Sect. I.

THO I was Born with a deſire of Travelling, yet there was little probability, I could purſue my Inclinations: My Father not being Rich, and alſo conſidering, I might be uſeful to him, and to the World, if I learnt an honeſt Trade, made it his buſineſs to perſwade me into an Apprentiſhip. What repugnance ſoever I might have to that ſort of Life, I was forced to obey, at firſt indeed with much difficulty▪ imagining that imploy would be an invincible hindetance to the deſign I had▪ formed of ſeeing other Countries beſides my own; but afterwards with delight, when my Reaſon made me know, that what I did, was ſo far from being an obſtacle to my Inclination, as it opened me a way to the Travels which I meditated. Aſſoon as I perceived this, I was the more fervent and brisk at my work; I became more tractable and more aſſiduous than before. I never heard the Compaſs mentioned without feeling an extraordinary joy; and when I ſaw Marine Cards, I could never be wear with looking on them. The paſſion of Voyaging did ſo fortifie it ſelf in me with Age, that I had hardly attain'd Seventeen Years, but I began to grow weary of the life I led. Methoughts it was time to think of departing, the difficulty was to find the means of doing ſo, and procuring my Fathers conſent. Seeing very little likelihood of prevailing with him, I became extream Melancholy; the young people whoſe Company I frequented, knowing the cauſe of my ſadneſs, diſſipated it by ſome Diſcourſes, which revived my hopes that were half dead▪ and as about that time I happened to let fly ſome words, which might be ill interpreted; My Father reprehended me with ſo much ſeverity, that I left him immediately, and went to Amſterdam, where by good luck having found, that two Ships were fitting out for Genoa, I engaged my ſelf in one of them in quality of Boatſwain's Mate, being little concerned at the employ I had in it, or the place whither I went, provided only that I might Travel.

On the 26th. of December in the Year 1667, having ſet Sail, we were hardly out of the Texel, when we perceived that our two Ships were not well ballaſted: thus, the ſhorteſt way was to return from whence we came, for the taking in as much Pewter and Cheſts of Quickſilver, as was requiſite for the giving them their juſt Weight. After which, we made Sail the ſecond time, on the firſt of Jan. in the following Year, in a time, when the Ice was extreamly thick.

On the 10th. a quite contrary Wind conſtrain'd us to put in at Dunkirk▪ and two days afterwards, the Wind being better, we purſued our Courſe; but we went not very far without being obliged to ſeek out a Haven to ſhelter us from the foul Weather and a very furious Tempeſt. The Iſle of Wight being pretty near, we put in there and ſtayed until the 25th. When we weighed Anchor again, but were not deſtined without impediment to continue our Courſe▪ for on the Morrow the Wind came again to be ſo contrary, that we found it very difficult to get into a Neighbouring Haven.

At length on the 6th. of February we caſt Anchor at Portland, from whence we Sail'd three days afterwards; and on the 10. the Currents carried us into the Bay of Gibraltar, becauſe they were much ſtronger than the Wind; but on th • morrow the Wind made us overcom • them, and was afterwards ſo favourable to us, that in fifteen days after we came into ſight of Genoa, when we caſt Anchor behind the old Mole.

On the 29th. of the ſame Month, the Cargo of the two Ships being unload • and diſcharged, by reaſon the Republick bought thoſe two Veſſels which ſh • furniſhed with all manner of Ammuni▪tion for three Years, and into each of which ſhe put an Hundred Men all Ger▪mans, except ſome few Bandities. By this means I became free much ſoone • then I expected; but as this liberty di • put a ſtop to the Paſſion I had of going much farther, I re▪ingaged my ſelf therein.

While the Ships were fitting out, I ſatisfied the Curioſity I had a long time of ſeeing that famous City. The Port on the South ſide is open, and beſet in ſeveral places with little Rocks, that lie even with the Water, and are dangerous in Tempeſtuous Weather. 'Tis built like an Amphitheater round about the Port, and is a moſt pleaſing Proſpect to the ſight. It is about Ten Miles in Compaſs, ſurrounded with good Walls; which however have not the appearance of being able to hold out againſt a long Siege, at leaſt, if the Beſieged do not make extraordinary Efforts to defend them. Their Militia is Compoſed of ſome Companies of Germans and Corſes, and others of light Horſe; ſome maintained for the watching along the Coaſts, and diſcovering the Turks; and the others, to hinder any ſecret Practices and Conſpiraces in the City. The entrance of the Port is defended by Four Galleys, always ready upon occaſion▪ and there are a great number of them in the Arſenal, which the Genouezes often lend to the Venetians againſt the Turks. On one ſide of the Port ſtands a Tower conſiderably high, where fires are kindled by night, for the regulating the Courſe of the Ships. There is at the foot of that Tower, a great Piece of Cannon mounted upon its Carriage, which is never without a Sentinel. The Guard of the Princes Palace is of Five Hundred Men all Germans, under a Colonel of the ſame Nation, who have their Quarters there. As for the Buildings of the City, they are all far beyond the Idea we can conceive of them: all Palaces, all of Marble, eſpecially along the Rivers ſide. But the Pomp of the Churches does exceed all theſe Beauties; there are Thirty Pariſh-Churches, in one of which they ſhew a Key of an exact Figure of an Emerauld perfectly good. In that of St. Bartholomew, they keep the St. Suaire, whither the People flock upon the rumours of the Miracles that are done there. This City is very Populous, and the Merchants are there in great numbers and very rich; their Principal Traffick is in Velvet▪ and we may judge how great it is▪ by the number of the Workmen who are employed about it; I having been aſſured, that there was above Eight Thouſand of them at the time I was there.

On the 12th. of April we made Sail towards Velez Malga, whither we came in Four Weeks, from whence after two days repoſe, we made for Malgue, where we caſt Anchor on the 24th. of May. We were no ſooner there, but all the Bandities were ſet on Shore, and ſince that time we never heard of any of them. 'Tis well known how famous that Country is for its Wine; whereof we took an Hundred Pipes on board us, and after having provided our ſelves with neceſſary refreſhments for the Sick, on the 29th. of May the Wind ſeconding our Deſigns, we weighed Anchor and made Sail towards Cap-Verd, where we were to ſtay and repoſe our ſelves for ſome time. This deſign made us judge, that the Voyage muſt needs be long; but none except the Officers, knew our intention, or whither we went.

The 4th. of June at night we found our ſelves near 9 Ships which we took for Corſaires. We were quickly ſatisfied of the Truth; for the Men of thoſe Ships having asked us, who we were, and from whence we came, we found they were Algermes. This News did ſomething Alarum our Commander; but as he was brave, far from ſhewing, that he was ſtartled at this rencounter, he told the Corſaires with a very good grace, that he only waited till break of day to make an Acquaintance with them, and he ſhould take it for an Obligation, would they come on board him, where he would take care that nothing ſhould be omitted for their being well entertained. At the ſame time turning towards our Officers; You ſee Gentlemen, ſaid he to them, what Gueſts we have to Treat, and what Diſhes we muſt prepare for their good Reception; they are in great numbers as you ſee, but that ſignifies nothing, and I hope that our Courage will make them repent of their boldneſs, if they have ſo much as to attack us. They made no Anſwer to the Commanders Speech, but every one running to his Poſt, gave him to underſtand the reſolution they were in, of making a brave defence. And indeed, aſſoon as it was day, tho the Match was very unequal, all was diſpoſed in ſuch a manner, that we had a kind of diſpleaſure to ſee the Enemies, who had the advantage of the Wind, make away from us without ſaying a word more. From that time the Heavens were ſo favourable to us, that at the three Weeks end we found our ſelves near the Iſland of Boa-viſta. We had no ſooner caſt Anchor there, than the Bandities, who inhabit it, brought us a great Quantity of ſalted Goats-fleſh and other refreſhments. After which we loaded about ten Chaloupes with Salt. This Iſland does ſo abound in all ſorts of Fiſh, that provided, People fiſh ne're ſo little there, they take as many as they pleaſe: eſpecially the great Salmon-Trouts are there in ſo great abundance, that we took above fifteen Hundred of them in the ſpace of half a day.

Boa-viſta is one of the Iſlands of Capverd. Both near, and at a diſtance, nothing can be more agreeable to the ſight; and it is for its beauty it has received that name. 'Tis very Mountainous, and about ſome 7 Leagues diſtance from the Iſle of Sabu. 'Tis about Twenty Leagues in Circumference, and 'tis very hot. It has towards the North a bank of Sand of about Twenty Leagues in Length, againſt which the Sea makes a terrible Noiſe. There are ſome other Banks 〈◊〉 ſo as dangerous as that, which have occaſioned the loſs of ſeveral Ships. On the South ſide, there's a ſhelve of the ſame length as the former, but it is likewiſe beſet with Rocks, whoſe tops are ſometimes ſeen above Water; its extent is more towards the North, and the ſureſt place of Ancorage is on the South-Weſt, where is but fifteen, ſixteen, or ſeventeen Fathom Water at the moſt.

In advancing towards the South, we found the Iſle of May; that Iſland is about Eight or Nine Leagues diſtant from Boa-viſta, and is without contradiction, the ſmalleſt of all the Iſlands of Cap-verd, having but Eight Leagues in Circumference. In the midſt of it ſtands high Mountains; and towards the North is ſeen a Plain of above a League in Breadth▪ 'Tis likewiſe on that ſide, that there is a great extent of Sand, which reaches a great way into the Sea; there is alſo, One towards the Weſt, which renders the Sea very dangerous on that part. The figure of this Iſland is round, it • Length and Breadth being almoſt aqual▪ It is bordered with ſeveral little Points▪ which make as many Capes. The common Road is on the South-Weſt, wher • is but Fifteen or 16 Fathom Water. Ye • behind a conſiderable high Point toward • the North, is a convenient place for Anchorage, when there is only Five or Si • Fathom Water. There is at the foot 〈◊〉 that Point a ſmall Village of about Te • or Twelve Houſes, from which Strangers may receive conſiderable aſſiſtance. There is nothing to be ſeen but Rocks amongſt the Clefts whereof do grow ſome herbs, wherein conſiſts almoſt all the Verdine of the Country, the Soil being generally very dry. This dryneſs joyned to the heats which are there exceſſive, is the reaſon, we never ſee there either Oranges or Lemmons, and all the fruit Trees conſiſt in certain Fig Trees, the fruit whereof hardly ever comes to be ripe: or if it ſometimes happens, that the colour of it is paſſable, the taſt of it is however bad▪ Thoſe ill Fig-trees, and ſome other Trees▪ that bear Cotton, are all that grow in that Iſland▪ but in recom • ence, there's a wonderful number of • oats, and indeed the whole Traffick • f the Country conſiſts in thoſe Animals, •• ce they vend every year an infinite • umber of their Skins. Some little Horſes • here are▪ but wild, as alſo Aſſes and Cows▪ but they abound extreamly in • owls; among others there are Partridg •• , Geeſe, and ſeveral Fowls which are • nknown in Europe. In ſundry parts • ere is a certain reddiſh Salt proceeding •• rtly from a ſubterranean Water, and •• rtly from the Water of the Sea, which they convey into the Salt Pits. The Inhabitants, who are of a Tawny Colour, live by Hunting and Fiſhing; they catch Goats with Dogs, they are very dexterous at that Exerciſe. As for Fiſh▪ eſpecially the Salmon-Trouts, Guilt • heads or Goldenies, they have always • great abundance of them.

The Iſle of St. James is the greateſt o • all the Iſlands of Cap-verd, and is abo •• 45 Leagues in its greateſt length fro • South-Eaſt to North-Eaſt; Ten in i • greateſt Breadth, and 95 in Circumference. What is called the High-Iſlan • is directly on the Weſt Road of the 〈◊〉 of May, excepting that the middle 〈◊〉 on the South Weſt of Bo • ▪viſta, and 〈◊〉 advancing towards the Weſt and Sou •• Weſt, quarters on the South of the 〈◊〉 of Salt, to the ſpace of 25 Leagues fro • the Point of the South Weſt to the Sout • Eaſt. The Land is of two Leagues •• tent; there is a Village called P • r ••• that is to ſay, the Bank-ſide, the Situati •• whereof is very convenient, being betwe •• two Mountains, and all ſurrounded wi •• two Rivers, which diſcharge themſelv •• not far from that place into the Sea. Th •• 2 Rivers form 2 Bays, the one of whi •• is called Port de Praye, and can contain • bove 100 Ships. That Port is ſituated b • hin • an Iſland, ſheltred from all Winds, and out of Canon reach, ſomething beyond the Port de Praye, ſtill advancing towards the Village, is ſeen a Cape, which the Portugals have named the Cape of Tubarao; on the Weſt of which is the other Bay, called the Port of Ribeirra Corca; this Port is ſituated as commodiouſly as the other: it is likewiſe between two Mountains, in the midſt of which runs a River, having its ſource two Leagues from thence, which empties it ſelf into the Sea by a Mouth of a Bowes ſhot breadth. There is in this Iſland a little City which goes by the Name of St. Thomas; its Situation is very agreeable, there is likewiſe another called St. James from the Name of the Iſland, and ſituated upon the Brow of a Hill. This laſt is the Capital not only of this Iſland but likewiſe of all the others; it being alſo the place where the Biſhop of the Portugals has his uſual Reſidence. Somewhat more towards the Weſt, upon a Point, two Leagues from the Port de • raye, they have built a Fortreſs for the ſecurity of the Ships, that Anchor there; and towards the North-Weſt of that Point, there is the Port de Caniſe, where there are as great Convenienci • s.

This Iſland is extreamly Fertile, and the River of Corea, which is Planted on both ſides, with Coconuts, Orange-Trees, Lemon-Trees and other Fruit-Trees, and ſome Cedars, forms in my mind one o • the fineſt Proſpects that can offer it ſelf to the ſight; there's moreover a great quantity of Rice, Mace, and other Fruits o • all ſorts; as for Cattle, you have for a •• uſe, as well as in the Iſle of May.

The Iſle of Fire, ſo called, by reaſon o • its Flames, which one of its high Mountains does vomit without ceaſing, is abou • Twelve Leagues in length, and lies towards the South Weſt of S. James▪ O • the North Weſt a little Fort is ſituat •• at the Foot of a Mountain, for the defence of the Ships, which Anchor in th • Haven that is hard by; the rapidity o • its Current hindring it from being commodious. Thoſe who will Anchor o • the Eaſt ſide, muſt ſteer their Cour •• towards the North of the Iſland, by re • ſon, that otherwiſe they will find it dif •• cult to get in. This Iſland is ſubject t • Whirlwinds and Hurricans, which ma •• terrible havock there; and the Water 〈◊〉 there ſo deep in all places, that one cannot caſt Anchor in any part, but ne • the little Fort we h • ve newly m • ntione • ▪

Some Four Leagues from that Iſland, towards the South-Weſt, is the Iſle of Brave, almoſt a deſert and uncultivated, and towards the North, two or three more that are very ſmall. On the Weſt of Brave there is a convenient Road for the taking in freſh Water; but on the South-Eaſt there is another much more commodious; its depth is of Fifteen Fathom; ſo that the greateſt Ships may lie by the Banks of it without danger. Above the Haven is a very Populous Village, and at ſome diſtance from thence an Hermitage, the Situation whereof is very pleaſant; the Fruits of this Iſland are Figgs, Mulbe •• es, Melons and Maiz; but it does not ſo much abound in Cattle as the others.

The Air of theſe Iſlands is generally • ot and unhealthful; inſomuch as the • nhabitants are tormented with Burn •• g Feavors, Colicks, Diſſenteries, and •• veral other Diſeaſes. There ariſe cer •• in Miſts, that ſeem of a Reddiſh Co • our, and are of a very bad Smell; this Country is ſituate between the Line and •• e Tropick of Cancer: thus the Sun is • erpendicular upon them twice a Year, • nd affords 'em a couple of Summers: •• wards the Month of June the Rains •• gin, and laſt almoſt without diſcontinuing, until the midſt of October; but the worſt is, that theſe Rains are attended with Wind, Lightning and Thunder, which would make the moſt undaunted tremble. When this Seaſon approaches, the Air grows thick and dark▪ the Salt melts into Liquor, and the Winds begin to ſtrike a terror into People.

We left theſe Iſlands on the Twelfth, and on the Second of Auguſt, we came in ſight of Sierra-Leona. Without ſeeing it, we were certain, that we were not far diſtant; for according as we came nearer it, we heard without ceaſing, a Wind which iſſued from that Mountain, that reſembled very much the Roaring of a Lion, from whence it had the name of the Mountain of Lions. In the Evening we went into the Pinnace, and as ſoon as we were on Land, we heard a terrible noiſe; it was occaſioned by the Waves, which being impetuouſly thru •• on between the Clifts of a Rock, made in their fall a certain noiſe, that is no • eaſie to be expreſſed; this Mountain 〈◊〉 Lions begins at the Cape of Virginia, an • ends at Cape Tagrin, or Ledo, which likewiſe bears the name of Sierra Leona. 'T •• ſituated under the 8th. Degree of Lat • tude, and Thirteen Minutes of Longitude. 'Tis ſeen afar off, for that it is much higher than all on the North of that Cape▪ as alſo by reaſon it reaches very far into the Sea. This Country is Mountainous on the South-Eaſt, but low, flat and Marſhy towards the North: There are to the Number of Thirteen Rivers, what in the Mountains and elſewhere, all Planted on each ſide with Lemmon and Orange trees, Pomegranates, and other Trees, which form an admirable Proſpect at all times, even to aſtoniſhment.

On the 3d. of Auguſt we caſt Anchor in the Bay of that Mountain, and at the ſame time, our Commander ſent to the King of the Country, Five Barrs of Iron, a Barrel of Brandy, and another of Spaniſh Wine.

Our Deputies were kindly received; and our Preſents were ſo acceptable, that the King and his Courtiers, who looked like wretched Fiſher-men, asked, double of all that was offered 'em, by way of Repetition. We were not over-well pleaſed with this Complement; but as we had occaſion for Water, Wood, Oranges, Lemons and other Refreſhments, which are there in great abundance, we • ranted them what they deſired. From that time thoſe Caffres ſeem'd to us goo • tractable People; they came every day on board us with Fruits, and returned very much ſatisfied with our kindneſs. In the mean while the King being allued with our Eaſineſs to grant him hi • Demand, ſent word, that he expected the ſame Preſent ſhould be made him the Third time, if we deſired to have leave to come on Shore. This procedure did ſo Nettle our Commander, that he reſolv'd to be revenged, which that he might the better effect, he diſſembled his reſentment, and let him know, that if he pleas'd to come on Board of him in the Pinnace he ſent him, he would endeavonr to give him ſatisfaction. The poor King not dreaming of any Treachery, did not ſtick to come on Board, where they only let in with him five or ſix of his Gentlemen; he was ſo full o • confidence, that he was no ſooner there, but he went directly to the Captains Cabin, where he did not doubt but that a Treat was prepared for him; but inſtead of what he expected, he found there People who very r • dely put ſhackles upon his Hands and Feet. And what augmented the Suprize he was in to ſee himſelf ſo ill treated, was, that the Commander after having remonſtrated to him, that he was too Brutal for ſo high a Dignity, threatned to have him Hanged; and indeed the puniſhment had attended very cloſely theſe menaces, if the Officers of the Ship had not repreſented, how the execution might have very ill conſequences. Upon their inſtances, the Commander changed his Puniſhment, which was to be caſt into the Sea: his Attendants being terrified at that ſight, leapt into their Canoes, and ſcudded to Shore, as faſt as it was poſſible for them. No ſooner were they there, than they put themſelves in a poſture of Defence, to hinder us from coming on Land. Our Commander being full of Indignation at their daring to make Head againſt him, or fearing perhaps leſt they ſhould believe it was for want of Courage that he doubled his Preſents, filled two Pinnaces with Souldiers, whom he ordered to cut to pieces thoſe miſerable Wretches, if they had the temerity to oppoſe their Landing. Thoſe two Pinnaces being ſeconded by two more, our Men diſperſed the Cafres, and took in ſpight of their Teeth, all that they had occaſion for: and to revenge themſelves fully and finally, our Commander cauſed their Houſes and their Gardens to be Plundred, and ſet Fire to the Temples of their Idols. In the mean time, the King having ſaved himſelf by ſwimming, ſeeing we had the better, and the lamentable condition we had reduced his Subjects to, aſſembled all his Forces, ſo as in a ſhort time we ſaw a Thouſand Canoes half loaden with Gabions coming down the River, in all probability to have ſet Fire to our Ship, and make themſelves Maſters of our Lives: but their deſign had no effect by the diligence we uſed to get away from them, and to purſue our Courſe.

During our ſtay at Sierra Leona, we met with ſome Hollanders who Traded along that Coaſt: They told us that the King of the Country had dealt with them as he had done with us, and that in revenge they had paid him with the ſame Coyn, ſo that in leſs than fifteen days, he had had the affront of being Caſt twice into the Sea. Our Commander was upon the point of the giving one of his Ships for the Hollander • Veſſel, thinking it to be more prope • than his own for the paſſing the Sands o • the Red Sea, and for the running along theſe Coaſts, but was diſſwaded from i • by the Pilot.

Sierra Leona is the moſt proper place in the World for the taking in freſh water, and all other refreſhments. For beſides that the freſh Water is admirably good, there grows Millet, Oranges, Lemons, Bananas, Cocoes, Wild-Grapes, Sugar Canes, Long Pepper, in a word, Fruits of all ſort sand Species. There is moreover excellent wood both for Dying and Building, which we might have provided our ſelves with, as we did with all other things, had it not been for the Adventure which happened to us. The Fiſh is very excellent, and in great quantity; and all the Rocks which we ſaw, were covered▪ with great and excellent Oyſters. Tho there be a great deal of good freſh Water, its goodneſs however does not continue in all Seaſons; for about the Moneth of May, which is the beginning of the Rains, 'tis there ſo unwholeſome, that in ſtrangers it cauſes hot Feavors, bloody Fluxes, and other violent Diſeaſes. The malignity of the Rain at that time is ſuch, that ſo many drops are ſo many bliſtors upon the Skin, and as many Worms in the Clothes: for which reaſon, ſtrangers to whom it is only fatal, ought not to provide themſelves with Water, until ſome Monthsafter it begins to fall; becauſe that towards the end it is more pure and leſs dangerous, which we had the experience of, not any of our Company having been incommoded.

The Inhabitants of that Country are not [however] black. Their Complexion is ſomething Tawny or Swarthy, and they make ſeveral Figures with hot Irons in their Skins. One of their fineſt Ornaments is to boar their Ears and Noſtrils, which they embeliſh with Rings of Gold and other Metals. The Men and Women go all naked, except a girdle made of the rind of a Tree, which hangs down to the middle of their Thighs. The further you go into the Country, the leſs Humanity you meet with; the Inhabitants are cruel, and even eat one another; thoſe who dwell along the Sea Coaſts, are ſomewhat more tractable, by reaſon of the frequent Commerce they have with the Europeans▪ The King that was Caſt into the Sea, ſeem'd to be about Sixty Years old, was neither handſome in body, nor of a generous temper; His Habit was after the Mooriſh manner, his Hat grey, but had bare-feet, wherein he was imitated by his Attendants.

Sect. II.

FRom the ſixteenth of Auguſt which was the day of our departure from Sierra Leona, until the 13th. of October, which was that of our Arrival at Madagaſcar, we had not any conſiderable Adventure. The firſt Port that we met with, was that at Antongil. As ſoon as we had caſt Anchor, we went into a Pinnace, wherein we ſet the white Flag; the People of the Iſland did the ſame, but however with precaution; for they aſſembled upon the Mountains armed with Arrows and Azagu • es, which are Staves of about five or ſix foot long, which they lance very dexterouſly againſt the Enemy. This made us apprehend, that they deſigned to ſeize upon us, and in that Opinion we would have returned on Board, when one of the Inſularies taking notice of the fear we were in, called out to us in Dutch, and bid us be of good Courage, and if we would come on Shore, he would anſwer for't, that no miſchief ſhould happen to us. The word of a Man we underſtood, diſſipated our Fears; and we went on Shore, where we were kindly received by the King in Perſon, who was attended with a numerous Train. The King after having told us we were very welcome, had us along to his Palace. It is ſituated upon a riſing ground, and Reintrenched on all ſides: the inner parts of it are neat, and all covered with extraordinary fine Mats. The King asked the Commander who he was? whither he went? and for what deſign he had Caſt Anchor on his Iſland? to which the Commander anſwer'd, that he and his Men were Hollanders, but that they Sailed for the Service of the Republick of Genoa. The King having interrupted him to inform himſelf of ſome other things, the Commander was ſurpriſed to hear him ſpeak Dutch ſo well, and asked him the reaſon of it; I have, replied the King, been the Slave of a Pilot called Iean Meas originally of Holland; the neceſſity I was in, of underſtanding his Tongue for to obey him, obliged me to learn it, and you ſee to what perfection I attain'd in it. At our return from the Indies, where we had been, we were ſo ſhattered by a furious Tempeſt, that it caſt us upon this Iſland, and broke our Maſts. After that we had refitted our Ship, the day being appointed for our Departure, the repugnance I had to the Name and Life of a Slave, made me hide my ſelf in the Iſland, where I have remained ever ſince that time. Did not you call your ſelf Diembro, ſaid the Commander? how came you, replied the King, to know my Name? becauſe I had a Slave in the Indies, rejoyn'd the Captain, who had all your Features, and whoſe Adventures were very like yours: I brought him hither by the Accident you have mentioned, where he hid himſelf for fear of following me, as you you ſay you did: in a word, I am that John Meas, and if I am not miſtaken, I meet again in you, what I loſt at my leaving of this Iſland. You are not miſtaken, replied the King, looking upon him with joy, you find again in me the Man whom you had, and whom Heaven has preſerved to render you greater Services, than thoſe you could have exacted from me at that time. You were a good Maſter to me, purſued he, embracing him; it is but juſtice, that I remember it, and it is with pleaſure, I meet with this occaſion, to teſtifie my ſincere acknowledgments. I am obeyed by all here, and I will likewiſe have all obey you: do here what you pleaſe, and do not fear, that any one ſhould have the boldneſs to contradict you. The Commander being ſurprized at ſo much Generoſity, gave him thanks for his offer, which he did not merit, and told him, that he only deſired the permiſſion of changing ſome of his Merchandizes for thoſe of the Country. In ſhort, the King remained ſtedfaſt; he would needs have him to take all he had a mind to, and keep his Merchandizes. After which, according to the Cuſtom uſed amongſt Friends of that Iſland, he offered him his Wives, and made others do the ſame to all thoſe of his Ship, As the Women of that Country are not very avaricious of their Careſſes, and the Europians are a ſingular good ragouſt to them, far from ſuffering us to beg their favours, they offered themſelves, and that too with ſo good a grace, that it would have been very uncivil to have denied them.

While our Men were diverting themſelves, and were all diſſolv'd in Joy and Mirth, Death came to diſturb it, and cauſed a Diviſion, which had like to have been the ruine of us all. The Vice-Commander having languiſhed under a fit of Sickneſs for ſome time, at laſt died ſome days after our Arrival at Madagaſcar▪ The Commander puts the Maſter of his Ship into his place, and would needs have the other come on Board of his, but inſtead of obeying, this laſt ſent word to the Commander, that he did not underſtand, why he ſhould be deprived of a Place that was his Due, and that he would not go out of his Ship but by force: at the ſame time cauſing all his Canon to be Mounted, that was at the bottom of the Hold, and prepared himſelf as if he had been to fight. On the Morrow the Commander ſeeing this Rebel had ſet up the Red Flagg, made preparations on his ſide, inſomuch as nothing was expected but the Hour of coming to Engagement. In the mean while the Boutefeu ſent a Chaloupe to a convenient place to take in Water; which the Commander perceiving, filled his own with Souldiers, with whom he went himſelf, and ſo ordered the buſineſs; that he conſtrained 'em to yield themſelves up, and put them all into Fetters, until he was made acquainted with their Deſign. Whereupon he poſted himſelf in ſuch manner, as it was impoſſible for the other to ſtir from his place. Whereupon the chief of the Rebels ſeeing himſelf ſhut up on all ſides, and beſides his Men being weakened by the loſs of thoſe whom the Commander had taken, repented of the fault he had committed, and fancied that the ſhorteſt way of reparation, was to yield himſelf up at the Commanders Direction. And taking along with him ſome of the Ships Crew, he went on Board, the Commander, where as ſoon as he was come, he had Fetters put upon his Hands and Feet, notwithſtanding the cries of his Men, who proteſted, that if he was not releaſed, they were reſolved to fight to the extremity, and not give any Quarter. This Bravado had ſo little effect, that upon the firſt reſiſtance, that was made to the two Pilots in the Commanders Name to come on board him, they went thither as Sheep, and were treated after the ſame manner as the others. Thoſe who remained being daunted by the detention of their Leaders, loſt heart, and yielded upon diſcretion. By order of the Council of War, it was demanded of all the Officers, that were revolted, except the Maſter, Which they would chooſe rather, either to burn altogether with their Ship, or to ſubmit themſelves blindly to whatſoever Orders the Commander ſhould pleaſe to impoſe upon them? 'Tis eaſie to conjecture that they choſe rather to live than to undergoe ſo hard a Death: and indeed they promiſed to be more ſupple than Gloves, and proteſted after having asked pardon, not to fall any more into ſuch like faults. As for the Maſter's Puniſhment, it was remitted until the return of the Ships to Genoa, and in the mean while, for the preventing ſuch like diſorders, they divided the two Ship's Crew, whereof the half was obliged to go board the other. This buſineſs did very much delay our Voyage, for the time of continuing it, being paſſed before that all was ſet to rights again, we were forced to wait for another Monzoon; but as in the mean time we made good Chear, and ſpent our time in Hunting, Fiſhing, gathering excellent Fruits with which the Iſland abounds, we were eaſily comforted for that Rub in our Voyage.

From the Coaſts of Sofala to Madagaſcar, is reckoned about a hundred and Ten Leagues, and from the Mozambiques Fourty four. It is ſituated on the Eaſt of the Coaſt of Zanguebar and the Cafrees; between the Eleventh and Sixteenth degree of Southern Latitude; and extends from 72 degrees of Longitude to 81: ſo that it is about 350 Leagues in Length from the South to the North; 120 in its greateſt breadth, and 900 in Circuit. The Iſland is divided into ſeveral Provinces, which are almoſt all parted by great Rivers.

The Air is healthful and temperate, the ſoil very fertile in Fruits, as Oranges, Pome-citrons, Lemons, very large Melons, and Pulſe. It produces Ginger, Rice, Cotton, Saffron, and other excellent Roots. They gather Wax and Honey; ſeveral ſorts of Gums, Balm; Oyls, whoſe effects are admirable. There are ſeveral Mines of Gold and Silver: the Gold is much courſer there than in Peru, and every where elſe, but the Steel of this Country is moſt excellent. They have very choice Trees; as Ebony, Brazile and Sandale Wood, Red, Yellow and White; Palm Trees of four or five ſorts, from which the Inſularies draw very great conveniences: and ſeveral others which are of no leſs profit than theſe. The Precious Stones which are moſt commonly found there, are Topazes, Amnectyſts, Emeraulds, Sapphires, Hyacinths and Agats. There are neither Lions, Elephants nor Horſes; but abundance of Tame and Wild Swine, Goats who bring forth four times in the Year. The Sheep are ſo fat, that their Tayles weigh from twenty to five and twenty Pounds. The Swine and wild Boares are there much fatter and more delicate than thoſe of Europe. There are likewiſe Porcupines, whoſe fleſh, tho ſomething harſh, has a moſt particular guſt. Theſe Animals ſleep there ſix Months together, and during that time their skin is renewed as well as that of their Hedg-hogs, which are very common in this Iſland. The Dogs here are very ſmall, and moſt part of them flat-noſed, and without Hair; the Monkeys are there in Troops, never leſs than fifty together, ſome are white of the bigneſs of a Fox; they are cruel and hard to be tamed; but there are ſome much ſmaller and browner, that are much more docible. Some very large, that only go upon their Hind Feet, whoſe Skins are white, and not ſo tawny as the reſt. Theſe love Women to that degree, that if they meet with one, they help one another to violate her every one in his turn, after which they tear her in pieces. There are thoſe, whoſe Eyes ſparkle like burning Coales; theſe are look'd upon as much the ſiner; but they are ſo wild, that when they are taken they ſtarve themſelves to Death. They have great Numbers of Martins, Weaſels and Squirrels, as likewiſe Scorpions, Spiders, Cheeſelips, and other hurtful Animals, whoſe Venom is ſo ſubtile, that 'tis preſent Death to them who are ſtung. All manner of Gumm is there very plentiful. The Iſland is inhabited both by Whites and Blacks; theſe are for the moſt part of a middle Stature; and their Hair is black and Curled: The Whites are ſomewhat bigger, their Hair is leſs black, leſs frizled, and much longer; they ſhave their Beards, and are tractable and humane, becauſe they inhabit towards the Coaſts. But they who dwell in the midſt of the Iſland, never ſhave their Beards, nor cut their Hair. They are Brutal Savages, and without integrity, like the Cafres. Treachery and Revenge are their Vertues; and thoſe who are the beſt inſtructed in 'em are the moſt eſteemed; but Charity and Compaſſion are Monſters which they have a horrour for; and thoſe who have the leaſt grain of them, are reviled and contemned. Idleneſs is natural to 'em, and they ſpend moſt of their time in ſinging and dancing. Notwithſtanding which, they have Workmen, as Smiths, Carpenters, Potters, Cord-makers, and Weavers that are expert enough in their Trades; ſome Goldſmiths they have, but they are none of the moſt dexterous. Fiſhing and Hunting are their ordinary Occupations.

The places, whither they retire, are very pitiful Cottages, which nevertheleſs they are uſed to take poſſeſſion of with as much joy, as if they were the moſt glorious Palaces. When theſe Hutts are in a condition to be inhabited, the Proprietors fix the day of their Entrance, and make a Feaſt, to which they invite their Relations and Friends; every one goes thither with Preſents, for it is forbidden to come with empty hands; and thoſe preſents conſiſt of Gold, Silver, Iron, Corn and Utenſils, that are in uſe with 'em. Some give Oxen, Sheep, Goats, Fruits; and all this mounts ſo high, that at the end of the Entertainment, the Proprietor finds himſelf largely re-imburſed for his Building and his Entertainment. The Feaſt laſts for ſome days, during which they commit ſeveral Exceſſes. Their way of living is very plain, for they have neither Tables, Chairs, Seats, Table-Cloathes, Napkins, Beds or Pillows. Inſomuch that whether it be for eating or drinking, they have only a pitiful Mat ſpread upon the Floor.

The Common People go almoſt all naked, and often without hiding what we dare not diſcover. Perſons of Quality have a kind of Drawers, which reaches down to the middle of their Legs; the reſt of the body is covered very negligently with a piece of Cotton. The Women are clothed with certain Robes, which reach but to their knees: ſome of thoſe Robes have Sleeves, and others none. They wear under them a kind of Drawers, which differs little from thoſe of the Men. They have a Handkerchief upon their Necks, much like to thoſe of France and England. Thoſe Robes are made of Cotton, rinds of Trees, and of Silk of ſeveral Colours, garniſhed with Guimps and Laces, that differ much from the colour of the Stuffs. All the Inhabitants of both Sexes, go bare-headed and bare-footed; except thoſe who are of a certain Race, whoſe Men wear a Bonnet much like a Jeſuites Cap; and the Women an Hood or Ornament in form of a Pyramid which falls down upon their Shoulders.

Their Weddings are Celebrated with very few Ceremonies, and upon very ſlight pretexts the Men put away their Wives. As it is neither a ſin nor ſcandal to Careſs one another, the Men and Women make no ſcruple of doing ſo; and when Lovers are taken in the Fact, they are acquitted for a Preſent of little Value. For the Maids to Proſtitute themſelves is looked upon as a good honeſt Trade: the more they gain thereby, the more are they eſteemed; and the moſt notorious Gallantry is the moſt ready way to Marriage. It is accounted a kind of ſhame for Maidens not to know what it is before they are Contracted: they muſt firſt of all have made ſeveral Tryals, and when they have not Wit to find Gallants, their Mothers have the goodneſs to furniſh 'em with the means of ſo doing, and to teach 'em to keep thoſe whoſe Miſtreſſes they are. With all this facility there is nothing ſo Chaſte as the Tongue of the Women of Madagaſcar; and ſuch an one is more laſcivious and more debauched than Lais, that one would take for a Lucretia, if youdid not know her.

When any Perſon dies, all the Relations aſſemble to waſh the Body; after which they deck the Deceaſed with his fineſt Attire; put him on Rings, Pendants and Bracelets, afterwards they wrap him up in fine Linnen, and a • laſt in a Mat, wherein he is carried to his Grave. This is the Cuſtom of the Common People, but the Ceremonies of Perſons of Quality there are wholl • different. When they have waſhed their Bodies, and cut of all, their Hair, they pu • a Crown of the fineſt Flowers that can be found upon their Heads, then the Relations and Domeſticks bewail and lament round the Body with Grimaces that raiſe Horrour. After the Tears have made a pawſe, the moſt Ancient of the Relations makes a kind of Funeral Oration which contains the Life and moſt Memorable Actions of the Defunct. After which they make a terrible noiſe in tingling upon Copper Baſons, to the noiſe of which they dance • fter an odd kind of manner; which • ome of them leave off doing on a ſud • en, and go to diſcourſe their dead kinſ • an. They ask him why he let himſelf • ye? if it be for want of Money, Jew •• s, Precious Stones? if life was a bur • en to him, or if he want any thing? One day is ſpent in theſe fooleries, wherein the Relations do ſo tire 'em • elves, that they have need of repoſe. Wherefore they re-aſſemble the next • ay at the Houſe of the Deceaſt, where • hey are entertained with a Funeral Re • aſt: they eat and drink as much as e • er they are able, and without diſconti • uing, they ſometimes give great ſighs▪ • irſt looking up to Heaven, then upon • he Dead, around whom there are burn • ng Lamps. On the Third day they • ut him into a Coffin, made of two Trees, bored for that purpoſe, and which they joyn together very neatly. Afterwards they carry him into a ſpick ſpan new Hutt▪ wherein they put him into a Grave of ſix foot high; and round it a Pannier of Rice; and a Pipe and Tobacco, together with a Chaffingdiſh, a Sute of Clothes, and generally a little • f all things which they believe he will • ave occaſion for in his Journey to the other World. They ſhut up the H •• with a great Stone, and they offer ſom • living Creatures to the Devil, that 〈◊〉 would be favourable to him in the courſ • of his Voyage.

The whole Year is ſpent in mour • ing, and his Memory is ſo precious, tha • his Relatives make him the only ſubje •• of their Diſcourſe. It is he, whom the • invoke in their diſtreſſes, and who • they Conſult in Affairs of moment; an • for their being the better underſtoo • they go ſeek out his Soul where they i • magine it is.

Some are Idolaters or without an • ſhadow of Religion. Others toward • the Coaſts are Mahometans. The fir •• are Superſtitious and ſo groſs, that the • are afraid of all things. Some Ide • they have of a Firſt Being, who has Created all things, but they do not believ • themſelves obliged to adore him, an • they pay him no Honour; and yet, whe • they are near the end, whether thro age o • otherwiſe, they confeſs their ſins to him▪ and ask his pardon for 'em. As to the Dev • whom they call the Malign and Inviſibl • Being, they ſeem to have a clearer knowledge of him. 'Tis he, they ſay, who give • and takes away Life: he is the Author o • • ll the evil which Men do, and all • he Miſchief which happens to them. Wherefore they pray and Sacrifice to • im for the making him propitious, that • e may ward from their Heads, the miſ • hiefs with which they are threatned. Beſides theſe two beings, they acknow • edge a Third, whom they call Dian • anans, that is to ſay, the God of Rich • s. They think it is he, who renders Men happy, and on whom depends their Felicity. They have furthermore a confuſed Idea, at leaſt thoſe towards the Coaſts, of Angels, of Adam, Eve, No • b, and even of our Saviour, which they • eceived from the Europeans; but they do not operate any good effect, and if • hey have Feaſts and Faſts, it is thro a meer caprice, which they hold from Father to Son.

'Tis perhaps from the ſame ſource, • hat they have received Circumciſion, which they obſerve very fantaſtically at • certain Seaſon of the Year in the fol • owing manner. On the day before the Ceremony, all the Kindred aſſemble at • he Childs Fathers Houſe, and fuddle • hemſelves with a ſort of Drink that is 〈◊〉 ſweet as Mead, when they are ſome • hat heated, ſome tingle upon Baſons; others skirmiſh with their Targets, an • Azagays, while the Young Men an • Maids dance to the ſounds of thoſe B • ſons which ſerve them inſtead of M • ſick. When they are weary, they fa •• to their Mead again, and fox themſelv •• anew at a certain hour of the Night. Th • Mother takes the Child, who is the occaſion of the Feaſt, and goes to lie alo •• with it in a Hut built on purpoſe • Moneth before. At break of day ſh • waſhes all her own body, and does th • ſame to that of her Son, whom ſhe dec •• up like a Puppet, with Pendants, Brac • lets and a Neck-lace of a Value confo • mable to her condition. Hereupo • ſhe goes to find out her Husband an • his Gueſts, and the thinkling is renewed but ſome time after, all this noiſe giv • way to ſilence, during which, all tho •• who have been in the act of Venery a •• obliged to retire, and likewiſe thoſe wh •• are ſuſpected of having layn that Nigh • with their Wives; for all is Myſtery i • this occaſion; and if the Father of th • Child had toucht his Wife the Nig •• before, they would be ſure to defer t •• Ceremony. Beſides this precaution, the • have alſo that of ſending thoſe awa • from the place of the Ceremony, wh • carry about them any thing of a red colour, becauſe their preſence, ſay they, would hinder the ſtopping of the bloud in the Wound, All being thus diſpoſed, the Prieſt approaches with meaſured ſteps, and with Devotion takes the Knife deſtined to that uſe, and ties a Napkin on his left Leg; the Father and Unckles of the Child do the ſame upon their Arms; and in that Equipage they follow the Prieſt thro the Door ſituated on the Weſt, into the Hut, where the Mother is in Bed with the Child. In fine, after the Circumciſion, the Fore-skin is caſt upon the ground, if the perſon Circumciſed be a Slave; but if free, the Fore-skin is put upon the Yelk of an Egg, whereon the Father or Unckle of the Child receive it from the hand of the Prieſts. After having put upon the Wound a Mixture of the bloud of a Cock and the Juice of Herbs, the Child is brought back to his Fathers Houſe, with Huzzas and Acclamations, which laſt the reſt of the day.

To ſee theſe Grimaces, one would ſay, that theſe Inſularies are very Religious, and very tender of their Children; however we may affirm, they are nothing leſs than that; for indeed they neither ſincerity nor affection, which it is eaſie to prove. When they have a Child born, they give notice thereof to their Prieſts, who make thoſe ignorant People believe, they read in the Stars all that happens upon Earth. The Prieſt pretends to conſult the Heavens upon what is to happen to the Child; and according to the humour he is in, he ſpeaks well or ill of his future inclinations: and if His Holineſs ſays, that he is born under an ill Conſtellation, that his manners will be corrupted, that he will be wicked, cruel and bloudy minded, from that moment the Child is carried out of the Houſe and caſt into a Buſh, where it ſerves for food unto the Beaſts. If a Woman during her bigbelly finds her ſelf more ill than uſually, they ſtick not to believe, that 'tis the Child who torments her, and this is an ill Omen: whereupon they give the Mother a certain Potion, which kills the Child; or if they wait till it be born, it is no ſooner born, but 'tis caſt into a Ditch, or into Water. This inhumanity is ſo general, that all Women both Free and Slaves, make no ſcruple of loſing their Fruit upon any pretext whatſoever. Sometimes it is by reaſon that the Mother being a Slave, takes it ill to ſee her ſelf put away by her Maſter, who has deflowred her: ſometimes for that a white Maid being got with Child by a Blackmore, has ſome horrour of being the Mother of a Child of a different colour; and laſtly, ſometimes for that a Maid having got an itch to Libertiniſme, and is not willing to Marry, chooſes rather to kill her Children, than take the trouble of breeding them up. But if the Women are unnatural, the Men do not fall ſhort of them in that ill Quality; for if it happens, that the Mother expires in the Delivery, the Father cauſes the Child to be put in the ſame Coffin, ſaying, that it is better for it to be dead, than to be brought up by Strangers. Beſides theſe unhappy pretences of getting rid of their Children, there are a hundred others cauſed by Superſtition: thus it is no wonder, that this Iſland, as voluptuous as it is, is however ſo thinly populated. Thoſe who inhabit towards the Coaſts being become more humane thro Commerce with ſtrangers, are ſomething leſs eaſie to put their Children to Death. When the Prieſt has told them his Sentiment, and gives them no good hopes, there are thoſe who will have them educated privately by Slaves, who bring them up like Beaſts, to the end, (ſay they) that they may overcome by that means their ill nature.

The Iſland is governed by ſeveral Kings, who are almoſt always in War. Their Armes are Bows and Arrows, Javelins and Targets; they do not want Courage, but they Fight without Rules and Art. Their principal dexterity conſiſts in ſurprizing the Enemy in an advantageous Place, and keeping him in play, while the others ſecure the Country, and burn all they meet with. In the mean while the Women take their pleaſure, and ſeek out all means of diverſion, but they dare not be unfaithful to their Husbands, at leaſt, thoſe who love them; believing that if they had any favour to their prejudice, they would not fail to be killed or dangerouſly wounded: whereas by making good chear without having to do with Men, the Husband would become both ſtronger and more couragious.

During our abode in the Iſland, King Diembro having marcht againſt His Enemies in the Head of Seven Thouſand Men, we went upon a Mountain, from whence we ſaw the field of Battel. The two Armies being in ſight, they began confuſedly with Javelins; then endeavouring to join, the ſtrongeſt flung his Man upon the Ground, and killed him without remiſſion; the Fight was long and doubtful, but at length, Diembro had the advantage, tho he was much inferiour in Number, thoſe who remain Conquerors, return to their Homes ſinging, but the greateſt noiſe comes from thoſe, who have been made Nobles, which is performed in this manner. some days before that of the Battel, there are Detachments drawn out on both ſides to skirmiſh; thoſe who are the ſtrongeſt cut their Enemies Heads off, and carry and lay them at the Kings feet, who Careſſes 'em very highly, and gives 'em the Title of Noblemen: if in the following Wars, thoſe Noblemen bring ſtill more Heads, they are qualify'd proportionably, inſomuch as the Heads of their Enemies are as ſo many ſteps, which raiſe 'em to the higheſt Offices and Dignities.

When they have a deſire to make Peace, the firſt means to attain it, is to make Preſents on both ſides, and to appoint the day for the Treaty. The day being come, both Armies ſet 'emſelves in Battel-Array upon the Banks of a River, which parts 'em: They kill a Bull on each ſide, out of whoſe Liver, Kings ſend one another a Portion, whereof they and their Generals eat in the preſence of their Deputies: at the ſame time they ſwear to execute punctually the Articles of Peace, which they had newly agreed to; which commonly conſiſt in never poyſoning the Waters nor Cattel more; and in not burning the Houſes, and in abſtaining from all Pillage: Wiſhing that the Liver they eat may ſerve 'em for Poiſon, if they ſpeak againſt their Thoughts.

Sect. III.

AFter five whole Moneths ſtay at Madagaſcar, we departed from thence on the 16th of March, and on the 12th. of June we arrived at Sumatra. We caſt Anchor in the Port of Sillebar, where we took in Peper and ſome other refreſhments. In Cruiſing along the Coaſts we took two Joncks that we met with. All the People they had on Board, leapt into the Sea, except a Woman, whom all the Italians vitiated, in ſpight of our Officers, after the moſt bruitiſh manner imaginable; when their Rage was glutted, they let her go, but ſhe was no ſooner on Land, than her Husband ſtab'd her to Death.

On the 28th. we made Sail towards Indrapoura, and in our way we took two Joncks more of Arquin, that were laded with Pepper, Sandalewood, Camphire and ſuch like things. On the 29th. we arriv'd at Indrapoura, where we bought what we wanted. We expected to have met with ſome more Joncks, but they were already departed.

From thence we made towards the Sonda, and a little after that we were in the Streights, Fourteen Holland Ships came thundring upon us. They came from Batavia, with Orders from the Company to bring us thither either by fair means or foul; immediately they Summon'd our Commander, who very bravely made Anſwer, That he was not a Man to yield till after having bravely defended himſelf, and that perhaps, how ſtrong ſoever they might be, they would find it difficult to conſtrain him to it. The Hollanders not thinking to have met with ſo reſolute a Man, ſent to Batavia to know what they were to do; the Anſwer was, that they ſhould preſs us, and if they found themſelves too weak to perform their Commiſſions, they ſhould make uſe of the Reinforcement that was coming to them, which was a great Man of War advantageouſly fitted out, whoſe help was in no wiſe neceſſary. The Hollanders having received this Order, bid us with an imperious Tone, bring to them our Flag and ſtrike Sail, or they would ſink us to the bottom. This daunted our Commander, who had had time to think of what he was to do: he became penſive uneaſie, and perhaps he had reaſon ſo to be. His Men had ſtill in mind the Diſpute at Madagaſcar; he knew they hated him, and they only waited for an opportunity to be revenged for the affront he had put upon them. Theſe Conſiderations made him inclinable to yield; but before he came to that Reſolution, he took Council of his Officers, who were unanimouſly of Opinion, that he ſhould follow the Law of the Strongeſt, ſince their loſs was infallible, if they perſiſted to make reſiſtance; this Reſolution was applauded by all the Ships Crew, whoſe diſunion was ſo viſible, that they could hardly have lived longer together: thus the Hollanders were received with open Arms. We were overjoy'd at the changing of our Maſters, and never were any Men better pleaſed with coming out of Priſon, than our Men were to go into it. If the paſſion of Separating had not been ſo great among them, it would have been eaſie for them to have made their Eſcape by Night by the way of Batavia, for our Ship was a ſwift Sailer, and thoſe of the Hollanders ſo heavy, that we were always twenty four Hours more advanced than they.

On the 15th. of July, the Commander of the Hollander, called Jacob vander Meule came on Board us; and in the General of Batavia's name, took an Inventory of all he found there. After having written our Names, and the Name of the place of our Birth, thoſe whom they met withal of our own Nation, were put apart in the Corps de garde of Java; the others remained in the Ship, whoſe Coffers they picked, taking out all the Money they found there, and making their eſcape, the Italians to Goa and Bantam, and the Hamburghers to their own Country. Preſently after this Plunder, our Commander was found dead, and we judged, by the ſigns he ſaw upon his Body, that he was poyſoned, probably by the Italians, for fear he ſhould have defeated 'em at his return. As for our parts, we were kept Priſoners for fourteen or fifteen days, but having preſented our requeſts to be ſet at liberty, we were accordingly ſet free; and by order of the General, each Man having received the Wages he pretended to from the Republick of Genoa, it was left to his choice, either to return into his own Country, or enter into the Service of the Company. I was one of the number, which accepted this laſt offer, and the others were diſperſed.

Shortly after my entring into the Service of the Eaſt India Company, I was ſent by the General of Batavia to regulate ſome Affairs at Bantam, where having diſpatched my buſineſs, I took occaſion to make all the inquiry I could into the State of that Iſland, which take as followeth.

Java Major is an Iſle declining 7 degrees 40 Minutes towards the Antartic from the Equinoctial; and placed in 21 degree of Longitude; a very great and noble Iſle for from Eaſt to Weſt it ſtretches one Hundred and Fifty Leagues, or of Miles Four Hundred and Fifty, and from North to South Ninty Leagues, or two Hundred and Seventy Miles Engliſh. The Mid-land is for the moſt part Mountainous, and meanly Peopled; but the Maritine low, and very Populous: the firſt is very ſubject is Wind but Healthy: the latter Mariſh and inſalubrious. It may be called a Compendium of the World; for it abounds in all things that be either uſeful or excellent. The Coaſt by reaſon of Trade for P • per has Towns well built, and very wealthy: upon the North ſide and to the North Eaſt, are Bantam, Palamban, Jachatra, (now called Batavia by the Dutch, but formerly Sunda Calapa by the Inhabitants, and not unlikely to be that City Sunda, where the People uſed with a dead Man to bury ſo many live fiſh, as he had ſlain Enemies in his life time) as alſo Japarra, Tubur, Jortan, Grecy, Chiringen, Serebaya, &c.

Bantam is under the Antartic declination or Latitude 6 degrees 20 minutes▪ and of Weſterly variation, 3 degrees. 'Tis the biggeſt City in the Iſland, being ſituated at the foot of a Mountain▪ whence three Rivers riſe, two whereof run by the Walls, the other thro the City; but all too ſhallow for Navigation▪ the Town is indifferently great, but Raſcally Houſes; the Walls which are Brick, and three foot thickneſs, are not entirely lined with Earth, yet ſo flanked, that at every Hundred Paces lies a Canon, which would ſufficiently ſecure the Curtains, were it in condition for ſervice, but their Artillery is not mounted, and they have no other Ammunition than a little Powder, brought from Malaca, where the Portugueſes have a Mill. The City Gates are ſo wretched, that they might be beaten down with a Club; but ſo vigilantly guarded, 'twould be hard to approach without notice; there are neither Baſtions nor Towers, but in lieu thereof Scaffolds of three Stories, which yield a ſtrong defence.

In the whole City there are but three principal Streets, which all about upon the Caſtle called Pacebam. The one from the Pacebam to the Haven; another where the Kings Slaves and Domeſticks inhabits, leads to the Gate towards the Fields, and the third to the Gate at the foot of the Mountain. The Streets are not pav'd, but are as commodious, by means of the Sand they are covered with. The Channels which in divers places croſs the City, are foul and ſtinking, in regard the Stream of the River is not ſtrong enough to carry off the filth it brings, and what is thrown forth choaks the Water, and makes Puddles, that infect the whole City. No Perſon of Quality, but has his private Chappel, or Moſquite in his Houſe; but one is common near the Palace on the Magazin and Stable-ſide. The City is divided into ſeveral Poſts, each of which is aſſigned to ſome Perſon of Quality, who commands in time of War, and gives direction in Civil Affairs. They have a Drum as big as thoſe German Casks called Thunderbolts, uſed inſtead of Bells, which they beat with a woodenbar as big as a Weavers Beam, Morning and Evening, as alſo upon Alarums they have braſs Baſons, which they beat Muſically and Chime upon, as we do our Bells.

At every corner of the Streets there ſtands a Guard, and at Sun▪ſet they draw up to make faſt all paſſage Boats, ſo as in the Night there is no ſtirring in the Street. At the Priſon-Gate, near the Palace, ſtands a Guard of Fifty Men: nor is there a Perſon of Quality, who has not one of Ten or Twelve at his Houſe. The Town is full of Coco-Trees, nor is there a Manſion without divers belonging to it. The Houſes are poorly built of Straw Reeds upon Piles made like thoſe at Ackim. They cover their Houſes with Coco-Leaves, and the ſides of their Lodging Rooms have only Curtains for freedom of the Air, which is exceeding neceſſary in this hot Climate. For preſervation of their Wares they have ſtore Houſes of Stone, but they are covered with ſtraw, ſo as to ſecure them from fire, which is but too frequent amongſt them; they lay great pieces of Timber on the Ro • f, and cover it with Sand, that the Fire may not find paſſage. The Rooms in their Houſes are only divided by partitions made of Canes called Bamboos, which they ſlit ſo thin, that a Horſe-Load ſerves for all the Rooms in their Houſes. At the Houſes of Perſons of Quality upon the firſt Entrance, you come into a Square Court, where the Guard is, and where the Maſter of the Houſe ſpeaks with ſuch as have buſineſs with him, under a little ſhed, covered with Canes or Coco-leaves, in one of the corners of this Court ſtands the Moſquite, where at Noon they do their Devotions, and not far thence the Ciſtern where they waſh themſelves. Being entred the Houſe, you find on both ſides of a very narrow Gallery ſeveral little Nicks, for Slaves to reſt in, who watch there for their Maſters ſecurity; by reaſon they are all afraid of being ſurprized and killed by their enemies in the night. All Foreigners, as the Natives of Bengala, as Guſurats, Malayans, Abyſſins, Chineſes, Portugals, and Hollanders, ly out of Town. Here are three great Market Places, where the Merchants meet daily; the Grand Bazaror Exchange, is towards the Eaſt part of the Town, and is the Meeting place of Foreign Merchants, as Portugueſes, Arabians, Turks, Chineſes, Pagans, Malayans, Bengalans, Guſarats, Malabars, and other Indians, who are there from the break of the day until Nine of the Clock, and then break up; the ſecond Market Place is before the great Meſquite divided from it by a Paliſado. To this place Women reſort with Sacks, and a weight of three Pounds, they call Gantam, who buy Peper of the Country People, an eight or nine Hundred Caxas the Gantam. But the Chineſes, who are very skilful in this Trade, foreſtal them ſometimes, for they go to the Peaſants, and buy all they have by the lump before-hand. Betwixt the Palliſado and the Moſquite, ſtand Women that ſell Bettele, Araca, Bananas, Melons, &c. and ſome there are ſet fine Cakes to be eaten hot.

A little higher on the Right Hand are Armorers, who ſell ſmall pieces of Cannon, Piſtols, Sword-blades, Battle-axes, &c. Not far thence, there are others that ſell Sandale Wood, White and Yellow, and on the Left Hand are Confectioners that ſell Sugar, Honey, and all ſorts of Sweet-meats wet or dry. Near to that is the Bean-Market, where are ſold all ſorts of Beans, black white, red, yellow, green and gray, at the three Hundred Caxas the Gantam. Next to this is the Onion Market, where the Merchants that ſell Cloth by wholeſale come, and ſuch as deal in return of Money, and aſſurances of the return in Veſſels. Hard by this is the Poultry, where beſides tame Fowl, they ſell alſo Kids, Geeſe, Pidgeons, Parrots▪ &c. coming thence you meet with 3 ways, one going to the Chineſes ſhop, another to the Herb and Pulſe Market; and the 3d. to the Shambles. By the way to the Chineſes ſhops, on the Right Hand are ſome Jewellers, who for the greater part are Choroacones, that is to ſay, Perſians or Arabians, who ſell Rubies, Hyacinths, Turqueſſes, Granats, &c. And on the Left Hand is the place for the Bengalians, with their Toys and ſmall Wares. On the back ſide of this Street, the Chineſes ſell their Silks Raw and Coloured, Damask, Velvet, Sattins, Brocadoes of Gold and Silver, Purcelane Cabinets and works of Lacques, &c. By the way to the Herb Market, on the Right Hand upon the Sand, are the Bengalians with their ſmall Wares. On the Left Hand Merchants of Linnen-Cloth, and at the lower end of this Market, Married Women have Seamſtreſſes ſhops; but Men are forbidden to come there under pain of a Forfeiture. Then you come to the Herb Market, where are a multitude of Simples unknown to us. Turning thence you ſee the Fiſh-market, then the ſhambles, with Stalls full of Beef, Buffles and Veniſon: Then the Spice-market, where Women ſell Peper, Cloves, Nutmegs, Mace, &c. and all ſorts of Gumms and Druggs, to Europians unknown: and the Rice-market where likewiſe they ſell Earthen Ware and Salt; whence they paſs by the ſame way they came to the place, where Merchants and Maſters of ſhips meet about their Affairs:

The ſale of theſe Commodities laſts but till Nine of the Clock, and then opens the Market before the Pacebam, or Palace-Royal, where are ſold all ſorts of Victuals, as likewiſe ſome Pepper, which they truck with the Chineſes. About Noon the Market in the Chineſes Quarters begins, where nothing is ſold but for the Table.

Next to Bantam, Tuba, or Tuban, is the Chiefeſt Town in Java, and in effect is ſtronger than all the reſt, and although not ſo great as Bantam, 'tis at leaſt as handſome; and as well built. The Palace is exceeding ſpacious, and hath very fair Apartments, where Elephants and other Beaſts have their ſeveral Quarters: each Elephant hath his Lodge built upon four Pillars, with a Poſt in the middle to tie him to. The Rooms are filled with Cheſts, and Hampers for the Baggage, when the King goes His Progreſs. Near to his Lodgings is a place where his Game-Cocks are kept every one in his Pen apart, and every one his keeper; as likewiſe the Parrats, which are much before thoſe brought into theſe Parts, the greateſt part of a beautiful flame colour, with a great Golden ſpot on the back: The outſide of their Wings blue and red, and the in-ſide a lovely Carnation. They are to endure the inconveniencies of a long Voyage: beſides the Indians highly eſteem them, for that they love their owners, and delight to be made much of by them. The King of Tuban was much taken with all theſe Creatures, as alſo with Dogs, Horſes, and white Ducks, much larger than ours. He had four legitimate Wives, Six Sons, and Two Daughters; beſides Natural Children, a great number by Concubines, which he kept in ſeveral Apartments: His Bed was raiſed at ſome diſtance from the Ground, built like an Altar of Great Stones, whereon lay a Quilt, and certain Pillows of Satin, filled with raw Silk.

The chief Commerce they have at Tuban conſiſts in Pepper, which they carry to the Iſle of Bady, where they truck it for Cloth and Stuffes of Cotton and Silk, which afterwards they bring to Banda, Toanate, and the Philippins, and other parts, to truck for Cloves, Mace and Nutmegs, The Inhabitants for the greateſt part, live only on Fiſh. They wear no other Garments than a Linnen Cloth about the Loyns; only Perſons of the Firſt Quality have ſometimes Hangſelines of Chamelet, which reach but to their Knees. They are by this Habit diſtinguiſhed from others Perſons, and by their Trains of Slaves, without whom they never come abroad. They delight much in Horſes, and to have their Saddles exceeding Rich, which are made like our great Saddles; only their Trappings ſtudded with Gold and Silver, ſtriving to appear well Mounted at Aſſemblies, and to ſhew the King their Horſemanſhip, and the dexterity of their Horſes.

The Inhabitants that live in the inner part of the Iſle of Java are Pagans, and the greateſt part Pythagoreans, believing a Tranſmigration of the Soul; for which reaſon they eat neither Fiſh nor Fleſh. Towards the South part of the Iſle, there are, tho but few, Mahometans, who obſerve the Turkiſh Religion in all things, ſending for Prieſts to Mecca.

They obſerve two great Feſtivals, the greater of the two begins the 5th. of Auguſt; and at the beginning of this faſting Lent it is, the Slaves renew their Submiſſion to their Maſters, with Ceremonies extraordinary; for they take them by the Feet, and rub 'em upwards to the Knees; then cloſing their Hands, they rub the Head, Face and Neck, and then uncloſe them again.

Lent being ended, they celebrate their Eaſter, entertaining their Children and all their Domeſtics with a Dinner. There is ſcarce a Man in Bantam, who hath not three or four Wives, and ſome have ten or twelve, beſides Concubines, who wait on their Wives, eſpecially when they go abroad: they make no difference between legitimate and natural Children: a Father hath not power to ſell his Child though he had it by a Slave. Children go ſtark naked, only the Girls cover their Privities with a thin Plate of Gold and Silver: they marry at the AGe of Eight, Nine or Ten Years, not only to prevent the Diſorders, which in this hot Climate were inevitable, but becauſe the King is Heir to all who dying leave their Children under Age, whom he makes his Slaves, as he doth the Widdows and Family of the deceaſed. The Dowry which Perſons of Quality give with their Daughters conſiſts in Slaves of both Sexes, and in a ſum of Coxas, which is very conſiderable among them when it amounts to three hundred thouſand, tho it be but much about twenty two Crowns and a half of our Money.

The Women appear with great Decency at the Marriage of their Relations, tho they uſe no great Ceremony. One may know the day by certain Poles, which are ſtuck in the Houſes of the Bride and Bridegroom, with Taſſels of red and white Cotton.

Dinner ended, they bring a Horſe to the Bridegroom, whereon he rides about the Town till Evening, expecting the Slaves he is to have in Marriage, who come commonly loaden with Preſents. None but the neareſt Kindred ſup with them, and ſee the new Married Couple abed.

Women of the firſt Rank are kept in ſuch reſtraint, that their own Sons are not ſuffered to come into their Chambers; and when they go abroad, which is very ſeldom, all give place and reſpect to them, even the King himſelf does it: nor dares any Man ſpeak to a Married Woman without the leave of her Huſband. Women of Quality are known from others only by their Train; for all are dreſſed after the ſame Faſhion, wearing a Petticoat of Cotton or Silk, which comes from the Breaſt to the mid-leg, Stockings they have none, and go all bare▪headed, tying up their Hair together on the Crown of their Head; but, when they come to Weddings or other Publick Aſſemblies, they wear a Coronet of Gold, and have Coronets and Bracelets on their Fingers, and about their Arms. They are ſo much addicted to Cleanlineſs, that there paſſes not a day, but they bath themſelves three or four times. They never do their natural Neceſſities, nor receive their Benevolences from their Husbands, but they go up to the neck in Water to cleanſe themſelves: they do no work at all, which is no wonder; ſince the Husbands themſelves having employed two or three Hours about their Merchandize, all the day after do nothing but chew Bettele amongſt their Wives, who are very ſollicitous, by all the little Kindneſſes, imaginable to court their Loves, waſhing and rubbing 'em till they are ſtirred up to Voluptuouſneſs.

The Magiſtrate of the Town of Bantam ſits in Judicature in the Court of Pacebam, from four or five in the evening until it be night. The Plaintiff and Defendant appear both in Perſon, and plead their own Cauſe. One only Puniſhment is uſed for Criminals; that is, they tie them to a Poſt, and ſtab them to death with a Ponyard. Strangers have this privilege, that giving ſatisfaction to the party complaining, they may redeem themſelves from death, except they have murdered in cold bloud, or upon advantage.

The Kings Council meets upon Affairs of State under a broad ſpread Tree by Moon▪light, where ſometime there comes near five Hundred Perſons, who part not till the Moon goes down. When the Council is riſen, they go to Bed, and there ly till Dinner. Afterwards the Counſellors of State give audience to all who have ought to propoſe to the Council. When the King comes there in Perſon, he ſits in the midſt of them, or elſe with the four Principal Miniſters of State, and propounds the point wherein he requireth their advice, or cauſes the Governour of the Town to propound it, To a Council of War they call the three Hundred Captrins, Commanders of the Troops the Armies conſiſt of, which are raiſed in the Town it ſelf. They have a particular courſe for quenching Fire, which happecs but too often among 'em; for the Women have this office impoſed upon them, while the Men ſtand in Arms to defend 'em in the mean time from Pillage.

Perſons of Quality, when they go to Court, or through the Town, they have carried before them a Lance and a Sword ſheathed in a black Velvet Scabbard, and by theſe Enſigns oblige all the Street to make way for them, and retiring back to ſit on their Heels, till theſe Grandees are paſt. Their ordinary wear is of Stuff wrought with Silk, and they wear Turbants of a fine Bengalian Cloth. Some amongſt them wear Mandillions of Velvet black or crimſon, and never forget the Dagger or Poniard under their Girdle. They ever go with a numerous Train of ſlaves, one amongſt them carrying the Bettel Bottel, another the Chamber▪pot, and a third the Ʋmbrello. They all go barefooted, it being thought a diſparagement among 'em to walk with Shooes thro the Town. In their Houſes many wear 'em; they are made at Achim, Malacca, and China, and the Iſle of Sumatra, where are alſo made moſt part of the Ʋmbrello's uſed in the Indies.

The Bantamites are haughty, ſelfconceited, perfidious, miſchievous, and cruel; who never fail to make an end of ſuch they get advantage of; and having once committed a Murder they kill all in their power; for knowing Death to be their inevitable reward, their diſcharge their fury indifferently on all they encounter, without conſideration of Sex or Age: ſo as ſometimes they are conſtrained to kill them in the place, inſtead of taking them to be delivered up into the Hands of Juſtice.

They generally wear long Hair, are of a Cheſnut Complexion, having great Jaw Bones, flat Faces, great Eyebrows, little Eyes, thin Beard; and being of a middle ſtature, well ſet, and ſtrongly limb'd. They are naturally addicted to Theft, and ſo vindicative, that to be revenged of an Enemy they ſtick not to turn upon his Weapon, and chooſe an aſſured Death to take away anothers Life. Of which there was an example during the King of Bantam's beſieging Batavia in the Year 1659. a Dutch Souldier lying in Ambuſhcade in a Marſh, a Bantamite little dreaming that any body had been there, came to the ſame place to diſcover the Enemy, and was by the Dutchman thruſt with his Pike into his body. Upon which the Bantamite finding himſelf wounded, did not ſtrive to pull the Pike out of his body, but thruſt himſelf further upon it, to the end he might come at his Enemy, whom he ſtabb'd to the heart as ſoon as he got within his reach.

This bloudy diſpoſition ſhews, they have courage, and would make good Souldiers, were they but as dexterous at Fire Arms, as they are at their uſual weapons, which are the Pike, the Battle-Axe, and the Broad Sword, but above all the Dagger or Poniard. Their Bucklers are of Wood or boyled Leather ſtretch'd upon a Hoop; and for their Bodies they have Cuinaſſes, the pieces being faſtned together with Na • ls of Iron. Souldiers in times of Peace have no Pay, but in time War they have Arms and Cloths, and Rice, and Fiſh for Proviſion. They are all Slaves, and not only ſuch as belong to the King, but likewiſe to other Lords, who are obliged to enroll them for their Princes ſervice. They are ſeldom or never idle, but imploy themſelves moſt commonly in making Sheaths for Poniards of Sandal Wood made hollow, or poliſhing their Arms, which they generally poyſon, keeping 'em ſo well, that no Razor can be ſharper than their Swords. The Bantamites, as indeed all the reſt of the Indians, hold their Daggers ſo dear to them, that they will not ſpeak to any Man without that by their ſide, not one Brother with another, and at Night they lay it under their Bolſters. Some uſe Trunks, thorow which they blow little poyſoned Arrows, ſo bearded that pulling it out, the Head remains in the Wound, which by theſe means becomes incurable and mortal. Amongſt ſuch a multitude of Villains, there are notwithſtanding ſome honeſt People, but the number is very ſmall; for except ſome that inhabit near Bantam upon the Streight of Sunda, at the foot of the Mountain Gonon Bezar, who were tranſplanted thither from Paſarvan, all the reſt are depraved. The People not able to live under the Tyranny of the King of Paſarvan, put themſelves on certain conditions under the protection of the King of Bantam, and have built the Town of Sura, which has a peculiar King, but ſubordinate notwithſtanding to the King of Bantam, they living peaceably, and perſevering in the exerciſe of the Pagan Religion.

The Soil is cultivated either by free People, who take it of their King or other Lords at a certain Rent, and are not bound to labour longer than by their Bargain, and may afterwards do what they pleaſe; or by Slaves, who cultivate their Pepper, Rice and Cocoes, breed Poultry and Cattel for their Maſters profit, and ſupply his Kitchin. Some Slaves take the Cocoes at 1000 Caxaes the Tree. Others work by the day, and get Eight Hundred Caxaes the day, which is to their Maſters profit. Others are not maintain'd by their Maſters, but ſerve them ſix days, and the ſix days following work for themſelves, and ſo get their Livelihood. The Women-Slaves keep Market, where they ſell their Maſters Pepper and other Commodities; or elſe imploy themſelves in ſcouring or making Cloth, that they might not live unprofitably. When they have a mind to be cas'd of them, they lead 'em from Port to Port, and ſell them to him who will give moſt. The ordinary price for one of an able body, is five Fardoes, that is about a Piſtol a piece. The Children of a Slave belong to the Maſter, who diſpoſes of 'em as he thinks beſt; but he hath not power over the life of his Slave, without the expreſs conſent of the King or Governour.

The Pepper, which the Bantamites ſell to Strangers, is uſually mix'd with Ordure, black Sand, or Gravel; or they adulterate it ſome other way, either in quality or weight, as they do all their other Commodities. They keep a Trade amidſt all the neighbouring Iſlands, with notable advantage. At the Towns of Macaſſer and Surubya they fetch Rice, which there they buy for one Sata de Caxa the Gantan, and ſell it for double the Price. At Balambuam they buy Cocoes, a thouſand Caxaes the Hundred, and venting 'em by retail at Bantam, they ſell eight Cocoes for two Hundred Caxaes, there they likewiſe buy the Oyl of the ſame Fruit. At Joartam, Gerrici Pati, and Juama, they fetch Salt at a Hundred and fifty thouſand Caxaes the eight Hundred Gantans; and at Bantam three Gantans are worth a thouſand Caxaes. They carry Salt to Sumatra, where they truck for Lacque, Pepper, Benjamin, Cotton, Tortoyſe-ſhells and divers other Commodities; from Jacatra, Jappara, Cravaon, Timor and Palimbaon, they fetch Honey, Wax, Sugar, &c. Salt-fiſh from Cravaon, and Bender-meſſing; Iron from Crimata in the Iſle of Borneo; Copper and Lead from Pepa and Guſebun upon the Coaſt of Malacca; from Bali and Cambaya, Cotton, and Cotton-Cloth, &c.

Rich Merchants make no Voyages themſelves, but venture the greateſt part of their Money for more or leſs profit, as the Voyages are long and dangerous, and near upon the like Conditions we do here in Europe. Obligations, as all other Inſtruments, are written upon the Bark of a Tree, the Letters ingrav'd with a Bodkin; and they make it up in a Roll, or fold it four-ſquare betwixt two Boards, which they tye together with a Pack-thread very neatly: ſometimes they uſe China Paper, which is very fine and of all colours. As yet they know not the Art of Printing; but they paint their own Characters exactly well, which are rather Figures than Letters. The uſual Language is peculiar to the Country, but the Malayans is more general; the Mahometan Relion hath likewiſe brought in the Arabian Language.

The Perſians, by the Bantamites called Coracons, traffick here for precious Stones, and all ſorts of Gums and Drugs, and are a People to be confided in, becauſe they are open-hearted and civil. The Arabians and the Beguians come thither for China Ware, and bring with them the Commodities of the neighbouring Iſlands. The Malayans and Quilens let their Money out at Intereſt, or upon Change. The Guſurattans are poor, and commonly Sea Men. All theſe Foreigners are attired all of one Faſhion, in a Cotton Garment, and in a Turbant of the ſame Stuff. At their coming to Bantam, they buy a Woman that is for all Uſes, and at their Departure thence they ſell her again; but, if they have Children by her they are tyed to provide for them.

The Chineſes are they, that bring the greateſt Trade thither, the moſt induſtrious to get Wealth, and live the beſt. They are a ſelf-ended People, that live by Uſury, and have there the ſame repute as the Jews in Europe. They go into the Countrey with a Weight in hand to buy all the Pepper they can meet with, and having weighed one parcel, ſo as they may have a near gueſs at the reſt, pay them preſent money, or according as they have occaſion for it, and by this means engroſs ſo great a Quantity, that they have ſufficient to lade the China Fleet when it arrives, ſelling for fifty thouſand Caxaes the Sack▪ what coſt them but twelve thouſand. This Fleet arrives at Bantam, in the Month of January, to the number of eight or Ten, and are Veſſels of forty five or fifty Tun.

By them likewiſe comes the Money hither, which in the Malayan Language is called Cus, in the Bantam Tongue Pitty, and is current not only at Bantam, and all the Iſle of Java, but through all the Neighbouring Iſlands. 'Tis a little thin Plate made of Lead, and the ſcum of Braſs, ſo brittle, that letting fall a ſtring of Caxaes, you ſhall break at leaſt ten or twelve. They are made in the Town of Chincoa in China, and they are beholding to Wantay King of China for them, who lived about the Year 15 • 0, and finding that the Caxas made by his Predeceſſor Huyen King of China, went not off, by reaſon the Chineſes had ſo filled the adjacent Iſlands with 'em; He contrived this brittle Money, which his Succeſſor Humedon put forth, as now it is corrupted. It hath a four-ſquare hole through it, at which they ſtring them on a ſtring of Straw; a ſtring of two Hundred Caxaes, called Sata, is worth about three farthings Sterling, and five Sataes ty'd together make a Sapocon. The Bantamites when this Money came firſt among them, were ſo cheated with the Novelty, that they wonld give ſix Baggs of Pepper, for ten Sapocons, thirteen whereof amount but to a Crown. But they have had leiſure enough to ſee their Errour, for in a ſhort time the Iſland was ſo filled with this Stuff, that they were compelled abſolutely to prohibit all Trading, which ſo diſparaged this Money, that at preſent two Sacks of Pepper will ſcarce come for one Hundred Thouſand Caxaes.

Likewiſe from China they bring Purcelane, which they ſell here at cheap rates; for at the firſt arrival of the China Fleet, ſix pieces of Purcelane may be bought for a thouſand Caxaes. They bring their Countrey Silks, Sattins and Damasks, and take away Pepper and Lacque brought to Bantam from the City of Tabenbaen, Ani or Indico, brought thither from the Town of Anier, Sandal-wood, Nutmegs, Cloves, Tortoiſe-ſhells whereof they make Chairs for the Mandowins, who prefer this ſtuff before Silver.

The Portugals that deal at Bantam live out of Town, in the ſame Quarter with the Chinezes. They drive here a great Trade in Pepper, Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, Sandal-wood, Cubebs, long Pepper, and other Drugs that are ſent them from Malacca; for the greater part of them are Factors, and Commiſſioners of the Governour of Malacca, and the Arch-biſhop of Goa. At Bantam they have neither Prieſt nor Chappel, but at Panarucan they have both.

In the King of Bantam's Dominions are all ſorts of Beaſts, both wild and tame: the Foreſts are full of Elephants and Rhinocerots, Leopards and Tygers, which are more cruel and furious than thoſe of any other place, and do ſo much miſchief, that People go not without danger to gather Frankincenſe, Maſtick, Myrrhe, and Benjamin, which is there in its greateſt Perfection, and whereof there were great quantity to be gotten, if the Forreſts were not almoſt inacceſſible, by reaſon of the Wild-Beaſts, as alſo for Serpents, Lizards and Salamanders, exceeding dangerous, and of ſo extraordinary a growth, that there are Serpents have ſwallowed Children and Sheep, eaten Tygers and Leopards, often come out of the Wood and make great Spoil among the Cattel which for this reaſon are reared with great difficulty. Their Swine have no Briſtles, and are ſo fat, their Bellies trail on the ground.

The Rivers breed Fiſh in abundance, and Oyſters have there been ſeen, that have weighed three Hundred Pound; a thing that would ſeem incredible if there were not two Oyſter-ſhells, which weigh four Hundred ſixty and ſeven Pounds, now to be ſeen in the Duke of Holſtein's Cabinet at Gottorp, that were brought by a Sea-Captain from the Indies: the Captain affirming, that there was ſo much Meat in them, that it ſufficed all that were in the Ship, being a Hundred and twenty Perſons.

'Tis very hard to hunt Deer, Goats, Boars, and other Game, fallow or black, which abound there, in regard the Woods are ſo thick, that 'tis impoſſible to make any way through them; and the Bantamites are ſo unskilful at their Fire-Arms, that it hath been obſerved, that a Bantamite having ſhot a wild Buffler, made a ſhift to kill the Beaſt: but, the Muſquet recoyling he fell down, with his Cheek all bruiſed, and the loſs of two of his Teeth; inſomuch as theſe Creatures may be ſeen in whole Herds feeding up and down the fields. There are likewiſe abundance of Apes, Foins, Squirrels, wild Peacocks and Parrots, and infinite other Birds exceeding beautiful to the Eye.

In the Rivers there is abundance of Crocodiles, which ſeize not only on Men bathing, but attempt the very Canoes as they paſs along, ſnatching men out of 'em, and dragging 'em to the bottom. The Chineſes tame this Creature, and fatten it, to be afterwards eaten as a great dainty. Their Civet yields as much perfume as that of Guiney, but it is neither ſo white nor ſo good.

They have two ſorts of Poultry, one like ours, the other betwixt ours and the Indian kind; and theſe laſt, which are in a manner Monſters, are ſo furious, they will fight, till death decides the Battel. Amongſt the common ſort there are ſome whoſe fleſh is black, yet are they very good meat.

The Rhinocerots, by the Indians called Abadu, is not ſo ordinary in the Country of Buntam, as in Bengala, Patane, and other places, though there are ſome; and the Bantamites make ſo great account of this Beaſt, that there is nothing about him, which they uſe not in Medicine, not only the Fleſh, the Bloud, the Horn, the Teeth, but even his very Dung; they hold there is no better Antidote againſt Poiſon, and attribute the ſame qualities to this, as Ancient Authors do to the Unicorn.

The Ants are exceeding troubleſome in moſt of theſe places, but eſpecially in the Country of Bantam. They are much bigger than in our parts, and ſo miſchievous, that there is no Stuff, but what they ſpoil, no Victuals but what they conſume, if they can get to't; wherefore they ordinarily ſet the feet of Tables and Cupboards on diſhes half filled with water, to hinder the Ants from creeping up; and 'twere impoſſible to preſerve any Birds, did not they ſet them on Poles planted in a diſh of Water; for ſhould they put them in a Cage, the Ants would get up and kill 'em. There is beſides another ſort of Ants about the length of a mans finger, and red; but theſe are onely in the fields, where they live on the Barks of Trees and Herbs.

As concerning the Trees and Fruits in the Iſle of Java, amongſt others there is the Areca, the Portugals call the Tree that bears it Arrequero, the Arabians, Faufel, and the Malayans, Pinang. It is a kind of Coco, but not ſo great, nor the Leaves ſo big and broad: the Fruit is like a Date; Nature encloſes it in a Husk, which opens not till it flower, and when it ripens the Shell falls off, the fruit remaining at the Branch. It hath ſcarce any Taſt, but it moiſtens the Mouth, dyes the Lips red, and the Teeth black. The Indians lap it up in a Bettele Leaf, mix a little Chalk or Lime with it, and chew it rather out of Cuſtom than for any Pleaſure, though they hold that it ſtrengthens the Stomach and Gums, and is a topical Medicine againſt the Scurvy; and in effect, there is ſcarce an Indian that is ſubject to this Diſeaſe or troubled with the Tooth-ach. This Drug will make ſome People ſo drunk, that all things to 'em ſeem to run round; but that dizzineſs is preſently over.

The Mangas grow on Trees not much unlike our Nut Trees, but they have not ſo many Leaves: They are of the bigneſs of a Peach, but longer and ſomething bending like a Creſcent of a light green, drawing a little towards the red. It has a great ſhell, that encloſes an Almond of greater length than breadth, and eaten raw is very diſtaſtful, but roaſted on the Coals not unpleaſant: 'tis uſeful in Phyſick againſt the Worms, and the Diarrhaea. It ripens in October, November, and December, and being perfectly ripe, 'tis full as good as a Peach. They get them, while they are green, and put 'em up in Salt, Vinegar, and Garlick, and then they call them Mangas d'acher, and they ſerve inſtead of Olives. There are likewiſe wild ones, which they call Mangas bravas, of a pale green too, but brighter than the other, and full of Juice, which is immediate Death without a preſent Antidote.

The Ananas is one of the lovelieſt, pleaſanteſt, and wholeſomeſt Fruits of the Indies: it grows on a Buſh, and hath Leaves like Sempervivum; the Fruit at firſt is green▪ but being ripe, turns Orange or Aurora coloured, drawing a little to a red, ſharp like a Pine-Apple; for which reaſon, the Portuguezes who met with this Fruit firſt in Braſil, called it Pinas; but 'tis tender an eaſie to cut▪ 'Tis yellow within, of a delicate Scent; 'tis eaten in Wine, but the exceſs is dangerous for Feavers; the Juice is ſo ſharp, that if one wipe not the Knife it is cut with, next Morning it will be found eaten. The Tree is ſo apt to grow, that a Sprig will take Root in the Earth, tho it have not paſt two or three Leaves, be half withered, and have been cut fifteen days before. The Canarins call this Fruit Ananaſa, the Braſilians Nava, and in Hiſpaniola, and the other Weſtern Iſlands, they call it Jajana; 'tis as big as the larger ſort of Lemmons, or the middle Melons, excellent both in Scent and Taſte. At a diſtance they look like Artichoaks, only they are not ſo picked as the Leaves of that Plant: the Stalk is like that of a Thiſtle, and every ſtalk bears but one, and that at the top of it; for tho many times it puts forth at the ſide other ſtems, yet the Fruit that comes of 'em is very ſmall, and ſeldom comes to Maturity. They have of them in March, and then they are very pleaſant, for the Juice hath the Taſte of ſweet or new Wine, and is exceeding eaſie of digeſtion, but it heats and after brings a Fever.

In the Territories of Bantam there is another Fruit called Lamnea; 'tis as big as a Citron, the Colour green, ſomething drawing to a red; full of Juice that is tart and Toothſome, and within hath divers black Kernels: the Leaves are like thoſe of Lemmon Trees, but not ſo long: they put them up in Salt or Sugar, or uſe them as Tamarinds againſt burning Feavers, Inflammations of the Breaſt, againſt pains in the Stomach and Fluxes.

Tamarinds grow on great Trees full of Branches, whereof the Leaves are not bigger, nor unlike to the Leaves of Pimpernel, only ſomewhat longer. The flower at firſt is like the Peaches, but at laſt turns white, and puts forth its Fruit at the end of certain ſtrings: aſſoon as the Sun is ſet, the Leaves cloſe up the Fruit, to preſerve it from the Dew, and open aſſoon as that Planet eppears again. The Fruit at firſt is green, but ripening, it becomes of a dark gray, drawing towards red, incloſed in husks, brown or tawny, of taſte a little bitter, like our Prunelloes. Every husk contains three or four little Beans in a certain skin, which is that the Portugals call Tamarincho. The Fruit is viſcous, and ſticks to the Fingers, but of ſo good a taſte, that the Indlans uſe it almoſt in all Sawces, as we do Verjuice; but 'twould turn a mans Stomach to ſee them cook meat with this Drug: for ſqueezing it between their hands, the juice that runs through their fingers looks more like a Medicine than a Sawce. Theſe Trees bear twice in the Year, and grow every whete without being planted, or otherwiſe looked after. Phyſicians uſe this Drug againſt burning Feavers, heat of the Liver, and Diſeaſes in the Gall; and infuſed a Night in cold Water, it purges gently. The Tamarinds brought to our Parts, are either Salted or preſerved in Sugar. The Inhabitants of the Iſle of Madagaſcar, where there grows plenty of it, call it Quille, and the Bantamites Sundalaſſa. The Portugals give it the name of Tamarinches, for the reſemblance the Fruit holds with the Date of Arabia, called Tamar, as if they would ſay, Dates of India. The Malabars call it Pali, and the reſt of the Indians Ampuli: the Tree is as big as a Walnut Tree, full of Leaves, bearing its Fruit at the Branches, like the ſheath of a Knife, but not ſo ſtrait, rather bent like a Bow. The Indians when they would tranſport their Tamarinds, take them out of the Husks, and make them up in Balls as big as a man's Fiſt, unhandſom to look on, and worſe to handle.

Common it is in this Country to plant Pepper near a ſort of Canes, by the Bantamites called Mambu, in which the Tabaxir is found. 'Tis true, in the Iſle of Java these were never any of 'em found; but again, 'tis certain that on the Coaſt of Malabar, Coromandel, Biſnagar, and near to Malacca, this ſort of Cane produces a Drug called Sacar Mambus, that is Sugar of Mambus, The Arabians, Perſians and Moors call it Tabaxir, which in their Language ſignifies, a white frozen Liquor. Theſe Canes are as big as the Body of a Poplar, having ſtrait Branches, and Leaves ſomething longer than the Olive tree. They are divided into divers knots, wherein there is a certain white Matter like Starch, for which the Perſians and Arabians give the weight in Silver, for the Uſe they make of it in Phyſick, againſt burning Feavers, and bloudy Fluxes, but eſpecially upon the firſt approaches of any Diſeaſe: and which, according to their Application, is a Soveraign Remedy againſt the Stone.

Theſe Canes are ſo big, that the Indians cleave them to make Boats, leaving Knots at each end, whereon they ſit to guide it, one before, another behind, and uſe this ſort of Boat the rather, for that they are perſwaded Crocodiles bear a reſpect to the Mambu, and never hurt the Boats made of this Cane.

In the Iſle of Java there is another Fruit, called amongſt the Malagars Duriaon, not to be ſeen any where but in this place, and the Malaccaos. The Tree that bears 'em, by the Malagars called Batan, is as big as our Apple-tree, the Bark thick, plentiful of Boughs, and wealthy in fruit: the Bloſſom, which they call Bnaa, is white, inclining to yellow, and the Leaves half a Foot in length, and two or three Fingers broad; on the out-ſide of a pale Green, drawing towards a Grey, but on the in-ſide the Green is very delicate and lively; the Fruit is as big as a Melon, covered with a thick rough Rind, green, and hath ribs, as the Melons. Within 'tis divided into four quarters, which are again divided into two or three little Cells, that contain the Fruit, which is as big and white as a Pullets Egg, and of taſte ſo delicious, that the Bianc • -Mangiares, which the Portuguezes compound of Rice, brawns of Capons, Cream, Sugar, and Roſe-water, is not more dainty; Each Fruit hath a Stone as big and rough as that of the Peach; ii will not keep; for when the White begins to turn, it muſt be thrown away and muſt be eaten as ſoon as the Husk begins to open. Such as are not uſed to this Fruit, will not like it at firſt, being it hath the ſmell of a roaſted Onion, but the Taſte is ſo pleaſing, that it may be reckoned amongſt the prime, and moſt excellent Fruits of the Indies. One thing it is very remarkable for, that there is ſo great an Antipathy between it and the Bettele, that the leaſt number of Bettele Leaves laid near a Room full of Duriaons, they corrupt and rot immediately. Accordingly, when a Man hath eaten too much of this Fruit, let him but lay two or three Bettele Leaves upon his breaſt, and he ſhall be eaſed; and the eating but one of theſe Leaves after the Duriaons, cauſeth ſpeedy Digeſtion; ſo as thus one may eat as much as he will, without the leaſt inconvenience.

The Lantor-Tree, which is another ſort of Cocoe-Tree, as we ſaid before, is frequent in the Iſle of Java; the Leaves are five or ſix foot long, and ſo ſmooth that the Bantamites write upon▪ it with a Bodkin, and uſe it inſtead of Paper.

Of all the Indies no part bears Cubebs but the Country belonging to the King of Bantam; the Bantamites call it Cuciombi and Cuma • ; the other Indians call it▪ Cuba Chini, becauſe the Chineſes firſt fetch'd it thence, to furniſh other Parts, before the Portugals or Hollanders had any Commerce there. This fruit grows upon another Tree like Pepper, and in Bunches like Grapes. The Bantamites knowing it to be no where but with them, eſteem it ſo much as they will not ſuffer a Plant to go from them, and ſell it not unboyl'd, for fear it ſhould be planted elſewhere, tho there is ſuch plenty of it, that at Bantam a Weight of fifty ſix Pounds is worth but ſix, or at moſt, ſeven thouſand Caxaes. The Uſe of it is, to fortifie the Stomack, and cleaſe the Breaſt, but the Mahometans take it with a little Arek, and are of opinion it reſtores languiſhing and ſpent Nature.

The Manghoſtan is a fruit growing by the High-ways of Bantam, upon Buſhes, like our Sloes, and much of the ſame taſte.

The Herb the Bantamites call Talaſſa, and the Malagars Lalade. It bears neither Fruit nor Flower, but is uſed in Sawces, and ſome eat it green, and aſſign it the ſame Vertues as they do the Cubebs.

In Java they have another Fruit, which grows likewiſe in other places call'd Jaca, in form and bigneſs like a Citrul, with a thick and rough Rind; Within 'tis full of certain Nuts, the kernels whereof being roaſted on Coals, are good to eat, and ſtay the flux of the belly. The Tree is very great, but the Boughs not being ſtrong enough to bear the fruit, it hangs all along the Body of it, up from the very ground: Being full ripe, the Rind grows hard and black, and emits a very ſweet ſcent; the fruit it ſelf changes taſte, yielding one while that of the Melon, another that of the Peach, ſometimes that of Honey, ſometimes that of ſweet Lemon; but is ſo hard of digeſtion, that 'tis never eaten, but vomited up again. The Nut of it is as big as a Date, and cauſeth windineſs in thoſe that eat it green, but roaſted after the manner we told you, they are very pleaſant, and good for ſuch as have a kindneſs for Women.

In the ſame Iſland, towards the Streight of Sundy, grows alſo abundance of wild Cinnamon, which the Portugals call Canela de Mato, and Malayans Cajumanis. It is not near ſo good as the fine Cinnamon, whence it comes, there's but very little of it bought, it being hardly worth the Tranſportation.

The Carcapuli is a Fruit about the bigneſs of a Cherry, and much of the ſame taſte, and the Trees which bear it are like our Cherry-Trees▪ Of theſe there are ſeveral kinds, whereof ſome are white, ſome of a dark red, and ſome of a lively Carnation Colour.

The Coſtus Indicus, by the Malayans called Pucho, by the Arabians, Coſt, or Ca • t, is the Wood of a Tree reſembling the Elder, as well in height, as in Flower and Scent: the Turks, Perſians and Arabians, make an extraordinary Traffick of it, as they likewiſe do of Calamus Aromaticus, which alſo grows on the Coaſt of the Streight of Sundy. That yellow and Spungy Matter which Women uſe againſt pains in the Matrix, is properly in the Stalk of it. The Bantamites give it to their Horſes, compounding it with Garlick, Cummin-ſeed, Salt, Sugar, and Butter, making it into a Paſte, which they call Arata; and they hold it very ſovereign for their Beaſts, to whom notwithſtanding they never give it, till the extremity of the Heats be over.

The Zerumbal, which the Bantamites and Malayans call Canior too, grows in theſe parts and is like to Ginger, only the Leaves ſomewhat more long and broad. They uſe to dry it, or preſerve it in Sugar, as they do Ginger, but eſteem it above Ginger.

There are two kinds of Galanga, by the Arabians called Calvegian. The leſſer comes from China, and is much better than that which is brought out of the Iſle of Javan, where they call it Lanquas. This Herb is neither ſowed nor ſet, but grows naturally, and is about two foot high above the ground. The Flower is white, and the Leaves pointed, and as hard as the point of a Knife. The Bantamites uſe it for a Sallad, as alſo in Phyſick, as they do the Root, which is thick and long, and full of knots like a Cane, as biting in taſte as Ginger, and of a very ſweet ſcent.

Benjamine is a Gum diſtilling from Trees, not unlike Lemon trees. While they are young the Benjamine is black, which is the beſt. But as they grow old the Benjamine grows white, and loſes ſtrength; ſo as to put it off they mingle it with black. The Moors call it Louan Javii, that is, The Incenſe of Java.

In the Foreſt of Java, Trees there grow of red Sandale, but the white and yellow Sandale, which is without compariſon the better, comes from the Iſles of Timor and Salor. This Tree is of the bigneſs of a Walnut-Tree, and bears a fruit not unlike our Cherries, but 'tis black and inſipid. The Indians beat white and yellow Sandale, and make a Concoction, wherewith they rub their Bodies, not only for the odour, but for that they believe 'tis reſtorative. They value not red Sandale, but ſell it at cheap rates to other Parts.

They have likewiſe abundance of Ginger, by the Malayans called Aliaa, and by the Bantamites Gauti; but they either eat it green in Sauces, or preſerve it, for they never dry it.

Anacardium by the Portuguezes called Fava de Malacca, by reaſon of its likeneſs to a Bean, is very common here: and the Bantamites take it in Milk againſt the Aſthma, and the Worms. Some pickle 'em as they do Olives; and they are altogether as pleaſant as Olives.

That Wood the Portugals call Pala de Cuebra, grows there in great abundance. 'Tis white inclining to yellow, hard and bitter. The Indians bruiſe, and take it in Wine or Water againſt burning Feavers and the ſtinging of Serpents: 'tis ſaid, that for this Cure they are beholding to a Creature in ſize and ſhape like our Ferrets, by them called Quil or Quirpela, which they breed for Recreation, and to catch Rats and Mice. This little Beaſt being a mortal Enemy to Serpents, never meets with any of 'em, but it ſets upon 'em, and being bitten runs immediately to this Root, which is his preſent Cure.

Palo d' Aguila, by Druggiſts called Lignum Aloes, by the Portugueze Palo d' aguila, and by the Indians Calamba, grows in Java, but not in ſuch quantity as in Malacca, Sumatra, Cambaya, and other places. The Tree is like the Olive tree, only a little bigger. The Wood while green hath no ſcent, but as it drys its odour increaſes. The weightieſt and browneſt is the beſt: its perfection is known by the Oyl that iſſues out of it when it is held to the fire. They make Bands of it, and the Indians uſe it to embelliſh their Cabinets; but the chiefeſt uſe is for Phyſick, for this Wood beaten to Powder, and taken in Broth or Wine, fortifies the Stomach, ſtays Vomiting, and Cures the Pleuriſie and Bloudy Flux. What the Portugals call Aquila brava, or wild Calamba, is not ſo good as the others, and the Indians chiefly uſe it at the Funerals of their Bramins, making the fire of it that burns the Corps.

At Bantam they ſell alſo ſtore of Lacque, whereof they make Spaniſh Wax, and the Varniſh they lay over ſo many excellent Works in China, Japan, and other places: the Territories of Bantam produce it, but the beſt comes from Pegu, where 'tis called Tieck, and where great and winged Ants get up the Trees, and ſuck the Gum, which afterwards they lay upon the Boughs as Bees do Honey and Wax. When the Boughs are full, the Owners cut them, ſetting 'em to dry in the Sun till the Lacque falls from the Boughs, then they beat it to powder, and give it what colour and form they pleaſe.

The other Druggs gotten in the King of Bantam's Dominions are Pody, a mealy kind of ſubſtance, which they uſe againſt Rheum and Wind. Carumba or Floris a Root whereof they make Sawces, and wherewith they dye their Cotton Cloths. Conjuapi a Wood with which they rub their bodies. Samperentam is a root found near Sundy, ſtronger than Ginger, and very bitter. Pontiou they hold good againſt Feavers, but 'tis exceeding dear. Gatogamber is a fruit like an Olive, good againſt the Tooth-ach. Ganti, a Root ſo like Ginger, that the Bantamites have given it the ſame name, but 'tis dearer; and with it they rub their Bodies. Saſum is Muſtard-ſeed. Doringi a Drug they give Children as ſoon as they come into the World. Galan, a root growing in the water, and very refreſhing. Madian, Maya, and Coraſſini, are intoxicating Drugs they mix in their Drinks. Rhodium the aſhes of a Tree growing near Sundy, wherewith they ſcour their Bodies, as they do with Sary, which is a flower, The Turgary, Sarahan, and Sedowaya are Roots for the ſame uſe. Sambaya is the fruit, the Chineſes call Guiduar, as big as an Acorn, of high price, by reaſon 'tis not ordinary, and is a ſovereign remedy againſt Poiſon, and the biting of Venemous Beaſts. Jalave is like Sambaya, and of the ſame uſe in Medicine. Paravas is a very cooling Herb, but very ſcarce and very dear. Tomonpate a Root like Galican, uſed againſt Inflammations of the Spleen. The Conduri, which the Bantamites call Saga, are red Beerries ſpotted with black, wherewith they weigh Gold and Silver, but are not to be eaten they are ſo bitter, and as ſome ſay poyſonous. There is likewiſe Azebar, the Sycomore, the Nux Indica, and divers other Trees, Plants and Druggs, to Europeans ſome unknown; but 'twould require a peculiar Treatife to name 'em all, and would fill a large Volume to deſcribe their good and bad qualities.

Sect. IV.

AMong the Creatures, which we ſaid the Land of Bantam abounds withal, we mentioned Apes; and it is obſervable, that where there are a great number of theſe Animals, there are very few Crows; for aſſoon as they have built their Neſts, and laid their Eggs, the Apes get upon the Trees, and throw their Eggs to the ground: I do not know whether it be to ſee, if they can fly or no. As I was one day travelling along the Road in a Coach, attended with a great many, we ſaw a vaſt number of Monkeys Males and Females, and many of the Females holding young ones in their Arms: Having a deſire to ſhoot at one, I took a Harquebuſs, and kill'd a Female Monkey, who lay ſtretched out upon the Boughs, letting her little one • all to the ground. But immediately all the Monkeys that were upon the Trees, to the number of ſixty, came down in a great fury to have leap'd into our Coach, where they would ſoon have ſtrangled us, had we not prevented them by cloſing the Shutters; and had we not had a great number of Men, who with much ado kept them off; yet they purſued our Coach above a League, and were ſtout luſty Monkeys. In ſeveral parts of this Country there are particular Hoſpitals for theſe Creatures. On the ways there are commonly Copſes of Bamboos growing very high; ſome of theſe are ſo thick, that it is impoſſible for a Man to get into 'em; but they are peſtered with prodigious numbers of Apes. Thoſe that breed in the Copſes upon one ſide of the way, are enemies to them that are bred on the other ſide; ſo that they dare not croſs from one ſide to the other, but they are in danger of being immediately ſtrangled. Here the Travellers have good ſport by ſetting the Apes together by the ears, which is done after this manner; In ſeveral parts of the Road there is Rice to be ſold, and they that would ſee the ſport, cauſe five or ſix Baskets of Rice to be ſet in the Road, ſome forty or fifty paces the one from the other, and cloſe by every Basket they lay five or ſix Botoons about two foot long, and two inches about; then they retire and hide themſelves: preſently they ſhall ſee the Apes on both ſides of the way, deſcend from the tops of the Bamboos, and advance towards the Baskets which are full of Rice; They are about half an hour ſhewing their Teeth at one another, before they come near the Baskets; ſometimes they advance, then retreat again, being Ioath to encounter. At length the Female Baboons, who are more eager and couragious than the Males, eſpecially they that have young ones, which they carry in their Arms as Women do their Children, venture to approach the Baſkets; and as they are about to put in their hands to eat, the Males on the other ſide advance to hinder 'em. Immediately the other Party comes forward, and thus the feud being kindled on both ſides, they take up the Battoons, that lie by the Baskets, and thraſh one another in good earneſt. The weakeſt are conſtrained to fly into the Woods with their Pates broken, and their Limbs maimed, while the Maſters of the Field glut themſelves with Rice, and the joys of Victory, tho it may be when their Bellies are full, they will ſuffer ſome of the Female Party to come along with 'em.

As for the Elephants, I happened to ſee two that were lately taken. Each of them was placed between two Tame ones. Round about the wild Elephants ſtood ſix Men, with every one a Half Pike in their Hands, and a lighted Torch faſtened at the end of a Pike; who talkt to the Beaſts, giving them Meat, and crying out in their Language, Take, eat it. The food which they gave 'em was a little Bottle of Hay, ſome pieces of brown Sugar, and Rice boiled in Water, with ſome few Corns of Pepper. If the wild Elephants refuſed to do as they were bidden, the Men made Signs to the Tame Elephant to beat 'em, which they did, banging the Refractory Elephant upon the Head and Forehead with their Trunks; and if he offered to make any ſtir or reſiſtance, the other Elephant thwack'd him moſt unmercifully on the other ſide; ſo that the poor Elephant not knowing what to do, was conſtrained to learn obedience.

Being thus fallen into the Story of Elephants, I will add ſome other Obſervations, which I have made upon the nature of theſe Creatures. Though the Elephant never meddles with the Female after he is once taken, yet he is ſometimes ſeized with a kind of luſtful Rage. One day that the King was Hunting upon an Elephant, with one of his Sons that ſate by him to fan him, the Elephant became ſo furious by reaſon of his Luſt, that the Governour who was by no means able to maſter or rule him, declared to the King, that to allay the fury of the Elephant▪ who would doubtleſs bruiſe him to pieces among the Trees, there was no way but for one of the three to forfeit his Life, and that he would willingly ſacrifice his for the ſafety of the King, and the Prince his Son; only he deſir'd His Majeſty to take care of the three ſmall Children which he muſt leave behind him. Having ſo ſaid, he threw himſelf under the Elephants Feet, who had no ſooner taken him in his Trunk, and ſqueez'd him to pieces with his feet, but he grew quiet and peaceable as before. The King as an acknowledgment of ſo ſignal a deliverance, gave to the poor Widow 200000 Roopies, and highly advanc'd every one of his Sons, that had ſo generouſly laid down his life for the ſafety of the Father of his Country.

I obſerved alſo, that tho the Elephants skin be very hard whilſt he is alive, yet when he is dead the skin is juſt like melted Glew.

There are ſeveral Parks that are empaled with nothing but Elephants Teeth, the leaſt of which Parks is above a League about. In ſome places they Hunt the Elephants, and eat the Fleſh; but they are obliged to give the Tuſhes of every one they kill to the Lord of the place. When they intend to take their Elephants, they make a long Lane clos'd in on both ſides, ſo as the Elephant can run neither to the right nor to the left. This Lane is broad at the firſt, but grows narrower and narrower, till there is no more Room left at the further end, than for the Female Elephant to lie down, which muſt be one that is deſirous of the Male at the ſame time. Tho ſhe be tame, yet ſhe is bound with good Ropes and Cords, and by her Cries will call the Male, who preſently runs through the Lane towards her. Now when the Elephant comes where the Lane grows narrow, they that lie hid for that purpoſe, immediately barricado up the Lane behind; and when he comes near the Female, then is another barricado ſet up, that ſtops him from going any further. When he is thus between the Barricadoes, they ſo entangle his Legs and Trunk with Ropes and Cords, that he is ſoon taken, having no way to help himſelf. The ſame way they uſe for the moſt part in the Kingdom of Siam and Pegu; onely that the Natives there mount the Female Elephant, and go to find out the Male in the Foreſts; and when they have met with his haunt, they tie the Female to the moſt convenient place they can find, and then they fix their Snares for the Elephant, who in a ſhort time haſtens towards the Female hot for generation, where her Cries call him.

This is obſervable of the Female, that when ſhe begins to be hot, ſhe gathers together a great heap of Herbs and Weeds, and makes her ſelf a kind of Bed ſome four or five foot high from the ground, where contrary to the Cuſtom of all other Creatures ſhe lies upon her back in expectation of the Male, whom ſhe calls to her by a peculiar Cry.

This is furthermore particular to the Elephant in the Iſle of Ceylon, that only the firſt, which the Female brings forth has Tuſhes. And it is alſo obſervable, that the Ivory which comes from Achem, when it is wrought has this peculiar quality with it, that it never grows yellow, like that which comes out of the Continent, and from the Eaſt-Indies, which makes it more eſteemed and dearer than any other.

When the Merchants bring Elephants to any place to ſell, 'tis a pleaſant ſight to ſee 'em go along; for in regard there are generally old and young together, when the old ones are gone by, the Children will be running after the little ones to play with 'em, and give 'em ſomething or other to eat. While the young Elephants (which are very wanton) are buſily taking what is offered them, the Children leap upon their Back; but then the young Elephants, that lately ſtopt for the lucre of Victuals, perceiving their D • ms a great way before 'em, double their pace, and playing with their Trunks, throw the Children off their backs to the ground, and that without doing 'em any harm.

Notwithſtanding all the Inquiry I have made, I could never find exactly how long the Elephant will live; nor can all the Governours and Keepers of thoſe Creatures tell you more, than that ſuch an Elephant has been in the poſſeſſion of their Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather: and by that computation I have found, that they have liv'd ſome of 'em ſix ſcore, or an Hundred and Thirty Years.

The Javians making their benefit of the Portugals Ingratitude to the Indian Princes, who entertained 'em, did pertinaciouſly oppoſe the eſtabliſhment of any ſtrangers in the Iſle. But the profit the Kings of Bantam and Jacatra receive by vending their Spices to the Engliſh and Dutch, was ſo conſiderable, that at laſt they conſented, that the People of thoſe two Nations ſhould build a Houſe for ſuch Factors, as they ſhould have occaſion to leave there, and for ſtowing up the Commodities they traffiqu'd in. The Dutch by Treaty with thoſe Kings, regulated the Cuſtoms of Importation and Exportation; but thoſe Articles were ſo ill kept by the Indian Kings, who raiſed their Rates according as they diſcovered the ſtrangers neceſſity of Commerce; that the Dutch to avoid this Injuſtice, and ſecure 'emſelves from the violence of the Barbarians, by degrees ſecretly fortified their Quarters at Jacatra, and in a ſhort time made it defenſible. The Indians perceived it not, till 'twas paſt their hopes of forcing it; ſo as in this deſpair of driving out the Dutch, they made uſe of the bad Correſpondence between the Engliſh and them, which chiefly appeared in a Seafight they had near Bantam and Jacatra, June 2. 1619. the Holland Fleet being put to Flight by the Engliſh. The Dutch being forced to retreat, the King of Jacatra with the Engliſh Forces, beſieged the Dutch Fort, now called Batavia, which Siege laſted ſix Moneths, till the Holland Admiral having reinforced his Fleet with the Ships that lay in the Molucques, conſtrained the Engliſh to raiſe the Sieg, to embarque their Guns, and quit the Streight of Sundy, to get into the main Sea. The King of Jacatra would have caſt the blame of all theſe diſturbances upon the Engliſh, but the Dutch General would not be ſatisfied with ſuch excuſes, but landing his Forces, to the number of Eleven Hundred Men, he aſſaulted the Town of Jacatra, which he took by force, and having put all to the Sword, fir'd it. That done, the Dutch compleated the Fortification of their Quarters, and brought it to a regular form, with four Baſtions of Free-ſtone, well Trench'd and Pallizado'd, with Half Moons, Redoubts, and other neceſſary works. The King of Matram, who is (as it were) Emperour of Java, in the Year 1628. beſieged this Fort, and lying under the Canon ſtorm'd it ſeveral times; but in the end was forc'd to raiſe the Siege, as he in like manner was the Year following; and ſince that time the Dutch have eſtabliſhed their Commerce joyntly with the Chineſes, Siameſes, Succadans, and other Neighbours, taking Ten in the Hundred Cuſtom upon all Commodities, whether imported or exported thence.

The City of Batavia is twelve Leagues from Bantam, Eaſtward in a Bay, which being ſheltered with ſome ſmall Iſlands on the Sea-ſide, is one of the beſt Roads in all the Indies. Strangers that inhabit there pay a certain Tax by the Moneth, according to the profits they make, which is great; for a Porter who will with eaſe get two Royals a day, pays but one and a half in a Moneth; a Fruiterer four Royals, a Fiſherman three Royals, Diſtillers of Arach eight Royals; Mechanicks, as Shoomakers, Taylors, and the like, ſo as at preſent 'tis the moſt important place and firm eſtabliſhment the Dutch have throughout the Indies.

Shortly after my return from Bantam to Batavia, I was drawn out amongſt others to be ſent to Siam, where we arrived ſafely. That Kingdom extends not onely in the Peninſula, beyond the Ganges as far as Cape ſin Capare; but it likewiſe comprehends the Kingdom of Martaban, which is upon the Gulph of Pegu, and that of Cambaia, upon the Gulph of Siam; it is ſituated in the moſt Eaſtern part of all the Indies, and contains abut 360 Leagues from the South to the North, and about 200 in its greateſt extent from Eaſt to Weſt above the Peninſula.

It may be divided into four or five principal parts; that which is above the Peninſula, in the midſt of the others, is particularly the Kingdom of Siam. On its Weſt is that of Martaban, on the Eaſt Cambaya, and Maluca on the South▪ This Iſland formerly contained ſeveral Kingdoms, that are at preſent reduced into Provinces, the Princes whereof are Subjects and Tributaries of the King of Siam.

Very pleaſant and fruitful is this Country, being watered with ſeveral great Rivers, the principal of which is called Menan, which after having Bathed Prom, Travai, and Brema, Cities of Ava and Pegu, enters into that of Siam, paſſing thorough India the Capital thereof. This River is ſo deep, that it can carry Ships of four Hundred Tun, and which take Twelve or Thirteen Foot Water; and it might bear thoſe that draw as much more, were it not that at its mouth there is a Rock, which fills the bottom near which you are to paſs, and hinders greater Veſſels from coming in. Its breadth near the City, and for two Leagues beyond it, is two Bow-ſhoot, which renders the unlading of Commodities ſo much the more eaſie. Every where elſe its Banks are a good Muſquet ſhot diſtance one from another. From the City to thirty Leagues beyond it 'tis all along beſet with Gardens, Burroughs, Villages, Monaſteries, and other very fine glorious Buildings, the ſight of which is infinitely charming. And what exalts their beauty, is that inſtead of Mountains, we ſee nothing in all that Country which is plain and even, but Towers and Pyramids, which have ſomething very ſingular both for Art and Materials.

Eight Leagues from the City ſtands another called Bancock, where all manner of Ships, of what Nation ſoever they be, are obliged to ſtop to declare from whence they come, whither they go, what is their Cargo? and how many Men they have on Board? after which they pay the Cuſtoms, for which the Toll-man gives an Acquittance, which they are obliged to ſhew to another little City, called Canon Bantenau, which is but a League from India; and in caſe it be without deceit, they are permitted to go whither they pleaſe, and to trade freely through all the Kingdoms, without being obliged to pay any other Cuſtoms than thoſe of going out, which every Ship is to pay upon pain of Confiſcation. As for India, which, as I have ſaid, is the Capital of the Kingdom, 'tis without contradiction, one of the fineſt things that can be ſeen. Its Ramparts are about three fathoms in height, with Baſtions of all ſorts, for there are both ſolid, plain and cut. Admirable are its Buildings, but eſpecially the Temples, the Monaſteries, and gilt Towers, are there of an unexpreſſible Richneſs and Ornament. The River Menan does there run into eight parts, which after having formed two Iſlands, diſcharges it ſelf into the Gulph of Siam. The Kings Palace is of ſo vaſt an extent, that one would take it for a Ci • y. It has its ſeparate Ramparts, and • he Towers which environ it are in ſuch great numbers, ſo high built, that nothing is more magnificent; and the inſide is anſwerable to the outſide. I know by thoſe who have travell'd China, that in no other Country is any thing ſo perfect • o be ſeen.

The Air is very temperate, conſidering its being ſo near the Line, (for it is but fifteen degrees diſtant) perhaps by reaſon of the narrowneſs of the Country, which is refreſhed by Winds. The Soil is fat, and very fruitful in Rice, Barley, and Fruits. They gather there a great quantity of Pepper, Benjamin, Musk and Aloes. There are Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, Pewter, and other Metals. It breeds a great number of Elephants and Horſes. There are great Foreſts towards Cochinchina, which ſerve for retreats to Tygers, Lions, Leopards, and other ravenous Beaſts, and for Veniſon; but the number of Red and Fallow Deer is incredible, ſince that there is carried every Year to Japan, above Three Hundred Thouſand Skins of thoſe Creatures, wherein the Company have a good ſhare. Oxen, Cows, Hares, Hogs, wild Boars, Buffeloes, and Rabbets are there without number. Birds there are of a Thouſand ſeveral Species, and even of all ſorts, except the Swan and Nightingale, which have never bin ſeen there. The Country▪ wants not Fiſh, but above all they make a great Trade of the Skins of Thornback, the moſt part of which are ſold in Japan, where they are worth fifty, ſixty, and ſome an Hundred Ducats a piece. I have ſeen one ſold for an Hundred Crowns; and that was no extraordinary rate, yet they would not give five Pence for one that has the leaſt defect. There is a great number of Crocodiles, which the Inhabitants do happily make uſe of for the Curing many evils.

The Natives are all Idolaters, and extreamly ſuperſtitious. They have many Temples inhabited by Monks, who are had in great Veneration.

This Country was always governed by a King or an Emperour, to whom His Subjects pay a kind of Adoration. He reckons Princes among His Subjects; His Dominions are ſo vaſt and ſo extended, that he is eſteemed one of the moſt powerful Monarchs in the World, which we ſhall ſee more at large in the following Section.

Sect. V.

THE Kingdom of Siam, tho vaſt, yet is Populous, proportionably to its greatneſs. The Natives are goodnatur'd, witty and induſtrious. All the Artificers are very dexterous; and tho they be of all ſorts, moſt part of 'em however are either Fiſhermen or Huſbandmen, becauſe very few but have their Lands in Property, or certain Places of Rivers and other Waters, where they have Right of Fiſhing, which ſuffices them for their ſubſiſtence. For Avarice and Ambition are no Vices of this Country; the Abundance being ſo great, that moſtly the day-labouring People have but three Pence a day for their nouriſhment and pains, on which they live very handſomly, and have beſides ſomething to lay up. The Merchants are all rich, becauſe perhaps they know the end and art of Trade, wherein few Nations excel them.

In each City is a Sovereign Court, whoſe Preſident, that is Triennial, being aſſiſted with his Counſellours, ſits as Judge in all Cauſes both Civil and Criminal. But they do not judge there in the laſt Appeal, and none but the great Council, which reſides in the Metropolis, have that priviledge. The Proceedings there are much ſhorter, and leſs ſubject to Corruption, than in Europe. They do juſtice without diſtinction, and whoſoever finds himſelf attainted and convicted of Larceny, of Murder, &c. no favour can hinder him from being puniſhed, according to the enormity of the Crime.

There is no Court more ſuperb than that of this Emperour. He never goes on foot, no, not in his own Palace, where he cauſes himſelf to be carried from one place to another in a Chair of Maſſie Gold. The greateſt Lords of the Empire, who are obliged to follow him at all hours, and at all times, however never ſee him more than once a day; and that too with ſo much Pomp and Splendour, that he dazles all thoſe who look on him. When one of theſe great Men is deſirous to ſpeak to him, he approaches him with his Knees upon the ground, his Hands joyned, his Head bowed down, and begins and ends his Speech with theſe words, Javva Fiauw Perre Bonde, Tiauw Javva; which ſignifies, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. His Throne, which is of Maſſie Gold, and all beſt with Precious Stones, is raiſed very high from the ground; he mounts it by ſeveral ſteps of the ſame Metal, but 'tis a Crime to ſee him mount it, and every ſtep at both ends ſupports an Animal of different kind, and of fine Gold. When he goes out of His Palace, whether out of Devotion▪ or for Pleaſure, which happens two or three times in the Year, he is attended by the greateſt Princes of His Empire, by His Wives and Concubines, who are in great numbers all very richly clothed, by Land upon Elephants, and by Water in Barges all guilt without and within. From the Palace to the place where the Emperour goes, the Life-Guard ſtands in a row on each ſide, all well apparelled and mounted to advantage; principally the chief Officers, who are upon Elephants, whoſe Houſes are of Gold and Silver. All along the way nothing is to be heard but Fifes, Drums, Flutes, and other Inſtruments, which make a paſſable Harmony. And aſſoon as the Emperour appears, every one upon pain of Death is obliged to come out before him, proſtrate 'emſelves, and adore him: wherein they are ſo rigorous, that if one waits never ſo little to acquit himſelf of this Devoir, he is puniſhed at that inſtant, which I have ſeen with my own eyes. This Cuſtom is quite contrary to what is practiſed in Peru; for in all places where the King goes with his Wives and Concubines, the People muſt ſhut their Doors and Windows, and remain as in Priſon until all is gone by. Thoſe who happen to be in the Emperours way, are obliged to diſlodge, and make way for His Attendants; which often occaſions people to die of Hunger and Cold; eſpecially when the Order comes by night, thoſe who give it being ſo punctual, or rather ſo hard-hearted, as they force obedience, without giving the People time to provide themſelves with Clothes and Food. A hard extremity in all particulars, ſince beſides the inconveniency which they receive from this ſurprize, they have likewiſe the diſpleaſure of leaving their Houſes to be plundered.

Gold is ſo common in this Court, that their Cattle are ſerved in Veſſels of no other Metal. The Elephants, and eſpecially the White Ones, are there treated like Princes; and of this laſt ſort there is always one in ſo great Veneration, that they attribute to his preſence the Proſperity of the Empire. Thoſe Creatures have in all times ſerved for a pretext to Wars of long continuance betwixt the Neighbouring Kings; for beſides, that they are rarely of that colour, they reverence 'em in memory of Xaca, whoſe Mother being with Child of him, once dream't, that a White Elephant came out of her mouth, and at another time out of her left ſide.

It was upon the account of theſe Animals, that in the Year 1548, the Kings of Ava and Pegu, made a League againſt the Emperour of Siam, in whoſe Territories they had made a great Progreſs, before he was in a condition to reſiſt 'em. At length with the Aid of His Generals He got in the Head of two Hundred Thouſand Men, with whom he went to encamp within Half a League of His Enemies. Thoſe who thought to have ſurprized him, ſeeing ſo ſtrong a Barrier oppoſed to their Deſign, made ſhew of preparing 'emſelves for a Battel; but whether their Forces were unequal, or they began to abate in their good intelligence among 'emſelves, three Moneths paſſed without making any attempt; at the end of which thoſe Kings ſeeing their Armies periſh for want of Victuals, abandoned the ground, and left by that means the Emperour of Siam the peaceable poſſeſſour of the two White Elephants, which they pretended to ſeize on. What at firſt delayed his March, was, that he had neither Souldiers nor Ships to go to the place, where he was to joyn the Enemy; and he cauſed above Twenty Thouſand Veſſels to be built, which required ſome time. Beſides the two Hundred Thouſand Men which he brought with him, he left upon the Frontiers Fifty Thouſand Citizens, who were obliged to guard 'em at their own coſts. Some were amazed, he did not take advantage of His Enemies weakneſs; but he ſaid, That he had gained more by deſtroying them after that manner, than if he had conſtrained 'em to end the quarrel by a Battel, the iſſue whereof was uncertain. He pretended to have conquered 'em more cunningly, and more happily for His Subjects, whoſe Lives and Eſtates he preſerved, without coſting 'em one drop of bloud. So that he was received in Triumph in His Metropolis, as if he had made the greateſt Conqueſts. After the death of the King, if he has left no Male Infant, or his Son has not attained the Age of 15 Years, this Son loſes His Right to the Crown, to which the eldeſt Brother of the deceaſed becomes the Legitimate Succeſſor. And as for the Offices poſſeſſed by the Grandees of the Court, they are all Hereditary, at leaſt if he who enjoys 'em does not oblige the Prince to declare his Heir uncapable of ſucceeding him.

Sect. VI.

THE great number of Strangers, who trade at Siam, help much to increaſe the Treaſures of the King; there is continually a coming in and going out of His Kingdom, a prodigious quantity of Merchandizes, on which there are conſiderable Impoſts. His Mines of Gold, Lead and Pewter, do contribute very much thereunto; as likewiſe great Foreſts of as fine wood of Japan as that of Braſile. The Trade of this Wood lies along the Coaſts of Coromandel, Dabul' China, Japan, and all the Neighbouring Iſlands. Add to this, that all His Subjects being His Slaves, He inherits all their Eſtates, or at leaſt two Thirds, leaving out of favour, the other Third to the Relations of the Defunct. A Cuſtom ſo advantageous, as this Prince extends it even to Strangers, whoſe Heir he is, as well as thoſe that are born in His Country; and as there is ever an incredible multitude of 'em, 'tis certain, His Finances are thereby much augmented.

The greateſt Expence of this Prince is the great number of Pagods, Convents, Hoſpitals and Towers, which he cauſes inceſſantly to be built, and what it coſts him in raiſing 'em, does ſurpaſs the Idea People have conceived thereof. After having applied Himſelf to what concerns Religion, he takes care His Arſenals be largely provided with all that is requiſite for War: and indeed all things there are in a ſurpriſing abundance, and ſo neatly kept, that it would be very difficult to imitate them therein.

As for His Forces, they conſiſt almoſt all in Infantry, which is very good; the Pay of the Souldiers is but a little Rice; the reſt they have occaſion for, they are to gain it from the Enemy, or by labouring very hard at any kind of Work, for they are treated as Slaves, and they give a blind Obedience to whatſoever they are commanded.

As for the Citizens, their condition is little better than that of the Souldiers; for, beſides the Subſidies with which they are exceſſively oppreſſed, and that they have nothing in Propriety: they are obliged to work on the Fortifications, and to work as well as the Souldiers in occaſions of neceſſity. Notwithſtanding this, they are ſo ſupple, and ſo tractable, that they are never heard to complain or murmur: tho the Government is ſevere, they live contented and happy, becauſe they deſire nothing. From that ſoft and tractable Humour, they eaſily proceed to Devotion, which is as natural to 'em; and whether they are little addicted to Riches, whereof they have only the uſe, and not the Property, or they think 'em unworthy of their Affection, they employ 'em almoſt all in Alms, which they beſtow upon the Bonzes, who • re the Prieſts of the Country, and in building Pagods and Convents, to which they annex ſo many Revenues, as no Monks live more at their eaſe, nor know better, how to take advantage of the uſeful Ignorance and Superſtition of the People, than the Monks of that Country. The great eſteem the People have for 'em, cauſes 'em to multiply more than can be imagined; theſe Prieſts affect a fine out-ſide, and a modeſty which ſavours • of nothing leſs than of Ambition. But this appearance is very deceitful, for under pretences of maintaining the Glory of their Gods, to whom they boaſt they are much dearer than their Lives, they only think of advancing themſelves, inſomuch that there has been thoſe found, who have made ſecret Cabals for the dethroning the King, for to Reign in His place.

Theſe good People are clothed in yellow, and every New Moon they have their Heads, Beards and Eye brows ſhaved. They neither wear Gold nor Silver, and dare not ſo much as touch it, but they receive and diſpence it by a Procurator, that is to ſay, by the Hands of a Man of an approved Fidelity, and who Honours the Secrets of the Order, but pretends to ſee nothing. They make a Vow of Chaſtity, and ſeem to keep it very rigorouſly; but they ſee Women in private, and provided there reſults no ſcandal from that Commerce, they make little ſcruple on't▪ but if it comes to light, the Criminal is puniſhed very ſeverely. Bating this, they lead a very delicious life, exempt from all care; for as they want nothing, and they have not ſo much as the care of heaping up Riches, which ſhower down upon 'em, without ſpending their thoughts in that way, they have nothing more to do than to ſtudy, how to entertain their Votaries in the good intention they have of nouriſhing 'em in a Heavenly Idleneſs. Their Rule obliges 'em to preach to the People every Quarter of the Moon, to Catechiſe at all times, and to induce 'em to Peace. The great Modeſty which they affect in their Pious Exerciſes, does invite to their Houſes all the People, who in acknowledgment of the ſpiritual Benefits which the Monks communicate to 'em, beſtow upon 'em ſuch as are temporal, and that even to profuſion. About four a clock in the Morning, they riſe at the ringing of the Bells, and go all together to a certain place appointed for Prayer; part of the day is ſpent in viſiting the ſick; in the Evening they return to Prayers, where they remember the dead, for they believe that their Prayers contribute very much towards their comfort and eaſe, and for the freeing 'em from an imaginary Place, where (they ſay) they endure great Pains.

They have an infinite number of Idols, who repreſent ſeveral poſtures of Men and Women, moſt being of Gold or Silver, ſome of Copper and Pewter, and very few of Stone or Wood. In the great Pagod, where the King goes once a year, there is one, who tho ſeated with Legs acroſs, is about ſixty foot high; the others are much richer, but not ſo great. Thoſe of the Altars are much the fineſt, but their Beauty is not in the leaſt to be compared with the Idols of the Pagod, which is in the midſt of the City; where of four Thouſand which it contains, there is not one but what is either of Gold or Gilt. As for their Ceremonies, they are in many things conformable to thoſe of the Papiſts, who its eaſie to prove, have ſuck'd moſt of their Superſtition from Paganiſm; for at the Entrance of their Pagods, there is Holy Water; and without ſpeaking of their Altars, that are loaded with Images or Idols, there are Lamps always burning, a number of other Lights, and every where Boxes to receive the Alms of Pilgrims. The Works of Supererogation are in great Credit amongſt 'em; and if we would believe 'em, there is not a dead Perſon, but whom their Prayers are a great help to, nor any living, but to whom they are conſiderably uſeful. Tho the Indians, eſpecially the Bonzes, have commonly a blind averſion to thoſe who are of a contrary Religion to theirs, theſe People ſeem very moderate in that reſpect, and far from being paſſionate. When we repreſent to 'em the Vanity of the Gods they adore, they anſwer modeſtly, proteſt they ſearch for the Truth, and if they knew a better way to attain it, they would quit all to purſue it. I have heard one of thoſe Banzes ſay, that the Chriſtians after them were the moſt beloved by God, and the nigheſt to Salvation. I eſteem them (ſaid he) ſo much the more, in that they ſeem to love Juſtice, Probity and Sincerity; becauſe th y leave the Conſcience free, and do not traduce us, at leaſt in our preſence, as the Mahometans do, who cannot ſuffer thoſe, who are not of their belief. A pride which we deteſt, and which binders us from praying for their Converſion, as we do for the Chriſtians, whoſe God is the Brother of our God.

Sect. VII.

NOthing is wanting in that Kingdom of things neceſſary for the Structure of all ſorts of Buildings, eſpecially it abounds in very fine Stones, and yet the Houſes there are only of Wood: the reaſon of it is, that the Stones are reſerved for the building both the Pagods and Pyramids, whereof there is a prodigious number through all the Country, Stools, Chairs and Tables are of no uſe there, and the Siamites as well as all the other Orientals, ſit in all occaſions, only upon Mats or Carpets. All their Moveables, which conſiſt in ſome Utenſils of the Kitchin, are of Braſs, always very bright and very neat; their Houſes are ſo clean and neat, that they far exceed Holland in that; and as for their Perſons, they waſh their Bodies three times a day from Head to Foot, in the cleareſt Fountain water that can be found; then they rub 'emſelves with a Perfume compoſed of Sandal Wood, Aloes, Ambergreece, Roſe-Water, Musk, and ſuch like things, whoſe Odour is very agreeable; wherein they take a much better courſe than the Javans, who perfume 'emſelves with a Drug that is inſupportable to thoſe that are nice in the leaſt. Commonly it is forthwith after thoſe Bathings, that they make their Viſits and their Devotions, but they firſt deck 'emſelves with all their fineries; thoſe of the Men conſiſting in a number of Gold-Rings, and a long Veſt of Cotton-ſtuff, upon which they have a Saſh of ſeveral colours, and under, a very looſe ſhirt of Linnen or Cotton, which is ſometimes red, ſometimes white, or of another colour. The Sleeves of their Veſts are very large, moſt of 'em open about the Elbow, and hanging to the Knees, but they go almoſt bare-headed, and without ſhooes.

The Women make a round of their Hair, which they faſten behind their Head with a Bodkin. Their Pendants are of blades of Gold, of a Fingers length, which are inchaſed with ſome Jewels; thoſe blades are ſo maſſie, that the weight of them makes holes in their Ears big enough to put a Thumb through. Their Bracelets are likewiſe of Gold and Precious Stones, and they have very fine Diamonds upon their Fingers. As for their Habits, they are of Cotton, as well as thoſe of the Men, and made much after the ſame manner; except that they have upon their Boſoms a Veil of Linnen or Silk, the colour of which is Arbitrary, and the form ſomething reſembles the Scarfs Women wear in England. The Complexion of both Sexes is Tawny; they are Tall of Stature, but well ſet, and of a Free Carriage, and generally the People there are good natur'd and polite.

Tho the young Men and Maids ſee one another with liberty enough, and it is no Scandal for the latter to grant ſometimes Favours, they live in Marriage with ſo much reſervedneſs, that there is no Nation where the Women have more: Not that they are all perhaps ſo many Lucretiaes, but as Adultery is there ſeverely puniſhed, the fear of Puniſhment is capable of rendring 'em diſcreet. Moreover, the Mothers forbid their Daughters when they are young, too great a Commerce with Men, for fear of getting an ill Habit; or perhaps too, for fear that the Men ſhould not be ſo eager to court 'em by way of Marriage. This Circumſtance makes the Maids, who have a deſire to be Married, of difficult acceſs; and the more they conceal 'emſelves, the more do their Lovers crowd after 'em. The means to obtain 'em is, to addreſs ones ſelf to the Parents, who, without conſulting their Daughters Inclinations, grant her to the Man, who pleaſes 'em moſt, provided he be of the Kindred; for it is the Cuſtom of the Siamites, to ally 'emſelves only in their own Family, where all Alliance is permitted, except between Brother and Siſter; nay, and theſe may Marry together, in caſe they be but Half-Brothers and Half-Siſters; that is to ſay, of the ſame Father, and not of the ſame Mother. Thus Intrigues of Gallantry are of no uſe in that Country, and ſuch an one Marries, who has never ſeen the Perſon ſhe is to wed. As Intereſt reigns there as well as elſewhere, they make Alliances commonly in conſideration of Eſtate and Fortune; and when the Match is advantageous, for fear of a diſappointment, the Maids are Married at Nine years, and the Young Men at Twelve; inſomuch as the married Couple do not both make five and twenty years, when they find 'emſelves already Fathers and Mothers. Out of Marriage the Men are permitted to have as many Concubines as they can maintain, and in Marriage, if they have but one Wife, they are free to quit her upon ſlight pretexts, eſpecially when they have no Children, and then either the one or the other may Marry again when they pleaſe.

Tho the Prieſts are very much reverenced in that Country, yet there is no reſpect had to 'em in Marriage, and far from calling 'em to be Witneſſes of the Union, they are on the contrary avoided, and People take it for an ill Omen, that they ſhould be preſent at ſuch a time. He who performs the Ceremony of it, is one of the neareſt Relations, who in the heat of the Feaſt, makes an Exhortation, after his mode, to the new married Couple: and whether the Bride and Bridegroom live together until death, or they part, the Clauſes of the Contract of Marriage are religiouſly obſerved.

As to the Children, they are brought up with great gentleneſs, and yet they are very ſupple, and do punctually, without any need of uſing rigour, all that is exacted from them. 'Tis uſually the Prieſts, who take care of their Education; and as this ſort of People live happily, their Diſciples obſerving it, turn Prieſts as well as they, for to enjoy the ſame pleaſures.

Their Cuſtom in regard of the Dead, is to burn them, and to make their Funerals conformably to their Means, which is performed in the manner following; The Relations of the Defunct raiſe up a Tomb, which they fill with ſweet ſcented Wood, which ſerves to burn the Corps, and whereto the Prieſts ſet fire, after having ſaid Prayers. The Rich preſerve the Aſhes in Urns of Gold or Silver, or bury 'em under a Pyramid, or in a Pagod, which the Deceaſed has cauſed to be built; for there is not a rich Siamite, but who is at that expence to eternize his Memory. The Aſhes of the Poor are caſt into the Wind. Thoſe who die naked of all, through an exceſs of Charity, that is to ſay, for having ſpent what they had of Value in building Monaſteries or Pagods, thoſe I ſay, are burnt at the expence of the Prieſts and Monks, who have profited thereby, for which reaſon the Pomp is very ſmall. As for Criminals and Children, who end their Lives, thoſe by a Criminal, theſe by an untimely death, their bodies are not burnt, but they inter 'em, it not being reaſonable, that they who have lived without honour, or died before they attained to the Knowledge of Religion and the Gods, ſhould enjoy the Honours and Priviledges of the Country.

The Civility of the Siamites extends even to Strangers, and of what Nation ſoever a Man be, he is favourably received there. What contributes to this good Reception is, that the more Strangers there be there, the more are the Natives of the Country eſteemed by the Neighbouring States; for which Reaſon, it is forbidden to trouble them in any kind, whether in the courſe of their Trade, or Cuſtoms, or in the exerciſe of their Religion. True it is however, that there are ſome who are priviledged; and of all thoſe who frequent there, none are ſo well received as the Hollanders, to whom the King has been particularly kind, as well in their Trade as Impoſts; and even contrary to his Cuſtom, which is to ſee no Foreigners, he gives 'em Acceſs in His Palaces, and calls 'em, His Children.

Sect. VIII.

THoſe ſenſible Marks of the King of Siam's Goodneſs towards our Nation, have raiſed us Enemies who have endeavoured to deſtroy us; but far from attaining to their ends: their Hatred has only ſerved to make us take Precautions, which have confirmed us in the Favour and good Opinion of that Prince. Since we have had the Honour of having Acceſs into His Palace, he has heaped upon us new kindneſſes; and that which he did in permitting us to aſſiſt at the Funerals of his only Daughter, is certainly one of the greateſt that Strangers can receive. This Princeſs being deceaſed at my firſt arrival there, ſix Moneths afterwards the King ſent word to the Sieur van Muyden Principal Commiſſioner of the Company, that he had leave given him to be preſent at the Obſequies. Van Muyden received with all due reſpect the Honour the King did him: and thus, with ſome others, of which number I was, he was Spectatour of a Ceremony which merited well to be ſeen.

Preparations were made for that Pomp in one of the Courts of that Palace, where there were raiſed five Towers of Wood; whereof that in the midſt was about an Hundred and twenty Foot in Height, the others diminiſhing by the ſame degrees they ſtood at a diſtance from that. Thoſe Towers were painted and gilt, and had communication by Galleries, with Balliſters enriched with the ſame Ornaments. Before the higheſt of thoſe Towers, the Body of the Defunct, was repoſed upon an Altar, all covered with Gold and precious Stones; ſhe was ſtanding, her Hands joyned, her Face turn'd towards Heaven, in a Coffin of Gold an inch thick. Her Robe had a long Train, and was all beſet with Jewels; her Crown, her Necklace, and her Bracelets likewiſe, all over covered with Diamonds, were of an ineſtimable price. When every one had taken places upon Scaffolds made on purpoſe, all the Grandees of the Kingdom went to make their Bows to her. The Ladies came thither afterwards, and both Sexes were only apparell'd with a white Cloth, without any Attire or Ornament; each one ſcattering round the Body and the Altar Flowers and Perfumes, with a very ſad Countenance. After which, the Body was carried twenty paces from thence in a Chariot, the riches whereof equalled that of the Altar. The Potentates of the Kingdom, and the Ladies, having paid her the ſame Honours, they all wept bitterly, and after ſo mournful a manner▪ that it ſeemed as if they had loſt what they had deareſt in the world. Theſe Tears and Lamentations having laſted for half an hour, the Principal Officers of the Crown drew the Chariot very gently towards the place where the Funeral Pile was. It was attended by the ſame Lords and Ladies we hav • already mentioned, ſtill weeping and lamenting. Before 'em marched the Eldeſt Son of the King, only Brother of the deceaſed Princeſs, and both born of the ſame Mother: He was clothed in white▪ as well as the Lords who attended him▪ and was mounted on an Elephant whoſ • Hooſe was embroidered, with Chains o • Gold upon his Neck. On each ſide o • him went his two Brothers, born of other Women, upon Elephants, like th • firſt, each holding a long Skarf of white Silk, whereof one of the ends was faſtened to the Coffin. Round the Bed, walked fourteen of the Kings Sons on foot, clothed alſo in white, with a branch of a Tree in their Hands, all ſo well inſtructed in weeping, that there was not one in the Company but did it with a good grace. At half way from the Funeral Pile, there were Stages or Scaffolds, where the Lords of leſſer Quality than the former, expected the Convoy. When the Body was come up over againſt them, ſome caſt ſeveral ſorts of Habits to the People; others, Oranges full of Ficols, which makes half a Crown of our Money: and ſome certain pieces called Maſen, which are about our Crown in value.

The Convoy being arrived at the place where the Ceremony was to end, the Grandees of the Kingdom took the Body with great Reſpect, and laid it upon the Funeral Pile, ſeveral Inſtruments in the mean while ſounding, whoſe mournful Harmony, attended with the Tears and Lamentations of all the Court, was capable of ſtaggering the hardeſt Hearts. This ſad Conſort being ended, they covered the Body with Sandal and Agor Wood; and after having caſt therein a great quantity of Perfumes, the King and Lords Children returned to the Palace, leaving the Ladies with the Corps, which was not to be burnt till two days afterwards. Tho this Term appointed for Tears, ſeem'd long to Perſons weary with weeping, they were notwithſtanding forced to continue that ſad Exerciſe for the ſpace of two whole days, without any ones being permitted, of what Quality ſoever ſhe was, to exempt her ſelf a Quarter of an Hour: a ſevere Cuſtom upon my word, but neceſſary to all that have Ambition, Tears on that occaſion, being the ſureſt and ſhorteſt means of rendring ones ſelf recommendable. Tho a Perſons Honour i • concerned to ſhew a deep mourning and a profound ſilence, there were however ſome, on whom thoſe Conſiderations had ſo little effect, that they grew weary of weeping; and it was for thoſe weak Souls, that they had left Old Women among them, to revive 'em with Laſhes of a Whip, made in the form of thoſe ſorts of Diſciplines, which the Monks make uſe of in Europe; and if it happened that thoſe poor Ladies left off weeping for one moment, becauſe they were oppreſſed with wearineſs and ſleep, they laſhed 'em in ſuch a manner, that inſtead of feigned Tears, they obliged 'em to ſhed real ones.

Whilſt the Ladies were weeping round the deceaſed Princeſs, the Prieſts were upon Scaffolds in the Court where the firſt Tears were ſhed, praying Night and day for her Soul: And while the Body was expoſed there, they interrupted their Prayers often, for to caſt to the People Garments of all ſorts, Utenſils for Houſe-keeping, Inſtruments for Artificers, Beds, Mats, and other Moveables. On the ſide of the Court, there were Twenty other Towers made of Reeds, faced within and without with Paper of ſeveral Colours: thoſe Towers were filled with numbers of Fire-Works, which laſted fifteen days together: during which, the King cauſed great Alms to be given, both to the Poor, and the Prieſts, the Expence whereof was [the Preparations being comprehended therein] of Five Thouſand Calfi, which makes of our Money about Sixty Thouſand Pounds, beſide the Statues of Gold and Silver, amongſt which, there were two of Gold, of four Foot and a half high, and an inch and a half thick, which were put, for the Honour of the Deceaſed, in the fineſt Pagods of the Country; all made of Gold Silver and Jewels, which the Deceaſed had received during her life, as well from the King her Father, as from the Principal Lords of the Court.

Sect. IX.

THE Body having repoſed two days upon the ſweet ſented Wood, which ſerv'd to burn it, all the Court went to relieve the doleful Ladies, whom their Fatigue had rendred very lean. The Ceremony began with Prayers and Speeches, which the Prieſts made; and when they had done 'em, the King took a lighted Wax-Candle from the Hands of the Arch-Prieſt, and ſet fire himſelf to the Funeral Pile, where the Body was reduced to Aſhes in the Coffin of Gold, wherein they had left the Riches, wherewith it was adorned. When they thought the Body conſumed, and went to gather up the Aſhes for the putting 'em into an Urn of Gold, there was found a piece of fleſh of the bigneſs of a little Child, ſo fine, and ſo Vermilion-like, that it ſeemed at firſt, as if the Fire had ſpared it out of reſpect; but that thought was followed by another, which occaſioned the ſhedding of a great deal of bloud. The King, who was one of thoſe who gathered up the Aſhes, looking upon that piece of fleſh, What do ye think (ſaid he, to the Lords who were preſent) is it out of reſpect, the fire has ſpared what remains of the body of my Daughter? The King waiting their anſwer, one amongſt 'em ſaid, That His Majeſty had too much underſtanding to doubt what he ſaw. How! (replied the King all in a fury) I have but too much reaſon not to doubt any longer of a ſuſpicion I have had a hundred times, my Daughter was poiſoned. In finiſhing thoſe words he gave order they ſhould ſecure all the Women who had ſerv'd the Defunct, and that not one ſhould be excepted.

The days following, new ſuſpicions were formed, upon which a number of innocent People were impriſoned: for what tortures ſoever they made them ſuffer, there was not one but diſavowed the Crime. In the mean while the Kings fury daily augmented; all thoſe that were accuſed made appear, they were not culpable: but the Cruelties did not diminiſh; and when the Court was dreined, and the King no longer found any one upon whom to diſcharge his Anger, he ſent upon divers pretexts, for the greateſt Men of the Kingdom, and their Wives, whom he cauſed to be put in Priſon as ſoon as they arrived at Court. When he had 'em in his power, he cauſed ſeveral holes to be digged round the City, about twenty Foot ſquare, wherein great Fires were kindled, guarded by Souldiers, who took care to hinder 'em from going out. And thither he ſent the Priſoners, loaded with Chains, to the end he might draw from 'em by force what Threatnings and Promiſes had not been able to make 'em confeſs. When they were at the place of Puniſhment, it was begun with making 'em enter into a Tub of hot water for to ſoften their skin, and render it more ſuſceptible of the impreſſion of the Fire. After which they ſcraped the Soles of their Feet with Irons as ſharp as Knives; then carried 'em before Judges, who examined 'em concerning the pretended buſineſs of poyſoning; thoſe who continued obſtinate to deny that they were culpable of it, were forced to walk bare footed upon burning Coals; and if it was found afterwards that the Fire had penetrated 'em, it was a convicting proof, they were guilty of the fact whereof they had bin accuſed. An Errour which in all times has been entertained among the Pagans, who made uſe of Fire for the trying of Criminals; Witneſs the Roman Veſtals, who only proved their Chaſtity by graſping a burning Iron, without burning 'emſelves. As for the Siamites we ſpeak of, they whom the heat of the Fire cauſed to fall into a Swoun, and who had not Strength enough to get out of 'emſelves, periſhed there miferably, no body daring to to help 'em, for fear of running the ſame danger. Thoſe who eſcaped it, were tyed to a Poſt, from whence an Elephant inſtructed in that manner of Death, tore 'em with his Trunk, caſt 'em into the Air, from whence they fell again upon his Teeth, and after ſeveral Toſſes he trod 'em under Foot, and made their Guts come out, which were afterwards caſt into the River. Beſides this hard puniſhment, there was one, that was no leſs to be feared, which was to be Interred all alive unto the Chin, upon the High-way of the City, with obligation to Paſſengers to ſpit upon 'em, and prohibition to give 'em eaſe in any manner, and even to advance their Deaths, which was the favour thoſe miſerable Wretches demanded with moſt Ardency.

Amongſt other Puniſhments, there was this very remarkable, and which is alſo very frequently executed upon notorious Malefactors. The Criminal is bound ſo ſtreight about with a Napkin, that a Man may graſp him with his Hands, and then is pricked with Engines as ſharp as Needles; not only make the bloud guſh out, but force the Patient to hold in his breath. Which taking the opportunity of on a ſudden, they cut him through the middle, and clapping immediately the upper part of his body upon a flaming hot piece of Braſs, through the cauterization of which, he remains a conſiderable time alive, in far greater torments than can be imagined.

Theſe cruel Executions laſted for above four Moneths, during which, they took the Lives away of an incredible Multitude. One day in leſs than four or five Hours, I my ſelf ſaw above fifty put to death. People imagined, that would have been the laſt day of the Maſſacres, becauſe ſome Moneths paſſed afterwards without putting any body to death; but they were quickly diſabuſed. As the Nobility, that were terrified, began to take Heart and return to Court, the Executions were renewed, and ſo many Heads fell at length, that the flower of the moſt Apparent, whom the King thought ill intentioned to His Perſon and Children, periſhed upon the Pretext of having had a Hand in this Sham-buſineſs of Poyſoning, or of having been privy to it. To have ſeen thoſe Cruelties, and ſo viſible an Injuſtice, it was much to be wondered there was no Riſing, and indeed, there has been ſuch for leſs conſiderable Reaſons: but the King had provided againſt that, by keeping on foot a great number of Forces, with which he had filled his beſt Towns, in appearance, for to ſend 'em againſt the Chinezes, but indeed to bridle thoſe whom he diſtruſted, while he made ſure of the others. And further, His Hatred did only extend to the Great Men, whoſe Fall the People did joyfully ſee, by reaſon of their Inſolence, and the ill Treatments they received from 'em.

On the 28 of February, they carried three Hundred Perſons, who had ſerved the Defunct Lady to go thro the Fire: but whether it was only a Fire of Straw, or painted, it is ſaid to have ſpared thoſe three Hundred Domeſticks, who by thoſe means were abſolved and releaſed: ſome days after one of the deceaſed Kings Daughters was impeached; ſhe was one of the youngeſt of his Children, who was ſuſpected of the Crime then in Examination, becauſe it had been obſerved, that ſhe laughed when all the others wept at the Obſequies of the Princeſs. They were fortified in this Suſpicion by the Remembrance of the frequent complaints ſhe had made of the King, by reaſon he had not Conſideration enough for her, and His Slights were the cauſe, that ſhe was no longer treated as a Kings Daughter, wherein ſhe was in no wiſe inferiour to His other Children who were the Delight and Admiration of the Court.

Tho theſe Conjectures were but Half Proofs, yet they were made uſe of for the bringing her to a Tryal; or rather, ſhe was condemned contrary to all forms of Juſtice; for, without hearing her reaſons, they cauſed her to paſs thro the Fire, with almoſt all her Attendants: but, as they had only a deſign upon her, a Rumour was ſpread abroad, that it had hurt no body but her; wherefore they loaded her with Chains of Gold in an obſcure place, with prohibition, to whomſoever it was, to ſee and ſpeak with her. Nothing was now expected but the Hour of that Princeſſes Death, when People learn'd, that the King being moved with Compaſſion, deſired nothing more than to ſave her, provided ſhe could juſtifie her ſelf of the Crime, that was imputed unto her in the Preſence of His Counſel. On the day of her Appearance, inſtead of being terrified at the Torments that were preparing for her, My Lords, ſaid ſhe, looking ſcornfully upon her Judges, All in Chains as you ſee me, I am of the Bloud, which you adore in the Perſon of the King, and which you have adored in the Perſon of my Father. 'Tis of the ſame value; 'tis the ſame in my Veins that it is in his; and yet the ſame Bloud is treated in me, as if I was a vile Slave, at the ſame time that Incenſe is payed to it elſewhere, and they render the ſame Honour as to the Bloud of the Gods. From whence comes this difference, My Lords? Is it, that the Bloud which animates me is corrupted? But whence ſhould that Corruption Infamous Diſeaſes among the Siamites, and for woh they are ignominiouſly treated.proceed? Thanks to the Gods, I have neither a Fever nor the Pox; and tho there had been ſomething impure in me, the Fire I have been made to paſs through muſt needs have purged it: but I am ſaid to have taken away my Couſins Life, and by that Action I have degenerated from the Dignity of my Anceſtors. I do not examine the Effects of the Crime, whereof I am accuſed, nor if our Actions deface in us a Character, which Nature bath imprinted there; but let us ſee if it be juſt to condemn me without hearing me; the greateſt Barbarians take another courſe, and the worſt of Crimes are puniſhed among Them according to the Laws. However, they make a ſcruple of treating me as all the World is treated; I do not deſerve the leaſt regard ſhould be had for me, and upon the leaſt appearances, I muſt be condemned to undergo the ſevereſt Puniſhments. But I laughed, ſaid they, inſtead of weeping at the Obſequies of my Couſin, I have complain'd of the Kings ſlights, How! When were the moſt innocent Actions ever condemned? Is it ſo culpable a thing to laugh when we are young, and not yet at an Age to diſſemble? And for ſome ſmall Complaints which were none of the worſt grounded, have I merited either Fire or Sword, and ought they to prophane in me the Bloud of a Prince, who never ſought Pretexts to prophane Yours, under whoſe Reign this Empire has ſo long flouriſhed, and under whom it would ſtill perhaps have flouriſhed, if certain ſecret Enemies had not ſnatch'd the Scepter from him by an Action that is commended in them, becauſe they have had the Happineſs of triumphing without Oppoſition, and which is baſely puniſhed in me becauſe I am weak, and all the Authority is in the hands of my Antagoniſt. Thus you ſee, My Lords, the Injuſtice of this Procedure; but after the manner I ſpeak thereof, you may very well judge I have no deſire to be ſpared; and indeed, My Lords, I hate Life, and ſince the Affront that has been put upon me, I only wiſh for Death; not that I am troubled with the Remorſes of my Conſcience, but becauſe I bluſh to live in ſo ſordid an Age, and I have no Body to help me to repulſe the Blows of a Tyrant, who cannot endure the ſad Reliques of your Kings, Go, My Lords, and tell him my Reſolution, and endeavour to repreſent it to him after ſuch a manner as may terrifie him in caſe my Death be in the leaſt deferred: This is the only favour I demand of you.

The Princeſſes boldneſs did ſtagger Peoples Minds, and if the King had not foreſeen it by the raiſing of the Forces we have before mentioned, 'tis certain, that there would have bin ſome Revolt; but the fear of the approaching Danger ſtifl'd the grief of the Judges: they made their report of what they had heard, and the King diſſembling the Vexation he had to ſee himſelf braved after that manner, pretended to have ſome pity, and made her appear before him with an Air, as gave occaſion to believe, he had a deſire to ſave her. Well, ſaid he, to her, at her coming into his Preſence, I hear that Life is grown a burden to you, and it would be in vain for us to endeavourto ſave it; but from whence proceeds that great Averſion to it? Is it not from the Remorſe of having poyſoned my Daughter, or from ſome other yet more violent? for I do not believe you of a humour to confine your ſelf to one Crime: but as wicked as you are, I have no deſire to ſee your Ruine, which it lies only in your Power to try, which you may eaſily do by confeſſing your Crimes, and your Accomplices.

Do not think, Sir, (replied the Princeſs boldly) I am terrified with Menaces, or your falſe kindneſs is capable of ſurpriſing me. I am in a condition to ſpeak to you ſincerely; you have loſt a Daughter, and you will needs have me to be the cauſe of her loſs: Yes, yes, let it be ſo, I confeſs, it was I, who poyſoned her, but I likewiſe avow, that this Crime is not ſo great as you make it, or rather that that Victim was too vile to be ſacrificed to my juſt reſentment. 'Tis well known, that it was by your Plots, the Scepter of my Anceſtors fell into your Hands; and by your Order, we are in the duſt: could I do leſs than take Vengeance for ſo conſiderable a loſs, and for a Treatment ſo unworthy the Bloud of ſo many Kings? Wherefore I have ſought to comfort my ſelf in the death of my Enemies; but I have ſo ill performed it, that I think my ſelf unworthy of the Light; and it is for having failed of depriving you of it, that I can no longer endure living. As for my Accomplices, I confeſs with the ſame ſincerity, I have had none of thoſe whom you have ſo cruelly murdered. But why ſhould I tell you what you know, and what no body is ignorant of? No body is ignorant, that you, hated 'em long ſince, you dreaded 'em, and have a long time ſought for a pretext to get rid of 'em; you have found that happy moment, you triumph, you are beloved by Heaven, enjoy in repoſe the favours which it heaps upon you; and if you have ſtill any humanity left, finiſh what you have begun; for I muſt confeſs, I am weary of breathing the ſame Air that is ſucked by the Executioner of my bloud, and the baſeſt of all Tyrants.

The King uſed great violence upon himſelf to ſuffer her ſpeak ſo long, but at length, affecting to appear what he was not, that is to ſay, good natur'd and humane; after having asked her if ſhe had nothing more to ſay, the Princeſs making no anſwer, he cauſed a piece of her fleſh to be cut off, which he commanded her to eat; Content thy ſelf (ſaid ſhe to him) with being my Executioner; thou mayſt tear my body to pieces, but thou haſt no Power over my Will. She was going to continue, when the Kings Choler augmenting, ſhe was cut to pieces as ſhe finiſhed theſe words, and caſt into the River.

Of the Family of the deceaſed King there remained no more than two Children, viz. one Son of twenty years old, and a Daughter who had not yet ſeen ten. Her extream Youth ſaved her life, but the Son loſt it the ſame day, and after the ſame manner as his Siſter did. What torments ſoever he was made to ſuffer, he proteſted, his Siſter and he were innocent of the Crimes that were impoſed upon 'em; and he was not very ſorry to die, Life being inſupportable to him, ſince he ſaw himſelf fallen from the State that he was born to; but he had a regret that the Tyrant ſurvived him.

Sect. X.

WE have already ſaid, that the King of Siam is one of the richeſt and more powerful Monarchs of the Eaſt; but we have not yet ſeen the Titles which he gives himſelf. As the manner thereof is ſingular, I imagine the Reader would take it as an obligation to be ſhewn two Copies, which fell into my Hands while I was at Siam, thro the intermiſſion of one of the Great Lords of the Country, to whom I teſtified my deſire, that he would leave them with me. As the Phraſe of that Tongue is ſomething barbarous, I have cauſed them to be Tranſlated according to the genius of ours.

Alliance written in Letters of Gold, wherein ſhines the Divine Splendour, and which is the moſt excellent of all thoſe that are in the World; which comprehends the Sublimeſt Sciences, and which is alone capable of rendering Men happy. It is the beſt and ſureſt in Heaven, and above and below the Earth. All the Words thereof are Royal; they are ſoft and delicious, but Almighty and Energical. The Renown that is ſpread thereof thorow all the Earth, produces there the ſame effect, which the ſighs of the Dead raiſed to life would produce, when done by an all-Divine Vertue, and purged from their corruption, as well ſpiritual as corporal. All Perſons too, conſtituted in Dignity, as well amongſt the Nobility and Clergy as the Commonalty, do never ſee 'em without feeling a certain joy which no other thing can cauſe. Thus there is nothing in the Univerſe which is comparable to 'em, no more than to the Source from whence they iſſue, as being a Monarch moſt Illuſtrious, moſt Invincible, moſt Powerful, and moſt High, and Crowned with an Hundred and one Crowns of Gold, all adorned with nine ſorts of Precious Stones: being the greateſt, the pureſt, and the moſt Divine Maſter of Immortal Souls, the moſt Holy who ſees all things, and the Sovereign Emperour, who holds under the ſhadow of his Wings, the Great, the Rich, and the moſt incomparable Kingdom of Siam; the Splendour of the fine and famous City of India, whoſe Gates and Paſſages are inhabited by an infinity of People, and which is, without Contradiction, the Capital of the Univerſe, the only Throne worthy of the greateſt of Kings, to which is ſubdued the goodlieſt and the moſt fruitful of all Countries, which the Sun gives light to; who is a greater Lord than the Gods, and whoſe Palace is only of fine Gold and Precious Stones: the divine Maſter of the Heaps of Gold, of the White, Red, and round Tail Elephants, which three Animals are the Sovereign God of Nine ſorts of Gods: the Divine Lord, in whoſe hand is the Victorious Sword, who reſembles the God of Armies, with Arms all of Fire, and the moſt Noble and moſt Excellent of all Kings.

The Second was much of the ſame force, and is as follows: The moſt High Paducco Dyriſultaan nelmonam, Welgahu, Nelmochadin magiviitha, Jouhen der Eateten lillaula fulan, the King of Kings, who cauſes the Waters to ebb and flow, the Monarch who is as a God, as a Sun in the higheſt point of its Elevation, as bright as the Moon in its greateſt Luſtre, the Elect of God for to be eſteemed as much as the Star of the North, whoſe Extraction is altogether Royal, as being the Iſſue of the Great Alexander, and whoſe Wit is all-perfect, all-ſeeing, and all-penetrating; like to a Globe, always rowling, and ſo made, as to meaſure the Abyſſes of the Sea: a King who has adorned the Tombs of all the decayed Saints; who is as juſt as God; and of ſo vaſt a power, that all the World may hide it ſelf under the Shadow of his Wings: a King who holds from the Hand of God a number of Mines of Gold; who has cauſed Pagods all of Gold and Copper to be built; who ſets upon a Throne that is only of Gold and precious Stones: the King of the White Elephant, who is King of all the other Elephants, and before whom, ſeveral Millions of other Elephants are obliged to proſtrate themſelves: a King whoſe Eyes are ſo ſparkling as the Morning Star: under whom are Elephants with four Teeth; red Elephants, purple coloured Elephants, and of ſeveral other colours; as likewiſe, of an Elephant Buytenaque, for which the Almighty God has made him a Preſent of ſeveral ſorts of embroidered Houſes, in great numbers, and all beſet with Precious Stones; a number of other Elephants exerciſed in War, whoſe Harnaces are Shot proof; others whoſe Teeth are armed with Steel, and their Harnace of Braſs: a King who has Horſes without number, ſhod with Iron, whoſe Houſes are likewiſe of Gold, and all beſet with Stones, beſides an infinite number of others, which are proper for War. A King who is above all the Emperours, Monarchs, Princes and Potentates of the Univerſe, from Eaſt to Weſt; who raiſes to Honour and to Dignities, thoſe who have the Wit to get into his good Opinion, and who on the contrary cauſes thoſe to be burnt alive who revolt from him: A King as powerful as God, and in whom reſides the power of doing all that God has done and created.

By theſe proud Titles the King of Siam pretends to inſinuate into His Subjects that he is as great as God, and more than all the Powers which reign upon Earth; and to confirm it, he makes 'em believe, that he ſtops the Courſe of the Waters, which he goes to work to after this manner: The River of Siam being one of the Branches of the Ganges, which Increaſes and Decreaſes regularly in certain Seaſons of the Year: its Increaſe and Decreaſe is likewiſe limited. When it begins to diminiſh, which happens in the Month of November, the King takes that time to make one of his publick Appearances, whereof we have ſpoken: to which, he is attended by all his Court, and ſhews himſelf on that Occaſion, with all the Riches and Splendour imaginable. His Galley is all ſhining with Gold and Precious Stones; he is therein ſeated upon a Golden Throne, covered with a Canopy ſet with Diamonds; he is attended by two Hundred Galleys of a prodigious length, each having two Hundred Rowers, and being for the moſt part, painted and gilt. About ſix Leagues from the City, the King and Arch-Prieſt enter alone into a little Barge; wherein the latter, after having uttered ſome Prayers upon a Sabre of Gold, preſents it to the King, who ſtrikes the River three times with it, and commands it, by His Divine Authority, to retire into the Sea. While the King is employed in this Ceremony, the People, whom the Prieſts do make believe that none but His Majeſty can ſtop the Courſe, are proſtrated upon the Shore, ſurprized at the Power of their King.

Sect. XI.

ON the twelfth of April we departed from Siam, in a Ship freighted with Buck-skins, Sandale Wood, and Amrac, whereof the Japanezes make the fineſt Varniſh; and we made Sail towards Formoſa. In the way near a Shelf called Pracel we diſcovered a Jone with an Holland Flag, which ſeemed to come directly to us; the more it approached, the more did we believe, it was a Pyrate: wherefore for fear of a ſurprize, and to be ſo much the more free in caſe he attaqued us, we were contriving how to caſt ſome Merchandizes into the Sea, when we perceived, it was a Merchant-man. Being delivered from our fears, we called to 'em to come ſhew us their Paſsport, but they excuſed 'emſelves, in that their Jonc was in ſo ill a condition, that it ſprung Leaks on all ſides. We armed Seven or Eight of our Men, and put 'em into a Pinnace to go on board of 'em. All the Men on board the Jonc were Chineſes and Gambodians; they had Sandale Wood, Amrac, and Buck-skins as well as we; but they were moreover freighted with counterband Goods, and had no Paſport, for which reaſon we ſeized upon 'em. Having got all they had on board of us, while the Jonc was repairing, we cauſed the Gambodians and the Chineſes to return into it, who were expoſed to the Sea without Sails, Maſts and Rudder, that we might be revenged of the Maſſacre which the latter had executed a little before upon ſome Hollanders.

On the tenth of May being arrived at Formoſa, we caſt Anchor before the Fort called Zelandoia, from whence preſently after, we ſaw a Jonc ſtrike ſo hard upon a Rock, that both it, the Goods, and Men were all caſt away.

This Iſland is ſituated under the Tropick of Cancer, at 21 degrees of Southern Latitude, and ending towards the 25th. of Northern; its Circuit is 130 Leagues. It abounds in Fiſh of all ſorts, but above all they catch a ſort called Harder, of the bigneſs of a Whiting, which being ſalted and prepared like Stock fiſh, is diſtributed thorow all China, as Herrings are in Europe. They ſalt appart the Eggs of that Fiſh, which the Chineſes make a very ſavoury Diſh of. That Nation paid formerly to the Dutch Eaſt India Company a certain Impoſt for the fiſhing of this Fiſh, but that Right does no longer ſubſiſt.

Its Soil is very fruitful, but the Inhabitants (who are laſie) do not make the beſt advantage on't. It produces Rice, Wheat, Barley, Millet, Ginger, Cinamon, Coco's, Lemons, Oranges, Melons, Gourds, and all ſorts of Pulſe, Majavinades, Guigavas, Cadiany, Potates; and the Focufocoes, which is a Fruit of the form and bigneſs of a Bon Chreſtien Pear. This Fruit is of a Purple colour, and lies upon the ground as Melons do, and is of a moſt excellent taſte. There are likewiſe ſome Sheep, but not ſo many as Deer, Goats, Hares, Rabbets, Pidgeons, Fallow Deer, wild Goats, wild Boars, Tygers, Bears and Monkeys; beſides a certain Animal, called by the Hollanders, the Devil of Fayovan; it is about three quarters of a yard in length, and about twenty Inches large; it has Scales like a Fiſh, and very ſharp Claws. It only feeds upon Piſmires, who go of themſelves upon its Tongue, when Hunger preſſes it to put it out. This Creature is very timorous, and eſpecially of Mankind: if it can only ſhun one by hiding it ſelf in the Earth, it makes a hole therein with ſo much ardour, that in a moment it retrenches it ſelf as in a Fort; or if it be ſurpriſed in ſuch a manner, as that it has not time to get in, it wraps its ſelf up in its Scales, and takes the form of a Ball. Thoſe who have named it Devil, muſt needs not have known it, or they were frighted with its Figure; for tho you hurt it never ſo much, it will rather ſuffer it ſelf to be killed than make any Defence. There are no Parrots, but many other ſorts of Birds, and an infinity of flying Locuſts that are very dangerous and troubleſome.

The Men are of a low ſtature, particularly thoſe who inhabit the Mountains; neither are the Women of a larger ſize, moſt of whom have broad Faces, great Eyes, flat Noſes, and full boſomed; and what they have moſt ſingular is, that they have Beards grow upon their Chins as well as Men; and were they not very diligent in pulling it out, they would be much better furniſhed. Add to this beauty very long Ears, which they take great care to lengthen and augment by the weight of certain great Shells, which ſerve 'em inſtead of Pendants. This Ornament ſeems to 'em ſo rare, that the more Solemn the Feaſts are, and of the greater quality the People they ſee, the more they lengthen their Ears, which reach, on thoſe occaſions, down to their very Breaſts, by the counter weights which they put in 'em. Their Hair is both very black and long; ſome wear it much after the ſame manner as they do in Holland; others tye it up after the Chineze manner, or make it into ſeveral Treſſes, which they faſten round behind their Heads with a Tin Bodkin. Their Necklaces are of Glaſs or Stone, and of little pieces of Silver in ſeveral Figures. Their Complexion is yellow and black, and ſome towards Kubeland are yellow and white. The Women of Miday, whoſe King is Maſter of the greateſt part of the Iſle of Souten, Norwe and Lamei, are altogether yellow. As for the Gifts of Mind, all the Inhabitants in general are pretty well furniſhed.

The Women are cloathed from the Neck to the Middle with a piece of Cotton, which flys about negligently; and from the Middle to the Knees with another piece of Cotton. Their Head-geer is of ſome Silk ſtuff, or moſt commonly of Velvet, whereof they make two points, which advance on either ſide the Forehead: They go always bare-footed, and are almoſt ever followed by an Hog, who is as familiar to them as the Dog is in Europe.

The Habits of the Men conſiſt in ſeveral Ells of Cotton, whereof one part falls from the right Shoulder to the midleg, the two ends croſſing over the left Arms, inſomuch as half of the Body is always uncovered. They go commonly bare-footed, except in a long Tract of way, when they have ſometimes certain Shooes made of Goats Skin, and much like the Sandales of our Monks. In Winter they dreſs 'emſelves in Beaſts Skins, as Tygers, Bears, and Leopards. Thoſe of the Province of Soulang dreſſed 'emſelves formerly after the Mode of the Hollanders: At this day it is after that of China, as well as in all the reſt of the Iſland, where all the Inhabitants went naked, before the Spaniards and the Hollanders ſet foot there, which is ſtill at this day obſerved by thoſe who inhabit the Mountains; except that they cover groſly, what Civility forbids to name.

The Men paint their Breaſts, Backs, and Arms, with a juyce of Herbs, which is never worn out: they have Bracelets of Glaſs and Necklaces of the ſame, and they have ſuch ſtreight Sleeves of Iron upon their Arms, that they can hardly move 'em; as for their Legs, they deck 'em with rows of white Shells very neatly wrought.

The Inhabitants of Tocadeol take for a Sumptuous Ornament (for they only deck themſelves with it on Holy-days) a long Reed or Cane of a yard and a quarter in length, the one end of which, is faſtened upon the Reins, the other bends over the Head, to which, is tyed a floating knot of red and white ſtuff, of almoſt half a yard long, and ſeven or eight Inches broad. They have moreover a Crown of Cocks Feathers, and the Tails of Bares upon their Arms and Legs. Their Beds are as extraordinary as the reſt, two Stags Skins ſerving 'em for Quilts, Sheets and Blankets: theſe Beds ſeem ſo delicate to 'em, that they are loath to leave 'em; and when that happens, which they do the lateſt they can, 'tis with no deſign to go to work, for they are neither Shoo-makers, Weavers nor Joyners. In a word, they make Profeſſion of having no need of the moſt neceſſary Trades: or rather, they know 'em all, every one being capable of doing what he has occaſion for: their particular Dexterity lies in handling the Bow; and whether running, lying, ſtanding, or ſitting, they never fail of hitting the Mark they aim at, provided it be viſible. They are alſo excellent Swimmers, but eſpecially they run with an incredible Swiftneſs, and when they undertake it, there is not a Horſe that can outgo 'em; they have, while they are running, a piece of Iron of a round Figure, ſix Inches long, and five Inches broad; they ſtrike with thoſe Inſtruments upon the Bracelets or Sleeves of Iron we have mentioned, to animate one another, according to the need they have thereof, making more haſte, or making the leſs ſpeed, according to the number of the blows they give. Navigation is an Art which they do not underſtand; and all they know in point of Water is to croſs a River in the hollow of a Trunk of a Tree: but tho they are ignorant of what is the delight of moſt other Nations, yet they live very happily, fiſhing and hunting furniſhing 'em abundantly wherewith to live; and if they have an occaſion or deſire of ſomething elſe, their Women have ſo natural an Inclination to Agriculture, that they find means, without the help of other living Creatures, to diſpoſe the Earth, to produce 'em what they ſow there. They make War after the ſame manner, that Savage and Brutal Nations do, that is to ſay, without Art and Order; and what is therein moſt inhumane, without Quarter too: for, thoſe to whom Hazard gives the advantage, never give Quarter to their Enemies, for fear they ſhould be taken with a deſire of returning to the Charge, or they ſhould become more happy the ſecond time than the former. Thus, ſay they, to remove all Fears that may ariſe from that ſide, it is requiſite to take that courſe.

Before I had ſeen this Iſland, I had often heard ſay, there were Men with long Tails like Beaſts, but I could never believe it, and I thought the thing ſo far from our Nature, that I could hardly give credit to my Eyes, when they took away all doubts by an Adventure ſomewhat odd. The Inhabitants of Formoſa being accuſtomed to ſee us, we ſaw one another with ſo much confidence, as not to be afraid of any ill accident on either ſide. So that tho Foreiners, we believed our ſelves in ſafety, and went often abroad without a Guard, when Experience made us know that we hazarded our ſelves too far. One day ſome of our People walking together, one of our Miniſters being of the Company, went a Stones Caſt from 'em upon ſome Natural Occaſions, the others in the mean while walked ſtill on, very attentive to a ſtory that was told 'em. When it was ended, they remembred the Miniſter did not return, and waited for him ſome time: after which, being weary of waiting, they went towards the place where they expected he was; they found him, but without life, and the ſad condition he was in, gave ſufficiently to underſtand that he had not languiſhed long. While ſome kept him, others went on ſeveral ſides for to diſcover the Murderers: they went not far without finding a man▪ who ſeeing himſelf incloſed by ours, foamed, howled, and made 'em comprehend, that he would make him repent who ſhould firſt approach him. His deſperate Carriage made at firſt ſome impreſſion, but at length their fears ceaſed, they took that miſerable Wretch, who confeſſed, that he killed the Miniſter, but they could not learn for what reaſon. As it was a heinous crime, and that impunity might have ill conſequences, they condemned him to be burnt. He was tied to a Poſt, where he remained for ſome hours before the Execution. It was then that I ſaw what hitherto I had not been able to believe; his Tail was above a foot long, all covered with red hair, and very like to that of an Ox. When he ſaw that the Spectators were much ſurpriſed to ſee in him what they had not themſelves, he told 'em▪ that that defect, if it was one, came from the Climate, ſince all thoſe of the Southern part of this Iſle where he was born, had the like as well as he.

Sect. XII.

HAving made Sail on the 15th. of July for Japan, we arrived there on the 10th. of Auguſt. Half an hour after having given the Signal of our Arrival, we ſaw on board of us a hundred Japoneſes, who made us a ſign at their coming, that we needed only to be at reſt, and they were going to do our buſineſs. What deſire ſoever we had to diſcharge 'em from that trouble, we were forced to obey, and remain with Arms acroſs, while ſome took away the Sails, others the Rudder, ſome the Ammunitions of War, others the Anchors, carrying all on ſhoar, as well as the Merchandizes, which were ſhut up in a Magazine, which the Governour of Nangueſaque, being the place where we went on Shoar, did anſwer for. This courſe was no Novelty it is a Cuſtom eſtabliſhed for all ſtrangers; the Japonezes, who are extreamly diſtruſtful, act in that manner for the ſecuring their Repoſe, for they are always in fear, it is l • ſs the Traffique, than the deſire of ſupplanting 'em, that invites other Nations thither. The Magazine which the Hollanders have in that City, is ſituated in a little Iſle, ſeparated from the City by a River of about forty foot broad. The Ramparts of that Iſland are of Planks of a foot and a half thick; the Bridge of Communication is an Hundred and fifty foot long, and fifty broad. At the end of the Bridge they enter into the Magazine, in the midſt whereof is the Houſe of the chief or principal Officer of the Company. 'Tis a very regular Building, very large and well furniſhed. There is round the Magazine a number of Houſes, which form Streets of a good handſome largeneſs, where there are convenient places for the Inhabitants of that little City. On the Sea-ſide they deſcend by a large Pair of Stairs, from the Magazine to a great Court, where they diſcharge their Merchandizes, which conſiſt in raw and wrought Silks, in Velvet, Damask, Satin and Cotton, in Bucks and Kaimans Skins, in Quickſilver, Sublimy, Spaniſh Green, Camphire, Wax, Alum, Pepper, Elephants Teeth, and ſeveral other Commodities.

Three days after our Arrival at Nanqueſaque, the Japoneſes finding that the Li • ts of our Mearchandizes did agree with what they had 'emſelves unloaded, came on board us, and ſealed up the Hatches; and to charm the diſpleaſure which this courſe cauſed in us, they brought with 'em ſix little Barrels of Saqui, which is a ſtrong drink made of ſeveral ſorts of Corn, but wherein there is moſt Rice, and which fuddles like Wine. There were thoſe of our Ships Crew, who without being much concerned for what might happen, gave their hearts up to joy, and drank ſo largely thereof, that they ſet up the Flag, round which they ſung, danced, and to which they pretended likewiſe to ſhew a Comedy, when a Hurricane came, and broke all their Meaſures; it came with ſo much fury, that we had hardly time to get into the Hold, than the Maſts, Sail-yards, Mainyards, all were broke like Glaſs, and caſt very far into the Sea. Our Cables broke like Threads, and our Ship had ſuch furious ſhakes, that we believed it was going to open; however it held good: wherein we were more happy than thoſe who were at the mouth of the River, for they were ſo hardly treated, that they had much ado to ſave 'emſelves. Thoſe who were on Land, were not much more in ſurety, all running the riſque of being inceſſantly oppreſſed under the ruins of the Houſes, that fell pell-mell, which commonly happens on the like occaſions.

The City of Nangueſaque is ſituated in 33 Degrees of Northern Latitude, in a very agreeable place. Very great and very Populous it is, but without Walls, as well as moſt of the Cities of Japan; its Port is large and commodious: it is full of fine Buildings, eſpecially on the Seaſide; over which do appear at a great diſtance the Towers of the Pagods, in great numbers. The Houſes are only of Wood, as being l • ſs dangerous during the Earthquakes, which are very frequent in that Country, than if they were of Stone. Ordinary Peoples Houſes, are pitiful and low; they are covered with Planks, which advance the one upon the other, and reach beyond the Wall about four foot, for to cover the Gallery, which reaches the length of the Houſes on the Garden ſide.

The Houſes of the Nobility and the Rich, are more exalted and more beautiful; their Apartments are divided, inſomuch as that of the Husband has no communication with that of the Wife. All the Chambers are painted and gilt, and generally the Houſes there are more gay and agreeable than in Europe. The Walls on the inſide are garniſhed by ſeveral ſtories of all ſorts of Porcelaine Ware, and Boxes of a very fine Varniſh, all being ranged upon Frames, that ſtand out for half a foot broad. The plain ground is a painting of ſome excellent workmanſhip, and from ſpace to ſpace the Floor is covered with great veſſels of Porcelain, filled with ſweet-ſcented Flowers. The out-ſides are not ſo fine, and to ſee 'em one would not ſay, that ſuch nice Gentlemen as thoſe of Japan would inhabit there, but enter never ſo little, and one is quickly undeceived. The City is cut by ſeveral Canals, much after the ſame manner as in Holland. There are counted Eighty Eight Streets, all in a right line, and four Hundred Paces long. Each of theſe Streets is locked up ſeparately, and from Ten a clock in the Evening until the next morning, there is no reaſon ſtrong enough to have it opened. It is thought ſtrange, that in caſe of Fire, or any other ſuch like accident, that order ſhould be ſo rigorouſly obſerved, but when the Japanezes have taken a Reſolution, it muſt needs ſubſiſt even at the Expence of their Lives.

The Country round about is pleaſant and fruitful; moſt of the Nobility have their Houſes that are only made for Pleaſure, not only for that of the Eyes, but likewiſe the Taſte and Ears: for beſides ſweet Oranges▪ excellent Pears, and other good fruits which grow there, the Birds with their wild Notes charm your Senſes there more than they do in other places.

The Inhabitants of all Japan do not pretend much to whiteneſs. They are comonly Tawny, but much leſs at Nangueſaque than in other parts. Of a ſtrong complexion, • obuſt Bodies, flat Faces, their Noſes the ſame, and their Eyes ſmall and black. The Habits of the Men conſiſt in certain Veſts, which reach down to their Feet, the one ſide croſſing over the other, and being ſo faſtned by a Girdle more or leſs large, plain or rich, according to the humour and inclination of every one.

The Modes of the Women differ little from thoſe of the Men, for they are both much of the ſame length, and carried after the ſame manner; but Women of Quality have uſually ſuch Veſtments as are ſo rich, that it is eaſie to diſtinguiſh 'em from the Commonalty: All their Robes are embroidered with Gold and Silver, at leaſt thoſe that are uppermoſt: if the others are not ſo rich, the Stuff of 'em is ſo fine, that they may put 10 or 12 of them one upon another, without having too many Clothes on, or being too much troubled. All theſe Robes are hanging, and have Trains, and are tied with a Saſh extreamly large, and which is anſwerable to the riches of the Habits. Though theſe Ladies are ſo pompouſly cloathed, they ſeldom go abroad, and when they do ſo, it is either in a Chair or a Boat, as well becauſe Walking is ſomething too common to be the Mode amongſt them, as becauſe they have hardly any feet, having, like the Ladies of China, the folly to imagine, that a Woman is ſo much the more beautiful, as that her Foot is ſmall.

The Japonezes have for the moſt part great hearts; of what condition ſoever they are, they love Honour and Glory, and are ſo ſenſible of Contempt, that they do all things to avoid it, and for to revenge themſelves if they are inſulted; inſomuch as an Artiſan leaves his work imperfect, if he who employs him pretends to treat him ſcornfully. There is no Nation that knows ſo well to conſtrain themſelves, principally in Adverſity; they endure it like Stoicks, and the greater the Misfortune, the leſs does it outwardly appear. They have Friends as well as elſewhere, hut they never make uſe of them either to receive their Complaints, or to give 'em pity in their Troubles; how great ſoever they be▪ neither Regrets nor Murmurs are ever heard to come out of their Mouths. But tho they are firm in the miſeries of Life, they are uncapable of a vain joy in Proſperity. They live there without Concern, and ſee with the ſame Eyes their Advancement and Fall. This firmneſs is a Vertue which paſſes in them from Father to Son, • nd is become natural to them by the frequent Revolutions to which they are ſubject; their Fortune is ſo wavering, that they may fall in a Thouſand ways; and it is from Experience they have learnt to contemn it, or at leaſt, to enjoy it without fearing to loſe it.

With all this the Japonezes are not without Defects; and without ſpeaking of their contemning Chriſtianity, of their Idolatry, and that they have neither Piety nor Religion, but through Intereſt, they have little ſincerity, never faithful to any body, and eſpecially to Strangers. Cruel they are, treacherous, deceitful, and ſo vindicative, that to repel an injury, they violate the moſt holy Laws.

An Idea of their Cruelty may be had from the puniſhments they inflict upon Criminals, one of which conſiſts in fleaing ſome parts of the Offendour, tying him to a Tree, bedawbing him all over with Honey, and then they leave him to the mercy of Bees and Waſps, who meeting with ſuch a Regal never leave him till they have ſtung him to Death, which he ſuffers with all the Tortures and Torments that may be imagined. Charity is a Vertue which they are ignorant of, and neither the Poor nor the Sick can hope from them either eaſe or pity.

The Government is Monarchical; above threeſcore petty Princes do Homage and Proſtrate their Coronets afore the Supream Diadem. The Country is moſt part Mountainous, but full of Rivulets, which makes it abound with Corn, Graſs and Minerals: The North and Eaſt parts are leſs peopled than the South and Weſt. Upon any trivial accuſation, their Children are ſo ſenſible of their Reputation, that without any pawſe, to evince the Truth, they will whip off a Joynt from their Finger, with this Imprecation, if true, I wiſh my Hand may never heal again.

Of all the great Towns of this Iſland, Fucate or Falcate is look'd upon as the moſt pleaſant, being watered with a ſweet River, and made defenſive by a Caſtle; a Forreſt of lofty Pines, and ſpreading Sycamores, for three Miles ſpace, well nigh compaſſes the Town; of force againſt the ſcorching Sun, delightful to the eye, more grateful than any other Object, did not Idolatry render it unpleaſing; for under thoſe green Trees, where are many ſmall, but richly tyled Fotiques, they adore Pagothas, in ſhape not unlike Pan and Priapus, yea the Devil himſelf in his uglieſt reſemblance. For where the Country is moſt inhabited, and garniſht with greateſt variety of Trees, and Corn, &c. as 'twixt Edoo and Suring •• there are erected moſt Fotiques, and there the People are the greateſt Idolaters. In Meacco a Mediterranean City, and the Metropolis of Japan, are 60 Temples and Colledges, in which ſome have numbred 3333 Chamortirae, or▪ little guilded Daemons, of ſeveral ſhapes, which they call Mannada • s: of which Shaca and Amida have the higheſt rank in their Kalendar. Nevertheleſs one of their Princes has erected there a monſtrous Image of Awricalk, ſo large, as albeit was ſitting, the Chair was not leſs than 70 Foot high, and 80 broad: His Head was capable to hold Fifteen Men, and the Thumb in compaſs was Forty Inches, by which the reſt may be conjectured. Near this grand Pagod is a Fotique, in the Cloiſter whereof a Memorial is regiſtred, how that the Ears and Noſes of Three Thouſand of the captived Corcans were there interred.

At Dabys ſuch another Coloſs of Concave Copper was raiſed; an Idol 24 Foot high, notwithſtanding his poſture was ſuch, as his Buttocks reſted upon his Legs, as the uſual Mode of the Orient. • ut of moſt remark was the Fotique at Fencheday, where, if Fame ſpeak truth, the Devil oft times made an Apparition. This Temple was of more than ordinary bigneſs, and the Bonzes numerous. Amongſt other Sacrifices or Forms of Worſhip, one was, that a Damoſel every New Moon was by the Bonzes brought into the Temple and placed right againſt the Idol. The Room was forthwith illuminated by a preparation of Lignum vitae with other coſtly Perfumes, put into a Lamp of Gold; after a ſmall ſpace, the Lights (as it were by a Miracle) extinguiſh, and then in groſs darkneſs, the Phaſma having aſſumed a Bodily ſhape, or other falſe repreſentation accompanies her, at leaſt, as ſhe imagines, and the rather, becauſe certain Scales like thoſe of Fiſhes are left behind as an argument to perſwade it was no Phantaſm. But unleſs the Bonzes ſecond that work, upon that imaginary familiarity, the moſt is but a Tympany or falſe Conception. Nevertheleſs for her Applauſe, at her iſſuing ſhe is entertained with Muſick and Songs, and the Enthuſiaſtick Girl reſolves 'em ſeveral Queſtions they propound, and is of more repute with 'em ever after.

One Temple is dedicated to a Lizard, which they make the Author and Patron of Learning without Altar or Image in it. He that readeth of the huge Works of Taiscoſoma holding ſometime an Hundred Thouſand Workmen in labour at once, may preſent to his imagination the incredible Buildings which thoſe Tyrants, by ſo many Slaviſh Hands, can raiſe. Their buiſy Wits appears by their queſtions to the Europeans, of the Nature of the Soul, of Angels and Devils, &c. And ſome of 'em ſeeing the abſurdities of the Bonzii, worſhip nothing at all. The Bonzii, as the Jeſuites report, raiſed ſlanderous Rumours of 'em, to be eaters of Mans Fleſh, and cauſes of the Wars and Plagues, which their Gods, provoked by this new Sect, ſent among 'em: they ſlandered the new Converts as miſerable Apoſtates, which became Chriſtians becauſe they would not be at the Charges of their Idolatry. The Jeſuites tell of a great Woman, poſſeſſed with a Devil, which ſaid, that he was a Fox, for ſome injuries offered by the Maid, thus dealing with the Miſtreſs. There were in thoſe parts ſtore of Foxes, multiplied by their Superſtition, not daring to hurt any, notwithſtanding their great harms, hecauſe forſooth, they were the Devils inſtruments to puniſh 'em. Yet in this caſe, the Wizard being conſulted, counſelled, to take a Fox, without hurting him, (which with a Trap was done) and to give him all kind entertainment, with moſt delicate food and uſage, ſo to pacifie the good Wifes angry Daemon, who yet (like a Devil) with fair entreaty grew worſe. Hereupon another famous Wizard was called, who writ a long Scroll, binding himſelf in the Devil Foxes name to free the Woman, ſubſcribing with bis bloud; which Scroll he hanged on the Foxes Neck before taken, which being neatly trimmed and ſhaven by a Barber, and painted (as their Women, being of pale Complexion, uſe) was let go, and the Devil intermitted his Tortures a while, but after reiterating the ſame, the Womans Husband cauſed all the Foxes thereabouts to be ſlain, for this perfidiouſneſs: and a third Wizard cured the Miſtreſs, by Conjuring the Devil into one of her Maids.

They are very curious and ambitious in ſetting forth their Funerals. Thus briefly: The Friends aſſemble in their beſt Array to the Fire: the Women of his Acquaintance go forth in White Raiment, with party colour'd Veils on their Heads, and their Maids attending, thei • Chief Women are carried in Beds, o • Litters of Cedar. After 'em follow th • Men in ſumptuons Habit • . Next come • the Chief Bonzius of his Sect in his Po • tificalibus, carried in a coſtly Bed, attended with three other Bonzii, in thei • Linnen Veſtments, Then one in Aſhcoloured Garments (for that is alſo • mourning colour) with a long Torch lighted, ſheweth the Gorps the way to the Fire; followed by two Hundred Bonzii, ſinging to the Deity which th • dead had chiefly obſerved. Others bea • on the Baſon till they come at the Fire▪ Others carry Paper Baskets full of painted Flowers, which they ſhake out by the way, as a token that his Soul is gon • to Paradiſe. Eight Bonzii draw Banners on the ground, in which is written thei • Idols name: Ten Lanterns with the ſame Inſcription, are carried with Light • burning. Two follow with Torche • unlighted, wherewith afterward they kindle the Fire. Many come after i • Aſh-coloured Habits, with three Squar • Caps on their Heads, with the name alſo of their Devil therein written, which Name another beareth written in a Table with large Letters of Gold. After all theſe (did you think you had loſt him) comes the Corps ſitting in a Bed, in white, borne by four Men, his Hands joyned in a praying Geſture. His Children are next, the Eldeſt carrying a Torch to kindle the Fire. Laſtly, comes the Multitudes with ſtrange ſort of Caps. After an hours hallowing their Holies by all this multitude, and three times compaſſing about the incloſed ſquare place, in which (beſides Tables for Viands) the Fire is made, the Chief Bonzii in an unknown Language mumbleth over an Hymn, and lighting a Torch, doth thrice brandiſh it about his Head, (thereby ſignifying the Soul is without beginning, aud without end) and then caſts it away. Two of his Children take it up, and after a triple Ceremony (the Body being laid thereon) kindle therewith the Wood: On which they hurl coſtly Woods and Oyl, and ſo burn the Carcaſs to aſhes. Which done the Children, making Incenſe, adore their Father, as now aſſumed to the Heavenly Society, and richly reward the Bonzii. Next day they return, and put the Reliques of this Corps Aſhes and Bones, into a guilded Veſſel, which is hanged in the Houſe, there to receive the like exequies, and afterwards with no leſs Ceremony buried; every Seventh Day, and Seventh Month, and Seventh Year▪ his Children renewing their Devotions. The poorer ſpend herein two or three Hundred, the rich as many Thouſand Ducats. In the Obits of great Perſons, the Lords and Men of Rank aſſemble 'emſelves, and are called every Man by Name, to do honour to the Image of the Deceaſed, with Incenſe, as in Sacrifices. After ſo much wickedneſs of the Men, I think it will be time for us to leave Japan.

Our Trade being at an end at Nangueſaque, we departed from thence for Batavia, on the 30th. of December, and arrived at the Fort Zelandia, on the 9th. of January. After ſome ſtay, there being a Ship that was going for Siam, I was commanded to go thither, and we arrived there on the 22d. of the ſame Month. The Sieur van Muyden, Commander for the Eaſt-India Company, in the Countoir of that Country, cauſed 8 Elephants to be embarked on board us for Batavia, whither he himſelf went with us. Eight days after our Arrival, the Fleet departed for Holland, whither I had leave to return. As we had a good Wind, we in a ſhort time paſſed the Streight of Sunda, and two Months after our departure from Batavia, we came in ſight of Sancta Helena, where having caſt Anchor, we repoſed for fifteen days. During the abode we made there, we killed a great many wild Boars, Goats and Deer, which that Iſland is full of, We took by fiſhing a prodigious quantity of Fiſh, which being ſalted and dried in the Wind▪ ſ • rves commonly the Ships crew the reſt of the Voyage. We likewiſe found there Pome-citrons, and a certain Purgative Sorrel, which without being diſagreeable, produces the ſame effect with Sene.

After having thus refreſhed our ſelves, we purſued our Courſe, whoſe end being as happy as the beginning, we went and caſt Anchor at Gouri on the firſt of September, where I finiſhed my Voyage.

FINIS.