe cloth, wine, oyle, and suger. But chiefly it bringeth foorth this excellent kynde of nuttes like vnto dates. From these they take awaye the fyrste rynde or barke & cast it in the fire. The other fruite is not muche vnlyke Gossampin [...] cotton, or sylke.Silke of trees. Of the floures they make cloth lyke silke: the flaxe whiche is lefte, they spinne agayne, and make therof smal roopes or cordes.Ropes of trees. The last barke or rinde, conteineth the nutte, whose thickenesse is no more thē the lyttle fynger of a mās hande. Furthermore the sweete liquoure or wyne,Wyne of trees. is engendered with the nutte, so that as the nutte groweth, the liquoure also encreaseth: In so much that when the nut is full growen, the lyquoure fyllethe the inne warde partes of [Page] of the same. And thys liquoure or wyne, is most cleare, not muche vnlyke vnto rosewater: Of which neuertheles is made a very fatte oile.Oyle of water. They cut also the trunke or stocke of the tree in ye morning & euening: by whiche meanes they gather a most excellent liquour, which they seeth on the fyre, and make thereof so merueylous a drinke, that if a mā drinke therof beyond measure, he is drieuen into furie & madnes. This liquour is vsed there in the stede of wyne. But let vs nowe returne to the beastes which are foūd in Calicut. Serpentes growe there vnto such houdge greatnesse,Serpēts as bigge as swine that they are in maner as bigge as swyne. They haue heades much larger thē bores heades. Thei are foure foted, foure cubites in length, engendered & cō uersaunte in fennie and marrishe groundes.Serpēts without [...]oyso [...]. The men of that coūtrei saye that these beastes are without [Page] poyson. There are also found other kyndes of serpentes: of the whiche one kynde hath so mortall venime, that yf they drawe neuer so lyttle blud, it causeth presēt death. There are other serpentes which in quātite represent the serpent called Aspis. Again, othersome are much higher of whiche there are greate plentie. The men of the countrey thinke yt they are spirites fallen frō heauen:Serpēt [...] counted for heauēly spirites. and therfore haue them in great reuerence. Thei haue conceaued this opinion of them, becau [...]e that in maner with touching, they bringe presēt death. And this is the cause whi there is so great abundaunt of serpentes, that by the kinges cōmaundement it is not lawful to hurt thē: and therefore they wander safelye where them listeth, and are estemed of them as thinges that bring good fortune. For whereas the men of ye countrey, goe abroade aboute anye [Page] busines, thei take it for good luck to mete any of them by the waye. The popingiayes of India, grene popingaies are for the most part, of grene colour besyde ye head, which is ether redde or yelowe like golde. They haue a great and large toung, and are therfore of a louder voyce, & speake more plainly. They learne the fyrst & second yeare such thinges as are taughte them. And beare them lōger in memory. They drinke wyne, & vse theyr fete in the stede of handes when they feede.
¶Of the sundrye kindes of Spices, which are founde in Calicut, and from whence they are brought thyther.
GInger groweth in Calicut, yet is there much broughte thether from the cytie of Canonor. Canonor,
Cinamome commeth from the Ilande of Zaylon, Zaylon whyche is fyftye [Page] leages beeyonde Calicut Eastwarde.
Pepper groweth in Calicut: but muche more is broughte thether from Corimucol, Corimucol. whiche is .xij. leages beyonde Calicut.
Cloues are gathered in a place, called Meluza, Meluza, certayn leages distant from Calicut.
Nutmegges and Mace, growe in Molucha, Molucha beyng distante from Calicut hundreth and thre score leages, and somewhat more.
Muske & Castoreum, is brought from the region of Pego, Pego, which is frō Calicut, almoste hundreth and fyftye leages.
Pearles of the biggest sorte, are gathered neare vnto the Iland and cytie of Ormus, Ormus, situate in the goulfe called Sinus Persicus: And are sente from thence to Calicut, as to the generall market towne of all the East partes.
[Page]Spikenarde, & Mirabalanes, as brought from Cambaia to Calicut. Cambaia.
Frankencense, and Myrre, come from Arabia. Arabia.
Aloe, and Camphyre, are brought frō Kyui, or China .l. l [...]ages from Calicut. China.
Samoto [...].Long pepper cometh frō Samotor. Cardamome ye greater, is brought from Canonor.
Darnasseri. Presilium, or brasyll, cometh frō Darnasseri, otherwyse called Tarmasseri, almost .CC. leages from Calicut.
¶Of the Iland of Zaylon, and of Cinomome found there.
ZAylon is a very large region [...] & bringeth foorth chefelye Elephantes in greate plentie.Elephā tes. It hath also Mountaynes of merueylous lēgth: at the rootes wherof ar foūd Rubines, Hiacinthes, Saphyres, Topases,precious stones. and suche other precious stones. In this Iland groweth the Cinomome tree,Cinomome. not much vnlyke y• bayetree, specially in the leaues. It [Page] bringeth forth graynes much lyke vnto baye beries, but somwhat lesse and whytishe. That which we commonly call Cinomome, is nothinge els but the barke or rynde of a tree, which is gathered after this maner Euery thyrde yeare they cut of the braunches of the trees, and take of the barke or rynde therof, which is our Cinomome. They cut not the body of the tree, but only the branches. When it is first gathered, it is grene, & not perfectly swete vntyll it be kept a moneth. This Iland is situate vnder the Equinoctial line,The Equinoctial ly [...]e where is continuall springe all the yeare. The inhabitauntes weare clokes, with one arme oute vncouered, & haue clothe made of Gossampine cotton, or of silke.weapō [...] of redes A rede is to them in the stede of sworde, rapyre, & iauelyne. And are therefore seldome slayne in the warres.
¶ Of the cytie of Tarnasseri, & the maner of the cytezins there.
NarsingaTHe cytie of Tarnasseri, is distaunte from the Kingdome of Narsinga .xiiij. dayes sayling Estward, & hath a king of great puyssaūce and marueylous riche. The soyle of this citie, bringeth forth wheate, cotton of Gossampine trees, & plētie of silke. The fieldes bringe foorthe all kindes of fruites: quinces also and oranges. It is replenisshed with manye and sundrye kyndes of beastes aswell wyld as tame, as kyne, shepe, gotes swyne, hartes, hyndes, wolues and lyons. There are also seene those kyndes of cattes whiche beare the riche furres called Zibellim, [...]he beast whiche beareth the furre called Sable [...]. which we call Sables. In all the fieldes and woodes of this region are founde many Peacockes, Faulcons, & most fayre Popingiayes of white colour intermingled with seuen variable coloures. There is also maruelous [Page] plentye of hares and partryches. There are manye other straunge kyndes of foules:Foule [...] of meruelous bignes. and specially such as lyue by praye, whiche are muche higher then Eagles: whose vpper beakes are of suche bignes & hardnes, that handles for sweordes are made thereof. Also the cockes and hennes of thys region are muche hygher and bigger then ours. Whē the people of the countreye goe to theyr meate, they lye downe on the grounde withoute carpet or cloth: Yet vse they woodden vesselles. workemanlye made. Theyr drinke is water myxte with suger: but the poorer sorte, drinke onelye water. Their beddes are made of Gossampine cotton,Bedde [...] of silke. wyth couerlettes also of cotton or sylke. They goe all in generall barefooted excepte the Priestes.Priestes The Kynge of this cytye, doeth not commytte his wife [Page] to the Priestes to bee defloured, as doth the king of Calicut, the quene defloured of white menne. but to whyte men, as are the christiās & Turkes. For this office is not committed to the Idoloters. But after that the new maried quene hath been thus defloured the fyrst night, yf euer after she doe dishonour the Kyng her husbād, by violating the faith made to him,Adulteri punisshed wt death from thencefoorth neuer to knowe any other man carnally, her punishment is death incontinently. When the Kynges or the Priestes dye, their bodies are laid on a great fyre, and the asshes therof reserued in erthen pottes, putting thereto a porcion of salte petre, and buryinge the same in theyr owne houses.How the kinge is buried.
While the bodies are burning, they cast into the fyre al kyndes of swete sauouring gummes, and spices: as Aloe, Frankencense, Myrre, Storax, Coralle, sandalles, and suche other innumerable: In the meane [Page] tyme blowing trūpets & shawmes,M [...] stre is [...] after the maner of thē which amōge the gentiles were canonized into ye numbre of the goddes. And within xv. dayes after ye husbandes death,the que [...]ne dyeth willing [...]ly. the wyfe calleth to her all her kinsfolkes, bidding them to a banket: & fo being decked with al her iewels, she procedeth with thē to the place where her husbande was buried, where a graue is redye digged for her, inclosed about with silkē cloth, hauinge in it a fyre made of sweete wood. When the woman hath thus feasted her kynsfolkes, she eateth much of the herbe called Betola, the her [...] Betola [...] wherby she is driuen into a madnes. In thys meane whyle, innumerable trūpetters (wearing such vestures as they vse in the deuyls seruice) go as it were on procession aboute the graue, while the womā runneth vp and down, daunsing cōtinually like a frantike bodie. And thus whē the [Page] ceremonies are fynished, she casteth her selfe headlong into the fyre and graue:What [...]redulitie maye doe in false religion, and that with no lesse cherefulnes thē yf she should be receaued into heauen. And vnlesse the womā shoulde performe thys custome, she should incurre most vyle infamie, & be a mocking stocke to all her naciō,Honour dere boughte as one that loued not her husband. But the cōmon people vse not thys custome: but only the rulers & princes. And therfore the king him selfe is often tymes presente at these solemnities.
¶Of the kingdoms and cities of Pego and Bangella.
the king & citie of BangellaFRom the cytie of Iarnasseri, to the cytie of Bangalla, is .xi. dayes saylinge. This cytie hath a kynge: and the countrey is very fruyteful with great plentie of wheat, fleshe, suger, ginger, and gossampine cotton: and hath therfore very rich marchātes. There yearely passeth from this citie [Page] fyftie shyppes frayghted wyth gossampine cottō, and silke clothes:Sil [...] which are caried from thence to the Turkes, Syrians, Arabians, Persians, Ethiopians, & Indians. Here are also founde certayne Christian merchaunt men, which come out of Thempire of the great Cham of Cathay:Chr [...]i [...] men of Cathay bringing with them Aloe, Castoreū and the swete gūme called Laserpitium, with other swete sauours. In this cytie, the men spinne and carde and make clothe, and not the womenne. From this cytie Eastwarde, is another great citie called Pego,The [...] of [...] beyng situate by a verye fayre ryuer. The Kinge of thys cytie, is an Idolater, and hathe innumerable menne of worre, both horsemenne and footemenne. The soyle beareth wheate plentifullye: and bringeth foorth in maner all kyndes of beastes, & hath therfore great abundaunce of fleshe [Page] Yet are there but fewe Elephants: But of other beastes and foules, greate plentie as is at Calicut: & speciallye of popingiayes, whiche are of louder voice thē in any other place. There is little trafficque or marchaundise in this region,Ru [...]ies shyning by night except iewels & precious stones and speciallye Rubies, called Pyropi, whiche are broughte thether from the cytie of Capelan. Lacha, Lacca, or [...]acta [...] is [...] tree [...]. These precious stones shyne so brighte in the darke nyghte, as thoughe it were the sonne beames. The countrey adioyning, bringeth forth Lacha, Sandalum, called saunders: Also brasile, gossampine cotton and sylke. [...]laccha Frō Pego to the cytie of Malaccha (whiche some call Melaqua) is eyghe [...] dayes saylinge: where on the other syde is sene a great Iland called Sumatra, [...]matra. otherwise Samotra, & was in time paste called Taprobana. [...]aproba [...]a. This Malaccha, hath a goodly & cōmodious hauen: by reasō wherof, moe shippes arriue [Page] there then in any other place: bringinge with them spyces and other marchaundise in great abundance. The region is not generally fruytful, yet hath it wheat and f [...]eshe: but greate scarcenesse of wood. The soules wander in the feldes as they doe in the region of Calicut. But the popingiayes are here much fayrer. It bringeth foorth also spices, saunders, tinne, elephātes, horses, shepe wilde oxē, pecockes, and such other kyndes of beastes. It is not lawfull there to bye and sell [...] except you bye spices and sylke. It is also there very daungerous to walke in the citie in the nighte season, beecause of the theft & cruelnes of the inhabitātes, which kil one another like dogges. And therfore the marchaund straū gers lodge not out of their shippes. How the Portugales subdued Malaccha, shalbe said hereafter in the descripcion of the newe Ilandes.
¶Of the greate and ryche Ilande of Sumatra, or Samotra, sometyme called Tabrobana.
[...]he Ilād of Taprobana.SOme thinke this Sumatra, to be that Iland which of the old writers is called Tabrobana. It is verye great and riche: and hath in it foure Kinges crowned with Diademes. They are Idolaters: in religion, maner of lyuinge, and apparell, not muche vnlyke the Kinge of Tarnasseri. They exceade all other men in bignesse of bodie. They haue greye or blewe eyes, and are of cruell countenaunce, and terrible voyce. They are long lyued,Mē of a hūdreth [...]eres of age. and lyue euen vntyl an hundreth yeares of age. The sea in certaine chanels is of such heigth and depth, that no anker may come to the bottome therof. The inhabitantes are great fyshers on the sea, and haue great pleasure to take the shelle fysshe, called the Tortoyse of the sea: of whiche, some are of suche [Page] houdge bignes, that the shelle of one of them may suffise to make a house well able to receaue a hole famelie.Shelle [...] of fishe [...] for houses. For some of them beare shelles of xv. cubites in length: and are therefore apt for that purpose. The most part of this Ilande is burnte with heate, and hath in it many desolate places and wildernesses. There are founde many and greate Pearles.Great pearles [...] For theyr money,Coyned golde & siluer for moneye they vse coyned golde, syluer and tynne. The goldē coyne, hath on the one syde a deuils head grauen, and on the othersyde a chariot which Elephantes draw. This region bringeth foorth more plentie of Elephantes, of greater stature, & a better broede, then are found in any other place. In the sea about this Ilande, are often tymes sene the great monstrous fysshes,Fishes of monstrous bignesse & kynde of Whales, called Balene, which bring many incōmodities to the inhabitantes. They are of such [Page] monstrous bignes, that when they approche to the Sea bankes, they seeme lyke vnto hylles: they haue rough backes full of sharpe prickes. And except men walke very warely by the sea bankes, they are in daū ger to be sodeynly swalowed vp of these monsters. Some of thē haue so greate and wyde mouthes, that they sometymes swallowe whole shippes with the mē. This coūtrey bringeth foorthe Lacha, Lacca, or Lacta, [...]. which steyneth silke & cloth in high redde or crimison coloure. It is engendred in a tree, not much vnlyke vnto our walnut trees. Ther is also great plēty of pepper, higher thē is founde in other places. In [...]heir mother tōge pepper is called Molaga. It is solde there by measure,Pepper solde by measure as wheat is with vs, & not by weight. There is so great plētie hereof, that there are yearely certayne shippes ladē therwith to Cathay Cathay. where ye aire [Page] is colder. From Sumetra to the Iland of Banda,the Il̄ad of banda which is but rude and barren, and of playne and lowe grounde, whose inhabitantes are barbarous, & little differinge from beastes, hauing lowe houses, and no apparell but shertes, barefoted and bareheaded, with long heare, of despicable stature, dulle witted, of no strength, and Idolaters. The soyle of this countrey, bringeth forth nothīg but nutmegges, & a few other fruites. The s [...]alke or bodi of ye nutmeg tree,The nutmeg tree is not much vnlike ye stalke of a peache tree, bringing forth lyke braunches and leaues, but somewhat narower. Before these nutts be rype, ye mace crepeth on the tree, lyke a florishing rose.Mace And when the nutte waxeth rype, the mace embraseth it round about. And so they gather both together in commune, at a tyme appointed: for they vse no distribucion thereof, but he that gathereth [Page] most, hath most. This tree bringeth forth his fruyte plentifully without any arte of husbandrye or tyllage. They are gathered at such time as we gather chestnuttes From this Iland within sixe dayes sayling, is the Iland of Monoch, the Ilād of Mo [...]och. in the which cloues are founde, as also in other Ilandes, therto adioyninge. The tree whiche beareth cloues, hath his stalke not much vnlike vnto the boxe tree, with leaues lyke the Cinomome tree, but somewhat rounder.Cloues. And when the cloues beginne to waxe rype, they beate the trees with redes, spreding fyrst couerlettes or mattes vnder ye same. The grounde where these trees grow, is of ye colour of cleye or sand. This regiō is situate so low, that ye seuē starres called Septen [...]riones (being not farre frō Vrsa maior, Charles Waine. called charles wayne) cā not there be sene,Pole Antartike. because y• south pole (called pole Antartike) [Page] appeareth aboue the earth.
¶Of the Ilande of Bornei.
THe Ilād of Bornei (which some call Porne) is distant frō Monoch fiftie leages. The inhabitantes are Idolaters,Idoloters. very quick witted, and of maner of liuing not greatly to be discommended. Thei vse not al one kynde of apparell. Some weare shertes of gossampine cotton, some beastes skinnes, & some high cappes lyke myters, of redde colour. This Iland bringeth forth yearely great plentie of Camphora, called camphyre,Cāphire whiche they affirme to be the gūme of a certayn tree. Of this Ilande I wil speake more hereafter in the nauigacions toward the East partes.
¶ Of the Iland of Giaua.
The Iland of Gyaua, is distant frō Bornei, v. dayes sayling towarde the south. This Ilād is so great, yt it cō teineth in it many kingdōs: y• inhabitātes a [...] geuē to idolatri. It brigeth [Page] forth silke,Silke groweth in woodes. which of it selfe groweth there plentifullye in the wooddes. The precyous stone called Smaragdus (which is ye true Emerode) is found there more excellent,The [...]maragde or emerode Golde & copper. then in any other place of the worlde. It hath abundaunce of golde & copper of the best kynd. The soyle beareth wheat & other corne, withal kindes of fruites in great plentie. Whē the men of this countrie goe to the sea, theyr weapons are bowes,arrowes of redes and arrowes of redes. They vse also to infect theyr arrowes with venime,arrowes infected with venime. and to blowe them oute of a trunke as we doe pellets of claye: with the which yf they drawe neuer so little bloud, presente death foloweth immedialye. They haue also this custome,A strāge custome that when they see theyr parentes by reason of age to be vnprofitable, they bring thē to the market towne, and there sell them to the people called Anthropophagi, Anthropophagi which eat [Page] [...]leshe, of whom they are incontinētly slay [...]e, and eaten. The same doe the [...] with the yonger forte also, yf they fall into any desperate disease.
¶Of the Iland of Iaua.
THere are two Ilandes of thys name, as Iaua the more & Iaua the lesse. The biggest reacheth forth toward the South, & is sayd to haue in it many kingdoms. The inhabitantes are Idolaters & haue a peculier language. In this Iland is greate plentie of pepper,Spyce [...] Nuttemegges, Spikenarde, Galangale, & other spices. Mani marchauntes of other countreies are wont to resorte thether, & geat great riches by ye spices which they carie frō thense. In this Iland also are people called Anthropophagi, which are wont to eate mens fleshe.
¶ Of the Iland of Madagascar.
THis Iland is counted to be one of the greatest and rycheste Ilandes [Page] of the worlde. The inhabitantes are of Mahumets secte as are the Turkes.Mahumetistes It bringeth forth many Elephantes,Elephā tes. by reason wherof there is greate plentie of Iuerye which is the Elephantes to the. For it is thought that there is no greater plentie of Iuerie,Iuerie thē in this Iland & in the Iland of Cuzibet. the Ilād of Cuzibet. They eate the fleshe of none other beastes, but onely of Camels,Camels fleshe eate [...]. because the Ilande is full thereof, & also that it is founde to be more holesome for the people of that countrey then any other fleshe. There are also in this Iland manye woddes that bringe foorth redde sanders,woddes of redde Sāders for the which many marchauntes resort thether. In the sea about this Iland [...] great whales are taken,Whales Amber, out of the which amber is gathered. There are liōs, leopardes,Lions & Leopardes. hartes, hyndes, goates, and many other beastes and foules, by reason whereof, they vse muche [Page] haukinge and huntinge.
¶Of the Iland of Zanzibar.
THe Ilande of Zanzibar, hath a peculier Kinge and language. The inhabitantes are idolaters, & are of grosse and shorte stature:Bigge men of low stature. but yf theyr heygth dydde aunswere to theyr thickenesse and breadth, they mighte seme to be giauntes. They are all blacke, and goe naked, onely couering theyr pryuie partes. The heare of theyr heades, is merueylouslye corlde.Peopl [...] deformed. They haue greate mouthes, nosethrilles flyrtting vpwarde and wyde, with great eares and cruell eyes. Theyr women are deformed by reason of theyr greate eyes, greate mouthes, and greate nosethrilles. They liue with milke, flesshe, ryce, and dates.Ryce & Dates. They lacke wyne: Yet they make a [Page] pleasaunt drinke of ryce, suger, and other spices. [...]rinke of spices Many marchauntes resorte thether for yuerie & Amber,Amber. for there is greate plentye of Elephantes and great whales.
¶Of the two Ilandes, in one of the which dwell onely men, and in the other onely womē.
IN the mayne sea, there are two Ilandes, distante the one frō the other aboute .viij. or .ix. leages toward the south, situate betwene the cytie of Aden and Calicut. In one of the which dwel onely men without the company of womē, and is called the Ilande of men.the Ilād of men. And in the other dwell onely women, without men, and is called the Ilande of women.the Ilād of womē They are Christians,christiās and contract matrimonie. The women neuer come to the Ilande of men, but the men are accustomed to vysyte the women once in the yeare, and tarye with them thre monethes continually, [Page] euery man with his owne wife in his owne house: after which time they returne agayn to her owne Ilande, where they remayne all the yere after. The women kepe the mē children with them vntyll they bee xv. yeares of age, & then send them to theyr fathers. The women haue nought els to do, but to take charge of their children, and to gather certayne fruites. But the men labour and haue care how they may fynde theyr wyfe and chyldren. They are exercysed in fyshing,Fishing and sell fyshes both newe taken and olde dryed, to marchaunte straungers, whereby they receaue great commoditios.
¶Of the greate Empyre of Cathay, being vnder the dominiō of the great Cham (whiche some call the great Can) Emperoure of Tartaria, in olde tyme called Scythia.
[Page]THe superiour or high India, whiche is nowe called Cathay, is a region excedinge large and of greate power, whose Emperour is ye great Cham of Tartaria, the great Cham of Tartari hauinge vnder him many Prouinces, people and Princes, and innumerable Ilādes in the great East sea, called the greate Ocean. He hath vnder his dominion great & famous cities,Famous cities vnder the greate Cham. as are these: Cambalu, Quenquinafu, Mi [...]n, Cacausu, Canglu, T [...] dinfu, Tingui, and dyuers other. Amōg the people of this countrey, one mā hath manye wyues,manye wyues. whiche declare theyr loue to their husbandes after this sort. Whē the husband is dead, euery one of his wiues pleade their cause before a iudge,What naturall affectiō may doe to proue which of them was most louing to her husband & beste beloued of him: so yt she which by the sentence of the iudges is found to haue been most faythful and diligēte, decketh herselfe moste gorgiously in all her sumptuous araye, & procedeth like a Virago stoutly [Page] & cherefully to the fire, where the corps of her husbande was burnte, castinge her selfe into the same fyre, embrasing and kissing the dead bodi of her husband, vntyll she also be cō sumed by the fyre, whiche she reputeth for an honourable sepulture: whereas his other wyues are estemed to lyue in shame and infamie. They ioyne in mariage, neyther in respect of riches or nobilite, but onlye for loue & beautie: & rather for ye encrease of posteritie, then for plea [...]ure. There is also another straūge custome amōg these Indians:A strāg [...] custome & yt is, that wheras the poorer sort are not able to geue any dowry with theyr doughters to mariage, they bringe thē forth, euē in ye floure of their age to ye market place, with trūpettes & such other instrumētes as they vse in the warres. Where, the multitude beynge called together, the maydes fyrste of all, discouere theyr [Page] backe partes, euen vp to the shoulders, & afterward theyr forepartes in lyke maners. And vpon this declaring their pouertie & nakednes, are maried to such as lyke thē best. This people of Cathay, The people of Cathay. are of the nacion of thē which in tyme past were called Scythians, a kind of men (as saith Haitho) of subtill wyt: affyrming that onely they see with two eies, & that all other men besyde them are blind of the one eye. Theyr quickenes of witte is great, but their boasting is more. The hole naciō is perswaded that they greatly excel all other mē in subteltie of wit and knowledge. The inhabitantes are whyte men, with small eyes, withoute beardes, & vtterly voyde of all godly knowledge.Idolotours. For some of them pray to the sunne, some to the mone, some to Images, some to an oxe, and some to other monsters of theyr phantasticall supersticion. They haue no law [Page] written, and are of no faith. And albeit that in workemāship and artes they are marueylous wyttie, yet haue they no knowledge of dyuine or godly thinges. It is a timorous kynde of men, and greatly fearinge death. And are therefore in theyr warres, more politike then valient. In the warres, they vse arrowes, & certayne other kyndes of weapons vnknowē to men of other coūtreis. The monie which they vse,Money of paper is made of a certayne paper, beeinge foure square, with ye Kinges ymage printed theron. Theyr housholde stuffe is of golde & syluer & other metals.Golde & Syluer [...] they haue greate scarcenes of oyle. The great Emperour of Cathay, keepeth his courte in the riche & mightie cytie called Cambalu, the cytie of Cambalu. being the chefest citie of all the Empyre, & of such greatnesse that it conteyneth in circuite sixe l [...]ages. This citie is foure square, so that euery quadrature or [Page] syde of the wall, hath in it thre principal portes or gates. Also in all the corners of the walles, are veri faire palaces, in which the artillery or armure of the cytie is reserued. The stretes are made very streyght and right forth: so that frō any one gate to the other beinge directly ouer against the same, a man may se plainly through the cytie, hauing ye houses on euery syde lyke palaces, placed in goodly ordre, most beautifull to behold. Without the cytie, there are twelue great suburbes, adherēt to the .xii. gates of ye cytie, whether the marchaūtes & straungers,Marchā [...]yse. haue their cōtinual recourse as to ye burse or strete. It can not be spoken what great abundaunce of marchaundise and riches is brought to his citie: a man wold thinke that it were sufficient to serue all the worlde. Precious stones,precious stones & spyces. pearles, silke, and spices of dyuers kindes are brought thether, [Page] from India and Mangi, & other regions. There passeth not a daye in the yeare in which there are not about a thousand waynes ladē with silke which are brought to this citie by straunge marchauntes.No [...]e. What greate pompe, glory, & forniture of all thinges, is obserued in the Emperours courte,the king of Cathay his court it can not be spokē. He hath in his courte twelue thousand horsemen, whiche haue the custodie of his body: & distribute their waytinge dayes after this order, yt whereas one of ye captaynes of this garisō with his thre thousand souldiers hath wayted vpō the kinges personne, three dayes, another captayne in lyke order wyth as manye menne succedeth in hys rowme for other three dayes, and lykewyse an other after hym, executethe the same offyce. When the Emperoure maketh anye bankette, [Page] it cannot be said what great pompe is obserued. He hath sytting at his lefte hand his chefest quene whō he most estemeth:The Quene. and at his right hād hys sonnes, a [...]d suche as are of the kinges bloud: but thei syt somwhat lower & further of. The other noble men which wayte not, sytte in a place yet somewhat lower. All such as in the court syt at meat, vse none other drinking cuppes then of goldGolden plate. The Princes whiche wayte on the Emperoure at hys meate,worldly glory. haue all theyr mouthes couered with fyne silken clothes, least in any case they should blow or breath on the kinges meate or drinke. And whē the Emperour lifteth vp his cup to drinke, al the musicions and minstrels that stand about him, playe on theyr instrumētes, while in the meane time all suche as wayte on hym, stoupe downe & make lowe curtesie. How great honoure is exhibited to this [Page] Emperour', & howe many precious and riche presentes are offred vnto him by his Princes, Dukes, Leaue tenauntes and presydentes of prouinces, and rulers of cities, no man is able to expresse, forasmuche as he hath vnder him in maner innumerable Kingdomes, Prouinces, Nacions and Dominiōs, which are on euery syde about Cathay, & acknoweledge him to be theyr onelye Lorde and King, whom they honoure and reuerence as a great God & mighti Mahumet.A liuing Idol. In what pompe & triumphant magnificence he sheweth him self when he goeth to hauke or hunt, and how many tentes he pitcheth in the felde, which being sene a farre of, a man would thinke to be a greate cytie, he that desyreth to knowe, let him reade Paulus Venetus, Paulu [...] venetu [...] in the second boke of hys nauigacions into India, where he shal find thinges to marueyl at. In Cathay they make a [Page] pleasaunt drinke of ryce & certayne spyces,Drinke of rice & spyces. which in drinking excelleth the swetenes of wine. In many places they haue great lacke of wood: In the stede wherof,Digged cole. they digge out of the mountaynes a certayn kinde of blacke stone whiche burne in the fyre like coles, and continue so long, that yf they be kyndled ouer night, they kepe fyre vnto the morning.
¶Of certaine Prouinces and regions subiect vnder the dominion of the greate Cham Emperour of Cathay.
THere passeth through the kingdom of Cathay, a certayne greate ryuer called Pulisachnites, which emptieth it selfe in the great Ocean sea, by the whiche ryuer, shyppes haue their passage into that lande. Ouer this ryuer is a very fayre bridge of marble,A greate bridge of marble. beyng in length three hundreth [Page] pases, and in breadth, eyghte pases, with .xxiiii. arches, and grauen Liōs on euery syde, adourning the rayles or highest margentes of the same. From hence it is not farre to the fayre and greate kingdom of [...]ainfu, the ki [...]gdome of Tainfu. in the which are many goodli vynes. For in the kingdom of Cathay there groweth no wyne, but is brought the ther from this region. In this kingdome is greate vse of marchaundyse, and hath plentie of conning artificers,Cōnyng artificers. so that al the armure which the great Cham vseth in his warres, is made there. Toward the region of Mangi, is situate the ryuer Caromoram, whiche for the greate breadth and depth, hath no bridge. In this region is greate abundaunce of Ginger,Ginger. silke, byrdes, and speciallye Phesantes. Somewhat beyonde this, is the great cytie of Quenquinafu, Quenquinafu. beynge the chief cytie of the same kingdome. In this [Page] region are founde many muskeca [...] tes.the mus [...]e catte. This beast in this countreye, is but lyttle and fayre, aboute the bignesse of a meane catte, with grosse heare lyke a harte, hauinge blunte clawes on his fete, with two longe teeth in the vpper iawe, and two in the nether iawe: and hath nere vnto the nauell a bladder full of a certayne matter like vnto bloud, being of wonderful [...]tagrant sauoure,Siuet or muske. and is the true muske.
¶Of the Prouince of Mangi, and merueylous cyties conteyned in the same.
THe Prouince of Mangi, hath in it many notable and great cities, in the whiche is greate exercyse of marchaundyse:Marchādyse. and specially in the citie of Conigangui, is solde great plentie of salt. [...]alte. In the cytie of Panchi, there is great sale of silke.Sylke. In the cytie of Sianfu, Cloth of golde. is made great plētie of clothes of golde and silke. In the cytie singui, [Page] is a famous market where great abundāce of marchaūdise is brought by the ryuer. Nere vnto the citie of Caigui, groweth plentie of blade and ryce,Ryce. that it is caried from thence to the court of the greate Cham. In ye citie of singui, are nūbred to be about sixe thousande bridges of stone,VI. [...] bridges of stone. hauinge so highe arches, that greate shippes maye passe vnder the same without bowing down of the mast. There is another citie called Quinsai, the great citie of Quinsai. which is so fayre & great, that there is thought to be no bigger in al the worlde. It conteyneth in circuite, a hūdreth Italien miles, which make xxv. leages. It hath twelue thousande bridges of stone,Xij. M [...] bridges of stone. and those so highe that greate shippes with the maste standing vp right, maye passe vnder. This cytie is situate in a marrishe ground, muche lyke vnto venes. Therfore if they should lack bridges, they coulde not passe ouer [Page] frō the one syde of the streete to the other.Artificers. It hath innumerable artificers and many marchauntes.Marchaūtes The cytezins lyue pleasantly, and specially the womē, which are fayrer thē in other partes of [...]ndia. Toward the South syde of the cytye, there is a great lake or poole within ye walles of the cytie, whiche cōteyneth in circuitie about .viii. leages, hauinge about the bankes therof many noble mens houses, very fayre both without and within.E [...]mmō bāketi [...] ge houses. In the middeste of this lake, there are two litle Ilādes and in euery of thē a goodly palace, in y• which are reserued al suche ornamentes & vessels as they vse for theyr mariages & solemne feastes [...] for whereas any of the cytezins entende to make any great banket, or feast, they bring theyr gestes to one of these palaces, where they are honorably enterteined. In the stretes of ye citie, are certaine comō towres, [Page] into y• which,A good prouysiō again [...]te fyre. al such as dwell neare therto, carie theyr goodes & stuffe, yf it so chaunce, ye fyre be in the citie. The inhabitantes are Idoloters: & eate the fleshe of horses & camels,Flesh of horses eaten. & of other vnclene beastes. The great Cham hath in this cyt [...]e a myghtie garison to the intente to auoyde rebellion,A p [...]ouision aga [...]nst rebellion. thefte & murther. For on euery bridge there wayteth dayly & nightlye .x. watchmen for the same purpose: and because the Prouince of Mangi is exceding large, the great Cham hath deuyded it into nyne Kingdomes, assigninge vnto euerye one a peculier Kynge: whiche are al of greate powre, and yet subiecte to the greate Cham. One of them dwelleth in the citie of Quinsai. In thys Prouince of Mangi,Anthropophagi. is an other Kyngdome, called Fugui, in whiche the people eate mannes flesshe, so that they dye [Page] not of any disease. They drinke the bloud and eate the fleshe of such as are slayne in ye warres.Hennes hauinge heare in the stede of fethers. There are hennes found in this region, which in the stede of fethers, haue heare much lyke cattes heare of blacke colour: And laye very good egges.
¶Of the regiō of Tangut, and of the great desertes, & voyces of deuylles hearde in the same, & of the Salamandra.
the way frō Persia to Cathay.FRom the Kingdome of Persia, there are two iourneyes to the region of Cathay. For either the south side must be obserued towarde India, or elles to passe by the prouinces of Carcham, Cotam & Peim, Northeastwarde to the citie of Lop, the cytie of Lop. beynge the greatest and most notable cytie in all that region, lying betwene the East and the North at the entraūce at the great desert. In this cytie, al suche marchauntes,The iorney by ye desertes as entende to passe the desertes, make preparaciō [Page] for all thinges necessarye for their yourneye: And rest in the same, vntill they are well prouided of strong asses and camels to carye there vitayles. And when in ye desert their vitayles begin to fayle thē, they kyl theyr asses or leaue thē there in the wyldernes, because they can no longer prouide them of pasture, vntyll they haue passed ouer the deserte. But they preserue theyr camelles, beecause they are susteyned wyth lesse meate, and beare greater burthens. In this deserte are often tymes founde bytter waters:Bitter waters [...] but more often fresshe and sweete waters: so that in maner euerye daye for the space of thyrtye dayes, a man maye fynde fresshe water, but that in so lyttle quantitie that it doeth not suffice al the marchaūtes whiche passe that waye together. That deserte is verye full of [Page] of mountaynes. And when you are come to the lowe and playn groūd, the residue of the iourney is all together by the sandes: it is through out baren and saluage, so that it is not able to nourishe any beastes for lacke of pasture. In this wildernes are often tymes heard and sene, as well by daye as by night,Illusiōs of euyl spirites. sundrie illusions of euyl spirites. And therefore suche as trauayle throughe the same, haue nede to take great hede least they disseuer or depart farre in sundre, or leaste any linger behynde his companie, aswel for that he may hereby lose the sight of them by reason of mountaynes or hilles, lyinge beetwene, as also because there are heard voyces of deuyls,voices of deuyls. calling thē that wander alone, by theyr proper names, conterfeyting the voyces of theyr companie that goeth beefore, by this meanes withdrawing them from the right waye, and bringinge [Page] them to destruccion. There is often tymes heard in the ayre, as it were a noyse of musicall instrumētes:Straūge noises in the ayre. but more often like the sounde of drumslades or timbrels. This great desert being passed ouer, they come to the cytie called Sachion, the citie of Sach [...]ō which is situate in the enteraunce of the greate Prouince of Tangut, where amonge certayne Mahumetistes, are found a fewe Christian men called Nestoriani of the secte of Nestorius. christiās of the heresie of Nestorius. There are also manye Idoloters, hauinge theyr monasteries consecrated to dyuers Idols,Monasteries of Idoloters. to which they offre many sacrifices, and attribute greate honor to deuyls. And when a man hath a sonne borne, he forthwith commendeth him to some Idol,A strāge custome in whose honour he nourisheth a ramme al that yeare, which after that his sonne be twelue monethes olde, at the nexte feaste of the same Idoll, he and his sonne offre with many ceremonies. [Page] When this oblacion is finished, thei bringe the sacrificed f [...]eshe to a place appoynted, where al his kinsfolkes being gathered together, they eate that fleshe with great religion, and kepe the bones reuerently in a certayn vessell: but in the funeralles of the dead, they vse these ceremonies and supersticions.Ceremonies in funerals Al the neighbors of the dead, prouyde that the dead corps be burned: which custome all the people of the East partes do obserue. Yet some of thē kepe ye dead bodye by them certayne dayes beefore they burne it: As some, seuen daies, some for the space of a moneth and some sixe monethes, preparing for the same a close cheste, so inuoluinge wyth cereclothe, and ponderinge with spyces the bodye therein inclosed, that no euyll sauoure maye passe foorth. Thys done, they paynte the cheste verye curiouslye, and couer it with a precious clothe, [Page] placinge theyr dyninge table harde by the same, where they dyne continuallye as long as the dead bodie is thus reserued at home.A grosse & vayne perswasion. And in the dyner tyme for the space of one hole houre, they sette wyne & meat vpon the cheste, supposing the soule of the dead bodye to be partaker of the same. The Region of Tangut, the region of Ta [...] gut. is verye large, and conteyneth in it manye priuate Prouinces, as the Prouince of Camul, of Cinchital, and Suchur, wyth dyuerse fayre Cyties, whiche are all Subiecte and obeye to the great Cham of Cathay. Some of the inhabitantes beleue in Mahumet:Mahumetistes some acknowledge Christe after the heresye of Nestorius. In the lande of Chinchital, is a Mountayne oute of the whyche is dygged the myne of stele and Audanici.Stele. There is also founde the Serpente called Salamandra, Salama [...] dra. which lyueth in the fyre wythoute anye hurte. [Page] Of the heare of this serpēt, is made a certayne cloth, which being cast in the fyre when it is foule, is thereby made cleane and very white if it remaine there for ye space of an houre. Suche other innumerable & marueilous thinges,Paulus Venetus. writeth Paulus [...]enetus that he hath sene and founde in his nauigacions into these partes: of whom also I haue gathered thus muche, lettinge passe manye other thinges whereof he speaketh more at large.